Chancellor urged to think of long-term growth
Doncaster Chamber of Commerce is calling for constancy and long-term thinking on economic matters, following Labour’s recent spending audit.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set the stage for the imminent Autumn budget and announced upwards of £5.5 billion’s worth of cuts for this year alone, ranging from the cancellation of road and infrastructure schemes to the scrapping of planned investment opportunities and more.
But Doncaster Chamber is concerned that short-term savings will ultimately come at the expense of long-term growth. Dan Fell, Chief Exec of Doncaster Chamber, said: “As representatives of the business community, we of course understand the importance of careful decision-making and commend the Chancellor for trying to be pragmatic here.
“Yet, as we have said before, government cannot simply cut its way to economic growth. We challenged the previous government on this very issue — highlighting u-turns and prevarication— and so implore their successors not to repeat the same mistakes. The business community wants to see stability and certainty from Westminster, not just more rowbacks and withdrawn investment. We have to be forward-thinking if we want the UK to maximise its potential and emerge as a real global player.
“On that note, we were heartened earlier this month by how Labour reinforced its commitment to an industrial strategy in both the party’s own manifesto and in the recent King’s Speech. The private sector shares our enthusiasm here and will doubtlessly want to support Government in fulfilling their pledge, yet it will be hard for them to do so if we do not find more sustainable ways of plugging gaps in the state finances.
“Big ticket investments — such as infrastructure, hospitals, and prisons— are essential to the health of our economy, so long as they are calculated and well-considered. That’s why we are urging Government to explore alternative solutions for addressing their budgetary concerns in the future, rather than stymieing growth by cutting the very things that could be stimulating it. “
Government promises new deal to restore confidence in farming sector
The government has promised to introduce a new deal for farmers to address low confidence and provide stability for the farming sector.
Figures released by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, show confidence remains poor. The data indicates that half of farmers don’t feel positive about their future in farming. Of those farmers saying they are making changes, a quarter of plan to reduce the size of their businesses and 14% plan to leave farming in the next 3-5 years.
The results make clear the need for the end of farmers being rocked by the chop and change of farming schemes, optimising Environmental Land Management schemes so they work for all farmers including those who have been too often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms, and action by the new government to restore stability and confidence in the sector.
They follow the negative trend seen across the past few years. This is a complex problem, with several factors contributing to this persistent trend. Farmers have been struggling with extreme weather events like flooding and sudden huge rises in energy costs and been undermined by damaging trade deals.
The latest Farming Opinion Tracker for England gives a snapshot of the views and opinions of the sector between end of April and beginning of June. The latest results show that trade agreements with other countries were a factor for 29% of farmers who made changes to their business.
The new deal includes:
- Optimising Environmental Land Management schemes so they produce the right outcomes for all farmers – including those who have been too often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms – while delivering food security and nature recovery in a just and equitable way.
- Seeking a new veterinary agreement with the European Union to cut red tape at our borders and get British food exports moving again.
- Protecting farmers from being undercut by low welfare and low standards in trade deals.
- Using the government’s purchasing power to back British produce
- Setting up a new British Infrastructure Council to steer private investment in rural areas including broadband rollout in our rural communities.
- Speeding up the building of flood defences and natural flood management schemes, including through a new flood resilience taskforce to protect our rural homes and farms.
- Introducing a land-use framework which balances long-term food security and nature recovery
Ilkley-based training provider gives almost 75,000 breakfasts
Ilkley-based High Speed Training has donated almost 75,000 breakfasts to children across the UK through its ongoing partnership with charity Magic Breakfast.
The e-learning provider has been donating one breakfast for each sale of its Level 2 Food Hygiene for Catering, and is on course to donate over 100,000 breakfasts this year.
Magic Breakfast is a charity that provides free breakfasts to over 200,000 children across England and Scotland each day, estimating four million children live in households that encounter food poverty.
Ali Roberts, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Magic Breakfast, said: “High Speed Training is on course to donate a whopping 100,000 breakfasts over the course of this year, enabling us to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people every day. We’re so grateful for their fantastic support.”
Amy Mortimer, Head of Strategic Partnerships at High Speed Training, said: “We’re really proud to be helping Magic Breakfast tackle the important issue of morning hunger in schools. We know that being hungry at school can affect a child’s learning, and the work that Magic Breakfast does is so crucial in ensuring children get the best start that they can.
“Linking our donations to sales has enabled us to engage our learners in making a positive difference, and has allowed us to commit to raising vital funds for a really impactful charity.”
Clegg Construction celebrates Yorkshire Day
Contractor Clegg Construction is celebrating Yorkshire Day by reflecting on how the company is helping to shape the county.
The Clegg Construction team has delivered multiple new build and refurbishment projects in Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield, York and other parts of Yorkshire over the past ten to 15 years.
And the company continues to work on high profile schemes across the county.
Managing Director at Clegg Construction, Michael Sims, said: “On Yorkshire Day 2024, I’m proud to look back at the projects that we have completed in Yorkshire and to shine the spotlight on those that we are currently delivering.
“Yorkshire Day is the perfect time to celebrate the county’s investment and economic development which is shaping the towns, cities and rural areas that we see today.
“Clegg Construction is delighted to have partnered with a wide range of organisations to play a part in Yorkshire’s development and we look forward to continuing this in the future.”
The company is currently working on three significant schemes in Leeds – the multi-million pound refurbishment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, the £35m, 402-studio student accommodation scheme known as The Fabric Works, and Spinners Yard, a 185-apartment, 11-storey build-to-rent apartment development for Rise Homes.
Notable past projects in Yorkshire which the company is proud to highlight include two commercial schemes at Calder Park, Wakefield, Hollis Croft student accommodation in Sheffield, and the refurbishment of Minerva House, a landmark building in the main business district of Leeds.
More recently Clegg Construction has completed the Ironworks, a £28.7m, 11-storey apartment scheme in Sheffield, which recently won Regional New Build of the Year at the Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Awards; an exciting £5.9m renovation scheme to transform Maltby Grammar School near Rotherham into a community resource and education centre; Highfield Care Home near Tadcaster, a £9m, 65-bedroom new-build care home for Barchester Health; and a new four-storey, 188-bedroomed, Premier Inn in York on behalf of CBRE Investment Management.
“Our experience of working in Yorkshire has included projects across a wide range of sectors such as commercial, leisure, education, residential, offices and student accommodation, and it’s pleasing to see how swiftly these developments have become an integral part of their communities,” added Michael Sims.
B. Braun Supply Chain Management team volunteers at St Luke’s Hospice
Sheffield-based healthcare company, B. Braun Medical Ltd, dedicated a day to volunteering at St Luke’s Hospice through their employee sponsorship programme.
The Supply Chain Management team helped to organise and prepare donations at Atlas, the charity’s donation and sorting centre in Sheffield, contributing to the grand opening of St Luke’s newest store on Kilner Way in Hillsborough,
During their volunteer day, the team processed an impressive amount of donation bags for the new St Luke’s store, which is set to welcome shoppers in September.
Through the B. Braun employee sponsorship programme, colleagues can seek internal sponsorship for their community initiatives and personal interests, providing them with a chance to contribute to shaping society.
Founded in 1971, St Luke’s Hospice has significantly impacted the Sheffield region. With the support of over 700 volunteers and more than 250 staff members, the charity goes beyond patient care, helping families and offering bereavement services. Last year, the charity conducted over 6,286 home visits, providing support to both patients and healthcare professionals.
St Luke’s Hospice’s In-Patient Centre is known for its 24-hour specialist palliative care, catering to approximately 300 patients each year. They also play a crucial role in educating healthcare providers in Sheffield and beyond, leveraging their 50 years of pioneering expertise to enhance hospice care both nationally and internationally.
The charity faces significant operational demands, processing over 5,000 bags of donations each week. However, 90p of every £1 raised is directly allocated to patient care, and items that cannot be resold contribute financially, with the ‘rag trade’ generating approximately £1,500 in weekly income.
Martin Williams, Head of Supply Chain at B. Braun, said: “It was a privilege to support one of Sheffield’s longest-standing charities. Our volunteer work was about more than just lending a hand but was a great opportunity to be part of our community and meet new people.
“We were deeply impressed by the complex operations and the dedication shown by every staff member at St Luke’s and look forward to visiting their new store in September.”
Northern Lincolnshire Environmental Farmers Group gets the backing of leading law firm
A farmer-led cooperative has secured the funding needed to initiate trading opportunities for sustainably-minded farmers in North Lincolnshire, with the support of Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire’s largest law firm, Wilkin Chapman.
The firm joins agricultural machinery supplier Peacock & Binnington as the first sponsors of the Northern Lincolnshire Environmental Farmers Group (EFG), which aims to deliver positive environmental change, funded through natural capital trading.
The organisation aims to increase biodiversity in North Lincolnshire, improve water quality, achieve net carbon farming by 2040 and generate new trading opportunities for farmers.
The Northern Lincolnshire EFG is the 10th group of its kind to be established across the UK since 2020, with the EFG network now comprising 433 farmers, covering around 3% of England’s farmed area and a trading pipeline worth c. £10 million.
The Northern Lincolnshire group – which covers areas surrounding Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Immingham, Louth, Crowle and Epworth – has been set up by local farmers Andrew Jackson, from Pink Pig Farm, and William Sowerby, from Farming Forward. The group is now appealing for more members in the area.
Catherine Harris, head of the agriculture sector at Wilkin Chapman, said:
“When farmers work together, they can have a great deal of power. While there are groups that represent farming as a whole, the EFG is a rapidly growing voice for farmers who are particularly mindful of their sustainability, as well as their financial success.
“Farming plays a major role in the care of our ecosystem and I know environmental custodianship is very important to a great many farmers, so we hope that supporting the establishment and growth of this EFG will help farmers to work together to achieve this.”
The first Environmental Farmers Group was officially launched in May 2022, after a group of farmers came together in the Avon area to build on their local Farmer Clusters to strengthen their position to deliver environmental goods and services for fair reward.
It was convened by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), which founded the Farmer Cluster concept and whose scientific research is behind many of DEFRA’s ELM scheme agri-environment options. Against a backdrop of the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), the group grew in numbers and expertise, eventually forming a cooperative two years later.
The EFG acts as a trusted navigator for farmers and landowners in industries that focus on natural assets such as soil, air, water, plants and animals (known as the ‘natural capital sector’). Its goal is to use scale and member cooperation to secure the best environmental results and financial returns for a wide range of natural capital goods and services.
Members of the EFG get access to trading opportunities in natural capital markets, guidance on how to trade and benefit from farmer buying power in natural capital markets.
Bank of England reduces interest rates for first time in four years
The Bank of England has reduced interest rates for the first time in four years.
“It is now appropriate to reduce slightly the degree of policy restrictiveness,” the Bank of England said. “The impact from past external shocks has abated and there has been some progress in moderating risks of persistence in inflation.”
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment.
At its meeting ending on 31 July 2024, the MPC voted by a majority of 5–4 to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%. Four members preferred to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%.
Alpesh Paleja, Interim Deputy Chief Economist, CBI, said: “Today’s decision to cut interest rates was on a knife-edge, as illustrated by the narrow majority of the Monetary Policy Committee voting in favour. At best, there is only mixed evidence that inflation persistence has been defeated. While the labour market is loosening and wage growth slowly easing, the unexpected strength in services inflation remains a red flag.
“We still think that today’s meeting marks the start of a rate cutting cycle, but the pace of this is now more uncertain. Several MPC members will be looking for more definitive signs of inflation persistence easing, to be swayed towards reducing rates further. They will also be conscious of continued upside risks to inflation, with economic growth firming and survey measures of manufacturing pricing pressures picking up.”
Sheffield Forgemasters makes senior appointments
South Yorkshire specialist engineering company, Sheffield Forgemasters, has completed two key leadership appointments.
Craig Fisher takes on the role of Programme Director, overseeing the company’s substantial recapitalisation programme, and Ken Stevenson joins as Strategy and Transformation Director, responsible for the company’s overall business strategy.
Both directors bring high levels of experience to their respective roles and will oversee significant levels of change for the 200 plus year-old business, as it reshapes under Ministry of Defence ownership.
Gary Nutter, Chief Executive Officer at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “The appointment of two key directors to oversee both physical, and operational changes for the company’s ongoing evolution, is an important development for us.
“Craig Fisher will deliver the investments made by our owners, to create a whole new forging line and to build a world-leading machining facility, which will transform the speed, accuracy and delivery of some of the world’s most complex forgings and castings.
“Ken Stevenson’s role is to work with the leadership team to deliver the strategy and business plan for the company, which will set out our aims, objectives, values and vision for the next several decades of manufacturing across defence and commercial markets.
“They will take responsibility for some crucially important projects to ensure that we deliver against our stakeholder commitments as we build an exciting future for UK manufacturing.”
Craig Fisher joins the company from a former role as Head of Delivery/Programme Director for Aerospace, Defence & Energy (Mott MacDonald Bentley) working for Rolls-Royce, delivering on a £2bn investment programme.
He also previously acted as Project Director for Anglian Water Services’ Strategic Pipeline Alliance for one of the country’s largest infrastructure programmes with an investment of c£1bn over five years.
Ken Stevenson worked as a consultant to Sheffield Forgemasters, advising the company on its MoD acquisition and transition into public ownership over a period of three years.
He formerly served with Rolls-Royce, leading several strategic change programmes, most recently in the Civil Aerospace division, responsible for the successful delivery of a major global cross-Civil Aerospace transformational programme.
Stafforce Training supports North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid volunteers with life-saving first aid skills
Stafforce Training, a provider of vocational training solutions, has demonstrated its commitment to community welfare by providing essential First Aid training to volunteers working in charity shops in support of North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid.
The training initiative was offered completely free of charge and equipped 12 volunteers with crucial life-saving skills, enhancing their capacity to respond effectively to emergencies.
Stafforce Training recognised the critical need for comprehensive First Aid knowledge among volunteers, especially when dealing with the general public in their retail outlets. As part of giving back to the communities they operate in, they offered North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid training free of charge.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of volunteers and customers is paramount, especially in retail environments like North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid shops,” said Rose Heritage, Business Manager at Stafforce Training. “By offering our expertise in First Aid training, we aim to empower volunteers with the necessary skills to respond effectively to emergencies and provide immediate assistance when needed.”
The First Aid training, conducted by certified instructors from Stafforce Training, covered essential topics such as CPR, wound management, and emergency response procedures. The tailored program emphasised practical scenarios and hands-on training to ensure volunteers gained confidence and competence in their ability to handle various emergencies.
“We are immensely grateful to Stafforce Training for their generous contribution towards enhancing our volunteers’ capabilities,” expressed Denise Farman, CEO at North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid. “The First Aid training not only equips our volunteers with life-saving skills but also instils a sense of confidence and preparedness.”
The 12 volunteers who participated in the training program at North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid are now equipped to provide immediate assistance in emergency situations, helping to keep customers safe when shopping in stores.
Partner promotion for Lupton Fawcett private client specialist
Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett has promoted one of its senior associates in its private client team to partner.
Charlene Vilia, who has been with the firm since 2021, specialises in all aspects of pre and post-death private client work. Her expertise includes the preparation of wills, inheritance tax planning, preparing and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney and registering Enduring Powers of Attorney.
She has a varied caseload of clients both locally and further afield and deals with all aspects of estate administration, acting for executors and administrators following bereavement where the deceased has left a will and when they have passed away intestate. Charlene qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and is based at the firm’s Sheffield office.
Charlene said: “I am delighted to have been promoted to partner at Lupton Fawcett and grateful to the firm for the opportunities and support that they have provided to me. I am excited to play a key part in the firm’s ongoing success in the future and the expansion of our private client services.”
In her new position, Charlene will focus on providing exceptional client care and service throughout the Sheffield area while raising the profile of Lupton Fawcett’s private client services in the region. She will also play a key role in supporting and expanding the firm’s growing private client team in Sheffield.
James Richardson, managing partner, said: “Charlene is a welcome addition to the partner team; she is known for her friendly and approachable service and always goes the extra mile for clients.
“Her promotion underscores our commitment to recognising and nurturing talent within the firm.”
