Household name in process industry expands into Leeds
Industrial landlord Towngate PLC has welcomed household name in the process industry, Lokring UK, to its growing client portfolio, with the signing of a five-year tenancy contract for 3,900 sq ft Unit C at Copley Hill Trading Estate in Leeds.
Founded over thirty years ago and operating in 30 countries worldwide, the Ohio-headquartered company offers an extensive range of design-patented weld equivalent pipe and tube fittings, including couplings, flanges, elbows, adapters.
At its new premises, Lokring will benefit from a spacious warehouse unit with modern ancillary offices, access via a single ground level door, yard and loading area, along with parking.
Speaking on the move, Lokring’s office manager, Zak O’Neill said: “This strategic move to Towngate’s Copley Hill site has come at the perfect time for us as a business — ensuring continuity and stability for Lokring UK and allowing us to continue delivering high-quality products and services to our valued customers. We look forward to further growth and success in our new location.”
Lokring UK joins fellow occupants Crown Decorating Centre, Howdens, Carpetright, Lincs Electrical Wholesalers Ltd (LEW), BAPP Industrial Suppliers Limited, Wolseley UK, The BSS Group Ltd, and Nicholls & Clarke Ltd.
Towngate’s property manager Tom Lamb also commented on the new let: “We are pleased to welcome Lokring UK to the Copley Hill Trading Estate and are confident that the location — offering close proximity to the motorway network and arterial routes — will be the perfect fit for the team.”
Leeds-based property consultants, GV&Co, advised Towngate alongside joint agents Carter Towler.
Senior surveyor Jonathan Jacob added: “We are delighted to have completed this letting on behalf of Towngate. Copley Hill Trading Estate is widely regarded as South Leeds’ premier trade counter estate, and we are pleased to welcome Lokring to the impressive list of national occupiers there.”
Airfield runway specialist invests £1m in grooving capabilities
Lincolnshire-headquartered global airfield and runway specialist Jointline has made its largest investment since the establishment of the 37-year-old business, to enhance its runway grooving capabilities.
The £1m of new plant and machinery will help drive sustained growth for the privately-owned company, which currently has 120 employees.
Gary Massey, Managing Director of Jointline, said: “The current demand for runway refurbishment and development is the highest it’s been for the past decade. In order for us to fulfil the demand from existing domestic customers – while expanding our overseas operations – we have deployed company funds to purchase multiple new sets of specialist plant and machinery.
“We have also invested in the training and development of long-serving employees and increased our skilled workforce by 20% to 120 employees. This is setting us apart from our competitors, while keeping the team and our customers safe as we carry out grooving assignments on live airfields. I am proud to be leading a business that is set up for the future and able to continue to grow sustainably and profitably.”
Jointline’s investment in the expansion of its grooving division includes the purchase of five ride-on pavement groovers, a bespoke 30-ft articulated trailer and two 44-tonne DAF XF Super Space tractor units. The firm has also invested in the remanufacture of its 30,000-litre capacity water tanker, which has additional safety features, Chapter 8 requirements, and full 360-camera coverage.
Trio of firms relocate to Graphical House in Leeds
Estate agents Zenko Properties, digital marketing agency Perfect Storm and recruitment, training and coaching services provider Back2Work have all relocated to Graphical House, a creative workspace in the heart of Leeds.
The property was brought to market at the beginning of the year by strategic property advisors Fox Lloyd Jones and Carter Towler and spans over 7,000 sq ft in total, offering offices over four floors.
Located in The Calls district of Leeds, the building has undergone a significant refurbishment to offer some of the city’s best creative space. Graphical House is now largely known for its distinctive contemporary artwork on the building’s exterior – a project completed by Bristol-based artist Mr Penfold as part of the In Good Company project, commissioned by King & Co.
Zenko Properties, founded in 2015 by managing director Tobias Duczenko, has expanded its presence with a new branch on the ground floor of Graphical House. The 1,215 sq ft space, secured on a 6-year lease, marks the company’s second Yorkshire location adding to its branch in Silsden.
The second floor is occupied by digital marketing agency, Perfect Storm. The agency recently announced a record £3m turnover for the 2023/24 financial year and has acquired one of the larger suites at 2,100 sq ft on a 5 year lease.
Back2Work now occupy 1,720 sq ft at third level, on a 3 year lease. With its focus on workforce development and skills training, Back2Work plays a crucial role in supporting the local economy and community.
Nick Salkeld, director at Fox Lloyd Jones, said: “Graphical House is an iconic landmark in the centre of Leeds and a unique creative environment, with the high levels of interest it has received paying testament to its vast appeal.
“The businesses that now make it their home are great examples of the diverse and innovative enterprises we aimed to attract. We’re just one suite away from filling the building with an impressive lineup of established businesses, and it’s not hard to see why it is so popular.”
Clem McDowell, director at Carter Towler, said: “Its location is ideal for travel with rail, bus and motorway links close by and the presence of all three businesses within Graphical House creating a dynamic and collaborative environment that promotes growth and innovation.
“Being situated in the heart of The Calls district, it is also surrounded by an abundance of local amenities which just adds to the many reasons so many businesses are looking to call this area of Leeds their home.”
Professional services firm donates office furniture to St Andrew’s Hospice
Colleagues from Aon’s Hull office have donated used office furniture to St Andrew’s Hospice – ensuring the items did not instead go to landfill.
After relocating its 50-strong Humber team to a new, fully serviced office at Redhill Court in Hull, global professional services firm Aon has donated the office furniture to the charity, which provides hospice care to adults in North East Lincolnshire and children across Lincolnshire, Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
By giving the furniture a second life at St Andrew’s Hospice and furnishing the charity’s new building in Grimsby, Aon has ensured that the items have not ended up in landfill and avoided the associated carbon emissions. It also means that instead of spending money on new office furniture, the charity can divert more funds to providing hospice care for adults and children living with life-limiting conditions, as well as to their families.
Julie Smith, Head of Retail and Trading at St Andrew’s Hospice, said: “We cannot thank Aon enough for the incredibly generous donation of office furniture.
“The timing of the donation was absolutely perfect as we were looking to furnish our new 15,000 sq foot online sales department and logistics warehouse in the centre of Grimsby. As a result of this donation, Aon has saved St Andrew’s Hospice thousands of pounds and the savings can now be used to deliver patient care.
“Once again we want to send a heartfelt thanks and in particular we want to mention Olivia and Michelle who have been instrumental in ensuring that the hospice received this donation and support.”
Olivia Cammack, client service specialist at Aon in Hull, said: “St Andrew’s Hospice makes a huge difference to adults and children facing life-limiting conditions, providing them with specialist care in a supportive and comfortable environment.
“Aon is not only committed to making a positive difference in the local community but as part of our ESG strategy, it is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, through pursuing sustainable business solutions.
“By donating the used furniture to St Andrew’s Hospice, we have reduced our carbon emissions and helped the charity save money.”
Aon, which employs around 50,000 people worldwide, has agreed a 10-year lease for the entire first floor of Redhill Court. The move is part of Aon’s investment in the region and brings the whole Humber-based team together in one space, providing a flexible, collaborative and open working environment for all colleagues.
Activewear retailer enters voluntary liquidation
Sheffield-founded activewear retailer, Lucy Locket Loves has entered voluntary liquidation, owing just under £900,000.
It follows supply chain issues, warehouse floods that caused downtime and lost stock, rising import costs that impacted margins, and the cost of living crisis hitting revenue.
The Dronfield-based business was also affected by a change from monthly to quarterly rent payments for its warehouse, which it was unable to meet.
Founder Lucy Arnold said: “Firstly, I want to apologise to everyone impacted by this, especially our customers and the LLL Team. Despite everyone’s hard work, the challenges of the past 18 months were overwhelming, leading us to enter voluntary liquidation on May 28, 2024.
“Supply chain issues, warehouse floods that caused downtime and lost stock, rising import costs that slashed our margins, and the ongoing cost of living crisis hit our revenue hard and disrupted our operations. These essentially made our traditional business model obsolete.
“In December 2023, we managed to negotiate monthly rent payments for our warehouse, but by May 2024, the owners insisted on reverting to full quarterly payments, which we couldn’t meet. This led to their abrupt decision to take control of our warehouse on May 10th with no notice, disrupting our operations and leaving us without working capital.
“Facing no operational ability and mounting financial obligations, we made the difficult decision to enter voluntary liquidation.
“This has been incredibly distressing, particularly for our team, who were reluctantly made redundant. We deeply regret the impact on our staff and their families and I can never say sorry enough for how abruptly this happened. This has personally been the most upsetting part of this process.”
The business aims to relaunch the Locket Loves website in Summer with a new look, operational hub, and new leggings designs.
In 2020, Arnold was included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.
City Council names contractor to update Drypool Bridge
Hull City Council has appointed Esh Construction Limited and Mason Clark Associates to work on design, repair, and strengthening of Drypool Bridge.
In preparation for the physical works on site, Esh Construction Limited and Mason Clark Associates have been appointed to lead on the preparatory phase. Their teams will undertake detailed investigations of the bridge’s condition and prepare the schedule for the main repair and strengthening project.
Alongside these works, Mason Clark Associates will also be overseeing the design phase, ensuring that the bridge’s historic character and charm is preserved while meeting modern safety standards.
Garry Taylor, Assistant Director of Major Projects, Culture, and Place, said: “The appointment of the principal contractors is a significant milestone in the repair of Drypool Bridge, and it will be great to see work progress in the coming months.
“The bridge has been a part of Hull’s history for generations, and its repair is not only about improving its structural integrity but also about maintaining a safe and reliable transport link for residents, commuters, and visitors.
“We hope that this early contractor involvement will ensure the bridges longevity, and that the structure continues to be accessible for many generations to come.”
The early contractor involvement phase, with both Esh Construction Limited and Mason Clark Associates, will determine the start date for physical works on site.
In the meantime, the bridge retains sufficient loading capacity to operate safely and will continue to be open to all traffic until the major repairs start.
Following a routine inspection in April, it was discovered that several of the load-bearing columns under Drypool Bridge had significantly deteriorated. As a result, the historic structure on Clarence Street must undergo major repairs to ensure its safety and longevity.
North Yorkshire business owners warned about selling vapes to underage children
Rogue business owners who sell vapes to underage children have been warned that they will be brought to justice after two people were fined following undercover trading standards operations.
Scarborough magistrates heard that a 15-year-old was used as a test purchaser under supervision of council officers at two locations in the town last year.
The teenager was sold vapes on both occasions, including one that contained almost twice the legal amount of nicotine-containing liquid.
Dean Anthony Mitchell, the owner of Save a Lot in Castle Road, Scarborough, pleaded guilty to four offences under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
In a separate case, Marta Monika Olejarcz, manager of Marta’s European Food, of Victoria Street, Scarborough, pleaded guilty to selling a vape to a person under 18, contrary to the Children and Families Act 2014.
Magistrates were told that on 11 November the volunteer was sold an illegal vape by Mitchell. The grape flavoured vape contained 9,000 puffs and 18 millilitres of nicotine-containing liquid.
The maximum quantity of nicotine-containing liquid allowed by law is two millilitres, about the same amount as in a standard packet of cigarettes.
Officers returned to the shop 10 days later and seized 230 illegal vapes, 214 of which contained more than the permitted amount of nicotine-containing liquid. Some were found to contain 10 times the permitted amount.
A further 16 vapes were not marked with information required by law, including the name of the producer and the amount of nicotine in each puff.
A test purchase was also made on 11 November at Marta’s European Food. In that case, while the volunteer was sold a legal vape, it should only have been available to over-18s.
Mitchell was ordered to pay a total of £769, including fines, a court surcharge and prosecution costs, while Olejarcz, must pay a total of £361.
Magistrates said Mitchell’s offences were aggravated by the fact he continued to sell the products even after being visited by trading standards officers.
North Yorkshire Council’s orporate director for environment, Karl Battersby, said: “These cases follow a successful prosecution in Skipton last week and show our determination in cracking down on offences like this.
“We are pleased the court recognised the harm that can be caused by the availability of vapes to young people, especially when they contain such huge amounts of nicotine.
“There are very simple steps a retailer should have in place to ensure they do not sell age-restricted products to a young person. No such precautions were followed in these cases and, in one, the sale was made far worse by the fact that the vape was illegal.
“The regulations set strict limits for the amount of liquid in these devices in order to limit the risks associated with nicotine, a toxic substance harmful to health. It is hugely concerning that some of the vapes contained 10 times the amount of nicotine found in a packet of cigarettes.”
Latest ONS figures show snapshot of UK’s import/export performance
Services continue to perform particularly well among UK exports, with solid increases in the past three months. Goods exports performed less well in April, as in recent months, says the British Chambers of Commerce.
William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “The BCC’s election manifesto and our recent Global Britain report set out clear options for policymakers to improve UK trade performance.
“Goods import volumes (excluding inflation) rose by 7.8% in April, with similar increases for both the EU and the rest of the world. Imports from the EU rose by 7.7% (£1.6bn). This was led by rises in machinery and transport equipment, and food. Non-EU imports volumes rose by 7.9% (£1.3bn) driven by higher miscellaneous manufactured goods and fuels.
“Goods export volumes fell by 2.8%. For the EU, they fell by 1.4% (£0.2bn), after adjustment for inflation – the main decline being in crude oil sales to Germany. Non-EU goods exports volumes fell by 4% (£0.5bn), driven by chemicals exports. This was offset to some degree by higher fuel, machinery and transport equipment exports.
“UK services trade showed another month of consistent growth in both import and exports. In the month of April, services exports increased by an estimated 0.6% (£0.2bn) on values measure. At the same time, imports increased by 0.9% (£0.2bn) on the values measure.”
Yorkshire Building Society joins social mobility network
To celebrate today’s Social Mobility Day, Yorkshire Building Society has joined Progressive Together, a network of organisations aimed at making sure colleagues can progress in their financial services careers, regardless of background.
The society is one of more than 100 employers in the Progress Together network, aiming to create a financial services sector where people from all socio-economic backgrounds can fulfil their career potential.
Tina Hughes, Director of Marketing and Digital Channels at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “At Yorkshire Building Society, we have colleagues with different beliefs, ages, cultures, outlooks and more – just like the communities we serve.
“Social mobility is a key part of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy, which sets out our vision to build a Society where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued, empowered and supported.
“We’re proud of that and we’re working hard to create an environment that’s welcoming and inclusive, where everyone has the opportunity to develop and progress.
“We want everyone to have the chance to show their full potential – it’s about what they can bring to the business, not where they were brought up or the school they went to.
“We can always go further and do more, and that’s why we’ve joined Progress Together.”
Sophie Hulm, CEO of Progress Together, said: “As a member of Progress Together, Yorkshire Building Society has demonstrated commitment to improving socio-economic diversity at senior levels. By working together we are making changes in UK financial services, ensuring that employees from all backgrounds have the opportunity to reach their career potential. This benefits individuals, business and the wider economy.”
Insurance company reaches deeper into the Midlands by opening further office
PIB Risk Management and PIB Insurance Brokers come together in new offices in Chesterfield for the company, which already has bases in Leeds, York, Halifax, and Lincoln.
The company says the expansion not only underscores its commitment to growth, but also reflects dedication to fostering professional development through the latest training facilities.
Rob Armitage, Business Development Director, PIB Risk Management, said: “We are looking forward to the positive impact that the Chesterfield branch will have on our operations and the local community. The blend of sales expertise and training excellence housed under one roof represents a significant step forward in our journey of growth and innovation.
“The new branch is a testament to our company’s vision of creating dynamic spaces that blend functionality with innovation. Equipped with advanced technology and modern amenities, the Chesterfield location is set to become a pivotal sales hub, driving business growth and customer engagement in the region.
“Moreover, the facility features dedicated training rooms, tailored to provide comprehensive training programmes for our colleagues and the businesses we support. Our external training schedule includes a wide range of accredited and non-accredited courses, tailored to our clients’ requirements.
“The opening of the Chesterfield branch is part of a broader strategy to expand our footprint in the region. By establishing a strong presence in the Midlands, we are better positioned to meet the needs of our clients and support the local economy. This expansion not only brings new job opportunities to the area but also strengthens our ties with the community.
