Yorkshire recycling company fined £1.2m after worker hit by a wagon
A Yorkshire metals recycling company has been fined £1.2m after a worker was injured after being struck by a wagon at a processing site.
On 10 August 2020 an employee of CF Booth Limited was walking across the site yard in Rotherham when he was struck by a moving 32-tonne skip wagon. The man was not wearing his hi-vis jacket and did not see the wagon approaching.
The wagon driver did not see the employee prior to the collision due to concentrating on manoeuvring the vehicle around some low-level skips which had been placed on the corner near where the employee was crossing the yard.
Following the incident, the man sustained a fractured skull and also fractured his collar bone in two places but has since made a full recovery.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that at the time of the incident the site was not organised in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles could circulate in a safe manner. A suitable and sufficient workplace transport risk assessment was not in place for the segregation of vehicles and pedestrians. The company had failed to take steps to properly assess the risks posed by the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. The incident could have been prevented by adequately assessing the risks and implementing appropriate control measures such as physical barriers and crossing points.
At Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on April 25 CF Booth Limited of Clarence Metal Works, Armer St, Rotherham, pleaded guilty of breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £1.2million and ordered to pay costs of £5,694.85.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Kirstie Durrans said: “If CF Booth Limited had assessed the risks and ensured vehicles and pedestrians could circulate in a safe manner, this incident could have easily been avoided.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyers Karen Park and Kate Harney, and supported by paralegal officer Rebecca Forman.
Asbestos service provider acquires Leeds consultant
BGF-backed Environmental Essentials has completed its third acquisition, as its buy-and-build growth strategy continues at pace.
The company, the asbestos service providers, has acquired Callidus Health & Safety Ltd for an undisclosed sum, providing a significant route into untapped markets, including health and safety and asset management. The deal follows the acquisitions of Adams Environmental and Quality Environmental Services Ltd.
Leeds-based Callidus is a consultant in health and safety, project management, asset management, environmental services and training. Employing 18 people, the company works across education, retail, healthcare, and infrastructure, with clients including Marks & Spencer, the University of Leicester and NHS Lothian.
As part of the deal, Managing Director Steve Allcoat and his team of consultants will remain with the business, bringing a wealth of health and safety-related expertise to Environmental Essentials.
James Riley, executive director and co-founder of Environmental Essentials, said: “The acquisition of Callidus makes perfect sense for Environmental Essentials, adding health and safety capabilities to our existing services of water hygiene, air hygiene, and asbestos management. As major areas of compliance, they are all highly complementary from a business perspective and create a compelling proposition.”
Alex Sleeth, executive chairman at Environmental Essentials, added: “By incorporating the wealth of expertise and capabilities of Callidus into our business, it allows us to diversify our offering and, with it, gain national coverage.
“Not only does it allow us to cross-sell our existing services into new and untapped markets, while providing our workforce with a fantastic opportunity to upskill in the area of health and safety, but it also strengthens our compliance proposition.”
In total, BGF has invested £5.6 million in Environmental Essentials, as it looks to cement its position across the UK as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for key compliance services, including asbestos management, water hygiene and fire risk management.
BGF investor, Jon Earl, added: “The acquisition of Callidus is yet another demonstration of the team’s ambition and desire to build a company that has the strength and depth, in personnel, services and technological capabilities, to meet the growing needs of customers across the compliance landscape.”
Beswicks Legal and Dains Accountants advised Environmental Essentials on the acquisition. DJP Legal advised Callidus.
Lincolnshire’s Lord Lieutenant views steelmaking at Scunthorpe
Lincolnshire’s Lord Lieutenant Toby Dennis has visited British Steel for a full-day tour to see how the plant produces rails and wire rod for a host of applications.
A full day’s schedule culminated in a formal presentation about British Steel, followed by an open floor Q&A which focused on the manufacturer’s proposed £1.25-billion transformation – its biggest in more than a century of steelmaking.
The Lord Lieutenant said: “It was a fairly obvious choice really to visit British Steel. We have only one annual meeting with all of the Lieutenants where we try to get around the county to see different aspects of what is active in the county of Lincolnshire. We felt it would be good to come to Scunthorpe and come to British Steel to see how the modern way of making steel is progressing.
“We have been very well guided through the initial process of where the raw material are required and what is needed to make steel, first impressions for me are the gigantic size of the site, it is quite amazing. “
An exchange of gifts closed off the day, with Lord Lieutenant Toby Dennis presenting British Steel Chairman Li Huiming with a specially frame picture of King Charles III.
Approval granted for Harrogate College’s campus redevelopment
Harrogate College’s £22 million redevelopment has gained approval.
Replacing its main building, the scheme will upgrade the campus with an electric vehicle workshop, mock hospital ward, and a renewable energy technology hub.
The main college building will be demolished and replaced with a new teaching block and a workshop building.
Principal of Harrogate College, Danny Wild, said: “Gaining confirmation that we can proceed is great news for the college, the town and the county.
“This £22 million redevelopment will enable us to upgrade our campus to enhance our industry-standard training facilities, including an electric vehicle workshop, mock hospital ward, and a renewable energy technology hub.
“It will help us provide even more targeted support for local employers by tailoring our training to produce the skilled workers they need to plug gaps and prosper.
“The main building phase of our project is set to be completed for the 2025-26 academic year and we look forward to welcoming students, parents and guests into our new campus. “To minimise any impact in the local area we are instructing staff not to drive to college but to switch to public transport instead, and we will be covering the parking costs of all colleagues who do so. We will also be employing staff to patrol the local area to ensure things go smoothly, and disruption is kept to a minimum, during the construction.“We’ll be formalising those details, and other arrangements including those for our contractors, as part of the conditions attached to the planning permission.”
Spencer Group reaches achieves half its annual charity fundraising target in just three months
Employees of engineering specialist Spencer Group have raised more than half of the company’s £5,000 charity fundraising target in just three months.
Fundraising efforts this year have been accelerated by the introduction of dedicated volunteer “Charity Champions” across the Hull-based business, who have responsibility for generating ideas and organising new activities and events.
Teenage Cancer Trust, which offers specialist care and support for young sufferers of cancer and their loved ones, was nominated for support by a staff member who witnessed first-hand the care it provided for his friend’s son, including care at its dedicated wards at Castle Hill Hospital, in Cottingham.
Heather Bowen, Senior Relationship Manager at the charity, delivered a series of talks to explain what it does to support teenagers diagnosed with cancer, their family and friends. Staff working on sites across the UK were able also to access the talks via video link.
Spencer Group has now arranged for Heather to visit Ron Dearing University Technical College to speak to students. The business is a Founding Partner of the school, from which it has recruited 50 apprentices in just five years.
Charity Champion Emily Marshall, Administrative Assistant at the group, said: “I’m really enjoying helping raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust. The people affected are a similar age to me, so it’s given me a different perspective on life.
“It’s been great to meet Heather and hear about the work they do to support not only the teenagers, but their families as well. Since the symptoms are not always obvious, knowing more about the charity’s work and the symptoms to watch out for has helped us raise awareness.”
HR Director Yvonne Moir said: “It’s really important for us, as a business, to engage with the communities where we work and to raise money for good causes that are important to our staff. We always try to have a positive impact, and its gives colleagues the opportunity to give something back, whilst having a bit of fun at the same time.
“Teenage Cancer Trust does incredible work, and the team have done a wonderful job so far to raise so much money for this important charity. This is just the start; however, and we have so much more planned.”
Fundraising activities and events held this year that have already helped raise more than £3,000 include bake sales and an Easter raffle.
Spencer Group will be holding sponsored walks, a darts tournament, pub quiz night, ale trail and Wimbledon-themed table tennis competition throughout the year. Staff are also taking part in a “Total Warrior” obstacle course to raise money.
In addition, watercolour paintings by talented artist Lucy Grierson, Spencer Group’s Systems Director, will be presented in a gallery and auctioned off.
Spencer Group’s regular charity fundraising contributed to it being named the Best Place to Work at the 10th annual HullBID Awards earlier this year.
Fancy that: Highland Carbon rallies round to boost Tickhill community
Carbon credit supplier Highland Carbon is planning a fancy dress sponsored walk-cum treasure hunt in the village of Tickhill.
It’s to be called ‘Tickhill Tipple’, and is the brainchild of MD Richard Clarke, who was inspired to support his community having met the Trustees of beneficiary charity Tickhill Community Connections: Nicola Saunders, Paula Thomas, Jo Rowland, and Vicki Beevers.
He says: “Whilst fancy dress is not required, it may add to the fun if you wish to dress up. Consider wearing fancy dress or simply an eccentric hat, wig, comedy gasses or feather boa! Each team is welcome to wear a sash with their team’s name on it if they wish.”
There are four pubs, a wine bar and Cricket Club along the route, and with treasure hunt answers to be found both indoors and in the village.
Richard added: “This is a family friendly event and drinking alcohol is not required. Both alcohol and non-alcohol options will be available in each venue. And you can choose not to have a drink at all in any given venue. There will be a barbecue set up at the Scarbrough Arms for the participants.”
The starting time for the walk is flexible on June 22nd. “That said, we suggest starting around 5pm. You can start wherever you like along the route. In fact, we prefer this to avoid one large crowd in any given pub at a time.”
The revenue from the BBQ will support the Tickhill Lions. The revenue from the entry fees will support Tickhill Community Connections. This local charity hosts social activities for people living in isolation. This is a volunteer run charity, so 100 of the proceeds will support its work!
High-tech Lincolnshire agricultural initiatives win financial backing from Government
Two high-tech agricultural businesses in Lincolnshire have been offered funding from a national £7.5 million pot to support innovation and growth.
An automated blueberry harvesting project led by Eyre Trailers in Coningsby, in partnership with the University of Lincoln, and a daffodil harvesting scheme at C Wright and Son in Gedney have each been offered around £300,000 as a share of £1.84m awarded to 12 projects across the east of England.
The money has come from the new Launchpads programme managed by Innovate UK which offers small and medium enterprises (SMEs) grants from £25,000 to £300,000 for R&D and innovation projects that focus on agrifood.
The Eastern England Launchpad is being supported by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils.
Ten other successful projects across the area include novel biological defences against aphids, enhancing the fibre content of food and drink products, enhancements in crop breeding, and creating new types of plant-based food packaging.
The objective of the Eyre Trailers automated blueberry harvesting project, which stands to secure £299,693, is to develop and demonstrate a fully automatic machine for harvesting blueberries, one of the UK’s most important soft fruit crops.
The proposed machine will be fully automatic and will feature new berry removal and bush gripper systems. It will be designed to remove berries from the bush by the use of innovative shaking systems and should be available for widescale deployment by UK growers next year.
Blueberries are now the second largest soft fruit sold in the UK, with the industry expanding to meet demand, but still only has a 7% share of the market.
“We’re very privileged to have been offered the grant and to be working with the University of Lincoln, and we’re looking forward to bringing the project to fruition,” said Bob Eyre from Eyre Trailers. “Without this grant it would be difficult to bring this product to market, so we’re really grateful.
“Blueberry harvesting is very labour-intensive as growers are completely reliant on hand-picking. Finding the workers to do it is difficult and expensive, so everybody is looking to reduce the labour costs and make the job more viable. Currently lots of fruit is left unpicked because the growers can’t find the labour for the harvest.
“By the end of the project we aim to be manufacturing a machine that’s fit for purpose and that satisfies the blueberry growers. It will be quite a big growth area for us and it could really rejuvenate our business.”
The daffodil harvesting project, which has been offered £299,985, is being led by Autopickr in Cambridge with Lincolnshire grower C Wright & Son as a partner.
Horticulture has traditionally offered growers high incomes from small areas of land, but the total land area used for horticulture has declined by 15% since 2020.
To combat shortages of labour and high labour costs the project will develop a multi-functional robotic platform capable of horticultural tasks that cannot be automated using simple machines like tractors or harvesters.
An asparagus harvester has already been developed and will launch in the next three years, and growers have highlighted the fact that flower production, specifically daffodils, is another promising area in which to develop robotic capabilities.
The daffodil picker will feature a sophisticated robotic arm, a platform weighing less than 45kg, and an artificial vision system to recognise picked flowers for the arm to collect and transport.
Success in this project will lower labour costs for English growers and reduce barriers to the growth of daffodil production, which is a lucrative export market for growers.
“We are very pleased to have received funding for this project,” said Adam Cunnington from C Wright & Son. “Labour is getting hard to come by and any method of automating our harvest has to be the way forward. We have every faith in the project delivering automation to a much needed harvest operation.”
Suicide prevention charity launches The Workplace Pledge to save lives
National suicide prevention charity The Baton of Hope will launch The Workplace Pledge at its first national conference later this month, aiming to mobilise businesses, organisations and individuals across the UK to take action.
The organisation, whose aim is to facilitate a zero-suicide society, says The Workplace Pledge is a comprehensive and practical guide for leaders and HR professionals about what organisations can and should be doing to help prevent death by suicide.Each year more than 6,000 people across the UK take their own lives – one person every 90 minutes. It is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK. The World Health Organisation estimates that 135 people are affected by each death. That means more than 800,000 people every year in the UK are affected by suicide.
The Baton of Hope founder Mike McCarthy, who tragically lost his son Ross to suicide in 2021 said: “We cannot turn a blind eye to the national catastrophe of suicide any longer. If a similar death toll were caused by any other physical illness, it would rightly trigger a national outcry.
“Unlike the openness surrounding conditions such as cancer or heart disease, ‘admitting’ to thoughts of suicide is often met with shame and stigma. While physical ailments are accepted without question as valid reasons for time off work, mental health struggles are still concealed behind fabricated stories.
“While organisations and individuals are overwhelmingly keen to help address this complicated issue, they are often hesitant to act for fear of making things worse. The Workplace Pledge gives organisations a toolkit to enable them to take action.
“Suicide IS preventable and every one of us is capable of generating hope.”
The Workplace Pledge offers a framework to guide organisations toward comprehensive suicide prevention. This involves raising awareness, providing support resources, and prioritising mental wellbeing within the workplace.
It’s six key principles are:
- Prioritise suicide awareness, prevention, and support in the workplace.
- Provide clear messaging on suicide in communications and training.
- Offer suicide prevention resources and early intervention support.
- Champion those with lived experience of mental health challenges.
- Promote crisis services and support resources.
- Actively spread the message of the pledge to amplify its impact.
Leeds-based recruiter secures £45m invoice facility with Metro Bank
Leeds-based specialist recruitment business Mach Recruitment has agreed a £45m invoice finance facility with Metro Bank.
As a specialist recruitment business working in the ecommerce and food sectors, Mach Recruitment will use the financing to support its acquisition ambitions and continued desire to grow and diversify. The invoice finance package from Metro Bank will provide the additional funding it needs to meet the long-term needs of this entrepreneurial and market-leading business.
Mach Recruitment was advised by Mazars Debt Advisory. Metro Bank was advised by European Valuation and Shoosmiths.
Tom Zyzak, Chief Executive Officer at Mach Recruitment, said: “These are exciting times for the business and we greatly appreciate the professionalism and approach of the Metro Bank team to meet our requirements and put the facility in place. We believe we have found the right financiers and partners to help Mach drive our already successful business further forward and allow us to be more dynamic and opportunistic in our marketplace.”
Alan Austin, Head of Asset Based Lending at Metro Bank added: “We were delighted to work with the team at Mach and provide them with a bespoke and tailored facility to meet their specific needs, both now and in the future. We look forward to a long and successful partnership, and Mach can rest assured knowing they have a committed and supportive partner to match their aspirations.”
High street records fifth month of negative in-store sales
In-store sales fell by -1.7% in April, which is the fifth consecutive month of negative results, according to new data from BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker.
BDO’s data, which records sales across discretionary spend categories, highlighted that while overall sales, combining both online and in-store, remained flat at +0.4% in April, it was the performance of high street stores which brought the overall figure down.
This drop is primarily due to a significant fall in sales in the fashion sector, with in-stores sales down -8.3% compared to April 2023.
The fashion sector’s poor performance means that it has now recorded eight consecutive months of negative in-store sales.
The homewares sector also saw a negative in-store result, with sales down -1.5%. However, online sales provided a small boost, increasing +8.2% in April, bringing the homewares overall total to +1.8% year on year.
The lifestyle sector was the only category to record positive in-store and non-store sales figures last month, also recording +1.8% increase compared to 2023. In-store sales grew by +3.4% whilst non-store increased by +5.8%.
Sophie Michael, head of Retail and Wholesale at BDO, said: “This is yet another disappointing set of results for the retail sector. While an increase in online sales may offer a glimmer of hope, it’s clear that consumers are simply not spending their spare cash on the high street.
“The fashion sector will be particularly concerned by such a poor sales performance in the run up to summer. Unpredictable and unseasonably cold weather may have dampened the mood of shoppers who would usually be investing in their spring and summer wardrobe.”
Sophie continued: “The competition for the consumer purse has never been fiercer. With us recording a seventh consecutive month of negative or <1% growth for discretionary spend categories, retailers should be realistic in thinking this may not be a temporary trend.
“Those who want to succeed must acknowledge that the competition is not just with other retailers but with the hospitality, leisure and travel sectors, with many choosing ‘experiences’ over products. If sales continue to fall, it may mean we see more consolidation in the sector, more empty stores, and a real risk to a crucial part of the UK economy.”
