Construction innovation experts at Leeds Beckett University have partnered with Yorkshire’s largest public sector procurement framework organisation to drive innovation in the construction sector and boost opportunities for small businesses in the region. Leeds Beckett University will work with YORhub to create a Supply Chain Engagement Toolkit. This aims to increase the number and diversity of regional small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to public sector procurement frameworks – reducing the over-dominance of large firms, and introducing innovative solutions in a sector that is slow to change. It is a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK. Professor Mohammed Dulaimi, Project Leader and Head of Engineering in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at Leeds Beckett, said: “This KTP builds on a strong relationship between Leeds Beckett and YORhub, which has seen us collaborate on projects and research over several years. “Ensuring competitiveness and diversity in the supply chain is a national challenge in public sector procurement. Framework managers are hindered by legislation that stifles innovation and plays to the strengths of large consulting firms and construction companies – leaving SMEs with lower-value contracts. “This hinders innovation as SMEs with better on-the-ground insight are unable to positively engage directly with clients or YORhub to suggest improvements. Through this KTP, YORhub will disrupt this status quo by developing a Supply Chain Engagement Toolkit which addresses the challenges of engaging with SMEs and has the potential to achieve large-scale, industry-wide, impact.” Steve Baker, Head of Construction Services and YORhub at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The construction sector is an industry in need of innovation. This KTP will bring academic know-how and innovation to the challenges that are being experienced nationally – which are particularly acute in the public sector. “YORhub’s size, reputation and profile in the industry means we are uniquely placed to lead and champion this innovation for the public and construction sectors, and to share good practice with our peers and supply chains.” The work will be managed by a KTP Associate – a skilled graduate who will be recruited as a full-time member of YORhub, with the full support of the Leeds Beckett academic team. The project will include a substantial change management process which will disrupt long-established ways of working, and provide ongoing staff training to ensure the Supply Chain Management Toolkit is successfully embedded into YORhub for the long-term. As well as boosting the growth of SMEs, the partnership aims to benefit the local economy and the environment, by focusing on regional contractors which, in turn, reduces carbon emissions. Jo Griffiths, Head of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at Leeds Beckett, added: “This is our first KTP with a public sector organisation, building on our strong relationship with YORhub, which has included co-funded PhD projects with Professor Dulaimi’s students. “We look forward to continued opportunities and collaborations through this KTP – including student projects, guest lectures from YORhub and our KTP Associate for our students, PhD opportunities and research publications.” Professor Mohammed Dulaimi is leader of the Accelerating Innovation in Construction research group at Leeds Beckett, and coordinator of the CIB (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction) Task Group on Accelerating Innovation in Construction. The Leeds Beckett University academic team also includes: Sam Zulu, Professor of Construction and Project Management, Dr Neema Kavishe, Lecturer in Building Construction and Project Management, and Tony Jenkins, Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering and Digital Transformation. YORhub is a collaboration of Leeds City Council, Sheffield City Council, North Yorkshire Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, supporting the delivery of quality construction procurement frameworks to the public sector. It is the biggest framework in Yorkshire and the Humber, with the largest number of projects of any construction procurement framework. Across Yorkshire and Humber, approximately £2.5bn is spent annually on capital construction, with £460m procured through YORhub frameworks.

Together Housing is set to launch its latest development in Doncaster to provide new and affordable housing in the area. Work is now underway on the plans for the site in Balby, which have been approved by City of Doncaster Council’s planning committee for a total of 94 properties. Together Housing will deliver the £6.5m development alongside Hoober Urban Partnerships. Of the 94 units, Together Housing will provide 38 homes available for affordable rent. The units will meet varying demand for 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom houses to accommodate growing families in the area. As part of Together Housing’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions in half, all units delivered by the northern social housing landlord will be built with air source heat pumps and solar panels. The gas free site will be delivered in conjunction with the organisation’s Net Zero Team. The remaining 56 properties will be delivered by Housing 21, a national provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care, who are also working alongside Hoober Urban Partnerships to deliver a Retirement Living scheme. The scheme comprising 43 apartments and 13 bungalows, will provide homes for residents over 55 and independent living with a range of on-site facilities such as; a communal lounge and gardens, electric buggy store, activities room and car and bicycle parking. The scheme will also have presence from an on-site Local Housing Manager. The combination of both affordable homes and a retirement living scheme will expand the offer of new homes to meet a diverse need in the local area. Both elements of the development are also part funded by Homes England. Cllr Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Business at City of Doncaster Council, said: “As part of our five-year Housing Delivery Plan, we’re improving our housing offer for older people. These new homes include state-of-the-art facilities to support older people to live independently within our communities and local residents will benefit massively. “These homes will focus on affordable rents and energy efficiency whilst also protecting and enhancing the natural environment through sustainable development.” Dai Howells, Assistant Director of Development at Together Housing, said: “Building foundations for growing families in a sustainable community is at the forefront of our collaborative aims for this exciting development. “Our ambitious plans with Hoober Urban Partnerships aim to meet a dynamic need for new, affordable housing in Doncaster with a leading focus on renewably sourced energy for each of our homes. With the addition of Housing 21’s plans to develop a retirement living scheme, we’re eager to embark on this ground-breaking development and set out on what we aim to deliver.” Bridget Faughnan-Bing, Housing 21’s Development and Delivery Director, said: “We are thrilled to be able to deliver another Retirement Living scheme in Doncaster. Working closely with the Local Authority, Hoober Urban Partnerships and Neo Projects, we’ve been able to design a scheme for local people that will help to provide Older People in Doncaster with much needed affordable housing.” David Wroe, Director of Hoober Urban Partnerships, said: “We are delighted to finally be making a start on this project to deliver a scheme of affordable family housing and retirement accommodation on the site previously acquired from City of Doncaster Council. It’s our second recent scheme with Together Housing and first with Housing 21, as well as being the first 100% electric & renewable energy scheme we have developed.”

UK National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) is relocating to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park’s incubation centre, Landing Pad. Renowned for its proficiency testing services and quality assessment programmes, UK NEQAS’ strategic decision to relocate to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is aligned with its vision to foster innovation, collaboration and growth within the healthcare community. Previously based at the Northern General Hospital, UK NEQAS joins a growing number of health, sport and wellbeing focused organisations based within the flex office space at Landing Pad, including Barnsley Women’s FC, Cricket Arena, Reyt and, most recently, Medilink North. Jen Christie at UK NEQAS said: “We’re extremely excited to be relocating UK NEQAS to Landing Pad. The state-of-the-art facilities offered onsite will no doubt increase the opportunities for us to fulfil our charity aims of improving healthcare through education, as well as fostering the creation and delivery of new and innovative services. We can’t wait to move in!” Rachel Vickers, spokesperson for Landing Pad, added: “Landing Pad offers a dynamic environment conducive to facilitating the exchange of ideas and expertise between leading organisations in the field, of which UK NEQAS will become an integral part. “By bringing together entrepreneurs, start-ups, scale-ups and not-for-profit organisations in the health, sport and wellbeing spheres within our state-of-the-art facilities, we’re aiming to support the accelerated development and deployment of transformative solutions that address pressing health challenges and enhance wellbeing on both a local, national and global scale.” UK NEQAS have taken a four year licence on a four-person private suite at Landing Pad and expect to be up and running by the end of May 2024.