Karl joins Lloyds Banking Group Black Business Advisory Committee
Yorkshireman Karl Oxford has been appointed to the Lloyds Banking Group Black Business Advisory Committee.
Karl’s experience in strategic community regeneration, policy design and business development has been instrumental in uplifting Black businesses and communities in the region. His extensive career includes current roles such as Director of African and Caribbean Business Ventures, an Executive Director at Palm Cove Society CIC, Vice Chair of the BAME Committee at the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Co-founder of Voice 4 Change England and Co-founder of the former African Caribbean Westminster Initiative.
Karl said: “This role enables me to support Black entrepreneurs, with a special emphasis on addressing the unique challenges they face across the North. I look forward to working with the committee to deepen their understanding of the challenges faced in the region and ensure our support is as impactful and inclusive as possible.”
Claudine Reid added: “Karl’s unique blend of expertise and dedication to community development makes him a valuable addition to the committee through his strong connections with businesses and community leaders in Yorkshire. His perspective will be instrumental in our continued efforts to build equity for Black business owners nationwide.”
Abandoning second class post is too much for small firms to bear, says FSB
Policy Chair Tina McKenzie said: “Taking the axe to daily deliveries for second class would be a drastic cut which would hit the many small businesses which rely on it, and will in all probability leave some with no choice but to fork out for first class.
“However, Royal Mail’s concession to retain a six-day-a-week service for first class letters is a good step in the right direction, compared to its original dire proposal – voiced via Ofcom – to torpedo daily deliveries altogether. The Government rightfully said it was committed to keeping the six-day service as it is, and that is something that would have required legislation to change.
“We do recognise that savings need to be made, therefore the idea that bulk business mail, like bills and statements, will arrive within three working days instead of two is a difficult but sensible way to make savings without causing an enormous amount of disruption.
“It’s good that Royal Mail has listened to us on some parts of its consultation response. We hope that Ofcom will reflect on the detrimental impact of diminishing six-day-a-week deliveries, and remind itself that its role is to protect consumers rather than be a cheerleader for service cuts by an organisation it’s supposed to regulate.”
Government plans to get tough with failing social housing providers
Failing social housing providers are being told the must raise standards to ensure all tenants live in decent homes and are treated with fairness and respect by their landlords under the threat of unlimited fines.
In the most significant change to the regulation of social housing in a decade, landlords will now be routinely inspected and held to account to make sure they provide their residents with quality homes and services. Those who do not abide by these new rules face a range of potential sanctions, including appointing new management or unlimited fines.
New powers mean the Regulator can drive up standards and take action where providers fall short. The rules now require landlords to:
- Have an accurate record on the condition of every home, based on checks of properties so landlords can understand any problems and take action.
- Set clear timelines for the completion of repairs, maintenance and planned improvements, communicating them clearly to tenants.
- Give tenants opportunities to influence and scrutinise their landlord’s services such as through meetings with tenant organisations.
- Provide tenants with information about their rights and how to make complaints.
- Publish the new tenant satisfaction measures to make it clear how tenants feel their landlord is performing and hold them to account.
British Steel waits for North Lincolnshire to follow Teesside’s lead with electric arc furnace permission
With Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council having just granted permission for British Steel to build an Electric Arc Furnace at its Teesside plant the company is now eagerly awaiting a similar approval for the Scunthorpe site from North Lincolnshire Council.
The manufacturer’s £1.25 proposed transformation – its biggest in more than a century of steelmaking – is subject to appropriate support from the UK Government.
British Steel President and CEO Xijun Cao said: “We’re delighted to have received planning permission to build an Electric Arc Furnace at our Teesside site, and thank everyone who has supported our proposals to bring steelmaking back to the region.
“The proposed installation of EAFs in Scunthorpe and Teesside is central to our journey to a green future as they would help us reduce emissions of CO2 by more than 75 per cent. However, it is crucial we now secure the backing of the UK Government.
“Our owner, Jingye, is committed to the unprecedented investment decarbonisation requires and our desire to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint, coupled with challenging market conditions, means it is imperative swift and decisive action is taken to ensure a sustainable future for British Steel.
“We started talks with the UK Government in 2022 about the timely support we require on our journey to net zero, including the need for the British government to adopt the correct policies and frameworks now to back our drive to become a clean, green, and successful company. We are committed to working with the UK Government and need to reach an agreement quickly so we can achieve our ambitious goals, secure thousands of jobs and keep making the steel Britain needs for generations to come.”
Significant preparation works, including environmental and technical studies, and equipment selection, are underway to ensure the company’s ambitious proposals can be delivered at the earliest opportunity while discussions with the UK Government continue.
Both proposed EAFs would replace the aging iron and steelmaking operations at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site which are responsible for the vast majority of its CO2 emissions. The company proposes maintaining current operations until a transition to electric arc steelmaking.
British Steel has started preliminary talks with trade unions about electrification, and has promised to support employees affected by its decarbonisation plans.
Xijun said: “We are confident our proposals will help secure the low-embedded carbon steelmaking the UK requires now and for decades to come.”
Brothers to share Chairman’s role at Lindum Group
Construction company Lindum Group says it’s ‘business as usual’ after this week’s appointment of brothers Freddie and Edward Chambers as Co-Chairmen to lead the Board.
They have taken over from their father David, who had been at the helm since 1991 and will remain as non-executive director of Lindum, which has offices in Lincoln, York and Peterborough.
Freddie and Edward will be supported by an experienced Executive Board as well as a strong team of divisional directors and employees.
Both brothers were keen to stress they would continue to lead with the same principles which have been at Lindum’s core for decades. This includes valuing practical work, common sense and teamwork while fostering a culture of tackling problems together and sharing successes with all employees.
Freddie said: “While this marks the next step in the Lindum future, it really will be, we hope, a case of ‘business as usual’ for our people, partners, and clients, whilst we focus on continuing to try to improve what we do and keeping competitive for clients, with a geography east of the M1 in the main.
“We run a family business, but the Lindum Family is a broad cross section of energetic people who have been with us, some for a short time and others longer, often with several generations of the same families, and we have always encouraged full involvement by every employee, as it makes such a difference to our service, the teamwork and the manner in which we deliver our work.
“What’s more, 500 of our 600 employees own shares in Lindum, which means that everyone has a direct share and interest in the future of the business. The difference really is our people! In a sometimes-difficult industry, we try and look after our employees well, who then look after our clients.”
The brothers will share the duties of the Chairman role, as Co-Chairs, which include presiding over board meetings, representing Lindum in the community and leading the company’s strategy, as well as being jointly responsible for more operational CEO-type duties, such as business plans, troubleshooting and communications.
Edward added: “This announcement is part of the company’s ongoing succession planning process and will help, we believe, secure the future of Lindum as a good quality and local employer for another generation.
“Freddie and I are very lucky to have the support of a fantastic team of 600 people who want to do a good job for our customers and want Lindum to do well as a business. I’ve no doubt there will be plenty of advice coming our way!
Hotel overlooking North Yorkshire coast sold
On behalf of Coast & Country Hotels, specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold The Royal Hotel Whitby in North Yorkshire.
Located in the seaside town of Whitby, the 115-room hotel boasts ocean views and is just a 5-minute walk from the town’s harbour and Whitby Abbey, which is famously mentioned in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The hotel is an ideal destination stay for tourists looking to explore the area, and enjoy the charm of the historic building which features a grand reception hall, a large ballroom for functions and events, a substantial restaurant and dining rooms.
Mark Worley, Director at Christie & Co who handled the sale, says: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of The Royal hotel in Whitby, which will continue as a hotel for ongoing hospitality use under its new ownership.
“The hotel is one of the 33-assets put to market as part of the Coast & Country Portfolio. The hotels have received very strong interest to date, and a very limited number of these assets remain available, so we invite any interested parties to get in touch.”
Private equity-backed housebuilder secures £12.2m for Yorkshire schemes
OakNorth, the neobank for entrepreneurs, has provided a further £12.2m loan to SME housebuilder, honey, to part fund the acquisition and development of two of its latest major residential schemes.
Founded in October 2022 by former Avant Homes CEO, Mark Mitchell, the business is also backed by private equity provider, Alchemy Partners.
The new housing schemes located in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and Maltby, South Yorkshire, will provide a combined total of 252 new homes for the region.
The Maltby site, consisting of 185 detached and semi-detached homes, will also include 46 affordable units and is situated close to Maltby’s town centre.
honey’s new Huddersfield site will consist of 67 detached and semi-detached homes, including 13 affordable units and is situated in Fenay Bridge.
Mark Mitchell, founder & CEO of honey, said: “With the launch of honey just under 18 months ago, I’m delighted my vision of building new homes that deliver a combination of style, substance and sustainability continues to be realised.
“We’ve seen a constant high demand on all our sites to date and given the high quality of the units and the close proximity to major commercial towns and cities, we expect demand for our new schemes in Maltby and Huddersfield to be no different.
“Having now worked closely with OakNorth on six separate occasions, they’ve really cemented themselves as a funder of choice that continues to provide all the solutions to the pain points we normally face when working with the larger lenders.”
Damien Hughes, Senior Director of Property Finance at OakNorth, added: “Despite only launching in October 2022, Honey has quickly built-up an impressive reputation for offering a unique way to build homes that successfully combines style, substance and sustainability for the benefit of all its customers.
“We continue to believe in the vital role that SME housebuilders play in benefitting local communities and economies, and are thrilled that we were able to provide honey with six individual bespoke debt facilities.
“We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Mark and his team moving forward and also look forward to supporting honey on more residential projects in the future.”
Pepperells sets up criminal defence law department
Pepperells Solicitors has set up a department specialising in criminal defence law at its West Parade office in Lincoln. This department will cater to the increasing demand for expert legal representation in criminal matters.
Led by criminal defence solicitor Sonia Bhalla, the department brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. With a proven track record of successfully defending clients across a spectrum of criminal cases, Sonia Bhalla is dedicated to upholding the rights of individuals and ensuring fair legal proceedings.
Joining her is Jan Povada, an esteemed police station representative renowned for his comprehensive understanding of police procedures and protocols. With his profound knowledge of the criminal justice system, Jan Povada offers invaluable support to clients during police interviews and investigations, ensuring their rights are protected at every step of the process.
Nigel Sloane, Head of Department at Pepperells, said: “Our expansion into criminal defence law in Lincoln reflects our firm’s unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive legal services to our clients. With Sonia Bhalla and Jan Povada at the helm in Lincoln, we are poised to deliver unparalleled representation to individuals facing criminal charges in Lincolnshire, ensuring that their rights are safeguarded and their voices are heard. Sonia and Jan join a well-established team of professionals supporting clients with their criminal proceedings across East Yorkshire, Humberside and Lincolnshire.
Firms to be offered free funding support advice at Hull event
Businesses can discover a range of funding support whilst sampling the latest offer from Hull Adventure Centre at The Hull Business Expo next week.
Hull City Council’s business support team will be available to discuss the assistance they can provide, such as through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Advisors can facilitate access to grants for business growth, creating new jobs and implementing energy saving measures.
Hull Adventure Centre will also be in attendance showcasing its two-seater karts with a track in the car park on Princes Quay, plus the opportunity to try your hand at tag archery.
Alex Codd, assistant director for economic development and regeneration at the council, said: “The Hull Business Expo is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to engage, connect and support each other. Our business support team will be on hand to provide expert advice on the day.
“To complement this, my wider service includes Hull Adventure Centre, which is an exciting new facility in east Hull and visitors to the Business Expo can race around the car park in karts, which is a brilliant addition to the day.”
This year’s event is free to attend and will be held on Wednesday 10 April at Princes Quay from 10am to 4pm.
New scheme could mean thousands of jobs at former Hedon Aerodrome
Hull City Council has today given the green light for a multi-million-pound innovative scheme at the former Hedon Aerodrome with is expected to create thousands of new jobs.
The land, now known as Yorkshire Energy Park, is allocated as part of the Humber Freeport to the east of Hull.
Cabinet’s decision means that implementation of the £200m scheme can go ahead which will act as a catalyst for the Humber ‘Energy Estuary’ provision and green energy storage.
The council previously established an agreement for the land to support its future development, with up to a million square feet of business space, green technology education and sports facilities proposed.
The revised scheme will help to deliver renewable energy, battery storage and state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, as well as space to facilitate research and development in sustainable energy.
This is expected to create around 4,500 jobs, both on and off site as part of the construction phase, for which a target of 80 per cent would be recruited through local employment, bringing a wider impact on the economy.
The commercial arrangements will increase the level of financial benefits to the council in terms of capital receipts and long-term revenue income share.
It will also support the progression of a successful £22m bid to the Green Heat Network Fund for the city’s second district heating scheme which will make use of waste heat from Saltend Chemicals Park.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This decision will provide significant opportunities at the Yorkshire Energy Park. It will help cement Hull’s status as a leader in renewable energy, whilst also creating large-scale local job opportunities in the area.”
Although the site falls outside of Hull’s administrative boundary, public engagement with residents of Hedon was conducted, as well as with sports clubs and statutory service providers and bodies.
The project also involves the relocation and enhancement of the sports facilities in the area, with hundreds currently using the pitches during football and rugby seasons.
