- Mon 5 Feb, 7-9pm Hawes Market House,
- Weds 7 Feb, 7-9pm Reeth Memorial Hall
- Mon 12 Feb, 7-9pm Orton Market Hall, CA10 3RU
- Fri 16 Feb, 7-9pm Sedbergh Peoples Hall
- Tue 27 Feb, 7-9pm North Ribblesdale Rugby Club, Settle
National Park farmers offered advice about different sources of income
This month farmers in the Yorkshire Dales National Park are being invited to one of five meetings being held at what’s said to be the ‘crux moment’ of the government’s seven-year agricultural transition in England.
Advisers from the National Park Authority’s farm conservation team will be on hand in Hawes, Reeth, Orton, Sedbergh and Settle to explain how this summer farmers will be able, for the first time, to submit a combined application for Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive, the government’s post-Brexit farm payment schemes.
Farmers in the uplands will be eligible for new payments for moorland management, as well as for keeping up dry stone walls and a greatly increased payment rate for managing grassland as species-rich hay meadow.
Member Champion for the Natural Environment at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Mark Corner said: “As well as being at its mid-point, the Government’s seven-year agricultural transition has reached its crux moment. The Basic Payment Scheme is now closed, while the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive /Countryside Stewardship offer is about to open for all. This means that in the next few months people farming in the National Park may have some big decisions to make on how they wish to farm, and which options and payments they wish to pursue, in order to sustain a viable business.
“We are particularly keen to support people to get the new payment for species rich traditional hay meadows. Now there will be a more appropriate payment – of £646 per hectare, plus a £187 per hectare hay making supplement – to reflect the increased management needed to nurture an upland hay meadows.
“Our farm conservation team is likely to be in demand during this period, so booking a place at one of the free meetings is highly recommended.”
The evening meetings are scheduled as follows:
ABP film wins recognition in ‘best animation’ category of national competition
A sustainability film created by ABP in collaboration with creative agency, Polar Media, has won Bronze in the ‘Best Animation’ category at London’s prestigious Lens Awards.
Created by ABP, the UK’s largest port operator, the film helps tell the story of ABP’s sustainability journey and celebrates the launch of the company’s first ever sustainability strategy ‘Ready for Tomorrow’. With a female protagonist, the film invites audiences to see the world through the eyes of a woman who progresses through different stages of her life and maritime career, whilst witnessing and helping deliver various green energy infrastructure projects enabled by ABP’s ports.
She travels from Immingham up on the Humber, where she sees the growth of green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage to Port Talbot in Wales, where the exciting floating offshore wind industry is in bloom. Along the way, she meets different animals from a seal to kittiwakes, all serving as a reminder that industrial progress needs to go hand in hand with protecting biodiversity to create a sustainable future.
An original scored soundtrack was created especially for the project as well as a voiceover delivered by a woman in her 50s, in an effort to address the noticeable absence of these types of voices in the majority of B2B corporate videos.
Max Harris, ABP Head of Strategy and Sustainability, said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved with the ‘The Voyage’. We see it as a tool to highlight the important role ports are playing in decarbonising the UK. It was a very rewarding project and I would like to thank our team and Polar Media who helped bring this vision to life.
“We hope the film is accessible for people from all ages and backgrounds who may be unfamiliar with what we do in the ports industry. The low-poly animated style also set the creative for the other assets in our ‘Ready for Tomorrow’ sustainability strategy campaign, including school competition posters, documents and more.”
Hull solar firm secures investment to back nationwide expansion
Backed by an eight-figure finance package arranged with Angel Invest and DF Capital Hull-based HDM Solar has set its sights on having sixty sites throughout the UK, with fiver operational by the end of this year.
It will use the investment and working capital facility to accelerate the rollout of a nationwide network of branches which will generate new jobs and provide local support to installers, businesses and consumers in every corner of the country.
This funding is another significant step in the development of the company and its ambition to be the UK’s leading renewable energy equipment wholesaler. The Hull based business is at the forefront of championing affordable energy solutions and making it simpler for millions of homes and businesses to embark on a journey towards net zero.
Adam Firth, HDM Solar’s MD, said: “We have carefully and strategically planned our UK wholesale network expansion. This funding will help us increase our number of branches so we can provide even better service and support to our customers across the country, it’s a really exciting and rewarding time for everyone at HDM Solar as we continue to offer a new proposition to the market.”
The investment from Angel Invest and working capital facility from DF Capital illustrates their shared confidence in the profitability, longevity and management of the business.
John von Berenberg-Consbruch, Partner at Angel Invest said: “Daniel, Adam and the team at HDM Solar have demonstrated an exemplary level of professionalism and growth planning. The HDM Solar business is growing quickly by offering best-in-class products and exceptional service. Our investment will help accelerate their expansion and plan to become a leading industry player”.
Garry Frew, Chief Commercial Officer at DF Capital added: “We’re delighted to provide this facility to HDM Solar during this significant period of growth. Daniel and Adam have demonstrated tremendous industry knowledge and a robust, exciting plan for the future development of the business which we are delighted to support.”
Over a third of mid-sized businesses in UK unable to recruit apprentices
Over a third of mid-sized businesses in the UK would like to hire apprentices but do not have sufficient resources or guidance to do so, according to new data from accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO.
BDO’s bi-monthly survey of more than 500 mid-sized businesses reveals that almost a third (32%) of respondents want to hire more apprentices but the costs associated are too high, with the same number wanting more guidance on how to go about it.
The same number of respondents (32%) most want to see support from a future government to resolve staff or skills shortages including reform to the apprenticeship levy. This came as a higher priority than tax breaks and regulatory changes, demonstrating its importance to the businesses that sit at the heart of the UK’s economy.
Less than one in five respondents claim to regularly hire apprentices through the Apprenticeship Levy, with high costs (32%) and a lack of guidance (32%) cited as the main barriers to doing so.
Yet desire remains strong amongst businesses – a quarter of respondents said they would increase their hiring habits if they could work more closely with local schools and colleges in order to shape an apprenticeship programme.
Apprenticeship hiring levels vary significantly across the UK’s mid-market. Nearly double the number of respondents in the North West (33%) said they needed support with the skills gap, compared to their counterparts in London.
Other areas with a high number of businesses requiring additional funding and guidance to start hiring include the South West (42%) and East Midlands (40%), suggesting there remains some regional imbalance in opportunities to access training programmes.
Skills shortages remain a challenge for mid-sized businesses across the board, with almost a quarter (24%) citing that they cannot find people with the right skills because of the region they work in. This jumps to almost a third of businesses in the North West (33%) and the North East (31%).
In addition to regional cold spots, certain industries record significantly lower levels of understanding when it comes to the process of apprenticeship hiring. Almost two in five (38%) mid-market real estate companies claimed they would hire apprentices if they had more guidance on how to start a programme and 43% of technology and media companies, both high growth areas of the economy.
Richard Austin, partner at BDO, said: “As we celebrate National Apprenticeship week, the importance of apprentices to the economic growth of this country is not lost on anyone, least of all the businesses at the heart of our economy.
“These businesses are responsible for more than 8 million jobs, the equivalent of one in four across the UK and with the right level of targeted support, together we can help these businesses kick start their hiring; boosting the number of high quality opportunities on offer to our younger generations and providing the skills the UK so desperately needs.”
Colleges’ web site secures national award for East Riding designers
A new website created by Bluestorm Design and Marketing for East Yorkshire’s Bishop Burton College and Lincolnshire’s Riseholme College has won a Gold award at the FE First Awards.
Organised annually by the College Marketing Association, the awards reflect the best of further education marketing, comms and digital communications across the UK. The new websites have performed beyond expectation, with the colleges seeing a significant increase in both those using the website, especially on the University Centre and Business and Employer sections of the website, and an increase in those applying for courses at the two campuses. Dan Murphy, Digital Director at Bluestorm, which is based at Melton in the East Riding, said: “We’re thrilled to have received this award, which highlights the great results we achieved for Bishop Burton and Riseholme. “This award also cements the great reputation Bluestorm has garnered for expertise and achieving strong results in the further education sector with our websites, as well as marketing and design.”Interest rate ‘hold’ gives businesses some respite, says BCC
The Bank of England’s decision to hold to hold the interest rate at 5.25% will give some respite for businesses, though it’s still a source of concern for SMEs, says the British Chambers of Commerce.
David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said: “Our surveys have showed that around four in ten SMEs say they are directly negatively impacted by the current rate, mainly through higher borrowing costs. Smaller firms and those in sectors such as hospitality and retail are disproportionately impacted.
“The Bank has outlined that inflation is likely to remain volatile for the foreseeable future. Alongside this, UK firms face significant uncertainties with geopolitical conflicts, new trade barriers with the EU, and ongoing skills shortages. The Red Sea crisis has already seen spikes in shipping container and insurance costs which could feed into a renewed wave of inflation.
“With a General Election fast approaching, political parties will need to set out a clear plan for the economy. The BCC is setting out it’s priorities for the next Government across a series of reports, starting with ‘Green Innovation Challenge’ report, released this week.“
Law firm and students launch new personal injury legal advice service
Leeds Law School has teamed up with national injury firm Hodge Jones & Allen to expand its student-run service offering free legal advice.
The new partnership will see students and solicitors work together to provide free legal advice to those who have suffered a personal injury.
It will build on the service already provided by the Law Clinic at Leeds Law School, which has been advising members of the public for over 10 years on matters of family law, employment law and civil litigation.
Hodge Jones & Allen will work with law student volunteers to deal with personal injury enquiries via zoom calls to provide a fast response.
Dr Rachel Dunn, Course Director for Pro Bono and Employability, said: “The new partnership between Leeds Law School and Hodge Jones & Allen demonstrates our commitment to social justice and ensuring that those who need legal advice the most can access it.
“It will also provide our students with the vital skills needed for life after university. It is an amazing opportunity for them to work closely with such experienced solicitors from a leading personal injury firm.”
Daniel Denton, Partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, said: ‘’We’re delighted to be working with Leeds Law School and their students who will help support the public with personal injury enquiries. It’s an opportunity for callers to speak directly to a highly experienced personal injury solicitor’’.
Leeds Law School is a key educator of legal professionals in the Leeds and West Yorkshire region and works extensively with law firms and other businesses to support students with work placements and employers to hire talented graduates that will energise their team and support the local community.
New funding round starts soon for North Lincolnshire businesses
Dozens of businesses across North Lincolnshire have invested more than £2.2m after being backed with £300,000 Government cash.
More than 250 jobs have been created or protected thanks to the scheme run by North Lincolnshire Council using money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with a new round of funding due to begin shortly.
The businesses invested in new machinery, IT equipment, software, marketing support to attract new clients and a raft of green technologies including solar panels, LED lights and new efficient heating systems.
Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We are working hard to support local businesses to create and protect jobs – thanks to this injection of Government cash we have been able to help dozens of businesses grow.
“Alongside the grant money the businesses have heavily invested themselves.
“A key focus was helping local companies go green and save on their energy bills with new solar panels making up a good number of the grants. This is part of our Green Futures strategy, joining up with forward thinking companies, schools and other organisations to reduce bill and the area’s carbon footprint.”
The businesses backed included those working in manufacturing, engineering, retail, hospitality and professional services such as accountants.
The next round of UKSPF business grants is due to reopen in the spring. For more information email the business team on businessinfo@northlincs.gov.uk
Camber announces winners in Construction and Property Awards
Lincolnshire County Council, Waldeck Consulting and YMD Boon Ltd were amongst the winners at the seventh annual Greater Lincolnshire Construction & Property Awards.
Almost 300 people gathered to celebrate the Construction and Property sector in Lincolnshire at the Doubletree by Hilton in Lincoln.
Héloïse Evans, Head of Marketing at the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce said: “The awards night was a brilliant opportunity to recognise excellence in the Construction and Property industries within our county, showcasing remarkable projects, innovations, and forward-thinking companies.
“The standards of nominations continues to increase, it proves more challenging to select just one winner amongst the future-industry leaders and multi-million-pound projects.
“We look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s awards on 6th February 2025.”
The winners of the Greater Lincolnshire Construction & Property Awards 2024 are:
Apprentice / Young Achiever of the Year – Sponsored by Lincoln College: Conor Penlington from Waldeck Consulting
Architecture/Design Company of the Year – Sponsored by the University of Lincoln: YMD Boon Ltd
Engineering Consultant of the Year: Waldeck Consulting
Development Project (over £5 million) – Sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau: Lincolnshire County Council (Lincolnshire Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Programme)
Development Project (under £5 million) – Sponsored by Waldeck: Viridis Building Services (Blenkin Memorial Hall Boston)
Residential Project of the Year – Sponsored by UK Alternative Energy: Longhurst Group (Caxton Place, Boston)
Supplier/Sub-Contractor of the Year: Architectural Imaging Solutions
