Government approves Kirklees Council’s plans for major health industry investment

The government has approved Kirklees Council’s proposals for the new West Yorkshire Life Sciences Investment Zone. The news continues to build on billions of pounds of planning investment across Huddersfield, including major transformative projects such as the council’s Huddersfield Blueprint, the Transpennine Route Upgrade and further government regeneration funding. In November last year, the government announced a new ‘Investment Zone’ for Kirklees and wider West Yorkshire, which will focus on supporting innovation in the health, wellbeing and digital industries. This means that alongside other local authorities across West Yorkshire, Kirklees Council is set to receive government investment to boost innovation, productivity and growth, and support the commercialisation of important research in these areas. This investment is because the government has recognised Kirklees and wider West Yorkshire as being a region of ‘high potential’. Since the funding was announced in November, Kirklees Council has been working closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to provide the government with a detailed business plan for the funding. The council’s plans for the Investment Zone will build on Kirklees’ existing local strengths in innovation and research, and will aim to help develop a strong cluster of interconnected businesses, suppliers and local research institutions, extending beyond Kirklees to other Investment Zone sites across Kirklees, Bradford and the rest of West Yorkshire. The proposals Kirklees Council put forward centre on its Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor – a scheme of work that’s all about boosting economic development in Huddersfield, creating new opportunities for businesses to grow and develop, and more high quality jobs for local people.  This corridor stretches from Huddersfield Railway Station to the John Smith’s Stadium, anchored by the new National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC). The NHIC is a transformative project led by the University of Huddersfield, which is set to improve health outcomes and lead innovation in healthcare for the north of England, the UK and internationally. The new campus will deliver a mix of world-class research, teaching and public health facilities, including clinical diagnostics, skin integrity and infection prevention. The Investment Zone programme will speed up work on the NHIC, and bring forward other sites for potential investment within that area to attract more businesses looking to colocate and benefit from links to the campus. Kirklees Council will also be investing in key infrastructure to unlock barriers to development, and improving links for pedestrians and cyclists across the area. Revenue funding will also provide more business and innovation support for organisations in the health and digital sectors. This support will build on some local programmes which have already received government funding, including the university’s Health Innovation Partnership and ‘Thrive’ – a new programme to support brand new businesses and entrepreneurs in the health and wellbeing industry, which is kicking off in April. Thrive will be based at the Glass Box, the flagship business centre for Business Kirklees (the council’s business support service), which sits right next to the NHIC. Both of these projects are already funded by the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Councillor Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council, says: “This is an incredibly exciting time to be part of the health and wellbeing sector in Kirklees. “The West Yorkshire Life Sciences Investment Zone will allow us to build on all the fantastic research and innovation already taking place, and really put us on the map for health tech.  It’s a sector where we’re already making waves, and now that these proposals have been approved we’ll be doing so much to support new innovation, to help businesses grow and thrive, and to get brand new ideas off the ground which could transform our healthcare systems in years to come. “This is fantastic news for Huddersfield, for Kirklees, and for West Yorkshire as a whole.” Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin said: “We are creating the future of Healthtech and Digital Tech here in West Yorkshire. “Our universities are conducting groundbreaking research, our businesses are creating cutting-edge innovations, and our people are developing the critical skills they need to make the breakthroughs of tomorrow. “This investment will catapult our strengths to the next level as we work to build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.” Now that Kirklees Council’s proposals for the Investment Zone have been approved, it will continue to work closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to agree how each of these individual areas will move forward.

RWE sells Ferrybridge engineering workshop

Following a divestment process, RWE’s Ferrybridge Engineering Workshop business has transferred to new ownership under TGM Industrial, an integrated group of precision engineering and industrial manufacturing companies in the UK. The Ferrybridge site is one of the most prestigious and historically important for the UK’s power industry, with the workshops housed within the turbine hall of a grade 2 listed former power generation site. Established over 40 years ago, the workshop served an external client base until 2017 before becoming a predominantly dedicated service centre for RWE’s UK power infrastructure. To date, the Ferrybridge Engineering Workshop has provided expert large-scale facilities that enable critical repair and maintenance of power generation equipment, as well as providing engineering services to conventional and renewable power generation markets in the UK. The Ferrybridge site consists of a 15,000m2 fully equipped workshop with an extensive range of machine tools capable of handling components up to 120 tonnes, as well as welding, blasting, and specialist measuring capability. Since 2019, the new owner, TGM Industrial has acquired seven other companies that have synergies with the Ferrybridge workshop capabilities, these will ensure that the Ferrybridge Engineering Workshop will continue to provide services to the UK power industry and potentially to other industrial sectors. A workforce of 22 employees who support the business at Ferrybridge will transfer to TGM Industrial. Over the past three years, RWE has been reviewing the way its gas-fired power station business is structured and has made significant changes to streamline the organisation. Following a review of how maintenance and outages are managed across its fleet of gas-fired power plants, RWE announced a change from an inhouse service, using the capabilities of the Ferrybridge workshops, to an outsourcing strategy for major outages, purchasing required services from external suppliers. The sale enables RWE to continue making use of the Ferrybridge workshop competencies in the future but as a customer rather than an owner. RWE has agreed to a Provision of Services Agreement as part of the sale, which provides TGM with a 36-month agreement to provide parts and services for RWE’s UK gas power station outages, with an option to extend in the future. Will Jeffery, director of RWE Generation UK, said: “We are pleased to have completed this transaction with TGM Industrial, especially given the site’s historical engineering legacy. We believe its capabilities have better future opportunities and strategic fit with an owner that considers the workshop as its core business. “This sale provides the ability for the workshop business at Ferrybridge to grow beyond the limitations of a predominantly internal RWE service provider. We look forward to a successful working relationship with new owners TGM in the coming years.” Tim Brooksbank, director of TGM Industrial, said: “We are excited about the acquisition from RWE of the Ferrybridge Workshop business, which reflects the strategy we have been pursuing over the past six years to acquire synergistic businesses with niche manufacturing and precision engineering expertise, and will bring our aggregate annual revenues to over £25m. “We look forward to capitalising on the impressive skills and capabilities at Ferrybridge to expand its provision of services within the power generation sector and introduce corresponding services into other sectors, while continuing to service the needs of RWE in the UK. “We also expect this acquisition to enhance significantly the scope of our capacities and available offering to existing customers within the TGM Industrial group.”

Councillors plan talks on the future of Harrogate Convention Centre

Next week councillors will meet to discuss a major investment in Harrogate Convention Centre to make sure it can continue to support the town’s multi-million pound visitor economy.

They’ll be talking about sidelining proposals for development plans, and instead look at more affordable options to bring long-awaited improvements.

Executive director for finance, Cllr Gareth Dadd, who is the authority’s deputy leader, said: “The convention centre is a very important venue for both Harrogate itself and the county’s wider economy, and we are therefore committed to ensuring that it continues to play a key role in the future.

“However, all major projects are being affected by the high rates of inflation and the rising costs of materials and labour.

“We need to make sure that we are providing the best value for money for residents and businesses across North Yorkshire, and we will carefully consider the options that are available for renovating the Harrogate Convention Centre.

“We need to decide how best to take the re-development plans forward while protecting the impact that would have on the public purse and the economy of the town.”

Members of the executive will be told that a two-phase development plan for the building was drawn up eight years ago, with the first stage due to revamp the existing building.

The second phase of the re-development outlined in the plan would see the existing exhibition halls replaced with a new event space, and the overarching project was expected to cost £47 million at the time when the proposals were drawn up.

However, when a business case revealed that the first phase alone was estimated to cost £48 million, the second stage of the development was deferred.

A bid for £20 million in funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund proved unsuccessful, and rising costs have meant that the first phase of the re-development is now expected to be in the region of £57.2 million. In addition, there would be lost revenue when the building closed for the wide-ranging programme of work.

Convention Centre Director Paula Lorimer said: “We recognise that there is a real need for investment in the building, but more affordable options should also be explored. Alternative plans that are being considered would prevent shutting large parts of the venue for significant periods of time to avoid the loss of valuable revenue.

“This building is integral to the visitor economy of Harrogate. Its conferences, exhibitions, corporate events, banquets and live entertainment provide jobs and business to the town’s shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels – worth about £45 million a year to the local economy.

“I do back the recommendation that is due to be discussed by the executive, as I have been a long-standing supporter of investment in the convention centre for a number of years and the venue must remain open during the works.”

Paula added that this year’s income from lettings is at the highest level since 2014, and the number of forward bookings is also the highest in recent memory.

She said: “This demonstrates that the venue is doing well, and tactical investment is the way forward to keeping the venue operational.”

However, the building has problems with ageing heating and air conditioning systems and there are also increasing maintenance and utility costs, as well as a layout that presents challenges for many events and conferences.

Sheffield FC welcomes architects as official partner as stadium development moves forward

Sheffield architectural practice Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson is to join Sheffield FC as an official 1857 Partner. Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson is the architecture practice charged with realising the football club’s vision for its new Home of Football Stadium. Matthew Quinn, one of the leading architects on the project said: “Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson are thrilled to become a partner with Sheffield FC – The World’s First Football Club, and build upon our shared passion for the sport to deliver the new Home of Football stadium. “The new stadium will not only reconnect the club to its Sheffield roots but also strengthen its presence within the vibrant sporting community of Sheffield. We eagerly anticipate a positive and collaborative partnership for the future.” Club Chairman Richard Tims said: “HCD have been brilliant to work with and we couldn’t think of a better architectural company to help relocate The World’s First Football Club back in to city boundaries.” “With over 300 years of existence between us, there’s an obvious synergy, and as a club, we like to partner with proud Sheffield organisations.”

JPG Group signs up as member of Leeds United Community Partnership

Leeds-based engineering consultancy the JPG Group has agreed a multi-year deal to join the Leeds United Community Partnership. Established in Leeds more than 36 years ago with its HQ just a short distance from Elland Road, JPG agreed the deal as part of its commitment to local community engagement and ongoing support to the championship club’s journey. Operated by sports rights specialist Eleven Sports Media, the Community Partner Programme delivers unique brand engagement, activation, and growth opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses across the region, in association with Leeds United FC. Chris Harding, MD at JPG Group said: “We are delighted to sign up to the Leeds United Community Partnership, not least because of our long-standing local presence, but also due to our own fan base within the company. Whilst supporting Leeds United as a club we are also gaining fantastic exposure through digital branding around the stadium and online. “It is a real pleasure for us to be able to connect at this level with Leeds United, aligning our brand with all of the sporting, community engagement, and ethical values that the Club stands for.” Social responsibility and community engagement are important to JPG which is committed to and actively involved with other local initiatives including The Yorkshire Childrens Charity, Leeds Community Foundation and St George’s Crypt. Established in 1988, JPG currently employs 45 people within its Leeds headquarters and provides civil and structural engineering consultancy services for clients throughout the UK. It covers all major development sectors with expertise in every aspect of civil and structural engineering from initial site investigation, detailed civil and structural engineering design and construction support.  JPG also offers dedicated consultancy services in Strategic Land Engineering, Geospatial Analysis and BIM Services. JPG has created a long-lasting legacy having delivered essential engineering expertise for strategically important, game changing sites across the UK. Key Yorkshire projects include Wakefield 515, the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, Skelton Gate in Leeds, and Gateway 36 in Barnsley.

Jennifer takes leading role with Women in Property

Women in Property has appointed Jennifer Winyard from Barratt Homes Yorkshire West to be its National Chair. Jennifer, Senior Strategic Land & Planning Manager at Barratt Homes Yorkshire West, will hold the post for a year. She said: “Encouraging girls to consider a career in property and construction has been a major focus for me, throughout my professional life. My lived experience of this industry highlights the fantastic scope it offers across all sectors. There is still more to do to encourage more people, particularly girls and young women, to make it their future too.  I want to help change mindsets and unlock the potential they offer. “Programmes in the sector, such as Barratt’s and Women in Property’s school outreach, Student Awards and Mentoring programmes, which run across the UK, are an important part of ensuring that the new generation comes into property and construction.” David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments, added: “Jennifer’s appointment as Chair of Women in Property reflects her determination to attract more women into the sector, and then to provide the mentorship that enables them to succeed across a wide variety of roles. She will bring boundless energy and insight to this new role, which will benefit the wider property and construction sector.” Women in Property uses its platform to influence Government, including the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women in Work. Amongst the issues that the APPG has influenced are Women Returners, Making the Industrial Strategy Work for Women, How to Recruit Women for the 21st Century, Inclusivity and Intersectionality, The Impact of COVID-19 on women in the workplace, and the recruitment and retention of women in construction for the 7th Inquiry for Excellence in the Built Environment.

West Yorkshire passive fire protection specialist snapped up

IK Partners’ IK Small Cap III (IK SC III) Fund has signed an agreement to acquire Checkmate Fire, the passive fire protection specialist, from YFM Equity Partners. IK is making its first UK investment from the Fund’s dedicated pool of Development Capital. The existing management team will be reinvesting alongside IK. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. Established in 1989 and headquartered in West Yorkshire, Checkmate provides a comprehensive range of passive fire protection services to organisations across the Healthcare, Education, Government, Social Housing and Commercial sectors. The company inspects, installs, remediates and maintains passive fire systems and also provides installation and maintenance of active fire systems. Checkmate operates across the UK and has over 200 employees. The company is responsible for maintaining passive fire systems in around 2,000 buildings nationally to ensure compliance with increasingly stringent regulations, carrying out over 30,000 fire door remediations or replacements per year. The focus is on maintaining fire doors rather than replacing them; an approach that aligns with the company’s commitment to strong environmental, social and governance practices across the business. Since YFM’s investment and under the existing management team, Checkmate has scaled rapidly, expanding its service offering and supporting more customers in managing their passive fire systems through multi-year contracts. In partnership with IK, Checkmate will look to further develop its passive fire offering, particularly its inspections division, in a market with compelling long-term growth dynamics. The company will also continue to invest in its people and technology to enhance operational efficiency, while also executing a targeted M&A strategy. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. John Lewthwaite, CEO at Checkmate, said: “We are very much looking forward to working with IK after a successful partnership with YFM. IK’s track record of supporting businesses in the fire protection market, combined with our position as UK’s leading passive fire specialist, means that we are best placed to drive future growth in a market with attractive dynamics. We would like to take this opportunity to thank YFM for all their support and guidance over the last five years.”

Simon May, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK SC III Fund, added: “This is an exciting first investment for the IK Development Capital strategy in the UK. Under the stewardship of John and his team, Checkmate has established itself as a high-quality provider in a rapidly growing and increasingly regulated market.

“We have been impressed with the company’s journey to date and see plenty of opportunities for continued growth. We look forward to working with the team at Checkmate and leveraging the resources and expertise of the wider IK platform to deliver an ambitious strategy.”

Steve Harrison, Partner at YFM Equity Partners, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with John and the entire team at Checkmate since we first invested in 2018. The business has seen rapid growth and development during this period, establishing itself as the leading player in the UK passive fire protection market. We wish Checkmate the best of luck for the future with the support of IK.”

New rail freight app secures £150,000 funding

The company behind an app that aims to move freight traffic off the roads and on to the rail network has secured a £150,000 loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. RailX is encouraging businesses to take a more sustainable approach to their logistics needs by making use of spare capacity on the rail network. Its app RailX – described as a ‘Trainline for rail freight’ – makes it easy to book rail and associated services including ‘first and final mile’ road deliveries. RailX is currently focused on serving Yorkshire businesses and the freight forwarders who serve them and offers a full ‘port to door’ service. The funding will enable it to continue to grow and expand its reach to target firms outside of Yorkshire, further develop its app and cope with the growing demand for its services. RailX was developed after Steve Freeman, the former Managing Director of Doncaster’s rail terminal iPort Rail, and Rail Consultant Paul Bathgate recognised that commercial train services typically run at least 25% below capacity. They joined forces with digital expert Tom Ciullo and finance director Ian Waring to launch the app in November last year. The company currently employs two staff and expects to create six new roles in the year ahead. Paul Bathgate said: “Around 90 per cent of UK freight is moved by road, which means that on any given day there are the equivalent of 20 empty trains running on the rail network. Part of the problem is that it is often difficult for smaller companies, or those unable to contract large volumes, to access and book space on trains. Our easy-to-use app takes the pain out of buying rail freight. “Per container, rail uses on average 76 per cent less carbon than road haulage. As it requires only one driver for up to 40 containers, it is far less labour intensive and can be cheaper and more reliable. By optimising the existing rail capacity, we can start to bring down costs, increase demand and encourage the modal shift to more sustainable transport solutions.” Andy Tyas of Mercia Debt added: “Rail freight offers the potential to save over 30,000 tonnes of carbon a year, and to reduce the amount of heavy goods traffic on the road. RailX could play a key role in the transition to more sustainable transport. “The team chose to pioneer their service in Yorkshire, building on their existing relationships in the region, and also the fact that an estimated 42% of rail freight moves through or stops in the county. With demand growing steadily, this funding will enable the company to begin its expansion across the Yorkshire region and the wider UK.” Andy McKenna, Access to Finance Advisor for the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, provided fundraising advice to the company.

Yorkshire Dales farmers to be offered share in grants totalling £2m

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority meets this week to agree an ambitious £13.1m work programme which includes £2m in grants available for farmers in the park While the Authority’s core government grant remains flat for an eighth year, Defra has provided additional Capital Funding of £500k. On top of significant external income secured by the National Park Authority through a variety of externally backed projects, this means the Authority can:
  • Provide £2m of grants to the National Park’s farmers and landowners through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.
  • Continue the Tees-Swale project, restoring peatland, hay meadows, woodland and other priority habitats across Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.
  • Provide new, Education and Outreach projects: Championing National Parks for everyone, and the National Citizen Service project.
  • Facilitate an extensive volunteers programme, young ranger, ‘Upskill Down Dale’ youth engagement programme, and apprenticeships, developing skills that lead to employment in the environmental sector.
  • Implement the Coast to Coast National Trail through the National Park, and a variety of other ambitions.
Derek Twine, Deputy Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee said: “The ambition in this year’s work programme is clear to see. Thanks to important income streams and the additional government capital funding, we have been able to commit to supporting farmers and landowners in accessing critical new grant funding, provide opportunities for underrepresented groups to experience the joy of visiting a National Park, and much more. “However, the very real pressure on our core government grant funding remains and the outlook beyond 2024/25 looks much less positive. The ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ programme and ‘Grow Back Greener’ project are both scheduled to end in March 2025 and continuing uncertainty over the Country’s public finances in general means it’s difficult to anticipate how our core grant, currently only £5.2m, will be impacted beyond next year. As a result, all of the Authority’s plans and ambitions for the future face a degree of uncertainty”.

Works progressing on next phases of Lincoln Enterprise Park

Construction works to deliver the next phases at Lincoln Enterprise Park are progressing to schedule with 80% of space already reserved.

Located on the A46 near Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln Enterprise Park is progressing with phases 7 to 10, which will bring an additional 34,500 sq ft to the park and could potentially create up to 100 new jobs.

Following the continued demand for commercial property in and around Lincoln and a successful planning appeal in 2021, developer and site owner LEP Developments commenced works in October last year, acting as both developer and contractor.

With groundworks done, steel frames ups and roofs complete, works to phases 7 and 8 – which are 6,500 sq ft each – are on schedule.

In total, phases 7 to 10 will bring 13 new mixed-use units ranging from 1,451 to 11,500 sq ft to Lincoln Enterprise Park, offering in-demand expansion opportunities for current occupants and new commercial premises for other businesses.

Current occupant and bespoke kitchen and furniture manufacturer, Krantz Designs, has been on Lincoln Enterprise Park since 2020. With its expanding client portfolio and desire to manufacture all its products in-house, the company has bought phase 7 as well as securing the lease of part of another unit as part of phase 9, giving the company a total of 20,000 sq ft at the park.

Managing director of Krantz Designs, Jamie Krantz, said: “With our showroom on historic Bailgate in Lincoln, we currently manufacture about 90% of our products here at Lincoln Enterprise Park, but for some time have wanted to increase that to 100%.

“We had no desire to move from the park as it’s the perfect location for us, is well managed and has a supportive business network, therefore when Nick secured planning for the next stage of expansion, I jumped at the chance to design and build our new HQ.

“We will have approximately 30 skilled team members at the park when we move into our new spaces later this year, which will include CAD technicians, cabinet painters, machinists and office personnel, and we will be recruiting in due course to fill new roles. The team and I are pleased to be continuing our journey at Lincoln Enterprise Park.”

Managing director of LEP Developments, Nicholas Falkinder, said: “At Lincoln Enterprise Park we support economic growth by providing our premium product in a unique and highly accessible location.

“Because of what we have on offer here and the service we provide, we have been fully occupied for over seven years. Jamie and the team at Krantz Designs are a great example of the business community at the park and how we support those businesses through leasehold agreements, then on to freehold opportunities if required.

“From the outset interest in the new units has been high and this resulted in 80% pre-construction sales in just a matter of months. The majority have been taken by existing occupants, which is what we strive for, and we are welcoming some exciting new businesses later in the year.

“I’m passionate about this park and its success, and for the first time we are developer and contractor, which is an incredible journey to be on to both ensure quality and see the progress onsite each day. I want to thank our community of businesses here and everyone who has made these next phases possible.”

Phases 7 and 8 are due for completion in the summer this year, phase 9 in early autumn and phase 10 in early 2025. Two units remain available to rent or buy and are being marketed by local agents Pygott & Crone and Lambert Smith Hampton.

All contractors working on the site are East Midlands-based and include CM Civils, a Lincoln-based civil engineering company which has delivered the groundworks.

Subject to planning, there is scope for further expansion at Lincoln Enterprise Park.