MAP Charity completes £1.4m refurbishment of Hope Foundry in Leeds
Alternative education provider, MAP Charity has made a huge step towards revitalising Mabgate’s creative business community in Leeds, completing a £1.4m refurbishment of Hope Foundry.
The Grade-II listed building is currently home to the charity’s Education Programme and a small number of creative practitioners and not-for-profit organisations.
The £1.4m project has been funded by grants from Leeds City Council, the European Regional Development Fund and MAP Charity, reflecting a significant investment of public funding into the Mabgate area.
By offering local creative businesses and practitioners access to affordable workspaces, the refurbished first and second floors provides a home for small, independent organisations and start-ups, reinvigorating Mabgate’s reputation as a hub of creativity.
From screen printers to audio mastering engineers, skilled professionals already operate from Hope Foundry, and up to 30 creative businesses will now be able to make Hope Foundry their home.
Strategic property advisors, Fox Lloyd Jones have been appointed by the charity to lead the letting of Hope Foundry, with spaces ranging from 150 to 2,693 sq ft.
The first floor is separated into ten studio workspaces, which are now fully let. The 2,693 sq ft second floor operates as one large workspace available as a whole or in part and is suited to growing creative organisations.
Tom Smith, co-founder of MAP Charity, said: “We’re hugely proud of this major refurbishment and being able to take derelict spaces and turn them into fantastic workspaces. Our aim is to make the building sustainable financially, whilst also offering affordable spaces to creative businesses who want to work with young people.
“In addition to the benefits to potential occupiers, the expanded possibilities following the refurbishment of Hope Foundry are hugely important to MAP Charity’s Education Programme, which works with young people at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
“By working closely with a community of creative professionals, students will be able to access opportunities to learn skills directly from creative professionals and apply them to real life situations.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, added: “It’s fantastic to see plans for this beautiful building taking such an important step forward.
“The redevelopment of Hope Foundry will be an important catalyst in revitalising the Mabgate area, which is such a key part of the city for our creative industries, independents and start-ups. The superb work of MAP helps so many talented young people in Leeds to flourish and we’re very proud to be supporting them to develop that work further.”
Nick Salkeld, director at Fox Lloyd Jones, said: “Hope Foundry is paving the way in placing Mabgate at the forefront of a fast-growing hive of creativity bringing together a wide variety of organisations. We are delighted to be working alongside MAP Charity to build this exciting community and play a role in revitalising the iconic Hope Foundry.”
European firm reveals majority investment in Sheffield digital engineering consultancy
European technology solutions and services firm SCC has revealed a majority investment in Nimble, a Sheffield-headquartered, 150-person digital engineering consultancy.
Founded in 1975 by Sir Peter Rigby and with significant footprints in the UK, France, and Spain, SCC has steadily evolved from its reseller roots to offer services in line with technology innovations and customer demand.
The investment announcement marks another significant step in what the company calls its ‘Digital Solutions and Services Provider’ (DSSP) strategy – a plan that will see the company build a 2,000-person European digital consultancy within the decade.
“For decades, our customers across Europe have trusted us to bring value and support in their technology environments,” said James Rigby, CEO of SCC EMEA. “The investment in Nimble – alongside organic investments we have already made in the areas of cloud, cybersecurity, and digital workplace – will enable SCC to bring that same trust and value as they embark on digital transformation journeys.”
Rigby noted that the company’s search for the right firm to “seed” its digital transformation services business ended when he and his team encountered the Nimble team, led by CEO Chris Roberts. While the firm was still relatively young (Roberts founded Nimble in 2016), it had all the traits SCC sought.
“We looked first for a company that shared our values and our commitment around customer service,” explained Rigby. “The way Nimble engages with its clients, the culture Chris and the team have created, and the pragmatic way they make decisions – it felt comfortable from the first conversation and will fit well with the way we are already operating in our Cloud.”
To Roberts and his Nimble team (known as ‘Nimblers’), the opportunity to engage with SCC’s public and private sector clients was the initial draw, as well as the opportunity to expand Nimble’s reach into Europe, and to extend the company’s services by leveraging SCC’s delivery teams in Romania and Vietnam.
“Partnering with SCC gives us rocket fuel to grow Nimble both in the UK and beyond,” noted Roberts. “This gives Nimblers an even bigger playing field to deliver innovation across our current capabilities and to consider new areas where we can help customers accelerate their transformation, including AI.”
SCC will operate Nimble as a separate company under the guidance of Roberts and the current Nimble management team, with additional strategy support to be provided by senior SCC executives.
“With SCC’s global footprint and our investment in cloud services, we had many of the pieces we needed to help clients with digital transformation,” said Christine Olmsted, SCC’s Corporate Development Director, who will also serve as Nimble’s Chief Strategy Officer.
“What we lacked was the front end – a team of seasoned consultants who could help customers envision and articulate their needs and the development and delivery ‘squads’ to then make that vision a reality. With Nimble now on board, SCC can become the full-scale Digital Solutions and Services Provider our customers are seeking.”
Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Nimble was advised by Squire Patton Boggs and Alantra, while SCC advisors included Eversheds Sutherland and Grant Thornton.
City’s football stadium extension starts to take shape
A new Skills & Education Hub at Lincoln City FC’s LNER Stadium is starting to take shape, with the steel frame of the extension to the existing Stacey West stand now complete.
It follows extensive groundworks, which have included a new mains water supply, increased power supply, and a state-of-the-art pitch irrigation recycling system.
Once complete in August 2024, the new building will provide the Lincoln City Foundation with the facilities and office space to expand its social impact work in the local community. New matchday stadium toilet facilities will also be integrated with the existing Stacey West stand.
As part of the work, a new 70,000 litre tank has been installed at the stadium. This will be filled with rain water from the pitch and the roof, via the new irrigation system. The water will then be reused on the pitch. Recycling rainfall in this way will save the club thousands of pounds on its water bill as it relies less on mains supplies.
Richard Shaw, Lindum Group Director, said: “It is fantastic to see the progress being made at the Stacey West project, with the new frame giving us a good idea of what the finished building is going to look like.
“It is important to us that we can not only provide a dynamic space for the Lincoln City Foundation, but also help the club lower its environmental impact and running costs. We are very much looking forward to the completion of the extension and becoming part of the history of the Stacey West stand and the stadium as a whole.”
Damian Froggatt, Director of Operations at Lincoln City Football Club, said: “After four years of planning and having secured over £2m in funding, we are delighted to see construction work well underway. The new build will provide over 1500 square metres of dedicated new space from which Lincoln City Foundation can expand its vital social impact work, further establishing Lincoln City Football Club as a true community club.”
Work can now begin on the brick work and concrete floor slab. Bricklayers started on site at the end of August, giving the people an idea of what it will look like when it is finished.
Business need urgent action to stimulate growth, says Chamber
The British Chambers of Commerce is calling for urgent action from politicians to stimulate economic growth across the UK. Among the key asks are:
- Better planning for business so that firms are not squeezed out of towns and cities.
- Introduction of flexibility in the apprenticeship levy to support everyone in the workplace.
- Strengthened UK-EU co-operation to increase bi-lateral investment levels.
- Dramatic energy grid upgrades to ensure there is sufficient network capacity to meet modern needs.
Non-profit organisation to enjoy new and improved office space thanks to Levelling Up Funding
A charitable organisation providing support to vulnerable adults in Hull will soon enjoy new and improved office space thanks to Levelling Up Funding.
MRC Estates and Letting Agents Limited and its not-for-profit sister company, CU Support, has been granted £54,402.98 for the restoration to the ground floor of 2-4 Baker Street.
Full planning permission has already been approved for three new windows and the installation of roof mounted solar panels and, on completion, the project will create seven full-time equivalent jobs.
The funding, from monies awarded to Hull City Council in 2021 by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will be match funded by MRC, meaning the overall cost of the project is £108,805.95.
The building will undergo a full refurbishment, with works including a full strip out of the floor space, as well as new doors and frames, air conditioning and ventilation. There will also be new flooring and decorations.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “Levelling Up Funding has provided so many opportunities to regenerate the city centre and this is another example.
“It is great that the council is able to support both a local business and a non-profit organisation at the same time.”
Private sector activity down again, making for a flat year, says CBI
Private sector activity fell again in the three months to August, marking a full year of declining or flat activity, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator.
Manufacturing was a particular weak spot, reporting a contraction in output of almost 20% – the sharpest isince September 2020 (-19%).
Services also saw a continued downturn in the quarter to August, with business volumes falling at a broadly similar pace to last month (-6% from -8% in July). This reflected another notable contraction in consumer services (-22%) but volumes in business & professional services were broadly unchanged (-2%). Meanwhile, distribution sales stabilised after three rolling quarters of decline (-2%).
Looking ahead, activity is expected to continue falling at a broadly similar pace over the next three months (-6%). Output is expected to stagnate in manufacturing (-3%) and continue to fall slightly in services (-7%) and distribution (-8%).
Alpesh Paleja, CBI Lead Economist, said: “Activity remains weak in the private sector, reflecting difficult trading conditions for businesses and the growing impact of the higher cost of credit. The weakness in manufacturing and consumer services is particularly a stark indication of just how challenging things are.
The upcoming Autumn Statement will need to be mindful of continually challenging conditions for businesses, and ongoing pressure on households from high inflation. It will also need a renewed focus on building the productive capacityof the economy, which is the surest way to drive up growth and living standards”
Manufacturing company fined after workers injured by explosion
A manufacturing company in West Yorkshire has been fined £200,000 after workers were injured by an explosion.
Three workers at Weir Minerals Europe Limited sustained burns while operating a furnace at the firm’s site on Halifax Road in Todmorden on 25 February 2020.
They had been melting a large amount of steel before an explosion took place in the furnace. It had most likely been caused by water entering the furnace while the workers were adding in the scrap metal.
The three men suffered burns to their faces, heads and backs. There was also resulting damage to the surrounding equipment.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Weir Minerals Europe Limited was aware of the risk associated with wet scrap metal being added to the furnace. However the protection from rain that was in place at the time of the incident was not adequately implemented and maintained.
Weir Minerals Europe Limited, of Halifax Road, Todmorden, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay £6,095 in costs at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court on 5 September 2023.
HSE inspector Jackie Ferguson said: “This was a serious incident that could so easily have 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 supported by HSE enforcement lawyer Matt Reynolds.
NFU angry that farmers won’t be paid as promised, says President Minette Batters
Payments for the new scheme should have been ready to deliver by December. However, critical delays in the roll-out of the new scheme has meant that farmers are unable to access it in that timescale – and this coincides with major reductions in payments under BPS, leaving farmers facing a double whammy in the run-up to Christmas.
“We now know that farmers will not be paid this year, despite assurances that they would be,” said NFU President Minette Batters. “With farm input costs through the roof and interest rates soaring, this leaves farmers in a perilous place.
“The old scheme goes, the new one’s not ready, and farm businesses are caught in the middle. That’s not fair and we are calling on ministers to recognise that and make it right.”
Wednesday 13 September 2023 marks the NFU’s annual Back British Farming Day – a celebration of our farmers and growers, our great food and the countryside, and of the people who make a huge contribution to the UK economy. “It would be great if government could have some good news on this for farmers then,” Minette added.
The NFU says problems with SFI do not only affect farmers. The government has legislated for environmental targets through this new scheme, known as “public money for public goods”, and farmers have embraced that concept. With the scheme delayed a lot of on-farm environmental work it is designed to pay for cannot begin.
Therefore, the organisation are calling on ministers to halt any further reduction in existing farm payments – due to fall by £720 million this year alone – until delivery problems with SFI are solved.
“All we’re asking for is government to bridge the gap it has created by taking away one set of payments, but not delivering access to their replacements on time,” said Minette.
Ministers had previously committed that SFI 2023 would be open in August, with payments coming in December. But it will now only be partially open and not until mid-September. It takes some months between a farmer being accepted on to the scheme and payment being made.
Farmers were able to register “an expression of interest” on 30 August, with a handful then expecting “an invitation to apply”, meaning the scheme was “technically” open but the reality is very different.
Payments farmers were relying on will now not come this year and will come to only a handful of farmers in the early part of 2024.
The Sheffield College secures £2.6m cash injection to expand facilities
The Sheffield College has secured a £2.6 million cash injection to expand facilities for apprentices and students who study and train at Olive Grove Campus.
Based on Olive Grove Road, the campus specialises in engineering, motor vehicle, gas fitting and plumbing courses and qualifications.
Now the campus estate is set to expand following the approval of £2.6 million from the Department for Education’s Post 16 Capacity Fund for 2023/24.
Upgrading the facilities is part of wider college plans to transform Olive Grove Campus into an Advanced Technology Centre for the city.
Andrew Hartley, Deputy Chief Executive, The Sheffield College, said: “This is fantastic news for our college community as well as the city and beyond.”
He added: “Investing in the latest facilities to provide our apprentices and students with the best possible learning experience for their future careers is our top priority.”
Current automotive and engineering workshops will be expanded with a two-storey building extension.
The new facilities, involving industry standard training spaces, will include:
- five motor vehicle bays including three ‘clean’ bays for electric/hybrid cars.
- two motor vehicle body and paint bays.
- ten welding bays.
- five new classrooms.
- enhancements to the learning resource centre and reception area.
- additional digitally enabled quiet learning and student social spaces.
Drax announces chair designate to take over at year’s end
Drax has appointed Andrea Bertone as a non-executive director and Chair Designate of the Company to take over when Philip Cox steps down at the end of December after nine years in the role.
Will Gardiner, Drax CEO said: “Andrea’s extensive executive experience in the international energy sector will provide Drax with a deep understanding of global markets and their underpinning regulation, as well as invaluable experience in leading transformative change in multinational businesses. In addition, the breadth of Andrea’s non-executive roles in diverse and global businesses will further enhance the experience and capabilities of our Board.”
The appointment of Ms Bertone in the role of Chair Designate allows for a managed handover from Mr Cox before she takes over the position.
Ms Bertone is the former President of Duke Energy Corporation’s (“Duke”) international division. She spent 15 years at Duke, including seven years as President of DEI with executive responsibility for a portfolio of c.4,400MW of hydro and thermal assets. Prior to serving as President, Ms Bertone held senior legal positions between 2001 and 2009 at DEI, including as associate General Counsel from 2003 to 2009, as part of which she oversaw legal and regulatory matters for the Group’s business in Latin America. Ms Bertone left Duke in 2016. Prior to Duke, Ms Bertone’s roles included Latin America counsel with Baker McKenzie.
Ms Bertone, who lives in Houston, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Law from the University of Sao Paulo Law School in Brazil and a Master of Law in International and Comparative Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Ms Bertone is a member of the Brazilian Bar Association.
