Building work on Goole business centre development to start next year

Stuart Pearcey
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Building work on Goole business centre development to start next year

Less than 18 months since its launch, Goole’s £8.1 million RaisE Business Centre is now more than 60 per cent occupied by tenants from a broad cross-section of industries, and construction work on a second phase of development is due to start early next year.

This follows the announcement that the University of Birmingham, supported by Siemens Mobility, has been awarded £15 million by the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund to establish a new world-leading railway research and innovation centre next to Rail Accelerator for Innovation Solutions and Enterprise. Both developments form part of the new Siemens Mobility Rail Village being established at Goole, which is set to create at least 1,000 jobs. RaisE Business Centre opened in April 2022, offering dedicated office, workshop, meeting and conference space set across three floors and extending to 3,200 square meters. It also houses an onsite café, which is operated by Feast 78 and serves business based at RaisE, as well as the wider community. The second floor of the building is occupied by Siemens Mobility, which was the catalyst for the development of Goole Rail Village when it announced that its new £200 million rail factory would be located in the East Yorkshire town. The manufacturing site is situated directly opposite RaisE Business Centre and will create up to 700 new jobs when it starts building trains for the UK market next year. RaisE Business Centre was developed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council using grant funding of £1.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £1 million from the Getting Building Fund, facilitated by the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Since its launch, RaisE has attracted small to medium enterprises (SMEs) from a variety of different sectors. The following tenants now have a presence within the centre:
  • Pace Technology UK, leading suppliers of vehicle tracking, GPS tracking, telematics, vehicle security, in-vehicle cameras and reversing systems.
  • First Avenue Training, specialists in delivering childcare and teaching assistant qualifications through work-based learning.
  • CWE, an independent supply, maintenance and logistics partner to the rail industry.
  • Argyll Drummond Financial Services, an independent mortgage and insurance brokerage.
  • CNC Recycling, a nationwide UPVC window recycling specialist.
  • Bel Esprit Social Care, a family-run business providing residential support to working age adults with mental health needs and/or learning disabilities.
  • DFDS Logistics Limited, a transport and logistics company.
  • Sure Healthcare, a provider within the healthcare and social care setting.
  • K&K (UK), a distributor of fasteners, industrial fixings and parts to a number of industries, including the rail industry.
  • Business Daily Group Limited, a multi-disciplinary marketing, communications, publications and advisory business.
  • Fox Red Wealth Management Ltd, a wealth management company.
  • 21 Transport Ltd, a transport services business.
  • HandB Commercial Projects Ltd, a principal contractor operating across the UK.
Councillor Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “It’s wonderful to see so many businesses making use of the impressive facilities on offer within RaisE, which has quickly established itself as a real hub of commercial activity. “With a second phase of development expected to get underway at the Rail Village later this year, I’m delighted that Goole is one of just two sites in the country to have been chosen to be the home of world-leading railway research and innovation facilities. This exciting and significant project will create many jobs in the research and development sector, including administrative and office roles, as well as technical jobs. It will also give the next generation the opportunity of a brighter future in innovation and technology in rail.”

From today agri-food firms can tap into funding from new £7.5m pot

Stuart Pearcey
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From today agri-food firms can tap into funding from new £7.5m pot

From today agri-food businesses in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland can apply for funding from a £7.5m pot to support innovation and growth.

A partnership of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, New Anglia LEP (covering Norfolk and Suffolk), and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority has been awarded the funding from Innovate UK under the Launchpads programme. The programme SMEs in the region to apply for competitive grants for R&D and innovation projects that focus on agrifood. The grant funding available starts from £25,000, and up to £300,000 is available for projects that provide exceptional impact to the cluster. To be eligible, projects must make a significant contribution to one or more of the following:
  • enhancing the productivity of primary crops, the bioeconomy, livestock, aquaculture or ornamental plants
  • biotechnologies related to agriculture, food and nutrition
  • food that promotes safe, healthy and nutritious diets
  • resource-efficient production methods for low-emission foods
Projects can focus on one or more of the following:
  • sustainability in the context of environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity
  • protecting, maintaining or enhancing animal welfare within current UK regulatory standard
  • nutritional composition, food manufacturing and processing, packaging, and safety
  • minimising negative effects such as pollution, food loss and waste
  • resilience and responsiveness in the supply chain, mitigating risks, interruptions or disruptions
Businesses applying for grant funding must either be based in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland, Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire, or be able to demonstrate how their project will significantly benefit those areas. Sarah-Louise Fairburn, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Food Board, said: “The announcement of a Launchpad supporting SMEs in our agrifood sector is warmly welcomed. “This news comes just days after the announcement of a £4.9 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to help transform the Lincolnshire and north Cambridgeshire (LINCAM) region into a global innovation centre for agricultural technology. “The team at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP has worked hard over a number of months to secure one of only eight Innovation Launchpads in the country for the Lincolnshire food and agritech sectors. “Both announcements put us firmly on course to achieve the ambitious goal of the new UK Food Valley, which is to establish Greater Lincolnshire as a top 10 global food cluster.”

Humber businesses call for ‘transformational investment’ in the region

Stuart Pearcey
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Humber businesses call for ‘transformational investment’ in the region
Leading businesses in the Humber have presented a united front to a Government Minister calling for transformational investment enabling the region to lead the UK’s drive to net zero. Members of the Humber Energy Board, MPs, and council leaders met with Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, to push the case for game-changing investment to decarbonise the region and provide a huge stimulus to the economy. The Humber Energy Board is the collaboration of private sector businesses and public sector organisations leading on the energy strategy for the region and behind the Humber 2030 Vision, which is a prospectus of major decarbonisation projects that represent a potential £15 billion investment in the Humber. These include:
  • BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) at Drax Power Station, which would be the world’s largest engineered carbon removals project.
  • Humber Zero, a world-scale CO2 reduction project to support the decarbonisation of critical UK industry, involving post combustion carbon capture, led by Phillips 66 and VPI Immingham.
  • H2H Saltend, Zero Carbon Humber’s low carbon hydrogen production facility with carbon capture at Saltend Chemicals Park, one of a number of major hydrogen projects in the region.
  • Refinery of the Future – large-scale investment at the Phillips 66 Humber Refinery, the only producer of speciality graphite coke used in lithium-ion batteries in Europe and the only UK refinery to make and supply sustainable aviation fuel at scale.
The Humber 2030 Vision details how, with Government support, these projects can establish the UK’s first low carbon industrial cluster in the region by that year, stimulating unprecedented private sector investment and creating and retaining tens of thousands of jobs. It also highlights why the Humber, as the UK’s largest carbon emitter, represents the country’s single biggest industrial decarbonisation opportunity. The event, at immingham, was chaired jointly by Richard Gwilliam, Chair of the Humber Energy Board and UK BECCS Programme Director at the renewable energy business Drax Group, and Hull North MP Dame Diana Johnson. It was attended by representatives from Humber Energy Board member companies Equinor, Harbour Energy, Humber Freeport, Phillips 66, Prax, RWE, SSE Thermal and Uniper. Members of the board and the region’s MPs are focused on working with the Government to find a solution to unlocking the £15 billion investment in the Humber, as a strategically important national asset. The business leaders stressed to Lord Callanan that decarbonising the region is critical for the development of the local and national economy, skills and job creation and retention, energy security, and for the Government to meet its target of the UK being net zero by 2050. Mr Gwilliam said: “Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, compelling us to decarbonise our economy, develop energy resilience and invest in new green technologies. “The Humber Energy Board is determined to make the Humber the world’s leading net zero industrial cluster. By working together under the shared banner of the Humber 2030 Vision, we’re ready to grasp this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and deliver the UK’s green revolution. “We have the platform, infrastructure and collective will to make this happen – but we need clarity and certainty from the Government, most urgently on pathways to deploy carbon capture and storage technologies. “It’s essential we have a pipeline network to remove CO2 from traditionally carbon intensive industries like power generation, steelmaking, chemicals and refinery, and deliver hydrogen to enable the switch from fossil fuels at scale. “The simple fact is that now is the time to deliver.”

Spencer reports profits of £1.7m in the face of difficult market conditions

Stuart Pearcey
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Spencer reports profits of £1.7m in the face of difficult market conditions
Engineering business C Spencer Ltd has delivered a resilient trading performance in its latest published accounts in the face of difficult market conditions. The company reported turnover of £52m and a pre-tax profit of £1.7m in the year ending 31st March 2023, despite the head winds of high inflation, rising interest rates, Brexit hangovers and the impact of the war in Ukraine. Charlie Spencer, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Hull-based business, said: “The considerable economic uncertainty during the year depressed capital investment in the UK economy, stalling the progress of a number of schemes as clients carefully considered the impact of escalating raw commodity prices. “Despite these challenges, we continued to deliver projects to an exceptionally high standard and secure a healthy pipeline of new work, much of it repeat business with our existing clients. “The capability we have to both design and deliver engineering projects using in-house resources is a key differentiator and gives us a competitive advantage in the markets we serve. These skills also enable us to fully engage with our supply partners to drive full value for our clients.” C Spencer Ltd trades under the Spencer Group brand and delivers solutions to complex engineering challenges for its blue-chip client base in the rail, bridges, industrial, infrastructure and energy markets. During the 2022-23 business year, C Spencer Ltd completed a series of flagship projects, including a major upgrade of Manchester International Depot to transform it into a modern train servicing and stabling facility, and maintenance and repair projects on some of the UK’s most iconic bridges, including renovation of Union Chain Bridge on the English/Scottish border and the Grade I listed Menai Suspension Bridge in North Wales. Prestigious contracts currently being delivered by C Spencer Ltd include construction of the £26.5m White Rose Rail Station in Leeds and a flagship international project to create a bespoke access system to inspect cables on the new Pattullo Bridge in British Columbia, Canada.

Government offers £4m grant to help Pensana create magnet metal plant at Saltend

Stuart Pearcey
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Government offers £4m grant to help Pensana create magnet metal plant at Saltend
Pensana has been a grant of up to £4,000,000 towards the funding it needs to build a rare earth oxide separation facility in the ‘Humber Freeport’ at Saltend. Chairman Paul Atherley said: “The successful development of the $250 million Saltend project would be an important step in supporting the UK automotive supply chain, which employs over 780,000 people, as it transitions to electric vehicles. “By 2030 the UK is expected to have transitioned from being a major European producer of internal combustion engines to be a world leader in the manufacture of electric drive units, producing three million every year, with a large proportion destined for export. Without a secure magnet metal supply chain this is under threat.” Pensana is establishing an independent, sustainable rare earth supply chain with mid- stream processing to produce magnet metal in the UK. The Saltend project will deliver 450 jobs during construction and 150 high value jobs in operation with a significant opportunity for further expansion. The Offer of Grant, made under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, follows an application submitted by Pensana to the Automotive Transformation Fund, is subject to terms set out in a grant funding agreement and conditional upon Pensana providing 1) clearance from the relevant authority monitoring state subsidies and 2) a funding, activities and deliverables plan which are expected to be provided in the coming weeks.  

Multi-million pound apartment plan takes step forward with loan for land purchase

Tess Egginton
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Multi-million pound apartment plan takes step forward with loan for land purchase
Specialist lender Together has agreed a loan for a developer to buy a plot of disused industrial land – paving the way for a tower on Leeds’ South Bank. Property investors Countrylarge have bought the land on the corner of Sayner Lane and Carlisle Road, near the Royal Armouries Museum, after securing the short-term finance facility. Antony Rosindale, of developers Country Large, said the proposed scheme would provide much-needed homes for young professionals. It will transform the previously derelict site as part of a wider regeneration project – by breathing new life into a former industrial plot of brownfield land in the city centre. Mr Rosindale said: “The Sayner Lane site is behind Leeds Dock in the South Bank, which had been undergoing a massive regeneration initiative to greatly improve the area. “There is a large project currently underway to build homes on the former Tetley Brewery site and other mixed-use developments already underway, with not only homes but medical facilities, a school and later life living units. “As an urban developer, we believe it’s important to look at brownfield sites, building on previously developed land, which is far more sustainable that building in the countryside. Our strategy is to deliver Build-to-Rent apartments, which will provide good quality homes for young professionals.” The £500 million South Bank regeneration, first put forward by the Council in 2011, is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects. The aim of the scheme is to eventually double the size of Leeds city centre. The wedge-shaped brownfield site at Sayner Lane currently has outline planning permission for a development of 150 apartments, which was granted last November. However, the developers are preparing a fresh application for the sustainable development of the 0.2 hectare plot. They expect to submit to planners at Leeds City Council within the next few weeks after securing the finance needed from specialist lender Together. The lender, which provides commercial and personal finance and has a loan book of £6.4billion, agreed a bridging loan to buy the land. Michael Devanny, corporate sales director at Together, said: “We are currently working with Country Large on other projects in Yorkshire and were impressed with their vision to breathe new life into this derelict corner on the South Bank. “Our short-term finance allowed the developers to quickly complete the purchase, paving the way for a tower of much needed city centre apartments. The latest development proposals will deliver benefits not only in terms of new housing but also through off-site green space improvements in the area, contributing to the transformation of Leeds South Bank as a mixed use community in an expanded city centre.”

Gilson Gray grows Lincoln property team with new partner

Tess Egginton
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Gilson Gray grows Lincoln property team with new partner
Full-service legal firm Gilson Gray has bolstered its residential property division in Lincoln with the appointment of new partner Cherie McBean. Cherie joins Gilson Gray from one of the North East’s largest firms, where she spent almost seven years as a residential property solicitor and most recently as part of the senior management team. Her new role involves leading the 100-strong team at Gilson Gray’s Lincoln branch and helping to develop its people and processes.  Cherie will manage the team alongside Gary Tyman who was the head of Home Property Lawyers (HPL) prior to its acquisition by Gilson Gray over a year ago. Cherie McBean said: “Gilson Gray is the perfect fit in terms of its cultural values and ambition. The property market is incredibly competitive in terms of client expectations, and embracing advances in technology will be key to streamlining the conveyancing process and improving customer experiences. “My goal is to help retain the firm’s position as market leader and drive the property team forward as we deliver a personal and dedicated service for our clients.” Debbie McCathie, partner and head of residential conveyancing at Gilson Gray, said: “Cherie is a very talented lawyer, and offers the perfect blend of skills that will further strengthen our residential conveyancing offering. “Having a UK-wide footprint is becoming increasingly important for top-tier law firms and we have ambitious plans to expand further across the country, building on our full-service approach to support clients in the English property market.” Glen Gilson, managing partner and chairman at Gilson Gray, said: “Our move into England was somewhat contra trend for the Scottish sector and has proven to be a valuable strategic move. Our English operation has expanded multifold from the original footprint acquired and the appointment of talent such as Cherie underpins our commitment to this market and client base.”

Plans submitted for 145,000 sq ft Station Plaza office development at White Rose Park in Leeds

Tess Egginton
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Plans submitted for 145,000 sq ft Station Plaza office development at White Rose Park in Leeds

Development and investment group Munroe K has submitted a planning application for the new Station Plaza office development at White Rose Park, which aims to be the first BREEAM Outstanding and NABERS 5 star out of town development in Leeds.

Planning has been submitted to Leeds City Council for a 145,000 sq ft new build office development directly fronting the new White Rose Railway Station, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2024. The masterplan for Station Plaza incorporates three buildings, two totalling 100,000 sq ft over two wings and interconnected with a shared atrium and the third is a separate 45,000 sq ft building.

The new high specification Grade A office buildings will comprise under croft car parking and will be set within a heavily landscaped site. The development has been designed with biodiversity as its core, with ESG top of the agenda at White Rose Park.

In addition to the targeted BREEAM Outstanding and NABERS 5 star accreditation, Munroe K is aiming for the development to be carbon neutral in operation. This aspiration follows the developer’s ambition to make White Rose Park carbon neutral by 2030, through implementing further sustainable features and throughout the new development.

The wider White Rose Park comprises just over 550,000 sq ft of offices across nine buildings which are almost fully occupied by a host of blue-chip businesses with only 12,000 sq ft remaining available, with interest in the space. There are some 5,000 employees across the Park’s fifteen occupiers and the on-site Elliott Hudson College, which is one of the City’s best performing colleges with Ofsted Outstanding, has circa 1,200 students.

The talent pool on site from the college and within the locality will be hugely boosted by the new train station which will give the park and its occupiers access to over 7m new people in a 45 minute travel time, with connectivity opened up to Manchester as well as a journey of just 4 minutes to Leeds City Centre.

White Rose Park is an established, successful environment with strong ESG credentials from its host of facilities including an on site creche, a 2G sports arena, outdoor gym, hospitality facilities and all the amenities at the neighbouring White Rose Shopping Centre which includes an Imax cinema.

David Aspin, founder and CEO, Munroe K, said: “We’ve always been successful in attracting and retaining occupiers and the opening of the new train station in Spring 2024 giving access to a new 7 million strong talent pool, has acted as a catalyst for this new development. Alongside our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030, this new sustainable office scheme makes for exciting times at the campus.”

Alex Hailey, senior director, CBRE Office Agency in Leeds, said: “There is strong demand for office space at White Rose Park as evidenced in its near full occupation and the proposed additional 145,000 sq ft will fill a crucial void in the city’s development pipeline.

“With on site and neighbouring amenities to rival the city centre, the abundance of green space and outdoor facilities along with crucial services such as the creche, employers can provide an exceptional working environment for their staff. The new train station will be a strong driver for occupiers interested in the new space as will its strong sustainable credentials.”

Office agents on Station Plaza at White Rose Park are CBRE, Knight Frank and Sanderson Weatherall.

Yorkshire bedding brand raises £100,000

Tess Egginton
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0
Yorkshire bedding brand raises £100,000
The Yorkshire designer behind a new luxury bedding brand has raised £100,000 from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, to help expand her business. Sophie Platts’ company Floks specialises in sustainable bedding including duvets, pillows and mattress toppers, all made from British wool and organic cotton and manufactured in Yorkshire. Having begun selling her products online two years ago, she now supplies John Lewis and is in talks with a number of well-known department stores. The company’s revenue has been growing rapidly over the past year. The funding will enable the York-based company to step up its marketing campaign and develop new products to expand the range. Sophie has over 15 years’ experience working with luxury brands, most recently with kitchenware company Joseph Joseph. The launch of Floks resulted from her own inability to sleep and was inspired by her two Yorkshire grandfathers – one a farmer and the other who worked in textiles. Sophie, who is the company’s Managing Director, said: “As a product designer, I always dreamed of having my own business, and in the depths of lockdown I had a lightbulb moment. I’m a poor sleeper and often wake up due to overheating but I discovered that wool bedding helps overcome this and has many other advantages. “I realised that I could design and make a fully sustainable UK-grown and made product that would support two important British industries at the same time – farming and manufacturing – and help give people a better night’s sleep.” David Wright of Mercia added: “Sophie has a wealth of experience in designer homewares. Floks builds on Yorkshire’s wool trade heritage and fills a gap in the market for sustainable luxury bedding that promotes healthy sleep. The funding will help her to expand the business and establish the brand as a market leader in premium British wool bedding.”

UK Government offers £4m grant for Saltend rare earth oxide separation facility

Tess Egginton
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0
UK Government offers £4m grant for Saltend rare earth oxide separation facility
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has offered Pensana a grant of up to £4m towards the funding required to build a rare earth oxide separation facility in the ‘Humber Freeport’ at Saltend. The grant follows an application submitted by Pensana to the Automotive Transformation Fund, and is subject to terms set out in a grant funding agreement and conditional upon Pensana providing clearance from the relevant authority monitoring state subsidies and a funding, activities and deliverables plan which are expected to be provided in the coming weeks. Chairman Paul Atherley said: “The successful development of the US$250 million Saltend project would be an important step in supporting the UK automotive supply chain, which employs over 780,000 people, as it transitions to electric vehicles (EVs). “By 2030 the UK is expected to have transitioned from being a major European producer of internal combustion engines to be a world leader in the manufacture of electric drive units (EDUs), producing three million EDUs annually, with a large proportion destined for export. Without a secure magnet metal supply chain this is under threat.” Pensana is establishing an independent, sustainable rare earth supply chain with mid-stream processing to produce magnet metal in the UK. The Saltend project will deliver 450 jobs during construction and 150 high value jobs in operation with a significant opportunity for further expansion.
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