Yorkshire construction specialist marks 10 years with financial milestones and new office

Tess Egginton
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Yorkshire construction specialist marks 10 years with financial milestones and new office

Yorkshire-based construction specialist, Henley Group, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with an 85% increase in YOY sales and a brand-new state of the art office in Wakefield to accommodate its expanding team.

The investment in office space and new hires comes as Henley Group also reports a rise in operating profits of 192%. It is on track for circa £12m+ turnover this financial year.

The company has invested significantly in its team within the last 12 months, hiring seven office-based employees and bringing the permanent team number to 23. The brand-new headquarters enables further space for the business to expand, with ten more hires forecasted by mid-2024. Henley Group also employs 80 contracted tradesmen and operatives and is looking to employ 15 more workers in this sector within the next 12 months.

The new two-storey office occupies over 6000 sq ft. The re-location will not only accommodate the growing team, but the area has an excellent talent pool of skilled operatives and managers within the construction sector, which will help to further facilitate expansion plans.

Managing Director, Shaun Henley, founded the business in 2012, beginning his career on site learning the skills of the trade on both small and large scale residential and commercial projects. With finite funding available, Shaun invested the money into setting up his own construction firm, offering bespoke stonemasonry and brickwork services.  

Henley Group now comprises a growing portfolio of businesses including Henley Stone Specialists, Henley Stone Restoration and Remedials, Henley Granite and Marble, and Henley Rail Services.

Shaun said: “I’m really proud of how far the company has come in the last ten years since our first project in 2013. It’s a testament to the team that we’ve been able to grow this rapidly, without compromising on our core values, quality and safety.

“It’s been a difficult few years for businesses in most sectors and the construction industry is no exception, impacted by way of job losses, rising costs and key players exiting the market. While it’s been a challenging time, by focusing on uncompromising quality, expanding our service offering and business portfolio and forging key relationships, we’ve been able to buck this trend and we’re excited for what the next decade will bring.” 

Speaking about the vision and next steps for the business, Shaun said: “Our next proposition is ‘Project Eagle’, which will be the next stage in establishing an integrated construction group that offers specialist services and products by optimising Henley Group’s current position in specific sub-sectors of the UK construction market.” 

Six projects costing £36m will improve water quality in Leeds and Bradford

Stuart Pearcey
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Six projects costing £36m will improve water quality in Leeds and Bradford
Yorkshire Water is investing £36m in six projects in west Leeds and Bradford to improve water quality within Pudsey Beck by reducing storm overflows during periods of prolonged or heavy rain. The six projects include:
  • New storm water storage at Pudsey Smalewell, Pudsey beginning in October 2023
  • Additional storm water storage off Dick Lane, Thornbury, Bradford beginning in January 2024
  • New storm water storage at Farnley ring road beginning in January 2024
  • Installation of storm water storage at Kent Road, Littlemoor Bottom, Pudsey beginning in February 2024
  • Installation of storm water storage at Dale Farm, Drighlington beginning in February 2024
  • The creation of a 4.7-hectare integrated constructed wetland at a disused Yorkshire Water site previously earmarked for housing at Hough Side, Pudsey beginning in July 2024
Additional storage will be added to the network to slow the flow of heavy or prolonged rainfall, which modelling indicates will reduce the number of storm discharges into Pudsey Beck by more than 20%. The new integrated constructed wetland at Hough Side will accommodate a minimum 25,000 cubic metres of diluted wastewater from heavy or prolonged rainfall events and will take about three years to build. Plants in a series of cells will treat the diluted wastewater as it travels through the wetland via gravity. Pollutants and nutrients will be naturally broken down and taken up by the plants and bacteria within the wetland. The wastewater will not include solid waste. Once established, the wetland will also provide a biodiversity net gain and improve the area for local wildlife. Richard Stuart, director of capital delivery at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to improving water quality in the rivers across our region. One of the key focuses is reducing storm overflows to make a real difference to water quality in our rivers. “This project is a significant investment in the west Leeds and Bradford areas to improve water quality within Pudsey Beck. The additional storage and wetland we are building into the network will reduce the number of storm overflows significantly into the watercourse and is just part of a £568m capital investment we are making across Yorkshire this year alone. “While work is being conducted in the area, there may be some traffic disruption and we are working closely with local authority highways departments to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. “We know that there is more to be done to tackle storm overflows.  We are already working on our largest ever environmental investment as part of our 2025-2030 business plan. The plans, which will be subject to approval by our regulator Ofwat, outline a £1 billion investment to further reduce discharges from overflows to meet the government’s storm overflow reduction plan, including the requirement for coastal bathing waters of an average of two spills per bathing water season by 2035.” The project is a collaboration between Yorkshire Water, Stantec, Kier, Arup, WSP, Mott MacDonald Bentley, Peter Duffy Limited, Galliford Try, Barhale, Tilbury Douglas, Leeds City Council and Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Beware chatbots when seeking HR advice, says sector specialist

Stuart Pearcey
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Beware chatbots when seeking HR advice, says sector specialist
Employers in Lincolnshire are being advised not to use AI-powered chatbots for HR advice and guidance on employment law. HR expert Laura Reilly has spoken out because of the rising popularity of chatbots such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing AI, being used in place of some work functions. She says that whilst chatbots can be a time saver and help productivity for various tasks, their information isn’t always reliable, which could land businesses in hot water. Laura, of Taurus HR Solutions, said: “Chatbots are a great addition to many workplaces right now… if they’re used in the right way. “The problem is, their ‘learning’ is up to two years out of date, and because employment law changes so frequently, asking them for HR advice could lead to a business breaking the law – and that could mean business owners find themselves being taken to an employment tribunal for failing to stick to appropriate legislation.” Laura also points out that chatbots have been found to give out inaccurate information, or information that is country-specific, which could also lead to problems. She said: “When it comes to employment law, it’s always best to seek advice from a real-life HR expert. “We spend hours keeping up with changes to the law and making sure we’re well-versed in everything HR, to keep you and your staff protected. “While it can be tempting to cut corners to save money – especially in today’s climate – acting on the wrong advice could ultimately end up costing you way more.”

Spencer Group takes apprentice recruitment total to 50 in five years

Stuart Pearcey
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Spencer Group takes apprentice recruitment total to 50 in five years
Hull-based Spencer Group has reached a major milestone in its apprenticeship programme, with this week’s seven new recruits meaning it has employed more than 50 apprentices in just five years. The latest intake of young talent includes five engineering apprentices and two IT Services apprentices. They will join a growing number of Ron Dearing alumni who have taken up full time positions in Engineering, Commercial, Project Management, Design, Marketing, Planning, IT Service and Computer programming. As founding partners of Ron Dearing UTC, Spencer Group works closely with students from year 10 onwards with attendance at open events and career expos. The business also provides ongoing support including Work Experience Programme, Interview Skills training, Mock Interview practice, Professional Behaviours and Employability Skills training. The relationship between Spencer Group and the school has created a productive pipeline of fresh talent for the engineering industry as well as opening up exciting and rewarding opportunities for young talent. Charlie Spencer, Executive Chairman and founder of Spencer Group, said: “Employing our 50th apprentice in just five years is testament to the dedication and hard work being put in by staff at Spencer Group, Ron Dearing UTC and other employer partners to ensure there’s a pipeline of young talent within the city. “It’s fantastic to see the positive impact the apprentices are making on the business as they develop into their full time positions.”

British Steel signs deal to supply steel for world’s largest wind farm foundation factory

Stuart Pearcey
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British Steel signs deal to supply steel for world’s largest wind farm foundation factory
Steel made by Scunthorpe-based British Steel is being used to create the world’s largest factory of its kind – making the foundations for offshore wind farms. It’s the £450m project to build a monopile manufacturing facility at the Teesworks site by SeAH Wind. When complete, the 800-metre-long building will be the world’s biggest monopile facility, and is the first of its kind in the UK. The 40-metre high factory will produce up to 200 monopiles every year – which form the foundations of offshore wind turbines. A new deal between SeAH, British Steel and Severfield has now been signed which will see steel from Teesside’s Beam Mill at Lackenby, near Redcar, used in the giant development. Almost 400 people are now working on the site. Many more jobs for the plant will come online towards the end of 2023 and early in 2024 – with 750 direct jobs in total and 1,500 forecast to come through the supply chain. British Steel will supply more than 30,000 of tonnes of steel under the agreement. Ben Cunliffe, British Steel’s Commercial Director for Construction, said: “We’re extremely proud that our steel manufactured at Teesside Beam Mill is going into this hugely impressive development by SeAH Wind, and we are delighted to play our part in the exciting regeneration happening on our doorstep in Teesside. “While we have a rich heritage having supplied many iconic buildings across the globe, we’re focused on the future and delivering the high-quality products our customers require. “Teesside and British Steel remain at the forefront of UK steelmaking, and we look forward to working with our partners both on this huge project for SeAH Wind and beyond in the continued levelling up and transformation of the area.”

Bolt tightening event signals major milestone on Sheffield’s West Bar project

Stuart Pearcey
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Bolt tightening event signals major milestone on Sheffield’s West Bar project
An official bolt tightening event has taken place to celebrate a major construction milestone in the first phase delivery of the £300m West Bar development in Sheffield city centre.
Senior officials from project funder Legal & General visited the site to view progress on the steel frame superstructure for the first 100,000 sq ft office building, No.1 West Bar, which is expected to be completed by next June.  Construction is also well under way for the two residential blocks to provide 368 build to rent apartments.
Urbo (West Bar) Ltd, a joint venture between Urbo Regeneration and Peveril Securities (the development arm of the Bowmer and Kirkland Group) secured £160 million of funding from Legal & General in the largest single city centre investment deal Sheffield has ever seen.  It has awarded a £94 million construction contract to Bowmer & Kirkland to deliver the first phase to include West Bar Square, which will be the heart of the commercial public realm area and Soho Yard which will serve the residential BTR apartments.
As part of the agreed deal between Legal & General and Urbo, a second 100,000 sq ft office building will be delivered to follow No.1 West Bar Square.  A new 450 space multi-storey car park is also part of the first phase with around 300 cycle storage spaces and electric car charging points.  Connectivity into the surrounding walking and cycling routes is incorporated to encourage more sustainable travel.
Gordon Aitchison, Director of Investment and Development at Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets, said: “It’s fantastic to see such momentum at Sheffield West Bar as we continue in partnership with Urbo, Sheffield City Council, and the local community. The delivery of West Bar will provide a vibrant new quarter for the centre of Sheffield; bringing much-needed new homes, jobs, and regeneration. “With the need for investment in our UK towns and cities ever-increasing, Legal & General remains committed to using dynamic partnerships to spark regeneration and secure the economic prosperity of socially important schemes.”
Peter Swallow, MD at Urbo, said: “It is incredible to witness how far Bowmer & Kirkland have progressed with three great structures already making a prominent stamp on the city skyline and even more exciting to realise that completion is just ten months away!”
The West Bar neighbourhood is on the Inner Ring Road between Sheffield’s Kelham Island, Cathedral and Castlegate Quarters.
Surrounding public realm, West Bar Square will become a landscaped focal point of the project whilst providing much needed amenity space for occupiers and the local community.
Soho Yard offers 368 residential apartments within two buildings situated around a landscaped space and gardens with access via Plum Lane. The properties will be delivered and operated by Legal & General as part of its highly successful ‘Build to Rent – Homes for Life’ portfolio. It sits on the site of the famous ‘Soho wheel’ that powered grinding machinery near the River Don after the Industrial Revolution.
West Bar is a £300 million, award-winning development that is transforming a strategically important gateway site in Sheffield to provide one million sq ft of mixed-use space.  This includes 500,000 sq ft of new Grade A workspace, residential apartments, new high quality public realm, multi storey car parking, together with new retail and leisure uses.  As well as providing much needed new housing, it will deliver the city’s largest office floorplates whilst supporting up to 8,000 new jobs.
 

Feasibility study to be launched for Keighley’s Beechcliffe site

Stuart Pearcey
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Feasibility study to be launched for Keighley’s Beechcliffe site
Consultants are being sought for a feasibility study into the development of a multi-million-pound industrial estate in Keighley. An investment of up to £7m from the Keighley Towns Fund has been earmarked for the development of the eight-acre Beechcliffe site. The Council-owned site, beside the Hard Ings roundabout to the west of the A629, has been allocated for employment uses since the early 90s. The first phase of work will be a feasibility study to look at the level of work needed to secure planning permission, remediate the site, and construct an access road, as well as upgrade the existing path which links Royd Ings with Utley with a new cycle and footpath route. The second phase would be undertaking a full programme of work to remediate the site and deliver plots for development. Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw said: “We know there’s huge demand for employment land in and around Keighley so I’m delighted this project is moving forward. “The first stage is a feasibility study but ultimately we’re looking to create a new industrial park which will increase the opportunities for businesses in the area and generate employment opportunities for residents.” Ian Hayfield, Chair of Keighley Towns Fund, said: “This £7m allocation is a very specific fund targeting the redevelopment of identified brownfield sites, taking the pressure off greenfield sites. The aim is to increase the supply of business accommodation in Keighley, which will bring a significant economic boost for the area.” From the Keighley Towns Fund money, £14m has been specifically allocated to transform derelict buildings or empty sites in Keighley, called the ‘Development Investment Fund.’ It is from this fund that the £7m for this project has been allocated.

Former Sky Director joins Yorkshire Water in customer experience role

Stuart Pearcey
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Former Sky Director joins Yorkshire Water in customer experience role
Yorkshire Water has appointed former Sky Director of Home Services, Imran Patel as its new Group Director of Customer Experience as the utility pushes forward with plans to modernise the services provided to customers in the region. Imran will join Yorkshire Water in the new year, with over 20 years’ experience delivering customer-centric transformation programmes. His most recent role at Sky focussed on leading the Home Services business ensuring that Sky products are delivered into homes across the UK, leading a team of about 4,000 engineers. Before Sky, Imran spent over 18 years at BT in various roles focussed on leading field teams, contact centres and other service-related departments. Nicola Shaw, Chief Exec at Yorkshire Water, said: “Imran’s experience in managing the delivery of UK-wide services for Sky and BT, along with his passion for transformation and customer experience match well with our ambitions and we’re delighted that he will be joining our team.” Imran said: “This is a great opportunity for me to bring my knowledge and experience of all things customer and transformation to work with the teams in Yorkshire Water to develop and shape our services for the future. “I’m very much looking forward to working for an organisation that can really make a positive impact on the communities it serves.”

Leeds healthcare specialist secures £8.25m investment

Tess Egginton
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Leeds healthcare specialist secures £8.25m investment
Healthcare specialist Primary Care Physio Limited (PCP) has secured an £8.25 million investment from BGF. Founded in 2020 by Ryan Allen, Mohammed Nazir and Professor Gary Shuckford, PCP is a rapidly growing primary healthcare service. It provides physiotherapists and podiatrists to Primary Care Networks (PCNs), freeing up GP capacity in the primary care sector. The company currently employs over 300 clinicians. This significant investment from BGF will allow PCP to execute its ambitious growth strategy, while helping to alleviate some of the challenges facing the primary healthcare market, including chronic GP shortages, growing musculoskeletal issues, and an increasing emphasis on community-focused care. Jon Lowe, the former CEO of Connect Health, will join PCP as its non-executive chair. Meanwhile, Dean Barber will be joining as chief financial officer. Ryan Allen, CEO at Primary Care Physio, said: “With a growing, ageing, and increasingly complex patient landscape, there is an unprecedented need for a flexible and fast musculoskeletal platform that enables GP practices to continue to deliver best practice care. At PCP, we enable PCNs to meet their objectives. “To achieve our wider strategic aims, we wanted a minority investment partner that recognised the vast potential that exists—not only in our business, but in the wider marketplace. “We also wanted to work alongside an investor that could adopt a patient and long-term outlook, but equally had a strong track record of helping businesses to capitalise on the opportunities ahead of them. BGF ticked all those boxes and we’re delighted to be working with the team, who we can see will add value beyond the investment.” The deal was led by Chris Boyes and James Baker, investors in BGF’s Yorkshire team. Chris Boyes, BGF investor, said: “PCP is an exciting and rapidly expanding business in a sector with significant potential, led by a highly experienced management team, with strength and depth in the primary care market. “We’re delighted to be supporting PCP’s ambitious growth plan, as it looks to continue to deliver best in class solutions and outcomes. As the primary care market continues to recover from the pandemic, PCP is well placed to maintain its rapid growth, supporting the delivery of patient outcomes. “We look forward to partnering with Ryan and the wider PCP team as we continue to scale the business.”

Printing company fined £100,000 after worker’s hand crushed

Tess Egginton
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Printing company fined £100,000 after worker’s hand crushed
A commercial printing company has been fined £100,000 after an employee’s hand was crushed by a laminating machine. The man had been working for Celloglas Limited at the firm’s site at Cross Green Industrial Estate in Leeds. He was attempting to fix a laminating machine on 25 November 2020 when his right hand was drawn into the device and crushed between two rollers. The worker, who was 31 at the time, realised the machine had broken while he was feeding the device with paper. The incident led to the man’s right hand sustaining soft tissue crush injures as well as nerve damage and contact burns to his right wrist. The injuries to his hand meant the man could not drive for seven months following the incident and also led to him suffering with anxiety and PTSD. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident found the laminating machine was not adequately guarded and that the company failed to review existing risk assessments for the machine which required the production of a safe system of work. Celloglas Ltd, of Exeter Way, Theale Commercial Estate, Theale, Reading, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £5,165.09 in costs at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 30 August 2023. HSE inspector Darian Dundas said: “A review of existing risk assessments for the machine should have identified that a safe system of work was required to keep operatives safe from harm. Had such a review taken place then this incident could so easily have been avoided.” This HSE prosecution was supported by HSE enforcement lawyer Gemma Zakrzewski.
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