The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, UK, Professor Neal Juster, on Monday (3 March) led a parliamentary Skills and Employment Summit in the House of Lords exploring the potential opportunities that a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) could present for Lincolnshire. GDFs are internationally recognised by governments, technical experts, and scientists as the best solution for the safe, permanent disposal of our most hazardous radioactive waste. Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is currently exploring suitable sites for a GDF, with one of the areas of focus located in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. The project, which would be one of the largest environmental protection programmes in the UK, has the potential to present the community around NWS’ chosen site with significant opportunities for a local workforce, skills, and education, as well as many other benefits such as improvements to local transport and infrastructure. The summit saw the University, NWS and other organisations discuss how such opportunities could help address some of the adverse socio-economic conditions faced by rural and coastal communities, like those in East Lindsey, with a focus on local job creation and economic growth. The district contains a number of areas of deprivation, where outcomes around health, education, life expectancy, and household income are low. The introduction of a major infrastructure project, such as a GDF, and its resulting supply chain could help provide aspirational opportunities for younger people, improve connectivity, and attract further investment. These themes were at the heart of the summit, which Professor Juster opened with a speech that recognised the need to grow economic activity within Lincolnshire beyond Lincoln and detailed how the University, in aligning with industry and government policy, can foster innovation, develop skills, and drive regional economic growth. The event also highlighted the recently launched independent report by the Midlands Engine Observatory: ‘A Current Socio-economic Profile of East Lindsey and an Economic Impact Assessment of a Geological Disposal Facility in East Lindsey’ . The report provides a comprehensive overview of the socio-economic landscape of East Lindsey, finding that hosting a GDF in the region could provide positive benefits such as increasing employment opportunities, improving productivity, and contributing to economic diversification, growing the local economy by 4.6% by 2050. Professor Juster said: “Rural and coastal communities, including those in Greater Lincolnshire, have major potential to contribute significantly towards the economic growth agenda. However, we know they face barriers that can stop them from doing that. This summit was a chance to discuss how we can unlock that potential through skills, education and innovation, how we can provide opportunities for younger people, and, ultimately, drive growth across the region.” Martin Walkingshaw, Chief Operating Officer, Nuclear Waste Services, added: “With thousands of new jobs, education and training opportunities, the GDF programme has the potential to transform local communities and strengthen the UK’s energy infrastructure. “It would provide significant, long-term opportunities for a local workforce helping to retain younger workers by offering high-skilled careers across a range of sectors, such as construction, engineering and professional services. “Over the 175 year programme a GDF could provide real longevity and sustained economic benefits, acting as a catalyst for investment which would benefit local businesses, the community and local people.” The site selection process is based on finding a willing community and suitable site, with detailed investigations carried out to ensure the chosen location meets the highest safety and security standards. The programme will offer roles across a wide range of sectors, including engineering, scientific research, technical trades, operations, and business functions. Notably, 75% of roles are expected to require qualifications equivalent to A-Level or below, making them accessible to a broad segment of the workforce. Lord Ravensdale who also spoke at the Summit, said: “Lincolnshire and the wider Midlands region has an opportunity to be at the forefront of the UK’s nuclear industry, and by extension the world’s. The Geological Disposal Facility is essential to ensure we can continue to invest in nuclear, supporting jobs and skills, and boosting supply chains across the country. “By bringing together representatives from Lincolnshire and across the country, the Summit will help ensure that the nuclear industry works with Government, business and education to ensure we build capacity and capability to meet this opportunity.” Each community participating in the GDF Siting process is already seeing significant benefits. In recognition of the fact that the main benefits that come from hosting a GDF will not materialise for many years, up to £1million a year is available to communities who are involved in the GDF siting process. Since its formation, the Theddlethorpe GDF Community Partnership has awarded over £2 million to a variety of 24 local community projects, including an employability programme, a befriending service and an initiative supporting people who are homeless. The Government has also committed to providing multi-million-pound Significant Additional Investment (SAI), which will be shaped by a community vision, to the community that hosts a GDF. A vision which encourages a community to consider how a GDF could benefit them over the long-term. This investment could support the development of improved local education, improved transport networks and environmental and recreational facilities. NWS has recently published Areas of Focus in the search to find a suitable site and a willing community to host a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). The areas are within the three communities currently involved in the process, in Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria, and in East Lincolnshire.

Skywell UK has appointed Any Colour Car in South Yorkshire and YCC Cars in Lancashire as its latest main dealers, strengthening its presence in northern England.

Any Colour Car, based in Barnsley, operates a used car and commercial vehicle business alongside aftersales services. YCC Cars, a top-rated Lancashire dealership, runs a workshop and MOT test centre with trained EV technicians.

Skywell offers the BE11 model and plans to introduce the Skywell Q, Skyhome saloon, and a large panel van for the UK commercial vehicle market over the next 18 months.

As part of a limited-time offer, retail customers purchasing a new Skywell BE11 will receive a free Hypervolt Home 3 Pro charger with installation and £1,000 in public charging credit via the Octopus Electroverse app.

Enfinium is expanding its carbon capture efforts with two pilot projects at its North Wales and West Yorkshire waste-to-energy plants. By April 2025, the company plans to relocate an existing carbon capture and storage (CCS) pilot from its Ferrybridge-1 facility in Yorkshire to the Parc Adfer site in Flintshire. This will be the only active carbon capture trial in Wales, potentially capturing up to 235,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Kanadevia Inova will handle the installation at Parc Adfer, while a new CCS pilot will be launched at Ferrybridge. The Ferrybridge project, led by UK-based Nuada, will test a vacuum swing process using metal-organic framework (MOF) technology to improve carbon capture efficiency.

Enfinium is investing £1.7 billion in carbon capture technology across its facilities, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2033. The Parc Adfer pilot is also being considered for funding under the UK Government’s Track-1 HyNet Expansion programme, which supports industrial decarbonisation.

The energy-from-waste (EfW) sector remains controversial, with critics arguing that incineration is not a sustainable solution. However, Enfinium maintains that even with national recycling targets met, the UK will still generate millions of tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually. The Climate Change Committee and the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies estimate that EfW could contribute five to eight million tonnes of carbon removals per year by 2050.

Next week, City of Doncaster Council’s Cabinet will consider a new 25-year city centre strategy. The strategy, which will outline a vision for the city centre until 2050, has been drafted up following an extensive consultation process. The council has worked with residents and businesses, as well as Team Doncaster partners and stakeholders across the city to hear their views on the strengths of the city centre, what needs improvement, and what the future could look like for Doncaster city centre. Over 8,000 residents completed Doncaster’s Big City Conversation consultation during summer 2024 and the results have been used in conjunction with other feedback including from local businesses, to shape the vision. The extensive feedback process pulled out some key issues facing Doncaster city centre including safety and security, accessibility, and cleanliness, as well as issues such as empty shops and the overall look and feel of the place. Residents also made it clear they would like to see more events and activities, an improved retail offer, more green spaces, and experience a more welcoming feel when bringing families and young children. If agreed by Cabinet, the new strategy will enhance existing efforts to tackle these issues with an initial 12-month action plan focusing directly on residents’ immediate concerns. Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “Doncaster like many town and city centres across the country needs to adapt, supermarkets and online shopping are here to stay. My vision for Doncaster is that we have more culture, leisure, education and residential areas within our city centre alongside health services. “Making our city centre more connected for communities across Doncaster is key; with more on offer and key services that people need. “I have listened to residents, businesses and stakeholders from across the city and it is clear that when it comes to our city centre, people are passionate about its improvement. “As a new city, and with around £40m of government funding due to commence delivery in 2026, this is an opportunity for us to use this feedback to re-evaluate our city centre to ensure it supports all of Doncaster’s residents and businesses wherever they live in Doncaster. “The strategy sets a strong long-term ambition for the city centre, but it is also realistic. It provides a framework for change over the longer term, as well as immediate interventions to respond to people’s current concerns. “The schemes will encourage enterprise, repurpose vacant buildings and stimulate footfall whilst also enhancing wider wellbeing by creating better public spaces and a nicer environment for residents and visitors. “This strategy will also provide a clear plan for further investment opportunities to complement those that are already underway. Work is progressing with the regeneration of the Waterdale area to create a temporary open space and walkway in place of the former library, the regeneration of our Corn Exchange is also now complete, with the full re-opening set for this Spring. “The Waterfront area is being remediated for future development and work will soon start on the redevelopment of the Gateway project at the train station, which is set to bring in a new, modern business area. “At the heart of our vision is a city centre that provides services and experiences that the whole of Doncaster can use, take part in, and enjoy – a place of enterprise where people can live, work, thrive and flourish.” Tariq Shah OBE, CEO, Vigo Group, said: “I have overseen the development of this strategy and have made the case throughout that we should honestly assess where we are as a place, and where we want to be. This means celebrating our many attributes as well as admitting where we have issues. “First and foremost, it means putting people and businesses at the heart of our plans and I am happy that this strategy does this effectively, reflecting the community’s views and the shared opportunities in a clear and relatable way. “Doncaster has achieved a great deal in the last few years, and the results are all around us. We have done this by staying focused on a very specific goal: to make Doncaster the best it can be for residents of all ages and backgrounds – this strategy serves as a blueprint for what happens next. I am extremely excited by the opportunity that lies ahead!” If agreed by the Cabinet, the strategy will be implemented and led by the Doncaster City Centre Board, which met for the first time in March 2024. Membership includes Chair of the Board, local businessman Tariq Shah, Michael Hird, Sally Jameson MP, Mayor Ros Jones, Deputy Mayor Glyn Jones and City of Doncaster Council Chief Executive, Damian Allen, amongst others.

Two Lincolnshire and Yorkshire law firms have revealed plans to merge on 1 April 2025. Wilkin Chapman LLP and Rollits LLP will merge under the trading name of Wilkin Chapman Rollits. The new firm will have more than 500 people including 70 partners and have a combined annual turnover of £40 million. It will operate from six locations: Grimsby, Lincoln, Louth, Hull, York and Beverley. It will be the largest law firm operating out of both Lincolnshire and Yorkshire and has a combined history going back more than 300 years. The merger is market and client driven and the merged firm will offer greater strength and depth to its clients across the commercial and public sectors and private client disciplines within its region and nationally. There are no planned redundancies as part of the merger. Robin Simmonds, CEO of Wilkin Chapman, said: “There is a great synergy between the two firms across culture, values and strategy and we believe the new firm will provide our clients with the responsive, personal tailored support that they expect.” Ralph Gilbert, managing partner of Rollits, said: “Both of our firms have deep local connections and histories within our respective regions and are very proud of these links. Such links help us understand the needs of our clients and bring insights to them. “Additionally, the combined firm will continue to advise our regionally-based clients with their needs nationally, as well as clients based outside of our locations.”