Businesses assured they’ll be no more than three miles from a source of cash
The vast majority of businesses and individuals are set to be no further than three miles away from withdrawing cash under a new framework set out by the Treasury.
A government statement published today sets the minimum expectations on banks to protect services for people and businesses wanting to withdraw or deposit cash.
They can expect to withdraw cash without any fees – something that has been set out in law.
As part of this move, the Financial Conduct Authority has been provided new powers by the government to protect the provision of cash access services. This includes protecting cash access without any fees for those who hold personal current accounts.
Building on laws granted through the government’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the FCA will use these newfound powers to make sure banks and building societies are keeping up to these standards – and have the power to fine them if they do not.
While the country is moving further away from using coins and notes with the number of online payments rising from 45% to 85% in the past ten years, cash can still be an integral part of many businesses and people’s lives.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith, said: “Whilst the growing choice and convenience of digital payments is great, cash has an important and continuing role to play. That’s why we are taking action to protect access to cash in law and laying out that this means fee-free withdrawals and the availability of cash facilities within a reasonable distance.
“People shouldn’t have to trek for hours to withdraw a tenner to put in someone’s birthday card – nor should businesses have to travel large distances to deposit cash takings. These are measures which benefit everyone who uses cash but particularly those living in rural areas, the elderly and those with disabilities.”
As it stands, the vast majority of people living in urban areas can access cash deposit and withdrawal services within a mile; with rural-dwellers around three miles away. Today’s policy statement makes clear that the FCA should use its powers to maintain this level of coverage, while recognising that needs may differ by location and change over time.
It also makes clear that – if a service is withdrawn and a replacement service is needed – this should be put in place before the closure takes place.
The FCA is also required to ‘have regard’ to local deficiencies in cash access. The policy statement sets out that the regulator should consider factors such as the opening hours and distance to cash access services, as well as the need for in-person assistance.
Laws introduced in the Financial Services Act 2021 have delivered cashback in over 2,500 shops across the UK – without any need to buy something in store – through the LINK network.
One in ten dairy farmers ‘likely’ to stop milk production within two years
The NFU’s Dairy Intentions Survey of almost 600 UK dairy farmers has found that insufficient returns, volatile markets and the scale of on-farm investment required are all reasons why many of Britain’s dairy farmers are thinking hard about their future in the sector.
In addition to those who are looking to stop production all together, a further 23% have said they are ‘unsure’ if they are going to continue production beyond the next two years.
Smaller enterprises producing less than a million litres of milk per year are also more likely to stop production before March 2025, compared to those producing higher volumes.
Based on figures from the ADHB, there are currently an estimated 7,500 dairy producers in Great Britain, a figure down 4.8% since last year.
The survey also revealed:
- Increases in input prices such as feed (84%), energy (83%), and fertiliser (74%) are all particular areas of worry.
- Over one third (36%) of those ceasing production are doing so due to retirement, with almost a fifth (18%) handing over their farm to the next generation.
- Over half (52%) of producers stopping production are unable to keep up with the scale of investment required for their enterprise to stay compliant, such as slurry storage, a factor that is highlighted as a main concern for the majority (91%) when considering whether to increase production in the future.
- NFU Dairy Board chair Michael Oakes said it is obvious these factors are putting the long-term resilience of dairy farming “under threat”, leading to a “crisis of confidence” amongst British dairy farmers. The survey results identified that supply chain fairness was a key factor with almost 90% of dairy producers saying this was important to support future milk production. New industry-wide contract regulation expected to come in later this year must support fairer, more transparent and accountable supply chains, said Michael. “But regulation isn’t a silver bullet,” he added. “With increasing global demand for British dairy, we know that the long-term future is bright for our sector,” said Michael. “To ensure we maximise this potential, it’s imperative that government continues to work with us to ensure we have the right environmental, regulatory and trade framework in place to support the production of high quality, nutritious and sustainable food.”
Yorkshire logistics company expands operations in the Southeast with acquisition
Yorkshire-based logistics company Expect Distribution has acquired Pallet Plus, an established transport company based in the Essex area. It comes as Expect seeks to enhance its national presence.
Expect Distribution purchased the £10m turnover business, based in Colchester, to strengthen the group’s offering, expanding operations in the Southeast and solidifying its capabilities as a UK-wide logistics and warehousing company.
Established since 2005, Pallet Plus is a family-run business providing national final mile distribution of palletised freight to and from the Essex region. Primarily a pallet network operator and a member of TPN, UPN and Palletways, Pallet Plus has a strong customer base in their immediate area which provides Expect with the opportunity to grow volume over the medium term and exploit existing synergies with current volume.
The acquisition of Pallet Plus will see Expect Distribution’s turnover exceed £60m.
Managing Director, Matthew Kilner said: “The fantastic reputation, dedication of the senior management team and drivers, operational capabilities and longstanding membership with three national pallet networks [The Pallet Network, UPN & Palletways], were more than enough for us to consider this acquisition. But beyond this, the cultural fit of the business was key. Pallet Plus are clearly a company punching above its weight and we are certain the two businesses will integrate seamlessly.”
Operations director and co-owner Andy Taylor added: “With the purchase of Pallet Plus, we can not only significantly increase our presence in Southeast with an owned operation but also bolster the proposition, by expanding the transport side of the business and introducing, in the medium term, a new warehousing offering which has been an important growth area for us in Bradford over recent years. I’d personally like to thank the team at Pallet Plus, and we look forward to working with them, to take both businesses forward.”
Gary Rowe, Managing Director at Pallet Plus, said: “The acquisition by Expect Distribution is a significant milestone and marks an exciting new chapter for both companies. Together, we will combine our collective resources, cutting-edge technology, and industry knowledge to provide even greater value to our clients. As we embark on this journey, I want to express my gratitude to our loyal customers, dedicated employees, and valued partners.”
Hepworth’s Arcade project progresses thanks to grant
Detailed surveying as part of Hepworth’s Arcade repair and renovation project will soon take place thanks to Hull City Council being awarded a Project Development Grant worth £96,000 from Historic England.
The surveys will help the council to understand the most suitable repair methods to preserve the heritage of the Grade II listed arcade.
The grant will allow greater focus on areas that need specialist repair works such as the stonework.
The funding will also cover developing designs for the wider repair and renovation of Hepworth’s Arcade and will ultimately lead to a planning application and tendering the construction works.
Current and prospective tenants of the arcade will be consulted on plans as design works get underway in the coming months.
The scheme aims to repair and reinvigorate all the units to achieve full occupancy, as well as bringing unused upper floor space back into use.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at Hull City Council, said: “The council welcomes this investment from Historic England.
“Hepworth’s Arcade is a much-loved retail destination in Hull’s Old Town and this support from Historic England will help the council to ensure its regeneration project is a success.”
Craig Broadwith, Historic Places Advisor at Historic England, added: “This beautiful Victorian arcade has been a favourite shopping destination for the residents of Hull for more than a century.
“This grant from Historic England will fund the first step towards repairing and reinvigorating this stunning building for generations of shoppers to come.”
Watkin Jones sells portfolio of PRS assets
Watkin Jones, the developer and manager of residential for rent, has sold a portfolio of three freehold PRS assets to L1 Property, the real estate funds management arm of L1 Capital.
The portfolio comprises over 117,000 sq ft with a total of 174 units, featuring respectively 78 units at Gateway and 43 at Impact, both located in Sheffield and 53 at The Wharf, in Droylsden, Greater Manchester.
This is Watkin Jones first transaction with L1 Property and marks the exit on assets which were constructed by Watkin Jones between 2006-8 and have been operated by the group since.
George Dyer, group investment director at Watkin Jones, said: “We are pleased to undertake our first transaction with L1 Property. The sale of these assets represents the culmination of our business plan and will enable us to recycle the proceeds into further land opportunities as we look to grow our pipeline in the coming months.”
David Lamm, Chief Executive Officer of L1 Property, said: “We are enthusiastic about this transaction with Watkin Jones to acquire three landmark buildings in Sheffield and Greater Manchester, two cities we recognise for their dynamic economies and promising long-term prospects.”
Thomas Collins, Chief Operating Officer of L1 Property, said: “This transaction aligns perfectly with our vision to enhance the living experience, add significant value through asset management, and continue to develop our fully integrated property management platform.”
Watkin Jones was advised in the transaction by Savills and Mishcon de Reya.
Contractor selected for Lincolnshire children’s home
Contractor Willmott Dixon has been selected to complete the design proposals for a new secure children’s home to be built on the edge of Sleaford, Lincolnshire.
Plans for the 28-bed secure facility, which will be located in Bonemill Lane on the outskirts of the town, were approved by members of Lincolnshire County Council’s planning and regulation committee on 31 July.
The scheme, which is being funded by the Department for Education, will provide care for some of Lincolnshire’s most vulnerable children as well as being a national resource for secure accommodation.
Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “This is a hugely significant scheme, not only for Lincolnshire to address an acute need for secure accommodation, but also for the wider country as it will bring together best practice from across the UK and Europe.
“The new building has been designed to support the young people to get their lives ‘back on track’ using a whole host of facilities including on-site education, wellbeing, vocational and sports facilities, as well as delivering against important sustainability credentials to make the building’s legacy especially evident.”
The new accommodation will aim to achieve as close to a net-zero in operation solution as possible, with a design that is majority off-grid supported by solar panels and state-of-the-art power storage.
The development will also feature a new service road, a car park, a surface water attenuation pond, and landscaped areas.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The new secure home will provide a much-improved environment for the young people living and educated there and help to meet the increased national demand for spaces. It will make sure these children are offered the required support, training and guidance in modern facilities.”
The scheme has been procured via Pagabo’s Major Works framework. Willmott Dixon has been appointed as contractor and Kier is the architect for the project.
New approach agreed for The Seam – Barnsley’s Digital Campus
A new plan for The Seam digital campus is being drawn up to better suit the funding available and meet the changing needs of town centres.
Initial plans presented to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s cabinet in 2022 for the digital campus were for an urban village with a new multistorey car park and a major residential development, right at the heart of the town centre. This new neighbourhood for the town centre would bring forward new space for digital, tech and creative industries businesses.
However due to mounting costs, in part driven by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, cabinet have approved a new approach. This will remove plans for a multistorey car park, and also the residential development.
Instead, the lower Seam car park will be extensively refurbished to create a more welcoming space for visitors, commuters, and businesses alike.
Plans will include public realm improvements to the high-quality standard seen at the nearby Glass Works, with enhanced lighting, CCTV, street furniture, and significant capacity for electric vehicle charging supported by solar power.
The council are also planning to create a new high-quality urban green space which will further improve the welcome the town centre provides to workers, families and other visitors.
The council will also be looking to improve cycle storage facilities to encourage more people to use active travel routes to and from the town centre.
The council will carry out further consultation with residents and businesses as they progress these plans for this first phase of development work, focusing on the Lower Seam site.
In the meantime, the council will continue to seek funding opportunities for a second phase to further enhance the Upper Seam site as a destination for digital businesses.
This revised scheme will support the council’s ambitions for a Growing Barnsley with a reputation for being a great place to invest, and a Sustainable Barnsley with reduced carbon emissions and increased access to sustainable energy sources.
Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We see The Seam as the heart of Barnsley’s future economy. All economic growth will be powered by the use of digital and new technologies.
“This will help place Barnsley at the forefront of the digital productivity revolution and create opportunities for our residents to learn new essential digital skills for life and for work. These updated proposals will allow us to get moving on improvements we want to see as soon as possible.
“If we stand still, the borough’s economy will stand still. That’s why we’ve revisited our plans for the Seam and moving ahead with this first phase, while we continue to look at funding opportunities and partnerships for a second phase.
“Our digital campus in the town centre is a key part of our recently announced South Yorkshire Investment Zone. This will bolster the already attractive offer for innovative businesses looking to invest in Barnsley alongside our existing digital and tech companies and strengthen the growing reputation for Barnsley as a destination for digital businesses.”
Leader of Barnsley Council, Cllr Sir Steve Houghton, added: “We’ve taken a sensible look at our plans for The Seam given the huge rise in costs for major schemes. This has given us another chance to reflect on what we want to see in this part of the town centre, and come up with what I think is going to be a better scheme for businesses and local people.
“We’re going to focus our efforts on a really high-quality scheme of improvements on the lower part of the site, which will support the attractiveness of the site to businesses.
“We’ll continue to look for opportunities to fund further enhancements to the wider Seam Campus as we continue to grow our digital business community and commercial opportunities as part of the new South Yorkshire Investment Zone. This will bring even more skills and well-paid jobs to our borough.”
Hull firm on track to complete first phase of £3m sewage and flood defence system
Hull-based PBS Construction expects to complete the first part of a £3m project to install a brand-new sewage and flood defence system in Crowle near Scunthorpe.
Phase One of the works on Godnow Road in the town are set to be completed by early September.
It’s part of new sewage works and flood-defence system on behalf of Severn Trent and the Internal Drainage Board, with North Lincolnshire Council is relaying the road surface.
Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children, families and communities said: “It is fantastic to see further investment in the Isle of Axholme. This is a vital piece of work to better protect the local community for years to come. The £3 million pound investment – from the council and partners – is just one part of our commitment to continue to develop our roads and highways infrastructure across the whole county.”
Cllr Neil Poole, cabinet member for highways operations, said: “Phase one has already seen the need for alternative construction methods to be explored and implemented and there are seven more intensive phases to be undertaken before the project reaches completion.
“Managing and maintaining our road network is a never-ending task but is something we are committed to deliver across the county.”
The new flooding defence system being installed will further compliment the £35m revamp of Keadby Pumping Station that now uses electrical pumps to manage the water levels across the region, making it easier to protect thousands of homes within the Isle of Axholme.
In addition to the new sewage and flood defence system, the full stetch of road will be resurfaced and will include a brand-new junction from Godnow Road leading onto the main high street.
The extensive construction works are expected to be finished next April.
Government cash backs new scheme to create more Ofsted child minders in North Lincolnshire
A new scheme to drive up the number of Ofsted registered childminders within North Lincolnshire is backed by Government cash for start up grants.
People that become an Ofsted registered childminder can now receive a £600 start up grant and is part of the investment and commitment made by the Government to the childcare provision in this year’s Spring Budget.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council said: “Earlier this year the Government announced an incredible package of changes and investment to be made to the provision of childcare over the next couple of years.
“This grant is one of the many elements that are set to be delivered and is a great incentive for people who are thinking about a career in the childcare sector and will provide essential financial support on their journey in starting their own business.”
North Lincolnshire Council are hosting several Childminder Briefing Sessions for people to find out more about the role and the process involved in becoming Ofsted registered.
Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children, families and communities said: “This new scheme will be vital in the recruitment of new childminders.
“Childminders come from a wide range of backgrounds and welcome families into their home to provide high quality, nurturing childcare with many choosing to join the profession to start a new career which enables them to combine running a professional business with caring for their own children.
“They are qualified, experienced professionals with expertise in child development and full paediatric first aid training. They are regulated and inspected by Ofsted and required to deliver the national Early Years Foundation Stage framework (EYFS) for babies and children aged from birth to five.
“I would urge anyone who is thinking about becoming a childminder to attend one of the briefing sessions to find out more about the process involved.
“They are short informative sessions, giving people an insight into the highly rewarding and unique role, as well as advice and guidance for setting up your own business and the financial support currently available.”
There is a variety of blended learning options available to people who want to become an Ofsted registered childminder as well as 1 to 1 guidance and advice.
For further information, to secure your place on one of the Childminder Briefing Sessions, or the Childminder Training Programme, email earlyyearsteam@northlincs.gov.uk or call 01724 297000.
Chamber highlights need for skills support in South Yorkshire
With A level results almost due, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce has highlighted the need for greater skills support in South Yorkshire, at a time Chamber Chief Exec Dan Fell describes as challenging for those entering the world of work.
He said: “Many of these young people will undoubtedly have bright futures ahead of them — new evidence suggests that it might be quite challenging for them to enter the modern workplace, when that time eventually comes.
“Our recently-published South Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan has exposed a number of areas where our region is under-supplied in terms of talent. Specifically, the document highlights how demand for digital skills (like data processing, social media and web content management) is at an all-time high, and is only set to grow further, employers are actually struggling to recruit people with this relevant expertise. In December 2022, for example, the second highest proportion of vacancies in South Yorkshire was for specialist IT professionals.”
Drawing upon extensive research and diagnostic interviews with thousands of businesses, the LSIP found that digital skills are becoming near-universal requirements, essential for roughly two-thirds of all occupations. Despite this, many young people are still leaving education without the technical know-how that businesses need.
This has created a huge skills gap in South Yorkshire, as 50% of employers consulted for the LSIP said that they cannot find individuals with a good handle on data processing, and one third of skills shortage vacancies in the region are directly caused by a lack of digital skills. What’s more, businesses maintained that the young people they do employ are often not ready for the digital aspects of their job.
Although this might seem like a rather bleak outlook, the LSIP does offer a solution to this problem, by breaking down how the existing skills system can be improved to better meet the needs of employers. Covering everything from how businesses can engage more closely with education & training providers, right through to the need for alternative pathways and accessing hidden talent, the document makes 36 practical recommendations for closing the skills gap here in South Yorkshire.
Mr Fell added: “As an organisation that represents businesses, we have always understood the importance of cultivating future talent and encouraging the next generation to be ambitious and work ready.
“However, it is sad to say that the odds are currently stacked against them. As our LSIP research lays bare, many young people nowadays are leaving education without the skills that local employers are actually looking for. Particularly when it comes to things like digital marketing, web content management and data science.
“Indeed, computing and IT subjects now account for less than 2% of A-Level entries in our region and 5% of higher education enrolments. Meanwhile, GCSE Computer Science is not even offered in two-fifths of secondary schools, with teacher shortages being cited as a key issue here. Suffice it to say, the situation is concerning and we run the risk of South Yorkshire getting left behind if we don’t treat it as a priority.
“Fortunately, the LSIP — which has recently been signed off by the Secretary of State for Education — offers a way forward, with 36 practical recommendations for turning things around. Some of the solutions will take longer to implement than others, and we obviously don’t expect seismic change to occur overnight, but we are confident that if the relevant stakeholders heed what it says, then we can get on top of this pressing issue.
“There are recommendations here for how education providers should respond to the skills gap that has been articulated by employers, for key policy reforms and programmatic changes that will also help and, of course, for things that organisations like the Chamber can take responsibility for. There is certainly a lot to be getting on with, but we cannot afford to squander this opportunity.”
