Spiralling costs of production faced by farmers and growers have driven down the confidence of people in the industry to the lowest levels since the start of Covid, with almost 90% saying they are being negatively affected by input costs such as energy, fuel and fertiliser.
An NFU survey shows that the phasing out of current farming support payments is negatively impacting farm business confidence with 82% of farmers citing farm support payments as a major cause.
Horticulture, livestock and poultry sectors is having the greatest impact on confidence. The evidence of this was shown on supermarket shelves with shortages of some produce including, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.
Despite the knock to confidence, British farmers’ intention to invest in renewable energy generation and energy efficiency has increased rapidly.
This demonstrates a real ambition to future-proof farm business resilience and reach British farming’s net zero by 2040 target, as well as the importance of energy security to the nation’s food security.
But, the investment needed to increase climate-friendly farming capabilities is being hindered by the low levels of short- and medium-term business confidence.
NFU President Minette Batters said: “It is shocking but not surprising that our farmer confidence survey is reporting the lowest levels in three years. During this time, we have experienced a global pandemic, a war in Europe, tumultuous political change and extreme weather. If this lack of confidence and uncertainty is allowed to continue during such challenging times, it has the potential to lead to further shortages on supermarket shelves.
“We know from experience that low confidence indicates that farmers don’t have the means to invest in their food producing businesses, which could result in little to no growth in our domestic food security at a time when we need it most. It is also at odds with the government’s own plans for growth, and the commitments made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year to support British farming by setting a target for the nation’s food security, with a statutory duty to report on domestic food levels.”
Future farming support is needed, Minette Batters said. “As well as food security, energy security is crucial to our nation, and currently 38% of British farmers are using or producing renewable energy. As an industry we have a huge ambition to increase this but confidence in the future is deterring farmers from making this important investment.
“Farmers need to know that government is supporting them through policies that build profitability and resilience into farm businesses to allow us to unlock a thriving food and farming industry. For this we need to see clarity on future farming support policies, including the Environmental Land Management schemes, which will help farmers plan ahead and build financial resilience into their businesses.”
Manufacturing software specialist joins Sheffield’s Nuclear AMRC
Manufacturing software specialist Kaizen PLM has joined the Nuclear AMRC to help develop new capabilities for automated welding, inspection and additive manufacturing.
Kaizen PLM specialises in product lifecycle management systems allowing manufacturers to manage product data throughout the entire lifecycle from ideation, design, and manufacture to service and disposal. It is a smart expert partner for Siemens Industry Software in the UK and Ireland, with a focus on additive manufacturing and virtual commissioning applications.
The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, based at the University of Sheffield and part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult, collaborates with companies of all sizes to help them innovate and win work in the nuclear supply chain.
As part of its tier one membership, Kaizen PLM will support the deployment of new robotic platforms for welding, inspection and additive manufacturing of metal components for the nuclear sector and other quality-critical industries.
John Crossley, NDT technology lead for the Nuclear AMRC, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Kaizen PLM to the Nuclear AMRC, as their expertise in Siemens software can significantly improve the efficiency of our welding and inspection projects. One big benefit for us is that we carry out all our modelling in Siemens NX, and Kaizen’s solutions allow us to easily drag and drop our models into additive manufacturing software rather than having to reprogramme everything.”
Anthony O’Riordan, MD for Kaizen PLM, said: “With our advanced technology and expert services, we enable manufacturers to continuously improve their processes and products, ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficiency. By working with the Nuclear AMRC to virtually commission large additive robotic cells, we demonstrate that manufacturers can test and optimise their processes before physical implementation, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
“Through our partnership with the Nuclear AMRC, we are able to leverage both parties’ expertise in advanced manufacturing and software solutions to help manufacturers in the nuclear sector overcome their unique challenges. With our combined focus on supply chain development and skills training, we empower manufacturers to stay competitive and drive innovation in the industry.”
Customer demands mean ABP switches from coal to cars at International Terminal
ABP has invested in new vehicle handing facilities at the Port of Immingham to meet customer demands.
The half-million-pound infrastructure in the Humber International terminal will mean when cars are discharged off the vessel, they are sent to a first point of rest facility near the berth. The terminal was originally built to handle coal, but as the UK coal usage rightly declines, so ABP have looked to plug gaps in the shipping schedule with car ships, to help meet customers’ needs.
Simon Bird, Regional Director of the Humber ports said: “We have taken on this stevedoring role and have proven we can handle it and very much look forward to expanding our automotive services.
“It’s part of ABP’s commitment to helping our customers and we continual look to invest in our infrastructure to accommodate growing industry demand. The Humber is a major player in the automotive market, and we continue to invest to ensure we can handle larger vessels.”
Kia UK Supply Chain General Manager Awais Ajmal said: “A big thanks to ABP for stepping in at short notice on several of our recent deliveries. This has allowed Kia UK to maintain deliveries to our valued customers during a critical time for new registrations. Due to a high level of back orders for Kia vehicles ABP prevented disruption in our time sensitive supply chain.”
The ports of Grimsby and Immingham serve the European and Far East automotive markets being ideally placed in the middle of the UK and central to serving the north and south of the country.
In 2025 it will be fifty years since Grimsby was chosen as the base for the first vehicle imports with Volkswagen. Since then, the Humber has grown to be the UK number one automotive distribution centre in the UK. The £26 million Grimsby River Terminal (GRT) is a two-berth facility capable of handling vessels carrying up to 3,000 vehicles.
Over 800,000 cars a year pass through our Humber ports reducing transport time and costs by streamlining the process. The addition of ABP stevedores offers customers a complete supply chain solution should it be needed.
Leeds manufacturers team up with university to achieve strategic growth plans
Leadership and marketing experts at Leeds Beckett University have teamed up with a Leeds-based manufacturing company to bring academic knowledge and innovation into the business – supporting them in their ambition to enter new markets and achieve continued long-term, sustainable growth.
A team of Leeds Business School academics will work with Moulds, Patterns and Models Ltd (MPM) on the two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), which is part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK.
Founded in 1978, MPM is a family-owned business specialising in manufacturing and supplying composite fibreglass tooling and products to key sectors including automotive, leisure and renewable energy. The company has a strong reputation for quality and reliability.
Dr Julia Morgan, Head of the Leadership Centre at Leeds Beckett and project supervisor, explained: “MPM’s leadership team is very forward-thinking and highly motivated – they have already achieved impressive growth and made many operational changes over the last ten years, and they are now looking to work with us to achieve the next stage of their ambitious growth plan.
“The KTP will support MPM in their goals to enter new markets and develop new products and services. We will do this by using innovative solutions to challenge their existing practices and create strategic change in the business.”
The KTP will focus on two areas: sales, marketing and strategic insights to grow market share; and strengthening leadership skills and ensuring a high-performing and engaged team are retained within the business to facilitate this growth.
Ben Wilson, Managing Director of MPM, said: “Sometimes, you don’t know what you don’t know, and we’re excited to have a fresh pair of eyes, ears and insight into our plans and vision whilst developing the team and business for a more successful, sustainable and enjoyable future.”
Dr Julia Morgan has 20 years’ experience of working in Human Resource Management and Leadership Development consultancy. Project leader, Dr Catherine Ashworth, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, has extensive experience of working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on knowledge exchange projects and has led multiple KTP projects.
A skilled graduate will be recruited to carry out the project, as a full-time member of staff within the business, and with the full support and input of the academic team at Leeds Beckett.
MPM’s relationship with Leeds Beckett University began in 2021 when Ben Wilson took part in the Small Business Leadership Programme – the government’s pilot course which has now become the successful Help to Grow: Management programme – supporting senior managers of SMEs to boost business performance, resilience, and long-term growth.
Through the partnership with Leeds Beckett, MPM staff members will have access to a range of development opportunities through the University’s wider business support programmes and services, including Help to Grow: Management, the #WECAN (Women Empowered through Coaching and Networking) programme – building the leadership skills, capabilities and opportunities of women in SMEs in the Leeds City Region, and student consultancy projects and placements.
Jo Griffiths, Head of KTP at Leeds Beckett University, added: “The team at MPM are very engaged and want to scale their business sustainably for the benefit of their employees as well as the regional economy. This aspiration aligns directly to the UK government’s Build Back Better and Levelling Up agendas, which are focused on economic growth, improving skills and spreading opportunity more equally across the UK.”
Lewis Silkin expands in the North with new Leeds office and partner hire
Lewis Silkin LLP is opening a new office in Leeds and has appointed James Keogh as a partner in the firm’s employment law group. He will lead what will initially be a new three-strong team based in the city.
Having studied, trained, and worked in Leeds throughout his career, James is well known in the region as a trusted employment and HR law advisor to some of the largest corporations in Yorkshire.
A specialist in complex change/restructuring projects, industrial relations and trade union issues, sensitive investigations, and TUPE matters, James’ clients include household name brands in retail, luxury, hospitality, and manufacturing including FTSE 250 and AIM businesses.
James will be joined (in early summer) by managing associate Gemma Woodhead. Previously an in-house employment counsel at Warner Brothers, Gemma spent 8 years supporting various businesses across the entertainment group and helping to manage their workforces across EMEA.
James and Gemma will be supported by associate Breesha Loughran, who brings expertise in workplace investigations and Employment Tribunal litigation.
The new office marks the latest step in the growth of Lewis Silkin’s national presence, following the firm’s launch and rapid growth in Manchester last year, and adding to its offices and regional hubs in London, Oxford, Cardiff, Belfast, Dublin and Hong Kong.
James Keogh, partner at Lewis Silkin, said: “I’m over the moon to be joining Lewis Silkin and helping to build our new presence in Leeds. We’ll be a part of the UK’s leading specialist employment team, providing the firm with a strategically important base in Yorkshire and adding to the strength of its offering across the North of England.
“It’s an exciting period of growth for Lewis Silkin and our new footprint means we are perfectly placed to support the ever-changing needs of our clients. I look forward to our Leeds team making a valuable contribution to the continued success of this fantastic firm.”
Richard Miskella, joint managing partner at Lewis Silkin, added: “I’m delighted to welcome James, Gemma and Breesha to Lewis Silkin. James is a real rising star with a well-earned reputation in the region and beyond for advising on complex employment issues at the highest level, for a range of both national and Yorkshire-based clients. The combined team bring both depth of local market knowledge and breadth of expertise in our core and high growth sectors.
“Their appointment, and the opening of our new office in Leeds – hot on the heels of Manchester – is an important step forward to establish a strong and joined up presence in the North that will work alongside Lewis Silkin’s other offices. We are constantly adapting to meet the evolving needs of our clients. We are now able to deliver local access to the highest-quality teams and advice through our regional hubs – including in the North of England, one of the most dynamic and innovative economic regions in the UK.”
Chamber expresses concern at Humber being overlooked in BECCS announcements
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has urged Secretary of State for Energy Grant Shapps to rethink omission of the Humber in the Government’s bioenergy with carbon capture and storage announcements.
Alongside Council leaders, the Chamber is concerned that there is now a serious risk that the £15-billion investment planned for the Humber’s Carbon Zero agenda may now be spent elsewhere, leaving the Humber, which should be leading the world on the carbon capture and storage agenda, adrift.
The Chamber welcomes the announcement by Drax’s Chief Executive, Will Gardener, that the Government has now opened a dialogue with this important Chamber Patron and hopes there will be further Government announcements shortly on other Humber Carbon Capture proposals which were submitted to Government by other leading Chamber members such as Equinor and Phillips 66.”
External Affairs Director David Hooper said: “The shock that the Humber missed out completely in these announcements is palpable among the region’s business leaders and puts the Humber’s leading role on this agenda in serious peril.
“The Chamber’s view is that the UK should go green through the Humber, and the country cannot go green without the Humber!
“We urge Energy Secretary Grant Shapps to reconsider the Government’s stance on the Humber proposals and do the right thing by advancing these largely privately funded schemes which are ready to go!”
Gravity moves to mixed-use development in heart of Wakefield
Gravity Fitness Ltd, the global active entertainment company, has opened a new head office at Merchant Gate, the mixed-use development in the heart of Wakefield.
Gravity has taken 6,683 sq ft of office space at 2 Burgage Square at Merchant Gate on a five-year lease. This deal means that the office space at Merchant Gate is now fully let.
Merchant Gate has been delivered by The English Cities Fund, a strategic joint venture between national urban regenerator, Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England, working collaboratively with Wakefield Council and Network Rail.
The Leeds offices of global property consultancies Knight Frank and JLL advised the landlords, while Savills advised Gravity.
Victoria Harris of Knight Frank explained: “The decision by such an innovative and successful company as Gravity to move their head office to Merchant Gate is a ringing endorsement of this magnificent development.
“The regeneration of Merchant Gate has provided a timely boost to Wakefield’s economy and has underlined the city’s importance and attraction as a strategic location for prime office, retail and leisure occupiers.
“Gravity’s move will drive economic and social prosperity in this proud and historic city, and be a boost to the local community, which is massively important right now. Merchant Gate, and strategic schemes like it in the city, are changing people’s perceptions of Wakefield.
“The city is benefitting from substantial investment, a proud history and an excellent location, which means Merchant Gate is fast becoming one of the region’s premier mixed-use destinations,” she said.
Harvey Jenkinson, the co-founder of Gravity, who are relocating from Colorado Way at the Junction 32 development in Castleford, said: “Wakefield is the perfect base for a head office from a recruitment and logistical standpoint. Our new offices are about 50m away from Wakefield Westgate, which is on a main arterial route from Leeds to London.
“Merchant Gate is a very up and coming location, with good food and drink for the staff at lunch and after hours on a Friday.
“We are also expanding. This move will help our drive for growth. We currently have 50 staff and hope to recruit a further 10 by the end of this year.”
Gravity, which launched as a trampoline park operation in 2014 next to the indoor ski slope Xscape at Castleford, have just secured a £30 million investment to help the business grow.
The company now has a turnover of £27 million, bringing a host of indoor leisure activities to 17 prime locations nationwide. It has completed a finance deal to drive the bar even higher. The new investor is Sculptor Real Estate, the property arm of New York Stock Exchange listed Sculptor Capital Management Inc.
Revenues of £50 million are now being eyed for 2024, with karting, mini-golf and bowling key offers.
Mr Jenkinson explained: “This funding has come at a pivotal and exciting time for Gravity with the launch of our Gravity Max brand at Liverpool One and London Westfield Stratford this year. We are thrilled to build our relationship with Sculptor on this investment.
“This backing will help us realise the full potential of the Gravity brand, ensuring the rollout of our business plan and achievement of strategic objectives. We look forward to further establishing Gravity as the international name in active entertainment and providing our customers at every site with the best possible experience.”
Live voting will select People’s Choice winner at Innovate North Awards
Guests attending the University of Hull’s first ever Innovate North Awards next week will be asked to determine who should win the hotly contested People’s Choice category in a nail-biting live vote on the night!
Taking place next Tuesday, the Innovate North Awards celebrate business innovation, growth, talent and progress towards reducing carbon emissions among the hundreds of businesses from across the Humber and North Yorkshire regions that the University of Hull has supported in recent years. Almost 700 businesses received European Union-funded innovation support through University programmes such as Aura Innovation Centre, SparkFund, the Flood Innovation Centre and the Humber Internships Programme. This support has resulted in 170 new products being launched, a 400-tonne reduction in carbon emissions, the creation of 195 jobs and increased sales of around £85 million for the small to medium enterprises involved. The three business nominated for the People’s Choice Award are: • Fitmums & Friends, a charity affiliated to England Athletics that started life in East Yorkshire and now runs a series of volunteer-led, community fitness groups for people across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Fitmums & Friends successfully applied for match funding from the University of Hull’s SparkFund, which allowed them to develop an innovative information management system and accompanying app for both members and volunteers to use. • iParcelBox, an East Yorkshire-based tech firm responsible for creating secure, weatherproof drop-boxes, allowing customers to receive parcels securely when they’re not home. Keen to understand whether it’s better for the environment for deliveries to be sent to people’s homes or to a pick-up point, the developers worked with experts from the University of Hull’s Aura Innovation Centre to develop a carbon calculator capable of mapping the emissions from various different delivery options. • HFR Solutions is a Hull-based Community Interest Company founded in 2012 that uses seconded, retired and operational personnel from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to review and test safety procedures and planning, and deliver workplace safety training. Having identified a knowledge gap around supporting parish councils and other community-based organisations with the creation and implementation of flood plans, HFR Solutions worked with the University of Hull’s Flood Innovation Centre to develop a ‘Flood-in-a-Box’ product that can be used to deliver flood resilience training. Sarah Clark, Operations Manager at Aura Innovation Centre, said: “Through the various European Union-funded programmes that the University has been running in recent years, almost 700 businesses from the Humber region and North Yorkshire have been able to access a broad range of funding and support, providing them with exciting opportunities for innovation and growth. “From accessing academic research and specialist facilities to helping them connect them with the right partners to deliver their innovative ambitions, the University of Hull is proud to have played a part in their success stories and we’re very much looking forward to celebrating their achievements at the Innovate North Awards on 9 May.” Sarah added: “The fact that the winner of the People’s Choice Award will be chosen by guests attending the awards ceremony in a nail-biting live vote only serves to add to the excitement for everyone involved. All of our nominees are incredibly deserving, we’re looking forward to seeing who wins the popular vote!”Employers told it’s now illegal to withhold employee tips
Millions of UK workers will take home an estimated £200 million more of their hard-earned cash, as employers are banned from withholding tips under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, which has received Royal Assent.
Many hospitality workers rely on tips to top up their pay and are often left powerless if businesses don’t pass on service charges from customers to their staff.
This Bill makes it unlawful for businesses to hold back service charges from their employees, ensuring staff receive the tips they have earned. The measures are expected to come into force in 2024, following a consultation and secondary legislation.
This overhaul of tipping practices is set to benefit more than 2 million UK workers across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors helping to ease cost of living pressures and give them peace of mind that they will keep their hard-earned money.
Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “As people face rising living costs, it is not right for employers to withhold tips from their hard-working employees.
“Whether you are pulling pints or delivering a pizza, this new law will ensure that staff receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work – and it means customers can be confident their money is going to those who deserve it.
“I want to thank Dean Russell MP, Virginia Crosbie MP and all the campaigners who have helped make the Tipping Bill a reality and improved the lives of workers across the UK.
UK Hospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “Fantastic hospitality experiences don’t happen without a huge effort from our teams, both front and back of house, and tips are a generous way of customers showing their gratitude, while providing a welcome boost to employees’ earnings. Tips are just one part of what makes working in hospitality a great job and career.“We’re pleased to support this new piece of legislation as it comes into law today and look forward to working with Government and other stakeholders on a code of practice that ensures a fair distribution of gratuities amongst all who contribute to providing great hospitality.”
Bureau Technical Services wins new accreditation from UKAS
Bureau Technical Services has been granted accreditation by UKAS to ISO/IEC17020:2012 for its statutory inspections.
This internationally-recognised standard specifies the requirements for the competence of bodies performing inspections, including their activities’ impartiality, independence, and consistency. Achieving this accreditation involved a significant effort by the Bureau Technical Services team to integrate the requirements of ISO/IEC17020:2012 into its existing quality management systems. While it is possible for inspection bodies to operate without this standard, conforming to it can improve the effectiveness of their management system and assure customers of the high level of service they can expect. As a condition of accreditation, Bureau Technical Services undergoes an annual assessment by UKAS, which includes on-site witness assessments of inspection activities conducted by competent engineers. MD David Blanchard said: “This is a huge achievement for our team. Quality and assurance have always been at the heart of our delivery, and since launching our Inspection Division in 2022, we have worked hard to achieve this highest accolade from UKAS”. The organisation will undergo a comprehensive reassessment every four years, with reports and results peer-evaluated and reviewed by an independent UKAS decision-maker before accreditation is renewed. These measures provide customers with added confidence in the accreditation process and in the quality of the services provided by Bureau Technical Services.