- Building the capacity of community organisations to deliver digital skills and access to those who are digitally excluded
- Rolling out a programme to help raise school-aged children’s digital literacy
- Offering digital support for businesses through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s business growth service and Digital Enterprise programme
- Launching a region-wide digital skills campaign to inspire excitement in digital careers and increase uptake of digital skills provision
Mayor unveils plan to make West Yorkshire a digital giant with focus on skills
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, has launched a major new plan to improve digital skills and help grow the region’s digital sector.
The Mayor’s first Digital Skills Plan will ensure that everyone across West Yorkshire can develop the digital skills they need to get the career or life skills they want, with the goal of creating an inclusive society and thriving economy.
With the pandemic turbo-charging the shift to digital and online services, it is vital that people and communities have the skills necessary for the modern world.
Supported by officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Mayor’s Digital Skills Plan is for everyone – from those who have never turned on a laptop, to those who want to learn how to use social media, to those who are expert coders.
The plan will also promote digital careers, linking education and business, so young people in West Yorkshire are ready for the ‘jobs of the future’. It will also inspire businesses and charities to invest in digital skills to transform their workforce.
West Yorkshire has the fastest growing digital sector outside London and is the UK’s number one location for tech scale-ups. The new plan sets out what is needed to support and boost the region’s already thriving sector.
This includes:
Yorkshire Energy Park takes a step closer to reality
The proposed Yorkshire Energy Park moved a step closer to construction after securing planning permission from East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a series of detailed planning applications.
The Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved a Section 73 application, which details minor amendments to the outline planning consent granted in 2020. Last week, Council officers approved two Reserved Matters Applications. The first provides detail on the construction of a 13.5MW energy centre provided by Vital Energi; a 240-rack data centre; and a new access road including associated drainage infrastructure and landscaping. The second brought forward the detail of an onsite Ecological Mitigation Zone, earmarking nearly half of the site as a green space. These applications will deliver domestic, secure energy generation here in the Humber, protect and enhance our green space and implement new technology for energy production which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. Located on land owned by our partners, Hull City Council, YEP will be a leading energy and technology business park, strategically positioned on the north bank of the UK’s ‘Energy Estuary’ and in one of the Humber Freeport’s proposed tax sites. Once completed, it will have the potential to create around 4,480 jobs, upskill local workers, create state-of-the-art community sports facilities and an educational campus in conjunction with the University of Lincoln. The project will attract investment in the energy, data, technology and manufacturing sectors to an area that has an abundance of skills and experience in these industries already. Combine all of this with YEP’s location within the East Coast Carbon Capture and Storage Cluster and the proximity to the UK’s “Energy Estuary”, and it is clear that YEP will play an important role in boosting jobs and investments in the region. Jo Barnes, Director of Yorkshire Energy Park, said: “We are pleased that the Committee has approved these applications that build on the outline consent YEP already has, taking us a step closer to delivering a state of the art energy and technology business park adjacent to the port and within the proposed freeport tax zone. “We are excited by the potential of Yorkshire Energy Park to bring new investment and jobs to the region and to support our local communities through our partnerships with the University of Lincoln and Vital Energi. Our work with key stakeholders in the South Holderness area has been building over the last few years as we are determined to bring forward something that our local community can be proud of. “We are also committed to putting Yorkshire Energy Park at the heart of the UK’s “Energy Estuary” and these applications are the next part of that journey. We will continue to work closely with the Council and local community to deliver the next phases of YEP.”Sheffield Hallam graduation fortnight generates £3.4m benefit to city
Students and their families attending Sheffield Hallam University graduation ceremonies have generated £3.4m for city centre businesses.
The figure has been revealed as the University’s annual graduation fortnight draws to a close. More than 31,000 guests accompanied 8,400 students to 34 ceremonies held at Ponds Forge during the graduation programme.
Academics in the University’s Sheffield Business School calculated the significant benefit to the city’s economy based on estimates that over 75 per cent of graduates and their guests had a celebratory meal out in Sheffield with approximately 50 per cent staying the night in a local hotel.
Professor Sir Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University, said: “This year’s graduation ceremonies have been a huge success and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to making them so special for graduates and their families.
“It is always a delight for me to chat to attendees before and after the ceremonies, and to understand just how important graduation, and the University, is to them. I wish them the very best for what the future holds.”
Australian company buys into UK gas networks
Global financial services group Macquarie is planning investment of the largest gas distribution and metering networks in the UK – Cadent and National Grid – and Southern Water.
The Asset Management arm of the Australian company bundles those assets alongside others in Finland, Spain, Greece and Germany as part of a €12.6 billion commitment to and alongside its Super Core Infrastructure Fund upon the Final Close of Series 2 fundraising.
The long-term, yield-focused strategy targets investments in core, regulated, network infrastructure – enabling investors to gain exposure to predictable, inflation-protected income streams while supporting the operation and upgrade of essential community infrastructure. The strategy has committed capital across seven investments, including electricity and gas transmission and distribution network operators and a water and wastewater utility in Finland, Germany, Greece, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Martin Bradley, Head of Macquarie Asset Management’s Real Assets team in EMEA, said: “Network infrastructure underpins our daily lives and will play a central role in the transition to net zero as the electrification of the economy and shift to clean energy accelerates. This represents a major opportunity and responsibility, and we look forward to working closely with our portfolio companies and clients to actively manage the fund’s existing investments while progressing a strong pipeline of new opportunities.”
The successful fundraise closely follows Macquarie Group’s results for the half-year ended 30 September 2022, where Macquarie Asset Management revealed it had raised a record $US15.9 billion across its Private Markets business during the period – bringing total fundraising to $US26.3 billion over 12 months.
Ben Way, Group Head of Macquarie Asset Management, said: “At a time when the investment environment is increasingly complex, we thank our clients for the continued strong support they have shown our team and platform. This latest fundraise underlines the growing value placed on infrastructure during portfolio construction, given the historically strong performance of the asset class through economic cycles and its potential to align with sustainability objectives.”
New manager takes over at Ripon estate agency
An experienced estate agent has been appointed as Dacre Son & Hartley’s new branch manager in Ripon.
Richard Gorvin has worked in the property industry for almost a decade at well-known national estate agencies and also at one of the country’s biggest housebuilders
Richard, who grew up in Collingham, said: “I’m really pleased to be working with Yorkshire’s biggest independent estate agency. The team in Ripon is well-known and respected for its customer service and considered marketing advice, and I’m also looking forward to working with the whole team across Dacre Son & Hartley’s large network of 20 other offices in North and West Yorkshire.
“Despite the current rhetoric surrounding the property market and concern over house prices and mortgage rates, there is still plenty of demand from buyers keen to buy in the area. Homes with a price point of between £350,000 and £500,000 do incredibly well here and are in significant demand, with terraced properties in Ripon proving particularly popular.”
Dacre, Son & Hartley’s area manager Paul Baxter said: “Richard is joining a successful and hardworking team. His experience and tenacity will help our Ripon branch grow its market share and continue to deliver the fantastic service levels we are renowned for.”
Work starts on Skelton Gate Phase 2 to deliver up to 500 new homes in Leeds Aire Valley
Templegate Developments Limited, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments, has started work on site preparing the way for the next phase of its new sustainable community, to accommodate circa 500 new homes, at Skelton Gate in Leeds Aire Valley.
Appointed contractor Hall Construction Services Limited is now on-site delivering Phase 2 of the scheme, which is funded by a £20m Home Building Fund loan from Homes England. Phase 2 will deliver over 27 net acres of fully serviced development plots by Spring 2024.
The 170-acre former open cast colliery site, to the east of Junction 45 of the M1, has planning permission for 1,800 new homes, a primary and secondary school, public open space, a local centre and a convenience store, as well as associated infrastructure.
Earlier this year it was announced that the joint venture partnership had agreed terms of sale with Avant Homes and Evans Homes for the acquisition of 27 acres forming Phase 1 of Skelton Gate which will enable the delivery of a combined 415 homes. Both housebuilders plan to start on site in the New Year, subject to planning.
The Homes England loan will fund the delivery of infrastructure and ground preparation works for all phases. These crucial works will facilitate the development of the entire scheme, which is set to make a significant contribution to the region’s housing targets, in addition to enabling the creation of more than 500 new construction and operational jobs.
Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said: “It is exciting to be back on-site delivering one of Leeds City Region’s most significant regeneration schemes. Skelton Gate has received great support from the City Council and with the continued support of Homes England we have commenced the works that will pave the way for much needed new homes.”
Richard Bean, portfolio director at Evans Property Group, said: “We are delighted to have re-appointed Hall Construction to deliver the ground works and infrastructure on the second phase to create serviced development platforms on 27 acres. The close collaboration between public and private sector has enabled the delivery of this game-changing development and we are proud to be involved in the significant housing delivery.”
Tim Armitage, senior portfolio manager at Homes England, added: “Following the successful completion of the phase 1 works it is fantastic to see phase 2 now start, which will ultimately deliver more new homes at this strategic site.”
Plans submitted for new concept homes in Leeds
Plans to deliver 230 sustainable new coliving homes in the city centre have been submitted to Leeds City Council. The proposed redevelopment of a landmark building to create innovative new homes on The Headrow will support the local economy, make it easier for people to find a place to rent, as well as revitalise a key part of the city centre.
The proposals for 42 The Headrow, the former Direct Line HQ building, are being brought forward by Watkin Jones Group, a developer, builder and third-party manager specialising in new homes for rent across the UK and Ireland.
230 self-contained studio apartments are proposed, each with their own living, cooking and en-suite facilities. The building will be designed with generous shared space for residents to meet, relax and socialise, reflecting the changes in people’s lifestyles.
The design will repurpose the existing building, maintaining its striking façade, with new carbon reduction technology that tackles the climate emergency, reduces energy bills and achieves BREEAM Excellent status for energy efficiency.
Emer Green, senior planner at Watkin Jones Group, said: “We received positive and constructive feedback on our proposals when we met with the public and local stakeholders in the summer. Coliving is a successful concept in a growing number of major UK cities but is new to Leeds and we are grateful to everyone that took part in the consultation and welcome the comments made.
“As a result of the feedback we received, a number of positive changes have been made to our plans, including an increase in space for residents to use, a covered atrium area to allow year-round relaxation, an on-site gym and an increase in studio sizes.
“We recognise the importance of getting this right, as a new element of the housing mix, and in respecting the prominence of the building and its siting on the Headrow. We are pleased to have submitted our proposals which we believe will meet the needs of an increasing number of people left behind by the traditional housing and rental markets.”
Watkin Jones Group is a specialist developer, builder and third-party operator of new rental homes with strong experience of adding long-term value to communities. The building would have professional management with on-site staff providing a concierge service. Communal activities will promote inclusivity and diversity whilst encouraging social interaction and resident wellbeing.
Landscaped roof terraces will provide views of the Leeds skyline for residents to relax in whilst providing additional space to work, meet, and exercise.
Specialist consultants including Turley, SWAP architects and Social Communications have collaborated to support Watkin Jones with the plans. A decision is expected on the proposals in early 2023.
“No geek speak” team in confident mood
Forward-thinking IT specialists are celebrating a great start to their 21st year in business, after chalking-up a 10 per cent lift in turnover over the past year.
Lincoln-based LCS IT Solutions’ team is in positive mood, having just welcomed new account manager Sam Hunt and announced a new strategy aimed at benefiting its current and new clients.
News comes as many firms continue to work hard on making a comeback after the disruption caused by the protracted Coronavirus pandemic. Naturally, they are keen to know their IT suppliers are right there behind them as they rebuild in the coming months.
LCS IT Solutions is a family-run business headed by directors Anthony and Claire Bryant and serves a wide-range of businesses, mainly within a 20 to 30 miles radius of Lincoln, along with secondary and special schools and community organisations.
Mr Bryant said: “We are delighted to be starting our milestone year on a high note. We are well-known for our responsive service when our clients are having glitches with their systems and need help fast.
“Now we resolve 99 per cent of clients’ problems remotely which, of course, is essential in a world where hybrid working has become ‘the norm’ and computer users have to be ever alert to viruses and cyber-crime.
“Today we are proud to unveil our own strategy for the future. It will see us taking a pro-active approach to offering clients added value by ensuring they have the best solutions in place to support their growth in the years ahead.
“As a firm, LCS IT has always been about building strong relationships with its customers and we want to take this a step further, by keeping clients up-to-date about changes in the tech field which might have implications for their own business.”
Mrs Bryant added: “We are delighted to have recruited Sam Hunt as our new account manager. Over the coming weeks, part of his role will see him introducing himself to clients and talking about how we want to support them to ensure they have the competitive edge going forwards.”
Sam’s arrival at LCS IT means the business now has a 10-strong team.
Social Change raises over £1,350 for Alzheimer’s Society
Lincoln-based behaviour change agency Social Change has raised a total of £1,351 for the Alzheimer’s Society during their recent Memory Walk at Boultham Park in Lincoln.
The fundraising event saw over 150 people, of all ages and abilities, walk the 1.6km route across Boultham Park, with participants contributing to a whopping 209,900 total step-count!
Sponsored by Lincoln City Council, Johnson and Smith Ltd, Boultham Park, and Glenholme Healthcare, all donations raised from the fundraiser will go directly to the Alzheimer’s Society, supporting people living with dementia across Lincolnshire and beyond.
The team at Social Change recently invited Alice Grewcock, community fundraiser at Alzheimer’s Society, to their Lincoln office, to collect the giant £1,351 cheque raised from the event.
Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We are so pleased to have Social Change bring such energy and enthusiasm to Alzheimer’s Society and immensely proud of what they have achieved with their brilliant Memory Walk. Their fantastic sum of £1,351 will make a significant difference to the lives of those affected by dementia, providing both immediate help and hope for the future.”
Penny Howard, from Glenholme Healthcare, echoes the value of the charity’s work. She said: “We gain so much advice from the Alzheimer’s Society in support of the delivery of our activities within our communities. The Memory Walk has been a great opportunity to give something back to help their work continue. The day was so well attended and we’re really pleased to hear how much has been raised.”
Alison Howard, director of Growth and Innovation at Social Change, said: “We recently welcomed Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, on our podcast, Tea with the Changemakers, and this got the team talking.
“We discovered that the majority of us have a relative with Alzheimer’s, and we wanted to do something to support people who are living with it, and their families. After discovering that our closest Alzheimer’s Society organised Memory Walk was in Nottingham, we decided to host our own, and the rest is history.”
Kirklees Council sets out delivery plan for game-changing Cultural Heart
Kirklees Council has set out its delivery plan for its flagship Cultural Heart project. First in line for delivery are the new food hall, outdoor events space and library. Construction works on these key elements of the scheme will begin in Spring 2024. Some surveys and preparation works will be completed in 2023, with projected completion in Spring 2026.
The Cultural Heart is the centrepiece of the wider Huddersfield Blueprint. The blueprint is Kirklees Council’s ambitious ten-year vision to create a thriving, modern-day town centre.
The plans detail the transformation of the historic Queensgate Market into a vibrant new food hall. As well as a home for the new community-focussed library.
These will sit alongside a modern art gallery, multi-purpose live entertainment venue and a 350-space car park – all of which will be connected by a series of world-class public spaces and green parks.
The project has been planned using a series of checkpoints or ‘gateways’. This has allowed for careful review of the scheme and the associated costs at regular intervals. This system has allowed Kirklees Council to set out a delivery plan that accounts for the current financial climate and constraints being faced by Local Authorities up and down the country.
Creating a cultural experience that is family friendly and welcoming to all has always been a priority. That is why phase one of the delivery plan will focus on the food hall, outdoor event space and the library.
Delivering these vital elements first means that Kirklees Council will be able to restore the library, an essential community hub, in a new, fit for purpose space. There will be an injection of vibrancy with events being held in the outdoor space, which also doubles as a space to gather and relax on quieter days. The food hall adds to the destination feel of the Cultural Heart, providing somewhere to socialise and have food and drinks around the events being held on the campus.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The Cultural Heart and wider Huddersfield Blueprint plans are transformational for the town centre. I am pleased to able to set out a delivery plan for the Cultural Heart that is ambitious, sensible and, most importantly, has the people of Kirklees at its centre.
“It is no secret that the current financial situation is putting pressure on us as a council and that we are having to make some tough decisions but investment in our towns and villages cannot be allowed to simply stall.
“Developments like this one are vital if our towns are to, not just survive but, thrive once again. The gateway system we have used for moving the Cultural Heart forward means that we have looked carefully at every penny, every step of the way – that will continue for the life of the project to ensure we get value for money for our residents.
“This first phase of delivery means some of the key elements will become a reality and start benefitting residents, businesses and visitors a lot sooner than if we were to try to deliver such a mammoth project in one.
“We will be working on the delivery of phase one and finalising the rest of the delivery plan in the coming weeks and months.
“Times are tough, but they will get better and we need to be ready to benefit from the economic recovery that will come. These much-needed improvements to the town centre will put in the best possible position to take full advantage of that recovery for the good of the people of Kirklees.”
There have been two phases of public consultation on the Cultural Heart proposals, in May and September of this year. In total, around 8,000 people engaged online. Nearly 600 people attended the various in-person exhibitions to learn about the plans.
The overall public and stakeholder response to the plans has been positive. The individual elements that make up the scheme received between 62% and 75% support.
