Yorkshire-based TBB delivers brand evolution and awareness campaign for BeFibre
Integrated agency The Bigger Boat (TBB) has delivered a brand evolution and asset-rich awareness campaign for broadband provider, BeFibre, as it embarks on a roadshow to provide ‘broadband as it should be’ across major towns and cities throughout the UK.
Aiming to capture attention and bring the brand’s presence to life within a competitive marketplace, TBB’s approach focused not only on presenting a visually engaging identity but on refining a bold, straight-talking tone of voice and creating a consistent style of messaging befitting of the company’s evolution.
Extending the impact further are an array of creative assets including social and paid media adverts, direct mail, and email — plus out-of-home (OOH) placements such as digital vans, roadside banners, and kiosks. The impressions from digital and OOH advertising reached a staggering 6.6m.
Incorporating a simplified logo and vibrant typography featuring multicoloured lines reminiscent of the world of content and media that customers gain access to via the brand, Doug Main, creative director at TBB, comments: “It was obvious upon meeting BeFibre that they have the perfect proposition for a consumer-facing business. Not only do they demonstrate a no-nonsense approach in an industry notoriously filled with jargon, but this is coupled with a friendly presence that we were eager to draw upon within their outward-facing brand.
“The result is a vivid, engaging combination of assets that are not only eye catching, but expose just the right degree of cheekiness to raise a smile and encourage consumers to resonate with their forward-thinking offering.”
Taking its role in the campaign to the next level, TBB was tasked with unveiling the assets to BeFibre colleagues via a brand movie — a move which was met by much excitement and pride from the broader team. Sharing her thoughts on the creative executions, Sinead Gilbert, head of marketing at BeFibre, comments: “As a business, we’re proud to do things differently and the messaging and creative assets that TBB has produced for us, showcases this approach perfectly.
“Like us, they’re vibrant, to the point, and honest and we believe this will be key to our ongoing disruption in a crowded market.”
Caistor architects join building control partnership scheme
Exciting news as West Lindsey District Council’s Building Control welcomes another local design practice into the LABC partnership scheme.
Mother Architects, based in Caistor, are the latest company to partner with West Lindsey Building Control and take advantage of everything that being a member of the LABC partnership family has to offer.
Sam Marriot, Managing Director of Mother Architects said: “As a practice, we predominantly work within the West Lindsey area and have found the whole team to be reliable, engaged and most importantly proactive in their approach.
“This is both on-site and with pre-occupancy duties over the past 8 years. This carries right across the team, with Phil, never failing the answer the phone and giving advice, right across to Gloria issuing certification exactly when expected. We are excited to be working closer than ever with the Building Control team at West Lindsey to continue to deliver the high-quality architect-designed housing that our area deserves.”
West Lindsey District Council’s Building Control Team Manager, Phil Westmorland is thrilled to welcome Mother Architects to the scheme.
He said: “The Partnership Scheme is an excellent way of strengthening bonds between local businesses and the national LABC network through the expertise of your local authority building control team.
“We have worked with Jo and Sam at Mother Architects for a number of years and I have always been impressed with their diligence and customer focused work ethos along with their imaginative design solutions. It is an absolute pleasure to formalise that working arrangement, and the entire team looks forward to helping them with their future projects.”
If you are interested in joining the partnership scheme and being a member of the LABC family, it can bring numerous benefits to your business including:
- A single point contact for all your building control work in England and Wales
- Competitive pricing on high volumes of repeat work or major developments
- Site inspections from a local professional team with invaluable local contacts and knowledge
- Simplified fees and invoicing arrangements
- Electronic submissions and e-working
- The use of LABC Partner logo on all of your marketing materials
- Easy access to the planning department, the highways engineers and local fire service
- In-depth expertise on structure, fire, acoustics, warranties, access, contamination, energy and sustainability from LABC specialists
Doncaster freight company celebrates exponential growth in just three years
HD Group, a freight forwarding company based in Doncaster, with an exponential growth strategy has recently celebrated its third anniversary in business and a projected turnover of £3.5m.
Established by CEO, Kerry Dusi in 2019 from her kitchen table with just her laptop, industry knowledge and a drive to succeed, the business continues to prosper and expand.
Kerry commented; “It’s been an exhilarating three years and to celebrate with my amazing team has been real high point in that time. We have a robust growth and diversification plan in place for 2023 and look forward to driving the business forward and continuing on our trajectory.”
The business, which won Start Up Business of the Year Award at the Doncaster Business Awards just two years ago, now employs over twenty people with ambitious plans to increase this further in 2023. The HD Group, which already has Amazon Platinum Status, has also been accepted as a member of the UK Warehousing Association. This underpins the company’s commitment to operating at exceptionally high standards and delivering its range of freight forwarding, customs and fulfilment services to facilitate global solutions and playing a key part in the UK supply chain.
Kerry continued; “The last three years have been about establishing a strong business with good people so that we were able to develop a robust five-year plan. Now that I have an experienced and motivated team, I look forward to seeing what we can achieve as HD Group continues to expand both in terms of turnover, team members and services.”
Iconic Lincoln property, Judge’s Lodgings acquired by new owner of the White Hart Hotel
The Judge’s Lodgings, an iconic and historic property in the heart of the cathedral city of Lincoln has been acquired by locally based businessman Andrew Long, following his recent purchase of the adjacent White Hart Hotel.
TSP Developments (part of Andrew’s Travel Sector Property Group) has acquired a 999-year ‘virtual freehold’ interest in the Judge’s Lodgings from Lincolnshire County Council.
Coleby-based businessman and Chartered Surveyor Andrew Long recently acquired the White Hart Hotel, together with the site of the White Hart Garages and car park in July this summer. Proposals for the hotel’s major refurbishment and the redevelopment of the White Hart Garages site are now being prepared in conjunction with his planned full refurbishment of the Judge’s Lodgings building.
Andrew explains: “My TSP group of companies are working closely with locally-based John Roberts Architects and our wider project team to produce a major redevelopment and significant overall enhancement scheme for the St Paul’s Lane, Bailgate and Castle Hill quarter of the city.
“Subject to obtaining the respective statutory consents, there is now a unique opportunity to deliver a fully interrelated redevelopment scheme for the White Hart Garages and car park site, in conjunction with the refurbishment and sustainable long-term future use of the Judge’s Lodgings.”
Andrew added: “With long-established vehicular access from and to St Paul’s Lane, we are proposing a high quality dedicated arcade of ‘kiosk-style’ retail units for artisan crafts and products/services, that will be situated within the frontage of 2 Bailgate, immediately opposite the White Hart Hotel.
“This arcade will then also provide an attractive safe pedestrian link through to the new on-site parking area, as to be situated immediately to the rear of the Judge’s Lodgings, from which there will also be direct customer access.
“Subject to further detailed design, we will also create an additional 30 hotel bedrooms within a combination of the upper floor level of the original Judge’s Lodgings building and ‘new build’ elements within the overall site, all to be operated through the White Hart Hotel (currently 50 bedrooms) and situated within a fully integrated landscaped setting. The ground floor of the Judge’s Lodgings is to be used for high quality restaurant and other hospitality facilities, on which further information will be released at a later stage.”
The Grade II ‘star’ Listed building was owned by Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) who had declared it surplus to their requirements and sought to find a suitable new owner committed to the full refurbishment of the building and its appropriate long-term use.
Andrew France, associate director at Lambert Smith Hampton, marketing agents for the property, said: “Acting on behalf of LCC, we are pleased to have concluded this transaction with TSP Developments and have been impressed with the proposed refurbishment scheme in conjunction with Andrew Long’s redevelopment of the immediately adjacent White Hart Garages site.”
Marketed with a guide price of ‘offers in excess of £850,000’, the negotiated contracted price is strictly confidential.
James Cook, of Kier Design & Business Services on behalf of LCC, added: “There has been detailed engagement to successfully finalise the transaction to the satisfaction of both parties over the last eight months, for what should now be a secure long-term future for the Judge’s Lodgings.”
The predominantly Georgian building was first built in 1810 and has a commanding ‘landmark’ location overlooking Castle Hill Square, immediately adjacent to the Eastern Main Gate of Lincoln Castle (built by William Conqueror in 1068).
Andrew Long added: “There is a relatively unattractive 1958 utilitarian-style flat roof extension that has no architectural merit, but there is now a significant important redevelopment opportunity in conjunction with the site of the White Hart Garages, which will also retain approximately 40 on-site customer parking spaces for the White Hart Hotel.”
Shoosmiths Solicitors of Leeds acted on behalf of TSP Developments, in conjunction with PBC Surveyors and Project Managers of London, Andrew having worked closely with both of these firms on numerous major projects throughout the UK for in excess of 25 years.
Paul Philips, Managing Director at PBC, added: “We are very pleased to be working with Andrew in the wonderful historic city of Lincoln, based on established long-term professional relationships and also Andrew’s renewed close working relationship with John Roberts Architects, together with other locally based members of the project team.”
Tong-based hotel rescued out of administration
Rehan Ahmed and Tauseef Rashid of business advisory firm Quantuma have successfully delivered the sale of former Tong Holiday Inn hotel to Tong Marquee Limited, rescuing it out of administration.
Formerly trading as a Holiday Inn, the hotel property dates back to the 19th century and was purchased by Bir Hotels (UK) Limited in November 2017 for an undisclosed sum. The 59-bedroom hotel was undergoing a phased refurbishment when IHG Hotels & Resorts served notice to withdraw its Holiday Inn brand in December 2021.
Along with the impact of the pandemic, the withdrawal of the hotel brand made trading difficult, which led to Quantuma being appointment as administrators in January 2022.
Despite encountering initial issues which made selling the freehold difficult, Quantuma was able to work together with Sanderson Weatherall, agent to the joint administrators, and their advisers, Freeths Solicitors, to secure the sale of the hotel from Bir Hotels to Tong Marquee on 1 November 2022 for an undisclosed sum.
Tong Marquee have confirmed that it intends to continue to trade the property as a hotel from the freehold which will create employment opportunities for the local community.
Rehan Ahmed, Managing Director at Quantuma, said: “We have worked hard to deliver the best possible outcome for all parties involved, as well as maintaining the longevity of what is an iconic hotel property.
“The sale of the hotel to Tong Marquee is a positive result as it ensures that jobs are created, as well as providing a return to the secured lender. The hospitality industry has faced an unusual period of tumultuous economic uncertainty, which is why the joint administrators are dedicated to providing the best possible support to businesses during this period of time.”
Wharfedale Homes secures £6.15m for Whitby residential scheme
Yorkshire-based property developer Wharfedale Homes has secured a £6.15 million funding package from Paragon Bank’s Development Finance division to support its latest development in Whitby.
Eskdale View is a development of 62 new build homes, 19 of which are affordable, in the popular seaside North Yorkshire town. The development of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties is located at a site just off Green Lane, close to the famous Whitby Abbey.
Work on the site has commenced and the first properties are expected to be complete by Summer 2023. In addition to the homes, landscaped open space will be created, along with contributions to children’s play areas, parks and gardens, public rights of way and health provision.
Wharfedale Homes has a strong history of developing homes across Yorkshire. It has completed over 30 developments in the region across its near 30-year history. The company focuses on bespoke developments that draw inspiration from the area in which they are located.
This is Paragon’s second development with the company and the deal was led on behalf of the bank by development finance relationship director Mick Howard and portfolio manager Shannon Altimas.
John Edwards, Managing Director at Wharfedale Homes, said: “We will deliver a good mix of high-quality homes in Whitby. At Wharfedale Homes we take great pride in the bespoke nature of the homes we build, and this site will be no exception. This development will be a great place to live and is in a truly sustainable location, within walking distance to the town centre, harbour and everything Whitby has to offer.”
He added: “Paragon has been a supportive partner in this process. Mick and the rest of the Development Finance team understand how developers operate and the bank has been with us through every step of the way.”
Paragon relationship director Mick Howard said: “Whitby is a popular location because it offers a bit of everything. It has a rich history, beautiful independent shops and restaurants and fantastic walks. This scheme will be popular with buyers and we are pleased to have been able to support the company with their latest development.”
Synetiq score a Hat-Trick at Industry Awards
Doncaster-headquartered SYNETIQ, has been awarded three seperate acolades at the inaugural Vehicle Recycling Excellence Awards.
The firm scooped up prizes for “Green Parts Company of the Year,” “Larger Vehicle Recycler of the Year” and for Sustainability.
The Vehicle Recycling Excellence Awards.recognise organisations that are supporting growth in the promotion of green parts. This is to celebrate those who are reducing the impact of car repairs on the environment and those who are driving positive change in the industry.
Across 15 different categories, the ceremony recognises truly outstanding businesses. Nominees from all over the country attended the event, which was held at the National Conference Centre, Bickenhill.
“It’s a huge honour to be recognised for our commitment to make a positive difference within our industry,” said Tom Rumboll, UK Managing Director for IAA and CEO of SYNETIQ.
“These awards are the culmination [of] all the team’s hard work. We are leaving no stone unturned as we work with clients to promote green parts into the mainstream, improve our operational efficiencies as we continue to grow and work to reduce the environmental impact of the automotive sector.”
SYNETIQ handles salvage and end of life vehicles, recycling an average of 96.3% of each end-of-life vehicle it dismantles – surpassing EU legislative targets. SYNETIQ says its integrated circular model means it’s perfectly placed to maximise the economic and environmental potential of all salvage or end of life vehicles – whether by safely reusing green parts, or as part of the compliant vehicle recycling process.
In addition to receiving three awards, SYNETIQ was a supporter of the event and sponsor of the Community Recycling Initiative of the Year award, recognising organisations involved within their local communities.
The Vehicle Recycling Excellence Awards.recognise organisations that are supporting growth in the promotion of green parts. This is to celebrate those who are reducing the impact of car repairs on the environment and those who are driving positive change in the industry.
Across 15 different categories, the ceremony recognises truly outstanding businesses. Nominees from all over the country attended the event, which was held at the National Conference Centre, Bickenhill.
“It’s a huge honour to be recognised for our commitment to make a positive difference within our industry,” said Tom Rumboll, UK Managing Director for IAA and CEO of SYNETIQ.
“These awards are the culmination [of] all the team’s hard work. We are leaving no stone unturned as we work with clients to promote green parts into the mainstream, improve our operational efficiencies as we continue to grow and work to reduce the environmental impact of the automotive sector.”
SYNETIQ handles salvage and end of life vehicles, recycling an average of 96.3% of each end-of-life vehicle it dismantles – surpassing EU legislative targets. SYNETIQ says its integrated circular model means it’s perfectly placed to maximise the economic and environmental potential of all salvage or end of life vehicles – whether by safely reusing green parts, or as part of the compliant vehicle recycling process.
In addition to receiving three awards, SYNETIQ was a supporter of the event and sponsor of the Community Recycling Initiative of the Year award, recognising organisations involved within their local communities. New homes Developer sees shares slide after it cuts dividend and issues warning of increased uncertainty
New homes builder Persimmon saw shares slide after it announced shareholders dividends are to be cut and warned of cancellations as well as increased uncertainty ahead.
The York-based company also faces spiralling costs running into hundreds of millions of pounds over building safety sparked by the Grenfell disaster, for which they have had to set aside funds. Initially this was expected to be in the region of £75m but this soon grew to some £350m.Dean Finch, Group Chief Executive, commented: “Persimmon entered 2022 in a strong position with healthy forward sales and good weekly sales rates which continued throughout the first half of the year. This, together with our increasing levels of build efficiency, means we are well positioned to deliver new home completions for the year within our previously stated target range, while maintaining an industry-leading housing margin, despite the recent deterioration in market conditions leading to increased cancellation rates.
“Rising interest rates and broader economic uncertainty are clearly impacting mortgage lending and customer behaviour and this is reflected in our recent weekly sales rates and forward sales position. Persimmon enters this more challenging period as a five-star builder, with average selling prices below the market average, high quality land holdings, and a robust balance sheet. The recent strengthening of our land holdings with disciplined investment will maintain our industry-leading embedded margins.
“Our highly experienced senior operational management team are drawing on their decades of detailed knowledge across many housing cycles to continue to rigorously assess every aspect of our business to ensure we are building quality homes for customers in the most cost-efficient manner. This relentless focus on customers, cost-efficiency, cash management and disciplined investment will help us navigate this more challenging market while also strengthening our ability to capitalise on future opportunities. We recognise how important sustainable returns are for our shareholders and today we are setting out a new capital allocation policy that balances this with the need to invest in our future success.
“We were proud to lead the industry with our pledge to protect leaseholders from the costs of cladding removal in any multi-storey development built by Persimmon. We have made good progress and continue to proactively engage with management companies to agree work plans. This proactive programme, together with more certainty over the broadened scope of work required by the Government, means we are increasing our provision to meet our pledge to protect leaseholders.”
North Yorkshire country house hotel acquired
A country house hotel based near Hawes in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire has been purchased by a locally-based husband and wife couple.
Stone House Hotel has been purchased by Joe and Holly Hobson from the current owners Peter and Tracy Westwood and Tracy’s brother Chris Taplin who all plan to retire from hospitality following the sale.
The country house hotel was originally built in 1908 and has 24 bedrooms, a 50-cover restaurant and bar, and employs around 40 members of staff.
The couple were assisted through the acquisition process by business advisory and accountancy firm MHA Moore and Smalley’s corporate finance team.
MHA Moore and Smalley’s advisory team was led by corporate finance director Simon Carruthers with Victoria Dadswell providing tax advice. Richard Robinson, Natalie Ormerod, Ben Mayson, Paul Hardy and Stacy Kinsey at Napthens provided legal advice.
MHA Moore and Smalley’s support also included referring Joe and Holly to Greater Manchester-based business finance broker PMD Business Finance. John Platt, head of property finance at PMD secured a debt finance package from Natwest which helped to fund the acquisition.
Simon Carruthers, MHA Moore and Smalley, said:“MHA has supported Joe and Holly throughout their relocation to the area and the acquisition process. They are passionate about the area in North Yorkshire and the hospitality industry.
“I’m proud we have been able to assist them in their acquisition of an excellent well-established business and look forward to seeing the business thrive and grow in the coming years.”
The acquisition represents a career change for Joe and Holly, who recently relocated to the area with their two-year-old daughter after leaving their full-time roles as lawyers in London.
They have family roots in Yorkshire and Cumbria, and Holly’s family are former owners of the Grange Hotel in Grange-over-Sands.
Holly said:“My family has a strong history and experience in the hotel industry and I’m delighted that Joe and I will be able to continue this tradition in a community that has already been so welcoming to us. We hope to give back where we can by ensuring an enjoyable working environment for the team, using local suppliers, and supporting local businesses wherever possible.”.
Joe added:“The Stone House already has an excellent reputation, a loyal customer base and an incredible team in place. Our primary goals are to retain and support this team as best we can and to build upon the hotel’s extremely high standard of guest experience. We are very excited to be part of the local community and to be involved in shaping the next chapter of the hotel’s history.”
Sheffield Hallam to open new campus in the capital
Sheffield Hallam University is set to offer degree-level courses at a new campus site in Northwest London as part of the flagship £8bn Brent Cross Town development.
After being approached with the opportunity to develop Sheffield Hallam’s award-winning applied approach to teaching, learning and research by the developer Related Argent and Barnet Council, the University will be the anchor higher education partner.
Scheduled to open from 2025/26, and with up to 5,000 students by 2030, the campus will build on the University’s significant experience and proven outcomes for students, employers and the local community. The University will offer a small number of key subjects and skills areas that are in high demand in the area, as well as providing exciting opportunities for Hallam’s wider student community, including work-based learning and work experience placements in and around London.
Sheffield Hallam University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Chris Husbands, said: “This new opportunity will allow us to build on our strengths in applied teaching, learning, work-based activities, consultancy, research and development.
“Sheffield Hallam is and always will be a university proudly rooted in South Yorkshire, with a long tradition of playing an active civic role. We are committed to making our region an even better place for all the communities we serve, which the ongoing major redevelopment of our Sheffield City Centre campus, and our commitments within our Civic University Agreement, clearly demonstrate.
“But we are also a university committed to engaging nationally and globally, and to raising the profile and impact of the city and the region more widely. This new development will create new opportunities for the university community, as well as for local and regional partners.”
“While this new development will make up a relatively small part of our overall provision, it represents a vote of confidence in Sheffield Hallam and is further recognition for our award-winning approach to transforming lives.”
Nick Searl, Partner at Related Argent, added: “We are delighted to be welcoming Sheffield Hallam University to Brent Cross Town. With its excellent connectivity, commitment to wellness and net zero carbon, plus its 15-minute town centre concept, it makes an ideal location for them to grow their community.
“The University’s commitment is a milestone in the broader evolution of the development, which is gaining significant momentum and attracting an ever-widening group of partners who believe in what we are doing and want to be part of that journey.”
Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire Mayor, said “This is really exciting news for both Sheffield Hallam and our region.
“A Sheffield Hallam campus in London will extend not only the University’s but South Yorkshire’s reach and reputation. It will enable new connections and relationships with business, industry and public services, as well as exciting new opportunities for students and research.
“Like the rest of South Yorkshire, Sheffield Hallam University has ambitious plans for the future.
“I look forward to working with and supporting Sheffield Hallam as they move forward with this exciting project.”
Cllr Terry Fox, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield Hallam is a major civic university, one of the largest employers in our region and a vital institution in the heart of our city.
“Their exciting new plans to develop a campus in London, alongside the further investment already underway in the university’s city centre campus here in Sheffield, is a great opportunity for both the University and our city, helping to demonstrate Sheffield’s bold ambition and projecting a positive image of the city on a national stage.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted that Sheffield Hallam University will be opening its first satellite campus in Brent Cross Town, bringing a world-class educational hub, employment opportunities and new housing to the area.
The Brent Cross Town development is a major project that will see significant new office and community spaces and homes directly connected to central London via its own new railway station. When finished, it is expected that up to 50,000 people will live, work and study in what will be one of the UK’s largest net zero town centres.
