Manchester eCommerce firm acquires York-based counterpart
Digital eCommerce agency, Space 48 Limited, has acquired Brave the Skies, a York-based provider of eCommerce development and consultancy services.
The acquisition has been made possible by the support of regional private equity investor Foresight Group, who invested in the company in February 2021; enabling the company to take on its next phase of growth.
The management team of Space 48 have known Brave the Skies for several years and Jon Woodall, Space 48’s CEO, has built a strong relationship with its founders. There are numerous synergies between the two companies that support the acquisition, including a shared commercial focus on sectors including fashion, health and beauty, and home and garden and expertise in key industry platforms such as Shopify Plus and Big Commerce.
Brave the Skies is owned by Ryan Atkins, with day-to-day operations overseen by Managing Director, Lucy Roberts. Lucy will continue to lead the fifteen person Brave the Skies division within the combined group.
Matthew Pomroy, director at Foresight, said: “This acquisition represents a key milestone in the evolution of Space 48. This talented team has gone from strength to strength since our initial investment, and with Brave the Skies now on board the future is incredibly exciting.
“The service available to customers has already been enhanced with the increase in headcount at Space 48, and a further enlarged group will be able to offer additional resource and expertise across the key platforms of eCommerce.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Jon Woodall, Managing Director of Space 48, said: “Since Foresight came on board, our business has taken significant steps forward. Our customer offering has improved as our team has expanded and, with Brave the Skies joining us, the future is very bright. I’ve known the brilliant Brave the Skies team for many years and I’m confident the synergies between our respective businesses will result in an enhanced service that will propel forward what can be achieved in eCommerce.”
Lucy Roberts-Mitchell, Managing Director of Brave the Skies, said: “Brave the Skies and I are excited to have the opportunity to join and work alongside the Space 48 team. We share a lot of core values with Space 48, including a strong focus on Crew and Client Experience alongside striving for excellence in our fields of eCommerce.
“I feel very privileged to be surrounded and supported by such a talented Crew of individuals at Brave the Skies and with the involvement of Jon, Hannah and the Space 48 team I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”
Hat-trick of deals completed at historic Yorkshire mill
Three new deals have been completed at Sunny Bank Mills, the Yorkshire mill complex between Leeds and Bradford.
Kaleidoscope Psychology and Psychotherapy, brand and marketing agency So Contented and IT support company CTek are relocating to the mill in Farsley, where YTV’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed.
During the past 11 years Sunny Bank Mills, one of the most famous family-owned mills in Yorkshire, has been transformed into a modern office, retail and leisure complex for the 21st century. It is now home to 75 companies, which employ a total of almost 400 staff.
These three deals come hard on the heels of a raft of significant office, retail and leisure lettings at Sunny Bank Mills during the past few weeks.
William Gaunt, joint Managing Director of Edwin Woodhouse and Co, the owners of Sunny Bank Mills, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kaleidoscope, So Contented and CTek to Sunny Bank Mills. They are excellent examples of quality businesses being attracted to a quality business environment.
“Their moves underline the flexibility of space at Sunny Bank Mills, which is now attracting an exciting range and breadth of occupiers.”
Paul Walton, founder and Managing Director of Kaleidoscope, which has relocated from Far Headingley, explained that it was vitally important to find a home which was consistent with his values of community, inclusion, warmth and legacy.
He commented: “When I looked around Sunny Bank Mills and saw what the Gaunts have built here, saw the kind of businesses who have set up here, I knew that this is where we belonged. I’d viewed a few different locations but none that spoke to me in the way Sunny Bank Mills was able to.”
Meanwhile Gemma Edwards, co-founder and director of So Contented, relocating from Bradford Road in Leeds, explained: “We fell in love with our new office at Sunny Bank Mills when we walked through the door. The stone walls, high ceilings and big windows were lovely and we immediately felt like we were home.
“We were also really impressed with the number and variety of other businesses in the mill. We were attracted by its fabulous location with loads of lovely food and drink places in the mill, as well as the greenery around it. We think it’s going to be great for our work life and culture.”
Finally Howard Haigh, Managing Director of Ctek, which is relocating from Eccleshill, explained that Sunny Bank Mills was the perfect base for his IT support company, which was founded in 1994.
He said: “We have a much more hands on personal service than the current fad for support over the phone. We do a remote support too but it’s intermingled with site visits. We mainly have customers in West Yorkshire but do have some as far away as Liverpool and Warrington. Sunny Bank Mills is well-located for our clients.”
“Another year of strong revenue and profit growth” for Gateley
Gateley, the legal and professional services group, has hailed a “strong performance ahead of market expectations” in a trading update for the year ended 30 April 2022.
Revenue has increased to around £137m, up 13% on the prior year (£121.4m), while pre-tax profits have risen 10% to £18m (up from £16.3m).
The year saw three earnings-enhancing acquisitions, Tozer Gallagher in July 2021, Adamson Jones in January 2022 and Smithers Purslow in April 2022, and a new Revolving Credit Facility of £30m was agreed in April 2022, providing increased funding flexibility to support the group’s acquisition strategy.
Rod Waldie, Chief Executive Officer of Gateley, said: “We have delivered another year of strong revenue and profit growth and I am delighted with our overall performance. Our successful return to recruitment generated strong organic revenue growth of over 10%, which, allied to the completion of three exciting acquisitions, is delivering annualised consultancy revenue of over c.£32m.
“I thank our ever-expanding client base for their trust and support throughout FY22 and for giving us the opportunity to work on high quality mandates. We remain committed to our purpose of delivering results that delight our clients, inspire our people and support our communities. We have a strong pipeline of work and leave our financial performance guidance unchanged, despite the inflationary challenges, as we look forward to continuing to grow the group, both organically and via acquisition.”
Government must act on business investment to avoid recession
With less than 40 days until parliament goes into recess, the countdown is on for the Prime Minister and Chancellor to take the vital actions needed to spare the country from dipping into recession, according to the latest CBI economic forecast.
With the cost-of-living crunch showing no sign of abating, airports struggling to cope, national rail strikes on the horizon and Groundhog Day battles with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol, there is real risk that the economy stays a ‘distant second to politics’ this summer.
The CBI’s outlook suggests growth will soften as household spending turns downwards amid dented business and consumer confidence. As a result, the CBI has downgraded its GDP growth outlook significantly, to 3.7% in 2022 (from 5.1% previously) and 1.0% in 2023 (from 3.0% previously).
High inflation is the primary source of weaker growth. CPI inflation reached a 40-year high in April (9%), driven higher by a cocktail of challenges – ranging from supply chain pressures, rising commodity prices and war in Ukraine.
Inflation is expected to remain high into Autumn, rising to another peak in October (8.7%), given a likely rise in Ofgem’s energy price cap. The result is a historic squeeze in household incomes, which will lower consumer spending. This in turn will weaken GDP growth towards the end of this year and into the first half of next year.
Tony Danker, CBI director-general, said: “Let me be clear – we’re expecting the economy to be pretty much stagnant. It won’t take much to tip us into a recession. And even if we don’t, it will feel like one for too many people.
“Times are tough for businesses dealing with rising costs, and for people on lower incomes concerned about paying bills and putting food on the table.
“It’s as clear as day that business investment is one of the few bright spots left in our economy. The Super Deduction is one of the only reasons we have staved off the threat of recession for now – there must be a permanent successor.
“We’ve had weeks of politicking with the country standing on the brink of a summer of gridlock.
“There is only a small window until recess. Inaction this summer would set in stone a stagnant economy in 2023, with recession a very live concern.
“We need to act now to install confidence. This can wait no longer.”
What needs to be done this summer
Build momentum behind business investment ahead of the Autumn Budget:
- Make a full commitment to a permanent successor the super-deduction
- Cut approval times for new offshore wind farms from 4 years to 1 year
Boost confidence in the economy:
- Call for immediate talks to finally resolve the Northern Ireland Protocol impasse and get Brexit done – resist unilateral action with both sides getting on with the job of finding a negotiated outcome
- Act as an honest broker between rail companies and unions to find solutions to avoid a summer of train chaos
- Announce a permanent replacement to the Recovery Loan Scheme to support cashflow
Take immediate steps to alleviate labour and skills shortages:
- Get real on industry concerns over labour shortages – get going on a new shortage occupations list and add sectors with obvious shortages, like aviation, until that review can be completed.
- Add immediate flexibility to the apprenticeship levy for one year allowing all employers in the country to use their levy funds to tackle labour shortages.
Capital spending is set to fall away in the second half of 2023 as the super-deduction ends, which is why the CBI has been calling for a permanent investment incentive to buttress growth into next year.
Meanwhile, the CBI expects a small rise in the unemployment rate – ending 2023 at 4.1% – as weaker economic growth weighs on hiring. Nonetheless, this still marks a relatively tight labour market, with many firms presently carrying vacancies.
Exports continue to underperform compared with our international peers, remaining 10% below their pre-COVID level at the end of 2023.
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, said: “This is a tough set of statistics to stomach. War in Ukraine, a global pandemic, continued strains on supply chains – all preceded by Brexit – has proven to be a toxic recipe for UK growth.
“The bottom line is that the outlook for UK exports remains far worse than our worldwide competitors. This has got to change for the better.
“Business and government must work together to seek growth globally. As demand shrinks, competition for revenue increases. UK business must be more confident in identifying new markets and utilising all the tools at their disposal – be it from the private sector or public sector.
“Government also has an integral role to play. Against the backdrop of the rising cost of doing business and continuing supply chain pressures, easing trade flows is in everyone’s interests. It’s not just about lowering non-tariff trade barriers in Europe and signing FTAs.
“Post-Brexit regulatory reforms to support growth, innovation and sustainability can build competitiveness. But divergence for the sake of it could introduce further red tape and friction undermining that mission.
“Moreover, we can and must do more domestically to help our exporters too. Now that R&D allocations are known, let’s get that funding out the door quickly to the Advanced Research and Invention Agency and others.”
Government plan aims to support UK food production
Plans to drive innovation and harness pioneering technology in farming will be set out today as part of the Government’s Food Strategy which will back our farmers by helping to increase domestic production, spread jobs and grow the economy.
Currently, the UK produces only 15% of tomatoes supplied domestically, but new generation technology such as sustainable and efficient glasshouses has opened up new opportunities for British producers which will help to reduce reliance on overseas production.
The plans outlined today – including incentives for industry and investment in research – will support farmers to harness this innovation to boost home-grown fruit and vegetable production, and in turn create new job opportunities across the country.
In light of the consequences for the global economy of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, which has caused knock on impacts for food supplies as well as spikes in prices, the Strategy will also set out the importance of maintaining and boosting our food security, including plans to strengthen the resilience of our supply chains and boost domestic production to help protect against future economic shocks and crises.
It commits to broadly maintaining the current level of food that we produce domestically and boosting production in sectors where there are the biggest opportunities – such as horticulture and seafood.
£270 million will be invested across farming innovation funding programmes until 2029, to unlock technologies to drive sustainable farming techniques which will help increase productivity and profitability and the sector’s long-term resilience.
As well as stepping up work with industry to identify ways to help more people into jobs all along the food supply chain, the strategy also sets out plans to create a new professional body for the farming and growing industry to step up professional training and develop clear career pathways, equipping people and businesses with the skills needed to run sustainable and profitable businesses.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Our Food Strategy sets out a blueprint for how we will back farmers, boost British industry and help protect people against the impacts of future economic shocks by safeguarding our food security.
“Harnessing new technologies and innovation, we will grow and eat more of our own food – unlocking jobs across the country and growing the economy, which in turn will ultimately help to reduce pressure on prices.”
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “The food industry is bigger than the automotive and aerospace industries combined, offering employment opportunities, apprenticeships and investment in research and development.“The strategy we are setting out will increase the focus on skills in the food sector, and the roles and career pathways available. In particular, we will seek to boost our horticulture industry and ensure the expertise needed to develop the sector here in the UK.”
The Strategy follows the independent review of the food system by Henry Dimbleby last year, which set out an analysis of the challenges facing the food system. The Government Food Strategy responds to these findings and recommendations, accepting the majority of recommendations, with policy initiatives to boost health, sustainability, accessibility of diet to secure food supply, while also recognising the shared global challenges of the war in Ukraine and the impact of the pandemic on the global economy The strategy also includes plans to:- Consult on an ambition for 50% of public sector expenditure on food procurement to be on food either produced locally or to higher standards
- Incentivise the sector to use surplus heat and CO2 from industrial processes, and renewable sources of energy to increase domestic horticultural production
- Review the planning permission process to support new developments of glasshouses
- Launch an independent review to tackle labour shortages in the food supply chain, to look at the roles of automation, domestic labour and migration to ensure UK businesses can access the labour they require
- Consult on how to improve on and expand animal welfare labelling, to help consumers identify when products meet or exceed our high UK animal welfare standards
- Extend the Seasonal Workers visa route to poultry, following a successful pilot last year
- Publish a framework for land use in England next year
- Consult on food waste reporting for larger businesses over a certain size
- Publish a statement setting out requirements for those wishing to access the UK market to objectively demonstrate they deliver an equivalent level of health protection to our high domestic standards
- Explore how to make the most of innovative feed additives that can reduce methane emissions from livestock, to support sustainable farming
- Launch a new partnership between the public and private sector to provide consumers with more information about the food they eat while incentivising industry to produce healthier, more ethical and sustainable goods
Yorkshire Water plans new reservoir income stream
Yorkshire Water is planning a trial of parking charges at four of its Yorkshire reservoirs at Fewston, Swinsty, Thruscross and Langsett.
The company is proposing to charge £1 an hour, £2 for two hours, £3 for six hours, and an ‘all-day’ charge of £5. There is also a suggestion of an annual pass system.We took a lot of time to understand how visitors use our sites and what other similar sites around the country do and we’ve come up with these proposed tariffs:
A spokesman for the company said: “We’ll be seeking planning permission for parking meters at these sites this month, and if approved, they’ll be installed for a trial period later this year. We’ll be working with local authorities in the coming months to keep disruption to local communities to a minimum.
“The charges will help us improve the facilities at our sites and deliver nature conservation projects. We’ll also be able to expand our first ever in-house ranger team who are there to make sure we all have the best experience at our sites, complete any maintenance work and tackle anti-social behaviour.”
First-ever North East, Yorkshire & the Humber Startup Awards winners crowned
The most promising new businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber have been recognised at a new awards ceremony last night. The StartUp Awards National Series debuted this year to highlight the dynamic startup scene across the country that skyrocketed during the pandemic, and has been rolled out in nine UK nations and regions, supported nationally by BT, Clearco, Dell Technologies & Intel, Moblox, Fearless Adventures and with regional support from Moja Group.
The final was held at the Boiler House in Newcastle and saw twenty different awards given out to new businesses in categories such as innovative startup of the year, social enterprise startup of the year and green startup of the year.
The awards were judged by a panel of prominent local judges, including Mark Roberts of Beer Hawk, Sophie Milliken of Moja Group and Jonathan Grubin of SoPost.
The Startup of the Year for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber was won by Power Sheds, a manufacturer of garden sheds, log cabins, summerhouses and potting sheds. Based in Bradford, Power Sheds were set up in 2019 by Jack Sutcliffe and Simon Hobson who developed a product range which could fit on a pallet and be delivered anywhere in the UK within 24 hours. It has since grown to employ 70 people manufacturing 800 sheds per week.
Originally formed as the Wales StartUp Awards in 2016, the Awards Series has joined forces with the Great British Entrepreneur Awards to take the celebration of newly formed businesses nationwide. Creator of the awards Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE said the inaugural event not only celebrated the best new firms in Scotland but recognised the amazing entrepreneurial talent across the nation.
Dylan said: “We’re so proud of the amazing reception the first year of the StartUp Awards National Series has had across the country, from initially calling for entries right up to awards night. There are some exceptional stories of dedication and passion from founders of new firms from across the region and it was an honour to showcase these local entrepreneurial heroes in Newcastle last night.”
“What we have seen from every entry this year demonstrates that we have incredible businesses created and run by incredible people. Not only are they creating wealth and employment in their local communities, but they are all inspirational role models for others to follow in their footsteps.
“A huge congratulations to all the category winners and especially to the team at Power Sheds in becoming the Start-up of the Year who have grown the company so quickly in such a short space of time. They, and many of the other winners, are going to have a major impact on their sector in years to come and we look forward to seeing what’s next for these amazing entrepreneurs and their businesses.”
Full list of winners:
North East, Yorkshire and the Humber StartUp of the Year
Power Sheds
Business-to-Business Services StartUp of the Year
The Alcohol Free Drinks Company
Consumer Services StartUp of the Year
North Sky Yurts
Construction and Building Services StartUp of the Year
DCM3
Creative StartUp of the Year
Wigwam Studios
Digital StartUp of the Year
ddroidd
Food and Drink StartUp of the Year
Nidhoggr Mead
Graduate StartUp of the Year
Pretty Mama
Green StartUp of the Year
District Eating
Innovative StartUp of the Year
Aqualithium
Power Sheds
Leeds StartUp of the Year
Anyone
Manufacturing and Engineering StartUp of the Year
Modern Persian Kitchen
Medtech StartUp of the Year
Iatro Partners
Mobile and Emerging Technologies StartUp of the Year
Worker Bee UK
Online Retail StartUp of the Year
Sow Clever
Professional Services StartUp of the Year
Halo Business Consulting
Rural StartUp of the Year
Fearne & Rosie
Social Enterprise StartUp of the Year
PyroTalks CIC
Tourism and Leisure StartUp of the Year
Valhalla North Axe Throwing
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Jack Griffiths, Snuggy
Rising Stars
Blossom
Student Bubble
Spencer Group and Slipform Engineering combine for cement silo project as construction boom drives demand
Leading design and build contractors Spencer Group and specialist contractor Slipform Engineering are delivering a huge new cement handling facility to meet soaring construction industry demand.
The 52m (171ft) high silo is being built on Hull’s William Wright Dock amid a construction boom across the UK, which has led to bulk powder import and transport specialist Damac Group requiring greater cement handling capacity.
Spencer Group and Slipform Engineering were selected by Damac Group to carry out the project following the successful delivery of a similar, 46m (151ft) high facility to expand the company’s operations at the Port of Goole, in East Yorkshire.
The two companies have also worked together to deliver a 50m (164ft) high biomass fuel storage silo at King George Dock, in Hull, to store and transport wooden pellets for Drax Power Station, in North Yorkshire, as well as collaborating on similar storage facilities for other power suppliers.
The main structure, which is almost at high as Hull Royal Infirmary, has been built using Slipform Engineering’s innovative slip forming techniques, meaning the construction of the silo walls from ground level to the 52m peak took just 10 days.
Slip forming is a method of construction in which concrete is moved into a continuously moving form, used specifically for tall buildings whilst also being the construction method utilised to construct the Humber Bridge towers in 1976.
Richard Green-Morgan, Off Site Construction Director, is leading the project for Spencer Group. He said: “We’re delighted to be carrying out another important silo project for Damac Group, a client we’ve worked with for a number of years.
“Spencer Group and Slipform Engineering collectively have all the required in-house design and construction capabilities to deliver an outstanding facility, which will meet all of Damac’s requirements, quickly, safely, and to the highest possible standards.”
The quayside silo will have a 6,000m3 capacity. The imported cement powder will be received from ships at William Wright Dock directly into the silo, where it will be handled by Damac Group, who will then distribute it using their fleet of specialist bulk powder tankers for construction works across the UK.
A mechanical handling system is being undertaken by Silo Services Ltd, which will be used to transfer the cement onto trucks in a loading bay directly beneath the silo, which will stand on stilts.
Eamon Hanley, Managing Director of Slipform Engineering, said: “Our specialist techniques are perfect for a project of this nature and it’s a pleasure to once again be working collaboratively with our colleagues at Spencer Group on behalf of a long-standing client.
“We had to carry out the slip forming construction 24/7, as it was crucial the product didn’t get wet, and that’s why our unique expertise, technologies and experience have been so important.”
The UK construction industry is currently booming due to increased demand for housing and commercial properties, meaning additional capacity is needed for imported materials, and the new facility forms an integral part of Damac’s ongoing expansion and plans for continued growth.
Managing Director Cathy Plaskitt said: “The UK construction industry is buoyant, increasing the demand for bulk powder cement.
“This increase in demand means we need to import more from abroad and the new silo, in a highly accessible location with good motorway access, will be vital for our capacity to meet demand.
“Having worked with Spencer Group and Slipform Engineering previously, we know they have the required knowledge, skills and capabilities to deliver the project to the standards we require.”
Hull-based Spencer Group delivers innovative engineering and construction solutions in the materials handling, transport, infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors, from design through to construction.
Damac Group, comprising Sextant Shipping Limited, Damac Bulk Handling Limited and Damac Transporters Limited, has over 40 years’ experience in the complete logistical process of importing cementitious and bulk powder products into the UK; receiving and handling in purpose built bulk powder terminals and then onward distribution using its fleet of specialist bulk powder tankers.
Council’s plans to buy Grimsby shopping centre revealed
A plan for Freshney Place to be bought by North East Lincolnshire Council has been unveiled, as the authority looks to secure the future of Grimsby’s main shopping centre and the 1,700 jobs that go with it.
A report, to go before a special Cabinet meeting and then on to Full Council, outlines a desire to purchase the centre, which went into receivership earlier this year and is currently up for sale.
The report highlights the following points when saying it is vital that this course of action is taken by the council as it looks at further transforming the urban heart of Grimsby:
- Should Freshney Place be acquired by a “passive” owner who is unwilling to invest to deliver a leisure scheme and future proof the centre, its anticipated decline would accelerate, and the centre (including Top Town market) would undermine strategic initiatives to improve the town centre and deter inward investment. Other Local Authorities with similar issues have stepped in with 30 similar purchases in the last five years. Some are starting to see “significant progress in implementing their masterplans.”
- The centre makes up 60 per cent of the town centre’s retail offer, supporting one in five jobs within that area.
- This move will safeguard a critical part of Grimsby town centre’s economic and community infrastructure, ensuring it retains a competitive retail and service offer, and safeguarding up to 1,700 jobs within Freshney Place and Top Town Market. If successful, the centre would be run by external Asset Managers with the council taking an ‘arms-length’ approach.
- The continued decline of Freshney Place would have a catastrophic impact on Grimsby town centre. Grimsby town centre serves a wide retail catchment population of more than 300,000 and retains an above average level of shoppers compared to other smaller town centres, according to national retail data, reflecting the lack of a competing centre locally. Therefore, Grimsby town centre plays a vital role, providing a focal point for the North East Lincolnshire area.
- Grant funding from Central Government, including the Towns Fund, has already seen significant transformation in the town centre with projects still under way. These include Garth Lane, St James Square, the new Onside Horizon Youth Zone and the conversion of St James House into an E-Factor Group businesses centre and hub. To enable this regeneration to continue, Freshney Place must have a stable future.
East Yorkshire business park selected for £80m-plus investment by medical technology business
Yorkshire commercial property developer Wykeland Group has secured an £80m-plus investment by global medical technology business Smith+Nephew.
Subject to planning approval, Smith+Nephew has announced it will build a new research and development and manufacturing facility for its Advanced Wound Management franchise at Wykeland’s Melton West business park in East Yorkshire.
The location is just eight miles from Smith+Nephew’s current site in Hull, where the business has been located for more than 100 years. The new facility is expected to open in 2024.
The investment will create a world-class R&D, manufacturing and flexible office environment, which is expected to support more than £8bn of sales in its first 10 years of operation.
Melton West business park has been selected for the investment because of its proximity to the existing Hull facility. It also offers a site with the size and established infrastructure to accommodate the new facility and is allocated under the East Riding of Yorkshire Local Plan for developments of this kind.
Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Hull-based Wykeland, owner and developer of Melton West, said: “We are delighted the strategic, long-term investments we have made in the infrastructure at Melton West business park have enabled Smith+Nephew to stay within the region and make such a huge investment in a state-of-the-art new facility.
“Smith+Nephew is one of the region’s leading employers, with a proud local history and heritage. This investment will open an exciting new chapter in that story.”
Simon Fraser, president of Advanced Wound Management for Smith+Nephew, said: “This major investment demonstrates our commitment to the UK and to building our leadership in Advanced Wound Management.
“Smith+Nephew was founded in Hull in 1856 and we are proud to make this major investment in the region for future generations.”
