Planning approved for larger rare earth refinery facility in the Humber Freeport

Pensana has confirmed that its planning application for a larger rare earth refinery site at Saltend Chemicals Park near Hull, has been approved by East Riding Council.

The Company’s £150m Saltend project will have significant local and national benefits: it will create 450 jobs during construction and 125 high-value full-time jobs thereafter, while playing an important part in reducing the UK’s reliance on critical mineral imports from China.

The Company’s Chief Commercial Officer, William Izod, told East Riding councillors that 90% of the world’s magnets are currently produced in China, and their near monopoly could result in them dictating prices and limiting exports.

Electric cars need roughly one kilogram of magnet, whilst a 260 metre wind turbine can use seven tonnes.

The planning approval was also reported by the Yorkshire Post, with Counsellor John Whittle quoted on the project, stating that “If this is going to enhance the robustness of our country it must be supported.”

In addition, The Sunday Times recently reported that £4m of taxpayers’ money from the Automotive Transformation Fund would be granted to the project by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng. This should help unlock the private investment needed to fund the plant, which could create 125 jobs.

A BEIS spokesperson told the Yorkshire Post: “We are investing heavily to ensure the UK remains one of the best locations in the world for automotive manufacturing. Through our £850m Automotive

Transformation Fund, we are dedicated to securing a globally competitive automotive sector in Yorkshire and across the UK. Developing secure supply chains in critical minerals and battery components is central to this.”

Paul Atherley, Chairman, added: “We are delighted that the strategic importance of Pensana’s Saltend facility has been recognised by East Riding Council, and that the planning application for a larger site has been approved. This will bring high-value jobs to the local area and allow us to expand further into downstream production, as part of our plans to create a world-class, independent, and sustainable supply of rare earth metals for electric vehicles, offshore wind and other strategic industries.”

REA urges Government to do more to save energy in cost of living crisis

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has welcomed new measures to try and counter spiralling energy bills, but said the Government must now ramp up installation of insulation and rollout of domestic renewables and clean tech. The Government’s plan to tackle the cost of living crisis, to be funded in part by a windfall tax of 25% on the profits of oil and gas companies, includes: scrapping the one-off, £200 loan deducted from energy bills to be replaced with a £400 grant; households who receive means tested benefits being given a one off payment £650; increasing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners to £300 from £150; and £150 extra for those receiving non-means tested disability benefits. The REA repeatedly called for support for households facing increasing bills as part of the trade association’s six point plan to tackle the energy crisis. The removal of VAT on domestic renewable and clean technologies was also part of the six point plan and introduced in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement in March. While the package announced today may bring some immediate relief to household bills, the REA says this will only be temporary as inflation continues to rise. Ofgem said on Tuesday the energy price cap would increase to £2,800 in October, an increase of £800, after the regulator already increased it by £693 in April. The REA is now calling on the Government to lead a ‘national effort’ to increase energy efficiency which includes extending the list of technologies included as Energy Saving Materials, establishing an effective home insulation scheme and delivering an ambitious domestic heat decarbonisation policy. The REA also reiterated their previous calls for the Government to help accelerate the wider energy transition and remove volatile gas prices from bills permanently. Dr Nina Skorupska Chief Executive of REA, said:“The REA has long called for Government intervention to reduce the impact of spiralling energy costs and we welcome the support which will now be provided to low income and vulnerable households in particular. “However, the measures announced today by the Chancellor will only provide temporary and partial relief, with struggling households facing unprecedented inflationary costs that aren’t going away any time soon. “The Government needs to go much further and, in addition to short term cash, lead a national effort to ensure as many households as possible can insulate their homes and install domestic renewables and clean technology before the winter. This will improve energy efficiency, reduce demand for expensive fossil fuels and prevent damaging exposure to volatile global prices. “The situation remains critical – the Government has to rapidly follow today’s short-term relief with a package of real substance.”

Sixth acquisition in just six years for Leeds-based Marshall Wooldridge

Leeds-based Marshall Wooldridge has today announced its sixth acquisition since becoming part of Global Risk Partners (GRP) just six years ago. According to Insurance business news, the broker swooped on Insurefirst Limited, trading as Bush & Associates (Bush) for an undisclosed sum. Bush, which is based between Brighouse and Huddersfield, Bush & Associates are ideally situated in the heart of West Yorkshire, was founded in 2000 and in 2015 became a limited company, under the name of InsureFirst. The management team and all employees will all be retained say the new owners.
Commenting on the acquisition, Geoff Kirk, MD of Marshall Wooldridge, said: “Wayne and his team run a high-class regional brokerage and I’m really pleased they’ve chosen to join us for the next stage of their development.” He added that the business is a great fit with Marshall Wooldridge’s portfolio in Yorkshire and that he is confident that Bush will be in a strong position to expand its footprint with the support and help of the wider group. Wayne Stevenson also commented on the deal and highlighted Marshall Wooldridge’s reputation for entrepreneurship and encouraging owner-managers to go for growth. “We feel that Bush and its team are in safe hands under the GRP umbrella,” he said, “and we look forward to being able to offer our clients a broader range of products and services.”

Six-figure funding deal for Leeds based IT recycling firm

A Leeds entrepreneur who set up a successful recycling company when he was just 18 is expanding his business thanks to six-figure funding from Unity Trust Bank. Oliver Bedford established Revive IT in Buslingthorpe Green, Leeds in 2009 and is using the £900,000 refinance package to buy two new warehouses. It means the company, which provides secure computer recycling and data destruction services and employs 33 people, will be able to double the amount of equipment it processes and create 20 new jobs. Oliver said: “I can’t rate my experience with Unity Trust Bank, and my relationship manager Michael Wicks, highly enough, it was phenomenal. “The transaction was faster and smoother because Michael has experience of deals like this. The whole customer experience is what makes this bank so special.” Oliver discovered a flair for businesses when he was 13, buying sweets in multi-packs and selling them to schoolfriends for a profit. He progressed into the mobile phone market when he left school before moving on to IT equipment and buying his first warehouse. Oliver said: “I’ve always had a strong interest in buying and selling stuff – call it the Alan Sugar effect. “The IT recycling market is huge. Businesses upgrade every few years and need to dispose of old equipment, but most importantly they need to ensure all their confidential data stored on the equipment is securely destroyed. Another important consideration is making sure the equipment is recycled in an environmentally friendly way.” Revive IT, which operates around the country and offers a free collection service, destroys hard drives and data-bearing devices using industry-leading machinery. Devices that have been sanitised will be reused, while those that are faulty or obsolete are destroyed and broken down for recycling. The company has a zero waste to landfill policy and predominantly sells its goods on online market platforms. Oliver puts his company’s success down to his staff and excellent customer service. He said: “A lot of firms get so big they lose that personal touch and, like my experience with Michael and Unity, exceptional customer service is what makes a business unique. “We recruit in a sustainable way, making sure we employ the right people and provide proper training and support. We invest in people for the long run and we have extremely low staff turnover. “Making sure your staff are happy is the key to keeping your customers happy.” Michael Wicks, Relationship Manager at Unity Trust Bank, said: “Oliver has built up a hugely successful business and we’re delighted to support his expansion. “Recycling has a number of positive benefits, including helping to reduce our carbon footprint. However, as well as helping the environment, Oliver is also helping the local economy through job creation and training.”

Urbaser continues UK Growth through acquisition of Biowise

Environmental services company Urbaser Ltd, has announced that it has acquired Biowise Ltd – part of Wastewise Holdings Ltd, a Hull-based resource management service provider.

Urbaser Ltd provides municipal, waste treatment, and recovery services to residents throughout the UK, focusing its operations on conserving resources, carbon reduction, and delivering a circular economy. The acquisition supports Urbaser Ltd’s growth strategy to expand its portfolio of waste treatment and commercial services solutions within the region, building on the acquisition of five waste management contracts from Amey and J&B Recycling Ltd during 2021.

Founded by the Landau family, the Hull-based Biowise is a leading recycling and waste management firm with over 50-years’ experience within the industry. Delivering services across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire, Biowise operates three organic waste treatment facilities, (including two state-of-the-art in-vessel composting facilities) and offers a Total Waste Management service to a range of local authority and commercial customers, which together generated over £13 million during 2021 through the management of 260,000+ tonnes of waste.

Javier Peiro, Managing Director of Urbaser Ltd, said: “We are delighted to announce the integration of Biowise into the Urbaser Group as another important step along the path of growth and example of our continued ambition to expand the range of services we offer to our local authority and commercial customers across the country. We are committed to ensuring that Biowise continues to deliver the exemplary level of service established by the Biowise team over the many years of operation.

“The collection and treatment of organic waste is a critical element of the United Kingdom’s overall waste management strategy. Through the delivery of the organic waste treatment and Total Waste Management services, Urbaser Ltd is pleased to be able to provide additional support to maximise recycling within the UK.”

The senior management team at Wastewise will remain within the business, including Bob Wilkes as Managing Director, who joined the company in 2017.

Mr Wilkes added: “We are very excited to be joining Urbaser and supporting the Group in its ambitious growth strategy within the UK.

“Biowise is very fortunate to have found a company which possesses the same values in respect of the provision of innovative and environmentally responsible solutions across the waste management sector.”

Commenting on the sale of his company to Urbaser, James Landau added:

“It was extremely important to me to find the right organisation to take the business forward and I have every confidence that Urbaser will nurture and build upon Biowise’s existing relationships with its various local authority and commercial customers to take the company to the next level.

“I am very proud of what we have achieved, and I am thankful to the whole team for their loyalty and support. I wish them and Urbaser all the best for the future as they embark on the next chapter.”

The Urbaser Group has been delivering environmental services across the world since 1990. It plays a key role in the advancement of the circular economy, acting as a strategic partner in cities and industries all over the world, providing efficient and innovative environmental management solutions which it implements through its business areas.

Leeds given prestigious Purple Flag status for fifth year running

Leeds has been given prestigious Purple Flag status for the fifth year running, for achieving excellence in the management of its evening and night-time economy.
Awarded by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM), the Purple Flag aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am. Areas awarded the Purple Flag are recognised for providing a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture while promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and local residents. The Purple Flag accreditation recognises the investment in the streets and spaces in the city centre, which has seen streets like Greek Street, Call Lane, New Briggate and Lower Briggate all improved over the past two years. Increased areas of pedestrianisation, wider pavements and more space for outdoor seating have contributed to a more attractive city centre. There has also been major investment in the city’s bus and transport network, helping to improve journey times and provide safer walking and cycling routes. The judging panel praised the city’s approach to managing the night-time economy, with partnership initiatives like ‘Night Safe Leeds’, the multi-agency on-street community safety offer, and ‘Ask For Angela Leeds’ where people who feel unsafe can simply ‘ask for Angela’ at the bar or other venue and trained staff will be able to provide help. In addition, the work of the ‘Angels of Freedom’ who offer a range of visible, engaging, and caring services to people in the LGBT+ community was highlighted, as was the Women’s Safe Space pilot initiative run by Women’s Lives Leeds where a bus was used as a safe space for women who wanted to seek assistance, wait for friends or call a taxi. It was felt that these initiatives demonstrate a real commitment to making the city centre an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for all. Councillor Jonathan Pryor deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “I am delighted that Leeds has once again retained its Purple Flag status. The city centre has bounced back strongly from the pandemic, with leisure trips at the weekend often driving footfall above the levels seen pre-pandemic. Last weekend, for example, weekend footfall was three per cent up on the equivalent weekend in 2019. The city’s hospitality offering continues to evolve, with new venues regularly opening, and many more in the pipeline.” Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for resources with responsibility for Safer Leeds, said: “Leeds city centre is a vibrant and exciting place for everyone and I am delighted that the work we have been undertaking to ensure everyone can enjoy it safely has been recognised through Purple Flag status. “We see people from all communities coming to Leeds to enjoy shopping, theatre and the arts and our thriving nightlife.  I hope that this award will encourage more and more people to visit our fabulous city and feel welcomed and safe while doing so.”

Major Connecting Leeds work to transform New Briggate now complete

Connecting Leeds highways work to improve a popular street in the city centre is now complete.
Delivery of the transformation of New Briggate started in July 2021, after a wider consultation in 2018 around improving bus routes, cycle lanes and footways in the city centre. The work, which forms part of Connecting Leeds’ £173.5million programme, aims to enhance the pedestrian and cycling experience by removing motor traffic (except for loading at specified times) and improving the public realm. Buses, which once used New Briggate, now use Vicar Lane, improving reliability and journey times by removing a bottleneck on The Headrow at New Briggate. Delivered by John Sisk & Son, the New Briggate delivery includes wider, high quality pavements to enhance walking and outdoor retail and dining opportunities, new trees, and improvements for cycle users. The scheme will also reduce city centre congestion and help to improve air quality. The New Briggate work follows on from another major milestone in the city centre, with areas around Leeds Corn Exchange benefitting from highway improvements and a creation of a new public space. The New Briggate enhancements also complement the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project in the area which is a partnership between Leeds City Council and Historic England. The HAZ scheme is delivering heritage-led regeneration using government-funded grants for repair work to buildings and public spaces. Connecting Leeds aims to tackle the climate emergency in Leeds whilst delivering on Council objectives of delivering inclusive growth and improving the health and well-being of Leeds residents. Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “We are delighted another major step in city centre improvements is now complete. The work seen here will help to attract investment to New Briggate and offer more leisure options whilst improving active travel routes for people using the city. We would like to thank businesses; bus operators and users; and the public for their patience whilst construction has been carried out.”  

Woodland Group takes second warehouse at iPort, Doncaster

Verdion has secured leading independent logistics company Woodland Group for one of its new speculative buildings at iPort near Doncaster. Woodland Group, one of the largest privately owned global logistics companies, will occupy the 130,458 sq ft distribution facility, iP1b, on a 10-year lease with construction completed and the facility fully operational from this week onwards. The Group is continuing to expand its footprint across Yorkshire as part of a strategic move to service the growing needs of its existing and new business. iP1b will be its second building at iPort following a decision to take a 195,000 sq ft fulfilment and distribution warehouse in February last year. Woodland Group also benefits from iPort’s on-site multimodal freight terminal, iPort Rail, as part of their carbon-conscious solution offering, even launching a dedicated new rail service through iPort Rail for its onsite clients. John Clements, Executive Director at Verdion, said: “Woodland Group is already proving how the combined logistics and rail freight offer at iPort can support businesses seeking a greener, more efficient, supply chain. We’re pleased to be able to prelet this additional unit as part of our wider speculative development programme and look forward to leasing the remaining space this year – there is already significant interest from a range of potential occupiers.” Luke Fermor, Global Head of Fulfilment, Woodland Group, commented: “The Woodland fulfilment business is seeing large growth with strategic clients who trust us with their complete end to end supply chain solutions. It has been a pleasure working with Verdion to deliver a second facility on the iPort estate which allows us to continue to expand our services out of Doncaster. This new dedicated e-commerce facility gives us the ability to store over 15,000 pallets and 12,000 pick locations all being managed by our state-of-the-art, in-house built WMS. This facility will further drive our aim to deliver sustainable supply chains, and we have extensive plans in place to make it our flagship for sustainable development. The investment we are seeing in the South Yorkshire and Doncaster area is very exciting and we are pleased to be a major provider and employer in the area.” iPort is one of the UK’s most advanced multimodal logistics hubs, with capacity for a total of 6 million sq ft of 24/7 of logistics and light industrial accommodation close to Junction 3 of the M18 and the East Coast Main Line. iP1b is the second of four warehouses completing in 2022 as part of a speculative development programme being undertaken by Verdion. iP2f comprises 174,380 sq ft and is available for occupation. iP1a comprises 116,000 sq ft and completes in June and the largest, iP10, comprises 260,000 sq ft and completes in August. All are designed to EPC A rating and BREEAM Very Good. The park’s remaining 1.7 million sq ft includes capacity for specialist buildings of up to 800,000 sq ft alongside this speculative space. Other occupiers include Amazon, Fellowes, Lidl, Maritime Transport, Dusk and Kingsbury Press. CBRE advised Verdion. Knight Frank acted for Woodland Group. Gent Visick, CBRE and Colliers are the retained leasing agents for iPort.

Panattoni submits plans for 417,570 sq ft speculative logistics development at Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Panattoni, the largest industrial real estate developer in Europe, has submitted a planning application for one of the largest speculative logistics facilities in South Yorkshire. The application is for a 417,570 sq ft facility, called Panattoni Doncaster 420, next to Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Panattoni acquired the 18.4-acre site with outline planning consent from Peel L&P in March. Panattoni Doncaster 420 will be built to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings with many sustainability features, such as electric vehicle charging points and 15% roof lights. It also will benefit from 15m clear internal height, 34 dock doors, three level access doors, a 50m yard with parking for 74 HGVs and up to 1.5 MVa of power. Panattoni is aiming to start construction later this year with completion in the third quarter of 2023. Connecting the motorway network, air cargo, and multi-modal rail freight via iPort nearby, Panattoni Doncaster 420 will provide access to both consumer and industrial markets across the UK and the world. Doncaster Sheffield Airport is one of the UK’s fastest growing airports, expanding by 13% over the past five years and connecting to 36 destinations in 15 countries. Dan Burn, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “This is a superb logistics site with direct access to local, regional and global markets. Our planning application has been submitted just six weeks after we acquired the site, which reflects our desire and ability to bring much needed speculative development forward as quickly as possible”. CPP and Colliers International have been appointed as letting agents alongside Burbage Realty.

Doncaster Chamber Business Conference Outlines Ambition and Plans for City’s Future

Business leaders and politicians came together recently to attend a forward-looking event, in which delegates explored the opportunities available to Doncaster’s economy and what can be done to ensure its continued growth. Titled “Doncaster, What’s Next?”, the business conference was organised by the city’s Chamber of Commerce and took place at the Unipart Innovation Centre in Balby Carr. It was hosted by Tariq Shah, Director of the Vigo Group, and Noreen Nasim, TEDX Speaker and Course Leader from Doncaster College. Attendees had an opportunity to air their views about the pressing issues of the day, to engage regional government on what needs to be done, and to get involved with important conversations about the future of South Yorkshire. Representing local and regional government , the speakers included Doncaster’s own Mayor, Ros Jones, Chief Executive of the council, Damian Allen, and Nick Fletcher MP. Each of these distinguished guests gave an overview of where they believe South Yorkshire should be heading over the next 10 years, as well as the major economic projects and campaigns that are currently in the pipeline. They also spoke about how we must use our newly bequeathed City Status to our advantage, so that we can develop our reputation further, rather than simply resting on our laurels. Delving further into this ambitious vision, South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, then took to the stage near the end of the conference, to talk about what he will be prioritising in his new role. Meanwhile, from the private sector there were business experts like Tom Rumboll, CEO of SYNETIQ, Rachel Harwood, Executive Director of Doncaster Racecourse, Andrew Austwick, Managing Director of Finance for Enterprise, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, and many more. The full list is available to view on the Chamber website. Over the course of the 5 hour event, these panellists explored pertinent issues like: what would make Doncaster a better place to do business; how we can better drive innovation; the biggest misconceptions about our city, and the difficulties that many firms are facing when it comes to the skills shortage. They all took the time to field questions from the audience as well, via a series of lively Q&A sessions. On that last note, the conference also saw the debut of the region’s new People & Skills Manifesto. Devised by the three South Yorkshire Chambers (those being Doncaster, Sheffield and Barnsley & Rotherham) and informed by years of in-depth research, this progressive document lays out over 40 practical recommendations that will help local government to create a new and improved skills strategy that better meets the needs of the area’s employers. As for what else is in the immediate future for Doncaster, we have several exciting campaigns running at the moment. Right now, we are in the middle of bidding for a new hospital and to be named the home of the Great British Railways (GBR). Plus, Doncaster is also looking forward to hosting part of the Rugby World Cup in Autumn, with a number of games taking place at the Eco-Power Stadium. Of course, with us now having achieved City Status we are in a better position than ever before to campaign for these big opportunities and others like them. Speaking about this and the outcomes of Thursday’s event, Dan Fell, Chief Executive for Doncaster Chamber, said: “We heard a lot of rich and informed debate about the future prosperity of Doncaster here today. There were individual stories of entrepreneurship and tenacity that, I hope, will motivate and inspire everyone who attended. We also heard how the outside world is sitting up, taking notice, and recognising Doncaster as a great place to do business. “However, we also heard about a lot of challenges that are still facing our business community. While we have a great deal to celebrate at the moment —including the recent success of our City Status bid — some very real issues were flagged that we need to address. These range from acute people and skills shortages, to economic hardships and a lack of commitment from the government when it comes to levelling up South Yorkshire. “Our conference was focussed on highlighting these problems and finding out what we can do to solve them. From the productive discussions we’ve had here this morning, we have come away with a lot of homework, for Doncaster Chamber, for our regional partners and for national government. “Within a week, we will be telling the wider business community confirming what the next steps are and will be signposting them on how to get involved in Doncaster’s future success. When the business conference returns next May, we expect to be held to account on the things we have set out to do. “Doncaster, What’s Next has been a rousing success, generating stimulating conversation and many fantastic ideas. I’d like to congratulate everyone who was involved in making this happen so smoothly, from my colleagues at the Chamber, to our guest speakers, and our panellists. Finally, I also want to say a huge thank you to Noreen and Tariq for being such capable hosts, as well as to Unipart and DigiRail for being our supportive sponsors.” Echoing these sentiments, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It was so inspiring to see just how determined and optimistic Doncaster’s business community is. Everyone in the room was visibly passionate about securing the best possible future for their city and I am grateful to Doncaster Chamber for inviting me to be part of it all.”