ESG driving Yorkshire food sector
The food industry is making positive strides in tackling the issue of ESG, according to a survey carried out as part of the 2022 Yorkshire Food & Agri-business sector dinner, a joint event hosted by accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO LLP, Barclays, and Mills & Reeve.
Half of businesses surveyed said they were already implementing, or had an ESG business strategy in place, with one in 10 emphasising that sustainability is central to driving the company forward. The survey also showed that 50% of food businesses were still in the early stages of addressing ESG.
The survey of businesses drawn from Yorkshire’s formidable food sector showed that climate change and the environment were the biggest areas of focus for the majority of respondents (90%), compared to just 35% for the Yorkshire business community as a whole. Prioritising ethical and sustainable suppliers and materials during the procurement process (40%), as well as board leadership and company purpose, in line with the UK Corporate Governance Code, were also ESG priorities in 2022.
Jason Whitworth, partner at BDO in Yorkshire, said: “When it comes to ESG, there’s a mixed picture in the regional food sector, in terms of where people are on their ESG journey. However, there is an extremely strong appetite amongst Yorkshire businesses to ensure they implement robust processes and procedures that form a core part of their business strategy moving forward. It’s clear that there is a fine balance to be found between meeting ESG commitments and managing other areas of the business. However, despite this juggle, the food sector overwhelmingly wants to do the right thing.”
He added: “ESG is quickly becoming a core part of how the food sector operates and investing and innovating in more sustainable business practices will be vital in years to come.”
The ESG-themed event, hosted at Yorkshire heritage-rich venue The Tetley in Leeds, focused on important issues currently facing the sector, including what ESG means to businesses in the sector, how corporate strategies will evolve over the next three to five years, and what more needs to be done to tackle ESG in the food industry. It featured organic food delivery service Abel & Cole – a company leading the charge, in terms of sustainability credentials – speaking about its B Corp accreditation, together with recent “Free-From Food Awards” winner, Yorkshire brand, Good – It’s Gluten Free, on the importance of ESG for a fast-growing start-up.
Stefanie Sahmel, head of sustainability at Abel & Cole, said: “ESG considerations are in the Abel & Cole DNA, and B Corp status has been an important investment we have made in sustaining our momentum in this core belief for both Abel & Cole and the wider Yorkshire-based William Jackson Food Group. It is a cost, but we’ve done it because we feel it is the right thing to do – a principle is not a principle unless you are willing to invest in it.”
Andrew Daly, of Good – It’s Gluten Free, added: “ESG is an issue rightly high on the agenda for a business of any size, especially those that are so closely connected with their consumers and aware of what is important to them.”
Alex Kenworthy, partner at Mills & Reeve in Leeds, added: “It was really interesting to hear the views of speakers from two businesses at very different stages in their lifecycles, but what shone through from both (and indeed from the other contributors) is that companies in the food sector are increasingly being judged on not only their profitability but also on the manner in which they conduct business.
“ESG factors are driving where consumers purchase their food and many now expect companies that supply them to be ethically aligned to their own priorities. Whether it’s executive pay, treatment of employees, sustainable sourcing and environmentally conscious practices, they all play a part in this thought process.”
John Laud, Barclays head of corporate banking in West and North Yorkshire, added: “It was clear from the speakers, the engaging discussion and the survey we undertook as a part of this event, that Yorkshire food producers are taking their wider ESG responsibilities seriously. We believe that supporting our customers with their transition to a low carbon economy is crucial to driving their Enterprise Value and their sustainable growth for the future and holding this type of event where opinion and experience are shared is a vital part of that.”
Matthew joins Sheffield office of Begbies Traynor
Matthew Cluer has been promoted to partner, based in the Sheffield office of independent business rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor.
After spending over nine years with another large independent insolvency practice in South Yorkshire, Matthew joined Begbies Traynor in December 2017, taking up the role of regional sales director for the South Yorkshire and East Midlands region.
Matthew specialises in providing turnaround and insolvency advice to sole traders and business owners in the SME sector. In addition, he also assists owner managed businesses in obtaining commercial finance products through his strong professional network.
In his new role as a partner, Matthew will continue to work with managing partner Kris Wigfield and the35-strong team in Sheffield to build the firm’s presence across the South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire region as well as managing the group’s national creditor services offering which is based at the Sheffield office.
Kris Wigfield said: “Since joining Begbies Traynor five years ago, Matt has made a huge contribution to the success of our operation here. With his client-facing role, liaising with business owners and professional advisers, he has helped to build the firm’s reputation, motivate and grow the team and increase our presence in the region.”
Julian Pitts, managing partner for Begbies Traynor in Yorkshire, added: “This promotion is well-deserved recognition of Matt’s talents and commitment – we look forward to him continuing to drive growth of the Begbies Traynor brand in South Yorkshire and across our offices in Lincoln and Nottingham too.”
Matthew said: “It’s extremely satisfying to see the progress we’ve made at our Sheffield base – from trebling our case load in the last five years, to massively growing the team and moving into larger offices in Westfield House, we have become one of the leading names in rescue and recovery in the region. I look forward to continuing to generate work for the team and support businesses in South Yorkshire and beyond.”
Work gets underway to transform second historic Westgate building
Wakefield Council is restoring a second historic Westgate building, as part of the next phase of a major scheme.
A former drapers’ shop – 22 Silver Street is to being restored as part of Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) programme to ensure the city’s heritage can be enjoyed for generations to come.
The HAZ scheme, funded by Wakefield Council and Historic England, is renovating Upper Westgate’s historic buildings and features, and has already seen the start of work to restore the Woolpacks Inn, along with the reinstating of traditional cobbles to Carter Street and Cheapside and the introduction of up lighting to Thompsons Yard, and the lane leading to Barstow Square.
Cllr Darren Byford, cabinet member for economic growth, skills and property, said: “It’s great that work has started on this historic building. We want everyone to be able to enjoy and appreciate the architecture and the history of Upper Westgate and the former drapers’ shop, which served generations of customers. It continues to house business premises today and is an important part of our district’s heritage.”
Nicky Brown, from Historic England, said: “It’s fantastic that work has started to restore this historic building in an area that is rich in heritage and significance for local people.”
She added: “The aim of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone is to help unlock the potential in Wakefield town centre through repair and improvement work, making it more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.”
The works will include the removal of the modern aluminium shop front with a replacement that is a more traditional wooden frontage. Some of the cement render will be removed and replaced by a traditional lime render to allow the building to dry out and breathe.
Windows on the upper floors will be refurbished and the original 18th century brickwork will be repaired and repointed with a traditional mortar to stop damp and prevent further damage to the original bricks.
Contractors have been trained in the use of mixing and applying traditional hot lime mortars.
The three storey Silver Street building stood at the corner of the old marketplace, beside the Corn Market. The earliest identified occupant was William Beatson, a mercer and leading townsman who lived there with his family from about 1740.
It became a drapers’ shop and in the 1830s was described as extending halfway into the street, “leaving only just room for one carriage to pass.”
The property continued to be occupied by a series of substantial Wakefield drapers, with drapery, clothes and dressmaking businesses continuing there well into the 20th century.
Since then, it has been home to a range of businesses, including a fast-food restaurant, and tanning studio. The upper floors of the building are today used by a recruitment agency, with a newsagent on the ground floor.
Boston gets new auctioneer as regular auction date returns
Boston Market will be welcoming a new auctioneer on Wednesday 18th May. The popular general auction will be run by Bob Clifford. Bob has 35 years’ experience as an auctioneer and already works with East Lindsey District Council, one of our Partners in the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.
Cllr Tracey Abbott, Portfolio Holder for Town Centre, said: “We are so pleased to be able to announce that a regular auction will be back on Bargate Green, it’s an integral part of Boston Market and adds to the special character of our town.
“The Market Place and The Bargate Green offer a hardstanding site, suitable for all weathers and there is something for everyone at our local market.”
York’s robotics research centre awarded £1.5m to build solar farm
The University of York is to be the location for a new £1.5m solar farm project.
Located at the University’s new Institute for Safe Autonomy (ISA), the facility will cover an area of around 1000-1500 square meters and will power around 80% of the building’s expected daily usage.
Funded through the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), the facility will enhance the Institute’s research capabilities by providing a ‘living lab’, which will allow researchers to safely develop and use robots to inspect and maintain the solar farm.
The project will enable the Institute to become energy self-sufficient and help meet the University’s net-zero targets.
Professor Miles Elsden, director of the Institute for Safe Autonomy, said the panels will provide around 200 kW of power to the building.
He said: “The facility will be made up of a range of different panel configurations – from static ground installations to sun-tracking arrays and vertical towers, to panels deployed on the side of the building and its rooftop.
“It is a really exciting and innovative project that shows our commitment as a University to sourcing sustainable energy.”
The new facility will be coupled with ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) technology that will be used to further increase the energy efficiency of the Institute to meet the remaining 20% of the building’s energy needs.
The solar farm is one of nine projects that are set to improve environmental sustainability, thanks to almost £19 million of funding from UKRPIF.
The investment will support universities to enhance, upgrade and adapt research centres and facilities to reduce their carbon emissions, and make research processes more environmentally sustainable.
As 23% of the UK’s CO2 is emitted from buildings and building usage, the nine projects will contribute to the government’s target to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 and achieve net-zero by 2050.
Energy solutions company opens distribution hub in Barnsley
One of the UK’s leading energy solutions businesses, SMS plc, has opened its main distribution hub in Barnsley following a move to a new 52,000 sq ft premises at Ashroyd Business Park, off Junction 36 of the M1.
SMS, which is headquartered in Glasgow, specialises in the installation, operation and management of carbon reduction technologies, including smart meters, electric vehicle (EV) charging points, and battery storage systems.
The company has signed a 10-year lease at the commercial premises, with around eighty jobs set to be created at the new site. Skills and supply chain support has been provided by Enterprising Barnsley, the council’s business support service.
In addition to the new distribution hub, SMS is also later this year due to complete the construction of a second Barnsley site. The 40 megawatt (MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), built on land near Hopewell Street in Stairfoot, will support the UK’s power network with the flexibility services crucial for accommodating renewable energy generation and boosting the national grid’s resilience.
Cllr Robert Frost, cabinet support member – regeneration and culture, said: “We are delighted to welcome SMS to Barnsley and to provide these premises in a prime location to support their business growth.
“They work closely with both private and public sectors to achieve the UK’s net-zero carbon target by 2050, which is very much something we as a council support. It is great news that they have chosen Barnsley for their main distribution hub, which will see more jobs created in the borough.
“We wish SMS continued success and have been pleased to support them in consolidating their growing operations under one roof in Barnsley.”
Geoff Schofield, finance director at SMS plc, said: “Our new logistics hub at Ashroyd Business Park provides a strategic location for our operations throughout the UK and will drive efficiencies into our storage and final mile supply chain activities.
“It also adds to our already significant presence in Yorkshire and the North of England, including our office in Doncaster and customer contact centre and national engineer training academy in Bolton. The facility is a fantastic addition to our business and will support the group’s expansion as we continue to deliver smart energy infrastructure and carbon reduction assets across the UK.”
North Lincolnshire employees encouraged to get active next month
This June workplaces are encouraged to take part in the Get Active Challenge to improve their health and wellbeing.
The month-long competition will see teams of four competing against other teams from across North Lincolnshire workplaces to walk or cycle to work or increase their physical activity.
Any business in North Lincolnshire is eligible to take part, and can enter more than one team. The challenge involves each participant in the team aiming take part in at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day or at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. The physical activity can be anything from walking or cycling to work, running, swimming, or chair-based activities.
Those who participate in the challenge will be able to choose from a wide range of incentives to motivate them to take part in the activity, for example:
- A cycle safety pack containing ahigh visibility rucksack cover, bike lights, bike lock, and flashing arm band.
- Runners pack including running vest, water bottle and arm band.
- One month swim or gym only membership with NL Active.
- Access to a range of virtual and face to face exercise classes, including chair-based exercises and Do Something Different sessions.
- A cycle safety pack containing ahigh visibility rucksack cover, bike lights, bike lock, and flashing arm band.
- Runners pack including running vest, water bottle and arm band.
- One month swim or gym only membership with NL Active.
- Access to a range of virtual and face to face exercise classes, including chair-based exercises and Do Something Different sessions.
- Plus, much more.
Call for projects to transform empty units on Sheffield high street
Grants of up to £50,000 could be available to businesses in Sheffield to transform under-used spaces on the High Street.
Following the impact of the pandemic on city centre footfall and trade, Sheffield City Council are working to support local businesses to revive empty spaces and bring vibrancy to areas of the city centre that have struggled in recent years.
Expressions of Interest for the ReNew Fund are welcome for prime locations on and around Fargate and High Street, including Chapel Walk, Orchard Square, Norfolk Row and Surrey St.
Businesses from all industries are encouraged to apply, including food and beverage, retail, leisure, hospitality and arts and culture.
Fargate and High Street are at the centre of the Council’s plans to reimagine the city centre and will soon be home to five-storey Event Central, a year-round events and exhibition space, as well as a new outdoor performance space and improved lighting and seating facilities. The improvements will be funded by the £20.8m pot of funding from the Future High Streets Fund which the Council successfully bid for last year, and public sector investment.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, executive member for city futures: development, culture and regeneration at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield is going through a major transformation at the moment, with millions of pounds being invested to bring people back into the city centre to work, shop, socialise and live.
“Through ReNew we are encouraging local businesses to be creative in their plans and use this opportunity to try something new, expand or move to a central location. We are looking for projects that will have a long-lasting positive impact on the city centre and will benefit from the regeneration taking place.
“At this stage, all businesses need to do is submit a two-page Expression of Interest to our team, so it’s worth taking the time to do that now and get the ball rolling.”
Michelle Walton, at Birds Yard on Chapel Walk, said: “This type of funding can be a huge boost to businesses starting out as it gives you the support to establish yourself in a prominent location, which is not always possible otherwise. I opened Bird’s Yard on Chapel Walk in 2013 after receiving similar funding from the Council, and it gave me a head start to get set up. I now have got a thriving shop specialising in locally made homeware, clothes, and gifts.
“I am a great believer in championing independent businesses and there is a lot of potential for some of the creative and talented people we have got in Sheffield to join me in the city centre. I hope people take the chance to have a look and see how the funding could work for them.”
Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 22 May. Businesses are asked to set out the projected costs of their proposal and the economic benefits their project would bring to the area.
Tight labour market drives bonuses up but wider wage squeeze deepens
A tightening labour market and an increasingly mobile workforce is driving up bonuses to hire and retain staff, but the wage squeeze for the wider workforce continues to deepen off the back of rising inflation, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest labour market statistics.
The UK labour market continues to tighten, with unemployment falling to 3.7 per cent (the lowest since 1974) and the number of vacancies rising to almost 1.3 million, taking vacancy numbers above unemployment levels for the time ever.
Workers are taking advantage of this tight labour market by moving jobs – almost a million did so in the first three months of the year. There are signs firms are using bonuses to respond to the hiring and retention challenges posed by this mass movement, with total pay including bonuses rising 7 per cent. Bonuses are up 30 per cent on last year, but remain concentrated in finance and business sectors which account for almost 60 per cent of all bonuses.
There is less good news for those not receiving bonuses, with regular pay not responding to rising inflation. Real regular pay growth has fallen sharply by 1.2 per cent – the fastest rate in almost a decade. The Foundation notes that the true scale of Britain’s real wage squeeze is likely to be even deeper as the headline rate is flattered by the effects of last year’s furlough.
Finally, the Foundation notes that the UK labour market remains smaller than it was pre-pandemic.
While long-term unemployment is falling, there are no signs that the pandemic-induced rise in inactivity is reversing, with half a million people – largely older workers – having completely disengaged from work. As a result, we are working 10 million fewer hours a month than before the pandemic, which will lead to a smaller economy overall.
Hannah Slaughter, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The UK labour market continues to tighten, with the number of unemployed people having fallen below the number of job vacancies for the first time ever. People are taking advantage of these conditions to move jobs, and employers are responding by paying bonuses to hire or retain key staff.
“But for the vast majority of the workforce, the labour market may feel far less hot. There is little sign of wider pay pressures building and real wages are getting squeezed even tighter.
“With inflation having shot up in recent months, the scale of Britain’s wage squeeze is going to get far worse.”
Lincs law firm launches litigation funding with DBA option
For the first time, Lincoln law firm Shakespeare Martineau is to offer damages-based agreements (DBAs) as part of its portfolio of litigation funding options called ‘FeeManage’.
DBAs – a fairly new addition to English law – are contingency-based agreements where legal fees are payable as a percentage out of the damages received in the event a case is successful. Shakespeare Martineau is proud to be in a position to offer DBAs as part of its FeeManage proposition.
If a DBA is entered into and the pre-determined success criteria is achieved but the recovery from the losing party is relatively low, the DBA percentage fee from recovered monies may be a sum significantly less than that which would have been payable by the client on a normal retainer basis or pursuant to a conditional fee arrangement (CFA) – meaning an increased shared risk between client and legal advisors.
In addition to DBAs, the firm is working with a variety of funders to offer third-party funding (TPF) and after the event (ATE) insurance in combination with CFAs as potential options. Unlike competitors, Shakespeare Martineau is not tied to a single funding provider in order to flex requirements and offer full or part funding for litigation claims.
Barry Jervis, partner and litigation expert at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “Too often businesses are put off from pursuing debts and assets that are rightfully theirs due to the associated costs, impact on the balance sheet and risk.
“Litigation was buoyant across the country before the pandemic and, as we emerge into a post-pandemic economy, we can expect disputes to increase further. However, the costs of litigation are climbing sharply, alongside increasing numbers of businesses experiencing cash flow issues as a fall out from the pandemic.
“Our new ‘FeeManage’ service helps to reduce the financial risk of litigation. Every individual and every business is unique and while traditional CFAs might work for one client, third party funding might be more appropriate for another. Whatever the size or complexity of the litigation, we have an option that will suit.
“We’re really proud to be taking a different approach to litigation funding. We’re not fixed to a single provider and we’re giving our clients every option available for funding their claim.”
