Funeral Director breaks new ground as northern Lincolnshire’s only accredited ‘green’ funeral provider
A Scunthorpe-based Funeral Directorship has become the only one in northern Lincolnshire to be accredited by the Association of Green Funeral Directors.
Jason Threadgold Funeral Directors has premises in Scunthorpe Brigg and Barton, where independent funeral directors Jason, Lauren Quibell and George Woodbridge now hold the ‘green’ credentials.
Jason said: “Our commitment to Green Energy and sustainability has shone through by starting to change all of our vehicles over to electric or hybrid; fitting chargers at multiple locations, and making green funeral options available to all families and working towards renewable energy in everything we do.
“Our pledge is to provide eco-friendly/sustainable options for funerals as well as traditional services to our families.”
£6.5m investment delivers new and improved facilities for Lincolnshire special school pupils
A new £6.5m extension to Willoughby Academy in Bourne is set to be officially opened on Friday 6 May
The new building incorporates classrooms and hygiene suites, together with a dining hall and nurse and physio spaces. In addition, pupils can enjoy extensively remodelled outdoor play areas, while the school’s car park has also been extended under the Lincolnshire County Council project.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services, said:
“The council wants to ensure that all children can access high-quality education, as near to their family and local community as possible. To achieve that, we’re investing £86m in improving our special schools, meaning more pupils with SEND can attend a local school rather than having to travel large distances for their education.
“I’m delighted to see the improvements at Willoughby Academy completed, and I’m sure they will be of immense benefit to both current pupils and those of the future.”
Howard Gee, Chair of The Priory Federation of Academies Trust to which Willoughby Academy belongs, said:
“We are deeply grateful for the council funding which has created such positive and beneficial new facilities for our pupils. They have further enhanced the strengths of the school and will make a big difference to children’s lives for many years to come.”
The construction was carried out by Wilmott Dixon.
Forrester Boyd delighted with fundraising efforts for Humbercare
Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants nominated the Humbercare charity as its annual beneficiary for 2021/22 and were delighted to present a cheque to the Pan-Humber charity for £3,183.25.
Throughout the year, Forrester Boyd and its staff have been raising funds through monthly dress down days where staff made donations along with the long-awaited return of the firm’s popular annual professionals’ quiz which took part on the 25th November 2021.
The professionals’ quiz, which was held at the Grimsby Golf Club, saw over 110 participants return in person to enjoy this annual event. Retired partner Alan Nesbitt returned to host the event expressing how great it was to once again be able to hold a physical event. Always the kick start to the Christmas festivities, once again, the generosity and support from the local professional community was outstanding.
Jenny Donnelly, partner at Forrester Boyd was delighted to present the cheque to Dale Thompson, Manager at Humbercare. Speaking of the donation Dale said “We are so thrilled to receive this amazing amount that Forrester Boyd has raised. Thank you so much to the staff and partners and those that have helped to raise these funds. For any charity, the past two years have been a struggle and we are no different so this money will really help to make a difference to some of the vulnerable young people and adults that we support.”
Humbercare was established in 1989 and is an enabling organisation dedicated to providing quality and innovative services to adults and young people. It is Humbercare’s belief that all people should have the opportunity to realise their full potential and improve their skills to optimise their life chances and help them to become responsible members of the community. The charity works across North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Mayor of West Yorkshire to chair the ‘M10’ group of metro mayors
Tracy Brabin, England’s first woman metro mayor, has been chosen to chair the influential M10 mayoral group, taking over from former mayor of South Yorkshire, Dan Jarvis. The M10 compromises the ten metro mayors, who between them represent more than 20 million people and nearly 50% of England’s GDP.
Tracy and her mayoral colleagues across England hold significant powers and provide a strong voice for their communities on key issues such as transport, levelling up and housing.
The cross-party M10 group of English metro mayors work together and press government on strategic policy areas such transport, climate, skills, funding and devolution. More than eight in ten people favour more devolution to their regions, and the M10 group helps champion that.
Picking up the chair position from Dan Jarvis MP, mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “It’s a real privilege to take over as chair of the M10, working closely with my mayoral colleagues across parties to make the case for further devolution and learn from each other’s successes in addressing our shared challenges.
“I would like to thank Dan for his support to me, personally and for the unswerving sense of duty he has demonstrated while in office. As chair he has helped to strengthen our collective voice for our regions.
“With the government’s commitment to levelling up, the time is right for mayors across England to work with Westminster to move decision-making closer to the people and ensure decisions are taken in the best interests of our communities.”
Dan Jarvis, MP for Barnsley Central, said: “It’s been an honour to chair the M10. It has a hugely important role to play. Metro mayors are giving a powerful voice to their regions and transforming our country’s political landscape in the process. The government needs to engage with this new reality – and the M10 is one of the central forums to do that.
“The challenge now is to make that partnership work so we can deliver the progress we all want. Mayors have a critical role to play in tackling vital challenges like levelling up and the zero carbon transition. If the government does not engage with them, it will be to the detriment of the whole country.
“I know that Tracy will do a sterling job in her new role as chair of the M10, working with and where necessary challenging Government, fostering collaboration across regions, and continuing to advance the case for greater devolution. Just as she is a champion for West Yorkshire, she will be a powerful champion for mayors across England.”
Kelham Island Brewery calls ‘last orders’ after more than 30 years
Sheffield-based Kelham Island Brewery is to close after 32 years, with its last brewery tour taking place on Saturday.
An announcement on the company web site says: “It is with deep sadness that we are having to announce that we have brewed our final batch of Pale Rider and the brewery will shortly be closing.
“We would like to thank everybody who supported us over the last 32 years- especially our staff and customers.
“We have a Brewery Tour scheduled for Saturday 14th May. It will go ahead as planned, but no further tours will be booked in.
“The Fat Cat will remain open, with Kelham Island Brewery beer available on cask and in Bottles/Cans whilst stocks last.
“It is our intention that all creditors will be repaid in full and this includes any customers that have vouchers they do not wish to redeem at the shop.”
Corporate Rescue and Recovery Practice Begbies Traynor is now working with the brewery, and would be interested in expressions of interest in any of its assets. Contact Sheffield@btguk.com.
Kirmington company signs solar power deal with Devon tourist attraction
Kirmington-based sustainable energy provider British Power Group is to provide and install 100Kw of solar power capability at the Big Sheep Farm and Theme Park in Devon next month.
The Big Sheep’s directors had been looking at ways in which its popular family attraction can improve carbon footprint as part of its wider existing and future sustainability plans. The site has the space and infrastructure to support the introduction of solar power, making the installation of solar panels a viable, cost-effective and planet-friendly proposition for 2022 and cementing the park’s pledge to be one of the greenest of its kind in the country.
British Power Group supplies fully-funded solar PV installation and monitoring agreements across the UK at zero capital cost.
It’s expected that the installation will reduce emissions by around 25 tonnes annually, amounting to 500 tonnes over the next 20 years. In addition to the CO2 savings it will also provide The Big Sheep with huge financial savings.
The agreement with The Big Sheep will also include a monitoring system whereby schoolchildren and visitors to the site will be able to see the savings live in the reception area as a key educational feature. It is hoped this will also help drive awareness into greener technology and its many tangible benefits.
Steven Cullum, Director of British Power Group said: “This is an exciting time for British Power Group as we are busier than even with our solar PV installation and are seeing requests from across the country from businesses who are realising the multi-faceted benefits of going solar.
“We are thrilled to be working with The Big Sheep. It’s a terrific site that lends itself perfectly to benefiting from solar energy and, having discussed their wider greener plans, it makes perfect sense for them to embrace this technology. It is also great that in addition to the clear CO2 and cost savings they will make, the team at The Big Sheep are going to include their solar energy as an educational feature, which we applaud them for.
“We hope to have the solar panels installed in June so that they can benefit from the sunshine already this summer.”
Property management firm sold
A property management business, formerly known as WSB Property Asset Management, has rebranded to Inhabet following its sale by Leeds-based parent company WSB Property Consultants.
WSB has successfully operated a property management department within the Yorkshire region for over 10 years with Alex Jowett heading up the business from 2019.
Notable buildings within the portfolio include Munro House and The Leeming Building in Leeds city centre. The portfolio of commercial properties under management is predominantly focused on the Yorkshire region, although the business has grown its reach to include instructions in Scotland in the north and south to properties in the Midlands.
Alex Jowett, Managing Director of Inhabet, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the business. My new business partners and I are enthusiastic about the next chapter for Inhabet.
“Since taking control of the business in 2019, I have been keen to put my stamp on property management and the new investment will not only allow us to expand the business but to continue to innovate our processes and the services we provide to our clients.”
Design Tonic, a commercial interiors firm, have invested in the business to assist in expanding the portfolio and continuing to innovate. Inhabet will continue to manage the existing portfolio of commercial properties with Alex Jowett retaining his role as Managing Director.
Partner of WSB Property Consultants, Robin Beagley said: “The approach from Design Tonic presented an excellent opportunity to dispose of the property management arm and allow WSB to focus on our core business, namely investment, retail and office agency, development consultancy and valuation work.
“Alex has done a great job in growing the property management business and we wish him, and the team at Design Tonic, all the best for the future growth of Inhabet.”
Goat farming company fined £180k after fatality
Yorkshire Dairy Goats has been fined for safety breaches after a farm worker was run over and fatally wounded.
Hull Crown Court heard that on 1 August 2018, 53-year-old Janet McDonald, an employee of Yorkshire Dairy Goats, was struck by a reversing telescopic materials handler vehicle (telehandler) whilst working at St Helen’s Farm in York. She was seriously injured and air-lifted to Hull Royal Infirmary where she died later that day.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that when the employee had finished milking the goats, she walked through a corridor and stepped out into the path of the reversing telehandler. The driver was unable to see the worker so could not take action, and she was struck by the vehicle.
Yorkshire Dairy Goats of Seaton Ross, East Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company has been fined £180,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Sarah Taylor said: “Pedestrians and vehicles need to be kept apart at all work sites and this includes agriculture.
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply segregating vehicles and pedestrians.”
Sheffield company raises £1.5m for smart sensor technology
A Sheffield company whose smart sensors allow industry to reduce wear and tear and cut energy costs has raised a further £1.5m from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, and Mercia’s EIS funds.
Tribosonics embeds sensors within the moving parts of machinery to monitor factors such as friction, pressure and temperature. It systems incorporate advanced analytics and provide data in real time to help companies improve process efficiency, extend plant life and reduce maintenance and energy use.
Tribosonics’ technology is used in the manufacturing, energy and transport industries. The company has attracted a global client base including ENGEL, a world-market leader in injection moulding, and automotive parts manufacturer Novares.
The investment will help the company to further develop its ‘sensing as a service’ solutions including polymerSENSE, which helps to reduce waste in the polymer and plastics recycling industry. Tribosonics has increased the size of its Sheffield team by 50% since late 2020, bringing the total to 30, and expects to create a number of new jobs in the year ahead.
The latest funding round brings the total raised to date to £2.6m and follows an initial round by NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance in 2020.
Will Schaffer, investment director at Mercia, said: “Tribosonics is a pioneer of Industry 4.0, which will transform manufacturing through the use of connected machines. Its sensor technology offers huge potential to improve efficiency and reduce energy use, which is a key challenge for industry now. The company has maintained steady growth and built a strong blue-chip client base since the last funding round. The latest investment will allow the team to develop more novel solutions.”
Glenn Fletcher, Tribosonics CEO, said: “We’re on an exciting growth journey as we deploy our innovative, game-changing and IP protected sensing solutions to increase value for our customers and to make a significant contribution to decarbonisation across a number of industries.
“It’s important to have the right investors with us on the journey and Mercia has proved to be a great partner, providing not only growth capital but also invaluable support based on its experience and understanding of what it takes to grow a tech business. We’re looking forward continuing the journey, making a real difference and further enhancing our partnership with Mercia across all fronts.”
Plan will pump £1m into boosting seafood exports from the UK
A £1 million package to boost seafood exports and promote the industry’s high-quality produce overseas has been announced.
The package will target growing overseas markets and provide new export opportunities for the UK fishing industry and seafood sector following our departure from the European Union.
Global exports of UK seafood amounted to over £1.6 billion in 2021, with salmon the UK’s fourth top food and drink product exported in 2021, totalling around £730 million. The investment announced today will help grow seafood exports even further.
The Seafood Exports package will:
- identify new overseas buyers and connect them with UK seafood companies
- promote UK seafood at international events
- increase expertise on British seafood produce in our Embassies and Consulates overseas
