Independent retailers continue to provide new jobs and fuel economic growth, says report
The Shopify Economic Impact Report conducted by Deloitte has revealed how British independent retailers are continuing to fuel job creation and local economic growth, with exports helping UK merchants thrive despite macroeconomic headwinds.
Record numbers of UK independent retailers broke international borders in 2021, with exports from UK Shopify merchants reached £2.7 billion in 2021, up 43% increase from the £1.9 billion made through exports in 2020, as retailers turned their attentions to international growth.
Dave Linton, founder of Madlug, which donates a bag to a child in care for every bag sold to a customer, is continuing to expand overseas and credits the ability for small independent brands to forge a close connection to their customers. He said: “Once customers are connected to a brand’s mission and purpose, they are willing to continue spending with that brand, even in the face of inflation, rising living costs and international shipping charges. In the past year, we’ve seen strong sales to Europe, Canada and America and some sales also to Australia and Dubai. We have also been able to hire two more young people who have been through the care system themselves and add great value to our business as a result.”
Shimona Mehta, EMEA Managing Director at Shopify, said: “Innovative British businesses are creating jobs at a rapid clip despite the odds and continue to flex their entrepreneurial muscle: something that will be increasingly important as we navigate the cost of living crisis ahead. Not only does it underline the UK’s potential as a powerhouse for entrepreneurship, but the role that commerce is playing in driving economic growth and job creation.”
Leeds BTR scheme acquired by US multifamily investor
BNP Paribas Real Estate (BNPPRE) has acted for Marrico and Helios on the £300m joint venture of its Lisbon Street BTR scheme in Leeds, which has been acquired by US multifamily investor and operator Cortland Group.
Through the new funding deal, the US multifamily specialist will own and operate the apartments. The joint venture between Marrico and Helios will deliver the £138m residential element of the Lisbon Street development, which comprises 629 apartments. It also includes 14,000 sq ft of amenity and commercial space.
Simon Williams, head of national markets at BNP Paribas Real Estate, said: “This landmark funding deal demonstrates that prime BTR led assets in regional locations are firmly on the international investment radar and we anticipate more activity in the coming months.
“We are very proud to have been part of a first class team with Lisbon Street setting new benchmarks in terms of offer in a super prime city centre location.
“Our Residential Capital Markets team is currently advising on the forward funding of over £800m (Gross Development Value) of BTR projects making us one of the most active in the market.”
Richard Bland, partner at Marrico Asset Management, said: “We are delighted to have signed this deal with Cortland for our flagship scheme in Leeds. This will be one of the city’s landmark buildings and we believe will set new standards in BTR accommodation in the city.”
Trevor Cartner, director at Helios Real Estate, added: “Leeds is one of the biggest markets for BTR outside of London and we are developing a best in class building for Cortland.”
The Lisbon Street site, acquired from Leeds City Council by Marrico and Helios last year, also incorporates 500 purpose built student accommodation units and a further two phases for hotels and offices. Marrico and Helios will now focus on unlocking the next stages of development at the site.
Construction of the two buildings – one 33 floors and the other 22 – will start this summer and complete in mid-2024.
BNP Paribas Real Estate acted for Marrico and Helios.
Bed manufacturer cements sustainability credentials with new partnership & non-exec director appointment
Fifth-generation bedmaker Harrison Spinks has set out plans to secure its position as an industry leader in luxury sustainable comfort with the announcement of a partnership with a sustainability consultancy and the appointment of a non-executive director.
It follows news earlier this month that the Leeds-based business has become the UK’s largest hemp grower following the acquisition of 80 acres of farmland in North Yorkshire, allowing the company to produce in excess of 1,000 tonnes of hemp annually.
The 180-year-old family-run business has a track record which includes three Queen’s Awards in sustainability and innovation, an industry first Carbon Neutral Plus accreditation and was the first in the sector to partner with British Wool on its traceable wool scheme.
Harrison Spinks has appointed sustainability and social responsibility advisor Dr Louise Ellis – who has more than 25 years’ experience of leading organisations to make a difference and strive for environmental and social equity – as non-executive director. Louise’s experience includes both an academic career and working in commercial and large organisational settings.
The company is also working with management consultancy Project Rome to support in the development of their sustainability roadmap.
Simon Spinks, group chairman of Harrison Spinks, said: “For many years, Harrison Spinks has worked to create a business where the quality and comfort of our products are underpinned by continuous innovation and a sustainable approach.
“We believe that comfort and sustainability go hand in hand and our goal is to be world leaders in both as we create a circular business that leaves the world in a better place for future generations.
“We are pleased to make a joint announcement as we welcome Dr Louise Ellis as a non-executive director and Project Rome who will help us redefine our plans to include an emphasis on our people, our community and sustainable, circular manufacture.
“Becoming a circular business – where we strive to use recycled components and where we grow or manufacture as much of our own sustainable materials as possible on our farms and at our headquarters, and where our products are fully circular at the end of their life – will become the focus for our plans going forward.”
Dr Louise Ellis said: “Harrison Spinks has taken great strides to be an industry leader in the realm of sustainability and has been at the vanguard of the circular economy for more than a decade and I’m delighted to be joining the business as a non‐executive director.
“Working collaboratively, we will develop a roadmap for the future as the business looks to invest and work in new ways to drive forward environmental and social equity; to ensure positive change for the environment, society and the Harrison Spinks community.”
Promotion for Lupton Fawcett commercial property partner
Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett LLP has promoted Adam Wilkinson to the role of head of commercial property.
Wilkinson joined the firm in September 2020 as commercial property partner and has over 12 years’ experience across all aspects of commercial property law, with a particular focus on the development, strategic land and retail sectors.
His promotion comes as Lupton Fawcett embarks on a new phase of development, having recently announced the relocation of its Leeds office to the prestigious 2 The Embankment building in the city’s southern professional quarter.
In his new role, Wilkinson will lead the firm’s commercial property team in meeting the needs of existing regional and national clients and attracting new business.
He said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to take our commercial property offering to the next stage of its growth.
“We have an excellent team made up of fantastic lawyers across our offices in Leeds, Sheffield and York and I’m proud to work with them.
“We’ve been recognised in recent years for punching above our weight in terms of the work we do and I’m looking forward to continuing to build the team and to demonstrating the quality of our services to more businesses across the region and beyond.”
Lupton Fawcett managing partner James Richardson said: “The appointment of Adam as our head of commercial property reflects both his deep knowledge and experience of this field of law and his drive to deliver the very best outcomes for clients.
“I’m very pleased to welcome him as part of our senior team.”
Business Lincolnshire announces new support programme for pubs in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland
Business Lincolnshire has announced a new support programme for pubs in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland.
The Pub Diversification Programme aims to support all types of projects that pubs may be considering. Potential improvements could include creating overnight accommodation, retail services, additional facilities for walkers and cyclists, motorhome hook up points in the car park, electric vehicle charging points and more!
The programme is aimed at those looking to generate additional income to help futureproof their pub business.
Cllr Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economy at Lincolnshire County Council, says: “The programme supports businesses by offering one-on-one advice and support, in the form of in-person and online meetings, along with visits to the pub premises.
“This will help the pub owner to identify what actions they could take to diversify and future-proof their pub, direct them to further help, support and if available appropriate funding options.
“Up to 12-hours of support will be available, and we can’t wait to see the innovations our local pubs will come up with to improve the resilience of their income streams, putting plans in place for the future sustainability of their business.”
The programme’s delivery partners from Hotel Solutions bring extensive knowledge of the hospitality sector both locally and nationally and will be sharing their expertise, supporting local pubs in their efforts to take their business to the next level.
If you are interested in finding out how to apply email admin@bizlincolnshire.com or visit the website www.businesslincolnshire.com
First business development at the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone
The first sale of land at the FEZ is complete with Holbeach-based business AJS Control & Automation now able to start work on their new development.
AJS have purchased a plot covering just over 0.6 acres to build a two-storey office, research and development facility and workshop premises over 12,905 square feet.
Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy at the county council, said: “This is the first of many businesses that will benefit from locating at this amazing, collaborative site. The South Lincolnshire FEZ offers so much for local, national and multi-national firms at the forefront of the agri-food and technology sector.
“We’re providing the infrastructure, collaboration opportunities and research capabilities that businesses need, but we’re also making it quicker and easier for them to locate here.”
James Taylor, Managing Director at AJS Control & Automation said “We have been looking for a new property to house our three rapidly growing businesses for some time now. I was on the launch call for SLFEZ during lockdown and knew this was the place for AJS straight away! I believe this will form a community of likeminded businesses looking to work together to aid food production sustainability. Myself and all of our team cannot wait to get to our new site.”
Other occupiers of the South Lincolnshire FEZ include the University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing’s Agri-Food Centre of Excellence and Institute of Technology, as well as Lincolnshire County Council’s purpose-built, high quality business space, The Hub.
Jasper Caudwell, at Pygott & Crone, the appointed marketing agent, said “AJS have been working alongside us from the very early stages and it gives us all great pleasure in seeing them take ownership of Plot 9. They will form an integral part in the future growth of the site and we are looking forward to seeing their development materialise.
The completion of Plot 9 is a timely one, with the launch of the HUB building being just around the corner.”
Sarah Louise Fairburn, Deputy Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Food Board, said “It’s fitting that the first commercial tenant to move onto our ground-breaking South Lincolnshire FEZ is a business focusing on one of the three themes our food industry has agreed for the UK Food Valley: supporting the automation and digital transition of the food chain.
“The food industry is investing rapidly in automation, and with the University of Lincoln now the leading innovation centre for this technology in Europe, AJS can be assured that its growth will be well supported. In my own business I am developing new automated solutions for warehouse pick and pack and it’s vital that we facilitate the growth of a thriving automation cluster in Lincolnshire.”
Councillor Nick Worth, South Holland District Council deputy leader and portfolio holder for people, places, economy, said: “It is great to see a local business take this exciting first step to join the FEZ, which will give a variety of innovative food businesses a unique location to support each other and develop together.
“I look forward to seeing more new arrivals in the coming months, and the employment opportunities and boost to the economy these will bring for Holbeach, South Holland, and the wider area.”
Work gets underway on new state-of-the-art pathology lab
BAM Construction has begun work on a new state-of-the-art pathology laboratory to serve patients in Leeds, West Yorkshire and Harrogate.
The facility, at St James’s Hospital, Leeds, will support hospitals across the region to improve diagnostics for patients and help to meet the growing regional demand for specialist treatment and care – as well as providing development opportunities for staff.
BAM Construction has begun work on the site at the north end of the St James’s Hospital campus and are currently preparing the ground ready for building the new laboratory. The new facility is expected to be completed in the summer of next year (2023) and become operational in the autumn.
It will be part of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Pathology Network, formed through the collaboration of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), and will support the delivery of pathology services to patients across the region.
Lincoln press release distribution service acquired by US firm
3BL Media, the environmental, social and governance (ESG) content distribution and analytics platform for purpose-driven companies, has acquired RealWire Limited, expanding audience and reach in the United Kingdom and Europe.
The acquisition is the eighth for 3BL Media since 2009. Terms were not disclosed.
“Companies worldwide are committing themselves to ESG performance and transparency, and the combination of RealWire with 3BL Media will provide greater reach to stakeholders including online news outlets, journalists and investors,” said Dave Armon, CEO of 3BL Media, adding that previous UK acquisitions included Ethical Performance and ReportAlert.
Based in Lincoln, since launching in 2000, RealWire specializes in increasing the online impact of press releases while cultivating positive relationships with business and trade journalists. RealWire’s editorial and client services team, led by Managing Director Emily Gosling, will enhance 3BL Media’s distribution network by providing concierge service to the growing journalist corps covering climate and sustainability topics.
“Historically, RealWire has been an important B2B communications platform for technology, telecoms and healthcare businesses,” said Gosling. “We have seen ESG rise on our clients’ agenda, so joining 3BL Media will enable us to reach new audiences immediately on a global scale while we apply our unique model for micro-targeting to beat reporters who opt into our distribution network.”
Of the more than 8,000 reports and stories on ESG topics that 3BL Media distributed last year, environmental topics generated the most volume and audience interest, said Armon. Diversity, equity and inclusion was the top content category in the first quarter of 2022.
Black Sheep signs deal as Jet2.com supplier
Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery is to be a supplier of in-flight drinks to Jet2.com, which is based down the road in Leeds.
Packaged in new 330ml cans, Black Sheep Ale will be available on Jet2.com’s new In-Flight Summer menu.
Black Sheep Brewery was set up in 1992 by Paul Theakston, who took a leap into the unknown as a fifth generation brewer of his family company, he left in the wake of its sale to a national brewery. Instead, he chose to champion independent brewing in Yorkshire and built his own brewery from reclaimed equipment in the very same town, Masham – making him the Black Sheep of the family.
Federation of Small Businesses calls on Government to act and save access to cash
Responding to new findings from consumer champion Which? about access to cash ahead of next week’s Queen’s Speech, FSB National Chair Martin McTague, a member of the Access to Cash Pilots Board, said: “With our bank branch infrastructure further decimated over the pandemic, this Queen’s Speech is the last chance saloon where protecting access to cash is concerned.
“Four in ten small high street businesses say cash is the number one payment method among customers, and six in ten need to make regular cash deposits.
“Since the Access to Cash Review was published, we haven’t seen meaningful movement in the numbers of customers and small firms that rely on cash day to day. But we have seen further closures of bank branches, and new limits on opening hours – choking off supply while demand remains.
“Notes and coins are still important to the lives of millions of consumers, not least disabled people, the elderly and those on tight budgets. Physical currency is also a vital backup for when digital systems fail.
“Online banking brings massive benefits in terms of productivity and efficiency. Policymakers and banks should be working hand in glove to get everyone online and up to speed with all the perks that managing finances safely online can bring.
“But so long as the need for cash remains, free access should be protected. Often, it’s in areas where consumers are most reliant on notes and coins that pay-to-use machines pop up – every pound spent on accessing cash is a pound not spent with the local small businesses on which our recovery will depend.
“Legislation and clear oversight by a single regulator in this space is overdue – the former was promised years ago. It’s time to turn positive words into positive action.”
