£6m residential development set for Hutton Rudby as contractor appointed
Work on 25 new homes in Hutton Rudby is set to commence in the coming months as Broadacres Housing Association has appointed Esh Construction as main contractor.
The £6 million development will provide affordable houses and bungalows, as well as houses for market sale in the North Yorkshire village.
Located on land off Garbutts Lane, a selection of three and four-bedroom houses and two-bedroom bungalows will be made available for affordable rent and shared ownership. A further 15 properties will be offered for outright sale by the Association’s private sale arm, Mulberry Homes Yorkshire.
The energy efficient properties have been designed by IDPartnership to reflect the rural character of the picturesque village and form a natural extension to the existing local housing.
Esh’s pre-construction director, Chris Hale, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Broadacres on a scheme which will help address the shortage of living options for the ageing population in Hutton Rudby.
“We have previously worked together on the Paddocks View development in the same village, as well as affordable housing developments in Huby and Yarm. We understand the importance of rural communities remaining both affordable and sustainable for current and future generations, while finding the balance in the design to ensure new homes blend into countryside living.”
The development has been brought forward by Broadacres, following a housing needs survey which identified clear demand for new homes in Hutton Rudby that will allow the older population to downsize without having to move away from the village.
It follows a successful 16-home scheme Broadacres completed near the new site in 2016 which also provided homes for local people. Andrew Garrens, Broadacres’ development manager, said: “We’re pleased to be close to starting work on this new development in Hutton Rudby.
“We knew, from the demand at the first development we completed, that more affordable homes were needed in the village, and this was borne out by the housing needs survey we did. Ten of the 25 homes will be available for affordable rent or shared ownership with people currently living in Hutton Rudby being given first preference when these are allocated.”
Esh Construction will work in partnership with IDPartnership, RWO Associates and Nicol Thomas to deliver the scheme, which includes associated site accesses, road networks, landscaping, and Sustainable Urban Drainage systems (SUDs).
Government reveals plans to outlaw fake reviews
The UK Government has announced new rules to protect the hospitality sector by making it illegal to hosting a fake review and pay someone to write a fake review.
The plans, overseen by the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, seek to protect consumers and businesses by ensuring they are not cheated by bogus ratings.
As part of enforcing these rules, fake reviews will be tackled via a new law against commissioning someone to write a fake review, hosting consumer reviews without taking reasonable steps to ensure they are genuine, and offering to submit or facilitate fake reviews.
The government wants to highlight a commitment to adapting to the lessons of the pandemic, which has “cast a spotlight on bad business practices” such as fake reviews.
New measures requiring legal changes, such as tackling fake reviews, will come into effect following parliamentary approval.
Dan Hawkie of Feed It Back said: “Consumers are the backbone of key industries such as the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors, and with review channels being so important for a customer’s decision on where to eat or drink out, go on holiday, or buy goods, the integrity of these reviews is of the utmost importance.
“Taking these measures against fake reviews is a great equaliser for businesses that operate the right way, rewarding both the business and the consumer. It also places an emphasis on the delivery of brilliant customer service moving forward, ensuring the best operators are commended, whereas those that struggle to deliver excellence will suffer.”
Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: “We’re making sure consumer protections keep pace with a modern, digitised economy. No longer will you visit a 5 star-reviewed restaurant only to find a burnt lasagne or get caught in a subscription in which there’s no end in sight. Consumers deserve better and the majority of businesses out there doing the right thing deserve protection from rogue traders undermining them.”
Final letting complete at Avion, Aero Centre, Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Trebor Developments have completed the final letting of Unit 2 at its Avion development, located at Aero Centre, Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
The long-term letting is to Lontra, a specialist pumps manufacturing business who have support from Sheffield City Region. The unit of 59,271 sq ft has been under offer to Lontra for many months and completed last week, with Lontra taking immediate occupation for Fit Out.
Trebor were represented by Knight Frank and CPP, who both supported the letting of each unit, the other taken by SCS in January 2022 for manufacturing and distribution use.
Bob Tattrie, managing partner of Trebor, said: “We are very pleased to see both these speculative units let to long term occupiers. It supports our commitment to build speculative, high quality, industrial units at this location which will see considerable further growth over the coming years. Our commitment to undertaking developments in the region remains very strong with a range of further industrial sites coming forward.”
Rebecca Schofield, partner, Knight Frank (Sheffield), said: “The two units at Avion are finished to a high specification and are located in an advantageous prime position with easy access to the M18 at J3 as well as being located adjacent to Doncaster Sheffield Airport. This was attractive to incoming occupiers and we are pleased to see the lettings now complete.”
Ed Norris, director of CPP (Sheffield), said: “The conclusion of the two lettings is fantastic news and testament to the quality of the units on offer and the increasing appeal of the wider DSA as an established and growing business location.”
Trebor/Hillwood are represented by CPP & Knight Frank, Sheffield.
Bed maker becomes UK’s largest hemp grower following North Yorkshire farmland expansion
Fifth-generation family bedmaker Harrison Spinks has expanded into new North Yorkshire farmland to support the business’s growth and sustainability plans, which will increase the company’s hemp production.
The new Ryther-based farmland spans 80 acres and will be used to increase the company’s production of industrial hemp. The increase in hemp production will see the company producing in excess of 1,000 tonnes of hemp straw annually, making Harrison Spinks the largest grower of industrial hemp in the UK.
Hemp fibre, a key component of the company’s mattresses, is one of the strongest natural fibres. Known to have environmental benefits, hemp absorbs more CO2 per hectare in its growth cycle than any other forest or commercial crop.
Richard Essery, director of sustainability and innovation at Harrison Spinks, said: “Acquiring the new farmland will be an incredible asset to the business and will allow us to continue producing luxury mattresses in the most environmentally responsible way possible.
“In addition to furthering our hemp production, we are conducting a biodiversity survey across all our farmland to assess the best environmental use of our land. As our business grows, we look forward to furthering our on-going sustainable efforts.”
PR agency marks growth with rebrand and trio of appointments
Technical B2B communications firm Scriba PR has undergone a brand overhaul and appointed three new recruits, as the company celebrates its ninth year of trading and exceeding £750,000 turnover.
Hot on the heels of announcing its office expansion at the beginning of March – seeing the business add an additional 984 sqft of real estate to its existing HQ – Scriba PR has undergone an extensive branding project to reshape its core principles, service set, and visual identity.
In addition to the development of its new aesthetic, the B2B agency has also welcomed three new faces to the team. Kat Plant is joining as customer relations manager, Ellie Byrne as account manager intern, and Louise Thorpe as PR administrator – taking Scriba to a 16-strong headcount.
With almost 20 years’ B2B design and marketing experience – and eight within the technology sector – Kat will be a key point of contact for Scriba’s niche client base, with a specific focus on the business’s larger accounts.
Ellie joins the team coming from a technical PR agency in London – having worked across the cybersecurity, insurtech, e-commerce, and 3D printing arenas – and will be copywriting for some of Scriba’s long-standing tech clients.
And with almost 15 years of administration experience – including within the education and financial industries – Louise Thorpe has also been drafted in to bolster the firm’s operations team.
Commenting on the rationale behind the branding project, Scriba PR’s MD Katie Mallinson said: “The company itself is nine years-old in June. It recently became apparent that what originally started out as the manifestation of one person in 2013 was not that of nearing 20 people in 2022.
“We’ve come a long way since Scriba’s humble beginnings – both in terms of staff and clients – so it is most certainly the right time to reform and redefine the brand in a way that truly represents the evolution and maturity of Scriba in the here and now.”
Specialist branding agency The Engine Room was at the helm of Scriba’s repositioning project, while The Bigger Boat has built the new company website.
“It’s been a rollercoaster couple of years,” Katie continued. “And while we’ve invested a lot of time and money in doubling our office footprint and strengthening the team with more expertise and skillsets, our strategic aim isn’t actually further growth this year.
“Our key focus is about getting even more under the skin of our existing accounts. What we’re seeing is that clients are increasingly asking us to undertake more complex communications work – and the extra space will be extremely beneficial in helping us to deliver these briefs.”
Huddersfield mailing house celebrates seven figure turnover over with bumper investment
Leading direct mail provider, Propack, is celebrating over 25 years in business with a significant investment into its 30,000 square foot Huddersfield facility after achieving a 21 per cent increase to its seven-figure annual turnover.
The company has invested over £2.7m into new technology and equipment for its Huddersfield site, and has expanded its production team to 40, a 38 per cent increase, to support its growing client base after winning over 30 new clients since January 2021.
Propack has welcomed some major players to its client roster, including Moonpig, KCOM, Leonard Cheshire Disability and TUI UK Ltd.
Managing director of Propack, Jason Clough, said: “2021 was a really strong year for us and I am incredibly proud of the team for continuing to deliver exceptional results for our clients.
“We hope that this significant investment will solidify our future growth plans and enable our team to continue delivering innovative and creative campaigns for our clients, present and future.”
The investment includes the purchase of three UV Coaters to replace traditional plastic laminators, three Irridesse four-colour digital presses, two CMC Enclosing Machines and a Canon iX3200 cut sheet ink jet, the company’s biggest ever investment, among a host of new technology to upgrade the site’s outputs and processes.
Speaking of the new investment, Clough added: “As a business, we are dedicated to sourcing the best quality and most sustainable solutions for our clients and helping to educate people on the sustainability credentials of the print sector.
“Moving away from the traditional plastic laminators and opting for the UV Coaters is just one of the steps we are taking to improve our outputs and support our clients with their own sustainability goals.”
Propack is a leading provider of technology-led print and direct mail solutions, creating innovative campaigns for its clients. Its customer base covers both B2C and B2B but sector specialisms include retail, charity, travel and automotive, working with global household brands including Go Outdoors, Mercedes Benz and Travis Perkins.
The firm currently holds a number of accreditations confirming its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, including the Forest Stewardship Council Certification and ISO14001 for Environmental Management.
Spencer Group commences construction of White Rose Railway Station
Rail infrastructure specialist Spencer Group is underway with construction work to deliver a new £26.5 million station in south Leeds.
The new White Rose Railway Station will be a two-platform station providing improved access to the adjacent White Rose office park, shopping centre and bus interchange.
Situated between Morley and Cottingley, the new station will be located on the main trans-Pennine route to Manchester via Huddersfield.
Alongside a fully accessible station with cycle storage next to the White Rose Park, the scheme also includes improved walking and cycling routes between Cottingley, Churwell and Millshaw, as well as the White Rose Shopping Centre and the bus interchange.
Hull-based Spencer Group is delivering the project for Munroe K in conjunction with Network Rail, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council and the Department for Transport.
The scheme has received funding from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme and £5 million from the Department for Transport’s New Stations Fund, alongside contributions from Munroe K.
Spencer Group have worked with Munroe K, Network Rail and all stakeholders on the project through an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) period, providing maximum efficiency through the design stage and best value for the client.
Discussing the project, Joe Bennett, Operations Director at Spencer Group, said: “The White Rose Station project is another example where we successfully developed proposals working with Network Rail on a critical part of the UK’s rail infrastructure to meet our client’s expectations.
“Our in-house design capability enables us to work closely with our client – Munroe K, Network Rail and other stakeholders to ensure consideration is given at an early stage to all critical aspects that may impede performance. This ensures we deliver on time and to budget.”
Simon Bethell, Pre-Construction Director (Rail) at Spencer Group, said: “White Rose is a great example of project SPEED, where we are all aligned to deliver optimum value in the fastest possible manner, whilst ensuring engineering assurance and operational safety standards are strictly adhered to.
“We are involved in the continuous development of the proposals through ECI engagement, allowing us to apply the principles of SPEED in order to ensure the final design is deliverable and represents the most economical solution to meet our client’s requirements.”
Charlie Spencer OBE, Executive Chairman at Spencer Group, said: “It’s brilliant to see the positive engagement we’ve had on the project so far between ourselves, Munroe K, Network Rail and all stakeholders involved in the project.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing the hard work our team has made over the last year become a reality, as construction begins on such a prestigious local project.”
David Aspin, CEO of Munroe K, added: “The team at Spencer Group, through their experience and know-how, have played a key part in ensuring this catalytic piece of key infrastructure for south Leeds will be delivered in time for opening in Spring 2023.”
“Throughout the entire team there is a dedication to ensuring every detail is considered to ensure the safe and rapid delivery of the project.”
Pair of Scarborough pharmacies sold
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Northstead Pharmacy and Barrowcliff Pharmacy in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
Northstead Pharmacy is a standard-hour pharmacy which dispenses an average of 10,000 items per month. It is located in a residential area north west of Scarborough town centre and sits next to a large convenience store just off a main road.
Barrowcliff Pharmacy is also a standard-hour pharmacy, which dispenses an average of 9,500 items per month, and is located north west of Scarborough town centre in a residential area, just 1.3 miles from Northstead Pharmacy.
Northstead and Barrowcliff have been owned by Darren and Lisa Kellett for 19 and 21 years respectively, and were part of a group of three pharmacies, the first of which, Swillington Pharmacy, was sold in 2021 to first-time buyers, Jeet and Yamini Vadodaria. The sale of these two remaining pharmacies has allowed the pair to pursue a well-earned retirement.
Northstead Pharmacy and Barrowcliff Pharmacy have been sold to a local independent operator.
Darren and Lisa Kellett said: “We always dreamed of owning our own pharmacy business and luckily shops became available within our reach, firstly Swillington then the year later Barrowcliff and finally, two years later, Northstead. All three dispensed around 3,000 items each at the time which gave us a great opportunity to grow. Slowly we added more services as they became available to offer, and quickly increased the dispensing and OTC sales.
“The shops are now the busiest they have ever been, and the time felt right to take a back seat and allow someone else the opportunity to expand their own business. At no time ever have pharmacy services been in such demand and, with the digital age upon us, the sky’s the limit.”
The new owners, who wish to remain unnamed, said: “We are delighted to be able to take over the baton from Lisa and Darren. They have earned a well-deserved retirement. Our best wishes are with them while we look forward to the challenges and joys that comes with the new territory.”
Jon Booth, associate director – medical at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, said: “It’s great to have sold the two remaining pharmacies owned and operated by Darren and Lisa Kellett in Scarborough on the back of having sold Swillington Pharmacy near Leeds for them in summer 2021.
“Northstead and Barrowcliff are well-established community pharmacies which offer the new owners a fantastic market share in the area, but which also have further scope for future improvements and development.”
Northstead Pharmacy and Barrowcliff Pharmacy were sold for an undisclosed price.
Leeds PR firm strengthens staff
Leeds-based PR agency Fantastic Media has appointed Fiona Broomfield to strengthen its content marketing and PR offering.
Fiona is a Chartered Institute of PR Accredited Practitioner, who brings 20 years’ experience in content marketing and PR strategy to the agency.
She’s worked at agencies Kindred, scarlettabbott, Words&Pictures, Igniyte, and Allott and Associates, leading projects for a range of national and global B2B and B2C clients. With a proven track record of delivering high-quality marketing communications, she’s led projects for brands including Carlsberg UK, Anchor, PPG Industries, Britvic and London Midland. As well as audience engagement projects for leading power, manufacturing, transport and logistics companies to inform their business growth strategies.
Fiona started her career as a newspaper journalist, before moving into corporate communications in 2002. Since then, she’s become a full-service marketeer, honing her skills in content marketing, digital marketing, internal communications, reputation management and PR.
She said: “Fantastic Media has an enviable client list, and an incredibly talented creative team. It’s an integrated agency I admire, and their ethos of People, Results and Value really resonates, so for me it’s a perfect fit. I’m looking forward to working with the team, and really driving our content and PR offer so we deliver even more value and results for clients.”
MD Andy Hobson said: “We’ve successfully navigated the last two years with a continued focus on growth. And Fiona is a key new hire for us in 2022 as we look to future growth. She’s a business consultant as well as a marketeer and brings a wealth of PR and content expertise to the agency. Fiona is also commercially savvy, really understanding the challenges owner managers face, and how to deliver strategic marketing that delivers business results.”
22 Yorkshire businesses revealed as winners in 2022 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
More than 200 British businesses are celebrated today (21 April), as the winners of the 2022 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise have been revealed.
Businesses representing every part of the United Kingdom and a range of sectors have been recognised by Her Majesty The Queen on her birthday as among the best in the country. This includes 22 firms in Yorkshire & The Humber.
Awards have been won in the categories of International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity.
The winners in our region include: For Innovation- Cares Laboratory Ltd
- Tickhill Engineering Co Ltd
- Brandon Medical Co Ltd
- Essential Healthcare Solutions (UK) Ltd
- Jemmtec Limited T/A Magma Ceramics and Catalysts
- The Body Doctor Limited
- Corrosion Resistant Materials Ltd
- ICD Europe Ltd
- Loadhog Ltd
- Special Quality Alloys Limited
- Sport:80 Limited
- Sumo Group plc
- Waterman Corporate Enterprises Ltd
- Watermill – CT Holdings Limited T/A Cooper Turner Beck
- A-SAFE HQ Limited
- Jack Brodie Limited
- Quality Bearings Online Ltd
- Regal Food Products Group Plc
- Subpixel Ltd, trading as SALT.agency
- THE LONDON OIL REFINING CO LTD
- University of Huddersfield
- AESSEAL plc
Plum Products’ Managing Director, Paul Schaffer said that he was “extremely proud and honoured to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award.” He added: “From launching our first toy over 30 years ago to now, selling to more than 50 countries, it’s been quite a journey!
“Plum Play was set up to offer children toys that look great, are super safe and have that all-important fun factor. This award is a recognition of all our hard work and will increase opportunities for us to break into new markets and raise further awareness of the brand.”
Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: “This country is renowned for its entrepreneurial achievements and there is no greater showcase for it than The Queen’s Awards. It’s vital we celebrate the success of our businesses and recognise the contributions they make to communities across the country. “I congratulate this year’s winners for their hard work and commitment over the last year and I wish them every success for the future.” Winners’ awards are valid for 5 years. Winners are permitted to fly The Queen’s Awards flag at their main office and use the emblem on their marketing materials. Winners are also given a Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy. Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants will be presenting the Awards to businesses locally throughout the year. Eligible businesses are free to apply for one or more categories. The winners pass a robust assessment process, judged by senior officials in Whitehall and experts from industry, academia and the third sector. On that basis, the winners of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are recommended by the Prime Minister to Her Majesty The Queen. Applications for the 2023 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise will open on 1 May 2022 and businesses are encouraged to apply.