Raft of four awards for Yorkshire rum AB Gold

Michael Fisher
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Raft of four awards for Yorkshire rum AB Gold
Yorkshire-based entrepreneurs Alex Bray and David Armstrong, are celebrating after the rum they created picked up a slew of four top industry awards. AB Gold Rum, which combines Jamaican rum from the Caribbean with Yorkshire spring water and is bottled in Yorkshire, has just been awarded Bronze in the World Rum Awards. It was also awarded a Bronze Medal out of thousands of entries in the International Wine & Spirit Competition, one of the most coveted and competitive awards in the spirit industry. AB Gold also achieved a Gold in the Rum Masters category of The Spirit Business Awards, beating 30 other rums in the category as well as being the only rum to be awarded Gold. In addition, it has been named best Rum on the Rocks UK at the People’s Choice Award. Alex, who lives in Holmfirth where the business is based, has worked in the rail sector with Dave for a number of years and the pair became firm friends during the first lockdown, sharing their love of rum over a weekly video call. “We are so proud that AB Gold Rum has been recognised as one of the best golden rums in the world, winning four top industry awards despite being a relative newcomer. Inspired by lockdown, we wanted to create a rum that made getting together with friends for a drink that little bit more special, a rum that is different from the rest – AB Gold is crisp, clean and smooth with a complex flavour. And these awards prove that we’ve achieved our aim and more. “As rum connoisseurs ourselves, we combined our expert knowledge and our experience of travelling to the finest rum producing regions of the Caribbean over the last 20 years to create AB Gold. The public have loved our rum and for industry judges to give us this recognition is the icing on the cake.” First launched in December 2020, AB Gold, which is 100% natural with no additives, flavouring or colouring, was a hit at the summer festivals, with Alex and David ordering more batches to meet demand. It is one of the youngest rum brands taken on by the nationwide distributor Hammonds of Knutsford and is now stocked at over 100 locations across the UK including bars, restaurants, farm shops and independent off licences. “We were selling out at festivals and knew we were onto something special. We’ve spent time and effort ensuring that every aspect of our offering is right – from the quality of the product itself which is aged up to seven years, to the distinctive packaging which reflects the heritage of the rum,” adds co-founder David. “We had such an amazing reaction from the public that entering the awards was the natural next step. For us to put our new brand up there, alongside long-established rum producers, shows how serious we are about building an international reputation. And for independent spirit experts across the world to recognise us with these awards gives us an amazing platform from which to grow.” AB Gold is blended from only the finest traditional pot-stilled, triple oak barrel-aged Jamaican rums, made from virgin Caribbean sugar cane. Tasting notes from the judges included: “Hints of banana and sweet spice. Jamaican fruit on palate, good balance.” “Rounded banana/vanilla/toffee nose. Balanced palate with ripe and unripe fruit, and a touch of minerality. Darker brown banana notes develop, along with some sweet fruit.”

Economic rebound slows, says BCC Head of Economics

Stuart Pearcey
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Economic rebound slows, says BCC Head of Economics
The UK economy grew more slowly in February, an indicator that the rebound was losing steam even before the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, says Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce.  He said: “Tourism-related industries and accommodation services recorded the strongest improvements in the month as the end of Plan B restrictions, and reduced concerns over Omicron, supported activity. However, this was mostly offset by a significant drop in NHS Test and Trace services and vaccine activity as well as declines in industrial and construction output.     “February’s slowdown is likely to be the start of a prolonged period of considerably weaker growth as rising inflation, surging energy bills and higher taxes increasingly damages key drivers of UK output, including consumer spending and business investment.   “Weakening health sector output following the end of free Covid testing and mass vaccinations, is also set to weigh on UK GDP in the near term.   “The Government must provide urgent financial support, through the expansion of the energy bills rebate scheme, to include small firms and energy intensive businesses, and an SME energy price cap to protect smaller firms from some of the price increases.”  UK trade data from the ONS remained volatile in February 2022 as changes in data collection methods unwind. The figures for February 2022 reported a 25% increase in exports (following a 22% decline the previous month). Comparing the last 3 months data together with that over the same period 4 years ago reveals that exports in goods were £1bn lower (1.2%). It is hard to discern therefore any sustained increase in UK exports of the levels currently occurring in our largest neighbouring trading partners.  Furthermore, the ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey reveals increasing challenges faced by firms with export and import paperwork respectively. 68% of exporters and 70% of importers reported these challenges in February to March 2022 a rise of 7% and 9% respectively. This echoes BCC data which finds a similar worsening trend.

DIGI-RAIL Project comes to South Yorkshire

Steve Fisher
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DIGI-RAIL Project comes to South Yorkshire
Technical and non-technical business support is now available for eligible SMEs in the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to help them enter or grow their business in the rail industry, with a focus on the Digital Railway. This scheme is part of the DIGI-RAIL project, based at the University of Birmingham, within the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE). The DIGI-RAIL team offer support in a variety of areas of expertise, working with their  industry partner Unipart Rail who also have a wealth of experience working with SMEs. There are several support packages available all fully funded for eligible SMEs. Your DIGI-RAIL journey starts with one of the Business Engagement Managers (BEMs) discussing with you, your business goals and ambitions and how they can help you to enter or grow your business in the digital rail sector. You will then be referred to the relevant content and workshops, which will give you a clear understanding of where your business can fit into the future digital railway and how your product/service development can continue into a collaborative development project. All DIGI-RAIL clients will receive a minimum of 12 hours of free technical and non-technical support. Should you wish to continue into a product/service development project, this will be agreed together working towards an agreed project outcome. This could be development of a prototype, testing an idea with rail users, or carrying out some desk-based research for you to make better-informed decisions, to name but a few opportunities. DIGI-RAIL supports a broad range of Digital Systems areas including:
  • Future Railway Operations and Control
  • Traffic Management
  • Rolling Stock Design
  • Energy Optimisation
  • Railway Traction
  • BIM and Industry 4.0
  • Smart Ticketing
  • Future Wireless Networks
  • Station Information Systems
  • Smart Stations
  • IoT and Cyber Security.
Any independent company with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than 50 million euros within the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority are eligible for support. So if you are looking to introduce your digital product or service into Rail or would like some business and/or technical support to make further digital business development gains in Rail then get in touch by completing the enquiry form here.

Energy strategy doesn’t ease the squeeze on food production, says NFU

Stuart Pearcey
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Energy strategy doesn’t ease the squeeze on food production, says NFU
The Government’s new energy strategy has done little to ease the squeeze on UK agriculture and food security, according to the NFU. Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “This strategy was a chance to align long-term net zero policy with immediate solutions to the energy crisis, but it does little to alleviate the pressures spiralling energy costs are placing on UK food production now, nor on the many businesses and households facing eye-watering gas and electricity prices. “This is a time when we need to be producing more to bolster UK food security, yet energy costs and availability issues have caused areas of UK food production to contract and fertiliser prices to rocket, with prices now 250% higher than this time last year. “In order to give farmers the confidence to continue to produce food at scale, we need to see policies which reflect the importance of gas and electricity for food production. We also need immediate measures to boost energy efficiency and fast-track renewables like solar and on-shore wind power, which farmers are well placed to help deliver. “It is time our government recognised what the whole UK food supply chain has been saying for months – that food security needs to be a priority so we can continue to produce nutritious, affordable food for the country, especially during times of global unrest.” The NFU had already identified many measures which, if they were included in the strategy, could help UK farmers continue to produce food at scale, including:
  • Boosting energy efficiency with the consistent backing of HM Treasury – including processes, resource efficiency and buildings.
  • Fast-tracking of on-site renewables like solar and onshore wind power – through revised planning guidance and more resources for local planners.
  • Better regulation that enables efficient return of agricultural nutrients to land – through investment in slurry storage, composting and anaerobic digesters.
  • Kick-starting the UK market for green hydrogen from renewables – this could partly replace fossil natural gas in the network.

Construction starts on B&Q warehouse on the A1(M)

Stuart Pearcey
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Construction starts on B&Q warehouse on the A1(M)
Officials met on site today to commemorate the start on site for construction of a 430,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre for B&Q at Symmetry Park at Junction 34 of the A1(M). Tritax Symmetry announced last month that it had agreed a deal with B&Q to design and build the new seasonal facility on the strategic site.  The dedicated logistics developer has a long-standing relationship with B&Q, and has been the landlord at B&Q’s national core products distribution centre in Worksop since 2005. Bassetlaw District Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Jo White and Ward Member for Blyth Cllr Jack Bowker met members of the senior team from B&Q, alongside site developer Tritax Symmetry and its parent company Tritax Big Box REIT plc, to view the scale of the  development which will bring new jobs and economic prosperity to the region. GMI Construction is appointed principal contractor for the new facility, which is being built to net zero carbon, in line with Tritax Symmetry’s commitment to deliver all future buildings within its portfolio to this standard. Rosemary Wilkins, Director of Logistics at B&Q said: “We are pleased to see great progress on site for the new B&Q seasonal warehouse and distribution centre at Symmetry Park. The new warehouse will allow us to get more of the most popular products to our stores, more quickly.” Freddie Oakey, Associate Development Director at Tritax Symmetry said: “This event marks another significant milestone in the success of Symmetry Park.  The development is already an established convenience hub for visitors and commuters and is supporting a significant number of jobs through Butternut Box which occupies the adjacent 151,388 sq ft facility.  We look forward to seeing further new jobs created and the added social impact through B&Q. “Having a site with infrastructure already enabled and detailed planning consent in place allows us to provide a premium, bespoke and highly sustainable facility for B&Q to bolster its distribution network in this prime logistics location.” Located on the North Nottinghamshire/South Yorkshire border, Symmetry Park is a major industrial and distribution scheme with detailed planning consent for 721,000 sq ft of logistics space.  The scheme is home to luxury dog food supplier, Butternut Box, which took a 151,388 sq ft facility on a 15-year lease in August 2020. Roadside retail property business Euro-Garages has also expanded its options with the purchase of a 1.2-acre plot standing alongside its existing Starbucks and KFC outlets. With detailed planning consent secured and full site infrastructure works in place, Tritax Symmetry can deliver a further unit of up to 140,000 sq ft in just 36 weeks.

New South Yorkshire mayor must champion growth

Tess Egginton
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New South Yorkshire mayor must champion growth
The incoming South Yorkshire mayor must show vision and ambition to turbocharge the region’s Covid recovery and lay the foundations for sustainable, long-term prosperity, according to the CBI. The business group has launched its South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Business Manifesto, a blueprint for the region’s future which urges the winner of May 5’s ballot to work with business to champion the area’s unique strengths in driving future growth. Overcoming skills shortages, delivering improvements to physical and digital infrastructure and building new links between business, academia and all levels of government are priorities. Securing new funding and devolved powers is also a key ask – and it all must be achieved against the tough backdrop of Covid recovery and a cost-of-living crisis. Beckie Hart, CBI Yorkshire and the Humber director, said: “This May’s mayoral election comes at a critical time for South Yorkshire. The region faces multiple headwinds, like the increased cost of living and doing business, geopolitical instability and rising inflation, on top of ongoing post-pandemic recovery efforts. We’re at a crossroads, and future generations will judge the path we choose. “South Yorkshire needs to be empowered to maximise its potential. It is a region with a rich cultural, leisure and tourism offer, and many assets of key importance to the UK economy – for example the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, which is home to many high value sectors, focusing on power generation and renewable energy vital for research and development. “The next mayor should seek to capitalise on these assets to fuel an economy that plays to distinct local strengths which empower communities, reduce long-standing inequalities, and boost regional prosperity. “Business stands ready to work alongside the mayor to develop this economic vision, and to drive forward ambitions for green, sustainable growth throughout the region.” The CBI’s manifesto includes recommendations in five key areas which outline how the newly-elected mayor can work in tandem with business to deliver economic growth to the region. Skills
  • Support collaboration between business, academia and local government to transform skills supply, improve employment prospects and enable productivity growth.
  • Utilise the recently devolved adult education budget to build a skills system tailored to regional needs and help local people secure good, well paid jobs.
  • Encourage direct links between schools and enterprise to open pathways into work and reduce the ‘brain drain’ of talent from the region to other areas.
Housing
  • Target innovation in construction to deliver affordable, low-carbon, sustainable and high-quality homes at pace, capitalising on the new Levelling Up Brownfield Investment Fund into Sheffield.
  • Drive investment in retrofitting homes to improve energy efficiency and accelerate the region’s move to a net zero future.
Infrastructure
  • Support development of a fully integrated, region-wide public transport system to improve access to education, skills and training.
  • Enhance north-south and east-west connectivity by delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, and HS2, specifically the eastern leg.
  • Improve digital infrastructure to reflect new working patterns, including hybrid.
Devolution
  • Work with central Government and business to secure a long-term devolved funding increase for the region.
  • Gain extra powers from central Government on skills and transport policy to better support business needs.
Climate Change
  • Use devolved powers to incentivise business to go further and faster on net zero.
  • Support the region’s SMEs to transition to a low-carbon economy.
  • Develop a holistic strategy on climate change, incorporating housing, planning, transport, infrastructure and skills.
Together, the CBI believes these actions can address inequalities and equip South Yorkshire with the infrastructure, talent and leadership needed to thrive through post-pandemic recovery and build future economic growth.

NG Bailey acquires the trade and assets of the Kershaw Service and Maintenance business

Tess Egginton
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NG Bailey acquires the trade and assets of the Kershaw Service and Maintenance business
NG Bailey has completed the acquisition of the trade and assets of the Cambridge-based Kershaw Service and Maintenance business, previously part of Kershaw Mechanical Services Ltd, a provider of mechanical, electrical and hard facilities services, that entered administration earlier this month. The acquisition provides an opportunity for Ilkley-based NG Bailey to increase and strengthen its presence in the hard facilities management sector, with a particular focus on mechanical and electrical services. The acquisition will generate over £4m of additional annual turnover and will see more than 25 highly skilled employees, which make up all of the service maintenance team, join the NG Bailey Group. The team will become part of NG Bailey’s Services division and operate within the already established and successful Facilities Services business unit. The Kershaw service and maintenance business has provided hard facilities services across a range of sectors and supported customers with planned, reactive and project services for over 75 years. David Hurcomb, NG Bailey’s Chief Executive, said: “Bringing the Kershaw service and maintenance business into the NG Bailey fold provides a natural extension to our already successful range of services. I am also pleased to be able to welcome all our new colleagues to the NG Bailey Group.” The transaction was led by Jonathan Stockton, NG Bailey Group Chief Financial Officer, with deal support from Ed Barlett legal due diligence from KPMG.

Planning consent secured for next phase of the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Rotherham

Tess Egginton
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Planning consent secured for next phase of the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Rotherham
Harworth Group plc, a regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, has secured planning consent for the direct development of 93,000 sq ft of employment space at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The development will comprise the next phase of the AMP and will see the delivery of three buildings ranging from 17,000 sq ft to 44,000 sq ft, to be marketed as R-Evolution Phase 4. The buildings will include office space covering 10% of the floor area, and will be designed for sub-division into units as small as 5,000 sq ft. The AMP covers a 150-acre site just minutes from Junction 33 of the M1, and benefits from Government Enterprise Zone status. Harworth secured outline planning consent to develop 2.1 million sq ft of employment space at the site in 2011. Over 1.5 million sq ft of space has been developed to date, with occupiers including Rolls Royce, Boeing, McLaren Automotive and the UK Atomic Energy Authority. The development will build on the success of previous similar R-Evolution phases at the AMP, with an updated and enhanced design which provides additional flexibility for occupiers wishing to adapt the space for manufacturing or warehousing. This flexibility will ensure the scheme appeals to a broad range of potential occupiers. Units will be constructed to BREEAM “Very Good” standard, with 11% of the roof area covered by solar PV panels, and an enhanced design to allow occupiers to increase this coverage to 100%. They will also include EV charging points, rainwater harvesting and a sustainable heating and cooling system. Development platforms are already in place and Harworth is well progressed with the building, infrastructure design and procurement process with the intention to begin work on site in Summer 2022. The units will be marketed by Knight Frank. Andrew Blackshaw, Chief Operating Officer, Harworth Group plc, said: “The AMP is a nationally significant centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing and innovation, and testament to Harworth’s ability to deliver large-scale regeneration and attract world-class occupiers to our sites. This next phase of direct development will support the creation of additional high-skill jobs and investment opportunities to the local area.” Chris Davidson, joint regional director for Yorkshire & Central, Harworth Group plc, said: “We are incredibly proud of the development and growth of the AMP to date. R-Evolution Phase 4 will offer the next generation of high-quality and flexible units at the site, built to a high environmental specification. We expect them to attract a wide range of potential occupiers, further enhancing the occupier line-up of innovative manufacturing businesses at the AMP.”

Yorkshire law firms merge, but existing names will continue

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire law firms merge, but existing names will continue
Law firms Dawson and Burgess from Doncaster and Kenyon Son and Craddock, which operates in Thorne, Goole, and Wakefield, have merged. The new-look firm will be led by partners Tony Henshaw, Kristen Craig, Gemma Canli and Janice Oxley, all specialists in their own fields. For the foreseeable future the two firms will continue to trade under their individual names while, behind the scenes, clients will benefit from increased capacity and efficiency. Tony Henshaw said: “We are really excited by the prospect of joining two long-standing local law firms who both share a commitment to tradition, respect and value their excellent reputation built over many years while also recognising the need to meet client needs in a modern and approachable way.” Kristen Craig added: “We have a genuine shared ethos of how we want to work going forward based on a commitment to provide excellent legal services. Together, we look forward to continuing to deliver those in the highly professional and approachable manner our clients expect and deserve.”

Work with us to fix “utter injustice” of poor disability employment, small businesses urge Government

Tess Egginton
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Work with us to fix “utter injustice” of poor disability employment, small businesses urge Government
More than a million small business owners and sole traders are managing disabilities or health conditions on a daily basis, with a sizeable share reporting that they have been subject to discrimination or negative treatment, according to the latest study from FSB. Its new ‘Business Without Barriers’ report finds that more than half (51%) of small employers have employed someone they know to have a disability or health condition in the past three years. Amongst small business owners who themselves have a disability or health condition, the share of those who would employ people they know to have disabilities or health conditions is even greater (66%). Despite this, only one in twenty (5%) small businesses have used the Government’s Access to Work scheme and fewer than one in ten (8%) disabled business owners have accessed local authority business support services – the share is half that of their non-disabled counterparts (16%). A quarter (25%) of small business owners across the UK are managing a disability or health condition on a daily basis, and close to one in four (24%) of these business owners report suffering discrimination or negative treatment. Latest official figures show there are 5.5 million small businesses across the UK, indicating that well over a million business owners have a health condition or disability. The disability employment gap – the percentage point difference between disabled people in work and the employment rate for the economy as a whole – currently stands at just over 28%, with small businesses employing a larger proportion of disabled people in their overall workforce than larger counterparts. In response to the findings, FSB is launching a 10-Point Plan for Disability and Entrepreneurship and a freely accessible resource hub on its website for small businesses. FSB National Chair Martin McTague said: “It is an utter injustice that so many disabled people are denied the opportunities that employment and entrepreneurship bring. “This can and should be fixed by Government and enterprise working together. Too often we have seen small moves and siloed approaches in this area – we all need to show the ambition necessary to overcome the scale of the barriers disabled people face in our economy. “At a time when we need more people to set up a small business and drive the economy, more than half of disabled entrepreneurs say they have experienced a barrier due to their disability or health condition. “Addressing this would create more economic activity and enterprise, which is why we also want to see Government commit to a target for 100,000 new disabled entrepreneurs by 2025.” FSB’s Disability, Health, and Wellbeing Policy Chair, Julian John, said: “This 10-Point Plan – and the host of other recommendations we have made across Whitehall departments – shows how Government and business can work together to bring more disabled people into workplaces to the benefit of individuals, local communities and the economy as a whole.”   Louise Rubin, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Scope, said: “At Scope, we know that small businesses play a vital role in employing disabled people, as highlighted in this report. “But it is clear that many small businesses need better support from Government if they are to increase the number of disabled people that come into – and thrive in – their organisations. “The latest figures show that the disability employment gap has grown to 28.9 percent. The gap has been stuck at around this figure for more than a decade and action is desperately needed. “We support the recommendations put forward by the FSB and particularly welcome proposals to improve Access to Work, and to fund disability employment schemes that support disabled people into work for the first time. “We would urge Government to carefully consider the recommendations included in the report as it reviews policy in this area.” Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “Employees with mental health problems face many barriers to accessing and staying in jobs suited to their individual skills and aspirations, and too often people fall out of work because they don’t get the support they need. “We welcome this FSB report, particularly the recommendations around extending the types of medical professionals who can provide fit notes when people need time off sick and making sure employees who’ve been off sick are offered phased returns to work. “With employee mental health worsening during the pandemic, it’s never been more important for employers to invest in staff wellbeing, which helps improve productivity, morale and retention and decreases sickness absence.” FSB’s 10-Point Plan for Disability Employment and Entrepreneurship:
  1. Act to close the Disability Entrepreneurship Gap, including by committing to a target for 100,000 new disabled entrepreneurs by 2025, and 250,000 more by 2030.
  1. Redress disadvantage at the point of recruitment, including through a new disability Kickstart Scheme to make the most of pandemic-era policy innovation and give disabled people who are long-term unemployed their first proper chance in the workplace.
  1. Increase retention following sickness absence, including through a full Statutory Sick Pay rebate which prompts phased return to work for people who are off sick and by allowing a wider range of health professionals such as physios and mental health nurses to complete sign-off of Fit Notes.
  2. Promote progression in work for disabled people, including by allowing all disabled employees to ‘passport’ their portable Access to Work support to a new employer if they secure a new job.
  3. Help make workplaces better for disabled employees, including through new Line Management Bootcamps so front-line managers are better able to support disabled staff and deliver flexible working.
  4. Smooth transition from education to employment, including through joining up careers guidance and disability support, making sure disabled children access work experience and rolling out Access to Work passports for all young disabled people.
  5. Make treatment easier to manage alongside work, including by introducing stricter waiting time targets and service standards in the NHS for musculoskeletal problems and mental health treatment; and reviewing NICE clinical guidance to ensure better co-ordination between the health system and employment support.
  6. Improve JobCentre Plus’ offer to disabled people, including making Universal Credit more responsive to fluctuating health conditions and launching a revitalised version of the New Enterprise Allowance to help disabled jobseekers start their own businesses.
  7. Increase availability of Occupational Health support, including by making it easier for large firms to make Employee Assistance Programmes available to suppliers and delivering the findings from its testing and evaluation of the OH subsidy for SMEs and the self-employed within the next six months.
  8. Make disability employment central to cross-Government decision making including by establishing disability employment as a cross-departmental outcome metric in the Treasury’s Priority Outcomes targets and increasing the level of internal scrutiny of Equality Impact Assessments.
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