Engineering consultancy takes 19,000 sq ft at Leeds’ Wellington Place

WSP, the engineering professional services consultancy, has snapped up 19,000 sq ft of Grade A office space at 3 Wellington Place with plans to move in during Q2 of this year. Across the UK, WSP is embarking on a significant recruitment drive in 2022, adding to the 400 people the firm currently employs across Yorkshire to support clients including Leeds City Council, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The new office space at Wellington Place will act as a blueprint for WSP’s new ‘workplace of the future’ standards, focusing on employee wellbeing, collaboration and sustainability. 3 Wellington Place has a BREEAM Excellent rating as well as electric vehicles charging points, bicycle stations and quicker access to public transport, particularly Leeds train station. Mathieu du Plooy, Chief Operating Officer, UK & South Africa at WSP, said: “People are the beating heart of any business and it’s so important to provide spaces which enable great team relationships, increase collaboration and ultimately enhance people’s experience. At WSP, we’re excited to see our workplaces being thriving hubs once more – where collaboration is easy and development a priority – and 3 Wellington Place in Leeds will help us achieve that.” Matthew Wherry, head of corporate real estate at WSP UK, said: “Our new office in Leeds city centre will provide access to fantastic amenities for our people and an exciting hub to support WSP’s future growth in the region. Our focus on employee wellbeing played a major role in selecting Wellington Place as our new Yorkshire base, with the broad range of community initiatives available to us.” The deal for WSP was advised on by global property consultancy Knight Frank, whilst Savills acted on behalf of MEPC. Paul Pavia, head of development at MEPC Wellington Place, added: “WSP is a leading name in its field, and we’re honoured that it has chosen Wellington Place as its new Leeds base. Its reasons for locating to Wellington Place are a testament to the strong sustainability credentials and community feel at the development, as well as the range of initiatives and events that the team put on for our occupiers.” Richard Clark, partner at Knight Frank Leeds, who advised WSP, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with WSP to secure a city centre office space that suits its needs, whilst offering a sustainable solution for its business. “WSP is moving into one of the finest office buildings in the city. Apart from the BREEAM excellent rating, 3 Wellington Place offers extensive amenities including basement parking, bike maintenance stations, electric vehicle charging points and shower/changing facilities, plus cafes and restaurants at ground level.”

Victory Leisure Homes chooses a ‘downright special’ charity of the year

 Victory Leisure Homes – the luxury holiday home manufacturer, with sites in Gilberdyke and Hull – has announced its chosen charity for 2022, which is an organisation particularly close to the heart of one long serving member of staff.

Chris Rooks, flooring department team leader, has worked at Victory for over a decade. Four years ago, he became a dad to daughter Millie, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome before she was born. Chris said: “Following the diagnosis, we were contacted by Downright Special and given helpful information packs on what to expect. The team were in regular contact with us from that point and have been a real lifeline for the whole family ever since.”

Downright Special supports children with Down Syndrome in Hull and the East Riding, assisting families and professionals in all aspects of the care and education of children with the condition. Its aim is to build a brighter future for children with Down Syndrome, supporting them to achieve their full potential and promoting successful inclusion in all aspects of life.

Chris continued: “We visit Downright Special’s Bransholme location on a weekly basis and Millie takes part in lots of different activities. While she’s enjoying football or soft play, my wife Emma and I are able to chat with other parents who share the same challenges as us and understand what we’re going through. It’s an amazing community and I’ve made some true friends there.

“When we were asked to nominate a charity to support this year, I of course suggested Downright Special. My dad and uncle both work at Victory too, so they also proposed the same charity – and I know a couple of my close friends picked it too. It’s great to have the support of my friends and family here at Victory. We’re a close team and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this year.” 

Gillian Bowlas, charity manager at Downright Special, said: “We’re delighted that Victory has selected Downright Special as its chosen charity this year. We’re run by a small team of professionally trained volunteers and staff and offer a range of services – from sensory groups for babies and weekly fun and education sessions to sharing resource packs with children starting school, training teachers and working with local health and education services to improve the care pathway.

“To have support from big local businesses like Victory is absolutely fantastic and will have a big impact on the charity. We look forward to seeing what we can achieve this year!”

Victory designs and manufactures luxury holiday homes and lodges from its East Yorkshire sites, employing more than 400 people locally.

Shirin Kemp, marketing director at Victory added: “We’ve always supported local charities at Victory. Giving back and doing the right thing for our members of staff has always been core to our values and our ethos as a company.

“Chris has been an exceptional team member here at Victory and the support the charity provides for Millie and the whole family has obviously been invaluable. We’re incredibly proud to be supporting Downright Special this year.

“First up, we’ll be taking part in a sponsored five-aside football match planned on 15th March, which falls just before Down Syndrome Awareness Week – which is 21st – 27th March. There are plenty of activities planned for the next 12 months – so watch this space!”

Final resurfacing work to start around the Corn Exchange and New Briggate

The Connecting Leeds £25million transformational Corn Exchange project is due to complete following resurfacing works which are happening later this month.
Once fully complete, the area around the Corn Exchange will see restrictions to general traffic, allowing for bus priority measures, enhanced bus stop signage and facilities, safer cycle tracks and pedestrian crossings. There will also be a new public realm space created directly outside the Corn Exchange, more greenery and wider pavements, making room for al-fresco dining on Lower Call Lane. Also part of the scheme, New Briggate will now be partly pedestrianised with upgraded cycle tracks. Traffic has been removed from this route onto Vicar Lane which allows the creation of outdoor opportunities for the growing restaurant and bar sector in the area. The resurfacing, which is due to happen later this month, involves removing 50mm of existing road surface, re-setting drainage covers and manhole lids and re-painting white lines and other road markings. Night-time closures will be in place, with roads closing at 8pm to general traffic and re-opening at 5am each morning. The pavements will still be open to pedestrians and businesses in the area will be open as usual. Buses will be temporarily diverted, and signs will be placed at bus stops with information on alternative stops. Work is scheduled in the following locations and dates:
  • Kirkgate, Crown Street and New York Street: Sunday 27 February, 8pm – Thursday 3 March, 5am
  • Call Lane: Monday 7 March, 8pm – Wednesday 9 March, 5am
  • Meadow Lane (near old Asda filling station): Monday 7 March, 8pm – Tuesday 8 March, 5am
  • Meadow Lane and Hunslet Road cycleway: Thursday 10 March, 8pm – Friday 11 March, 5am
  • Call Lane (near Blue Rinse): Wednesday 9 March, 8pm – Thursday 10 March, 5am
  • Lower Briggate cycleway: Wednesday 9 March, 8pm – Thursday 10 March, 5am
  • New Briggate: Sunday 13 March, 8pm – Thursday 17 March, 5am
  • New Briggate cycleway: Monday 21 March, 8pm – Tuesday 22 March, 5am
The work is weather dependent and any adverse weather conditions will mean that it will need to be rescheduled. All works on this scheme are due to be complete by the end of spring and form part of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme which will see £173.5million investment into public transport and road improvements in Leeds. The improvements to the public realm around the Corn Exchange is funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority under the Government’s Getting Building Fund. It involves £8.6million of match funding which is part of Leeds’ £12.2million Grey to Green programme. While resurfacing work is taking place, the council is urging people to plan journeys in advance by visiting the Connecting Leeds website or visiting the WY Metro website for bus diversions. Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate said: “It’s exciting to see the final resurfacing works happening on this scheme. It gives these historic streets and buildings the surroundings it deserves whilst increasing opportunities for active travel and providing extra public space in the city centre. “We appreciate this next phase of work will be disruptive, but our contractors will make every effort to keep noise to a minimum and carry out noisy works as early on in the shift as possible. We would like to thank people and businesses for their patience while this project has been ongoing and ask that people continue to plan ahead to experience minimal disruption to their journey.” Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:  “The Corn Exchange is a real gem and is a beacon of culture and creativity, so it’s fantastic to see these changes, which will make the historic landmark more welcoming to the people of Leeds and visitors from far and wide. “Improving cycling, walking and public transport provisions form a key part of my pledge to tackle the climate emergency, so I’m also delighted that we are part of this scheme that will see more green spaces and provisions for active travel.”

Quantum Broadband helping to keep residents connected

Quantum Broadband are Lincolnshire’s local provider of Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), connecting even the most remote homes with speeds of up to 10,000mbps.

Over the past couple of years, a lot more of us have realised just how vital a reliable broadband connection is and that its fast becoming an integral part of our everyday lives. With home working becoming more and more popular, most have found that even with their current fibre packages, they are still not able to download, upload, stream or send emails. For many residents in Lincolnshire, the current superfast broadband is provided to a cabinet, then connected to homes and businesses by copper wires, and so speeds can be limited by how far from the cabinet a property is and how many people they share the connection with. This type of connection is known as Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), is a connection that’s far more capable even in peak times. FTTP consists of a fibre cable that connects your premise directly to the internet exchange, making it not just more reliable, but also significantly faster and not limited by the distance of premises from the local cabinet. Quantum Broadband are Lincolnshire’s local providers of FTTP in and around areas in East and West Lindsey, connecting even the most remote homes with speeds of up to 10,000mbps. As a local Lincolnshire based company; their mission is to help local communities experience the future of connectivity irrespective of their location. Mr Richards was one of the first customers connected in Newtoft and had this to say about Quantum. “I was with BT on their standard broadband package as I couldn’t get their fibre, so when I heard that Quantum Broadband was doing Fibre to the Premises, I thought let’s give it a try. Today I receive 120mbps minimum, sometimes more and for a quarter of the price of BT. I have got a great rapport with the local engineer and couldn’t recommend or help them enough. What’s not to love about a better service that’s saved me money?” Quantum Broadband is already available in a number of areas already and is continuing to expand its network throughout the county with a workforce of local Lincolnshire engineers.

New digital service Mobilise partners with Hull City Council to extend online support for carers

Hull City Council and City Healthcare Partnership (CHCP) CIC have commissioned a new service to reach out to family carers in the area. The pilot project with Mobilise launched on Tuesday 1 February. It uses social media and digital marketing to help to find and identify ‘unpaid carers’, connecting them immediately with others in a similar position, and providing relevant, timely support. Many Hull residents who provide unpaid care are not accessing the support available to them. Many people do not see themselves as carers because they are simply doing what they can for a relative, a friend or a neighbour who needs them because of their disability or illness. Mobilise will work alongside the existing support provided by The Carers Information and Support Service Hull. They offer a range of online support, from website guides, regular contact through emails, guide to caring e-course to ‘virtual cuppas’ and even individual support calls – seven days a week. Councillor Gwen Lunn, Portfolio Member for Adult Services and Public Health at Hull City Council, said: “We want to identify more carers and provide additional support, particularly during the difficult winter months, so carers can continue to provide their crucial care and enjoy positive lives. Mobilise is a great way for people to connect and receive support from others who can relate to their similar and shared experiences.” Lee, 55, a family carer who supports his sister who is a stroke survivor and her son who has psychosis said: “Mobilise is unique, real people with real experience are there to help make a real difference in how I support my loved ones who have health challenges.  Everyone who cares for a loved one would do well to connect with Mobilise.” Suzanne Bourne, Co-founder and Head of Carer Support at Mobilise, stated: “There are carers out there who may need advice who are not currently accessing it. Creating a Mobilise carer peer support network in Hull will see an improvement in their wellbeing. Carers are less likely to reach breakdown and require emergency assistance.”

Public views sought on the future of Hull’s citywide transport plan

Members of the public are being encouraged to take part in a consultation to help shape the transport priorities for Hull over the next four years. The way in which people and goods move around Hull is a crucial part of how the city develops in economic, social and environmental terms, and now Hull City Council is now seeking views from the public to understand Hull’s transport priorities as part of Hull’s Local Transport Plan: 2021-2026 Refresh. As part of this wider consultation two surveys have already taken place last year and focused on the active travel aspect of transport, in a bid to understand the current barriers to improving sustainable travel in Hull. The latest survey findings showed that 70 per cent of respondents would be able to travel at least 2 – 3 miles on a bike, and 80 per cent say they would be able to travel at least 2 – 3 miles by foot. The survey also revealed that 43 per cent of those who are considering switching to more sustainable forms of transport for shorter journeys would do so to help the environment. Councillor Dean Kirk, portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways at Hull City Council, said: “Over the last year we’ve carried out two transport-focused surveys in a bid to understand how people in our city choose to travel, and how we can improve modes of sustainable transport for people from all walks of life. “The feedback that we have received will ensure that the LTP takes everyone’s needs into account and will help the local authority to make sure this future transport plan is focused on the right priorities and actions.” The aim of the LTP is to provide and develop a safe and efficient transport system with greener alternatives including improved public transport, cycling and walking, and the provision of electric car charging points, in a bid to reduce pollution and congestion and enable more active travel. Councillor Kirk said: “Hull is a small city with tight boundaries, and how we share the road space is a key consideration for the local authority. We appreciate that changes to how people travel may not happen overnight, but our ambition is to build a transport network that works well for everyone.” To take part in the consultation, please visit the Hull City Council website or text ‘panel’ to 60030. By taking part, you will be entered into a prize draw to win prizes of £500, £250, £150 and £100 in high street shopping vouchers.

Clarion business immigration specialist warns Yorkshire companies to be ready for imminent changes

Business Immigration law expert, Anna-Elise Harvey of Clarion, is making businesses in the region aware of the Government’s forthcoming changes to right to work checks which will require them to adapt their processes in order to ensure compliance. From 6 April 2022, employers will no longer be able to accept physical right to work documentation from certain categories of new employees, but will instead have to undertake checks on their right to work in the UK using the Home Office’s online system.

The legal change is part of the Government’s move to digitalisation and applies to new employees who hold status on a Biometric Residence Permit or a Biometric Residence Card, or who are frontier workers. Retrospective checks will not be required for those who have presented these types of documents on or before 5 April 2022, provided the checks were done in line with the guidance at the time.

“While in the long term this move online should make the checking process easier for employers, we’re conscious that some business owners and HR professionals may not yet be aware of it,” explains Harvey. “As well as needing to adapt their own systems and implement appropriate training for staff performing these online checks, they may also be faced with the practical issue of making new job applicants understand why their physical documents can no longer be accepted. For some applicants, there could be issues around getting online access or technical challenges to overcome.”

Harvey continues: “This is just one of a number of changes expected in the coming months as the UK adjusts to its new position in the world post-Brexit, and it highlights the need for businesses which regularly recruit from overseas to keep abreast of this complex area of law. Given the risk of incurring fines of up to £20,000 per illegal worker, losing their sponsor licence and even criminal sanctions in extreme cases, it is vital that employers regularly review their processes and ensure staff are fully trained. For this reason, Clarion is hosting a webinar in March to consider where we are just over a year on from the introduction of the new immigration system, to address some of these issues and provide practical advice for employers.

“With such a competitive employment market, increasing numbers of businesses, particularly in the IT, leisure and healthcare sectors, are looking for skills overseas – employers need to understand the consequences of the end to freedom of movement both to and from the EU, and to have access to specialist resources and knowledge if they are to safely navigate through this fast-changing landscape and ensure compliance.”

During 2022, a number of other changes are expected. After positive feedback on the Covid-adjusted right to work checks using video calls and scanned documents, these have been extended until 5 April 2022. An announcement is awaited about whether this will be extended again, or if the Home Office is ready to unveil a tool to enable employers to check a wider range of employees’ right to work statuses online.  

It is the Home Office’s intention to introduce a new digital right to work check solution to include many who are currently unable to use its online checking service, including UK and Irish citizens. This will include permitting digital identity verification via authorised third parties for a fee. Their view is that this will enable checks to continue to be conducted remotely, but with enhanced security – a popular move for many employers, although some are concerned about what the introduction of a paid-for service will mean. 

Another likely change will be the introduction of a ‘Global Business Mobility visa’ which is expected to combine and reform some of the existing business immigration routes, with the aim of providing more options for sending personnel from eligible overseas companies to the UK. In addition, a new ‘high potential’ individual visa route is being touted – although the criteria are as yet unknown, they are likely to be linked to top qualifications from high-ranking universities across the world, and may not require a job offer.  

Harvey continues, “With some employers still unaware that they are legally required to perform right to work checks for all new employees, including British citizens, this is an often misunderstood and neglected area. Over the next two years, we’re expecting a host of announcements, including rolling IT changes and updates expected for sponsors, so it’s more important than ever that businesses protect themselves, keep up to date with changes, and mitigate risk by seeking expert advice.”

Businesses urged to apply for funding still available in COVID-19 support grants

£850 million worth of COVID-19 support grants are still available nationally and firms in England have been encouraged to apply by Business Minister, Paul Scully. The funding has been made available by government to councils in England for them to provide to businesses in need in their local area. Businesses are encouraged to apply to their local council for the funding. The funding is made up of £556 million available through the £635 million Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) scheme, which launched in January 2022, and a further £294 million through the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme which has been paying out funding since November 2020. The OHLG scheme provides businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors with one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premise, supporting those that had been most impacted by the Omicron variant. To provide further support to other businesses, the ARG scheme provides councils with funding they can allocate at their discretion to businesses most in need, such as personal care businesses and supply firms. The government encourages councils to provide the funding to businesses as quickly as possible. Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: “We’re working to get our economy running on all cylinders again so we can focus on making the UK the best place in the world to work and do business, creating jobs along the way. “Eligible businesses should apply as soon as possible for the grants available to help them put the pandemic behind them and get on a sounder footing to achieve success.” The government has provided support for businesses throughout the pandemic, including VAT cuts, business rates holidays and government-backed loans all collectively worth around £400 billion. The £22 billion of grant support to businesses during the pandemic is made up of several support schemes including for small businesses and local restrictions support.

Sheffield-based matchmaking platform for academia-industry collaboration acquired

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Sheffield-based IN-PART, a digital matchmaking platform dedicated to academia-industry collaboration, has been acquired by Lyon-headquartered Inova, a cloud-based solution aimed at helping life science companies locate and manage their biopharma opportunities more efficiently. Along with the recent acquisition of Labiotech, Inova says the move consolidates its position as a leader in the digitalization of the biopharma partnering space, supported by the €60 million investment from global private equity firm Carlyle and reaffirmation of a strong commitment by NextStage AM, in 2021. Inova supports more than 160 global clients, including many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. IN-PART develops curated digital solutions that drive impact from research by streamlining relationships between industry professionals and the world of academic institutions. IN-PART’s matchmaking platform, Connect, is used by 250+ universities and research institutes to find new partners for commercialization across more than 6,000 companies. The company’s bespoke scouting platform, Discover, is used by sector leaders to engage academics, TTOs, and research service departments in more than 1,500 institutes with specific R&D challenges or requirements. This acquisition is a major step forward for academia-industry partnering. While IN-PART will continue to service and expand its platforms for all research sectors, by joining forces with Inova, the company will gain access to Inova’s software infrastructure, as well as their teams in product and marketing. In turn, Inova clients will benefit from access to IN-PART search and discovery platforms, as well as leveraging best practice in matchmaking technology. Gilles Toulemonde, founder and CEO, Inova, said: “The Inova team is growing with talents and resources that are taking life science partnering to the next level. There is a growing consensus in the biopharma partnering world that academia is the next game-changer. “However, our customers often report how difficult it is to navigate the extensive science produced by university groups. IN-PART has built an impressive digital solution to tackle this exact challenge and by acquiring them, we are now bringing our mission full-circle and including academia in the next gen partnering world. Together, we’re helping untapped science reach the market through smart partnering.” Patrick Speedie, co-founder and co-CEO, IN-PART, said: “In Inova, we’ve found a great strategic fit across our technology base and close alignment in terms of company values and culture. It will give us access to a lot more resources and expertise for IN-PART to accelerate its growth and achieve its vision of connecting the academia-industry ecosystem, across all the research fields and sectors we work with. It’s a big moment for us and we’re looking forward to the next part of our journey with the amazing team at Inova.”
Robin Knight, co-founder and director, IN-PART, said: “It was clear from the start with Inova that there was synergy between our vision and approach. Inova provides clients with sector-leading Partnering software that fits perfectly with our matchmaking platform and search solution, Discover. The union of our companies, along with the exchange of expertise and technology across our teams will allow us to accelerate the pace at which we’re helping to surface the next generation of treatments and technologies.”

Caddick Construction is appointed to build distribution warehouse at Trafford Park

Caddick Construction (North West) has won a £4.3m contract to build a 68,000 sq ft distribution warehouse at Trafford Park, Manchester. The new Guinness Point warehouse is being delivered on behalf of Heref Merlin Trading Property Unit Trust, with work now underway on the Richmond Road scheme. The distribution warehouse will be 14.5m high to the parapet and will include two floors of offices, together with a service yard, car parking and landscaped areas. The build contract also covers all drainage and external services. Caddick Construction has a long history of involvement at Trafford Park and the surrounding area, having delivered The Williams Group’s £41m flagship automotive retail centre at TraffordCity and the international headquarters for Regatta on Mercury Way. Trafford Park was the first purpose-built industrial park in the world and, with over 9 million sq.m of business space, remains one of the largest and most successful business parks in Europe. Trafford Park is home to more than 1,330 businesses employing over 35,000 people. Ian Guildford, Contracts Manager at Caddick Construction (NW), said: “Trafford Park continues to go from strength to strength and its popularity as a logistical hotspot for the North West shows no sign of abating. We are delighted to be working at Trafford Park once again, delivering another high quality, industrial unit to help meet growing demand from the logistics sector.” Architect for the build is Liverpool-based Brock Carmichael, with engineering support from Healey Consulting. Project Manager is Black Cat Building Consultancy Limited.