TopicUK April 2024 Edition

People. Results. Value.

We believe that when businesses work together, they can achieve fantastic things.

Together, we have that power; the power to change the status quo, the power to create a better future for your business, your employees and your customers. Change rarely happens in isolation, but when businesses work together, anything is possible.

Just imagine what we could do together.

OUR PARTNERS

• LEXUS

• Toyota

• PHILLIP STONER JEWELLERS

• Yorkshire sculpture park

• BACKSTAGE ACADEMY

• Chadwick Lawrence

• Ad:Venture

• Eaton Smith Solicitors

• Stafflex

• Scriba PR

• Kirklees College

• University of Law

• BeVic

• Fantastic Media

• DAKOTA HOTEL LEEDS

• CRAGGS ENERGY

Editors notes

By group editor Gill Laidler

I am delighted to see the return of Kay Mellor’s smash hit The Syndicate coming to The Grand Theatre on 18th April.

Kay was working on bringing this to the theatre before suddenly passing away two years ago. Kay’s daughter, actress and writer Gaynor Faye was working on the project with Kay and has now taken over, making her debut as a director, as well as starring in the production. I will be in the audience on opening night, supporting Gaynor who is a Yorkshire Businesswoman ambassador. On page 50 you can find out more when I caught up with Gaynor and fellow actor Brooke Vincent.

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Toyota to the TopicUK family. We are delighted to be working alongside them helping to promote this fabulous car brand and look out for a couple of events we will be holding with them later this year.

Over the course of the year we will be doing so much more video, working with Laura Robinson PR and as well as sending us your news in written format, you can now forward video for consideration.

There has been some major finance invested in Leeds recently, £80m to help digital and health technology (find out more on page 26) and a massive £660m boost for Yorkshire

and the Humber small business, full story on page 28.

In an extraordinary tribute to the 80th anniversary of D-Day the city of Ripon has showcases a full-size knitted replica of a tank, do check out this amazing story on page 40.

See you in June.

Gill

Alvarez & Marsal launches corporate finance offer in Leeds with new hire

Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) continues to expand its EMEA corporate finance practice with the appointment of Duncan Morpeth as a senior director. He will lead the firm’s corporate finance team in Yorkshire and the Northeast, based in Leeds.

Duncan specialises in advising founder-owners, executive teams, private equity sponsors and corporates on a range of domestic and cross-border transactions including fundraising, partial company exits, business exits and acquisition support. Prior to joining A&M, he spent thirteen years with Grant Thornton in the Leeds office.

Establishing A&M’s corporate finance presence in Yorkshire

and the Northeast which is led by Jonny Marston, complements its existing service offering in the region and continues a period of rapid growth for the business, which boasts 9,000+ staff across six continents and has a strong focus on advising on deals and post deal strategy.

Duncan said: “It’s a great time to be building a corporate finance practice in Yorkshire and the

Northeast as we expect strong deal activity this year and into 2025 across the country. With interest rates having stabilised and inflation now falling, it is becoming easier for dealmakers to price deals and plan ahead. There remains an abundance of private equity dry powder and a lot of exciting businesses in the region, particularly in the technology, tech-enabled services and healt hcare sectors.”

“I was attracted by the compelling market opportunity to combine high quality, conflict-free corporate finance advice with the ability to leverage A&M’s platform such that businesses in the region can benefit from the firm’s deep and highly commercial sector expertise and gain access to its global network of international trade buyers and funders. To be part of a market leading global firm with a wide range of services in the region is an incredibl e proposition.”

Jonny said: “Duncan’s arrival at our Leeds office is a significant moment in the growth of the firm in Yorkshire and the Northeast. We see a huge opportunity to expand our corporate finance services to the region, alongside our existing restructuring team, as companies are set to attract even more investment in the coming years. We are uniquely placed to support clients across the UK with our services from Corporate Finance and Transaction Advisory to Restructuring, Debt Adv isory and Tax.”

MyLahore and Janan acquire 25,000 sq ft industrial units

Growing Bradford-based family businesses, MyLahore British Asian Kitchen and the South Asian UK department store chain Janan, have together bought five units on the Thornton Road Industrial Estate on Bradford’s outer ring road from the City Council.

The firms, who between them employ several hundred people, now plan to invest the redevelopment of the properties, which have been out of use for several years, to create space for new industrial units for their growing online and events businesses and surplus space that will be let out to other businesses.

Property consultant Eddison’s was appointed by Bradford City Council to market the 25,000 sq ft properties with parking space.

Eddison’s associate director Matt Jennings said: “This industrial complex has been disused for too long and we were really pleased to sell this asset to two great Bradford businesses on behalf of the city council.

“We had a huge amount of interest in the property with more than 40 potential

Both My Lahore and Janan are proud to be based in Bradford, although we now have sites all over the UK...

buyers attending one of the open days, which is indicative of the continued strength of the industrial market and shortage of supply for quality industrial space in Bradford.”

He added: “It will be great to see the firms’ investment and redevelopment plans take shape, bringing this strategic industrial site back up to a good standard and creating new jobs for the city.”

British-Asian restaurant chain My

Lahore was founded in Bradford in 2002 and has established familyowned restaurants in Manchester and Leeds, Birmingham and Blackburn.

Launched in 2011 in Bradford, South Asian department store Janan has successfully championed leading Asian designers and fashion brands, and has now has 12 stores across the UK, including in London, Birmingham, and Glasgow,

My Lahore managing director Shakoor Ahmed said: “Both My Lahore and Janan are proud to be based in Bradford, although we now have sites all over the UK. This acquisition is part of our continued investment in city and demonstrates our confidence in it as a great place to do business.

“We are confident that our investment in the warehouse space will have a positive impact on the local community and economy, as well as to our own businesses, and we’re looking forward to working with the council on future projects that enhance Bradford.”

Leeds marketing agency sets growth target following successful year

Leeds-based digital marketing agency Engage Interactive is celebrating after winning a record-breaking number of new clients - completing the 2023/24 financial year with 17 business wins.

As well as winning new business with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), ETM Group and The Grammar School at Leeds, the agency has also hired 12 team members, reflecting the introduction of a new structure that will cater for the integration of new clients whilst also prioritising existing accounts.

Engage Interactive is currently ranked as the top digital agency on the Drum for over 50 employees, from all those who have achieved B Corp certification and specialises in

performance marketing, gamification and digital activation and website re-development.

Dom Mernock, director at Engage said: “Aligning our core values as a B Corp agency, where purpose-driven work reigns supreme, we’re indicative that doing good doesn’t compromise business outputs. We're now helping 42 companies grow their businesses through the power of digital marketing. “Client expansion has been planned and pacy over the last 12 months and we’re

thrilled to be working with an additional 17 new businesses on mixed marketing campaigns and retainers.

"The team now boasts an impressive 70 percent prospect-to-win rate, and these wins have driven over £1m in contracted revenue, achieving our annual target by quarter three. These achievements represent a shift in our approach to growth, moving from reliance on inbound leads to proactive, data-driven sales strategies.”

A full-service digital agency, Engage Interactive works with brands to drive results through a range of specialist tactics, including website design and development, through to performance marketing including PPC and SEO.

J. Wood Leathers Embarks on a New Journey

25,000 sq ft industrial units

J.Wood Leathers,a well-established presence in the industry, is forging a new chapter led by Jack Wood, who brings 15 years of experience to his new role following a buy-out of the company.

“I feel honoured to take over the family business, which my parents have both spent most of their lives working so hard to build. I can feel the pressure of responsibility, but I relish the challenge, I’m passionate about this industry and I’m very excited by what lies ahead. I have lots of ideas of where I want J. Wood Leathers to go next,” says Jack.

This transition marks more than just a change in ownership; it signifies a reimagining of the brand, as they aim to attract new customers and adapt to meet the demands of the modern marketplace.

While their appearance may have changed, their dedication to

We are striving to create a more personal experience where our customers can feel comfortable seeking advice and guidance...

service,” continued Jack. “This evolution is about adapting to the digital marketplace while preserving our established identity as a familyrun business.

“Looking ahead, we have exciting plans to expand our product range: introducing new colours and ranges to cater to a broader spectrum of leatherworking applications. We're planning to incorporate hardware, tools, and threads into our offering, with the goal of becoming a onestop shop for all things leathercrafts.

their mission, heritage and core values remains steadfast. “We’re committed to offering top-quality, sustainably sourced leathers and hides at competitive prices, all while delivering unparalleled customer

“We are striving to create a more personal experience where our customers can feel comfortable seeking advice and guidance from our team, which may be small but is mighty, and filled with passionate and knowledgeable individuals who are dedicated to our craft,” concluded Jack.

Headstar appoints five finance consultants

Leeds-based recruitment consultancy, Headstar, has significantly grown the size of its advisory and portfolio finance director division with five new senior appointments in response to surging demand for its services.

Michael Barnes, Darren Bellwood, Lee Bowers, Kevin Cooke and Mark Woodward have joined the fastgrowing business as consultant finance directors, further bolstering a division that already comprises a well-established head of advisory and regional finance director and a wider network of over 25 associate fin ance directors.

Growth

In their new roles, all five, as experienced finance directors, will work closely with the firms growing

base of clients and contractors, providing advice and support in order to help them to shape the right financial model and grow t heir business.

They will be responsible for delivering a broad range of services to businesses of all sizes, including part-time FD support – where an experienced finance director joins the business on a part-time basis – as well as turnaround and growth support, developing and implementing plans to help companies to thrive. In addition, they will also work closely with the team of recruitment consultants, who recruit for all areas of a finance team from entry level to CFO, to identify and fulfil staffing solutions.

The appointments come as Headstar looks to further expand its advisory and portfolio finance

director division, which accounts for approximately a quarter of the company’s turnover, outside of its Yorkshire heartland to support an increasing number of U K-wide clients.

Michael will be responsible for supporting clients in Manchester, while Lee will cover Chesterfield and Nottingham. Darren will cover West and East Yorkshire, while Kevin will focus on South Yorkshire, East Riding and Lincolnshire - with Mark also supporting clients in So uth Yorkshire.

Demand

Commenting on the new appointments, Simon Webster, head of advisory said: “We’re delighted to welcome Kevin, Mark, Darren, Lee and Michael, all of whom bring a wealth of expertise and experience and the same down to earth character that we look for in all o ur consultants.

“They join at a time when we’re seeing surging demand for our finance consultancy services, with our team of in-house finance directors and wider network of associate finance directors providing straight-talking, evidence-based advice to help more busine sses than ever.

“We expect demand to continue to grow as more businesses become aware of our unique capabilities and plan on further expanding our network of finance directors, in the north of England in particular, over the n ext few years.”

Award winning, independent development and construction consultancy Identity Consult (IC) has grown its York-based team following the recruitment of three new colleagues.

IC, which provides clients with excellence in project management, cost consultancy, employer’s agent, principal designer, and digital construction services across the UK, established the York office during COVID and now sits at 11 strong; the company employs a total 70 colleagues across its offices also in Salford, Preston and Sunderland, with each person empowered and invested in to ensure a positive career trajectory.

Senior consultant Sarah Burns and trainee consultant Hassan Ali have joined the team. The new recruits join just months after Jen Gathercole, who started at the business as senior consultant earlie r in the year.

York office director Mark Allan said: “IC has a great reputation in the North of England, serving big name clients on residential, healthcare, education and other projects.

“Three years ago we made a decision to move the business into Yorkshire, building on the established credentials of IC and developing a new client base in the region. We swiftly delivered, working on landmark developments including the second phase of Points Cross, a 183 unit apartment scheme in Leeds city centre on behalf of The Guinness Partnership, another Leeds city centre apartment scheme with Wakefield District Housing at Saxton Place providing 100% affordable apartments, the Civic Centre and Library refurbishment and public realm works on behalf

Identity Consult’s York office invests in new colleagues

We are striving to create a more personal experience where our customers can feel comfortable seeking advice and guidance...

Infirmary. In addition to our more traditional services we have recently been commissioned by Leeds Beckett University to undertake Post Occupancy Evaluations on two recently completed schemes, and have supported the education provider TEC Partnership to develop its Es tates Strategy.

of the Conroy Brook Group. We have delivered projects in the healthcare and higher and further education sectors, most recently for Barnsley College on their new Motor Vehicle Testing Centre and for Leeds Teaching Hospitals with its redevelopment at the Leeds General

“With a strong pipeline for the future including c.1500 bed private student residential development at Durham University, we need the best people in our team. I am delighted to unveil our newest recruits and to have once again invested in Yorkshire’s up and coming construction talent. Our warm welcome to our n ew colleagues.”

Leeds Manufacturing Festival announces headline sponsors for 2024

This year’s Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which launched an extended line up of events that will run until December, has announced the headline organisations backing its 2024 programme.

Leeds City College, engineering and manufacturing recruiter E3 Recruitment and Next Gen Makers, which runs a benchmarking and accreditation scheme for manufacturing and engineering apprenticeships, have all returned to sponsor the festival, now in its seventh year.

The initiative, which has built considerable momentum since its inception in 2018, now counts a host of big-name manufacturers such as textile firm AW Hainsworth, Sulzer Pumps, Arla Foods and mattress manufacturer Harrison Spink among its participants. It aims to address the skills and recruitment crisis facing manufacturing and engineering employers by showcasing to school and college students the wide range

of well-paid career opportunities on offer in the industry.

Leeds City College head of engineering Mitch Scott said: “It’s vital that as education providers we work closely with business to make sure we are equipping young people with the right skills both for themselves and for the regional economy. Our work with the festival gives us a first-hand understanding of the challenges facing local businesses and their proactive support in helping us develop apprenticeships, T Levels and the curriculum is invaluable.”

Highlights of Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2024 festival include a series of factory visits to leading companies such as Airedale International Air

Conditioning and LBBC Technologies to promote best practice in manufacturing, plus the launch of a new careers resource showcasing the region’s ‘best in class’ engineering employers.

The programme also features a manufacturing career showcase at Leeds City College, a female-focused speed networking event for students to meet women at all stages of their careers and in manufacturing, and live careers panels in schools, bringing employers and apprentices face to face with students to give them the opportunity to find out what working in modern manufacturing is like.

Matthew Booth, associate director at festival sponsor E3 Recruitment, said: “As a specialist engineering and manufacturing recruitment business, we see the effect of the skills gap every day and there’s an urgent need to address that challenge for employers. We need people in production, engineers,

commercial teams, welders, machinists - any skill you can think of, we need in manufacturing.

“The Leeds Manufacturing Festival is totally dedicated to getting more people interested and into this industry. We’re very proud to be working alongside our fellow sponsors to make a difference over this next year, and we’d urge even more manufacturing organisations in Leeds to get involved.”

Adam Tipper, managing director of Next Gen Makers, which launches its Excellent Engineering Employer careers resource next month as part of the festival, to promote best practice in engineering apprenticeships, said: “As well as being a progressive city, Leeds has a thriving engineering and

manufacturing base and it’s incredibly important to raise awareness of this and inspire the next generation towards careers in engineering and manufacturing in Leeds.

“The city is also host to a wealth of manufacturers committed to providing opportunities for young people to start their career via apprenticeships. We’re proud to be supporting the festival and enabling more companies within the Leeds manufacturing community to stand out as employers of choice for engineering apprenticeships.”

Ben Wilson, chair of Leeds Manufacturing Alliance and director of Leeds-based glass reinforced plastic moulds manufacturer MPM, added: “Our sponsors play an active role in the

festival and are involved at every level. Their support is essential to enable the festival to reach as many young people as possible and show them the wealth of exciting and diverse career paths that are out there in the industry.”

The festival is also sponsored by Leeds City Council and manufacturing employers MPM, Leeds Welding Company, Greyhound Box and Sound Leisure, Kirkstall Precision Engineering, Saftronics and Bensons Panels, which are members of the Leeds Manufacturing Alliance.

For the second year, Leeds Manufacturing Festival is supporting the work of the Howarth Foundation, which helps people who are homeless or in unstable accommodation to find work or training.

Yorkshire garden centre group appoints from within for centre manager role

A Bradford headquartered garden centre group has promoted from within to fill the centre manager role at one of its six sites.

Dave Denton from Cleckheaton has been promoted to centre manager at the long-established Bingley Garden Centre at Harden.

An experienced retail specialist, Dave began his career with Yorkshire Garden Centres as a member of the leisure team at Tong Garden Centre before being promoted to supervisor and, latterly, manager of the garden sundries department. He replaces Marc Salama who was promoted to the new position of group commercial plant manager earlier in the year.

Dave said: "There are a lot of experienced members within this team, some of whom have worked at this site for many years and it has

been great to hear what thoughts are on our plans for the site moving forward. It has been a real pleasure getting to know the guys and I am looking forward to working with them to provide an exceptional experience for our visitors.

"I am looking forward to helping the team and the site to reach their full potential. The team at Bingley have a lot to offer and the site itself has some great opportunities for new

and interesting visual merchandising, educational displays and a new layout." Andy Mears, group retail and operations manager, said: "Dave's retail experience with Primark and Aldi combined with a great team makes for an exciting future as Bingley evolves into the next stage of its development."

When Dave’s not working, he enjoys family time, spending time outdoors and nurturing the wildlife that visits his garden.

The Arctic Fox arrives in the steel city

Leading Swedish outdoor clothing and equipment brand, , will strengthen its UK presence this spring as it opens a new, dedicated brand store in Sheffield city centre.

Located on Charles Street, Fjällräven’s third brand store in the country opened to the public on 22nd of March as part of Heart of the City – the flagship city centre development scheme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry.

This new shop opened in collaboration with the brand’s long-term partner, The Sporting Lodge. With extensive retail expertise, the team at The Sporting Lodge not only runs its own impressive retail operations, but also successfully launched the UK’s first Fjällräven brand store in Manchester back in 2017.

Following over a decade of impressive growth in the UK, Fjällräven’s unique combination of unrelenting product functionality and timeless, Scandinavian

design has proved popular with both outdoor and lifestyle consumers alike. As demand for its products from consumer groups continues to increase, the team is confident that this addition to Fjällräven’s nationwide network of premium retailers will offer a significant boost to overall brand awareness. Located close to the outdoor hot spot of the Peak District,

yet enjoying a dynamic, urban setting, this new location in Sheffield is set to be the perfect spot to offer all types of brand aficionados the chance to explore the a wider product offering, receive specialist guidance and enjoy an immersive Fjällräven experience.

Paul Griffiths, UK country manager, commented: “We are delighted to have opened our third store in the UK and are confident that this new store located in Sheffield’s vibrant city centre will play an important role in our ongoing work to increase nationwide brand presence and grow demand for our timeless, durable products. We are delighted to be partnered with the expert team at The Sporting Lodge which has already successfully operated the Manchester brand store for more than six years”.

Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Fjällräven to Sheffield city centre and our multi-million-pound Heart of the City development. We had always planned to give shoppers in the city a unique experience, offering brands you wouldn’t be able to get elsewhere, and this latest addition is the perfect example of that. “Sheffield really is a city on the up and Fjällräven opening their third ever store here highlights the fact that retailers are seeing how we are transforming Sheffield city centre and are wanting to be part of it.”

The new Sheffield Fjällräven Store has been designed and project managed by highly experienced and respected space design expert Kevin Gill, and his team at One Fine Day Design in collaboration with Fjällräven International and work has been carried out by retail fit out specialists, Woottons Limited.

New name for landmark City One development

Caddick Developments, part of Caddick Group, has today received a unanimous resolution to approve from Leeds City Council planning committee for a major, new, mixed-use neighborhood in the South Bank of Leeds.

To mark the planning decision, the 2m sq ft scheme, previously named City One, has been rebranded as South Village. The new name reflects not only its location within one of the UK’s largest brownfield regeneration sites - South Bank, Leeds - but also the development’s design as a contemporary urban village perfectly suited for modern city living.

South Village could provide up to 1,925 homes, 650,000 sq ft of

commercial space and significant landscaped areas, all centered around a curated ‘village green’ the size of a professional sports field, and accessible to both residents and local c ommunity alike.

Located just off Meadow Road, South Village has been designed to meet the highest environmental standards, improve connectivity across the south of the city, and will make a significant contribution to Leeds’ target for new housing provision within t he city centre.

Positively received today by Leeds City Council’s City Plans Panel, the “exciting” scheme was praised for its potential, which would “change this part of the

city altogether”. This futuristic, campus-style development will offer a range of living products for professionals, families, empty nesters and s tudents alike.

A dynamic new place brand has also been developed to accompany the name change, which will be revealed in due course.

Lee Savage, director said: “South Village will offer a revolution in city-centre living, transforming this strategically located brownfield site into an ambitious and accessible new neighbourhood. Our proposals are incredibly exciting, having been designed to provide bold, modern architecture, significant public space, and enhanced connectivity between Holbeck and the city centre.

“As we work towards submission of a detailed planning application, we will continue to collaborate closely with key partners and the community to bring forward a vibrant new chapter for this part of t he South Bank.”

Johnny Caddick said: “We’re delighted to have received the resolution to approve from Leeds planning committee for this transformational new development. South Village is set to redefine contemporary urban living in Leeds, offering all the amenities of a traditional village, while being in the heart of th e city centre.

“Perfectly suited to modern patterns of living and working, South Village has been carefully designed to provide significant public realm and community space, promote active lifestyles and connectivity, and ultimately enable the creation of a dynamic, multi-generation al community.”

New state-of-the-art apartment block arrives in Leeds

Popular rental brand UNCLE is opening its highly anticipated first building in Leeds. UNCLE Leeds will offer 463 brand new apartments for renters located on Whitehall Road in Leeds city centre. With a strong presence in Manchester and London, UNCLE is bringing its mission of ‘taking the lord attitude out of being a landlord’ to Leeds.

Set to open its doors in early spring, UNCLE Leeds comprises 69 studio apartments, 163 onebedroom apartments, 208 twobedroom apartments and 23 threebedroom apartments. UNCLE is known for its emphasis on design with interior designers behind the likes of Soho House. UNCLE Leeds has bespoke, designed amenity spaces, which include a cinema room, residents’ gym and Peloton room, performance room, and 2 co-working spaces, for communal or quiet work. Unlike any other apartment block in Leeds, it also includes a resident-only bowling alley. Other amenities include a rooftop terrace, outdoor space,

high speed WiFi and secure car park and bike storage.

UNCLE Leeds is pet-friendly, reflecting a common need for many who are looking to rent in the city. Residents at UNCLE buildings are known to start pet sitting and pet walking groups, among other social activities.

Inside UNCLE’s apartments, renters will find Architectural Digest-worthy designs, including BoConcept furniture and Bosch appliances.

The UNCLE brand is well known for its brand promises, which include the ‘love it or leave it’ initiative, allowing

tenants to cut their lease within the first two weeks, no questions asked, if the apartment doesn’t feel like a true fit. Additionally, UNCLE also offers its ‘sleep around’ option, which lets its renters swap flats or location any time they like (availability dependent).

Ryan Prince, founder, commented: "We’re really excited to be launching UNCLE Leeds and continue to look towards investing in rental solutions in the North. Cities are the heart and soul of our world, and that is why we continue to invest in quality city living. In today’s hybrid world, your neighbours are more than your neighbours, they are your workfrom-home-col leagues, which is why we have invested in multiple, flexible co-working spaces, social areas and even a residentonly bowling alley. We want renters to feel res pected, looked after, and even a little bit loved and we think UNCLE Leeds does just that.”

Goat’s milk producer is ‘tethered’ to sustainability

The UK’s largest goat’s milk producer has made a key packaging change in its latest move to make its operations as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible, joining the tethered revolution for its milk cartons.

St Helen’s Farm at Seaton Ross near York was founded 38 years ago, and products include fresh milk, yogurts, cheese, and butter. The company’s handcrafted products are stocked in major supermarkets, and the company prides itself on working in harmony with the local environment.

This commitment includes rotating crops, leaving wildflower margins, and minimising the use of fertilisers, and over the years, the company has installed wind turbines, solar panels and biomass boilers, reducing its emissions and environmental impact.

The company has long-used PurePak® cartons which contain less plastic than traditional plastic milk bottles and has now made the change to tethered caps - designed in such a way that the cap remains attached to the spout to prevent it getting lost during the usage and recycling process. In addition, the new cap is one of the lightest available, helping to further reduce the use of plastics.

Head of marketing, Katy Gray said: “We’re always seeking to create delicious products while also minimising our impact on the environment. Having visited Ace Recycling in Stainland, West Yorkshire, the UK’s only dedicated beverage carton recycling facility, it became even more clear why this move is so important.

“This change means that our

customers can enjoy the same award-winning milk but support local authorities’ recycling efforts

without impacting their usual routine – so everyone benefits.”

The new cap was developed in accordance to the EU single plastic directive and although it is not mandatory in the UK, St Helens believes it is a good idea as it ensures more caps can be recycled together with the carton, reducing littering in the environment and also helping to reduce the use of virgin materials.

St Helen’s Farm has been back in the hands of original owners Angus and Kathleen Wielkopolski since December 2021 and has dedicated time and financial resources to supporting the local community, as well as national causes such as Hope For Justice.

Image caption: Katy Gray from St Helen’s Farm, and Steve Clarke from Elopak visiting Ace Recycling in Stainland, West Yorkshire

Eaton Smith Solicitors is delighted to announce that Juice Personnel Limited has been chosen by the judging panel as the latest winner of its Business of the Month Award.

Kelly Smith, the company's creator, first established Juice Personnel in a very modest Huddersfield office in February 2003. Two years after their launch and following a very successful start, they moved the office back to Wakefield city centre, where most of their clientele were still present.

Kelly had been working in the field for more than two years when she was given the chance to start her own consulting business. She focused on providing both temporary and permanent employees to the commercial sector. Within a year of the company's founding, Lynn Mortimer joined and established the equally successful Logistics Division, which is still operating today.

Juice Personnel now have four main divisions: Commercial, Logistics, Industrial and Construction.

Juice personnel Ltd is the business of the month!

Kelly commented: “Lynn and I are delighted to have won this award. Since Covid, we’ve completely transformed our business and have been able to provide our staff with both personal and professional development opportunities. We’ve created a better work / life experience and implemented lots of new wellbeing initiatives. As well as this, we’ve grown our team by over 33% and launched a very successful new division – construction. We’re really focused on growing the company and ensuring it is a place where people enjoy coming to work and by being awarded this accolade, it’s testament to the strategies on which we’re currently working with.”

James Burgess, partner at Eaton Smith Solicitors, and member of the judging panel commented; ‘Juice

Personnel Limited are a worthy winner of this month’s award. Their commitment to developing and supporting their team, as well as their ongoing relationships with the local community, really impressed the judges. The business has experienced significant growth since inception in 2003 and continues to thrive in what is a very competitive industry.’

James Burgess chaired the judging panel and was joined by Martin Hathaway (Mid Yorkshire Chamber), Annie Bradley (Department of Business & Trade), and Richard Kenworthy (Begbies Traynor).

You can apply for the business of the month award here - https:// www.businessofthemonth. co.uk/

Sunak's apprenticeship Package: will it support SMEs?

The Prime Minister has announced a major reform package which will see £60 million invested to support small businesses in their efforts to offer ap prenticeships.

Here, an expert comment from Les Roberts, Small Business Comparison Expert, at Bionic with his thoughts on the reform package and if it goes far enough to support struggling SMEs in the UK.

“The main aim of this package is to remove financial obstacles for small businesses looking to hire apprentices. The plans include the government shouldering more of the costs that bringing apprentices onboard can involve and will include:

• The government will fully fund apprenticeships in small businesses by paying the full cost of training for anyone up to the age of 21

• The government will also increase the amount of funding that employers who are paying the apprenticeship levy can pass onto other businesses

Under the new package, large employers who currently pay the apprenticeship levy are able to transfer up to 50% of their funds to support smaller firms looking to hire apprentices.

The government claims that the package will open the door to 20,000 more apprenticeship opportunities for small businesses, but does it go far enough?

The scheme helps to remove the red tape and more funding for apprenticeships will be welcome news for both business owners looking to train up staff and for young people looking to kickstart their careers. Here are just a few benefits of employing apprentices for small businesses:

• Opportunity to fill skill gap in your workforce

• Cost effective way to boost your workforce due to available funding and 1st year apprenticeship wage

• Boost productivity with enthusiastic employees who are eager to learn

• Opportunity to retain loyal employees if apprenticeship becomes full-fledged job

• Diversify your team with new talent and knowledge

Government figures show that there were 176,500 people aged 19 to 24 participating in an apprenticeship in England during the 2022/23 academic year. But when you consider that government figures also show that UK SMEs employ 16.7 million people, it’s clear that the scheme will only help a small percentage of UK businesses boost their workforces and invest in future talent.

Although energy prices have fallen since they peaked in 2022, inflation continues to push prices up and high interest rates are pushing up rental costs. This means tens of thousands of micro and small businesses are still facing challenging trading conditions with no sign of government support, especially as the Energy Bills Discount Scheme is coming to an end. Let's hope this support package aimed at small businesses is the f irst of many.”

Caddick Group and Moda bring Places for Life Pavilion back to UKREiiF for 2024

Caddick Group and Moda Living have confirmed their Places for Life Pavilion will return to UKREiiF for a third year in May, with a brand-new programme filled with discussions, Q&As, networking opportunities, and two major development launches across 21-23 May.

Established in Yorkshire over 45 years ago, Caddick Group comprises a number of organisations including Caddick Land, Caddick Developments, Caddick Construction, and Oakgate Group, with its unique organisational structure allowing it to lead the entire development process, from initial land acquisition to full completion.

It also owns Moda Living – the pioneering rental living that has a pipeline of 26,000

homes worth a combined £6.8bn across the UK, from Brighton to Edinburgh, across the BTR, single-family rental and PBSA markets.

Nationally, Caddick Group has over £9.8bn worth of assets in the development pipeline, including over 19m sq ft in logistics and distribution space and over 34,000 Build-to Rentunits. With its roots firmly in Yorkshire, UKREiiF provides Caddick with a unique

opportunity to showcase its national activity to an international audience, right on the doorstep of some of its pioneering Leeds schemes.

Speaking of their involvement, Johnny Caddick, director at Caddick Group and chief executive at Moda Living, said: “It’s been another exciting year for us across our residential and industrial and logistics divisions. Returning to UKREiiF allows us to showcase some of the team’s fantastic work and engage in discussions with other sector leaders about how we can work together to create a greener, fairer industry for all, build lasting communities, and demonstrate best practice across every sector.

Eddisons appointed on solar farm feasibility studies at two Bradford council sites

Property consultancy Eddisons, which this year launched a new division to manage infrastructure and decarbonisation projects for both public and private sector clients, has been appointed by Bradford City Council to investigate the viability of developing solar farms at two sites in the region.

Land close to the Odsal Stadium and another strategic site in Keighley are to be assessed by Eddisons to investigate the costs, funding and potential design of the two sites being developed as solar farms.

The Odsal site was originally earmarked for a solar farm development as part of the proposed £50m regeneration scheme proposal to transform the Bradford Bulls home into the largest covered stadium in the country along with a new rugby league skills centre. The plan was turned down by the Government for levelling up funding last year.

Eddisons’ head of sustainability and decarbonisation Nazar Soofi, who joined the firm this year from Leeds City Council, where he led the £50m

decarbonisation project that has become a benchmark for sustainable urban development, said: “Large-scale green energy projects like these could be a really significant development for Bradford City Council in helping to reach its net zero goals.

“Over the coming months we will assess the viability of the project and the funding structure that would ensure it makes best use of public money.

“These are both brownfield sites with some contamination of the land. The development of solar farms, which would generate significant levels of renewable energy, would potentially be an innovative use for them and marks out Bradford City Council as being ahead of the

curve on green issues. We will have a conclusive answer on completion of the feasibility studies.”

If the projects are given the go ahead and obtain planning consent, it is anticipated that work would begin next year and that the solar farms would be operational by 2026.

Javid Patel, who heads Eddisons public sector team, said: “Naz’s knowledge and expertise in delivering decarbonisation projects and helping steer clients’ sustainable and environmentally conscious practices is invaluable.

“Our new infrastructure team are fully equipped to advise on and manage projects across energy centres, highways and telecoms, through to nuclear power stations. We have seen an immediate demand for our services across both the public sector, with schemes such as Bradford’s potential solar farms, and among private sector clients with infrastructure iss ues to manage.”

Senior appointments at Leeds-based manufacturer

Following the 10,000 sq ft expansion of its Leeds-based factory, ACS Stainless Steel Fixings has announced several senior appointments to its team, including Lucy Furnival as commercial director, and William Bishop as sales director.

The company is a leading manufacturer and designer of structural building components, including but not exclusive to wall ties, windposts, masonry support and brick slip systems –all essential components used for the construction of modern-day structures, large or small.

Lucy, a seasoned professional within the UK's construction and

manufacturing sector, joins the team to spearhead the expansion of its national presence. Leveraging her extensive experience from prominent brands such as Hilti, SIG PLC, and Speedy Hire, she will play a pivotal role in driving growth initiatives as well as promoting ACS’ steadfast commitment to sustainable manufacturing.

Speaking of her appointment Lucy

said: “Our sector is evolving, and I’m hugely drawn to ACS’ authenticity –something that comes from being a family business – and its agility and appetite for change and continued investment in innovation. The company has strong environmental credentials and a passion for moving forward sustainably – something underscored by the recent factory expansion in Leeds.

“I am genuinely excited to take on this role and spearhead the advancement of this vision, working alongside our clients and supply chain to foster continual

improvement. Together, we aim to build safer, more sustainable structures that benefit both people and the planet."

After a successful year as the business development director at ACS, William Bishop has been promoted to the role of sales director. Drawing from his extensive experience of being heavily involved in the high-rise construction sector for over 15 years, William is poised to leverage his expertise to expand ACS's client base and said: "I am thrilled with this fantastic opportunity to collaborate with Lucy and our board. Together, we are committed to extending the reach of our well-designed, patented products, ultimately making a positive impact on more people's lives.”

Other changes at ACS come as six other new colleagues are appointed. Noor Haddad joins the business as specification and design manager,

joining strategic specification director Paul Ruding, as they champion best practices within the built environment sector, visiting architects and specifiers to deliver free seminars and training sessions on responsible specification.

Growth

Noor is joined by Jake Harris who will be stationed at ACS' cuttingedge factory in Leeds, spearheading business development initiatives in the North of England, while Tara Lee Smith, based in London, will focus on driving business development efforts in the South of the country.

ACS has also welcomed an additional three new colleagues to bolster its business development plans further. The southern team has welcomed business development managers Tia Butler and Emily

Higgins, whilst Aarron Hume joins the Leeds office as the company’s new business development director.

The appointments come following ACS’ factory expansion, where 10,000 sq ft of additional, sustainable manufacturing space will allow the company to pioneer new technologies and automation as well as grow its now 124-strong manufacturing and construction workforce. Managing director David Flannery said: "Our focus on growth this year is underscored by strategic investments in both our talented workforce and cuttingedge facilities.

“This reflects our unwavering confidence in the future of the UK's manufacturing sector, a sector in which we are dedicated to continuous expansion and the pioneering of innovative products, proudly crafted here in the UK."

Muddy boots and sunny smiles as CFFC walk around Ogden Water

CFFC kicked off their first walk of the year with a walk around Ogden Water.

Opting to take the woodland and march route, everyone had a good laugh as they navigated their way around some pretty boggy parts. Luckily, the sun was shining, the breath-taking scenery, and the great

conversations made the walk well worth the effort.

Lisa Kempster from Best You Health guides us round walks around Calderdale and helps CFFC connect people who care with causes that matter. You don’t need to book, just turn up.

For more information about events happening at CFFC, visit https://cffc.co.uk/events/

Hazardous area computer manufacturer partners with Dutch distributor

HMi Elements, based in the UK and Houston, Texas, has teamed up with Dutch explosion proof equipment expert, Cobic-Ex, to expand its distribution network, for its innovative range of PC workstations,designed for use on offshore and land-based oil rigs.

The relationship marks a significant milestone in HMi Elements' international expansion goals, allowing the business to tap into Cobic-Ex's worldwide clientele, including those across Europe, UAE, KSA, USA, Nigeria and South Africa.

HMi Elements is headquartered in Malton, North Yorkshire, with an R&D facility in Leeds, and a base in Houston Texas, specialises in delivering advanced technology customised for use in hazardous areas, in particular for the global oil and gas sector. Their cuttingedge computers are relied upon by industry leaders, including Baker Hughes, National Oilwell Varco, Cameron, and Nabors, among others. HMi Elements' products are widely recognised for their outstanding performance and reliability, particularly in challenging environments, notably Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas and the business has an enviable reputation for quality and service.

Cobic-Ex is a Netherlands-based online

marketplace, specialising in providing ATEX equipment and explosionproof solutions to its customers, including cameras, air conditioners and lighting. The business originated from LHS Consultants, founded in 2003, a company with a rich history and a well-established reputation in the industry, and over 20 years’ experience in providing safe and effective products to a huge number of its customers.

The collaboration, founded on shared values and a commitment delivering exceptional solutions in the realm of explosion-proof equipment, will also see Cobic-Ex supporting the promotion of HMi Elements’ industry-leading product portfolio.

Shannen de’Vries, who was instrumental in facilitating the partnership and charged with a business development role at HMi Elements, said of the relationship: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Cobic-Ex to support even more people working in hazardous

oil and gas environments to increase their safety, efficiency and productivity.

“These are highly pressured environments, so it is vital that workers are equipped with secure and effective devices that allow them to complete their tasks with ease.

“Cobic-Ex is the ideal fit for us, their commitment to quality, safety and a client-focused service aligns seamlessly with our own vision and values. While we are still in the early days of our relationship, I am looking forward to fostering a long-term alliance between our two brands.”

Co-founder of Cobic-Ex, Gido van Tienhoven (MSc.) said: "We are proud to work with HMi Elements because they're clearly the leading brand for explosion-proof HMIs (human-machine interfaces).

“We recognise the high production quality from our own experience with manufacturing Ex equipment. Additionally, we know that their HMIs are top of the line, backed by a business with an extensive history and a reputation for quality and innovation at its core. This relationship is a testament to our shared commitment to excellence, promising mutually beneficial outcomes in the realm of explosion-proof HMIs.”

Emerging from the esteemed heritage of LHS Consultants, established in 2003, Cobic-Ex carries a rich legacy and a firmly established reputation in the industry. With a robust presence in manufacturing markets and strategic alliances with top-tier manufacturers, Cobic-Ex has meticulously assembled a varied portfolio featuring top-notch ATEX products.

£80 mil lion boost for West Yorkshire’s digital and hea lth technology firms

Businesses, universities and hospitals will benefit from a multimillion-pound investment zone to drive the development of lifechanging technologies.

The £80 million plan will be brought forward by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin when regional leaders meet for the final Combined Authority meeting of her mayoral term.

The first half of the 10-year, £160 million West Yorkshire Healthtech and Digital Tech Investment Zone – which received the green light from Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove– is expected to leverage over £220 million of public and private sector investment over the next 5 years, creating over 2,500 skilled jobs.

The unprecedented package of support will bring together universities, businesses, and hospitals to deliver cutting-edge research and develop innovative new technologies for patients, to be used in the UK and world-wide.

As the home of NHS England, West Yorkshire is a global leader in health and digital technology, with universities in Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds partnering with NHS Trusts and local firms to share their expertise, develop exciting new products, and transform patient care for millions of people.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West

Yorkshire, said: “For the UK economy to prosper it needs West Yorkshire to succeed, and devolution is helping us empower our healthtech and digital sectors, transforming the lives of patie nts world-wide.

“This multi-million-pound investment will help us build worldleading centres of innovation in Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds, bringing together our universities, businesses and hospitals to drive the development of lifechanging technologies and deliver thousands of skilled jobs.

“Through our investment zone, we’re changing our region for the long-term, working with partners and the government to build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all”.

The investment zone will centre around three, nationally significant clusters of economic activity, powered by investment in infrastructure, skills training and business support.

They are:

The Digital Health Enterprise Zone at the University of Bradford, which supports business growth, knowledge and skills development by connecting academics, researchers and health and

social care partners. It also contributes to the training of future healthcare professionals, advancing research and commercial opportunities through its dedicated simulation space, The Technology House. Its aim is to work with other universities, local government and wider partners to make West Yorkshire the place for health tech innovation.

A National Health Innovation Campus at the University of Huddersfield, where the university is investing over £250 million to develop a state-ofthe-art campus, focused on specialist clinical teaching and research to tackle health inequalities.

A HealthTech Innovation Hub in Leeds – a flagship project of the investment zone which will see the development of the first phase of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s 1 million square foot “Leeds Innovation Village”, on the site of Leeds General Infirmary. This will involve the construction of the Trust’s new, world-leading, state of the art digital hospital at the Old Medical School.

Professor Shirley Congdon, ViceChancellor at the University of Bradford, said: "We welcome the opportunities for Bradford and West Yorkshire businesses afforded by the Investment Zone.

“Our univers ity will offer businesses in the digital and health technology sectors access to many ways to make a difference, through innovation, workforce development and access to high end facilities, an example o f which is our recent £4 .8m award from Research England to develop and evaluate innovative heal th technology.”

Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, said: “The University of Huddersfield is proud to be at the heart of Huddersfield’s Station to St adium Corridor.

“The University’s National Health Innovation Campus will be core to the success of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone, with seven stateof-the-art buildings designed to tackle health inequalities, provide specialist clinical teaching facilities, and drive entrepreneurial academic activity, in addition to providing space to support business growth and innovation.

“This will be truly transformational for the town and the West Yorkshire region. This announcement demonstrates the crucial role universities play in driving regional economic growth.”Dame Linda Pollard, Chair of the Leeds Innovation Partnership, said: “I am delighted that the Old Medical School has been chosen to be the flagship project for the West Yorkshire Healthtech and Digital Technology zone and it is great to see our vision for a leading Healthtech Innovation hub get this boost.

“The Healthtech Innovation Hub will uniquely co-locate clinicians, entrepreneurs, and academics for the first time and provide space for scale ups and start-ups. Running alongside the Trust’s new state of the art hospitals of the future, this infrastructure for the city really will be a hotbed of innovative thinking, collaboration and development bringing life-changing benefits for patients being treated in Leeds and impressive economic benefits for the city and wider region.”

(L-R)

Cllr Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council; Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire; and Dame Linda Pollard, Chair of the Leeds Innovation Partnership and Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust copy

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II provides £660m boost for Yorkshire and the Humber small businesses

The British Business Bank has launched its new Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), a £660m fund set to cover the entire North of England.

Since the launch of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund in 2017, has delivered over £445m of direct and private co-sector investment into 552 businesses, helping to create nearly 4,300 jobs across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Aiming to build on the success of the initial fund, Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will also drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses acro ss the North.

It will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for Northern smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

Providing loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m, the Fund will continue investing into companies operating within

the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and Tees Valley. It is now expanded to include the whole of the North East enabling businesses across the whole of the North to access the Fund to start up, scale up or continue on their growth journey.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, Mercia will deliver debt finance (£100,000 to £2 million), as well as equity finance (up to £5 million) to smaller businesses with Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) delivering smaller loans between £25,000 and £100,000.

Yorkshire businesses that have benefitted from the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund include Castings Technology International (CTI), a world leading casting

manufacturer based in Rotherham. Providing manufacturing expertise to the cast metals sector and global supply chain, it created the largest ever titanium part poured into a ceramic mould. Its novel casting techniques has placed Rotherham and CTI on the map for cast metal innovation.

Richard Cook, managing director at CTI, said: “Thanks to the support of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, we have been able to push forward with our growth plans. We are innovators by nature, and since the Fund’s involvement, we have been able to fulfil orders and deliver on contracts for some of the biggest brands.”

Tinsley Bridge, a historic Sheffield engineering firm, also benefitted from NPIF funding. As a major supplier of suspension parts to the European truck industry, the business has used the investment to keep up with record demand it has experience post-pandemic.

Mark Webber, managing director at Tinsley Bridge Group, said: “With the help of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund we’ve been able to meet record demand in several of our key markets, despite disruptions in the global supply chain. It is clear that NPIF is committed to supporting the growth of smaller businesses, no matter what challenges they face.”

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minister of State for Enterprise, Markets, and Small Business, said: “This new fund will unlock millions in equity and loans for SMEs across the North to realise their full potential and builds upon British Business Bank’s vital work ensuring that any small business owner in the UK can scale up and grow.

“SMEs are the engines of growth for our economy and across government we are improving access to finance, cutting red tape and removing barriers to ensure that they can go further and faster than ever before.”

Louis Taylor, Chief Executive of the British Business Bank, said: “The success of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund has proven the instrumental change that access to finance can have for small businesses. From creating hundreds of jobs to developing ground-breaking products, we have seen companies that previously lacked funding options accelerate forward in their growth journeys, which has ultimately benefitted the whole of the Nor thern economy.

“This is why it was important to continue the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund into its next phase. With further funding available, and a greater geographical reach in the Northeast, the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will engage more stakeholders across the regions, bringing the business community closer together to create more opportunities for entrepreneurs everywhere.” Following the official launch in Leeds, the British Business Bank will be holding a roadshow of events for small business finance intermediaries across the region to provide more information about the Fund. Destinations include Newcastle (18th April); Manchester (24th April), Sheffield (30th April).

Further dates for roadshow events in Liverpool, Hull, Lancashire, Tees Valley, York, Cheshire, Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland will be announced shortly.

First look inside flagship Forge Island leisure development

Project partners were given a sneak peek inside the new leisure spaces at Forge Island, ahead of the development reaching practical completion in the spring.

The landmark leisure destination is being delivered by teams from Rotherham Council, nationwide placemaker Muse and contractor, Bow mer + Kirkland.

This week, Council Leader Chris Read; Cllr Denise Lelliott, Cabinet member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Raife Gale, Senior Development Manager at Muse, and Hamza Say ed, Operations

Director of Thistle Group Holding – who are open ing three food and drink eateries at Forge Island - headed to site for special ‘behind the scenes’ tour. This was an opportunity for a first look inside the buildings ahead of them being handed over to the tenants to begin their fit-outs in a f ew weeks’ time.

The family-friendly destination

is set to add to Rotherham town centre’s foodie offering, with Thistle opening Portuguese and Southern African eatery, Casa Peri Peri, created by Masterchef finalist, Bobby Geetha; Estabulo Rodizio, a concept honouring the Gaucho style of cooking and luxury coffee shop Caffé Noor. Other Yorkshire independents coming to Forge Island also include The Rustic Pizza Co. Forge Island will also include an 8-screen state-of-the-art boutique

cinema, delivered by The Arc Cinema, alongside a 69-room Travelodge

L-R Hamza Sayed, Thistle; Council Leader Chris Read; Raife Gale, Muse; Cllr Denise Lelliott. Credit Joe Horner.

To see the development today rising up out of the old Forge Island site is really something and we’re firmly on track to putting a sense of pride back to the town centre...

hotel, complemented by stunning public realm and a new riverside park. Hundreds of local people recently flocked to Rotherham Council’s annual recruitment fair to find about employment opportunities at Forge Island, who will become a substantial local employer once open creating around 100 jobs.

Together with Rotherham Markets, the improvements are a key part of Rotherham Council’s large-scale regeneration plans aimed at breathing new life into the heart of the borough. Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy Cllr

Denise Lelliott said: "To see the development today rising up out of the old Forge Island site is really something and we’re firmly on track to putting a sense pride back into the town centre. This presents a fantastic opportunity for residents and visitors to be part of one of the most attractive leisure destinations in the region. This site will offer high quality restaurants, a hotel on a scale of which has not been seen in the town centre before, and a new cinema bringing blockbuster movies back to the town centre for the first time in over 30 years. With spring having sprung, and summer round the corner. we’re on track and very much looking forward to celebrating an amazing launch.”

Raife Gale, Senior Development Manager at Muse, said: “It’s exciting to share with our partners the work that’s been going on inside these spaces: the project team have done an amazing job of keeping us on track to open this summer. We’re looking forward to handing over the keys to the new tenants so that they can begin their fit-out works and bring us even closer to realising Forge Island – which will soon be a new leisure destination for everyone to enjoy.”

Hamza Sayed, Operations Director of Thistle Group Holding added: "We are thrilled to introduce these new culinary experiences to the community. Each restaurant embodies our passion for food, service, and creating memorable dining experiences. We can't wait to welcome guests and share our vision with them."

Forge Island is due to open to the public in summer 2024. Further information and updates about the development is available here:www. newforgeisland.co.uk.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist honoured at Leeds Civic Ceremony

A high achieving entrepreneur, who arrived in the UK from Malawi more than 47 years ago, has been honoured during a special Civic Reception hosted by Leeds City Counc il this month.

Nazir Ahmed, alongside his wife and business confidant, Razia Ahmed, were officially recognised for their outstanding contribution to the city through The Parklane Group and its philanthropic arm, The Parkl ane Foundation.

Established in Leeds from the purchase of Mr and Mrs Ahmed’s first UK home in 1977, the Parklane Group has grown exponentially to become an award-winning market leader employing over 350 people across a substantial pr operty holding.

Launched in 2005 The Parklane Foundation was born out of an inherent desire to help build better futures within local communities through fundraising initiatives, community-inspired projects, and national charity partnerships. Since inception, the Foundation has

donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to charitable causes in the UK and overseas. Its current focus is on children and young people, improving educational attainment, access to sport, and homelessness. It also supports causes in Malawi, one of the most deprived countries in Africa, through instigating micro finance, water irrigation and housing projects to assist poor and homele ss communities.

The special ceremony took place at the prestigious Civic Hall in Leeds and was attended by Councillor Alison Garthwaite - Lord Mayor of Leeds, Zulfi Karim DL. - High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, and Tom Riordan CBE - Chief Executive of Leeds City Council. Tributes were also delivered by the three sons of Mr and Mrs Ahmed, Naveen, Nadeen and Sameer who now lead the business and Found ation ventures.

At the event, Mr Ahmed delivered a captivating speech, providing a glimpse into an incredible journey of professional accomplishments over four decades and the Ahmed family's dedication to making a positive impact on the local commu nity in Leeds.

Mr Ahmed, said,“I am truly honoured to receive this recognition alongside by wife who has been my life partner through not only raising our beloved family but also creating a lasting legacy through Parklane and the Foundation.

“Strong family values remain at the heart of everything that we do at the Parklane Group and we are determined to use our resources to deliver real change across society and support those less privi leged than us.”

R e a d y t o l e v e l u p y o u r

c o n t e n t c r e a t i o n ?

V i s i t o u r “ m i n i T V s t u d i o ” i n L e e d s f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l a u d i o a n d v i d e o r e c o r d i n g . A v a i l a b l e t o f i l m u p t o 4 i n - p e r s o n g u e s t s i n a r e l a x e d s e t t i n g o r p a t c h i n r e m o t e l y . S t u d i o l i g h t i n g & 4 K c a m e r a s e n s u r e t e l e v i s i o n q u a l i t y f o o t a g e a n d p l e n t y o f b r a n d i n g o p t i o n s t o c r e a t e y o u r b e s p o k e s p a c e

www.thisisdistorted.com

W h e t h e r y o u ’ r e r e c o r d i n g y o u r l a t e s t p o d c a s t , o n l i n e t u t o r i a l s o r s h o r t - f o r m v i d e o c o n t e n t f o r y o u r s o c i a l p l a t f o r m s , w e c a n h e l p . @thisisdistorted

Housebuilder announces Leeds office and managing director hire

Housebuilder Honey has announced the opening of a 5,000 sq ft office in Leeds this June and the immediate hire of a managing director to deliver its expansion plans in Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Headquartered in Sheffield, the housebuilder has recruited former Avant Homes Central managing director, Chris Coley, to lead two newly created operating regions, Honey Yorkshire and Honey Central.

The Yorkshire team will be based in the new Leeds office which has been taken on a seven-year lease and is located on the Thorpe Park Leeds development just off junction 46 of the M1.

Prior to joining the business, Chris worked at Avant Homes for almost 19 years where he was a colleague of Honey founder and former Avant Homes chief executive officer, Mark Mitchell.

Since its launch in October 2022, Honey has secured 14 sites across Yorkshire and the Midlands that will deliver 1,781 homes and a combined gross development value of £530m. The average selling price of a Honey home is £300,000.

The company is backed by private equity firm Alchemy Partners and its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris Coley, said: “Honey is a business with a clear purpose and a huge amount of ambition so it’s exciting to be able to lead the company’s expansion throughout Yorkshire and the Midlands.

“I’ve been tasked with maintaining Honey’s momentum as we simultaneously build and sell our homes whilst finding and securing

further residential development opportunities.”

The housebuilder currently employs 52 people across both office and site-based roles and, once the Leeds office opens, will have capacity for 84 office-based people.

Chief executive, Mark Mitchell, said: “Chris joins us at a time when we want to accelerate our growth plans and, along with our senior management team, he has overall responsibility for their delivery.

“Now we have two operating regions and will soon have offices in both Leeds and Sheffield, we have the platform required to deliver ongoing sustainable pro fitable growth.

“We have launched our first three

Our product has been thoughtfully designed to combine style, substance, and sustainability to deliver high specification homes

...

sites and opened our first show home. The market’s response to what we are doing in terms of having a refreshing approach to housebuilding, and that of prospective buyers to our homes, have both been very pleasing.

“Our product has been thoughtfully designed to combine style,

substance, and sustainability to deliver high specification homes which we believe are unmatched at the ir price point.

“We now want to be in a position to provide more people with the opportunity to own a home by securing additional sites throughout Yorkshire and the Midlands.”

Honey has analysed consumer insights and trends to inform its house type designs to ensure they meet the needs and wants of today’s new home buyers, including the flexible use of all living spaces.

In addition, the house types accommodate the Future Homes Standard which requires all new homes being built from 2025 onwards to produce 75-80 per cent less ca rbon emissions.

Society of Dyers and Colourists relaunches its Global Colourist Award for 2024

Long-time education provider Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) is delighted to announce that applications have now reopened for its Global Colourist Award.

The award recognises the professional achievements of those working across the wider coloration sector. Entries are open to colourists worldwide across the full gamut of specialisms including – but not limited to –textiles, dyes and pigments, leather, food and paint. Production dyers, shift dyers or printing colourists are all eligible.

A £1000 prize is on offer for the chosen recipient, with Advanced Colours and Chemicals Ltd in Rossendale UK kindly sponsoring

the competition. Applications are welcomed up until the deadline of 30 June 2024 Dr Graham Clayton, chief executive officer of SDC, said: “The society is once again delighted to be reopening applications for the Global Colourist Award for a second year running. We’re looking for an outstanding individual who is able to demonstrate enthusiasm, commitment, excellent performance, competence, a contribution to team

effort and strong general knowledge of the coloration industry.”

Judging of the entries will take place in June, with interviews scheduled in early September. The winner will be notified in mid-September. Highly commended winner for 2023, Hannah Rampley, teaching technician at the University of Manchester, said: “Being selected as last year's Global Colourist was completely unexpected and was a huge achievement for me, so thank you to the judges for selecting me as their winner and to the SDC for the award.”

For details on how to nominate/ enter please visit the SDC website.

The Super Soapbox Challenge is back in Bradford

Bradford is getting ready to welcome back the Super Soapbox Challenge! Bradford BID is again the headline sponsor for the popular event which will be making a return on Sunday 5th May for a third year following the success of the previous years which attracted over 35,000 visitors into the city centre.

Entries to the race are required to make a cart that will hurtle down the huge ramp and navigate the course around the city centre, with the fastest lap taking the winning trophy. Awards will also be made on the day for Innovative Cart Design and Best turned-out Soapbox crew.

The free event will Ready, Steady, Go! from 11am on Kirkgate. It’s a free, fun packed day for all the family with plenty of food and drink vendors and retailers open throughout the day.

Jonny Noble, Bradford BID’s Chief Executive says: “The Bradford Super Soapbox Challenge is a fantastic fun day for everyone. We’re looking for adventurous teams of five people to enter The Super Soapbox Challenge, build their cart and have a great day’s racing. I can’t wait to see the teams that enter this year and their wacky designs making their way around the city centre. It all adds to the brilliant atmosphe re on the day.”

The charity partners for this year’s event include Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Centrepoint and Mind in Bradford. In between races, live music will also entertain the crowds.

Further details on the event, and to enter your team head to https:// supersoapboxchallenge. co.uk/bradford/

Walton & Co plans for the future with new equity partners

Leeds-based boutique Planning law firm Walton & Co has welcomed new Equity Partners to join the original founder and build on the firm’s existing strong growth platform by investing in its longterm future.

David Walton, founder of the firm which was established in 2004 and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has been joined by Alec Cropper and James Cook as new equ ity partners.

Alec has over 15 years of legal experience, having previously worked at firms including Walker Morris and DWF. Alec joined Walton & Co in 2019, and specialises in planning appeals, application advice, High Court proceedings, and negotiation of planning agreements.

James, who previo usly worked at Walton & Co from 2007 to 2019,

returns to the firm from Blacks Solicitors where he held the position of head of planning after establishing a new Planning Law Team there in 2019. James brings with him over 20 years’ of experience in both the public and private sectors in all areas of planning and highways law .

Commenting on his return James Cook said: “I originally joined Walton & Co back in 2007 which gave me a strong base from which to grow my practice and expertise. Although I’ve had a fantastic four years at Blacks Solicitors, I felt that the time was right to return to a specialist planning law firm and Walton & Co is a firm I know

extremely well. Partnering with Alec and David will give us the opportunity to expand our client base into new industry sectors and grow our expert team to ensure we can continue effectively responding to market and political changes across the pl anning system.”

David Walton, added: “After almost 20 years of driving the firm forward, the time was right to bring a fresh perspective to the next stage in the firm’s growth. Having worked with Alec and James previously, I knew I could trust their judgement and ambition when it comes to the future of the business. Continuing to provide our current clients with an exceptional level of service will always be a key priority for us, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the partnership with James and Alec shapes up over the next few years.”

L-R Alec Cropper, David Walton & James Cook

Yards store opens new space in Sheffield

Independent men’s fashion retailer, Yards Store, opened its new Sheffield city centre store in late March.

Originally founded in 2016, Yards Store opened its first shop in Macclesfield, before relocating to Manchester in 2019.

Yards Store is a proudly independent menswear and lifestyle retailer, dedicated to bringing its customers the finest British and International brands. It features a fusion of outdoor and heritage brands including And Wander, Ten C, Carhartt WIP, Gramicci, Hikerdelic, RRL, ST95, Hoka, Karhu, Clarks Originals and New Balance to name just a few.

The staff at Yards Store are lovers of the brands and products that feature instore and we’re always looking for the next emerging brand or product category.

The new Sheffield Yards Store is located on Pinstone Street alongside the new Fjällräven Sheffield store. It forms part of Heart of the City – the flagship city centre development scheme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry.

The new Sheffield Fjällräven Store has been designed and project managed by highly experienced and respected

space design expert Kevin Gill, and his team at One Fine Day Design in collaboration with Fjällräven International and work has been carried out by retail fit out specialists, Woottons Limited.

Director and co-owner Tim Gardiner said: “With the severe challenges that retailers in the UK have been experiencing, we believe there are great high street location opportunities for independent retailers such as us, the key is to have a distinct identity and a carefully curated brand line-up, and this is what our team has achieved with the new Sheffield store.

“We believe that Sheffield is the ideal location to host our continued development of the Yards Store brand, coupled with its close proximity to the great outdoors, we feel it will sit perfectly among the existing retail and hospitality offering that Sheffield has been successf ully evolving.”

Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, added: “It was fantastic to see Yards Store opening on the same day as the neighbouring Fjällräven store. Both stores truly enhance the fashion offering in the city centre and I’m confident both brands will prove to be extremely popular with our shoppers.

“Sheffield is on the up. With Heart of the City as a key catalyst, we are transforming the city centre into a vibrant destination where people can relax, shop, enjoy a drink, dine, live and work.”

Will Howard, former MD at baby-food brand Ella's Kitchen, who joined GrowUp Farms in February, was brought in to help GrowUp Farms unlock their purpose of providing "Better Food For All" and support the team building the business to grow and sell more than one million bags of salad per week.

CEO Marcus Whately said: "We are thrilled to have Will on board. He has nearly 20 years' experience with major food and drink brandsand two of them with B Corps - so he absolutely shares our passion for marrying sustainability in food production with creating compelling brands. He is committed to business as a force for good and will be a great additi on to our team.

"We have always been a pioneering organisation, but we can't rest on our laurels and Will gives us the injection of experience and energy which will ensure we continue to grow great tasting products that will help us grow the category."

A certified B Corp, GrowUp Farms is the first vertical farm to supply major UK supermarkets with bagged salad brands with the launch of Fresh Leaf Co. into Iceland and SPAR and the Unbeleafable range into Tesco - both already award- winning brands.

Talking about his appointment to the newly created role Will said: "I am extremely excited to be joining the team at GrowUp Farms, a vertical farm which is doing things differently, even compared to other vertical farms, and leading the way in how companies provide the best, most sustainable food for all, without compromising on taste. With a clear purpose to grow "better

Yorkshire renewables firm surges past £40m with tenth acquisition

food for all", a brilliant team and values to help guide how we get there, it won't be long before we are growing nearly 1.4 million bags of salad per week.

"My two daughters, aged nine and 12, are thrilled about my new role at

GrowUp Farms. They love snacking on the salad leaves straight from the bag and are probably on their way to becoming our top consumers!"

Prior to his roles at Ella's Kitchen, Howard worked at Innocent Drinks, Red Bu ll and PepsiCo.

Unique Full-Sized Knitted Churchill AVRE Tank unveiled

In an extraordinary tribute to the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the city of Ripon will showcase a full-sized, knitted replica of a Churchill AVRE tank. Organised by the Ripon Community Poppy Project, the remarkable exhibit will be displayed across various locations in the city starting from the end of April, leading up to the D-Day anniversary on June 6th.

The preparation for the Ripon D Day tribute began 18 months ago, involving an estimated 70,500 hours of planning, knitting, and assembling. This includes the dedication of roughly 30 ladies from the Ripon ‘Knit and Natter’ group, who have collectively knitted approximately 1,860 squares, dedicating on average 2.5 ho urs per square.

These squares – each knitted in ‘olive drab’ wool – the authentic hue of the original Churchill tanks will envelop the life-size tank structure, which measures 24ft in length, 9ft in width, and 7ft in height.

Stuart Martin MBE, chairman of the Ripon Community Poppy Project, shared insights into the project's inception and execution: “We obtained the full-sized plans for the tank from Bovington Tank Museum. The scale of community involvement and support has been overwhelming, with significant donations of materials and time. This project truly reflects the unity

and respect within our community for those who served during D-Day.”

The project has witnessed generous contributions from local businesses and organisations. With over £2,500 of timber and building materials supplied by MKM Ripon, laser cutting based on the original tank designs by Jennyruth workshop, support from Tates Nursery, and the loan of a Rubb Shelter to store and build the tank from Ripon Barracks. Calverts Carpets will supply the artificial grass for the tank to sit on whilst it’s out in the community and Ripon Men’s Shed - a Charity which aims to encourage people to come together to work

on practical projects or to share and learn about craft skills – has helped to do all the cutting and putting together of the nine sections of the tank. “When Stuart comes knocking on your door, you just say yes.” commented Rob Taylor, MKM Ripon branch director. ”The community's collaboration for this ambitious and respectful tribute showcases our collective homage to the bravery and sacrifice of D-Day veterans. It’s very special to be involved.”

The D-Day anniversary will be marked by a special concert at Ripon Cathedral, with the knitted tank proudly on display outside. Jack Churchill, Sir Winston Churchill’s Great Grandson, will light a beacon as part of the national

remembrance celebrations at 9.15pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to the Help for Heroes charity through donations.

This unique commemoration

not only honours the memory of those who fought for freedom during D-Day but also showcases the incredible community spirit and creativity of Ripon. It stands as a testament to the power of collective

effort and the enduring respect for history. From 30t April lots more knitted displays associated with D Day will be on show around Ripon – also created by the knit an d natter group.

Plan your visit ysp.org.uk

Homebuilder awarded five stars by customers

Leading housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes has once again received the maximum five-star rating in the new Home Builders Federation (HBF) annual new homes customer satisfaction survey.

This is the fifteenth year in a row that parent company, Barratt Developments, has achieved the top five-star rating – far longer than any other major housebuilder.

The number of stars a housebuilder is awarded is based on customer responses to the question, “would you recommend your builder to a friend”? Over 90% of Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ customers said they would recommend the housebuilder to a friend.

The HBF New Homes Survey is one of the largest surveys of its kind, with over 60,000 people nationally taking part in it who have recently bought a new build home. The star rating system was developed to provide potential homebuyers with a ranking of

which housebuilders have the happiest cus tomers overall.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes is committed to building high quality, energy efficient properties and making sure its customers are happy when they buy their new home. Putting such a significant emphasis on customer satisfaction and building homes that people love living in is a significant factor that has led to consistent five-star ratings over the years.

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation (HBF), said: “Over recent years, there has been a huge industry focus on service and quality, and this is the fourth year in a row where over 90% of our new home buyers would recommend their builder to a friend. For

a company to achieve five-star levels of satisfaction is a significant achievement and shows the commitment to the care of the customer from everyone within Barratt Developments.”

The new five-star rating comes on top of Barratt Developments having success at the NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Awards. The competition is known as the ‘Oscars’ of the housebuilding industry, with over 11,000 site managers being entered into it. Last year Barratt site managers won 96 Pride in the Job Quality Awards, more than any other housebuilder for nineteen years in a row.

Gavin Birch, managing director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes, said: “To be rated as a five star builder by our customers for 15 years in a row is something we are really proud of. It takes a real dedication to customer satisfaction and going above and beyond for over 90% of our customers to say they would recommend us a to a friend.”

Company law update 2024

There is an exciting development in the world of Company law which is proposed to be introduced in 2024. In this article, Kyrran DearnleyPorter and Jake Bedford discuss the Companies House reforms.

As of 4th March 2024, a new set of measures were introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. This act received royal assent on 26 October 2023 and gives Companies House the power to assist further in tackling economic crime by improving transparency and having accurate information on registers. This will address some of the changes that the act will impose and its practical effect which will affect the day-to-day running of companies.

This is the largest change to Companies House since corporate registrations were established in 1844, and it is therefore important that your business understands what is required moving forward. The purpose of this new

piece of legislation is to make it easier to prosecute companies for economic activities. The initial changes include:

What are the changes?

This is the largest change to Companies House since corporate registrations were established in 1844, and it is therefore important that your business understands what is required moving forward. The purpose of this new piece of legislation is to make it easier to prosecute companies for economic activities. The initial changes include:

• Registered office addresses – the changes here mean that companies may no longer be able to use a PO Box as their registered address.

• Registered email address –a new requirement that means all companies must provide a registered email address, which Companies House will use to communicate with. It is therefore important that companies provide an appropriate email address which is secure and accessible. Existing companies are required to provide an email address when they file the next confirmation statement with a date from 5th March (and will receive a prompt to do so at this point). The same email address can be used for multiple companies and will not be made publicly available.

• Statement of lawful purpose – when incorporating new companies, the subscribing members need to confirm that the company is being formed for a lawful purpose. Likewise, existing companies need to make a lawful purpose statement when they file the next confirmation statement with a date from 5th March. It appears companies that do not make such a statement will be prevented from any further filings until such a statement is supplied. It is expected that these statements will then be required with every subsequent confirmation statement.

• Powers – Companies House will be granted greater powers to query information and conduct stronger checks on company names.

What are the longer-term changes?

In the short term, the upcoming changes should not impose too much of a burden on companies, however, there are changes in the pipeline that will require companies to take positive

action. The longer-term changes are:

• Accounts – the transition to filing accounts by software only.

• Identity verification – anybody owning, controlling, running or setting up a company in the UK will need to verify their identity.

• Companies House fees – as with everything else in the world, Companies House are increasing certain fees as well as making sure costs are recovered from existing expenditures.

• Information protection – individuals will be able to suppress personal information from historical documents and may apply to have personal information protected from public view (if there is a risk of harm posed by their access by the public).

• Transparency – new requirements for shareholders to provide additional information, and restrictions on the use of corporate directors.

When will these changes be implemented?

There is no precise indication as to when these changes will be implemented, other than that they are intended to be made in 2024.

Another implication of the reform is that should a senior manager commit an economic crime in the discharge of their duties, then the organisation will also be held accountable under a new criminal offence of ‘failure to prevent fraud’. The aim of this is to enhance preventative measures in organisations to reduce any risk which places a larger burden on them. This only applies to

‘Large Companies’ which is defined in the Companies Act 2006 as meeting two of the following:

1. More than 250 employees;

2. More than £6 million turnover; and

3. More than £18 million in total assets.

Many of the suggested reforms require secondary legislation to be enacted so the date of 4th March 2024 is still tentative as it is dependent on parliamentary timetables.

As always, the consequences for companies not complying with the obligations imposed by Companies House are:

• Fines;

• An ‘annotation’ on the company’s record; and/or

• Crimin al prosecution

What should I do next?

Companies need to understand the changes that are coming as the consequences of breaching these are significant. At Chadwick Lawrence, we would be glad to assist in ensuring that your company is compliant with the new regulations. If you would like assistance with this, please contact newenquires-coco@chadlaw.co.uk f or assistance.

If you’d like to read about the upcoming changes in more detail,you can do so here: https:// changestoukcompanylaw. campaign.gov.uk/changesat-a-glance/.

• Business Structures & Reorganisations

• Commercial Debt Collection

• Commercial Disputes

• Commercial Property

• Contracts

• Employment

• Intellectual Property

• International Trade & Transactions

• Internet Trading

• Mediation of Business Disputes

• Mergers, Acquisitions and Disposals

• Planning & Licensing

• Starting In Business

• Accident Claims

• Child Care

• Collaborative Law

• Dispute Resolution

• Employment Problems

• Matrimonial & Family

• Medical Negligence Claims

• Planning for Retirement

• Residential Property

• Road Traffic Cases

• The Law & The Elderley

• Wills, Trusts & Probate

The University of Law, Leeds duo win National Negotiation Competition

The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution CEDR) is a successful charity which specialises in mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

CEDR has worked with The University of Law in sponsoring the National Student Negotiation Competition each year for the last ten years. The competition sees teams of two law students from various universities from all around England and Wales compete against each other to find the most effective negotiation teams. The winners of the National Competition can represent England and Wales at the International Negotiation Competition each summer.

The University of Law has hosted the regional heats at our Leeds and London Moorgate campuses. The competition also holds a virtual heat. This year, The University of Law Leeds campus nominated two teams who competed in the regional finals in Leeds in February 2024. One such team was Leeds Bar Practice Course students, Charlie Procter, and James Leech.

James is a first-class law graduate and 2022 winner of the Lincoln’s

Inn Neuberger prize for academic excellence. Charlie is a first-class history graduate and ULAW MA Law graduate with distinction. Both students were keen to compete together and were successful in two rounds of an internal competition before becoming eligible to compete in the northern regional heat in February 2024.

In the regional heats, teams were asked to compete in two scenarios with one of the scenarios having an active legal claim or dispute between the parties. Students are judged on their performance by legal professionals, business professionals and academics and are judged in eight categories including negotiation planning, teamwork, relationship between negotiating teams, information gathering, bargaining, outcome, negotiation ethics and self-analysis.

James and Charlie preformed excellently against 12 other negotiation teams and achieved strong marks during both negotiations which they performed on the day. They successfully achieved first place and as a result, qualified to compete in the National Finals in London at ULAW Moorgate in March 2024.

In the National Final, teams were asked to participate in three new scenarios. One was between three teams and the other two are two-way negotiations with one having an international context. James and Charlie again performed very well and obtained high scores which resulted in them again achieving first place and an opportunity to represent England and Wales at the International Negotiation Final.

This year, the International Negotiation Competition Executive Committee has announced that the 2024 International Negotiation will take place in Manaus, Brazil between 10th and 14th July 2024. Charlie and James will compete there against the top negotiation teams from around the world and are currently taking steps to prepare for their competition. We wish Charlie and James the very best of luck representing England and Wales in Brazil.

This year witnessed the participation of 48 teams (96 students) from various law schools across the country, engaging in a total of 132 negotiations spanning the regionals (London, Leeds, and Online) and the final. It is an excellent opportunity for law students to improve their negotiation skills and to compete against various other universities around the country and the world. Congratulations to all teams who made it through to compete at the Regional, National, and International finals now and in previous years. It has been excellent to see students progress throughout the time of the competition and it continues to be a popular competition with many universities.

Yorkshire textile manufacturer achieves Zero to Landfill status

AW Hainsworth, a British fabric manufacturer and woollen mill in West Yorkshire, has achieved Zero to Landfill status through recycling and waste reduction.

The 240-year-old heritage textile mill, which creates exquisite woollen cloth, high-performing textiles, and iconic fabrics for customers worldwide, tracked and measured its waste to develop a plan to reduce it to zero. AW Hainsworth partnered with Reconomy, a circular waste management provider with excellent sustainability credentials and clear traceability for waste streams to reach this goal. Reconomy outsources management services to approved local providers to minimise transport

costs and emissions and allow for quick and effective turnarounds when collecting. The recycling centre they use recovers 97% of all materials received and exceeds MRF Code of Practice requirements.

The vertical manufacturer has invested in better machinery to manage on-site waste, installing energy-efficient plastic and cardboard balers, each sent to recycling. AW Hainsworth has also ensured the recycling process

is as simple as possible, with improved signage throughout the mill and employee waste manage ment education.

During the past year, the textile producer has completed several projects to help reach its sustainability goals, increase operational efficiency, and reduce energy consumption and waste. A key example is using undyed yarns in partnership with some aviation customers to create sustainable seating and vertical surface fabrics. Using 100% undyed wool reduces energy, water, and waste effluent in manufacturing.

AW Hainsworth has also analysed ways to reduce packaging waste from suppliers. This involved working with a regular yarn supplier to reduce the packaging weight by 79.92% and condensing the packaging to reduce freight space by 9.51%. Another supplier switched from shipping products in disposable dye cones to reusable ones, ensuring empty products no longer entered the waste stream. The supplier now collects and re-enters the cones into production, saving 936kg of cones from being sent to waste in 2022 and 948kg in 2023. This small switch resulted in nearly 45,000 cones being recycled.

Other waste-saving steps include offering employees working

technology equipment and recycling electronics through Revive IT.

Amanda McLaren, MD of AW Hainsworth, explains: “As manufacturers, we know that our processes can result in high emissions. We continuously monitor our energy and water use and remain conscious of ways we can limit waste while continuing to operate efficiently and effectively. We also regularly review our manufacturing processes and their impact to identify areas for improvement.

“We had already made good progress with improving waste reduction on smaller projects in specific departments. However, looking at our overall waste management

Law firm announces two partner promotions

Law firm Gordons has further enhanced its leadership team with the promotion of two lawyers to partner

Commercial litigation lawyer and the firm’s head of wellness and inclusion, Catherine Woodward, and head of regulatory, Simon Tingle, will play central roles in the firms ongoing growth and development.

Catherine joined the firm in 2011 and qualified as a solicitor in 2015. She is a past president of Leeds Law Society and has a broad range of experience in litigation including contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, banking litigation and intellectual property.

Recent joiner Simon is a regulatory, investigations and corporate defence lawyer with a particular focus in the retail, consumer, transport, and logistics sectors.

Commenting on their promotions, managing partner, Victoria Davey, said: “Catherine and Simon

process and strategy for site-wide improvements was important.

“We started tracking our waste streams to measure what was being re-used or recycled and what was being sent to energy recovery, making significant changes and improvements. There is still work to do to increase recycling and reduce energy recovery, which will form part of our goals for waste management over the next three years.”

The company has recently published their 2023 Sustainability Report, which documents the mill’s sustainability journey. Continuing on their path to becoming a more sustainable manufacturing business, a head of sustainability will join the AW Hainsworth team this year.

are excellent additions to our partnership. They are both progressive in their outlook and are outstanding lawyers who can build lasting client relationships.

“It has been a pleasure to see Catherine grow both personally and professionally since she joined the firm, and she now could help further shape G ordons’ future.

“Simon joined us last November and has made a big impact since arriving at the firm. He is providing our existing clients with an enhanced regulatory service and has secured several new business wins, including sports goods retaile r Decathlon UK.

“Catherine and Simon have demonstrated their ability to provide practical legal advice and build relationships of trust. These are key values to our firm, and we look forward to both of them further realising their potentia l as partners.”

Smash hit The Syndicate returns, this time to the theatre

It’s exactly 12 years since the smash hit television programme The Syndicate burst onto our TV screens with a host of famous faces amongst the cast.

Written, directed and produced by the wonderful Kay Mellor with daughter Gaynor Faye by her side as series script editor and appearing herself in series four, the show featured an all-star cast including Timothy Spall and Joanne Page.

The first series has now been adapted for the stage by Kay in what became her final venture into theatre before her sad untimely death two years ago. Kay had already asked Gaynor

to co-direct the project with her, so now the actress is going it alone in her first solo directing role.

“Mum’s shoes are big ones to fill, but I understand her vision and what she wanted for this production, and I am determined to do her proud. I think being an actress as well as a director helps me to see every character’s development from the actors perspective and I’m loving every second of it” Gaynor told us when

I caught up with her in rehearsals.

The Syndicate tells the story of five supermarket workers whose lottery numbers come in just as their jobs are under threat. But what will the win mean for the syndicate, will it make their dreams come true or their nightmares a reality?

This stage adaptation stars Emmerdale’s Samantha Giles, Coronation Street’s Brooke Vincent as well as Gaynor’s son, Kay’s grandson, Oliver Anthony. “I cast the actors for the roles that I knew my mum would have wanted,” Gaynor told us.

Brooke became a household name as Sophie Webster in Coronation Street between 2004 and 2019. Gaynor also enjoyed a spell in Coronation Street as Judy Mallet. “Landing the role as Amy was a real thrill. I’d kind of taken a step back from acting to look after my two boys but having the chance to work alongside Gaynor was a chance I couldn’t pass up. I love all Kay’s work, it has real Northern warmth and humour. Playing Amy is different to playing Sophie Webster, Amy is very glamorous, a real dolly bird with hair extensions,” she laughed. “Really quite different to me!” This is only the second play that Brooke has undertaken in live theatre.

Samantha was looking for a new challenge after leaving her role as Bernice Blackstock in Emmerdale after 26 years. “Everyone is used to seeing me as the glamorous Bernice, so playing a polar opposite character, the frumpy Denise will be a real lovely role to play.

Both actors are very nervous ahead of the show opening at Leeds Grand theatre on 18th April. Both have been used to working in soap so stepping out onto a live stage will be quite daunting. Oliver, however is super excited and can’t wait to make his stage debut.

As well as taking on her first solo directing role, Gaynor has been persuaded to

My Mum wrote for people. Those who watch her shows are the kind of people she related to...

opportunity to be in my mum’s last play. I would have been so jealous seeing everyone up on stage if I hadn’t agreed to be in it.”

Concluding Gaynor said “My Mum wrote for people. Those who watch her shows are the kind of people she related to. She encapsulated them in her shows, at times funny, at times dramatic and moving, but always in a way that people could see themselves in many of the characters she created which is why everyone loves her work.”

The syndicate tours the length of the UK, visiting many of the UKs top venues, starting in Kay and Gaynor’s hometown of Leeds, before heading to Richmond, Norwich, Newcastle, New Brighton, Salford, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Hull, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bradford, and Cardiff.

appear in the production herself. “That really wasn’t part of the plan,” she said, “but there was a role we hadn’t cast and it was the perfect fit for me, so I couldn’t pass up the

Gaynor and Brooke both took time out of their busy rehearsals to talk to Yorkshire Businesswoman editor Gill Laidler.

Eddisons wins place on new advisory services framework for NHS

Property consultant Eddisons, which is headquartered in Leeds, has continued to expand its public sector footprint after securing a place on a new twoyear Government procurement framework that will enable the firm to provide property-related services to the NHS.

The new NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) Consultancy and Advisory Services for Health Framework launched in March and will see NHS SBS partner with health service organisations across the country to increase efficiency, generate cost savings and improve corporate services.

The appointment is Eddisons’ fourth Government framework selection, with previously secured places on the Crown Commercial Services, schools buying organisation ESPO and Homes England procurement frameworks already generating significant work for the firm.

The latest framework appointment will enable the firm to provide property-related services in areas including capital asset strategy PFI, LIFT scheme reviews and hand backs and property consultancy and strategy.

Javid Patel, who heads the firms public sector team, said: “We have recently launched a suite of boutique consultancy services that

are helping to drive efficiency and improvements for clients across the public sector.

“These include transformative AI tech that provides site feasibility appraisals in a matter of hours, and our PFI discovery services, which have been really successful in helping public sector clients to unwrap PFI schemes for smooth hand-back and negotiated settlements.”

The firm also recently launched its Infrastructure and decarbonisation services and has been appointed by Bradford City Council to carry out feasibility studies into developing solar firms at two sites in the borough.

“Our appointment on this latest Government procurement framework underlines Eddisons’ continued investment in our services to the public sector, helping us improve our access to the market,” said Mr Patel.

Caddick appoints new business development director amidst continued growth

Caddick Construction has appointed Scott Clark as business development director for Yorkshire and North East as the business continues to grow in its core markets across the regions.

Scott’s appointment will see the promotion of his predecessor, Helen Drennan, to construction group business development director, including its Midlands and North regional construction businesses.

Scott joins Caddick Construction from Skanska where he worked with National Highways to deliver major projects across the strategic road network. Scott also spent seven years in business development at ISG with a focus on the defence and justice sectors.

With a remit to support Caddick Construction’s expansion across Yorkshire and the Northeast, Scott will oversee work winning and performance

in the business’ core sectors, including industrial, residential, healthcare and offices.

Scott will also be focused on Caddick Construction’s strategy to balance its project portfolio across the private and public sectors, the latter including a drive to increase Caddick’s presence on regional procurement frameworks.

In her new role Helen will now have a broadened remit across all regions and businesses that fall under the Construction Group, including Caddick Civil Engineering and the Group’s facades contractor, CCL Facades.

Paul Dodsworth, construction group managing director, comments:

“Scott has an excellent track record of leading business development in construction, and with his experience working with the MoJ and MoD through the Crown Commercial Services framework, he has a very strong background in the public sector. This experience will be vital in our long-term plans to steadily grow our project portfolio and ensure we have a balanced roster of private and public projects.

“Since her appointment in 2022, Helen has been a fundamental part of our continued expansion and success, and her promotion to lead business development across the Caddick Construction Group will ensure we continue to achieve consistently high standards as we grow.”Scott added: “Caddick has a very strong brand and I’m excited to be part of taking the business’ reputation to the next level. I am passionate about building client relationships and ensuring we give our customers a voice; delivering high standards is only possible if we really understand our customers' needs. I look forward to developing our offer and being part of the Caddick team as we take on new and exciting projects.”

Helen continued: “Growing our portfolio and our footprint means growing our team and capability. Part of this is ensuring we align partnerships with the right people so that we continue to operate with integrity, creating a positive working culture and delivering exceptional standards for our clients. We’re very excited to have Scott on board and look forward to continued success for each of our regional construction business as well as that of Caddick Civil Engineering and CCL Facades.

Yorkshire brewery partners with snooker pro

Yorkshire’s Black Sheep Brewery has announced a partnership with professional snooker player, the ‘Tyneside Terro r’ Gary Wilson.

The brewery will be sponsoring world no. 12 Gary Wilson for the upcoming Tour Championship and the coveted World Championship tournaments in April 2024.

Gary is currently enjoying the best snooker season of his life, winning his first Welsh Open in February, as well as back-to-back Scottish Opens in December.

This partnership is a testament to Black Sheep Brewery's commitment to supporting sports throughout the North. In addition to its sponsorship of local teams such as Harrogate Town AFC and Otley RUFC, the brewery is thrilled to be the official beer sponsor

of England's inaugural Long Course Weekend, set to be hosted in Masham, Yorkshire this summer.

Classic

Toasting the partnership, Gary commented: “As a fan of Northern beers, being sponsored by Black Sheep Brewery holds special significance for me. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds with an iconic Northern brewery now supporting me, game after game.”

Black Sheep Ale will be Gary’s official beer sponsor, and beer fans will be able to enjoy 20% off the classic ale via the Black Sheep Brewery website

with the promotion code ‘snooker20’ for the duration of April. The brewery’s premium amber ale is also available in supermarkets across the region and wider country.

Jo Theakston, executive director at Black Sheep Brewery, added: “It's fantastic to be able to continue our sponsorship of grassroots sports in the North, and to partner with fellow northerner Gary Wilson – we can't think of a better match than a game of snooker paired with a great beer!

“We always seek to collaborate with individuals who resonate with our commitment to excellence, which is precisely why we are sponsoring Gary, as he looks to continue his remarkable run of form into the next major tournament. We wish him all the best and will be cheering him on every step of the way”.

Parsons celebrates double win at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards 2024

Yorkshire based Parsons, Chartered Accountants has scooped two awards at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards 2024 (YAA).

The team was elated to have been shortlisted in no less than five categories, before collecting two prestigious awards at the glitzy ceremony in New Dock Hall, Leeds.

Maggie Dearnley, audit senior, picked up the strongly contested Trainee of the Year award, triumphing over a fantastic shortlist of six incredibly talented trainees. Lisa Butterworth, head of marketing, scooped the Support Staff of the Year award.

Managing partner and head of corporate finance, Ian Parsons, said: “We are immensely proud of Maggie and Lisa; both awards are thoroughly deserved. This success is testament to the wealth of talent in our team, which has driven the growth and prosperity we’ve realised over recent years. We simply could not achieve this without the skills and efforts of every individual in our team.”

After being shortlisted in 2023 and 2024 for the Audit Service Award, the firm’s Audit team missed out once again this year. Richard Walker, head

of audit commented: “We are looking forward to another successful year and making it third time lucky in 2025!”

The Yorkshire Accountancy Awards celebrate the achievements and successes of the region’s best and

brightest professionals and firms. The awards, now in their seventh year, are the benchmark by which professionals and organisations within the accountancy sector judge themselves and their service delivery. Only the highest calibre entries can impress the independent judging panel to beat stiff competition and reach the final.

Bev Flanagan, chair of the Judging Panel and director of the Association of Accounting Technicians said: “As chair of the judging panel for this year’s Yorkshire Accountancy Awards, I am honoured to congratulate all of the winners on your outstanding achievements. Your dedication to excellence and commitment to the highest standards in accountancy have set a remarkable example for our industry and our region. I commend each of you for your hard work and innovation, and I look forward to witnessing your continued success in the future.”

L-R Lisa Butterworth, Head of Marketing (Support Staff of The Year) and Maggie Dearnley, Audit Senior (Trainee of The Year.) Yorkshire Accountancy Awards 2024

NG Bailey leadershipreorganises team for growth

The IT Services business of NG Bailey, the UK’s largest independent engineering and services business, has announced strategic changes to its leadership team as it prepares for further growth.

As part of the reorganisation, the division has consolidated its Mobile Services and National Operations units into the newly created ConnectOp Service. The new business unit will handle all non-defence sector work and be led by operations director Sam Young. The move is designed to seamlessly bring together expertise from the two units to offer even greater value to customers.

Ambitious

Alongside the unification of the operations teams, there have also been changes made to the business’s senior leadership team (SLT). Dave Stonehouse has been promoted to the role of technical director. He will be focused on ensuring the business remains at the forefront of innovation and continues to transform what’s

After two consecutive years of revenue growth and a strong performance by the team, this reorganisation is designed to build on our success...

growth plan. This follows a strong performance for the business in the 12 months to 3rd March 2023, which saw it achieve a 42% increase in operating profit.

Kelly Tedesco, managing director said: “IT Services has been on a significant growth journey since we implemented our three-year growth plan in 2022.

Exciting

“After two consecutive years of revenue growth and a strong performance by the team, this reorganisation is designed to build on our success and ensure we are even better placed to deliver transformational connectivity solutions to our customers.”

possible in connectivity, data management and analysis.

Indi Sall has also been promoted, becoming business development director and will work with the support of fellow SLT members to further grow IT Services’ customer base as part of its new ambitious

The changes follow a busy period for IT Services which has brought in five new apprentices to the business as part of its new apprenticeship scheme.

It also recently announced several exciting partnerships, including an industry leading programme to deliver new 5G solutions to the UK businesses in partnership with Nokia and Infinigate.

Inderpall Sall

Dave Stonehouse

Kelly Tedesco

Celebrate your business story through film and photography

Are you an entrepreneur,business owner or leader, trailblazer or visionary? If so, you likely serve as a beacon of inspiration to those around you, motivating them to pursue their ambitions with resilience and determination.

What if you could inspire and guide others, way beyond your reach, to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams?

Well, now you can! We have teamed up with Andy Green, a professional film maker, to enable you to tell your story through film and portrait images.

Story telling structure

Introduction: Begin your film with an engaging introduction that captures the tone of your journey.

Background: Delve into your backstory, and recount your up-bringing, education and early career influences that ultimately led you down the path of success.

Challenges: Be candid about the challenges you faced and openly share the setbacks, failures, and obstacles you faced and how you overcame them.

Success Stories: Celebrate your achievements and milestones by

highlighting key successes, and share projects, ventures or initiatives that have been particularly impactful or rewarding.

Regrets/Lessons Learned:

Reflect on any regrets or mistakes you’ve encountered along the way., Emphasise the valuable lessons learned from these experiences and how they have contributed to your growth and overall development.

Inspiration: Conclude with an uplifting and inspiring message that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. And a call to action, inviting your audience to take meaningful steps towards their own business adventure.

Pre-shoot consultation:

The content of the film and photos is

driven by the pre-shoot consultation. During this discussion, Andy will help you determine your video content, whilst we work with you to create striking portraits in locations that are meaningful to you and reflect your story.

These images not only feed into the film and your digital online presence but create beautiful works of art for your home and workspace locations. Your remarkable story, complete with its highs and lows, holds the power to resonate with and inspire a broad audience for generations to come.

Ifyou’dliketoknowmoregetintouch with us via our website:

Lincoln & Perrin

Roth Read Photography

www.rothreadphotography.com

New wealth management firm set to serve Yorkshire investors

A new Yorkshire wealth management company with £35M of funds already under advice announces its launch, marking a milestone for local investors to benefit from independent financial guidance.

Heblethwayte Wealth Management is led by Paul Raper, an independent financial advisor who brings extensive experience and local investor knowledge, with over 90% of his clients hailing from Yorkshire.

The company, based near York, will cater to the financial needs of business leaders, landowners, and high net worth clients throughout the region.

Paul comments: “Whether you’re planning for retirement or figuring out school and university fees, Yorkshire investors are navigating a myriad of financial decisions.

“My goal is to empower clients with personalised financial strategies for their unique circumstances. Being an Independent Financial Adviser gives me the autonomy to select from a wide range of investment

options, ensuring our advice is truly individual for each client."

He continues: "We’re entering a new economic phase, with substantial growth in the stock market since Autumn, so now’s an ideal time for Yorkshire investors to re-evaluate portfolios.

“I always recommend annual reviews with my clients, to ensure investments align with financial goals, risk tolerance, and potential inheritance considerations.

Combining investments with expert independent advice helps the journey towards financial stability and growth, particularly as interest rates continue to influence market dynamics."

Heblethwayte Wealth Management offers wealth management solutions, including investments, pensions and retirement planning, wealth protection, and trust and estate planning.

Paul adds: “Our philosophy is built on a foundation of deep understanding, not just of markets and financial instruments, but of clients’ dreams and aspirations.

“We believe in a holistic approach, where every strategy is tailored to clients’ unique circumstances and long-term goals.

“From growing your wealth through savvy investment strategies, to protecting it against unforeseen events and ensuring it’s passed on according to your wishes, we're dedicated to providing you with peace of mind and securing your legacy for generations to come.”

Heblethwayte Wealth Management Ltd is an appointed representative of Vision Independent Financial Planning Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm reference number 487395.The future value of investments can fall as well as rise and future growth is not guaranteed

Leeds-based specialist renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) firm, E-Merge Group has experienced a supercharged first year of operations, reporting a turnover of £1 million since the start-up business was established.

Set up in April 2023 by renewable energy experts, Marc Haley and Charlotte Ward, the E-Merge Group has experienced unprecedented growth thanks to the team’s sector experience. The firm is able to provide a complete, full-service renewable energy and EV solution, helping businesses reduce energy costs while navigating the transition to cleaner, greener energy alternatives.

Carrying out projects across multiple sectors and industries with the likes of the Ministry of Defence, Guest Truck and Van, First Bus and Bupa Healthcare, E-Merge Group was formed after Marc and Charlotte identified a gap in the market for a specialist, all-encompassing renewable energy and EV company that provides the most cutting-edge, technologicallyadvanced renewable energy and EV solutions, at affordable price points.

The growth of the business has also been bolstered by the increase in funding grants and support available from the Government, encouraging UK businesses to ‘go green’ when it comes to energy usage, which the team can help unlock for companies across multiple market sectors.

Providing solar PV systems, battery energy storage systems (BESS), power infrastructure, EV solutions, energy monitoring and onsite energy efficiency services, the business boasts three separate divisionsE-Merge Renewable Energy, E-Merge

Supercharged growth for start-up

EV Solutions and E-Merge Power Infrastructure.

Speaking about the firms success, Marc commented: “To turnover £1 million in our first year of operations is an absolutely fantastic achievement and something that both Charlotte and I are immensely proud of.

“We’re passionate about delivering viable, cost-effective renewable energy and EV solutions for each client, to revolutionise their sustainable and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) credentials and deliver ‘profit for purpose’ for firms within a range of sectors across the UK.

“We have several really exciting projects in the pipeline, including the unveiling of a new, customer-facing software platform and the roll out of

EV infrastructure technology that’s exclusive to the UK. We’re really excited about the future of E-Merge Group and we’re just getting started!”

Another considerable milestone in E-Merge Group’s growth, and a move to grow the business nationally, has seen the team recently establish an office based in Northamptonshire.

This expansion reflects Marc and Charlotte’s commitment to growth and dedication to better serving clients across the UK. Speaking about the new offices, Charlotte said: “This new location will enable us to create a geographical stronghold in multiple regions across the country, extending the reach of the business and providing even more comprehensive renewable energy support to valued clients.’

Duo of Yorkshire professionals’ trans-Atlantic rowing bid backed by Begbies Traynor

Two lawyers based in Leeds have taken on a mid-life challenge with a difference, launching a bid to raise £100,000 for two Yorkshire charities by building on the region’s previous success in conquering the Atlantic and competing in the World’s Toughest Row in 2025.

David Knaggs and Richard Larking, who will be 60 and 59 respectively when they set off rowing their 7.1m boat 3,000 miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua

in 18 months’ time, have secured substantial backing from leading independent business rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor in their bid to become one of the

oldest teams to complete the gruelling trans-Atlantic rowing race.

The rowers have already covered the entrance fees and travel expenses themselves, and the aim is now to raise at least £100,000 to benefit their chosen charities, Maggie’s, which supports people with cancer, their families and friends, and Friends of Alfie Martin, which raises funds for

We’re well aware that rigorous preparation is vital to ensure we are in the best possible position to fly the flag for Yorkshire when we set off from La Gomera in mid D ecember 2025...

neonatal equipment at the Leeds teaching hospitals.

After working for major legal firms in Yorkshire for more than 50 years between them, the pair are wellknown within the Leeds professional community. Richard, who lives in Harrogate, left school at 16 and joined the Royal Navy before training as a lawyer. David, originally from the south, moved to Yorkshire after leaving school, joining national law firm Irwin Mitchell and becoming regional managing partner.

The pair, who met at Alwoodley Golf Club, came up with the idea of swapping the fairways of the golf course for the Atlantic Ocean. They both shared the desire for a greater challenge than the golf course and the team ‘Greens2Blue’ was formed.

Their boat has been specially designed to compete in the race and will be named by one of the Begbies Traynor team in Yorkshire as part of an employee competition.

Julian Pitts, regional managing partner for Begbies Traynor’s 10 offices across Yorkshire, Humberside and the North East, is confident that Yorkshire grit will prevail, regardless of age, and the duo will achieve their dream of completing the epic race while also raising £100,000 for the charities.

“The mammoth task that David and Richard are taking on is inspirational, showing that age is just a number and that anything is possible with determination and perseverance, and we hope to help them raise much needed funds for two great Yorkshire causes.

“We felt the synergies between the physical and mental trials of

undertaking the World’s Toughest Row while being twice the age of many of the other teams competing, resonated with the support we provide to businesses in what are often the most challenging and stressful of times. We are great advocates of supporting those facing adversity and we urge the business community here to join us in supporting them.”

David comments: “We’re well aware that rigorous preparation is vital to ensure we are in the best possible position to fly the flag for Yorkshire when we set off from La Gomera in mid December 2025. As we continue what will be a three-year campaign to reach the race start line, we have an exhaustive programme planned, covering everything from improving our endurance with fitness challenges to on-water training with an ocean rowing coach to ensure we understand the boat and have the skills we need. We’re very pleased to welcome Begbies Traynor on board as headline sponsor at such an early stage and hope it will encourage other partners to help us as we strive to continue the great legacy of the Yorkshire Rows back in 2016.”

Richard adds: “With my naval background, I’m only too aware that this will be a monumental challenge as we battle against sleep deprivation, salt sores and the physical extremes of taking on a 3,000 mile unsupported row safely. It currently looks like we will be the only Yorkshire team in the 2025 race and possibly one of, if not the oldest team too. We will be doing all we can to raise as much money as possible for the charities.”

Picture (L to R): Rower David Knaggs; Fiona Martin of Friends of Alfie Martin; Sadie Munro of Maggie’s; rower Richard Larking; and Julian Pitts of Begbies Traynor

G&H Group lands Bradford College project

Tilbury Douglas has appointed G&H Group to provide all mechanical and electrical design and build services for Bradford College’s Garden Mills Refurbishment Project.

Bradford College was awarded £5.8m from The Office for Students Higher Education Capital Fund to transform a derelict building into a state-of-the-art STEM training and education facility to benefit students studying digital, science and allied health subjects.

G&H Group was appointed to support main contractor Tilbury Douglas, a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering, and fitout company, following a successful tender submission.

A 20-strong team, including four apprentices, will deliver a complete mechanical and electrical design and build for the new, cutting-edge higher education facility including lighting, power, heating, domestic services, gas and ventilation.

To support the requirements of Part L of the building regulation and the college’s sustainability commitments, G&H Group has designed the

This is a huge boost for the College but is also a transformative investment in Bradford city centre that also supports the wider city centre development...

heating system to facilitate the future installation of air source heat pump technology, ensuring that all installed emitters and pipework can operate at lower system temperatures.

On planned completion in August, ahead of the start of the new academic year, the renovated mill will boast cutting-edge dental facilities including a specialist dentistry suite, a prep room, six higher education digital IT labs, an ophthalmic dispensing suite, a real-life work environment with consulting and

testing booths, a clinical suite, and academic teaching spaces.

Forming part of Bradford College’s ambitious estates strategy, these new facilities will nurture pioneering careers in sectors that support regional economic growth.

David Davis, director, G&H Group said: “We have extensive experience delivering MEP projects for the education sector and collaborating with Tilbury Douglas. Helping transform the derelict Garden Mills Building into an innovative higher education college will hugely benefit the students and support their future careers.”

Paul Ellenor, regional director for Tilbury Douglas, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up once again with G&H Group to deliver this refurbishment project for Bradford College, providing dedicated specialist facilities to support higherlevel STEM teaching and provide an enhanced student experience.”

Christopher Malish, Bradford College vice principal Finance & Corporate Services, added: “This is a huge boost for the College but is also a transformative investment in Bradford city centre that also supports the wider city centre development. These new facilities will allow the delivery of curricula designed to address big societal challenges, enrich our local workforce, and showcase a range of inspiring careers.”Established in 1998, G&H Group is a market leading MEP provider. Its 180-strong experienced team design, manage, deliver and maintain every aspect o f MEP schemes.

Garfield Weston Foundation pledges £500,000 to Centre of Excellence

York Minster is delighted to announce the exceptionally generous support of the Garfield Weston Foundation towards its new Centre of Excellence for Heritage Skills and Estate Management.

The Foundation’s grant of £500,000 is the largest philanthropic gift granted by a charitable foundation towards the Minster’s work to date and is a muchvalued contribution towards the ongoing fundraising campaign for the Centre of Excellence.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family founded grant maker that gives money to support a wide range of charities across the UK, in total donating around £90m each year.

York Minster’s new Centre for Excellence will open later this year and will bring multiple benefits, including improving the productivity of restoration work; helping to retain traditional craft skills and practitioners; supporting young people in the early stages of their careers; and providing dedicated residential facilities for apprentices and trainees.

The vision for the Centre of Excellence is also a key element of the adopted York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan which sets out a policy-led approach to creating a sustainable future for the Minster and its seven hectare estate.

Alex McCallion, director of works and precinct at York Minster, said: “This incredibly generous donation by the Foundation will help hugely towards realising our vision for the Centre of Excellence, in turn encouraging national and global learning and knowledge sharing of traditional heritage crafts and cuttingedge technologies.

“The Centre is crucial for helping us to secure the environmental, financial and heritage sustainability of York Minster for many years to come and

the Trustees’ support has played a key part in enabling this to happen.”

Philippa Charles, director of The Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “We are delighted to support the state of the art training facilities and affordable trainee accommodation provided at the York Minster Centre for Excellence.

“In a time of dwindling numbers of heritage craft practitioners learning the skills required to preserve and maintain beautiful historic buildings such as York Minster, we are delighted to help support this important project. We look forward to seeing the Centre develop.”

The Garfield Weston Foundation’s donation has significantly helped towards the £2m fundraising campaign for the Centre of Excellence. All contributions towards this exciting project or the Minster’s ongoing conservation and restoration work are gratefully received as we near our final target.

Want to get ahead in your career?

Learn in-demand skills in virtual production, immersive design, visual effects and more at the Academy of Live Technology.

For short courses and postgraduate degrees, go to academyoflivetechnology.co.uk.

The acting business

Beyond tourism: Scarborough has produced some of the country's top actors

What links star actors such as James Norton, Penelope Wilton, Ben Kingsley and legendary Charles Laughton? Scarborough.

Its cultural heritage is inevitably secondary to the scale of its tourism reputation but the area's cast list includes extra-ordinary national stars.

James Norton, who has been tipped as the next James Bond, attended the former Bramcote School on

the south side of the town on Filey Road and he attended Sir Alan Ayckbourn's Stephen Joseph Theatre for performance work experience as a teenager. He is now a patron of the theatre.

Norton, star of the West Yorkshirebased Happy Valley, War & Peace, Grantchester and stage shows, was brough t up in Malton.

Dame Penelope Wilton was born in Scarborough in 1946, daughter of Cliff Wilton, a Cambridge-educated barrister from Newcastle who ran the family's coal business.

She appeared on the BAFTA Film shortlist for Best Supporting Actress in the following roles for Clockwise (1986) and is known for

(2012), Shaun of the Dead, BBC sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–1989), playing Homily in The Borrowers ... and for her role as the widowed Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey.

She was born in Scarborough in 1947 but her family moved to London when she was young.

She also appeared in the Yorkshire film Calendar Girls (2003), Shaun

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Joanne Froggatt, former Scarborough retail assistant, in Downton Abbey

James Norton

Dame Penelope Wilton in Downton Abbey

of the Dead (2004) and last year's Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

She married actors Ian Holm and Daniel Massey and her uncle was Bill Travers (Ring of Bright Water and Born Free) and became a Dame in 2016.

Sir Ben Kingsley (real name Krishna Bhanji) was born in the Scarborough village of Snainton in December 1943, son of a Gujarati doctor and an English actress. The family later relocated to Salford.

He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s but shot to international fame for his portrayal of Gandhi in Sir Richard Attenbrough's 1982 film epic.Among his other huge performances are Hugo, Iron Man 3, Lucky Number Slevin and Schindler's List.

He has scooped an Oscar, two BAFTAs and a Grammy, as well as an honorary degree from Hull University's Scarborough campus.

Like Dame Penelope, another star actor from a business family was Charles Laughton, who took on a long list of stage and screen roles that took him from Scarborough to Broadway and then to Hollywood - where he and Ben Kingsley are on the Walk of Fame.

Scarborough's Charles Laughton in the Quasimodo film promotion

The Laughtons were famous in Scarborough for their big hotelsone of which (The Victoria) carries

a blue plaque in his memory. They owned the stunning town centre Pavilion Hotel which was bulldozed

Sir Ben Kingsley

Charles Laughton on the Hollywood Walk

in the 1970s and the Royal Hotel in its glory days.

Laughton attended Scarborough College, which now owns the site of the nearby school attended by James Norton, and Laughton took part in local amateur shows.

His films include The Private Life of Henry VIII, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, Les Misérables as Inspector Javert and memorable roles in Mutiny on the Bounty as Captain Bligh and as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

His film hits also included Jamaica Inn and Spartacus, and he directed the now-lauded The Night of the Hunter.

He returned to Britain to star in

Hobson's Choice (1954), based on the town of Salford, then the home of the young Ben Kingsley. Laughton died in Hollywood in 1962.

Other links include:

• Golden Globe winner Joanne Froggatt, the Downton maid Anna Bates, working alongside Penelope Wilton, who has also had roles in The Bill, Coronation Street, Heartbeat, Bad Girls and many top roles - such as Liar for ITV, The Moors Murders, Murder in the Outback, Filth, A Street Cat Named Bob and Mary Shelley in 2017.

• She was born in Scarborough and worked at Scarborough WH Smith's, although she was brought up in a Whitby village. Her parents owned a shop and

a smallholding. She also joined the theatre group where James Norton began acting

• Jimi Mistry who was born in Scarborough in 1973 and starred in East is East, the pioneering Salford film, and The Guru. Mistry appeared in Coronation Street, which also featured actor Mike North, born in the Scarborough village of Cayton

• Joy Brook, born in 1969 in Scarborough, known for Band of Gold (1995) and Peak Practice (1993)

• Christopher Wray was born in 1940 in Scarborough, known for Doctor Who (1963), The Wednesday Play (1964) and A Man Called Harry Brent (1965), and episodes of Black Beauty and Emmerdale Farm

• Sophie Wardlow, born in 1990 in Scarborough, known for Emmerdale Farm (1972), Roberto (2013) and Acting Raw (2011).

In the movie world, north of Scarborough, film producer and distributor J Arthur Rank made his very first feature film called Turn of the Tide at Robin Hood's Bay.

In the theatre world, Sir Alan Ayckbourn premieres his films in Scarborough and hundreds of the country's best-known actors have appeared at SJT theatre-inthe-round, just a few examples being Adrian Scarborough, Paul Tonkinson and Martin Freeman.

Author Dame Susan Hill was born in Scarborough - her acclaimed novels include West End hit The Woman in Black, which premiered in 1987 at the SJT in Scarborough.

Charles Laughton plaque in Scarborough at the Victoria hotel

Sheila Hancock joins Yorkshire’s most prestigious festival for 2024

By Christopher Glynn, Artistic Director, Ryedale Festival

‘Classical music thrills, comforts and amazes me,’ says Sheila Hancock. ‘When I begin to lose faith in the human species, it reminds me what the best of us can do.’

That seems a good motto for the Ryedale Festival 2024 – a fortnight’s celebration of great music in beautiful places.

Our aim is simple: to make North Yorkshire one of the best places in Europe to enjoy and encounter classical music, and to do it with a sense of vision and adventure.

Dame Sheila is just one of the many stars appearing this summer.

Festival supporters constantly tell us how much it means to them to hear top international artists in local venues, so it’s a big part of my job to attract them.

It certainly helps when you can offer performance venues like Duncombe Park, Birdsall House and Hovingham Hall, as well as over thirty beautiful churches across the region, from York Minster to a tiny candlelit chapel on the North York Moors.

This July, you can hear one of the world’s greatest pianists, Angela Hewitt, play Bach and Beethoven in Pickering’s beautifully frescoed church. Or catch Royal Wedding cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, as he performs music from Brahms to Bob Marley in Ma lton and York.

One of Europe’s most famous choirs, Tenebr ae, will sound

stunning in the long-echoing spaces of Ampleforth Abbey, just as a

spectacular pre-Raphaelite church in Scarborough is the perfect location for all-Mozart evening with Royal Nort hern Sinfonia.

Don’t miss the inspirational Felix Klieser – one of the world’s top horn players, despite the fact he was born without any arms – or the trail- blazing guitarist Xuefei Yang, whose fascinating journey began at a time when her instrument was ba nned in China.

You can promenade through a Triple Concert at Castle Howard, or picnic in the interval of a Double Concert at Sledmere. Or if you prefer to get off the beaten track, follow violinist Rachel Podger as she takes a ‘Troubadour Trail’ around some of the region’s most atmospheric and r emote churches.

Ryedale Festival at St Gregory's Minster, by candlelight

But it’s not just about established names – we want to be a platform for the stars of tomorrow too. The fast-rising Scottish accordionist Ryan Corbett is a performer-communicator not to miss and I don’t know of any more exciting young artists than violinist Stella Chen or Georgian pianist Giorgi Gigashvili (who started as a child pop star and even won The Voice).

The festival embraces jazz, folk and world music too. Look out for Claire Martin celebrating the 100th anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue, as well as a gig by folk legends The Unthanks, both at Malton’s Milton Rooms.

Look out, too, for the world premiere of Spring Snow, a ground-breaking meditation on sound and silence in which a shamisen player and an actor-

dancer from the Japanese Kabuki tradition collaborate with their Western counterparts to create an entirely new take on Schubert. Earopening projects like this are changing the landscape of classical music: crosscultural, imaginative, more diverse.

You can take part – a ‘Come and Sing’ in Thirsk is open to all-comers and it’s not too late to sign up to our Community Song Cycle Across the Whinny Moor, all about Yorkshire folklore and involving local primary schools and over 100 local amateur singers and co-creators.

With around 10,000 people attending our events every year, and thousands more tuning to our online platform and BBC Radio 3 broadcasts, there is plenty of scope for commercial partnerships.

We want to spearhead a win-win relationship between business and the arts that is the envy of the rest of the country - and will be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to explore sponsorship opportunities. The Ryedale Festival runs between 12th-28th July 2024 and will announce its full programme on April 12 at www.ryedalefestival.com. To discuss opportunities for business sponsorship please email director@ ryedalefestival.com

One thing you see time and again in the life of a festival … just how much people can get out of classical music once they find a way into it. In my experience, there’s no better way to achieve that than a festival that brings it to your doorstep. I hope you can join us this summer to be thrilled, comfor ted and amazed.

Ryedale Festival in beautiful Yorkshire's places

How West Riding wealth built Scarborough’s property gems

Following a career in construction consultancy, Robert Walton looks at the stunning gems of Victorian South Cliff in his hometown of Scarborough and how it was developed by the affluence of the West Riding …

By: Robert Walton

When resort towns became ‘a thing’ for tourists, those with wealthfrom the industrial and professional West Riding especially - wanted to visit the seaside and made Scarboroug h ‘the place’.

Their influx led to a need for select residential and hospitality offering than the town was then providing.

The subsequent building boom of ornate and grand property was started by the building of Cliff Bridge in 1826 which opened up major developments south of Scarborough town centre, known as South Cliff.

Between then and the coming of the railway 20 years later, was the development of the then majestic

Crown Hotel and the architecture we see today along The Esplanade and a djoining areas.

Building to satisfy the needs of incoming Yorkshire residents and visitors, started with a terrace of large houses on what became the start of The Esplanade.

The terrace was stylishly curved – like the South Bay shoreline below, and at its centre was built the regal-looking Crown. It opened in 1845 and was the first of its kind in England, and possibly the world.

The terrace of houses and the hotel was symmetrical and of Regency style. Despite being built in Victoria’s reign, the architecture of the Regency era continued until the 1940s. The

architect was from Malton, a John Gibson, who gave the hotel full-height Corinthian columns at its centre.

It must have been an impressive sight to greet guests on their arrival.

The Crown Hotel’s first manager was a young man from Ripon. John Fairgray Sharpin who was just 24 and he became mayor of Scarborough in 1853 – the youngest civic head in England. Notice how the number of ‘firsts’ is building up.

I wonder if there’s another possible ‘first’, because at some time in the history of the Crown Hotel, the smallpaned Regency windows were changed for large panes – probably better for the sea views. Scarborough can claim to being the place where the

Bob Walton at the centre of the Terrace on the Esplanade

replacement windows industry was born ... another ‘first’!

When the road outside the terrace was being resurfaced recently, removal of the asphalt revealed a concrete road beneath. Records indicate the first asphalt-covered concrete road was in Paris in 1858, so Scarborough might have done it earlier on The Esplanade in 1845. What a thought!

Another landmark hotel nearby, is the distinctly different Villa Esplanade Hotel - also built in 1845.

The design is influenced by the popular series of literary works of the time the Waverley Novels by Sir Walter Scott - the hotel is described as ‘Scottish baronial with gothic resemblances’ and compared with the Regency-style of its neighbours, its uniqueness is another ‘first’ and it is now for upmarket apartments.

The architectural features of the big new wave of tourism and residential properties were further enhanced by the recently-renovated Esplanade Hotel, which is also curved (it might have originally been houses) and also by the attractive sweep of the then Prince of Wales Hotel which is now apartments. There is a row of nine homes that have

continental-style iron balconies with trellis and canopies.

It was a building boom on the South Cliff that I’m in awe of. All these timeless and characterful developments led to an expansion of Scarborough that delivered incoming business and growth for the ‘first’ tourist resort in England.

Thankfully, the buildings I’ve mentioned are protected with Historic England listings, so they can continue to be enjoyed for what they are, fine examples of their place, type and time.

Indeed, the terrace with The Crown Hotel is listed as a ‘particularly important building of more than special interest’ – only 6% of listed buildings carry that distinction. Well done Scarborough!

The boom continued with the building of dozens of mansions such as the Belvedere on the Esplanade and then the Belvedere estate - as well as churches and vicarages, huge gardens and several indepe ndent schools.

Another famed Esplanade property, the Red Court (The Royal TV programme) was designed by Leeds architects Bedford & Kitson for a Lee ds businessman.

A short walk from there is the preRaphaelite church of St Martinon-the-Hill built in 1863 – and the early English Gothic church of St Andrew’s opened a year later, paid for by the West Riding philanthropist Sir Titus Salt.

Villa Esplanade conversion to apartments

The Esplanade Hotel

Transporting you on an olfactory journey

‘The 'power of the invisible' is a feat achieved solely by our olfactory system with the ability to lock in precious moments in time, forever in our memory, linked by the power of scent.

our nose, travelling to our brain’s olfactory bulbs, where it is read and then sends signals to the amygdala, where our emotions light up.

This proceeds to the hippocampus, where both our learning abilities and memories are formed. The speed at which this takes place is quick, perceived as an immediate reaction and more recently studies and research have discovered that the connection between memory and scent is powerful enough to help treat those with dementia. Fragrance is said to be

our greatest invisible accessory, and a deciding factor in how we want to feel and be received. Many of us have a carefully edited library of fragrances we turn to, dependent upon an occasion –whether a wedding, a special party, an important presentation, there are notes we reach out to, to provide us with a sense of confidence and upliftment. Some of these fragrances may have been

part of our chosen collection for years, others newly discovered, and quickly adopted for the way they make us feel.

From sweet to sultry, to woody and revitalising notes. From heart to

Credit: Rodney Pedroza Portraits London

top notes, we are drawn to different fragrances, one of the most popular notes is vanilla, which sits at the heart of many fragrances. In 2024 Vanilla has been re-instated through the launch of new fragrances from Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Milk, to Yves Saint Laurent Libre to Eilish by Billie Eilish, providing vanilla with a modern, sensual update. Spices have been used in perfume for thousands of years with ancient Egyptians being the first on record to adorn themselves with spicy notes, whilst fresh and citrussy scents are always a go-to when temperatures rise, and rich plummy notes are warming, with a combination of sweet top notes underpinned by hints of musk.

There are a number of well-loved niche fragrance brands, with some interesting new launches.

The World of Niche

By Kilian

By Kilian is a French niche fragrance house known for producing some of the most beautiful fragrances in the world. Renowned for selling candles, fragrances and accessories, the brand was founded by Kilian Hennessy in 2007, and has since been acquired by Estee Lauder. In 2024 they launched Kilian Paris Sunkissed Goddess Perfume, with notes of Tiare flower

ABOUT JANET MILNERWALKER

Janet Milner-Walker is the founder and managing director of Bespoke Advantage, and BeautytoLife. She is also an international speaker, a freelance writer, and a trusted advisor to companies in the beauty and wellness sector. Bespoke Advantage is an international consultancy working with clients in the beauty and wellness space. Their award-winning client based includes beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors and trade bodies, whom they support in developing and building their brands in the marketplace www.thebespokeadvantage. com

and coconut, oud and a subtle whiff of vanilla that quickly transports you to sunny tropical days on the beach.

Diptyque

A luxury fragrance house founded in Paris in 1961, Diptyque offers a wonderful collection of niche fragrances, bath and body products and sensual candles, that are produced without the

use of synthetic fragrances. In 2024 they launched a new fragrance – Diptyque Do Son Eau de Parfum – a deep floral fragrance with notes of jasmine, orange blossom and woody amber.

Hermes Founded by the Hermes family, who were originally known for their leather saddles, they are also renowned for silk scarves and for luxury leather goods including Kelly and Birkin handbags. Their fragrance division was introduced in 1951, and they have many coveted fragrances in their portfolio. In 2024 they launched Hermes Oud Alezen Eau de Parfum, a smooth, sweet, sultry oud fragrance that envelopes you with warm, smoky undertones.

Malin & Goetz

A number of companies are launching fragrance oils including Malin & Goetz, founded in 2004 in Chelsea, New York. They initially focused on selling uncomplicated skincare, this followed with niche fragrances in 2005. Their stable of fragrances includes notes of smooth leather, intertwined with rustic woods.

Many a Celebrity Fragrance

In recent years, celebrity fragrances were shelved in favour of beauty and skincare lines. Of late there is a resurgence in their popularity with launches from Rihanna with Fenty Eau de Parfum in 2021 to Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Kim Kardashian and even Elon Musk.

There are so many interesting developments in the world of fragrance – whether you are reaching out for fragrances for yourself, or for your home, scent has the ability to transform your immediate environment into a spa haven.

Dean Clough becomes venue for sewing retreats with global appeal

The latest trailblazing creative business to take occupation at Calderdale’s iconic Dean Clough mills complex comes from an internationally renowned blogger in the art of sewing.

Laura Casey of Sew Different has selected Dean Clough for a unique sewing retreat, taking over 1,000 sq ft of space on a flexible lease to house sewing workstations, fabrics, patterns, and social areas.

Established over ten years ago, initially as a blog to share a passion for pattern design, Sew Different has grown exponentially to distribute individually designed clothing pattern packs all over the world with suppliers in Australia, Sweden, and USA.

Due to immense popularity, particularly during the pandemic when sewing machine sales hit an all-time high, Laura went expanded the Sewing Retreat, not as a training class, but as a holiday for sharing a passion and making new friends.

Laura Casey, said, “I could never have

imagined how sharing designs for an all-consuming passion would become so popular to the point where I could grow a successful business. Lockdown seems to have ignited a spark for crafting at home as a tool for mindfulness and mental wellbeing. Indeed, our free medical scrubs designs were downloaded more than 40,000 times during the pandemic.

“Setting up the Sewing Retreat seemed like a natural step forward in making a largely solitary hobby into a social space where we can share ideas. The holiday package for up to ten people includes a tour of our local fabric studios with step-by-step support from our team on sizing and design through to creating bespoke garments. We include afternoon tea in a warm and welcoming environment for all skill levels and overnight accommodation is available on site.

“Selecting Dean Clough as our new base and host venue for the Sewing Retreats was an obvious choice given its textile manufacturing heritage. Our guests are always blown away by the size and scale of Dean Clough and how it is now such a vibrant destination for business and pleasure. Our space occupies the first floor of a bright and airy mill which is perfect for light and authenticity and the management team have been hugely accommodating with our use of the wider gallery, hotel, and leisure facilities.”

Jeremy Hall, Chairman and Managing Director at Dean Clough Ltd, said, “We are delighted to welcome Sew Differently into the community here at Dean Clough. Creativity and diversity are what ultimately delivers excellence and Laura’s venture is a fine example of how a passion can become a sustainable business.

“Dean Clough is thriving with talented independents working alongside major business enterprise and we are hugely proud of what we have achieved in revitalising these magnificent mills for 21st century use.

“We continue to invest in providing Grade A office accommodation alongside the unique space for retail, leisure, and cultural amenity. This includes the introduction of flexible workspaces, unique outdoor pods with enhanced public realm, and the redevelopment of an historic courtyard.”

Dean Clough is already home to around 150 businesses employing over 3,000 people. In the last 18 months alone new deals have been secured with occupiers on more than 110,000 sq ft of space with a further 110,000 sq ft of work, office, and leisure space in discussion or under offer.

Jackie Rawnsley The Chocolate Box

GREEK STREET TERRACE

An elegant backdrop for drinks and dining, here you’ll enjoy classic and contemporary cocktails, and a carefully-curated seasonal menu of fresh, flavourful dishes.