TopicUK October 2024 Edition

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Editors notes

Welcome to this edition of TopicUK magazine.

By group editor Gill Laidler

Welcome to this edition of TopicUK. As I write this, we were expecting an Indian Summer, instead we are experiencing floods all over the country and I have turned my central heating back on!

That said, Autumn is my favourite season, not when it’s raining but when we have those cold, crisp sunny mornings, showing off the stunning autumn colours.

September has been the busiest month so far this year. There have been so many events, we’ve turned down many more than we have attended, October is shaping up to be just as busy too. We held our sister publication Yorkshire Businesswoman awards launch on 12th September at Leeds First Direct Arena to more than 90 guests made up of judges, sponsors, supporters, members and guests. Hosted by the fabulous Matt Jameson, guests joined us for the countdown to the opening of the nominations and ticket sales online. Do visit the Yorkshire Businesswoman website and get voting and book your ticket early, we sold out very quickly for our first awards.

We also held our first event with our partners at Toyota. Supported by John Lewis, The Beauty Box and member Rachel Cheshire. The event was very well attended, and I would recommend anyone in the Leeds area and who missed out on the event, to pop in and

book a test drive. Toyota have a fantastic range of electric vehicles, and you can be assured of a warm welcome.

As we go to print our attention turns to Northern Businesswoman a new magazine, we are publishing covering Newcastle and the Northeast on 17th October, do look out for it and let us know if you would like to promote your business in that area.

Gill

Strong results for modular and offsite manufacturer

Yorkshire-based Thurston Group,a UK and Ireland market leader in offsite construction,has revealed its latest financial results, with growth in revenue and pre-tax profit despite challenging market conditions.

Headquartered in Wakefield, with additional manufacturing sites in Hull and Catfoss, Thurston Group designs and manufactures modular buildings for sectors including construction, education, healthcare, and nuclear.

The group has seen turnover increase by 8%, with revenue growing from £47m in 2022 to £51m for the year ending October 2023. Pre-tax profit

also increased to £11.4m from £8.1m the year before.

Under the leadership of managing director Matt Goff, who joined in 2018, Thurston Group has experienced impressive year-on-year growth, doubling turnover in the past six years from £24m despite volatility in the construction sector as the industry continues to rebound from the

challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic with a number of high-profile competitors folding in the past year. The company’s success can be attributed to its stronghold across multiple industry sectors and its ability to capitalise on evolving market dynamics. It has also focused on offering higher-end modular buildings which are typically more permanent, gaining market share in the education and health sectors as well as traction in new markets such as infrastructure, transport and commercial buildings.

With the UK construction sector set for growth following Labour’s changes

to planning laws Thurston expects to see further growth, developing their product offering to key supply chain and increasing its partnerships with key targets. “I’m happy to report another year of solid growth,” said Matt Goff, managing director of Thurston. “Our continued success reflects our steadfast dedication to excellence, sustainability, and stakeholder value creation.

“As we embark on the next phase of our journey, we continue to invest in the development of our product and services offering, as well as in our staff, recognising that their skills and expertise are key to our success. We are driving continuous improvement through the modernisation of the business infrastructure and expanding our core product range through indepth material testing and R&D. With a strong order book and increasing shift to modern methods of construction, motivated by a skills shortage and product performance targets, we are well-positioned for another record year and have an exciting pipeline of opportunities from both repeat and new customers.”

In addition to its financial achievements, Thurston is celebrating the 25th work anniversary of six employees this year. Staff from across sites and departments will be celebrating the milestone in 2024, an achievement that is a testament to the longevity and stability of the organisation.

To further underscore its commitment to innovation and staying ahead of the curve, Thurston is investing in a comprehensive brand overhaul. The refresh includes the renaming of its three group divisions to better showcase the variety of products and services Thurston provides, as well as a revamped website that enhances the company's brand identity and market presence.

Yorkshire garden centre group creates new roles to support growth

A Bradford headquartered garden centre group has created three new roles to support growth at its six sites.

Yorkshire Garden Centres has recently acquired Deans of York and Scarborough. The new roles of group people and culture manager, group catering operations manager and giftware, and Christmas team lead will work across all sites.

Steph Harrison joined in 2022 and has been promoted to the group people and culture manager position. Lisa Passant joined in 2022 and has been promoted to giftware and Christmas team lead. Thomas Waller joined from British Garden Centres earlier this year.

An experienced catering operations specialist, Thomas is responsible for driving the growing business forward in catering operations, standards and compliance. Thomas’s role includes overseeing the running of the people and culture team and working with

the team's head to develop and implement the people and culture strategy and Lisa’s responsibilities include managing the gift area, her team and stock rotation.

Mark Farnsworth, MD, said: "Steph and Lisa have worked hard to earn their promotions and Thomas has joined the business at a very exciting time. All three appointments will help to prepare us for future growth.

"At Yorkshire Garden Centres, we pride ourselves on investing in our team to help us, and them, grow. Lisa has been through our in-house leadership development programme, Great By Nature, which aims to grow great leaders who inspire others to be the best that they can be, and the business funded Steph's CIPD Level 5 People Management qualification."

From L to R: Steph Harrison, Thomas Waller, Lisa Passant

Eddisons makes six senior Yorkshire promotions

Leeds-headquartered property group Eddisons has made six senior-level promotions in Yorkshire,including creating three new regional directors, across its valuations, plant and machinery, strategic advisory, insolvency and building consultancy teams.

Part of a programme of 17 promotions across the firm nationally, the move comes as Eddisons continues its aggressive growth strategy which has seen 10 acquisitions since 2015, four of which were completed in 2023. The business now employs more than 500 people across 30 offices UK wide.

In Yorkshire, Jack Hutchinson, based in Leeds, has been promoted to be the firm’s youngest regional director at 33. He joined as a graduate surveyor and has risen rapidly through the ranks, now heading the firm’s £1.5m-turnover valuation team across Yorkshire and the Northeast.

Javid Patel, who heads the public sector team from the Leeds office, has been promoted to Yorkshire and Northeast regional director for the firm’s strategic advisory services. The team provides

property and sustainability advice to a wide range of public sector clients after being appointed to multiple Government procurement frameworks including the Crown Commercial Services, schools buying organisation ESP, Homes England and the new NHS advisory services framework.

Leeds-based Richard Temple, who joined as a graduate in 2007, has been made regional director in the plant and machinery division. He provides technical advice and leadership, working with a range of clients including insolvency practitioners, insurers and private clients as well as providing specialist valuations.

Also in Yorkshire, Leeds-based Matt Hattersley has been promoted to director in the insolvency team, where he is involved in asset valuation

and advisory, business recovery and restructuring.

Education sector specialist, Sheffieldbased Jack Cooper, has been made associate director in the building consultancy team, and in the Leeds office Phoebe Bousfield has been promoted to marketing communications manager.

Managing director Anthony Spencer said: “Huge congratulations to colleagues who have received these well-deserved promotions. We are one of the fastest growing property firms in the UK and that is undoubtedly down to the excellence, expertise and passion of our people.

“We are a client-focused organisation, committed always to striving to deliver the very best service, an ethos that is shared by all our team. That’s why as an employer we believe in nurturing talent, from our thriving apprenticeship programme to helping staff at all levels to progress, and this latest round of promotions is further testament to the success of that strategy.”

Richard Temple

Phoebe Bousfield

Mathew Hattersley

Javed Patel

Jack Hutchinson

Jack Cooper

Nigel Pollard, Managing Director of HEB Group

HE Barnes unveils full rebrand and renewed vision

One of the Sheffield City Region’s most wellestablished companies has undergone a full rebrand and unveiled a new look as it celebrates 100 years in business and focuses on the future.

Andrea Downey brings with her more than 25 years’ experience of working in both the public and private sector, with previous roles in Network Rail and the NHS, as well as in the publishing and media sectors.

She will also play a key role in the leadership of the NHC’s procurement arm, Consortium Procurement, which offers a trusted and compliant service to 400 members nationally.

Tracy Harrison, chief executive said: “Andrea will play a central role in making sure we achieve the best possible value for members and make maximum use of our resources across the entire organisation. Andrea’s expertise will be a real added benefit to our members, as we work together to influence policy and change people’s lives for the

As well as her previous roles in the UK, Andrea spent five years working abroad, gaining an insight into different cultures and work practices, and has also acted as a consultant, advising SMEs on finance and change management.

Andrea said: “I was attracted to Northern Housing Consortium because of its very clear ethos of making a positive impact. The organisation’s focus on

levelling up in the north through social housing improvements is close to my heart; I grew up in a council house and it was a positive experience, and I would like that for others too.

Tracy Harrison added: “As we start work on a new plan for the future of Northern Housing Consortium and Consortium Procurement we want to grow and support more members than ever before. We will soon welcome a new government and Andrea will help us put the foundations in place at a crucial time for housing in the North. This includes building relationships with the financial directors of our members, to share experiences and f ind solutions.”

Northern Housing Consortium is a membership organisation for housing associations, local authorities, combined authorities and ALMOs. It makes sure their voices are heard at a regional and national government level and provides opportunities for sharing learning and best practice. and offering by enhancing our insight capabilities, innovation, and activation. That will enable us to continue delivering growth and value for our clients and partners.”

Historic textile mill revamps branding after 240 years of craftsmanship

Amy Widdowson

In addition, fellow Yorkshirebased company Fishtank Agency designed and launched a brand-new website for AW Hainsworth as part of the process.

The new branding aims to retain a connection to AW Hainsworth’s historical culture while modernising the look, feel and messaging of the parent brand and brand divisions.

Mohammed Hafeez

Hainsworth Fabric of a Nation, manufacturer of premium woollen textiles loved by designers, tailors and garment manufacturers, will now be known as Hainsworth Signature Fabrics; Hainsworth Top Table, which produces high-quality woollen snooker and pool cloths, will be renamed Hainsworth Cue Sports Fabrics; Hainsworth Technical Felt, manufacturer of technically advanced woollen fabrics, will become Hainsworth Speciality Fabrics. Visually, each brand features a new logo, strapline and colour scheme that weaves consistency throughout AW Hainsworth’s brands.

Charlotte Law, head of marketing, explains: “We have been working on this rebrand for a couple of years, with the aim of updating the brand to better reflect how AW Hainsworth has evolved and who we are in 2024. We have several brands that sit under the AW

Hainsworth parent brand, and one of our biggest challenges was to streamline our brand divisions for efficiency and create more of a family feel while redefining our mission, vision, and values.”

Founded in 1783, the fully vertical woollen mill in Stanningley has been weaving fabric across eight generations of the Hainsworth family, integrating traditional qualities of craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation and product development.

The AW Hainsworth brand is recognised globally for producing exceptional quality woven fabrics–historically and most notably used by the British Royal Family, in the House of Lords, to safeguard emergency services and military personnel, weaving felt for pianos and snooker and pool tables around the world.

Amanda McLaren, managing director comments: “As our refreshed Mission Statement sets out, ‘we’re here to improve and enhance the lives of everyone our fabric touches – our customers, our people, our community and our environment’. We wanted to communicate this in our branding, whilst ensuring our values of quality, family, and sustainability shine through in everything we do. Our Vision Statement is the foundation of all our plans–‘We believe in the future of the UK Textile Sector’ and as such, we are wholly committed to ensuring our exciting pipeline plans, come to fruition – from developing new fabric solutions, to creating opportunities for a new generation of textile workers and being a true champion and leader in sustainable manufacturing.

“In line with AW Hainsworth’s commitment to sustainability, the rebrand programme will be rolled out slowly to avoid creating unnecessary waste, so you might see some of our old branding crop up from time to time, until we have fully utilised any remaining collateral.”

New chef for Swinton Park

A new kitchen, a refurbished restaurant and now a new chef complete the 2024 relaunch of Samuel’s Restaurant at Swinton Park Hotel. Struan Macintyre will be leading the team delivering fantastic menus at the heart of the Swinton Estate.

Struan has grown an excellent reputation working at some of the top hotels around North Yorkshire, including Aldwark Manor, Grantley Hall, the Principal and Hotel du Vin in York, as well as setting up the award-winning Alexander’s Grand Café and Bar in Skipton.

“We are thrilled to have Struan leading a new era for Samuel’s here at Swinton Park, and we are looking forward to how he takes forward our estate-to-plate ethos of bringing the freshest, Estate-grown and reared produce to the discerning classic British and European dining audience here,” comments general manager, Paul Hunter. “We completed work on the kitchens earlier this year, introducing a £500k investment state-of-the-art technology to deliver a significant reduction in energy use. Samuel’s

Restaurant itself has been stylishly redesigned, so what better time is there to rediscover the finest Yorkshire food?”

Samuel’s serves traditional British ‘brasserie’ food with a contemporary twist, built around a core of seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden and wider estate. An impressive wine cellar provides the complement to any dish, from Swinton Estate Pork Wellington to East Coast Cod Loin; a sommelier is on hand to advise on appropriate pairings of food and wine. The restaurant is also known for its incredible Sunday lunch –perfect for family get-togethers over hearty local fare – and as one of Yorkshire’s top spots for Afternoon Tea overlooking the parkland at Swinton Park Hotel.

Sibling Yorkshire coast businesses shortlisted in national farming awards

The teams at Yorkshire's first whisky distillery and a Yorkshire coast brewery are celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious farming award.

Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery and sister company Wold Top Brewery have reached the final of the Diversification of the Year (Large) category in the 12th annual British Farming Awards.

Co-founder of both Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery and Wold Top, Tom Mellor, said: "We're proud that Hunmanby Grange farm sustains the two businesses with home-grown barley and provides employment for over 40 local people. We're naturally delighted to have been shortlisted for a second prestigious farming award."

Wold Top is run by Mellor's daughter, Kate and husband Alex

Balchin, and his other daughter, Jenni Ashwood, is the marketing director at Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery. Both businesses have also been shortlisted for Diversification Farmer of the Year at the Farmers' Weekly Awards.

The winners wil l be announced at a dinner at The Vox, Birmingham on October 17th. The teams from the brewery and distillery face competition from Scottish busine sses The Rhynd and Marshall's Farm Shop and Kitchen, Otter Tarn in the Lake District and Staffordshire business Play at Lower Drayton Farm.

The British Farming Awards, sponsore d by Morrisons and organised by Farmers Guardian, celebrate pioneering farmers across all sectors who are leading in areas of technology, science, food production and sustainability. The black-tie event is attended by more than 800 farmers and industry professionals from across the UK.

Home to Filey Bay single malt whisky, Spirit of Yorkshire is a fieldto-bottle distillery that was launched in 2016. Its first single malt whisky was bottled in 2019. It is a collaboration between Tom Mellor and business partner David Thompson. It is one of only a handful of distilleries worldwide that uses 100% home-grown barley to produce its whisky.

Established in 2003, Wold Top brews cask, keg and bottled ales from home and Wolds grown malting barley, hops and pure, chalk-filtered Yorkshire Wolds water.

Family-run pet store creates eight jobs and floorspacedoubles

A family-run pet store based in Sowerby, Thirsk has seen such demand for its services that it needed to move to a unit double the original size just three months after opening, creating eight jobs with more in the pipeline.

Yorkshire Feed & Country Store opened in December 2023 offering a wide range of products for small animals, reptiles, fish, birds, equine and smallholders, as well as other related essentials. Open seven days a week, it soon established a reputation for being the ‘go-to’ place for pet owners, coupled with friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Owners, Matt Wright and Jason

Smallridge are both experienced animal owners with a background in agriculture, with Matt having previously owned a smallholding, and Jason studying at Askham Bryan before working at Thirsk Auction Mart, working his way up from barrow boy to ring man – even featuring on popular TV show, The Yorkshire Vet with some of his sheep.

Matt said: “We have always had to travel further afield to get what we needed for our own animals and identified a gap in the market for a sort of ‘one stop shop’ here in Thirsk. Unlike many big brand name equivalents, our focus is on animal welfare and making sure our customers are confident in making informed purchases, rather than the bottom line.

“We’re adding products and services that we ourselves want and use, and also that our customers are asking for – it’s all about making it easy to have happy, healthy animals.”

The company recently launched a small animal boarding service, enabling customers to take holiday or spend time away from home safe in the knowledge that their animals are being looked after by an experienced team, and ran a canine first aid course to teach dog owners the essentials.

Having invested heavily in the business, using local contractors such as decorators, electricians and carpenters, Matt and Jason plan to launch a grooming service in the coming months and further down the line, open another store based on the same model.

Matt and Jason both worked in the ambulance service during Covid, with Jason also being involved with a project taking an ambulance full of medical supplies to Ukraine and helping treat wounded soldiers.

Photo: (L-R) Matt Wright with Harley, Jason Smallridge with Willow

Coupland Leather becomes finalist for prestigious Award

Founded in January 2020, just six weeks before the country went into a national lockdown, entrepreneur and luxury leather smith Stuart Coupland, of Coupland Leather, is celebrating being shortlisted in The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, often referred to as the “Grammys of Entrepreneurship,” which celebrates the achievements of the UK's most dynamic and innovative businesses.

The achievement comes as the company hit six-figure turnover in 2023 having achieved 56 per cent growth year-onyear and now exporting its products to 24 countries – with more to come.

The Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards receive over 5,000

entries every year with the finalists this year having a combined turnover of £2.9 billion and together employing approximately 20,000 people.

On the announcement of the shortlist, Lex Deak, CEO of Basket which is sponsoring the Maker & Creator Entrepreneur of the Year category said: "This has been such a strong category this year and the Great British businesses listed on this year's shortlist should be extremely proud of their hard work, and the contribution they are making. I look forward to meeting many of you at the final in November."

Steven Bartlett, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Investor, Author, BBC Dragon, and the host of one of Europe's biggest podcasts, 'The Diary of a CEO' commented: "For me, this is the Grammys of Entrepreneurship!"

Stuart Coupland, said: “The brand has received some amazing attention and we’re lucky to have some fantastic, highly supportive customers. Since taking Coupland Leather full time in 2020, I’ve been able to review and adapt my business to cope with the increasing demand for my products. In 2020, I handcrafted just over 440 items, where last year in 2023, that increased to just shy of 2,000.

“By investing in new equipment and refining our processes I’ve been able to offer our high-quality standards to companies on a wholesale basis and avoid a lot of cost increases on our products for domestic clients, whereas other companies have had to increase theirs.’’

Coupland Leather has seen significant export success due to growing popularity in the United States where the company has sent items to 18 different states, as well as Dubai, Belgium, Hong Kong and Australia, combined with increased demand for its high end, bespoke items.

Coupland Leather handcrafts and designs all its leather products in house, in North Yorkshire. Clients can speak directly to the person who will be making their item or gift, ensuring that what they’re expecting is what they will get. There is a wide range of dyes, threads and customisation of designs available, so the finished product not only matches the customer’s style but is also perfect for the intended use. There are also several options for personalisation, from stamped lettering, to laser engraving, bespoke 3D printed stamps and for the company’s long standing corporate clients, high detail, machined brass stamps.

Henry Boot Construction begins fabrication works on Rotherham Markets

Work is well underway on the £36 million redevelopment of Rotherham Markets as Henry Boot Construction begins fabrication works in the outdoor market and underground carpark.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Robert Taylor, joined Henry Boot Construction’s managing director, Tony Shaw, and head of operations, Ian Gresser, on the site to have a look at how the Rotherham Council delivered project is progressing.

Currently, the former outdoor market space flooring has been stripped while

downstairs, works have begun to strengthen the foundations of the outdoor market space.

Preparation work for demolition has also begun on the former Drummond Street shops – also known as the Guardian Centre buildings. These are set to be demolished in autumn 2024 to make way for a brand-new library building.

Following the demolition of the Drummond Street shops, the outdoor market canopy will be removed in stages. Covering over 3,500sqm of the market, removing the structure will be a very complex operation. A crane will be moved on site during the removal.

The Indoor Market remains open

throughout the redevelopment, with a range of stalls and products available from local traders. Outdoor markets, such as the Tuesday Market, have been relocated to Effingham Street while the project is under way.

Henry Boot Construction, was onsite when ground was broken in October 2023. Since then, they have been working with teams at Rotherham Council to progress the project.

Tony Shaw, said: “We are pleased to see the Rotherham Markets project progressing. We're looking forward to continuing to work closely with the Council and breathing new life into this area of the town centre.”

“Creating high-quality, vibrant urban spaces is part of our DNA. Having led on several of the region’s major regeneration over recent years, we have witnessed first-hand the transformative impact investments like this one can have – helping to boost community pride and identity, increase footfall and grow the local economy.

“We pride ourselves on leaving a positive legacy in the places where we work. To do this we have committed to deliver significant social value outputs by utilising a local supply chain wherever possible, local site-specific employment, and delivering multiple training and educational initiatives.”

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and Local Economy, Cllr Robert Taylor, added: “The Markets redevelopment is part of the Town Centre Masterplan, and to see people on site and spades in the ground shows that the plan is becoming a reality. The redevelopment of the markets is a complex project which will not only breathe new life into our community, but also provide economic opportunities for our local businesses. Working with Henry Boot Construction, the markets redevelopment will provide an accessible, enjoyable space for all which celebrates our diverse community and heritage.

“Rotherham Market continues to remain open for the public with the fantastic range of outdoor markets now taking place in the town centre, so I encourage residents to continue to support our local traders until they are in their new facilities.”

Once works are complete, visitors will benefit from a refurbished indoor and outdoor covered market, extensive public realm, a new modern and accessible central library and improved links to the town centre and college.

Rotherham Council received funding from the government's Future High Street Fund to pay for part of the improvements at the market with additional funding secured from the Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Begbies Traynor Group boosts northern team

Leading independent business rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor Group has expanded its senior team with the appointment of Carl Lever as a director, working across the firm’s Leeds and Manchester offices.

Carl joins the firm from Leonard Curtis where he gained 13 years’ experience and has built a specialism in advising Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated businesses.

In his new role he will continue to focus on advising, helping and providing options to firms in the financial services sector, particularly those facing financial or regulatory challenges.

Julian Pitts, regional managing partner said: “We are really pleased to welcome Carl to the team. He brings with him huge depth of experience in dealing with FCAregulated businesses, an area where

we are seeing growing demand and in which we plan to drive growth.

“We are committed to developing our team by employing the most experienced and best qualified colleagues in their fields and Carl is another great example of this approach.”

Carl added: “This is an exciting time to be joining the group, which has an outstanding reputation for advising businesses that find themselves facing financial difficulties. I am looking forward to working with talented colleagues and using my expertise and contacts to help support FCA-regulated firms across the north of England.”

SportsShoes.com has announced the launch of its first-ever mobile app to enhance its customers’online retail experience.

The launch forms part of the online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer’s ongoing strategic expansion plans.

SportsShoes.com’s new app will act as a platform to not only further connect, engage, and serve its customers, but also support the wider athlete community. The app has been developed by specialist sports retailer solution provider, One iota.

Established in 1982, the Shipley-based firm offers customers more than 17,000 products from 150 global running and outdoor brands.

In the app, customers can access personalised product and content suggestions that is unique to them and based on previous activity and preferences with a standard shopping feed as a secondary option.

The platform also integrates customer membership options throughout the

Sportsshoes.com launches first mobile app

shopping journey, including the ability for users sync their England Athletics profile with their SportsShoes.com account. This will help combine their running and fitness data with their shopping habits to provide a more bespoke retail experience and tailoring content suggestions even further.

Development of the app has been supported by £4.6m the retailer has invested in the last three years in its technologies, people, processes and facilities.

Commenting on the app launch, managing director, Brett Bannister, said: “Launching our app marks a major milestone in our mission to help customers lead healthier, happier lives through their fitness and sports journeys.

“Having established a market-leading online brand, our new app is a digital

reincarnation for us and a key tool for our UK and European growth plans.

Alongside the app launch, SportsShoes. com has also replatformed its UK and international websites. This provides customers with an improved online purchasing experience with increased levels of personalisation across both product discovery and advice.

Chief technology officer, Jon Cleaver, added: “Having built the expertise and invested heavily in our people, processes and technology to become a leading online sports apparel retailer, it was a logical step to expand this into a mobile app environment.

“The app’s capabilities are a perfect complement to our replatformed website and supports our ability to connect and engage with our growing customer base to deliver a best-in-class retail experience.”

Demolition of renowned North Yorkshire hotel gets underway

The demolition of a renowned hotel in Runswick Bay, Cliffemount Hotel, has begun, a process that will last eight weeks and expected to be completed by 11 October.

In 2022 the hotel closed and was sold to a Yorkshire family, the Fojt family, who have strong links to Runswick Bay. The family announced that they intended to demolish the old hotel and rebuild as a new 20 sea-view room hotel, pub and restaurant.

Focusing on sustainability, the family intends to follow strict design and building regulations whilst rebuilding the hotel. If successful, the new Cliffemount would be the first hotel in the UK to achieve Passivhaus accreditation. For this accreditation to be achievable, the existing building must be completely stripped away thus requiring the scale of

demolition that has been revealed.

Melissa Tomlinson, managing director commented: “It’s a huge milestone for us to be able to announce that demolition is commencing. It’s taken a lot of time and effort from all involved parties to make it happen because

it’s such a huge process.

“The scale of the project meant it was always going to take a while for work to begin, but it has taken a little longer than expected. This is largely because we’ve never been willing to compromise on quality.

We’ve always said we would consider the community in everything we do. We’ve stayed true to that to date and plan on continuing to do so.”

Paul Thackray, site manager at Stainforth Construction said “We aim to conduct the works with the minimum amount of disruption to the local community and environment.

“Unfortunately, there wi ll inevitably be some element of disruption, mainly due to the delivery of construction machinery. Anyone with any questions or concerns can reach out to our team directly and we will be happy to comment.”

Although the demolition is expected to be completed by mid-October, no date has been announced for work to begin on building the new Cliffemount.

Harlow Consulting grows team

Harlow Consulting, a leading research agency based in Harrogate, has expanded its team.

The agency has experienced rapid growth since it was founded by Jennifer Brennan and Clare Vokes in 2019, growing from its two directors to a 10-strong staff team.

James McNaught, 25, has joined as an entry level researcher. James studied sports science at Leeds Beckett University and worked as a self-employed personal trainer before joining the agency.

James said: “When I was a personal trainer, the directors of Harlow Consulting were clients. Their work really intrigued me. I always had a natural interest in research, and so when I saw there was an opening I applied.”

James’s role involves desk research, data analysis and fieldwork, conducting interviews and questionnaires.

The fast-growing business donates

a proportion of its turnover to environmental and food poverty charities, is committed to the Market Research Society Climate Pledge, adheres to the Mindful Employer Charter, and has numerous staff benefits to support the team’s wellbeing, from flexible work to team building and volunteering opportunities.

Kirsty Ainslie has joined the agency as research and operations administrator.

Kirsty’s background is in financial services and the insurance sector. Her previous role was compliance advisor for a global organisation. She said: “Harlow Consulting is a fast-growing agency so they were seeking more administrative support. I was really attracted to the agency’s strong culture of wellbeing for its employees, which makes it such a great business to work for. It’s refreshing to be in that culture. Harlow has a strong reputation for the quality of its work, so I’m keen to develop my career here.”

Jennifer said: “James and Kirsty both aligned well with our culture

and values. James has a positive outlook. His enthusiasm, curious mind, and transferable skills make him a natural fit for a research career. His background in sports science also opens potential new avenues for future project work. Kirsty has an impressive background, and her organisational skills are essential for us as our agency continues to expand.”

The expansion comes hot off the heels of hiring a new research and operations director, Kathryn Purdy at the beginning of the year, and associate director, Dr James Legard, who joined the team last year.

As part of the expansion, Harlow Consulting has also promoted Dr Ben Kehoe to research manager.

Ben joined the agency just over three years ago in the role of researcher and has since progressed to senior researcher before his recent promotion to research manager.

Ben said: “I greatly enjoy the varied nature of the work and get a real sense of achievement in finding answers to our clients’ questions and delivering research that has real impact. It’s a joy too to play an integral part of a small, self-supporting team.”

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce celebrates skills development with The Sheffield College

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce (SCCI) and The Sheffield College celebrate their Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Business and Enterprise Academy,as initiatives continue to transform lives and inspire entrepreneurship in the region.

in 2019, the academy continues to be championed by Chamber presidents.

Over the past two years, Karen Mosley, as the Chamber’s direct past president, spent her term advocating skills development in the region.

Originally launched by former Chamber president, Steve Manley,

A partnership between SCCI and The Sheffield College, the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Business and Enterprise Academy offers all students across the curriculum the opportunity to be mentored b y SCCI members.

Karen said: “Individuals with talent and aspirations are too often held back by the system. We were

determined to change this landscape, so our young people’s future is not shaped by their background, but by their hard work and determination. This is extremely close to my heart, as I myself experienced these same barriers 35 years ago at school.”

Current Chamber president, Alexis Krachai, who has been integral to the setup of the Sheffield City Goals – which showcases six stories we want to be able to tell in 2035 – concentrates on ‘a creative and entrepreneurial Sheffield’ as one of six focus areas

Essential

Against this backdrop, the academy’s primary aim is to help young people acquire the employability skills they need to be successful in the workplace and introduce them to enriching career opportunities available in the Sheffield area.

Christine Lamb, training and workforce development manager, said: “The partnership between the Chamber and the College demonstrates that there is a joint responsibility for employers and education providers to aid in developing the future workforce. It’s their collective duty to make sure that students are prepared for the world of work.”

The academy focuses on helping students develop essential skills that are transferable across all sectors of industry. These span confidence building, how to sell yourself, and thinking outside the box.

“The academy has always been about more than business and skills development. It’s about transforming lives – inspiring, encouraging and championing entrepreneurship in students. It’s centred around

providing greater accessibility to employability opportunities and deepening their life experiences.” Christine added.

“We’re so proud to be able to celebrate another year of the academy, to continue the legacy of both Steve and Karen’s work, and see the programme grow and help more students.”

Around 3,524 students have taken part in the programme since it launched. Some students have set up businesses, while countless others have gone on to use their newly gained skills to build their careers.

barriers that affect young people’s entry to the world of work.

Christine said: “As part of our commitment, as a Chamber, to nurturing development, the link between education and enterprise must not be forgotten.

“We’re passionate about providing opportunities for students to access and interact with our Chamber network, providing places for them to practise networking skills and engage with people already in industry.

We are so proud of what’s been achieved in partnership with Sheffield Chamber of Commerce. Drawing upon their resources, connections and members, we’ve been able to provide students with access to businesses...

“We encourage more businesses in our membership to get involved by delivering talks, mentoring students, or taking the time to speak to the ‘millionaire members’ at our networking events. Not only will you be giving back to the local community, but you will also be bolstering the workforce of tomorrow.”

Shani Clifford, head of student employability at The Sheffield College said: “We are so proud of what’s been achieved in partnership with Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

Recognition

This academic year alone, 594 students took part, with five achieving the prestigious ‘millionaire member’ status.

To achieve this status, a student needs to complete 12 activities within the programme and have a business idea.

Upon achievng this status, to celebrate how far they have come, the student receives a 12-month ‘Chamber Light Membership’ to SCCI.

This is brand new this year and offers several benefits, similar to that of a full membership, to help bridge the

“Drawing upon their resources, connections and members, we’ve been able to provide students with access to businesses like never before. It’s been great to see so many students engage with the programme this year to build their skills and bolster their CVs.

“Now that we can offer digital badging too, a national first for us that provides countrywide recognition for unaccredited courses, we hope our students will be able to go so much further – both in their initial jump into the working world but also, beyond, as they progress in their future careers.”

Property developer opens new base

Leeds-based Torsion Group – a leading developer and contractor of student accommodation and build-to-rent residential schemes – has taken over the first floor of Velocity Village at 2 Tenter Street, joining the likes of DLP Planning, Anytime Fitness, Ministry of Justice and Wake Smith Solicitors.

Torsion Group is working on several flagship projects across the UK, including Sky Gardens in Leeds and Hollis Croft in Sheffield.

The under-construction Hollis Croft – a 17-storey tower boasting 234 buildto-rent apartments – is located just a stone’s throw from Torsion’s new Sheffield base. The development also sits directly next to True Sheffield – a 27-storey student-residential tower that is currently being delivered by Aztec Construction.

Like Torsion Group, Aztec Construction

has also opened a new office in the area and now occupies over 10,000 sq ft of space at the nearby Pennine Five campus, which has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment over recent years.

Both Velocity Village and Pennine Five are owned by RBH Properties, who are passionate about the significant development opportunities in this district of the city centre.

Jeremy Hughes, director at RBH Properties, said: “We are delighted to welcome Torsion Group to 2

Tenter Street and are looking forward to seeing them join the evolving business community in the area.

“Much like Aztec Construction over at our Pennine Five campus, Torsion has realised the huge potential of this area of Sheffield City Centre, basing themselves here while simultaneously developing a new residential scheme just metres away.

“We believe our own investment into the area has provided real confidence and acted as a catalyst for further growth. It’s incredibly exciting to see several new residential developments underway and new businesses moving in, helping to cement the area’s promising future.”

Yorkshire consultancy achieves carbon neutrality

A food industry veteran who launched a consultancy business to help companies with their compliance and sustainability needs has smashed his own sustainability target within a year.

Thorne based Warhurst Associates, founded by former Cranswick head of compliance and sustainability Garry Warhurst in 2023, is celebrating reaching carbon neutrality in just one year, having originally pledged to reach the milestone by 2026.

Garry said: "From the outset, we wanted to lead by example and set up the infrastructure for Warhurst Associates to become carbon neutral. To this end, we created the Warhurst Associates Sustainability Promise (WASP); we committed to being a carbon-neutral business by FY26; we committed to planting a tree for every invoice paid with Tree-Nation and to measuring our carbon footprint. We're highly delighted to have exceeded our carbon neutrality expectations inside the first twelve months and look forward to achieving net zero emissions by 2040.

"We are a paperless business; we provide free consultancy to food charities and food banks who are solely run by volunteers and have signed up to the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission Action Pledge."

"WASP is our Sustainability Promise. Like these insects, which are more than just a nuisance at picnics, but are actually helpful to our biodiversity and crops, we look to support our planet through our six key areas which make up our hive: Support, Train, Innovate, Nature, Governance and Sustainable (STINGS)."

Since launch, Warhurst Associates have supported seven different clients on 14 different projects, including ISO 14001 installation for a vegetable processor, guiding a chocolate manufacturer to pass a SMETA audit and helping a startup with launching a cereal product for the autoimmune community. Over half of the business supported were start-ups or small businesses with under 15 employees and over a third have had an environmental or social impact on our clients' customers or the local community.

Warhurst Associates specialises in Food Safety, Auditing, writing and implementing Management Systems and finding practical solutions to ESG compliance for food businesses. They work on short-term projects including GAP and mock audits against any standard covering these areas and for long-term support regarding auditing and QMS management an d installation.

£15m Expansion Plans for Trinity Kitchen

It’s the biggest investment since opening with a new 6,000 sq ft roof terrace to be added, offering views over city centre.

Trinity Leeds owner, Landsec, has submitted exciting new plans to invest £15m into the expansion of its popular Trinity Kitchen concept.

Should the application be successful, it will be Trinity’s biggest investment into the centre since it opened in 2013.

The plans will create 72,000sq ft of space, including a new terrace offering views overlooking City Square. The expansion will transform a previously un-used 15,000sq ft space above Trinity Kitchen, bringing life and value back to this part of Trinity.

More jobs will be created because of the investment, with more brands being brought to the centre, enhancing the guest experience.

Trinity Kitchen transformed the idea of traditional food courts when it opened in 2013, pioneering

authentic indoor street food concept with an ever-evolving rotation of street food vans and permanent eateries.

Trinity Kitchen pioneered a unique indoor street food concept in the UK when it first launched in 2013, and is one of the city’s greatest success stories of the last 10 years...

Steven Foster, centre director said: “This investment will enhance and expand the space for the long term and build a best-in-class food and leisure destination, as we believe in its future, the current and future suppliers and operators, the new experience it will offer, and what it will bring not only to Trinity Leeds but to the city centre, the people of Leeds and the wider communities we serve.

It has been a huge success not just with the public but also in supporting businesses – almost 300 independent traders have showcased their food to an audience of 800,000 Trinity Kitchen guests each year, through street food pop-ups and permanent dining.

“Trinity Kitchen pioneered a unique indoor street food concept in the UK when it first launched in 2013, and is one of the city’s greatest success stories of the last 10 years – not just for the millions of people who have enjoyed dining here, but also the social value – from the jobs created to the food businesses that have grown their brands here, generating value for them and the local economy.”

The proposed plans for the Trinity Kitchen development will be reviewed by Leeds City Council with a decision expected later this year. If approved, works are expected to start in Spring 2025.

(L-R) Caroline Bell, Chief GYS Cheese and Dairy Steward, Rachel Coates, Show Director, and Sally Conner, RABI North East Regional Manager

Great Yorkshire Show cheese auction reaches fundraising milestone

Cheese lovers at the Great Yorkshire Show have raised an incredible £50,000 for a host of charitable causes in just over a decade.

The milestone has been reached following this summer’s Show, where an annual auction of cheeses raised a magnificent £8,530 for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), a charity which works tirelessly to support farming people through practical, financial and emotional assistance.

Once judging has taken place in the Cheese and Dairy Section, Great Yorkshire Show visitors are given the chance to bid for a round of their favourite cheese, from top quality

cheese producers from across the country. Proceeds from the auction are then donated to a nominated charity each year.

RABI is the latest recipient, with other beneficiaries over the last 12 years having included: Herriot Hospice Homecare, The Samaritan’s Regional Rural Initiative, Addington Fund and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Due to the COVID pandemic, the cheese auction did not go ahead in 2020 when the Great Yorkshire Show was cancelled and when it returned under strict control measures in 2021.

Rachel Coates, show director, said: “A huge thank you to Great Yorkshire Show visitors for generously supporting the cheese auction,

this year and over the last 12 years, raising an incredible amount for great causes that are so important to farming families. We know that the funds raised are going to an excellent cause again this year. RABI is long-time member of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Yorkshire Rural Support Network, which promotes and provides sources of practical, financial, medical and emotional support to those who live in farming and rural communities.”

Chief steward of the Great Yorkshire Show’s Cheese and Dairy Section, Caroline Bell from Shepherds Purse Cheeses said: “The cheese auction is always a highlight of the Great Yorkshire Show’s Cheese and Dairy Section, and it really is our visitors

who make it such a big success. Thank you to all the cheese makers who entered this year and donated their cheeses to the auction, to all the auctioneers who did such a brilliant job and to the public who supported it. It is amazing to have raised over £8,500 for RABI towards its in valuable work.”

At the core of RABI’s mission is the commitment to address the individual needs of farming people. It offers one-to-one, expert support, advice and guidance, tailored to every unique circumstance. Whether it’s giving expert advice on benefits potentially available to farming people or accessing mental health support, RABI offers a beacon of hope.Sally Conner, RABI Northeast regional manager, said: “The donation that the Cheese and Dairy section at the Great Yorkshire Show has made will make a huge difference to families in Yorkshire. Earlier in the summer we launched our Return to School Grant which supports families getting ready for the new school year. This has proved to have a very positive impact and is a proactive way for RABI to support working farmers. A huge thanks to all concerned, we really appreciate the donation.”

Applications for RABI’s Return to School Grant are now closed following overwhelming demand and uptake since it was launched last month. The grant scheme, now in its third-year, is a response to the cost-of-living crisis and has provided more than £2m of financial support to farming families across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The dates for next year’s Great Yorkshire Show are Tuesday 8 July to Friday 11 July 2025 and tickets will go on sale in November.

Celebrity tailor opens first store at Dean Clough

A unique, bespoke tailoring business has opened its first store at the awardwinning Dean Clough mixed-use destination in Halifax. DR Bespoke already has an impressive clientele including a number of celebrity sports personalities, and is expanding its services for womenswear and special occasion wear at the new store.

DR Bespoke sets itself apart through minutiae attention to detail, building the story of a client into the fabric that they wear. This highly personalised service has secured the likes of football manager, Neil Warnock, world number one snooker player Mark Allen, Rugby League star Kruise Lemming and Halifax born, junior championships snooker star Stan Moody as regular clients.

Danny Rhodes is the entrepreneur behind DR Bespoke. A Halifax born

lad that pursued his initial passion for Yorkshire’s rich textile heritage into a thriving business with a wow factor. Danny learned the ropes taking a special interest in fabrics and the fine art of tailoring, visiting and interrogating the best tailors and cutters in the UK before setting up his own consultancy.

Danny said, “I spent a lot of time learning the trade, fabric qualities, weave techniques, bespoke fitting, cutting and stitching etc. and have partnered with the finest in the industry to design and make bespoke clothing of exceptional quality without the high price tag. We’re on the doorstep of the best textile

manufacturers in the world with incredible heritage from the likes of Huddersfield Fine Worsteds where we source our fabrics.

“What sets us apart is our highly bespoke service to clients. The detail of our designs relays the story of the wearer with fabric, colours, styling, and stitching that is personalise to them. We interpret dates, words, images, symbols and people that are meaningful to our clients who love that they can make a statement with what they wear.

“I am delighted to open the first DR Bespoke store at Dean Clough. Its celebrated textiles heritage provides the perfect backdrop for the brand and an impressive statement for visitors. Of course, Halifax is enjoying a resurgence as a destination for heritage, culture and tourism and I am proud to call it my hometown.”Jeremy Hall, chairman and managing director at Dean Clough said, “We are thrilled to welcome Danny with his business DR Bespoke to the Dean Clough community. Danny is passionate about his craft, relating to his clients in the most unique way. Independent businesses such as DR Bespoke are who make the community at Dean Clough so unique, special, and diverse.

“Dean Clough is thriving with talented independents working alongside major businesses, with this wonderful amalgam of people, businesses and artists being at the heart of the revitalisation of these magnificent mills for 21st century use.

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

Stephenson pays it forward

Stephenson, a global leader in personal care and cosmetic ingredients, has pledged its support for Yorkshirebased social enterprise CIC Getting Clean.

This volunteering project was formed by recovering addicts to support those still struggling with addiction in local communities in Leeds, helping them stay clean and sober. Getting Clean’s ‘Soap with Hope’ programme assists recovering people with an addiction in therapeutic soapmaking workshops.

Founder Chris Sylvester explains, “I established Getting Clean to provide peer-to-peer support to people in drug and alcohol recovery, giving them a purpose and opportunity to help others. While we are still in the early phases of setting up, we appreciate the support of local

businesses with donations that allow our work to thrive.

"We are very excited about our collaboration with Stephenson, specialist developers and suppliers of soap bases and ingredients to the global beauty and personal care industry, and their generous donation of soap bases to our cause," he notes. While Getting Clean is focused on recovery, the social enterprise is also invested in supporting the environment. Its team works hard to uplift the local environment through cleaning activities and sustainability initiatives in the area.

“By repurposing excess soap bases, we can do our bit to close the loop–offsetting waste while gaining access to fantastic soap bases to produce our products, which is a win-win for all,” Chris notes.

Timothy Pulleyn, marketing

manager at Stephenson, concurs: “The Getting Clean team first visited us on May 17th. Since then, we’ve supplied the organisation with three pallets of Melt & Pour soap base—a great start in supporting th is initiative.”

Getting Clean’s products are currently being sold at artisan craft fairs, farmers’ markets, and online. In time, the Getting Clean team aims to scale production to keep up with demand. To anticipate this, Stephenson’s technical team is spending quality lab time mentoring the team on how to best process meltand-pour soap bases into beautifully finished products.

“For Stephenson, the Getting Clean programme is about more than just stopping taking drugs or abusing alcohol. Chris and his team are hugely inspirational, and we’re proud to support such a worthwhile cause that will not only have positive benefits for the community, families, and individuals but touches on broader sustainability issues and the environment too,” Tim concludes.

Chadwick Lawrence Extends Partnership with Huddersfield Town AFC

Leading Yorkshire law firm Chadwick Lawrence has announced the renewal of its partnership with Huddersfield Town AFC as the Club's Official Technical Area and Legal Partner for the next two seasons.

Having been associated with Huddersfield Town and the John Smith’s Stadium for over a decade, the firm is excited to continue this longstanding relationship.

As part of the partnership, Chadwick Lawrence’s branding will be prominently displayed on the dugouts, LED systems, and pre-match interview boards at the stadium, further cementing our presence within the Huddersfield community.

For over 170 years, Chadwick Lawrence has provided expert legal services to both commercial and private clients. Since 2008, the firm has been the trusted legal advisor to Huddersfield Town, supporting the club's departments and associated businesses with professional and reliable legal counsel.

With offices across West Yorkshire, including Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, and Leeds, Chadwick Lawrence is proud to serve the region and continu e their growth.

Paul Reeves, chief revenue officer for Huddersfield Town commented: “Chadwick Lawrence has seen a

long association with the football club and is another beacon business in the area that we are proud to be associated with. We look forward to working with managing partner Neil Wilson and his team on this extende d partnership”.

Neil Wilson, managing partner at Chadwick Lawrence, said: “This continued collaboration underscores our shared commitment to sporting excellence both on and off the field. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Huddersfield Town to support the club’s ambitious goals and strengthen the bonds with our local community."

Chadwick Law rence has seen great success through partnerships with other prominent sports clubs, including Leeds Rhinos RLFC, Wakefield Trinity RLFC, and Barnsley FC. These collaborations provide us with valuable opportunities to promote our brand and showcase the comprehensive legal services we offer across West Yorkshire.

HMi Elements launches first modular hazardous area drillers display unit

North Yorkshire's Malton-based HMi Elements continues to demonstrate its innovative prowess, by providing the market with a unique, fully modular, fully certified, Zone 1 HMI, which is maintainable in the field.

Achieving modularity whilst complying with the demanding ATEX/IECEx/AEX certification requirements wasn’t easy. The HMi Elements R&D team had to deploy all their ingenuity, resourcefulness and experience to get there. A journey that took over two and a half years, with significant investment.

The process required the design of numerous unique proprietary discrete modules one of which is an ingenious cable configuration, allocated part number SA1929.

The SA1929 cable loom

This hand-crafted cable loom connects the rear of the 490-Z1 to the front, and carries many types

of voltages, signals and high-speed video data. It cannot allow cross talk, it must comply with onerous Hazloc regulations, requiring full dual redundancy as part of the certification requirements.

Given the relatively small volumes, the loom has to be constructed by hand, requiring precise soldering skills and patience, with each one taking over four hours to build. Followed then by close scrutiny in the electronics inspection and test department.

The SA1929 is cable looming brought to new heights; it even looks impressive. Just one small part of the whole 490-Z1, delivering the very best hazardous area technology to the oil and gas industry.

The 490-Z1 will create significant cost savings for businesses when units may require maintenance which can now be done in the field. The modular design means massively reduced downtime and shipping costs, making this one of HMi Elements most sustainable products.

Howard Gould, CEO of HMi Elements, said: “I am incredibly proud of the team for our latest Zone 1 product providing even more options to our growing user base.

“We always strive to create the highest-quality products that will make our customers’ lives easier and help them to operate with ease in their hazardous environments.”

Roy Huddart, a development engineer at HMi Elements who has worked on the 490 added: “It’s great to see the 490 finally Certified and ready for sale!”

HMi Elements is headquartered in Malton, North Yorkshire, with an R&D facility in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and a base in Houston Texas, and specialises in delivering advanced technology designed for use in hazardous areas, in particular for the global oil and gas sector. Its computers are relied upon by industry leaders, including Baker Hughes, Cameron, Nabors, and National Oilwell Varco, among others.

Meritec marks 25-year landmark by partnering Yorkshire Children’s Charity

North Yorkshire digital transformation firm Meritec is marking 25 years of trading in Skipton by pledging support to one of the region’s leading children’s charities.

North Yorkshire digital transformation firm Meritec is marking 25 years of trading in Skipton by pledging support to one of the region’s leading children’s charities.

The technology, software and services provider has confirmed for

2024-25 it will partner The Principle Trust which provides respite breaks to children who are underprivileged, disadvantaged, disabled, have lifelimiting conditions, or who have experienced poverty, trauma or abuse.

Following three initial years of rapid growth Meritec moved its operation to Skipton’s Acorn Business Park in 1999. Since then, the digital transformation specialist has worked with over 400 UK public sector clients and a growing number of private sector clients, principally from the construction, facilities management, transport & logistics

We are proud to be partnering The Principle Trust and look forward to supporting their work helping disadvantaged families to escape their everyday troubles ...

Mike Davies MBE (centre) with L-R Meritec's Director Adam Wilkinson and Head of Sales and Marketing, Alex Abbey

and engineering & manufacturing sectors.

Meritec employs 58 staff across 3 sites, delivering bespoke digital transformation and business process outsourcing projects for businesses up to £500m turnover.

The firm has a long track record in supporting worthy causes; for 202425, Meritec staff chose to support the Skipton-based Trust as a charity based in Yorkshire.

Established

To kick off the partnership, on 14 September a group of Meritec staff will scale the Yorkshire Three Peaks, raising funds to help the Trust’s work with families throughout Yorkshire.

The Principle Trust was established in 2011 by Ilkley businessman Mike Davies, MBE; since then, the charity has raised over £1.7m and provided respite breaks for more than 5000 children from the Yorkshire region.

Announcing the partnership, Meritec CEO Adam Wilkinson commented,‘We are proud to be partnering The Principle Trust and look forward to supporting their work helping disadvantaged families to escape their everyday troubles and create valuable, happy memories.’ Mr. Davies added, ‘We are delighted that Meritec has chosen to partner The Principle Trust; thanks to the generosity of Yorkshire businesses like Meritec, The Trust is able to support some of the Yorkshire region’s most disadvantaged families.’

Sale secures future of Leeds direct mail business

The future of direct mail, fulfilment and print specialists, RNB Group, has been secured and the jobs of all 30 employees saved by a sale led by Bob Maxwell and Louise Longley of Begbies Traynor Group which completed at the end of August.

The business, which is based in Silver Royd Business Park, has been trading for almost 20 years. It handles entire marketing campaigns including providing creative design, digital and inkjet printing and data services.

Facing mounting cash flow issues, the directors of RNB Group turned to Begbies Traynor to market the business. There was substantial interest from potential buyers and a sale was completed to another

print and delivery services company, PDMF, just two weeks later. The jobs of all 30 employees have transferred to the new owner which will continue to operate the business from its existing site in Leeds.

LCF Law provided legal advice to the administrators, and Freeths represented the acquirers.

“RNB Group is a long-established and well-known Leeds business which simply ran into some shortterm cash flow problems,” explains joint administrator Bob Maxwell of Begbies Traynor. “Fortunately, we were able to act swiftly to market the business and conclude a sale for it as a going concern. It’s great news for the staff, suppliers and customers that the business will continue in the hands of new owners.”

Bed Kingdom makes key hire with new furniture buyer

Bed Kingdom, a leading retailer in the furniture and home decor industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Josh Branigan as the company’s buyer. With an impressive background in retail buying and visual merchandising, Josh brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the Heckmondwike-based team.

Josh Branigan joins Bed Kingdom following five years as a buyer at BuyItDirect, where he was responsible for curating a diverse range of upholstery and office furniture. Prior to this, he worked as a Visual Merchandiser in the menswear department at fashion retailer New Look. Josh is a graduate of Batley School of Art and Design, holding a bachelor’s degree in fashion design, production, and promotion.

In his new role, Josh will be expanding and refining the company's product offerings, overseeing and managing product categories, and ensuring that Bed Kingdom continues to meet its customers' evolving needs and preferences. He’ll also focus on identifying and sourcing new products

to grow the range of bedroom and home furniture products.

Josh explains: “What first attracted me to the job was the impressive growth trajectory of the business. I’m most looking forward to contributing

to expanding the product range, particularly in the kids and adult beds segments. I’m excited about the opportunity to use my experience in trend analysis and product selection to introduce innovative, high-quality products that resonate with customers. Additionally, I’m eager to implement streamlined processes that will enhance efficiency and ensure we consistently meet market demands.”

I’m excited about the opportunity to use my experience in trend analysis and product selection to introduce innovative, high-quality products that resonate with customers...

The e-commerce retailer recently acquired assets from Cuckooland and expanded its physical premises by purchasing a 70,000 sq ft facility in Liversedge to house stock and become the main distribution site for its brands. In 2023, the company made the Sunday Times Top 100 Fast-Growing Companies list after a 76.06% average annual sales growth over the past three years. They also featured in the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Yorkshire Businesses list, in partnership with the Yorkshire Post for 2024.

Aagrah Leeds is celebrating its 20-year anniversary with a special event that pays homage to the rich and opulent flavours of the Mughal era.The Mughlai High Tea is a collection of sweet and savoury treats embedding the flavour profile and the essence of royal Mughal courts to the heart of Leeds.

Known for its luxurious flavours, Mughlai cuisine was developed in the kitchens of the Mughal emperors and is characterized by its use of rich spices, dried fruits, aromatic herbs, and lavish preparation techniques that create a perfect balan ce of flavours.

To mark this milestone, Aagrah Leeds local chef Freda Shafi has curated a high tea menu that beautifully blends traditional Mughlai dishes with contemporary influences, making it both a nostalgic tribute to history and a modern culi nary adventure.

At the launch in early September, guests were treated to an assortment of both savoury and sweet dishes that showcase the richness and diversity of Mughlai cuisine. From kofta and rich paratha, with fragrant spices to delicate desserts infused with saffron and cardamom, which included burfi, and kheer–every item on the menu is crafted to evoke the indulgence of the Mughal courts.

The savoury selection includes a variety of classic Mughlai dishes such as succulent kebabs, tandoori bites, and tender chicken tikka, all seasoned with spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala. The sweet treats, on the other hand, reflect the Mughal love for opulent desserts. Expect to see desserts like gulab jamun, a sweet fried

Enjoy the opulent flavours of the Mughal era with Aagrah Leeds

dough soaked in rose-scented syrup, and kheer, a creamy rice pudding laced with saffron and nuts. These desserts not only offer a taste of luxury but also embody the rich heritage of Mughlai cuisine.

Aagrah Leeds part of an iconic chain of restaurants, has long

been a cornerstone of Yorkshire’s vibrant food scene, renowned for its commitment to authentic Kashmiri flavours. This special high tea is a celebration of both the restaurant’s two-decade journey here in the city of Leeds and the legacy of Mughal cuisine.

For those looking to experience the grandeur of the Mughal era through food, this high tea offers an unparalleled opportunity to savour flavours that have stood th e test of time.

The Mughlai High Tea at Aagrah Leeds is not just a dining experience; it’s a celebration of culture, history, and the restaurant’s lasting impact on the culinary landscape of Leeds.

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) in conjunction with AHR has submitted plans for the £20 million redevelopment of Huddersfield's bus station, fronted by a sweeping 120-metre-long glulam, green roof and Solar PV canopy.

The bus station transformation is a partnership between Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority to create an innovative gateway to the revitalised town centre along with enhanced passenger facilities.

Explains Alistair Branch, partner at SGP: "Huddersfield is the largest bus station in West Yorkshire and its redevelopment is a core component in an ambitious series of town centre interventions led by the Council to create a cultural heart for the town centre. The unique canopy structure has a contemporary design, reminiscent of the rolling Yorkshire landscape, elevating the importance of this key transport hub and gathering point within the town centre.

SGP has been involved in the project for several years, developing the canopy from initial concept, through business case approval to the design now submitted for planning approval."

The design for the canopy and the public realm beneath it was developed through extensive discussions with clients, the local authority and other stakeholders. The proposed canopy design is a simple sinusoidal timber lattice structure supporting a green roof that undulates along the length of the bus station, emphasising key entrances and drawing the eye down

Sustainable canopy for Huddersfield's bus station

from the imposing multistorey car park's long concrete façade. Office and retail units in the station's frontages will also be revitalised, delivering a harmonious continuity with surrounding businesses.

Harmonious

Continues Matt Beaumont, associate at SGP: "The canopy uses a glulam lattice to support a mix of sedum roof and solar panel glass to create a light and inviting transition space from the public realm to the bus station itself. The integrated roof lights not only let natural light flow into the area but produce their own green energy, whilst the sedum promotes biodiversity, reducing rainwater runoff and helping improve local air quality. The solar glazing ensures energy generation is visible to users below for educational purposes whilst additionally diffusing direct sunlight."

Beneath the canopy, enhanced public realm extends north towards the taxi ranks and Grade I listed Railway station. A secure, glazed cycle hub for green transport supports the Local Authorities' commitment to modal shift, linking towns and villages across West Yorkshire and beyond as well as cycle and walking routes to the retail, civic and employment areas within Huddersfield town centre.

Concludes Alistair: "As Matt and I are Huddersfield residents, we are immensely proud of our design for Huddersfield Bus Station Canopy. We believe it has balanced sustainability with quality materials and created the landmark gateway to this strategic transport hub that the council and locals want and deserve."

If planning is granted, work is expected to start on site in the Summer of 2025.

York Biotech Campus welcomes two new occupiers

York Biotech Campus (YBC) has announced that Microsaic Systems and Labskin Limited have secured lab space at the leading hub for bioscience.

Microsaic Systems supplies the industry leading, comprehensive solution for water purity monitoring, protection and control, working with water authorities globally to ensure water safety and quality. It has taken 1,350 sq ft of laboratory space at YBC, where it will produce detection bioreagents that are consumables for its wide range of testing equipment. These bioreagents are then used to detect toxic chemical pathogens in water.

Labskin Limited, a leading skin science company, has also moved into YBC. The business creates human skin equivalent models that are used by skincare, cosmetics, ingredient manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies as part of their research processes. They occupy a total of 1,800 sq ft across three laboratories on site.

Bioscience

Both organisations were formerly located at the science campus under a shared parent company, operating as Modern Water and Labskin. Earlier this year, Microsaic Systems acquired the Modern Water business, while private investors purchased Labskin’s assets from their parent company.

Microsaic Systems and Labskin Limited both have plans to expand at YBC and grow their respective teams.

Bob Moore, chief executive at Microsaic Systems said: “We’re thrilled to be based at YBC with our excellent team

producing our bioreagents. YBC is an exceptional bio-cluster, and we’re surrounded by many other leading bioscience businesses who we can draw expertise from, as well as benefit from access to an abundance of skill and talent in the area. We’re well-placed to achieve our growth ambitions, including expanding our facilities to enhance capacity and serve even more customers worldwide.”

Camper van specialists gain grant to invest and speed up productivity

A Barnsley manufacturer who has built more than 3,000 camper vans has invested in cutting edge technology to speed up production.

Wellhouse Leisure has bought a CNC machine with the support of a Business Productivity Grant secured through Barnsley Council’s Enterprising Barnsley programme.

The grant, designed to help SMEs improve productivity, is supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and part-funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

We’ve never been driven by price but always concentrated on quality and want to deliver the best camper van conversions on the market...

for fitted furniture in their van conversions. Previously, the company sub-contracted this task to a business in Leeds.

CEO David Elliott said: “Having our own CNC machine on-site will save us so much time and money. We’ve worked out that we’ve paid out more than £53,000 over the years so our joiners could go and use someone else’s machine. On top of that, add the time and money spent on them going back and forth on a 70-mile round trip to Leeds.

“Having our own CNC machine cuts all that out; and eradicates any little hold-ups when we need to amend a piece or cut a replacement. It will speed up each job and make life easier for us all round–we estimate it will pay for itself within two years.”

It has been put towards the cost of the £83,000 Biesse Rover K FT machine which will now be used by Wellhouse to cut all component wooden parts

David is planning to develop new products and explore new markets with the in-house CNC machine too.

He is looking into the manufacture flat-pack furniture kits to sell to other camper van companies and the manufacture of fittings for garden buildings and man sheds.

Business support advisor at Enterprising Barnsley Paul Johnson said: “We’re very pleased to support this latest bold move by Wellhouse Leisure to improve productivity and operational efficiencies at work. It's great to see a manufacturing business continue to invest in Barnsley and grow. It highlights the strength of Barnsley as a great place to do business.”

Enterprising Barnsley has previously supported Wellhouse Leisure to invest in other machinery and software; developments in lean manufacturing; skills training to support new product ventures and

Yorkshire will host its first official British Beauty Week event in October with The Festival of Health, Beauty and Longevity taking place at Grantley Hall on Sunday 27th October.

Hosted by This is Yorkshire Beauty founder and North Yorkshire cosmetic surgeon, Dr Luna Khan-Salim, the event will put the spotlight on key issues including representation in beauty, wome n’s health and longevity.

Attendees will enjoy an amazing line-up of speakers and topics,

engagement with a borough-wide Business Productivity Group.

David set up Wellhouse Leisure in 2002, building on a lifetime of experience in van conversions, having previously run Deepcar Motorhomes with his dad.

He and wife Sarah now employ 21 people, and their Barugh Green factory manufactures, services, repairs and sells made-to-order and in-stock campers to customers nationwide.

The award-winning company has manufactured more than 3,000 conversions over the last 22 years, working with quality base vehicles such as the Toyota Alphard, Ford Transit, Nissan Serena and Honda Elysion.

David said: “We’ve never been driven by price but always concentrated on quality and want to deliver the

best camper van conversions on the market.

“Using CNC-cut pieces for our fitted furniture means we can guarantee precision and consistency which helps us deliver strong, durable and rattle-free cabinets for our premium camper vans.”

The Business Productivity and Digitisation grant is being delivered across South Yorkshire via partfunding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and £5.2m of investment through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Companies who secure a grant receive contributions up to £12,500 – which must be match-funded–towards either a capital or revenue project. The funded initiative must identify and address a challenge to business productivity.

leading brands and the latest in technology and treatments in women's

health and beauty. Morning or afternoon sessions are available,

and all attendees will receive a specially cura ted goodie bag.

Electric Cow lands at Askham Bryan College

Askham Bryan College, a leader in agricultural education, has taken a significant step towards sustainability with the installation of a Biolectric farm scale anaerobic digester located at the on-cam pus dairy farm.

Askham Bryan College, a leader in agricultural education, has taken a significant step towards sustainability with the installation of a Biolectric farm scale anaerobic digester located at the on-campus dairy farm. This innovative addition is not just a technological upgrade; it’s a testament to the college’s commitment to eco-friendly farming practices and renewable energy education.

Westfield Farm is an integral part of the college, milking 170 cows; and is well equipped with a wide selection of machinery, alongside a state-of-the-art robotic milking parlour facility for both commercial and educational purposes.

Harnessing

renewable energy from dairy waste

At the heart of this project is the

Biolectric anaerobic digester, a cutting-edge system designed to convert organic waste into valuable renewable energy. Specifically tailored for farm scale operations, this digester processes slurry—a mixture of manure and water— produced by the college’s dairy herd. Through a natural process of anaerobic digestion, where organic material is broken down in the absence of oxygen, the system generates biogas. This biogas is then used to produce electricity and heat, reducing the farm’s reliance on external energy sources and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions associated with methane.

Sustainability in action

The installation of the Biolectric digester aligns perfectly with the college’s broader goals of

sustainability and environmental stewardship. By converting waste into energy, the college is not only managing its dairy farm’s waste more efficiently but also setting an example for sustainable agricultural practices. The system’s byproduct, known as digestate, is a nutrient-rich substance that can be used as a natural fertilizer, further enhancing the farm’s sustainability by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Educational benefits for students

One of the most exciting aspects of this project is the educational opportunities it provides for students. Askham Bryan College is renowned for its hands-on approach to agricultural education, and the new anaerobic digester offers students a unique opportunity to learn about renewable energy and waste management technologies firsthand. Students can observe and study the entire process— from the collection of slurry to the production of biogas and the use of digestate as fertilizer—gaining practical knowledge that will be invaluable in their future careers.

A model for the future of farming

The Biolectric digester is more than just an investment in technology; it’s an investment in the future of farming. As the agricultural industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact, the college is leading by example, demonstrating how modern technology can be harnessed to create sustainable, energy-efficient farming operations.

This initiative not only supports the college’s educational mission, but

also positions the college as a model for other agricultural institutions looking to adopt renewable energy solutions. It shows how traditional farming practices can be adapted to meet the challenges of the 21st century, ensuring that farming remains both productive and sustainable.

Looking ahead

With the successful installation of the Biolectric anaerobic digester, Askham Bryan College is setting a new standard for sustainability in agricultural education. As the system becomes fully operational, it will provide ongoing benefits to the college, its students, and the wider community, all while reducing the farm’s carbon footprint and advancing the college’s environmental goals.

In the years to come, the college’s dairy farm will not only produce highquality dairy products but will also be a hub for innovation and sustainability, leading the way towards a greener future for the agricultural industry.

Whether you’re a student, educator, or farmer, the installation of this anaerobic digester is a powerful reminder of the importance of integrating renewable energy technologies into our farming practices. The college continues to inspire and educate the next generation of farmers, ensuring that they are well-equipped to face the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.

Askham Bryan College have joined the Race to Zero, a global campaign in the education sector for a Zero Carbon World and are committed to becoming a net zero organisation and a leader in sustainability practices by 2050.

Textile dyeing community celebrates launch of historic digital archive

The Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) has launched a new online Textile Collection, bringing its vast archive of textile dyeing history to a growing community of enthusiasts, professionals, and researc hers worldwide.

Shelley Hollingdrake is a magpie of sorts.

As historical collections officer at SDC, it’s her role to deliver shiny artefacts from the rich history of colour science for future generations to enjoy.

For the past several months, Shelley has been leading the SDC team in meticulously cataloguing almost 50,000 textile dyeing artefacts, journals, and books to preserve and share the society’s 140-year heritage with a wider audience. From Yorkshire to New York, the interactive collection features 19th-century dyes, journals, scientific equipment, and more from historic makers.

Reflecting on the project, Shelley

said, “We are at the very early stages of cataloguing the collection, but this new website allows us to engage with our community in a meaningful way. It’s incredibly satisfying to see our progress and to share the wonders of our collection with the world."

As well as the launch, the SDC is also looking forward to the 43rd International Conference on Dyes in History and Archaeology (DHA43).

Held at Leeds’ iconic Cloth Hall Court starting 23rd October 2024 – with 24 spoken presentations on colour history over three days – the importance of archives like the SDC’s Textile Collection in ongoing research will be a key topic of discussion.

To explore the collection, visit: collect ions.sdc.org.uk

Company of the Month

Henry Moore, Large Two Forms, 1966-69. Courtesy of the Henry Moore Foundation. Photo © Jonty Wilde.

Caption: (L-R) Andy Hobson and Jake Edwards

Huddersfield Town appoint Fantastic Media as official brand partner

First appointed by the club in October 2023, Fantastic Media delivered a strategic rebrand for Huddersfield Town, which rolled out over several months, as part of a sevenfigure ‘Everything Together’ campaign to revitalise the club and community ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The campaign was inspired by the core message that everyone is an important voice in the success of the club; a journey backed by an unwavering pursuit of togetherness and pride.

As Huddersfield Town’s official brand and marketing partner, Fantastic Media is committed to driving the club's growth and strengthening its brand by delivering strategic consultancy and a range of support services. This partnership also extends to the wider business community, with a free event showcasing the success of the ‘Everything Together’ campaign, alongside offering complimentary consultations to HTAFC partners to foster collaboration and mutual success.

Fantastic Media’s CEO, Andy Hobson, said: “Huddersfield Town has ambitious plans to grow revenue, engage commercial partners and, most importantly, build stronger bonds between the club and its fans.

I am proud that we can help the club to deliver these goals by joining as its official brand and marketing partner.

“The fans, players, club staff and wider community have responded incredibly positively to the ‘Everything Together’ launch, you can really feel the spark igniting again down at The John Smith’s Stadium.”

HTAFC’s chief executive officer Jake Edwards added: “We are thrilled to have Fantastic Media onboard as the club’s official brand and marketing

partner. Andy and the team truly understand the new direction for the club and genuinely believe in what we’re trying to achieve here.

“Our goal is to rejuvenate the club’s identity and cultivate a renewed sense of community and success. The ‘Everything Together’ rebrand campaign delivered on those aims but it is just the beginning. The ongoing strategic support that Fantastic will deliver over the coming weeks and months will help to solidify the club’s foothold in the local and sporting communities.”

Fantastic Media is a West Yorkshire based integrated marketing agency with national and international experience in the sports branding, fan engagement and global reach. The agency previously worked with Huddersfield Town from 2015 to 2017, creating the ‘No Limits Terrier Spirit’ campaign when the club was promoted into the Premier League.

Musings on music at Ilkley Literature Festival

Ilkley Literature Festival is inviting audiences to shuffle through a playlist of music events this October as it explores Beethoven to Britpop.

Erica Morris, director of Ilkley Literature Festival, said: “Music takes so many different forms, yet the power it has to transform our moods is universal. We’re looking forward to exploring a huge variety of musical expressions from Beethoven through to Britpop under the guidance of some extraordinary experts.”

In our modern age of call outs, cancellation, and scandals, the awardwinning slam poet Vanessa Kisuule will discuss the moral conundrums that come with fandom.

In what promises to be a bracingly honest, witty, and lively discussion, Kisuule explores how, or if, we can hold famous figures to account while loving them at the same time and whether we can, or should, ever separate the art from the artist.

Richard Morton Jack discusses his book, Nick Drake, exploring the singular talent who passed almost unnoticed during his brief lifetime. Drake produced several albums that went on to sell in the millions in the decades after his death. Richard Morton Jack draws from new interviews with Drake’s family and exclusive access to deeply personal archive material to explore his enigmatic existence.

Classic FM presenter, bestselling author, and journalist John Suchet traces Beethoven’s footsteps from his early years in Bonn to his dying days in Vienna.

Drawing on his own life and career, Suchet takes us on a personal journey, discussing how Beethoven’s music has accompanied him through the best and worst of times and demonstrating the life-changing power of great music.

Kate Kennedy, director of the Museum of Music History and Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, offers a homage to the cello. Audiences can discover the remarkable history of the cello and hear stories of four remarkable cellists and their experiences of persecution, dramatic escape, and misfortune.

The festival also presents a special evening with former Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and her long-time collaborator, multiinstrumentalist John Sampson.

During this event, poetry and music unite as Sampson, who plays everything from the trumpet to the lesser-known crumhorn, provides a musical backdrop to Duffy's performances of her best-loved poems alongside selected modern and classic poems on the wonder of nature from her new anthology Earth Prayers.

Journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer will also explore the history of nineties Britpop, exploring the era’s key artists from Oasis and Blur to The Prodigy and Radiohead, transporting us back to the beating heart of the nineties.

Ilkley Literature Festival runs 4-20 October in venues across the town. Box office on 01943 816714 or book online: www. ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk

HeadlineactsincludeKateAtkinson, Julian Clary, Susie Dent, Alan Hollinghurst, Jodi Picoult, Prue Leith, Carol Ann Duffy and more.

John Suchet

Leeds City Council confirms new interimCEO

Leeds City Council has confirmed the appointment of Mariana Pexton as interim chief executive in a unanimous vote of it s full council.

Mariana, the council’s director of strategy and resources, will take up the position when current chief executive Tom Riordan leaves la ter this month.

She will be the first ever woman

to take up the role, heading the second-biggest local authority in the country and bringing a strong track record of driving the council’s ambitions for both itself and the city.

Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Mariana will be an excellent interim chief executive and I’m very pleased that full council has agreed her appointment. We have strong representation from women across our senior political and officer

leadership and this is an important milestone for us to now also have our first female head of paid service.

“She has been leading many of our key frontline services over the past couple of years and has been driving the council expertly and efficiently through the considerable financial challenges we have been experiencing and continue to face, in common with other councils.

“Mariana is also held in high regard across the city for her work with partner organisations and the sports sector and is a passionate champion of our city and council ambitions and values.”

During her career at the council, she has worke d closely over the years with Tom, who is leaving for

a new job leading national health and social care reforms as a permanent secretary with the Department of Health and Social Care

Mariana said: “It’s a great privilege to have this opportunity and I’m completely committed to the council and to Leeds. Here we do things together, working with residents and partners to achieve the best for the city and its people.

“I will be focused on consolidating all the ongoing efforts to improve the effi ciency and effectiveness of the council, while working towards delivering a bala nced budget. I am also determined that alongside this work we continue to operate as a team, both within the council and more broadly, to make the most

of opportunities to help improve lives across the city.”

As the council’s current director of strategy and resources, Mariana leads a large di rectorate with key corporate services including finance, human resources and many other areas, along with Civic Enterprise Leeds, which provides frontline services such as catering, cleaning, school crossing patrols, passenger transport and bu ilding repairs.

Mariana joined the council in 2000 and has held senior roles in strategy, customer services and children’s services. Before then she had a career in leadership and management in the Civil Service and an inspectorate. She studied

Kirklees College forms partnership with Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice

Forget Me Not Children’s

Hospice’s Chief Executive

Gareth Pierce and Kirklees College’s CEO Palvinder Singh recently launched a new partnership that’s set to lead to some special experiences for the children and families the children’s hospice supports.

Kirklees College students will also benefit from the opportunity to develop the skills they need for their careers

in a setting rated ‘outstanding’ by Care Quality Commission inspectors in 2023.

The partnership came about after the two leaders met at an event in 2023. Palvinder initially visited the hospice, and then invited Gareth and his colleagues to tour the college’s Huddersfield Centre.

Gareth Pierce said: “When we walked around Kirklees College and saw the

sports studies in Newcastle, has a master’s in business administration from the University of Leeds, and has recently been awarded a professional doctorate at Leeds Beckett University, researching leadership and strategy in lo cal government.

Married, with two children, Mariana is also chair of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and a director at Leeds Rhinos Netball as a volunteer.

She completed the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Ma rathon in 2023.

She will formally take up the interim chief executive post on the 23 September and will continue in this until the recruitment process for a permanent chief executiv e is completed.

amazing facilities, we kept seeing brilliant opportunities for our children and their families. We’re looking forward to welcoming Kirklees College students to the hospice and our shops for placements, apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities.”

Palvinder and Gareth were joined at the launch by Julia Arechiga, Pauline Hughes, Helen Rose and Claire Bunclark of the Kirklees College Executive Leadership Team.

Palvinder Singh said: “This new partnership aligns with our values of kindness, unity and excellence and will allow us to continue to create opportunities and change lives for both our students and local residents. As two community stakeholders, we’re excited about how we can promote new ways of learning in Kirklees and make a difference to the lives of those who the hospice supports.”

Forget Me Not children's hospice and Kirklees College launch new partnership

Yorkshire studios awarded for best video design

Prodoto Commercial Photographic Studios has won the Best Video Design Award by global agency marketplace DesignRush.

The winning video was produced for Leeds based decorating equipment brand Coral Tools, and innovatively showcases a new product range using advanced filming techniques alongside CGI.

The global awards recognise the best website, logo, app, print, package, and video designs across all industries, with previous winners in the video category promoting brands such as Guinness, Starbucks, and Lotus.

Coral Tools used the promotional film for a huge 4m x 10m exhibition stand at the National Painting and Decorating Show in Nove mber last year.

We’re proud to represent the creativity and innovation in our local area alongside top design agencies from across the world...

video, Prodoto shot lifestyle photography for the brand in a custom-built set at their multi-purpose Mytholmroyd studios.

William Lack, owner said: “It’s wonderful that our work has been recognised and I’m grateful for my team who worked incredibly hard to produce the video.

“We always strive to give our clients the most creative results, whether that be photography or video, and here the whole team pulled together to push boundaries in the studio.

The video was awarded due to its immersive storytelling, high-definition visuals, and dynamic editing.

In addition to the high production value

“We’re proud to represent the creativity and innovation in our local area alongside top design agencies from across the world.”

Prodoto have published a behind the scenes peek of how the video was created on their website.

William Lack with certificate

events at Pavilions of Harrogate which continue to attract a new audience to the showground. Event organisers tell us they are impressed by the venues, our commitment to sustainability and the passion and dedication of our terrific team which allows us to continue to attract new business. We look forward to another successful quarter.”

Record breaking year for retail events at Pavilions of Harrogate

Pavilions of Harrogate hosts a range of events throughout the year including conferences, meetings, weddings, funerals and trade events.Upcoming events include a new fair for Yorkshire

with the Harrogate Toy and Train Collectors Fair on Sunday October 6 and the Antiques and Art Fair from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th November 2024.

Pavilions of Harrogate

Richard Moorhouse

North Yorkshire piemaker launches £100k crowdfunder

Trojan Baths invests £750,000 into relocation and equipment Trojan, a leading Yorkshire-based acrylic bath manufacturer, has announced an expansion of its gel coat shower tray division, Traymate.

Following the relocation of Traymate Products Ltd to Huddersfield in May 2023, the business was absorbed into Trojan in January 2024 and with it a programme of planned investment.

Traymate, was acquired by Trojan’s parent company, Hartford Holdings Group Ltd, in 2021 for £2.85m as a strategic acquisition to supply designled minimalist shower trays into the market. The transition to Yorkshire was aimed at consolidating operations and capitalising on Trojan's extensive manufacturing infrastructure.

The new site in Longwood, Huddersfield, close to Trojan’s existing manufacturing

facility, consists of a 46,000 square foot building on a three-acre site. The move has created 26 new jobs and includes a planned, costed and Group-funded investment programme of £750k that began in January.

Investments include new master and production moulds, as well as additional equipment including two enclosed gel coat spray booths and an additional casting and packing machine, all aimed at further improving quality and output.

To facilitate the transition, Trojan has made several key appointments including David Dickinson as operations manager. David brings 20 years of experience in engineering and operations predominantly from the automotive industry and will be instrumental in driving Traymate's production efficiency and focusing on additional quality standards.

Commenting on his new role David said: “Recruiting, training and retaining motivated employees to drive the Traymate division forward has been a challenge, but we now have an excellent core team who are adding value in what is a positive atmosphere.”

David Mosley, managing director of Trojan added: “The move to the new site has not been without its challenges but the investment into new equipment and staff mark an exciting new chapter for Traymate as we set out to significantly improve our capacity on shower tray production as well as further improve our quality standards. As we look to celebrate our 50th year in 2025, our commitment to reinvestment, innovation and growth remains unwavering as does our passion for delivering the best of British to customers worldwide.”

Since its establishment in 1975, Trojan has grown into one of Europe's largest acrylic bath manufacturers, renowned for its wide range of highquality products. The acquisition and integration of Traymate, a company with over 20 years of expertise in designing and producing design led minimalist shower trays demonstrates Trojan's position as a comprehensive bathware supplier.

David Mosley, managing director–Trojan Plastics at the Traymate factory, Huddersfield

David Mosley (centre) with the Traymate team at the Huddersfield factory

Wills and undue influence explained

be looked at, as well as their physical well-being and their dependence on the individual in question.

been unwell or frail or otherwise overly susceptible to influence.

What to do if you think there has been undue influence in making a Will

When you write your Will, you can leave your estate to your choice of beneficiaries, however, if someone is persuaded or pressured into leaving their money to a certain individual, a Will could be challenged in the courts. There are a number of grounds on which a Will can be contested, including where undue influence has been exerted over the testator or person making the Will. This could be coercion, intimidation or manipulation that has led the testator to include someone in the Will.

Spotting undue influence

Undue influence exists when someone has exercised their power to overbear an individual who is making their Will. It may be difficult to know if this has happened, but if a Will contains a large and unexpected gift then you may be s

It can also be a warning if the Will was changed not long before death and the changes were unexpected and different to wishes they had previously expressed.

Where the person suspected of undue influence was a major presence in the deceased’s life before their death or the deceased was reliant on them at the time the Will was changed, this could be a warning sign, particularly if the deceased had

If you believe that a loved one may have been exposed to undue influence which led them to changing or making a Will in someone’s favour, you should speak to a legal expert. While it can be difficult to prove undue influence, a contentious probate solicitor will be able to talk through your options with you. It is often possible to resolve matters without the need for a court hearing.

Proving undue influence in a Will

The level of influence required is more than simple persuasion. The court will consider whether it believes that the deceased would have made the gift, had the undue influence not occurred. Coercion is classed as being influence that overwhelms the testator’s wishes although it does not need to completely change their mind.

The mental state of the deceased at the time the Will was made or changed will

The court will consider whether it believes the Will to be what the testator wanted to happen or whether it follows someone else’s wishes. The facts of the case need to do more than show undue influence, they should be inconsistent with any other hypothesis. However, the court will accept that undue influence has been proved without direct evidence in some cases.

Where undue influence is proved, the court will state that the Will is invalid and the estate will either pass under the terms of an earlier valid Will or, where there is no other Will, under the Rules of Intestacy.

The time limit for claiming undue influence

It is important to consider whether you wish to make a claim as soon as possible. In some cases, the time limit for commencing action may be only six months from the date of the Grant of Probate.

If you have concerns about a Will, you are strongly recommended to talk to a solicitor. It is often possible to reach an agreement without the need to prove a case in court.

Restrictive Covenants Barbenheimer, Busybodies, Builders, and the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

Restrictive Covenants – Barbenheimer, Busybodies, Builders, and the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

You are a young first-time buyer and buy an old property to revamp to sell on in the future. You want to change the external look of the property or change the fence panels in the garden. It is your property, you can do as you please; or can you? 6 months later, you receive a knock on the door from your neighbour bringing to your attention a ‘restrictive covenant’ on your property’s title which does not allow you to change the externals or change the garden fence. Suddenly your project comes to a halt and you have no idea where to turn.

Subject to exceptions, these are called ‘restrictive covenants’ and are noted on the Land Registry Official Copies but some may refer to an archived document. It is ultimately a contract between 2 landowners. Some agreed between two neighbours over 100 years ago. We have previously discussed that much property has changed hands and many have sold off parts of their land to raise some quick funds to help with the cost of living. Even in 2024, the seller can transfer part of their land and agree during the transaction with the new buyer to not use their new land in a certain way. This then binds future buyers.

Any layperson may wonder what a covenant that was agreed 100 years ago, has to do with me or why the seller made me buy the house with

it on. The story behind why it does, is why blockbuster movies have the space to have lavish red carpet events at Leicester Square.

Leicester Square, London

Leicester Square in London has created a spectacle for film premieres, including both Barbie and Oppenheimer. Millions will have seen the famous red carpet and it is one of the very few open spaces in that area of London. Many people will not know that the reason why the square is what it is today is because of a busybody and a builder.

Charles Tulk owned a few properties in the area and owned part of the square that was a picturesque garden. In 1808, he sold part of his land which included the garden. He sold it on the basis that the garden would be maintained and no buildings to be erected on it. Agreeing a restrictive covenant. Over the next few decades, the garden changed hands many times. It became known as a ‘neglected and dirty place’ as nobody bothered to maintain it. In 1841 nearly 40 years later, a builder called Edward Moxhay – who now owned the gardens – began cutting trees down. Mr Tulk walked past and to his horror saw this destruction, and immediately lodged an application for an injunction to prevent Mr Moxhay from carrying on. Mr

Moxhay disputed on the basis that this contract on the land had nothing to do with him and the restriction had been agreed 40 years ago. The public no longer used the garden because it was ‘a disgrace to the neighbourhood’. The Master of the Rolls made an order in favour of Mr Tulk and prevented Mr Moxhay from using it in any way inconsistent with using it as an open garden with no buildings to be erected on it. It is thanks to Mr Tulk meddling in someone else’s business that a restrictive covenant ‘runs with the land’ and is the reason why Leicester Square still stands today.

Mr Tulk and Mr Moxhay both died shortly after, but their legacy that a restrictive covenant binds future purchasers still lives on 200 years later and can be the subject of neighbour disputes and problems with the sale of property.

Modification or Discharge?

There are numerous remedies to enforce against someone in breach of a restrictive covenant. Some landowners may note a drop in interest should potential buyers be furnished with knowledge of the covenant if they want to buy it but are prohibited from doing something with it. It may be possible to negotiate the release or variation of the covenant.

It may also be po ssible to take out indemnity insurance to cover the

possibility of a knock on the door by a nother Mr Tulk.

If none of these are possible then an application can be made to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). The Tribunal has jurisdiction over disputes relating to land but specifically restrictive covenants. It acts as an arbitrator and the process that applicants must follow is niche as i t falls out of the usual Civil Litigation procedure.

The Upper Tribunal can discharge or modify the restriction if satisfied that one of the following g rounds applies:

• The covena nt is obsolete.

• The covenant impedes some reasonable u se of the land.

• If both parties agree to modif y or discharge.

• Where no injury will be caused.

It is important to know that the Tribunal has wide discretion and, in some cases, even if no objections are received, the Tribunal can still prevent a total discharge if they consider the covenant adds positive value. The main thing is that there are solutions despite it being an alien process.

How can Chadwick Lawrence help?

Legal advice f rom the outset is important. Neighbours do not usually like to receive solicitors’ letters but having professional representation can

make negotiations cost efficient and if required can navigate the specialist process within the Tribunal. On ce the process is complete, correct registration at Land Regis try can ensure no disputes can arise in the future.

As many will agree, the geography of Yorkshire is unique. We have the urba nised west and the rural north. Land has changed over many years and oldfashioned restrictive covenants can be com mon with those willing to enforce them.

As Yorkshire’s Legal People, w e have offices in all regions and can understand from a local pe rspective what that means for the parties involved. Something that is important durin g negotiations.

Leicester Square

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The concept of ‘risk’

Risk is a fluid premise within investing, and that which constitutes low risk for some, may not for others.

With over 32% of the world’s wealth currently held by women, according to the WealthiHer Network, women have a big role to play in the world of investment. However, our own research uncovered significant differences in the approaches of female investors, relative to their male counterparts, particularly when it comes to risk.

Women have shown to be more risk averse, or in some cases risk aware, then men. There are a variety of factors that have contributed to this, the most pertinent being that women have historically been afforded less exposure to investments than men. Our own research at Quilter offers insight into this, with over 64% of our female clients revealing that before working with Quilter, their assets were held entirely in cash.

To qualify how risk is interpreted within investments, a portfolio of investments is typically placed into a risk category, which denotes its risk and return objectives. As such, lower risk portfolios may provide a steady, if unspectacular, return, while higher risk portfolios may generate greater returns but incur periods of higher volatility. All investments fluctuate, and clients should seek to align themselves with the risk level most palatable with their own personal circumstances.

As an industry, it is our responsibility to engage with clients more holistically and ensure they are fully appraised and educated on their investments and the wider markets. We believe that by

working directly with clients to ascertain their true tolerance for risk, we can ensure that each client’s portfolio works to its fullest potential and provides returns relevant to their personal profile.

With this in mind, how should women approach risk in investing and what are the key things to consider?

There are no ‘silver bullets’ for risk

No one asset class is immune to all market conditions, and even those areas typically perceived to be ‘safe havens’ or towards the lower end of the risk spectrum may falter. A demonstration of this can be found in the 2022 UK bond markets.

Bonds, and particularly government bonds, are generally considered to be a lower-risk investment than equities or stocks. As such, defensive portfolios will typically have greater exposure to bonds (also known as fixed interest investments) and rely on their more steady return profile to add value. In a less risk-averse portfolio, the allocation to bonds will have decreased, typically in favour of equities or alternative investments such as property.

However, bond markets can become volatile, as was the case in late September 2022, when the UK’s then-chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, unveiled his “minibudget”. The package announced a series of unfunded tax cuts designed to stimulate growth within the UK economy but was rejected outright by the market on fears over sustainability. This led to a mass sell-off in the bond markets and sent the British pound plummeting to an all-time low relative to the US dollar.

This, though a relatively isolated incident, highlights how a conventionally low-risk portfolio may still suffer losses throughout particular market events and periods.

Navigating risk

While studies have shown women to generally favour a lower risk approach to investing, it is important to have a full understanding of the risks associated, and your tolerance to them, before deciding upon an investment path.After careful analysis in conjunction with your investment adviser, it may be that your ability to withstand, and confidence in taking risks is greater than originally expected. Therefore, a higher risk portfolio, with greater return potential, may be more suitable.

Robin Howcroft–Robin.Howcroft@quiltercheviot.com

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authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 06201261, registered address: Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4AB.

Quilter Financial Services Limited and Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited is

entered on the FCA register (https:// register.fca.org.uk/s/) under reference 440703 and 440718. Trusts, Estate planning, some Buy to Let Mortgage, Taxation and Inheritance Tax Advice are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The representative member of the VAT group is Quilter Business Services Limited. VAT registration number: 386 1301 59.

AD:VENTURE Case Study–Knotfield Vines

By: Daneile Moore AD:VENTURE

Tucked away like a secret garden, Knotfield Vines is a hidden gem in the heart of Rawdon village. And, in early 2022, it started its new chapter as a vineyard, established by best friends Laura Tillotson and Sophie Ellis, and run by a small and dedicate

The business came to fruition after land was left to Sophie by her father following his passing. The land was greenbelt and very beautiful. Initially, Sophie was at a loss what to do with it. She didn’t want the land and her father’s legacy to her spoiled, wanting to keep it private rather than sell to a developer.

Sat in the field having a glass of wine during Covid, Sophie pondered if the soil and area would be right for growing grapes for wine. Perhaps a pipe dream she thought, but even so, she had an expert to come and have a look to see if it would work. The feedback was very

positive, the conditions of the land were perfect, just needing a little work on getting the soil right.

Sophie says “Once I found out it was actually viable, I racked my brains to find the right partner. I chatted to my best friend Laura about the idea and whether she thought I should approach a contact I had who had just exited a business. Laura immediately said she wanted to be involved herself. Laura has all the skills and strengths I was looking for in a business partner, so the deal was sealed.”

The business was launched in early

2022 and Sophie and Laura quickly established Knotfield Vines with a variety of limited small batch releases, including their flagship product Rawdon, an effervescent, traditional method sparkling wine.

The vines, and the business were growing well, but the team were having to outsource a lot of the heavy work that needed a tractor, including the mowing, misting and rotavating.

Sophie told us “The timing of the preparation, maintenance and harvest of the vines and grapes is vital to the quality of the harvest and the size of the yield. Without our own machinery, we were reliant on an external contractor. While they have been fantastic, they couldn’t always work at the times weF

needed them which was impacting our ability to maximise our production. We were also spending more over the long term, so not as efficient as we knew could be in terms of costs. We were also keen to improve our website, and our marketing operations”. A friend recommended AD:VENTURE to Sophie, suggesting she reach out.

Sophie and Laura worked with business manager Bal Sembhi to complete their AD:VENTURE Growth Grant application. Bal provided one to one support to help them with their cash flow and their business plan to submit a successful application for the growth grant.

Sophie said “Bal was so engaged with our business and offered very personal support. I could tell he was genuinely invested in Knotfield and understood the nuance of what we were doing. AD:VENTURE’s approach is not one size fits all, it’s very bespoke to the business. Bal made no assumptions and was very focussed on us and what we were aiming to achieve with Knotfield Vines”.

The team were delighted when they got approval for the £10,000 match funded grant.

The grant helped towards the costs of a mini tractor, with a mist sprayer attached. This is a custom set up, which allows the tractor to mow, mist, and rotavate. Funding was also used towards marketing, branding, signage, short term external consultancy, a tasting table, and a website upgrade.

Sophie adds “Being able to bring this work in house will be invaluable and save us a huge amount of time money and resource, which will be evident immediately.

“Our yield currently is still quite small, but this investment will help us to increase productivity and keep building and scaling. Looking forward, we are excited to grow the team and in the future, we’ll be looking for a marketeer, and a full-time vine keeper. There are 6 of us on rotation now, but to scale to the level we aim for we will need a fulltime person. As the business grows, we know there will also be a need for admin, logistics and management of

orders further down the line, so we are looking forward to that!”.

Sophie says “For me personally, applying for grants has always felt intimidating and a little out of reach. I had assumed that the hoops we’d have to jump through would be so insurmountable that we wouldn’t be successful.

It’s been so much easier, and valuable than we had expected. The process has been so personable, having akey point of contact in Bal, working with us and hand holding us all the way. This has now given us greater confidence to look at other opportunities.

“Something we didn’t expect, was how working on the business plan has allowed us to hone down our future for the business at a level of detail we hadn’t considered before. Doing this in granular detail has really focussed us and been incredibly helpful.”

Wagamama agrees deal to open at The Springs Leeds

Wagamama is the latest popular food and beverage brand set to open at The Springs retail and leisure centre at Thorpe Park Leeds. The Pan-Asian inspired restaurant group has agreed a 15-year lease to open a new 3,482 sq ft outlet just opposite ODEON and Nandos at The Springs.

The Springs Leeds marks wagamama’s 10th new opening in 2024. Since launching its first restaurant in London over 30 years ago, wagamama has become a household name with 169 locations across the UK. The stylish new restaurant is set to open in October providing 120 internal covers and 30 external covers. Open seven days a week, it will create 52 new job s for the area.

Milly Pearson, regional marketing manager said: “We are so excited to open the doors to our new

restaurant in Leeds. Our benches will welcome the local community and visitors to The Springs, and we can’t wait to serve up some of our newest dishes and fresh favourites!”

In July, wagamama announced the launch of 'soul club', its firstever loyalty programme, a unique platform where soul club members can redeem free menu items, exclusive content and engage with a new line up of ambassadors. By downloading the soul club app, guests kick off a journey to redeem mouth-watering sides and mains

with a bowl of edamame claimable instantly. For every visit, guests receive a stamp in their digital stamp-book, inspired by the Japanese tradition of hanko stamps.

Rachel Vickers, senior commercial manager at Scarborough Group International (SGI), developer and asset manager of The Springs and Thorpe Park Leeds, said: “We ’e delighted to announce that Wagamama is coming to The Springs. This incredibly popular brand perfectly complements our customer base, enhancing

our status as a vibrant destination for food and drink. The Springs has established itself as the go to place for shopping and leisure, not least because of its highly accessible location thanks to recent major improvements to local infrastructure.

“The Spr ings is one the best performing out of town locations across the entire UK for many of our store operators. This is because we have a transient visitor profile as well as an established working community of over 7,500 people on the business park. New neighbouring residential communities, both existing and planned, alongside 150 acres of community parkland and green open spaces, make our offer even mo re compelling.”

The deal with Wagamama follows a series of exciting new openings at The Springs with Starbucks, TUI, Hotel Chocolat and handmade frozen food expert, Cook being the most recent. Pret a Manger and Loungers also opened last year, enhancing the food and beverage offerin g for visitors.

The Springs is a 350,000 sq ft shopping and leisure attraction located at the heart of awardwinning business destination, Thorpe Park Leeds at Junction 46 of the M1. Brands include Next, Boots, M&S, TK Maxx, The Range, H&M, Pure Gym, Nandos and many more.

Because of its unique and highlymodern environment, The Springs has been used as a springboard for new concepts by a number of operators. These include the UK’s first purpose-designed ODEON Luxe cinema, a new concept store for The Range, as well as Vitruvian d ental practice.

Final Piece of £8.45m Secured for Northern Impact Fund 2

The north’s most prolific and longest standing social investor, Key Fund, has secured £8.45m for the Northern Impact Fund 2, having recently finalised the last piece of funding from the Mercers’ Charitable Foundation (to which the Mercers’ Company is sole trustee).

The fund is open until 2027 to social and community enterprises, charities, and co-operatives operating in the north and the midlands, with investment available from £5,000 to £150,000.

It follows the success of the first Northern Impact Fund 1, which ran from 2016 to 2022 and supported almost 200 organisations, with over £9m of funding.

Key Fund, a social enterprise itself, provides flexible loans alongside grants to help enterprises start up or grow, with the aim of them becoming more sustainable in trading and impact terms.

Matt Smith, CEO of Key Fund, said: “The Northern Impact Fund is based on a core long-standing product we’ve been delivering since 2002 and is hugely popular, which is why we have secured another round of funds to invest. It’s in demand because it’s so straightforward, with a grant attached, that really helps organisations to grow their trading activity whilst preserving social impact.”

The grant element is designed to offset the cost of social impact, while enterprises use the loan to focus on

the development or growth of trading activity. The fund is designed to support a business at all stages, from cash-flow, working capital or asset development and purchase.

Matt said: “The grant helps de-risk growth and can be a transformative step-change for a business.”

Veterans at Ease, a Northeast charity benefited from the first Northern Impact Fund. It was facing huge demand for its services, providing counselling to armed forces veterans, but struggled to secure funding and faced closure. It decided to establish a charity shop trading arm to generate income to fund its charitable work, and also provide volunteering, training, and employment opportunities to veterans.

The Northern Impact Fund 1 provided the initial grant and loan investment to open the first shop in Whitley Bay in 2018. Key Fund provided a further £100k investment in December 2021 to expand. It now has six shops in the Northeast, Tees Valley, and Norfolk.

Key Fund is one of the largest regionally based social investors in England. It was founded in South Yorkshire in 1999 to stimulate

locally led regeneration in response to the collapse of the coal and steel industries. It began as a grant giving organisation, before launching a pioneering blended fund in 2002. In the last 24 years, Key Fund has invested £76.6m in over 3,100 organisations with £483m of impact.

Matt added: “We’ve developed a lot of investment funds over the years many with lots of flexibility built in, but the Northern Impact Funds are undoubtedly the most in demand and have been for many years due to their simplicity. The

grant element is provided up front and is not tied to performance or awarded retrospectively, so provides certainty for applicants; they know exactly how much they are repaying and when, from the start. It embodies what Key Fund is about, making sure that we are clear and providing the right money at the right time – this is our central mission.”

The Northern Impact Fund 2 has been made possible by support from a collaboration of funders: Access–the Foundation for Social Investment, Better Society Capital,

Barrow Cadbury Trust, The Places Foundation, the Regional Growth Fund with Unity Trust Bank, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and the Mercer’s Company.

Key Fund works across all sectors, from green energy, health and social care, employment, education and training, housing, the Arts, and sports and leisure.

To find out more, or apply for the Northern Impact Fund 2, go to thekeyfund.co.uk

Lifelong learner is a successful entrepreneur

This edition of Yorkshire Businesswoman, editor Gill Laidler caught up with Sharon Jandu OBE to find out a little more about her and her career. Sharon is the founding director of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association. Here’s what she told us.

Growing up Sharon never really thought about a destination. “To be honest my focus was always on what I knew I would enjoy and where I could add value. I have been fortunate that opportunities have landed and everyone who knows me, knows I’m not one to miss an opportunity w hen one arises!

Sharon was a young mum when she attended Trinity & All Saints in Leeds. Her son Jagjeet was just one year old. “I used to leave him in the creche when I attended lectures then when the day was over, I would head off to my evening job which was a telesales person at Kays Catalogue on Sweet Street, taking orders online. My degree was in business studies and public media as initially I wanted to go into business, but I loved the media segment of the course, so I went into media, marketing and communications.

“My first real job was with Kirklees Careers Service where I did my post grad in careers education and guidance,” she explained. “I then went on to work for the Institute of Careers Guidance as well as being the editor of their journal, Careers Guidance Today.

“I did set up a PR & Marketing company 20 years ago that was a side hustle and even though I was born and brought up in Leeds, I chose to base the business in Bradford. This is now a global business that I am growing steadily.

“Until about five years ago, my

entrepreneurial activity had been side hustles, and I continued with a corporate career and things at the time were manageable, but giving up my corporate career I don’t now have that safety net, and I have a

FACT FILE:

Husband / partner name: I love being single

Children:

Jagjeet Jandu 37

What car do you drive?

Lexus

What do you do in your leisure time?

Watch films, eating, reading spending time with the family and the spa having treatments

Where is your favourite restaurant?

Mums’ kitchen (I eat out every day during the week)

What is your favourite food and drink?

Paneer and sparking water

Where is your favourite holiday destination?

At the moment I love Singapore, what an amazing country.

Where is your favourite place in Yorkshire?

By the seaside; Bridlington, Whitby, Scarborough

What is your favourite gadget?

my new Samsung Z6, I love It

What couldn’t you live without?

My family

growing team, so the pressure is on and every day I face a different challenge,” she explained. “I have moved from a careers education to marketing communications because I need to be interested and engaged and where I see an opportunity, channel my energy so I can take maximum benefit,” she continued. “The one thing that I have learned is having a robust plan and a brilliant team, always people who are better than me and constantly reinventing and keeping aware of trends, innovations and factors that would affect my business and ecosystems tha t I operate in.

“I would describe myself as a life-long learner. Four years ago, I realised that I was a good ‘intrapreneur’ and subsequently good entrepreneur, but I didn’t know how to scale and grow my business, so I decided to enrol on the MBA Executive programme at Bradford University and that was one of the best decisions I ever made. I then went on to study the MSc in Strategic Leadership at the University of Newcastle and for me, that was another game changer. The course made me really think about my values, purpose and why I do the things that I do, it is a brilliant programme about self-reflection and empowerment and creates the best version of yourself you can be. I am currently back at the University of Bradford on the MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence and Data Ana lytics course.”

So, what is a typical day like for this busy lady? “My day starts early with meditation, prayers and gym. I don’t really have a typical day, that is one of the things I love about my life and business, that I am always working on a fantastic project with

amazing people from all over the world,” she added, “although I do try to stick to the five-day week and leave my weekends for family time.

“At the moment I am working hard to make the NPH Ethnic Minority Business & Policy Forum, the voice and channel for ethnic minority businesses across the North of England and I delighted that I have

managed to secure support from key stakeholders.”

We asked Sharon what advice, if any, would she give to her younger self and she said: “There is no point me giving advice as I probably wouldn’t listen. I’ve always learned from my experience and mistakes, and I am a strong believer in karma, so everything happen s as it should.

“If I was starting out again, I don’t think I would do anything different. My life has been a journey and there have been some tough times, mainly because of decisions I have made, but as I am getting older, I have realised that all those experiences have made me the person I am today. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and am azing friends.”

Pret A Manger to open new shop in Sheffield

The new 1,200 sq ft unit fronts Cambridge Street and is located on the ground floor of the Isaacs Building – a new office building that forms part of the acclaimed Heart of the City scheme, developed by Sheffield City Council and its Strategic Development Partne r, Queensberry.

The new shop will become Pret’s third in the city of Sheffield. They currently have a popular shop in Meadowhall and in Meadowhall Frasers. Exultant Group is looking to hire at least 15 local people to work at the new Pret ahead of its opening, with a range of roles available.

In partnership with The Pret Foundation, Pret and Exultant Group are set to work with three local charities in Sheffield, including Impact Living, S12 Richard Taylor and Royal Assembly, donating surplus food to at the end of each day.

Guy Meakin, UK Shops & franchise director said: “It’s wonderful to be

bringing Pret back to Sheffield city centre and creating 15 new jobs. We know our food and organic coffee is popular, so we’re delighted to be opening in the Heart of the City development.”

Mizan Syed, chief executive officer of Exultant Group, added: “People in Sheffield tell us they love Pret A Manger, so we are delighted to be bringing a new store to the city centre. We are proud to be contributing to the local economy here by employing locally and using local contractors to fit out the unit.

“I am also incredibly proud that we

will be helping those who are homeless or struggling with cost-of-living crisis by providing increased food donation from our sites.”

Cllr Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “It is fantastic to welcome Pret to our incredible Heart of the City development. Their new shop is perfectly located and continues to add to the appeal of high value retail, food and beverage offering we have in the area. It has been a brilliant year so far for the city centre with the likes of Cambridge Street Collective and, more recently, Leah’s Yard opening to the public and proving incredibly popular and bringing more and more people into Sheffield. The addition of Pret continues the incredible transformation of the city centre into a greener, thriving and more vibrant place to work, live and visit.”

Law firm announces six new trainee and apprentice solicitors

Law firm Gordons has welcomed a new cohort of legal talent with the appointment of four new trainee solicitors and two apprentice solicitors.

Of the four trainee solicitors, Oliver Gillyon was already a legal assistant with the firm whilst Beth Inman, Dymphna Lewis and Hafsah Malik are beginning their legal careers with the firm.

All four have started their two-year training contracts and will undertake seats across various specialisms.

They will all be developed professionally and personally by colleagues to equip them with the legal and client relationship skills that the firm has built its continued success upon.

Ella Walsh and Kailani Hutchinson have

joined the firm’s pioneering, multiple award-winning apprenticeship scheme.

The Law Apprenticeship was the first of its kind in the UK legal sector when it was launched in 2011 to enable greater social mobility within the profession.

As part of their apprenticeship, the practice will provide Ella and Kailani with hands-on experience combined with academic study, as well as paying their salaries and course fees.

Welcoming the new trainees and apprentices to the firm, managing partner, Victoria Davey, said: “We are always very pleased to welcome our

new trainee and apprentice solicitors at this time of year.

“They have already achieved so much to secure their places with the firm as we always have hundreds of quality applicants.

“Each of them has been chosen as much based on their personality and attitude as they are on their academic ability. Our experience tells us that those who go on to succeed are rounded individuals able to build long lasting relationships with clients and colleagues.

“We now look forward to helping develop all six new colleagues so that they are on the pathway to achieving their individual personal and professional ambitions with us.”

New starters–(from left) Gordons' Kailani Hutchinson, Ella Walsh, Oliver Gillyon, Beth Inman, Dymphna Lewis and Hafsah Malik

New super-mayor with Scarborough on his radar

The new mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith has spoken of seeking to help quality agenda items to support the aspirations o f Scarborough.

David Skaith will be using his own business background to help raise standards and achievements across the huge York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority that has been created by the City of York Council and the new unitary North Yorkshire Council.

The Combined Authority is a legally recognised, single body which has replaced several district councils such as Scarborough.

Its role is to use some of the money and powers that up to now have been held by central government and work with local leaders and communities to help to make the region a better place to live, work and do business.

This would cover economic growth,

safer communities and projects that could attr act investment.

As the elected mayor, David leads this new authority - and he has made

welcome noises about Scarborough since taking u p the position.

"I had a great day at the Scarborough Cricket Festival watching Yorkshire take on Sussex," he said on social media after playing an informal game of cricket with his youngsters on the historic pitch at North

Marine Road in August. "Any excuse to have a li ttle game with the kids."

He has already stated that he will be attending the annual science and engineering week in the town

for the first time, to see how the event inspires the next generation of engineers and designers.

Improving the quality of town centres is al so high on his agenda.

"High streets are the lifeblood of our communities and vital to our local economy. As a high street business owner myself in York, the extra support I’ve received has helped strengthen my business.

"Now I want to do the same for businesses across York and North Yorkshire.

"That’s why I’m backing our high street businesses with the new Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund.

"To shape our fund, I’m listening to the people who know best, gathering local knowledge to provide insight and inform our policy.

"Getting out to all parts is vital for me as mayor so I can really understand the different issues faced by our communities.

He will lead investment of £540

million to be spent over the next 30 years. He aims to be a strong voice and a champion for businesses and communities and the authority wil l be taking on the role and fu nctions of the police, fire and crime commissioner.

Big decisions ab out the region will be taken by him and local leaders as pow ers and funding is devolved from Westminster.

"This is an opportunity for more control over our region and how our economy can grow in the right ways to create new jobs and opportunities for local people – this is about more power and resources in the hands of local leaders," says the new authority.

This includes supporting investment already allocated - £12.7 million to deliver more than 700 new homes on brownfield sites and a further £10 million to support transition to net zero,

Fact File:

David Skaith was elected in May 2024 to serve as the first ever mayor for York and North Yorkshire to champion the region. He says:

“I grew up in Harrogate, where my family still live and my brother serves as a police officer. I’m now raising my two young children with my wife just outside York.

I love our region but I also understand the challenges faced by ordinary families.

I want my children to grow up in a North Yorkshire that is full of opportunity.

I’m not a career politician. I run a small business and chair of the York High Street Forum. I know how to balance the books.

I would be a value-for-money mayor, always spending taxpayers’ money wisely.“I have a credible plan to deliver for York and North Yorkshire, using my experience in business to get the best deal for our region.”

unlocking economic opportunity and creating new jobs.

After his hectic 100-day start, David said: "I have travelled the length and breadth of York and North Yorkshire to listen to and understand our communities, making sure you remain at the core of mine and the Combined Authority's priorities. Some of my highlights so far have been:

Visiting 15-plus businesses.

• Holding roundtables and workshops with: 20-plus high street representatives, 15plus bioeconomy industry leaders, 20-plus voluntary,

community and social enterprise representatives, 10-plus food and farming representatives, rail sector specialists and social housing groups.

• Being part of 1 -plus economic briefings with councillors and leaders from North Yorkshire Council and the City of York Council.

• Attending several online meetings and the Great Yorkshire Show, giving residents the opportunity to raise issues.

• Appointing a Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime: Jo Coles.

• Meeting with northern and national mayors, the region’s MPs and the government, attending meetings at Downing Street and the King's Speech.

He says that understanding and listening to you and developing links adjoining the region "will help build healthy communities with affordable and sustainable transport and housing, boosted business and a thriving workforce - creating a vibrant place, full of opportunity for you, long in to the future".

In benefitting from devolution, a new Economic Framework has been approved. "It is truly an exciting time for York and North Yorkshire. Our next steps will be to launch our Business Board and Development Forum, which will help shape our economic growth plan. This plan, which was confirmed in the King's Speech, will allow us to make the most of the unique capabilities we have as a city region and rural powerhouse, and ensure that we have a connected and thr iving economy."

The new spirit of Whitby that aims to go international

Luke Pentith and Jessica Slater, the founders of the Whitby Distillery and Whitby Gin, launched a major investment scheme this year with phenomenal support from the public.

Their crowd-funding for expansion plans near Whitby Abbey have exceeded all expectation and raised funding for a new distillery complete with heritage visitor centre and tours - thanks to support from a total 666 investors, large and small. The couple who have dedicated every aspect of their lives since creating their first creations of their gin from his parents' home in 2017, have agreed to take part in an exclusive Q&A for TopicUK ...

How pleased are you with the outcome of your investment opportunity and why do you think the take-up has been so successful?

We’re absolutely thrilled with how our investment opportuni ty turned out!

To have 666 investors on board is nothing short of incredible. We believe the take-up was so successful because of the deep loyalty and trust we’ve built with our customers o ver the years.

Our community truly shares our vision for the future of Whitby

Distillery, and that alignment has made all t he difference.

It’s clear that people aren’t just investing in our business, but in the heritage and future of Whitby itself.

What will the funds be used for in your plans?

We’re excited to use these funds to bring our dream to life — developing a brandnew distillery right on the grounds of the iconic Whitby Abbey.

This new site will offer so much more than just distilling and manufacturing; it’s going to be a full visitor experience with tours, events, and a deep dive

into the history and craftsmanship behind our spirits.

And it’s not just about the location. We’re committed to a green build,

complete with rainwater harvesting and eco-friendly features. This project position s us perfectly to continue ou r work with the local community and showcase

the values that Whi tby Distillery stands for.

Why Whitby, and what role has the town's heritage played in your creations?

Whitby isn’t just a location for us—it’s home. I grew up here, surrounded by the town’s rich history and legendary folktales.

Whitby’s rugged coastline, its dramatic abbey ruins, and the moorland have all been huge influences in our distillery’s creations. My partner, Luke, brought his experience in food manufacturing to the table, and together, we’ve crafted something that we believe truly honours the spi rit of Whitby.

Our goal has always been to create something that the local community can be proud of, and Whitby’s heritage is woven into every bot tle we produce.

Your distinctively-shaped Whitby Gin bottles with their textured surfaces have attracted much attention. How did you come up with the designs, the special cork, and the logo?

Designing our bottle was all about capturing the authentic spirit of Whitby. We wanted it to feel like it had always existed, just like the town’s enduring ma ritime legacy.

The textured gla ss is inspired by the rolling waves of the North Sea and the rugged cliffs that line our coast. The dark wood cork is a nod to Whitby’s shipbuilding past, while the unique shape echoes

the buoys you’ll see bobbing i n the harbour.

Even the swirls on the label and the ammonite fossil base connect to Whitby’s ancient and mystical history. Our bottles don’t just hold gin; they tell a story — a story of craftsmanship, heritage, and sustainability.

Plus, we’re proud to offer a bottle return program where returned

bottles are transformed into beautiful tumblers, trinkets, and candles. It’s our way of giving each bottle a second life while also giving our customers a 10% discount on their next purchase.

What makes your gin special or different, and how much research is involved?

Our gin is truly a reflection of Whitby’s wild and wonderful

landscape. Take our heather, for example—we harvest it ourselves in collaboration with the North York Moors Authority, choosing areas where the heather is due to be burned to make way for fresh growth.

It’s these personal touches, like imagining Bram Stoker’s walks across the moors or the scent of the seaweed crashing against the piers, that make o ur gin unique.

We’ve also partnered with SeaGrown, the Scarborough-based seaweed farming and processing company, to source the pepper dulse and sugar kelp that bring a rich umami flavo ur to our gin.

Every bottle is a tribute to the local environment, crafted with care and an incredible amou nt of research.

Describe some of your main gins such as the Demeter, Old Tom, Bramble and Bay, and Real Rhubarb …

Each of our gins is crafted with its own distin ct personality:

Demeter Gin: Named after the ship in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this gin captures the essence of Whitby’s rugged landscape with a balance of botanicals that evoke the moorlands and coastline.

Old Tom: This is our take on a classic, sweetened gin. It’s smooth and slightly sweeter, making it perfect for those who enjoy a more traditional gin experience.

Bramble and Bay: Inspired by the wild fruits growing in Whitby, this gin combines the tartness of bramble with the freshness of bay leaves for a truly unique flavour.

Real Rhubarb: As a nod to Yorkshire’s rhubarb heritage, this gin is infused with real rhubarb, offering a delightful blend of sweet and tart notes.

Each one tells its own story, deeply rooted in the flavours and folk lore of Whitby.

What gave you the confidence and self-belief to start the gin distillery?

Winning Best British London Dry Gin just nine months after launching in 2019 was a huge boost for us. It showed us that we were on the right track and gave us the confidence to keep pu shing forward.

We believed in our vision, and that early recognition reaffirmed that others did too.

Has the distillery market become mo re competitive?

Oh, definitely! When we started, there were only six distilleries in Yorkshire. During the height of the COVID pandemic, that number skyrocketed to aro und 70 brands.

Now, we’re seeing distilleries close every week, which is why it’s more important than ever to offer something unique. For us, it’s about staying true to our roots and continuing to craft spirits that reflect the ess ence of Whitby.

Your current premises at Botany Bay have enabled your brand to grow, but what do you think your business will look like in fi ve years' time?

The development of Abbey Lands Farm is going to be a gamech anger for us. F

We’re planning to create a visitor attraction that not only showcases our distillery but also inspires the future guardians of Whitby.

We’re looking to expand our reach internationally, exploring export opportunities, while still staying true to our local roots.

In five years, we see Whitby Distillery as a must-visit destination, a place where people can truly experience the spirit of Whitby in every sense.

What benefits will the purchasers of your ordinary dividend-bearing shares enjoy in the overall total of 3.9% of equity?

Purchasers of our ordinary dividendbearing shares will be joining us on an exciting journey as we expand and grow.

They’ll be part of a company that’s deeply committed to sustainability, heritage, and creating world-class spirits.

With a share in the business, they’ll enjoy a slice of our success as we continue to build on the strong foundation we’ve already laid.

How have you financed your success so far?

We’ve built Whitby Distillery from the ground up, starting with our own savings and then reinvesting everything we made back into the business.

It’s been a labour of love, and every bit of success has been earned through hard work and dedication.

The investment campaign has been

the next big step, allowing us to take things to the next level.

How enjoyable or challenging have the past five years been?

Honestly, we’ve loved every minute of it! Even the challenges have been opportunities in disguise, leading us down paths we might not have otherwise taken.

The biggest challenge to date has definitely been the development of our new distillery, but now that we’re ready to start building, it feels like everything is coming together.

And Luke and I expecting our first baby, we’ve got a sneaky feeling that the distillery build and baby’s arrival might just coincide — talk about perfect timing!

Beauty brands with purpose

By: Janet Milner-Walker - Founder of Bespoke Advantage

There is far more to building a beauty brand than creating a formula that addresses a particular concern,encapsulating this in beautiful packaging, and branding this with eye catching design, and a clever name. Building a direct relationship with your customers by sharing what you believe in and standing for this, is a great way of building your business. ‘

Today’s consumers are as passionate about the brands they buy into as they are about the products that they purchase. They relate to brands as they would relate to friends and family, and expect complete transparency, they demand that the brands they purchase from take a firm stand in what they believe in. With the rise in social media, it has never been easier to scrutinise brands to determine whether they deliver what they promise, and if they don’t, thanks to technology, consumers

have a wide array of choices available to them at the tips of their fingers.

As more brands choose to take a stand for their beliefs across this industry, this is creating a positive halo effect. Large multi-national beauty brands were known for their beautiful, airbrushed campaigns with almost unattainable standards. The changes now taking place have demanded that brands are authentic, and relatable, thereby building a relationship of trust, and

the ability to connect on a peer-to-peer level with their customers through acting as a force for good. To maintain this level of trust, it is important that brands show a genuine interest in the causes they purport to stand for. Consumers are extremely savvy, and they can easily identify when a brand is not being sincere

Brand activism is a term used to describe how a company uses their platform to voice their opinions to influence social, economic, or political reform. We are all familiar with The Body Shop and Anita Roddick campaigning for cruelty free cosmetics in the 1980’s. When The Body Shop first launched this was seen to be very progressive; today brand activism is part of the company’s DNA.

Fenty Beauty launched by Rihanna in 2017, took a firm stand on inclusivity by launching a range of 40 different shades of foundations, embracing colour cosmetics for all women. By doing so the brand has been closely associated with embracing body positivity, racial injustice, women’s rights, all through supporting their brand ethos of inclusivity. Lush has pioneered numerous causes, including the ‘Naked Shops’ supporting packaging-free products. Whilst they have always stood for reducing the need for packaging – which in the beauty industry is a novelty, as beautiful packaging is synonymous with beauty products – they have taken this a step further by eliminating packaging completely across stores. They have also introduced an activist hub to their website, with information and advice, and invite their customers to join them in campaigning for issues they care about.

Whilst brand activism isn’t new in the beauty industry, what has dramatically changed is how many more brands are taking a stand for what they believe in and how much more transparent brands have become about what they stand for – from their sourcing and supply chain principles to their views about gender, diversity, and inclusivity. There are many benefits to brand

ABOUT JANET MILNER-WALKER

Janet Milner-Walker is the founder and managing director of Bespoke Advantage, and BeautytoLife. She is an international speaker, a trusted advisor, and a freelance writer. Bespoke Advantage is a London based brand consultancy working with awardwinning brands, retailers, investors, trade bodies and embassies to support them in developing and growing their brands across the marketplace – visit:

www.thebespokeadvantage.com.

activism. By voicing their opinions brands are seen as thought leaders placing themselves on a level playing field with their customers and starting real conversations. This provides them with greater visibility, and a point of difference. This also provides a brand with goodwill, through standing for a cause, they build up a positive relationship with their customers, as they are seen to be leveraging their positioning and their influence for the greater good. In return they gain their customers respect, loyalty, and trust.

Any company can put the framework, financials, marketing and product development into place to build their business, longevity and success of a brand lies in customers believing and aligning with a brand. This includes their products and pricing as well as their values and beliefs. Brands are not inanimate objects; they are relatable persona that consumers believe in. Brands need to have a purpose. Whilst a lot of indie beauty brands are founded on beliefs, and the desire to make a difference, if the brand hasn’t been founded on this, and they would like to support a cause, it is important that they back a relevant cause. They can raise awareness of their support through public announcements, their marketing and advertising campaigns and promoting this on their website to encourage consumers to actively engage and support them in championing these causes.

Traditionally a brand belonged to the company that invested in shaping, growing, and monetizing it. Today, brands are community property. The brand belongs to shareholders, employees, and customers.

Together, they shape the future of the brand. People want to be part of shaping the brands they love, and to contribute to a greater cause.

Rodney Pedroza Portraits London

Skopes to open flagship store at the White Rose Centre Leeds

A leading UK menswear brand has announced it is opening a new flagship store in Leeds

Skopes opened its doors in the White Rose Centre on Saturda y 28 September.

Skopes opened its doors in the White Rose Centre on Saturday 28 September.

The new location marks the 20th, and largest, bricks-and-mortar store for the heritage tailoring brand, which was originally founded in Leeds in 1948.

The store opening symbolises

both a major expansion for Skopes and a homecoming to the city wher e it all began.

The new 3,800 sq ft store will create eight new roles and offer a full range of menswear, including suits, outerwear, shirts, footwear and accessories in a variety of styles, fits, and colours as well as plus sizing up to a 62in chest.

The store has been several years in the making and mixes the brand’s manufacturing heritage with a modern colour scheme to create a light bright and welcoming environment. The layout eschews typical product categories, instead being organised by clearly defined, yet changing style trends and themes, such as ‘Getting Hitched’ and ‘Ready for the Races’.

The store includes two large digital screens which will immerse customers in visuals with a giant

bird’s eye view of Leeds, brand mantras celebrating the suit as an icon of clothing across the walls and a bespoke in-store aroma to enhance the overall experience. There are also plenty of informal dwell spaces for sales advisors to chat with customers and understand what they want and need.

Skopes has a rich history in Leeds, dating back 76 years to when it was founded by Sydney Cope. Today, the brand is led by the third generation of the family, CEO Simon Cope, and has continued to expand its reach with 19 existing stores and 15 concessions across the UK.

The nationwide chain opened the first of its next generation concept stores in Westfield London in 2018, since adding Meadowhall, Sheffield

and the Metro Centre in Newcastle. The White Rose store will be the 20thoverall, with further stores planned for 2025.

Speaking about the opening of the White Rose store, Simon said: “Leeds isn't just where Skopes was founded; it’s in our blood. The city’s heritage in textiles and its appreciation for quality and style have shaped us from day one.

“As the textile industry in Leeds has evolved, so has Skopes. We’ve continuously adapted to the changing needs of our customers - including rolling out a broad range of sizes not typically found on the high street – while remaining relevant and maintaining our point of difference. Our aim is to go above and beyond the usual high street experience, every time a customer walks th rough the door.

“Opening our 20th store in our home city has been on the agenda

for a few years and we've been waiting for the right location to

become available. The White Rose Centre has offered us the chance to

showcase our full range of clothing, footwear and accessories and to connect with our local customers in a special way. It’s certainly not a boring ‘suits you, sir’ old-fashioned store and we can’t wait to welcome people through the doors.”

Steven Foster, centre director at White Rose Shopping Centre, added: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Skopes to our line-up here at White Rose. Skopes has built a great reputation as a leading menswear retailer in the past ten years, and we’re thrilled to support a Leeds born-and-bred brand. The new store is set to open with a splash, and we know our guests will enjoy Sko pes’ offering.”

Dental studio expands at The Springs Leeds

Vitruvian Dental Studio, a state-of-the-art private dental practice, has expanded its presence at The Springs, Tho rpe Park Leeds.

The family-run business has agreed a new 15-year lease for a 1,664 sq ft unit adjacent to its existing 1,632 sq ft unit at The Springs where it offers a range of world-class dental services, from ‘smile transformation’ to cosmetic and general dentistry.

Since opening its first studio at The Springs in 2021, Vitruvian has acquired over 10,000 customers, operating five surgeries and a consulting room. The expansion will allow Vitruvian to add three further surgeries, another

consulting room and an on-site laboratory to support same day smile transformations with teeth straightening, veneers, implants and dentures. The practice expects to create fifteen new support jobs alongside its team of expert dental consultants.

Building on its success, the studio recently announced the expansion of its footprint beyond Leeds, with its second location at The Glass Works in Barnsley. This new studio will further

enhance the practice’s reach and accessibility, bringing its renowned dental services to a broader audience.

Vitruvian was set up by dental surgeons Dr Katy Nolan and Dr James Nolan who qualified at the University of Leeds. The couple who are both highly regarded in cosmetic dentistry have recruited a team of expert and specialist dentists in every field of dentistry to allow patients to receive expert care for whatever they require.

James said, “We are delighted to announce our expansion. In just three years we have grown from a start-up business to now serving over 10,000 clients with an expanding wait list.

“The Springs has proved to be a fantastic location for us with its accessibility and highly contemporary environment that fits perfectly with our brand proposition.

“To be able to expand through premises just next door is a huge benefit and The Springs management team have been exceptionally supportive throughout our journey.”

Rachel Vickers, senior commercial manager at Scarborough Group International (SGI), developer and asset manager of The Springs and Thorpe Park Leeds, said: “We are delighted to facilitate expansion for Vitruvian at The Springs. As well as serving the East Leeds community, Vitruvian provides a fantastic convenience for around 7,500 people who work at the established Thorpe Park Leeds business estate.

“Our lettings strategy has always been to secure a blend of high street brands alongside independent businesses to achieve a strong dynamic for retail, leisure and amenity at The Springs Leeds and increased footfall, monthon-month, is test ament to that.”

Park Hill’s newest homes given the green light

As they continue their long-term commitment to the redevelopment of Park Hill in Sheffield, joint venture partners Urban Splash and Places for People have secured planning approval for more new homes at the building.

The pair has redeveloped the building over the past decade establishing a new quarter for the city with 455 new homes, accommodation for 356 students, more than 50,000 sq ft of workspace, and extensive landscaping and green space. A fourth phase comprising 125 apartments – 20% of which will be affordable tenure – new public realm, EV charging, a car club and bike storage was awarded planning in late 2023.

Approved plans for the newest phase – phase 5 – include 105 thoughtfully designed new homes – giving local

people another chance to live at Park Hill. Among the homes will be one, two-, three- and four-bedroomed flats, duplexes and townhouses – some of them available through affordable tenures , while the ground floor will include 2,000 sq ft of commercial floor area providing a space for independent, local business to thrive, and adding to the already vibrant and diverse Park Hill ecosystem – home to native brands such as South Street Kitchen, The Pearl, and the Grace Owen Nursery.

Mark Latham is regeneration director

at Urban Splash and said: “Park Hill has been a long-term vision and investment, a building which we have developed out in different phases to ensure that we are creating a space that serves the needs of the city – be those homes, workspaces for independent business, or green spaces.

“I am thrilled that we have secured permission to move forward with another stage – with plans that will further contribute to Sheffield’s cultural and economic vitality.”

Sammie Steele is managing director of Placemaking and Regeneration at Places for People and added: “We are delighted to have secured permission for the next phase of Park Hill, continuing our great partnership with Urban Splash. Park Hill is an iconic area of Sheffield both culturally and architecturally and we are proud to continue supporting this thriving community and uplift its long and fascinating history. This phase will allow us to not only pave the way for new homes in Sheffield but also to create new commercial spaces where we hope to see local businesses set up and thrive.”

One of Yorkshire’s oldest Dales hotels goes up for sale

The Rose & Crown Hotel in the picturesque Wensleydale village of Bainbridge has been pu t up for sale.

Dating back to 1445, the historic, grade II listed restaurant and inn is thought to be one of the oldest pubs in Yorkshire. It has been put on the market for a guide price of £550,000 with Commercial property estate agent Ernest Wilson.

As well as the Rose & Crown’s imposing 11-bedroom hotel, restaurant and three separate bars, the former coaching inn comes with the opportunity to acquire an additional seven-acre plot of paddock land that runs down to the banks of the River Ure. The site has the potential for tourism-related development such as glamping pods or shepherd’s huts.

Mark Czajka, a director at Ernest Wilson, said: “The Rose & Crown is

a really cracking business that’s being run at quite a low level currently. The owner, who had an exciting career as an RAF pilot and then as an airline captain before becoming a publican and hotelier, is gearing up to take his well-earned retirement after 25 years running the business.

“It’s such a well-loved institution, by locals and guests alike, and the village of Bainbridge is a must-visit destination for tourists all year round. It’s a great base for anyone visiting the Dales, with Aysgarth Falls and Hawes just down the road, and the village itself used as a filming location for the original BBC TV adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small.”

Located on the village green in Bainbridge, the Rose & Crown retains a host of original features from its long history, including stone-flagged floors and timber ceiling beams. The hotel’s restaurant seats 85 people and the bedrooms accommodate 26 guests.

“The hotel has enormous potential to be escalated to become a much more dynamic and profitable business and there is great scope in this beautiful area of the Yorkshire Dales, which is a real honeypot for visitors,” said Mr Czajka.

“Not surprisingly, we have had a great deal of interest from potential buyers - business opportunities like the Rose & Crown, which is the epitome of a historic Yorkshire pub and hotel, certainly don’t come along very often.”

Titan Wealth Holdings announced as main sponsor of Leeds Tykes

Mark Puleikis, CEO of Titan Private Wealth, a division of Titan Wealth Holdings, commented: "We are pleased to sponsor Leeds Tykes,supporting a team that embodies the values of teamwork, resilience, and community, just as we do in our approach to wealth management."

Alastair Da C osta, chairman of Leeds Tykes said: "We are delighted to welcome Titan Wealth Holdings as our main sponsor. Titan Wealth Holdings’ support will be invaluable as we push forward into the new season. We're proud to carry the logo on our shirts and look forward to a successfu l partnership.”

This sponsorship marks an exciting milestone for both Leeds Tykes and Titan Wealth Holdings, as they join forces to achieve shared goals and celebrate the spirit of rugby. Fans were delighted to see the newly branded shirts in action when Leeds Tykes kicked off their season on 7th September facing Ty nedale at home.

This season holds great promise for Leeds Tykes, as the club is determined to build on last year’s progress and deliver an even more thrilling brand of rugby for their supporters. The team has set ambitious goals, aiming to improve on their previous performances and push for greater success.

For those interested in following Titan Wealth Holdings and their involvement with the club, the company has an Instagram account where supporters can stay updated on the latest news and community initiatives related to the sponsorship.

Harron makes plans for 66 homes on disused colliery in Pontefract

Housebuilder Harron Homes Yorkshire has purchased a 16 acre plot on De Lacy Way in Pontefract where it will be providing 66 homes in partnership with Harworth Group.

The development on the former Prince of Wales colliery is to be called Castle Gardens after nearby Pontefract Castle which was built by Ilbert d e Lacy in 1070.

Harron has now received planning permission for parcel A, where work on the first 66 homes is due to start this month. Harron is expecting to receive permission for an additional 61 homes later in 2024 in line with

the council’s commitment to deliver adequate housi ng in the area.

The homes will comprise threeand four-bedroom energy-efficient homes, perfect for first time buyers, working professionals, or families alike with good connections to Leeds and Doncaste r via the M62.

As part of its planning application, Harron has committed over

£110,000 in S106 contributions to t he local area.

Residents will benefit from proximity to the local amenities such as shops, restaurants and the train station, as well as plenty of green tranquil spaces, which Harworth Group intends to expand upon with the inclusion of a country park on the development.

Richard Coy, land director said, “Pontefract is a delightful market town with so much to offer for families looking to settle in the area; from designer shopping at Junction 32 to the fun-filled activities as Xscape, and of course Pontefract Races for those who like a flutter.

“We’re excited to make progress on Castle Gardens with a range of homes that complement the charm of their location, and we look forward to sharing more updates with the community soon.”

Enjoy an overnight stay for two, a three-course meal from our Simply Dakota menu and a fully cooked breakfast served in the Dakota Grill. Treat yourself to the ultimate Dakota experience.