REGIONAL NEWS

Keep on doing what you’re doing!

I think it’s fair to say that 2022 continues to be a ‘funny old year’. What started as a slight breathing out due to the relaxation of Covid restrictions, quickly led to more twitchiness due to, first, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, then the cost of living crisis. Of course, we’re not in the business of crystal ball gazing, and we can only keep on running our organisations in the best possible way we know how; and on that score, at least, I’m pleased to be able to say that there is still plenty of that going on. As well as being able to read lots of good news stories in this magazine, the ‘Yorkshire Business’ website also features all the latest business news. I don’t wish to gloss over the difficulties of being in business, but neither do I want to dwell on circumstances that are either outside our control or could perpetuate negative news. Our marketing team will keep helping our members promote their goods and services; our business advisers and other specialists will keep helping SMEs and start-ups to grow; and our Policy & Representation team will keep lobbying and campaigning for better measures and conditions that support economic growth, job creation and entrepreneurship. I’m also pleased to say that the Chamber is bidding to lead two ‘Local Skills Improvement Plans’ for our areas, and you can read more about that in the ‘Representation’ section of this magazine. Keep on doing the great things that you do, and don’t hesitate to both tell us about it, and tell us what could make you do it better.

Amanda Beresford Chair of the Board West & North Yorkshire Chamber

WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Andrew Jackson Solicitors published advice for landowners on solar farming

The UK solar and battery energy storage market continues to develop apace, with over four hundred solar farming schemes in operation around the country. Such schemes are playing an increasingly important role in powering the UK, supporting the grid network and speeding up the replacement of fossil fuels. Developers continue to approach landowners for consent to place solar panels and battery energy storage systems on their holdings and any scheme – large or small – which a developer proposes needs to be handled carefully by the landowner. It is important to seek advice from a land agent on the commercial terms and independent advice on the legal implications and the documents. Developers normally insist on using their own documentation which will be drafted with their interests paramount. It will generally be presented as “standard” but in fact will need change to put it into a format which is fair to both parties and properly protects your interests. Your main driver will be financial – the developer will be the principal investor, incurring the expense of relevant surveys and investigations, planning applications and construction. However, you will be providing the site and the land for the relevant infrastructure. You need to ensure that you get a decent return from granting the rights to the developer – there are numerous rent and profit share alternatives to be considered – and that you are comfortable with the effect of the scheme, the rights granted and the restrictions which the developer requires you to accept. Participating in a scheme means that you are not only giving up land for the equipment but will also be making available land for access and necessary infrastructure, such as cabling requirements. You may also be impacting on future flexibility for farming operations and development potential, to the extent that the developer may require that you accept restrictions on farming and forestry activities, or development and change of use, which it considers could impact adversely on its operations over the long term.

Contacts for contracts

Drax teamed up with Worley, NOF, and the West & North Yorkshire and Hull & Humber Chambers of Commerce to deliver a series of events to provide British businesses with information about how they could win contracts to deliver its vital carbon removal technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). Drax has previously said that it aims to source 80% of construction materials and services from British firms and build a robust UK supply chain for BECCS, ahead of construction getting underway as soon as 2024, with the creation of around 10,000 jobs. Graham Backhouse, Drax’s Commercial Director for the BECCS project, said: “We want to put British businesses at the heart of our plans to deliver BECCS, allowing them to benefit from hundreds of millions of pounds worth of new contracts. “Negative emissions technologies like BECCS will play a vital role in enabling the UK to reach its net zero goals, as well as creating exciting opportunities for Britain to lead the world in a vital technology, creating a new sector of the economy, as well as export opportunities. Drax has a proven track record in delivering ambitious and pioneering infrastructure projects – the conversion of its power station in North Yorkshire to use sustainable biomass has enabled it to become the UK’s largest single site renewable generator, supporting more than 6,600 jobs throughout its supply chains across the North, whilst reducing its emissions by over 95% and paving the way for the deployment of BECCS. Drax aims to deliver the world’s largest carbon capture in power project this decade, making a significant contribution to the UK’s decarbonisation targets.

Shortlisted for Start-up Awards

Yorkshire based Chequered Flag Motorsport CiC has been named one of the most exciting new businesses in the region after being shortlisted in The Start-up Awards National Series. The start-up scene across the UK accelerated since the pandemic began. In 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, more than 400,000 start-ups were set up in Britain. Gary Booth, Founder of Chequered Flag Motorsport CiC said: It isn’t about recognition for me as an individual that matters, it’s about the recognition for those individuals and organisations that have supported the launch and continued progress of Chequered Flag Motorsport and most importantly to shine a light on the communities and individuals which it helps, through the form of motorsport experiences. M is for motivation

Award-winning motivational speaker Marcus Child has been helping year 11 pupils to stretch their ambitions and build resilience at two North Yorkshire schools. Marcus, who has worked with hundreds of big brands over a 25year career, spoke to teenagers at Scalby School in Scarborough and then at Lady Lumley’s School in Pickering. The talks have been funded by Castle Education, a division of Scarborough-based Castle Employment Group. They come as part of the business’ work to support young people after two years which have taken a huge toll on their mental health, and also follows on from providing free packs of textbooks to a number of primary schools in the area. Technology is integral to success

Whatever a company’s size, sector, or geography, IT will always play a major part in its success. The last two years has meant great changes to the working environment. Hybrid working is here to stay for the foreseeable future, 2022 is the year to build on the flexibility that hybrid working brings and to optimise its potential. Business leaders will need to adapt to find ways to sustain a company culture where teams, individuals and customers all feel engaged and valued even if much of the contact is through a screen. One common thread is that IT does not stand alone; it has to be part of every business decision, strategy, future development and be integral to every department.