York firms support care leavers into employment

Stuart Pearcey
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York firms support care leavers into employment

Young care leavers in York have been able to learn new skills, increase their independence and get life-enriching experiences thanks to the support of local businesses.

City of York Council has been working with local businesses to help care leavers gain access to work experience, training and employment opportunities. The partnership has included GMI’s bespoke ‘Construction Cares’ Programme at York College, led by GMI Construction Group PLC, enabling young people to improve their DIY skills as they transition into independent living. Activities included learning how to hang shelves, putting on locks and door handles and painting and decorating. GMI Construction Group PLC is one of a host of organisations across the UK which have signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant and is a Signatory Partner. The covenant is a national initiative which supports care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently, creating education, employment and training opportunities. Businesses, education providers and other organisations can sign up to the Covenant to pledge their practical support to care leavers. Other businesses across the city have offered support for care leavers in other ways, including providing work experience opportunities, Christmas gifts and tickets to local sporting events. Claire Preston – Head of Responsible Business at GMI Construction Group PLC, said: “GMI Construction Group PLC created their bespoke ‘Construction Cares Programme’ in 2023 and have so far delivered this programme in Birmingham, Manchester and York and have had over 55 care leavers attend. It is so important to teach young people life skills so they can adapt them when moving into a home of their own. Three care leavers from the programme have gone into full-time apprenticeships and four have signed up for a Construction qualification. “I really believe that companies of all sizes can create support offers for care leavers. If you can get senior buy-in and you have the will to support young people, you can overcome challenges that SMEs might face in signing up to programmes like the Covenant.” Cllr Bob Webb, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “The businesses we’ve been working with have already demonstrated how keen they are to provide opportunities for our care leavers and it’s fantastic to see the city supporting its own. “I know that many other local businesses may want to get involved but may not know where to start. I’d encourage them to look at the care leaver inclusive employment guide [toolkit] on the care leavers’ covenant website or get in touch with our dedicated employment and opportunities lead for care leavers in York who will be able to advise them how they can best help. “Care leavers have been supported by social workers and foster carers for periods of time during their childhoods because they weren’t able to live with their birth families. This may mean they have fewer opportunities compared to their non-care experienced peers when they reach 18 years of age. That’s why it’s so important that we pull together as a city to nurture them through early adulthood, just as the parents of any young person would do.”

Online pension checker makes pension top ups easier, says HMRC

Stuart Pearcey
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Online pension checker makes pension top ups easier, says HMRC
An updated online pension forecast checker to help people enhance their state pension has been launched by the Government. The Check your State Pension forecast is a joint service by HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions, and has been enhanced to include a fully end-to-end digital solution. The service will show customers by how much their State Pension could increase and details of the voluntary NI contributions they would need to pay to achieve this. It allows most people under State Pension age to view gaps in their NI record and pay voluntary contributions to fill those gaps, if it will benefit them. Anyone with NI gaps in some of their tax years that could increase their State Pension if filled, can use the new digital service to choose which years they would like to pay to fill. They can then pay securely through the service and will receive confirmation that their payment has been received and that their NI record will be updated. Customers can access the Check your State Pension forecast via GOV.UK or via the HMRC app. Those who are eligible have until 5 April next year to pay voluntary contributions to make up gaps in their NI record between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2018. From 6 April 2025, people will only be able to pay voluntary contributions for the previous six tax years, in line with normal time limits. Nigel Huddleston, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “Having peace of mind when planning for retirement is crucial to ensure people can enjoy later life. That’s why HMRC has launched this new online service today, making a real difference for thousands of pensioners in their retirement while providing certainty to those in their middle years and those still planning ahead.”

Associated British Ports appoints Group IT Director

Stuart Pearcey
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Associated British Ports appoints Group IT Director
Associated British Ports has appointed Sean Kelly, above, as Group IT Director to head the company’s programme of investment in digital strategy for port operations, customer service, and cyber security. He said: “What attracted me to ABP is the company’s great culture coupled with the ambition to carry through its leading position in the UK ports sector to the areas of technology, digitisation and cyber security. State-of-the-art IT infrastructure and new ways of working are essential to be at the forefront of the digital revolution in the maritime industry.” Sean has extensive experience leading IT teams in different businesses including Microsoft, BT, EY, RBS. He was most recently the CIO of Business Platforms at Dentsu, one of the largest global marketing and advertising agency networks. His experience has included leading the delivery of IT programmes such as digital transformation and ERP solutions for global businesses and implementing functional and connected digital journeys. ABP’s CEO Henrik L. Pedersen, said: “It’s great to welcome Sean to ABP. Sean will be driving forward a well-established IT organisation, developing and executing the next phase of our digital strategy, including developing a broader IT landscape supporting all areas of ABP’s business. “Building smart, flexible and resilient technology platforms to deliver on customers’ needs and business optimisation is a key foundation of our strategy. We’ve made some great strides forward but we’re ambitious about where technology can take us, our customers and partners further.”  

Forgemasters buys 21 acres of Sheffield for redevelopment scheme

Stuart Pearcey
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Forgemasters buys 21 acres of Sheffield for redevelopment scheme
Sheffield Forgemasters has bought 21 acres of brownfield land to pave the way for development of additional facilities alongside its Brightside Lane operations. The company is already building a 13,000 tonne Heavy Forge facility, and has earmarked the largest plot of land, on Weedon Street, for a machining line that will house 17 highly advanced machining centres, which do not exist anywhere else in the UK, and will underpin production for the UK defence programme. Gareth Barker, COO at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “The purchase of additional land is a game-changing venture for the company and will see state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities built in the historic centre of Sheffield’s industrial heartland. “The recapitalisation programme is completely transforming the company’s facilities as our modelling reshapes the site for optimum use. “The opportunity to purchase land immediately adjacent to our site will enable faster, more cost effective recapitalisation than trying to reconfigure existing facilities, with the added benefit of keeping production in full flow through the existing plant.” “The main focus of the land acquisition is to enable development of a new machining facility, to house .” The company also recently completed the purchase of 10,000 sq ft of offices at Riverside Court on Brightside Lane.

British Steel gets planning permission for Scunthorpe’s electric arc furnace

Stuart Pearcey
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British Steel gets planning permission for Scunthorpe’s electric arc furnace
British Steel has been given planning permission to build an Electric Arc Furnace at its Scunthorpe HQ as par of its proposed £1.25-billion transformation – its biggest in more than a century of steelmaking – which is subject to appropriate support from the UK Government. British Steel President and CEO Xijun Cao said: “We’re extremely pleased to have received planning permissions to build Electric Arc Furnaces at our Scunthorpe and Teesside sites. It is a significant step forward in our journey to net zero and we thank everyone who has supported our plans. “The proposed installation of EAFs in Scunthorpe and Teesside is central to our journey to a green future as they would help us reduce emissions of CO2 by more than 75 per cent. However, it is crucial we now secure the backing of the UK Government. “Our owner, Jingye, is committed to the unprecedented investment decarbonisation requires and our desire to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint, coupled with challenging market conditions, means it is imperative swift and decisive action is taken to ensure a sustainable future for British Steel. “We are committed to working with the UK Government and need to reach an agreement quickly so we can achieve our ambitious goals, secure thousands of jobs and keep making the steel Britain needs for generations to come.” Significant preparation works, including environmental and technical studies, and equipment selection, are underway to ensure the company’s ambitious proposals can be delivered at the earliest opportunity while discussions with the UK Government continue. Both proposed EAFs would replace the aging iron and steelmaking operations at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site which are responsible for the vast majority of its CO2 emissions. The company proposes maintaining current operations until a transition to electric arc steelmaking. British Steel has started preliminary talks with trade unions about electrification, and has promised to support employees affected by its decarbonisation plans. Xijun said: “We are confident our proposals will help secure the low-embedded carbon steelmaking the UK requires now and for decades to come.” Detailed studies show electrification would enable British Steel to continue making the products its customers require. A special paper explaining how EAF technology can produce all steel products and grades by managing the raw material mix has been published by UK Steel.

Hannah secures leading role in male-dominated world of golf

Stuart Pearcey
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Hannah secures leading role in male-dominated world of golf
Leeds-based National Club Golfer has appointed Hannah Holden as its Head of Content, making her the first woman to be promoted to such a position in the brand’s 20-year history as it plans to accelerate digital  growth. Hannah has been with NCG for five years, is not only a talented and knowledgeable content creator, but plays her golf off a handicap of +2. She will be responsible for creating and delivering a content strategy across NCG’s digital channels, social media, YouTube channel and print magazine that reaches club golfers across the UK. She will also join the board at Sports Publications, the parent company of NCG, working closely with longstanding owner/managers Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy. She said: “My generation have grown up in a world of digital media and it’s really clear that we have some fantastic opportunities to drive the brand forward and connect with even more core golfers.” Tom Irwin said: “Golf has long since been a male dominated sport. Participation remains around 80% male, but female golfers are rising in number. It is one of golf’s enduring appeals that men and women can play together on an equal footing. Hannah’s appointment hopefully supports the view that we are all just golfers, regardless of gender. “Hannah’s appointment marks a significant milestone as she assumes the role of the first female Head of Content at NCG in two decades. Her wealth of experience, talent and ambition are invaluable assets. “She has been instrumental in driving our digital content strategy and shaping the evolution of our online media platform and we look forward to seeing where she will take it next.”

Councils get new compulsory purchase powers to get land for housing

Stuart Pearcey
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Councils get new compulsory purchase powers to get land for housing
Councils will now be able to buy cheaper land to help build thousands more social and affordable homes, thanks to new Government reforms coming into force today, as part of the long-term plan for housing. Councils will be able to buy land for development through the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders without paying inflated ‘hope value’ costs.  ‘Hope value’ estimates the cost land could be worth if it was developed on in the future, meaning councils are forced to pay potentially thousands more to buy land for housing or developments and get stuck in lengthy disputes about costs. The new measures will remove hope value in certain circumstances where Compulsory Purchase Orders are being used and make it cheaper and easier for councils to transform communities by building new homes. Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said: “Our changes will act as a catalyst for investment in our towns and cities and drive much needed regeneration in communities across the country. “We know we need to build more homes and alongside our Long-Term Plan for Housing, these changes will help us do that, unlocking more sites for affordable and social housing, as well as supporting jobs and growing the economy.” Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, pictured, says: “Enabling local councils to buy cheaper land through Compulsory Purchase Orders without paying ‘hope value’ will allow them to build more of the desperately needed affordable homes the country needs, in the right places for the people who need it most. “To solve the housing crisis and unlock the land needed for these homes, these changes must sit alongside wider reforms to planning policy which should form part of a nationally coordinated fully funded long-term plan for housing.”

Stafforce promotes head of ports to brand director

Tess Egginton
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Stafforce promotes head of ports to brand director
Rotherham-headquartered Stafforce, part of the Nicholas Associates Group of companies, has promoted Tim Platt from head of ports to brand director for ports in the UK. In this new capacity, Tim will spearhead efforts to foster growth and establish Stafforce Ports as a prominent brand across the United Kingdom. With extensive experience in the provision of flexible labour to the maritime and logistics industry, Tim brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to this pivotal role. Having served as head of ports, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to driving operational excellence within the organisation. As brand director, Tim will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for Stafforce Ports, primarily focusing on expansion and market differentiation. Leveraging his deep understanding of the industry landscape and trends, he will lead initiatives to enhance service offerings, cultivate client relationships, and optimise operational efficiencies. “Tim’s deep understanding of the maritime industry, coupled with his proven track record of success, makes him the perfect fit for this pivotal role,” said Paul Smith, CEO of NAG. He continued: “As brand director, I am confident that Tim will continue to drive innovation, foster growth, and position Stafforce Ports as a leading brand in its own right.” Tim said: “I am honoured to take on this new role and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. Stafforce Ports has a strong foundation, and I am committed to building upon that legacy as we strive to become a recognised brand in the UK ports industry.”

Temperature controlled transport company snapped up

Tess Egginton
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Temperature controlled transport company snapped up
A Really Cool Company (ARCC), the temperature controlled transportation experts, are the latest specialist courier business to be acquired by Viso Logistics. Based out of Wetherby, Yorkshire and with over 15 years of industry experience, ARCC predominantly supports clients from the food and beverage sector with frozen, chilled and ambient transportation. They also work with various other businesses who ship consignments such as samples and pharmaceuticals that require temperature-controlled logistics across the UK and throughout Europe. The business will still operate as an independent entity and continue to be managed locally. Andrew Wood, Managing Director of A Really Cool Company, said: “The ARCC team are very excited about this next step in the evolution of our business. “A partnership with Viso Logistics gives us the best of both worlds – we retain our company values, team and everything that makes us unique, but we also get to leverage off some excellent knowledge both inside and out of the logistics sector. “Ultimately, this means that our loyal customers continue to get the same care and attention they have always had. What’s great is that they will now have some extras to help elevate their experience with us, such as access to an expanded network.” Alexi Jones, Managing Partner at Viso Logistics, added that they were “delighted” to have a business the caliber of ARCC joining the ranks of Viso Logistics. He said: “Our strategy is to acquire long-established, successful specialist logistics companies that have expertise in specific sectors. To work with a business like ARCC that is so highly regarded in the food and beverage and pharmaceutical sectors, and complimentary to our existing network, makes them a perfect fit for Viso Logistics. “The ARCC team are passionate about the service they provide and are real experts in their field. We have been impressed with their depth of industry knowledge and committed team, and know that their service will be one that our expanding customer base will benefit from. “The addition of ARCC expands our Group’s growing footprint. Together with Jag Express in Cambridge, we now have a North-South axis which expands the scope of work we can undertake for our combined client base.”

FFE expands lending team

Tess Egginton
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FFE expands lending team
Doncaster-based Finance For Enterprise (FFE) has further expanded its lending team following the appointment of Ben Merrick as a senior business lending manager. Ben has nearly 20 years of experience supporting SME businesses, working for high street banks and the last two years as a commercial finance broker. In his role with FFE, Ben will be supporting SME businesses with their growth aspirations, organising local events (including NetWalking) and meeting with commercial finance brokers to promote FFE and how it can support their clients. Commenting on his new role, Ben said: “I wanted to join a forward-thinking proactive funder and Finance For Enterprise is a responsible, ethical lender which is committed to helping SME businesses overcome growth barriers.”

Andrew Jackson adds associate to its family law team

Stuart Pearcey
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Andrew Jackson adds associate to its family law team

Andrew Jackson Solicitors has appointed Kerri Beaumont as an associate to work in its family law team.

With many years’ family law experience, Kerri’s experience covers all legal aspects concerning relationship breakdown, including financial disputes, child arrangements and divorce. Kerri also has significant experience in advising on disputes between cohabiting couples arising from separation, and on cases in which there are domestic violence issues. Should any matters progress to Court, she can draw on her strong advocacy skills. Richard Hoare, partner and head of private client services at Andrew Jackson, said: “Our family team takes great pride in working hard to achieve the best result for each of our clients – something which is really important to Kerri. We are supporting people at an incredibly distressing time in their lives and by growing our team, we can ensure that we can continue to offer our clients the best possible service. “We warmly welcome Kerri, who is already using her technical skills in specialist areas of family law to support our clients and strengthen further our reputation.”

Metal recycler acquired by Leeds private equity investors

Tess Egginton
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Metal recycler acquired by Leeds private equity investors
Endless LLP, the Leeds-based mid-market private equity investors, has acquired Enablelink.  Founded in 2007, Enablelink is one of the UK’s most prominent metal recycling businesses processing over 300,000 tonnes of material per year. The business plays a vital role in the green circular economy with recycled metal being of critical importance to the UK and worldwide steel and manufacturing industries. Based in the Birmingham area, Enablelink operates from three production sites and specialises in the acquisition, processing and distribution of ferrous and non-ferrous material. With over 60 employees, the business is ready for further growth from its current £110 million turnover base, having recently invested in new shredding and processing capabilities.  Endless’s acquisition will further strengthen Enablelink’s position and provide it with additional capital for growth and to support the management team to capitalise on the increasing demand for recycled metals.  Operations Director, Josh Long, will take over as Managing Director following the retirement of Roy Millard. Josh Long said: “This is fantastic news for Enablelink. While it is business as usual, we are excited by the opportunities new ownership will bring and we look forward to continuing our rapid growth and development both organically and through acquisition. “We would like to thank Roy Millard for building such a strong business and supporting the company and its employees over the last 17 years.” John Stevens, Investment Director at Endless, added: “We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to acquire Enablelink. Through its strong relationships with suppliers and customers, Enablelink has demonstrated its importance to the UK green economy and the growing demand for recycled materials both in the UK and internationally. “We extend our warmest gratitude to Roy for the fantastic business he has built and we look forward to working with Josh and the Enablelink team.” The acquisition is the fifth platform investment in Endless Fund V, following on from their acquisition of ASCO in August 2023. Endless was advised by Walker Morris (legal), KPMG (Tax), Aon (Insurance) and Kroll (Commercial). Enablelink was advised by Finvos (Corporate Finance) and Shoosmiths (Legal).

Sewell Group companies appointed to three new consultancy and construction frameworks

Stuart Pearcey
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Sewell Group companies appointed to three new consultancy and construction frameworks

Companies from Yorkshire-based Sewell Group have been appointed to three new Pagabo frameworks for consultancy and construction, enabling clients across the public sector to access the companies’ decarbonisation or estates consultancy to help improve their estate.

The success includes the appointment of Sewell Construction and I&G to two new decarbonisation frameworks for health and the wider public sector, which will allow clients to go directly to contractors to support their efforts towards achieving their Net Zero plans. Projects delivered under this framework will be geared towards retrofitting of existing buildings and may include schemes such as installation of specialist heating, cooling and ventilation systems, renewable energy sources or energy saving lighting, as well as fabric upgrades and the replacement of inefficient glazing. The company’s estates consultancy, Shared Agenda, has also been successfully reappointed to Pagabo’s professional services framework, one of only 33 organisations to be continuing on from the previous iteration of the framework. This framework provides clients access to solutions across the full spectrum of estates services, with Shared Agenda having expanded the range of service they are able to offer to clients, including master planning, strategic programme advice and leisure strategies, as well as broader asset and estate management services. Sewell Group have almost 150 years of experience in planning, advising, investing and delivering construction, estates and facilities projects across the north of England, with a great deal of expertise around refurbishment, remodelling and new build in public sector estates including healthcare and education. Jo Barnes, MD of Sewell Estates, said: “Over the past few years we’ve really showcased our expertise in projects that enable our clients to be more sustainable, so we’re particularly pleased to see this recognised through our appointment to the decarbonisation frameworks. “Across our group, we have extensive experience across the public sector, enabling us to take projects from strategic planning right through to completion and delivery. We’re looking forward to working with partners across the country to bring their estates projects to life and help support them on the road to Net Zero.”

New investor for Harrogate environmental risk reduction specialist

Tess Egginton
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New investor for Harrogate environmental risk reduction specialist
The Private Equity business at Goldman Sachs Alternatives is to acquire a majority stake in Adler & Allan from an affiliate of Sun European Partners.
Founded in 1926, Adler & Allan is a Harrogate-headquartered environmental risk reduction specialist, supporting organisations in managing, improving, maintaining, and upgrading their critical infrastructure across the entire asset lifecycle. The company is a national turnkey partner to the utilities sector with services from strategic infrastructure advice to monitoring, data and analytics, frontline operational capability, and environmental consultancy. Under Sun European’s ownership, the company has more than doubled in size and newly established a Water Services division dedicated to supporting the UK’s largest water utility companies on managing their wastewater and freshwater networks. As Adler & Allan embarks on its next phase of growth, focused on broadening their service offering to further support clients with a wide range of environmental risk challenges, the partnership with Goldman Sachs will accelerate the company’s growth plans both organically with investment in people, innovation, and technology, and through targeted M&A activity to expand its service offering and geographic footprint. The existing management team under the leadership of Group CEO Henrik Pedersen will continue to lead the company through the next stage of its journey. Henrik Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer of Adler & Allan, said: “The announcement today is a real endorsement of the critical nature of the services we provide, our dedicated people, and the growth potential in the environmental services market we operate in. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Sun European team for the support they have given us during our partnership, which has been transformational for the company and positioned us well for the future. “I’m deeply excited to partner with the Goldman Sachs team who share our vision on the next phase of growth, enabling us to continue to support our customers overcome their biggest environmental challenges of the 21st century.” Jose Barreto and Mihir Lal from the Private Equity business at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, said: “Adler & Allan has a 100-year heritage in supporting operators of critical infrastructure assets with their most complex environmental challenges including pollution, climate change, sustainability and preventing environmental harm. “We have been impressed with the company’s leading reputation for high service quality, deep technical expertise and the breadth of their service offering. We are delighted to partner with the Adler & Allan team and look forward to accelerating the company’s growth trajectory. “We see tremendous value creation opportunity for the business via our platform both organically, and through a targeted acquisition strategy both in the UK and overseas with a continued focus on sustainability, climate transition, and water.” Alexander Wyndham, Managing Director at Sun European Partners, said: “We are extremely proud of Adler & Allan’s growth and success since our investment in 2020. The company is a unique platform, with a leading reputation for excellence, in the growing environment risk management market. “It’s been a pleasure working with Bob, Henrik, and the whole Adler & Allan team during our partnership and we look forward to watching them continue their growth trajectory with their new investor. We’d like to thank them for all their hard work and wish them all the success for the future.” The deal is expected to complete during the second half of 2024, subject to customary antitrust and regulatory approvals. Sun European was advised on the transaction by Houlihan Lokey (M&A), OC&C (Commercial), KPMG (Financial & Tax), Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (Legal) and Park Place (Management). Goldman Sachs was advised on the transaction by Linklaters (Legal), EY Parthenon (Commercial), and KPMG (Financial & Tax).

Hannah takes over as CISI’s Yorkshire committee Presidency

Stuart Pearcey
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Hannah takes over as CISI’s Yorkshire committee Presidency
Hannah Daniel has been appointed at President of the Yorkshire committee of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, taking over from Rebecca Keating. Hannah is an investment manager at LGT Wealth Management based in Leeds. She has over eight years’ experience in wealth management. Since joining the CISI Yorkshire committee in 2020, she has organised various social and continuing professional development  events. Her current focus is promoting the CISI Young Professionals’ Network locally. Hannah said: “It is a privilege to be made branch president of the committee to follow on from Rebecca’s hard work. I look forward to working with the team to continue building relationships with local schools and universities to support students embarking on their careers. It’ll be nice to catch up with fellow industry practitioners at our social and CPD events.” Tracy Vegro OBE, CISI chief executive, said: “This is an exciting time for the Yorkshire branch, with lots happening as we welcome Hannah into her new role on the committee. We would like to thank the outgoing president, Rebecca Keating, for her service and dedication to the committee over the past few years. She hands over to Hannah with the committee in great form and with our best wishes.”

Transformation of grammar school near Rotherham completes

Tess Egginton
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Transformation of grammar school near Rotherham completes

Contractor Clegg Construction has completed a £5.9m renovation scheme to transform Maltby Grammar School near Rotherham into a community resource and education centre.

During the course of the project, Clegg invested more than £3m into the local economy by using local labour and materials wherever possible.

The company’s commitment to South Yorkshire provided local employment opportunities for those living in the area which also enabled reduced travel-to-work times and distances – helping the environment too.

Nine former Maltby Grammar School students, as well as a number of people from the Maltby area, were part of the workforce.

Pre-construction director at Clegg Construction Ross Crowcroft said: “We are delighted to have handed over the repurposed and renovated Maltby Grammar School to Maltby Learning Trust.

“The building has had a distinguished past and now has a bright future as a superb community resource, providing local services and learning facilities.

“Clegg Construction takes pride in supporting local communities wherever we work, which has been aptly demonstrated by our commitment to the local economy in the Maltby and South Yorkshire area and the people who live there.

“We wish Maltby Learning Trust all the best as Maltby Grammar School once again comes to life to provide facilities for the local community.”

During the course of the renovation, Clegg worked with clock repair and dial restoration specialists, Smith of Derby Ltd, to repair the iconic clock tower at Maltby Grammar School – getting it working again for the first time in ten years.

The renovated Maltby Grammar School will accommodate local services, support wellbeing, employment and enterprise, and provide substantial learning opportunities.

The building will also extend Maltby Learning Trust’s post-16 specialist facilities and create an incubator space for training, apprenticeships and start-up support in the leisure and hospitality sectors.

Maltby Learning Trust CEO, David Sutton, said: “We are thrilled with the work that Clegg Construction has done to renovate and refurbish the former Maltby Grammar School Building. The Trust will now be working to fit out the interior of the multi-purpose building to make it suitable for our sixth form, business, and community audiences. 

“This project will make a huge difference to the area by offering a space for people to learn, reskill, work, and thrive. We are looking forward to opening the building later in the year with a series of events.”

Built in the early 1930s, the school closed in 2012 and had fallen into a state of disrepair after being mothballed.

The redevelopment project was part of a winning bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund secured by Rotherham Council, which focused on boosting the leisure and hospitality sectors in the area. The Levelling Up Fund provided £4.5m towards the project.

During the renovation, Clegg supported careers events at Maltby Academy, sponsored Maltby Learning Trust’s 2023 annual staff conference and awards, and also delivered 212.5kg of food, nappies and other donated items to Maltby Foodbank for distribution to local families as part of its commitment to the area.

Other members of the team involved in the scheme included Self Architects, engineer GCA Ltd and employer’s agent and project manager Cube.

Quartet of rail companies unite in Dragons’ Den-style search for innovation

Stuart Pearcey
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Quartet of rail companies unite in Dragons’ Den-style search for innovation

Four train operators have joined forces on a Dragons’ Den-style scheme to support innovation in the rail industry.

LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express, and Southern are looking for cutting-edge technology startups to apply to Future Labs – a scheme designed to accelerate ideas that address common and emerging issues for the sector.

Successful applicants will gain access to industry data and resources as well as mentors and subject matter experts working for the train operators to bring their products and services to life.

They will be able to apply, test and demonstrate their ideas in real-world environments over a 12-week period.

A spokesperson said: “Future Labs is all about transforming the rail industry through open, pioneering and proven innovation. By giving technology startups access to live environments and expert mentorship they can test their proposed solutions in a real-world environment.

“Ultimately, this is all about advancing the passenger and employee experience as well as supporting performance and operational excellence.”

Undersea surveys to begin for more North Sea wind turbines

Stuart Pearcey
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Undersea surveys to begin for more North Sea wind turbines
RWE and Masdar have commissioned global leading geo-data specialist Fugro to undertake detailed geotechnical surveys on the site of two Dogger Bank wind farms more than 100km off the UK in the North Sea. Three vessels, Fugro Quest, Fugro Voyager and Normand Mermaid, will survey the ground conditions below seabed from June to October this year at the location of each proposed turbine and platform foundation, and associated seabed infrastructure. The ground investigation will use a combination of Cone Penetration Tests and sampling boreholes and will be an extensive geotechnical campaign for one of the world’s largest offshore wind projects. Colin McAllister, Development Project Manager, DBS offshore wind farms said: “The geotechnical data from these site investigations will give our engineers a detailed and accurate picture of the individual ground conditions at sites of the foundations and associated offshore infrastructure. We already have high-level data about the seabed conditions from reconnaissance surveys conducted in 2022. With the level of detail captured from the new surveys, however, we can design the most effective foundations for each turbine and platform in the project. We expect similar detailed surveys to take place at DBS East in the future.” John ten Hoope, Fugro’s Regional Director Marine Site Characterisation said: “We are excited to continue working with RWE on this prestigious project. Our successful combination of innovation technology and expert project teams will safely deliver timely high-quality data and insights crucial to optimising the design of DBS West offshore wind farm. The fieldwork, which comprises seabed cone penetration tests, and vibrocores from the Normand Mermaid and geotechnical boreholes from the Fugro Quest and Fugro Voyager, will start in June 2024. The subsequent extensive laboratory testing will take place in Fugro’s laboratories in the UK.”

James gets Director role at SMH Group in Sheffield

Stuart Pearcey
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James gets Director role at SMH Group in Sheffield
Yorkshire and Derbyshire based Chartered Accountants SMH Group have appointed James Salim as Director at its Sheffield office. James joined SMH Group as a Client Manager in 2017 before being promoted to Senior Manager in 2023, and also gained his practising certificate and audit qualification in 2023. Specialising in Audit and Assurance, James utilises his experience to advise the group’s larger corporate clients, in addition to advising clients across other service offerings including company accounts and taxes, personal tax, and estates and trusts. He also has specialism with charities and the not-for-profit sector and leads this offering in the Sheffield office. Jonathon Dickens, Group Partner at SMH said: “As we’ve experienced substantial growth in recent years, and anticipate this trend to persist, it’s crucial to have the right team and infrastructure in place to take us to the next level. “We have offered James a Director role due of his dedication to providing clients with a first class service, and his impressive work in growing the audit department. James has also done some highly commendable work with charities and the not-for-profit sector.” James Salim added: “I’m delighted to become a Director in our Sheffield Office. Since stepping up to become a Senior Manager in 2023 I have really enjoyed the responsibilities this brings, both on the client side and helping out with staff development. “The continued growth of the group has allowed me to develop as an individual, as well as playing a key role in the growth of our audit department in South Yorkshire.” James’ appointment comes as part of an extensive growth period for SMH Group, having merged with numerous firms across the Yorkshire and Derbyshire regions in recent years.

Packaging manufacturer fined after worker receives severe hand injuries

Tess Egginton
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Packaging manufacturer fined after worker receives severe hand injuries
A packaging manufacturer has been fined for safety breaches after a worker received severe hand injuries at a factory in Yorkshire. On 15 June 2020 an agency worker injured their fingers when using a table saw without a guard at Loadhog Limited’s site at Hawke Street, Sheffield. The worker, who was operating the saw, received the injuries when his fingers came into contact with a rotating saw blade. Three fingers were partially severed although they were later reattached in hospital. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the company had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, resulting in a failure to provide a suitable guard, allowing access to the exposed parts of the saw blade. At Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 25 April, Loadhog Limited of The Hog Works, Hawke Street, Sheffield pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. They were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £3,139.75 in costs. After the hearing the HSE inspector Laura Hunter said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply implementing the correct control measures and safe working practices. “HSE has clear guidance on the provision and use of work equipment that can help in preventing incidents like this from happening. “Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.” This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE Enforcement Lawyers Jon Mack and Kate Harney and supported by Paralegal Officer Rebecca Forman.
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