Guernsey’s oldest veterinary practice is entering a new chapter in its 104-year history after joining VetPartners. Isabelle Vets, which has been looking after Guernsey’s pets, farm animals and horses since 1919, is the first veterinary practice from the island to join VetPartners. Some of Europe’s most respected and trusted small animal, equine, mixed and farm practices and animal healthcare companies are part of VetPartners, which was established by vets in 2015 and has 11,000 employees working across 700 sites. New Era Vets in Jersey became VetPartners’ first Channel Islands practice in November 2019. Because no two practices are the same, VetPartners encourages its practices to embrace their independent spirit, while supporting them by investing in people, facilities, equipment and latest technology so they provide outstanding care for patients and an excellent service for clients. While Isabelle Vets’ long-serving clients will still be able to see all the same familiar faces at their main practice in Route Isabelle in St Peter Port and branch surgery in L’Islet in St Sampsons, the practice is excited about fresh opportunities for investment, career development for colleagues and expansion of facilities that will come with being part of a larger veterinary group. Isabelle Vets directors Doreen Munn-Litten and Sarah-Jane Heathcote have run the practice in joint partnership for the last three years. Doreen, a surgeon, graduated from Glasgow University in 1995, and holds a Certificate in Small Animal Surgery. She has been a director of the practice since 2012. Sarah-Jane graduated from Liverpool University in 1999, and primarily focuses on looking after Guernsey’s horses. She joined as a director in 2015, and holds a Certificate in Equine Dentistry. They will remain as practice leaders with their established team of 45 colleagues, including 11 vets. Doreen said: “What makes Isabelle Vets so special is that we are the longest established practice in Guernsey and generations of islanders have used our services so everyone feels we are a big part of the community. “Having provided more than 100 years of service for the animals of Guernsey, it is important to us that we continue to progress for future generations with the practice in safe hands. We look after all the dairy herds on the island, most of the horses and many small animals, and partnering with a larger veterinary group will provide huge benefits. “Through VetPartners, we will be able to access greater resources and expertise covering all species. We can tap into the knowledge of specialists who are part of VetPartners, which will be beneficial in an ever-changing environment when medicine and surgery are moving on as we want to stay at the forefront of excellence. “VetPartners is clinically focused and our vets will have access to top-quality education and CPD. They can then put new knowledge and skills into practice in the service we deliver daily. Everything will look and feel the same for our clients but it will enable us to remain at the leading edge of premium veterinary care.” VetPartners was established by CEO Jo Malone in November 2015 with three practices in the North of England. It has its headquarters in York. Jo said: “We are excited to welcome our new colleagues from Isabelle Vets. They are a highly respected practice and are rightly proud of their reputation for providing outstanding care for the animals of Guernsey. We will support them to continue to deliver the best possible care for their patients and an excellent service for their clients, as well as being a great place to work.” Following European expansion in 2019, the group now has practices in Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the Channel Islands.

The York and North Yorkshire LEP is partnering with specialist providers and leading employers to deliver a programme of 30 Skills Bootcamps, supporting more than 800 individuals. For learners, Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving those who take part the opportunity to build up specific skills and – if they are unemployed or seeking to change career – a fast-track to an interview with an employer looking to recruit new talent. The current raft of sessions, running until next spring, builds on a similar programme last year, involving 1,000 people. This current programme of Skills Bootcamps offers a range of courses in areas such as cyber security, game design, programming, forestry, rail engineering and care, and reflects the diverse needs of our local economy. Peter Emery, Chair of York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Skills and Employability Board, said: “Skills Bootcamps offer a great way for learners to progress their careers and for employers to gain additional expertise. This latest menu of courses offers an exciting range of opportunities and can be tailored to a company’s actual needs thus making them a very attractive option to many SMEs and micro-businesses.” Partners delivering Skills Bootcamps in collaboration with Y&NY LEP include Learning Curve Group, City of York Council, Calderdale College, Coders Guild, Corecom Technology Academy, Northern Regeneration CIC, Wakefield College, Hybrid Technical Services, Luminate Education Group and Craven College. Last year Third-based steel construction company Severfield put five employees onto a metal fabrication Skills Bootcamp led by Derwent Training, in Malton. Luke Malton, a steel fabricator and one of the Severfield employees who took part, said: “I really enjoyed this course. The tasks that we completed over the 12 weeks were very hands on, so it felt like we were thrown in at the deep end at first, but that’s exactly what was needed to make sure we got the most out of the time. I already feel like I have a broader skill set that I can continue to build on during my time here and that will allow me to work on a wider range of jobs. “Some people might be put off by the idea of taking part in something like this, because it feels like you’re going back into education. But because we were able to complete the training sessions during work hours, it felt a lot more like professional development than teaching.” To find out more about Skills Bootcamps, please email: emilie.bjorndal@ynylep.com

Hull City Council have announced the successful awarding to the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEYLEP) of UK Shared Prosperity Funds (UKSPF) to support local Hull based businesses with its Export Growth Grant (EGG) project. The Programme aims to provide revenue grants to Hull-based exporters to support business growth through exporting to new markets. Grants to a maximum of £5,400 are available to SMEs trading in a Hull Postcode (HU1 – HU9). Companies applying will be expected to evidence the availability of 40% match funds of their overall project cost. The overall objective of the EGG Programme is to assist businesses looking to participate at UK, European and International Trade Shows, thus enabling them to enter new markets following their exhibition stand at the Show. Applications are now open – please contact funding@heylep.com for more details.

Towns and cities across West Yorkshire have joined forces to form a Local Visitor Economy Partnership to maximise the potential of the region’s visitor economy. It will involve councils in Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees, Bradford and Wakefield alongside West Yorkshire Combined Authority. An interim board has been appointed which includes key tourism partners across West Yorkshire who will help shape the future or tourism for the region. VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “Local Visitor Economy Partnerships are at the heart of transforming the visitor economy landscape in England and we are delighted to welcome West Yorkshire onto the programme. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with West Yorkshire  as the LVEP is established, providing ongoing support including a dedicated VisitEngland regional development lead. “Having the right national and local infrastructure in place to grow our visitor economy, in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable way, will ensure England continues to be a compelling destination for both domestic and international visitors.” Currently, each of the five West Yorkshire districts manage tourism activity for the region’s 65 million annual visitors individually. The new LVEP programme, developed and administered by VisitEngland, will see districts come together, sharing ideas and resources while they collaborate on ways to grow the visitor economy, attract more visitors and inward investment and create job opportunities across West Yorkshire. The West Yorkshire LVEP will also be able to access expert advice, dedicated toolkits and training programmes as well as getting support for applications for important national funding. West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said:  “Through this new partnership, we can drive forward West Yorkshire’s tourism offer and give the sector the vital support it needs. Combining our strengths to build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire, we’re ready to show the world why it’s the place to be.” Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “We are delighted to have secured LVEP status and excited that we will now be working more closely with our neighbours so that together, we can showcase the very best West Yorkshire has to offer. “Our region is a completely unique, vibrant and beautiful place which deserves an international spotlight. By working more collaboratively and sharing ideas, we can support each other in highlighting what makes our districts so remarkable individually whilst also collectively showing just how special West Yorkshire is as a region.”

Government will today grant hundreds of new oil and gas licences as the UK Government continues to work towards making Britain more energy independent. And the announcement includes the prospect of thousands of jobs in our region in what’s described as a ‘new industry’ – carbon capture. Project Viking in the Humber and Project Acorn in North East Scotland and  have been chosen as the third and fourth carbon capture usage and storage clusters in the UK. The Government has already committed to deploy CCUS in two industrial clusters by the mid-2020s – the HyNet cluster in North West England and North Wales, and the East Coast Cluster in the Teesside and Humber – and a further two clusters by 2030. Together, these four clusters will build a new thriving carbon capture usage and storage industry, which could support up to 50,000 jobs in the UK by 2030. The UK has one of the largest potential carbon dioxide storage capacities in Europe, making the North Sea one of the most attractive business environments for CCUS technology. The Government has committed to provide up to £20 billion in funding for early deployment of CCUS, unlocking private investment and job creation. The Government and the North Sea Transition Authority are today announcing a joint commitment to undertake future licensing rounds, which will continue to be subject to a climate compatibility test. By adopting a more flexible application process, licences could also be offered near to currently licensed areas – unlocking vital reserves which can be brought online faster due to existing infrastructure and previous relevant assessments. With the independent Climate Change Committee predicting around a quarter of the UK’s energy demand will still be met by oil and gas when the UK reaches net zero in 2050, the Government is taking steps to slow the rapid decline in domestic production of oil and gas, which will secure our domestic energy supply and reduce reliance on hostile states. This will increase the UK’s energy security and reduce dependence on higher-emission imports, whilst protecting more than 200,000 jobs in a vital industry as we grow the UK economy. As part of a visit to a critical energy infrastructure site in Aberdeenshire today, the Prime Minister will highlight the central role the region will play in strengthening the UK’s energy independence and meet the next generation of skilled apprentices key to driving this work forward. The NSTA – responsible for regulating the oil, gas and carbon storage industries – is currently running the 33rd offshore oil and gas licensing round. They expect the first of the new licences to be awarded in the autumn, with the round expected to award over 100 licences in total. Future licences will be critical to providing energy security options, unlocking carbon capture usage and storage and hydrogen opportunities – building truly integrated offshore energy hubs that make the best use of the established infrastructure. This comes as new analysis shows that the carbon footprint of domestic gas production is around a quarter of the carbon footprint of imported liquified natural gas. As the UK is a rapidly declining producer of oil and gas, new oil and gas licences reduce the fall in UK supply in order to ensure vital energy security, rather than increase it above current levels – so that the UK remains on track to meet net zero by 2050. Rishi Sunak said: “We have all witnessed how Putin has manipulated and weaponised energy – disrupting supply and stalling growth in countries around the world. “Now more than ever, it’s vital that we bolster our energy security and capitalise on that independence to deliver more affordable, clean energy to British homes and businesses. “Even when we’ve reached net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and gas. But there are those who would rather that it come from hostile states than from the supplies we have here at home. “We’re choosing to power up Britain from Britain and invest in crucial industries such as carbon capture and storage, rather than depend on more carbon intensive gas imports from overseas – which will support thousands of skilled jobs, unlock further opportunities for green technologies and grow the economy.” The UK’s oil and gas industry are also vital to driving forward and investing in clean technologies that we need to realise our net zero target, like carbon capture usage and storage, by drawing from the sector’s existing supply chains, expertise and key skills whilst protecting jobs.

Lincoln Print & Copy Centre has continued investing in new equipment and recently bought new booklet making equipment to be able to offer folded and stapled booklets and brochures with many more pages. This has been used straight away for a customer needing booklets with many pages, as low a cost each as possible and a quick turnaround. They were able to offer exactly what the customer needed. It is particularly useful for short runs on brochures, catalogues, instruction manuals, information and training booklets. It allows clients to change the details and information regularly. Other new equipment meant a supplier to the NHS could have wire bound training manuals of 300 A5 pages or more, again in short runs to suit the numbers on their training courses. They are also able to produce small A6 booklets, landscape and square brochures. Particularly popular at this time of year are leaflets and posters advertising upcoming events and brochures for commercial companies going to trade shows. Lincoln Print & Copy Centre work with their customers to ensure the printing fits their needs and budget, and keeping their printed information up to date.

West Yorkshire’s creative and cultural industries have seen rapid growth over the last 12 months, with more jobs in the sector being created thanks to the Mayor’s commitment to deliver a Creative New Deal. New figures published by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority reveal that almost 48,000 creative, cultural and sport roles were advertised in the region during the 12 months up to June 2023 – a 17 percent rise on the previous year and almost three times greater than the national annual increase of six percent. And West Yorkshire’s creative industries is set to benefit from further investment, with a new £1.7 million package to help boost the sector announced. The ‘You Can Make it Here’ support package will support people into the region’s growing creative industries, upskilling them through a bespoke range of initiatives, including training accelerators and mentorships. Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin said: “Our creative industries are booming with thousands of job opportunities for people across the region and today’s investment will give everyone a chance to get the skills they need to do a well paid job that they love. “The support we’re providing is key to creating a greater, more diverse pool of talent and opportunities to help drive further growth and innovation throughout the sector. It’s going to help us to build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that will make a real difference to the lives of people in our communities and beyond.” The £1.7 million investment will further support the Mayor’s ambition to increase economic benefits for the region through culture, helping to boost recovery for creative industry businesses and freelancers, as well as tackling the lack of diversity within the sector. One of the schemes is an extension of support for the Mayor’s Screen Diversity programme. Delivered by Screen Yorkshire, it aims to increase opportunities in the screen industries by providing training and work placements for young people in under-represented groups. Of the last cohort, 43% identified as disabled and 38% were from ethnic minority backgrounds. Cllr Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee, said: “West Yorkshire has a strong and diverse creative heritage. It’s fantastic to see the progress our region is making to harness the opportunities which stem from that. “We’ve got huge potential. The Mayor’s You Can Make It Here support package will help Wakefield and everywhere else in West Yorkshire to realise that potential. Helping to create more new employment opportunities for local people, creating the right environment for business growth, and placing this vital sector at the heart of our region’s economy.” Leaders approved the £1.7 million ‘You Can Make It Here’ scheme at a meeting of the Combined Authority yesterday (27 July).

A self-confessed accidental entrepreneur, who became one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of colourful sensory putty, has secured a match-funded grant from the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme to help her unique business target future growth in international markets.

Ruby Sheldon launched her Carlton-based business Slime Party UK in 2018. Inspired by her daughter, who wanted to celebrate her birthday by inviting her friends to make slime together, Ruby decided to take matters into her own hands and began developing her slime making workshops.

The party proved to be an instant hit, and Ruby started receiving requests from other parents to host similar events. Sensing a small business opportunity Ruby decided to advertise her unique slime parties on a social media platform.

Within just a month, Ruby had secured party bookings for a full 12 months. As she began experimenting with new ways of making colourful, scented and sensory slime, she started selling her products online. When the Covid-19 pandemic forced Ruby to suspend her slime parties, she spent time developing her own unique compound, a sensory putty with a butter-slime texture designed to be thick and easy to hold, but also the perfect texture for stretching, squashing and encouraging sensory play.

Her unique products quickly caught the eye of national retailer Toymaster, and today Slime Party UK produces over 4,000 tubs of Ruby’s unique sensory putty each week. With demand for her services growing quickly, Ruby expanded her business, combining a manufacturing facility and colourful shop in Barnsley which opened its doors earlier this year.

With plans to expand her business internationally, Ruby knew that she needed to re-think the way her sensory putties were manufactured, enabling her to increase production to meet future demands and she decided to contact Enterprising Barnsley for help.

Working with key account manager Paul Johnson, Ruby secured funds through the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme, a match funded ERDF grant scheme, to enable her to automate her packaging processes. The funds helped Slime Party UK to invest in a labelling machine, allowing labels to be added to her pots of sensory putty automatically, rather than relying upon members of staff physically labelling her products.

The machinery helped to free up the time of two of her 13-strong workforce, enabling production capacity to increase, and since installing the new equipment, Slime Party UK has started to forge an international distribution network and even exhibited at trade shows in North America. The additional capacity created within the business has also enabled Ruby and her team to start developing a new range of sensory putties, and the company is also planning to release a range of gift sets in the near future.

Ruby Sheldon, Managing Director, Slime Party UK, said: “When my daughter started getting interested in slime, I thought it would be a fairly short-lived fad, but I was genuinely amazed by the reactions my parties received and just how much they were in demand. As I delved more into the science behind slime, I began to realise the importance of sensory play in childhood development.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we were unable to host the regular parties that I had built my business around and so I began developing my own sensory putties. We launched them in 2021 and since that time the business has gone from strength to strength. We’re planning to expand internationally later this year, but our products were already in high demand, so I wanted to explore ways of improving the way our manufacturing processes.

“From my very early days of trading, I’ve worked closely with the Enterprising Barnsley team: initially, through the Launchpad business support programme, which helped me to understand how to run a business, and they have also provided help and assistance as the business has grown and evolved.

“One of the barriers we faced was the way each tub of slime was packaged. I knew that automating part of the production process could help, but the costs of purchasing the machinery were inhibitive. Paul suggested that I should apply to the Business Productivity Programme, and since securing the funds, it has helped to transform the business. I’ve really enjoyed working with Paul and he’s been very supportive of our plans and he always goes the extra mile when it comes to helping us.”

Paul Johnson, key account manager, Enterprising Barnsley, said: “Although there are very few businesses out there who specialise in making sensory putties, like many businesses working in the manufacturing sector, Slime Party UK realised that to increase production, additional investment was required.

“Ruby realised that employing two members of staff to stick labels on her completed products was causing something of a bottleneck in her production line and realised that if the process was automated, her workforce could be used more effectively.

“Ruby has worked closely with Enterprising Barnsley since she first began developing her ideas, and it’s great to see how the business has grown and evolved over the past five years.

“The Business Productivity Grant scheme was developed to help businesses across South Yorkshire to overcome barriers to growth, and for Slime Party UK this meant being able to free up staff, which will help the business to increase its current production levels. Through the distribution network Ruby has forged, children across the world are enjoying Slime Party’s unique products, and I am looking forward to seeing how the business will develop in the future.”