Rail Minister Huw Merriman has confirmed a £24 million investment towards a new platform at Bradford’s Forster Square Station to reduce delays and futureproof the station. The new platform will ease congestion and improve access into the city for passengers, commuters and tourists. Once complete – and subject to future funding decisions – this could result in an extra five daily LNER services, more than tripling the current provision. Mr Merriman said: “Bradford is benefitting from serious investment in rail infrastructure with £24 million towards a new platform for Forster Square Station helping to improve rail journeys, increase rail services and better connect passengers.

“This investment follows £2 billion for Bradford to better connect the city, including with a new station, and to facilitate faster rail journeys to Manchester via Huddersfield as part of our Network North plan, with further funding recently announced to help with the planning work for that station – demonstrating this government’s plan to invest in rail infrastructure in the region.”

This announcement comes as Bradford prepares to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2025, with the Minister attending a meeting with local leaders and businesses today to discuss plans to deliver a new government-funded station in the city. The government’s £36 billion Network North plan to improve local transport connections included £2 billion to provide a new station at Bradford and a new connection to improve journey times from the city to Manchester via Huddersfield. Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North and East route, said: “This funding will enable us to deliver extra platform capacity at Bradford Forster Square and allow for improved rail connections for passengers in the future.

“We look forward to working with the Department for Transport, Bradford Council and other stakeholders to deliver these upgrades for people travelling to and from the city.”

Business confidence in Yorkshire and the Humber rose 11 points during January to 44%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Yorkshire and the Humber reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 18 points at 54%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up four points to 34%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 44% (vs. 33% in December). Yorkshire and the Humber businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as entering new markets (39%), investing in their team (37%) and introducing new technology (33%). A net balance of 29% of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, down five points on last month. The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. National picture Overall, UK business confidence rose nine points in January to 44% – its highest level since February 2022 and its strongest start to a year since 2016. Firms’ outlook on the overall UK economy rose ten points from 27% to 37%, while businesses’ optimism in their own trading prospects also climbed three points month-on-month to 51%. Companies’ hiring intentions increased marginally, with 33% of firms intending to increase staff levels over the next 12 months, up four points on the month before. London and the North East were the joint most confident parts of the UK in January – each posting a headline confidence of 62% – followed by the West Midlands (56%) and Yorkshire & the Humber (44%). The East of England (38% in January vs. 45% December) and Northern Ireland (29% vs. 36%) were the only two regions to reporting declining levels of confidence. The majority of the data was collected before the December ONS inflation data was announced on January 17th. Sector insights Three of the four sectors tracked in the Barometer reported rises in confidence. The most significant increase was in services which accelerated 15 points to 45%, up from December’s 16 point drop. Manufacturing confidence also increased to 49%, while construction rose eight points to a 10-month high of 45%. There was a more mixed picture in retail however, dipping three points to 41% with anecdotal evidence of weaker footfall and sales in December as shoppers hit the streets earlier than usual in November. Nevertheless, some companies still reported stronger sales over the festive period. Steve Harris, regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “The prospect of a more stable economic environment in 2024 is likely to be a big part of why Yorkshire businesses are starting the year on such a confident footing. While challenges undoubtedly remain, it’s promising to see firms looking to enter new markets to maximise growth in the year ahead. “We’ll continue to be by the side of local firms as we approach this new year with a positive outlook. Whether that’s managing working capital or investing in the latest technology, our team of experts are here to help firms realise their full growth potential.” Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Businesses are feeling more confident following the cautious end to 2023, with this being the strongest start to a year since January 2016. The reduction in inflation, albeit with the recent uptick, and the belief that interest rates may have peaked is likely driving the rise in confidence among firms. “With ongoing geopolitical issues and a general election on the horizon, businesses will have factored these into their risk radars and will be working to prepare for any potential impacts on their trading prospects. “Also, half of all companies say they’re planning to increase headcount in the coming year. Despite that and the changes to minimum wage that will come into force in April, expectations for staff pay fell back following last month’s increase.”

A management buyout (MBO) has been completed at an industrial door company supported by an investment from Finance Yorkshire.

Interdoor, based in Hull, supplies and maintains specialist industrial doors throughout the whole of the UK to a range of sectors including retail, food processing, aviation, automotive and film and television.

Established in 2017, when Mark Roberts incorporated the company and acquired the industrial door business from a member of his family’s group of companies, which itself had traded for more than 40 years, the company has grown substantially over the last six years.

The MBO was led by the company’s operations director, Gary Toalster, with the support of Managing Director Mark Roberts, who prior to the sale owned 100% of the company. He will remain as a shareholder and director of the new business. Between them, Gary and Mark have more than 30 years’ experience in the industrial door sector.

Gary, who was originally employed by Mark’s father 15 years ago as an apprentice engineer, said: “The buyout enables us to support our growth plans for Interdoor and together with our unrivalled customer service and technical knowledge will help us in our ambition to become one of the largest national industrial door maintenance providers in the UK.”

Mark said: “Finance Yorkshire was the first port of call to fund the transaction. We have worked with its fund managers previously who have proved to be trusted partners in working with us to help our business grow.”

Alex McWhirter, Chief Executive of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Interdoor is an impressive company with a strong track record in the supply and maintenance of innovative industrial doors to a range of sectors. It has continued to grow even in the most challenging of trading conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleased to support the management team in the next chapter of the company’s growth strategy.”

The deal was supported by a £1.3 million investment from Finance Yorkshire’s growth fund.

Lincolnshire-based food & drinks gifting disrupter IMP & MAKER announced today (30 Jan 2024) what it called ‘a cracker of a Christmas’ with its best sales ever that saw customer orders soar by a staggering 900% year on year. Similarly, its corporate business also delivered a bumper Christmas with orders up a whopping 600% when compared to the same period the year before. The record-breaking results are even more impressive when you consider recent figures from the British Retail Consortium that showed growth for the period was only 1.78% across retail. However, when inflation was taken into account it represents a decline in consumer spending over Christmas 2023. The owner-managed independent business is the brainchild of entrepreneur Sarah Louise Fairburn, who decided that food and drinks gifting sector was in need for a serious shake up as the offer in many cases hadn’t evolved and was frankly ‘passed its sell by date’. So, four years ago Sarah and her dedicated, small, Coningsby-based team went about reinventing the world of food gifting by searching the UK and overseas for the very best foodie finds delivered to doorsteps across the country. The business now counts footballers, celebrities, entrepreneurs and even Usain Bolt as customers. On the amazing Christmas sales results, Sarah Louise Fairburn, owner and founder, commented: “We have had the most amazing Christmas and it’s all down to doing things a little differently from the rest of the industry. Everything we do is designed to make whoever receives an IMP & MAKER hamper feel appreciated and loved. “I knew we had been busy in the run up to Christmas as all of us were working round the clock to get orders out in time and now we know why. “It really shows that customers are looking for something that little bit different, that tastes great, looks great and is great value – all with a little bit of love thrown in. It’s a huge pat on the back to the fantastic team here at IMP & MAKER – I can’t thank them enough.” Although Christmas decorations in homes will by now be firmly tucked away in lofts and sheds ready for next year, the festive season is still front of mind at IMP & MAKER as the team is already scouring the country for innovative artisan food suppliers for Christmas 2024. “We’re not going to rest on our laurels,” said Sarah Louise. “The hunt is on for even more fantastic product for next Christmas. However, before then we’ve got Valentines’ Day, Mother’s Day, Easter and Father’s Day all with specially curated food gifting ideas, to show how important your loved ones are to you. What better way to do it than with great tasting IMP & MAKER, curated food and drink.” On the business corporate success Sarah Louise added: “Doing it differently is in our DNA, from personalisation to personal customer service. As we know how important your colleagues and/or customers are to you. “In fact, we pride ourselves on that personal touch with many orders being discussed, curated, and handled over the phone; it’s something that really sets us apart.  It means we are well on the way to achieving our ambition of becoming the modern way to corporate gift.” In the run up to Christmas the team at IMP & MAKER scooped the Good Housekeeping Christmas taste test for best hamper, beating the likes of Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols and M&S to the festive top spot. The team also won Corporate Gifting Business of the year 2023. The amazing ‘pat on the back’ is even more impressive as the business has only been trading for four years.