Yorkshire’s farm businesses prepare to celebrate Plough Sunday
Farm businesses and farming families producing food for the nation and managing Yorkshire’s countryside will be celebrated at Ripon Cathedral’s Plough Sunday Service, supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
All are welcome at the service on Sunday 14th January at the start of a new year which brings fresh opportunities and challenges for British agriculture.
For many farmers, 2024 means looking for the best ways to adapt to new government policies, and trialling and adopting increasingly innovative approaches to farmland management and food production.
It may also mean pursuing ways to secure their futures by diversifying what they farm and adding value through new ventures.
Farmers set out to do so during a period of uncertainty ahead, with a general election to come and unpredictable weather patterns amid the changing climate.
Allister Nixon, Chief Executive of farming charity the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said: “As crucial stewards of the nation’s precious food-producing landscapes, farming families will continue to have the support of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society whatever the year ahead brings.
“So, in time-honoured tradition, we partner with Ripon Cathedral for its Plough Sunday Service where blessings will be offered to those who farm the land. We wish our farmers and their families a productive and fulfilling 2024.”
As well as organising the 165th Great Yorkshire Show on Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th July, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society will offer events, training, bursaries and grants to support agriculture in the North of England throughout the year.
Plough Sunday is an ancient festival which was revived by the Victorians. Traditionally it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany.
In the Medieval period, when there was only one plough in each village, the village plough was brought into church for a blessing before ploughing began on Plough Monday, the first working day after the 12 days of Christmas.
In days when work was scarce in winter, the observance looked forward to the time of sowing with the promise of a harvest to come.
The Dean of Ripon, The Very Rev John Dobson, who will lead the service said: “We at Ripon Cathedral always rejoice in organising this service in partnership with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
“It is a highlight of the early months of the year, a great opportunity to celebrate the contribution made to the common good by those who farm and work in food production industries, as well as many within rural communities.
“We pray for God’s blessing on their efforts, as well as on our attempts to care for the environment. This is a service to which all are welcome.”
Survey predicts increases in turnover and price hikes
The percentage of firms expecting an increase in turnover over the next year has risen to the highest level since Q1 2022 when Covid restrictions were lifted, according to the latest Quarterly Economic Survey from the British Chambers of Commerce.
The data also reveals that more firms expect price hikes, ending the downward trend of the last two years.
The survey of more than 5,000 firms across the UK, most of whom are SMEs with fewer than 250 employees, also reveals business performance across different sectors varies considerably.
The percentage of respondents reporting increased domestic sales rose slightly to 36%, compared with 35% in Q3. Meanwhile, 22% reported a decrease and 42% said sales had remained constant.
There were significant sectoral differences. 46% of consumer services firms said they had seen a boost in sales, whereas 35% of hospitality companies and 28% of retailers saw a decrease.
The percentage of firms expecting to see their turnover increase over the next 12 months increased to 56%, from 53% in Q3. Only 15% of respondents are expecting to see their financial situation worsen in the year ahead, 29% expect things to remain the same.
Profitability confidence has also improved, with 47% of companies saying they expect profits to increase in the next year. That compares to 45% in Q3. 21% of respondents believe their profits will fall.
Despite inflation continuing to ease, more firms are expecting their prices to rise, compared with the last quarter. 47% of respondents are predicting an increase (compared with 41% in Q3), 49% think prices will stay the same, and just 4% are anticipating a decrease.
While inflation remains firms’ biggest concern (58%), a recent trend in rising worries over interest rates has eased. 39% of businesses say they are concerned about the cost of borrowing, compared with 41% in Q2 and 45% in Q3. These figures remain high compared with the pre-Covid trend.
David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The latest QES results show steadily growing confidence among UK SMEs, particularly compared to this time last year, when the UK was beset by a significant energy price shock and political instability.
“However, while it’s likely the UK will avoid a technical recession, these results provide more evidence of a very low growth climate as most SMEs continue to report no improvement to sales, cash flow, or investment.
“The data also reveal the disproportionate impacts of economic shocks on different types of businesses. Manufacturers, for example, are more likely to be exposed to the trade barriers established with Europe, while many firms in the retail and hospitality sector are reporting recessionary conditions.
“Businesses have been desperate for a clear long-term plan for growth from Government that addresses infrastructure, access to skills, and global trade.”
Shevaun Haviland, the BCC’s Director General, added: “Our data shows business confidence is growing, but real challenges remain in the coming year. Worries about interest rates and inflation remain at historically high levels, despite a slight easing of concern.
“The recruitment challenges many firms are facing underlines our calls for a skills plan from Government alongside an affordable immigration system.
“Investment continues to the Achilles’ heel for business. The Chancellor’s decision in his Autumn Statement to make full expensing permanent was very welcome. 2024 needs to be the year when companies are given further assistance to invest.
“In the noisy election year ahead, it is crucial politicians remain focused on growing the economy and helping businesses thrive.”
Duncan & Toplis Foundation donates £30,000 to charities
Since its launch in late 2022 the Duncan & Toplis Foundation has committing to giving more than £30,000 to charity, with benefitting organisations including
- Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
- Base 51
- Newark Book Festival
- Rainbows Hospice
- Children’s Bereavement Centre
- Sue Young Cancer Support
- Boston Girlguiding
- Beaumond House Hospice Care
- Tonic Health
- Kirton Youth Challenge
- The Respite Association
- Panathlon
Sowerby Developments completes 16-home development for Lace Housing
Contractors T.G. Sowerby Developments Ltd have completed a 16-home development in Scunthorpe for affordable housing association LACE Housing.
Designed by Cambridge-based Saunders Boston Architects, Collinson Court near Scunthorpe town centre will provide 16 affordable, safe and secure homes for people aged over 55.
The new development is of two 2-storey buildings, incorporating 16 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, as well as a communal lounge facility, mobility scooter store and enclosed private gardens.
James Bonsall, Director at T.G. Sowerby Developments Ltd, said: “With this scheme, Lace Housing has had an incredibly positive impact on the local area by transforming the site from what it was into a modern and attractive development, specifically designed for older people to live, and it has been a pleasure to work with them to achieve this.
“We’re extremely proud of the workmanship and quality of finish which our tradespeople have delivered on this project, which has also enabled us to sustain and create several apprenticeships with our firm, with trainee bricklayers, joiners and site managers all getting some of their first experiences of the construction industry here.
“We sincerely hope that all the residents of Collinson Court will be very happy in their new homes.”
The scheme is designed to aid and encourage access to the wider community and is located within easy reach of supermarkets, public transport, a doctor’s surgery, convenience stores and eateries.
Nick Chambers, CEO of LACE Housing Association, said: “We are dedicated to providing affordable, high quality homes for the Lincolnshire community, which are open to anyone over the age of 55. This scheme will provide much-needed affordable housing to support independent living for our older and vulnerable people.
“With our first residents having already moved in, I’m so excited to hear what they think of this excellent facility. We’d like to encourage anyone who is interested in moving to Collinson Court to get in touch with us via our website.”
To be eligible for LACE’s accommodation, residents will be required to meet certain criteria, including having a connection to the local area of North Lincolnshire.
HEY! Did you know broadening membership base had resulted in name change for business club?
The Business Culture Hull changed its name to reflect increasing membership from further afield.
MD Tony Bowler said: “Over the years we’ve had multiple business owners outside the HU1 to HU9 postcodes join our club, but its name suggests geographical limits that may put off some people outside the city. That’s why from 1st January 2024, we will be known as The Business Culture Hull & East Yorkshire, or HEY for short.”
The Business Culture HEY will enable businesses across the region to get involved in the club’s networking sessions, peer support programme, collaboration projects and inspiring events, including their very first ‘Business Expo’ scheduled for April this year.
“From the outset we have always embraced and welcomed new members from across the region, the only caveat is that they are willing to help and support their fellow members,” said Tony. “Our business community stretches from York and Driffield to Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole. By changing the name, we’re making it clear that businesses across Yorkshire are very welcome to join. A larger membership can only be a good thing for the group as a whole, as there will be more people to connect with and a richer variety of knowledge to tap into.”
“The Business Culture HEY is a family of like-minded businesses who share good news, advice and support with the central ethos of growth and connection,” said Tony. “From open networking and training sessions to VIP private dining clubs and industry-leading motivational speaker events, there’s a lot to be gained by becoming a member and engaging with our community.”
Founded in January 2016 by husband and wife team Tony and Michelle Bowler the organisation ws directed at Hull business owners and their employees, and now has 180 business members and over 6,500 individual members. Its popularity soon resulted in entrepreneurs, start-ups, sole traders, limited companies and charities further afield showing interest in becoming a member, which motivated the organisers to reassess the club’s name.
Jobs on the menu as plant-based firm opens ‘UK first’ site
Almost 70 jobs will be created after a plant-based food manufacturer moved into a huge new product development site.
MYCO Holdings will transform a former food manufacturing plant in Leeming Bar into a vertically farmed production unit. It will be the first site of its kind in the UK.
The North East-based firm hopes the move into the purpose-built 20,000 sq ft site will launch an exciting period of growth, amid an expected boom in sales of plant-based meat substitutes.
“This is a great move for MYCO, and one we all believe will help the business unlock its extraordinary potential,” said John Shepherd, co-founder and chairman of MYCO.
“This new site is a food industry first, and the concept of combining both the growing of the raw materials and the manufacturing of the finished product under one roof will pave the way for more sustainable food manufacturing practices in the future.”
MYCO’s own plant-based protein is made from oyster mushrooms and has already attracted interest from a host of household names across the food industry. And MYCO’s management team received a warm welcome when they took over the site in November – when they found mushrooms were already growing around the grounds!
Since then, the site’s been cleared in preparation for production to ramp up in the New Year. The move follows months of work with Judith Turner of North Yorkshire Council to secure the unit, which given its proximity to the A1, will further aid sustainability by reducing food miles.
To cope with the expected influx of demand, the six staff initially based at the new site will need to swell to around 75 over the forthcoming period.
According to the firm’s new CEO David Wood, the new unit helps future-proof the business while allowing the business to expand on multiple fronts.
“MYCO’s goal isn’t to turn the world into vegans but is to encourage meat-eaters to eat more sustainable plant-based products,” said David.
“We believe we can achieve this by having products that taste fantastic and are made with kitchen cupboard ingredients.
“The business believes that creating mouthwatering alternatives that resemble ‘proper’ food will make swapping from meat to plant-based substitutes far easier.
“This site will allow us to press on with that vision, whilst for the first time ever in the UK, giving customers the chance to choose genuinely sustainable, vertically farmed products.
“We hope our unique, sustainable approach can be mirrored by other food producers as ultimately, our biggest priority is to help the planet survive – we just hope we can play our part.”
Planning permission secured for up to 126 new homes in Bridlington
Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has secured planning permission from East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a residential development of up to 126 affordable homes on land off Scarborough Road in Bridlington.
The 100% affordable housing scheme is on a circa 10-acre site, in a sustainable residential area, creating an extension to Bridlington.
Construction is planned for two, three and four-bedroom properties and an area of public space. New vehicular access will be created off the A165 Scarborough Road.
Matthew Turnbull, planning & development manager at Keyland Developments Ltd, said: “We are delighted to secure planning at Scarborough Road to increase the residential offering in Bridlington and provide new residents with a host of added benefits.
“The 100% affordable scheme will provide a significant boost to the provision of affordable housing in Bridlington, while the construction of the development could support around 211 jobs, generating a GVA of more than £10 million.”
Spinks secures funding to bring innovative spring tech to rail seating
Spinks, a Leeds-based spring manufacturer and components supplier to the mattress and furniture industry, has secured a £250,000 research contract to bring its EcoSeat™ spring technology to UK rail seating.
The research contract is being awarded by the Department for Transport and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, through the ‘First of a Kind’ (FOAK) 2023 funded research competition, and will be used to bring Spinks’ innovative pocket spring technology to the railway industry with the aim of improving overall passenger comfort and experience.
The research contract demonstrates the British manufacturer’s ability to provide innovation and cost-saving solutions which will help deliver new 100% recyclable rail seating that incorporates its patented glue-free pocket springs – a key component within mattress production for Spinks’ parent company, luxury mattress manufacturer, Harrison Spinks.
Commercial partner in the project, Quantum Seating – a Coventry-based rail seat manufacturer – will bring a wealth of knowledge to the development of longer lasting and 100% recyclable rail seats made using Spinks’ EcoSeat™ microcoils, plus integrating hemp, which is grown on the company’s 300-acre farm in Yorkshire.
The seats aim to be the most comfortable and sustainable rail seat and will be part of an existing Quantum Seating aluminium frame along with seat covers made with high wool content. With flammability standards difficult to meet with conventional foams, flame retardants and fire barriers are normally added to the seat construction, however this is not necessary with EcoSeat™.
Spinks and Quantum Seating are also collaborating with Angel Trains, which operates over 4,000 trains and represents more than one-third of the UK’s passenger rolling stock, specialising in innovative and sustainable rail vehicles. The project plans to integrate the innovative seating into new trains for a range of UK rail travel providers.
Darren Marcangelo, Managing Director at Spinks, said: “We’re honoured to have been awarded this funding from Innovate UK and feel it’s a significant milestone for the future of rail travel. Passengers will soon be able to travel on comfortable seating that’s been made here in the UK with safe, quality components, and manufactured with the environment in mind.
“The project is in addition to the recent automotive seating research contract for Spinks, working with a number of electric vehicle manufacturers to integrate microcoils into automotive seating. This new research contract solidifies our position within the transportation sector as we help these industries further reach their sustainability goals.
“We’re also proud to be partnering with Quantum Seating and Angel Trains on this ground-breaking project. Working together, we will provide rail seating which is comfortable, safer and circular, with longer operational life, helping to improve rail travel here in the UK and hopefully around the world.”
Simon Millward, Managing Director of Quantum Seating, said: “Improving seat comfort and environmental sustainability are two important factors that drive the engineering of our products and integrating the Spinks’ EcoSeat™ microcoils will help us achieve these goals.
“An added benefit will be to reduce the overall weight of our class-leading products which will also give environmental benefits to our customers. We look forward to developing this exciting new seat in conjunction with Spinks.”
This project is funded by the Department for Transport through the First of a Kind 2023 competition, delivered by Innovate UK.
Council’s Grade II-listed former children’s services building to be auctioned
A Grade II-listed Victorian former school building, most recently used by Leeds City Council as its children’s services offices, is being put up for auction by the council with a guide price of £750,000 to £800,000.
Vacant since November, the prominent building, on Kildare Terrace in the Holbeck area of Leeds, was formerly Jacob Kramer College. The site features in the online property auction to be held by auctioneer Pugh on 31 January.
The former school, now called Adams Court, is located on a site of almost an acre and is set across a 20,000 sq ft main building and two further outbuildings.
Will Thompson from auctioneer Pugh said: “This really is a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire a freehold site and a historic Leeds property.
“Adams Court is a brownfield site that is unallocated in the local plan so it may well be suitable for change of use or redevelopment, subject to gaining the necessary planning consents. Interested parties should note, however, that the property is Grade II-listed.”
He added: “Excellent road links, via the A58, A643 and M621, also add to the appeal of the property and there are some big brands, such as Dunelm and Enterprise, trading nearby in a local area that is predominantly retail and light industrial.”
Yorkshire business confidence dips
Business confidence in Yorkshire fell 17 points during December to 33%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Companies in Yorkshire reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 13 points at 36%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down 22 points to 23%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 33%.
Yorkshire businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as evolving their offers (35%), hiring new employees, and investing in teams (31%) and diversifying into adjacent markets (29%).
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
A net balance of 34% of businesses in Yorkshire expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 8 points on last month.
Overall UK business confidence fell two points in December to 35%, the first decrease since August, driven largely by firms’ outlook on the overall UK economy which dipped by eleven points from 38% to 27%. Businesses’ optimism in their own trading prospects also decreased, but less markedly so – by five points to 43%.
Companies’ hiring intentions also dropped slightly with 29% of firms intending to increase staff levels over the next 12 months, down six points month-on-month.
Firms in West and East Midlands were the only regions to report an increase in confidence, up one point to 33% and up five points to 34% respectively. The North East was most confident, remaining at 48% for the second consecutive month, followed by the East of England (45%), London (38%) and the South West (36%).
Firms in the services industry reported a significant decrease in confidence, down 16 points to 30%, due to moderation in both trading prospects and economic optimism. Manufacturing confidence also eased back (38%, down seven points). However, retail and construction both bucked the trend with rises to 44% (up two points) and 37% (up two points) respectively.
Steve Harris, regional director for Yorkshire at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Whilst slightly disappointing to see the fall in business confidence among Yorkshire businesses, it’s not entirely surprising that confidence levels have dipped within the last month.
“It’s been a challenging year for businesses in the region, but it’s positive to see that business confidence has gone up from a reading of 22% last year to 33% this year, demonstrating that confidence has been higher year-on-year.
“Despite the short term dip in confidence, businesses looking to expand into growing markets can hope to achieve their growth ambitions for the coming year through acquisitions and evolving offerings. We’ll be by the side of businesses who are targeting growth and expansion of their firms in 2024.”
Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “This December data was collected following several key announcements, including energy prices rises and the UK economic outlook being revised down in the Autumn Statement. All of this will undoubtedly have had an impact on business confidence as we head into 2024.
“Businesses are also balancing cost pressures with a challenging labour market that will see increases to minimum wage in April 2024, as perhaps indicated in the wage growth figures, at a time when they are managing staff retention and recruitment decisions.
“However, over the course of the year confidence has steadily increased from an average confidence of 25% in the first three-months of 2023 and ending the year with a three month average of 39% – an indication of the positive trajectory business has seen this year. This provides a healthier position to begin 2024 with, compared to 2023.”
