Quickline announces two senior appointments to further strengthen executive team
Ultrafast broadband provider Quickline Communications Limited (“Quickline”) is pleased to announce the appointment of two leading broadband specialists to its executive team.
Lee Allison will join Quickline in January 2022 as Chief Operating Officer. In his previous role as Head of Engineering Operations at KCOM, Mr Allison was responsible for building the award-winning fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network in and around Hull, which brought gigabit broadband capability to over 250,000 premises. He has more recently been responsible for KCOM’s £100m FTTP network expansion investment.
Ian Smith will become Quickline’s Chief Technology Officer in February 2022 after spending the last four years as Programme Director for the Government’s 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme. He has over 25 years of experience in designing, building and operating both fixed and mobile networks and previously held senior roles at Ericsson, EE and T-Mobile. Mr Smith also has extensive experience delivering large scale technology and transformational programmes for both the public and private sectors.
These key appointments further strengthen Quickline’s executive team and demonstrate the unique hybrid broadband network capability that Quickline is rapidly developing. The team is led by Chief Executive Officer Sean Royce, who has already started implementing an impressive growth strategy since he joined the company in May.
Quickline’s founder and interim Chief Technology Officer, Steve Jagger, will step down from his executive duties at the end of the year but remains a shareholder and as a non-executive director.
Sean Royce said: “We are delighted to attract such high calibre industry specialists to our executive team. Their arrival further underpins the company’s commitment to providing life changing broadband services to those underserved communities in rural areas, as well as to becoming one of Yorkshire’s fastest growing companies.
“These appointments also underline our focus and commitment to bringing full fibre and market leading 5G technology to 500,000 homes and businesses across the North of England and beyond. Lee and Ian will play key roles in the development and implementation of our growth strategy, leading the design and build of our gigabit-capable hybrid network as we fulfil our plans to scale-up and expand the business.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our founder Steve Jagger for his assistance and continued support since I started as CEO in May, and I am delighted that we will still have access to his wealth of experience on our Board as we move into an exciting new chapter for the company.”
For more information about Quickline and how they deliver high-speed broadband to rural areas, please visit www.quickline.co.uk, call 01482 24-7-365 or email sales@quickline.co.uk.
Hull City Council supported local businesses with £95m in grant support to help them through the pandemic
Hull City Council has administered a substantial amount of COVID-19-related grant support to local businesses over the past 20 months and are encouraging anybody thinking of applying under the last two remaining grant schemes, to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Grant support offered so far has totalled £95m and has provided much needed financial support to local businesses, helping them overcome the detrimental impacts of the pandemic.
Government grant funding for this type of support has now ended and the council are in the final phase of distributing its Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) allocation. After successfully distributing its initial ARG allocation, the council was awarded a top-up allocation. That is being used to fund three schemes – a Start-up Grant scheme to enable and encourage more people to start their own businesses, a CCTV Grant Scheme for Hackney Carriages to provide higher levels of safety and to support the night-time economy and finally an ARG Recovery Grant Scheme.
The council have just agreed the final set of awards under the ARG Recovery Scheme, which was launched in August and provides support to businesses that were still struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. That scheme is now closed.
The Start-up Grant for businesses which started after 11 March 2020 remains available, but will close to new applications on 14 January 2022 – we are encouraging anyone who has not already applied to do so as quickly as possible.
The CCTV Hackney Carriage Grant will close on 31 January 2022.
Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council said: “We continue to be committed to doing everything we can to help businesses suffering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These funding initiatives have been vital to help local businesses survive and support the recovery of Hull’s economy. These initiatives have protected jobs and will continue to enable businesses to carry on trading. I encourage anybody thinking of applying under the final two schemes to check out the support available.”
The council has business advisors who can provide information, advice and help businesses access relevant support. Information on the Start-up Grant and CCTV schemes can be found on the council’s website. If you have any queries on available support, please email business.support@hullcc.gov.uk.
LEP Launches £2m Clean Growth Accelerator Fund
The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is to reallocate £2m of its existing funding towards a new Clean Growth Accelerator Fund to help tackle the impact of climate change.
Building on the Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and the recently released UK Innovation Strategy, the LEP is inviting organisations and businesses to submit projects that will help to develop innovation and R&D ideas focused on decarbonisation and clean growth.
“We are delighted to announce our new Clean Growth Accelerator Fund for Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland,” said Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.
“Not only will this fund help us to achieve our Net Zero ambitions, but it will also ensure that innovation remains at the heart of our economic growth.”
The essential criteria for this fund are as follows:
- proposals should be capital focused but can include a revenue element which should not exceed 10% of the project cost
- schemes must be over £1 million in overall value with a minimum grant requested of £500,000
- projects that are related to clean growth and driven by R&D and innovation will be considered, but they must relate to one of the following LEP game changers or sectors:
- UK Food Valley
- Humber Freeport
- Clean energy
- Defence
- Visitor economy
- Health and care
- an innovation, research and development project focused on clean growth / net zero
- reducing carbon emissions by 2027
- reducing nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions
- contributing to Green Masterplan Net Zero targets
- decarbonisation of the National Grid or heat production
- creating EV charging points
- demonstrating the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
- introduction of new clean growth-related products to the market
Leeds City Council sets out stall with rent support pledge to market traders
Leeds City Council is serving up a timely financial boost that aims to help market traders cope with the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A 15 per cent rent discount will be in place for all indoor and outdoor traders at Leeds Kirkgate Market for the first three months of 2022, it was announced today.
The reduction will also apply to council-run district markets in Pudsey, Otley and Yeadon.
The discount is the latest in a series of wide-ranging measures – including 18 months of previous rental support – taken by the council to assist the city’s market traders since the start of the pandemic.
Market footfall is currently between 15 and 20 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels, while – even in normal times – the early months of the year are historically a difficult trading period.
Today’s announcement also comes as stallholders digest the possible impact of new government restrictions designed to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for economy, culture and education, said: “Our markets are part of the lifeblood of our city and we have been determined to provide them with much-needed support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We hope confirmation of the rent discount scheme will give traders a lift ahead of Christmas and let them look forward with more confidence to 2022.
“They, like countless other people across Leeds, have shown immense fortitude over the last two years, so it is with pride that we are able to offer them this support.”
Previous steps taken by the council to bolster the city’s markets in the face of the pandemic include the introduction of a plan allowing traders to spread the payment of arrears accrued during lockdown. Extra help also remains available on a case-by-case basis for those suffering exceptional hardship as a result of COVID-19.
These market-specific measures are just one part of a massive economic support package overseen by the council since the beginning of the pandemic, with more than £290m worth of assistance being distributed to businesses and charities across the city in that time.
City of York Council launches the Business Growth Voucher Scheme worth £500k
The Business Growth Voucher Scheme issues vouchers of up to £1000 to eligible businesses in York which can be used to procure services from a list of approved York-based providers.
The scheme is funded by the final £1.4 million instalment of the Additional Restrictions Grant from the government and is expected to help support over 450 businesses. Over half the funding is already earmarked with 250 vouchers having been allocated.
The Business Growth Voucher Scheme aims to help York’s small and micro businesses navigate the challenges of the pandemic and provide additional support to stabilise their business models.
Since the launch last month, the scheme now has over 100 approved businesses that can provide these support services to businesses in possession of a voucher:
- web design and branding
- business planning
- accountancy and financial planning
- marketing
- social media
- website update or refresh
- e-commerce
- search engine optimisation (SEO)
- copywriting
- photography and filming
- leadership and management training
- health and wellbeing support
Plans progress to redevelop site of former Ski village
£200,000 has been committed by Sheffield City Council to progress redevelopment plans for the site of the former Ski village at Parkwood Springs.
The funding will be used to carry out site investigation and assessment work and will inform plans for the site’s redevelopment as a major leisure attraction. Work will also begin on clearing some of the old ski village structures, debris and vegetation to make the site safe for future construction work.
An ecological assessment will also be carried out to assess the potential impact of redevelopment on biodiversity and the local environment.
Following the initial £200,000 funding provided, the council will be working with its partners in the region to secure further funding for the redevelopment of the site.
Parkwood’s popularity with walkers and cyclists and potential to play an important part in Sheffield’s reputation as the Outdoor City has long been recognised and the site has received significant interest as an exciting outdoor leisure destination.
Skyline Luge, a New-Zealand based company which specialises in outdoor adventure experiences with sites across the world, has been developing proposals for a family orientated leisure destination on the site. The Council will continue discussions with Skyline to develop the proposals which fit with the city’s aspirations to be an Outdoor City, promoting health and well-being for visitors and local communities.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Executive Member for City Futures: Development, Culture and Regeneration at Sheffield City Council, said: “We recognise the vast potential that Parkwood has to offer in Sheffield, both as a major tourist attraction for the region and as a site that will be central to contributing towards improving the health, lifestyle and opportunities for local people.
“We can’t get away from the fact that this is a challenging site with many complex issues, but we’re ready to meet the challenge and work to secure the future of Parkwood for years to come.
“These initial steps are crucial in assessing the work to be done at Parkwood so that we can move forwards and deliver for the people of Sheffield. I’m looking forward to working further with Skyline to explore their exciting proposals over the coming months.”
The report setting out these plans for Parkwood is due to be presented to the Council’s Co-operative Executive on 15th December.
Food manufacturer fined £93,000 after worker injures finger in machinery
A food manufacturing company has been fined for safety breaches after a hygiene operative suffered a serious injury when his hand came into contact with a mixer.
Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how on 8 November 2019, the employee of Troy Foods (Salads) Ltd had his index finger severed after his left hand came into contact with a mixer whilst cleaning the door mechanism. This was a result of lack of necessary training in which he should have been signed off before working alone.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Troy Foods (Salads) Ltd failed to adequately maintain guarding arrangements on a paddle mixer whilst also having deficiencies with training and supervision.
Troy Foods Salads Ltd of George Mann Way, Leeds, West Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 11 (1) Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £93,000 and ordered to pay £769 in costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Julian Franklin said: “Better compliance, supervision and training are essential to reinforce safe systems of work. This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply implementing the correct control measures and safe working practices.”
Agricultural machinery supplier secures planning permission for new depot
Ripon Farm Services (RFS), the agricultural machinery suppliers, is to open a new depot at the 30-acre Eden Business Park near Malton.
RFS has just received planning permission for a 22,000 sq ft building at the multi-million pound business park, which is located immediately off the A64 by the Pickering Road (A169) junction by Eden Camp.
Richard Simpson, commercial director of Ripon Farm Services, said: “This is a tremendously important move for us and a significant milestone in our 40-year-old history.
“Our new flagship building, will feature offices, training suites and meeting facilities for staff and customers and has been specially designed to accommodate our rapidly growing combine harvester business, including the John Deere X9. The new Malton location will be our twelfth depot in all.
“We are especially pleased to be moving to Malton, which has the enviable – and entirely justified – reputation as the food capital of the north. It is at the centre of North Yorkshire’s extensive agricultural community, which we are looking forward to serving.”
Construction work on the new building will begin at once, with completion and occupation scheduled for August next year.
Kirklees council to take big steps toward greening its fleet with £6.25m investment
When Cabinet meets on 14 December, it is set to approve the investment of £6.25m to bring in new high-tech fleet vehicles and take a significant step towards the greening of the council’s vehicles.
The proposed investment will replace some models of ageing vehicles with electric vehicles alongside newer, greener engine models.
This will include a number of electric vehicles for Waste and Recycling services including an electric refuse collection vehicle, following a successful trial.
This is an extension to the previous three-year Capital Investment Vehicle Replacement Programme which was agreed by Cabinet on 11 December 2018.
Councillor Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees said: “Kirklees Council has already outperformed its previous carbon reduction targets, achieving more than a 53% reduction over the last decade – but there is much more to do to meet our bold ambitions of being a carbon neutral district by 2038.
“This new investment will support the Council’s climate emergency commitments and air quality improvement work across the district. As well as reducing our tailpipe emissions, it will make sure that we have a fit for purpose fleet with reduced running costs and reduced downtime and improved service delivery.
“Our ultimate aim is to transition to an entirely electric fleet and we are taking significant strides with 69 per cent of the council’s operated cars now electric or partially electrically powered.
“Our plans for an electric refuse collection vehicle, van tipper and compact sweeper take us even further in the right direction. This is a major step forward for the council in our aim to create a carbon neutral Kirklees by 2038, and I look forward to the Cabinet giving it its full approval.”
As part of the transition to a greener vehicle fleet, £1million of the £2million Climate Emergency funding has been invested in a further 35 electric Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs).
This brings the percentage of electric vehicles in the fleet up to 7.5 per cent. Approval of the proposal at Cabinet will complement and strengthen the transitions that have already taken place.
If the proposals are approved by Cabinet, Transport Services will continue to manage the Vehicle Replacement Programme on a phased basis and deliver the vehicles as necessary to meet service needs.
Preferred location for new railway station agreed by York councillors
Towthorpe Road has been chosen as the preferred site for development of a railway station in Haxby.
At a meeting of the Executive, City of York Council councillors were asked to consider two potential sites for the new station, Station Road (site 1) or Towthorpe Road (site 2).
Following an evaluation of the two sites, the Executive selected Towthorpe Road as the preferred site. The site presents a strong case for a station in Haxby with a lower deliverability risk, as it can be delivered within the timescales mandated by the Department for Transport.
Additionally, the evaluation concluded that nearby residents would be less adversely impacted by the potential development of this site, both during construction and once the station is operational.
This decision will support the progress of the delivery of the station and help the Council and partners Network Rail undertake the necessary work ahead of a bid being submitted to Government in 2022. This will include more detailed design work and advanced site investigations, as well as a revised cost estimate to present to the Department for Transport.
The further development work will also include public consultation on the preferred site to ensure any local concerns are understood and addressed in any future planning application.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said: “I’m delighted to see significant progress made towards delivering a railway station in Haxby.
“Identifying a preferred site is a major step forwards, as the Towthorpe Road site will help us present the strongest possible case to Government to get the funding which make this project happen.
“Haxby station closed in 1930 and we are now closer than ever to fulfilling a decades long ambition held by local councillors and communities and bring a railway station back to Haxby.”
Councillor Andy D’Agorne, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Transport, said: “A railway station at Haxby would bring many benefits. We know that having more sustainable travel options will reduce traffic levels on the roads and also help those living in the North of the city to travel to areas across the country quickly and sustainably.
“I’m delighted to see that a clear majority of local residents support our ambition to bring a railway station back to Haxby.
“Identifying a preferred site will allow our partners Network Rail to undertake development work and put us in the best possible position to submit a strong bid to Government.”
Stephen Hind, Head of Business Development for Network Rail, said: “We know how important this project to develop a railway station in Haxby is for people in the community to improve connections to other towns and cities across the region.
“We’re continuing to work closely with City of York Council to make further progress on proposals before the bid is submitted.”
