Another record year for Renew
Revenue and profits are up at Renew, the Leeds-headquartered engineering services group supporting UK infrastructure, in another record year for the company.
According to preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2021, group revenue grew to £791m from £620.4m in 2020, while profit before tax jumped from £32.1m to £40.8m.
The results follow the acquisitions of Browne for £29.5m in March 2021 and REL in May 2021.
Paul Scott, CEO of Renew, said: “2021 was another record year for the group and I am pleased with the progress that has been made across all divisions.
“The essential nature of our work combined with the resilience of our low-risk, high-quality operating model has been a key driver for growth, as we continued to operate through the numerous lockdown and tiering scenarios experienced during the year.
“The two acquisitions that we completed have strengthened our offering in water and rail and both are delivering to plan.
“I am pleased to report that we have carried forward this positive trading momentum into the new financial year and have a strong forward order book which underpins our confidence in achieving further progress in 2022.
“As we look further ahead, we are committed to building on our strengths to target new opportunities in attractive markets where we have the skillset to deliver mission-critical engineering infrastructure solutions for a sustainable future.”
‘Plan B’ for COVID-19 restrictions a “big setback” for businesses
The Prime Minister has confirmed that England will move to Plan B following the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK.
The plan sees the Government, from Monday 13 December, advise those who can to work from home. Meanwhile from Friday 10 December, face coverings will become compulsory in most public indoor venues, such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship.
In addition, from Wednesday 15 December, the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather – including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees.
Matthew Fell, CBI Chief Policy Director, said: “Fresh restrictions are a big setback for businesses, particularly for those in hospitality and retail who are in a critical trading period, as well as others such as transport.
“While Covid certification can support public health, careful implementation and enforcement will be required to assist businesses affected. It will be vital that the impact of these restrictions is closely monitored, and that the government is ready with targeted support as required.
“Omicron will quite likely not be the last variant. We need to create consistency in our approach and build confidence by reducing the oscillation between normal life and restrictions. Prioritising daily testing, rather than self-isolation, is a good step. Firms need continued forward guidance and a commitment from government to prioritise ongoing free, mass rapid testing as we learn to live with the virus.
“Meanwhile, firms will continue to do all they can to protect their staff and customers, including being as flexible as possible to enable employees to get their boosters.”
Government cash buys 65-acre site as council set to develop UK’s first carbon-neutral advanced manufacturing park
Almost 2,000 jobs will be created at a new Advanced Manufacturing Park being developed by North Lincolnshire Council using the Government’s Towns Fund cash.
The council has completed the acquisition of a 65-acre site at the edge of Scunthorpe. The project – set to create more than 4m sq ft of advanced manufacturing space – will now be taken through planning. The required infrastructure will also be built to link onto the motorway network.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is a massively exciting project which will have profound effects on the area for generations. It will create hundreds of well-paid, high-skilled jobs in advanced sectors and will be a globally significant hub for research, development and innovation.
“We are already leaders in advanced steel making and this development will create the right environment for more world-leading businesses to join the North Lincolnshire stable, creating and developing innovative, leading-edge products.
“With the fantastic motorway links and clear ties to the ports complex, access to national and international markets will be immediately available – helped of course further through the Government’s flagship freeports project which will help make these companies even more competitive.”
The scheme is one of several being developed under the Towns Fund programme, which is overseen by the Scunthorpe Towns Fund Board and is linked to the two projects paid for using the Future High Street Fund.
The cash is part of the Government’s levelling up agenda. It is additional to the Community Renewal Fund and Community Ownership Fund which were announced by the Chancellor at Budget on 27 October.
So far, some £35m has been committed by Government for Scunthorpe through the Town Deal and Future High Streets Fund, plus £12m for the Burringham Bypass connectivity improvements on the M181 (A1077), £14m for flood defence work on the River Trent and £35m for the new pumping station at Keadby.
Further expansion for MAC Construction Consultants with Associate Director appointment
MAC Construction Consultants has further bolstered its Yorkshire-based team with the appointment of Cath Hall as an Associate Director within its Quantity Surveying team.
Bringing more than 25 years’ industry experience to the role, and with particular expertise in Cost Planning and Contract Administration, she has managed a range of projects spanning a wide variety of sectors including social housing, private residential and healthcare.
Joining from Pennington Choices where she was a Senior Project Manager for over six years, Cath will work across the firm’s Sheffield and Leeds offices.
She is the latest in a string of strategic appointments for MAC which also welcomed Jonathan Nellar to its Building Consultancy department last month, as well as eight new graduates and trainees who joined the company’s established Cost Management, Building Consultancy, and Safety, Health and Environment (she) teams.
Welcoming Cath to MAC, Director David Beckett said: “Cath is a very welcome addition to our Yorkshire-based Quantity Surveying team. We have experienced unprecedented demand for our services over the last year, with new and existing clients alike looking to utilise our expertise on projects both here in the north, and further afield.
“Cath’s many years of experience spanning a range of sectors, as well as her cost planning and contract administration expertise, will be invaluable.”
Commenting on her new role Cath said: “I’m really looking forward to developing, supporting and growing the teams across Yorkshire, with a view to providing efficiencies throughout the cost consultancy process.
“MAC has an excellent reputation for delivering to a high standard on behalf of clients in all of the work that they do, and I am excited to be joining a team that places that customer experience at the heart of all that they do.
“I’m excited to further develop my skills, and I am looking forward to working in a whole range of new sectors in which MAC excel, such as education.”
MAC is a leading construction consultancy which operates out of a number of strategically placed offices, including Birmingham, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Leeds and London. Its Cost Management, Building Consultancy, and Safety, Health and Environment teams work across a wide range of industries including education, public sector and retail.
The firm was recently appointed to deliver Quantity Surveying, Employers Agent and CDM advisory services on the new Bike & Boot hotel in the peak District, working alongside construction company Harris CM.
MAC has also been appointed as Employer Agents and Quantity Surveyors on the ambitious Kent Street Baths development in Birmingham – a highly anticipated mixed-use scheme accommodating apartments, retail, restaurant, leisure and office space.
Ahead Partnership appoints new chief operating officer
Leeds-headquartered Ahead Partnership has appointed a new chief operating officer to help drive forward its vision to help businesses to make meaningful impact within society through their ESG and social value initiatives.
The organisation, which has been working throughout the last 15 years to deliver projects that help overcome inequality and promote opportunity, with a host of high-profile partners like Avanti West Coast, Northern Powergrid, PwC, Arup and Landsec, has appointed Gareth Osborne to the newly-created role.
Responding to increasing demand from business and building on the success of large-scale regional projects like Growing Talent Digital Leeds and Growing Talent BPFS (Business, Professional and Financial Services) in the West Midlands, as well as the roll-out of a number of national projects with high-profile partners, the appointment is part of the organisation’s investment for future growth.
Gareth brings a wealth of professional experience, having held senior positions at high-profile organisations including Eversheds; Bradford College; Leeds Trinity University; and London Business School. Gareth now joins the Ahead Partnership team following almost eight years as director of Appletrees Associates, a consultancy specialising in supporting professional services firms, educational institutions, charities and social enterprises.
Working alongside Chief Executive Stephanie Burras CBE and the team, Gareth will help shape Ahead Partnership’s future direction, developing new services and evolving and growing the design and consultancy-led approach.
Gareth Osborne, chief operating officer at Ahead Partnership, said: “As a first-generation graduate, who grew up on a council estate, received free school meals and managed to escape the multi-generational poverty trap that afflicts so many, I’m genuinely excited to be joining a business that makes such a clear and positive difference to countless lives and communities.
“Our society is at a real tipping point and organisations like Ahead Partnership, work tirelessly to ensure that future generations, regardless of background maximise their potential. Ahead Partnership, alongside a growing partner-base is brilliantly placed to make a transformational contribution to society and now is a pivotal time for all businesses to step up and play their part in rebuilding a better society for all.”
Stephanie Burras CBE, Chief Executive of Ahead Partnership, added: “We are delighted to welcome Gareth to the Ahead Partnership team. Gareth’s experience and knowledge of the sectors in which we work will be extremely valuable in helping us maximise the value and impact that we can make with our partners.
“The pandemic and climate change emergency have only served to emphasise the central part that business must play in creating a better society and a more sustainable world. We’re looking forward to working with our partners and shaping our offer going forward to serve communities and support people in the best way we can.”
Rapid growth in the pipeline for Yorkshire manufacturer
A specialist manufacturer is on track to double turnover within five years with a six-figure cash injection helping to turbocharge organic growth.
Wath Group is a designer and manufacturer of jet wash hoses, control equipment and cabling, and trace heating solutions. Founded in 1980, the family business has evolved from supplying primarily to the mining industry, to supporting a broad range of sectors including automotive, renewable energy, consumer electronics and pharmaceuticals.
Through its specialist safety and security brand, SecurEx, it also provides products for use in hazardous and explosive environments. And, it recently partnered with Hogen Systems to develop a pioneering Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) that produces clean drinking water from the atmosphere.
A key local employer, it currently employs 40 staff at its HQ in Rotherham. Over the past few years, turnover has grown steadily from £2.6million in 2017, to £5million in 2021. And now, with the support of a £308,700 hire purchase facility from Lloyds Bank, Wath Group is investing in two new HAAS Machining Centres – highly-specialist automated cutting tools – and is on track to double turnover to £10million within five years.
Matt Bedford, director at Wath Group, said: “Over the last 40 years, Wath Group has transformed from a small supplier to a major producer. We pride ourselves on our adaptability, working to tailor and expand our offering to meet market demand and support a growing range of sectors – and this investment is the latest step in our expansion strategy.
“With the Bank’s support, we can continue to grow organically by bringing in new, state-of-the-art equipment and machinery to boost production across all of our core product ranges, as well as find new opportunities to innovate and partner with other organisations on ground-breaking projects.”
Ben Cutts, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Wath Group’s track record speaks for itself – it is a team that has never shied away from new avenues to growth, helping them remain a key player in a market that is constantly evolving.
“As their partners for over two decades now, we are excited to remain by their side in this next phase of expansion.”
The transaction was led by Ben Cutts and Lee Mcallister, regional manager at Lloyds Bank.
Sheffield’s £470m Heart of the City development scheme forging ahead
Progress on Sheffield’s £470m Heart of the City development scheme is forging ahead as a deal is agreed between Sheffield City Council and John Lewis and Partners following their decision to permanently close the Barker’s Pool store.
The site will play a central role in the development of the city centre, with public consultation on future uses set for the New Year.
A report on Heart of the City, which will be presented to the council’s Co-operative Executive committee on 15 December, highlights the rapid progress being made across the scheme, which is set to be completed in 2023 – with 40% of the development already complete and interest from commercial and leisure occupiers gaining significant momentum.
Construction on the new Radisson Blu hotel with rooftop bar continues at pace, with completion of the works expected in Summer 2023.
Alongside the hotel, preliminary work has also begun to revitalise the Gaumont Building, which is set to become a new leisure destination for the city, with a design that incorporates an innovative sustainable green ‘living’ wall.
Over on Pinstone Street, Isaacs Building and Burgess House are the next two major developments set to open in February next year – offering high-quality homes and workspace. Around half of the apartments in Burgess House have already been sold, with new commercial tenants expected to move into the 38,000 sq ft of office space available.
A deal is also close to being finalised underneath Telephone House, where the positive design changes – including the car park’s striking new cladding – are expected to result in the leasing of 15,000 sq ft to an exciting leisure tenant – opening in Spring 2022.
These forthcoming tenants will join the operators already appointed on the developments on Cambridge Street; Cambridge Street Collective and Leah’s Yard.
Cambridge Street Collective will be run by The Milestone Group, who will deliver a food hall and fine-dining venue, and Leah’s Yard will be run by Tom Wolfenden, who manages Sheffield Technology Park, and James O’Hara of the Rockingham Group.
Plans for Leah’s Yard, which will see the creation of a local hub for creative businesses and independent retailers, were approved last month with support from Historic England. Both Leah’s Yard and Cambridge Street Collective will open in 2023.
The report also confirms that agreement has been reached with John Lewis & Partners, following their decision to permanently close the Barker’s Pool department store. The retailer will pay £5 million to the council to surrender their current lease and obligations, which was due to continue until 2040. The payment will be used towards the future redevelopment of the site.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Executive Member for City Futures, Development, Culture and Regeneration, at Sheffield City Council, said: “It’s great news that an agreement has now been reached with John Lewis with no cost impact to the city. We now have full ownership of the Barker’s Pool building and site, and importantly, its future is now in the hands of Sheffield.
“It is an anchor site within the Heart of the City masterplan, with so much potential and the Council is one hundred percent committed to creating something special that the city can be proud of.
“Earlier this year, we instructed sector experts Fourth Street, Queensberry and Arup, to start to examine the condition of the building, as well analyse the costs, market interest and sustainability of all of the available options for the building. In the new year we’ll be launching a consultation to find out what the people of Sheffield think about the future of this important site in the city centre and what they’d like to see.
“There have been some really exciting developments on Heart of the City this year, we’re really seeing it take shape now, the vision coming together, and there’s more to come in 2022 – it’s a great time to be living, working in and visiting Sheffield.”
Andrew Davison, Project Director at Queensberry, said: “Letting interest in Heart of the City continues to accelerate with several key lettings in various buildings across the scheme currently being finalised with details to be shared in the new year.
“The retail market is extremely challenging at the moment and is not isolated to Sheffield. National retailers continue to be cautious, with many understandably keen to see completed schemes before committing. However, we are extremely confident that the high-quality leisure and commercial occupiers we have secured to the city centre will continue to act as a huge catalyst in attracting exciting new retail brands.”
Barnsley Property Investment Fund set to further boost economic growth
Barnsley Council will launch the third stage of the Property Investment Fund scheme to help boost further economic growth in Barnsley.
Stage three of the scheme follows on from the success of the first phases, which started back in 2014 and has created over 400,000 sq ft of commercial property, providing jobs across the borough. This scheme has worked with local property developers and succeeded in attracting major global companies to the area while also supporting local businesses to expand.
Despite the impact of the pandemic, Barnsley is experiencing some of the highest ever levels of uptake for commercial property. The PIF scheme will make sure there is a future supply of suitable business premises.
The formal launch of the scheme will be on Thursday 9 December. The first stage will allow property developers to submit their applications.
Cllr Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place, said, “It is extremely positive news that our successful PIF scheme will launch its third phase.
“It shows that by having those long-term plans and funding in place for commercial developments, we have continued to attract businesses and create jobs.
“As part of our vision for 2030, economic growth in Barnsley is a key priority, and PIF3 will help us to secure future investment and support our Jobs and Business Plan to attract 1,600 new businesses by 2033.”
2022 Business Predictions: Mandy Watson, MD at Ambitions Personnel
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Mandy Watson, MD at Ambitions Personnel, a recruitment expert headquartered in Lincoln.
2021 has been somewhat of a hangover from the events of 2020. 2022 will be slightly different, but we envisage staff and skills shortages will continue as the unpredictability carries on.
The realities of the issues associated with this are yet to be really perceived by the public. As a result of labour shortages, some employers may have to reign in their product range or level of services.
Consumers may well have to accept a more limited array of products to choose from than they are used to and less chance to enjoy perks like same day or next day deliveries. Fulfilment may well be an issue.
Employers will also have to continue to increase offerings, although possibly not salaries as these have already been pushed to the limit of what firms are comfortable and able to pay. This is where working conditions and other benefits become important. Therefore, employer branding is more important than ever and those who are simply returning to a ‘business as usual’ model pre-pandemic might find themselves the ones not able to attract talent.
As a recruitment operator in the East Midlands, we are already seeing businesses who don’t believe the labour market will become favourable again, they are turning to automation as the solution and we could expect to see a gradual reduction in the demand for low-skilled positions in the longer term.
Clarion helps fire up Yorkshire’s space strategy
With the UK well positioned to take advantage of the growing space industry, a new Yorkshire initiative, Space Hub Yorkshire, is working to bring together the public and private sector and academic organisations to attract Space technology opportunities to the region in order to boost investment and job creation.
Law firm Clarion, which is well versed in market disruption and change dynamics, recently hosted a roundtable event at its offices in Leeds. Leading regional stakeholders heard about the developments in this emerging sector and Mandy Ridyard, chair of Space Hub Yorkshire (SHY), shared the body’s strategy for the region.
Mandy, who is also finance director of West Yorkshire-based precision engineering business Produmax, explained how SHY, supported by the UK Space Agency, was working with businesses, regional Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPS), Yorkshire Universities and research and educational institutions to capitalise on the region’s strengths and assets in the Space sector.
By 2030, the UK space sector is forecast to be worth £40 billion – as well as driving significant investment and job opportunities, Space technology is also expected to bring digital transformation for businesses across many sectors.
Mandy explained: “Although not well known, Yorkshire has a Space heritage – from its history of world-class manufacturing and engineering to the first British female astronaut, Helen Sharman, having hailed from Sheffield. After carrying out an extensive Space cluster mapping exercise across the region, we believe SHY can help to accelerate the development of a thriving, resilient and well-connected ecosystem to ensure Yorkshire can capitalise on the opportunities Space can bring.
“With four LEPs in Yorkshire, 6% of all UK companies and 200k university students, the region is in a strong position to build our capabilities in British Space development. Already, there are over 350 Yorkshire businesses that have been identified as being relevant to the Space industry and there is huge potential for growth. We believe Space technology will act as a catalyst for innovation in business too – our vision is to leverage the region’s space assets and unlock Space for the people and businesses of Yorkshire.”
Other speakers at the event included Colin Baldwin, Head of Local Growth Strategy at UK Space Agency, who discussed how the organisation plans to deliver the Government’s vision to build one of the most innovative and attractive Space economies in the world and its commitment to developing clusters of regional excellence.
Glenn McCauley and Ruth Amey from the University of Leeds highlighted the initiatives that SHY were implementing as part of the development of a virtual Space Campus to improve collaboration between academia, FE Colleges, and the private sector in relation to the innovation and skills agenda.
Finally, Angela Stalker, HR director and colleague Brett Sturrock, Recruitment Manager for Teledyne Technologies, the Shipley-based defence and space business, explained some of the challenges facing the sector, particularly in recruiting specialist engineers. Angela said that working with the region’s universities to develop relevant skillsets, and increasing diversity in the sector, would play a key role going forward.
Clarion director Steve Crow, who chaired the roundtable, commented: “There’s no doubt that the growth of the Space sector represents a huge opportunity for the region. We have a wealth of talent here across our universities, businesses and support bodies and it’s fantastic that an organisation like SHY is leading the charge. By joining forces and collaborating, we will be better placed to take advantage of investment opportunities in areas such as manufacturing, earth observation, internet connectivity, data services, robotics and low-cost access to space.
“A thriving economy needs innovation and we believe that the focus on developing space technology can really help to drive this. SHY will be able to play a vital role in helping businesses navigate their way through and identify both opportunities to support the space initiative, and also ways in which some of these innovations can benefit their own operation.”
To find out more about future space technology events, contact alanta.foley@clarionsolicitors.com or to find out more about SHY, visit spacehubyorkshire.org
