Logistics real estate developer acquires 65-acre site on Nottinghamshire/Yorkshire border
Panattoni, the logistics real estate developer, has acquired a 65-acre site on the Nottinghamshire/Yorkshire border with planning consent for over 1.2 million sq ft.
The two phase development, called Panattoni Central A1(M), by junction 34 of the A1(M), has been acquired from Mulberry Developments in an off-market deal. Panattoni will commence construction of what it says will be the largest-ever speculative logistics unit in the North of England, a building of 770,000 sq ft, in the autumn. Practical completion is expected in September 2025.
Panattoni is targeting net zero carbon development, an EPC rating of ‘A’ and BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ sustainability rating. The cross-docked unit will benefit from 18m eaves, 55m service yards, EV van and car charging and 15% rooflights. Winvic Construction has been appointed as the contractor.
The remaining 27-acre plot, which already benefits from reserved matters planning consent for a 461,000 sq ft building, will initially be marketed on a build-to-suit basis.
Dan Burn, Head of Development North West & Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to acquire a prime logistics site in an established location by the A1(M). The development provides us with the opportunity to capitalise on the dearth of supply of XXL units across the country.”
Panattoni was advised by Cushman & Wakefield and Mulberry Developments was advised by M1 Agency.
Board members helping shape Hull and East Yorkshire’s economic future sought
In March 2024, the Hull and East Riding Unitary Leaders’ Board (a joint committee for the two Councils of Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire) took the decision to establish a Business, Growth and Skills Hub, upon the cessation of the operation of the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
That hub took over from the LEP and is now seeking to recruit members to both its ‘Business’ and ‘Skills’ boards and is welcoming Expressions of Interest (EOI) for these roles.
Those recruited to the boards will contribute to the development of the economic framework for the region’s economy, assisting the Hull and East Riding Unitary Leaders Board with such decisions as may require to be made to drive productivity, connectivity and sustainability while promoting inclusivity.
It is envisaged that each board will comprise individuals who have ambition for the development of the area and can provide an effective business and community voice upon economic and skills matters.
Through these two boards, the hub will take forward the work formerly undertaken by the LEP, pending a decision being taken by the Secretary of State upon the establishment of a Combined Authority for the Area.
The Business Board will provide strategic business input to support economic growth, maximising the natural assets of the region’s geography, sector strengths and people skills.
The board will need to build upon the significant strengths of the major sectors in the region, the diversity of local communities and the important role of the VCSE sector, as well as its reach into business and local neighbourhoods and the unique role they can play in delivering transformational change.
The Skills Board will reflect the existing education and training provision in the region and maximise opportunities to shape provision to meet current and future employer’s needs.
It will ensure that local people benefit from high-quality post-16 education and training and that adults are supported to upskill, reskill and are best placed to find employment in good jobs, further their careers and to gain the confidence and ability to overcome any existing barriers to success.
Teresa Chalmers, chief operating officer for HEY Business, Growth and Skills Hub, said: “The Business and Skills boards will play a key part into helping to shape the region’s economy.
“These roles are for people from a diverse range of business, community and provider backgrounds and we look forward to welcoming Expressions of Interest and meeting potential candidates.”
Fintel acquires threesixty in £14.6m deal
Huddersfield-based fintech and support services business Fintel has acquired threesixty from abrdn in a £14.6m deal.
threesixty serves 900 intermediary customers, providing regulatory and business services to leading IFAs and wealth managers.
It will join SimplyBiz, Compliance First, and SIFA in offering compliance and business support to intermediaries as part of Fintel, which also houses industry brands including Defaqto, VouchedFor, Competent Adviser, AKG, MICAP, Owen James, ifaDASH, and Synaptic.
Neil Stevens, Joint CEO of Fintel, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the very talented team and prestigious client base of threesixty to Fintel, and we are committed to upholding and helping to further build upon its strong brand and quality services.
“threesixty’s leadership team is fully supportive of the acquisition and will remain with us to see it grow and develop moving forward, as will all existing teams within the business.
“We are confident we can further enhance services for threesixty clients with joint investment in technology and will explore opportunities to make the benefits of our wider technology and data platform available over time. We will work with Russell and his team on the most effective approach to delivering these services to clients moving forward.
“Fintel remains committed to offering as much choice as possible to advisers and will continue to run threesixty as an independent business with its own offerings and pricing in the market, alongside our existing businesses.
“With a shared commitment to promoting the value of professional financial advice, we believe this deal will further expand the choice of quality services in this vital sector.”
Russell Facer, threesixty CEO, added: “The threesixty brand and offering is a premier choice for professional advisers. We have a talented team that is passionate about looking after our clients and their regulatory and business support needs.
“We are delighted to join Fintel, a business which shares our vision and values and one that we have known for many years. We are also able to offer the strongest commitment to our clients and our teams that the threesixty brand and independent offerings will remain in place to continue to provide genuine choice for adviser firms.”
Pocklington-based tyre wholesaler Bond International makes Scottish acquisitions
Pocklington-based tyre wholesaler Bond International has acquired Easityre Ltd and Fife Autocentre Ltd, expanding its presence in Scotland.
The news follows Bond’s recently announced acquisition of a 200,000 sq ft warehouse in Bathgate, Scotland.
Scott Meechan of Easityre will join Bond and will assume the role of Managing Director for Scotland. Brian Meechan will also remain in the business to give his support and expertise in all areas of the combined tyre business north of the border.
Charlie Bond, CEO of Bond International, said: “Easityre and Fife Autocentre are major players and are well respected in the tyre industry in Scotland. Bond International has a very strong relationship with Brian and Scott, a relationship that was initially forged by my father Reg and Brian many years ago.
“When the Board set out its expansion plans in Scotland it made perfect sense to approach them and discuss a deal. Brian and Scott have an extensive knowledge and experience of the tyre industry in the area, and have developed strong relationships with many customers.
“For this reason, it was important for us that both Brian and Scott remain in the business and made perfect sense to appoint Scott as Managing Director for Bond International in Scotland. We are all extremely excited for the future of all our businesses moving forward.”
Brian Meechan, CEO of Easityre and Fife Autocentre, said: “We at Easityre Ltd and Fife Autocentre Ltd are excited about the future with Bond International. We believe that it is a good fit for both businesses and will provide a better service and range of products for all our Scottish Customers.
“It will also create many opportunities for our Staff which will be the key to our continued success. Our relationship with Bond International goes back many years, initially with Reg and latterly with Charlie who has taken the business in a new direction, and, after listening to his vision for the future, that sealed the deal for us.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm creates £25m legacy for coastal communities
The East Riding of Yorkshire is to share in a new £25 million commitment to coastal communities as long-term legacy for Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The commitment includes funding projects in East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland and South Tyneside, to enhance STEM education, and help young people gain the skills and knowledge required to fulfil their potential in a net zero world.
The £25million investment will be delivered over the 35-year operational lifespan of Dogger Bank Wind Farm – set to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm when it is complete. It builds on the £1million community fund already invested during the construction phase of the wind farm.
The East Riding programme has been developed in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and local skills and education stakeholders. Bespoke science, technology, engineering and maths learning programmes will be available to all nursery and primary schools. Hundreds of teachers have already benefitted from STEM and careers focused professional development as they bring STEM learning to life within classrooms.
Hornsea Nursey is one of the settings which benefitted from funding through the community fund set up during the construction phase.
Claire White executive headteacher for Hornsea, Beverley Manor, Bridlington and Hedon nursery schools said: “Young children are natural scientists and engineers. Their inquiring minds and fearless approach to taking things apart and discovering how they work make them the perfect age to get excited about STEM. If we can foster this enthusiasm in the early years and ensure they develop a thirst for learning in subjects not typically introduced at this age, we can ignite a passion that will endure throughout their formal education and beyond. We can help cultivate the next generation of scientists, engineers, architects, mathematicians, ecologists, and more. This is the impact and potential legacy of the Dogger Bank funding.”
Dogger Bank Project Director Oliver Cass said: “It’s been our great privilege during the last three years to work with education providers and local communities to kickstart a programme of investment that is bringing long-term benefits for communities.
“It is vitally important that developers work in partnership with local communities in order to sustainably deliver the critical green energy infrastructure that will shape our future.”
Dogger Bank is more than 130km from the Yorkshire coast and will produce enough renewable energy to supply electricity to six million homes in the UK every year. The wind farm, a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vårgrønn, produced first power in October 2023. The first two phases of the wind farm will transmit renewable energy into the national electricity network via the Creyke Beck substation near Beverley, close to the site where the project has built two onshore convertor stations over the last five years.
The project has already created or supported over 2,000 jobs in the UK, contributing to over 100,000 UK offshore wind jobs needed to meet current national targets to generate 50GW of capacity by 2030.
Liberty appoints CFO for its European business
Liberty Steel Group has appointed Andreas Böcskör as the new Chief Financial Officer of its European business which includes plants at Scunthorpe, Brinsworth, Rotherham, and Stockbridge in our region.
Andreas brings a wealth of experience to Liberty’s business, most notably from his recent tenure at the industry group Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment, where he led key projects in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and played an integral part in establishing a robust global organisation with a focus on legal, finance, and sustainability initiatives.
He will oversee all financial aspects of Liberty’s European operations, including strategic financial planning and reporting, risk management, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. As a key member of Thomas Gangl’s executive team, his expertise will be crucial in aligning Liberty’s financial strategies with its sustainability objectives and accelerating its green steel transformation agenda.
Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Chairman, Liberty Steel Group said: “Andreas’s arrival comes at a pivotal time for Liberty as we complete our restructuring in Europe and set a strategic framework for the future. With Thomas Gangl and Andreas now in post we’re building a strong and experienced leadership team in Europe that will help us weather tough market conditions and forge a sustainable future in green steel.”
Andrew Jackson names new partner in employment team
Gillian Markland has joined Andrew Jackson Solicitors’ employment team as a partner.
Gillian brings several years’ experience acting across a broad range of employment matters, and regularly advises both public and private sector employers on a range of matters including contracts of employment, handbooks, disciplinary and dismissals, poor performance, grievances, settlement agreements, restructure/redundancies and TUPE.
Gillian also has vast expertise of advising employees on grievances and settlement agreements
She said: “Andrew Jackson’s employment practice has built a strong reputation for providing high quality advice to a diverse client base. I’m excited to have joined the firm and I’m looking forward to ensuring that we continue to provide an outstanding service for clients, which is tailored to their needs.”
Jonathan Dale, partner and head of employment at Andrew Jackson, added: “I am delighted that Gillian has joined our team and she has already proven to be a fantastic addition. Her friendly, professional and knowledgeable approach has won praise from clients and I know she will be an asset to our employment practice.”
New company takes helm of Yorkshire Food and Drink Festival
The future of the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival has been secured by Cocker Hoop Creative, which has stepped in to acquire the assets and IP of the event after its previous owner, Events By B3 Ltd, went into liquidation last month.
Jonathan Amor and Richard Oddy, licensed Insolvency Practitioners with UK top ten accounting and advisory firm Azets, managed the Creditors Voluntary Liquidation and have overseen the acquisition by Cocker Hoop Creative.
The company’s plans to revive the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival include a new rebranded website, social media campaigns, and regular updates. More information about how people can register to receive the latest information will be released in the coming weeks.
Jon Arrowsmith, MD of Cocker Hoop Creative, said: “There are many similarities between the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival and the Lichfield Food Festival, and we will bring our experience, commitment to excellence and determination to make this event a success to benefit residents, visitors and local businesses.
“We are thrilled to bring the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival onto the portfolio of Cocker Hoop Creative. As a growing business, this was an opportunity we couldn’t refuse. We are keen to preserve the strong heritage of the festival while introducing new and exciting elements to make it even more exciting for visitors, traders and campers.
“With the next event in 2025 we will continue to showcase the best of local and regional food, drink, and culinary talent. Visitors can look forward to a vibrant celebration of gastronomy, artisanal products, live entertainment from top UK bands, and interactive experiences against the backdrop of the picturesque Yorkshire Dales.
“We know that good traders are the lifeblood of a food festival, and we are committed to supporting those traders that have unfortunately suffered financially as a result of the liquidation of Events By B3 Ltd. For any traders that have already paid to attend this year, we will honour those payments for the next Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival in 2025. We hope that this helps them to recover after their losses this year.
“One of our goals is to reduce ticket prices and camping fees so that as many people as possible can attend the event. With this in mind, ticket holders affected by the cancellation of the 2024 festival will be offered a discount for the 2025 event. We are looking forward to putting on a weekend in 2025 and beyond that everyone remembers.”
Drax pumps £20,000 into school visits by Yorkshire pupils
Drax has allocated £20,000 to help schools to organise visits to its power station at Selby, with a further £10,000 to support visits to its operations in Scotland.
Providing schools meet the qualifying criteria, including being sited within 15 miles of a Drax power station and having at least 20% of their pupils being on free school meals, they can apply for transport grants of up to £500 online. Drax hopes schools will apply for the funding for the new school year in September.
Shona King, Drax’s Head of Community, said: “Our schools’ transport fund will ensure that pupils, including those from less privileged backgrounds, can participate in STEM focused trips to our sites throughout the UK.
“Our visits team plays a key role in educating young people on how we keep the lights on by generating renewable power that is used by millions of homes and businesses.
“We hope that visits to iconic sites like Drax Power Station to learn how they operate can inspire the next generation of engineers. We are actively encouraging applications for the fund and would like to see more schools coming to our power stations in the autumn.”
New Audit Partner appointed at AAB’s Leeds office
Helen Daniels has become an Audit Partner in the AAB Leeds office. Helen has been a key member of the Audit team specialising in owner managed businesses and the financial services sector.
Her promotion is one of a number just announced by the company, with the others in Scotland.
Emma Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer of AAB, said: “Helen, like the others we have promoted, is dedicated team members at AAB and it is a great pleasure to recognise each of these individuals with their promotion to our leadership team.
“We are committed to promoting from within, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to progress their career. As we continue to grow, their contributions will be pivotal in driving our vision forward and maintaining the high standards our clients know we can deliver to support their own business and individual growth.”
