With 2024 set to bring major changes to the way the region is governed, including an elected Mayor for York and North Yorkshire, business leaders with an interest in the region’s prosperity, business leaders have an important role in the second summit organised by York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
LEP Chair Helen Simpson said delegates would be asked to ‘contribute to the business vision for the region’ to hand to the new mayor. “The summit is an excellent chance for anyone with an interest in growth and investment in our region to help shape prosperity under devolution,” she said. “One of our key aims is to bring the business community’s voice to a vision for York and North Yorkshire, which can help guide our elected mayor’s policy on investment and growth.
“We have some really exciting and innovative businesses emerging right here in York and North Yorkshire, as well as seeing exciting new ways of doing things in our established sectors such as food and farming. Together they’re not only driving the economies of our city and towns, but also boosting the post-Covid growth of our coastal and rural areas.
“It’s exactly those voices we want to hear at the summit, whether they’re a leader in a thriving business or an entrepreneur setting out on the path to growth. We need to hear from a wide range of businesses from across the region at this exciting time for the York and North Yorkshire.”
In August last year a £540million devolution deal was agreed, proposing the creation of a combined authority for York and North Yorkshire, later this year, with mayoral elections set for May 2024.
As well as providing a chance for the business community to discuss devolution, the summit will also feature sessions on a range of issues at the heart of growth in the region. Keynote speakers will include former BBC Dragons’ Den dragon, and growth expert, Piers Linney, MP and Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake and Lou Cordwell OBE, Chief Creative Officer at Magnetic, and Chair of Manchester Combined Authority Business Committee.
The Summit is organised in partnership with The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). It also includes an informal Super Networking session from 5pm, in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors and Ian Walker & Co Chartered Accountants.
Sarah Czarnecki, president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “York & North Yorkshire is a world-class place to do business. As we grow nearer to becoming a devolved region it is right that we shout about and showcase about our strengths and successes.
“We are in one of the most exciting chapters in North Yorkshire’s illustrious history and we need to tell the world about all we can do in this region.”
Plant supplier signs six-figure deal to supply CATCH with welding equipment
Plant equipment supplier SES has recently completed a six-figure deal to supply Stallingborough training facility CATCH with a full suite of welding equipment ahead for use in its Welding and Pipefitting Hub.
The new facility is designed to host 28 students, with courses in Pipefitting, Plate Welding and Pipe Welding. As the sole contractor working with CATCH, SES has provided Lincoln Electric welding equipment as well as new cutting machinery, tools and equipment for apprentices and staff for a three-year period.
The specialist equipment rental company, with bases in Aberdeen and Grimsby, offer more than 1,000 different types of equipment and an asset register comprising more than 30,000 individual items. Their hire fleet offers a full spectrum of specialist tools for every discipline involved in offshore oil and gas maintenance, renewables, petrochemicals, manufacturing, modifications, hook-up and decommissioning.
Andrew Lait, SES Business Development Manager, said: “We are really proud to be working with CATCH on the launch of the new Welding and Pipefitting Hub. We opened our Grimsby base in March last year, and the work that we have done with CATCH has been incredible.
“It’s great to play a part in the development of future operations and engineering maintenance workforces. There’s a real gap in the market, and we can’t wait to see the hub evolve over time.
“At SES, our key focus is sustainability. We opened our base in Grimsby following a consistent level of business wins so that we could service our customers in a timely and cost-effective way. Having a base in the Humberside area allows for our customers to buy locally whilst cutting down on carbon emissions through moving equipment.”
Joel Broddle, Head of Welding and Pipefitting at CATCH, said: “We are thrilled to be opening of The Welding and Pipefitting Hub at our Humber site on September 18. Over a number of months, we have been working to acquire the latest equipment to provide our apprentices with top-quality learning resources. We would like to thank SES and Andy Lait for their invaluable support and guidance in ensuring the timely completion of our orders.
“We are looking forward to developing the relationship with SES and Worley over the next 12 months and we are confident that their collaboration will play a vital role in training the next generation of skilled welders, pipefitters, and fabricators. Together, we aim to make a positive impact on the industry and nurture a bright future for aspiring crafts people.”
Yorkshire Water’s £7.8bn investment will increase bills for consumers
Yorkshire Water is predicting a rise in water bills to cover the cost of plans to Ofwat as part of the Price Review 24 process,.
The firm has outlined plans to invest £7.8bn across the region between 2025 and 2030 as a start on its utility’s largest environmental investment in the region.
However, improvements come at a cost. If approved, plans would see average customer bills rise from £36.51 per month next year to £43.23 per month the year after, with small increases each year thereafter. Yorkshire Water is enhancing its support for customers who may be struggling financially and will be increasing its contributions to help those most in need. All low-income households will be able to access financial support from Yorkshire Water and the utility is committed to increasing its support for customers by 25%.
Its plan includes:
- £3.1bn investment will drive efforts to deliver secure, safe clean water supplies with improved resilience of its network of pipes and a focus on future water resource needs.
- £4.3bn will support plans for a healthy, natural environment, with a focus on protecting and improving river and coastal water quality, to create a cleaner, safer water environment.
- The plan outlines investment in customer service and an increase in support available to customers with an investment of £446m.
- This includes financial support for half a million (500,000) customers, direct help with water bills for 280,000 customers and £250m worth of financial support across the five years.
- The plan will support employment for more than 10,000 people across Yorkshire.
- £2.4bn investment to improve supply resilience through increased mains replacement and refurbishment of critical storage and treatment assets
- £461m to secure future water resources and upgrade water meters to smart meters to give greater and more timely information on usage
- £95m to maintain safe, clean water supplies
- £83m to enhance collaboration with landowners and stakeholders to improve land management including sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) for the benefit of the environment and improve raw water quality
- £1.9bn to reduce the use of storm overflows and to protect the environment
- £1.8bn to maintain and improve wastewater collection and treatment, including monitoring systems to improve Yorkshire Water’s impact on the natural environment, including reducing Phosphorus, microplastics and unwanted chemicals entering watercourses, and investigating where environmental investments will be required in the future.
- £347m to ensure Yorkshire Water’s bioresources facilities continue to deliver and have sufficient capacity for the future
- £155m to reduce air emissions and ensuring Yorkshire Water’s infrastructure meets the need of a growing population and new developments
- £51m will be invested in measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- £26m allocated to continue work in Hull and the East Riding to tackle flooding issues in the area through Living With Water – a partnership with the Environment Agency, Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the University of Hull.
Creative agency moves to make space for growing team
Hull-based creative communications agency Pace has moved to new larger offices to accommodate its growing team.
The agency is now based at Warehouse 6 in Princes Dock Street in the city centre. Following a number of key appointments, Pace outgrew its Fruit Market base and has moved to the renovated warehouse. It is Pace’s fourth move in eight years. MD Anita Pace said: “We’re now a team of 28 and we needed more space. This move is significant because it represents continued investment in our future growth. “Our new office will foster more creativity within Team Pace thanks to the purpose-built spaces we have designed including our new state-of-the-art production studio. “I strongly believe that we create our best work when we collaborate in person, face-to-face, and our new home at Warehouse 6 will give us better opportunities to do this both as a team and with our clients.” Warehouse 6, formerly a dock warehouse serving Princes Dock, was built in 1850 and the building still retains many original features. Pace’s new office will overlook the new Murdoch’s Connection footbridge and is close to the marina, Fruit Market and the city centre.Be cautious over wage rises, Government is told by British Chambers of Commerce
Following the Chancellor’s announcement of an increase in the living wage, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Policy at the BCC, says government needs to be cautious in setting future wage rate rises so as to strike the right balance between boosting pay and ensuring the very survival of some firms is not put in jeopardy.
She said: “It’s important that wages rise proportionately to maintain living standards and that people can cope with the cost-of-living crisis.
“But business conditions remain among the hardest in generations and employers are struggling to contain wage inflation.
“Firms have seen lasting damage caused by Covid lockdowns, a global supply chain crisis, new trade barriers with the EU, unprecedented energy costs, and significant skills shortages.
“On top of this, rises in interest rates have compounded problems for those carrying more debt due to the pandemic. There is a limit to how much new cost that firms can absorb.”
- On the Secretary of State for Business and Trade’s comments about Brexit and trade issues, William Bain, Head of Trade, said: “Boosting exports is key to the UK’s future economic prosperity, but firms of all sizes are facing a wide range of stumbling blocks. These include inflationary pressures, a restructuring of global supply chains and the continuing flow of new requirements from the EU trading relationship.
Planning approval secured for development next to Salts Mill World Heritage Site in Saltaire
Proposals to demolish a vacant office complex on the edge of the Salts Mill World Heritage Site in Saltaire, Shipley and replace it with a sustainable residential quarter and riverside park have been given the go-ahead by Bradford Council.
Urban regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate will now progress with its ‘transformational’ redevelopment of the 11-acre site, sandwiched between the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, which was formerly home to an HMRC office block that closed in October 2021.
Artisan’s plans for the new ‘Saltaire Riverside’ development include the provision of 289 new homes, more than 5,000 sq ft of commercial office space designed for flexible working and a café facing on to a new ‘pocket’ park and piazza.
A sizeable riverside park will seamlessly link the development to the River Aire, providing woodland, grasslands and lawns to act as a natural flood water storage area whilst pedestrian links will provide direct access to Saltaire Rail Station and the canal towpath.
Welcoming the planning approval, James Bulmer, development director for Leeds-based Artisan North, said: “We are naturally delighted that our transformational vision for this vacant site next to an UNESCO world heritage site is now set to become a reality.
“This is a hugely exciting development that will spectacularly open up a large riverside area that has effectively been closed to the public since the 1970s when the HMRC complex was built. Our proposals will bring interest and investment to the area and provide a natural, contemporary extension to the existing Saltaire footprint.
“Our completed development will become a modern interpretation of the neighbouring Saltaire village, bringing much needed sustainable family housing in an accessible, well connected and environmentally responsible setting.”
He added: “Progressing such a large development on the very edge of a UNESCO World Heritage site brings its own set of challenges and responsibilities, and we have taken time to understand and reflect the unique historical contexts of the Salts Mill location.
“Our final proposal, developed in partnership with Yorkshire-based architects Axis Architecture, is the result of a more than 18-months of design and architectural planning.
“This has been supported by a comprehensive and broadly very positive public consultation programme – including two design workshops with local stakeholders and three major public events.”
Artisan’s scheme will demolish the existing seven-storey HMRC building which consists of two large hexagonal office blocks, with a construction start on site forecast for early 2024.
Prior to the HMRC development, the Saltaire Riverside was used as occasional storage shed area, allotments and grazing land for canal ponies.
Saltaire Village is named after Sir Titus Salt who built a textile mill known as Salts Mill and the supporting village overlooking the River Aire in the second half of the 19th century. Designed by architects, Lockwood and Mawson, Saltaire followed in the footsteps of other model settlements in providing a relatively healthy environment for workers to reside and work.
Saltaire has Italianate architecture and a rich history and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001. The village is considered an outstanding example of mid-19th century philanthropic paternalism and had a profound influence on developments in industrial social welfare and urban planning in the United Kingdom and beyond.
It’s green for go as Wellspring launches fund-raising initiative
Harrogate mental health charity, Wellspring Therapy & Training, is calling on individuals, schools, businesses, churches and community groups to dress green for mental health in October.
Why green? The green ribbon is the international symbol for mental health awareness. Those taking part in Wellspring’s campaign will choose a date in October to wear a green item of clothing and donate towards Wellspring’s affordable counselling services.
This campaign ties in with World Mental Health Day on October 10, which raises awareness of mental health and drives positive change for everyone’s mental health. The theme for 2023 is: Mental health is a universal human right.
Emily Fullarton, executive director of Wellspring, said: “This is a vitally important message, which we will be promoting, not just this month, but in the months and years to come. And this is why Wellspring works so hard in the local community to support those who are experiencing distress and to prevent further mental health problems.”
She explained: “By taking part in Wellspring’s Dress Green Day, people will be making a very real difference in their local community. It is also an opportunity to continue the vitally important conversation surrounding mental health.
“It would be tremendous if you could Dress Green and be seen to support Wellspring. You could also ask your school, business or local community group to join in too. It’s a fun way to fundraise for us and a great way to start a conversation about mental health.
“World Mental Health Awareness Day is taking place on October 10, but you can choose any day in October to take part. Whatever suits you best. Once you’ve chosen your date, spread the word, tell everyone what you’re doing, when and why. You could pop one of our posters up in the office, share with your friends on social media or add a mention in your school newsletter.
“You could also set up your own fundraising page that is linked to Wellspring on JustGiving to collect your donations. If you prefer, you can also donate directly to us online through our Donation Form.”
She added: “For schools, businesses, churches, or local community groups, simply ask your students, employees, or members to make a suggested £2-10 donation to Wellspring and to wear something green instead of their usual clothing or uniform. This could be one green item or going all out in a fully green outfit with green accessories! Or you get creative with a green party, a green lunch or anything green themed.”
Once an organisation has signed up, Wellspring will be in touch about sending out a #DressGreen resource pack, including stickers, a #DressGreen digital poster, and some specially designed mental wellbeing bookmarks. After the challenge has been completed Wellspring will send out a certificate for everyone who took part.
The number of counselling self-referrals that Wellspring has received over the past six months has more than doubled since the same period in 2021. Wellspring is responding to this mental health crisis by growing their services, seeing over 150 clients each week, an increase of around 22% compared to this time last year.
The counselling services Wellspring provides would cost clients a minimum of £50-£80 per session from a private counsellor, but Wellspring only asks clients to contribute what they can towards their sessions. Many can only pay a small amount and so the support of generous individuals, businesses, churches, and funding organisations helps to bridge this gap for clients.
Wellspring Therapy & Training is a charity based in Starbeck, Harrogate, providing affordable, psychological support to children, young people and adults experiencing emotional distress, and promoting good mental health through education and training.
Food ingredients supplier secures $55m financing deal
Food ingredients supplier, Jain International Foods, trading in the UK as Sleaford Quality Foods, has secured a $55 million cross-border asset-based lending (ABL) and cashflow facility from private debt fund Blazehill Capital, alongside Wells Fargo USA and KBC.
Proceeds from the financing will be used to refinance existing indebtedness and provide additional liquidity to support Jain International Food’s working capital, enhance its food innovation capabilities, and drive cost efficiencies.
Jain International Foods is a subsidiary of Jain Farm Fresh Foods Limited, a processor of fruits, vegetables and spices. It consists of three entities, Jain Farm Fresh Food Inc, Sleaford Quality Foods Limited, and Innovafood N.V.. With an expected consolidated revenue of approximately $160 million in 2023, Jain International Foods is well-positioned for growth having shown resilient performance through the pandemic.
Lincolnshire-headquartered Sleaford Quality Foods, founded in 1968, was acquired by Jain Farm Fresh Foods in 2010. It specialises in importing, processing, and distributing dehydrated foods and spices, offering over 650 dried and dehydrated food products, including its own Chef William and Our Earth brands. California-based Jain Farm Fresh Foods Inc. specialises in the processing and distribution of dehydrated foods, including bell pepper, tomatoes, and onions, to large global customers.
Blazehill Capital and Wells Fargo USA structured a hybrid ABL and cashflow facility which can be drawn in the UK and USA to maximise flexibility. The company was advised by Olympia Capital Partners (led by Nedim Music and Peter Lizza) and Hogan Lovells. Blazehill Capital was advised by a cross-border team from Dentons led by Simon Prendergast. Legal counsel for Wells Fargo was served by Bill Starshak, Prisca Kim, and Randall Klein from Goldberg Kohn.
To strengthen its position in the food industry, the company has already implemented operational efficiencies and is committed to exploring expansion opportunities in new food categories and branded product lines.
The UK frozen food market is projected to reach £6.1 billion by 2026, underscoring a favourable market environment characterised by increased demand for long shelf-life food products, including vegetables. Similarly strong industry tailwinds in the United States provide the company with multiple opportunities for global growth and expansion.
Paul Lawlor, CFO of Jain International Foods Ltd, said: “This new facility represents a pivotal moment in our business journey. As demand for long shelf-life food products grows, we’re positioned to capitalise on burgeoning market opportunities and further enhance our industry leadership. The Blazehill Capital and Wells Fargo teams worked closely with us to understand our unique needs and establish a facility tailored to our ambitions.”
Adam Sookia, Head of Investments at Blazehill Capital, said: “We are extremely proud to be working with Jain; a global business with a strong local presence in Lincolnshire, Jain has demonstrated its resilience and best in class governance over recent years. We look forward to seeing the company through its next chapter, setting new standards of food innovation and quality whilst working with partners to ease inflationary pressures on consumers.”
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to make £31m investment at Wakefield manufacturing site
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), the independent bottler of Coca-Cola, is making a new £31 million investment at its manufacturing site in Wakefield, Europe’s largest soft drinks plant by volume.
The investment will help develop a new state-of-the-art canning line, which will be operational in 2024 and will be capable of producing 2,000 cans per minute. The new line will provide additional production capabilities for CCEP’s light-weight 330ml cans, and advanced technologies will be incorporated into the line to help minimise energy, water and CO2 consumption.
Energy and water savings come from innovations such as air rinsing capabilities, dry lubrication on conveyors and an auto-sleep function on motors. In addition to the 500-strong workforce at the site, the new line will create 28 roles and additional training to upskill the workforce.
Funding will also go towards infrastructure upgrades to optimise the factory for production and future innovations. This will include the construction and fit of a new raw materials storage warehouse, plus additional utilities storage and the expansion of other facilities on site. It also supports the recent implementation of attached cap production capabilities on two of the site’s lines, making it easier to recycle the entire plastic bottle with no cap left behind.
The site has received £118 million in investment since 2017 and this latest milestone marks another step in supporting CCEP’s sustainability action plan, This is Forward.
Colleagues at the site in Wakefield are also focused on attracting more diversity into the business’s supply chain as part of CCEP’s ‘Everyone is Welcome’ ethos. This includes encouraging women and others who might not have considered a career in manufacturing previously.
As part of these efforts, the bottler has opened up multiple vacancies which will also include roles for the new line at CCEP’s site in Wakefield specifically for those with little or no experience of working in manufacturing. The business’s apprenticeship programme has also evolved over recent years, targeting all ages and skill levels to open up pathways for those looking to step into the world of work, or change career direction.
Vanessa Smith, Director of Supply Chain Operations, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, said: “We’re committed to developing our sites to keep at the forefront of innovation, ensuring we can continue to deliver drinks to our customers and to consumers in a sustainable way. This latest investment underscores our commitment to our Wakefield site and the 500 colleagues who work here, from our apprentices to our longest-serving employees.
“As well as innovating our production capabilities, we’re committed to recruiting more diversely to reflect the communities we operate in, including bringing on more women and others into manufacturing, logistics and distribution roles. We’re shifting hiring processes to focus on skills and aptitude rather than just historical qualifications, for example, and are offering more flexible working options to better suit a range of lifestyles.”
Stephen Moorhouse, Vice-President and General Manager, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (GB), said: “The latest development at Wakefield is a milestone investment that will allow us to take the next step in our sustainability journey while making positive contributions to our local community here in Wakefield.
“Wakefield is our largest manufacturing site, offering a wide range of modern manufacturing jobs and sitting at the heart of many of the latest manufacturing technologies. As a result, in just five years, we’ve invested more than £100 million into the factory, helping us to accelerate our path to net zero and support the local economy.”
Andrea Jenkyns MP says: “I am delighted to see CCEP’s substantial investment of £31 million in the Wakefield plant. This demonstrates their unwavering confidence in the local economy and reaffirms their commitment to growth and job creation. With new jobs on the horizon, this investment not only strengthens the plant’s position as the largest in Europe but also bolsters the region’s economic vitality. We applaud CCEP for their vision and dedication to our community’s prosperity.”
New law promises tougher measures to tackle late payments
The government is planning tougher measures to tackle late payments to small firms so more can get paid on time.
The Prompt Payment & Cash Flow Review, due to be published shortly, aims to reduce the payment backlog which last year saw SMEs owed an average of about £22,000 in late payments, causing owners and managers spending disproportionate time chasing payments, and making even good, viable firms struggle.
New measures to be announced in the review will include:
- Extending the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017. Following consultation, Government will take forward legislation to extend payment performance reporting obligations. We will include new metrics for reporting, including a value metric, so businesses and commentators can see the value of invoices, including invoices paid late, and a disputed invoices metric. We will also introduce reporting on retention payments for businesses in the construction sector.
- Providing greater advice to small businesses on negotiating payment terms that better suit them, and on how going digital can help them get paid quicker and manage their cash flow.
- Broadening the powers of the Small Business Commissioner: Introducing broader responsibilities, enabling the Commissioner to undertake investigations and publish reports where necessary on the basis of anonymous information and intelligence. This will require primary legislation, so will be subject to the legislative timetable.
“SMEs that are paid on time can do more business, scale up and make more profits, delivering growth for the economy.”
