Harrogate financial adviser snaps up Skipton business
Prosperis Ltd, the Harrogate-based Independent Financial Adviser, has acquired AJ Hird Ltd, the Skipton-based financial services business, for an undisclosed fee.
AJ Hird was established 20 years ago and is a leading IFA business in the North Yorkshire market town.
Paul Meehan, chairman of Prosperis, said: “We believe this is a great deal for the clients of A J Hird. We will preserve and enhance the personal service being currently provided and look forward to welcoming all their clients to the group in due course.”
Chris Cundell, Managing Director of AJ Hird, will continue to lead the business and said: “This increased scale creates a positive platform for the future for all our clients, large and small. I am personally looking forward to working with Prosperis as they will deliver additional services to the benefit the business.”
Niall Gunn, Managing Director of Prosperis, said: “This is the third of four deals in our acquisition pipeline, and we welcome our new colleagues at AJ Hird to the Prosperis family. Ashley McCartney will be seconded from Harrogate to support Chris in developing the Skipton business further.”
Prosperis Ltd was formed in 2002. The deal brings a further £40m of assets under their control with the business now managing assets in the excess of £300m.
Indie video game label makes duo of acquisitions
Team17 has kicked of 2022 by revealing two acquisitions.
The Yorkshire indie video game label has acquired The Label, a USA-based independent publisher specialising in mobile subscription games content for an initial consideration of $24 million (£17.76 million) with additional earn out consideration of up to a maximum of $16 million (£11.84 million) over the next three years.
The total consideration of up to $40 million (£29.6 million) will be paid through a combination of cash and shares, which are subject to a 12 month lock-in period.
Michael Pattison, CEO of Team17 Games Label, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be joining forces with The Label’s entrepreneurial team, who are true pioneers in the delivery of quality mobile subscription games and technology. We are excited to tap into their unrivalled market and gaming experience to further take advantage of this growing market.
“The Label is a fantastic addition to the Team17 family, creating an indie game powerhouse across PC, console and mobile platforms. We look forward to helping them build on their impressive track record of success, further enabling them to scale even greater heights in support of our ambitious growth aspirations.”
Joshua Babich, general manager and Vice President, said: “It’s an honour to join the world’s leading independent games publisher. Team17 has been a pillar of excellence for over three decades for gamers and creators, bringing some of the most imaginative and unique titles to life. With their support the sky’s the limit and our partners can feel confident our combined leverage will accelerate success for all.
“Joining the Team17 family opens up unprecedented doors for us all. While we’ve carved out a strong foothold in the mobile subscription space, this allows us to instantly expand our market reach in ways that just wouldn’t have been possible before. We are delighted to be part of a Group that puts games development and creativity first!”
Team17 has also announced the acquisition of all rights and assets of Hell Let Loose (HLL), an existing 3rd party title to its 1st party family for an initial consideration of £31 million plus a contingent earn out consideration of up to a maximum of £15 million.
HLL is a multiplayer tactical first-person shooter video game which has over six million owners. HLL was created by developer Black Matter and is co-developed and published across multiple platforms by Team17.
Michael Pattison, CEO at Team17 Games Label, said: “We are delighted to be announcing the acquisition of the Hell Let Loose IP. Hell Let Loose has quickly become a highly credible and innovative multiplayer tactical first-person shooter supported by a very passionate and highly engaged community with over six million players.
“Having built a close and extremely productive relationship with Black Matter already, we believe that by bringing Hell Let Loose into the Team17 stable, we can serve and build upon the needs of an ever-growing community, improve and expand upon the existing player experience and develop new ways to entertain and delight. We firmly believe Hell Let Loose can become the definitive large-scale team-based military simulation.
“This acquisition represents an important next step in our strategy to expand our ownership of IP that is not only of the highest quality, but importantly has long-term growth potential.”
Max Rea, founder & CEO of Black Matter, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for our fans and a logical next step-up in the development of Hell Let Loose as a brand. Team17 love our brand and community as we do, which has expanded across multiple platforms successfully.
“We’ve worked very closely with our good friends at Team17 over the last several years and firmly believe that this acquisition is the next logical step to enable us to further deliver great content to the highly passionate HLL community, as well as find new ways to engage and entertain in the future.
“We are really excited to continue to work with Team17 on the next stage of growth for Hell Let Loose.”
The news comes as the company provides a trading update for the twelve months ended 31 December 2021 (FY 2021) in which it has “continued to trade above Management’s expectations across H2 2021 completing a solid performance in 2021. As a result, revenue and adjusted EBITDA for FY 2021 will be ahead of Management’s expectations and ahead of FY 2020.”
Debbie Bestwick MBE, CEO of Team17, said: “We are pleased with the 2021 performance, in which we continued to execute on our highly ambitious pipeline alongside completing the acquisition of StoryToys. Bringing StoryToys into the Team17 family sees us align our growth ambitions with their hugely talented team and is a clear marker for our future growth strategy.
“In addition, we are delighted with the acquisitions announced this morning. These further support our content and people growth plans. We look forward to working with them as part of our growing Team17 Group in 2022.”
Banner Jones signs Menopause Workplace Pledge
South Yorkshire law firm Banner Jones has furthered demonstrated its commitment to the health and wellbeing of its staff by signing the Menopause Workplace Pledge.
Created by the charity Wellbeing of Women in partnership with Hello! Magazine, and sponsored by Bupa, around 300 organisations have added their signatures to date, including large businesses such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, BMW Group, Channel 4 and First Direct.
By signing the pledge, Banner Jones has committed to recognising that the menopause can be an issue in the workplace and that women need support; to talking openly, positively, and respectfully about menopause; and to actively supporting and informing employees affected by the menopause.
This is the latest in a series of wellbeing initiatives introduced by the law firm, which also signed the ‘Dying to Work’ charter in 2018, showing a commitment to protecting employees with a terminal diagnosis.
Lisa Gill, Human Resources Manager at Banner Jones, said: “The continued health and wellbeing of our staff has always been of real importance at Banner Jones, but it has become even more of a focus over the last year or so during Covid-19.
“We have an open-door policy in place, and we encourage our team members to come to us with any concerns that are affecting them in the workplace so that we can best support them.
“This pledge is a further commitment to that, and to putting our staff at the heart of every decision we make in order to provide a positive workspace for everyone.”
According to Wellbeing of Women reports that around 900,000 women have left their jobs because of menopausal symptoms, and a further 25% have considered resigning from their roles.
Katie Ash, head of employment law at Banner Jones, says that in addition to the firm’s own commitment to the pledge, her team has also seen an increase in the number of enquiries from businesses wanting to put policies in place to support staff experiencing menopause symptoms.
She said: “The mental and physical health and wellbeing of staff is a very important issue, and one that has truly taken centre stage since the start of the pandemic almost two years ago. Thankfully, like Banner Jones, most employers are taking a very proactive approach to updating practices and policies.
“As part of this, many businesses are now looking to ensure that they retain their best staff by better accommodating their needs during key life changes– be that having children, losing a loved one, or experiencing symptoms linked to the menopause.
“In doing so they are likely to also improve productivity and facilitate a far more diverse workforce.”
Careers set to take off at annual LBA recruitment fair
2022 is off to a flying start at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) as it hosts its annual recruitment fair on Saturday 8th January at the Aviation Academy, located near the Multiflight Café in Yeadon, Leeds.
Representatives from a range of LBA’s divisions will be on hand from 10am to 2pm to talk to prospective candidates from across the region with over 100 career opportunities available at Yorkshire’s airport.
From roles across security, terminal operations, human resources, fire operations and cleaning, there are many positions at LBA to explore.
Representatives from Leeds Bradford Airport’s business partners will also be in attendance at the event to discuss job opportunities. These partners include: Jet2 and Jet2holidays, Swissport, Up & Away Aviation Services, SSP Group and Greggs.
Carol Burrows, Human Resources Director at Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “Our annual recruitment fair is a great opportunity for people to find out what a career in aviation can do for them. We’re excited to meet the next generation of LBA employees over the weekend and encourage all of those interested to attend.”
Although there is no need to pre-register attendance, due to COVID-19 protocols, LBA asks all visitors to the event to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test upon arrival. Masks will also be required to be worn throughout the event.
The recruitment fair will be paperless, so visitors are asked to have an electronic version of their CV available on their smart phones to upload.
Free parking will be available on the day next to the Multiflight Café (LS19 7UG), located at the south of the airport.
Successful applicants will undergo a criminal record check (CRB), a five-year employment and background check and they must have been a UK resident for a minimum of three years to obtain Government clearance.
Grade A offices snapped up by investor for £4.3m
Alongside joint agent G Herbert Banks, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) have completed the £4.3 million acquisition of Woodland Park, Cleckheaton on behalf of Midlands investor, Parker & Parker Investments Ltd.
Set in attractive landscaped grounds, the acquisition comprises 31,772 sq ft of modern office accommodation across four two-storey buildings, well located adjacent to Junction 26 of the M62 motorway. It is 10 miles outside Leeds City Centre, with close access to Birstall Retail Park, Euroway Industrial Estate and having mainline rail access within 1 mile.
The Grade A offices at Woodland Park are fully let to fit out, technology and construction solutions company ISG Central Services Ltd.
G Herbert Banks LLP provided acquisition advice alongside occupational advice from LSH. Cushman & Wakefield acted on behalf of the vendor, a private investor.
Ross Firth, director – Office Advisory at LSH, said: “This is a great purchase for Parker & Parker Investments to further bolster their commercial portfolio, which they continue to add to with quality assets, such as Woodland Park. The acquisition offers a few angles from an asset management perspective and we are delighted to work closely with Parker & Parker going forward.”
Nick Jethwa, G Herbert Banks, added: “The acquisition of Woodland Park is a strategic purchase for Parker and Parker Investments. With an enviable position the accommodation lies adjacent to both open countryside and the M62/M606 junction.
“These grade A offices are ideally located for the out of town Leeds and Bradford markets, offering regional accessibility through both the motorways and a mainline rail connection only 1 mile distant. Through asset management Parker and Parker Investments will be optimising the accommodation for tenants and also their own returns.”
Chris Parker, Parker & Parker Investments Ltd., added: “We are very pleased to have made this acquisition in what is a premier office site with great rural views within the extensive motorway network just outside Leeds. Parker and Parker continue to grow their portfolio with continued investment in prime sites both in industrial and office. We intend to invest a further £10,000,000 within the next two years in sites that offer further asset value improvement. Thank you to all parties who helped in the process.”
Connor Rogers, Cushman & Wakefield, said: “I’m very pleased to have acted on the disposal of this asset on behalf of a private investor. This office park is strategically located adjacent to Junction 26, an area that is due to see a significant level of development activity in the coming months and years, which will further establish this location as a key commercial hub for the region. Whilst this sale represents a great result for my client, I am confident that the asset will also perform well for its new owners.”
Sheffield battery technology company acquired by Indian firm
Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (Reliance), has signed definitive agreements to acquire 100% shareholding in Faradion Limited for an enterprise value of £100 million.
In addition, RNESL will also invest £25 million as growth capital to accelerate commercial roll out.
Based out of Sheffield, Faradion is a battery technology company. It has an IP portfolio covering several aspects of sodium-ion technology.
Reliance will use Faradion’s state-of-the-art technology at its proposed fully integrated energy storage giga-factory as part of the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex project at Jamnagar in western India.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, said: “We welcome Faradion and its experienced team to Reliance family. This will further strengthen and build upon our ambition to create one of the most advanced and integrated New Energy ecosystem and put India at the forefront of leading battery technologies.
“The sodium-ion technology developed by Faradion provides a globally leading energy storage and battery solution which is safe, sustainable, provides high energy density and is significantly cost competitive. In addition, it has wide use applications from mobility to grid scale storage and back-up power.
“Most importantly, it utilizes sodium, which will secure India’s energy storage requirements for its large renewable energy and fast-growing EV charging market. We will work with Faradion management and accelerate its plans to commercialise the technology through building integrated and end-to-end giga scale manufacturing in India.
“We believe this will be one of our many steps that will also enable, accelerate, and secure large scale energy storage requirements for our Indian partners developing and transforming India’s EV mobility and transport sector.”
James Quinn, CEO of Faradion, said: “Faradion has been one of the first to champion sodium-ion battery technology. Reliance is the perfect partner for supporting Faradion’s growth in the rapidly expanding Indian market and to jointly speed up the transformation of the global energy market. Becoming part of the Reliance group validates the incredible work our team has done in advancing sodium-ion technology.”
Dr Chris Wright, chairman and co-founder of Faradion, said: “Dr Jerry Barker, Ashwin Kumaraswamy and I founded Faradion in 2010 to develop sodium-ion technology and bring it to market, with funds from Mercia Asset Management. This deal with Reliance firmly establishes Faradion’s sodium-ion batteries as an integral part of the global value chain for cheaper, cleaner, more sustainable energy for decades to come.”
New HQ for Leeds property company
Leeds-based property company, Adair Paxton, has relocated its Horsforth headquarters into a modern office building just off Town Street, as part of the company’s continued expansion programme.
The company’s new 3,000 sq ft premises, at Jason House on Kerry Hill, offer an open plan office space complete with a suite of meeting rooms, kitchen and breakout areas.
It was previously headquartered on Horsforth’s Station Road, opposite its residential sales and lettings office.
The new office will complement the existing Horsforth office, as well as its Leeds city centre office, which it expanded into 18 months ago, in a prime location on Wellington Street.
Simon Dalingwater, a director at Adair Paxton, said: “Expanding into Jason House gives us a modern working environment that will accommodate our ongoing growth, so it’s an exciting time for Adair Paxton.
“We’ve recently appointed a new director of operations and finance, an office manager, an assistant property manager in our block management division, and we’re now recruiting for a residential property manager to join our lettings team and an accounts administrator.
“As a longstanding Horsforth based business, we are delighted to have secured this prestigious building, in the heart of the town centre. Ultimately it will enable our commercial, residential and block management teams to collaborate even more effectively, which will further enhance the high standard of service that our clients enjoy.”
Work poised to start on phase four of Lincolnshire housing development
Work is poised to get under way on phase four of Charterpoint’s housing development in Louth, Lincolnshire.
It will bring a further 40 plots into build at Westfield Park on the edge of the town.
Planning permission was granted for 240 homes on the site in 2018. This latest phase is the penultimate phase and will bring the total number of homes built at Westfield Park by Snape Properties to 200.
Charterpoint CEO Adrian Goose said: “Westfield Park has proved to be a very popular housing development and the new homes can’t be built quick enough to keep up with demand.
“It’s an excellent location which has already become a thriving community for families in Louth and we are delighted to be releasing a further 40 plots to Snape Properties so that they can continue building and move onto the penultimate phase of the development.”
The housing development features a mix of three and four-bedroom semi-detached houses and four and five-bedroom detached houses.
A two-storey, 66-bed care home has also been built on the site, which is off Grimsby Road.
Specialists appointed to take forward Yorkshire Cruise Terminal project
Hull City Council has published a decision record that confirms that Royal HaskoningDHV has been appointed to provide planning consultancy support for the delivery of the Cruise Hull Yorkshire terminal project.
The appointment of the specialist international firm comes following an open tender process in which bids were assessed on a ‘best value’ basis combining both price and quality.
As a result of this process, the council will now be able to progress the project in completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA), and subsequently submit a planning application in 2022 for the Sammy’s Point site.
Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Hull needs a dedicated cruise facility in the heart of the Old Town so that we can greet cruise passengers with a five-star welcome and an immediate experience of Hull, in addition to the region’s world class visitor attractions.
“This could also be a carbon reduction measure, reducing the need for journey to south coast ports. A new cruise facility would be a huge boost to our plans to increase tourism and create new jobs, therefore this appointment is welcomed.”
The proposed design includes Shore-Side Electricity as a carbon reduction measure which allows cruise ship operators to turn off ship engines while in port and rely on more efficient power systems to reduce overall emissions.
Work will begin immediately to progress the scheme at a total cost of £182,185, running until 2025.
Wakefield city centre redevelopment moves forward
Plans to revitalise Wakefield’s Kirkgate area are moving forward this month (January) – as part of a wider, multi-million-pound plan to improve the city centre.
The redevelopment of the area from Chantry roundabout to the ABC cinema site has begun with preliminary works to prepare for demolition, with a temporary public open space to be created for local residents after this is completed.
Over the next few years, the Council plans to bring over 150 good quality new homes and create new green areas to the Kirkgate area of the city.
This is subject to the Government approving the release of funds that it has allocated to Wakefield via the Towns Fund. The next stage of the application process will see the Council finalising business cases for each project throughout January, with submissions to the government to be made in March 2022.
Already Chantry House has been cleared and a planning application for 50 new homes is expected in Spring 2022 with work expected to start in 2023.
This next phase of the Council’s wider city transformation plan will see the creation of a further 100 new homes via the Kirkgate Innovative Neighbourhood Gateway (KING) project.
Preliminary works for the demolition of the derelict ABC cinema began yesterday (4 January) which will be completed by May, followed by temporary public open space being created for local residents, by the summer.
Discussions are underway to re-locate existing retail business in the block and to demolish the units over the next 18 months, but keeping the historic Harewood Arms pub.
Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council, said: “We are pleased we are at the stage where we can move forward with the next stage to progress plans to improve the Kirkgate area, which is a key gateway to the city. If the government approve our application to the Towns Funds and release funds, we’ll be able to develop these ambitious plans.”
Cllr Darren Byford, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Property, said: “The demolition of the ABC building supports our plans to regenerate the area and bring additional investment to Wakefield and it is great to be looking forward to the benefits this will bring for our city and district.
“We are supporting investment and change for our city centre as well as boosting the wider district’s economy. It is a very positive stage to be at, as we continue to work with our partners and plan regeneration.”
The Council’s wider city transformation plan for Wakefield includes the repurposing of the former BHS store to bring more of the Council’s services into the heart of the city centre, including a new museum and gallery, and the second phase of the redevelopment of the Rutland Mills site at Wakefield waterfront, with support totalling £20m from the Levelling Up fund.
Other emerging plans for the city centre include the opening of Tileyard North next summer and the redevelopment of the former Market Hall into a performance and exhibition space, and plans to transform the historic Civic Quarter on Wood Street into a thriving neighbourhood, with new homes and a stunning new public facility.
