First glimpse of new multi-million pound Leeds development
Homebuyers, investors and the people of Leeds have been given their first glimpse of a new £23.5 million city centre apartment development, after its scaffolding and site hoardings were taken down as the scheme approaches completion.
This follows last month’s topping out of The Residence, which sits at the very eastern end of Kirkstall Road. The development by KMRE Group, consists of 111, one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as two penthouses with large terraces and views across Leeds and beyond. The ground floor of the development offers 2,400 sq ft of commercial space and there are also 25 parking spaces.
More than two thirds of the homes in the 10-storey building, which are being marketed by Linley & Simpson with Morgans, are already reserved.
Kam Mogul, Managing Director at KMRE, said: “The Residence is progressing well and the topping out of the development, as well as the scaffolding and site hoarding removal, are significant milestones that have given people their first opportunity to see how our landmark building looks. The response from both our buyers and the Leeds community, has been extremely positive.
“The Residence will be the first development to complete on the Kirkstall Road corridor, which will soon benefit from hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment and development that will create thousands of new homes and a vibrant community in the area. We’re extremely proud to be setting a benchmark with The Residence for surrounding developments to follow.”
Senior lawyer reappointed to STEP board
Private client lawyer Amanda Simmonds has been re-elected as a director of the board of STEP, the worldwide body for professionals helping families plan for their futures.
Amanda is a senior associate solicitor with Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett where she heads the firm’s Business Families team.
She provides legal advice on all aspects of private client work including: wills, trusts and estates; Lasting Powers of Attorney; Court of Protection; and personal tax planning advice particularly to families who hold interests in family-run businesses.
STEP is regarded as the gold standard for anyone undertaking private client advice. STEP members are lawyers, accountants, financial advisors and other professionals.
Amanda is deputy worldwide chair of STEP and one of only eight STEP board members. The board is responsible for the strategic direction of STEP, and Amanda will serve a second term of three years.
Amanda said: “In my role as a board director, I have enjoyed contributing to the future shape and development of STEP which is a highly respected, global and multi-disciplinary professional body.
“Many members of Lupton Fawcett’s private client team are members of STEP as we recognise its commitment to promoting high professional standards among trust and estate practitioners.”
One year on: How EMIS has powered 75 million Covid-19 vaccinations
One year on from the first Covid-19 vaccination (8 December 2020), EMIS has helped to power and record more than 75 million vaccinations in England.
EMIS was the first UK health-tech provider to launch a clinical software system that could support the NHS in mobilising the largest vaccination programme in its history.
With 98.9 million doses administered in England so far, EMIS has supported 77 per cent of all vaccinations.
For the first seven months of the programme EMIS remained the only provider of the technology needed to drive and record vaccinations within GP practices, pharmacies and mass vaccination centres across England.
Richard Jarvis, chief technology officer of EMIS said: “I’m incredibly proud of what the EMIS team has been able to deliver over the last 12-months and how it continues to support the NHS in the largest vaccination programme on record.
“When the NHS asked for our help we mobilised a programme to support them. The team worked extremely hard to develop a point of care system that could be ready by day one of the vaccination roll-out.”
Richard Jarvis, chief technology officer of EMIS
“It’s now a year since the first vaccination was given and it’s rewarding to see how that hard work has helped so many millions of people in England.”
The software, which was delivered within an impressive eight-week timeframe and continues to evolve through the roll-out of the booster vaccination drive, was built using the IT system Outcomes4Health.
Outcomes4Health was developed by Pinnacle, a company acquired by EMIS Group in early 2020 to record clinical services provided by community pharmacies, including the annual flu vaccination programme.
For each of the 75 million vaccinations recorded to date through Outcomes4Health, the patient record is collated and shared through interoperability to the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) and GP clinical systems within a matter of hours. It then appears for patients to see via the NHS app and Patient Access.
In addition to helping mobilise the Covid-19 vaccination programme, EMIS also played a vitally important role in the research which identified the 1.5 million people most at risk from the disease and who should be prioritised for early vaccination. This research also raised public awareness of key Covid-19 risk factors such as age, ethnicity and body mass index, as well as certain medical conditions and treatments.
Through Outcomes4Health EMIS also helped to administer over 2.2m flu vaccinations in England during 2020.
CapVest’s Inspired Pet Nutrition acquires super-premium pet food company Pet Food UK from Piper
Founded in 2009, Pet Food UK sells high quality and distinctively branded premium dog and cat pet food and treats in the UK and internationally. Its key brands, “Barking Heads” for dogs and “Meowing Heads” for cats, are predominantly premium natural pet food ranges formulated with the highest quality ingredients. The brands are synonymous with quirky names such as ‘Fat Dog Slim’ and ‘So-fish-ticated Salmon’, highly distinctive packaging, and strong consumer loyalty. In 2014, PFUK introduced the “AATU” brand, an uber-premium product following the 80/20 rule (80% meat, 20% vegetables), which was the world’s first single protein source dry pet food.
IPN, best known for its high-quality natural dog meals and pet treats under the “Harringtons” and “Wagg” brands, was acquired byinternational investment firm and buy-and-build specialist CapVest in December 2020. The acquisition of PFUK is the start of an ambitious growth strategy, which will see IPN build scale and internationalise over the coming years.
James Lawson, CEO of IPN, said: “We are very excited to acquire PFUK, which is highly complementary to our business and our values. This acquisition is consistent with our vision to create a unique portfolio of loved and sustainable pet care brands helping make quality pet care affordable and accessible to all. PFUK brings to IPN highly recognised super and uber-premium brands with a strong digital presence to augment our strong product portfolio and distribution channels. We are impressed by the great progress of PFUK in recent years and we look forward to welcoming the team and further supporting the company to continue to grow.”
Kate Briant, CapVest Partner said: “Pet Food UK is a fantastic addition to IPN which helps broaden and supplement our offering. It adds high quality brands to the portfolio, creates access to new segments and geographies and unlocks more distribution channels to further enhance our growth prospects. We are very pleased to support IPN with its first step in what we hope will be an active acquisition-led growth strategy.”
Piper Investment Director, Rory Gibbs, said: “We are very proud of the team we helped to build at Pet Food UK. Through our partnership with them we were able to deliver significant growth, doubling sales and developing the brand into a digital first business. At investment only 10% of sales in the UK came from digital channels. This has increased to nearly 60%, with 30% of revenue coming from international markets. The interest in Pet Food UK is testimony to the appeal of its brands (Barking Heads, Meowing Heads and AATU), the quality of its pet food and the work done in recent years to build a loyal customer base. We are delighted to see Pet Food UK join IPN, who share its values and commitment to the high-standards of product quality, innovation and sustainability, and we know the company and its brands will continue to flourish under their ownership.”
Completion of the transaction is subject to conditions, and it is expected that the transaction will be completed in the coming weeks.
IPN was advised by DLA Piper (legal), OC&C (commercial) and KPMG (finance & tax).
Piper and the other selling shareholders of Pet Food UK were advised by Houlihan Lokey (Corporate Finance) and Womble Bond Dickinson (Legal).
Ripon Farm Services wins prestigious international award
Ripon Farm Services (RFS), the agricultural suppliers, has scooped a prestigious international marketing award.
RFS has won the 2021 Best Brand Ambassador category in the inaugural Kramer Digital Dealer awards.
The company, based in Dallamires Lane in the city, defeated short-listed competitors from Spain and the Ukraine to win the award.
This is the first time that Kramer, the German manufacturer of compact construction machines such as wheel loaders, has held these Digital Dealer awards.
Geoff Brown, Managing Director of Ripon Farm Services, said: “We are immensely proud and honoured to have won this very special award. Our success is due to an excellent relationship with Kramer and the quality of their machines, together with our hard-working and dedicated staff, who promote the Kramer brand so effectively.
“Kramer is now an absolutely crucial part of our business – indeed they are now second only to John Deere in volume of sales. Their machines, from small wheel loaders for the Dales farmer to the biggest telescopic handler, are increasingly popular at our working demonstrations, open days and shows.”
Ian Moverley, sales manager for Kramer in the UK, said: “Ripon Farm Services are worthy winners of the Best Brand Ambassador award. Their sales team consistently go the extra mile with their marketing activities to promote Kramer and their commitment and dedication to our brand is exceptional.
“RFS were one of the first dealers in the UK to be appointed by Kramer back in 2017 and the growth is sales has been continuous from the very start. They have been successful in selling the whole range of our machines since then, with focussed and effective promotions and marketing.”
Ripon Farm Services are one of the biggest employers in the Ripon area, with some 260 staff and an annual turnover of more than £100 million. The company has 11 depots and groundscare machinery departments as well as three Ifor Williams trailer dealerships and a newly opened vehicle Paint and Body facility.
Kids Planet acquires impressive nine-setting nursery portfolio in West Yorkshire
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of the nursery group, Kinder Haven Limited in West Yorkshire, to Kids Planet. This marks the company’s first Yorkshire nursery portfolio.
Founded in 2002 by husband-and-wife team, Darren and Danielle Dixon, Kinder Haven Limited has steadily grown via an organic development strategy and, today, comprises nine high-quality children’s day nurseries.
All settings trade from converted, purpose-designed facilities which provide an aggregate operating capacity of circa 930 nursery places. They benefit from prominent locations across West Yorkshire and sit within close proximity of each other, providing ease of access for operational management and workforce staff optimisation purposes.
Kinder Haven Limited has been purchased by Kids Planet, one of the largest day nursery groups in the country. Following on from its most recent purchase of Rainbows Nursery in Tadcaster, in the last month alone Kids Planet now owns over 1,100 childcare places in the region.
Danielle Dixon comments, “Having made the decision to sell Kinder Haven Ltd, it was important for us to choose a company with a great reputation and the same ethos and values. We are delighted to have chosen Kids Planet to nurture the Kinder Haven family, continue the legacy and take it to the next level. Kids Planet was the right fit for us, they are a hugely successful nursery group dedicated to providing exceptional childcare with a strong commitment to staff development.
“We would like to thank all the families and staff, past and present. It has been an honour to have been able to care for so many children and to work with such inspirational team members over the last 20 years.”
Speaking on behalf of Kids Planet, CEO, Clare Roberts, comments, “We are delighted to be chosen by Darren and Danielle to take over at Kinder Haven. We are excited to have established a more significant presence in West Yorkshire and to be able to build upon the already high standards of care that have been implemented by the Kinder Haven management team and we immediately recognised the synergies between the two nursery groups. We look forward to working with the management team as we move forward together.”
The sale was handled by Vicky Marsland and Nick Brown at Christie & Co.
Vicky Marsland, Senior Business Agent at Christie & Co, comments, “Danielle and Darren have built a truly magnificent group of nurseries with an incredibly passionate work force. This is a fantastic transaction not only for the new owners but also for the region. This wholly organic group was courted by a number of the leading operators, and we are absolutely delighted to have brokered this market setting deal which is in very safe hands with Kids Planet.
“Buyer demand is stronger than ever in the sector, with a particular increase in the Yorkshire regions for both single settings and multi-site groups from a wide range of buyers.”
Legal advice for the sellers was provided by Gordons LLP, led by Duncan Firman, Stephanie Houghton and James Kimberley, alongside financial advice from Hamish Morrison, Tim Brind and their team at BHP. Legal advice for the buyers was provided by James Skivington and the team at Pinsent Masons LLP.
Tim Brind comments, “It has been an absolute pleasure helping Darren and Danielle through to a successful exit. BHP have worked with the company for nearly 10 years now and have seen first-hand the enormous effort they have put into growing their business.”
‘The Lawyer’ ranks Sills & Betteridge in the UK’s Top 200 law firms for a 3rd Year
With an impressive 12 place leap up the table, Sills & Betteridge LLP now proudly takes 174th position in the ‘UK200’, placing the practice among the UK’s best performing law firms.
Compiled by The Lawyer publication, the annual report is the result of months of detailed, impartial research into the firm’s financial performance, service delivery, and analysis of its partners and employees in terms of gender and other diversity characteristics, progression and development.
It is seen as the benchmark report for anyone with a serious interest in the business of law.
Chief Executive Martyn Hall who was quoted in the report is delighted with the results: “The last 18 months of disruption to the legal market seems to have had quite an impact on the list with some firms being affected more than others.
“I’m pleased to see that Sills & Betteridge LLP has significantly improved its position in the list and goes into 2022 in a very strong position. This is down to sound planning from our management team, robust working practices and the hard work and commitment from our staff.”
The results were announced hot on the heels of another prestigious publication The Legal 500 releasing its findings on the firm. Known as ‘the world’s largest legal directory’ it again recognised Sills & Betteridge as a ‘Leading Law Firm’, with several of its practice areas improving their tier rankings.
Recruitment business becomes employee owned
HR Essentials Ltd, trading as Essential Recruitment, has sold 100% of their shares to HR Essentials Trust, making the business wholly owned by its employees.
With offices in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, the 50 employees will now share in the future success of the business.
The owner directors of the recruitment business – Marc Orli, Kristyan Rachael, Lisa Smith, Alison Wilby, Gary Wilson and Carl Wootton – sold their shares for an undisclosed sum.
With the exception of Gary Wilson, who will step down from his role as chairman, the directors will remain with the business and work with the Employee Trust to help grow the company, and implement a succession plan for the long-term future of all its employees.
A statement provided on behalf of the directors said: “Our vision since starting in 2006 was to build a business that not only cared for its clients and candidates but also to provide a company that provided its colleagues a positive environment in which they could thrive.
“Over the last 15 years, we have done our utmost to stand by this vision. During the last 2 years of uncertainty, it has been the team as a whole that has stood true to our culture, so what better way to reward all those involved than to become Employee Owned.”
Deb Oxley, Chief Executive of the Employee Ownership Association, said: “Congratulations to Essential Recruitment on its transition to employee ownership, securing the ethos, values and culture of the business for the longer term.
“Businesses that are all about people benefit greatly from empowering employees by giving them a stake and a say, with impacts for the employees and the business, which is also felt by clients and the communities the business serves.”
Green light for York Minster Refectory Restaurant plans
Award-winning chef Bex Toppin and partner Will Pearce of Robinsons Cafe, York, have been brought on board to run the new York Minster Refectory Restaurant as part of a development team that also includes GEM Construction (York) Ltd., The Star Group of Restaurants, and Rachel McLane Ltd.
This follows last Friday’s City of York Council’s Planning Committee unanimous resolution to grant planning permission for a new refectory restaurant on the site of the former Minster school.
GEM Construction’s chairman, Mike Green, who is joint director and partner in the new venture with The Star Group’s director Andrew Pern, said: “This is an ambitious, high quality but accessible restaurant launch in an historically sensitive refurbishment of The Minster School, York, that will benefit the people and the city of York with new jobs and a fabulous restaurant while embracing the vision of the Chapter of York, the governing body for York Minster.”
The Right Revd Dr Jonathan Frost, Dean of York, said: “We are delighted that City of York Council granted planning permission and listed building consent last night. This excellent partnership fully embraces Chapter’s vision to create a warm, welcoming refectory facility in the heart of the city. Re-purposing the former Minster School buildings to create a wonderful new space is fundamental to the principles of sustainability set out in the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan.
“We are also delighted to work with partners whose ethos as a community employer is aligned with York Minster’s core values for openness, inclusivity and support for disadvantaged groups, such as ex-prisoners, who are often excluded from mainstream employment opportunities.
“We are confident that the new Refectory Restaurant will operate very much in the caring spiritual, historical tradition of York Minster as a place of sanctuary and alms for feeding and watering pilgrims and the needy. The venture remains ‘subject to contract’ and we continue to work closely with Gem and The Star Group to finalise the detail.”
Gem Construction chairman, Mike Green, said: “Plans are still being finalised but we expect there will be a daytime takeaway element, and day time and evening dining; we also aim to have a mix of smaller function and private dining rooms, which are relatively rare in York.”
Looking after the interior design side of the project is Rachel McLane Ltd. Rachel McLane said: “We want the Refectory’s design to be an honest, community space, unpretentious, public focused and accessible, making it look like it belongs and won’t take away from the essence of the building, by doing justice to its historical importance.
“The design concepts that we have come up with really respect and enhance the old school – the main floor Refectory restaurant space will be the space in which school pupils and staff ate their meals and hosted school concerts.”
The plans for the new Refectory Restaurant remain subject to final planning permission in a deal that is ‘subject to contract’, as York Minster, Gem Construction and The Star Group of Companies work in partnership to finalise contract arrangements.
International client win for digital marketing agency
A Leeds-based multi-national web development and digital marketing agency has secured a new client in a six-figure deal with American-based golf buggy manufacturer, Club Car.
GRM Digital, founded in 2009 by Nej Gakenyi has been appointed to support the 63-year-old manufacturing giant as its dedicated digital marketing agency and IT infrastructure partner.
GRM Digital will manage Club Car’s website, online presence, and user experience to achieve digital growth and generate quality online traffic. It will also help Club Car to expand its presence in China.
Club Car was originally founded in 1958 in Houston, Texas, and was acquired by Platinum Equity earlier this year for £1.7 billion. It is the official golf car of the PGA of America, PGA TOUR Tournament Players Club (TPC) Network and European Tour.
Nej Gakenyi, CEO and founder of GRM Digital said: “We’re delighted to welcome Club Car to our expanding portfolio of global brands who wish to improve their digital presence. We’ll be supporting them with 24/7 online assistance and offering our expertise to help solidify Club Car’s status as the leading golf buggy brand on the planet.
“A lot of companies struggle to break into China because of the complex Chinese firewall issues. This is something we have supported many global manufacturers with through our network of partners in China.”
The news comes as GRM has experienced 50% growth since the start of the Covid pandemic, growing from 18 to 29 people as companies look to strengthen their online presence. GRM forecasts continued growth of 50% over the next year, adding another 8-10 people to its team.
GRM Digital has offices in Leeds, London, Sarajevo, Amsterdam, and Islamabad and has worked with a range of world-leading brands and SMEs to enhance their online presence.
