Prosura makes second acquisition in under 12 months
Prosura Group has acquired Donald Schofield (Pontefract) Limited, the Commercial Insurance broker based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
The deal marks Wakefield-headquartered Prosura’s second acquisition in less than 12 months.
Jon Newall, CEO at Prosura Group, said: “We are proud to welcome Donald Schofield (Pontefract) Limited into the Prosura Group and for all colleagues and clients to join the family!
“Paul and his team share our work ethic and have similar values, which are important considerations when embarking on an acquisition. Now we can all look forward to maintaining high levels of customer service, covering risks across our brands and delivering peace of mind to our clients.”
The deal will see the Donald Schofield (Pontefract) Limited brand retained, and all clients and assets of the company will be integrated into the Prosura Group. The acquisition will place Prosura Group on the path to hitting a £6m GWP by December 2024, the end of its second year of trading.
Paul Schofield, Director at Donald Schofield (Pontefract) Limited, said: “Like Jon and his team, we value and celebrate our status as an independent broker. We believe that this delivers the best for colleagues and clients and are pleased that this will continue.
“With over 60 years of combined commercial insurance knowledge collectively between Jon and I, this will be a progressive collaboration of innovative and traditional commercial broking moving forward.”
Jon adds: “As a business, we are huge advocates of independent brokers and believe that they play a vital role in our industry. At Prosura we are proud to provide a viable alternative to the industry consolidators when brokers are looking to sell their business.
“We are already looking out for our third acquisition and are keen to talk to any independent broker that is considering exiting the industry knowing that their clients and colleagues will be looked after.”
Harrogate-based specialist equipment rental business makes Irish acquisition
Vp plc, the Harrogate-based specialist equipment rental business, has acquired a majority interest in Charleville Hire and Platform Ltd (CPH).
CPH is one of Ireland’s leading, specialist powered access companies principally servicing the growing pharma, renewables, technology and food ingredient sectors. It is a family owned and run business and is based near Cork in the Republic of Ireland.
Total consideration for the entire share capital of CPH includes an initial cash consideration of €12.1 million. Vp has acquired 90% of the shares in CPH, with the remaining 10% to be acquired over a three-year period.
Subject to business performance against stretching EBITDA targets, a further maximum deferred and earn out payment of €21.7 million may be payable across the second and third anniversaries of the acquisition.
In June 2024, Vp set out its updated strategy with a focus on growing its specialist capabilities in the equipment rental market. The Vp Board believes that this acquisition offers clear strategic benefits building on the Group’s specialist capabilities, particularly in the access market, as well as providing a significant growth opportunity and a platform for further expansion into the Irish market.
Key members of the CPH senior management team will retain a minority interest. CPH has thirty employees and offers a diverse portfolio of machinery, the majority of which is zero emissions at the point of use. It operates out of a single location in Charleville and has a large number of blue-chip customers.
For the year ended 31 December 2023, CPH generated unaudited revenue of €9.5 million, EBITDA of €5.7 million, and profit before tax of €2.3 million. It has unaudited gross assets of €13.9 million.
Commenting on the acquisition, Anna Bielby, Chief Executive of Vp, said: “This acquisition is exactly in line with our renewed strategic focus on building our highly differentiated, specialist customer offering. CPH brings to the Group a market-leading powered access fleet in a growing Irish market while complementing our existing divisions.
“The CPH management team has a track record of successfully growing the business and, with the opportunities that exist in the Irish market, we believe they are well placed for further expansion in the future. I am delighted to welcome the CPH team to Vp.”
ORB swoops for specialist construction recruitment firm
ORB Recruitment, a multi-sector recruitment agency in Doncaster, has acquired CLS Construction Labour Solutions (UK) Infrastructure, a specialist in construction and civil engineering recruitment.
This strategic acquisition, completed for an undisclosed fee, marks a significant milestone in ORB’s growth strategy, strengthening its position in the construction recruitment market and expanding its service offerings to clients across the UK.
CLS, established in 1999 and based in Normanton, brings 25 years of expertise in the construction and civils sector, along with a database of over 50,000 active contractors. The company is known for its strong relationships with Tier 1 contractors throughout the United Kingdom.
Stewart Olsen, CEO of ORB Recruitment, said: “The acquisition of CLS by ORB is an exciting opportunity to expand our footprint within the construction industry. CLS’s excellent reputation and deep industry knowledge perfectly complement ORB’s existing strengths.
“By combining our resources and expertise, we’re poised to deliver even greater value to our clients and candidates in the construction sector and beyond.”
The acquisition will see CLS continue to operate under its own brand name, maintaining its identity and client relationships while benefiting from ORB Recruitment’s financial backing and resources. ORB plans to invest in CLS’s growth, with intentions to increase the headcount at the Normanton office by two before the end of the year, bringing the total staff to seven.
This acquisition comes at a time of growth for ORB Recruitment, which has recently expanded its permanent recruitment capabilities. It currently employs 14 staff and is set to increase to 15 before the end of the year.
10 South Parade Leeds fully let following deal with national law firm
10 South Parade, in the heart of Leeds’ business district, is now fully let following the latest deal with national law firm Thompsons Solicitors, which will be moving from its current premises in the city next month.
Thompsons has agreed to take 3,640 sq ft of Grade A office space on a 10-year lease. CBRE’s Office Agency team in Leeds secured the latest tenant, acting for Wilton Developments, who develop and manage the building for the owners East Parade Ltd.
Thompsons Solicitors was established in 1921 and has more than 800 staff across 18 offices in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with an associated firm in Scotland.
The firm is relocating its 64-strong Leeds team from Coverdale House on East Parade. Sanderson Weatherall acted for Thompsons Solicitors in the deal.
This latest occupier follows a deal with marketing agency IDHL earlier this month, who snapped up the largest floor within the building. Existing tenants include Armstrong Watson, Odgers Berndston, SCP and DB3 Architecture.
Nicola Harrison, Managing Partner in Leeds from Thompsons Solicitors, said: “With a long-established presence in Leeds, having operated in the city for over 30 years, we are very pleased to relocate to new premises in the heart of the city.
“This move supports our firm’s continued growth and ensures we can better serve the thousands of clients we represent across West and North Yorkshire from our Leeds office. Additionally, it will provide an enhanced working environment for our dedicated Leeds office team.”
Jason Stowe, Managing Director of Wilton Developments, said: “On behalf of East Parade Limited we welcome Nicola and colleagues from Thompsons to the building. They are joining the community here at 10SP at an exciting time in its evolution, of which we will be able to reveal in the forthcoming weeks.
“It was a transaction that required to be undertaken without delay and it’s a credit to all involved that we collectively met Thompsons timescales.”
Clair McGowan, Director, CBRE Leeds, said: “10 South Parade has continually evolved to meet the needs of modern occupiers, thanks to an extensive redevelopment of the original building by Wilton Developments.
“It is prominently positioned in the heart of the professional and financial business core with a range of services on the doorstep and excellent transport connectivity. The building has attracted high-profile businesses, and this deal now sees it fully occupied.”
Jay Dhesi, Senior Surveyor, Sanderson Weatherall, said: “We are delighted to have acquired 3,640 sq ft of prime office space on behalf of Thompsons Solicitors, situated in an excellent location with great amenities nearby.
“We especially thank Wilton Developments for being proactive and meeting our clients’ timescales. We are excited to see the refurbishment of the on-site amenities unfold, creating a dynamic and welcoming environment.”
Lindum starts work on 39-home project next month
Lincolon-based Lindum is to start work on 39 new affordable homes in a village in East Cambridgeshire next month, working for Accent Housing to deliver the homes in Little Downham near Ely.
The scheme is being built on land next to a previous Lindum development of 27 homes for Accent at Old Fir Close in the village.
Steve Angus, Commercial Director at Lindum Group, said: ”We’re really pleased to be working with Accent again to deliver this second phase of housing for the community of Little Downham.
“The success of phase one, which was delivered during the pandemic, has demonstrated the need for good quality, affordable homes in this area and I’m sure these new properties will prove just as welcome. Lindum has a great working relationship with Accent and our on-going scheme at nearby Bottisham is progressing very well. We look forward to starting on site in November.”
Work is due to start on site in November, with completion estimated by summer 2026.
Casper River secures first vessel in its fleet
Casper River and Canal Transport has bought the barge Off Roader from MMS Offshore Renewables Services Limited with the help of regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors.
Off-Roader is the first vessel in Casper River’s fleet, and offers an economic and environmentally friendly water transport link on the UK’s inland waterways. The vessel – converted by MMS at its yard in Hull – is capable of carrying up to 500 mt per load, the equivalent of 25 fully laden HGVs per load.
Peter Buffam, director at Casper River, said: “We’re really excited to have formed Casper River and Canal Transport as part of the Casper Group offering, which means we’re able to ship our customers’ cargo arriving from Europe, North Africa and the Baltic to Britain’s east coast – at which point Off-Roader completes the onward journey and carries the cargo inland using Britain’s waterways, and vice versa, with numerous benefits, not least to the environment.
“We are very grateful for the guidance given to us by the team at Andrew Jackson Solicitors who moved swiftly on the purchase of Off-Roader. She is already providing much needed support and has recently completed her maiden voyage.”
Siemens Mobility announces further £40m investment for Goole
At the opening of its Goole Train Manufacturing Facility, Siemens Mobility announced investment of up to £40 million in a state-of-the-art Bogie Assembly and Service Centre, further solidifying its commitment to the region.
The new Bogie Assembly and Service Centre will incorporate and expand the company’ current capabilities to overhaul bogies from UK trains, including the 3,224-strong fleet of vehicles it maintains in the UK, and will also include new production lines for assembling bogies for new trains, a first for Siemens in the UK.
This new investment will secure around 100 existing jobs and create up to a further 200. It is due to be operational towards the end of 2026.
The investment in the new service centre in Goole, Yorkshire, comes in addition to the previously announced £200 million investment in the Goole Rail Village including the Train Manufacturing Facility. This state-of-the-art facility will play a pivotal role in producing the next generation of trains for the UK, including the highly anticipated new Piccadilly line trains for Transport for London that will transform rail travel across the capital. In addition to this, all of Siemens’ future UK train orders including Siemens Mobility’s new battery trains will be built at Goole, which is also gearing up to serving other global markets by 2030.
The Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh and the Mayor of London attended the opening of the , a significant milestone for Siemens Mobility and the future of rail transportation in the region.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “This world-class facility will be transformational to Goole and its people, providing a boost to the region’s economy and supporting hundreds of skilled jobs.
“Its opening demonstrates the importance of high quality, long-term investment to pave the way for employment and growth.
“I know how vital rail manufacturing is to our economy, which is why we will not sit on our hands when it comes to supporting it. For too long, the cycle of boom-and-bust has held back this sector.
“That’s why I am determined to put an end to the stop-start approach to investment and provide the industry with the certainty it needs to deliver a railway that is fit for the future.”
Sambit Banerjee, Joint CEO at Siemens Mobility, said:”After more than a decade of tremendous dedication and hard work, we have officially opened our state-of-the-art Rail Village in Goole which is testament to our commitment to the North of England. None of this would have been possible without the brilliance, perseverance, and passion of our people, and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.
“We’ll assemble 80% of London’s new Piccadilly line trains and all future Siemens trains for the UK including our Verve battery train here in Goole, and I’m pleased that we are supporting the local supply chain in the process. Our further investment in the Bogie Assembly and Service Centre will only add to our ability to transform rail and transport for everyone, right here in Goole.”
Lights, Camera, Action: film production company welcomed to the Port of Grimsby
Headed by Boston-born Heather Greenwood, film company Keal Productions has taken office space in a recently-renovated building on Wharncliffe Road in the historic quarter of the Port of Grimsby.
Keal is the first film company to move into the site, and has ambitions to film in Lincolnshire for its productions. Heather has also launched Location Lincs, offering a location finding service, as well as sourcing crew and facilities.
She said: “Being Lincolnshire born and bred, I am immensely proud of the incredible people, places and landscapes that I have grown up with. With so many stories and places untouched and yet to be discovered, the sheer scale of creative opportunity is mind blowing.
“Taking residence at the Kasbah Filming Locations is a natural fit for the ambitious plans that Keal Productions, LocationLincs, and ABP have for its cinematic future.”
Simon Bird, Regional Director of the Humber ports said: “It’s great to see the interest in our port historic quarter which is at the start of its cinematic journey.
The port, and the greater region has much to offer with regards to a rich diversity of filming locations and we’re pleased to be involved in this offering. It brings a lot of attention, as well as jobs and money into the local economy which is a great sector to have on our doorstep.”
The film and television industry has seen a major growth in studio construction fuelled by demand from streaming companies for new content. The Port of Grimsby has been used as a location for Atonement, This Is England, and more recently Three Day Millionaire and Bodies, a drama produced for Netflix.
New leader appointed to help unify UK’s rail system
Laura Shoaf has been appointed Chair of Shadow Great British Railways, a role in which she will help drive the government’s overhaul of the railways, bring senior leaders together to deliver improvements for passengers, work towards a more unified rail system, and help design Great British Railways.
She moves to the post from that of Chief Exec of the West Midlands Combined Authority, before which she was MD of Transport for West Midlands. She was the first female chair of the Urban Transport Group, which comprises transport leaders from across the UK, and supported the industry on its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said: “The arrival of the railways fundamentally changed the United Kingdom – creating huge growth, new connections between communities and opening up the opportunity of jobs and adventure to people across the whole of the country.
“I recognise the great power that our transport network plays in our day-to-day lives, but in order for it to work and in order for it to keep opening up these opportunities, it has to be built around our passengers and freight users.
“It is my privilege to have been asked to Chair Shadow Great British Railways and my focus will be ensuring people are at the heart of the railways and to ensure this remains a focus for years to come.”
Value of Princess’s visit to Forgemasters can’t be understated, says company
The value of a visit to Sheffield Forgemasters by the Princess Royal cannot be underestimated for the 75 apprentices she met on her tour.
Harriett Eccles, People Development Specialist at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “The value of a Royal visit for our apprentices cannot be understated. These are the young people who will lead this business for decades to come, and our ties with the armed forces and the Royal family are a fundamental part of that future. The Princess Royal’s support for their career progression is a great boost for all involved.”
Her Royal Highness was given a tour of the Brightside Lane facilities, seeing heavy forging operations, meeting employees from all levels of the 675-strong workforce and was briefed on the dramatic recapitalisation taking place across the site.
CEO Gary Nutter said: “It was a real honour to host The Princess Royal and to see the pride in our experienced and dedicated workforce, including our full tranche of apprentices, who warmly greeted her.
“Her Royal Highness carries the rank of naval Admiral, and as our recapitalisation programme underpins the company’s supply into UK defence, particularly our continued work to support the Royal Navy, this visit has a resonance for us.
“The continuing support of the Royal Family to this business and its employees is a great accolade and reflects the company’s historic importance in the defence of our realm.”
The Princess Royal was briefed on the extensive works under way on the site, including the new Heavy Forging Line, and learned about our award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which is providing highly skilled careers for the Sheffield City Region.
