West Yorkshire passive fire protection specialist snapped up

Tess Egginton
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West Yorkshire passive fire protection specialist snapped up
IK Partners’ IK Small Cap III (IK SC III) Fund has signed an agreement to acquire Checkmate Fire, the passive fire protection specialist, from YFM Equity Partners. IK is making its first UK investment from the Fund’s dedicated pool of Development Capital. The existing management team will be reinvesting alongside IK. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. Established in 1989 and headquartered in West Yorkshire, Checkmate provides a comprehensive range of passive fire protection services to organisations across the Healthcare, Education, Government, Social Housing and Commercial sectors. The company inspects, installs, remediates and maintains passive fire systems and also provides installation and maintenance of active fire systems. Checkmate operates across the UK and has over 200 employees. The company is responsible for maintaining passive fire systems in around 2,000 buildings nationally to ensure compliance with increasingly stringent regulations, carrying out over 30,000 fire door remediations or replacements per year. The focus is on maintaining fire doors rather than replacing them; an approach that aligns with the company’s commitment to strong environmental, social and governance practices across the business. Since YFM’s investment and under the existing management team, Checkmate has scaled rapidly, expanding its service offering and supporting more customers in managing their passive fire systems through multi-year contracts. In partnership with IK, Checkmate will look to further develop its passive fire offering, particularly its inspections division, in a market with compelling long-term growth dynamics. The company will also continue to invest in its people and technology to enhance operational efficiency, while also executing a targeted M&A strategy. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. John Lewthwaite, CEO at Checkmate, said: “We are very much looking forward to working with IK after a successful partnership with YFM. IK’s track record of supporting businesses in the fire protection market, combined with our position as UK’s leading passive fire specialist, means that we are best placed to drive future growth in a market with attractive dynamics. We would like to take this opportunity to thank YFM for all their support and guidance over the last five years.”

Simon May, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK SC III Fund, added: “This is an exciting first investment for the IK Development Capital strategy in the UK. Under the stewardship of John and his team, Checkmate has established itself as a high-quality provider in a rapidly growing and increasingly regulated market.

“We have been impressed with the company’s journey to date and see plenty of opportunities for continued growth. We look forward to working with the team at Checkmate and leveraging the resources and expertise of the wider IK platform to deliver an ambitious strategy.”

Steve Harrison, Partner at YFM Equity Partners, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with John and the entire team at Checkmate since we first invested in 2018. The business has seen rapid growth and development during this period, establishing itself as the leading player in the UK passive fire protection market. We wish Checkmate the best of luck for the future with the support of IK.”

New rail freight app secures £150,000 funding

Tess Egginton
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New rail freight app secures £150,000 funding
The company behind an app that aims to move freight traffic off the roads and on to the rail network has secured a £150,000 loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. RailX is encouraging businesses to take a more sustainable approach to their logistics needs by making use of spare capacity on the rail network. Its app RailX – described as a ‘Trainline for rail freight’ – makes it easy to book rail and associated services including ‘first and final mile’ road deliveries. RailX is currently focused on serving Yorkshire businesses and the freight forwarders who serve them and offers a full ‘port to door’ service. The funding will enable it to continue to grow and expand its reach to target firms outside of Yorkshire, further develop its app and cope with the growing demand for its services. RailX was developed after Steve Freeman, the former Managing Director of Doncaster’s rail terminal iPort Rail, and Rail Consultant Paul Bathgate recognised that commercial train services typically run at least 25% below capacity. They joined forces with digital expert Tom Ciullo and finance director Ian Waring to launch the app in November last year. The company currently employs two staff and expects to create six new roles in the year ahead. Paul Bathgate said: “Around 90 per cent of UK freight is moved by road, which means that on any given day there are the equivalent of 20 empty trains running on the rail network. Part of the problem is that it is often difficult for smaller companies, or those unable to contract large volumes, to access and book space on trains. Our easy-to-use app takes the pain out of buying rail freight. “Per container, rail uses on average 76 per cent less carbon than road haulage. As it requires only one driver for up to 40 containers, it is far less labour intensive and can be cheaper and more reliable. By optimising the existing rail capacity, we can start to bring down costs, increase demand and encourage the modal shift to more sustainable transport solutions.” Andy Tyas of Mercia Debt added: “Rail freight offers the potential to save over 30,000 tonnes of carbon a year, and to reduce the amount of heavy goods traffic on the road. RailX could play a key role in the transition to more sustainable transport. “The team chose to pioneer their service in Yorkshire, building on their existing relationships in the region, and also the fact that an estimated 42% of rail freight moves through or stops in the county. With demand growing steadily, this funding will enable the company to begin its expansion across the Yorkshire region and the wider UK.” Andy McKenna, Access to Finance Advisor for the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, provided fundraising advice to the company.

Yorkshire Dales farmers to be offered share in grants totalling £2m

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire Dales farmers to be offered share in grants totalling £2m
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority meets this week to agree an ambitious £13.1m work programme which includes £2m in grants available for farmers in the park While the Authority’s core government grant remains flat for an eighth year, Defra has provided additional Capital Funding of £500k. On top of significant external income secured by the National Park Authority through a variety of externally backed projects, this means the Authority can:
  • Provide £2m of grants to the National Park’s farmers and landowners through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.
  • Continue the Tees-Swale project, restoring peatland, hay meadows, woodland and other priority habitats across Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.
  • Provide new, Education and Outreach projects: Championing National Parks for everyone, and the National Citizen Service project.
  • Facilitate an extensive volunteers programme, young ranger, ‘Upskill Down Dale’ youth engagement programme, and apprenticeships, developing skills that lead to employment in the environmental sector.
  • Implement the Coast to Coast National Trail through the National Park, and a variety of other ambitions.
Derek Twine, Deputy Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee said: “The ambition in this year’s work programme is clear to see. Thanks to important income streams and the additional government capital funding, we have been able to commit to supporting farmers and landowners in accessing critical new grant funding, provide opportunities for underrepresented groups to experience the joy of visiting a National Park, and much more. “However, the very real pressure on our core government grant funding remains and the outlook beyond 2024/25 looks much less positive. The ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ programme and ‘Grow Back Greener’ project are both scheduled to end in March 2025 and continuing uncertainty over the Country’s public finances in general means it’s difficult to anticipate how our core grant, currently only £5.2m, will be impacted beyond next year. As a result, all of the Authority’s plans and ambitions for the future face a degree of uncertainty”.

Works progressing on next phases of Lincoln Enterprise Park

Tess Egginton
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Works progressing on next phases of Lincoln Enterprise Park

Construction works to deliver the next phases at Lincoln Enterprise Park are progressing to schedule with 80% of space already reserved.

Located on the A46 near Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln Enterprise Park is progressing with phases 7 to 10, which will bring an additional 34,500 sq ft to the park and could potentially create up to 100 new jobs.

Following the continued demand for commercial property in and around Lincoln and a successful planning appeal in 2021, developer and site owner LEP Developments commenced works in October last year, acting as both developer and contractor.

With groundworks done, steel frames ups and roofs complete, works to phases 7 and 8 – which are 6,500 sq ft each – are on schedule.

In total, phases 7 to 10 will bring 13 new mixed-use units ranging from 1,451 to 11,500 sq ft to Lincoln Enterprise Park, offering in-demand expansion opportunities for current occupants and new commercial premises for other businesses.

Current occupant and bespoke kitchen and furniture manufacturer, Krantz Designs, has been on Lincoln Enterprise Park since 2020. With its expanding client portfolio and desire to manufacture all its products in-house, the company has bought phase 7 as well as securing the lease of part of another unit as part of phase 9, giving the company a total of 20,000 sq ft at the park.

Managing director of Krantz Designs, Jamie Krantz, said: “With our showroom on historic Bailgate in Lincoln, we currently manufacture about 90% of our products here at Lincoln Enterprise Park, but for some time have wanted to increase that to 100%.

“We had no desire to move from the park as it’s the perfect location for us, is well managed and has a supportive business network, therefore when Nick secured planning for the next stage of expansion, I jumped at the chance to design and build our new HQ.

“We will have approximately 30 skilled team members at the park when we move into our new spaces later this year, which will include CAD technicians, cabinet painters, machinists and office personnel, and we will be recruiting in due course to fill new roles. The team and I are pleased to be continuing our journey at Lincoln Enterprise Park.”

Managing director of LEP Developments, Nicholas Falkinder, said: “At Lincoln Enterprise Park we support economic growth by providing our premium product in a unique and highly accessible location.

“Because of what we have on offer here and the service we provide, we have been fully occupied for over seven years. Jamie and the team at Krantz Designs are a great example of the business community at the park and how we support those businesses through leasehold agreements, then on to freehold opportunities if required.

“From the outset interest in the new units has been high and this resulted in 80% pre-construction sales in just a matter of months. The majority have been taken by existing occupants, which is what we strive for, and we are welcoming some exciting new businesses later in the year.

“I’m passionate about this park and its success, and for the first time we are developer and contractor, which is an incredible journey to be on to both ensure quality and see the progress onsite each day. I want to thank our community of businesses here and everyone who has made these next phases possible.”

Phases 7 and 8 are due for completion in the summer this year, phase 9 in early autumn and phase 10 in early 2025. Two units remain available to rent or buy and are being marketed by local agents Pygott & Crone and Lambert Smith Hampton.

All contractors working on the site are East Midlands-based and include CM Civils, a Lincoln-based civil engineering company which has delivered the groundworks.

Subject to planning, there is scope for further expansion at Lincoln Enterprise Park.

Crown Estates confirms Projekt Renewable support by becoming a patron

Stuart Pearcey
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Crown Estates confirms Projekt Renewable support by becoming a patron

The Crown Estate has officially registered its support for Grimsby’s Projekt Renewable by becoming a patron.

With a £50,000 investment now committed to further expand Grimsby’s Alexandra Dock-based Projekt Renewable, Director Richard Askam said: “Ever since I first floated the idea of Projekt Renewable to The Crown Estate, they have been so supportive of the logic and drive that lies behind what we are doing. To have The Crown Estate come onboard in 2024 as a #projektpatron and take a space at Projekt which is being designed to further everyone’s knowledge of marine conservation is just brilliant.”

Chelsea Bradbury, Senior Marine Data and Insights Manager with The Crown Estate, added: “We’re thrilled to build on our prior support of Projekt Renewable Grimsby with a financial investment, giving us a physical presence in the local community.

“Through this partnership, we want to make sure everybody in Grimsby and beyond is proud of what’s on their doorstep by showcasing the activity taking place on the seabed to reach net zero and the amazing work being done to protect and enhance nature and marine habitats.

“Potentially even inspiring more people to look at careers in this space. As an offshore wind hub, Grimsby is the perfect location to spark people’s imagination and curiosity, and we’re excited to work with the local community to understand what they would most like to know and learn about this industry.”

The Crown Estate manages land, the seabed and much of the coastline around England, Wales and Northern Ireland on behalf of the nation, creating long-term value for the country. It is focused on supporting the UK’s energy transition and improving energy security alongside stewarding the protection and restoration of nature. One of the ways it does this is by sustainably developing the seabed to support green, renewable energy industries, such as offshore wind. This partnership provides an exciting opportunity to connect people in Grimsby more closely with its role as manager of the seabed.

An aspirational beacon for Grimsby and beyond, Projekt Renewable was always built with the view to extend and evolve to suit the demands of both the local community and the renewable champions operating within the area. To have The Crown Estate officially join its trio of boxes is an incredibly proud moment for the entire Projekt team.

Grade II listed Kitson House sold breathing new life into the building

Tess Egginton
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Grade II listed Kitson House sold breathing new life into the building

Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has sold Kitson House, an iconic Grade II listed country house forming part of the Elmete Hall site, to Industruct Limited.

Situated in Roundhay along with the neighbouring Nicholson House, an affluent and diverse northern suburb of Leeds, the 5,700 sq ft property borders Roundhay Park, one of the largest city parks in Europe attracting nearly one million visitors each year.

The historic building has seen extensive redevelopment over the years, whilst maintaining many of the original period features including the peacock cupola dome lighting and cast-iron circular staircase in the main hall.

The adjacent Nicholson House (6,996 sq ft) is still available for sale. Both properties are currently utilised as offices, offering versatile potential for redevelopment across various sectors subject to planning.

Matt Procter, Surveyor at Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “We are delighted to have found a new owner for this historic site in the heart of Roundhay.

“The sale of Kitson House underscored the appeal of heritage properties in desirable locations, and we look forward to seeing the property’s continued revitalisation along with the potential offered by the neighbouring Nicholson House.”

York Handmade plays key role in London development

Tess Egginton
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York Handmade plays key role in London development
York Handmade Brick Company has completed one of the largest and most prestigious contracts in its 36-year history. York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, has supplied 300,000 specially manufactured bricks for a state-of-the-art 16-storey apartment building at the rear of Kings Cross Station in central London. The significant contract was worth £150,000 to York Handmade. This residential development, called Cadence, is only one mile from the City of London and comprises 103 one, two and three-bed apartments. All have been sold. Alison Brooks of London-based Alison Brooks Architects, who designed Cadence, praised York Handmade for “the colour, texture and format of the bricks” adding “we couldn’t have asked for a better union of architectural concept and façade material.” David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, said: “We are both proud and humbled to have played such a pivotal role in the appearance and construction of one of London’s most important recent residential developments. This is a flagship project which has reshaped the skyscape of the Kings Cross area. “We are also honoured that our bricks have been recognized as integral to the design of Cadence. This stunning building is a tremendous example of the beauty and versatility of brick, which remains the building material of choice for many forward-thinking architects and developers.” He added: “The skill of the design, combined with the art of the hand-thrown brick and the vibrant colour brickwork on the 16-storey masonry reaching up into the sky, high above London, make this a unique job.” Alison Brooks explained that brick was central to this development, saying: “We were looking for a brick to achieve our design intention of a monolithic, sculptural building form expressed in a vibrant orange-red hue, like the colour of nearby St. Pancras Station. We were also looking for a long-format brick, like the long bricks of ancient Roman buildings. We were delighted to find the York Handmade bricks that fulfilled all three of these criteria. “We found York Handmade’s response time to our queries was very quick and always helpful. We understand the relationship was very good between York Handmade and the main contractor Laing O’Ruorke, who with Vetter, cut and laid all the facade brickwork as a prefabricated system. “York Handmade’s bricks have become the emblem of our exuberant King’s Cross landmark tower. It’s wonderful to see the colour of the brick change at different times of day, from a vibrant orange to a soft ochre. The radiant arches make everyone smile.” David Armitage added: “In a wider context, the completion of this stunning development marks over a decade of York Handmade Brick’s involvement in reshaping the look of England’s capital city. During the past 14 years we have provided the bricks for some of London’s most stunning new buildings. “Apart from Cadence, we have successfully completed commissions for Lancer Square, an iconic multi-million pound mixed-used development close to Kensington Place, the iconic Shard, London Bridge Station, London Bridge Place, Highgate School, Carmelite House on the Victoria Embankment, the redeveloped Highbury Stadium and One Molyneux Street in Marylebone. “We are extremely proud to have played a key role in the reshaping of modern London over the past 10 years. It is wonderful to have a little bit of Yorkshire in the heart of the capital. These high-profile, award-winning commissions we have completed in London have led to new prestigious projects this year in Mayfair and elsewhere in the capital, which will further strengthen our position as the independent brick supplier of choice for London architects and developers.”

Paul brings together experts to support efforts with workplace mental health

Stuart Pearcey
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Paul brings together experts to support efforts with workplace mental health

Former trawlerman Paul Longley who set up his own consultancy to turn the tide on mental health issues in the workplace has put together a team of experts to help employers communicate with colleagues.

Paul Longley, who spent 32 years in the fishing and food industries before being made redundant in 2019, has recruited Scott Clark and Leon McQuade, co-founders of tech and cyber security specialist Think Cloud, as partners in Think GiANT. The directors of the new business, which is based in The Deep Business Centre, also include Christina Colmer-McHugh, a mental health advocate and inventor and founder of the Moodbeam real-time happiness surveying tool. Paul, a former employee of Andy’s Man Club who set up his own mental health first aid training company in 2020, said: “I left school with no qualifications at all and my first job was on the trawlers, following in my dad’s footsteps. I later moved into fish processing but when I was made redundant I took the opportunity to go to college and train up in mental health first aid. “I’d been struggling with my own mental health for over 20 years. Thanks to attending Andy’s Man Club, those overwhelming weeks and months have turned into difficult hours and minutes that I now have the tools to manage, and that enabled me to set up Think Mental Health. “Through that, I have worked with businesses in 23 countries which between them employ about 250,000 people. Speaking to the leaders and the managers of those companies, I find they all have a passion to support their employees but sometimes they don’t know how to do that. I spotted a gap in communication, and I knew the GiANT toolkit could massively help with that.”

Small firms to be offered free advice at HR workshops

Stuart Pearcey
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Small firms to be offered free advice at HR workshops

Invest East Yorkshire and Invest Hull are jointly staging a series of free HR workshops to support small business owners.

The free workshops have been developed to enable small business owners to maximise their efficiency and effectiveness when managing people so that they can harness the full potential of their workforce, ensuring that they’re better positioned for sustainable growth and success. Course leader Helen said: “We know that human resources and dealing with people challenges can often fall to the bottom of the to-do list for time-poor small business owners. It’s just one of many different roles that they have to fulfil. However, it’s well worth devoting time to making sure you fully understand what’s required of you and have appropriate and effective policies and procedures in place. Dealing with people issues in the right way will help protect you and your business, legally and reputationally. “These free workshops are a great opportunity to boost your knowledge, and pick up some useful tips and insights. Don’t miss this chance to transform your approach to human resource management; register now for these empowering workshops and take a confident step towards success!” Taking place over the coming weeks, the workshops will cover a range of useful topics, including how to recruit with confidence; methods for managing sickness and absence; and performance management strategies. They will be held online and in person at venues across East Yorkshire, with the first one taking place at Brough Business Centre on Thursday 7th March, from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

Sheffield’s still the real ale capital of the world as brewing industry drives tourism, says report

Stuart Pearcey
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Sheffield’s still the real ale capital of the world as brewing industry drives tourism, says report
A new report has found the brewing scene in Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority area is bucking the national trend for closures, despite the challenges of Covid and the cost-of-living crisis. The region is now home to 58 breweries, more per head of population than anywhere else in the country, producing around 1,800 different beers every year according to a new report by the University of Sheffield. A strong culture of traditional pubs that “feel different” to elsewhere in the country, and which see over 600 different beers being served every day on its bars, means Sheffield is experiencing a beer tourism boom, the report found. Dozens of events, from the Sheffield Folk Sessions Festival, to the Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival, are taking advantage of, and supporting, this pub culture. Breweries are also helping to regenerate run-down areas, often being the forerunners of other indie and like-minded businesses that turn an area into the next hip hot-spot. First conducted in 2016, the new report has once again been written by award-winning beer writer Pete Brown, who was born and raised in Barnsley. The report surveyed breweries across Sheffield and the wider region about the state of the industry in the area. Key findings included: Sheffield is home to four breweries per 100,000 head of population, while the broader Mayoral Combined Authority has three. Either measure is many times higher than cities such as Edinburgh (1.1), Manchester (0.2), London (0.4) or Dublin (0.6), which are often cited in surveys of the best beer cities in the world that use high numbers of breweries per capita. Brewers across the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority produce a total of around 1,800 different beers every year, with around 780 of those being brewed in the city of Sheffield itself. Almost 70 per cent of the beer brewed by local brewers is drunk within the local region. The report also found 70 per cent of cask ale brands sold in the city of Sheffield are brewed within 20 miles of the city centre. Approximately 300 different real ales are on sale in Sheffield every day, with around the same number of craft keg beers also available. The city and region’s breweries and pubs are still predominantly cask (real) ale focused, again bucking a national decline which has seen sales volumes half in the last decade, but a wider variety of beers can now be found than in 2016. With cask beer being almost exclusively a British product, Sheffield can again claim to be the real ale capital of the world. The Visit Sheffield website lists 362 beer attractions – second only to the outdoors, which has been Sheffield Tourism’s key priority in recent years. Report author Pete Brown said: “Sheffield’s prowess as a beer city won’t come as a surprise to anyone who drinks here. But it’s fascinating that when you do the research and generate the numbers, the claim of being one of the best beer cities in the world really stands up. Sheffield is having a bit of a moment just now, punching massively above its weight, culturally. And its brewing scene is the glue that holds that culture together.” But the report also notes that while breweries in the region have been resilient and adaptable thus far, they are in “survival mode”, with no capacity to expand. In 2016, two-thirds of the breweries surveyed said that they were planning significant expansion over the next twelve months; today that figure has dropped to around one in five. There is also a lack of support from local authorities which means that while Sheffield in many ways out-performs its brewing rivals, it could do even better with more active, broader involvement and promotion. Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City Culture and Public Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said: “Sheffield has always been a city of makers and what makes the report’s findings really interesting is the added value this industry of modern-day little mesters are bringing to the region. They are not just brewing beer; they are providing a huge tourism pull for people from far afield, while also regenerating neighbourhoods in organic, unplanned ways. “To anyone living in Sheffield and visiting its pubs, it will come as no surprise that this new report has reaffirmed what we discovered in 2016; that Sheffield really can lay claim to being the ‘real ale capital of the world’.”
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