SMEs get strong voice on Government’s Small Business Council
The membership of the new Small Business Council was unveiled ahead of its first meeting, as the Government reaffirms its commitment to the UK’s 5.6m SMEs. Chaired by Small Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake, the Council will work alongside the Prime Minister’s Business Council to tackle the key issues facing small firms who will be given new levels of access direct to government.
Almost every business in the country is a small business (99.9%) who in turn support 27 million jobs across the UK, accounting for £4.5 trillion of annual turnover. Almost every billion-pound company, tech giant or multinational corporation started off as small business, which is why this Council has been formed, to help support and nurture the next generation of small firms to thrive and grow.
Tina McKenzie said: “This new council is important because it will bring what’s happening at the front line of British business, from our 5.5 million small business owners, right into the heart of Government.
“Alongside No.10’s existing corporate Business Council, the new body will shine a light on the unique challenges small firms face on areas such as finance, regulation and skills. FSB is pleased to join it, and we hope to focus on how to reignite economic growth across our community.
Small Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “Small firms are at the heart of our communities and the engine of our economy – which is why the work of this council is so important. My own experience of working in a small business has given me crucial insights to the problems that SMEs face on a daily basis, from barriers to growth or access to finance.
“We’re giving small firms a big voice, so they can directly air their concerns to government without delay – only when we work together can we tackle some of the burning issues SMEs are facing – only then can we help boost jobs and grow the economy.”
Lighting contractor completes 89,000 streetlight bulb swaps in Leeds
Leeds City Council’s street lighting partner Enerveo, working as a subcontractor to Tay Valley Lighting, has completed a £22.5m streetlight bulb swap project that began in 2018 and involved changing 89,000 bulbs.
The company has installed LEDs, which is expected to yield annual savings of about £3.4 million in electricity costs at current energy prices. Additionally, the conversion to LED lighting is projected to reduce street lighting energy consumption by about 62%, resulting in 7,050 tonnes of carbon savings, with savings already being made throughout the lamp replacement.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, attended the installation of the final LED light on Edith Sykes Drive in east Leeds this week, marking the conclusion of the project. Councillor Hayden said: “The completion of the LED Lighting Scheme represents a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in Leeds. This investment will deliver immediate cost savings and lay the groundwork for future advancements in smart technology”
Tom Cunningham, Tay Valley Lighting (Leeds) Director, said: “This investment has provided many benefits, including local employment opportunities during the period, reducing energy consumption and maintenance activities, resulting in significant cost savings to Leeds City Council and carbon reduction impact from the project”.
ABP appoints its first-ever Capital Projects Director
Port operator ABP has appointed Francis Paonessa to a newly-created role of Capital Projects Director to strengthen focus on growth and delivery of its pipeline of strategic developments.
He’ll be overseeing a number of major projects including the Immingham Eastern RoRo Terminal to significantly expand UK-EU freight ferry capacity and the same port’s Green Energy Terminal for the handling of green hydrogen, ammonia and sequestrated carbon.
Mr Paonessa will be part of the senior Executive Team and report directly to the Henrik L. Pedersen, ABP’s CEO. The role will also assume responsibility for the corporate Engineering function, allowing the Capital Projects Director to have an end-to-end focus on engineering strategy and assurance.
Francis will join ABP in April from Thames Water, where he has led a portfolio of projects with an annual investment of up to £1bn per year. Before that he was MD of Infrastructure Projects at Network Rail, where he headed up the UK’s largest portfolio of capital projects.
Mr Pedersen said: “ABP has an exciting pipeline of transformative and complex major projects to substantially expand both our trade handling and green energy enabling activities. The time is right to create a new role at the Executive Team level of the company, bringing focus and experience to what will be key growth engines for ABP. I’m delighted that Francis Paonessa has decided to join us on our growth journey. Francis brings deep expertise in strategic project delivery across a number of highly relevant infrastructure sectors.”
Mr Paonessa said: “I’m excited to be joining ABP and working with the team to make a whole portfolio of significant projects a reality. I’ve been really impressed by the vision and ambition ABP has to grow, not only in their core role of providing the UK’s main gateways for trade, but also through their rapidly expanding role as providers and enablers of infrastructure for the UK’s energy transition. It’s a great time to involved and I can’t wait to get started.”
ABP is a consistent investor in its ports and associated assets. This investment – around £750 million in the last five years – has been maintained despite challenges such as the Pandemic and global supply chain disruption.
Parliamentarians visit British Steel at Scunthorpe
In two separate visits Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, to British Steel, and Sarah Jones, Shadow Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation, have visited British Steel at Scunthorpe.
Both toured the site and discussed decarbonisation plans.
British Steel says that whilst decarbonisation is a major challenge for the business, it remains committed to transforming itself into a green and sustainable company, believing electrification will provide a rapid and sustainable solution to the decarbonisation challenge in addition to providing support for sustainable employment.
Owners Jingye have already invested £330m in British Steel in less than four years and say they are committed to the unprecedented investment decarbonisation requires.
Levelling Up Funding supports £2m Hammonds of Hull refurb
Almost £2 million of private capital is to be invested into the former Hammonds of Hull building as part of an extensive transformation.
Redefine Paragon Square Hull Limited’s project is being supported by Levelling Up Funding (LUF) and has been awarded £315,000 for the refurbishment of 1 Paragon Square.
The grant has come from LUF monies given to Hull City Council for city centre regeneration by the government’s Department of Levelling Up, Housing, Communities.
The application is to facilitate the repurposing of the basement, third and fourth floors of the building to allow for a mix of additional office space and event space.
The total project cost is estimated around £2,233,161, meaning over £1.91 million of private capital is to be invested by the applicant.
Refurbishment of 1 Paragon Square will bring back into use 3,340.9 sqm of vacant and unused floor space.
Part of the plans also include a rooftop terrace for tenant use.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at the council, said: “This is a significant investment into one of the most iconic buildings in Hull city centre.
“We have already seen the success of ResQ in the former Hammonds of Hull building, thanks to support from LUF.
“However, there is still so much potential to unlock and this latest LUF grant, along with almost £2 million of private investment, will help to do that.”
Construction consultancy hires experienced MD to help it grow into a ‘Northern Powerhouse’
The new Managing Director of a construction consultancy has vowed to help keep the firm “punching above its weight.”
With decades of industry experience, James Redmayne has joined Zinc Consult after being won over by the firm’s ambition and workplace culture.
Launched almost a decade ago by former Network Rail colleagues Michael Phillips and Jonathan Blenkey, Zinc Consult provides a range of consultancy services with a specialist focus on the rail sector.
During the past ten years, the Leeds-based firm has expanded its footprint by establishing itself as a northern powerhouse in the industry – with bases in Glasgow, Birmingham and Teesside.
Having joined following an 11 year stint leading the regional rail team for the global consultancy Arcadis, James is confident he can tap into his vast experience to continue Zinc Consult’s rapid growth.
“I’ve known and worked with Zinc Consult for over five years, and over that time I’ve developed a deep trust and respect for the owners and management team, which made joining an easy decision,” said James, who has previously worked in major projects for the likes of Network Rail, London Underground and the National Grid.
“I know the firm’s strengths and I’ve been incredibly impressed with the refreshing workplace culture – everyone within the business has a voice and is listened to.
“This business wants to succeed, and it wants the staff to succeed. My aim is to strengthen the foundations so we can explore new areas and opportunities to do just that.
“One of our biggest strengths is that our size…means we can be more agile and flexible towards our customers’ needs, which some of the bigger firms can’t match. But at the same time, Zinc Consult keeps punching above its weight, and I’m thrilled to be in a role that will help the company continue to do so.”
Having spent 28 years as a quantity surveyor, James has worked his way into senior management positions from the bottom-up, having started as a junior. By the age of 35 he was an associate director and sought out the MD role in order to help “grow himself” as a leader.
According to Zinc Consult’s co-founder Jonathan Blenkey, the addition of James to the leadership team is “a real coup.”
“James has brought with him decades of invaluable experience and he’s already made some incredibly positive improvements to the business,” he said.
Co-founder Michael Philips added: “We are all delighted that James has joined Zinc Consult, and we expect him to play a vital role in our continued growth.
“Our business is built around delivering a quality service on time and to budget, and we know James will help to maintain those core values.”
70,000 green jobs to be created across West Yorkshire by 2050
Tens of thousands of people will be employed in well-paid and secure jobs in the green sector across West Yorkshire by the middle of the century, according to research.
Data from the Local Government Association has found that over 70,000 green jobs will be created across the region by 2050, as West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin launches a new green skills action plan, in partnership with businesses and education providers.
The plan, which will be supported with £6.5 million of investment from the Mayor, follows a year-long dialogue with over 300 young people, and is part of the region’s “Green Jobs Taskforce” that launched a series of policy recommendations at an event in Leeds on Wednesday (21 February).
The taskforce – which is made up of public and private sector experts – called on Mayor Brabin to put “green rocket fuel” behind her £65 million Adult Education Budget, through a series of targeted measures to help people secure new green skills, and help businesses employ skilled green workers.
The six-point action plan adopted by the Mayor includes:
- “Inspiring” every young person in the region with free green careers advice, starting with a new pilot scheme to be delivered across 130 primary schools in West Yorkshire.
- “Facilitating” easy access to green skills and job information, with an online showcase called “Go Green” connecting learners and workers with education providers and businesses.
- “Supporting” providers to adapt their curriculum to factor in local green career opportunities.
- “Enabling” businesses to green their processes, save money on energy bills, and attract new talent, with a pilot scheme to help businesses recruit graduates into job vacancies.
- “Embedding” new green skills partnerships, including working with the Leeds College of Building – the UKs only further education college dedicated to construction – to establish a “Regional Retrofit Advisory Board” to address skills gaps and make homes warmer and cheaper.
- “Strengthening” existing green skills partnerships, including working with the Department for Education to develop new technical qualifications that address green skills gaps in the region.
Contractor appointed for major Halifax town centre improvements
Plans to transform travel and public spaces in and around Halifax town centre are moving forward, with Calderdale Council appointing the construction contractor to carry out the works.
The A629 Phase 2 Halifax town centre scheme is an ambitious regeneration project which is fully funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. It will transform public spaces in Halifax, by creating new welcoming spaces, improving accessibility and traffic circulation around the town, and enhancing public transport connectivity.
Following a tender process, the construction company Galliford Try has been appointed to carry out the works. The complex scheme will be split into three parts; western, eastern and central; with work on each section to run separately and consecutively to minimise disruption.
Work will include:
- The pedestrianisation of Market Street and a short length of Northgate
- The creation of a new public space outside Square Chapel and Halifax Central Library
- Additional and upgraded crossing facilities
- New cycle routes and facilities at major junctions and throughout the town
- New bus priority access and new bus stops at Southgate, Ward’s End, Union Street, Church Street, Alfred Street East and Horton Street
- The rerouting of traffic, realignment of junctions and changes to the road layout, including removing the Bull Green roundabout to create a more efficient layout
- The planting of trees and landscaping
Trombone manufacturer acquired by global musical instrument retailer
Trombone manufacturer, Michael Rath Trombones, has been acquired by global musical instrument retailer, John Packer Musical Instruments.
The agreement will see John Packer Musical Instruments look after marketing, distribution, and logistics for the Yorkshire business. Mr Rath and his full team will remain with the business and continue to build and manufacture trombones at their factory in Honley, Huddersfield. The transaction was led by Holden Smith’s corporate team.Rob Kelly, director and head of corporate at Holden Smith, said: “The acquisition of Michael Rath Trombones was a really interesting transaction to work on, not least because of the unique nature of the product!
“Their trombones are found in almost every conceivable musical situation, from symphony orchestras and opera houses to film and television studios around the globe. They are made in Huddersfield, but sold across the world, with the USA being a particularly important market.
“It has been a pleasure for Holden Smith to be able to act on behalf of owners Michael and Nicola Rath through the acquisition by John Packer Musical Instruments, acting for them for every step of the sale of the entire issued share capital of the company.”
Michael Rath said: “We are pleased to have completed the acquisition by John Packer and were expertly supported through the process by Rob Kelly and the team at Holden Smith.”
Vanilla business grows with Towns Fund grant
A specialist business importing Madagascan vanilla based in Keighley has expanded its premises and created three new jobs thanks to a £24,400 grant from the Keighley Towns Fund.
Former chef Graham Bruce founded Vanilla Etc in 2011, after finding it difficult to source high-quality vanilla products in the UK.
The business, based at Oakwood Business Park, Royd Way, currently has six employees, importing Madagascan vanilla, supplying gourmet vanilla beans, powder, seeds and manufacturing vanilla bean paste and vanilla extracts in various strengths.
With the Government-funded grant from the Keighley Towns Fund, the business has purchased equipment which enables them to mill the vanilla beans into powder on site. They have also extended their business premises, by leasing the adjacent unit and fitting it out, including building a new mezzanine floor.
Acting chair of the Keighley Towns Fund, Liz Barker added: “The Keighley Towns Fund is proud to support such a unique and growing Keighley business, with money from the Capital Assistance to Business Growth programme. There is more funding available for other businesses in the area to apply so we’d encourage people to contact us if they think they might benefit.”
Finance sales and technical director at Vanilla Etc, Natalie Madgett said: “Thanks to the invaluable support of the Council’s growth manager, Vanilla Etc Ltd accessed the Keighley Towns Fund Grant, propelling our business expansion plans forward.
“With the grant’s assistance, we’ve expanded our manufacturing capacity to meet the growing demand for our Madagascan Vanilla products, resulting in the creation of three new jobs. We’re committed to contributing to the community, fostering employment opportunities, and showcasing Keighley as a place we’re proud to call home.”
