Egg production under threat because there’s no money in it, farmers tell NFU

Stuart Pearcey
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Egg production under threat because there’s no money in it, farmers tell NFU
One in four egg producers is considering pulling out of the business because they can’t make a profit – and the same’s true for 15% of broiler producers, they’ve told the NFU in a survey. They say the future of many businesses within the sector remain in the balance without greater government support and supply chain reform. The NFU’s Poultry Intentions Survey polled members throughout November 2023 on the impact of the past two years on poultry production and farmers’ intentions for the next two years.
It found that almost a quarter of egg producers and 15% of broiler producers were either unlikely or unsure if they would still be producing poultry beyond November next year. The main reason cited for this was a lack of profit. The survey also highlighted some of the key concerns for both sectors, including:
  • The risk of AI (avian influenza)
  • The lack of fairness in the supply chain
  • High energy prices
  • Being undercut by imports
The NFU is calling for greater fairness in poultry supply chains, for poultry producers to be included in the Energy Intensive Industries Scheme, and for a long term strategy from government to be set ahead of any future outbreaks of AI. NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead said: “The sector urgently needs support, certainty and fairness across the supply chain if it is to remain strong in its production of quality, safe, nutritious and sustainably produced poultry meat and eggs.”
The NFU has responded to Defra’s current supply chain review on the UK egg industry, which hopes to end unfair practices in the sector, and calls for a fairer share of risk and reward across the supply chain. Despite the current low numbers of AI outbreaks across the UK in comparison to 2023, the results of the NFU’s latest survey still show that the threat of the disease still continues to impact the sector.
Both the egg and poultry meat sectors are holding back on investing in their businesses, according to the survey. The work found that a third (31%) of broiler producers had no plans to invest in their business during the next two years, while 29% of laying hen producers had not invested for the past two years and 33% had no plans to invest going forward. Those that have invested have done so by supporting staff wages, training and improved equipment. Insufficient returns were blamed by the majority of producers as the reason for remaining cautious. Rising input costs were a problem, with energy prices (46%) and feed prices (28%) being of major concern to poultry producers.

Inflation holds steady at 4%

Tess Egginton
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Inflation holds steady at 4%
Annualised inflation remained at 4% in January, unchanged from December despite a forecasted rise. Measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted this was influenced by higher gas and electricity charges, while inflation kept at 4% due to a downward contribution from furniture and household goods, and food and non-alcoholic beverages. Meanwhile, core inflation, which takes out volatile factors like energy, food, alcohol and tobacco to give a clear picture of underlying trends, came in at 5.1% in the 12 months to January 2024, also the same as December. Alpesh Paleja, CBI lead economist, said: “No movement in inflation over January is not entirely a surprise, due to base effects and a small rise in Ofgem’s energy price cap coming into effect. “We may see a few more bumps in the road over the coming months, but the broad direction of travel with inflation is encouraging, having fallen considerably from its double-digit highs 15 months ago. “The Bank of England seems to share this view, though will want to see more definitive signs that domestic price pressures are continuing to soften. But with monetary policy now believed to be doing the trick, it’s increasingly a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ interest rates will be cut.”

Solutions engineer joins virtualDCS after Yorkshire cloud technology firms join forces

Tess Egginton
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Solutions engineer joins virtualDCS after Yorkshire cloud technology firms join forces

Jason Fenwick has joined virtualDCS as a solutions engineer as a result of the disaster recovery specialist now hosting cloud technology firm, Vapour’s Veeam backups on behalf of its customers, after the two Yorkshire-based companies entered into a new partnership to bring unprecedented scale, flexibility, and security to clients’ data management.

As well as having a strong knowledge of the company’s client base, Jason knows Vapour’s platforms inside-out, meaning his appointment will ensure service continuity and an excellent end-user experience for the firm’s customers.

In addition, virtualDCS has appointed Tom Best as a technical support apprentice. Tom will work alongside Jason and the wider virtualDCS team, handling support queries and helping to manage virtualDCS’s CloudCover backup and disaster recovery services.

Jason Newell, channel director from virtualDCS, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Jason and Tom to the team. Jason’s understanding of Vapour’s system and customers made him the perfect person to manage and oversee the transition, and we’re delighted that he’ll continue to be their key point of contact moving forward.”

Major work under way to renovate Keighley’s Sangat Centre

Tess Egginton
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Major work under way to renovate Keighley’s Sangat Centre
Major work is ongoing to renovate a long-standing community organisation in Keighley, after almost a quarter of a million pounds worth of funding. The Sangat Centre received £230,000 from the government-funded Keighley Towns Fund for essential refurbishments to its Marlborough Street premises and work has been ongoing since Summer last year. The centre has been based in the old Victorian building for more than 20 years and the venue was in urgent need of modernisation. Structural work has already been undertaken including the replacement of a section of the roof, the installation of a new floor as well as a new heating system. Riasat Ali, Sangat Centre Manager, said: “The electrics are currently being upgraded and work has now started on the installation of the new mezzanine level and refurbishment of the toilets. “Previously, the building needed constant repairs and we were continually having to patch up leaks such as water pouring through the roof, as well as dealing with ongoing heating, boiler and electrical issues. We are so grateful for the funding which means we can do the work at once, instead of piecemeal and we’ve been using local tradespeople, to put the money back into the area.” The redevelopment will enable the association to continue to offer social day care, adult education activities, youth activities, holiday play schemes and other services to the hundreds of people it sees each week. Liz Barker, Acting Chair of the Keighley Towns Fund board, said: “Keighley residents deserve a building that reflects the character of the local community – a building which works well and which people can be proud of for years to come. “This renovation means the Sangat Centre can function more efficiently and effectively for the people it serves. Supporting the community in this way is a vital part of the work of the Keighley Towns Fund.” Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, said: “Money from the Keighley Towns Fund means the Sangat Centre will be modernised so it’s energy efficient, meets the digital and online needs of service users and means it can provide an accessible, practical environment for an extensive range of crucial community services.” The Sangat Centre has also received £140,000 of match funding towards the refurbishment from the Community Ownership Fund.

Nuclear industry launches recruitment campaign to fill critical skills gaps

Stuart Pearcey
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Nuclear industry launches recruitment campaign to fill critical skills gaps
The UK’s nuclear sector is launching its first sector-wide initiative to attract and recruit people over the next two decades, as it enters a new era of government-backed expansion. The Destination Nuclear campaign brings together government, sector organisation, suppliers and education institutions – including the the Nuclear AMRC at Rotherham –  with the shared aim of attracting and recruiting more people into the industry to help fill critical skills gaps. The UK’s nuclear sector is growing, with the civil and defence nuclear workforce forecast to double over the next 20 years – supporting around 80,000 additional skilled jobs across the UK. Growth is driven by the government’s ambition for nuclear power to generate a quarter of the UK’s electricity by 2050 as part of the national decarbonisation programme, as well as the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership. Andrew Bowie, Minister for Nuclear, said: “To meet our ambitions, we need to rapidly ramp up recruitment in the sector, making sure we have enough people from engineers to welders to design and build new nuclear. Nuclear has fantastic career opportunities, and we want people of all ages to consider joining a key industry of the future.” The campaign will target those considering a career change with transferrable skills, as well as supporting a commitment to apprenticeships and graduate schemes and increasing the opportunity for PhD students. The campaign will also benefit national and regional employment, as well as supporting broader equality, diversity, inclusion and social mobility goals through reaching a much broader audience. Lynne Matthews, head of Destination Nuclear, said: “Destination Nuclear has provided a focal point where the sector has come really come together to deliver this vital campaign programme. To deliver our nuclear ambition, we need to significantly grow the workforce. Many potential candidates may have not considered nuclear as a career. Destination Nuclear will help show the wealth of opportunities the sector has to offer and help a broader range of people explore and venture into a career that is challenging, rewarding and sustainable.”

North Yorkshire ground protection products supplier snapped up

Tess Egginton
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North Yorkshire ground protection products supplier snapped up
Origin UK Operations Ltd, part of Ireland-based Origin Enterprises PLC, has acquired North Yorkshire ground protection products supplier, Groundtrax Systems as part of its diversification strategy and to increase the range of services it offers to its agricultural and groundworks customers. Groundtrax Systems was founded in 2011 by Simon Adams and provides a range of permanent and temporary ground protection and ground reinforcement systems for applications such as pedestrian access, roads, car parks, storage areas and commercial sites with the capabilities to support heavy goods vehicles and construction plant equipment. With its storage and distribution facility based in Ripley, Harrogate in North Yorkshire, the business has experienced strong growth in recent years. Led by Simon and supported by director Laura Tyrrell and sales manager David Marsh, Groundtrax Systems has built a UK-wide customer base of high-profile organisations that operate in the construction, hospitality and transport sectors, amongst others. As a result of the acquisition, Groundtrax Systems will be integrated into Origin Enterprises PLC as it diversifies its presence in the amenity, environmental and ecological markets. Dublin-based Origin Enterprises provides a range of agricultural advice, services and products to arable, fruit, vegetable growers amenity and landscaping professionals in the UK, Europe and Brazil. It also operates amenity, environmental and ecology services, providing a diverse range of consultancy and technical solutions in areas such as sports turf management, landscaping and environmental conservation. Groundtrax Systems will join a portfolio of nine businesses already operating within Origin’s amenity, environmental and ecology service line. Following the completion of the transaction, Simon will remain with the business to support Origin’s plans to accelerate Groundtrax’s growth and assist with integration into the wider group operations. Advising Simon, who was 100% shareholder of Groundtrax Systems, was North-East based RG Corporate Finance (RGCF), led by corporate finance partner Nick Johnson, CF manager Adam Tindale and CF executive Max Woodhouse. Tax due diligence was provided by RG’s director of taxation services, Simon Hopwood and corporate tax partner Simon Whiteside, with financial accounting support provided by BFE Brays, led by partner Laurence Bentley and senior Jamie King. Legal advice to Groundtrax was provided by Leeds-based LCF, led by head of corporate, Susan Clarke, corporate law solicitor Brad Stewart, and trainee solicitor, Sara Coleman. Origin UK Operations received advice and due diligence support from KPMG with a team including associate director Domhnaill Drumm, manager, Conall McNally and partner Gavin Sheehan. Tax due diligence undertaken by Sara Hamill, tax partner and Helen Morgan, associate director at KPMG. Legal advice was provided to Origin UK Operations by in house counsel, Aaron Vickery, along with Boyes Turner led by Pearse Connery. Simon Adams, founder of Groundtrax Systems Ltd, said: “I am exceptionally proud of what we’ve built at Groundtrax Systems with a prestigious portfolio of customers and a reputation for quality and service. “As part of Origin, the business will experience the next stage of its growth, benefiting from the strong presence the group has in a diverse range of industries, supplementing where we already operate. I’m excited to support the Origin team as we integrate into the group and deliver new opportunities for the business.” Chris Clark, Managing Director of Origin Amenity, said: “Groundtrax Systems is a welcome addition to our amenity and landscaping operations as we accelerate the diversification of the group beyond our core agricultural business. “There are strong synergies with our existing amenity businesses and its products and distribution capabilities will add value to our expanding offering to our key sector client base.” Nick Johnson, partner at RGCF, said: “Simon, Laura and David have created a brilliant business, which has an exciting future ahead of it as part of Origin. Groundtrax has an exceptional reputation for quality of product and service, and the potential market for its products is huge. “It is a great fit for Origin and the transaction will provide a springboard for further growth and expansion, and the opportunity to benefit from access to the existing Origin customer portfolio.”

Grant for labelling machine more than doubles chocolate factory’s daily output

Stuart Pearcey
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0
Grant for labelling machine more than doubles chocolate factory’s daily output
York-based Choc Affair has bought a high-tech labelling machine funded through a £20k grant from Made Smarter via the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub. The new machine has increased production capacity at the company from 600k bars a day to 1.5m. Before the investment Choc Affair could label only 600k bars per year, which limited their growth potential. Recognising the need for more efficiency, MD Julian Barrie attended the first York Manufacturing Roundtable event in March 2023, where he met Mike Pennington, Business Relationship Manager at the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub. After a referral from Mike, Julian completed a Made Smarter digital roadmap with Neil Harriman, Digital Manufacturing Advisor for Made Smarter. This helped to map out Choc Affair’s journey to a smart and efficient future. Following the roadmap, Choc Affair secured funding through Made Smarter to acquire a new labelling machine. This upped their capacity to a staggering 1.5 million bars daily. The improvement translates to faster turnaround times, reduced costs, and enhanced competitiveness without the need to hire staff. Julian said: “The process with Made Smarter was really easy. “The support and financial assistance have been invaluable. We’re excited to scale up our business and secure our future thanks to this investment.” Mike Pennington added: “It’s inspiring to see this York chocolatier flourish with Made Smarter support. This is a perfect example of how digital transformation empowers local businesses to compete and thrive in today’s market.”

Top chefs say restaurants have a vital role in boosting North Yorkshire’s visitor economy

Stuart Pearcey
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Top chefs say restaurants have a vital role in boosting North Yorkshire’s visitor economy

Leading chefs have spoken of the importance of North Yorkshire’s hotels and restaurants in helping to boost the county’s £1.5 billion a year visitor economy.

With the Good Food Guide having declared Helmsley and the Howardian Hills, between the Yorkshire Wolds, the North York Moors National Park, and the Vale of York, as the ‘Most Exciting Food Destination’ for 2024.

The owner of the Michelin-starred Star Inn at Harome, Andrew Pern, said: “Having so many exceptional pubs, restaurants and all-round eateries in our area is great for our local economy. “One Michelin-starred restaurant might be worth a day out, but three is worthy of a few nights away, with time to visit attractions such as Castle Howard or Rievaulx Abbey, for example.

“Visitors from outside the area bring in money that allows us to employ people from the area, support suppliers and use local tradespeople in this lovely part of the world.”

Tommy Banks, who runs the Michelin-starred Black Swan at Oldstead, Abbey Inn at Byland and Roots in York, accepted the award along with Howardian Hills National Landscape manager, Ellie Hook.

He said: “I have always been very proud that people come from all over the world to visit our beautiful pocket of North Yorkshire. “In recent times the food scene has really evolved and now you are spoilt for choice for great award-winning pubs and restaurants in the area.”

The hospitality sector is seen as a key element of a new plan that is being drawn up to entice more visitors to the county. North Yorkshire Council’s Executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman said restaurants and the businesses they supported were crucial in growing the county’s economy.

“When people eat at any of our restaurants and cafes they are not only supporting that location, but a wide range of other businesses across North Yorkshire as well, thereby securing jobs and ensuring future investment,” he said.

Yorkshire Building Society appoints Chief Risk Officer

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire Building Society appoints Chief Risk Officer
Yorkshire Building Society has appointed Richard Bowles as Chief Risk Officer to lead its compliance, risk and legal teams, ensuring the Society continues to be a well-governed home for members’ savings and mortgages. Richard joins from Coventry Building Society, where he was Chief Risk Officer. His career in financial services spans 20 years, having worked in various risk roles at many of the major banks, including Lloyds, TSB and Barclays. The appointment comes as Richard Wells, who has been with the Society since 2010, prepares to retire in the spring. Richard Bowles’ appointment is subject to regulatory approval. Susan Allen, chief exec at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Richard to the organisation. He is a forward-thinking and commercially-focused Chief Risk Officer, with broad experience and a proven track record for delivering major transformation. “At a time when our risk function is looking to develop and deliver major change, his knowledge and experience will be invaluable to ensuring the next chapter of our success Richard Bowles said: “Living in Yorkshire and having worked in financial services all my professional life, I’ve always taken a keen interest in the successes of Yorkshire Building Society, an organisation with a strong brand and heritage. “I’m looking forward to driving the organisation’s risk strategy and playing a key role in continuing to provide a top-class function for our colleagues and customers.”

Government plans to abolish ‘tiresome bureaucracy’ to create new homes faster

Stuart Pearcey
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Government plans to abolish ‘tiresome bureaucracy’ to create new homes faster
The government wants to help property developers to overcome what it calls ‘tiresome bureaucracy’ by slashing red tape that stops derelict sites and unused buildings being turned into new homes. Legislation laid in Parliament today will extend current permitted development rights, so that commercial buildings of any size will have the freedom to be converted into new homes – this means shops, offices, and other buildings all quickly repurposed, resulting in thousands of quality new homes by 2030. The announcement is part of a major shake-up to planning rules to boost housebuilding while protecting the Green Belt. As part of its long-term plan for housing, the government has announced today that every council in England will be told that they will need to prioritise brownfield developments and instructed to be less bureaucratic and more flexible in applying policies that halt housebuilding on brownfield land. The bar for refusing brownfield plans will also be made much higher for those big city councils who are failing to hit their locally agreed housebuilding targets. Planning authorities in England’s 20 largest cities and towns will be made to follow a ‘brownfield presumption’, if housebuilding drops below expected levels. This will make it easier to get permission to build on previously developed brownfield sites, helping more young families to find a home. A consultation on these proposals launched today and will run until Tuesday 26 March, and the government will look to implement these changes to national planning policy as soon as possible. The government plans to introduce these changes in London as a result of poor housing delivery in the capital, putting rocket boosters under brownfield regeneration projects. Millions of homeowners will also be empowered to extend their homes outwards and upwards, as the government is today launching a consultation on proposals that would see more new extensions or large loft conversions freed from the arduous process of receiving planning permission. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “We pledged to build the right homes in the right places – protecting our precious countryside and building more in urban areas where demand is highest. Today’s package is us delivering on that.

“We are sticking to our plan and are on track to meet our commitment to deliver one million homes over the course of this Parliament, and the changes announced today will deliver the right mix of homes across England.”

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