< Previous10 Business Link www.blmforum.net COMMERCIAL PROPERTY is already seeing transformational developments throughout Yorkshire crop up and make progress, with ambitious new schemes being unveiled, starting on site, and topping out. In Hull, plans have been revealed to create the city’s first purpose-built film production complex. The development features proposals for a 19,700 sq ft soundstage at a currently vacant site on the Priory Park industrial estate. Once operational the soundstage would be used to create indoor film sets. It aims to complement Hull’s growing appeal as an outdoor film location, particularly for period dramas using the Old Town’s historic streets and buildings. With a planning application due to be submitted soon, the development will also include dressing rooms, office space and temporary accommodation for visiting film crews as part of the main building as well as a standalone joinery and fabrication workshop. The project is being spearheaded by independent film production company Northern Films. The proposed soundstage would sit next to the company’s existing studio in Saltmarsh Court on Priory Park. When built, film companies will only be able to hire the facility on condition they agree to take on local people looking at starting a career in the industry. Northern Films director Andrew Fenton said: “Television and film production is a major growth industry in the UK and, for a variety of reasons but mainly cost, companies are increasingly looking for production bases outside of London. We believe we can offer top-quality facilities right here in Hull. We have the perfect location to meet the very specific requirements of the industry and a strong long-standing network of existing businesses in Hull with the sort of skills that are essential in set design and construction. The soundstage will add to what we already have here and the two buildings will be physically linked by a footbridge between the upper floors.” Also in Hull, family business J.R. Rix & Sons Ltd has acquired an 11-acre Ambitious plans accelerate Transformational projects are moving forwards throughout Yorkshire. www.blmforum.net Business Link 11 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 13 Á industrial site on Hedon Road for a seven-figure sum. The company has purchased the site of the city’s former maternity hospital, Kingston Parklands, from commercial developer the Horncastle Group PLC. Initially, the new site has attained temporary planning permission for external storage but is earmarked for future development as an industrial and logistics hub. Mike Fry, director of estates at J.R. Rix & Sons, said the acquisition represented a commitment by the business to ‘build for the future’. He said: “Rix is well known for its petroleum, shipping and leisure home manufacturing businesses, but what is less well known is that the company has significant property interests in Hull. This latest acquisition signals our intent to build on that and provide the type of commercial developments that businesses in the city need to thrive, create jobs, and grow the local economy.” The maternity hospital opened in 1929 and closed its doors for the last time in 2003. The site has since been cleared in preparation for development and was acquired by the Horncastle Group PLC in 2021. Kingston Parklands in Hull Hull’s first purpose-built film production complex Armstrong house Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Superb Location - - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre Secure off street parking High speed internet availability A range of affordable office sizes 3 3 3 3 Last remaining office suites Prime location in Grimsby Offering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House on Armstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports of Grimsby and Immingham, motorway links and the town centre, off-street parking is also available for all staff and visitors, meaning it’s convenient too. Our spacious, welcoming offices are located on the ground floor and are both secure and CCTV-monitored, giving you the ultimate peace of mind. At Armstrong House, when it comes to affordability and with a range of office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. If you require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 per month. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements call 01472 310301.www.blmforum.net Business Link 13 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Meanwhile, in Rotherham, the Forge Island leisure-led scheme is coming to fruition with a ceremony marking the final topping out milestone. The hotel and cinema building structures have now been completed and topped out; a key construction milestone for the flagship town centre project, which is being delivered on schedule in partnership with Rotherham Council, nationwide placemaker Muse and contractor, Bowmer + Kirkland. Set to open to the public towards the end of summer 2024, Forge Island will include an 8-screen boutique cinema, delivered by The Arc, alongside a 69-room Travelodge Hotel. All commercial space has already been let with six independent restaurants confirmed. This will all be set within accessible public spaces, designed by re- form Landscape Architecture. Councillor Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: “It’s just over a year since we broke ground and here we are topping out these amazing buildings with more exciting milestones to come. Forge Island is the single biggest investment in our town centre for decades and it’s successfully transforming a disused retail site into a landmark family-friendly destination we can all enjoy and be proud to have on our doorstep.” Now that the external structures have completed, work will continue on the building facades ahead of the fit out of the food and beverage outlets, hotel and cinema complex in the spring and final works to the new public realm. Finally, in York, GMI Construction Group has broken ground on a £50m student accommodation scheme on the site of a former cinema and bingo hall. Developer Olympian Homes is naming the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) Rialto House, after the cinema that once hosted a performance by The Beatles. Spanning 80,000 sq ft, the four-storey building will provide 275 beds alongside amenities including a gym, yoga studio, games room, co-working spaces, group dining areas, integrated cycle parking, and landscaped courtyards. In a nod to its heritage, it will also feature a cinema. The site of the Rialto Cinema, which opened in 1913 and was demolished in 2003, is located within an area of archaeological importance and adjacent to the Centra Core Historic Conservation Area. Latterly the site of the cinema became a car park for the adjacent Mecca bingo hall, which has also been demolished and is within the scheme’s footprint. James Lindridge, COO and development director at Olympian Homes, said: “We are delighted to have now made significant progress on such a landmark site within York. We would like to thank York City Council for their ongoing support in delivering the scheme, and GMI for their professionalism and deft in getting to this stage. We look forward to showcasing a best-in-class student product to assist with the undersupply of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation within York.” Rotherham’s Forge Island scheme marks final topping out milestone. © Joe Horner 14 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENGINEERING questions Engineeringwww.blmforum.net Business Link 15 ENGINEERING © stock.adobe.com/Mikalai Looking to the year ahead, the engineering industry is set to invigorate 2024, both across the East Midlands, and further afield. L ast year brought unique challenges to the engineering sector that look set to continue into 2024. A severe skills shortage, and a cost-of-living crisis has compounded vast reaching supply chain issues caused by the war in Ukraine. This has left firms desperately scrambling to fulfil orders. To survive this turbulent climate, the industry needs to address some deep-rooted issues that have plagued the engineering sector since its inception. Thankfully, some initiatives are beginning to take shape, such as 16 Á16 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENGINEERING North Lincs Engineering Ltd We specialise in the Supply, Installation and Reconditioning of Industrial and Marine Diesel Engines and Generating Sets. Our team of Service Engineers can Repair, Maintain or Commission Land based or Marine Installations Worldwide. Tel: 01507 328787 • Email: mark@northlincseng.co.uk • Website: www.northlincseng.co.uk outreach programmes and government funding. Yet, the entire industry needs to embrace them. So, what can engineering firms and industry leaders do to help improve the outlook for the sector? The UK engineering and manufacturing industry comprises a huge proportion of the working population – around 5 million people and 18% of the entire UK workforce. Despite this huge number, it is not enough to meet demand. The Institution of Engineering and Technology estimates that there is an average of 10 unfilled roles per business. A separate survey found that 96% of engineering firms are affected by skilled labour shortages, and 75% of independent contractors have had issues recruiting skilled workers. One reason for this massive shortage is the ongoing impact of Brexit. The UK has long leant on skilled European engineers, hailing from countries such as France, Poland, Romania, and Switzerland. When Brexit came into force, skilled European workers left the UK en masse, leaving behind millions of open positions. Whilst one of the main goals of Brexit was to encourage companies to invest in domestic workforce, the chronic lack of investment in recent years means that there is not a ready UK workforce to take the place of the EU workers. Research suggests that this is largely due to organisational culture. Male-dominated workplaces not used to accommodating women can feel unwelcoming and even hostile. Yet, in not accommodating women, this is turning away skilled labour that the sector cannot afford to lose. Furthermore, there is an extreme lack of diversity across the sector. Women account for less than 15% of all UK engineers. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field has always had a significant gender imbalance, often arising from girls often being discouraged from pursuing these topics in school. Whilst only 20% of Engineering graduates are female, there www.blmforum.net Business Link 17 DIRECT GASKETS LIMITED For over three decades we have been market leaders in the manufacture of Gaskets. Here at Direct Gaskets we aim to be versatile in our company. We supply gaskets – bespoke and standard – to all types of businesses. Contact us today on 01482 219655 or visit our website www.direct‐gaskets.co.uk Units 26 ‐ 36 | Dansom Lane South Hull | HU8 7LA Email: info@direct‐gaskets.co.uk is still a discrepancy between those who graduate and those who actually work in the field. Worse still, 40% of female engineering graduates will eventually quit the sector, or never even end up working in it. Turning to national projects, the much anticipated and highly controversial railway project HS2 is reaching a critical juncture. HS2 Ltd is finalizing a substantial package of work that will lay the foundation for the physical operation of the groundbreaking rail link connecting London and the West Midlands. In the upcoming year, the government-owned entity is set to © stock.adobe.com/gumpapa 19 Á18 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENGINEERING www.kingston-engineering.co.uk Kingston Engineering Co. (Hull) Ltd. Pennington Street, Hull, East Yorkshire. HU8 7LD. UK We produce Power Screws and Nuts to all sizes and in a variety of materials Contact the Kingston Engineering team to discuss your requirements Leading UK Manufacturer and Producer of Bespoke Power Screws +44 (0)1482 325676sales@kingston-engineering.co.ukFollow Uswww.blmforum.net Business Link 19 ENGINEERING © stock.adobe.com/Ziyan Yang Experts in the repair, rewind and supply of electric motors, geared motors, pumps & fans. Hazardous Area Motor (ATEX) Repair specialists with fully certified IEC Ex service facility. ECLIPSE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LTD YORK - T: 01904 692783 • E: admin@eclipse-electrical.co.uk KIRKBY LINDSEY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LTD HULL - T: 01482 223937 • E: info@kirkby-lindsey.co.uk Visit www.kirkbyeclipse.com for more information unleash approximately £5 billion worth of contracts, overseeing the construction of crucial components such as tracks, power systems, signalling infrastructure, overhead lines, and the state-of-the-art network control centre. These elements will not only be built to exacting standards but are poised to set a new UK benchmark for speed and punctuality, ensuring passengers can rely on the service even in the face of extreme weather conditions. Integral to this colossal undertaking is the implementation of a cutting-edge telecom system that promises uninterrupted phone calls and streaming capabilities for passengers throughout the entire route, including tunnels. This technological step is a testament to the project’s commitment to delivering a truly modern travel experience. While the project initially focused on monumental civil engineering endeavours such as tunnels, bridges, embankments, and cuttings along the 140-mile route, the upcoming contracts signify a focus shift towards the broader goal of the ultimate high-speed rail vision. Despite the promising developments, it faces challenges, with the recent cancellation of the second phase north of Birmingham. However, political figures, including West Midlands Conservative mayor Andy Street and Manchester’s Labour mayor Andy Burnham, are actively engaging with Transport Secretary Mark Harper to reignite Phase 2. Their proposal hinges on securing private company funding, including contributions from rail firms, to replace the cancelled scheme. Yet, amidst the enthusiasm for HS2, dissenting voices raise concerns. Recent statistics indicate that a mere 7% of the public views long-distance trains as a priority, and the return on investment for taxpayers is questioned, potentially offering as little as 80 pence for every £1 invested. Moreover, sceptics argue that the estimated benefits disproportionately favour London and the southeast, challenging the project’s broader societal impact. As HS2 hurtles towards its operational phase, the project executors will have their work cut out in changing the negative opinions of many key stakeholders.Next >