< Previous10 Business Link www.blmforum.net COMMERCIAL PROPERTY A s we settle into 2025, the region’s regeneration and restoration projects are revving up, building on progress over recent years, with new and existing schemes across Yorkshire gaining momentum. The past month has seen numerous milestones, with a particular influx concerning the revitalisation of historic properties. Kier, for example, was appointed by Sheffield City Council to restore the Grade II listed Adelphi Cinema to bring it back into public use. Opened in 1920, the building operated as a cinema for nearly 50 years and survived bomb damage during the Second World War. It closed as a cinema in 1967, becoming a bingo hall, with the site then operating as a nightclub from 1995 until 2000. The property has been used as a storage facility in more recent years, before falling into disrepair. Purchased by Sheffield City Council in 2023 using Levelling Up funding, the refurbishment will see the building transformed into a mixed-use cultural space, including facilities suitable for leisure, arts, and music. The project forms part of the The old becomes new As regeneration schemes progress across Yorkshire, a focus is being placed on the restoration of the region’s historic buildings. Canada House in Castlegate, Sheffield The Estate Buildings, Huddersfieldwww.blmforum.net Business Link 11 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY wider regeneration of Attercliffe in Sheffield, involving 1,000 new homes at Attercliffe Waterside and the creation of the National Centre for Child Health Technology at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park. Kier Places is now taking the first steps to revamp the building, whilst retaining some of the original features, such as the art-deco frontage, with the site to be prepared for transformation work to begin this Spring. Sheffield has also welcomed funding to transform the historic Canada House in the city centre into a new home for music education — creating a high- quality practice, rehearsal, and performance destination. Harmony Works Trust has secured £3.5m in funding from Arts Council England and an award of £4.7m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, adding to the project’s growing support base, which includes funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the UK Government’s Levelling Up Funding, and multiple local trusts and foundations. Harmony Works Trust purchased the Grade II* Listed Canada House from the Panache retail brand last year. With a history dating back to 1875, when it was originally constructed as offices for the Sheffield United Gas Light Company, Canada House is a local landmark. In the 1980s, the building gained popularity as TurnUps nightclub and was a hub for young music lovers. The refurbishment of Canada House is expected to start later this year, with a view to opening the doors to Harmony Works late in 2027. Once complete, it will become home to many organisations, such as the Sheffield Music Academy, Sheffield Music Hub, Brass Bands England, Music in the Round, Choir with No Name, Orchestras for All, and Concerteenies, while working closely with The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam 13 ÁArmstrong 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 University and The Sheffield College. Furthermore, the city’s Grade II listed Abbeydale Picture House has been acquired, with True North Brew Co. aiming to restore it as an entertainment venue. The Abbeydale Picture House, known as the Picture Palace, opened on Abbeydale Road in 1920. However, changing markets and difficulties with renovation eventually led to its decline, repurposing, and closure in 2024. True North plans to make a significant investment to restore the Picture House’s architectural grandeur while modernising it to suit today’s audiences. Once revitalised, Abbeydale Picture House will host live music, comedy, art events, and food and drink festivals. True North will work with local building, architectural, and heritage experts to transform the site’s spaces. The venue is also expected to create around fifty jobs. Elsewhere in the region, in Huddersfield, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet has approved funding for the next phase of the town centre regeneration programme, Our Cultural Heart. Work is already underway on phase one of the scheme which will see the old Queensgate market reinvigorated as a community hub and leisure space with a library, food hall, and new public square designed for socialising and events. Plans presented earlier this year set out the council’s ambitions for phase two of the project, which will see the four- storey former library, one of Huddersfield town centre’s most imposing and historically significant buildings, become a brand-new museum and art gallery with a 50-seat café with outdoor terrace. The proposals include a new extension which will improve accessibility, and better connecting the site with the outdoor space and the wider Our Cultural Heart. Councillors have agreed the release of £5.413m from the overall project budget for phase two. This funding will be used to progress the next stage of phase two contractor procurement and design. In addition to the phase two funding, £250,000 will also be released for work on the programme master plan. This study will take a deep dive into plans for later stages of the programme. It follows Kirklees Council’s approval of a proposal to spend £1.25m on the Estate Buildings in order to prepare the site for future development. The Grade II Listed structure has been identified as an opportunity to create new housing in Huddersfield and is located in the middle of millions of pounds’ worth of investment in Huddersfield town centre – through blueprint projects like the George Hotel, Huddersfield Market, and improvements to the neighbouring Byram Arcade.14 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENGINEERING SPOTLIGHT The world is changing and our region needs to become more self- sufficient and independent. With the engineering sector suffering from a heavy skills shortage, we take a look at what the sector is doing – and what it can do – to draw in more talent. L ast year brought unique challenges to the engineering sector. A severe skills shortage, and a cost-of-living crisis has compounded vast reaching supply chain issues caused by the continued war in Ukraine and now tariffs from Trump. 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 outreach programmes and government funding. Yet, the entire industry needs to embrace them 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 Adapting to new times Adapting to new times www.blmforum.net Business Link 15 ENGINEERING SPOTLIGHT DIRECT GASKETS LIMITED For 35 years 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 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. With over half of firms experiencing difficulties recruiting the right talent levels, it begs the question of why there is such a lack 16 Á16 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENGINEERING SPOTLIGHT 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 of skilled engineers domestically, and what can be done to address this. Firstly, 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 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. 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. To avoid this, employers should be actively targeting female STEM graduates. Firms who do not actively target female candidates are likely to receive significantly fewer applications from women than those who do. Furthermore, being present at clubs and societies for female STEM workers (such as Women in Tech) increases visibility to the target population, and ensures the firm aligns themselves as a women’s ally. Even more underrepresented than women are those with registered disabilities. STEM industries employ 75% fewer people with disabilities than other industries. Given that workers with disabilities have adapted to work in an able-bodied environment, they have already proven that they can overcome more significant challenges than the average person. This means that they may have a unique perspective on engineering, making those with disabilities extremely valuable staff members. Those from BAME backgrounds are also less likely to find engineering jobs. Despite 30% of engineering graduates being BAME, only 9% make it into the industry. This is best addressed in educational spaces. For example, Coventry University has a programme for BAME STEM students, to help them anticipate and navigate barriers to entry. Local firms could sponsor these workshops, giving information on what engineering jobs entail, and promoting employers who welcome diverse candidates. A way to encourage young, underrepresented people into engineering is through Higher Technical Qualifications. Although 40% of graduates have STEM degrees, there remains a shortage of medium skilled entrants into the industry. For those who do not want to attend University, Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) improve young people’s readiness for work by teaching practical and practical skills. However, only 12% of UK students engage with this type of learning, compared to 36% in the US and 22% in Canada. This shortage could be explained by a lack of endorsement from schools. According to a survey, only 25% of 11 – 19-year-olds had heard about engineering from a career’s advisor. This discourages young people from considering engineering as a future career. The obvious solution would seem to be increasing community outreach work. This could be through talks and workshops in schools, accepting more work experience placements, and sponsoring STEM school trips and awards programmes. www.blmforum.net Business Link 17 ENGINEERING SPOTLIGHT This places the spotlight on both the sector and the business. Whilst the outlook for the engineering sector may seem bleak, there is hope on the horizon. The war in Ukraine has encouraged investment in domestic infrastructure, such as gas and electricity pipelines. Furthermore, industry leaders have pledged to accelerate investment in decarbonisation, as a bid to tackle climate change. These projects will include prioritising low-carbon heat, scaling up the availability of electric vehicle chargers, and low-carbon retrofit and refurbishment of commercial buildings. Healthy investment in the sector means that employers have the ability to dedicate time to outreach programmes and invest in apprenticeships and training. There is a ready and able workforce already out there, those people simply need a helping hand to get them through the door. 18 Business Link www.blmforum.net BUSINESS TRAVEL AND LEISURE O ver time video conferencing, webinars and other online tools have resulted in business travel abroad or further afield in the UK to lessen, but there are always some instances when a face-to-face meeting is best. Many companies prefer to initially meet new clients or partners in person before signing a contract or sealing that deal, or when collaborating within your own company and the other staff is overseas, meeting them in person helps team building. Whichever situation it is, it can be difficult and stressful if the meeting is further afield in the UK or especially if it’s in a foreign country with very different customs and etiquette to the UK - but there are strategies that can help business travellers succeed. Firstly, become as culturally aware as possible with business meeting protocols and hierarchy, gender differences, how to build a relationship and social etiquette as knowledge about these helps to avoid a potentially costly faux pas, and of course, wherever a business meeting takes place, first impressions always count. Initially, research the internet, books or online apps about new or international etiquette, read articles in magazines or online, and where possible ask questions of colleagues, or of anyone else who may have visited the place or country for work purpose. Also, when you arrive at the destination where the meeting or conference is occurring make the most of asking taxi drivers, waiters and especially a hotel concierge for further help if required; Making the most of business abroad We’ve lived in an era of calls and video conferences, but face-to-face meetings matter and travel for business is an important skill many of us need to learn once more. 20 Áwww.blmforum.net Business Link 19 BUSINESS TRAVEL AND LEISURENext >