< PreviousRetirement development on former Terry’s Chocolate Factory site sold Henry Boot’s property investment and development arm, HBD, has agreed a conditional sale of a two acre development site at The Chocolate Works in York to McCarthy Stone, the developer and manager of retirement communities. HBD and McCarthy Stone entered a partnership in 2019 and have subsequently promoted the site through the planning process together, achieving consent on appeal in March 2024 for a 72-home Retirement Living PLUS scheme. HBD will now work with McCarthy Stone to finish preparing the site for development, in line with its remaining contractual obligations, which is anticipated to complete in Q4 2024. McCarthy Stone will solely lead on the development of the purpose-built retirement accommodation. The new retirement community marks the final phase of HBD’s 27 acre development, which included the transformation of the former 160,000 sq ft Terry’s Chocolate factory into 163 premium apartments, delivering a total GDV of £110 million across seven schemes during the last decade. The wider site is also now home to the Brainkind Neurological Centre, which supports people recovering from complex brain injuries. 10 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS PepsiCo invests £8m in Lincolnshire factory PepsiCo has announced an £8m investment in its Pipers Crisps manufacturing site in Brigg, Lincolnshire, to meet growing demand for the popular snacks. It coincides with the 20th anniversary of Pipers Crisps and marks five years since PepsiCo’s acquisition of the brand. The funding will boost production capacity at the site by nearly 80%, through replacing existing crisp fryers with new energy efficient models and installing new packaging machines at the Lincolnshire factory, which has been the home of Pipers Crisps since 2004. New, more efficient fryers replacing the existing fryers as part of the investment are helping to reduce the site’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 200 tonnes a year. This contributes to PepsiCo’s pep+ commitment to target an absolute reduction across its value chain by more than 40% by 2030, reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. Alongside increasing production, the investment will go towards upgrading facilities for the factory’s 100 local employees, including improvements to workspaces and staff changing rooms. Yorkshire business confidence grows Business confidence in Yorkshire and the Humber rose 11 points during May to 45%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Yorkshire and the Humber reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 16 points at 50%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up five points to 39%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 45% (vs. 34% in April). A net balance of 29% of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up eight points on last month. Looking ahead to the next six months, Yorkshire and the Humber businesses identified their top target areas for growth as entering new markets (41%) and evolving their offering (31%). A quarter (25%) said they planned to introduce new technology or to invest in sustainability. The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. The data for this edition was collected between 1–16th May, before the UK general election was announced. © stock.adobe.com/Shutter2U Image courtesy of Henry Bootwww.blmforum.net Business Link 11 NEWS Acquisition of coach companies expands Go-Ahead’s North & West Yorkshire presence The Go-Ahead Group has acquired four regional coach companies, marking a significant expansion in North and West Yorkshire, and the North East. The acquisition includes Procters Coaches in North Yorkshire, Compass Royston serving Stockton, Middlesbrough & Teesside, Esk Valley operating in North and East Riding of Yorkshire, and Fourway Coaches in West Yorkshire. With 200 new employees and a fleet of 140 vehicles across five depots, this acquisition strengthens Go-Ahead’s foothold in the region and continues to build key relationships with local authorities and commercial partners. Matt Carney, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Bus, said: “This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Go-Ahead’s overarching mission to provide reliable, accessible, and sustainable transport solutions. We are committed to upholding our values of caring for our customers, our team, and our communities, while maintaining our position as trusted industry leaders.” Benchmarking: a pathway to excellence for businesses In today’s competitive business landscape, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need effective strategies to enhance performance and achieve growth. Benchmarking is a powerful tool that enables businesses to measure their performance against industry leaders, identify best practices, and implement improvements. Benchmarking involves comparing a company’s processes, performance metrics, and strategies with those of industry peers or best-in-class companies. This comparison helps businesses identify areas for improvement and adopt superior practices. There are various types of benchmarking, including process, performance, strategic, and functional benchmarking, each focusing on different aspects of business operations. The benefits of benchmarking are substantial. It highlights performance gaps and provides insights into achieving superior results, guiding businesses to enhance their processes and performance. By adopting best practices, businesses can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver better products or services, thus gaining a competitive edge. Benchmarking also fosters innovation, helps in setting realistic goals, and promotes a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing. To implement benchmarking, businesses should start by identifying the processes or metrics to benchmark and selecting appropriate benchmarking partners, such as industry leaders or associations. Data collection and analysis follow, helping to pinpoint performance gaps. Developing and implementing action plans based on this analysis is crucial for improvement. Continuous monitoring and regular review of the benchmarking process ensure sustained progress. Benchmarking is an ongoing journey toward excellence. For SMEs, embracing benchmarking can lead to significant improvements in performance and profitability, enabling businesses to thrive in a competitive market. To find out more, visit www.aprobinson.biz, email andrew.robinson@aprobinson.biz, or call 01472 345888. ADVICE Image courtesy of Go-Ahead Group Leeds eCommerce agency acquired Velstar Ltd., a Shopify Plus development and marketing agency, has acquired 9xb, a B2B eCommerce agency based in Leeds. Founded in 2004, 9xb specialises in the development of complex and bespoke eCommerce solutions utilising its proprietary software platform Peracto. Dan Sheard, the Co-Founder and CEO of Velstar, said: “The acquisition of 9xb is a major step in Velstar’s continued journey of client centric growth. “While Velstar has traditionally focused on the Shopify Plus website development and marketing services for direct-to-consumer brands, 9xb is truly complementary to Velstar through its main focus on B2B clients. Velstar will ensure a smooth transition for customers and colleagues, with a tireless focus on client satisfaction and exemplary service.” After the acquisition of 9xb, Velstar is expected to generate around £9m of annual revenue. After the merger, the combined business will count over 100 employees. 12 Business Link www.blmforum.net ECO-FRIENDLY COATINGS Q&A Can you tell us a little about Eco Friendly Coatings and what you do? Eco Friendly Coatings is a privately owned company based in the UK who specialise In eco-friendly coatings. We have over 25 years of experience under our belts, working with both businesses and private homeowners to protect their properties against damage in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. Our team of dedicated experts are all passionate about preserving the environment, which is a matter of great concern to a lot of consumers in the country right now. We’ve worked with local and national businesses to provide sustainable solutions, both with paintings and coatings, but also with coatings of SprayCork for exterior and interior walls. We’ve helped numerous companies and individuals reduce their carbon footprint, which is vital at a time when more and more governments are pushing for net zero, along with consumers. Our products are considered carbon- negative, which means they can be offset against carbon emissions to help push toward carbon neutrality. For instance, for every 1 tonne of our Cork Spray, 70 tonnes of carbon are offset! Not only can this offset carbon created by other processes, but it can also reduce energy bills by as much as 30%. What’s the benefit of cork over traditional coatings and insulations? SprayCork is a sustainable, multi- featured building coating material, suitable for the exterior and interior surfaces of walls and pitched roofs. It is spray applied in a seamless thin layer. The product is manufactured from organic cork granules blended with solvent-free resins, mineral fillers, stabiliser and inorganic additives. Q&A Eco-Friendly Coatings More and more consumers are pushing for carbon neutrality and eco-friendly business, forcing businesses to try and find ways to offset their carbon and reduce costs. We speak with Craig Green, Director of Eco-Friendly Coatings in West Yorkshire, to find out more about how he’s helped businesses reduce their energy bills and also offset their carbon. © stock.adobe.com/Rashidwww.blmforum.net Business Link 13 ECO-FRIENDLY COATINGS Q&A The product’s multiple technical features include thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, weather resistance, fire resistance, vapour permeability, durability and elasticity. The product is available in a range of 28 standard colours which are derived from two base colours – white and natural. This allows us to match corporate colours and/or logos, offering a lot more versatility and vibrancy for employees working at a business site. SprayCork is manufactured in accordance with a Quality Management and Control process which is certified to BS EN ISO9001:2015. It benefits from a 25 year warranty when applied correctly, so you can be assured it has been both tested and rated for its benefits to both buildings and the environment. With energy costs rising, how much money can businesses save by embracing ecofriendly coatings? It’s obviously difficult to measure the specifics without seeing a site, and with energy prices being so variable of late, but the price of the work usually pays for itself in under 15 years. This is, of course, assuming static energy prices – which we’ve all seen isn’t the reality of late. The cost of energy has been fluctuating greatly and that trend is likely to continue into the future, making eco-friendly coatings even more financially viable. SprayCork has even been recommended by Kevin McCloud presenter of TV’s Grand Designs, for offering an eco-friendly and high- performance alternative for commercial and domestic buildings. Cork is taken from the cork oak tree, but no trees are felled. Instead, the bark is stripped away, and this releases oxygen into the air, which reduces carbon dioxide in the environment. The cork harvesting process is completely carbon negative. The best way to get an accurate idea of how much a company can save is to get in touch. We can then look at the job and how much is being done and give a more specific judgment on the savings. How complicated is the process, and how can businesses get an idea of costs? It’s as easy as getting in touch with us, at which point we can discuss and arrange for an eco-surveyor to be sent out to a property, whether that be a home, a conservatory, a commercial office, or even a warehouse. We can work with all types of properties and have experience working directly with businesses, so we know how to reduce disruption. As for the price, we can provide customers with an accurate price, access and labour costs once we’ve sent an eco- surveyor to consider the task, and work can be sent to begin once that is agreed upon. The process is quick and painless, and we’re more than happy to answer any questions businesses might have. © stock.adobe.com/Mdv Edwards14 Business Link www.blmforum.net COMMERCIAL PROPERTY With a plethora of transformative projects underway in Leeds, Business Link reflects on recent steps forward. Leeds is undergoing significant regeneration; from the myriad redevelopment projects only just beginning, to those underway and completing, the city is in the spotlight. The South Bank area is a key part of Leeds’ transformation with milestones continually being met. Last month saw Vastint UK, the developer behind Aire Park, the 24-acre mixed-use district on the South Bank, for example submit its planning application for the iconic Tetley building. The proposals, which will not only secure the future of the 92-year-old building but also increase its accessibility, involve the retention of the art deco façade and opening up of new areas to the public for the first time. The basement, which previously connected the building with the wider brewery site, will be used as a 16 Áwww.blmforum.net Business Link 15 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CGI of The Tetley building. Image courtesy of Vastint UK 16 Business Link www.blmforum.net COMMERCIAL PROPERTY speakeasy lounge/bar, while the ground floor features a market hall space and amenities including Changing Places facilities. The proposal further looks to continue The Tetley’s long-held connection with culture and commerce through the upper floors which include areas for event space and 13,000 sq ft of office accommodation. There will additionally be a roof terrace and an extension to the eastern façade. The building will be brought up to modern sustainability standards, whilst retaining important historic aspects of the interior and exterior, like the Tetley Boardroom on the second floor. Simon Schofield, head of development North at Vastint UK, said: “The Tetley is an iconic building within Leeds, and we’re privileged to have it as a cornerstone of the Aire Park development. As custodians of this important piece of the city’s history, we have been working hard with our architects Supervene and Enjoy Design, Leeds City Council and others to look at how we preserve this beautiful building, ensuring it remains at the heart of the community for another century. Our plans aim to create a variety of spaces within the building including public amenities such as a Changing Places facility, food and drink opportunities and event spaces, which will be accessible to all. We also want to continue the building’s history of being a place of business, by creating new office space. Ultimately this project is unique in its scope, as it not only adds to the wider development but also ensures a major landmark continues to play an active role in the future of Leeds. We’d like to think that Joshua Tetley would be impressed by the ambition we have for the site he purchased for £402 in 1822 and grew to be the largest brewery in the North of England.” Meanwhile, property company Glenbrook has been chosen by Leeds City Council as the preferred bidder for a 0.18-hectare plot in the heart of the South Bank. Subject to sale of the site and planning permission being granted, it will be home to a high-quality residential scheme that will include affordable housing. The site was created as part of a recent transformation of Meadow Lane by the council that involved the reconfiguration of the highway, the removal of the old Hunslet Lane surface car park and the laying out of green space. The new building would complement existing landmarks such as the David Oluwale Bridge and the Hibiscus Rising sculpture, and also act as an impressive linking point between the Aire Park development and the rest of the city centre. Daniel Roberts, development director at Glenbrook, said: “The opportunity at Meadow Lane builds on our existing development pipeline in the city and we look forward to collaborating with our public sector partners to deliver more high-quality housing in the city centre.” Moreover, Heim Global Investor has chosen the 375-home build-to-rent scheme BeckYard in the South Bank area for its first UK investment. The investment is being forward funded by Heim, with McLaren Living acting as developer, and with grant support from West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund. BeckYard is being built by HG Construction, with completion expected in early 2027. The new homes will consist of two buildings up to 26 storeys. Head of UK investments at Heim Global Investor, Christian Birrell said: “We are thrilled to announce our first investment for our UK build-to-core fund in Leeds. This project is just the first of many projects we plan to deliver, as we develop a 5,000+ unit portfolio targeting mid-market rental homes across the UK’s key cities. Leeds is a strong city with an undersupply of affordable rental homes, and we are delighted to be working with such a strong development partner in McLaren Living. BeckYard marks the first investment in our UK fund, and we are currently looking at an interesting pipeline of deals across the UK.” Elsewhere in Leeds, Caddick Construction has completed construction of the SOYO neighbourhood’s two newest residential blocks on behalf of Hestia, the residential platform of Federated Hermes Real Estate. Located www.blmforum.net Business Link 17 at the south of York Road, the two new buildings, known as Madison East and Mercer West, feature 331 built-to-rent apartments, two commercial retail units, car parking facilities and sustainable public spaces for the local community. The £57.4m project follows the completion of an earlier phase at SOYO, New York Square, where Caddick Construction delivered two 16 and 17 storey, build-to-rent apartment developments, housing 515 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for Moda Living. The multi-use SOYO neighbourhood will, once finished, offer over 1 million sq ft of space to live, work and enjoy. Additionally reaching completion is MRP’s City Square House, the 140,000 sq ft office building next to Leeds Station. Speculatively developed by MRP and built by McAleer and Rushe, 85 per cent of the major landmark is already let. The completion of City Square House is an integral part of the extensive public realm improvement works at City Square. The workspace comprises Grade A office accommodation over 12 storeys including low carbon credentials, terraces on the 4th, 5th and 6th levels and cycling, electric vehicle and e-bike charging point facilities. Angus Montieth, development director at MRP, said: “The practical completion of City Square House is a massive milestone to celebrate. We have created the best-in- class prime office development in Leeds, unrivalled in its location and with sustainability and wellbeing at the heart of its design. It boasts an impressive tenant community and we are confident that we will set a new prime rent in Leeds of £40 per sq ft. It’s been an amazing journey and a huge collaborative effort to turn the dream of a magnificent Leeds city centre office building into reality. It is the final piece of the City Square regeneration plan and a significant investment and vote of confidence in the city.” These developments represent just a few of the schemes underway and planned for Leeds, with the city flourishing. City Square House18 Business Link www.blmforum.net AGRI-BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Farming The farming industry is suffering not only in our region and not only in our country, but across the EU and further afield. © stock.adobe.com/Gillwww.blmforum.net Business Link 19 AGRI-BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT R ecent developments, particularly concerning border checks and import procedures, have raised concerns about the nation’s ability to maintain a stable and reliable food supply chain. The government decision to conduct import checks inland rather than at the point of entry, with upshots including raised transport costs and slowed trade, has increased our reliance on cheap imported goods to manage the expense. This shift in priorities has inflamed the fears of the farming industry, signalling threats to the future of British farming, as well as food availability catastrophes. Because our country relies on imports for over 45% of its food needs, any disruptions or delays in the import process can have far-reaching consequences, which may even lead to major food shortages and empty shelves in supermarkets. These concerns are compounded by the introduction of a post-Brexit border check system, which has already begun to impact trade dynamics. European hauliers are reportedly more likely to avoid work in the UK due to the confusion and paperwork demands of the new system, while EU businesses look elsewhere to avoid the inflation in trade costs. Meanwhile, food campaigners Sustain found in 2022 that UK farmers made less than 1p profit from their produce and food goods. Some may view these challenges as merely part of the Brexit process. However, they represent a significant obstacle to our farming and national- grown food security. UK farmers remain undercompensated, while being increasingly sidelined in favour of short- term economic solutions. Brexit supporters initially touted reduced imports as a boon for UK farmers, anticipating increased domestic demand for their products. However, the reality has been far from optimistic, with ill- conceived government funding and aggressive pricing tactics by supermarkets eroding the viability of domestic agriculture. © stock.adobe.com/Gill 21 ÁNext >