< Previous10 Business Link www.blmforum.net Numerous developments reviving, regenerating and securing a future for sites across our region have made headway in the last month. M yriad projects are getting underway to bring new life to buildings and sites across Yorkshire, with the last month seeing a flurry of activity. In Sheffield initial plans for a new urban district in Neepsend have been submitted by social impact developers Capital&Centric. The outline plans lodged with Sheffield City Council aim to overhaul the derelict industrial Cannon Brewery site, with the blueprint being developed in stages to deliver a vision for a city centre district that blends into the character of the surrounding area. The proposals include over 500 one, two and three-bed apartments, to be delivered through a mix of contemporary new builds and retention of some of the existing buildings (the Water Tower and Brew House). Alongside the homes will be workplaces and spaces for independent shops, delis and café-bars, creating opportunities for local indie operators and new start-ups. A green urban park will surround the water tower, whilst on Boyland Street a new public square with cafes and shops will offer space for pop-up events, performers and installations. The expansive Cannon Brewery site is seen as a major chance to grow Sheffield’s city centre in a sustainable way, to bring more people to the area and deliver new homes without displacing existing businesses. Richard Spackman, development director at Capital&Centric, said: “We’ve set out to make Cannon Brewery a standout community that draws people to Sheffield – one that respects and reflects back the industrial heritage of Neepsend. It’s a really challenging site to work on, but we’re progressing at pace because we see such pent-up potential. Like many communities we’ve done before, we’re proposing a mix of old and new. Our contemporary homes will be real juxtaposition against some of the existing industrial buildings we’re aiming to keep and repurpose. We want the end goal to be that Cannon Brewery becomes Sheffield’s best address…a city centre district where people not only want to live, but spend their weekends, hang out with mates or locate their start-up business.” Meanwhile, in Huddersfield, plans for In with the new In with the new www.blmforum.net Business Link 11 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY a £20m refurbishment of the historic George Hotel have been given the go ahead by Kirklees Council’s Planning Committee, with the hotel set to be operated by Radisson RED. The approved plans for the 91-room boutique hotel form part of the wider Huddersfield Blueprint, a ten-year vision to create a thriving town centre. An important landmark adjacent to the Huddersfield Railway Station, The George Hotel was the first building on St George’s Square in 1851. In March 2020, Kirklees Council purchased the Grade II* Listed building so it could secure its future and incorporate it within its long- term regeneration programme. The new- look hotel will involve a basement, ground floor and four upper levels. As part of the refurbishment, the original building will be refurbished almost entirely in its current state. The hotel’s historic façade will also be preserved along John William Street, but with a new structure replacing the existing internal structures behind. A historically George Hotel, Huddersfield Sheffield 12 Á © stock.adobe.com/teamjackson12 Business Link www.blmforum.net unimportant three-storey block is in poor condition and requires dismantling. It will be replaced by a similar sized and more sympathetic block using a similar colour palette to the rest of the structure. As part of remodelling, the ground floor will house the hotel’s reception lobby, lounge and a 70-seat restaurant and bar. There will also be a large conference-style room for hire and the lower ground floor will provide a 100- cover banqueting suite for business events, receptions and weddings. Leader of Kirklees Council, councillor Shabir Pandor, said: “Today is a significant milestone for the George Hotel and we’re delighted to have secured an exciting and long-term future for it. Huddersfield town centre has long needed a high-quality hotel and Radisson RED is a stand-out international hotel brand known for its eye-catching style and excellent customer service. Alongside our wider Huddersfield Blueprint plans and Our Cultural Heart, the George will act as an impressive www.blmforum.net Business Link 13 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY gateway to the town centre and continue to grow our profile as an attractive destination for tourism and business.” Kirklees Council has now appointed Morgan Sindall in a Pre-Contract Service Agreement, and they will be working on further designs for the building work over the coming months. The council has also appointed Queensberry as the project’s development manager, and Bowman Riley are the architect and heritage advisor. Major hotel plans are coming forward at Leeds Kirkgate Market too, taking a significant step in the past month. The city council has been exploring the potential for a hotel to be built on the George Street side of the market complex for some time, as part of the wider regeneration of the area. The scheme is designed to complement the ongoing transformation of a large swathe of the city centre that is also home to the Victoria Gate retail destination as well as the refurbished Leeds Playhouse, one of Leeds City College’s main campuses and the rest of the fast-growing Quarry Hill area. The proposed hotel is also seen as a way of driving further footfall into the market, which has already benefited in recent times from a multi-million pound investment programme. Currently occupied by a number of vacant low-rise shop units, the council-owned site earmarked for the six-storey development offers an important regeneration opportunity as Leeds city centre seeks to consolidate its position as the region’s key retail and leisure hub. The 143-room hotel would be developed by the council, with a pre-let lease in place with a proposed operator. The scheme’s approach to design would respect the heritage of the Grade I listed market building while also delivering a modern addition to George Street. Its ground floor would be home to commercial units and a council-operated gym. A glazed central block, meanwhile, would provide an inviting and prominent entrance to the market from George Street. Initial proposals for the scheme have been considered by the council’s city plans panel and a community consultation has now been launched so that businesses, residents, and other stakeholders get the best possible opportunity to have their say on the project. These represent just a few of the projects underway and showing recent progress in Yorkshire, with further plans to bring Whitby’s historic Old Town Hall back into use for the benefit of residents and visitors, and reserved matters approval being secured for three new sound stages/studios, and office space at North Yorkshire’s Church Fenton media complex and former RAF airbase amongst other developments in the region. The proposed hotel on George Street, Leeds, looking west The apprentice question 14 Business Link www.blmforum.net APPRENTICESHIPS I n the current reporting period from August 2022 to January 2023, government figures show that the overall number of apprenticeship starts experienced a decline of 4.1%, with a total of 195,600 compared to 203,990 in the previous year. Among these starts, individuals under the age of 19 accounted for 28.4% or 55,580, while advanced apprenticeships represented 43.3% (84,650) and higher apprenticeships made up 33.2% (64,890). Notably, higher apprenticeships have continued to grow, showing a 7.1% increase to 64,890 compared to the same period last year when it was 60,570. In terms of level, there was an 11.1% rise in starts at Level 6 and 7, reaching 30,710, which constitutes 15.7% of all reported starts for the current period. In the previous year, Level 6 and 7 starts accounted for 27,630 or 13.5% of starts during the same period. Despite the apparent downturn, it is important to understand those who may be affected by pulling apprenticeship funding. The uptake amongst young adults, and the higher level of the qualification (with a Level 6 being equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree, and a Level 7 being equivalent to a Master’s degree) appears to correlate with an attitude shift towards University amongst school leavers. Although more young people are heading to university than ever before, polls suggest that a third of 16 to 18 year olds would prefer to complete an apprenticeship instead. The rising cost of living has caused approximately 43% of undergraduate students to work whilst studying, something that many universities actively discourage. This has not gone unnoticed by prospective students, and many would prefer to learn in an environment which is specifically designed to strike a work/study balance. Furthermore, degrees no longer hold the competitive advantage of 15 years ago. With 35% of those of working age holding degrees, the certificate may get you an interview, but certainly won’t secure a job. With job security being a priority for a generation deeply affected by the uncertainty of the pandemic, the Apprenticeships seem like the solution to the recruitment problem, and yet the numbers are down on last year, and half of apprentices in late 2022 failed to complete their apprenticeships due to poor management from their new employers. The apprentice question www.blmforum.net Business Link 15 APPRENTICESHIPS poorest school leavers often prefer to gain relevant industry experience, develop networks early in their career, and learn work skills that make them an attractive candidate. One industry which consistently benefits from apprenticeships is construction. Newly released figures indicate a positive trend in the construction industry, as the number of apprentices beginning their careers in this field has increased for the first time in six years. In the year leading up to July 2022, there were approximately 26,100 apprenticeships initiated, marking a 16 Á © stock.adobe.com/pressmaster © stock.adobe.com/auremar16 Business Link www.blmforum.net APPRENTICESHIPS notable rise of over 6,000 compared to the previous 12 months. Although this development is seen as encouraging, the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), highlighted the ongoing need for a significant influx of skilled workers in the industry. A report from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) emphasized that more than 40,000 individuals would need to join the sector annually over the next five years to meet the demand. The CECA has proposed initiatives which promote construction as an appealing and well- paid career choice, and have urged the UK Government to collaborate closely with the industry to address this issue. There remains a considerable gap between the number of newcomers and the required workforce in the industry, emphasizing that this gap will only widen as the aging workforce retires and sectors like retrofitting gain momentum. Berry also noted that there will be a rising demand for green skills as consumers seek to enhance energy efficiency in their homes to reduce energy bills. As for apprenticeship achievements, there was a significant increase of 21.8% to 62,030 compared to the previous year’s 50,920. However, it is important to note that COVID-19 restrictions and assessment flexibilities impacted the timing of achievements, making year-to- year comparisons cautious. The increase in achievements could once again be interpreted as a desire to gain desirable skills to retain employment, in the face of post-pandemic uncertainty. Despite a young, keen workforce with an appetite for career progression, concerns have been raised around the quality of apprenticeship delivery. In late 2022, it was reported that almost half of apprentices fail to complete their courses. According to a report by EDSK, a prominent education think tank, a significant number of individuals who quit their apprenticeships attributed their decision to poor quality from the employer, which encompassed issues such as inadequate training and ineffective management. Under government-funded apprenticeship programs, individuals are entitled to one day per week of “off the job” time dedicated to receiving teaching and training. However, the EDSK report revealed that many apprentices fall short of the minimum weekly requirement, while others receive no off-the-job training at all. Disturbingly, the report also highlighted a concerning practice where firms are permitted by the government to consider activities such as watching online lectures or completing homework assignments as training. This leaves apprentices with a lack of support and guidance, and many feel isolated during their training. Given that most people have decided on their career path by age 13, employers should be concerned about putting talent off pursuing careers within the industry altogether. www.blmforum.net Business Link 17 For apprenticeships to survive, industry leaders must continue to identify, recruit, and retain talent. Sponsoring school projects and attending careers fairs will get companies noticed as a local employer. Using these opportunities to seek out talent, companies should then offer taster days to select students which promotes apprenticeship opportunities and career progression pathways within the industry. Providing intense support to a handful of the best candidates will allow companies to train and retain the best talent, and apprentices to feel supported to thrive. © stock.adobe.com/amorn18 Business Link www.blmforum.net IT & COMMUNICATIONS © stock.adobe.com/Ar_THwww.blmforum.net Business Link 19 IT & COMMUNICATIONS In any modern business, IT and telecoms provide the means for maintaining ease of communication and operations. From the selection and care of hardware such as computers and mobile devices, to the software and technical support systems which enable calls and conferencing, their successful integration makes all the difference in boosting flexibility and efficiency, whenever and however you choose to work. Let us take you through some of the areas best supported by these technologies, and how you can incorporate them to guide and maximise every moment of each working day. Effective communication is vital for any organisation, and IT and telecom services allow seamless contact between employees, departments and external stakeholders. The collaboration, timely decision-making and improved productivity they offer is often enabled by the networks that may connect devices and users within and outside of an organisation. Setting up the most suitable network for your business’s communications is a great starting point when putting your IT and telecoms strategy into action. However, the choices you make in your network provisions will depend on your business needs. For instance, a LAN or Local Area Network connects devices within a limited geographic area, and is therefore well-suited for internal communications exclusive to an office building or campus. LANs are typically fast, secure, and cost-effective, making them ideal for day-to-day business operations – they can also be linked to Wide Area Networks or WANS so that multiple offices, branches or locations can stay interconnected on a global scale. Virtual Private Networks or VPNs, which are commonly used for remote access to a private network, provide a secure and encrypted communication channel suitable for remote work, telecommuting and accessing sensitive information over public networks. But perhaps the greatest flexibility is provided by cloud networks, from which applications, storage and computing power can always be accessed, provided that there’s an internet connection. For businesses that require on-demand The synthesis of IT and telecoms The seamless integration of IT and telecom services can revolutionise communication, enhance productivity, and provide a vibrant work environment. 20 ÁNext >