Commerce & Industry 30.01 by Waltons Publications

‘Let’s Talk Business’

ISSN: 20568371

VOLUME THIRTY | ISSUE ONE

THE LEADING JOURNAL FOR BUSINESS -TO-BUSINESS MARKETING

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PEMBROKE DOCK | STOCKTON-ON-TEES

02 CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS AI FUTURES ASCOUGH ASSOCIATES FORRESTER BOYD CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS FUTURE HUMBER HSC INTERNATIONAL HULL AND EAST YORKSHIRE LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP (HEYLEP) KESTREL LINER AGENCIES LOGISTICS UK MAPA PR MEEHAN MEDIA NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL ORSTED (UK) STONE JUNCTION LTD TRANS EUROPEAN PORT SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF HULL ADVERTISING: WENDY CHAPMAN (Sales Manager) E-MAIL: wendy@commerce-industry.co.uk GRAPHICS DEPT: STUART TURNBULL - Studio Manager RACHEL RILEY - Designer PUBLISHED BY: WALTONS PUBLICATIONS LTD. 46 HENEAGE ROAD, GRIMSBY NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE DN32 9ES TELEPHONE: (01472) 359036 www.commerce-industry.co.uk

05 06

COMPANY NEWS A look at what’s going on within industry in and around the Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the Humber regions.

WILLIAMSON SOLICITORS The stand-out commercial property team that ‘gets the job done’

ACCOUNTANCY 07. It is always vital to review your financial goals ahead of the end of the tax year.

08. Navigating the Uncharted Waters of 2024

09 10 11

AI FUTURES AI Futures Workshops in Hull Empowering SMEs to Embrace AI, Your Journey Starts Here

OFFICE FURNITURE

ENGINEERING Energy efficiency is the key to achieving decarbonisation Measurement and control technology realising your sustainability goals

PLANT HIRE & CONSTRUCTION Historic land deals helps Immingham port expansion

CONTAINERS, SHIPPING

19 & LOGISTICS

Expansion of premises to build a new “FLATPAX” showroom in 2024

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APSS Eyes Further Growth Following Office Furniture Business Buyout

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CONTENTS VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 01

BUSINESS FUNDING & SUPPORT Growing Places Fund Grant Programme

14 16

OWC 2024 Flagship OWC is launched with leading industry awards

21. Humber Freeport Chair welcomes Autumn Statement measures to accelerate freeports investment

22. New £4.2 million investment at the Port of Hull

NEWS Principal of employer-led school calls for curriculum shake-up to bridge critical skills gaps

SHIPPING & PORTS

TRANSPORT, FREIGHT & LOGISTICS 23. TEPS Expands Its Footprint with New Warehouse Development Amidst Growing Demand 25. Driver CPC changes will bring flexibility to industry, says Logistics UK

FUTURE HUMBER

NEWS

UNIVERSITY OF HULL NEWS

Delivery Report 2023 by Future Humber

Thousands more rural homes and businesses to benefit from Quickline’s full fibre broadband

28. Building flood resilient societies 29. Universities of Hull and Lincoln announce Humber Freeport collaboration 30. Abandoned oil rigs could scrape carbon from the sky

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IS PART OF

Hornsea 2 is officially world’s largest wind farm

NEWS

Charities cheer shared success after RSM UK supports Olympians in collaborative approach to record-breaking fundraising campaign

COMPANY NEWS

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Council purchases former House of Fraser building in Grimsby

The former House of Fraser building on Grimsby’s Victoria Street West has been bought by North East Lincolnshire Council as it continues its drive towards town centre transformation. Contracts have been exchanged and the sale, which has been advised by strategic partner Queensberry, also includes a leasehold on an adjacent car park. The prominent five-storey building sits within the council owned Freshney Place and with a high-profile frontage on 9 to 29 Victoria Street West, it has been empty since House of Fraser closed four years ago. Continuing to see it unused was not an option, said Council Leader Cllr Philip Jackson, who has responsibilities for regeneration and the economy. This purchase, he explained, would provide yet more opportunity for the authority and its partners to look at the redevelopment and diverse use of Freshney Place as a whole. “In order to effect change, which we all know is needed, we must look at opportunities such as this with a view to shaping and guiding redevelopment. Town Centres across the country have changed almost beyond what any of us would have anticipated and that is what we are determined to do here,” said Cllr Jackson. “We have a fantastic opportunity to re-invent

Freshney Place and complement its retail offer with the new cinema, leisure attractions, and fresh new market. The House of Fraser building will now form an integral part of those plans. This is a good move for the town centre,” he added. Over the last five years, the reshaping of the town centre has been led by the local authority. Along with partners and stakeholders including the Greater Grimsby Town Board, it has won multi-million-pound funding bids from Central Government. This money, all ring-fenced for specific projects, has seen the transformation of St James’ Square and Garth Lane with its new footbridge, river dredging and extensive paving and landscaping. Further to that, work has started on the redundant St James’ House with the E-Factor purchasing the building to create a business hub. This is in addition to the Future High Streets Fund, and projects earmarked for Towns Fund money including the already underway full refurb of Riverhead Square, a plan for new

housing at Alexandra Dock and the new OnSide ‘Horizon’ Youth Zone. The latter involves the transformation of the historic redundant buildings along Garth Lane into a state-of-theart centre for young people. Meanwhile initial work has now started with Queensberry on the multi-million-pound Freshney Place Leisure & Market Hall Scheme with its new cinema, market, and leisure attractions. More good news is the arrival, in mid-2024 of a Community Diagnostic Centre. The NHS facility in Freshney Place will bring thousands more people into the town centre every year – with such increased footfall through the town centre presenting more opportunities.

Forrester Boyd’s Christmas Quiz Triumph

The holiday season is a time for joy, giving, and coming together to make a difference in the lives of others and Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants recently embraced the spirit of the season by hosting their much-anticipated Annual Christmas quiz. Beyond the festive cheer and friendly competition though, the event served a higher purpose - raising funds for the British Heart Foundation. This year’s Christmas quiz, held at the brilliant Grimsby Golf Club, was a resounding success, bringing people together for an evening filled with laughter, fun, and the collective desire to make a positive impact. Attendees from Bridge McFarland, Kingsbridge Corporate Solutions and Handelsbanken to name but a few, were treated to an enjoyable night that not only showcased their trivia prowess but also highlighted a fantastic professional community spirit. The highlight of the evening was the staggering amount raised for the British Heart Foundation – an impressive £3,400 on the night alone. With this total Forrester Boyd are extremely proud to announce that they have surpassed their initial goal of £13,300. The funds raised currently stands at £14,068! The success of the Christmas quiz can be attributed not only to the enthusiasm of the

participants but also to the generosity and kindness of everyone involved. The Grimsby Golf Club provided the perfect setting for the festivities, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that complemented the holiday spirit as attendees were treated to a delightful spread of great food. Forrester Boyd’s commitment to giving back to the community and supporting vital causes was evident throughout the event. The funds raised will undoubtedly make a meaningful impact on the British Heart Foundation’s efforts to research heart diseases and improve the lives of those affected. As we reflect on the success of Forrester Boyd’s annual Christmas quiz, it becomes clear that the holiday season is not just about tinsel and festive decorations. It’s about coming together and fostering a sense of community to make a positive difference. Forrester Boyd Partner, Phil George said, “The achievement of surpassing the fundraising target is a testament to the generosity and goodwill present in the local community. It highlights the power of businesses and how we can all

inspire positive change and rally support for organisations dedicated to making a real impact on people’s lives.” As the year draws to a close, Forrester Boyd’s achievement stands as a shining example of the magic that can happen when a community comes together. Here’s to more moments of generosity, compassion, and community spirit in the coming year, ensuring that the holiday season’s true essence extends well beyond the month of December.

www.forrester-boyd.co.uk

COMPANY NEWS

COMMERCE-INDUSTRY.CO.UK

National recruitment specialist heads array of sponsors as HullBID marks 10 years of awards HullBID has announced its 2024 awards with backing from an array of city centre businesses and other organisations.

restige Recruitment, which operates in Hull, Leeds, Huddersfield and throughout the UK, is the main partner for the awards – first held 10 years ago – and also sponsors the outstanding contribution category. Other sponsors have stepped up from sectors including law, languages, creative design, contact centres, commercial development and public transport. Hull City Council and the Office of the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner are sponsoring categories which promote a better business environment through stylish premises and community involvement. Prestige Recruitment and its team of more than 50 won the community category in 2022 and Adam Barnes, Director of the company, said as sponsors they are aiming to give something back and help city centre businesses make a confident start to 2024 with the closing date for entries in January and the gala presentation night in February. He said: “The process of entering the awards was very beneficial for us because it meant we looked closely at everything we do, and that’s a key part of how to improve your business. “We were thrilled to be recognised for our work in the community with various important causes and now we’re showing our support for the business community in our home city. “We operate across all the sectors covered by the awards and the timing couldn’t be better as we launch our winter recruitment offer encouraging people to explore a possible change of a career to banish the January blues. “But the main reason for sponsoring is to showcase the importance of the Hull city centre business community locally and further afield, highlighting resilience, innovation and adaptability.” Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said: “It’s quite something to think about how the awards have progressed since 2014 and to recall the achievements of so many fantastic city centre businesses. “We experienced an electric atmosphere from the outset when we launched the awards at Hull Truck Theatre. Things have really taken off since then and we are very

grateful to Prestige Recruitment Specialists for supporting us as main sponsors in a milestone year. “Every year we have attracted more competitors representing a wider range of business sectors. The standards are improving and the categories are evolving to reflect the changes in the world of business. “It’s all about giving BID member businesses a chance to shine at the end of another year of innovation, enterprise and sheer hard work and there really is something for everybody. They can enter as a business, or can nominate themselves as individuals, and they can put colleagues forward as a thankyou for their amazing efforts. Importantly, applications in support of any BID business are also welcomed from the public. “Those who make the shortlist can come along to the glittering ceremony and enjoy a spectacular party night in a magnificent venue – dinner, dancing and a drink or two with friends and colleagues from the city centre business community. The 2023 edition attracted over 330 people to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel earlier this year and we expect demand to be even higher this time.” Entries for the awards can be submitted now through the HullBID events website with a deadline of 5pm on Monday January 22, 2024. The presentation night will take place on Friday February 23 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Hull.

Entry is free and businesses can enter as many categories as they like provided they complete a separate form for each one. Shortlisted businesses will qualify for four free tickets for the big celebration night, with extra tickets available a discount. To view the awards categories, complete the simple application procedure and find out more about how to get your tickets for the celebration night visit https://hullbidevents.co.uk/

Awards categories:

Innovation – Sponsored by Bridge McFarland. Stylish or Welcoming Premises – Sponsored by Hull City Council. Outstanding Employee or Team Award – Sponsored by AaGlobal. Longevity – Sponsored by Allenby Commercial. Customer Service Excellence – Sponsored by Clearanswer. Contribution to the Community – Sponsored by the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Commitment to Health and Wellbeing – Sponsored by Bryce Mennell. The Best in Food and Drink – Sponsored by Hull Trains. The Best Place to Work – Sponsored by St Stephen’s. Outstanding Contribution – Sponsored by Prestige Recruitment. Judges Special Recognition Award – Sponsored by East Yorkshire Buses.

COMPANY NEWS

COMMERCE-INDUSTRY.CO.UK

Associated British Ports on the Humber working to support local communities

Associated British Ports (ABP) works to support many charities and organisations across the Humber region

BP has been a headline sponsor of the ABP Humber Half Marathon and 10k for the last seven years, and alongside race organisers Tape2Tape, will be bringing this incredible event back to the Cleethorpes shoreline in 2024 on September 15th. If you would like to join the race and take part in either the Half Marathon or 10k you can register now. Tape2Tape Managing Director, Nicola Pattison, said: “Thank you to ABP for its continued support. The race has far-reaching benefits for those involved and the local community at large who come out in force to support over 2000 runners, and 350 volunteers the day. Another benefit of the race is all the charities it supports, not only does it support the Cleethorpes RNLI there are lots of smaller charities that also get involved, and their efforts are rewarded with a donation.” ABP have also been Platinum Partners of Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University for three years and have supported the charity for over a decade. The charity works with children growing up in disadvantaged areas of Hull and East Yorkshire who may not have the same opportunities as others. They organise visits to London, sleepovers at the Natural History Museum and visits to local businesses to learn about different industries. Their work aims to broaden children’s horizons and raise aspirations. As part of the Platinum Partnership, ABP sponsored an experience to Edinburgh for a class of 30 children. The children travelled by train and set up camp in a hall next to the iconic castle, before visiting exciting attractions such as Camera Obscura, Dynamic Earth and of course Edinburgh Castle. The children even got to try out some Scottish dancing. An experience to remember for a lifetime!

Above: The ABP Humber Coastal Half Marathon and 10k will be back on the 15th September 2024.

CEO of Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University, Rose James, said: “The support ABP Humber has given our charity over the years as partners has given us the opportunity to reach thousands more children. In the 10 years that ABP has been involved with our charity we have increased the number of children we support from 1,800 to over 11,000. Our partners have played a huge part in this, and we are incredibly grateful for ABP Humber’s ongoing support.” This year ABP also announced a new partnership with Immingham Museum. ABP donated £10,000 to the museum to invest in a new floor dedicated to highlighting the Port of Immingham’s fascinating history, alongside its current activity Keeping Britain Trading. For 22 years ABP Humber has been supporting the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Sea Cadets that offer all kinds of activities on and off the water to its young members. Their work focuses on

building confidence and teamwork within a supportive environment. The Cadets are very active with ABP’s events and activities too, having joined in with the Port of Grimsby’s successful Heritage Open Day and longstanding remembrance service. Head of Policy, Communications and Economic Development for the Humber ABP ports, Dafydd Williams, said: “Our commitment to the community have great impact across the region. We have touched here on some of our key partnerships, but we also support smaller grassroots community groups and causes. Our team here on the Humber are all members of the local community so it is important to ABP that we invest in the area, helping to raise the opportunities and aspirations for all.” www.abports.co.uk

WILLIAMSONS SOLICITORS

COMMERCE-INDUSTRY.CO.UK

The stand-out commercial property team that ‘gets the job done’

Are you in the know about this highly skilled and dynamic property trio?

ith genuine commercial acumen and decades of experience, the team at Williamsons Solicitors comprises two of the region’s best-known solicitors in the field, Steve Davidson and Andrew Cooney. With support from their colleague Sam Pollard, they are providing an efficient and exemplary service to clients with diverse requirements. Covering the Hull and East Yorkshire region as well as further afield, Steve works from Williamsons’ Driffield office, looking after clients in rural communities and market towns, while Andrew focuses on the urban centre of Hull and surrounding areas. From agricultural and retail, to industrial and landlord, they have the requisite skills along with sound knowledge of current legislation and the economic climate to provide insightful counsel. Whether working on high value, complex commercial property matters or everyday transactions, their commitment to getting the job done and getting it right, has led to a host of loyal clients who regard them as a trusted partner. According to Andrew, their approach is focused on steering a transaction painlessly without getting ‘bogged down’. “We like to get from A to B as quickly as possible while understanding what is important,” he says. “We can put ourselves in a client’s shoes, problem solve and get them to where they need to be with minimum fuss.” Keen to emphasise how they add value, Andrew adds that their work is ‘far more than purely transactional’. “We have our clients’ backs and understand how a transaction affects broader business and personal interests, which may include how it impacts a wealth management strategy or succession and tax planning,” he says.

“We truly value helping our clients to understand the legal implications and build their knowledge for future business health and growth.” The department works on many commercial property matters including leases and licences, acquisitions and disposals, financing and refinancing, option agreements, contracts conditional on planning, and investment sales and purchases of tenanted properties. Add the strength of their local networks to their knowledge and approachability, and this trio really stands out in the regional commercial property scene. “Steve and I have done commercial property work for around 35 years each. It’s in our

blood,” says Andrew. “And with the support of Sam, we are providing a seamless service.” Williamsons Solicitors employs more than 120 staff across its Hull head office, and Bridlington and Driffield branches, carrying out expert work in most areas of private client law including family and childcare, wills and probate, defence advocacy, civil litigation, conveyancing and commercial property, personal injury, and clinical negligence.

Good, reliable legal advice is just a phone call away. Contact Williamsons Solicitors on Telephone: 01482 323697 or visit: www.williamsons-solicitors.co.uk

ACCOUNTANCY

COMMERCE-INDUSTRY.CO.UK

ACCOUNTANCY

COMMERCE-INDUSTRY.CO.UK

It is always vital to review your financial goals ahead of the end of the tax year.

It is that time of year when you need to make sure your business and personal finances are in the strongest possible position for whatever the future may hold. This includes planning to make the most of the taxsaving opportunities available to you, particularly ahead of the tax year-end.

• If you are aged over 55, have you taken advice about the options for drawing your pension savings?

here are many ways your accountant can help you identify suitable tax planning measures to help mitigate personal tax liabilities, increase your business’s profitability and maximise your personal wealth.

• Have you made gifts to use your annual IHT allowances? • Are you considering any charitable gifts now or in your will?

It is essential to act now in order to minimise your tax bill and maximise tax reliefs – don’t leave it until 5 April 2024. There are a number of tax-efficient planning options you might wish to implement before the deadline. • Could you transfer income to your partner to minimise higher and top rate taxation next year, to maximise the tax-free savings and dividend income limits, or to avoid losing child benefit? • Have you considered the timing of dividends and bonuses to minimise tax rates?

• Have you used your annual CGT exempt amount by making any available disposals before 5 April 2024? • Have you used this year’s ISA allowance before 5 April 2024? • Are you investing enough in your pension (or possibly a lifetime ISA) if you wish to, or have to, retire earlier than state pension age, which is likely to keep going up?

Talking to your accountant in good time will ensure that they can discuss the tax planning opportunities available to you and help you manage your cashflow by giving you early warnings of any tax payments due.

Do get in touch if you would like to talk to Forrester Boyd about how they can help you with your year-end tax planning. Visit: www. forrester-boyd.co.uk or email info@forresterboyd.co.uk to organise your no-obligation conversation.

ACCOUNTANCY

COMMERCE-INDUSTRY.CO.UK

Navigating the Uncharted Waters of 2024 As we stand on the precipice of 2024, the UK business landscape is poised for another year of uncertainty.

ike Beckett, Chairman of Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants gives us his thoughts on what is in store for businesses in 2024.

The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, have created an environment of unprecedented complexity. For UK businesses, navigating this uncharted territory will require resilience, adaptability, and a cleareyed understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

and well-being. As Richard Branson said, “take care of your employees and they will take care of your business”. Whilst we are on the topic of investments, we also see some movement in M&A activity as consolidation moves up the agenda. We believe this will steadily increase throughout 2024. Another trend growing in strength will be around sustainability and ESG. Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable products and services, while investors are prioritising companies with strong ESG credentials. Whilst inflation remains above 2% it is predicted to fall in 2024 which provides some good news for businesses as this should lead to an increase in consumer confidence. We are also seeing house prices starting to rise again which further illustrates rising consumer confidence but in a fragile market, any downward shift could quickly reverse this trend. Meanwhile we believe that interest rates should remain relatively stable, however, the IMF have recently updated their forecast for GDP expecting it to grow by 0.6% - down from 1.0%. Amidst this challenging economic backdrop, several key trends are shaping the UK business landscape. The rapid adoption of digital technologies, particularly the use of AI is revolutionising businesses across all sectors. Companies that embrace technology will be well-positioned to enhance efficiency, improve customer experience, and gain a competitive edge. Whilst AI is still in its infancy, there are some expressing concern about its impact on jobs. At a recent conference, a speaker discussing AI stated, “it is not AI that will replace jobs, it is those who use AI that will replace jobs”. Talking about jobs, there are some promising signs that the labour market is starting to improve. We have seen a very tough market with a lack of available talent leading to increases in the cost of recruitment. 2024 might see the tide turn favourably for businesses. This is why investing in staff, developing talent and enhancing skills will be key to retaining and attracting top talent. Businesses should focus on providing training and development opportunities for their employees whilst ensuring they actively approach staff health

When we look at the challenges and opportunities we envisage for 2024, we also have to bear in mind that in Lincolnshire and the Humber, we often find that we do not experience the extreme peaks and troughs in the economy as other areas. We have quite a robust and stable market with some very resilient sectors such as food and drink, offshore wind, oil and gas and ports and logistics. Whilst we may be sheltered from some of the economic extremes, one thing we cannot shelter from is the impact of political influences such as the potential for a general election which could once again create some waves. Businesses across the UK have all become more resilient and agile, traits which we had to adopt during the pandemic, and this is something that we will need to maintain into 2024. The need to be able to pivot strategies, embrace new technologies, and respond quickly to market shifts will be a critical tool in any business’ arsenal. While the UK business landscape in 2024 presents significant challenges, it also offers opportunities for growth and innovation. Businesses that embrace technology, build sustainability into their processes and invest in talent development, will be well positioned to thrive in the years to come. Make sure you can navigate the uncharted waters with resilience, adaptability, and a clear vision for the future, as UK businesses can emerge stronger and more successful in 2024.

AI FUTURES

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AI Futures Workshops in Hull

Empowering SMEs to Embrace AI, Your Journey Starts Here Hull, UK – 18th December 2023 – AI Futures is pleased to announce a series of transformative workshops in Hull, aimed at assisting SMEs, Entrepreneurs, Solopreneurs, and executives in understanding and harnessing the power of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT in their day-to-day operations and everyday work processes.

he first workshop will be held at The Edge Digital Hub, Hull, Friday 26th January 2024 followed by a sequence of sessions at Hull City Council Managed Workplaces in February and March 2024. These workshops will be led by Hullborn Geoffrey Bye, CEO and Founder of AI Futures an alumnus of MIT’s, “Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy” and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Geoffrey is a former student of Andrew Marvell School and Hull College of Further Education.

“AI Futures is dedicated to making AI accessible and beneficial for all,” says Geoffrey. “Our workshops in my hometown of Hull, mark the start of an exciting journey for local SMEs. They are designed to demystify AI and demonstrate its potential in a non-technical manner. Participants will learn how AI can transform their operations, improve efficiency, and spur growth.”

Allan Rickyard, Manager of Hull City Council Managed Workplaces, adds: “Our collaboration with AI Futures is a testament to our commitment to empowering Hull’s SMEs. I have attended Geoffrey’s workshops; they are a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead in today’s digital world.”

Antonio Tomabanane, Co-Founder of The Edge Hub, shares his enthusiasm, “We are excited to host AI Futures at The Edge. Geoffrey is a powerful speaker. This is a fantastic opportunity for local SMEs and executives to gain valuable insights into AI and its practical applications.”

Do not miss this chance to future-proof your business. Book your spot on the AI Futures, AIMatters4BusinessTM and AIGILETM workshops now!

For further information contact: info@aifutures.co.uk

OFFICE FURNITURE

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APSS Eyes Further Growth Following Office Furniture Business Buyout Lincolnshire-based APSS Group has acquired furniture supply and installation business TPS Office Furniture, significantly expanding its furniture offering and expertise.

or over 25 years, APSS, as part of the APSS Group, has been at the forefront of designing and creating dynamic spaces for office, retail, healthcare, educational and industrial environments. Following the acquisition, TPS Office Furniture, which will maintain its distinctive identity, will join the group and operate from the APSS Group’s headquarters on Kingsley Road, Lincoln. Founder Ted Sidebottom will stay on as a consultant and Rob Coomber as Installations Manager to ensure a seamless transition. Laurence Barrass, APSS Managing Director, expressed his enthusiasm, emphasising that integrating Ted and his team’s knowledge will strengthen APSS Group’s comprehensive range of services. “This acquisition aligns perfectly with the APSS Group’s growth trajectory. Over the past 25 years we have evolved from providing office partitions to offering a complete design and fit-out service,” explained Laurence.

“With TPS Office Furniture now on board, a dedicated service for standalone furniture will be available to our customers across the East Midlands and throughout the UK.

office furniture

“The synergy between the two companies will benefit both sets of customers. TPS Office Furniture’s clients now have access to APSS’ team of skilled commercial design and fit-out specialists, enhancing workspace efficiency. “Simultaneously, APSS customers now have a broader range of furniture options and over 30 years of knowledge, contacts, and experience at their disposal.”

Outstanding service, quality and choice.. The right furniture to improve efficiency and productivity Phone: 01522 738330 Email: info@tpsofficefurniture.co.uk Web: www.tpsofficefurniture.co.uk

Ted added: “I’ve really enjoyed my time in the furniture industry and I have built up a lot of good relationships and I am excited by this next chapter.” For more information, please visit www.apss.co.uk

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Energy efficiency is the key to achieving decarbonisation

ENGINEERING

Measurement and control technology realising your sustainability goals Throughout the course of history, humanity has consistently strived to transform energy into motion through the most effective available methods. From the use of wind and water mills, to the invention of the steam engine and the adoption of the electric motor — each successive invention was more efficient than the last. Today, this need is still great, as the world continues to decarbonise industries and infrastructure. The good news is that the technology needed to significantly reduce energy consumption is already available today, as Stephen Hayes, managing director of automation and control technology specialist, Beckhoff UK, explains.

ecarbonisation refers to all measures through which a business, government or organisation reduces its carbon footprint. Usually, these are the efforts described to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce one’s impact on the climate. According to new research by Make UK, formerly known as the Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF), manufacturers have moved decarbonisation up the priority ladder. In fact, eight in ten companies are now saying it is of high or medium importance to their business. The research – Decarbonising manufacturing: Challenges and opportunities — shows that companies are accelerating efforts to decarbonise. Crucially, it goes on to state that this is due to rising energy costs, the need to do the right thing and the rising cost of raw materials. Energy crisis On the former, the energy crisis has not only put public awareness to an all-time high, but it is also greatly affecting industries vital to the UK’s economy. This comes as 42 per cent of manufacturers, from the same research, have seen their electricity bills increase by 100 per cent in the last year. What’s more, for energy-intensive industries like manufacturing, the significant price increases are also inflating production costs. Last year, Eurostat’s data revealed a staggering 101 per cent increase in energy prices across the EU between March 2021 and 2022, amplifying the financial strain on businesses. For example, industries such as aluminium smelters are cutting capacity or closing operations. The knock-on effect of this will also be felt by the automotive industry, renewables equipment manufacturers, the construction industry and drinks producers, who will have to find alternative aluminium suppliers. But mitigating these costs is possible.

Energy efficiency According to the aforementioned Make UK research, energy efficiency is seen as key to achieving decarbonisation. Here, 47 per cent of manufacturers have already adjusted their business practices to cut energy consumption in response to the energy price hikes in 2022. This is also prompting companies to change their industrial processes to not only become more cost-effective, but sustainable too. Afterall, energy efficiency measures aim to use less energy to achieve the same or even improved outcomes. This, in turn, directly contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production and consumption.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11... With that in mind, did you know that automation technologies can be used to optimise and improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes? By automating and controlling systems more effectively, energy consumption can be reduced. Just look at Hayabusa’s Japanese spacecraft, which installed a total of 23,000 bins and 76 robots. This not only translated to a 165 per cent sales increase and doubled the warehouse’s original capacity, but also lowered energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions.

And the good news is that all of this is achievable with the right automation option. Options, including Beckhoff’s PC-based control system, are a good way to start. For example, Bennet SpA, an Italian department store group, is using modern building automation in its 73 stores and 45 shopping centers, with Beckhoff’s PCbased control. The system is created to

achieve flexible designs for varied lighting environments, ensuring energy efficiency and meeting the operator’s diverse requirements. Here, Beckhoff’s TwinCAT software enables versatile project implementation, and its distributed control intelligence aligns with INTEREL’s open, cross-platform automation philosophy. Supported interfaces also play a crucial role, facilitating the expansion and modernisation of the intermod automation stations. From this, among other projects, Beckhoff recently won the 2024 German Sustainability

Award, for the transformative measurement and control technology category. Measurement and control technology play a crucial role in achieving sustainability goals, as the world continues to decarbonise industries and infrastructure. Crucially, technology like this is here today, helping manufacturers to reduce its energy consumption and the environmental impact it has across industries. For more information about Beckhoff’s secure communication protocol, TwinCAT and other control technology, visit www.beckhoff.com.

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Elsewhere, Tesla’s automotive Gigafactory uses automation to streamline production and reduce energy consumption. Tesla has significantly minimised its environmental impact while increasing productivity, simply by automating material handling and deploying energy-efficient equipment.

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managers are here to help.

In these continuing uncertain times, it can often be difficult to know how to move forward. Costs are continuing to increase with no real light at the end of the tunnel and as a business owner there’s always uncertainty as to the best way forward to help your business grow. At the Growing Places Fund (GPF), managed by the Hull & East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP), we may be able to help if you have plans to grow your business and are trading in either Hull or East Yorkshire.

he HEY LEP Investment Programme Team are not new to helping businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire. We have a successful track record with the previous Growing the Humber (Humber LEP) and Growing Hull & East Yorkshire funding programmes and now the Growing Places Fund is continuing to help businesses at the next stage of their development. Grants are generally awarded to businesses with the aim of generating jobs, energising local communities, and strengthening the economy. The Growing Places Fund can provide capital investment with a view to increasing productivity in your business, in the forms of grants and/ or loans from a minimum of £5,000 up to a maximum of £250,000. If your business has been trading for less than a year a grant would normally be capped at £20,000.

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The Fund has been running since April 2022 and in that time, we have supported 43 businesses with capital investment from a range of sectors, including Manufacturing to Real Estate across both Hull & East Yorkshire with a 50/50 split across both regions.

We are a not-for-profit social enterprise that backs budding startups and established businesses that face challenges accessing staff hire / growth funding, our loans fund a wide mainstream bank loans. it’s fortifying range of business needs Whether across most business sectors. your working capital, acquiring essential equipment or stock, expanding your team, or What’s lending our decisions are made fuelling more, growthour initiatives, loans cater to a by diverse array of businessOur requirements. humans not computers. dedicated investment

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Principal of employer-led school calls for curriculum shake-up to bridge critical skills gaps The Principal of an employer-led school in Yorkshire has called for changes to the curriculum so all schools can offer subjects that help bridge skills gaps to benefit the economy and the drive to net zero.

arah Pashley, Principal of Ron Dearing University Technical College in Hull, says the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), which includes GCSEs in English Language and Literature, Maths, Science, a language and Geography or History, should be scrapped to give schools across the country the freedom to put technology and creativity at the heart of learning, alongside more traditional academic subjects. UTCs are exempt from the EBacc and can offer their own curriculum, which, at Ron Dearing UTC, includes technical and creative qualifications. Sarah Pashley was speaking following a visit to the school by Shadow Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell.

Sarah Pashley said: “The current emphasis on the EBacc is not meeting the needs of industry or society because it doesn’t include any arts subjects, with means these subjects are devalued. This is a great shame. “Arts subjects are essential to developing creative thinking and cultural capital. They encourage self-expression while building confidence and a sense of individual identity. “The EBacc also doesn’t include any technical or digital qualifications, which makes no sense. The Government has recognised there’s a big skills gap in STEM and they’ve tried to address this with their White Paper, which introduces more tech qualifications for 16 to 18-year-olds.

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From left, Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley, Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy and Shadow Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell outside the employer-led school in Hull. Sarah Pashley has called for the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) to be scrapped to give schools the freedom to focus on technology and creativity.

Emma Hardy MP, second left, briefs Shadow Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell, third left, on a project to plant an area near Ron Dearing UTC with butterfly, bee and bat-friendly plants to increase biodiversity and pollination as part of the school’s Eco Club.

“However, their aspiration that 90% of Key Stage 4 students study the EBacc is killing the technical curriculum in Years 10 and 11. “The great thing about being a UTC is we’re exempt from the EBacc curriculum and we’re free to choose qualifications that industry needs and which best meet the needs of our students. “It’s becoming increasingly urgent that more students study technical and digital qualifications as we strive to achieve net zero targets and renewable industries desperately need people with skills to develop and install technology. “At Ron Dearing UTC, we’re able to put sustainability, creativity, engineering and sciences at the heart of our curriculum and focus on teaching our students industry-critical skills.” Catherine McKinnell visited Ron Dearing UTC with Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy Emma Hardy to meet students involved in the school’s Eco Club, which is part of an extensive enrichment programme to broaden students’ horizons outside the classroom.

The students are working with Hull City Council to plant an area of Kingston Square, opposite the UTC in the city centre, with butterfly, bee and bat-friendly plants to increase biodiversity and pollination, drawing on their creative and scientific knowledge. The shadow minister also met students involved in the F1 in Schools Challenge, the world’s largest Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition, which inspires engineers of the future. Sarah Pashley said the school’s outstanding exam results, very high attendance and the exciting university courses and apprenticeships that students have gone onto after leaving the UTC all show that a non-EBacc curriculum works for young people, universities and employers. She said it raises standards of attainment and attendance – a major problem nationally since the Covid-19 pandemic. She added: “A lot of young people become disengaged in their GCSE years because schools are being forced to drive significant numbers of pupils down the EBacc route. Many young people want to study humanities and languages in Key Stage 4 and should be able to do so. However, many others do not. “Forcing them to do so demotivates them, impacts their exam results and attendance negatively and fails to address the STEM and creative skills gaps.

“The Government needs to give creative, digital and technical qualifications equality with traditional academic qualifications and ditch its obsession with the EBacc.” Catherine McKinnell said: “It was fantastic to meet pupils and leaders at Ron Dearing UTC and to see the broad and rich curriculum that is being delivered. Unfortunately, too many young people leave education without the qualifications and pathways they need. “Labour’s Curriculum and Assessment Review will focus on delivering high and rising standards in the basics of reading, writing and Maths, alongside enriching subjects like Art, Music, Sport and Drama. “We need to ensure young people leave school with both knowledge and confidence with skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork to set them up to succeed.” Ron Dearing UTC caters for students aged between 14 and 19, offering a unique model of employer-led education with a specialist focus on creative arts, digital technology, computing and engineering. The school has recently expanded its capacity from 600 to 800 students following funding from the Department for Education’s (DfE) Post-16 Capacity Fund. Hull’s former Hull Central Fire Station has been transformed into STEAM Studios, the school’s new dedicated centre for creativity.

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Flagship OWC is launched with leading industry awards

Humber Marine & Renewables has launched Offshore Wind Connections 2024.

ollowing the huge success of its 10th anniversary in 2023, OWC2024 will once again be held in partnership with the Humber Renewables Awards. The two-day flagship conference at Doubletree by Hilton, Hull on May 1 and 2, will lead into the well-established awards and gala dinner, making it the industry event of the year. With a broad net zero theme, OWC2024 has secured headline sponsorship from RWE which is currently in the planning stages of its Dogger Bank South offshore wind farms. The event will attract hundreds to its exhibition, networking and speakers, with many staying on as finalists and guests at the Humber Renewables Awards in the same venue.

Kicking off on the evening of May 1 with opening speeches from high-profile guest speakers and the RenewableUK Connect event, delegates will have access to some of the most influential people and companies in the thriving sector. Day two will continue with speakers, presentations and networking. Experts and industry figures from OEMs, government organisations, manufacturers, port operators, vessel owners and operations and maintenance service providers, will discuss the latest developments and provide updates on key projects.

Corrine Barry, RWE’s East Coast Director, Net Zero, said: “RWE is elated to be sponsoring OWC2024. Sponsorship of this pivotal event not only emphasises our commitment to the local region, but also highlights the broader significance of fostering collaboration and innovation within the sector. By investing in initiatives that bring people together, we aim to cultivate a vibrant, interconnected landscape that propels both local growth and the sector-wide advancements in offshore wind.”

For general enquiries and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mary Green, owc@humber-marine-renewables.co.uk To book tickets and exhibition space, or for general information, please visit www.offshorewindconnections.co.uk

Headline Sponsor:

In partnership with

1-2 May 2024 Doubletree by Hilton, Hull Annual conference, exhibition, networking and awards www.offshorewindconnections.com

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Hornsea 2 is officially world’s largest wind farm Guinness Book of World Records has officially named Hornsea 2, constructed and operated by Ørsted, as the world’s largest windfarm in capacity.

In the 2024 edition of the famous book, it states ‘Highest-capacity offshore wind farm. Hornsea 2 is a 1,320-MW wind farm built by Danish firm Ørsted some 89km (55.3miles) off the coast of Yorkshire, UK. The facility’s 165 turbines were declared operational on 31 Aug 2022. At maximum efficiency, the turbines can generate enough power for 1.4 million homes.’ This feat of engineering was built through Covid-19, battling with restrictions, and self-isolation rules. The 165 mighty turbines stand at over 200m tall, with most of the blades being delivered from the Siemens Gamesa factory in Hull. One rotation of the blades on each turbine generates enough electricity to power a home for 24 hours. In September 2022, AXA IM Alts and Crédit Agricole Assurances together purchased 50% of the windfarm for £3 billion.

Duncan Clark, Head of UK and Ireland at Ørsted, said:

presenting the certificate. Colleagues were gifted books as thanks for their hard work.

“This fantastic achievement has come from years of hard work planning, building, and now maintaining Hornsea 2. Being named by the Guinness Book of World Records is recognition that we’re immensely proud of. There are too many people to thank, but each and everyone’s efforts has made this happen. Thank you all for your continued hard work.”

As always, safety is at the forefront of Ørsted’s projects. This is demonstrated through a new purpose-built safety training facility built with Active Training Team. The one-day interactive, multi-media programme has been designed to transform behaviour and attitudes towards safety. All colleagues who worked and are working on Hornsea 2 have completed the training.

The teams celebrated this achievement on Thursday 14th December, with the official adjudicator visiting the East Coast Hub (the largest operations and maintenance facility, for offshore wind, in the world) and

The innovation and strive for a greener planet doesn’t just stop once the wind farm has been built. In 2024, Ørsted will be introducing the first green fuel Service Operation Vessel for offshore wind operations. The vessel will be capable of sailing on renewable e-methanol, which will lead to a yearly carbon emissions reduction of approx. 4,500 tonnes.

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Historic land deal helps Immingham port expansion In one of the largest land deals done in recent years, North East Lincolnshire Council’s Cabinet agreed last week [30 November 2023] to release land to Associated British Ports (ABP).

In a prime strategic location next to the A180 and located two miles from the Port of Immingham and six miles from the Port of Grimsby, the designated employment site is one of the largest of the original Enterprise Zones in the area and is key to future proofing the continued growth of ABP’s commercial business on the Humber.

he land includes 28 acres of allocated development land at Stallingborough Interchange, and two small areas of land in NELC ownership.

Pioneer Business Park (PBP) is a strand of the award winning South Humber Industrial Investment Programme (SHIIP) which has so far seen the Myenergi and HETA facilities developed on the site, with other projects in the pipeline. Other elements of SHIIP include a new link road between Immingham and Grimsby which has unlocked development land and improved connectivity between the ports, and two ecological mitigation sites, the first in Europe, created to offset the environmental impact of future developments and provide a safe haven for birds. These innovative interventions have proven to be a key part in attracting large scale investment to the area. Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of the Council, said: “The sale has realised the opportunity to see development accelerated at Pioneer Business Park at a pace which is likely to bring with it a variety of benefits, including additional investment, facilities and jobs locally.

“I’d like to thank ABP for coming to the table with the proposals, and for creating what will be one of the biggest single developments in the area in recent times.” ABP has also been working with other landowners in the area to assemble a wider parcel of land to concentrate these operations in. The overall deal will see ABP investing significantly to expand its port operations around Immingham after the purchase of the freehold of 227.5 acres at Stallingborough Interchange. The prominent site is earmarked for commercial port opportunities including automotive, bulk warehousing, distribution and logistics uses, advanced manufacturing, as well as green energy initiatives.

Simon Bird, Regional Director of the Humber said: “This is an important milestone in the future growth of the Humber ports. It demonstrates the need for strategic investment in land to facilitate the continued growth of ABP and to maintain the Humber ports leading position in the UK, as well as significant investment in the region for jobs. “As demand is expected to increase for energy generation, automotive storage, bulk warehousing, and storage and distribution uses our space constraints within our ports will increase. This additional land will ensure the delivery of state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities, and technological innovation for new and existing customers.”

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Expansion of premises to build a new “FLATPAX” showroom in 2024

We are suppliers of New and Used Shipping Containers Worldwide.

family run business based in the heart of Great Grimsby with a network of supply depots at all the major ports around the world. We pride ourselves on our local roots and our aim is to offer our international expertise to the business community in the Humber and Lincolnshire area.

“Flatpax” delivered to Nunnies farm and built in the mud, lots of mud!

Our team have over 30 years’ experience in the shipping, haulage and container industry, we know shipping containers inside and out. Our experience is on hand every step of the way to ensure the best price and quality. We have a trusted supply chain network at our disposal; transport, modifications, conversions and with flexible payment options and even a BNPL option, we can live up to our mantra of “your container, your way”. We can supply and deliver any size and type of container anywhere, from a 6ft to 45ft standard container, refrigerated container, DNV and ISO rated containers and our newest innovation the “flatpax” container that can be built on site in just about any location. We service a wide range of industry sectors: UK ports and offshore, Education, Agriculture, Food, Military, Healthcare, Energy, Local Government, Waste Disposal, Construction, Storage Hire Companies, Shipping Container Companies and of course Shipping and Haulage. Containers are on stock in our UK depots, and

we have the latest stock availability from around the world, so whether it’s a single container or a bulk order, we can safely say we go the extra mile! Refrigerated containers are our bread and butter, we learnt our trade within the food industry, “REEFERS” were the foundation of our business, Grimsby, and Immingham our first and primary location. Reefers in stock at our UK depots

For further information please visit www.flatpax.co.uk www.hscinternational.co.uk

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Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird

Humber Freeport Chair welcomes Autumn Statement measures to accelerate freeports investment The Chair of Humber Freeport has welcomed significant announcements in the Autumn Statement, and prior to it, that will enable freeports to deliver transformational inward investment. The most significant announcement related to freeports was a five-year extension to freeport tax breaks until 2031, thereby supporting large-scale investments driving economic growth, job creation and innovation. This announcement was made by HM Treasury in advance of the Autumn Statement. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also announced a new, £150m Investment Opportunity Fund for freeports and Investment Zone sites for investor-specific programmes.

business rates and national insurance payment holidays. “Around £1bn of inward investment has already been secured in Humber Freeport tax sites and these positive changes can unlock billions of pounds of further investment in the Humber, creating thousands of skilled jobs.

Significantly for the Humber region, two devolution deals were also confirmed – for Hull and the East Riding, and Greater Lincolnshire.

“Alongside our partners and the region’s MPs, the Humber Freeport company lobbied Government for many of the measures that have been announced, to enable the scale of investment we envisage to be delivered in this region to be realised.

Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird: “We welcome announcements in the Autumn Statement which will accelerate investment in freeport locations. Uniquely, freeports benefit from

“The announcements will enable freeports to turbocharge investment in UK Plc, with the Humber at the forefront of the drive to decarbonise industry and deliver green growth.”

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New £4.2 million investment at the Port of Hull

Associated British Ports (ABP) has invested £4.2 million in a new Liebherr LHM 420 mobile harbour crane for the Port of Hull. The new crane arrived on the MV Meri at King George V Dock where it was discharged by operations teams from ABP and Liebherr.

he multi-purpose crane originated from Liebherr’s factory at the Port of Sunderland and will be used by Thor Shipping and Transport for general cargo lifts within their stevedoring operation at the port.

The New Liebherr LHM 420 at the Port of Hull.

ABP is delivering an investment plan that is working to ensure high levels of safety, across its ports alongside improved efficiency and reduced emissions. The Liebherr LHM 420 has a range of features to ensure the comfort of the operator, with its hydrostatic drive enabling precise control of the crane. The new crane is also equipped with a revolutionary hybrid drive system. Energy from lowering a load, along with surplus power from the conversion drive, is diverted to an accumulator that enables a power boost when required, despite the primary power delivery remaining unchanged, helping to conserve fuel. Earlier this year ABP launched its sustainability strategy Ready for Tomorrow. Backed by an investment of £2 billion the strategy outlines how ABP will be

decarbonising its own operations by 2040 at the latest and supporting major infrastructure projects to enable the wider UK energy transition.

Simon Bird, ABP Humber Regional Director, said: “We are scrutinising every investment we make to ensure we are working towards our Ready for Tomorrow goal whilst meeting the needs of our port tenants and customers. The Humber Ports offer great connectivity to northern markets and a multi-skilled team of stevedores to deliver timely operations safely. As 2023 comes to a close we look to an even brighter New Year with the Humber playing its vital role in the country’s energy transition and enabling more sustainable trade to our island nation.” https://readyfortomorrow. abports.co.uk/ www.abports.co.uk

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TEPS Expands Its Footprint with New Warehouse Development Amidst Growing Demand TEPS, a Hull and Yorkshire-based family-run Haulage, Storage, and Distribution company, is excited to announce the construction of a new warehouse and office. As part of the sixth generation John Good Group, TEPS is reinforcing its commitment to adapt and grow in response to market needs, which is being a strategic supply chain & logistics partner in the Hull and Yorkshire region.

he new development will feature a state-of-the-art 25,000 sq. ft warehouse, capable of housing 5,000 pallets, alongside a 1,900 sq. ft office block. This expansion will not only increase TEPS’s capacity to nearly 200,000 sq. ft but also enhance its operational efficiency. The new warehouse will create new roles and opportunities within the local area to be recruited for in 2024. In line with TEPS’s dedication to sustainability, the construction of their new warehouse and offices will repurpose materials from other locations within the group, helping to minimise the build’s environmental impact. This eco-conscious approach, reflecting the company’s commitment to the planet, complements the recent achievement of operational carbon neutrality by TEPS and John Good Group. This integration of sustainable practices, including the implementation of solar energy, highlights the company’s balanced approach to growth and environmental responsibility.

Adam Walsh, CEO of John Good Group, adds, “I’m delighted we were able to give the green light for TEPS on this multi-million-pound investment into the site. It’s a real vote of confidence in Paul and the team, who consistently deliver a service that makes them a standout operator in the region. I’m also pleased we were able to include a new office block in the development. Our people make the difference in our business, and to give them a new home with far superior facilities will help us retain and attract talent for years to come.”

Managing Director of TEPS, Paul Fordon, comments, “This expansion is a significant milestone for TEPS. By constructing this new warehouse and office space, we are not just scaling our operations but also reaffirming our dedication to our clients and the environment. The integration of the new offices within the warehouse facility is a testament to our commitment to operational excellence.”

Scheduled for completion in Spring 2024, this new facility is set to be a major milestone in TEPS’s growth strategy, solidifying its position as a leader in the warehousing, storage, and distribution sector. This development is not just a response to growing demand but also a proactive step towards a more efficient, sustainable future in logistics.

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Driver CPC changes will bring flexibility to industry, says Logistics UK Changes to the way in which HGV drivers can achieve their professional qualifications will give the logistics industry flexibility in how and when training is taken, according to business group Logistics UK.

he Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is continual professional development which is carried out throughout a professional HGV driver’s career. Currently, drivers must undertake a block of 35 hours’ training, but as Chris Yarsley, Senior Policy Manager, Road Freight Regulation explains, the new regulations will introduce more flexibility and better targeted training for the businesses on which the whole of the economy relies: “Road safety is the bedrock on which professional drivers operate,” he says, “and the Driver CPC regime is at the heart of this commitment. As we enter the next five-year cycle of training and qualifications for the nation’s HGV drivers, Logistics UK is heartened to see that government’s new legislation will provide more flexibility for professional drivers to undertake training in smaller blocks of time (35 hours in blocks of 3.5 hours is now permitted, rather than blocks of 7hrs) while still attaining the standards required. The increased flexibility that the new legislation will permit will enable logistics businesses to keep goods moving through the supply chain, while ensuring that their drivers remain up to date on key professional driving legislation.”

As Yarsley continues, the changes will also provide more e-learning opportunities (12 hours of training will be permitted in the total of 35 hours) to give drivers time to complete training away from the classroom, and enable lapsed drivers to return to the sector more easily via a seven hour access course, which will help to ease the pressure on driver vacancies: “Under the new legislation, to be laid before Parliament in the spring, lapsed drivers will be able to start their return to the workforce with a seven hour course, which will provide driving rights for one year while they complete their full CPC qualification. This is good news for businesses still finding it hard to recruit new drivers to the sector, and ease the passage back into the workforce for those returning to the industry – with time available for them to undertake their full CPC training.” The new Driver CPC regime will introduce two classes of qualification – a National CPC for those intending only to drive in the UK, and an International CPC, close in its parameters to the current national standard, which would permit driving in the UK and abroad.

However, Logistics UK does have a word of caution for the government over another of the proposed reforms to Driver CPC legislation, which would replace training with a periodic test, of around 50 questions: “HGV driving is, by its nature, one of the most heavily regulated industries in the economy for a reason – the risks involved for drivers and other road users cannot be overlooked. The industry remains concerned by this proposal, which would replace training with a periodic test – in the opinion of our members, this will not provide sufficient assessment and evaluation to ensure drivers’ abilities are fully tested and should simply be discounted now. The safety of all road users is of paramount importance, and along with the rest of the industry, Logistics UK will maintain the logistics sector’s pressure on government to ensure that professional drivers can continue to move goods both in the UK and overseas safely and effectively.” Credit Logistics UK

FUTURE HUMBER

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As 2023 draws to a close, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to every one of you for your unwavering support of Future Humber and our remarkable region. As Chair, it is my privilege to reflect on the myriad accomplishments of the past 12 months, while eagerly anticipating the opportunities that 2024 undoubtedly holds. in our delivery, facilitating rich knowledge exchange and providing a platform for our extensive business community to share inspiring stories. Our events have addressed key challenges faced by our treasured business partners large and small, emphasising sustainability, workplace culture and the evolving digital landscape.

his year has seen some spectacular strides across our diverse sectors, solidifying the Humber as a hub for innovative developments in renewable energy, clean growth, advanced manufacturing, digital, healthcare, food & agriculture, culture and creativity. Humber Freeport and the Humber Energy Board’s Humber 2030 Vision stand as transformative initiatives, focused on decarbonising the UK’s biggest emitting industrial cluster and on fostering a skilled workforce while unlocking rich business opportunities for a sustainable future. We are steadfast in our commitment to unifying the Humber’s voice on the global stage. Through strategic partnerships and meaningful collaboration with key stakeholders, we continue to refine and deliver a powerful narrative that highlights the immense potential within our region. The array of business opportunities presented by the net zero agenda has allowed us to extend the Humber’s message to wider audiences, from Westminster receptions to the UK’s first Innovation Zero Congress. Our active involvement in the launch of Humber Freeport demonstrated the region’s vital role in driving distinctive economic prosperity, clean growth and recognisable ‘levelling up’’ – all aligning seamlessly with national government agendas. We also remain committed to strengthening further our brilliant Bondholder network. Our popular Bondholder Breakfast events and Industry Insights have played a pivotal role

As continuing and proud supporters of Humber Business Week, we again kicked off Destination Monday at the MKM Stadium, exploring the emotional value in place marketing. This event, accompanied by live art and poetry, captured the vibrant and exciting essence of the Humber region. Conversations there inspired the need to create a new and powerful ‘Place Narrative’ for the Humber, a project poised for launch at our next Humber Business Week event in 2024. You can support and help us shape that narrative in the months ahead so please get in touch with the team if you wish to be involved. This year also marked a significant step in fulfilling our promise to keep our Bondholders at the heart of everything we do. The brand evolution project reaffirmed our commitment to the beloved Bondholders brand, reflecting our role as conveners and storytellers dedicated to championing the Humber’s resurgent narrative of confidence, ambition, investment and opportunity. The Young Talent Network’s growth guided us to reposition the programme within our broader Bondholders strategy, resulting in the new Talent+ programme. Open to all in our region, it connects the workforce of the future, empowering and inspiring individuals and communities by strengthening key skills and fostering meaningful connections. I took particular pride in welcoming our new Board of Directors at our Annual Bondholder Summer Celebration, supported by a dedicated Advisory Board. This ‘refresh’ fortifies Future Humber’s voice across all sectors. Our operational team’s expansion and relocation to the C4DI building in the flourishing Fruit Market area also signifies our commitment to fostering collaboration within the region’s business community.

The year also saw additions to our recruitment resources, including the Your Move brochure, showcasing career and lifestyle opportunities in the Humber. Invest Humber Net Zero’s repositioning as investhumber.com reflects our commitment to providing comprehensive information on decarbonisation projects and the Humber as a vibrant place to live, work, and invest. Our fifth Waterline Summit underscored the region’s crucial role in achieving the UK’s net-zero goals, emphasising progress and identifying opportunities for action. As we accelerate toward net zero in 2024 and beyond, addressing challenges and opportunities in skills, talent, recruitment, technology, decarbonisation and freeports, our delivery is anchored in our four guiding ‘Ps’ of People, Place, Partnerships, and Planet. So much has been achieved over the past year yet so much more remains to be accomplished. I proudly invite you to explore our 2024 programme as we, collectively, continue to seek to shape a prosperous and sustainable future for the Humber region. Thank you again for your superb – and greatly appreciated - support during my three years so far as Chair. I look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year. With all best wishes,

Chair, Future Humber The link to the report is: sites.google. com/view/delivery-report-2023

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Thousands more rural homes and businesses to benefit from Quickline’s full fibre broadband

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Rural broadband provider Quickline Communications is celebrating hitting a string of notable milestones throughout 2023 – while pressing ahead with plans for a fast start to the new year.

ast Yorkshire-based Quickline continues to light up communities in remote and very hard to reach locations across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, passing 65,000 premises with gigabit-capable full fibre.

January, providing even more homes and businesses with connection to fast and reliable broadband via Quickline’s 5G fixed wireless broadband technology.

Places recently connected include Barlby and Hebden in North Yorkshire, Metheringham and Tealby in Lincolnshire, and Belton in North Lincolnshire.

Build teams are now working in Riccall, near Selby, North Yorkshire, to bring connectivity to the village. Work will begin soon in Settle, North Yorkshire, and Caistor in Lincolnshire, and Quickline is also building in South Yorkshire for the first time, taking full fibre to the village of Finningley, near Doncaster.

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved as a company and we’re excited for what the future holds.” Julian Chalk, Head of Enablement and Engagement at Quickline, said: “We’re proud to have connected many very hard to reach communities over the course of 2023.

Work is underway to make fast and reliable broadband available in more communities across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire as the provider continues its full fibre rollout. Quickline is rolling out its gigabit-capable full fibre network to rural communities stretching from North Yorkshire, across to West Yorkshire and down into South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

gigabit-capable full fibre network and have plans to introduce 2.5 Gbps in the new year.

Sean Royce, CEO of Quickline, said: “It’s been an incredibly successful year with some important milestones in our ongoing mission to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas.

Quickline has built a robust and diverse supply chain, combining its own Internal Build Team with reputable build partners, creating a capacity to connect 110,000 premises annually.

“We’ve scaled up our business with purpose and expanded our teams to further improve our ability to build and grow our networks, so we can continue to provide fast and reliable broadband to rural communities that would otherwise be left behind.

In addition to building its full fibre network, 60 new mast sites have gone live since

“We’ve invested in the very best technology to deploy an XGS-PON

“As we head into a new year, we’ll be announcing many more communities where we’ll be taking our full fibre broadband, giving homes and businesses the opportunity to enjoy significantly improved internet speeds.” Dale Storrie lives in Hibaldstow, North Lincolnshire, and switched to Quickline in November. He said: “I need a fast and reliable internet connection because I work in IT and do a lot of remote work. “Quickline have made it possible for me to have an office at home where I can work comfortably and without any interruptions to my internet.” To find out more and pre-order fast and reliable broadband with Quickline, visit www.quickline.co.uk/preorder

UNIVERSITY OF HULL NEWS

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Building flood resilient societies Dr Steven Forrest, Lecturer in Flood Resilience and Sustainable Transformations in the University of Hull’s Energy and Environment Institute, reflects on the insights shared at an emergency and disasters conference in The Netherlands and the need for government, businesses, universities and communities to all work together to build flood resilient societies.

xtreme weather events have hit the headlines recently with many Met Office warnings and flood events hitting parts of the UK, France and Denmark. Storms Babet, Ciarán and Debi have brought windy conditions and disruption as homes have been flooded, businesses affected, and public spaces inundated. In the midst of this, I was attending the ‘Northern European Conference on Emergency and Disaster Studies’ in the Netherlands. The conference gathered academics and practitioners to focus on ‘building disaster resilient societies’ with many discussions on the problem of flooding. Here I share 3 key reflections from the conference on building a flood resilient society: 1) Flooding is an urgent societal and environmental problem that is predicted to get worse. There were many examples of recent flood disasters, including from the 2021 floods in the Netherlands and those that happened earlier this year in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. In each case, there were stories of those badly affected by flooding and the challenges in both crisis management as well as in the recovery process after the flood. The keynote speakers reminded us of predictions of worsening flooding as the result of climate change. It is an enormous challenge that needs our attention. 2) At the same time there is hope for dealing with flooding. Throughout the conference there was an acknowledgement of the challenges in disaster management and

the importance of developing capacities, preparing for floods, and understanding that we can design our cities to be better prepared for flooding. To deal with flooding we need to seek collaborations and bring together those with expertise from geography, law, engineering, education, social work, environmental studies and many more disciplines to aim for flood resilient societies. The conference location is intricately linked to flooding as one speaker jokingly reminded us “God built the world, but the Dutch built The Netherlands” – referring to the long history of managing water, reclaiming land from the water, and in dealing with floods in the Netherlands. 3) Countries face similar flood problems and there is an opportunity to learn from one another. At the conference I was co-convening a session on ‘Flood Risk Governance: International Perspectives to Building Flood Resilient Societies’ with Dr Anne Bach Nielsen from the University of Copenhagen. As organisers, we were able to bring together researchers from across the world to present their findings on flood risk management practices from a total of nine different countries, ranging from The Netherlands, to India, Canada, Iran and even Burkina Faso. The talks were fascinating as we learnt about reappearing land and ‘land guards’, forced relocation away from flood-hit areas, and instances where flood protection of the countryside was prioritised over protecting the city. Throughout the talks, there were similar

issues coming up in these diverse contexts – that of the role of the government, the capacity of citizens, land ownership, and the question of how to build ‘fair’ flood resilient societies. Overall, flooding is a challenge and there is a need for creative solutions that draw from all disciplines and fields of study. There is a role for government, businesses and communities but there is still much discussion over the distribution of responsibility. Throughout the conference there was a lot of debate on how academics and practitioners can best engage with communities and use the process of research as a way to build capacity – to make more flood resilient societies. To get there we still need to solve problems over how to fund flood risk management, how best to foster collaboration across disciplines as well as the challenge of being able to learn from flood disasters. In my opinion, the next step is to strengthen the connections between academics, practitioners, communities and policymakers – only by working together to identify local priorities and needs can we start to build flood resilient societies. Dr Steven Forrest is Programme Director of the MSc in Flood Risk Management at the University of Hull. The University of Hull is a member of the Living with Water partnership that focuses on building flood resilience across Hull and the East Riding.

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Universities of Hull and Lincoln announce Humber Freeport collaboration The Universities of Hull and Lincoln have announced plans to collaborate on a series of key projects along the Humber region.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two universities will see a partnership focussed on regional opportunities relating to sustainability, energy, innovation, and business support. The MOU outlines collaborative opportunities such as supporting skills and innovation in the Humber Freeport, supporting offshore renewable energy and decarbonisation in the region. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at an event held at the University of Lincoln, where senior delegates from both universities were in attendance. Professor Dave Petley, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, said: “Universities play a crucial role in developing solutions and opportunities through their research, innovation and enterprise; sparking growth and bringing economic prosperity. Our partnership with the University of Lincoln will enable us to provide focused business support and deliver real impact: driving advances in renewable energy and decarbonisation across the Humber.

“As an anchor institution in our region, and a founding partner of the ‘Oh Yes! Net Zero’ campaign we are already working towards uniting Hull and the surrounding region to lead the UK to a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future. The region’s green energy credentials have enabled us position the Humber as an ideal living lab to develop projects that showcase how the world can develop solutions for a clean growth future. “As a University, we have an ambitious plan to make our campus carbon neutral by our centenary year in 2027.Our vision to be a research-led, civic university firmly focused on creating a fairer, brighter, carbon-neutral future for all is underpinned by our University strategy built around two themes – sustainability and social justice. “True sustainability and social justice in the Humber region will be delivered through real projects involving businesses and communities and strong partnerships. I am confident that our partnership with the University of Lincoln will bring significant benefits to local communities and effect change in the region and beyond.”

Professor Neal Juster, Vice-Chancellor of University of Lincoln, said: “I’m delighted that we are working collaboratively with the University of Hull to ensure our sustainability commitments have regional and global impact. “This Memorandum of Understanding, signed this evening alongside partners from the University of Hull, highlights how Higher Education institutions can work together for the benefit of their surrounding areas and beyond. “The Humber Estuary region is currently one of the most concentrated emitters of carbon but is rapidly becoming a major producer of clean energy and decarbonisation, with carbon capture, solar and wind energy all being developed and installed in the area. “The Net Zero ambition and aims of the project align with the strategic plan and vision of the University of Lincoln to deliver knowledge, capabilities, and skills into industries and organisations that are essential to the region’s prosperity.” Like the University of Hull, the University of Lincoln has made a commitment to a carbon-free future, with its pledge to work to net zero carbon emissions by the year 2040. Both the University of Hull and the University of Lincoln now integrate a Net Zero agenda into every aspect of their operations including teaching and learning, research, partnerships within industry and in their dayto-day estates operations.

Left to right | Professor Neal Juster, Vice-Chancellor of University of Lincoln and Professor Dave Petley, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull

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Abandoned oil rigs could scrape carbon from the sky

Dr Ben Kolosz, Lecturer in Renewable Energy and Carbon Removal at the University of Hull’s Energy and Environment Institute, explains how oil rigs could help with carbon capture.

eeping control of our planet’s thermostat is proving tricky these days. Temperatures are rising slowly, and inaction is proving costly as we awkwardly lurch towards a cleaner future. Some industries are proving stubbornly difficult to decarbonise, and we are likely to miss the key 1.5°C warming target. One response: big machines that suck CO₂ out of the air, also known as direct air capture.

Dr Ben Kolosz

Stemming from something like a realist sciencefiction flick, these literal “skyscrapers” act like massive industrial vacuum cleaners. They strip the CO₂ from the air and store it in a secure location for at least 1,000 years. However, there are various problems with these machines,

which is why they may be best suited to oil rigs. The problems are threefold. Even if they were rolled out at a vastly bigger scale, they are still expensive, noisy and a major eyesore, which means they cannot be built where people live. Also, for these machines to work at their best, they would ideally be powered by renewable energy which is why wind power has been endorsed by leading scientists as the perfect marriage for direct air capture. On land, wind turbines the size of high-rise buildings have their critics. But offshore, there are no locals to bother and the turbines can produce more energy as the wind supply is more consistent.

UNIVERSITY OF HULL NEWS

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For now, the returns would be modest. Based on the amount of carbon these machines would typically capture – about 1 million tonnes of CO₂ a year requires machines covering half a square kilometre – a large oil rig might capture around 65,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year. This of course isn’t much on a global scale. The UK alone emits 332 million tonnes annually. But all options are worth trying, and it’s a technology we can expect to improve in coming years. It may also be possible to extract CO₂ directly from the oceans. Recent research by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests this would actually be far more efficient. Carbon is 100 times more concentrated in seawater than it is in the sky, and this approach could ultimately begin reversing acidification in our oceans. Rigs that can be moved to other sites on demand would be the perfect candidates, as the same rig could store CO₂ in many different sites under the sea. These sites include empty natural gas reservoirs and underground rivers, and it is this flexibility that could finally resolve the ongoing stalemate between the Ospar convention and the UK government. The industry is still too small to deliver carbon removal on anything like the required scale. This is due to a lack of investment, and a very minimal market presence. But, much like how the vaccines for COVID quickly matured due to the absolute necessity of the global pandemic, we now also require a significant mass investment to generate our own market that allows us to remove carbon. The US company Frontier, backed by tech giants, is providing US$925 million (£738 million) in order to stimulate such a market into existence.

There is also an abundance of sites below the sea where oil and gas has been extracted and where CO₂ can now be stored.

Make use of abandoned oil rigs Placing CO₂ scrubbers on abandoned oil rigs and sending them out to sea would allow us to take advantage of this. It would also provide a way to deal with the dozens of abandoned oil rigs that pose a serious issue for the industry as they are expensive to decommission. The UK’s rigs alone could cost an estimated £24 billion. An international convention known as Ospar also dictates that such rigs cannot stay in the

sea and must be removed. This conflicts with UK policy on the preservation of marine life since the legs of the rig can act as artificial reefs creating new marine habitats. Taxpayers money that would be spent on decommissioning could instead be diverted towards retrofitting the big rigs with the ability to suck CO₂ from the air. Pipelines between air scrubbing machines and the carbon storage reservoirs can be prohibitively expensive, but would be cheaper in this scenario as most of the pipes already exist. The rigs possess the capability to store CO₂ using the on-board equipment that was previously used to extract oil and natural gas, except it would, with minor modifications, be operated in reverse.

Unfortunately, even this only represents between 0.1% and 1% of the total finances required every year up until 2050. That’s because, even in an optimistic scenario where renewables grow and global emissions are reduced, we’ll still need to remove 10 billion tonnes of carbon to compensate for the fact that industries like steel and cement are notoriously hard to decarbonise. This article by Dr Ben Kolosz was originally published by The Conversation. The views or opinions expressed by individuals do not necessarily reflect those of the University. Article supplied by

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Charities cheer shared success after RSM UK supports Olympians in collaborative approach to record-breaking fundraising campaign Poverty-hit children will get help to keep warm this winter and bereaved families will be supported in coping with their loss thanks to the fundraising efforts of staff in the Hull office of global audit, tax and consulting advisers RSM UK.

he 100-strong team raised more than £25,000 from events ranging from food challenges to fitness training with Olympians and have handed it over to the Sailors’ Children’s Society, a charity founded in Hull over 200 years ago and now providing lifelines nationally to the families of seafarers in crisis; and Dove House Hospice, which is expanding its range of services. Natasha Barley, CEO of the Sailors’ Children’s Society, said: “What RSM did makes a massive difference. They raised a phenomenal amount of money and they had a lot of fun doing it. “The money will go towards our winter appeal, to provide winter coats and sturdy shoes for children across the country, which they would unfortunately not have without the support of the charity. If we have any extra it goes towards our winter heating grants as sadly there are a lot of children in this country who are cold and hungry.” Jonny Bottomley, Partnership Development Fundraiser for Dove House, added: “The money has come in at a really important time for us. The impact of Covid reduced our services right down to our bedded unit and we are working hard to reopen some of the provision that we had to close, and offer some new support. We have so far opened some outpatient services, community groups, and groups for child bereavement and general bereavement.” Andy Capes, office managing partner at RSM in Hull, said “Our team in Hull, chose the regional charities to benefit as part of a nationwide fundraising effort. In total we raised £206,000 which was topped up by the firm to add another £100,000. Our local team took part in a charity race night, completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, hosted cake and bake events, launched a tuck shop, dressed up as celebrities and superheroes and even ran York marathon all in aid of two important charities.” Other businesses supported the campaign by donating prizes and four companies

Pictured are Jonny Bottomley of Dove House Hospice and Natasha Barley of Sailors’ Children’s Society with their thank you message for RSM UK represented by Emma Collis, Andy Capes and Louise Craggs.

– Forrester Boyd, MKM, Rix Group and Williamsons Solicitors – paid for some of their staff to join an elite training session at the Village Hotel with Colin Jackson and Jamie Baulch, medal winners at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World and European outdoor and indoor championships. That event took place on the eve of the Society’s sportsman’s lunch, which broke all records for the charity by generating more than £75,000. All involved are aiming to set a new record in 2024. Andy said: “We teamed up with Forrester Boyd for the Olympic event and had a great time, so much so we’re planning on sponsoring next year’s event together. Not only did we have a lot of fun, but we raised a record amount of much-needed money, and set the bar high for next year’s fundraising efforts.” Jonny added: “Some people think you are only there to raise money but the best fundraising events are always the ones where you involve people. The Olympians got so much out of it themselves.” Natasha, who took up her post in March this year after 10 years working with charities, said she is now looking to add more fundraising events to the Society’s programme. She said: “We are a national charity but this is our

historic home and the community that we identify with most strongly. It means so much that the people of Hull choose us because this is where we started and this is where so many people have benefited and continue to benefit. “The sportsman’s lunch started about 30 years ago but it’s bizarre – I had worked in the sector for 10 years and had never heard of it. What a gift as an incoming CEO! “Last year it raised £55,000 and this year I wanted to do more. We raised just over £75,000 which is absolutely incredible. The next one in October is sold out already because everybody books year on year and I can see the potential to make it even better, but it only happens because of the local business community. “Everything we do is about supporting the disadvantaged children of seafarers – merchant navy, Royal Navy, the offshore wind industry, inland canals. If you work on a vessel and your family falls on hard times you are eligible. “But the magical thing about the RSM campaign is that it was about two charities, not just one. It’s so hard for businesses to choose and this is a beautiful story about two very different charities collaborating together. There’s such joy in the fact that we have both benefited from this.”

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