TopicUK April 2023 Edition

The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those held by the publishers and therefore, no responsibility can be held by the publisher for misinterpretation. Reproduction of this magazine without the express permission of the publisher is prohibited. Whilst every care is taken in the production of this magazine, the publisher/editor and staff cannot accept any responsibility for errors in articles, advertisements or programme schedules. To subscribe to this

Group Editor Gill Laidler

Design Rob Blackwell

Associate editor Ed Asquith

Official Photographers

Roth Read Photography

Legal Matters

Ramsdens Solicitors

Chadwick Lawrence Recruitment

Stafflex

ADMINISTRATOR

Charlotte Hall

OUR PARTNERS

• Yorkshire sculpture park

• Community Foundation Calderdale

• BACKSTAGE ACADEMY

• Ramsdens Solicitors

• Chadwick Lawrence

• WILD PR

• Wakefield Council

• Ad:Venture

• Eaton Smith Solicitors

• Stafflex

• Scriba PR

• Kirklees College

• University of Law

• Avenue hq/Barclays Eagle Lab

• BeVic

• Fantastic Media

• Halifax Bid

• HALSTON MARKETING

• DAKOTA HOTEL LEEDS

• Kirklees Council

• CRAGGS ENERGY

Editors notes

Welcome to this edition of TopicUK. I can’t believe it is 10 years since we first launched the original TopicUK magazine covering just Wakefield. That was in 2013.

We then went on to publish Kirklees/ Calderdale, South Yorkshire, Leeds and even Soho in London, before we made the decision to amalgamate all editions into just one Yorkshire edition. We still have some lovely partners with us who joined us right at the beginning, we have enjoyed promoting for 10 years. Our beliefs are still the same today as they were then. We treat each partner differently, tailoring packages to suit them whether it is in the magazine, on the website, or on social media and adapt promotion to suit them not us!

By group editor Gill Laidler Gill

Back in the 1980s when I was well, younger! Watching TOTP I never thought I would be interviewing Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley, not once, but twice (first time was a couple of years ago). Tony and his band are touring the UK and his Yorkshire stop on June 15 is at the Holmfirth Hippodrome. Tickets are still available if you’re quick. As well as tracks from his new album, Tony will also be performing Spandau classics, ‘True’, his favourite ‘Through the Barricades’ and of course ‘Gold’. You can check out the full interview on page 43.

There has been an amazing discovery in Garforth just outside Leeds. A historic cemetery has been discovered believed to be 1600 years old which will

unlock the secrets of British history. You can read the full fascinating story on page 28.

I was pleased to see that Harrison Spinks, bed manufacturer from Leeds is expanding into the US market. Why? Many years ago, I was their marketing manager, so you could say I have a bit of an interest! Also of interest is the appointment of my friend Ridwana Wallace-Laher who has become the first female CEO of a major Muslim charity, read her story on page 85.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a very happy and relaxing Easter.

Levi Solicitors adds to its growing Private Client Team

Managing partner Steven Newdall said: “We’re experiencing a sustained increase in demand for many of our legal services, despite the current economic climate and are delighted to have Leanne and Nafisa join us.

joined Levi’s Private Client team.

Leanne and Nafisa both advise clients on a wide variety of matters including Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Court

my career and p Nafisa commented that she was “excited to join the team and look forward to meeting and helping a wide range of new clients”.

Housebuilder submits plans for £23.5m development in Barnsley

Sheffield-based housebuilder Honey has submitted plans to deliver a £23.5m development comprising 95 new two, three and fourbedroom homes on Barnburgh Lane, Barnsley.

Called Iris, if planning is granted the eight-acre development will be the Sheffield-based housebuilding company’s first in Yorkshire since launching last October.

Honey was founded by former Avant Homes chief executive officer and Sheffield native, Mark Mitchell. The company is being funded by private equity firm Alchemy Partners via its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.

Iris will feature 16 house types which Honey says have all been specifically designed to combine “style, substance and sustainability” for the benefit of buyers.

“As the demand for our services continues to grow, their commitment and drive will help us deliver the very best legal advice and services to our clients across the region and beyond. We have an exceptional team at Levi Solicitors, and we are in the process of adding more specialist expertise to the team in the coming months across various roles.”

Picture L-R Leanne Parkinson, Nafisa Hussain and partner and head of private client team

Andrew Milburn

If given the go ahead by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, work at Iris is anticipated to start in June with the first residents expected to move into their new homes in the first quarter of next year.

Mark said: “It’s a great feeling to have submitted plans for our first development in Yorkshire. We have started the year at pace with two planning applications and have more in the pipeline.

“All our house types have been painstakingly designed to provide buyers with high quality, high specification properties that suit today’s lifestyles.

“We now look forward to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council considering our plans to deliver much needed new homes for the residents of Barnburgh and surrounding areas.”

Flourishing recruitment firm doubles space at Broad Gate in leeds

The rapidly expanding Leeds-based recruitment firm Verrus has doubled its office space at the iconic Broad Gate development in the heart of the city.

Verrus is taking 5,250 sq. ft of quality office space with its workforce expected to increase from 42 to 85 by the en d of next year.

Ian Cundale, chief executive officer explained: “These are exciting times for us. We continue to expand across the globe, with an already established footprint in Europe and North America and increasing revenues throughout South America an d APAC regions.

“The combination of Brexit and Covid forced us to review our recruitment model and has made us much more flexible and fleetfooted in our approach. Despite these challenging economic times, we are extremely confident ab out the future.

“Crucially, our established team in Leeds provides executive

recruitment solutions that minimise risk and maximise return on investment for businesses in a range of industries worldwide.

“Our hiring experience and sectorspecific insight means that our clients are able to make key hiring decisions with greater confidence, selecting candidates based on more than skills and experience but also on cultural fit and synergy of vision.”

Spectacular

Eamon Fox, partner and head of development at global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, commented: “Verrus’ renewed commitment to Broad Gate is a resounding endorsement of one of Leeds’ most impressive mixed-use buildings. The excellent location, overlooking The Headrow, a 5-minute walk from Leeds Rail Station,

creates a business destination with all the benefits of the city centre on its doorstep.”

The 300,000 sq ft flagship development comprises four floors of spectacular Grade A office space and an exclusive suite of penthouse offices, together with four prime retail units. Broad Gate has an exceptional roof terrace providing areas to work, rest and play, coupled with exemplary end of journey shower and locker facilities.

Verrus first moved into Broad Gate in 2011and Ian Cundale believes it is the perfect base for his predominantly young and dynamic team.

“Apart from its excellent facilities and attractive office space, together with parking, Broad Gate is close to the beating heart of Leeds, with bars, restaurants and nightlife all close by which is ideal for a dynamic recruitment company. In view of all this, the decision to expand within the building, rather than look for office premises elsewhere, was an eas y one to make.”

Zest plugs into new offices at the Bourse in Leeds

A significant deal has been completed at The Bourse, a prestigious office and leisure development in Leeds city centre.

Zest, the EV Charging Network Provider, has taken 2,418 sq ft of quality office space on the fourth floor of Bond House, one of the three self-contained buildings which make up the Bourse.

The Bourse is a landmark scheme located on Boar Lane less than 100 yards from Leeds Station and features 50,000 sq ft of high-quality space over three buildings, overlooking a private cen tral courtyard.

Each of the buildings, Equity House, Sterling House and Bond House, has its own designated entrance with an NCP multi-storey car park to the rear. The Bourse has undergone a comprehensive multimillion-pound refurbishment to provide Grade A offices of the hi ghest standard.

Flourish

Zest’s business has grown rapidly over the past year, with infrastructure deployed across the UK, from Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides. The Zest team has grown from fewer than ten employees at the start of the year to more than sixty today and the company aims to continue to flourish within its new head office at the Bourse. Graduates from the local universities have taken a significant number of t hese new roles.

As a certified carbon neutral company committed to reducing its per capita emissions, Zest needed an energy efficient office where usage could be precisely measured

and audited. It also needed to be close to public transport to enable more carbon-efficient journeys to the office. The Bour se offers both.

Clem McDowell, director at Leedsbased property consultancy Carter Towler, who advised landlords Paloma Capital on the Zest deal, commented: “We are delighted that

dual aspect on to the Bourse Courtyard and Trevelyan Square.

“Space is now at a premium at the Bourse, with Bond House now full. Two suites remain on the third floor of Equity House which are available either individually or as a whole (617-1,875 sq ft). Given the high-quality of the space in this special building, together with its magnificent location, these offices will continue to prove very popular, especially to up-and-coming creative and tech firms who are thriving in Leeds.

Renovation

“Furthermore, despite the cost-of-living crisis putting upward pressure on costs, the landlord is still maintaining the competitive quoting rent of £21.50 per sq ft but perhaps more importantly is the continuance of the capped service charge that includes for utilities which remains at £7.50 per sq ft subject to annual RPI increases”.

a company of the calibre and reputation of Zest has taken quality space at the Bourse. This deal underlines the Bourse’s reputation as one of the finest heritage office buildings in central Leeds.”

Elizabeth Ridler, partner with global property consultancy Knight Frank, who also advised Paloma Capital, added: “It is also fantastic news that at the same time as the Zest deal, the newly refurbished 2,701 sq ft ground floor suite at Sterling House has gone under offer prior to practical completion. Together with Zest and the trilogy of lettings to Ayko, Synthatics and Smmmile Dentists that were concluded earlier this year, these are very exciting times for the Bourse.

“The refurbishment of this latest selfcontained suite attracted a lot of interest due to its large windows, high ceiling and period feel, that also benefits from a

“The extensive renovation works have transformed The Bourse into a welcoming and attractive environment. Meanwhile the vibrancy of the immediate area, with the new bars and restaurants, including Rudy’s Pizza Napolitano situated on the ground floor of Bond House, as well as Trinity Leeds, gives occupiers exactly what they want. The Bourse is a hidden gem in the centre of the city.”

Robin Heap CEO at Zest said: “The Bourse is a stone’s throw from the train station, ideal for low-carbon commuting and convenient for our clients. This office enables us to develop our hybrid working arrangements in the thriving heart of the city, as we continue to establish ourselves as one of Leeds’ nationwide success stories in the carbon zero economy.”

This deal underlines the Bourse’s reputation as one of the finest heritage office buildings in central Leeds...

Reward eyes regional growth with director appointment

Scott Wood’s appointment as a new business development director at Leeds-based Reward Finance Group accelerates its growth plans in Yorkshire and further increases its profile in the corporate space.

A leading provider of tailored business finance loans and assetbased solutions in Yorkshire and nationwide, Scott arrives with an extensive professional network across corporate finance and accountancy.

Having worked at some of the UK’s major banks for over 16 years, Scott joins from HSBC where he was a relationship director and worked closely with a portfolio of mid-

corporate businesses to provide a range of financial solutions.

A key part of his role will be working alongside founding director Dave Jones to drive business development growth across Yorkshire with a specific focus on larger transactions to build on the growth Reward has already seen in this space.

Scott commented: “Reward’s excellent

reputation and rapid expansion were key factors behind my decision to join the business. In my short time here so far, I have already seen the firms refreshing approach to supporting its clients and its ability to do so at speed.”

Gemma Wright, regional director for Yorkshire and the Northeast, added: “Scott’s appointment is a real boost to our business both nationally and across Yorkshire where we have a long-established reputation. His remit is to further increase our activity in the £1m to £10m lending arena where we have seen a marked uptick since the start of the pandemic.”

Innovative engineering company set for export growth

its innovation division, Synovate, which works with a range of utility companies, academic institutions and funding bodies to accelerate the development and roll-out of n ew technology.

The Synthotech Group employs 38 people in the UK and has partnerships worldwide to deploy its technology and resell engineering products. It hit a milestone of £5m in revenue in 2022.

Commenting on the growth, Mark Tindley, managing director said: “Innovation is in our DNA, and it’s driving our expansion in the UK and around the world. Our technology is helping utility companies work more efficiently to protect the environment and make significant cost savings. While our work in helping to pilot the use of hydrogen to domestic homes positions Synthotech at the forefront of an emer ging industry.”

The company is currently trialling robots that can spray sealant while moving along a pipe to prevent or re mediate leaks.

An engineering company that is pioneering the development of pipeline robots is set for export growth.

Harrogate-headquartered Synthotech Group has secured new export partnerships in India and Singapore. It builds on existing relationships in China, Australia, Colombi a, and Europe.

The innovative company has invested over £1.2m to develop robots that detect and fix leaks in water and gas pipelines. The company has successfully diversified into the gas, water, and telecommunications sectors to increase revenues for its robots and enginee ring products.

It is also driving technology partnerships with the utility sector and academic institutions through

Synthotech’s engineers design and build a wide range of products that are distributed globally. It is a leading supplier of live access CCTV and survey systems to the energy industry. While gas engineers use its maintenance products in domestic and industrial environments.

In the UK, Synthotech works with a range of gas distribution networks, including Northern Gas Networks, Wales & West Util ities and SGN.

Leeds Trinity University partners with HSBC

Leeds Trinity has become the first University in the UK to partner with major bank HSBC UK in a new student recruitment programme.

Leeds Trinity has become the first University in the UK to partner with major bank HSBC UK in a new student recruitment programme.

The HSBC UK Student Recruitment Programme will give students the chance to work part time (up to 16 hours a week) with the bank at its distribution centre in Leeds, with an opportunity to secure an interview on its Graduate Scheme as a result.

Representatives from HSBC UK’s recruitment team were at Leeds Trinity University in January and February to explain more about the

opportunities available to students and offered guidance and support through the process.

Students benefited from interview experience to assist them when applying for the customer focused roles based at the HSBC UK distribution centre.

As part of the programme, students will receive access to a mentor, interview and CV sessions with recruitment experts, opportunities with HSBC UK to put their ideas forward and make

significant changes within the business, and the opportunit y to interview for the HS BC UK Graduate Scheme.

Tim Feather, graduate employment manager at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Working with a global bank like HSBC is an exciting prospect for Leeds Trinity. Students bring excellent qualities and skills to organisations, and it is refreshing to find an employer who is willing to listen to students and create roles that fits around a very busy academic and social calendar.

“Connecting students with an employer that values people, sustainability, health and wellbeing and supporting careers is what universities are looking for. I look forward to seeing how the partnership develops going forward and the careers students forge with HSBC.”

Alistair Griffin, distribution director at HSBC, said: “The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic made recruitment challenging for many businesses, which meant we had to look differently at how we attract talent.

“I am really proud to be working alongside Leeds Trinity University, working to ensure we offer the right hours and package to attract students into flexible working hybrid roles, and at times our customers need us. This initiative is still in its early stages, however, demand has exceeded all expectations and I feel this is only the start of a fantastic partnership.”

All Leeds Trinity University degrees offer a blend of employability skills, professional work placements, extra-curricular activities and one-to-one support.

Image: Tim Feather (Leeds trinity University), Amy Russell and Adam Robertshaw (HSBC UK)

I look forward to seeing how the partnership develops going forward and the careers students forge with HSBC...

YBW Bernadette Gledhill to host fashion event

Yorkshire Businesswoman member Bernadette Gledhill is hosting an exclusive fashion event with the Community Foundation for Calderdale and Harvey’s Department Store, Halifax after the store has closed on Thursday 20th April 2023.

Tickets are £25 each and available to buy from Harvey’s Department Store. Following fizz and canapes on arrival, guests will be treated to a fashion show showcasing the new Spring Summer trends to get ideas on how they can update their look along with make-up demonstrations. Shoppers will have exclusive afterhours access to the store as well as lots of offers, competitions

and will leave wi th a goody bag too.

Rachel Oates, also a Yorkshire Businesswoman member from CFFC explained, “This is a collaboration between ourselves and Harvey’s, giving people inspiration of how to look and feel great in the new season. Long standing friend of CFFC, Bernadette Gledhill is very talented at choosing and styling pieces and will be a great host and I’m sure that it will be an uplifting and fun evening.” Tickets are available to buy from till points in Harvey’s Dep artment Store.

Leeds Heritage Theatres appoints four new trustees

Leeds Heritage Theatres is pleased to announce the four new trustees who will join the board are Anna Franks, freelance marketing and audience development consultant;

Dawn Holgate, choreographer and arts education (from August); practitioner Rebecca Morgan,

fundraiser and currently senior philanthropy manager at King’s College London; Madi Robinson,

controller of corporate legal & governance at Channel 4.

As a registered charity, Leeds Heritage Theatres is led by a board made up of volunteers who give their time and expertise to ensure that they fulfil

Dawn Holgate

Anna Franks

Rebecca Morgan

Madelienne Robinson

their charitable purpose, provide strategic oversight to their vision and ensure the organisation is run legally and remains financially resilient. Board members come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, both in the private and public sectors with each member bringing a skill set to benefit and progress our organisation.

Anna Franks brings an understanding of commercial business, alongside a passion to help organisations connect with their audiences and communities in an ethical and inclusive way.

Anna said: “Having been part of a charitable board several years ago, I was looking for an opportunity to join a new board and contribute my experience and skills. This felt like the perfect opportunity to combine my passion for theatre, film and culture with my knowledge and experience of the cultural and creative sector, and I look forward to combining these two elements and contributing to the leadership of these iconic ve nues in Leeds.”

Dawn Holgate has a range of experience, including 10 years as the resident choreographer and movement director for Leeds Grand Youth Theatre, choreographing the company’s annual musical and leading on creative movement experiences for all company members. She will join the board in August following the Leeds Grand Youth Theatre production of The Addams Family.

Dawn said: “I’m looking forward to getting stuck in! I see the potential for the arts to make a difference and to literally change people’s lives. Dance did that for me! I want to make a difference and being a

trustee will ensure that I’m in the room and at the table, enabling me to be involved in purposeful and relevant discussions that will unlock access and provide opportunity.”

Rebecca Morgan is an experienced fundraiser, having held positions across the arts and higher education sectors. She is now senior philanthropy manager at King’s College London, where she works to secure philanthropic income from organisations and individuals to support the university’s work.

Rebecca said: “I strongly believe in the power of theatre and the performing arts to bring communities together and create connections between people of all ages. The work of Leeds Heritage Theatres is doing just that across Leeds and it’s a real privilege to be part of.”

Madi Robinson from Channel 4, leading the department carrying out all the non-programme-related legal work. She is also a member of the Channel 4 leadership team and is a Channel 4 appointed non-executive director on several joint venture companies, including Everyone TV and YouView.

Madi said: “It’s important that people across the whole of the UK should have access to brilliant and engaging live performances close to where they live. That’s why I wanted to join the team at Leeds Heritage Theatres. I love that while they put on the large productions, that’s not their key drive. The vision is all about making its venues and productions accessible to reach a wider and more diverse audience. Also, it’s not just about entertainment but also about education and using its charitable status for the greater good. It’s a vision I share and am passionate about.”

I’m looking forward to getting stuck in! I see the potential for the arts to make a difference and to literally change people’s lives. Dance did that for me! I want to make a difference and being a trustee will ensure that I’m in the room and at the table...

Dawn Holgate

Packaging and stationery specialist acquires Celsur and Ambro

Rapidly expanding packaging and stationery specialist Duraweld, based in Scarborough, is continuing its growth journey with the acquisition of the business and assets of Celsur Plastics Ltd, Ambroplastics Ltd and Abbey Stationery Products Ltd, strengthening its position as the leading player in the sector.

Having served thousands of customers in the bespoke stationery, presentation and packaging sector for the last six decades, the three brands have now joined the Yorkshire-based Duraweld group following their liquidation in January 2023. Celsur is one of the best-known names in the industry providing a wide range of pvc, paper over board and polyprop products and promotional gifts. Sister company Ambroplastics, provides bespoke

solutions for plastics and cardbased products in the presentation packaging sector.

Duraweld has also strengthened its seven-strong sales team and ensured continuity for customers with the appointments of Emma Morris and Sharon Heath, both of whom have worked for Celsur for more than 20 years.

Founded in 1959, Duraweld designs and

manufactures a wide range of packaging and stationery products for customers from the NHS to the FA, working across sectors such as healthcare and retail. Led by managing director Mark Yeung, it has a purpose-built factory which includes in-house screen printing, digital printing, inline paper overboard wrapping, high-frequency welding, sonic welding, digital and hydraulic cutting, foil-blocking and embossing. The Scarborough-based business employs over 50 people.

The acquisition was supported by Sue Moul of specialist finance team recruiter Headstar in Leeds who has been working with Duraweld as the company’s finance director for the

Mark Yeung

last two years, providing strategic financial support.

These latest acquisitions follow the merger of leading designer and manufacturer of quality packaging solutions, Prima Yorkshire, into Duraweld in November 2022 which expanded Duraweld’s service and product offerings, cementing its position with key customer groups and adding folding card products to the range.

Mark said, “There are some incredible synergies in the mindset and approach of Celsur and Duraweld - we operate in similar sectors and offer complementary products and levels of service. Adding these long-established brands to our extensive portfolio marks an exciting new phase for the businesses - we are looking forward to supporting their former clients, alongside our extensive customer base, all backed by Duraweld’s deep manufacturing expertise.

“It’s exciting to further expand our customer base during a period of such strong growth for Duraweld, with the move strengthening our position as the go-to business in this specialist sector. We also pleased to welcome such experienced sales

professionals as Emma Morris and Sharon Heath to the Duraweld family, and there will be more appointment announcements to come.”

Emma comments: “It has been a challenging period, but I’m genuinely excited to be joining Duraweld. The team have been great, and I’m looking forward to providing continuity and ensuring a seamless transition for longstanding customers.”

Celsur CEO, Phil Caudle, added: “We are proud of having created a business with a passion for disruption and a vision to shake up the packaging and stationery industry. While the pandemic and geopolitics presented us with many challenges, having got to know Duraweld in recent months, we have been impressed by their capabilities and are confident that the businesses have a great future ahead as part of the Duraweld group.”

We are proud of having created a business with

passion

vision to shake up

Bradford Garden Centre's apprentices complete their courses

Management at a Bradford Garden Centre are celebrating after its first two apprentices have passed their qualifications.

19-year-old Alfie Taylor from Wyke was employed by Tong Garden Centre as a plants apprentice and studied at Shipley College to gain a Horticulture Operative Level 2 qualification and 27-year-old Brandon Cox from Birkenshaw has completed Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery with distinction.

Both attended their respective colleges one day a week and worked the remaining four days as plants and joinery assistants respectively.

Of his achievement, Alfie said: "I'm so grateful to the people and culture team at Tong for giving me this opportunity. It has given me horticultural knowledge and practical skills to carry out horticultural tasks and has helped me to plan my future career path. I would recommend apprenticeships to anyone wanting to earn while they learn."

Alfie’s line manager, Marc Salama is delighted with his progress: "Alfie

now has the ability and confidence to take responsibility for areas within the outdoor department, especially within landscaping and I'm confident he can teach a small group effectively. His knowledge base extends from chemicals and fertilisers to planting and maintenance, so he adds value to both the plants and the garden sundries departments.

"Brandon is always the first to get stuck into projects and now has the skills to do a wide range of jobs from building our award-winning display structures, creating a plant pot recycling station, completing shop fittings and helping to build our cabins at Mission Out, our adventure play area at Tingley Garden Centre."

Head of people and culture, Neil Barwise-Carr said: "Apprenticeships at all levels are a great way to acquire skills whilst learning on the job. For the students, they're earning whilst they're learning, and for us, we have employees with valuable skills that they can build on to progress their career with us as we grow.

Brandon is proud of his achievements, having gained a distinction in both his portfolio and final assessment: "I really enjoy putting my new skills into practice each day and am very grateful for this opportunity. I'm enjoying the break from studying whilst considering if I will go on to complete further qualifications in carpentry and joinery."

His line manager, Kevin Smith said:

"We pride ourselves on nurturing our team and Alfie and Brandon are just two examples of people we have invested in. We are currently supporting a number of colleagues, including our Finance Manager, Harriet Kelly to acquire her Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) qualification and our People, Culture & Sustainability Business Partner, Steph Bates to gain a Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management.

Apprenticeships at all levels are a great way to acquire skills whilst learning on the job...

Event transport expert for theatre and film takes centre stage at new Leeds premises

has been a pleasure to work with as we searched for — and moved into — our new home.

Stagefreight Limited has agreed a five-year lease on a new headquarters in Leeds, with property lettings professional, Towngate PLC.

Existing tenants at the Towngateowned Copperworks site on Haigh Park Road, Leeds, Stagefreight boasts a specialist understanding of set logistics and an impressive database of clients. A team of experienced drivers operates across Leeds, Birmingham, and London, — coverin events throughout the UK and regularly travelling the globe.

Formerly comprising 250,000 sq ft, the Copperworks 2 unit has been divided, to accommodate smaller areas of the large industrial and distribution footprint. The property sits in an excellent location, just one mile from both junction 44 (M1) and junction 7 (M621).

Stagefreight Limited’s director, Ian Uttley, said: “The Towngate team

Avant homes launches first homes for sale in Keighley

“The new Leeds site will make the perfect space for our operation. Plus, the close proximity to the motorway network is extremely beneficial for our fleet of vehicles.” Tom Lamb, property manager at Towngate PLC, added: “We are delighted to have assisted Stagefreight with its expansion plans in the Leeds area. The property is ideally located in close proximity to the motorway network and the city centre — allowing the company the freedom to transport equipment speedily and efficiently. We wish the team lots of luck in their new home.”

Avant Homes West Yorkshire has launched the first homes at its £13.6m, 53-home  development in Cullingworth, near Keighley.

Located three miles from Keighley town centre, the development will comprise a mix of three, four and five-bedroom homes and feature nine of Avant Hom es’ housetypes.

Work commenced on the development in December 2022. All properties include an openplan living space, designer kitchen with integrated appliances and boutique bathrooms complete with designer tiling and contemporar y sanitaryware.

Sales sales and marketing director,

Anne Bagshaw, said: “We’ve seen a fantastic response for our this development from prospective buyers showing keen interest for our exciting rang e of new homes.

“Being in the desirable village of Cullingworth and within reach of Keighley, Halifax and Bradford city centre, we expect our first homes to be popular with buyers across the Brad ford district.

“We would encourage any prospective buyers to come visit our sales team to find out more about the high-quality homes we’ re delivering.”

The Wakefield-based business is part of the Avant Homes Group, one of the leading private developers of residential prop erty in the UK

Company of the Month

100% Digital Leeds partners with Leeds Digital Ball

The highly anticipated return of the Leeds Digital Ball this year sees a huge response in sponsors who want to be a part of the incredible movement towards achieving digital inclusion for all in Leeds.

Aiming to tackle the underlying causes of digital exclusion, the Leeds Digital Charity Ball has been set up to highlight the challenges caused by the digital divide. The event will raise funds for community organisations, via the Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund, who provide support and access to technology, increasing digital inclusion in a fast evolving, digital world.

The sponsors of the event include digital consultancies Hippo Digital, Axiologik and Opencast Software, international law firm Addleshaw Goddard and security cloud provider SailPoint. The event also boasts a further ten sponsors including Amazon, BJSS, DCR Partners, Brighter Consulting, DataShed, Audacia, ALT Legal, Cognizant, Iridium and Bruntwood.

The organisers of the event hosted a launch lunch on the 9th February which kicked off the next round of fundraising. The 14 event sponsors came together in Leeds to reflect on the achievements of last year’s fundraising and highlight how the money has been put to great use with the support of the Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund, which works towards a fairer and more cohesive digital ecosystem for all in Leeds.

The Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund is a new partnership between Leeds Community Foundation and 100% Digital Leeds - the Leeds City Council led initiative working to improve digital inclusion across the city

and make Leeds the most digitally inclusive city for everyone.

The Fund supports community organisations to incorporate digital inclusion in their day-to-day work, in sustainable ways. As the region’s largest independent funder, Leeds Community Foundation is the only organisation of its kind in Leeds and Bradford, working with hundreds of community organisations each year.

participation. We know that people who are digitally excluded are often excluded in other ways. Organisations who are already helping people and communities are best placed to help them on their digital inclusion journey. The money raised by Leeds Digital Ball and our incredible sponsors will make a huge difference to those organisations and the people they support.”

Liz Whitefield, a director from Hippo Digital, said: “We were founded in Leeds almost seven years ago, and we like to give back to the city we hold deep in our hearts and something like this, which raises money for the city but also focuses on digital inclusion is perfect. Digital inclusion is a human right; at Hippo, we care passionately about making services and our professions more accessible for everyone.”

Thanks to the new partnership with 100% Digital Leeds, the two bodies will work together to ensure that no one in Leeds is excluded from the digital world.

Jason Tutin, digital inclusion manager for Leeds City Council’s Integrated Digital Service , said: “100% Digital Leeds is one of the most successful and well-respected digital inclusion programmes in the country. We work with over 200 organisations, teams, settings and services across Leeds to increase digital access, engagement and

In 2021, according to the UK Consumer Digital Index from Lloyds Bank, 22% of the UK population didn’t have the digital skills for everyday life. By supporting community organisations to embed digital inclusion work throughout what they do, the Fund will mean people in Leeds will have the skills, support, and equipment to be active online, now and in the future.

The first event in 2022 raised over £50,000, with 350 attendees, for projects in Leeds that focused on digital inclusion with hopes to beat this huge total, and receive double the number of attendees, at the event on 11 May 2023.

Taking place at the Royal Armouries Museum from 7pm onwards at the New Dock Hall. For more information, visit https://www. leedsdigitalball.org/the-event/

100%

Digital Leeds is one of the most successful and well-respected digital inclusion programmes in the country...

Top tips for businesses recruiting in the current economic climate

Unemployment rates are at record lows, labour shortages are impacting recruitment plans and the economy is still being heavily affected by inflation and rising living costs. All of this makes recruiting a much scarier proposition than ever before.

We’ve put together out top tips to look out for when considering taking on new staff in these d ifficult times:

Advertise the important things

When advertising, put more effort into communicating the culture, aims, conditions, benefits, opportunity and potential prospects of a vacancy rather than getting mired down in dry job description and statements which could put people off from applying. Examples such as you should be “energetic”, “ambitious”, “have good experience of”, “outgoing”, “must have” etc. should be avoided as it can alienate potential jobseekers who think they are not tick ing the boxes.

Speed is everything

Make the recruitment process as quick as possible. The longer the time taken, the more likely candidates will drop out due to other offers or just get fed up with an organization that is slow acting.

Ensure that a clear outline of timeframes has been put in place and be transparent with your candidates so that they know

exactly how the hiring process will be carried out.

Pick up the phone

Always respond to an application/ enquiry, preferably with an initial telephone conversation to gauge interest, enthusiasm, experience, suitability, personality and if anything has to be communicated by e-mail or snail mail, do it straight away.

Although this may seem trivial – we cannot understate how important it is to get a feel of the candidate through a telephone conversation!

First impressions count!

There is no second opportunity to make a good first impression so make sure all contact is quick, clear, understandable, professional and any action is agreed by both parties. The recruitment process for the jobseeker will leave them with a lasting impression on your organisation which if negative, could damage brand reputation.

There is no second opportunity to make a good first impression so make sure all contact is quick, clear, understandable...

Barnsley based wolf laundry appointed to major framework

Vapour has been awarded a place on the G-Cloud 13 agreement, as part of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework.

solutions to clients throughout the UK, including housing associations, care homes, hospitality venues, and schools.

PfH is owned by Inprova Group (formerly CEL Procurement) and delivers professional procurement services for private and public sector organisat ions in the UK.

Commercial laundry specialist Wolf Laundry has been appointed to a national contract framework to provide services to private and public sector organisations.

Wolf provides customised laundry

The appointment to The Procurement for Housing (PfH) Social Housing framework will enable Wolf to further expand into key markets. The framework is worth a share of £40 million over three years to those companies awarded to the group.

The partnership between PfH and Wolf will see the fast-growing business appointed to the Assisted Living Solutions, Kitchens and Appliances framework.

Dan Riley, director said: "Being appointed to the PfH Framework and to have been ranked first of nine companies in the Assisted Living Solutions, Kitchens, and Appliances Framework, is a super b achievement.

“This is testament to our hard work and commitment to providing top-quality laundry equipment and embracing the latest technology. We look forward to the opportunities and growth that this partnersh ip will bring."

Leeds manufacturer invests in local talent announcing eight internalpromotions

ACS Stainless Steel Limited has announced eight promotions across its team – the result of a six-figure investment in its workforce this past year

The Cross Green based company is a leading manufacturer and designer of structural building components, providing patented innovative solutions, including masonry support and brick panel solutions - essential construction components used in construction of the largest modern-day proje cts in the UK.

Eight of the firm’s 118 Leedsbased colleagues will now take on new roles to help future growth, including newly-appointed

strategic specification director Paul Ruding from Wakefield, who moves on from his incumbent position as head of strategic specification; Paul is also studying for a BA in Fire Safety Engineering – something that is being funded by ACS.

Investing

Colleague Andrew Spencer from York is also promoted from technical engineer to head of research and development, while Pontefract-based Jason Hedge is

promoted to specification and design director (associate). ACS commercial director Gareth Twohey explained: “Investing in the future of this industry is a priority for ACS right now; we hope we are seen as the vanguard of new ideas, with products that will help developers, architects and contractors create safer and more sustaina ble structures.

“We achieve this by reinvesting huge percentages of our profits back into the business – that includes investing in colleagues like Paul, Jason and Andrew – each of whom is spearheading new ideas that support and ed ucate clients.”

Kirklees College Celebrates Record Numbers at Open Day Events

Kirklees College recently entered a new phase of their successful corporate partnership with Yorkshire Asian Business Association (YABA).

The renewed partnership allows the two organisations to support and promote one another more than ever, as three new staff members from YABA have begun working from the college’s Huddersfield Centre.

Some of the staff members already working for YABA are also enrolled on apprenticeships with Kirklees College and will continue their training and employment with the college.

Representatives from YABA and Kirklees College were joined by Councillor Masood Ahmed, Mayor of Kirklees for a meeting to celebrate the partnership.

He said: “Having attended and worked at Kirklees College, it is always a pleasure to return to see how it has developed over the years. The partnership with the Yorkshire Asian Business Association

will hopefully see both organisations flourish and enhance the education and employment opportunities for young people in our borough.”

Inspiring

Palvinder Singh, Principal and CEO for Kirklees College commented:“This new stage of our partnership marks the beginning of a new venture for both YABA and the college. Working with YABA allows us to expand our opportunities for young people in a way that reflects the diversity of Kirklees.”

We look forward to welcoming our new apprentices to the KC community and by having them work in our offices, we will be able to support YABA’s corporate, business and community ventures.” Sharon Jandhu OBE from YABA added:

“It was excellent to meet with the Lord Mayor of Kirklees Cllr Masood Ahmed, Palvinder Singh and the team at Kirklees College to discuss and launch the new and exciting partnership YABA has with Kirklees College, with a shared purpose of improving the lives and opportunities for young people in Kirklees and across the Yorkshire region.It was inspiring to see the hard work that the Kirklees College team have done to help local young people and we cannot wait to work with them to continue to improve the lives of the young people. We look forward to bridging the gaps between companies and the college and seeing this new partnership flourish.”

To find out more about YABA, visit www.yabauk.com/. Applications for September 2023 are now open. To find out more about Kirklees College’s apprenticeship provision, visit www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk/ apprenticeships/.

Wave of senior hires and promotions

Caddick Construction Group has made a series of senior appointments and promotions, strengthening the business’ regional expertise as it presses ahead with plans to expand across the north in 2023.

The team growth has seen the appointment of Neil Trubshaw and Sue Currey as construction group commercial director and HR business partner respectively, both with a remit across the Caddick Cons truction Group.

Internal promotions also include Adam Tucker as design director for the Construction Group and Andrew Clarkson, who has been appointed as construction director. Both will oversee Caddick Construction Yorkshire and the North East.

Each with a career spanning approximately 20 years, the four appointments represent a move by Caddick Construction to grow its project portfolio, enhance its position as a leading contractor and position the business as an employer of choice as it continues with sustainable growth.

Neil Trubshaw brings 24 years of construction industry experience to the role and will be instrumental to portfolio growth and adding value to the business’ current capabilities and governance. Neil joins Caddick

from Wates Construction where he climbed from assistant surveyor to commercial director.

Sue has a remit to support future growth and position Caddick Construction as an employer of choice. Key priorities include developing strategies for attracting, developing and retaining talent as well as investment in training.

Sue’s previous experience includes overseeing Equans’ facilities management contract on behalf of His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service, which included the mobilsation of a team of 1,500 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Andrew joined the business in 2019

as project director for SOYO, Caddick Construction’s flagship build-to-rent development in Leeds city centre on behalf of Moda Living. Andrew brings 20 years of experience in delivering complex and high-profile projects for blue chip clients.

Andrew will be responsible for overseeing regional projects, from pre-construction through to delivery and aftercare as well as keeping sight of key intricacies of project delivery.

Adam Tucker will oversee all design processes and procedures across Yorkshire and the Northeast. He will be responsible for managing the business’ design teams and overseeing all projects from inception through to completion to ensure efficiency and high quality.

The appointment builds on Adam’s 17year career with the Group, which first saw him fulfil the role of site manager, going on to become design coordinator and design manager.

Paul Dodsworth, managing director commented: “Caddick Construction Group is on a very exciting journey; we have a proud reputation as a leading, trusted and expert contractor but there is still so much we can achieve. The expertise and skill we have in our business lends itself to our ambitious growth plans and our recent appointments and promotions will be fundamental to unlocking that potential.”

Neil added: “The success of Caddick Construction over recent years is owed to the incredible expertise and capability the business holds, and it’s a really exciting time as we look at harnessing that potential and growing into new regional markets. I am excited to be joining my new colleagues and I look forward to helping to shape the future of the business.”

Yorkshire entrepreneur wins international award while

toasting prestigious contract

Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Since the launch of Coupland Leather, we have managed to send products to 18 different countries and within the US, to 17 different states, with new orders and opportunities popping up from all o ver the place."

Quality

Independently owned Coupland Leather, based in Osmotherley has been named the winner of the International Retail Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the UK, in the Corporate LiveWire Innovation and Excellence Awards, which comes as the company celebrates a contract with high-end lifestyle brand Twisted Automotive.

Coupland Leather recently started offering bespoke luggage for customers commissioning a Land Rover Defender, in partnership with Twisted Automotive of Thirsk and has now been recognised for its exceptional business performance, innovation, experience, sustainability, and service on an international level. Over 90,000 businesses and corporate professionals, magazine contributors, and subscribers nominated companies and individuals to win the award.

Luxury

Stuart Coupland, managing director said: "It's an honour to win the Retail

Coupland Leather is a luxury leather smith, set up by Stuart following redundancy in January 2020. Stuart won several awards in 2022, incl uding The Best New Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Tees Business Awards, Insider's 42 under 42 list, Leather Products Retail er of the Year in the Northeast Prestige Awards, and Best Men's Luxury Leather Goods and Accessories Retailer (North East) in the Northern Enterprise Awards.

Charles Fa wcett, founder and managing director of Twisted Automotive, sa id: "Just as a Land Rover Defender is handed down through generations, so is quality leatherware. We're offering people the co mplete package by teaming up with Stuart at Coupland Leather. Craftsmanship is at the heart of both businesses, so it makes sense to work together."

Coupland Leath er now exports its handcrafted products worldwide and has partnerships with Araminta Campbell, Maste r Debonair and the Jet Centre, as well as selling through the Coupland L eather website.

Historic Leeds cemetery discover unearths secrets of ancient Britain

An ancient lead coffin has been unearthed in a previously undiscovered, 1,600-year-old Leeds cemetery which could help unlock the secrets of one of the most significant periods in British history.

The once-in-a-lifetime find, thought to contain the remains of a late-Roman aristocratic woman, was discovered as part of an archaeological dig near Garforth in Leeds, which also revealed the remains of more than 60 men, women and children who lived in the area more than a thousand years ago.

Those buried with her in the cemetery are believed to include both lateRoman and early Saxon people, with the burial customs of both cultures found in different graves.

Archaeologists hope this means the site can help them chart the largely undocumented and hugely important

transition between the fall of the Roman Empire in around 400AD and the establishment of the famed AngloSaxon kingdoms which followed.

Now the dig is complete, expert

analysis of the remains will take place, including carbon dating to establish precise timeframes as well as detailed chemical tests which can determine extraordinary details such as individual diets and ancestry.

Significance

The discovery was made last spring and could only be revealed now because of the need to keep the site safe and so initial tests on finds could take place.

Although the exact location remains confidential, the excavation was in part prompted by the previous, nearby discovery of late Roman stone buildings and a small number of Anglo-Saxon style structures.

Kylie Buxton, on-site supervisor for

the excavations said: “It is every archaeologist’s dream to work on a ‘once in a lifetime’ site, and supervising these excavations is definitely a career-high for me.

“There is always a chance of finding burials, but to have discovered a cemetery of such significance, at such a time of transition, was quite unbelievable.

“For me it was a particular honour to excavate the high-status lead coffin burial, but it was a great team effort by everyone involved.”

As well as the Roman coffin, burial practices found in the cemetery could

indicate early Christian beliefs, as well as Saxon burials, which were accompanied by personal possessions such as knives and pottery.

After the Roman’s retreated from Britain, West Yorkshire lay in the Kingdom of Elmet which was located

between the Wharfe and Don Valleys, the Vale of York and the Pennines. Elmet remained British/Roman for just over 200 years.

David Hunter, principal archaeologist with West Yorkshire Joint Services, said: “This has the potential to be a find of massive significance for what we understand about the development of ancient Britain and Yorkshire.

“The presence of two communities using the same burial site is highly unusual and whether their use of this graveyard overlapped or not will determine just how significant the find is. When seen together the burials indicate the complexity and precariousness of life during what was a dynamic period in Yorkshire’s history.

Incredible

“The lead coffin itself is extremely rare, so this has been a truly extraordinary dig.”

Once analysis of the finds has taken place, it is hoped the lead coffin can be displayed in an upcoming exhibition at Leeds City Museum which will explore death and burial customs from across the world.

Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council and member of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee, said: “This is a fascinating discovery which paints a captivating picture of life in ancient Yorkshire.

“It’s also an incredible reminder of the history and heritage which exists beneath our feet, and we look forward to hopefully playing our part in telling this story to visitors to the museum.”

This has the potential to be a find of massive significance for what we understand about the development of ancient Britain and Yorkshire...

Helmsley Group makes further public realm commitment at Coney Street Riverside

Yorkshire property specialist Helmsley Group has submitted a second planning application for its ambitious Coney Street Riverside masterplan.

“The plans, submitted to City of York Council (CoYC), feature numbers 3-7 Coney Street and include proposals to create a new snickelway connecting Coney Street to the riverside walkway outlined in the initial planning application. This new riverside connection will create a route by which the River Ouse can be accessed and this part of the city can be explored.

The land is currently used for bin storage and is not utilised by the public. Opening up this new connection will play a key role in re-connecting Coney Street to the river.

The development will open the ground floor of 5 Coney Street and create access through to the new snickelway and the riverfront. The existing shopfronts of the listed buildings at 3-7 Coney Street will also be sensitivity regenerated to reflect their historic character.

In addition to the creation of additional public realm through the introduction of the access route, the plans also introduce residential apartments into the currently unused upper floors of buildings 3-7.

Retail space of a size aimed at independent businesses is proposed on the ground floors, and the creation of the new ginnel will allow for the introduction of new restaurants or

cafés with external seating. This aligns with the ethos of Helmsley Group’s initial planning submission, which seeks to support local businesses, and attract independent retailers and leisure owners to the area.

Helmsley Group is working with current tenants on Coney Street to relocate them within the existing scheme, should they wish to retain a presence.

Max Reeves, development director said: “This further planning application forms part of our long-held ambition

to reconnect Coney Street with its riverfront, create much-needed public realm of national standing and improve both connectivity and accessibility within central York. It builds on our vision to honour the area’s rich heritage while sensitively taking the necessary strides required to secure its long-term future.

“As well as creating a welcoming, family friendly offer through the realisation of these plans, we’re also seeking to introduce much-needed affordable housing within the city centre. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reinvigorate a much-loved but sadly under-appreciated area of the city centre, and one that has played such an important role in York’s history to date.”

The Coney Street Riverside masterplan seeks to create 250,000 sq ft of mixed-use retail, leisure, commercial, residential and student space, alongside extensive public realm.

As well as creating a welcoming, family friendly offer through the realisation of these plans, we’re also seeking to much-neededintroduce affordable housing...

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Art of Cloud Achieves Salesforce Gold Partner Status

Leeds-based Salesforce consultancy firm, Art of Cloud, has been recognised as a Crest Partner (formally Gold Partner) by American cloud-based software company Salesforce. This is the latest achievement in a 5-year streak of high-profile client wins and exceptional growth rates.

When asked about the company’s recent achievement, Ben Stevenson, CEO of Art of Cloud, said “We are very proud to announce that we have been recognised as a Salesforce Crest Partner.”

“Over the past 3 years, we have onboarded some incredible household names onto the Salesforce platform and worked tirelessly to train our Leedsbased team to become experts in the field. This achievement is a testament to the Art of Cloud team’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to outstanding service.”

Only 10% of Salesforce Partners have climbed to the Crest (Gold) Partner status and since becoming a partner in 2018 Art of Cloud has quickly scaled the ladder, successfully leading complex

Salesforce implementation projects with clients ranging from Formula E to the Leicester Tigers. Art of Cloud are fast becoming a significant player in the Northern region and their success has led to YOY triple-digit revenue growth from 2020 to 2022.

Art of Cloud has now grown to a 40-strong employee base, 30 of which are Salesforce certified, leading successful client projects and even designing new solutions encompassing the Salesforce product portfolio. In the ranking criteria, they have achieved an incredible 100% on the Salesforce impact scale. This is partly due to their non-traditional approach to education and employment; where Art of Cloud is committed to opening the doors to individuals from a diverse

range of backgrounds with no prior experience needed.

Ben added “We are dedicated to bringing extensive Salesforce expertise to our range of clients, providing innovative solutions that enable them to make the most out of any and all opportunities.

“Our success has been driven by helping our customers succeed, through expanding their new business leads and gaining and retaining a greater number of customers. We strive to create productive and beneficial relationships with all our clients, which is reflected in our high customer satisfaction ratings.”

Salesforce is the world's number 1 integrated CRM platform that focuses on bringing companies and customers together. With 150,000 worldwide customers, boutique Salesforce consultancies, such as Art of Cloud, help businesses not only implement Salesforce into their business but also utilise the platform to its full potential.

NEW Digital Workshop offering from awardwinning Leeds agency

So, if you want a starting point from which to grow your social media activity, Youbee Media can help with these workshops:

• How to attract - and convert! - your target audience with Instagram

• Optimising your Social Media plan for maximum impact

• (Relates to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok)

• What is short-form video marketing, and why should I care?

• How to harness the power of SFV with straightforward insights and strategies.

In today’s digital era, it’s vital that businesses adapt to new opportunities and understand the benefits of different social media platforms. Led by client demand, Leeds based Marketing solutions agency, Youbee Media have developed what they feel is the solution; low cost, time effective online workshops.

Launching 1st April, Youbee Media aim to de-mystify social media and online marketing for small businesses. The workshops can be used as handy stand-alone modules, or combined into a comprehensive knowledge base.

The 90-minute workshops will be available online, presented by Youbee Media’s lead, Rebecca Hopwood. The content is designed to be accessible, combining straightforward information

with marketing industry insights. The workshops cover a variety of popular topics and will arm you with the knowledge and confidence to use social media, short form video and surprisingly accessible graphics as highly effective marketing tools.

A small business owner herself, Rebecca appreciates how vital it is to make the most of your time and optimise your online marketing. Each workshop features tips and ‘hacks’ to ensure you generate maximum productivity from a minimum investment of time.

• (Relates to TikTok, Reels and YouTube shorts)

• Tips and insider tricks to thrive as a small business on TikTok

• No graphic designer? No problem! How to create appealing social media graphics on Canva

Each session comes with a PDF content summary and you’ll have lifetime access to the online workshop. There’s also an option to tap into further consultancy support or 1-2-1 training.

Combining workshop purchases saves money, while increasing knowledge! Individual sessions are priced at £49.99 + VAT, while investing in any three workshops together increases value at only £129 + VAT. They will be available via the Youbee Media website from 1st April: www.youbeemedia.co.uk

Follow Youbee Media’s socials for more information as the workshop launch da te approaches!

Sales and lettings business set to shake up the industry

Her knowledge, understanding and track record for consistently delivering work to the highest of standards for both renters and landlords has seen her set the benchmark high where customer service is concerned. Jacqui also holds the Level 4 ARLA qualification which is the gold standard in the lettings industry.

A new independent estate agent is poised to make an impact in Leeds with a refreshing approach to the industry.The Agency is taking things back to basics with an honest and transparent business style, headed up by two of Yorkshire’s most prolific property experts.

Sales director Nigel Lenton brings with him over 40 years of experience, having worked on several projects that have helped shape the city. His collaborations with developers in Leeds City Centre go back as far as 1997, where he has sold over 50 sites off-plan - the majority which are investor buyers.

As the former sales director and partner of estate agency Morgan’s, Nigel’s credits include City Island, Gateway, Velocity, Westpoint and Whitehall Waterfront to name just a few. With every project he takes on, his personal approach to an often-faceless industry

has allowed him to stand out in a crowded market.

Working alongside him is general manager Jacqui Pringle, who brings 17 years of sales and lettings knowledge to the table. Jacqui’s previous role as head of operations for one of the largest agents in the city centre saw her oversee a portfolio of over 1500 rental properties.

The Agency offers the perfect combination of their unique talents, creating a sales and lettings service that is second to none. Offering a fair and transparent price structure, open and honest advice and of course, unrivalled industry insight, Nigel and Jacqui have already had an amazing response to The Agency with landlords rushing to sign up their properties.

Several exciting projects are already underway, with plenty more in the pipeline. Speaking Nigel said: ‘Central Leeds has really come on in leaps and bounds over the past few decades, and I’m still as excited about this city as I was back in 1997 when I began my first project here. Despite a few troubled years in the wake of world events, the grit and tenacity of the people of Yorkshire have ensured Leeds is a city that always bounces back and it’s one of the biggest thing’s I love about the city.’’

‘Jacqui and I want to continue raising the game where honesty, transparency and expertise is our key focus, and pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service with the all-important human touch. We’re already excited to be working on some incredible projects and can’t wait to see what the future holds.’’

Jacqui and I want to continue raising the game where honesty, transparency and expertise is our key focus, and pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service...

British bed manufacturer launches first US distribution centre

Harrison Spinks the 180-year-old, fifthgeneration family business, which manufactures all its handmade 100% natural mattresses and beds in Yorkshire, has made a significant six-figure investment in a LA facility to benefit customers in the United States.

UK Bed Manufacturer of the Year at the 2022 National Bed Federation Awards, Harrison Spinks has made the investment following growth in the region, and the new facility will significantly reduce delivery lead times from three months to around two weeks.

It is a significant milestone for the brand which first launched into the North American market in 2021.

This distribution centre will facilitate an upgraded US stocking programme which will hold its Euston, Northumberland, Leicester and Strand mattresses, luxury enhancers and divan beds.

The British family bedmaker offers handmade mattresses that are 100% recyclable and free from harmful chemicals while being naturally fire retardant and include a glue-free spring system made with ultra-fine wire pocket springs for superior comfort. Products start life on the company’s 300-acre farm in the English countryside, where sheep are reared on rich, untreated pastures and hemp and flax crops are grown on fertile fields without pesticides.

Scott Hollis, North America sales said: “When we launched into the market in North America, our aim was to grow and expand across the country. Now we have achieved growth and brand awareness, we’re now doubling down on distribution times so that our US customers can enjoy a better night’s sleep much faster than before.

“This facility is incredibly significant within our business plan, as it ensures our brand is much stronger within the country and more competitive, as customers can now have premium comfort with less wait times.

“It also greatly benefits our stockists along the West Coast of the United States, as we can now offer our beds to them with an extremely competitive lead time. We have plans to open more distribution centres as we continue to grow our independent retailer offering within the USA and Canada.”

The facility is leased in partnership with logistics specialists, Rhenus Group, which Harrison Spinks is working with to provide this brandnew distribution service to its US customers.

This Is Distorted, Leeds based audio first content agency

A multi-award winning agency specialising in emotionally connecting brands, businesses and audiences through the power of sound. Passionate about audio as a power for good.

Why are so many business owners starting podcasts?

We now know that 40% of UK adults listen to podcasts each month and that number is only increasing! The podcast audience is growing, diversifying and increasing their time listening - which all in all makes for an attra ctive audience.

Authenticity and realness are the new metrics of desirable content.

The need for truth and connection has replaced the highly filtered, curated gloss we readily consumed only a few years ago. Society wants real, relevant and meaningful and the consumer has come to expect this of the brands and businesses they choose to engage with, regardless of platform.

Podcasts offer the perfect space to humanise your content and touch points with personal, meaningful conversations and storytelling

What we do?

We work with you to strategically shape and plan audio focused content solutions that form part of PR and marketing plans garnering real bu siness results.

We have a range of services available from studio hire and marketing support to f ull production.

If you are thinking about starting a podcast or are ready to take yours to the next level then get in touch and let’s have a coffee becky@thisisdistorted.com

Business Support Drop-ins

L o o k i n g f o r b u s i n e s s s u p p o r t a n d a d v i c e ?

J o i n u s a t o u r d r o p - i n s e s s i o n s a n d g e t f r e e a n d

c o n f i d e n t i a l a d v i c e t o u n l o c k y o u r b u s i n e s s p o t e n t i a l a n d s u p p o r t y o u r g r o w t h p l a n s !

H o w w e c a n h e l p …

- S t a r t u p a d v i c e a n d s u p p o r t

- S u p p o r t a c c e s s i n g f u n d i n g a n d b u s i n e s s s u p p o r t p r o g r a m m e s

- S u p p o r t w i t h u p s k i l l i n g y o u r t e a m

- C o n n e c t i n g y o u t o l o c a l o r g a n i s a t i o n s & n e t w o r k i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s

N o n e e d t o r e g i s t e r , j u s t t u r n u p o n t h e d a y .

- P o n t e f r a c t D r o p - I n : 7 t h J u n e , 9 : 3 0 - 1 1 : 3 0 @ P o n t e f r a c t L i b r a r y , 2 8 - 3 2 M a r k e t P l , P o n t e f r a c t W F 8 1 B D

T o f i n d o u t f u t u r e d a t e s a n d l o c a t i o n s f o r d r o p - i n s p l e a s e v i s i t : w w w . w a k e f i e l d f i r s t . c o m / e v e n t s - c a l e n d a r / f o r m o r e i n f o .

Housebuilder appoints former Avant Homes board member as non-exec chairman

experience as a senior corporate finance partner with PwC and Deloitte and holds non-executive positions with several businesses.

He served on Avant Homes’ board for a period of six years before the company was sold to its current owners in April 2021.

Sheffield-based housebuilder Honey has announced the appointment of a former Avant Homes board member to the position of non-executive chairman.

Gerry Loftus has more than 25 years’

Honey was launched last October by former Avant Homes chief executive officer, Mark Mitchell, who worked alongside Gerry throughout his time at the company.

The business recently submitted plans to deliver its first two schemes. These comprise a £14m development in South Normanton, Derbyshire, and a £23.5m development in Barnsley.

Wizu Workspace hires new commercial director

Wiizu Workspace, a leading provider of flexible offices and coworking spaces, has announced the appointment of Chris Mapp as its new commercial director. The move comes as Wizu continues to expand its footprint across the North of England and Scotland, as it accelerates its ambitiou s growth plans.

Commenting on the appointment, CEO Tom Almas said: "Chris' hire represents a significant step forward in the next chapter for us. As we continue with our growth plans, bringing on board the right senior

leadership is crucial to the future success of the business. Chris' wealth of experience and commercial expertise in flex space sector will be invaluable to us as we look to expand our footprint and offer even more innovative solutions to our members."

Commenting on his appointment, Gerry said: “Mark has a clear vison for Honey based on delivering an excellent product for homebuyers that combines style, substance, and sustainability. “He is a highly capable operator, and I am enjoying working with him again to help firmly establish Honey as a recognised and respected housebuilding brand.”

Mark added: “I have a huge amount of respect for Gerry having experienced at first hand the wise counsel and strategic direction he provides.

“His appointment is a key element of our controlled growth strategy and will further enable us to quickly establish Honey within the residential development sector in the north and midlands.”

In his new role, Chris will be responsible for driving Wizu Workspace's commercial strategy, building relationships with key partners, and leading the company's business devel opment efforts.

Chris added: "As a seasoned ‘flex-pert’ with experience in commercial, operational, HR, and marketing functions, I'm excited to join the team at such a pivotal time in their g rowth journey.”

Wizu Workspace has been providing flexible workspaces since 2017 and has established itself as a leading provider in the industry.

Pictured from left to right: co-founder John Guggenheim, commercial director Chris Mapp, and CEO Tom Almas

Manufacturing and engineering employers in Leeds are being urged to nominate outstanding younger talent from among their own organisations for an awards initiative that is now in its second year.

Manufacturing Festival Awards aim to identify and recognise the achievements of the industry’s next generation of rising stars and potential business leaders.

The awards, which will take place in Leeds on 20 April, were launched in 2022 to highlight the successes and achievements of younger people already working in manufacturing and engineering. They also aim to promote the diverse modern career opportunities on offer in a sector that is facing a severe shortage of new employees with the right skills and technical qualifications.

Entries are now open and close on 3 April. This year’s awards categories

are ‘apprentice of the year’, ‘rising star of the year’, ‘future leader’ and the new ‘employer of the year’ category, recognising a business that has been outstanding in attracting and nurturing talented younger employees.

Ben Wilson, chair of Leeds Manufacturing Alliance and director of Leeds-based glass reinforced plastic moulds manufacturer MPM, said: “Leeds Manufacturing Festival is all about highlighting manufacturing as a tremendously rewarding industry to work in and attracting the next generation of talent to the sector.

“As with the outstanding younger employees who were selected to win last year’s awards, I know that this

year’s winners will also be superb role models and ambassadors for Leeds’ manufacturing sector and for the festival, helping to spread the message that manufacturing is a great place to work and with a vast range of career options on offer.

“The awards were a standout feature of the 2022 Leeds Manufacturing Festival and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever. We’re urging manufacturing employers to put forward any younger team members that deserve recognition for their contribution to the business.”

“Manufacturing is a fantastic career choice and we hope that the awards will help to highlight that, along with all the other events that are taking place over the course of the festival.”

Entry forms for the Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards can be found on the festival website and entries must be received by 3 April. The awards ceremony will take place on 20 April, hosted by MPM.

Now in its sixth year, Leeds Manufacturing Festival runs until July. This year’s events include manufacturing ‘treks’, where school and college students visit factories across the city, as well as live careers panels and a careers showcase connecting around 20 manufacturing employers with Leeds students.

The festival is sponsored by Leeds City College, engineering and manufacturing recruiter E3 Recruitment, and Next Gen Makers, which runs a benchmarking and accreditation scheme for manufacturing and engineering apprenticeships. It is organised by the Leeds Manufacturing Alliance and supported by Leeds City Council, Leeds City Region LEP, Leeds Chamber and the Ahead Partnership.

Rising stars of manufacturing and engineering to be celebrated

Tyra Jones (Laura Rogers)

New retail events heading to Pavilions of Harrogate

Pavilions of Harrogate has secured a number of new highend retail events as the Great Yorkshire Showground’s venues celebrate a hugely successful start to 2023.

A January and March are record months for the 14-room event space which is based on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

Last month saw Reiss at the Pavilions for the first time and last week Brodie Cashmere held their debut event at the venue.

The Sweaty Betty Sale started on Monday 20th March for two days and the Joules Sale opened on Thursday 23rd. The Boden Sale will be held on Wednesday 20th September and Thursday 21st September.

In the first quarter of the year Pavilions will host 150 events ranging from retail sales, to funerals, dinners and conferences.

It marks a hugely successful start to the year as sister venue, the Yorkshire Event

We have had a series of

Pavilions of

to attract a new audience to the showground...

Centre has also signed up a number of new events. This includes Fully Charged LIVE North 2023, the World’s no.1 Electric Vehicle and Clean Energy Show on Friday 19th to Sunday 21st May.

Comic Con will be at the Yorkshire Event Centre on Saturday 3rd June and Sunday 4th June as part of a national tour. Expect big guests, amazing set and prop builds, major attractions, cosplay, anime, traders, gaming and more.

Organisers of the UK’s biggest outdoor holiday home show recently announced their relocation to the Great Yorkshire Showground. Rebranded as The Great Holiday Home Show, it will be held from Friday 8th September to Sunday 10th September for the public followed by a trade-only show from Tuesday 12th September to Thursday 14th September.

Heather Parry, managing director of Pavilions of Harrogate and the Yorkshire Event Centre which are both based on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate said: “We have had a series of really successful retail events at Pavilions of Harrogate which continue to attract a new audience to the showground. Event organisers tell us they are impressed by the venues, our commitment to sustainability and the passion and dedication of our wonderful team. We are proud of our track record and continue to strive for excellence in all we do. We are excited that 2023 will be our most successful year ever in both our venues.”

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whichHarrogatecontinue

Comms agency expands team with over 10 new recruits

Counter Context, a specialist communications agency with over 29 years’ experience, has just expanded its team with an additiona l 10 new staff.

This growth has resulted in increased capacity, improved collaboration and communication across the business.

With a focus on serving the regeneration and development, transport and sustainability, and energy and utilities sectors, Counter Context has seen tremendous growth in the demand for its services. The team has now expanded from just 20 members before the pandemic to an all-time high of 37.

Growing

The specialist Energy & Utilities team has recently welcomed the appointment of Beth Motley as its new division director. The team has also welcomed Lydia Wood, previously joining Counter Context as a temporary intern, as well as

New additions Jade Anderson as an account manager. Additionally, Maya Lubczynskyj and Abigail Kirk, after completing the internship programme, have joined the Sheffieldbased team as account executives.

Counter Context has also seen growth in its newly launched PR division, Altitude, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, growing from two to four employees, welcoming Rachel Measures as account Manager and Emilia Williamson as account executive.

Rhea Harvey, a further appointment to the Operations team, specialising in events management, has expanded the company’s suit of services, while the Design team has welcomed a new junior graphic designer in Harley Mousley.

In addition to the new hires, Counter Context has seen seven

internal promotions, further demonstrating the company's growth and development.

Appreciation

Alexis Krachai, managing director said: “This expansion is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional service and support to its clients as the speed of change in the built environment accelerates. The importance of calm and considered communication is growing as stakeholders and communities engage with the changes we’re seeing in towns, cities, and the countryside.

“As the UK responds to the impacts of the pandemic, the race to net zero and the development of new places to live and work, we’re seeing a growing appreciation with existing and new clients that building understanding and trust is key to delivering projects on time and on budget and benefitting from active involvement from communities.”

Michael O'Sullivan and Rebecca Walker, all as new account executives.

Tony’s career is st ill ‘pure Gold ’

TopicUK editor Gill Laidler recently caught up with former Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley, who for many, needs no introduction, ahead of his UK solo tour with a stop at the Holmfirth Hippodrom e on 15th June.

I have spoken with Tony before who is very generous with his time and this occasion was no exception.

Tony is London born and bred and he believed growing up his future lay in medicine until as a young lad he won a holiday singing competition and decided his vocation was singing. “I used to sing at home all the time, and was a choir boy, but never in front of an audience,” he explained, “but I loved it and the audience seemed t o love it too.”

Despite being a huge ‘punk’ fan, Tony went on to front 1980s new romantic band Spandau Ballet, earning himself the accolade of being one of pop music’s greatest vocalists. The band had numerous chart-topping singles and albums all over the world, including Tony’s favourite track, ‘Through the Barricades’ and of course the international number one ‘True’ and the unofficial London Olympic theme ‘Gold’. The band were amongst the line-up of the original Band Aid with the iconic song ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ put together by Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and Ultravox star Midge Ure to raise funds for the peop le of Ethiopia.

By the mid-1980s Spandau Ballet were world-wide superstars, but relationships began to crack, leading to the band to finally splitting in 1990. Despite two well documented reunions, which generated the critically acclaimed rockumentary film ‘Soul Boys of the Western World’, Tony has now left the band permanently and has returned to his very successful solo career, writing, recording, and performing. “My time with the band was amazing, I never thought as a young lad sat on the sofa at home with my mum and dad and nan and grandad, watching Top of the Pops that one day, I would be on there, and touring the world, it really was a dream come true, it was never about the fame, I just loved

to sing and seeing the world was a bonus! I think it’s difficult for young artists today to get themselves recognised, we were lucky, we had programmes like TOTP and The Tube on TV, television just loved mu sic back then.”

Nearly 40 years on from the beginning of his Spandau Ballet career, Tony’s unmistakeable voice still brims with passion and urgency as it did all t hose years ago.

As a solo artist, Tony has performed across the world with his band, swing bands and orchestras. “I have been very lucky to have enjoyed doing something that I love, whilst travelling the world, a priv ilege for few.”

In 2005 he was awarded a Gold Badge from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters and 2007 saw him win a new legion of fans when he took to the stage appearing as Billy Flynn in Chicago on the West End Stage. “This was very different for me, dabbling in acting, but I loved it,” he continued. “I had a new swing album coming out at the time, so playing Billy Flynn was appropriate but it was really nerve wracking, but so ple ased I did it.”

In addition to his music career, Tony has also presented his own radio programmes on a Saturday night on Absolute Radio and now every Sunday morning on BBC

I have been very lucky to have enjoyed doing something that I love, whilst travelling the world, a privilege for few....

Three Counties. He is also a great supporter of charities, regularly performing and raising funds. He has trekked across deserts and jungles, competed in Who Wants to Be A Millionaire where he did very well and holds an annual golf day

supporting the work of Children’s Hospices, campaigns that fund medical research into childhood illnesses and degenerative conditions and small charities that are personal to him, using his name where it can make a real difference.

Every year Tony and his ‘Fabulous TH Band’ perform continuously at concerts and festivals all over the world. In between these live shows, other highli ghts have been:

2015 Tony had the great privilege of

being invited to Buckingham Palace to meet her Majesty The Queen. The same year he appeared in the jungle on ‘I’m a Celebrity’ which he thoroughly enjoyed, despite his disagreements with Lady Colin Campbell. “I loved it and of course it was a great weight loss programme,” he laughed, “but it also announced that Tony Hadley was back!”

2016 Tony contributed to the soundtrack for the British movie ‘Eddie the Eagle’ starring Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton.

2017 Tony was invited by actor Gary Oldman to perform at the ‘Celebrating David Bowie’ tribute concerts in London and Los Angeles, taking to the stage with Sting and Simon Le Bon of Police and Duran Duran fame.

2018 he released his highly anticipated solo album ‘Talking to the Moon’. The album was incredibly well received and became Radio 2’s Album of the Week and the first single ‘Tonight Belongs to Us’ was single of the week.

2019 Tony guested on the Young Voices UK tour performing with thousands of school children in arena’s up and down the country. He said: “it was genuinely one of the best things I have ever done in my life.” In 2020 he took to the stage again with Young Voices, enjoying it so much he volunteered to sing some Queen songs in the 2020 tour.

Twenty nineteen was also a special year for Tony when in the New Year’s Honours list, Anthony Patrick Hadley was awarded an MBE for his charitable work for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice. “I was somewhat surprised, but deeply honoured to receive this,” he said.

Returning from a spring tour of Japan

and Australia at the beginning of March 2020, the country went into lockdown. “During the first few months of lockdown, I recorded regular shout out videos for fans and every Sunday I performed a lockdown song from home, choosing songs that had either influenced me or my personal favourites,” he explained.

Last year Tony headed out on his 40th Anniversary Tour performing 40

shows across the UK before heading off to perform in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Japan, and Italy. He also released his book, ‘My Life in Pictures’ which celebrates his amazing 40-year career. And as we go to press, Tony is working on his new album.

For tickets email: info@ picturedrome.net

ADVANCE TICKETS - £38.00

Langcliffe International becomes employee owned

managers, Poppy Briggs ( Europe ), Maryia Amrez ( Private Equity ) , Joanna Hughes ( Corporates) and Holly Cooper ( Vendor Advisors ).

Helen commented “We have deliberately adopted a policy of growing our own talent and empowering our staff to make decisions themselves. A lot of our success is based on their ability, loyalty, and understanding and advocation of our systems which are critical”.

Langcliffe International, Europe’s leading mergers & acquisitions buy-side deal originator, has become employee owned in a transaction orga nised by Azets.

Langcliffe based in Ilkley, was set up in 2012 by Mark Eardley (managing drector) and Helen Postlethwaite (commercial director). The business employs 17 professionals and a further 5 consultants. It has grown rapidly in recent years across Europe capitalising on unrivalled relationships with vendor advisors, corporates and private equity firms. The company introduces acquisition opportunities in a value range between £3m and £100m.

The business attributes its continuing success to the trust it has developed with its vendor advisors, its unique model backed by bespoke operating systems and rapid growth in Europe from where it currently generates in excess of 50 per cent of its revenue. Further growth will come from developing in the US and Asia.

Mark is transferring 73% of his shares to the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Under the move, all employees will benefit financially from the future success of the company and Mark and Helen will stay in the business. The EOT Board will comprise Helen chairman, Mark and Langcliffe’s four

Mark added: "Selling the company to our employees through the creation of the EOT ensures the stability of the business for the long-term and supports our desire for further international growth. This move recognises the value that our fantastic team has delivered over the years, and it is a very exciting opportunity for each individual to take a pivotal role as the business progresses. Creating a great place to work is fundamental to our business principles, and we’re very excited about the next stage of the journey."

Langcliffe International joins many well-known firms such as John Lewis, Richer Sounds, and 'Tiptree' preserve maker Wilkin & Sons in becoming employee owned. The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) says more than 1200 businesses have now adopted employee ownership and the sector has more than doubled in the past three years.

Recent converts include Go Ape, the treetop adventure company, Riverford, the organic vegetable box company and Aardman, the Bristol-based animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit.

Selling the company to our employees through the creation of the EOT ensures the stability of the business for the longterm and supports our desire for further international growth...

Leeds Trinity University ViceChancellor honoured

Leeds Trinity University’s Professor Charles Egbu, has been appointed as an Honorary Fellow of The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in recognition of his contribution to architecture. Quantity surveyor and academic Professor Charles Egbu has been a leader in Higher Education for over 25 years. Currently vice-chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, he is one of the first Black university vice-chancell ors in the UK.

Prior to his role at Leeds Trinity, Professor Egbu was Dean of the School of Built Environment and Architecture at London South Bank University and Head of the School of Built Environment at the University of Salford, and held academic posts at University College London, Glasgow Caledonian University and Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Metropolitan). His first Degree was in Quantity Surveying. His Doctorate was obtained in the area of Construction Project Management.

Professor Egbu said: “My research interests focus on project management, construction management and sustainable development; subjects

about which I have authored books and contributed to more than 350 publications in various international journals and conferences. I am also committed to diversifying the sector, developing apprenticeship programmes and championing initiatives to raise awareness on mental health issues in the construction industry. I am pleased, as Dean of School of Architecture and the Built Environment at London Southbank University in 1998, to have offered the first UK Level 6 (BA Hons. Degree equivalent) apprenticeships in Architecture and being in the frontline of positive changes to architectural education. It is an honour to have my work highlighted and it is with great pleasure I accept the RIBA Honorary ponsibilities.”

RIBA Honorary Fellowships are awarded every year to people who have made a significant contribution to architecture but are not architects. This includes people who have helped improve the quality of design and influence the delivery of the built environment in a more sustainable way and those involved in its promotion and management.

This year, RIBA announced 12 new Honorary Fellows including Professor Charles Egbu.

RIBA President, Simon Allford, said: “This year’s Honorary Fellows represent many professions, ranging from engineering to public relations.

“They are distinguished and connected by the fact that they have all demonstrated an exceptional dedication to bringing about positive change in architecture and the wider collective industry. I would like to extend my congratulations and I am delighted to welcome them to RIBA.”

The 2023 RIBA Honorary Fellowships will be presented at a special event at RIBA in London this April.

Rayhanneh Mazinani: Simplifying car and van sourcing through Trayd

By Daneile Moore

She began building the business using LinkedIn, visited car dealer groups, and made hundreds of cold calls searching for business and contacts.

She admits the first 8 months were tough “I lived hand to mouth, struggled to manage myself, my high energy and understand exactly what I needed to throw myself at to make it work”

Trayd, supplying dealer groups with cars and vans, and vehicles for companies within the private sector, was founded in 2021 by Ryahanneh Mazinani who after 5 years of working in car sales was feeling frustrated and unfulfilled at not being able to progress in her career as quickly as she wanted.

Rayhanneh say “I studied economics and business and always had a genuine interest in the economy, the factors at play and how they interact and lead to growth or in some cases recession.

I grew up watching the apprentice aspiring to be in business and relished the opportunity to work under pressure and outside of my comfort zone. That was something I

dreamed of, I craved, the excitement, the unpredictability and to ultimately be really put to the test.

I was very entrepreneurial as a child, charging my siblings to tidy their room, remove spiders or straighten their hair! At university I entered several business competitions and threw myself into the challenges, I loved every minute of them. I made money but most importantly I enjoyed doing it!”

Disillusioned in her role, and realising there is no time like now, Rayhanneh handed in her notice and the keys to her company car. She started the business with no money, no contracts, buyers, or stock, but she was not deterred and knew what she needed to do.

Covid had thrown the market into chaos, there weren’t nearly enough cars to match the demand which opened many opportunities to supply dealer groups who would otherwise have always bought from the same traditional buying channels, so Rayhanneh capitalised on this, networked wherever she could, attended events, trade shows and continued to visit buyers and suppliers.

This is when she began to really understand the market, and how she could fulfil demand and the business started to come together.

A helping hand from AD:VENTURE

Over a year into the journey, Rayhanneh decided to look at what support was available for business owners, and she discovered AD:VENTURE. The fully funded programme provides hands on business support and advice to newly established business owners who have ambitions to grow.

On joining the programme, she was assigned a dedicated business adviser who met with her and guided her through the help available for the business, also offering advice

About the company

and guidance in future planning. He also helped her with lots of connections and helped her to further build her network in the local business community.

Rayhanneh was delighted with the support she was given “I can honestly say there are individuals I met, decisions I have made, and achievements met that I would not have done without making that initial phone call. It is a phenomenal, underestimated resource.

There is a saying I hear often ‘you don’t know, what you don’t know’ and that sums it up. You don’t always understand that you need help, guidance, and resources until you speak to people and hear their perspectives, recommendations, and advice.

I was also lucky enough to attend a Women in Business Seminar at the Hepworth Gallery where I got listen to prominent females from the district and listen to their stories and struggles. There is so much to be gained through discussion and sharing experience”

So, what’s next for Trayd?

Growing rapidly the business has turned over just short of £7,000,000 since starting. Rayhanneh says “It sounds a big figure but it’s a drop in the ocean within the motor industry and I know there is a hell of way to go to achieve my ultimate ambitions. The first steps are the hardest and I’m happy I didn’t listen to my previous employers who told me ‘I wasn’t quite ready’. I’ve always been ready to take the driving seat, and I am enjoying being sat in the greatest roller coaster of my life so far!

My immediate goal is to scale the volume of stock reaching

dealerships, maintain the key business relatio nships I h ave and source more stock. The business model is built on well described desirable stock. Something at the forefront of all my dec isions.Scaling a business can sometimes impact upon the quality and level of service being delivered, but to me knowing the market as I do and the available buying channels, this is my point of difference and a non-negotiable.

I will be looking to take a fulltime driver and administrator so that my time and focus can be channelled into selling and building suppli ers and buyers”

You can find out more about Trayd by contacting Rayhanneh on LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/rayhanneh

T0 find out more about AD:VENTURE, visit https://www.ad-venture.org.uk/

Work begins on £60m, 215 home development at Skelton Lakes

overall build programme is estimated to take approximately 4 years.

The site was purchased from Templegate Developments, a joint venture (JV) between Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments.

The JV plans to create a community of 1,800 news homes, a primary and secondary school, public open space, a local centre and a convenience store on the former open cast colliery site at Skelton Gates.

Avant Homes North Yorkshire has started construction on a 17-acre site at Skelton Lakes in Leeds to deliver 215 newbuild homes with a gross development value (GDV) of around £60m.

Located just off Pontefract Lane five

miles from Leeds city centre, the development will comprise a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes and feature 15 of Avant Homes’ design-led house types.

Called Greenlock Place, the development received planning permission in March this year. The

The showhome is due to open this July with the first homes set to be ready for occupation in September 2023.

Avant Homes North Yorkshire managing director, Matt Oldfield, said: “Greenlock Place is a landmark development for our growing regional portfolio, and we are pleased to be extending our presence with 215 new homes at the development.”

First time buyers lay first bricks of new home

A first time buyer couple from Carlton have laid the first bricks of their dream new home at Avant Homes’ £44m, 129 home Strawberry Fields development in the village.

Rhiannon Irvine and Joseph Coulson were invited to lay the bricks to mark the occasion of them becoming homeowners.

Rhiannon and Joseph have purchased a two-bedroom detached house which they are due to move into in June this year.

Like all properties at Strawberry Fields, their new home will feature a modern and spacious living space,

Kirklees College paves the way with electric vehicle centre

Kirklees College is proud to announce the launch of its Hybrid Electrical Vehicle Centre at its Engineering Centre which has been funded through the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges (WYCC) Strategic Development Fund to improve 'Green Skills' in the region.

This new state-of-the-art facility has been designed to provide students with hands-on training in the latest

hybrid and electric vehicle technology, preparing them for careers in the fastgrowing automotive industry.

Instructors are industry experts with years of experience in hybrid and electric vehicle repair and maintenance, and dedicated to providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

Working together with colleges, educators, partners and employers, WYCC’s Green Skills Service aims to develop the green skills offer, grow internal skills and awareness and work towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the region.

designer kitchen with integrated appliances and a boutique bathroom complete with designer tiling and contemporary sanitaryware.

Commenting Rhiannon said: “As first-time buyers, we are really pleased to know our dream home is now underway. The experience has been made extra special by being able to lay some of the first bricks on our new house.”

Joseph added: “Everyone we have dealt with has provided us with great service and made buying our first home a straightforward and enjoyable experience.

“We can’t wait to move in. It is so exciting knowing we will soon be living in a completely new home, along with all its features and

benefits, for us to put our stamp on and make our own.”

Avant Homes sales and marketing director, Dan Hardcastle, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Rhiannon and Joseph to Strawberry Fields to lay the first bricks on their home, which was made all the more special by the fact it is the first house they have bought.

“Since announcing in February that the first homes were for sale at Strawberry Fields, we have had a surge of enquiries in addition to those people who had already registered their interest with us.

“Sales are strong and, as Rhiannon and Joseph have experienced, we have a skilled team who will make buying and moving into one of our homes a smooth process.”

David Doran, head of faculty for engineering said: “Kirklees College is committed to providing its students with the most relevant and up-todate training available and our Hybrid Electrical Vehicle Centre is just one example of our dedication to excellence. We are proud to be at the forefront of automotive education, and we look forward to seeing our students excel in this exciting and important field.”

Clair Kerry, project manager at the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges said:

"It is fantastic to see the result of investment from DfE’s Strategic Development Fund enabling vital changes to the FE curriculum. The new electric vehicle equipment and training at Kirklees College is just one example of our commitment our support for college partners with their ambitions to deliver green skills that align to the needs of learners and employers."

For more information about our Motor Vehicle study programmes at Kirklees College, visit Motor Vehicle - Kirklees College

Bradford printer invests £1m in new facilities

Bradford-based printer, Dominion Print, has substantially increased its production capabilities with a £1m investment in additional manufacturing machinery and technology.

The company, which specialises in large and super-large formats, has acquired a Durst Rho 2500 modular UV flatbed printer along with an additional in-line welding and eyeleting machine and further in-line, fully automatic sewing machines.

Verity Fox, Director at Dominion Print, said: “Investing in our facilities is part of our growth strategy, it will assist us in meeting increased demand for large-format printing

solutions, partly driven by the return of the events industry, which has bounced back following its covid-enforced hiatus. The Durst Rho 2500 offers high-speed production and fantastic quality, enabling us to increase our largeformat capacity while maintaining the high standards our clients expect. This machine effectively doubles our flatbed production. We have purchased the additional finishing

equipment to enable finishing to keep pace with print.

“The purchase of the additional in-line fully sewing equipment further enhances our tension frame graphic production.  The automation significantly reduces the need for complex training and enables operators to produce tension graphics, on a wide range of media, to the highest quality “Dominion are one of very few organisations that provide truly super-large solutions, and, over the years, we have fully embraced the emerging technology to develop superwide digital applications. Following our latest investment, we are better placed than ever to grow our large-format business in a range of sectors, from events and entertainment to retail and construction.”

Phase two of Gelderd Park Industrial Estate in Leeds launched

the nearby motorway connections. The site was formerly owned by UKbased wholesaler Palmer & Harvey.

Nearby occupiers to the development –which are predominantly trade counter, car showroom and distribution businesses – include Screwfix, KwikFit, Bentley and Clipper Logistics.

84,000 sq ft in the development’s first phase.

The latest occupier is commercial vehicle safety and van conversions specialist SM UK, which has taken 38,650 sq ft of space on a 20-year lease and completes the development’s phase one.

Phase two of Gelderd Park will deliver of 12,600 sq ft trade and

retail accommodation across fives units, ranging from 1,400 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft. All units are available on a leasehold basis.

Gelderd Park is prominently located with frontage on to the A62 and is adjacent to the A58, which both offer easy access to Leeds city centre and

Commenting on the listing, Walker Singleton director, Ryan Baker, said: “The successes of Gelderd Park’s first phase shows the market appetite for high-quality, strategically located industrial accommodation.

“With the launch of the phase two, we anticipate high levels of interest for the take up of these new-build trade and retail units.”

NG Bailey appoints new COO

NG Bailey, the UK’s largest independent engineering and services business, has appointed Jonathan Stockton to the newly created role of chief operating cfficer (COO).

Clare Salmon, previously group financial controller, has been promoted to group finance director.

As COO, Jonathan will oversee and optimise the Group’s operational capabilities and administration, alongside developing and implementing key business strategies. Jonathan will also continue as a group board Director.

Jonathan has played a key role alongside chief executive David Hurcomb and the NG Bailey Board in driving the Group’s growth agenda, which included several successful acquisitions within the services business. The NG Bailey Group, which has operated for over 100 years, is supported by a positive balance sheet, strong order book, diversified business plan and solid market positions.

David Hurcomb, CEO said: “It is pleasing to see Jonathan move up into this newly created and strategic role. He has been an important part of the senior team since joining in 2016 and has contributed much to ensure the continued success of the business.

“As a business, we are committed to recognising and rewarding our own talent and Clare’s promotion is testament to that. It also shows our succession plans are working and that colleagues can thrive and succeed in their c areers with us.

“Moving forward we have exciting plans across the Group, including a continued com mitment to the net zero agenda and making a positive impact in everything we do. Both Jonathan and Clare’s wealth of experience across the business will ensure we remain at the forefront of the industry.”

Speaking about his new role, Jonathan said: “NG Bailey continues to be a leader within its field, and I am excited about the opportunity this role presents to deliver important work that further enhances our market leading position and supports our people – the lifeblood o f the business.

“I look forward to developing further in this new role and making a positive contribution to our on going success.”

In her new role Clare joins the Group Operating Executive. Clare will manage the financial integrity and day-to-day performance of the business to support and build on the company’s solid finan cial position.

Moving forward we have exciting plans across the Group, including a commitmentcontinued to the net zero agenda and making a positive impact in everything we do...

Greenarc Ltd expands its service offering with latest acquisition

Greenarc Ltd, a national supplier of fuel and green energy solutions is delighted to announce its latest acquisition of Key Finance & Leasing Limited (KeyFleet).

The Lancashire-based business has provided vehicle leasing and fleet management services for over 15 years and specialises in supporting its customers with the transition to Electric Vehicles. Greenarc Limited is focused on guiding its commercial, public sector and residential customers towards a decarbonised future.

Chris Bingham, Greenarc Ltd chairman & CEO said: “We are really excited to welcome KeyFleet to our fast-growing business. Greenarc supports both homes and businesses across the UK with their fuel and low carbon energy services, and with

the green evolution a huge priority, being able to offer our customers a one-stop solution for their fuel, solar, batteries, EV charging points and now their electric vehicles are a great place for us to be.

We’ve worked closely with Marc and the team at KeyFleet for several years and we’re delighted to have them with us on our journey. With their focus on electric vehicles, they are the perfect business to join Greenarc as we continue to grow and develop to become a central figure in the transition to renewable energy and sustainable transport for both the commercial and domestic markets.”

Marc McLoughlin, KeyFleet managing director, who will join the board at Greenarc as part of the sale, said “Since the business was formed back in 2007

Since the business was formed back in 2007 my aim has always been to build a unique and worthwhile business that would genuinely make a difference...

Marc McLoughlin, KeyFleet managing director

my aim has always been to build a unique and worthwhile business that would genuinely make a difference and leave a legacy that we can all be proud of, and I’ve been fortunate enough to attract a highly skilled team that buy into that vision.

This acquisition by Greenarc Ltd allows us to fulfil our potential as a business by providing both the platform and the resources we require to take advantage of the

electrification of vehicles which is no doubt the single biggest opportunity in the fleet sector since the invention of the motor car.

We are excited to lead the charge towards sustainable motoring and electrification nationally as part of the Greenarc group of businesses that will see us expand our services into other renewable solutions as we build a total decarbonisa tion offering.”

Employee-owned distributor Moorland Fuels invests in HVO distribution

KeyFleet, is based in the Ribble Valley and currently employs a team of 22 which includes regional relationship managers who are based across the whole UK. KeyFleet will join northern-based Greenarc Ltd which employs over 50 people within its existing group of businesses. This acquisition was facilitated by Clarion Solicitors. Tax advice was provided by BHP Chartered Accountants and funding by Barclays Bank.

With green initiatives high on everyone’s agenda and with Devon County Council’s goal of reaching net zero 2030, now is the perfect time for businesses to consider the transition to HVO.

The employee-owned fuel supplier has invested in its tank farm infrastructure to store HVO at the company’s head office in Okehampton to provide B2B suppliers, customers, and businesses with a 100% renewable alternative to red and white diesel. The fuel is suitable for use in any diesel engine without prior modifications and reduces emissions by up to 90%. Manufactured from sustainable, renewable feedstocks, the alternative fuel is certified under the UK Renewable Fuel Assurance Scheme and has proof of sustainability from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).

The clean est alternative

The Gd+ HVO Fuel, supplied by GBF, is the cleanest alternative diesel on the market, supercharged

with an engine-enhancing additive. This additive results in engines running more effectively due to the higher cetane number of 70+ making it more efficient to burn, which considerably reduces the need for additives, such as AdBlue, it also has an excellent cold weather performance down to -35 °C.

Abby Turner, director commented: “Having been a local business within Devon for the past 20 years, it’s important to us that we remain true to our roots and support the local area with the transition to a greener future – that’s why we have invested in HVO and can now distribute it directly from our depot in Okehampton.”

Moorland Fuels is an employee-owned business which supplies the local area with fuel and has been a part of the local landscape for 20 years.

Thanks to investment made by Moorland Fuels in HVO storage facilities, businesses across Devon and Cornwall can now access stocks of the greener alternative fuel which is a direct drop-in replacement for diesel.

Shoosmiths advises Henry Boot on landmark head office relocation

and cohesiveness across its diverse network of teams.

Tim Roberts, chief executive officer at Henry Boot, said: “Following a review of our workspace requirements, we recognised change was needed to support the evolving needs of our people. It was incredibly important to us to remain in Sheffield.

“Relocating to the dynamic Heart of the City neighbourhood, with all of the fantastic amenity and transport connectivity the scheme boasts, will make Henry Boot an even more attractive proposition for the amazing people we have in the business and the talent we’re looking to attract. We thank the team at Shoosmiths for its support throughout the process.”

Shoosmiths has revealed its role advising Henry Boot on the relocation of i ts head office.

The law firm acted on the preletting for Henry Boot, which will see the listed land and property company relocate its headquarters to the Isaacs Building in Sheffield city centre in Autumn 2023, after over 90 years’ operating from Banner Cross Hall - located on the outskir ts of the city.

Sheffield real estate partner Kellie Hatton led the Shoosmiths team advising Henry Boot on the move that sees it take 12,800 sq ft of space across three floors in the brand new Isaacs Building, part of Sheffield City Council’s flagship project in the city centre, Heart of the City II.

The relocation follows the property company completing a strategic review of its business in response to a shift in post-pandemic working patterns. It will also support the ambitious growth plans of the business in a new environment, to encourage greater collaboration

Kellie Hatton, real estate partner at Shoosmiths, added: “As long-term advisers to Henry Boot, we’re proud to have played a role on the relocation of its head office – a milestone moment for the business as it progresses its expansion plans.

“The move will also support Henry Boot delivering on its 2030 net zero carbon commitments, with the Isaacs Building aiming to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. The development is also connected to Sheffield’s district energy network, providing low-cost, sustainable energy. It was particularly rewarding to work on this flagship new development for our city.

“This latest deal reaffirms the key role Shoosmiths is playing in helping clients realise their vision to adapt to changing employee and business needs, and to meet environmental, social and governance objectives.”

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Healthcare technology firm secures

up

Digital health and AI business

Medwise.ai has secured a £1m investment from Finance Yorkshire and other investors.

Medwise.ai is a search platform for medical professionals and healthcare organisations which significantly reduces the time clinicians spend looking up information during consultations, enabling them to see more patients and improve care quality.

With a growing NHS vacancy list and reports of clinician burn-out, there is an urgent need to support healthcare professionals and improve productivity.

Founded in 2019, Medwise.ai has seven employees and is headquartered in Leeds, from where it plans to strengthen its operations in the Yorkshire region.

Finance Yorkshire is investing £400,000 from its Seedcorn Fund and led the overall funding round of more than

£1m, with participation from health-tech investors StartUp Health and CalmStorm VC and deep-tech accelerator and venture capital fund Deeptech Labs.

Stephen Cardwell, of Finance Yorkshire, will join the Medwise.ai board.

The Medwise.ai search platform uses natural language processing and artificial intelligence technology to help clinicians quickly find concise and actionable answers at the point of care. It aggregates results and integrates with information sources such as national guidance websites and local guidelines documents.

Medwise.ai also has the backing of clinician investors Dr Michelle Tempest at Candesic and Dr Chris Kelly at Google Health. SFC Capital has made a followon investment after leading a previous round of funding for Medwise.ai.

The company will use the investment to scale up operations and strengthen its sales and marketing activities in the UK.

Dr Keith Tsui, chief executive and co-founder said: “I am thrilled to have secured our seed funding and excited to accelerate our mission to empower clinicians with AI and search technologies.

“Our product provides clinicians with one search for clinical knowledge and local guidelines. Instead of Googling or going through outdated local websites or intranets, Medwise.ai enables clinicians to find the information they need to make decisions for patients rapidly at the point of care.”

I am thrilled to have secured our seed funding and excited to accelerate our mission to empower clinicians with AI and search technologies...

£1m investment to scale

A guide to buying a house: after separation, before divorce

A guide to buying a house: after separation, before divorce

You should be wary about buying new property before your divorce is complete as you may find yourself with unexpected financial burdens. Depending on how smoothly the process goes, divorce proceedings can last any amount of time from a few months to years. During this time, any property that you own individually and as a couple will be included in a divorce settlement.

Depending on your negotiations with your spouse, you may find that you are able to keep hold of certain assets. A house is a significant part of any divorce settlement due to its importance as the home, and its financial value. There is a risk that, if you purchase a property before your divorce settlement is finalised, the equity in that property can be taken into account when calculating how the marital assets are divided.

In the following guide, Ramsdens Solicitors explain the considerations you should make when looking for a new house before a divorce and, if

you need to find a new home, how best to go about it.

Why should i be wary about buying a new property be fore a divorce?

When a divorce settlement is being agreed, both parties will expect to receive a fair share of the assets involved. If the parties cannot agree on the arrangements, they can ask the family court to decide which assets should go to which spouse, depending on factors such as needs, income, contribution to the family home and

whether there are any dependents involved, such as children.

There are typically three ways that ownership of a house is arranged in a divorce settlement:

• The property is sold and the proceeds are split between the parties

• One party may purchase the property from the other

• Both parties will continue to live in the house to pay off any loans owed

Each method involves a difficult process as you must either sell, buy or live with your spouse, and the process can have a significant impact on the finances of the involved parties. For example, the house you share with your spouse may have become less valuable since you bought

it, or you may not be able to find the funds to purchase the other’s share.

Ultimately, all these issues must be considered before you attempt to make any further financial commitments that may put you in a difficult position.

You can read more about how a house is divided in a divorce by reading our guide here.

Staying with fr iends or family

Living with people you trust can help you to save money and be around people who may be able to support you during this difficult time. However, this option may not be ideal or available for everyone, especially in cases where the divorce process lasts a long time. Staying with family or friends can be helpful if you need to leave your current living situation quickly and will provide you with, at least, somewhere to sleep while you search for another solution.

Remaining in your current living situation

While not ideal for many reasons, it may simply be easier to remain living in the house with your partner while the divorce settlement is agreed. This will allow you to keep your belongings in a place where you know there will be space and security. This will also help you to avoid any further expenses from trying to find somewhere else to live.

When will I be safe to purchase a new property?

In many cases, those in deteriorating marriages need to escape their living situation in order to carry on their lives. Your financial circumstances will determine how you should go about finding a new home. Buying a new property during a divorce is not often affordable, so you should consider the following options instead.

Renting

One solution is to temporarily rent a property. When renting, you should take caution not to commit to a long-term contract in case your divorce resolves more quickly and your end goal is to buy a property. However, you should make sure your contract is secure so you do not find yourself evicted on short notice. You should aim to find a tenancy agreement that is flexible and suits your needs.

When looking for a property, you should try to find one that fits within your budget, as your financial liabilities and responsibilities may be uncertain until your divorce settlement is agreed upon, and you will want to avoid paying expensive rent, especially if you have to continue making mortgage contributions.

However, whilst there may be room for you to stay, there may be difficulties in accommodating your children making it difficult for them to spend time with you overnight.

Hotel Stays

Hotel stays are similar to renting but can be more expensive, so you should only consider doing so temporarily, while you are looking for a better solution. However, one benefit of staying in a hotel instead of with friends or family is that you will not have to worry about taking up the space and time of people you care about.

Buying a house can be a long and complicated process and you should only buy your house before your divorce settlement is agreed after taking advice from a specialist family solicitor.

The financial s ettlement must be agreed upon and is one of the final aspects of the divorce process. It is also the part that can take the longest to resolve, especially if disputes arise. To ensure the best chances of resolving the financial settlement quickly so you can find a new home, try to keep your demands fair by considering what your partner will want and need.

The quickest and simplest solutions are not always the best, especially when deciding how to split the family house; avoid cutting corners and carefully consider all of your options with the help of a professional solicitor. The team at Ramsdens Solicitors will be able to help you through the entire divorce settlement process by advising you on what demands you should and should not make and how to best manage your living situation.

I need to find somewhere to live because my relationship has broken down - how should i go about doing this?

...Buying a house can be a long and complicated process and you should only buy your house before your divorce settlement is agreed after taking advice from a specialist family solicitor..

The rise of legal technology in the city of Leeds

In 1876 Albert Gibson, a newly qualified solicitor, began advertising for pupils who needed coaching for the Law Society examinations. In 1881, he was joined by his first pupil, Arthur Weldon, to form Gibson & Weldon, which went on to pioneer legal professional training.

and there is now a real hum of activity surrounding this project. In April this year, Leeds will host its second annual legal tech conference. A Legal Tech in Leeds Steering Group has also been established and recently met with Mike Freer MP, as part of the Minister of Justice’s ‘Great Legal Services’ initiative.

The University of Law is taking a central role in developing and promoting Legal Tech in Leeds. The University of Law’s Legal Tech department, ULTRA, has been looking at the future of Legal Services for the last 5 years and the University now offers Tech and Innovation Courses to all students from school leavers to post graduate. Students can learn about entrepreneurship, innovation, artificial intelligence and blockchain and even complete the MSC in LegalTech. The fact that there are brand new opportunities to use technology to craft a different career in law highlights how legal services are changing. The University of Law holds regular events such as the Legal Innovators Breakfast Club which aims to connect lawyers and technologists.

Gibson & Weldon subsequently joined with the Law Society and became the College of Law, which in turn became the University of Law; the institution that we now are today.  Although more than one hundred years have passed, our mission remains the same; to shape the next generation of the lawyers entering the profession through innovative and inspiring professional training.

At the time Gibson would have been training as a lawyer, the industrial revolution was transforming Leeds from a small market town on the banks of the River Aire, to the “city that can make anything” in a very short time. In 2023 thanks to the collaborative efforts of law firms, technologists, local government

and the University of Law, a new revolution is gripping the city – this time it is legal technology (‘legal tech’), and it is already gaining national attention.

Legal tech in Leeds really took off following an inaugural meeting between Leeds City Council, Leeds Law Society and the University of Laws four years ago, which was set up to discuss the capability of the legal and tech sectors in Leeds. From that meeting, WhiteCap Consulting were commissioned to produce a report that mapped the city’s capabilities in law and in tech,  and this generated widespread engagement with stakeholders throughout the city in both the law and tech sectors. Much has been achieved over the past few years

It’s never been more important for all those who work in legal services to understand technology and to harness the power of innovation. The ambition is for Leeds to be at the centre of this tech renaissance.The LegalTech in Leeds Annual Conference will take place on 26th April 2022 and you can reserve tickets and find out more at the websitewww.legaltechinleeds.com.

Find out more about ULTRA and the University of Law’s work in Legal Innovation and Tech at www. law.ac.uk/ultra

Patrick Grant, Project Director (North) Legal Innovation & Technology, The University of Law

The rise of the enterprise management incentive scheme

UK Businesses have identified that there is a talent shortage throughout each sector. Companies are looking for new ways to attract and retain key staff to help their future growth. Many companies are using Enterprise Management Incentive schemes (EMI) as a way of providing differentiation. EMIs have grown in popularity with the financial and nonfinancial incentives proving too rewarding to turn down.

What exactly is an EMI scheme?

An Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme is a share option scheme backed by HMRC, designed for employees or directors working for more than 25 hours per week (or 75% of their time) in a business. Provided that certain requirements are met (for both the employee and the company itself) an EMI is recognised as one of the most tax-efficient and favourable HMRC-approved share incentive schemes available for businesses and e mployees alike.

EMI schemes are inherently flexible, allowing for an employee to acquire shares under their option upon the passage of time; upon certain targets being met (whether individual or linked to company performance); or only on an exit (sale) of the business. Depending upon the employer’s intentions, there is significant scope to mould the scheme to fi t requirements.

There is recognised as a key psychological benefit for employees in having “skin in the game” in terms of their commitment and

performance within a business that has granted EMI options. EMIs are seen as having mutual commercial benefits for both the employe e and employer.

This scheme is intended to help smaller independent businesses realise their potential by attracting and retaining the best employees.

What are the benefits of an EMI scheme to my company?

There are numerous significant tax advantages for both employees and employers. There is no income tax or national insurance to pay when the EMI option is granted or when the option is exercised provided certain conditions are satisfied. When the shares are sold, again subject to certain requirements being met, the employee will pay only a 10% capital gains tax on any profit.

Other signifi cant advantages include: :

Attracting talent: Offering a rewarding option scheme can attract the best talent in t he jobs market.

Talent retention: Employees who have been rewarded with options will wish to stay to see their shares grow and realise the potential of the company in order to receive the most benefit out o f their shares.

Reward employees: EMI options can be offered as a hugely taxfriendly part of a rewards package for meeting individual or company targets. Creating an incentive for staff to go the extra mile whilst creating tax benefits for both employers and employees.

How do I know if my company qualifies for an EMI scheme?

Qualify ing companies::

• An EMI scheme is available to companies with gross assets o f £30m or less.

• In a group structure, EMI share options must be granted over shares in the parent company, and at least one of the trading subsidiaries must carry on a qu alifying trade.

• There must be fewer than 250 employees at the date the EMI optio ns are granted.

• The company must be a trading company (i.e. not an inves tment company).

How do I know if my employees qualify under the EMI scheme?

To be eligible for an Enterprise Management Scheme, the em ployee must be:

• a legal employee of the business

• The person must work a minimum of 25 hours per week or 75% of their time as an employee or director of the company

• The person cannot hold more than 30% of all company shares

• What kind of shares qualify under the EMI scheme?

• The market value of the shares must not exceed £250,000 per employee

• The share options under the scheme must be granted within 90 days of HMRC’s valuation

• The options must be able to be exercised within 10 years of being granted

• The shares must be non-transferrable

at Chadwick Lawrence LLP can tailor all other terms, depending on what terms your company wishes.

Alternatives to the EMI scheme?

Whilst EMI schemes are currently limited to SMEs and other companies/employees meeting the relevant requirements, some alternatives may still suit larger or other organisations that for whatever reason do not qualify for EMI. These alternatives (which are not exhau stive) include:

Non-tax-advantaged share options: Unlike tax-advantaged arrangements, they are not subject to statutory rules regarding the types of shares that can be used, the individuals that can participate, or the form and terms of awards.

Phantom share schemes:  A type of employee share scheme that allows companies to offer incentives to employees to help the company achieve share price growth in return for a cash bonus instead of becoming shareholders.

Share growth schemes: Where shares are issued to employees but the value of the shares is linked only to grow in the business between the date of issue and the date upon which the bu siness is sold.

We can help

All terms and conditions for your options scheme must be placed in writing. Our expert solicitors

If your company is interested in pursuing an EMI scheme or the alternatives listed above, or if you simply want to discuss what your options may be, our expert Corporate and Commercial team can help in a wide variety of ways to help set up a scheme that suits your business, ensuring a rewarding outcome for both you

...UK Businesses have identified that there is a talent shortage throughout each sector. Companies are looking for new ways to attract and retain key staff to help their future growth...

Former teacher writes new career chapter

creative entrepreneurs in Sheffield who have been supportive of my journey to date.

“Hand painting on fabric is a modern slant on tapestry techniques and it’s my vision to keep traditional methods alive to create unique, memorable fabric signs. It creates a textured, natural look which is oneof-a-kind and therefore something special to use as a unique backdrop in event spaces. I’m also finding that customers like to either keep the signs as a keepsake or to utilise time and time again, making this traditional and creative method environmentally friendly too.”

Sheffield-based Charlotte Scott was inspired to establish Sparrow and Thistle after herself finding it difficult to order bespoke textile signage for her own wedding last autumn.

The entrepreneur, a former textiles teacher at Bolsover School, is utilising practical techniques honed during her fashion design and textiles degree from Huddersfield University. Charlotte has now opened a studio in Kelham Island, Sheffield, where she hand-paints large scale fabric signs to individual client requirements. She designs, makes, and supplies signs for a range of events including corporate gatherings, networking events, weddings, and celebrations.

Charlotte said: “I’m so excited to be able to draw upon my experience

and skills to launch Sparrow and Thistle. While I recognise it’s a challenging time to start a business, I’m finding that customers are seeking to support local businesses and there’s a strong camaraderie of

Charlotte has secured supplier slots with several wedding and events distribution businesses and has also displayed her signage at several showcases across South Yorkshire in recent weeks. She also has her sights set on using her embroidery skills to expand the Sparrow and Thistle range in the future.

Charlotte added: “I have always wanted to start my own business and it wasn’t until I picked up my brush to create my own wedding sign that I realised I could do it. That was absolutely the catalyst I needed. I feel motivated to showcase what is possible in the creative textiles industry and would urge anybody to explore what’s possible if they have an idea for a business. It’s important to me to keep the skills in the textile industry alive and well and hope that others are inspired to do the same. Sparrow and Thistle is worlds apart from teaching and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

A former textiles teacher with a passion for utilising traditional skills to create hand-painted fabric signs has launched her own business to supply unique backdrops for events. in her career as quickly as she wanted.

Hand painting on fabric is a modern slant on techniquestapestry and it’s my vision to keep traditional methods alive to create unique, memorable fabric signs...

Artificial intelligence to “hit” 300 million jobs, according to new study

Claire Trachet, CEO & Founder of business advisory, comments on the wave of excitement surrounding ChatGPT and what this means for investor sentiment.

Amidst the current banking crisis, turmoil in the global tech economy, and a crippling cost of living crisis, attracting the right kind of talent has become increasingly challenging as sectors across the board are experiencing a skills shortage.

Now, with th e emergence of artificial intelligence, the workplace is set to undergo a major transformation. We can already see

this in action with the Microsoftbacked chatbot, ChatGPT, which has recent ly demonstrated its value.

For instance, law firms – such as Allen & Overy - have adopted an AI tool to assist lawyers in drafting memos. Claire, CEO and founder of business advisory, Claire highlights the opportunities that will come from the rise of AI, as well as the emerging barriers as artificial intelligence enters the workplace.

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com

Scepticism from business leaders and employees alike - surrounding the implementation of AI technologies - means adoption could be slow. According to a report from Goldman Sachs, generative artificial intelligence could hit 300 million jobs, as research states roughly two-thirds of current jobs could be changed by some kind of AI automation, eventually replacing up to a quarter of the cur rent workforce.

However, a recent report from MIT showed generative AI raised overall workplace productivity. The study found that generative AI tools helped the least skilled and accomplished workers the most, decreasing the performance gap between employees. In other words, the weaker performers got much better; whilst the good performers simply got a little faster.

Employers have had to increase internal training and coaching while also considering career progression, particularly for those in lower-paid roles. Serving as testament to this, 94% of businesses and IT executives said that AI is vital for their success in the next five years, according to a surv ey by Deloitte.

According to Claire, it is crucial for enterprises to begin to identify parts of their business where this technology could potentially have an impact, not only for day-today operations, but also as a key component towards attracting investment in the current economic climate. OpenAI has impressed the technology and investment communities with its successful AI offerings and the substantial $10 billion support from Microsoft Corporation – a deal that would

value the AI lab at a staggering $29 billion. As a result, an increasing number of both large and small companies are exploring and adapting this technology, with it bringing a flurry of M&A and investment into the sector as the cost-reduction prospects bring a renewed outlook for tech investors.

Ignoring the potential for generative AI to enable large-scale content production, speed up the accuracy and speed of data science practises and app development, produce

executives to proceed with an abundan ce of caution.”

Tech start-up expert, Claire continued “ChatGPT and other advanced AI technologies have already sparked innovation and investment in the field – however, the recent attention this has gained from the international community - outside of tech – will shed a new light on the gloomy path to recovery laid out for this year.

“As these technologies continue to evolve and mature, it's likely that they will drive even more innovation and investment in the future. Companies and investors are recognising the tremendous potential of AI to transform a wide range of industries and are eager to adapt and implement these to capitalise on the opportunity.

“There is now a growing number of investors who are sat on a dry powder pile having deterred investments in 2022. This means there are significant opportunities on the horizon, and now is the moment to prepare and get deal ready as optionality will increase in H 2 of this year.

synthetic data for training AI and machine learning models, and offer new defence opportunities for security professionals would be "a big and expensive mistake," according to Claire. To put it briefly, generative AI offers the chance to improve upon and even automate current labour processes in IT, marketing, customer service, and other business activities. However, Claire adds a word of warning, stating that the ”nascent nature of the technology will require

“Indicators suggest early-stage startups will have an advantage in this current market, as growth investors are seeking to invest in earlier stages, from seed to series A, with smaller amounts of capital to sustain their businesses. These start-ups have a lower burn rate, giving them the potential to come out as dominant competitors if they can withstand the challenges. For these smaller start-ups, creating a low-cash burn, high return business model with the adaptation of generative AI, is key when trying to attract significant capital and M&A opportunities.”

There is now a growing number of investors who are sat on a dry powder pile having deterred investments in 2022. This means there are significant opportunities on the horizon, and now is the moment to prepare and get deal ready...

Design Tonic unveils striking new HQ and studio for Pawsome Paws Boutique

Award-winning commercial interior design experts Design Tonic unveiled their latest high-profile project this week, The Leeds-based brand created a stunning bespoke office space and studio for their latest client, social media sensation

Pawsome Paws Boutique.

The specialist pet company tasked Design Tonic with building a new head office and studio befitting their status as a niche premium brand on the rise. Having gone from a bedroom-based start-up to an indemand business on everyone’s lips

in a relatively short span of time, Pawsome were on the hunt for a unique space that met their needs and perfectly encapsulated their distinctiv e personality.

The Design Tonic team got to

work, creating a multi-purpose environment that could both impress clients and entice employees into the office in a world where working from home has be come the norm.

Creative

The design includes an eyecatching feature breakout area with customised booths which doubles up as a content filing area, a bespoke pink kitchen, a photography and

filming

Pawsome is currently a 15-strongperson team and growing since securing several lucrative contracts, including Pets at Home a nd John Lewis.

Design Tonic founder Amanda Cook had this to say about the project: ‘’We were approached by Pawsome as they had seen our work on social media and loved some of the projects we had created. They had a clear vision around the office, Sophie their founder is really creative, and it's been a pleasure collaborating with her.’’

‘’The space is a pink dog-friendly slice of office heaven - we didn’t hold back on making this a sugar-sweet space using pink right through to the kitchen and partitioning. The work booths act as a perfect filming spot for content, and we also created a photography studio.’’

‘’This has been a big investment for Pawsome who are supplying brands such as Pets at home and John Lewis and will help them on their fantastic growth path. Like us, they have enjoyed an incredible success story, and a big part of that has been down to their culture and the environment they work in.''

''We're confident their new space can take them to the next level. For team Design Tonic, it’s been brilliant to work on such a fun brief and we love the end result.’’

Design Tonic has been steadily building its brand over several years, with notable clients including North Brew Co, Leeds United Football Club, Adidas, Yorkshire County Cricket and Mason’s Gin to name just a few.

With businesses increasingly on the lookout for inventive ways to pitch to clients by thinking outside the

box, cutting-edge office design has never been more vital.

Roof top bars, yoga studios, golf simulators and bespoke presenting spaces are just a few upgrades businesses are considering to boost staff wellbeing, whilst also retaining existing employees, attracting new ones and getting people back in the office.

Staff welfare has been a constant consideration within Design Tonic and this in turn has been a major player in their remarkable successful story.

Enjoy

Pawsome Paws Boutique director Jason Chesman said:’Pawsome HQ is a space to be inspired, be creative but most of all a place our staff want to come, enjoy their time here and go home happy. It’s a big investment into the future of our brand, but an essential one that will help our growth. No matter what our warehouse size becomes, this will always remain our base. It’s been important to work with Design Tonic to have a space to inspire creativity but also with a purpose-built layout to support future growth.’’

‘’Going forward, we have lots of exciting plans for 2023 through to 2024. We’ve been lucky to secure an extension of allocated stores with key retailers such as John Lewis and Pets at Home and have a new pet and homeware collection landing in the summer.’’

‘’We’re also launching our community and locality programme this year, to look after our loyal following and bring those people together. It’s going to be quite the rollercoaster, but we couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds.’’

zone, a boardroom with a demo store set up and a large expansion space for the growing team.

Pawsome HQ is a space to be inspired, be creative but most of all a place our staff want to come, enjoy their time here and go home happy...

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce announce new appointments

For more than 150 years, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has supported, connected and represented local businesses of all sizes with an aim to lead the way in making the city the best place in the UK to start, grow and run a successful and sustainable business.

To deliver its mission, Sheffield Chamber continues to evolve, adapt and pivot as it works to deliver both social and economic good for the city and wider region – the recent appointments are a huge part of this.

As such the Chamber team has welcomed Vicki Eadson, Lauren Robinson, Stacey Morris an d Jake Simpson.

Vicki Eadson joins as business development manager, after six years at The Source Skills Academy, bringing with her comprehensive project management skills and experience in helping businesses achieve their best.

Lauren Robinson, joins the team after working for a recruitment agency, brings with her significant client facing experience and valuable knowledge about businesses in the region, and

It’s a very exciting time for ChamberSheffield and I’m absolutely thrilled to finally be able to share the news about the most recent editions to our brilliant team...

Stacey Morris, who has been working in the events industry since 2014, joins with extensive experience in organising corporate and commercial events.

Jake Simpson brings with him eight years of business and sales experience, and previous events experience.

The new recruits span different parts of the organisation and bring a whole host of valuable experience to their new roles which will aid in

supporting the Chamber’s work in the region connecting businesses and communities.,

Danny Johnson, commercial manager, said: “It’s a very exciting time for Sheffield Chamber and I’m absolutely thrilled to finally be able to share the news about the most recent editions to our brilliant team.

“We strongly believe that Vicki, Lauren, Stacey and Jake share our vision for this wonderful city and are confident they will make significant contributions and impact from the outset.

“Each of them is already settling in well and we look forward to all the great things they will accomplish and help us to achieve as a collective.”

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce continues to have a strong presence in the region and is now concentrating on setting the regional agenda on major issues of concern such as climate change, learning and skills, employment, and social mobility.

Henry Boot construction wraps up sheffield’s new city centre park

Henry Boot Construction has completed the main phase of work on Sheffield City Centre’s brand-new public space, Pound’s Park.

The landmark park was handed over to Sheffield City Council and will officially open on 3 April – just in time for the public to start enjoying the space over the Easter weekend and school holidays.

Named after Sheffield’s first Chief Fire Officer, Superintendent John Charles Pound, the park is located on the former fire station site between Rockingham Street, Wellington Street and Carver Street, and will offer a multitude of experiences, including spaces for play, relaxation and socialising.

The 6,000 sq m space has been developed with families in mind and boasts a significant new children’s playground at its heart.

The playground includes two large pyramid towers – the tallest standing at 11 metres, with stainless steel slides, climbing structures, playhouses, a seesaw, wheelchair-accessible play equipment and more.

Another feature, which involved careful installation from the Henry Boot team, is a unique three-by-eightmetre climbing boulder, reminiscent of a Peak District rockface. The boulder is designed to include multiple naturallooking hand and foot holds and be suitable for would-be climbers of all abilities.

Henry Boot will be back on site later this month to facilitate some final utility work that will enable the water play

features, lighting and accessible WCs to open to the public.

Tony Shaw, Managing Director at Henry Boot Construction, said:

“We are extremely proud to announce the completion of Pound's Park and hand it back to Sheffield Council. It’s been a real team effort to get it all ready in time for the public to enjoy this Easter.

Wellbeing

“Sheffield is renowned as one of the country’s greenest cities and Pound’s Park is making it even greener and continuing to build on the exciting Outdoor City ethos.

“At Henry Boot, we understand that the need for major public spaces in our urban environment continues to grow. With more people living and working in city centres today, these accessible and attractive spaces are crucial to creating a modern, liveable city centre – one that supports people’s physical

and mental wellbeing. It helps reduce vehicle congestion and the resulting carbon emissions.”

Henry Boot’s management of Pound’s Park has been exemplary, with the construction site recently receiving marks of 45/45 following an inspection from the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS).

The Sheffield-based company are also working on two other major developments in Heart of the City –either side of the park.

To the west of the park is Kangaroo Works – a major residential development delivering 364 new apartments. To the east is Elshaw House – the city’s first zero carbonready office building, and Cambridge Street Collective – a contemporary hospitality space featuring a food hall and rooftop restaurant.

“Due to the park's location between our Kangaroo Works and Elshaw House sites, it made perfect sense for our team to also deliver the adjoining public realm”, continued Tony.

"Our team's extensive knowledge of the project ensured the Pound’s Park project ran extremely efficiently. The continuity of the project team enabled us to better manage workflow, supplies, budget and timelines. These benefits are understandably hugely appealing to local authority clients.

“It also enabled us to support local supply chain and jobs. We partnered with many great businesses from the region, including Timberplay, who designed and installed the play area.”

My vision, by Scarborough’s new leader of business ambassadors

Taking over the reigns as head of the Scarborough Business Ambassadors, it is important for me to encourage further participation from the wider business community to help us achieve our vision,writes Jo Thompson.

For Scarborough to have a fullyconnected business eco system that uses its plethora of entrepreneurial skills, knowledge, and acumen to address pertinent issues and solve challenges, which enhances the town’s economic prosperity.

We recognise that there are so many active groups passionate about Scarborough, it’s about making sure we know about each other, communicate and work together so we don’t replicate work or repeat mistakes, and we share ideas, resource and best practice.

The great American football player and Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton, is quoted as saying, “We are stronger together than we are alone,” and I believe there is nothing more uplifting than being in a meeting with many like-minded entrepreneurs who are committed to helping Scarborough grow and prosper.

It’s always easy to criticise and focus on what’s wrong, however, talking positively within our networks and

taking pro-active steps to really make a difference in our beautiful town is infectious and deeply satisfying, especially when you see the value of your endeavours.

With the new North Yorkshire Council coming into being on April 1, combining seven district councils, it is more important than ever for Scarborough to have a loud and unified voice. The new council will obviously be more inclined to work alongside the towns that are easy to deal with, sharing a vision of progression and prosperity – where their current actions speak louder than words in supporting the efforts on the burning issues and opportunities.

I believe now is the time for the Scarborough Business Ambassadors to dare to lead, putting our combined entrepreneurial skill sets to good use strategically working to pursue new creative ideas that have the potential to change Scarborough.

Scarborough Business Ambassadors (a not-for-profit limited company run by a group of actioned orientated volunteer business leaders who form a board of directors) have never been a talking shop. We have always been action and results-orientated. However, we now split our work into six work themed pillars: STEM, Education, Health and Well-being, Tourism and Hospitality, Arts and Culture and Aspiration.

Each of the pillars has a dedicated Ambassador Director who chairs the sub-group, responsible for the creation of objectives and delivery of outcomes.

Although I see our leading position as necessary, it is essential that we continue to collaborate and work in partnership with other key stakeholders. We have managed to

deliver many successful outcomes in the past all of which would not have been possible without this joint working.

Our outcomes include:

• More than 150 forum dinners with high-level speakers from a variety of industries and organisations bringing the business community of Scarborough together

• Michelin Star chef dinners, involving the participation of students from Scarborough TEC Catering Department

• Delivery of Scarborough Science and Engineering Week, annually since 2009 – and welcoming 40,000 students through the door!

• The driving catalyst behind the delivery of Scarborough University Technical College

• Institute of Director Events

• Held recruitment events with York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation, helping them to source doctors and consultants

• Pindar School – delivery of food to provide family Christmas dinner for the 2019 appeal

• PPE sourcing and distribution during COVID Lockdown 2020

• Supported Scarborough UTC F1 in Schools team in reaching the World Finals of the competition, twice!

• Introduction of nursing pathways through Scarborough UTC and CU Scarborough to address

recruitment crisis in NHS/Care sector.

• Boosting closer links between many businesses and educational establishments including: -

• Scarborough Borough Council

• North Yorkshire County Council

• Bank of England (including hosting private dinners to discuss economy and impacts on local businesses)

• Anglo American

• Stephen Joseph Theatre

• Scarborough GCHQ

• Institute of Directors

• Flamingo Land

• NYBEP

• Scarborough TEC

• CU Scarborough and the University of Hull

• Rosti Automotive

• Alexander Dennis

• York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We have demonstrated courage like this before and taking on a more vital leadership role, will help us to positively position Scarborough to take advantage of potential

Devolution discussions, and to ensure Scarborough is continually considered and receives the regeneration funding it truly deserves.

David Kerfoot

Let’s face it we know better than Whitehall what those issues are and now we will have the power to spend on those local priorities.

An elected mayor will also mean we have a voice at the ‘top table’ to make the voice of North Yorkshire heard in the corridors of power - and of course an additional £540m of funding over 30 years is a big bonus.

Q What needs to happen for the new council to more deeply engage with the business sectors across such a large geography?

We need to ensure the Local Enterprise Partnership becomes part of the Combined Authority and drives both economic development and business engagement to a new level. It is a body with huge experience of the region and has added much value over the past 12 years to business engagement.

The geography is certainly large but with strong networks positive steps can be made to much deeper engagement and commitment from the council.

Here leading business leader David Kerfoot CBE speaks exclusively to TopicUK in a Q&A about the launch of a new North Yorkshire Council that will take over councils such as Scarborough, Ryedale and Harrogate – and aims to elevate the county’s brand and status. Horsforth-born Mr Kerfoot is Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and former chairman of the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Among other key roles, he is chairman of the £20.2m Scarborough Town Deal.

Q Spring 2023 will see the biggest change since 1974 for North Yorkshire, with a more powerful unitary council instead of the two-tier system. What are the opportunities?

This is the opportunity of a lifetime for our coun ty. It’s about giving us the power to decide what the most important issues are for our communities and t argeting them.

Q What danger-spots does the new council's strategy need to avoid, or to plan ahead for?

In the current economic climate funding is going to be tight and it’s essential that our voice is heard by government … ensuring all parts of York and North Yorkshire are listened to whether it be rural, coast, town or city.

Moving forward on the long-term key issues such as affordable housing, internet coverage, bus services and connect ability must be tackled.

Q How can the new North Yorkshire set-up win the affection of people across such diverse, independent communities?

Simply deliver. Make the difference on the ground where it matters in our communities.

Q Can North Yorkshire carve out an influential and dynamic reputation for itself, on a par with York or parts of West Yorkshire?

York and North Yorkshire is a very special region with an unbelievable array of businesses and people who have great talent, entrepreneurial prowess and community spirit.

We do not need to compare ourselves with West Yorkshire because both regions are very different in makeup and for me both are dynamic in their own way.

It’s just a question of getting us into that ‘Premier Division’ where those areas are and that will be achieved by an elected mayor.

Q How can North Yorkshire Council engage with the young people of the county?

Some regions have young people’s councils which I think has some potential as a way of hearing their voice.

However, by ensuring there are facilities and infrastructure which are important to young people in place I think would make a difference in that engagement process.

Q The change will make steps towards wider Yorkshire devolution more possible. What would the benefits be of regional devolution and how would North Yorkshire fare in such a larger framework?

Let’s make this devolution deal a success before we even think about that possibility. One step at a time.

Q As chairman of the Scarborough Town Deal over the past five years, how do you see the regeneration prospects for Scarborough's future?

Scarborough and the coast are so important to the region. Given the current drive forward with the Town Deal regeneration prosp ects are good.

Within the new local authority set-up, I hope this effort will be continued to ensure Scarborough receives the investment to gro w and prosper.

This applies to all of the coastal region because it is such an integral part of the county.

Q What do you most like about living in and supporting the profile of North Yorkshire?

Tell me somewhere which is better in the UK! We have everything – dales, moors, coast, history and culture which makes it an outstanding place to live.

People not only want to visit North Yorkshire but work, play and invest here which makes it truly special.

I am not biased in any way at all but there really is ‘nowt like us!’

The ‘Rhubarb Triangle’ artist re-creating colourful characters

Coast-based Lynne is painting social history

By Lynne Arnison

I am a visual artist living and working in Scarborough. I hail from Morley where my craving for creativity began as a small child, daubing paint on the back of offcuts of wallpaper.

The need to paint and draw has stayed with me throughout school, art college, working full-time as a civil servant and having two children.

I have an empathy with LS Lowry who juggled being a rent man, looking after his bed-ridden mother and stealing hours to pursu e his passion.

I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to be an artist-inresidence at Burton Agnes Hall (the Elizabethan manor house between Bridlington and Driffield) for several years up to 2016. This really helped me to grow and find my artis tic identity.

I look for inspiration from social documentary taking subject matter from Morley (I was born in the ‘Rhubarb Triangle’) and from Leeds and Scarborough.

The former being gritty northern industrial towns, full of character and steeped in the working-class history which underpinned their prosperity.

I moved to Scarborough in 1992. My curiosity for social history continued, particularly the link with people from the industrial north seeking fun and sun in Scarborough over the past century.

I use photographs from my own records or borrowed (with permission) as source-material, for most of my work.

I feel these forgotten faces from the past need recognition just as much as the society figures you see in portrait galleries and municipal buildings.

Some of the artwork in my last exhibition at The Dorothy Rowan Gallery in Scarborough concentrated on these people and places which have now changed.

Pint O' Mixed Luv, the no-nonsense landlady of the Silver Grid pub (as was) in Scarborough

I also created illustrated reimagined postcards using original ‘saucy seaside’ cards and vintage pre-decimalisation stamps. These are displayed in floating frames to enable the viewer to see my postcard message and illustration as well as the original postcard picture on the reverse.

I work as a volunteer in the Stephen Joseph theatre shop where I sell some of my work. I have been an avid theatre-goer for years so actors and writers have been another source of inspiration, one of them being Sir A lan Ayckbourn.

I confess to being obsessed with wallpaper, particularly vintage, so I have used this as a backdrop to many of my portraits.

The Stocking Lady, Leeds Market

Artist Lynne Arnison and her younger self

What’s driving growth skincareacross in 2023?

By: Janet Milner-Walker - Founder of Bespoke Advantage

Skincare is abuzz with trending terminology.

Our emotional wellbeing is dependent upon a fine balancing act between our mental and physical wellbeing, and in 2023 we see the emergence of psychodermatology: which is the link between our mind and our skin. Stress wreaks havoc on our skin in several ways leading to the rise of rosacea, acne, eczema, so our first port of call is to protect our mental wellbeing. There is an ever-increasing interest in holistic wellness, and traditional Chinese medicines, as well as the benefits of Ayurveda. Not only do ingredients like green tea benefit our skin on an external level, but they also support our skin on a cellular level, whilst having the added benefit of destressing and cal ming our mind.

TikTok is buzzing with new skincare regimes, including Skin Cycling. This is a four-part night-time regime designed to optimise your skin’s repair processes, with 1 night for retinoid, 1 night for

ABOUT JANET MILNERWALKER

Janet Milner-Walker is the founder and managing director of Bespoke Advantage, and BeautytoLife. She is also an international speaker, a freelance writer, and a trusted advisor to companies in the beauty and wellness sector. Bespoke Advantage is an international consultancy working with clients in the beauty and wellness space. Their award-winning client based includes beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors and trade bodies, whom they support in developing and building their brands in the marketplace www. thebespokeadvantage.com.

exfoliation, and 2 nights of rest – followed by repeating this cycle. Another trending term been bandied about is slugging, and we are not referring to those found in our gardens! Also popularised by TikTok and emerging in South Korea, this entails applying a petroleum-based balm to your facial skin at night, creating an occlusive layer, that prevents transepidermal water loss, keeping your skin hydrated with a healthy glow.

Not only are we interested in topically treating our skin, but we are also looking for ways in which to treat our skin from within, by combining skincare products with oral supplements. Over the past few years’ collagen has been added to skincare and hair care products, and there has been a plethora of collagen supplement brands launching onto the market. Shiseido launched a new skincare and supplement brand, Ule, in 2022 focusing on inner and outer beauty, formulated with natural ingredients, and designed for the eco-conscious consumer.

‘Snackable skincare’ is a trending term which refers to feeding your skin from the inside out with snacks, that are not only filling, but provide additional benefits for your immunity, gut health, or for topping up your daily dose of collagen.

LookFantastic expect to see more skincare products appearing on the haircare market because of ‘hair skinification’, enhancing your haircare

The global skincare industry is forecast to reach sales of over $207 billion by 2028, and it shows no signs of slowing down soon. We have become savvier about the benefits of skincare ingredients, and better informed as to whether they deliver, and fuelled by a cost-of-living crisis, we are choosing quality over quantity.

regime to the same level as your skincare regime. Brands like the Inkey List have introduced products like The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, which gently exfoliates all hair types, using salicylic acid, whilst balancing o il production.

During the pandemic, working from home, ‘less became more’ as we reigned in our 10-step skincare regimes, and embraced an edited collection of hard-working products, that offered targeted results. Skinimalism has been a

key focus over the past few years, Gen-Z prefer to keep things simple – opting for hard working multitasking products and ingredient infused cosmetics, allowing the health of their skin to shine through.

Skincare dup es are high on our radar

With the cost-of-living crisis, we are also considering alternatives to our favourite products, and there are several skincare dupes to choose from, whether shopping at Aldi or online. Aldi are renowned for benchmarking

well-known brands – their Lacura Salicylic Acid Tonic is £3.49, whilst Pixie Clarity Tonic is £18 from Cult Beauty. Aldi’s version includes many of the same ingredients, at a fraction of the price.

Hybrid products are on the rise providing multi-functional benefits, whilst saving money and streamlining your skincare regime. Menopausal skincare addresses concerns like collagen loss and skin dehydration, from brands like Pause Well Aging, to Vichy and No 7 who have launched a Menopause Skincare range, which

includes a ceramide-rich eye cream and night cream.

Masstige beauty – the squeeze between ‘mass’ and ‘prestige’ – with skincare products in the UK ranging from £20 - £60, is coming into its own. Trusted skincare brands like La Roche Posay and The Ordinary, provide great skincare solutions at a fraction of the price of more premium brands, and they don’t sacrifice on the quality of the product or the efficacy of the ingredients.

We are shopping more conscientiously.

In the UK 29% of adults consider whether a product includes singleuse plastic, whilst 46% consider how to recycle the packaging.

The beauty industry is the greatest culprit of single use plastic, with only 9% of plastic recycled. Brands are offering services like ‘recycling by mail’ where items can be returned to be recycled, however this needs to be ethically implemented. When it comes to a product being ‘circular’ consideration needs to be given to production methods, clean energy, harvesting techniques and ingredients. Marine ingredients are being heralded this year. Introducing marine ingredients into skincare is nothing new – La Prairie which launched in 1987 is based on Caviar – rich in amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Algae, a form of kelp, is one of the key ingredients in La Mer. Algae has a host of benefits,

including hydration, anti-ageing, skin detoxification, to name but a few, and is being used by numerous brands including One Ocean Beauty.

Skinca re is personal.

Following years of conforming to normal, dry, or oily skincare regimes or addressing your skin care concerns based on your age, it is refreshing that skin care companies are now recognising the importance of developing bespoke formulations and appreciating the fact that we are all unique.

From taking swabs of your skin and DNA to receiving products that have been customised to your microbiome and genes to analysing your skin through a photo, as HiMirror do, to determine whether the products you are using are delivering results, there are many companies developing bespoke beauty products. Not all these companies operate online, some offer a 1-2-1 consultation to extend the personalized approach and we have also seen a number of wellknown dermatologists launching th eir own brands.

The skincare category is abuzz with trending terminology, innovative ingredients, mindful of the implications of packaging, and designed with a far more personalised approach. Skincare is a considered purchase and a prized possession confidently displayed on our ba throom shelves.

Leeds digital agency takes action

With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to be a concern across the UK and with over three quarters of UK adults wishing they had received more financial education, Leeds-based digital agency, Flaunt Digital has taken action in order to provide their employees with greater financial knowledge.

The digital agency has introduced monthly financial advice workshops for their team of 30, led by CFO, Chris Ayres, who has over 20 years of experience in key financial and operational roles within digital and B2B companies. During these sessions, he covers critical topics from mortgages to pensions and investing.

With pensions being a current hot topic in the news, an hour-long talk on pensions was a must for increasing awareness, starting with

the very basics. During the workshop, he went on to further explain a little more about the nuances of pensions, such as tax allowances, pension types and of course, how much you should be looking to have in your pot for retirement.

responsibility

Chris shared that “It’s astonishing to find that a lot of employees know very little about pensionswhat control they have and what it means for their future”.

He added, “My door is also always open for employees to get more information and ask questions about financial matters, not only during the talks but at any point where a quest ion may arise.”

By opening the door to financial learning, Flaunt Digital are looking to give employees some of the basics that they otherwise might be left to te ach themselves.

CEO, Lee Fuller explains further; “Financial wellbeing starts with having the right information at hand to make the best decisions you can when it comes to money. It is our responsibility as an employer to make sure we provide the right education and resources, and with the current economic climate it's more important now than ever.”

First Muslimwoman appointed as CEO of a major international charity

Penny Appeal, the Muslim international humanitarian charity based in Wakefield, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ridwana Wallace-Laher as its new chief executive officer.

Ridwana, a former teacher at the Yorkshire (Bradford) Coop Academy Grange, is wellversed in empowering and mentoring people from all sorts of backgrounds. Ridwana’s appointment comes after being part of the Penny Appeal team for three years, with experience of working in various roles, including her most recent position as senior director of growth. She has a strong track record of

leading diverse teams, building relationships with stakeholders, and encouraging collaboration.

Ridwana says: “It has been an honour to have been part of the core unit that has led the positive change Penny Appeal has made in the faith-led charity sector globally. My commitment to greater governance, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, combined with my background as a senior teaching professional, make me confident that I can drive Penny Appeal’s success even further in the future.

Mohammed Jahangir, chairman of Trustees, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ridwana WallaceLaher as new CEO. She stood out

against all other candidates through a tough selection process, and I am proud to have her as our new CEO.”

Jahangir continues, “Ridwana is the first Muslim woman to hold the CEO position at a major international charity; may she be the first of many Muslim women to do so! At a time when the world is facing a global economic crisis, when many in the UK and abroad are struggling to feed themselves and pay electricity bills, and when people in Turkey and Syria are suffering due to the recent earthquake, we at Penny Appeal are trying our best to help those who need it by supporting them and providing aid during these times or events. The trustees are confident that Ridwana is woman who will take Penny Appeal to new heights in order to help those in need! We believe she will transform and grow the charity for the digital age whilst staying true to our core values of helping those in need. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that Ridwana will have on the charity and her leadership to make the world a better place!”

New pathology laboratory reaches new milestone

Construction of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s new state-of-the-art pathology laboratory has reached a new milestone, bringing it a step closer to transforming diagnostic services right across West Yorkshire.

BAM has now completed the outer shell of the building, which is based at the Trust’s St James’s University Hospital (SJUH) site, with all the windows now fitted using 338 pieces of glass. A further 1,357 individual rainscreen cladding panels have also been fitted to the façade and it is now on track to be operating with power in the coming weeks. View a time-lapse video of the building progress here.

Much of the interior work is now taking place with ceilings, flooring and fixed laboratory furniture currently being installed, while mechanical and electrical installations are also progressing

ahead of new hi-tech equipment bei ng installed.

The new laboratory will be part of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Pathology Network, formed through the collaboration with the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT) and will support the delivery of pathology services across West Yorkshire with advanced equipment and new technologies to support innovative testing and diagnostics.

Pathology is one of the key projects in the Trust’s Building the Leeds Way Programme of capital investment and improvements.

Currently, most of the Trust’s pathology services are delivered from outdated facilities in the Old Medical School at the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) as well as from St James’s Hospital.

The new building will bring many of these services together into one purposebuilt facility and once vacated, the Old Medical School will be repurposed as part of a plan to use surplus estate at the LGI to develop an innovation village which is expected to deliver up to 4,000 new jobs and almost £13bn in net present value.

Bringing these pathology services together into the new building will support the delivery of faster, more accurate routine and specialist testing and will help to drive improvements in diagnosis for patients across the region.

Simon Worthington, the Trust’s Director of Finance and Senior Responsible

Officer for the Building the Leeds Way Programme said: “Our new facility is now one step closer to driving improvements in the way we diagnose patients, not just in Leeds but those living right across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

“The new pathology service will help to meet the growing regional demand for specialist treatment and care whilst providing development opportunities for staff which will be created through the use of new state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.”

Using advanced digital techniques and off-site prefabrication, BAM has been able to maximise efficiencies in its programme delivery, reduce carbon and reduce waste, supporting the Trust’s sustainability and net zero carbon ambitions.

Paul Cleminson, Pre-Construction Director at BAM said: “As we reach completion of the building’s facade and install the laboratories inside, we celebrate another exciting milestone on this important healthcare project. Our advanced digital techniques are allowing us to coordinate the works on site, to deliver the exceptional quality and precision these laboratories require. But it’s our strong relationship with the Trust, and the effective collaboration between us, that’s the critical ingredient to the success that is being achieved here.

“We’re proud to be delivering a building that will support improvements in diagnosis for people across the region. We currently have around one hundred people working on site each day and we’ve created opportunities for the local supply chain in the region, with hundreds of local people having worked on the scheme.”

Construction of the new laboratory is set to complete in summer 2023 with pathology services then transferring on

a phased basis throughout 2024 and becoming fully operational following the installation of new, high-tech equipment.

Funding for the new facility is supported by the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and the Trust aims to develop a world-class pathology building that is flexible, digital by design and supports the delivery of net zero carbon. It will be mechanically ventilated with heat recovery systems to minimise power and re-use heat.

It will also incorporate a single, shared Laboratory Information

Management System (LIMS) for the region which will mean tests can be ordered, tracked and results reported electronically to clinical services across West Yorkshire and Harrogate, speeding up results for patients.

The construction of a new Acute Hospital Laboratory is also underway at the LGI to provide emergency pathology facilities to support clinical services when the main pathology services at the LGI relocate to the new laboratory at St James’s.

New bridge will provide link to Rotherham’s past, present and future

The team delivering the flagship Forge Island development in Rotherham got a first look at progress of the manufacturing of a new pedestrian bridge earlier this month. The bridge will offer a vital connection from the town centre to the new family-friendly leisure destination – as well as link to the town’s incredible enginee ring heritage.

The 46m metre-long bridge is currently being constructed in North Yorkshire before being installed on site in June and will become a key element of the new landmark place, which is being delivered by nationwide place maker, Muse, in partnership with Rot herham Council.

The design takes inspiration from the world-famous Bailey Bridge; a portable, steel truss bridge designed and developed by Rotherhamborn civil engineer, Donald Bailey, which was used by the military throughout Europe during the Se cond World War.

The Bailey Bridge was a feat of engineering; lightweight and simple to erect without the use of tools, but also strong enough to withstand huge weights including military vehicles. It has secured

a place in history as one of the most important engineering and technological advances of WWII – playing a major role in helping Allied Forces to victory. Bailey Bridges have continued to be used extensively in civil engineering construction projects across the world, often to provide temporary crossings for pedestrian and v ehicle traffic.

The new bridge offers a contemporary take on the original design to create a permanent structure for the town. It was designed by FaulknerBrowne Architects and is being fabricated and manufactured by SH Structures, specialists in the design and manufacture of complex steel structures.

The diamond truss steel design that is synonymous with Bailey Bridges will be clad with red/brown perforated steel panelling that tonally matches the colour of planned Forge Island buildings and celebrates history of the area, which originated as a steel forge in the 19th century. It will also be illuminated at night to make a stunning visual feature of the unique structural elements of the Bailey Bridge.

The bridge will provide pedestrians and cyclists with an eye-catching crossing from the town centre to the new landmark destination which will feature a mix of independent eateries alongside boutique cinema operator, The Arc and national hotel chain, Travelodge, all set within attractive new public realm.

It’s fantastic to see the bridge taking shape and see how a contemporary take on the pioneering Bailey Bridge design will create something quite special at Forge Island...

Andrew Fairest, project director at Muse, said: “It’s fantastic to see the bridge taking shape and see how a contemporary take on the pioneering Bailey Bridge design will create something quite special at Forge Island.

“For Muse, the history of a place is an instrumental part of its story – and informs how we go about creating its next chapter. The bridge not only provides a physical link to what will be a much-needed family-friendly offer for Rotherham, but a metaphorical one to the incredible industrial heritage of this town. We’re excited to be making Forge Island a major part of Rotherham’s story once again.”

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott, said: “The bridge, which will link the heart of the town centre to the heart of the industrial past, will also pay

tribute to the world-changing creativity and craft our residents have been a part of in the past – and the innovation yet to come. Once in place, the bridge will be the key thoroughfare between the incredible leisure and food facilities on Forge Island and the wider town centre. I cannot wait to see this new iconic feature on the Rotherham skyline.”

Expect Distribution Wins Large Pharma Logistics Contract

Bradford-based Expect Distribution has won its biggest warehousing contract to date with a 4-year deal with Huddersfield pharmaceutical company Thornton & Ross (part of th e Stada group).

Expect has been selected as the nominated warehousing partner of the company to ensure smooth storage and flow of pharmaceutical goods across the UK.

With the goods migrating to one of Expect’s three warehouses over a 12-month period, the decision was

made on the basis of sector related expertise and their outstanding quality of facilities.

A dedicated contract management team is now in place to work between Expect’s Bradford base and Thornton & Ross’ Huddersfield site in Linthwaite. Expect will work as an extension of the Thornton & Ross warehousing team,

Work on the £47m Forge Island – which was announced as 100% in October 2022 – started on site in November 2022 overseen by lead contractor Bowmer + Kirkland working alongside the wider project team which also includes Arup, Helm Consulting, Arcadis and re-form Landscape Architecture. Forge Island is set to open to the public in 2024.

storing their raw materials, packaging and components and distributing products to sites as needed.

Expect Distribution commercial director Neil Rushworth says: “Thornton & Ross represent a key strategic win for us, and it is great to establish ourselves as an important partner to them ongoing as we expand our contract logistics offer to the sector. We’ve already forged good working relationships between both teams and look forward to adding value to their business.”

Thornton & Ross head of procurement, Mary Brown commented “We are delighted to bring Expect on board as a key logistics partner. The relationship will be instrumental to the effective supply of product on a just in time basis to our manufacturing site and will ensure that we can continue to accommodate our projected growth plans within the business.”

RR Engineering becomes employee owned

Azets, the Top Ten UK Accountancy firm, has advised RR Engineering Ltd on becoming employee owned.

RR Engineering, based in Scarborough, was set up over thirty years ago by Roy Hendry and Russell Beck. They are handing over 100% of the business to their employees. Karen Bulman, Jamie Thompson, Matthew Taylor and Jamie Dixon will take over the day to day running of RR Engineering.

Since its formation in 1990, RR Engineering has established itself as a leading provider of high-quality products to a range of industries throughout the UK. Standing within a 25000 sq. ft. site, on Eastfield Industrial Estate in Scarborough, RR Engineering offers a complete service from large contracts to small bespoke orders, meeting customers exact requirements.

The company provides sheet metal fabrication and design services working with stainless and mild steel, aluminium and specialised materials using state of the art machinery.

Roy and Russell joint managing directors said: "It's such a proud moment to be able to hand over RR Engineering. Selling the company, we founded to our employees through the creation of the EOT ensures the stability of the business for the long-term and supports our desire for further continued growth.

Established

This move recognises the value that our fantastic team has delivered over the years, and it is a very exciting opportunity for everyone to take a pivotal role as the businesses progress. We’d like to wish the team all the best in their new leadership roles.  Creating a great place to work has always been fundamental to our business principles, and we’re very excited about the next stage of the journey."

Tariq Javaid, Corporate Finance Partner at Azets said: “RR Engineering

is a business exceptionally well-suited for employee ownership, being an organisation with a strong culture, firmly established values, and an emphasis on the quality of its products and its people. It has been a privilege to work with Russ, Roy and the team in assisting them with this transition and I am confident that the company has a bright future as an employee-owned business”.

RR Engineering Ltd joins many wellknown firms such as John Lewis, Richer Sounds, and 'Tiptree' preserve maker Wilkin & Sons in becoming employee owned. The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) says more than 1200 businesses have now adopted employee ownership and the sector has more than doubled in the past three years.

Recent converts include Go Ape, the treetop adventure company, Riverford, the organic vegetable box company and Aardman, the Bristolbased animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit.

Rapidly growing Smart Repairs expands into Wales

Smart Repairs.co.uk, the UK’s largest independent cosmetic vehicle repairer, has announced an increase in turnover of 23 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

The Leeds company, based in Weaver Street, saw its turnover grow to £2.1m between January and March this year.

Overall turnover is predicted to rise to more than £9million this year.

The recent appointment of experienced technicians across the south west of England and south Wales means that the flourishing company now has more than 100 staff across the country, with 40 based in Leeds. At least another 15 technicians are being recruited later this year, including new staff to strengthen Smart Repairs.co.uk’s operation in Yorkshire.

Darryl Short, managing director, explained: “This has been a tremendous start to the year for us, the most successful we have ever had. Our decision to expand our operations to service the whole of the UK, rather than just the north of England, has paid off handsomely.

“Apart from making serious inroads in Cornwall, Devon, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, we have recently expanded into Scotland, and we have further

Phil Newstead. The company carries out more than 200,000 vehicle repairs a year.

As part of its national expansion programme this year, Smart Repairs. co.uk has invested over £500,000 in its van fleet and equipment already this year.

“We have a simple, but effective, business plan. We pride ourselves, not just on the way we treat our customers, namely car dealerships, insurance firms and company fleets, but also our staff. We work quickly and effectively and ensure that all our work is exemplary.

“Our expansion plans, which have gathered pace post-Covid, are very carefully targeted at geographical areas which are not especially well served by cosmetic vehicle repair companies. These plans have been massively backed up by the talented and hardworking team leaders and technicians we have been able to hire.”

Phil commented: “The second-hand car market remains buoyant, despite the cost-of-living crisis and the current economic uncertainty. The supply of new cars is also starting to normalise and this will have a further positive

impact on our business. The outlook

every reason to be confident about providing a quality repair offering across all of the UK, to warranty companies, insurers, dealer groups and vehicle remarketing companies. Our key aim is to be the largest smart repairer in the UK.

Leeds-based dealer JCT600 commented: “Smart Repairs.co.uk are a valued partner who are very much aligned with our own company values and ethos. We are delighted to have worked together over numerous years and watch their business grow across Yorkshire. Their attention to detail and high regard for Customer Service is second to none resulting in Smart Repairs.co.uk now supplying services to JCT600 exclusively across Yorkshire. We see them as a trusted and long-term partner for our business”.

Dan commented: “We are very proud and very humbled by this wonderful testimonial. Every single member of our staff works exceptionally hard to achieve and maintain the highest of standards. It is vital this continues as we expand across the UK.“We believe a key part of our success is the way we treat our staff and customers. This, in turn, translates into the friendly, positive and efficient service we provide for our customers, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Skip Hire and Waste Management firm leaps to success

A Leeds-based skip hire and Waste Management firm has grown from 18 to 28 staff following a five figure investment from Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) in 2014.

Bill Dyson Skip Hire and Waste Management was founded in 2003 by Bill and Lisa Dyson. The business provides commercial, industrial, and domestic skip hire across West Yorkshire and helps its customers to reuse, reduce, recycle, and

manage waste safely and efficiently. Its environmentally friendly waste handling service contributes to the UK Government’s Net Zero strategy.

Back in 2010 the business was unable to secure finance from high street lenders which meant Bill and Lisa had to finance

operations using personal credit cards. Lisa and Bill said: “Because of the sector we are in the banks wouldn’t speak with us. Thankfully, we were introduced to BEF by Mark at Tudor Financial Consultants. BEF understood our business and were happy to support us. Their five-figure investment helped us increase our fleet from 6 to 11 trucks in 2 years, create 14 new jobs over 13 years, and

expand into a business area that and positively impacts the environment and people’s lives while supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions.

Future

Following the BEF investment, the business has grown into a multisite business that uses a state-of the-art IT infrastructure and a finely tuned workflow to deliver an industry leading service to clients. In the 13 years following the BEF investment, turnover has grown from £1.8m to £4.2m. This has enabled the business to significantly improve its cashflow

position so that it is now self-sufficient for all but largest asset purchase. Lisa added: “We have always had ambitious plans for the business. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the investment from BEF and the ongoing support we receive from Mark, John, and the team at Tudor Financial. Their belief in Bill, me, and our business has been life changing.”

As with many businesses, the recent pandemic brought many challenges and few opportunities. Like many business owners, Lisa and Bill hopes that it would be short lived were soon shattered by the lockdown. Despite the challenges,

the business went from strength thanks to its responsiveness, agile decision making, and implementation of the tough lessons learned from the 2008 financial crisis.

Rewarding

Now, with an eye on the future, Bill and Lisa work closely with fellow director, Mark Pritchard, who joined the business in 2010. Mark is responsible for the strategic and commercial decision making and the acquisition of clients from the construction and demolition Industry.

Their future plans include securing a two-storey premises to occupy and lease, and ensuring the business attracts, trains, and retains young talent who can continue the business for decades to come.

Lisa added: “Maintaining our responsiveness to clients and the market is critical. While we never know what’s around the corner, we work hard to adapt, improvise, and overcome the many challenges the business faces. Beyond that, securing dedicated office space and developing our talent is key to future success.”

Mark commented:  Seeing the company develop and grow over the years has been rewarding for the whole of the team, each individual played their part and will continue to do so as the business follows its robust growth programme.

Hilary Watson, investment manager at BEF, commented: “Bill Dyson Skip Hire and Waste Management is a success story that speaks to the reason BEF exists, to bridge the funding gap faced by so many SMEs. We are delighted to have helped them find their feet. It has been a joy to see Bill and Lisa grow the business into what it is today. We wish them every success with their future plans.”

CITROEN’S CITY SLICKER

By: Graham Courtney - Motoring Correspondent

All of the talk in the world of cars is about electrification, but there are times when a lot of people don’t want to go down that route. Electric cars are expensive to buy and the

current prices being charged by the power companies means the big savings for using a battery powered car are no longer seriously evident.

Electric cars are perfect for city living, but so too are frugal petrol and diesel cars.

Like the Citroen C3 for example.

When it comes to 5 door hatchbacks which will be equally happy on the school run as it will be going on family holidays, the Citroën C3 really does fit the bill.

Talking of bills, the C3 is not only terrific value for money, it will also be kind on your pocket in terms of running costs.

You can choose from 1.2 litre petrol or 1.6 litre diesel engines. The petrol motor is available with either 82bhp or 109bhp. If you intend doing a high mileage or travel with a decent load,

go diesel and you’ll manage up to 65mpg. The petrol engines offer a bit more in terms of refinement and you’ll still manage in the region of 54mpg.

And with prices starting at £13,995, the Citroen C3 is one of the cheapest cars in the UK.

In terms of trim, we like the C-Series Edition, but even the entry level

You! trim comes with DAB radio, Bluetooth, LED headlights, air con, powered front windows and mirrors and tinted glass. Move up to C-Series and you add a reversing camera, colour touchscreen, powered rear windows, leather trimmed steering wheel and smart alloy wheels. The extra £3k makes the C3 feel a tad more special.

As with every Citroen, the C3 is

extremely comfortable and the interior looks really smart. It’s a nice place to be.

You can also have some fun with the exterior colour and trim combinations. There are 93 different possibilities so your C3 could be unique. Careful though because at some point you’ll need to sell it and your idea of stylish may not appeal to everyone!

Out on the road we’d recommend the 6-speed automatic. It’s a smooth operator and seems to fit the car’s character really well, especially if you are mainly driving in town or slow traffic. The 0-60mph time of around 12 seconds means the C3 is no flying machine, but it doesn’t need to be for most people. The fact that it’s quiet and effortless to drive will be the big plus points.

So, if you are looking for a cost–effective car…both in terms of purchase and running costs, the Citroen C3 is a winner. The fact that it’s comfy, nice to drive and looks smart merely boosts its appeal.

The Piece Hall CEO named transformational leader

CEO of The Piece Hall Trust Nicky Chance-Thompson DL has been named Transformational Leader at TheBusinessdesk Northern Leadership Awards 2023.

The North’s business community come together to celebrate the best in business leadership at a glitzy ceremony at The Midland Hotel in Manchester city centre last night.

Joining The Piece Hall Trust in 2015, initially as a Trustee, Nicky has been at the helm since 2017 overseeing The Piece Hall’s ascent to world class visitor attraction. Alongside the Board she has successfully steered the business through the turbulent waters of the global pandemic, securing this precious asset’s long-term future.

Under her leadership an outstanding arts, culture and community events programme has seen the award-winning heritage destination welcome more than 11 million visitors. Growing in both repertoire and reputation the organisation has been described as

an exemplar business model and an example of “Levelling Up” in action.

Working alongside the wider team, Nicky has been instrumental is ensuring The Piece Hall delivered on its promise to be the catalyst for continuing regeneration in Halifax and the wider Calderdale borough.

The Business Desk created the Northern Leadership Awards to celebrate the people that are role models within their organisations and raise the bar for their competitors.

All winners show the qualities of extraordinary leadership and demonstrate the positive impact this has had.

Nicky said: I’m so honoured to have been given this award. It’s a complete

privilege to be the custodian of this unique and precious heritage site and working with my team to breathe new life into it is a labour of love. I’m incredibly proud of the transformation, of what we’ve achieved so far and what it means to Halifax and the wider Calderdale region.

Chair of The Piece Hall Trust Sir Roger Marsh OBE, DL said: “This is such a well-deserved accolade for Nicky. I couldn’t be prouder of the work she has done leading the trust and the team over the last few years. Overseeing the transformation of The Piece Hall was always going to be a challenge, but that challenge was amplified beyond measure when we plunged into a pandemic with the lockdowns and restrictions it necessitated. It’s testament to Nicky’s skill and determination that the Piece Hall not only survived the challenge but it now thriving, recently experiencing its best year yet! And under Nicky’s continued stewardship I know the best is still yet to come.”