News: Rotherham Council to spend over a million pounds on upgrades to one town centre car park

Rotherham Council has confirmed the contract details for a multimillion pound capital project at a car park in Rotherham town centre.

Backed by a government grant, the scheme will see a solar canopy and electric vehicle (EV) charging station installed at Drummond Street Car Park.

The 240-space pay-and-display surface car park is well used by commuters and shoppers and is close to the new £40m markets and library development and the town's major taxi rank.

Rothbiz first reported in 2023 that Rotherham Council was looking to hook up with a private sector firm who could install and run the station.

A concessionary contract was devised that would enable the specialist company to build the instrastructure and operate the charging station for 15 years.

New documents from the council show that Wenea Services UK Ltd has been awarded the contract.

Wenea is an EV service provider based in Spain and works with a number of local authorities across the UK. So far, the Wenea roll out features a mix of fast and rapid charging solutions and the chargers are supported by the Wenea App, which has over 100,000 users across Europe and offers a fully-integrated charging experience to both B2B and B2C customers.

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Tender documents showed that the contract could be worth up to £6m. The fixed budget for the design & build of the Solar PV canopy is £1,050,000 excluding VAT and the private sector firm are expected to make a minimum contribution for EV infrastructure of £330,000 excluding VAT.

The contract holder would then run the concession with council figures estimating that revenue for the proposed 15 year period would be £4.158m excluding VAT.

Rotherham Council is utilising £1.2m of funding from the government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Grant scheme.

Since March 2022, £381m in LEVI funding has been issued to help local authorities to accelerate public EV infrastructure development, leverage significant private investment and deliver over 100,000 new public chargepoints.

A council decision on the scheme states: "The implementation of the Solar Canopy and EV Charging will enable reducing carbon emissions emitted and supporting a local transition to electric vehicles through the provision of destination and residential charging in the town centre."

Wenea website

Images: Wenea

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News: Rotherham Entrepreneur named amongst Yorkshire’s "brightest and best"

The co-founder of a Rotherham-based IT provider has been named as one of Yorkshire’s top entrepreneurs.

Louis Marcus, who runs Balliante, has been named by influential regional business publication Yorkshire Business Insider as one of Yorkshire’s top 42 entrepreneurs aged under 42 and will be presented with his award at a glittering ceremony held in Leeds this week.

Louis secured his place on the list, which celebrates the region’s ‘brightest and best’ young entrepreneurs in the region, in recognition of the growth and success Balliante has enjoyed during the past 12 months and the key role Louis has played in bringing a number of innovative new products to market.

Responsible for overseeing all aspects of Balliante’s technical development, Louis has overseen the development of several key projects, including overseeing the building and development of a purpose-built data centre, as well as developing from scratch a bespoke CRM system, aimed specifically at helping SMEs harness technology to operate more effectively.

Louis began his own business journey when he was just 18 years old, when he launched his first web-hosting business whilst still at college. After successfully selling the business, and pursuing a career in IT, Louis co-founded Balliante with business partner Craig Boddy in 2019, who was named on the prestigious list of top 42 entrepreneurs under 42 last year.

Together, Louis and Craig have overseen a significant period of growth, and today, Balliante supports a diverse range of businesses throughout the UK, Europe and the US. Last November, the company was crowned Small Business of the Year by Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, not only in recognition of the company’s impressive growth journey but also their commitment to helping business owners across South Yorkshire to forge stronger connections, creating new jobs, as well as acting as a mentor to Balliante’s growing team.

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Louis Marcus, co-Managing Director, Balliante, said: “Over the past 12 months, Balliante has been on an incredible growth journey, and being named as one of Yorkshire’s top entrepreneurs is an incredible honour. With many business owners turning to technology to improve efficiency and boost productivity, I think Balliante is well-placed to enjoy future growth and success.

"This year, we set our sights not only on growing our business but also diversifying and expanding the products and services we provide. This has seen us invest in building our own data centre, giving our customers greater flexibility, as well as investing in developing and designing our own products – most notably our bespoke customer relationship management software, which we developed specifically to support SME business owners. Being recognised in this way isn’t just a terrific moment for me personally it’s the result of the efforts of the entire team, and we’re hoping to continue building on the success we’ve enjoyed during the next year.”

Craig Boddy, co-Managing Director, Balliante, added: “When Louis and I sat at a kitchen table back in 2019, never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined that the business we decided to create would be one that is working with businesses across the world, and Louis has played a vital role in the success we’ve enjoyed.

"Over the past 12 months, Louis has immersed himself in developing some incredibly technically challenging pieces of work – from building a data centre from scratch to writing a bespoke CRM system, which I’m sure will help a wide range of business owners. Louis’ place on this year’s 42 under 42 is very well deserved, and together we’re very much looking forward to seeing what the next year will bring.”

Founded in 2019 and now based in Rotherham town centre, Balliante is a specialist IT provider that helps businesses to harness technology to boost productivity and efficiency, by managing IT systems and networks, developing web-based solutions and producing custom-built apps and software.

Balliante website

Images: Balliante

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News: Double success as two sets of Rotherham padel plans passed

Two sets of plans for new padel facilities in Rotherham have been approved.

Rothbiz has previously featured updated plans for new padel courts at Hellaby, and at the Grange Golf Club in Kimberworth.

Padel is a form of tennis that originated in Mexico in 1969, grew across South America before making it to Spain. The sport is now rapidly expanding across Europe.

The LTA says that since 2020 the number of padel courts in Britain grew from 50 to over 800, while annual participation rose from 15,000 in 2019 to 400,000 players in 2025.

At Hellaby, Top Play Enterprises has seen plans approved to convert a vacant 33,654 sq ft warehouse. Proposals show how nine padel courts could be created in a vacant building on Sandbeck Way, with one court described as a match court, surrounded by glass and viewing areas.

The ground floor would also include a reception, bar and kitchen, plus a gym and changing rooms. Upstairs on the mezzanine level, plans show seating and viewing area plus studio space and a room for "fire and ice" treatments through a sauna/steam and an ice bath.

The planning permission states that the leisure / gym facilities shall only be used in conjunction with the use of the padel courts and shall not be made available to non members.

Visit Rotherham reports that the new venue is set to be called, Go2Padel.

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At Grange Golf Club, Top Play's approved application is for the installation and provision of three flexi Padel Courts with associated enclosures and lighting and areas of soft landscaping located next to the club house on land which has previously been used as an outdoor event space and the siting of a large marquee.

The golf course is allocated Green Belt and planners at Rotherham Council said that the proposal is considered to be not inappropriate development with the siting of the padel court structure only having a limited impact on the openness of the Green Belt.

In approving the plans, the planner's concluded: "Overall, the principle of an extended recreational facility in this Green Belt location is considered appropriate outdoor recreation in land use terms and its co-location to support the viability of a long established golf club is considered acceptable. The size and siting of the facility close to the existing club house building is considered to be appropriate and will not have a harmful visual impact of the surroundings or on the openness of the adjacent Green Belt.

"The use is not considered to generate any significant noise issues over and above the existing golf club use."

Rothbiz has previously reported on approved plans for a refurbishment programme of the existing club house at Grange Golf Club, and the conversion of former agricultural buildings so that they can be used as holiday guest houses.

Go2Padel website

Images: Top Play

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News: Rotherham college to be part of new specialist centre for defence

The RNN Group has successfully secured a major national defence technology bid, in partnership with the UK Government, to establish a new Defence Technical Excellence College (DTEC).

Part of a £175m national investment in skills, the initiative is being delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education.

The RNN Group is made up of a number of campuses including Rotherham Campus, Dearne Valley Campus and University Centre Rotherham, and will now be at the forefront of strengthening the UK’s defence skills pipeline, supporting the development of advanced technical capabilities critical to national security and economic resilience.

The DTEC will focus on delivering high-quality education and training in key areas including digital technologies and advanced manufacturing, directly support the evolving needs of the UK defence sector and its supply chains, aligning with the ambitions of the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy which set out how government spending on defence can benefit local economies, from highly skilled engineering positions to apprenticeships for young people starting their careers.

A recently announced new £50m Defence Growth Deal is set to help defence companies and boost skills by expanding cutting-edge defence research in South Yorkshire.

By working closely with employers and partners, RNN Group will help develop a highly skilled workforce ready to meet future challenges.

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Jason Austin, CEO & Principal of RNN Group, said: “This is a significant moment for RNN Group and for the regions we serve; securing this bid demonstrates our commitment to supporting the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy through the provision of high-quality technical education.

“We are proud to work alongside the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education to deliver a step change in how defence skills are developed.

“By collaborating closely with SYMCA and EMCCA and our local educational partners and institutions, we are ensuring the development of high-level skills in this area.”

RNN is one of 19 Technical Excellence Colleges that will begin delivery from April 2026, acting as hubs of excellence and working with other providers to raise standards across the country.

John Healey, Secretary of State for Defence and MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, said: "With vital investment, cutting-edge equipment and high-quality teaching, Dearne Valley College and Rotherham College can go on to build the workforce of the industries of the future – right here in Rotherham.

“Well done to the team at RNN Group, who deserve this well-earned recognition, and I can’t wait to see them go from strength to strength as a Technical Excellence College.”

RNN Group website

Images: RNN Group

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News: Preferred bidder for former Liberty steelworks in Rotherham

A sale is moving closer for Speciality Steel UK (SSUK), with the official receiver confirming a preferred bidder for the company.

Last August, a judge approved an application from creditors to place SSUK, previously part of Liberty Steel and GFG Alliance, into compulsory liquidation. Teneo Financial Advisory Limited have been brought in as Special Managers whilst a formal sale process takes place.

The government has committed £50m to date to keep the sites in Rotherham and Stocksbridge open whilst the bidding process takes place. Multiple companies came forward with the government confident a buyer can be found.

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An update from the official receiver on what it calls "a major step towards a sale," states: "A period of exclusivity has been agreed with a preferred bidder, marking the next stage of a future sale agreement.

"This is expected to last approximately five weeks, during which the preferred bidder will progress their bid.

"SSUK was wound up in August 2025, with the Official Receiver administering the liquidation, including activity at the steelworks.

"Employees have been informed.

"The Official Receiver will look to complete the sale at the earliest opportunity."

The Times reported in January on a shortlist of bidders obtained from "sources familiar with the situation."

Five potential new owners were listed by the paper including: 7 Steel; Aperam; Arabian Gulf Steel Industries; EIG Global Trust; and Evore Steel.

Sky News reported in February that Blastr was another name on the shortlist.

The Financial Times is reporting that Blastr is the preferred bidder.

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB National Secretary, said: "This is welcome news and we look forward to engaging with the interested parties on behalf of our members.

"Any sale of SSUK must include due diligence which guarantees ongoing operations and stability of the sites.

"GMB members have been at the sharp end of years of uncertainty at this point - his needs to be a deal that secures the long-term future steelmaking in South Yorkshire."

Images: Google Maps

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