News: Rothbiz launches membership opportunities

Rotherham Business News is offering businesses and organisations the opportunity to support the website and the continued promotion of Rotherham, at the same time as raising their profile within the local business community.

Rothbiz is established as the website that brings together positive news regarding businesses, enterprise, commercial property, regeneration, key developments and the economy in Rotherham.

The site exists to promote Rotherham as a business location by using stories about the enterprising, innovative, proud, and world-renowned businesses that are based here.

Now a new membership programme has been designed to enable businesses to show their support and feature on the site at the same time.

The website launched in 2007 and has been growing ever since. It now has over 6,000 subscribers and followers and receives 20,000 pageviews each month.

Tom Austen, founder and editor of Rotherham Business News, said: "If you have had coverage on Rothbiz, gained leads and business from reading the site, like our positive approach to talking up the borough and its businesses, want to raise the profile of your business or organisation, or just like being kept up to date with the latest news, Rothbiz is looking for members to get involved and help us to continue to grow.

"Different levels based on different budgets offer you the opportunity to be featured on the website and with your backing, Rothbiz will continue to publish three articles each weekday - around 60 each month - focusing on positive stories about amazing Rotherham businesses.

"The plan is to invest in the website with new designs and email systems, remove the Google Ads, expand into new geographical areas, put on events, go into print and take on an apprentice and staff.

"You will help us give Rotherham the positive coverage it deserves, raise the profile of Rotherham, change the perceptions of Rotherham and encourage Rotherham companies to recognise opportunities for collaboration, growth and business development."

Find out more information and become a member here.

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News: Gulliver's submit plans for £37m Rother Valley resort

Detailed planning applications for the £37m Gulliver's Family Theme Park resort adjacent to Rother Valley Country Park have been submitted to Rotherham Council.

Gulliver's, the operators of theme parks in Warrington, Matlock Bath and Milton Keynes developed an initial masterplan for the first of their sites in the UK to encompass all their major family entertainment elements in one location with new attractions exclusive to Rotherham.

The proposals, which will create around 400 jobs, will see Gulliver's buy approximately 250 acres from Rotherham Council. Two applications have been submitted, one for the change of use of the greenbelt site to a leisure resort and a second that details the phases of the resort and the attractions.

The proposals for a year round destination aimed at 2 - 13 year olds include a theme park hub, woodland adventure centre, ecology and education centre, lodges, hotels and a holiday village. Expected to be built over 12 - 15 years, the theme park would come first and further developments would follow afterwards.

The overall site is approximately 98 hectares in area comprising the northern part of the Rother Valley Country Park. 215,000 sq ft of buildings are proposed, including: Main Street featuring an indoor, year round attraction including a splash zone, interactive play areas and NERF zone; five key ride areas providing over 40 rides and attractions; three hotels; themed holiday lodges, themed leisure facilities; and a spa and fitness centre.

Further details of the attractions set for Gulliver's valley can be found here.

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The completed development is anticipated to attract 21,000 to 25,000 visitors per week during the peak season and 1,000 visitors per week during the remainder of the year (apart from special events including Bonfire Night and Christmas). The normal opening hours would be 10.30 to 17.00.

The proposed vehicular access comprises a new site access junction off the A618 Mansfield Road. The resort is set to have over 1,600 car parking spaces.

In planning terms, the Council has said that it "will support proposals for a comprehensive, regional scale leisure and tourist attraction north of Rother Valley Country Park compatible with its location within the Green Belt." The Council has long had ambitions for the site to be transformed into a landmark leisure / tourism development on a national and international scale. Agreements relating to the YES! project and Visions of China developments were terminated due to the lack of progress.

The applications set out the economic benefits of the development which outweigh the harm to the Green Belt. The regeneration benefits are an estimated £36.66m overall economic impact from construction and total annual operating net economic impact on the local economy of £11.6m.

The resort will create up to 125 full time jobs and a total of around 325 part time jobs.

The plans, drawn up by Smith Jenkins, state: "The proposed development will make a considerable positive contribution to the Rotherham economy.

"The proposed development represents an opportunity to enhance both leisure and tourist facilities within the Borough. The economic advantages the proposed resort as a whole will bring to the area will include: increased employment opportunities for local people; attracting new people to the area; generating additional expenditure within the local area from visitors and supporting the local economy and other local businesses through providing a complementary land use.

"It will also further raise the profile of Rotherham as a tourist/leisure destination."

Currently, 82% of employees of existing Gulliver's resorts live within five miles of the location and 98.8% live within ten miles of resorts and the applicants expect this arrangement to be similar at Rother Valley.

A different market, the proposals are also not expected to impact on development in Rotherham town centre or any other designated centre.

Also submitted with the applications are assessments on the impact on the environment, flooding, air quality, ecology, landscape, noise and transport.

Construction is anticipated to extend over a 12-15 year period, with work commencing in 2017 immediately after an assumed grant of planning permissions.

The first phase of development (the main entrance and access roads, theme park hub and core parking) will be open in 2020.

Gulliver's valley website

Images: Gulliver's

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News: What Gulliver's Valley will include

The Liliput Castle Hotel, Wilderness lodges, mud slides, a Splash Zone and more. The recently submitted planning applications provide details of what attractions and activities are set to be located at the proposed £37m Gulliver's Valley resort in Rotherham.

The year round destination aimed at 2 - 13 year olds is categorised in five key ride areas providing over 40 rides and attractions:

Main Street
The main entrance to the park will also include an indoor, year round attraction including a splash zone, interactive play areas and NERF zone, as seen at other Gulliver's sites. The two storey building will feature castle turrets to add to the theme.

Liliput Castle Hotel
The centre piece of the park (pictured, top) providing a family venue with up to 100 bedrooms as well as forming the main catering hub for the park. The building will include a number of themed features including turrets and flags. Family suites for guests with young children will be innovatively designed with themed rooms including NERF, Princess, Pirate and Swizzels Sweetie.

Gulliver's Gears
As part of the Adventure Park, this area is set to include a variety of rides and attractions themed to transport and cycling. These include race tracks and rollercoasters, a drop tower, the JCB Zone, mountain bike and segway trails, and a motor heritage attraction showing classic cars. Up to 35 pitches for accommodation will also be included.

Gulliver's Glade
Also part of the Adventure Park, this area would provide for outdoor activities. Plans show a mud slide, zip lines, rope swings, archery and rock climbing alongside a 40 metre high observation tower. Up 50 pitches for accommodation will also be included.

Observation Tower
The highest point of the development, this ride provides a glass capsule which rises slowly to provide a view of the park and the resort as a whole.

Antelope
As seen at other Gulliver's parks, the classic wooden rollercoaster that has been designed and built by the inhouse Gulliver's team.

Farm Park
Another part of the Adventure Park would provide farmer's fields and barns for animals, crop fields, tractor rides, interactive play attractions and small round rides.

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Pet Resort
A range of facilities including an indoor rumpus room, sick bay, stables, pet kitchen, shop and reception. The facility will also include outdoor activity, stable yard and exercise areas for pets.

Adventurer's Village
Proposed rides in this area include Jungle Jeeps and Jungle River; Log Flume, Rapids, Mine Train and Small Coaster; animatronic dinosaurs and Dino Rodeo.

Wild West Hotel
As part of the Adventurer's Village, this themed hotel will include 84 bedroom (family suites) each innovatively designed as Wild West themed rooms. The fort reception area will also include a lounge bar/restaurant (known as the Wild West Saloon).

Wilderness Resort
This area will comprise a spa hotel and wedding chapel. With 60 themed family suites, the hotel will also come with a central grass roof.

Woodland Lodges and Pitches
Ten lodges provide an alternative to the on-site hotels, the lodges will provide self-catering family accommodation. Each four bedroomed, two-storey lodge will have a private area for outdoor seating as well as a hot tub. 60 pitches are designed with an outdoor theme (pictured).

Wild West Lodges
Another part of the Adventurer's Village, here 30 pitches are designed with a Western theme. The units are manufactured off site and then located within the park and are classed as caravans.

Lost World Lodges
Also part of the Adventurer's Village, 75 pitches designed with a dinosaur theme.

Ecology Centre
Offering a programme of environmental education, community events, volunteering and training opportunities to the benefit of local schools, community groups and visitors. The facility will provide a focus for nature interpretation within the resort. Within the area, hides, pond dipping stations and forest craft activities will be carried out.

Camp Gulliver's Glamping
100 glamping pitches for families to stay, comprising of a mix of safari tents, yurts and teepees. Two dormitory blocks are also proposed, providing suitable accommodation for school trips, badge groups and community residential breaks.

Dream Village
A magical community where seriously and terminally ill children together with children with special needs will be given the chance of a lifetime to enjoy cost-free respite weeks and much needed getaway.

Community Building
A facility for community events both during day and evenings. The building will be available to local groups to hire throughout the year on an ad hoc basis or for regular functions/events. It will be adjacent to a large events field.

Gulliver's Vallley website

Images: Gulliver's

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News: Gulliver's Valley in numbers

37 - Million pounds of investment to build the resort. The Council has previously said that it expects the company to fund the development through business profits with no borrowing requirements.

400 - Jobs created when the park is up an running. 125 full time jobs and a total of around 325 part time jobs.

40 - The number of rides and attractions planned.

40 - Metres high. The height of the Observation Tower planned for Gulliver's Glade in the Adventure Park. The highest part of the development.

15 - Metres high. The approximate height of the biggest rides, such as the Antelope, Pirate Coaster and Tower Ride.

25,000 - Visitors each week that could come to the resort during peak season.

9 - Minutes. The average waiting time for the rides at current Gulliver's sites. At off peak times, this is less than four minutes.

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244 - Hotel rooms, or "family suites," some with innovatively designed themed rooms including NERF, Princess, Pirate and Swizzels Sweetie.

3 - Hotels are planned. Liliput Castle, Wild West Hotel and the Wilderness Resort.

12 - Holiday lodges (two group camping buildings and ten woodland lodges).

300 - Pitches. Designed on themes including dinosaurs, outdoors and Wild West, the units are manufactured off site and then located within the park. They are classed as caravans.

100 - Glamping pitches for families to stay. Camping in style with access to services, the glamping accommodation will comprise of a mix of safari tents, yurts and teepees.

1,728 - Car parking spaces.

1978 - The year that Gulliver's opened its first park in Matlock Bath.

12-15 - Years it will take to build the whole resort.

5 - Phases of development.

2020 - The year the first phase of development (the main entrance and access roads, theme park hub and core parking) will be open.

Gulliver's Valley website

Images: Gulliver's

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News: LEP wants further studies into HS2 in Sheffield city region

The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Combined Authority will commission an independent study to explore ways to minimise HS2 Ltd's new proposed line's impact on local homes, communities and businesses.

The South Yorkshire HS2 station location was initially chosen as Meadowhall but a new option announced in July proposes that HS2 services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Midland station using the existing railway line.

A city centre station solution for Sheffield high speed services would allow the main HS2 line to be built east of the previously proposed route, following the M1 and M18 through Rotherham before heading through the Dearne Valley.

LEPs are the Government's model to promote economic development and provide the strategic leadership required to set out local economic priorities, and better reflect the natural economic geography of the areas they serve. Private sector led, the board is made up of business people and the leaders of constituent councils.

Whilst vocal in its support for HS2 coming to the city region, the LEP has always declined to commit to backing a specific site for a South Yorkshire station and instead reiterated its stance that the location should be based on achieving the greatest economic benefit.

Following a meeting this week, all leaders are agreed that HS2 is important for the future growth of the city region but that this study is needed so that, if the new proposal is accepted, the disruption to homes and communities is minimised. Doncaster and Rotherham remain opposed to the new proposals put forward by HS2 Ltd earlier this year.

Previous connectivity studies for the LEP for the two previous locations - Meadowhall and Sheffield Victoria - were carried out in 2015 to the same level of detail to allow the city region to prepare business case estimates and more detailed cost scenarios for both locations.

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Sir Steve Houghton, Chair of Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, said: "Local leaders support HS2 and recognise its importance to strong, sustained growth in Sheffield City Region and the North. However, we share concerns about the impact on local communities if the new proposed route is accepted by Government and we are working in partnership to put forward the strongest possible case for a realigned route which is less disruptive to our local communities."

Sir Nigel Knowles, Chair of Sheffield City Region LEP, added: "HS2 has the potential to bring transformational change to our city region but we must ensure that we maximise its potential so that it benefits all residents and businesses and has as little negative impact on homes and communities as possible."

As reported by Rothbiz last month, the LEP is also seeking "a clear and unequivocal commitment to constructing the loop north of Sheffield to the main HS2 line" and pressure is being applied for the Government to commission a study on the potential for a parkway station on the M18/Eastern leg route which could serve the South Yorkshire area as a whole.

HS2 Ltd believe that the new route would create the possibility of classic compatible services running through Sheffield Midland to other destinations, including Barnsley, Meadowhall and Rotherham. However, a link North from Sheffield Midland and back onto the HS2 line has not been confirmed but may be included in proposals for HS3 / Northern Powerhouse Rail which aims to link Sheffield with Leeds and Manchester in under 30 minutes.

Local leaders are asking Government for both the parkway station and the northern loop to be included in their hybrid legislation.

Sheffield City Region LEP website

Images: Sheffield City Region LEP

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News: Heron Foods gets stamp of approval

Yorkshire retailer Heron Foods has unwrapped the latest site in its partnership with the Post Office which ensures that a branch remains in Dinnington, Rotherham.

Having opened a new store in the former Eastwood Hotel pub earlier this year, the provider of top quality food products at the lowest possible prices, has officially opened its Dinnington store which also includes a co-located Post Office.

The opening of the Post Office has secured three part-time positions, with staff transferring from the former branch that closed down. The new branch is part of a programme of modernisation and investment across the Post Office network.

Mike Igoe, commercial director at Heron Foods, said: "We understand how important having a Post Office is to the residents of Dinnington. We're pleased that it's Heron Foods who is bringing back all of the benefits of Post Office counter services to the local community. The addition of a Post Office inside our Dinnington store, will make it easier for working people to access services, and they will be able to pick up plenty of Heron deals at the same time."

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Kenny Lamont, Network Operations Area Manager at the Post Office, added: "This is the fourth Post Office that has opened within Heron Foods. Our new partnership with this leading discount food retailer works really well. This conveniently located new branch, which is open seven days a week and with long opening hours, makes it easy for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents. We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs and safeguard Post Office services in Dinnington for the future."

The rapidly growing East Yorkshire-based business was established in 1979 and now operates 240 stores. With increasing competition in the discount food market, Heron Foods Ltd posted turnover of £253m for the year up to December 25 2015, compared with £255m in the previous year.

With a strong presence in High Street locations, district centres and busy secondary locations in all towns in the North of England and the Midlands, the company said it has a strong pipeline for new store openings and expects to open in excess of 20 new and relocated stores in 2016.

Heron Foods website

Images: Heron Foods

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News: Rotherham hotel commemorates 35 years

Carlton Park, Rotherham's largest independently owned hotel will celebrate its 35th anniversary next month.

Built on the edge of the town centre site of Moorgate House, an imposing Georgian building once home to John Oxley, a founding partner of law firm Oxley & Coward, the building later housed a children's home, run by the Rotherham Council from 1955-70.

Planning permission was granted in 1978, and three years later under the leadership of Emil Malak who joined as general manager, the hotel opened its doors, creating 50 new jobs on the site. 35 years later, some of those first members of staff continue to work at the hotel today.

Dubbed "the North of England's most luxurious venue" back in 1981, the hotel gave residents the chance to savour a range of delicacies of the day including Hawaiian cocktails and melon served in port. Its popular Pavilion Bar was adorned with exotic palm trees and even a parrot cage was installed. Reputedly costing more than £2,000 to build - the bar was home to a blue and yellow Macaw, aptly called Carlton!

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Just two years after opening, a fourth floor was added, creating additional bedrooms. By 1999, the hotel had been granted its own Civil Marriage licence; however, trouble loomed just two years later when parent company Queens Moat House collapsed. The hotel was sold twice before being acquired by family-run Skyland Hotels. The new owners invested more than £2m refurbishing many areas of the hotel as well as expanding its function room facilities.

All was going well until 2008, when disaster struck. A fire which started in the kitchen saw the hotel close for nine months, leaving both staff and the hotel facing an uncertain future. The hotel's owners ignored advice from its insurers and succeeded in retaining the services of all its full-time and many part-time staff in the interim period before re-opened to much acclaim in March 2009.

Today, the hotel now hosts many popular events such as its tribute nights, ladies nights and disco nights as well as providing highly rated accommodation for business and leisure clients alike.

Jason Gossop, sales manager at Carlton Park Hotel, said: "It's hard to imagine the excitement there must have been on that first opening night as Rotherham gained its first luxury hotel. Today we employ more than 100 people and the hotel has firmly established itself as a prominent local landmark.

"Over the past 35 years, the hotel has had a very colourful history. During our research we unearthed some incredible stories about some of the people who have worked and visited here. We were recently awarded a Salute to Business by the Chamber in recognition of the contribution the hotel has made to the local economy is a tremendous honour."

Carlton Park website

Images: Carlton Park

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News: £400m Northern Powerhouse fund managers identified

European funding for the new £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) looks to be safe but delays to its launch has led to an investment gap in the Sheffield city region.

The Sheffield city region is set to be part of a large fund involving all Yorkshire and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), the North West and Tees Valley. It is hoped to bring together over £400m.

The fund builds on the work of initiatives backed by European money such as Finance Yorkshire - the regional funding body that has invested £105m fund into companies in Yorkshire and Humber.

The NPIF is expected to launch substantively in January 2017, slightly later than originally envisaged, and includes £162m of European Structural Funds, agreed prior to the EU referendum.

Chancellor Philip Hammond recently confirmed that all structural and investment fund projects signed before the upcoming Autumn Statement will be fully funded, even when these projects continue beyond the UK's departure from the EU.

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The Sheffield-based British Business Bank will also be investing £50m of its own capital into the new fund which is hoped to be matched by an additional £50m from the European Investment Bank. In August, the British Business Bank said that it is working closely with Government departments and other stakeholders to reach agreement and sign-off before the Autumn Statement.

Tendering for the appointment of a number of specialist fund managers – who will make the individual investments in smaller businesses – has recently concluded. Contracts have been awarded to AXm VC Limited, Enterprise Ventures, Foresight Group, Maven Capital Partners and Viking Fund Managers c/o Finance Yorkshire.

The delays to the launch of the NPIF has led to an "investment gap" in the Sheffield city region. The existing JEREMIE fund, which provides debt and equity finance to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) no longer has capital to invest. JEREMIE stands for Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises.

To bridge the gap, the SCR Combined Authority approved an offer to Finance Yorkshire (the "holding fund" for the JEREMIE) of a loan (on commercial terms) of £2.5m until December 31 2016 so that it can continue to support firms until the new fund is open for business. A number of South Yorkshire firms were being considered for funding by Finance Yorkshire.

Now changes to the offer have been sought that would enable Finance Yorkshire to invest alongside Leeds City Region on an equivalent basis. Changes would also allow for extensions or variations should an unexpected delay to NPIF occur.

Changing from a loan to a repayable grant, the combined authority is expecting a small positive return on the £2.5m and fund manager fees will not be paid in the event of nonperformance. Unspent money will be returned.

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund website
Finance Yorkshire website

Images: British Business Bank

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News: Engineering firm in administration

Whiteley Read, a Rotherham-based engineering firm has called in the administrators following a global downturn in the oil and gas market.

Based at a custom built facility on the Gateway Industrial Estate at Parkgate, Whiteley Read has been associated with pressure vessels and the process industries since 1937. It manufactures vessels and columns in both ferrous and non ferrous materials up to 200 tonne in weight for many blue chip companies, such as BP, Centrica, Shell, Nexen & GDF.

Joanne Hammond and Gareth Rusling of Begbies Traynor were appointed as joint administrators of Whiteley Read Engineering Ltd on October 7 2016.

It is is expected that the administrators will market the business for sale.

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As recently as 2013, the company had a turnover of £5.9m, up from the £5.4m reported for 2012 with a profit before tax of £338,000. Abbreviated accounts were filed for 2014 and the previous accounting period was extended from October 2 2015 to March 31 2016.

In 2010, Whiteley Read Engineering provided bespoke pressure vessels, in a £3m deal, for the expansion of the Bouri gas and oil field, the biggest in the Mediterranean.

Last year, the Rotherham facility of Darron SBO closed as part of restructure plans set out by the Schoeller-Bleckmann Group. The firm was hit by "customer restraint in ordering which went hand in hand with persistent pressure on prices" in the oil and gas sector.

This year has seen Australian multinational company, Bradken, close its Rotherham site and selling off its loss making European business operations following a "challenging and demanding" period of trading caused by a downturn in commodity prices and a forced change in behaviour of mining companies.

Also this year, Esco Corporation, a US manufacturer in the mining, construction and industrial sectors, vacated the Rotherham premises it acquired in 2011.

Whiteley Read website

Images: Whiteley Read

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News: Construction starts on Rotherham shared station

Kier Construction has begun work on the project to create a new joint police and fire station in Rotherham.

The project at Maltby won Government Transformation Funding of £560,000 last year and will help save both South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue money by sharing building running costs. It will also improve services by making it easier for police and firefighters to share knowledge, skills and expertise when tackling common issues, like anti-social behaviour and road traffic collisions. In a similar way, it will also help both organisations to reach the most vulnerable members of the community.

Maltby fire station will close and Maltby police station will be modified to accommodate fire service vehicles and staff, under the plans approved by Rotherham Council last year.

Chief Fire Officer James Courtney, Police & Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police Superintendent Sarah Poolman and Fire Authority member Cllr Pat Haith attended an event to formally begin work on the site.

James Courtney, Chief Fire Officer at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: "This move makes perfect sense for us, for the police and for the taxpayer. Instead of having two public buildings, and all the running costs associated with them, we will be able to combine our resources into one facility to provide a more efficient frontline service.

"By working alongside each other under one roof, the move will also benefit both organisations by improving how we work together to solve problems we both face, which can only help to improve the quality of the service we offer to local people."

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Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "The move to accommodate both South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue staff under one roof is a huge step in our commitment to the public to reduce costs and work more collaboratively.

"The diminishing government grants for both organisations are requiring all of us to be most cost effective, whilst still providing the same levels of service. I hope that the police and fire station will prove to be a successful pilot and we can identify further opportunities for blue light services to work together."

Superintendent Sarah Poolman of South Yorkshire Police, added: "The layout of this purpose-built facility will assist internal information and intelligence sharing among police staff, as it's better designed to help meet the demands of modern policing, demands that have changed substantially since the existing station was constructed many years ago on Main Street.

"We envisage that sharing the building with our partners at the Fire and Rescue Service will improve both parties input into collaborative projects too, delivering a better coordinated service to the public."

The new facility is expected to open in spring 2017.

The third high profile public sector project in the borough, Kier is also the lead contractor on the Urgent Care Centre at Rotherham Hospital and the redevelopment of Oakwood School.

Kier Construction website

Images:

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News: Cumulus boosts profile through Pitch@Palace

Cumulus Energy Storage (CES), a high-tech start-up with a base on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, has taken part in a bootcamp as part of the Duke of York's Pitch@Palace initiative.

Cumulus is developing prototype battery technology which can be developed commercially to cope with the rigours and requirements of the renewable industry. Storing the electricity from intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar at source, or "grid level," is a key problem due to the mismatch between the availability of intermittent wind or sunshine and the changing demand for grid electricity.

Cumulus is developing a grid-level energy storage battery with 1MWh-100MWh storage capacity which it hopes to be the lowest cost battery technology in the world. By using its new batteries, developers of offshore wind farms or solar farms could reduce the price at which electricity must be generated from the source to break even over the lifetime of the project.

With research in San Francisco and manufacturing in South Yorkshire, Cumulus was one of 19 projects to secure funding from the Government's Energy Entrepreneurs' Fund (EEF) that was established in 2012 to help bring a range of new and innovative low carbon products to market.

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In less than three years Pitch@Palace has helped over 200 businesses grow, with some now enjoying huge global success. This year's event focuses on technology and HRH has been touring the country looking for firms. The first event was hosted at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing's (AMRC's) Factory 2050 building on the Sheffield Business Park in September.

Pitch@Palace was set up by The Duke of York's Charitable Trust to support start-up businesses and entrepreneurs in the UK. It gives potential entrepreneurs the chance to explain their hi-tech business ideas to Prince Andrew and a panel of experts, in front of an audience of investors, business leaders and mentors, in a bid to secure the backing they need to take them to the next level.

CEO Nick Kitchen pitched at the Sheffield event and Cumulus was one of 42 entrepreneurial companies selected to attend a boot camp where participants heard from industry experts and Pitch@Palace Alumni, and received support and mentoring. Having missed out on being one of the 15 that will go forward to pitch at St. James's Palace in November, Cumulus is now in contention for the "People's Choice" award - an opportunity for the public to vote for their favourite Pitch@Palace entrepreneur.

Nick Kitchen, CEO at Cumulus (pictured), said: "Last year, the National Grid paid £90m to wind farm operators to not generate electricity. The reason for this is that the grid isn't designed to cope with variable and intermittent electricity that is generated by renewables. It needs a buffer, which needs to be used when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining, to store that electricity and deliver it later at the time that its needed - this is what Cumulus Energy Storage does.

"At the moment the main buffer is pumped hydro - two reservoirs that are geographically constrained - hence the need for our very flexible battery - copper / zinc super storage - that we can position anywhere we like in the electricity network.

"We have a very experience management team and we have ten people in San Francisco, six in the UK, and we are currently raising £4m for product development with a pilot line set for 2017."

A 20kWh operational prototype is being developed in the company's labs in San Francisco and in the UK, Cumulus has established a "customer interest group" with the likes of E.ON, National Grid, Sheffield Forgemasters and Sheffield University.

The plan is to manufacture the super-storage battery units in the Sheffield city region, on or near the AMP where Cumulus is based.

Cumulus Energy Storage website
Pitch@Palace website

Images: Pitch@Palace

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News: Parseq expanding in North East and nationwide

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has announced further investment in its Sunderland operation that will generate 450 jobs.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It handles over 70 million calls, digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments every year.

Following a period of significant growth through contract expansion and new deals, Parseq is taking on a new 36,000 sq ft, 900 seat call centre, that will sit alongside its existing operation in Sunderland, which currently employs more than 1,300 people.

The investment by the firm, which provide business services to a prestigious client base of blue-chip brands, including EDF Energy and SunLife, will create 450 new roles and secure Parseq's position as one largest investors and employers in Sunderland.

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Graham Stein, managing director of contact centres at Parseq, said: "Since March of this year we've created 200 new roles and we plan to increase this by a further 450, with recruitment starting immediately and into 2017.

"Sunderland has a rich employment and business network and it's this, combined with our unique approach to working with businesses to provide outsourced services, which is enabling us to reap rewards and reinvest in the city.

"All of our UK operations are performing exceptionally well which means we're not only expanding and recruiting here in Sunderland, but on a national scale too."

The firm employs more than 2,000 people nationally and represents some of the UK's most respected companies, including the top ten international banks, a third of the country's utility sector, financial and insurance services.

Following a number of acquisitions, the combined turnover of the group now exceeds £65m. Parseq set the aim to be a business with a £100m turnover in three years.

Parseq website

Images: GVA

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News: Prototype Creative sign with Tykes

Prototype Creative, the Rotherham-based design agency has become Barnsley FC's new exclusive provider for marketing and design services throughout the 2016/17 season.

Based at Manvers, the enterprising multi-disciplined agency was established in 2007 by web developer Josh Abbotts and graphic designer Gav Winder. It works with a wide range of clients, from SMEs to large global corporations including Boeing, Tower Hamlets College, Alcoa, Vitalife Health, EDLounge, and Ardagh Group.

As part of the deal, the Prototype brand is also now displayed on the newly-installed stadium tunnel at Oakwell and the official match ball stand. 

Gav Winder, creative director at Prototype Creative (pictured, left), said: "We are overjoyed to form a working partnership with Barnsley Football Club. The opportunities that this sponsorship will create for us will allow us to seriously grow.

"As lifelong Reds fans, it's a fantastic opportunity for us to work alongside the Club during what is a really positive and successful period in the club's history. We hope this partnership continues into the Premier League!"

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Ian Leech commercial manager at Barnsley FC, added: "We're delighted to welcome Gavin, Josh and the team at Prototype on board as our latest commercial partner. After our initial meeting, they took the time to really understand us as a club and our goals and ambitions off-the-field. Prototype are right at the cutting edge when it comes to design services and I’m really excited to work with them and see first-hand the impact that their expertise will have at the club. 

"All of the designers at Prototype are Barnsley fans, so they really understand what it means to be a Red and how important this club is to the local community. Therefore, they are the perfect company to help us engage with our proud and loyal supporters through modern and creative design. Prototype are a forward thinking, creative, local based company that we as a club are proud to be associated with, and we can't wait to get going!"

Gav and Josh were awarded the top prize at the Rotherham Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2008 having built up the business at the RiDO-run Century Business Centre at Manvers with six months rent-free on the Rotherham Youth Enterprise (RYE) scheme.

Barnsley FC website
Prototype Creative website

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News: Dishonest Rotherham solicitor struck off

The actions of a partner which closed down a 125-year-old Rotherham solicitors has seen him struck off from the legal profession after a tribunal heard of acts of dishonesty, misappropriation and concealment.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which regulates more than 130,000 solicitors in England and Wales, stepped in and closed down the operations of Gichard & Co last year after an investigation into Charles Rhodes, senior partner, found that "there was reason to suspect dishonesty."

The recently published tribunal hearing shows how Rhodes, admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1991, had overcharged a client when dealing with executing a will, by over £250,000.

Investigators found a further nine cases where a total of £69,000 had been withdrawn in respect of costs for which no bills had been raised.

The first allegation involved the dealing with an estate where a total of £437,125 had been transferred from the client account to the office account but the final bill was only £170,250. Attending the tribunal in person, Rhodes was asked whether he would regard it as honest or dishonest for a solicitor to take more than three times the amount in costs that he regarded as reasonable. He replied that it was "hard to escape the conclusion, looking at it now, that it was dishonest."

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At the time however Rhodes said that he had been under considerable pressure relating to matters in his personal life as well as his own health and that he was operating on "autopilot" and was not thinking at all. The Tribunal found that the amount of money was so significant that it could not simply be regarded as overbilling.

In the case, the principal beneficiary was only 16 at the time and a beneficiary of the estate later raised concerns over the costs and instructed another solicitor to get on the case. The estate in this case was repaid in full in May 2016, the other estates had not.

The tribunal also heard that Rhodes went on to create a false client account ledger together with false bills to substantiate the entries in the ledger and concluded that this was to deceive the investigating solicitors and the regulators in order to conceal his wrongdoing in respect of the misappropriation.

Rhodes told the tribunal that he had been "manifestly stupid" and that he would always regret his actions. He agreed that he had been a "monumental fool" and for that he had taken responsibility. He added that he had no intention of returning to the legal profession.

The tribunal concluded: "This was far from an isolated incident. The misconduct had taken place on an ongoing basis over a period of 12 years during which time estates had been repeatedly and deliberately overcharged, funds had been misappropriated and concealment had followed.

"The misconduct was at the highest level and the only appropriate sanction was a Strike Off. The protection of the public and of the reputation of the profession demanded nothing less."

SRA website

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News: AMRC degree smashes launch recruitment target

A pioneering foundation degree in manufacturing technology from the University of Sheffield and its AMRC Training Centre has smashed its recruitment target as it welcomed its first students.

The £20.5m centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham focuses on students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships. Part of the The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, apprentices have opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses, doctorates and MBA levels. Sponsoring companies range from global leaders such as Rolls-Royce, Alcoa and Outokumpu to smaller, local firms such as Cutting & Wear and Technicut.

The two year, part time programme is designed to ensure bright, young people, who opt to start work straight from school, don't miss out on a University qualification.

The Foundation Degree, which can be delivered as part of a Higher Apprenticeship, also aims to provide manufacturing industry with the higher skilled employees it desperately needs and could lead to a BEng degree after a further year of part time study.

The AMRC Training Centre had been set the target of recruiting five students to the first year of the course. However, the course proved so popular with trainees and companies spread across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire that 20 students signed up for the first year and a further four have already registered for next year.

Students range in age from 18 to 30, with most at the younger end. Two thirds of the students gained manufacturing qualifications at the AMRC Training Centre, while three of the students have been working in industry for some years.

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The course is delivered using a blend of face to face learning - lectures, seminars and tutorials - with online and self-paced learning and support to enable the students to combine their studies while in full time employment. The programme has been designed in partnership with academic staff and employers to ensure students can graduate equipped to meet the current and future needs of the advanced manufacturing sector. 

Kerry Featherstone, head of training at the AMRC Training Centre, said: "This Foundation Degree broadens access to the University. It gives young people who never thought of studying for a degree, or were put off by the prospect of running up debts to fund their studies, an opportunity to gain undergraduate and, maybe, post graduate qualifications while being fully employed and earning a wage.

"Manufacturers in our region and the rest of the UK desperately need people with a combination of vocational and academic skills if they are to compete internationally and this degree will bridge that gap."

Students and employers attending the welcome event at the AMRC Training Centre got the chance to meet course lecturers, who are all AMRC researchers, working with industry to develop practical solutions to improve manufacturing performance.

Professor Wyn Morgan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the University of Sheffield, said: "This is going to be a very challenging and intense programme.

"The AMRC Training Centre has developed a very strong academic and technical programme that responds to what employers tell us they need, while maintaining the standards you would expect of a Russell Group University.

"Anyone who successfully completes this course and goes on to secure a BEng while continuing to hold down a challenging job in manufacturing will have thoroughly deserved their success and we are determined to provide them with the support they need."

AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Survey highlights business survival

Yorkshire and the Humber has the longest running small businesses in Britain according to a poll conducted by Rotherham-based online printer instantprint.

The region's small business owners have on average owned their companies for 112.87 months, a period that dwarfs the lifespan of the rest of the nation’s SMEs.

At over nine years, Yorkshire's SMEs average period of life is more than double the current existence of small businesses in the South West (44.3 months), London (48.72 months), the North East (50.69 months) and East Anglia (55.88 months). The only part of Britain close to their longevity was Northern Ireland, whose average ownership was 93.07 months.

The area's largest cities companies were polled, with owners in Leeds averaging 124.57 months, those in York listed at 98.95 months of service, and Sheffield’s owners running their businesses for 98.38 months.

Instantprint co-founder, James Kinsella, who founded the company with Adam Carnell in 2009, said: "As a business owner in Yorkshire, this is terrific news. The region really is a breeding ground for small businesses to start up and then establish themselves. Our company has grown tremendously here, and this shows that other entrepreneurs can follow our lead and can be here for the long term."

instantprint is one of the top 100 companies in the UK with the fastest-growing sales. In 2012 the company merged with Templeborough-based point-of-sale printing specialist Bluetree and a move to bigger at Manvers last year have seen staff numbers hit the 200 mark.

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Rotherham Council uses the survival rate of new businesses as a priority measure to economic growth. 63.1% of new businesses had a survival rate of three years in 2014/15.

The survey also highlighted that one factor that may have assisted the establishment of these SMEs is that their owners have the second longest average working week in the nation. Yorkshire and the Humber entrepreneurs work a standard working day longer over the course of the week than the average 9-5, clocking up 45.56 hours. Of those polled, this was only surpassed by Northern Irish SME owners, who are in the office 49.08 hours a week.

By putting in the long hours, Yorkshire SME owners have had to make sacrifices, with over half of those polled suggesting they've missed valuable time with their family, 40.48% missed time away on holiday, and 47.62% missed out on down-time. This relinquishment of their precious free time, has seen 50% of the region's owners admitting that they are more stressed, but even still, a poll-high 83.33% advised that they would not want to go back to working for someone else.

Kairen Skelley, head of business start-up at Spark, Leeds University's service that offers students guidance, mentorship, and assistance with funding and office space, said: "The area is definitely thriving, we see a growth of 10-15% of start-ups per year, so when we started the target was 20, there were 65 this year.

"The student business people that I work with, live and breathe Yorkshire and that can only be a great thing for the region going forward. They want to stay in Yorkshire, which means the money stays here. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of our programme is that many of these businesses are founded with the hope of long-term success, and this is reflected in the fact that 83% of our start-ups are still going three years after setting up."

instantprint website

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News: Dransfield to develop Waverley's local centre

Dransfield Properties, the Barnsley-based company that specialises in retail led regeneration schemes, has been appointed as a development partner at the Waverley development in Rotherham.

A consultation event was held last week over proposals for a hotel, restaurants, shops, supermarket and community facilities.

Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield mixed-use development is being brought forward by landowner and developer, Harworth Group plc, and was approved in 2010 as the largest, most complex, planning application ever considered by Rotherham Council who gave outline approval for a new 3,890 home community across 741 acres.

After the site of the former Orgreave coking works was reclaimed, Harron Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt have built 500 homes between 2012 and 2016, whilst one million sq ft has already been built at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) for occupiers such as Rolls-Royce and Boeing.

The site is key to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) where the aim is to develop Europe's largest research-led advanced manufacturing cluster.

Just as important as the commercial and research facilities, the Sheffield city region's Infrastructure Investment Plan sets out that interventions to provide connectivity within the nucleus including public transport, cycling and walking are being encouraged. A high quality local centre to serve the needs of the AMID will also be encouraged to "act as a draw across the wider area and provide the much needed facilities to ensure the area works as a viable, vibrant and dynamic housing / employment community."

Now, plans are progressing for "Waverley Walk", the piece of the jigsaw between the residential and commercial development which is set to create that high quality local centre.

Dransfield works in partnership with local stakeholders and its latest scheme is the impressive £50m Fox Valley scheme that has transformed a steel stockholding yard into a vibrant mixed use town centre development at Stocksbridge.

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A consultation event was recently held on the Waverley site and showed that the inspiration for the new local centre was from the Fox Valley scheme that had been "carefully designed to reflect the area's rich industrial heritage as well as answering the need for a new retail and commercial heart."

As housebuilding progresses at pace, the proposed local centre has been relocated to sit between the AMP and residential areas - land previously known as Highfield Commercial where the AMRC Training Centre is located and where a Marston's opened a new build pub in 2014.

Proposed plans include a 26,000 sq ft hotel with 65 rooms and a restaurant, a 14,500 sq ft supermarket unit, 20 further units for retail and other uses such as gym and leisure and restaurants, a bus interchange, medical centre and over 400 car parking spaces.

Iain Thomson, partnerships manager at Harworth Estates, explained the importance of the scheme being high quality. He said: "This could be a "market-facing" development with standard occupiers but that's missing the point, especially as plans progress for the wider Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.

"It needs to be high quality, and it needs to have high profile tenants, and that's why we have gone with Dransfield. The local centre is an importance piece of the jigsaw that ties together the residential and the AMP developments."

Following positive feedback from the consultation event, a planning application is expected next year. Following ground preparations, the scheme is expected to take two years to build.

Harworth website
Dransfield Properties

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News: Rotherham to regain regen powers

Rotherham Council looks set to regain its decision making powers over regeneration matters by the end of the year as councillors show "ambition and determination."

The authority was deemed "not fit for purpose" by the Government and a statutory inspection by Louise Casey, a government official and director general of the Troubled Families board, found a "complete failure of political and officer leadership in Rotherham."


The review came after a 2014 report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham that described how vulnerable children had been repeatedly failed by the council.

As part of an intervention package announced by Eric Pickles, the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, commissioners were appointed in 2015 to provide leadership, taking over the roles of the "wholly dysfunctional" cabinet, which promptly resigned when the report was published.

The commissioners, led by Sir Derek Myers, could be in place until 2019 with regular reviews and reports resulting in a phased roll back of functions over the duration of the intervention.

Julie Kenny CBE, the businesswoman who founded and ran Rotherham manufacturing success story, Pyronix (pictured), was appointed as a supporting commissioner and has been responsible for making decisions on growing the local economy and ensuring the Council is working with others to improve jobs and housing opportunities. She has also been overseeing the Council's relationships with partners, and the voluntary and community sector.

In February 2016, a year after commissioners were brought in, a third of decision making responsibilities were returned to the council but those relating to regeneration remained.

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Writing to the Secretary of State with an 18 month progress report, lead commissioner Sir Derek Myers explained that council services, particularly Children's Services, "have moved away from failure towards the sustainable quality services that local people require."

Regarding decisions remaining with commissioners, including regeneration, Sir Derek said: "The number of actual executive decisions is low and the commissioner task is really to maintain a sense of ambition both for how the Council can take forward its regeneration ambitions, working closely with the Sheffield city region, and also strive for the modernisation of working arrangements in order to reduce costs and drive better value.

"Commissioners believe that the test to be applied to these services is whether advisory cabinet members, who could translate into being executive decision makers, share the same ambition and determination as commissioners and we now believe that this is the case.

"On that basis for these services we also expect to recommend in our next report at the beginning of November 2016 that these services also be returned to the Council towards the end of 2016."

As part of the recovery plan, one outcome concerns a growing local economy: "Ensuring the borough's own efforts and work with others increases the number of good jobs and housing opportunities."

Recent progress includes the Council's Local Plan which is set to be adopted next year next allowing for the allocation of new land for housing and employment uses. The public inquiry into the plan started in July with initial hearings and will continue in the autumn.

Key decisions made by Kenny include the sale of land to enable the £37m Gulliver's Valley development, the land deal for Rotherham university campus, the potential acquisition of Forge Island, town centre parking initiatives, and changes to town centre events which saw the popular Rotherham by the Sea event scaled back.

The Rotherham Economic Growth Plan has also entered the implementation phase with interviews with 30 of Rotherham's growing companies to understand what help they might need to continue their growth. Development work continues around the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) and the proposed Higher Education Campus in Rotherham town centre. A masterplan identifying the deliverability of key town centre development sites is expected to be launched in April 2017.

The progress report also discusses the proposed changes to the HS2 route through Rotherham which has "significant implications for the borough, its residents and businesses and it therefore remains a high priority for the Council."

This week, the Council announced that plans are in place to regain decision making over licensing. The Casey report was critical of the Council and its licensing function, especially around taxi licensing which was suggested played a role in the facilitation of child sexual abuse. Commissioner Mary Ney set out the improvements made to the Council's licensing function and that elected members have the skills and capability to take on the decision making role.

Rotherham Council website

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News: Wates awarded Rotherham housing contract

Wates Construction has been awarded a key contract to deliver a potential 200 new houses on a cluster of sites owned by Rotherham Council.

The authority has signed off its Housing Strategy which launched over the summer. It sets out how the Council is responding to the various housing challenges and what it intends to do and comes after changes to Government funding left councils with a reduced capacity to deliver housing growth.

It is acknowledged that the Council is having to work differently and embrace working with the private sector much more in order to find ways to deliver the objectives.

One key project is an innovative development model from the Council to bring forward some of its "more challenging" sites. Wates successfully secured a multi million pound tender and will act as the Council's development partner to proceed with the seven sites in Maltby, Canklow, East Herringthorpe and Dinnington.

The Wates Group is one of the largest privately-owned construction, development and property services companies in the UK and has previously worked on projects to provide social and affordable housing in Canklow under its Wates Living Space brand.

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The Council is proposing to build 97 homes for outright sale and a further 88 specialist and affordable homes, the timetable is to obtain planning approval by mid May 2017 and achieve a start on site in the summer of 2017.

The proposal from Wates offered to deliver 185 new homes across the seven sites, which will remain in Council ownership. A report to the council's cabinet and commissoners, stated: "Whilst this is the lowest number of housing units offered overall, there is scope to increase the housing numbers on several sites with design variations."

Under the model, Wates will take the role of a developer agent for the Council with the authority funding the development activities. Houses sold will lead to sales revenue (a prospective £3.8m) provided directly to Rotherham Council (excluding a developer's margin) to cross subside the development. The Council will also receive the majority share of any developer's profit on the schemes, through retaining the development value of the land.

Local authorities can borrow funding on much better terms than housing developers and the Council will bank roll the project for around 18 months until sales revenues are generated.

The Council is also required to underwrite the pre-development and planning stage costs, in the event of the project not proceeding. These are currently estimated at £335,000.

As part of its housing strategy, Rotherham has submitted a bid to the Government's new £1.2 billion Starter Homes Land Fund to help prepare key sites in the town centre for residential development. The Council has also acquired more than 90 new homes for council rent in areas of high demand, acquired properties in Maltby which have stood empty for some time and are in need of investment, and sold a number of its sites to private developers.

Wates website

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New: £107m infrastructure investment opportunities in Rotherham town centre

The Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) for the Sheffield city region (SCR) has outlined that indicative costs for infrastructure investment opportunities in Rotherham town centre are £107m. The same plan outlines that opportunities in Sheffield city centre have indicative costs of over £4 billion.

Launched this week, the plan covers transport, investment-ready commercial space, digital connections, good quality new homes, improved flood defences and sustainable energy and will be an important part of realising the Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP) Growth Plan, which set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the SCR by 2023.

It sets out investment priorities relating to the LEP's priority areas and private and public sector scheme promoters will be invited to submit proposals relating to them.

The plan shows that infrastructure investment opportunities have been identified totalling a possible £28 billion and that priorities include the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), Sheffield city centre, the airport corridor in Doncaster and the A61 Corridor and Chesterfield.

The LEP also has a priority to see investment stimulate growth and regeneration in town and city centres.

It is recognised that Sheffield is the core city and main driver of city region growth, with Doncaster also playing an important role. The surrounding towns of Barnsley, Chesterfield and Rotherham make important contributions to the SCR economy.

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For Rotherham town centre, one key infrastructure challenge is the lack of access to mainline rail services. For a town of its size and economic importance Rotherham has only three services per hour, operating at irregular intervals and with comparatively slow journey times.

Earlier studies concluded that there was a lack of viable options for increasing capacity at Rotherham Central as dualling the Holmes Chord, which could lead to an extra three trains per hour, would cost an estimated £32.3m, and realigning the main line through Rotherham Central could cost £161.3m.

These options are not included in the IIP, instead it focuses on the creation of a new heavy rail station to provide access to mainline rail services to key regional destinations. At an estimated cost of £14m, locations including the former council depot on Greasborough Road and at Parkgate are being considered.

Flood risk is also highlighted as an opportunity for investment. The £14m first phase of the Flood Alleviation Scheme, aimed at reducing flood risk over a 3.5km (two-mile) stretch of the Don from Templeborough to the town centre, saw construction completed in 2008. It was hoped to continue directly into Phase 2 with further European funding but was hit by funding cut backs.

Implementing the Rotherham Town Centre Masterplan is also highlighted as an infrastructure investment opportunity. Due to launch in 2017, it is set to provide "bold and deliverable solutions for leisure, retail, recreation and town centre living." Projects include 2,000 residential units, the redevelopment of Forge Island, an improved High Street, a revitalised Bus Interchange, Higher Education Campus and Markets to increase attraction for visitors and investors.

Other transport investments in the IIP include improving the A633 between Rotherham town centre and Manvers via Parkgate, the A6178 between Rotherham town centre and Sheffield through Templeborough and the Lower Don Valley, and an additional tram-train stop at Magna/Templeborough to improve access to employment opportunities and support economic growth.

Last year, Rotherham Council identified that over £5m of work is required on the Crinoline Bridge, a key section of the A630 Centenary Way that plays a critical role in managing traffic movements through and around the town centre, forming part of both the inner and outer ring road.

The AMID could also help improve transport connections between Rotherham and Sheffield. Based around the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham and surrounding Enterprise Zone, the aim is to develop Europe's largest research-led advanced manufacturing cluster. Infrastructure investment opportunities include a light rail solution to alleviate congestion on the Parkway, further improvements to the surrounding roads, such as the long-awaited Waverley Link Road and improvements at the junctions to the M1.

Infrastructure investment opportunities identified for Sheffield city centre include remodelling Midland station, transport connectivity improvements to connect the Central Business District to the future HS2 station, new tram routes to the West of the city, highway improvements, support for the Sheffield Retail Quarter, improving broadband coverage and further flood alleviation measures.

Sheffield City Region LEP website

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News: Rotherham retail park up for sale - reports

The Foundry Retail Park in Rotherham has been put up for sale by its fund manager owners according to a report in a national property magazine.

Formerly known as the Great Eastern Retail Park at Parkgate, the 170,748 sq ft retail development with 813 car parking spaces, is home to The Range, Harveys, DFS, Wren Kitchens and B&M.

The site was bought in 2012 by a specialist joint venture partnership of Brockton Capital and Pradera in a deal worth around £22.1m. The partnership was established to selectively acquire a portfolio of retail parks throughout the UK and jointly committed sufficient equity to enable a gross portfolio value of approximately £250m to be acquired.

The joint venture with Pradera's retail warehouse team aimed to reposition out-of-town parks for the next generation of convenience-led consumer and within 36 months of being established in 2011, it had acquired around £300m of parks in towns from Cardiff to Warrington to Bangor to Milton Keynes and elsewhere.

Now Property Week is reporting that Brockton Capital has appointed JLL to market the portfolio which includes nine regionally located assets.

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The UBS Triton Property Fund, who bought the retail park in 2006, refurbished the properties in 2010. At the time of the sale to Brockton, The Foundry had an annual rental income of £1.7m and the purchase reflected a net initial yield of around 9.25%.

Further refurbishment work has taken place and recent openings include Oak Furniture Land, JYSK and United Carpets. Plans have been approved for American coffee company and coffeehouse chain, Starbucks to open a purpose built outlet in the park. United Carpets are also set to expand, enabling co-operative company, AHF Furniture to move in.

3.2 acres on the site has potential for further retail and leisure development and there's the prospect of a new mainline station being built next door.

In 2015, BMO Real Estate Partners (BMO) acquired the nearby Parkgate Shopping, which is one of the largest retail parks in the UK and home to over 40 shops, in a transaction worth around £175m.

Brockton Capital website

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News: Rotherham hotel planning expansion

Plans have been submitted to enable another Rotherham hotel to expand. They come just two years after the previous operating company went into liquidation.

Restover Lodge Hotel is a 52 bedroom budget hotel with a restaurant, bar and meeting facilities located close to the M18 and the industrial area at Hellaby.

Plans drawn up by architects, Cadvis3d, are for an extension to the existing hotel to provide 29 additional guest rooms, a gym, spa and event space.

The proposed four storey extension would increase floorspace by nearly 15,000 sq ft and include under-croft parking, a spa and gym with a reception and admin area on the ground floor, a mixture of family, deluxe and executive rooms on the first and second floor and space for storage on the third floor, with the possibility of it being used as event space in the future.

Plans state that the accommodation will be of a higher standard to existing and that the proposed gym and spa will provide new facilities for the guests during the evening and facilities for the businesses / residents in the surrounding area, during the daytime.

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"The proposals will utilise an un-used patch of brownfield land and allow the hotel to expand and grow. The proposals form an overall refurbishment scheme for the entire site and will enable the owners to modernise the whole site, upgrading the existing rooms to match the new. Providing new facilities and attract more business.

"The site is currently a budget hotel, but wishes to provide a higher level of accommodation, in-line with competing hotel chains. It also wants to appeal to executives and families seeking affordable, clean, modern accommodation.

"The site is well located next to the motorway and the extension would not cause any negative impact on the amenity of neighbouring units or area. The proposals will provide more jobs both during its construction and after with maintenance and general duties running the hotel and gym."

Restover Lodge Hotels Limited entered liquidation in 2014 after encountering trading difficulties having taken on new hotels in Doncaster and Peterborough. At the start of that year, administrators at Moorfields secured a deal through property consultants, Colliers, to sell the Rotherham and Doncaster hotels to new owners in a £533,000 deal.

In nearby Bramley, a planning application for an extension to the existing Premier Inn hotel was recently approved despite a number of objections. It is set to provide 21 extra rooms at one of the group's best performing facilities in the region, as measured by occupancy and turn-away data.

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