UK supercar manufacturer, McLaren has made a fast start in recruiting skilled staff at its new manufacturing facility in Rotherham and has already filled a number of positions.
Earlier this month, McLaren announced plans to build a £50m, 75,000 sq ft, carbon-fibre composites factory, set for the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.
The Composites Technology Centre will be responsible for the research and development of future Monocell and Monocage carbon fibre chassis for McLaren Automotive, as well as the manufacturing of the chassis itself.
It is set to create more than 200 jobs and will comprise approximately 150 production staff and 50 manufacturing support staff.
Hi-tech positions such as composites technician, composite project engineer, and principal engineers in finishing and preforming have already been filled.
For more than 30 years, McLaren has pioneered the use of carbon fibre in vehicle production. Following on from its use in Formula 1, the now-iconic McLaren F1 from 1993 was the first road car ever to be built with a carbon fibre chassis. Since 1981, McLaren has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis.
McLaren Automotive and the University of Sheffield is set to deliver a two-year research and development programme, which will lead to the development of a production facility to build its lightweight carbon fibre chassis for its new models from 2020.
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The University of Sheffield's AMRC Training Centre, on the AMP in Rotherham, will also immediately start training McLaren apprentices who will work in the new facility.
The AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre where the focus is 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 and Tata Steel to local high-tech supply-chain companies.
Ian Hutchinson is McLaren Automotive's first apprentice at the AMRC Training Centre. Speaking at the recent launch event, Ian (pictured) said: "Today has been pretty special, it's the start of something new and so exciting, not just for me but for everyone involved at the University, the AMRC and the local area.
"When I heard I was going to be an apprentice for McLaren it was quite a surprise and not something I expected, but it was something that I immediately thought, wow, this is something special! Something to be proud of really.
"Learning more about it and finding out just what was going to be happening here, it became something to grab on to, follow and run with.
"My friends think I'm quite lucky, some are jealous and some don't quite believe it!"
Switching to the apprenticeship route, Hutchinson studied A-Levels at school but decided he didn't want to spend everyday sat at a desk listening to somebody at the front of a classroom or lecture theatre, instead he saw his strengths in keeping busy, keeping working.
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The new facility is due to start construction in early 2017 with the first pre-production carbon fibre chassis expected to be delivered to the McLaren Technology Centre in the second half of 2017 using trial manufacturing processes in the AMRC before going into full production by 2020.
A vacant commercial unit on the edge of Rotherham town centre could be set for a new lease of life with plans submitted for the conversion into a Muslim community centre.
Crown Manufactory (Rotherham) Ltd, a family owned business which developed from a printing company and specialised in picture and photo framing went into liquidation in 2015.
The property on Chapel Walk - a 5,000 sq ft purpose built workshop and office together with areas of external parking and storage - was put up for sale and has been acquired by the Rotherham Mosque charity.
The charity is linked to the nearby Chapel Walk Mosque and a planning application has now been submitted for a change of use of the unit for Muslim community activities. The proposal would provide a big hall for multi-purpose activity for the Muslim community, toilets, study room, and a kitchen.
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Multimillion pound plans to replace the Chapel Walk Mosque are moving forward. The existing Mosque building is a two storey structure of a simple and relatively traditional design clad in white render.
Plans were approved in 2013 for a the erection of a new, much larger community, cultural and faith facility with Mosque. The new building is designed using traditional Islamic architecture with an iconic entrance, large Minaret tower and dome. It is set to provide meeting rooms, community services, lifestyle advice, IT suite and study area / library and Mosque.
Applications relating to the conditions from the approved plans have recently been submitted. They cover the method of demolition, tree surveys, landscape plans and transport and travel plans.
Rotherham-based retailer, Fishing Republic has announced the appointment of Iain McDonald as a non-executive director with effect from March 1 2017.
One of the largest fishing tackle retailers in the UK, the Eastwood company floated on the AIM stock exchange in 2015, raising millions to help carry out its expansion plans.
Iain has over 20 years' experience in investment, in particular in the retail and e-commerce sectors. Over the last ten years, he has been investing directly into the online and technology sectors and a number of Iain's long-term investments have been into the most successful e-commerce businesses in Europe. These include The Hut Group Limited, ASOS plc, Boohoo.com plc, MetaPack Limited and Anatwine Limited.
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Iain previously worked in investment banking at Numis Securities and ING Barings-Charterhouse, where he specialised in retail and e-commerce companies.
Iain holds 0.8% of the company's shares having invested alongside Bill Currie and Sir Terry Leahy in the placing announced in 2016. Leahy is the current chairman of fast-growing discount retailer, B&M and is the former chief executive of Tesco.
Revenues at the firm have increased by approximately 40% year-on-year, driven by the addition of new stores, organic growth across existing stores, and strong growth in own website sales.
The company's online sales strategy involves transitioning away from third party platforms to its own website sales, where margins are higher. In a trading update Fishing Republic said that own website sales increased by 132% year-on-year and accounted for around 40% of total online sales for the year. A new website is set to launch in March.
Floating on AIM, the directors believe that Fishing Republic is the only participant in the market looking to act as a consolidator. Expansion plans involve snapping up smaller, often family-owned fishing retail businesses.
Rotherham Council is finalising another strategic acquisition to support the regeneration of Rotherham town centre by taking on the former Magistrates' Court building.
Home of the Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court, the building was vacated in September 2016 and the Council has been trying to acquire the site to support the potential redevelopment of the key Forge Island site.
A request that the property be transferred back to Council ownership in the spirit of One Public Estate (a Government commitment to release the value of public sector assets) and on the basis of its original transfer, was initially rejected last year.
However, in February, Government agencies notified the Council that it had reconsidered the position and that it would be willing to transfer the ownership of the building to the Council, at a £1 consideration, so long as the transfer completes by the March 31 2017.
The Government took the decision to close the courts after consulting on modernisation plans which aim to reduce the £500m annual cost of the courts estate as the justice system moves towards one "that must be accessible through online services as well as traditional court buildings."
86 of the original 91 courts identified were earmarked for closure. The Rotherham building by the canal and Police Station on Main Street, provided 62,785 sq ft of floorspace over four floors but was dubbed "poor quality" and work was transferred to Sheffield.
The Forge Island deal is done and bosses hope that work on a new £43m leisure hub, anchored by a new seven screen cinema and 80 bed hotel, will begin next year.
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A report to councillors and commissioners points to the court buildings, only opened in 1994, being demolished and the 1.34 acres (0.54 hectares) site used for "several alternative, complementary activities" to the Forge Island redevelopment.
A cleared site could be worth an estimated £500,000.
The report states: "It is helpful and timely that the opportunity to acquire this important site has come forward, as the Council's masterplan consultants are confirming their approach to the development of key sites. The consultants advise that including the Magistrates Court site within the Forge Island development will provide added benefit to the masterplan.
"At this stage the site could play a number of different roles through redevelopment and accommodate several alternative, complementary activities. Whilst not wishing to rule anything out at this stage, feedback from the masterplan consultants, who are working closely with officers, is that the site should be redeveloped for new buildings and uses and that a conversion of the existing building is not likely to be viable or desirable.
"The impact of a comprehensive redevelopment of this area will create a catalyst for further investment to introduce new jobs, businesses and housing into Rotherham town centre."
Commissioner Kenny is set to decide on the way forward next month.
A number of options are being considered, as are the financial implications and potential costs and values. One issue is that, due to the tight timescales, the Council will be unable to carry out the usual level of due diligence over legal issues and covenants before the deal is concluded.
Rotherham's supplementary planning documents states that: "Should the Law Courts and Police Station opt to relocate away from their present sites then it would be expected that there would be a strong residential component as part of any mixed-use scheme that would be developed here. Proposals should bear in mind the requirements of Sites and Policies Local Plan policy SP64 to safeguard community facilities, and also embrace the site's riverside location, opening up this movement route for pedestrians and cyclists."
The document adds that proposals for the Law Courts and Police Station site must first demonstrate that there is no demand for the sites as a community facility.
Through the One Public Estate strategy for the Sheffield city region, The Rotherham courts site has been highlighted for potential residential development as it could provide 120 units including 60 starter homes.
A planning application has been submitted for the new £12m higher education campus in Rotherham town centre.
Rotherham College, part of RNN Group, is moving fast having secured funding and will open the centre to students in Autumn 2018, offering a new programme of degrees and degree apprenticeships.
The project involves the construction of a 35,500 sq ft campus in Rotherham town centre which is set to be built on the site where the former Victorian hospital at Doncaster Gate was controversially demolished by Rotherham Council.
The plans, drawn up by Bond Bryan Architects, are for a simple L shaped, three storey building that "encourages and supports innovative forms of collaborative working and learning" with adaptable and flexible space from large open plan areas to more cellular classrooms, supported by specialist teaching zones.
The centre will have an average occupancy of approximately 560 people on a typical term day but will be built with expansion in mind and teaching space for approximately 1,000 students.
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The plans state that: "The Centre for Higher Level Skills offers an opportunity to enhance the existing learning facilities at Rotherham College and provide a bespoke environment for higher degree level education that has the potential to develop the college, town and region of tomorrow.
"Externally the design seeks to create a distinctive and exciting building typology delivered within an economic solution. Our intention is to take reference from the surrounding buildings in form and colour, but create a modern contemporary building that provides a high quality statement for the College."
The Sheffield City Region (SCR) Combined Authority has agreed to fund infrastructure works which will allow construction to start in June. A grant of £3.5m has been approved with the balance coming from RNN Group.
A short walk from the College's town centre campus, the whole of the 4.62 acre Doncaster Gate site is not required for the campus and the institution is purchasing the land from Rotherham Council in a half-price deal. The Rotherham Health Village, including two doctors' surgeries, will remain and further plots will be available for development by the Council. A potential extension of the HE campus is also already under consideration.
One of the issues is the site's lack of parking spaces, with only eight spaces proposed in the plans. With 24 new members of staff, the new HE centre will need to link into RCAT's existing town centre campus with its current parking provision of 78 spaces and the two local public surface car parks located nearby on Percy Street and Wharncliffe Street.
The big news that US aerospace giant, Boeing, will invest £20m in a new manufacturing facility in the Sheffield city region (SCR) has been soundly welcomed.
The new 25,000 sq ft centre will enable Boeing to bring the manufacture of key high-tech actuation components and systems used in Boeing's Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft in-house, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs.
Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: "On top of the announcement two weeks ago that McLaren will be building a factory in Rotherham this is yet more great news for the region – the decision by Boeing to site their factory in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District will bring yet more highly skilled manufacturing jobs to our area.
"We'll continue to work closely with our partners in Sheffield to bring more job opportunities and strengthen our economy for the future."
Supercar manufacturer McLaren Automotive announced plans to build a £50m, 75,000 sq ft, carbon-fibre composites factory on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.
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The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority will support Boeing through the provision of grant funding, subject to agreeing the formal terms and conditions of that funding.
Sir Nigel Knowles, Chair of the SCR's Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "This is fantastic news for the region and a major vote of confidence in our ability to combine R&D expertise with actually making things.
"This investment will play to the strengths of our supply chain and skilled workforce and I am delighted that such a highly respected world leader as Boeing recognised this."
The Seattle firm will also initiate a major research and development programme with University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to develop new manufacturing techniques that can be applied in the Boeing Sheffield facility.
Professor Keith Ridgway, Executive Dean of the AMRC, said: "These announcements reinforce that our region is a leading location for high-value advanced manufacturing.
"They give testimony to the world class research skills and capabilities on offer at the University of Sheffield and the AMRC, supporting the major investments coming into the region. Investments that will provide opportunities for the UK supply chain. We look forward to supporting Boeing and continuing to ensure that UK manufacturers remain competitive, through access to our expertise here at the AMRC."
Professor Sir Keith Burnett, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, added: "This is hugely important, not only for our region and the North of England, but also the UK's global industrial ambitions in high-productivity, high-value manufacturing. Areas such as Sheffield can play a crucial role in a new Industrial Revolution for the UK – one centred on science and innovation, but working hand-in-hand with industry. I am deeply proud that leading global companies recognise that Made in Sheffield still remains a hallmark of quality."
Building on its strong links with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), US aerospace giant, Boeing, has announced that it will invest £20m in a new manufacturing facility in the Sheffield city region (SCR).
With its aerospace business based in Seattle, Boeing was a co-founder of the AMRC, which, from its base on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, has grown to become an internationally renowned, world-class centre for advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value sectors.
The facility, to be named Boeing Sheffield, will enable Boeing to bring the manufacture of key high-tech actuation components and systems used in Boeing's Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft in-house, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs.
Trailing edge actuation systems are responsible for extending and retracting the wing's flaps during different phases of flight. The flaps add lift to enable take-off and landing at lower speeds and provide drag to help slow the aircraft.
The new facility, the result of a Boeing investment of more than £20m, will be Boeing's first manufacturing facility in Europe, supporting global growth and competitiveness for the world's largest aerospace company and enabling access to UK talent and capability.
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A specific site has not been revealed for the 25,000 sq ft centre as planning permission is yet to be secured, other than that it will be alongside The AMRC in the Sheffield-Rotherham Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID). Likely locations include the expanding AMP or the next phase of development at the Sheffield Business Park (SBP) over the Parkway.
In 2014 the institution signed a deal to secure 50 acres of land at Sheffield Business Park (SBP), paving the way for the expansion of the AMRC and building on its success on the AMP, where it already operates from 300,000 sq ft of accommodation within seven separate buildings.
The impressive Factory 2050 was the first AMRC building to open and the new campus is expected to attract more leading manufacturing companies to locate the the AMID - McLaren being the latest high profile name to be announced, following Rolls-Royce on to the AMP in Rotherham. Rolls-Royce supplies Trent engines for Boeing.
Boeing Sheffield will employ approximately 30 people when it opens as part of BCA's Fabrication operations and will work closely with Boeing Portland.
Sir Michael Arthur, president of Boeing Europe and managing director of Boeing U.K. and Ireland, said: "The UK provides Boeing with the talent and infrastructure we need to grow and maintain a high level of productivity and quality to meet our significant order book.
"We are proud to expand our relationship with the UK still further with Boeing Sheffield. Our decision to start manufacturing high-value components in the UK is a step-change in our engagement and a further example of Boeing’s commitment to grow here, supporting the UK's long-term prosperity."
AMRC researchers were instrumental in developing new manufacturing techniques for the landing gear for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. In 2010, The institution became the first UK-based recipient of Boeing Supplier of the Year since the company-wide awards began in 2001.
Professor Keith Ridgway, executive Dean of the AMRC said: "It has always been our ambition that one day Boeing would open a manufacturing facility in Sheffield. This announcement is the culmination of a successful relationship that has developed since the AMRC with Boeing was founded 16 years ago."
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At the turn of the century, Professor Ridgway and local businessman Adrian Allen began to work with the aerospace giant to apply Sheffield's traditional expertise to new materials, focusing on machining research. The result was the establishment of the AMRC as a centre for collaborative research.
Adrian Allen, executive director of the AMRC, said: "Keith and I set out to create a radical, unique collaborative research environment; one that would quickly grow and become a catalyst for attracting a pool of skilled talent, technology and inward investment. This would be the critical success factor in achieving the vision we had, to become the world's foremost innovation district."
Boeing expects to recruit UK employees for the site as early as 2018. A major Research & Development programme with the AMRC is also planned to develop new manufacturing techniques that can be applied in the new Boeing Sheffield facility. The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority will support this through the provision of grant funding, subject to agreeing the formal terms and conditions of that funding.
Sorting Office, a new creative collective of artist studios, is close to being unwrapped in Rotherham town centre.
The "accessible and inspirational" space is part of the extensive renovation that has created the 1915 Bar and Bistro on Domine Lane next to the site of Rotherham's General Post Office. With the bar opening at the end of 2016, renovation has continued on the underground rooms of the old offices.
On average, the basement is 24 feet below street level, and four rooms, each fronted by glass, with access via an underground corridor to the front of the building, have been turned into studios and offered to enterprising creatives, and the unique space has already been snapped up.
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Rotherham Carnival, which brought the streets of the town centre to life last year with a riot of colour, has found a new HQ in the building, whilst Katy Minns Illustration is opening a studio alongside video producers, Moose Lorels. Enter Creative, a creative project and marketing agency is also moving in, as is the specialist in photography and digital art, ILIVEINASQUARE.
One of Rotherham town centre's best-loved creative businesses, The Button Tin is also set to take space at The Sorting Office, moving from the nearby Imperial Buildings.
One of Rotherham's hidden gems, The Button Tin is run by Gemma Nemer, an artist who makes vintage textile art composed with scraps of memories, hand sewn together with love and care. Gemma has also run popular vintage craft workshops.
Gemma said that the move was a "tremendously difficult and very emotional decision" but has been brought on by continuous lease and building issues. She added: "I have found a new home in a very exciting development still based in Rotherham but now I really am a secret hidden gem as it's underground!"
With the prospect of utilising the 1915 Bar and Bistro for events, Gemma added: "Thank you to all who have been on this journey with me so far and for making it truly magical. I have absolutely adored meeting every single one of you and sharing creative unforgettable moments together in the button tin! I really hope you will stay along for the next chapter and lets make more happy memories."
A launch event at the Sorting Office is scheduled for March 18.
Rotherham road surface specialist, Steelphalt, is set to begin a major new project to extend parking spaces at the town's hospice.
SteelPhalt is providing asphalt and expertise for the project which is expected to double the amount of spaces for cars at Rotherham Hospice.
And the Templeborough company has also brought in some of its own clients to help bring the project to a successful conclusion.
Dean Raynor, commercial manager at SteelPhalt, said: "The hospice currently has extremely limited parking facilities and this can cause problems at busy times.
"The creation of this new car park, which should double the amount of spaces, should help alleviate some of those those issues.
"We are particularly pleased that we have been supported in this project by Doncaster company Derek Lewis Ltd, who are preparing the site and doing all the ground work such as kerbs and drains, while Specialist Surfacing of Scunthorpre are providing the labour and machinery for the laying of the SteelPhalt asphalt.
"Everybody involved is giving their time and services for free because we know how important the work of the hospice is for the people of Rotherham."
SteelPhalt - part of the Harsco group of companies - has been developing and manufacturing high performance asphalt products for the UK road making industry since the 1960s.
The firm's SteelStop road covering was named Global Slag Product of the Year at the 2016 Global Slag Conference and Exhibition in London.
Christopher Duff, chief executive at Rotherham Hospice has expressed his gratitude to SteelPhalt and the other companies supporting the project.
He said: "Their kindness is saving the hospice a considerable sum and the project will make a huge improvement to our car park. It is doubling the amount of spaces, which will benefit patients and families."
He also assured the work was being carefully planned to ensure only minimal disruption for hospice visitors.
The project is set to begin in early April and is expected to be finished within 12 weeks.
The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and must raise significant sums of money each year in order to pay for the quality care provided free of charge to patients, their families and carers. The charity needs £5m a year with half of that needed to be raised each year through voluntary support.
Rotherham and its economy is moving in the right direction with more business starts and jobs created over the last year.
And there are positive signs for the future as significant progress has been made on key initiatives such as the development at Pit House West, the continued regeneration of the town centre and around the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).
The positive picture is provided by an update on the borough's growth plan, the live document with ambitious targets to help deliver 10,000 new private sector jobs in Rotherham over the next ten years.
Signed off in 2015 and developed by the Council's economic development team, the plan is a partnership between the public, voluntary and private sectors and focuses on the main themes of growing businesses, skills, employment and inclusion, employment land, housing, the town centre and transport.
The vision is based on "creating an economy in which business will prosper and local residents will have the enterprise and employment opportunities which reflect their ambitions and skills."
Other main aims of the Rotherham Growth Plan are to help create 750 additional new businesses over the next five years and to increase gross value added (GVA), a measure in economics of the value of goods and services produced in an area, for the Rotherham economy.
Indicators and statistics on the economy can be volatile but an update from the council's regeneration arm, RiDO highlighted that the number of Rotherham-based jobs has increased by 2,000, going from 98,000 in 2014 to 100,000 in 2015 - a return to pre-recession levels.
The number of businesses has also seen a large rise, from 6,390 to 6,810 over the year. A 420 rise is likely to be linked to more people working on a contract or a self-employed basis.
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On skills, where the borough lags behind on national and regional levels, more residents are attaining higher level skills and the number of people starting an apprenticeship in a year has gone from 1,889 to 2,500. In addition, the employment rate is up and the unemployment rate is down. The proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were in work has risen from 67.4% in 2015 to 70.7% in 2016.
The aim now is to ensure that these indicators continue on an upward trend. Areas for intervention include addressing vacancy rates in the town centre where 23 units (15.5%) were recorded as empty in 2016, an increase from 13.7% the previous year.
Tim O'Connell, business investment manager at RiDO, said: "It is a positive story to tell but there are still areas that we want to improve on. We are still not at the level we want to be. Our aim is to close down the gap on the national average but it would be far better if we were looking to move beyond the national average and be one of the better performing locations in the UK.
"Generally the stats are showing some good progress after a year, what we need to see is sustained improvement over a number of years. But as a progress report on the first year, I would say that it is moving forward in the right way."
The update includes the progress made on key projects. These include:
- £12m Higher Education Campus, including £3.5m for the RNN Group from the Sheffield city region skills capital fund for the Higher Education Campus at Doncaster Gate - £50m luxury supercar manufacturer McLaren chassis factory at the AMP - creating 200 jobs - £50m retail and leisure development at Waverley in the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation District to include a hotel, shops, restaurants and a new town square, with links to the Advanced Manufacturing Park and a transport hub to central Rotherham - Multi-million leisure development on Forge Island - £6.8m for affordable housing developments and a portion of the Government's £1.2 billion Starter Homes initiative, to help first time buyers into home ownership. - £1.1m for road improvements near Wales to enable growth in the area around the successful Vector 31 industrial park, including £759,000 from Sheffield City Region Combined Authority - £12m refurbishment scheme at Rotherham Interchange car park, together with improvements to the bus station
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Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: "These projects are part of a detailed, aspirational plan and we need to make sure we deliver on them. We have been determined to gain the full benefits of working within the Sheffield City Region and we are now starting to see funding coming into Rotherham.
"We are in a very strong position and it's now an excellent time to look towards the next stage of growth, and to achieving our ambition to create thousands of jobs across the borough."
With contracts close to exchanging for the purchase, the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) is searching for the person to lead on the restoration one of the finest houses in Britain.
With the backing of a £7.6m Government grant, the sale of the property is set to go through to the WWPT who have raised funds and developed a long term strategy for the future of the site.
The charitable company limited by guarantee is now recruiting for a chief executive for what it describes as a "once in generation chance to secure Wentworth Woodhouse and ensure it occupies its rightful place as a public asset and one of the UK's most interesting and important Grade 1 listed country houses."
Under the ownership of the WWPT, the restoration and development will provide jobs, stimulate local employment and open the property to the public on a regular basis. The North wing is set to host a huge range of weddings and events and the stables will become home to dynamic small businesses. Within the 18th century house and outbuildings more than a dozen apartments and cottages will be restored as lets for holiday makers.
The aim is preserve the house and grounds on a long term sustainable basis and raise funds for repairs and other essential works.
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The new CEO will be responsible for developing and delivering the Trust's objectives and targets. This will include developing and delivering the vision for the Trust, leading the successful delivery of the capital works programme and overseeing the effective operation of the property.
Further recruitment is set to follow with a team of 14 existing members of staff, three new recruits and a group of ten volunteers set to shape the future offering at Wentworth Woodhouse.
Julie A Kenny CBE DL, chair of the WWPT, said: "We are now at an exciting and challenging point in the Trust's development in which we have secured funds to assemble a small, dedicated executive team capable of delivering the Trust's vision for the house and park.
"Our Trustees believe that this is a truly unique, once in generation chance for an individual to combine their leadership and management skills, project management and influencing expertise and drive and energy to secure Wentworth Woodhouse and ensure it occupies its rightful place as a public asset and one of the UK's most interesting and important Grade 1 listed country houses.
"With this in mind, we are looking for applicants that not only have the right blend of relevant skills and experience to fulfil the role of Chief Executive but those who are also genuinely enthused by this unique opportunity."
A briefing event for the Sheffield city region (SCR) on accessing the new £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) is taking place next month.
Based in Sheffield, the NPIF will work with ten Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), combined authorities and Growth Hubs, as well as local accountants, fund managers and banks, to provide a mixture of debt and equity capital to northern-based SMEs at all stages of their development. NPIF will provide funding to fund managers who will offer Microfinance (£25,000 – £100,000), Business Loans (£100,000 – £750,000) and Equity Finance (up to £2m).
A briefing event to tell local partners about the new fund and how to access it is being held in Sheffield on March 2 in collaboration with the SCR LEP.
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.
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In November, The British Business Bank, which is overseeing the fund and investing £50m of its money, published a report to mark its second birthday which details how the NPIF will offer solutions for smaller businesses looking to grow, as well as identifying the strengths and challenges within the region.
An Independent Economic Review of the Northern Powerhouse, as well as highlighting areas of focus that could drive future growth, identified a number of existing strengths including capabilities in Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Health Innovation and the Digital Economy.
Officially launching the fund, Keith Morgan, CEO at British Business Bank, said: "The North of England has a long and proud history of driving global innovation and economic progress. The region has more high-growth businesses than London and, at close to one fifth of UK GDP, is larger than the economies of Greece, Denmark, Austria and Belgium.
"The region has enormous untapped economic potential that can be realised by improved funding options and opportunities. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund represents a co-ordinated policy approach to help realise this potential across the North."
Working with LEPs, the NPIF has attracted investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.
The specialised fund managers been appointed to manage the fund are:
- Microfinance: Business Finance Solutions & MSIF, Finance for Enterprise & Business Enterprise Finance - Business Loans: FW Capital and Enterprise Ventures - Equity Finance: Maven Capital Partners and Enterprise Ventures
Leighton Vans Ltd, specialists in Volkswagen T5 & T6 van conversions, has bought a new 11,800 sq ft company headquarters and showroom in Rotherham as part of ambitious expansion plans.
The automotive business, which has become a hit with the outdoor and lifestyle community nationwide, is the brainchild of Mike Leighton who spotted a gap in the market for sales and bespoke customisation of VW transporter vans four years ago. It is a spin off from Leighton's former used car business, set up ten years ago.
A million-pound funding package from NatWest and Lombard Finance helped finance the deal which will see the company move from Sheffield to the former Bradken manufacturing unit at Templeborough.
The Dodds Close unit was vacated by Bradken after the Australian heavy engineering company was hit by the downturn in the global mining industry.
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Mike Leighton, managing director of Leighton Vans (pictured), said: "Not only do we sell, rent and lease VW transporters but we create unique, high specification vans which can be colour coded, body styled, upgraded and modified to what our client requires. We really wanted to find premises that suited our business needs, and allowed for growth.
"I've always had a vision to move to a site which would be a drive-to destination for our customers. I wanted a space to display about 50 vehicles, offer merchandise and have an informal customer area.
"This concept will work really well at Dodds Close. Parking and storage was always an issue for us but now we will be able to enhance both our customer experience and the production side, doubling our workforce of eight and operating four ramps in the garage instead of two. The location is really well positioned for the M1, Meadowhall and train stations."
The site is currently being refurbished following the granting of planning permission. It is planned to open in late March.
Sheffield solicitors Wake Smith advised on the deal. Paul Gibbon, director at Wake Smith's commercial property division, said: "We were really pleased to be able to arrange the purchase requirements for Leighton Vans expansion.
"The business model established by Mike works extremely well and he has developed a strong customer base across the country, tapping into the popularity of outdoor sports and people wanting to enjoy the countryside."
The company now has a one million pound turnover, has customers nationwide and also supports world renowned professional mountain bikers including Sheffield's Steve Peat, Scotland's trial cyclist Danny Macaskill and World Cup circuit rider Brendan Fairclough.
Aaron Carter, relationship manager at NatWest, said: "Leighton Vans is a dynamic and ambitious business. It has been really rewarding to work with the management team to progress their growth plans, which are helping to create new jobs locally."
Rebecca Schofield, partner at Knight Frank, which marketed Dodds Close, added: "This industrial warehouse unit is in an established location and ideal for Leighton Vans' expansion needs. It will allow them to have a much improved base with office, showroom, customer area and workshop – all under one roof.
"This unit was one of a few freeholds available and we had good levels of interest because of the quality.
Network Rail is asking the Sheffield city region (SCR) to put up £5m for a rail improvement project 70 miles away in Market Harborough.
The Midland Mainline (MML) is a key route between London and the Sheffield city region via the East Midlands but reports point to the planned electrification of the line to Sheffield by 2023 being abandoned by the Government.
Network Rail, the owners and operators of Britain's rail infrastructure, had planned to electrify the Midland Mainline north of Bedford, working north. It was set to reach Corby at the end of 2017; Nottingham and Derby at the end of 2019 and Sheffield at the end of 2020.
The project was controversially "paused" by the Government who had concerns over the performance of Network Rail. A new Network Rail chief, Sir Peter Hendy was brought in and proposed that line speed and capacity improvement works already in hand are added to, with electrification of the line north of Bedford to Kettering and Corby by 2019 and the line North of Kettering to Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Sheffield by 2023.
The Government is yet to commit to Hendy's proposals.
Now leaders in the SCR are being asked to provide a £5m contribution towards a line speed improvement scheme at Market Harborough in a joint £13m funding package with Local Enterprise Partnership counterparts in Leicester and Leicestershire and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
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A report to the SCR Combined Authority states that there has been some concern recently that phase 2 of the electrification project to Sheffield may be further delayed. It adds that in confirming the £5m, "a letter is sent from the CA to the Secretary of State for Transport asking him to reaffirm the Government's commitment to phase 2 of the MML electrification to Sheffield by 2023 and seeking a meeting with the Rail Minister to discuss this issue."
In parallel with the electrification project, a number of other upgrade schemes are planned to the MML to increase line speeds and capacity at key "pinch points." These include a line speed improvement scheme to straighten a curve near Market Harborough station in Leicestershire to allow faster speeds for inter-city and freight trains that do not stop there.
It is estimated that this £54.5m scheme will cut around 30 seconds off the journey time in each direction between London and Sheffield. The report adds: "Whilst this is a relatively small saving in itself, it is one of a number of MML upgrade schemes that will contribute towards reducing the fastest journey time between London and Sheffield by 4 minutes to 1 hour 57 minutes from the current 2 hours 1 minute."
Network Rail said that: "The works will improve the journey time for non-stop passenger and freight train services on the Midland Main Line at Market Harborough. As such, the economic benefits of the scheme are shared along the line between Sheffield and London.
"Long-distance services linking the capital to Sheffield (as well as Derby and Nottingham) are the main passenger beneficiaries. The single biggest flow of time-critical business travel from Sheffield is to and from London, therefore reducing journey time on the Midland Main Line is strongly beneficial to the economy of Sheffield City Region."
A recent report by IPPR North showed that the average transport infrastructure spend per head in London is nearly £2,000, but in the north it is just £427, with Yorkshire and Humber getting the worst deal in England, with only £190 per person. The Crossrail scheme alone will cost £4.7bn, while the entire northern transport budget is worth £6.6bn.
A Rotherham-based HR specialist is going the extra mile for Rotherham Hospice by hosting a special charity walk to celebrate ten years of trading in the town.
The event is the first in a series of planned activities being organised by staff at the The HR Experts to celebrate its tenth anniversary which will raise money for local charities close to the hearts of members of staff employed by the firm.
Saturday's event saw 16 members of staff, clients and friends take part in a 10km charity walk to work, setting off from Rotherham Hospice before finishing at the company's Swallownest headquarters with a celebratory slice of well-earned birthday cake.
Led by company founder Sharon Swift, the route saw participants walk through Broom and Whiston before taking on a gruelling climb up Guilthwaite Hill, marching through Aughton and arriving at the company's headquarters based on Rotherham Road.
Sharon Swift, managing director at The HR Experts (UK) Ltd, said: "To mark our tenth anniversary, we wanted to do something special to support the local communities we serve, whilst challenging ourselves both physically and mentally. It seemed quite fitting to organise a charity walk to mark the ten years since we started taking our first steps in business.
"Walk to Work is the first of what we hope will be a series of events designed to support the local good causes. All members of staff are being given the chance to make their mark on the celebrations and I'd like to thank everyone who will be giving up their time so generously to help us mark our anniversary, all in the name of a good cause."
The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and must raise significant sums of money each year in order to pay for the quality care provided free of charge to patients, their families and carers. The charity needs £5m a year with half of that needed to be raised each year through voluntary support.
Tesco has submitted a planning application that will provide the permission needed to make changes to the parking restrictions at its Rotherham town centre store - if approved by the local council.
Earlier this month, Rothbiz reported first that the largest retailer in the UK intends to introduce restrictions at its £40m Rotherham Extra store at Drummond Street.
The latest application seeks a variation over a planning condition inserted by Rotherham Council when the planning application for the 110,000 sq ft superstore was approved in 2012.
The national retailer needs the approval if it is to introduce a system that would allow shoppers to continue to park for up to three hours, as is the case now, but only if they spend over £5 in store and validate their parking.
Shoppers wanting to use the 600 space car park but not the Tesco store will only be given 30 minutes to head into town before leaving the site.
Those wanting to use the car park will still be able to visit the rest of the town centre in their three hours, so long as they spend £5 at Tesco and validate their parking.
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The initial condition read: "Prior to the development being brought into use, a Car Parking Management Strategy shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and the approved plan shall be implemented throughout the life of the store. The plan shall include details of the availability of 2 hours free parking for customers and non customers of the store. Reason: To limit the availability of free parking and to encourage the use of sustainable transport."
Planning consultants, Montagu Evans is acting on behalf of Tesco. Its plans state: "Tesco have operated the store under the provisions of this management to date, but are now finding that their car park is coming under considerable pressure and is being used by non-Tesco customers, detracting from the attractiveness of the store as a main food shopping location, and in turn impacting on its trading performance."
The new "ParkShopReg" system involves parking being validated on the day of visiting the store. This can be done at store using the machines provided or by using an app. A free parking voucher will be printed for customers in store which includes a barcode and voucher code. Drivers will have up until midnight on the day to validate using the app.
Automatic number plate recognition cameras and signs are set to be installed. "Overstayers" or those that don't validate their parking face a fine of £70.
The application adds: "The revised controls will ensure that there are a greater turnover of parking to create more freely available spaces for shoppers to visit both the store and shops located in the town centre. For example, a customer may undertake a half hour shop at the Tesco store where they spend more than £5, and remain in the car park for a further two and a half hours.
"We therefore consider that the revised parking controls are sufficient to allow linked trips with other town centre uses, especially on the basis that its main purpose is to serve the Tesco store."
Built on land purchased from Rotherham Council, the £40m store opened in 2014 and includes 66,000 sq ft of retail space with planning permission granted for an increase of 36,000 sq ft of floorspace over the old store on Forge Island.
Rotherham-based retailer, Fishing Republic is expecting its revenue figures to show an increase of approximately 40% year-on-year.
One of the largest fishing tackle retailers in the UK, the Eastwood company floated on the AIM stock exchange in 2015, raising millions to help carry out its expansion plans.
In a trading update, the firm said that it continues to make encouraging progress and results for the year are expected to be in line with current market expectations. Revenue is expected to show an increase of approximately 40% year-on-year, driven by the addition of new stores, organic growth across existing stores, and strong growth in own website sales.
Last September the group has decided to rebase its profit forecasts for the current financial year to allow it to invest for growth in both its store network and online. This came after a strong balance sheet position. For the six months ended June 30 2016, the group reported that revenue increased to £2.5m, up by 34% from the £1.87m in the same six months of 2015. Profit before tax was £157,000 and compares to a loss of £150,000 reported last year after exceptional costs of £299,000.
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The latest update added: "We are making good progress with our online sales strategy, where we are transitioning away from third party platforms to own website sales, where margins are higher and we own the customer. As a result, our own website sales increased by 132% year-on-year and accounted for c. 40% of total online sales for the year. As expected, with lower third party sales, total online sales decreased but, importantly, overall gross margins improved. We will continue to expand our in-house capabilities in digital technology, marketing and customer data in the year ahead to support this transition strategy."
A new website is set to launch in March.
The placing of ten million new shares at 15p per share in 2015 raised £1.5m. A share placing in 2016 raised a further £3.75m.
Floating on AIM, the directors believe that Fishing Republic is the only participant in the market looking to act as a consolidator, snapping up smaller, often family-run businesses.
Fishing Republic operates 16 stores and the three new stores opened in the first half of the financial year, in South Birmingham, Crewe and Hull, are continuing to build their sales in line with management forecasts. The latest opened in Milton Keynes in January and two further stores, in Reading and Ipswich, are expected to open before the end of the first quarter. Further openings are planned later in the year.
Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in Rotherham is encouraging local and national organisations to make 2017 count by joining their 365 Business Club for just £1 a day.
Based at North Anston in Rotherham, Bluebell Wood provides care and support to families who have a child who has a life limiting condition and is not expected to live into adulthood. It has to raise over £3m each year to continue its work, and receives less than 10% statutory funding.
Becoming a Bluebell Wood 365 Business Club member is seen as a great way to raise a company's profile, and engage with customers and staff. Corporate members will enjoy many benefits while supporting families during the toughest of times, including having the chance to make contacts at exclusive members' events as well as join a new Facebook networking group. Priority access will also be given to members for upcoming events and sponsorship opportunities.
Rachael Dawes, corporate fundraising manager at Bluebell Wood, said: "By joining our 365 Business Club, you can help make 2017 count for the children and families we support, both at home and at our hospice. Membership costs just £365 a year – or £1 a day – which is enough to pay for 14 sessions of day care for a child who is too ill to attend school.
"When you become a corporate member you'll join a group of like-minded individuals and have the chance to network with other businesses, whilst enhancing your company reputation. Becoming a member of the 365 Business Club allows us to plan for our future."
A rollercoaster of a story in the redevelopment of the Pit House West site in Rotherham is the closest it has ever been to becoming a reality with the approval of detailed, deliverable, plans for a £37m leisure resort from an established company with its own finances already in place.
Rothbiz was first with the details when the full plans were submitted in October. The proposals, which will create around 400 jobs, will see Gulliver's buy approximately 250 acres from the Council. The restored former colliery and opencast site will be transformed into a year round destination aimed at 2 - 13 year olds and is set to include a theme park hub, woodland adventure centre, ecology and education centre, lodges, hotels and a holiday village.
Gulliver's, the operators of theme parks in Warrington, Matlock Bath and Milton Keynes, has now secured unanimous approval from the planning board at Rotherham Council and is keen to begin work on site.
Due to its prominence, The National Planning Casework Unit will be given the opportunity to "call in" the application on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Gulliver's now has 21 days to wait for the decision of the Secretary of State on their application.
Following planning approval, the scheme is expected to be built over 12 - 15 years, the theme park would come first and further developments would follow afterwards.
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Julie Dalton, managing director of the Gulliver's group, said: "Everyone at Gulliver's is very pleased with the Council's decision which takes us to the next stage of the planning process.
"We are confident that the Secretary of State will recognise the enormous benefit of our plans to the Rother Valley area and the local community. Our plans would transform an area of Rother Valley that has been disused for many years."
Rotherham Council has long had ambitions for the greenbelt site to be transformed into a landmark leisure / tourism development on a regional, national and international scale. The reclamation of Brookhouse Colliery and incorporation into the Rother Valley Country Park to enhance its attraction as a regional facility was first mooted when the colliery operations closed in 1985. After purchasing the site from the Coal Authority, the council began the search for a developer in March 2002.
This is the third time the Council has sought interested from developers. Outline planning approval was granted for the £350m YES! Project in 2007 and updated plans were approved in September 2010.
Developers, Oak Holdings were dropped for a lack of progress and the £110m Visions of China project was the preferred choice of the authority in 2011. Having previously come forward for discussions with the Council in 2014, Gulliver's entered into an agreement to purchase the land from the Council in 2015 after the Visions of China project was also dropped.
Planning approval for 215,000 sq ft of buildings come with a number of conditions, including operating hours, and a £1.2m transport improvement scheme is already underway in the area.
Further details of the attractions set for Gulliver's Valley, including Liliput Castle, a log flume, Antelope, Pirate Coaster, Tower Ride, farm park and pet resort, can be found here.
Special circumstances for development in the Green Belt were agreed, namely the positive economic impact, and Gulliver's will enter a legal agreement to ensure that the hotels and accommodation will not come forward without the theme park elements.
Julie Dalton told members of the planning board: "As a family and a company we are committed to bringing forward the long-standing aspiration for a regional scale leisure and tourism attraction on the Rother Valley Country Park. Gulliver's is a sustainable family business with a proven track record for designing, building and running family entertainment developments, and have done for 39 years.
"We know exactly what families are looking for in a day out and a short break, and that is what we have designed into this resort. Pit House West is a very attractive site and we have put lots of time and energy into designing our attraction around the site so we can make best use of its natural assets.
"This will be the first of the Gulliver's sites to incorporate everything we have on our other sites, and it's got quite a few new elements that you don't see existing.
"This proposal gives us the opportunity to enhance both the leisure and tourist facilities within the borough and the proposals bring significant economic benefits."
Construction is anticipated to start in 2017 immediately after planning permission is granted.
The first phase of development (the main entrance and access roads, theme park hub and core parking) will be open in 2020.
Problems with an investment in a new press led to the administration of Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson, documents reveal.
And the administrator's proposals also show a pension scheme deficit of £25m listed amongst the unsecured creditors.
Jonny Marston and Howard Smith of KPMG, were appointed as joint administrators to the business on January 24 2017 after the business ran into cash flow difficulties due to operational issues.
The joint administrators confirmed that Garnett Dickinson was sold in a pre-pack deal to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition.
Based in a £20m state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, the group specialises in large run multi pagination printing and customers include high profile monthly magazines and luxury catalogue brands.
Garnett Dickinson Print Ltd had a turnover of £17.2m and made an operating loss of just over a £1m in the year to September 30 2015. KPMG highlighted that the financial position of the business deteriorated due to the poor performance of a newly installed printing press.
KPMG stated: "The Group invested in a new press in September 2016 to provide increased capacity, however operational issues encountered during the installation and subsequent use of the press resulted in high levels of outwork, overtime, paper usage and production overheads that were not sustainable. As a result of the operational issues, losses of approximately £1m were made in the first quarter of FY17 and this resulted in acute cash pressure.
"The directors of the Group were forced to enter into discussions with key suppliers, HM Revenue & Customs, its landlord and the Secured Creditors as the Group was struggling to generate sufficient working capital to continue trading."
Previously a board member, Nicholas Alexander bought Garnett Dickinson Group, with the exception of its digital operation, for an undisclosed sum in 2015 and instigated a restructure of the operations.
Advertisement KPMG was engaged by the group in December 2016 to provide advice on options for restructuring its defined benefit pension scheme following a meeting with Alexander.
The cash pressures led to an exploration of options available in respect of investment, refinance or a sale, and to run an accelerated mergers and acquisition process. No offers were received for the Group so six trade competitors were identified and contacted regarding the opportunity.
GD Web Offset Limited was the only offer to come forward and the deal saw all of the trading business and assets sold to the new company whose directors are Paul Mursell of EWO Media in Essex and Jeremy Spring of Aspenlink, a company that converts some twenty five thousand tonnes of paper a year.
KPMG documents show that three connected Garnett Dickinson companies have left a shortfall of £29m, including a £25m pension deficit and £4.1m owed to trade creditors including finance providers RBS and Lombard.
The documents show that KPMG has been "liaising with the trustees of the defined benefit pension scheme, the Pensions Regulator and the Pensions Protection Fund concerning the changes caused to the pension scheme as a result of our appointment."
Accounts filed at Companies House for 2015 describe the defined benefit pension scheme as having a £6m deficit. The scheme was closed to future accrual in 2009 with no further contributions made by the company. A defined contribution scheme was set up and the company entered into an agreement to make good the deficit on the group pension scheme.
The original Garnett Dickinson business started in 1858 in the back of a busy stationary shop where it first published the South Yorkshire Advertiser. The Rotherham Advertiser is now published by Regional Media Ltd, a company which also has Alexander as a director and acquired the publishing business and assets from Garnett Dickinson in 2015.
Innovative Rotherham company, Xeros, has appointed an expert in brand development and marketing to its board as it commercialises the patented polymer technology behind the first real revolution in laundry in 60 years.
Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), Xeros is a Leeds University spin-out that has developed a patented system using a unique method of special polymer beads rather than the usual large amounts of fresh water to clean clothes.
Stephen Taylor has joined the AIM-listed firm as it develops and commercialises Intellectual Property to deliver significant water and chemical savings to large scale global industries. Xeros' patented technology can be applied in partnerships with other companies across an increasing number of sectors, from commercial laundry, leather processing and now textile manufacturing.
Taylor is currently the chief marketing officer for PayPal Europe, the online payments system provider, and has over 20 years of experience working in brand development and marketing in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.
He was previously the chief marketing officer, Europe for Samsung Electronic Appliances. Prior to this he held a number of commercial and business development roles within Procter & Gamble and Findus.
John Samuel, chairman of Xeros, said: "Stephen's considerable consumer marketing experience and sector expertise will be invaluable as we continue to develop and roll out our platform technology in a range of global markets. I am delighted to welcome Stephen to the Board."
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Xeros is in advanced discussions with a number of globally recognised brands as it looks to accelerate the adoption of the technology. It has Approved Supplier status for Hilton hotels in the Americas and has signed a heads of terms with Wollsdorf Leder Tannery in Austria for a ten-year contract to convert its entire re-tanning processes to Xeros' technology in 2017.
Research and development teams are working to create a domestic version of the Xeros machine that has enabled adopters in the commercial laundry sector to use up to 80% less water, up to 50% less energy, and approximately 50% less detergent, whilst delivering superior cleaning results compared with conventional washing.
Taylor joins other non-exec directors, John Samuel, former CEO of the Molnlycke Health Care Group, Dr. Richard Ellis, previously the global head of R&D for Reckitt Benckiser, and Julian Viggers, head of technology investment at Enterprise Ventures, which is an investor in Xeros.
Xeros' CEO is Mark Nichols, who has led a number of technology start-ups in the cleantech arena and previously worked for global enterprises including Total, Laing O'Rourke and BOC. Paul Denney is the chief financial officer and his two most significant recent roles were within high growth environments at Experian plc and at Callcredit Information Group.
Dr. Steve Jenkins, chief science officer, stepped down as a director to concentrate on the firm's scientific development programmes at the start of 2016.
Union members at Tata Steel sites in the UK, including in South Yorkshire, have voted to accept a proposal to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) to future accrual.
The Speciality Steel sites in South Yorkshire are set to be sold after Liberty House closed a deal with Tata Steel UK to acquire the business for a total consideration of £100m. The new owners will need to honour the new pension arrangements as part of the deal.
Last year, the Government launched a consultation on changes to the pension scheme - the huge pension liability with a reported £700m deficit that was seen as a deal-breaker for prospective buyers of Tata Steel's UK assets.
The consultation followed intense discussions between Tata Steel, the UK government, the pension scheme trustees and regulators to find the best option for members of the scheme.
Eight months after Tata announced their original intention to sell its UK steel assets, the firm made a commitment to secure the future of jobs and production at Port Talbot and other steelworks across the UK.
The ballot paper set out that the company's proposals to secure a sustainable future for the UK business. Key elements include £1 billion of investment over ten years, a commitment to running the blast furnaces at Port Talbot, an employment pact offering protection against compulsory redundancies, and the introduction of a Defined Contribution Pension Scheme, with maximum employer contributions of 10%, following the closure of the BSPS to future accrual.
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The assurances are conditional on a sustainable solution for the BSPS, Tata Steel UK remaining solvent, and no industrial action in connection with the proposal.
Trade unions also secured a guarantee from Tata that commits Liberty House to honour the new defined contribution pension arrangements. This means that under a new owner, union members in Speciality Steels would be entitled to the same pension arrangements as members in Tata Steel UK, with employer contributions of up to 10%.
Members of the Community Union voted 72.1% to accept the proposals, with members at Unite, 75.6% in favour. GMB members voting yes came in at 74.0%.
Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of Community, said: "This result provides a mandate from our members to move forward in our discussions with Tata and find a sustainable solution for the British Steel Pension Scheme.
"Steelworkers have taken a tough decision and have shown they are determined to safeguard jobs and secure the long-term future of steelmaking. Nobody wanted to be in this situation, but as we have always said, it is vital that we now work together to protect the benefits already accrued and prevent the BSPS from free-falling into the PPF [Pension Protection Fund]."
A delegation is gearing up for MIPIM to promote the billion-pound economic investment opportunities across the Sheffield city region (SCR).
The MIPIM conference is the world's premier real estate event, held each year in Cannes. It gathers the most influential international property players from the office, residential, retail, healthcare, sport, logistics and industrial sectors.
The largest-ever private sector delegation from the SCR will travel to MIPIM to promote an exciting range of regeneration sites and properties. They will have the headline-grabbing deal of supercar maker McLaren's recently announced £50m move into the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham as proof that this region is in the fast lane to success. The SCR is investing £12m in the project which is confidently expected to have further massive benefits for regional suppliers.
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The team will make a series of key announcements about the flagship assets offering opportunities for investors, and the funding available. Opportunities for MIPIM investors include visionary urban regeneration, extensive housing sites, and the excellence of transport links and strategic infrastructure in the region. The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), the Peel Group's Aero Centre at Doncaster, and town centre revitalisation will be heavily promoted.
Recognising that high value manufacturing can be key to driving innovation, productivity and exports, civic leaders have committed to the idea of creating an AMID and "supercharging" the advanced manufacturing cluster and the Sheffield-Rotherham Economic Corridor. Simon Carr, managing director of construction firm, Henry Boot Ltd and a sponsor of the SCR at MIPIM, has been an attender on behalf of the region for many years. He said: "It's networking at speed. It's very intense and it brings together the construction industry, developers, investors and local authorities.
"Being at MIPIM means that you can start some very good conversations that go on to build longer-term relationships.
"It generates interest and gets people talking – it's a catalyst for exploring opportunities."
Damien Wilson and Tim O'Connell from Rotherham Council will be representing Rotherham at MIPIM and also attending is Rotherham-based brownfield regeneration specialist, Harworth Estates.
The planned centre will have a highly glazed frontage, a reception and waiting area under a full height atrium and also contain café space, a library, shared social and informal study space.
The update includes the progress made on key projects. These include: 
Planning approval for 215,000 sq ft of buildings come with a number of conditions, including operating hours, and a £1.2m transport improvement scheme is already underway in the area.
Julie Dalton told members of the planning board: "As a family and a company we are committed to bringing forward the long-standing aspiration for a regional scale leisure and tourism attraction on the Rother Valley Country Park. Gulliver's is a sustainable family business with a proven track record for designing, building and running family entertainment developments, and have done for 39 years.
