News: Rotherham colliery regeneration reaches final stages

A number of commercial developments are underway as the site of the Dinnington Colliery in Rotherham nears total transformation.

St Paul's Developments plc and The Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England) completed a development agreement in 2014 to bring the second phase of the former Dinnington Colliery site forward for development after the success of Phase 1 which was developed and sold off in the mid to late 2000's by the then regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward.

Land sales for the remaining 35 acres were completed earlier this year and now construction work is well underway.

Local developer EV Waddington is on site with an initial phase of development at 31 East constructing seven industrial and warehouse units ready for occupation in late 2019, ranging in size from 4,700 – 28,500 sq ft with agreed plans for a further phases. Knight Frank are marketing them to let.

Also on site are Trebor Developments, working in conjunction with its partner Hillwood, on its 78,558 sq ft Atomic project. This is being marketed by Knight Frank, CPP and CBRE, to provide a quality logistics/distribution or manufacturing base.

Selected contractor, MCS Group Limited, is building a single speculative B2/B8 manufacturing or logistics warehouse with ancillary office space at first floor and associated yard, parking, roadways, landscape and amenities on the five-acre site. The unit will be ready for occupation in December 2019.

Luxembourg-based United Caps, a European leader in the development, production and sale of plastic caps and closures, is investing around €20m in a new production facility which will initially be 54,000 sq ft, with an option to expand to 215,000 sq ft as business growth demands.

Advertisement

Rebecca Schofield, partner and head of the Yorkshire Industrial team at Knight Frank, said: "The area in the south of the borough has become a proven business location, already home to companies including Macalloy, Johnston Press and Quartzelec.

"The projects on 31 East are both based around construction of quality, speculative industrial units on the prominent site which is located near Junction 31 of the M1.

"When fully developed the 31 East site will accommodate a mix of over 450,000 sq ft of manufacturing, industrial and warehouse space. The vast majority will be constructed speculatively and represents a huge private sector investment in the area.

"This type of quality industrial accommodation will meet local and regional occupier needs and we are already talking to a number of potential occupiers."

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member of Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, added: "This is another excellent example of a former pit site delivering regeneration, following world-leading auctioneers Ritchie Bros recent investment in the nearby Maltby Colliery site. We know there is a market out there for high-quality commercial property. The completed units will be let to inward investors or expanding local companies, which will support business growth in the borough and provide high-value lasting employment for residents."

The sinking of Dinnington Colliery began in 1902 and coal started to be raised in 1905. By 1911 the colliery was providing employment for 2,000 people. It closed in 1992 resulting in 1,000 job losses. The HCA estimated that a regenerated site could create 2,400 new jobs.

Knight Frank website

Images: Knigh Frank

Read more...

News: Y-Accelerator returns

Rotherham entrepreneurs, start-ups and businesses are being encouraged to apply to take part in an intensive business programme of free expert support, development and one-to-one mentoring.

The Y-Accelerator programme is offering Sheffield city region's (SCR's) business leaders of tomorrow the exclusive opportunity to benefit from a 12-week, fast-track development package and will see participants take advantage of expert advice and mentoring, access to a network of industry experts and specialist workshops.

Concluding the 12-week project, which runs from October 2019 to January 2020, each business or entrepreneur will have the opportunity to pitch their idea to an audience of potential investors. UK Steel Enterprise is offering a £1,000 prize to the best pitch on the night.

Led by business experts from both the public and private sector, the project is facilitated in partnership by Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO) and a resident entrepreneur from Sheffield engineering organisation Gripple Ltd. on behalf of the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub.

The businesses chosen to take part will have a bespoke programme of one-to-one support designed for them, delivered on a part time basis. Businesses will also benefit from a series of informative workshop style session delivered by industry specialists.

Applications will be open until September 15, when the Y-Accelerator team will select ten projects to join the programme. They will be supported in building a strong customer proposition and financial model, as well as learning to effectively communicate their business value to potential customers and investors.

Advertisement

Gordon McRae, special projects manager at Gripple, said: "We are really excited to be involved in the Y-Accelerator for the third time. With a strong aim to create and strengthen new businesses for the economic benefit of the region, Y-Accelerator will work hard to provide specialist workshops and expertise for people in a completely tailored way.

"The programme is a fantastic chance to not only gain specialist business expertise, but an opportunity to really take advantage of in-house advice, a strong network of industry contacts and experience of creating a strong business model.

"If you or your team have an innovative idea and have an aspiration to build a strong new business in the Sheffield City Region, then we want to hear from you. We're looking for all stages of applicants – students, employed or unemployed people are all encouraged to apply – it's the idea and ambition that counts."

Amanda Parris, business growth manager for RiDO, said: "The Y-Accelerator programme is a truly fantastic, unique initiative and we offer a very bespoke package for the people we work with. As well as a great idea, we want to work with people who think differently and who will soak up our specialist advice to create a viable, scalable business.

"People from all industry sectors are encouraged to apply, although logistics, manufacturing, and automation are especially of interest. We are delighted to run the programme for the sixth time, and we are looking forward to working with some more exciting businesses."

Linked to the project, Gripple will host an informal workshop on August 8 that will look at identifying and solving problems, exploring opportunities, creating value and innovating by thinking out of the box.

Y-Accelerator website

Images: SCR Growth Hub

Read more...

News: Rotherham recruitment firm in MBO

The managing director at Industrial Personnel Limited has taken on the role of sole director after successfully concluding a management buy-out (MBO).

The leading independent provider of temporary and permanent recruitment services into engineering, manufacturing and logistics environments across Yorkshire, has undergone a change in the shareholding structure with MD Phillip Buckley, who previously owned 50% of the company, acquiring the rest of the shares to put the company into his sole ownership.

Since the formation of the company in 1995 Industrial Personnel has become Yorkshire's leading provider of temporary and permanent, skilled and semi-skilled blue-collar workers for industrial, commercial and technical roles for several of the region's largest and most prestigious engineering and manufacturing businesses.

The company has experienced significant growth in the past few years which is continuing in the current year and following completion of the buy-out the plan is to accelerate that growth, which includes building the infrastructure and management team required to take the business to the next level.

Phillip Buckley, managing director at Industrial Personnel Limited, said: "We are experiencing year-on-year success in the business as a result of a hard-working team and continued focus on relationship building with our clients and workforce. Our USP has always been our exceptional customer service, and it is this we intend to continually improve whilst expanding into other markets. We are now looking to open a new office in the West Yorkshire area which will cement the relationships we already have in that area and enable us to roll out our successful business model further afield. The future is very bright indeed."

Advertisement

Sheffield based dealmakers Castle Square Corporate Finance provided corporate finance advice to the leading negotiations on the deal structure, and successfully delivered the fundraising process on behalf of management.

Kevan Shaw and Patrick Lynch from the Castle Square team led on the deal, running a structured process which resulted in HSBC being selected to provide the necessary finance to complete the transaction.

Patrick Lynch, corporate finance executive at Castle Square, said: "Following several years of year-on-year revenue and profitability growth, it has been fantastic to have advised Phillip and the wider management team on a transaction that will provide a platform for the company's next stage of growth."

Freeths Sheffield based corporate team, led by Adrian Hackett and Eerik Kukebal, provided legal advice on the transaction, which included specialist input from Freeths Sheffield corporate tax, banking and employment teams.

Eerik Kukebal at Freeths said: "We are delighted to have worked with Castle Square and HSBC on this management Buy-Out. The objective of the transaction was achieved through effective collaboration and great teamwork of all the parties and allows the company to move to its next level of growth."

Following the structured debt fundraising process led by the Castle Square team, HSBC emerged as the preferred funding partner, providing the acquisition finance on the transaction alongside working capital facilities.

Chris Alsop, corporate banking relationship director at HSBC, said: "Industrial Personnel are a long-established niche service provider with an excellent management team. I am confident they will grow their market share even further over the next few years."

Supporting HSBC were, Keebles LLP Sheffield based corporate team lead by James Burdekin, with legal advice on the funding and Adam Ames from Shorts Chartered Accountants Sheffield office, provided financial due diligence advice.

Industrial Personnel Limited website

Images: UKSE

Read more...

News: Rotherham economy continues to grow

Rotherham's £4.4 billion a year economy is continuing to grow but it has been overtaken by Wakefield as the fastest growing economy in Yorkshire.

Staying at the top of the UK Powerhouse rankings for GVA growth, the year on year growth rate in Q1 2019 for Rotherham was 1.1%, placing the borough 18 out of 46 (the same ranking as the previous quarter). Ahead of the national average, this is the second best ranked economy in Yorkshire and is only bested in the North by Wakefield (1.3%), Sunderland (1.2%) and Stockport (1.1%).

The UK Powerhouse study is produced by Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and provides an estimate of GVA growth and job creation within 46 of the UK's largest cities at least 12 months ahead of the Government's official figures. It uses a range of more timely indicators to create a "nowcast" of GVA and employment for a range of key cities across the UK.

GVA, or Growth Value Added, is the increase in the value of the economy due to the production of goods and services. It is widely recognised by Government and policy makers as a measure of local economies.

Advertisement

The UK economy expanded by 0.5% in the first three months of 2019, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Reading, Cambridge and Oxford again make up the top three for economic growth.

Predictions for Q1 2021 are also provided and Rotherham's economy is estimated to continue to grow, at a rate of 1.6%, to £4.6 billion.

The report also ranks economies in terms of job numbers. It plots Rotherham's economy as having an employment level of 107,300, up 1.1% on the same quarter in the previous year. Another 1.1% growth is predicted for the coming year with a Q1 prediction for 2021 of 109,700.

The theme of this quarter's rankings is environmental sustainability. Using statistics from 2017, Rotherham ranks high (5th out of 46) for the percentage of renewable electricity installations such as solar panels, and for the percentage of local authority collected waste sent for recycling (10th with 44%), but much worse for environmentally-friendly commuting (38th) and pollution levels - carbon dioxide emissions - at 44th.

Irwin Mitchell website
CEBR website

Images: SCR

Read more...

News: Dragon's Tap founder toasts alternative finance provider

Tapping into help from alternative lending provider Finance For Enterprise enabled a former languages tutor from Rotherham fulfill a lifelong dream of running his own micropub.

After spending time working as a teacher, Simon Evans called time on life in the classroom and has gone from poring over textbooks to pouring pints at his Dragon's Tap venue in Rotherham.

Inspired by the growing popularity of small independently owned bars, he began making plans to create a new home for lovers of craft beers in his home town, drawing on more than a decade of experience working in the drinks industry.

Simon first developed an interest in fine wines and independent breweries when he secured a job in an exclusive wine shop to pay his way as a student. He spent much of the following decade balancing his studies, which saw him earn three degrees including two masters qualifications, alongside learning about rare and unusual wines, which were sourced from across the world.

He began noticing a growing demand from discerning drinkers for craft brews and locally produced beers. As time progressed, he also started to notice once empty shops being transformed into cosy, independently owned micropubs and inspired by their success, Simon began developing plans to create his own vision of the perfect pub.

Encouraged by the success of Rotherham's first micropub, the Wath Tap, and feeling that he had spotted a gap in the local market, Simon spent nearly a year meticulously writing and preparing his business plan, carefully examining whether his idea would be viable.

When a former DIY shop, at the Stag Roundabout became available, the aspiring entrepreneur realised he had found the perfect premises for his new venture. Only one thing stood in the way of his dream micropub: Finance.

Unable to raise the funds needed by himself, Simon approached alternative lending provider Finance For Enterprise for help. Working with a dedicated investment manager, he was able to secure the vital funds needed to secure the premises and invest in the vital equipment and renovation work needed to make his dream a reality.

Within just a few weeks, the empty shop had been transformed. Modelled on a French style bistro, featuring an eclectic range of furniture and six different hand pulled beers for customers to sample, the Dragon's Tap fired into business.

Advertisement

Since that time, Simon's micropub has gone from strength to strength, quickly building up a loyal client base. Such has been the popularity of the pub that it was crowned as Rotherham CAMRA's Autumn Pub of the Season and has even secured a place in the Good Beer Guide.

Simon has been keen not to rest on his laurels either. Since opening the Dragon's Tap he continued to invest in the premises, transforming the upstairs of the building into a live music venue, which is used regularly for private functions and he has continued to invest in expanding the range of drinks on offer to include a selection of more than 60 gins, as well as a changing range of six real ales, four craft beers and ciders.

Simon Evans, owner of Dragon's Tap (pictured, right), said: "As a student I had spent time working in a bistro in France and loved the relaxed, friendly environment. I wanted create something similar, but adding a Yorkshire twist to the concept. During the decade I spent in the North East, the craft beer revolution really took hold and as micropubs began opening throughout the region, I began to think there may be an opportunity to bring the concept to Rotherham.

"Setting up the business was a leap of faith. It felt like I was on a bungee rope! But I knew that if the micropub was going to be viable, a cash injection was vital, enabling me to transform the empty shop into my dream pub. Many banks are reluctant to lend to new businesses with no proven trading history, and so I decided to contact Finance For Enterprise.

"Working with an investment manager, they have been incredibly supportive and without their help, I suspect I'd still be wondering "what if." Working with an investment manager gave me confidence that the business was viable and as a result, the Dragon's Tap has come a very long way in a short space of time. That wouldn't have been possible without the help I've received and I'm beginning to explore new ways of growing the business further."

Dave Potts, investment manager at Finance For Enterprise (pictured, left) said: "After meeting Simon, it was clear he had spent a lot time planning and researching his idea. He presented one of the most thought out and considered business plans I have ever seen in all the years I have worked in the finance sector, which mean we were able lend him the vital funds to get his business off the ground. Since opening his business, the Dragon's Tap has gone from strength-to-strength, not only creating a number of new jobs and it has quickly established itself as a very popular venue in Rotherham.

"As an alternative lending provider, Finance For Enterprise are often able to step in when lending from traditional high street banks is not possible. Banks are often reluctant to support new business ventures, particularly when they have no proven trading history, but we always take time to understand the business and we felt confident that Simon was onto a winner."

Dragon's Tap Facebook page
Finance For Enterprise website

Images: Finance For Enterprise

Read more...

News: Contractor named for new Rotherham school

Work is now officially underway after a soil-cutting ceremony took place at Rotherham's newest school, Waverley Junior Academy.

Earlier this year, Rotherham Council's planning board approved plans for the school, which will serve the wider Waverley community and have a capacity of 420 pupils up to the age of 11.

It will be run by the Aston Community Education Trust (ACET), which already runs 11 other primary and secondary academies in South Yorkshire and North-East Derbyshire.

The trust and its construction contractors for the £7m project, Houlton, recently joined forces to break ground at the location of the new school, which is due to open its doors next year.

There is currently no school on the 250-home Waverley development, but local families will be able to apply for places for their children from August this year, ahead of the school opening in September 2020.

Advertisement

Eunice Newton, CEO of the ACET, said: "It's wonderful to think that the ground where everyone was standing will be occupied by a brand-new school in just 14 months' time, and the soil-cutting ceremony certainly makes everything seem more real.

"There has been a tremendous amount of hard work that has gone into preparing the plans for the school and everybody will be able to see all that effort come to life over the next few months.

"We have also held an information event for prospective parents recently and there is a great deal of excitement. The whole community is behind this project and we’re looking forward to creating a school that Waverley can be proud of."

Cllr. Gordon Watson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Children and Young People's services at Rotherham Council, added: "The addition of this primary school to the Waverley development will not only meet the needs for the surrounding community, but will also be a great opportunity to create a school with the newest and best facilities, particularly in close proximity to the our world class manufacturing facility at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, which we hope to make the most of."

The school promises to be one of the most advanced educational facilities in Rotherham, with its own breakfast and after-school clubs, as well as a 10-place purpose-built autism resource unit which will cater for children from wider areas.

Hull-based Houlton have been busy in the borough. The marketing suite recently opened at The Bellows, a 58 dwelling housing project for Rotherham Council at Rawmarsh. It also carried out the work to create a £3.7m caravan site within the popular Rother Valley Country Park (RVCP) which opened earlier this year.

Geo. Houlton & Sons Ltd website

Images: Houlton / RMBC

Read more...

News: Study confirms no South Yorkshire parkway station on HS2 line

A parkway station could be accommodated on the new high speed line through South Yorkshire but high costs and a lack of extra demand has lead HS2 Ltd to conclude that there is no case for one to be included in the multi-billion pound project.

A site at Wales in Rotherham was one of two remaining possible locations.

Following a contentious update, HS2 services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the new north-south high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Midland station using the existing railway line. The HS2 line to Leeds would travel east of Rotherham following the M1 and M18 before heading through the Dearne Valley. A northern loop from Sheffield joining the HS2 line has still yet to be confirmed.

In 2016 HS2 were asked to study possible sites for a parkway station but a report, due in 2017, has only just been published.

Alongside Wales, Bramley and Hooton Roberts in Rotherham, also on the shortlist was Mexborough, Hickleton and Clayton in Doncaster plus sites at Hemsworth and Fitzwilliam before the previously proposed new HS2 depot at Crofton in West Yorkshire.

Now additional work has been carried out on the M18 route which concludes that "HS2 Ltd has not been able to identify a clear economic or strategic case for the inclusion of a parkway station to serve the South Yorkshire market on the HS2 mainline."

Advertisement

The work modeled potential demand for various scenarios to find out the impact on HS2 passenger numbers in South Yorkshire and the benefits to, and impacts on, the overall value for money assessment of the HS2 business case.

A station located on the conventional rail network north of Sheffield served by HS2 services appears to perform worse than HS2 mainline parkway station options in terms of passenger numbers. It does, however, show marginally positive increases in benefits and revenues to the overall value for money assessment of the HS2 business case.

Rothbiz reported last week that the Sheffield City Region's (SCR's) new rail plan confirms a preferred location of a site in Goldthorpe for a proposed new Barnsley Dearne Valley railway station. The latest report from HS2 Ltd shows that re-aligning the HS2 line to create a station in this area on a new intersection between the HS2 and conventional rail line is not being progressed.

Work carried out on the updated M18 route saw HS2 Ltd assess Wales in Rotherham and Hemsworth in West Yorkshire as potential parkway station locations.

Bramley was discounted as it would have no conventional rail connectivity, and would therefore not provide for integration with the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) network. Hooton Roberts was discounted as it would also require a new HS2 mainline alignment which would increase environmental impacts.

The proposed site at Wales (pictured, top) would be to the west of the M1 where the HS2 line is set to cross the classic railway line between Sheffield and Worksop, providing a link to the NPR network which aims to improve connections from Sheffield to Leeds and Sheffield to Manchester.

However, the required realignment of the HS2 mainline would result in increased impacts and significant costs. Infrastructure, tunnels and viaducts would increase the cost of the scheme on this part of the Phase 2b route by £386m. The documents add that fully providing a new parkway station at Wales, along with the associated changes that would be required to the HS2 mainline, would result in a cost increase in the region of £665m.

A station at Hemsworth would result in an increase in the region of £141m for the cost of scheme and fully providing a new parkway station would result in a cost increase in the region of £396m.

The 2017 documents also confirm that it could be beneficial to extend HS2 services from Sheffield to Meadowhall, Rotherham and the Dearne Valley Parkway but just one train per hour may not be viable. Infrastructure costs to take HS2 trains to Rotherham Central would be around £224m, with extending HS2 services to a new Rotherham mainline station, like that included in the SCR's new rail plan, would be £142m in infrastructure costs.

Independent economic analysis has shown that new stations in Rotherham and in the Dearne Valley on a proposed NPR line could boost the economic benefits for the Sheffield city region (SCR) from HS2.

HS2 Ltd website

Images: Google Maps / HS2

Read more...

News: On the waterfront - riverside living planned for baths site

A development of new family homes and large scale apartment blocks are planned for a vacant riverside site on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported last week that Rotherham Council had submitted the first two sets of proposals for a range of new housing on sites that it owns in order to boost the number of people living in the town centre.

Now details of a third set of plans have been published for the site of the former Sheffield Road baths which backs on to the River Don.

The authority has worked with architects, Bond Bryan, to put forward a development for the 2.17 acre site that is currently used as a car park on the opposite river bank to the New York Stadium.

Advertisement

78 dwellings are proposed, with four and five storey apartments (one bed and two bed) facing onto Sheffield Road and two and three bed family homes facing onto the River Don.

Car parking spaces are arranged as under-croft parking and a riverside walk will be maintained.

The plans state: "Over the course of the past year a vast amount of ideas have been tested and explored in order to fully refine the brief and maximise the most fitting design response to the site's unique opportunities and constraints. Some of these ideas have remained in some form within the final design proposals, others have been adapted or left behind for various reasons.

"At all times the driving force has been a strong synergy between the client and designers to arrive at a scheme which first and foremost embraces the highest standards in design quality."

Like the other sites, the homes will be a mixture of tenures - the houses are set to be made available for sale with the apartments being for rent.

Last year, Rotherham Council committed £50m over the next three years to build homes and have launched its Rother Living brand. By putting forward land that it owns as "go-early" sites, the council hopes to kickstart housebuilding in the town centre.

Sheffield Road baths, locally known as the "new baths" complete with statue of Rotherham-born channel swimmer, T.W. Burgess, closed in 2004.

Rother Living website

Images: RMBC / Bond Bryan

Read more...

News: ITM Power switches focus to new Sheffield site

Energy storage and clean fuel company, ITM Power, looks to have pulled the plug on its proposed expansion to Rotherham, having instead opted for a pre-let on a new development closer to its current site in Sheffield.

Rothbiz reported last year that bosses had identified the vacant former Wincanton depot, now known as "Rotherham 125" at Maltby to enable it to bring its two Sheffield facilities together at a new multimillion pound factory in Rotherham.

Planning permission was agreed earlier this year but now the LSE-listed firm has signed a pre-let agreement to relocate its global manufacturing headquarters to a new build unit of 134,000 sq ft at PLP Bessemer Park.

The deal is the first letting on the new scheme on the former Outokumpu steel works on Shepcote Lane in Sheffield.

ITM Power manufactures integrated hydrogen energy solutions and is now targeting large scale commercial applications and needs new facilities to meet demand.

Advertisement

The manufacturing facility will have an electrolyser manufacturing capacity of up to 1GW (1,000MW) per annum, the largest in the world. The agreement commits ITM Power and PLP to enter into a lease at completion of the building, expected in Q4 2019.

ITM Power expects to occupy the building from March 2020 and said that key to the selection of the building was the proximity of the grid connection to provide the substantial power supply required for ITM Power's needs, using existing infrastructure near to the location.

Dr Graham Cooley, CEO at ITM Power plc, said: "The move to larger premises and the design of our new manufacturing and testing process has taken some time. I am delighted to be able to announce this key milestone and I do so with confidence that the team has done a thorough job in selecting the right premises. The detailed planning that has taken place will pay dividends as we transition our activities to PLP Bessemer Park in the New Year."

Knight Frank, CBRE and Moriarty & Company acted as leasing agents on behalf of PLP.

CPRE acted on behalf of ITM Power plc.

The firm was set to use £400,000 from the Sheffield city region's Business Investment Fund for its expansion.

ITM Power website

Images: PLP

Read more...

News: Rotherham rail improvements in new strategic plan

A number of proposals for improving rail services in Rotherham feature in a new strategic plan launched by the Sheffield city region (SCR), including a long-discussed new mainline station.

A 2015 study showed that rail connectivity in Rotherham is not as good as other centres and the only practical and cost effective way to enhance connectivity is to consider providing a new railway station on the mainline, costing around £14m.

A 2018 study added that new stations in Rotherham and in the Dearne Valley on a proposed "Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR)" line could boost the economic benefits from HS2.

Now a vision for how the SCR will be better connected by both high speed and conventional rail networks into the future - regionally, across the North, and nationally - includes the creation of a new Midland Main Line station in Rotherham.

Other Rotherham ambitions include:

- making the tram train service between Sheffield and Rotherham permanent
- extending the tram train network from Rotherham to Swinton, Doncaster and the airport to release capacity for NPR on the main line
- new tram train services to Waverley and other strategic housing areas such as a spur to Aston and Aughton
- a new rail station serving, businesses and communities in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) at Waverley
- A park and ride expansion at Parkgate
- a new tram-train station and associated park and ride facilities at Magna
- improvements at the Kiveton stations

Advertisement

The plan also confirms a preferred location on a site in Goldthorpe for a proposed new Barnsley Dearne Valley railway station. This parkway station and a new mainline station are set to be progressed through NPR and not HS2. A northern spur out of Sheffield has yet to be confirmed and an upgrade and electrification would be required of the Dearne Valley Line through Rotherham for NPR/HS2.

No location has been given for a new Rotherham mainline station but it is expected to be on the edge of the town centre.

The plan states: "Rotherham has not benefited from intercity rail connectivity since the late 1980s when Masbrough station was closed. Currently, local connections to Sheffield and Doncaster are available with an hourly, hour long service to Leeds.

"Restoring the provision of fast, reliable and high quality intercity connections allied to a new station on the mainline rail network, would fundamentally transform the developable proposition of companies seeking to invest in Rotherham.

"A new mainline station in the central Rotherham area, developed with a suitable masterplan, will ensure that the area plays an important economic development role for the city region."

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, said: "This is a landmark moment for our region. For the first time, Government, regional partners and our local authorities have come together to welcome a vision for the future of our rail services, creating a Plan that will revolutionise rail travel for our communities."

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, added: "I cautiously welcome today's proposals, which move forward a number of significant projects for the borough that have been under consideration for a long time. A new mainline station in a central area of the borough, returning intercity connections for the first time in thirty years, would help to undo decades of damage to Rotherham's rail connectivity.

"If done correctly, it would create significant opportunities to improve access to jobs and encourage economic development. A new station to connect Waverley and the Advanced Manufacturing Park would not only relieve pressure on the local road network but also open up access to job opportunities from the south of the borough, and making permanent and extending the tram train pilot will be critical to ensure many existing journeys are not stopped as a consequence of HS2.

"We have argued throughout that any rail plan must ensure that travellers using all the existing stations in the borough would see improvements and not reductions in service. However, in relation to HS2, I want to be clear that these proposals do not change the Council's position. The so-called M18 route is not to Rotherham's advantage, it will bring years of disruption during construction, and it should be scrapped."

SCR website

Images: Google Maps / SYPTE

Read more...

News: Proposed pub plans progress in Rotherham town centre

Work is well underway on creating new pubs and bars in Rotherham town centre, with more being planned.

One project is the conversion of Rotherham's oldest buildings back into the Three Cranes Inn. Set to open this summer, the plan is to create a traditional English pub with a core range of lagers, beers and ciders as well as craft ales and beers.

Saved as part of ambitious regeneration plans led by Chris Hamby, the listed buildings were renovated and used as an antiques centre. New plans show how the ground and first floor will be converted into a pub whilst areas such as the heritage site and museum are to remain unaltered.

A new bar, complete with Rotherham coat of arms, and bench seating is being fitted with removable external seating planned at the outside front.

The former Three Cranes Inn occupied a timber framed building dating back to the 15th Century - the only timber framed building to survive in Rotherham town centre. It was on English Heritage's "at risk register" having been in a state of disrepair for many years.

It was probably built as a merchant's town house around 1600 and an earlier wing consists of a medieval open hall block that retains evidence for a high status "coved" area at one end, known as a dais.

It is thought to have closed as a pub in 1907 and half of the building was demolished in 1953 leaving a twin-gabled façade for retail units on the ground floor.

Advertisement

Nearby, a unit within the historic Imperial Buildings is currently being converted into a sports bar complete with eight massive screens for showing live sports. The plan is to be open for the first game of the football next month.

A new cocktail bar is also proposed for another unit in the Imperial Buildings and new plans have recently been submitted for part of a long closed watering hole.

At Westgate, a new micropub is planned in the building that was previously known as Mondos, and prior to that, Millenium, Dickens Inn, Sports and Jakes Bar.

Since closing as a venue, the building on the site of the former Station Hotel, has had plans approved to create retail units on the ground floor with flats above.

Now plans have been submitted for creating a small pub in vacant space on the ground floor.

The change of use plans, from Nabile Tariq, state: "The flats have been implemented but the retail units and office on the ground floor has been marketed but has still not been occupied. Now the applicant has ascertained that a micro pub could present a viable business use.

"The business concept is to provide a community facility serving the neighbourhood as a traditional pub. All beer will be from local microbreweries."

A maximum capacity of 50 and opening hours of 12 noon to 11.00 pm are proposed

Three Cranes Inn Facebook page

Images: Three Cranes Inn / Google Maps

Read more...

News: Wentworth Woodhouse tours taken to a whole new level

Rooftop tours are now being given at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham, providing a unique chance to view the Grade I listed mansion and its restoration.

The house is now encased in 700 tonnes of scaffolding to enable vital roof repairs to take place - allowing visitors to be taken to a whole new level.

After climbing 135 steps to the rooftop, a knowledgeable guide will show visitors the "three roofs" of Wentworth Woodhouse's different houses and give an update on the specialist work taking place. A fully-accessible lift is available for visitors who require assistance.

Woodhead Group, experts in heritage and conservation, has been appointed by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) to carry out the repair, restoration and replacement of the building's vast roof as part of its 25-year masterplan.

A bespoke scaffolding solution is being put in place by subcontractors Lyndon SGB to provide a temporary roof to protect the building during the conservation works.

Advertisement

Above the magnificent state rooms, key elements of work includes roofing and masonry to areas including the East Front, Long Gallery, North Pavilion and East Front Staircases.

On certain days, there will also be the opportunity to see restoration in action, as scaffolders, masons and other skilled workers tackle the four-acre roofline and its larger-than-life statues.

The vast rooftop is being covered by a huge tented roof, designed to protect the building from the elements during the repair process and visitors whatever the weather.

The start of the vital work means the trust's popular Make Your Mark in History Appeal must draw to a close at the end of August.

The appeal enables anyone to sponsor a roof slate and have it inscribed with their own message before it goes onto the roof above the famous East Front to remain there for centuries.

Hundreds of supporters have already come forward, paying a suggested minimum donation of £50 and raising over £24,000 for WWPT's huge restoration task.

"People only have until the end of August to leave their mark on the most important part of the house in this unique way," said Sarah McLeod, CEO of WWPT, which purchased the house for £7m in March 2017 after a five-year campaign.

"These messages will last the test of time and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"The £24,000 the appeal has brought in since its launch in April 2018 has been a very welcome boost. We are hoping people who love this house will get behind the appeal in its final months and give it a final push.

"After August we begin a two-year restoration project on the roof over the East Front, using funding awarded from the Chancellor's 2016 budget."

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: Tom Austen

Read more...

News: Council submits ambitious proposals for new town centre housing

A six storey apartment block, back-to-back housing and a redevelopment of a long vacant site are all part of new proposals from Rotherham Council to boost town centre living.

Rothbiz has previously reported on preparations for the first of a potential 2,000 new homes in Rotherham town centre and the authority putting forward land that it owns as "go-early" sites to kickstart housebuilding.

Working with leading architects, Bond Bryan, planning applications have now been submitted for two of the sites - Millfold House on Sheffield Road and the former Henley's garage on Wellgate.

Under the plans for the one acre site with steep topography, Millfold House and other buildings will make way for 53 housing units of various types, sizes and ownership arrangements.

Fronting Westgate, 39 one-bed and two-bed apartments are planned in a six storey block built to a similar height to the telephone exchange opposite.

14 two and three storey back-to-back houses are to sit at the top of the site, allowing extensive views over the Don Valley.

Advertisement

On the long-vacant Henley's Garage site of a former garage and car showroom on Wellgate, planning permission has previously been granted for 180 apartments. The development stalled when the developer was taken over and a 0.65 hectare site is now owned by the Council.

New plans show 54 housing units, again of various types, sizes and ownership arrangements.

Two apartment blocks, sitting back but fronting Wellgate, are designed to be three storeys high in order to sympathetically frame the grade two listed building that sits between them. They will create 34 new apartments, all with off-street parking and cycle storage.

With a new central road, two and three storey houses are proposed on the site alongside Whybourne Terrace and Narrow Twitchell, each with a private rear garden and a semi-private front garden with off street parking.

Bond Bryan states in its plans: "For the client RMBC, we aim to kick start regeneration through the creation of a high quality mixed tenure housing offer for the town centre, unlocking difficult sites."

Last year, Rotherham Council committed £50m over the next three years to build homes and have launched the first at Maltby under the new Rother Living brand.

Rother Living website

Images: RMBC / Bond Bryan

Read more...

News: Sarclad bribery trial ends with acquittals

Former staff members have been acquitted of conspiracy to corrupt and conspiracy to bribe after their company earlier agreed to pay some £6.5m in reparations.

Rothbiz reported in 2016 that criminal charges were brought against former employees of Sarclad, a Rotherham-based specialist in technology based products for the metal industry, following investigations by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

The firm is a world leader in providing technology-based products to assist metal producers reduce manufacturing costs and improve product quality. It relocated from Chesterfield to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, opening new facilities in July 2012.

A Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) was reached between the SFO and Sarclad Ltd in July 2016. Sarclad accepted the charges of corruption and failure to prevent bribery in relation to the systematic use of bribes to secure contracts for the company between June 2004 and June 2012. The contracts that were the subject of the DPA had a total value of over £17m.

As a result of the DPA, Sarclad agreed to pay financial orders of £6,553,085, comprised of a £6,201,085 disgorgement of gross profits and a £352,000 financial penalty. £1,953,085 was paid by Sarclad's US registered parent company as repayment of a significant proportion of the dividends that it received from the company over the indictment period.

Advertisement

The DPA also required Sarclad to fully cooperate with the SFO and to provide a report addressing all third party intermediary transactions, and the completion and effectiveness of its existing anti-bribery and corruption controls, every twelve months for the duration of the DPA. The terms of the DPA have now been met and the DPA is now concluded.

A self-report was made following an investigation by the company of an issue which had come to light at the end of August 2012 as a result of the company's implementation of a compliance programme. The subsequent report by Sarclad's law firm was delivered to the SFO in January 2013, after which the SFO conducted its own investigation.

74 contracts were investigated (28 considered "implicated" and 46 considered "suspicious"), covering countries such as China, Korea, India and Taiwan. Evidence was found of payments to agents that were agreed outside the "percentage of contract value" basis expressed in the agency agreements.

Legal documents released this week show various requests from agents for money in order to secure contracts. In one example, a Korean-based agent asked Sarclad staff: "Will please Sarclad pay for the following costs which is essential for successful contract?

"Under-the-table cost (typical and important Korea) 9,000 euro

"Travel costs to take client to China as well as to England 14,000 euro

"Total 23,000 euro

"These expenses will be spent by Korean agent for clients to secure the contract."

Michael Sorby, Adrian Leek and David Justice were acquitted of conspiracy to corrupt and conspiracy to bribe.

Sarclad website

Images: Sarclad

Read more...

News: Rotherham manufacturer acquires new premises to accommodate rapid growth

A Rotherham-based manufacturer that supplies the construction industry has moved to new premises in order to accommodate a rapidly expanding workforce and growing customer demand.

Architectural Fabrications Ltd (AFL) design, manufacture and install architectural metalwork, secondary steelwork and large-scale balcony packages that are used by main contractors throughout the UK. It has almost doubled its headcount and its sales over the past three years.

Founder and managing director Chris Hadfield said the move to the new 40k sq ft Rotherham site was designed to house more people and more equipment in order to "future proof" the business, which now employs 75 members of staff, including a number of apprentices.

AFL has experienced rapid growth since it received a £400k equity investment from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE) in 2016 which provided the necessary working capital to enable the company to take on new customers, larger contracts, and create more job opportunities in the local area.

Further growth is anticipated for the business over the coming months as it continues to recruit, and following the recent appointment of a sales director, Ryan Johnson.

Advertisement

Chris said: "The investment from UKSE in 2016 was vital in allowing us to make a strong move forward – ensuring that we were more competitive, that we were in a position to recruit, and that we could ultimately scale-up the contracts that we went after.

"Further to that, the new premises mean we are in a position to continue to expand in order to meet a continued growth in demand from our customers who are based across the UK and Europe.

"We are on track to add another nine members to the team over the coming months and have recently invested in new, state of the art equipment."

Established in 2004 by Chris, Architectural Fabrications has worked with many of Europe's leading main contractors to design, manufacture and install an array of architectural metalwork on some of the UK's most prestigious residential and commercial developments.

Keith Williams of UKSE, said: "The growth of AFL is testament to the hard work that Chris and the team have put in over the last few years.

"It's a great success story, a well-managed growing business creating local jobs. The move to larger premises will allow the company to deliver its expanding order book and gives AFL the capacity to support the next phase of growth."

A subsidiary of Tata Steel, UK Steel Enterprise provides equity and loan finance of up to £1m to growing companies, as well as business premises at its Business & Innovation Centres.

AFL website
UKSE website

Images: UKSE

Read more...

News: £408m - the cost of Supertram renewal revealed

Transport bosses in the Sheffield city region (SCR) have revealed that the up front capital cost of renewing the existing Supertram network is over £400m.

Rothbiz reported last year on consultation in connection to developing a business case that will be submitted to the Department for Transport to support the funding of any renewal works. As part of this business case all possible options were explored, and consulted on and then a preferred option for the system needs to be submitted.

Now a report to the SCR gives an update on the business case and has set the financial implications for the preferred option of renewing the network and vehicles between 2024-28 at c.£408m.

Opened in 1994, Sheffield's Supertram system cost £240m and now serves major residential and employment sites in Sheffield. A delayed tram-train pilot project brought new vehicles to Rotherham in 2018.

Stagecoach's operating contract runs until 2024. Stagecoach assumed responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the network. Ownership of the asset remains with SYPTE. Early marketing testing has commenced as to the interest from other operating companies who may be considering a future bid to operate the network.

The SCR is prioritising the delivery of a permanent tram-train service between Sheffield and Rotherham and future proofing the existing Supertram network.

The renewal of the asset is also considered essential should the region look to exploit and expand the current network beyond its current operations. The success of the tram-train pilot could indicate that this technology can be applied to extend services to other parts of the region, such as Waverley/AMID, Barnsley or Doncaster.

Advertisement

Following the essential works carried out in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018, engineering works are continuing to replace track that was laid in the 1990's but the asset is approaching the end of its economic life. The preferred option for renewal would allow Supertram to operate until at least 2054.

It was expected that following a submission to the Government in October 2019, the renewal project would receive "Programme Entry" by March 2020 with a full business case submitted by April 2022. However the initial targeted pot of transport funding no longer exists.

Tim Taylor, director of customer services at SYPTE, said in the report: "Whilst ongoing general maintenance costs are paid for by the current tram operator (Stagecoach), there is no funding currently in place for the long-term renewal of the system. Investment is therefore needed to allow the Supertram network to operate for at least another 30 years, and central government funding will be required to support this.

"A recent meeting with DfT confirmed that projects such as Supertram renewal do not have a "home" elsewhere within another DfT programme i.e. there is no other existing funding stream which could fund the renewal project.

"It has therefore been agreed that a direct approach to Treasury (supported by DfT), as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) process as the most appropriate means of securing the necessary funding. This is in keeping with the approach taken recently by Nexus (the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive) for the renewal of their Metro train fleet."

Other options have to be considered and these include refurbishing the existing fleet of trams, closing and decommissioning the network and replacing the tram network with a Bus Rapid Transit network.

If the preferred option goes forward, a local contribution of 7-10% (£29-42m) would be expected. This has been a thorny issue for council leaders in Doncaster and Barnsley who haven't wanted to see costs passed on to local authorities.

Supertram website
SYPTE website

Images: Volker Rail

Read more...

News: Forge Island lease agreed

Rotherham Council has signed a key legal document that boosts the viability of the Forge Island redevelopment and enables its preferred private sector partner to press ahead with securing financing and planning permission.

Having secured the land from Tesco, and surrounding land such as the law courts, the authority went out to the market last year in an effort to realise its vision for a £60m leisure-led development on the key town centre site.

Muse Developments was chosen as the Council's preferred partner with a proposal that includes a cinema, food and drink outlets and a hotel. The leisure facilities will be set within an attractive public space and will include a new pedestrian bridge connecting to the rest of the town centre.

The Council's cabinet approved a head lease approach in December which requires that the developer raises funding for the total development costs and builds out the scheme in return for the Council taking a head lease of the completed development over 35 years.

An update shows that an "agreement for lease (AFL)" was signed by Muse and the Council in June and this allows the developer to progress with detailed design, obtaining planning permission and securing end users.

No financial details have been published due to being commercially sensitive but the update shows that a 250 year lease with Muse is proposed. Earlier estimates were that the first phase would cost £35m at current prices.

Advertisement

Tim O'Connell, head of RiDO, the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council, said in a report: "The AFL sets out a series of pre-conditions which if satisfied, trigger the Council granting a lease of Forge Island to the developer and allow the developer to commence building the scheme.

"It is important to note that the AFL is not the agreement of the final proposal in respect of either the detailed scheme or the financial approach but puts in place the agreements to ensure that the final proposal will be compliant with the Cabinet resolution of December 2018."

Pre-conditions include obtaining planning permission, securing funding, demonstrating that the development is viable, and securing pre-lets with a cinema operator, hotel and other tenants on terms that are acceptable to the Council. Dates have been set for the conditions.

The agreement still includes an option for the developer to ask the Council to take an over-riding lease of the scheme. Reducing some of the risks for the developer, this would involve the authority subletting and collecting rents from operators, which would generate an income stream to fund the head lease costs.

O'Connell added: "Muse has commenced negotiation with occupiers and the Council is engaging in these negotiations alongside Muse. There are variations in the operating models of occupiers which have an influence design and it is therefore helpful to progress these discussions swiftly.

"It is anticipated that Muse will commence obtaining planning permission by engaging in pre-application discussions over the next 2-3 months and submit a full planning application before the end of the year."

Exploratory work on the Council's flood alleviation project is underway. A completion date of 2022 for the cinema was discussed at a recent Rotherham Together Partnership event.

Forge Island website

Images: RMBC / Muse

Read more...

News: Rotherham-based Metalysis acquired

Metalysis ltd, an innovative Rotherham-based company that has secured millions from investors in recent years, has been acquired having called in administrators following financial difficulties.

The Manvers company holds the worldwide exploitation rights to the FCC Cambridge process which sees specialist powder metals created in a simple, cost effective process with significant environmental benefits. With a Materials Discovery Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), also in Rotherham, the firm raised a further £12m last year ahead of the start of commercial production.

Power Resources Group, a metallic materials science company which operates in Rwanda and Macedonia, has announced that it has acquired Metalysis.

A registration of a charge relating to the acquisition and asset sale agreement has been lodged with Companies House.

Employing 60 people from its two sites, Metalysis appointed Eddie Williams and Chris Petts of Grant Thornton UK LLP as joint administrators at the start of June.

The pair stated that Metalysis had experienced financial difficulties predominantly due to an extended recent investment round and needed to secure immediate investment.

It has previously been reported that a number of redundancies were made by the administrators.

Advertisement

In a post on social media, Ray Power, CEO of Power Resources Group, said that he was "delighted to expand the Power Resources Group family with the acquisition of a great company and great team at Metalysis."

Power Resources Group operates mines in Rwanda, one of the world's largest producers of tin, tantalum, and tungsten. It opened a tantalum processing plant in Macedonia in 2018.

Metalysis' process, developed through years of R&D, takes the tantalum oxide feedstock and transforms it directly into tantalum powder using electrolysis. The process uses less energy than traditional processes as it does not require the melting of metals, and the salt used in producing the metals can be recycled.

Tantalum powders are used in the production of electronic components.

Metalysis website

Images: Metalysis

Read more...

News: Rotherham town centre funding bid goes forward to next stage

Rotherham town centre has been shortlisted for part of a £675m fund designed to help communities reinvent their high streets.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year that Rotherham Council made an application to the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) set up to transform town centres and make them fit for the future.

Rotherham's bid is one of around 50 areas across the country successfully going through to the next phase. The FHSF will contribute up to a maximum of £25m to each successful place but the Government expects to see a range of project sizes coming forward, many of which are in the region of £5-10m per town centre.

Rotherham – along with the other shortlisted areas - will receive up to £150,000 of new funding to work up a detailed project proposal, based on its initial plan.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will work closely with each place to help them develop schemes in preparation for making a bid.

Although specific schemes are still to be agreed, the initial application focused on supporting the delivery of the town centre masterplan.

Advertisement

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "This is great news for Rotherham but we recognise that we need to do a lot more work to build the business case for funding.

"Working with our partners, we are laying solid foundations for regeneration, with the new University Centre, refurbished bus station and Tram Train. Our Town Centre Masterplan sets out our vision, moving towards a more diverse mix of uses with a focus on residential and leisure, quality open spaces, public realm and better connectivity.

"This is a big plan and we needed to be big. It was not about scaling the plan to fit the Council's budget. Now that the vision and masterplan are in place, the priority is to find the funding to make it real."

The Council will now work with local stakeholders to prioritise the key projects it wishes to take forward, which will support the masterplan to have more people living, working and spending their leisure time there. This could include opportunities for environmental improvements, better connectivity, and more homes in the heart of the town.

Millions in Government funding has been used to support heritage-led regeneration and independent retailers in Rotherham town centre over the last ten years. In 2015, Rotherham was successful in the best town centre category in the Great British High Streets Awards, a Government-backed competition to find and celebrate the nation's best high streets.

Images: RMBC

Read more...

News: Wath Hall campaigners close in on funding target

A local group is close to reaching its funding target so it can acquire the former Wath Town Hall in Rotherham and use it as a community hub.

Rothbiz reported last year that Rotherham Council had been presented with a option that would enable the building to be used for the benefit of the local community by a community interest group.

The proposal was unanimously approved and Wath Hall Preservation Society Ltd, a single purpose vehicle, and Wath Hall Ltd, current custodians, have been working hard to put together a business plan and funding bids alongside efforts to raise the required cash.

The core building is a Georgian mansion, which can be traced back to its construction in the 1770s. The Town Hall has been a Council owned property for over 100 years, firstly as the Town Hall for Wath Urban District Council and latterly as a branch office. It closed in 2011 and in 2015, the Council declared that the hall was surplus to requirements and its future became uncertain.

Advertisement

Closing in on £90,000, the group has extended its share off until July 7. Reaching the target will provide the match funding to secure an extra £90,000 as the purchase and a basic programme of repairs to start to bring the hall back into use will cost at least £180,000.

Pledges of around £60,000 were initially made by philanthropic individuals towards the cost of purchase and on Tuesday the total had reached £86,750 through a community share offer.

Securing the property is the next stage in a long term plan to enable its development and restoration as a sustainable heritage centre, creative business hub and community facility.

The funding would also be used for essential repairs to enable the building to be partially brought back into use with creative business units and community rooms available for hire, mainly in the 1960s extension.

A future second phase is planned, to commence the major restoration works, requiring further capital grants. This could include the restoration of the former council chamber space, as it would have been in the 1920s.

Wath Hall website

Images: Wath Hall Ltd

Read more...

News: "Tribe" launches to attract young women into engineering

"Be brave, try new things and don't be afraid to ask questions." That's the advice Nuclear AMRC researcher and Great British Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal gave to a room full of girls at the recent launch of the #AMRCtribe campaign.

As a STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) ambassador, Rahul said he was honoured to help kick start the campaign, which has been developed by the University of Sheffield AMRC to tackle one of the serious challenges facing engineering - attracting more women into the industry.

The #AMRCtribe campaign has set up an exclusive social media group to address this, providing a safe and supportive environment where young women can have the confidence to talk – outside of the school gates – about their interests in STEM subjects and pursuing STEM-related careers. This will be supported by social events to encourage the tribe to bond and foster close relationships between the members.

With bases on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham and a partner in the HVM Catapult (the government's strategic initiative that aims to revitalise the manufacturing industry), the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

Jenny Cassy, director of learning for Futures at Fir Vale School Academy Trust, attended the launch at the AMRC with girls from the school. She said: "It's been a fantastic day. What I think is really good about the tribe is the idea of being able to share information and for the girls to know what grades they need to get here and what they need to do to prepare for that.

"When our girls went on the tour of the AMRC, they all came away saying they want to come here. These are girls that live 15 minutes away from here and they had never thought about it before.

"From seeing and speaking to people they could relate to, and seeing facilities and showing them what's on offer, it has really opened their eyes to the opportunities that are there."

Advertisement

The institution operates the state-of-the-art AMRC Training Centre where current demographics, also seen among other STEM related subjects, remains predominantly and stubbornly male. This environment can be a powerful deterrent to young women identifying and choosing engineering as a compelling and attractive career choice.

"Put simply, there are not enough female engineers in the UK," said Rahul, who spoke to the girls about his role at the Nuclear AMRC and, of course, his passion for the science of baking. "The AMRC wants to help change that and I want to do everything I can to encourage young women to think about taking up engineering and encourage them towards STEM subjects."

The launch fittingly took place during International Women in Engineering week and was attended by 60 girls from six schools across the Sheffield city region who gathered at the AMRC's Knowledge Transfer Centre to learn more about #AMRCtribe and how they can benefit from being part of the group.

The schoolgirls were given tours across the AMRC campus to see first-hand some of the advanced technologies being developed by our researchers and engineers, such as 3D printing and Virtual Reality.

Ami Swales, from the AMRC STEM and Outreach Team, said: "Currently only 11% of the workforce in engineering is female which is much lower than other countries in Europe. We realise we need to act and promote positive role models and introduce the concept of engineering as a career to young women at school age.

"From our work in going out to schools across the city region, we found that within many of the schools there were pockets of young people that had an interest in STEM subjects but because that wasn’t shared by their peers they didn't go on to study those subjects.

"That's why we decided to do something about it by creating the #AMRCtribe, a close knit, supportive forum for likeminded girls so they have somewhere to talk to each other and encourage each other.

"It is about raising awareness of STEM in a way that is attractive to young women and overcoming the predominantly male stereotypes that dominate the sector.

"The goal for us is to get more women into STEM careers no matter what the route they take to get there. We think this will open up a new world of opportunities for young women and provide the wider UK industrial base with the diverse and talented workforce it needs to grow and prosper in a sustainable way."

AMRC website

Images: AMRC

Read more...

News: Companies continue to invest in the SCR

More than 3,000 new jobs were created in the Sheffield city region (SCR) last year through domestic and foreign investment.

Approximately two thirds of those jobs have been created through 130 domestic investment projects, while a total of 1,010 new jobs have been created through 40 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects.

The 2018/19 figures are broadly similar to the previous financial year, when 3,857 new jobs were created across 152 different projects.

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, said: "It's good to see continued job creation and inward investment here in the Sheffield city region.

"With high-profile investments from companies such as McLaren and Boeing in recent years, increasing opportunities for cutting-edge collaborations between our world-leading universities and businesses, and an ambitious plan to improve our transport network, our region is an increasingly attractive place to live, work and invest.

"These new figures also indicate that we have held up well against the national picture, which has seen a 14% decrease in FDI projects, primarily due to uncertainty over Brexit.

"But while we're doing well, we can and should be doing better. To grow our economy on the scale that is required, we need a commitment from the new Prime Minister to devolve more powers, responsibilities and funding to regional decision-makers.

"Only then will we have the power to ensure investment is made where we know it will make the greatest impact."

Advertisement

Beckie Hart, director at CBI Yorkshire and Humber, added: "These figures show that the Sheffield city region remains extremely attractive to investors, and are testament to the strength of the region's offer to investors. We are a hub for technology, research and innovation.

"I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mayor Jarvis as he drives forward his economic vision to help unlock more jobs, investment and prosperity for the region as a whole."

Of the FDI investment last year, 40 projects have together created 1,010 jobs. Recent foreign investment into Rotherham includes Luxembourg-based United Caps announcing plans to invest some €20m in a new production facility in Dinnington. Rotherham-based Glassolutions Installation business of the Saint-Gobain Group was acquired by CoBe Capital, a global private investment firm.

Recommended reading: What makes plastic caps manufacturers essential for modern industries?

Of the domestic investment, 66 of the total 130 new projects are in Doncaster, with 42 in Barnsley, 10 in Sheffield and four in Rotherham. A total of 2,300 new jobs have been created through those projects, 776 of which are in Doncaster and 774 in Sheffield.

SCR Invest website

Images: United Caps

Read more...