News: Rotherham business earns £10k boost

Rotherham-based Kirsty Glover, the proud owner of The Pouring House, has been awarded £10K worth of business start up support from young Yorkshire millionaire Nicky Story.

A relatively new family-run, small business based in Aston, creating luxury soy wax melts since earlier this year; Kirsty’s business was born in lockdown whilst she was furloughed. Initially starting as a hobby selling to family and friends, the business has now broken into the wider market, something she didn’t anticipate having originally established it simply as a distraction from Covid and a release from dealing with her health challenges, as she is currently in remission from Cancer.

Nicky Story, 29 from Mexborough is the CEO of Supplies For Candles and The Soap Kitchen - b2b businesses that sit behind the success of thousands of others an online supplier of candle and soap making ingredients to a growing craft industry. £10K is the value of what it had cost him to set up his business five years ago from his garage, and he is now is the owner of two multi-million-pound businesses – he has proven that in times of struggle, entrepreneurs stick together as he has turned Covid on its head for several thousand small business owners with his generosity, this month adding a further £10K contribution to his gifting.

Nicky said; “2020 has been a really hard year for a lot of people and I wanted to do my bit to help. So, I decided to do a £10K giveaway to help others build their business. We received hundreds of applications and it was so difficult to choose one winner, but Kirsty’s story in particular stood out from the crowd. I know how hard it is to get a business off the ground and have failed before I succeeded - but I also know how empowering it is to be the master of your own ship. I can’t wait to continue to support her in 2021.”

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Run from her kitchen at home, Kirsty is looking forward to working with Nicky on this amazing venture as she has seen how he has built his own business and she would love to follow in his footsteps.

As the CEO of Supplies For Candles and The Soap Kitchen - online suppliers of candle and soap making ingredients to a growing craft industry, Nicky is at the helm of the largest online company in Europe within the industry, and as such has helped thousands of others become successful entrepreneurs too including; Ava May Aromas loved by many celebs including cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch.

Nicky was joined by Hannah Chapman the owner Ava May Aromas as they both made a surprise visit to Kirsty’s doorstep in Aston to let her know she was the winner.

Kirsty said: “I’m still in shock – stuff like this doesn’t happen to people like me and it’s just going to be life changing. This started as a way to keep busy and it got a bit bigger than we expected. I can’t explain to you what it means.”

Hannah Chapman from Ava May Aromas will be supporting Kirsty with her brand and marketing strategies, she said; “When I found out that Supplies for Candles were doing this amazing giveaway, I wanted to get involved and to give back to the winner, share my advice, tips and hopefully help them grow their brand as well.”

Kirsty’s £10K prize includes; website update and bespoke branding package, £5,000 worth of start-up stock, a brand new laptop, label printer and camera, dedicated 1 to 1 business mentoring session with Nicky and business start-up plan.

Supplies For Candles website
The Pouring House Facebook page

Images: Supplies For Candles

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News: Plans in for large Rotherham housing developments

A number of seperate planning applications have been submitted for hundreds of new houses across Rotherham.

At Dinnington, Barratt Homes is hoping to secure approval for a development of 151 new dwellings on land at Lodge Lane.

The Former Dinnington Miners’ Welfare Recreation Ground site is currently unmanaged grassland with a disused multi-use hardcourt and overgrown abandoned mini-golf course. The site was abandoned around ten years ago and the buildings have been demolished and the remaining play facilities are derelict and overgrown.

It is approximately 12 acres in size and is part of a wider 16 acre housing allocation in Rotherham's adopted Local Plan.

The primary access would be from Lodge Lane, close to Dinnington RUFC, and the plans include two, three, four-bedroom houses.

At Swallownest, Bellway Homes has submitted an application for 99 new homes at Park Hill.

The proposals for farmland to the east of Park Hill Farm include the erection of 99 dwellings, including 17 affordable dwellings, the creation of a new access road, and landscaping/open space works. The sole vehicular access into the site will be taken from Park Hill adjacent to the entrance of Park Hill Farm.

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At Waverley, Avant has acquired 12.94 acres of land from Harworth Group where it intends to build 144 new family homes, representing its third land purchase at Harworth's flagship development. The transaction takes the total number of residential plots sold at Waverley to over 1,700 since 2012, further demonstrating the significant contribution that Harworth is making to Sheffield City Region’s housing market.

Also at Waverley, plans for Sky-House phase 2 have been approved.

An ambitious campaign funded by Homes England's Home Building Fund, the project is based around the already hugely acclaimed back-to-back housing model created by the architects at Sheffield's CODA Studios.

David Cross, chairman of CODA, said: "This new phase, which should go to site in the new year, will feature four four-bedroom town houses and, most excitingly, 40 of the next generation of the Sky-House, all built around a steel frame structure to aid the speed of construction and enhance the project’s already outstanding environmental credentials."

Images: Barratt / CODA

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News: Apprentice of the Year Bethany gears up for bright future

A ‘proven high-flier displaying ambition and academic excellence’ is how Bethany Cousins was described by Stanley Black & Decker boss Sir George Buckley when he announced her as overall winner of the AMRC Training Centre Apprentice of the Year Awards.

The AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham where the focus is on students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships.

Bethany, a Manufacturing Technology degree apprentice who works as a project engineer at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), was crowned the 2020 champion by Sir George at an online celebration held on Thursday, December 17. She was also named ‘degree apprentice of the year’, making it a double win for the talented 25-year-old.

Bethany, whose work for the AMRC Gear Centre team focuses on developing novel gear cutting techniques for gear manufacturing, was ‘shocked and beyond grateful’ to have been recognised for both awards.

“It honestly means the absolute world to me and is the perfect positive ending to this year in particular,” she said. “This has definitely been the highlight and the best way I could have ever wanted to end my apprenticeship journey.

“I can't thank all of the staff and trainers at the AMRC Training Centre enough. I can honestly say I wouldn't be the engineer I am today without each of them and the AMRC has been a support network beyond anything I could have asked for in an employer.”

Sir George, whose company Stanley Black & Decker was headline sponsor for this year’s awards, left school with no qualifications and began his extraordinary career as an apprentice electrician at Stanley, going on to become the first non-American to be made head of 3M and the only British CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

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He was part of the panel that chose this year's winners and described Bethany as a ‘committed and impressive apprentice’, praising her abilities as an engineer and a skills ambassador for the region.

“Bethany displayed great ambition and academic excellence and is regarded as absolutely outstanding by the AMRC Training Centre, having impressed with her academic achievements,” said Sir George. “She scored the top mark at the end of her degree apprenticeship second year and has gone on to achieve a clear first-class honours degree.

“There’s no doubt in the judges’ minds that Bethany is a genuine and proven high-flier. She has shown determination second-to-none which has helped her excel in her studies and play a pivotal role in her position within the AMRC.

“We were very impressed with Bethany’s ambassadorial qualities - she genuinely champions the principles of apprenticeships and is an inspirational role model to all young engineers.”

A celebration event had been scheduled to take place earlier this year at Firth Court in Sheffield but the Covid-19 pandemic meant the ceremony had to move to the virtual world with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre holding a ‘24-hour social media takeover’ to mark the occasion.

Nominations for the awards were made by employers and trainers to recognise the achievement or contribution apprentices have made to industry and were judged by a panel of AMRC Training Centre staff and award sponsors.

As part of her prize for winning the overall Apprentice of the Year 2020 title, Bethany will be rewarded with a visit to Stanley Black & Decker’s Global Tools & Storage headquarters in Towson, Maryland, USA - when safe to do so - and will have the opportunity of additional training that includes best practice in advanced, innovative subjects such as automation, robotics, additive design and manufacturing.

Bethany, of Sheffield, is excited for what the future holds.

“I can't even get my head around the prize at this stage, for me this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I am so unbelievably excited about,” she said. “I’m hoping for onwards and upwards in the future, continuing to develop my skills and capabilities as an engineer and striving for the best opportunities and achievements that I can reach.”

Ben Cook, Technical Fellow at the AMRC who leads the Gear Centre research team, said Bethany’s appetite and enthusiasm for engineering is boundless and she is an asset to the AMRC.

He said: “As soon as she joined us as a machinist, she quickly learned how to get the most out of our new machine tools and was soon suggesting methods of enhancing the quality and productivity of the components she was making for us.

“Now, as a project engineer, she undertakes a much broader role including design of experiments, programming, analysis of data and reporting of results to customers and academia.

“Bethany is accomplished in each area and developing further at pace, which shows the great benefit of her apprenticeship background which has given her such a solid foundation in manufacturing science and application.

“She is an enormous asset to the Gear Centre team, the wider AMRC and the clients she is undertaking research for and is a highly worthy winner of the Apprentice of the Year award.”

Other winners at this year’s annual awards were:

- Fabrication and Welding: Rhys Jordan Lowe of Dearneside Fabrications, sponsored by C&S Fabrications;
- Maintenance: Joshua Keyworth of Pryor Marking Technology, sponsored by Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence;
- Machining: Dalton Philip Brodie of AESSEAL, sponsored by Sandvik Coromant;
- Technical Support: Will Smith of Radius Aerospace, sponsored by the MTA;
- First Year: Kirbi Leigh Taylor of NIKKEN, sponsored by Hallam FM;
- HNC Achiever of the Year: Jordan Clayton of Polypipe, sponsored by NIKKEN;
- Degree Apprentice: Bethany Cousins of University of Sheffield AMRC, sponsored by Close Brothers;
- Special Recognition Award: Dalton Philip Brodie of AESSEAL, sponsored by Boeing.

Outstanding contribution awards sponsored by the University of Sheffield AMRC were given to university teacher Kathryn Jackson for her ‘unrivalled attention to detail, tenacity and determination’ and the integral part she played in developing the centre’s degree programme. Also recognised was programme administrator Linda White for the care and help given to students, who described her as being ‘worth her weight in gold’.

Director of the AMRC Training Centre, Nikki Jones, is proud of ‘each and every one’ of the apprentices; not only for how they have coped with the challenges brought about by the Covid pandemic during 2020 but for their dedication and commitment to achieving their apprenticeship ambitions.

“This ceremony has always been about embracing the future and that feels more relevant now than ever as we look to the talents of our smart apprentices to help manufacturing and engineering on the road to recovery and towards a smart, sustainable resilient future," she said.

“It’s been a tough year for all of us but I can’t help but be filled with pride when I think of how our apprentices have risen to the challenges brought about by the pandemic; they have proven themselves with a determined passion and tenacity to succeed.”

Steve Foxley, CEO of the University of Sheffield AMRC, congratulated the apprentices and said they should serve as an inspiration to all.

"We’re hugely proud of our apprentices. Seeing their impressive achievements fills me with hope for the future" he said. “They are part of the pipeline of talent that draws manufacturers large and small to invest in the Sheffield City Region. It’s why we are committed to supporting the quality education needed to fuel the manufacturing and engineering sectors both regionally and nationally, equipping them with the highly-skilled workforces they need to innovate, grow and succeed.

"Apprentices are not only the lifeblood for the region’s businesses, they are leading the transformation towards a green, sustainable and a resilient economy. That's why credit must go to the AMRC Training Centre - a critical part of the wider AMRC family whose tremendous positive impact on the region makes it a true engine of social change."

University of Sheffield Vice Chancellor, Prof Koen Lamberts, praised the apprentices for the resilience they have shown throughout the pandemic and the impact they continue to have on their companies. In a video message for the ceremony, he told them: "You make a real difference, and I know you will continue to do so in the months and years ahead. ​The stories we have heard show why apprentices like you and the excellent training you receive here are so important."

AMRC Training Centre website

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News: "UK’s largest battery" now live in Rotherham

Gresham House Energy Storage Fund and flexible energy specialist Flexitricity have announced that the UK's largest battery is now live.

Edinburgh based Flexitricity is optimising the Gresham House c.50MW / 75MWh battery, located in Thurcroft, Rotherham, generating revenue for the site while helping National Grid ESO balance supply and demand.

The project will trade the lithium-ion battery storage site in the wholesale markets and tender for frequency response services to help meet the nation’s energy needs and optimise revenue for the site. Flexitricity took the asset into National Grid ESO’s new Dynamic Containment frequency response service on day one and has been securing daily contracts at high value ever since.

The UK now boasts around 1GW installed battery storage capacity and the market needs further growth to facilitate a net zero energy system.

Andy Lowe, Director at Flexitricity, said: "Flexibility is a hugely important part of decarbonising the grid and batteries are an excellent source of flexibility. Investors are getting comfortable with the business case for energy storage and it’s great this year to be seeing a number of large batteries coming onto the system, providing more of the rapid response flexibility National Grid ESO needs to maintain system stability.

"In today’s markets, maximising value for battery assets requires a huge amount of expertise and agility. We have a proven track record here, and we’re delighted that Gresham House has entrusted us to optimize a number of their sites, including the flagship Thurcroft battery.

"I’m glad to say we’re off to a great start and have been able to optimise revenue for the battery across a range of markets, including securing high prices in the first ever tender round of the newly launched Dynamic Containment service."

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Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc, the UK's largest operational utility-scale battery storage fund, recently completed its investment in the 50MW battery project. It was acquired for a total enterprise value of £32.5m.

John Leggate CBE, Chair of Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc, said: "Thurcroft is our largest battery project yet and we're delighted that it's now live. The dynamic fluctuations in power on the National Grid during lockdown, and the unassailable rise of wind and solar installations, have sharpened the focus on the need for fast-acting, flexible storage at scale. We're rising to this challenge by building and switching on more capacity, as the government and National Grid introduce new revenue opportunities that incentivise the wider use of battery storage in balancing the UK power system."

Ben Guest, managing director at Gresham House, added: "We have plans to grow our energy storage portfolio, aiming for over 350MW in operational assets by the end of 2020. Great Britain needs at least 10GW in the next few years to enable the orderly transition to a renewables-led electricity market.

"In turn, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the UK’s 2050 net zero ambitions, while achieving strong returns for our investors.

"We divide our storage projects between a range of optimisation partners and decided to entrust Flexitricity with Thurcroft having worked with them successfully on a previous project."

Flextricity website

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News: £4m investment at Rotherham-based manufacturer

M.R Machine Knives Limited (MRMK) has secured £4m to enable it to continue to grow.

The funding is via Foresight, a leading independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager, and will provide equity release and growth capital to allow the Dinnington business to scale.

MRMK supplies a diverse range of knives for the food production and packaging industries. The Company is known for its quality products and exceptional customer service, serving customers globally in 50 separate countries, with some 80% of sales exported worldwide.

Machine knives are critical components to the efficient running of machinery used throughout the food manufacturing supply chain. Quality and reliability are essential to the efficient running of manufacturing facilities in such high-volume environments and MRMK is now highly regarded in its chosen sectors, evidenced by the sustained growth over recent years.

Foresight's investment will drive further growth across the business, with plans to diversify the customer base by targeting new sectors and geographies as well as investing in further in-house manufacturing capabilities to expand the product range. As part of the transaction Foresight have introduced Dave Roberts as Chairman. Dave was a founder and CEO across a number of food packaging manufacturers, so has strong knowledge of the Company’s products and market dynamics.

Foresight has significant experience supporting SME manufacturing businesses with other current investments including Envair Technology (manufacturer of air containment solutions) and Swype (specialist plastic card manufacturer).

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Michael Bailey, managing director of M.R Machine Knives, said: "The Company has grown year-on-year since it was formed 12 years ago, but in order to take it to the next level we needed to bring on board a new partner to help the business realise its full potential.

"The Hawsons Corporate Finance team were given the remit to identify an investor that would not only offer financial backing but also help the Company enter new markets whilst continuing to achieve operational excellence. Foresight Group was identified as the perfect partner to help drive the Company’s growth ambitions and deliver these aims. I look forward to the future and I am confident that the business will flourish with Foresight’s support and backing."

Rob Jones, Senior Investment Manager at Foresight, added: "Michael, supported by the wider team at MRMK, has built a very strong business from the ground up to become one of the most reputable companies within its sector. The Company’s reputation for quality and service delivery really stood out throughout the process and the sustained growth over recent years has been impressive. The sector has demonstrated robust trading during the pandemic and the Company is well positioned to capitalise on positive market dynamics by further expanding its manufacturing capabilities, supported by Foresight’s investment."

Foresight was supported by BHP and WhiteCap on financial and commercial due diligence and a legal team from Freeths led by Lisa Wallis. MRMK were advised by Hawsons, led by Pete Wilmer and Jack Ware with CMS advising the vendors on legal matters.

MRMK website

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News: Brearley & Co welcome four new apprentices

Top Rotherham accountancy firm, Brearley & Co, has welcomed four new apprentices to their growing team.

Florence Davidson, Alex Wootton, Luke Campbell and Casey Jo Ezeldine joined the Brearley team in November. The apprentices will learn the skills needed for specific roles, and study for accountancy qualifications along the way.

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Alan Cotton, Partner at Brearley & Co, said: “We have always been proud of the fact we invest in apprentices and fund all their studying up to the level they want to achieve. Setting on four people at the same time is a record for us and demonstrates that not only are we continuing to expand in these very difficult times, but we are adding extra resources to maintain the high level of service we provide to our clients.”

Brearley & Co specialise in a variety of accountancy services including tax planning, accounts, payroll, and corporate finance.

Brearley & Co website

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News: £60m investment confirmed for Rotherham steel plant

Liberty Steel has committed £60m at its South Yorkshire GREENSTEEL production hub at Rotherham to boost production to over one million tonnes per annum.

The firm has made substantial investments in the Rotherham steel operations it acquired three years ago from Tata Steel, when the business was producing just 225,000 tonnes per annum. In 2018, HRH Prince Charles switched on the second Electric Arc Furnace, the "N Furnace" at Aldwarke.

Various upgrades to the plant has enabled the business to more than double production at Rotherham to over 500,000 tonnes per annum and the production of its new rebar products started in Rotherham recently.

The latest investments will remove production bottlenecks at the N-Furnace and small bloom caster. Liberty will launch a public tender to upgrade its N-Furnace for increased scrap steel melting, make upgrades to Thrybergh Bar Mill and install a new Rod Block to produce wire rod and de-bar in coil.

The programme will boost supply of sustainably-produced reinforcing bar "GreBar" for schools, hospitals, houses, energy facilities and transport links as part of the UK government’s £100bn infrastructure spending plan. Liberty's production increase will reduce the UK’s reliance on imported steel, helping to strengthen the UK supply chain and secure high-value jobs.

The new initiatives follow hot on the heels of the first shipments of GreBar from Thrybergh targeted at UK infrastructure projects such as HS2. LIBERTY aims to partner with a rebar fabrication company onsite for GreBar production.

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At the same time, Liberty and Acenta Steel, part of the AARTEE Group, have agreed a deal to combine their engineering bar divisions to deliver a stronger, more efficient high precision steel business supplying industrial customers.

The deal will create AARTEE Bright Bar, a UK market leader in bright bar steel used for high quality components in the automotive, general engineering, hydraulics and yellow goods industries. Julian Schoch, existing Managing Director of the Liberty Engineering Bar division, will be Chief Executive of the combined business which will have operations in South Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Liberty's Engineering Bar business has manufacturing facilities on two sites in Rotherham and Wednesbury, consisting of Bright Bar Rotherham (BBR), Bright Bar Wednesbury (BBW) and Roundwood Processing Centre (RPC).

Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman of GFG Alliance (which owns Liberty), said: "Liberty's programme of further investment in south Yorkshire is proof that the UK steel industry can deliver the low carbon infrastructure Britain needs to build back better. With Government backing for UK steel in procurement for major construction projects, a resurgent steel sector can deliver a new generation of industrial skills and jobs."

Jon Ferriman, managing director at Liberty Steel UK, added: "We've already taken big strides by doubling production at Rotherham to 500,000 mt since we acquired the business, including the launch of sustainably-produced new components such as GreBar perfect for infrastructure projects like HS2.

"The investments we’re announcing today will now double production yet again and put us right on course to hit our target to produce one million tonnes a year at Rotherham. This is a truly exciting prospect for Rotherham which will guarantee its long term viability producing sustainable GREENSTEEL for the growing construction and engineering sectors in the UK."

Liberty Steel website

Images: Liberty Steel

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News: Rotherham literacy charity receives Capital Kickstart grant

Grimm & Co has been been awarded a £500,000 Capital Kickstart grant as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, enabling the Rotherham literacy charity to push forward with their transformation project despite the financial challenge caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

The Capital Kickstart grants programme helps organisations cover costs added to capital projects such as building works, refurbishments, and large-scale equipment purchases by pandemic-related delays or fundraising shortfalls.

Following the purchase of their building on Ship Hill in the centre of Rotherham, Grimm & Co were looking to proceed with the renovation and refurbishment work when lockdown hit in March. The closure of the story centre and magical shop on Doncaster Gate, the diversion of promised funds and the enforced cancellation of fundraising events, meant that plans for the building were put on hold and all efforts concentrated on taking their creative delivery to children and young people online and directly into communities.

The capital kickstart funding will help Grimm & Co to make changes to design and build plans that will assure public confidence regarding COVID-19. It will also plug the funding gap brought about by the impact of the pandemic.

This fund, together with earlier funds secured, kickstarts phase 1 of the capital project. Grimm & Co is awaiting further funding news that would secure phase 2 which would see the whole of the construction works secured.

Grimm & Co now plans to start on a transformed story destination, initiating works to create a new and improved Grimm & Co, a magical emporium of stories for the centre of Rotherham, serving Yorkshire, Humber and beyond. The initial phases of the build include repairs to the roof, the installation of lift access to each floor, so that the building is fully accessible to all, and a new floor to expand the creative delivery space.

The unique gift shop from Grimm & Co’s previous home will be recreated within this new story destination for families, including an independent bookshop and café with magical and mortal menu options.

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Should the further funding be secured, all works can take place simultaneously, including the external works and the upper floor construction, creating three exciting large, new writers' pads (classrooms) giving Grimm & Co the opportunity to reach more schools and children once face-to-face activities are able to return.

In the meantime, Grimm & Co will be taking their interactive, immersive workshops out to schools and to children and young people across Yorkshire, as well as providing creativity packs supporting vulnerable groups in Rotherham.

The online shop also remains open for quirky, unusual and personalised gifts and a pop-up shop has been in place at Talbot Lane.

Sarah Dunwell, Chair of the board of Trustees at Grimm & Co, said: "We are thrilled to be granted this funding, enabling us to go ahead with our transformational project for the people of Rotherham. This has been a difficult year, especially for vulnerable children and families, and we have demonstrated the need for our services. We are so pleased to be able to develop this in our larger, more accessible space in the future. This is part of the next chapter of our story, and we are awaiting the result of the Future High Streets Fund bid to find out if we can deliver the whole project as planned."

Deborah Bullivant, Founding CEO of Grimm & Co, added: "The pandemic has impacted on Grimm & Co's work in so many ways, having a disastrous effect on our fundraising to develop our new home into the enchanting story emporium and family destination our charity plans to create. However, this recent, exciting news that our application to the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund was successful means that we can restart our building programme, supporting plans to make our building safe, dry and of course, extraordinarily magical!"

Grimm & Co website

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News: Prioritise linking Northern cities over HS2, commission finds

Improving rail links between cities in the North and Midlands should be the first priority of a new approach to end stop-start investments and help level up the UK as part of a wider economic strategy, according to a major new report by the National Infrastructure Commission.

The Commission was asked by the Prime Minister in February 2020 to undertake an assessment of proposed major rail schemes to help inform the government’s Integrated Rail Plan.

The Commission’s report, published today, highlights the strategic case for major rail investment across the North and Midlands, and the need for the government’s forthcoming plan to set out a rolling programme of affordable investments.

The report presents a detailed analysis of how different sets of schemes currently proposed within the North and Midlands – including Northern Powerhouse Rail between Liverpool and Hull, the Midlands Engine Rail programme, and HS2 phase 2b linking Birmingham to Manchester via Crewe, and to Leeds via the East Midlands – might be sequenced and prioritised.

The analysis uses an original methodology to assess how different packages of potential projects would improve connections between places and productivity within them, the value schemes might create by connecting people to services concentrated in cities, and their likely environmental impact.

Since rail performs most cost effectively when providing high capacity transport into and between large population centres, the Commission’s analysis suggests that initially prioritising links between nearby cities is likely to achieve greater economic benefits more quickly for the Midlands and the North than alternative schemes, based on their current state of development.

This is because such packages:

- improve the quality of regional, largely east to west rail links between cities within the Midlands and the North, which are generally inferior to longer distance rail links
- focus on schemes that can provide the biggest potential improvements in productivity across the Midlands and the North
- deliver greater improvements to connectivity for several key cities, including Nottingham, Coventry, Derby, Manchester and Liverpool, while also providing significant improvements to a range of smaller places, such as Crewe, Doncaster, Huddersfield and Warrington, and potentially Hull under the electrification programme
- address the biggest problems of existing poor capacity and connectivity, with significant further capacity added to Birmingham, Manchester and around Leeds, particularly on the route to York, and improved connectivity between and within the West and East Midlands, for example dramatically improving journey times between Birmingham and Nottingham
- focus improvement on the journeys that people are most likely to take – into cities from the surrounding area, rather than into London (for example, in 2018-19, 60 per cent of rail journeys in Yorkshire and the Humber were between places in the region, while only 10 per cent were to London).

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The Commission stresses that while higher local economic benefits are likely to be delivered by initially prioritising regional links, this does not rule out the further development of options to complete the HS2 Phase 2 eastern leg.

As it stands, Rotherham looks more likely to have direct access to upgraded lines through Northern Powerhouse Rail and not HS2. A NPR station on the Midland Mainline at Rotherham is also being put forward.

The Commission outlines how different mixes of schemes could fit together to deliver strategic objectives within certain budget envelopes. These indicative budgets begin at £86bn, the amount the Commission proposed should be spent on strategic rail schemes in the North and Midlands (including relevant parts of Hs2 phase 1 and 2a) based on cost estimates at the time of the 2018 National Infrastructure Assessment, consistent with the Commission’s fiscal remit. Acknowledging that government may decide to invest greater amounts in rail, the Commission sets out possible scenarios for the most effective investment of indicative budgets of £108bn (a 25% increase) and £129bn (a 50% increase).

While it is for government to decide the appropriate level of spending on rail investments, the significant increase in the cost of many rail schemes since the National Infrastructure Assessment was published two years ago means that £86bn now only provides enough funding for upgrades and some new lines, which the Commission believes is unlikely to meet the strategic objective of levelling up in the North and the Midlands.

The Commission advises that, as part of an adaptive approach, government could sensibly begin by committing to a core set of programmes. It notes that some elements of the major rail projects proposed for the Midlands and the North, including the Transpennine Route Upgrade, Midland Main Line electrification and some Midlands Engine Rail schemes, present opportunities for earlier delivery as work is underway already, or because they are independent of other major schemes.

The Commission suggests that there is a strategic case for increasing the budget to ‘plus 50 per cent’ if core schemes remain on track and public finances can accommodate greater investment in complementary initiatives to support regional growth. To help inform these decisions, work should continue to develop plans for schemes not included in the core set of programmes.

The report notes that major changes in economic geography are unlikely to happen without improvements to rail, but that transport cannot deliver this alone. The Commission therefore recommends that the government’s Integrated Rail Plan should form part of a wider approach developed with relevant local authorities to include housing, urban transport and skills.

The Commission also stresses that given the time it currently takes to bring new railway lines into service, government must consider ways of accelerating benefits to passengers in the North and Midlands, including rolling stock upgrades and giving city leaders the long term funding to develop strategies for improving urban transport, which can bring benefits faster than major intercity rail.

Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, said: “Major rail schemes will be an important component in levelling up the country’s economic geography, but we should ensure public money is carefully spent where it can make the most difference.

“The number and scale of rail schemes currently being proposed for the North and Midlands mean that some form of prioritisation will be necessary, and we think there are ways of bringing forward benefits for communities and businesses while keeping options open for additional investments if the circumstances are right.

“Our independent analysis offers government various ways of targeting spending depending on the precise economic and social outcomes it wants to achieve.”

Images: NIC

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News: Plans in for Primark pocket park

A planning application has been submitted as Rotherham Council moves quickly to create a temporary park on the site of the vacanct former Primark store in the town centre.

Having announced the acquistion of the property using Government funding last month, the authority has worked with agents, WYG, to submit proposals that cover the demolition of the High Street buildings and the creation of a park.

The long term ambition for the site is as residential use but this application enables a park to be in place for five years, allowing for housing plans to be drawn up and for funding to be found.

The area was previously the site of a Mosanic Hall and the site was developed as a picture house and restaurant in 1934 (the Whitehall Theatre originally openend on the site in January 1924). This was demolished and replaced by the current retail building in 1965. Built for BHS, the site was occupied most recently by Primark who relocated to Parkgate in 2017. The site has remained vacant ever since.

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Only 0.08 hectares of the 0.24 hectares site are propsed to be used as the park. The remaining area away from the High Street is set to remain closed and unused.

Proposals include astrotrufed terraces, seating and trees, as well as branding features.

Also included in the plans are three "pods" on the site which would be occupied by food and beverage vendors.

The application explains: "The public space is proposed to be a mixture of hard and soft landscaping which will include seating areas, picnic benches and public art installations. These art installations are intended to play a multi-purpose role, including providing an opportunity for children to play freely on and acting as a branding for the site to create a sense of place.

"Due to the site’s topography, the public space will have a stepped profile with details included on the submitted application drawings. Also due to the topography, a staircase is proposed to be included to provide a direct connection between the site and Snail Hill to the west.

"Red scaffolding with black mesh is proposed to encase the site along the eastern and western borders, along the adjacent building facades, and along the southern border to create a sense of enclosure."

The site is located within the Rotherham Conservation Area and the applicants conclude that the building which is proposed to be demolished has been found to have limited architectural and historic merit, and that the demolition would improve the setting of the Conservation Area and nearby heritage assets.

£1m grant funding was secured from government as part of the Towns Fund accelerator programme for the project.

Images: RMBC / WYG / Google Maps

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News: Planning consent for M18 development

Stretton Property Group has successfully secured outline planning consent for over 720,000 sq ft of prime industrial opportunities at Interchange Park, J1 of the M18 in Rotherham. The development has the capacity to create over 1,000 regional jobs.

Rothbiz reported last month that the plans were set for approval after information regarding the transport impact and access was updated.

The planning consent granted to Stretton Property Group from Rotherham Council will bring forward a new logistics warehouse development to address chronic regional shortages of prime, Grade A industrial accommodation to meet the continued high levels of demand across the sector. Stretton has appointed the industrial agency teams at CBRE and M1 to market the scheme.

The 40 acre Cumwell Lane site, located strategically at the tip of the M1/M18 triangle, has outline planning consent to deliver up to 720,000 sq ft of B2, B8 and E(g) employment space. The scheme can accommodate a range of Grade A industrial warehouse unit sizes, suitable to a variety of occupiers. The units will be designed to incorporate office accommodation and extensive parking.

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Agents say that the development comes at a time where there is an acute lack of supply across the region and as a result, the scheme is expected to attract a mix of regional and national occupiers looking to be strategically located within Yorkshire.

Edward Chantler, Group CEO at Stretton Property Group, said; "We are delighted to have secured consent to unlock this strategic, job creating site and to facilitate the delivery of much needed stock for the Yorkshire industrial market. The regional logistics sector continues to go from strength to strength and we are pleased to bring Interchange Park to the market to deliver a range of opportunities for occupiers in South Yorkshire."

Mike Baugh, senior director of industrial agency at CBRE, added: "It's fantastic news that Stretton Property Group has secured outline planning for Interchange Park. Yorkshire will represent around 30% of all the UK logistics take-up this year due to its appeal to a wide range of occupiers. As a result, we are experiencing severe shortages of big box supply in the region and Interchange Park is hitting the market at the right time to satisfy occupier demand. The site's key location and the potential range of accommodation opportunities make the development an excellent choice for a wide variety of occupiers."

Interchange Park website

Images: Stretton / CBRE

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News: PES Performance working on "Tesla of e-bikes"

With extensive expertise in carbon fibre, PES Performance in Rotherham are working on designs for the world's most sophisticated e-bike.

Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd is a high-performance engineering solutions business.

The team is working on a project, known as the Rapture eBike, which is built with a lightweight and durable carbon-fibre monocoque in place of the traditional double-diamond bike frame. It has been engineered by the experienced design team from PES Performance in conjunction with CrownCruiser Motors.

The project has now received a £139,970 grant from Innovate UK, which will help enable CrownCruiser Motors to set up an operations and assembly centre in Sheffield, working in partnership with Sheffield City Region to build, promote and sell the eBike.

Adebola Adeleye, founder of CrownCruiser Motors and brainchild of the Rapture, said: "This moment is many years in the making, driven by a deep passion to develop an eBike that would revolutionise sustainable transport. With the Rapture, we will bring a design and quality of materials that has never been produced at such an attainable and affordable price point.

"To achieve that, we are harnessing some of the UK's best design and engineering expertise to bring the Rapture vision to life. With the help of Innovate UK’s funding, we are on track to make this vision a reality."

Dean Gardner, engineering director at PES Performance, added; "This is an exciting project for us to be involved with. We have used much of our composites experience and skills from high performance motorsport, in the design and creation of the Rapture carbon fibre eBike. We're looking forward to helping CrownCruiser Motors bring a whole new eBike concept to market."

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Pitched as a desirable alternative to motorised transport, the Rapture is an eBike that you actually want to be seen on, "its styling fits a modern futuristic city that has said goodbye to dirty congestion."

Dame Sarah Storey, Sheffield City Region active travel commissioner, said: “Electric bikes are proving to be an important factor in enabling more people to cycle in the Sheffield City Region. Throughout this pandemic the demand for eBikes has been significant.

“This Innovate UK funding helps Sheffield to lead the development and assembly of the superbly crafted CrownCruiser eBikes, which will be an important part of delivering additional capacity to consumers and to build the skills base in the region.”

Innovate UK Executive Chair, Dr Ian Campbell, commented: “In these difficult times we have seen the best of British business innovation. The pandemic is not just a health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy.

“CrownCruiser, along with every initiative Innovate UK has supported by this fund is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development. Each one is also helping to realise the ambitions of hard-working people.”

The start up has a carbon fibre lay up facility under construction in Nigeria - the rest of the market relies heavily on China.

CrownCruiser website
PES website

Images: CrownCruiser

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News: Lontra to develop service centre on Rotherham's Advanced Manufacturing Park

Lontra technology company has announced that it will develop a high-value digital services centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The firm, headquartered in Warwickshire, has secured £1.58m from the Sheffield City Region Local Growth Fund via the Local Enterprise Partnership, to support the project.

The new facility is expected to create 53 jobs in the area by 2024. Lontra is also set to create a number of new technical jobs as the business develops, some of which will be filled by local graduates and apprentices, for which the company will work with local universities and the AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre).

The Lontra Blade Compressor is a step change in compressor technology. It is the first clean-sheet compressor design in over 80 years and can be used across many sectors such as aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical manufacture and water treatment. It is proven to be 21% more efficient than the next competitor, offering incredible energy savings along with big improvements in reliability.

In the next phase of its ambitious plans, Lontra will set up a customer support operation in a new building also at the AMP. This will enable the company to undertake Research and Development activity with customers to support the development of innovative new products. Phase 2 will also see Lontra building a "smart" factory here in Sheffield, which will provide new engineering, research and development and technical support jobs.

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Steve Lindsey, CEO of Lontra (pictured), said: "This is the start of an ambitious programme to build our digital services business globally. We could have located it anywhere in the UK or indeed the world, but we chose Sheffield. Locating here means having access to an abundance of skilled workers and being able to build our supplier network on a local basis. We see it as a real win-win both for us and for the local economy.”

"Sheffield has a strong history of manufacturing excellence and we plan to collaborate with a number of organisations in the area, including the AMRC. The city is also well served by good access to motorway networks and the ports, which will have many benefits as the majority of our products will eventually be produced here and will be exported to the US."

LEP board papers show that the application focused on a £3.25m Research and Development project, which formed part of a larger £15m+ project to set up a "smart" factory in Sheffield.

James Muir, Chairman of the Sheffield City Region, LEP, said: "This is the first step in a larger investment opportunity that will ultimately see Lontra basing its manufacturing capability here. It is great news that the new digital centre and future manufacturing plant will create many new high value jobs in the region.”

The Lontra Digital Centre will enable the company to develop its aftersales support services to customers for its compressor products worldwide. The Sheffield City Region grant will also be put towards the purchase of innovative 6-demonstrator machines which will use advanced artificial intelligence techniques and sensoring systems to enable customers’ machines to be controlled and monitored globally. This means Lontra will be able to reduce maintenance costs for its customers, minimise downtime and reduce energy bills.

Lontra website

Images: Lontra

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News: Historic house sold as Huthwaite moves on

Huthwaite International - the global training provider and behaviour change specialist – has relocated the company's UK headquarters from Rotherham to Sheffield.

Perhaps better known around the world than in the borough, the company is a market leading behaviour change consultancy and specialises in consulting and training on all aspects of sales. It works with major blue chip companies across the world including SAP, Medtronic and Siemens.

The move to offices at Fox Valley comes with the sale of Huthwaite's former home - Hoober House at Wentworth.

Rothbiz reported in March that Huthwaite had engaged leading property agent, Savills, to market the property for sale. It was sold from a guide price of £1.65m.

The sale documents describe the property as "a fine period stone built detached residence" which comes together with a refurbished coach house with a front courtyard and "glorious private mature grounds and gardens" of approximately 5.25 acres and "an impressive sweeping tree lined driveway approach."

The buildings extend to some 9,935 sq ft of accommodation in the main house arranged over two main floors with a cellar. The Coach House offers a further 4,505 sq ft which is currently used as a business centre and training facility.

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Originally part of the renowned Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate, the property sits in a semi-elevated position with "glorious" west facing views across the adjoining Wentworth Estate.

Hoober House was built as the Dower House for the principal historic residence of Wentworth Woodhouse and was previously lived in by Lady Milton when she was a widow.

In 2018, Huthwaite secured planning consent for change of use back to a residential property.

Tony Hughes, chief executive officer of Huthwaite International, said: "We are really excited to be relocating our team to Fox Valley. This is a great location for us to continue to develop and grow our business and we are looking forward to being part of the Fox Valley community.

"The centre has great links to the wider region as well as fantastic facilities for our team when they’re working from the office."

Huthwaite website

Images: Savills

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News: £1.8m for skills-led economic recovery

Sheffield Hallam University and two partner colleges have been awarded more than £1.8m funding to support regional businesses during continued Covid restrictions and enable a skills-led economic recovery.

The project, led by Sheffield Hallam with support from further education delivery partners The Sheffield College and the RNN Group, will help companies to innovate and adapt to reach their full potential as the country deals with the impact of a second national lockdown.

RNN Group consists of University Centre Rotherham, Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College.

Businesses will be offered a diagnostic service through an ‘SME Hub’ and will receive a tailored package of products, services and academic expertise to support them during the ongoing challenges.

It will also support the development of skills and experience of students and graduates across the three institutions through project work, placements and internships with regional businesses.

The scheme will help to establish a dedicated team of small business experts to work with SMEs, start-ups and micro-businesses, to overcome challenges and develop new opportunities including:

- links to funded initiatives to help businesses to innovate and grow
- match skilled graduates and students for short and long-term projects and placements
- workforce upskilling and professional development programmes
- collaboration with sector-specialist academics to solve organisational problems

The University runs a number of programmes and initiatives which already support businesses regionally and across the UK, to help businesses access academic research and innovation, establish and build-up new businesses, and access new talent through placements, internships and apprenticeships.

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The new funding, from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), will bring the University’s and its partner Colleges’ business-facing services together to enable a bespoke package to be offered to SME businesses to overcome their specific challenges or realise opportunities.

Conor Moss, group director and dean of work-based learning at Sheffield Hallam, said: “This project will transform the way we work with businesses to ensure each client receives access to the right support, services and expertise to address the skills priorities and needs of the business.

“The Sheffield City Region will benefit from this service by increasing the number of SME businesses achieving or exceeding their growth aims, and by encouraging more young people to begin careers in the region once they finish their education – supporting the Government’s levelling up agenda.

“The programme will particularly benefit small or microbusinesses who are often challenged by limited resources, strategic planning capacity and the ability to engage with innovation and manage change.”

SHU website

Images: SHU

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News: Council outlines support for "excluded" Rotherham businesses

A special Cabinet meeting has been called by Rotherham Council to look at proposals to make sure families and small businesses get the support they need over the Christmas period.

Rothbiz reported last week that Rotherham had a £664k share of the Government's Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which is being passed on to local authorities to carry out a discretionary business support grant.

The money comes after campaigning from the likes of ExcludedUK, a grassroots volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation working towards bringing about an end to exclusions in the UK Government's Covid-19 financial support measures across all employment statuses, circumstances, professions and industries.

Rotherham councillors will discuss plans to support micro-enterprises and small businesses that are mobile or run from home. The scheme would also be open to people who are freelance and self-employed.

If approved, it will enable those businesses to receive discretionary grants of £500 – or up to £1,000 in some cases (subject to availability of funds).

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The eligibility criteria are likely to include that the business/trader should be:

- Able to demonstrate financial hardship related to Covid-19 and/or the resulting government-imposed restrictions on economic activity
- Able to evidence significant ongoing business costs
- A micro or small business (fewer than 49 employees)
- Unable to access existing government business or self-employment support schemes

The Leader of Rotherham Council, Councillor Chris Read, said: "Whilst we hope this small grant funding will give a little relief to the self-employed or others who have fallen through the cracks of other business support funding, we are acutely aware that it is only a little bit of relief. That is why I’ve written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government calling for a commitment to provide further support to areas like Rotherham, which have experienced a longer period of Tier 3 restrictions than most of the country.”

The proposals are set to be considered at a specially called Rotherham Council Cabinet meeting on December 10.

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham project to receive "reverse Beeching" funding

The regeneration of a former coalfield area of Rotherham could be in line for a boost after the Government got on board to provide a slice of its funding that is aimed at bringing underutilised rail routes back to life.

Rothbiz reported in July that three of the more than 50 proposals submitted to the £500m Restoring Your Railway Fund, involve underused lines in Rotherham.

A new station at the Waverley development has been successful in the second round of the Restoring Your Railway "Ideas Fund" that will progress plans to deliver new routes and improved connectivity, as well as developing plans for new stations to areas poorly served by public transport.

The bid centres on a new Waverley Station on the Sheffield-Lincoln Line (which skirts the Southern edge of the Waverley site and also serves Kiveton) and is linked to another bid, which is further developed, for the restoration of passenger services on the Barrow Hill line between Sheffield and Chesterfield, which was successful in this first round of the Ideas Fund.

Entries have been specifically judged on their ability to deliver real economic benefits and support left-behind communities, with investment targeted at regenerating local economies by supporting new house developments; opening up access to jobs and education or; boosting tourism.

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The Waverley project is one of 15 that will receive "up to £50,000" to accelerate plans.

A bid to restore passenger services on the South Yorkshire Joint Railway has not been successful in either rounds.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "For towns and villages left isolated and forgotten by Beeching cuts, restoring a rail line or a station has the potential to revitalise a community. It breathes new life into our high streets, drives investment in businesses and housing, and opens new opportunities for work and education.

"By building back with a real focus on better connections and supporting left-behind communities, we're delivering our promise to level up this country."

With regard to a potential new mainline station in Rotherham, it is hoped that it continues to be included in Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) – a network of new and significantly upgraded rail lines for the North of England. Statutory body, Transport for the North, recently agreed on an initial preferred way forward including initial route preferences. The Government’s Integrated Rail Plan is due to be published by the end of this year.

Images: Google Maps

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News: £7m Rotherham speculative industrial units advance

A £7m speculative development of ten industrial units in Rotherham is advancing on site with two units already under offer.

The development, totalling 82,250 sq ft and made possible with a £1.6m grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is being built by Rotherham based developer EV Waddington Ltd.

The accommodation at 31 East at Dinnington ranges from 4,830 upwards and offers prime industrial and manufacturing space targeted at SME occupiers, with the letting of units 9 and 10 totalling 24,940 sq ft already agreed.

31 East, built over three terraces, supplies much needed industrial and manufacturing accommodation for the South Yorkshire region, is expected to provide up to 180 full time jobs and generate £96m GVA over the next 10-year period.

Developer Tony Waddington said: "I am delighted to see the project progress and to be supporting continued economic growth in Rotherham.

"Quality units in a prime location means the site is appealing to both local and regional occupiers. The flexible range of accommodation will deliver a very successful development."

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Rebecca Schofield, partner at the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, which is marketing 31 East, added: "The premises are flexibly designed to allow units to be combined and accommodate a variety of uses and sizes, and address shortage in supply of industrial accommodation in the region.”

The units are finished to a modern specification with 6.5m internal height and full height roller shutter loading doors, three-phase electricity, LED lighting to the warehouse and fully fitted offices with fibre enabled.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott, said: "We know there is a market out there for high-quality industrial units like this and it’s good to see that units at the site already have agreements in place to be let. This is great news for Rotherham as we look to grow the local economy, employment opportunities and skills for our local residents."

As well as 31 East, E V Waddington Limited has already developed Northfield Business Park in Rotherham, Vantage Park in Sheffield, Shortwood Business Park in Barnsley, and Aldwarke Business Parks and Chesterton Court in Rotherham.

Waddington website
Knight Frank website

Images: Knight Frank

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News: Rotherham expected to make Covid business grants stretch further

The leader of Rotherham Council has criticised central government for the way it seems to expect the borough to make business support funding stretch twice as far as other areas of the country.

In a bid to support businesses and self-employed people during coronavirus, the Government's Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides local councils with funding to support closed businesses that do not directly pay business rates as well as businesses that do not have to close but which are impacted.

As South Yorkshire entered into the Tier 3 (very high risk) level in October, part of the agreement with government saw the Sheffield City Region (SCR) negotiate a business support package of £30m, known as the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).

£1.75m was allocated to target businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sector that have been able to open. £3m was allocated for businesses forced to close in Tier 3, such as pubs not serving meals; businesses forced to close since March 23, such as Nightclubs; and businesses forced to close due to the 2nd national lockdown.

£6m has been set aside to support the supply chain and another use of the ARG is a one-off payment of £500 for all taxi drivers.

£4m of the ARG is being passed on to local authorities to carry out a discretionary business support grant. On this, a paper to the Council's cabinet states: "The fund available to the Council is limited to £664k and as such the Council's scheme has been designed to have a mix of targeting the business areas that allows the Council to provide support to as many businesses as possible, whilst providing a payment value that is sufficient to support businesses in these challenging times."

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Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, has written to Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on the issue.

He writes: "Rotherham, like the rest of South Yorkshire, has faced a longer period of restrctions than most of the rest of the country with the resulting economic impact. However, in terms of discretionary business support funding it has been treated the same as areas that were in Tier 1 prior to the national lockdown and which will return there this week.

"In Rotherham, the additional funding is required to cover at least three weeks in Tier 3, the national lockdown, and potentially further subsequent restrictions - in effect our Additional Restrictions Grant is expected to stretch twice as far as it must in other parts of the country."

Read added that the £30m for the city region will not cover the support needed for businesses until the end of March. He concluded: "Parity with other, less badly affected parts of Britain is not a lot to ask."

The Council has also been administering the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) for businesses that were open as usual and were then required to close due to local restrictions. To date 1,229 businesses have received a business grant through the schemes, with total grants paid of £2.145m.

Images: RMBC

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News: New bar in Rotherham village

A derelict working men's club in the borough is being brought back to life.

The Barleycorn Working Men's Club and Institute in Dinnington has been derelict for the last three years and now plans have been submitted to change its use into a bar.

Applicant, Laura Stronarch, has submitted the change of use plans, and for an updated alcohol license, to Rotherham Council and work is well underway on a refurbishment.

However, with Rotherham and South Yorkshire placed in Tier 3 restrictions, the opening that was pencilled in for this week is on hold.

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Called "That Bar", the new venture on Barleycroft Lane, is set to specialise in real ales, wines and gin.

Operators are also considering take out orders and serving food in line with less strict restrictions.

That Bar Facebook page

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News: Steps Residential Care sold to national group

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of Steps Residential Care in Rotherham to Accrington-based healthcare provider, National Care Group (NCG).

Established in 1999, Steps Residential Care is a CQC registered care home in Kimberworth for people who require nursing or personal care for learning disabilities and physical disabilities. It employs 58 staff members and caters for a maximum of 26 service users. The business comprises a total of 26 single bedrooms spread across five adjacent properties which each have a dining room, a lounge, a modern kitchen with a breakfast and lounge area, and outdoor space.

Steps Residential Care was previously owned by Mrs Anna Brown, who decided to sell to pursue a well-earned retirement. Mrs Brown said: "Having spent a significant amount of my life dedicated to developing the services, individuals we support and staff, I felt the time was right to hand over the baton.

"I spent a long time looking for an organisation which, I felt, most closely mirrored the ethos and standards I have worked by but could take the organisation into the next chapter. When NCG approached me, I was pleased and comforted that Steps would be in safe hands to carry on the good work achieved over the last 22 years. I have found the NCG management and support teams attentive and professional, and I look forward to seeing Steps continue to thrive."

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The business has been purchased by NCG, an established provider of support services to vulnerable adults throughout the UK.

David Rowe-Bewick, Group Finance Director at NCG, said: "The acquisition of Steps Residential Care strengthens our presence in South Yorkshire and is an obvious fit with our own organisation as we look to extend our support services to an ever-increasing number of vulnerable people. As we look to the future, we remain focused on further expansion both from acquisitions and organic growth."

Julie Kitson, Director at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, added: "I am very pleased to have been instructed by Steps to help Anna and her family retire, and to assist NCG in their expansion plans. This deal demonstrates the appetite out there for care acquisitions."

Steps was sold off an asking price of £2.5m. Allied Irish Bank (GB) funded the acquisition. Avison Young provided both loan security advice and building condition surveys.

Images: Avison Young

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News: Lidl more information on Maltby store proposals

Lidl has released more information on its plans to redevelop the former library and fire station site on High Street in Maltby to provide a neighbourhood foodstore.

Rothbiz revealed in October that the German global discount chain had begun discussions with Rotherham Council over the demolition of the fire station. The authority sought interest in the former library in 2019. It has already been demolished.

Lidl has now begun gathering feedback before submitting a detailed planning application. Agents, Lichfields, state: "This multi-million pound investment, will see Lidl commit to building a sustainable store with a 1,256m² [13,500 sq ft] sales area, with plans to create 40 new full time and part time jobs. The supermarket will incorporate state of the art facilities including an instore bakery, customer toilets and ample parking for both cars and bicycles.

"The proposals will regenerate this key site adjacent to Maltby Town Centre and will improve the choice of retail facilities available to local residents."

Plans were approved to convert the fire station into a fish and chip shop but Lidl explains: "The Rotherham Local Plan allocates the site for Community Facilities based on its historic use, however these former community uses (the fire station and library) have now been relocated and replaced elsewhere in the area and the site is no longer required for ongoing community facilities use."

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The discounter is committed to fulfilling its ambitious store opening programme, despite disruption to construction amid the coronavirus pandemic. In July it confirmed plans to open over 25 stores, amounting to one per week, and create up to 1,000 jobs by the end of 2020. An additional 100 stores are planned to open across 2021 and 2022.

Plans for a new Lidl at Swallownest were recently turned down with planning board members recently concluding that the detrimental impact on the Swallownest district centre was the main reason for refusal.

Aldi, which plans to open a new store at nearby Fence in January, argued against the Swallownest Lidl. For Maltby, Lidl claims that the relatively new Aldi on Muglet Lane is "an out of centre store which will compete with the Town Centre."

It is envisaged that a planning application for the proposed Maltby development will be submitted in mid December 2020.

Lidl website

Images: Lidl / Lichfields

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News: Xeros denim deal done

Xeros technologies are to be used by one of the world's leading suppliers of denim garments, helping reduce the environmental impact of jeans sold through major high-street retailers.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Xeros is a Leeds University spin-out that has developed patented polymer beads first used to clean clothes virtually without water.

The firm's Indian license partner, Ramsons Garment Finishing Equipment Ltd, has received an order for nine denim finishing machines incorporating Xeros' technologies.

Manufacturing will start immediately with the first machines shipped later this year to ABA Group, a leading supplier of garments to internationally recognised brands including American Eagle, H&M and Zara. ABA have a production capacity of 45 million garments per annum with approximately 70% devoted to denim products.

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Trials carried out on the AMP demonstrated that Xeros can process denim jeans from their raw state to a finished product in a single machine in a continuous process at scale. The results were achieved with ultra-low chemistry, water ratios and effluent.

Two billion denim garments are treated every year and millions are then faded with chemicals. Currently it takes almost 3,000 litres of water to manufacture one pair of jeans.

Installed at a new facility in Bangladesh, each machine is up to 5,000 litres cubic capacity and able to process around 300 pairs of jeans at a time.

The order represents the first sales of Xeros' innovative XDrum design which fully automates the use of the group's XOrbs in garment finishing and laundry processes. The use of XOrbs in the denim finishing process eliminates the need for pumice stone and reduces water consumption by 75%. Manufacturing productivity and economics are also improved by allowing all finishing processes to be undertaken in a single machine in shorter cycle times.

Mark Nichols, CEO at Xeros, said: "The order from the ABA Group marks the first sale of Xeros' new XDrum machine design and represents a landmark in the execution of our strategy.

"Our collaboration with Ramsons has created a new way for turning raw denim into finished garments, at a time when the industry is under intense pressure to reduce its environmental impact and costs. More than one billion pairs of jeans are sold every year, with each one exacting an environmental toll including high water consumption during manufacture and when washed by consumers. Microfibres from their laundering are also entering our rivers and oceans.

"Our mission is to change this dramatically for the better for all the garments in our world."

Xeros website

Images: Xeros

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