News: Food brand selects Rotherham for new £15m factory

The Mr Whippy food brand is expanding operations with a new manufacturing base in Rotherham.

A £15m manufacturing facility will enable the brand to introduce doughnuts to its sweet treats portfolio that already includes ice cream flavour cupcakes.

A new lease has been signed for a 23,355 sq ft unit at Woodhouse Link, which is near Fence on the Rotherham side of the border with Sheffield. Unit 4 was previously used as a distribution hub by Amazon.

50 new jobs are set to be created and recruitment is underway for donut makers with production set hit 104 million a year from 2026.

Advertisement
Michael Corrado Jackson, company director at MJP Whippy Ltd, said: "This major investment is a crucial next step for the brand and its product expansion, and this site perfectly fitted our needs both on location, and for operational purposes being a modern, detached unit.

“We will be able to satisfy the requirements for specialist food production, automation processes, and then easy distribution of the product.

“The unit will be the manufacturing hub for the doughnut production, which will be fully launched next year and available from retailers.”

The site was marketed by Knight Frank and CPP on behalf of investment manager ESR.

Knight Frank partner Rebecca Schofield said: “This is a fantastic example of inward investment in the region to produce a brand-new facility and associated jobs in Sheffield, as part of an ambitious business expansion.

“The modern unit leant itself to becoming a state of the art food production facility and the location for distribution of the product is unparalleled.”

The brand is not part of Wall's, the producers of the Mr Whippy soft ice cream mix used in ice cream vans and cafes, and overcame a legal challenge from parent company, Unilver, to use the Mr Whippy logo on other goods and services.

The Mr Whippy cupcakes launched last year and are available in Iceland, Co-op, Home Bargains and Heron Foods stores.

The investment follows on from Mexican firm, Grupo Bimbo, selecting Rotherham as the location to switch production to the UK of its Takis brand of snacks.

Network Space brought forward 116,600 sq ft of prime industrial space across four high spec units at Woodhouse Link, building on the site of the former Laycast foundry that had been "sterilised" by previous HS2 proposals.

Mr Whippy website

Images: Network Space / Mr Whippy

Read more...

News: Restoring Rotherham's Pride in Place

Plans are being prepared on how to spend a £20m investment over the next ten years, building pride in Rotherham.

Rotherham Council has set out which types of regeneration projects are set to receive the most money.

In March, £20m earmarked for Rotherham by the previous Government was confirmed and given a wider remit focusing on neighbourhood renewal and improving social capital and renamed Plan for Neighbourhoods.

Last month it was announced that Rotherham will also receive £1.5m to restore pride in place, support community cohesion, and stimulate local economic activity through visible, short-term, community-led improvements.

Maltby was also named as one of the areas that will receive £2m every year for a decade.

Rotherham Council has now confirmed that the initial £20m Plan for Neighbourhoods for the built up area around the town centre has been renamed as the Pride in Place Programme for Rotherham Central.

Rothbiz has previously reported on the results of consultation and the government data that will support decision makers - the local Neighbourhood Board which brings together residents, local businesses, grassroots campaigners, workplace representatives, faith, and community leaders and those with a deep connection to their area.

Consultees (people who live, work or visit the main urban areas around the town centre) assessed the area low in most themes and picked out safety, run-down streets and parking as key issues.

Advertisement
Government data, which covers key issues such as vacant property, crime rates and footfall, shows that there is still much to do in Rotherham, even to match the national averages.

A ten year programme, the £20m is set to be split - £15m on capital and £5m on revenue.

An update from Rotherham Council shows that interventions in line for funding will come under the themes of: regeneration, high streets and heritage; health and wellbeing; education and opportunity; cohesion, safety and security; and work, productivity and skills.

As the focus is on interventions where alternative funding is less accessible, it means that housing and transport projects will not be supported.

A report shows the main target areas with £5.72m earmarked for health and wellbeing and £3.84m for regeneration, high streets and heritage.

Possible interventions under the health and wellbeing theme include co-locating services under one roof in an accessible high street location, community mental health hubs, funding for local sport and activity facilities, initiatives and drug and alcohol support.

Potential interventions under the regeneration, high streets and heritage theme include public realm improvements, green spaces, community and neighbourhood infrastructure projects, support for arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities and initiatives.

At this stage, it is not a fixed investment programme and there will be flexibility to review interventions. The Neighbourhood Board will now work with Rotherham Council, who are the accountable body for the money, to create a Regeneration Plan that needs to be submitted to the government by November 28.

Images: LSH

Read more...

News: Rotherham restaurant named as one of UK's top chip shops

A Rotherham restaurant is in the running for a top industry award having made the shortlist for the UK’s best restaurants in The National Fish & Chip Awards.

Whitby's at Catcliffe opened in 2011, a new build site at Poplars Business Park which includes an eat-in restaurant which can seat 180 customers, alongside a traditional takeaway.

Restaurant of the Year is the title that ten deserving outlets are hoping to take away at the 2026 edition of the industry’s premier award ceremony. In recognition of amazing food, passion for the sector, quality and high-level commitment to serving customers the best of the best, the category entrants will be on the edge of their seats as the competition heats up.

The adjudicating panel has designed a detailed review process that will grade the participants against benchmarks that reinforce best practice and professional integrity to keep standards at the highest levels.

The Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year category is open to all bona fide independent fish and chip restaurants in the UK.

Advertisement
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), which runs the flagship event, said: "Small businesses are the lifeblood of the UK high street, and they provide the kind of opportunity, variety and individuality that boosts economies and brings us all together, and we are taking this opportunity to champion this year’s standout restaurants.

“The shortlisted 10 are making long-lasting contributions to uphold the great British institution of fish and chips, whether it’s with a traditional take or elevated to fine dining status. Sitting down at the table with family or friends to enjoy a fantastic meal is where memories are made and it’s wonderful to see these restaurants creating shared experiences across multi-generations with great precision. I have a feeling that Restaurant of Year is going to be a tough one to separate the winner – all the best to our contenders!”

After judges have assessed every part of their businesses, the highest scoring five will progress to the semi-finals which will be announced later this year. The Top 5 will receive an unannounced visit and taste test by an industry specialist, with the overall winner to be crowned on 25 February 2026 at the awards ceremony at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge.

Whitby's has two South Yorkshire restaurants, in Rotherham and Doncaster. Executives behind the business include Lord Kirkham, the founder of furniture chain, DFS, and James Foers of local construction contracting firm, Foers.

Whitbys at Rotherham was a 2024/25 Good Food Award winner – Gold Seal.

Whitby's website

Images: Whitby's

Read more...

News: Rotherham Council’s Net Zero plans for borough

Rotherham Council is working out how the borough can reach Net Zero by 2040 which could include commercial or community-owned renewable energy generation.

A new Local Area Energy Plan would also include assessing the feasibility of a low carbon district heat network in Rotherham town centre.

In 2019, the authority declared a Climate Emergency and agreed a plan of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by the council and the wider borough. Targets were set around reducing the council’s greenhouse gas emissions to be net zero by 2030 and Rotherham-wide greenhouse gas emissions to be net zero by 2040.

Net zero greenhouse gas emissions means that the council will aim to reduce missions as much as possible. It will then consider balancing the amount of emissions produced with the amount it can remove from the air.

Tender documents explain that Rotherham Council wishes to understand the capacity of the market to deliver a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) which covers the whole borough.

The plan would set out a pathway to "Net Zero by 2040" in line with local and regional decarbonisation goals, accounting for committed government policy and spending as appropriate.

Advertisement
Evaluating projects, policies and partnership actions, the plan would also identify opportunities for commercial or community-owned renewable energy generation in the borough.

The documents also state that the council "wishes to understand the capacity of the market, costs and timescales associated with assessing the feasibility of a low carbon district heat network in Rotherham Town Centre, to include the identification of heat network opportunity areas, evaluation of low carbon heat sources (including but not limited to mine water heat, waste heat from industry and air, water or ground source heat pumps combined with renewable electricity generation) and technologies for implementation, delivery models, project costs, forecast return on investment and opportunities to attract external funding and investment."

Heat networks distribute heat or cooling from a central source or sources, and deliver it to a variety of different customers such as public buildings, shops, offices, hospitals, universities and homes. By supplying multiple buildings, they avoid the need for individual boilers or electric heaters in every building.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that Rotherham Energy Limited had secured £25m to build a new Rotherham Energy Network. Proponents of the scheme, 1Energy, have given it a total investment cost of £61.84m. The low-to-zero carbon (LZC) heat network will distribute upgraded waste heat from the £150m biomass power station at Templeborough.

2.1 miles of pipes would distribute heat starting at Templeborough with a "West Network" that will go south west to the industrial areas and an "East Network" that will go north east to the south-western part of Rotherham town centre.

Passing the AESSEAL New York Stadium, the pipeline could serve Rotherham Council's Riverside House, properties on the High Street, University Centre Rotherham, Clifton Park, the Markets and Rotherham Leisure Complex.

Solar panels are also being installed at the new markets and library and Rotherham Leisure Complex.

Images: Schroders Capital / skyfilming

Read more...

News: Harworth celebrates the expansion of Waverley Primary Academy

Construction was completed at Waverley Primary Academy, the primary school located at Waverley, so that it could expand and welcome additional pupils for the new academic year.

As master developer of Waverley, Harworth Group plc, has provided funding to support the extension of the school, enabling its growth and the creation of additional places for local children. A new form of entry has now been created and the school – which is part of Aston Community Education Trust – can now accommodate up to 200 more pupils overall than in previous years.

Six new classrooms, two libraries, new restrooms, a dedicated nursery with changing rooms and office space have been built across two storeys. The expansion has also created employment opportunities with six new teachers appointed.

Built on the brownfield site of the former Orgreave Colliery, Waverley is a growing community with over 1,800 homes, green spaces and a local high street alongside the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), which is home to leading global businesses.

Harworth worked closely with Rotherham Council and the Department for Education to build the school, which first opened in 2020. Harworth has now provided further funding to enable the delivery of this extension, which was carried out by local firm, O&P Construction.

Advertisement
Laura Colson, Development Director at Harworth, said: “Waverley Primary Academy is a successful primary school and a real asset to the local area. Harworth is committed to creating a sustainable community at Waverley and this means providing parents and families with access to a great local school for their children.

“We are very pleased that this extension means more pupils can enrol in the school each year, and existing pupils can make use of the brilliant new facilities.

“Harworth has a fantastic relationship with the school and we – and our occupiers at the Advanced Manufacturing Park – regularly run events with pupils. We’re looking forward to continuing to do so and supporting the school’s continued success.”

Rachel Bolton, Principal at Waverley Primary Academy, said: “Watching the expansion of the school over the last year has been exciting for everyone involved and we are thrilled with the result.

“It has been amazing to see pupils embrace the changes to the school. Many children have joined the academy from other schools this September, and all pupils have demonstrated resilience, kindness and enthusiasm, building new friendships and working collaboratively in their learning.

“At Waverley Primary Academy we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, where every child can thrive. The expansion has strengthened our sense of unity as a school.

“I’d like to thank staff, parents, governors and the wider community for their support over the last year, and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the local community.”

Harworth website
O&P Construction website

Images: Harworth

Read more...