News: AESSEAL extend Rotherham United stadium naming rights deal

Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL, has extended its partnership agreement for the stadium naming rights at Rotherham United.

With global headquarters at Templeborough, AESSEAL manufactures seals to stop leakage of harmful liquids and gases into the environment for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

The £20m home of Rotherham United was first called The AESSEAL New York Stadium in 2014. The substantial deal worth six figures was signed two years after the stadium opened on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

With one year remaining on the previous five-year agreement, the AESSEAL New York Stadium name will continue until the end of the 2029/30 season.

Chris Rea, managing director at AESSEAL, said: “We are delighted to extend our long-standing association with Rotherham United Football Club and the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

"Over more than a decade, we have built a strong relationship with the club, which in turn benefits the wider Rotherham community.

“The stadium is home to a range of businesses and supports many more across the town, with local trade driven both directly through the club and on matchdays. Some of those may well not be here but for the existence of the club, which has played a vital part in the fabric of Rotherham life since its formation in 1925.

“We were proud to become the club’s first stadium sponsor in 2014, and we remain equally proud to continue that commitment through to the end of the 2029/30 season.”

AESSEAL recognises that Rotherham United could receive a more financially attractive offer from another company and, if that occurs, has told the club it would be willing to step aside.

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Steve Coakley, Commercial Director at Rotherham United, said: "We remain massively thankful to Chris Rea, and all colleagues across the AESSEAL Group, for the incredible support and belief afforded to us and the wider Rotherham community.

“We enjoy such a strong relationship, full of admiration and pride, as to what has been achieved both at AESSEAL and for the strength of shared values that have developed for well over a decade.

“The extended stadium naming agreement comes in addition to AESSEAL’s recent commitment to remain a Diamond Partner for the 2026/2027 season, the fourth consecutive year - a collaboration between five local businesses that enables the Rotherham Hospice name and logo to appear in pride of place on the front of shirt position.

“AESSEAL is such a unique success story, having started right here in Rotherham on Mangham Road back in 1979 with just five members of staff.

“Their incredible growth since then now sees them employ over 2,000 people within 108 locations, covering Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and with bases on all four sides of Australia, serving more than 100 countries.

“It is now one of the world’s leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems and has experienced an incredible 47 years of continuous growth.

“AESSEAL’s reputation in business has been hard-earned and is one that speaks for itself, but it has been really pleasing to see that now translate into the footballing world, in which people immediately associate their name with our first team home.”

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AESSEAL website

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News: Work begins on new units at Rotherham business zone

Work is underway to develop a new business zone alongside a food and drink offer at a key development site in Rotherham.

Steelos Business Park at Templeborough will be delivered by HBC Construction Limited, in partnership with Magna Science Adventure Centre.

The £8.4m development has been funded by a Government grant – originally Towns Fund – secured by Rotherham Council.

Plans were approved in 2023 for the land between Magna and Sheffield Road confirming the demolition of the former "Cent" Building and the construction of six new employment units along with two food and beverage units.

Landscaped public spaces, improved pedestrian access and parking provision will establish an attractive and accessible environment for businesses, visitors and the wider community.

The development benefits from South Yorkshire Investment Zone designation and will also benefit from enhanced regional connectivity, directly linking to the new Magna tram-train station, which opened in April, and further strengthen links between Templeborough, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Cllr. Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “Templeborough is a key part of Rotherham’s industrial story, and is of course already home to numerous small business sites. Today it lies at the heart of the Don Valley Corridor, our new Mayoral Development Zone, as a shared local priority for future growth.

“So it’s great to be on site with Magna as work commences on this next phase of business space. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen our local economy, now of course with direct links to the tram-train network and, in the future, Gateway Station.

“Working with Magna and HBC Construction Limited, we’re delivering on our commitment to making sure our places are thriving.”

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Lee Powell, Managing Director, HBC, added: “We’re proud to be delivering this key business project in Templeborough, an iconic industrial area in the region and one with incredible potential.

“The project allows us to build on our relationship with Rotherham Council, while we continue work on the Rotherham Markets redevelopment, and deliver a high-quality and collaborative public/private scheme alongside Magna.”

Richard Hammill, Chief Executive of Magna, said: "It’s fantastic to see work now underway on this exciting development. This investment will help transform the area, creating new opportunities for businesses while enhancing the experience for everyone who visits Magna." "We’re especially pleased that the name ‘Steelos’ has been retained. It reflects the proud industrial heritage of Templeborough and keeps alive an important part of the history of Magna, the former steelworks site, and the wider community.

"As the project progresses, we look forward to seeing this become a thriving business area that celebrates our past while supporting future growth."

A funding gap for the project was identified in 2024 and a £1.78m grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) gainshare pot was added to around £6.5m in governmnet funding from the Town Deal secured in 2021.

It was envisaged that the charity operating Magna would receive compensation, and retain ownership of the completed development.

Images: RMBC

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News: AESSEAL's thirteen consecutive golds in health and safety excellence

Rotherham-based AESSEAL Plc’s ongoing commitment to health and safety has been endorsed with a 13th consecutive gold accolade in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ 70th anniversary awards.

AESSEAL is one of the world's leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals, bearing protectors, seal support systems and gland packing. With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the award-winning company manufactures mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

The RoSPA President’s Gold Award has been granted to AESSEAL in recognition of its exceptional health and safety performance during 2025.

AESSEAL managing director Chris Rea said: "Thirteen consecutive golds are testament to the company’s commitment to keeping its employees safe. This is a landmark year for RoSPA and we are proud to be part of a legacy built on dedication to high safety standards, the well‑being of individuals and a shared commitment to excellence. We committed to making accident prevention a central pillar of our organisation and I am delighted that this has again been recognised with a RoSPA Gold Award.

"The awards began as a small event to recognise the achievements of companies prioritising the safety of workers in the UK, and has now grown into the biggest health and safety awards programme in the world, with 2,000 different entries from almost 60 countries, impacting more than seven million employees."

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RoSPA growth director Julia Small, added: "The high standards AESSEAL has achieved are the result of hard work and dedication, of which AESSEAL should be rightfully proud and which RoSPA is delighted to honour. 2026 is a landmark year for the RoSPA Awards as we reflect on how far workplace safety has come in 70 years. It is because of the commitment of health and safety leaders like AESSEAL that people today are safer at work than in the past, and sets an inspiring example for the future.

"The RoSPA Awards are sponsored by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), which provides internationally-recognised health, safety and environmental qualifications that raise the competence of safety and environmental professionals as well as individuals at all levels in the workplace."

NEBOSH chief quality officer and awards head judge Dee Arp said: "These awards are a powerful reminder that protecting people transcends borders, and that supporting employees to return home safe, healthy and happy each day is fundamental to long-term success and resilience.

"AESSEAL's proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks, implementing robust safety protocols, and fostering a safety-first mindset among its workforce was instrumental in achieving this award, said RoSPA."

The award will be presented at a ceremony held in London in June.

AESSEAL website

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News: Sheffield and Rotherham Councils set to commit £800,000 to Don Valley Corridor

Sheffield and Rotherham Councils are both committing £400,000 each towards the development of a flagship place-based regeneration programme for South Yorkshire based around the Don Valley Corridor.

Rothbiz reported first last month that the region's first Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) is proposed for a unified corridor for innovation, industry and neighbourhood renewal stretching from Sheffield city centre to the site of the proposed Rotherham Gateway Station.

Bringing together the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) with Rotherham Council and Sheffield Council "creates a single front door for Government, agencies and private markets."

Cabinet approval has been secured in Rotherham for the council to commit £400,000 of its Gainshare revenue allocation for the scheme and Sheffield Council is expected to match Rotherham's £400,000.

Gainshare funding refers to the money committed to South Yorkshire through the Devolution Deal agreed by the MCA, South Yorkshire local authorities and government.

The money will go "toward programme resourcing and feasibility work for priority projects for the first three years of the programme."

Linked to the South Yorkshire Investment Zone, the programme will address transport issues (including the proposed new mainline and tram train stop at Parkgate), flood resilience and brownfield land which has been held back by contamination, low land values and viability constraints.

Investment Zone status provides South Yorkshire with up to £160m over ten years which can be used to offer investors, developers and start-ups a combination of targeted support and financial interventions to start, scale up and relocate their businesses.

Rotherham Council has already begun recruiting for a Don Valley Corridor Service Manager, who is expected to head up a new team delivering both the Don Valley Corridor partnership and Rotherham Gateway.

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Rothbiz has previously set out the Rotherham schemes that will fall under the Don Valley Corridor, including the new mainline station, further industrial space at Templeborough and new housing at Bassingthorpe and in the town centre.

Headline figures are that, through coordinated development, the 30 year transformation will enable over 18,000 jobs and 10,500 new homes with a £1.3bn uplift in GVA.

SYMCA papers set out that the authorities will use its existing statutory powers, "in particular, its strategic economic development powers and regeneration powers, its own resources and relationships with government, infrastructure providers and the private sector, as part of an integrated place-based programme. This will provide confidence both to the market, government and the wider public sector."

The paper adds that "there is shared commitment between SYMCA, RMBC and SCC to resource the programme collectively as a shared endeavour, including programme development capacity."

A Rotherham Council paper calls it "a nationally significant regeneration programme with a dedicated governance structure, programme leadership, and a coordinated approach to funding, delivery, and investment. Without coordination, opportunities scatter across isolated projects. With it, investors see credibility, residents see genuine opportunity, and places see sustained improvement rather than episodic development."

External funding is set to come from gainshare and other devolved funding pots, including funds that support renewal, housing and infrastructure. Nationally, the programme will be positioned to engage with institutions such as Homes England and the National Wealth Fund.

The Government has already committed to providing the South Yorkshire Mayor with access to "£85m new money to support jobs and development, including in the Don Valley Corridor and Sheffield Innovation spine."

The Government's recently announced £2.3bn City Investment Fund will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. It is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

A Rotherham Council paper adds: "SYMCA are currently identifying potential funding partners and exploring potential co-investment models. This approach is intended to raise the profile of Don Valley Corridor onto a national stage to leverage both public and private funding, maximising the impact and reach of the regional investment through Gainshare funding."

Don Valley Corridor website

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News: Rotherham office building turned down for church use goes up for auction

An office building in Rotherham where plans to convert it into a place of worship were refused by the local council, is set to be sold at an upcoming auction.

Reresby House, a 24,000 sq ft two-storey office building in Templeborough has been given a £595,000 guide price by BTG Eddisons Property Auction.

Rothbiz reported in January that Rotherham Council ruled that plans from Hope Church were "incompatible" with surrounding industrial uses.

Home to tenants including safety equipment supplier S3 ID, approximately half of Reresby House is currently let, generating a rental income of £60,000 per year.

The property, which also has a 70-space car park, will feature in the upcoming multi-lot timed auction, with bidding opening on April 28 and closing the following day.

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James Vandenbrook, associate director at BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, said: “Reresby House is a great investment opportunity in one of Rotherham’s most up and coming commercial areas.

“Just this month the £10m nearby Magna tram-train station has opened, improving transportation in this busy employment area, with the proposed Gateway station due to be developed in the next few years too. That will connect Templeborough to the mainline rail services, proving a major boost to the Don Valley corridor between Rotherham and Sheffield.

“Meanwhile, you also have the Templeborough Business Zone in the pipeline, which will bring over £8m of new investment to the area in the form of workspace units for small businesses. This is certainly a great time to acquire business space in Templeborough and, not surprisingly, we are seeing good levels of interest in this property.”

Hope Church had planned to buy the building, if it could secure planning permission.

The church's plans showed how Reresby House, previously home to business support agencies including RiDO and Business Link, could accommodate a main audatorium and workshop space on the ground floor with further workshop and office space on the first floor to support the church's religious and community services.

Refusing the change of use, planning officers at Rotherham Council said they had "substantial concerns that the proposed use would see the loss of a commercial unit on a strategically placed industrial estate, of which part of the building is still occupied.

"Any alternative use would result in the loss of an important asset within a well-established and sought after employment estate."

Also heading to the same auction is a vacant unit on the historic High Street in Rotherham town centre. 23 High Street is a three storey building of 3,032 sq ft latterly used as a restaurant. Giving it a guide price of £105,000+, auctioneers say that the upper floors provide "excellant opportunity for conversion / development potential."

1a Wellgate, another empty town centre property, is also set to go under the hammer. With 1,200 sq ft over ground and first floor, the lot has a guide price of £87,000+.

BTG Eddisons Property Auctions website

Images: BTG Eddisons Property Auctions / Google Maps

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News: AESSEAL helps youngsters Get Up to Speed with the rise of the robots

Rotherham manufacturing firm, AESSEAL furthered its commitment to develop the engineers and industry leaders of the future as Gold Sponsor of Get Up to Speed with STEM (GUTS) for the ninth consecutive year.

More than 7,000 students from across the region attended the two-day event last month – the largest of its type in the region – at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.

Organised by The Work-wise Foundation, Get Up to Speed provides a platform for young people to connect with businesses, explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers, engage with industry professionals, and interact with some of the UK's most exciting innovations.

This year’s theme was Stronger Together: The Power of Collaboration – People, Robots & Productivity.

The event had its first day designed for secondary school aged people and above, with primary school pupils aged eight and over and children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) touring the exhibition and attractions on the second day.

AESSEAL is one of the world's leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals, bearing protectors, seal support systems and gland packing. With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the award-winning company manufactures mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

AESSEAL head of UK learning and development Darren Jones said: "We have around 26 different apprenticeships available at any one time. This is about giving young people the opportunity to look at these roles and see if they are a good fit. Employment should be for everybody and we want to tap into the local talent pool and give everybody the chance to have a successful career."

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As well as continuing to invest in talent, AESSEAL has invested in a multimillion pound Factory for the Future - a state-of-the-art, 60,000 sq ft extension that has almost doubled the site capacity. The expansion was coupled with new robots to help the company to increase productivity by automating mundane processes and free up people for highly skilled work.

Much of the talk at Get Up to Speed was about robots and AI.

AESSEAL IT machine learning developer Elliot Fisher told attendees how AI can save time and increase production through working with humans. He said: "At AESSEAL when we talk about AI we talk about it as if it is just another member of the team. We want to give it a clear role with clear borders and transparency with human oversight. It will only do the job we have told it to do and know when to hand control back. AI will do the heavy lifting, and I think that’s what ‘stronger together’ means. It isn’t going to be humans or AI. It is going to be humans and AI.

AESSEAL CAM mechatronics engineer Lewis Hardy said that there was a huge skills crisis in engineering, but AESSEAL had invested £4.3m in robotic cells, and added: “As people we are very good at making decisions and carrying out manual tasks, and a robot is only as good at making decisions as the engineer who programmed it. We are at the very early stages of adapting automation into manufacturing.”

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News: Leading engineering group eyes 90,000 sq ft Rotherham building

A Sheffield-based specialist engineering business that delivers world-beating iconic projects looks to be taking on large premises in Rotherham, planning documents show.

Previously known as SCX Special Projects, the Kinetic Solutions Group (KSG) provides bespoke engineered solutions to complex mechanical handling and lifting challenges for customers in the nuclear, defence, aviation and moving architecture sectors.

With its current headquarters close to Meadowhall in Sheffield, planning applications have now been submitted relating to a soon-to-be vacant industrial building in Templeborough, Rotherham.

The applications are for new signage and the installation of new windows at Vector House on Centurion Business Park.

The site was previously home to Newburgh Engineering before it was acquired out of administration in 2019 by Vector X-Cel Ltd. It is part of the X-Cel Group which has been expanding on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham since 2012 and recently secured a £35m funding package from HSBC UK for a manager buyout (MBO).

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The plans state "The site is currently occupied by an engineering company who are relocating to a new facility. The property is to have new owners and the new company (KSG - Kinetic Solutions Group) need to display their own company branding."

In 2021 X-Cel acquired the 90,000 sq ft premises in a £7m deal.

With a market-leading position in the UK, KSG has worked on a number of high profile projects. It designed and built the retractable roofs for Wimbledon’s Centre Court and No. 1 Court. For the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, it designed and installed the world’s first dividing retractable football pitch.

The group also builds and supports complex mechanical handling solutions for the UK nuclear decommissioning program while, in the aviation sector, it has solved challenges in the lifting and movement of complex engine and airframe structures for Rolls Royce, BAE and Bombardier.

Elysian Capital, a private equity firm based in London, acquired the company through an MBO in 2020 before Denley Hydraulics was added to the group the next year.

The group now operates through four separate business divisions; SCX - Mass Handling Systems, ARX - Kinetic Architecture, ISX Service and Maintenance and DHX Hydraulic systems. Each is distinct in their product/service offering and has their own teams and management structure. This devolved focus allows for targeted growth and profitability strategies within each division.

For the year ending March 2025, the group had a turnover of £35.5m, up from £28.9m in 2024, and EBITDA (earnings before tax) of £4.4m, up from £3.2m in the previous year.

KSG website

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News: Don Valley Corridor - What's in it for Rotherham?

Partners have formally launched a flagship place-based regeneration programme for South Yorkshire based around the Don Valley Corridor.

Rothbiz reported first last week that the region's first Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) is proposed for a unified corridor for innovation, industry and neighbourhood renewal stretching from Sheffield city centre to the site of the proposed Rotherham Gateway Station.

Bringing together the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) with Rotherham Council and Sheffield Council "creates a single front door for Government, agencies and private markets."

Proponents say that: "By unlocking brownfield sites and investing in transport, energy and flood resilience infrastructure, the Don Valley Corridor will drive inclusive, sustainable, long-term regional growth."

Headline figures are that, through coordinated development, the 30 year transformation will enable over 18,000 jobs and 10,500 new homes with a £1.3bn uplift in GVA.

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The Don Valley Corridor will evolve into a connected innovation and industry corridor.

In Rotherham, the main area for development is the Rotherham Gateway Innovation Campus: A new rail-linked innovation hub around the future mainline station, supporting engineering, low carbon, materials and digital sectors.

At Templeborough the remaining land for development will see the area reshaped into a modern green energy hub and employment zone.

With the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham due to complete next year, the focus will be on expanding the ethos of the park over the border into Sheffield and enabling 2,000 jobs and 1.5m sq ft of new R&D space at Runway Park.

The programme will address transport issues (including the proposed new mainline and tram train stop at Parkgate), flood resilience and brownfield land which has been held back by contamination, low land values and viability constraints.

The corridor has capacity for 10,500 new homes with specific delivery targets being a new garden community at Bassingthorpe in Rotherham, with green spaces, new schools, health facilities and strong active-travel and rail links to Rotherham town centre, another target area where new housing can be enabled by infrastructure investment and long-term delivery partnerships focused on town centre renewal.

Added to the regeneration projects is a pledge to ensure that the economic growth is inclusive, ensuring local people shape development and have access to opportunities.

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: “For Rotherham, this really is about forging ahead with the next chapter of our borough’s growth, building on the lessons of the AMP as we build on the strengths of our heritage and the opportunities of new industries, infrastructure and investment. You only have to look at our plans for Rotherham Gateway to see the scale of that ambition - a new mainline station, new employment space, and the chance to bring thousands of good‑quality jobs right onto our doorstep.

“And of course, you can already see the impact of this investment at Waverley and the Advanced Manufacturing Park. What was once industrial land is now home to world‑leading employers, cutting‑edge research, and thousands of new homes - a real example of how these projects can transform a community and create the skilled jobs of the future.

“By expanding the available business and employment space, including through the proposed Templeborough Business Zone, improving the quality of life through, for example, the work already happening in the town centre, exploiting the great transport links already in place, you can see how the corridor through to associated projects in Sheffield fits together; generating wealth well into the twenty first century, just as it did in the past. We’re investing in Rotherham’s future in a way that people will really feel - more homes, better connections, and more chances for local people to build the careers they want.”

External funding is set to come from gainshare and other devolved funding pots, including funds that support renewal, housing and infrastructure. Nationally, the programme will be positioned to engage with institutions such as Homes England and the National Wealth Fund.

The Government recently committed to providing the South Yorkshire Mayor with access to "£85m new money to support jobs and development, including in the Don Valley Corridor and Sheffield Innovation spine."

The Government's recently announced £2.3bn City Investment Fund will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. It is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

Don Valley Corridor website

Images: RMBC / AHR

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News: Magna tram train stop given opening date

South Yorkshire’s newest tram train station is scheduled to open at Magna in Rotherham next month.

The £10m station and Park & Ride at Templeborough will serve the route between Sheffield and Rotherham - improving access for residents, businesses and the Magna Science Adventure Centre, reducing congestion and pollution within the Lower Don Valley, and supporting wider regeneration in the area.

Now SYMCA has confirmed that the new stop will be open on April 9.

Oliver Coppard, the Mayor of South Yorkshire, said: "So here we are at the almost ready Magna tram-train station. I'm really pleased to say it'll be open to passengers to use from Thursday the 9th of April.

"This new station is all part of our plan to build a fully-integrated transport network across South Yorkshire—the South Yorkshire People's Network.

"We can't wait to welcome you onto the platform when the first tram-train services start picking up passengers here next month."

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AmcoGiffen is the principal contractor of the station, which features fully accessible platforms, step-free access via lifts, and a pedestrian overbridge connecting both sides of the tracks.

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “It’s great that the new Tram Train stop is now in sight. Rotherham residents and people across the region will benefit from better, greener transport, improving access to jobs in the Templeborough area and beyond.

“And of course it fits into the bigger plan for the Don Valley Corridor between Rotherham and Sheffield; more jobs, more investment, and a transport system that supports it all. The proposed Templeborough Business Zone, which will be within a short walk of this stop, will be an early beneficiary.

Magna is also two short stops from Rotherham’s proposed Gateway station, which will connect businesses and residents in the Templeborough area to mainline rail services in the next few years. It’s a welcome boost, and we’re glad to have worked with partners to get it over the line."

The project is being delivered by SYMCA in partnership with Network Rail and Supertram, with £8.1m in funding from the UK Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

When South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) signed a funding agreement for the project, it forecasted a completion and entry into service of Autumn/Winter 2024.

Rothbiz reported last year that legal issues and delays associated with obtaining the necessary railway consents had pushed the completion date to November 2025. This was then pushed back to "early 2026."

The £100m+ tram train project launched in 2018 with innovative vehicles running on both rail and tram networks, using the freight route from Rotherham and then joining the Sheffield Supertram network at Meadowhall South. The service runs between Parkgate and Sheffield Cathedral.

A further tram train stop is in the proposals for the new Rotherham Gateway Station.

Supertram website

Images: Sheffield City Council

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News: Rotherham in line for massive jobs boost as part of Don Valley Corridor regeneration scheme

Key areas in Rotherham and Sheffield are at the heart of a flagship place-based regeneration programme for South Yorkshire that will enable over 18,000 jobs and 10,500 new homes through coordinated development.

The Don Valley Corridor will create a unified corridor for innovation, industry and neighbourhood renewal stretching from Sheffield city centre to the site of the proposed Rotherham Gateway Station.

It brings together the UK’s largest concentration of industrial research and production capability outside the South East, anchored by The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Translational Energy Research Centre, Olympic Legacy Park and major firms including Rolls-Royce, Boeing, McLaren and ITM Power.

Proponents say that: "By unlocking brownfield sites and investing in transport, energy and flood resilience infrastructure, the Don Valley Corridor will drive inclusive, sustainable, long-term regional growth."

The corridor between Sheffield and Rotherham has always been recognised as operating as one economy but the new programme will place the Don Valley as one of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's (SYMCA's) regional growth areas for investment.

That priority is set to be increased with the proposed designation of the region's first Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) for the Don Valley Corridor.

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A SYMCA paper explains: "Under these arrangements the MCA will use its existing statutory powers, in particular, its strategic economic development powers and regeneration powers, its own resources and relationships with government, infrastructure providers and the private sector, as part of an integrated place-based programme. This will provide confidence both to the market, government and the wider public sector.

"Mayoral Development Zone is a designation signalling to Government, investors, and partners that an area is a strategic priority for coordinated long-term regeneration. It maintains strategic focus and partnership commitment, strengthens Government engagement, signals readiness to explore enhanced delivery powers if required, and preserves optionality on future statutory mechanisms. This designation responds to specific challenges within the Don Valley Corridor by bringing spatial coherence across a large and complex geography."

Partners have discounted the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which would have planning authority powers to acquire land, cut red tape, and accelerate high-quality housing and business. The report warns that a MDC would need a costly and rigid structure, potentially slowing progress.

Instead, a MDZ and the programme "adds strategic capacity, investment readiness and cross-boundary alignment so that separate initiatives can be sequenced and leveraged for greater impact."

Bringing together SYMCA with Rotherham Council and Sheffield Council "creates a single front door for Government, agencies and private markets" with governance and the authority's assurance framework in place. The paper adds that "there is shared commitment between SYMCA, RMBC and SCC to resource the programme collectively as a shared endeavour, including programme development capacity."

External funding is set to come from gainshare and other devolved funding pots, including funds that support renewal, housing and infrastructure. Nationally, the programme will be positioned to engage with institutions such as Homes England and the National Wealth Fund.

The Government has this week committed to providing the South Yorkshire Mayor with access to "£85m new money to support jobs and development, including in the Don Valley Corridor and Sheffield Innovation spine."

The Government's recently announced £2.3bn City Investment Fund will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. It is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire said: "We’re building a bigger and better economy across all of South Yorkshire, creating the opportunities that allow people to stay near and go far.

"For too long, South Yorkshire and the wider North have been failed, not only a by a lack of investment in our people, our businesses, our ideas and our infrastructure, but by a lack of ambition itself.

"But slowly, surely we’re beginning to see the South Yorkshire of the future taking shape - with world leading companies in industries of the future investing here, real income growth, and huge plans for the future, we’re starting to see the full potential of every part of Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield.

"The UK cannot realise its own economic renewal without places like South Yorkshire playing our full part, but together with this Government we are now making that happen."

Don Valley Corridor aligns with the South Yorkshire Investment Zone which includes Rotherham sites such as the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley, parts of Brinsworth and Canklow, the remaining regeneration sites at Templeborough, the Meadowbank Road area along with Holmes and Masbrough, the whole of Rotherham town centre, the Greasbrough Road area, Eastwood, Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, areas of Parkgate (but not the existing retail parks or adjacent land), and land at Aldwarke (but not the existing steel works).

The Mayoral Combined Authority Board is set to discuss the Don Valley Corridor next week.

SYMCA website

Images: Harworth Group / SYMCA

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News: Elevation Recruitment Group launches new division

Following a record-breaking 2025, Rotherham-based Elevation Recruitment Group has launched new Leadership & Executive division, marking a significant milestone in the continued growth and evolution of the business.

The new division brings together the Tembleborough firm's senior recruitment capability under a single, dedicated Leadership and Executive brand, focused on securing high-impact leaders for organisations across Yorkshire and the wider UK. The team boasts over 15 specialists and sector experts.

The decision to launch Leadership & Executive follows a strongest year to date. In 2025, Elevation achieved record revenues, saw sustained client demand, and continued to invest across specialist markets.

Created to meet demand, Leadership and Executive will support appointments across senior leadership, director and executive levels, including Managing Directors, General Managers, Functional Directors, Heads of Department and future leadership talent. It sits between ourthe established leadership recruitment activity and the executive search capability, providing a clear and consistent pathway from leadership through to the C-suite.

At the most senior end of the market, Elevation also operates Parkinson|Lee, an executive search brand specialising in national and international C-suite and Director appointments. Leadership and Executive draws on the strength of the wider group’s networks and market insight, enabling them to identify high-calibre leaders who are often not visible through traditional recruitment channels.

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By bringing together senior specialists from across our core markets, including Engineering and Manufacturing, Accountancy and Finance, Technology and Transformation, People and HR, Sales, Marketing, Procurement and Supply Chain, this division represents one of the most comprehensive Leadership and Executive recruitment teams in the region.

A spokesperson for Elevation, said: "The quality of leadership appointments matters more than ever. Getting the right people in place is not just about filling roles; it is about setting businesses up to move forward with confidence.

"One of the real strengths of this division is the depth of our specialist teams and the networks they have built over many years. That gives us access not only to experienced leaders and directors, but also to emerging talent and future executives who are often under the radar. Because we sit so closely to our markets, we are engaging with individuals well before they are actively considering a move, allowing us to support immediate leadership needs while also advising on longer term succession as organisations scale and evolve."

The company said that the latest launch forms part of a wider growth strategy, with continued investment planned across its people, brand and market presence, building on the momentum of 2025.

Elevation Recruitment Group website

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News: Rotherham Council rejects office conversion plans

Purpose built office space in Rotherham cannot be converted into a place of worship, the local council ruling plans "incompatible" with surrounding industrial uses.

Rothbiz reported in 2025 on change of use plans submitted for a partially vacant building at Bradmarsh Business Park in Templeborough.

Hope Church Rotherham is affiliated to the British Assemblies of God. In 2004 local church groups joined together to become known as "The Hope of Rotherham Christian Church," meeting in various premises throughout the borough. The name was changed to "Hope Church" and in October 2013 they secured their first ever church property on Grove Road, near the town centre.

With plans in to convert the Grove Road premises, in May 2023 the church moved to Clifton Community School for Sunday services, and the Unity Centre at St Ann's for most mid-week events.

Plans show how Reresby House, previously home to business support agencies including RiDO and Business Link, could accommodate a main audatorium and workshop space on the ground floor with further workshop and office space on the first floor to support the church's religious and community services.

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The application was refused without going before the council's planning board. Officers stated that they had "substantial concerns that the proposed use would see the loss of a commercial unit on a strategically placed industrial estate, of which part of the building is still occupied.

"Any alternative use would result in the loss of an important asset within a well-established and sought after employment estate."

Planning policies set out that proposals in industrial and business areas also need to positively contribute to the range and quality of employment opportunities in the borough with planners concluding that "the proposals by Hope Church are considered to be incompatible with the primary purpose and function of this strategic employment site.

"The proposal should be compatible with or complimentary to the other surrounding uses. In this instance, the proposal would not achieve this objective and would have a negative impact upon the surrounding businesses, especially the office space within the building that is still in use by the other company."

S3ID Ltd has a lease on part of the building until 2028.

The council's Highways Department said that current car parking facilities will prove inadequate for a church and out of town community uses and added that "Bradmarsh Business Park is subject to extensive on-street car parking and this has resulted in parking restrictions being implemented on the business park. This application could exasperate this situation further and as such it cannot be supported."

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News: Swim school going to great lengths to make new Rotherham location a success

A local company is looking to make a splash having secured planning permission to expand into another Rotherham location.

Rothbiz reported in September on Super Swimmers identifying Unit 4 Phoenix Riverside at Templeborough to help address the substantial waiting lists in the area for the type of swimming lessons they offer.

Rotherham Council has now approved change of use plans for the 5,740 sq ft commercial unit so that a swimming pool and associated facilities can be installed.

Planners were satisfied that the leisure use would not have a significant detrimental impact on parking in the area, given that surrounding businesses, such as the nearby pub, would let users park in their car parks, and that larger, busier swim lessons and parties would only take place after 5pm and on weekends.

Super Swimmers was established in 2009 and initially the swim school operated through hire of public and private pools for children’s lessons. it now operates from two of its own locations - Dinnington in Rotherham, and Rossington Hall in Doncaster.

The new unit will provide teaching classes for children aged three and older along with one-on-one teaching lessons for individual children who may benefit from additional support. They also plan to introduce the parent and baby sessions and hire to local baby lesson providers, all of which will be available to the local area.

Children’s parties will also be made available which have proved very popular in the two sister venues. They also plan to work with the local schools and community groups to offer bespoke teaching packages to enhance the offer available at the unit.

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Ryan Plant, director of Super Swimmers, said: "We are so excited to have been granted permission for the development of the unit in Phoenix Riverside. We are working with a local contractor to build the pool and are working closely with the planning network to ensure we are as sustainable as possible."

The current operations now employs around 50 team members including teachers and water-based assistants, with more to come with the third location. Ryan added: "We spend time training and mentoring all of our younger team members and assist with any relevant training qualifications to not only support their role at the business but also help them in their future careers."

The plan is for Super Swimmers of Rotherham to be open at Templeborough in early 2026.

Ryan and fellow director, Rachel Turner added: "We are so excited to be taking this next step on the Super Swimmers journey particularly in the current climate. Our business has suffered like many others, but we hope to take the business to the next stage with the opening of our third site and the support of the local community. It has been a dream of ours since we started to be a provider of swimming lessons across numerous communities and we feel now is the right time to make the next step."

The plans were approved without going before the council's planning board. Planners balanced up the potential loss of a business unit with the fact that the proposal will generate employment and works to create the pool are reversible so the unit could revert back to a standard employment facility.

Super Swimmers website

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News: Church plan for Rotherham offices

A growing, friendly, family church has set its sights on new premises in Rotherham where it hopes to secure planning permission to use a vacant office.

Hope Church Rotherham is affiliated to the British Assemblies of God. In 2004 local church groups joined together to become known as "The Hope of Rotherham Christian Church," meeting in various premises throughout the borough. The name was changed to "Hope Church" and in October 2013 they secured their first ever church property on Grove Road, near Rotherham town centre.

With plans in to convert the Grove Road premises, in May 2023 the church moved to Clifton Community School for Sunday services, and the Unity Centre at St Ann's for most mid-week events.

Now offices at Bradmarsh Business Park in Templeborough could provide a permanent location within the heart of Rotherham to support their religious and community services.

Plans show how Reresby House, previously home to business support agencies including RiDO and Business Link, could accommodate a main audatorium and workshop space on the ground floor with further workshop and office space on the first floor.

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The church hopes to build its congregation to 200-300 people and offer training courses run by the Church / voluntary sector plus space for meetings and conferences, and mid-week small group morning meetings.

A change of use from office use to a place of worship would be required.

The plans, drawn up by PlanningDesign, state: "The loss of an office use would not significantly impact the amount of available employment land within the authority area. Instead, a substantial surplus employment land would remain prevalent.

"It is noted that part of Reresby House is currently part occupied by S3-ID who utilise the southwest wing as ground floor workshop and associated first floor offices. Hope Church are intending to purchase the whole site and maintain the lease of S3-ID, who have a 7-year lease with a break clause at 13th October 2028."

S3 ID, the provider of cutting edge location awareness solutions, moved from premises at Eastwood to Templeborough in 2013.

The site has been on the market since December 2023 with agents Eddisons confirming that only ten viewings by six companies / individuals have been carried out over the marketing period, with no further progress by these parties.

Last month, Rothbiz reported on plans from The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Freedom Centre (RCCG FC) to convert Norton House, a five storey 1960's/70's office building in Rotherham town centre so that it could be used as a place of worship.

Hope Church website

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News: Rotherham Opportunities College forges partnership with Magna

Two former students at Rotherham Opportunities College are embarking on the first chapter in their chosen careers, after securing new roles at the Magna Science Adventure Centre.

Millie and Asia are the first beneficiaries of a new partnership between the two organisations, which aims to help young adults with disabilities to secure paid employment after successfully completing their studies.

During their time studying at Rotherham Opportunities College, both Millie and Asia, who have special educational needs, successfully spent time developing their communication and teamwork skills, as well as gaining valuable work experience through the college’s supported internship programme. The duo also successfully completed independent travel training courses, helping them to develop the vital skills needed to make unassisted journeys using public transport.

In their new roles, Millie has joined Magna’s front of house team, where she welcomes visitors to the popular attraction as well as processes online ticket sales, whilst Asia works in Magna’s busy gift shop and can be regularly found working behind the till.

The partnership between Rotherham Opportunities College and Magna will help more students to gain valuable work experience, through a specially developed supported internship programme, as they prepare for life after college. It is hoped that more students will be able to follow the path that Asia and Millie have carved by securing paid work at the popular attraction.

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Richard Hammill, Chief Executive, Magna Science Adventure Centre, said: “Rotherham Opportunities College is a truly unique organisation and having seen first-hand the transformational work being delivered, I was keen to explore ways in which Magna could support the students by working together in the future.

"Since joining us, both Asia and Millie have made an instant, positive impact and have quickly established themselves as valued members of staff. Through our partnership, I hope that more students will have the chance to gain work experience at Magna, and I’m sure others will follow the shining example set by Asia and Millie and go on to secure paid work with us.”

Dr Perdita Mouseley, Principal, Rotherham Opportunities College, said: “Over the past few years, we have forged some excellent working relationships with businesses throughout Rotherham. Our mission is to ensure that students at Rotherham Opportunities College are able to enjoy many of those things that we all take for granted – and that includes earning a regular salary.

"Millie and Asia were both wonderful students during their time at college and it’s great to see that their efforts have been rewarded with paid employment. Our partnership with Magna is an exciting milestone for the college, and it will help more students to gain valuable work experience.

"Supporting students, through providing work experience or a supported internship, can also be a very positive experience. Employers have regularly told us that the experience boosts morale, strengthens teams and enables staff to enjoy a real sense of achievement by helping someone to succeed.”

Magna website
Rotherham Opportunities College website

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News: Milestone met but Magna tram stop completion moved to 2026

South Yorkshire’s newest Tram Train station has reached a major construction milestone, with the installation of lift shafts and a new passenger overbridge now complete at Magna in Rotherham.

Set to open in "early 2026", the £10m station and Park & Ride at Templeborough will serve the Tram Train route between Sheffield and Rotherham - improving access for residents, businesses and the Magna Science Adventure Centre, reducing congestion and pollution within the Lower Don Valley, and supporting wider regeneration in the area.

When South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) signed a funding agreement for the project, it forecasted a completion and entry into service of Autumn/Winter 2024.

Rothbiz reported in February that legal issues and delays associated with obtaining the necessary railway consents had pushed the completion date to November 2025.

AmcoGiffen is the principal contractor with the new infrastructure marking a significant step forward in the delivery of the station, which will feature fully accessible platforms, step-free access via lifts, and a pedestrian overbridge connecting both sides of the tracks.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “It’s brilliant to see real progress being made at Magna. We’re building a better-connected South Yorkshire.

“This is about more than concrete and steel. It’s about making sure our public transport network works for everyone - accessible, joined-up, and designed around the needs of our communities.

“When the new station opens early next year, it’ll help more people get to work, get to school and spend time with friends and family. It’s another step towards a fairer, greener, more ambitious South Yorkshire. And I can’t wait to see it up and running."

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The Magna Tram Train station is being delivered by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) in partnership with Network Rail and Supertram, with £8.1m in funding from the UK Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Roisin Lowery, Network Rail sponsor, said: “The completion of the lift shafts and passenger bridge marks a key milestone in the project to complete the new Magna Tram Train station. We’re proud to be working with our partners to deliver what will be a major step forward in improving connectivity in this part of South Yorkshire.”

The station will be the first new Tram Train stop added to the network since the pioneering service launched in 2018, and is expected to improve access to jobs, education and leisure for thousands of residents and visitors.

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: “The new Tram Train station at Magna is a further step forward for Rotherham and the wider region - improving the way our public transport network works, and strengthening our plans for more jobs and homes along the corridor along Templeborough and beyond.

“This project is about making sure Rotherham residents and people across the region benefit from better, greener transport and that our town continues to grow. We’re proud to be working with partners to deliver this investment. I look forward to seeing the station open and making a real difference for our communities and visitors.”

Barnsley-based AmcoGiffen is employing 20 local staff and prioritising regional procurement. Key structural components, including the station’s footbridge and lift shafts, were fabricated at AmcoGiffen’s Barnsley steel fabrication facility, making the most of the area's strong network of construction suppliers.

AmcoGiffen’s Operations Director, Peter Laws, said: “We’re proud to play a key role in delivering South Yorkshire’s flagship Tram Train station, showcasing the strength of our delivery capabilities. This project has been a true collaboration between all partners, and we’re delighted to be delivering it safely, efficiently, and to schedule, helping to create lasting benefits for the community.”

Tram Train services continue to run as normal during Magna Tram Train station construction, except on Saturday evenings when dedicated replacement bus TT1 replaces services between Meadowhall South, Rotherham Central and Parkgate. A full Tram Train service will resume from December 6.

SYMCA website

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News: AESSEAL is a top apprentice employer

Rotherham-based AESSEAL has been ranked as the top UK apprentice employer in the manufacturing sector in 2025.

AESSEAL is the largest part of the AES Engineering Ltd group, which operates in over 100 countries. The British-owned group manufactures its core products in Templeborough, and they are used by major industry globally to prevent the leakage of liquids and gases into the environment, thereby preventing environmental damage as well as avoiding a health and safety risk.

AESSEAL was one of a huge number of UK businesses, drawn from more than 20 different sectors considered for the Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers’ awards. The awards celebrate the UK's outstanding apprenticeship employers – recognising their commitment to creating new apprenticeships, the diversity of their apprentices, and the number of apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeships.

Ranked overall 84th in the top 100, which features giant public and private sector organisations such as the British Army, Grant Thornton and BAE Systems, the Rotherham-based company takes fewer apprentices annually than many of the others in the list with 73 apprentice starts in 2024. However, AESSEAL prides itself on its record of retaining and developing apprentices, some of whom have risen to senior management posts.

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Overall, around 20% of AESSEAL’s workforce started as apprentices, and 32 new apprenticeships were started in the 2024-25 criteria period. With an overall placing of 84th out of 100, the company was the top-ranked manufacturer for 2025.

Chris Rea, managing director of AESSEAL and of holding group AES Engineering Ltd, said: “It is always a pleasant surprise to be singled out in these national awards. While AESSEAL is a global business we are a lot smaller than some of the other entrants.

"Developing staff and future-proofing engineering and manufacturing excellence in South Yorkshire is one of our passions and it is very pleasing that the judges have recognised the quality of our ‘grow your own’ philosophy when it comes to recruiting and developing the next generation of engineers and leaders."

In 2024 AESSEAL came out as the top UK apprentice employer in the manufacturing sector for the second time, according to the Department of Education’s annual rankings.

AESSEAL has signed up employees to 311 apprenticeships between 2017 and July 2025. More than 25 different career paths are now available to apprentices across the UK group, with recent additions including a gardener.

The company says that over the past eight years the cost of apprentice training has been over £7m, including external training fees, mentoring, management costs, and the salary cost for day release training.

A spokesperson for AESSEAL confrimed that it considers the £7,462,294 "not as a cost, but a necessary investment in our future.”

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News: Rotherham-based Leighton Vans revving up for revenues of £100m

Rotherham-based Leighton Vans has announced plans to grow its turnover from £30m to £100m over the next 18 months having been approved as an official Ford convertor.

From their headquarters at Templeborough, Leighton Vans is renowned for its craftsmanship in converting standard VW transporter vehicles into unique Leighton-branded vans, complete with exclusive external styling packs, wheels, and internal conversions.

The company prides itself on designing and manufacturing elements that set their conversions apart from any other in the market and has recently received official GB Whole Vehicle Type Approval from the Vehicle Certification Agency to fit its LV-RF kit to the new Ford Transit Custom van, 5/6-seat crew van and camper van.

Already the UK’s premier retailer of bespoke VW sports van, the Ford approval puts Leighton Vans in pole position for growth.

The approval supports plans to grow the business from £30m to £100m over the next 18 months. This will include Leighton Vans growing its own nationwide dealer network both in the UK and Europe as well as supplying its LV-RF conversions to the Ford dealer network either as kits or fully built vehicles.

Leighton Vans has forecast to sell 500 Ford Transit Customs fitted with the new LV-RF kit which will take its UK new and used sales in 2026 to over 1,000 vehicles.

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The LV-RF kit comprises uprated suspension, larger wheels and brakes as well as exterior front and rear spoilers which enhance the Custom’s road presence. These external design features form part of Leighton Vans’ contemporary design evolution which it has been developing over the past five years.

The type approval process involved rigorous assessment, including a front-end pedestrian protection crash test in Spain and extensive high-speed brake and suspension testing (both laden and unladen, in wet and dry conditions) to ensure larger wheels and lowered suspension did not compromise stopping distances, stability, or safety.

This achievement is the culmination of more than two years of development and testing, representing not just a milestone for Leighton Vans, but also for the wider aftermarket custom vehicle sector. By meeting the highest level of UK approval, above the more limited National Small Series Type Approval, Leighton Vans reaffirms its position as a leader in van performance styling and design.

To support its European expansion Leighton Vans has also gained TÜV approval in Germany, an internationally recognised certification required for modifications in that market, which included a further crash test and inspection. It will support Leighton Vans ambition to grow sales to several thousand over the coming years on the back of establishing its European dealer network.

Adam Jackson, head of parts sales & product development at Leighton Vans, said: “Securing Ford Type Approval for our LV-RF kit is a huge step forward for Leighton Vans.

“It’s taken two years of hard work, engineering expertise, and global testing to get to this stage. We’ve built our reputation on innovation, quality, and customer trust, and this recognition from Ford, VCA, and TÜV underlines everything we stand for.

“It means customers can buy an upgraded new Transit Custom with full peace of mind, knowing the product has been thoroughly tested and meets the highest standards of safety and compliance."

Leighton Vans moved to Rotherham in 2017, opening a brand new workshop and showroom. In 2022, the company purchased additional trading premises nearby.

Leighton Vans website

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News: AESSEAL Rotherham factory "a temple of innovation"

AESSEAL’s Factory for the Future in Rotherham has been officially opened by the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who described the multimillion pound investment as "a temple of innovation."

Mr Sunak said the country could learn from the success of AESSEAL.

AESSEAL is the fourth largest global manufacturer of mechanical seals and equipment and the latest project has expanded its operations at the global headquarters in Templeborough.

Opening in 2023, the project includes the refurbishment and “greening” of existing plant as well as a state-of-the-art, 60,000 sq ft extension that has almost doubled the site capacity. It brings the firm’s total investment in Rotherham to over £61m and it is hoped that the global showcase for sustainable manufacturing will lead to an additional £20m of investment in the Rotherham area over the next five to ten years.

Sunak told more than 200 guests at the Mill Close headquarters ceremony that it was not just about founder and managing director Chris Rea building a “world leading company”, but how he had gone about it.

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The Conservative MP for Richmond and Northallerton said: “He has done it in a way that is consistent with how he is. He is a deeply principled man who is committed to making the world a better place than he found it.

"All of you have been part of this extraordinary story of what makes this company special."

Mr Sunak said its growth was a success story the country could learn from, and added: "It is successful because the company defines reliability. You can trust AESSEAL – signed, sealed and delivered. This is a temple of innovation."

AESSEAL was formed with just five employees in 1979, and now serves more than 100 countries with almost 2,000 staff.

The new building reflects AESSEAL’s commitment to creating quality local jobs and ensuring a sustainable future for both the company and the surrounding community. The building is entirely heated by electricity powered by photovoltaics. This has contributed to AESSEAL as a business achieving net zero carbon.

Chris Rea said the building was called the Factory for the Future, not the Factory of the Future, because it represented something that was always evolving and not static.

He pointed to the unoccupied space in the factory and said: "What upsets me most in the world? Pretty close is not having enough customers, but what really upsets me more is not being able to give great service to the customers we have. We built this so our customers could fill it. We have facilities we could close down and fill tomorrow but that is not our style. We make tasks redundant but we never make people redundant. If you have space and you have great people and great customers, you will fill it."

AESSEAL website

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News: £83m Rotherham regeneration projects can be pushed back to 2028

Multimillion pound regeneration projects in Rotherham will have more time to be completed after the Government granted more flexibilities over how the money can be spent.

Partners in the borough will also find it easier to cancel projects, move funding to different, or even new, projects, and change governance arrangements.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that the previous government had entered Rotherham into the Simplification Pathfinder Pilot, a simplified approach to funding delivery, after the National Audit Office (NAO) warned of delays around spending Levelling Up funding pots.

Now the new government has consolidated a number of funding schemes in a bid to accelerate project delivery and improve value for money.

In 2021, Rotherham secured £31.6m from the Town Deal to revamp areas of Rotherham town centre as well as Templeborough, Eastwood and the site of the proposed mainline station at Parkgate. In the same year, £12.6m was secured from the Future High Streets Fund.

From the Levelling Up Fund, Rotherham was successful in securing £19.5m for the town centre and £19.9m for a number of connected projects around the leisure industry. £20m was then secured in 2023 for a new mixed-use development in Wath town centre, as well as delivering significant improvements to Dinnington High Street and market.

The pots have now been combined into the "Local Regeneration Fund" with single, annual allocations based on streamlined monitoring and reduced reporting frequency.

One of the main flexibilities is that all funding is now due to be spent by the end of March 2028.

The Future High Streets Fund was initially due to be spent by March 2024, with other funds then due to be spent by March 2026. In Rotherham this includes projects that have suffered delays due to rising costs, difficulties securing contractors and legal issues.

The revamp of Rotherham Market, which is using money from the Future High Street Fund, was originally scheduled to finish in December 2025 but this was pushed back to 2027 with total costs now at £40.89m. At Riverside Gardens, another Future High Street Fund project, a contractor has recently started work. Changes have also been made to projects at Rother Valley and Thrybergh Country parks but construction work is underway.

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With the council unable to acquire the properties required to deliver the Dinnington scheme, a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) was issued earlier this year which meant that the spending on the project was extended from 2026 to 2028.

Many schemes have completed in the borough backed by the funds. This includes Skills Street at Gulliver's Valley, work to transform heritage buildings at Maltby Grammar School, and the acquisition and demolition of burnt out buidings in the town centre.

Another flexibility is that the government no longer requires local authorities to seek approval for any changes. As long as it still meets conditions around value for money and contributes to one or more Government Missions, changes could include amendments to the scope of existing projects, the cancellation of existing projects and the creation of new projects.

An update from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) said: "After listening to feedback from local government, on the need for less bureaucratic micromanagement and more local control, we have now announced the consolidation of MHCLG’s Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals and Simplification Pathfinders Pilot Fund together into a single funding pot. This reform will increase flexibility to adapt schemes to local needs and focus on delivery.

"We are giving local authorities greater ability to make decisions locally about moving funding between projects in their funding portfolio. Local authorities should consider how they can use this increased flexibility to invest more effectively, whether that is pooling funding in the same area, redeploying funding to different priorities or making changes to existing projects to expedite delivery and maximise their impact.  

"It is our expectation that projects already underway will be completed, for the benefit of local residents. In the small number of cases where projects are no longer viable, we expect that councils will use the funding available to invest in the area that originally stood to benefit, so local residents can feel the improvements to their everyday lives that they have been promised. We strongly encourage local authorities to consult with key stakeholders, including MPs in their local areas on any proposed changes and in particular changes to the location or projects and/or intended beneficiaries."

Rothbiz has previously reported on changes made in Rotherham to funded schemes. Aspects have been removed from projects, such as a proposed new bridge over the River Don to the football stadium and the live music venue project has looked at a number of heritage properties in the town centre. A new project to introduce "Health on the High Street" in a bid to improve access to health services and increase footfall in the town centre was added to the mix earlier this year.

Not included in the funds is the Plan for Neighbourhoods that will guide a £20m investment into the town over the next ten years.

Images: RMBC / AHR / Maltby Learning Trust

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