News: Rink on the brink

A popular leisure venue in Rotherham that also hosts a number of sports clubs and competitions is set to close.

Players, parents and other groups have begun a fundraising campaign to be first in line for the rink facility.

Simply Skate Arena at Eastwood has hosted thousands of kid's parties, hockey games, skating lessons and other events over the last 20 years but the operators confirmed last week that it will close after the lease with the building's owner isn't being extended.

An update from the operators said: "After such an unprecedented year for everyone including ourselves, we are heartbroken to have to inform you all that Simply Skate Arena will not be reopening in May 2021.

"Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in securing a new lease for the building we occupy and after twenty years of trading our doors will be closing permanently.

"We are absolutely devastated that we cannot continue our business and that we will become just another sad statistic of this awful pandemic.

"In what would have been our 20th Anniversary celebrations this year, we have instead seen our business remain unused and empty for the most of it.

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"We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued custom, loyalty and support over the years. We’ve had many happy times at the rink and we will be ever grateful for these memories."

The Eastwood venue regularly hosts tournaments and leagues for inline and ball hockey, both fast growing sports.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up, backed by the British Inline Puck Hockey Association, Ball Hockey UK and Young Guns Hockey, in a bid to secure sufficient funds to purchase the rinks from the current tenant of Simply Skate Arena. With the lease of the Eastwood building up, the aim would be to relocate them.

Sarah Finney, chair of the British Inline Puck Hockey Association, said: "The loss of this facility is a huge blow to the inline hockey community which has had a home in Rotherham for over 20 years. Over the years, thousands of youngsters and adults have come through the doors to participate in their sport, the venue is currently host to over 17 clubs. I have received so many messages of support since the news of the venues closure broke, so now I ask you all to contribute if you feel you can."

Simply Skate Arena website

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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.”

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News: £42m for Parkway widening

£42m is finally coming up the road from the Government for a long-planned transport scheme in Rotherham.

The local council has had a scheme to widen the Parkway at J33 of the M1 in its capital programme for five years and now Roads Minister Baroness Vere has announced today £42m to upgrade the A630.

Acting as a key route between Rotherham and Sheffield while providing access to the M1, the major road has around 65,000 vehicles use it a day. This makes it one of the busiest in the region and a vital part of Yorkshire’s road network, helping connect businesses conveniently with economic powerhouses such as Leeds to the north and London to the south.

The £42m being invested by the government will transform the existing road into a dual 3-lane carriageway, markedly increasing capacity on the road. Junction 33 on the intersecting M1 will also benefit from carriageway widening and resurfacing, reducing congestion, cutting carbon (CO2) emissions, and further boosting capacity to help road users move about more easily.

Plans have recently been approved for new commercial units and a large motorway service area close to the road network.

Upgrades to the road will also help boost the region’s economy, acting as another example of the government’s pledge to build back better while boosting the quality of northern transport infrastructure. The increased capacity will mean more commuters and businesses will be able to easily use the route to travel between the key centres of Rotherham and Sheffield.

Rotherham Council signed a delivery agreement with Balfour Beatty for the design and build works for the scheme in 2018.

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Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: "The funding announced today will make a real difference to thousands of commuters’ journeys in the region every day, and further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to levelling up transport infrastructure in the North.

"By boosting the capacity on this vital A-road, and delivering this scheme in good time, we’ll help improve connectivity, cut journey times and boost local economies in South Yorkshire."

The main works are set to start soon and the new road is scheduled to open in summer 2022, with the Department for Transport’s funding contribution forming the majority of the total scheme cost of £46m.

The announcement of the funding package comes after the Northern Transport Acceleration Council was established earlier this year. The council was created with the desire to speed up the delivery of Northern transport projects, cut bureaucracy and red tape and give Northern mayors and council leaders a direct line to ministers.

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News: Neighbouring LEPs at odds over overlapping boundaries

Further Government funding for boosting the economy in the Sheffield City Region (SCR) is under threat as the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) wants to keep its current geography, but the neighbouring LEP for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire wants to remove the overlap between districts.

The SCR LEP is at risk of losing out on further funding if a resolution cannot be found.

Led by the private sector, LEPs are the Government's model to promote economic development. They provide the strategic leadership required to set out local economic priorities, and better reflect the natural economic geography of the areas they serve.

Rothbiz reported at the end of 2018 on a review of LEPs and that the Government believes that overlaps dilute accountability and responsibility.

In the SCR, only three of the nine member authorities are currently only a member of one LEP.

Just Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster are solely in the SCR LEP area. Barnsley is also part of the Leeds City Region LEP and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Non-constituent members of the SCR LEP - Bolsover, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales and Bassetlaw - are also part of D2N2, the LEP for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

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The SCR LEP has set out a stance to maintain the existing boundaries, adding that there should be no change in the current overlap arrangements.

However, the D2N2 LEP Board position differed from SCR LEP as whilst they also wished to keep the district authorities within their footprint they accepted the government premise that overlaps should be removed.

The waters were muddied when Derbyshire County Council brought legal action before a proposed mayoral election and Chesterfield and Bassetlaw Councils withdrew their applications to be full members of the SCR Combined Authority.

It is expected that Barnsley, which is currently part of the Leeds City Region, will remain with the SCR LEP after the proposed merger between Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership.

To seek to reach a resolution, government have encouraged meetings between LEP chairs and discussions have taken place.

A paper to the SCR LEP board warns that the city region will be penalised financially if it continues to retain its overlapping geography.

A letter to the SCR LEP from James Brokenshire MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ministerial Champion for the Midlands Engine, warns that funding set aside to support LEPs in the short term may be held back and adds that: "Failure to resolve the overlaps will lead to increasing levels of disadvantage for LEPs.

"If in time, there were cases where overlaps have not been resolved, then your areas may not benefit from the the UK Shared Prosperity Fund."

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is set to replace structural funding which has previously been channelled into South Yorkshire by the EU for economic development projects.

The prospect would be another blow for economic development in the SCR given that delays in implementing the 2015 devolution deal is stopping an estimated £75m a year of Government funding reaching the city region.

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News: Talent Match project works in Rotherham

A city region programme which aims to address high levels of unemployment among 18-24 year olds has helped over 300 vulnerable young people in Rotherham.

Over the last five years, Talent Match, led by Sheffield Futures, has turned life around for 2,353 of the Sheffield city region's (SCR's) most vulnerable young jobless.

The barriers to work ranged from learning disabilities, mental health problems and homelessness to single parenthood. Some had spent years in care.

The Rotherham arm of Talent Match has helped over 300 of the borough's most vulnerable young jobless, getting 123 into employment, with 85 of them in sustainable jobs as builders, plasters and labourers, retail workers and care workers. A further 140 have been helped back to full-time education.

Speaking after "No-one Left Behind", a celebration of Talent Match SCR's achievements throughout the region at the end of 2018, Cllr. Gordon Watson, Rotherham Council's Cabinet Member for Children's and Young People's Services, praised the scheme's successful work in the town.

Cllr. Watson, said: "These are young people who are truly the furthest away from getting jobs, often struggling with poor mental health, issues as a result of family breakdowns or of number of other problems.

"It has been a successful model for engaging young people furthest from the labour market. The difference is the rapport and trust that develops as Talent Match coaches work one-to-one with young people.

"Good relationships are the key to all of our lives; they are the foundations for successful growth. Our young people are telling us this is something that works for them."

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Young people were helped to grow their skills and confidence, and equipped for work with financial support for training courses and travel expenses to workwear and tools. In Rotherham, £36,496 was made available, £120 per young person.

Many of those young people had been considered beyond help, but the employment programme, which works one-to-one with 18-24 year-olds who have been jobless for over a year, proved otherwise.

Krysia Wooffinden, assistant director - skills, employment & education at the SCR, said: "The theme "no one left behind" is very important. There is no reason why all our residents who want to work shouldn't be able to find work and progress their career, but many have complex barriers they need to overcome before they can do that.

"We must dare to be different if we want to make change. Talent Match SCR achievement that must be recognised."

The SCR programme is a top five performer in the trailblazing national scheme, which launched with £106m of funding in 2014 to tackle youth unemployment in the 21 areas of England hardest hit by the economic downturn. But now funding from from the Big Lottery Fund has come to an end.

Rotherham Council's Jo Smith, said: "I will be very sad to see Talent Match go. It has grown the Rotherham economy and strengthened the skills of the local workforce. We need to look at continuing its work by using it as a model for other engagement schemes. We must let young people experiencing difficulties in life know that they matter."

Sheffield Futures website

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News: Bank-backed Harworth makes £45m acquisitions

Rotherham-based regeneration specialists Harworth Group plc has secured further financial backing as it makes £45m of acquisitions in strategic sites.

One of South Yorkshire's largest publicly listed companies was created through the complex restructure of what was UK Coal. A specialist in brownfield regeneration, Harworth, which is based close to its own Waverley development, is one of the largest property and regeneration companies working in the North of England and the Midlands.

The sites, in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, are within the Group's core markets and comprise a mix of brownfield and greenfield sites across 299 acres.

The focus has been on "beds and sheds" sectors and Harworth already owns and manages a £400m+ portfolio of around 21,000 acres of land on around 135 sites.

Two of the sites generate existing income of £3.1m per annum from two commercial tenants. In total, the acquisitions provide the potential for the development of up to 3,000 homes and over a million sq ft of commercial space.

Harworth said that it will use its market leading master planning and regeneration skills to promote the sites through the planning process and remediate the land ready for future development where applicable.

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Harworth has purchased a 112-acre site at Wyke, Bradford; a 22-acre site in Flaxby, North Yorkshire; 112 acres of land across three separate parcels near Denby in Derbyshire (pictured) where it is already progressing a masterplan; and 53 acres of greenfield land in Bardon, Leicestershire, which is adjacent to the company's existing major development at Coalville.

Owen Michaelson, chief executive of Harworth, said: "These acquisitions and the increase in our financing facilities demonstrate the continued implementation of our strategic priorities. We are expanding our strategic land bank to deliver further value to our shareholders through clear, long-term value-add opportunities, whilst both securing additional income and maintaining low gearing and financing headroom to support the continued growth of the business.

Recommended reading: Financial Planning for Startups: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities

"Our confidence in the strength of, and the outlook for, our principal markets in the North of England and Midlands is underpinned by the continued undersupply of new homes and commercial space in the face of high levels of demand from housebuilders and commercial occupiers alike. Harworth continues to make a significant contribution to the ongoing economic growth of the regions as one of the UK's leading regeneration companies."

The acquisitions have been funded through the company's existing Revolving Credit Facility (RCF), which has been extended from £75mto £100m, with Santander UKPLC providing an additional £25m commitment to sit alongside the existing £75m commitment from The Royal Bank of Scotland plc. Following the acquisitions, over £20m of the RCF remains.

Harworth website

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News: Rotherham caterer's appetite for growth

An enterprising free range farmer based in Rotherham has launched his own mobile hog roast catering business.

The Yorkshire Hog Roast Company, which caters for weddings, public events and private parties, was established by Shaun Churm after funding from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE) enabled him to purchase essential business items including an eye-catching gazebo, display equipment and a generator.

Shaun secured £500 from the Kickstart fund which was launched by UKSE in partnership with Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO) and the Growth Hub to support those looking to establish a business in the area.

The owner of a free range and rare breed pig farm in Manvers, Shaun also employs a butcher to produce quality sausages and bacon that he commissions to clients looking for locally sourced meat.

Plans are already set in motion for Shaun to expand his business - now responsible for the whole farm to fork process – over the coming 12 months.

Shaun's hog roast business has already teamed up with Wortley Hall Hotel in Barnsley to offer its catering services as a feature of all wedding packages at the hotel.

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Shaun Churm, founder of the Yorkshire Hog Roast Company, said: "The funding that I have received from UK Steel Enterprise has been a huge help in establishing the business, and I am so pleased that it has been well received by the events market.

"The catering options offered at weddings and events are becoming increasingly diverse; the traditional buffet no longer quite cuts it! Hog Roast catering services are becoming very popular - especially as a late night buffet at weddings - and it seemed like a natural progression for me to enter into this market.

"The funding from UK Steel Enterprise has enabled me to purchase the essential equipment to establish my mobile business, allowing me to attend events, wedding fayres and galas across the South Yorkshire region, so I'd like to thank the team for their support."

Alan Stanley of UKSE, added: "In just a short few months Shaun has established a reputation in the regional events market which is evident from how busy his diary is already looking over the summer months. We wish him the best of luck moving forward."

Julia Millea of RiDO, added: "We are delighted to have supported Shaun in the initial stages of Yorkshire Hog Roast Company, and are looking forward to working with him further as his business begins to grow."

Yorkshire Hog Roast Company Facebook page
UKSE website
RiDO website

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News: £7m in EU funds to support businesses in SCR

A number of projects to support businesses in the Sheffield city region (SCR) have been developed to utilise European funding before Britain leaves the European Union (EU).

Structural funding from the EU is seen as integral to meeting the targets in the Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP's) Growth Plan, which has set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the SCR by 2023.

The latest calls total £7.2m in EU funds and are asking for projects and programmes around supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Up to £2m is available for a project based around the Digital Action Plan produced by the LEP and supporting small and SMEs in the digital sector.

Up to £1m is available to encourage small companies in the city region to invest in innovation and research and development. The call states: "Current evidence indicates that this is a particular weakness in the city region's innovation system – where the SCR ranks 36th out of the 38 LEPs in England in respect of business investment in research and development."

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A project to improve supply chains is set to receive £2.2m. It is set to provide interventions such as the provision of intensive and bespoke diagnostic, coaching and training within SMEs operating in the advanced manufacturing, engineering and aerospace industries and related supply chain.

High growth SMEs are set to be targeted with a project where up to £2m is available. Proposals are sought that provide an enhanced and complementary offer to existing programmes, such as the SCR Growth Hub, "that specifically target high growth, scalable early stage businesses, or ambitious entrepreneurs seeking to start new enterprises with the ability to grow innovate and develop higher value jobs."

Up to £1m is available for a three year project to help SMEs overcome barriers to business expansion by enabling them to take advantage of graduate talent that might otherwise be lost from the Sheffield city region. It echoes the successful RISE project which has been running for a number of years and recently launched a search for its latest cohort.

Social enterprises are set to be supported in a project where up to £1m is available. This call is seeking to provide additional sector specific support for social enterprises referred from the Growth Hub, New Business Strand and European Social Fund provision to help grow the scale and scope of the social economy in the SCR.

Rothbiz reported in December on calls which totalled £36.7m in EU funds for the SCR.

Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed in 2016 that the Government will guarantee EU funding for signed structural and investment fund projects which continue after the UK has left the EU in 2019.

The Government has also confirmed that following the UK's departure from the EU, it will launch the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, using money returning from the EU to provide funding for economic development and local growth across the UK.

SCR website

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News: Empire building with "Tape of Champions"

Empire Tapes has bagged new banking facilities from Barclays to support expansion plans and the launch of a new product.

Founded in 1993 and with its base at Manvers, Empire Tapes are manufacturers, rewinders and converters of adhesive tape.

Bringing together a "Think Tank" including the whole of the organisation, the company empowers its staff to get involved in the development of products at an early stage and emphasises collaboration within its own team, with suppliers and with its production people.

The latest development has seen Empire work with a professional hand wrapper and "cut specialist" to develop a tape for use by fighters. It has developed "Pro Tape" which has been endorsed by Yorkshire boxer Nicola Adams and was used by Conor McGregor in the recent training camp and fight with Floyd Mayweather.

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Dean Sherriff, managing director, Empire Tapes, said: "We're so excited with our latest product development and the Pro Tape has been recognised for ease of use, flexibility and durability and is already being used by so many fighters in the professional and amateur game not only the UK but throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Canada and the US.

"Empire Pro Tape has secured a long-term supply contract producing a joint branded tape with the British Boxing Board of Control and as such is now the only approved printed tape to be allowed for the external lace protection of gloves. We can't thank Barclays enough for their support for the business and the funding facilities will enable us market the tape globally and expand into other sporting arenas."

Empire Tapes employs over forty people locally and turnover for the next year is expected to exceed £15m.

Neil Bradburne, Barclays relationship director put together the funding package for the deal. He said "We've been working with Dean and his team for several years now supporting the growth of the business and we're really excited with their latest development which is a pivotal moment in the company's history.

"The team at Empire Tapes really impressed me with their professionalism, vast background experience in the sector and most importantly, their burning desire to succeed.

"We're delighted to be able to provide funding to support their growth ambitions and with Barclays backing the future looks bright for this well-managed company."

Empire Tapes website

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News: Rotherham roads in line for funding as part of Major Road Network

A focus on key A roads to boost the economy across the country has been outlined by the Government and important roads that crisscross the Rotherham borough have been included in initial proposals for the "Major Road Network."

The Government recognises that delivering its industrial strategy needs transport investment to connect people and businesses, and to move goods efficiently to their market.

Consultation has been launched that proposes that 5,000 miles of A road - over 20 times the length of the UK's longest motorway - are brought into scope for new funding from the National Roads Fund for upgrades and improvements.

Millions have been set aside already and upgrade schemes which could be considered includes bypasses, missing links, road widening, major junction improvements the use of technological and safety enhancements along stretches of the network.

An indicative map how the Government expects a future MRN to look has been published with the consultation.

Rotherham roads that could be in line for improvements are: the A57 which connects to the M1 at Junction 31; the A631 between J33 of the M1 and J1 of the M18; and the Parkway to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and Sheffield.

The A630, which includes the stretch of Centenary Way around the town centre, is in the proposals and busy A roads to the north of the borough - the A6123 and A633 - are also included.

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Under the proposals in the consultation, each successful bid will be eligible for up to £100m of Government funding under the proposals and will help cut congestion, unlock housing and boost economic growth.

The proposals follow on from the way the Strategic Road Network is funded - through successive five-year programmes. Recent related Government-funded projects in the area include the work to convert the M1 into a smart motorway.

For A roads, Rotherham Council has previously secured Government funds for improvement schemes at Todwick crossroads, Pool Green roundabout and College Road roundabout.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "For decades, these major local roads have been underfunded and not properly maintained. We are spending record amounts on improving our roads and we want more of our busiest roads to benefit from guaranteed investment.

"This will unlock no end of benefits for communities by improving motorists' journeys, taking traffic away from built up areas, as well as enabling new housing to be built and creating jobs."

Under the proposals, road upgrades will be developed by councils and, where possible, sub-national transport bodies - a regional body which influences funding decisions such as Transport for the North (TfN) - meaning they will be designed by the areas to deliver the best solutions for their roads.

Transport for the North launches a consultation on its own new draft Strategic Transport Plan later this month.



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News: £36m of EU funding for Sheffield city region projects

A number of projects to support businesses and help secure inward investment in the Sheffield city region (SCR) have been developed to utilise European funding, potentially the last such regional projects to start before Britain leaves the European Union (EU).

Structural funding from the EU is seen as integral to meeting the targets in the Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP's) Growth Plan, which has set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the SCR by 2023.

The latest calls total £36.7m in EU funds and are asking for large scale projects in a number of areas including support for enterprise, supply chain development, research and innovation, inward investment and sustainable development. Funding is also available for projects to address skills issues and to support unemployed individuals at high risk of long-term unemployment.

Up to £2m is available for a project to promote the SCR area as a prime business location for foreign direct investment which is set to include marketing the region and providing aftercare support for inward investors.

Up to £2.4m is available for projects to increase entrepreneurship through outreach, advice and support. £3.6m is available for "revenue based proposals that seek to address SCR business's low propensity for innovation, stimulate demand and idea creation for innovation and productivity growth."

£2.2m is available to help strengthen the supply chain and ensure that local businesses can win more contracts whilst £1.4m is set aside to encourage a wider use of superfast broadband.

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The largest allocations are for low carbon projects and sustainable urban development. £7.1m is set to be used to back renewable fuels and energy projects with £8.4m for boosting the economy by using brownfield sites, addressing flood risk and improving the green infrastructure.

A skills hub is set to be created to complement existing support provided through the SCR Growth Hub and Skills Bank. The call states: "In order to implement an effective skills support infrastructure within SCR, the Combined Authority intends to deliver skills related support under a single, coordinated strategic framework and has identified the development of a bespoke local Skills Hub as the central pillar.

"The new Skills Hub will provide access to information, advice and guidance to businesses who require support on skills related matters across the Sheffield City Region."

With a new economic strategy focused on inclusion, the SCR is launching a project backed by £6m from the European Social Fund to address actual and perceived barriers to employment that individuals at risk of long term unemployment may face, for example confidence, health, housing, skills, debt and substance misuse.

With £1.6m allocated from the EU, a project is being funded to get more businesses working with local schools. The region wants to see "a mechanism for linking co-ordination of local employers with schools and young people to provide meaningful/inspirational experiences of the world of work, foster and encourage entrepreneurism and ensure young people can make informed education and career choices."

Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed last year that the Government will guarantee EU funding for structural and investment fund projects, signed after the Autumn Statement and which continue after the UK has left the EU (possibly in 2019).

The Government recently confirmed that following the UK's departure from the EU, it will launch the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, using money returning from the EU to provide funding for economic development and local growth across the UK.

Sheffield city region website

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News: Tinsley art project shortlisted for funding

Proposals for new public artwork at Tinsley in Sheffield have been shortlisted for funding via the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund (NCRF).

Rothbiz reported in September on plans to replace the iconic Tinsley Towers with a sculptural trail linking Sheffield and Rotherham that can be enjoyed by foot, bike or boat.

Proposals from commissioned artist, Alex Chinneck include a family of four sculptural, red brick chimneys that border, bridge and illuminate the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, each stretching up to 30 metres tall.

Onwards & Upwards is set to be created close to E.ON's biomass power plant at Blackburn Meadows where linkages between the city and town are being improved through the £20m Tinsley Link Road and the £100m tram train scheme.

Sheffield City Region's Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) selected the project from a shortlist of four, to go forward for consideration by the NCRF. The decision opens up the possibility of between £3m and £4m investment in the scheme, maximising its potential as a catalyst for regeneration.

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Projects missing out are: Landscape Re-Connected, which aims to create a connected set of heritage assets at Elsecar and Wentworth; Doncaster's Founding Futures to further develop Lakeside as a key leisure destination; and the proposed Northern Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Sheffield.

£15m was announced to help build a lasting regional legacy from the Great Exhibition of the North next year. The fund will make grants of up to £4m for major cultural and tech projects to be included in the exhibition, helping pave the way for future investment in the Northern Powerhouse.

Sir Nigel Knowles, chairman of the LEP, said: "In putting forward this project, we are seeking to build on the artist's talent for creating extraordinary sculptures that celebrate the intersection between art and industry, and that speak to new audiences.

"Chimneys symbolise industry and these "reimagined" chimneys communicate our towering ambition, resilience and talent for reinvention. Our vision for Onwards & Upwards goes far beyond the immediate challenge of creating the artwork, to the creation of a destination and a catalytic regeneration project.

"Our request to the NCRF will enable us to realise the most ambitious and impactful version of this scalable trail and to fund a series of public realm improvements that are essential to realising its wider benefits."

The Tinsley project is requesting £3,783,500 from the fund and is already backed by partners including Sheffield Council and Rotherham Council, the Sheffield Cultural Consortium, Yorkshire Water, E.ON, British Land, the Canal and River Trust and the University of Sheffield.

All 11 LEPs in the north were eligible to submit one application of up to £4m each. Successful bids will be announced in March 2018.

Onwards & Upwards website

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News: Joint budget call from Sheffield city region

Business leaders in the Sheffield city region have written to Chancellor Philip Hammond to set out their expectations of what should be included in next week's Budget.

In an unprecedented move, the heads of the city region, the Company of Cutlers, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, and the Chambers of Commerce have written jointly to the Chancellor.

They want to see pledges on issues that are key to the local economy such as HS2, funding, housing initiatives, innovation, major road and rail improvements, and skills training which will radically improve the life chances of the region's young people.

They say that strong support from Government "gives our businesses confidence to grow and attracts inward investment for the benefit of Sheffield city region, the North and the UK economy. We hope that you use the Budget to support investment in Sheffield City Region and unlock our ambition to be a £55bn economy by 2040."

The region has recently published a draft of a strategy focused on inclusive growth.

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A 12-point list of areas where the Budget can address has been submitted:

On transport:
- Commitment to HS2 connectivity in Sheffield, a parkway station in the city region, and a "loop" back from the Sheffield spur onto the new HS2 line North
- Recognition of the important role that Doncaster Sheffield Airport could play with a proposed rail station at the airport to make journey times to London 80 minutes
- The extension of the Smart motorway between M1 junctions 34 and 39 to support significant growth around this corridor which includes the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District
- Commitment to the upgrading of the A1 between M18 and M62, an area of significant congestion and delays
- Commitment to a Southern Pennines Corridor connection from Sheffield to Manchester, Manchester Airport, Liverpool and the West Coast Corridor to resolve the constraints and congestion on trans-Pennine road and rail routes

On funding:
- Commitment to long-term financial support for economic development from 2021, particularly important as local growth funding (LGF) and EU funds (ESIF) are due to end
- Confirmed continued investment in the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub which is already working with more than 4,700 local businesses to help them achieve their growth ambitions
- Confirmation of the success of the city region's bid to the Housing Infrastructure Fund so that 20,200 homes can be built for local residents
- An innovation fund which will help companies to develop technologies, build on assets such as the region's Advanced Manufacturing Park, and create global supply chain opportunities

On skills:
- An increase in funding from £3.6m to £5m to continue growing the highly successful Skills Bank which is already helping more than 5,500 employees in the region
- Progress on the city region's bid for capital investment for an Institute of Technology and Digitalisation
- Funding for a long-standing proposal for a University Technical College in Doncaster to create a pipeline of skilled workers for the region's rail, engineering, construction and manufacturing sectors whilst also improving life chances and social mobility for c.2,500 of the region's young people over the next ten years.

And the leaders add: "Never has it been more important that the Budget delivers for parts of Britain that have the potential to grow further and help deliver a more productive, prosperous and inclusive economy.

"Over the last three years our 68,000 businesses have created 37,000 jobs locally and nearly 6,000 new businesses have started up. We are proud of these achievements, but now is the time for Government to help us in the next stage of our growth by delivering on its promise to invest in the North."

Sheffield city region website

Images: HM Treasury

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News: Businesses called on to harness SCR's young talent

A Call to Arms has been issued to businesses in the Sheffield city region by Sheffield Futures: help change the lives of our most disadvantaged young people by taking them into your workforce.

Sheffield Futures is the lead partner of the partnership delivering the Big Lottery Fund's Talent Match Programme in the Sheffield city region. The Programme aims to address high levels of unemployment among 18-24 year olds in the area. Although led by Sheffield Futures the involvement of various local delivery partners has meant there are different delivery models across the city region.

Running for the last four years, Talent Match has coaches that work one-to-one to help with their personal struggles, enable them to gain confidence, qualifications and work experience - and support them and their employer for many months.

This hand-holding scheme has already nurtured 622 disadvantaged 18-25 year olds who had been out of work for more than a year into employment across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. A further 1,300 are currently being helped into education, training and voluntary work.

But despite being recognised as one of the top five projects of its kind across the UK, Talent Match SCR will come to an end in December 2018 unless new funding is found.

Leaders of the project, Sheffield Futures, have to find the money to continue once Big Lottery funding runs out and are intent on maximising their work while they still have the means.

Attracting more employers is key.

Since Talent Match began in 2013, 189 firms from the region's voluntary and private sectors have got onboard. And in the last 18 months, 165 companies in the SCR have signed up.

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Gail Gibbons, CEO at Sheffield Futures, said: "But we need more - we have young clients waiting right now for work experience placements that can change their lives. These people are going to be left behind without help to change their lives and secure brighter futures by joining the local workforce.

"Getting them off benefits and into work is good for the public purse, but it also enables these young people to reach for dreams they never thought were possible. And these young people are an untapped resource; they can bring real value to the region's workforce."

Numerous Talent Match clients are currently in unpaid placements and 60 are employed with local companies on Wage Subsidy, an important offer from the programme, which enables a wage to be paid for up to six months. Of 20 whose Wage Subsidy has ended, seven have been taken on by their employer. Others have been able to use their experience of work to find another job, one is now an apprentice and another has set up in business.

Gibbons added: "Employer engagement is critical. We are looking for caring employers we can work with to offer quality placements.

"We understand companies may feel it’s a risk to take on young people who do not have much work experience. But we are there to support them and the young person and the reward is two-fold; many companies have jobs they always struggle to fill and successful company owners tell us they didn't have the best start in life and want to give someone a helping hand."

Sheffield Futures is appealing to local authorities, employers, funders, stakeholders and social investors to back their fight for survival and a No One Left Behind conference is being staged at Rotherham United's New York Stadium on November 10 2017.

Talent Match website

Images: Talent Match

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News: £400m investment fund targets growing Rotherham businesses

A slice of the new £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) is set to help the growth of SMEs in Rotherham and the rest of the Sheffield city region (SCR).

Based in Sheffield, the NPIF works with ten Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), combined authorities and Growth Hubs, as well as local accountants, fund managers and banks, to provide a mixture of debt and equity capital to northern-based SMEs at all stages of their development. NPIF is providing funding to fund managers who will offer Microfinance, Business Loans and Equity Finance.

Acquiring Enterprise Ventures 18 months ago, Mercia Technologies PLC, has been appointed to manage more than £108m of new venture capital and loan funds through the NPIF. The recently re-branded Mercia Fund Managers is managing a £57.5m NPIF Equity fund, which will provide finance of up to £2m for businesses in Yorkshire, the Humber and Tees Valley and a £51m NPIF Debt fund, which offers loans of £100,000 to £750,000 to SMEs in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The debt finance investment in the SCR is being managed by a familiar face - Pete Sorsby, formerly of RBS, and the fund managers have a strong track record of supporting companies with high growth potential, delivering several notable successes for similar funds, including Rotherham-based Xeros plc.

Launching at the end of February 2017, following a delay due to uncertainties over Brexit, the NPIF has already supported a number of firms in the SCR. Libertine FPE Ltd is using a £500,000 investment to advance its "Linear Power Systems" technology and set up a new headquarters in the city region with product development and testing facilities. And Televideo, a Sheffield-based outside broadcasting company which is one of the UK's leading suppliers of sports programming has secured a £150,000 loan to invest in new 4K equipment.

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The Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) and Finance For Enterprise (FFE - formerly Donbac) secured the tender for providing Microfinance (£25,000 – £100,000) in Yorkshire and the Tees Valley area.

BEF and FFE provided 23 loans in three months since March 2017 using the NPIF scheme, with £1m loaned to SMEs across the region.

NPIF funding is drawn from several sources including the UK Government, the European Investment Bank, the British Business Bank and the European Regional Development Fund.

Sean Hutchinson, senior manager at British Business Bank, said: "The Yorkshire, Humber and the Tees Valley regions have been incredibly receptive to the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. It is very positive that Fund Managers have already seen a large number of businesses making enquiries for funding, demonstrating the strong appetite for growth."

In total, more then £10m has been invested across the Northern Powerhouse region.

Jake Berry, Northern Powerhouse Minister, said: "It's fantastic to see that so soon after we launched the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund it's already provided £10m to support Northern businesses. The Fund is a great example of what can be achieved when the Government and businesses work together and is all part of our plan to boost the northern economy, creating more jobs and attracting investment in the region."

Keith Morgan, CEO of British Business Bank, added: "The North of England has long been a key region for innovation and economic growth in the UK. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is now providing the financial backing to tap the growth potential of businesses across the North, helping both the regional and the national economy.

"Passing this £10m funding milestone in such a short space of time since launch is a fantastic achievement for the fund, our fund managers, and our partners in the 10 participating Local Enterprise Partnerships."

SCR Growth Hub website
NPIF website

Images: NPIF

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News: £1.2m in heritage funding for Elsecar and Wentworth

The potential of the South Yorkshire villages of Elsecar and Wentworth as major visitor destinations has been recognised by a partnership that has been successful in winning a grant of £1.2m to deliver activities focused on rich heritage stories.

Created by Barnsley Council and Rotherham Council, the partnership has secured a slice of £20m from the Great Place Scheme, a pilot project backed by National Lottery funds that aims to put culture at the heart of residents' future prosperity and wellbeing.

Using money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England and Historic England, the project hopes to raise the aspirations of young people in the local area and help them achieve their potential using new, innovative channels of engagement. The funding will deliver a range of exciting cultural activity, inspired by the rich history linked to the fascinating Wentworth Woodhouse and Earl Fitzwilliam's industrial empire at Elsecar.

Through their combined efforts, capacity building and skill sharing the partnership will create a child focused programme tackling critical issues facing the Boroughs such as educational attainment and health and wellbeing. This will be achieved in a variety of ways such as; events, cultural activities and creating opportunities for economic growth.

The areas have the potential to become major visitor destinations and create economic growth and prosperity thanks to the important heritage. Several other attractions in the Boroughs have already benefited from National Lottery funding (including the Cooper Gallery in Barnsley and Clifton Park in Rotherham), boosting community engagement and the towns' visitor economies. This new funding will allow both Boroughs to increase levels of engagement in culture and tackle social issues using powerful heritage stories to reignite local pride and ambition.

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Wentworth Woodhouse is a symbol of the wealth and ambition of the Fitzwilliam family, with much of the wealth coming from the local coal mining operations that they owned. The Grade I listed country house in Rotherham has the longest façade of any country house in England.

With the backing of a £7.6m Government grant and under the ownership of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) the big house is set to be restored and developed to provide jobs, stimulate local employment and open the property to the public on a regular basis. The North wing is set to host a huge range of weddings and events and the stables will become home to dynamic small businesses. Within the 18th century house and outbuildings more than a dozen apartments and cottages will be restored as lets for holiday makers.

The aim is preserve the house and grounds on a long term sustainable basis and raise funds for repairs and other essential works.

The Fitzwilliams owned the ironworks and workshops at Elsecar as well as other iron works and collieries between Barnsley and Rotherham. Vastly wealthy, the family also built the railway line and works housing adjoining Elsecar.

Cllr. Yasseen, cabinet member for culture and neighbourhoods at Rotherham Council, said: "This is a real testament to Rotherham Council's renewed focus on culture, creating a new department and leadership role for culture, sport and tourism. The investment demonstrates that external funders and partners understand the significance of Rotherham's important heritage and culture to the borough and to the nation.

"This exciting project will create many new opportunities for local people, particularly young people, to participate in the arts and in a host of high quality creative activities. Local people can look forward to new events and new opportunities to experience our astonishing heritage."

Sharon Gill, chief executive of Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR), and a partner in the project, added: "The team at ROAR are thrilled with the success of this bid and what it means for the communities around Elsecar and Wentworth, and are looking forward to exploring new ways of working with heritage services and our neighbours in Barnsley in the creative and cultural provision for young people and their families."

Images: Savills

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News: Sheffield city region at risk of losing £27m

The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (CA) is being warned that over £27m of funding for projects that benefit the local area and economy could be going back to the Government if it is not spent in six months.

The CA brought together two statutory bodies – the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) and the Economic Prosperity Board (EPB) in order to align political decision making around strategic economic development and transport. It operates executive boards focusing on business growth, skills, housing, transport and infrastructure.

As part of the ongoing devolution deals with the Government, the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has helped to secure over £250m from the Government's Local Growth Fund (LGF).

The LEP, the private sector partnership that focuses on economic development, is currently bidding for £156m from the latest round of the fund but is yet to fully commit to spending previous awards. It means that £94m needs to be spent in this financial year.

Current projects in the capital programme include infrastructure projects such as the Superfast South Yorkshire broadband scheme, the BRT North transport scheme and the potential university campus in Rotherham town centre. They are forecast to spend £66.4m this year but concerns have been raised over problems with projects that could cause slippages in the ability to defray (spend) the money allocated to them.

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A paper to the CA explains that concerns were raised earlier in the financial year over the authority's ability to spend all money that was not spent in the previous year, by the end of July 2016 - around £18.3m. This was only achieved due to the acceleration of some activity and spend by partners, and also the award of £5m to the JESSICA investment fund - the revolving fund used for regeneration projects such as the creation of new commercial floorspace, brownfield redevelopment or investment in infrastructure.

Now there has been further slippage against programme spend and a forecast fall in expenditure which "exacerbates the challenge in defraying all 2016/17 LGF monies by the end of March."

The paper states: "This is particularly difficult as the Authority started the financial year having underspent in the prior year by £18.3m, and had a £75m target to spend by the of March 2017. This means that for the year, the Authority needs to spend £94m in twelve months. Forecasts suggest that we will come in under this target significantly."

After initial concerns were raised, an early call was made for schemes to come forward that were "shovel ready" and able to progress significant amounts of spend in this financial year.

The LEP wanted deliverable projects which contribute to the delivery of its Strategic Economic Plan and prioritisation was to take in to consideration the priorities such as the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), the Doncaster Sheffield Airport and housing schemes; as well as projects in support of town and city centres and maximising the benefits of HS2 to the city region.

35 individual expressions of interest came in from from partners and are being reviewed. Rotherham Council identified the growth fund as a potential pot of funding to assist with the acquisition and demolition of Forge island - the key site in the regeneration of Rotherham town centre.

Eugene Walker, who acts as the city region's finance manager, identifies that £27.5m is at risk of being clawed back from the Government if it is not spent by the end of March 2017 but makes it clear that adding £27.5m of new projects would put the overall programme over budget over the life of the programme.

However, Walker adds in the report that by not accepting new projects, "the £27.5m will be lost, and those schemes that have slipped will not be able to proceed at all; and the reputational damage on the Authority would be acute, and it is likely that it would affect Government’s view of us as a reputable delivery partner."

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News: Grimm & Co secures £250k

Grimm & Co, a new Yorkshire literacy charity based in Rotherham, has secured vital funds to support the innovative retail aspect of the project as well as the educational side.

Grimm & Co works around the region and aims to unlock imaginations, engage, enthuse and inspire children and young people in the literary arts. It aims to create a fantastical retail destination in Rotherham to inspire children to work without knowing they are working, and increase participation in literacy projects through a creative writing and mentoring centre.

Work is continuing at the former Town Gate pub on Doncaster Gate where volunteers have been on hand to help with renovation work that also includes a beanstalk slide and secret doors.

The charity has recently received confirmation of the award of a Reaching Communities Lottery Grant, totalling £250k over five years. The Big Lottery Fund distributes money that the National Lottery raises for good causes. Reaching Communities funding supports projects that can help meet the aim of improving communities and the lives of people most in need.

Deborah Bullivant, director at Grimm & Co, said: "This will cover the costs of a new position, responsible for retail and volunteers, and we will now be able to reimburse for all volunteers' travel and expenses and we can provide amazing training and support for all volunteers at our new centre.

"This is amazing news for Yorkshire's writing charity and as the hub is in Rotherham, this is amazing news for Rotherham."

The idea for Grimm & Co was inspired by the Dave Eggers' 2008 TED Talk on people engaging with local schools, the work of 826 Valencia that he established in San Francisco (a Pirate Supply Store), and the Ministry of Stories in London (Hoxton St. Monster Supplies).

In each case, the shop is a façade, and although they sell products, like any other, it is all part of creating a fantastical destination. The story behind Grimm & Co (Graham Grimm was a Yorkshire businessman, born 1148, just before lunchtime, who spotted a gap in the market), and the ideas for products to sell (everything from magic wands to dealing with heartburn for dragons), have been developed by leading literary figures including Jeremy Dyson, a non-acting member of the League of Gentleman and co-writer of the West End play, Ghost Stories.

The project is still in need of volunteer trades people and businesses as it aims to open by the end of the year.

Grimm & Co website

Images: Grimm & Co / twitter

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News: Support programme exceeds all targets

A four year programme to help advanced manufacturing companies across Yorkshire and Humber to grow has beaten all the targets it was set.

The Direct Company Support Scheme was launched in 2011 by the National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC) after it secured substantial backing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

NAMTEC was established to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the metals and related engineering industries throughout the UK. They lead on delivering research and technology development, knowledge transfer, and training to companies in the engineering and manufacturing industries. It became part of the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in 2012 and moved across Rotherham from Swinden House to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

The scheme was aimed at companies needing help with projects intended to have a high impact on their business in a comparatively short time. Projects spanned the development of new and existing products and processes, the introduction of new materials and factory layouts.

Funding typically ranged from £5,000 to £20,000 and was used to finance assistance by specialist consultants and university researchers.

NAMTEC also used ERDF funding to offer SME advanced manufacturers across Yorkshire and the Humber two days of free support from specialist consultants, worth around £850 and designed to improve their capabilities, help them explore new markets and solve technical issues.

Dr James Hughes, director of NAMTEC, said: "Both schemes have been a major success. We exceeded all the targets we had been set – in some cases three or four times over – and we were able to help companies ensure that key projects went ahead which might otherwise never have happened.

"We were also able to help companies from a wide range of sectors - spanning forging and healthcare, precious metals and powder metallurgy, packaging and steel stockholding."

In all, more than 110 SMEs received help - around 10% on the original target. Around 70 of the companies were from South Yorkshire, around 30% up on target. The initiative led to more than 85 jobs being created and nearly 500 safeguarded – around double the original targets.

Moving from Rotherham to a new £5m facility at Ecclesfield in Sheffield, international oil and gas drilling industry supplier, Cutting & Wear decided to seek ways of boosting performance and making the most of opportunities in new markets. The scheme paid for advice from Director Resources and the firm upgraded its Enterprise Resource Planning software and introduced 5S workplace organisation principles and Lean workshops, helping it to significantly increase its engineering efficiency and its record for fulfilling orders and enabling it to achieve worldclass performance standards.

Through the AEM Innovation Network, NAMTEC investigated market access opportunities for Rotherham-based company Roy Hatfield Ltd to reprocess waste containing fine metal particulates. It led to a partnership with AMP-based Fluid Maintenance Solutions, who have developed a proprietary process for separating fine metal particulates from liquid-based wastes which are a by-product of manufacturing processes such as grinding and pickling. This sort of waste is notoriously difficult to process, with the only solution often being expensive and environmentally unfavourable landfill.

The process offers an attractive alternative, generating dry briquettes of metal particulates which can be remelted. NAMTEC helped to identify potential customers and recommend market entry strategies for the recycling firm that won a Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2014.

Mark Hatfield, director at Roy Hatfield Ltd, said: "The project carried out by NAMTEC has allowed us access to essential market knowledge which would otherwise not have been able to obtain. This market knowledge combined with a vast knowledge of the technical aspect of the metal industry has resulted in a highly focused and compendious report which will be instrumental in progressing that aspect of our business."

NAMTEC website

Images: NAMTEC

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News: LEP outlines £17m EU funding call

The first wave of new European funded projects in the Sheffield City Region will focus on business support, innovation and supporting inward investment through development on the Enterprise Zone.

Structural funding from the EU is likely to be integral to meeting the targets in the Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP's) Growth Plan, which has set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the Sheffield city region (SCR) by 2023. The city region can expect £180m for 2014 to 2020 which brings together funding pots such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

In total six calls have already been submitted to the Government via the Sheffield City Region LEP. These relate to "New Business" (£1m), "International Trade" (£1m), "Manufacturing Advice" (£0.25m), "High Growth Support" (£0.25m), "Development in the Enterprise Zones (Inward Investment)" (£3.5m) and "Innovation Capital" (£11.2m).

Using EU funding, a Growth Hub is being created to provide clear model for coordinating and simplifying business support so that it joins up national, local, public and private business provisions across the Sheffield city region.

Another call is for bringing forward land and premises for employment sites, specifically targeting inward investment from foreign firms wanting ready built premises. Innovation based capital projects are set to be supported to the tune of £11m and could include specialist infrastructure facilities, innovation and incubation space and research laboratories.

James Newman, chairman of the Sheffield City Region LEP, said: "The Sheffield City Region's programme for EU funding has been designed by the LEP and local partners to ensure that our economy gets the biggest boost possible from this investment.

"The Sheffield City Region programme closely aligns to our Growth Plan, which sets out our vision to transform our economic future. At the heart of our vision is the creation of 70,000 new private sector jobs and 6,000 new businesses over the next decade. Local leaders are keen to make sure that as many local organisations and partners as possible are aware of these funding opportunities so we can generate as many high quality bids as possible from our City Region."

The LEP will only have an "advisory role" over how the European funding is spent. The final decisions will be made in Whitehall as the Government considers the role of Intermediary Body as being too risky in the context of managing European funds and the European Commission has not accepted that LEPs are an appropriate body to take decisions.

In a report to the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, Ben Morley, ‎strategic development and funding manager at Sheffield Council, said on behalf of Sheffield City Region Executive: "Whilst the process for completion and submission to Calls to DCLG has been far from perfect, particularly in relation to timescales and lack of clarity for the "BIS Products" there has been an ability to provide a local context and local requirements for applicants to submit proposals against. If nothing else this represents a significant step forward from the current programme."

The next round of calls is expected to be published in June / July.

EU Funding website
Sheffield City Region LEP website

Images: European Commission

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