Category Archives: Regional News

News, Property, Scotland, Social Housing

Homes for Good to play a leading role on the International Stage

Scottish social enterprise, Homes for Good, will take to the stage on the opening day of this year’s International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) in Barcelona, to share their knowledge of the UK social and private housing sectors.

Homes For Good is a letting agency with a difference buying neglected homes and renovating them to a high standard, then letting them to people on low incomes.

With an audience of over 250 individuals from as many as 35 different countries around the world registered to attend the session, Homes for Good will look to inspire others to follow their lead as they tell the story of how the unique social business has grown to help hundreds of people on low incomes or at immediate risk of homelessness to live somewhere which is high quality and affordable to them.

Since August 2014 they have raised £20m in social investment, created 314 homes and expect to increase this to over 500 in the next 2-3 years.

One resident said:

“…we are the luckiest private tenants in Scotland. Everyone’s lovely.

“It’s the whole attitude of being interested in your tenants as people not just as money machines.

“I couldn’t actually believe the work that was done specifically for us in this flat, it was unbelievable that when we said we weren’t happy in Carntyne we were earmarked for this property, and we couldn’t believe the en-suite which was specifically for my son’s needs.”

Joining Homes for Good on stage to discuss ‘Affordable Housing and Homelessness Best Practice’ will be other like-minded organisations including Un-Habitat, Barcelona City Council and Barcelona-based Sostre Civic, the SIPHO municipal programme, and Hàbitat3.

The session taking place on the 7th of June and co-organised by World Habitat, will encourage the spread of innovative housing practice around the world and to exchange and transfer knowledge and experience.

World Habitat Deputy Chief Executive, Louise Winterburn said: “At a time when housing problems seem to be increasing, ISHF provides an important opportunity to bring together world-leading housing experts working on similar challenges and talk about what is working in terms of creating safe, secure and affordable housing. Homes for Good is now an inspiration in Europe and providing leadership for social enterprises everywhere.”

Homes for Good, Founder, Susan Aktemel said “I am truly delighted to be in Barcelona at the International Social Housing Festival with our team. This year is Homes for Good 10th birthday and being able to share our journey with like-minded colleagues from around the world and be presented with the prestigious World Habitat Gold Award is an unbelievable honour. ”

To conclude the session, World Habitat and Un-Habitat, will present Homes for Good with their 2023 Gold World Habitat Award.

Find out more about Homes for Good and how they won this prestigious award.

Data & Analytics, News, North of England

Data consultancy expands with a new office

A Leeds-based data consultancy is supporting its growth plans with a move to a new headquarters in the city centre.

Oakland Group is moving to 5,620 sq ft of newly remodelled Grade A space at One East Parade. The office will accommodate over 100 staff and facilitate the company’s expansion.

Commenting on the move, Richard Corderoy, managing director of Oakland Group, said: “It’s important that we provide our team with a workplace that is inspiring and helps them work efficiently. Our new headquarters on East Parade is designed to support hybrid working and collaboration.

“We have ambitious goals for Oakland Group, and we’ve created an office environment that will be essential to our future success.”

The office used a host of Yorkshire suppliers, including fabric weaved in Huddersfield and vintage items sourced from Pool Bank Vintage to support sustainability.

Sheffield visual artist Marcus Method has painted a large mural in the office to inspire employees. His art comes from graffiti roots and was influenced by his career as an architectural technologist.

The relocation and fit-out of the new site were supported by a grant from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which also led to the creation of 10 new skilled technical positions.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “We’re building a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire and supporting local businesses to innovate across the region. I am thrilled that our funding has enabled the expansion of Oakland Group’s offices here in Leeds City Centre – creating new and highly skilled digital jobs.

“West Yorkshire is thriving in the digital world, and it’s great to see local businesses continue to grow, bringing in vital investment and boosting our local economy.”

The office has a multi-faith space and a range of meeting rooms and collaborative work zones. In addition, bike storage and a shower room are available to help team members make greener journeys.

 

International News, News, Tech

Colt announces strategic expansion to US infrastructure

NJFX data centre and new subsea Cable Landing Station expand Colt’s transatlantic capabilities and offer businesses greater choice and flexibility 

Colt Technology Services, the digital infrastructure company, today announced the expansion of its US capabilities with the connection of a new data centre and subsea Cable Landing Station (CLS), NJFX, in New Jersey, US to its Colt IQ Network. This latest extension is part of Colt’s continued investment into its North American infrastructure. The new transatlantic route – now fully open – gives businesses greater choice, security and flexibility as they seamlessly connect economic and commercial hubs in Europe and the US across Colt’s award-winning digital infrastructure.

The expansion complements Colt’s existing US network capabilities, particularly extending its New York data centre metro ring to NJFX, offering new Atlantic subsea route options. Colt can deliver on-net services to tenants at NJFX with immediate effect. A new high-capacity, resilient backbone over Aquacomm’s Havfrue / AEC-2 cable from NJFX to Stellium Datacentres in Newcastle is a critical part of the expansion. Exiting in New Jersey rather than New York provides Colt’s customers with a greatly diversified route, crossing the Atlantic to access thousands of connected end points in Europe over the Colt IQ Network.  Colt will also have ability to manage 100Gb services to Havfrue / AEC-2 landings in Ireland and Denmark as well as the UK, and access further subsea systems exiting NJFX to Europe and Brazil.

Colt’s deployment  makes it one of just a few non-US carriers with a direct presence in NJFX, and with key New York-located data centres on-net with access over the Colt IQ Network to NJFX.  The strategic move offers organisations such as capital markets firms and enterprises access to Colt’s wider portfolio of digital services and solutions, supporting their global digital transformation  journeys and helping them accelerate plans for growth.

Gil Santaliz, CEO & Founder of NJFX said, “With Colt’s robust infrastructure and extensive reach, our customers can unlock unprecedented opportunities to expand their digital footprint and achieve diverse objectives. Together, NJFX and Colt are revolutionising the way organisations connect and thrive in the digital age, empowering them to stay ahead of the curve and embrace the limitless potential of the global marketplace.”

Keri Gilder, CEO, Colt Technology Services said, “On both sides of the Atlantic and across the world, businesses must balance constant threats to security with the need to accelerate digital transformation at pace. It’s why there’s never been greater demand for secure, resilient, powerful digital infrastructure connecting the US and Europe. This latest expansion demonstrates our firm commitment to be the digital infrastructure company that the world’s leading businesses choose to connect with, and we’re super excited about the opportunities it opens up for our customers.”

About Colt Technology Services

Colt Technology Services (Colt) is a global digital infrastructure company which creates extraordinary connections to help businesses succeed. Powered by amazing people and like-minded partners, Colt is driven by its purpose: to put the power of the digital universe in the hands of its customers, wherever, whenever and however they choose.

Since 1992, Colt has set itself apart through its deep commitment to its customers, growing from its heritage in the City of London to more than 60 offices around the world. The powerful Colt IQ Network connects 222 cities and 32 countries with more than 1000 data centres, 51 Metropolitan Area Networks and over 31,000 buildings across Europe, Asia and North America’s largest business hubs. Privately owned, Colt is one of the most financially sound companies in the sector.

Obsessed with delivering industry-leading customer experience, Colt is guided by its dedication to customer innovation, by its values and its responsibility to its customers, partners, people and planet.

For more information, please visit www.colt.net

News, Pembrokeshire, Travel, Wales, Wales News, West Wales

Wales’ luxury resort launches new Platinum lodges

  • 80 new lodges set to open from 26th May at Bluestone National Park Resort as part of a £24 million development of the resort.
  • Platinum lodges are the most luxurious offering yet, featuring sunrooms, picturesque surroundings, a private entrance and ‘cwtch’ rooms and 20% more space.
  • Bluestone is set in the beautiful natural surroundings of Pembrokeshire, with beaches and cliff-walks easily reached.
  • With high ceilings, simple yet stylish décor, and peaceful surroundings, the platinum lodges elevate domestic holidays into new levels of comfort and luxury living.

The luxury holiday resort sits in 500 acres of National Park in the scenic countryside of Pembrokeshire.

The resort already has over 300 lodges and a diverse array of activities within the resort, as well as the natural surrounding beauty of Pembrokeshire’s beaches, cliffs and harbours.

From kayaking across Bluestone’s lake, cycling through its stunning trails on mountain bikes, and then recharging in the resort’s very own spa, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

The three types of platinum lodges have been created to suit all needs, and each one is supplied with complimentary electric buggies, so guests can travel swiftly around the resort in style and with ease.

Additional features include sunrooms, designated outdoor areas, picturesque surroundings, and ‘cwtch’ rooms for encouraging quality time together.

Around 250 jobs have been sustained during the construction phase of the platinum lodges and a further 100 operational jobs will be created now they are open to guests. These figures add to the 800 people that Bluestone currently employs.

Bluestone’s Director of Sustainability, Marten Lewis, said: “Our ‘Free Range Future’ movement is at the heart of everything we do to ensure all our investments and initiatives benefit the local community and environment.

“It was key for us to channel this ethos through our latest investments, which have demonstrated our commitment to furthering our green credentials and making sure our environmental footsteps are as light as possible.

“Sustainable building practices have formed a huge part of construction of these projects, such as the platinum lodges which have been built upon the principles of biophilic design to bring elements of the natural world into the modern designs.

“Guests are now set to benefit from these major milestones that have come to life, with the platinum lodges and highly anticipated Black Pool Mill restaurant now open for people to enjoy.”

The first platinum lodges opened to the public today, 26th May 2023, and bookings can be made via Bluestone’s website: https://www.bluestonewales.com/resort.

Business, International News

Leading Intelligence Provider Says Recent Accord Between Saudi Arabia And Iran Extends North-South Trading Corridor

New Coalition Could Signal The Beginning Of The End Of Us Power In The Middle East, According To KCS Group Europe

Leading intelligence provider KCS Group Europe (KCSGE) warns that recent talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, brokered by China, will extend a North-South trading corridor, which could provoke the decline of US power in the Middle East, and dilute the place of the US dollar in the global financial system.

The rapprochement of the two states, previously mired in hostility, is potentially the start of a new coalition of partners, comprising China, Russia, Iran, India and Saudi Arabia.

KCSGE CEO Stuart Poole-Robb says: “A 4,500-mile trading corridor of ship, rail and road routes connects India through to Azerbaijan and onwards to Russia and Central Asia.

“Actions taken by the Biden administration and the conflict in Ukraine has pushed Saudi Arabia, in particular, away from the US. The Chinese-brokered peace between the Saudis and Iran signifies the beginning of the end of US influence.”

This geopolitical shift also contributes to the replacement of the dollar as the international trading currency. Saudi Arabia has concluded an agreement with China which will see it sell oil to China in yuan, becoming part of the BRICS trading system.

Meanwhile, Iran increased its exports of oil to China to 1.2 million barrels a day in February 2023, also being paid in yuan.

China, along with Russia, has expanded the SPFS banking transfer system as an alternative to the SWIFT banking transfer system, from which Russia was expelled. Offered to its BRICS allies, the system allows countries to de-couple from the US dollar for international transactions.

KCSGE has previously written about China’s advocacy of a more multipolar currency system through an expanded BRICS trading system and how it impacts on the EU and G7.

Moreover, Iran and Saudi Arabia have also applied for membership to the Chinese-Russian-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The move is in line with China’s ambition to expand its influence and economic ties with the Middle East.

Poole-Robb adds: “With Saudi Arabia and Iran being two major powers in the Middle East, any potential agreement between them will have significant implications for energy markets and regional security matters.

“There are potential benefits and risks of this trading accord and the impact it could have on the global economy.”

Education, Healthcare, News, Northamptonshire

Local Northamptonshire Pub landlady calls time as she switches from pulling pints to studying podiatry

Switching careers is a brave decision but for one student at the University of Northampton (UON) who has moved from pulling pints to podiatry, it’s been quite a shift.

39-year-old Claire Eyles is in her second year of a degree in podiatry. After co-running The Wheatsheaf pub in Braunston with husband Chris since 2016 and, many years working in the hospitality sector, she has jumped professional ships to a radically different career in a healthcare role.

A Podiatrist’s primary aim is to improve the mobility, independence, and quality of life for their patients. They specialise in the foot, ankle and leg, leading the patient care through the whole journey including prevention, diagnosis and treatment[i]. It’s an area that can appeal to people looking to re-train and change careers. This is exactly what happened to Claire, who decided after having a family young and running a successful pub with her husband to do something “just for her”.

 

Claire says, “We have two teenage children, and my career has taken a bit of a backseat because of family commitments, running a home and supporting my husband’s career. But I’ve always wanted to do something for me, so when the pandemic hit and with the toll it wreaked on the hospitality sector, I thought it was a good time to do something different.”

While Claire had originally planned to go to university aged 18, after meeting her husband, taking a gap year and then enjoying working she chose not to. Fast forward 20 years and after completing a 12-month access course to apply to university she got offered a place on the BSc in Podiatry at the University of Northampton.

 

Claire explains why she chose podiatry: “I wanted to work in healthcare, so I researched the courses at my local university to see what they offered. My daughter Pippa is a budding gymnast and is an elite tumbler for Team England. Over the years she had been treated by several podiatrists and the discipline fascinated me. You don’t realise the diversity there is even in one podiatric specialism, it is so interesting.”

She says most students on her course are mature because it’s a career most don’t think about at school. She hopes this perception is changing and likens ‘podiatry’ to what ‘dentistry’ was in the 1950s – and that over time it is slowly being seen as a healthcare discipline that goes way beyond cutting toenails.

She said: “People think it’s just treating feet, but it’s so much more. From treating patients with diabetes and those with sports injuries, to working with patients with musculoskeletal conditions and even spotting skin cancer in people’s lower limbs. People understand how varied dentistry is now. I believe podiatry is going through a similar transition. It’s a fast-evolving profession and an exciting part of healthcare to work in.”

 

One of the benefits of studying podiatry at UON is the university runs a Podiatry Clinic based at Northampton General Hospital which enables students to gain practical, hands-on experience from year one, something not every university offers. For Claire this is one of the stand-out features of the degree course at UON as it means students don’t feel they are thrown in the deep end when they head off on NHS placements.

She adds that the university is incredibly supportive, with great lecturers and facilities. Also, because there is a smaller cohort of students studying this subject, lectures are friendly and more like seminars in their approach, which enables people to ask lots of questions as they go along – ideal for those returning to academic study.

 

Claire highly recommends the course, especially for people switching careers who can bring their skills and experiences to the role. She said: You wouldn’t immediately think there are similarities between being a publican and a podiatrist, but there are transferrable skills. Many podiatrists work privately, so my experience managing a business, working with an accountant, and handling marketing and social media will come in handy in the future.

“Communication for any healthcare professional is hugely important, being able to relate to and talk with a wide variety of patients. I have worked with diverse communities of people in hospitality, young and old, who I need to engage and empathise with.”

 

Claire concludes about how to approach ‘dipping a toe’ in new, professional waters: “Sometimes you have to take a step to one side and look at where you are, because if you need something fulfilling, something you’ve always wanted at the back of your mind, then if you want to do it then you absolutely should.”

For more information on the BSc in Podiatry at the University of Northampton, click here. 

 

The University of Northampton is part of the Best of Both Worlds recruitment campaign which is shining a light on healthcare careers across the county.

[i] https://rcpod.org.uk/become-a-podiatrist/what-is-a-podiatrist

Business, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, Construction, Construction News, North of England

MBO at multidiscipline construction company fuels turnkey ambitions

Multidisciplinary construction company the Beech Group (John Beech Limited) has announced the successful completion of a Management Buyout that will fuel the business’s focussed growth and turnkey service delivery plans, a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group.

 

Established September 1963, John Beech Limited has experienced significant change over the years, as methods and legislation both influenced ‘smarter’ and ‘safer’ working. Beech Group even had the privilege of undertaking works with the late Fred Dibnah, when a pint and demolition went hand in hand – though nowadays it is a cup of tea and biodiesel (HVO).

 

Set to celebrate their 60th year of trading in September, the Birkenhead-based Group has developed a wide range of services including demolition, scaffolding, geotechnical, asbestos surveying and removal, mechanical and electrical installation, and construction design management. The business’s clients come from a variety of sectors and include the likes of Land Rover, Stellantis – Vauxhall, Essar Oil UK – Stanlow, and Alder Hey NHS.

 

The MBO, led by Gareth Vaughan, will allow the company to begin to fulfil their focussed growth and turn-key service delivery plans, building upon a long and established reputation, in the commercial, industrial, automotive, and petrochemical sectors.

 

Since joining John Beech Limited in May 2021, Gareth has enabled the business to go beyond historic trading, from a £5-6m turnover, to over £12m 2022/2023, and from an historical average EBIDTA of £500k to £2.5m 2022/2023. The business is set to continue on this upward trend.

 

Managing Director of John Beech Limited, Gareth Vaughan commented: “The Beech Group has a well-established, experienced team in place to deliver some of the most hazardous services to new and continually valued clients. We are committed to the continued delivery of our specialist services to identify, manage, control and reduce and remove hazards, whilst protecting clients, their employees, and their brand reputation.”

Sellers Philip Jordan and Christopher Wainwright have supported the management team, providing them with an opportunity to take full control of the business with financial backing from SME Capital.

Said Philip Jordan: “We would like to thank all those involved who made the MBO possible. Gareth has been an integral part of the Beech Group, utilising his broad skillset and knowledge to expand and further develop our services and we look forward to seeing the business flourish under his leadership.”

 

Multidiscipline dealmaking experts GS Verde Group advised throughout every aspect of the transaction, including the financial analysis and forecasting, valuation, funding arrangements and legal structuring.

Marketing, News, North of England, PR and SEO

Lancashire Quality Engineering Company Roq appoints TBB to create new branding and support ambitious expansion plans

Lancashire-based Roq — a quality engineering company — is preparing for rapid growth with a reimagined brand identity, tone of voice, and website, delivered by West Yorkshire-based integrated agency The Bigger Boat (TBB).

The project forms an integral part of Roq’s aim to quadruple in size over the next four to five years.

 

Building on Roq’s clear values, culture, and reputation, TBB needed to ensure the 14-year old brand stood out in a crowded market. “More than values, you must demonstrate your expertise” explained Doug Main, creative director at TBB. “Everyone says they are ‘flexible problem solvers’ but the challenge is identifying what makes you better than everyone else.”

 

Roq CEO and founder, Stephen Johnson added, “Roq is evolving at pace, and has a clear vision to be the UK’s leading quality engineering company. It felt like the right time to revisit our brand identity, personality, and visibility, as well as investing in an updated website. We’ve always tried to punch above our weight with how we’re perceived, and wanted our digital home to act as an effective tool for self-promotion, lead-generation, and educational resources that reflects a company four times as big as we are today.”

 

Employing around 125 people across the UK, Roq is expecting to hire 150 new colleagues over the next four to five years – from experienced professionals to those studying STEM subjects at university through to new entrants into the technology sector via its ground-breaking apprenticeship programme. As such, defining its employer brand was a mainstay of the project brief.

 

Speaking about the positioning work, Carrie Webb, head of content at TBB (pictured above) added: “Roq is a people-focused organisation, and wanted its identity and assets to demonstrate its inclusive, values-driven approach to attracting and retaining colleagues, — by promoting Roq as an employer of choice and a great place to work.”

To guide Roq towards this vision, TBB took steps to ensure Roq’s colleagues are at the forefront, from photography capturing the real people — with real personalities — behind the brand, to tone of voice guidelines that enable Roq to create messaging that’s ‘human’ and easy to understand.

 

International News, News

Leading Intelligence Provider Warns Russian Threats To Withdraw From Black Sea Grain Deal Would Be Catastrophic For Poorer Nations

KCS GROUP EUROPE CLAIMS BLACK SEA GRAIN DEAL HAS HELPED TO PREVENT GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS

Leading intelligence provider KCS Group Europe (KCSGE) is warning that Russian threats not to renew the Black Sea Grain Deal would be catastrophic for poorer nations.

The deal, which established a protected wartime corridor for grain and fertiliser exports from three Ukrainian ports, is due to run out on May 18th.

The UN said the deal had helped to alleviate a global food crisis which has been worsened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 

KCSGE CEO Stuart Poole-Robb says: “We have previously highlighted the risks attached to the grain deal. It is vital to the lives of many of the world’s poorest communities that it continues.”

 

Russia states that there will be no extension unless the West agrees to the reconnection of Russian Agricultural Bank – Rosselkhozbank – to the Swift banking transfer system.

It also demands concessions on the export of its own grain and fertilisers and the resumption of the supply of agricultural machinery and spare parts, together with the lifting of some restrictions on insurance and reinsurance.

 

Poole-Robb says: “By threatening the end of the Black Sea Grain Deal, Russia is attempting to gain more political leverage over the United Nations.

“Currently, we are in the absurd position that Russia is chair of the rotating monthly presidency of the 15-strong UN Security Council. That is despite invading its neighbour, being subject to sanctions and an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of war crimes.”

 

Previously,  KCS Group Europe has noted that support for Ukraine has been less vocal from African governments, with many remaining neutral or offering quiet support for Putin’s actions.

Closing the grain corridor would lead to an increase in global grain prices at a time when many countries are facing rises in the import costs of fuel and food.

 

Poole-Robb adds: “By using threats to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Deal, Russia is cynically exerting pressure on the governments of poorer nations, which rely on it to feed their populations, to press forward its demands on the West.”

 

KCS Group Europe is a London-based organisation which provides discreet intelligence, corporate security and cyber services around the world.

 

 

 

Accountancy & Accounts, FInance, News, Wales News

Spring brings green shoots of business optimism for Welsh accountants

Welsh accountants sense that the worse of the economic turmoil may be behind us

After months of economic turmoil, a measure of confidence is returning to the economy says accountancy professional body ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). A poll of accounting professionals found cautious optimism about the economic impact of the UK government’s Spring Budget compared with the Autumn Statement in late 2022.

The survey was completed by ACCA members – including members in Wales – working across all sectors of the economy.

In the poll, conducted in the second half of March and following the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, 36% of respondents felt the measures announced in the UK March budget would have a positive impact on the economy.

However, the gloom was not completely lifted. Nearly four in ten (39%) felt the budget wouldn’t make a difference, while around a quarter (25%) felt the impact would be negative.

But the positive feeling contrasts with feedback after the Autumn Statement in late 2022 which suggested that only 18% of respondents felt optimistic about growth potential.

Nevertheless, optimism appears fragile and does not yet appear to have translated into firmer investment or hiring intentions. For the majority (71%), the budget had no impact on recruitment plans, with only 3% more likely to recruit as a result.

Similarly, measures had limited impact on investment plans for almost two thirds (68%), though 11% were more likely to invest and, positively, nearly half (46%) felt that their, or their clients’ organisations, would make use of changes to capital allowances, including new rules allowing full year expensing.

Commenting on the feedback from members, Lloyd Powell, head of ACCA Wales, said:

“After months of financial turmoil these findings suggest accountants and financial professionals may cautiously feel the worst is behind us. However, this optimism is tentative and would suggest firms are still exceptionally cautious about investment and hiring intentions.

“With trading conditions still exceptionally tough, between high inflation and interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis hitting consumers’ pockets, the UK and Welsh governments need a laser focus on tackling these challenges. It’s clear that individual announcements won’t be enough to restore business confidence – a long-term approach to boosting business investment is needed.”