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Revealed: The 2022 Leicestershire ProCon Awards winners

2025-03-28 09:03:50 By

The best construction projects in Leicestershire have been named winners at the 2022 ProCon Leicestershire Awards.

There was a double win for Space Park Leicester and two wins for Market Harborough-based Corporate Architecture at the ceremony which took place Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

Some 650 people attended the 19 ^th annual awards which had three corporate sponsors: Freeths, Salus Approved Inspectors and Unique Window Systems.

ProCon chair Umesh Desai: “Huge congratulations to our winners and great respect too for our finalists. The judges had a difficult job due to the high quality of the entries.

“Our thanks go to all the entrants and to our sponsors for their amazing support. It was wonderful to see another full house at the King Power Stadium”

During the event a raffle was held, with proceeds going to the rugby children’s charity Wood Spoon.

Regeneration Project of the Year, sponsored by Keepmoat Homes:

Space Park Leicester, submitted by Pulse Consult and Shepheard Epstein Hunter

Small Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Ashe Group:

The Warren, Bitteswell, submitted by brp architects

Medium Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Ashe Group:

The Old Mill, Great Glen, submitted by Corporate Architecture

Large Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Jessup Partnerships:

Wyggeston Hospital Hub and Cottages, Leicester , submitted by Corporate Architecture

Property Deal of the Year, sponsored by Procure Partnerships Framework:

Europcar and Charles Street Buildings, Leicester, submitted by Charles Street Buildings

Small Non-Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Gateley:

Inglehurst Junior School Entrance and Extension, Leicester, submitted by Leicester City Council

Large Non-Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Gateley:

Space Park Leicester, submitted by Pulse Consult and Shepheard Epstein Hunter

Winners reactions:

Regeneration Project of the Year: Space Park Leicester

Space Park Leicester is a collaborative community of industry, academics and students working together to drive growth in space and space-enabled sectors.

Dan Mason of Pulse Consult said: “We are delighted that the Space Park Leicester scheme has been awarded this prestigious accolade. Our client, the University of Leicester, are thrilled that their project has received the recognition that it deserves. The quality speaks for itself and it’s fantastic to see the former disused site brought back to life, with University colleagues and industry partners using the buildings and grounds at their full potential.”

Small Residential Scheme of the Year: The Warren, Bitteswell

The Warren is a bespoke family home designed to include new and innovative materials and technologies to reduce its environmental impact.

Daniel Bent of brp architects said: “We are extremely proud that The Warren has been awarded as the winner of the Small Residential category. We would like to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication in making the project such a huge success. The whole team have worked extremely hard to design and build such a high-quality house and it has been a fantastic process from start to finish.”

Medium Residential Scheme of the Year: The Old Mill, Great Glen

The Old Mill is a low-density development of six new detached houses on the edge of Great Glen.

Malcolm Foulkes-Arnold, director at Corporate Architecture, said: “On behalf of our client and ourselves, we are delighted to be declared winners of this year’s Medium Residential Award. It is always good to be able to breathe new life into something and create lovely and liveable spaces for our client and others to enjoy. The recognition by ProCon is much appreciated, especially as it comes from our peers in the industry.”

Large Residential Scheme of the Year: Wyggeston Hospital Hub and Cottages, Leicester

A new administrative and entertainment Hub and additional housing were added to the existing extra-care accommodation whilst a newly landscaped scheme was provided for residents to enjoy.

Malcolm Foulkes-Arnold, director at Corporate Architecture, said: “On behalf of our client and ourselves, we are delighted to be declared winners of this year’s Large Residential Award. This project has been an excellent example of what can be achieved by strong collaborative partnerships. Our client’s Looking Ahead group provided regular feedback and support to the design team and contractors throughout the project, and this ensured that the needs of residents were kept firmly at the forefront at all times.”

Property Deal of the Year: Europcar and Charles Street Buildings, Leicester

This deal was for 16,752 sq ft of grade A office space at the Great Central Square development in Leicester. The deal was for Europcar’s new headquarters.

Joseph Murphy of Charles Street Buildings said: “The letting to Europcar at No 1 Great Central Square confirms that Leicester, as a city, is capable of delivering best in class office space to internationally recognised tenants at an improved rental tone. CSB is pleased this has been recognised and sees the deal with Europcar as a springboard for further investment within the area.”

Small Non-Residential Scheme of the Year: Inglehurst Junior School Entrance and Extension, Leicester

Inglehurst Junior School’s new entrance lobby and reception area enhances the front of the school as well as improving security and safeguarding.

Ian Lord, project architect at Leicester City Council, said: “At the outset of this project we had a clear vision to not only develop a new entrance, which would improve security and safeguarding at the school, but also create an extension that both celebrated the architectural quality of the existing building and dramatically provided an uplift to the street scene; revitalising an area in need of regeneration. Utilising innovation and modern technologies, key elements of the original late-Victorian building have been translated into a contemporary design, which has enhanced the status of the school within its neighbourhood and had an exceptional impact on its educational, social and cultural environment.”

Large Non-Residential Scheme of the Year: Space Park Leicester

Space Park Leicester is a collaborative community of industry, academics and students working together to drive growth in space and space-enabled sectors.

Highly Recommended

Direct flights to Esbjerg secured for Humberside as Eastern Airways lands double delight

Eastern Airways has landed a dual boost at Humberside Airport with new services for business and leisure. The resident airline is to launch a regular direct flight to Esbjerg in Denmark to support the offshore wind and maritime industries next month, while its Newquay departures will be doubled for the 2023 summer season. Its Jersey schedule also returns, in what is described as a major investment in the Kirmington base. A three-weekly service to the Danish wind energy epicentre will provide a vital link for the burgeoning renewable sector on the Humber, with Orsted and Siemens Gamesa having interests in both areas. It will launch on December 14, with year-round flights on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and follows corporate charter work on the route. Read more:Hull blade plant boss has his say on Siemend Energy buy-out proposal Roger Hage, commercial director at Eastern Airways, said: “This is a major dual development for the Humber region as we join the UK centre for renewable energy with Esbjerg. The renewable energy sector is fundamental to the employment and growth in the Humber as the Energy Estuary. With so many key renewable sector companies and an increasing focus on clean-tech energy self-sufficiency in the UK and Denmark, the increasing need to connect the investment, skills and expertise of the regions have never been greater. With Billund little more than an hour from Esbjerg, Legoland and various high-quality leisure destinations in the Syddanmark region of Southern Denmark, we know Denmark will appeal widely given its rich history with the Humber ports region. “Adding to the further investment in operations, crew and infrastructure to support new destination of Esbjerg, we have also doubled the frequency of the Newquay-Cornwall service, improving the access to the UK staycation destination of choice. We are also extending the length of operating season to the popular Channel Island destination of Jersey from Humberside Airport in conjunction with our primary partner Premier Holidays. “We want to ensure the right services are being offered given Eastern Airways is all about supporting the regions of the UK, connecting people and places, so growing our Humberside network and capacity is a crucial part of increasing connectivity and aiding economic recovery where sustainable.” Eastern will operate the mix of new and increased services on one of its fleet of 72-seat ATR or 29-seat BAe Jetstream 41, both offering one of the lowest fuel-burn and emissions in the market. This has included operating on sustainable aviation fuel, another string to the area’s decarbonisation role. Deborah Zost, managing director at Humberside Airport said: “This is excellent news for the airport, local businesses and leisure travellers. The route to Esbjerg is a significant step for the Humber, giving the UK’s Energy Estuary a new, direct and year-round link to this increasingly important renewable energy hub. And more flights to Cornwall over the summer will be warmly welcomed by holidaymakers and businesses alike.” It comes just days after the last flights left Doncaster Sheffield, following the abrupt closure by Peel Group, leaving Humberside and Leeds Bradford as the only operational airports in the region. Scandinavian Airlines had launched a service between Humberside and Copenhagen, the Danish capital, in late 2013, but it was pulled the following April due to lower than anticipated demand. The maiden flight was also cancelled due to adverse weather. In almost a decade huge strides have been made, with Race Bank and the Hornsea Zone, as well as the Hull blade plant all coming online, and more to come. British Airways partner Sun-Air had also stepped in with Aalborg and Billund as destinations in early 2016. Susanne Kruse Sørensen, managing director of Esbjerg Airport, added: “Eastern Airways has been a long-standing partner on this city-pair. The airline already operated corporate charter flights between Esbjerg and Humberside during the last years. The wind energy and maritime sectors are particularly asking for a direct route to ease crew changes and staff deployment on wind farms. Moving to a scheduled route is the logical way to improve service for customers. We are really looking forward to welcoming Eastern Airways in Esbjerg." Ever present since launching with the Aberdeen service in 1997 - carrying North Sea oil and gas workers - Eastern will now serve five destinations from Humberside at peak. Camilla Carlbom Flinn, director of cluster organisation Humber Marine & Renewables, of which Eastern Airways is the latest member, said: “The investment from Eastern Airways is brilliant news for the region’s business connectivity and indicative of the vibrance of the renewables sector. We are delighted that they have joined Humber Marine & Renewables and we expect that our members will enjoy the convenience of this new service to Esbjerg. We wish them every success in this exciting new venture.” Eastern has also announced a new daily East Midlands to Newquay service, complementing the increase to its year-round three-times daily London Gatwick to Newquay service, plus an increase in Newcastle to Aberdeen to twice daily, among various capacity and frequency increases around the network.

2022 Leicester Business Festival making an impact as it enters its second week

The Leicester Business Festival has entered its second week with a packed diary of events. The two week celebration of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland business community began last week with a launch breakfast at the Leicester Riders' Morningside Stadium. It continues this week with a series of events covering everything from getting the best from your team, to marketing, building brand awareness and building digital skills. Among the organisations involved are the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, which provides finance through small business loans, debt finance, proof of concept and equity finance funds via a subsidiary of the British Business Bank. Lewis Stringer, a senior manager for the bank in the east and south-east Midlands, said: “We are proud to be involved with the festival and the events we have been a part of have been impactful as well as attracting a great number of attendees. “Our main reason for getting involved in Leicester Business Festival is to bring our knowledge, influence and experience to the spotlight for people who might be looking to take their idea or business to the next level. “This included at our Leicester Rising Stars event with Leicester Startups and Tech Nation, as part of the British Business Bank's inaugural Business Finance Week, aimed at the city's start-up entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses who had the opportunity to pitch to potential investors and the wider business community. This was really successful and we look forward to seeing what evolves next for these entrepreneurs. “I would encourage other businesses to take part in the festival over the next few days.” Events taking place this week include: Pool & Property (Pattersons Commercial Law) – 4-6.30pm, Wednesday, November 16 Innovation Masterclass – Helping your business grow, profit and be sustainable (University of Leicester and Harborough Innovation Centre) – 10am-1pm, Thursday, November 17 The Future of Law with former BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman (Excello Law) – 4-6pm, Thursday, November 17 Make Mental Health your Business (Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project) – 10-11.30am, Friday, November 18 Leicester Giving Day will feature as the festival finale on Friday, November 18. The initiative was launched by Leicester-based Embark CSR for companies and educational establishments in the city and county to showcase their philanthropic support for charities and local communities. A spokesman said: “Events are taking place for people to get involved with and all the details can be found on Leicester Giving Day website and that evening the new Leicester Giving Day Social Responsibility Awards will also take place. “These awards have been created by Embark CSR and have been introduced as a means to highlight good practice and outstanding achievement in the field of social responsibility, with a focus on positive partnerships between the business and voluntary sectors.”

How Brexit costs this retailer £1m a month in sales

An online retailer whose revenues have been on an upward trajectory has become the latest business to highlight the vast financial impact of Brexit on the UK. Leicester entrepreneur Ravi Karia launched an e-commerce business in 2010 selling sells socks, thermal underwear, hats, gloves and bedding to shoppers all over the world. Five years ago he adapted it into a tech company offering a seamless link between suppliers and big online shops such as B&Q, Debenhams.com, La Redoute, Amazon and Decathlon. The big retailers integrate his software into their own systems and his business, called Pertemba, acts as the middle man – without shoppers ever knowing the difference. Lines sold include Trespass, Regatta, Mountain Warehouse, Hype and Clarkes and he also deals with licence-holders for brands such as Fortnite and Minecraft. Mr Karia said sales are currently around £22 million and rising, but he said Brexit trade barriers are costing him up to £1 million a month in lost EU business. Despite that he is still working hard to grow EU sales. He said: “Brexit has affected us. My business would have sales of £35 million right now if it were not for Brexit. “If an EU online marketplace wants a non-EU company to ship directly to its EU customers there needs to be so much compliance. When you start talking to a new EU online marketplace they just say they don’t want it all. “There’s at least £10 million of business in Europe that we can’t access because my stock is in the UK. “So we’ve got a third party warehouse in Belgium – which has been a difficult experience and is not perfect. We’ve also had to persuade suppliers to move stock to Europe. It’s been painful. “I didn’t vote for Brexit. I knew it would be difficult for my business but it’s happened now. “Ironically the silver lining is there aren’t now competitors trying to do what we’re doing from the UK. But it would have been much better for us to be able to launch products directly from here to Germany or France. “The alternative to having people overseas is you do not grow.” His comments come amid growing criticism of the impact of Brexit on Britain, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt now conceding Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal caused damaging trade barriers with the European Union. Last week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said “very clearly Brexit was an economic own goal” that had harmed growth. The economic think tank’s director Paul Johnson said it has been “very bad news indeed and continues to be bad news, particularly the way that we’ve done it, the hard type of Brexit we’ve had, distancing ourselves from the single market”. While the OBR said the UK’s "trade intensity" would be 15 per cent lower in the long run than if the UK had remained in the EU. Mr Karia – who is now considering buying a company in Europe to try and even out the issues – was this year's LeicestershireLive Entrepreneur of the Year and the the Department for International Trade's 2020-2022 Export Champion. He started his firm as an online shop called Universal Textiles before moving to the technology side of things. He now has 70 people in the UK and 50 in India on the tech, data entry and customer service side of things. There are about 60 or so suppliers on the Pertemba system selling through around 100 marketplaces worldwide without breaking a sweat, and all the stock comes through the Leicester warehouse. A US partnership is also being launched. One of the beauties of the tech he provides is it can allow clients to move into new marketplaces without having to adapt their own websites or technology. He said: “We started as an online retailer but I was thinking “how do I grow the business?”. “I needed bigger premises, more money, more people, but got thinking that what I’m really good at is technology – that’s my strength and I realised I needed to use technology to overcome the barriers we were facing. “I thought if I don’t have to invest in stock myself that solves all the problems. So I built the systems and the developers took it on. Now we have a defined brand and strategy and more people are coming on board.” Like many online retail businesses Petremba thrived when people were stuck indoors during lockdown. He said: “The company was always growing. We were around £18 million in turnover, and trying to get to over £20 million, but when Covid hit it shot up to £27 million in a year because we were able to stay open when other shops were shut. “On top of that our competitors were quite slow to the game while we were able to adapt quickly, bounce-back and fulfil orders. “We’ve been doing phenomenal numbers outside the UK. “It’s amazing how the business has transformed. We have streamlined everything so we can take on a supplier in a week and a new marketplace within a week as opposed to months and months. “Things are not as busy as during Covid, but we are still trading at £22 million, and in the next three years want to get to £35 million.”

Leeds Bradford named the worst airport for security queues

Leeds Bradford has been named the UK’s worst airport for security queues. A survey for consumer group Which? indicated that passengers waited an estimated average of 35 minutes at the West Yorkshire airport between February and August. Researchers asked nearly 1,300 people who travelled from a UK airport over that period how long they queued for at security. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of Leeds Bradford users said they waited for more than an hour to pass through security. In August, the airport installed electronic screens providing passengers with live updates on estimated wait times. Travellers reported security queues in excess of an hour at nine airports, including Bristol (17 per cent of respondents), Birmingham (11 per cent) and Manchester (eight per cent). Seven per cent of all those surveyed said they missed a flight because they were stuck in a long queue. There was major disruption at airports across the UK earlier this year due to staffing shortages and a spike in demand for travel after coronavirus restrictions were scrapped. This led to flight cancellations, problems with baggage handling and long security queues. A spokesman for Leeds Bradford said: “Earlier this year, like many airports across the UK, we had periods of long queueing due to the rapid resumption of international travel after the lifting of pandemic restrictions. We were transparent about these difficulties at the time and worked hard to address those short-term issues. “We have since significantly reduced queueing in our terminal. We remain committed to delivering the best possible passenger experience at Leeds Bradford Airport and being an outstanding airport for our region.” London City was the best-performing airport in the research, with an average estimated security queue time of just 12 minutes. Half of the airport’s users reported a wait time of between five and 10 minutes. Belfast City and Glasgow International were ranked joint second, with an average wait time of 13 minutes. Guy Hobbs, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: “Travellers this year have borne the brunt of unprecedented chaos at UK airports, with huge numbers enduring long queues and some even missing a flight due to excessive wait times to clear security. “Your choice of airport shouldn’t make or break your holiday – but for too many travellers this year, that has been the case. We’d recommend choosing an airport with a better record on queues and treatment of passengers, even if that involves travelling slightly further from home.” A spokesman for trade body the Airport Operators Association said: “The UK had one of the most restrictive travel regimes in Europe until March and the aviation industry faced significant employment challenges as international travel reopened. Our airports have worked tirelessly to alleviate these staff shortages and the overwhelming number of passengers were able to enjoy the summer holidays with minimal disruptions. “We recognise the impact any delay or disruption can have on passengers and the aviation industry is continuing to work together and with Government to recover from the impacts of the pandemic – and the near-total closure of UK aviation – to ensure that all passengers enjoy the service that passengers have rightly come to expect of UK aviation.” For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea. Find recommendations for eating out, attractions and events near you here on our sister website 2Chill

£5m boost defrosts huge Grimsby cold storage expansion after costs soared on £30m plant

Grimsby’s cold storage capacity is to be increased by 20 per cent after £5 million of government support was netted for a key project. Brexit and Covid have put pressure on a vital element of the wider seafood sector, with it trading at over-capacity for the past six months, as just in time imports have switched to more considered buying by the town’s cluster of processors. The £30 million Europarc proposal from HSH Coldstores is fully consented and will create 60 new jobs, with the potential to unlock hundreds more in Grimsby. It was the lead beneficiary from the first round of the UK Seafood Infrastructure Fund, with £20 million being invested nationwide. Read more: Seafood processor swoops for neighbouring home delivery specialist A further £2.4 million has been awarded to JCS Fish to expand its processing operations in the town, with cash for projects in Fort William, Peterhead and Alness in Scotland, for Mowi, Denholm Seeafoods and Aquascot; Shoreham Port for vessel maintenance and Falfish Ltd in Newlyn ad Mevagissey. Henry Pringle, chief operating officer for Constellation, HSH's parent company, welcomed new Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer to the existing Birchin Way site, taking him on a tour of the huge operation. He said: “We are running at over-capacity, we’re storing in the aisles, it is everywhere, and it is not just us. Everyone in Grimsby is full. We see that as a major impediment to Grimsby industry, processing depends on cold storage and occupancy at the moment creates tonnes of additional cost. We cannot take in additional customers, and we’re having to shuttle to the Midlands and Peterborough. “Grimsby being the centre of fish and seafood processing in the UK, a lot of the supply chains are dependent on imports. This is the main fish and chip shop warehouse for the UK.” Cold storage is required for raw product, ingredients for value-added processing and pre-sale holding, with transportation to and from the cluster adding to the cost, and eroding competitive advantage. Mr Pringle said: “We are looking at building a new facility within Grimsby, supporting 30,000 pallet spaces. There are 150,000 currently, so that will be increasing by 20 per cent.” The 52-year-old second generation business holds a third of the market share in the town, and will employ 200 people when the addition completes, scheduled for early 2024. It is currently being rendered for, and has been hit by inflation in the building materials market. Of the reasoning behind the demand, Mr Pringle said: “We are at peak season going into Christmas, there has been a bounce-back post Covid and Brexit concern means no-one wants just-in-time inventory. The model is now to import and hold greater stock. “We wouldn’t be able to do this without the grant funding. Capital expenditure accelerated, construction costs have gone through the roof and while they have come down, they are not where they started. This really gets us across the line in terms of making it viable.” When first announced in May 2021, with Europarc developer Wykeland, the 171,000 sq ft site had a price tag of £15 million, though 25 new fuel efficient trucks with the latest refrigeration technology are also part of the successful bid. At JCS, a state-of-the-art 2,000 sq m fish processing factory with integrated smokehouse is to be developed, doubling salmon and trout processing capability to 20 tonnes per day. It could bring 32 jobs to the town, while reducing reliance on imports. It came as it was announced in Tromso, Norway, that the next International Coldwater Prawn Forum will be held in Grimsby in 2024, likely to bring more than 200 delegates. The town successfully hosted the World Seafood Congress in 2015. Mr Spencer, appointed to Defra under Liz Truss, and the representative for Sherwood in Nottinghamshire, said: “We are adding value to the processing sector, building extra storage that helps with the supply chains and generates jobs. “This is about investing for the future and making sure we have one of the most robust, sustainable and employable industries in Europe. We are now competing with our colleagues across the water, we want to make sure the UK fisheries sector is robust and fit for the future. “It demonstrates our huge opportunities in this sector, and I think this will assist on that journey, moving forward in the new world post-Brexit, and I think it is great news for the sector, it proves we can do it here in the Uk and do it very successfully.” He rejected the idea it was paying for issues arising from the vote to leave, despite the stated change in business model. “Companies are holding more stock because they are confident in the future and confident they are going to sell it,” he said. Icelandic Seafood International’s decision to exit UK operations, putting 200 jobs at risk in Grimsby, was raised with the Minister. He claimed administrators had been appointed in media interviews, but this was refuted by the business, which is working with specialist MAR Advisors to achieve a sale. The company operates the huge former Five Star Fish plant on Great Grimsby Business Park, having merged two businesses into it as Covid struck UK shores. Mr Spencer said there would be “wrinkles on the way” following Brexit, with the company’s chief executive having pointed to harder trading conditions as part of the reasoning, with losses of £12 million revealed. He said: “It is very sad for these people, losing jobs - potentially - and I hope the administrator can find someone to take it on lock, stock and barrel. With this investment there will be other jobs in fish processing industry and as a nation we have reason to be optimistic about the future.” ISI had announced it was to pull out of the UK in a trading update last week. It is rigorously pursuing a sale, with interest mooted. Following his comments, to several media outlets, Bjarni Ármannsson, Icelandic Seafood International group chief executive, said: "Iceland Seafood is running a sales process on its UK subsidiary, Iceland Seafood UK, after having decided to exit the UK value-added operation. "MAR Advisors have been mandated to run the process. We are currently presenting the company to prospective buyers. As Iceland Seafood is a publicly-listed company we will report the outcome of such a process at an appropriate time to the market. Any suggestions that Iceland Seafood UK is in a liquidation process are false. That is not the case at all." Grimsby MP Lia Nici had earlier in the week taken to social media to air her concerns about finding out about the company’s plight via social media. The Westminster agenda led to her missing Mr Spencer’s visit, but she met with him in London prior to his arrival.

Wind energy opportunity blows into primary school minds

Inspirational wind energy workshops are being delivered to Grimsby primary schools as the next generation to join the town’s renewables revolution are targeted. RWE, building on its strategic decision to make the port a key hub last year, will have taken in four schools by the close of the year, with more planned for 2023. The company’s operations teams from both the original Humber Gateway base in Port of Grimsby East and the emerging wider Grimsby Hub, are working with Humber-based skills organisation Lab Rascals. The collaboration, focusing on ‘Master Builders’ tasks children to follow detailed instructions, troubleshoot, collect data and achieve results by planning, building and operating Lego turbines and cars. Read more: Direct flights to Esbjerg secured for Humberside as Eastern Airways lands double delight First to participate were 32 students from Stallingborough CE Primary School. Claire Swannick, logistics coordinator at Triton Knoll, the first project to be anchored at the emerging enlarged GrimsbyHub on Royal Dock, said: “All of the master builders I had the pleasure of meeting at the RWE Wind Energy Workshop worked well as a team, completed their tasks, and helped their classmates if they were struggling. It is always wonderful to work with younger people, educating them on renewable energy and helping them gain important life skills.” The hub is expected to accommodate around 140 RWE employees, potentially creating around 60 new jobs to the local region, when a third wind farm, Sofia enters the operations and maintenance phase. The company has further proposals in the near North Sea too, with scores of roles required for the entire lifetime of projects, and not just the build out. The feedback received from the school after the first session was described as very positive, with RWE having developed detailed careers materials including case studies and lesson packs to support teachers in educating their students in the importance of renewable energy in the fight against climate change. Emily Powell, headteacher, said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and were all engaged in the Lego building. It was great to see them working together in teams. It was also positive for those pupils who thought that they wouldn't be able to build the objects to have a real sense of achievement with their finished cars and turbines.” It comes as public awareness grows around a major new project aimed at inspiring all about the burgeoning industry Grimsby now fosters. A Low Carbon & Renewables Exploratorium is to be established in a box park format in the town centre, telling the story of the sector and opening it up to the people of the town. It will provide immersive activities and hands-on opportunities to experience offshore wind and other low carbon solutions being pioneered on the Humber. Project director Richard Askam spoke about the aims at Grimsby Minster last week, where the Gaia Earth installation is on display.

Re-opened Dartmoor rail line passes 250,000 journeys in its first year

Journey numbers on the Dartmoor Line have passed 250,000 a year after re-opening to regular passenger trains. The line reopened on 20 November 2021, restoring a regular, year-round service for the first time in almost 50 years following more than £40m of Government investment. The previously mothballed rail line, which runs between Okehampton and Exeter, was restored in just nine months and was the the first former line to reopen under the Government’s £500m Restoring Your Railway programme. In the same week as it celebrated its one-year anniversary, the Dartmoor Line also saw its 250,000 journey, more than double the demand originally forecast. Michelle Handforth, Network Rail’s Wales and Western regional managing director, said: “I am so pleased with the positive impact the Dartmoor Line is having on supporting greater connectivity, boosting local businesses, the tourism sector, and providing greater access to education and work for the thousands of people who live locally." READ NEXT: List of 35 new train stations and wish list schemes leading the UK railway upgrade Reinstatement of the Dartmoor Line was made possible by Network Rail’s team of engineers which laid 11 miles of new track and installed 24,000 concrete sleepers and 29,000 tonnes of ballast in a record-breaking 20-day period. Since Great Western Railway (GWR) increased services to hourly in May 2022, passenger use has continued to rise, with over 500 journeys starting at Okehampton every day and a further 300 travelling into the town from across the rail network. Rail Minister, Huw Merriman MP, unveiled a plaque to mark the official reopening of the Okehampton station building to mark the anniversary. He said: “With over 250,000 journeys made, restoring this vital route has undone 50 years of damage – we’ve reconnected a community and created new opportunities for jobs, tourism, education and leisure. “Our Restoring Your Railway programme is making a real contribution to levelling up the country and breathing new life into previously cut-off areas.” On his visit, Mr Merriman opened the fully refurbished station building, featuring The Bulleid Buffet café, Dartmoor National Park information centre, shop, toilets, heritage-style waiting room and museum. While the work to finish the Dartmoor Line is now complete, efforts are still being made to provide better connections from the Dartmoor Line, to surrounding towns and communities. Hannah Baker, Andrew Arthur and Hannah Finch cover all the latest business news from across the South West on our dedicated page - you can read more here. And to get the latest stories you can: Devon County Council and local bus operators have worked with Great Western Railway to provide better bus links to Tavistock, seven days a week direct from Okehampton station. This now also includes new routes to Launceston and Bude which run direct to the station. Mel Stride, Central Devon MP said the plan now is to secure additional funds for a second station on the eastern edge of town. "[This is] something I am working closely with local councillors and campaigners to achieve. This will maximise the economic benefit and reduce congestion in the town." READ NEXT: Latest appointments and jobs news from the South West

Where strike action will affect Christmas travel plans

Industrial action will cause disruption for travellers on the run up to Christmas. Here is a rundown of how travel will be affected, on which days and locations. Thousands of Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members are going on strike from December 13 to 18. Workers at Network Rail and train companies will walk out on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Services on those days will start later and finish much earlier than usual, with trains running between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Many parts of Britain will have no trains, including most of Scotland and Wales. Disruption due to ice and snow is also likely to cause further misery to passengers on strike days. RMT workers at Network Rail will also strike from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on December 27. It is likely that passengers travelling on Christmas Eve will be urged to complete their journeys by the time that industrial action begins. READ MORE: Royal Mail staff set to strike again in dispute over pay, jobs and conditions Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) at National Highways in operational roles on roads and in control centres will take part in a series of staggered strikes from Friday to January 7. National Highways, which is responsible for managing England’s motorways and major A-roads, does not expect he action to have a significant impact on traffic as only around 8% of its frontline workforce are PCS members. But many of its routes already suffer from severe congestion during the Christmas getaway. We cover all the latest news with journalists based in the regions - you can read more here. To stay up to date with us you can: Border Force workers are set to strike on December 23. PCS members at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow airports will walk out. Extensive passport checks are only carried out on arrival but long queues could see passengers held on planes after they land, causing delays to departures. Airlines have been urged by Border Force to cancel up to 30% of flights on strike days to prevent chaos at airports. But easyJet said it intends to run its full schedule as “we want to take our customers on their planned trips at this important time of year”. The only sea port affected by the Border Force strikes is Newhaven, East Sussex, from where ferry services operate to and from Dieppe, France. A walkout in Kent affecting the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel would likely cause severe disruption. Eurostar will run a revised timetable between Tuesday and Saturday due to the reduction in running hours on rail lines caused by the RMT strikes at Network Rail. The operator is not affected by the Border Force walkout, and does not anticipate its services will be affected when RMT members employed as security staff by private contractor Mitie at London St Pancras International go on strike over the next fortnight. READ NEXT: Get our front page headlines Cost of Living: List of firms helping staff with bonus payments Dyson founder calls home working rights plans ‘economically illiterate’

easyJet launches Rhodes flight from Belfast International Airport

easyJet is launching a new flight from Belfast International Airport to the Greek island of Rhodes. The airline said the move will create 40 new jobs at the airport where it will base an additional Airbus A320 alongside its seven other aircraft. The route is scheduled to launch on 3 rd June 2023 and will depart twice weekly on Tuesday and Saturdays. It adds to a growing number of routes for easyJet from both Belfast International and Belfast City airports to destinations across the UK and Europe. “I am delighted to be announcing our plans for expansion at Belfast International Airport today,” Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said. “The addition of another aircraft will help us to deliver growth in Belfast and offer customers an even wider range of destinations, like our new route to Rhodes, which will provide our customers in Northern Ireland a direct connection to one of Europe's most popular beach destinations this summer, all with low fares and great service.” easyJet first flew from Northern Ireland more than 27 years ago with an inaugural flight to London Luton. It is now the largest airline in the province, operating around 670 flights a week to 29 destinations. Uel Hoey, Business Development Director at Belfast International Airport, welcomed the announcement.

East Midlands business leaders say Autumn Statement 'high on stealth-creation and low on wealth-creation'

East Midlands business leaders have urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to follow through on his plan to rebuild the economy and help business with one accusing his autumn statement of being “low on wealth-creation”. As the OBR slashed its forecast for economic growth and inflation hits a 40 year high of 11.1 per cent, the Chancellor is in the desperate situation of trying to balance the books without alienating voters or pushing the UK further into recession. With many businesses already thinking twice before investing in capital or workers, he warned the country faced growing unemployment as he set out a package of £30 billion in spending cuts and £24 billion in tax rises over the coming five years. Blaming a “global energy crisis, a global inflation crisis and a global economic crisis” the Chancellor said while benefits would go up for the poorest, taxpayers and businesses “with the broadest shoulders” would have to pay more. Measures announced included dropping the 45p top rate income tax threshold from £150,000 to £125,140, and cutting the tax-free allowance for capital gains from £12,300 to £6,000 next year and to £3,000 in 2024-25. He also said the windfall tax on oil and gas giants will increase from 25 per cent to 35 per cent while a 45 per cent levy on electricity generators will help raise an estimated £14 billion next year. Opposition MPs said he missed the chance to raise further billions through a windfall tax on retail giants such as Amazon. Government spending will continue to increase in real terms the next five years, but at a slower rate than previously planned while stamp duty cuts announced in Kwasi Kwarteng’s short-lived mini-budget will end on March 31, 2025. Many business leaders said they were still ready to support the economy – if the Government was ready to support them. Jennifer Thomas, FSB development manager for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland said budget was “high on stealth-creation and low on wealth-creation”, piling more pressure on the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses, their employees and customers. She said: “While tackling inflation is essential, so are measures to create conditions for prosperity, growth and support enterprise. Today is a missed opportunity to avoid further economic slowdown. “Small businesses, which account for more than 16 million jobs in the UK, were already facing an acute cost of doing business crisis through soaring costs, falling revenues, shrinking availability of affordable finance, and a rise in invoices being paid late. “On top of all that, they now face even higher taxes, cuts to innovation, and a recipe for a longer and deeper recession.” She added: “It is welcome that the energy support package for small firms will remain in place until April, helping them through a very tough winter ahead. “However, going forward, continued support should not be viewed through the narrow lens of specific sectors, but rather based upon the size of a business.” Nottingham-based Luke Willmott runs Autocoincars.com, a car marketplace that allows dealerships to advertise their cars for sale to cryptocurrency users He said: “Starting a business shortly prior to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the difficulty of surviving for many start-ups. “However, in spite of the economic difficulties brought on by Brexit we have managed to make AutoCoinCars thrive. “If Jeremy Hunt can follow through on his plan to rebuild the economy and help small businesses and public service then perhaps we have hope for the UK after all, but until we see those plans becoming actions we will continue to crack on and do our best to build our business.” East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “This very much felt like an Autumn Statement designed to steady the ship and if that’s the case, the Chancellor has most likely achieved his objective. “There wasn’t much for businesses to get excited about, but the main task was clearly to reassure the markets about the UK’s fiscal responsibility. It also signals an end to the chopping and changing of direction that we’ve seen so much in recent months, and it at least provides businesses some of the certainty that has been lacking and resulting in a significant loss of confidence. “We also heard some big rhetoric around prioritising energy, infrastructure and innovation, but there wasn’t much new in these announcements to stir up much enthusiasm about real change being on the way. It was important, though, to stress that capital spending on projects such as HS2 will not be cut as investment is essential to long-term growth prospects. “New Treasury figures show the East Midlands continues to receive the lowest public spending per head of population at £10,528 – compared to a UK average of £11,897 – and there are other big infrastructure projects, including Midland Main Line electrification, where we need to see progress as quickly as possible. “There was a clear emphasis on the role of devolved powers to local areas throughout the Autumn Statement, which again highlights the opportunity presented to our region by establishing an East Midlands Mayoral Combined County Authority, which can create the political structures to improve decision-making on key issues, enhance our ability to attract investment and create an environment conducive to business growth. “While today was always going to be about not rocking the boat, businesses will need to see a clear economic plan from Government ahead of the Spring Budget. “Many of the questions businesses had before about how they will be supported to invest in skills and innovation remain. There is plenty more that can be done in ‘getting the basics right’, as the Chamber will outline in more detail as part of our Business Manifesto for Growth, which we will launch in Westminster next week.” Leicester recruitment specialist and East Midlands Chamber director Eileen Richards was less convinced about the Chancellor’s promises. She said: “The sentiment of a ‘stronger, fairer economy’ is nice rhetoric but we have heard this many times before and we await to see how it plays out for business and public services. “What we do know is that major employers, both in Leicestershire and around the world, are already closing and that huge numbers of people are losing jobs. “This is potentially going to impact the jobseeker-led recruitment market we have seen in recent years – a lot of very skilled workers may suddenly enter the market. “This raises big questions about the Chancellor’s point that public spending will ‘grow slower than the economy’ at a time when people are seeking support as they either look for jobs or to access business development services to set up their own businesses. “Also, beyond a veiled reference to future targeted business support, there was no detail on support for the cost of energy after April 1 and this is a key ingredient for business planning, and will affect investment intentions in plant, machinery, technology and the development of people.” Lisa Botterill is a partner and specialist in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and private equity in the Leicester office of law firm Shakespeare Martineau. She said: “The chancellor has slashed the tax free allowances on dividends and capital gains so that by 2024/25 they will be a quarter of what they are now. “While we aren’t talking about large sums of money overall the restriction of these allowances shows just how far the government has felt it needs to go to find small savings here and there to try and balance the books. “This is a nibble at another set of taxes that is generally paid by the more-well off citizen, who is considered able to pay.” North Leicestershire-based entrepreneur Steven McKerrow owns a start-up called Mouseskins which upgrades computer mice for hard-core gamers. He said the Government – while generally positive to the sector – had missed a trick to support esports which has just been recognised by the European Parliament for its positive economic contribution. He said: “My big question is, is the UK following suit? Can we leverage this economic boom in the UK and finance these innovators and digital trend setters to rejuvenate our country, without silly tax, or overruling. “Will the UK GOV enable or just debate it for many more years?” Ian Hodgkinson, managing director at Derby based Hodgkinson Builders, said: “It was the budget, we more all less expected. I am glad to say there is no reduction in expenditure for infrastructure as that it vitally important for the country. “I notice the stamp duty incentives are being left as they are for the next couple of years, which is good news for the housing market. My gut feeling is that the housing market will gradually slow down, but won’t completely stop “I am also pleased to see the day that the Chancellor is helping with fuel costs. Generally that is also very welcome.