Yorkshire & Lincolnshire Business Link Magazine

West Yorkshire-based principal contractor Majestic Construction has recorded a 78% increase in turnover over the past six months compared with the same period last year, driven by increased workloads, a growing client base and the continued diversification of the business into principal contractor work.

Rotherham-based accountancy firm Parkins has joined SMH Group, the Yorkshire and Derbyshire professional services firm. The firm will now operate as SMH Parkins, continuing to serve clients from its Wickersley office with the same experienced team.

Greater Lincolnshire farming leaders have warned that uncertainty in private environmental markets is limiting their ability to support long-term investment across the agricultural sector. The Greater Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture (GLFFAH) said private funding for environmental outcomes should not yet be viewed as a replacement for public support, with the market still too inconsistent to give agri-businesses sufficient confidence over future returns.

Leeds-based Switalskis Group has acquired specialist legal costs business Calculus, expanding its capabilities in costs advice and litigation support. Southport-based Calculus was founded in 2003 by John Hayes and works with personal injury and clinical negligence firms across the UK. Its services include preparing costs budgets and bills of costs, drafting points of dispute and replies, and representing clients at costs hearings. The business also employs a number of costs lawyers.

South Yorkshire-based parking technology business TwinPay is focusing on growth after receiving a £500,000 Mezzanine Finance facility via the South Yorkshire Debt Fund, which is managed by FW Capital on behalf of South Yorkshire Pensions Authority. The funding supports Twin Pay’s continued expansion of its technology offering, following a fundraising process led by Hawsons Corporate Finance.

Food brand Mr Whippy has unveiled its new £15m, custom built production facility in Sheffield with a successful, full factory test launch. The heritage brand completed the specialist food production fit out last month and went live with test doughnut production under the watchful eye of investor and company chairman Scott Fletcher MBE and the 10-strong management team.

Alliance Automotive Group has taken the final 80,870 sq ft unit at Panattoni Park Rotherham, bringing its total occupation at the development to 710,870 sq ft. The automotive parts distributor already occupies a neighbouring 630,000 sq ft facility. The additional space will support its regional and national distribution operations and the consolidation of other sites. AAG distributes passenger and commercial vehicle parts to the independent automotive aftermarket across the UK and Europe.

The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: North of England survey signalled concurrent growth in the recruitment of permanent and short-term staff. Both rates of expansion were slightly above their respective long-run averages and the strongest among the four monitored English regions. Demand for both types of staff improved modestly in September, as permanent vacancies rose for the first time in five months. Pay growth was meanwhile sustained in September.

Hull City Council has opened a tender for the demolition and clearance of the former BHS building as part of the next phase of the Albion Square redevelopment. The appointed contractor will be required to remove the building while protecting the Grade II listed Three Ships Mural. A steel support frame has already been installed, allowing the mural to be separated from the former department store and retained as a freestanding structure.

A new community has been approved by councillors on South Kesteven’s planning committee for Market Deeping. Members of the planning committee voted unanimously in favour of Persimmon Homes East Midlands’ application for a site west of Peterborough Road, paving the way for the delivery of 80 new homes and significant investment in local infrastructure and community facilities.