Charcon wins contract to support Derby city centre transformation
Charcon Hard Landscaping, which is part of Aggregate Industries, has been awarded a contract to supply sustainable products for the redevelopment of Derby city centre. The council has started the first phase of a Mobility Programme to deliver better transport choices for the city. The work will see the areas between The Spot, St Peter’s Street, Babington Lane and Gower Street get better access for cyclists and pedestrians as well as have their pavements widened and resurfaced. The council is using Charcon kerbing to form kerb lines, cycle tracks and new disabled parking bays. The product replicates the look of natural granite and contains up to 65 per cent recycled or reclaimed materials. It will be manufactured at the Aggregate Industries Hulland Ward site near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, which will also help with transport costs and overall emissions. Jamie Baldwin, general manager of Charcon Hard Landscaping, said: “We’re really proud to have been chosen to supply Charcon products to this important project in Derby. “The Eco CSK Kerb is fantastic in terms of its overall look and finish as well as environmental considerations, which we know is a key decision factor for customers. “We have supplied similar schemes on a national basis, but the Black Basalt kerb is a first and very much bespoke to the project so huge thanks must go to our technical, production and commercial teams. “Sustainability is very important to us as a company and integral to what we do. The product is made up of a high degree of recycled or reclaimed content and with it being made in Hulland Ward, just 10 miles from Derby, it means a much lower carbon footprint for the project.” Coun Steve Hassall, cabinet member for regeneration, decarbonisation, strategic planning and transport at Derby City Council, said: “These works represent just part of our on-going commitment to not only provide an improved travel experience in the city centre, but also to improve the overall look, feel and standard of our city centre streets to a level that residents rightly expect. “This project is not the final word in delivering better transport for the city, and we’re looking forward to delivering further improvements going forward.” Work to redevelop the key city centre area is underway and the project is due to be completed by mid-June. It is part of Nottingham and Derby’s Transforming Cities programme, funded by the Department of Transport.
Grimsby logistics firm adds beer distribution to group with crafty acquisition
An expanding Grimsby logistics group has added a chilled beer distribution operation to its portfolio. The directors behind Fardel Shipping Ltd and Hedges Chilled Distribution Ltd, Ciaron Reynolds and Paul Jackson, have invested in Norfolk-based Jolly Good Beer. It delivers wholesale services to the drinks trade, providing a vital link between more than 40 independent breweries and pubs, stretching from the South Coast to Oxfordshire and up towards Leeds and Manchester. A team of 14, led by founder Yvan Seth, operate a fleet of five chilled vehicles, including two HGVs, with a Kent delivery hub servicing London and surrounds as well as the 4,000 sq ft Upwell base, near Wisbech. Read more: The Humber's headline-making deals that made 2022 Mr Reynolds said: “We are delighted to bring Jolly Good Beer into our group of companies. Jolly Good Beer provides an excellent quality of service for its customers, many of whom we also work with on a daily basis. Yvan and his team share our recognition that good logistics are important to good product condition. “There are many synergies between our companies that we will combine to establish a wider distribution network that our customers can rely upon for many years to come.” Launched nine years ago, with a second hand van and refrigerated shipping container in Cambridgeshire, Mr Seth told how the hospitality sector and its supply chain has been “weathering a perfect storm through the pandemic and now the challenges of the current economic conditions”. Proud to have made it through tough times, he has welcomed the undisclosed investment in a business that has craft producers at the fore. He said: “Jolly Good Beer will continue to provide its wholesale services for beer and associated products, which will now be bolstered by Hedges Chilled Distribution network, chilled bonded warehousing, e-commerce solutions and chilled consolidation shipping links between the UK and EU operated by Fardel Shipping Ltd. “We’ve enjoyed working with Fardel and Hedges in the past and know they provide excellent chilled logistics services. This is a highly complementary joining of forces, combining their resources and service model with our direct-to-trade wholesale network. Beyond significantly stabilising JGB after three years of difficult times this partnership gives us access to a wealth of capabilities that will allow us to expand coverage, range, and services to better serve brewers and trade customers.” Fardel launched in 2009, and based in Dudley Street, specialises in temperature-controlled logistics and customs clearance services across a wide range of business sectors. It acquired Waltham-based Hedges in 2018.
HelloFresh starts work on 400,000 sq ft distribution centre on SmartParc food campus in Derby
Home meal kit maker HelloFresh has started work on a 400,000 sq ft distribution centre on the SmartParc food manufacturing campus in Derby. The building – due to open in spring 2024 and called The Windmill – is being built near to an existing HelloFresh packing and distribution hub called The Orchard, which opened last year. A spokeswoman would not said how many jobs will be created, but smaller Orchard site is believed to have around 450 people working there. She said the will be a recruitment drive “in due course”. When finished The Windmill will be the company’s most advanced distribution centre in terms of its technology and sustainability credentials – sharing its heating and cooling arrangements with other tenants on the business park in addition to making high use of wind, solar and green energy. German-based HelloFresh this week reported global sales up 27 per cent at 7.6 billion euros in 2022 (£6.77 billion), after shipping more than a billion meals through the year to 7 million active customers. But it said adjusted core profit was down 9.5 per cent at 477.4 million euros (£425.5 million) as it worked to get to grips with record levels of inflation in ingredients and labour costs. HelloFresh UK chief executive Adam Park said: “The new site will allow us to use state-of-the-art technology to innovate and continuously improve our product offering. “That way we will be able to offer our customers more choice, flexibility and overall better service levels, all while seamlessly fitting into their everyday lives. “In addition, the new site will focus on maximising energy efficiency and minimising environmental impact. By investing into the new site, HelloFresh is reinforcing its commitment to Derby. “It’s also fantastic to continue our association with SmartParc. The campus sets a precedent for the best in sustainable design and collaboration. “Their ethos of bringing people and businesses together to meet the challenges of sustainable food production, while providing opportunities for the local area, align perfectly with our own values.” SmartParc chief executive Jackie Wild said: "We are delighted to be working with HelloFresh on their new Windmill production facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby. “As our anchor tenants, HelloFresh are an important part of our journey to deliver for the city of Derby and enable sustainable, collaborative food production."
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.
Jet2 announces Bristol Airport jobs drive as part of expansion plans
Airline Jet2 and subsidiary Jet2holidays have announced a recruitment drive to fill more than 100 roles as the budget travel group expands its operations at Bristol Airport. The operator, which is headquartered in Leeds, said it was looking to fill cabin crew, ground operations, flight deck and engineering positions as it bolsters its flight schedule and aircraft fleet at the South West transport hub. Now entering its third year in Bristol, Jet2 said it would be adding new routes from the airport to Malaga and Chania in Crete, meaning its base there now serves 32 destinations. A seventh aircraft will come into operation at the base to support the growth. Chief executive Steve Heapy said the move was driven by an “enormous” response from customers and independent travel agents across the South West and South Wales. Mr Heapy added: “With such a huge programme on sale for summer 2023 and customers flocking to book their place in the sunshine, we are delighted to be expanding our Bristol Airport team even further. “The success of our award-winning business is down to the hard work of our colleagues, and we are looking forward to meeting like-minded passionate people to help us delight even more customers from Bristol Airport.” The announcement comes after competitor Ryanair announced its biggest ever schedule from Bristol Airport and also expanded its fleet there, as part of a $500m (£407m) investment in December. Bristol Airport secured planning permission from the government last year to expand its maximum capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers a year. Local residents and environmental campaigners have mounted a High Court legal challenge against the decision, with an outcome of the appeal still pending. Read next:
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