In Brief: Humber LEP; Aveyard; RaceBest; Spencer

THE Humber LEP has welcomed the Government’s offshore wind strategy, as it progresses its work to become one of the world’s largest renewable energy manufacturers.

The Humber is well placed to create a large proportion of the 30,000 jobs linked to offshore wind expected to be create in the UK, as well as gaining a slice of the £7bn expected to be created in the economy.

The Humber LEP said this new strategy should help to build confidence in the sector and in the region.

Lord Haskins, chairman of the Humber LEP, said: “The Government is right to recognise offshore wind as a major growth opportunity and I hope that this industrial strategy will help the UK capture more of the economic benefit from it.  The Humber is already playing a leading role, but also has the most to gain.

“Anything that creates further confidence in the sector in the UK and the Humber is very welcome and the strategy which formalises the Government’s commitment to the sector will help.”
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AN increase in footfall is enabling a Yorkshire optometrist to embark on a programme of growth.

Darren Aveyard owns both D Aveyard Opticians in Beeston, Leeds and a second in Mirfield. Now, after a 10% increase in visitors to the Mirfield business, he is set to expand in size and increase the number of staff.

Recently, Aveyard Opticians made a £50,000 investment in an ocular coherence tomography (OCT) machine at the Beeston practice. The OCT spots degenerative conditions at the back of the eye.

Mr Aveyard said: “The investment we’re looking to make in the Mirfield practice means we’ll be able to grow as a business and reach even more people.”
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TWO Leeds-based businesses have joined forces to develop a unique online entry system for running races across the country.

Running services company RaceBest, based in Headingley, commissioned the system from software developers NewRedo, headquartered in the Round Foundry Media Centre.

The system went live after 25 days’ development in a process tailored specifically to entrepreneurs.

RaceBest is operated by directors Martin Browne and Lynn Taylor, two experienced runners.

Browne said: “Most entrants would like to sign-up for races via this kind of online system, as it’s more convenient and cheaper for them and organisers than using traditional methods. Some home- grown systems exist, but many races still expect entrants to download and print traditional forms.

“What makes our system better is its ease and speed-of-use, plus runners can browse and enter races on their smart phones, tablets or PCs. The site provides organisers with a big race online presence at a small race price.”

NewRedo is spearheaded by experienced and successful software developers Royd Brayshay and Phill Luby.

RaceBest’s system is currently hosting entries for the re-launched Bradford City Runs, on October 27, and the Great Yorkshire Stair Climb, in Leeds’ 32-storey Bridgewater Place, Yorkshire’s tallest building, in November.
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ANOTHER milestone has been reached in a key project reinforcing the Humber’s credentials as a leading renewable energy hub.

A crane has lifted into place a major part of a structure built by Hull-based specialist engineering business Spencer Group to enable the loading of sustainable biomass for transportation from the Port of Hull to Drax Power Station. The work is part of £100m of investment in biomass handling facilities at the Humber Ports.

The lift topped off a 43-metre (141 ft) high biomass silo tower with a ‘penthouse’ structure, housing the drive mechanism for a conveyor belt to take the biomass from ground level, and a so-called ‘tambourin’, which seals the silo and supports the drive house.

The weight lifted was 75 tonnes and it raised the height of the structure to 50 metres (164 ft), making it almost as high as the tower block at Hull Royal Infirmary and one of the tallest buildings on Hull’s skyline.