In Brief: Concord; Paragon Group; North Star Micro Roasters; SCX group
ONE of Sheffield’s longest established sports venues is set to play a key role in a major investment project to make the city one of the most active in the UK.
New facilities at the Concord Sports Centre will mean it will become one of three initial developments for the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) – a unique, government funded Olympic Legacy project.
The £700,000 development at Concord is under the NCSEM banner that brings together communities, clinical services, sport and exercise specialists and health professionals together to explore how exercise can be used in the treatment of a range of chronic health conditions.
At Concord, which is funded by Sheffield City Council and operated by Sheffield International Venues (SIV), this will mean a new facility in the existing North changing block, which will house a range of consultation and treatment rooms.
SIV is now seeking planning permission for the development. It is hoped building work can begin in the spring with an expected completion date of late summer.
SIV chief executive, Steve Brailey, said: “Concord, which is a popular and successful suburban sport centre, is set to play an important role in promoting health and well-being across the city alongside other hubs.”
:::
PARAGON Group has boosted its European footprint after acquiring RR Donnelley SAS, a former French subsidiary of the RR Donnelley Group.
Paragon will integrate the specialist in direct mail into its Solutions and Technology division while creating a new centre of excellence at the former RR Donnelley production facility in Cosne sur Loire.
Paragon operates 12 manufacturing sites across across Europe – including a base in Castleford – and has a turnover in excess of €185m. It is a global supplier of multi-channel communications, data handling, smart ticketing, identification and fulfilment services.
:::
TWO young entrepreneurs have launched Leeds’ first coffee micro-roastery.
A coffee fixated graduate has teamed up with a local teenage barista to launch North Star Micro Roasters, creating specialty, hand roasted and ethically sourced coffee to order from the new roastery based in Meanwood.
According to Ellis Hall, 19, and Alex Kragiopoulos, 23, North Star Coffee Roasters is the first micro-roaster in Leeds dedicated to sourcing, roasting and supplying the Arabica coffee beans with a mission to reclaim the ‘real coffee experience’ from high street corporate chains.
Harrogate-based Falcon Speciality Green Coffee Importers is North Star’s green coffee supplier. Falcon Specialty is headed up by Mike Riley, former head coffee buyer at Taylors of Harrogate for 25 years.
There are now more than 100 micro roasters in the country, predominantly in London and the South of England and most major cities.
:::
BUILDING work to expand the SCX group’s head office has begun.
The Sheffield family-run engineering firm has outgrown the premises that were added to in the summer of 2011 when the group expanded into an additional building across the road from the main offices and workshop. SCX has now decided to build an extension and refurbish the current offices.
Due for completion late spring 2014, the new building will increase the internal size of the building by more than 60%. The existing office space is 540 sq m with the renovations providing an additional 350 sq m giving a total of 890 sq m.
Simon Eastwood, managing director of the SCX group, said: “We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved over recent years. Thanks to continuing success, we have recruited an additional 19 people in the last year.
“As well as accommodating all the new people and providing a much more modern working environment, I’m excited to say that the new buildings will present a highly professional appearance and warm welcome for our valued clients when they arrive.”
