Funding secured to help council buildings go green
North East Lincolnshire Council has secured £4,821,879 of Government funding to help deliver carbon emission reductions to nine of its council buildings.
The funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 3c, delivered by Salix, will reduce the future environmental impact and running costs of the buildings through heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency improvements. The council will provide match funding for the project of £657,529.
The works will involve replacing ageing, fossil-fuel reliant systems with low carbon alternative technologies, as well as building fabric improvements and energy efficiency measures where appropriate for the buildings. The grant funding includes design, engineering, construction, and project management costs.
The buildings included are: • Immingham Swimming Pool • Humber Seafood Institute • Grimsby Leisure Centre • Grimsby Crematorium • Grimsby Education and Development Centre • Cromwell House • Poplar Road Business Units • Poplar Road Offices • Doughty Road Depot Offices.
Cllr Phillip Jackson, Leader of the Council, said: “We’ve set an ambitious target to be a carbon-neutral council by 2030. Meeting this target is one of the biggest projects the Council has undertaken and is vital in mitigating the damage done by polluting carbon emissions.
“This grant funding will enable us to take a big leap forward in reducing the energy consumption in our buildings, which benefits the environment and lowers running costs, and ultimately helps keep council tax down.
“One of the biggest contributors to our carbon emissions is the energy we use to heat our buildings.
“We can reduce these emissions by increasing the energy-efficiency of our buildings, using our buildings to generate power and by switching to renewable sources of energy.
“The works we are carrying out now are a further step in our mission to becoming carbon Net Zero and follow other energy-efficiency improvements completed in recent years, such as converting our street lights to low-energy LED bulbs, upgrading our buildings and introducing more electric vehicles in our fleet.”
New planning rules mean farmers can be flexible with fresh revenue streams
From today Lincolnshire farmers will be able to convert unused buildings into homes and shops thanks to new planning laws.
The changes give farmers greater freedoms to diversify and grow their business, without having to spend time and money submitting a planning application.
They will be able to convert agricultural buildings and land into new business opportunities, such as outdoor sports facilities, larger farm shops and farm training centres, as well as housing, thanks to the changes to permitted development rights .
These new powers come in a week after the Farm to Fork Summit, where the Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to backing farmers who keep this country fed. The changes coming into force will give them new freedoms to diversify if they choose to.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety Lee Rowley said: “Farmers are the lifeblood of communities, and these changes give them the freedom to grow their businesses, and plan for their futures.
“This is all part of our Long-term Plan for Housing to deliver more homes for rural communities and reform the planning system, removing unnecessary barriers to development.”
Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “I am extremely pleased to support our farmers and provide them the freedom to decide the best uses for buildings on their land, without needless bureaucracy holding them back.
“We are listening to farmers and putting them at the heart of future development of our rural areas. Helping farmers secure their businesses and get on with the important job of producing food is our top priority.”
New County Council Chairman names two charities he’ll support
Macmillan Cancer Support and Blind Veterans UK are the charities pf choice for support from Lincolnshire’s new County Council Chairman Eddie Strengiel.
Elected as Chairman at last week’s AGM Council Strengiel has selected those two charities because of support given to his family and his military service.
Coun Strengiel has served as a council county councillor for Birchwood Division in Lincoln City for ten years, and served on the City Council for 30 years.
Whilst serving as vice chairman, Eddie supported the chairman by attending various engagements including standing in to present individuals’ certificates for British Citizenship. Eddie will become Lincolnshire’s chairman for 2024. Councillor William Gray will serve as his vice-chairman.
Cllr Strengiel said: “It is a great honour to be elected to represent the County as its chairman and I will endeavour to carry out my duties to the best of my ability. I was also privileged and honoured to represent the City as the 798th Mayor of Lincoln in 2004.”
He was born and raised in Tain in the far North of Scotland. Tain is Scotland’s oldest Royal Burgh and is famous for being the home of Glenmorangie single malt whisky. Eddie joined the army at eighteen years of age and served for twenty-four years in the Royal Engineers, after which he enjoyed a long career in the financial sector, ultimately retiring from his own business in 2010. Married to Sandra, they are about to celebrate their 50th anniversary. They have two married daughters and one grandchild.
15 projects awarded funding to support skills in North East Lincolnshire
Fifteen projects focused on supporting skills and education across North East Lincolnshire have been awarded a funding boost through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The UKSPF is the Government’s replacement funding for previous EU investments. Money was given to North East Lincolnshire Council to allocate to projects that were successful in applying in three categories, which are priorities for the borough – those being Communities and Place, Supporting Business, and People and Skills.
One round of funding was awarded in 2023 following successful application bids, with the second round awarded earlier this year, again after a formal bid process.
Of those organisations, 15 are directly related to improving skills and education in North East Lincolnshire and they have received a total pot of £745,000. These upcoming projects hope to improve career prospects and life chances for local people.
The successful organisations that received UKSPF funding for People and Skills are:
- Adults Careers Team (North East Lincolnshire Council) – the careerShift programme targets those who are interested in changing their careers, with a focus on industries struggling to recruit. Designed to raise aspiration, the course will be attended by local employers and careers advisors, who will share their knowledge and experience to encourage people to utilise their existing skills differently.
- CATCH – building on their technical training and apprenticeship programmes, the accredited ECITB Work Ready project for Welding, Pipefitting and Plating will produce more skilled and qualified people for the engineering construction and shutdown labour pool.
- NAViGO Care CIC – the NAViGATING Healthcare project focuses on pathways into health and social care employment, providing holistic support through training, career advice and work experience opportunities, as well as practical support including wellbeing, finance, digital skills, and confidence.
- University of Lincoln – led by the University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), the Seafood Talent Futures project seeks to increase the number of highly skilled individuals employed in Grimsby’s Seafood Processing sector and young people accessing careers within it.
- Climb4 Ltd – the Build a Brighter Future project is a volunteer and training pathway for those unemployed and 19+, as well as those 16 to 18-year-olds without a grade 4 English and Maths at GCSE level.
- Ethical Recruitment Agency (ERA) – the Proud to Care Project supports individuals across North East Lincolnshire to access the care sector. The program begins at the start of the application process with DBS checks, references, and interview skills until they are a paid member of staff. The ERA will cover the fees for recruitment, training, and support the pay-rolling of 12 weeks of wages to temporarily alleviate employers of time and costs typically required to train new staff.
- Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education (GIFHE) (TEC Partnership) – delivered by the Automotive Department of GIFHE, the Level 1 Award in Electric and Hybrid Technologies and Carbon Awareness has been developed to equip the learner with the relevant knowledge to be able to work safely on a vehicle which has a high voltage (HV) propulsion system, without working on the HV system itself. The project will cover safe working practices and essential knowledge of hazards associated with electric vehicles and the precautions to follow to avoid these, a priority area for vehicle technicians as the amount of petrol and diesel cars reduces every year.
- Creating Positive Opportunity – the Creating Better Opportunities project aims to increase employment and retrain those already in work, by offering quality qualifications, licenses, certificates, and structured industry taster days in priority sectors including Construction, Health and Care, and Visitor Economy.
- Learning4Life-Gy – supporting individuals who have migrated to access opportunities in employment, the English Speaking for Other Languages (ESOL) Vocational English for a Working Life project will deliver weekly sessions of an adapted curriculum, combining English with workplace relevance for non-English speakers.
- The Equality Practice Ltd (TEP) – the Me-Learning Programme is a 12-week programme focusing on women’s self-belief, to encourage them to go forward with employment and training. By addressing mindset, aspirations, and perceptions of what’s possible, the gender skills gap can be challenged with females feeling more confident to reach out for higher opportunities.
- Transafe Training (TEC Partnership) – the Logistics and Safety Employer Response (LASER) programme delivers courses to respond to the skills gaps in Logistics. The courses will retrain or upskill employees and learners to meet the needs of the sector, resulting in employment, increased skills, and a reduction of structural barriers to opportunities.
- Volunteer It Yourself – aimed at young people aged 16-24 who are unemployed, the project will support the development of construction trade skills and increase their work readiness, as they help to renovate Kent Street Skate Park in Grimsby.
- Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education (GIFHE) (TEC Partnership) – the Leadership Skills for Social Care project is designed for 19+ learners looking to develop skills to support new or existing roles in the care sector. The course will focus on leadership and knowledge tailored to the care sector, delivered flexibly to accommodate the needs and schedules of everyone involved.
- The Equality Practice Ltd (TEP) – following previous success in delivering to females aged 19+, the Me-Learning project is being delivered to a younger cohort of 16 to 18-year-olds. A 12-week, adapted version of the programme will be piloted to meet the needs of young women, continuing with a focus on mindset, self-talk and aspirations.
- Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education (GIFHE) (TEC Partnership) – lead by National Employer Training (NET), the Hospitality Key Skills programme will offer hospitality businesses in North East Lincolnshire accredited, sector-specific provisions that address skill shortages in the sector, with qualifications including Food Hygiene and Food Allergens.
New garden provides sanctuary at hospital
Hospital patients and staff in Lincoln will be able to retreat to a new garden funded through charitable donations.
The garden has been opened at Lincoln County Hospital and is the first of three to be created across United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Work is about to begin on similar green areas at Grantham and District Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.
The gardens are being jointly funded by NHS Charities Together and the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity; both provide the extras for patients and staff that are not available through NHS budgets.
The designs are bespoke to each area and were voted on by hospital staff.
The Lincoln garden cost just over £60,000 to complete and provides a space for everyone to use. It is located on Level One between Dixon Ward and Burton Ward.
Ben Petts, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Manager, said: “We understand how stressful it can be coming to hospital and so to have a space where everyone can go and enjoy some fresh air and a break away from the hustle and bustle is so valuable.”
He added: “We all hope we will never need to visit hospital, but if we do – we all appreciate a small area of sanctuary where you can have space alone with your thoughts or precious moments with loved ones.
“A lot of thought and care has been put into these gardens by our contractors at SPA Landscaping and also by members of the working group. These areas really are going to make a massive difference for our patients, colleagues and visitors.”
Alex Anthony from SPA Landscaping Ltd said: “Carrying out the installation of the landscaped courtyard at Lincoln County Hospital was a challenging project due to the access and scale of the planned works. Working with the Trust to overcome the project challenges shows what can be achieved through team work.
“We are delighted the space can now support wellbeing and help patients, staff, and visitors to the hospital.”
Image shows: The official opening of the garden at Lincoln County Hospital. Picture courtesy of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
New experience in leisure and hospitality set for Lincoln as STACK opens its doors
The journey is finally over – STACK Lincoln is now opening its doors and bringing a whole new experience in leisure and hospitality to the city.
Seven days a week, from lunchtime until late, visitors of all ages can now enjoy the STACK experience.
The winning formula of an eclectic mix of top quality street food, coffee shops and bars -and of course a huge entertainment programme – has made STACK a winner in other cities – and now the people of Lincoln have the opportunity to sample STACK for themselves.
STACK really does have something for everyone. Family friendly (and pet friendly too!), STACK is confident it will become the go-to venues for all occasions.
Check out live music performances, events for the kids and watch out for screenings of all major sporting events – and that’s just the start.
STACK said: “We’re really delighted to be able to welcome Lincoln to the STACK family!”
The winning formula of an eclectic mix of top quality street food, coffee shops and bars -and of course a huge entertainment programme – has made STACK a winner in other cities – and now the people of Lincoln have the opportunity to sample STACK for themselves.
STACK really does have something for everyone. Family friendly (and pet friendly too!), STACK is confident it will become the go-to venues for all occasions.
Check out live music performances, events for the kids and watch out for screenings of all major sporting events – and that’s just the start.
STACK said: “We’re really delighted to be able to welcome Lincoln to the STACK family!”
National Lottery grant keeps charity on the road
Grimsby-based Linkage Community Trust’s awarded £164,316 in National Lottery funding to support its sensory outreach service. The charity, that supports people with learning disabilities and autism, will use the grant to create a new mobile sensory space, bringing sensory experiences to children and adults across Greater Lincolnshire.
Niz Smith, the Outreach Project Coordinator, says: “Thanks to the National Lottery players, we’ll be able to reach into smaller community spaces and get right into the heart of Lincolnshire’s rural communities. This is important because in a large rural county like Lincolnshire, it can be very difficult for people to access services but by bringing the service to them we’re overcoming these barriers. Above all, we’ve seen the benefits and joy people experience using the bus and the difference it can make.”
The Linkage Outreach team currently delivers services from a converted single decker bus, which has served its purpose over the years but has begun to show its age. In previous years Linkage Outreach has run up to 40 community days and visited up to 23 schools per year, providing each with seven visits to ensure pupils receive the maximum benefit and enjoyment from the experience.
Thanks to The National Lottery players, the new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund will provide a new mobile sensory vehicle that will enable Linkage to improve the service, reaching more individuals and smaller communities.
This vital community resource supports individuals to improve communication skills and helps to increase calmness, relaxation, concentration, and wellbeing. It’s able to reach and benefit those that otherwise may not have the opportunity to experience any form of sensory therapy, and serves as inspiration to parents, teachers, carers, and professionals of different support environments.
Tick King opens new store in Lincoln’s Cornhill Market
Lincolnshire residents now have a new trusted destination for quality watch repair services with Tick King’s latest store opening in Lincoln’s Cornhill Market. Expanding from their Nottingham base, Tick King is known for over 45 years of experience in delivering exceptional watch repairs, servicing, and polishing.
Their new Lincoln location offers a range of services, including battery replacements, watch strap adjustments, and thorough cleaning. As an authorised Raymond Weil repair centre and official service hub for Bauhaus, Zeppelin, Iron Annie, and Audi, their team of expert technicians is well-equipped to handle watches of all brands and models. Whether it’s a vintage timepiece needing restoration or a modern model requiring quick servicing, Tick King’s team uses the latest equipment and genuine manufacturer parts to ensure each repair is perfect.
For added convenience, Tick King provides no-obligation quotes and a click-and-collect service for efficient drop-offs and pickups. If you can’t visit in person, they also offer a fully insured postal service, allowing customers across the UK to receive quality repairs without stepping out of their homes.
This latest addition to the Cornhill Market is more than a watch repair shop; it’s a one-stop destination for those who value timely service and professional care. Stop by today or visit their website (search Tick King) and get your watch back in tip-top shape with Tick King!
North Lincolnshire considers plans for one of Europe’s largest data centres
Plans have been submitted to North Lincolnshire Council to develop one of Europe’s largest data centres on land near South Killingholme and the A180.
If approved, the Humber Tech Park would lead up to £3bn in investment and create almost 400 jobs as well as making the area a leader in AI.
Cllr Rob Waltham of North Lincolnshire Council said: “North Lincolnshire already has a number of companies that provide significant employment in the technology sector and these new proposals show a massive vote of confidence in North Lincolnshire’s economy, helping us to continue to transform the area into a tech superpower.
“This is a generational level of investment in the area and, if approved, would be a magnet for attracting other high-tech businesses.
“The jobs would be highly skilled and highly paid – averaging around £50,000 a year for operational employees – with many more employed during the construction phase.
“The proposals would also see investment in community infrastructure and money for local education and training. Biodiversity would also be improved with landscaping, tree planting and ponds.
“The proposal now needs to go through the council planning process.”
Community celebration of Sutton-on-Sea history to take place
A free celebration of Sutton-on-Sea’s rich history and culture is set to take place this June, as part of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s Arts Council England NPO project.
Vintage-on-Sea, which has been put together in collaboration with community groups and representatives, will take place on Saturday 29 June, from 10am to 4pm, with a variety of different acts and entertainment including singers, bands, dance groups, magicians and more.
A market will take place on the day, with over 30 different stalls for people to explore and enjoy including vintage items, food and drink and games and activities. A series of craft workshops will also be available giving people the opportunity to create their own miniature seaside windmills to take home with them, as well as face painting and lots more family-friendly fun.
As part of the entertainment High Tea [with a twist], from Levantes Dance Theatre in London, will be performing, and are currently looking for six volunteer dancers (split into three couples) who will work together to create something memorable before and during the show. The volunteers will get to wear a bespoke costume and be part of both digital and in-person rehearsals.
Individuals interested in this opportunity will need to email Samantha Benson at Samantha.Benson@e-lindsey.gov.uk by Saturday 18 May, and should be able to commit to sessions to practice in the run-up to the event, including a free taster session to decide upon the six dancers on Saturday 25 May, from 2pm to 5pm at the Meridian Leisure Centre in Louth.
As well as Vintage-on-Sea there are a host of other events taking place across the summer in Sutton-on-Sea, including a large-scale group sand drawing activity on the beach on Saturday 22 June.
Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader at East Lindsey District Council, said: “It’s really exciting to have such a wide variety of activities available for our residents in Sutton-on-Sea across the summer months, which I’m sure will provide a lot of fun and entertainment, as well as an educational experience to learn about the history and geography of the area.
“There is a great programme of work and events planned through the NPO programme across East Lindsey and South and East Lincolnshire, and I am delighted that Sutton-on-Sea can be such a hub for these activities whilst the new Colonnade is built.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Brian Jackson
