Clegg Construction has appointed Christian White as pre-construction director. He brings with him more than 30 years of industry experience, having worked at a number of high-profile regional construction companies in the past. Working with the in-house pre-construction team at Clegg Construction, Christian will be responsible for delivering high-quality, client-focused solutions – ensuring that projects are thoroughly planned and structured to meet client expectations and regulatory requirements. He will also be responsible for implementing the company’s procurement objectives and for the strategic management of Clegg Construction’s framework appointments. Clegg Construction MD Michael Sims said: “I am pleased to welcome Christian as pre-construction director, helping us to develop comprehensive project strategies which set the groundwork for successful project execution. His experience and expertise will strengthen our team, building on the reputation that Clegg Construction has earned over many years." “Christian will work closely with our clients across the private and public sectors to understand their needs and help us lay the foundations for the continued delivery of successful construction developments.” He will be based at the headquarters of Clegg Construction in High Pavement, Nottingham. Christian said: “I am excited to be joining Clegg Construction at a time when the order book is flourishing, with interesting projects currently under way and a number of new schemes in the pipeline. I look forward to building on this, and to meeting existing and new clients as we continue to work with organisations across a range of sectors including healthcare, education and residential.” Christian’s remit will cover Clegg Construction operations across the Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire, working on the delivery of public and private sector projects.

Alex Baker, MP for Aldershot and Farnborough, visited one of the region’s leading aerospace manufacturers. Sigma is a member of Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC), which organised the visit. The company makes pipe and tube assemblies, ducts, manifolds, fabrications ad sub-assemblies, sheet and machined details, and specialist fasteners. It supplies products and services to the civil and military aerospace sectors, including to global companies. Alex Baker said: “I was delighted to be invited to visit Sigma by the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium and to have the opportunity to find out more about one of the many incredible and highly technical industries based in Farnborough." Alex Baker MP with a Sigma engineer commented: “It was a fascinating visit and another example of not only great careers on our doorstep but also a local business making a global impact." “Boosting economic growth is at the heart of this government’s mission for the country, and we are committed to supporting businesses such as Sigma.” Richard Bower, Sigma CEO, said: “We were delighted to host Alex Baker MP at our Farnborough facility to demonstrate how the local area supports a global aerospace supply chain. It’s always good to raise awareness of what we are capable of and we look forward to hearing what can be done to foster further growth in the area.” Alan Fisher, CEO of FAC, said: “Sigma are long-standing members of ours and Alex Baker was extremely supportive. She has a background in the private sector and showed an understanding of what businesses want and require. Sigma gave her a presentation and then a tour of the facility.” Top Photo:   (l-r) Richard Bower Sigma CEO, Paul Scattergood, Sigma Operations Director, Alex Baker MP and Alan Fisher from Farnborough Aerospace Consortium

The last resident of the World War Two ghost village of Tyneham in Dorset has died aged 100. Peter Wellman made a final visit last year to see the place where he was born and brought up. The ‘village that died for England’ was evacuated just before Christmas in 1943 to enable the army to extend its ranges. Around 250 people from Tyneham and the valley farms were forced out, but promised they could return when Hitler had been seen off. But they were never allowed back. While still on MoD land, the ruins of the village and the walk to the beach at Warbarrow Bay are open to the public for 160 days of the year and remain a moment in time that was frozen. The school that Peter went to and the church at which attendance was mandatory have been restored, but the rest is decaying with time. Peter, who was born in Tyneham in 1924 passed away from pneumonia on April 29th in Swanage, not far from his boyhood home. His daughter Lynne said: “Dad always loved Tyneham and he visited regularly until he had a fall a few years ago. He was delighted when we took him back last year. He loved talking to people there and telling them about the village and what life was like. He moved out of Tyneham before the war due to work, but not far away. Then in 1943 everyone was forced out." “He had been living happily in Swanage and died peacefully in his sleep after suffering from pneumonia.” On his last visit to Tyneham Peter recalled his childhood: “We had no electricity, no mains gas and no running water – we had to pump that from near the church. There’s a tap there now. I remember going to the beach and fishing and we often had mackerel. We were happy until we got moved out.” Peter, whose family connections to Tyneham go back many generations and whose grandfather was the shepherd, attended the little single-room school. He said he ‘scribbled like anyone else would’ and when the school closed in 1933 when he was nine, he spent several years attending another school by bus. At 14 he started work on a nearby farm where he stayed for 36 years and then he had a job in the clay industry until retirement. Many of the villagers enjoyed long lives and Peter put it down to the lifestyle. “Fresh air is the main thing,” he said, “and hard work with a good heart and a contented mind. That’s how you live.” Peter said he didn’t regret leaving the village because there was little there for younger people, but would have liked the residents to return. “They were told they could come back,” he said, “but they were never allowed.” Peter recalled watching a dogfight in the sky above the fields he was working in during the war, and waving at the Spitfire pilot who downed an enemy plane. The village was owned by the Bond family who lived in the grand Tyneham House that is now mostly gone. They were resistant to modernity meaning life in the village in 1943 was much like it had been a century earlier. After a campaign led by campaigner Rodney Legg to allow the residents back, the MoD in 1975 permitted people to visit what was left, and it has become an increasingly popular place for day-trippers and tourists. Peter was also the last person to speak with an authentic Tyneham valley voice, which has a rich, velvety Dorset burr. Peter, a widower, had two children, two grandchildren, three great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Elise Neville from James Smith Funeral Directors, part of the Douch Family Funeral Group, who is arranging the funeral, said: “Peter is the last living link to the village of Tyneham and with him departs a piece of history." “So many of the small communities in and around the Isle of Purbeck have families who go back many generations, and Peter's is one of them. It is a great privilege to arrange Peter’s funeral.”

Contractor Clegg Construction has started work to deliver a new Faculty of Health building at the University of Sheffield. The facilities will be used to expand Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) which supports pioneering research into neurodegenerative diseases like Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s, dementia and Multiple Sclerosis. Clegg Construction was appointed on a circa £16m contract to deliver the Faculty of Health Phase 1 project on the Glossop Road/Clarkehouse Road site. It involves demolition of some existing buildings on the current site of Barber House Annex and Central Garages, and the construction of a new three-storey health facility with associated external work and landscaping. The new development will be connected to the SITraN building via a link corridor and will expand the existing SITraN laboratory space. Facilities will also include teaching and learning spaces, offices, and workspaces for visiting staff, students and researchers. A new - more visible - frontage will be presented on Glossop Road to ensure the building is more closely associated with the University Campus and the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. The building will have two storeys from the main road, and a third storey at the rear to allow for the slope of the site away from the road. Clegg Construction contracts manager Craig Gibbons said: “This is our fourth contract with the University of Sheffield and we are very pleased that work has now got under way on site." “SITraN is well known for supporting pioneering research into serious neurodegenerative conditions. This project will help to increase space for research and also improve collaboration between academics at the university and clinicians at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital." “We are proud to be involved in a project which has such potential for the improvement of patient treatment and care.” Other members of the construction team include architect Bond Bryan, providing architect and landscape services, and structural engineer Ridge. The project is expected to be handed over in September 2026. Photo Credit: Bond Bryan - is a CGI of the development.

In the wake of recent cyberattacks targeting popular high-street retailers, Robert Walters Market Intelligence team releases data on the current state of the cybersecurity hiring market. Including key skills, top employers and sectors with the highest vacancies. Cybersecurity Vacancies on the Rise Cybersecurity skills have consistently ranked in the top five in-demand skills across professional services for several years now. In the UK alone, there are around 17,000 live cybersecurity vacancies at any one time – with estimates projecting vacancies to grow by around +10-12% each year. Most In-Demand Cybersecurity Skillsets: As cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated and substantial in scale, the need for cybersecurity specialists has intensified across all sectors. This rapid evolution means that professionals often struggle to keep pace with necessary skill advancements. Key skills in current high demand include: • Cloud Security Engineers • Security Operations (SOC) Analysts • Penetration Testers & Ethical Hackers • Cyber Risk & Compliance Specialists • AI & Threat Intelligence Analysts Top 5 sectors with the highest levels of cybersecurity vacancies (% of all vacancies): 1. Finance & Banking – 20% 2. Public Sector & Defence – 18% 3. Technology & Digital Services – 16% 4. Healthcare & Life Sciences – 12% 5. Retail & E-commerce – 10% Top 10 Employers Large, multinational banks and financial institutions, as well as government departments make up cybersecurity’s top employers. Joined in the ranks by retail and e-commerce companies, who currently command 10% of all vacancies. However, this is expected to grow over the coming months as the retail sector responds to the recent cyberattacks by strengthening their preventative cybersecurity capacities. Phill Brown, Global Head of Market Intelligence at Robert Walters comments: "Retailers have heavily invested in recent years to hire professionals who can assess their system security and identify vulnerabilities. Penetration testing and ethical hacking are among the most sought-after skills today." “The recent cyberattack, on some of our most well-known high street retailers, carries with it short-term disruption, but also the very real risk of long-term damage to trusted brand image and reputation. The scale and impact of these attacks is often extensive and takes considerable time and cost to rectify. This underscores the urgent need for businesses to prioritise cybersecurity hiring." “Many retailers rank among the top employers of cybersecurity talent and consistently allocate substantial resources towards enhancing their security systems. However, following these high-profile attacks, we anticipate that budgets will be stretched even further this year." “Indeed, regardless of this investment, efforts must be ongoing and companies who neglect the hiring and upskilling of cybersecurity staff, risk lost profits, damaged reputations, diminished consumer trust, and vulnerability to future security breaches." "Companies will not only need to hire or contract cybersecurity experts to address the current issue, but they will also require additional specialists to rebuild their IT systems and advise on stronger security measures. This process will be both costly and time-consuming." “This latest situation serves as a cautionary tale for all businesses. By hiring the right professionals and consistently investing in their upskilling from the beginning, companies can better protect themselves against ever-evolving cyber threats."

On average UK farmers have two-thirds (66%) of their total wealth tied up in their land, equipment and livestock, new analysis from Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading wealth management firms reveals. For almost a third of farmers (30%) interviewed this rises to over three-quarters of their wealth. The vast majority of farmers see their farm not only as their livelihood, but as their future pension which will provide the bulk of their income when they retire, meaning many will face a significant financial shock in a year’s time, when new inheritance tax rules come into effect in April 2026. Rathbones study reveals nearly all of the farmers interviewed (96%) see their farm as their future pension and over half (52%) believe that they will rely on their farm to finance up to half of their cost-of-living expenditure once they retire. Around a third (32%) say it will provide between half and three-quarters of their retirement income and 16% believe they will be almost wholly reliant on their farm which will fund 75% or more of their living costs once retired. At the moment farmers are almost entirely exempt from inheritance tax, as they can use a combination of Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief to pass on their farmland and other business assets to children or grandchildren tax free. But this is set to change in April 2026, with single farm owners only able to pass on up to £1.5 million of farmland and assets tax free, and those who jointly own a farm only able to pass on up to £3 million tax free. This increase in inheritance tax is a significant worry for farmers, as the Rathbones study reveals that 92% of those interviewed expect the next generation in their family to take over the farm and run it, once the current generation is ready to retire. More than nine in ten (93%) of those interviewed said that they think the next generation will be capable of successfully running the farm – but profit margins for many farms are already very tight and 30% of farms are already loss making. Profit margins are likely to be further affected if the next generation of farmers are saddled with additional taxes to pay. Adam Brewer, Investment Director with Rathbones Group in Exeter, said: “It has been economically challenging for farmers in the south-west for some time. Even prior to the IHT change, many families have been forced to utilise their land differently by moving into higher margin sectors like caravan parks to subsidise their traditional farming operations." “The latest tax change is likely to accelerate this struggle, threatening the continuing viability of smaller farms in the area.”

Leading UK construction and infrastructure delivery partner, Munnelly Group, has announced that long-term CEO Phil Munnelly is to take on the role of Chairman and be replaced by COO Paul David Munnelly. The leadership transition forms part of a continued commitment to ensuring stability, growth and exceptional value for clients across the hugely successful multi-brand business. Having held the post of CEO for more than 40 years, Phil Munnelly’s new role as Chairman will enable him to continue in his capacity of supporting the leadership team and contribute to the strategic direction of the group. Paul David Munnelly, COO for the last two-and-a-half years, has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and strategic growth, with his leadership and vision making him the ideal choice to step into the role of CEO and lead the business into the future. Phil Munnelly said: “Over the years, as the Group has grown and matured, we have established a strong leadership structure that allows for strategic oversight while empowering our leaders to execute and deliver positive results." “This leadership evolution has enabled me to naturally transition into a more ambassadorial role, allowing me to focus on high-level strategic conversations and client engagements where my industry experience and network can add the most value." “While my role is evolving, I remain fully committed to the continued success of Munnelly Group. I will stay actively involved in strategic decision-making and will be supporting Paul in his new position. I am very excited about this new chapter and look forward to continuing to contribute to the Group’s growth and success which has been the story so far.” Paul David Munnelly, said: “I am excited to be taking on this new role within the business and look forward to building on the success that we have experienced under the stewardship of Phil." “These are exciting times for the Munnelly Group and by making these boardroom transitions, we are strengthening our core, strategic, leadership team even further so that we can continue to deliver excellent levels of service to our clients and partners.” Established in 1982, the Munnelly Group Ltd has grown from a small family-owned construction company into a hugely successful multi-brand business leader with expertise in construction, security, rail, work-winning, recruitment and geospatial surveying. Photo Caption : Paul David Munnelly is to replace Phil Munnelly as the Munnelly Group CEO, with Phil moving into the role of Chairman.

Computing & Digital Industries students from Selby College have successfully completed an industry project with British Taekwondo – empowering them to build their technical and creative skills. As part of the real-world software development challenge, the students were tasked with redesigning the digital interface used by British Taekwondo instructors for grading students during belt assessments. Over several weeks, students engaged in every stage of the development cycle - from gathering client requirements to planning, designing and building an improved, user-friendly system tailored to the needs of martial arts professionals. This provided the students with valuable experience in software system design, project planning and management, user interface and user experience, client communication and requirement gathering. John Stopforth from British Taekwondo, who worked with the students on the project, said: “The students have demonstrated remarkable professionalism and creativity throughout the project. Their innovative solutions directly addressed the usability challenges we faced with our existing system, resulting in the development of a new component that enables our Taekwondo instructors to efficiently grade students during belt grading events. It’s been a real pleasure working with the students and sharing my knowledge and industry insights with them.” Thomas Gabriel, Programme Leader for Computing at Selby College, said: “The project gave our students exposure to real client expectations, as well as working under deadlines and in a team. From developing project plans to systems designs, the students were able to apply their knowledge and skills throughout the project to develop a tailored solution for British Taekwondo. Working on projects such as this is invaluable to our students’ development, preparing them for successful careers in tech and digital industries.” The project is part of the Department’s ongoing commitment to ensuring its learners gain hands-on experience, with further projects lined up with Superdrug and Castleford Hedgehog Rescue. Selby College’s Computing & Digital Industries Department offers a wide range of courses that provide learners with the knowledge and skills to enable learners to succeed in the dynamic world of computing.

A Harrogate company is offering clients the chance to mix business with pleasure by organising a series of guided hikes around the North Yorkshire Dales. Taking in the very best of the region’s stunning countryside, the specialist programme of routes has been drawn up by the team at Win Business Solutions and provides an energetic twist to the idea of team bonding, ‘walk and talk’ business meetings or simply a day out with friends. Designed to suit all levels of fitness and ability, hikes are available for groups of any size and will always be led by one of WIN’s Rambler Association accredited team members – with refreshments, lunch and post-walk thirst quencher included. Founded by friends and long-time Harrogate businesswomen Karen Winspear and Jen Winterschladen, Win Business Solutions aims to help local firms outsource elements of their day-to-day running, offering agility, flexibility, and experience at a fraction of the cost. As keen ramblers themselves, the duo are well aware of the benefits associated with being able to swap the confines of the office for a refreshing trek in the country and want to take the fuss out of facilitating such events by offering a complete, bespoke, guided hiking package. Win Business Solutions Founder and Director, Jen Winterschladen, said: “We are so lucky to have such wonderful countryside on our doorstep and we know from personal experience just how much being outside can clear away the cobwebs and lead to clearer business thinking." “Our hikes are perfect for anyone wanting to host team bonding events, for business meetings with a difference, or even for injecting some blue-sky thinking into your weekly brain-storming sessions. There is nothing quite like a walk in the country to reinvigorate body and mind.” And the hikes are not only aimed at local businesses, with groups of friends, parties and community groups all welcome to get in touch and see which of the routes best meets their needs. Fellow Founder and Director, Karen Winspear, said: “Jen and I have walked many, many miles around our wonderful Harrogate district and across the North Yorkshire Dales. We know that there is something out there suitable for all abilities, and we also understand there are people who are probably keen to give it a go, but don’t really know where to start." “We aim to take all the fuss away and will organise everything for you. All you need to do is tell us what kind of hike you are looking for and we will organise the rest.”

Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club are thrilled to announce the re-signing of Spanish international Cristina Blanco. The 29-year-old has been a key figure for the women's side since joining as one of the first players during the team's inaugural season in 2023, bringing experience, physicality and leadership to the forward pack. A former Wasps player, Blanco quickly established herself as a leader on and off the pitch, earning the Players’ Player of the Season award for 2023/24. ‘El Tigre’ would then continue her form into the most recent campaign, showcasing her attacking prowess with crucial tries against Exeter and Harlequins. Having recovered from an injury that saw her campaign cut short, Blanco’s blend of resilience and skill provided a significant boost to her nation’s Rugby Europe Women’s Championship hopes, as ‘Las Leonas’ were crowned victorious in this year’s tournament. Speaking on her extension, Blanco said: “I feel proud to be part of the Trailfinders family. Since day one I have felt the support from my teammates and coaches, and this has created the perfect scenario for me to keep growing. I can’t wait to get back on the pitch with the team.” Barney Maddison, Head Coach added: “Cristina is a natural leader and a warrior on the field. Her influence within the squad is invaluable, and we’re looking forward to seeing her back in action soon"

A south coast-headquartered law firm has expanded its presence in London’s Square Mile with two additional departments. The move by Ellis Jones Solicitors to grow the range of services from its city office at 107-111 Fleet Street is designed to further embed its experts ‘at the very heart of the Capital’s legal and business hub’. Family and Employment now take their place alongside Banking & Finance Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Business Services as team specialisms available to London clients. The service expansion follows the relocation of Senior Associate Solicitor Georgina Emerson from Bournemouth to London to head up London’s Family team. At the same time, Daniel Flynn, Solicitor in Dispute Resolution, has been promoted to Partner while fellow London-based colleague Tayla Baird has qualified as a Solicitor specialising in Employment. Altogether, Ellis Jones now has nine individuals working full-time from Fleet Street with various partners from all departments - Paul Kanolik, Lauren Day, Deborah Leask, Kate Brooks and Neil Cook - also now operating between London and Bournemouth, enabling the firm to offer a full legal service to London-based clients. Many of the team based in London have been recognised with high ratings in one or both of the independent professional directories Legal 500 or the Chambers UK Legal Guide. In Banking & Finance Litigation, the London colleagues are Partner and Department Head William Fox Bregman, Senior Associate Solicitor Tim McMahon, Associate Solicitor Daniel Lewis, Trainee Solicitor Bradley Moon and Junior Paralegal Lovetta Pring. The London representative of Ellis Jones’ Business Services department is Associate Solicitor Clementine Saulnier. Commenting on the expansion, Family specialist Georgina said: “Since joining the firm in 2016, I have watched the London office go from strength to strength. For many years we have had a presence in the City of London but this latest expansion to five full-time departments is a fantastic opportunity for us to offer more of a full-service proposition. We already have an esteemed reputation in London, but this is an exciting chance to strengthen our offering at the very heart of the Capital’s legal and business hub. We are located just round the corner from the Royal Courts of Justice and close to many other landmark legal and financial institutions.” The expansion was the focus of a recent ‘Meet the Firm’ networking event for business clients hosted by the team at the Fleet Street office. Georgina said: “We had a fantastic turnout on the evening and are working on several business referrals generated from it already. We aim to hold similar events for our London neighbours, professional contacts and clients every quarter from now on.”

A small piece of outer space recreated in a basement in Glasgow could help ensure that a key enabling technology for future space missions won’t lead to deadly ‘rifle bullets’ of space junk circling the Earth. Researchers at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering have built the NextSpace Testrig - the world’s first dedicated facility for testing the structural integrity of materials that will be 3D printed in space. The NextSpace Testrig was developed by the University’s Dr Gilles Bailet in partnership with The Manufacturing Technology Centre, supported by £253,000 in funding from the UK Space Agency (UKSA). The facility, which uses a specially-constructed vacuum chamber capable of generating temperatures between -150°C and +250°C to create space-like conditions on Earth, is designed to help support the developing field of space manufacturing. Space manufacturing aims to radically change how objects and materials are sent into orbit. Instead of carrying complete devices like solar reflectors into space on rockets, specially-designed 3D printers could create structures more cheaply directly in orbit instead. Several experiments have already sent prototype 3D printers into orbit and metal parts have been 3D-printed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Until now, no research facility has been dedicated to ensuring that polymers, ceramics and metals printed in orbit will be able to withstand the extreme physical strains they will face in space. Objects in space are subjected to a hard vacuum that cycles rapidly between extremes of temperature - conditions that can wreak havoc on the structure of 3D-printed materials which aren’t rigorously constructed. Imperfections such as tiny bubbles or poorly melted sections that might be inconsequential on Earth can behave differently in space. Those flaws could cause 3D-printed objects to shatter, scattering dangerous fragments into orbit which would contribute to the growing problem of ‘space junk’ – pieces of debris from defunct satellites, previous space missions, or collisions between human-made objects in orbit. Dr Bailet said: “3D printing is a very promising technology for allowing us to build very complex structures directly in orbit instead of taking them into space on rockets. It could enable us to create a wide variety of devices, from lightweight communications antennas to solar reflectors to structural parts of spacecraft or even human habitats for missions to the Moon and beyond. “However, the potential also comes with significant risk, which will be magnified if efforts to start 3D printing in space are rushed out instead of being properly tested. Objects move very fast in orbit, and if a piece of a poorly-made structure breaks off it will end up circling the Earth with the velocity of a rifle bullet. If it hits another object like a satellite or a spacecraft, it could cause catastrophic damage, as well as increase the potential of cascading problems as debris from any collisions cause further damage to other objects. “The NextSpace TestRig is open to academic colleagues, researchers and commercial clients from around the world to help them ensure that any materials they plan to 3D print in space will work safely. We also expect that the data we’ll be gathering in the years to come, which can’t be replicated anywhere else in the world at the moment, will help regulatory authorities to make safety standards for in-space manufacturing, informed by real-world testing.” The testing facility features a unique magazine system that can autonomously test multiple samples in a single cycle, making it significantly more efficient than traditional testing methods. The system can apply up to 20 kilonewtons of force (equivalent to 2,000 kilograms) to break samples and analyse their properties in vacuum conditions matching those of space. It can also subject samples to cycles of extreme temperatures mimicking those they would face in orbit. The facility is the latest development in Dr Bailet’s research in spaceborne additive manufacturing. He has also patented a prototype 3D printer which is designed for use in orbit and has been tested during a series of trips on a research aeroplane known as the ‘vomit comet’. He added: “We expect that the NextSpace TestRig will be of real use to the UK space industry in the years to come. Glasgow is already a centre of excellence for space technology – companies here manufacture the most satellites in the world outside the west coast of the USA. Our facility will help augment the capabilities of future spacecraft assembled in orbit, ensuring that the UK space sector can be more competitive internationally.” The development of the NextSpace TestRig was supported by funding from the UK Space Agency’s Enabling Technology Programme. Iain Hughes, Head of the National Space Innovation Programme at the UK Space Agency said: “We are proud to have supported the University of Glasgow in developing the world's first facility for testing 3D-printed materials in space-like conditions. This innovation will help to drive UK advancements in space manufacturing, unlocking numerous benefits and meeting the government's growth ambitions while ensuring safe and sustainable space use.”