Latest news with #OliverCoppard
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Barnsley museum in England's top 15 free attractions list
A council-run museum has been named in the top 15 most popular free visitor attractions in England, according to new Hall Museum in Barnsley is also the most-visited attraction in Yorkshire that does not charge for entry, Visit England total, Barnsley Museums sites received more than two million visitors in 2024, and 36.3m tourists came to South Yorkshire - a year-on-year increase of 5%, based on data from the Local Visitor Economy region's mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: "South Yorkshire is home to an incredible array of culture, creativity and character." Cannon Hall was acquired by the council from the Spencer-Stanhope family in the 1950s and opened as a museum. It has a Georgian walled garden, glasshouses and Victorian pleasure data estimated that tourists brought in £3.7bn for the region's Wildlife Park in Doncaster was the most popular paid-for attraction in 2024, with more than 894,000 people buying on the data, Sarah McLeod, chair of the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, said: "By working collaboratively, we can drive sustainable growth, ensuring that - now more than ever - we encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more with our local businesses." The South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership consists of Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield councils, the South Yorkshire mayoral office, and representatives from the private added: "Our heritage and culture doesn't just enrich our lives and shape who we are - it drives our economy too. With a £3.7bn boost and more than 32,000 jobs supported, the impact of arts, culture, and tourism is clear. When we invest in our people, our places and our stories, we create growth and opportunity, and we build hope." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sheffield steel manufacturer's expansion to create 200 jobs
About 200 new jobs will be created over the next three years at a steel manufacturer in Sheffield, it has been Melted Products (SMP), a subsidiary of Taiwanese advanced manufacturing company Walsin Lihwa, will also benefit from a new superalloy forging facility and a research and development centre to be in place around is expected the new jobs will have an average salary of more than £40,000 a Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: "Walsin Lihwa choosing to invest in SMP is a huge vote of confidence in our region's talent, innovation and expertise, and the advanced manufacturing ecosystem we're creating here." The expansion will introduce new melting and forging capabilities which will reduce domestic producers', such as Rolls Royce, reliance on will also help grow Sheffield's manufacturing sector, which was valued at £1.4bn in 2023, according to the Department for Business and Trade. 'Significant milestone' Investment Minister, Baroness Gustafsson CBE, visited the site this week with Walsin Lihwa chairman, Yu-Lon described the investment as a "major vote of confidence in Sheffield's world-class manufacturing sector".Mr Chiao, said: "The United Kingdom possesses a vast market in aerospace, energy, and nuclear power sectors that is unparalleled by Taiwan. "This investment marks a significant milestone in SMP's development and underscores Walsin Lihwa's firm determination for global expansion strategy."Gareth Stace, Director General at UK Steel, said the investment was "tremendous news"."This is sign of trust in British steelmaking and manufacturing, pushing forward valuable investment plans and establishing skilled careers," he said."Special Melted Products' plans mean we are onshoring supply chains for industry giants like Rolls Royce, meaning investment goes directly back into UK jobs and the economy." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Frustration in Sheffield as rail electrification project paused
Sheffield will remain Britain's largest city without electrified rail travel after the government "paused" plans to electrify more of the Midland plans for the northerly section of the route, which runs between Sheffield and London, would be halted as the government focused spending on other transport schemes, the Department for Transport (DfT) Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said there was "frustration" in the region at the news, adding: "It feels like one step forward and two steps back."The DfT said it would "keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review". The East Midlands route runs from St Pancras in London to Sheffield, with electrification originally expected to be completed in the early far it has seen an upgraded and electrified route from London to next stage from Kettering to Wigston was electrified in 2024, and according to Network Rail it should be ready for both electric and diesel trains to run this summer. Coppard said: "After decades of national underinvestment in our transport network, we're having to wait longer for vital rail improvements that would create jobs, opportunities and economic growth."We were told HS2 would come to Sheffield. That was cancelled."Now electrification of Midland Mainline is being paused. All we're asking for is a fair deal."Andrew Dyson, vice chair of the Yorkshire branch of RailFuture, which campaigns for better services, said the news was "incredibly disappointing" as electrification had been "on and off for so many years".He said: "They've actually got electrification now as far as just south of Leicester, and they're not going to complete the final 50 miles."They say that it's paused but there is no firm date for it restarting, so in effect it's almost cancelled." Dismay at government pause to rail electrification Meanwhile, business representative organisation Sheffield Chamber said it was saddened by the president Alexis Krachai said the change of heart did nothing to build business confidence in those running the country."Government after government has chopped and changed on this plan, and in many ways it's short-changed South Yorkshire when it comes to transport improvements", he plans also affect passengers using Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham. The DfT said: "The next phase of electrification of the Midland Mainline has been paused."Given the existing trains in use on this stretch of railway and the costs and time needed to electrify the route we are focusing our investment on other schemes."We will continue to keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review as part of our plans to decarbonise our railways and as funding becomes available in future." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
08-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Beds for Babies initiative rolled out in Barnsley
A pilot project aimed at providing a bed for all children aged five or under has been launched in Beds for Babies scheme is funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined part of the scheme, any family in need of support can access free Moses Baskets, cots and cot beds, toddler beds, mattresses and bedding bundles. South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: "Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and that begins with a safe place to sleep." The pilot scheme in Goldthorpe builds on the Beds for Babies programme launched by the mayor in far, £2.1m have been invested into the county-wide initiative, working with Baby Basics UK as the delivery partner. Coppard said: "By supporting families in Barnsley through Beds for Babies, we're not just tackling bed poverty – we're investing in healthier, happier futures for everyone."Within the first year of Beds for Babies, we have supported over 1,900 children and provided more than 3,800 essential items."A ceremony to celebrate the launch in Goldthorpe saw families across the borough learn more about the support on offer at the Dearne Family part of the pilot the hub will work closely with families across the village, helping them access free beds and bedding bundles, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council said."By working closely with these families, we can better understand their needs and connect them with the right support from our teams," a spokesperson said."Our Family Hubs are committed to learning from this pilot as we roll out Beds for Babies across the borough in the coming months, helping more families get the support they need sooner." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Reopening date unveiled for abandoned UK airport used by 1.25million passengers
The troubled South Yorkshire airport was mothballed in 2022 when just TUI was operating out of the airport. The City of Doncaster Council has said it is committed to reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport by the spring of 2026 A reopening date has been tabled for Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which has been out of operation since November 2022. The City of Doncaster Council has said it is committed to reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport by the spring of 2026, West Bridgford Wire reports. The announcement came after South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said he expects to make a decision on releasing gainshare funding for the project in 'early September', which is likely to be crucial for the travel hub's future viability. The new timeline means another delay for the project, which was due to start operating this summer. 'The plan remains to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport in Spring 2026,' a spokesperson for Mayor Jones said, 'There of course remain a number of interdependencies. 'Once we have the Gainshare decision signed off in early September we can finalise our plans, including progressing with our Airspace, signing-up airlines and freight providers and to employ and train the hundreds of staff required to operate an airport.' READ MORE: Holidaymakers at risk of damaging credit score abroad The Northern travel hub was previously operated from just TUI before the Peel Group declared it financially unviable and closed its doors in 2022. However, the new operators of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, FlyDoncaster, a company established by Doncaster Council, have expressed confidence in the airport's financial viability upon reopening. At its peak in 2016, 1.25million passengers moved through the airport in a year. German firm Munich Airport International (MAI) will be providing operational and management services. In February this year Dr Lutz Weisser, managing director for MAI, stated that while it was "too early" to announce airlines or destinations, lengthy and confidential discussions with airlines were ongoing. "The UK is a very important aviation market and we are interested in Doncaster because it is all there. This is not a greenfield project, this is not something that needs to be built. You don't have the risks of planning approval or construction and all these other things," he said, according to the BBC. "It may need some renovation, and recertification is important, but it is all in place. It just needs a bit of polishing and then you have an airport and that is exciting." Christian Foster, the council programme director and director of FlyDoncaster, revealed forward-looking plans at a recent council meeting, emphasising the intention to diversify airline operations at Doncaster. According to the Sun, he said: "Working with our advisers from Munich we are very clear we want to target a number of airlines and have already been having those conversations for over 12 months with certain airlines. "Having a strategy where you only have an airport with one airline doesn't work for Doncaster and hence we want a minimum of four to five and that's where we are working at. We are very keen to get our airspace returned back to 24 hours for next year." Meanwhile, TUI has dropped strong hints of making a comeback to Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which was once part of its network flying travellers to sunny destinations like Cyprus and Spain. Reflecting on past connections, a TUI spokesperson said in February: "TUI has always supported Doncaster Sheffield Airport, proudly flying customers from the region and were disappointed when the airport closed. We're excited about actively engaging with stakeholders about a potential re-opening."
