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Heineken UK is set to reopen 62 pubs and refurbish hundreds of older venues in a bid to attract customers who predominantly work from home.

Over 90 sites are set up for a makeover, which is expected to cost around £200,000, and the majority are located on sites under Star Pubs and Bars arm. The investment will see 62 sites reopen in 2024, meaning that by the end of the year the brewer will have opened the doors to 156 long-term closed pubs since the end of 2023.

The refurbishments will focus on new designs, signage and dividing screens that will help create different areas of the pubs to accommodate people’s reason for visiting. These include areas for watching sport and eating dinner.

Progress on the scheme has already started as the Ashford arms in Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire, has just reopened after it closed its doors during the Covid-19 pandemic. The establishment has a 107-cover restaurant, nine en-suite rooms and 30-cover alfresco area.

In addition to helping local business and providing entertainment for those who are stuck inside their homes all day, Heineken have also said their developments will benefit the environment. The company have announced they will be launching further projects to improve pub insulation and cut energy use by 15% as part of its goal to become net-zero by 2040.

Commenting on the news, Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of Star Pubs, said: ‘People are looking for maximum value from visits to their local. They want great surroundings and food and drink as well as activities that give them an extra reason to go out, such as sports screenings and entertainment.’

‘Pubs have proved their enduring appeal; after all the disruption of recent years, Star is on track to have the lowest number of closed pubs since 2019,’ Lawson said. ‘It’s a tribute to the drive and entrepreneurship of licensees and the importance of continued investment. We’ve spent more than £200m upgrading and maintaining our pubs over the last five years, and we’ll continue to invest to keep them open and thriving.’

News of the pubs reopening has come at a tragic time for watering holes across the UK. Following the pandemic and the continued cost-of-living crisis, a record number of pubs have had to shut their doors. The latest figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) shows over 500 pubs closed across the UK in 2023.

Image: Heineken UK 

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Research shows people who work in construction often suffer worse with their wellbeing, so this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week we’re discussing how they can be best supported.

This week – 13th May to 19th May – is Mental Health Awareness Week, which is an event that was established by the Mental Health Foundation in 2001 with an aim to tackle stigma and help people understand and prioritise their and others’ mental state. To mark the occasion, we will be directing readers’ attention to the construction industry, as research has found people in the sector are more likely to struggle with mental illness than any other workers.

Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has woefully highlighted that workers in construction are four times more likely to die by taking their own life than in any other sector. In addition, two hardware and electrical organisations, otherwise known as IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect have reported that 82% of builders in the UK grapple with work-related mental health problems every year, with an overwhelming 92% admitting to feeling uncomfortable discussing their problems.

Against this backdrop, research from Fix Radio – the UK’s only national radio station dedicated to builders in the trades – has revealed that 38% of tradesmen are now experiencing the worst levels of stress and anxiety in their lifetime.

How the mental health crisis is impacting the trades sector

Clive Holland, host of The Clive Holland Show – which is aired on Fix Radio – has claimed that there are an unjust number of reasons why the rate of suicide is so high in the construction sector, and these must be addressed now.

‘There are several underlying reasons why the rate of suicide in the construction trades is so high,’ Clive said. ‘Firstly, there is a macho image in the industry and men are not brilliant at ‘opening up’ and discussing their feelings. But I feel that this is changing slowly, but surely.

‘Secondly, there is a lot of stress involved in running a small business – there are long hours, few holidays, slow payers and cash flow issues. In the last two years particularly, spiralling costs of materials and spiking energy prices have squeezed margins even further. Couple that with the growing skills shortage – it ramps up extra pressures on daily site life. The pandemic has magnified many of these problems – tradespeople will tell you that they have never been this busy. Many are fully booked until the end of the year, if not further.’

Clive added: ‘It is also worth remembering that while many of our tradespeople have fantastic skills and deliver outstanding work, the weakest part of their game is dealing with the details of their business. Great tradespeople are not necessarily great business people and it is worth remembering that they often feel intimidated by the admin and financial side of the job.’

Where can help seek help?

The demand for national helplines has displayed the growing desperation among industry professions for support – the Big Brew, a national helpline for mental health – revealed that over a third of texts were from individual construction workers contemplating suicide, with 16% of those relating to depression. These heartbreaking statistics have been published at a challenging time in the sector as individuals have reported struggling with schedules, material shortages, the ongoing pressures of delivering housing targets and new environmental directives.

To try and help ease some of the pressure and combat stereotypes associated with people in this profession seeking help, Fix Radio have also highlighted various helplines that are on hand to offer assistance.

These include:

• The Lighthouse Club: 100% focused on improving the welfare and wellbeing of the construction community in the UK and Ireland. They provide a range of free and proactive services to help companies deliver the best possible support to their employees and their families.
• 24/7 Confidential Helpline:Available to everyone on your site including subcontractors, agency workers and allied trades. Their Construction Industry Helpline covers all aspects of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing, and is available in many different languages through our partnership with translation services
• Self-support app:A downloadable Wellbeing Support App called ‘Construction Industry Helpline’ that covers all the aspects of wellbeing. The app is packed with information to learn about conditions, how to develop coping strategies with signposting to over 3000 accredited organisations that provide support. It really is a ‘mate’ in your back pocket
• Text HardHat:A 24/7 service dedicated to providing immediate access to text back counselling
• Wellbeing Masterclasses:These are one hour scheduled CPD Accredited wellbeing education sessions covering topics such as: managing stress, building resilience, work-life balance, mindfulness, meditation, financial management and many more
• Lighthouse Beacons:Having identified over 160 volunteer centres around the UK and Ireland where workers can drop in to meet like-minded people, socialise and talk – the Beacons are facilitated by individuals with lived experience, and in this confidential environment, encourage those struggling with life problems to share their issues and if required, seek further help

Image: Karolina Grabowska

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Part of the government’s sweeping changes to the welfare system include claimants having to look for extra work if they do less than 18 hours a week.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have said the new rule, which came into effect this morning, means individuals working less than half of a full-time week will have to book frequent visits with their work coach to boost their earnings.

Ministers have increased the administrative earnings threshold from the equivalent of 15 hours to 18 hours at national living wage for an individual claimant. The DWP have said the change applies to some 180,000 people.

Commenting on the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said: ‘Today’s changes will help more people on universal credit move into well paid jobs and progress towards financial independence, which is better for them and for economic growth.’

The new legislation, which was announced last month by Mr Sunak alongside a review of payments to people with disabilities and mental health conditions, means people earning under £892 a month or £1,437 for couples will have to seek additional work.

This is up from individuals earning £617 and £988 for couples.

Mel Stride, Work and Pensions secretary, said: ‘We will always back those who want to work hard and today we are radically expanding the support available to help people progress in work.

‘With the next generation of welfare reforms, I want to help thousands of people on their journey off benefits and towards financial independence.

‘Our plan is making work pay, with people in full-time work now £7,000 better off than on out-of-work benefits, and our tax cuts putting £900 back in the pockets of millions of workers across Britain.’

Image: Suzy Hazelwood

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Figures from the Bank of England have revealed hundreds of thousands of homeowners have taken out mortgages in the last few three years that they will be paying off into retirement.

Despite house prices coming down and the Bank of England talking about lowering interest rates, there is one group of people who will be bearing the brunt of the housing crisis well into their retirement years.

Research that was obtained through Freedom of Information requests showcased that 42% of new mortgages in the fourth quarter of 2023 – or 91,394 – had terms going beyond the state pension age.

In the final quarter of last year, people aged 30 to 39 accounted for 30,943 new mortgages lasting beyond state pension age, while people aged 40 to 49 accounted for 32,305.

Those aged under 30 made up 3,676 of these mortgages.

During the same period in 2021, researchers found 31% of mortgages had the same end date, showcasing the increase in popularity for longer-term loans.

Against this backdrop, across the final quarters of all three years leading to 2023, almost 300,000 new mortgages were in this category.

Sir Steve Webb, ex-Liberal Democrat MP who is now a partner at the consultancy firm LCP, has voiced his concerns that younger people are taking out longer mortgage loans to manage costs, but these result in higher interest rates which mean they will be paying more in the long term.

‘The huge number of mortgages which run past state pension age is shocking,’ Sir Webb said. ‘The challenge of getting on the housing ladder is forcing large numbers of young homebuyers to gamble with their retirement prospects by taking on ultra-long mortgages.’

Sir Webb added: ‘We already know that millions of people are not saving enough for their retirement and if some of that limited retirement saving has to be used to clear a mortgage balance at retirement they will be at even greater risk of poverty in old age.

‘Serious questions need to be asked of mortgage lenders as to whether this lending is really in the borrower’s best interests.’

Echoing a similar tone, Karina Hutchins, principal for mortgage policy at UK Finance, said that while longer mortgage loans can offer some short-term benefits, they will eventually have ‘less disposable income to put into their pension if the mortgage runs for its full term.’

Karina remarked: ‘We would encourage customers to speak to an independent mortgage adviser to discuss the best options available for their specific circumstances.’

Currently, it remains unclear how long this trend may last as it depends on whether mortgage rates drop and settle. Following the decision to keep interest rates at 5.25% on Thursday, Andrew Bailey, the Bank’s governor, said he remains ‘optimistic’ that things are moving ‘in the right direction’.  

Image: BrianPenny

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The organisation based in Chapeltown is set to host a series of enterprise themed events next week to mark the occasion and encourage young people looking to break into the industry.

Research published in SME Magazine shows six in 10 young adults plan to be their own boss by the age of 30, suggesting that the launch of a new business hub in Leeds couldn’t have come at a better time.

To celebrate the hub’s grand opening, on Monday 13th May the launch of Steps to Business is kicking off a week of enterprise themed events. The scheme is a start-up training programme aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs aged 16-25 who will be linked up with access to investors and business advisers.

On Wednesday 15th, Enterprise Takeover Day will be happening – an informal event offering a one-stop shop for all business support needs from industry experts across West Yorkshire.

Commenting on the news, Adrian Green, Unity Enterprise Manager, said: ‘We are excited to be hosting such an impressive line-up of activities over the course of five days, each with entrepreneurship at its heart.

‘Steps to Business will use non-conventional training methods to help those taking part realise their dreams.  The launch event on Monday is free to attend and we are expecting lots of foot fall from noon until 4pm when it concludes.

‘We are also hugely grateful to AD:VENTURE for organising the Enterprise Day on Wednesday which, again, is free entry for all.’

Leeds Media Centre is one of three business groups operated by Unity Enterprise, the not-for-profit subsidiary company of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise, and it recently underwent a £1.8m refurbishment in partnership with Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: ‘Leeds Media Centre is already a hive of entrepreneurial activity.  The new business hub will enable it to play an even greater role in empowering local people to succeed in business.

‘Creating and improving life chances is at the heart of everything we do.  Starting and growing a sustainable business can be the key that unlocks doors to social and economic progression in vibrant neighbourhoods.

‘As a BME housing association with our roots firmly in the local communities we serve, we know that the entrepreneurial talent is out there.  We will continue to do everything we can to find and nurture it.’

Image: Leeds Media Centre

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