Lincoln means business: We take a look back over Lincoln’s biggest business stories of 2013 to give you a taste of the city’s progress and achievements.
As 2013 draws to a close, we take a look at the year’s biggest business developments and present a concise breakdown of new openings, planning, investment and achievements.
From January to December, here are The Lincolnite’s best business picks of 2013:
Waterside Shopping Centre brings H&M
In April, the owners of Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln submitted a planning application for a £9 million redevelopment project. The plans included the addition of fashion retailers H&M and Next to the city centre. You can see the initial plans, provided by NK2 Architects in the story here.
Work officially began on the multi-million development in July. The reconstruction plans were officially launched when City of Lincoln Council Chief Executive Andrew Taylor took a sledgehammer to a wall.
The first section of Waterside’s ‘new look’ was revealed when the fashion chain New Look re-opened its doors in December. You can see our gallery of that revamp here.
Siemens complete move to Teal Park
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
April saw Siemens officially open its new gas turbine service workshop at Teal Park in Lincoln. The centre includes a new workshop with a high-speed balancer, new modern offices and dedicated customer facility. The Lincolnite went on a tour of the centre. See the gallery here.
The Lincoln UTC designs by John Roberts Architects
Proposed designs for the first Lincoln University Technical College (UTC) behind the Greestones Centre on Lindum Road were unveiled in April.
The £7.5 million investment will see the construction of a bespoke building at the rear of the Grade II listed Greestone Centre, and the Watkins Building on site will be reconditioned as well.
The Lincoln UTC is set to open in September 2014. Read the full story here.
Still no progress at The Lawn
At the start of 2013, the City of Lincoln Council invited tenders for a lease to operate The Lawn in Lincoln, after one bid was rejected from a local businessman.
By the time the summer season came around, The Lawn was planned to go back up for sale after the bid for a lease was proved unsuccessful, but there has been no progress with the sale since, and The Lawn remains a disused jewel in Lincoln’s crown.
New student flats complex built
Mock views of the new student flats complex, flush with the RSPCA shop.
A new student development on St Mark’s Street made way for 120 student rooms, with studio apartments, cluster rooms and ‘buddy rooms’. The project, by JR Pickstock Ltd and Elements Europe, meant an eastbound-only closure of the road for eight weeks to allow for the build.
Lincoln Broadgate Premier Inn opened
After several months of delays, the Premier Inn on Broadgate in Lincoln opened in June, with hopes to boost the local economy by £6.5 million. The chain created 50 new jobs for residents of the city.
Lucy Tower revamp
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Structural work at Lucy Tower Car Park in Lincoln, meant that the site was closed from March 2013, for a planned 20 weeks.
But in June, further delays to opening were announced as engineers discovered more repairs were needed than originally anticipated.
When September came around, the City of Lincoln Council made the announcement that the car park would not be ready in time for Christmas. The delay on site resulted from the discovery that large areas of steel within the concrete on each floor were far more corroded than initially thought.
Developers submitted plans to build a new £28 million student accommodation block by the University of Lincoln in December. The development, called The Gateway, will provide a large number of high quality student homes, plus commercial frontage on the ground floor. Read the full story here.
Wyvern House opens for business
Wyvern House, located on Kesteven Street, is a new office space development by Lincolnshire County Council ahead of the East West Link Road development. Businesses were invited to view the new commercial space on December 2. Read the full story and see our gallery here.
Eco homes proposed at Lincolnshire Showground
Proposals are in place to bring a number of eco homes to a plot of land at the Lincolnshire Showground near Lincoln. The eco housing development by Gusto Group will see 18 homes built, constructed to the highest standard of sustainability, which won’t need a central heating system to keep warm. Read the full story here.
Plans for Lincoln Agricultural College campus
Image: CAD Associates
Lincoln-based architectural consultants CAD Associates have also submitted a planning application on behalf of Bishop Burton College for a £13.5 million Agricultural College Campus adjacent to the Lincolnshire Showground. Read the full story here.
Project to turn Red Arrows home into tourist attraction
In October, ambitious plans to transform the home of Lincolnshire’s Red Arrows into a worldwide tourist attraction were being drafted. See the full story and plans here.
Lincoln’s first Sainsbury’s Local opened
In February, The first Sainsbury’s convenience store in Lincoln opened its doors on Carholme Road. The shop, which cost £1.4 million to build, created 25 new jobs and a much needed cash point in the city centre.
In March, local company Lindum were named as the top construction employer in the UK and 6th overall in the Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For list 2013. Read the full story here.
Carluccio’s opened in Lincoln
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Making a grand entry on to Lincoln’s ‘Little Italy’, Carluccio himself attended the opening of Lincoln’s addition to the chain restaurant in April. The restaurant and deli shop replaced the building that previously traded as Lamb and Flag pub.
Lincoln green energy supplier Freewatt split its business into three in April following. Freewatt owner and previous Managing Director Julian Patrick became the company’s CEO so he can focus on business development.
In August, the company proposed to build a solar farm in Branston, which would provide electricity for 6,000-8,000 houses.
The company continued to work with Lincolnshire Co-op on an energy investment project that saw photovoltaic panels added to the roofs of stores around the area.
Moka and Shack nightclub opened
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The popular club, formerly Ritzy, JJ’s and Pulse, closed for redevelopment on June 29. On August 13 The Lincolnite went on a firs-look tour of Lincoln’s new club Moka and Shack. Read the full story and see the gallery here.
Dogma goes Craft Bar and Kitchen
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincoln High Street bar and restaurant, which used to be Dogma, had a makeover and reopened as Craft under new owners. Craft Lincoln officially opened to the public on September 6, creating 27 jobs. Read the full story and see the gallery here.
Former footballer opens Italian bar
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
On November 15, the city met its newest family-run bar and deli. The Lincolnite visited Bar Unico after launching and went on a first-look tour of the business. See the full story and gallery here.
Fresh look for Walkabout
Lincoln’s Aussie-themed Walkabout bar was the third in the country to get a £500,000 refit.
Opening its doors officially on November 21, The Lincolnite visited Walkabout on the High Street for a first-look preview of the revamped space. See the story and gallery here.
The Rest on Steep Hill
The Rest Hotel is a new boutique bed & breakfast accommodation, in the heart of the city’s Cathedral quarter. The business opened in time for the Lincoln Christmas Market 2013 and created 12 new jobs.
The Lincolnite visited The Rest just before their grand opening for a special tour. See our full story and gallery here.
New American-style restaurant
Back in January, diners in the city welcomed new American smokehouse Ribs ‘n’ Bibs to The Strait in Lincoln. The restaurant opening created around 11 new jobs in the city and inspired meat-lovers far and wide.
Calendar boys (L-R): Mark Bradshaw, Chris Hubbard, Mark Poplett, David Holmes, Andrew Manderfield, Jason Robinson, Alex Thompson, Daniel Rippon, Ben Halstead and Paul Tutin. Also to appear, but not in this picture James Pinchbeck and Ben Robinson.
Of course we had to include the dashing boys from Streets Chartered Accountants in our Year in Business roundup. In October 2013, 12 brave partners and staff posed for a charity calendar in aid of St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice. See our story and sneak peek gallery here.
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The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Two men have died after a van crashed with a lorry on the A17 near Boston on Friday afternoon.
It happened shortly after midday on July 23, on the A17 between Bicker Bar and Wigtoft. The collision involved an HGV and a van.
A 46-year-old man and a 31-year-old man travelling in the van were pronounced dead at the scene, despite efforts from emergency services. Their families have been informed.
The driver of the HGV suffered minor injuries.
The road has been closed in both directions and will remain closed until at least 10pm on July 23, while officers carry out an initial investigation and recover the vehicles.
Lincolnshire Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area and may have witnessed the collision to contact officers as soon as possible.
Officers are particularly keen to see any dashcam footage which might have captured the vehicles prior to the collision, or the collision itself.
Detective Sergeant James Kirk from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “This is a devastating incident for all involved and our thoughts are with the families of both men at this time.
“We are in the very early stages of our investigation, and we would be very grateful for any assistance that the public can offer us in piecing together what happened.
“Any information, no matter how small you think it might be, will be a great help.
“We would be keen to see any relevant dashcam footage or speak to anyone who witnessed the collision.”
If you think you can help with the investigations please contact police in the following ways:
By clicking on the email link [email protected] with incident 212 of July 23 in the subject
Via our non-emergency number 101, quoting incident 212 of July 23
Through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org
A Lincolnshire distance runner selected for the 10,000m race at the Tokyo Olympic Games is looking to do his county and his country proud, but he’s already done that and more for his Grimsby-based parents.
The Lincolnite caught up with Helen and Bob Atkin, parents of Team GB Olympic hopeful Sam Atkin, who will be running in the 10,000m event at the Tokyo games, an event that Sir Mo Farah famously won two gold medals in at the 2016 and 2012 Olympics.
During an incredibly emotional interview, with tears of joy and pride from parents Helen and Bob, they reminisced about Sam’s introduction into running and the obstacles he had to face along the way.
Sam Atkin will be representing Team GB in the 10,000m race at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Sam originally, and rather ironically, grew up playing as a goalkeeper in football, but it wasn’t until a cross country race at school where his true talents were realised.
Helen and Bob told The Lincolnite: “When he was 11, there was a cross country race at Healing school in Grimsby, and we told him if he finished in the top 10 we’d give him £100.
“There were some vey good runners out there, some who were training regularly, and Sam beat them by miles. We had parents looking around saying ‘wow, look at that boy so far in front!’
“That was the moment we knew he was special, we decided to sign him up for a running club straight after that.”
Sam is learning the game and is always studying tracks and trying to better himself.
Sam then joined Grimsby Harriers, winning every race he ran in, before eventually moving onto Lincoln Wellington at the age of 15 because he was getting so quick that he would win adult races.
While at Lincoln, Helen and Bob, who live in Grimsby, would have to drive Sam to and from training each day while juggling his school work and their own jobs at HMRC and Associated British Ports respectively, working flexible hours to support their son.
His dad Bob said: “We always knew he had talent, but it’s the unrivalled spirit and determination he has, you could almost call it stubbornness, which is just about the only thing I can claim he got from me!”
Sam moved to America when he was 18 and hasn’t looked back since.
His next big step came at 18-years-old, when he was offered a scholarship in Idaho in the United States of America.
Sam currently lives and trains in Idaho, meaning his contact with his family has been limited, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Success appears to run deep in the Atkin family, as Sam’s twin sister Jen is the reigning Miss Great Britain.
Sam Atkin will represent Team GB in the 10,000m race at the Olympics in Tokyo, but it all started in Lincolnshire.
Helen said that the twins were huge parts of one another’s careers and successes, thanks to the “special bond” they both have.
Sam qualified for the Olympic Games in dramatic fashion, after narrowly missing out on the 5,000m qualifying time, which is his preferred event, but then went on to run the now 5th fastest 10k in UK history.
Sam nearly missed the call up to the Olympic squad entirely after changing his phone, but in a rather poignant sequence of events, he found out the news while back at home with his parents.
The biggest stage of Sam Atkins’ career is just round the corner.
Bob explains: “He got a new phone number, but the Team GB selectors had his old number so they couldn’t get through to him. Eventually his agent was contacted and he let Sam know, but Sam didn’t tell us for 30 minutes! We were stunned into silence when he told us.”
His heat run will take place at 12.40pm on Friday, July 30, and Sam’s parents will be watching the race from home, but in different rooms!
“We both get very nervous watching Sam run,” Helen explains. “When we went to events with him I’d be at one end of the field and Bob would be at the other end.”
He chased the dream and now he can achieve it.
Sam is set to be the only self-funded runner of the 29 competitors in the event, giving him an underdog status that his dad Bob says he thrives under.
“It’s like Grimsby Town being chucked into the Premier League, it sounds negative but trust me it’s not, wherever he finishes he’ll make us proud.
“When he was younger we just used to tell him to run as fast as he can, now that he’s reached the top level, the advice gets tougher, so we sent him a message to go with his Team GB kit that just read: ‘Keep your head up and get on with it’.
“We cannot express the pride we feel for him, it’s all too much to be honest with you. Make no mistake about it, he’s earned his way there and he deserves this so much.”
The second mural as part of the Sincil Bank Art Project has been completed, showcasing the famous Lincoln Star Clematis from the 1950s and spreading positivity in the process.
The Sincil Bank Art Project is a community scheme in which various artists will paint murals onto walls in the Sincil Bank area of Lincoln.
The first project, a portrait of Lincolnshire-born physicist Sir Isaac Newton, was completed by French street artist Zabou on the corner of Sincil Bank and Kirkby Street in April.
Sophie Mess, stood by her triumphant mural at Trollope Street in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The latest mural has come from another globally renowned artist, this time in the form of Sophie Mess, who was recommended for the project by Zabou herself.
Sophie Mess took over four days spray painting the mural. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Sophie’s ‘Project 002’ design at Trollope Street took four and a half days, and depicts the Lincoln Star Clematis, a flower first bred in the 1950s by Lincoln-born botanist Walter Pennell.
On the mural there are the words “Shine Bright” which Student Housing director Harry Conti told The Lincolnite was done to spread a message of positivity in the area.
The mural stands tall at Trollope Street in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
He said: “We’re hoping these murals will bring more people to the area and already we’re seeing the difference. People are stopping or detouring on their journeys just to look at the two murals, it’s amazing.”
Sophie spoke with pride when discussing her mural and the reaction it has got, stating that the positive messages and the joy it brings to people is “exactly what it’s all about.”
Hannah Dines is the owner of the property the mural is painted on, and says she couldn’t resist suggesting her house for the project.
Sophie is delighted with the end result and said she was honoured to be a part of the project. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
She told The Lincolnite: “Having seen project 001 and Zabou’s wonderful creation I contacted The Sincil Bank Art Project and offered my wall for a future project.
“I’ve been lucky to grow up in a creative arts environment, and love art in all its forms. I’m also very community based; I really enjoy sharing, supporting and getting involved in local projects.
“Sophie’s artwork is incredible and she’s been such a pleasure to have here – giving me updates and being just super chatty and friendly. Her work ethic and artwork are both awesome and I’m so glad she agreed to create a piece of her work in Lincoln.
“I feel truly humbled and so very lucky to have such an amazing piece of art on the side of my house – it’s surpassed all my expectations, size, style, colour, wow factor! I had seen the design before Sophie arrived but never expected the final result to be so stunning.”
The Lincoln Star Clematis is accompanied by the message “Shine Bright”. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
For future plans, the SBAP is hoping to have up to 30 murals in the Sincil Bank area within the next five years, which would eventually lead to an interactive trail of them all, using QR codes.
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