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Konsileo named Commercial Lines Broker of the Year at the Insurance Broker Awards 2025
Konsileo has been named Commercial Lines Broker of the Year at the Insurance Broker Awards 2025. This recognition is a testament to the passion and professionalism of the firm’s brokers, who put their clients first and thrive within a model that gives them both autonomy and support.
Konsileo was selected based on its “exceptional use of technology, processes, and talent to enhance the client experience and raise industry standards.” With its in-house development team, Konsileo is able to continuously improve internal systems to reflect the changing landscape of insurance without ever sacrificing quality.
Konsileo’s AI integration cuts down on brokers’ administrative workload to get back to what they do best – protecting their clients properly.
Konsileo has also received the ‘Excellence in AI’ award at the British Insurance Technology Awards, an accolade that highlights the firm’s commitment to harnessing AI to transform the insurance industry.
Collaboration remains central to Konsileo’s operating model. Brokers embrace an adult-to-adult approach across everything, from learning platforms to compliance processes and wider business practices. The firm’s Community Hubs, Practice Groups, and structured coaching framework provide a comprehensive support network, ensuring that a remote-first workforce remains fully engaged, connected, and equipped to deliver exceptional client service.
Konsileo’s talent acquisition team selects new colleagues through a deep understanding of what success looks like at Konsileo. The self-management style provides the space in which independence and creativity can thrive, and Konsileo provides the tools with which brokers can refine their entrepreneurial mindset and skills within a collectivist culture.
Konsileo’s success is driven by its people, both the clients it serves and the brokers it supports. If you are wanting better from your insurance, get in touch with Konsileo.
New president for Nottingham Rugby Club
Nottingham Rugby has appointed John Watson as the club’s new president, ahead of the 2025/26 season.
A former main board director at Boots the Chemists in Nottingham, John has a long-standing association with the club, dating back to the amateur days at Ireland Avenue. His passion for the game and deep-rooted connection to Nottingham Rugby have seen him remain a loyal supporter throughout the club’s evolution into the professional era.
As a regular face at both Meadow Lane and Lady Bay over the years, John has continued to support the team home and away, often alongside his wife, Val. Reflecting on his early involvement with the club, he recalls fond memories of working with and supporting some of Nottingham’s most iconic players, including Brian Moore, Gary Rees, Rob Andrew, Simon Hodgkinson and Chris Gray.
John brings with him to this new position a unique blend of commercial experience and rugby knowledge that the club believes will be invaluable in the seasons ahead.
Chairman of Nottingham Rugby, Alistair Bow, said: “John and his wife Val have been involved at our great club for many years, so I am delighted that he has accepted our offer to become President. He has a great mix of rugby and business knowledge, so I know he will contribute hugely in the coming seasons.
“I will also take this opportunity to thank our outgoing President, Brian Hall, who served for three seasons and has worked tirelessly to promote the club and all that we stand for.”
Speaking of his new role, John Watson said: “I am delighted to accept the role of President of this historic club. We have seen lots of changes over the years, but the Archers march on and play an attractive brand of rugby and are always competitive on the pitch, which is exciting to watch.”
In addition to John’s appointment, the club has also welcomed long-time supporters Mark Shelton and Louise Cupitt as vice presidents. Louise will be the first-ever female vice president in the club’s nearly 150-year history.
Their new ambassadorial roles will see them supporting the matchday experience at Lady Bay, welcoming visiting teams and club officials, and representing Nottingham Rugby at away fixtures throughout the season.
Both Louise and Mark have been huge supporters of the club over many years, as well as being serious supporters of England’s rugby squad. The pair are regular attendees at the games and firm advocates for Nottingham Rugby.
East Midlands creative businesses secure funding to scale innovation
More than 100 micro, small, and medium-sized creative enterprises across twelve UK regions are sharing £8 million in grants through the Create Growth Programme. Funding ranges from £20,000 to £140,000 and is designed to help high-growth businesses commercialise ideas, access industry expertise, and attract private investment to expand operations.
Grants will support companies in sectors including gaming, music, marketing, animation, and design. In the East Midlands, firms based in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Greater Lincolnshire, as well as Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, are among the recipients. The funding will enable these businesses to develop new products, scale their teams, and benefit from one-to-one mentoring with industry professionals.
Other regions benefiting include Greater Manchester, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, North East England, West of England, Devon and Cornwall, South East, Hull and East Yorkshire, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, and Hertfordshire.
The programme aims to strengthen local creative ecosystems, turning today’s growing enterprises into tomorrow’s leaders by providing the financial support, knowledge, and connections needed to accelerate growth.
East Midlands business confidence falls in September
Business confidence in the East Midlands fell nine points during September to 34%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds.
Companies in the East Midlands reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down five points at 42%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down 14 points to 26%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 34% (vs. 43% in August).
Looking ahead to the next six months, East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team (41%), for example through training, introducing new technology (40%) and evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (39%).
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
National picture
Overall, UK business confidence fell 12 points in September to 42%.
Firms’ confidence in their own trading prospects fell 12 points to 51%, and their optimism in the wider economy fell 11 points to 33%.
The North East was the most confident UK nation or region in September, climbing 13 points to 68%, followed by London (57%).
Sector insights
Firms across manufacturing, construction, retail and services all saw confidence fall this month. The biggest change was in manufacturing with a decline of 31 points to 31%, a two-year low. Retail sentiment fell 17 points to 40%, its lowest level in four months.
Similarly, confidence in the service sector fell six points to 47%, the lowest reading since April. Construction continued to decline for the fourth consecutive month, dropping 5 points to 35%.
Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands, said: “Despite this month’s results, it’s encouraging to see East Midlands businesses continue to identify new areas for growth.
“Investment in teams and technology, in particular, can pay long-term dividends – making firms even more resilient and boosting their ability to capitalise on new opportunities as they arise. We’ll continue to be supporting local businesses as they take their next steps.”
Ivygrove Developments marks first major transaction at Looms Business Park
Ivygrove Developments is marking a key milestone with the first major transaction at Looms Business Park, Spondon. It sees the beginning of a formal partnership with Whitehouse Construction.
The two companies have entered into a design and build agreement for a bespoke headquarters facility developed through close collaboration between their respective technical teams.
Whitehouse Construction, a civil engineering firm founded in 1977, will relocate its operations to a newly designed 25,000 sq ft headquarters at the seven-acre Looms site.
The purpose-built facility, developed in partnership with Ivygrove, will consolidate Whitehouse’s business streams (civil engineering, flood door manufacture and property flood resilience testing) under one roof, enhancing operational efficiency and providing a modern workspace for its growing team.
The new headquarters will occupy nearly two acres and include 8,000 sq ft of office space, a large compound for vehicles and plant, and parking for over 50 cars. A planning application is scheduled for submission to Derby City Council in early October, with construction expected to begin following approval.
Phase 2 of the Looms development will comprise 80,000 sq ft of small and medium-sized industrial units, available to let or for sale. Ivygrove reports strong early interest, with initial units anticipated to be ready by late 2026.
Whitehouse’s chair, Jo Ewart-Sear, said: “Our business has been rooted in Derbyshire for close to 50 years. Partnering with Ivygrove to develop a space that reflects our heritage and supports our future growth is a natural step. Looms Business Park offers unrivalled connectivity and a purposeful environment for our people, equipment, and clients to thrive.”
Ivygrove Developments and Whitehouse Construction share a longstanding professional relationship. “Whitehouse are an excellent company to work with,” said John Blount, chairman of Ivygrove Developments. “We’re proud to be working together once again on such a significant project.”
Stephen Salloway of Salloway Property Consultants emphasised the strategic location: “Looms Business Park offers exceptional access to the UK’s major road network via the A52, A50, and M1—making it one of the most logistically advantageous sites in Derby.”
Nick Blount, director at Ivygrove, concluded: “This is just the beginning. We’re excited to bring Looms Business Park to life and support industrial growth across the city.”
Jaguar Land Rover begins phased restart of manufacturing operations
Jaguar Land Rover has announced the partial resumption of its manufacturing activities following a planned, controlled pause. Selected sections of production will restart in the coming days as part of the company’s broader recovery strategy.
The business is collaborating closely with cybersecurity experts, the UK National Cyber Security Centre, and law enforcement to ensure operations resume securely. Work on stabilising systems and processes remains ongoing to safeguard production and supply chain continuity.
The company continues to provide updates to employees, retailers, and suppliers as recovery progresses, signalling a structured approach to returning to full-scale vehicle manufacturing.
Rolls-Royce hits £100bn valuation amid strong first-half results
Rolls-Royce has reached a valuation exceeding £100bn for the first time in its 121-year history, with shares trading above 1,191p. The company is now the fifth most valuable on the London Stock Exchange, behind HSBC, AstraZeneca, Shell and Unilever.
The Derby and Filton-based aerospace group has seen its share price rise by nearly 110 per cent in 2025. The climb follows steady growth since the Covid-19 pandemic, with minor dips linked to geopolitical developments, including US tariff announcements and discussions over Ukraine.
The company reported an underlying pre-tax profit of £1.68bn for the first half of its financial year, up from £1.03bn in the same period of 2024. Underlying operating profit increased 50 per cent to £1.73bn, while statutory revenue rose from £8.86bn to £9.49bn. Statutory operating profit grew from £1.64bn to £2.07bn, and pre-tax profit reached £4.84bn. Underlying revenue rose from £8.18bn to £9.05bn.
In response to the strong performance, Rolls-Royce upgraded its guidance for 2025. The company now expects an underlying operating profit of £3.1bn-£3.2bn and free cash flow of £3bn-£3.1bn.
The share surge reflects investor confidence in Rolls-Royce’s aerospace and defence operations, alongside market reactions to recent shifts in global defence policy and strong early-year revenue growth of nearly £1bn.
Derbyshire environmental consultancy secures support for expansion
A Derbyshire-based environmental consultancy is set for expansion after securing a six-figure funding package from HSBC UK.
Brindle and Green will use the investment to support its wider development strategy, including the launch of a new office space with substantial capital investment.
The expansion is expected to create up to 30 new roles across all seven of the business’s teams, including Ecology, Landscaping, Planning and Design, Contracting, Arboriculture, Archaeology and the newly established Flood Risk and Drainage team. This growth will bring the total workforce to around 80 members of staff by the end of 2025.
The business is also anticipating a minimum 20 per cent increase in turnover within the next two years.
Neil Crofts, managing director at Brindle and Green, said: “This funding allows us to take a significant step forward in our growth plans. Expanding gives us the space we need to grow our team and improve how we work, while the launch of our new flood risk and drainage division positions us to meet emerging client needs. We’re grateful to HSBC UK for recognising our vision and supporting us at such as important stage in our growth.”
Chris Swash, relationship manager at HSBC UK, added: “Brindle and Green has a clear vision for the future. Due to rising demand, the team knew what was needed to take the next step – more space, more capacity and the ability to expand their services. Our role was to help make that happen in a way that supports their momentum and welcome new talent. It’s been a pleasure to help fuel their continued growth and long-term ambitions.”
Framework appoints new chief executive
Framework, the East Midlands charity working to tackle homelessness, has appointed a new chief executive at a time when demand for its services is greater than ever.
Claire McGonigle takes over as chief executive from 1 October. She succeeds Andrew Redfern who will retire at the end of 2025 after 29 years’ involvement in homelessness services in the East Midlands.
Claire is currently Framework’s deputy chief executive. She joined Framework in 2019 as corporate services director, becoming operations director in 2020 and deputy chief executive in 2023. Before joining Framework, Claire was with Action Housing and Support in South Yorkshire for ten years, nearly five of which were as chief executive.
Claire is taking on the leadership of a well-established organisation which offers supported housing, health services, employment support, and care services to more than 18,000 homeless and vulnerable people each year through 70 services across Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Sheffield.
Framework is a registered charity and housing association that accommodates nearly 1,400 people at any one time, employs around 1,100 staff, and has an annual turnover of £60 million.
Claire said: “I’m honoured to be taking on the role, and to be following in Andrew’s footsteps. I’m very proud of the work that our staff and volunteers do.
“We’re seeing more and more need for our services at a time when public finances are stretched beyond measure. Charities have an important role to play, not just in the delivery of services but also in influencing future strategy and policy so that we can stem this rising tide of need.
“Ultimately our goal is to enable people to live healthy, safe and empowered lives, and that’s what I will be focusing on.”
Outgoing chief executive Andrew Redfern said: “Congratulations to Claire on her success. She has worked extremely hard for Framework over the past six years, including as Deputy Chief Executive for nearly three years, and will surely embrace this new challenge with the intelligence and efficiency that we have come to associate with her.
“I look forward to working closely with Claire over the next few months as we shape Framework’s future in partnership with the Board, our colleagues and service users.
“Framework faces many challenges but Claire has many great ideas to enhance Framework’s offer. I am confident that the organisation’s future is in good hands, not least because of the fantastic staff that Claire will be able to rely on.”
Chair of Framework’s board, Ruth Hawkins, said: “Board members conducted a rigorous selection and interview process to find our next chief executive with input from service users and staff. There was considerable interest in the role from external candidates.
“On behalf of my fellow board members I send congratulations to Claire and wish her well in her new role. She has set out a compelling vision for the future of the organisation and we look forward to supporting her to achieve it.”
Phenna Group makes 18th acquisition of 2025 with Aquatech deal
Nottingham-headquartered Phenna Group, which invests in and partners with independent Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) companies, has made its 18th acquisition of 2025.
The Group has swooped for Aquatech, a specialist provider of water hygiene, water testing and legionella risk assessment services based in Wolverhampton.
Established in 1999, Aquatech delivers compliance and testing services to customers across a wide range of sectors, including housing associations, facilities management companies, maintenance providers, food and drink manufacturers, universities, hotels, local councils and Ministry of Defence sites.
Suki Gill, founder and managing director of Aquatech, said: “We are proud of the strong reputation Aquatech has built through the hard work of our team and the trust of our clients. Joining Phenna Group gives us the opportunity to accelerate our growth, broaden our service offering, and continue to provide the highest standards of service.
“This partnership will allow us to build on our heritage, create exciting new opportunities for our colleagues, and strengthen the value we deliver to our customers.”
Brian Shannon, divisional MD, built environment, Phenna Group, said: “Aquatech is a fantastic addition to our Built Environment Division. Their expertise in water and air hygiene services is highly complementary to our existing portfolio, and I am very pleased to welcome Suki and the team into the division. Together, we look forward to supporting their continued success.”
Phil Marshall, Phenna Group CEO, added: “Aquatech has an excellent track record of serving a diverse client base across a number of highly regulated sectors. Their strong reputation, coupled with the passion of their team, makes them a great fit within our built environment division and wider group of companies.”
Hill Dickinson LLP provided legal advice for Phenna Group, while Knights Professional Services Limited advised Aquatech.
