National Wealth Fund backs £1.35bn grid upgrade to boost UK renewable energy supply

April Lara
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National Wealth Fund backs £1.35bn grid upgrade to boost UK renewable energy supply

A major upgrade to the UK’s energy grid has secured £1.35 billion in financing, positioning the North East as a key player in the country’s clean energy transition.

The funding, led by the National Wealth Fund alongside Bank of America, BNP Paribas, Lloyds, and NatWest, will support ScottishPower’s Eastern Green Link (EGL) project. The project involves building offshore electricity cables to transfer renewable energy from Scottish wind farms to England via the North Sea.

The initial phase will connect Scotland to County Durham, with a second phase planned to reach Lincolnshire. The upgrades aim to relieve bottlenecks in the grid that currently force wind farms to shut down and increase reliance on more expensive gas-fired power stations.

Around £600 million of the funding comes from the publicly owned National Wealth Fund, which was established to drive economic growth through decarbonisation and infrastructure modernisation.

This initiative is particularly relevant for high-energy-demand sectors such as data centres, housing development, and advanced manufacturing. By improving transmission capacity, the project is expected to reduce energy waste, lower electricity costs, and support business expansion across the UK.

Unilode expands UK footprint to strengthen East Midlands Airport operations

April Lara
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Unilode expands UK footprint to strengthen East Midlands Airport operations

ULD management provider Unilode Aviation Solutions has secured a new 27,000-sq-ft facility at Stud Brook Business Park in Castle Donington, strategically positioned to support operations at nearby East Midlands Airport.

The move is part of Unilode’s broader regional capacity and sustainability investment. The Swiss-headquartered firm manages a global network of over 550 airports and maintains nearly 200,000 digitised Unit Load Devices (ULDs). It will relocate its 30-member team from its current East Midlands Airport base to the new site.

The upgraded premises will enable Unilode to scale services for key logistics and airline clients in the region, including DHL, TUI, Finnair, Aer Lingus, Singapore Airlines, and West Atlantic. The facility is designed to meet high environmental standards, with plans to run on 100% renewable energy, improve waste management, and achieve BREEAM certification.

FHP Property Consultants arranged the letting. Only a few units remain available in Stud Brook Business Park’s current phase, with further smaller units expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Unilode’s East Midlands expansion complements global infrastructure developments, including new maintenance and repair facilities in Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as refurbishments in Newark and London Heathrow. These upgrades align with the company’s strategy to enhance service delivery and sustainability across its international operations.

Devello Group expands with eye on new appointments

Tess Egginton
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Devello Group expands with eye on new appointments
Devello Group, the specialist planning and property development practice, is hiring – “but not for the usual mould.” The Nottingham and Lincoln-based business is looking for three brilliant people to join its growing team, including:
  • A full-time Commercial Real Estate Solicitor – from NQ to around 3 years PQE
  • A part-time Senior Commercial Real Estate Solicitor – ideally 5PQE+
  • A full or part-time Senior Residential Real Estate Solicitor
As a Commercial Real Estate Solicitor, you’ll work on all aspects of commercial real estate, including sales and purchases, investment, secured lending, development, options and conditional contracts and non-contentious landlord and tenant matters. As a Senior Residential Real Estate Solicitor, you’ll work on new-build plot sales and select high-quality residential conveyancing transactions for known clients only. No box-ticking. No timesheet chasing. Just high-quality legal work that actually moves projects forward. Devello backs smart, commercial lawyers who want to do great work without being squeezed into a mould. At Devello, you’ll work alongside a strategic, experienced team that values clarity, commercial insight, and a refreshingly pragmatic approach to legal work. Please contact Iain Hibbert or Shruti Trivedi for more infromation.

UK construction slowdown continues amid client caution and economic headwinds

April Lara
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UK construction slowdown continues amid client caution and economic headwinds

The UK construction sector contracted for the fourth consecutive month in April, with firms facing persistent economic uncertainty and reduced client demand.

According to the latest S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), the industry recorded a score of 46.6 in April, marginally higher than March’s 46.4 but still below the 50 mark that signals growth. While the pace of contraction eased slightly, the sector remains in decline.

The report highlighted broad hesitancy among clients to commit to new projects, particularly amid ongoing global economic instability. Residential building activity slipped again but showed some resilience with a reading of 47.1, marking its strongest performance in 2025. Civil engineering output remained subdued at 43.1, driven by a shortfall in new contracts to replace completed work.

Commercial construction was the weakest performer, with output falling faster since May 2020, reflecting rising caution in the business sector.

Nominations open for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025!

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Nominations open for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025!
Nominations are now OPEN for Business Link Magazine’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, marking 10 years of the prestigious event! This year’s eagerly anticipated ceremony will make its grand return on Thursday 2nd October at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottingham. The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrates the successes of property and construction companies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire.
Winners and sponsors at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
Recognising those behind the changing landscape of the East Midlands, the occasion highlights development projects, businesses, and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. It also toasts the work of architects, agencies, and those behind large schemes. Welcoming almost 150 professionals, nominating a company or project for the awards is a great way to boast of your successes, recognise your team’s efforts, and reach our audience of over 60,000 business readers, while also offering a chance to connect with respected business leaders. And better yet, it’s completely free to enter! Making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the event, where you’ll be in the running for one of our coveted awards. Categories include: All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Make a nomination

To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here. Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Please send links to these to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. There is no cost to enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards and those who make the top three finalists in their category will win free tickets to the event.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements. Upon submitting a nomination, we will get in touch for any information, imagery, and video nominees would like to be featured on their showcase page. Make your nominations for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 here. Thanks to our sponsors:                                          

To be held at:

With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.

Homebuilder partners with Radcliffe on Trent community to boost local business

Tess Egginton
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Homebuilder partners with Radcliffe on Trent community to boost local business
Spitfire Homes is launching a new community-focused initiative in Radcliffe on Trent to help support local small businesses, at a time when 37 shops are pulling down their shutters for the final time every day in the UK. Following the success of the Gold Card at Spitfire’s Malabar development in Daventry, the scheme is being extended to the homebuilder’s latest collection named Sherbourne, situated on Grantham Road in Radcliffe on Trent. Free to join, the unique initiative offers a mutually beneficial opportunity where new Spitfire homeowners are introduced to trusted local businesses, while participating establishments enjoy increased exposure and footfall. According to research by PwC, there were more than 13,500 UK store closures across all retail sectors in 2024 – on average 37 stores closing every day – with the cost-of-living crisis and out-of-town retail parks presenting high streets with unprecedented challenges. Mark Swaddle, Head of Marketing at Spitfire Homes, said: “As a homebuilder with a passion for supporting the local area, the Gold Card scheme reflects our commitment to creating collections which integrate with the existing community and have a positive impact on the local economy. “Sherbourne has attracted a variety of purchasers, including those relocating to Radcliffe on Trent, and the launch of this scheme presents an exciting opportunity to highlight local businesses to new residents of the village, showcasing the variety of local businesses within the village. “The success of the scheme at our collection in Daventry makes it even more exciting to extend the campaign to Radcliffe on Trent. We are proud to be partnering with small businesses and we look forward to supporting the local economy at the same time. If you are interested in becoming a Gold Card partner, we would love to hear from you.” Forming a new community, Sherbourne hosts 280 homes ranging from one- to five-bedrooms. As the first homeowners get ready to collect their keys this summer, they can unlock discounts through their Gold Card which will be valid for twelve months after moving in. With history stretching back over a century, one of the first businesses to sign up to the Gold Card scheme is Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club. Commenting on the club’s involvement, general manager, Rob Smith, added: “We’re proud to be part of this exciting new initiative in collaboration with Spitfire Homes, which not only supports the village’s economy but also extends a warm welcome to the new homeowners that are soon to be living at Sherbourne. “As a longstanding local business, Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club has strong community roots so this forward-thinking scheme aligns perfectly with our values, whilst introducing our facilities to a selection of new residents. We look forward to working with Spitfire and welcoming new members to our club.”

Bank of England cuts interest rates to 4.25%

Tess Egginton
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Bank of England cuts interest rates to 4.25%
The Bank of England has cut interest rates by 0.25% to 4.25%, in line with expectations. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, voted 5 to 4 in favour of the cut. Two members preferred to reduce rates by 0.5% to 4.0% and two preferred to leave rates unchanged at 4.5%. Alpesh Paleja, deputy chief economist, CBI, said: “Today’s cut to interest rates was widely anticipated, underscoring the Monetary Policy Committee’s continued preference for a gradual loosening of monetary policy. “The big question now is whether this gradualism will persist. Disinflationary risks have intensified over the last couple of months: US tariffs pose a fresh headwind to growth, global oil prices have fallen and, at home, the labour market is cooling. “But heightened uncertainty could keep the MPC from easing off on the brakes too much. Evolving global trade dynamics—and the potential for further restrictions—could affect UK inflation in either direction. And the Committee remain concerned about a decline in domestic supply capacity, which could put further pressure on prices. “With so many moving parts in the global and domestic outlook, the Committee may maintain a cautious stance. But with inflation risks increasingly tilting to the downside, a faster pace of rate cuts may become more palatable to a growing number of members.”

Derby special schools to receive £1.8m investment amid rising SEND demand

April Lara
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Derby special schools to receive £1.8m investment amid rising SEND demand

Derby City Council is set to approve a £1.8 million investment to upgrade four special education facilities. The funding aims to address a growing shortfall in places for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It is part of the council’s 2025/26 schools capital programme and will support the creation of around 400 additional SEND places across the city.

The proposed upgrades include expanding capacity at St Andrew’s Academy’s Whitaker Road site, refurbishing the Kingsmead School campus in Alvaston, enhancing facilities at YMCA Stepping Stones Nursery in Chaddesden, and improving safety and accessibility at Central Nursery School on Nuns Street.

The refurbishment of Kingsmead’s Wisgreaves Road site follows its temporary closure in 2023 due to safety concerns. The Wisgreaves and Southgate (Brighton Road) sites are in poor condition.

The council has statutory obligations to ensure adequate SEND provision. With existing facilities at full capacity and no further expansion possible without capital investment, the upgrades are seen as essential for accommodating local demand. Increasing capacity within Derby is expected to reduce reliance on costly out-of-area placements and improve access to education within local communities.

Final decisions on the funding and scope of work will be made at the Derby City Council cabinet meeting on 14 May.

EMA Training to deliver Leicestershire Skills Bootcamps

Tess Egginton
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EMA Training to deliver Leicestershire Skills Bootcamps
Training and apprenticeship provider, EMA Training, has been awarded delivery of a series of Skills Bootcamps across Leicestershire, providing upskilling opportunities to support the region’s small business workforce and self-employed professionals. The awarded Bootcamps include Digital Marketing, Power BI (business and data analytics), and Green Skills for the Workplace. Designed to help individuals gain in-demand skills, these Bootcamps are fully funded short courses available to self-employed business owners and employees of small businesses with a Leicestershire postcode. The first Digital Marketing cohort will launch in June 2025, with future cohorts anticipated later in the year. Each Bootcamp is built to deliver real-world skills in as little as 16 weeks – empowering participants to grow their businesses and advance skills. “We’re thrilled to be delivering these transformative Bootcamps,” said Tracey Mosley, managing director at EMA Training. “Supporting local business growth through practical training is at the heart of what we do, and we’re excited to welcome our first learners in June.”

PR firm nets new signing as Paul Ince joins Press For Attention side

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PR firm nets new signing as Paul Ince joins Press For Attention side

Two local marketing powerhouses have joined forces to shake up how businesses connect with their audience — and despite the familiar name, there’s no football transfer fee involved. Paul Ince, founder of Loughborough-based marketing agency LikeMind Media, has officially “signed” with West Bridgford-based Press For Attention PR, led by former business journalist Greg Simpson. While the name Paul Ince may spark memories of midfield battles, this one has been making his mark in the world of digital marketing as a speaker, consultant and author and both agency leaders have a shared mission to modernise how businesses build trust and visibility. “We’re both passionate about helping businesses cut through the noise — and we’re both based locally, so it felt like a natural fit,” said Greg Simpson, founder of Press For Attention PR. “Add to that the fact we’re, quite literally, LikeMind-ed, and the partnership just made sense.” The collaboration is already in full flow, with the duo co-hosting an exclusive Nottingham event this month titled ‘The Funeral For The Funnel’ — a playful but pointed challenge to the traditional view of customer journeys as predictable, linear paths. “We haven’t wasted a second,” added Paul Ince. “From our first conversation, we knew we saw things the same way — business owners need practical, people-focused marketing that reflects how customers really behave. Greg’s experience in media and messaging is a great match for what we do at LikeMind Media.” The new alliance will see Press For Attention PR supporting LikeMind Media’s profile as the agency continues to help clients across content, social, and digital marketing. Both businesses stress the importance of trust-led marketing — and say it’s time for a smarter approach. “There’s no funnel anymore — just real people, real journeys, and the need for real strategy,” concludes Simpson.

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