Rolls-Royce has secured a five-year support contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the maintenance and service of the EJ200 engine that powers the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon aircraft.
The Typhoon Engine Support Solution (TESS) will see Rolls-Royce continue to provide maintenance and repair to 130 EJ200 engines, supporting approximately 200 direct jobs in the process.
The TESS contract will build resilience through the UK-based supply chain supporting up to 2,400 jobs across the UK that are essential to harnessing the UK’s combat air expertise. TESS will sustain vital skills to enable the Royal Air Force to deliver air capabilities today and bridge to future capabilities like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “Not only will this contract help to maintain our world-class jets, it also delivers on our Plan for Change by securing around 200 jobs in the UK and boosting the skills base our world-leading defence industry relies upon.
“Together with our upgrade programme, this contract will ensure our Typhoon fleet remains the backbone of UK air defence for the next decade.”
Adam Riddle, president – defence at Rolls-Royce, said: “This contract builds on more than a century of Rolls-Royce partnership and trust with the Ministry of Defence. The Typhoon Engine Support Solution represents a continuation of our support of the EJ200 engine and we’re glad for the ongoing confidence in our team and capabilities.
“This investment enables us and our supply chain to ensure the Royal Air Force can execute their missions effectively, wherever and whenever they’re needed, in an increasingly complex global environment.”
Commissioners working with Nottingham City Council have highlighted positive progress in developing plans for improvement and “a clear direction on instituting reforms.”
The comments came in the commissioner’s second report since being appointed by the government to oversee improvements at the authority in February 2024.
In a letter about the report to the council’s leader, cllr Neghat Khan, the government’s parliamentary under-secretary of state for housing and local government, baroness Taylor of Stevenage, said: “I am pleased that the leadership team at Nottingham, while still relatively new, are working closely with the Commissioner team to move the Council towards a more sustainable position and improve its service delivery and financial stability.”
In their report, lead commissioner, Tony McArdle; commissioner for finance, Margaret Lee and transformation commissioner, Sharon Kemp say that “over the past year, there has been much positive progress on developing plans, strategies, and programmes for improvement such as the Council Plan, Medium Term Financial Plan, and Improvement Plan along with securing and organising the necessary capacity to deliver.”
The report says that over the coming year, the authority will need to move into the implementation phase for these plans to have the required impact.
Commissioners also commented that although the council continues to operate beyond its means and is dependent upon Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) from the government, “it has adopted clear direction in instituting a wide range of reforms, some of which are bearing fruit but all of which will need to become embedded in order to deliver full benefit.”
They say that the council’s new leadership cohort is “facing up to the challenges that the Council must tackle in full acceptance of the reality of the Council’s difficulties and with a declared resolve to overcome them.”
Cllr Neghat Khan and the council’s chief executive, Sajeeda Rose, said: “We welcome the Commissioner’s second report and the accompanying ministerial statement. The progress made over the past year marks an important step forward in improving how we work and how we serve the people of Nottingham.
“While the report rightly highlights that challenges remain, we are fully committed to continued improvement. Working together, we are laying the foundations for a renewed and accountable Council—one that delivers real results for local people and leads Nottingham with confidence and integrity.”
Construction has started on a refurbished and expanded state-of-the-art endoscopy unit at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s (NUH) Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC).
Backed by a £12 million investment from NUH and NHS England, the project involves the reconfiguration and expansion of the existing unit, creating a significantly larger and more modern facility.
It is being delivered by contractor Henry Brothers Construction and will increase clinical capacity, adding a third procedure room. This will enable a higher volume of complex endoscopic procedures to be performed each year.
Other patient benefits include increased capacity and reduced waiting times, particularly for urgent inpatient diagnostics, enhanced patient experience, with improved privacy, dignity, and safety, and compliance with national standards for ventilation and room size in endoscopy services.
Ian Taylor, MD of Henry Brothers Construction, said: “We are very proud to have been appointed to develop a new state-of-the-art endoscopy unit for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
“Henry Brothers Construction is based in Beeston, just a short distance from the Queen’s Medical Centre, and it gives us great pleasure to be helping to improve the infrastructure and patient care at our local hospital.
“We have significant experience in the healthcare sector, so we are extremely pleased to be supporting the Trust and NHS England with its investment in capital projects in Nottingham.”
The contract was awarded to Henry Brothers through the Pagabo Major Construction Works Framework and the new QMC endoscopy unit is scheduled to open in early 2026.
Dr Andrew Baxter, deputy head of service for endoscopy, said: “This investment marks a transformational step for endoscopy at QMC. Expanding from two to three procedure rooms, means we’re significantly boosting our capacity – not just in volume, but in the complexity of what we can offer.
“The new unit will allow us to deliver more advanced procedures in a purpose-built, modern environment. With more space and equipment, we’re not only improving patient care but we’re also strengthening our position as a centre of excellence for high-quality, complex endoscopic care.”
He added: “Current and future staff will see some significant benefits though an enhanced training environment.”
Other members of the construction team include CPMG Architects, structural and civil engineers Keith Simpson Associates, EP Consulting for mechanical and electrical engineering, and Meller for quantity surveying services.
A spokesperson for NHSE Midlands said: “This is a significant milestone for East Midlands patients. NHS England in the Midlands has been investing in improving and expanding endoscopy services across the region to ensure we have sufficient capacity for the population’s needs.
“The expansion at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has been part of a three-year programme to increase capacity which has seen over £57M invested in Endoscopy services.”
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is entering a new chapter, as CEO Sean Jarvis prepares to step down in the autumn, having delivered on a five-year plan that has left the club positioned for future growth and innovation both on and off the field.
With increasing momentum behind the domestic game, not least through new investment linked to The Hundred, the club is poised to harness current progress and drive forward with renewed purpose.
Sean Jarvis said: “I’m delighted to have played my part in the ongoing journey of Leicestershire County Cricket. When I joined in 2020, I set out a five-year plan and I’m pleased to have been able to deliver on that.
“I’m proud to have overseen the one day cup success, which was our first trophy in 14 years, plus the club’s first Boca and the club is also currently top of its division. It hasn’t been without challenges, but that’s wider than the club itself and more linked to the game as a whole.
“I’m proud to be departing with the club in such a great position for the start of a new era. We now have a team that can compete on all fronts. Things are looking extremely positive for the future, both on and off the pitch.
“I’ll continue to follow the club and wish everyone all the best for the future. I’d particularly like to thank the staff for supporting me during my time at the club.”
Work will be underway in the coming weeks to identify a new leader to replace Sean. The club is looking for a CEO, who can build on the current success, continue the upward trajectory and reinforce the club’s position within the Leicestershire community and the wider cricketing world.
Leicestershire County Cricket chair, John Thorpe praised the job done by Sean Jarvis: “Sean has been fantastic from day one. He’s had to contend with a lot, successfully steering the club through the COVID times and carefully managing the operational side of the business.
“It’s been a challenging time for the whole game in recent years and we’ve come through it with the potential now for an exciting future.
“Looking forward, we’re actively searching for the right person to come in, following Sean’s departure in the autumn, and build on the solid foundations he’s established. For that person there’s a huge opportunity to grow the club, especially with significant financial investments forthcoming.
“That will naturally boost the whole country cricket game and we’re excited to expand our corporate, commercial and partnership opportunities. Leicester is quite a unique sporting city with the prominence of cricket, rugby, basketball and football here and we need to harness that community. We’re really excited for the new era and the opportunities that it will bring.”
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.
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, 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.
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 are now OPENfor 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.
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.
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.”
By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Please send links to these to 
With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at 
