Midlands businessmen retire and set sail on round-the-world fundraiser
Two retiring Leicester businessmen have set sail on their latest voyage – an 18-month round-the-world sailing trip.
Experienced sailors Simon Tysoe and Dave Percival leave UK shores this week on the first leg to cross the Atlantic before joining a flotilla of some 200 boats in the World ARC adventure race for 2025-26.
The pair will be the ever-presents in a crew of four who will guide a 60ft Oyster sailing yacht named Distraction 3 – Mr Tysoe’s retirement gift to himself – through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific and Indian Oceans before rounding Africa and reaching finish line in the Caribbean Sea.
In the process they hope to raise over £200,000 for a select group of good causes – The Lord’s Taverners cricket charity and conservation programmes Mareco and Project Seagrass.
Mr Tysoe left school at 16 and learned his trade as an electrician and panel fitter before founding several successful companies around his home city of Leicester, including S Tysoe Installations, Midlands Access Platforms, TPS Hire and a substantial property portfolio.
Now living near Markfield, his main company S Tysoe Installations was bought in March 2021 by The P & M Group, the parent company of Gloucester-based coldstore construction and maintenance specialists ISD Solutions. Three years later and he has the opportunity to retire.
“I’ve sailed the Atlantic before,” he said, “and covered some 40,000 nautical miles in trips over the years. But this is going to be my biggest challenge.
“I’m an adventurer – I always have been, whether it’s mountaineering, helicopter flying, or rally car driving. Now I’m retired I’m lucky enough to be able to take on this journey and raise some funds for charities, doing valuable work tied in with The P & M Group’s environmental and social values.
“I’m excited about the trip and we’re well prepared. It’s going to be quite a journey.
“In the meantime my people at S Tysoe Installations are in good hands – it was the best thing for the business and the staff to hand it over to another good company with a great reputation.
“The boat has Starlink satellite internet so if anyone’s desperate to get hold of me they’ll be able to find me – or at least they can find the boat!”
Mr Tysoe and Mr Percival met 35 years ago and have sailed together on many trips. Mr Percival, who lives in Leicester Forest East, has recently retired as a director of Percival Hosiery – the ladies’ underwear manufacturer originally set up by his father in 1977.
“We’ve spoken about doing the ARC event for many years,” he said, “before Covid got in the way of our plans. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and now that we’re both retired it’s the right time.
“I’m grateful to Simon for investing in this stunning boat and I consider myself very lucky to have the chance to take part in such a voyage.
“It can be dangerous of course, particularly around the western Atlantic at this time of year, but once we pick up the trade winds from Gran Canaria we should be fine.
“Overall, it’s a challenge but one I’m looking forward to – we can’t wait to get started.”
Tony Wall, managing director of The P & M Group, said: “We’re really excited for Simon and wish him all the best for the next 18 months. What an incredible opportunity for him and something which is richly deserved after a fabulous career in business.
“Mareco and Project Seagrass are both marine focused charities and reflect our commitment to the environment whilst, from a personal note, Lord’s Taverners helps to give young people life changing opportunities and very much supports our wish to invest in future generations. We are grateful to Simon for his fundraising efforts.”
Corporate sponsors are already on board with the fundraising efforts – committed funds already include £60k from headline sponsors Winvic and Kingspan alongside contributions from Simon Tysoe and The P & M Group itself.
Anyone looking to support the charities can contribute here.
Council gives final go-ahead for new bridge over River Trent
Work on the first new bridge over the River Trent in 60 years is expected to begin early in 2025.
Nottingham City Council’s ambitious project to build a new 85 metre long pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent between Trent Basin and Lady Bay has reached a new milestone, with the project given a final approval from the Council at its Executive Board meeting on 22 October.
Once this approval is given, the project will get a final go-ahead from the Department for Transport before contracts are signed and work can begin in the new year.
The bridge will be the flagship, and final, project to come out of the City Council’s Transforming Cities Fund programme, which began in 2020 following a successful bid for over £160 million of central Government funding for projects which encourage inter-city connectivity and lower carbon journeys.
The new traffic-free bridge, the first to be built over the River Trent since Clifton Bridge in the 1950s, and its new and enhanced connecting paths will be a key link between the regenerating Trent Basin area with its new homes and schools, and the south side of the river with its many sports facilities including the City Ground, Trent Bridge, Holme Pierrepont and Nottingham Rugby Club.
By enhancing connections between communities, green spaces and riverside paths, the bridge will make it easier for people living and working in the Nottingham area to travel in a more sustainable way, linking those in communities such as Sneinton and the city centre with green space south of the river.
The new bridge will also help the city towards its Carbon Neutral 2028 ambition as well as improving local air quality and congestion levels by enabling people to get around for work or play without needing a car.
Planning for this ambitious and complex project has been underway since 2019, with many important milestones already achieved including public consultations, detailed design work, land agreements, securing planning permission from the City Council and Rushcliffe Borough Councils, as well as working with the Environment Agency, local residents and other stakeholders to make sure the new bridge works for everyone.
Since the project began, plans have evolved as the design and methods of construction have been refined and this along with other factors outside of the Council’s control, including Covid, the war in Ukraine, and periods of high inflation, means that the maximum delivery budget for the total project is now £18 million. The final construction costs will be confirmed by December 2024.
Looking ahead, the City Council intends to enter into contracts with the lead delivery partner Balfour Beatty in January with enabling works starting early in 2025.
Then, into the spring and summer, a warehouse used by Flo Skate park will be demolished to make way for the bridge sections to be brought to site and erected before being lifted into place by a gigantic crane during autumn 2025. The new bridge is expected to officially open in early 2026.
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan said: “The new bridge will be the first built over the Trent in Nottingham for more than 60 years, creating a vital link between developing new communities and opening up new safer commuter and leisure routes, offering a huge boost to cyclists, pedestrians and runners as well as everyone in our city through improving air quality and congestion.”
Other Transforming Cities-funded projects already completed include the new bus station in Bulwell, the expansion of safe city centre cycle routes and a secure new cycle store at Broad Marsh, the transformation of Collin Street into a new area of public realm and playground and the newly opened Green Heart area.
Measom Freer makes new appointment to support growth strategy
A Leicester-based family-owned plastic packaging manufacturer has appointed a new Business Development Manager to support its strategy to diversify into new markets.
Measom Freer has appointed Craig Edwards to the role of Business Development Manager to help drive strategic growth and generate new business within the chemical market.
Craig brings a wealth of industry experience to the business having previously worked at plastic packaging manufacturer Faerch UK, and more recently, packaging distributor Pont Packaging.
As part of his role, Craig will be responsible for shaping strategy and product development to generate new business in the chemical market with a focus on sectors such as janitorial and car care.
Craig will also work closely with the production team to roll out a ‘On Time in Full’ inventory service to customers. The new offering will provide customers with ‘their allocated’ products as and when they are needed, with manufacturing to replace stock as it’s taken, reducing order fulfilment times.
Craig Edwards said: “I am delighted to join Measom Freer. During my career I have sold packaging in a number of different materials, but for me, plastic is the sustainable material I am most passionate about.
“My experience working for both a manufacturer and distributor has provided invaluable experience and I’m looking forward to working with the team to break into new markets and position Measom Freer as the leading manufacturer of plastic packaging in the UK.
“I was attracted to Measom Freer because of its family culture and values. It’s a very hands-on role and I enjoy having the opportunity to work with all areas of the business from design to production to deliver excellent service.”
Measom Freer Production Manager Ben Freer added: “We are excited to have Craig on board, who has fit right in with our close-knit team. He has made great progress with our sales and marketing strategy, especially on our focus of expanding our share of the industrial and chemical market.
“Craig has brought with him a different perspective of the industry, which has been invaluable in many of the projects the company is currently involved in.”
Work progresses on new local centre and GP practice in Leicestershire
Work is well underway on a new local centre at New Lubbesthorpe in Leicestershire being delivered by developer Charterpoint, in association with landowner The Drummond Trust.
Derby-based contractor Davlyn Construction has been appointed to build the two-storey, mixed-use development known as the Brook Centre, which will house a Sainsbury’s Local store and four additional units for retail, including a café/bistro on the ground floor.
The first floor will be occupied by Forest House Medical Centre.
It will be the first local centre at the vibrant new community in Blaby which will eventually include more than 4,000 new homes.
Charterpoint MD Giles Nursey said: “This local centre will bring much-needed retail and café facilities to the New Lubbesthorpe community. It will also create a new practice for Forest House Medical Centre.
“We are delighted that work is progressing on site and that the steel frame is up.”
Work is also underway on a 66-bed care home being built near the local centre after Charterpoint and The Drummond Trust sold the scheme to Octopus Healthcare Fund, which invests in best-in-class care homes across the UK.
The local centre and care home – designed by Franklin Ellis Architects – will complete the development of the Tay Road feature square that also includes New Lubbesthorpe Primary School.
It is expected that work will be completed on the local centre and GP practice by summer 2025.
New Lubbesthorpe is a new community set in 1,000 acres, of which 325 acres will be new parks and wetlands, south of Leicester Forest East.
Council takes developer to court over lack of affordable housing
Bolsover District Council has taken a housing developer to court over the lack of affordable housing on their site, even though it was an obligation of the planning permission approval.
The development known as Hawthorne Meadows off Chesterfield Road in Barlborough is being built by Arba Ground Trading Company and the council noted that the development was almost built out meaning they had no intention of complying with the obligations of the planning permission and paying the monies owed.
The development was granted planning permission in March 2011 with the later amended proviso included as part of the s106 condition that 10% of the homes on the site be affordable housing. However, 126 houses have currently been built and occupied, leaving nine left to be built, which meant they could not meet the affordable housing target.
His Honour Judge (HHJ) Tindal presided over the case in the High Court in Birmingham and the council argued that the developer appeared to be trying to build a market housing only development on the site, which is not what planning permission was granted for and was a breach of the s106.
HHJ Tindal stated that “a party who made promises under a s106 and then breaks those promises can expect themselves to be made subject to an injunction.” He went on to say that “the developer had raised over £31million and there is a strong public interest in this Council seeking an injunction and that as 126 properties are occupied the s106 cannot be complied with.”
HHJ Tindal issued an interim injunction on the developer that prohibits them from building or selling/leasing any more properties and that costs have been reserved. The case has been adjourned as the developer has appealed a February 2024 decision refusing to vary the s106 agreement to reduce their obligations. Once the appeal process is complete the matter will be returned to the High Court.
HHJ Tindal went on to state: “I cannot understand what defence they can have. It should also be made clear that they owe the debt. What’s currently owed as we stand here today is the full amount of contributions owed under the original agreements.”
Cabinet Member for Governance, Councillor Duncan McGregor said: “We faced the real risk that the development would be completed, sold and occupied without the monies being paid and other obligations being met. The developer could then wind up the company, leaving all contributions outstanding with little means for the Council to enforce the terms of the obligations.
“Nothing which has occurred over the last three years gives us any confidence that the obligations would be promptly and fully complied with, that’s why we sought court action.
“But let this be a warning to developers. We issue planning permission on the proviso that its conditions are met. If they are not, then we will take legal action against those responsible.”
New firm to take over community hub development following contractor’s fall into administration
After last month the main contractor for the Clay Cross Active development, ISG, filed for administration, delaying progress on the project, a new contractor has been sourced.
North East Derbyshire District Council said its development partner, Alliance Leisure, has worked tirelessly to appoint a new contractor and minimise the impact on the scheme.
Now, Universal Civils & Build will take over the scheme.
Contractors will return to the site in the coming weeks.
Universal has already made the site secure and safe, and are currently rescheduling the works to ensure they can be completed as quickly as possible.
Clay Cross Active is a new community hub, providing a place to be active, both physically and mentally.
It is set to feature a large, modern fitness suite, spin studio, sports hall, main pool and learner pool with spectator seating, changing places facility, treatment rooms, Innerva wellness suite, soft play and interactive play, and a community café. Citizens Advice North East Derbyshire will also be based in the new Clay Cross Active.
Football arena and sports bar seeks buyer following appointment of administrators
Active Arena CIC has appointed Mark Hopkins and Ian Rose of FTS Recovery Ltd as joint administrators following the closure of their customer-facing premises on 3 October 2024.
The company, which has operated a community football arena and sports bar in Lincolnshire since 2019, was forced to cease trading on 10 October 2024 when severe cashflow shortages resulted in the disconnection of the Arena’s electricity supply.
Despite the popularity of the Active Arena venue, the company’s profit margin had been seriously depleted by rising energy prices and other cost increases associated with the cost-of-living crisis. With the company’s cashflow already stretched by Covid, this ultimately made it impossible to continue trading.
FTS Recovery is now actively seeking a buyer for the company and its assets, with a view to its continued trading as a going concern at their current premises. The sale will be managed by FTS Recovery’s appointed agents, Eddisons.
Mark Hopkins, insolvency practitioner, FTS Recovery Limited, said: “The closure of the Active Arena site will be a blow to the local community who have welcomed the award-winning facility as a fun and safe place to socialise and become active. We are eager to arrange a sale that will allow the company to return to serving its loyal customers as quickly as possible.
“The Arena is an excellent opportunity for the right buyer to build on what is already an integral part of the community with a strong customer-base and brand recognition.”
Homebuilder raises more than £7,000 for armed forces charity with Rutland golf day
More than £7,000 was raised to help service personnel, veterans and their families at a charity golf day organised by homebuilder Vistry Group.
Vistry has chosen SSAFA the Armed Forces charity as its fundraising cause for the year and the East Anglia region of the company arranged the event at Greetham Valley Golf Club in Rutland on Tuesday 24 September.
The day was attended by 80 players, made up of staff and subcontractors who work across the region. Branch chair for SSAFA East Midlands Jim Evans also attended the fundraiser.
Jim said: “The incredible and continued commitment to SSAFA and our Armed Forces community that everyone at the Vistry Group has demonstrated this year is simply outstanding.
“Because of their continued support at events like this golf day and so many others, the Forces family will have the committed, practical, financial, and emotional support they deserve, whenever and wherever they need us. For this, we cannot thank everyone at Vistry enough.”
Andy Pearce, construction director for Vistry East Anglia, said: “We had a great day on the golf course, and it was very enjoyable to get together with the people we work alongside every day to take part in a day of sport while supporting a good cause. I’d like to thank everyone who helped to make it so successful.
“And it was good to welcome Jim Evans from SSAFA to our event so that we could find out more about the charity’s work on the day.
“We were proud to hand over thousands of pounds to SSAFA and we know that the money will make a big difference to the people who will be helped as a result.”
The event raised £7,100, which included donations, a raffle and an auction. The golf competition was followed by a dinner and prize giving in the Rutland Suite at the golf club.
Business connectivity and communications firm takes space at Derbyshire office complex
Business connectivity and communications firm Yappl has expanded after taking new space on an office complex in South Normanton, Derbyshire.
Yappl has moved into recently-refurbished 2,465 sq ft office space at Unit 4, The Village on Maisies Way in a deal brokered by NG Chartered Surveyors.
Joe Butler, Finance Director at Yappl, said: “We’re thrilled to have moved into our new office space on Maisies Way. The location is ideal for our growing team, providing us with excellent transport links and a vibrant business community. This move marks an exciting new chapter for Yappl, and we look forward to continuing our growth from our new base.”
Charlotte Steggles, Associate Director at NG Chartered Surveyors, said that a forward-thinking private landlord client was key to securing a new tenant for Unit 4.
She added: “Unit 4 is a perfect space for an ambitious, growing company such as Yappl. Our client has been proactive in refurbishing the unit to a very high standard, meaning we could widen our scope when it came to our marketing process.
“Yappl will benefit from a fantastic community of businesses on Maisies Way, as well as excellent access to Junction 28 of the M1, which is just a mile away.
“We wish Yappl well for the future in their new home. It’s been a pleasure to work with them.”
Unseasonal weather hits revenue and profit at Shoezone
Leicester footwear retailer Shoezone has seen a dip in revenue and profit in the year to 28 September 2024.
According to an unaudited full year trading update, group revenue reduced by 2.7% to £161.3m, due to unseasonal weather in the second half of the year, particularly peak summer, as well as trading out of 26 fewer stores.
However, the company noted that the key three weeks of Back to School trade in August and September was positive and ahead of the same period last year.
Profit before tax, meanwhile, is expected to be not less than £9.6m, sliding from £16.2m last year, as a result of the weather-impacted second half sales performance in conjunction with increases in the cost of energy, depreciation, National Living Wage and containers prices in the second half.
Charles Smith, Chairman, said: “A year of two halves, with the first half trading in line with expectations and ahead of the previous year, however, the second half trading was below expectations due to unseasonal weather conditions, particularly at peak summer, however, our key Back to School period traded above expectations at the end of the year. Our Digital business continued to grow, driven by the introduction of free next day delivery for all shoezone.com orders.”
