Witham Group ball raises £8,000 for four charities
Witham Group, a lubricant manufacturer with its head office in Lincoln, has raised £8,000 for four charities during its annual charity ball.
The event, held in January at the Hilton Double Tree Hotel, brought together team members, customers, and suppliers in a collective effort to make a positive impact.
“We are thrilled to announce that our annual charity event was a tremendous success,” said Nigel R Bottom, Witham Group MD. “This achievement is a testament to the generosity and dedication of our team members, partners, and supporters who have wholeheartedly contributed to these fantastic charities.”
The £8,000 raised has been equally distributed among the following four charities: Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, Teenage Cancer Trust, Help For Heroes, and Lincolnshire Rural Support Network.
Witham Group has been fundraising for charities and supporting local communities for many years, and this latest event brings the total raised to £130,000.
Callisto Pharma Group moves into new offices at Lockington Hall
Due to further expansion, Callisto Pharma Group has moved into new offices in a deal negotiated by Loughborough-based specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie.
Having signed a five year lease, the company’s 30+ employees will move into 2,052 sq ft of office space at Garden Court within the old walled garden at Lockington Hall in Leicestershire.
Garden Court offers a range of attractive, modern, single-storey office spaces set in landscaped grounds with on-site car parking.
Paul Bunyan, operations director from Callisto, said: “We were delighted with Mather Jamie for bringing this opportunity to our attention. As a global business being able to access the UK and overseas locations quickly is an important factor.
“The location is superb and not only is our team located in a fantastic setting but we are now strategically located near Junction 24 of the M1, the A50, and East Midlands Airport and East Midlands Parkway rail connections.”
Charlie Lallo, commercial surveyor from Mather Jamie, added: “Well-located offices with a good parking provision are still very much sought after. We have a variety of options in our commercial property portfolio and therefore able to meet Callisto’s office space requirements.”
Construction Risk Seminar to help build a safer future
A must-attend event for professionals in the construction sector and the built environment will take place on Wednesday 28 February 2024.
From architects to groundworkers, join the Construction Risk Seminar, starting at 1pm at the prestigious 4th floor of the Vijay Patel Building in Leicester, LE2 7DP.
What to Expect
Learn to Eliminate, Reduce, and Manage Risk; discover practical approaches to make your projects safer, healthier, and more profitable; Continuous Professional Development (CPD); and elevate your knowledge and skills through engaging discussions on risk management strategies tailored for the construction industry.
There will also be opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals, from conceptual architectural designers and engineers to surveyors, developers, and associated trades and professions.
Key Topics of Discussion:
Cyber & AI: navigating the digital landscape in construction.
E&O Design Liability: understanding and mitigating design-related risks.
Employment: exploring legal aspects and best practices.
Supply Chain, Imports, CE Marking, and Product: addressing critical considerations.
Credit, Bonds/Surety: managing financial risks effectively.
Late Defect/Building Warranties vs Collateral Warranties: ensuring long-term project success.
Health and well-being in the industry.
MMC (Modern Methods of Construction): embracing innovation responsibly.
Contract Law (JCT/NEC/Collateral Warranties): navigating legal frameworks for successful collaborations.
Esteemed Panelists:
A distinguished panel includes experts at the forefront of the construction industry:
Nick Taylor-Ward – ACII & Chartered Insurance Broker – Konsileo
Dr. Ronaldo CEng – Producument – Toshiba Mitsubishi Europe TMEICKate Cheyne – Head of School – Arts, Design, and Architecture at DMU
Emma Tegerdine, Expert Employment Law Solicitor and Judge – gunnercooke LLP
Alice Bremner – Senior Credit Underwriter at Tokio Marine HCC International
Christine White – Professor of Art & Design, Director of the Design Unit, Deputy Dean Arts, Design and Humanities at De Montfort University
Stephen Woolf – CMIOSH CMaPS MIEMA CEnv – Group Compliance Director – Sigma
Tim Rugg – Professional Indemnity Underwriting Manager at Tokio Marine HCC
Schedule:
1:00 PM: Registration and Networking
1:30 PM: Panel Discussion
3.30 PM: Q&A Session
4.00 PM: Networking and Refreshments
RSVP Information:
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights, expand your network, and contribute to building a safer future for all. Book your place here.
For further information, please contact CE East Midlands at alexander.tabb@deltasimons.com
Event sponsored by KonsileoInvestment in East Midlands takes centre stage at Westminster event
The future prosperity of the East Midlands has been discussed by MPs and Whitehall officials at a Transport for the East Midlands event in Westminster.
Regional leaders from local authorities and transport bodies have been working together to voice concerns that a lack of investment in the region’s transport infrastructure is preventing its businesses and communities from achieving their growth potential.
The event, hosted by Co-Chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the East Midlands, Nigel Mills MP and Alex Norris MP, brought decision makers together with regional businesses to hear about key transport schemes where government funding decisions are imminent.
They include proposals to electrify the final stretch of the Midland Mainline into the East Midlands – the main rail link between Derby, Chesterfield, Nottingham, Leicester and London – where major economic benefits were highlighted in a recent report, The Future’s Electric.
Transformational plans for the A46 Newark Bypass were also highlighted, with the final section of the link between the M1 in Leicestershire and the A1 in Nottinghamshire set to be turned from single to dual carriageway, overcoming congestion problems, improving safety and enabling planned economic growth in the area.
The Westminster gathering also heard about an inquiry carried out by the APPG itself into the wider social and economic benefits of infrastructure investment in the East Midlands.
Their report calls for greater certainty on the delivery of major infrastructure projects in the region in the wake of the cancellation of HS2 to the East Midlands and the Government’s publication instead of ‘Network North’. Its five recommendations include:
· Support investors by giving them long-term certainty about the delivery of infrastructure.
· Help inform investment decisions by adopting a common method for describing the benefits.
· Ensure the region’s economic resilience through a better balance between building new infrastructure and investing in what we’ve got.
· Encourage greater collaboration between public and private sector so the full benefits of infrastructure investment can be achieved.
· Establish a credible pipeline of regional infrastructure which supports regional priorities and ensures skilled, trained workers are available to deliver projects.
Businesses from across the region, council leaders and other economic stakeholders attended the event, which was also told about the findings from two recent studies about the A1 in the region by Midlands Connect and Transport for the East Midlands that highlight the financial and safety implications of substandard investment for businesses and road users.
Nigel Mills MP, East Midlands APPG Co-Chair, said: “The East Midlands has a robust and innovative economy. However GDP and productivity per head of population are below the UK average and our region continues to be under-invested relative to the UK average across a range of functions, most notably transport.
“Improving and maintaining our region’s infrastructure is critical to achieving the levelling up agenda and the transition to net zero. The crucial relationship between infrastructure investment and local activity to create more prosperous and inclusive economies is clear, and this event has brought this to the forefront of decision-makers’ minds to make sure our region realises its true potential sooner rather than later.”
Alex Norris MP, East Midlands APPG Co-Chair, said: “We have been concerned for some time about the lack of investment in the East Midlands and what this means for our communities and businesses.
“Whilst our region has a resilient economy and a rapidly growing population, we also have falling productivity, low graduate retention and poor social mobility. We believe there is a clear link between investment in economic infrastructure like transport, energy, water, waste treatment, flood defences and digital, and the wider social and economic challenges facing the East Midlands.”
Sir Peter Soulsby, Chair of Transport for the East Midlands and elected Mayor of Leicester, added: “Our region is full of great businesses and ambitious communities, ready to respond to the important challenge of raising growth in the UK.
“However, we need the tools to deliver that growth. The Government needs to unleash our potential by signing off a series of major projects, ready to go, that we know will transform our transport infrastructure and deliver strong returns not just for the East Midlands, but for the UK.”
The Westminster event is being supported by law firm Browne Jacobson and East Midlands Railway.
Peter Ware, Head of Government practice at Browne Jacobson, said: “It’s critically important that the East Midlands makes the case for investment as it has a very strong story to tell around industries that contribute to international trade and infrastructure initiatives that can really power-up the region’s contribution to UK growth.
“We know from the work that we do across the region that our public bodies have huge ambitions for progress, and we’re delighted to support this event.”
Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, added: “We connect the East Midlands to the capital every day and are committed to improving services for the communities that we serve. In order to achieve this, there needs to be greater collaboration between public and private sector infrastructure providers.
“Long-term certainty about the delivery of major investment is needed, which will unlock opportunities that pave the way for growth across our region.”
Builders’ merchant acquires HVAC distributor
MKM, the independent builders’ merchant, has made a strategic move into the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) sector with the acquisition of Oceanair UK Ltd.
Established in 2002, Oceanair has built a reputation as a specialist distributor for brands Daikin, Fujitsu and Panasonic. Their successful transition into the air to water market makes them ideally placed for significant growth in the future.
Oceanair are an award-winning distributor of HVAC, operating from locations in Mansfield and Crawley.
Kate Tinsley, CEO of MKM, said: “This is an interesting acquisition for MKM and enables us to expand into further emerging marketplaces; Oceanair is a great company with very talented people. I’m really excited about our growth plans.”
Oceanair will continue its operations under its existing name. Tony Evanson, the owner of Oceanair, will remain involved in the business for the foreseeable future providing support during the transition. He emphasised the importance of finding the right home for the business and expressed pride in its growth over the years.
“I’m incredibly proud to see the business grow over the years and have developed some fantastic relationships with staff, customers, and suppliers. I have thought long and hard about selling the business and was adamant it needed to go to the right home. I’m very pleased to be around the business to support the MKM team and look forward to seeing Oceanair grow under its new ownership.”
Rob Barnes, MKM’s business development director leading the acquisition, expressed confidence in the growth potential of Oceanair.
“This acquisition fits perfectly with MKM’s plans for expansion, allowing us to branch out further into the HVAC industry. Continuing to work closely with the current Oceanair team guarantees a seamless transition, customers and suppliers can expect business as usual.”
Spin-out raises £7.5m to develop treatment for blocked arteries
IsomAb – a University of Nottingham spin-out pioneering a new treatment for diabetics at risk of amputation – has raised £7.5m (US$9.4m) in a funding round led by Broadview Ventures and backed by MEIF Proof of Concept & Early Stage Fund, which is managed by Mercia Ventures and part of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), Mercia’s EIS funds and existing investor SCVC.
The funding will enable IsomAb to carry out further studies in preparation for the start of clinical trials.
The company, which is based in Nottingham’s BioCity and employs six staff, focuses on the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a relatively common condition where the arteries in the legs and feet become blocked by fatty deposits, resulting in lack of blood flow.
In many cases, the body successfully compensates by developing new blood vessels in a process known as angiogenesis. However, this process of compensation does not seem to occur in diabetics, and the lack of circulation often causes ulcers and irreversible tissue damage.
Research by IsomAb’s founders, Professor David Bates and Professor Steve Harper, suggests that this is because a protein called VEGF-A165b blocks the angiogenesis process in diabetics. The IsomAb team have developed an antibody that inhibits the effects of the protein and allows new blood vessels to be created.
Founded in 2022, IsomAb is the second spin-out by the pair. Their previous venture, Exonate Ltd, focuses on the treatment of diabetic macular oedema and has successfully completed its first clinical trial.
Jackie Turnbull, CEO of IsomAb, said: “IsomAb’s lead program, targeting VEGF-A165b aims to treat peripheral arterial disease in the large proportion of patients with concomitant metabolic syndrome and Type II diabetes. We are delighted to have attracted a group of high-quality investors to support the early development of our novel program toward CTA filing to enter the clinic.”
Benjamin Kreitman, Principal at Broadview Ventures, said: “Peripheral artery disease remains a significant unmet medical need worldwide, and the development of novel treatments to alleviate ischemia could improve clinical care for millions of patients. As Broadview’s investment strategy is focused on the improvement of human health in the areas of cardiovascular disease and stroke, we are delighted to accelerate this highly innovative approach.”
SCVC Managing Partner, Harry Destecroix, said: “We have been an investor in IsomAb since its incorporation and are really happy to be a continuing backer of this high quality company.”
Hannah Tapsell Chapman of Mercia Ventures added: “IsomAb offers a fresh approach to the treatment of vascular disease. Although the initial focus will be on treating diabetics, research shows high levels of VEGF-A165b are also linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke in non-diabetics, so it could have much wider applications. The funding will enable the team to progress the development of the lead compound towards human clinical trials.”
Administrators hopeful of a sale of Surepak Limited after overwhelming interest received
Administrators from PKF Smith Cooper are hopeful that a sale of flexible packaging manufacturer, Surepak Limited, can be achieved, after receiving overwhelming interest in the business, which fell into administration last week.
Founded in 1991, the company has been trading for over 32 years, starting out as a distributor before moving into manufacturing in 1995. Stuart Yorston, director of Surepak Limited, decided to file for administration on 9 February to safeguard the company’s business, assets, and employees from a creditor’s winding up petition. Dean Nelson of PKF Smith Cooper was appointed, joint administrator on 12 February, and has subsequently received considerable interest in the business as a going concern, and a sale is expected to process quickly, with a deadline for receipt of offers set for 28 February. Dean Nelson, joint administrator and head of Business Recovery and Insolvency at PKF Smith Cooper, said: “Since my appointment last week, we have had a great response from interested parties. Over the next few weeks, we will continue to work hard to assess this interest and I am very optimistic that we will secure a future for Surepak Limited and its employees. “I am very grateful to the company’s loyal customers, suppliers and employees for their commitment at this difficult time, and expect the sales process to gather pace rapidly, so I actively encourage any potential buyers to come forward as soon as possible, to express their interest in the business and its assets.”Further £2.5m promises to create more skilled workers for vital sectors
A further £2.5m from the second phase of the Higher Technical Education Skills Injection fund promises to help the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology support learners across Lincolnshire to achieve highly-valued qualifications within priority sectors, such as engineering, construction, manufacturing, health, science, agriculture and environmental technologies.
Partners that are set to benefit from the funding include Boston College, Grantham College & University Centre, Lincoln College, Riseholme College, University Campus North Lincolnshire, and University Centre Grimsby.
£1.5m of capital investment will go towards state-of-the-art equipment, which will ensure that students and employers have access to the latest technologies.
The remaining £1m of resource funding will be invested in ensuring that LIoT partners can meet future employer and student expectations, including upskilling delivery staff in upcoming industry techniques.
Mick Lochran, Director at Lincolnshire Institute of Technology, said: ”This additional funding couldn’t be more valuable to us. If Greater Lincolnshire is to tackle the county’s long-term productivity gap and train the highly skilled professionals modern industry needs, education providers must be able to invest in the latest technologies.
“That being said, our work can only continue to succeed if more employers are investing in their workforce to build the higher level skills of the future. We’d urge all firms within these industries to upskill and develop their employees.
“I’m very excited to see what the next few years hold for all of the partners of Lincolnshire Institute of Technology – it’s fantastic to be a driving force in upskilling our area.”
Leicester round table explores public-private collaboration for affordable housing
Forty key figures from the property and construction sector recently convened at an Invest in Leicester round table, hosted by Leicester City Council. The event focused on collaborative efforts to address the city’s growing need for affordable housing.
Chris Burgin, Director of Housing at Leicester City Council, outlined the significant challenge: to deliver the volume of affordable homes required annually to meet the needs of the community, encouraging a united approach between the public and private sectors.
The round table session served as a platform for open discussion and exploration of collaboration opportunities. Property executives from Leicester and Leicestershire delved into potential strategies including joint venture models, innovative construction methods and best practice examples of utilising public sector assets.
Chairing the meeting was Richard Sword, Strategic Director of Leicester City Council, who said: “Delivering affordable housing for our residents is a top priority for the council, the significant interest and attendance at this round table demonstrates the strong appetite within the industry to collaborate and tackle this challenge together. By working hand-in-hand, we can create housing solutions that are sustainable, accessible, and enrich the lives of our residents.”
The roundtable focused on several housing challenges faced by the City Council, which declared a housing crisis in 2022, calling for urgent action from the central government to ease pressure caused by the growing demand for affordable housing.
Leicester’s Deputy City Mayor for Housing, Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, said: “We have an ambitious plan to deliver housing for the residents of Leicester, however, we know that we cannot deliver this alone, and we need to work with the private sector in order to respond to the housing challenges in the city.
“We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with our private sector partners in this endeavour to accelerate the delivery of housing for our residents. The discussions during the recent roundtable have highlighted the enthusiasm of our partners to join forces with us in championing our vision. Together, we are committed to ensuring that our residents gain access to affordable and quality homes.”
Rob McGuinn, Vice Chairperson at the property professional services firm MDA Consulting, said: “The collaborative spirit at this round table was inspiring. Collaborating with the council, we can build a mutually beneficial relationship that delivers a future where everyone has access to secure and affordable housing.”
New trustee for Derbyshire counselling service
Mental health charity Derwent Rural Counselling Service (DRCS) has strengthened its board of trustees.Privacy, data protection and operational risk professional Matthew Varnham joins the eight-strong board at the countywide counselling service.DRCS operates as a partner of Talking Mental Health Derbyshire (TMHD), who are a provider of the NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression programme for Derbyshire Health Care Foundation Trust. Matthew, who has worked at well-known financial institutions, said: “This type of service is so important for the communities it serves. I am enthusiastic and keen to support the work DRCS already does to break down barriers and help ensure services are available to those who need them.“My current professional role has a heavy focus on emerging technologies – such as generative AI and policy, and I am keen to contribute where I can across the organisation on compliance with governance documents and the law, confirming accountability and acting with reasonable care.”Mark Serby, chair of trustees for the charity, said: “I am delighted to welcome Matthew onto the DRCS board. Matthew brings some added dimensions to the team at a time when privacy, data protection and operational risk are key to organisations.”
