Freehold of business centre in West Bridgford sold

Tess Egginton
-
0
Freehold of business centre in West Bridgford sold
FHP, acting on behalf of Bridgford Business Centre, have completed the sale of 29 Bridgford Road, West Bridgford, which sits next door to Escabeche, just off Central Avenue. The two storey building, which totals 5,525 sq ft gross (4,028 sq ft net) and benefits from eight parking spaces, was sold Freehold. David Hargreaves who acted for the vendor, Kevin Mansworth, said: “When I reported to Kevin I suggested that the property would be of interest to not only office occupiers but developers looking at extending and converting the building to apartments or 1 or 2 additional bar and restaurant units bearing in mind the strength of that sector. “We therefore targeted the office, residential, leisure and developer sectors with our marketing and interest was immediate with 12 viewings in the first week alone. “As such we were able to seek ‘Best Bids’ only 4 weeks after the launch, securing 5 final offers all in excess of the guide price of £975,000.” Hargreaves added: “We quoted a relatively low asking price to generate interest as the market back in October last year was still rather uncertain due to the significant increases in Base Rate and the general lack of confidence in the economy. “The strategy worked and we achieved a price in excess of £1,100,000 for the building which breaks back to £280/sq ft net which we are delighted with.” Kevin Mansworth said: “The strategy and advice from David Hargreaves was absolutely spot on. “He also introduced me to Lisa Poole of Gunner Cooke who was excellent on the legals, with Landsmiths on the other side we managed to get the sale completed within 10 weeks of starting marketing which included the Xmas and New Year break. I am really thrilled with the speed of the sale and price they achieved for me.” Vik Moothia of Landsmiths acted for the buyer, David Hargreaves of FHP and Lisa Poole of Gunner Cooke for the seller.

Flipping great effort from Derby businesses in pancake challenge

Tess Egginton
-
0
Flipping great effort from Derby businesses in pancake challenge

Derby businesses went head-to-head in an annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race to raise money to support the health and wellbeing of residents at YMCA Derbyshire.

Public relations agency Penguin PR lifted the trophy for the second year running beating teams from sportswear giant HUUB, digital marketeers Alphageek and WDS Printers.

The annual event was organised by staff at carbon composite company Pentaxia, in Alfreton Road, and every firm taking part made a donation to YMCA Derbyshire’s campus.

Penguin PR director Sarah Newton said: “We are big supporters of the YMCA and the outstanding work it carries out in the city.

“We usually take part in its annual Sleep Easy and have also cooked the community meal which is run alongside Head High. But of the three events, the pancake race is definitely the easiest way to raise money for them.

“I think the secret to our success is probably that we’re all parents and used to flipping countless pancakes – we certainly weren’t the fastest runners on the day. But the event is really good fun and we’re already looking forward to making it three wins in a row next year.”

It is the fifth time the annual race has taken place and other businesses taking part included Natwest, two teams from Pentaxia and a team from YMCA Derbyshire.

The 25m relay was held over three heats, with each team member required to flip the pancake at the start, the middle and the end.

The winners received a carbon trophy and mini cups, while every competitor received a pot of honey made by Pentaxia’s own bees, who live in five hives at the Alfreton Road site.

Ellie Jackson, from YMCA Derbyshire, said: “We are really grateful to all the businesses who supported the event on Shrove Tuesday – it’s great fun but also raises money for our health and wellbeing programme which funds youth workers, 1-2-1 therapeutic counselling and diversionary activities to improve our residents’ mental health.

“Huge thanks to Pentaxia for staging the event and providing breakfast for all the competitors. It was a chilly morning and the cooked breakfast was gratefully received.”

Details revealed on new 383-space student accommodation scheme at The Island Quarter

Tess Egginton
-
0
Details revealed on new 383-space student accommodation scheme at The Island Quarter

The Island Quarter could eventually be home to more than 1,000 students following the submission of proposals for a second phase of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) on site.

Plans submitted to Nottingham City Council today (16 February) will see a further 383-space student block built on the Manvers Road side of the 36-acre site.

Combined with the 693 beds at the adjacent Winfield Court – which will open to students for the 2024/25 academic year – The Island Quarter will boast a significant student population once both phases are complete.

The proposals – designed by DAY Architectural – cover a range of accommodation types including cluster accommodation, studios and premium options, along with student community amenity facilities such as a gym, laundry room, various lounges and informal breakout areas.

Following a similar material palette to Winfield Court, the designs include a combination of grey, buff and red bricks on the building’s facade alongside ribbed metal cladding.

Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “The demand for student housing has never been greater, and PBSA plays a vital role in ensuring that students have access to high-quality accommodation without the need to restrict housing supply that is better suited for Nottingham residents.”

The new student block is the latest planning submission by developer The Conygar Investment Company, following last May’s approval for a new 250,000 sq ft biosciences campus on the northern side of the site.

Ware said: “Intergenerational living has been a core principle for our plans for The Island Quarter, and a healthy population of students is a crucial part of this mix. In a competitive marketplace, these well-designed plans put student experience at their heart, and we’re looking forward to seeing this phase move forward.

“This latest proposal is one of a series of planning submissions that are currently in the pipeline, building on the success of the first phases of the development at 1 The Island Quarter and Winfield Court.”

The scheme has been designed by DAY Architectural with planning, transport and environmental advice being provided by Axis.

David Jones, technical director at Axis, said: “As part of the evolving masterplan for The Island Quarter, this next phase of accommodation has been designed so that the proposed build can complement Winfield Court in design and function while diversifying the student living environments on offer.”

Credit: DAY Architectural

Hucknall Peacocks store sold

Tess Egginton
-
0
Hucknall Peacocks store sold
FHP, acting on behalf of a private family property company, have completed the sale of the Peacocks store at 38-40 High Street, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. David Hargreaves said: “This has been a long and drawn out project following the administration of Peacocks during Covid. The new Peacocks Phoenix company wished to retain this store as it was one of the more profitable stores and so we began negotiations with the administrators and Peacocks to agree terms for a new lease. “Once the new 5 year lease was in place at a rent of £43,000, we brought the investment to the market with an asking price of £450,000. “As a result of the monthly increases in Base Rates throughout 2023 we had to reprice the investment in September resulting in a sale at a price of £420,000. “This is a great buy for the private investors giving them a large store of circa 6,000 sq ft with rear parking and a yield of 10.00% for at least a further 4 years.  Longer term there is an option to split the store to create 3 shops and 2 upper floor flats if Peacocks don’t renew the lease in 2028.” FHP acted for the vendors, a private family company that had owned the store for 30+ years. The purchasers represented themselves.

Panther secures multi-million pound Silentnight deal

Tess Egginton
-
0
Panther secures multi-million pound Silentnight deal
Two-person delivery specialist, Panther Logistics, which is part of AIT Worldwide Logistics, has been awarded a new four-year contract with Silentnight. The new deal will see Northampton-based Panther continuing to support Silentnight’s contract with the Premier Inn hotel chain, delivering beds and mattresses to hotels across England, Scotland and Wales, for which it has delivered over 60,000 beds over the past 12 months. Silentnight has been a Panther customer for the past nine years for its retail operation and has worked with Panther’s recently formed Specialist Operations Division since 2022. Panther’s Specialist Operations Division delivers bespoke support solutions for large scale delivery clients such as Silentnight. These new commercial opportunities allow Panther to diversify from its two-person deliveries into a much larger scale operation, offering support across the country to clients who require higher volume deliveries that necessitate a more tailored individual solution. The new multi-million-pound contract with Silentnight will see Panther delivering new beds and mattresses over the next four years, as well as removing the current mattresses and beds for recycling. “Since its launch, our Specialist Operations Division has been a great success and is yet another milestone for Panther and further demonstrates our ability to consistently push the boundaries,” says Andy Dale, Panther’s Finance and Commercial Director. “The specialist install and delivery solution by Panther for Silentnight demonstrates the strength of the partnership and we are delighted that we will be continuing to develop our offering with them.” To support the operation, Panther has invested substantially in the sourcing and training of select teams of specialist installers, exclusively assigned to the Silentnight contract. “We are very excited about this growing partnership between Silentnight and Panther, it marks another significant stride in our hospitality business, made possible by Panther’s invaluable support,” says David Lawrenson, Sales Director for Hospitality at Silentnight. “Our hospitality contracts expect and thrive on seamless, large-scale logistics, demanding an expert partner for success. Panther’s unwavering commitment and impeccable service since our collaboration in 2014 have not only impressed us but played a pivotal role in fuelling Silentnight’s remarkable growth. “They are a key driving force behind our continued success and the obvious choice of delivery provider to support us on our ongoing expansion.”

First-time buyers swoop for Nottinghamshire pharmacy as owner retires

Tess Egginton
-
0
First-time buyers swoop for Nottinghamshire pharmacy as owner retires
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Manns Pharmacy in Nottinghamshire. Manns Pharmacy is a standard hours community pharmacy that dispenses an average of 5,000 items per month. It is located in the residential area of Mapperley, a suburb three miles north-east of Nottingham city centre. The business has been owned by Gurinder Singh Mann for over 20 years and was brought to market to allow him to retire. Following a confidential sales process with Carl Steer at Christie & Co, and with funding sourced through David Ward at Christie Finance, it has been purchased by first-time buyers, Mitan Maisuria and Rahul Patel. They will both work in the pharmacy going forward and will aim to increase its service offering. Carl Steer, Director – Pharmacy at Christie & Co, says: “The sale proved popular, with eight offers from five parties. I have no doubt the pharmacy will benefit from being operated hands-on by Mitan and Rahul, and I wish them all the best with their first pharmacy business.” David Ward, Senior Director at Christie Finance, says: “I am delighted to have arranged the funding for Mitan and Rahul for the purchase of Manns Pharmacy in what is currently a tougher lending market than this time last year. I am sure that they will take the pharmacy business to new levels.” Manns Pharmacy was sold leasehold via asset sale for an undisclosed price.

Plans submitted for further student accommodation scheme at The Island Quarter, Nottingham

Tess Egginton
-
0
Plans submitted for further student accommodation scheme at The Island Quarter, Nottingham

The Conygar Investment Company has submitted a detailed application for the next phase of development at The Island Quarter, Nottingham.

The application comprises a 383-bed student accommodation scheme.

Robert Ware, Chief Executive of Conygar, said: “We are delighted to submit this application for the next phase of our development.

“Nottingham is home to two top class Universities and this scheme will be an excellent addition to the mixed-use development we are creating at The Island Quarter.”

A 693-bed student scheme is already being built at The Island Quarter, topping out in June 2023.

‘Put yourself forward for a King’s Award’, Lord Lieutenant urges Leicestershire’s small businesses

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
‘Put yourself forward for a King’s Award’, Lord Lieutenant urges Leicestershire’s small businesses
More of Leicestershire’s small business innovators should put themselves forward for a King’s Award, according to Lord Lieutenant Mike Kapur. Speaking during the Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2024 Mr Kapur described the benefits of receiving the Royal recognition, and expressed a belief in the talent in the county. He said: “Thirteen Leicestershire businesses have won the Award for Enterprise since 2018 – seven of them in the Innovation category. “The Leicestershire Innovation Festival has once again shown us the breadth of ground-breaking work going on in our city and county  – we want to make sure that more of these businesses are recognised at the highest level and are aware of the opportunities happening around them. “The King’s Award for Enterprise is the UK’s most prestigious business award, presented annually to businesses which have proved outstanding in their field.” He and Deputy Lieutenant, Ian Borley, welcomed guests to the event at the National Space Centre and presented opportunities available through the King’s Award. Winners come from all sectors and include large and small businesses. Recognition is awarded across four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility. Winners are invited to a Royal reception, can fly The King’s Awards flag at their office, use the emblem on marketing materials, and are presented with the award at their premises by the Lord-Lieutenant. Meanwhile, guests also received an update on opportunities linked to the ongoing Space City Leicester cluster. Space City Leicester was launched by City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby during an event at the Space Centre in March 2023. It will create one of the UK’s largest Enterprise Zones for space-related activities, and represents up to £233 million of investment in new and planned facilities. Chas Bishop, LLEP Director and CEO of the National Space Centre, said: “Plans for the Space City Leicester demonstrate the strategic importance of innovation in our region – as well as the opportunities being created to grow exciting businesses.” Space City will work with partners from pre-school to post-doc – driving research, production, manufacturing, and development – as we builds on Leicester’s role as a key part of the UK’s Space sector. It will also be home to other knowledge economy businesses, such as those working towards decarbonisation, innovative start-ups and growth businesses.

Regional business leader appointed to key devolution role

Tess Egginton
-
0
Regional business leader appointed to key devolution role
A top regional lawyer has been appointed to the shadow board steering the creation of the new East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), ahead of the very first election for East Midlands Mayor in May. David Williams, Chairman of Geldards, will take on the role of interim business representative on the EMCCA shadow board, joining local politicians from the four key councils involved in the East Midlands devolution deal. David said: “I’ve lived and worked in the East Midlands for over thirty years and I’m committed to doing what I can to raise the profile and economic prosperity of the region, developing the many successful partnerships between the private, public and third sectors. “I’m looking forward to working with political leaders and other partners to maximise the opportunities that devolution will bring to the region.” Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “David will be a tremendous asset to the shadow board and his appointment is another important step forward as we press ahead towards the creation of the new East Midlands Combined County Authority. “David brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and we look forward to working with him during this key period for East Midlands devolution.” Councillor Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “It is vital that we have the very best expertise to help lay the foundations for the County Combined Authority. “David’s experience and knowledge will ensure that we can maximise on the opportunities to attract investment into the region and ultimately give the people of the East Midlands the best possible outcomes in all aspects of their lives.” Councillor Baggy Shanker, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “Our region is home to world-class industry and leading businesses, from major multinationals to fantastic small and medium-sized enterprises. “I’m therefore delighted to have David as part of our shadow board – I have known David for many years and he has made excellent contributions to our region. He will play a crucial role to champion the business sector and bring in more investment and high-quality jobs to our local economy.” Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s an exciting time as we move forward with the East Midlands Combined County Authority and it’s important that we have people with the expertise and knowledge to deliver this. “David is a great asset to the new the shadow board and will be a key business representative for the region. He joins a strong team already working to deliver the best of the devolution deal for Nottingham and the region.” Alongside his role as Chairman of Geldards, David holds a number of non-executive and trustee positions, including Chairman of EMB Group Limited, Deputy Chair of D2N2 LEP, Board member at Nottingham Trent University and a non-executive Director of East Midlands Chamber of Commerce. EMCCA is set to bring in around £4 billion of funding for the region, alongside devolved powers for transport, skills and adult education, housing, the environment and economic development.

Revolutionary microscopy technique invented at University of Nottingham set for global use after adoption by US company

Tess Egginton
-
0
Revolutionary microscopy technique invented at University of Nottingham set for global use after adoption by US company
A revolutionary microscopy technique, invented at the University of Nottingham, which can image the microscopic elasticity of engineering materials is set for global use after being adopted by US company Coherent Photon Imaging (CPI). Many materials are made up of thousands of small crystals. The size, shape, and stiffness of these are essential to the material’s performance. In real engineering materials, such as aero engine components, the stiffness of these crystals previously hasn’t been able to be measured, but could only be identified from specially prepared single crystals, which had to be prepared in laboratories at great expense. These single crystals often had significantly different properties from the real engineering material they were supposed to represent due to differences in their preparation. This meant that it was previously impossible to determine the fundamental microscopic stiffness of real materials – an issue industry has faced for more than 100 years.
Now, the university’s patented invention, SRAS, and the newly patented SRAS++ technique, can measure this complex stiffness in real materials and “image” the stiffness, making it possible to map variations, for the first time. These brand-new discoveries pave the way for a myriad of other applications, such as the detection of residual stress and in situ monitoring the progress of processes such as heat treatment and annealing. Supported by a six-figure funding boost from the EPSRC, the technology has already started to be used in aerospace to evaluate the structural integrity of materials used in the manufacture of critical engine components. Now, it’s set for global adoption through a collaboration with Iowa-based CPI. Professor Matt Clark, co-lead on the study from the Optics and Photonics Research Group at the University of Nottingham, said: “Previously, the only way to measure the elasticity matrix of a material was to cut it up or attempt to grow a single crystal of the material, a process that cannot be done for many materials, such as the titanium alloys used in modern jet engines, which wastes money, time, and materials. “We’re thrilled to be able to announce our partnership with the team at CPI, marking a significant step in the wider commercialisation of SRAS and SRAS++. Clients are already signing on the dotted line to adopt the technology and we look forward to seeing our research turn into reality.” Pete Collins, Founder and Co-owner of CPI, said: “Rarely does a new measurement technique emerge that has the potential to truly transform the way that industry operates when it comes to materials characterisation, design, and qualification. Considering the advancements over the past 90 years, I assess that SRAS and SRAS++ are equivalently significant advances as the transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, focused ion-beam microscope, and the local electrode atoms probe. “What sets this apart is that it measures not only a material’s state, but also its elasticity, a capability none of these other methods can do. This is a game changer. We are delighted to be working closely with such a pioneering group to bring this technology to market as widely as we can.”
Dr Richard Smith, Associate Professor and member of the Optics and Photonics Research Group, said: “We’re continuing to look at other ways we can use SRAS and SRAS++ and have already incorporated it into 3D printing technology, creating a way to monitor the state of a material while it is printed. This is just the beginning for technology of this kind and we’re excited to see how far our research can take us.”
1...416417418...1,085Page 417 of 1,085