Belvoir Group acquires financial services business

Steve Fisher
-
0
Belvoir Group acquires financial services business

Lincolnshire-headquartered Belvoir Group has acquired MAB (South West) Ltd (“MAB SW”), a financial services business for a cash consideration of £1.0m.  This follows the earlier acquisition of BMA Bristol Limited (“BMA”) in June 2023 for £1.1m in cash.

BMA and MAB SW both trade as the Mortgage Advice Bureau and are appointed representative firms of Mortgage Advice Bureau, the wholly owned subsidiary of AIM-listed Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) plc (“MAB”), one of the UK’s leading networks for mortgage intermediaries.

 The Acquisitions provide mortgage and related financial services to clients through a combined network of 41 highly motivated advisers, all of whom are self-employed with MAB providing training, support, compliance, website and national marketing via the wider MAB brand. With BMA based in Bristol and MAB SW based in Plymouth, the Group has extended its reach across the South-West.

 Belvoir acquired the entire issued share capital of then two companies, through its subsidiary Brook Financial Services Ltd , for a total net consideration of £2.1m, settled in cash from existing cash reserves. Tim Wood, Brook’s Financial Services Director, will manage both businesses, overseen by Michelle Brook, Managing Director of Brook and Executive Director of the Belvoir Group PLC Board.

 In the year to 30 September 2022 MAB SW had revenue of £1.5m, pre-tax profits of £0.1m and net assets of £0.2m. In the year to 31 December 2022 BMA had revenue of £1.8m, pre-tax profits of £0.3m and net assets of £0.1m. The Acquisitions are expected to be immediately earnings accretive adding around £0.6mp.a. to Group profit before tax.

 The Acquisitions bring Belvoir’s financial services network up to 321 advisers, which the Board believes will enhance growth through accelerating the nationwide coverage of advisers who can support growth of the mortgage and remortgage business within its property franchise offices. In addition, BMA operates a lead-generating website, www.pebblemortgages.co.uk, which can be utilised to generate leads across the wider financial services network.

 Dorian Gonsalves, Chief Executive Officer, Belvoir commented:“We are delighted to announce the acquisitions of BMA Bristol and MAB (South West), which extend our network of experienced financial advisers across the South-West, supporting both our franchisees at a local level, as well as servicing leads from independent agents. 

 “The Acquisitions have been secured during a more challenging phase of the property sector cycle which has been reflected in the price paid.  However, the Board is confident that given the strong client banks within these businesses, they can be developed further and be positioned to take advantage of future upsides in the new purchase and remortgage markets.”

 

Watches of Switzerland Group sees shares crash as Rolex buys rival retailer

Steve Fisher
-
0
Watches of Switzerland Group sees shares crash as Rolex buys rival retailer
Watches of Switzerland Group’s shares crashed 27% as Rolex announced confirmation that it had purchased one of its main rivals, Bucherer. Prior to the acquisition, Rolex had just one store in Geneva but Bucherer takes this to 100 stores in which Rolex can now sell its watches in Switzerland and Europe as well as the US.

In a statement following the announcement by Rolex, Watches of Switzerland Group said: “This is not a strategic move into retail by Rolex. This is the best-judged reaction to the succession challenges of Bucherer SA.” They added: “There will be no operational involvement by Rolex in the Bucherer business.Rolex will appoint non-executive Board members.There will be no change in the Rolex processes of product allocation or distribution developments as a consequence of this acquisition.”

 They also stressed that this information has been reviewed and confirmed by the highest level of Rolex management at Rolex HQ in Geneve and locally in the UK and US.

 

New bid emerges for Wilko as government urged to intervene

Steve Fisher
-
0
New bid emerges for Wilko as government urged to intervene

Administrators of the stricken high street chain Wilko who have now received another last minute bid from Private equity firm M2 Capital, have come under criticism by bidders.

Potential rescuers are reported to have been having “difficulties” in engaging with the administrators according to an article in the Guardian newspaper. The article reports that GMB- the workers union- is seeking an urgent meeting with the business secretary after being told by potential rescuers that they have been having “difficulties” in engaging with the administrators. However, the government seem reluctant to intervene.
As reported over the last few weeks, Wilko fell into administration earlier this month, putting 12,500 jobs and 400 stores at risk.

Administrators, PwC, set a deadline of Friday last week for bids for the chain, and are understood to be reviewing offers .

A spokesperson for PwC told the BBC “As administrators we’re intent on achieving the best outcome for everyone involved while preserving as many jobs as possible and adhering to our statutory duty to act in the best interests of the creditors as a whole.”It would be inappropriate to comment on individual bidders or interested parties at this stage in the process.”

The latest rescue bid comes from M2 offering £90m for the East Midlands business, and a pledge to retain all employees’ jobs for the next two years.

The bid by M2, comes just days after an offer by HMV owner Doug Putmanis, which is said to be one of several offers being considered.

Wilko has been struggling for some time with sharp losses and a cash shortage and has been openly criticised for allowing rivals: The Range, Home Bargains, B&M, and Poundland to take the lead.

Derby City Council urges vigilance after data breach

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Derby City Council urges vigilance after data breach
Derby City Council is advising its Council Tax and Benefits customers to be vigilant around potential risks following a data breach at IT services provider Capita. People are urged to watch out for suspicious or unsolicited communications, whether these are letters in the post, emails, or phone calls in the wake of a data breach which happened in May this year. The council’s web sait says: “Capita supplies the Council with a system that supports the Council Tax and Benefits service. The incident, which has also affected several other local authorities across the country, relates to data collected in early 2021. “We know this information security incident will have caused concern, and we would like to apologise to our customers. Derby City Council has investigated the incident to understand the extent of how its Council Tax and Benefits customers have been affected. “Personal data affected by the incident included names, addresses and reference numbers for Council Tax customers; as well as names, addresses, reference numbers, income and capital details relating to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims in payment at the time of the breach. “The Council will be contacting individuals directly to make them aware, where there could be an increased risk.” The Council is continuing to work with Capita and the Information Commissioner’s Office  to ensure that all appropriate actions are taken to address what has occurred.  

Property and construction firms have just 6 more days to showcase their achievements at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023

Tess Egginton
-
0
Property and construction firms have just 6 more days to showcase their achievements at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
Providing a prime opportunity to shout about your business’s achievements, there are only 6 days left to enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023! The annual event, organised by East Midlands Business Link Magazine, is an independent awards and publicity programme recognising development projects 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. The prestigious awards attract leaders from across the region and are the perfect way for businesses to promote themselves and those they work with. Indeed winning one of these awards will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly. “Over the last four years we have sponsored and also been an awards finalist. This profile has definitely helped us raise our brand awareness and helped us win bigger and better contracts,” said Rob Day, chairman and founder of Blueprint Interiors. Award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of time to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. Nominations close on Thursday 31 August. To enter your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page:
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:

Sort Legal Awarded Top SME Apprenticeship Employer Award

Michael Fisher
-
0
Sort Legal Awarded Top SME Apprenticeship Employer Award
A Derby-based law firm is flying the flag for the city after being named in this year’s Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employer awards. Sort Legal, whose head office is in Derby and has a second office in Cardiff, ranked 24th at this year’s awards, which recognise the nation’s top apprenticeship employers. First compiled in 2020, the prestigious annual employer rankings have been developed by the Department of Education, in partnership with High Fliers Research, who independently assess and rank the nation’s top apprenticeship employers. The Top Apprenticeship SME Employer category assesses employers with up to 249 employees and measures an employer’s commitment to employing apprenticeships, the number of new apprenticeships created, the diversity of their new apprenticeships, and the progression of their apprentices onto further employment. Over the past few years, the conveyancing industry has experienced a decline in recruitment, which has been worsened by the pandemic. This has led to many people leaving the industry, which drove Sort Legal to explore the apprenticeship route. The company now invests heavily in apprentices to support its longer term growth plans. This award reflects and celebrates the hard work by the company’s apprentices and the investment Sort Legal has made into its recruitment, growth, and development strategy. Sort Legal currently has an impressive cohort of apprentices, with three trainee legal cashiers, alongside two apprentice administration assistants specialising in business administration at Level 3. The company is set to recruit two more apprentice administration assistants shortly. The success of Sort Legal’s apprenticeship programme is highlighted by their recent accomplishments of several apprentices. Four apprentice administration assistants recently completed their apprenticeships and have been promoted to the role of remortgage paralegals. Two legal cashiers have successfully passed their apprenticeships and been promoted to group management accountants studying AAT Level 4. One apprentice in accounts has been promoted to group finance manager after passing AAT Level 3 in 2022 and is set to complete their Level 4 in 2024. Commenting on the award, CEO Kevin Tunnicliffe, said: “We are delighted to be ranked 24th in the Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers 2023. This is a huge accolade and one we are very proud of. At Sort Legal, we are keen to develop, train and provide our employees with not only a role, but a career to be proud of. This award celebrates the effort everyone has put into our recruitment strategy so far. “We believe in empowering every individual to achieve their full potential and will continue to deliver opportunities for the city’s apprentices in the future,” added Kevin. Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, added: “I want to congratulate and thank all the businesses that made the 2023 rankings. “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for people of all ages and background to earn while they learn, whilst ensuring employers develop the pipeline of skilled professionals they need to grow and thrive. “These rankings highlight the huge range of apprenticeship opportunities right across the country, from renewable energy projects to video game design, and marine navigation. “As a degree apprentice myself, I am passionate about ensuring more people can access the same opportunity I did – and I’m delighted that our 2023 rankings help us showcase the best of the best in apprenticeships.” Sort Legal was launched in 2017 and provides quality legal services to clients wishing to buy, sell or remortgage their homes. Sort Legal is a branch of Sort Group, which also includes SortRefer and Sort Move.

Contractor Clegg Group celebrates Nottinghamshire Day with milestone

Michael Fisher
-
0
Contractor Clegg Group celebrates Nottinghamshire Day with milestone
A nearly 100-year-old company that has spent a quarter of its life in Nottingham is celebrating Nottinghamshire Day by reflecting on the past 25 years in the city. Clegg Group was founded in Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, in Derbyshire, in 1932 – as D.E. Clegg & Co Ltd. After sustained growth, the company relocated to The Lace Market in Nottingham in 1998 and is this year celebrating being in the city for 25 years, operating as both design and build contractor (Clegg Construction Ltd) and food sector specialists (Clegg Food Projects Ltd). On Nottinghamshire Day (25th August), Clegg Group is reflecting on the way it has helped to shape the city and the county, and the links the company has built with a range of good causes and charities in the area. Key projects delivered by Clegg Construction include the £27m River Crescent apartment development, which is at the forefront of the Trentside regeneration, Center Parcs’ highly sustainable offices and headquarters, situated within Sherwood Energy Village, two state-of-the-art stands (Bridgford Road and Fox Road), floodlights and an electronic scorecard for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club at Trent Bridge, plus a first-class training facility created for Nottingham Forest Football Club. Clegg has developed multiple projects with the city’s universities and also local schools. Its partnership with the University of Nottingham began in 2000 with an extension to the East Midlands Conference Centre and the company is currently on site modernising the university’s historic Florence Boot Hall building – a project that was highly commended in the East Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards. Clegg also delivered the University of Nottingham’s Energy Technology Building – which was awarded the country’s first BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating for an educational building – plus the RIBA Award-winning, BREEAM Excellent Lyth Building recently completed for Nottingham Trent University, as well as a sixth form centre for Rushcliffe Academy in West Bridgford, Victoria House student accommodation in the city centre, and a 191-bed student accommodation scheme on Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst Campus. The company is currently on site at Carlton le Willows Academy. In addition, Clegg Food Projects, which designs and builds specialist manufacturing facilities nationally, has delivered a wide range of schemes in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire over the years, including multiple projects at Pork Farms, including factory extensions, three developments at Northern Foods in Bulwell, including a pizza factory, two projects at Freshcut Foods, plus two schemes at Riverside Bakery, which included a food factory extension and office refurbishment. Clegg Construction Pre-Construction Director, Ross Crowcroft, said: “Clegg Group has a long history in the East Midlands, having been founded more than 90 years ago in Derbyshire. “Today, on Nottinghamshire Day, it’s fitting that we celebrate and look back on the 25 years that we have been based in Nottingham. We are immensely proud of the role we have played in the community – helping to shape the city and the county, and supporting a number of good causes.”

Nottingham’s CPMG Architects appointed to NHS construction framework for the first time

Michael Fisher
-
0
Nottingham’s CPMG Architects appointed to NHS construction framework for the first time
National award-winning architecture and interior design practice CPMG has been appointed to the NHS Shared Business Services’ (NHS SBS) Healthcare Planning, Construction Consultancy and Ancillary Services Framework Agreement. A first for CPMG, this appointment helps to build on the team’s framework portfolio and expand its work for clients in the public sector. The four-year framework agreement has an estimated value of projects worth £1.6 billion and is divided into 11 service-based lots. NHS SBS was created in 2004 by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and is the country’s leading supplier of corporate services to the NHS. NHS SBS procurement routes can also be utilised by any public sector organisation. After a rigorous tender process, CPMG has been appointed to Lot 1: Architectural Services and will be designing construction projects at all RIBA stages and across various regions. CPMG will be one of 70 suppliers on this lot, with access to a project value of around £200 million. Richard Flisher, managing director at CPMG, said: “Securing a place on this framework agreement is a great achievement for the team and will provide a simple pathway for us to be appointed directly by public sector clients. “While this is a new framework for us, our team has vast experience in the public sector and in healthcare specifically, dealing with all manner of healthcare typologies including primary care facilities, extensions and refurbishments within live hospital settings, as well as new facilities at acute hospitals. This includes the recent award-winning hybrid theatre at Royal Derby Hospital.” The work falls in line with many of CPMG’s typical architectural commissions, such as the successful recent AIRC Centre at Cranfield University – this commission was carried out as part of an NHS SBS team led by a consultant on the framework. CPMG excelled in its social value and sustainability submission, subjects which the NHS SBS prioritises, the firm was able to support its commitment to becoming a carbon neutral business by 2029 with evidence of a 49% reduction in its Scope 1,2 & 3 carbon emissions since 2019. In addition, CPMG has achieved EPC ‘A’ on every new build since 2019, is a certified Passivhaus designer having designed the UK’s first commercial Passivhaus building and serving as the designer on 22 BREEAM ‘Excellent’ buildings. Richard said: “This will benefit our growth strategy greatly, particularly in the London and Birmingham studios where the framework can open new markets. It also follows another recent win in our home territory where we secured a re-appointment to the University of Nottingham consultancy framework. We are excited to be part of such a well-established and industry critical framework with NHS SBS and are looking forward to exploring the opportunities and forging new relationships that arise through this.”

Just one week remains to make your nominations for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023!

Tess Egginton
-
0
Just one week remains to make your nominations for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023!
With just one week remaining until nominations close for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, ensure to submit your entries for the annual celebration of the property and construction industry by Thursday 31 August. Scheduled to take place on Thursday 28 September, the Bricks shine a light on the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes. The glittering awards ceremony revealing winners, at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, will also offer the perfect chance to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will additionally feature Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, as keynote speaker. Nominations for the awards are open until Thursday 31 August. To enter your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page:
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:

Lincoln scientists win Wellcome Trust funding to tackle health issues reelated to climate change

Michael Fisher
-
0
Lincoln scientists win Wellcome Trust funding to tackle health issues reelated to climate change
A Lincoln-based team of scientists have achieved first prize in the Wellcome Data Science Ideathon; a competition designed to develop and pitch ideas on how to solve urgent global health challenges using data science. The group of experts from the University of Lincoln, UK, combined their expertise in computer science, environmental behaviour, meteorology, primary and rural health, and deep learning, to develop software for a platform which aims to improve mental health and respiratory-related challenges. By coming first, the team conferred eligibility to receive a Wellcome Trust grant of up to £100,000 to develop a prototype mobile phone application that can monitor methane levels by locale, linked to user demographics, and alert them to any health pathways needed to help them prevent health emergencies. Increasing changes in climate could pose a direct threat to human health – in particular, mental health disorders and respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – recent literature suggests there is a significant increase in the number of people requiring urgent medical attention. Dr Harriet Moore, Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln, said: “Currently, there is not a great deal of research relating to methane emissions and their negative impact on health-related issues. “Our platform aims to bridge this gap and act as a mobile phone application alert system that would notify users on whether they need to use preventative measures to mitigate a decline in existing health conditions, brought about by an increase in methane emissions.” Professor of Primary and Pre-hospital Health Care at the University, Niro Siriwardena, said: “We are becoming increasingly aware of the serious effects of climate and pollution on health, which is now developing into one of the most pressing health issues to face the UK and the rest of the world. “This study led by Dr Harriet Moore is a fantastic opportunity for geographers, rural health, health improvement, and computer scientists at the University of Lincoln, in collaboration with academic partners at the University of Ghana, to contribute to our understanding of this problem and its potential solutions.” The team will continue to develop and refine the prototype, acknowledging the numerous ethical and global considerations before being released for general use.
1...448449450...992Page 449 of 992