Mansfield District Council has appointed Nottinghamshire-based fire and security system specialists Tecserv UK to provide maintenance and compliance services across all public access buildings within its portfolio. Under the agreement, Tecserv UK, which has its head office in Underwood, will carry out a programme of fire risk assessments and system upgrades across a range of sites, including the Civic Centre and the Old Town Hall. This will involve the installation or replacement of fire extinguishers, access control systems, intruder alarms, and emergency lighting. The company will also provide ongoing maintenance and inspections to ensure full compliance with fire safety regulations. Liam Clifford, national sales manager at Tecserv UK, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Mansfield District Council to help protect the people and properties within their care. “As a local business, we’re proud to contribute to the safety of our community by delivering compliant, reliable fire and security systems. Our experienced engineers and support teams are committed to providing the highest standards of service and expertise.” Portfolio holder for corporate and finance, councillor Craig Whitby, added: “Whilst cost and value are important factors, we cannot underestimate the economic benefits of making the very most of local skills and services. “Tecserv UK was able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of our requirements and has demonstrated to us that they have a trusted reputation of providing reliable services to public organisations and high-profile buildings.”

With nominations OPEN until Friday 15th August for East Midlands Business Link’s 10th annual Bricks Awards, shining a light on the region’s property and construction industry, there are 10 categories available to enter, offering an opportunity to showcase outstanding businesses, teams and projects at the prestigious event. One such category is the ever-popular Contractor of the Year, which can be entered here. It’s completely free to submit a nomination and making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the awards ceremony. Celebrating the contractors who work on the project, this award celebrates builders, construction companies and the contractors themselves, and nominees should be those who have gone above and beyond the word of the contract to deliver a truly exceptional service. Last year the award was won by Clegg Construction, beating out stiff competition from Cawarden and Winvic. Upon winning, Michael Sims, Managing Director at Clegg Construction, said: “Clegg is a 92-year-old company whose head office has been based in Nottingham city centre for over 25 years, and we are so proud to have been recognised at this year’s Bricks Awards for our contributions to the built environment in the East Midlands region. We dedicate this award to our teams and partners, whose unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional service on each of the projects we deliver is fundamental to the company’s continued success.” With this year’s Contractor of the Year award sponsored by environmental consultancy EMEC, Ed Tripp, Consultancy Director at EMEC, said: “We’re proud to once again sponsor the ‘Contractor of the Year’ category at the Bricks Awards, which continues to be a fantastic celebration of the region’s construction and property sectors. “Last year’s event was a brilliant showcase of talent, innovation and collaboration, and we thoroughly enjoyed connecting with so many like-minded professionals who are helping shape the future of our built environment. “At EMEC, we work closely with contractors across a wide range of projects, so it’s a real pleasure to help shine a spotlight on those delivering excellence on site. As an environmental consultancy, we believe it’s vital for contractors to take a responsible and forward-thinking approach to sustainability, and this year’s winner will be someone who goes above and beyond to embrace biodiversity within their developments. “We’re looking forward to another inspiring evening and encourage all within the industry to get their nominations in—it’s a great opportunity to recognise hard work, dedication and impact across the industry.” Submit your nominations for Contractor of the Year here, before entries close on Friday 15th August.

Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 2nd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground (4:30pm – 7:30pm) – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region, and hear from keynote speaker Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands. Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active 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, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here. The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 will also receive a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.  

The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Tickets: Available here Dress code: Standard business attire Thanks to our sponsors:                                                                        

To be held at:

A strategic partnership between Network Rail, Freshwave, and Neos Networks aims to improve the UK’s rail telecoms network by eliminating signal blackspots and modernising the infrastructure. Neos Networks will be responsible for deploying 1,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable along key railway lines, including the East Coast Main Line, Chiltern Main Line, and West Coast Main Line. The initiative will also commercialise spare fibre capacity, creating a robust digital connectivity backbone for businesses. The partners have plans to extend this network to over 5,000 kilometres in the future.

The collaboration addresses the growing demand for high-performance digital infrastructure, driven by factors such as AI growth and data centre capacity. Freshwave will address signal gaps by deploying mobile infrastructure in 57 tunnels along major rail routes, including the 4 km-long Chipping Sodbury tunnel. Mobile connectivity will also be enhanced at 12 key stations, such as Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central, and King’s Cross, with installations expected to begin in 2026.

These upgrades are crucial for improving Network Rail’s asset monitoring capabilities and enabling advanced technologies like trackside sensors and CCTV. The enhanced network is expected to bring long-term economic benefits, contributing to the UK’s digital future and supporting the formation of Great British Railways.