East Midlands Chamber ready to support businesses hit by Storm Babet floods
Businesses in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire affected by Storm Babet have been urged to contact East Midlands Chamber.
Major incidents have been declared by local authorities in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire following severe floods that have damaged hundreds of properties and closed numerous roads since Friday.
The chamber of commerce’s information team, which can be contacted by calling 0333 320 0333, can provide advice to businesses – whether or not they are Chamber members – on what they can do and where support is available in their local area.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “Major floods like we’ve seen during Storm Babet can cause huge anguish for business owners, but it’s important they know they aren’t alone and support is available.
“Our information team has already provided key advice to some businesses in our region since the floods hit at the end of last week, and we would urge anyone who would benefit from speaking to a friendly voice to get in touch.”
Some local authorities, including Derby City Council, have also asked employers in the area to encourage employees to work from home where possible to minimise traffic while a clean-up operation is carried out.
Scott added: “During an emergency like this, we are all in it together and there are small steps businesses may be able to take to offer their support, such as through encouraging staff to work from home, where this is possible, for a temporary period.
“It’s also important that all parties – such as local authorities, emergency services, central Government and other local stakeholders – co-ordinate effectively during the clean-up to help everyone get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”
Supply chain disruption remains thorn in the side for Midlands businesses
Supply chain disruption remains one of the biggest challenges facing Midlands businesses, as companies gear up for end of year trading.
According to BDO LLP’s bi-monthly Economic Engine survey of 500 mid-market businesses, more than a quarter of Midlands companies (29%) have ranked supply chain pressures as one of their top challenges, with issues such as folding suppliers, stock shortages, and rising costs topping the list.
The survey by the accountancy and business advisory firm found that along with supply chain issues, companies are still worried about energy bills, with 65% of businesses in the Midlands more concerned about rising energy costs this year than they were last year.
Kyla Bellingall, Head of BDO in the Midlands, said: “The economic landscape remains fraught with difficulties for Midlands businesses, as they continue to grapple with supply chain, customer spending, and business cost issues.
“While we have seen positive progress on inflation, with the Bank of England responding in turn, the pace of change is not enough for many, with other external factors exacerbating the problems being faced by businesses.
“As a result, many are calling on the Government for more support in areas such as accessing new talent, support to enable them to invest in new technology, and more specific measures around improvements to the business banking market. Clearly more needs to be done in the eyes of Midlands businesses.”
However, despite the pressures being faced by regional companies, businesses have a firm eye on priorities for the next six months, as they attempt to readdress the balance. According to BDO’s Economic Engine survey, a third of Midlands businesses intend to invest in efficiency, such as automation and AI, 29% are focusing on onshoring more or all of their supply chain, while 25% plan to manage price rises by passing on the cost to customers.
Midlands businesses are also taking a proactive approach to recruitment over the next six months, with 35% investing in more diverse hiring practices, such as apprenticeships and targeting different schools and universities. What’s more, a quarter of companies (25%) are offering additional benefits to attract new recruits, including permanent remote working, subsidised travel, and childcare vouchers.
Bellingall added: “Time and again we see so many examples of businesses across the region refusing to lie down and be beaten by the bruising economic headwinds. Unsurprisingly, more than a quarter of Midlands companies (27%) feel confident about the current business and economic environment and have a solid strategy in place to overcome challenges and future-proof their business.
“There’s little doubt that this approach will be crucial in the months to come as companies contend with ongoing pressures, with many looking at specific initiatives around attracting the younger generation into the workplace and responding to new channels opening across various sectors.”
Medilink Midlands appoints Christian Kumar Entrepreneur in Residence
The Chief Executive Officer of Medtech Makers Lab, Christian Kumar, has been appointed Entrepreneur in Residence for Medilink Midlands.
Christian brings his extensive experience in corporate finance, investment banking and wealth management, gained over three decades of dedicated involvement in driving strategic growth for various enterprises to bear to help support the ambitions of Medilink Midlands members as they strive to commercialise their own innovations.
Christian said: “The Entrepreneur in Residence programme is designed to facilitate innovation, providing support and a tactical roadmap for innovators in the Midlands.”
He adds: “I’m delighted to be engaging with Medilink Midlands and only too pleased to be able to put my knowledge and experience to excellent use.”
Throughout his career, Christian has honed a profound understanding of strategic growth across diverse sectors and is proud to have played a pioneering role in developing “demand-based” business modelling.
Christian has thrived in the dynamic realms of Corporate Finance and Investment Banking, evident by his impressive portfolio encompassing six companies and over 22 investments across sectors such as Leisure, Med Tech, Construction, and Energy.
Currently, he is actively engaged in supporting universities and governmental bodies in devising strategic inbound investment initiatives. His role involves shaping comprehensive expansion strategies that harmonise with their overarching goals, fostering growth and innovation within these institutions.
“Christian’s enthusiasm, drive, experience, expertise and connections make him an ideal fit in helping to support Medilink Midlands members. His experience, networks and advice will help our members navigate the complexities in commercialising their innovations. Christian will be invaluable in helping to link suppliers, academia, and innovators and, where possible, seek funding from private investors at a time when government funding is getting increasingly more difficult to come by,” says CEO, Melanie Davidson.
She adds: “Despite the recent £650million investment growth package by the Government for the UK’s life sciences sector, funding remains a highly competitive area so it’s incumbent on organisations such as Medilink Midlands to think creatively in how we offer and deliver support and opportunities to our members.”
New tenants to be announced as Derbyshire industrial scheme reaches practical completion
A new industrial scheme in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, has reached practical completion, with the first in a series of lettings set to be announced.Pent-up demand for quality industrial space has brought forward five new industrial units at the Stanton Forge development.The speculative scheme, by local company D M Hartshorn Investments, follows a successful first phase on Littlewell Lane at the business park, which was completed in 2016.David Hartshorn from D M Hartshorn Investments said: “It’s great to see this second development complete and new tenants getting ready to move in. We are in the process of obtaining planning permission for a third phase on the site.”Each of the five 1,383 sq ft units at Stanton Forge’s second phase have been available on new leases through NG Chartered Surveyors.Richard Sutton, Managing Director at NG Chartered Surveyors, said: “It’s no surprise that the second phase of Stanton Forge is proving so popular. When we launched the first phase we had over 60 enquiries for the units and agreed disposal terms on all of them before they were completed and this second phase is following a similar path.”
Budding Derbyshire Lionesses score funding boost from the recruitment sector
A budding group of girl footballers, keen to emulate the likes of Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood, has been given a major boost by the recruitment sector.
Allenton United Under-12s has netted more than £6,250 of sponsorship from recruitment advertisement agency Candidate Source, who has been offering training to members of TEAM (the UK’s largest network of independent recruiters) in return for a £30 donation.
37 companies have taken part so far in the courses that are designed to help teach them how to write the best possible job adverts, critically important when you consider the current volatility of the labour market.
The funding has been used to buy 9v9 goals, 20 new footballs, a subs bench, equipment, away strips and clothing for the management team, as the ambitious team look to claim top spot in Division 2 of the Derbyshire Girls and Ladies League.
In order to boost team spirit, the money has also been channelled into fun evenings and days out for the players (bowling, mini golf, laser quest and Oxygen trampoline park), whilst also creating Christmas and Easter ‘goodie bags’.
“This is great way to start the season and has given the team a major boost,” explained Carly Croft, who has been a manager of Allenton United for the last three years.
“The new kits really look the business and, importantly, we also have additional training gear, coats and snoods that will be needed when the usual UK winter kicks in.”
She went on to add: “It’s going to be a big season for us. We’ve been together now for three years, and the girls are ambitious to play at the highest level – after a very promising pre-season we’re setting our sights on promotion to the top division.
“Our players have been inspired by the Lionesses’ outstanding performances at the World Cup and, thanks to Candidate Source and TEAM members, we now have all the equipment we need to help give our players the chance to turn their dreams into a reality.”
Allenton United celebrates its 20th year as a football club in 2023 and has seen interest in the ladies’ game increase massively.
It has gone from having just one female team to boasting multiple sides, including an adult team, four juniors and a ‘Wildcat’ system that gives young girls who have never played the ‘beautiful game’ the opportunity to have fun and learn basic skills.
The Under 12s have had a good start to the season, winning their first two games and scoring ten goals in one of the matches.
Michelle Davies, founder of Coleshill-based Candidate Source, added her support: “The recruitment sector is a competitive market, so it’s great to see companies involved in the industry coming together to support the communities they operate in.
“With the Lionesses capturing national headlines in the World Cup, we thought now would be the perfect time to support the next ‘Lauren Hemp’, ‘Lauren James’ and ‘Alessia Russo’ by helping fund a grassroots football team.”
She went on to add: “Allenton United has a fantastic community spirit and are doing a lot of work on the ground to get girls into football, so we thought they would be the perfect club.”
Gilson Gray grows Lincoln property team with new partner
Full-service legal firm Gilson Gray has bolstered its residential property division in Lincoln with the appointment of new partner Cherie McBean.
Cherie joins Gilson Gray from one of the North East’s largest firms, where she spent almost seven years as a residential property solicitor and most recently as part of the senior management team. Her new role involves leading the 100-strong team at Gilson Gray’s Lincoln branch and helping to develop its people and processes.
Cherie will manage the team alongside Gary Tyman who was the head of Home Property Lawyers (HPL) prior to its acquisition by Gilson Gray over a year ago.
Cherie McBean said: “Gilson Gray is the perfect fit in terms of its cultural values and ambition. The property market is incredibly competitive in terms of client expectations, and embracing advances in technology will be key to streamlining the conveyancing process and improving customer experiences.
“My goal is to help retain the firm’s position as market leader and drive the property team forward as we deliver a personal and dedicated service for our clients.”
Debbie McCathie, partner and head of residential conveyancing at Gilson Gray, said: “Cherie is a very talented lawyer, and offers the perfect blend of skills that will further strengthen our residential conveyancing offering.
“Having a UK-wide footprint is becoming increasingly important for top-tier law firms and we have ambitious plans to expand further across the country, building on our full-service approach to support clients in the English property market.”
Glen Gilson, managing partner and chairman at Gilson Gray, said: “Our move into England was somewhat contra trend for the Scottish sector and has proven to be a valuable strategic move. Our English operation has expanded multifold from the original footprint acquired and the appointment of talent such as Cherie underpins our commitment to this market and client base.”
160 affordable homes to be delivered in Sleaford
A significant number of affordable properties are to be delivered in Sleaford, where Platform Housing Group will work alongside Miller Homes on bringing 160 homes to the site at the Handley Chase Sustainable Urban Extension.
For the group, the agreement represents another successful land deal to be added to its ambitious pipeline, supporting the commitment to start work on over 1,300 homes across the Midlands in the year April 2022 to March 2023.
Kate Ellison, Platform’s director of land, partnerships and business development, said: “We’re delighted with this latest agreement to provide more affordable homes and the solid foundations they will bring for the people that go on to live in them. The development is proof once again that we can deliver the solutions that local partners need to solve their housing issues.
“I’m also proud of the team for securing such a significant number of opportunities in the past couple of months against the backdrop of the challenges facing the housing and constructions sectors as Platform continues our ambition to keep building homes. My thanks go to the teams involved in securing the deal and our partners at Miller Homes.”
Overall, some 1,450 homes will be built for Sleaford, with this new diverse community also hosting a convenience store, a new school, playing fields and a 67-bed retirement home.
Matt Carroll, senior land manager at Platform, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Platform Housing Group to continue building on our excellent working relationship with Miller Homes.
“As ever, this deal would not have been possible without our trusted consultant team, with Gabor Taller at Browne Jacobson, Greg James at WP Housing and Jon Adams at Tetlow King all providing essential support. An extra mention should also be made for our partners at North Kesteven District Council for their proactive and pragmatic support throughout the process so far.”
Stephanie Parker, land manager for Miller Homes, said: “It has been good to once again work in partnership with Platform Housing Group on this site within the East Midlands. It has given us a great opportunity to deliver 160 homes that will in part help address the housing shortage in the area.”
Subject to planning approval, work is anticipated to start on the site in the Spring of 2024.
200 Degrees Coffee CEO named one of UK’s top 50 most ambitious business leaders
Rob Darby, CEO and co-founder of 200 Degrees Coffee, has been named one of The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2023.
Created by investment partner LDC – part of Lloyds Banking Group, and supported by The Times, The LDC Top 50 champions the business leaders who are pushing for growth and building successful medium-sized businesses.
The leaders featured in The LDC Top 50 are growing their businesses at home and overseas, making a positive contribution to society and driving progress against their sustainability goals. They hail from every corner of the UK and span every sector of the economy. Together, they employ more than 6,700 people and turn over more than £1.2bn.
Rob and his business partner Tom Vincent founded 200 Degrees in 2012, after struggling to find great coffee to serve in their bistros. They set up their roastery opposite Notts County Football Stadium, which is where they continue to roast today.
Over the last 11 years, the roaster has opened 20 distinctive coffee shops across England and Wales with dedicated Barista schools at seven of its locations.
The business has won multiple awards for its coffee, team culture and leadership, and continues to expand all elements of the business, which include wholesale, ecommerce and a home subscription service.
At the heart of 200 Degrees is its 300+ team.
Rob said: “We’ve created a true point of difference with the quality of our coffee at 200 Degrees and that’s down to our skilled team. They continue to innovate and evolve to ensure our customer experience remains high and constant.
“Being included in The LDC Top 50 has been an opportunity to look back at how far we have come as a company, and to be included amongst so many incredible leaders has been humbling and a real highlight, but I didn’t do this on my own, so I want to dedicate this acknowledgment to the whole 200 Degrees team.”
John Garner, managing partner at LDC, added: “We started The LDC Top 50 six years ago to champion the remarkable success stories of medium-sized businesses, the unsung heroes of the British economy.
“Since then, we’ve received more than 3,000 nominations and celebrated more than 500 business leaders through the programme, surpassing all our expectations. Every leader in this year’s cohort has a story as impressive as the next, and I’d like to congratulate them on their achievements so far. We can’t wait to see where they go from here!”
Leicester firm fined thousands for failing to clean up land
A company has been given a hefty fine by magistrates after failing to ensure a clean-up of an eyesore section of land in Earl Shilton.
Building waste, general rubbish and other mess was left on the land behind the former King William IV pub in The Hollow, Earl Shilton for more than a year. People living around the site complained the mess was encouraging others to fly tip in the area and that it was attracting anti-social behaviour.
The owner of the land was Regis Development Group Limited of St. Matthews Business Centre, Leicester. The directors of the company ignored several council demands to clean up the land, and the company has now been ordered to pay a £10,000 fine by Leicester Magistrates.
The court heard Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council was first made aware of the problem by people living around the site in August 2022. After Regis Development ignored informal advice, Officers from the Clean Neighbourhood team subsequently served the first Community Protection Notice (under Section 43 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing act 2014) on the landowner on 1 December 2022. The Notice required Regis Development to clear the mess by 6th January 2023, but this was repeatedly ignored, and the mess remained.
The case was heard at Leicester Magistrates’ Court last week (18 October). The court heard how the mess has impacted those living in the surrounding neighbourhood and that Regis Development had repeatedly failed to respond to demands to clear up the mess.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s Executive Member for Parks, Open Spaces and Neighbourhood Services, Councillor Lynda Hodgkins, said: “This land was left in an unacceptable state, and this can have a negative impact on nearby homes and businesses.
“The director of the company was given ample opportunities to clear it up but chose to ignore those warnings which left the council with no option other than to prosecute the company. We will not hesitate to take action in these circumstances to protect others from the misery this can cause.”
Business tax receipts up 22% in first six months
Overall receipts from business taxes in the six month period from April to September 2023 jumped by 22% year-on-year to £43.3bn, £7.7bn higher than the same period last year, according to new figures published by HMRC.
The huge rise in business tax receipts is largely due to the increase in the headline rate of corporation tax which came into force from April 2023, but HMRC also pointed to growth in company profits as a reason behind the rise.
Corporation tax receipts alone for the first six months rose to £39.5bn, up 17% from £33.7bn in the same period last year.
Overall tax receipts in the first six months were up 6.2% year-on-year.
The latest public sector finances data revealed that public sector net debt was £2,599.0 billion at the end of September 2023, provisionally estimated at around 97.8% of the UK’s annual gross domestic product (GDP). This is 2.1 percentage points higher than in September 2022.
Commenting on the latest figures Paul Falvey, a tax partner at BDO, said: “Today’s figures illustrate the extent to which businesses have been impacted by the recent rise in corporation tax.
“The chancellor has made it clear that he would like to see the tax burden on businesses reduce but given the state of the public finances and the likelihood of interest rates remaining high for some time, there is little prospect of this at the Autumn Statement.
“Businesses are likely to reluctantly accept that tax rates may need to stay high for some time, but they will hope that the government invests in improving HMRC’s service levels. The current poor response times and delays in modernising the tax administration system are proving a drag on business efficiency and ultimately will impair UK competitiveness.”
