- Reserve your free place at https://bit.ly/GrowthHubCelebration
From kitchen table to the world! Urban Apothecary founder to share her business journey
Beauty industry stalwart Tajinder Banwait will describe the journey of her fragrance company from kitchen table to international audience during a special event celebrating local businesses.
Urban Apothecary started life in Leicester in 2012, going on to supply the likes of The Conran Shop, Selfridges, Fenwick and 30 international markets.
Tajinder, honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise last year in recognition of excellence in international trade, will describe how she did it during a keynote speech next month.
And she will tell fellow business owners how she worked with the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub during the development of Urban Apothecary.
You can register now to attend the free event, which will bring together businesses from across the city and county to acknowledge success among firms supported by the Growth Hub over the last four years.
The special event, which takes place at the Holiday Inn, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester, from 9.30am to 2.00pm on June 23, will also guide business leaders towards support which is currently available.
Existing services will change from July 1, with the conclusion of four years of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) support provided to the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub.
Since autumn 2019, more than 100 businesses have received a total of more than £1.8m in capital grants. Meanwhile, the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub has provided almost 5,000 hours of intensive business advice to 414 small and medium-sized businesses.
The existing service is run in partnership by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, the East Midlands Chamber and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).
Although the European funding will end on June 30, the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub will continue to signpost to local, regional and national support available to the Leicestershire business community.
Sonia Baigent, LLEP Board Member and Chair of the LLEP Business Board, said: “The landscape might be changing when it comes to European funding, but there is still a wealth of support on offer and the Growth Hub is well-placed to steer businesses to what they need to succeed.
“The Growth Hub team are extremely experienced in signposting local businesses towards advice, new markets, and investment – as we will hear at the event next month.”
Those attending the event will gain tips on business growth, and make connections with support providers during a mini-expo of service providers.
They will also be able to network with other business owners and entrepreneurs over a complimentary buffet lunch.
Places are limited and early booking is recommended.
Mechanical & electrical building services firm to be wound up
Northampton mechanical & electrical building services firm Ambivent Limited is being wound up after 33 years of trading.
The business’s Board of Directors had been working with proposed administrators, Begbies Traynor, to explore the options available for the business, including seeking a buyer for the company. This search was being handled by Eddisons Commercial Limited.
The collapse impacts Ambivent Limited only, and does not affect the other companies in Ambivent Group, including Ambivent Facilities Management Limited, which remain profitable businesses.
A statement from Ambivent Limited says: “Today Thursday 18th May 2023 we make the hardest of decisions to wind up Ambivent Ltd after 33 years of trading. Having been a family and home to all our brilliant staff it is sad to let so many of you go your separate ways, but we wish you well on the next chapter of your careers.
“We thank our loyal clients and supply chain for your service, friendship, and dedication throughout the years.
“The Ambivent Group lives on via Ambivent Facilities Management and continues to offer Service & Maintenance, Breakdowns & Repairs, and small works M&E projects.”
Showcase outstanding property and construction firms at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
With the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 picking up pace, showcase your business, team and projects by submitting an entry for the esteemed event.
The awards celebrate 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.
Shine the spotlight on your team, reward their efforts, and boost morale.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region.
The event will also feature Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, as keynote speaker.
To be held at:
After winning two awards at the 2022 event, William Crooks, Managing Director of Cawarden, said: “It was fantastic for Cawarden to be presented with not one but two prestigious awards at this year’s Bricks Awards. We received the Contractor of the Year title for the second year in a row, which is absolutely fantastic to be recognised again for our project and service delivery expertise.
“Despite the challenging landscape, we’ve had an exceptional year, achieving sustainable growth whilst delivering a diverse range of projects for some of the UK’s leading clients. To then pick up the Responsible Business of the Year title was the icing on the cake. We’re committed to improving the image of the industry, and we strive to raise the bar for our people, the planet, and the community. To receive an award for our recent achievements is wonderful.
“A big thank you to the judges and congratulations must also go to all the other award finalists and winners. The event was a real showcase for the regional property and construction sector, and we are more than proud to be part of it!”
To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
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
- Overall winner
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – 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 County Cricket Club 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:
Totally secures multiple contract extensions totalling £12m
Totally plc, a Derby-based provider of frontline healthcare services, corporate fitness and wellbeing services across the UK and Ireland, has secured multiple contract extensions for a range of urgent care services delivered across the North of England and the Midlands valued in total at £12 million.
The contract extensions vary in length between six and 12 month periods and cover a range of urgent care services including NHS 111, GP OOH and Clinical Assessment Services (CAS) in Staffordshire, Yorkshire and Northumberland.
Wendy Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer of Totally, said: “We have been providing NHS 111, GP OOH and CAS services across Staffordshire and the North East for more than 10 years and I am delighted that we can continue to deliver these essential services.
“Contract extensions make an important contribution to future revenue by securing the continuation of existing contracts beyond their original term. This demonstrates the strength of our relationships with commissioners and the quality of services we deliver.”
Oncimmune sells subsidiaries for £13m
Oncimmune Holdings, the Nottingham life sciences group, has sold its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Oncimmune Limited (including the CE-marked IVD EarlyCDT Lung blood test, antibody platform and research and development pipeline) and Oncimmune Europe GmbH to Freenome Holdings for £13m.
Oncimmune will continue to operate its ImmunoINSIGHTS business, primarily through its subsidiary Oncimmune Germany GmbH.
Freenome is a US-based private biotechnology company with a comprehensive multiomics platform for the early detection and early intervention of cancer using a standard blood draw.
This acquisition of Oncimmune Limited will complement Freenome’s frontline screening efforts, both clinically and commercially. Oncimmune Limited’s pipeline of autoantibody targets for other cancer indications will augment Freenome’s multiomics platform with additional non-tumor-derived signals.
Dr Adam M Hill, CEO of Oncimmune, said: “We are delighted to pass the EarlyCDT technology platform and pipeline of autoantibody targets for other cancer indications to Freenome to advance Freenome’s multi-cancer early detection screening pipeline.
“We have confidence that in their hands and with our teams’ expertise, the full potential of the technology will be unlocked to the benefit of patients. Having now completed the sale, the group will focus on driving profitable growth in our ImmunoINSIGHTS pharma services business.
“Signing the MSA between ImmunoINSIGHTS and Freenome also adds Freenome as a new major client alongside 7 of the top 15 global pharma companies who use the ImmunoINSIGHTS platform.”
Mike Nolan, Chief Executive Officer of Freenome, said: “Oncimmune and Freenome share a deep commitment to patients and this acquisition is consistent with Freenome’s holistic solution to cancer detection.
“Oncimmune’s track record of translating innovative technologies into mainstream clinical use, now being integrated with Freenome’s platform and team, strengthens our multiomics approach to make an even greater impact for patients across a range of indications.”
Monthly fall in corporate insolvencies as businesses await impact of rising interest rates
A month-on-month fall in the number of corporate insolvencies in England and Wales is not an accurate reflection of the current tough trading conditions, with rising interest rates likely to be another blow for struggling businesses later this year.
This is according to the Midlands branch of the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 and comes on the back of figures published [16/5/23] by the Insolvency Service which show that corporate insolvencies decreased by 31.8% in April 2023 to a total of 1,685 compared to March’s total of 2,471, and by 15.2% compared to April 2022’s figure of 1,988.
Despite this, corporate insolvency levels increased by 82.2% from April 2021’s total of 925 and by 18.2% from pre-pandemic levels in April 2019 (1,426).
R3 Midlands chair Stephen Rome, director of law firm Thursfields in the region, said: “Despite the monthly fall in corporate insolvency figures, total numbers are still above pre-pandemic levels. The key reason for this is that Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations are higher than they were in 2019.
“After three years of disturbed trading and a choppy economy, it’s clear that directors have simply had enough or have realised the time is right to shut down their companies while the choice is still theirs to make.
“The business climate is still tough. Firms right across the supply chain are trying to manage increased costs without passing this on to their customers, and with inflation remaining sticky, this is likely to become ever more challenging as the year progresses.
“We are also waiting to see the real impact of rising interest rates, and may not see their cumulative impact until later in the year when fixed term credit arrangements end. Potentially, businesses could face a credit cost shock just as inflation is predicted to ease, leading to a one step forward and two steps back situation, rather than a sustained improvement in the trading climate.
“Given the climate, it is crucial for business owners to be alert to the symptoms of corporate distress and to seek advice from a qualified source if there is any significant sign of trouble.
“Increasing stock levels, decreasing cashflow and struggles to pay rent, bills, taxes or staff all indicate that it’s time to seek appropriate support. Doing so as early as possible will give more potential solutions than acting only when the problem becomes more severe.”
Mitchells appoints first female equity partner
Laura Pain has been appointed as an equity partner at Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers – the first female equity partner in the company’s 155-year history.
A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), Laura has been with the Chesterfield-based accountancy firm since 2008 and became an associate partner in 2021. She now joins fellow equity partners Tim Leeman, Tony Hornsby and Andrew McDaid in leading the business.
She said: “Becoming an equity partner coincides with my fifteenth year with the firm, making it an incredibly special milestone for me. I am honoured to be the first female equity partner at Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers.”
As equity partner, Laura will continue to lead the firm’s team of digital accountants who specialise in advising start-ups and small businesses leverage the power of Cloud Accounting to automate their business processes and reduce costs.
Laura brings extensive experience to her role at Mitchells, boasting a 23-year career in accountancy.
Her appointment as equity partner recognises her contribution and leadership within the business. Senior partner Tim Leeman said: “Tony, Andrew and I are delighted that Laura is now an equity partner. Her experience and passion for the business and clients is very much valued and will be instrumental in helping us grow the business further.”
Laura added: “I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of Mitchells in the years to come.”
East Midlands business owners step up employee support in cost of living crisis
Business owners in the East Midlands have been stepping in to support their employees as the cost of living continues to put financial pressure on individuals, according to new research from Rathbones.
Research indicates that 30% of business owners in the East Midlands have provided their employees with regular financial support, while a further 20% have given a one-off lump sum to their staff to help with rising costs.
Inflation soared again in February by 10.4%, and with the cost of everyday groceries the main driver, many households are feeling the strain on their finances. Some business owners have therefore stepped in to support.
This is despite many businesses, and in particular SMEs, also facing a significant uptick in costs, supply chain issues and the tailing down of the Energy Bills Support Scheme this month.
Nationally, 43% of business owners have offered regular financial support to their employees, with those in the East of England the most generous to staff with three quarters reporting to have offered regular financial support in the last six months. Business owners in the North West (50%) and those in Greater London (42%) have also been providing considerable regular monetary support to their employees.
More widely, Rathbones’ research found that higher earners across the UK have also been stepping in to support their loved ones. Almost half (48%) of high net worth individuals in the East Midlands have helped their children or grandchildren over the last six months with regular financial support for bills, with a further 20% having provided a one-off cash payment. Many have also been regularly supporting extended family members such as aunts, uncles, and cousins (38%) and their close friends (32%).
Ian Tansley, Regional Director at Rathbones, said: “It is in challenging times where you feel the benefits of having your community the most. With times tough for many individuals, it’s encouraging to see so many business owners stepping in to support their employees. Whether it’s regular financial support or a one-off payment, the help provided by business owners or higher earners will make a real difference in many people’s lives.
“However, it’s vital that business owners are also protecting their businesses and their personal finances throughout this time too. With limited support for SMEs currently available, many could see their costs rise significantly in the coming months. SMEs account for 99.9% of the UK business population and play an important role both as an employer across the UK and to our economy. Ensuring your business is equipped to handle whatever comes next is therefore important.”
Contractor search continues for redevelopment of Matlock’s former Market Hall as second tender exercise concludes without appointment
The conversion of Matlock’s former Market Hall into a two-screen cinema has hit a new hurdle after a second tender exercise concluded without a contractor appointment.
Derbyshire Dales District Council says this reflects “the significant challenge of delivering the proposed scheme within the current volatile construction market, which is impacted by high cost inflation.”
Derbyshire Dales District Council went out to tender in November 2022 and again in February this year after securing planning permission and completing the detailed design for the proposed development.
This key regeneration project also includes enclosing part of the existing bus bay area to provide a new food & beverage/retail unit, enhanced public realm and new public transport arrangements.
An officer from the District Council’s Regeneration & Place Team said: “Following evaluation, unfortunately the second tender exercise has concluded without a contractor appointment, illustrating the significant challenge of delivering the proposed scheme within the current volatile construction market, which is impacted by high cost inflation.
“The positive news is that both the team at the District Council and the proposed cinema operator remain committed to working together to pursue this scheme for Matlock.
“Options, including more value engineering of the scheme and revisiting the programme with a view to a further tender or other procurement exercise in the near future, are currently under review. A further update will be provided in due course.”
An officer from the District Council’s Regeneration & Place Team said: “Following evaluation, unfortunately the second tender exercise has concluded without a contractor appointment, illustrating the significant challenge of delivering the proposed scheme within the current volatile construction market, which is impacted by high cost inflation.
“The positive news is that both the team at the District Council and the proposed cinema operator remain committed to working together to pursue this scheme for Matlock.
“Options, including more value engineering of the scheme and revisiting the programme with a view to a further tender or other procurement exercise in the near future, are currently under review. A further update will be provided in due course.” Gove visits future Mansfield Connect hub following successful Levelling Up bid
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, was in Mansfield yesterday (Thursday 18 May).
Mr Gove came to Mansfield to hear directly from local leaders about their ambitions to transform the town’s former Beales building into ‘Mansfield Connect’.
The visit follows an announcement in January, which saw Mansfield District Council successful in its bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for £20m to regenerate the site.
The ring-fenced funding will see the old retail building in the town centre revitalised into a multi-agency hub – Mansfield Connect – that will house key partners in the district and become a one-stop shop for residents to access key services.
Following the whistle-stop tour around the future hub, the minister then held a working lunch with council representatives, the Mayor and local stakeholders, including Mansfield BID and the Place Board, to discuss the challenges and opportunities through the forthcoming Levelling Up Partnership.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, said: “One of the reasons I’m here today is to see how the Levelling Up Funding, the £20m secured to transform the Beales building site, is being spent.
“Levelling Up means giving a town like Mansfield, which has a great heritage and a town in which its residents take enormous pride, it’s giving it a vote of confidence from the central Government. It’s giving it the extra cash required in order to attract high-paying jobs. One of the challenges we have got in this country is that in the past previous Government’s have tended to put their investment in London and the South East; we want to make sure the East Midlands plays its full part in the economic life of the country.
“Today’s visit confirms that the £20m we’re spending will help transform this site and give the town centre that hub that it needs. New jobs, new investment from the public and private sector.”
The Mansfield Connect scheme forms a vital part of the council’s ambitious long-term town centre regeneration plans, and it is hoped the repurposing of the building will then have a knock-on effect, stimulating the local economy and encouraging private-sector investment into the wider Mansfield district.
Executive Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, said: “Today gave us the opportunity to highlight our vision and aspirations for the heart of our town centre in Mansfield, as well as the economic challenges we face too.
“We are unable to bring about regeneration change alone. We need funding, support and partnerships to make the very most of the opportunities afforded to us through initiatives such as the Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund to help further encourage inward private investment to Mansfield.”
Upon leaving Mansfield, the Secretary of State then went on to visit Infinity Park in Derby to discuss the upcoming devolution deal for the region and the possibility of Investment Zones.
