Warsop Health Hub and Mansfield Woodhouse Station Gateway plans given green light

Tess Egginton
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Warsop Health Hub and Mansfield Woodhouse Station Gateway plans given green light

Mansfield District Council has received the go-ahead for the Warsop Health Hub and Mansfield Woodhouse Station Gateway, following a delegated decision by the Section 151 Officer at the authority.

The projects will now be shared with the Making Mansfield Place Board for endorsement and once secured, the council can press ahead submitting the required planning applications, appointing contractors and beginning construction works. The Hub and Station Gateway are just two of six projects included in the council’s £12.3m Towns Fund allocation. Berry Hill Park, Destination Mansfield and Smart Mansfield were approved by officers and endorsed by the Place Board members earlier this year. £506,000 of Towns Fund money has been set aside for the Mansfield Woodhouse Station gateway, which includes the creation of three business units. The site where the units will sit is a former brownfield site and lies adjacent to the railway station at Mansfield Woodhouse.
Head of Planning and Regeneration at the council, Martyn Saxton said the vision for the gateway project will “support the growth of businesses in Mansfield and create jobs.” He said: “The Station Gateway scheme will see the delivery of three new build industrial units, complementing the six-unit development already on the site – allowing a wider range of businesses to grow and flourish. “We’ve seen locally there is a healthy demand for small industrial spaces and currently Mansfield has a limited supply. This project will not just deliver positive visual improvements to the currently derelict land, it also offer employment growth in the area. The council is playing an active part in supporting local businesses to get started and help them grow with new and affordable unit space.” The Station Gateway scheme will see the delivery of 290 sqm of commercial floor space. All works are expected to be completed by spring 2023. The full council agreed in March to earmark £1.5m from reserves to part fund the Warsop Health Hub, and also approved the borrowing of up to £3.5m to help deliver the scheme. £3m is allocated to the plan from the Towns Fund, and a bid has been submitted to Sport England for a further £1.5million. The scheme will see a 15m x 8m swimming pool, a changing village, fitness suite, a multi-purpose hall and a new and improved multi-use games area created in the town. David Evans, head of Health and Communities at the council, added: “We are committed to building these new community facilities in Warsop. “We hope to see them transform a huge part of our community and bring improvement to the quality of life for local people. They will also help to address some of the health inequalities that exist in this district. “We have committed our own funding to this scheme as well as Towns Fund money and are hopeful of securing additional funds from Sport England in the near future. “The Warsop Health Hub is now moving forward in the development of its final design with planning permission expected to be secured by March 2023, and works to commence on site later in the year.”

Out of control energy bills are now business threatening for 60% of manufacturers

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Out of control energy bills are now business threatening for 60% of manufacturers
Britain’s manufacturers are warning that their energy costs have already spiralled out of control, with nearly half reporting that their electricity bills have shot up by over 100% in the past 12 months and 53% expect the same fate in the coming year. The current crisis is leaving businesses facing a stark choice – cut production or shut up shop altogether if help does not come soon. A worrying 12% of manufacturers have already made job cuts as a direct result of increased energy bills, but admit that more drastic action such as full shutdowns and wider redundancies will be needed if the expected price hikes of over 50% materialise in the next 12 months. High energy prices are no longer an issue for energy intensive industries only, the impact is being felt across manufacturers of all sectors and sizes. Companies have attempted to mitigate against this with 58% already adjusting business practices to reduce energy consumption by insulating buildings and installing better performing heat systems. And over half have already priced in the increases into their final product. Some 13% are now reducing production for short periods or avoiding production altogether during peak energy price periods, with 7% reducing production already for longer periods in the day. Over a third of firms are actively searching for a new energy provider and two fifths have renegotiated a fixed tariff for the next year. Securing their own energy supply has become a priority for many manufacturers, with over a quarter (27%) of firms surveyed saying they have managed to find the funds and have already moved to onsite generation. One in 10 have redistributed capital from other parts of the business to cover energy costs while 7% have taken on new or further finance to cover rising energy bills. Over seven in ten have seen reduced margins or profits as they struggle to pay the bills, with almost every manufacturer surveyed saying Government is not doing enough to support industry. The UK is currently lagging way behind other EU counterparts who are offering far more emergency help for industry – the Italian Government for example has reduced levies placed on gas and electricity bills, reduced VAT and introduced tax credits for energy intensive industries. To bring the critical help to UK businesses, the new Government urgently needs to take short term, medium term, and long-term action. Short term
  1. Remove Carbon Price Support to reduce electricity costs. For medium electricity users this would save companies almost £90,000 a year
  2. Explore Industry Price Cap to freeze prices at an agreed rate – funded either directly by Government or explore way of working with banks to fund an arrangement to finance a cap
Medium term
  1. Maximise incentives to enable businesses to be less reliant on the National Grid. Extend 100% rates exemption for plant and machinery use in onsite renewable energy generation and electricity storage from 12 months to at least 3 years, more reflective of the payback period of the investment.
  2. Extend business rate relief on commercial building improvements (eg insulation) from 12 months to at least 3 years
Long term
  1. Rapidly reform wholesale market to decouple electricity prices from the gas price
Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, the manufacturers organisation, said: “As energy bills spiral out of control, manufacturers are working tirelessly to find ways to reduce consumption, putting in place as much as they can afford in terms of building improvements and installing renewable sources of energy. “Government must step in to help struggling businesses, cashflow is already stretched to the limit, to pay what are now exorbitant energy bills by supporting sustainable factories and move further away from National Grid reliance. “With an increasing number of manufacturers now in survival mode and taking drastic action such as cutting jobs, emergency action is needed by the new Government as soon as they are inside Number 10. This must see the immediate removal of Carbon Price Support which would at once bring down electricity prices for businesses and the introduction of an Industry Price Cap which could be funded in a variety of ways. “We are already lagging behind our global competitors, and the prolonged lack of action by the UK Government making this worse. UK Manufacturing needs help now if it is to thrive and maintain the millions of well-paid jobs around the whole of the UK and to keep its place as one of the world’s great manufacturing nations.”

Manufacturers call for ‘shock and awe’ Budget to prevent economic scarring

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Manufacturers call for ‘shock and awe’ Budget to prevent economic scarring
Britain’s manufacturers are calling on the Government to bring forward a package of policy measures on the scale of those seen during the worst points of the pandemic to prevent a permanent scarring of the economy and help avert a severe recession, potentially substantial insolvencies and job losses. The call comes on the back of data from Make UK showing the massive impact of rising energy costs on companies, together with the cumulative effect of increases in other business expenses such as increased transport costs and disruption alongside National Insurance Contributions and the proposed increase in Corporation Tax. According to Make UK, the impact of the potent cocktail of factors from the last few years, now being compounded by the energy crisis, is as big a threat to manufacturers as the Covid pandemic, if not greater. As well as the impact of the rise in energy costs, almost three quarters of companies (74%) say they are facing increased transportation costs and more than four fifths (82%) reported transport disruption is an issue for their business. Four in ten companies surveyed said that disruption at the Dover Calais crossing was causing either catastrophic or major disruption to their business. The measures Make UK is proposing include specific proposals on energy, as well as a range of measures to aid cashflow, provide greater access to Labour supply along with initiatives to encourage investment, especially in energy efficiency technologies. Chief Executive of Make UK, Stephen Phipson, said: “Whilst industry has recovered strongly over the last year, we are clearly heading for very stormy waters in the face of eyewatering increases in energy costs and a difficult international environment. This threatens to shatter expectations of a sustained recovery from the pandemic. “Some of the factors impacting companies are global and cannot be contained by the UK Government alone. However, just as it is quite rightly taking measures to protect the least well off, given the rate at which companies are burning through their balance sheets just to survive, it must take immediate and substantial measures to help shield companies from the worst impact of escalating costs and help protect jobs. “We need a shock and awe suite of proposals to protect viable companies and jobs and we need them now. Manufacturers cannot afford to wait for a functioning Government to get its feet under the table.” Among the immediate measures being proposed by Make UK include:
  1. Reduce VAT on business energy bills from 20% to 5%
  2. Reverse the National Insurance Contributions increased from 2022
  3. Extend current business reliefs applied to other sectors to manufacturing
  4. Extend business rates reliefs for both building improvements and eligible plant & machinery
  5. Introduce a long-term capital allowance regime to spur investment in green technologies and energy efficiency measures to reduce energy consumption
  6. Make the Annual Investment Allowance permanent
  7. Undertake a full and fundamental reform of Business Rates
  8. Commission the Migration Advisory Committee to review and revise the shortage occupation list by early 2023 at the latest

New showreel launched by local video production company

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New showreel launched by local video production company
Glowfrog Video Production have launched their 2022 showreel advert, which includes some East Midlands Business Link readers’ videos. The showreel contains some of their highlight footage from their past year of working with companies across the East Midlands, such as Create Finance in Derby and Albion Bathrooms in Burton. See the difference that professional video production can make – you can watch Glowfrog’s new showreel below. If you would like more information either visit www.glowfrogvideo.com or call 01332 492 465.

East Mids law firm records 12% increase in turnover since start of pandemic

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East Mids law firm records 12% increase in turnover since start of pandemic
Law firm Howes Percival has recorded a 12% increase in turnover since the start of 2020, with profits per equity partner also up 12% over the same period, according to its latest annual results. The firm, which is celebrating 25 years in Leicester this year and also has an office in Northampton, has seen turnover increase from £23.4m before the pandemic, to £26.3m this year and market share increase across all of its UK offices. The last 12 months have also seen Howes Percival invest in a nationwide expansion programme, with close to 100 new recruits appointed in that period. Howes Percival’s Leicester office opened in July 1997 on New Walk with a team of just six lawyers. Today, over 60 of the firm’s staff are employed at its Meridian Business Park office, providing the full range of corporate and family law services. The firm has had a presence in Northampton since 1790. In 2016, Howes Percival moved to new, bigger premises at Rushmills, where it now employs 70 staff. In May this year, Hannah Pryce and Alexandra Kirkwood were promoted to partner. Howes Percival chairperson and Leicester partner, Geraint Davies said: “We are absolutely delighted with the way the firm has performed over the last couple of years. Like everyone, we experienced the shock waves when the pandemic struck, but we were able to adapt quickly to the new ways of working to support our clients and take advantage of the opportunities that emerged in certain sectors. We’ve seen very strong growth in core areas such as corporate and commercial, property, litigation, employment law and private client services. “The pandemic presented a unique set of challenges, but the firm responded strongly. We made a conscious decision to carry on investing in people and technology during the pandemic, to ensure that we were in the best possible position when we came out the other side, and that is now paying dividends. We are seeing the momentum carry on and anticipate further double-digit growth in this financial year too, as a result. “When it comes to marking 25 years of Howes Percival in Leicester, we wanted to shine a spotlight on what makes it a fantastic city to live, work and do business in. We saw this as an opportunity, not only to recognise our Leicester office’s achievements, but to give back something meaningful to the community. Our people have been integral to planning the celebrations and the whole office has come together in a true team effort to support the events taking place throughout the year.”

Revenue rises at Belvoir

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Revenue rises at Belvoir
Revenue has risen while pre-tax profits have slipped at Belvoir Group, the property franchise and financial services group with its central office in Grantham, in interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2022. The firm reported a 12% increase in revenue to £15.4m, up from £13.8m in the year prior, of which 1% relates to the growth in the underlying business and 11% to corporate acquisitions in 2021 and 2022.

Meanwhile profit before tax dipped slightly to £4m from £4.8m.

Belvoir acquired The TIME Group, a network of 63 financial services advisers, in May 2022 and Mr and Mrs Clarke, a concierge-style personal estate agency business operating through 10 partners, in March 2022.

Dorian Gonsalves, Chief Executive Officer of Belvoir Group, said: “I am delighted to report that our strong lettings base, investment in further franchise networks and diversification into financial services have all helped to mitigate the correction in the level of property sales transactions after the exceptional year for the housing market in 2021.

“During the first half of 2022 the Board continued to pursue its growth strategy to strengthen the group’s service offering. The acquisition of Mr and Mrs Clarke provided the group with a platform from which to develop its personal agency model, and the acquisition of The TIME Group added a further 63 advisers to our already established and successful financial services network.

“The group’s investment in businesses to expand both the property and the financial services divisions, and the strong pipelines of house sales and related mortgages at the start of H2, underpin the Board’s confidence of achieving managements’ expectations for the full financial year.”

All change at Derby accountancy company as co-founder takes on sole ownership

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All change at Derby accountancy company as co-founder takes on sole ownership

It’s all change at a Derby accountancy company as one of its co-founders takes on sole ownership.

Bev Wakefield, who set up Vibrant Accountancy with Ian Ball in September 2019, will lead the business from September 1, with co-founder Ian Ball moving to Pride Park-based CoMech Metrology to become their finance director.

Bev says that she is excited about the future of Vibrant – with plans to participate in more seminars and re-introduce networking groups at the Lodge Lane-based business – and she thanked Ian for his support.

She said: “It has been an incredible journey since starting Vibrant with Ian and I want to thank him for his support and friendship.

“Together with my brilliant team, I want to continue the legacy and make an impact in an industry that has long been considered stuffy, impenetrable and dominated by well-established, big-name players. I want to continue to evolve and disrupt and I’m excited about the future.”

Ian said: “Co-founding Vibrant was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I have enjoyed every minute of the journey with Bev, who is now ready to continue to drive the business forward and will ensure that our clients continue to receive the best service possible.

“She is an incredible individual and will continue what we started together with great success.

“I’m looking forward to starting my new job at CoMech Metrology. It was an opportunity that I just couldn’t turn down. The experiences and knowledge that I have gained since starting Vibrant has enabled me to take on such a role, and a role that will help to push the company forward with its growth plans.”

Bev is also keen to make Vibrant Accountancy a more eco-friendly business. Later this year, they will be introducing an electric car scheme for employees – including new head of Management Accounts Amie Fellows, who will be joining Vibrant in October.

The scheme will enable staff to purchase a fully-electric vehicle and pay for it through a salary sacrifice scheme. There are plans to offset Vibrant’s carbon emissions by planting trees, too.

“As a mother of two young children, I know how important it is to protect our planet for their future,” said Bev, “we can all make little changes, and we’re on our journey with embracing this further at Vibrant.

“One thing is for sure, the future is bright.”

Geldards expands Corporate Dispute Resolution team with appointment of new partner

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Geldards expands Corporate Dispute Resolution team with appointment of new partner
Geldards’ Corporate Dispute Resolution team has strengthened its offering with the appointment of new partner Lloyd Smith who joins the firm’s Nottingham offices. Lloyd brings with him over fourteen years’ litigation experience and joins from Knights plc where he specialised in commercial litigation, with particular expertise in complex cases spanning multiple jurisdictions. Recognised by Legal 500 as a Commercial Litigation “Rising Star”, Lloyd is experienced in resolving business owner disputes as well as helping clients with technology disputes, financial regulatory issues and franchising disputes. Having qualified in Nottingham, Lloyd spent the early part of his career working in London at City firms, before returning to the East Midlands where he has been practising in Nottingham for the past six years. Commenting on the appointment, Nino Simone, partner and head of Dispute Resolution at Geldards, said: “We are pleased to be bolstering the already excellent skills of the team with the appointment of Lloyd and are delighted to welcome him aboard. He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge which complements the team wonderfully.” On joining the team Lloyd said: “Geldards’ Dispute Resolution team has an outstanding reputation and I am thrilled to be joining the firm. I look forward to the challenges ahead and contributing to the continued growth of the team.”

BDO welcomes over 50 new trainees in the Midlands

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BDO welcomes over 50 new trainees in the Midlands
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO is welcoming 56 new trainees across its offices in Birmingham and Nottingham, with 600 joining nationwide. The trainees will be a combination of school leaver apprentices and university graduates, 43 will join BDO’s Birmingham office and 13 will join the firm’s new city centre office in Nottingham. More than half of the trainees will join the firm’s audit practice. The majority of new trainees will have the opportunity to undertake a level-7 apprenticeship programme, resulting in a qualification equivalent to a master’s degree. This year, the firm has also hired over 50 industrial placement students to join BDO for 12 months between their second and third year of university, as well as 70 summer interns. As part of its commitment to increasing diversity in the profession, BDO also runs targeted insight programmes aimed at school or college students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and university students from a black heritage. Applications for the firm’s 2023 graduate and school leaver apprentice programmes will open later this month, with more than 700 positions available nationwide and almost 90 based across the Midlands. Kyla Bellingall, head of BDO in the Midlands, said: “We’re delighted to welcome this year’s intake of trainees from a wide range of backgrounds, whether that’s school leavers, or university graduates, as well as interns and placement students. The Midlands is home to some of the country’s brightest talent and we’re investing significantly as a firm to provide the career opportunities and pathways that enable young people from all walks of life to access a vibrant and exciting profession, such as accountancy. “The education of young people has undoubtedly been severely disrupted in the last few years, with both school leavers and graduates having to navigate learning and examinations in very challenging circumstances. Each and every one of them should be extremely proud of their achievements and we look forward to supporting them on what will hopefully be a long and successful career journey at BDO.”

Managed IT services specialist set for ‘unprecedented’ growth after revealing EE and O2 partnerships

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Managed IT services specialist set for ‘unprecedented’ growth after revealing EE and O2 partnerships
Ilkeston-based managed IT services specialist, IDT, has announced an unprecedented 4,000% growth in its business mobile sector through its upgraded partnerships with EE and O2.The partnerships see IDT extending its range of services into the MSP sector, including custom business mobile deals and mobile business broadband.The updated Partnership enables IDT, one of the fastest growing MSP in the East Midlands, to offer its customers a host of turnkey solutions on the nation’s two largest, fastest and most reliable mobile networks.Luke Draper, Managing Director of IDT, said: “This is yet another branch to our comprehensive tree of services. Over the years we have always directly referred our customers to the main mobile players but now as a trusted Partner we can add our personal, human touch. This is the key value-added service our customers require.  “Our impressive success over the past 12 month shows how responsive the market and our customers have been to our bespoke mobile deals. The continuation and further development of this side of the business provides a clear path to enabling our growth and servicing even more customers nationwide.”EE business account manager at Mdee Rosie Vallance said: “We are very pleased to be working with the IDT team. The growth they have had so far in 2022 is amazing and we can only see this building throughout the latter part of this year and into 2023. They are so integrated into their customers, knowing their needs and requirements it helps us massively being able to work closer together tailoring the bespoke solutions for them.”“The take-up of our improved mobile solutions from our customers has been amazing,” added Ellie Wheeldon-Jones, office manager at IDT, who is at the forefront of this growth.She said: “With everyone wanting to work from anywhere from any device, the mobile data business is only going one way, so if we can help our customers tap into this and supply solutions that add value to their business then we are achieving our goal along with getting them the best deals out there.”
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