me&u open new UK head office in Burton
Burton-based commercial property agents, Rushton Hickman, has just let 3,197 sq ft (297 sq m) of ground floor office space to me&u for their new UK head office location.
Suite A/B, The Maltsters is located on Wetmore Rd, in Burton upon Trent. This former Bass Brewery maltings building was fully refurbished a number of years ago, to provide quality modern office space for rent. East Staffordshire Borough Council occupied a large part of the property for several years prior to moving back to the Burton Town Hall building.
me&u founder, Stevan Premutico is one of Australia’s leading tech entrepreneurs in the food & tech space. In 2007, Stevan conceptualised Dimmi Online Restaurant Reservations, and in 2015 it was acquired by TripAdvisor. Now he is back with me&u, which is set to change the way we order & pay for food and drinks in the hospitality sector.
James Winstanley, me&u country manager (UK), said: “The business benefits to the hospitality industry are an absolute game changer and we are transforming hospitality venues at a critical time for operators, through improved operational efficiencies, maximising customer experience and driving significant incremental revenue. Using me&u offers businesses on demand ordering, ability to accept a range of payments and provides a world class digital ordering platform to their guests.
“We chose The Maltsters site in Burton upon Trent, due to its central location within the UK, which is perfect for our National coverage, as well as the deep rooted links with the hospitality industry through the brewery trade.
“Rushton Hickman provided a comprehensive and fast service, which enabled us to identify the space required and get it open for business in the time frame we required.”
Rushton Hickman commercial property agent Simon Walker said: “We are delighted that me&u have chosen Burton upon Trent as the location for their new UK head office. Competitive levels of asking rents in the area coupled with good transport links are proving the commercial property market continues to remain very active in the locality.
“We have found both the number of enquiries received and viewings of commercial properties from interested parties are on the increase, which is fantastic news for our clients of course.”
Gateley announces a raft of new promotions at its Nottingham office
Legal and professional services group Gateley has announced its latest round of promotions, which includes eight people from its Nottingham office.
Charlie Jakeman – a construction lawyer, Elly Duggins – a lawyer in the real estate team and Natalie Howes, who is a commercial dispute resolution lawyer, have all been promoted to the position of legal director.
Three new senior associates have been confirmed with residential development lawyers Alexandra Smith and Lauren Jeffery, along with Charlotte Chapman who is a real estate lawyer.
Nathan Allaway, who is also a lawyer within the real estate team and banking lawyer Alicia Bradburn have both been made associates.
Andrew Macmillan, partner and head of Gateley’s Nottingham office, said: “I congratulate all those who have received a promotion and believe this sets a very positive tone as we continue to emerge from the challenges of the last two years and the pandemic.
“At Gateley we are committed to recognising and rewarding our region’s top legal talent which in turn ensures we can deliver the best service to our clients. All promotions are very well deserved as they have demonstrated dedication and a determination to succeed by going above and beyond for their clients and our business.”
A total of 70 promotions were announced across Gateley including eight new partners, nine legal directors, 23 senior associates and 30 new associates. In addition to Nottingham, the promotions span Gateley’s offices in Belfast, Birmingham, Dubai, Guildford, Leeds, London, Manchester and Reading.
£100,000 funding awarded to supercharge sustainable travel around Derbyshire
Independent research consultancy Cenex, in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, has been announced as the winner of Midlands Connect’s rural mobility competition, receiving £100,000 of funding to develop its proposal for an online Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and car sharing platform.
Once developed, the online platform will allow EV users across Derbyshire to ‘rent out’ their private charge points, giving motorists access to more chargers to power up their vehicles. The platform will also promote car sharing by providing opportunities for people to rent out their cars when they’re not using them, meaning that residents without their own private vehicle can get around more easily.
The project will encourage sustainable travel and open up opportunities for EV ownership to groups who may not have benefitted from access to local charging points before, particularly households without off-street parking.
The online platform will initially be targeted towards residents and local businesses, with hopes to expand to tourists in time.
Cenex and Derbyshire County Council will now use the prize money of £100,000 to further develop, test and trial the platform. Following the trial phase, should it be successful, it can then seek funding from either public or private sector sources for its widespread rollout.
Midlands Connect’s future of rural mobility competition received submissions from businesses which were asked to present new ideas that could help solve the social, environmental, and economic issues caused by poor connectivity in rural areas.
The winner was announced today at Midlands Connect’s Rural Mobility Conference in Melton Mowbray. The conference included panels from competition winners and runners up, as well as the Department for Transport, senior politicians and transport experts.
Midlands Connect CEO Maria Machancoses said: “Poor transport connectivity can be a challenge for rural communities, with residents often experiencing worse access to amenities and services such as schools, workplaces or hospitals. Our rural mobility competition was created to address these challenges and create innovative solutions that would enhance transport connectivity in isolated communities.
It’s great to see how many people have come together to challenge poorer connectivity at our conference today, particularly those from the Department for Transport, senior leaders and decision makers.
All our finalists for the rural mobility competition produced innovative solutions to tackle rural mobility – picking one winner was very challenging. We would like to congratulate our competition winner Cenex and look forward to seeing the idea developed in further detail.
Although there could only be one winner, we will be sharing all information and experience with our partners so that they can set up similar pilot schemes if they wish to do so.
BDO expands DRAS team with senior hire
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has strengthened its Digital Risk Advisory Services team (DRAS) with the appointment of Sandi Dosanjh as partner.
Sandi will lead BDO’s Digital team in the Midlands, specialising in controls transformation, cyber risk management, IT optimisation and technology enablement. Her previous roles included working as a director in Technology Risk Consulting, where she was responsible for leading large-scale control transformation programmes for FTSE 50 clients.
Evan Devetzis, partner, Digital Risk Advisory Services team (DRAS), said: “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Sandi’s calibre to the Midlands team, as we continue to grow our Digital offering, both regionally and nationally.
“Having someone on the ground in the Midlands, who has the experience and expertise to lead complex and large-scale risk programmes, will be vital to achieving our growth ambitions. In the last 12 months, DRAS has grown by 65% with significant potential in the Midlands market to expand our presence further.”
According to BDO’s latest global risk report, organisations that plan for and manage risk are more likely to succeed in a post-COVID economy, with 90% of businesses surveyed as part of the report admitting that the pandemic has triggered their organisation to completely re-evaluate their risk framework.
Sandi, who is also chair of the FA Women’s National League and passionate about making football accessible and safe for all girls of all ages, said: “I’m really looking forward to collaborating with colleagues to create something very special in my home region. To build and grow a team is an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often in your career and to have the opportunity to do that at BDO with a talented team of people is really exciting.”
“A great way to recognise the success of businesses in the area”: Invest in Nottingham encourages firms to enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards
Invest in Nottingham is encouraging Nottingham property and construction businesses to nominate themselves and others for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, to “celebrate their success and raise the profile of the region’s property industry.”
Lorraine Baggs, head of investment at Invest in Nottingham, said: “The property sector has its eyes firmly on Nottingham at the moment and for good reason. The Island Quarter is well underway, with lots of development around the train station and waterside ongoing, and that’s not to mention what is to come at the Broad Marsh site.
“Nottingham’s property industry is going from strength to strength and is currently undergoing a boom of investment. Despite the pandemic, 2020 saw countless cranes and developments appearing across Nottingham, and that has continued in the following years with over half a billion pounds of construction happening in the city right now.
“There’s a major spotlight on the city with Nottingham Forest’s recent promotion to the Premier League, so now is the time to shout about Nottingham’s successes.
“The East Midlands Bricks Awards returning to Nottingham for 2022 is a great way to recognise and celebrate the success of businesses in the area, and to reflect on the achievements of Nottingham’s property industry in the last year. I hope companies within the industry submit themselves and others for awards like this, to celebrate their success and raise the profile of the region’s property industry.”
Thanks to our sponsors:
If you haven’t submitted your nominations yet, now is the ideal time.
The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrate the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and exceptional developments, and provide the perfect opportunity to shine a light on your team, reward their hard work, and boost morale. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 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. To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.- 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 (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
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 15 September 2022 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. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire.
To be held at:
Contractor appointed for exclusive new trackside homes at Silverstone
HG Construction has been appointed as the main contractor on an exclusive new trackside scheme, Escapade Silverstone.
The landmark scheme for Escapade will transform the trackside at the iconic Silverstone racetrack with 60 contemporary new residences and a clubhouse designed by architecture firm Twelve Architects.
The Escapade residences, which are available to purchase as an owner or stay in as a guest, have been billed as the ultimate experience for trackside enthusiasts, offering spacious, modern accommodation and driver-focused leisure facilities coupled with impressive views of the circuit.
The residences will offer guests light-filled entertaining spaces, high specification acoustics and ensuite bathrooms, in addition to car parking. The two-storey clubhouse will boast an indoor swimming pool and sauna along with treatment rooms on the ground floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows and dining facilities on the first floor as well as an 8.5 metre-high roof terrace.
Other amenities include a performance-focused gym and a private briefing room designed to enhance the year-round visitor experience at the UK’s only Grade 1 circuit.
Adam Quinn, Managing Director, HG Construction, said: “This is a really exciting project for HG Construction to be involved in given its iconic location and unique design. Twelve Architects have produced a sleek and stylish architectural concept which will complement and enhance the exceptional surroundings, and we are delighted to be bringing it to life on behalf of Escapade.
“We have worked closely with the client to ensure that the bespoke elements of the scheme are delivered in the most efficient and effective way possible, and we look forward to seeing the buildings emerge over the next few months.”
Will Tindall, founder & CEO of Escapade, said: “The opportunity to create something truly special at Silverstone requires partners who understand the nuances of such a challenging and complex location.
“Silverstone being a live racing circuit throughout the build, and the unique architectural and structural elements that make up our 14-acre project, mean we are pleased to work with HG on delivering our vision as it becomes reality. We look forward to welcoming guests from mid 2023 and will work closely with HG on all aspects of the project until completion.”
Manufacturers call for pre-recess support package amid worsening economic outlook
Britain’s manufacturers are calling for an emergency, pre-recess package of business support measures to help shield companies from a potent cocktail of escalating costs amid a worsening economic outlook.
The call comes on the back of the Make UK/BDO Q2 Manufacturing Outlook survey which shows growth and orders slowing significantly, exports almost at a standstill and, investment nosediving as companies cut or postpone their plans in order to maintain cashflow.
According to Make UK, the seriousness of the situation and, the prospects for the next six months, means that industry cannot wait for the promised help in the Autumn which the Chancellor made in the Spring Statement, with action required urgently before the summer recess. In response, Make UK has made a number of recommendations for measures Government can introduce now to address rising business costs including the following:
- Waive or reduce business rates for the next 12 months
- Implement VAT deferrals for larger businesses and waive completely for SMEs
- Temporarily freeze the Climate Change Levy and, if energy costs continue to rise, remove it completely
- Review the efficacy of the business interruption loan schemes introduced during the pandemic and deploy a successor scheme by Q3
- Extend the super-deduction investment policy
- Make the increase in the Annual Investment Allowance permanent
Leicester businesses asked for views on potential revamp of popular shopping street
Businesses in Leicester’s Clarendon Park are being asked for their views on a potential revamp of the popular Queens Road shopping street.
Leicester City Council is considering a range of possible improvements as part of a citywide programme of investment to help local businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic and the disruption it caused.
At Queens Road, the city council wants to help improve the shopping environment by creating more space for outdoor café areas and wider, safer pavements for pedestrians.
Initial ideas could see changes made to some side road junctions – including potentially closing the junctions at Montague Road and Cecilia Road to vehicles – to create more pedestrian space and cut the amount of traffic turning into Queens Road, helping to make the busy shopping street safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Pavements could be widened at key points to make more space for outdoor café-style seating areas to support businesses, while retaining the on-street parking spaces for shoppers and visitors, including disabled people. Additional loading bays could be provided for businesses.
This could include widening pavements outside Barceloneta and Friends Tandoori – between Howard Road and Cecilia Road – and filling in the existing bus stopping bay alongside the shopping area between Montague Road and Clarendon Park Road to create more space.
Improvements to make the route safer and more appealing to cyclists are also being considered, to complement the recent introduction of a docking station on Queens Road as part of the new Santander Cycles Leicester e-bike hire scheme.
Traffic calming measures, such as raised crossings, on Queens Road are also being considered to encourage motorists to cut their speed and improve road safety.
The initial ideas for improvements to Queens Road have been developed closely with ward councillors and now the city council is inviting local residents and businesses to have their say.
Assistant city mayor and Castle ward councillor Danny Myers said: “Queens Road is at the heart of the community in Clarendon Park. It’s a space that is held dear. Events like our Summer and Christmas fairs attract thousands and it is a place that can be enjoyed throughout the day and evening, all year round.
“Creating a high quality-space that reflects this popularity is a great opportunity. The area would really benefit for improvements to create a more attractive and safer environment for visitors and to support local businesses. It’ll be interesting to see what people think of these proposals and to hear other ideas they may have for Queens Road too.”
Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transport, added: “It’s really important that we continue to invest in streets like Queens Road to enhance the environment, make them more people-friendly and help ensure their local businesses continue to thrive.
“It’s clear that we have a real opportunity to invest in Queens Road and make it an even more attractive place for residents, local business and visitors.
“We’re very keen for the local community to be an integral part of the creative process as this scheme develops.”
An online survey has been launched to help gather people’s views. Closing date for comments is Saturday 30 July 2022. The project team will also be at the Clarendon Park Summer Fair on Sunday (19 June) to discuss the initial proposals in more detail, and letters outlining the ideas will be delivered to homes and businesses in the area.
Chesterfield theatre to close its doors for multi-million-pound renovation project
Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre is set to temporarily close its doors later this month in preparation for a multi-million-pound renovation project that will create an enhanced customer experience.
The theatre will close on Sunday 26 June before planned refurbishment works start on Stephenson Memorial Hall.
Ian Waller, Chesterfield Borough Council’s service director – leisure, culture and community wellbeing, said: “Stephenson Memorial Hall is a landmark in our town and our ambitious plans are set to make it even more memorable and enjoyable – creating a modern visitor experience in the heart of our town.
“Colleagues have been working to carefully move all of the treasured items from the Museum into secure storage. Now this is nearing completion, we are now in a position to close the Pomegranate Theatre and move many of our shows into the Winding Wheel while the transformation of the building is carried out.”
Under the plans the refurbished Stephenson Memorial Hall will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, education and community facilities.
The work will also protect the Grade 2 listed building and ensure that it remains part of the borough’s heritage for many more generations to come.
Creating a more accessible experience is another key aim of the proposals. The plans include three new lifts which will enable visitors, staff and artists with mobility difficulties to access all parts of the building including the circle seating area and upper museum floors.
Also included in the plans are improvements to lighting, heating, and ventilation.
The project is projected to cost around £17.5 million with £11 million of funding being secured via the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The project received a further funding boost with £695,000 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme which will be used to install a ventilation system in the Pomegranate Theatre auditorium and create a new Changing Places toilet.
Chesterfield Borough Council has received almost £20 million through the Governments Levelling Up fund, the other £8 million will be used to support and enhance the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield Project.
Together this funding will help maintain Chesterfield as a vibrant market town by improving connections across the town centre and enhancing the visitor economy.
Shakespeare Martineau appoints expert director to company secretary team
Shakespeare Martineau has appointed a new director to help grow and enhance the reputation and brand of its company secretarial and governance business.
With more than 30 years’ experience, Maddie Cordes has joined the firm’s company secretary business, where she will also be sharing her knowledge with the team, as well as Shakespeare Martineau’s existing and new clients.
Prior to her new role, Maddie – who is based at the firm’s London hub but working with clients nationally – worked across both professional practice, including EY, Capita and TMF Group, and in-house as a company secretary for a range of listed and unlisted companies across all sectors.
She also spent three years as head of corporate services at law firms offshore where she was responsible for a team of 50 across four jurisdictions, supporting more than 13,000 legal entities and providing board support for investor funds.
Maddie said: “I am thrilled to have joined Shakespeare Martineau as a thriving and dynamic business and be given the opportunity to return to professional practice after working in-house as a company secretary recently to share my experience more widely. In particular, I am looking forward to developing new services and offering mentoring and training within the team and for our clients.
“I enjoy finding new opportunities and forging client relationships, so my top priorities in my new role are to raise awareness of the business in the marketplace generally and how we can help Shakespeare Martineau’s wider client base and businesses, while also growing my own client base.
“Corporate governance is ever-changing and developing, and the role of company secretary is full of variety. There are always new ways to support our clients and the wider company secretarial marketplace with thought leadership and practical advice in carrying out the role.”
Maddie is skilled in governance, business development, training and operational management, specialising in board and shareholder meeting support, company law, staff development, and change and performance management.
She has also been the co-editor of Shackleton on the Law and Practice of Meetings for more than 10 years and is a mentor and examiner with the professional body for company secretaries, the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland.
Ben Harber, partner who heads up Shakespeare Martineau’s London-based company secretarial team, said: “We are delighted to welcome Maddie to our team. Her experience across both professional practice and in-house means she has an in-depth understanding of our clients’ challenges.
“Whether we are providing a fully outsourced company secretarial function or assisting a client carrying out the company secretarial role part-time alongside their other duties, our job is to provide comfort to both our client contact and the overall board that the role is being fulfilled professionally with an appropriate level of up to date governance knowledge and external support.
“With the ever-increasing spotlight on how companies implement and then apply good governance, our primary role is to ensure this is truly embedded. Boards rely heavily on us as governance advisers.
“I am looking forward to working with Maddie and to see her bring her deep knowledge and expertise to help strengthen and grow the team, as well as our overall client base.”
