UK businesses that rely on agency workers, especially those on zero-hours contracts, must start preparing for a major shift in employment law. Under new measures introduced in the government’s Employment Rights Bill, agency workers will soon be entitled to greater job security, improved working conditions, and more predictable scheduling.

The changes are part of a broader move to reduce what the government calls “one-sided flexibility,” which has long affected zero-hours and low-hours contract workers. Employers will be required to give clearer information on terms of engagement, including guaranteed hours. There will also be rules requiring reasonable notice of shifts and compensation when work is cancelled or altered at short notice.

The new legislation aligns the rights of agency workers more closely with those of directly employed staff, including protections against unfair dismissal. This means businesses can no longer use agency workers as a workaround to avoid compliance with fair work practices expected under these reforms.

The Employment Rights Bill is expected to pass into law by summer 2025. Implementation will be phased, with some provisions taking effect in autumn 2025 and the rest following in 2026.

Employers, particularly small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or those without in-house HR teams—are being urged to review their employment contracts, policies, and staffing strategies now. Failure to comply could expose businesses to legal and financial risks once the new rules take effect.

HMS Pharmacy in Loughborough, Leicestershire, has been sold following the retirement of its long-term owner after 25 years. The business, which dispenses approximately 10,500 items monthly, was acquired by Dr Milan Chande and his family, marking their entry into the pharmacy sector.

The pharmacy operates from a two-storey premises featuring two consultation rooms and a vacant upper floor, offering potential for further development. The buyers previously acquired a dental practice in Leicester in 2021.

The sale was brokered by Christie & Co and comes amid growing transactional activity in the region, with several other pharmacy sales underway in Leicestershire. The deal underlines continued interest from first-time buyers in established community pharmacy businesses with growth potential.

Punch Pubs & Co has expanded its estate by acquiring four pubs from Everards, a Leicester-based brewing and pub company. The acquisition includes The Old Kings Head in Long Buckby, The Paget in Loughborough, The Cricketers in Leicester, and the Dog & Gun in Whetstone.

The deal adds to Punch’s existing portfolio of over 1,300 pubs across the UK. The transition is being managed in coordination with the current publicans and their teams to ensure operational continuity.

Everards, which has invested £3 million into its estate over the past year, stated that the sale will support ongoing reinvestment across its remaining venues.

The East Midlands Chamber and the University of Derby have formalised a new strategic partnership focused on supporting entrepreneurship and high-growth business activity across Derby and Derbyshire.

The agreement deepens their long-standing collaboration, expanding into areas such as decarbonisation initiatives, innovation development, and joint applications for public sector business support. A key element will be designing and delivering funded programmes tailored to local businesses aiming to scale.

The University remains the headline partner of Generation Next, a Chamber-led initiative aimed at professional development for individuals aged 18–35, reinforcing its role in building the region’s future talent pipeline.

This partnership also supports broader regional objectives through involvement in Chesterfield Champions, a collective of over 230 organisations committed to promoting Chesterfield and North Derbyshire’s economic development.

Cyberattacks are no longer limited to major corporations, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the UK, including here in the East Midlands, are increasingly being targeted.

New research from Vodafone Business reveals that UK SMEs lose a staggering £3.4 billion annually due to poor cybersecurity. And closer to home, the East Midlands is far from immune; 29% of SMEs in the region reported experiencing a cyberattack last year, with the average cost per incident reaching £1,559.

This week, high street giant M&S confirmed it has been managing a ‘cyber incident’ for several days. While details remain scarce, customers reported Click & Collect disruptions and temporary issues with in-store returns, suggesting a serious internal systems compromise.

Though M&S quickly reassured customers that stores remain open and that its website and app are functioning normally, the attack highlighted a stark truth: even well-resourced organisations with dedicated IT teams can be vulnerable.

Nationally, over a third (35%) of SMEs suffered at least one attack in 2024 alone, and 6% experienced up to 10 breaches. Yet despite the clear threat, many businesses remain underprepared. Joe Burns, Co-Founder of Reformed IT, says:

“The financial loss is just the tip of the iceberg. The real damage is the erosion of customer trust, reputational harm, and operational disruption. In some cases, businesses never fully recover. M&S, with its extensive resources and immediate access to cybersecurity experts, is likely to recover quickly. But most SMEs aren’t so lucky.”

And the threat landscape is evolving fast. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being weaponised by cybercriminals, allowing them to scan for vulnerabilities, breach defences, and launch ransomware attacks with little effort or expertise. According to Burns:

“AI may be transforming industries for the better, but in the wrong hands, it becomes a serious threat.”

Rural broadband provider Quickline has partnered with the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) to support digital transformation among small businesses and entrepreneurs across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

The three-year initiative is designed to help 60 rural enterprises adopt digital tools and technologies. It forms part of Quickline’s social value contribution to the UK government’s Project Gigabit programme.

The partnership will deliver a series of innovation days, training sessions, mentoring, and workshops tailored to the specific needs of rural businesses. The goal is to enhance digital capability, drive innovation, and create new growth opportunities outside urban centres.

C4DI will lead programme delivery, offering access to its network of experts and support infrastructure, while Quickline provides the digital connectivity and strategic backing necessary to enable long-term adoption.

RDCP Care Holdings, a care provider based in Smethwick, has acquired the Mansfield-headquartered Monarch Care Group in a multimillion-pound transaction. The deal signals a significant expansion for RDCP in the UK residential care sector.

All shares in Monarch have been transferred, with previous owners Angela Bir, Amit Bir, and Hiten Shanghavi exiting the business entirely. The acquisition adds to RDCP’s growing portfolio of care homes, aligning with its broader strategy of consolidating high-performing providers in the sector.

The deal involved multiple professional advisers. Wilkes advised the outgoing shareholders on both corporate and property aspects, with legal support led by Kiran Munawar and Charlotte Keys. Grant Thornton provided corporate finance guidance, and Brindleys acted as accountants.

Barclays Bank, represented by Pinsent Masons, was involved in financing. Kent Finance, Sheridans, and HCR Law advised the buyer.

Nottingham will be the host destination for the 2025 World Outdoor Tug of War Championships on 4 – 7 September 2025, and Nottingham Venues is proud to be a supporting partner.

The four-day competition will take place at the University of Nottingham’s Highfields Sports Complex. As part of the partnership, competitors will be housed at the main University Campus, with family, friends and support teams having access to special rates at The Orchard and The Jubilee hotels, as well as being able to enjoy the Bramleys and Spokes Café at the respective venues and events at the East Midlands Conference Centre.

The event is also expected to benefit other hospitality venues across the City, attracting teams and supporters from all over the world.

At a recent Congress of The Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) the event was upgraded from a European competition to an annual World Championship with immediate effect, meaning that Nottingham will now be host to the World Tug of War Championships.

Christine Bailey, Assistant Director of Sport at the University of Nottingham, said: “University of Nottingham’s Highfields Sports Complex offers a perfect location for the World Championship, with its world class facilities and easy access for spectators, with direct trams available from the City Centre to the venue.

“The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Venues has a strong track record of hosting major sports events, and we are delighted to play our part in bringing this World Championship competition to our city for the first time in over 50 years.

“As a global university, we are proud to welcome athletes and supporters from around the world to our campus and the city of Nottingham. This event will bring with it significant social and economic benefits to our local community and further enriches the vibrant sporting scene here.”

Tug of War is contested between teams of 8 people, and events are held in weight categories for men’s teams, women’s teams, junior teams and mixed teams.

It was last held in Nottingham in 1973. This year’s tournament will be open to men’s teams, women’s teams, and mixed teams who will be competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in different weight categories. The event will also stage junior and under 23 competitions, where again, there will be weight classes for men’s, women’s and mixed teams in these age categories.

Melissa Sobo, Director of Sales at Nottingham Venues added: “We are delighted to partner with University Sport to host this exciting event later this year, and we look forward to welcoming teams and spectators to campus. This will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase our broader offering and demonstrate how our diverse range of spaces and accommodation can support major events — bringing real benefits to both the university and the wider city.”

TWIF President Dan McCarthy (Ireland) added: “With member countries from all over the world voting to hold a world championship annually from here on in shows the positivity, enthusiasm and passion for global growth.”

“This is a very exciting development” commented Tug of War Association spokesman and organising committee member Alan Knott.

“It’s not very often that you get the opportunity to host a World Championships. The last time England hosted one was back in 2000. Not only that, but the event will also draw a bigger number of countries, teams, competitors and supporters to the event. It will be a great atmosphere, and we encourage everyone to come along and support the event”

“It is a great opportunity for people to see a top-level tug of war competition, something which people in the area may not have seen before – there is certainly a lot more to tug of war than what people normally think, and preparing for this event takes weeks, months and years of hard work and preparation”.

Contestants at the event will begin to arrive from 1 September, will weigh in on 3 September, and will then spend four days battling it out at international club level on the Thursday and Friday (4 and 5 September) with full international competitions taking place on the Saturday and Sunday of the championship (6 and 7 September).

For more information on Nottingham Venues collection of independent venues specialising in meeting and events, visit https://nottinghamvenues.com/.

Alton Valley, a Derby-based security technology firm with a workforce fully vetted for the highest-level clearance, has secured exclusive UK distribution rights for Credo ID, an advanced access control and security management platform developed by Midpoint Security.

Under the agreement, Alton Valley is now the only approved UK supplier of Credo ID, and will act as its primary installer and service provider. This positions the company as a central player in delivering high-grade security infrastructure to industries that require robust protection—such as defence, energy, and transport.

Credo ID’s cloud-ready platform is designed for scalable deployment across critical infrastructure, offering integrated physical and digital access controls tailored for mission-critical environments. With this partnership, businesses across the UK gain access to Ministry of Defence-level safeguards, backed by Alton Valley’s experience in complex, high-security installations.

The collaboration was unveiled at The Security Event trade show at Birmingham’s NEC, where both firms demonstrated their joint capabilities.

Alton Valley reported a record £6 million turnover last year and is expanding its footprint across the UK. The rollout of Credo ID will further support clients in responding to rising cybersecurity and physical threats, ensuring compliance and continuity in sensitive operations.

Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has successfully completed the unique and intricate task of removing the original roof from the iconic Grade II Listed Central Building at the Castle Meadow Campus for University of Nottingham.

As part of a comprehensive refurbishment to extend the life of this architectural city landmark, the original PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) roof has been replaced with a modern tensile structure, the latest generation in PVDF fabrics. Originally designed and installed in 1994 by Hopkins Architects and Arup, the roof is described as one of the most complicated roof structures in Europe.

Prior to G F Tomlinson starting on site, the building was given a Grade II Listed status and at 30-years old is one of the youngest buildings to achieve this. This presented additional challenges to ensure the heritage requirements were met, whilst adhering to the original refurbishment needs.

The building’s entire framework has been carefully refurbished to preserve its structural integrity and historical significance – a process which began mid-2024, with the removal of the building’s glass elements, repainting of the structural frame and refurbishing of key components.

Temporary rigging and birdcage scaffolding were installed to stabilise the frame, while sections of the roof were removed in sequence, starting with the North and South sections, followed by the Main Roof Central section with its three floating Oculi and finally the East and West. Structural strengthening, including additional welding and the replacement of worn components was carried out before the placement of the new fabric.

The project continues to progress, with the installation of a new glulam mezzanine floor to enhance the building’s functionality and a new central glass roof box to ensure plenty of natural light into the building. The final stages will include installation of new laminated glass to the roof, designed to meet modern building standards.

The university are displaying some of the original structural parts of the building at the Castle Meadow Campus to showcase the architectural elements and to preserve the legacy of the building’s original design.

This project has involved exceptional engineering feats – the new roof spans approximately 4,500 sq. metres, equivalent to the size of seven tennis courts, and the scaffolding used as a working platform for the replacement weighed 60 tonnes and stood seven meters tall, covering a platform area of 945 square meters. Over 5,000 bolts were removed and replaced, while 15 tonnes of existing glass will be reinstalled, complemented by an additional four tonnes of new glass within the facade.

These significant works have been delivered in collaboration with Bond Bryan Architects and Arup Consultants. Specialist contractors, Base Structures have been responsible for the fabric replacement, with Novum Structures installing the glass box and internal glazed roof lights, underscoring the importance of preserving historical buildings while modernising them to meet current standards.

As work progresses, G F Tomlinson remains committed to ensuring the Central Building continues to inspire future generations with its blend of innovation and heritage.

Adrian Grocock, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “The Central Building project is a perfect example of how we combine innovative construction methods with heritage expertise to deliver transformative projects. The roof replacement represents a significant achievement, and we are proud to be playing a key role in extending the life of this iconic structure. Our longstanding working relationship with University of Nottingham, spanning over more than 7 capital projects has allowed us to contribute to the campus’s evolution and provide world-class facilities that reflect its reputation for excellence.”

Fraser Shirley, Director and Project Manager at Base Structures said: “Having built many of the UKs most notable fabric canopies Base Structures fully appreciated the significance of this elegant and refined structure. The integrated tensegrity design was one of the first of its kind, making this a truly unique project.

“The fabric replacement works on the Central Building was far from straightforward, presenting an incredibly challenging task as the original builders had never intended for it to be replaced. Due to the sensitive nature of the structure, a meticulous and carefully planned methodology was essential to minimise excessive loading on its components. Significant input from Tensys Ltd was instrumental in developing this approach. The success of this project was ultimately down to the vast experiences with the Tensys and Base design, project and site teams, who in collaboration with the main contractor, G F Tomlinson, carried out the works safely and seamlessly, ensuring the structure’s integrity was maintained throughout. Base Structures are proud to have played a part in extending its lifespan.”