Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has acquired a major site in Hinckley, Leicestershire, with outline planning permission to deliver 475 new homes for the area.
The site, to the east of Stoke Road and north of Normandy Way, in the north of the town, has a development value of £140m. Of the new homes being delivered, approximately 30% will be affordable, 25% will be developed for the private rented sector, and 45% will be for sale on the open market through a combination of its retail brands Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes.
All the houses will be constructed using modern methods of construction, with timber frame panels produced at the local Vistry Works factory in Bardon, Leicestershire. This will improve the sustainability and speed of the construction process, as well as reducing disruption for the local community. Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house.
Andy Reynolds, Managing Director of Vistry South East Midlands, said: “This latest deal adds another high-quality site to our pipeline of projects in Leicestershire. With a significant shortage of supply in the area, the acquisition of this site is a major milestone in bringing forward a new mixed-tenure development that will provide modern, well-connected homes catering to people with a wide range of requirements and at various stages of life.”
Richborough, one of the UK’s largest, best-in-class land promoters, was granted planning permission for the site in January 2024 and was instrumental in brokering the deal with Vistry.
Jordan Gresham, Group Disposals Director at Richborough, said, “Congratulations to Vistry on securing this site. We’re excited to see it come to life and deliver the much-needed new homes.
“I want to extend a huge thanks to our in-house team, and our consultants. Securing permission for 475 dwellings via planning appeal demonstrates our tenacity combined with a well-considered planning strategy.
“A special mention must also go to Steve Louth, our honorary director who passed away in 2022. This site was Steve’s vision, and it has been an honour to be involved in helping deliver this project as part of Steve’s Richborough legacy’’.
Groundbreaking technology that can capture carbon from the atmosphere and lock it into recycled concrete has been brought to the UK by Aggregate Industries.
The Coalville-based building materials supplier, part of the global Holcim Group, nd Swiss company neustark have set up a mineralisation plant in London – the first venture into the UK market for the Swiss cleantech start-up which has 19 other sites in Europe.
Neustark technology helps turn waste from demolished concrete – the world’s largest waste stream – into a carbon sink, permanently locking carbon removed from the atmosphere into processed concrete.
The technology works by taking concrete from demolished buildings which is crushed and screened at an AIUK recycling site. It then undergoes a procedure in which CO2, captured from biogas plants, is liquified and injected into the concrete granules.
This triggers a mineralisation process which permanently locks the captured carbon into the granules and can then be used to make new concrete or other building materials.
So far neustark has permanently removed more than 2,500 tonnes of carbon since it launched commercially in 2023, with an aim of removing a million tonnes by 2030.
Holcim invested in neustark last year, and is collaborating with it to deploy the solution at its sites worldwide, scaling up low-carbon and circular construction to multiple sites. The partnership won the 2023 Deloitte “Technology Fast 50” Venture Client Award for outstanding collaborations between startups and large companies.
Lee Sleight, CEO of Aggregate Industries UK, said: “We are really excited to be introducing neustark into the UK as part of our aim to decarbonise our own operations and the wider industry.
“This takes the battle to reduce carbon emissions to the next level through carbonation. The technology is available now and works – it can make a difference now not in five years time.
“We have London – as one of the world’s largest urban mines – with direct access to demolished concrete from building projects and we have the neustark technology. Together we can remove carbon from the atmosphere and permanently lock it into recycled concrete which can then go on to be used again in new building projects.
“This isn’t just a great carbon removal innovation but a great circular economy innovation where we are taking what was once a waste stream and reusing it, saving us from digging up virgin materials in the first place.
“Once fully operational, we are sure that there will be plenty of like minded contractors and specifiers out there who want to further their own decarbonisation journey with us and we see this technology scaling up and delivering results very quickly. Together we can really drive towards our net zero ambitions.”
Rutland Hall Hotel is delighted to announce the appointment of Sunil Kanjanghat as the resort’s new Director General Manager. With over 20 years of global experience in the luxury hospitality sector, Sunil is set to bring his strategic expertise and focus on first class experiences to Rutland Hall after an exceptional tenure at Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa, part of the Hand Picked Hotels portfolio.
Known for his impactful leadership, Sunil is eager to contribute his vast expertise to the resort’s development and to build on Rutland Hall’s growing reputation as a premier luxury destination in the UK.
“I am thrilled to be joining Rutland Hall Hotel at this time of change and growth,” explains Sunil. “I look forward to working with the existing team and I am also eager to collaborate with the owners, Priyesh Patel MBE DL and Minesh Patel, on the exciting and innovative projects to come. I am looking forward to what the future holds.”
Sunil’s arrival coincides with several new developments at Rutland Hall which include the refurbishment of the leisure facilities and the opening of Four Roots Wellbeing which will offer guests a unique, four-hour curated journey which includes bathing, treatment, relaxation and dining.
Sunil’s career spans senior leadership roles across many luxury five star and four red star experiences in Asia and England, where he has developed a reputation for driving operational excellence. Throughout his 8 years with the Montagu Arms in Hampshire, the Terrace restaurant held a One Michelin star. His portfolio of 5-star hotel successes includes Lainston House, part of the Exclusive collections, Le Meridien luxury hotels and the Sheraton, a 5-star deluxe hotel in Asia.
Sunil is a St Julian’s Scholar and a graduate of the prestigious Innholders Scholarship from Cranfield University. His outstanding success in delivering luxury experiences stems from his exceptional management style, which is characterised by a focus on leading, supporting, and inspiring. This makes him the perfect fit to guide Rutland Hall through this exciting period of investment and development. Sunil’s vision and experience in managing large-scale projects and historical properties will be instrumental in furthering the hotel’s commitment to excellence.
Priyesh Patel MBE DL, co-owner of Rutland Hall Hotel, expressed his enthusiasm for Sunil’s appointment: “We are excited to have Sunil on board at such an important time for our hotel. His leadership style is nothing short of remarkable, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have on our operations, our team, and, of course, our guests.”
Commenting on the Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates to 4.75%, Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at the free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “The Bank of England was right to cut interest rates again today but should move further and faster. Rates are still higher than necessary to keep bearing down on inflation, especially when the Bank is continuing to tighten policy by running down its holdings of government bonds.
“Indeed, a majority of members of the IEA’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee voted to cut rates by a half a point rather than a quarter. Inflation is now back close to target and expected to remain there, but the full effects of past increases in interest rates and the deceleration of money growth have yet to feed through.
“The additional uncertainty and market volatility triggered by the Budget and Trump’s victory had prompted some to speculate that the MPC might hold off today. Delivering the rate cut that almost all had expected should therefore help to reassure households, businesses, and investors.
“The Bank has also endorsed the OBR view that the additional spending and borrowing in the Budget will provide a temporary boost to growth and inflation. This could slow the pace of rate cuts in future, though the Bank stuck to its guidance that rates will fall ‘gradually’ (perhaps a quarter point every three months, taking the Bank rate to 3.75% by the end of next year).
“However, the Bank’s forecasts are based on assumptions about the path of market interest rates which already look too optimistic. The increases in taxes and other business costs in the Budget, compounded by the hit to confidence, should also limit any upsides to growth or inflation.
“The Bank acknowledged the uncertainties here, implying rates could still be cut more quickly. But there is a clear risk that the MPC is too slow to respond.”
Life-saving charity, the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance has responded to its 30,000th call – in its 30th anniversary year.
The helicopter and crew landed at the scene of an RTC near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, in the hours of darkness last week (30 October).
The doctor and paramedic crew treated two women and a child, who were then taken to hospital. It is the unique combination of a specialist crew with the speed and capability of the helicopter that gives patients the best chance of survival.
LNAA CEO Karen Jobling sad: “This milestone during LNAA’s 30th anniversary year, was made possible because of the support of people living and working in the communities of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.”
LNAA’s team of specialist paramedics, doctors and pilots have already responded to almost 1,500 life-saving missions this year.
October proved to be extremely busy and the crews were called out to 141 incidents of which 58 of these were undertaken during the hours of darkness.
With the aid of night vision goggles (NVGs) the crew are able to fly at night to reach patients involved in the most serious of incidents until 2am every day.
LINCS & NOTTS Air Ambulance photo shoot G-LNCC
Each pair of NVGs cost £14,000 and it is thanks to the generosity of people living and working in the communities of Lincs & Notts that we can equip the crew with this state-of-the art equipment allowing them to provide pre-hospital emergency care to those in need whilst everyone is asleep.
Karen added: “We need £13 million this year to provide this 24/7 service, every day of the year. We receive no direct Government funding, and have only come this far, thanks to everyone who continues to support us, giving our patients the best chance of survival and recovery.”
The first 18 environment officers specifically focussed on water company regulation have started work across the East and West Midlands. By the end of the year a further 29 people will have joined the new water industry Enforcement team focused on the Midlands and Severn Trent Water.
These new staff are in addition to existing local teams which will continue to contribute to the regulation of Severn Trent Water.
Across the country the new Environment Agency staff will ramp up water company inspections, enforcement and regulation. The move is part of the national Water Industry Regulation Transformation programme that will see up to 500 new and experienced staff recruited across the country.
Together, the new recruits will enable water company inspections to increase to 4,000 by the end of March 2025,10,000 in 2025/6 and 11,500 in 2026/27.
The EA is already conducting the largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Since 2015, the EA has concluded 63 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £151 million.
Geoff Craig, Water Industry Regulation Manager for the Midlands, said:
“We share the public’s frustration about the levels of sewage in our waterways. Water company performance is not good enough and we are committed to cracking down on non-compliance.
“More boots on the ground is a significant element of how we are improving the way we regulate the water sector. Nationally, over the next three years, we’re spending £15.8 million on improving water company enforcement and investing around £15 million on enhancing our digital systems and tools to help identify the cause of issues, not just the symptoms.
“Taking this action will allow us to bring about a change in performance from the water industry that we all want to see.”
Independent financial planning experts, Midland Wealth Solutions, have relocated to new offices at Sadler Bridge Studios, part of the Connect Derby portfolio of managed workspaces.
Midland Wealth Solutions was founded in 2016 by David Bradley and has expanded to become a trusted name in the financial services sector in the Midlands, London, and the South East.
The company provides independent advice to individuals, families, and businesses across a range of areas primarily focussing on lifestyle financial planning which often leads to advice on investments, savings, pensions, tax planning, and financial protection.
Daviid and his team previously occupied a shared office space on St Mary’s Gate in the city and their relocation was driven by the need for a more professional environment that would support the firm’s expansion and cater for its growing client base.
They checked out a number of managed workspaces across the city, but Sadler Bridge Studios came out on top, thanks to its central location, close to shops and car parking, and its high specification office space and complementary facilities, including meeting rooms and in-house café, RASK.
Commenting on joining Sadler Bridge Studios, David Bradley, director of Midland Wealth Solutions, said:
“We’d been on the lookout for a new office in Derby city centre for a while to support our expanding client base.
“We considered several locations, but Sadler Bridge Studios stood out due to its central location and facilities, especially the in-house café, meeting rooms and super-fast broadband.
“The facilities available here are already making a huge difference. The dedicated meeting rooms are perfect for client presentations, and the reception services and post handling are efficient and professional.”
After more than a decade of inking incredible tattoo designs to people across the UK, Nottingham’s Sarah Louise Powell has been named Black Businessperson of the Year by the Black Achievers Awards.
With a fast-growing business, beloved by its many clients, Sarah has enjoyed rapid success since opening her studio in 2022, after completing residencies alongside other leading tattoo artists across the city.
Taking the plunge she has gone on to create a successful business, which is attracting attention from peers and customers alike, who have fallen in love with her incredible work.
Recently featured as part of a specialist exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall, called Reclaiming the Narrative, Sarah’s work has led her to achieve national fame, with her work now followed by more than 11,000 on social media.
Passionate to pass on her expertise to others, Sarah recently shared her knowledge to students at Nottingham Trent International College, who were enthralled by her experiences and knowledge.
The success of her studio and her drive to help other entrepreneurs was recognised by the judges at these prestigious awards, which saw dozens of entries from across the Midlands.
Speaking about her win at the Black Achievers gala event, Sarah said: “It is an overwhelming honour to be recognised for all of my accomplishments as a business owner.
“I cannot thank everyone around me enough for the support and love they have shown me over the years. This achievement would not have been possible without my family, friends, mentors and clients who have helped me create a successful business.”
Ahead of COP 29 next week, The Green Life Pantry in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, has taken measures to make sure it is one of the small businesses helping to drive progress in the UK’s journey to Net Zero.
The zero waste eco store, which has been running since 2019, provides residents with an opportunity to stock up on day-to-day items in a more eco-friendly way by using ‘bring your own’ containers or paper bags. This includes dry goods, such as baking supplies, dried fruit, loose tea and coffee beans, as well as environmentally conscious replacement products such as wash detergents, shampoo and soaps.
Jenny Salvidge, founder of The Green Life Pantry, came up with the idea as a way of helping her community become cost effective, eco-logical and less reliant on plastic. After leaving full-time-employment, Jenny sought out a Start-Up Loan of £12,000 via programme partner Norfolk & Waveney Enterprise Services to help launch the business.
Jenny Salvidge, founder of The Green Life Pantry: “The Start Up Loan was pivotal in helping me to launch The Green Life Pantry and in turn, allowing me to support a community of eco-conscious people throughout Lincolnshire.
“I would certainly encourage other businesses to consider what steps they can take to become more sustainable, no matter how small they may be.”
Richard Bearman, Managing Director, Small Business Lending at the British Business Bank said: “We are immensely proud to support the entrepreneurial spirit within communities that traditionally face barriers to financing. It is our firm belief that by providing access to financing, we are not only fostering innovation but also empowering individuals to create sustainable enterprises that contribute positively to our economy and society.
The Green Life Pantry exemplifies our commitment to supporting sustainability-focused businesses. Jenny has now established a thriving, eco-conscious business, demonstrating the transformative impact of the Start Up Loans programme.”
A vacant former housing depot in Leicester has been transformed with the development of a new £6.25 million light industrial scheme.
Commercial property developer, Brackley Property Developments, has completed the construction of Blackbird Industrial Park, which comprises more than 30,000 sq ft of new light industrial units at the site on Blackbird Road, on behalf of Leicester City Council.
The scheme comprises four new and environmentally sustainable buildings which are subdivided to provide 21 high quality small units for start-ups and growing businesses, meeting a regional demand for commercial and industrial workspace.
Units are EPC A-rated and range in size from 750 sq ft – 2,500 sq ft. Features include roof-mounted solar panels, super insulation and low-energy smart lighting, and the site provides on-site parking, EV charging and bicycle storage facilities.
The brownfield site was previously home to the Ian Marlow Centre, a former housing depot used by Leicester City Council, which included vacant office, workshop and storage buildings.
The scheme was financed by the government’s Levelling Up Fund following the city council’s successful bid for £19.4million of new investment in 2021 to support the growth of workspaces in Leicester.
BPD won the remit from the council to redevelop the site, following a competitive tender. Wilten Construction was the main contractor and the professional team included Summers Inman LLP, Stephen George + Partners, BSP and BWB Consulting.
The Leicester Business Festival (LBF) 2024 officially kicked off on Monday, November 4, celebrating its 10 year milestone and the region’s creative and collaborative business community.
The opening event was held at the brand new Blackbird Industrial Park, situated on the site of a former housing depot on Blackbird Road. This state-of-the-art development features four buildings that offer over 30,000 square feet of light industrial workspace across 21 units, designed for local start-ups and growing businesses.
With a strong emphasis on sustainability, all the buildings include low carbon, energy-efficient features such as roof-mounted solar panels, excellent insulation, and smart lighting, along with electric vehicle charging stations and secure bicycle storage. The units will be available for lease starting in winter 2024, ranging in size from 750 to 2,500 square feet.
The festival’s opening highlighted Leicester’s recognition as the fifth most creative city in the UK. City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby underscored the importance of the festival and shared exciting upcoming initiatives, including a creative industry strategy launching on November 15 during the festival and exposed ambitious redevelopment plans for the city centre, such as a £22 million upgrade of the railway station and enhancements to the Leicester Waterside area.
Rajiv Popat, ITV news reporter, hosted the event, bringing together local businesses, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to showcase innovation, creativity and share insights. During the event, Rajiv interviewed Milan Gosai from Paani Bottles, a Leicester-based company that produces handcrafted copper water bottles. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paani Bottles combines traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern health benefits, such as improved digestion and antibacterial properties. Each bottle is made from over 99% pure copper, supports local artisans, and helps reduce plastic waste, appealing to customers who value authentic and sustainable products.
The quality of Nottingham Venues training, professional development and support for its 290 team members has been recognised at this years East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Nottingham Business Awards.
Nottingham Venues, the collection of hospitality destinations located on the University of Nottingham’s campuses, won the Commitment To People Development Award at the awards ceremony on Friday 1 November at The Nottingham Belfry.
The Commitment to People Development Award recognises organisations demonstrating a firm commitment to people development and the implementation and promotion of a learning and development culture. It also considers how employee wellbeing is supported and how this culture contributes to the business’ overall success.
The judges acknowledged the widespread professional development and leadership programmes Nottingham Venues has established, along with its commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its staff.
Stephanie Moss-Pearce, Director of Marketing at Nottingham Venues comments: “Our people reflect us, as a business, and the value we place on them. We want to ensure that our team have opportunities to develop in their careers and are supported, so we are delighted that our work has been recognised by The East Midlands Chamber.
“Our commitment to our people is having a hugely positive impact on our business. The past year has been our best yet, both financially and in terms of business growth and internal promotions, staff engagement and positive guest feedback, all thanks to our dedicated team.”
“Our focus on our people has been the biggest factor in driving our business success. Our people create our organisational culture which impacts on the atmosphere we create for our guests. Having satisfied guests brings repeat business and our teams’ excellent service builds our reputation, creating positive reviews, which drive our success.”
UK-based smart technology and digital provider Connexin has successfully completed the first stage of its Project Gigabit contract for the provision of hyperfast broadband to over 34,000 rural homes in Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire.
The £58 million contract, awarded in January 2024 by the UK government, will see Connexin roll out lightning-fast, reliable broadband to rural communities throughout Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire. The rollout is part of Project Gigabit, a government-funded programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband.
Connexin will soon move onto the build stage, which will see the first premises connected by early 2025.
Connexin worked closely with the government, Nottinghamshire County Council and Lincolnshire County Council to efficiently complete stage one of the project on time and under budget.
Furqan Alamgir, CEO at Connexin, said:
“As a company driven to improve lives through digital innovation, Connexin is delighted to be working with BDUK on bringing Ultrafast Connectivity to these hard-to-reach areas. This fibre network will not only offer significantly faster broadband speeds but will serve as a backbone for many other services to truly digitally enable rural Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire.“
Phoebe Smith, Managing Director at PATRIZIA, said:
“We’re proud of Connexin’s approach to this partnership and pleased to be moving the project into the next stage. We are excited to be partnering with Connexin and the UK government to provide much needed access to faster and more reliable broadband services to the rural communities in Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire.”
As part of the contract, over 34,000 rural properties in hard-to-reach areas such as Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Annesley, Wragby and Market Rasen will undergo a major digital upgrade with the introduction of Connexin’s full fibre to the premise (FTTP) broadband infrastructure. Residents and businesses will be able to benefit from gigabit-capable speeds.
Over a million homes, businesses and public buildings – mostly based in hard-to-reach locations – are now able to tap into lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband as a direct result of UK Government investment in network upgrades.
83% of professionals state they’ve experienced mental ill health at work in the past 12 months – with more than a quarter encountering it ‘regularly’.Robert Walters’ survey of 3,000 professionals across the UK & Ireland recently revealed increasing numbers of professionals experiencing poor mental health at work, despite employers’ best efforts to enhance wellbeing offerings like employee wellbeing programmes e.g. mental health support (71%), Cycle-to-work schemes (65%), Healthcare vouchers (48%) and free or discounted gym memberships (43%).
A survey by Ipsos indicated that mental health has now overtaken cancer and obesity, to become the most common health problem Britons worry about.
In the UK, around £138bn is lost every year due to workplace sickness.
Habiba Khatoon, Director of Robert Walters Midlands: “While it’s encouraging to see that many employers have been ramping up their wellbeing benefits – the figures speak for themselves, efforts are still falling short when it comes to meaningfully supporting professional’s wellbeing.
“With past aspersions of the UK adopting a ‘sicknote culture’ its important employers can not only empathise with, but adequately support their employee’s wellbeing to avoid footing the cost of increased employee absences.”
Demand for wellbeing interventions29% of all UK professionals consider employee wellbeing programmes the most important wellbeing & lifestyle benefit when they’re considering a job offer. Increasing to two-fifths (43%) of HR professionals and 31% of those working within General Management.
Interestingly – a third of C-Suite professionals state the same, selecting wellbeing programmes over travel & retail discounts, healthcare vouchers and free/discounted gym memberships.Habiba adds:“Professionals are coming forward to demand that their employers do more to support their wellbeing at work – this isn’t an issue that’s limited to a specific industry or job-level. But the jury is out on whether the steps employers are then taking to heed their demands are having the desired effect.”Are wellbeing benefits a box-ticking exercise?Almost three-quarters of companies now offer employee wellbeing programmes.However, less than a fifth of professionals claim to have actually accessed the mental health support provided by their employer in the past 8 months.When asked why they hadn’t, 58% stated that these types of benefits feel more like a ‘box-ticking exercise’ rather than provide any meaningful support – with a further 29% stating the services they’ve been offered need to be improved.Habiba comments: “Employee wellbeing programs usually involve things like mental health / mindful apps, physical health checks and supplements – whilst these interventions can be useful, they put a plaster on the real cause of mental ill health – which can be something as simple as increased stress or professionals feeling overworked.”Employer efforts must be recentred
A worrying 67% of UK professionals don’t think their employer is doing enough to meaningfully promote employee wellbeing – whilst almost two-fifths of senior leaders feel their increased spending on wellbeing benefits is going by largely unnoticed.
Habiba concludes: “There is no overnight solution for improving mental health. But employers must be dedicated to the creating a culture of open discussion and empathy in their workplace. This means adopting strategies such as mindful work practices e.g. respecting workhours and holidays, encouraging regular breaks and offering regular check-ins for employees.
“Those businesses who dedicate themselves to going the extra mile in supporting their staff’s mental health and wellbeing now, will reap the rewards of increased employee loyalty for years to come.”
Former apprentice Charlie Gresswell will represent the East Midlands in the grand final of the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards in London later this month (27th November).
Charlie, who is 23 and works in the food industry, was crowned East Midlands Skills Champion in the regional heat of the awards in October.
The regional award is in recognition of her outstanding work to promote apprenticeships. Charlie is the Apprentice Chair of the East Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (EMAAN).
“It was fantastic to win the regional award and I’m really looking forward to representing the East Midlands at the national awards, which will be a very special occasion,” said Charlie.
The Employer Chair of EMAAN, Charlotte Nicholls, said: “Charlie is an excellent advocate for apprenticeships. She proactively goes above and beyond her normal duties to promote the benefits of apprenticeships and skills. Her passion inspires others.”
Charlie works for SGS as a Technical Assistant in the Food & Nutrition team. Previously, she completed a three-year Technical degree apprenticeship course with Samworth Brothers and Sheffield Hallam University.
Her role as Apprentice Chair of EMAAN includes supporting a number of apprenticeship ambassadors, organising/hosting meetings, running projects and helping to ensure the smooth running of the network.
“I was originally inspired to find out more about apprenticeships after an ambassador came to my school to explain the benefits and what was involved,” said Charlie.
“It feels great to now give something back and help to champion apprenticeships so other people can reap the benefits too. To receive this recognition is amazing and I hope I can make the East Midlands network proud in the national final.”
As the dust settles on last week’s Budget, the consequences for the wider economy and farming are beginning to become clear. And that is particularly the case when it comes to stimulating growth, supporting domestic business and strengthening agriculture.
The Inheritance Tax (IHT) changes – reducing agricultural and business property relief (APR and BPR) will be costly to many farms and rural businesses, while the arguments used appear based on misunderstood and partial data, says Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). “These changes will affect many more family farms than the Government suggests and will do so when farming needs its resources to meet the new policies, to invest and adapt to advancing climate change.
“At a strategic level, the Government may have missed its optimum moment to drive the economic growth programme we need,” he adds.
Of course, the devil is in the detail – so what do the IHT changes really mean? In simple terms, where land, dwellings, machinery, animals and other assets are worth £4m, there will be £600,000 in tax to find. “That is a lot to pay. Even if spread over 10 years that is as much as many farms make in profit over 10 years, precluding important investment.” The Government argues that only a quarter of farms; the wealthiest quarter, are affected. But that misunderstands the tax data:
First, it is only based on APR claims and takes no account of the farm’s machinery, livestock, working capital or other business assets, including diversified business activities supporting the farm and the rural economy. That figure misses half the picture and so understates the effects of the change.
Second, it is not an assessment of farms but of individual ownerships of agricultural land. The average value of £486,000 might generally be just 50 acres but nearer 20 in some areas. Some will be small intense farms or family members’ land used by the family farm, but more will be lifestyle units and stray fields let out for grazing round a house – both likely with wealthier non-farming owners. The data does not record farms when, on DEFRA data, the average cereals farm would need four owners to be out of tax on its farming activity.
“If farmland has to be sold, the increased capital gains tax rate will mean more acres must go, reducing the farm’s production capacity and its ability to meet its overheads,” warns Mr Moody.
However, and almost immediately, English farmers face the dramatic acceleration of delinked payment cuts.
The centrepiece of the Budget was a £25bn increase in employers’ National Insurance, increasing the cost of employing staff, especially lower paid and part-time workers. “The whole food chain will now be less able to invest and take on new hires, with anyone earning even £9,100 costing at least £615 more,” he explains. “This will be particularly felt in many of the labour-intensive sectors of farming like dairy, pigs, poultry fruit, vegetables and horticulture.”
Nottinghamshire funeral director A W Lymn has appointed a new Senior Funeral Director to lead an all-female team at its Wollaton funeral home.
Kirby Cranshaw, 34, joins the team of six Senior Funeral Directors working across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire.
As part of her new role, Kirby oversees the funeral directors working at funeral homes in Wollaton, Beeston, Stapleford, Aspley, and Long Eaton in both a professional and pastoral capacity. Her team is made up of all women, reflecting a change in what, the company says, has historically been a male-dominated profession.
Kirby’s passion for funeral directorship started at the age of 15 when she completed work experience at a funeral directors in Blackpool. After obtaining a degree in Forensic Science from the University of Lincoln, she started to write to funeral directors in the area and secured her first role.
She said: “I’ve known ever since that first bit of work experience that working in the funeral industry is what I was put on this earth to do. It’s about making someone’s final journey perfect, helping people through some of the most difficult times and making it just a little bit easier.”
After nine years of working in Lincoln and becoming a branch manager across four funeral homes, Kirby joined us as a Funeral Director and moved to Nottingham.
She added: “I’d always known of and dreamed of working for A.W. Lymn, but because I lived in Lincoln, I didn’t think it would be possible. I’d seen their service brochures and the way they operate, and their approach really aligned with me.
“In my previous role as a branch manager, I’d had to step away from directly working with and supporting families. Joining A.W. Lymn allowed me to get back to what I was really passionate about, which is building relationships in the community.
“I’m incredibly proud to have been promoted to Senior Funeral Director and take on a new level of responsibility within the business. What makes A.W. Lymn so unique is that despite taking on a more managerial role, I still get to conduct funerals and be hands on with the families, which is highly important to me and will always be my priority.”
MD Matthew Lymn Rose added: “Ever since Kirby joined the team in 2020, we have been incredibly impressed by her commitment to the job, and her devotion to embodying our core values and ethos in everything she does.
“We have no doubts that Kirby will excel in her new role supporting her colleagues across the west area, and we look forward to seeing her continue to grow professionally as she takes on this new challenge.”
The go-to targets for cybercriminals have been revealed, and a private small company from the United Kingdom operating in the retail field would definitely be one of them, according to the latest study by NordPass.
In partnership with NordStellar, NordPass evaluated nearly 2,000 data breach incidents worldwide from the past two years, extracting insights on which companies are most likely to experience a cybersecurity breach. Experts ranked companies based on their likelihood for a breach depending on their industry, size, company type, and country of registration.
“While small retail companies are highly attractive, other profiles are no less appealing for hackers. This analysis helped us illustrate which businesses face higher risks and explain what measures can be taken to avoid them,” says Karolis Arbaciauskas, head of business development at NordPass.
Retail and technology sectors are in the line of fire
Among the data security incidents investigated by experts, most occurred in the retail industry (95 incidents). The second most breached sector is technology, with 56 incidents recorded in the past two years.
The top 10 most attractive industries also include more specific technology-related sectors, such as internet and web services, IT services and consulting, software development, and computer hardware development.
According to Arbaciauskas, these results are rather surprising, given that many think that the technology or IT sectors are less vulnerable and are better equipped against threats online. However, the reality is that hackers see technology firms as an appealing target — even if the company is equipped with high-end IT solutions, human mistakes can still occur. Therefore, companies should choose tools that eliminate possible risks, invest in employee training, and carefully evaluate their cyber preparedness.
The United Kingdom is the third most affected market
The study reveals that companies operating in the United States get the most attention from hackers, with almost a quarter of businesses (489) investigated for this research registered there. The United Kingdom (73) also got into the top of the list and ranked third after India (114). Among the countries in the European Union, Spain and France are more appealing to hackers than others.
“It’s natural that bigger countries are in the spotlight, given that hackers see a lot of opportunities there. However, no country is resilient to cyber threats and this is important to stress. It is up to businesses themselves to ensure their own and their clients’ security online, no matter their address,” says Arbaciauskas.
SMBs aren’t too small for hackers
In terms of company size, hackers seem to prefer small and medium businesses (SMBs). In the past two years, the absolute majority of investigated breached companies had up to 200 employees. Arbaciauskas explains that the problem could simply lie in SMBs underestimating their value to hackers.
“There are targeted attacks, yes, but hackers often go for much broader scope activities, such as credential stuffing, dictionary or rainbow attacks that do not choose their victims. Because of employees’ reused and poor passwords, or downloaded malware, company credentials appear in the leaked credentials’ databases, which gives a chance for hackers to break in. For smaller companies, a data breach is a risk for business closure — financial costs and reputational damage carry significant aftermath effects,” says Arbaciauskas.
Having investigated the company types that fall under the hackers’ radar the most, NordPass concluded that private businesses are targeted most often. As much as 85% of the analyzed data breaches were against such companies.
What should you do if your business profile falls under this study?
According to Arbaciauskas, any organization, no matter its size or type, should be cautious of its cybersecurity. Employing critical tools such as password managers that allow for secure management of company credentials and accesses, or virtual private network (VPN) solutions is a first step towards better resilience against the threats online.
In addition, cybersecurity auditing is helpful to spot weaknesses in a company’s IT infrastructure and prepare resilience strategies. It is also critical to invest in the overall cybersecurity awareness raising among the organization to avoid human mistakes that often lead to serious data breaches.
An engineered natural solution to extract carbon from the atmosphere was on display last month at a farming estate near Doncaster, which crosses the borders of Nottinghamshire, North Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire.
Visitors to The Lapwing Estate were shown the novel ‘Reverse Coal’ project, which has been brought to life by an innovative farmer, a team of academics and engineers, including a team from the Lincoln Institute of Agri-Technology (LIAT) and the School of Engineering and Physical Science at the University of Lincoln, UK.
The day started with presentations from Lapwing Energy, Collison Associates, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the University of Lincoln who are involved across a vast array of projects exploring the shared vision of rethinking farmed peatlands. This was followed by a tour of the site including workshops looking at biomass feedstocks, biochar, industrial decarbonisation as well as an opportunity to sequester carbon back into the geological reserve for long term storage.
Reverse Coal was mentioned as a positive case study in the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan 2023, the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio Progress Report 2021-22, and Powering Up Britain – The Net Zero Growth Plan. It has been widely highlighted as an example of how peatlands can be more responsibly managed and pave the way for climate-resilient agriculture.
Peatlands are some of the most fertile soils for food production, but agricultural drainage causes large greenhouse gas emissions. Reverse Coal has been developed as a whole systems approach, that tackles landscape emissions whilst shifting towards controlled environment agriculture for greater food security. This tackles the common criticism of most biomass projects which is the displacement of food production for bioenergy.
The renewable energy comes from biomass grown on rewetted peatland thereby ending emissions associated with drainage for agriculture. This biomass is then chipped and fed through a thermochemical treatment called pyrolysis to generate energy and biochar. Biochar is a solid, stable form of carbon which will then be stored in a innovative storage facility demonstrating that CO2 can be permanently captured for geological time.
Prof Simon Pearson, Founding Director of Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology said:
“The Reverse Coal project showcase was a fantastic opportunity for the University of Lincoln to share its expertise with industry partners, and support innovative approaches to sustainable food production systems.
“One of LIAT’s goals is to create a sustainable future for agri-food production through innovation and research, and the the Reverse Coal project is a great example of this.
“Reducing the impact of agri-food on the climate through projects such as Reverse Coal is at the heart of what we do, and it is very encouraging to see the project being so well received by the wider food industry.”
James Brown, CEO of The Lapwing Estate said: “This was a great opportunity to showcase Reverse Coal to industry and partners as well as say a big thank you to those who have supported us and backed this project from the beginning.
This is just the beginning for The Lapwing Estate as we look to deliver a more sustainable food production system that also delivers for our planet!”
Nottingham’s total number of coworking spaces is 39 – the 7th largest coworking market in the UK, according to research from CoworkingCafe, specialists in coworking.
In Nottingham, median prices for:
dedicated desks are £211 / month– on par with the national median of £210;
open workspaces are £158 / month– on par with the national median of £160;
virtual offices are £49 / month – on par with the national median of £50;
meeting rooms are £18 / hour – below the national median of £25.
Balazs Szekely, Senior Writer and Coworking Specialist at CoworkingCafe, commented about the coworking industry in the UK and Ireland, “Flexible workspaces in the UK and Ireland have reached a new level of accessibility, with over 3,300 locations catering not just to solo remote professionals but also to businesses of all sizes and needs.
As demand grows beyond London to regional hubs like Manchester, Birmingham and also numerous smaller cities, this growth highlights a notable shift with businesses increasingly seeing coworking as a sustainable long-term solution that combines flexibility while reducing overhead.”
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