In 2019, Newark and Sherwood District Council declared a Climate Emergency, setting a target to reduce the impact of climate change and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Monday’s Policy and Performance Improvement Committee was an opportunity for District Councillors to look at the progress that has been made towards this goal.
The District Council’s carbon footprint for 2023/24 was 3,141 tonnes and the Council is working on reducing this through many activities and behaviour changes, including switching to greener utility providers and exploring alternative fuels like HVO for environmental services vehicles, which account for nearly a third of these emissions.
In the past year alone, the Council has installed solar panels at Dukeries Leisure Centre, Vicar Water Country Park and Sconce and Devon Park as well as planting over 4500 trees across the district.
Solar PV projects are also a major part of the District Council’s strategy to cut carbon emissions. The District Council has installed solar panels at multiple sites, saving money and reducing its carbon footprint.
Projected savings over the next 12 months indicate that, across Newark Sports and Fitness Centre, Vicar Water Country Park, Dukeries Leisure Centre, Sconce and Devon Park, and The Beacon, carbon will be reduced by 74 tonnes and over £42,000 will be saved.
A Decarbonisation Plan for Council buildings has been created in partnership with Newark firm BE Design. This plan outlines energy efficiency measures and carbon reduction strategies for sites including Blidworth Leisure Centre, Brunel Drive Depot, Castle House, Dukeries Leisure Centre, Newark Beacon, the Palace Theatre Newark and National Civil War Centre, Sconce and Devon Park and Vicar Water Country Park.
In the past few years, The Carbon Trust has updated its stance on tree planting and now considers this a valid method for accounting for carbon savings. The District Council has been successful with tree planting schemes and plans to do more to offset carbon emissions in this way.
Since 2019, over 19,000 trees have been planted or given away, and the Council is always looking for more opportunities to increase this number. This year, even more trees will be planted once planting season begins, including new trees on Clay Lane and Sherwood Avenue Park as part of its regeneration.
The Green Rewards App was launched in the district in 2022, helping the community to make positive changes by logging carbon-reducing activities. With 608 residents signed up (a 5.2% increase since April 2024), 73 tonnes of carbon emissions have been avoided so far. Residents have also been aided in lowering their carbon emissions with the rollout of kerbside glass recycling, reducing multiple visits to and from recycling sites.
£93,000 has recently been awarded to the Sherwood Forest Trust from the District Council’s UKSPF allocation to support a community tree nursery. Their goal is to plant 10,000 trees in the next 3 years and, so far, they’ve recruited 680 volunteers for planting and seed collection, gathered 40,000 seeds, planted 2,000 trees, and have 4,600 trees maturing on site, ready for planting.
Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment, said: “These are just some of the exciting initiatives the District Council is undertaking to help achieve our net zero targets by 2035.
“This is an extremely important cause to me personally and we must act with urgency. The enthusiasm of our officers in pursuing this goal and thinking creatively about ways in which to do so is really heartening.
“I recognise that setting an example for our residents is vital and we’re always looking for solutions to help residents reduce their carbon footprint, making it as easy for them as possible.
“Together, our actions are securing cleaner air for residents and better protecting tenants’ homes and residents’ services against volatile energy prices. We’ve also got some exciting climate action plans up our sleeve and can’t wait to share our growing ambitions with you all soon.”
Housebuilder Honey has submitted plans and exchanged contracts on a 12.3-acre site in Witham St Hughs, Lincolnshire, to deliver a £45m, 170-home development.
The proposed site, which will be called Nova, is located off Warren Lane and is a short drive from the A46.
Subject to planning, the development will comprise a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes and feature 17 of Honey’s different house types. Of the 170 homes, 28 have been allocated as affordable housing.
The proposed site in Witham St Hughs will form part of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan which looks to ensure that all new homes are well-designed and in appropriate locations to benefit the needs of the community.
If given the go ahead by North Kesteven District Council, work at the development is anticipated to start in early 2025 with the first residents expected to move in by the end of next year.
Since being launched in October 2022, Honey has secured 19 sites across Yorkshire and the East Midlands that will deliver 2,349 homes and a combined gross development value of £665m.
The housebuilder is backed by private equity firm Alchemy Partners and its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.
Honey Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mitchell, said: “Our thorough market research identified Witham St Hughs as a popular residential location for us to build in and expand our development footprint in the East Midlands.
“We are seeing strong demand for high-specification homes from prospective buyers living in and looking to move to the local area. Our thoughtfully designed homes, which combine style, substance and sustainability will satisfy this.
“Now that we have exchanged contracts and submitted plans for our Nova development, we look forward to North Kesteven District Council considering our proposal.”
A strong third quarter performance at Next has seen the retailer increase its profit guidance for the year.
Full price sales in the third quarter (August – October) were up 7.6% versus last year. This was 2.6% ahead of Next’s guidance for the quarter of 5.0%. The business believes the performance was driven by the early arrival of colder weather this year, versus an unusually warm September and early October last year.
As a result, Next is increasing guidance for fourth quarter full price sales growth by 1.0%, to 3.5%.
The improved sales in Q3 along with its forecast for Q4 add £43m to full price sales and £10m to profit; accordingly Next is upgrading its profit guidance for the full year from £995m to just over £1bn.
Rolls-Royce SMR and ČEZ Group will join forces to bring their global capabilities and know-how to the deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR’s small modular reactor (SMR) technology.
This is enabled by an equity investment by CEZ into Rolls-Royce SMR and a strategic partnership to deploy up to 3GW of electricity in the Czech Republic using Rolls-Royce SMR power plants.
The agreement strengthens Rolls-Royce SMR’s ability to deploy SMR technology in Europe and globally, and puts CEZ, Rolls-Royce SMR, and its existing shareholders, BNF Resources, Constellation, QIA and Rolls-Royce at the forefront of SMR deployment.
These efforts further support the UK and Europe to reach their ambitious net zero goals and contribute solutions to address the challenges of climate change.
Tufan Erginbilgiç, CEO of Rolls-Royce plc, said: “We are pleased to receive this significant opportunity to deploy our SMR technology in the Czech Republic and welcome CEZ as a strategic investor and partner in Rolls-Royce SMR.
“We have a shared vision and CEZ further strengthens our ability to build stable, secure, low carbon power – delivering on our promise as a leading SMR business. Today’s announcement ensures that the Rolls-Royce SMR business is set up for success in the UK, the Czech Republic and around the world.”
Daniel Beneš, CEO of CEZ Group, said: “This investment enables our commitment to international collaboration in delivering clean power at home and abroad. The Czech Republic hosts some of the world’s leading nuclear supply chain companies.
“This collaboration in deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR units offers a unique opportunity for growth and prosperity to the nuclear sector through our participation in the development of the technology and will enable CEZ and other local companies to play a significant role in its future global production.”
Subject to customary regulatory clearances and security assessments, CEZ will make an investment into Rolls-Royce SMR, acquiring a stake of approximately 20 percent.
On 18 September, Czech Prime Minister Fiala announced that CEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR would enter a strategic partnership to enable the development and construction of SMRs in the Czech Republic.
CEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR will work collaboratively on plans for the deployment of up to 3 GW of clean, affordable energy in the Czech Republic. CEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR will work to finalise contractual order terms for an order of the first unit with early works expected to commence as soon as 2025.
Furthermore, CEZ will support Rolls-Royce SMR to deploy SMR projects across Europe, leveraging the learning curve and knowledge transfer across projects.
This collaboration, expected to last several decades, is more than just an agreement between Rolls-Royce SMR and CEZ, it represents an important strengthening of ties between the UK and Czech Governments.
It also signals a strong commitment to building an international supply chain, generating an enormous opportunity to develop skills in both countries and deliver significant economic growth.
Nuclear energy will play a key role in both the UK and the Czech Republic as both countries seek a secure, clean, and affordable supply of electricity for generations to come.
Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station is expected to produce 470MWe of stable, affordable, emission-free electricity – enough to power a million homes for at least 60 years.
A partnership spearheaded by Nottinghamshire County Council has helped to deliver 3,511 community-boosting projects and £394 million worth of investment since its launch.
Arc Partnership was formed as a joint venture between the county council and public sector procurement specialist, SCAPE, in 2016.
On behalf of the council and the communities and people it represents, Arc Partnership delivers multi-disciplinary property design, consultancy, master planning, regeneration, project and programme management, emergency, reactive, compliance asset management and planned services.
The unique partnership was launched to drive greater efficiencies and lead on innovation in the design, management, and maintenance of property services in the public sector.
Now, eight years after the joint venture’s launch, the county council has approved a five-year extension to its initial 10-year contract with Arc Partnership for it to continue delivering a wide range of services for the benefit of Nottinghamshire and its communities.
Speaking after the contract was extended until 2031, Councillor Keith Girling, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, said Arc Partnership has been a huge success and hailed it for delivering ‘integrated customer focused services’, value for money and supporting ‘regeneration and economic growth’.
He said: “Our relationship with Arc Partnership has grown significantly in service provision since the joint venture was launched in 2016 and the ongoing demonstration of best value and delivery means we are happy to extend the contract early and by a further five years.
“I am delighted with the progress Arc Partnership has made in the last eight years, especially when you look at the incredible number of projects which have delivered across Nottinghamshire.
“To date, Arc Partnership has delivered 3,511 projects – which equates to more than £394 million worth of investment, of which an impressive £344m has been spent locally.
“This is fantastic news for the local economy; they’re dealing with businesses here in Nottinghamshire and employing local people – with 95% of its team living locally, which is incredible.
“You also must remember a lot of this has been delivered during a time when local authorities have faced extremely difficult financial challenges in addition to the pressures brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Arc Partnership constantly delivers value for money and does a fantastic job supporting us to create an efficient, safe and sustainable land and property portfolio, helping to deliver more integrated customer-focused services, value for money as well as supporting regeneration and economic growth.”
The multi-million-pound projects it has delivered on behalf of the county council include new state-of-the-art schools, refurbishment of existing maintain schools, modernising its libraries and managing the development of the county council’s new low carbon, all-electric office Oak House headquarters, near Hucknall.
The new office is being designed, project and cost-managed by Arc Partnership and delivered through its construction partner, Morgan Sindall Construction.
A target of 86 per cent of local spend has been set for the project and associated infrastructure works, with sub-contractors and tradespeople located within 20 miles of the site.
In addition to delivering value for money, quality of output and customer excellence, a key part of Arc Partnership’s ethos is social value and demonstrating real value in terms of local spend.
Daniel Maher, who has been Arc Partnership’s managing director since 2016, said the organisation’s commitment to social value and local spend ‘is at the core of everything’.
He said: “The early contract extension highlights the ‘trust’ the county council has placed in Arc Partnership, and it is a true partnership based on collaboration and delivering real value together. To me that’s important and we’ve had cross-member support, from all different political persuasions. They’ve always supported us on that journey.
“We are a humble organisation but the one thing we are proud of, outside of the services we provide for the county council and the communities of Nottinghamshire, is that we are delivering using a locally employed workforce and supply chain. That says a lot. People talk about doing it, but we’ve done it.
“It’s nice to see local people and the local economy have benefited because of this journey, too.”
Arc Partnership has also forged a ‘strong relationship’ with Nottingham Trent University through a three-year strategic partnership and the University of Nottingham, focusing on unlocking the next generation of employees and developing career pathways for growing and retaining local talent.
Daniel added: “We have our placements, and we employ people. There’s a direct relationship with Nottingham Trent University because basically all its faculties mirror everything we do – so there’s a synergy there between us all.
“The partnership has also been successful in retaining graduates locally instead of leaving Nottinghamshire to work elsewhere in the country.”
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham has been at the centre of developing a green guide to help all 23 major UK Arenas become more sustainable.
The National Arenas Association (NAA) has published its Green Guide, developed in collaboration with live event sustainability experts, A Greener Future (AGF) to help the largest indoor arenas in the UK and Ireland to share best practice and operate more sustainably.
The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham is already making good progress on its own sustainability journey:
1,000 solar panels – the largest single site installation in Nottingham – power 30 live events
electric vehicle chargers in the car parks
98 percent LED lights
25 percent reduction in energy consumption in last few years
33 tonnes of waste recycled each year
No waste goes to landfill
Reuses wastewater from the cooling towers to make the ice rinks
Lee Chadburn, Head of Facilities, Motorpoint Arena Nottingham and National Ice Centre, who helped create the new Green Guide, said: “Our journey to be more sustainable began around 2011. Since then, we believe we have made great progress in being as sustainable as we possibly can be.
“We have used the least amount of energy to power our operations this year then any other year. We recycle more than 40 percent of our waste – the rest is sent to a waste to energy system, which then provides electricity and heating to our building.
“We are the city’s largest single site PV installation producing enough energy to power 30 live music events a year. We were the first UK Arena to have a dedicated vegan outlet, reuse cup scheme and water saving washroom systems.”
The Green Guide aims to help member venues set sustainability objectives and work towards reducing their environmental impact, regardless of where they currently are on their individual sustainability journey and features many best practice examples that venues currently employ including Motorpoint Arena Nottingham.
Lee added: “We still have plenty to do and aim to be constantly better. Our aim is to make any events and activities in our venue as sustainable as possible and continue to support the city of Nottingham’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2028.”
The NAA Green Guide addresses the extensive environmental aspects of arena management, while also considering the areas of governance, social inclusion, and economic opportunity.
Backed by industry body LIVE and the Concert Promoters Association, the Green Guide is expected to evolve as the live industry continues to adapt to the demands and opportunities of social and environmental sustainability.
Claire Cosgrave, NAA Green Guide Lead, said: “The National Arenas Association Green Guide presents an accessible, action-orientated resource to help our member venues navigate the complex world of social and environmental sustainability.
“By focussing attention on a set of shared objectives, we believe the guide can help to drive progress in aspects common to all venues, regardless of size, age or stage of sustainability journey.
“Working with the experts at A Greener Future, the guide covers a vast range of detail with practical steps for venue operators to take and engage key stakeholders on including promoters and event audiences.
“As a group, the NAA is committed to driving best practice across all its member venues and we look forward to evolving the Green Guide further in future years.”
Claire O’Neill, CEO & Co Founder, A Greener Future, said: “It is vitally important that venues act now to prevent negative impacts on the environment, provide safe and fulfilling spaces for people, and manage risks and opportunities posed by climate change and market transformation.
“Venues are the home of live entertainment. This collaborative work is a significant step to getting the live sectors house in order, with manageable steps towards greener arenas.”
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold a vacant day nursery property in Kingsthorpe, Northampton.
This vacant property was formerly a day nursery registered for 32 children. It occupies a prominent elevated position on a corner plot in the Northampton suburb of Kingsthorpe.
Following a sales process with David Eaves at Christie & Co, it has been purchased by Quentin Wade of The Redbrick Day Nursery which owns another privately run setting nearby.
Quentin Wade, Director at The Redbrick Day Nursery, said: “We felt it was essential to open another day nursery in the area as the demand for quality childcare has been outstripping supply. Families in Kingsthorpe and the surrounding communities deserve accessible, high-quality childcare that supports their children’s growth and development.
“The Redbrick Day Nursery will not only help meet this growing demand but also positively contribute to the local community by creating jobs and providing a nurturing environment for children to thrive.”
David Eaves, Director – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, said: “Upon being instructed to market this property for sale, it was clear there was significant opportunity for a new operator to add value.
“The property was already well configured and, after an intense five-week redecoration, I’m delighted that Quentin and the team have been able to open the setting to new families, and have been able to expand on the previous capacity by using the property to its fullest potential.
“This has been a great example of matching the right property with the right buyer at the right time and is further evidence of existing operators having confidence in the current market by bringing a vacant property back into use to satisfy the increasing demand for high-quality childcare and education.”
The vacant day nursery property was sold for an undisclosed price.
Contractor Clegg Construction has completed a £13m expansion project at Carlton le Willows Academy which has created new space and improved learning environments.
The first phase of the development at the school in Gedling, Nottingham, involved building South Block – a new two-storey building to provide a state-of-the-art performance space, dining hall, 20 new classrooms, office space and a new main reception which has united the previously split site by linking the East and West buildings.
Designed by Welham Architects, South Block has recently been highly commended in the regional LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Awards.
Now the second part of the improvements – extensive alterations and refurbishment in various parts of the existing school, including the conversion of the previous dining area and assembly hall into additional teaching space – has also been completed.
It marks the fourth project Clegg Construction has undertaken in partnership with the academy.
Ross Crowcroft, pre-construction director at Clegg Construction, said: “Clegg Construction has had a long relationship with Carlton le Willows Academy, supporting the school in a number of improvement projects.
“We are delighted to have completed these latest two schemes, which provide additional first-class facilities for those already at the school, as well as allowing the school to expand the number of places it can offer to youngsters in the nearby community.
“As a Nottingham-based company, Clegg Construction takes particular pride in helping to improve the local education infrastructure and delivering facilities that will benefit future generations.”
South Block created capacity for a further 300 extra students at Carlton le Willows Academy to meet increasing local demand for school places.
It features a range of smart technology to ensure long-term sustainability, including optimising natural light and using low-energy lighting throughout the building, natural ventilation and cooling, and underfloor heating.
As well as the new extension, the project involved the creation of a new car park for just under 100 cars, along with infrastructure for electric charging points. A sustainable drainage solution has also been installed as part of the groundworks, which included an attenuation tank aimed at avoiding any extra burden on the existing public sewers caused by rainwater.
Other members of the project team included local businesses: GNA Surveyors, Moran Structural Consultants and Integrated Energy Building Services (IEBS).
The development has been funded by Nottinghamshire County Council.
During the construction and renovation periods, Clegg Construction took part in a careers fair during the summer term to help students at Carlton le Willows Academy understand more about careers available in the construction industry.
The Simulator Company has opened its new global headquarters in Coalville. This state-of-the-art facility, the first of its kind in the UK, is dedicated to supporting global operations and driving innovation in clinical training.
Founded in October 2019 by Babita Haval and Sagar Haval, The Simulator Company has rapidly advanced to the forefront of the industry with pioneering simulation solutions.
Known for developing the UK’s first manikin-based Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) simulators, the company’s technology provides healthcare professionals with a highly realistic training experience for critical care procedures, revolutionising clinical training worldwide.
Sagar Haval, CEO and Managing Director of The Simulator Company, said: “We are thrilled to establish our new headquarters in Coalville. This move enables us to expand our operations across the UK and Europe and support our global partners.
“The new facility will serve as a gateway for clients and collaborators worldwide to experience our cutting-edge simulation technology firsthand.”
The Coalville headquarters will be instrumental in The Simulator Company’s mission to make best-in-class simulation training accessible for advanced circulatory therapies while streamlining in-house manufacturing.
The facility will feature dedicated offices and training rooms designed to showcase the company’s latest advancements, inviting healthcare professionals and partners to explore innovative solutions for clinical training and patient care.
A new proposal for the future of Leicester Market has gone out to consultation, after work on the city’s market place was paused earlier this year.
The city council is now proposing a scheme that would return Leicester’s historic market to its old site – but would also create a new event space in the heart of the city centre.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “When I asked for work to be paused so we could reconsider the potential for this wonderful site, I put forward a proposal to relocate the market and transform the market place into a space that would become the focal point for festivals, events and celebrations in Leicester.
“While this was welcomed by many people – including local businesses and representatives of the heritage sector – it was clear that the market traders themselves felt strongly about returning to the site where they’d stood for generations.
“Our design team has now come up with a scheme that would allow the market to return to the traders’ favoured site, while keeping the market place as a flexible space for public events – as it was for hundreds of years.
“We’re now inviting the market traders and people in Leicester to comment on this new proposal. Their feedback will help inform the final decision, paving the way for a scheme that I hope will bring new life to Leicester’s market place and help regenerate the wider area.”
Image credit: Leicester City Council
The latest proposal shows a new home for Leicester Market in a light and airy structure, adjacent to the existing food hall.
Automated shutters would secure the market when it was not in use, while its 48 stalls could be fully dismantled and cleared away to provide room for a bar area, for example, if the event space was being used for an outdoor concert.
The whole site would be paved in high-quality porphyry, with colourful planters helping to create an attractive, versatile event space that could host festivals, live music or speciality markets.
With food and drink driving footfall to markets across the country, and to complement the range of produce on sale in the neighbouring food hall, it’s proposed that the new market would also be food-focused, with stalls prioritised for those selling fruit, vegetables and high-quality food from around the world.
“Food is already the cornerstone of what’s on offer at Leicester Market, with around two-thirds of the occupied stalls selling fruit, vegetables and other foods,” said the City Mayor.
“This redevelopment would give us an opportunity to build on that.
“A broader range of quality produce, featuring baked goods or street food, for example, could help shape the vibrant market we all want to create.
“So I’m convinced that Leicester Market does have a bright future. Our role now is to create the right environment for it to thrive – and ensure it provides a unique shopping experience that attracts both visitors and regular shoppers.”
If given the go-ahead, the new event space could be paved and completed by early 2026, with the new market building opening by spring/summer 2027. Traders could continue to operate from Green Dragon Square until then. The consultation can be found here. People have until 23:59 on Monday 9 December to submit their views.
Accountancy and Business Advisory firm Grant Thornton has promoted Jess Fountain to Partner, where she is one of the leaders of the Midlands-based tax team.
A tax specialist, Jess has been with the firm for eight years and works extensively with privately owned and private equity backed clients advising on acquisitions, disposals, and expansion strategies. Jess specialises in being a trusted adviser to growing businesses, supporting them to navigate the often complex tax landscape as their business develops.
Unusually, this career milestone promotion arrived when Jess was away from work. She completed her final interview in the partnership process just three weeks before starting maternity leave, with the confirmation arriving while she was on the break.
“I spend most of my time supporting businesses to achieve their strategic goals, so it feels great to have achieved one of my own personal goals,” said Jess.
“The last eight years have shot by, and Grant Thornton’s empowering culture has helped me greatly in my progression. This is a people-friendly environment, where everything is focused on creating the right conditions for you to excel in your role.”
She added: “Anyone who makes it to partner understands that the achievement reflects a great deal hard work, dedication, and commitment. I hope other women pursuing careers in finance receive the same level of support I have enjoyed.
“I was somewhat anxious about how pregnancy and motherhood might impact my career, but Grant Thornton reassured me throughout the process.”
Matt Buckingham, Practice Leader of Grant Thornton in the Midlands, adds: “Jess is a gifted professional advisor who makes a valuable contribution to everything we are doing in one of the most dynamic parts of the marketplace.
“Grant Thornton places a huge focus on ensuring we have an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone has an opportunity to thrive, regardless of gender, ethnic or socio-economic background, sexual orientation or neurodiversity.
“It is particularly pleasing that Jess joined our Partnership team whilst on maternity leave. Jess further strengthens our local senior leadership team.”
Van Elle, the Nottinghamshire-based ground engineering contractor, has acquired Albion Drilling Holdings Limited, a specialist piling and drilling business, for total consideration of up to £3.5m.
Based in Stirling, Albion is a specialist piling and drilling business with a strong track record of delivering complex infrastructure projects across Scotland. The business is privately owned, founded in 1986, providing a range of specialist piling, technical drilling and geotechnical engineering including quarry and close-proximity blasting, marine drilling, ground stabilisation and rock anchoring.
Albion is a complementary and strategically aligned bolt-on acquisition, which expands Van Elle’s presence in Scotland and further extends the Group’s technical capabilities. The business has a high-quality rig fleet and skilled workforce, and a strong track record in infrastructure projects, with a blue-chip customer base that complements the Group’s.
Albion’s track record in the energy sector aligns to the Group’s strategy, where Van Elle is currently delivering two energy infrastructure schemes in Scotland and expects to mobilise further, larger schemes in early 2025.
Albion will be aligned to the Group’s Specialist Piling division, which shares a similar operating model. The Group will co-locate its facilities at Stirling and integrate its resource to grow its Scotland-based capability to meet the demand of a series of major long-term opportunities.
Managing Director, Jim King, and the entire workforce consisting of 31 employees will become part of the Van Elle Group, and the business will continue to operate under the Albion brand. Jim King will assume a wider role as Van Elle’s director for Scotland, reporting to Chief Operating Officer, Malcolm O’Sullivan.
Chief Executive, Mark Cutler, said: “The acquisition of Albion represents an exciting and important step towards the delivery of our growth strategy in the energy sector. It also broadens the Group’s range of specialist capabilities and customer base.
“Albion is a highly regarded specialist contractor with complementary capabilities and an experienced workforce who will fit perfectly into the Group’s operating structure. May I welcome Jim King our new Scotland director, and all Albion employees to the Van Elle Group.”
Artelia has acquired 100% of the shares of Leicester-headquartered Pick Everard, a major multidisciplinary player in the UK construction consultancy sector for over 150 years.
Following the acquisition of Austin Newport Group in Birmingham in 2020, and Castons in Suffolk in March 2024, Artelia accelerates its development in the UK with almost 1,000 employees. The Group consolidates its foothold in Europe where it ranks among the Top 10 construction engineering companies.
For Pick Everard, joining Artelia represents a unique opportunity to expand into new activities and markets, benefiting from the group multi-sectorial expertise and presence in over 40 countries over the 5 continents.
The Artelia Group now has over 9,700 employees worldwide to support its clients in all their projects for infrastructure, buildings and industrial facilities, as well as ecological and digital transformation.
Pick Everard’s multidisciplinary teams provide a full range of design and management services to clients across the built environment and infrastructure markets. With a strong focus on customer service and technical excellence, the firm maintains a repeat business rate of over 85%. This has led to Pick Everard enjoying a strong period of sustained growth, achieving a turnover of £71m in 2024.
Operating across both the public and private sectors, Pick Everard is a partner on over 60 live frameworks worth over £46bn. As a shareholder of Perfect Circle, Pick Everard is appointed to Scape’s Consultancy Services and Utilities Frameworks, providing efficient and flexible procurement solutions across the public and utilities sectors.
Through its trusted relationships, and framework appointments, Pick Everard has delivered services to major clients including UK Parliament, Ministry of Justice, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Severn Trent Water, XLCC, Defence and Science Technology Laboratory, Royal Mail Group and Selfridges.
As for the historical Artelia teams in the UK, they benefit from solid experience in building engineering and project management, particularly in the healthcare, heritage, hospitality, education, retail and alternative energy sectors.
They are involved, for example, as lead multi-disciplinary consultant on the new state-of-the-art hospital for the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and work with the property strategy team of the Whittington Health NHS Trust to redefine maternity services in North Central London. They have also been fully embedded in a five-year development project to conserve and safeguard Canterbury Cathedral and its heritage for future generations.
On the conclusion of this acquisition, Artelia’s Chief Executive Officer Benoît Clocheret said: “This external growth operation is fully in line with Artelia’s strategy to develop at a sustained pace in order to reinforce its position as a multidisciplinary leader on the international scene.
“By joining forces with Pick Everard, we broaden our skills in architecture and design engineering and strengthen our foothold in the UK, where we have already been present for over 20 years. With its solid economy and strong engineering culture, the UK market offers real growth prospects, whether in healthcare, infrastructure or industry.
“Driven by our shared values of independence, proximity to our clients and technical excellence, I am deeply convinced that this merger will consolidate our Group’s development momentum, bringing new services to an increasingly broad UK market, as well as stimulating career development opportunities for our teams.”
Duncan Green, Chief Executive Officer of Pick Everard, said: “Joining the Artelia Group unlocks the next exciting phase of Pick Everard’s long history. The strategic alignment of the two businesses will further enhance Pick Everard’s well-established position, providing the foundation for further growth and success, through diversification of our offer, and access to new clients and markets within the UK and abroad.
“This move immediately expands our network of colleagues from over 700 people in the UK, to 9,700 people across the Artelia Group, and creates new opportunities to collaborate and share in best practice, innovation and expertise that will benefit clients world-wide.
“Culture alignment has been critical in our decision to join the Artelia Group, as we’ve sought a partner that is 100% employee-owned and with whom we share the same core values. In Artelia, we have found an organisation that echoes Pick Everard’s commitment to deliver better together for its people, clients, communities and the environment.”
Amy Harhoff is set to be appointed as the first permanent Chief Executive for the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).
Amy will join EMCCA from Durham County Council, where she has been Corporate Director for regeneration, economy and growth for the past four years. She has also worked at senior level at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands, South Yorkshire Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester.
As EMCCA’s Chief Executive she will be responsible for leading the organisation’s work on regional transport, housing, economic development, Net Zero, jobs and skills priorities. The appointment means that EMCCA is the only Mayoral combined authority in the country with two women in its most senior roles.
Amy said: “I’m delighted to be joining EMCCA at such an important time for the East Midlands – this is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver real change across the region.
“The potential is unrivalled – The East Midlands is an exceptional place, with international investment clusters, visitor and heritage destinations and talent.
“We are a new model nationally, trailblazing the way as the East Midlands has so many times before and we are determined to deliver outcomes for our region. I’m delighted to work with Mayor Claire and really looking forward to working in partnership with colleagues in local authorities, our businesses and many amazing enterprises to succeed in the challenge.”
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Amy as our first permanent Chief Executive after a very rigorous recruitment process aimed at making sure we found the best person for the job.
“Amy’s experience, knowledge and passion for supporting strong, proud, and sustainable places makes her an ideal Chief Executive for EMCCA.
“This is a vital role for our region and she will play a key part in working with me and partners across the East Midlands as we make it the best place to live, work and learn.
“I’d also like to thank our current interim Chief Executive, Mark Rogers, who has played such an important part in our devolution journey and the creation of EMCCA. He has put in place strong foundations for Amy to build on.”
The appointment is set to be formally approved by the EMCCA Board at its next meeting on 4 November. Amy is expected to take up her appointment in the new year.
Lincolnshire Co-op has taken a radical step in its search for about 30 new stores by offering a £5,000 finder’s fee to anyone who can identify a suitable location including in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
It has pledged to pay the money when stores are opened on the identified sites as it seeks to expand its food business by about a third.
Following a £1.8m investment, Laceby Food Store near Grimsby opened in late June, and Scartho Food Store, also near Grimsby, opens this week.
As well as building new stores, the Co-op is open to renovating existing buildings, taking on freehold and leasehold sites, and business acquisitions.
The retailer has expressed interest in sites within Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, and North Norfolk.
Steve Leach, Lincolnshire Co-op’s COO, said: “We have an ambition to be the UK’s fastest growing co-operative, and we’re keen to deliver even more valued services.
“We’re driven by our purpose, which is to make life better in our communities. Having a presence in more communities means we’re able to make even more of an impact.”
Advance Tapes, a manufacturer of specialist adhesive tapes, has taken the next step in its growth journey, securing a large debt investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II.
The independent manufacturer has secured a £500,000 debt investment facilitated by the fund’s appointed fund manager for the East and South East Midlands, Maven Capital Partners (Maven).
Maven previously backed Advance Tapes in 2019, providing £600,000 of funding through the first Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF I), which enabled the business to expand its client base and invest in further product development.
Established in Leicester 60 years ago, Advanced Tapes continues to grow both nationally, in the UK, and internationally, across parts of Europe. This new funding through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will provide further working capital for the business, as well as help it expand into new sectors.
The funding will also support the growth of its own branded and white-label specialist adhesive tapes and create new jobs at its manufacturing sites in Leicester.
The Specialty Tapes Market was valued at over $55 billion in 2023 and is estimated to register a CAGR of over 6.5% between 2024 and 2032 (Source: GM Insights).
The £400 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund II was launched in February 2024 and covers the entire Midlands region, providing debt finance from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
Kym Ellington, Finance Director at Advance Tapes, said: “Myself and my fellow directors at Advance Tapes are delighted to have gained repeated investment from the British Business Bank’s Midlands Engine Investment Fund.
“I would like to thank Sajid Sabir and the rest of the team at Maven for their hard work and first-class support during this process. The realisation of this working capital will allow us to continue to embed the brand both at home and internationally and provide a platform for growth.”
Sajid Sabir, Investment Manager at Maven, said: “Since we first invested in the business in 2019, Advance Tapes have experienced significant growth, winning a number of key contracts with clients both in the UK and globally.
“We are delighted to be able to support them with additional funding through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II to help it capitalise on market tailwinds and scale further.”
Housebuilder Allison Homes East Midlands has acquired land for 65 new homes in the Leicestershire village of Rearsby.
This is the fourth site secured by the developer’s newest region, which is based in Castle Donington and operating across the whole East Midlands area.
The upcoming development is located on Gaddesby Lane and spans just over eight acres. Allison Homes East Midlands will be delivering a total of 65 new energy efficient homes, which have been crafted to meet the aspirations of future homeowners and designed based on in-depth research into their priorities and values. 39 properties will be available through open market sale and 26 will be affordable homes.
As part of its commitment to Leicestershire and the Rearsby community, the housebuilder will be making contributions worth over £190,000, which will go towards improving local health care, education services, libraries, outdoor sports facilities, allotments and public transport services.
Construction work is due to commence in summer 2025. The site will be built alongside recently acquired schemes in Shepshed, Anstey and Stanton-under-Bardon, taking the total number of homes Allison Homes East Midlands will be providing in Leicestershire to over 200.
Karl Edwards, Operations Director at Allison Homes East Midlands, said: “I am immensely proud of the East Midlands team for securing our fourth site in Leicestershire. This will be a fantastic development, delivering high specification homes, community benefits and a variety of employment and training opportunities.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Clarendon Land and Fisher German on this acquisition, and now we cannot wait to introduce ourselves to the Rearsby community.”
Premium coffee house brand Caffè Nero has purchased Nottingham-based coffee brand 200 Degrees.
Founded in 2012 in Nottingham by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent, 200 Degrees has grown into a 21-store Midlands-based coffee brand. In addition to stores, the business has its own roastery and operates an online e-commerce channel selling directly to customers at home, including a subscription offering. 200 Degrees also operates a wholesale arm, serving over 500 wholesale customers.
200 Degrees joins The Nero Group and will sit alongside the Group’s other brands: Caffè Nero, Coffee#1, Harris+Hoole and Aroma, making it the fifth brand in the Group. The Nero Group aims to expand the 200 Degrees brand as part of its growth strategy in the UK.
The Nero Group Founder and Group CEO Gerry Ford said: “I’m delighted to welcome 200 Degrees into the Caffè Nero family. It is a fantastic brand with an emphasis on great coffee and service combined with a local community-based feel which matches perfectly the ethos of The Nero Group.
“200 Degrees has a solid, loyal customer base and has developed a strong regional position. Our intention is to support 200 Degrees to continue its growth journey and allow the brand to operate separately alongside the other brands in The Nero Group.”
200 Degrees’ Managing Director Stephen Fern said: “We are thrilled that the strong market position and growth potential of 200 Degrees has been recognised within the sector, and we are excited to see where our brand can go now that we have become part of The Nero Group family.
“The Nero Group is a great partner for us with its commitment to premium coffee and its strong values as a family-owned company. 200 Degrees itself is a premium brand with a commitment to delivering great experiences.
“The four pillars of our business – our shops, wholesale, e-commerce platform and barista schools – have been bringing better coffee to millions of people across the UK for the last 12 years, delivering excellent customer service and a commitment to breaking down the barriers within speciality coffee.
“With this new partnership, we look forward to introducing even more people to our beans, our people and our passion for creating experiences to remember.”
Storal has acquired Long Eaton-headquartered Children 1st group.
Founded in 1988 by Margaret Mason OBE, Children 1st operates 24 nurseries and a training centre in the Midlands and South Yorkshire.
Margaret has been one of the leading lights in Early Years education for more than three decades – earning an OBE for her commitment to raising standards in Early-years education. She will continue her work with children through her charity, The Margaret Mason Children 1st Trust, which supports children and families in her local community.
Speaking about her decision to sell to Storal, Margaret said: “I can’t imagine it in better hands. It’s been my focus for so many years and I’m delighted that it will continue to flourish under Storal’s management.
“I’m so proud of the amazing and experienced team who have built Children 1st alongside me for so long, and I’m confident that Sarah is the right person to lead them and the business into the future, with her experience and long-term commitment to delivering quality provision and team wellbeing.
“I also know from our discussions that Storal share our core values, and has the backing and resources to move what we’ve built at Children 1st forward.”
Of the acquisition, which will see 23 of the Children 1st nurseries join Storal, Sarah Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Storal, said: “I’ve been following Children 1st for many years. Throughout my career, I’ve looked to Children 1st as one of the great pioneers of high-quality early-years education in the sector.
“I have enormous admiration for everything Margaret has built and believe she has created an everlasting legacy – both at Children 1st and in the wider sector. After 36 years, she is now handing the reins to us, and this isn’t a responsibility we take lightly.
“We want to create more milestones in their Magic Story and continue her pioneering work in the sector, supporting and fighting for the teams of educators around the UK who deliver such vital work, and the families, children and communities we serve.”
With the addition of Children 1st’s nurseries, Storal’s enlarged group will become one of the largest nursery groups in the sector, offering over 5,000 places across 56 Ofsted registered settings which they operate as 53 nurseries.
Landscape works have commenced to transform a former golf course into a wetland nature reserve in Lincolnshire.
Located at Sandilands, near Sutton-on-Sea, the National Trust’s 62-acre site will see open water and islands, grasslands and sand-dunes, as well as reedbeds and ponds, complete with walkways and boardwalks.
A new visitor centre and café, designed by local practice Jonathan Hendry Architects, will help fund the conservation of the wetland when the project completes in Spring 2026.
Sandilands sits on the ‘east coast flyway’ migration route and the new reserve will be a vital resting and refuelling stop for birds as well as a habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife and flora.
Newark-based Influence Landscape Planning & Design was appointed by the National Trust to deliver Stage 4 technical design services, and Stages 5-7 landscape architecture services for onsite monitoring for the implementation of the works.
Shona Hatton, director at Influence Landscape Planning & Design, said: “We are very proud to be assisting the National Trust in the delivery of its first nature reserve in the county. The land formation for the wetland creation to the south of the site is well under way, and it’s already possible to get a real sense of what the final site will look like.
“The Lincolnshire Coast is rich in biodiversity and the National Trust is working hard to protect and enhance the natural world here, creating new habitats for migrating birds and many other species. Our designs give nature a place to flourish, and inclusive, accessible spaces for people to enjoy it.”
Kirsty James, general manager for Sandilands, said: “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes and we are excited now to see work begin on the physical changes at Sandilands.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the area transform to not only create a haven for wildlife, but also provide a peaceful and calm space for people to walk, spend time with friends and family, and simply enjoy the beauty of nature and the outdoors.”
By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
