Work begins on transformation of derelict Sutton site
Work has begun on the transformation of the derelict Fox Street, Sutton, into an event and market space.
Ashfield District Council plan to create a flexible outdoor space that links pedestrians from ASDA to the town centre, and can accommodate markets and events. The site is located behind Lloyds bank and is currently a disused wasteland. The transformative works will see a 41-space car park created with new lighting, CCTV and native trees and hedging planted to enhance biodiversity.
The river Idle, which runs through the back of the site, will be cleaned, and restored, providing a natural focal point. The works to Fox Street are being funded by Ashfield District Council’s £6.27 million Future High Streets Fund.
Councillor Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said: “We can’t wait to see this project begin. The Fox Street site has been an eyesore for a long time and our renovation works will breathe life into it, creating a space that can be used for events and markets – capitalising on the natural footfall in this part of Sutton.
“Ashfield District Council’s plans for the entire District are revolutionary and will create a lasting impact on Ashfield; a great place to live, visit, work, and play.”
The next stage of the regeneration of Sutton town centre will start shortly after Fox Street, with ground being broken on Portland Square in June. The Council’s ambitious plans for Portland Square will create a modern, attractive, and useable town centre, funded as part of their £62.6 million Towns Deal.
The new-look Portland Square will feature two raised lawns with inbuilt seating, ambient lighting, planting and semi-mature trees to bring greenery back into the urban setting. Alongside the planters will be CCTV cameras, streetlighting, a new level flooring and more room outside businesses for outdoor seating.
Both sites are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Lindum Group Managing Director Kevin Damarell said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the council through this scheme at Sutton in Ashfield.
“We’ve been working with the authority since mid-2023 to help find the most cost-effective way to deliver the works, which will make a huge difference to the town centre, and ultimately provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.”
Lindum will be calling on the expertise and skills of local businesses to deliver this project, including Townscape Products, based in Fulwood Road South, which is one the UK’s premier street furniture manufacturing companies.
Townscape Products Head of Sales, Jess Fergusson, said: “Townscape are very pleased to be working with Lindum Group and Ashfield Council to help realise this Town Centre improvement scheme.
“The raised platers and seating will provide a vibrant focal point for the local community enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the square and adding a much-needed green space for all to enjoy.’’
Scheme to help Charnwood businesses take next step
A scheme has been launched to support Charnwood businesses which are looking to reach new heights.
Charnwood’s Scale-Up programme is searching for companies which may benefit from business support to help them grow and expand.
It is being supported by the borough council using the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is being delivered by specialist expert advisors, Exemplas.
Each business which takes part will be thoroughly assessed on its ambition, capacity and potential for growth, and will work one-to-one with an expert advisor to draw up a bespoke growth action plan.
Cllr Jenni Tillotson, the Council’s lead member for economy development, regeneration and town centres, said: “This scheme will help businesses which have ambitions to be bigger, better and more prosperous.
“The Scale-Up programme will help local companies take that next big step into growth. By supporting businesses like this, the Council is helping to create jobs and opportunities for people in the future and continue to make Charnwood a great place to do business and invest.”
Mark Taft, the programme’s dedicated Scale-Up Advisor, said: “I take great pride in working with ambitious SMEs and am excited about working closely with Charnwood’s business community to offer support and advice they can use to scale up.”
Companies can apply to be part of the Scale-Up programme via the Leicestershire Business Advice Service.
As there are limited places available on the programme, each business will be evaluated by a panel for suitability. If successful, the Scale-Up Advisor will undertake a comprehensive diagnostic with the business to establish their priorities, compose an action plan and agree a business improvement project.
This could include a grant contribution capped at a maximum of £1,000 to use to fund an expert to help remove the company’s barrier, accelerate business growth, and scale up their business.
Top tips for ensuring workplace safety compliance in 2024
Ensuring workplace safety compliance is crucial for any business. In 2024, staying up-to-date with safety regulations can protect employees and avoid legal issues. Here are practical tips to help maintain a safe and compliant workplace.
Regular safety training
Regular safety training is essential to keep all employees aware of current safety protocols. Training sessions should cover potential hazards, emergency procedures, and the proper use of safety equipment. Employees must understand how to report unsafe conditions and the importance of following safety guidelines.
Providing refresher courses is equally important. These sessions help reinforce safety practices and update employees on new regulations. Incorporating practical demonstrations can enhance understanding and retention of safety procedures.
Conduct routine inspections
Routine inspections are vital to identify and rectify potential hazards. Inspections should be thorough, covering all areas of the workplace. This includes checking equipment, ensuring exits are clear, and verifying that safety signs are visible and up-to-date.
Employers should document findings and take immediate action to address any issues. Regular inspections can prevent accidents and ensure compliance with safety regulations. It’s advisable to have a checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked during inspections.
Maintain equipment and infrastructure
Maintaining equipment and infrastructure is a key aspect of workplace safety. Regular maintenance checks can prevent equipment failure and reduce the risk of accidents. This includes inspecting machinery, electrical systems, and other critical infrastructure components.
For electrical safety, it’s important to know how long an EICR lasts. You can contact experts such as Hexo Electrical Testing to see how long an EICR lasts. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) typically lasts for five years for commercial properties. Regularly updating this report ensures compliance with safety standards.
Implement clear safety policies
Clear safety policies provide a framework for a safe working environment. These policies should outline procedures for handling hazardous materials, emergency response plans, and guidelines for safe working practices. Policies must be accessible to all employees and included in training sessions.
Regularly reviewing and updating these policies is crucial to adapt to new safety regulations and workplace changes. Employees should be encouraged to provide feedback on safety policies, which can help identify gaps and areas for improvement.
Foster a safety culture
Creating a safety culture in the workplace encourages employees to prioritise safety in all their activities. This culture starts with leadership. When management demonstrates a commitment to safety, employees are more likely to follow suit. Regularly communicating the importance of safety and recognising safe practices can reinforce this culture.
Encouraging open communication about safety concerns is also vital. Employees should feel comfortable reporting hazards or suggesting improvements without fear of reprisal. This proactive approach can help identify and mitigate risks before they lead to accidents.
Use technology for safety management
Leveraging technology can enhance workplace safety management. Safety management software can streamline the process of tracking incidents, conducting inspections, and maintaining records. These tools can provide real-time data and analytics to identify trends and areas needing attention.
Additionally, wearable technology, such as smart helmets and vests, can monitor workers’ health and safety in real-time. These devices can detect hazardous conditions, such as high levels of toxic gases, and alert both the worker and management immediately. Implementing such technologies can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and improve overall safety compliance.
Regularly review safety procedures
Regular reviews of safety procedures ensure they remain effective and compliant with current regulations. This involves assessing the efficacy of existing safety measures and making necessary adjustments. These reviews should consider any changes in the workplace, such as new equipment or processes, that might introduce new risks.
Involving employees in these reviews can provide valuable insights. Workers on the front lines often have firsthand knowledge of potential hazards and can offer practical suggestions for improvement. Regularly updating procedures based on these reviews helps maintain a safe working environment.
Ensure proper signage and labelling
Proper signage and labelling are crucial for maintaining safety compliance. Safety signs should be clearly visible and provide essential information about hazards, emergency exits, and safety equipment locations. Labelling hazardous materials with the correct warning symbols and handling instructions is also essential.
Signs and labels should be updated regularly to reflect any changes in safety procedures or workplace layout. Ensuring that all employees understand the meaning of different signs and labels can prevent accidents and improve response times in emergencies.
Ensure adequate personal protective equipment (PPE)
Providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) is a fundamental aspect of workplace safety. Employers must ensure that employees have access to the necessary PPE, such as gloves, masks, helmets, and safety glasses, depending on their job roles. It is also important to regularly inspect and replace PPE to ensure it remains effective.
Training employees on the proper use and maintenance of PPE is essential. They need to understand when and how to use each piece of equipment to protect themselves effectively. Ensuring compliance with PPE usage can significantly reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
Third new appointment at Derby ICT specialist
Derby-based outsourced IT and Telecoms specialist Link ICT has appointed Jordan Glover as a Business Administrator. This is the company’s third new appointment since the start of 2024 in response to growing demand from schools and businesses investing in improved ICT systems and connectivity.
Jordan, who lives in Derby and has an Honours Degree in Law from Keele University, previously worked for Enterprise Flex-e-Rent, a sister company to Rent-a-Car dealing with fleet vehicle contract administration.
In his new role, Jordan will be responsible for client liaison and procurement as well as general administration and health and safety. This will involve liaising with Link ICT customers and suppliers to maintain healthy and positive relationships, ensuring all customers get the best prices possible and providing support to technicians out on site.
Founded in 2004, Link ICT will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary and is about to move to new offices in Pride Park. The company proposition is slightly different to other outsourced IT providers as all clients have their own dedicated technician working in site on set days and times. This means they become part of the client team, helps to ensure problems are fixed quickly and helps all users gain confidence using IT to work more effectively and efficiently.
Jordan said: “One of the main reasons for joining is because the working environment is endlessly kind and caring. From the moment I was interviewed to being sat in my new chair for the first time, everyone has made me feel valued, cared for and that I am an important part of the team. This isn’t a feeling you get at every company. The role also provides me a huge opportunity to advance my career and gaining more experience in purchasing and customer and supplier relations.”
In his spare time, Jordan enjoys walking in the Lake District, going to the gym as well as running. He also enjoys playing and watching football, and is a huge F1 motor racing fan. As a person who has been diagnosed with epilepsy Jordan raises money for SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) and is currently training to run a 10k around Silverstone Circuit.
Leicestershire e-commerce retailer strengthens presence in nursery sector with acquisition
Leicestershire e-commerce retailer, The Kid Collective has acquired Scandibørn, a supplier of Scandinavian inspired children’s toys, interiors and accessories, from Findel Education Ltd, for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition marks a significant milestone in The Kid Collective’s strategic expansion in the nursery sector.
“We are so excited to welcome Scandibørn to The Kid Collective family,” said Laura Davies, Founder and CEO of The Kid Collective Ltd. “This acquisition represents a pivotal moment in our journey of growth within the industry, and we look forward to leveraging our expertise to continue to provide the Scandiborn community with products we know they’ll love!”
The acquisition of Scandibørn, and its established customer base, will enable The Kid Collective Ltd to broaden its e-commerce portfolio, and reach a wider audience. Scandibørn
will continue to offer a range of purpose-led gifts, childrenswear, maternity products and interior accessories for newborns through to toddlers, while The Kid Collective maintains its roots in play, for toddlers and the early years category.
Chris Mahady, CEO, Findel Education Ltd, said: “We are extremely pleased to have found
Scandibørn a great new home with The Kid Collective, where it will become part of a fully focused online retail consumer business.
“As part of the recent change in business ownership of Findel with the recent acquisition by Manutan, this decision has been made to ensure Findel focuses resources, time and attention on its B2B core education brands which are its area of expertise.”
Jailed restaurant owner to pay more than £36,000 following Covid Bounce Back Loan fraud
The former owner of a Derbyshire curry house who was sent to prison for Covid fraud has been ordered to repay more than £36,000.
Syed Hussain was jailed for 18 months and banned as a company director for three years in August 2023 after admitting charges of fraud by false representation and an offence under the Companies Act.
Hussain fraudulently secured a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in May 2020 while serving a suspended sentence for breaching fire safety regulations at the former Moja Indian restaurant in Matlock.
The 24-year-old then dissolved his Magic of Spice Ltd company on the same day the funds appeared in his bank account.
Hussain, of Provident Street, Derby, was ordered to pay £36,200 during a confiscation hearing at Derby Crown Court on Friday 17 May.
Mark Stephens, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Syed Hussain’s cynical actions in exploiting a taxpayer-backed scheme introduced at a time of national emergency were completely unacceptable.
“His behaviour in failing to notify the bank when he was applying to have his company struck off the register was equally calculated and pre-planned.
“The Insolvency Service will not tolerate deliberate abuse of the public purse which is why Hussain now faces a financial penalty to go with the time he has spent behind bars.”
Hussain applied for the maximum permitted £50,000 loan in May 2020, claiming on the application form that the turnover of Magic of Spice was £200,000. He later said putting this figure down was a mistake. Hussain said that he had decided to close down the company based on Dale Road in Matlock when he made the application as it had been struggling for the previous year. The loan application was made by Hussain when he was only months into a suspended sentence for breaching fire safety regulations at his restaurant. Hussain transferred £30,000 of the loan to two family members who used the money for their own personal spending. A further £10,000 was used for personal expenses such as hotels and car hire. No evidence was provided to the Insolvency Service of the money being used for business purposes. Hussain also made no repayments to the loan despite this being a condition of the scheme. Derby Crown Court gave Hussain three months to pay the money or face an additional 18 months in prison. Hussain would still owe the full amount ordered in the event he fails to comply and is returned to prison.Environmental Consultancy EMEC joins the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
Environmental Consultancy EMEC has joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, backing the Contractor of the Year category.
Speaking with Business Link, Ed Tripp, Consultancy Director at EMEC, said: “EMEC is the go to Environmental Consultancy based within the region, for ecology, biodiversity and land management services. EMEC decided to sponsor Contractor of the Year in order to contribute to rewarding exciting and innovative approaches to sustainable development.
“As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, all profits are gift aided to the Trust to support nature conservation, and sustainability is at the heart of our core beliefs. Since Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation became mandatory in February 2024, new developments will need to deliver a minimum 10% BNG and its never been more important for Contractors and Ecologists to work together for the benefit of the natural environment.
“Our top advice for any contractors looking to submit an application is to showcase a nature/ecology first approach to their development schemes. We firmly understand the need for new developments in order to drive the economy forward, but we will be looking for contractors who are showcasing an innovative approach to embracing sustainability. Our role as the consultant ecologist is as much about protecting habitats as it is about offering added value advice to the developer so that the communities they create, incorporate diversity.”
The East Midlands Bricks Awards, which will take place on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, recognise development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes, schools and public spaces. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes.
Winning one of these awards will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly.
To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
A highlight in the business calendar, winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening of celebration and networking with property and construction leaders from across the region.
Tickets can be booked for the 2024 awards event here. Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Thanks to our sponsors:
“As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, all profits are gift aided to the Trust to support nature conservation, and sustainability is at the heart of our core beliefs. Since Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation became mandatory in February 2024, new developments will need to deliver a minimum 10% BNG and its never been more important for Contractors and Ecologists to work together for the benefit of the natural environment.
“Our top advice for any contractors looking to submit an application is to showcase a nature/ecology first approach to their development schemes. We firmly understand the need for new developments in order to drive the economy forward, but we will be looking for contractors who are showcasing an innovative approach to embracing sustainability. Our role as the consultant ecologist is as much about protecting habitats as it is about offering added value advice to the developer so that the communities they create, incorporate diversity.”
The East Midlands Bricks Awards, which will take place on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, recognise development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes, schools and public spaces. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes.
Winning one of these awards will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly.
To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Award categories include:
- Most active agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated)
Nominations end Thursday 5th September
A highlight in the business calendar, winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening of celebration and networking with property and construction leaders from across the region.
Tickets can be booked for the 2024 awards event here. Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
More than 1,100 businesses engage with Accelerator business support
A growing number of businesses in the East Midlands are benefitting from tailored business support, thanks to the Accelerator project. Evaluation of the project’s performance at its halfway point has identified over 1,100 businesses that have been engaged and are working with a business adviser to boost their growth.
The project, which is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), was established in the autumn and is being delivered by East Midlands Chamber in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicester.
Alongside one-to-one support from a business adviser, the project has so far also delivered the following:
- 102 growth vouchers up to the value of £2,000 to help businesses access tailored, 1-2-1 consultancy support to introduce digital technology and green measures.
- 300 workshops and webinars successfully attracting over 7,000 delegates.
- 50 energy saving and improvement audit approvals to help businesses create an action plan to save money.
Plans submitted for completion of Dove Valley Park as 35.29 acre employment site to be created
Plans for the completion of Dove Valley Park have been submitted to South Derbyshire District Council by Dove Valley Park LTD, a subsidiary of Clowes Developments, and IMA Architects.
The plans will transform an area of land next to Dove Valley Park into a thriving centre of employment, creating local jobs and bringing economic benefits to Derbyshire. It will complete Dove Valley Park, forming the eastern part of the major 200 acre employment site on the A50 in South Derbyshire that is home to occupiers including JCB, Top Hat, Futaba Ltd and GXO.
The application site could be brought forward for development immediately as the existing infrastructure of Dove Valley Park is already in place to extend into the site.
If approved, the plans will see the 35.29 acre site developed to create circa 54,500m2 of employment space for B2, B8, with ancillary E(g) use. Four units of varying sizes will be created to meet market demand for quality industrial space, along with the necessary associated hard and soft landscaping, car parking and infrastructure.
In addition, a new Innovation Centre will be created that will serve as a central hub for all businesses in the local vicinity. The aim is to draw people together and provide spaces for gatherings, along with informal meeting space and access to external areas. The Innovation Centre will also serve as a space for start-up businesses to begin and has been developed in consultation with The University of Derby.
To enable people from the surrounding areas to access the site, a new bus route will be created to serve Dove Valley Park and the timings of the existing bus route will be altered to reflect occupier’s shift patterns.
The proposals exceed biodiversity net gain requirements and will feature a 40 metre wide landscape buffer to the east which will screen the development from view. The buffer will also incorporate a new public footpath.
Commenting on the plans, Marc Freeman, director at Clowes Developments, said: “There is significant demand across the East Midlands for industrial space and our plans for the completion of Dove Valley Park will deliver high quality units for businesses in South Derbyshire.
“Since its inception in the 1990s Dove Valley Park has thrived and brought economic benefits to the area, so we are excited about the prospect of completing the site and creating hundreds of new jobs for local people.”
Anthony Day, Managing Director of IMA Architects, said: “The completion of Dove Valley Park will be a significant development for South Derbyshire.
“The plans we have created with Clowes Developments will ensure it is a quality site that will appeal to occupiers that will view Derbyshire as the long term home for their business, providing sustainable long term employment.
“We are also proud to have exceeded biodiversity net gain at the site and will take this practice into future developments where possible.”
IT consultancy plans for expansion
Family-run IT consultancy 3RS IT Solutions is planning for expansion following its first anniversary.
Wellingborough-based 3RS, which was launched by husband-and-wife team, Steve and Leila Souch in 2023, is looking to extend the company further into the East Midlands with the opening of a second branch office at Business Box in Leicester, following the opening of offices in Wellingborough and Nottingham.
Director, Steve Souch said: “North Northamptonshire will always be home to 3RS IT Solutions but the opening of our branches in Nottingham and Leicester really positions us as one of the most ambitious and dynamic IT consultancies in the region.
“We’ve seen considerable growth over the past year, with new clients coming on board and we believe that now is the right time to accelerate our growth and extend our reach and influence into other parts of the East Midlands.
“The opening of the new office is central to that plan, allowing us to create new jobs in Leicester, which is perfectly located in the heart of England and where demand for our services is high.
“The success of 3RS IT Solutions is down in no small part to the hard work and dedication of the whole team. Our strong family values, together with the team’s considerable expertise, are a winning combination and we can’t wait to see where the opening of our new office takes us.”
Marketing director, Leila Souch said: “To be able to take this next step in our business – which was set up with our sons Reuben, Riley and Rory – the 3RS – at its heart is very special.
“At 3RS, family really does mean everything. We’re so much more than just a business – we want to provide livelihoods for our team and their families, create a culture we can all be proud of and first-class service for our clients.
“We can’t wait to share our products and services with our new clients in Leicester very soon.”
RBC Brewin Dolphin wins as charity event reaches halfway of £100,000 target
The annual 3 Bunkers Golf Challenge has reached the halfway mark of its £100,000 target having raised £9,000 so far from the 2024 event which was won by a team from the Nottingham office of wealth managers RBC Brewin Dolphin who scored the most points and had the least deductions for going in a bunker.
The 2024 event took place on Friday 24 May and saw teams from Actons Solicitors, Fiscal Engineers, MAF Finance Group, Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors, RBC Brewin Dolphin and Simple Marketing Consultancy play Morley Hayes Golf Club, Charnwood Forest Golf Club and The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club, reaching three corners of the East Midlands counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Leicestershire, covering just over 70 miles within 10 hours.
Commenting, event organiser Elliot Cook said: “Whilst we were privileged to have had an enjoyable day playing golf, we were also very conscious of that fact we are doing this to raise money to help find a cure for cancer and to help young people escape abuse and neglect.
“I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who took part, to the golf courses for donating the tees, and to everyone who has donated so far and in the future as we press on to achieve our £100,000 target.”
The 3 Bunkers challenge was established in 2020 by Elliot & Bev Cook from Simple Marketing Consultancy.
All money raised will be donated to the charity Big C Little C which was founded in 2019 by business entrepreneurs, Andrew Springhall from Breedon Electrical Fire & Security and Colin Shaw, former Chairman of PKF Cooper Parry, who joined forces to create a charity that would encourage East Midlands businesses to organise events to raise money for Cancer Research, the NSPCC and other children related charities.
The organisers also thanked Econix Bio Bin, Ruddington Grange, Oulton Hall, Nuneaton, and The Nottinghamshire golf clubs for donating prizes for the auction.
The fundraising link is: https://givestar.io/ev/the-3-bunkers-challenge-2024
Law firm makes raft of promotions
Law firm Freeths has made almost 100 promotions across the business as it continues to bolster its offering throughout the UK.
A total of 95 colleagues have been promoted across all legal and business support service areas within the firm’s 13 offices including four partner and 73 lawyer promotions.
This year, over 50% of these promotions are women, demonstrating the firm’s ongoing commitment to gender equality.
Within the senior promotions, alongside 13 Legal Director promotions, there are four Partner Promotions: The Real Estate Team has seen Sarah Rowe achieve Partner; the specialist Environmental and Planning Team has welcomed Ben Derrington to Partner level; Henry Clappinson has become Partner in Freeths’ Restructuring and Insolvency Team, and the firm’s Family Practice promotions included Mark Heppinstall to Partner.
Freeths has also made a number of lateral hires over the past 12 months, including within the last three months alone Clean Energy Partner Deborah Harvey from Osborne Clarke, Patents Director Richard Ellis from Murgitroyd, Tax Partner Stephen Jones from DLA Piper, Corporate Partner Martin Smith and Insolvency Partner Su Garner, both from Knights Plc.
Karl Jansen, National Managing Partner of Freeths, said: “As a firm, we’re passionate about developing our homegrown talent and it’s imperative that our people feel properly supported in order to be able to progress their careers and provide the very best for our clients.
“I’d like to extend our huge congratulations to everybody at Freeths who has achieved promotion this year, and our thanks to all our colleagues for their hard work, commitment, and valued contributions throughout the year. These successful promotions recognise the breadth of our capabilities as we continue to build upon the strength of our offering.”
UK logistics market remains ‘prime’ destination for global investment
The UK remains a ‘prime’ destination for global investment, as deal appetite returns for logistics and supply chain management businesses.
In the first quarter of 2024, 38% of deals in the sector were cross-border, highlighting the growing interest from international investors. High profile transactions included Elanders’ acquisitions of Bishopsgate Specialist Logistics, Yusen-owned ILG’s acquisition of Global Freight Solutions and Hapag Lloyds’ acquisition of ATL Haulage Contractors.
The rise in cross-border activity comes as overall deal activity in the sector fell marginally in Q1. Between January and March 2024, 26 transaction were completed, compared to 27 in the previous quarter. However, total disclosed deal value rose to £372 million, up from £53 million for the previous three months.
According to the latest report from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, the ‘UK M&A Update – Q1 2024’, in the first quarter of the year 42% of deals were tech-related, demonstrating that innovation is a driving force in the market, as companies seek to optimise operational performance to improve margins.
Jason Whitworth, M&A partner at BDO LLP, said: “Following on from 2023, we continue to see venture capital targeting next generation technology and growth. Investment activity within the robotics and the drone delivery operations sector is still gaining momentum.
“Albeit in its infancy, there is an argument that drone technology is paving the way for a revolution in delivery services, offering a sneak peek at a future where speed, efficiency and accessibility are dramatically enhanced.”
He continued: “When it comes to overseas interest, with a scarcity of quality mid-market businesses not already controlled by larger global groups, there has been heightened interest in remaining opportunities, creating a real value end game for those businesses building scale and a differentiated service offering.”
Deals also included London-based Skyports Series C funding led by Spain-based ACS Group, a key player in the infrastructure and construction industry. The $110m funding is set to be instrumental in advancing Skyport’s Infrastructure and Drone Service business.
Elsewhere, UK logistic company EFS Global acquired pallet and parcel distribution specialists Leeds Parcel Company, Pass the Parcel and YDL; and UK delivery and logistics service provider Yodel Delivery was acquired by YDLGP, a newly formed company backed by a consortium of investors, including boutique investment bank Solano Partners Ltd, and the leadership team behind Shift, the growing UK-based logistics platform.
Whitworth added: “Since the latter part of 2023, we have seen a steady stream of deal activity as companies strive to shake off the uncertainties of the past and gear up for the future. There has been an increasing number of bolt-on strategic acquisitions to bolster business growth and build scale.
“What is noticeable about deal activity in Q1 is the lack of primary private equity investment, with only one direct investment deal during the quarter by HIG, which acquired DX Group.
“Private equity firms appear to be in a holding pattern, waiting for clearer signs of industry-wide trading performance improvement before committing to new investment. However, private equity backed or cash-rich logistic firms are continuing to consolidate, developing their buy-and-build strategies.”
Silverstone electric vehicle firm restarts operations following restructure
Silverstone-based electric vehicle firm, Lunaz, backed by David Beckham, has restarted operations after a company restructure. It follows an entry into administration in March.
According to a report from administrators FRP, in early 2024 the company sought to raise additional funding through a series-B fund raise but was unsuccessful. In response, the board of directors reviewed the company’s financial position and concluded that it was unable to continue to fund the ongoing costs of the group, unable to repay its loans and that the company was insolvent.
Following the restructure, Lunaz will now continue electrifying classic cars and up-cycling commercial vehicles under a new structure and business entities, as reported by City A.M., with the business saying that order books are open.
Classic car electrification will resume under Lunaz Design, and commercial vehicle operations, such as bin lorries, through Up-cycled Electric Vehicles.
David Lorenz, founder, said: “We are delighted to have worked with our clients and stakeholders to create a new structure that lays the foundations for the long-term sustainable growth of the business.”
Partners secure £1m grant to reduce carbon impact of buildings with AI
An effort led by Morgan Sindall Construction, Nottingham Trent University, and the software company ConstructSys to use AI for reducing the carbon impact of buildings received a boost with a nearly £1 million grant from Innovate UK.
The award will support the significant enhancement of an existing and proven Whole Life Carbon measurement tool, CarboniCa, which was launched by Morgan Sindall Construction in 2021. CarboniCa is already being used on 100+ large building projects each year and has to date saved over 30,000 tonnes of carbon.
The Innovate UK funding will allow the partners to develop novel algorithms that automate the process of data collection and evaluation in Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA), supporting people in decision making, which speeds up the process and achieves productivity gains.
The UK construction industry is on the cusp of a new era where WLCAs have a much greater weighting. WLCAs combine carbon measures for day-to-day occupancy with those for embodied emissions from materials and energy used to produce and assemble materials in construction and over the life of an asset.
They are on the critical path of efforts to achieve Net Zero as around 25% of UK carbon emissions are linked to the built environment and materials such as steel and cement alone account for around 15% of global carbon emissions.
Inputting data and producing high-quality assessments is a time intensive activity. By harnessing AI capability, the new system will accelerate creating WLCAs by as much as 85%. The significant time and carbon savings will in turn pave the way towards much higher levels of WLCA adoption in the sector as a whole and therefore greatly assist in the UK’s efforts to achieve carbon reductions.
Innovate UK has made a grant of £947,000 against the three partners’ research and development costs of £1,418,000. The award recognises that innovation is required to support the rapid adoption of WLCAs within the UK construction industry, with governments around the world increasingly mandating their use.
It also noted that carbon pricing, which makes emitters pay for the true cost of pollution, is being considered for introduction into the building sector. Its arrival in the UK would further stimulate WLCA demand and introduce commercial incentives to reduce carbon.
Tim Clement, Director of Social Value & Sustainability at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We started working on the research and development phase of CarboniCa back in 2017 and the Innovate UK funding award recognises the enormous potential for further development of the tool we have already in service and helping reduce carbon in a transparent, credible way.
“Innovation in this area has much to contribute in terms of increasing confidence in decision-making around sustainability, something that can only happen with credible data outputs being made more readily available. We have an established and highly effective working relationship with our research and development partners at Nottingham Trent and ConstructSys respectively.
“Our next step is building a cutting edge AI engine into a state of the art system that drastically reduces the time taken to produce an accurate WLCA. The funding means we can develop a series of new algorithms to exploit the growing dataset of actual project data already inputted into the CarboniCa tool, streamlining the process of creating early-stage benchmarks for different building types. The algorithms will also generate insights based on human-curated product databases, to further the tool’s mission as a carbon reduction tool.”
NTU’s research team operates within the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. It is co-led led by Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh, Professor of Intelligent Engineering systems, and Dr Emmanuel Manu, Associate Professor in Construction Management.
Professor Al-Habaibeh said: “This is a great opportunity to implement cutting-edge deep learning AI technology to enhance productivity, improve competitiveness and speed up the evaluation process of building’s carbon footprint. This will enable a better material selection and more optimum designs to address climate change.
“This collaboration with Morgan Sindall and partner organisations will bridge the gap between academic innovation and implementation and will also benefit NTU’s future AI teaching and training in wide range of disciplines as sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.”
Dr Emmanuel Manu said: “The construction and operation of buildings contribute to about 33% of greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of global energy consumption. This makes it important to address the whole life cycle of construction projects starting from the design stage to reduce carbon emissions.”
AI is a general term for describing when a machine mimics human cognitive functions, like problem-solving, pattern recognition, and learning. Machine learning is a subset of AI and uses statistical techniques to give computer systems the ability to ‘learn’ from data, without being explicitly programmed.
A machine becomes better at understanding and providing insights as it is exposed to more data. The advance of these technologies in the construction industry is one of the industry’s most compelling trends.
“Digital systems such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) have been around for a long time now and, when harnessed effectively, make a hugely positive impact in terms of successfully delivering projects,” added Tim Clement.
“When it comes to the creation and adoption of next generation solutions, such as harnessing AI and machine learning, there are even bigger challenges, such as making sure we use the technology in a highly transparent, human-centred way. That’s why the innovation we are applying to here is important and can help set a path to a lower carbon future.”
Terinex Flexibles opens net zero CO2 rated factory building near Derby
Terinex Flexibles has opened its new sustainable EPC A+ rated factory building. Believed to be the UK’s first net zero CO2 rated building to house a flexographic printing facility, it is located on a new 3-acre site on Dove Valley Park, near Derby.
The 46,000 sq ft building is big enough to accommodate the company’s future growth and innovation plans in the most sustainable way possible.
The factory and office building was opened by Frank McArdle, retired chief executive of South Derbyshire District Council. McArdle was instrumental in supporting OGM Holdings Group with the new build project at Dove Valley Park, having championed growth in the region for many years.
Other local representatives were also in attendance at the opening such as Dr Justin Ives, South Derbyshire District Council’s chief executive. Also at the opening event, were those involved in the design and build of the factory and Terinex Flexibles’ suppliers.
Parent company, OGM Holdings Group, has invested over £10m in the new facility which is more than double the size of the original Terinex Flexibles factory that was located in Ripley.
As part of OGM’s focus on creating more sustainable manufacturing sites, the Terinex Flexibles facility – designed by IMA Architects and developed by Clowes Developments UK LTD – has been built and equipped using the latest materials, machinery, technology and processes.
This has resulted in low overall energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The factory generates its own energy from renewable sources and will be able to recover and reuse energy for many years to come.
To recover energy from the byproducts of the printing process for reuse, an innovative heat recovery system has been installed, linked to an advanced regenerative thermal oxidiser (RTO). Depending on the amount of printing that is done at any one time, it is expected that between 45 – 230 kW of energy will be generated.
This energy is captured and stored as hot water in two 10,000l buffer vessels and used for heating large volumes of air that are required for drying the ink in the printing process, as well as being reused for heating rather than drawing gas from the mains.
The roof has been fitted with a solar PV panel array of 215 kWp for generating power to operate the factory, including power for the 54kW immersion heaters in the buffer vessels.
All the offices are serviced with Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR), providing a minimum of 75% energy efficient ventilation to sealed rooms. Also, the lighting power consumption is well below industry benchmarks, a night set-back system has been included to minimise overnight heating consumption and electric charging points are in situ for staff and visitor cars.
The careful use of technology and materials for the fabric of the building, windows and doors has led to a building air permeability of no greater than 5.0 m3/(h.m2) at 50 Pa. This is far below the minimum standard set by The Building Regulations Approved Document Part L2A of 10.0 m3/(h.m2) at 50 Pa.
Paul Wightman, Group Managing Director of the OGM Holdings Group, says: “We are proud to have created a state-of-the-art facility in terms of energy efficiency. As well as the fabric and services of the building, we are investing in efficient plant equipment and other energy saving devices. For example, variable speed inverter drives have been added on all pumps and fan motors to further reduce consumption.
“Being an environmentally conscious business is no longer enough. We believe achieving demonstrable 30% reductions in the carbon footprint of our Group factories by 2025 is now mandatory. We are also doing everything we can to offer our customers more sustainable flexible film options.
“These include compostable, recyclable and PCR (post-consumer 30% to 90% recycled content) materials, compostable inks, recyclable papers and reusable pallets. In terms of emissions management, we take this very seriously and as a result of investment in the latest technology for cleaning our exhaust gases, our solvent mass emissions to atmosphere will be below 20mg/Nm3, which is the most stringent target for VOCs emissions.”
£3m campaign to attract global R&D investment to the Midlands
A groundbreaking coalition of seventeen universities from the Midlands has launched a new £3m international campaign to attract inward investment into R&D, innovation and science – leveraging their global connections to drive economic growth across their region.
Led by Midlands Innovation and the Midlands Engine Partnership and hosted at Loughborough University, the Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign has been developed with a range of regional partners including the West Midlands Growth Company, Midlands Enterprise Universities and the East Midlands Freeport.
It was launched at the UK Real Estate, Infrastructure and Investment Forum (UKREIIF), which was attended by nearly 13,000 investors, delegates and developers.
Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Andrew Griffith MP, announced an award of £1.5 million from the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) to support the campaign over the next two years, which has been matched by universities and regional partners.
The campaign will see universities across the Midlands joining forces to create a more ambitious offer to global investors. It will showcase the five sectors where the Midlands is world-renowned for the strength of its research and innovation: Health and life sciences, Agritech, Creative and digital, Transport technologies and Zero carbon energy. They will also leverage their international alumni, industry and university connections focused in six markets (Australia, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the USA) to engage investors and raise the profile of the Midlands.
Aligning with the priorities of the new West and East Midlands Mayors and other local leaders, it will help promote the region as an outstanding destination for global investment. It will support efforts from government and local growth agencies to secure game-changing funding for innovation focused major regeneration projects across the region that have universities as a core partner. These include sites within both West and East Midlands Investment Zones.
The campaign will also work closely with Midlands Mindforge, an independent patient capital investment company, established by the eight research intensive universities in the Midlands Innovation partnership. Midlands Mindforge aims to deploy £250m to “invest with impact,” founding and scaling transformational science backed companies in sectors such as Clean Technologies, AI & Computational Science, Life Sciences & Health Tech. It will create highly skilled jobs in the Midlands and support the UK’s ambition to become a science and technology superpower.
The campaign announcement was welcomed at the launch event at UKREIIF by Loughborough University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings and Professor Dan Parsons, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation.
Professor Jennings said: “I am delighted that that our consortium of universities and regional partners have been able to secure this highly competitive funding and that Loughborough University will host the Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign.
“It is testament to the trailblazing nature of the partners in the Midlands that this is being seen as a pilot to inform future national policy and practice. We are stronger together and will attract the foreign direct investment through partnership working.”
Campaign programme lead Professor Parsons added: “The £1.5m grant from the Government’s highly prestigious International Science Partnership Fund, match funded by our Midlands consortium, will accelerate and broaden our scale up activities across the collective research and innovation strengths in the regional universities. Together we will create a compelling and ambitious offer to global investors.”
Professor Julia Sutcliffe, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Business and Trade, who will Chair the campaign’s Advisory Group, addressed over 300 investors and partners at the Midlands Engine Reception at UKREIIF: “By supporting inward investment into science, technology and innovation, the Department for Business and Trade is key to delivering the Government’s ambition for the UK to become a Science and Technology Superpower by 2030.
“This collaboration from the Midlands is a great example of how places, universities and the public sector can come together to drive greater investment into R&D across the regions.”
Midlands Engine Partnership Chairman, Sir John Peace, said: “This funding will provide a platform for us to showcase the unique strengths of the Midlands and position our region on the global investment map. This programme is a perfect example of how the power of partnership between the Midlands Engine and our fantastic universities is helping extend the global reach of our region.”
Fresh prepared food firm acquires humous brand
Bakkavor Group, the provider of fresh prepared food with a number of sites in Lincolnshire and Newark, has acquired Moorish, the UK humous brand.
The Moorish brand was founded in 2012 by Julie Waddell and the product range includes the award-winning, UK-first, smoked humous. Today Moorish products are distributed across a number of major supermarket outlets and independent retailers, with revenue of over £2m.
Moorish will sit alongside other brands that Bakkavor is working with, including Pizza Express, The Delicious Dessert Company, The Pizza Company and more recently Pinch. The Managing Director of Moorish, Andy Atherton, will remain in a consultancy role to support the brand transition to Bakkavor’s new ownership.
Julie Waddell, founder of Moorish, said: “Since starting from my kitchen table in 2012, it’s been quite a journey to see the business grow into what it is today. I’m incredibly proud of what Moorish has achieved and have thoroughly enjoyed growing the brand and product range from scratch to success with my team.
“I feel very fortunate that for the last 12 years my job has been to create innovative, delicious products that are loved by consumers across the UK. In Bakkavor, there are so many great opportunities still to explore with the brand and I will enjoy watching Moorish flourish as the new owners take it to the next level.”
Mike Edwards, CEO of Bakkavor Group plc, said: “The high-quality, innovative Moorish products will be a great addition to our existing brands and will complement our existing dips business.
“The Moorish brand has so much more potential than just humous and we are excited about expanding it into other relevant Bakkavor categories in the future. We’d like to congratulate Julie, Andy and the team on the great brand they have built and are looking forward to it growing further under our ownership.”
A corporate finance team from Dow Schofield Watts’ Leicester office led by partner Harry Walker, director Fahim Kassam and associate director Daniel Chouciño, together with a legal team from Gunnercooke in Leicester led by Jahid Ali, advised the shareholders of Moorish. Bakkavor Group plc were advised by a team from Gowling WLG’s Birmingham office, led by Chris Towle and Andreea Serban.
Commenting on the deal, Harry Walker added: “We’re really pleased to have found a fantastic partner for Moorish moving forwards. Working with Julie, Andy and the team to prepare the business for sale and then identify the right home has been a pleasure. We are looking forward to seeing Moorish in even more outlets in the future and continuing to enjoy their amazing products!”
Works progressing on new £3.6m medical centre in Leicestershire
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, is progressing works on the new Barwell Medical Centre in Leicestershire.
The new two-storey doctor’s surgery, located off High Street, Barwell, will replace the existing centre on Jersey Way, which is at capacity and unable to meet the growing demand for its services from the local community.
Due for completion in June 2024, the new medical centre will provide modern healthcare facilities to many more local people, with demand expected to grow from its current 6,400 to 11,000 users over the next five to ten years.
The additional space at the new centre will allow it to provide a greater range of much-needed health services, including physiotherapy and mental health support.
The new L-shaped building will consist of 12 consulting rooms, a space for minor surgical procedures with recovery facilities, a health promotion area, as well as 52 car parking spaces and six cycle racks. The centre will be constructed to BREEAM Excellent standards, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the new Medical Centre.
Demolition works at the unused brownfield site have already taken place which saw the removal of a former vehicle workshop and warehouse.
Adrian Grocock, Group Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “To be delivering this new contemporary medical facility which will enable more local people to access vital medical care, as well as its expanding specialist services, is a privilege.
“G F Tomlinson is vastly experienced in the delivery of healthcare schemes and understand the incredibly important role they play in the local community. The team and I are looking forward to seeing this significant facility progress over the coming months.”
Masterplan revealed for Nottingham’s Broad Marsh
The Masterplan to transform the Broad Marsh area of Nottingham has been unveiled. It progresses on from just an idea of the Broad Marsh Vision, to show exactly what the area needs and what would successfully work when developing the scheme. It shows how the area could look when creating new homes, offices, leisure and green spaces.
The Masterplan shows how to transform the area to create opportunities to live and work in the area, bring investment and employment for local businesses.
This plan will help realise the bold vision for the site created with Heatherwick Studio following the Big Conversation, an extensive public consultation which attracted more than 3,000 responses and 12,000 comments.
Key elements of the Broad Marsh vision include:
- 1,000+ new homes
- Around 2,500 new jobs
- Around 20,000 sqm office & commercial & leisure
- Excellent Public Realm
- Retention of part of old shopping centre’s structural frame to provide opportunities for innovative new spaces including NHS CDC and a Caves visitor attraction.
