New glamping plans unveiled for Nottinghamshire tourist destination
A Nottinghamshire tourist destination is to set to boost its visitor offer with 10 new glamping pods as part of a major £500,000 investment by the county council.
The self-contained luxury cabins will be installed in the grounds of Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water Sports Centre, and operational in time for spring 2024.
They will each be capable of sleeping up to six people as well as boasting their own toilet and shower facilities.
Holme Pierrepont – operated by Serco Leisure Operating Limited, under a long-term contract to the county council – hosts events at the water sports centre which attract spectators and competitors from far and wide who stay overnight onsite or elsewhere locally.
The tourist-boosting scheme will cost £684,240 in total and includes a one-off £500,000 investment by the county council to cover the costs of the units themselves.
The remainder of the project costs will be funded by the county council’s operating partner, Serco Leisure. In return for the county council’s investment, there will be a reduction in the annual revenue fee paid to Serco to manage the country park.
It is anticipated the S-Pod Glamping Modules will encourage more people to stay longer at Holme Pierrepont and use it as a base to explore further afield in Robin Hood Country – ultimately supporting the recently refreshed Nottinghamshire Visitor Economy Strategy.
Councillor John Cottee, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Holme Pierrepont Country Park is a real jewel in the crown and draws thousands of visitors each year, as well as spectators and competitors who attend the many events which take place at the National Water Sport Centre.
“By making this significant investment, we are once again reaffirming our commitment to supporting this much-loved attraction and delivering on our pledge to make our wonderful county an even better place for people to visit.
“High quality accommodation like this will help visitors to enjoy even longer stays in the county and allows them to explore what Nottinghamshire has to offer as a tourist destination.
“I cannot wait to see the pods in use and hearing about visitors enjoying their overnight stays in this beautiful part of the world.”
Accommodation at the country park, near Radcliffe-on-Trent, currently comprises of a campsite, a selection of hotel-style rooms in the Lakeside Building and a self-contained suite which sleeps up to 11 people at the Elms Cottage.
The campsite, which offers tent and caravan pitches alongside several ‘camping arch’ cabins with shared toilet and shower facilities, has benefitted from the growing ‘staycation’ market following the Covid-19 pandemic and it is hoped the introduction of the pods will build on its popularity.
Councillor Keith Girling, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, said: “This significant investment solidifies the county council’s vision to attract more visitors to our county, especially at a time when the sector continues to recover from the devasting impact wreaked by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“More visitors coming to Nottinghamshire helps to attract more investment, stimulates growth, and provides more employment opportunities for local people.
“We’re committed to boosting our visitor economy, breathing new life into it and moving on from the challenges it faced during the bleak days of the pandemic.
“Therefore, investment schemes like this at Holme Pierrepont are vital in helping us to meet our pledge as part of our 10-year Nottinghamshire plan to strengthen businesses, create better-quality jobs and make our county somewhere people love to live, work and visit.”
Jack Garner, contract manager at Serco, added: “When launched, our new accommodation S-Pods will provide campers with a luxury holidaying experience. As well as self-contained toilet and shower facilities, the pods also boast their own hot tubs.
“We’re introducing these pods as there is a demand from our customers for a higher end camping option. They’re going to be perfect for long weekends, mini breaks and family holidays.
“When we launch the pods in spring 2024, we’re expecting demand to be high from people looking for an outdoor holiday but with indoor luxuries. We’re delighted to be supporting Nottinghamshire County Council with their ambitions to attract more visitors to this beautiful part of Nottinghamshire.”
Deal agreed for sale of RAF Scampton to West Lindsey District Council
West Lindsey District Council has reached a deal to buy the former RAF Scampton site from the Ministry of Defence and transfer ownership to its new development partner Scampton Holdings Limited.
Under a Development Agreement they will regenerate the 800-acre historic site, following a successful public procurement exercise. The deal, which promises more than £300 million of investment into the regeneration of the site, will result in development of aviation heritage, business, aerospace, space and aviation technology and education opportunities.
Since the closure of the base was announced in 2018, the Council has worked extensively with the MoD, local stakeholders and the community to ensure the best possible outcome for the RAF Scampton site and its future positioning within the wider district and county economy.
At the heart of the proposal is the continued use of Scampton as an operational airfield, which will assist in enabling investment across four key business areas:
- Commercial activity, aerospace and aviation;
- Heritage;
- Hospitality and tourism; and
- Education and research.
- The protection, promotion and enhancement of existing heritage assets at Scampton;
- Supporting and improving existing community facilities;
- Maintaining Scampton as an operational and licensed airfield. Including retention of the restricted airspace status;
- Ensuring there is a ‘whole site’ approach towards being carbon neutral;
- Maintaining the site as one whole entity or campus; and
- Developing a strong tourism and hospitality offering which is additive to the existing visitor economy for Lincolnshire.
CBI director-general steps aside following investigations into workplace conduct
CBI director-general, Tony Danker, has stepped aside from his role as investigations get underway into complaints over his workplace conduct.
According to reports in The Guardian, the decision to hire a law firm to investigate Danker comes after a formal complaint made in January from a female CBI employee, who alleged he made unwanted contact with her and considered it to be sexual harassment. It also follows further alleged informal reports of concerns over his behaviour.
The CBI has confirmed that in January this year it was made aware of an allegation regarding the workplace conduct of the director-general. The business organisation said: “The allegation was investigated thoroughly and was dealt with comprehensively, in line with CBI procedure. The CBI investigation determined that the issue did not require escalation to a disciplinary process.”
On March 2 the CBI was made aware of new reports regarding Danker’s workplace conduct: “We have now taken steps to initiate an independent investigation into these new matters,” the CBI said. “Tony Danker asked to step aside from his role as director-general of the CBI while the independent investigation into these matters takes place.”
The organisation added: “The CBI takes all matters of workplace conduct extremely seriously but it is important to stress that until this investigation is complete, any new allegations remain unproven and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Boost for Erewash manufacturing businesses
Erewash manufacturing businesses are being encouraged to apply for Erewash Borough Council’s new Research and Development (R&D) Grant Scheme, starting later this month.
The scheme is one of a number of projects being rolled out by the council over the next two years following a successful bid to the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
The new R&D grants are designed to support local small and medium enterprises in developing and piloting new products or services to help improve their businesses. Erewash based businesses are able to apply for grants from £5,000 up to £20,000 and are required to provide 33% of match-funding for the projects.
Councillor Michael Powell, Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, says: “This is an excellent opportunity for local businesses to invest in the cutting-edge research and development needed to support UK manufacturing innovation, underpin sustainable economic growth and help to create jobs in Erewash.”
ValiRx bolsters new lab services company with trio of senior appointments
ValiRx PLC, a life science company focused on early-stage cancer therapeutics and women’s health, has made three senior appointments to its newly incorporated subsidiary company, Inaphaea BioLabs (Inaphaea).
Headquartered in MediCity Nottingham, Inaphaea will offer a wide range of pre-clinical and drug discovery testing services to academic, biotech and pharmaceutical researchers, forming the foundation of ValiRx’s tCRO™ (translational Contract Research Organisation) strategy.
In response to the company’s growth, ValiRx has appointed Dr Andrew Carnegie as Head of Strategic Commercial Development. With more than 17 years’ business and commercial development experience in the biotech and life sciences sectors, Andrew will lead Inaphaea’s growth strategy and secure third-party business. He will also ensure the tCRO™ provides testing services that help to achieve improved translation of drug candidates and are of greatest relevance to prospective customers.
Also joining the Inaphaea team is Melissa Barr as Lead Scientist, and Dr Dominic Lowen as Senior Scientist.
Dr Suzy Dilly, ValiRx CEO, said: “After a great deal of hard work by the entire ValiRx team, I am really pleased to announce the official formation of Inaphaea BioLabs, which represents the first step of our longer-term ambition to create a unique tCRO service offering for early-stage drug development. Over the next few weeks, we intend to transfer our own projects into the Inaphaea laboratories to continue their progress.
“I’m also delighted that Andrew has come on board on a permanent basis to support the initiation of service provision through Inaphaea, having supported us through our commercial advisory board over the past year. With the appointments of experienced scientists Dominic and Melissa, we are already well on our way to building a first-class scientific team, and the operational team will continue to grow as activity increases.”
Dr Andrew Carnegie said: “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to play a major role in launching and growing a much-needed service in translational research. After working for many years in commercial development in the biotech industry, I have a good appreciation of the challenges for drug developers and fully support the ambition of Inaphaea to address a clear gap in the market.”
Inaphaea’s laboratories are targeted to be fully operational within Q2 2023, with initial services focusing on cancer cell activity; allowing the study of drug candidates in a range of cell lines to elucidate activity, toxicity, and mechanism of action of test molecules.
Dr Suzy Dilly added: “ValiRx plans to add further techniques and novel data generation technologies to the testing portfolio, together with data analysis and application expertise, with the aim of providing deep biological understanding of drug candidates and help design effective clinical trials.
“Such new capabilities will be fully validated on in-house projects, before offering to external users. In due course, Inaphaea intends to build on ValiRx’s expertise in building specific tests that support the development of treatments in the area of women’s health.”
IMA Architects achieve global BIM certification
Leicestershire-based architects, IMA Architects, has achieved the leading global certification within a specialist area of architecture and construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM).
The company has achieved ISO 19650, the most significant global information management and BIM certification available today. This has been secured following an in-depth assessment of IMA’s knowledge of BIM, its management and IT systems, and how the use of BIM has been implemented successfully on client projects.
ISO 19650 is an international standard that regulates the management of information across the full lifecycle of a building using BIM. It defines collaborative processes for the effective management of information throughout the delivery and operational phase of the building. Significantly, ISO 19650 is recognised in both the UK and USA.
Anthony Day, Managing Director of IMA Architects, explains: “Building Information Modelling has been developing for several years and is now essential for the successful delivery of construction projects. It enables collaborative working across all disciplines involved in the design, construction, maintenance, and use of buildings, meaning that all parties can share information simultaneously and in one place, helping to drive efficiencies across the project, ensuring it is delivered on time.
“BIM creates a digital intelligent model of the building (or buildings) which is adapted across its lifecycle, from planning and design through to construction. Data is gathered continuously, meaning that proposed changes can be implemented and trialled within the BIM model first prior to implementation in the real world.”
IMA has successfully implemented BIM technology across a range of client projects, including the recent office development at Ednaston Business Park for Clowes Developments.
Closely linked to BIM is the concept of the ‘Digital Twin’ and IMA has invested significantly over the past 12 months to create what is believed to be a UK first – a working prototype of the technology known as the ‘IMA Digital Pods’.
With a Digital Twin, sensors are built into the building that feed data back to the digital model, showing how even the slightest change could impact performance in the real world. This grants the building owner or manager access to real-time data with an in-depth analysis of a building’s performance. Commands can also be sent from the Digital Model to activate or deactivate devices in the Pods as well as monitoring performance.
Anthony Day adds: “We aim to be one of the UK’s leading architects specialising in the use of BIM and Digital Construction techniques due to the benefits they can deliver for our clients, and also the environment.
“Having accurate information on a building’s performance can make huge savings for a business in terms of energy use and reducing emissions, which is becoming a significant focus within the industry. To now have our expertise accredited with ISO 19650 is hugely satisfying for the team.”
National Careers Week 2023: Q&A with Demolition Operative, Jamie
Cawarden has proven it can inspire, recruit and retain new talent in the demolition sector despite a growing skills shortage. In addition to traditional recruitment methods, Cawarden has been working with the YMCA Derbyshire to offer young people a career opportunity in this exciting field.
So, to celebrate and kick off National Careers Week 2023, Cawarden has put the spotlight on 22-year-old Demolition Operative, Jamie.
When Cawarden first met Jamie, he was living in YMCA accommodation in Derby. Jamie had a tough start in life but he didn’t want to let that hold him back and was keen to find work and gain his independence.
Since being offered an opportunity to join the Cawarden family, he has never looked back.
By sharing stories like Jamie’s, Cawarden hopes to inspire others to join the demolition industry and follow in his footsteps.
Below, read Jamie’s Q&A and watch his inspiring video.
Q: How did you first come across Cawarden?
A: I’d heard of Cawarden before but it was when Managing Director William Crooks came to campus to deliver a talk for us, I really became interested in demolition and was keen to get my foot on the ladder.
Q: What attracted you to the company?
A: Cawarden was offering a chance to join the company despite having no previous experience or training. All they were asking in return is that I was willing to be trained and was prepared to work hard.
Q: What training did you receive from Cawarden?
A: I initially completed my CCS, Green CCDO (Certificate of Competence for Demolition Operatives) and Asbestos Awareness certificates. I put a lot of hours into the revision.
Q: What’s it like to be a Demolition Operative?
A: I love working in demolition and really enjoy the variety of work that we get involved in. We can be stripping out one day and recycling the next. I first started work on a local site in Derby, I also worked away for a bit in Luton and now I’m working on a new job in Derby.
Q: What don’t you enjoy so much?
A: It can be tough working outside when it’s dark and cold!
Q: What were you doing before Cawarden?
A: YMCA helped me get onto a course at college doing Land-based studies which I really enjoyed and achieved distinctions in. As it turned out, there were lots of transferable skills to demolition.
Q: How has Cawarden supported you since you joined?
A: My work family has been so supportive and we can have a laugh. We work together on the same jobs so you get to know each other really well – especially working away. We stay in the same accommodation and have dinner together in the evenings. I’ve also been really lucky to have Mick and Johnny as my mentors. I’ve learnt so much from them through on-the-job training and job shadowing. They’ve been with the company a long time so I’m learning skills for life from the best!
Q: What are you proud of?
A: I’m proud of myself for coming this far. I’m proud of the awards I’ve won through YMCA and I’m proud to work with my team to keep standards high and deliver the jobs.
Q: Have you got any ambitions for the future?
A: I’d really like to keep progressing through the ranks and I’ve spoken to my Site Manager about doing some telehandler training. One day I’d like to be a 360-machine driver. I really love watching the machines working!
Q: Over the past say two years, what has changed most?
A: My success with Cawarden has allowed me to gain independence. My confidence and communication skills have really improved too and I’m much happier knowing I’ve got a great career path ahead of me.
Q: For anyone out there in a similar position to where you were, what would be your top piece of advice?
A: Take any opportunity, work hard, and show your commitment. If I hadn’t attended the demolition talk that day, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m grateful to YMCA and Cawarden.
Q: You represented Cawarden at a YMCA employment event recently, how was that?
A: It was great to be asked and to be on the other side of the table talking about my journey from my perspective.
Duvalay snaps up Nursery Connections in pre-pack administration deal
Duvalay, a key player within the sleep market, has purchased Northamptonshire-based Nursery Connections in a pre-pack administration deal.
The deal includes West Yorkshire’s Duvalay securing the brand rights and physical assets such as machinery and stock, as well as securing the jobs of the current 35 employees.
Having traded for over 20 years, Nursery Connections has a reputation as a leading company within the cot mattress business, supplying major retailers with a broad product offering of cot mattresses and changing mats.
Duvalay plans to keep Nursery Connections’ brand and name, while adding further expertise and innovation to its product portfolio. After adding Nursery Connections to its portfolio, Duvalay will employ over 120 people and becomes one the largest manufacturers in the sector.
Alan Colleran, Managing Director at Duvalay, says: “Duvalay has a reputation of being a disruptor in the sleep market and acquiring Nursery Connections allows us to widen our remit into the baby sector but with the added benefit of a company that is well established within the industry already.
“As a company in a strong financial position, we’re able to support Nursery Connections in its turnaround period, as well bringing in individuals experienced in several business disciplines to help with the restructure.
“It was also important to us that we didn’t just purchase the trading name and IPs, but also secured the job of 35 individuals at a time of a cost-of-living crisis. In order to do this, we will be keeping on the site in Northampton which is all set up and can keep trading as it currently stands.”
Duvalay, which has been trading for over 20 years, shot to fame after appearing on Dragons’ Den and securing investment from Hilary Devey.
Former Start Fresh unit let in Nottingham
The former Start Fresh site at 32 Miall Street, situated just off Ilkeston Road, has been let to BM Wholesale Ltd, who have been trading for over 10-years and are looking to expand their business within Nottingham.
The unit comprises 4,358 sq ft of warehouse accommodation with internal office, ancillary and storage space available on the first floor.
Amy Howard, surveyor at FHP Property Consultants, said: “It was a great result for both parties on this unit, BM Wholesale Ltd have been in the market for a number of weeks now and we took them around several properties with 32 Miall Street being the most suited to them.
“As the unit was fit out to a former cold store occupier, we were aware that it was entering into a niche market and only attractive to a certain type of occupier. That being said, there were a number of enquiries made on this unit, all being cold store occupiers and we conducted several successful viewings on the site.
“I am pleased with the outcome of this for our client and I wish all the best to the ingoing tenant.”
Immigration specialist joins OTB Legal
Nottingham-based UK immigration law specialist, OTB Legal, has welcomed a major new appointment with Emma Cohen joining from top-tier ranked Bindmans LLP (London).
Recognised within independent legal directories Chambers and Partners and Legal 500, Emma joins the growing team as an associate and will bring her expertise within both personal and business immigration matters to the 14-strong team of immigration law specialists.
Whilst based at the Daleside Road offices, Emma will also embrace the hybrid working model that OTB Legal has adopted.
Emma has taught on the Legal Practice course at Anglia Ruskin University, worked in the voluntary sector at a legal advice centre, trains for the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) and is a volunteer adviser for Rainbow Migration (previously the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG)).
On joining OTB Legal, Emma said: “OTB Legal has a fantastic reputation in the industry that reaches far outside of the East Midlands and is a firm that I am very proud to be a part of.
“It is growing both in terms of the team and service offerings and is a very modern and progressive law firm. I have been impressed by how it has embraced hybrid working and harnessed technology to create a client-driven approach backed by employees that are rewarded, recognised and developed in terms of their careers. I look forward to bringing my own experience to the team and helping to develop the offering further still.”
Emma’s specialism is in complex areas of immigration law, including international adoption and surrogacy.
In addition, she is highly regarded for her work acting for local authorities representing children in care and has often been called upon to prepare immigration reports for family court proceedings.
Marcus Worthington, OTB Legal’s operations director, added: “Emma’s recruitment is a sign of the ambitious plans that OTB Legal has for growing and developing our legal teams and delivering an outstanding service for our growing client base.
“Her reputation precedes her and the team and I look forward to working with her closely as we continue to develop our offering across both the business and personal immigration law teams.”
BDO names new Nottingham office head
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has announced a new head for the firm’s Nottingham office.
Laurie Hannant will take on the role, which is effective from 1 March 2023, and will lead the East Midlands’ 80-strong practice, with Andrew Mair stepping down from his position.
Laurie joined BDO in 2019 as an audit partner and leads the firm’s Consumer Markets sector in the Midlands. She has worked across the region for over 20 years and is focused on continuing to grow BDO’s network in the business community.
Her appointment follows BDO’s recent move to a prominent office building in the centre of Nottingham, cementing its commitment to the East Midlands market. The East Midlands hub – 3,500 sq ft of commercial space at Water Court on Canal Street – is a high-profile city centre location, which is in close proximity to the Broadmarsh regeneration development – a green, pedestrian-friendly public space.
Speaking of her appointment, Laurie Hannant said: “As someone who was born and bred in the East Midlands, I’m absolutely delighted to be taking over the reins in the Nottingham office – particularly at such an exciting time of development and growth for our team.
“I am hugely passionate about pursuing opportunities and supporting the success of businesses in the region and across the Midlands, and can’t wait to get stuck into the role in the coming months ahead.”
Kyla Bellingall, regional managing partner in the Midlands, added: “Laurie has spent her career building a strong network in the business community. With her heart and roots in the region, and a clear focus on our people and building the BDO brand in the market, I know she will relish the opportunity to lead her home region into the next chapter of growth and success.
“I would also like to thank Andrew Mair who has led the East Midlands office for five years. In that time, he has done a fantastic job of growing the team to over 80 people, strengthening our client base, supporting employees through a global pandemic, and leading the transition into a new hub in the centre of Nottingham.”
Mair will continue to be based in the Nottingham office, where he will carry on his role of audit partner.
Newly approved plans at Lutterworth site to create 120 jobs
New jobs are coming to Lutterworth after plans for two new takeaway restaurants were given the green light.
Leicestershire County Council’s plan – approved by Harborough District Council’s Planning Committee – will unlock land at Leaders Farm and create more than 120 jobs, helping to boost the local economy.
Located just off the A4303 roundabout for Coventry Road, the site was identified as a prime area by both McDonalds and Costa Coffee, who will be the tenants of the two units on the site. The site will also feature more than 50 car parking spaces and include electric vehicle charging points.
Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for finance, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning approval and look forward to getting work underway as soon as possible.
“This is an exciting project, which we hope is just the start of the employment opportunities at Leaders Farm and gives us the chance to best use our land to benefit residents. This site is ideally located and convenient for sustainable employment and supports Leicestershire’s thriving economy.
“Approval for these units and the investment we’ll be making in the site will also bring a long-term income for the county council to use for frontline services.”
As part of the county council’s ambitions to utilise the land for employment and economic growth, it is expected that the two new tenants will help to ensure the remaining part of the site can be used for other employment space in the future.
Work to build the units on the land will also include improvements at the A4303 roundabout, including pedestrian crossings and new planting.
Northants-based lighting group acquires Belgian business
Northants-based Collingwood Lighting Group (UK), a designer, manufacturer and distributor of LED luminaires and a platform company of Ambienta, has acquired Indigo.
Indigo, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sprimont, Belgium is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of LED luminaires focused on the French & Belgian wholesale and other export markets including Switzerland and Germany.
The business is co-owned and led by Sebastien Dumont and Olivier Lapiere who have both re-invested alongside Ambienta as part of the transaction.
Collingwood’s acquisition of Indigo represents its second acquisition after Nobile (July 2022).
Hamdi Conger, Collingwood Group chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sebastien, Olivier and the Indigo team to our lighting family. Indigo is a fantastic business with a highly complementary product portfolio and a strong position in the French market, offering many exciting synergies across our group.”
Sebastien Dumont and Olivier Lapiere of Indigo said: “We are very proud of our journey and achievements at Indigo. Joining forces with Collingwood and Nobile represents the next stage in our exciting growth journey and will bring even greater opportunities for everyone now that we are together as one group.”
Matthew Norrington, private equity partner at Ambienta, said: “Indigo joining our group represents another significant step towards our strategic ambition to create a market leading Pan European player in the lighting sector. We look forward to working closely with the entire Indigo team who will bring a wealth of lighting experience, knowledge and expertise to the project.”
Derby M&S Foodhall sold for £6.2 million
LondonMetric Property, a FTSE 250 REIT, has completed on the sale of a new M&S Foodhall in Derby.
The £6.2 million deal has been a long time coming, with exchange of the sale announced in 2021.
The completion came alongside the sale of six other long income assets for £33.9 million.
Andrew Jones, Chief Executive of LondonMetric, said: “With the investment market strengthening over the past few months, we have taken advantage of this improved liquidity to opportunistically sell down some of our more mature long income assets.
“These sales crystalise strong returns and have been transacted at attractive yields and narrow discounts to book values.”
Blueprint Interiors complete flagship Bupa wellness centre
Leicester-based workplace consultants and commercial office fit-out specialists Blueprint Interiors has completed the six figure fit out of a new Bupa assessment centre in Cheshire jointly with Enigma Wellness.
The new healthcare assessment centre is located at Portal Business Park on the outskirts of Tarporley. The space started out as 3,230 sq ft of commercial office space and has been transformed into a flagship Bupa and Enigma Wellness health assessment centre from which to deliver treatment and diagnosis.
This is the first joint centre between Bupa and Enigma Wellness and will provide a number of enhanced health and wellbeing services, including health assessments, private GP appointments, physiotherapy, muscle, bone and joint services and menopause support to people within their catchment area.
Commenting on the fit-out, Niki Fieldhouse, project & marketing manager from Enigma Wellness, said: “This is definitely the blueprint we will follow in future as the finished centre is spectacular. We are now in a perfect position to expand and create a wellness hub in the centre of Cheshire.
“The space was a blank canvas yet Blueprint Interiors has been able to interpret our vision into reality due to their expert knowledge and expertise of design, healthcare and CQC regulations.
“Bupa have been blown away with their attention to detail and how the requirement to combine safety and hygiene have not been compromised by the need to deliver a high-quality calming environment, befitting of a paid for healthcare experience.”
The fit-out includes a welcoming reception centre with four treatment rooms and a pathology lab downstairs, with a further five consultation rooms upstairs for private consultations and assessments, including a staff dining and training room.
Particular attention has been given to ensuring the space places people first, with mental health and well-being central to design.
The private practice required a calming and inviting experience for patients, reflecting Enigma Wellness values. Using soft furnishings and introducing biophilia, feature lighting, and acoustics, a holistic design approach was developed to ensure an air of calmness, confidentiality and privacy. Avoiding noise transference into public and staff areas was essential to both patients and employees whilst also enabling staff to feel free to enjoy break time away.
Hannah Dixon, lead project designer from Blueprint Interiors, added: “As with any design and build project, the real hard work is done during the discovery phase – the devil is in the detail! Working with the Enigma Wellness team in the defining stages enabled us to realise, in detail, their vision and develop that within the design.
“This ensured there was total clarity, and the finished outcome met all expectations. We were thrilled with the feedback from Enigma and Bupa and look forward to developing our working relationship in the future.”
Leicester Tigers’ plans to raise up to £13m approved
Leicester Football Club Plc shareholders have approved, at a General Meeting on Friday (March 3), plans to raise up to £13m by way of a share subscription from Tom Scott and Peter Tom – both existing shareholders and members of the Board.
The Board believes that the subscription is essential to secure the financial position and future success of Leicester Tigers.
The proposal will see Scott, a non-executive director, and executive chairman Tom increase their shareholdings in the club, with Scott becoming a majority shareholder.
Leicester Tigers’ CEO Andrea Pinchen said ahead of the vote: “Tom Scott is a long-standing supporter of the club and a valued member of the board of directors who over his tenure with the club has already invested over £10m.
“Peter Tom has been chairman of Leicester Tigers since 1993, having made 130 appearances for the club between 1963 and 1968 and has been a huge part in navigating the club through the professional era.
“We are very grateful that Peter and Tom are looking to extend their investments in Leicester Tigers at a time when the club is suffering some very challenging conditions from factors mostly outside of our control.
“Their decision to invest at this time will give the club the financial assurance to execute the club’s strategy of continued success and financial sustainability.”
Leicester Tigers will initially receive £8.3m, to be followed by a further £4.7m.
If the investment plans were not passed, the appointment of administrators was anticipated.
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Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange plans withdrawn for further work
Developers Tritax Symmetry have withdrawn their application for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange.
Tritax had submitted the application to the Planning Inspectorate on 6 February for consideration.
However, the Planning Inspectorate have told Tritax they failed to provide a required technical report in their submission documents.
It is understood Tritax will now take several weeks to prepare this report and will then need to resubmit their application.
This will restart the process from the start of the acceptance phase.
The scheme, earmarked for 662 acres of land between the M69 and the Leicester to Birmingham railway line, falls mainly within the boundary of Blaby District Council, south-west of Elmesthorpe village.
While Blaby District Council can comment on the application throughout the formal process, it cannot make the final decision. The scheme is considered of such scale and national importance it will be determined by the Secretary of State.
On 20 February, Blaby District Council submitted a representation about the adequacy of the scheme’s consultation, followed on 21 February by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council submitting a response that the scheme’s consultation fell short of what should have been undertaken, highlighting deficiencies in the time and information available during consultations, and that there were limitations and gaps in the baseline information provided.
It is expected this delay will add several weeks to the currently expected timetable.
Study shows CSR engagement remains high among East Midlands businesses but lots of work still to do
Six in 10 East Midlands businesses continue to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities despite the ongoing cost-of-doing-business crisis, new research shows.
A study by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with the University of Derby and Loughborough University, found that while there was a slight drop-off in engagement from 66% to 60% of firms in the year to 2022, 42% plan to increase charitable and community activities over the next 12 months – with fewer than 4% expecting a decrease.
When asked to rank the importance of CSR to organisational strategy, it was given an average rating of 5.7 out of 10.
This week, the Chamber hosted a roundtable session involving business leaders to learn why many organisations place importance on CSR and how to support those that don’t currently engage in any activities.
East Midlands Chamber director of policy and external affairs Chris Hobson said: “This research demonstrates the continued importance of being a responsible business, something that many firms are prioritising even in a tough economic environment of cost pressures from all cylinders.
“Responsible businesses are more successful in attracting and retaining employees, winning contracts and tenders, and being recognised as an important part of their community. This ultimately results in more successful businesses.
“We now want to help more businesses to do more CSR engagement, and in a more impactful way, using the insights of this research and discussions with our members.”
Key findings in East Midlands Chamber CSR research
The CSR analysis has been conducted since 2017 as part of the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey.
The latest study took place in November within the Q4 2022 survey, featuring 389 respondents from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Key findings included:
· CSR engagement among service-based firms (64%) tends to be higher than among manufacturers (50%)
· There is a correlation between CSR engagement and the size of an organisation – while 83% of large firms are engaged, this decreases for medium (73%), small (66%) and microbusinesses (47%)
· A lack of resources remains the main barrier to greater adoption, cited by 32% of all companies but higher among microbusinesses (35%)
· Other key barriers include not being something an organisation has considered (20%), not part of a strategic business plan (17%), too busy (13%), not the right time (11%) and unsure how to begin (7%)
· The desire to give something back (15%), being the right thing to do (14%), develop links with the community (13%) and staff development (11%) were cited as the main motivations for CSR engagement
· Charitable activities (40%) like corporate fundraising and donations are the most popular types of CSR engagement, followed by environmental activities (27%), community initiatives (23%) and staff volunteering (10%)
· Smaller organisations are more community-focused than their larger peers, which regard CSR as more critical to their strategy
· Despite the slight fall in CSR engagement between 2021 and 2022, virtually all (97%) organisations are looking to maintain, if not increase, their CSR activities in the coming year
The analysis is published in a report titled Corporate social responsibility engagement in the East Midlands, authored by Dr Barbara Tomasella at the University of Derby and Dr Elaine Conway at Loughborough University.
Dr Tomasella said: “This study highlights how organisations in the East Midlands are good advocates for engaging in CSR activities and is a very positive bellwether of the strength of community spirit in the East Midlands.
“Despite barriers to resource availability, many organisations do find the opportunity to invest in CSR, and have a strong sense of wanting to give back and develop their local communities – a commitment that still looks strong in the forthcoming year.”
Dr Conway added: “It’s important we now look to support more firms to join their peers in CSR engagement – not only because of the community benefits but because it makes good business sense – and we will be looking at how we can support this via positive storytelling, toolkits and training.”
Leicestershire foodbank receives £2,500 boost from local housebuilder
Leicestershire developer David Wilson Homes has supported Coalville Foodbank with a £2,500 donation towards food and toiletry supplies, and assisting the vital work of volunteers.
Based at New Life Church, and close to the developer’s head office in Bardon, the foodbank has been operating for roughly 10 years and provides food parcels to local people in need on a referral-only basis.
It also offers debt advice to clients, and helps to signpost them to other supporting charities and organisations.
Alison Carr, administrator at Coalville Foodbank, said: “We are really grateful for David Wilson Homes’ generous donation, as we rely on donations to be able to keep Coalville Foodbank full of food.
“Community support through food donations and funding is so important, as we wouldn’t be able to operate without this support.
“We’d like to thank David Wilson Homes for its donation as it means a lot to our organisation and is always appreciated.”
John Reddington, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to support Coalville Foodbank at a time where togetherness and community spirit is crucial.
“The representatives of the Trussell Trust do an outstanding job in providing emergency supplies to those in need, and we hope our donation will support their admirable work during these testing times.”
Coalville Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Between 1 April 2022 and 30 September 2022, foodbanks in the Trussell Trust’s national network distributed 1.3 million food parcels to people facing hardship – this is an increase of 52% compared to the same period in 2019. Half a million of these parcels were distributed to children.
