Derbyshire charity officially cuts ribbon on facility to make 6,000 water filters a year

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Derbyshire charity officially cuts ribbon on facility to make 6,000 water filters a year

A Derbyshire charity providing clean water filtration systems saving lives in some of the world’s most disaster-hit places has officially cut the ribbon on a new assembly room which will double production from 3,000 to 6,000 water filters a year.

Outgoing High Sheriff Theresa Peltier did the honours at Wirksworth-based Aquabox, officially opening its ‘Aquaboost’ project which is seeing its team of committed volunteers vastly scale up production.

The charity makes filtration systems that it then distributes to the world’s most troubled areas, where the impact of disaster or conflict means people lack the basic human need of clean water.

Originally established by Wirksworth Rotary Club in 1992, Aquabox has sent more than 125,000 aid boxes to more than 50 countries around the world, converting an estimated two billion litres of contaminated water so that it is clean and safe to drink.

Now the charity has been kitted out with a brand new assembly room and has also transformed its processes through the Lean Sigma manufacturing programme, made famous by Toyota.

The new room and systems now mean that the charity can make twice as many Aquabox family filters, benefiting many more thousands of people around the world.

Theresa, who has now handed over her High Sheriff duties to Ian Morgan OBE, said she had been blown away by the new production facilities at Aquabox and it had been a privilege to officially open them.

She said: “This is an incredible charity right here in the heart of Derbyshire and I’m delighted to have been able to visit during my year of being High Sheriff. The work that these committed volunteers at Aquabox are doing every day to provide clean water in some of the most war-torn parts of the world is simply mind-blowing.”

During Theresa’s visit, she participated in a phone call between charity trustee Cheryle Berry with a member of the Rotary Club in Ukraine who is distributing Aquabox systems there. Cheryle, who is chair of the Children in Ukraine sub group for Rotary Great Britain, was talking to Serhiy Zavadsky who leads the Rotary team in Ukraine, along with Yulia Pavichenko, who chairs the Rotary Club’s Children’s Group in Ukraine.

Theresa said: “It was very emotional for me to be able to take part in Cheryle’s phone call with Rotary Club members in Ukraine, and see first-hand the impact that this charity’s work is having.

“I was so impressed by their Aquaboost project to double production from 3,000 filtration systems a year to a massive 6,000. I wish them all the very best.”

Over the years Aquabox has been sending filtration systems to over 50 countries including Nepal, Syria, Ukraine and Turkey, responding to natural disasters such as earthquakes, or areas beset by conflict where people are desperate for humanitarian aid.

Its Aqua-aid boxes contain a family water filter, plus 40 items like tools, lighting, survival aids, cooking equipment, educational aids and hygiene provisions, carefully chosen through negotiation with the charity’s partners in refugee camps and disaster areas.

The charity supplies two types of filtration system: a family filter, which cleans water at a rate of a litre a minute and is assembled here in Wirksworth, and a community filter which uses the same technology but scaled up to meet the needs of more people.

The new systems implemented through the Aquaboost project means volunteers in Wirksworth – who range in age from people in their 40s to their 90s – can make a family water filter in 16 minutes.

Aquabox trustee Dominic Wish said: “We are excited by our Aquaboost project which is allowing us to scale up our life-saving work by a huge degree.

“We are almost entirely run by volunteers and myself and colleagues are delighted to use our background in engineering and other industries to be working on such a valuable charity that has a simple aim: providing clean water to people in the world who really need it. We are all human beings and we all need water. We will continue our work to provide it.”

Fellow trustee Rob Barlow said: “Many thanks to Theresa Peltier for doing us the honour of opening our new Aquaboost assembly room. It was brilliant that she took time out to visit our charity and we are very proud to be able to show off our new system and production area.

“It will be making a very significant difference to people around the world who are going through appalling situations. It is saving lives and we are looking forward to the next chapter for Aquabox.”

Aquabox would like to thank the following organisations for providing help with the Aquaboost project: Forged Solutions Ltd, of Darley Dale; Pratt and Whitney; ITP Aero of Hucknall; Compressors Ltd of Alfreton; Desoutter UK Ltd and Premier Precision Engineering of Chesterfield.

UK exits recession

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UK exits recession
The UK has moved out of recession, with new figures showing the economy grew by 0.6% in the first quarter of the year. Strong economic growth in March (0.4%) contributed to the strongest quarterly growth since the fourth quarter of 2021, when the economy was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. This was influenced by growth across the services sector and manufacturing, while construction output fell. GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, had been predicted to rise 0.1% month-on-month and 0.4% in the quarter. Ben Jones, CBI Lead Economist, said: “Back-to-back increases in output over the first months of this year suggest the UK is now on the road to recovery. With falling inflation boosting households’ spending power, as well as opening the way for a reduction in interest rates in the months ahead, the economy should be able to sustain some momentum through the year. “But a consumer-led recovery could prove short-lived without more determined action to tackle the long-standing problem of weak productivity growth, which ultimately sets the UK’s economic speed limit. “Firms want to see action that could help support investment and cut costs which, includes extending full expensing to leased and rented assets, and a business tax roadmap to give firms the certainty and confidence they need to plan ahead and invest in a vibrant UK economy.”

Bank of England holds interest rates at 5.25% for sixth time in a row

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Bank of England holds interest rates at 5.25% for sixth time in a row
The Bank of England has held interest rates for the sixth time, at 5.25%. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, which is expected to be achieved in the near term, before rising again later in the year. In line with expectations, at its meeting on 8 May, the MPC voted by a majority of 7–2 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. Two members preferred to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%. Anna Leach, Deputy Chief Economist, CBI, said: “Today’s vote 7-2 to hold rates is in line with the CBI’s expectation that the MPC want to see more evidence that past falls in domestic inflationary pressure are sustainable before they’ll move to cut rates. “Services inflation and wages data both suggest a cautious approach is warranted. Inflation in the services sector is triple the inflation target and average earnings growth is still running at around double the rate consistent with the inflation target. “With the economy appearing to be moving out of recession – albeit anaemically – there is a delicate balance to be struck between managing inflationary pressures and not snuffing out a nascent recovery. “It is noteworthy that the Bank judge that demand growth is going to run behind supply growth over the next couple of years. Overall, today’s release does not change our view that the first rate cut is most likely to be in August.”

Mansfield performance doorset specialist secures investment

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Mansfield performance doorset specialist secures investment
“We were looking for a partner to help us continue on our current growth trajectory, as well as to identify and capitalise on new opportunities. LDC has a track record in helping businesses like ours to grow, a personal approach and a sizeable local presence,” said Ash Malhan, Managing Director, Integrated Doorset Solutions.
Ash Malhan continued: “Along with being a customer of Lloyds Bank, we’ve known the team at LDC for years. We’re looking forward to working together to enhance different areas of the business as we begin the next stage of our journey.” David Bains, Partner and Head of LDC in the East Midlands and East of England, added: “IDSL is a leader in providing performance doorsets that are critical to its customer base, and the regular inspections and maintenance that keep their users safe. “Ash and the business’s management team are highly experienced and committed, and we’ve built a strong, longstanding relationship with them over the last few years. With the expertise of the team and the opportunities in the market to grow through making complementary acquisitions, there’s no reason IDSL can’t keep going from strength to strength.” LDC was advised by BDO (corporate finance and commercial due diligence), Cortus (financial), Claritas (tax), Catalysis (management), Mactavish (insurance), BFG (commercial) and Browne Jacobson (legal). IDSL was advised by Magma (corporate finance) and Keystone (legal).

Access Legal acquires mobile app provider transforming lawyer client experience

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Access Legal acquires mobile app provider transforming lawyer client experience
Access Legal, a division of Loughborough-based Access Group, has completed the acquisition of inCase, the mobile app that was one of the first to pave the way for clear communication between legal professionals and clients on a mobile device and awarded for its innovation at this year’s Modern Law Awards. The acquisition is another key milestone in Access Legal’s strategy to offer unrivalled capability and service to legal practitioners and law firms. The mobile app is a significant addition to its solutions that span across case and practice management software, legal learning and compliance, conveyancing and property services, cloud hosting solutions and HR and finance tools. Access Legal’s Managing Director, Emma de Sousa, said: “By bringing inCase into Access Legal’s ecosystem, we’re excited to deliver further value to our customers so they can, in turn, truly delight their clients with an enhanced experience. “The acquisition aligns seamlessly with our mission to be the partner of choice in the legal market and brings a powerful offering to help enable our customers with their client-focused strategies.” Built by lawyers for lawyers, inCase has been used by over 3,300 legal professionals and supported over 230,000 law firm clients over the last 12 months. Founded by Sucheet Amin, inCase CEO and former president of Manchester Law Society, the inCase team has exceptional experience and credibility in the legal market. The app is the brainchild of Sucheet from his first-hand experience as a solicitor and MD of personal injury firm, Aequitas Legal, where he faced growing client expectations heightened by customers wanting an improved digital experience. Sucheet said: “We’re delighted to combine our joint passion of customer experience and support so firms can add more value to their clients. “Given its market reputation, Access Legal is the perfect partner for us and the acquisition will also help accelerate our capabilities to maintain a market leading solution alongside offering growth opportunities for our people in a collaborative client centric culture.”

Watches of Switzerland Group snaps up jewellery firm in $130m deal

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Watches of Switzerland Group snaps up jewellery firm in $130m deal

Leicester-based Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) has acquired handcrafted jewellery firm Roberto Coin Inc., an associate company of Roberto Coin S.p.A., in a $130m deal.

The acquisition builds on the Group’s successful partnership with Roberto Coin, which spans over a decade; Roberto Coin is currently available in 16 WOSG showrooms in the US.

Roberto Coin Inc. will continue to operate as an independent, standalone company within the Watches of Switzerland Group. Peter Webster will remain President of Roberto Coin Inc., reporting to David Hurley, President North America and Deputy CEO of the Watches of Switzerland Group. The Coin family will retain a seat on the Board of Directors of Roberto Coin Inc.

Roberto Coin Inc. achieved annual revenue of $146.2 million and profit before taxation of $30.1 million for the audited financial year ended 31 December 2022. Gross assets at that date were $87.9 million. 2023 preliminary and unaudited revenue was $138.7 million and profit before taxation $30.2 million.   

Brian Duffy, Chief Executive Officer of the Watches of Switzerland Group, said: “We have partnered with Roberto Coin for over a decade in the US, retailing its elegant jewellery in a number of our Mayors’ showrooms. It is a hugely popular, growing brand, occupying a strong position in the market, underpinned by product quality, design creativity and imagination.

“We believe there is significant opportunity to leverage our proven retail expertise in luxury branded jewellery. The luxury branded jewellery category has consistently outperformed the wider jewellery sector, and we see further strategic and operational opportunities for the business within the broader Group. We are committed to our new wholesale partners and excited to work with them and help them grow with Roberto Coin.

“Today’s strategically and financially attractive acquisition is indicative of our ambition and the momentum we are building in this exciting category. It will allow us to take one of the fastest growing jewellery brands in the US and use our retail and operational expertise to accelerate growth and further elevate the Roberto Coin proposition in North and Central America.

“It has been a great pleasure getting to know Roberto and Peter over the last 18 months while we have been discussing this exciting opportunity. We are enormously appreciative of the trust Roberto, his family and Peter Webster have placed in us for this important next stage of the brand’s development. We are delighted to welcome Roberto Coin Inc. colleagues into the Group and look forward to working closely with Roberto and Peter going forwards.” 

Roberto Coin, Founder and CEO of Roberto Coin, said: “Today’s announcement marks a significant step change in the development of Roberto Coin Inc. 

“Roberto Coin is synonymous with design creativity, diversity, innovation and imagination. We are delighted to have partnered with the Watches of Switzerland Group, who have a real understanding and appreciation of our unique, world-class brand and products, and can accelerate our retail strategy in North and Central America. 

“We look forward to benefitting from their wealth of luxury retail and digital experience to unleash the growth potential of the Roberto Coin brand across our chosen markets.”

Nike to lease new state-of-the-art logistics campus in Corby

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Nike to lease new state-of-the-art logistics campus in Corby
Nike has signed a 20-year lease agreement with GLP for its new state-of-the-art UK Logistics Campus and national supply chain hub at Magna Park Corby. Spanning more than 1.3 million sq ft of logistics warehousing, offices, sport and recreation facilities in a single building, the campus will target a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating and achieve Net Zero Carbon in Construction. Legal & General will be the strategic partner in this project to deliver a best-in-class sustainable flagship campus. Legal & General previously acted as strategic partner for the delivery of Waitrose’s first national distribution centre at Magna Park in Milton Keynes in 2014. Prioritising sport and wellbeing, the new facility in Corby will be designed with wellness in mind. This will be underpinned by a range of external features including running tracks, open-air gyms, multi-use game areas (MUGA) and recreation areas. Magna Park Corby will benefit from an exercise route of 5.76 km, a 2.0 km nature trail, and 3.7 km of other footpaths. Sensitively designed and in keeping with the local area, the new campus will provide access to protected woodlands, with designated cycle and walking routes that will be fundamental to attracting and retaining talent. Bruce Topley, UK Managing Director at GLP, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Nike to Magna Park Corby. This new site will help boost skills and generate high-quality jobs. “The industry-leading, bespoke building will minimise carbon footprint and embed health and wellbeing. This investment is a great vote of confidence in the East Midlands and will help propel much-needed long-term growth across the region.” Neil Dovey, Head of Annuity Transactions, Legal & General, said: “Nike’s UK Logistics Campus in Magna Park Corby is ideally aligned with Legal & General’s commitment to investing long-term capital into assets that are economically and socially beneficial. “We are delighted to be working with GLP, a developer aligned with our principles, to deliver a first-class building, and are looking forward to partnering with Nike as a long-term property owner following completion.”

New letting brings the power to Burton office development

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New letting brings the power to Burton office development
Commercial property agents Rushton Hickman Ltd has let Unit 11 Granary Wharf to Marine and Power Engineering Ltd, a well-established business operating in Burton upon Trent for over 8 years. Granary Wharf is a development of modern office buildings on the edge of Burton upon Trent town centre. Unit 11 is a 2,000 sq ft semi-detached modern hybrid office/warehouse unit. The office space spans both floors and the warehouse/workshop element comprises part of the ground floor, complete with its own dedicated roller shutter access door and allocated car parking spaces externally. Marine and Power Engineering Ltd have experienced significant growth over the last couple of years and decided to divide their business operations between two locations. They have opted to keep the manufacturing aspect of their business at Steel Fabs Industrial Estate in Burton, whilst relocating their office operations to a separate location, which initiated the expansion to Granary Wharf. Taylor Millington, Agency Surveyor, said: “It is excellent news to see a local business expanding, particularly since we previously let MPE their unit at Steel Fabs Industrial Estate. This prior relationship has helped facilitate a quicker process and upon revisiting their new location, we were impressed by the fantastic fit-out they have completed!” Natalie Vanstone, Operations Director at MPE, added: “After growing out of our office space at Steel Fabs Industrial Estate, we knew we needed separate premises for projects and equipment sales. After many viewings, we couldn’t believe how perfect Unit 11 Granary Wharf was and we jumped at the chance to take on the lease. “From saying ‘yes’ at our first viewing we completed in a month, all thanks to Rushton Hickman making the whole process smooth and trouble free.” TUS Holdings Ltd concluded: “Having dealt with the team at Rushton Hickman to acquire another office unit on Granary Wharf recently, I had no hesitation in appointing them to help us find a new tenant for Unit 11. “Taylor, who handled the process for us from start to finish, was always honest and realistic in his appraisal of what kind of deal we could expect to achieve given the market conditions and competition from other properties available nearby. “I’m delighted that we secured a deal with a fantastic tenant who was very keen to move forward quickly and both Taylor and Steph at Rushton Hickman were extremely efficient in pushing things through as quickly as possible. It was less than a month between agreeing heads of terms and the client moving in!” Taylor Millington added: “Having assisted TUS Holdings Ltd on various property transactions, we are proud and grateful that they continue to put their trust and confidence in us.”

Council ready to fine tune vision for the future of Greyfriars

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Council ready to fine tune vision for the future of Greyfriars
The second phase of engagement to redevelop the Greyfriars area in Northampton has launched. People across West Northamptonshire are being invited to view plans which have been shaped by feedback from the community following the initial engagement which launched in December 2023. The proposals include redevelopment of the former Greyfriars bus station site, the Corn Exchange Building, Belgrave House, the Mayorhold Multistorey Car Park, the Victoria Street Car Park, and the areas known as the east and west islands. Greyfriars is the largest brownfield opportunity within West Northamptonshire and represents a significant opportunity to deliver transformative change for the town. The site boasts a prime location at the heart of town, next to the ongoing transformation of the historic Market Square and redevelopment of the former Marks and Spencer’s and BHS units. The central location provides a unique opportunity to transform this part of the town centre and have a positive impact on the wider area. Greyfriars will be a new vibrant neighbourhood within Northampton town centre, it will provide new homes for all and breathe life and energy into abandoned buildings. It will restitch forgotten connections and create new ones, amplifying the impact of nature and creativity throughout with Northampton’s first town park as its centrepiece. During a first round of engagement held between December 2023 and January 2024, over 1,500 people shared their thoughts on the emerging vision to transform Greyfriars. The second phase of engagement reflects this feedback with a refreshed vision and set of proposals. The vision seeks to deliver a mix of new homes including student, later living, cooperative living, build to rent and build to sell. Over half of the respondents to the first round of engagement stated they would consider living here with the introduction of active travel, culture and a new park. The online engagement will run until Sunday 9 June. Visit ampnorthampton.com to view the emerging vision to amplify the area and have your say. An in-person event will take place at the Grosvenor Centre, Northampton on Saturday 1 June between 9am and 5pm. Cllr Dan Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth, said: “We are delighted than more than 1,500 people responded to the first stage of engagement for the future plans for the Greyfriars site. “We are taking an exciting step forward to further enhance our vision as we launch the second stage of our engagement and showcase our vision for the area, which has been shaped by the community during the first engagement which took place earlier this year. “I would encourage everyone to come along to the in-person event to speak to our team of experts about the vision for this area and have their say to help shape the future of this part of Northampton.” This area will be enhanced by a new Greyfriars park running along Lady’s Lane with an outdoor amphitheatre and pedestrian first landscape. A renewed Corn Exchange will act as a multi-use culture led hub that welcomes performance, classes and showcase; while the transformed Belgrave House will be transformed into a creative, cultural and community building that celebrates the thinkers and movers of Northampton. More than 70 per cent of responses to the initial engagement expressed a need for a park and cultural facilities in this area. More than 100 people provided additional comments during the first engagement highlighting the need for improved bus services in the area. The existing bus station doesn’t allow for the growth of bus services to meet the growing demand. As part of this, WNC is exploring the opportunities to enhance Northgate bus station. This includes the extension of the station to allow for more capacity and the centralisation of buses, increasing the reliability of services and new waiting rooms and facilities to improve passenger experience. The proposals have been crafted by a multi-disciplinary team led by Studio Egret West, who have been commissioned by West Northamptonshire Council to craft the vision for the area. This team comprises urban designers, architects, landscape architects, and transport, commercial and sustainability experts. David West, Founding Director, Studio Egret West, said: “Building upon the enthusiasm for and feedback on our initial proposals, we are excited to showcase our evolved vision to revamp Greyfriars. It is an energetic and transformational framework, curated to inject life back into this forgotten part of the town.”

Leicester-based manufacturer secures top prize

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Leicester-based manufacturer secures top prize

Michael Smith Switchgear has won a prestigious RoSPA Award for the eighth consecutive year – demonstrating a commitment to health and safety.

The Gold Medal Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is an internationally-recognised prize, judged by a team of health and safety professionals.

The standard demonstrates the Leicester-based manufacturer’s continuing commitment to excellence in its performance, policies, and procedures.

Managing Director Sean Smith said: “Keeping our teams safe is always the priority for us, so I’m proud that our ongoing commitment has been recognised with an eighth consecutive award.

“The fact that we’ve been awarded gold again shows how important it is for us to create a safe and modern working environment for our people.”

The RoSPA Awards is the UK’s largest health and safety programme. With almost 2,000 entries annually from over 50 countries, impacting over seven million employees, the programme offers a platform to those who demonstrate unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in health and safety.

Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said: “Workplace accidents don’t just pose financial risks and operational disruptions; they significantly impact the quality of life for individuals. This is why acknowledging and rewarding excellent safety performance is vital.

“Michael Smith Switchgear has again proved its unwavering commitment to keeping employees, clients and customers safe from accidental harm and injury.”

The Access Group acquires engagement automation platform overhauling recruitment

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The Access Group acquires engagement automation platform overhauling recruitment

The Access Group, a Loughborough-based provider of business management software to mid-market organisations in the UK, Ireland, the US and Asia Pacific, has acquired Elay, a multi-channel engagement automation platform.

Through this acquisition, Access Recruitment, a division of The Access Group, will be able to offer its customers a tailored approach to automation that is designed to overhaul recruitment workflows, automating routine tasks so that agencies can effectively build their workforce without needing more desks – putting their internal talent onto higher value-driving activities while letting technology do the more mundane ones.

The Access Group has a track record of acquiring cutting-edge recruitment technology innovations and strategically investing in them to integrate seamlessly within a unified ecosystem.

Acquiring Elay marks the next step in The Access Group’s AI and automation advancements within the recruitment sector, with its CRM automation already integrated with their Vincere CRM product and the chatbot functionality with Volcanic, the recruitment website builder.

Access Recruitment and Elay will offer customers a suite of features – collectively called ‘Access Automate’.

Christian Fleck, Managing Director at Access Recruitment, said: “Bringing Elay on board is an exciting step for Access Recruitment and this acquisition marks a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering unparalleled value to our customers.

“We know interest in AI and automation is at an all-time high for recruiters and we’re pleased to add another way for our customers to leverage these technologies today, building on our already live AI-led functionality like our bias analyser in Volcanic. We want to show recruitment agencies how they can use AI or automation today to grow their operations and ultimately win more business.

“Working with cutting edge tools like Elay underscores our dedication to bringing ready-to-use innovations to our customers – this acquisition will revolutionise recruitment outreach, helping our customers to capture more leads, deepen candidate-client relationships and accelerate revenue.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Mehdi Este and the Elay team to make this integration as seamless as possible. From today, any customer on one of our Volcanic packages can benefit from complimentary chatbots, powered by Elay, and our broader customers can expect to see more of Elay’s functionality in their products soon.”

Mehdi Este, co-founder of Elay, added: “Since founding Elay in 2020, our mission has been to revolutionise the way recruitment businesses connect and engage with their clients or candidates. Joining forces with Access Recruitment represents an exciting new chapter in our journey, one that will amplify the impact of our solution and bring even greater value to customers.”

One bank closes as another opens in Oakham

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One bank closes as another opens in Oakham
43 High Street in Oakham has been let by FHP’s Retail and Leisure team to the Banking Hub, which allows banking face to face, whoever your bank is, at a time when many branches are closing. The circa 2,150 sq ft unit was snapped up by the Banking Hub as part of their nationwide roll-out. Ellis Cullen of FHP said: “Whilst this was a drawn-out process, and demand for the unit in the affluent market town of Oakham was strong, the Banking Hub makes a fantastic addition to the High Street, particularly as the unit was a former Lloyd’s bank. “There has been great anticipation for a hub to be established so I am pleased to have been involved in the letting.” With the success of another bank being established, FHP also assisted with the surrender of the existing lease of 8-10 High Street in Oakham, previously let to Barclays Bank Plc. FHP are sub-agents of JLL retained to assist with the Barclays portfolio to dispose of lease liabilities around the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, and Peterborough. Ellis continued: “As a consequence of the levels of interest, I was able to secure a rent above the quoting, on a new 10 year lease, with a 5 year break which our client was delighted with. “Off the back of the recent letting to the Banking Hub, and a period of marketing the circa 4,000 sq ft unit on behalf of our client, Barclays, I was delighted to have negotiated a surrender settlement with the landlord to allow a swift exit from the premises. “The characterful period building occupies a prominent position on Oakham’s high street and despite Barclays having 2 years left to run on their existing lease, FHP successfully negotiated surrender terms which recently concluded.”

Purpose Media helps Kappture hospitality technology firm

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Purpose Media helps Kappture hospitality technology firm

A Derbyshire full-service marketing agency has been praised for getting to the heart of the message after it built a new website for a firm which supplies hospitality technology to some of the UK’s most iconic venues.

Purpose Media, which is based in South Normanton, created the website for fellow Derbyshire firm Kappture, whose electronic point-of-sale and mobile payment software solutions are used by millions of people at hospitality outlets in stadiums, concert halls, universities and large companies each year.

Its products enable operators to receive orders and take payments via innovations such as mobile apps, EPOS terminals and touchscreens and among the venues using its technology are Celtic Park, home of Celtic FC in Glasgow, Croke Park in Dublin, the OVO Arena in Wembley and the AO Arena in Manchester.

Kappture is based in Little Eaton, near Derby, and had worked with Purpose before, but this time approached the company to overhaul its online presence.

The original site made much use of explaining the technology but Purpose identified a need to dig deeper to explore how the software and innovations worked to solve Kappture’s customers’ ultimate objective – to maximise revenue and to cut the time their customers spend queuing for food and drink.

This ensures that sports fans and gig-goers, who can order using their phones while sitting in their seats, can avoid missing the action because they are queuing to order a pint or food.

The technology also helps operators by using individual users’ data to personalise their experience and also uses existing data to enable operators to forecast cash flow and staffing requirements for their next event, helping them to reduce waiting times and increase revenue.

Matt Bonser, account director at Purpose Media, said: “We’d been through a brand profiling exercise with Kappture before and we knew the business inside and out, so when it came to building their new website, we knew the direction we wanted to go in.

“Their solutions make a huge difference in helping operators increase people’s spend and reduce queuing times and we brought that to the fore through the copy and the imagery, in line with the brand guidelines.

“We pride ourselves at getting to the heart of each client’s business and creating websites which clearly communicate the benefits that their products or service have for the end-user. We’re pleased and proud of what we have achieved on behalf of one of the major operators in the hospitality technology sector.”

John Murphy, digital marketing manager at Kappture, said: “Our previous website had served us well, but we wanted a refresh with a website that clearly explained who we are and what we do.

“Purpose Media understood us and our target audience perfectly and the site has made it clear how our products help hospitality operators, backed up by the technical information if they require it.

“It’s very clearly laid out and it’s easy to navigate, which is vital because our target clients occupy a variety of roles in a range of sectors, so it has to be able to explain what we do in straightforward terms.”

Traditional Japanese ceremony marks start of work on major facility at Northampton logistics park

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Traditional Japanese ceremony marks start of work on major facility at Northampton logistics park

Winvic Construction Ltd has been awarded a contract to design and construct the first industrial facility at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton for Yusen Logistics. Winvic, SEGRO and Yusen Logistics celebrated the start of the 1.2 million sq ft project with a Japanese Kagami Biraki ceremony.

The Kagami Biraki ceremony – or saki barrel breaking ceremony – is to bestow wishes for success and prosperity upon the new development; representatives from SEGRO and Yusen Logistics each hit the lid of a sake barrel with mallets and ladled out the sake into sake cups for the guests to enjoy. The ground was then officially broken, and attendees were given a guided tour of SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton.

The unit comprises 1,144,000 sq ft ground floor warehouse space and a 333,251 sq ft mezzanine; Winvic will also construct and fit out the 35,810 sq ft three-storey main office, which also has a roof terrace, and a single-storey hub office. It is designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating which will reduce carbon to net zero during the construction. An array of PV panels will be installed across the entire roof space of the warehouse and EV charging units will also be made available onsite to power Yusen Logistics UK’s all electric company car fleet.

At almost 1.2 million sq ft, the single storey warehouse will be Yusen Logistics’ largest global facility when completed in March 2025. The facility sits immediately adjacent to the 35-acre Strategic Rail Freight Terminal constructed by Winvic, enabling Yusen Logistics to provide their customers with rail freight solutions providing CO2 savings on inbound transport.

The facility has a haunch of 18 metres, 85 HGV docks and 10 HGV level access doors. Externally, Winvic will undertake all hardstandings and landscaping for the scheme including parking for 924 cars, 163 HGVs, 230 cycles and 34 motorcycles; of these, 185 will be for electric vehicles. The warehouse will also have its own security gatehouse, fuel island and lorry wash, a pallet storage area and waste/recycling area.

CGI of Yusen Logistics Facility at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton

Danny Nelson, Winvic’s Head of Industrial, Distribution and Logistics, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by SEGRO to construct the first industrial facility at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton.

“When it’s completed, we’ll have worked on the site for a total of four years, so I’d like to thank the SEGRO team for continuing to put their trust in us, as they did when creating SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway.

“Winvic previously constructed a facility in nearby Wellingborough for Yusen Logistics as the tenant, so we’re looking forward to working with them again and to illustrating our high standards. I have the utmost confidence in our experienced team to deliver the project safely and on time.”

Dan Holford, Head of National Markets at SEGRO, said: “We are incredibly proud to have attracted a world class warehouse and distribution operator like Yusen Logistics to SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton as the development’s first pre-let customer, where we will be working together to deliver 1.2 million sq ft of highly sustainable space.

“What makes this development truly special is how it will support customers to achieve their sustainability goals and net-zero ambitions, particularly through the delivery of sustainable buildings, a country park and the strategic rail freight terminal. Yusen Logistics’ decision to locate here is testament to this and we look forward to continuing our partnership with this exciting project.”

David Goldsborough, Managing Director from Yusen Logistics, added: “This new facility, sets a new logistics industry benchmark and emphasizes Yusen Logistics’ commitment to providing sustainable logistics services by 2030.

“We are proud to share our organisation’s Japanese heritage at the recent groundbreaking event and are excited to be a part of this project, which will help us to achieve our sustainability goals.”

Regional corporate heavyweight joins Rothera Bray

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Regional corporate heavyweight joins Rothera Bray

Rothera Bray has strengthened its team with the addition of corporate lawyer David Kaplan. 

Recognised as an expert in his field and recommended by the Legal 500 as a Leading Individual, David brings nearly three decades of experience to the table.

David’s main areas of focus are general M&A, private equity and banking and finance. He has advised and continues to advise a broad spectrum of clients including owner managed business, overseas entities, listed companies and multi-national conglomerates.

He has a wealth of experience advising, in particular, manufacturing, IT (software and hardware), aerospace and healthcare businesses.

At Rothera Bray, David will spearhead the firm’s corporate endeavours in Derby, playing a pivotal role in elevating the Derby office’s profile and promoting its services. His appointment marks a significant milestone for Rothera Bray, as it ensures the presence of a corporate partner in each of its three city offices.

David said: “I am excited to join such an innovative practice and am looking forward to working with my fellow corporate partners in developing further Rothera Bray’s corporate offering in Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, whilst at the same time increasing the reach of Rothera Bray’s other legal services in the Derby marketplace.

“My appointment shows Rothera Bray’s commitment to Derby, and we are very keen to continue with the expansion of the Derby office with further strategic appointments.”

Christina Yardley, CEO at Rothera Bray, emphasised the significance of David’s addition to the team, stating: “David’s wealth of experience and expertise will be invaluable as we expand our corporate offerings in Derby and beyond. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Rothera Bray family.”

Digital pharmacy swoops for Lincoln firm

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Digital pharmacy swoops for Lincoln firm

Pharmacy2U, the digital pharmacy, has acquired The PharmPet Co, a Lincoln-based veterinary online pharmacy.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, follows a partnership in November 2023, which saw the two brands come together to deliver prescriptions to pet owners more conveniently and cost-efficiently.

Established in 2019 by brothers Neil and Phil Younger, and their father, Keith, The PharmPet Co is a highly regarded and ethical provider of online pet medicines. The acquisition aligns with Pharmacy2U’s commitment to offering comprehensive consumer healthcare solutions and NHS prescriptions as it expands its portfolio to include pet health services.

The deal speeds up plans to give customers a holistic approach to healthcare, covering themselves and their pets in one place. Since the partnership last year, Pharmacy2U Pet Health has gone from strength to strength and Pharmacy2U has plans to further transform the prescription market at a time when owners are finding it increasingly hard to get a good deal from their vets.

The two founders of The PharmPet Co join Pharmacy2U to head up the pet health proposition.

Gary Dannatt, Chief of Staff at Pharmacy2U, says: “It’s rare to come across a business that has a strategy, service, and set of values so aligned with your own, that it’s easy to see how it will slot neatly into our existing proposition.

“Following a successful partnership last year it’s become clear The PharmPet Co is one of those cases. The founders have done a remarkable job of creating a service that pet owners across the UK find invaluable, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, and I’m proud to be bringing them into the Pharmacy2U family.

“We look forward to working together to deliver exceptional value and service to our customers, while offering a digital-first approach that allows our pharmacists to deliver expertise in medicine.”

Neil & Phil Younger at The PharmPet Co say: “With over 60 years of combined experience in the pharmacy sector we created The PharmPet Co with a vision to deliver veterinary-standard medication to the fingertips of pet owners, and are both excited to embark on this next chapter of growth as part of Pharmacy2U.

“The deal will allow us to continue doing what we love most, improving the lives of animals, while improving access to affordable and trusted medication.”

Pharmacy2U were advised by Squire Patton Boggs. The PharmPet Co were advised by Ward Hadaway.

Sweeptech acquires Leicestershire firm out of administration

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Sweeptech acquires Leicestershire firm out of administration
Sweeptech has acquired Leicestershire firm Go Plant, solidifying its position as a provider of road sweeping and waste management services. The acquisition of Go Plant, which went into administration last week, aligns with Sweeptech’s business strategy for national coverage. By integrating Go Plant’s operations, Sweeptech now has a network of depots spanning the North East, North West, Yorkshire, the Midlands, London, the South, and South East.

The pre-pack deal completed by administrators from Alvarez & Marsal Europe involved the sale of a number of depots, saving 116 jobs. Not all Go Plant depots were sold, however, with some shutting, resulting in redundancies.

Martin Smith, CEO of Sweeptech, said: “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Go Plant, which marks a significant milestone in our journey towards becoming a truly national waste management company. “This strategic move not only enhances our ability to serve our customers with excellence but also underscores our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance.” “We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we integrate Go Plant into the Sweeptech family,” added Smith. “Together, we will continue to innovate, drive positive change and set new standards of excellence in waste management.”

Healthcare services provider hails “improved performance against tough operational backdrop”

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Healthcare services provider hails “improved performance against tough operational backdrop”

Totally plc, a provider of frontline healthcare services, corporate fitness and wellbeing services across the UK and Ireland, has reported “improved performance, against a tough operational backdrop,” in a new trading update for the 12 months ended 31 March 2024 (FY24).

This is despite a dip in revenue, with Totally anticipating, subject to audit, to report revenue for the period of £106 million, down from £135.7 million in the year prior. The Derby-based business, meanwhile, anticipates reporting EBITDA for the full year of £2.3 million, growing from £1.1 million in H1 24.

During FY24, the group executed internal restructuring to right size the organisation in a difficult operating environment. Actions during the second half of the year delivered further reductions in overhead costs leading to a full year reduction in FY24 of £2.2 million and annualised savings of £3.5 million. FY24 exceptional costs incurred to achieve these cost savings are forecast to be £0.8 million.

Wendy Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer, Totally, said: “We remain steadfast in our commitment to stand alongside our healthcare colleagues to ensure the population can access the care they need when they need it.

“Our teams have worked tirelessly during times of unforeseen pressure with clarity and I am proud of the way Totally has approached these times and managed its own pressures without compromising quality.

“There is no doubt that the market continues to be difficult, and as commissioners have considered the actions required to move forward, we have also ensured that our house is in order. We have robustly addressed the cost base, which ultimately protects the services we deliver to patients, our workforce and long-term shareholder value. 

“These cost savings supported our performance for FY24 and will continue to do so in future years. I am delighted to see new business opportunities emerging as we turn our focus to a return to profitability and growth.”

Record revenue and progress towards profitability for Light Science Technologies

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Record revenue and progress towards profitability for Light Science Technologies

Light Science Technologies Holdings plc, which comprises three divisions for controlled environment agriculture (CEA), contract electronics manufacturing (CEM), and passive fire protection (PFP), has hailed record revenue and “strong progress towards profitability” in its audited results for the year ended 30 November 2023.

Revenue grew 13.8% to £9.3m, up from £8.17m in the year prior. Meanwhile, the Derbyshire-based business reduced its loss before tax to £1.14m, in comparison to £2.72m last year.

The year also saw the company complete a successful £1.45m (net proceeds) fundraise  facilitating product development and CEA IP protection. Furthermore, the firm acquired Tomtech and Injecta Fire Barrier’s trade and assets, creating the new PFP division.

Simon Deacon, CEO of Light Science Technologies Holdings plc, said: “We are very pleased to report significant operational progress in the period, with strong progress across all parts of the business delivering record Group revenues which exceeded internal management expectations.

“The CEM division continues to underpin Group revenue generation and present significant growth opportunities in new and existing markets, whilst the PFP and CEA divisions offer exciting, and potentially very lucrative, growth opportunities in the medium to long term.

“We move forward with a significantly strengthened corporate team and long-term global structural drivers that complement our business model. The Light Science management team is committed to growing a complementary portfolio of companies that is diverse, operationally self-funding, and delivers for its shareholders.”

Manufacturing slips back into contraction as output and new orders decline

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Manufacturing slips back into contraction as output and new orders decline
The UK manufacturing sector showed renewed signs of weakness at the start of the second quarter. April saw output and new orders slip back into contraction territory following short-lived upturns in March, as uncertain market conditions, client destocking and supply-chain disruption (mainly relating to the Red Sea crisis) stymied opportunities for sustained expansion. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ IndexTM (PMI®) fell to 49.1 in April, down from March’s 20-month high of 50.3. Four of the five PMI constituents (output, new orders, employment and stocks of purchases) registered contractions. Longer supplier delivery times was the only variable to buck the negative trend on the PMI. However, this was largely a ‘false positive’, largely reflecting disruptions caused by the Red Sea crisis as opposed to stronger conditions driving up demand for raw materials (input buying activity actually fell during the latest survey month). The latest contraction of production volumes – the thirteenth during the past 14 months – was mainly the result of output being scaled back in both the intermediate and investment goods industries. The link between market demand and the trend in production was highlighted by these two sectors also seeing lower intakes of new business. In contrast, the performance of the consumer goods industry continued to strengthen, with output and new orders in this category rising for the second successive month (albeit at slower rates of growth). Total new business placed with UK manufacturers contracted in April, amid signs of weaker demand from both domestic and overseas sources. The downturn in new export business extended to 27 successive months, with reports of weaker intakes from Germany, Ireland, Asia and the US. Strong competition, distribution issues and cost increases were all factors contributing to lower new export order inflows. Average purchasing costs rose for the fourth successive month in April, with the rate of increase accelerating to its highest since February 2023. Multiple inputs were reported to be up in price, with specific reference to higher costs for energy, polymers, steel, textiles, timber and transportation. There were also reports citing increased shipping costs (Red Sea crisis), market forces and the pass-through of higher wages at suppliers. Manufacturers’ selling prices rose in response, taking output charge inflation to an 11-month high.
The continued subdued performance of the UK manufacturing sector was reflected in the labour market. Staffing levels were reduced for the nineteenth consecutive month. Job losses were mainly in the consumer and intermediate goods sub-industries, as employment rose in the investment goods category. April saw weak demand, cost control initiatives, supply-chain disruptions and a preference for reduced stock holdings influence levels of purchasing activity and inventory holdings. Input buying volumes subsequently fell for the twenty-second month in a row, while stocks of both purchases and finished goods were further depleted. The decrease in holdings of inputs at warehouses was also affected by delays in receiving goods ordered from suppliers. Average vendor lead times lengthened for the fourth month running, amid continued reports of disruption caused by the Red Sea crisis. The outlook for the UK manufacturing sector remained positive in April. Over half of companies (52%) forecast that output would increase over the coming year, compared to only 8% anticipating a decline. Optimism was linked to hopes for a revival in demand, new product launches, efficiency gains and an improvement in market conditions.
Commenting on the latest survey results, Rob Dobson, Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “The UK manufacturing sector suffered a renewed downturn in April, as output and new orders contracted following short-lived rebounds in March. “The sector is still besieged by weak market confidence, client destocking and disruptions caused by the ongoing Red Sea crisis, all of which are contributing to reduced inflows of new work from domestic and overseas customers, with specific reports of difficulty securing new contract wins from Europe, the US and Asia. “The downturn is also sustaining cost caution at manufacturers, leading to lower employment, stock holdings and cutbacks in purchasing activity. The news on the prices front is also worrisome for those looking for a sustainable path back to target (consumer price) inflation, with cost pressures growing in industry and feeding through to higher selling prices at the factory gate.”
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