Derby’s new £45.8m venue takes shape
More than 100 people are now working on the site of Derby’s new £45.8m entertainment and conference venue as the auditorium begins to reveal its size and scale.
Built on the site of the former Pink Coconut nightclub and several other buildings, the new Becketwell entertainment and conference venue offers a much larger and more adaptable space than anything previously available in the city centre.
Three quarters of the glass curtain walling on the east side is now installed. Inside, all the internal work is well underway, giving a good sense of the space within the auditorium and the areas around it.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Portfolio Holder for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism said: “It’s fantastic that we’re now getting a real idea of the impressive scale of the auditorium and a feel of what it will be like when the building opens.
“This venue is a key part in making Derby a lively city centre that puts culture at the forefront. It isn’t just a building; it’s a place where people can come together to learn new things and create innovative ideas. All kinds of events will be hosted here, from business meetings to exciting cultural activities and great entertainment.”
The main contractors, Heage-based Bowmer + Kirkland, took over the site in June 2023 and by December, the steel frame and concrete tiers for seating were already complete.
Construction work is progressing to plan with practical completion and handover scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.
The mechanical and electrical systems, which are the building’s lifeblood, are also progressing well. The cladding on all the exterior walls is nearing completion, giving the building a finished look from the outside and showcasing its striking architectural design.
The massive birdcage scaffolding that supported the terraced seating is being dismantled in the coming weeks, now that the acoustic ceiling work is finished.
Christian Parnell, Regional Director, Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “We are delighted with our progress on site and are on course for this exciting new leisure destination to be handed over early next year. As a Derbyshire-based company, it is an honour for our team to be part of such an important scheme for the city and wider region.”
The venue is set to host over 200 cultural and commercial events each year and expected to attract an additional 250,000 visitors to the city.
It is also expected to create over 200 new local jobs and provide the impetus to kick-start further investment in surrounding areas of the city centre.
The venue will be owned by Derby City Council and leased to and operated by ASM Global, the venue management and services company, and producer of live experiences, whose UK portfolio includes OVO Arena Wembley, AO Arena (Manchester), first direct Arena (Leeds) and Olympia and OVO Hydro (Glasgow).
The new 3,500 capacity entertainment and conference venue forms the second phase of the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme. Phase one includes the city’s first purpose-built Build to Rent scheme. The Condor is owned and operated by Grainger plc and now almost fully let. The adjacent Springwell Square, a new public green space for the city, officially opened in September 2023.
The Becketwell scheme is being developed by St James Securities, a privately-owned Leeds-based property developer.
Paul Morris, Development Director at St James Securities, said: “Five years ago, discussions started on transforming this derelict five-acre city centre site, and now we’re witnessing the vision for Derby’s long-awaited new entertainment and conference centre come to life.
“We look forward to celebrating the completion of the arena with a topping-out ceremony in the autumn.”
Future planned phases of the Becketwell scheme include potential for a hotel and purpose-built student residential.
Acquisition to see former Nottingham restaurant become student scheme
National developer Taj Ubhi, CEO of 9 Property Group, has teamed up with commercial real estate buyer Emmanuel Agalamanyi, MBA, of BlackBridge Property Partners to acquire the former well-known Antibo Restaurant in Nottingham City Centre.
The building’s acquisition, led by Emmanuel Agalamanyi, is set to see it transformed as 9 Property Group begins work on the site, to develop 51 modern student living spaces.
Bought out of receivership, the purchase marks the partnership’s first pipeline of acquisitions set to take place over the coming months, which is currently in legal, as similar distressed sites throughout the country have been placed on the market.
The neglected building will be given a new chapter, providing a central location for students to call home, but still maintaining much of the building’s historic architecture.
The project is designed by ARC Design Studio.
Principal developer and CEO Taj Ubhi has a strong track record in delivering PBSA schemes and is a well-known client of finance provider Assetz Capital.
Emmanuel Agalamanyi said: “Our growing equity fund has placed us in a very strong position to acquire similar buildings and ground-up developments to cater for the student and private rental sector. We are aggressively seeking more opportunities.”
Rolls-Royce SMR signs £1.2m contract for power station simulator
Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a £1.2million contract with GSE Solutions to develop a power station simulator, as it continues to mature the design of its Small Modular Reactor technology and remains on track to complete Step 2 of the Generic Design Assessment this summer.
GSE Solutions is a world leader in advanced engineering and workforce solutions across the clean-energy and power industries. This simulator will play a key role in Rolls-Royce SMR’s programme to develop, verify and validate the performance and control systems of its unique ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plant. It forms part of a much wider programme of development activities that are focussed on ensuring the ‘delivery-certain’ nature of the plant.
David Dodd, Rolls-Royce SMR Engineering Director, said: “Commissioning a simulation and test platform is another stride towards deploying the first Rolls-Royce SMR power plant. The work with GSE is part of our ‘digital-first’ methodology and our truly modular approach to developing new nuclear power – a reliable source of clean, affordable energy for the UK and the rest of the world.”
In a recent update, the Office for Nuclear Regulation confirmed that Rolls-Royce SMR is on track to complete Step 2 of Generic Design Assessment this summer – with the intention of moving straight into the third and final step. This progress through the assessment by the nuclear industry’s independent regulators (the ONR, Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales) confirms Rolls-Royce SMR’s position as being significantly ahead of any other SMR design in Europe.
Specsavers invests further in Nottingham office space
Specsavers has submitted plans to improve its office offering in Nottingham, to make its workspaces as “inspiring and collaborative as possible.”
A design statement submitted by HSSP Architects Ltd on behalf of the business indicates that Specsavers has recently invested in additional office space adjacent to its 40,000 sq ft premises, Cirrus House. The new premises, known as The Arc, provides an additional 44,600 sq ft of space, supporting Specsavers’ growth ambitions.
Specsavers is in the process of carrying out a full upgrade and refurbishment programme across both buildings on Experian Way which “will create a new and inspiring workplace” for its support office colleagues. To support this, plans have been lodged to connect the two buildings to create a seamless transition between them.
The single-storey link between Cirrus House and The Arc will act as a flexible workspace, as well as allowing free flow access between the two buildings at ground floor level.
Specsavers asked HSSP Architects to develop the proposals for the link. Blueprint Interiors are acting as lead design consultants on the project.
A design statement said: “Nottingham continues to be a strategically important central hub for the Specsavers Group and will play a key role in its future growth plans.”
Wellbeing toolkit created to support West Northamptonshire workplaces
Employers of any size across West Northamptonshire can now access a wellbeing toolkit designed to provide practical guidance on how to enhance wellbeing in the workplace and improve business outcomes.
Research shows that a good workplace wellbeing programme can have a positive impact on employee happiness and engagement, increase productivity and improve customer service and business outcomes.
The toolkit aims to encourage businesses to adopt an insight and data led approach to workplace wellbeing, improving the health and wellbeing of their employees and subsequently their business performance.
West Northamptonshire Council has launched the free to use, self-service Workplace Wellbeing Toolkit that is available to all businesses across the area.
It offers a step-by-step guide to workplace wellbeing, providing an overview of what wellbeing is, how businesses can invest in it, how they can use existing data to enhance their wellbeing programmes. It helps employers to create an action plan across a wide range of wellbeing topics to support the specific needs of their employees.
Cllr Matt Golby, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Public Health and Regulatory Services, said: “We are pleased to be able to launch our workplace wellbeing toolkit which aims to support businesses with enhancing their employee wellbeing offer. It has been developed by our public health specialists in partnership with existing businesses to ensure that it meets the needs of businesses and their employees.
“We will be continuing to develop the toolkit over the coming months and years based on the feedback from local businesses.”
Fusion energy project appoints three new non-exec directors
UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd has appointed three new non-exec directors to support of the delivery of the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant.
Kaveh Pourteymour, Julie Nerney and Dr Luc Bardin will be part of STEP, the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production, to be built at the former West Burton Power Station kn Nottinghamshire, which aims to demonstrate net energy from fusion alongside paving the way for the commercialisation of fusion energy.
These strategic appointments follow the launch of a multi-stage competition to find industry partners – one in engineering and one in construction – to form a public-private alliance led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority Group, to deliver STEP.
Professor David Gann, Chair of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kaveh, Julie and Luc to our Board, together with Charlotte Valeur and our other executive and non-exec members. Their strategic insights will be invaluable as we navigate the delivery of a new technology to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of an emerging industry.”
Kaveh is currently Managing Director – Head of Business Partnering and Projects for global mining group, Rio Tinto, and joins the UKIFS Board as a digital transformation leader with over 30 years’ experience spanning energy, utilities and manufacturing in addition to complex systems engineering and digital modelling. Throughout his career, Kaveh has successfully implemented cutting edge solutions to enhance business performance delivered through operating models that incorporated diversity and inclusion at their heart.
Julie has been delivering impactful and sustainable change in organisations for over 30 years in roles that span c-suite and board level, experiencing every stage of the organisational life cycle. She has delivered high profile and complex programmes, including a leadership role in the transport operation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Supreme Court in February 2023.
A current Non-Executive Director on the UKAEA Group Board, Dr Luc Bardin joins for a shorter period to help with the transition from UKAEA to UKIFS, where his world renowned expertise in organisational development and strategic partnering will be of immense value.
The UKIFS Board will also be joined by Jamie Stapleton as Board Advisor. Jamie is currently VP Digital Innovation & Synergies at Hitachi Energy.
The new appointments join fellow independent Non-Executive Director, Charlotte Valeur, an Investment Banker and experienced FTSE Chair and Non-Executive Director. Her long board-level experience spans a host of sectors and industries and covers IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring. She is a recognised international authority and professor in corporate governance and leadership, and author of ‘Effective Directors, Questions to Ask’.
UKIFS will be responsible for the delivery of STEP from later this year. The programme aims to create future opportunities for suppliers ranging from whole plant integrators to critical system manufacturers that can design and deliver future plants worldwide in addition to benefitting the communities that surround West Burton.
The fusion process can be thought of as the opposite of fission – combining lighter atoms rather than splitting heavier ones. It is based on the same processes that power the Sun and stars and has potential to provide safe, sustainable and low-carbon energy for generations to come.
Derby-based automotive aftermarket group sold
Derby-based ASG Group, an automotive aftermarket group, has been sold to Pendine Group, backed by Beach Equity Investors, in a deal managed by PKF Smith Cooper Corporate Finance.
ASG Group specialises in design, development, engineering and manufacturing of aftermarket vehicle accessories, which it supplies to global OEMs, trade customers and direct to the consumer under its brand Travall.
In addition to the B2C customer base, the Group continues to attract major clients from the automotive and industrial sector.
ASG’s trading roots go back to the 1950s when it was known as Alan Smith Garages. Retiring Chairman Peter Allman acquired Alan Smith Garages in 1987, renamed it ASG and began developing a comprehensive portfolio of automotive accessories, culminating in the business that appealed to Pendine.
The deal followed a decision by principal shareholders, who are now in their mid-80s, to secure their retirement plans and crystalise their investment in the Group.
PKF Smith Cooper Corporate Finance was appointed to provide pre-sale strategic advice on preparing the business for sale, identify buyers and project-manage the deal from inception to completion.
The sell-side advisory team was led by David Crump, Corporate Finance Director at PKF Smith Cooper, while Geldards provided legal advice.
David Crump said: “It’s been a privilege to work with the Allman family, and very rewarding to complete this transaction to help them achieve their objectives. We have also enjoyed working with Tom and the Beach Equity team to deliver a great deal for both the buyer and sellers and we look forward to seeing the ASG Group flourish under new ownership.”
Geldards Corporate Partner Debra Martin added: “Geldards were pleased to advise ASG Group on the sale of the business and provide guidance through this important next chapter in their journey which safeguards the growth of the Group for future years.”
Bruce Allman, who will continue in his role as ASG’s Managing Director, said: “Together with PKF Smith Cooper, we searched long and hard to find suitable new owners and believe we have made the correct decision to ensure stability and the continued success of the Group, as well as set it up for long term growth.
“I look forward to seeing ASG Group’s ongoing success as it continues to supply market-leading products to the automotive aftermarket with the same dedication to innovative engineering and high-quality British manufacturing as it always has.”
Tom Billings, Managing Partner of Beach Equity, said: “ASG will make a great addition to the Pendine Group. We would like to thank David and PKF for their support enabling a quick and efficient transaction.”
East Midlands manufacturers increased their output by over a fifth in the last decade
Manufacturers in the East Midlands have increased their output by over a fifth in the last decade, reinforcing the critical importance of the sector to the East Midlands economy overall, according to a new report out today.
The Make UK/BDO Annual Regional Manufacturing Outlook report shows that since 2013 output in the region has increased by 21%, while its importance to the region’s economy overall is highlighted by the fact it accounts for more than 15% of the region’s total output, significantly above the national average.
Over a quarter of a million people (258,000) are employed in highly skilled jobs, accounting for 10% of East Midlands employment overall, many of them in high value sectors such as Automotive, Aerospace and Precision Engineering.
Three major sectors account for almost half of East Midlands manufacturing production with the largest being Food and Drink with more than a fifth (20.6%) of industrial output. This is followed by Transport Equipment at 12.7% and then Rubber & Plastics at 12.1%.
In 2023 the East Midlands accounted for 7% of the UK’s total goods exports with the EU being the dominant destination (45%), but one of the lowest dependencies across the UK. This is followed by Asia & Oceania for more than a quarter of exports (28%), making the region the biggest exporter to this area of any UK region. The next most important export market is the United States (16%).
Commenting, Chris Corkan, Region Director for Make UK in the Midlands said: “Industry remains critical to the growth of the economy, providing high value, high skill jobs and aiding the process of creating wealth across the UK.
“The new Government has made a welcome bold statement of its intent to tackle the UK’s anaemic growth at national and regional level. It should now back this with a radical, cross government, long-term industrial strategy which has the need to tackle the UK’s skills crisis at its heart.
“This should be allied with the local growth strategies and priorities of each region, including infrastructure and innovation, together with other measures to ensure the UK is now fully open for business.”
Jonathan Lanes, Head of Manufacturing at BDO in the Midlands, added: “The manufacturing sector in the East Midlands has continued to grow over the last decade despite the sector facing multiple external shocks and changing policy priorities in recent years. Manufacturers have shown great resilience in overcoming these challenges.
“There is now an exciting opportunity for the sector to work with the new government on the development of a new long-term industrial strategy. This could unlock vital investment needed across the East Midlands to continue to bolster manufacturing output and skilled employment opportunities which is so important to the regional economy.”
Clowes Developments purchases 31-acre development site in Hucknall, Nottingham
Clowes Developments have purchased a 31-acre site at Harrier Park, Hucknall from Rolls-Royce via their development manager Muse.
The business park has been fully serviced by Muse and has the benefit of planning permission for circa 500,000 sq ft of warehouse/industrial space across six buildings.
The site is located just on the edge of Hucknall being within a 10-minute drive between junction 26 and 27 of the M1 Via the A611. East Midlands Airport, East Midlands Parkway Train Station and the cities of Derby and Nottingham are all accessible within a half an hour drive from the business park. Harrier Park sits outside the Nottingham workplace parking levy.
The site, aptly named Harrier Park, has a wealth of industrial history and a legacy of innovative engineering. The land was formerly used as an aerodrome associated with the development of the famous Rolls-Royce Merlin engine during World War II followed by the world’s first successful vertical take-off in the 1950’s with technology which in turn led to the Harrier ‘Jump Jet’ being developed. Hence the name, Harrier Park.
Sarah Day, Senior Land Manager at Clowes Developments, said: “There are a considerable number of off-market opportunities being presented to Clowes currently, we are running appraisals daily, occasionally we find a site that ticks all our boxes and Harrier Park certainly does that.
“The site has the potential to develop just over 500,000 sq ft of industrial use facilities in a prime location with great connections across the East Midlands. We look forward to working with the local planning authority, Ashfield District Council, to bring forward a business park which will enhance the economy and provide employment opportunities locally.”
Clowes Developments’ purchase of Harrier Park comes less than a week after the group shared the news that they purchased a 35-acre, mixed use site at Pleasley Hill in Mansfield.
James Richards, Development Director at Clowes Developments, will now look to firm up the site’s masterplan with their newly appointed design team. Fisher German represented Clowes on the purchase of the site and together with FHP Property Consultants have been appointed to market the site’s ‘design and build’ opportunities for occupiers to buy or rent premises at Harrier Park.
Work to begin to bring Ollerton Hall back to life as apartments
Newark and Sherwood District Council has confirmed that works are finally set to start at Ollerton Hall.
A set of keys was handed over last week to Severns (Ollerton) Limited who will soon begin work to sympathetically restore and transform the hall into 8 apartments.
The Grade II* listed hall is thought to be around 300 years old and has lain vacant for the past 50. A previous developer’s plans to develop the site into a care home never came to fruition and the site was re-acquired by the District Council in 2016 in order to seek a developer who would do justice to this important building.
An agreement was made with Severns in 2021 that they would formulate and submit respectful plans for the site, maintaining its historic character and architectural features. After being carefully prepared, these were met with unanimous acceptance by members of the District Council’s planning committee last year.
Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It was very important to us that plans for this beautiful place were respectful and protective.
“We’re really reassured that it’s now in the hands of people who have previous experience in doing fantastic work with heritage buildings and I’m looking forward to seeing the building brought back to life in a way that retains its integrity while bringing it up to date in terms of safety and practicality.”
Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Housing at the District Council, said: “We know that this has been a long time coming and we’re really happy to finally be getting it over the line so that work can begin. As an Ollerton local, this building means a lot to me; it’s the gateway to the town and it’s been so upsetting for all of us to see it go unused.
“It really is wonderful news that this stunning building will be returned to some of its former glory and shown the care and deference it deserves and I know I share your excitement to see Ollerton Hall looking amazing again!”
A heritage consultant was brought in who outlined some important conservation work which will be carried out first and the District Council will retain ownership of the property until this initial work is complete.
This is expected to take around 5 months and the District Council will be appointing a Conservation Clerk of Works who will be conducting regular visits during this time to ensure that the work is being carried out to a satisfactory level.
Grants re-launched for rural North Northamptonshire businesses offering up to £50,000
Grants of £5,000 and £50,000 are now available for rural businesses across North Northamptonshire.
Using monies received from the Rural England Prosperity Fund, North Northamptonshire Council has re-launched a grant scheme to support existing rural businesses, with applications now open.
Following on from earlier rounds of the grant schemes, applications are now being accepted for projects that can start quickly and be delivered in full by 28 February 2025. A particular target for this round is rural diversification, including business diversification and projects which support the visitor economy.
Examples of projects supported in earlier rounds include:
- New Lodge Farm in Bulwick who extended their café and farm shop
- Austin Davis Biologics who have been able to move into a larger, refurbished facility in Islip
- Measures Farm in Hemington who developed a new dog field
- We Don’t Do Ordinary who invested in tourist accommodation at Wallis Mill, Brigstock
Students present plan to tackle growing issue of e-waste recycling at international entrepreneurship competition
Students from Nottingham Business School have pitched their idea to tackle the growing issue of electronic waste through recycling and recovering precious metals at a prestigious international entrepreneurship competition.
Five MSc Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship students – Luke Hailstone, Devansh Poddar, Eugene Oigara, Pierre Louis, and Ajinkya Khairnar – visited Nairobi, Kenya, to take part in The Hult Prize, which challenges young people to solve the world’s most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship.
Rapid technological advancements coupled with short lifespans of products has led to a growing problem of electronic waste.
According to the World Health Organisation, e-waste is the fastest growing solid waste stream in the world. In 2019, an estimated 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste were produced worldwide, but only 17.4% was recycled. With the remainder of waste sent to landfill or burned, e-waste can release lead into the environment and have an adverse impact on human health.
The NBS team, who hail from Kenya, India, France, and the UK, presented their Imagination Engineering business concept which uses ‘urban mining’ to address the issue.
The innovative method uses naturally occurring microorganisms to break down e-waste and recover precious metals like gold, silver, and copper, providing a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional recycling methods.
Their pitch included the creation of a state-of-the-art bioleaching facility, equipped with advanced equipment, and managed by a team of experienced microbiologists and waste management experts. The facility is designed to offer comprehensive e-waste recycling services to businesses, governments, and individuals looking to dispose of their electronic devices responsibly.
To create a prototype, the group conducted research with e-waste recyclers and other stakeholders in the e-waste recycling industry to understand any challenges and receive feedback on usability, efficiency, and effectiveness in recovering valuable materials from e-waste. Their business plan, which also had to consider financial sustainability and potential barriers to taking the product to market, was improved and refined throughout the process.
The Hult Prize receives thousands of entries each year and only a selection are chosen to go through to summit events across the world, where ideas are pitched to a panel of esteemed judges, global business leaders, and thought leaders. While the Imagination Engineering team didn’t progress to the final, the group valued the experience and the opportunity to share their business plan.
Devansh Poddar, age 23, from Mumbai, said: “One of the biggest challenges we faced was aligning our scientific research with market needs and ensuring our solution was both technically feasible and commercially viable.
“I learned a great deal about project management and the importance of aligning technical solutions with market demands. This will be beneficial as we move forward with our careers and future projects.
“A standout moment for me was pitching to the judges and receiving recognition for our idea. It was a validation of our hard work and creativity, and it gave us the confidence to continue pursuing our vision.”
Luke Hailstone, 23, from London, added: “One of the most memorable moments for me was networking with other teams and learning about their innovative solutions. The exchange of ideas and the supportive community at the summit were truly inspiring.
“A significant challenge we faced was refining our pitch under time pressure and ensuring that our complex scientific concept was communicated clearly and effectively to a non-technical audience.
“This experience taught me the importance of adaptability and clear communication, which I believe will be invaluable in my future endeavours.”
Paul Wreaves, course leader for MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship at NBS, said: “To reach the summit stages of The Hult Prize is a fantastic achievement, and the team received some very positive feedback.
“Their unique qualities, education, and professional backgrounds, combined with their shared vision and dedication, make them exceptionally well-suited to transform their venture into a reality and drive meaningful change in the e-waste management sector should they decide to pursue the idea.”
Barwood Capital acquires site in Lincoln in new strategy focused on self-storage sector
Barwood Capital has acquired its first site in Lincoln, as part of a new investment strategy focused on the growing self-storage sector which will see the company partner with self-storage specialist, Flexiss.
The acquisition was made through the Barwood Regional Property Growth Fund V. Barwood is partnering with Flexiss as an operator and development partner for the new strategy, helping to acquire vacant buildings to be transformed into modern, energy efficient self-storage assets.
Flexiss currently has c.£200m in assets under management, including new build development projects and conversion projects. The new facilities acquired in partnership with Barwood will trade through its SureStore brand.
This first acquisition centres on the Scott Storage Centre Facility, which sits within the Lincoln Westminster Industrial Estate and currently includes a purpose-built storage and removals operation, totalling 14,500 sq ft, plus 13,885 sq ft of external storage containers.
Barwood has acquired the freehold interest in this prime location and plans to repurpose the existing unit into a state-of-the-art self-storage facility with a full SureStore rebrand in early 2025. Once complete, the new store will incorporate 60,840 sq ft of space arranged over four floors, including 6,840 sq ft of external containers.
The plans target an EPC rating of A, with new features including a solar array, EV charging points and motion sensor activated energy-efficient LED lighting.
“The self-storage sector is currently under-served, with demand from both individuals and businesses, and our aim is to create a regionally focused portfolio of assets to support the sector’s growth,” said Edward Henson, Director, Head of Transactions at Barwood Capital.
“This first acquisition is a unique opportunity to create a high-quality facility, in an area where there’s an acute under-supply of self-storage accommodation. The facility will offer a cost-effective solution for domestic and business customers in the area and create direct employment opportunities.
“As with all our projects, environmental responsibility has been among the priorities; our stores will be run with the highest energy efficiencies, keeping our offering cost effective for our customers and our environmental impact to a minimum.”
Mike Wilson, CEO of Flexiss, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with Barwood Capital on this project, which will be the first in a number of projects together. We are delighted to be able to offer our customers in Lincoln innovative, sustainable and convenient self-storage solutions.”
CBRE gave agency advice, with Napthens and Osborne Clarke giving legal advice on the purchase and structure.
Van Elle awarded project at former Boots site in Nottingham
Van Elle, the ground engineering contractor, has been awarded a scheme by Keepmoat at the former Boots site in Nottingham.
The scheme is worth up to £3m across several phases and is the largest single scheme awarded to its Housing division in the last 12 months.
This will be the 15th project over the last three years that Van Elle has delivered for Keepmoat.
This project will create a blueprint for a new strategic collaboration between Van Elle and M&J Evans; the groundworker in the housing sector, with a complementary, national capability. Under the agreement, Van Elle and M&J Evans will work closely together nationally on a customer-led basis to offer a more efficient, joined-up delivery model for housebuilders.
The news comes as Van Elle completes a capacity expansion project at the precast pile factory at its headquarters in Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. The expanded factory, which is capable of 24-hour manufacturing and utilises low carbon blended concrete mixes, sits alongside the Smartfoot precast beam factory.
This investment increases production capacity by over 30%, positioning the business well to benefit from the expected growing demand in the housing sector over the mid-term.
Chief Executive Officer, Mark Cutler said: “We are encouraged by the new Government’s commitment to accelerate the delivery of newbuild housing. We are ready to support incremental demand with our expanded capacity and breadth of expertise, including our precast modular Smartfoot foundation solution, which offers proven benefits compared to traditional methods.
“Although we anticipate housebuilding volumes to remain subdued in the immediate future, orders in Housing for the year to date are up 20% compared to last year. We believe the Company is well positioned to play a leading partner role with a range of blue-chip customers, with whom we enjoy high levels of repeat business.”
Great Central Railway Reunification project planning application submitted
The Great Central Railway has submitted its planning application to Charnwood Borough Council for the ambitious Reunification scheme.
The project will reconnect two separate heritage railways to create an eighteen-mile line stretching from the north of Leicester to the south of Nottingham, centered on Loughborough, bringing economic benefit and protecting jobs in the area’s service sector.
Three parts of the scheme have already been completed and millions of pounds raised. However, to build more of the scheme planning permission is required.
General Manager of the Great Central Railway, Malcolm Holmes said: “As always, we are hugely grateful and humbled by the generous donations we receive from around the world to advance the project. This next stage is crucial, so we’re now asking people to contact Charnwood Borough Council and support the planning application.”
Since showcasing new plans for the proposed railway link in April 2024, an additional £50,000 has been raised by supporters towards the next phase of work. Plans now need to be turned into engineering designs and specifications, which is likely to cost in the region of half a million pounds.
Malcolm continued: “Formally applying for planning consent is a huge milestone for this exciting project. It has required a lot of hard work and investment from our supporters and stakeholders. We’d like to thank everyone who has got behind Reunification and in particular our design consultants and advisers who have helped and guided us through this vital stage.”
The two sections of the line being reconnected were part of the original Great Central Railway which ran from Sheffield to London. It was closed in 1969 and 500 metres of railway was removed. The revived GCR in Leicestershire now welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors and a sister operation in Nottinghamshire is a developing heritage attraction.
Display exceptional work at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
A key event in the business calendar, highlighting the exceptional work of the region’s property and construction sector, the East Midlands Bricks Awards will return on Thursday 3rd October 2024, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
Nominations for the prestigious event are open, and now is the ideal time to make your submissions, ahead of the deadline – Thursday 5th September.
It’s an opportunity to showcase your projects and team, reward their hard work, bolster morale, and to promote your business and its successes amongst leaders in the industry.
To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Tickets can now be booked for the 2024 awards event, click here to secure yours.
Taking place in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on Thursday 3rd October, from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Award categories include:
- Most active agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards)
Nominations end Thursday 5th September, with winners revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening of celebration and networking with property and construction professionals from across the East Midlands.
Tickets can now be booked for the 2024 awards event, click here to secure yours.
Taking place in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on Thursday 3rd October, from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Dress code is standard business attire.
To be held at:
East Midlands businesses engage with region’s charities at summit
Businesses, charities and speakers gathered at East Midlands Chamber’s Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) summit at the University of Derby on 11th July.
2024’s East Midlands CSR Summit was made up of a series of workshops, seminars, exhibiting charities and inspirational talks from organisations including Ideagen, Loughborough University and Futures Housing Group.
The summit formed a key pillar of East Midlands Chamber’s #EMComingtogether campaign, an initiative to strengthen the relationship between commerce and communities in the region.
Research findings conducted by Derby Business School and Loughborough Business School into how East Midlands businesses approach CSR were presented by Dr Barbara Tomasella of the University of Derby and Dr Elaine Conway from Loughborough University.
Speaking afterwards, Dr Elaine Conway said of the research data: “We’re not surprised that people in the East Midlands want to get engaged with CSR but what has surprised us is that, in spite of COVID, in spite of the downturns of economy or the cost of living crisis, companies are still wanting to engage with CSR.
“It’s that commitment, that people want to carry on, in spite of everything around them. That’s a really positive thing.”
Kirsty Yates, Housing Operations Manager and Sophie Harding, Community Engagement Delivery Officer at Futures Housing gave a talk on how to collaborate with partners, businesses and employers to deliver social purpose.
Kirsty Yates said afterwards: “For us, CSR is working in partnership to enhance our communities, make them more sustainable and ensure that our customers and communities can thrive and have the best opportunities available to them.
“We’ve worked successfully with smaller businesses, large businesses and there’s been a mutual benefit to both parties as well as the overall community.”
Sophie Harding said: “If we know who our customers are and what’s important to them, what services they need, then we can do better to support them.
“For example, if a charity is working with somebody on a local level, they build a relationship with them for a long period of time. That knowledge can be passed on to us so that we can support the wider community.”
Claire Knee, Global Community and Social Impact Lead from Nottingham-based global tech business Ideagen shared experience of the social impact they’ve had across education, volunteering, technology and charity support.
Speaking afterwards, Claire Knee said: “CSR engagement gives us the opportunity to have social impact, which is important to Ideagen. Community is one of our three values, so it enables us to live out that value, enables us to be proud of the place that we work and to recognise the good that we do.
“There’s a lot of positivity we get through colleague engagement in volunteering, there’s an absolute sense of pride in a job well done for the community.”
East Midlands Chamber President Stuart Dawkins, who opened the summit said: “Getting businesses together with communities and charities to look at the best ways of developing a solid CSR approach can only be a good thing.
“Events like this are a good springboard for thought – what are you doing yourself to assist your community. As I opened the summit, I spoke of the risk to businesses that don’t prioritise CSR getting left behind. It was encouraging to see so many East Midlands businesses share great ideas of how to deliver CSR really well.”
Speakers at 2024’s East Midlands CSR Summit included:
- Dr Nicola Lynch – Head of Business School, University of Derby
- Claire Knee – Global Community and Social Impact Lead, Ideagen
- Hafsa Mitha – Philanthropy Executive, Community Foundation Leicestershire and Rutland
- Kirsty Yates – Housing Operations Manager, Futures Housing Group
- Sophie Harding – Community Engagement Project Delivery Manager, Futures Housing Group
- Dr Barbara Tomasella – University of Derby
- Dr Elaine Conway – Loughborough University
- Stuart Dawkins – President, East Midlands Chamber
Derbyshire defibrillator firm acquired by Stockholm business
Safe Life, a Stockholm-based provider of life-saving solutions with portfolio companies across Europe and North America, has acquired Derbyshire-based Defib Store.
The acquisition marks Safe Life’s third in the UK and 25th since inception. Defib Store is an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) cabinet manufacturer and independent defibrillator supplier with expertise developed through 30 years of designing and manufacturing bespoke cabinets and specialist enclosures based at offices in Derbyshire.“We are happy to welcome Defib Store’s employees to Safe Life,” says Jimmy Eriksson, Safe Life CEO. “The United Kingdom is an important market for Safe Life, and with the stellar reputation Defib Store has earned, we now have a solid base to continue building our infrastructure in the UK to save more lives.”
“We are excited to join Safe Life not only to bring the best minds onboard, but also contributing in its mission to saving lives on a global scale,” said Alex Bennett, Co-Founder at Defib Store.
“I feel it is the responsible decision to join Safe Life for the benefit of Defib Store’s customers, employees and future due to the significant investments in our collective mission that Safe Life continues to make.”
With a recent capital raise, Safe Life is in position to continue to make strategic acquisitions in its core geographical markets.
Go Green, Digital and Innovate Grant Schemes open to Harborough businesses
Businesses are being invited to apply for grants to help them thrive and grow.
Harborough District Council launched three new grant schemes at the recent Harborough Go Green Business Convention that are designed to provide vital financial support for local organisations in the Harborough district.
Funding of up to £2,000 is available to support projects that align with one of the following themes:
- Go Green: Aimed at helping businesses reduce their carbon footprints, increase energy efficiency, and lower fixed costs.
- Go Digital: Supports the adoption of digital technologies to improve business performance and enhance online customer engagement.
- Go Innovate: Provides funding for new products or methods to improve efficiencies and drive business growth.
East Midlands experiences downturn in Foreign Direct Investment
The East Midlands has experienced a downturn in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), according to the latest EY UK Attractiveness Survey.
The region recorded 31 projects in 2023, a 35% decrease on the previous year. This decline marks the second-lowest total of FDI projects for the East Midlands in a decade, causing its share to drop to 3.1% of all UK projects. The East Midlands ranked as the UK’s tenth best performing region in attracting investment.
The East Midlands recorded almost the same number of jobs associated with FDI projects in 2022 as in 2023. The total in 2023 was 2,848, ranking the East Midlands eighth out of twelve UK regions for FDI-associated employment.
The East Midlands’ FDI performance was led by Transportation Manufacturers and Suppliers with seven projects, followed by Agri-food with five, and Machinery and Equipment and Software and IT services, each with four projects.
The East Midlands’ performance contrasts that of the West Midlands, which attracted 127 FDI projects in 2023, its highest total of the last decade.
Simon O’Neill, Office Managing Partner for EY in the Midlands, said: “The West Midlands recorded a meteoric rise in inward investment last year, a clear indicator of the region’s strong economic potential and its growing appeal to international capital.
“While we celebrate these successes, we remain committed to understanding the challenges faced by the East Midlands and to supporting its efforts to regain momentum in attracting global investment. The West Midlands’ success story is not only a win for the region but also a significant contribution to the UK’s position as a prime destination for foreign investment.”
