Phase one of landmark Skegness Tower Gardens landscape renovations complete
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has finished delivering the first stage of works as part of a masterplan to reinvigorate the historic Tower Gardens in Skegness.
On behalf of Skegness Town Council, who are developing the site with Heritage Lincolnshire through SCAPE’s Regional Construction Framework, G F Tomlinson worked alongside Influence Planning and Design and Gleeds to complete the £590k initial phase.
The completion of the project was marked with a ‘ribbon cutting’ ceremony earlier this month, with Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor Jimmy Brookes, Town Clerk, Steve Larner and G F Tomlinson’s Framework Manager for SCAPE, Craig Stopper, in attendance, along with local councillors and representatives from Heritage Lincolnshire, Influence and Gleeds.
The first stage of the Tower Gardens Masterplan formed part of the Towns Fund Grant Scheme and was safely delivered whilst the park remained open to the public, ensuring availability for continued use of the amenities with minimal disruption.
Landmark works included the refurbishment of the pond and its perimeter railings as well as the reinstatement of the pond pump, together with enhancements to overall accessibility through the re-levelling of the land and re-routing of footpaths. A specialised sensory area was created around the bandstand of the historic site for the local community to enjoy, where planting by the project team and members of the local community was undertaken as part of a community planting day held in March.
The enhancement works will ensure that Tower Gardens continues to provide a valuable and accessible central space for Skegness residents to enjoy, bringing people together for community events and outdoor activities.
In support of the local community, G F Tomlinson sourced 58% of its labour for the scheme from within a 40-mile radius of the site, providing local job opportunities for the region. Alongside this over 99% of construction waste for the project was diverted from landfill, reducing the environmental impact on the community.
G F Tomlinson has a long-standing relationship with Skegness Town Council having previously delivered the Tower Gardens Pavilion back in 2020.
Adrian Grocock, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It has been a pleasure to be working alongside our long-term client, Skegness Town Council, once again to bring the first phase of the vision for the Tower Gardens landscape renovations to life, reinvigorating a historical central landmark so that residents can continue to enjoy it for years to come.
“The scheme fully compliments our earlier project on the Tower Gardens Pavilion. The team and all suppliers have worked exceptionally well together to overcome operational and design challenges in a fully collaborative environment, delivering enhancement works that will benefit the town for many years to come.”
Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “The Tower Gardens in Skegness is an excellent example of how utilising green spaces can enrich communities, bringing together local residents who enjoy the outdoor and natural environments. We are immensely proud to be working in close partnership with G F Tomlinson on such a positive project which is providing a place residents can be proud of, whilst leaving a lasting historical legacy.”
Steve Larner, Town Clerk of Skegness Town Council, said: “It is wonderful to see everyone enjoying Tower Gardens now that the first phase of works are complete. This scheme has delivered improvements around the bandstand and central area of Tower Gardens.
“The pond has been restored to its former glory and the sensory play has been a big hit. We have received many positive comments from both residents and visitors alike. A big thank you goes out to everyone involved in the first phase of this project.”
Shona Hatton, director at Influence Landscape Planning & Design, said: “The conservation and enhancement of this Grade II Registered Park and garden helps reestablish Tower Gardens as one of Skegness’ primary green spaces.
“Influence is proud to have sensitively conserved and restored the park’s main features and introduced new elements of design that enable all the community to have a sense of pride and ownership. The work reinforces the park as a quality destination in its own right as well as a pleasant onward approach and gateway to the Grand Parade and sea front.
“The physical improvements create a safe and accessible park for all, with the central features of the cascade and pond creating a vibrance and energy that had been lost, right at its heart. The gardens now have a sense of its original charm and enable people to hark back to an era when Pleasure Gardens were places for socialising and enjoyment.”
Northampton business raises more than £5,600 in walking challenge for local hospice
A dedicated team from distributor of building materials, Travis Perkins plc, with head offices in Northampton, has completed a walking challenge in aid of Cynthia Spencer Hospice, raising more than £5,600 – the equivalent to more than 10 days of patient care.
Covering 41 miles on the picturesque Ivanhoe Way in 14 hours, 21 team members endured rain, sun, mud, blisters, aches and niggles to accomplish the huge challenge, in some of Leicestershire’s best countryside.
“At Travis Perkins plc, our purpose is to help build better communities, and we take great pride in making positive change happen,” said organiser Brett Jackson, head of client services, at Travis Perkins plc.
“As one of the biggest employers in Northampton, Cynthia Spencer Hospice means a lot to our colleagues and other local people in Northampton, many of whom have directly or indirectly experienced the benefit of the services they offer, and has been our charity partner for several years, so this walk was part of a wider fundraising campaign for them.”
In addition to the walkers, four people were on support duty at checkpoints throughout the challenge to help keep motivation high. “There was a great sense of teamwork with everyone supporting each other to get through what was a very tough challenge of hiking through very difficult terrain,” said Brett. “But there was a great sense of pride at the end for what we achieved.”
Anita Frith, director of income generation and communications at Cynthia Spencer Hospice, praised the walkers for their achievement: “Travis Perkins continues to be a key local business that supports Cynthia Spencer Hospice. We are grateful for their continued effort and welcome other local businesses to support us in being able to continue providing support to those in the local community who need our services.”
There’s still time to donate to the Travis Perkins fundraising, by visiting http://lnkd.in/eHm7m35R
Reward your team and showcase achievements at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
Providing the perfect platform to showcase your business’s achievements, enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 NOW – ahead of nominations closing on Thursday 5th September.
The prestigious event, organised by East Midlands Business Link Magazine, is an independent awards and publicity programme recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes, schools and public spaces. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes.
The annual awards and networking event draws leaders from throughout the East Midlands and is the ideal way for businesses to promote themselves and those they work with. Indeed winning one of these awards will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region.
Following the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, Dan Stack, director at Chevin Homes, said: “All at Chevin Homes are delighted to have won the Excellence in Design award for our Amber Farm development in Oakerthorpe. It is an event that we thoroughly enjoy as we get chance to catch up with contacts from across the East Midlands.” He added the business were further “honoured to be named as the Overall Winner from a high class field of nominated companies.”
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 categories)
Nominations end Thursday 5th September
Find out who last year’s winners were here.
To be held at:
Family haulage business closes doors after eight decades
Cartwright Brothers (Haulage) Ltd, the family haulage and storage business based in Lincoln, closed its doors last week after 80 years of trading.
The company, which employed more than 100 people, was set up by four brothers shortly before the end of the second world war to meet demand for road haulage across the agricultural sector.
In the early fifties, Cartwright Brothers delivered sandbags along the east coast to hold back the damage caused by one of the worst storms in UK history. Over the past decades, Cartwright Bros has continued to work for large name businesses – mostly in the agricultural sector as well as internationally renowned companies.
Directors and sons of two of the original brothers, cousins Jamie and John Cartwright have been running the business for the past 30-plus years and delivered the bad news around the closure to staff on Thursday.
Jamie said: “It was with tremendous sadness that we had to close the doors at Cartwright last week. But running a haulage business over the past decade has come with huge challenges – rising diesel prices, a difficult economy, along with huge constraints caused by COVID 19.
“Cartwright was never able to continue in the same vein since COVID. Plus, the Ukranian war had a huge impact on our sector in terms of fuel price increases, acquiring replacement parts for vehicles and having to wait long periods of time for these parts to arrive – and at inflated prices.
“All of these challenges were underpinned by serious lorry driver shortages following Brexit which added even more pressure to running Cartwright Bros – along with Government legislation changes which continued to impede our viability.
“In December it was reported that more than 450 UK haulage businesses went out of business in the previous 12 months. These are stark figures for the industry and something needs to be done to ensure that this much-needed sector thrives and survives.”
John added: “Running a successful family business turning over £12 million over the past few years has been a huge honour and a great sense of pride. Unfortunately, with the number of challenges thrown at us, we were unable to continue the success of the business.
“It has been a really sad time for us – particularly as Cartwright Bros celebrated eight decades in business in January this year. We are so grateful to our wonderful staff whom we are supporting in the recruitment process going forward. Some of our people worked for Cartwright Bros for most of their lives and we count them as personal friends.”
The company started in 1944 with just one lorry. At its height, Cartwright Bros had more than 60 wagons on the roads.
Cartwright customers, who have worked with Cartwright Bros for many years, have been quick to commiserate with the cousins and Cartwright staff.
Natasha Crowson, who started her career at Cartwright Bros when she was just 21 has worked for the business for three decades.
She said: “Cartwright Bros has been a fantastic company to work for. My colleagues and I were devastated to hear the news last week – both for the business and its success over the years, but also for Jamie and John who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the company was safe – and staff were looked after.
“The outpouring of love and affection by employees for the directors was wonderful to see last week. Everyone had their own stories of how Jamie and John looked after them over the years – not just as employers but as friends. It was truly a sad day to see this fantastic company close its doors after so long.
“We will all miss seeing the distinctive Cartwright Bros lorries on our roads. The company has been a massive Lincolnshire success story for so long and they will be sadly missed.”
Stake snapped up in Lincolnshire offshore wind farm
Norges Bank Investment Management has acquired a 37.5 percent interest in a 573 MW operational offshore wind farm located off the Lincolnshire and North Norfolk coast.
The wind farm, named Race Bank, reached commercial operations in February 2018. It has 91 6.3-MW wind turbines with a combined total capacity of 573 MW, powering the equivalent of more than 510,000 UK homes annually.
Norges Bank Investment Management paid £330 million for its stake, valuing the wind farm at approximately £2.599 billion. The wind farm includes a debt facility with an outstanding balance of approximately £644 million at Norges Bank Investment Management’s ownership share.
The sellers of the 37.5 percent interest are Macquarie Asset Management, via Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 (25%), and Spring Infrastructure 1 Investment Limited Partnership, a fund managed by Spring Infrastructure Capital Co., Ltd. (12.5%).
Arjun Infrastructure Partners will remain co-investor for 12.5% of the wind farm, and Ørsted will remain as a 50% owner and operator of the wind farm.
Output volumes unchanged but expectations remain positive amongst manufacturers
Manufacturers reported that output volumes were broadly unchanged in the three months to June, after rising for the first time in a year and a half in the quarter to May, according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS). Manufacturers expect output to rise modestly in the three months to September.
Total order books improved in May, despite a sharp deterioration in the volume of export orders. Both total and export orders were reported below “normal” and below their long-run averages. Manufacturers reported that stocks of finished goods were more than adequate to meet expected demand, and to the same extent as last month. Meanwhile, expectations for selling price inflation picked up, with prices expected to rise at an above-average pace over the three months to September.
The survey, based on the responses of 248 manufacturers, found:
- Output volumes were broadly unchanged in the three months to June after rising in the quarter to May (weighted balance of +3%, from +14% in the three months to May) and were equivalent to the long-run average. Output is expected to rise modestly in the three months to September (+13%).
- Output increased in only 4 out of 17 sub-sectors, in the three months to June, with growth in the food, drink & tobacco, motor vehicle & transport sector, and plastics and furniture & upholstery sub-sectors broadly offset by falls elsewhere.
- Total order books were reported as below “normal” in June but improved sharply relative to last month (-18% from -33%). The level of order books remained slightly below the long-run average (-13%).
- Export order books were also seen as below normal and deteriorated relative to last month (-39% from -27%). This was also below the long-run average (-18%) and was the weakest outturn since February 2021.
- Expectations for average selling price inflation accelerated in June (+20%, from +15% in May) – well above the long-run average (+7%).
- Stock adequacy for finished goods were unchanged from June, with a net balance of manufacturers reporting that stocks were “more than adequate” standing at +14%, broadly in line with the long-run average.
Recognition for Nottingham solicitors offering free legal advice
A team of solicitors who provide free legal advice to members of the community have been named in the first ever Pro Bono Recognition List.
Laura Pinkney, Mathew Game, Katie Smith, Charis Wong and Megan Shirley from NLS Legal, Nottingham Law School’s award-winning teaching law firm, have all secured a place on the list, which recognises barristers and solicitors who gave 25 hours or more pro bono legal assistance over the last year.
The initiative is endorsed by The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales and supported by the Law Society, the Bar Council and major pro bono organisations.
The small team of experienced lawyers at NLS Legal supervise hundreds of Nottingham Law School students in assisting people with a range of legal matters including employment, family, housing, business, civil litigation, intellectual property, special educational needs and disability, welfare benefits and victims’ rights.
So far, financial awards totalling more than £6 million have been secured for clients.
The firm also delivers public legal education sessions each year to raise awareness of legal rights and responsibilities.
Head of NLS Legal, Laura Pinkney, said: “As a not-for-profit law firm we provide a valuable resource to the local community by offering free legal advice in a range of areas. Our inclusion in this list demonstrates the dedication of the whole team to providing access to justice for people who are unable to afford, or otherwise access, legal services.”
A message from The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, on release of the inaugural list said: “Pro bono is not a substitute for legal aid, but it is a valuable part of our system of justice, working alongside the advice sector.
“The judiciary sees first-hand how pro bono advice and representation helps those who might not otherwise receive legal assistance. I hope that recognition on the List encourages the legal profession to continue its commitment to providing pro bono help to those in need.”
East Midlands Chamber appoints director of policy and insight
Richard Blackmore has been named as the new director of policy and insight at East Midlands Chamber, following 8 months as head of special projects.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Richard spent 9 years at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), 7 of which as Midlands director.
The Chamber’s director of policy and insight is responsible for engaging with senior civil servants and government decision makers, at all levels, in shaping policy that enables economic growth in the East Midlands.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “One of the most important elements of the Chamber’s role at the heart of the East Midlands business community is to be its voice and lobby those in power at local, regional or national level to get the best outcomes for businesses in the region and grow its economy.
“Richard’s thorough understanding of the needs of businesses across the East Midlands, the challenges they face and opportunities they can seize, arms him with the skill to be the crucial link between what the business community says it needs and then getting those things into policy and pushing for their implementation. I extend my congratulations to Richard as he takes on the post.”
Richard Blackmore said: “I’m delighted to take on the role of director of policy & insight. Since joining the Chamber, I’ve enjoyed seeing first-hand the valuable work that takes place every single day in supporting, listening to and driving the asks businesses need for growth. I’m very much looking forward to working with businesses of all sizes, playing my part building on and continuing that journey, helping their success.
“We’re in the early days of devolution and the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s inception, we also have a general election just a fortnight away and I stand ready to engage with whoever is placed to represent each part of the East Midlands, locally or nationally, to get the asks outlined in our Manifesto for Growth actioned and be that ear and strong voice of the business community.”
Medical packaging firm acquires Derby business
Sterimed, a medical packaging firm, has completed the acquisition of Riverside Medical Packaging, a supplier of sterilization packaging systems and services, based in Derby.
Specialist in complex medical packaging solutions, Riverside has become over the past 40 years a leading UK provider of tailored contract packing services for the medical device industry, housing 12 cleanrooms (3 Class 8 & 9 class 7) with significant thermoforming production capabilities.
Under the tradename Aseptic Medical Devices (AMD), the company has also successfully developed multi-packed syringes and medical devices in a format designed exclusively for the production of aseptically manufactured parenterals for hospital pharmacists and compounders.
The management team of Riverside, led by the Managing Director Matthew Roe, will stay in place and join the entrepreneurial journey of Sterimed. David Shaw, founder of the company, will stay as a director of Riverside and will join the Sterimed core entrepreneurs’ team by becoming a shareholder of the Sterimed group alongside the existing management team, families, and financial partners of Sterimed.
Thibaut Hyvernat, president and CEO, said: “I am delighted to welcome a wonderful new team, and a wonderful business, within Sterimed. All the preparatory works and discussions have taken place in such a constructive spirit that this alliance became obvious for everybody very quickly, making all of us sure of its relevancy.
“This is another big step forward in Sterimed development strategy, bringing a lot of new cross-fertilization opportunities for Riverside Medical and a number of current Sterimed sites and businesses.”
David Shaw, founder of Riverside, said: ”We are delighted and thrilled to have completed this transaction and to now be part of the Sterimed Group. Over its 45 year history Riverside has grown into one of the UK’s leading medical packaging suppliers. Our success has been the result of a dedicated and committed workforce, long term vision and innovation.
“With the synergies, opportunities and security that will now arise from being part of the Sterimed family of companies, I am confident that the future prosperity of Riverside is assured, and our customers will benefit hugely from the wider variety of services Riverside will now be able to offer.”
Matthew Roe, who will remain as Managing Director of Riverside, said: “Myself, my management team, and our proficient and experienced workforce are thrilled to be joining the Stermed Group.
“The synergies for cooperation and expansion within the group will accelerate our growth and cement our position as one of the leading providers to the medical device industry. The partnership with these prestigious medical packaging companies will give us a global presence and create exciting new opportunities.”
Sally Saunders of Translink said: “It has been a privilege to work with the shareholders of Riverside Medical packaging. The business has achieved significant growth through continued innovation and building trusted customer relationships, becoming a market-leading player and we are excited to see the huge growth potential in joining forces with the Sterimed group.”
Advisers on the transaction included Sally Saunders and Amanda Betts from Provantage Corporate Finance. Legal advice came from Nigel Blackwell and Harpinder Nahl from Browne Jacobson.
Infuse Technology appoints head of sales and procurement
Simon Hulland joins Derby-based IT services provider Infuse Technology in a new role as head of sales and procurement as the firm continues to strengthen its team and grow its client base of Midlands and UK-based businesses.
With 30 years’ experience in IT, Simon started his career at 18 as an IT consultant and engineer at Infuse’s group company PKF Smith Cooper where he worked for over 10 years, before he transitioned into IT sales and procurement.
In the past five years, Simon established a complete global procurement and logistics department at a UK IT firm, whilst simultaneously running their UK sales department.
Simon will be taking this experience into his new role at Infuse, where he will head up all sales and procurement for their existing and new clients, as well as proactively looking at ways to continually grow their portfolio of services to better serve their clients.
Paul Howard, Managing Director of Infuse, said: “We are delighted to welcome Simon to Infuse and to push forward with our growth plans across the Midlands and UK. With Simon’s extensive experience in IT, sales and procurement, we are confident he will be an asset to our specialist team and instrumental to our future growth.”
Simon Hulland, head of sales and procurement, said: “I am excited to be joining Infuse and applying my expertise from my career so far to my new role here. Working with people, building connections and securing new business opportunities are where my passions lie. I have lots of ideas I can’t wait to implement and look forward to helping Infuse further their expansion plans.”
An introduction to the AI Act: what you need to know
Whether you’re an organisation using AI-driven chatbots for customer enquiries, developing predictive algorithms for credit risk, or image recognition software for security purposes, the upcoming legal obligations of deploying certain artificial intelligence (AI) technologies under the EU’s landmark AI Act may severely impact your data handling practices.
A team of experts in data protection services and AI governance have penned the following article to help businesses understand the requirements of the AI Act, as well as what will be required of your organisation in order to achieve compliance.
What is the AI Act?
The AI Act establishes a regulatory and legal framework for the deployment, development and use of AI systems within the EU. The legislation takes a risk-based approach, categorising AI systems according to their potential impact on safety, human rights and societal well-being. Some systems are banned entirely, while systems deemed ‘high-risk’ are subject to stricter requirements and assessments before deployment. AI systems are categorised into different risk levels based on their potential impact, with the burden of compliance increasing proportionate to the risk. The three main categories are prohibited, high risk and low risk. Prohibited systems are banned entirely, due to the unacceptable potential for negative consequences. High risk systems are those with a significant impact on people’s safety, wellbeing and rights. They are allowed, but are subject to stricter requirements. Low risk systems are those which pose minimal dangers, and therefore have fewer compliance obligations.How will the AI Act and the GDPR work together?
“In many cases the AI Act and the GDPR will complement each other,” comments one UK-based data protection specialist. “The AI Act is essentially a product safety legislation designed to ensure the responsible and non-harmful deployment of AI systems. The GDPR is a principles-based law, protecting fundamental human privacy rights.”Where are we at the moment?
The AI Act was approved by the European Council on 21 May 2024, with a phased implementation schedule over two years, which has been designed to give organisations time to make necessary changes to their systems and practices. The Act will apply to public and private organisations operating within the EU that develop, deploy, or use AI systems within the EU’s single market. This includes companies, institutions, government bodies, research organisations and any other organisations involved in AI-related activities.When will the AI Act apply?
The AI Act’s finalised text will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, officially entering into force twenty days after publication – expected by late June or early July 2024. The new law will then apply two years later, in 2026. The EU Commission has also established the EU AI Office. From 16 June 2024, the AI Office will support the implementation of the AI Act across all Member States.Timeline and important deadlines
The AI Act becomes law (expected late June to early July 2024) 6 months later AI practices with unacceptable risks to health and safety or fundamental human rights will be banned. The deadline for compliance on unacceptable risk AI systems is, understandably, one of the first to be enforced, so organisations should evaluate their risk exposure in this area as soon as possible. 9 months later The AI Office will finalise the codes of conduct to cover the obligations for developers and deployers of AI systems. These codes will provide voluntary guidelines for responsible AI development and use. 12 months later The rules for providers of General Purpose AI (GPAI) will come into effect and organisations must align their practices with these new rules. “GPAI” refers to advanced AI systems capable of performing a wide range of tasks – ChatGPT being one such example. In addition, the first European Commission annual review of the list of prohibited AI applications will also take place 12 months after the AI Act enters into force. 18 months later The European Commission will issue implementing acts for high-risk AI providers. This means organisations using high-risk AI systems must follow a standard template to monitor the AI systems after deployment. The monitoring plan will help to ensure that any issues or risks are promptly identified and addressed. 24 months later The remainder of the AI Act will apply, including regulations on high-risk AI systems listed in Annex III of the AI Act. These systems include those related to biometrics and include technologies such as fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, iris scanning and voice authentication. 36 months later Regulations for high-risk AI systems stipulated in Annex I become effective.Conclusion
The AI Act represents a substantial legislative shift for organisations that use artificial intelligence in the EU, and organisations must plan for severe criteria and assessments, especially for systems posing a high risk. As the AI landscape continues to develop, staying informed and adaptable will be key for businesses to continue harnessing AI’s potential while adhering to new legal obligations.Games Workshop to invest in new manufacturing facility
Games Workshop is set to expand in Nottingham, investing in a new manufacturing facility to be built on land it owns on Willow Road, Lenton.
The business has submitted plans for the new facility to Nottingham City Council as it looks to support ongoing business growth.
Subject to planning permission, it is proposed that the new facility will be open in Spring 2026.
When it opens, Games Workshop will move its packing operations out of existing factories along Willow Road and relocate them to the new facility.
Moving packing operations out of existing factories creates space for Games Workshop to expand Tooling and Injection Moulding operations. This expansion programme will start in 2026 and will last for at least five years. This period will see investment in machinery and infrastructure and the creation of new jobs in the Tooling and Injection Moulding areas.
Dan to lead BHP’s new commercial finance service
Independent accountancy firm BHP has appointed Dan Summerfield to head up its new Commercial Finance service.
With recent data highlighting that access to funding is becoming more challenging for SMEs, the firm’s new offering will help clients identify and secure the right finance product for their needs, while ensuring they have access to competitive terms.
Dan, a Yorkshire financier, joins BHP from Panacea Investment Group in Leeds and has held senior roles in the banking and finance sector over his 30-year career. Dan will oversee all aspects of commercial finance and the firm’s Professional Banking and Finance team, ensuring his wealth of experience can support clients across BHP’s five offices.
Hamish Morrison, Joint CEO at BHP, said: “As trusted advisors, we’re committed to not only delivering a high-quality service to our clients but also expanding our offer to meet the challenges our clients may be experiencing. This new service is evidence of that approach, and we believe it will ensure our clients and their businesses can thrive, despite potential headwinds.”
Dan added: “I’m pleased to be joining BHP as it continues to grow. Together with the other partners, I’m looking forward to expanding this service to ensure we can support our clients.
“The finance market has been a volatile space over the last few years, adding to the challenges many businesses have had to face. With the marketplace expected to continue to change as a result of economic uncertainty, it’s crucial that businesses have access to expert advice. Bringing together my experience with the other expertise within BHP, we can offer integrated advisory services that empower our clients.”
Dan is the latest hire for BHP, which has recently announced the appointment of Mark Stanton to Partner in its Digital Finance team, made several new promotions and created new heads of service positions.
BHP Joint CEO Lisa Leighton said: “The last year has been a transformational period for our business as we’ve continued to grow organically, by supporting our clients to do the same. Having been recognised repeatedly over the last 12 months by independent assessor Great Place to Work® UK in a number of categories, we’re pleased to not only be able to attract the best talent in the region, but also to find new talent through our graduate and non-graduate training schemes.
“As we continue to invest in our services and our people, we’re really looking forward to what’s to come for BHP and our clients.”
Northamptonshire logistics firm falls into administration
Northamptonshire-based Linkline, a provider of UK and international logistics, haulage, warehousing, and pallet network services to businesses, has fallen into administration.
The company, which employed 104 staff, operated out of its three hubs near Wellingborough.
Due to the economic challenges and competition within the logistics industry, the director of Linkline had recently launched an accelerated M&A process to find a buyer for the business and explore restructuring options. However, without any viable offers and unable to meet its financial obligations, Linkline couldn’t continue trading and administrators were ultimately appointed.
Rick Harrison and Chris Pole of Interpath Advisory were appointed as joint administrators to Linkline Transport Limited on Tuesday 18 June 2024.
100 staff were made redundant on appointment. The joint administrators have retained the remaining staff to support them in winding up the business’s operations and will market the business and assets for sale.
Rick Harrison, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator of Linkline Transport Limited, said: “The UK logistics sector has been reeling from multiple economic factors that have made trading conditions challenging for many operators. In addition, Linkline struggled in the face of intense market competition and without significant additional investment, it was unable to continue trading.
“Our team is on site to provide support for employees in making the appropriate claims with the Redundancy Payments Service and is also engaging with customers.”
Banner Jones advises on sale of Peak Sensors Holdings
Banner Jones, in collaboration with Mitchells Accountants, has advised Peak Sensors Holdings on its recent £2.4 million sale to SDI Group plc.
SDI Group plc, quoted on AIM, specialises in the design and manufacture of scientific and technology products for digital imaging and sensing and control applications. This acquisition expands its portfolio and capabilities.
Peak Sensors, a leading UK manufacturer based in Chesterfield, produces standard and bespoke temperature sensors, including thermocouples and resistance thermometers, servicing various industries such as glass, ceramics, incinerators (including energy from waste), cement and ovens.
With a 5,300 sq ft leasehold facility and 14 employees, Peak Sensors reported revenues of £2.1 million for the year ending March 31, 2023.
Further to the acquisition Roshan Aucklah, CEO of Peak Sensors since 2017, will continue to lead the business under SDI Group ownership. Peter Smith, one of the founders, will remain as a consultant. Peak Sensors will now be part of SDI Group’s Sensors and Controls division.
Andrew Fielder, Solicitor and Head of Business Legal Services at Banner Jones, said: “It was a real pleasure to support Peak Sensors in an acquisition deal that will enhance and drive the company’s success. We are also pleased to have worked again with Mitchells Accountants to support another local Chesterfield business.”
Ken Ford, Chairman of SDI, said: “The acquisition of Peak Sensors is a strategic step in our Group growth, demonstrating opportunities to acquire businesses with high-quality products and export growth potential. We expect the acquisition to be earnings-enhancing in the first full year of ownership. We are delighted to welcome Roshan Aucklah, Peter Smith, and their staff to the SDI Group.”
Warehouse investor sells Chesterfield site for £46m
Warehouse REIT, the multi-let warehouse investor, has completed on the sale of £57.5 million of single-let assets in three separate transactions.
This includes Barlborough Links in Chesterfield, sold for £46 million.
Warehouse REIT acquired the site with Amazon as its tenant in 2020 for £57.3m.
The deal is in line with Warehouse REIT’s strategic focus on the multi-let warehouse asset class.
The other properties sold comprise Parkway Industrial Estate in Plymouth, sold for £6.3 million, and Celtic Business Park in Newport, sold for £5.2 million.
Simon Hope, Warehouse REIT, said: “Rebuilding dividend coverage is our key priority, and by reducing our debt and our finance costs, the sale of these single-let assets is an important milestone in that respect.
“At the same time, we continue to reshape our portfolio to focus on the highly attractive multi-let subsector of UK real estate, which plays to our strengths and is where we can drive income and capital growth over the long term.”
Forum to help budding entrepreneurs succeed in business
Budding entrepreneurs can get free expert guidance from top local business professionals at a summer forum that is being staged in Erewash.
The event aims to encourage start-up ventures while also providing crucial mentoring to people who want to grow existing enterprises.
Experts on start-ups, IT, law and business finance will be on hand with friendly one-to-one advice.
The event on Wednesday 26 June has been organised by the Erewash Partnership, which is a local enterprise agency supported by the council.
It is being sponsored by Morley Hayes Hotel, which is hosting the session in its Granary Loft from 11am to 2pm. The Mayor of Erewash Cllr Kate Fennelly will be among attendees.
Entry is free for Partnership members, guests and those who may be interested in joining.
An invitation to entrepreneurs states: “Whatever your business and whatever market you are aiming for, this event could provide the springboard, inspiration and contacts that you are looking for.”
Places need to be booked in advance.
Frasers Group to enhance retail operations with multi-year partnership with THG
Shirebrook-based Frasers Group and THG have entered a multi-year partnership that they say will “mutually enhance retail operations at both groups.”
The partnership includes the integration of customer credit and loyalty proposition, Frasers Plus into THG’s Ingenuity platform, benefiting customers across THG retail sites. This marks the first Frasers Plus partnership with an external partner.
Frasers Group will also benefit from THG’s courier management services to drive the efficiency and performance of Frasers’ Australian fulfilment and logistics operations, supporting the Group’s international expansion.
Frasers Group will also be acquiring THG’s luxury brand portfolio including Coggles, strengthening its Premium and Luxury portfolio, alongside FLANNELS.
Michael Murray, CEO, Frasers Group, said: “Today we are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with THG, which includes launching our consumer credit and loyalty proposition, Frasers Plus across the THG Ingenuity platform.
“This is an exciting step towards our Frasers Plus ambitions as we look to expand its offering across additional third-party platforms. We are looking forward to working with the THG team and unlocking further benefits for both businesses.”
Matthew Moulding, CEO of THG, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Frasers Group across a broad range of initiatives, in particular bringing Frasers Plus to consumers shopping with Ingenuity clients, as well as to our own retail sites including Lookfantastic, Cult Beauty and Myprotein.
“Our luxury brand portfolio including Coggles has grown from a standing start eleven years ago, and we are eager to watch it develop further as an Ingenuity client. The success of Coggles has only been possible through the hard work and dedication of THG’s luxury team, to whom we all want to extend our thanks and gratitude.”
General Election candidates attend North Derbyshire hustings
East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with Destination Chesterfield, hosted a General Election hustings event in Chesterfield with candidates from all major parties invited to take part.
A number of business representatives attended the session on 20th June at East Midlands Chamber’s Chesterfield offices. In conventional hustings format each candidate was given a restricted and equal amount of time to respond to questions from the audience.
In alphabetical order the candidates that participated were:
David Kesteven – Green Party candidate for Bolsover
Helen Wetherall – True and Fair candidate for the Derbyshire Dales
Lee Rowley – Conservative candidate for North East Derbyshire
Toby Perkins – Labour candidate for Chesterfield
East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore, who presented the session, said: “With the clock ticking and now only a couple of weeks until people cast their ballot, the hustings was a fantastic opportunity for people to ask whatever burning questions they had directly to each of the candidates about what they would do for the region’s economy and growth should their party get elected.
“It was good to see such good turn out with plenty of questions for the candidates, at such a critical time as people decide who they believe might best represent their interests.”
East Midlands’ top 500 companies see turnover rise 18% to £97bn
Turnover of the top 500 companies in the East Midlands has risen by more than 18% year on year to £97bn, a new report reveals.
The annual East Midlands Top 500 Companies Index celebrates the contribution which the region’s biggest companies make to the economy – and this year marks a milestone as the EM Top 500 reaches its fifth anniversary.
The 2024 index was launched last night (June 20) at the East Midlands Chamber annual dinner by Professor David Rae, of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), who leads the research team which meticulously compiles the index, in partnership with colleagues at University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University. It is supported by East Midlands Chamber and Cross Productions.
Top of the list for the fifth year running was Boots, the Nottingham-based health and beauty company, which recorded £7,467,000, although this was down from 2023’s £7,803,000.
Derbyshire car supermarket company Motorpoint entered the Top 10 for the first time after seeing turnover reach a record £1.3bn.
There were 84 new entrants on the list, compared to 97 who made the list for the first time in 2023. Top new entrants were employability firm Maximus UK, of Leicestershire, which entered at number 78, and Atten Group, an IT company based in Derby, which was placed at number 135.
Highest climber was housebuilder Stonewater Developments which rose 295 places from 411 in 2023 to 116 in 2024.
David Rae, Professor of Enterprise at DMU, said: “The East Midlands Chamber has been a supporter of the EM Top 500 since its inception, so we were delighted to be able to present the first findings of 2024 at its President’s Awards Dinner in front of leaders of major companies in the region.
“With five years of data capturing substantial shifts in the regional economy and an in-depth Sectoral Analysis, we are eager to utilize this information to guide the future growth of the East Midlands economy.
“The advent of the new East Midlands Mayor and Combined Authority, the East Midlands Freeport, the anticipated election of a new group of MPs representing the East Midlands, and other strategic initiatives signal a promising outlook for the region’s prosperity.”
The index is compiled using Companies House data filed for the period between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, including turnover and employment. This includes part of the COVID and recovery period. The number of people employed at the top 500 companies fell 1.4% from 434,348 in 2023 to 440,230 in 2024. Among the top 10 companies, while revenue grew 12.7% on 2023, staffing levels were down 11%.
Richard Blackmore, the Chamber’s head of special projects, said it was reassuring to see East Midlands industry continuing to drive growth in the UK economy.
He said: “The region has been through a tough few years so it is good to see businesses on the list thriving. Their success creates employment and growth for the regional and national economy and continues to highlight the East Midlands as a place to do business.
“Many of the businesses on the list are Chamber members, playing their role in supporting and raising the profile of the region we work and live in. I would like to thank De Montfort University, the University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University for the huge amount of effort which goes into compiling this valuable resource.”
