New trustee for Derbyshire counselling service
Mental health charity Derwent Rural Counselling Service (DRCS) has strengthened its board of trustees.Privacy, data protection and operational risk professional Matthew Varnham joins the eight-strong board at the countywide counselling service.DRCS operates as a partner of Talking Mental Health Derbyshire (TMHD), who are a provider of the NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression programme for Derbyshire Health Care Foundation Trust. Matthew, who has worked at well-known financial institutions, said: “This type of service is so important for the communities it serves. I am enthusiastic and keen to support the work DRCS already does to break down barriers and help ensure services are available to those who need them.“My current professional role has a heavy focus on emerging technologies – such as generative AI and policy, and I am keen to contribute where I can across the organisation on compliance with governance documents and the law, confirming accountability and acting with reasonable care.”Mark Serby, chair of trustees for the charity, said: “I am delighted to welcome Matthew onto the DRCS board. Matthew brings some added dimensions to the team at a time when privacy, data protection and operational risk are key to organisations.”
East Midlands start-up boost comes with warning of ‘perfect storm’
New research from the Midlands branch of R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring body, indicates that a ‘perfect economic storm’ could be brewing in the region as the number of East Midlands start-ups hiked sharply last month, along with a significant rise in cashflow ‘red flags’.
Based on an analysis of data from business intelligence provider Creditsafe, the R3 Midlands figures show that start-ups rose steeply by 49.3% in the East Midlands in January, from 2,006 in December to 2,995. Year-on-year, the January figure highlights a rise of 21.75% compared to January 2023, when start-ups numbered 2,460.
Crucially, the R3 analysis also shows that levels of debts owed by East Midlands businesses in liquidation in the region more than tripled (246.43%) last month and rose by over one fifth (37.59%) in comparison with January of last year. In addition, the number of local companies with late payments on their books has begun to rise for the first time in recent months.
R3 Midlands Chair Stephen Rome, a partner at the local office of law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper, said: “Significant increases in the number of local businesses, along with substantial rises in late payments and monies owed by firms in liquidation could create a perfect economic storm if the region’s new entrepreneurs fail to cushion cashflow and keep the sharpest eye on costs.
“We are facing extremely challenging times in our local economy, with very tricky trading conditions across all sectors, but they can be navigable if entrepreneurs are duly cautious and don’t back away from taking professional advice when needed.
“Patience may also be a virtue as new economic forecasts see a fall in inflation this spring, enabling the Bank of England to cut interest rates towards the middle of the year. If this happens, it will give companies far more stability and certainty to plan ahead and invest in their operations.
“In the meantime, should significant cash flow difficulties arise, it’s crucial for business owners to take professional advice as soon as possible. There is a significant amount which can be done to rescue and support local companies if help is taken early enough.”
Planning permission approved for Boughton Community Hub
A new Community Hub, which will provide a space for skills development, social activities, and support for local residents in Boughton, has been given the green light by Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee.
Located on Manvers View, a council house will be transformed into a Community Hub for residents and tenants, providing a base for them to work with the Council and in partnership with the Police and health and community-based services to tackle local issues.
It will also be used as a space for local groups and clubs to meet and provide both vocational and academic courses for residents, using a series of iPad and desktop facilities linked to the local Further Education College.
Work on the Hub is being partly funded through the District Council’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Hub will open to the community in the spring.
Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “I am really pleased planning permission has been granted to start work on this exciting project. We have a Community Hub in Chatham Court in Newark which has been a real asset to the local community, and I’m excited we can bring this to Boughton.
“Tenants’ and residents’ views will be at the heart of this project, and we are committed to making sure the Hub is a community space that reflects the wants of local people and is something they will use. It’ll be a space for social gatherings but also a place where residents can gain new skills, tackle local issues together and receive support.
“Of the 139 properties our team spoke with, 110 said the Hub will benefit them and the local community. Additionally, several residents expressed their desire to be volunteers here, so it’s great to see the community excited about this project. I look forward to seeing the Community Hub when works are complete.”
trentbarton colleagues raise £6,000 for Alzheimer’s Research
trentbarton bus drivers and colleagues have donated £6,000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK after fundraising for their charity of the year for both 2022 and 2023.
Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity, dedicated to causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure.
trentbarton staff devoted two years on a wide variety of fundraising events and initiatives, including its Namesake programme where people can donate to have a bus named after a loved one.
Events run by staff, including the teams’ charity champions who organise fundraising, included a football match, golf day, Easter and Christmas raffles, and bake sales.
Alzheimer’s Research UK was chosen to be the firm’s charity partner after a poll of trentbarton staff between a shortlist of good causes drawn from nominations by colleagues and customers.
Alzheimer’s Research UK Regional Fundraising Officer Zoe Dean said: “We’re so grateful to trentbarton for supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK as their charity partner.
“Fantastic fundraising efforts like this from both staff and customers will help us get closer to a cure for people with dementia and their loved ones.”
trentbarton’s Marketing and Communications Manager Scarlet McCourt said: “Our colleagues at the depots and head office have enjoyed raising money for such a good cause.
“Practically everyone’s family is touched by Alzheimer’s and dementia in some way, so we are all very pleased that we have been able to support this important charity.”
Students tackle challenges faced by employers in Mansfield and Ashfield
Students from Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Mansfield Hub have teamed up with employers from the Mansfield and Ashfield area to help them solve some key local challenges.
The NTU Mansfield Challenge event featured local employers such as Ashfield District Council and Inspire College. These organisations provided different teams of students with a brief to work on and asked them to present their findings back to the employer a week later.
Ashfield District Council (ADC) tasked students with providing recommendations on how the council and its partners can reduce homelessness and crimes committed by those experiencing it.
The student team researched the different demographics and dynamics of the homeless community in Ashfield and made suggestions around how the council can make its support to the homeless population more visible and accessible.
Ross Twinn, Graduate Management Trainee at Ashfield District Council, said: “Our student team presented really well on how we can better address the instability experienced within homelessness and the higher prevalence of crime as a result. This is something that Ashfield needs to tackle and it’s been fantastic having a group of talented and engaged students to help us with this challenge.
“One of the reasons we wanted to participate in the Mansfield Challenge was to start to create pathways between local talent and coming to work with Ashfield District Council.”
Inspire College also took part in the NTU Mansfield Challenge to give students the chance to look into the different barriers that young people might face that could prevent them applying to the college. Inspire College was created to work with students who are currently not in education, employment or training and aims to make education accessible to all.
Simon Cook, Manager at Inspire College, said: “Participating in the NTU Mansfield Challenge gave us the opportunity to get unique and important perspectives from young people. Young people’s voices are so important to help us understand we are giving them what they need, so to get this insight on the barriers they may face accessing education has been invaluable for us.”
10 employers and more than 50 students took part in the NTU Mansfield Challenge, which will run again in 2025.
Graham Whyborn, Work-like Experience Projects Coordinator at NTU, said: “The NTU Mansfield Challenge is an event that really showcases the collaborative nature of the NTU Mansfield Hub and the great links with industry and local employers that we have. The feedback we have received from the employers that took part has been excellent and they have found it very useful to have access to a pool of our talented students.”
Leicestershire universities partnership brings economic benefits in first year
A partnership of universities in Leicester and Loughborough has, within its first year, brought benefits to local businesses, schoolchildren and international visitors across the region.
It has been just over 12 months since the University of Leicester, De Montfort University and Loughborough University joined forces with the five local authorities in the county through a civic agreement to form the Universities Partnership (UP).
Centred around five themes: Arts, Culture and Heritage; Environmental Sustainability; Health, Wellbeing and Sport; The Economy and Education – the partnership aims to positively impact the region by bringing experts together to work on shared goals.
This milestone collaboration, spearheaded by the universities’ three Vice-Chancellors is already benefitting local people and the local economy through a number of initiatives.
The three universities have harnessed their collective purchasing power and achieved cost savings by working together to implement the Social Value Portal (SVP).
The SVP is an online tool that helps organisations look beyond the financial cost of a contract and consider how the services they buy can improve the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of the area.
The universities are also working towards aligning procurement processes to benefit local SMEs interested in supplying to them.
The UP also delivered one of five East Midlands Race to Zero Accelerator Programmes. The programme which is designed to support local small and medium-sized enterprises to create carbon reduction plans generated a wealth of knowledge for local organisations, as well as a number of resources, including reporting guides, training materials and templates.
These materials have now been made available online as part of the UP’s ongoing commitment to support local organisations to reduce their environmental impact.
One of the highlights from the year was the UP international event that took place in October. International partners from across the world gathered in Leicester to hear first-hand from regional leaders and civic dignitaries about why the county is one of the most attractive destinations for international students in the country.
The week-long programme of activity showcased what Leicestershire has to offer international students and demonstrated a unified welcoming voice from the area.
Another significant project from the partnership is the Graduate City project which focuses on retaining graduates in the region in order to support economic growth and increase productivity.
The careers teams from each university have been working closely with the local authority partners to enable local small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary sector organisations to benefit from funded student and graduate placements.
This project will continue in 2024 and will grow to connect more businesses in Leicestershire with university talent.
Creating educational skills and opportunities that enable local people from all backgrounds to flourish is the main objective of the Education theme and the Pathways team have made great strides on this front this year.
The Pathways team, which is a collaboration between the three Universities and two Further Education Colleges (Leicester and Loughborough) have been busy working with schools and their pupils across Leicestershire to provide help and resources for students, teachers, parents and carers to find out more about higher education and future careers.
Over the last year they have worked with thousands of pupils in schools across the area to offer them a taste of what university is like and help them develop the skills they need to reach their potential and progress to higher education.
Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Leicester, said: “The power of partnership working must never be underestimated. By combining our diverse expertise we are able to tackle the challenges we face together, and to provide an even greater positive impact on our region. The partnership has achieved a great deal in its first year and I am excited to see it develop further in the year ahead.”
Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: “As a partnership, we can use each university’s respective strengths and present very compelling funding bids. This has already allowed us to start some ambitious work to support the local economy, create better opportunities for education and employment and it will be exciting to see this work grow.”
Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University, said: “The UP is already demonstrating what can be achieved when organisations from the region work together, sharing their strengths to have a much greater impact on their communities. I look forward to seeing the partnership continuing to expand and flourish.”
The partnership’s priorities for the year ahead will be the development of new projects that respond to the feedback from stakeholders on local needs.
Cabinet approves future plans for Northampton County Hall buildings
Plans to lease out parts of the former County Hall buildings in Northampton aim to ensure a positive future for these important heritage buildings.
County Hall, along with other historic buildings like the Guildhall, holds significant importance in the town and county’s history and forms an integral part of West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC’s) collection of heritage assets.
However, after a thorough review of WNC office space and assets, it became clear that there is a surplus of office and administrative meeting rooms within these historic sites, which could be better utilised whilst reducing costs on the public purse.
In a move aimed at ensuring these buildings have a productive future and have the best chance of retaining their character and historic significance, the Council’s Cabinet has approved the following:
- Judges’ Lodgings: the property will be transferred on a long leasehold basis, with potential use as a hotel or private residence, maintaining its character as a dwelling.
- Centre Block and Former Constabulary Block: the Council will seek to transfer this on a long leasehold basis for restoration and conversion, probably to flats, to maximize the property’s potential, ensure its preservation, and allow people to enjoy its historic features.
- Sessions House and Front Block: whilst elements may be leased for commercial food and drink operations, the Council will continue to investigate alternative uses which retain public use of these historic spaces and enhance the regeneration of the town centre seeking to attract and increase future footfall. Separately, work will be pursued on options for greater public access to experience the history of justice in Northampton.
Planning application submitted for further 100,600 sq ft unit at Fairham Business Park
IMA Architects have submitted a detailed planning application to Rushcliffe Borough Council for Plot A2, a 100,600 sq ft purpose-built facility at Fairham Business Park on behalf of Clowes Developments.
The unit will be located between Plot A4, a 100,000 sq ft unit which is currently under construction, and the recently completed stand-alone facility for SLS Medical who are now on site and fully operational.
The brand-new purpose-built manufacturing premises will be comprised of a 76,520 sq ft single story warehouse with 24,000 sq ft office and welfare space over 2 storeys. At the front of the building, there will be 152 car parking spaces with 16 electric vehicle (EV) charging bays.
There will also be a large service yard to the rear with 2 dock levellers and 3 level access to meet the needs of the occupier. Clowes will be providing a fully photovoltaic (PV) ready frame. The unit is expected to be ready for occupation by end of 2024.
Ben Hall, director, IMA Architects, said: “IMA are delighted to submit another planning application to Rushcliffe Borough Council for Fairham Business Park. The level of interest and quality of potential occupiers is very encouraging for the brand-new neighbourhood.
“Offering excellent tailored facilities for businesses looking to make Fairham Business Park their home is providing further investment, local jobs and bringing economic opportunity to the area. Our latest application will further bolster this trend.”
James Richards, director at Clowes Developments, added: “Since its inception, we have seen a lot of interest in Fairham Business Park. This is no doubt down to its excellent location, first rate transport links, incredible setting and overall quality and speed of delivery of the development.
“In total, over half of Fairham Business Park, totalling 500,000 sq ft, is now sold, rented or under offer. In the last few months, we have evolved the site from a construction site to a thriving business park with two occupiers fully operational.
“The success of Fairham Business Park to date comes down to the hard work and dedication from our agents, construction contractors, professional advisors and our in-house team.”
Thai restaurant chain chooses Leicester for nationwide development and distribution site
A nationwide chain of Thai restaurants, Giggling Squid, has chosen Leicester as the location for its main distribution network throughout the UK.
A trading name of Chokdee Limited, which itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of Giggling Restaurants Limited; the group has recently taken occupation of a warehouse unit at Elland Road Leicester for use as a menu development facility and new product development kitchen, as well as a training and national distribution centre.
Andrew + Ashwell, Leicester-based commercial property specialist, has secured the deal for the lease of the building. This comprises almost 45,000 sq ft of prime modern warehouse accommodation on the well-established Braunstone Frith Industrial Estate, three miles west of the city centre.
Located close to Leicester’s Outer Ring Road, as well as M1 motorway Junctions 21 and 21A, the unit includes single-storey warehousing and open-plan two-storey offices, together with ample parking, on a prominent corner site on the west side of the estate.
Giggling Squid specialises in creating original Thai dishes using the diverse ingredients found across Thailand. The first Giggling Squid restaurant opened in 2002 and the brand continues to expand, with almost 50 restaurants nationwide, including Leicester, employing more than 1,500 directly contracted, rather than agency, staff.
The supply chain includes sellers of direct ingredients and wholesalers from the UK and worldwide, as well as suppliers of business necessities, including office supplies and technical support.
Refurbishment of the new building is currently underway, with the completed hub set to be up and running by the end of March. The group also aims to recruit 20 new employees from the Leicester community.
On behalf of the group as a whole, Vikas Agarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The Elland Road unit is part of an exciting phase in the growth of our business. From menu development, to training our teams, as well as distributing our fantastic Thai ingredients to our restaurants, it is ideally located to become the hub for our operations.”
Mike Allwood, A+A partner, added: “Leicester is an ideal location for an expanding organisation, as it is strategically sited for easy nationwide distribution and conveniently located as a central link for the company’s restaurants across the UK. Giggling Squid has chosen well and we wish the group every success in this important venture that should boost their business even further.”
Mather Jamie appoints new farming consultant
Loughborough-based specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie has announced the appointment of Ken Grimsdell as a farming consultant.
Ken has enjoyed an impressive 45-year career working in Farm management for both corporate and private landowners, across East Anglia and the East Midlands.
He has previously worked for Bidwells land agents in Cambridge managing clients farming interests throughout Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, before joining a large farming business in Norfolk as a director where he was responsible for an arable and vegetable growing business in excess of 24,000 acres.
Ken has held several directorships for marketing crop and fresh produce, and was involved in setting up supply contracts for milk and producer organisations. He has a particular interest in designing and building irrigation systems for fresh produce and root crops, and also crop storage complexes.
More recently Ken has been running a local family farming business in Leicestershire and has grown a consultancy business working with other farmers in the County.
In his new role, Ken will provide consultancy advice related to productivity, resource management and change strategies to Mather Jamie’s existing and new farming clients.
Commenting on joining Mather Jamie, Ken said: “I have always admired Mather Jamie and knew that it is an excellent company to work for. I really enjoy helping farmers and I am looking forward to sharing my wealth of knowledge to help ensure they get a return on their investment.”
Mather Jamie Managing Director Robert Cole said: “With a career spanning over 45 years Ken’s experience will undoubtedly strengthen our farm advisory team and help us deliver much needed advice to the farmer sector on how to maximise their assets to build wealth and profitability.”
Freehold of business centre in West Bridgford sold
FHP, acting on behalf of Bridgford Business Centre, have completed the sale of 29 Bridgford Road, West Bridgford, which sits next door to Escabeche, just off Central Avenue.
The two storey building, which totals 5,525 sq ft gross (4,028 sq ft net) and benefits from eight parking spaces, was sold Freehold.
David Hargreaves who acted for the vendor, Kevin Mansworth, said: “When I reported to Kevin I suggested that the property would be of interest to not only office occupiers but developers looking at extending and converting the building to apartments or 1 or 2 additional bar and restaurant units bearing in mind the strength of that sector.
“We therefore targeted the office, residential, leisure and developer sectors with our marketing and interest was immediate with 12 viewings in the first week alone.
“As such we were able to seek ‘Best Bids’ only 4 weeks after the launch, securing 5 final offers all in excess of the guide price of £975,000.”
Hargreaves added: “We quoted a relatively low asking price to generate interest as the market back in October last year was still rather uncertain due to the significant increases in Base Rate and the general lack of confidence in the economy.
“The strategy worked and we achieved a price in excess of £1,100,000 for the building which breaks back to £280/sq ft net which we are delighted with.”
Kevin Mansworth said: “The strategy and advice from David Hargreaves was absolutely spot on.
“He also introduced me to Lisa Poole of Gunner Cooke who was excellent on the legals, with Landsmiths on the other side we managed to get the sale completed within 10 weeks of starting marketing which included the Xmas and New Year break. I am really thrilled with the speed of the sale and price they achieved for me.”
Vik Moothia of Landsmiths acted for the buyer, David Hargreaves of FHP and Lisa Poole of Gunner Cooke for the seller.
Flipping great effort from Derby businesses in pancake challenge
Derby businesses went head-to-head in an annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race to raise money to support the health and wellbeing of residents at YMCA Derbyshire.
Public relations agency Penguin PR lifted the trophy for the second year running beating teams from sportswear giant HUUB, digital marketeers Alphageek and WDS Printers.
The annual event was organised by staff at carbon composite company Pentaxia, in Alfreton Road, and every firm taking part made a donation to YMCA Derbyshire’s campus.
Penguin PR director Sarah Newton said: “We are big supporters of the YMCA and the outstanding work it carries out in the city.
“We usually take part in its annual Sleep Easy and have also cooked the community meal which is run alongside Head High. But of the three events, the pancake race is definitely the easiest way to raise money for them.
“I think the secret to our success is probably that we’re all parents and used to flipping countless pancakes – we certainly weren’t the fastest runners on the day. But the event is really good fun and we’re already looking forward to making it three wins in a row next year.”
It is the fifth time the annual race has taken place and other businesses taking part included Natwest, two teams from Pentaxia and a team from YMCA Derbyshire.
The 25m relay was held over three heats, with each team member required to flip the pancake at the start, the middle and the end.
The winners received a carbon trophy and mini cups, while every competitor received a pot of honey made by Pentaxia’s own bees, who live in five hives at the Alfreton Road site.
Ellie Jackson, from YMCA Derbyshire, said: “We are really grateful to all the businesses who supported the event on Shrove Tuesday – it’s great fun but also raises money for our health and wellbeing programme which funds youth workers, 1-2-1 therapeutic counselling and diversionary activities to improve our residents’ mental health.
“Huge thanks to Pentaxia for staging the event and providing breakfast for all the competitors. It was a chilly morning and the cooked breakfast was gratefully received.”
Details revealed on new 383-space student accommodation scheme at The Island Quarter
The Island Quarter could eventually be home to more than 1,000 students following the submission of proposals for a second phase of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) on site.
Plans submitted to Nottingham City Council today (16 February) will see a further 383-space student block built on the Manvers Road side of the 36-acre site.
Combined with the 693 beds at the adjacent Winfield Court – which will open to students for the 2024/25 academic year – The Island Quarter will boast a significant student population once both phases are complete.
The proposals – designed by DAY Architectural – cover a range of accommodation types including cluster accommodation, studios and premium options, along with student community amenity facilities such as a gym, laundry room, various lounges and informal breakout areas.
Following a similar material palette to Winfield Court, the designs include a combination of grey, buff and red bricks on the building’s facade alongside ribbed metal cladding.
Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “The demand for student housing has never been greater, and PBSA plays a vital role in ensuring that students have access to high-quality accommodation without the need to restrict housing supply that is better suited for Nottingham residents.”
The new student block is the latest planning submission by developer The Conygar Investment Company, following last May’s approval for a new 250,000 sq ft biosciences campus on the northern side of the site.
Ware said: “Intergenerational living has been a core principle for our plans for The Island Quarter, and a healthy population of students is a crucial part of this mix. In a competitive marketplace, these well-designed plans put student experience at their heart, and we’re looking forward to seeing this phase move forward.
“This latest proposal is one of a series of planning submissions that are currently in the pipeline, building on the success of the first phases of the development at 1 The Island Quarter and Winfield Court.”
The scheme has been designed by DAY Architectural with planning, transport and environmental advice being provided by Axis.
David Jones, technical director at Axis, said: “As part of the evolving masterplan for The Island Quarter, this next phase of accommodation has been designed so that the proposed build can complement Winfield Court in design and function while diversifying the student living environments on offer.”
Hucknall Peacocks store sold
FHP, acting on behalf of a private family property company, have completed the sale of the Peacocks store at 38-40 High Street, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
David Hargreaves said: “This has been a long and drawn out project following the administration of Peacocks during Covid. The new Peacocks Phoenix company wished to retain this store as it was one of the more profitable stores and so we began negotiations with the administrators and Peacocks to agree terms for a new lease.
“Once the new 5 year lease was in place at a rent of £43,000, we brought the investment to the market with an asking price of £450,000.
“As a result of the monthly increases in Base Rates throughout 2023 we had to reprice the investment in September resulting in a sale at a price of £420,000.
“This is a great buy for the private investors giving them a large store of circa 6,000 sq ft with rear parking and a yield of 10.00% for at least a further 4 years. Longer term there is an option to split the store to create 3 shops and 2 upper floor flats if Peacocks don’t renew the lease in 2028.”
FHP acted for the vendors, a private family company that had owned the store for 30+ years. The purchasers represented themselves.
Panther secures multi-million pound Silentnight deal
Two-person delivery specialist, Panther Logistics, which is part of AIT Worldwide Logistics, has been awarded a new four-year contract with Silentnight.
The new deal will see Northampton-based Panther continuing to support Silentnight’s contract with the Premier Inn hotel chain, delivering beds and mattresses to hotels across England, Scotland and Wales, for which it has delivered over 60,000 beds over the past 12 months.
Silentnight has been a Panther customer for the past nine years for its retail operation and has worked with Panther’s recently formed Specialist Operations Division since 2022.
Panther’s Specialist Operations Division delivers bespoke support solutions for large scale delivery clients such as Silentnight. These new commercial opportunities allow Panther to diversify from its two-person deliveries into a much larger scale operation, offering support across the country to clients who require higher volume deliveries that necessitate a more tailored individual solution.
The new multi-million-pound contract with Silentnight will see Panther delivering new beds and mattresses over the next four years, as well as removing the current mattresses and beds for recycling.
“Since its launch, our Specialist Operations Division has been a great success and is yet another milestone for Panther and further demonstrates our ability to consistently push the boundaries,” says Andy Dale, Panther’s Finance and Commercial Director.
“The specialist install and delivery solution by Panther for Silentnight demonstrates the strength of the partnership and we are delighted that we will be continuing to develop our offering with them.”
To support the operation, Panther has invested substantially in the sourcing and training of select teams of specialist installers, exclusively assigned to the Silentnight contract.
“We are very excited about this growing partnership between Silentnight and Panther, it marks another significant stride in our hospitality business, made possible by Panther’s invaluable support,” says David Lawrenson, Sales Director for Hospitality at Silentnight.
“Our hospitality contracts expect and thrive on seamless, large-scale logistics, demanding an expert partner for success. Panther’s unwavering commitment and impeccable service since our collaboration in 2014 have not only impressed us but played a pivotal role in fuelling Silentnight’s remarkable growth.
“They are a key driving force behind our continued success and the obvious choice of delivery provider to support us on our ongoing expansion.”
First-time buyers swoop for Nottinghamshire pharmacy as owner retires
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Manns Pharmacy in Nottinghamshire.
Manns Pharmacy is a standard hours community pharmacy that dispenses an average of 5,000 items per month. It is located in the residential area of Mapperley, a suburb three miles north-east of Nottingham city centre.
The business has been owned by Gurinder Singh Mann for over 20 years and was brought to market to allow him to retire.
Following a confidential sales process with Carl Steer at Christie & Co, and with funding sourced through David Ward at Christie Finance, it has been purchased by first-time buyers, Mitan Maisuria and Rahul Patel. They will both work in the pharmacy going forward and will aim to increase its service offering.
Carl Steer, Director – Pharmacy at Christie & Co, says: “The sale proved popular, with eight offers from five parties. I have no doubt the pharmacy will benefit from being operated hands-on by Mitan and Rahul, and I wish them all the best with their first pharmacy business.”
David Ward, Senior Director at Christie Finance, says: “I am delighted to have arranged the funding for Mitan and Rahul for the purchase of Manns Pharmacy in what is currently a tougher lending market than this time last year. I am sure that they will take the pharmacy business to new levels.”
Manns Pharmacy was sold leasehold via asset sale for an undisclosed price.
Plans submitted for further student accommodation scheme at The Island Quarter, Nottingham
The Conygar Investment Company has submitted a detailed application for the next phase of development at The Island Quarter, Nottingham.
The application comprises a 383-bed student accommodation scheme.
Robert Ware, Chief Executive of Conygar, said: “We are delighted to submit this application for the next phase of our development.
“Nottingham is home to two top class Universities and this scheme will be an excellent addition to the mixed-use development we are creating at The Island Quarter.”
A 693-bed student scheme is already being built at The Island Quarter, topping out in June 2023.‘Put yourself forward for a King’s Award’, Lord Lieutenant urges Leicestershire’s small businesses
More of Leicestershire’s small business innovators should put themselves forward for a King’s Award, according to Lord Lieutenant Mike Kapur.
Speaking during the Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2024 Mr Kapur described the benefits of receiving the Royal recognition, and expressed a belief in the talent in the county. He said: “Thirteen Leicestershire businesses have won the Award for Enterprise since 2018 – seven of them in the Innovation category.
“The Leicestershire Innovation Festival has once again shown us the breadth of ground-breaking work going on in our city and county – we want to make sure that more of these businesses are recognised at the highest level and are aware of the opportunities happening around them.
“The King’s Award for Enterprise is the UK’s most prestigious business award, presented annually to businesses which have proved outstanding in their field.”
He and Deputy Lieutenant, Ian Borley, welcomed guests to the event at the National Space Centre and presented opportunities available through the King’s Award.
Winners come from all sectors and include large and small businesses. Recognition is awarded across four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.
Winners are invited to a Royal reception, can fly The King’s Awards flag at their office, use the emblem on marketing materials, and are presented with the award at their premises by the Lord-Lieutenant.
Meanwhile, guests also received an update on opportunities linked to the ongoing Space City Leicester cluster.
Space City Leicester was launched by City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby during an event at the Space Centre in March 2023.
It will create one of the UK’s largest Enterprise Zones for space-related activities, and represents up to £233 million of investment in new and planned facilities.
Chas Bishop, LLEP Director and CEO of the National Space Centre, said: “Plans for the Space City Leicester demonstrate the strategic importance of innovation in our region – as well as the opportunities being created to grow exciting businesses.”
Space City will work with partners from pre-school to post-doc – driving research, production, manufacturing, and development – as we builds on Leicester’s role as a key part of the UK’s Space sector.
It will also be home to other knowledge economy businesses, such as those working towards decarbonisation, innovative start-ups and growth businesses.
Regional business leader appointed to key devolution role
A top regional lawyer has been appointed to the shadow board steering the creation of the new East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), ahead of the very first election for East Midlands Mayor in May.
David Williams, Chairman of Geldards, will take on the role of interim business representative on the EMCCA shadow board, joining local politicians from the four key councils involved in the East Midlands devolution deal.
David said: “I’ve lived and worked in the East Midlands for over thirty years and I’m committed to doing what I can to raise the profile and economic prosperity of the region, developing the many successful partnerships between the private, public and third sectors.
“I’m looking forward to working with political leaders and other partners to maximise the opportunities that devolution will bring to the region.”
Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “David will be a tremendous asset to the shadow board and his appointment is another important step forward as we press ahead towards the creation of the new East Midlands Combined County Authority.
“David brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and we look forward to working with him during this key period for East Midlands devolution.”
Councillor Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “It is vital that we have the very best expertise to help lay the foundations for the County Combined Authority.
“David’s experience and knowledge will ensure that we can maximise on the opportunities to attract investment into the region and ultimately give the people of the East Midlands the best possible outcomes in all aspects of their lives.”
Councillor Baggy Shanker, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “Our region is home to world-class industry and leading businesses, from major multinationals to fantastic small and medium-sized enterprises.
“I’m therefore delighted to have David as part of our shadow board – I have known David for many years and he has made excellent contributions to our region. He will play a crucial role to champion the business sector and bring in more investment and high-quality jobs to our local economy.”
Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s an exciting time as we move forward with the East Midlands Combined County Authority and it’s important that we have people with the expertise and knowledge to deliver this.
“David is a great asset to the new the shadow board and will be a key business representative for the region. He joins a strong team already working to deliver the best of the devolution deal for Nottingham and the region.”
Alongside his role as Chairman of Geldards, David holds a number of non-executive and trustee positions, including Chairman of EMB Group Limited, Deputy Chair of D2N2 LEP, Board member at Nottingham Trent University and a non-executive Director of East Midlands Chamber of Commerce.
EMCCA is set to bring in around £4 billion of funding for the region, alongside devolved powers for transport, skills and adult education, housing, the environment and economic development.
Revolutionary microscopy technique invented at University of Nottingham set for global use after adoption by US company
A revolutionary microscopy technique, invented at the University of Nottingham, which can image the microscopic elasticity of engineering materials is set for global use after being adopted by US company Coherent Photon Imaging (CPI).
Many materials are made up of thousands of small crystals. The size, shape, and stiffness of these are essential to the material’s performance. In real engineering materials, such as aero engine components, the stiffness of these crystals previously hasn’t been able to be measured, but could only be identified from specially prepared single crystals, which had to be prepared in laboratories at great expense.
These single crystals often had significantly different properties from the real engineering material they were supposed to represent due to differences in their preparation. This meant that it was previously impossible to determine the fundamental microscopic stiffness of real materials – an issue industry has faced for more than 100 years.
Now, the university’s patented invention, SRAS, and the newly patented SRAS++ technique, can measure this complex stiffness in real materials and “image” the stiffness, making it possible to map variations, for the first time. These brand-new discoveries pave the way for a myriad of other applications, such as the detection of residual stress and in situ monitoring the progress of processes such as heat treatment and annealing.
Supported by a six-figure funding boost from the EPSRC, the technology has already started to be used in aerospace to evaluate the structural integrity of materials used in the manufacture of critical engine components. Now, it’s set for global adoption through a collaboration with Iowa-based CPI.
Professor Matt Clark, co-lead on the study from the Optics and Photonics Research Group at the University of Nottingham, said: “Previously, the only way to measure the elasticity matrix of a material was to cut it up or attempt to grow a single crystal of the material, a process that cannot be done for many materials, such as the titanium alloys used in modern jet engines, which wastes money, time, and materials.
“We’re thrilled to be able to announce our partnership with the team at CPI, marking a significant step in the wider commercialisation of SRAS and SRAS++. Clients are already signing on the dotted line to adopt the technology and we look forward to seeing our research turn into reality.”
Pete Collins, Founder and Co-owner of CPI, said: “Rarely does a new measurement technique emerge that has the potential to truly transform the way that industry operates when it comes to materials characterisation, design, and qualification. Considering the advancements over the past 90 years, I assess that SRAS and SRAS++ are equivalently significant advances as the transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, focused ion-beam microscope, and the local electrode atoms probe.
“What sets this apart is that it measures not only a material’s state, but also its elasticity, a capability none of these other methods can do. This is a game changer. We are delighted to be working closely with such a pioneering group to bring this technology to market as widely as we can.”
Dr Richard Smith, Associate Professor and member of the Optics and Photonics Research Group, said: “We’re continuing to look at other ways we can use SRAS and SRAS++ and have already incorporated it into 3D printing technology, creating a way to monitor the state of a material while it is printed. This is just the beginning for technology of this kind and we’re excited to see how far our research can take us.”
