Council considers further £250,000 loan for Derby classic car hub

Stuart Pearcey
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Council considers further £250,000 loan for Derby classic car hub
Derby City Councillors are being asked to lend a further £250,000 to help Great Northern Classics get the project to set up a hub of classic vehicle industry specialists  in the heart of the city. The loan would be on top of £1.25m approved in March last year, which set the bar rolling on the project based in the former Victoria Ironworks, which until recently housed the Rolls-Royce Heritage Centre. The vast site – which covers four conjoined factory buildings – will house a fully-equipped training school, a car storage area, exhibition and entertainment space, along with a number of small multi use units. The sheer scale of the Victoria Ironworks will allow Great Northern Classics to operate as an efficient work site while serving as a destination attraction at the same time. Similar to the concept of BBC TV’s Repair Shop, classic car owners will be able to access upholsterers, electricians, mechanics and bodywork specialists, all of whom will be given workshop space all under the same roof within the 85,000 sq. ft building. In March 2022, a £1.25 million loan was approved from the Council’s Enterprise Growth Fund, which offers capital grants and loans to businesses within Derby and its Travel to Work Area (TTWA).

The centre, which will house a retail, workshop and office space, is expected to reach 85% capacity by the end of year two, offering a range of different sized units to suit both sole traders and larger organisations, based on demand and growth. It’s expected that the site will house around 32 companies in total.

The initiative will also provide an opportunity for young apprentices in the city to undertake on-site training and learn alongside specialists, ensuring that their skills are developed and passed down to future generations. The centre is expected to contribute to the creation of over 120 jobs by year six, not including any additional local supply chain benefits.

Abigail Whitt of Great Northern Classics, said: “We’re extremely excited that Derby City Council has helped contribute towards the revival of this historical site. Our aim here at Great Northern Classics is to create a hub for not only the vehicle enthusiast, but also the wider public.

“We have lots to offer at the newly restored ironworks building which was once a Rolls-Royce site. We will house a fully equipped training school, workshops for around 30 specialists, a car storage area, exhibition and entertainment space and café. We look forward to seeing you all later on in the year.”

The additional loan is required due to a change in previously assumed private funding sources and is reflective of the original loan amount budgeted for and requested by GNC. As a start-up business, traditional high street funding is not a suitable option.

Work began at the former Victoria Ironworks and Rolls-Royce heritage centre in September 2022. Progress carried out to date suggests that the project will be completed on budget.

Leicester and Leicestershire visitor economy shows strong recovery

Tess Egginton
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Leicester and Leicestershire visitor economy shows strong recovery
Latest figures show over 30.5 million people visited Leicester and Leicestershire in 2022. This is an increase of 2.38 million on the previous year and up 18.64 million since the pandemic, proving that one of the hardest hit sectors is making a strong recovery. According to new figures published this summer, the city saw over 9.91 million visitors whilst over 20.6 million visitors came to the county in 2022. The tourism economy is worth £2.07 billion to the city and county, an increase of £440 million since 2021 and £108 million up on pre-pandemic figure of £1.962 billion. The figures show that the city and county have surpassed Nottingham and Nottinghamshire combined in their respective recoveries with the value of the Leicester and Leicestershire visitor economy up by 27.1% on 2021 figures, compared to 15.6% growth for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The new figures also show that the number of tourism-related jobs is on the rise, with more than 21,000 people now employed in the sector across the city and the county – an increase of 20% on 2021. Non-serviced accommodation including self catering, camping and glamping, has surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 figures, showing the strongest recovery in the accommodation market with an economic impact of £95.12m to the region. The tourism figures for Leicester and Leicestershire are taken from the 2022 Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) survey. The city and county are promoted nationally and internationally through a series of tourism campaigns delivered by Visit Leicester, the destination management organisation for Leicester and Leicestershire. The campaigns are jointly funded by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). The LLEP provided £185,000 from the Repurposed Growing Places Fund and £105,000 match funding came from the city and county councils. The positive tourism results have been welcomed by City Mayor Peter Soulsby, County Council Leader Nick Rushton and Phoebe Dawson, CEO of the LLEP. Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This is excellent news. The economic value of tourism in Leicester has grown by 36% since 2021, and investor confidence in tourism is high, as demonstrated by the huge increase in the number of hotels in the city. “The growth we’ve seen in tourism-related jobs gives a huge boost to our economy, as do the millions of visitors who come here every year and spend their money in local businesses. It shows that our investment in making the city easy to get around, and an attractive place to be has been well worth it. It also reflects the huge efforts of all those working in the tourism and hospitality sector in our city.” County council leader Nick Rushton said: “We’re naturally delighted to see the strong growth in our tourism economy, and the creation of an extra 2,000 jobs in the county by the sector in 2022 is particularly welcome. With nearly 14,000 now working in the tourism sector it highlights just how important tourism is to the county. “Leicestershire has an incredible history and story to tell and we’re glad to see this post pandemic resurgence in visitors, which is translating into increased spend in the local economy and new jobs.” Phoebe Dawson, CEO of the LLEP, said: “We know that Leicester and Leicestershire have much to offer and investment in spreading the word is having an effect on increasing our reach. “We’re pleased to see LLEP funding achieve the desired outcome of helping Leicester and Leicestershire – one of the areas hardest hit by the pandemic – to recover.”

Leicester-based financial services firm earns B Corp Certification

Tess Egginton
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Leicester-based financial services firm earns B Corp Certification
The Superbia Group, a financial services organisation encompassing the advice firm Furnley House and investment firms Asset Intelligence Research and Asset Intelligence Portfolio Management, has revealed its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing set of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. The Superbia Group has been certified by B Lab™, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to a range of goals besides shareholder profit. The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’s operations and covers five key impact areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company will legally embed their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles. The Superbia Group is now part of a community of just 7,000 businesses globally which have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK represents a broad cross-section of industries and company sizes, comprising over 1,500 companies and including well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia and The Body Shop. Co-founder and Managing Director Stefan Fura said: “Since we started, we’ve always done our best to do the right thing, whether that’s through helping clients achieve their dreams with Furnley House or the work we’ve done for the community through our charity The Furnley House Foundation. “Becoming a certified B Corporation really cements our ethos as a business and I’m incredibly proud that we’ve achieved it.”

Marlborough Square redesign to start as contract signed

Tess Egginton
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Marlborough Square redesign to start as contract signed
Work to redesign Marlborough Square in Coalville will start soon, after North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) signed contracts for the work to be completed. After a number of set-backs and complications due to the nature of the space, building company Stepnell will start the work to transform the area in September, turning a car park and cut-through road into a pedestrianised public square that will be used for outdoor markets and other events. The redesign has been on the cards since 2018 as part of NWLDC’s commitment to helping Coalville be a vibrant and family-friendly town. The £2.7 million redesign promises to rejuvenate the area, with an outdoor market to compliment the indoor market at Newmarket and other events throughout the year. The design includes:
  • An outdoor market and events space
  • High-quality street furniture including seating, bins, bollards and information panels
  • Raised planting
  • Feature LED lighting
  • Granite paving
  • Introduction of a one-way traffic system
  • Limited vehicle access to the northern part of the square.
The indoor market moved to Newmarket on Marlborough Square in 2021, and the council has also bought the row of shops and apartments on the corner of Marlborough Square and Belvoir Road, investing £4.5 million to improve the look of the building and create around 10 new first floor apartments. The square redesign work will take around eight months, completing in late spring 2024. Access to all businesses in the square will be retained throughout the work. Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of NWLDC, said: “The redesign of Marlborough Square is a really high-profile project that, together with council investment in key buildings around the square, will make a huge difference to the area once it’s complete. “The project has suffered various delays, and we thank the public for their patience while we remained committed to it. It’s often tricky to get public space projects up and running, but I’m looking forward to seeing the square change, become more people-friendly and start to host regular markets and events.” Stepnell Regional Director, Adrian Barnes added: “We are really excited to have been awarded the Marlborough Square redevelopment project. This importantly helps to rejuvenate an important area of Coalville and is a further addition to our growing portfolio of infrastructure and public realm projects. “It’s taken a while to get to this point but we have remained committed to the scheme, alongside NWLDC, and are now looking forward to getting going on site.”

Cawarden awarded place on transformative £8bn Procure Partnerships Framework deal

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Cawarden awarded place on transformative £8bn Procure Partnerships Framework deal
Derby-based specialist contractor Cawarden has won a place on an £8 billion framework deal. Procure Partnerships Framework has appointed 87 contractors to its second-generation National Framework. The body has been operating and delivering a successful national contractor framework across England for the past four years, supporting the delivery of over 150 projects year on year. 35 contractors were reappointed on the next iteration of the framework, which is set to be the biggest framework ever awarded across the UK, structured across 9 sub-regional lots covering 5 value bands starting at 50K and going up to 50M+. 65% of contractors within the lots up to £15m are small to medium enterprises. The successful bidders will now cover four disciplines: Construction, Decarbonisation and Retrofit, Demolition and Site Preparation, and Infrastructure. Procure Partnerships Framework will start to support the procurement of projects from 1st November, and successful bidders will lend to its success for the next 4 years until 2027. Faye Dolan, Head of National Frameworks, said: “It was of paramount importance to Procure Partnerships Framework that the new framework addresses the growing needs of the industry, whilst ensuring clients have access to specialist contractors for their projects. “As a result, we are delighted to have some new faces on the framework which will bring invaluable expertise to our clients and their projects. The new iteration of the framework is set to transform public and private sector procurement and we look forward to seeing what Cawarden achieves over the next four years.” Oliver Crooks, Commercial Director, said: “We are excited to have earned a spot on the Procure Partnerships Framework. Our goal is to work together to secure new opportunities and provide our demolition and site preparation expertise to deliver quality projects.”

Contractor appointed on £13.3m business hub scheme

Tess Egginton
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Contractor appointed on £13.3m business hub scheme

Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has been appointed to deliver a new £13.3m business hub in Leicester city centre.

The scheme involves renovating a cluster of heritage buildings in King Street to create a modern home for creative businesses in support of around 250 new jobs.

Five separate but interconnected buildings at Pilot House will be transformed into 60,000 sq ft of high quality accommodation, including a central, glass-fronted communal courtyard and atrium.

Leicester City Council awarded the construction contract to Henry Brothers, and work has now just started on site.

Managing Director of Henry Brothers Construction, Ian Taylor, said: “We are very excited to have been appointed to this renovation project which will breathe new life into the historic Pilot House and help to boost Leicester’s economy and growth.

“It’s a superb development which includes the retention of existing industrial features, including parquet flooring and exposed brick and beams.

“Henry Brothers has significant experience of working on heritage and renovation projects and we are very pleased to have now started on site with our team and alongside our partners who are working on this key development.”

Other members of the construction team include architects RG+P and structural engineer M-EC.

Pilot House was a factory built in around 1900. The sensitive redevelopment will transform the building into a business zone for technical and digital companies, complete with a co-working lounge and a central courtyard and atrium for shared use.

The aim is for it to be a permanent base for businesses of varying sizes, from start-ups to established companies, once the development has been completed in early 2025.

The scheme forms part of a wider regeneration of the Belvoir Street, Market Street and New Walk areas in Leicester and will be managed by the city council creative hub, LCB Depot.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This project will transform a group of architecturally significant heritage buildings into a creative hub for start-up and growing businesses and a landmark destination that will become a source of pride for Leicester.

“Not only will it contribute to the wider regeneration of the Belvoir Street, Market Street and New Walk areas, and complement developments like the Gresham Building, it will also create hundreds of high quality new jobs – including more of the skilled roles that will encourage graduates from Leicester’s two universities to remain in the city when their studies are over.

“It’s great news that this scheme is now under way. Backed by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, it will give a huge boost to the city’s growth and economic recovery.”

The regeneration project received £8.6m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the city council committing a further £4.7m towards the development.

Light Science Technologies acquires Tomtech

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Light Science Technologies acquires Tomtech
Light Science Technologies Holdings (LSTH), the Derbyshire-based controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology and contract electronics manufacturing (CEM) group, has acquired Spalding-based Tomtech in a £500,000 deal. Tomtech designs, manufactures and installs monitoring and control systems for commercial greenhouses and polytunnels and currently has over 160 live customers – including commercial growers in agriculture, horticulture and floriculture segments as well as universities and public authorities. It has traded profitably for the last four years. For the year ended 31 December 2022, Tomtech reported unaudited profits before tax of £79,000 on sales of £680,000, of which £49,000 was recurring revenue. As at 31 December 2022, Tomtech had net assets of £145,000, including £141,000 in cash. Simon Deacon, Chief Executive Officer of LSTH, said: “We are delighted to have completed our first acquisition since joining AIM. Tomtech has an excellent team and reputation with its clients and we believe their range of products and technology know-how will further enhance our industry reach and standing. “Bringing Tomtech’s 35 years of experience into the Group’s CEA division enables us to provide an important turnkey solution to our customers, providing the technology they need to control the cost of growing, increasing yields and growing all year round. “Acquiring Tomtech enhances our ability as a group to take our products worldwide, offering a full range of products, which sets us apart from our competitors in this very important time for the CEA market where we are seeing extreme weather patterns worldwide affecting our food security. “Bringing Tomtech into the Group will further strengthen our position. The team’s added understanding of the requirements of growers in all areas of the Industry from glasshouses and polytunnels to hybrid growing environments in vertical growing, will be a big asset to the enlarged Group. “We are looking forward to working with the team to strengthen our CEA division not just in revenue terms, but also the additional support to grow our partnerships around the world and to broaden our reach.” All Tomtech employees will continue to be employed by the group following the acquisition.

52 wilko shops to close as more than 1,300 made redundant

Tess Egginton
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52 wilko shops to close as more than 1,300 made redundant
52 wilko store closures have been confirmed as administrators continue to explore the structure, implications and viability of offers received for all or parts of the group. PwC shared: “It has become clear from these discussions that some stores do not form part of any ongoing interest in the wilko store portfolio.” The closure of the 52 shops will lead to the redundancies of 1,016 staff. Meanwhile a further 299 redundancies are to be made at two distribution centres in Worksop and Newport. The final day of trading for the stores will be Tuesday 12 September and Thursday 14 September. For those employed at the distribution centres, redundancy will be effective from close of business on Thursday 7 September. The news follows an agreement to provide B&M with the option to acquire up to 51 properties, after the administration trading period concludes at those sites. Edward Williams, joint administrator, said: “In the absence of viable offers for the whole business, very sadly store closures and redundancies of team members from those stores are now necessary, in addition to the already announced redundancies at the support centre and distribution centres. “We know this has been a deeply unsettling time for everyone concerned and would like to express our gratitude to all wilko team members for the dedication and support they have continued to give the business in the most trying of circumstances.” Stores closing in the Midlands include:
  • Walsall – 30 employees – 14th Sept
  • Stafford – 20 employees – 12th Sept
  • Brownhills – 15 employees – 12th Sept
  • Uttoxeter – 9 employees – 14th Sep
At the Worksop distribution centre there will be 220 redundancies.

Gateley sees another year of growth

Tess Egginton
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Gateley sees another year of growth
Gateley, the professional services group, has continued its unbroken record of year-on-year revenue and underlying profit growth. In audited results for the year ended 30 April 2023 (FY23), the firm hailed a “strong financial performance…through its diversified and resilient business model, benefitting from a full year’s contribution from the prior year’s acquisitions, Adamson Jones Limited and Gateley Smithers Purslow Limited.” Underlying group revenue hit £162.7m, growing from £137.2m in the year prior, while group underlying profit before tax reached £25.1m, increasing from £21.6m. Reported group profit before tax however slipped to £16.2m from £26.8m as a result of the IFRS 3 related acquisition accounting treatments. Rod Waldie, CEO of Gateley, said: “I am very pleased to report another year of growth for Gateley. This is a strong performance, set against a challenging macro-economic backdrop throughout the second half. It is the result of the hard work and dedication of our people allied to a long-term commitment and adherence to the successful execution of our growth through our diversification strategy, building in resilience through design. “During the year under review, both our legal services teams and consultancy teams performed strongly and we have made further progress in adding breadth and strength to our group, expanding the patent and trade mark attorney offer on our Business Services Platform through the acquisition of Symbiosis. “Post-Period end, we have added legal services lateral hires to strategically broaden our Business Services Platform dispute resolution teams and have further enhanced our Property Platform with the acquisition of RJA Consultants. Our M&A pipeline for FY24 is encouraging and we will seek to strengthen our Platforms further as opportunities arise. “Looking forward, we are mindful of ongoing macro-uncertainty and it is difficult to predict market conditions for the rest of FY24. However, our diverse and resilient business model, combined with our proven and consistent track record of delivering strong growth across all economic cycles, means that we have entered FY24 with a positive mindset and cautious optimism.”

Celebrate with the region’s property and construction leaders at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023

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Celebrate with the region’s property and construction leaders at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
Taking place on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, a highlight in the business calendar, will celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while providing a brilliant opportunity to connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks. The prestigious event, taking place from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, will also feature Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, as keynote speaker.

Tickets can be booked for the glittering awards event here.

Attend to see who takes home most active estate 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, and overall winner. The overall winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000. After winning deal of the year at last year’s event, Richard Foxon, Managing Director at Newton LDP, said: “My colleague Sam Jones and I thoroughly enjoyed the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022. The event was well attended, with some prestigious awards up for grabs. The evening offered a great opportunity to network with like-minded property folk, whilst enjoying the backdrop of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. Many thanks to all the organisers and sponsors.”
Find out who last year’s winners were here.
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East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 When: Thursday 28 September 2023, 4:30pm – 7:30pm Where: The Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground Keynote speaker: Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council Dress code: Standard business attire Tickets: Available here Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:
 

East Midlands accountancy firm snapped up by expanding group

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East Midlands accountancy firm snapped up by expanding group
Dains Accountants has acquired HSKSG in a move that propels them towards becoming one of the Top 30 firms in the UK. An accountancy firm in the East Midlands, HSKSG has offices in Nottingham, Derby and Uttoxeter. The business has grown consistently in recent years, buoyed by a commitment to the use of technology, alongside high-quality personal and tailored relationships. Richard McNeilly, CEO of Dains, said: “We have followed the progress of HSKSG for several years and it became increasingly clear that their approach to client delivery and people development closely aligned with ours. As a long-established firm in the East Midlands, we believe they are ideal partners to support our continued growth in the Midlands.” Colin Peacock, Managing Director of HSKSG believes the transaction provides the business with an improved client proposition and potential for growth and said: “We have continued to invest in our target markets and our team in recent years and we have always been determined to deliver the best possible service to our loyal clients. “By joining the Dains Group, our ability to deliver an even broader range of services is enhanced and we look forward to joining the Dains team on this incredibly exciting journey.” Luke Kingston, partner at Horizon Capital, said: “We are delighted to have supported Richard and Dains on their fifth acquisition and welcome the fantastic team at HSKSG into the Group. This is another exciting addition to the Group which has more than doubled since we first invested, and we look forward to this strong momentum continuing.” Dains were advised by Dow Schofield Watts and Forward Corporate Finance (Financial Due Diligence), and CMS (Legal). HSKSG were advised by Actons Solicitors.

Thorn Baker grows with new appointments

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Thorn Baker grows with new appointments
Thorn Baker, a provider of Construction, Industrial and FM recruitment services, has made three significant new hires. These appointments are due to an ambitious growth trajectory plan that will help Nottingham-headquartered Thorn Baker strengthen its teams and create a robust infrastructure for the expanding business. Laura Kirby joins as head of marketing, Scott Ingham as branch manager for Thorn Baker’s new Industrial branch in Mansfield and Laura Ball as business development executive. As head of marketing, Laura Kirby will be responsible for overseeing all marketing activities including brand strategy, digital marketing and lead generation. She will work closely with the Board of Directors to develop and execute innovative marketing initiates that align with the company’s values and objectives. Mansfield branch manager, Scott Ingham joins Thorn Baker’s Industrial recruitment team to strengthen its presence in the North Nottinghamshire region and expand its branch network. This strategic move allows for convenient access to its staffing services, ensuring that both clients and candidates in the area can benefit from Scott and his team’s expertise.
Laura Ball joins as business development executive for Thorn Baker’s FM and Industrial teams to expand their portfolios and support the business in its plans. Laura brings with her a wealth of industry experience to enhance its existing business development function. Paul Jackman, Chief Executive at Thorn Baker, said: “I am delighted to announce our new appointments which I hope demonstrate Thorn Baker’s commitment to excellence and our ongoing efforts to drive growth. “I am confident that our new hires will be instrumental in achieving our vision and ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place to broaden our service offering and fully meet the needs of our clients and candidates.”

East Midlands manufacturer hails record turnover with £5m increase in sales

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East Midlands manufacturer hails record turnover with £5m increase in sales
Mansfield-based Deanestor, the furniture and fitout specialists, has hailed a strong financial performance with a 35 per cent increase in turnover to £19m and a return to pre-pandemic profit levels, according to its latest accounts which have now been released. Turnover increased by £5m in the financial year ending 31st December 2022 and operating profit rose to £750,000. Sales of £17.5m have already been secured so far in 2023 with a strong order pipeline which extends into 2025. Deanestor’s financial performance is now one of the strongest in the FF&E (furniture and fitout) sector and the business has continued to grow across each of its target markets –student accommodation, build-to-rent, healthcare, and education. Its turnover in Scotland increased by 75 per cent since 2021 to over £7m last year. William Tonkinson, Managing Director of Deanestor, said: “I am pleased to report that we had a solid performance last year and are on target with our growth forecast for 2023. “We operate in diverse sectors which all remain buoyant despite the economic challenges, and we have maintained high levels of repeat business with some of the UK’s leading contractors and residential developers. This is testament to the hard work and commitment of our teams in Mansfield, Scotland and on site across the country. “We have a strong foundation on which to grow and are continuing to invest in our people, in new cutting edge manufacturing technology, and in our production facilities and capacity. “We have continued to grow our business in Scotland, particularly in the school building sector and following our acquisition of the Havelock brands in 2019. This has contributed to a very significant increase in sales in the past year and we have already secured over £6m of orders for Scottish projects so far this year.” Deanestor has recently expanded its storage facilities to 200,000 sq ft with the addition of two new units in Mansfield. An additional CNC cutting machine will be installed at its manufacturing centre in Mansfield this autumn to further increase capabilities, which is another significant investment. Twenty new jobs have been created in design, production planning, installation management, production and despatch to support Deanestor’s growth. New projects include the manufacture and installation of fitted bedroom furniture and kitchens for seven three-storey buildings which are under construction by EQUANS for the University of Birmingham, and a contract worth more than £3m for Robertson Group to fitout a new secondary school campus in Dundee. Three healthcare projects have recently been completed – a new research centre for cancer care at The Royal Marsden in London, a new mental health facility for South London and  Maudsley Hospital, and a £1.5m furniture and fitout contract with Laing O’Rourke for the first phase of the £485m Brighton 3Ts redevelopment of Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Senior appointment at Pick Everard with new national director

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Senior appointment at Pick Everard with new national director

Bolstering its consultancy services nationwide, Pick Everard has appointed a new national director to its building services engineering team. 

Joining the independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy, Justin Neil brings 24 years of experience to his new role with a background in design and construction, including four years in Doha, Qatar, where he worked closely on its widely celebrated National Library.  

Justin’s responsibilities are to lead and develop an industry leading building services team, growing the 90–strong team nationally, and delivering a consultancy service fully aligned with the requirements of its clients. 

Talking about his new role, Justin said: “Across the many projects I’ve worked on in my career, I’m still yet to see a wholly cohesive delivery approach done well. It’s one of the key reasons why I’m hugely excited by my new role at Pick Everard.

“The business is structured to focus on responding to clients’ needs uniquely, with one centre of communication and management throughout each project phase which is underpinned by an ethos of delivering better together.  

“My varied career and experience abroad has given me a unique, all-round perspective that melds well with Pick Everard’s multi-disciplinary approach. Having worked on all sides of the construction spectrum – for contractors, clients, and consultants – I’m ideally situated to hit the ground running and drive forward our department.” 

Beginning his career as an M&E apprentice in 1999, Justin made the move into consultancy in 2006 and holds three degrees to his name; a bachelor’s in building services engineering and two master’s in electrical building services engineering and BIM and integrated design.  

A Chartered building services engineer, Justin has most recently held appointments in single service engineering businesses but has chosen to make the move back to a multi-disciplinary consultancy to have greater agency on project delivery in a leadership role – a move that has been welcomed by his colleagues. 

Andrew Almond, partner at Pick Everard, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Justin has joined us. I can see that he will fit seamlessly into our senior management team and his talent, experience, and drive will be a real asset to Pick Everard.

“I am looking forward to working alongside Justin, collaborating closely on our objectives to develop our team and to deliver a service of excellence to our clients across the UK and beyond.” 

Optima UK appoints head of manufacturing

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Optima UK appoints head of manufacturing

Recruitment, training, and business advisory firm Optima UK has appointed Will Vigars to the role of head of manufacturing. Will is a seasoned recruitment professional, bringing with him extensive experience in the UK manufacturing, engineering and energy markets.

He is tasked with leading the manufacturing team and is part of the senior management group at the Leicestershire-based business.

Optima UK founder and Chief Executive Larraine Boorman said: “We’re delighted that Will has joined us in this key role.

“He has an impressive track record and I am confident that his expertise and experience will play a big part in helping to accelerate the growth of the business.”

Will has spent more than 15 years in the recruitment industry, specialising in engineering and energy, and in his previous role was a director of a company focused on advanced manufacturing and engineering recruitment.

Will said: “Given Optima’s established reputation and chosen sectors, it was an obvious choice for my experience in the manufacturing, engineering and energy markets.

“Optima’s consultants have a comprehensive operational background, enabling them to support their client base on all types of specialist roles across the manufacturing environment, and it was an exciting prospect to be joining a dedicated team with similar values to my own.

“I know Optima UK has positive expansion plans for the future and a very innovative strategy for growth and development which I hope to play a big part in.

“The existing manufacturing team has a positive mix of experience, character and potential, and I look forward to learning, contributing, and growing our existing operations alongside them.”

BDO welcomes more than 50 trainees in the Midlands

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BDO welcomes more than 50 trainees in the Midlands
Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO is welcoming 55 trainees across the Midlands this week in roles across audit, advisory and tax. The trainees will be a combination of school leaver apprentices and university graduates, with forty-two based in the firm’s Birmingham office and 13 out of its office in Nottingham. As part of their training programme, the majority of the new joiners will also have opportunity to undertake a level-7 apprenticeship programme, resulting in a qualification equivalent to a master’s degree. The firm has also hired over 90 industrial placement students to join BDO for 12 months between their second and third year of university, as well as more than 80 summer interns. BDO is also now in its third year of its targeted virtual insight programmes, delivered as part of its commitment to increasing diversity in the profession. More than 20 students from years 11-13 across the UK, took part in the firm’s Explore BDO programme, targeting students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, whilst 14 students from various universities took part in BDO’s Black heritage programme. Applications for the firm’s 2024 graduate and school leaver apprentice programmes will open later this month, with more than 700 positions available. More than 500 of this group will join the firm’s audit practice. Kyla Bellingall, regional managing partner at BDO, said: “The Midlands is home to some of the country’s brightest talent and we’re investing significantly as a firm to provide the career opportunities and pathways that enable young people from all walks of life to access a vibrant and exciting profession, such as accountancy. “The last few years has seen so much uncertainty as businesses and individuals alike have navigated many challenges. We know that many of these new joiners will have felt the disruptive impact of the last few years, and they should be incredibly proud of their achievements and resilience throughout these difficult circumstances. “Having joined the accountancy profession as an apprentice myself, straight from school, I’m really pleased to be welcoming a number of school leaver apprentices to the firm. I look forward to supporting all of our new trainees to kickstart their careers and watching them succeed here at BDO.”

B&M to acquire 50 wilko properties in £13m deal

Tess Egginton
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B&M to acquire 50 wilko properties in £13m deal
B&M has entered into an agreement with the joint administrators of wilko to acquire up to 51 properties for up to £13m. The consideration is fully funded from existing cash reserves and the acquisition is not expected to be conditional on any regulatory clearances. The discount retailer has been one of wilko’s main competitors. It is not yet known whether the shops’ staff will retain their jobs. Meanwhile, HMV owner, Doug Putman, is understood to still be in talks with administrators, PwC, over a deal, with initial plans to buy around 300 stores hit by difficulties. The news follows PwC confirming a raft of redundancies. Wilko collapsed into administration last month (August), putting 12,000 jobs on the line. The retailer opened its first store in Leicester 93 years ago, and has hosted its HQ in Nottinghamshire for the past half a century.

New MD appointed at Alfreton-based PermaGroup

Tess Egginton
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New MD appointed at Alfreton-based PermaGroup
Building products company, PermaGroup has appointed Duncan Kirkwood as its new Managing Director to spearhead the organisation’s ambitious growth plans.  
Collaborating alongside long-standing director, Adrian Buttress, Duncan brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the roofing and building products industry, having held senior positions at the likes of Marley Building Materials, Icopal Limited and most recently as MD of Carlisle Construction Materials.  
Duncan said: “I’ve known of PermaGroup for many years and have always admired the business and Adrian’s vision for it. For me, now is the perfect time to take on this new challenge at a business that I really believe in. “I just love roofing and have been passionate about it my entire career, but I’m equally excited to expand my knowledge to the other areas of the business including modular builds and fencing – I can see real opportunities to grow the group as a whole.”  
Duncan added: “With me being based in the south, I’ve got fantastic connections that can further expand PermaGroup’s presence down here and into London. Adrian and I already have ambitious plans that we can’t wait to action but for me, it starts internally.  
“Company culture is hugely important, and I’m eager to implement things that improve on what Adrian has already established across the group. Of course, no company growth can happen unless the employees and clients are brought on the journey too.” 
Duncan will take on much of the day-to-day activities working with Adrian on the strategic development plans.  
Adrian said: “Welcoming Duncan to the team is exactly the right move for us to take the next steps as a business. We both have the best interests of PermaGroup in mind, not just for the investors but for our team and clients too and we’re excited to unlock the business’s full potential. “It’s fantastic to have Duncan’s expertise and a fresh pair of eyes on the PermaGroup, ready to drive it forward and I’m eager for us to start working together.” 

Nottingham Venues make finals of MIA Awards

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham Venues make finals of MIA Awards

Nottingham Venues’ sales and marketing team has been named as a finalist in this year’s Meeting Industry Association Awards – the MIAList 2023.

The MIAList 2023 is organised by the Meeting Industry Association and celebrates the achievements of individuals and businesses within the sector, which brings in £31.2 billion to the UK economy each year.

Nottingham Venues operates a collection of independent venues specialising in meetings and events, set within the grounds of the University of Nottingham campus. These include the East Midlands Conference Centre, the Jubilee Hotel and Conferences venue, Campus Venues and the 4* Orchard Eco Hotel. It provides meeting space from 5 to 1000 delegates, with over 40 meeting rooms, 2000 sq ft of exhibition space and 300 bedrooms at the Orchard Hotel and Jubilee Hotel combined.

It is one year since the Nottingham Venues brand was born and it has been a successful first twelve months. The creation of the new brand, website, social media channels and a significant increase in revenue have led to the sales and marketing team being shortlisted in the Team of the Year category.

Voting is now open, and Nottingham Venues is encouraging the local business community and its clients to vote for them in the awards by visiting the MIA Website. Voting closes on Friday 8 September.

Stephanie Moss-Pearce, director of marketing at Nottingham Venues, says: “The MIAList is one of the leading awards within our industry, so we are delighted to have made the finals. It has been a very busy 12 months for us all at Nottingham Venues since the re-launch and re-brand, so it is great to see that our efforts are being recognised by our industry peers. I just hope that we are successful on the night!”

East Midlands-based synthetic turf maintenance expert wins seven-year contract in the South West

Tess Egginton
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East Midlands-based synthetic turf maintenance expert wins seven-year contract in the South West
East Midlands-based synthetic turf maintenance expert Replay Maintenance is celebrating after winning a seven-year, multiple-site contract in the South West to service a range of military sports facilities.

The long-term deal with landscape construction company, Gavin Jones, now part of the nationwide green services provider, Nurture Group, means Replay Maintenance will take care of a variety of artificial sports surfaces at 13 sites.

Predominantly at Naval and Royal Marine bases, with a variety of sports surfaces including sand-dressed hockey pitches, athletics tracks and 3G football surfaces, the sites include Bickleigh Barracks, RMB Chivenor and HMS Excellent in the Plymouth area, HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire, RNAS Culdrose on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, Britannia Royal Naval College near Dartmouth in Devon, Royal Marine Commando Training Centre at Lympstone in Devon, HMS Rayleigh at Torpoint in Cornwall, RNAS Yeovilton near Yeovil in Somerset, and Norton Manor Camp near Taunton in Somerset.

Replay Maintenance will be drawing on the company’s 20 plus years’ knowledge and expertise to ensure that the sports facilities are in the best condition for His Majesty’s military personnel.

Nick Harris, Replay Maintenance MD, said: “We are delighted to have secured the contract to maintain the synthetic surfaces on these sites. Our teams have worked diligently to undertake ad hoc, specialist maintenance on behalf of Gavin Jones.

“The quality of works done has clearly been favourable in the decision to award the contract to Replay Maintenance for such a lengthy period. With a number of recent strategic partnerships in the South West including The Pitchmark Group, Wiltshire FA and Somerset FA, we look forward to building on our national reputation as the leading synthetic sports turf maintenance specialist.”

Introductions between the two companies were made when Replay Maintenance was contracted by Gavin Jones to undertake a one-off athletics track clean in 2015, using Replay’s trademark Aquatrax process.

Since then, Replay Maintenance has continued to build relationships with the team, gradually increasing the ad-hoc processes and being introduced to new facilities. Through these works, Gavin Jones has now entrusted the artificial sports surface maintenance of these 13 sites to Replay Maintenance, with talks for further sites ongoing.

Andy Mighall, Gavin Jones’ Regional Manager, said: “In awarding this contract to Replay Maintenance, we are confident that our customers will receive the exceptional quality service that they have come to expect from a Gavin Jones maintained site.

“We have worked with Replay Maintenance since 2015 and have found the works that they completed have always been delivered to a very high standard. I look forward to working with the team over the coming years in continuing to deliver outstanding service to our customers.”

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