Softer rise in East Midlands output, but new order growth sustained in May
The headline NatWest East Midlands PMI® Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – posted 50.8 in May, down slightly from 51.5 in April, to signal only a marginal expansion in output at East Midlands private sector firms.
Greater business activity reportedly stemmed from a sustained uptick in new orders. The rise in activity was the fourth in successive months, but was the weakest in this sequence of growth. Moreover, the rate of increase was slower than the UK trend, with only Yorkshire & Humber and Scotland recording softer upturns, while Wales posted a decline.
Private sector firms in the East Midlands registered a fourth successive monthly expansion in new business during May. The pace of growth accelerated to the second-fastest since March 2022, despite being only marginal overall. Anecdotal evidence suggested that greater new orders were due to stronger demand conditions and increased customer referrals.
The rate of expansion was slower than the UK trend, however, despite the pace of growth at the UK level easing.
Output expectations across the East Midlands private sector remained upbeat in May, as the level of business optimism posted slightly above the long-run series average. Hopes of a pick up in client demand, and planned investment in new products and machinery reportedly drove positive sentiment. Although the degree of confidence slipped to a three-month low, it was broadly in line with the UK average.
May data signalled a marginal uptick in workforce numbers at East Midlands firms. Alongside reports of greater ease in hiring following increased availability of candidates, companies stated that employment rose amid new business growth. That said, the pace of job creation slowed from that seen in April, reflecting the wider UK trend which also indicated only a marginal rise in staffing numbers.
Private sector firms in the East Midlands signalled an eighth successive monthly decrease in the level of outstanding business in May. Survey respondents noted that lower backlogs of work were due to sufficient capacity and muted growth of new orders. The rate of contraction slowed to the weakest since November 2022.
The pace of decline was quicker than the UK average, despite softening.
Cost burdens faced by East Midlands private sector firms continued to increase during May. The rate of inflation picked up fractionally but was the second-slowest since February 2021. Nonetheless, the pace of uptick was sharper than the series average and broadly in line with the trend seen across the UK as a whole.
Hikes in input costs were often linked to greater wage bills and higher prices for some raw materials including timber and concrete.
May data signalled a softer but still marked uptick in output charges at East Midlands companies. Anecdotal evidence commonly highlighted the pass-through of increased costs to clients as driving the rise in selling prices. Although steeper than the long-run series average, the rate of increase in output prices was slightly weaker than the UK trend.
Some firms noted that efforts to drive new sales sparked a slower rise in charges.
Rashel Chowdhury, NatWest Midlands and East Regional Board, said: “Firms in the East Midlands continued to register expansions in output and new business in May, however, rates of growth remained muted and only marginal overall amid challenges posed by the cost-of-living crisis and ongoing inflationary concerns.
“Nonetheless, some resolution to issues faced earlier in the year with regards to firms’ ability to hire meant that employment grew again, as capacity shortages in certain areas were plugged.
“Inflation remained a key concern for firms and their expectations regarding future output levels and demand conditions. Cost pressures were sticky in May, as the latest data signalled a reversal of the recent downward trend in input price inflation. Efforts to drive sales in the face of strain on margins, however, led to a softer uptick in charges.”
East Midlands Chamber urges businesses to adopt new thinking in recruiting and retaining people amid skills gaps
From supporting out-of-work people to find sustainable jobs to creating workplaces where employees feel they “belong,” new thinking is needed from businesses to plug major skills gaps, says East Midlands Chamber.
The business support and representation network for Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire is embarking on a strategy to support firms with their people needs by gathering intelligence from employers, facilitating the sharing of best practices and creating new toolkits.
A key milestone in this work was the East Midlands People and Skills Summit, held in partnership with Loughborough University at its West Park Teaching Hub (Thursday 8 June).
More than 200 delegates heard from speakers including Baroness Nicky Morgan, the former Education Secretary who now chairs The Careers and Enterprise Company, a national organisation that helps to bring employers closer together with educators in developing careers education.
Naomi Clayton, director of the Learning and Work Institute, also discussed research into why the UK has a shortfall of about one million workers compared to pre-pandemic trends because of rising economic inactivity levels – in which people have left the labour market for reasons such as long-term sickness, caring duties, studying and early retirement.
East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson said: “People are a critical ingredient to businesses realising their growth ambitions, yet many have faced major challenges in finding the skills they need from one of the tightest labour markets we have ever seen.
“In 2023, we are in a position where a multitude of changes are unfolding – whether it’s in technology, ways of working or the make-up of our society and workforce – which means we must adopt new thinking to how we recruit and retain our people for business needs.
“The Chamber has a key role to play in helping firms navigate these areas, and the East Midlands People and Skills Summit was a major milestone in this body of work, with the insights we learned helping us to determine the practical business support tools we can create.
“These cover how they can tap into the young talent coming out of our schools, colleges and universities, but also includes how we engage those people who have left employment since the beginning of the pandemic.
“We must also consider how to create a sense of belonging within workplaces, which engages a more diverse workforce with the ability to bring new ideas, perspectives and skills to an organisation – ultimately benefitting the bottom line.”
East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey showed that while six in 10 East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first three months of 2023, almost three-quarters (73%) of those struggled to fill roles.
Other key activity within its people and skills focus includes dedicated research into inclusive workplace policies across East Midlands employers, a roundtable about how to support more businesses in this area, and the launch of a Collective Skills Intelligence Observatory that provides a data-led approach to help companies and educators understand skills needs and delivery in local areas.
Plans to activate Broad Marsh streets take a step forward
Proposals to activate streets around the Broad Marsh area have taken a step forward with a decision to remove restrictions to allow trading to take place.
The City Council is looking to establish areas in the revitalised streets around Broad Marsh where businesses could set up to give a flavour of what to expect once the area is redeveloped. The move would allow pop-up businesses to set up shop on a number of streets including Sussex Street near the new Nottingham College building, Collin Street opposite the new Central Library and Listergate near the soon-to-be-developed Green Heart space, with a view to potentially staying in the area long-term.
This early activation of the site aims to drive footfall to parts of the site which have been underused and overlooked but have now benefited from extensive regeneration. This will further enhance the gateway into the city centre, by giving the million people who pass though the area each year reasons to stay rather than simply walk through. This includes visitors to the city coming from the train station, tram system and new Broad Marsh bus station and car park, along with thousands of students at the new Nottingham College.
This approach would give early adopters the opportunity to experiment with their offer and test how it might be incorporated into the site in the longer-term. It could involve independent traders, food and drink outlets, entertainment including seasonal events and opportunities for local producers, suppliers and artists to showcase themselves. It follows a soft market testing exercise carried out by the council which will help establish what is needed to make the sites commercially viable.
A meeting of the council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee today (June 9) approved Collin Street, Sussex Street and several other sites around Broad Marsh being redesignated from prohibited to consent streets, meaning trading can take place. This decision will be open to consultation before returning to the committee. If approved, the new designation could be implemented in December.
The move comes as the area continues to be redeveloped. The new Central Library is due to open and work on the Green Heart area is set to start later this year. Public realm improvements like those already carried out on Carrington Street and Sussex Street will also get underway on Collin Street, connecting the new library and new college via amphitheatre-style steps and offering a fresh new gateway to the city via the Green Heart area and Listergate.
City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “We’ve made fantastic progress on our plans to completely change the look and feel of this part of the city. Streets that were once filled with traffic are now pleasant places to be, students are enjoying the new college, and the new bus station and car park are up and running in a modern building where the new central library will open later this year.
“Work on the Green Heart and Collin Street improvements will also get underway this year – but we know that it will be some years before the vision for the whole site will be fully realised. We believe there is a very exciting opportunity to use parts of the site in the short and medium term for a variety of activities, as part of the first phase of the ongoing transformation of the area. We’d like to hear people’s views on this and hope that if there is general agreement, we can move this forward before the end of the year.”
Contract awarded to construct 190,000 sq ft speculative warehouse in Nottingham
Construction company, Glencar has been awarded a contract by privately owned commercial property development company Rula Developments and specialist European real estate investor Blackbrook to build a new 190,598 sq ft speculative industrial development at its Fulwood Park development in Nottingham.
The development will comprise of a state-of-the-art distribution centre and offices, complete with car park, 50M service yard, site access and associated external services. It will be built to be BREEAM Excellent rated. Construction of the facility commenced during April 2023 and is expected to take 46 weeks with the development expected to be available for occupation by the start of April 2024.
Being marketed as Fulwood 190, the 14-acre development is situated on the established Fulwood Industrial Estate, which is adjacent to the A38 (Alfreton Road) and approximately 1.5 miles from Junction 28 of the M1 motorway. J28 is recognised as the largest strategic cluster of distribution space in the northern part of the East Midlands.
Eddie McGillycuddy, Glencar CEO, said: “This is the second instruction we have received from Rula Developments to date and we are absolutely delighted to be back on site delivering for them. It was a great experience for the team and I to be on site for the ground-breaking ceremony on Wednesday 7 June to get this project fully up and running.
“This partnership is a testament to Glencar’s unwavering commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction through repeat business. We are thrilled to bring our expertise and dedication to this scheme, ensuring the successful realisation of Rula and Blackwood’s vision in this important location within a well-established logistics cluster in the East Midlands.”
Chesterfield mortgage brokerage acquires counterpart
Chesterfield mortgage brokerage, Mortgage 1st has acquired Peak Mortgages & Protection.
Formed in 2008, the family-run company has grown exponentially. During that time Mortgage 1st placed over 10,000 mortgages in arranging £1.67 billion of lending.
The move will see Mortgage 1st increase to over 70 staff and follows the launch of their insurance brand, Protection 1st.
Mortgage 1st director Jon Stones said: “The opportunity to bring Peak into Mortgage 1st is a unique and ideal scenario. One that will see us continue to grow but also maintain our culture. We’re excited to welcome everyone from Peak into our team. We can’t wait to see how both brands continue to grow alongside one another.”
Rhys Schofield, founder of Peak Mortgages & Protection, says: “We are extremely proud and privileged to be a part of Mortgage 1st. Working alongside like-minded people who share the same drive and dedication was an absolute must for me. Jon and Lisa have built a wonderful brand. Visiting their head office I knew this was the perfect home for Peak.”
Lincolnshire-based insurance brokers become latest EMCRC Community Ambassador
Thompson & Richardson has been welcomed as the latest Community Ambassador at the East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (EMCRC).
Founded in 1964, the Thompson and Richardson Group are Lincolnshire’s leading insurance broker. Their size enables them to negotiate excellent terms from the insurance market and gives them significant access to the London Market, which is vital to offering the complete insurance package.
The Thompson & Richardson Group provide a professional insurance broking service to corporate, commercial and personal clients.
They will become the latest Community Ambassador to join the Centre, and as a Top 50 Insurance Broker, they will help highlight the importance of cyber insurance, something that many businesses overlook but which should be a vital aspect of their cyber security framework.
In addition, their affiliation with the EMCRC will grant members access to a cyber insurance specialist to coincide with the offerings of existing Community Ambassadors who provide resilience services in IT, retail and education.
Community Ambassadors are local companies who understand the importance of cyber resilience and who want to spread that message as wide as they can.
They do vital work, supporting the EMCRC’s message through raising awareness of its aims and objectives and directing their customers, business communities and supply chains to take advantage of the EMCRC’s free membership and affordable services.
DI Colin Ellis, MD and Police Lead at the EMCRC, said: “I’m really pleased that T&R have joined us as one our community ambassadors. As well as offering a range of useful insurance experience, they will also offer our members expertise around cyber insurance which is critical to cyber resilience.
“T&R recognise the important work that the EMCRC have set out to achieve and they were keen to come on board – which is really pleasing.”Thompson & Richardson are another great addition to the EMCRC’s Community Ambassador group, and it shows the EMCRC’s ambition as a Centre that it wishes to partner with outstanding businesses and organisations.
But the EMCRC’s ambition doesn’t end there. It is seeking the support of other distinguished businesses and motivational business leaders by joining not just as Community Ambassadors, but as Community Members, Friends of the Centre or Board members. EMCRC now has the scope for businesses to join on various levels of affiliation.
If you would like to support the EMCRC’s work and join its community, or feel you can bring equal skill, vision and ingenuity to the Centre in other areas, then please contact the EMCRC via its website or contact Colin Ellis via his LinkedIn account.
Further progress for Nottingham’s Island Quarter as student scheme tops out
The latest phase of Nottingham’s Island Quarter has moved a step closer to completion as the final structural beam of its student accommodation scheme was put in place.
The moment was marked with a topping out ceremony for the ongoing phase, which will be home to nearly 700 students from next autumn. The block is currently under construction by Bowmer + Kirkland, and once completed will be managed by Fresh, a leading student accommodation provider.
The student accommodation forms the second phase of the 36-acre development, with the initial phase – restaurant and entertainment venue 1 The Island Quarter – opening its doors in September 2022.
The Conygar Investment Company – the developer behind the scheme – has also recently received planning permission for nearly 250,000 sq ft of bioscience and laboratory space which will be situated next to the student accommodation, and will also be looking to start work on its flagship 17-storey IHG hotel later this year.
Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “Alongside the recently updated masterplan and the planning consent for our bioscience facility, this topping out is another key landmark in what has already been a pivotal year for The Island Quarter.
“From the very outset, we wanted The Island Quarter to be an exemplar of intergenerational living, and this high-quality student accommodation will not only help us reach those ambitions, but also strengthen the offer that Nottingham has for students, ensuring we get the highest calibre of students in our city and attending our universities.”
Designed by DAY Architectural, the student accommodation will offer a range of room types including studio flats and cluster living, and also features a high-level sky lounge, private courtyard, socialising and studying space.
Christian Parnell, Bowmer + Kirkland regional director, said: “We are delighted to be a part of this significant milestone for the project. The topping out ceremony marks the one year anniversary that B + K started work on this site. Everyone – Conygar, consultants, and ourselves – have worked well together, and collaboratively, to get where we are today. We are now focused on delivering the project for next year’s student intake.”
Craig Bryant, strategy and business development director at Fresh, said: “The topping out today is a hugely significant milestone as we move a step closer to welcoming our first cohort of students to their new home in 2024.
“Fresh has been involved throughout the development, providing advisory services to ensure our unique insight has been designed into the scheme from the beginning to deliver what students want and to exceed our client’s expectations.
“The Island Quarter is set to be a very exciting development in this great university city, and we can’t wait to add 693 beds to our existing presence in Nottingham.”
Lincoln cyber security firm sold
Lincoln-based cyber-security-as-a-service (CSaaS) provider Cyberlab Consulting Ltd has been sold to technology provider Chess for an undisclosed sum.
As part of a shared growth strategy, the acquisition will supercharge Cyberlab’s expansion, as well as add a unique product to Chess’s extensive suite of existing products and services.
Expanding its portfolio and solidifying its position as a leading technology service provider, the strategic acquisition will see Chess add Cyberlab’s innovative CSaaS portal as a new service to clients. The portal simplifies the oversight of security posture, identifying individual blind spots and providing tailored training programs to automate fixes.
Ryan Bradbury, founder of Cyberlab, has joined Chess’s team as part of the deal, taking on the role of CTO. He said: “We’re delighted to be adding something new, which fits perfectly into Chess’s existing incredible portfolio. There is huge potential for our portal and the backing of such a big player like Chess will help us to meet our ambitions for the Cyberlab brand.”
Chess employs more than 300 people across the UK and supports more than 1,000 UK blue-chip enterprise businesses, government departments, and household names. Its expanded capabilities now cover a wide range of services, including testing, assessment, discovery, consultancy, delivery, and hardening.
Michael Squirrell, partner at Shakespeare Martineau, who advised founders Ryan and Jessica Bradbury on the sale of Cyberlab, said: “There are clear synergies between the businesses and obvious wins from their union. We’re very happy to have supported Ryan and Jessica on the sale.”
The Shakespeare Martineau team involved in the deal also included corporate associate Ashley Taylor, corporate solicitor Nana Maisuradze, intellectual property partner Kerry Russell, and employment expert Oscar Ciaurro.
Antony Voakes and Amy Weston at Wright Vigar advised on tax and financial matters. Chess was represented by Nimbus Legal and Vector Tax Consultancy.
Construction underway on Derby’s new Becketwell performance venue as building contract awarded
Derby’s new £45.8m performance venue has reached a new milestone, with Derbyshire-based construction group Bowmer + Kirkland awarded the building contract – and construction work now underway.
St James Securities has also released a new and enhanced CGI showing what the performance venue will look like once complete.
The new 3,500 capacity entertainment and events venue forms phase two of the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme, which is the most significant urban regeneration scheme in the city for more than 30 years.
The new performance venue will be built on the site of the former Pennine Hotel, Laurie House offices, multi-storey car park and Pink Coconut nightclub in Colyear Street and Padley House in Becket Street.
It will be owned by Derby City Council and leased to and operated by ASM Global, the venue management and services company, and producer of live experiences.
Bowmer + Kirkland took over the site on 5 June 2023 and practical completion is scheduled for January 2025, just a couple of weeks later than was originally planned when contracts were signed in March 2022.
Bowmer + Kirkland is one of the UK’s largest and most successful privately owned construction and development groups. Over the past five years, the company has secured projects with a value of almost £3 billion. Its construction teams offer private and public sector clients a national service delivered locally through its specialist regional teams.
In February 2022, Peveril Securities, the development arm of the Bowmer + Kirkland Group, were appointed funding and development partners for future phases of the Becketwell scheme.
ASM Global’s UK portfolio includes OVO Arena Wembley, AO Arena (Manchester), Utilita Arena (Newcastle), Bonus Arena (Hull), first direct Arena (Leeds), Olympia London and OVO Hydro (Glasgow).
The venue is expected to significantly add to Derby’s cultural offering. It will offer a larger, more flexible space than the city centre has had in the past and will collaborate with and complement the activities of Derby Arena to provide the best possible events programme for Derby and the wider region.
It will be a scalable space capable of staging a range of concerts, stand-up comedy, family shows, musical theatre, exhibitions, and business events.
The venue is set to host over 200 cultural and commercial events each year and attract an additional 250,000 visitors to Derby. It is also expected to create over 200 new local jobs, it will generate more than £10m GVA per year for the area, diversify the economy and increase levels of investment in surrounding areas of the city centre.
Demolition work for the performance venue began in May 2022 with work starting on site this week. Completion and handover to ASM Global will take place in January 2025.
Phase one of the Becketwell development, which comprises 259 one and two-bedroom Build To Rent (BTR) apartments, is nearing completion alongside Springwell Square which will serve as a multi-purpose space within the development.
Paul Morris, director of St James Securities, said: “We are delighted to have concluded this agreement with Bowmer + Kirkland, a local company with a nationwide track record of working on award-winning projects for an extensive portfolio of developers, public sector clients and blue-chip companies across a broad range of sectors.
“In a very difficult inflationary climate where materials and labour costs have increased substantially, St James Securities has worked extremely hard with B+K through the design development and tendering stage to ensure the project would be delivered well within the fixed price contract with Derby City Council.
“I won’t pretend it’s been an easy process to get to this stage; however, I am very proud of the entire professional team involved in this project who have worked tirelessly to ensure that we’ve worked around the many challenges we faced along the way.
“There have been a few naysayers who have sought to publicly criticise us and suggest we would either throw the towel in or return to the Council seeking more money.
“This is simply not how we operate and once we agree a price, as we did with Derby City Council, then we stand by it. We have a wealth of experience in delivering complex, award-winning regeneration schemes and having the financial backing of Peveril Securities has further strengthened our ability to take on these challenges and win.
“The skill set of a dedicated and experienced team, such as the one we have pulled together for the performance venue, allows us to work in a way that central government or local authorities are not able. This is a great example of how the private and public sectors can work in partnership to deliver complex schemes at a fixed price with the private sector absorbing all the development and construction risks which in this project have been substantial.”
Councillor Baggy Shanker, leader of Derby City Council, said: “This is an important step forward in finally delivering the new venue Derby needs, which will deliver real, tangible benefits for businesses, residents and visitors.
“Creating a city centre for all is one of our priorities and this new and flexible space is a key part of bringing vibrancy and pride back to our city centre.”
Christian Parnell, Bowmer + Kirkland regional director, added: “We are absolutely delighted to have been appointed to build Derby’s exciting new entertainment and events venue. 2023 marks Bowmer + Kirkland’s first 100 years and it is fitting that we are beginning work on a major scheme which will bring life back to a once vibrant and prominent area of the city.
“We are looking forward to working with St James Securities, Derby City Council and ASM Global to deliver this landmark venue for the people of Derby and Derbyshire.”
Ralph Jones, Managing Director of Peveril Securities, said: “We are pleased to be investing in the future of our home city of Derby and look forward to supporting St James Securities to deliver the landmark Arena and future phases of the Becketwell regeneration.
“Future planned phases of the scheme include the potential for a range of other complementary uses of the site including a hotel, further residential accommodation, a multi-storey car park and purpose-built student residential.”
Maria Bertelli, strategic business development director, Europe at ASM Global, added: “The appointment of Bowmer + Kirkland marks the latest milestone in the delivery of the Becketwell Performance Venue. It’s a significant moment for this exciting project and brings us a huge step closer to the opening date of the entertainment and events venue.
“Particularly amidst current challenges faced by the entire construction industry, it is incredibly promising to be moving ahead at pace – so we extend our congratulations to the Council and the SJS team. ASM Global is proud to be a part of this project, and to support continued growth of the Midlands economy and cultural landscape.”
Marketing Derby encourages entries for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
As Business Link’s prestigious East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 draw closer, Marketing Derby is encouraging entries.
John Forkin, Managing Director of Marketing Derby, said: “These awards have a real democratic, bottom-up feel to them – ending with an informal event at Trent Bridge.
“There is so much great work going on in the built environment and we would really encourage companies to consider applying.”
The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrate the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and exceptional developments, and provide the perfect opportunity to shine a light on your team, reward their hard work, and boost morale.
If you haven’t nominated your (or another) business/development yet, now is the ideal time to do so – by clicking on a category link below or visiting this page.
To be held at:
Award categories include:
Thanks to our sponsors:
- 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
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
Nominations end Thursday 31 August.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will also feature Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, as keynote speaker. Tickets can now be booked for the awards event, which runs from 4:30pm – 7:30pm – click here to secure yours. Network with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Dress code is standard business attire.
To be held at:
Midlands outbound investment shows resilience in first quarter of 2023
Between January and March 2023, the number of outbound cross-border deals for Midlands-based companies rose by seven per cent from the previous quarter, with 15 deals completed across the region, according to the latest analysis from Deloitte’s Midlands Cross Border Deals Radar.
The research, conducted quarterly in collaboration with Experian Market IQ, tracks inbound and outbound M&A activity between investors and corporates in the Midlands and overseas. The results from the first quarter of 2023 reveal that outbound dealmaking across the Midlands remained consistent with the last quarter of 2022. In the same period there was a decrease in the number of inbound deals made.
Outbound investment from the Midlands
In Q1 2023 15 outbound deals were completed, an increase of 25 per cent on the equivalent 2022 period. The financial and insurance sector continued to be the most popular market for outbound investment from the Midlands, with five deals completing in the first three months of 2023. Three outbound deals were also completed in the wholesale and retail trade sector, reflective of a continued confidence across both markets.
The most popular target countries for outbound investments were in Western Europe with businesses in both the Netherlands and Ireland securing four deals each. Two outbound investments from the Midlands were also made into the US.
Between the East and West Midlands, the West Midlands showed particular strength with nine outbound investment deals, the highest quarterly number since Q4 2021 when 11 outbound deals were completed.
Inbound investment into the Midlands
Following record levels of inbound investment in 2022 where a total of 91 inbound deals completed, the first quarter of 2023 saw a reduction in the number of inbound investments into the Midlands. The level of investment deals into the Midlands dropped to 13 deals in Q1 2023, compared to 21 deals in Q4 2022, and 17 deals in Q1 2022. The US was the most active investor in the Midlands, accounting for five deals, whilst Canada and Ireland accounted for two each.
Although the overall number of inbound deals fell across the Midlands, the region’s manufacturing sector remained desirable to overseas investors. Six of the 13 inward deals (46 per cent) were completed in the manufacturing sector, whilst wholesale and retail accounted for a further two.
Nick Carr, corporate finance director at Deloitte, said: “Whilst recent economic uncertainty has undoubtedly impacted UK investment levels, it’s encouraging to see continued strong levels of outbound investment from Midlands-based businesses.
“Although we have seen a drop in the number of inbound deals completed in Q1 this year, with the economic climate now stabilising, we’re beginning to see investment levels pick up, building momentum as we move through 2023. Our latest Deloitte CFO Survey, released in April, also showed a marked uptick in business confidence in the first quarter of the year, evident of the positive sentiment amongst business leaders in the UK.”
Armsons Barlow strengthens team
Derby-based project managers, construction cost consultants and building surveyors Armsons Barlow have boosted their team with the appointment of Kelly Ridgard as senior quantity surveyor.
Kelly brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously spent 20 years at main contractor B & K Building Services.
During her two decades there, she successfully delivered a range of schemes including commercial, industrial, and retail projects ranging from £300,000 to £10.5m. Projects included new builds and refurbishments for clients such as Ecclesbourne School and Twycross Zoo.
Kelly’s background in contracting has given her a strong skillset in the areas of design and build and traditional contracts. This, coupled with her expertise in measuring and managing costs and value engineering, makes her a valuable addition to the team at Armsons Barlow.
In her new role, Kelly will deliver a variety of cost management, employer’s agent and project management services to both private and public sector clients.
Commenting on her appointment, Kelly said: “I am delighted to have joined Armsons Barlow and look forward to contributing the skills I have gained in the last 20 years of main contracting to provide our clients with the confidence they are receiving a first-class service and achieving their project aims in terms of value and quality.
“I am excited about the opportunities ahead and I am confident my skills and years of experience at a main contractor will enable me to make a significant contribution to the continued success of the company.
“I look forward to working on a diverse range of projects across a variety of sectors, both pre and post contract and working alongside such a highly respected team.”
Sally Walters, director of Armsons Barlow, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Kelly to the team. Her extensive expertise in her previous role at a main contractor and her experience in delivering projects across a range of different sectors will be invaluable to us as we continue to expand our offer across the UK.”
£220m boost to Midlands economy through WMG support programme
Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick is celebrating the completion of a major funded programme this week which has helped to add £220m to the Midlands economy.
Over the last five years, WMG’s Digital Innovation for Manufacturing (DI4M) has helped create 660 jobs and digitise 370 businesses – supporting hundreds of small and medium sized manufacturers across the Midlands.
New products have been taken to market through the programme including a novel electric charging point that attaches to lampposts, ultra-high speed 3D printer, and a wall climbing robot to undertake important maintenance work on tall buildings.
DI4M has been a five year, £10m programme supporting SME manufacturers to implement digital innovation. Delivered across the six Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas of Coventry and Warwickshire, Greater Birmingham and Solihull, the Black Country, South East Midlands, Leicester and Leicestershire and Worcestershire, it has been led by the SME Group within Warwick Manufacturing Group, part of the University of Warwick. The programme was funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
Companies that have benefited include Jaltek Systems who were helped to set up a new factory layout using digital twin technology and who also accessed a funded internship to get two major production lines up and running.
Gordon Ellis & Co was also a recipient of the funded programme. They were able to implement sensors and data collection devices around the factory to boost productivity and reduce waste.
Although this project has reached its endpoint, WMG’s SME group are continuing to support manufacturing SMEs through the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Made Smarter West Midlands and through new schemes such as its Net Zero Innovation Programme and Business Energy Advice Toolkit which helps businesses reduce energy and costs with low-cost technology solutions.
Dr Mark Swift, director of SME Engagement, said: “The DI4M programme has been an important anchor for Midlands SME businesses through a period of unprecedented challenge and disruption.
“The programme has been a constant effective enabler for introducing new ideas, new technology to boost productivity as well as acting as a springboard to Net Zero and business energy efficiency.
“The economic impact speaks for itself – adding £220m, or £22 for every £1 invested, to our region is something we are all immensely proud of. We now look forward to further successes from a range of new energy efficiency, digital and productivity programmes.”
First stop reached for Destination Mansfield
Work has begun on drafting a major Mansfield District Council place strategy which aims to rebrand the area and boost the public perception of the town.
Destination Mansfield is one of the projects in the district to benefit from the council’s £12.3m Towns Fund allocation and aims to deliver a new place shaping strategy to promote Mansfield as a great area to live, work and visit.
Following a series of public consultations, work has now begun on drafting the strategy. More details will be announced later in the summer.
The main drive of Destination Mansfield is to devise the most effective ways to promote and present the district with the result that it will nurture confidence and pride in its communities, stimulate interest and demand for housing, schools and jobs, encourage more visitors and support successful business activity.
As well as being a standalone project, it will also draw direction from and bolster current flagship council strategies focused on Growth, Aspiration, Wellbeing and Place. Equally, it will support the Mansfield Place Board and its partners drive forward its ambitious agenda for the district.
Cllr Stuart Richardson, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, said: “We would like to thank everyone for taking the time to respond to the surveys and focus groups and various other engagement activities. Their contributions have been central to how we develop this strategy and take it forward.
“It was enlightening to hear how local people, partners and businesses perceive their area – in both good and bad ways – and we will be using this information to guide this important new vision for Mansfield.
“There were many positive sentiments from those who took part about the people of Mansfield being proud, resilient and honest, and that community was important.
“What was also obvious was an appetite for change and improvement. People want a better quality of life along with more aspirational opportunities for employment and learning.
“Improving and revitalising the town centre was another must that came through strongly, along with ensuring cleaner and safer neighbourhoods.
“There is still a lot of work to be done but these consultations have been a productive first step to overcoming some of the longstanding challenges faced in this district.”
Arch Communications has been selected to work with the council to create the strategy following a series of public consultation and engagement exercises.
They included digital and printed surveys, which drew 505 responses, three focus groups, 115 face-to-face engagement meetings, discussions with more than 75 local businesses, plus consultation events with the Mansfield Place Board and Mansfield and Ashfield 2020. A promotional campaign for the research reached 49,900 people.
Destination Mansfield has received £500,000 from the council’s Town’s Fund award from the government. The £715,000 project is also being funded by the council.
The other projects receiving a share of the £12.3m are:
– £4.3m to create the Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange, a new £8.6m teaching and innovation space at the Chesterfield Road Campus of West Nottinghamshire College.
– £3m towards Warsop Health Hub, an £8.2m project for a new swimming pool, fitness suite, a multi-purpose hall, cafe and a new and improved multi-use games area.
– £2.94m towards a £3.27m plan to improve Berry Hill Park, making it more accessible and including a new visitor centre.
– £1m towards Smart Mansfield, a dual aspect scheme, firstly to develop a Long Range Wide Area Network across the district enabling data and information transmissions to support public service provision and business growth and secondly, to harness new technology to make it easier for residents, businesses and visitors to find available parking.
– £506,000 to build three business units next to Mansfield Woodhouse Station.
Pall-Ex and Fortec host charity football match to raise money for Combat Stress and Macmillan Cancer Support
A charity football match held by Pall-Ex Group earlier this month helped raise over £2,500 to split between Combat Stress and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The teams from Pall-Ex and Fortec, made up of employees and members from across Pall-Ex Group’s two networks, went head-to-head at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Sunday 4 June in front of over 200 supporters.
The match kicked off at 1:30pm, with Pall-Ex vying for the win following last year’s defeat at the iconic football ground. After an entertaining 90 minutes of football, Pall-Ex came out on top boasting a 4-3 victory over Fortec.
It was a fun-filled day for all, with Leicester City’s mascot Filbert Fox making an appearance and taking on the role of goalkeeper for the £1-a-kick penalty shootout that took place at the end of the match.
The event raised a total of £1,263 on the day, with Pall-Ex Group matching this figure bringing the total to £2,526 to ensure both charities would receive the amount raised on the day.
Pall-Ex Group have supported veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress for a number of years now, holding multiple fundraising events and donating over £40,000 to the charity since the partnership began.
Macmillan Cancer Support was chosen to receive half the funds in memory of Brian Devine, Director at Pall-Ex Logistics and well-respected colleague, who recently passed away following his battle with the disease.
Kevin Buchanan, Group CEO at Pall-Ex Group, said: “It’s fantastic that we have been able to raise so much money for these two incredible charities, particularly to honour the memory of Brian, who was not only a valued colleague but a friend to many of us.
“It gives me immense pride that we are able to host events like this, which allow us to donate considerable funds to charities so they can continue to provide the wonderful services they offer.”
GLP to speculatively develop 1.4 million sq ft of warehouse space at Magna Park Lutterworth
GLP is set to speculatively develop 1.4 million sq ft across four units at logistics park Magna Park Lutterworth (MPL).
GLP has received detailed planning permission for four new warehouses, three in Magna Park South, MPS Unit 9 (388,000 sq ft), MPS Unit 10 (119,000 sq ft) and MPS Unit 11 (136,000 sq ft), and one building in Magna Park North, MPN 5, measuring 761,000 sq ft. All units are due for practical completion by the end of Spring 2024.
MPN 5 will be a Breeam Outstanding building with all three other developments planned to achieve Breeam Excellent. Each unit will be net-zero in construction and independently certified by the Planet Mark.
GLP will also be supporting customers to reduce energy and operational costs, by providing a complimentary Planet Mark program to help monitor, track and reduce their respective carbon footprint.
The buildings will be designed to WELL principles with the occupiers in mind, with GLP aiming to provide a more productive and pleasant working environment for employees.
In addition, GLP are currently building a 200-acre Country Park enhancing the park’s facilities and providing recreation areas for both customers and the wider community.
Last year, GLP also partnered with North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, and Wincanton to house The Centre for Logistics, Education and Research (CLEAR) – a unique research, innovation, education, and training facility for both customers on the park and the wider logistics industry.
Magna Park Lutterworth now has only one building available to lease, MPS 5 (187, 253 sq ft), with a further two build to suit plots available for development, MPN 7 (411,000 sq ft) and MPN 6 (840,000 sq ft).
In the last two phases of spec development, the park has welcomed customers such as Bleckmann, Iron Mountain, LX Pantos and Unipart. Magna Park Lutterworth now consists of 47 buildings and is over 13m sq ft.
Joe Garwood, senior development director at GLP, says: “We are extremely pleased to announce such a significant level of speculative build across our flagship UK logistics park. This is a testament to our confidence in the resilience of the UK logistics market and the strategic importance of the Midlands in particular.
“We have seen huge success with our speculative development programme at Lutterworth to date, attracting a wide range of top-tier customers, and we’re confident that we will see strong demand for this new space. Once finalised and occupied, the four units will generate hundreds of employment opportunities and contribute towards the economic growth and commercial upskilling of the Midlands region.”
Nottingham College to build new Construction Skills Centre
The Government has awarded Nottingham College £4m from its post-16 capacity fund, to develop a new purpose-built construction skills centre, meeting surging local demand for vocational training in the construction sector.
The college will itself invest £1.2 million to develop the centre, creating capacity for more 16 – 18 year-olds to access construction training within the city.
Population growth, coupled with increased demand from young people, and increased demand for construction skills from employers in our region, provided a compelling case for the Government to confirm its £4m grant.
It means that by September 2024, a new construction skills centre will be open at the College’s Basford campus, already home to the region’s largest construction training facility.
These new additional places, on offer within the new skills centre, will mean that up to around 1,000 young people, between the ages of 16 and 18 will be able to access construction training and qualifications every year, on top of the many adults and apprentices the college trains.
A detailed planning application for the new centre has already been submitted, reflecting the tight timescales of the project which must be open by September 2024.
Already in the pipeline is another £6 million centre which is being built on the Basford campus site, for specialist provision for students with learning disabilities or difficulties. This centre was awarded government funding in April 2022 through the Government’s FE Capital Transformation Fund and will be built simultaneously with the new construction skills centre. The College is in the process of appointing a contractor to oversee both projects.
It means that over £10 million of capital funding is being invested in the College’s Basford campus alone in 2023/24 and when added to the other investment the college has secured in the last 12 – 18 months, college students will benefit from more than £16 million of investment in new and improved facilities, equipment, learning spaces and resources.
These include:
- £1.2 million from the OfS for industry-standard laboratory spaces at the college’s City Hub campus
- £1.8 million to upgrade and develop the college’s art and design provision within its 25 Stoney Street campus. This is a combination of Government grant through the FE Capital Transformation Fund and the college’s own investment.
- £700,000 on AI, Automation and Robotics equipment to enhance its higher technical offer at its engineering centre within the college’s Highfields campus.
- £650,000 to develop a new simulated adult care ward within the college’s city hub, with a significant grant from the government’s T Level fund.
- Nearly £400,000 from the government’s Strategic Development fund to invest in a fleet of high performing electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to train the next generation of automotive technician.
- More than £300,000 from the OfS to develop new Level 4 and 5 pathways in modern methods of construction and computing, again in response to growing demand for higher level skills locally.
Two Mather Jamie graduates qualify as Chartered Surveyors
Mather Jamie’s Sam Tyler and Tim Jones have passed their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and are now professionally qualified Chartered Surveyors.
Sam Tyler joined the development team in January 2021 after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Real Estate. He has assisted on a range of land deals and grown his knowledge of advising landowners on consented land and strategic development land.
Now that he is fully qualified, he will continue assisting directors on their deals whilst also advising landowners how to unlock land with development potential and the sale of consented land for development.
Tim joined the rural team at Mather Jamie in February 2019 after completing a Master’s degree in Rural Estate and Land Management at Harper Adams University. He is currently involved in the management of three large estates and over 61 properties.
One estate has recently made a number of acquisitions and now qualified he will be managing more of this portfolio and overseeing the refurbishment of properties and further development opportunities.
Mather Jamie director Gary Kirk said: “We are extremely proud of Sam and Tim who have seen their hard work pay off with their qualification as Chartered Surveyors. Sam and Tim’s chartership will enable them to undertake a wider variety of work which ultimately enhances the service which Mather Jamie is able to deliver to its clients.
“Mather Jamie is able to boast an excellent track record in supporting candidates through the APC process and we believe that investing in young and developing surveyors is key to the longevity of our business.”
The APC is a formal assessment, following a two-year on-the-job training period, to ensure surveyors have the professional competence required to achieve chartership. The final assessment includes a written submission, a case study and an intensive interview.
New Managing Director appointed at Persimmon Nottingham
A new Managing Director has been appointed at Persimmon Homes Nottingham.
Gareth Hankin has taken over the helm in Nottingham and will be responsible for the team who look after Nottinghamshire, based at its Mansfield headquarters.
Commenting on his appointment, Hankin said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be taking on this role. We have a great team here in Nottingham and I look forward to working to growing the business in an area of great opportunity.
“Supporting customers is the cornerstone of our business, with everyone in the Persimmon Nottingham team working hard to achieve and maintain our five-star customer satisfaction ratings.”
Gareth is also responsible for overseeing the work Persimmon Homes undertakes within the local community. He added: “I hope to continue our work with the local communities where we are building.
“We have previously supported hundreds of small charities, schools, sports clubs and voluntary groups through our Community Champions funding scheme, and we are always keen to connect with good causes that enhance the lives of local people.”
Ringrose Law celebrates double win at SME News Legal Awards 2023
Ringrose Law, a leading legal firm in the East Midlands, has proudly announced its recent success at the SME News Legal Awards 2023.
The firm has been honored with two prestigious awards, namely ‘Best Personal Law Practice 2023 East Midlands’ and, for the second consecutive year, ‘Best Personal Injury & Medical Negligence Law Practice 2023 Midlands’.
The SME News Legal Awards recognise outstanding legal practices across various sectors and regions, celebrating excellence, professionalism, and exceptional client service. Ringrose Law’s recognition in two categories demonstrates their consistent dedication to providing top-tier legal services to clients throughout the region.
“We are thrilled to receive these esteemed awards from SME News,” said Ryan Clarke, Managing Director at Ringrose Law.
“Winning ‘Best Personal Law Practice 2023 East Midlands’ showcases our commitment to delivering exceptional legal advice and support to individuals and families in the region. Additionally, being named ‘Best Personal Injury & Medical Negligence Law Practice 2023 Midlands’ for the second year running is a testament to our expertise and unwavering pursuit of justice for our clients.”
Ringrose Law has built a strong reputation for its comprehensive legal services, including personal injury and medical negligence claims. With a team of highly skilled and experienced solicitors, the firm has successfully represented numerous clients, securing excellent outcomes and fair compensation even in the most challenging circumstances.
The accolades received at the SME News Legal Awards underscore Ringrose Law’s ongoing commitment to excellence and its position as a trusted legal partner within the community. The firm’s success is a result of the combined efforts of its industry experts, who continually strive to provide exceptional legal representation and support.
