Plans approved for bioscience development at The Island Quarter

Tess Egginton
-
0
Plans approved for bioscience development at The Island Quarter

Nottingham City Council has approved Conygar’s detailed application for the next phase of The Island Quarter development in the city.

The application comprises a 249,000 sq ft bioscience building, which includes both laboratory and office space.

The permission is subject to the documenting of the section 106 agreement.

Robert Ware, Chief Executive of Conygar, said: “We are delighted that the next phase of development has been approved.

“Nottingham is already home to a large number of exciting businesses in the bioscience space and this scheme will be an excellent addition to the mixed-use development we are creating at The Island Quarter.”

Investment trust acquires significant minority stake in Cubo

Tess Egginton
-
0
Investment trust acquires significant minority stake in Cubo
Literacy Capital has invested in Cubo, the Derby-headquartered flexible office provider, acquiring a significant minority stake and providing capital to fund further growth of the business. Founded in 2020 by property investors Marc and Rebecca Brough, Cubo has sites in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield and Derby. Earlier this year, Cubo announced plans to almost double its footprint by the end of 2023. New workspaces in Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh are set to open in the coming months with sites in other regional towns and cities in the pipeline. The investment from Literacy Capital will support Cubo’s expansion plans, which come at a time where the flex office market is experiencing unprecedented growth. Cubo joins a roster of portfolio companies including Grayce, Oxygen Freejumping, Butternut Box and Antler Homes. Marc Brough, CEO of Cubo, said: “We are committed to establishing a network of Cubo workspaces across the length and breadth of the UK. Our model of securing leases in prime locations across all the UK’s core cities is reaping massive benefits for our members with all our sites currently enjoying 98% occupancy. “The opportunity to work with Literacy Capital will enable us to secure further sites quickly and fit-out in multiple locations simultaneously to meet the growing needs of both existing members and other corporate occupiers who have committed to work with Cubo as the business grows a nationwide platform. “We look forward to capturing more of the market for hybrid working in 2023 and beyond.” Richard Pindar, CEO of Literacy Capital, added: “Marc and his team have built a solid track record of investment in flexible office space and client relationships in just three years, which is a great foundation for long-term success in a rapidly growing market. “Cubo is exactly the type of business we are looking to partner with, having executed its plan very well in regional cities which have been less well served by competitors. Cubo is also well positioned to double its footprint by the end of this year and progress plans further beyond this. “We are delighted to be supporting Marc and the business on their continued rollout and look forward to supporting the company as growth is maintained and accelerated following our investment.” Advisers on the deal were: Rigby & Co (Property Adviser); Brown J (Vendor Legal); Walker Morris (Vendor Property Legal); Deloitte (Corporate Finance); Marcussen (Tax); Addleshaw Goddard LLP (Investor Legal); Keystone (Investor); DSW (Investor Finance); GT (Vendor Finance).

Breedon completes trio of acquisitions

Tess Egginton
-
0
Breedon completes trio of acquisitions
Breedon Group, the construction materials group, has completed three recent bolt-on transactions with a combined enterprise value of up to £19m. In Northern Ireland the acquisition of Robinson Quarry Masters Limited, a family-run quarrying and concrete block business in Country Antrim, has further extended Breedon’s footprint North of Belfast and enhanced its aggregate reserves on the Island of Ireland. Robinson Quarry Masters has a well-established customer base with exposure to housing, commercial and infrastructure end-markets. In Great Britain Breedon has acquired two downstream businesses. Broome Bros. Limited is a leading manufacturer of concrete blocks based in Doncaster, adjacent to one of the company’s existing ready-mixed concrete sites, and Minster Surfacing Limited is an award-winning regional surfacing business based in Lincoln with strong sustainability credentials delivering a diverse portfolio of works from the Midlands to London.
Rob Wood, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Many of our transactions come to us through our local knowledge and personal engagement with the owners. As a result, our active M&A pipeline has continued to yield high quality, earnings enhancing opportunities that will enable us to progress our sustainable growth strategy. “Each of these independent family run businesses is aligned with our vertically-integrated operating model, providing further opportunity to pull through upstream building materials while extending our downstream footprint to deliver profitable growth. We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to Breedon and look forward to working with them.”

DHP Family’s charity festival raises £89,500 for Framework

Tess Egginton
-
0
DHP Family’s charity festival raises £89,500 for Framework
Vital funds raised by DHP Family’s charity festival Beat the Streets in 2023 have been handed over to Framework to support its work helping the homeless population in Nottingham. The award-winning festival generated £89,500 from this year’s outing in January – up from £76,000 last year – thanks to a combination of ticket sales, bar takings and donations. All artists generously give their time for free as well. Since its launch in 2018, the festival has become renowned for the vital funds it has raised for Framework, with the running total now topping £400,000. More than 300 separate individuals have benefited directly from interventions wholly or partly funded through Beat the Streets. Framework will be putting the funds from this year’s festival towards the creation of eight self-contained flats for entrenched rough sleepers who have been on the streets for more than 20 years. The charity has already been granted planning permission to build the Housing First flats. The accommodation will provide rough sleepers with permanent housing combined with a programme of unlimited person-centred support towards independence. They will be able to access a range of Framework’s other services including, drug and alcohol, mental health and employment support to ensure outcomes are permanent, and they do not fall back into the cycle of repeat homelessness. Framework’s Chief Executive Andrew Redfern said: “Thank you to everyone at DHP Family who made it possible to raise a stunning £89,500 at this year’s Beat the Streets festival. “This is another amazing result and a massive contribution to our urgent work tackling homelessness in Nottingham and further afield. The money raised will play a major part in funding eight new flats for rough sleepers at Birkin Avenue in Nottingham. “Our partnership with DHP in tackling homelessness is unique and greatly appreciated: the award-winning Beat the Streets festival has become a hugely popular focus for those who are raising awareness of homelessness and encouraging the public to contribute towards tackling it. “It was astonishing to realise that over the past five years Beat the Streets has raised more than £400,000. This remarkable total demonstrates the magnificent commitment and support of our friends at DHP Family along with all the hundreds of bands, solo artists, technicians, stewards and administrators who have so generously given their time and talent to make it possible. “More than 300 separate individuals have benefited directly from interventions wholly or partly funded through Beat the Streets. These interventions have taken various forms ranging from emergency shelter, referral for an urgent health assessment, a period in specialist supported housing, or a permanent home with wraparound support. “The leadership of DHP has motivated other partners, including local businesses, to join the effort – thus further enhancing the scope and effectiveness of responses to homelessness and rough sleeping. There is no doubt that the wholehearted support of DHP, musicians and audiences will continue to be much needed.” DHP Family’s MD George Akins said: “As a Nottingham based company, it means a lot to all of us that work here to continue to deliver a fantastic Beat the Streets festival each January as we know how vital the funds are to Framework and the people they support across the city. “We hope to continue to use our expertise as music promoters and festival organisers to make a difference. We are extremely grateful to all the artists who give their time to play and each and every person that bought a ticket as together, we are helping to support something very worthwhile.”

Chambers of commerce unite to support refugees into jobs and help businesses plug skills gaps

Tess Egginton
-
0
Chambers of commerce unite to support refugees into jobs and help businesses plug skills gaps
Refugees from countries including Ukraine and Syria are being supported into work across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire by a partnership between two chambers of commerce. East Midlands Chamber and Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce are working together to develop refugees’ skills, employability and social integration, with the aim of enhancing confidence among individuals who have fled war, violence or persecution to take on jobs here – and in turn help businesses to fill vacancies. In response to the crisis in Ukraine, members of East Midlands Chamber’s employment services team have made weekly visits to Nottinghamshire Ukrainian Cultural Centre to help refugees arriving in the area. The team has supported more than 150 individuals with personalised training courses, CV and job application writing, interview preparation, housing and financial assistance, introductions to employers, including Nottingham Venues, Pizza Factory and Smyths Toys. It has also worked with Nottingham-based charity Refugee Roots to provide English language lessons and address mental health barriers. Paul Needham, head of employment services at East Midlands Chamber, which represents Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, said: “Given the extremely tight labour market we are experiencing right now – our research shows 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 – we have been engaging businesses about the benefits of adopting inclusive recruitment policies to open up vacancies to a wider pool of people, including refugees. “Supporting Ukrainian refugees in Nottinghamshire over the past six months has been a really rewarding exercise for our team given the desperate circumstances these people find themselves in, and it has provided an important platform for introducing more families and individuals to our wide portfolio of employment services, which break down barriers to work. “We now want to replicate this work in Derbyshire in partnership with Staffordshire Chamber, which has had great success within its own area, to provide further job opportunities that will enable refugees to integrate into our society and contribute to the communities they now call home.” Positive Pathways programme supports more than 250 individuals For the past two years, Staffordshire Chamber has run the Positive Pathways programme, which provides employability skills development and business start-up advice to Afghan, Syrian and Ukrainian refugees now based in Staffordshire, and connects them with local companies. Part-funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, it has supported more than 250 people, including highly-skilled professionals such as doctors, surgeons, nurses, psychologists, dentists, engineers, project managers and accountants. All individuals have had to meet Government criteria showing their right to work in the UK and been aged 18 or older. Positive Pathways project manager Julie Priestnall said: “Refugees are often skilled and capable individuals who hold qualifications and practical experience across various areas of work, as well as a willingness to learn, which means they can provide a significant contribution to businesses with a little bit of support. “The impact of Positive Pathways has been enormous – not just on the individuals who have needed our support to give them the confidence to take on jobs but also to the local economy, which has benefitted from their skills to plug gaps in the labour market. Global events mean this type of support is needed now more than ever.” Some of the barriers to employment faced by refugees include a lack of work references or knowledge of the labour market, not having completed education before fleeing their country or qualifications not being recognised in the UK. The chances of refugees returning to employment often lesson the longer they are unemployed as they lose confidence and self-esteem. Nottingham Venues takes a lead in employing refugees East Midlands Chamber has already worked with conference and event space operator Nottingham Venues, helping to place Ukrainian national Anastasiia Markeliuk as a food and beverage assistant. Anastasiia comes from Kherson, one of the first areas in Ukraine to be invaded by the Russian army, and was taken in by a family from Lady Bay, Nottingham, after fleeing the country via Poland. She has a master’s degree in geography and sociology, and understands her current role is a stepping-stone for future job prospects. She said: “I am very grateful for the support I have received since I have arrived in the UK, both from my host family and Nottingham Venues. “The refugee community often features very skilled people who have a lot to offer and can make a real difference to companies, so I would encourage businesses to be open to the opportunities that employing refugees can provide.” Suzie Adams, HR director at Nottingham Venues, which operates East Midlands Conference Centre and The Jubilee Hotel and Conferences among other venues, added: “We have a number of employees from the Ukrainian community working in a variety of roles within our business. “We are trying to support them as much as possible, whether in a work capacity or if they need any support outside of work. “Almost all are highly educated with a wide variety of qualifications. Their spirit, determination combined with an ability to turn their hands to anything makes them an asset to our team or indeed any business. “There are skills shortages in many sectors in the UK at the moment and businesses should not be discouraged from employing refugees to fill those roles, as well as training and developing home-grown staff. There is support out there from the Chamber of Commerce and other organisations that can help companies looking to employ refugees.”

Nottingham’s £4bn development programme highlights Core City’s ongoing regeneration

Tess Egginton
-
0
Nottingham’s £4bn development programme highlights Core City’s ongoing regeneration
Nottingham currently has a massive £4 billion worth of recently completed developments and opportunity sites across half a square mile of the city centre, highlighting the Core City’s importance as a major driver of the regional and national economy. A newly created development map of the city highlights a total of 14 major schemes sites including two of the largest and most significant city centre projects anywhere in the UK – Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter. Together the new developments would provide over 7,000 new homes, 15,000 new jobs and create 2 million square feet of new office and commercial floor space. Nottingham’s £4bn development programme was presented this week at UKREiiF, the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum in Leeds. City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, spoke at the event which was also attended by the council’s Chief Executive, Mel Barrett and Corporate Director for Growth and City Development, Sajeeda Rose, as part of the city’s team at the event led by Invest in Nottingham. Cllr Mellen said: “In Nottingham we support development sites with major improvements to the public realm and transport network. So the Broad Marsh has already benefitted from public investment in a brand-new state-of-the-art car park and bus station, while the surrounding streets have been transformed into a thriving multi-activity area featuring a popular new skateable space and major new street art. “We remain ambitious for our city – in spite of the current cost-of-living crisis – and we pride ourselves on the way we work with partners to ensure this important development can continue. “Right now we are re-imagining our city centre – reinventing ways for people to live, work and enjoy the city – through better connectivity, better sustainability and perhaps most importantly the creativity to be able to see how people want their city centres to evolve – so that we can offer them a greener, brighter future.” In addition to Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter, key sites include the Nottingham Waterside development; the University of Nottingham’s new Castle Meadow campus and Unity Square phase two alongside phase one, the new HMRC office. Broad Marsh Broad Marsh is a “a once in many generations opportunity” for Nottingham to lead the way in city centre regeneration following the impacts of Covid-19 and online retailing. Heatherwick Studios, led by the world renowned and highly acclaimed British designer Thomas Heatherwick, was commissioned by the City Council and the Greater Broad Marsh Advisory Group to create a new vision for the 20-acre site. The vision offers social and economic opportunity to Nottingham on an unprecedented and historic scale, generating over 6,000 jobs, creating up to 1,000 new homes and over 500,000 square feet of commercial and office space. The council has been working to procure a master planner and supporting team to turn the vision into a more detailed master plan over the next few months and is now nearing completion of this process. A more detailed business case and delivery strategy will be developed to help procure the very best private sector partner to work closely with the council to deliver an exemplar sustainable development with social value, viability and deliverability at its core.
  Significant development has already taken place around Broad Marsh over the last three years including the new Nottingham College City Hub and a state-of-the-art car park and bus station. Major improvements to the public realm have been completed on Sussex Street next to the new Nottingham College, creating a thriving multi activity area featuring a popular new skateable space and major new street art. A new ‘Green Heart’ public space the size of a football pitch, designed by Townshend Landscape Architects, is being created at the centre of the Broad Marsh site following the partial demolition of the old shopping centre with work starting later this year. Work is also due to start soon to create a new playable public space on the now pedestrianised Collin Street alongside the new Nottingham Central Library. The Library is nearing the end of its fit out and the books and other equipment will soon be delivered and installed ahead of a planned opening later this year. The Island Quarter The 36-acre Island Quarter site, 500m from Nottingham Station, had been derelict and blighted for over three decades before work started on a major redevelopment three years ago. The Island Quarter is an exciting mixed-use development and unique, not just for Nottingham but for the Midlands and the UK. The 36-acre site is being totally transformed to bring new homes, grade A office space, creative spaces,  a lifestyle hotel, PRS apartments and co-working space, retail units, a ‘linear’ park and vibrant community and event space as well as student accommodation to the city. 1 The Island Quarter – the site’s first phase – opened in 2022, comprising restaurants Cleaver & Wake and Binks Yard. The venue’s outside space opened earlier in 2023, and will be hosting live events and entertainment throughout the summer.
The purpose-built student accommodation on the east side of the site will top out in summer 2023 and be ready for the September 2024 intake of students, and phase 1B – featuring a dual-branded IHG hotel and private rented apartments – will start on site later this year. Nottingham’s integrated transport system Nottingham has taken a joined up approach to planning and transport over the last two decades. The council has retained public ownership of the bus company Nottingham City Transport and made significant investment in public transport including a tram system and Park & Ride which helped grow usage from 67m in 2004 to 80m in 2019. Nottingham City Transport has the largest fleet of bio-gas double decker buses in the world with remaining diesel buses using technology which reduces their emissions by 90%. A Workplace Parking Levy was introduced in 2011 which helped fund the tram network extension and improvements to Nottingham’s railway station. Integrated smart ticketing has been introduced across all forms of transport and also e-mobility hubs which support the roll out of electric vehicles including e-bikes, e-scooters, a recent wireless electric taxi charging pilot and fleet vehicles which actually put electricity back into the grid. Nottingham City Council are also investing in its cycle network including a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent. All of these measures support Nottingham’s target to be a carbon neutral city by 2028.

New scheme for healthier workplaces launched for Leicestershire

Tess Egginton
-
0
New scheme for healthier workplaces launched for Leicestershire
A brand new programme to help businesses and organisations in Leicestershire become heathier places to work has been launched. The Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire programme from Leicestershire County Council’s Public Health team has been designed to help places of work and local organisations achieve the ‘Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Accreditation,’ with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service becoming one of the first organisations to benefit from the programme. Businesses and organisations who sign up can benefit from the Workplace Health Needs Assessment, Health MOT’s for staff, training for managers and other support that is available. The programme ensures a fully bespoke and tailored programme for each workforce. Launched during Mental Health Awareness Week, and with mental wellbeing often under discussed in the workplace, the scheme also offers both Mental Health First Aid training and Healthy Conversation Skills training. As one of the first to take advantage of Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Programme, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s 700-strong workforce, including 580 firefighters, have committed to undergoing a Workplace Health Needs Assessment for their staff, and hosted a special launch event at Birstall Fire and Rescue Station. Councillor Louise Richardson, lead member for health and wellbeing at Leicestershire County Council, said: “I am so pleased to see our new Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire programme launch, especially during Mental Health Awareness week. “We spend so much of our adult life at work that it is important that we make steps to ensure both our physical and mental health is looked after in the workplace. Our new initiative will enable local businesses across the county to do just that. I am especially thrilled to see Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service get involved and I wish them all the best in their healthy workplace journey. “We are excited to see this new initiative bring a positive impact to the health and wellbeing of our residents and workforce.” Karl Bowden, Area Manager for People and Organisational Development at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome the support from the Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Programme. “This will further enhance our ongoing commitment to support the health and wellbeing of our employees and ensure our wellbeing strategy remains focussed where there is identified need.”

Grants of up to £10,000 to help Bolsover businesses

Tess Egginton
-
0
Grants of up to £10,000 to help Bolsover businesses
Bolsover District Council has launched two grant schemes aimed at supporting existing businesses whilst also giving new businesses that all-important helping hand as they start. The Business Growth Grant Scheme provides funds from £1,000 to £10,000 and is aimed at existing businesses (trading for more than 18-months) to help them grow, create jobs, become more carbon efficient or diversify into new markets. The funding could be used for new equipment and machinery, computer hardware/software or specialist consultancy/training. Up to 80% of the total project cost can be applied for (up to a maximum of £10,000) and businesses must be located in Bolsover District and have up to 249 employees. Businesses will also need to be paying business rates to Bolsover District Council or be receiving small business rates relief. Once an application has been approved the business will be required to purchase eligible items and then submit a claim to receive their grant. The Business Start-Up Grant Scheme offers grants up to £500 and is available to pre-start and new businesses located in Bolsover District who have been trading for less than 18-months. Up to 100% of the project cost can be applied for which could include equipment, tools and machinery, fixtures and fittings and marketing materials. Items purchased before an application is approved will not be eligible for grant payment. Councillor Steve Fritchley said: “This is the second business grant scheme we have launched in a matter of weeks and re-iterates our pledge to help our local businesses and boost the economy as much as we can. “This is a great opportunity for our growing local businesses to get a cash-injection and help them diversify into new products, expand their customer base and grow their workforce. “Our team of economic development experts are on hand and ready to help throughout the grant process and I would urge businesses to contact us so we can provide you with as much help and assistance as possible.” This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

ActionCOACH Loughborough confirms famous guest speaker for GrowthCLUB event

Tess Egginton
-
0
ActionCOACH Loughborough confirms famous guest speaker for GrowthCLUB event

Business coaching franchise ActionCOACH Loughborough has announced actor and executive coach Paul Ryan as guest speaker for its quarterly GrowthCLUB event on Friday 30 June.

Having previously appeared in Channel 4’s BAFTA nominated Brexit: The Uncivil War, BBC One’s The Trial of Christine Keeler and Ghosts, Paul is also an author, executive coach and presentation skills trainer. After a three-year stint in the West End production of Mamma Mia, he took the plunge and set up presentation training company Improve on You in 2012.

Designed to transform the future of businesses and business owners’ lives, GrowthCLUB trains individuals on strategies to help them master their time, be clear on their priorities, equip them with the mindset and tools they need to achieve personal and business goals over the next 90 days.

The fully immersive, one-day event will be held between 8.30am – 5pm, at Prestwold Hall in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and hosted by Managing Director and UK Coach of the Year 2021, Matt Bull.

The day will include motivation, education and inspiration from Matt and two ActionCOACH Loughborough coaches – Laurence Duncan and Kerry Malster – as well as Paul. Previous guest speakers have included accomplished English cricketer Tamsin Beaumont and former English badminton player Gail Emms.

Matt Bull said: “We are thrilled to have Paul Ryan join us as guest speaker at our upcoming GrowthCLUB event, his expertise in communication, leadership and team building will guarantee to inspire and motivate our members.

“Attendees can also look forward to receiving valuable insights and practical tips on how to improve their businesses, network with other like-minded entrepreneurs, and learn from experts in the field of business coaching. We look forward to seeing you all there!”

Paul Ryan said: “I’m delighted to be joining Matt and the team at GrowthCLUB, which is the perfect opportunity to share my skills of getting up on stage and presenting – something that is a far greater challenge than it was before.

“Whether you’re an experienced public speaker or a novice, I’ll be reminding individuals of their core skills and teaching them the body language secrets to control your nerves and win the confidence of your audience before you’ve said a word.”

To reserve your spot at the event, click here.

Construction materials group makes Main Market move

Tess Egginton
-
0
Construction materials group makes Main Market move
Breedon Group, the construction materials group, has made the move from AIM to the Premium Listing Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. The business believes the move will support it in the delivery of its long-term strategy and offers “an appropriate listing for a company of [Breedon’s] scale and heritage.” Breedon’s directors previously noted how the move would enhance the firm’s corporate profile and recognition, as well as extending the opportunity to invest in the group to index tracker funds and a broader group of international institutional shareholders. Rob Wood, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Today marks a significant moment in Breedon’s history as we celebrate our move from AIM to the Premium Listing Segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. “Being a member of AIM has served us well. For over a decade, AIM has provided us with access to diverse and engaged investors within a supportive community that understands the needs of entrepreneurial businesses such as Breedon. We thank them wholeheartedly for their support. “As an established business with a track record for growth and value creation, we believe the move to the Main Market will support Breedon in the delivery of our long-term strategy and offers an appropriate listing for a company of our scale and heritage. We look forward to our future as a Main Market company. “This would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of everyone at Breedon, and I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their continued support.”

Property developer continues spree of acquisitions on Nottingham street

Tess Egginton
-
0
Property developer continues spree of acquisitions on Nottingham street
Property developer ALB Group has acquired 25 Bridlesmith Gate in Nottingham, currently home to fashion brand Joules. 25 Bridlesmith Gate provides a ground floor sales shop of circa 2,500ft² with the ability to create a rear courtyard garden. The upper floors are already vacant but will be redeveloped to provide office or residential accommodation. Ben Tebbutt, director at BOX Property, says: “This latest acquisition demonstrates ALB’s continued commitment to Bridlesmith Gate. “Working closely with our clients we have already let the units to the southern end of the street to the likes of Sneakrverse, Stick & Ribbon, Barista Lab coffee shop and the vintage clothing retailer Garms. “By owning larger parts of the street, we are able to take a very holistic approach to the lettings, in order to create the right mix of retail and leisure uses.” Chris Ward of Robinson Webster acted on behalf of the vendor.

Another record year for revenue and profitability at Watches of Switzerland

Tess Egginton
-
0
Another record year for revenue and profitability at Watches of Switzerland
Leicester-based Watches of Switzerland has hailed another record year of revenue and profitability. In a new trading update, for the 52 weeks to 30 April 2023, the company highlighted group revenue of £1.54bn, up 25% on the prior year. Meanwhile adjusted EBIT is expected to be between £163 million and £167 million, up from £130 million last year. The business noted “excellent progress” in the first two years of its Long Range Plan, with Watches of Switzerland entering its new financial year “significantly ahead of schedule.” Brian Duffy, Chief Executive Officer, said: “FY23 was another record year of revenue and profitability, with revenue growth of 25% at reported rates (+19% at constant currency) and continued EBIT margin expansion. “Although, as expected, the second half of FY23 saw a more challenging trading environment, demand remains strong and continues to exceed supply, with client registration lists continuing to grow. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication. “We have an exciting pipeline of showroom projects, and I am delighted to announce the Group has signed a letter of intent with Audemars Piguet (AP) confirming its intention to open an AP House in the UK in the region of St Anne’s, Manchester, via a Joint Venture partnership in Spring 2024. “This is an important expansion in our partnership with Audemars Piguet which has spanned more than 50 years and we look forward to what will be a great showroom for the city of Manchester. We also announce today our plan to open a flagship TUDOR mono-brand boutique at Old Bond Street, one of the most prestigious addresses in London, in Q4 FY24. “We enter FY24 significantly ahead of where we expected to be in our Long Range Plan following two years of exceptional performance and notwithstanding the macroeconomic backdrop. Our FY24 guidance assumes revenue growth of 8 to 11% at constant currency with EBIT margin in line with prior year. “We remain confident in our goals to maintain our leadership position in the UK, become the clear leader in the US, and capitalise on our growth potential in Europe.”

Turley expands into the East Midlands

Tess Egginton
-
0
Turley expands into the East Midlands
Full-service planning and development consultancy Turley has expanded into the East Midlands with the opening of a new office in Nottingham. The employee-owned company, which operates across 14 other major cities throughout the UK and Ireland, sees this expansion as a critical step in the long-term growth of its Midlands business unit. Turley’s presence off Wollaton Street, Nottingham will be a central base from which to support its existing clients, grow a regional network and develop new business connections. The consultancy has been delivering major projects across the East Midlands for several years, including strategic residential developments and land promotions, industrial and logistics schemes, purpose-built student accommodation and other higher education schemes.  The business most recently worked on IM Properties Hinckley Park scheme in the Hinckley & Bosworth borough which is now two-thirds complete with the final phase under construction. In total, it will deliver approximately 140,000m² of industrial and logistics floorspace and create c. 2,000 direct jobs. The team will include Angela Reeve, head of Planning, Midlands; Jessica Herritty, associate director and current chair of the RTPI East Midlands Young Planners Committee and Women in Planning East Midlands Committee; Tom Armfield, director; and Sam Lake, associate director at Turley. Speaking on the office launch, Angela Reeve said: “The East Midlands region represents a significant geography for Turley. We have been increasingly active in the region over recent years, working on a diverse range of projects on behalf of clients including housebuilders, industrial and logistics developers, higher education providers and PBSA providers. “We consider there to be an incredible amount of opportunity for employment and economic development in the region, driven forward by the East Midlands Freeport initiative, the Midlands Engine initiative and the arrival of HS2. “Additionally, with at least one university in every city and key road, rail and air freight routes throughout the region, it is a geography teeming with potential. This expansion of our Midlands business unit with the new office space in Nottingham means we are perfectly positioned to seize on the fantastic opportunities the region has to offer.”

Loughborough vehicle hire company secures £18m funding package for acquisition

Tess Egginton
-
0
Loughborough vehicle hire company secures £18m funding package for acquisition
A Loughborough-based vehicle hire company has expanded its operations across the UK with a HSBC UK supported acquisition. Reflex Vehicle Hire has utilised a £18m funding package from HSBC UK to acquire Hireway Vehicle Rental in Wishaw. The acquisition will see all Hireway Vehicle Rental staff maintained, increasing the Reflex Vehicle Hire team by 11 people, taking them to 115 employees, and adding 900 vehicles to its fleet. The expansion will increase Reflex Van Hire’s fleet to around 6,000 commercial vehicles. As a result of expansion, Reflex Vehicle Hire is anticipating a 19 per cent increase in turnover over the next 12 months. Oliver Waring, founder and chairman of Reflex Vehicle Hire, said: “This acquisition has progressed our growth strategy ahead of schedule and unlocks some fantastic new opportunities for the business. We’re excited to work with Hireway Vehicle Rental staff over the coming months to cement our reputation as the first-choice provider for business customers.” Ben Foster, relationship director at HSBC UK, said: “Reflex Vehicle Hire is a market leader in customer service and pushing sustainability in vehicle rental. HSBC UK are proud to support the business expand across the UK as they cross the border into Scotland.”

Flint Bishop drives revenue to record high

Tess Egginton
-
0
Flint Bishop drives revenue to record high
Flint Bishop, a prominent law firm with offices in Derby and Birmingham, is celebrating yet another exceptional year as it unveils its strongest financial performance to date. The firm’s unwavering commitment to excellence and strategic growth initiatives have propelled its revenue to a record high. For the 12 months to 30 April 2023, turnover rose to £19.4m, an increase of 11% on the previous year. With 71 new starters onboarded during the financial year, the current growth rate has seen the firm boost its headcount by nearly 10%, with the total number of employees now standing at well over 200, the highest in the firm’s history. The relentless dedication and expertise exhibited by all teams at Flint Bishop have resulted in numerous accolades and recognitions within the legal community. With the firm boasting several practice areas ranked in the prestigious ‘Top Tier’, and a record number of its lawyers listed as recommended individuals in esteemed publications such as The Legal 500 and Chambers UK, Flint Bishop continues to grow in recognition as the home of outstanding legal talent. To cap off another highly successful year, Flint Bishop opened its new state-of-the-art Derby headquarters, the Pinnacle Building, earlier last month. This significant acquisition and investment in Grade A modern high-tech offices not only offers many additional facilities for clients and staff, but also symbolises the firm’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and reaching new heights, and reflects Flint Bishop’s reputation and position within the legal industry. Commenting on the firm’s achievements, Chief Executive Qamer Ghafoor stated: “Flint Bishop’s exceptional financial results, coupled with its continued commitment to excellence and strategic expansion, set the stage for an even more promising future. With a solid foundation and a focus on growth, the firm is well-equipped to elevate its position in the legal industry and deliver unparalleled legal services to its clients.” Ghafoor added: “As we embark on the new financial year, we have already observed significant growth across several of our teams, and our focus on recruiting experienced professionals will continue at pace. “With the investment in our modern, high tech, creative, open and collaborative office environments, I strongly believe we are now in position to leverage the great ways in which operate and further strengthen the way we work and support each other to elevate our combined service offerings and help to advance our position within the legal sector.”

RammSanderson “thrilled” to be sponsoring the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023

Tess Egginton
-
0
RammSanderson “thrilled” to be sponsoring the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
RammSanderson has joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, supporting the Contractor of the Year category. Speaking with Business Link, a spokesperson for RammSanderson said: “RammSanderson are thrilled to be sponsoring the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, backing Contractor of the Year, for the second year in a row. “RammSanderson are a specialist, leading environmental consultant providing services to the planning and construction sector for ecology, arboriculture, and flood risk on a full range of projects. We pride ourselves in working closely with our clients and their team of consultants and contractors to deliver projects that run smoothly and achieve valuable environmental and ecological gains. “By sponsoring this award we want to celebrate the contractors who go above and beyond the word of the contract to deliver a truly exceptional service. “We are excited to see what the nominees have accomplished, to celebrate their achievements and get the chance to network with property and construction professionals from across the region at the Bricks 2023.” The awards, which will take place on Thursday 28 September at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrate the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. Nominations are now OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards. To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Award categories include: Nominations end Thursday 31 August. Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:

John Pye capitalises on business growth with new appointment

Tess Egginton
-
0
John Pye capitalises on business growth with new appointment
Nottingham-headquartered national auctioneers John Pye & Sons Ltd has appointed Patrick Molyneux as its new B2B marketing strategist as it looks to meet the demands of its expanding online customer network. Over the past few years, the firm’s marketing strategy has focussed on growing its retail sales. The online auction site now sees 2.5 million monthly visitors and is among the top 500 in the UK. The first quarter of 2023 has seen record numbers of new customer online registrations. To continue this success and meet the growing demand for stock, the company is now focusing on further expanding its business to business (B2B) customer base. Working within the marketing team at John Pye’s head office in Basford, Patrick will be responsible for driving B2B business from new and existing contacts and identifying new revenue streams from retailers, distributors and manufacturers. He will also be responsible for helping John Pye to realise its ambitious growth targets and will support the auctioneer’s communications strategy by helping promote news and wider developments within the business. Patrick brings over 16 years’ marketing experience to the firm, specialising in online and print creative, email campaigns, direct mail and print production within the financial services and retail sectors. His first major project will be overhauling the corporate website and supporting the business development team with helping potential customers understand the John Pye’s full offer. Speaking of his appointment, Patrick says: “I’m passionate about building relationships, finding opportunities for business development and was keen to work in a new sector. “There are such a range of products and sources to work with from untested returns and brand new stock from major High Street retailers, seasonal items where clients have no space to store them to undelivered parcels from major distributors. I’m really enjoying the challenge – there has been more variation in the last month than in the past five years of my previous roles! “I appreciate the benefits of working for a friendly, family-run business and have already developed strong relationships both within the firm and across our wider professional network. I am looking forward to further expanding that network and supporting the business in realising its ambitions for growth.” Trevor Palethorpe, associate director at John Pye, says: “It’s great to have Patrick on board, especially with the level of skills and experience he brings from high-calibre businesses including Boots and Capital One. “John Pye has enjoyed a sustained period of growth and this appointment is directly in line with our expansion plans as we look to build the B2B side of the business. We’re looking forward to what we can achieve together in the coming months.”

MTMS pledges to help staff share the load as it appoints its first mental health first-aider

Tess Egginton
-
0
MTMS pledges to help staff share the load as it appoints its first mental health first-aider
Rail depot maintenance firm MTMS has underlined its commitment to promoting wellbeing in the industry by appointing its first mental health first-aider. The company, based in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, has appointed Nicky Johnson to the role, the first of three mental health first-aider posts it intends to create this year. Nicky underwent her training for the role to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, while the company has also signed up the Railway Mental Health Charter, which was set up to promote, manage and support workforce mental wellbeing. The issue has special relevance in the rail industry where, according to figures released two years ago, employees experience one-and-a-half times higher rates of anxiety than the general population. The COVID pandemic was at its full height at the time the survey was conducted, but other research has found the rate of suicide in the workforce is 1.6 times the UK average, and 60% of workers have experienced mental health issues. And, as an industry which employs a high proportion of men – women make up around just 16 per cent of the workforce – its workforce will be disproportionately affected by the issues which ensure that three out of every suicide victims in the UK is male. Back at MTMS, where she works as a cost accountant, Nicky has been trained to act as a listening ear to anyone who wants to take the first step to getting help with mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, which all-too-often remain hidden by people who feel they have no-one to talk to. The company employs 32 people, many of whom work remotely maintaining the depots and rolling stock on behalf of train operators across the UK, and all have been informed about her new role and encouraged to contact her if they feel they have any mental health issues. She said: “I’m usually the kind of person who gets on with things, so the training was a real eye-opener about how things that we might expect people to be able to brush off can have a significant effect on them. “My role isn’t there to offer advice, what I do is listen and show them understanding before signposting them to services which might be able to help them further. “None of us know what other people are going through and so having mental health first-aiders on hand could be a real lifeline to somebody. I’m already a trained medical first aider so this gives my role more scope and I hope that I can be of help in the future.” Matt Forst, Managing Director of MTMS, said: “Mental health is a huge issue for everybody, because none of us are immune from anxiety or depression, and many people we wouldn’t expect may be facing problems we may be unaware of. “As employers, it’s our duty to ensure that our staff are able to seek the help they need. As a male I’m aware that men don’t always reach out for help, not even to their mates, so our pledge to support the Railway Mental Health Charter and Nicky’s appointment will show everyone that help is just a phone call away.”

Nottingham Venues creates mental health first aid team

Tess Egginton
-
0
Nottingham Venues creates mental health first aid team
Nottingham Venues has created a new mental health first aid team within the business. A sign of the company’s commitment to the wellbeing of its employees, the initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health and provide support to colleagues who may be experiencing mental health problems.

A team of 12 people from a range of roles within the organisation have undergone mental health first aid training designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to assist colleagues, and potentially guests.

The training was conducted and accredited by MHFA England and covered a range of topics, including how to identify the signs of someone struggling with their mental health, how to provide initial help and support, and how to guide people towards professional support if needed.

Following on from the MHFA England training, Nottingham Venues has also run a series of workshops for employees including ‘Dealing with Change and Stress Management Techniques’ and ‘Mental Health Awareness for Managers’ training, signalling the importance the company places on good mental health throughout the business.

In addition, Nottingham Venues has also launched a series of employee wellbeing events to promote overall health and wellness within the business. The first event took place in April and featured massages and beauty treatments for all employees, free day passes to the gym at the David Ross Sports Village, and an introduction to the new Employee Assistance Programme, TalkLife.

All 270 Nottingham Venues employees have been provided with access to the TalkLife app, a platform that provides peer support communities that offer safe and engaging places for people to get mental health support. It connects people with professionals, and also connects people dealing with the same issues, providing a support network and reducing loneliness.

Suzie Adams, Nottingham Venues’ HR director, says: “According to research from the University of Cambridge, approximately one in four people working within the hospitality industry have mental health problems.

“It is an issue in our sector and something we are aware of as a business. We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our team and creating a positive working environment where people feel empowered to help one another or seek help if needed.

“By providing our employees with the tools and support they need to manage their mental and physical health, we hope to create a happier, healthier workplace for everyone.”

Nottingham Venues is a collection of independent venues specialising in meetings and events, set in the grounds of the University of Nottingham campus. All venues, including the East Midlands Conference Centre, the Jubilee Hotel and Conferences venue, Campus Venues and the 4* Orchard Eco Hotel were brought together under one brand in July 2022 with the aim of providing an unrivalled guest experience.

Nottingham Venues provides meeting space from 5 to 1,000 delegates, with over 40 meeting rooms, 2,000 sq ft of exhibition space and 300 bedrooms at the Orchard Hotel and Jubilee Hotel combined.

Region’s unemployment rate rises to highest since October 2021

Tess Egginton
-
0
Region’s unemployment rate rises to highest since October 2021
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate has risen to its highest level in almost 18 months, new figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show. It was 3.7% in the three months to March 2023, up by two-tenths of a percentage point compared to a month earlier, although still below the national average of 3.9%. More significantly, this was the highest level recorded in the ONS’ regional labour market figures since the August to October 2021 period, when it was 4.2%. East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “While the region’s unemployment rate remains at historically low levels and about 2% below its pandemic peak, it has been very slowly rising over the past six months. “This indicates we must not get complacent about the relatively low unemployment rate, which if anything has masked a series of troubling trends facing firms when it comes to recruitment. “Businesses continue to face a myriad of cost pressures and despite displaying incredible resilience over the past few years, this was always going to be unsustainable and we are seeing their ability to grow being stifled.” Meanwhile, the region’s economic inactivity rate – which measures the number of working-age people who have dropped out of the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – decreased for the third month running, this time by half a percentage point to 21.4%. This is the lowest figure over the past 12 months but remains above the UK average at 21%. National figures also show there were more than 400,000 people not working due to long-term sickness, a new record, with the ONS noting a particular rise in mental health conditions among young people. Scott added: “The Government has talked a lot about tackling the deep-rooted problem regarding economic inactivity among working-age people and, to an extent, we are now seeing some of its interventions bearing fruit as this slowly eases. “However, the economic inactivity rate remains almost 3% above pre-Covid levels, which indicates it continues to be a thorn in the side of many employers. “Our Quarterly Economic Survey for Q1 2023 showed that recruitment problems persist. Six in 10 (59%) East Midlands businesses attempting to recruit in the first three months of the year but, of those, 73% faced problems filling roles. “In our Business Manifesto for Growth, we have set out a list of policies we believe will make the required difference, including introducing flexible incentives for businesses that invest in staff training and bringing forward the introduction of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement to support retraining and the retainment of an older workforce. “We must also tailor policies to recognise the diversity of people who are out of work and avoid a one-size-fits-all solution. We would also like to see Government work with businesses to offer support, and share best practice, on what a flexible and inclusive workplace looks like as this is another vital ingredient in enticing people back to work.”
1...262263264...497Page 263 of 497