Spilsby Market will relaunch on Monday, 4 March, following efforts by East Lindsey District Council and Spilsby Town Council to revitalise the weekly event. The market aims to attract more traders and visitors, supporting local businesses and providing residents with fresh, locally sourced products.

As part of the initiative, the council has introduced a 50% reduction in market fees, with pitches now starting at £7.50—among the lowest in the region. The market will operate every Monday throughout the year.

Nottingham-headquartered Phenna Group, which invests in and partners with niche, independent Testing, Inspection, Certification, and Compliance (TICC) companies, has acquired Calibre Environmental. It marks the firm’s fourth acquisition in 2025 and fourth deal in the water sector. Calibre will join Phenna’s Built Environment division alongside Sayvol Environmental & Building Services, Trident Water Solutions, and Evolution. As part of this investment, Sayvol will incorporate Calibre Environmental’s experts into its skilled team. Founded in October 1995 and based in Surrey, Calibre Environmental specialises in delivering reliable, effective, and practical solutions for water hygiene and water treatment. Rob Fletcher and Mike Fletcher, Directors of Calibre Environmental, who will transition out of the business shortly after completion, said: “We are delighted to join Phenna Group and excited to collaborate with the Sayvol team. “Having known Sayvol for many years and sharing the same culture and values, I believe this is a perfect fit for Calibre to flourish on the next chapter of its journey. From our first discussions with Phenna Group and Sayvol management, we felt confident that we had found the right partner.” Les White, Managing Director at Sayvol, added: “I’m thrilled to welcome Calibre Environmental to the Phenna Group and Sayvol family. Working with Mike and Rob throughout this process has been a pleasure, and I look forward to collaborating with Jamie Birdsall, who will continue with his role in the business. “This acquisition strengthens our regional presence in the South East with a Surrey-based location and aligns with our commitment to delivering outstanding customer service across the UK. The combined expertise of our teams will significantly benefit our customers, and I look forward to driving continued growth and excellence together.” Brian Shannon, Built Environment Divisional MD at Phenna Group, said: “This acquisition is a fantastic addition to our Built Environment division. Calibre Environmental’s reputation for excellence in water hygiene and treatment complements our capabilities. “Combined with Sayvol’s. Their expertise will further enhance our service offering across the Built Environment, allowing us to deliver even greater value to our customers.” Phil Marshall, CEO of Phenna Group, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the Calibre Environmental team to Phenna Group. Their dedication to quality and customer service aligns perfectly with our values. “We look forward to supporting their continued success and growth as part of Sayvol and our expanding Built Environment division. Together, we are building a stronger, more comprehensive offering for our clients, and I’m excited for what the future holds.” Phenna Group were advised by Johnston Carmichael and Browne Jacobson. Calibre Environmental were advised by Brebners Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers and Wellers Law Group.

East Midlands Chamber has joined political leaders across the Midlands in backing calls to reinstate direct trains between Nottingham, Leicester and Coventry, that campaigners say could be worth millions to the region and create thousands of jobs. Bringing back the service, stopped in the early 2000’s to allow work on the West Coast Line, would be worth £400m to the region and generate 3,000 jobs, say Midlands Connect who hosted a conference to present their proposal at Coventry Transport Museum on 28^th February. Political representatives from the Midlands were joined by East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore, as the business case to reintroduce the service was made, followed by discussions examining how the project can best support businesses in the region. Midlands Connect first submitted a Strategic Outline Business Case to the Department for Transport in 2021. East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “Reinstatement of this critical service is a key ask of the Chamber’s Manifesto for Growth and would be of huge benefit to the East Midlands economy. Three important cities sit right next to each other – but not just geographically – they’re already connected by tracks, stations and most importantly a business need. “It’s hard to believe you can no longer jump on a train in Nottingham or Leicester and get to Coventry on one train, when it was once possible, and Coventry and Birmingham have direct trains. 30% of people choose the train for that route, but only 3% bother from Nottingham or Leicester. “Removing that service was a backward move and it’s time that was righted. Connectivity is a key lever in the decision making of businesses to invest in a region as this facilitates the ability to attract talent, connect supply chains and drive economic growth.” Midlands Connect CEO Maria Machancoses said: “It was so great to hear support for our project from leaders across the Midlands. This scheme is so important, as we move to decarbonise transport, we must make rail the most attractive option possible. Creating direct routes between major centres is the best way to do this.” Also in attendance at the conference were Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby, Coventry East MP Mary Creagh, North Warwickshire and Bedford MP Rachel Taylor, Nuneaton MP Jodie Gosling MP and Corin Crane of Coventry and Warwickshire Chambers. Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Coventry and Leicester are the two biggest cities without a direct rail link. This crucial scheme will reconnect them, directly helping travellers and supporting the local economies of Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham. “With rail lines through Leicester at capacity, hindering the development of both passenger and freight trains, this scheme is urgently needed. By increasing rail freight capacity, the scheme will remove HGVs from the highway network, reducing carbon and improving air quality – which is great news for Leicester.”

Metro Bank has returned to profitability after aggressive cost-cutting measures, including a 30% workforce reduction and the sale of mortgage assets.

The UK lender, which secured a £925 million bailout in 2023, reported an underlying pre-tax profit of £12.8 million for the second half of the year, recovering from a £26.8 million loss in the same period the year before. However, its statutory pre-tax loss for 2024 stood at £212 million.

The bank exceeded its initial cost-cutting target, eliminating over 1,400 jobs and achieving £80 million in annualised savings. It also offloaded £2.5 billion in residential mortgages to NatWest and recently agreed to sell £584 million in personal loans to an undisclosed buyer.

Despite restructuring gains, Metro Bank faces ongoing challenges. Loan arrears rose to 5.6%, up from 2.8% the previous year, due to economic pressures such as declining property values and higher borrowing costs. The bank is now focusing on higher-margin lending in corporate, commercial, and SME sectors and specialist mortgages.

Grosvenor Leasing has rebranded and adjusted its strategy to address evolving business fleet needs, focusing on sustainability, flexibility, and technology-driven solutions. The company’s research highlights a growing demand for digital fleet management tools and a preference for maintaining personal customer service alongside automation.

Key industry trends include increased fleet management outsourcing as dedicated fleet roles decline, rising complexity due to ESG and compliance requirements, and changing work patterns influencing travel habits. Younger, tech-savvy drivers prioritise zero-emission transport and expect app-based mobility solutions.

Grosvenor is expanding its services beyond traditional vehicle leasing to include mobility solutions such as car sharing, e-bikes, scooters, and last-mile delivery options. The company also enhances its digital systems to improve automation and service integration while maintaining direct customer engagement.

Shirebrook-based Frasers Group has formed a strategic retail partnership with GMG, a global retailer, distributor and manufacturer of international and home-grown brands across sport, lifestyle, health and beauty and more, as it continues its international growth plans.

GMG has a strong presence in the Gulf, North Africa and Southeast Asia, where it’s a key distributor and operator of Nike stores as well as its home-grown multi-brand sports retailer, Sun & Sand Sports, among others.

The new partnership will facilitate Frasers Group’s expansion in the Gulf and Egypt, with its retail expansion plan, targeting 50 new Sports Direct store openings across the Gulf and Egypt over the next five years. The first year of the partnership will see the introduction of five new stores in the region.

Michael Murray, CEO of Frasers Group, said: “GMG is an unrivalled retailer in the region, operating and distributing an incredible portfolio of global brands in markets where we see real growth potential, particularly in sports and lifestyle.

“By leveraging GMG’s scale, deep retail expertise and market knowledge, our partnership will support the growth of our Sports Direct brand in the Gulf and in Egypt.”

Mohammad A. Baker, Deputy Chairman and CEO of GMG, said: “Our collaboration with Frasers Group represents not just a key milestone but a strategic expansion that underscores our commitment to redefine the sports arena across all markets in which we operate in.

“By introducing Sports Direct, a flagship brand in the industry, we are further positioning ourselves as a dominant force within the retail sports industry. At GMG, with over four decades of experience, we are committed to use our expertise in providing the best choices for quality products.

“We are uniquely positioned to integrate and scale Sports Direct’s presence successfully, bringing it closer to our consumers and crafting unparalleled sports retail experiences”