Scope Construction starts work on sustainable bungalow development in Chellaston

Work has begun on eight new, sustainable bungalows in Chellaston. The scheme, which is being designed and built by Loughborough-based Scope Construction Ltd in partnership with Pelham Architects and KSA Engineers for Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA), will offer affordable housing for local people. The development will include eight EPC A rated bungalows built to M4 (2) Building Regulations for accessibility. Four homes will be available for shared ownership and the remaining four will be let at a social rent by South Derbyshire District Council. The homes are expected to be complete early 2026. The focus of the design is to make these new homes energy efficient. The homes will be super insulated, gas-free, and fitted with air-source heat pumps, PV solar panels and EV charging points, as well as sustainable drainage systems. It will bring an area of brownfield land into positive use for affordable housing and has been designed to blend sensitively with the local community. Works are already progressing at pace and Scope and NCHA recently met with South Derbyshire District Council for a tour of the site. Cllr Gordon Rhind, chair of the housing and community services committee at South Derbyshire District Council, said: “These new bungalows will be a huge benefit to our local community, providing affordable living, as well high quality, sustainable properties, that by their building standards alone, ensure residents can live in a warm, secure home.” Claudine Edwards, new business and development manager at NCHA, said: “This development reflects our commitment to building homes that are both affordable and environmentally friendly, in line with our sustainability targets. We’re proud to bring this new housing scheme to Chellaston, addressing local housing needs while paving the way for a sustainable future.” Maz Patel, managing director, Scope Construction, said: “It is great to be on site today to officially break ground on our first project for NCHA and fantastic to see the rapid progress we have already made in the ground. “Scope is committed to helping housing associations and local authorities to deliver affordable and sustainable housing across the East Midlands. We look forward to working with NCHA and Pelham to deliver these bungalows, which will be highly energy efficient and accessible homes. We hope it will be the first of many projects we deliver together.”

Road opening marks key milestone at Fairham

A major milestone has been marked for Fairham, Nottingham, as key stakeholders gathered to celebrate the official opening of Fairham Way – the primary road running through Rushcliffe’s 606-acre mixed-use neighbourhood. Councillors and delivery partners came together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Redrow’s Dovecote Grange show home and sales office on Fairham Way. Attendees included representatives from Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottingham City Council, Homes England, and Clowes Developments, as well as infrastructure contractors O’Brien Contractors Ltd and project managers Bentley Project Management. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s deputy leader cllr Abby Brennan said: “We’re delighted to mark the opening of Fairham Way, a major milestone in the exciting development of Fairham. “This new primary road is vital for connecting residents and businesses across the 606-acre site. “With strong progress already underway, we’re looking forward to welcoming a thriving new neighbourhood that brings new homes, jobs, green spaces and a real sense of community here in the Borough. “The development forms a key part of our Local Plan and will help meet the Borough’s housing needs and central government’s aim for 13,500 new homes by 2030.” Although Fairham Way has been open to traffic for several weeks, the event marked the formal handover of this major infrastructure element. The 2km route now provides direct access through the centre of Fairham, improving traffic flow and connectivity for residents and businesses alike, signalling a significant leap forward in the area’s transformation. Tom O’Brien, director at O’Brien Contractors Ltd, said: “As a key part of our infrastructure works package at Fairham, O’Brien is proud to mark the much-anticipated opening of Fairham Way. It’s a vital piece of infrastructure and a major milestone in the development of Nottingham’s newest neighbourhood. “This newly opened route spans 2km through the Fairham community, improving connectivity and supporting long-term growth. We are delighted to play our part in the construction of Fairham and look forward to further opportunities to contribute to this exciting project.” With over £58 million invested in infrastructure to date, the opening of Fairham Way plays a pivotal role in unlocking the full potential of the development—accelerating the delivery of homes, jobs, and local amenities. The road creates a continuous connection from the Northern Gateway at Mill Hill Island (off the A453), through the residential area of the development, and onward to the Southern Gateway at Nottingham Road. Fairham is being delivered through a long-term public-private partnership between Homes England and Clowes Developments. Once complete, the development will bring thousands of new homes, jobs, and investment to Nottingham, positioning Fairham as one of the East Midlands’ most significant mixed-use developments. Rob Hopkinson, technical associate director at Clowes Developments, added: “The opening of Fairham Way marks a significant milestone in the delivery of our flagship development. “We are proud to have delivered this key piece of infrastructure, which not only unlocks residential land for much-needed new homes, but also enhances connectivity between the site and the wider Nottinghamshire area. “This is an important step toward realising our vision for a well-integrated, sustainable community. We look forward to seeing continued progress across the development, supported by the delivery of this vital new route.”

Popular Nottingham bar to be sold

Copper City, an established all-day bar in Nottingham city centre, is to be sold. Christie & Co has been instructed to market the property on behalf of RedCat Pub Company.
Situated in a prominent corner position, opposite Nottingham’s Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall, Copper City is well-known for serving brunch, lunch and dinner alongside a wide range of drinks, from coffees to cocktails. Founded in 2015 and housed within a former bank building, Copper City is a multi-level bar which seats around 150 patrons. The “Copper” name is widely known in the local community, attracting a variety of clientele and benefitting from the area’s high footfall. Jonty Green, business agent at Christie & Co who is managing the sale, said: “Copper City has just launched to the open market and represents a rare opportunity to secure a fantastic freehold site in a prime trading location. “The venue is one of the most high-profile hospitality sites in the city, with a strong history and significant potential for a new operator.” Copper City is on the market with a freehold asking price of £900,000.

Derby County Football Club and Pride Park Stadium unified

Derby County Football Club and Pride Park Stadium will be unified once again within a new holding company. The club and stadium have both been owned by Clowes Developments since the summer of 2022, held in separate legal entities – the club in Derby County (The Rams) Limited and Pride Park in Gellaw Newco 202 Limited. The stadium company Gellaw Newco 202 Limited has been re-named Derby County (The Rams) Stadium Limited and will sit alongside the club company Derby County (The Rams) Limited, in a new holding company, Derby County (The Rams) Holdings Limited. Derby County (The Rams) Holdings Limited is to be 100% owned by Clowes Developments (UK) Limited. Although there is no change of ownership, the move reflects a desire to address concerns from fans regarding the separation of club and stadium. David Clowes said: “Having secured our goal of maintaining our Championship status after promotion from League One, we felt it was the right time to make this change.”

“Winning a Bricks award was a real highlight for our team” – past winner encourages firms to enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

With nominations now being welcomed for Business Link Magazine’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, taking place on Thursday 2nd October, last year’s winner of ‘Architects of the Year’ is reflecting on the prestigious event and encouraging other firms to enter. Matthew Montague Architects said: “Winning a Bricks Award was a real highlight for our team. It’s a great feeling to have your work recognised by others in the industry — and the event itself is such a positive celebration of what’s being achieved across the region. We’d absolutely encourage others to put themselves forward.” Marking 10 years of the event, this year’s eagerly anticipated awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 2nd October at Nottingham’s famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrates the successes of property and construction companies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Recognising those behind the changing landscape of the East Midlands, the occasion highlights development projects, businesses, and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. It also toasts the work of architects, agencies, and those behind large schemes. Welcoming almost 150 professionals, nominating a company or project for the awards is a great way to showcase your successes, recognise your team’s efforts, and reach our audience of over 60,000 business readers, while also offering a chance to connect with respected professionals. And better yet, it’s completely free to enter! Making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the event, where you’ll be in the running for one of our coveted awards.

To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here.

Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Categories include: All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements. Upon submitting a nomination, we will get in touch for any information, imagery, and video nominees would like to be featured on their showcase page.

The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Tickets: Available here Dress code: Standard business attire Thanks to our sponsors:                                                                

To be held at:

With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.

Construction starts on 50-home scheme in Leicestershire with £600K in local investment

Construction has commenced on a 50-home residential development in Stanton-under-Bardon, Leicestershire. The scheme, called St Mary’s Chase, represents the first project under Allison Homes’ newly launched East Midlands division.

The development will include a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, eight of which are designated as affordable housing. It will feature established house designs and new models added to the developer’s range.

Outline planning permission was granted in June 2024, with full approval in February 2025. A show home is expected by autumn 2025, and full build completion is targeted for December 2026.

As part of the development, the site will include green space, a children’s play area, and new tree planting aligned with the nearby National Forest. Public footpaths running through the land will be preserved.

Through a Section 106 agreement, Allison Homes will contribute £600,000 to local infrastructure and services, including education, healthcare, recreation, and public transport. The investment underscores the development’s aim to integrate with and support the surrounding community while delivering new housing stock to the region.

East Midlands firms still cautious despite stronger UK growth

Despite a stronger-than-expected rise in UK GDP, business sentiment in the East Midlands remains subdued, with firms facing persistent cost pressures.

According to the latest Office for National Statistics data, the UK economy grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of the year. While this uptick signals the end of the technical recession seen in 2023, businesses in the East Midlands continue to report low confidence levels.

The East Midlands Chamber’s recent Quarterly Economic Survey data indicates a decline in local business confidence. Key concerns among B2B operators include increased employer National Insurance contributions, the higher national living wage, and corporate tax pressures.

Inflation remains a significant factor, with nearly half of businesses in the region expecting to raise prices. These margin pressures are contributing to cautious outlooks on investment and hiring.

Business leaders in the region are now looking to upcoming policy decisions, including the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and international trade discussions, for clearer support and incentives to stabilise operating conditions and boost competitiveness.

XR8 Technology expands services to support AI adoption and cyber resilience

IT solutions provider XR8 Technology Services is scaling operations to meet growing business demand for cyber security support, AI integration, and robust IT infrastructure.

Operating nationally from its Northampton base, XR8 has recently joined the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and moved into larger premises to support its expansion. With a team bringing over five decades of combined experience, the firm delivers managed IT services, infrastructure procurement, and cyber strategy guidance for B2B clients across various sectors.

As businesses explore Microsoft Copilot for productivity gains, XR8 has responded by offering tailored advice, often at no cost, to help organisations deploy the AI tool safely while maintaining data control and compliance.

The company has also seen rising demand for support with Cyber Essentials certification. With recent high-profile cyber incidents in the national spotlight, many firms are prioritising the government-backed standard to strengthen their resilience and satisfy procurement requirements.

XR8 partners with major vendors, including Microsoft, Cisco, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Fortinet, and Ninjio, offering clients access to competitive pricing and deep product knowledge. It also provides rugged device solutions, such as Zebra products, for clients operating in warehousing and logistics where durability and reliability are critical.

The company’s recent investment in facilities and staffing reflects a strategic push to grow its capacity and broaden its footprint in the UK’s business IT sector.

£10m mixed-use farming estate with commercial income potential up for sale

A 878-acre mixed-use agricultural estate straddling Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire has been listed for sale at nearly £10 million, presenting an investment opportunity for commercial and agricultural buyers.

The property includes Cowsland Farm and Lea Marsh Farm and is being marketed by Bidwells. It is available as a whole or split into four lots, offering flexibility for various acquisition strategies.

The estate features a combination of arable land, pasture, a residential farmhouse, and commercial buildings currently generating income. It has been under long-term ownership and professionally managed through local farming agreements.

The land is arranged in two main blocks: one near South Leverton in Nottinghamshire, and the other south of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, alongside the River Trent.

Lot 1 spans 12.5 acres and includes a large farmhouse now tenanted, along with commercial buildings currently leased to Cranswick Pet Products, providing ongoing rental income.

Lot 2 consists of nearly 290 acres of arable land used for typical crop rotations such as wheat, barley, maize, peas, and oilseed rape. Fields are configured to suit modern machinery.

Lot 3, Forwood Farmland, is a standalone 92.5-acre arable block located near Treswell Wood. It offers scope for further agricultural or environmental use.

Lot 4, Lea Marsh Farm, is the largest portion with 484 acres primarily of pastureland and one arable field. Its riverside location and environmental characteristics may appeal to buyers pursuing biodiversity or natural capital projects.

The estate combines commercial, residential, and environmental value streams, making it suitable for diversified rural investment portfolios or strategic land acquisition.

Derelict Long Eaton cinema to be demolished

A derelict cinema in Long Eaton will soon be gone, as demolition crews move in to clear the way for the site’s new future. The old Galaxy picture house, which closed more than a decade ago, will be replaced by a new development of commercial units, townhouses and flats. Richard Ledger, chairman of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, said: “The former Stage One nightclub next to the cinema is also being levelled – along with a garage at the back of the buildings. “After considerable effort to secure these properties, we’re thrilled to see demolition begin. This is the first step in transforming Galaxy Row into a vibrant hub of homes and businesses, and we’re committed to keeping the community informed every step of the way. “We eagerly anticipate the positive impact this redevelopment will have on Long Eaton.” The cinema originally opened as a theatre in 1907. The demolition work is expected to take four months. Builders will then begin constructing the 16 flats, four town houses and three business units. There will be 28 parking spaces. Erewash Borough Council has partnered with developer MyPad and affordable housing association Tuntum for the construction project, which is expected to be completed in August next year.

Nottingham talent and innovation grants become available for local businesses

A programme of grants and support for local businesses is being rolled out by Nottingham’s two universities that provide access to talent and expertise to help drive innovation, productivity and skills in the city.
The Talent and Innovation Grants project has received £124,441 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The scheme was run for the first time last year and saw 60 businesses receiving financial support through a mixture of Talent Grants and Innovation Vouchers. Under the Universities for Nottingham Civic Agreement, The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are again working with Nottingham City Council to offer Talent Grants of up to £2,000 which can be used to subsidise the recruitment of a university graduate or student for a minimum of eight weeks. In addition, Innovation Vouchers of up to £5,000 will be offered to city businesses through the Universities for Nottingham Innovation Centres of Excellence, enabling them to access a range of technically-focussed support and consultancy leveraging research facilities and expertise from across the two universities. To qualify for either grants, businesses need to demonstrate that the graduate/student project/role would be used to implement or improve technology or processes, enable the business to enter new markets, improve or implement new products or services, improve productivity or increase business sustainability.

Construction starts on 1.46 million sq ft Golden Triangle logistics park

Mountpark has started construction on a 1.46 million sq ft logistics park, Mountpark Hinckley, in the heart of the UK’s Golden Triangle. It follows Mountpark securing approval of a complex hybrid planning application by Rugby Borough Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council. Detailed consent has been granted for the development of a 491,926 sq ft unit, which has been pre-let to a major supermarket retailer. Mountpark has appointed Winvic Construction to deliver the infrastructure and enabling works, as well as the vertical build of Unit 1, which is scheduled for practical completion in spring 2026. Mountpark has also submitted Reserved Matters Applications for the two remaining plots, which will offer 514,100 sq ft and 258,000 sq ft of logistics space. “This marks an exciting step forward with construction now underway on site at Mountpark Hinckley, following over five years of dedicated work by our planning team to bring the development to fruition,” said Tom Kilmister, senior development director at Mountpark. “This project reflects our commitment to unlocking new sites, our continued investment in the East Midlands’ logistics infrastructure and our ability to deliver high-quality space that supports market demand for our customers. “The pre-letting of Unit 1 is a testament to our customer-focused approach, working closely with occupiers to deliver tailored solutions that align with their operational needs and long-term growth ambitions.”

Office block to be converted into shared housing for 23 people in Northampton

West Northamptonshire Council has approved the conversion of a commercial property in Northampton into shared residential accommodation.

Kingswood House, located in Cliftonville, will be transformed from its former use as offices into a house in multiple occupations (HMO) that accommodates up to 23 residents. The building previously housed an insurance firm, a fertility clinic, and a laser eye surgery business.

The development will reconfigure the property into five shared flats. These will include a four-bedroom unit on the lower ground floor, two three-bedroom units on the ground floor, an eight-bedroom unit on the first floor, and a five-bedroom unit on the second floor. All bedrooms will be en suite, and each flat will have shared kitchen and living areas. Two communal laundry rooms will be available to all residents.

The conversion is mainly internal, with only minor alterations planned for the building’s exterior. The property will retain 15 on-site parking spaces. The first floor has already been stripped of its internal services in preparation for redevelopment.

The council considers HMOs a critical part of the local housing strategy, particularly for students, young professionals, and others requiring short- to medium-term accommodation. This project is expected to support demand in the area’s pressured rental market.

Luxury watch group returns to growth with strong US rebound

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Watches of Switzerland Group posted full-year revenues of £1.65bn, up 8% year-on-year, as the business rebounded in the UK and US markets. The company, which is headquartered in the East Midlands, reported 2% revenue growth across the UK and Europe, while sales in the US rose sharply by 16% in the 12 months ending 27 April 2025.

The group attributed the stronger second-half performance to stabilised trading following a period of consumer hesitation linked to the initial announcement of US tariffs. While April trading returned to typical levels, the unresolved US tariff situation continues to add uncertainty to the outlook.

The retailer expanded its showroom portfolio during the year, opening a new flagship Rolex boutique on Old Bond Street in London. Several high-profile Rolex developments were also delivered in the US, including new and upgraded locations in Texas, Florida, and Georgia.

The business remains focused on capitalising on sustained demand for luxury timepieces, despite broader macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical risks affecting future planning, particularly in the US. It maintains a strong pipeline of showroom openings and anticipates continued interest in key high-demand brands.

Global HSE Group “proud to be returning as a sponsor of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025”

Global HSE Group have joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, backing the ‘Commercial Development of the Year’ category. Supporting the event for a second year, Global HSE Group are industry leaders in comprehensive fire safety, specialising in passive fire protection and technical fire consultancy, as well as delivering sustainability and MEP (building services), and their own in-house training academy. Operating nationally across the UK and Ireland, clients include some of the UK’s leading student accommodation providers, hotels, universities, consultants, architects, and developers. They also support several of the UK’s largest housing associations, councils, and public sector organisations. Global HSE Group place people and compliance at the heart of everything they do and pride themselves on their highly knowledgeable and experienced, multi-disciplinary team who work seamlessly to deliver safer buildings right across the UK. Speaking with Business Link, Andrew Cooper, Managing Director at Global HSE Group, said: “We’re really proud to be returning as a sponsor of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, once again sponsoring the ‘Commercial Development of the Year’ category. Last year’s event was a brilliant celebration of the region’s property and construction talent, and it was fantastic to see so many inspiring projects and passionate people under one roof. “Sponsoring this category for the second-year running was an easy decision for us. At Global, we’re committed to supporting excellence in property and construction, and the East Midlands Bricks Awards is a perfect platform to do that. We’re especially excited to see the nominations this year, there’s no doubt the standard will be incredibly high again. “We’d encourage anyone who has delivered an exceptional project to complete a nomination form. It’s a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the teams, collaborations and achievements within the region, and we’re looking forward to another memorable evening of celebrating success and connecting with peers across the industry.”
Chris Sharman of Global HSE Group (right) hands over the Commercial Development of the Year award to Tim Hubner and Nick Pettit of G F Tomlinson at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
The East Midlands Bricks Awards, which will take place on Thursday 2nd October at Nottingham’s famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrates the successes of property and construction companies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Recognising those behind the changing landscape of the East Midlands, the occasion highlights development projects, businesses, and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. It also toasts the work of architects, agencies, and those behind large schemes. Welcoming almost 150 professionals, nominating a company or project for the awards is a great way to showcase your successes, recognise your team’s efforts, bolster morale, and reach our audience of over 60,000 business readers, while also offering a chance to connect with respected professionals. It’s completely free to enter and making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the event.

To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here.

Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Categories include: All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements. Upon submitting a nomination, we will get in touch for any information, imagery, and video nominees would like to be featured on their showcase page.

The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Tickets: Available here Dress code: Standard business attire Thanks to our sponsors:                                                                

To be held at:

With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.

Staffline secures significant strategic partnership with food and drink logistics provider

Staffline, the Nottingham-based recruitment group, has secured a significant strategic partnership with one of the UK’s leading food and drink supply chain management and logistics providers covering the whole of the UK and Ireland. This new partnership comprises an initial two-year agreement with a one-year extension option to outsource to Staffline 100% of the agency labour services that are currently supplied by the wholly owned in-house labour supplier. This partnership will see the Group deliver flexible, temporary employment solutions in addition to managing second tier suppliers across the client’s chilled and ambient business operations. The contract is anticipated to strengthen Staffline’s market position in the logistics sector. The mobilisation of 3,000 temporary workers across driving, warehousing and security activities will begin no sooner than the end of Q2 2025 and is expected to continue during Q3 2025. Albert Ellis, chief executive officer of Staffline, said: “We are delighted to have secured such an important, value enhancing strategic partnership. “This new contract reinforces Staffline’s strong reputation as a trusted partner for supplying volume labour to the food and drinks, logistics and FMCG sectors and materially enhances the Board’s expectations of Group performance over the life of the contract. “Over the coming months the Staffline team will be working with the leadership to manage a smooth transition, creating efficiencies, synergies and opportunities for all parties.”

Strong lending growth marks 2024 performance for Cambridge & Counties Bank

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Cambridge & Counties Bank reported a 15% year-on-year rise in gross new lending for 2024, reaching £376 million. The growth was driven by continued property and asset finance strength, despite a cooling interest rate environment.

The bank’s pre-tax profits stood at £35.8 million for the year. Property finance drawdowns totalled over £285 million, marking a third consecutive year of growth in that core segment. Asset finance lending rose sharply, up 39% to £89 million.

Finance for classic, vintage, and sports cars increased notably, climbing 41% to £72 million. Customer loan balances rose 11% to £1.23 billion, while customer deposits grew 10% to £1.27 billion.

The lender invested heavily in operational infrastructure during the year, including new offices in Manchester and Reading to support asset finance. Headcount increased by 8%, ending the year with 243 employees.

2024 also saw the expansion of its lending portfolio with new offerings such as development finance and more fixed-rate products. The bank continues to focus on SMEs and underserved segments of the UK market, aiming to support business investment and property growth.

Mansfield secures £1.58 million to back business growth and local initiatives

Mansfield District Council has been awarded £1.58 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with funding allocated via the East Midlands Counties Combined Authority. The investment will support business development, workforce upskilling, community grants, and local events.

This round of funding is part of the wider £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to reduce regional disparities and boost economic performance across the country. The financial package was reviewed during a council meeting in early May.

Acquisition sees The Access Group expand ERP software offering

The Access Group, a Loughborough-based provider of business management software, has acquired Fonn, extending its offering in ERP software globally.
Founded in 2016, Fonn is a project management platform that streamlines documentation, task tracking, and communication for teams in the construction, fit-out, and facility management industries. Fonn has grown to a base of 50,000 users from within the construction industry across the UK, USA and Norway. Claire Carter, managing director of Access ERP, said: “Fonn is a great fit for our business. The proven success and innovation from the Fonn team excite us and show huge potential for the future of this world-class product, in conjunction with the other solutions we provide today. We are delighted to welcome Fonn into our Access ERP eco-system.” Jan Tore Grindheim, Fonn CEO, said: “Joining The Access Group marks a significant milestone for Fonn. We have been impressed by the Access Group’s focus on customers and commitment to innovation. We are excited to join the team where we can accelerate our ambitions, further enhance our customer experience, and become part of a bigger mission.”

Greencore’s £1.2bn Bakkavor acquisition takes step forward

Greencore’s £1.2 billion acquisition of Bakkavor has taken a step forward with the boards of both companies agreeing the terms of a recommended acquisition.
The transaction, which Bakkavor is unanimously recommending to shareholders, would create a leading UK convenience food business with a combined revenue of £4 billion and approximately 30,500 employees. The businesses believe that their combination will drive significant benefits for customers and colleagues and will make a significant continuing contribution to the UK economy. Greencore shareholders are expected to own approximately 56 per cent of the combined group, while Bakkavor shareholders will own approximately 44 per cent.
Bakkavor, a major supplier of ready meals and desserts to UK supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, earned £2.29 billion in revenue last year, more than 80% in the UK. Greencore, based in Dublin with significant operations in Worksop, brought in £1.81 billion over the same period through its ready meals and food-to-go products.
Leslie Van de Walle, the chair of Greencore, said: “We have long admired Bakkavor and we are pleased to announce a transaction that will create a true UK leader in convenience food. “We intend to bring together our strong and complementary companies to deliver high-quality, innovative food to UK customers and consumers. We are excited about the potential that a combination presents and the value it will deliver for both Greencore and Bakkavor shareholders.”
Simon Burke, chair of Bakkavor, said: “We are very happy with the progress made by Bakkavor delivering its strategy and significantly improved returns, both in the UK and abroad. We have clear plans for continued growth and are confident in the prospects for Bakkavor over the coming years. “However, there has always been a clear strategic, commercial and financial rationale for a combination with Greencore. Having considered a combination previously, we believe that this Transaction now proposes terms that we consider are very attractive to Bakkavor’s shareholders. “The Transaction offers shareholders a significant premium, with an attractive combination of cash on completion and the ability to participate in the future value creation anticipated from bringing the two businesses together. For this reason our board is unanimously recommending it to shareholders.” Dalton Philips, chief executive officer of Greencore, said: “We are bringing together two experienced teams and our complementary portfolios will drive benefits for customers and consumers across the UK. “The combined group will be able to invest more in innovation and product development ensuring we can provide the consumer with greater food choices at more points in the day, bringing together Greencore’s “food for now” expertise with Bakkavor’s “food for later” portfolio. “We look forward to welcoming Bakkavor’s employees and creating an exciting, combined business for all stakeholders. Bakkavor is the ideal partner for Greencore and we look forward to delivering on the significant growth potential of the enlarged business.”