Two business organisations have reaffirmed an agreement to help companies in the rail sector benefit from more opportunities to grow.
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Midlands and Rail Forum have updated and refreshed their previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) originally established in 2019.
CECA Midlands represents dozens of companies in the civil engineering sector right across the region, offering a voice to the sector as well as a range of events and training opportunities to add value to each business.
Rail Forum is a national body, based in Derby, with over 360 members drawn from every aspect of the rail industry. It provides strong advocacy for the rail supply chain alongside a range of services including events and strategic priorities such as future talent, safety, innovation and exporting.
The two organisations will meet quarterly to identify opportunities for collaboration in areas that help members of both bodies and recognise the value of the rail industry supply chain.
Lorraine Gregory, regional director of CECA Midlands, said: “We are delighted to resign this MoU with the Rail Forum. The more we can work together, collaborate and present opportunities to our members, the greater the benefit.
“Ultimately, we are both here to help our members grow and by working together we want to ensure that this has a positive impact on the businesses we serve.”
Elaine Clark, Chief Executive of the Rail Forum, said: “We are delighted to renew our working relationship with CECA through an updated MoU. Working collaboratively is in our DNA and having a strong relationship with CECA just makes sense for us and our members.
“From wider sharing of knowledge and opportunities for members, to ensuring consistent messages to government; members of both organisations will benefit from our relationship.”
Burleigh Court Conference Centre and Hotel, located on Loughborough University’s campus, has appointed full service 360 brand and design agency, Harrison, as strategic design partners.
The partnership will see Burleigh Court and Harrison work together to create revitalised communal spaces.
Harrison has developed a design which will create five distinct spaces, all showcasing and celebrating a unique part of the hotel and university’s entwined history:
A new F&B space, fit-for-purpose extension, will have capacity to host up to 120 guests as a relaxed eating and drinking space.
A modern and sleek conference suite, with the ability to host up to 220 people or be broken into up to five smaller, more intimate conference spaces.
A new bar and ‘breakout’ area will be able to serve those using the conference suite.
An innovative and stylish reception area.
A link-street which will naturally guide guests from the reception area to the main bar.
Harrison is drawing on inspiration from the surrounding university, incorporating and weaving in design elements inspired by both today’s students alongside notable alumni, and injecting the venue with style directly influenced by the university’s past.
There is a particular focus on the Aeronautical and Automotive facilities, incorporating the university’s rich history of engineering into the design of the venue, alongside the School of Design and Creative Arts. Key design features include:
As the university has a strong partnership with Rolls Royce, Harrison is looking to incorporate a recycled tornado fighter jet engine into the reception area and become a showpiece of the venue, catching the eye of guests and visitors.
The hotel bar is centred around the idea that most aspects of engineering is based around circles (i.e., wheels, cogs, engines, etc.), including XL industrial doors which slide open and shut.
Repurposing 3D print prototypes – such as curved cladding panels and architectural features – from a current project in the School of Civil and Building Engineering into the landscaping of the courtyard.
Using artwork created by art graduate students to adorn the walls.
Incorporating seemingly ‘normal’ pieces of furniture seeped in the university’s history, such as the old dean’s chair and ‘partners’ desk, where the dean and lecturers used to sit, are just some of the items included in the conference spaces.
The university has an abundance of sculptures from notable artists dotted around the campus which serve as a direct source of inspiration for several elements of the refurbishment, including the metal screens for the F&B extension which are inspired by a sculpture sitting just outside the hotel’s boundary.
Dean Concannon, design director at Harrison, says: “Burleigh Court is truly uniquely positioned – no other space will have access to the talent, facilities, students, and alumni at Loughborough University that we can tap into today.
“What’s more, with so many students – both from across the UK and international – there is a real need for exceptional facilities which not only look fantastic but from a practical point of view, they need to be able to cope with incredibly high footfall in order to accommodate parents and guest, visiting faculty, host speakers, and more.
“As designers, we approach new projects with the ambition of being able to find a story, a narrative, a perspective which is unique to that space and potentially previously uncovered. We want there to be synergy across the whole hotel, as well as each space to have its own identity which works for its purpose. It’s no easy feat but one we’re incredibly passionate about.
“What is truly fantastic about working with Burleigh Court is the surrounding pool of young, fresh, exciting talent we can tap into and source pieces from. The students at Loughborough University are incredibly talented, and we’re honoured to be able to draw inspiration from them and showcase their skills, alongside drawing on inspirational alumni.
“Giving the future of art, design, and engineering, the opportunity to get involved and see their work on display and be part of history is exciting and prideful. It’s important to us that we recognise and honour the venue’s history and relationship with the university, and there’s no better way than to utilise the talent and local suppliers within close reach.”
Construction on the newly refurbished Burleigh Court is set to begin January 2024 and to be completed by late-summer 2024.
Plans to build 17 town houses in Ashby de la Zouch to help secure the future of the town’s Royal Hotel have been approved by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC).
The planning application, by hotel owners Oakland Hotels Limited, was agreed by councillors at last week’s (20 July) Planning Committee meeting.
The development of town houses on land surrounding the hotel was approved to enable the repair and refurbishment of the Grade II* listed building, and to bring it back into use.
The Royal Hotel closed in 2018 due to financial pressures and the need for investment to bring the building up to modern standards and has stood empty while its owners worked out a viable plan.
The building on Station Road was included on Historic England’s 2021 Heritage at Risk Register. Officers from NWLDC have worked for several years with Oakland Hotels Limited to ensure the hotel is maintained and looked after while it is empty.
While a development of this type would not normally be approved under current planning policies, the proposals were given the green light under ‘enabling development’ rules to help secure the future of the Royal Hotel.
A Section 106 legal agreement will be included with the planning permission to make sure the repairs to the hotel are completed.
Oakland Hotels Limited is also selling the adjoining Bath Grounds land to Ashby Town Council, to help fund the renovation of the hotel and to ensure the open green space at the grounds is publicly available for future generations.
Councillor Richard Blunt, leader of NWLDC, said: “The Royal Hotel is a prominent heritage building in Ashby that is incredibly important to local people.
“We’ve worked closely with the owners over the years to safeguard the building, and planners have now agreed to a scheme that could ensure the Royal Hotel is soon restored and open to the public.”
Chris Smith, leader of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, said: “The town council welcomes that the decision of the district council’s Planning Committee to approve the latest planning application from Oakland Hotels Ltd. has clarified the future of the Royal Hotel.
“The town council has played its part by ensuring monies received for the purchase of the Bath Grounds are spent on redevelopment of the hotel. It is now time for Oaklands Hotels Ltd. to proceed with the redevelopment as soon as possible to bring the former hotel back to life and re-establish it as a landmark, rather than as an eye-sore, of the town.”
Simon Dawson, director of Oakland Hotels Ltd., said: “The Directors of Oakland Hotels Limited, owners of The Royal Hotel in Ashby de la Zouch, are delighted by the decision of the NWLDC planning committee to grant permission for the development of the Royal Hotel site.
“This has been a complex and time-consuming application process and we would like to express our thanks to the planning officers, who have been extremely professional and diligent throughout.
“This decision allows us to now focus on renovating this important and iconic building and, together with our partners Condor Hotels, start to plan the reopening of the hotel as soon as possible.
“We remain committed to providing not only economic benefits to the local area, but a facility of which the people of Ashby can once again be proud.”
Retail investor Hilco has injected millions of pounds of funding into Wilko to help secure its future.
Hilco has agreed to lend around £5m to the Nottinghamshire retailer, according to reports from Sky News.
The new loan follows the £40m two-year revolving credit facility Wilko secured from Hilco at the beginning of 2023.
The news comes after reports last week that a change in ownership could be on the horizon for Wilko and follows discussions with financial investors regarding raising new equity to finance the firm through a restructuring process.
Wilko had also recently been looking to finalise a company voluntary arrangement to facilitate rent cuts at hundreds of shops.
Wilko is the UK’s 23rd biggest retailer, employing 16,000 team members. It operates 400 stores across the UK.
Flywheel Partners has invested into Freshcut Foods, the Nottingham producer of high-added value plant-based ingredients. This substantial transaction sees Flywheel take a majority stake in Freshcut, partnering with the company’s management team who are significantly increasing their stake in the business.
Freshcut supplies more than 300 bespoke products to over 40 customers that include leading foodservice brands, food manufacturers and online recipe kit providers. Established in 2003, the company employs over 320 staff across three adjacent manufacturing facilities in Nottingham, all of which are BRC AA Grade accredited – the highest food standard awarded.
The business has experienced strong growth in recent years, solidifying its position as a market leader. To help support this growth, there has been significant investment into capacity and efficiency initiatives, which will enable future expansion.
The company has benefitted from the rise in ‘flexitarianism’ where consumers are increasingly incorporating vegetables and other plant-based products into their diets for health, sustainability and financial reasons. Rising health consciousness, greater environmental awareness and climbing meat prices have encouraged many consumers to turn towards more plant-based products and diets.
Avital Lobel, managing partner at Flywheel, said: “Freshcut Foods is a hugely exciting business with great potential for future growth. The Freshcut team are industry leaders with whom we share a common set of values and vision for the business.
“The growth that Freshcut has delivered in recent years is testament to the quality and relevance of its products to today’s foodservice and food manufacturing businesses and consumers.
“We expect the ever-growing awareness of the health, cost and environmental benefits of plant-based foods to continue driving future growth. We really look forward to partnering with Chris and the team at Freshcut.”
Chris Copestake, Chief Executive of Freshcut, said: “We are hugely excited to be partnering with Flywheel in the next stage of our growth journey, as we continue to provide customers with natural plant-based food solutions through industry-leading innovation.
“Flywheel Partners’ experience in the food sector, their entrepreneurial spirit and strong cultural fit makes them the perfect partner to help drive our development over the years ahead.”
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Shining a light on the region’s property and construction industry, nominations are OPEN until Thursday 31 August for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards. With 10 categories available to enter, make sure to take this opportunity to showcase outstanding businesses, teams and projects at the prestigious event.
One such category is Deal of the Year, which can be entered here.
The winner of this category will be the deal that has truly pushed the boundaries over the last 12 months – from jobs created to complexity, size and scale. However, that’s not to say the biggest deal will automatically win; the deal which has had most impact in the East Midlands is what we’re looking for. The winning deal will have displayed courage in a tough market to deliver a great outcome for all concerned. Deals must have been completed over the last 12 months.
Last year the award was won by Wells McFarlane, APB, and Newton LDP, for the sale of 460 acres of land in North Leicestershire, with the deal making way for a new garden village. Other finalists were Morgan Industrial Properties Limited, for the acquisition of the former Ewart Chain site in Shaftesbury Street, Derby, and St James Securities, for Phase Two of the Becketwell regeneration scheme in Derby – the 3,500 capacity Becketwell performance venue with ASM Global.
On winning, Trevor Wells, director at Wells McFarlane, said: “For Wells McFarlane, the Broadnook Garden Village deal involved more than a decade of work, requiring extensive collaboration and detailed local knowledge to navigate its numerous complexities.
“The sale completed in July [2022] and will allow for the creation of an entirely new community comprising homes, businesses, a primary school, leisure facilities and natural open space. It’s fantastic news that our years of hard work are now recognised as the East Midlands’ most significant deal of 2022. We would also like to thank East Midlands Business Link for organising such a successful and well-attended event.”
Richard Foxon, Managing Director at Newton LDP, added: “My colleague Sam Jones and I thoroughly enjoyed the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022. The event was well attended, with some prestigious awards up for grabs. The evening offered a great opportunity to network with like-minded property folk, whilst enjoying the backdrop of Trent Bridge cricket ground. Many thanks to all the organisers and sponsors.”
With this year’s Deal of the Year award sponsored by Mather Jamie, Amy Biddell, Director and Marketing lead, said: “We attended the event for the first time in 2021 when we were shortlisted for ‘Deal of the Year’, then in 2022 we were nominated for and won the ‘Most Active Agent of the Year’ category.
“We were delighted to win, and since then have witnessed first-hand the benefits of raising our brand profile through this awards platform. It was a natural progression for us to sponsor the ‘Deal of the Year’ as this will help to promote our services to an elite audience of landowners, property developers and building contractors.”
Submit your nominations for Deal of the Yearhere before entries close on Thursday 31 August.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September,at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground– an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region.
Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active Estate Agent, Commercial Development of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here.
The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – 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 Cricket Ground 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:
Millions of pounds in funding, made possible because of plans for devolution in the East Midlands, has been agreed and will be spent on improving housing, transport and the skills of local people.
In total, £18m of funding is being offered to Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham as part of early investment to the area during devolution negotiations and is not dependent on devolution proposals going ahead.
The latest funding amount of £9.9m has now been approved and will help councils to carry out retrofit work on homes to make them more energy efficient.
Homes across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will benefit from the scheme, specifically targeting homes with poor energy efficiency ratings – the most poorly insulated – and low-income households.
Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council have been working with the Government on devolution plans including a package of local powers and funding worth £1.14 billion, from 2024.
Other programmes which have already been approved, and are underway or completed, include:
£2m for a new long-term private rental scheme to address homelessness in Nottingham City and Derby City and reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for temporary housing.
£1.22m for more affordable housing in Derby, where there is currently a shortage, to provide 15 extra social houses to be let at an affordable rent. It will mean less reliance on temporary bed and breakfast placements and shorter waiting times for longer-term accommodation.
£1.2m for new gigabit broadband for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham. It will mean that an extra 118 rural public sector schools and libraries will be connected to gigabit broadband. The scheme is expected to go live by March 2024.
£750,000 for a new cycling and walking route in Derbyshire – a 1¼ mile link connecting Markham Vale to the existing cycle route in Staveley.
£1.5m for the new roundabout on the A6 at Fairfield in Buxton, Derbyshire, that has provided access to sites for 461 new homes, including 30% affordable homes. This work has been completed, with the funding which has just been approved going towards the cost.
£1.5m for a new growth through green skills. The investment will enable the creation of a new £5.4m flagship skills centre and low carbon demonstrator in the region, to be operated by West Nottinghamshire College, as well as two electric minibuses for getting students to and from the site, to support the growth of a future low carbon economy as we work towards net zero.
Funding hasn’t been the only benefit drawn in through devolution; with the East Midlands securing one of just 12 new Investment Zones being created across the UK.
The low tax Investment Zones are being introduced to boost growth in areas outside London and will be clustered around universities and research centres. Each zone is to get £80 million of support over five years, with tax incentives to attract businesses.
Devolution would mean a new guaranteed funding stream for our region of £38m a year over a 30-year period. Covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham, the devolved area is home to around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country.
The devolution deal includes an extra £16m for new homes on brownfield land and control over a range of budgets like the Adult Education Budget, which could be better tailored to the needs of people in local communities.
A regional mayor would lead a new combined authority, which would include representatives from existing local councils, with decision making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands. Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations.
Devolution would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area. The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.
Baggy Shanker, leader of Derby City Council, said: “As a new leader coming into the devolution space, it’s good to see actual benefits being realised in the region, especially ones that are able to support some of our lower-income households and families.
“These schemes signal steps in the right direction, both in terms of securing much-needed funding – especially relevant for Derby, whose core spending power is the lowest in our region – and also decision making.
“Decisions about our area and our communities should be made by locally elected and locally accountable representatives; for too long too many decisions affecting too many people have been made by too few.”
Ben Bradley MP, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that by working together we’ve secured yet another investment. This time new funding will help more homes to be energy efficient and help reduce bills for those who need it the most.
“Working with partners, we have previously led trials to help test and monitor the most effective ways to heat homes and soon more residents across the region will benefit.
“This is just taster of what could be achieved under the devolution deal.”
Barry Lewis, leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “We’ve been pursuing a devolution deal to bring more investment to the region and this early funding pot to improve housing, transport and skills is most welcome.
“If a devolution deal for the East Midlands goes ahead, it will bring a package of local powers and much-needed funding worth £1.14 billion that will help to improve the lives of people in Derbyshire and throughout the region.
“Devolution would bring massive benefits and opportunity to the East Midlands for things like improving transport infrastructure, building more homes and creating more jobs and better training opportunities.”
David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “I welcome this extra investment as part of our ongoing plans for devolution – especially the £9.9m to retrofit homes to become more energy efficient. This will not only help keep bills lower during the current cost-of-crisis but will also support Nottingham’s ambition to become a carbon neutral city by 2028.
“Investment like this is a clear indication of the benefits that devolution would bring, with a potential £1.1bn funding pot to support our combined cities, towns and villages. The East Midlands desperately needs this investment.
“A devolution deal would help to create more jobs and training opportunities, improve transport infrastructure and create more homes for local people.”
Now the four councils have formally backed the plans, and agreed on a final version of the proposal, it means that new local powers and funding to improve the environment, skills training, transport, housing, and the economy could be in place as soon as next year.
For that to happen, new legislation is needed, so that a new form of Combined Authority can be created. With new legislation in place, proposals for devolution could be sent to the Government for approval and Royal Assent, meaning that devolution in the East Midlands could be a reality from spring 2024, with the first ever election for a regional mayor, covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, taking place in May 2024.
An electrical, plumbing and heating business has supported a Northamptonshire athletics club by making a donation towards its services and facilities.
Corby Athletics Club received £1,000 from RK Electrical Mechanical Services after the firm vowed to support organisations in the county.
The donation will help the family-friendly club continue to run training sessions and take part in competitions for track and field athletics, road running and cross country.
Desborough-based RK Electrical is also having trackside banners at the Rockingham Triangle Athletics Stadium to further showcase its support to Corby Athletics Club.
Kye Bishop, general manager of RK Electrical Mechanical Services, said: “I am thrilled to announce our donation of £1,000 to the much-loved Corby Athletics Club.
“We strongly believe in supporting our local community, and this contribution will enable the club to maintain their invaluable services.”
He added: “We are proud to play a part in nurturing a healthy and vibrant environment for athletes of all ages, and we hope this donation will inspire others to contribute to the success and growth of our family-friendly club.
“We’re proud to help the club to continue to ignite the spirit of athleticism and empower our community through sports.”
Corby Athletics Club is a friendly, competitive athletics club for everyone aged eight and upwards from Corby, the surrounding areas, and across Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.
Graham Curtis, treasurer of Corby Athletics Club, said: “Our Club is no different from other organisations with our costs rising, so it is pleasing to accept this donation from R K Electrical Mechanical Services, which is being put into helping us to continue to run the Rockingham Triangle Athletic Stadium.
“It will provide facilities for our members to train, especially our younger members, so we can help in their fitness and well-being development.”
He added: “It will also help us to run the Athletic Stadium and to continue to welcome schools and other organisations to our athletic facilities.”
Wesley House, a four storey office building on St Michaels Lane, Derby has been let by FHP Property Consultants on new lease terms to Imbue Ventures Limited.
The property provides a mix of open plan and cellular accommodation on all floors and benefits from undergoing a recent refurbishment.
The property is situated a short walk from the city centre, providing local amenities, and also benefits from on site car parking for at least seven vehicles.
Darran Severn of FHP Property Consultants says: “I am pleased this letting has completed and I wish the new tenant every success. There is a real shortage of good quality office accommodation not only in Derby city centre, but also on Pride Park.
“As a result we are speaking with a number of occupiers who are looking for presentable space similar to Wesley House. With low supply, rents remain consistent with newly refurbished space available at a premium.”
Simon Leonard from Imbue Ventures says: “We are delighted to have completed which paves the way for our new home in the heart of the city centre.”
Property investment company, Ace Liberty and Stone has acquired Egerton Park service station on Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray for £2.7m.
The property comprises a BP branded forecourt with a M&S branded convenience store. There is over ten years remaining on the lease with expiry in September 2033.
The current annual rental income is £181,025 with a fixed increase to £204,814 in September 2023.
This deal follows the acquisition of Loders Service Station, The Grove, Dorchester, earlier this year.
Ismail Ghandour, CEO, said: “The acquisition of Melton Mowbray and Dorchester further strengthens our portfolio and is consistent with our strategy of developing a diverse portfolio of assets with long-term secure income.”
A change in ownership may be on the horizon for Wilko, as the family behind the Nottinghamshire retailer looks to secure its future.
According to reports from Sky News, advisers to Wilko have started exploring potential buyers of the business over the past few days.
A deal would see the Wilkinson family give up majority control.
Large general merchandise chains are said to have been approached about recapitalising the business.
It follows discussions with financial investors regarding raising new equity to finance the firm through a restructuring process.
Wilko had recently been looking to finalise a company voluntary arrangement to facilitate rent cuts at hundreds of shops.
Wilko is the UK’s 23rd biggest retailer, employing 16,000 team members. It operates 400 stores across the UK.
National card retailer Cardzone has acquired a store in Lincoln.
Occupying a prime location at 304 High Street, the property is in the heart of Lincoln’s city centre amongst numerous national retailers.
Tom Wragg, associate director at FHP, who acted for long standing clients Cardzone, said: “The property had been occupied by Paperchase until their insolvency in early 2023 creating an excellent opportunity for Cardzone to trade their fantastic new Mooch concept.
“I am proud to have played a part in identifying this opportunity and negotiating a new lease on behalf of my client.”
Peter Drewitt of Cardzone added: “I am pleased to have worked with FHP to secure this property, which will be an exciting additional to our new Mooch brand that is being rolled out in selected locations nationwide.”
The Property Management department of Rushton Hickman has landed a major new management instruction after being asked to undertake the management of Barton Hall in Church Broughton.
Barton Hall is an exquisite Grade II* listed building with early 15th century origins and is situated on a site of approximately 168 acres of land.
In addition to the main residence there are four cottages, racing stables, a bungalow, yard area and acres of farm and grazing land, all of which Rushton Hickman have been instructed solely to deal with the management of.
Richard Fairey, director of the Property Management section at Rushton Hickman, said: “The setting of Barton Hall is second to none and our local knowledge and experience of similar settings such as this ensures that our client is in the right hands.”
Jade Martin, property manager at Rushton Hickman, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be involved with such a prestigious property and we look forward to working with the new owners and tenants on the management of the site.”
Futures Housing Group, a not-for-profit housing association in the East Midlands, is working with United Living Group to build 38 affordable homes in Northampton.
Futures has awarded United Living a £9.2 million contract to build the new development on Central Avenue, Northampton.
The site will be made up of 20 social rent and 18 shared ownership properties, including one bed flats and two and three bed homes. The project is expected to take 18 months to complete.
Lindsey Williams, Group Chief Executive of Futures, said: “I’m really pleased Futures is working together with United Living to build much needed homes for people in Northamptonshire. There’s an annual shortfall in the number of homes being built across our region and nationwide, so developments like this are very much a part of our core purpose here at Futures.”
Caroline Lewis, Managing Director of United Living, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this contract. Northampton is experiencing a social housing shortage, and we are pleased to be able to create accessible, safe and comfortable accommodations to help address these local needs.”
Lindsey added: “Building new, affordable homes is a key priority for Futures as we continually strive to support the community with more housing. I look forward to seeing the homes developed with United Living over the next few years.”
As negotiations around a UK-India Free Trade Agreement draw closer to completion, new research from Grant Thornton UK LLP’s Business Outlook Tracker finds that India is a core focus international growth market for the East Midlands mid-market.
The firm’s Business Outlook Tracker, which surveyed mid-sized businesses in the East Midlands, finds that almost half (49%) of business leaders are planning to invest more in growing internationally in the next six months. Many of these businesses have their sights set on India, with 76% of respondents identifying the country as a focus international growth market.
The East Midlands mid-market is already very familiar with doing business in India, with over three quarters (76%) of the businesses surveyed already having an established presence there. Of these, almost all (92%) have plans to expand their presence, with the majority having plans to do so within the next two years.
The opportunities that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would offer are also evident to the region’s business leaders. As negotiations continue, 80% of respondents agree that an FTA with India is likely to encourage their business to explore more opportunities there.
As India’s economy continues to grow in strength, the mid-market sees many benefits to establishing a business presence in this market. The top three benefits identified by the research are: a fast growing and stable economy, ease of doing business, a large working age population.
However, while establishing a business presence in an international market can offer numerous opportunities, it also presents challenges. The biggest barriers for the mid-market to building a business presence in India identified by the research are: high tariffs and protectionist policies, infrastructure, safeguarding intellectual property.
James Brown, practice leader for Grant Thornton UK LLP in the Central and East region, said:“India is now the fifth largest economy in the world and is predicted to become the third largest by 2030. It therefore presents a huge opportunity for growth for businesses in the East Midlands.“As the country is only set to continue to grow, it is an excellent time for both those with an existing presence, and those looking to India for the first time, to be exploring potential opportunities in this market.
“With the uncertain geopolitical situation at the moment, India offers a stable and certain economic environment for investors and businesses, with, not only a fast-growing economy, but also a large working age and consumer population.
“The anticipated UK-India Free Trade Agreement should also help propel the relationship between the two countries further and provide an excellent platform for further investment. “An FTA should reduce tariffs and duties to allow for a more level playing field for overseas businesses and give greater access to a large and fast-growing market. It should also allow for the relaxation of certain regulations and help improve the ease with which businesses in the UK can look to do business with, or within, India.
“While our research has identified the biggest challenges many businesses face when setting up in India – as there are challenges looking to grow internationally anywhere in the world – there is support available. “The Department for Business and Trade provides support to those seeking to trade or invest in India, while firms, such as ours, can also provide tailored support for businesses exploring new markets.”
Clumber Consultancy, the specialist Pensions and ERA Service provider for the UK insolvency market, is expanding, with Prameela Tamber joining as client director.
This key strategic hire will now see the Nottinghamshire firm become better able to target their niche offering into the South-East.
Prameela will be based in London and has been brought on board to strengthen the fast-growing company’s ERA (Employment Rights Act) team.
Prameela brings with her 13 years of ERA experience, having previously worked at a boutique insolvency practice in the capital.
Clumber Consultancy is led by Managing Director Darren Toms. He said: “We’re delighted that Prameela will be spearheading our growth in the south east of England and of course in the capital and the heart of the financial sector.
“Prameela will give our ERA team presence in the South-East, whilst the rest of the team covers the rest of the UK from their Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire bases.
“Prameela’s primary focus is to work on ERA assignments in the South-East region but she will also be operating in a Business Development role, servicing existing and new clients in and around London.”
Clumber Consultancy’s primary focus is compliance and ensuring that employees receive what they are entitled to, following redundancy in an insolvency appointment.
On Thursday 28 September, East Midlands Business Link’s prestigious Bricks Awards will take place at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrating the region’s property and construction industry.
The annual event recognises development projects 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.
With nominations closing on Thursday 31 August, 10 categories are available to enter. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to showcase your projects and team, reward their hard work, and boost morale.
Amongst this year’s categories is Responsible Business of the Year, which can be entered here.
The winner of this award will have demonstrated corporate responsibility in their field, working in harmony and for the betterment of the local community in which it operates and setting a shining example for the rest of the supply chain.
Last year the award was won by Cawarden. On winning two awards at the 2022 event, William Crooks, Managing Director of Cawarden, said: “It was fantastic for Cawarden to be presented with not one but two prestigious awards at this year’s Bricks Awards. We received the Contractor of the Year title for the second year in a row, which is absolutely fantastic to be recognised again for our project and service delivery expertise.
“Despite the challenging landscape, we’ve had an exceptional year, achieving sustainable growth whilst delivering a diverse range of projects for some of the UK’s leading clients. To then pick up the Responsible Business of the Year title was the icing on the cake. We’re committed to improving the image of the industry, and we strive to raise the bar for our people, the planet, and the community.
“To receive an award for our recent achievements is wonderful. A big thank you to the judges and congratulations must also go to all the other award finalists and winners. The event was a real showcase for the regional property and construction sector, and we are more than proud to be part of it!”
Other finalists for the category were Arc Partnership and Phoenix Brickwork.
This year’s Responsible Business of the Year award will once again be sponsored by Press for Attention PR. Speaking with Business Link, Greg Simpson, founder, said: “We have proudly sponsored this category for many years now because we think that it is crucial that companies that proactively demonstrate that corporate responsibility is an important part of their culture should be recognised.
“Without being too political, the past weeks have brought further attention to the impact that we as individuals and companies can have on our planet. Change is in the air and that is being welcomed and embraced by employer and employee alike and will play an increasing role in purchasing, hiring and procurement decisions. CSR is not (or certainly should not be) a box-ticking exercise, it is part of being a responsible organisation and I look forward to learning more from our finalists.”
Submit your nominations for Responsible Business of the Year herebefore entries close on Thursday 31 August.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September,at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground– an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region.
Other award categories open for entry include: Commercial Development of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Architects of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Most Active Estate Agent, Excellence in Design, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here.
The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – 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 Cricket Ground 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:
Committing its future to regional improvement, independent multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard has been appointed to a new framework deal with Leicester City Council.
Operating on an initial two-year term, with options to extend for a further two, the framework will see Pick Everard flex its range of consultancy services, working closely with the council’s Estates and Building Services (EBS) department to drive city-wide improvement programmes.
Pick Everard will lead ‘Lot A’ on the Project Construction Professional Services Framework, providing multi-disciplinary consultancy across the entirety of the council’s estate, including schools and education, transport, art galleries and museums, leased premises, public and office buildings, and housing.
Matt Hall, national director at Pick Everard, said: “This appointment marks a significant period for our business and Leicester City Council, which like all local authorities across the country is working hard to deliver and maintain a building stock fit for current and future sustainability standards.
“As sole multi-disciplinary supplier, our aim is to deliver real value to the city, building on our previous work across a broad and varied estate, that will deliver the best possible outcomes, with high quality assets that will positively impact this generation and the next.”
Pick Everard will cover a range of projects under the framework agreement, including new builds, extensions, refurbishments and housing builds.
In total, it will provide more than 30 multi-disciplinary services, tying into a council-led vision to provide Leicester with a high quality, efficient, effective, and sustainable built environment.
Alastair Hamilton, partner at Pick Everard, said: “Our philosophy at Pick Everard is to deliver better together, and with this major appointment, we look to the next phase of enhancing the city we have so rightly called home since 1866.
“It is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through a programme of works that combines industry leading expertise under one central collaborative relationship.
“We’re proud to continue our ongoing work with Leicester City Council and to partner them in this onward journey.”
Matt Wallace, director of estates and building services at Leicester City Council, said: “Having undertaken a robust procurement exercise to provide essential construction professional services and support to the council, we are delighted to be working with a successful, Leicester-based company like Pick Everard, that has such a strong and proven track record in local development.
“Having access to its supply chain, along with their shared passion for improving the quality of life for people living and working in Leicester, will be invaluable to us as we deliver the council’s vision to sustainably develop the city and support Leicester’s economic growth and future prosperity.”
An entrepreneur who found sanctuary in the East Midlands after fleeing a brutal overseas regime has been honoured by the University of Leicester.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL came to Leicester as a child refugee with his family in 1972 to escape Idi Amin’s reign of terror in Uganda, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a few suitcases.
From those humble beginnings, Dr Kotecha built up a hugely successful career, founding Morningside Pharmaceuticals, and then becoming a major philanthropist as founder of the Randal Charitable Foundation, making international contribution to pharmaceuticals, life sciences and innovation.
Yesterday (Thursday 20 July), the University of Leicester formally recognised Dr Kotecha’s contribution to society, by awarding him an Honorary Doctorate of Science during a graduation ceremony, held at De Montfort Hall.
Speaking after the ceremony, Dr Kotecha, who grew up in Leicester, before basing his international pharmaceuticals business in Loughborough, said: “I’m truly honoured and humbled to receive this honorary degree from the University of Leicester.
“As a young man and throughout my academic and entrepreneurial journey, I’ve long been an admirer of the University’s commitment to supporting and developing young people.
“I hope my story helps inspire the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to work hard and follow their dreams of making a positive difference to the world.
“My advice to all graduating students is: as you step out into the world armed with your degrees, please remember that you possess a power, to positively shape our world.
“You have the potential to ignite change, to challenge conventional wisdom, and to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of others. The world needs your ideas, your innovation, and your passion to tackle the pressing issues of our time.”
After arriving in the UK, Dr Kotecha worked hard during his school years in Leicester to achieve a Leicestershire council grant, which enabled him to start his further education in Newcastle.
He later went on to study for a PhD under the supervision of Professor Steven Ley FRS at Imperial College London, and further doctorate work at the University of Cambridge. His areas of research included drug discovery of molecules to treat type II diabetes and infection, which led to work into big pharma.
Inspired by his childhood experiences, Dr Kotecha later established generic medicines manufacturer and supplier, Morningside Pharmaceuticals, with a mission to provide high quality affordable and accessible medicines to the world. This mission led to the business becoming one of the leading UK suppliers of a wide range of medical supplies to International Aid Organisations, having exported to more than 120 countries globally since inception.
Dr Kotecha would lead the company for more than 30 years and to great international success, before divesting of the business in 2022. During his stewardship of the Top 100 Leicestershire company, the business invested heavily in research and development, which led to the launch of many innovations to help patients take their medicine.
Dr Kotecha has previously supported the establishment of the university’s Leicester Medical School. He has also worked closely with the university to help nurture innovation through its Innovation Hub; and more widely in the Midlands through his work as Chair of the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership’s (LLEP) Innovation Board.
In 2017 Dr Kotecha and his wife Moni founded the Randal Charitable Foundation with the aim to directly save a million lives and significantly improve the quality of life for those in need in the UK and around the world. As well as providing grants, one of many projects supported by the Foundation is driving national policy change to reduce the reoffending rate amongst ex-prisoners by helping them find employment.
A further project led to a step-change of over £1billion in funding from the UK Government in support for those affected by addiction, whilst another is spotlighting the challenge of loneliness and isolation in our society.
President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “Nik has reaped exceptional achievements academically, in business and through his contributions of charity and philanthropy.
“For over 30 years he has utilised his passion for drug discovery, international trade and providing quality, affordable healthcare to forge a highly successful career, where he has drawn on this experience to be a strong voice and ambassador for business, charitable organisations and establishing a charity that saves and improves lives.
“Nik is an impressive role model to our graduates and the wider University community.”
Every year, environmental and safety legislation is changing and the technologies available are evolving.
The need for experienced and curious design consultants, to discover environmentally led solutions for ever more complex buildings, is the reason GBE was formed. GBE provide their clients with the clarity, logic, and the promotion of good practices needed to build the best spaces for people to use.
GBE are a collective of engineers, consultants, and project managers, experienced in Mechanical Electrical and Public Health (MEP), Fire and Sustainability design. Delivering technical construction documentation and BIM (Building Information Modelling) packages for architects, developers, and self-builders by creating clear descriptions of complex engineering systems. The division is separated into two engineering disciplines: MEP Engineering and Sustainability & Energy.
MEP Engineering (aka Building Services) is a discipline of the RIBA construction design process. It requires trained and qualified engineers to provide consultancy, strategy and deliver engineering documentation for architects, developers, and self-builders to formulate the full picture of what services are required for a project. GBE have adopted Autodesk Revit as a digital platform for designing MEP services and production of technical documentation. You can expect enhanced collaboration, improved visualisation, and improved clarity of technical information from the team.
Sam Travis-Cavell
“Our division have a passion for designing spaces for the end-user; the people that will live, work, and play in the building. We want to create spaces that have an atmosphere, are inherently easy to use and do not cost the earth to run,” said Sam Travis-Cavell, Head of Global Building Environments.
Secondly, the Sustainability & Energy services involve the production of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which are legally required on all properties in the UK. This is becoming increasingly important as there are annual changes to Part L, legislation and grants due to the government’s climate change objectives, which will affect all property owners in the next decade. On construction projects, GBE work with the architects and developers to ensure that the Draft and As Built EPCs are compliant with Part L of the building regulations. Working with house-owners, landlords, social housing platforms and estate agents, GBE develop the domestic and non-domestic EPCs required for sale or let of buildings.
Most importantly, GBE have joined the Global Group family, an organisation that have specialized in fire safety for over 20 years. Working directly alongside Global Technical Services (GTS), the fire engineering consultancy of the group, GBE coordinate MEP Engineering designs, façade details and construction details directly with the GTS team to ensure all systems are incorporated, coordinated, safe and thermally sound.
Sam Travis-Cavell is Head of the new division. With over eight years of experience in the construction industry as an MEP design engineer, sustainability consultant, contractor, and business owner, he is a certified Energy Assessor for both domestic and non-domestic projects and is a member of CIBSE and CIOB. He is currently undertaking his engineering chartership application to obtain his MCIOB chartership qualification.
GBE aim to reduce the carbon impact of the construction industry, create value on their projects and design for the people who will live, work and play in those spaces.
To find out more information about Global Building Environments, click here.
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Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region.
Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active Estate Agent, Commercial Development of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here.
The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
To be held at:
Most importantly, GBE have joined the Global Group family, an organisation that have specialized in fire safety for over 20 years. Working directly alongside Global Technical Services (GTS), the fire engineering consultancy of the group, GBE coordinate MEP Engineering designs, façade details and construction details directly with the GTS team to ensure all systems are incorporated, coordinated, safe and thermally sound.
Sam Travis-Cavell is Head of the new division. With over eight years of experience in the construction industry as an MEP design engineer, sustainability consultant, contractor, and business owner, he is a certified Energy Assessor for both domestic and non-domestic projects and is a member of CIBSE and CIOB. He is currently undertaking his engineering chartership application to obtain his MCIOB chartership qualification.
GBE aim to reduce the carbon impact of the construction industry, create value on their projects and design for the people who will live, work and play in those spaces.
To find out more information about Global Building Environments, click here.
