Leicestershire County Council is moving forward with plans to replace district and borough councils with a single unitary authority, aiming to streamline services and cut costs. The proposal excludes Leicester City and Rutland and is expected to be submitted to the Government next month.

The county council argues that consolidating governance into one authority would save approximately £30 million annually, compared to £10 million if the county were split into two unitary councils. Acting leader Cllr Deborah Taylor emphasized that a single authority would avoid service inconsistencies and duplication of administrative functions.

District and borough councils remain opposed to a two-authority model, citing concerns that a single council would be too large and disconnected from local needs. However, the county council plans to establish local area committees and expand the role of parish and town councils to maintain community engagement.

The council also reversed its previous position on expanding Leicester City’s boundaries, originally intended to support its financial sustainability and meet housing targets. The shift followed the Government’s rejection of the council’s request to delay local elections, though ministers did not provide a specific reason for the rejection.

UK recruitment leaders have raised concerns that the Government’s proposed Employment Rights Bill could disrupt the temporary work sector, which they argue is essential to economic stability. The bill introduces measures such as guaranteed hours for zero-hours workers and statutory sick pay from day one.

Pete Taylor, Managing Director at Gi Group, joined industry representatives at the REC’s Parliamentary Reception to highlight the risks of restricting temporary employment. He emphasised that more than 1 million temporary workers contribute to the UK economy daily, supporting key industries such as logistics, engineering, and manufacturing.

Citing a recent REC survey, Taylor noted that 79% of temporary workers value job flexibility, while 81% rely on temp work for essential income. He warned that policy changes, combined with upcoming tax reforms, could create a difficult hiring environment, limiting opportunities for both businesses and job seekers.

Gi Group, headquartered in Chesterfield, employs nearly 500 people and serves 1,500 clients from 87 locations across the UK. Its parent company places one person in work every 90 seconds.

HiQ and Carsa have opened a new autocare centre in Mountsorrel, creating up to 20 jobs. The site is part of a nationwide expansion strategy, adding to the companies’ existing dual-branded locations in Cannock and Halesowen.

The partnership combines HiQ’s autocare services with Carsa’s used car sales model. HiQ, backed by Goodyear, operates 190 centres across the UK, while Carsa has expanded to 10 locations since its founding in 2020.

The new centre integrates vehicle sales, servicing, tyre fitting, and MOT testing. A second site in Bolton has also launched as part of the expansion.

Henry Boot Construction is expanding its presence in the East Midlands under new Managing Director Lee Powell. The company, historically focused on South Yorkshire, is targeting projects in Derby, Nottingham, and Lincolnshire, aiming to capitalise on the region’s student housing demand and industrial growth. Powell also sees opportunities in Teesside and plans to balance the company’s portfolio with more private sector work, shifting from its current 77% reliance on public sector contracts to a 50:50 split.

Powell, who joined from GMI Construction alongside Finance Director James Smith and Commercial Director Chris Weathers, intends to diversify into industrial, logistics, build-to-rent, student accommodation, and urban regeneration projects. He also highlights growing demand for thermal efficiency and building performance consulting.

The construction sector has faced significant challenges, with over 4,000 insolvencies in 2024, but Powell sees opportunities emerging as major contractors exit the market. Henry Boot has secured three prison projects following the collapse of a Tier 1 competitor. While inflation has stabilised, material costs remain volatile, with some declines in steel and reinforcement bar prices but continued increases in insulation and plasterboard.

Powell envisions Henry Boot evolving into a construction consultant, advising developers on cost-effective and efficient building designs. His strategy focuses on value engineering rather than undercutting competitors on price, positioning the company as a long-term partner for clients navigating a changing market.

ProBiotix Health, a UK-based life sciences company specialising in probiotic solutions for cardiometabolic health, has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Kemin China Technology Co Ltd (KCG). The deal grants KCG the rights to sell ProBiotix’s proprietary probiotic strain, LPLDL®, as a cardiometabolic health supplement ingredient in China, Hong Kong, and Macau, with potential expansion into other regions.

Under the agreement, ProBiotix will supply LPLDL® in bulk, and KCG will market it under a co-branding arrangement. China’s cardiovascular disease burden affects over 330 million people, and the country’s probiotic supplement market, valued at $2.3 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $3.6 billion by 2028.

KCG is a subsidiary of Kemin Industries, a U.S.-based global ingredient supplier with more than $1 billion in revenue and over 500 patents. The partnership is expected to create a long-term revenue stream for both companies and expand ProBiotix’s presence in the Chinese market.

Tesco has launched a new security hub in Daventry, Northamptonshire, as part of a multimillion-pound investment to address rising retail crime. The facility will operate 24/7, monitoring CCTV footage and sharing intelligence with police to tackle shoplifting and staff assaults.

Retail crime costs UK businesses an estimated £1.8 billion annually. The new hub is designed to strengthen security measures and improve collaboration with law enforcement. Tesco has not disclosed the total investment but emphasised its commitment to staff and customer safety.

Rockingham Cars has become an official dealer for Leapmotor in Corby, joining the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand’s push to establish 80 UK dealerships by the end of the year.

Leapmotor’s UK lineup includes the C10, a mid-sized SUV with a 261-mile range priced at £36,000, and the compact T03 city car, which offers a 165-mile range. The partnership stems from a joint venture between Leapmotor and Stellantis, which owns Abarth and Fiat.

Rockingham Cars, in operation since 1978, has a long-standing relationship with Stellantis brands and is recognized for strong customer service. It ranked second in JudgeService’s 2023 list of the UK’s top 20 dealerships, achieving a 99.53% customer satisfaction score.