Lincolnshire businesses’ support for teachers could lead to national scheme

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Lincolnshire businesses’ support for teachers could lead to national scheme

Lincolnshire businesses are to welcome in seventy teachers to share experience of business and industry and improve young people’s career opportunities.

Branston, Catch UK, CITB, CorrBoard, eComOne, Inzpire Ltd, Orsted, Plum Products, Ruddocks, Seafox Management Consultants, Serco, SRC UK, and Tong Engineering will host visits by 26 teachers, with the objective of bringing skills and workplace experience into the classroom and enrich the curriculum.
It’s part of the Teacher Encounters programme delivered by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Careers & Enterprise Company, offering half-day experiences to help teachers to develop a stronger knowledge of their subject area through real world industry experience. The scheme is part of a new national pilot programme bringing together 1,000 teachers and 200 businesses across England, allowing them to enrich teaching practice and share knowledge about skills gaps and labour market information with students and parents. Lee Douglas, Strategic Hub Lead of the Careers Hub at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “We have delivered the Teacher Encounters project in collaboration with award-winning businesses, world leaders in their sectors which are operating at the cutting edge of innovation and technology. “It is crucial that teachers can have meaningful experiences with employers in Greater Lincolnshire. These experiences are designed to inspire teachers, enabling them to make vital links to their curriculum area of expertise and pass vital careers related information to their students.” Oli de Botton, Chief Executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “Teachers are powerful sources of careers inspiration for young people – through the conversations they have and the curriculum they teach. “One of the ways we can support them is by bridging the worlds of business and education and giving teachers meaningful encounters with employers. “Done well, these encounters can inspire teachers, students and employers. Teachers can see at first hand how local businesses work, including the routes in like apprenticeships. Students can benefit when teachers bring this insight into their lessons, linking learning to workplace skills. And employers can learn more about the workforce of the future. “This pilot is an opportunity to bring careers education further into the mainstream of school and college life and build on the enthusiasm we know is there from business to better support schools and from teachers to support their students to take their best next step.”

Work progresses to transform historic Northampton pub

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Work progresses to transform historic Northampton pub
Work is well underway to regenerate the Grade II listed Old Black Lion as a public house, community asset and new home to the Churches Conversation Trust. Over the next six months The Churches Conservation Trust will be working with Midland Conservation Limited and the Friends of St Peter’s Church, in partnership with West Northamptonshire Council, to transform this former derelict pub into a vibrant hospitality venue and community hub for residents in Marefair, and across the town. Two months into the extensive construction programme, progress can be seen on the Northampton ironstone walls where modern masonry paint and cement mortar has been removed and replaced with lime mortar and, in places where the stone had deteriorated, new stone. The windows have also been repaired. These works require highly skilled stonemasons and joiners. Enabling and demolition works took place last summer and now the main conservation repair works have begun; a third contract for fitting out the pub and offices will follow. Cllr Daniel Lister, West Northamptonshire Council’s Cabinet Member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth, said: “It was fantastic to visit the Old Black Lion pub on Tuesday to see first-hand the progress that has been made already to sympathetically bring this derelict former pub back into use for our local community. “The building is a real focal point for the local area and once complete, this asset will form part of the wider gateway into the town, complementing the Marefair Heritage Park and deliver a hub for residents at the heart of the community.” Hannah Parham, Regeneration Project Manager, the Churches Conservation Trust, said: “The aim of the project is to restore the Old Black Lion as a pub, open for business and once again serving the local community. The refurbished pub will provide hospitality for visitors and volunteers at St Peter’s Church, supporting the work of the Friends of St Peter’s Church and encouraging beneficial uses of the church for concerts, performances and events.” This work will be complemented by the Marefair Heritage Park once the redevelopment is complete, to fully celebrate and capitalise on the heritage of the area and the Northampton Castle site. The project will cost £3.5m, of which £3m is capital expenditure. CCT was awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund Enterprise Grant of £1,841,800 in 2016; in November 2022, this was augmented by £794,405, to reflect rising costs. Funding has also been granted by HM Treasury’s Towns Fund, West Northamptonshire Council, the Architectural Heritage Fund and West Northamptonshire Development Corporation. The project has received £315,000 of Towns Fund support, and the delivery is supported by the Northampton Forward Board and forms part of the Marefair ‘Heritage Gateway’. West Northamptonshire Council has provided £370,000 in match funding and S106 contributions. The refurbishment should be completed by Spring 2024, with the publican opening the pub shortly afterwards.

£9m development set for Blackwell

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£9m development set for Blackwell
Bolsover District Council is set to spend £9m on redeveloping Woburn House and the nearby bungalows in Blackwell after planning permission was approved. The plans will see the assisted living facility, bungalows and community centre on Woburn Close demolished and replaced with 15 bungalows, eight houses, a 20-flat independent living building and a brand new community facility. Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Sandra Peake, said: “This is a significant investment and re-iterates our commitment to looking after older and vulnerable people, whilst also providing a much-needed community facility. It will be of huge benefit to local residents in the area as there will be a mixture of properties to meet a local demand. “A significant element of the scheme is the new community centre that will provide local residents with a modern facility where local events and celebrations can be held and give community groups with a place to meet.” The scheme is part of Bolsover District Council’s £36m Bolsover Homes project which is aimed at building new council houses for affordable rents across Bolsover District. The scheme uses Bolsover District Council land by replacing end of life, unfit for purpose dwellings, with new homes that exceed today’s living standard whilst benefiting the District’s economy through training, skills development, and local supply chain. Councillor Peake added: “All the new properties will be modern, energy efficient and adaptable for people with disabilities. It’s important that we keep building bungalows and accommodation for our ever-growing older population and that we keep building social properties for the benefit of our residents.” It is anticipated that phase one of the redevelopment will start soon which will involve disconnecting the services such as the gas and water, with work due to start on site fully in spring 2024.

Eurocell secures Polyframe partnership

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Eurocell secures Polyframe partnership
Eurocell, the manufacturer, distributor, and recycler of PVC-U building products, has welcomed Polyframe as one of their fabricator partners. Based in Norwich and Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, Polyframe has been supplying fabricated fenestration systems for over 30 years and has chosen to join with Eurocell to ensure long-term security and reliability in supply and service. As a Eurocell customer, Polyframe will benefit from Eurocell’s ‘Grow With Us’ ethos, receiving technical support and expertise from dedicated teams, continual focus on investment in new machinery, services and products, as well as business development support to propel growth. In addition to their existing offering, Polyframe, will now be able to offer a wider range of PVC-U with the Eurocell Logik System. Eurocell’s PVC-U profiles contain high levels of recycled content; partners can benefit from the carbon savings this provides and are able to communicate these to customers – as part of their commitment towards a more sustainable future. Phil Walker, Polyframe Managing Director, said: “Eurocell is a well-respected and long-standing business with similar vision and values around service and support to that of Polyframe. We are delighted to be partnering with them to provide our combined benefits to our customers. “Eurocell has a detailed understanding of the Future Homes Standard and other potential legislation changes, and we are well placed to work with Eurocell long into the future to provide our customers with sustainable and innovative systems. “I can assure customers that Polyframe will offer the same high levels of product quality, consistency of supply and levels of service with the new Eurocell options – all delivered in an industry-leading time of five days.” Andy McDonnell, commercial MD at Eurocell, said: “We are pleased to be starting this new partnership with Polyframe, a well-trusted leading fabricator in the fenestration industry that champions our values and dedication to high-quality product and service. “Our best-in-class support means Polyframe will have the tools required for sustainable growth as part of our ‘Grow With Us’ ethos, and we can guarantee a smooth transition with minimal disruption so Polyframe can continue doing what they do best for their customers. “Our recent investments in infrastructure and enhanced partnership approach mean we are well placed to continue to deliver value and quality to all of our customers whilst continuing to grow.”

Lockwood have only gone and done this…

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Lockwood have only gone and done this…
Lockwood is a huge, family-owned company based here in the East Midlands, offering haulage, warehousing and co-packing services. They have a large, modern fleet ranging from 7.5 – 44 tonne vehicles along with warehousing capacity for hundreds of thousands of pallets. To promote the co-packing part of their business, Lockwood were looking for a professional video and they hired our local recommended production company, Glowfrog (www.glowfrogvideo.com). A full explainer video has now been created to demonstrate Lockwood’s cost-effective, innovative & timely solutions to your contract packing needs. With Lockwood being such a big local company, it is clear to see that professional video production is a key, important part of marketing strategy. Mark Graham, Group Service Director at Lockwood, said: “We required a new high quality video to promote our co-packing services and, having found Glowfrog online, they clearly appeared to be the best choice of video production company locally. “We found that they are great people to work with, providing detailed customer support throughout the process from start to finish. Glowfrog Video Production also provided us with a bonus shorter video for our social media channels, at no extra cost – we are really happy with their services.” If you’re looking for a highly recommended and local video production company for your video marketing, visit www.glowfrogvideo.com.

Midlands SMEs plan for growth through investment

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Midlands SMEs plan for growth through investment
Midlands SMEs are ready to ramp-up investment, with fresh spending on assets, Paragon Bank research has found. Published alongside An SME Led Recovery, a survey of SMEs from across the UK identified growing expectations for cashflow to improve – leading to increased investment by businesses in their operations. The first in a series of quarterly research reports that will track the sector, An SME Led Recovery details the performance, plans and ambitions of SMEs, highlighting the central role they play in the regional economy. As part of the research, specific data on the Midlands was collected – providing insight into the position of SMEs across the region. Cashflow and turnover set to improve Conducted for Paragon by Opinium, the research found that 60% of Midlands SMEs predict that their cashflow will improve over the next three months and 58% are expecting an increase over the next year. Only 36% had seen their cashflow increase over the previous three months. Similarly, turnover is also set to improve – 55% of Midlands businesses reported increased turnover during the first quarter of the year, with 44% expecting turnover to further improve during the second quarter compared to 24% that forecast a fall. Investment on the increase Over a third of Midlands SMEs (41%) will use the increased cashflow to increase investment in their businesses, with 49% planning to maintain current investment levels and only 6% expected to reduce spending. Equipment and machinery lead the planned investment of SMEs, with 46% and 39% of all SMEs in the region planning to invest in each respectively. The renewed investment will also see 23% of Midlands SMEs investing in electric vehicles over the next six months – higher than the proportion set to in invest in traditional fuel vehicles, alongside a small reduction in those firms investing in HGVs. Confidence strong in business prospects Midlands SMEs have expressed confidence in the prospects for their own businesses and the sector in which they operate but were less confident about the macro environment. Over half said they were confident in their own business (64%) and their sector (55%) in the next three months – compared to only 28% who expressed confidence in the wider UK economy. SMEs seek finance The research also found that 44% of Midlands SMEs sought additional financing over the last three months, with 56% of those businesses seeking over £100,000. While 5% of this group received no additional financing, 24% received all the financing they sought and a further 15% secured a partial amount. Commenting on the research findings for the Midlands, Peter Pike, Paragon’s regional director for the region, said: “With plans for increased investment and expectations for improved turnover and cashflow, Midlands SMEs are ready to deliver economic growth in the region and beyond. As our new research shows, they are confident and seeking investment – and after the challenges that have faced over recent years, this is a clear indication of the strength of our SME sector.”

Gateley makes new Nottingham office promotions

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Gateley makes new Nottingham office promotions
Legal and professional services group Gateley has announced its latest round of promotions, which includes six people from its Nottingham office. Alexander Parkes – a real estate lawyer, has been promoted to partner, continuing his work within the real estate team, while Helen Webster has been promoted to legal director in the employment team. Natasha Walker from Adamson Jones, Gateley’s dedicated patent and trademark practice, has been promoted to senior associate. Additionally, three of the Nottingham team have been promoted to associate, with Natasha Cole promoted in the employment team, Andrew Dennis in the private client team and Anna Thomas from residential development. Andrew Macmillan, partner and head of Gateley’s Nottingham office, said: “Congratulations to all those who have received a promotion this year. Our clients expect the best level of service from Gateley and those who have received promotions have all continuously demonstrated a desire to go above and beyond to fulfil the needs of the businesses we support. “At Gateley we are committed to the development of our emerging talent and it gives me an enormous sense of pride to see those promoted continue to thrive here in Nottingham.” A total of 61 promotions were announced across Gateley including six new partners and one Of Counsel, two technical directors, one land consultant, one principal surveyor, nine legal directors, 16 senior associates and 25 new associates are also included in the latest promotions list. In addition to Nottingham, the promotions span Gateley’s offices in Birmingham, Belfast, Dubai, Guildford, Leeds, London, Manchester and Reading.

Walk away with a prize worth £20,000 at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023

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Walk away with a prize worth £20,000 at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
Business Link’s East Midlands Bricks Awards is set to be bigger and better than ever this year, and with nominations flooding in, there’s also a grand prize worth £20,000 up for grabs. Celebrating the region’s property and construction industry, the prestigious event recognises development projects and people in commercial and public building – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools – and the Overall Winner at the event will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000. A highlight in the business calendar, winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of opportunities to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. Nominations for the event are open, and now is the perfect time to make your submissions, ahead of the deadline (Thursday 31 August). To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page:
Find out who last year’s winners were here.

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:

Packaging manufacturer starts year with profits “substantially below” 2022

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Packaging manufacturer starts year with profits “substantially below” 2022
Packaging manufacturer Robinson has revealed a restructuring program as profits for the start of 2023 sit “substantially below” those seen in the first five months of 2022. The firm says it comes despite substantial sales price increases with customers, with Robinson having been unable to cover the full inflation in costs in the period, due to a reduction in sales volume. The business has consequently implemented a restructuring program which will result in exceptional costs of £0.4m and annual savings of £0.7m, of which £0.4m will benefit 2023.

Sales in the first five months of the year were 2% below the comparative period in 2022. While after adjusting for price changes and foreign exchange, sales volumes are 11% lower, of which 4% is due to a major UK customer experiencing a supply chain issue. The company said that whilst it is unlikely to recover the lost sales in 2023, it expects to return to the normal run-rate on these products.

The Chesterfield-based firm noted that it is also seeing reduced demand due to inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

The group however expects to deliver full year adjusted operating profit in line with current expectations and ahead of 2022.

Looking ahead, in a statement to London Stock Exchange, Robinson said: “We expect the substantial macroeconomic uncertainty and volatility experienced since the beginning of 2021 to continue throughout 2023.

“We are seeing more new business activity with our existing and potential customers, which provides opportunities for additional sales in 2023 and beyond. In particular, the previously announced new contract in Denmark requires substantial investment in the current year but will begin to benefit sales and profit from 2024. We have a portfolio of opportunities, close to completion, which if converted would comprise more than 10% of annual sales.

“Given the ongoing pressure on volumes, input prices and margins, the Board will continue to prioritise the management of costs and cashflow. 

“Despite the ongoing uncertainty, with the current restructuring programme, we expect adjusted operating profit in the 2023 financial year to be ahead of 2022 and in line with current expectations. We remain committed in the medium-term to delivering above-market profitable growth and our target of 6-8% adjusted operating margin.”

Interest rates rise to 5%

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Interest rates rise to 5%
The Bank of England has increased interest rates by 0.5 percentage points to 5% – the highest level since 2008 and 13th consecutive rate rise. The bigger than predicted hike comes as inflation remains at historically high levels, with new figures for May remaining unchanged at 8.7%, after falling in April, and staying much higher than the Bank’s 2% target. Inflation had been expected to decline to 8.4% year on year, leading to a further interest rate rise from the Bank of England to bring it under control. The sharp increase will come as a blow to many businesses struggling with rising bills and the highest borrowing costs in 15 years. Commenting on the Bank of England’s decision, East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “After 12 consecutive rate rises by the Bank of England as of last month, we expected to see a significant and sustained fall in inflation by now if this policy was to be the main driver in tackling the issue. “So many businesses may question what impact a 13th hike in interest rates to a 15-year high will truly have, with inflation having flatlined at 8.7% in the latest figures. “It’s becoming increasingly clear this is a blunt instrument that only focuses on reducing demand among a select group of consumers. Instead, we desperately need a dedicated strategy from Government to raise productivity, which would mean we have sufficient supply of products and services to meet this demand – bringing down prices and, thus, inflation. “To drive up productivity, we need to support businesses to invest in their operations. Investment intentions among East Midlands firms for both plant and machinery, and training people, were each down by 3% quarter on quarter in the period from April to June this year, according to our Quarterly Economic Survey. “Both these trends need to be reversed if we are to raise capacity and therefore productivity, which would mean high demand can be met with sufficient supply of products and services to then bring prices, and thus inflation, down. “To this end, Government must help businesses by focusing on what we call the ‘four Is’ in our East Midlands Business Manifesto for Growth, A Centre of Trading Excellence – investment, innovation, infrastructure and international trade. “Action in these areas should involve helping with the tight labour market by incentivising firms to upskill their people and making it easier to recruit skilled workers from overseas, more financial support for research and development in key sectors, and cutting red tape that continues to hinder exports.”

Manufacturing output declines for fifth month running

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Manufacturing output declines for fifth month running
Manufacturers’ order books remained weak in June, according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey. Output of UK manufacturing firms fell marginally in the three months to June, for the fifth successive month, though at a slower pace than in April and May and in line with expectations. Output volumes are expected to rise slightly in the three months to September. Total order books were reported to be below normal, to a broadly similar extent to May. Export order books were also seen as below normal, but deteriorated slightly, leaving them in their weakest position since February 2021. The survey, based on the responses of 233 manufacturing firms found:
  • Output volumes fell marginally in the three months to June (weighted balance of -6%, from -10% in the three months to May). Output is expected to rise slightly in the three months to September (+4%), with expectations mildly positive again after briefly turning negative last month.
    • Output fell in 12 out of 17 sub-sectors in the three months to June. The largest contributions to the fall came from the mechanical engineering and food, drink & tobacco sub-sectors.
  • Total order books were reported as below “normal” in June, to a broadly similar extent to May (-15% from -17%). This leaves them standing marginally below the long-run average (-13%).
  • Export order books were also seen as below normal and deteriorated marginally from last month (-29% from -26%). This was also weaker than the long-run average (-18%) and leaves export order books in their weakest position since February 2021.
  • Expectations for average selling price inflation in the three months ahead fell slightly in June (+19%, from +21%), the sixth consecutive monthly fall, to stand at their softest since February 2021. Although selling price inflation expectations were comfortably below the multi-decade high seen in 2022 (+80% in March 2022), they remained well above the long-run average (+7%).
  • Stocks of finished goods were seen as comfortably above “adequate” in June (+15% from +10% in May) and remained broadly in line with the long-run average (+12%).
Anna Leach, CBI deputy chief economist, said: “May marked another weak month for UK manufacturing, with activity declining for the fifth time in a row. Manufacturing activity is likely to have shrunk a little during the second quarter, as weak demand has overwhelmed some stabilisation in supply chains and costs. “Total order books have improved a touch in recent months, but they remain fairly soft. And although output expectations have turned positive again, growth is expected to be quite weak in the three months to September. “Against a backdrop of subdued demand, manufacturers are maintaining a cautious approach to investment. The introduction of full expensing at the Spring Budget was welcomed by the manufacturing sector, but this should be made permanent to give the confidence businesses need to press ahead with their plans, so we can tackle the long-term weakness in UK business investment.”

East Midlands businesses awarded Create Growth grants worth up to £30k each

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East Midlands businesses awarded Create Growth grants worth up to £30k each

The first group of successful Create Growth grant applicants has been announced – with up to £400,000 of funding now heading to the East Midlands.

Fourteen grants, each worth between £10,000 and £30,000, have been awarded to creative businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire, Derby and Derbyshire, Rutland, Lincoln and Greater Lincolnshire.

The successful applicants to the Innovate UK-funded scheme were revealed as Government announced new plans to maximise the potential of the UK creative industries and grow the economy.

Recipients of funding include fashion firms, gaming tech companies and businesses in the music, design, production and video sectors. 

The Athlete Place, based at LUinc. on the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park, is an online platform providing guidance and support for parents of aspiring young athletes.

Founder Joe Fuggle said: “We are thrilled to be among the first beneficiaries of Create Growth funding.

“By receiving support, we will be able to enhance the production value of our content and education through collaboration with experienced professionals in the creative industry.

“It’s a massive opportunity to explore previously out-of-reach projects and improve our investment readiness and is very exciting.”

The fourteen successful funding applicants were:

  • Gumbo, Leicestershire 

  • Th!nk FC, Leicestershire

  • Super Hyper Instant Future Time, Derbyshire

  • Future Proof Creative, Derby

  • Floop Group, Lincolnshire

  • Graphic Workman, Derbyshire

  • Rubitek Solutions, Leicestershire

  • Biomatics, Lincoln

  • The Athlete Place, Leicestershire

  • Lyndon Media, Leicestershire

  • Cocoa Amore, Leicester

  • Haarlem, Derbyshire

  • Derby Swap Shop, Derby

  • Apnakey, Leicester

The Creative Industries Sector Vision, published by Government last week, aims to grow the creative industries by £50 billion by 2030, create one million extra jobs, and deliver a creative careers promise that builds a pipeline of future talent.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “This Sector Vision is about driving innovation, attracting investment, and building on the clusters of creativity across the country.”

Elsewhere, as part of the wider Create Growth agenda, the East Midlands Creative Consortium (EMC²) is recruiting to a separate programme supporting businesses operating in the creative sector.

EMC² is among the first six regions to run the scheme, which will offer bespoke development packages which increase business skills and help businesses get better prepared to capitalise on future finance options as they become available. 

It runs across Leicester and Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincoln and Greater Lincolnshire, Derby and Derbyshire, with the first cohort starting in September.

The free programme of support will ultimately work with 100 regional businesses to help them accelerate business growth, create jobs, and prepare for investment.

OMS adds to its course portfolio

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OMS adds to its course portfolio
For the second half of 2023, OMS are delighted to be able to add a series of health and safety training courses to their portfolio. And they are sure they’ll be 4.9 star rated on Trustpilot soon, just like OMS’ other courses already are. IOSH SHE OMS have been offering IOSH training courses for the last 17 years, with their trainers experts in their field, and provide a range of IOSH courses already. The newest addition to the offering is the IOSH SHE for Construction Site Managers. The construction and building products sector is OMS’ speciality as they’ve worked with many of the brilliant businesses located in the East Midlands over the years. The first IOSH SHE courses start on the 31st July and OMS are looking forward to seeing their training centre full of site managers and H&S managers who’re looking to gain this respected qualification. Construction NVQs OMS have added a range of NVQs designed specifically for different tiers within the construction sector; their NVQ Level 2 courses are for the operational level, so people doing the ground works for example could gain an NVQ at this level in modular paving. Moving onto the next level, NVQ3 is designed for site people to progress their construction career and understand what supervision of sites requires. NVQ4 provides a full qualification for site supervisors and covers planning, quality control, health and safety. Then the NVQ Level 6 is created for site managers to prove their competence and gain the much sought after CSCS Black Card Manager. NEBSOH Diploma When it comes to NEBOSH, OMS are a gold training partner. There’s been over 600 delegates on the NEBOSH course over the last nearly 20 years that OMS have been running them at their training centre in Leicestershire. “Having trusted partners to deliver the NEBOSH training courses is paramount, OMS have long been one such partner. The team at OMS have always focused on putting the customer first and this is proven with 25 successful years in business,” said Ian Cooke, Head of Corporate & Consumer Services at NEBOSH. The NEBOSH Diploma is the most highly respected health and safety qualification in the country. It’s the perfect choice for anyone in any sector to progress with a H&S career. OMS can offer open courses where one or more team members join the course at their Leicestershire-based training centre, or training can be delivered in house on site, bespoke to business needs. All courses can be viewed and booked via www.oms.uk.com.

Housebuilder submits plans and exchanges contracts to deliver £20m residential development in Matlock

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Housebuilder submits plans and exchanges contracts to deliver £20m residential development in Matlock

Housebuilder Honey has submitted plans and exchanged contracts on a 10.5-acre site in Matlock to deliver a £20.35m, 75 new home development.

The proposed site, which will be called Hazel, is located opposite Matlock Golf Club on Chesterfield Road and was acquired from strategic land promoter Richborough Estates for an undisclosed sum.

Subject to planning, Hazel will comprise a mix of one-, two-, three-, four- and five bedroom homes and will include maisonettes, terraces, semi-detached and detached properties.

The development is Honey’s second in Derbyshire, with the company recently being granted planning permission to build its £14m, 50-new home Amber development in South Normanton, near Alfreton.

Sheffield-headquartered Honey says its housetypes have all been specifically designed to combine “style, substance and sustainability” for the benefit of buyers. Prices for homes at the development will be released at a later date.

If given the go ahead by Derbyshire Dales District Council, work at Hazel is anticipated to start in December with the first residents expected to move into their new homes next August.

As well as providing new homes for the area, if planning is granted, Honey will also make a £670,000 contribution to initiatives that will benefit the local community.

Honey Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mitchell, said: “It’s fantastic to have submitted planning for our Hazel development, which will deliver new homes that combine style, substance and sustainability for the benefit of discerning buyers.

“There is strong demand for high quality, high specification new homes in Matlock and we now look forward to Derbyshire Dales District Council considering our plans for the site.”

Briony Stenhouse, land and planning manager at Richborough Estates, said: “We’re thrilled to have secured this land sale to Honey, delivering a great result for our landowners and supporting the growth of a new housebuilder.

“Subject to planning, we look forward to Honey starting work on this attractive development of high-quality new homes that meet the needs of the local area.”

Honey was founded by former Avant Homes Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mitchell, in October last year. The company is backed by private equity firm Alchemy Partners and its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.

SMEs have shouldered average 26% energy price hike this year, survey finds

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SMEs have shouldered average 26% energy price hike this year, survey finds
Nine in 10 UK SMEs have reported hikes in their energy costs in 2023, with companies increasing their own prices and investing in their operations to help mitigate the impact, Paragon Bank research has found. Paragon’s survey of more than 500 businesses, conducted on behalf of the bank by Opinium, found that, on average, companies experienced a 26.6% increase in their energy bill during the first three months of the year. Four in 10 reported an increase of between 20% and 50%, with one in 10 recording an even larger energy bill hike. The increase in energy costs reflects the broader inflationary pressure facing UK SMEs. Businesses reported an average cost increase for raw materials of 22.6% during the period, and 21.4% in the cost of new equipment and machinery. Additionally, employee salary costs were up 17.7% on average. Businesses have implemented a range of measures to mitigate the energy cost increase. The most common action was to increase the price of their own goods or services, implemented by 54% of SMEs and being considered by a further 26%. Companies have also invested in their own operations to make themselves more energy efficient – 38% of businesses said they have made investments in greener equipment, such as more energy efficient machinery, with 36% making changes to their premises, such as the installation of solar panels. Other measures implemented by companies included encouraging more employees to work from home (27%), refinancing or extending loan terms on assets (20%), seeking new equity finance (21%) and taking out additional loans to fund the business (19%). Conversely, SMEs said they had cut planned investment (33%), whilst one in five had reduced production output (19%). John Phillipou, Paragon Bank SME Lending MD, said: “The cost of energy has negatively impacted the majority of business throughout the UK, even with the Government support package. Businesses have responded in several ways, with price increases being the most obvious way to mitigate the increase. “However, it’s also positive that companies have been looking at ways they can reduce their energy bills by making themselves more efficient. We have seen businesses invest in their operations with the addition of more energy efficient equipment, whilst we have also funded changes to premises, such as the addition of solar panels. These are positive steps towards a greener future.”

More than 200 firms forced to pay workers left out of pocket by minimum wage law breaches

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More than 200 firms forced to pay workers left out of pocket by minimum wage law breaches
Over 200 employers including WH Smith and Marks & Spencer have been named by government for failing to pay their lowest paid staff the minimum wage. The 202 employers – who’ve now paid employees the balance – were found to have failed to pay their workers almost £5 million in breach of National Minimum Wage law, leaving around 63,000 workers out of pocket. Companies named include major high street brands, small businesses, and sole traders, in a clear message from government that no employer is exempt from paying their workers the statutory minimum wage. Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said: “Paying the legal minimum wage is non-negotiable and all businesses, whatever their size, should know better than to short-change hard-working staff.

“Most businesses do the right thing and look after their employees, but we’re sending a clear message to the minority who ignore the law: pay your staff properly or you’ll face the consequences.”

The businesses named have since paid back what they owe to their staff and have also faced financial penalties. The investigations by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs concluded between 2017 and 2019. The employers named today previously underpaid workers in the following ways:
  • 39% of employers deducted pay from workers’ wages.
  • 39% of employers failed to pay workers correctly for their working time.
  • 21% of employers paid the incorrect apprenticeship rate.
Whilst not all minimum wage underpayments are intentional, there is no excuse for underpaying workers, says Bryan Sanderson, Chair of the Low Pay Commission: “Guidance for employers on pay is available on GOV.UK, and today the government has published additional advice about breaches and the steps employers should take to make sure they pay their workers correctly. “The minimum wage acts as a guarantee to ensure all workers without exception receive a decent minimum standard of pay. Where employers break the law, they not only do a disservice to their staff but also undermine fair competition between businesses.

“Regular naming rounds should be a useful tool in raising awareness of underpayment and helping to protect minimum wage workers.”

The full list of companies and the amounts by which they underpaid employees can be found here.

Applications open for projects to enhance Mansfield town centre businesses’ kerb appeal

Tess Egginton
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Applications open for projects to enhance Mansfield town centre businesses’ kerb appeal

Mansfield District Council has reopened the application process for town centre businesses to apply for grant support to improve shop fronts and enhance their building’s design quality.

The Mansfield Townscape Heritage Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered in partnership with Mansfield BID, Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Nottinghamshire County Council, focuses on parts of Leeming Street, limited properties on Stockwell Gate and the Market Place conservation area. The project forms part of a wider vision by the council to improve the appearance and vibrancy of the town centre and to put Mansfield on the map as a great place to live, work, invest and visit. Following a pause in the scheme’s delivery due to the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain issues and inflationary pressures, the council is now working with Focus Consultants to encourage property owners to review the project and consider the opportunity to apply. The circa £1.3m scheme helps landlords, property owners, and businesses with a lease that has at least ten years left to carry out property repairs and refurbishments to enhance the architectural quality of the buildings. Councillor Stuart Richardson, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, said: “Property owners will be able to apply for co-funded grants of up to 75 percent to help with the cost of making improvements, which are in sympathy with their building’s heritage. “The long-term strategy is to try to help Mansfield meet the challenges of the changing face of the high streets – a phenomenon happening across Britain – by encouraging more independent retailers and making the centre as much a place for socialising, entertainment and living in, as it is a place for shopping. “The council already provides business start-up, growth and shop front improvement grants to help reduce vacancy rates and encourage more independent retailers to the town and works with our partners to support established businesses to grow. The support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and their patience over the past few years is hugely welcomed. We are delighted to be working with Focus and our town centre partners to bring the project forward. “Times have changed significantly since the scheme was started, yet the funding pot remains, and we want to ensure everyone is given a fair opportunity to access this vital funding.” Jay Rowlinson, CEO of Mansfield BID, added: “We are delighted that the Townscape Heritage Programme is being given a boost, and we fully encourage our town centre businesses and the property owners to engage in exploring the support that may be available. “This is another important part of the town centre jigsaw, to create a place that is valued, appreciated and attracts new investment.” The deadline for applications to be received is Sunday 16 July 2023.

Council launches grants for rural Harborough businesses

Tess Egginton
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Council launches grants for rural Harborough businesses
Businesses in the Harborough district are being invited to apply for grant funding through the new Harborough Rural Grant Scheme.
Eligible applicants can benefit from grants between £5,000-£20,000 to support their business to diversify, innovate and grow. A total of £120,000 is available. The council is keen to support exciting projects that will help local businesses and the wider economy and community. The scheme spans across four themes:
  • Farm Business Diversification
Supports farm businesses to diversify their business activities outside of agricultural activities. Such projects should improve business resilience, development, and revenue
  • Innovate and Grow
Support micro and small enterprises in rural areas looking to deliver innovative projects. Funding will support projects that change the way businesses do something, to improve efficiencies and to generate more income. Projects will need to demonstrate how they are helping to overcome a rural issue or barrier they face in order to grow
  • Green Technology
Support businesses to invest in energy efficient and low carbon technologies. This means businesses can invest in green technology that will improve their carbon footprint. Businesses could also use this funding to develop their own green technology which can be used to improve the carbon footprint of their business and/or other businesses
  • Rural Tourism
Capital grants to develop local tourism attractions, facilities, or infrastructure to enhance the rural visitor economy and increase opportunities to attract visitors to our rural areas. Applicants must be based in rural areas in the Harborough district which can be identified in the grant policy. Before applying, businesses must review the full policy which includes the eligibility criteria. Applications opened on Wednesday 21 June 2023 and will close on Monday 11 September 2023. Cllr Geraldine Whitmore, Harborough District Council’s Cabinet lead for Culture, Leisure, Economy and Tourism, said: “In challenging economic times we are delighted to use funding from the UKSPF to support rural businesses in the Harborough district with growth and development. We want rural businesses to do well so I encourage them to have a look online and apply.” The grants are being managed and distributed by Harborough District Council using funding received from the government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund which is an extension of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Derby expansion for digital agency

Tess Egginton
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Derby expansion for digital agency

A digital marketing agency has doubled its footprint in Derby by moving into a new office following a period of rapid growth both in headcount and new clients.

Alphageek Digital has moved into Century House, in St James’ Court, after expanding its team to 20 members of staff – a growth of 33% in the last six months.

Making the move to the 167 sq m office space is allowing the firm to increase its client portfolio further.

Alphageek currently looks after the online activity for around 50 companies in four continents across a range of industries including Derby-based Project D, restaurant chain Tamatanga and international brands HUUB, Casio and Do Not Age.

The new office space has the capacity for the firm, which is run by three friends Art Lindop, Alex Mills and Kieran Flynn, to expand on to the next floor.

Operations director Kieran said: “This move is another positive step forward in our development as a business and because we are committed to growing the firm sustainably, and attracting the best talent to serve our clients, having more space at our disposal means we are ready to hit the ground running when we recruit.

“We have an ongoing commitment to providing a high-quality and collaborative working environment for colleagues and this new space gives us several offices as well as an area for downtime and even has space for our table tennis table.

“We want our people and clients to come and experience the refreshing culture that we’ve built and the new premises helps this to thrive further as we’ve made it our own.

“We are all ready to write the next chapter in Alphageek’s story. We’re really proud that Derby has the fastest-growing economy of any city in the East Midlands, and it has a growing reputation as a centre of excellence for technology.

“It’s a really exciting time for us. We are still recruiting for more staff and have just landed one of the most exciting projects we’ve ever been able to work on, which will be announced in the next few weeks.”

New partners join PwC Midlands senior leadership team

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New partners join PwC Midlands senior leadership team

PwC Midlands has made changes to its senior leadership team in the region, responsible for driving the local strategy and supporting the wider firm.

From 1 July 2023, Will Dowsett and David Teager will join the Midlands senior leadership team, with Matt Tombs expanding his role within the team.

David Teager

David Teager, audit partner, will join the senior leadership team as central regional leader for audit. Having built a career with PwC since 1998, David has worked across the globe including China and the Middle East, and is currently based at the firm’s Donington Court office. David’s priorities in the leadership role will include working with new and existing clients and growing the financial audit, stakeholder assurance and capital markets businesses.

Will Dowsett will step into the role of central regional leader for tax, covering a variety of offices including Birmingham and Donington Court. Will joined the firm in 2008 and was admitted into the partnership in 2015. Based in the Birmingham office, Will leads a number of the firm’s relationships with some of the biggest private companies and family businesses both in the region and nationally, and will focus on continuing to build the market leading tax practice in his new role.

Matt Tombs, deals partner, is expanding his role on the senior leadership team as the new industrial manufacturing & services industry leader for deals. Matt has over 26 years’ experience with the firm, most of which has been spent in the Midlands region. Matt is committed to building on the strength and depth of the Deals team, both locally and nationally, to support clients in the Industrials and Business Services industry sector.

Matt Tombs

Matthew Hammond, PwC UK Midlands regional market leader & Birmingham senior partner, said: “It’s fantastic to see both David and Will appointed to lead our Audit and Tax businesses across the Midlands, West and Wales. They both bring fantastic experience and international perspectives to our clients.

“Matt’s industry specialism reflects our Deals business focus through industry and sector lenses to ensure we bring the best specialist insights to our clients. With over 50% of PwC’s people based outside London, these appointments reflect the ability of talented team members to develop into senior practitioners and leaders through developing their careers in UK regional markets.”

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