Delivery solutions firm to develop major new East Midlands Regional Hub
DX, a provider of delivery solutions, has revealed proposals to develop a major new Regional Hub in the East Midlands.
The proposed new hub, which will include a new depot serving the local area, is expected to cost approximately £12 million, including site acquisition, and will be funded from DX’s existing cash resources. Detailed planning permission has been secured and the acquisition of the site is expected to complete within the next two months.
The new hub will be located on a 4.5-acre redevelopment scheme near Nottingham at New Stanton Park Industrial Estate. It will have a 25,000 sq ft footprint and will be developed to service the group’s parcel freight activities.
The new hub and depot will provide significant additional regional capacity and improve efficiency by reducing stem mileage. Construction, which will benefit from a raised dock and mechanisation, is expected to be completed during Q2 2024.
The new depot will replace an existing freight depot in Nottingham, which will become a dedicated 2-Man supersite.
Paul Ibbetson, Chief Executive Officer of DX (Group) plc, said: “The purchase of this site in Nottingham will enable us to create a major new regional hub and depot for our parcel freight operations and is in line with our plans to make strategic property investments.
“The investment will increase our capacity, drive efficiency improvements as well as enhance customer service. Further site openings and upgrades are planned as we continue to invest in developing the group’s network in line with our growth plans.”
Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership shows support for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) has shown support for Business Link’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, with its co-chair looking forward to seeing which companies and projects are shortlisted.
Andy Reed OBE, co-chair of the LLEP, said: “There have been some fantastic examples of commercial and residential construction in Leicester and Leicestershire over the last year, as Mike Denby (Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council) will doubtless touch upon during his keynote address.
“In addition, there have been some key sustainable public developments unveiled, including several supported by the LLEP, including St Margaret’s Bus Station in Leicester – the first net zero carbon bus station building in the UK and already winning awards.
“It’s good to see such projects being recognised and I look forward to seeing what is shortlisted across the categories.”
The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrates the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and exceptional developments, and provides the perfect occasion to shine a light on your team, reward their hard work, and boost morale.
With nominations open until Thursday 31 August, now is the ideal time to enter your (or another) business/development for the awards. To do so – click on a category link below or visit this page.
To be held at:
Award categories include:
Thanks to our sponsors:
- Most active estate agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
To be held at:
East Midlands unemployment rate drops to 3.4%
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate has dropped once more to 3.4% for the period between February and April 2023, new figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
It fell from 3.7% in the previous reporting period to March – which had been the highest level in 18 months – while it remains below the UK average of 3.8%.
The region’s economic inactivity rate – which measures the number of working-age people who have dropped out of the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 21.5%.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “These figures are relatively promising as they suggest the unemployment rate isn’t spiralling upwards after reaching an 18-month peak in the previous set of data.
“Despite the economic challenges being faced by businesses, they continue to display great resilience by pursuing growth opportunities and seeking to recruit, with our own research via the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey showing a net 2% growth in the proportion of East Midlands businesses adding to their headcount in the past three months.
“However, future recruitment prospects are less optimistic, with a net 6% decline for the next three months. With intentions to invest in training also down, this suggests businesses need support from Government to invest in their people, whether that be in upskilling their existing workforce or reskilling prospective employees to fill skills gaps.
“In our Business Manifesto for Growth, we have set out a list of policies we believe will make the required difference, including introducing flexible incentives for businesses that invest in staff training and bringing forward the introduction of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement to support retraining and the retainment of an older workforce.
“We must also tailor policies to recognise the diversity of people who are out of work and avoid a one-size-fits-all solution. We would also like to see Government work with businesses to offer support, and share best practice, on what a flexible and inclusive workplace looks like as this is another vital ingredient in enticing people back to work.”
Completion of second High Street Heritage Action Zone for Midlands landscape architect
Landscape architecture practice Influence Landscape Planning and Design is celebrating the completion of North Walsham Market Place – its second High Street Heritage Action Zone project.
As part of North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone, the completed works have been delivered to improve the balance between pedestrians and vehicles in the North Norfolk town and enable it to embrace its heritage and community.
Nottinghamshire-based Influence were the public realm lead consultant, project manager and designer of the scheme, which was funded by North Norfolk District Council, Historic England and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.
The three funding organisations made a collective investment of £2.6m in the placemaking scheme, out of the overall North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone budget of £3.8m.
Having previously worked on the urban planning and design of Kettering High Street Heritage Action Zone in 2022, North Walsham is the second High Street Heritage Action Zone Influence have worked on.
In North Walsham, the objective of the works was to regenerate the Market Place, situated within the town’s Conservation Area, to rejuvenate the High Street and increase pedestrian footfall and dwell time.
In addition, a wider investment in the North Norfolk town has delivered a new travel hub, new toilet facilities, new benches, the planting of trees and plants and remedial works to some buildings.
Norfolk County Council managed the placemaking works of the project and Tarmac, a sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, carried out the majority of the construction works.
The completion of the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone was marked last week with an event involving representatives from construction partners, Historic England, North Norfolk District Council and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.
The event involved a tour of the revamped Market Place and other nearby improvements and included speeches from Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director for Historic England, North Norfolk District Council Chief Executive Steve Blatch and Chris Starkie, CEO of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, followed by a performance from The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and North Walsham High School.
Chartered practice Influence provides expertise in project management, environmental planning, feasibility and concept development, master planning and urban design, landscape design, visual impact assessment, expert witness and arboriculture.
Shona Hatton, associate director at Influence, said: “High Street Heritage Action Zones are such a key part of the future for our towns – especially post the pandemic – and are often driven by a strong local community interest. Revitalising and regenerating our high streets whilst reinstating the heritage roots is critical to their success, now and in the future.
“North Walsham is a vibrant market town but has been waiting for a long time to bring forward a high street public realm project. The Influence team and I were honoured to have been selected to work on this important project, and are pleased to have supported North Norfolk District Council’s in-house team in its delivery.
“The opening celebration on 11 May demonstrated how public realm improvements can kick start wider renewal of Conservation Areas and The Shambles terraced gardens are an excellent example of how revealing heritage can transform disregarded spaces into places with unique character.
“Our previous experience in the delivery of High Street Heritage Action Zones gave us specialist knowledge and understanding of the challenges and huge opportunities in our high streets – we have used that experience to great effect to reimagine the physical and social environment of North Walsham, to enable it to be a prosperous town where people want to live, work and relax.”
Tony Calladine, East England Regional Director, Historic England, said: “It’s wonderful to see this remarkable transformation in the town, from the visually welcoming area of Church Approach to the huge undertaking of the Market Place renovations.
“Partnership working with North Norfolk District Council and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership has led to some remarkable outcomes, and this work continues with exciting projects to revitalise The Cedars and the former Barclays Bank. North Walsham’s historic character shines through and offers an attractive experience for residents and visitors alike.”
Chris Starkie, CEO, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “North Walsham, like other town centres in our region, serves a substantial hinterland, and making it more pedestrian-friendly and accessible will improve trading conditions and strengthen its economic viability.
“It is crucial that our town and city centres receive the financial support needed in order to thrive, especially after the disruption of recent years, and I’m delighted to see first-hand the enhancements delivered by this project.”
Other members of the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone project team include Gleeds as quantity surveyor, HETA as master planners and consultation, Rees Bolter Architects as heritage consultants and BSP Consulting on highways.
People facing homelessness set to benefit from proposed merger
Members of the local community who are facing homelessness and poverty could be set to benefit from a proposed merger between YMCA Derbyshire and Padley Group.
The two charities are in talks about joining forces to offer a host of services for those facing homelessness and poverty, including skills development, access to food and nutritional advice, wellbeing services, volunteering and signposting to healthcare, welfare, and housing.
As part of the merger, Padley Group would become known as Padley @YMCA Derbyshire.
Di Litchfield, business manager at Padley Group, said: “The impact we will deliver for people and families affected by homelessness across the city and county will be significantly increased.
“This merger will enable us to grow our funding, which means a stronger, more impactful organisation for the years to come.”
Gillian Sewell, Chief Executive of YMCA Derbyshire, said: “Padley Group is one of the most respected charities in our local area. We will be working together to develop the housing and support offer from both organisations.”
According to Gillian, both organisations have aligned visions – that no-one should be without a roof over their heads and that they should always have a safe space to learn and grow.
She said: “Many of those we serve benefit from the support of both organisations.
“It is always our aim to provide as much assistance as we can for our communities with limited resources, while keeping those who use our services at the centre of all our decisions.
“As we move forward, we also want to work with other members of the Derby and Derbyshire business community to address the wider spread issues of poverty in the city and county to work towards preventing homelessness.”
YMCA Derbyshire’s aim is to provide young people with a safe place to learn and grow, make them feel equipped to belong, contribute and prosper, and feel supported to be active in body, mind, and spirit.
Padley Group’s mission is to support and empower those affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives.
This is achieved by providing a range of support services to help them turn their lives around.
Speaking about the proposed merger with YMCA Derbyshire, Di said: “This will be a collaborative process, with both teams coming together as one to bring insight and expertise.
“We will listen to the people we are here for, as well as our patrons and other stakeholders to make sure we grow our influence and impact, and not reduce, or dilute what we do.”
University of Nottingham spin-out company launched to deliver gene therapy during bone repair surgery
A gene therapy system that can repair and regenerate human tissue is being developed for use in orthopaedic surgery with the launch of a new spin-out company.
TherageniX is a University of Nottingham spin out that’s been launched in collaboration with NLC, a healthtech venture builder, to develop technology that uses gene therapy to provide biological cues to boost the body’s response to regenerating skin, bone, muscle and cartilage. TherageniX will initially focus on orthopaedic application, with the aim of improving the outcomes for patients with bone loss, infection and disease.
This technology has been developed by Dr James Dixon in the School of Pharmacy who has created a platform technology to deliver a variety of therapeutic molecules into different cells and tissues as disease treatments. The platform uses peptides and DNA or RNA to form nanoparticles that when uptaken by cells can drive a diseased or injured tissue to generate its own therapeutic molecules.
Bone repair usually uses grafts from the patient’s own body (autologous), but this has drawbacks when there is not enough bone available for large defects or when there is risk of infection, or further trauma at the harvesting site. Many bone implants fail due to poor integration, infection or do not function well when healed.
TherageniX’s solution will be added to autologous bone grafts during operations by delivering genes directly as a powdered medicine while the patient is undergoing surgery. This will improve the regenerative capacity of the graft and is expected to lead to better outcomes, while reducing trauma at the graft donor site. This new therapy will also reduce waiting times for patients and manufacturing costs.
Dr James Dixon, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, said: “Adapting our technology for a rapid application directly to grafted tissue within the operating theatre has been a vision for our gene delivery platform for several years, we have the opportunity here to bring regenerative medicine and gene therapy forward with innovative applications and apply it in ways we could not have envisaged only a few years ago.
“We hope that our system will generate a platform of transformative, economically viable and impactful approaches to clinical problems that remain poorly addressed in modern medicine.”
Anandkumar Nandakumar is the CEO of TherageniX. He said: “I am very excited about the technology and we have a unique approach to help patients with bone defects. We are only at the first step with the possibilities of this technology. In the future we can envision treating several types of defects and tissues and move towards personalized medicine.”
TherageniX is an early stage venture with the first proof of concept in pre-clinical studies and has been supported by Nottingham Technology Ventures who manage the University of Nottingham’s spin-out portfolio.
Alice MacGowan, Nottingham Technology Ventures, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to announce the launch of TherageniX and are looking forward to seeing the potential of this platform realised for orthopaedic applications.
“Delivery of gene therapies to the site of action is a critical challenge, which this innovation has the ability to solve. It is incredibly rewarding to see the work of Dr. Dixon and colleagues at the University of Nottingham recognised by this external investment.” Eco-friendly manufacturer secures further investment
Producing sustainable products for warehouse storage, packaging and logistics, The Alternative Pallet Company, trading as PALLITE® Group, has received follow-on funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme.
This latest £750,000 funding for the company follows a previous MEIF investment, which saw the company create 18 new jobs at its Wellingborough base, establish trading in new overseas markets, and more than double its sales revenues.
The new funding will be used to create new roles in finance and operations, boosting capacity to meet increased demand and supporting the next phase of growth.
Paul Etty, PALLITE® finance director, said: “We are delighted to have secured MEIF funding, which ensures we press ahead with our growth plans. Our products provide customers with environmentally friendly solutions to help reach their sustainability targets.
“We are honoured to be a recipient of a King’s Award and excited to be taking this offering to more markets. FSE has continued to show an understanding of our business model and is able to invest where traditional lenders cannot.”
Ann Marie McFadyen, investment manager at The FSE Group, added: “Paul and the team have made impressive progress since our last loan – despite difficult trading conditions caused by covid and Brexit – with the company on track to deliver over 100% growth in 2023 for the second year running.
“We are pleased to be continuing to support this growing and ambitious business as it develops more sustainable products for worldwide use.”
Largest loan amount in over a decade awarded by Leicester charity
The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity (STWLC) has awarded its largest quarterly loan amount in over 10 years, with £171,000 to be delivered in interest-free loans to 14 Leicestershire businesses, and £11,500 awarded in interest-free education loans to support postgraduate studies.
In total, 16 loans were approved this quarter, totalling £182,500.
This represents the largest business loan total approved by the charity in a single quarter in over a decade – and is also the largest overall total for a quarter in over 10 years.
Among the 14 Leicestershire businesses to receive interest-free loans this quarter are an optician, landscape gardener, creative agency, make-up artist and videographer.
Meanwhile, the two education loans will help individuals to study postgraduate courses in Camera, Sound & Vision Mixing in TV production and an MSC in Economics and Finance.
Established in 1542, STWLC hosts quarterly application windows each year in which people aged over 18 and under 45 can apply for unique interest-free loans of up to £20,000 to aid local businesses, or £10,000 to support students wishing to return to postgraduate education. The charity’s loans are interest-free for nine years, and become repayable by equal instalments after three years.
Lucy Womack, chair of STWLC, said: “All I can say is, wow! To have approved our largest quarterly loan amount in over a decade is incredible news for the charity and we’re absolutely thrilled to be expanding our support to so many across Leicestershire & Rutland.
“The number of applications we received was fantastic, but it was the high quality of these applications and business plans which was most pleasing to see, and this is the reason why we were able to approve such a large allocation.
“Our offer is unique, and it sometimes sounds too good to be true, but these businesses and individuals will be seeing first-hand how valuable an interest-free loan can be for a start-up, an existing business, or when returning to university.
“If you could benefit from an interest-free business loan up to £20,000, or an education loan up to £10,000 to support with tuition and living costs, please visit our website to find out more. The worst we can say is no, but the chances are, we’ll say yes!”
The next deadline for applications is 3.30pm on Monday 3 July 2023.
The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023: “A great opportunity to recognise the expertise of the region’s property and construction supply chain”
Derby City Council is showing its support for Business Link’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, calling it “a great opportunity to recognise the skills and expertise of the region’s property and construction supply chain.”
The event celebrates the East Midlands’ property and construction industry, its people, and exceptional developments, and provides the perfect occasion to shine a light on your team, reward their hard work, and boost morale.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism at Derby City Council, said: “We’re ready to bring a fresh energy and perspective to delivering an ambitious programme of regeneration for the people of Derby. As a new administration, we’re committed to creating a thriving and vibrant city and look forward to working with talented, innovative and sustainable development partners.
“The East Midlands Bricks Awards is a great opportunity to recognise the skills and expertise of the region’s property and construction supply chain.”
With nominations open until Thursday 31 August, now is the ideal time to enter your (or another) business/development for the awards. To do so – click on a category link below or visit this page.
To be held at:
Award categories include:
Thanks to our sponsors:
- Most active estate agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
To be held at:
E-mobility start-up Ottr joins forces with five brands to create global mobility powerhouse
Under the flagship umbrella of ‘Today’, East Midlands firm Ottr and five other brands which are backed by venture capitalist fund EFO Ventures mark a significant milestone in the micro-mobility industry.
Ottr, Frog, Leap, Element, MIXTE and White Fox will unite their expertise and resources to deliver a comprehensive end-to-end micro-mobility management service.
Reflecting on this groundbreaking merger, David Bothwell, the director and founder of Ottr, expressed his excitement, stating: “We at Ottr are now part of something much bigger than we ever thought possible. The team at Ottr should take stock of their amazing work completed, lessons we have learned together, and all in under two years.”
‘Today’ is driving the Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) revolution forward, with an initial offering of 1,500 vehicles in Nottingham (England), and currently expanding to Lisbon (Portugal) and Dublin.
Its commercial fleet consists of 8,000 vehicles made up of e-scooters, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-mopeds. They are available for shared mobility operators, delivery companies, universities and consumer brands wanting white label solutions.
For Ottr, joining forces with ‘Today’ enables it to “leverage cutting-edge products, technology, and profitable business models across hardware and MaaS verticals.” This strategic integration safeguards Ottr from seasonality in shared mobility, allowing it to thrive by diversifying revenue streams and driving sustained profitability.
“Profitability is our focus, and covering the entire value chain allows us to thrive without dependency on a single revenue source,” explained Today’s co-founder, Sean Flood.
Looking ahead, the team is already in discussions about bringing more companies under the ‘Today’ brand.
Jobs created as Leicester manufacturer fast-tracks expansion with Growth Hub support
Creating jobs and improving efficiency was always part of the plan for Micro Weighing Solutions (MWS). And the Leicester-based firm turned ideas into outcomes with help from the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub.
Support meant that MWS secured funding for a mezzanine floor at its Birstall base – increasing factory capacity by 2,000 square feet and taking on two new staff and an apprentice.
Established in 1998, MWS offers an end-to-end weighing service – design and manufacture, installation, and ongoing maintenance. It has expanded at speed, with recent growth aided by a grant from the Growth Hub.
In 2020, MWS opened a base in County Durham to help service demand from the north. By 2022, it had doubled its capacity. It now aims to continue its growth and relationship with the Growth Hub.
Managing Director, Andrew Clarke, explained: “Expanding our capacity was always part of our long-term plan, as we knew it would open up growth opportunities for us.
“The Growth Hub team was integral in helping us bid for the funding that has since paid for the work at the factory.
“As a result, we have been able to employ more staff, dedicate an area for repairs, and streamline our production process – making it much more efficient.”
The story behind MWS’s growth is one of several that will be told at a special event on June 23, celebrating the success and progress of firms which have been helped by the Business Gateway Growth Hub.
Andrew added: “Leicester is where it all began for MWS. As a company, we are proud that all of our products are manufactured locally with components that are sourced from UK-based partners.
“This is important, both for sustainability and because it also allows us to ensure our products are high quality through closely managing our supply chain.”
The Business Gateway Growth Hub provides free and impartial support for business growth in Leicester and Leicestershire.
It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered in partnership with Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited (LLEP).
While current ERDF funding ends this month, other support and signposting from the Business Gateway Growth Hub will remain for local businesses.
“The support we have received from the Growth Hub has helped the business develop and grow,” Andrew added.
FHP complete sale of Hockley investment
FHP, acting on behalf of a private family, have completed the sale of 38/40 George Street/22a Lower Parliament Street at a price in excess of the quoting price with the help of Russell Thompson of Massers.
The 3,900 sq ft property has been in the family for many years and is occupied by DG Cars and a Nail Bar at Ground floor with two floors of offices above, one of which is vacant. The current income is £31,900 pa.
David Hargreaves of FHP, who handled the instruction, confirmed a sales price of £425,000 was achieved against the asking price of £400,000, and that from first inspection to completion took just 14 weeks.
Hargreaves said: “We targeted our marketing at both investors and developers alike as the property provided not only a well-established income stream but also had opportunities to add value through the conversion of the upper floors to student accommodation or apartments together with scope to add one or two more floors, subject of course to securing the appropriate planning consents.”
The vendor said: “We are absolutely delighted with the advice from David and his team at FHP, they did everything they said they would, their deep market knowledge and clever marketing generated a lot of interested parties from day 1 and we achieved a price in excess of our aspirations.
“Furthermore the sale was completed a lot quicker than expected – really excellent work by both FHP and Massers.”
Ground broken at Derby Business School development
Construction is underway for the development of the University of Derby’s new Business School, which will provide a facility for cutting-edge research, learning and teaching, and support businesses in the region and across the globe.
The new Business School, which is being built by Kier on land adjacent to the University’s One Friar Gate Square, is projected to be the study base for more than 6,000 students by 2030, supporting the local economy and adding to the vibrancy of the city centre.
To mark the progress of the project, a ground-breaking ceremony was held at the site on Friday (9 June), with guests including the University’s Chancellor Lord Burlington DL, academic colleagues, and representatives from Kier and Derby City Council.
Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, vice-chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “This new development is ground-breaking for many reasons. The state-of-the-art facilities will not only enable the University to extend its opportunities to undertake innovative and impactful research, but will also enable staff to deliver experiential learning and teaching through co-location and co-creation with businesses, and will become the front door of the University for the business and wider community.
“At Derby, our ethos is on equipping students with the skills and confidence to become gamechangers in their chosen career. As a leading institution for applied research, we recognise the importance of providing relevant activity to industry and the wider world, leading the way in impact from industry engagement.
“We look forward to seeing the project develop and continuing to work closely with key stakeholders to drive the new site to completion.”
The development, which is proposed to be net zero carbon in construction and operation under the UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework, kickstarts the University’s City Masterplan, which aims to develop its footprint in the city and improve connectivity across sites.
The new Business School is planned to include facilities such as an auditorium, a stock market financial trading room, a creativity lab, an extended reality (XR) suite and a range of social collaborative study spaces and quiet contemplative areas.
Lord Burlington DL, chancellor of the University of Derby and chair of the Business School Council, said: “The new Derby Business School will provide a place that inspires and encourages enterprise and innovation, where students and expert academics can collaborate, network with, learn from, and support local business leaders and entrepreneurs.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a substantial impact on economic development and social mobility in our region. This is one of the reasons why I agreed to chair the Derby Business School Council, which will help shape our strategy to achieve this.”
As part of the development, Kier will work with the University, local businesses and supply chain partners to create new jobs and apprenticeship opportunities, 25 work experience placements and two graduate opportunities.
Martin Williamson, operations director for Kier in the East Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Derby on this innovative business school in the heart of the city. We will use our extensive experience in the higher education sector to deliver a landmark building that fulfils the University’s ambition to connect students with local businesses and their wider community.”
Pro-Align undergoes buyout
Pro-Align, a Midlands-based supplier of wheel servicing equipment to the automotive industry, has undergone a buyout.
Northamptonshire-based Pro-Align was founded in 1990 and has grown to become the exclusive UK distributor for Hunter-branded equipment in the UK, supplying major vehicle manufacturers, dealerships, and national repair chains.
The transaction sees founders, Paul and Kathryn Beaurain, retire after more than 30 years with the business and transitions control to fellow co-founder, Philip Wylie who has extensive automotive industry and investment banking experience.
Philip Wylie said: “Looking ahead, these are incredibly exciting times for all of us at Pro-Align. We will continue to evolve our relationship with Hunter while also developing our structure, expanding our product range and investing in products and services that ensures Pro-Align remains the number one choice for workshops across the UK.”
Shaf Bheda, Mark Tuckwell and Chris Matthews, of Magma Corporate Finance, provided corporate finance and debt advisory services, with supporting tax advice being provided by Magma’s Liam Meade. Matt Thompson at Howes Percival offered legal advice to the sellers, with James Maynard, Sian Davies and Ashley Simpson, of Knights, acting for the buyer.
Funding was provided by HSBC with Daniel Toone, Simon Richards and Paul Armstrong taking the lead. Stephen McElhone, of BHW Solicitors, offered legal advice to the lender.
“We are delighted to have advised on the buyout of Pro-Align,” said Shaf Bheda, head of Corporate Finance. “This is a significant transaction for the company and we are pleased to have been able to support the transition of ownership of the business. We wish the team all the best for what we know will be a very exciting period ahead.”
Geldards appoint leading public sector specialist
Law firm Geldards has appointed Frank McArdle as a consultant to the firm’s Public Sector team.
Frank joins the team having led South Derbyshire District Council as Chief Executive for 24 years, recently retiring in March after over 40 years of service at the local authority.
He previously held the role of Head of Legal & Democratic Services at the same authority as well as the posts of Director of the South Derbyshire Local Strategic Partnership, Member of the Board of the East Midland Freeport and Chair of the Council’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group.
Commenting on the appointment, chairman David Williams said: “I’m delighted that someone of Frank’s calibre and reputation will be joining our Public Sector team.
“The team have experienced significant success and growth in recent years and Frank’s expertise and insight gained from a 40 year career at South Derbyshire District Council will be invaluable in maintaining that success and reputation as Public Sector specialists.”
Frank McAardle says: “I am looking forward to adding my many years’ experience in local government to the Public Sector team at Geldards.”
Chamber announces finalists for Enterprising Women Awards
Finalists across 10 categories of the East Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women Awards have been announced for 2023.
They will go on to take part in a judging panel on 11 July, made up of members of the Enterprising Women team, Chamber board of directors, and category sponsors to get their chance to pitch before winners are decided.
Winners will be announced at Enterprising Women’s flagship gala dinner, which will take place on 6 October at Winstanley House in Leicester.
Longstanding categories are up for grabs, such as Small Business of the Year, Female Employee of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, and the headline award Business Woman of the Year, as well as the refreshed She Who Innovates Award for those working in STEM-related industries.
Categories introduced last year to mark the network’s 25th anniversary will also return to the programme, including the Rising Star Award and Lifetime Achievement Award – which doesn’t have a shortlist and will instead be given as a surprise to an unsuspecting winner.
Enterprising Women co-chair Jean Mountain said: “We’ve received another cohort of outstanding applications from women working across the region, and the shortlist features some truly inspiring achievements and stories.
“It’s fantastic to see women in business across a wide range of sectors and backgrounds recognised through the programme, as well as those across different parts of their career journey – from those just starting out in apprenticeship roles to highly successful business leaders representing everything that is great about our region.”
Fellow co-chair Eileen Perry added: “Shortlisting the finalists has been a massive challenge for our category sponsors from the high calibre of entries, and we’re really looking forward to the judging panel to hear more about their work.
“Women in business across the East Midlands are doing fantastic and inspiring work, and we are delighted to be able to recognise their achievements through the Enterprising Women Awards each year.”
The Shortlists
Apprentice of the Year (Sponsored by Futures Housing Group)
- Alice Lees – Rolls-Royce
- Courtney Brindley – Express Recruitment
- Florence Comasky – EMA Training
- Lucy Coope – trentbarton
- Lucy Hilton – Cosy Direct
- Sophie Shapcott – Smith Partnership
- Cosy Direct
- Guildford Europe
- Rosie May Foundation
- Rotheras Solicitors
- Spenbeck
- Asiya Parekh – Leicester Hospitals Charity
- Brogan Lees-Collier – Forsyth Barnes
- Cherryl Holland – trentbarton
- Emily Brailsford – Rural Action Derbyshire
- Sarah Budgie – Regency Source
- Chloe Heard – MHA MacIntyre Hudson LLP
- Coral Guard – GBS Apprenticeships
- Katie McLoughlin – Soft Touch Arts
- Ruby Birks – Purpose Media
- Scarlett Tinsley – ER Recruitment
- Julie Adams – Auditel
- Julie Clark – Savage Lighting
- Sally Faulkner – Bond Street Distillery
- Sarah Withers – Withers Gin
- Therese Lord – Construct3D
- Flame UK
- Generation Next ambassadors
- PPL PRS collections team
- PPL PRS marketing team
- Rotheras Solicitors
- ChangeXtra – Claire Mann
- Construct3D – Therese Lord, Jacob Lord, Jason Lord
- e-bate – Leanne Bonner-Cook and team
- Purpose Media – Ruby Birks
- RimPro-Tec Wheelbands – Deborah Chester
- Blueprint Interiors
- CMP Legal
- Design Studio Architects
- Katapult
- S&D Roofing
- Becky Valentine and Victoria Green – Spenbeck
- Dawn Brown – Rose Cottage Doggy Daycare
- Emma Allen – Acute Business Advisory
- Jaz Kaur – Fraser Stretton Property Group
- Sandy Prime – S&D Roofing
PwC Midlands welcomes new team members following People Force acquisition
PwC Midlands has welcomed 25 new team members to its Birmingham and Donington Court offices, following PwC UK’s acquisition of People Force.
The acquisition makes PwC one of the largest Ceridian implementation partners in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with a team of over 60 specialists in the UK. The firm will look to grow its team of specialists, building on its presence in the US and in Mauritius working together to deliver global projects.
The UK based People Force team supports clients through their transformational journey specialising in implementing Dayforce, Ceridian’s flagship cloud human capital management platform that provides human resources, payroll, benefits, workforce management and talent management functionality.
Matthew Hammond, PwC UK Midlands regional market leader & Birmingham senior partner, said: “We are thrilled to welcome members of the People Force team to our Birmingham and Donington Court offices. Businesses, in the UK and globally, are investing and moving to the cloud at pace.
“Accordingly, People Force’s market-leading technology expertise enables us to provide our clients with even greater human-led, tech-powered innovation solutions to help them drive efficiencies and cost savings, both in their HR processes and across the workforce as a whole. The team will bolster our expertise here in the region and across the UK.”
The acquisition of People Force is one the latest investments in the Midlands by PwC, which also saw the recruitment of 160 graduates in the region and the acquisition of Olive Horse in early 2022.
Tim Quan, global vice president, System Integrator Alliances at Ceridian, said: “The completed acquisition of People Force, one of Ceridian’s partners, further strengthens our longstanding relationship with PwC. Together, we look forward to delivering quantifiable value and world-class experiences to our shared customers through our industry-leading Dayforce platform.”
Fundraising achievements permanently recognised in naming of new accommodation for rough sleepers
The fundraising achievements of Nottingham-based music producer DHP Family, local musicians and their audiences are to be permanently recognised in the naming of new accommodation for rough sleepers in the city.
A block of eight purpose-built flats in Forest Fields is to be named Akins House after DHP directors George and Sean Akins. They masterminded the development of Beat the Streets – the annual one-day music festival dedicated to raising funds to support work with local rough sleepers by the charity Framework.
Funds raised from tickets, bar sales and merchandising at each festival have been used in a variety of ways to house and support rough sleepers. The £89,500 raised at the 2023 Festival in January is contributing, for the first time, to the cost of new purpose-built accommodation – helping to meet the overall scheme cost of £1.4m.
The flats will offer a permanent home with personalised support to help each resident live independently. This includes access to drug, alcohol and mental health support and employment guidance.
Framework’s Chief Executive Andrew Redfern said: “The contribution of DHP’s Beat the Streets fundraising in 2023 has been essential in enabling this important building project to go ahead.
“Not only is the sum itself very substantial but it came at a time when the scheme was in doubt had additional funds not been forthcoming.
“The support for our work with rough sleepers and others, which is expressed through Beat the Streets, is remarkable. By naming our new accommodation Akins House we want to recognise the vision of George and Sean.
“It is also a tribute to the commitment and support of all our friends at DHP Family and the hundreds of bands, solo artists, technicians, stewards and administrators who have generously given their time and talent over the past five years.
“Last, but certainly not least, let’s not forget the audiences who have come along to the events – some of them year on year.“The success of Beat the Streets goes beyond the funds raised. It has inspired other partners to join our collective effort, amplifying the scope and effectiveness of responses to homelessness and rough sleeping.”
DHP Family’s Managing Director George Akins said: “Everyone at DHP Family is very pleased to have been able to raise more vital funds for Framework this year. We’re incredibly proud to bring the Nottingham music community together each January for such an important cause, and proud of the support that Beat the Streets has funded.
“It’s brilliant to see the tangible difference the money raised is making to the lives of vulnerable people in our city, particularly with this year’s contribution going towards a permanent home that’s set to help many people over the coming years.”
In the five years since the first Beat the Streets festival in 2018 more than £400,000 has been raised in total. In 2022 Beat the Streets received national recognition by winning the Sarah Nulty Community Impact Award at the UK Festival Awards.
More than 300 individuals have already received support fully or partly funded through Beat the Streets. This has ranged from providing emergency shelter, urgent health assessments and periods in specialist supported housing, through to resettlement plans and permanent homes with personalised support. This integrated approach aims to set people up for success and prevent them from falling back into the cycle of repeat homelessness.
Work is about to start at the Akins House site. The flats are due to be completed early in 2024.
Double senior hire as Flint Bishop eyes further growth
Law firm Flint Bishop has further expanded its employment team with two senior appointments in the space of a week.
Siobhan Mulrey, based at the firm’s Birmingham office, joins as a partner from national law firm Irwin Mitchell, where she spent close to nine years honing her skills and building a strong reputation in the legal industry. Her previous experience also includes working at Harrison Clark Rickerbys and Higgs LLP.
She brings with her a wealth of experience in all aspects of employment law including absence management, grievances, disciplinaries, pay disputes, redundancies, contract and policy drafting, as well as settlement negotiations, and strategic advice on large-scale restructures.
Notably, Mulrey provided significant support and influence in Irwin Mitchell’s national education sector focus, leading on its work for schools and multi-academy trusts.
Other recent work highlights include representing a multi-academy trust in the defence of claims for disability discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal, supporting a multi-national PLC energy business in a complex closure and relocation project, and representing a large construction and property management business in a high-stakes whistleblowing and unfair dismissal case.
In addition, Mark Fearn, has been appointed as business development manager and will be based at the firm’s Derby headquarters.
Fearn joins the company from MHR Global Ltd, a leading SaaS provider across the UK and Ireland, where he successfully led a team of 17 business development representatives with varying specialties. His team was responsible for all new business leads and in 2022, exceeded all lead targets contributing to the achievement of the annual business target of £105m.
He brings with him over 10 years’ experience in sales and new business development and throughout his career has successfully built, led, and developed teams, motivating and coaching them to exceed sales targets and provide an excellent level of service.
In his new role, Fearn will assume line management responsibility of a newly created team of business development executives tasked with generating new business opportunities and qualified appointments with senior decision-makers.
Louise Easthope, Partner and Head of Employment at Flint Bishop, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Siobhan and Mark to Flint Bishop at an exciting period of growth for the firm.
“Their experience and knowledge will undoubtedly enrich our team and broaden our capabilities, which will contribute significantly to our success in expanding our client base and achieving our business goals.
“These appointments mark a significant milestone in the strategic growth of both the firm’s employment department and the wider Derby and Birmingham offices.”
East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre teams up with Derbyshire Constabulary to deliver free cyber security guidance to local businesses
The East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre has teamed up with Derbyshire Constabulary to deliver free cyber security guidance to local businesses within Derbyshire in a new community outreach campaign which will see the team visiting numerous towns across the county over the summer months.
The campaign, which has the full backing of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster, will see members from the Cyber Resilience Centre, Derbyshire Constabulary’s Cyber Crime Unit and Safer Neighbourhood Officers taking to the streets and talking to local business owners, promoting the Cyber Resilience Centre and its benefits to Derbyshire businesses and local services.
The East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (EMCRC) is a police-led initiative which utilises the skills of its business and university partners to help small and medium sized organisations to better protect themselves against online threats by offering advice, guidance and the necessary services to make themselves more secure.
Small to medium sized organisations seldom prioritise cyber security, often believing it to be unimportant or too expensive. They may be of the belief that they won’t be targeted by cyber criminals because they’re a small enterprise, when in fact the figures point to a small business in the UK being successfully attacked every 19 seconds.
It’s hoped that by partnering with Derbyshire Constabulary our business communities will be confident that this police-backed campaign is important, trustworthy and worthwhile, leading them to take advantage of the EMCRC’s free community membership.
The campaign begins on Tuesday, June 13, in Derby city centre, aided by the Derby City Centre Safer Neighbourhood Team.
During the summer months, the EMCRC team – together with local SNTs and members from the Cyber Crime Unit – will visit towns such as Chesterfield, Matlock, Bakewell, Ashbourne, Ripley, Alfreton and Swadlincote amongst others, encouraging businesses in each area to bolster their cyber resilience via their free community membership, dispelling the myth that basic cyber security measures are expensive.
Detective Inspector Colin Ellis from the EMCRC, said: “This is a really important campaign which will, by raising awareness of online crime, help to better protect our business communities and important local services. That’s why the Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster and Derbyshire Constabulary are fully supporting us.
“Cybercrime is not just a big business problem. On a daily basis it affects far more of our small businesses, charities, schools and other organisations, but these attacks don’t get the media coverage that the big businesses get. That’s why it’s important to make our local businesses aware of the threat of cyber-crime and help them become better protected.”
For more information on the East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre and to access free community membership, visit their website at www.emcrc.co.uk
