Redrow Homes’ East Midlands division has completed on a 21-acre site off Jackson Lane in Etwall, formerly used for agriculture, just eight-miles south of Derby.
With outline planning consent in place, a selection of three, four and five-bedroom homes is expected to be built.
With a reserved matters planning application in progress, construction at the development is anticipated to commence in Autumn. Redrow has committed to circa £1million by way of S106 contributions.
Andy Noton, land director for the East Midlands, said: “We’re excited to announce the exchange of land in Etwall, and to be bringing a variety of new homes to the area.
“Here at Redrow, we strive to create sustainable, thriving communities at each of our developments, through building high-quality homes and investing in the local area, which is why we will be contributing circa £1million into the surrounding community.
“We’re looking forward to starting work in the Autumn, and seeing the new homes begin to take shape. Although it is early days, we anticipate that the development will be extremely popular with families, both growing and established.”
Derby steel construction firm sold in pre-pack administration
Family-owned steel construction firm, Robinson Structures Limited (RSL), has entered into administration after a challenging period, resulting in the majority of the assets of the business being sold by way of a pre-pack.
RSL is a third-generation company, with its beginnings dating back to the 1950s. Having created a strong reputation in the design and construction of steel frame buildings, they have successfully entered a variety of industrial and agricultural industries over the years.
Despite this, the Derby-based company experienced loss-making periods prior to March 2019 and from the second quarter of 2020, exacerbated by Covid-19. This significantly reduced orders and, therefore, operations. Notwithstanding the undertaking of a cost cutting exercise, the company returned into a loss-making position.
Dean Nelson, head of PKF Smith Cooper’s Business Recovery and Insolvency division, became involved initially to review the financial position and options for the company, following the removal of RSL’s insured credit limits with its key suppliers.
This advice resulted in PKF Smith Cooper’s BRI team being instructed to undertake an accelerated merger and acquisition process to try and identify a buyer for RSL.
Immediately on appointment as administrator, some of the assets of the business were sold via a pre-pack that included the retention of the majority of the workforce.
Dean Nelson said: “I am pleased that we have managed to secure the sale of the majority of RSL’s assets, saving jobs in the process. It has been a very difficult time for the company and its management, compounded by various external factors and commodity price increases.”
A spokesperson for RSL said: “It’s a sad day for the Robinson family, but we are thankful that jobs have been saved and the state-of-the-art production facility remains both intact and operational.”
Workforce shortages – employers no longer have the upper hand or call the shots: James Pinchbeck, Streets Chartered Accountants
James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, discusses workforce shortages and what employers can do to address the situation.
It looks like workforce shortages are here to stay and are going to affect more and more businesses, not just those looking for lorry drivers or those to work in care, hospitality, food and agriculture sectors. Signs are that the professions and those in the tech sector, along with others, are seeing not just short-term labour shortages but what looks like longer term shortfalls.
With job vacancies hitting an all-time high in 2021, labour shortages are in part put down to Brexit and the withdrawal of EU workers from the UK labour force and the pandemic. Other reasons may include improved education and increased participation in higher education leading to increased demand for higher skilled work, along with a growth in self-employment, as well as shifting attitudes to work.
So, what can employers and those seeking to fill vacancies do to address the situation in the short term?
Perhaps the most common approach or forced of hand response when labour is scarce is to pay more. However, this depends on affordability and the impact on the financial performance of the business as well as the implications on the pay of existing staff.
Other approaches to consider might include:
- Increasing overtime – it might be possible to address labour shortages through offering temporary extra hours to existing staff.
- Reaching out to those who may have recently retired to see if they might like to return on a temporary basis for perhaps reduced hours.
- If not already offered, looking at rewarding existing staff for introducing new team members.
- Outsourcing for key skills or shortages perhaps on temporary contracts. It might also be worthwhile looking at taking on student placements.
- Looking further afield, the pandemic has served to highlight it is not necessary for us to be at the employer’s place of work to undertake our work. A good digital connection and perhaps a blend of occasional at place of work contact might be a workable model.
- Checking the current status and satisfaction of your existing staff to safeguard retention.
- Take time out to determine your future workforce needs in terms of the work to be done, the skills required and the nature of those you need to do such work.
- With changing attitudes to work, with employees increasingly concerned about what is provided around employment conditions, training, career prospects, mental health and wellbeing, it might be a good time to look at the benefits in kind offered to ensure they are aligned to what is deemed a benefit.
- It might be worth looking at your approach to remuneration, along with bonuses offered as well as the possible use of employee share schemes to incentivise and retain key personnel.
- Seek to upskill and re-train existing staff, whilst at the same looking to provide recognition of this with career, promotion and development opportunities. On-going training and development is here to stay in a fast moving and rapidly changing world.
- Re-evaluate your employment offer and benefits – why would someone want to work for you? Be self-critical and not delusional in such an approach. It is very easy for us all to think we are an employer of choice when that might not be the case. It might be a useful exercise to commission an external review of your employer status/positioning. It might also be good to reflect on why people leave your organisation.
- Review the effectiveness of your recruitment process including how you promote vacancies and perhaps use or don’t use recruitment consultants etc. Some still only post vacancies on their website and perhaps LinkedIn and hope they might get applicants!
- Seek to improve productivity, especially through digital transformation, investment in technology and re-imagining the way tasks and roles are undertaken.
- Look to ‘grow your own’ through recruiting staff to train and develop perhaps as an apprentice or through the government’s Kickstart scheme.
- Look to work with your local Further Education and Higher Education provider to support your training/skills needs as well as to gain access to potential employees.
- For some sectors, it would not be unrealistic to think labour shortages are not going to go away. In such sectors and jobs, serious consideration has to be given to how to replace or reduce reliance on labour through mechanisation, artificial intelligence etc.
Council proposes to cut 91 jobs
Nottingham City Council has proposed to cut 91 jobs as its Executive Board considers its first stage of consultation proposals towards making £28m of savings as it looks to balance its 2022/23 budget.
The council says it has made £303m of budget savings since 2010 and been left £19.4m out of pocket through not being fully compensated for income lost as a result of tackling Covid. It adds that this means difficult decisions must be made, with proposals including:
- Reducing play and youth services, saving £615,000
- Closing six Children’s Centres and moving to a hub model of three centres, saving £331,000
- Reducing the frequency of some Linkbus services and increasing Medilink fares, saving £371,000
- Maintaining one free residential car parking zone permit and introducing an administration charge for second and third parking permits, saving £412,500
- Introducing a proposed charge for bulky waste, including discount schemes, saving £80,000.
School workplace tours make a comeback for Made in Chesterfield
North East Derbyshire’s school pupils are set to get hands-on with engineering and manufacturing careers once again with the Made in Chesterfield campaign which returns in November.
Forced to moving to virtual workplace tours last year amidst the pandemic, schools can once again visit local engineering and manufacturing businesses in person and discover the range of careers and job opportunities on offer to them in the sector.
Launched originally in 2013, the annual Made in Chesterfield campaign, which is coordinated by Destination Chesterfield in partnership with Direct Education Business Partnership, has since introduced thousands of young people across North East Derbyshire to the possibility of a career in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) sector.
Relaunched for 2021, and free from the constraints imposed last year by the pandemic, Made in Chesterfield is offering workplace tours for schools across 10 local companies operating in the STEM sector.
Aiming to bridge the careers information gap between education and industry, groups of Year 7 – 11 students will be visiting businesses from Monday 8 – Friday 26 November for an educational, interactive learning experience.
Companies offering workplace tours to schools include CBE+, Superior Wellness, United Cast Bar, Morgan Sindall Group Plc, MSE Hiller, Penny Hydraulics, Aztec Oils, Vistry Partnerships, Weightron Bilanciai and Woodhead Group.
As part of the month-long Made in Chesterfield campaign, schools can also access a range of careers videos to enable young people to experience a number of workplace tours virtually. There is also supporting activities and careers information and apprentice opportunities within the MyFuture virtual careers fair.
Ivan Fomin, Managing Director of MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield’s board member responsible for manufacturing and engineering in the Borough, said: “We have been running Made in Chesterfield for eight years and in that time, it has achieved an incredible amount. It works. Two of MSE Hiller’s apprentices are a direct result of the campaign.
“Made in Chesterfield is committed to breaking down preconceived ideas about the sector by young people, their parents and teachers. The world has changed and so has the manufacturing and engineering sector. It offers fantastic skills and training as well as interesting and well paid jobs at every level. Everyone is welcome.”
Made in Chesterfield 2021 has been made possible thanks to funding and support from The Chesterfield College Group, Chesterfield Borough Council, North Derbyshire Career Hub, D2N2 LEP, Careers and Enterprise Company, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd and Natwest.
Legal recruitment specialist relocates HQ from Nottingham to Vale of Belvoir
Bygott Biggs, the legal recruitment specialists with an established presence across Nottingham, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, has relocated to the Vale of Belvoir after leaving its headquarters in Nottingham city centre.
The company, led by Jane Biggs, had been based in a Regency town house on Clarendon Street for 15 years but has now set up home at The Engine Yard at the iconic Belvoir Castle.
With many law firms reassessing their own working arrangements in the light of the pandemic, Jane Biggs explains that the decision to relocate their HQ was something the board of directors had been debating for some time.
Jane Biggs said: “We have been exploring our options, weighing up the benefits of our central base in town and access to the professional district, with ‘wasted’ time on the commute that could be put to better use. That can mean extra time to work on our clients’ projects or of course, extra time for quality of life. It all comes down to balance.
“We had already transitioned to a more hybrid approach to working before the pandemic started but it definitely gave us the final push to progress with our plans. The key was finding a location that worked as a new headquarters and was still easy to access for our clients, and the team.
“We focus on meeting our clients at locations that are convenient for them but even though we are now further from the city centre, we are actually finding more people coming to us for a conversation in this beautiful and inspiring setting. It is also very convenient for candidates who are considering a career switch from London, as Grantham train centre is so close.”
Bygott Biggs’ recent ‘Workplace of the Future Survey’ of over 1,000 lawyers reported that an element of remote/home working is now a critical option for employers to offer, with over 75% wanting at least a hybrid approach.
“We have done our research and we have been assessing our own working practices alongside these findings,” concludes Jane. “In a way, this feels a little like the end of an era but we’ve assessed how our time is best spent and that is not in the car commuting into the city centre on a daily basis.
‘‘Work/life balance is crucial to peak performance in the workplace and happiness at home as our survey clearly showed. For us, our working hours are best spent with our clients and candidates and we can best achieve this balance through a considered approach to remote working and office-based meetings. Our beautiful new home enables us to do just that.”
Construction starts on next phase of Lincoln business park
Work on the next phase of a new business park in Lincoln will begin later this month.
Phase three of the Discovery Park development in Whisby Road will include construction of four new units for companies including Howdens, Screwfix and Brewers.
The work follows completion of phases one and two, which saw the creation of a new home for Lincoln Precision Engineering and 15 industrial units for North Kesteven District Council.
The development has been brought forward by local company Lindum Group, which owns the land, in conjunction with property agents Banks Long and Co.
The next phase of work will see Lindum’s BMS division on site until next July with the trade counters expected to be open a few weeks later.
The scheme will continue development of the seven-acre Discovery Park site, which has so far created 60,000 sq ft of employment space and generated opportunities for around 100 jobs.
Lindum development manager, Matthew Carter, said: “It is great to see three well-known, national operators signing up for units at the business park before construction work has even started.
“Their commitment to this new development is also a sign of confidence in the wider Lincolnshire economy, which is welcome news.
“Construction will continue until the middle of next year and once complete, the four units will contribute to the vibrancy of this growing business park.”
Screwfix is a retailer of trade tools, accessories and hardware products while Howdens is a supplier of kitchens and joinery products for the building trade. The third unit will be taken by high-end decorator’s merchant Brewers. The final unit is still available.
Multi-million pound land sale in Chesterfield to bring hundreds of new homes to area
A multi-million pound land sale in Chesterfield has provided a huge funding boost for a small local charity and will bring hundreds of new homes to the area.
Property consultancy Fisher German has sold a site in Staveley, Chesterfield with planning permission for 400 dwellings to Barratt David Wilson Homes.
Fisher German acted on behalf of a private landowner, which owned the majority of the site, as well as the Sutton-cum-Duckmanton Educational Trust, which was gifted a portion of the land in the 1950s.
The charity offers small grants to residents of the Sutton-cum-Duckmanton area who are undertaking further education, and the funding boost will ensure it can continue its positive work.
Fisher German was appointed by the landowners, and the firm then appointed Hollins Strategic Land as promoter.
Hollins Strategic Land secured the 55-acre site’s allocation for housing in the Chesterfield Borough Local Plan and outline planning permission for 400 dwellings on the site in 2020, just two years after their appointment.
Fisher German then marketed the site, receiving a strong level of interest from housebuilders, and the sale has now completed to Barratt David Wilson Homes.
Barratt David Wilson Homes is now progressing a reserved matters planning application – finalising the layout and features of the development as well as the exact number of houses – and is expecting to start work on the site in March 2022, with the first show home expected to be open in March 2023.
A spokesperson for the Sutton-cum-Duckmanton Educational Foundation said: “We are a small charity of six volunteers which supports people over the age of 18 from the Parish who are going on to further education with small grants for books and other educational supplies.
“We are very pleased to have worked with Fisher German and Hollins Strategic Land on the sale of the site. It will provide a considerable financial uplift for the Foundation, and although we don’t have any specific plans for the funds as yet, it will ensure the aims of the charity can continue into the future.”
Amy Bowden, of Fisher German, said: “We are pleased to have completed a deal with Barratt David Wilson Homes.
“We received a good level of interest in the site which reflects the positive market conditions for development land at the current time, underpinned by strong sale rates and house price growth.
“The sale of the site will bring much-needed new homes to the area and has provided the charity with a huge funding boost which will support the trustees to continue their excellent work going forward.”
Christian Orr, land & planning director of Hollins Strategic Land, said: “Having an in-house planning and commercially-minded team means we were able to drive the strategy forward, not only by gaining planning permission, but structuring the deal to meet the objectives of both Barratt David Wilson Homes and the landowners.
“With a bespoke team of professionals, we created a landscape-led masterplan in a sustainable location with views of the Derbyshire countryside which, after proactive engagement with the council, we were able to secure a planning consent in advance of the local plan being adopted, and subsequently complete on the sale of the site more quickly.
“It’s a fantastic bonus that the sale provides significant income to the charity to put back into the community over many years to come.”
Mark Cotes, Managing Director at Barratt David Wilson Homes North Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to deliver high-quality properties to Derbyshire homebuyers and invest in this growing community in Chesterfield.
“Exciting plans are in place for the development and we’re looking forward to seeing this community progress. It’s also fantastic to hear that the deal with Fisher German has greatly supported the Sutton-cum-Duckmanton Educational Trust which carries out vital work in the local area.”
Charity purchases Chesterfield premises
Derwent Rural Counselling Service, which supports people with mental health problems across Derbyshire, has invested in new premises in Chesterfield.
DRCS has bought the old Register Office in Chesterfield as part of ambitious growth plans for the charity which currently operates a team of 60 freelance and employed staff working from home and out of seven centres across the county.
Grand plans for the Beetwell Street premises include office space, consulting rooms, meeting rooms and relaxation space to help cope with an increased demand for DRCS services in the area plus other tenanted options.
Janette Smeeton, Chief Executive at DRCS, said: “We have seen rapid growth and success in the last few years and expanded our services now treating people from the Amber Valley, Erewash, Chesterfield, Buxton, Matlock, Ashbourne, Derby, Swadlincote and the Peak District. Adding to our property portfolio in Chesterfield makes sense as were using rented meeting rooms in the town.
“One main aim for DRCS has been to create a local service for everyone in Derbyshire to make sure everybody can get the service they need, close to home.
“The new Chesterfield building offers the biggest property challenge to date with three floors to renovate, but will help us provide as many treatment appointments as possible for the local community. We have not yet begun renovations but hope these will start as soon as possible.”
Mark Serby, chair of trustees for the Bakewell-headquartered charity, said: “This is an exciting project and another step in implementing the board’s strategy for growth.
“Now is the right time to invest in the future. Covid has changed how we do things and proved there is not only appetite, but there’s a need. By investing in the purchase and renovation of the property we will be in a position to scale active services and have capacity to introduce potential new ones to meet changing needs and have a real meaningful impact.”
Nottingham home improvements company named amongst top three in the city
Nottingham-based firm, Stormclad, has been named as one of the top three home improvement companies in the city by review website ThreeBestRated.
The company, which has a head office located in Basford, provides and installs windows, doors, conservatories and other home improvements products to customers across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
ThreeBestRated is a trusted review website which assesses and recognises the best three local tradespeople and companies in thousands of towns and cities across the UK.
Following a rigorous 50-point inspection process, which looks at various elements of a business including reviews, products, customer service, history, responsiveness and price comparison, Stormclad was awarded one of the top three places in Nottingham for its commitment to providing exceptional customer service and high quality, modern and energy efficient products with more than 13,000 successful installations across the East Midlands.
Started in Nottingham more than 20 years ago, Stormclad offers a range of aluminium, timber and uPVC windows, modern and traditional style conservatories, bifold, patio, front and back doors, carports and verandas in a range of styles, colours and bespoke finishes that are installed by a team of expert fitters.
The firm has also recently opened its third showroom in Nottingham, situated at the site of its head office on Basford Road. The other two showrooms are located at Brookfields Garden Centre in Mapperley and Notcutts Garden Centre in Wheatcroft.
John Evans, director at Stormclad, said: “We are incredibly pleased to be recognised as one of the leading home improvements companies in Nottingham.
“The company was started in Nottingham more than two decades ago, and in that time, we have grown to become an established firm in the city, and the East Midlands as whole, that is known for its quality product offering and reliable customer care.
“Recognition as one of the top three home improvements companies by ThreeBestRated is a huge testament to our dedicated team, who work to provide our customers with the best possible service at every turn.
“We’ve surpassed more than 13,000 successful installations across the East Midlands so far, and look forward to completing many thousands more as the business goes from strength to strength.”
Nottingham recruitment specialist makes senior appointment
Recruitment specialist Thorn Baker Group has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Iain Brown.
Iain will become head of people services, a newly created role that will help Thorn Baker deliver on its People Strategy and its intentions of improving learning and development opportunities for staff across the business so it can nurture, train and develop its own talent.
Iain has over 20 years’ experience within the recruitment industry and has created and led People Strategies, improving learning and development, employee engagement, onboarding and staff retention, at other leading recruitment firms.
Iain joins Thorn Baker from The Best Connection Employment Group, where he enjoyed a 15 year career as head of people services supporting over 1,000 members of staff in their professional development and career progression.
At Thorn Baker, through his newly created role Iain will align the People Strategy and HR function of the business with the firm’s overall strategic plan. This will ensure that staff benefit from having industry leading learning and development opportunities and effective onboarding and employment engagement policies and are supported through a person focussed HR policy.
The formation of a ‘head of people services’ role and Iain’s appointment is part of the continuing evolution of Thorn Baker. The company has grown consistently over recent years, including throughout the pandemic, and is experiencing strong demand for staff from its clients in the construction, industrial and estates and facilities maintenance sectors.
Thorn Baker is on course to achieve close to a £40 million turnover in this financial year, a landmark for the company that was founded in 1988.
By creating the head of people services role, Thorn Baker is aiming to become one of the leading employers within the recruitment industry so that it can attract the best talent and achieve excellent staff retention and productivity.
Paul Jackman, Thorn Baker Group CEO, says: “I am very proud that we are continuing to grow as a business and are able to support our clients with the people they need to help their companies thrive.
“As we grow, we want to ensure that we are continuing to invest in our people, supporting, training and nurturing their talent, so that we have outstanding teams across the UK. I am a firm believer that if you put your people first, then everything else will follow.
“I am delighted that Iain has joined Thorn Baker and I’m sure his complementary skillset will be a valuable addition to our senior team. Through Iain joining us as ‘head of people services’ it sets our intention as a business and shows that we are taking staff welfare and their learning and development seriously.
“Upon joining the business, we want our staff to know there is a career pathway for them and to ensure they are supported with the effective onboarding, engagement and learning and development opportunities. For our clients, they benefit from working with highly trained recruitment specialists who will be on top of issues effecting their businesses, such as compliance and Modern Slavery.”
Iain Brown says: “I am hugely excited about my new role with Thorn Baker and I am looking forward to working with the senior team and staff at all levels to help shape the People Strategy for the business.
“The Thorn Baker board and I share the same view that looking after our staff and becoming a leading employer must be at the heart of the business, especially if we are to continue to grow successfully. I have been impressed by how the company responded to the pandemic, the culture and ethos and how it has supported its staff, and this played a large part in my decision to join the business.
“I love supporting people to enable them to progress in their careers. This role will help me reconnect with that purpose and the part of my role that energises me the most, working with people at all levels of the business to help them progress and become excellent at what they do.”
Furniture company expands in Long Eaton with 80,000ft² unit
Local furniture company, Andrew Paul Furniture, has expanded in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire in reaction to an increasing order book and expanding client base. In need of additional manufacturing space, the business has secured an 80,000ft² unit.
The new premises will mean more employment for the local area and bring the APF portfolio of production units in Long Eaton over five sites to 155,000ft².
Tim Gilbertson confirmed the successful sublease following a client’s relocation, where FHP were tasked with disposing of good quality second-hand space on Long Eaton Industrial Estate.
Tim said: “It has been a pleasure seeing this deal complete, making our clients happy in disposing of the premises, but also it is great to help a successful Long Eaton based company, Andrew Paul Furniture, to expand further. Their growth has been remarkable over the last few years and I am sure this new facility will help them still further.
“From my perspective, Andrew Paul were terrific to deal with but also very sensible in their approach, jumping on this opportunity as soon as it came to market given the paucity of space available throughout the region, particularly in terms of large scale production and distribution facilities.
“I wish them well in their additional home and hope their business continues to grow and go from strength to strength.”
Andrew Cooke and Paul Bradbery of Andrew Paul Furniture said: “Due to our ever increasing order book and expanding client base, we were in desperate need of additional manufacturing space. We were thrilled to learn of an 80,000ft² unit that had become available close to our other four sites in Long Eaton.
“Tim Gilbertson of FHP was immediately contacted to make him aware of our interest in the property. Tim wasted no time in relaying our intent to his clients and the wheels were put in motion very quickly. The process was challenging for both parties to get the deal over the line quickly and smoothly, but we would like to thank Tim and his clients for their efforts.”
DE-Carbonise project helps small businesses in Derby to go green
With COP26 well underway, everyone has got carbon reduction on their mind and for businesses in Derby, help is at hand to make carbon reduction a reality.
Over the past five years, the DE-Carbonise project has given £1.5m in grants to help businesses reduce their energy and resource use and carbon emissions. The measures funded by the grants to date save a minimum of 1,750 tonnes of carbon emissions and £600,000 per year in business costs.
The project provides free advice and grants of between £1,000 and £20,000 to enable small and medium sized businesses to implement carbon saving measures within their premises and business activities. This includes improvements to heating, lighting, insulation, equipment, materials, waste and water management, solar panels, electric vehicles and charge points.
There is still £300,000 of grant money left to award to eligible Derby businesses by the middle of next year. Grants are given on a first-come, first-served basis so any businesses interested in DE-Carbonise support should get in touch as soon as possible via the project webpages. The grant covers up to 40% of the total cost of works (excluding VAT), depending on the carbon saving calculated by the project team.
The team has also carried out 650 carbon reduction audits so far and is currently working with another 140 businesses in the region, providing free, no-obligation advice on how best to reduce their carbon emissions.
Councillor Steve Hassall, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Decarbonisation & Strategic Planning & Transport, said: “The DE-Carbonise project is doing great work helping local businesses make significant improvements to their carbon footprint.
“It is incumbent on us all to do everything we can to help drive down carbon emissions and any changes and improvements we can make, no matter how small are a step in the right direction.
“There is support on offer from business reviews and technical support and with COP26 happening in Glasgow, I’d urge all the SMEs in the city to think about getting in touch and seeing what they can do.”
Philip Mason, Production Director at Tidyco, a Derby business who accessed support and a grant from the De-Carbonise team, added: “The assistance we received has made the grant process seamless and ensured that our unit has the latest low carbon lighting and efficient heating, which saves money and the environment.”
The project is a partnership between the University of Derby, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
Pictured: Philip Mason, Production Director at Tidyco with their recently installed LED lighting, destratification fans and efficient heater. The company is now preparing to install a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of this unit to generate zero carbon electricity for use on site. They had a grant of £11,082; the energy efficient technologies they have installed will save over 7.5 tonnes of carbon emissions and almost £3,000 per year.
Geldards boost East Midlands family law team with senior appointment
Law firm Geldards has boosted their East Midlands family law team with the appointment of senior associate Janine Hobday, to their Derby office.
With over 12 years’ experience, Janine joins from Flint Bishop and specialises in matrimonial finances, with a particular emphasis on the resolution of financial issues for wealthy individuals.
Recognised by Legal 500 as a ‘Rising Star’, Janine is a member of Resolution and helps to resolve family issues, especially those concerning children, in a non-confrontational way.
Having studied law at the University of Bristol and her subsequent LPC at the University of the West of England, Janine returned to work in the East Midlands and has been practising in Derby for the past eight years.
Commenting on the appointment Fiona Apthorpe, partner, head of family law at Geldards, said: “We are thrilled that Janine has joined the Family Law team in Derby. She brings with her a great deal of experience and specialist knowledge, which will strengthen the service we can offer to our clients.
“We already have a really great team of family lawyers in the East Midlands and this new appointment takes us one step closer to becoming the leading specialist matrimonial department in the region. We are delighted to welcome Janine to the team at Geldards.”
Janine said: “I am looking forward to starting my journey with Geldards, their reputation for Family law is second to none and am pleased to be joining the team and enhancing what is already a very strong offering.”
Planning application for £35m regeneration of Elvaston Castle Country Park to be submitted
Detailed proposals to regenerate Elvaston Castle’s historic grounds have been made available to view ahead of planning applications being submitted for the first phase of a £35 million regeneration programme.
Final touches have been added to proposals to reverse decades of underinvestment and secure the future of the 321 acre Derbyshire estate which includes the historic Grade II* Listed gardens which are the finest example of renowned 19th century gardener William Barron’s work.
It follows a comprehensive public consultation exercise and many months of work with Elvaston Castle and Garden Trust (ECGT), working with the National Trust, to finalise proposals for:
- building a new café accessed from the upper stable yard leading out onto a new adventure playground
- regeneration of the lower stables yard into a space for retail, catering and exhibitions
- regeneration of the upper stables yard for retail and office space
- new accommodation and workshops for site staff and volunteers in the frame yard
- reducing traffic through local villages and improving visitor access to the site by creating a new entrance and access drive closer to the A6 via a new junction/roundabout on the B5010. This would take visitors more quickly into the heart of the estate and to a proposed new car park.
- the repair and renovation of further historic buildings on the site to bring them back into use
- converting the ground floor of the castle into a conferencing and events venue
- offering camping and glamping on the estate’s former campsite with facilities for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents
- an improved and varied events programme to attract a wider audience.
Freeths expands employment & pensions team
Law firm, Freeths LLP, has expanded its employment and pensions practice with the appointment of five new lawyers – three of which are in the East Midlands.
The employment team has been bolstered by Amy Brokenshire (director) joining the Birmingham office, Paul Bownes (managing associate) and Alex Reid (associate) joining the Leicester office, and Andrew Dixon (associate) qualifying into the Nottingham office, whilst Nigel Jones (director) joins the firm’s pensions team in Leeds.
Rena Magdani, partner and national head of employment, pensions & immigration, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Nigel, Amy, Paul, Alex and Andrew to the team.
“The employment, pensions and immigration practice has seen a 50% increase in turnover in the last 4 years, and the last 18 months has seen a significant increase in demand for our services due to Brexit and COVID-19.
“Our team is recognised for being highly responsive, pragmatic and commercial, and we put our clients at the centre of everything we do. Our aim is to attract and develop the best lawyers and we are actively looking to appoint further high calibre lawyers to grow our team nationally.”
Are you sitting comfortably? By Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR and the PR and Communications Ambassador for the IoD in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, dives into the importance of storytelling in marketing.
In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit.
Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
Thank you Mr Tolkien for your kind introduction to my latest column on marketing!
You see, the problem with MOST marketing is that it is all a bit, well, meh.
It doesn’t make you feel comfortable like the legendary opening to The Hobbit, nor does it make you feel UNCOMFORTABLE. In fact, it rarely makes you FEEL anything at all.
The reason? You aren’t telling stories. Thinking about it, you are probably not even consciously trying to but guess what, you really should!
Try this: “It was just after I bundled Richard Branson through a security door that I knew I loved my job!” Or perhaps: “I started the day fibbing about the whereabouts of the former prime minister’s wife.”
I’ve used these lines many times in my marketing career because they are the beginning of a story. The story of my career and how I help people with their PR. They lead onto how the dickens I got myself into that situation and they create intrigue. They entertain AND they inform. The problem is, far too much marketing that I see just focuses on the latter and honestly, it often fails to even do that.
Just as the last edition of this magazine came out, I found myself face-to-face with David Walliams and if you’ve met me in person, that will give you an idea of how tall he is (see, I’m telling a story again). After some polite chit-chat and the obligatory photo-opp (David insisted) I made a note to write about this encounter for this latest edition.
You see, David is not only the co-creator of Little Britain, a channel swimming charity hero, and panellist of Britain’s Got Talent, he is also one of the best-selling children’s authors of all time! We’re approaching J.K. Rowling levels!
He has done this because he creates memorable and often outrageous characters – as we know now, some are no longer so well received! I’m not suggesting you have to go out there and start creating Gangsta Grannies or Billionaire Boys but it might help if you started to inject some more colour into your case studies at least.
A lot of the case studies I read feel as if they’ve been written simply because a marketing expert like me told them it would help. They will, but only if they are something that will be read!
“It was a crisp February morning when we pulled onto the disused wasteland…” is a far more promising start to a case study about groundworks than the usual Client, Location, Size format!
I know that writing does not come easily to many people but we don’t need War and Peace, in fact we need anything but that. We need something that breaks the monotony, that speaks to the target audience, that resonates with them. Ultimately, we need stories.
So next time you start working on some copy for your ‘About Us’ page of your website, or an award submission or a case study, see if you can become a storyteller, even if just for a little while.
Remember, you don’t need to be Tolkien to write a white paper on ‘Elf and Safety’!
A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008.
He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.
The East Midlands Property & Business Expo returns this Friday
After almost two years of no exhibitions, the East Midlands Property & Business Expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, will return this Friday (12 November 2021).
Taking place at the De Vere East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, delegates can pre-register for free entry to the event, which has everything you need for a great day of networking and business generation.
An established event of over 20 years, the show is well targeted and aimed at the construction, property, business, investment, finance, professional services and related B2B markets.
The exhibition will open to attendees at 9am, with a seminar taking place between 10:30am and noon. A special networking lunch (for which tickets can be purchased here) will then take place between 12:15pm and 2:15pm, and the exhibition will close at 3:30pm.
For more information on exhibiting at the event click here.
To register to attend the event for free click here.
To secure tickets for the networking lunch click here.
Exhibitors include A+G Architects, Allica Bank, Aspbury Planning, Bassetlaw District Council, Bowmer + Kirkland, BSP Consulting, Delta Simons, East Midlands Chamber, Empire Finance, Galliford Try, Invest East Midlands, Invest Newark & Sherwood, J Tomlinson, Lindum, Nottingham Trent University, Pick Everard, Pygott & Crone, Rigby & Co, Severn Trent, Stepnell, Wildgoose, YMD Boon, and more.
Notts software solutions provider makes biggest ever acquisition with £57.7m deal
Nottinghamshire-based provider of information management software, Ideagen PLC, has made its biggest acquisition to date.
Sydney-based RegTech provider, CompliSpace has been acquired by Ideagen for a sum of AUD$105 million (approximately £57.7 million), in a deal that will boost Ideagen’s footprint in a new geography, expand its commercial offering and enhance its Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).
A fast-growing provider of Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC) and Policy Management software, CompliSpace offers risk-based software programs and education to organisations principally in the education and social care sectors, where Ideagen sees globally compelling structural growth tailwinds.
Ideagen already provides global software and services to more than 6,000 highly regulated customers across multiple industries such as aviation, financial services, life-sciences, healthcare and manufacturing with operations throughout the UK, US, Europe, Middle East and South-East Asia.
The acquisition of CompliSpace is Ideagen’s 24th since its admission to UK AIM market, continuing what has been a successful strategy of growth via strategic acquisitions that add to Ideagen’s geographical and sector expertise.
Ben Dorks, CEO of Ideagen, said: “The acquisition of CompliSpace delivers three clear strategic objectives for Ideagen – a complementary commercial offering with a compelling growth opportunity, a strong footprint in a new geography, and enhances our ARR.
“We see a significant opportunity to leverage CompliSpace’s Australian footprint with our existing product suite, while also expanding its customer base within Europe and North America – in line with our strategy to grow both our geographical and sector expertise.
“We are very excited to add CompliSpace to our business and underline our commitment to supporting customers operating in highly regulated environments with high quality software solutions across a range of platforms.”
CompliSpace recorded revenue of AUD$15.4 million (approximately £8.4 million) and a loss before tax of AUD$3.6 million (approximately £2.0 million) for the year to 30 June 2021 with net assets of AUD$11.6 million (approximately £6.4 million) at that date. The acquisition will be funded from Ideagen’s existing resources.
As part of the transaction, CompliSpace CEO David Griffiths will remain as Regional Senior Vice President, and will continue to hold a significant shareholding in the business.
“Joining Ideagen ensures that CompliSpace can fulfil our vision and purpose beyond Australia, and support schools and aged care facilities to better service their customers across Asia, North America, the UK and Europe,” Mr Griffiths said.
“We look forward to bringing Ideagen’s world-class risk and compliance software services to Australia, while taking our software, expertise and skills to the world.”
Founded in March 2007, CompliSpace has served more than 950 clients in Australia including more than 730 schools and more than 135 aged care facilities across the country. Its software as a service offerings provide customers with both content and a cloud-based software platform to monitor their compliance with relevant industry and legal regulations.
The company has more than 90 staff with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Intoware makes chief technology officer promotion
Intoware, the Nottingham-based workflow software provider, has promoted Lee McDonald from head of development to chief technology officer.
In this new role, Lee will lead the development of Intoware’s industrial work-instruction platform, WorkfloPlus to modernise the frontline workforce through connected, digital working.
“We are thrilled that Lee has stepped into his new role as Intoware begins the next phase of its innovation roadmap for WorkfloPlus,” said Keith Tilley, CEO of Intoware.
“Lee’s enthusiasm for digital technologies has allowed us to adopt a fully customer-centric approach, by gaining knowledge and experience from each and every interaction to ensure that we deliver added value to our clients including, Petrofac, Network Rail and Welsh Water.”
Prior to joining Intoware in 2019, Lee worked for Nottingham-based data and technology business ERT that supports the clinical research market.
