Waste and recycling business secures multi-million-pound funding package to drive expansion plans

Tess Egginton
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Waste and recycling business secures multi-million-pound funding package to drive expansion plans
A Burton business specialising in waste and recycling management has secured a multi-million-pound funding package from HSBC UK to drive its expansion plans, helping customers to improve their carbon footprint and achieve zero waste to landfill. This will prove fundamental to reducing the amount of waste produced by companies that ends up in landfill. Zero waste to landfill is achieved through a combination of reusing and repurposing waste as well as turning residual waste into energy. This provides an essential boost to the environment as landfill waste is the most significant contributor of greenhouse gasses in the waste management sector. Willshee’s Waste & Recycling Limited will use the funding from HSBC UK to re-finance the recent modernisation of its three depots, and to fund future growth and modernisation of its large fleet of vehicles and sites based in Staffordshire and Derbyshire. Willshee’s expects to achieve its aim of reaching £30 million turnover in 2023. Having increased turnover by 20 per cent per annum over each of the last few years, the business is forecasting turnover of £50 million by 2026 which will involve additional sites, additional equipment, further job creation and potentially acquisitions. John D’Aubney, finance director at Willshee’s, said: “As well as enabling us to help more businesses reach zero waste to landfill, the partnership with HSBC UK will be fundamental in helping us grow the business and expand our workforce, and enhance our services to customers in the region. The assistance provided by our relationship director Rakesh Patel has been incredibly valuable and we look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship going forward.” Debbie Harper, area director at HSBC UK, added: “Willshee’s provides a critical service and does so in a responsible way by ensuring minimal waste ends up in landfill. HSBC UK is committed to supporting businesses like Willshee’s that are leading the way to create a more sustainable future.” Willshee’s is a family-owned company based in Burton-on-Trent. Established in 1984 with just one lorry and ten skips, the company now boasts a large fleet of modern vehicles and three state-of-the-art recycling centres.

6 things business leaders can do to create a safe workplace

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6 things business leaders can do to create a safe workplace
Your business wouldn’t be where it is today without your employees. To encourage your employees to keep delivering good results, you need to provide them with a safe working environment. Regardless of the industry you work in, or what your employees do for a job, there is still a chance that they’ll get injured or ill at work. Therefore, you need to take steps to keep your employees protected and safe. Make sure that the office is clean, and if you get a report of any issues, ensure that you carry out repairs as soon as possible. Our tips will help business leaders to create a safe workplace for their employees. Keep Up With Regular Inspections To maintain an excellent level of safety in the workplace, you need to keep up with regular inspections. Some of the things you should always look out for are problems with gas, electricity or plumbing. With companies such as Trade Facilities Services, you can arrange an inspection and apply for the renewal of your Electrical Safety Certificate. If the inspection goes well, you can rest assured that your employees are safe from any critical incidents. On the other hand, if the result isn’t as good, you can come up with a plan of what needs to be done in order to create better conditions for your employees. Ensure That The Workplace Is Clean Keeping the workplace clean shouldn’t be seen as a safety precaution. Instead, make it a standard throughout the company. Even though your business has a cleaning team, you should encourage the rest of the employees to look after their workplace. If they have lunch in the office, they should pick up anything left behind. And when they notice that there is a spillage in the hallway that might put others in danger, they should get in touch with the cleaning team. They should also try to keep all the pathways clear of clutter. That way, other employees and site visitors might be able to avoid tripping and causing injuries. Provide Your Employees With Appropriate Training To boost the safety of your employees, you need to make sure that they know how to work with their equipment. If they are responsible and hold on to the right procedures, they might become more productive and protect other employees at the same time. In order to achieve such a feat, you need to provide your employees with appropriate training. When you’re onboarding employees, train them to understand your policy and procedures. And if you want to bring in a new piece of equipment or machinery, you should organise a training session that would help your employees to learn how to work with the new addition. Deal With Repairs As Soon As Possible When you find out that some of the equipment got broken or that there is something wrong within the building, you need to resolve the issue as soon as possible. If you delay the repairs, you might put the health and well-being of your employees in danger. However, if you schedule the repairs promptly, you might be able to protect the people in the building from any harm. To make sure that the repairs don’t interrupt your employees, try to schedule them outside working hours. That way, your employees might be able to focus on their work, and your business should be able to keep running without any significant interruptions. Encourage Employees To Take A Break As an employer, you’re legally obligated to provide your employees with time for rest during the day. But when your employees have many tasks to finish and are busy, they might want to skip their break completely. If they feel stressed and tired, they might start making mistakes. And in the end, it might cost your business clients, money and possibly employees. To make sure that your employees are at their best throughout the day, encourage them to take breaks regularly. Even a small coffee break can help them to come up with fresh and more creative ideas. When your employees feel relaxed and full of energy, they might be able to provide your clients with better results and help your business grow and gain more recognition. Conclusion: Get Your Employees On Board All of your efforts might go in vain if your employees aren’t on board with your policy and procedures. To boost the safety of everyone in the building, you need to make sure that your employees know the rules and have the proper training to keep themselves and others away from harm. And when you and your employees keep the workplace clean, you might reduce the risk of accidents happening. Once you get all of your employees to do their bit and help you with your efforts, you might be able to create a working environment that is safe for all of the workers and any site visitors you might receive.

trentbarton’s MD retires

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trentbarton’s MD retires
trentbarton and Kinchbus Managing Director Jeff Counsell retires today (Tuesday 28 February) after 24 years with the company and almost half a century in the bus industry. And with impeccable timing, last week Jeff received his bus pass and vowed to use it well: “I’ll still be riding on the buses, and not just because it has been my job for so long. I’m a passionate believer in all public transport.” Jeff, who started out in buses as a 15-year-old apprentice, said: “Retirement is a strange feeling but it’s starting to sink in. I will miss the people terribly. I will miss interacting with our people and with our customers.” Jeff started as a 15-year-old engineering apprentice at Lancashire United Transport in the 1970s. He joined trentbarton in 1999 as engineering director and progressed to director of service delivery before becoming Managing Director in 2009. His role directing both operations and engineering also encompassed the two companies’ relationships with national and local government, an aspect which has been of prime importance during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. “The last three years have been hard for so many people and for the bus industry. Covid and its aftermath kept me very busy but away from the parts of the job I love the most – being out and about with our people at depots, bus stations and on board. “I have been very privileged to have had my career and the opportunities that came my way. It’s a great industry for moving around, experiencing different companies and regions. “I didn’t set out from the engineering shop floor with a plan. It has been about being supported, seeing the ways onwards and upwards and taking them. I’ve learned so much along the way in places like the North East with what became Arriva. “It’s a relatively small industry. There are tens of thousands of buses in the UK but everybody knows each other. I’m still in contact with people I worked with in the 1970s and those connections run deep across the industry. “Bus operators are nothing without their people and that’s been central to running trentbarton. We look after our people. And I leave very optimistic that public transport has a great future. It may be different, but constant innovation will get us there.” Brian King, chairman of trentbarton’s parent group Wellglade, said: “Everyone at trentbarton wishes Jeff a wonderful and well-earned retirement. He leaves with our thanks for his many years of hard work and dedication to the company, its people and our customers. “Jeff can be very proud of the many awards and accolades won by trentbarton during his tenure and also by the high esteem he is held in by so many in the UK bus industry and in the business community. We’re all the better for having worked with Jeff.” Jeff said: “I’m looking forward to spending more time with my parents, my wife and my daughters and enjoying seeing my grandchildren grow up.”

Revenue up as profits slip at Travis Perkins in challenging year

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Revenue up as profits slip at Travis Perkins in challenging year
Travis Perkins, the Northamptonshire-based builders’ merchant, witnessed “robust revenue growth of 8.9%” in 2022, while profits slipped in what the company says was a challenging year with rapidly changing market conditions. According to full year results for the year to 31 December 2022, revenue sat just under £5bn, growing from £4.6bn in 2021. Adjusted operating profit of £295m, meanwhile, was down from £353m in 2021, impacted principally by lower year-on-year property profits and a £15m charge related to restructuring activities in the fourth quarter. Pre tax profit hit £245m, down from £305.6m in 2021, while total profit after tax was £192m, dipping from £241m. Despite this the year reportedly saw a “solid performance” in Travis Perkins General Merchant, “continued strong performance” from the group’s specialist distributors – BSS, Keyline and CCF – and a return to “good growth” in the year’s second half for Toolstation. Nick Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Group delivered a resilient trading performance in 2022 which is testament to the capability of our colleagues and the strength of our market leading propositions. I would like to thank our teams for their hard work throughout the year and their flexibility to meet customer needs amidst rapidly changing market dynamics. “In the second half of the year we made some difficult decisions in response to the weaker trading environment and we continue to be watchful of market trends, working closely with our customers and suppliers to stay on the front foot. “Investment continues in our strategic growth programmes including selectively exploring new destination branches for the Travis Perkins General Merchant, rolling out Toolstation in both the UK and Europe and investing in growing our value-added services, notably Hire, Benchmarx kitchens and our Staircraft business, always being mindful to flex the pace of the programme to reflect market conditions. “Whilst it is early in the year and macroeconomic uncertainty remains, the combination of our diverse end market exposure, appropriate cost actions and further market share gains driven by continued strategy execution, will enable the Group to deliver another resilient trading performance in the year ahead. “As a market-leading distributor of building materials products, we continue to benefit from long-term strategic growth drivers in our markets including new environmental and safety legislation and commitments from both public and private sector customers to deliver against net zero targets. We are committed to being at the forefront of both decarbonising the construction industry alongside developing the next generation of talent to create value for all of our stakeholders.”

Nottingham Trent University research project to give electric vehicle batteries a ‘second life’

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Nottingham Trent University research project to give electric vehicle batteries a ‘second life’

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is part of a £4.5 million research project to establish a process to recycle or reuse electric vehicle batteries to help prevent up to nine million tons of battery waste per year going to landfill.

A £582,000 grant has been awarded to the university’s Advanced Design and Manufacturing Engineering Centre (ADMEC) as part of the European-wide REBELION project which looks to give used electric vehicle Lithium-ion batteries a ‘second life’ or recycle them in a more efficient way.

Research shows that with reconditioning, the majority of electric vehicle batteries would be able to last another ten years after their capacity has fallen below 75 per cent. But the majority are sent to landfill and many of the first generation electric vehicles will soon reach their end of life.

The project – which is supported by the European Horizon programme and incorporates 11 organisations from across Europe – will also establish how recycling electric vehicle batteries could create a major source of Lithium-ion on the continent.

The main aims of the project include developing:

  • Technology to sort used batteries into those suitable for a ‘second life’ and those which should be recycled
  • Automated methods to dismantle batteries so that they can be recycled more efficiently
  • A safety protocol for the recycling and reusing process and designing safety box containers for safe battery transportation and storage
  • A standardised labelling system to provide data on second life batteries
  • An analysis of how well the proposed models of recycling and repurposing perform
  • A roadmap to the market for individual and joint business models

The NTU team will develop the information communication technology (ICT) platform and infrastructure. The team will also develop methods in relation to traceability of batteries, digital battery passports, ecolabelling and the calculation of eco-cost and eco-savings.

The team will also contribute to repurposing second life batteries in lighting products.

Partners in the project include Universitat Politechnica de Valenica, Accurec-Recycling, Sig de Raee Y Pilas Sociedad Limitada, Ona Product SL, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, University of Birmingham, Fondazione Icons, Erion Energy, Erion Compliance Organization Scarl and Volkswagen Group Italia SPA.

Professor Daizhong Su, head of ADMEC which sits in NTU’s School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment (ADBE), said: “With the increased volume of electric vehicle batteries coming towards their end of life, it’s imperative that there’s a quick and accurate way to predict a battery’s future life in order to maximise second-life applications.

“Recycling is the most environmentally-friendly way to deal with batteries after their second life and has the potential to turn them into a major economic resource in Europe, with a value of up to £23 billion per year, as the raw materials they contain can be used for further manufacturing.

“This is an exciting project which has the potential to make the electric vehicle industry even more sustainable and help prevent up to nine million tons of battery waste per year going to landfill by 2040. We look forward to working with our partners to help create sustainable solutions for many of the future challenges of the electric vehicle industry.”

G F Tomlinson supports local Nottingham community with access to central sanitation facilities

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G F Tomlinson supports local Nottingham community with access to central sanitation facilities

As part of the company’s commitment to delivering social value, Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has supported Arena Church to deliver sanitation facilities at its Nottingham City Centre premises, which will be open in the near future.

The church, which is based on Western Street in the Hockley area, currently provides refuge, shelter and hot refreshments for vulnerable Nottingham residents who need it most.

G F Tomlinson has worked with local sub-contractors alongside pastor, Jono Kirk, from Arena Community to convert previously unused space into a shower and washer / dryer facility for vulnerable Nottingham residents to use who lack access to basic sanitation facilities.

The vital additions will act as an extension of Arena Church’s mission to ‘Go, Grow, Love and Serve’ in Nottingham City, and facilities will be on hand ready for when the church launches its new ‘Care for a Coffee’ initiative once funding is secured.

‘Care for a Coffee’ will provide warm, safe spaces for vulnerable people to get a weekly hot meal, with an option to clean and dry clothes and make the most of a ‘shower hour’.

Kevin Dodds, construction director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are great advocates of the work that Arena Church do for the local area, and are proud to have been involved in the delivery of vital sanitation facilities in the building, helping to support vulnerable communities.

“We hope those who need it most are reassured that there is a safe space where they can spend time, have a hot meal and use the shower and washing facilities.”

Jono Kirk, pastor at Arena Church, said: “We at Arena Church, Nottingham are so thankful for the work that G F Tomlinson and all subcontractors have carried out, transforming previously unused space to make an incredible difference to the lives of people with no access to such facilities. 

“We believe this will act as a springboard in Arena Church Nottingham’s mission to serve the city and will really help in bringing our new ‘Care for a Coffee’ vision to life. Without G F Tomlinson and all they have done, this wouldn’t be possible. A big heartfelt thank you to all involved.”

G F Tomlinson recruited the services of Prime Flooring Solutions, Amptron Electrical Services, Browns Builders Merchants, and SV Timber to work alongside them to deliver the works at Arena Church, which started in mid-January and completed in February.

Despite soaring energy costs, only 29% of UK manufacturers consider net zero to be a priority

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Despite soaring energy costs, only 29% of UK manufacturers consider net zero to be a priority

Energy prices are negatively impacting the majority of UK SME manufacturers, according to the latest Manufacturing Barometer survey by SWMAS. But, with the government’s ambitious target to achieve net zero by 2050, are SMEs on course to succeed?

This quarter’s statistics indicate half of respondents (51%) see net zero as a positive expansion for UK manufacturing. However, less (42%) are confident this will actually be beneficial for their individual business.

Almost three quarters of manufacturing firms have said they are already working towards net zero (73%), although only a very small number of these businesses (2%) actually know the carbon footprint for the products they supply, and just 3% have a detailed carbon footprint ready for their organisation. 50% of manufacturers have started, but are yet to formally establish any metrics, and an additional 23% have so far only attained a basic carbon footprint for their organisation.

Nick Golding, Managing Director at SWMAS, says: “Profitability remains a challenge for most firms, particularly with the current energy crisis which is showing no signs of waning. It is understandable that for most, implementing the new net zero standard isn’t a priority with other challenges being faced, particularly when planning and implementing a scheme to neutralise their carbon footprint will cost additional time, resources and money.”

Only 37% of respondents have actually taken a pledge for their business to achieve net zero but, encouragingly, three quarters of these firms aim to reach this at least 10 years before the government’s 2050 target. On the other hand, over 70% of the firms questioned reported that the transition to net zero is not a current priority for their business.

There are still many barriers being faced by manufacturers dominating their current and future business focuses. As many as 64% do not think the benefits outweigh the cost of implementing low carbon improvements and almost half (44%) have said there is nothing driving them to prioritise net zero over other issues in the business. This is further backed up by the fact that over three quarters of responding businesses said none of their customers have asked them to provide their carbon footprint data.

How will carbon footprint credentials benefit UK manufacturers? Almost half (48%) have said they think being able to promote their net zero ambitions will help them win future work. Furthermore, 27% believe this would attract potential employees at a time when the competition for skilled workers is at an all-time high.

Nick adds: “These findings indicate some optimism from UK manufacturers despite the ongoing challenges around price increases, supply chain disruption, and skills shortages. It’s clear that many firms see the benefits of achieving net zero, but there are a number of challenges that could be preventing their progression.

“There are lessons for policymakers to consider, particularly in relation to simplifying planning requirements for onsite energy systems such as solar and wind as well as incentives for these technologies to support the manufacturing transition towards a net zero future.”

Cawarden hosts an employment event with a difference

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Cawarden hosts an employment event with a difference
Ahead of National Careers Week in March, Cawarden employees were invited to bring their sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren to a special behind-the-scenes look at one of its Leicestershire sites to provide an early taste of the demolition industry and an insight into what their family member does for a job. The visit to the site of a former leisure centre was led by Managing Director, William Crooks – who is also the current standing president of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC). The children, aged between two and five years old, donned their hi-vis and hard hats for their first-ever tour of a demolition site. During the visit, the children learned about site safety and the reasons why protective clothing is worn on-site. They explored the different jobs and skills involved in demolishing a building and got to meet the site manager, machine drivers and labourers. The importance of recycling building materials was also talked about. William Crooks, Managing Director of Cawarden, said: “We had a wonderful time meeting the children and showing them around our demolition site. I don’t think you can ever be too young to learn about demolition and it was great to witness the children’s interest and engagement during the visit. My sons grew up on-site and this event provided the perfect opportunity for Cawarden employees to bring their children to work. “All the children loved looking at the big demolition machines working and all intently observed – something I still don’t get bored of seeing. We discussed the different jobs on the site and we talked about the importance of being safe when building work is taking place in their communities – which we complemented with activities back in the site office. I was really impressed by the knowledge of the older children and pleased at how much they all enjoyed and learnt from the experience. “With the skills shortage growing in our sector, as well as the challenges in recruiting young, diverse talent, it is essential that we find ways to inspire the next generation – and today’s event is just one of the ways we’re supporting this goal.” When asked what their favourite part of the day was, one child, aged four and a half, said: “It was really exciting to see the big machines in real life.” Another child, aged five, said: “I loved seeing the diggers working.” The children left the site with a goodie bag which included a copy of the children’s book ‘When I Grow Up’ along with a new perspective of a demolition site.

Pop-up businesses could feature in Nottingham’s revitalised Broad Marsh plans

Stuart Pearcey
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Pop-up businesses could feature in Nottingham’s revitalised Broad Marsh plans
Pop-up businesses could set up shop in Nottingham’s Sussex Street, Collin Street and Listergate, and potentially stay in the area long-term as Nottingham City Council wishes to revive streets around the Broad Marsh area. The council is looking for ideas from potential operators. Proposals are at an early stage, but could involve independent traders, food and drink outlets, entertainment including seasonal events and opportunities for local producers, suppliers and artists to showcase themselves. The aim is to provide opportunities to temporarily use sites initially for up to five years, with a view to starting to establish some of the new activities from towards the end of this year. The move comes as the area continues to be redeveloped, with the new Central Library due to open and work on the Green Heart area starting later this year. Public realm improvements like those already carried out on Carrington Street and Sussex Street will also get underway on Collin Street, connecting the new library and new college via amphitheatre-style steps and offering a fresh new gateway to the city via the Green Heart area and Listergate. More than a million people pass through the area every year, including visitors to the city coming from the train station, tram system and new Broad Marsh bus station and car park, along with thousands of students at the new Nottingham College. The aim is to create new destinations to attract others and give everyone a reason to stay, by providing a taste of the activity that the area will ultimately deliver when the full vision is realised over the next 15 years. The three proposed sites are a 450sqm area at the bottom of the amphitheatre steps on Sussex Street near Nottingham College, and 700sqm spaces on Collin Street across from the new library and the Lister Square part of the new Green Heart area. City Council Leader David Mellen said: “We’ve made fantastic progress on our plans to completely change the look and feel of this part of the city. Streets that were once filled with traffic are now pleasant places to be, students are enjoying the new college, and the new bus station and car park are up and running in a modern building where the new central library will open later this year. “Work on the Green Heart and Collin Street improvements will also get underway this year – but we know that it will be some years before the vision for the whole site will be fully realised. Rather than wait, we are keen to start to find ways to animate the area, make it a destination in its own right and give people reasons to linger and enjoy it rather than simply passing through. We want to hear from organisations with ideas for what could help to animate the area, for an initial period of up to five years, with a view to becoming part of the Broad Marsh experience long-term.”

Castle Donington company acquires Heathrow-based freight specialist

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Castle Donington company acquires Heathrow-based freight specialist
International freight forwarding company Spatial Global has acquired Hollyport Logistics for an undisclosed consideration, advised by Browne Jacobson. Spatial Global, which is part of the Keswick Enterprises Group, is headquartered in Castle Donington and was founded in 1980. Hollyport Logistics is based near London Heathrow and was founded in 2010. Hollyport provides freight and customs services in various sectors, including the IT sectors and operates various international transport services including air, road and sea freight and custom clearance. It also has a dedicated storage, handling and delivery service within a third-party location (3PL) operation in Amsterdam for EU shipments. The transaction will enhance both parties’ capabilities of international & domestic freight movements, warehousing capabilities and customs brokerage and will offer access to a wider range of carriers. The Browne Jacobson team comprised partner and head of the firm’s Manchester office, Peter Allen who led on the transaction along with associate Harpinder Nahl. Senior associate Lincoln Darlington advised on real estate aspects and associate Christian Burchardt advised tax. Peter Allen said: “There is great synergy in the values of both Spatial and Hollyport. They both have solid market strengths in providing high quality logistics and delivery solutions to a diverse customer portfolio, so it makes sense for Hollyport to come into the Spatial fold, in a move that offers both businesses a fantastic opportunity to bolster their international and domestic freight operations.” Mike Wallis, executive chairman of Spatial Global, said: “The opportunity to acquire Hollyport arose and very early on we saw a business built on the same values that we work to. We are very pleased that all staff at Hollyport Logistics Ltd will remain as they are vital to the process and relationship with the customers and suppliers. We are happy to have a Heathrow base going forward.”

Council loan could trigger regeneration of area surrounding Derby railway station

Stuart Pearcey
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Council loan could trigger regeneration of area surrounding Derby railway station
Derby’s Council Cabinet members intend to provide a £500,000 loan to property and regeneration firm London and Continental Railways, who want to buy Midland House, near to Derby Midland Station. It’s thought the acquisition could spark significant regeneration of the city’s Railway Conservation Area and create a more attractive gateway into the city centre. The building is currently owned by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities who have declared it “surplus to requirements”. The former industrial land between the River Derwent and the railway lines on the east side of Derby station has now successfully developed into Pride Park, home to many rail-related businesses, including East Midlands Railway. Following the publication of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands in 2021, Derby station area now has HS2 East status and forms part of the HS2 Growth Strategy for the East Midlands. LCR is wholly owned by the Department for Transport and works in partnership with local authorities, Network Rail and Homes England. The company has invested millions of pounds transforming underused public sector properties, particularly around railway stations and transport hubs, into vibrant destinations. The company also delivered a new Business Park at the former Rail Technical Centre (RTC) in London Road, Derby. Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council said: “The opportunity to support the purchase of Midland House, an important building close to the station, is really good news. Any step towards the improvement of the area around the railway station is most welcome. “This is another example of how we have supported regeneration development in the city. The investment should tie in well with other improvements expected, through developments around main stations within the HS2 programme. “Before Easter we should know where the headquarters of Great British Railways will be located which, if Derby is indeed selected, would further add to the potential improvements, to what is a crucial development area of Derby.” The emerging regeneration masterplan for the station area will be the subject to public consultation, as will any subsequent planning applications associated with Midland House and/or the wider area. Built in the early 1870s, Midland House was originally the headquarters of the Midland Railway. Along with Midland Hotel and the remaining Railway Cottages, it is one of the city’s unique rail heritage buildings on the west side of Derby rail station.

Construction firm appointed for new Chesterfield mental health hub

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Construction firm appointed for new Chesterfield mental health hub
A new mental health hub for Chesterfield has taken a step forward with the appointment of a construction firm to lead the redevelopment of the building. Local firm Beighton Construction will oversee the refurbishment of the former Register Office on Beetwell Street for charity Derwent Rural Counselling Service. The new centre is set to open in summer 2023.   Grand plans for the three storey premises include office space, treatment and consulting rooms, meeting rooms and relaxation space to help cope with an increased demand for DRCS services in the area plus tenanted options including rooms and floorspace.Belper-based Norder Design Associates will be supporting the scheme with project management, architectural and engineering design services.Janette Smeeton, Chief Executive at DRCS, said: “This is a huge milestone having a construction firm on board and will mean we can move forward at pace from mid-March to progress to a brand new future for the new building.  “By having our services here we can be more efficient, maximise manpower and continue to deliver a high-quality service to support our service users. It will also allow us to offer room rentals and services to other organisations in the town.” Andrew Holmes, director at Beighton Construction, based in Chesterfield, said: “We are really pleased to start a new working partnership with DRCS. This project allows us to take a well known premises in Chesterfield and deliver a true future-proofed building, serving needs across the town and the county. It is a demanding refurbishment, but we will deliver it for this summer.  “We are very excited not only about the building development, but the much needed services and benefits it will bring for local people once it’s completed.”The new premises is part of ambitious 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 covering the Amber Valley, Erewash, Chesterfield, Buxton, Matlock, Ashbourne, Derby, Swadlincote and the Peak District. Mark Serby, chair of trustees for the Bakewell-headquartered charity, said: “This is a hugely exciting project for the charity, and for people across the county.“By investing in the purchase and renovation of the property, DRCS will be in a position to scale active services and have capacity to introduce potential new ones to meet changing needs, providing a positive impact on the community.”Martin Lythgoe, director at Norder Design Associates, said: “We’ve been working closely with DRCS to develop this project over the last 12 months and we’re really pleased that Beighton Construction have now been appointed to undertake the refurbishment. The project will bring an important local building back to life and provide an asset of lasting value for the local community.”Over the last 30 years, DRCS has become the largest third sector provider of counselling services in the region offering help to individuals, via self referral or via a GP, with common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress and long term conditions through counselling, CBT, guided self-help, and other forms of talking therapy. For the last eight years, DRCS has been in partnership with Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust to improve access to psychological therapies throughout Derbyshire achieving above national recovery rates and shorter waiting times.

East Midlands business confidence grows

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East Midlands business confidence grows
Business confidence in the East Midlands rose eight points during February to 18%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.  Companies in the region reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up two points at 26%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 11 points to 9%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 18%. East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as evolving their offer (41%), diversifying into new markets (28%) and investing in sustainability (26%).The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.A net balance of 14% of businesses in the region expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 14 points on last month. Overall UK business confidence decreased by just one point to 21% in February. Firms remained positive about their own trading prospects with a net balance of 31% expecting business activity to increase in the coming 12 months. Firms also reported plans to create new jobs with 20% of businesses intending to make new hires over the next 12 months – up three points from January. All UK regions and nations reported a positive confidence reading in February, with six areas reporting a month-on-month increase in confidence. Of those, the West Midlands (up 30 points to 48%) and Yorkshire and Humber (up 22 points to 34%) saw the largest monthly increases.Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “It’s pleasing to see confidence in the East Midlands increase this month. January tends to be quieter for businesses but firms in the region are clearly buoyed by their trading prospects and are looking to diversify their offering, demonstrating their resilience to more challenging market conditions. “To help steel against potential future disruption, firms in the region should take a proactive approach to managing their cashflow, ensuring they have corporate cards and overdraft facilities to help with short-term finance needs.” Retail confidence bounced back, rising for the first time in three months to 21% (up 14 points), led by improvements in both trading prospects and economic optimism. However, business confidence fell in construction (down eight points to 19%) and services (down five points to 20%) although this remains higher than in the latter part of 2022. Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Business confidence has lost a little momentum this month, following the strong gains seen recently. Firms are feeling more cautious about the wider economy. However, confidence in their own trading prospects continues to strengthen, helped by tentative signs that wage and other cost pressures may be reducing. “While inflation appears to be tapering, pressures on consumers will need to ease further to help make it a more stable environment for businesses to operate.”

More than half of SMEs predict rising costs will be key challenge in 2023

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More than half of SMEs predict rising costs will be key challenge in 2023
Recession, rising costs and retention of staff were the three key challenges identified by SMEs for 2023, according to the latest survey from a HR consultancy. The third annual SME Survey, from Kettering-based HR Solutions, has revealed that “finances are arguably a higher priority than ever before” with more than half of the companies questioned predicting rising costs will be an issue in the year ahead and 70% stating that available finance would have the biggest impact on decision making, closely followed by profitability and inflation. A total of 46% of participants admitted managing and controlling costs is a major financial challenge for 2023 and to effectively manage costs, 38% of SMEs have highlighted that maintaining a sufficient cash flow will continue to be vital throughout the year. The fieldwork took place at the end of 2022 and all the companies surveyed had fewer than 250 employees. The respondents spanned multiple industries, including manufacturing, education, care, hospitality, finance, energy, insurance, property, and pharmaceuticals. HR Solutions first launched the SME Survey in 2021, during the pandemic, and priorities have changed dramatically since then. In the first and second SME Survey reports, Covid-19 had a huge impact on the findings. However, this year not one SME mentioned the virus. Business financial performance and securing new business have consistently been selected as key challenges throughout each of the three surveys, and, unsurprisingly, 46% of survey respondents selected a potential recession as one of the main challenges in 2023. HR Solutions CEO Greg Guilford said: “Each year, our SME Survey provides a pulse check on the SME landscape. We look at how the previous year has impacted businesses, and we use our results to predict key factors for the year ahead, sharing insight on how to leverage opportunities, and overcome challenges. “This is our third SME Business Survey and offers us the chance to evaluate how trends have changed over the past few years. The UK now finds itself on the verge of a recession which is highly likely to have impacted the survey data for 2023 and swayed the statistics heavily towards a financial focus. Finances are arguably at a higher priority than ever before. “Recruitment and employee retention also remain key priorities for SMEs as they continue to focus on their people, as they did in 2022. The importance of mental health at work has increased by six per cent when compared to the 2022 SME Business Survey results. Business owners must continue to see this as a high priority, particularly with external factors including the cost-of-living crisis, which are likely to have an impact on employee wellbeing throughout the year.” In the report, HR Solutions address the issues raised and suggest recommendations for SME business owners to overcome the challenges. The forward-thinking firm have created a dedicated hub of resources, templates and guides as well as a 10-point plan to help companies manage effectively in a recession. The plan, which can be used as a checklist, covers topics including cost cutting, organisational structure and pay. Greg added: “With 69% of SMEs focusing on increasing turnover this year, forward planning and innovative thinking will be crucial for SMEs to succeed.”

90 jobs on the line at JD Sports brands acquired by Frasers Group

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90 jobs on the line at JD Sports brands acquired by Frasers Group
90 jobs are on the line at fashion brands acquired by Frasers Group from JD Sports in December, according to reports in the Retail Gazette. Redundancy consultations are said to have begun at a number of the businesses that were snapped up in the £47.5 million deal. The Shirebrook-based business swooped for premium fashion brands including Base Childrenswear, Choice, Clothingsites (including Brown Bag Clothing), Cricket, Giulio, Kids Cavern, Missy Empire, Nicholas Deakins, Pretty Green, Prevu Studio, Rascal Clothing, Tessuti (including Xile), Scotts, Watch Shop and Topgrade Sportswear (including Get The Label). It followed an acquisitive year for the company, with purchases of Missguided, I Saw It First and Coventry Building Society Arena. Retail Gazette notes that some of those affected have been offered work at Frasers Group’s Derbyshire HQ.

Grimsby Town slip to £930,000 loss despite turnover rise

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Grimsby Town slip to £930,000 loss despite turnover rise
Grimsby Town have slipped to a £931,000 loss in newly released accounts for the football club’s year ending May 2022, dipping from a £196,000 profit in the year prior. Turnover however increased by over 26% from £3.5m to £4.4m thanks to the return of fans to the ground following the COVID-19 pandemic – to the highest level in nearly 20 years – and a successful season on the pitch which saw promotion to League Two. Matchday receipts increased to £1.4m compared to £680,000 in 2021 and there was an increase in revenue from commercial and hospitality activities. Due to the prior year’s relegation, income from sources such as the Premier League, EFL and National League reduced from £1.5 million to £720,000. Grimsby Town’s new owners invested £1.5m of loans into the company during the year, ensuring the club’s progress, some of which was used to repay debt in the form of loans from the previous principal shareholder and the balance was used to fund improving operations and infrastructure of the club.

East Midlands’ Information and Communications sector forecast to be UK’s fastest growing sector in 2024-26

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East Midlands’ Information and Communications sector forecast to be UK’s fastest growing sector in 2024-26
The East Midlands’ Information and Communications sector is forecast to be one of the UK’s fastest growing regional sectors between 2024-26, as the UK economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to EY’s latest Regional Economic Forecast. When measured by Gross Value Added (GVA), the sector is set to grow by an average 4.4% each year between 2024-26 in the East Midlands – faster than any other sector in any other region. However, as a region the East Midlands is forecast to grow at the second lowest rate over the same period, with average annual GVA growth of 1.9%, compared to the UK average of 2.1%. Leicester and Nottingham are expected to lead the region with annual average GVA growth of 1.9% between 2024-26, while Derby, Boston and Mansfield are not much further behind at 1.7%. The region’s GVA is expected to contract 1% this year, compared to a 0.6% contraction for the whole of the UK. Looking ahead, East Midlands employment growth is expected to be affected by job losses in the region’s manufacturing sector partly offsetting gains in the retail and health sectors. As a result, average annual employment growth in the East Midlands (1.2%) is forecast to be marginally behind the UK average (1.3%) over 2024-26 – although the region is set to just outperform the West Midlands’ 1.1% annual average growth over the same period. Simon O’Neill, managing partner at EY in the Midlands, said: “Sectors continue to play a key role in forecast performance at a city and town level. While the pandemic put pressures on city centres or supply chain-dependent manufacturing areas, the rising cost of living is likely to have the biggest impact in places that are dependent on the local High Streets or public sector jobs, due to the squeeze on consumer spending and wages. “According to the report, the East Midlands is over indexed to the UK’s slowest growing sectors – and currently the least exposed to the five fastest growing. This is why the forecast performance of the region’s information and communications sector is so important. It’s the type of high value sector which can boost growth across the region and add resilience to the economy. “However, high value sectors won’t function without a high value workforce and the East Midlands needs a clear strategy for retaining and uplifting its skill base. This needs to be approached from several angles: graduate and skills retention relies not just on the development of well-paid jobs, but strategic planning on the broader set of social, environmental and structural components that determine the quality of life in a given region too.”
Region 2023 GVA Growth Region Annualised GVA Growth 2024-26
London -0.2% London 2.6%
Scotland -0.6% South East 2.2%
UK -0.6% UK 2.1%
East -0.7% South West 2.1%
Northern Ireland -0.7% East 2.1%
South East -0.7% West Midlands 2.1%
North West -0.7% North West 2.0%
Wales -0.8% Northern Ireland 1.9%
South West -0.8% East Midlands 1.9%
North East -0.8% Wales 1.7%
West Midlands -0.8% Yorkshire & the Humber 1.7%
Yorkshire & the Humber -1.0% North East 1.7%
East Midlands -1.0% Scotland 1.7%
 

EMEC welcomes ex-army captain as new project manager

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EMEC welcomes ex-army captain as new project manager
Nottinghamshire-based East Midlands Environmental Consultants (EMEC) has taken on Lee Holland as a new project manager in response to a number of significant new contracts won. Prior to joining EMEC, Holland was a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Upon leaving the armed forced he obtained a APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ). Holland also holds an BSc Economics (Hons) degree. In his new role, he will be responsible for project managing many of the firm’s regional and national projects, where EMEC is responsible for acting as the consultant ecologist tasked with protecting habitats and offering added value advice to developers so that the communities they create, incorporate diversity. Established in 1991, EMEC is a one stop shop for specialist ecology, biodiversity, land management and arboriculture services. Notable clients include Severn Trent Water, Nottingham City Council and Centre Parcs. Commenting on his decision to join EMEC, Holland said: “Growingly environmentally aware, I wanted to work for a business that was positively impacting our natural environment. Having recently left the armed forces I qualified as a project manager and wanted to join a smaller, local business that was ambitious whilst maintaining strong core values and beliefs and EMEC ticked all these boxes.” Dr Ed Tripp, consultancy director at EMEC, added: “To have someone of Lee’s background join the business is a major coup. EMEC is entering an exciting period having won some exciting new contracts, which Lee will be a valued member of our project management team.” Outside of work, Holland plays ice hockey for the Nottingham Lions senior men’s team. He is also continuing service in the Army Reserves as part of 202 Field Hospital. A wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, all EMEC’s profits are gift aided to the Trust to support nature conservation.

Leicestershire businesses focus on skills, costs, and exports as region moves on from lockdown

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Leicestershire businesses focus on skills, costs, and exports as region moves on from lockdown

Small businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire continue to keep a close eye on skills, costs, and exports as the region moved past lockdown and addressed new challenges.

Results from the latest Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Business Tracker Survey, conducted in December 2022, have now been published.

They show the responses from local SMEs to the latest of four surveys, each of which has checked the pulse of businesses over the last two years.

The purpose of the project throughout has been to better understand, and respond to, the needs of local businesses as a consequence of the pandemic.

The first survey was conducted in December 2020 and provided officers with data around how business was managing the impact of Covid-19.

Data has provided an insight into local business confidence, where support has been required, been used as evidence for funding bids, and shown how businesses have adapted.

The sequence started two years ago and 118 businesses participated in the fourth and final survey.

Tracker survey data has been used to support successful bids for the £3m Made Smarter programme, which is supporting digitalisation of East Midlands manufacturing businesses, and the £1.3m Create Growth programme, which is helping East Midlands creative businesses to grow.

Headlines from the final survey include:

  • Only 30% of organisations were satisfied with their workforce’s basic skills. This is the lowest level recorded and fits with anecdotal evidence from local businesses that new starters may have missed out on learning ‘soft skills’ in a physical working environment.

  • There remain many skills challenges to address. The LLEP is now working to improve alignment between skills required by businesses and how schools and further education support students to meet these challenges.

  • Recruitment difficulties also remain. Businesses are responding with salary rises and increased training. In total, 38% of businesses had experienced difficulties with recruitment during the last six months. More than two-fifths of businesses have capacity to offer work experience.

  • Europe continues to be the key trading partner for both imports and exports. More than 50% of those involved in exporting were experiencing challenges, which most blamed on the UK’s exit from the EU. Import challenges were blamed both on Brexit and shipping issues.

  • Around 8% of businesses are struggling to repay Government support accessed during the pandemic. This is likely to become a more serious issue once increased costs associated with cost of living and energy prices are factored in.

  • About 57% of businesses have been significantly impacted by inflation of raw material costs. Shipping costs and utility prices also factored, with most businesses raising their own prices, as well as looking for cost and supply chain savings.

Andy Reed OBE, co-chair of the LLEP Board, said: “The survey has covered themes that directly impact local businesses of all sizes, from skills and recruitment to digital investment and exporting patterns.

“What it has shown us is that the situation remains delicate for many small businesses in the region.

“This time a year ago, 90% were cautiously optimistic about the future, but that has since slid to just over eight in ten as the impact of inflation began to bite.

“We will continue to use the data from all four tracker surveys to inform programmes and policy at the LLEP as we move forward.”

The survey went to businesses ranging from two to 249 employees. About a quarter were based in the city, with the remainder operating across Leicestershire.

Businesses covered a range of sectors, from agriculture and construction through to logistics, education, hospitality and the arts.

Funding awarded to accelerate growth of Nottingham’s medtech businesses

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Funding awarded to accelerate growth of Nottingham’s medtech businesses
Medtech and life sciences businesses in Nottingham will continue to benefit from the support, connectivity and collaboration delivered by specialist life science industry association, Medilink Midlands, following its successful bid with Nottingham City Council to be part of the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Medilink Midlands has received £271,872 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver business growth support to the medtech and health tech industry across the city of Nottingham. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and is to provide £2.6bn of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, people and skills. Part of the UKSPF’s Supporting Local Businesses fund, the Business Growth fund aims to support start-up businesses, support businesses with innovation and R&D, and provide tailored dedicated support in order to grow business productivity, increase the local business pool and drive growth in the economy. Its main objective is to support high growth, high value jobs and sectors, as well as sectors that are significant or important to Nottingham. As one of four organisations awarded Business Growth grant funding, Medilink Midlands’ project will focus on the delivery of business and innovation support to companies already in, or transitioning into, the life science and medtech sector within Nottingham, to ensure Nottingham continues to be recognised globally as a city for pioneering medtech and health tech innovation. Chief Executive of Medilink Midlands Simon Himsworth said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding which we will use to help stimulate a culture of innovation across Nottingham, and further develop our comprehensive, integrated, co-ordinated life science ecosystem to support companies to accelerate their ideas to market.” “Medilink Midlands has been delivering innovation support to Nottingham SMEs for a number of years,” Simon explained. “Using our comprehensive cross-sectoral knowledge and networks across the med tech and life sciences industry, this project will enable us to support more companies in the city to increase their competitive advantage and facilitate collaborations with industry suppliers and partners, academic research, the NHS, local government, and other sector stakeholders. “We are committed to delivering opportunities for business growth across the East and West Midlands regions, and await the outcomes of other bid applications which we hope will further enable us to set a precedent for the delivery of life sciences support in the Midlands as a whole.” Robert Dixon, Head of Business Growth and Inward Investment at Nottingham City Council, said: “We are delighted that Medilink Midlands will be using our UKSPF funding to provide business support for the life science sector in Nottingham. “Nottingham is an increasingly nationally important home to many new life science businesses, based on the strengths of the two universities, the home of BioCity/Pioneer Group, which is Europe’s most successful life science incubator, and Boots – the UK’s premier health and wellbeing retailer. “We are confident that Medilink Midlands can support businesses to grow with its concept of creating synergies between business, academic research, and NHS and healthcare providers.” Professor Steve Morgan, Director of the Centre for Healthcare Technologies at the University of Nottingham, said: “We are proud to be partnering with Medilink Midlands on this exciting project with Nottingham City Council. The medical technologies sector in Nottingham is vibrant and growing, and we are delighted to be able to play our part in facilitating further growth by supporting the adoption and adaptation of new knowledge and innovation for local businesses.” Simon Himsworth added: “The life sciences sector in Nottingham is incredibly diverse, with many innovations and technologies being developed to address socio-economic and health issues. Through additional support, these innovations can be developed and accelerated through the development process and can play a key role in the ‘levelling-up’ of Nottingham city.”
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