Inspiring Nottingham woman named rising star at National Business Awards

Michael Fisher
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Inspiring Nottingham woman named rising star at National Business Awards

Twenty women entrepreneurs have been honoured for leading the way in business at The Great British Businesswoman Awards, including Ellie Long from Nottingham who received the Rising Star Award.

 

Ellie was nominated for her position as an Early Careers Business Partner (EMEA & APAC) at Rolls-Royce where she is passionate about attracting and developing a diverse talent pipeline and enabling individuals to reach their potential, delivering business.

 

The panel of expert judges commended her ethics and efforts to challenge an industry in need of progress in regard to diversity and inclusion, with the real potential for change being in the early careers space.

 

The virtual event took place on the 14th and was hosted by Wynne Evans and Carol Vorderman. It saw 122 women recognised for their contributions across a range of categories from construction and creative industries through to engineering, finance and diversity. 

 

The inaugural award ceremony stems from the Great British Businesswoman Series, a collective of industry experts seeking to educate and campaign for recognition and better opportunities for women in business, which launched on International Women’s Day.

 

The awards intend to acknowledge the persistent challenges for women in business, with only 2% of FTSE 250 CEOs being female, and tackle inequality by inspiring the next wave of women entrepreneurs to take action through the stories of success told of the evening’s shortlisted nominees.

 

However, the initiative continues beyond awards night and pledges to celebrate trail-blazing businesswomen all year-round in a community-focused programme of forums and webinars.

The awards were created by the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards (GBEA). Following the success of the GBEA Awards, which in November is set to be the largest celebration of entrepreneurship in the UK, the founders felt there needed to be more attention on the influential women dominating the industry, and so brought together a panel of 46 judges to lend expertise across the varied categories.

 

Hundreds of people watched the live-streamed ceremony, which Francesca James from the Great British Business Woman Awards said reflected the desire for a greater focus on role models in business.

 

Francesca said: “It was great to hear so many stories of how women are making their mark in various business sectors across the UK. Despite it being 2021, there are still many obstacles facing women, particularly in the senior roles in business, whether that is in funding, salary or corporate representation. I hope that the success of events like this signals a turning point where more women feel comfortable talking about the barriers they face in business, and hopefully, this will lead to more equality across the working world.

 

“We’re proud to have hosted our inaugural awards, and hope that next year will be even bigger and better, meaning we can continue to share the stories of such inspirational women, across the UK and beyond.”

 

Out of 600 total nominations, 122 made the shortlist with 20 final awards given out at the ceremony. The winners for each category were:

 

Construction Businesswoman of the Year:

Tina Patel, Formed Architects & Designers UK Limited

 

Consumer Goods Businesswoman of the Year:

Anna Brightman, UpCircle Beauty

 

Creative Industries Businesswoman of the Year:

Sharon Whale, OLIVER Agency

 

Engineering & Manufacturing Businesswoman of the Year:

Karen Emanuel, Key Production

 

Entrepreneurial Businesswoman of the Year – Sponsored by Starling Bank:

Julianne Ponan, Creative Nature

 

Finance Businesswoman of the Year:

Natasha Frangos, Haysmacintyre LLP

 

Food & Drink Businesswoman of the Year:

Annabel Karmel, Karmel Foods Ltd.

 

Social Enterprise Businesswoman of the Year:

Sarah Jordan, Y.O.U Underwear

 

Technology Businesswoman of the Year:

Joanne Dewar, Global Processing Services (GPS)

 

Transport & Logistics Businesswoman of the Year:

Rachel Houghton, Business Moves Group

 

Utilities Businesswoman of the Year:

Penelope Hope, Rebel Energy

 

Young Businesswoman of the Year:

Anneka Wallington, Recognised London Limited

 

Rising Star Award – Sponsored by mthree:

Ellie Long, Rolls-Royce

 

Gamechanger in Sport Award:

Claire Nelson, Netball Scotland and Strathclyde Sirens

 

Team of the Year Award:

BBC 50:50

 

Role Model of the Year Award:

Leena Nair, Unilever

 

Diversity Award – Sponsored by Colt:

Catalina Hernandez, Ernst & Young

 

Male Advocate of the Year Award

Mark Bennett, Willmott Dixon Interiors

 

Female Ambassador of the Year Award:

Hannah Ingram-Moore, Maytrix Group / The Captain Tom Foundation

 

Great British Businesswoman of the Year Award:

Leena Nair, Unilever

Modern day rag and bone business thrives despite the worst of times

Michael Fisher
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Modern day rag and bone business thrives despite the worst of times
Leicester based, Industrial Wiper Company, collects unwanted second-hand clothing and fabric and creates cleaning wipers that are used across a variety of industries from food to janitorial services. Despite a turbulent year facing many market disruptions, as well as the personal and tragic loss of Managing Director, Mark Walters to cancer, this rag and bone business has not just survived but is starting to thrive once again. Mark’s father, Mike Walters established the business in the 1960s.  Back then a horse and cart were used to collect the waste fabric from Leicester companies.  These days t-shirts, sheets and towelling are collected from charities, hotels and factories right across the country and imported from Europe and Asia.  As in the past, the fabrics are then sorted, cut up, bagged and sold – mainly business-to-business – using distributors who sell the wipers on to the auto trade, powder coaters, sign makers, food producers and ventilation cleaners to name a few. When Mark became ill early last year, he called on the Business Gateway Growth Hub and his cousin David Burns for help. David had previously worked as Northern European Marketing Manager for Castrol and ran a capability consulting business. At the time, the business was facing several challenges.  David had come in but with little knowledge of the market or business. There was a shortage in supply of key fabrics, and they were losing significant sums of money a year, due to a combination of factors including inefficient internal systems and procedures, spiralling costs and an unsustainable pricing structure. In addition, their long-term bookkeeper left the company plus Covid-19 and Brexit struck which meant short term closure, a drop in demand for their products and further difficulties accessing the suppliers and the fabric needed to create the wipers.  The number of challenges facing the business, from both internal and external influences was unprecedented.  But by working in partnership with their Business Adviser at the Business Gateway, David was able to tackle every one of them. David said: “This was a time of real disruption and concern. But all the way through I found adviser Joanna Moore and the Business Gateway was the one place I could turn to – to ask questions, get support and find out how things were done locally. I was literally on my own with the team and she was the only person I could talk to, express concern and get help.” As well as providing David with an outlet to discuss problems and identify possible solutions, Joanna was able to offer practical help with several key challenges.  For example, she signposted David to the Leicester Employment Hub to help him quickly recruit a number of key positions within the organisation and access support from the private sector to develop their internal financial systems and processes.  David was also put in touch with one of the Business Gateway’s export consultants, Andrea Collins who understood the intricacies of Brexit and helped them locate a supplier partner to bring materials into the country. David continued: “We’ve also had help with grants. When the metal detected products we supply to the food industry started to come in short supply from Europe, we wanted to set up our own detecting facilities within our factory. Joanna helped us source and apply for an NBV grant of £1,500 towards some machinery giving us in-house capability.” They have also updated the website using a Small Business Recovery grant and Mark’s wife Kay, who is now working at the company, has taken advantage of the Business Gateway finance workshops to build her skills in this area. “It’s been a real partnership. Each time we’ve reviewed our capability we’ve come to the Growth Hub and said, ‘this has disrupted our market, we now need to do this, can you help us?’ And each time Joanna has provided solutions we could try. That’s what I like about it. It’s enabling and assisting to deliver on the opportunities from the disruption in the market,” added David. Joanna Moore commented: “I’ve really enjoyed working with David and Industrial Wiper Company. As an adviser, it’s lovely when you can work with a client, over a longer period.  It gives you the opportunity to really get to know the business and people involved and so it is extra rewarding when you help them to overcome whatever challenges they are experiencing at that time.” The great news is, with the help and support of Joanna and a lot of hard work and dedication from David and his team the business has managed to turn things around and is on target to move from a large loss to a net profit of £15,000 this year. The future is looking even brighter for the business.  Growth plans include working with a new partner, which processes 50,000 tonnes of clothing from their bins and shops, to secure and grow fabric supply.  New non-woven products have been added to the wiper range and a consultancy service has been launched to ensure customers can optimise performance and the cost of their wiping, cleaning, and polishing requirements.  Plus, all Industrial Wipers products and services can now be viewed and ordered via their recently rebranded and redeveloped website – www.industrialwiper.co.uk Finally, David added: “The Growth Hub has been a lifeline. The emotional impact of the support we’ve had is probably an area people don’t fully understand or value. In a small business with everything that goes on to have someone to turn to, bounce ideas off, talk about the market and get feedback: to have another rational voice there, that’s of amazing value.”

Lincolnshire charity CEO completes underground cave challenge for charity

Michael Fisher
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Lincolnshire charity CEO completes underground cave challenge for charity
CEO Dr Emma Egging of Lincolnshire based youth charity Jon Egging Trust has completed her penultimate JET10 Challenge. The weekend saw Emma embark on an incredible four and a half hour underground scramble in the UK’s largest cave system of Ease Gill in the Yorkshire Dales. Emma comments “It was an amazing 4.5 hrs underground in the Three Counties caving system with my brother and one of his mountain rescue team colleagues, with lots of tight squeezes, crawls, steep climbs and ascents. It was very challenging at times but a fantastic experience to be guided by a talented team of experts and to see some beautiful underground sights. One more JET10 challenge still to go! I’m so grateful for everyone’s support, helping us raise over £64,000 so far. I pushed myself to the limits today, but it has been worth it to enable us to support even more young people to step out of their comfort zones, develop their skills and achieve great things too.” Emma, who founded the Jon Egging Trust (JET) a decade ago following the death of her husband – Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Jon Egging – has taken on ten physical and mental ‘JET10’ challenges this year to shine a spotlight on the plight of the vulnerable youngsters supported by the trust, and to raise £100k to expand the charity’s programmes. To get behind Emma’s latest JET10 challenge please visit: Emma’s JET10 Challenge – Jon Egging Trust

Leicestershire gin distiller launches new product to support the national forest

Michael Fisher
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Leicestershire gin distiller launches new product to support the national forest
A Leicestershire distiller unveils an exclusive and specially produced new product to provide vital funds to the National Forest. The National Forest Gin has been hand-crafted and expertly distilled by Leicestershire based Burleighs Gin in a partnership which will provide a donation from every bottle sold to the National Forest, to support its vision for growing a better and greener future. Working in partnership with expert foresters, Burleighs has developed a unique botanical recipe that is inspired by the new and ancient forests surrounding the Burleighs Distillery in Nanpantan, Loughborough. The National Forest Gin is a vibrant, earthy creation featuring elderflower, blackberries and wild cherry. Using the signature Burleighs recipe as a base, bold juniper and zesty citrus have been added to create a classic gin – which is perfectly complemented by the flavours of the forest. Sam Watson, commercial director at Burleighs Gin, said: “Burleighs Gin is situated in the heart of the National Forest, and we have always been inspired by the beauty of our historic surroundings. “In fact, our Signature recipe was built around unique botanicals found hidden away in the Burleighs woodland adjacent to our distillery, so it’s been a great experience to elevate this further and create an exciting new product for the National Forest itself.” The National Forest is one of the boldest environmentally-led regeneration initiatives in the country – transforming a post-industrial landscape by creating a forest across 200 square miles of the Midlands, linking the ancient remnant forests of Charnwood and Needwood. Since the early 1990s, 9 million trees have been planted in an area that was previously one of the least wooded parts of the country. John Everitt, chief executive at the National Forest Company, commented: “Burleighs is a fantastic example of a business which is growing with the Forest and reflects our shared vision for a greener future. We are really proud to be partnering with Burleighs to have our own unique gin and to showcase the high-quality products being made here in the National Forest.” Inspired by the work of the National Forest, Burleighs Gin has embarked on its own mission to become more sustainable. It has introduced biodegradable and recyclable packaging to complement its existing solar powered electricity, and all glass bottles and cardboard boxes at the site are recycled via a comprehensive recycling system. The company has invested in portable distilling benches where guests can create their very own gin using new copper stills – water is stored beneath rather than via the mains which is passed through a purification filter, ready for use in the gin making process. Sam continues: “We’ve made significant changes at Burleighs over the last year to improve the sustainability of the company. We’re also proud of the fact that the bottles used for the National Forest Gin have been made from recycled glass – a decision that is perfectly aligned with everything that the National Forest stands for. “The Burleighs and National Forest collaboration is an exciting development to continue our mission to make Burleighs Gin even more sustainable.”

Local home builder launches incentive to support Worksop and Nottinghamshire’s education professionals

Michael Fisher
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Local home builder launches incentive to support Worksop and Nottinghamshire’s education professionals
A local home builder is supporting those working within the education sector, who play such an important role in their communities by launching a new incentive designed to boost their efforts to buy a new home. David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West, which has it’s Gateford Manor development in Gateford, is offering a deposit contribution of up to £15,000 off the price of a new home for anyone who works at a nursery, school, college or university. The Education Workers scheme, which is being piloted in Yorkshire, allows buyers to receive a deposit contribution of £750 for every £25,000 spent, up to a maximum contribution of £15,000. The discount is designed to help everyone working in the education sector get onto the property ladder or secure a brand new home, as a thank-you for their hard work over the past 18 months. The introduction of the scheme gives something back to the professionals across the region working in the education sector who have faced a challenging 18 months, during which they have had to adapt quickly to school and class closures and the challenges associated with remote teaching. To mark the launch of the pilot scheme, the home builder is also offering £200 school fund contributions for every sale of employees of that school purchasing a home with David Wilson Homes in Worksop and Nottinghamshire. Sam Wood, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West said: “The teachers, tutors, lecturers and support staff who work in Worksop and Nottinghamshire have done a tremendous job in challenging circumstances over the last 18 months, so we wanted to thank them in the form of some extra support for those who might be looking to buy a new home. We have a range of properties available for first time buyers and growing families alike, and our sales advisors are on hand to arrange appointments and viewings around busy schedules for anyone eager to find out more.”

BAE Systems welcomes University of Nottingham as latest strategic academic partner

Tess Egginton
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BAE Systems welcomes University of Nottingham as latest strategic academic partner
The University of Nottingham and BAE Systems have formalised a strategic partnership which will see the organisations collaborate on developing new and innovative digital manufacturing technologies.
A recognised leader in Industry 4.0 technologies, the University has extensive capabilities including additive layer manufacturing, lightweight materials, metrology and digital approaches to design and manufacture, as well as sustainable energy and power management systems. Professor Andy Schofield, Programme & Technology Integration Director, within BAE Systems’ Air Sector, and Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, said: “We’ve had a strong partnership with the University of Nottingham for a number of years, with our teams working closely together to jointly develop next generation manufacturing capabilities that will transform the future of aircraft production. “We look forward to deepening our relationship and exploring how the University’s world-class industry 4.0 knowledge and research capabilities can be applied to other areas of our business.” Professor Svetan Ratchev, Cripps Professor of Production Engineering and Director of the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Nottingham, said: “Formalising our strategic partnership will allow us to translate the latest research results into industrial applications, develop new technologies and deliver major societal, environmental and economic impact. It will also provide our students with more exciting opportunities to gain valuable industrial experience, enhance their knowledge and develop their future careers.” Confirmation of the formal partnership follows a sustained period of successful collaboration in key technological areas such as ‘cobotics’, which enables people and robots to work in co-operation on complex tasks. This was born from the Integrated Autonomous Assembly Demonstrator which prototyped robotic assembly of aircraft structures and used data from digital designs to optimise manufacturing processes. This work was led by the University of Nottingham with input from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. Nottingham and BAEs other strategic universities are also active in research into sustainability, particularly in energy management. This is of great importance to the company, given its target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions operations across its operations by 2030 and help inspire the development of sustainable technologies for its customers. BAE Systems continues to develop its UK university partnerships, with Nottingham becoming the company’s sixth strategic university partner. This builds on existing partnerships with Cranfield University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Manchester, the University of Southampton and the University of Strathclyde.

Work begins on new affordable homes in Sleaford

Tess Egginton
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Work begins on new affordable homes in Sleaford
Work has started on more than 60 new affordable homes on the edge of Sleaford. The homes are part of the wider Handley Chase development in the town and will be delivered by Longhurst Group. The Group, which owns and manages more than 23,500 homes across the Midlands and East of England and has offices in Boston, Lincoln and Grimsby, is working with Lincolnshire-based Lindum Group on the development. In total, 64 affordable homes will be built. Marcus Keys, Longhurst Group’s Executive Director of Growth and Development, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing more much needed affordable housing to North Kesteven and it’s great to see work underway on site. “As a Group, we’re committed to providing the homes people want, where they’re needed the most and we’re very pleased to be working with our partners at Lindum Group to respond to the local need in this area. “As a fully affordable scheme, this development will give local families and residents the opportunity to get onto the property ladder and have a home they can call their own. I’m very much looking forward to seeing work progress on this site and I’m excited to see our plans become a reality.” Thirty of the homes on the development are to be offered for sale on a shared ownership basis, with the remaining 34 available for affordable rent. It’ll include a mix of two, three and four bedroom properties. In addition, two public open spaces with new trees will be created as well as a new pedestrian link through to Rosewood Drive. The development site forms part of the ongoing Handley Chase development, which was approved in July 2015. The wider scheme involves creating a Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) to Sleaford including 1,450 houses, a new school and commercial space. Lindum Group Contracts Manager Gavin Parker said: “We’re really pleased to be on site at Handley Chase. Lindum Group has been working to bring forward this development for almost two years and so it’s great to be marking the start of construction work. “The first stage of the scheme is groundworks, which will involve stripping the top soil, excavating the attenuation pond and setting out the new estate road. We intend to reuse the majority of the soil on site at a later date. “We should be installing the first timber frames during early December. We plan to handover the homes in three phases, with the first properties completed by the end of next summer and the last finished by the end of the year. “Once complete, these homes will be a welcome addition to the housing stock in North Kesteven and will be central to the new community that’s being created as part of the town’s Sustainable Urban Development.” Leader of North Kesteven District Council, Councillor Richard Wright, added: “It’s fantastic to see work now underway on these new homes, which form part of the existing Handley Chase development in the town and support the wider Sustainable Urban Extension to Sleaford. “With thirty of them for sale as shared ownership and 34 of them for affordable rent, this scheme will help ensure that the high quality homes people need are readily available and our communities can continue to flourish as a result.”

New appointment brings three decades of industry experience to DBCP

Tess Egginton
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New appointment brings three decades of industry experience to DBCP
DBCP has further strengthened its team of building control surveyors at its Derby office with the appointment of Richard Buxton. Experienced building surveyor Richard, who boasts more than 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, will be based at DBCP’s Friar Gate office in the city centre. He joins from Erewash Borough Council where he was a Building Control Officer covering the Erewash, Broxtowe and Mansfield areas. As part of the DBCP team of Building Control Surveyors, Richard will now work with builders, architects and property owners in Derby city centre and throughout South Derbyshire. Richard said: “DBCP offers me a brilliant opportunity to expand my skills and experience, with city-based and larger commercial projects. I’m excited for the brand-new challenge ahead in Derby.” Richard’s role will include providing plan checks, site inspections and advice and support to clients and contractors for commercial and residential developments in the region. He will also be on call for requests to assess dangerous structures. Prior to joining the building control sector six years ago, Richard worked within construction, however decided to retrain and completed a Building Surveying degree at Sheffield Hallam University. He is continuing his ongoing professional development with the University of Wolverhampton where he is studying a Building Control Surveying Degree Apprenticeship. The Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Building Control Surveying was introduced in 2019. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) and LABC created the now nationally recognised and approved Building Control Apprenticeship Standard. He added: I’ve been in the construction industry for 32 years and working in building control for the last six years. This has given me an excellent appreciation and understanding of projects from both a developer and regulatory position. My skills and experience enables me to contribute to DBCP’s commitment to working with clients to achieve the best outcome on projects.”

£9m awarded for Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Derby

Tess Egginton
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£9m awarded for Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Derby
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has awarded Derby City Council over £9m in funding – £6.875m from its Getting Building Fund and £2.2m from its Growing Places Fund – to support the development of a Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) at Infinity Park in Derby. The Nuclear AMRC Midlands research and development facility will provide c.4,300m2 of new floorspace dedicated to research and development, which will support productivity growth and sustainable practises within the manufacturing sector and help to position Derby and the wider D2N2 region as a key advanced manufacturing and innovation hub for the UK nuclear centre and beyond. Bringing together the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear AMRC and the University of Derby’s Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Manufacturing (IISE), the facility will carry out research, innovation, supply chain development and teaching with the purpose of developing the skills and capability of businesses in the region and nationally, to support the UK Government objectives for Net Zero by 2050 and growth in manufacturing from 11% GDP to 20% GDP by 2030. Locally, the facility will support local SMEs to improve their productivity by providing access to high quality research and development opportunities, tailored business support and opportunities to upskill their workforce, creating a broader and more resilient economic base. Workers will have access to specialist training and development to equip them for more productive and higher paid roles. The Nuclear AMRC Midlands will deliver 70 direct jobs, support 35 collaborative R&D projects and support 100 businesses through the Fit For Nuclear supply chain development programme in its first five years of operation. Fifty learners will be supported, with a further 50 employees upskilled. Elizabeth Fagan, chair of the D2N2 LEP Board, said: “Our recovery and growth strategy highlights the importance of low carbon growth and raising productivity levels across our region. Our investments into Infinity Park and the Nuclear AMRC will play a critical role to in developing clusters of highly productive and sustainable businesses across D2N2 and supporting local economic development.” Andrew Storer, Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear AMRC, said: “We’re delighted to secure funding for the new facility at Infinity Park, and will continue to work with D2N2, the University of Derby and other local partners to deliver high-value jobs and support the region’s economic recovery. “With the transition to net-zero emissions at the top of the national and international agenda, there will be huge long-term opportunities for manufacturers of all sizes in nuclear and other low-carbon sectors such as offshore renewables, hydrogen and carbon capture. It’s part of our job to help the supply chain in and around Derby to win that work.”

Former Methodist church with luxury apartments plans sold

Tess Egginton
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Former Methodist church with luxury apartments plans sold
A former Methodist church in a Derbyshire town could soon be converted into eight luxury apartments after it was sold for £177,500 in an auction. The vacant building with an attractive frontage on West Street, Swadlincote, had a guide price of £140,000+ but attracted much higher bids, reflecting interest in the existing planning permission for the conversion from South Derbyshire District Council. The original chapel in the Swadlincote Conservation Area was built by Wesleyan Methodists in 1816, was enlarged around 1823, then further extended in 1837, and subsequently rebuilt in 1863. It ceased being a place of worship in 2017. Colin Totney, a land and development surveyor at Bond Wolfe, said: “We’re delighted with the price we gained for this stylish building, which is centrally located fronting onto West Street in the town centre. “Assuming the new owners go ahead with the conversion into eight apartments, it is estimated they would have a gross internal area approaching 8,000 sq ft. “The attractiveness of apartments in such a grand old building would be immense, with its lofty frontage, three ornate, pillar-flanked entrance doors and five arched windows above, and striking polygonal brickwork corners.” Mr Totney added: “While this approved conversion is now likely, the property could also be suitable for other uses, although the new owners would need further permission for any such reconfiguration.”

Financial Reporting Council commences investigation over nmcn audit

Tess Egginton
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Financial Reporting Council commences investigation over nmcn audit

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has commenced an investigation into BDO in relation to its audit of Nottinghamshire construction and engineering company, nmcn.

The FRC is looking into the accountancy firm’s audit of the consolidated financial statements of nmcn for the year ended 31 December 2019.

The decision was made at a meeting of the FRC’s Conduct Committee on 14 September 2021.

The investigation will be conducted by the FRC’s Enforcement Division under the Audit Enforcement Procedure.

nmcn entered administration earlier this month, with the majority of the business now sold, safeguarding the jobs of most of its employees. Approximately 80 people however have been made redundant.

Following significant cashflow pressures experienced in 2020 and subsequent losses incurred by the business, the group and its advisors worked throughout much of 2021 to deliver a successful refinancing and secure the future of the business.

However, the legacy issues faced by the group and ongoing losses in 2021 were simply too great to enable the refinance to succeed in an acceptable timescale.

Manufacturing activity remains firm, but supply pressures mount

Tess Egginton
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0
Manufacturing activity remains firm, but supply pressures mount
UK manufacturing output volumes in the quarter to October grew at a similarly firm pace to September, according to the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends Survey. The survey of 263 manufacturers reported output increasing in 11 out of 17 sub-sectors, with growth driven by the chemicals, aerospace, and food, drink & tobacco sub-sectors. Firms expect output growth to pick up substantially in the next quarter. Total new orders grew at a slower, but still strong, pace compared to July, with the deceleration driven by an easing in domestic orders growth. Meanwhile, export orders increased at a broadly similar pace to last quarter. Manufacturers expect total new orders growth to pick up next quarter, led by an acceleration in domestic and export orders. Concerns about supply shortages in the next three months escalated further in October. Almost two-thirds of firms cited availability of materials/components as a factor likely to limit output next quarter (highest share since January 1975). Manufacturers also expressed heightened concerns about labour shortages affecting future output, with two-in-five firms worried about a lack of skilled labour (highest since July 1974) and nearly a third concerned about availability of other labour (a survey-record high). The manufacturing sector continues to face acute cost and price pressures. Firms reported that average costs growth in the quarter to October remained broadly in line with July, which saw the fastest growth since 1980. Rapid cost growth has continued to feed into price pressures, with average domestic and export prices growing at their fastest rate since April 1980 and April 2011, respectively. Looking ahead to the next three months, costs growth is set to speed up further, with both domestic and export price inflation expected to accelerate. Anna Leach, CBI Deputy Chief Economist, said: “From higher material costs to labour shortages, manufacturers continue to face a number of serious global supply challenges hampering their ability to meet strong demand. “Manufacturers are using key levers, such as hiring new workers and planning further investment in plant & machinery and training, to expand production. But with both orders and costs growth expected to climb over the next quarter, we’re not out of the woods yet. “While the supply chain advisory group is set to help unblock short-term challenges facing production, strengthening the sector over the long-term demands bold action in the Budget. “By reforming the outdated business rates system and frontloading investment into new industries, the Government can turn the manufacturing industry into an engine for a more innovative and sustainable economy.” Tom Crotty, Group Director at INEOS and Chair of the CBI Manufacturing Council, said: “It is reassuring to see output and orders continue to grow as we enter the autumn. “However, the last quarter has been undoubtedly overshadowed by firms facing shortages of materials or components, struggling to fill roles, and grappling with increased energy cost pressures. It is essential that the government continues to work constructively with businesses to identify ways to alleviate this difficult situation. “On a more positive note, the upcoming COP26 climate summit presents an excellent opportunity for the manufacturing sector to showcase its achievements and highlight its critical role in the UK’s decarbonisation journey.” Numbers employed in the sector continued to rise at a similarly fast pace to July (which saw the quickest growth since 1973). Headcount growth is expected to pick up further in the next three months. Business optimism was flat in the three months to October, softening from the strong improvements seen over the last two quarters. Export optimism, meanwhile, grew at a similarly modest pace to July. Overall investment intentions remain strong, despite softening somewhat on last quarter. Firms expect capital expenditure to increase for plant & machinery, training & retraining, and product & process innovation in the next 12 months (compared to the last 12). Investment in buildings is expected to decrease.

Devolution vision revealed for Nottinghamshire

Tess Egginton
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Devolution vision revealed for Nottinghamshire
Leaders from the nine councils in Nottinghamshire have set out their ambitious joint vision for devolved powers to improve investment in the economy, the environment and health. In a paper to the joint City of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Economic Prosperity Committee, councils have outlined how they would work in partnership to help boost economic investment, improve the environment, and tackle health and educational inequalities across the city and county. Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are aiming to be one of the government’s pathfinder sites for devolution deals, the details of which will be outlined in the much anticipated ‘levelling-up’ white paper expected this autumn. If a deal was to be agreed, powers would be handed equally to Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to work in partnership with district councils to take responsibility from the government over major decisions and services that affect people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. If successful, a devolution deal could result in extra powers and money from government to deliver a county and city-wide approach to improve investment in education and skills, transport and the environment, the economy and infrastructure, land and housing, health and social care, youth services and support to vulnerable young people and potentially much more. Extra powers could also be gained to deliver community safety, tourism, and heritage, as well as better control over regulatory powers. Any devolution deal would not affect the status of the local councils who would continue to provide local services to their residents. Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Ben Bradley, MP, said: “Councils in Nottinghamshire serve 1.1 million people. So many decisions that impact on their lives are decided in Westminster. This is our opportunity to bring those decisions closer to home, so they reflect the needs and ambitions of local businesses and communities here in the city and county, rather than 130 miles away. “The right devolution deal would enable us to deliver economic and social prosperity across our city and county. We would use any powers to grow the private sector by attracting investment in jobs and make sure the skills needed match the sectors that invest in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The long-term result would be to create jobs, raise living standards and to restore local pride. Devolution is also an opportunity to improve public services. “Levelling up is not just about concrete infrastructure projects such as roads and rail. It needs to go hand in hand with improvements in the conditions for good quality health and education to improve the life chances of people in areas previously underfunded. This could transform the lives of people across Nottinghamshire.” The government has invited council leaders from areas across the country to show how they can work jointly on the new ‘levelling-up’ agenda, its initiative to make sure every area of the country has the powers and resources needed to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve economic growth and prosperity. Councillor David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s important that councils across Nottinghamshire work together to make the most of the possible opportunities that a devolution deal would represent to bring more investment, jobs and prosperity to the region and address the significant underfunding we have seen over many years. “Local leaders want what’s best for local people and we share common ground on a number of key issues. It’s still really early days but the themes and priorities are emerging with a focus on transport and infrastructure, skills and employment, and climate change. “The challenges we face are immense and partnership and collaboration is critical to improving both the long-term future of communities, and the day to day lives and prospects of local people.”

60-bed student scheme gets go-ahead in Nottingham

Tess Egginton
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60-bed student scheme gets go-ahead in Nottingham
Plans for a new student accommodation scheme in Nottingham have been approved by the City Council.
Thorpe and Fletcher Developments Ltd are behind the proposals which would see the existing building at 34 Tennyson Street demolished and ten, 6-bed student accommodation dwellings constructed. Two short terraces of identical three storey buildings would be built. Each student accommodation dwelling would have a shared kitchen/living space on the ground floor and three bedrooms on both the first and second floors.
The 60-bed scheme would replace a disused play centre – a two storey red brick terrace style property.

National recruitment company lets Lace Market offices

Tess Egginton
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National recruitment company lets Lace Market offices
A national recruitment company has let the second floor at 39 Stoney Street in Nottingham’s historic Lace Market. The office suite provides just under 2,700 square foot of high quality, recently refurbished space, benefitting from period features and modern fit out including heating/cooling system and attractive glazed partition meeting spaces with herringbone effect flooring finishes. Thomas Szymkiw of FHP’s Office Agency Department, who agreed the letting, acting on behalf of a retained client, said: “The Lace Market is one of Nottingham’s premier office locations with the former lace mills providing beautiful period buildings benefitting from modern open plan layouts that offer the perfect opportunity for forward thinking occupiers. “I have been in touch with the agent who acts on this company’s behalf for a number of months regards their city centre requirement and after several viewings at other properties, it was clear that the second floor at 39 Stoney Street ticked all the boxes in terms of size, quality of fit out and also location. “I am pleased that this deal has finally completed and wish them the best of luck in their new Nottingham home.”

RIBA recognises The Curve as an exemplar housing project

Tess Egginton
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RIBA recognises The Curve as an exemplar housing project
The Rayner Davies designed scheme on the corner of Gregory Street and Abbey Bridge, Nottingham has been recognised as an exemplar housing project by the RIBA East Midlands. The recognition is part of the RIBAs commitment to identifying and promoting good design and takes into consideration durability, functionality, interiors, location, and the aesthetics of each development. As part of the judging process representatives from the RIBA, led by Mike Baulcombe, director at RIBA East Midlands, conducted a tour of The Curve. As part of its RIBA recognition, The Curve’s exemplar housing design will be showcased to an audience of property professionals on 18 November 2021. 23 one and two bed apartments were built in a single block over two and four storeys. The external envelope curves around the site, enveloping a private central courtyard garden and residents parking. The project was complex as it is within an area at risk of flooding and also within an area of archaeological constraints. Opposite the site, to the south, is The Priory Church of St Anthony which is a Grade II Listed Building and is bounded by a Grade II listed boundary wall. The site stands within the Lenton Priory Scheduled Monument Area. Archaeological investigation works took place prior to work starting on site. Steve Rayner, partner at Rayner Davies, said: “This recognition by our peers is a testament to the quality of the work the team undertook here. We are proud that we were able to help make this project a reality.”

Major Newark employer creates 40 jobs

Tess Egginton
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Major Newark employer creates 40 jobs
Nottinghamshire firm Rototek is looking to fill 40 new positions at its Newark factory due to a significant increase in demand for its plastic manufacturing services. Rototek, which has a second factory in Worksop and employs over 140 people, is one of the UKs biggest technical rotational moulding plastics businesses and creates over 100 different products ranging from sailing boats to water tanks. With a surge of orders, the business is undertaking significant recruitment in Newark and the surrounding areas and is looking for new team members to help fulfil its order book. The factory, on Sylvan Way off Great North Road (A1), runs three existing shift patterns throughout the week, but following a change in lifestyles for some families post the pandemic, the business has decided to introduce a new shift pattern which includes the option to work on Saturday and Sunday only – something that was not previously available. Sean Conway, Managing Director at Rototek, said: “This expansion will significantly increase our manufacturing capacity, enabling us to broaden our portfolio of clients and products and to provide more jobs in Newark. “We pride ourselves on being one of Europe’s leading technical rotational moulding companies and continuing to hire passionate, hard-working people who are eager to grow with the business is key to our success. “Making the decision to open the manufacturing facility seven days a week means that we will be able to offer more shift patterns that will in turn mean more flexibility for our team members, something that has become a priority for many people post-lockdown. “We also hope that the new shift patterns will appeal to a wider demographic of workers – attracting people who had not previously considered this type of work before to apply. “For those who are new to the industry, we have training in place and all employees are supported in their new role. We are a friendly bunch and it’s a great place to work – we have staff that have been with us for over 20 years which is incredible!” The company was founded in 1993 and has continued to expand since its inception and the creation of these new jobs is a significant step in the business’s growth plan.

Work to commence on new landmark £35m Art & Design building

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Work to commence on new landmark £35m Art & Design building
Planning permission has been granted for a new state-of-the-art building to house the Nottingham School of Art & Design at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). The building, designed by architects Hawkins\Brown, will create a signature presence on the university’s city campus, and is part of an ambitious plan to build on NTU’s reputation as one of the world’s leading art and design schools. The new development will replace redundant buildings on the corner of Shakespeare Street and North Sherwood Street, exploiting views to and from the city whilst respecting the neighbouring heritage buildings. It will enable NTU to develop its creative industries offering by bringing new technologies for film, animation, UX design, gaming and graphic design and illustration together with traditional design practice. The building – which is 5,300 square metres – will feature a glazed ground floor entrance which will be used as an exhibition space, providing visitors with an exciting sense of arrival and offering opportunity for collaboration within the university, industry and the local community, through social open learning spaces. There will be dedicated spaces for visual communication, moving image and digital screen disciplines as well as a cafe, Digital Innovation Lab and Black Box Studio. The building will support NTU’s zero carbon commitment and has been designed with the aim of achieving BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and DEC ‘A’ ratings. A future aspiration, alongside the development, is to create a nearby green space for students, colleagues and the local community to enjoy as part of NTU’s commitment to greening the city and enhancing the biodiversity of the university environment. Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, said: “This building will enable the Nottingham School of Art & Design to become the leading art and design school in the UK, positioning us at the heart of one of the UK’s most innovative cities, creating the best talent in one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy. “It will expand our contribution to the creative industries and be a major driver of innovation and technology in art and design, allowing us to be at the forefront of the creative industries and building upon our heritage of the past 175 years.” Michael Marsden, Executive Dean of the Nottingham School of Art & Design, said: “This new building pushes the boundaries, not only through the architecture and technologies used to create it, but through the courses on offer, the opportunity for collaboration, and the graduates it will produce.” Work on the building will commence soon and is expected to be completed by Autumn 2023. This significant investment is expected to create more than 350 jobs and over an additional £1 million in student expenditure in the local economy.

Derbyshire childcare group adds to portfolio with nursery acquisition

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Derbyshire childcare group adds to portfolio with nursery acquisition
A Derbyshire childcare business has added to its portfolio with the acquisition of a day nursery in the village of Shirland. The White House Nursery group has purchased the former Nursery Rhymes Day Nursery from its previous owner Lin Yin in a deal arranged by Abacus Day Nursery Sales, and has refurbished and rebranded the business. The property on Main Road in Shirland has housed a day nursery since 1992 and was acquired by Mrs Yin in 2012, from which point it traded as Nursery Rhymes. Mrs Yin recently appointed Abacus Day Nursery Sales to find a new owner, with a guide price of £299,950 to take over the business and the freehold property. The nursery, which was rated “Good” by the regulator Ofsted at its most recent inspection, is run by a team of 12 staff, led by manager Fiona Keohane-Gaskell, all of whom have stayed on following the change in ownership. It is registered to provide 50 full-time childcare places and, in its last full financial year, turned over more than £170,000. The new owner, The White House Nursery group, is a family-run Derbyshire childcare business established more than 34 years ago. The former Nursery Rhymes site is its sixth childcare setting, joining existing nurseries in Alvaston, Alfreton, Borrowash and Oakwood, as well as a Kids Club in Spondon which provides wraparound care for older children. All of its sites are rated “Good” by Ofsted. Mike Morgan, director of The White House Nursery group, said the business was particularly attracted to the Shirland site by its strong local reputation and its links to schools and community organisations, as well as its spacious garden and onsite carpark. Mr Morgan said: “I would like to thank all our parents and staff for their patience during the building work. I hope they will agree that the disruption was well worth it, and that our renovated nursery provides a fantastic, safe and enriching nursery experience for all of our children and their families.” Although the business has no immediate plans to add to its team at Shirland, The White House Nursery does intend to begin taking on both qualified nursery practitioners and apprentices as necessary when the number of children on its rolls increases. The group is also on the lookout for other properties with potential for development. Chelsea Melnyk, sales negotiator at Abacus Day Nursery Sales, said: “I am really pleased to have been able to find a new owner for the Nursery Rhymes business, to enable our client to move on. It is also great to see the investment being put into the site by The White House Day Nursery. “This is part of a pattern we are seeing at the moment. While a number of founders are finding that this feels like the right time to sell and retire or move on, there are also a lot of childcare entrepreneurs who are now deciding to build their businesses by acquisition and take them to the next level. “We have noticed these trends across the board, but demand from buyers is particularly strong for premises with a good amount of outside space, which is perhaps a reflection of the appreciation of the great outdoors many of us have gained during the pandemic. The East Midlands, too, is a region in which the market for childcare premises seems to be particularly buoyant.” In addition to Abacus Day Nursery Sales, The White House Day Nursery received advice on the transaction from Flint Bishop Solicitors.

Business Gateway offers big ideas to support microbusinesses

Tess Egginton
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Business Gateway offers big ideas to support microbusinesses
The Business Gateway this week launched a new series of webinars designed specifically to support Leicestershire’s many microbusinesses to grow and thrive using new ideas. The webinars start in early November and run weekly until mid-December. Like all Business Gateway support, they are fully Government-funded so free of charge to the microbusinesses. At least 30 microbusinesses can take part in each webinar and the Business Gateway recommends that interested businesses sign up for all seven sessions so that they can become experts in thinking differently, developing new ideas and using customer feedback to test them before launching. The seven webinars – each of which lasts just 90 minutes – will be delivered by local company Solvers Studio and led by founder, Carl Quinn. Carl said: “I’m passionate about helping Leicestershire’s microbusinesses develop the skills they need to get a new perspective on business challenges; by doing this and using some simple techniques which we’ll share, a microbusiness owner can generate ideas for new products or services, test them to see which ones are viable and then launch them with a much higher chance of success.” Carl will be supported by Lindsey Newman-Wood. Sonia Baigent, chair of the Business Gateway Board, added: “Leicestershire’s economy is fortunate in being so varied and a massive 90% of businesses here are microbusinesses – that means they have fewer than five employees. “With so many small businesses, it’s vital that they get the support they need to get through these difficult times and have the chance to thrive in the future. “By helping them to learn how to generate and test new ideas, we’re giving them skills that will be useful for years to come. It’s that kind of thinking that can make the difference between surviving and not.” The full programme of webinars is:
  • ‘Problems and Priorities’ – 02/11/21 (14:00-15:30)
  • ‘The Idea Generation Game’ – 09/11/21 (14:00-15:30)
  • ‘Rapid Prototyping’ – 17/11/21 (10:00-11:30)
  • ‘Developing products and services with users’ – 23/11/21 (14:00-15:30)
  • ‘Winning at failing’ – 30/11/21 (14:00-15:30)
  • ‘Implementing new ideas’ – 07/12/21 (10:00-11:30)
  • ‘How to Sprint’ – 15/12/21 (10:00-11:30)
  To book for the webinars, microbusiness owners should visit the Business Gateway website at https://bit.ly/3vqpHOA
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