400 jobs to be lost at Wilko
Nottinghamshire-headquartered retailer Wilko is set to cut 400 jobs as it continues in its attempts to control costs.
The roles lost will include assistant store managers, retail supervisors, head office managers and call centre workers, according to reports in The Guardian.
Wilko’s CEO said the company had identified significant changes to its operating model to allow the business to stabilise and thrive, including changes to the firm’s management structure at stores and its Worksop HQ.
It follows news that the retailer will close its toy departments, focusing instead on selling garden and household goods, and comes after the revelation that 95 Wilko staff in Worksop were at risk of being made redundant as the retailer looked to outsource its customer services.
The business agreed a £40m two-year revolving credit facility with Hilco at the start of the year, to allow it to increase financial flexibility as it accelerates plans for turnaround.
Wilko’s year-end results showed a drop in sales, while the firm slipped to a pre-tax loss, as the pandemic continued to bite.
Winding-down of Flybe begins after sale talks fail
Flybe is set to be wound up after discussions for a sale of the business failed.
The joint administrators of the airline, David Pike and Mike Pink from Interpath Advisory, who were appointed last month, have confirmed that “despite significant interest from a number of credible parties,” it has not been possible to develop a transaction in the timeframe available.
They will now commence the process of winding-down the business and identifying options in relation to the sale of specific rights, interests and assets.
The company employed approximately 320 people, and operated passenger flights via 21 routes to 17 destinations across the UK and EU, including from East Midlands Airport.
David Pike, Managing Director at Interpath and joint administrator of Flybe Limited, said: “Over the past two and a half weeks, we’ve held intensive discussions with a number of operators with a view to rescuing the airline and preserving the value in its assets.
“Unfortunately, there was a challenging set of circumstances at play, including the ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ rules related to slots, complexities with European recognition of a potential Temporary Operating Licence and the high costs associated with preserving the company’s operating platform, which meant there was a limited window in which a clear path forward could be set.
“Furthermore, it was clear from the outset that there was only a limited number of parties who had the necessary strategic fit and who could navigate the complexities of such a transaction to get a deal over the line. We thank those parties for their engagement.
“However, it is with regret that discussions have now been brought to a close without a deal being agreed.
“We’d like to thank a number of stakeholders, including the CAA and the company’s lessors, who gave us the time and support we needed to ensure we were able to explore every available avenue to rescue the business. We’d also like to thank those employees who have been working closely with us since our appointment, and who have worked with diligence and professionalism in this unsettling period.
“Over the coming days, we will continue to work with the lessors to return the aircraft records to them, and will also continue to provide support to those employees who have been impacted by redundancy. We are particularly grateful to those operators and other organisations across the aviation industry who have reached out to us directly to offer support in finding new roles for employees.”
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11,000ft² Colwick warehouse let to workwear producer
The rear warehouse at Ash House, in Colwick, Nottingham has been let to Logo International.
Logo International have been producing embroidered and printed clothing for over 40 years, working with local business right through to large scale multi-national companies, producing everything from staff uniforms to promotional campaign clothing.
The rear warehouse of Ash House is located a short distance away from Logo International’s former premises but provided circa 11,000ft² of clear span warehouse space with 5 metre eaves, excellent ancillary space and yard circulation.
Anthony Barrowcliffe of FHP, who completed the letting, says: “I am really pleased to have completed this letting to Logo International having met Sue and Andy several years ago and working for them on one of their properties within their ownership and now I have let this unit to their business.
“Therefore, it was great to aid their expansion/growth. The landlords in this transaction were excellent and allowed for a very commercially sound deal to be done.”
Investigation into audits of Intu launched
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched an investigation into PwC’s audits of Intu Properties plc.
The FRC is investigating the firm’s audits of the consolidated financial statements of Intu for the years ended 31 December 2017 and 31 December 2018, which PwC says it will fully cooperate with.
The investigation will be conducted by the FRC’s Enforcement Division under the Audit Enforcement Procedure.
Shopping centre giant Intu, which had malls in Nottingham and Derby and directly employed circa 2,373 people, collapsed into administration in 2020.
At the time Jim Tucker, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said: “intu owns many of the UK’s biggest and best-known shopping centres. The challenges affecting UK retail are well known and have been exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown. As today’s administration makes clear, those challenges have fed through to owners of retail property, even to owners of high-quality shopping centres such as intu’s.”
Intu had debts of £4.5bn when it collapsed.
Place your Betts – Bygott Biggs makes director promotion
Bygott Biggs, the legal recruitment firm that covers Nottingham, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, has promoted Richard Betts to Director Legal Recruitment, Midlands.
Richard was originally called to the Bar in 2010 (trained as a barrister) and worked in Criminal Defence before he joined Bygott Biggs in 2012.
Over 11 years he has developed an unrivalled knowledge of the legal marketplace across the Midlands and has an enviable network of legal connections.
Jane Biggs, founder and Managing Director of Bygott Biggs, said: “Richard’s promotion is in recognition of a solid track record of achievement and consistent performance.
“Having listened to what lawyers want from their careers for over a decade Richard is completely in tune with his candidates and has built up relationships of trust with many law firm leaders, meaning he is well placed to get his candidates in front of the right decision makers.
“He is a great ambassador for Bygott Biggs and a key member of our very close knit team, working alongside fellow directors David Mayfield, Catherine Boyle and myself.”
Richard said: “The legal landscape has certainly changed since I switched from criminal defence work over a decade ago into legal recruitment and it continues to evolve.
“Candidates were already seeking greater flexibility before the pandemic and although there is a sense of ‘normality’ returning to the workplace as people head back to the office, there is a far greater emphasis on the hybrid working approach now. Forward-thinking law firms get that and are able to attract and retain the best talent.”
MySpa makes a splash at the UK Pool & Spa Awards
Award-winning, Leicestershire-based hot tub business, MySpa has scooped four accolades at the prestigious UK Pool & Spa Awards.
MySpa is the leading supplier of award-winning hot tubs and swim spas in the Midlands and North West. At an award ceremony at Birmingham’s National Conference Centre in the UK’s biggest awards for water leisure, MySpa received multiple accolades, taking home winner of the Best UK Spa installation under £10,000 and the top prize of the night, UK Hot Tub Retailer of the Year.
The independent family business also received Gold Standard Runner Up for Showroom of the Year, for MySpa Derbyshire and Best UK Spa installation in the Sunken or Semi Sunken category.
This year’s event featured a record 225 entries from more than 60 of the best companies in the industry, showcasing the finest examples of pool and spa design from across the UK.
A judging panel of 22 industry professionals were involved in the decision making and their choices were merged with a record number of online votes from members of the public to decide the winners from 30 categories.
Andy Wroot, co-founder and Managing Director at MySpa, said: “We are really humbled and grateful to everyone including our customers and team members who put us in such a great position to be recognised by members of the public and also our industry. We are incredibly excited to be the overall winners of the biggest award in our industry which is the ‘UK Hot Tub Retailer of the Year’.”
Established in 2009 by father and son Peter and Andrew Wroot, MySpa is an award-winning, family-run hot tub business focusing on the installation, service, repair and maintenance of hot tubs and swim spas.
Co-owner and director Laura Wroot adds: “These awards have made us all really proud, but especially the UK Hot Tub Retailer of the Year one. What a great way to set ourselves up for a successful 2023, which will see us move to our new retail store home in Leicester and also to a new head office.”
Work to transform former Newark M&S store to start this summer
Newark and Sherwood District Council is one step closer to transforming the empty former M&S building in Newark Town Centre. Once an award of contract has been made, it hopes to appoint a developer to progress 32 Stodman Street in the next few weeks into an attractive hub made up of homes and retail units.
Plans see the build of 29 high-quality residential homes in the heart of Newark which will provide a new town centre housing offer with an eye-catching and vibrant design. Plans also include two refurbished retail units which will improve Newark’s retail offer with the aim of attracting more people into the town centre.
Councillor David Lloyd, Co-Chair of Newark Town Board and Leader at Newark and Sherwood District Council, explains: “We want our town centres to have a thriving future where living, working, shopping, leisure and enjoyment come together. While Newark performs well compared to the UK average for numbers of vacant town centre retail units, it’s important that we continue to do all we can to attract people.
“Retail change shouldn’t mean town centre decline. It should be an opportunity. By repurposing an important site in the centre of the town, we hope to inject new life in the area with the aim to make the heart of Newark a great place to live and shop. Newark is unique and has so much to offer already with fantastic independent retails sitting alongside national stores, but this development really will add to the vitality of our historic market town.
“I am delighted that we are hoping to appoint a building contractor imminently and that work will hopefully start this summer!”
Already the District Council has completed preliminary work at the empty site, including the removal of large amounts of asbestos and clearance of internal partition walls to ready the site for the proposed re-development.
While inflationary pressures have caused the costs to rise on this development, the District Council says it will not stand by and leave it vacant. Despite a vigorous search and engagement process where a long list of national traders had been approached to find a retailer to occupy the store as it is, no one has stepped forward as the current unit is too large for most traders in town centre locations. Cost increases were predicted but will not affect the viability of the project and generating a repayment and return on the investment.
Once approval is sought from Cabinet on 21 February 2023, the District Council will pursue development.
Subject to Cabinet approval and agreement with the appointed contractor, work on the site could commence in late summer this year. The construction phase is likely to begin around Christmas 2023 with completion in summer 2025.
The Stodman Street development is one of many projects being funded by Newark Towns Board’s successful application to the Government’s Towns Fund initiative. It is being delivered by Newark and Sherwood District Council whose aim it is to breathe new life in Newark town centre.
Other projects include the £3m restoration of Newark Castle, a £2.1m cultural project aiming to provide a varied and exciting events programme alongside investments to improve the town centre even further and the £4.4m Newark Gateway project aiming to bring more business and employment opportunities to Newark.
Smith Partnership Solicitors names three new partners in round of promotions
Smith Partnership Solicitors, based in the East Midlands, has welcomed three new partners to the firm – two who have been promoted and one who has recently joined.
Danielle Upton and Clare Cuomo have both risen through the ranks at Smith Partnership, which has offices in Derby, Leicester, Burton, Swadlincote, Stoke-on-Trent and the newly opened Ashby.
Danielle, who works in the commercial property department, was shortlisted for the Rising Star category of the British Legal Awards last year for her work securing space for the upscaling of a Derby-based firm which is a key UK supplier of COVID-19 lateral flow tests to the Government.
She joined Smith Partnership in November 2014 after completing her Legal Practice Course at the prestigious Nottingham Law School. She advises clients on a full range of property transactions including freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals as well as secured lending, and has a particular expertise in complex commercial landlord and tenant matters.
Clare works in the childcare team in Derby and represents parents, grandparents, family members and children, as well as the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, in cases which are often highly sensitive and complex. Clare was admitted to the Child Panel in 2005 and continues to remain a member of the association which works in the best interests of children and young people.
Zoe Romain has over 14 years’ experience specialising in complex property transactions and joins the commercial property team in Derby after eight years at Actons Solicitors in Nottingham.
Zoe has built up a reputation for providing pragmatic advice to clients across a wide range of property transactions including high value and complicated Landlord and Tenant transactions within office, industrial and retail sectors. Zoe enjoys the additional challenges of providing property support on restructuring and insolvency pre-pack transactions and in connection with property disputes.
Kevin McGrath, managing partner, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to be able to announce these thoroughly deserved promotions. In addition to promoting two partners and welcoming Zoe to our firm, three staff have also been successful in being promoted to associate level. Well done to all.”
In the annual round of promotions, which follows an interview panel held at the end of last year, Beth McGovern, Carly Harwood and Rebecca Green have been made associates.
Beth McGovern joined Smith Partnership in 2012 working as a paralegal in the crime department in Leicester. A graduate of Combined Social Sciences at The University of Lincoln, Beth went on to complete her Graduate Diploma in Law and later the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School. She has also been identified as a rising star in the 2023 Legal 500.
She carried out her training contract with Smith Partnership and qualified as a solicitor in July 2017.
Carly Harwood is a private client associate specialising in Wills, Trusts and Estates, including drafting wills and the preparation and management of Lasting Powers of Attorney. She has completed the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners diploma and is a full member of STEP.
Rebecca Green joined Smith Partnership in February 2021 as a chartered legal executive within the Private Client department based at the Burton office.
She specialises in private client matters including Wills, Asset Protection, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection applications for those that lack capacity, Probate applications and Estate Administration and has been assisting and advising clients for over 10 years.
Rolls-Royce lands biggest ever order of Trent XWB-97 engines
Rolls-Royce has received an order from Air India for 68 Trent XWB-97 engines, plus options for 20 more. This is the biggest ever order for the Trent XWB-97, which exclusively powers the Airbus A350-1000. Air India has also ordered 12 Trent XWB-84 engines, the sole engine option for the Airbus A350-900.
This is the first time that an Indian airline has ordered the Trent XWB and the deal will make Air India the largest operator of the Trent XWB-97 in the world.
Financial details of the order are not being disclosed.
Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce plc, said: “Today’s announcement marks an exciting and truly remarkable occasion for Tata Group and Air India; the size and magnitude of this order reflects the level of their ambition for the future.
“I congratulate them on taking this bold step towards becoming one of the world’s greatest airlines and I would like to thank them for putting their trust in Rolls-Royce to power them on this journey.
“Air India is the first Indian airline to order the Trent XWB and the size of the commitment, including options, will make them the biggest operator of the Trent XWB-97 in the world. With a dynamic and growing aviation industry, India is a strategically important market for us and we look forward to working with Air India as they connect their passengers across global communities and cultures.”
Campbell Wilson, CEO, Air India, said: “We are delighted to commence this partnership with Rolls-Royce, and to have their Trent XWB engines power our new fleet of A350 aircraft. We are confident that they will provide us with the reliability and efficiency consumers expect of today’s leading airlines, and thereby play an important part in Vihaan.AI, Air India’s comprehensive transformation and growth strategy.”
Manufacturer of defence vehicles becomes majority shareholder in HORIBA MIRA’s UGV division
HORIBA MIRA, the Leicestershire provider of automotive engineering, research and test services, has sold a majority stake in MIRA UGV, its Uncrewed Ground Vehicle (UGV) division.
IDV, which has over 85 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of protected vehicles for military use, is to become the majority shareholder in MIRA UGV, which will remain headquartered at MIRA Technology Park.
The agreement brings together IDV’s expertise as a manufacturer of defence vehicles with its technological know-how and global production capabilities, with HORIBA MIRA’s position as a sector-leading company in delivering state-of-the-art Uncrewed Ground Vehicle solutions.
The agreement also provides capital and capability to move HORIBA MIRA’s UGV platforms and technology to the next stage of development and production.
Second phase of Unity Square office development tipped for approval
The next phase of Nottingham’s Unity Square office development looks set to move ahead, with the city council recommending plans for approval.
Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates are behind the major scheme on Queens Bridge Road, for which the original hybrid application was approved in January 2019.
Phase 1 of Unity Square is now complete and occupied by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
If given the green light, Phase 2 would provide a 12 storey office development with parking for 30 cars and 100 cycles.
235,000 sq ft of space would be provided.
The reserved matters planning application will be decided on next week.
Green light recommended to extend Nottingham building for student scheme
Plans to extend a Nottingham City Centre building to provide 104 student bedspaces have been tipped for approval.
Maven Property (Nottingham) LP are behind the proposals for the two storey building on Lower Parliament Street, whose ground floor is occupied by two retail units for Poundland and Bonmarche.
The plans for the site involve an upward extension of between one and three stories to create a building three to five stories in height.
The ground floor would be retained as retail use, with the upper floors used as 104 student bedspaces with a mixture of cluster and studio flats.
The development also includes communal lounges, a gym, a laundry room and cycle store with two small roof gardens.
The development would be three stories at the northern end facing Lower Parliament Street, stepping up to five stories facing Thurland Street.
Lincolnshire gets £1.6m to develop new wave of skills bootcamps
The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership has been awarded £1.6m by the Department for Education to develop a new wave of Skills Bootcamps in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council.
Skils bootcamps are free, flexible training courses which give people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast track to an interview, a new role with an existing employer, or new contracts from the self-employed.
Greater Lincolnshire has a head start because the Greater Lincolnshire LEP has already started developing Skills Bootcamps with a small number of local organisations as part of the Department for Education’s Wave 3. Already running are one in Immingham, offering modal training, and one in Skegness, teaching cookery.
Funding for Wave 4 means that colleges, training providers and employers in Greater Lincolnshire will soon be asked to develop Skills Bootcamp proposals to help fill local skills gaps and support people into jobs.
Simon Telfer, chair of the LEP’s Employment and Skills Advisory Panel, said: “Thanks to our proactive partnership with Lincolnshire County Council we’re ahead of the game nationally when it comes to Skills Bootcamps. These fully funded flexible training courses run for up to 16 weeks and aim to help everyone gain they skills they need for life.
“They are free for learners, they can be online, face-to-face or a mixture of both, and they provide learners with the technical skills that employers need. We’re delighted that our proposal to Government has been successful.”
Councillor Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Learning at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted that we’ll be able to extend the number of Skills Bootcamps on offer in the county. There are now so many ways to start a career in Lincolnshire, with lots of options for free courses and informal training that can lead on to apprenticeships and more formal qualifications.
“It’s a real priority for us to support people into the jobs they want, and to support our businesses with the workforce they need.”
Dunelm sees “strong sales growth”
Dunelm has seen “strong sales growth” while pre-tax profits have declined, according to interim results for the 26 weeks to 31 December 2022.
The Leicestershire-based homewares retailer opened three new stores in the period, during which sales were up 5% to £835m, from £795.6m in the same period of the prior year, and 43% higher than pre-pandemic (in H1 FY20).
Profit before tax was down on the prior year, slipping to £117.4m from £140.8m, which the firm said was expected and reflected the impact of sale timing and strong post-pandemic demand in the prior year, as well as inflationary impacts.
Looking ahead, during the period, Dunelm made a £17m investment in digitalisation, capability and capacity to support future growth opportunity.
Reflecting on current trading the company noted that whilst customers have been resilient to date, the consumer outlook remains unpredictable. Dunelm’s profit expectations for the current year, however, remain unchanged.
Nick Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are all learning to live in a new, complex and rapidly evolving economic reality. Recognising this, our focus has been on ensuring that we continue to offer outstanding value to our savvy customers through a proposition which is committed to quality, at the right price, across an expanding range of relevant products. We believe that this is why we have continued to grow our sales, customer numbers and market share.
“In this environment, agility, creativity and innovation are more important than ever and we have endeavoured to make every pound count, both for ourselves and for our customers, helping to mitigate the impact of inflation. While we do this, it is important that we also maintain our long-term thinking, invest for sustainable growth and continue to ensure we are in a position to seize the significant opportunities ahead of us.
“Much like during the pandemic, our customers, colleagues and the communities we operate in will remember how businesses behaved when times were tough, and we are confident that our approach of offering outstanding value and choice for all will enable us to – once again – emerge from this challenging period stronger than ever.”
What are your customers doing differently in light of the cost-of-living crisis? By James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants
James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, discusses the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on your customers and what businesses need to consider.
With the rate of inflation having seemingly or hopefully peaked at a 40 year high and with Prime Minster Rishi Sunak’s announcement that he seeks to half the rate of inflation by the end of the year, we might start to feel some sense of easing in the cost of living. However, against this backdrop many households and businesses are still feeling the financial impact of the pandemic. This is aside from the fact that salaries are not keeping pace with inflation.
How then does or is the current economic situation affecting customers and consumers alike and what do businesses need to think about or consider? Whilst this may depend on the nature of your business, the broad considerations tend to be the same.
Perhaps the starting point is what we buy and why? Is it a necessity, essential through to desirable or even a luxury. Whilst we may cut back on and even forego luxuries, essentials are something we tend to continue to purchase. Though for such items, products or services, we continue to purchase we may consider or are more likely to consider alternative provision perhaps trading down or seeking lower cost alternatives. We may also look at reducing not just our rate of consumption or use, but even the frequency of our purchase.
When it comes to where or who we buy things from, whilst we may have our preferred supplier or outlet in the current climate, we are increasingly likely to at least consider the same in a quest to find comparable cheaper alternatives. This is often even despite the longevity or depth of a business relationship.
When things become financially tighter we tend to be more thorough and considered, often taking longer to make the decision to make purchases, certainly high value capital items and one-off purchases – a process which is likely to involve greater consideration and analysis before reaching or justifying the decision to purchase or not.
Who doesn’t like a good deal or offer! Incentives, promotions and offers are likely to be key for those considering making a purchase as consumers and customers seek to get better value for money.
Whilst businesses will no doubt look to adapt their marketing to respond to conditions affecting their business, perhaps one of the key areas to focus on is customer service and experience, both for existing and new customers. At a time when businesses are dealing with rising costs, supply chain shortages, even labour shortages, many will probably be experiencing a deterioration in their level of customer service and experience. Unfortunately, this comes at a time when most of us are feeling poorly served, perhaps are seeking or demanding more and as such puts in jeopardy our business relationship.
Business as normal may be the approach of some, though for most if not all there is a need to consider both the short and longer term impact of the current situation. Few of us are likely to be running our businesses or undertaking our marketing in a year’s time like we are today. Taking time out to consider not only how your business is being affected but also what you need to do differently are likely to be key to your continued success.
See this column in the February edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
Over 100 SME manufacturers apply for £3m Made Smarter East Midlands
More than 150 businesses have now applied for Made Smarter East Midlands – with two-thirds already going forward to the next stage.
In excess of 100 eligible expressions of interest have been received since the programme launched in December.
During an event staged as part of Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2023, three regional businesses this week described how digital technology had supported growth.
The session, led by Made Smarter East Midlands Programme Director Dr Chris Owen, outlined how new digital technologies can help to reduce waste and inefficiency while increasing resilience and competitiveness.
He was supported by case studies from:
- Anne Ford, Managing Director of Hinckley-based ballscrew manufacturer PGM Reball;
- Mike Hague Morgan, Executive Director of Grantham-based engine and battery manufacturer Autocraft Solutions Group;
- Darren Joint, Managing Director of Grantham-based signmaker and digital printer Viking Signs.
Unemployment’s down, but number of ‘economically inactive’ people hits record high
The unemployment rate in the East Midlands fell slightly from 3.4% to 3.3% in the three months to December, according to the Office for National Statistics’ latest regional labour market data.
And although that’s still below the national average, the figures show the region’s economic inactivity rate – measuring the number of working-age people who have dropped out of the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – climbed to a record high of 22.7%, compared to a UK rate of 21.4%.
East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “After an upwards trajectory in the level of unemployment since the summer – albeit against a context of still being at historically low levels – it is good to see this curve begin to flatten in recent months.
“As we also saw with the UK economy narrowly heading off a widely-expected recession at the end of 2022, this is another important indicator in illustrating the resilience of our businesses during what has been a very challenging three years with pandemic restrictions followed by a cost-of-doing-business crisis.
“Yet we shouldn’t get complacent about a strong jobs market and our own research suggests unemployment levels may not remain so low this year.
“Our Quarterly Economic Survey for Q4 2022 found there was an 8% decline from quarter to quarter in the proportion of East Midlands businesses that added to their workforce in the previous three months, while there was a similar drop-off in recruitment prospects over the coming three months.”
The rising economic inactivity rate – running at 18.7% immediately before Covid-19 lockdowns – poses a cause for concern and the Chamber has urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to address it in the forthcoming Spring Budget, scheduled for 15 March.
Scott added: “Not only are they continuing to face unsustainable cost pressures, but as the rising economic inactivity rate demonstrates, we have one of the tightest labour markets ever seen. Businesses that want to grow, and create jobs and wealth in their local areas, are unable to do so because of acute skills shortages.
“This poses a major concern for the road ahead as our economy plateaus but with the Spring Budget fast approaching, there are measures the Government can take to support businesses to develop a skills base fit for 21st century industry.
“In our Business Manifesto for Growth launched in Parliament last November, we proposed a series of reforms around how businesses invest in their people.
“These include flexible incentives for business investment in staff training, expanding the use of the apprenticeship levy, bringing forward the introduction of the lifelong loan entitlement to support retraining and the retainment of an older workforce, and a comprehensive reform of the shortage occupation list to allow sectors facing urgent demand for skills to get what they need.
“In other words, this is about ‘getting the basics right’ – removing the day-to-day barriers for businesses and ensuring the basic building blocks of economic success are in place.”
G F Tomlinson to progress multi-million-pound planetarium in Nottinghamshire
Pre-construction work has officially started on the multi-million-pound planetarium at Sherwood Observatory Science Discovery Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson has been appointed through Scape’s Beyond the Public Sector framework to complete pre-construction design and planning, with the state-of-the-art centre expected to be completed and fully operational by autumn 2024.
Working alongside SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, has enabled the client to accelerate the delivery of the scheme through early contractor involvement with G F Tomlinson.
The development will transform a disused underground Victorian reservoir, which was dug in the 1880s, into an education centre for school and group visits, and will feature an exhibition hall, classrooms, a café and meeting rooms, as well as the state-of-the-art planetarium.
The reservoir will have a new structure built above it, to increase the useable space and transform the existing structure into a habitable and unique building. The scheme aims to inspire interest and careers in STEM learning, as well as increasing footfall to the local area.
Plans were submitted to Ashfield District Council by Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society, in November, following aspirations to increase annual visitor numbers from 3,000 to 20,000.
Funds for the project have recently been awarded through a contribution of £3.1 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2. Further funds were also secured through the council’s £62.6 million Towns Fund.
Craig Stopper, framework construction manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “We feel very privileged to have been chosen as the main contractor, by Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society, to lead on such an exciting and unique project, and what promises to be a pivotal tourism and educational attraction.
“The multi-million-pound scheme will attract thousands of visitors to the region and raise not only awareness of the local area and the history of the site, but STEM career opportunities for future generations. We very much look forward to bringing the vision for this planetarium to life.”
Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “The Sherwood Observatory will not only breathe new life into the local community but will provide exceptional social value by inspiring interest in STEM learning careers.
“We are, therefore, delighted to be working closely on such a special project with our partner, G F Tomlinson and Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society, via our SCAPE Beyond the Public Sector Framework. Our delivery teams will be instrumental in ensuring efficiency, time and cost savings throughout.”
Dr Steve Wallace at Sherwood Observatory said: “We have been eagerly anticipating this moment for several years and it’s great to have reached the point where we are able to have G F Tomlinson join the team. We believe that the young people in our area should be afforded the same opportunities for extracurricular enrichment as those from more affluent areas.
“The new Centre greatly increases the capacity of the observatory, to deliver outreach, and will help to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers from across the region, thereby supporting jobs growth and prosperity.”
Cllr Matthew Relf, executive lead member for regeneration and corporate transformation, said: “This is such a fantastic project that will help supercharge the astronomical society’s brilliant work on engaging young minds with STEM subjects, lighting a fire in our next generation of scientists and engineers.
“It’s one of the many interconnected projects – covering health and wellbeing, tourism, skills and jobs and urban regeneration – that are coming to Ashfield over the next few years as part of our ambitious regeneration programme to turn around decades of neglect. These projects will benefit not just Ashfield but the broader region too. Yet another great reason to Discover Ashfield.”
Advertising Standards Authority upholds complaints against Leicester company’s Harold Shipman ad
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld 115 complaints against a Leicester life insurance company’s ad featuring serial murderer, Harold Shipman.
Know for its provocative marketing, DeadHappy came under fire in January after including a picture of Shipman in two paid-for social media ads on Facebook and Instagram, with overlaying text which stated: “LIFE INSURANCE … Because you never know who your doctor might be.”
Shipman is estimated to have murdered between 215 and 260 of his patients.
In a statement, ASA said that the adverts “trivialised and made light of the murders committed by Harold Shipman, such that they were likely to cause both serious and widespread offence to those who saw them.”
It added: “We further considered that any reference to the murderer in advertising material was likely to be distressing, particularly for those who had lost family members or friends at Shipman’s hands and that, in the context of an ad promoting life insurance, the distress caused was unjustified.
“We concluded that the ads were not prepared with a sense of responsibility to consumers and to society and did not comply with rules on issues of harm and offence. We welcomed DeadHappy’s assurance that they would not be repeated.”
DeadHappy has since apologised for any offence or distress caused, saying it was never their intention to offend and that once it became clear that the ads were causing offence, they removed them.
The ads went live at 2 pm on 23 January, and were taken down at 8 am on 24 January.
DeadHappy confirmed that they would not run the ads again and are reviewing their processes in relation to the creation and approval of ads, endeavouring to make better informed decisions going forward.
