Nottingham-based ecology, land management and arboriculture consultancy EMEC has been appointed on a nationwide project to survey UK peatlands as part of The England Peat Map Project (EPM). EMEC has been sub-contracted by FERA Science Ltd to deliver the majority of field surveys, which will comprise over 2400 vegetation and 900 soil field surveys across England. EMEC will also lead a network of other wildlife trust consultancies who will be co-operating together in order to meet the national scope of the project. The England Peat Map project is part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme (NCEA), a science innovation and transformation programme funded by Defra which spans across land and water environments. The EPM project commenced in April 2021 and will run until 2024 with the intention of providing new evidence to support a range of uses including restoring peatlands and reporting on peatland carbon emissions. Experts believe that mapping England’s peat will contribute towards the Government achieving its net zero target by 2050. Funding for the £3m project has come from the Nature for Climate fund. Ed Tripp, consultancy director at EMEC, said: “Healthy peatland has a cooling effect on the climate as peat captures carbon from the atmosphere and stores it underground. Knowing where the peat is, and its condition will help conservationists identify areas for future restoration and protection. Working with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to restore peatland will be a considerable step towards reaching 2050 targets.” He added: “The project should also help to set a framework for gathering and recording data. Current information is patchy and not recorded in a standard format which makes it difficult to understand peat volume and its capacity to store carbon. The project will deliver new baseline mapping that is cost effective and exploit the opportunities offered by advances in technology and data.” The comprehensive mapping of England’s peat resources will underpin a range of activities that will help to improve how we estimate greenhouses gases, where to target restoration activities and understand their effectiveness, as well as apply and share learning and data with other partners.

James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, reflects on the Spring Budget. Listening to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget you might have been left with the sense that it set out to address everything for everyone, everywhere here and now. Delivered with the news that inflation seems to be on target to being more than halved by the end of the year and that the UK has technically avoided a recession, the Chancellor did appear ebullient in terms of future prospects for the UK economy and growth. Early on in his speech it was good to hear about the proposed £100m support for local charities, recognition of the vital work and role our third sector plays in supporting our communities. So too was the news around the provision of £63m to be made available for public swimming pools and leisure centres, all of which play a key part for many in ensuring physical and mental health and wellbeing. When it came to the cost-of-living crisis all will no doubt have been pleased to hear that the energy price cap for households will remain in place for a further 3 months, with the start of the summer expected to see a reduction in real terms in the cost of energy. Motorists will have welcomed the continuation of the 5p fuel duty freeze and for those that like a pint down the pub, the 11p reduction in alcohol duty on a draught pint has probably gone down a treat. Moving on to what the Budget 2023 means for business and enterprise, Mr Hunt did not, as many might have hoped, seek to cancel the forthcoming increase in Corporation Tax from 19% to 25% this April. In part he indicated that the lower rate actually hadn’t had the impact or desired outcome in terms of stimulating economic growth or rewarding or incentivising enterprise. He did however, seek to harness the upside of Super Deduction, the tax relief which was due to come to an end this April, with the introduction of full capital expensing for the next three years, with the intention of making this permanent. Under this relief, IT, plant and machinery will be deductible in full from taxable profits. Looking to support the life science and creative sectors, an enhanced credit is set to be introduced whereby for every £100 spent on R&D, eligible companies would be able to claim £27 back. Further tax relief and support is also being introduced for SME’s who undertake more intensive R&D, especially in the fields of life science, healthcare and artificial intelligence. When it comes to barriers to economic and business growth one of the key challenges many businesses face is a workforce and labour shortage. Whether keen to help businesses address this issue or to reduce the growing number of people who are classed as economically inactive, the Chancellor announced a number of measures aimed at targeting and supporting, at one end, those with health-related issues and child care challenges and at the other end, encouraging those aged over 50 back to the work place. With regard to the latter, a key area of focus was seeking to address the shortage of health care professionals who might have left the profession as they have reached the pension threshold and felt continuing was not financially attractive or beneficial. Measures to boost the workforce then saw financial support and incentives for those seeking child care provision and more flexibility for nurseries and child minders as providers. Schools are also being encouraged to provide greater wrap around cover for childcare at the start and end of a working day. When it comes to those over 50 who may have left the workplace, the Chancellor chose to increase the annual pension allowance from £40,000 to £60,000 and remove the life time allowance, the maximum a person may have in a pension pot. With this, along with the rising costs of living and a sense that many might now want to do something, he hopes that people will seek work, even if it is not necessarily what they used to do. To support them he is also looking to introduce apprenticeships for the over 50s helping them to re-train and up skill. Whether the measures announced will help to fill vacancies will no doubt depend on the ability to match skills with jobs, especially in those sectors with particular challenges such as healthcare, education, tourism, hospitality and even the professions like accountants and solicitors. Finally, it was interesting to hear about the creation of 12 new investment zones including those planned for the West Midlands, East Midlands, Teesside, South and West Yorkshire along with the proposed £400m for further levelling up partnerships. Such initiatives do appear to be, in part, underpinned in some areas with changes to public accountability and responsibility with a move to decisions, influence and control transferring from Local Enterprise Partnership to unity authorities. At just over an hour long the Chancellor’s Budget could not be classed as an epic. It did though seem to be action packed and full of content, as to the substance that is likely to come to the fore when we see the devil in the detail. The next 12 months as we run up to an election will see if it has the desired impact he and the government want and the electorate might crave. See this column in the April edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.

After suffering three years of knocks East Midlands businesses are finally optimistic about what 2023 could bring, according to new research into the state of the region’s economy. Uncertainty has been replaced with confidence, there has been a turnaround in sales and companies are now expecting to employ more people once again, East Midlands Chamber’s latest study illustrates. Economic indicators covered by the business representation group’s Quarterly Economic Survey, which is delivered in partnership with the University of Leicester School of Business, have been largely negative since the end of 2021, but they are all now heading in the right direction during the first quarter of 2023. East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson said: “Following an uncertain end to 2022, these latest findings demonstrate how businesses are beginning 2023 by displaying signs of growth and an increasing confidence for the year ahead. “Sales and advanced orders are steadily growing, cashflow is improving – although there are still significantly more businesses reporting a decline in cashflow (35%) as opposed to an increase (22%) – and price pressures continue their gradual drop-off. “The relative certainty in the policy environment, at least compared to the constant flip-flopping that came before, is now leading to a significant upturn in business confidence and, therefore, investment intentions, which are crucial if we are to steer the economy back on track and achieve consistent growth. “While the region’s unemployment rate has been at historically low levels in recent times, our research had shown a decline in employers recruiting – mainly due to an extremely tight labour market driven by escalating numbers of economically inactive people since the dawn of the pandemic combined with longstanding skills shortages. “So it’s pleasing to see a positive swing, with a 7% increase in the proportion of businesses recruiting in the past three months and a 14% improvement in those expecting to add to their workforce before the summer, as this generates jobs and prosperity locally. “While all this paints a far healthier picture than at the end of 2022, caution is required as many of these indicators are still down from where we were a year ago. “We are moving slowly in the right direction but Government support is still required to ‘get the basics right’ by knocking down the everyday barriers to doing business, and then backing our firms to grow the economy by focusing on the ‘four Is’ – investment, innovation, infrastructure and international trade – all of which is laid out in our Business Manifesto for Growth.”

Chatsworth has shared its plans for the future of the estate and its commitment to involving stakeholders and communities in its ambitious vision for the next 15 years and beyond. Following initial engagement with stakeholders in November, Chatsworth has produced a draft of its Whole Estate Plan (WEP) and has invited feedback from the local community, key authorities and partner organisations as part of a wide-ranging consultation. The final plan is due for publication in summer 2023, and Chatsworth will continue to share progress at regular intervals, welcoming further input from stakeholders. By doing so, Chatsworth is aiming to ensure that both the community and its partners have a genuine involvement in shaping Chatsworth’s future. Such plans are best practice in holistic planning for large estates, giving consideration to their environmental, social and economic impact, as well as supporting the partnership between land owners, National Park Authorities, and local people. As such, Chatsworth’s Whole Estate Plan will run in partnership with, and alongside, the Peak District National Park Authority’s own aims. The Plan will provide valuable insight into the estate while acting as a reference point for future proposals and initiatives. By sharing its vision and direction of travel for the years ahead, Chatsworth is aiming to build stronger collaboration and common goals with its partners and community. The process to date has involved engagement with councils, charities and trusts, trade bodies, local independent businesses and neighbours, among others, and supports the Estate’s overarching vision to benefit its heritage, its people and its shared future. Lord Burlington, Chairman of The Chatsworth Settlement, said: “We take great care to balance the needs of conservation, access, enjoyment, education, community and economy at Chatsworth. Our plan sets out our aims for achieving this balance over the next 15-20 years, and our commitment to work in partnership with stakeholders and community members who share our desire to make a lasting, positive contribution on a local, national, and global level.” Stephen Vickers, CEO of the Devonshire Group, said: “Our Whole Estate Plan has been designed to cover the period running up to 2040, to align with the timeframe of the Peak District National Park Partnership Management Plan. It sets out a portfolio of environmental, social and economic projects and initiatives that we believe will collectively realise our vision for the Chatsworth Core Estate, while contributing meaningfully to the long-term goals and objectives of the National Park in which we’re very proud to sit.” Phil Mulligan, Chief Executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “We’re pleased to see the continued progress of this ambitious Whole Estate Plan for Chatsworth and no more so than as we embark upon the next chapter of the wider Peak District’s future with the latest Management Plan for the National Park. Partnership, collaboration and early conversations as stakeholders are the cornerstones to building upon aspirations that may ultimately allow us to be exemplars in how to take care of these protected landscapes under our collective guardianship.” The Whole Estate Plan will act as a framework for the management of the estate, its charities and its businesses and a guide for decision making which will continue to develop and evolve over time. The Plan covers the core Chatsworth Estate, including Chatsworth House, Garden, parkland, and Stand Wood – all under the management of the Chatsworth House Trust charity – as well as farms, woods, moorland and other interests between Baslow and Beeley, plus Peak Village in Rowsley.

Streets Chartered Accountants covers the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme, capital allowances, National Insurance, changes in VAT penalties, interest rates increases, and more in its new news roundup. Energy Bills Discount Scheme The new Energy Bills Discount Scheme replaces the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which came to an end on 31 March 2023. Spring Budget 2023 – Capital allowances Designed in part to help offset the increased Corporation Tax main rate, the Chancellor announced the introduction of a new ground-breaking 100% first-year capital allowance for qualifying plant and machinery assets. This measure is also expected to help boost business investment and growth. National Insurance if working abroad If you move abroad, it can often be advantageous to continue paying your UK National Insurance Contributions (NICs) in order to preserve your entitlement to the State Pension and other benefits. More time to top-up NICs In some circumstances it can be beneficial to make voluntary National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to increase your entitlement to benefits, including the State or New State Pension. Changes in VAT penalties The first monthly returns and payments affected by HMRC’s new VAT penalty regime were due by 7 March 2023. The new VAT penalty rules apply to the late submission and / or late payments of VAT returns for VAT return periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. Adding employees to a workplace pension scheme Automatic enrolment for workplace pensions has helped many employees make a start on providing for their retirement with the advantage that employers and government are also contributing to their pension pot. Spring Budget 2023 – Pension changes One of the key measures of the Spring Budget was the announcement that the £40,000 cap on annual pension contributions will be increased by 50% to £60,000 from 6 April 2023. Get information about a company There is a significant amount of information about companies that can be obtained from Companies House. Spring Budget 2023 – Childcare changes One of the main areas targeted by the Spring Budget was changes to childcare. Pensioner Cost of Living Payment 2023-24 The Cost of Living support package has been designed to help over 8 million households in receipt of means tested benefits. Spring Budget 2023 – Energy Price Guarantee The Chancellor had previously announced that the energy price guarantee cap, which will see the average household have their energy bills capped at £2,500 a year, would remain in place until the 31 March 2023. It was announced as part of the Spring Budget measures that this cap will now be extended for a further 3-months until 30 June 2023. Bank of England and HMRC increase interest rates The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on 22 March 2023 and voted 7-2 in favour of raising interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.25% in a move to tackle continued, rising inflation. This is the eleventh time the MPC has increased interest rates with rates now the highest they have been since November 2008.

The UK property and construction market faces challenges on a daily basis, yet it continues to innovate and adapt to meet the changing needs of the market and remains a vital component of the UK economy. The industry is making ongoing progress with sustainability, a focus on green buildings and renewable energy, along with the use of sustainable materials, energy-efficient designs and renewable energy sources, a trend that looks set to continue. In terms of workforce, whilst it is still facing a significant skills gap, particularly in areas like carpentry, bricklaying and plastering, many companies are now embracing internal investment with training and apprenticeships to attract and retain the skilled workforce required in this multi-talented sector. As time is a precious commodity in a busy working week, don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with hundreds of industry professionals and potential clients at the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo – 26^th April 2023 at the Bentley Hotel, Lincoln LN6 9NH, all in one amazing day. With a wide range of exhibitors and attendees from various related industries, this is the perfect opportunity to expand your network and grow your business. Free to attend, register today at https://businessshowsgroup.co.uk/register/ Additionally, why not start your day off at the network breakfast (breakfast roll & drink) available 8:30am – 9am (£12.50 plus vat). Order at  https://businessshowsgroup.co.uk/product/network-breakfast-lincolnshire/ And to top it off, just by attending, you can have the chance to win big with an exclusive giveaway offer – choose between £250 cash or a space up to the value of £800 at the East Midlands Expo (13^th November 2023). So don’t hesitate, register today for this exciting event!

CBI Director General Tony Danker has been dismissed with immediate effect following an independent investigation into complaints of workplace misconduct. Law firm Fox Williams was hired to investigate Danker in March after a formal complaint made in January from a female CBI employee, who alleged he made unwanted contact with her and considered it to be sexual harassment. It also followed further alleged informal reports of concerns over his behaviour. The first phase of this investigation has now concluded and, following subsequent reports of wider workplace misconduct, the CBI Board has dismissed Danker, brought in new leadership, with Rain Newton-Smith, former CBI Chief Economist and currently Managing Director, Strategy and Policy, Sustainability and ESG for Barclays, agreeing to rejoin the CBI as its new Director General, and made changes to how it operates. Jill Ader, a CBI Board member and Senior Adviser and recent Global Chair of the leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder, will oversee a root-and-branch review of the CBI’s culture, governance and processes, leading a new sub-committee of the Board alongside its President Brian McBride. A new, elevated position of Chief People Officer will also be created, which will sit on the CBI’s executive committee and report directly to the Board on all matters of workplace conduct and culture. The CBI also revealed that three other CBI employees have now been suspended pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations. It added that while Fox Williams continues with the next phase of its inquiry, the CBI is liaising with the police and will cooperate fully with any investigations. A statement from the CBI said: “The allegations that have been made over recent weeks about the CBI have been devastating. While investigations continue into a number of these, it is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better. “We apologise to the victims of this organisational failure, including those impacted by the revulsion we have all felt at hearing their stories. Nobody should feel unsafe in their workplace. “We wish to thank all those who have had the courage to speak out, through internal or external channels, and encourage them to keep doing so. Our website describes how to do so, providing contact details for specific CBI Management or for an independent third party, whichever route individuals feel more comfortable taking. “The CBI exists to help British business flourish. This is a privilege and responsibility which we take extremely seriously and cannot take for granted. We represent our members not just in how we advocate for them, but also through our values as an organisation. It means we must be a place where colleagues are safe, valued and respected, and where there is zero tolerance for behaviour that falls short of those expectations.”

Top 200 law firm Flint Bishop has acquired multi-million-pound headquarters on Derby’s Pride Park, making continued strides in its ambitious expansion plans and facilitating a strong base for further accelerated strategic growth. Opening its doors on 11 April 2023, the fully refurbished, high tech, state-of-the-art premises offers a combined 21,900 sq ft across two sites at 2 and 3 Prospect Place. The new offices elevate both client and employee experience from its previous headquarters at St. Michael’s Court, where the firm has been based for two decades. The newly named ‘Pinnacle Building’ at 2 Prospect Place offers some 18,000 sq ft of Grade A modern high tech office facility, symbolising the firm’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and reaching new heights, and reflects Flint Bishop’s reputation and position within the legal industry. In addition to a comprehensive new client suite, a dedicated luxury Business Café spanning 2,300 square feet has been incorporated, which includes cutting-edge equipment and designs crafted by multiple nationally renowned teams to offer ample space for staff to relax during their breaks or have a quick meeting in comfort. The new accommodation combines open group working areas with focus rooms and touch down desks to support agile working and interdepartmental collaborative engagement. Green spaces have also been installed to encourage natural light and mood-boosting elements. Chief Executive Qamer Ghafoor said: “I have made significant investment into the new offices with an extensive fit-out which has taken some nine months. It was important to me that our new headquarters reflect the commitments and achievements of Flint Bishop and offer excellent environment to our staff and our clients. “This is an exciting time for the business. Due to our continued growth and recent sharp rise in staff numbers, significant investment in our headquarters is crucial to allow for sustainable expansion, as we continue to grow and diversify our client base and services. “The new and improved accommodation will provide a more modern, high-tech, creative, open, and collaborative working environment and offer many additional facilities for clients and staff. It has provided us with a completely blank canvas to strengthen the way we work and support each other, elevate our combined service offerings, and help to advance our position within the legal sector.” News of the move comes after Flint Bishop announced its strongest financial results to date. End of year figures show that turnover climbed to £19m, an increase of 13% on the previous year, with significant new client wins. 2022 was also an exceptional year in terms of firm-wide recruitment and promotions, which have materialised in response to the increase in demand across all practice areas. The current growth rate has seen the firm boost its headcount by nearly 10%, with total number of employees now standing at well over 200, the highest in the firm’s history. Ghafoor added: “Flint Bishop is in a very strong financial position, and we have made significant strides towards achieving our ambitious expansion plans. The strategic focus is growth based on targeted acquisitions, recruitment of key lateral hires and significant ongoing investment in our people and technology. “We now look forward to welcoming staff to our new HQ and enhancing the experience and services we can provide our clients while maintaining our excellent location, right in the heart of Derby and the Midlands.”

Streets Chartered Accountants will sponsor the East Midlands Bricks Awards for the sixth year running in 2023, backing the prestigious Overall Winner award. Speaking with Business Link, James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, said: “Streets Chartered Accountants, as specialists in property and construction, are looking to build on our reputation for looking after clients in the sector. “Our continued support and engagement with the East Midlands Bricks Awards certainly is a great way to promote our work, support the sector and for us to connect with developers, contractors, agents and other professionals who across the region are engaged in a plethora of exciting, imaginative and innovative projects. “The Bricks has earned an enviable reputation as a must enter awards for those involved in the construction and property sector from across the East Midlands. As such we are delighted to be sponsoring the ‘Overall Winner’ category for the sixth year in a row and are really looking forward to attending this year’s awards evening in September.” The awards, which will take place on Thursday 28 September at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrate the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. Nominations are now OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards. To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at: