Jay Cooledge has been appointed as head of the Stockyard in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
His appointment comes at an exciting time for the unique food and drink destination in the Rural Capital of Food after news that it will be receiving Levelling Up Funding from the Government.
The funding will support development of additional food production units and events space at the Stockyard in the town’s Cattle Market – building on its reputation as a site for food and drink producers to manufacture and sell their artisan products and a visitor destination for food and drink lovers.
Jay, a former East Midlands Entrepreneur of the year (2016), has a wealth of experience in the food and drink and hospitality sectors, having helped to build up and run The Griffin Inn and the Old Stables in Swithland in Leicestershire as a family business. More recently he was marketing, sales and events manager in Dickinson and Morris’ Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe in Melton.
Jay and his team will be responsible for bringing new tenants, stallholders and events to the Stockyard, driving visitor numbers and delivering the levelling up development.
Hugh Brown, CEO of Gillstream Markets Ltd, which operates the site, said: “We are delighted to have Jay on board. He has an extensive background in catering and hospitality and shares our vision of delivering a regional destination in Melton Mowbray.”
The Stockyard, located in the old livestock market sheds, provides a unique space for food and drink producers to manufacture and sell their wares in the heart of the Rural Capital of Food. It hosts a number of food and drink festivals through the years attracting thousands of visitors from all over the country.
It is already home to a number of artisan producers and retailers including the multi award-winning Round Corner Brewing, Melton Premium Craft Distillers, along with butchers, bakers and pork pie makers. Smoked food specialist Feast and the Furious is also about to open.
The Levelling Up Funding will support the creation of a Hub at the Stockyard to provide an area for food production, education and support services for small or upcoming producers, networking opportunities for local producers and a café for visitors. In addition, under-used, dilapidated buildings and sheds will be converted into smaller food production units for local food and drink businesses, where production activity can be part of the visitor experience.
Jay said: “I am very pleased to be joining the Stockyard at such an exciting time and look forward to helping to deliver these inspiring plans which will benefit the whole town and attract more visitors to the area, boosting the local economy.
“I’m from both a small business background and a catering and hospitality background, and I am passionate about supporting and incubating entrepreneurs working in this sector. This is perfect timing for us to lay the foundations and be ready as a shining beacon when the economy picks up.”
The Stockyard, working in conjunction with Melton Borough Council, is part of the wider Food Enterprise Centre in the borough, building on the rich food heritage of the local area. Melton Mowbray is the home of the pork pie and Stilton cheese. And for hundreds of years, Melton Mowbray Market in its various guises has played a key role in the ‘farm to fork’ story.
Today it has markets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, plus many special events and festivals.
One of Lincolnshire’s largest engineering companies has reported that 2022 was its best-ever year.
GAME Engineering, which is based at Witham St Hughs, saw sales top £40 million in 2022.
The company was founded in 1986 and employs 70 people across two divisions: material handling and process design and custodial.
Of the record sales, £26 million was secured by the custodial division, with projects ranging from minor repairs to new build turnkey projects and major refurbishments. The custodial division was introduced in 1999 and works with His Majesty’s Prisons, police forces, secure hospitals and financial institutions.
“2022 was a challenging yet successful year for us, and I have to thank our team for all their hard work and commitment. Without them delivering to a consistently high standard, we could not have earned the trust of our clients,” says Stuart Hasler, custodial director.
“On the custodial side of the business, it was very pleasing to see us win work in all four UK nations, with projects ranging from just a few hundred pounds to more than £5 million and spanning everything from a simple repair all the way through to major new build and refurbishment projects.
“2023 has started in the same way as 2022, and we are very pleased to have won a variety of projects, including work that will be undertaken in 2024 and 2025.”
The success of the custodial division is mirrored by the performance of GAME Engineering’s material handling and process design team, which received its largest ever single order. The seven-figure project saw GAME designing and building a process plant for blending and packing grass seed.
“2022 was a fantastic year for us,” says Adam Conroy, project sale director. “As well as winning our largest ever order, at the end of the year, we were also awarded a contract to design and install all of the process equipment within a new factory producing animal feed. It’s a significant project for us and represents a great start to 2023.”
Leicestershire-based flooring specialist Floorstock is marking a year of substantial growth – achieving a 170% increase in sales revenue online in the last 12 months, with an overall 35% increase in sales across the board since 2020.
The business, formed in 2008, has invested heavily in its online presence in the last two years – increasing both sales and visibility substantially. Its success follows an influx in demand for interior based products and a desire for consumers to upgrade their homes succeeding the Covid-19 pandemic.
In particular, the firm has seen a boost in sales for trend-led flooring styles such as herringbone wood flooring and custom floors, following the announcement they were appointed to be the UK distribution partner for Whiteriver, a leading UK flooring supplier.
As members of the Contract Flooring Association (CFA), the firm supplies a wide range of flooring products including solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and vinyl to trade and consumers, alongside all the accessories, tools and maintenance products required for installation.
Wayne Haslam, sales director at Floorstock, says: “The success we’ve had in the last 12 months is a real testament that hard work really does pay off. Despite various setbacks including price increases, supplier delays, and raw material shortages due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Brexit and the after effects of Covid-19, we have managed to keep regular supplies of our best-selling materials and ensured our customers are well looked after during their busiest periods.
“Due to the economic climate, it is hard to predict what the future holds, however we are looking to focus on our core strengths – providing the very best levels of stock, service, and support to our customers.
“We continue to keep our pricing competitive, whilst holding maximum stocks for next working day delivery. Customer service is of paramount important to us as a business and we are incredibly grateful to our current customers for the ongoing support we receive.
“We have many exciting plans in the pipeline which we’re looking forward to announcing this year.”
Partners, businesses and the Mayor have shared their excitement, visions and hope about the latest regeneration project planned in Mansfield.
Mansfield District Council recently found out it had been successful in its bid to the Levelling Up Fund and was one of only four projects in Nottinghamshire to be awarded the money. What these funds can be spent on are ring-fenced to regenerate and level up towns and cities across the country.
The newly-awarded £20m will see the former Beales building revitalised into a multi-agency hub – Mansfield Connect – that will house key partners in the district, including the NHS, Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Mansfield CVS. The project is being led and facilitated by the council.
As well as public sector provisions in the building, there will also be the opportunity for private sector spaces available for investment.
Jay Rowlinson, Chief Executive at Mansfield BID, shared his support for the Mansfield Connect project.
He said: “The impact the hub will deliver to our local businesses is two-fold. We will see an increase in footfall in the town centre, by having the one-stop shop for health care, council services and education.
“Also, our businesses will further reap the benefits with the staff and visitors using their eateries, shopping with them for goods and enjoying what the town offers. Bringing a building that has stood empty in a prime location back into use for the public can only be a good thing for our town.”
The Mansfield Connect scheme forms a vital part of the council’s ambitious long-term town centre regeneration plans, and it is hoped the repurposing of the building will then have a knock-on effect, stimulating the local economy and encouraging private-sector investment into the wider Mansfield district.
Vanessa Whitton, Chief Executive of Mansfield CVS explained the project was essential in giving people another reason to come in to the town centre.
She said: “The idea of us all connecting in this project is brilliant, it brings all services in to one place with the view to spread it across the district wider – but we have to start somewhere.
“It is important there is a reason to come to the town centre, if we don’t have that we could lose it. We need to make Mansfield town a place where people want to live, work and socialise, and having this as a focal point will help that.”
The council was successful in being awarded the full bid of £20m for this project during the round two of applications. The major investment announced by the government included an allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £3.8 billion.
David Ainsworth, Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust emphasised the multi-agency hub will create aspiration in the next generation.
He said: “I’m delighted for our local community that we have managed to get this funding. It is a brilliant initiative and health is right in the middle of these plans.
“Just down the road, we have also been lucky enough to get at least £20m of funding to build a community diagnostic centre. You can see the regeneration of the Mansfield town both with the levelling up agenda and our new centre. There is a real opportunity to create local jobs for local people and give our children and young people some hope and aspiration for this area.”
Elected Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, emphasised residents are at the heart of the project’s ambitions.
He said: “This building will be transformed into a multi-agency hub, and yes, will house the district council, but it will also be home to our partners so we can deliver services for residents in a coordinated and direct way – a one-stop shop.
“The council has a history of bringing old and derelict buildings back to use for the public when private investments have otherwise failed.
“The White Hart Street area sat disused and an eye-sore for multiple years, and now we have been able to fund a new multi-million residential development. The general hospital site was derelict for a quarter of a century, but the council took the site on and created our housing with care provision, now called Town View. Now, here we are, taking proactive action on Beales.
“We are demonstrating civic leadership to take the reins of this failing market building that otherwise would have represented the decay of the town centre.”
Mansfield MP Ben Bradley said: “The truth of the matter is, if we don’t intervene with this kind of funding from local stakeholders it will just be left – it is not a commercially viable building to invest in.
“It’s really important that we bring it back to life with multi-agency use, services, businesses, leisure – all sorts of stuff in the town centre – and reviving Stockwell Gate, which can only be a good thing for the town and regeneration.”
Health and education services as well as spaces for private sector opportunities are also key players in the Mansfield Connect project.
Tom Glynn, Director for Retail Development at Colliers, added: “Public sector leadership in re-purposing challenging large former town centre retail units is essential in the current market.
“Mansfield Connect proposals will create direct new footfall from both staff operating from the building as well as visitors using services which in turn creates private sector confidence and new investment.
“This will be a great stimulus for Mansfield town centre.”
Richard Ledger, chairman of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, has backed a decision by all members to cancel the proposed £6.93 million Derby Road junction project in favour of securing and enhancing other regeneration projects.
Due to the complexity of the issues around these junctions and the current exceptional inflationary pressures, it has not proven possible to design a Derby Road Junctions project that is value for taxpayer’s money.
It is proposed that the funding will instead be reallocated to secure three other key projects; Long Eaton High Street, Long Eaton Walking and Cycling Network, and the Stable Block Managed Workspace. This will include:
An additional £3.43 million for the High Street project which will see a redesign and upgrade of the High Street with the aim being to enhance the public space by making it a more sociable space with seating and planting. The reallocated funding also enables an expansion in scope to include Tamworth Road.
An additional £2.96 million for the walking and cycleway improvements which will include lighting along the cycleway within West Park and replacing the bridge which connects West Park to the town centre, as well as the construction of a new bridge on Britannia Road.
An additional £540,000 for the Stable Block which will see the conversion of a former Stable Block next to Long Eaton Town Hall into modern office spaces and studios.
Richard Ledger, chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal, says: “Unfortunately there has been no alternative but to cancel the Derby Road Junctions project. Costs accelerated at a rate where we could no longer deliver this as a viable project, however we can now make the best use of the remaining funding by enhancing other Town Deal projects. These developments will benefit the residents of the town and deliver value for money.”
2023 will see the regeneration of Nottingham’s Southside “continuing apace,” according to the City Council, despite the setback of £20m of Levelling Up Funding for part of the Broad Marsh vision not being granted by Government.
Work to start on Broad Marsh Green Heart
The Broad Marsh site itself will see work start on the Green Heart element of the scheme later this year. This will see an area the size of the City Ground football pitch turned into a green urban park, complete with extensive planting and wetland/marsh areas, bringing nature into the heart of the city centre, along with walkways and what could be the longest bench in Europe. This will be created in the area where the western end of the former shopping centre has been demolished and cleared.
Masterplanning to provide detailed proposals in line with the overall vision will also take place this year, with a number of highly regarded contenders lining up to take on this vital and exciting work.
A major new study into rejuvenating the unique cave network underneath Broad Marsh and caves across the city centre is also due to be published by the University of Nottingham. And temporary uses for spaces to bring activity and businesses into the area will be progressed while the long-term development plans are being finalised.
Family-friendly public space and unique area for skateboarding
Linking to this are the streets immediately south of the shopping centre site. Work funded from a successful bid to the Government’s Transforming Cities fund will begin later this year turning Collin Street – previously a busy five-lane road through the city – into a pleasant family-friendly space with planting, seating and playable areas overlooked by the new library.
Amphitheatre-style steps at the eastern end lead down to the area in front of the new Nottingham College building on Sussex Street, where more planting and seating have already transformed the space beneath the tram viaduct, which also now boasts a unique skateable space codesigned with local groups for skateboarders close to the City of Caves entrance and Nottingham Contemporary.
Work is continuing to extend the segregated cycle lane and improved pedestrian access through the Broadmarsh area along Canal Street and London Road, linking to the Island Quarter in the east and Castle Boulevard in the west.
New Central Library to openThe fit-out of the new Central Library as part of the bus station and car park complex will be completed later this year, complemented by the Transforming Cities-funded public realm improvements along Carrington Street leading up to Collin Street, and the reduction in traffic along Canal Street, with its new east-west cycle lane. The library will feature a high-quality children’s library with an immersive story telling room, extensive book collection and comfortable areas to sit and read, as well as a café and exhibition and performance space.
New buildings on Station Street
Further south, the new Domestic & General office on the pedestrianised section of Station Street is nearing completion, while student accommodation takes shape on the other side of Nottingham Station on Queen’s Road and Traffic Waterway Street.
Major Island Quarter development continues
The Island Quarter is a significant development site with a masterplan in place which also missed out on Levelling Up Funding – but developers Conygar are committed to delivering their vision for the site. A new canalside bar and restaurant along with public square and event space has already opened and plans for a new hotel, private apartments, offices and bioscience laboratories are in the pipeline. New student accommodation is also under construction.
The new Island Quarter bioscience building has been designed by CPMG Architects
Investment also continues elsewhere across the city, including developing a new library in Sherwood, improvements to Bulwell bus station, over 350 new affordable homes currently under construction around the city towards a target of 1,000, roads, pavements and streets lights in every part of the city benefiting from improvements and upgrades, along with wider transport investment.
City Council leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “While the news about our Levelling Up bids was undoubtedly disappointing, there’s a lot to be positive about, not only in terms of what’s planned for this part of the city, but what we’ve already achieved.
“Arriving in the city from the station – itself and nearby Station Street improved a number of years ago – the two walking routes into the city centre are vastly improved, with Carrington Street and Sussex Street offering welcoming pedestrianised environments and the former barrier of Canal Street traffic reduced to buses, taxis and bikes.
“The stunning new car park and bus station are fully operational, while new Nottingham College building not only looks striking but also brings students and life to the area.
“This year will see our efforts continue apace. I’m excited to see the Green Heart start to take shape – the part of the Broad Marsh vision that most people said they want – and for more work to get underway to hone the vision into a deliverable blueprint for the whole site. Getting the new Central Library open and starting the new Collin Street public space plaza to link up the rest of the improved spaces will also be major milestones for the city this year.
“Elsewhere we can see private developers showing their confidence in Nottingham, with the vision for the Island Quarter taking shape and new offices and accommodation being added to the city skyline.”
A new report from the Midlands Engine has called for a co-ordinated regional effort to capitalise on booming investment into the Midlands nuclear sector.
The report has been authored with the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and is published today to coincide with Nuclear Week in Parliament. It calls for action for the region to seize on major opportunities granted by a national commitment to increase the UK’s nuclear power supply fivefold, and capitalise on the benefits of next-generation nuclear technology.
To this end, the Midlands Engine partnership is encouraging regional organisations to collaborate with local and national government to advance seven clear recommendations aimed at bolstering the region’s nuclear and related industries capacity.
These include supporting regional bids for nuclear manufacturing sites, establishing a Midlands nuclear consortium, and a focus on new technologies such as fusion and small modular reactors. Underpinning these is a commitment to pan-regional collaboration in advancing projects throughout the nuclear supply chain.
In promoting regional nuclear, the report aims to stimulate investment in industries capable of contributing to the provision of cheap, low-carbon, domestic energy – crucial to ensuring the UK’s long-term energy security and climate goals, while lowering bills for consumers.
The deep dive into the region’s nuclear and related industries potential follows a swathe of recent success stories, including the historic decision to site a prototype fusion power station on the site of a former coal-fired power plant in West Burton, Nottinghamshire.
The project aims to produce a commercially viable fusion prototype by 2040 and has the potential to usher in a new wave of safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come.
The Midlands Engine partnership report also points to a rapidly growing regional investment base, with investment in nuclear related sectors in the Midlands growing 23% between 2017/18 and 2019/20 to £2.5bn. Over the same period, the report found regional growth in the sector was 29%, compared to just 2.9% nationally.
Coupled with an increasing number of regional organisations working across the nuclear supply chain, including Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactor programme, The National Centre for Nuclear Robotics, and firms such as Cavendish Nuclear and Goodwin International, the report highlights the region’s immense potential to provide the technology and manufacturing base needed to spearhead the UK’s nuclear revival.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for the nuclear industry, and the Midlands has everything in its arsenal to develop into a nuclear powerhouse.
“Communities up and down the country are feeling the benefits of having a vibrant nuclear sector; well paid, skilled jobs, which help keep the lights on and protect the planet.”
Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands Engine partnership, said: “As the nuclear energy sector enters a period of substantial growth, the Midlands is well placed to develop and benefit from the advancement of this critical industry. By improving our region’s nuclear capacity, we open ourselves to economic advancement, and provide the Midlands with a proven, cheap, low carbon domestic energy source.
“Our region has long provided the technological expertise and industrial capacity required to power the UK via alternative methods of generation, so it is fantastic to see this Midlands Engine partnership report set out clear, achievable targets to ensure we also gain maximum benefit from nuclear.”
Faye McAnulla, programme director at the Energy Research Accelerator, said: “From specialist machinery to the safe disposal of waste, this report sets out how our region can capitalise on the economic and net zero advantages of nuclear.
“The research and manufacturing expertise found across the Midlands makes it the perfect site for the expansion of the UK’s nuclear capacity, and we look forward at ERA to working with organisations across the region and the wider UK to further develop new nuclear technologies, and ensure we make the most of our existing capabilities.”
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Gary Cramp, Managing Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North.
Following a very busy construction market in 2022, the challenges following Covid have presented themselves with inflationary pressure on materials and labour resource to carry out projects.
At McLaren, we have been selective with our customers ensuring that we have strong relationships and that we ensure our teams are supported to allow for delivery on our projects and repeat business.
Our repeat business for 2023 is in the region of 75% and has allowed us to secure our targets for the year with some big wins on projects across the region.
For the forthcoming year, we believe will see a tougher market emerging based on funding restraints and labour constraints remaining. Energy prices and inflationary pressure will still remain but to what extent could be anyone’s guess.
Our focus will remain on key relationships and supporting our valued customers through the next two years whilst investing centrally to enhance our social value, diversity and sustainability offering.
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Joshua Toon, director at Armsons Barlow, which provides Project Management, Construction Cost Management/Quantity Surveying and Building Surveying Services from its base in Derby.
2022 was an interesting year for business, as the impact of COVID-19 finally lessened, only to be replaced by the pressures on the economy, with a cost-of-living crisis, rocketing energy bills and an impending recession.
Unsurprisingly, the industry has seen a relatively steady start to Q1 2023, with many institutional investors opting to take stock of the current market conditions before re-engaging with schemes. I predict scheme re-engagement will take place towards the latter end of Q2 2023, thus enabling investors to take a view on inflationary trends and the state of the market before making any medium to long term commitments.
As far as construction costs are concerned, I would expect material costs to finally stabilise this year and ‘construction related inflation’ to become less prominent, which should provide a boost for the sector.
A trend I expect to see this year, and beyond, is a larger drive for sustainable construction methods. Many businesses are now looking to reduce their carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly through adoption of sustainable construction techniques, where able to do so.
The increase in energy costs will almost certainly lead to a greater uptake in adoption of sustainable construction methods, and I predict this will filter through to all sectors. This, factored with the stabilisations of material costs, will hopefully ensure a wider adoption of sustainable construction techniques throughout the construction industry.
All in all, I think we have reason to be cautiously optimistic for 2023. The construction sector has faced economic challenges many times in the past and I’m confident the industry will be able to come out the other side of this ‘economic crisis’ in a healthy position.
Property developer HBD will bring forward a further four buildings at Markham Vale as planning permission is approved for an additional 107,250 sq ft.The industrial and logistics scheme will see another six acres developed to deliver the new units, with the potential to create a further 150 jobs at the site.
Sustainability will be a key focus for each of the new buildings, which will be designed to achieve BREEAM “Excellent” and will be available on either a freehold or a leasehold basis.
Richard Hinds, senior development manager at HBD, said: “Markham Vale is one of the region’s most successful destinations for industrial, logistics and warehousing space so it’s great to be able to expand the scheme to meet demand for well-located Grade A space.
“The decision to approve a further 107,000 sq ft is testament to the longstanding partnership between HBD and Derbyshire County Council and our commitment to continuing to progress crucial regeneration schemes like Markham Vale when the economic outlook is more challenging.
“We are currently in discussion with several occupiers looking for bespoke design and build units and expect work to start on site in the second half of the year.”
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, said: “This marks the beginning of another exciting chapter for Markham Vale which continues to prosper despite the difficulties of the current financial climate. We look forward to welcoming more businesses bringing more jobs in the future.”
Markham Vale is a 200-acre joint venture scheme between property developer HBD and Derbyshire County Council. It is one of the region’s flagship industrial schemes, attracting new businesses and creating a total of 2,702 new jobs to date.
Just 11 acres now remain for development, accommodating a further 190,000 sq ft.
WestBridge Group (WestBridge), the independent provider of SSAS services and tax experts, has completed the acquisition of Rowanmoor Executive Pensions Limited’s book of 3,500 small, self-administered schemes (SSAS), for an undisclosed sum.
The firm has also taken the opportunity to rebrand the business to WBR Group to reflect the larger organisation.
The Group is headquartered in Leicester and following completion now has offices in Bolton and Salisbury providing support to clients across the UK. There are now over 4,000 SSAS and almost 150 employees across the three sites.
WBR Group provides specialist tax advice to the owner-managed business sector and high net worth individuals in addition to independent administration, consultancy, actuarial and trustee services for SSASs. Established in 2016, the firm boasts an executive team that has over 150 years’ experience providing advice to business owners and other professionals seeking guidance on tax planning opportunities and the benefits of using a SSAS pension.
Tom Moore, CEO of WBR Group, said: “We have made no secret that we are acquisitive for the right books of business and have shown how we can successfully integrate them into the model. This is the second major acquisition we have made and follows the purchase of the James Hay SSAS book in March 2021.
“We are creating a hub of SSAS excellence, with a dedicated account manager model that is hard to beat. We have been really pleased at the response we have had from clients, staff, financial advisers and other intermediaries and can’t wait to continue to develop our people and grow our business.
“The business has grown and evolved since its launch in 2016, particularly in the last two years, and we want to ensure that our brand and identity work continues for many years to come.
“It is important to acknowledge the businesses that have joined us through acquisition and to have a clear business strategy that everyone understands and can focus on. That is why we have also unveiled a fresh and modern brand identity and a new name, WBR Group. WBR Group will continue to provide service excellence, high levels of technical support and specialist assistance to clients.”
Independent homelessness charity Emmanuel House Support Centre has received planning permission from Nottingham City Council to change the use of the first and second floors of its premises on Goose Gate, Hockley, in the city centre.
The scheme includes the creation of 20 bedrooms that will provide short-term emergency accommodation for people who find themselves homeless. The charity’s ground floor will continue to provide day support while the first and second floors will be converted into bedrooms providing 24-hour emergency care.
Following the successful planning application, which was approved on Friday 27 January, phase one of the development will start in the coming months. The replacement of the support centre’s existing windows will be the first element of the development to be delivered. New double-glazed aluminium windows are currently being procured by the project team, which will significantly improve the thermal performance and aesthetic appearance of the building.
Denis Tully, CEO at Emmanuel House, said: “This is fantastic news for the charity as it means we’re one step closer to our ambition of providing short-term emergency respite care becoming a reality, contributing to reducing the number of people who are homeless in Nottingham.”
The project team is made up of Nottingham suppliers such as architectural practice CPMG Architects, project managers EDGE, structural and civil engineers Hexa, and mechanical and electrical engineers Chord Consult.
Steve Milan, associate at CPMG Architects, said: “The journey that Emmanuel House is embarking on has only just started, but an important milestone has been reached and we’re proud to be working within a highly skilled project team that cares about the city of Nottingham. We look forward to moving forward with the project and supporting with fundraising efforts.”
Geoff Tindsley, director at EDGE, said: “We’re grateful to Nottingham City Council for its quick approval of a project set to significantly change homelessness support in Nottingham. Helping Emmanuel House make its new vision a reality has already been an exciting process to date, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work closely alongside the trustees and project team in this next phase, offering our expertise in any way we can.”
Fundraising for the project, which is predicted to cost the charity £2 million, will start when the team has completed the preparatory work.
James Garment, director at Hexa, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to be working with Emmanuel House on a scheme that will make such a difference to the local community. With the project involving significant remodelling of the internal layout of the existing building, collaboration across the project design team, which has a long-standing and proven record of delivering successful projects together, will ensure that the finished development really stands up to the charity’s vision.”
Denis added: “We’re continuing to work with Nottingham City Council and our consultants before we can go out for funding. We have more work to do before we can start the crucial fundraising stages. The immediate need for Emmanuel House remains the significant task of raising vitals funds for our Winter Appeal, which will support people in crisis and at risk of homelessness over winter.”
Bellway has begun building 96 energy efficient homes at a new housing development in Ancaster.
The Willows is one of the first developments being delivered by the housebuilder’s Eastern Counties division where all homes will be fitted with environmentally friendly air-source heat pumps instead of gas boilers.
Construction work is now under way at the site off Wilsford Lane after South Kesteven District Council granted planning permission for the development in 2022.
The development will comprise 67 properties for private sale, including a range of three to four-bedroom houses, as well as 29 affordable homes for local people through shared ownership or low-cost renting.
There will also be a public open space, a play area and a green edge with a footpath around the site.
The heat pumps, which run on electricity instead of natural gas, consume significantly less energy and will enable homeowners to minimise their fuel bills and reduce their carbon footprint.
Rhiannon Jones, head of sales for Bellway Eastern Counties, said: “This development marks a significant step in our push for greater sustainability because it will be one of our first sites to exclusively feature homes supported by an eco-friendly heating system.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to future proof our homes, we are also providing electric vehicle charging points for all residents at The Willows to enable the switch away from petrol and diesel cars.
“We are expecting the development to be particularly popular with families due to the site’s proximity to Ancaster Church of England Primary School, which has been rated good by Ofsted and is located just half a mile from The Willows.
“Commuters will appreciate the good transport links, as the development is less than a mile from Ancaster railway station and just a 10-minute drive from the A15.”
Bellway is planning to release the first homes at The Willows onto the market in April 2023, with the first properties due to be completed later in the same year.
Business confidence in the East Midlands fell 18 points during January to 10%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Companies in the region reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down four points at 24%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down 31 points to -2% this gives a headline confidence reading of 10%.
East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as diversifying into new markets (33%), evolving their product and service offering (31%) and investing in their team (29%).
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
Businesses in the region expect staff levels to remain the same over the next year. This is up from December when a net balance of 37% of businesses reported plans to make new hires.
Overall UK business confidence climbed in January, with firms reporting their highest confidence levels since July last year.
Business confidence increased by five points to 22% and the net balance of businesses feeling optimistic about the economy doubled on December’s reading to 16%.
Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (6-12 February) 30% of businesses across the UK reported that they are looking at opportunities to grow by investing in staff development and training. A net balance of 17% of firms reported plans to create new jobs in the next twelve months.
Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Despite a challenging business environment, it’s pleasing to see that the region’s firms are feeling upbeat and are focused on investing in skills to help set them up for growth.
“Upskilling forms a key part of the recently agreed East Midlands Devolution Deal, which contains a fully devolved adult education budget, tailored to match the skills need of local businesses. For firms in the region making the most of these education opportunities and investing in training will reap rewards and will build a platform for the region’s growth for years to come.”
For the second month in a row, confidence in the manufacturing and service sectors increased, with manufacturing rising to 28% (up 15 points) and services up to 25% (up seven points). Business confidence in construction was down two points to 27%, while retail confidence fell for the second month in a row to 7% (from 13%), the lowest level since February 2021.
Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Business confidence continues to improve following the December boost. Firms are clearly more optimistic about the wider economy and this is driving the increase, helped by precursory signs that wage and other cost pressures may be easing.
“It is still a tough environment for businesses, with high energy bills remaining a concern during the winter months, but there are grounds for optimism for 2023 if inflation starts to trend lower.”
A Chesterfield recruitment company has marked further growth with a move to offices at Van Dyk Hotel in Clowne.
Spire Recruitment provides a tailored, personal service to both SMEs and large businesses in and around Chesterfield and Derbyshire in a variety of different industries.
The move to the new offices will enable the company to provide client and candidate meetings in a fantastic environment with beautiful surroundings.
The new office is off-grid, which will also make the company more sustainable, and provides good outdoor space which will enhance the wellbeing of staff and clients.
Lee Ashley, director at Spire Recruitment, said: “Being based in North Derbyshire is really useful to us being a recruitment company, we do quite a bit of travelling and one of the reasons we moved to our chosen location was the amazing transport links.
“We are right next to the M1 motorway and we also have good links to Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire from our base, this will enable us to gain more clients and be able to push our coverage further. We also have several industrial estates within minutes of the office, so this again gives us nice options to expand our client base further.”
Lee was also excited about the future growth of Spire Recruitment following the company’s relocation.
He added: “Once we have settled into life in our new office, we will then kick on and be looking to expand the team. We will be looking at options as to whether we go down the apprenticeship route, or if the company is in a position to need a recruitment agent who is experienced and can hit the ground running.”
Just under £7 million in funding for local improvements in the East Midlands has been approved by the Government.
The funding which has been given the green light is part of an early investment offered to our area as part of devolution negotiations. It is not dependent on devolution proposals going ahead.
It is part of £18 million on offer from the Government to the region for investment in different projects supporting local priorities, which relate to housing, the environment, infrastructure, skills, and transport in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham.
The programmes which are being funded are:
£750,000 for a new cycling and walking route in Derbyshire, a 1¼ mile link connecting Markham Vale to the existing cycle route in Staveley.
£1.5 million for the new roundabout on the A6 at Fairfield in Buxton, Derbyshire, allowing access to housing development land. The roundabout provides access to sites for 461 new homes, including 30% classified as affordable. It also brings work to an area of social deprivation. This work has been completed, with the funding which has just been approved going towards the cost.
£1.5 million for a new growth through green skills. The investment will enable the creation of a new £5.4 million flagship skills centre and low carbon demonstrator in our region, to be operated by West Nottinghamshire College, as well as two electric minibuses for getting students to and from the site, to support the growth of a future low carbon economy as we work towards net zero.
£2 million for a new long-term private rental scheme to address homelessness in Nottingham City and Derby City and reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for housing.
£1.22 million for more affordable housing in Derby City, where there is currently a shortage, to provide 15 extra social houses to be let at an affordable rent. It will mean less reliance on temporary bed and breakfast placements and shorter waiting times for longer-term accommodation.
Other regeneration and net zero projects are also in the pipeline, with decisions on these expected soon.
Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council have been working with the Government on devolution plans including a package of local powers and funding worth £1.14 billion, from 2024. If the plans go ahead, it would also mean a new regional mayor.
The leaders of the four councils signed up to work on a devolution deal on 30 August at Rolls Royce in Derby. Since August, the councils have developed a more detailed proposal, which includes more information about how devolution would work in our area. The proposal was the subject of a public consultation, which took place from 14 November 2022 to 9 January 2023.
Devolution would mean a new guaranteed funding stream for our region of £38 million a year over a 30-year period. Covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, the devolved area would cover around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country.
The devolution deal includes an extra £16 million for new homes on brownfield land and control over a range of budgets like the Adult Education Budget, which could be better tailored to the needs of people in our communities.
The regional mayor would lead a new combined authority, which would include representatives from existing local councils, with decision making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands. Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations.
Devolution would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area. The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.
Commercial property agent Taylor Millington has joined Rushton Hickman in Burton as the company’s new agency surveyor and will play an important role in the company’s plans to further expand its team and geographical reach.
Taylor graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2018 and has extensive experience in the commercial property market including at PPH Commercial and Derbyshire County Council.
He will focus on expanding the agency side of the business including sales, lettings, acquisitions and disposals and will take a lead on the company’s growing client portfolio across the region.
Taylor Millington said: “Being born and raised in Burton I was keen to join Rushton Hickman who have a superb reputation in the commercial property sector both locally and regionally. The company is the perfect fit for my knowledge and expertise and I look forward to working with the team to further grow the business.”
Director Graham Bancroft added: “We are delighted to have added Taylor to the team and this further strengthens our agency operations at a crucial time in the local and regional commercial property market.
“Taylor’s friendly, proactive and client first way of working fits in perfectly with the way the team operates and I am confident that with his knowledge and expertise we now have an even stronger team in place to provide the full range of property services to our clients.
“The start of the new year has seen a further increase in demand for all types of commercial property in the region and so Taylor has joined us at a very exciting time.”
Loughborough University spinout Figura Analytics has successfully closed a seed funding round, led by a syndicate of angel investors, to bring its nanopore technology to the drinks market this year.
Taking equity in the high potential start up, in return for cash and know-how, the high-net-worth ‘angel’ individuals join SFC Capital in backing Figura to enable drinks manufacturers to rapidly and accurately detect abnormalities and contaminants through the production process, saving them time and money.
Founded in 2021 by Chemistry researchers Dr Mark Platt and PhD graduate Dr Rhush Maughi, Figura has been on a fast track since launching in LUinc., the University’s incubator on its science and enterprise park, LUSEP.
Following a highly successful first year building prototypes, testing and validating them in industry, Figura has just launched its new testing service for drinks manufacturers. This year will see the first commercial customers take delivery of this innovative hardware and software solution.
Jason Druker, investment manager at SFC, said: “We have been delighted with the progress that Figura has made since our initial investment in 2021. This follow-on investment will see the commercial launch of their technology to the drinks market, as well as the continued R&D that is required to ensure a successful long-term business.”
Nick Whitehurst, Figura CEO, said: “We are delighted to have received the backing of our existing and new investors as we bring our new analytical technology platform to market in 2023. The team have worked tirelessly over the last 12 months to validate and pilot our solution in industry and this investment is testament to their hard work and dedication.”
Professor Dan Parsons, pro vice chancellor, research and innovation at Loughborough, said: “Congratulations to the team and Figura on securing this investment for the commercial roll out of their innovations. The team continues to grow on its LUSEP base, creating a suite of new high quality skilled jobs in the region. This is great news for Figura, the University, the local economy, the drinks manufacturing sector and UK innovation more broadly. I share their excitement for the future.”
Motorpoint Group, the vehicle retailer, is remaining confident that it will “emerge from the current depressed consumer market a more efficient business,” as it reveals a new trading update for the nine months ended 31 December 2022.
Revenue was up 17% in the period to £1.06bn, though gross profit per unit sat below expectations due to higher financing costs and the falling value of electric vehicles.
The Derby-based company believes this will continue to impact sales and profitability for the foreseeable future, but expects to remain profitable for the full year.
Meanwhile the firm says it has “continued to make strong progress on its targeted strategic investments in FY23 in order to meet the medium-term growth objectives outlined in June 2021 – over £1 billion in e-commerce sales and over £2 billion in total sales – and to better position the company for the long-term with a lower cost base, a stronger brand, and improved customer experiences.”
In its latest financial year so far, Motorpoint has invested an incremental c.£5m compared to the equivalent FY22 period to grow market share, investing in its growing digital and technology capability, and roll out of more stores in new catchment areas.
Mark Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer of Motorpoint, said: “Motorpoint will emerge from the current depressed consumer market a more efficient business, having made progress on multiple key strategic initiatives. Over the long term we will make further investments in technology, digital development and national marketing, which will be offset to a degree by efficiencies across the business.
“In a period when some of the group’s competitors are retreating or lacking financial capability and when current macro headwinds are forecast to continue, the Board believes that there is significant opportunity to continue making targeted strategic investment to grow market share and become a highly profitable market leader.”
Rolls-Royce’s new CEO has given an unsparing critique of the engineering company, saying it will not survive without transforming how it operates.
Tufan Erginbilgic, who took up the CEO role in January, told employees in a global address broadcast, parts of which were shared with the Financial Times, that the firm is underperforming all its key competitors, and that investors are losing patience.
From Rolls-Royce’s Derby manufacturing site, Erginbilgic said the business was a “burning platform” with an unsustainable performance. He further noted that this is a long-standing problem, not the fault of COVID.
Erginbilgic launched a “transformation programme” with the broadcast, with a focus on “efficiency and optimism.”
Tufan, who has a background in engineering, has built his career in international business including over 20 years with BP, with five years as part of its executive team. In his last role before leaving in 2020, he led BP’s downstream business, which included Refining, Petrochemicals, Service Station Network, Lubricants, Midstream operations and the Air BP jet fuel operation.
During Tufan’s tenure, the business achieved record profitability and delivered record-setting safety performance.
Rolls-Royce recently cut thousands of jobs as part of a cost cutting programme.
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Amphitheatre-style steps at the eastern end lead down to the area in front of the new Nottingham College building on Sussex Street, where more planting and seating have already transformed the space beneath the tram viaduct, which also now boasts a unique skateable space codesigned with local groups for skateboarders close to the City of Caves entrance and Nottingham Contemporary.
Work is continuing to extend the segregated cycle lane and improved pedestrian access through the Broadmarsh area along Canal Street and London Road, linking to the Island Quarter in the east and Castle Boulevard in the west.
New Central Library to open
The fit-out of the new Central Library as part of the bus station and car park complex will be completed later this year, complemented by the Transforming Cities-funded public realm improvements along Carrington Street leading up to Collin Street, and the reduction in traffic along Canal Street, with its new east-west cycle lane. The library will feature a high-quality children’s library with an immersive story telling room, extensive book collection and comfortable areas to sit and read, as well as a café and exhibition and performance space.
New buildings on Station Street
Further south, the new Domestic & General office on the pedestrianised section of Station Street is nearing completion, while student accommodation takes shape on the other side of Nottingham Station on Queen’s Road and Traffic Waterway Street.
Major Island Quarter development continues
The Island Quarter is a significant development site with a masterplan in place which also missed out on Levelling Up Funding – but developers Conygar are committed to delivering their vision for the site. A new canalside bar and restaurant along with public square and event space has already opened and plans for a new hotel, private apartments, offices and bioscience laboratories are in the pipeline. New student accommodation is also under construction.
