New hub to bring history to life following rapid transaction
A commercial deal completed by Chartered Surveyors and Property Consultancy Wells McFarlane in just 17 days has secured a new hub in Melton Mowbray for historical re-enactment company, UP AN’ AT ‘EM! HISTORY.
Specialists in providing history days, character portrayals and accurately dressed models for schools, museums, photoshoots, film and TV work, UP AN’ AT ‘EM! HISTORY has taken a 1,159 sq ft unit on the town’s popular Rotherhill Business Park. After experiencing significant expansion in the last 12 months, UP AN’ AT ‘EM! HISTORY’S owner and director, Jed Jaggard urgently needed a centralised base.
“Covid gave us a unique opportunity to step back and reassess goals, and our planning in that time resulted in a year of rapid expansion,” explains Jed. “What this meant, however, was that we were operating from three containers, a workshop and space at home, which was not ideal so we either had the choice to standstill or take the next step and secure a dedicated premises.
“Melton is my home town, and many of our clients are local so it made sense to start the search there. When we realised there was a unit at Rotherhill Business Park, it was the obvious choice. Well connected, it has excellent transport links, plus is fully managed and secure. We contacted Wells McFarlane to arrange a viewing and they responded superbly to the urgency of our situation, ably helping us complete the letting in just 17 days, which was an incredible achievement.”
UP AN’ AT ‘EM! HISTORY will now use Rotherhill Business Park as its main operating base, encompassing office space, a You Tube studio, training area, plus storage for props, costumes and equipment including an 1840’s horse drawn fire engine and a 1930’s auxiliary fire service trailer pump.
Jed continues: “The new premises has allowed us to implement proper operational/delivery procedures while also providing adequate space to train casual and seasonal workers as required. I can focus more on client account management and business development, so it’s put us in a healthy position to achieve our five-year growth plan.”
Wells McFarlane’s director, Jason Hercock negotiated the deal, commenting: “The speed of this transaction was really remarkable and demonstrates what can be achieved when all parties are highly motivated and work seamlessly together. The legal team on this deal, led by Abe Mee of Bird Duckworth Mee Solicitors was also exceptional, acting swiftly throughout to enable such a positive outcome. We look forward to seeing UP AN’ AT ‘EM! HISTORY’s continued success and growth.”
Green light for housebuilder’s Darley Dale plans
Planning consultants Planning & Design Practice has secured permission for a new development by Chevin Homes.
On behalf of the housebuilder, the firm achieved the green light from Derbyshire Dales District Council’s planning committee for the 18-home development on land off Normanhurst Park, in Darley Dale.
According to Planning & Design, the sensitive scheme makes efficient use of land in terms of maximising the number and size of units deliverable on site, while minimising the potential impacts on the countryside and the occupants of neighbouring properties.
Chevin Homes is an award-winning Derby housebuilder, which has delivered homes across Derbyshire and the wider East Midlands.
In a statement, Planning & Design Practice said: “We work with developers of all sizes, from small companies working on one property at a time to large housebuilders and commercial organisations where multi-million pound schemes are the norm.
“We are well versed in researching and understanding local council’s policies and housing positions to ensure the best possible case is put forward for our clients.”
Lancaster Park welcomes security and fire experts
Rushton Hickman have completed the letting of a 2,409 sq ft warehouse unit to SAFE Security and Fire Experts Ltd at the Lancaster Park development in Needwood, Burton on Trent.
The modern unit is fitted to a high specification throughout and was extremely popular. It is situated in a prestigious business park within the rural setting of Needwood within close proximity of St George’s Park.
Agency surveyor Taylor Millington, who concluded the deal, said: “The letting to SAFE was a very great deal for our client as it brought a well-established business to the area.
“SAFE’s head office is based in Manchester with further offices in Kent, Salisbury and Derby.
“It’s great to see them expand their professional services into Burton on Trent. The team at Rushton Hickman wish them well in their new premises.”
Free Growth Hub conference will help businesses navigate ‘choppy waters’
Support for local businesses will be the focus of a one-day conference to be hosted by LLEP Board Members Glynis Wright MBE and Sonia Baigent next month.
The duo – both Directors at the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Board – will lead a day-long focus on navigating the ‘cost of doing business’ crisis.
The event is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire looking for practical tools, tips, and information as we head into the new financial year.
Delegates will be able to build networks and gain business support advice at the event, being staged in Leicester by the Business Gateway Growth Hub.
And the hosts are keen to ensure it covers a number of topics, including coping with rising energy costs, recruitment and leadership challenges.
Glynis, who built and sold her own successful business, said: “Rarely has there been a time when businesses have been navigating such choppy waters.
“We’ve had the Pandemic, there’s the ongoing war in Ukraine, Brexit, an energy price crisis, the escalation of inflation – there is so much to contend with.
“Sonia and I, along with the Growth Hub team, want to bring together people who can offer nuggets of knowledge which help businesses continue to grow and develop strategies to get through these tough times.”
The purpose of the conference is to signpost business owners to available support, whilst also providing them with useful tools and tips to help them manage the current situation.
Glynis added: “We have a wide range of speakers, all of whom I am looking forward to hearing. These are people I want to hear from and will learn from.
“We know that, for a small business, a day is a lot of time to set aside – that’s why we will ensure that it is a valuable event.
“Sonia and I want everyone to leave with two or three really helpful insights into how to navigate these uncertain times.
“Hopefully coming together will motivate business owners and help them see they are not alone and the challenges they face are also faced by others.”
Businesses can register now to attend the free one-day conference, which takes place at the Morningside Arena from 8am to 3.30pm on Tuesday 18 April.
Gulliver’s Kingdom agrees delicious deal with Matlock ice cream maker
A sweet partnership between Gulliver’s Kingdom and a neighbouring dairy farm will see legendary local ice cream served to guests at the theme park resort.
Gulliver’s Kingdom, in Matlock Bath, has reached an agreement to sell Matlock Meadows ice cream at its hotel restaurant.
Matlock Meadows is based on the working dairy farm Masson Farm – a stone’s throw from Gulliver’s Kingdom – which has been in the Dakin family since the 1930’s.
After being inspired on a trip to Lake Garda, Italy, 12 years ago, the family began producing their famously-delicious artisan Italian-style gelato.
Following a “cow to cone” philosophy, Matlock Meadows’ ice cream is made onsite with the finest ingredients, including quality “farm assured” milk from their own dairy herd.
The farm supplies ice cream to restaurants, cafés and tourist attractions across Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. It has an ice cream parlour and coffee shop open Fridays 11am to 4.30pm (during termtime) for an end of week treat.
The partnership came about after Hannah Marsden, resort manager at Gulliver’s Kingdom, reconnected with Josh Dakin, who runs Matlock Meadows with his parents and brother. Hannah and Josh both grew up in Matlock and attended All Saints Primary School and Highfields (secondary) School.
Hannah, 34, who started as a ride operator with Gulliver’s in 2009 and has worked her way up to resort manager, said: “I visited the farm to have a chat with Josh and he gave me a full tour along with some samples to take away. I was hooked. It really is the best ice cream in town!
“It’s extremely important for local businesses to support one another and ice cream and theme parks fit perfectly together, particularly as we are both family businesses founded in this area. We’re thrilled to have Matlock Meadows ice cream at Gulliver’s Kingdom and we’re sure our guests will be too.”
Josh, 32, said: “I’m really proud to supply local places and Gulliver’s Kingdom is right on our doorstep. From where the cows graze at the top of our hill, Gulliver’s Kingdom is literally over the other side. The ice cream guests will be eating is made less than a mile away.
“It’s fantastic for me to have Matlock Meadows ice cream at Gulliver’s Kingdom and great for them to offer guests a truly local product.
“The main reason for making ice cream was to make some money out of milk and keep the farm going. We’ve had some really hard times but it’s at the point now where the ice cream is paying the wages on the farm and some of the bills and every year we’re expanding. My little lad’s eight and he’s already decided he’s going to make ice cream!”
OMS: celebrations for 25 years of being in business
OMS recently celebrated their silver jubilee in style with a luncheon hosted by founder and MD Clive Ormerod. Invited to the lunch were guests from the past and present, people who’ve had a positive impact on the success of OMS, family members and of course the OMS team.
25 years ago, OMS started life as a consultancy business where Clive offered the skills he had acquired in the engineering and construction sectors to businesses who needed to access his level of expertise.
Now a quarter of a century later OMS had a phenomenal birthday party allowing Clive to say ‘thank you’ to the team, clients, suppliers, and strategic partners in the room. During his speech Clive highlighted: “Going back to February 1998 it was all about me, over the years things have changed and it’s not about me anymore because we’ve built up a fantastic team. On behalf of OMS I would like to thank everyone who came along to celebrate with us.”
During their lunch celebration, people from strategic partnerships, valued suppliers, their very first OMS client and many customers attended. Here’s what some of them had to say about celebrating with OMS.
“Having trusted partners to deliver the NEBOSH training courses is paramount, OMS have long been one such partner. The team at OMS have always focused on putting the customer first and this is proven with 25 successful years in business. Happy birthday OMS,” said Ian Cooke Head of Corporate & Consumer Services – NEBOSH.
Managing Director of TMS Consultancy & Non-Executive Director – Xrail Group, John Jenkins says: “From little acorns – Clive and I first met in London Underground around 1995 and we forged a good friendship that lasts today. Together we implemented a competency-based ISO 9001 quality system for a team of engineers undertaking very complex safety critical work. It was the first of its type in London Underground and we achieved certification upon first assessment.
“The MD of Lloyds Register at the time personally congratulated us at the time and asked if we could discuss the detail with him as he wanted to implement something similar for Lloyds. A great start. I am very pleased that Clive has very successfully grown OMS from a one-person focus, through a family concern and into the internationally recognised and award-winning company it is today. This is all down to Clive and Allison’s drive, focus and life balance (something we all forget when success beckons).”
Carol Baker of ECA, Excellence in Electrotechnical and Engineering Services, says: “We send our Midlands based members to OMS for training and there is always positive feedback from every attendee for every course they go on. It was wonderful to celebrate 25 years of the business today and I enjoyed our lunch!”
“OMS have been our preferred Health and Safety consultants and HR advisor for over 15 years and continue to support our employees with advice and training. We are especially grateful for the support and innovation during the pandemic, to ensure that the MMS business could continue to work safely, whilst supporting our employees at work throughout lockdown. This support has been fundamental to the overall success of MMS since 2005 and I would have no hesitation in recommending their services,” said Andrew Pitchford, Managing Director of Midland Management Services Ltd.
Definitely a way to celebrate 25 years in business as everyone looks forward to the next 25 years and the impact that has on the ways of delivering training to businesses across the Midlands and further afield.
New energy park proposed for Lincolnshire
A new renewable energy park, which could provide power to more than 190,000 homes is being planned for North Kesteven.
The proposed Beacon Fen Energy Park will be made up of solar and energy storage and is proposed for land east of Sleaford, between the villages of Heckington and Helpringham.
Renewable Energy Company Low Carbon said, if given permission, Beacon Fen Energy Park would generate an estimated 600MW of electricity a year while also avoiding 120,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions annually.
James Hartley-Bond, director at Low Carbon, said: “We are looking forward to speaking directly with local communities about our plans to hear their views first-hand.
“We are currently planning an early engagement consultation so we can ensure residents’ feedback links into the proposals, before holding a statutory consultation which is planned for later this year.
“The UK Government has made clear its plans for the country to reach Net Zero by 2050. Its aim is to increase the nation’s solar capacity fivefold by 2035. If given permission, Beacon Fen Energy Park will be a significant step forward towards reaching this vital goal and securing sustainable energy for the country.”
The project includes building the infrastructure needed to export the electricity the energy park would generate onto the national grid. It is planned this would be via an existing connection point at nearby Bicker Fen.
Mr Hartley-Bond said: “For more than a decade, Low Carbon has been at the centre of the UK’s journey to Net Zero. Through working with local communities, we deliver renewables projects which bring about real change to ensure a cleaner and greener energy industry for all.
“The amount of electricity Beacon Fen Energy Park could generate exceeds 50MW and is therefore classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). This requires us to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate.
“We anticipate the development process for the project through to DCO submission and then examination will take between two and three years. Subject to achieving consent, construction would start no earlier than 2026.”
He added: “We look forward to speaking to residents within the coming weeks and introducing them to our proposals.”
Forterra secures £170m sustainability linked loan in multi-bank deal
Northampton-headquartered brick and concrete manufacturer, Forterra plc, has secured a £170m Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL) coordinated by HSBC UK and funded by a syndicate of five banks.
The new facility refinances Forterra’s existing bank loan as an SLL, which has been jointly funded by HSBC UK, NatWest, Bank of Ireland, Virgin Money and Banco de Sabadell.
Forterra has secured an SLL to better align its financing with its long-term sustainability strategy. The SLL contains specific Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets, which include: the reduction of CO2 emissions in Forterra’s clay brick business; increasing the percentage of employees in “earn and learn” positions, where employees combine study with practical experience to gain the knowledge and skills required to pursue their career; and a commitment to reducing the group’s overall plastic consumption.
Ben Guyatt, CFO at Forterra, said: “We have an ambitious, long-term sustainability strategy in place and this new facility is a very positive step for us in support of our goals. By securing a Sustainability Linked Loan, we have greater liquidity to reinvest in our sustainability initiatives over time, as we focus on reducing our carbon impact and plastic consumption whilst positively benefiting our employees.”
Richard Bacon, relationship director at HSBC UK, said: “Forterra operates as a market-leader in an industry that relies heavily on energy consumption to deliver its products. This new deal will help Forterra reduce its environmental impact whilst creating new, positive opportunities for its employees.
“Sustainability has become a strategic priority across the construction industry, with many businesses firmly focused on building a more sustainable future. We expect to see greater adoption within the industry as leading construction businesses invest in their sustainability strategies.”
Forterra launched its sustainability pillars of “People, Planet and Product” in 2019 to guide the business’s future decision making. These include a commitment to becoming net zero carbon by 2050, improving the environmental impact of Forterra products and providing greater opportunities to employees.
Chris Dowling, head of Industrials at Bank of Ireland, added: “Bank of Ireland is delighted to continue its support for Forterra with a new Sustainability Linked Loan. The SLL helps strengthen Forterra’s ability to invest in and focus on the delivery of its ambitious long-term sustainability strategy.”
Paul Mitchell, relationship director at NatWest, said: “We are really proud and excited to have been able to support Forterra with this new credit facility. This transaction is an example of NatWest’s commitment to supporting companies such as Forterra on their sustainability journey.”
James Oliver, senior director at Virgin Money, said: “Virgin Money is thrilled to support Forterra with its ongoing growth ambitions though support with the multi banked Sustainability Linked Loan. The ESG metrics that the Group are putting in place are similarly aligned to own values and Purpose which we believe are central to everyone’s role and responsibility.”
Gary Casey, senior banker at Banco de Sabadell, said: “We are very happy to support Forterra plc in the next stage of its development. We understand and fully support the Group’s wider sustainability strategy and look forward to supporting them as they progress these important goals in the medium term.”
Further affordable homes proposed for Derby
Plans for new affordable homes in Derby at the site of the former Warwick House care home and The Knoll, Village Street will go to Cabinet in April.
This comes after plans to build more affordable homes on the little-used Drewry Lane car park were approved at March’s Cabinet meeting.
Providing new council homes is a key priority for the Council to address the large numbers waiting for suitable properties. Over 6,000 applicants were actively looking for affordable homes through Derby Homefinder as of December 2022, with particularly high demand for 2-bed properties.
A lack of suitable and available land is one of the reasons for the shortage, therefore the Council is reviewing its underutilised assets to assess their potential for redevelopment.
Warwick House care home, at Bonsall Avenue/Repton Avenue, was closed in 2021, and the now-demolished site has been identified as one for redevelopment. The proposals would deliver 22 new affordable homes on the site; a combination of one-, two- and 4-bedroom houses, all owned by the Council and managed by Derby Homes.
The Knoll is currently a brownfield site on the corner of Stenson Road and Village Street, but the proposed redevelopment would see 18 properties, a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom houses, built on the site. The area is currently overgrown and surrounded by mature trees, and ecology surveys are taking place to avoid and mitigate any impact on wildlife.
All the proposed new homes would be built with accessibility and adaptability in mind, with sufficient space to be adapted for residents as and when required.
They are also expected to meet the Future Homes Standard by reducing day-to-day carbon emissions by 75-80% and will include electric vehicle charging points as standard, contributing to Derby City Council’s target to be net zero by 2035.
A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: “Derby needs new council homes. There are over 6,000 applicants actively looking for an affordable home through Derby Homefinder and we are working hard to increase the supply in the city to ensure that everyone has access to a suitable home.
“By identifying underutilised Council assets for redevelopment, we can overcome the shortage of suitable land.
“These developments are another example of us working to achieve our goal to build or acquire around 100 new homes per year over the next 30 years.”
Both proposals will go to Cabinet in April for approval, subject to successful planning applications. Should consent be issued, work is expected to begin on site in Autumn 2023 with residents moving in by Summer 2025.
Loughborough insulation manufacturer doubles turnover and adds to board
The appointment of two new board directors has been announced at external wall insulation (EWI) and specialist render system designers, manufacturers, and suppliers, PermaRock, which operates nationally out of Loughborough.
Both longstanding employees, Nigel Watson and Kieran Loftus join the board bringing a combined three decades of experience as the company looks to double its turnover to £12 million this year. The appointments recognise the capabilities of the new board directors, who have both progressed through the business to operate within senior management roles at PermaRock.
Nigel Watson becomes operations director following a quarter century with the business. Joining the business in 1996, Nigel has held several key operational roles at PermaRock, building up targeted commercial insight to help drive the company forward.
Meanwhile, Kieran Loftus becomes logistics director, having originally joined the business more than 15 years ago. Throughout that time, he has used his extensive experience from across the textiles and waste sectors, playing an instrumental role in the growth of the business over recent years.
Sean Waldrum, Managing Director at PermaRock, who has also been with the business for 34 years, said: “Our business philosophy brings performance and experience together with quality and innovation, and this is really reflected in Nigel and Kieran’s appointments to the board. They both bring incredible strengths that help us improve and expand our services and develop our systems even further.
“It’s an exciting time for us, and we’re incredibly pleased to be able to provide the room for growth for our staff. The whole board is now made up of people who have progressed up through the business, setting us up to continue business the ‘PermaRock way’, making sure that we continually improve, while continuing to offer and exceed the levels of service our customers have come to expect from us.”
PermaRock owner Derek Horrocks said: “Having longstanding staff with the strengths to help us both improve and expand our services, while continuing to develop our systems will be central to our continued success as a business as we look to grow even further in the coming years.
“We know that our people are completely instrumental to the success we are seeing as the demands for energy efficiency measures are skyrocketing across all markets. It’s really important to us to continually reinvest in our people, whether it’s the recent refurbishment of our office to enhance the working environment further or providing people with growth opportunities – like Nigel and Kieran.”
Nottingham Express Transit continues trajectory of recovery despite reduced post-pandemic passenger levels
Nottingham Express Transit (NET) has revealed that, whilst showing substantial recovery, as with all public transport operators across the country, it is yet to see passenger volumes recover to pre-pandemic levels.
The comment follows publication of the annual accounts for the year to 31 March 2022 by Tramlink Nottingham Limited, which operates the NET concession. The company reported a loss for the operator as a result of the impacted passenger volumes, and will be liaising with the Department for Transport and Nottingham City Council to put in place further plans to adapt its operations for the post-COVID economy.
Despite not yet reaching pre-Covid levels of traffic volumes in the last financial year, demand has continued to positively increase. The year to March 2022 saw passenger journeys recover to 9.1m, compared to 3.4m in prior years, and that recovery has continued throughout 2022 to 13.5m and around 80 per cent of traffic volumes before the pandemic. This is in line with forecast.
Meanwhile, losses for the transport operator reduced to £20.4m compared to £21.9m last year.
Tim Hesketh, CEO of Tramlink, said: “We remain in such difficult times, thanks to the longstanding effects of the pandemic, the current economic climate and the ongoing high energy costs which are posing some real challenges to our operations. It’s clear the world is a much different place now than just three years ago, and we’re committed to doing all we can to keep up with those changes.
“Nottingham remains committed to its green ambitions and our trams have played a key part in helping the city reach those goals. No one can be certain what the next few years will bring, but we’re confident the trams will continue to be an integral part of everyday life here in Nottingham. We’d like to thank all our staff, partners and loyal customers for all their support over the past year.”
Advance wins £400,000 government funding to upgrade energy performance of 51 East Midlands homes
Advance Housing and Support has been granted £400,000 by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to match its own investment to improve the energy performance of 51 homes in Leicester and surrounding areas.
The housing association applied for the second wave of funding from DESNZ’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) at the end of 2022. The grant will be spent across 2023/24 and 2024/25 to bring properties currently graded Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band D or E to a minimum EPC Band C.
Ian Gilders, executive director of housing at Advance Housing and Support, said: “We’ve budgeted to spend £16 million over our long-term business plan, to help to reduce our carbon footprint and improve the energy efficiency of our customers’ homes. We’re delighted to have been awarded this funding which gives a real boost to our immediate plans.”
Ian continued: “Our focus will be on improving the insulation of the homes, particularly on older properties where insulation of external walls is required. These measures can have a big impact, particularly on reducing energy usage and therefore costs. People with disabilities are among some of the hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis so we’re pleased to be able to take action which will help to reduce their bills as well as contribute to lowering carbon emissions.”
Advance’s bid was part of a larger consortium bid known as the Midlands Net Zero Hub, led by Nottingham City Council and involved many councils and housing associations throughout the midlands. The consortium was awarded a total of £47.2m to improve social housing across the midlands. Advance is one of very few specialist supported housing providers to be successful in this bid round.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: “This investment will help thousands of households to heat their homes for less, keep them warm for longer and could save hundreds on their annual energy bill.
“The green energy sector is growing, and this funding will support green jobs and provide the training needed to deliver these vital upgrades to homes.”
The 2019 Conservative Manifesto committed to a £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund over a 10-year period to improve the energy performance of social rented homes, on the pathway to Net Zero 2050. The SHDF is being rolled out in waves with the second wave totalling £778 million.
Housebuilder fulfills Nottinghamshire school’s reading wishes
In recognition of International Children’s Book Day (2nd April), leading housebuilder David Wilson Homes has donated a collection of books to Sherwood Junior School in Mansfield.
The donation consisted of 15 books from the school’s wish list, which will be used to create a wider selection of choice among its school library.
International Children’s Book Day, which was founded by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), is a celebration of children’s literature, aiming to encourage young people to develop a love of books and reading.
Each year a different country is chosen to sponsor the awareness day, and this year IBBY Greece has been selected.
Helen Simpson, Head of School at Sherwood Junior School, said: “Thank you to David Wilson Homes for donating these books to the children at Sherwood.
“Reading is one of our priorities and we love providing the children with new books to promote their love of reading. The children at Sherwood are excited to read these books as they are added to our school library collection.”
Titles such as the highly rated ‘Two Places to Call Home’ by Phil Earle and ‘The London Eye Mystery’ by Siobhan Dowd were among the books donated to Sherwood Junior School.
Martyn Parker, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes North Midlands, said: “Encouraging children to read and appreciate literature among the communities in which we build is something we regard as very important.
“We hope that our donation of books to Sherwood Junior School will encourage more young people to pick up a book and enjoy getting lost in a great story.”
DfE extends HGV Skills Bootcamps with hundreds more funded places in East Midlands
The Driver Academy Group (DAG) a consortium led by HGV training specialist HGVC, and comprising workforce solutions group Manpower and trade body Logistics UK, has again been awarded the lead role on the Government’s extended Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving. The scheme will train and place into work hundreds more HGV drivers across the East of England over the coming year. The training courses are available at dozens of locations in the region.
The HGV Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills. First launched in December 2021, the programme has been extended for a further 12 months until 31 March 2024.
DAG has been awarded a full extension of its original contract with the Department for Education (DfE), with scope for further expansion if capacity allows. This translates to training at least a further 2,160 individuals over the next 12 months and creating almost 2,000 new drivers into the logistics sector.
With cost being the major barrier to entry into HGV Driver training, the DfE funding offers a lifeline for both individual candidates and employers dealing with budget constraints given the cost-of-living crisis.
Within the new contract, DAG will deliver 1,300 partially funded courses. These offer employers a 70% contribution to HGV driver training through the DfE funding. In addition, HGVC will deliver 860 fully funded courses, aimed at individual candidates.
DAG’s 2023/24 programme will primarily focus on the novice training pathways, helping novice drivers gain their Category C (rigid lorry) licence, a Category C+E (articulated lorry) licence or helping those with a Category C licence upgrade to a Category C + E.
Since the launch of the Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving in December 2021, the DAG has trained around 1,400 drivers. Some 1,070 trainees have now passed their practical test and are ready to drive. In addition, 535 drivers are now in jobs and a further 400 have secured interviews.
662 of these are new drivers having now gained their HGV licence, while 457 are existing HGV drivers who have gained new skills. Qualified drivers are securing starting salaries of up to £40,000.
DAG’s existing programme secured a record number of applications from women, ethnic minorities and younger people. The consortium received more than 10% of applications from female candidates, significantly more than the 1.5% of women who are HGV drivers in the UK currently.
The group also received nearly a quarter of its applications from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority groups. Currently, just 4% of HGV drivers are from ethnically diverse backgrounds. In addition, approximately 30% of applicants were under the age of 36, a significant step forward when the average age of an HGV driver today is around 50.
The extended Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving goes live on 1 April 2023. DAG’s scheme is open to any individual holding a driver’s license for over three years or businesses looking to upskill their existing staff.
The training courses are available at dozens of locations across the region.
James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, said: “We’re immensely proud to have been re-appointed on this hugely significant scheme. This is a major acknowledgement of our success and the positive impact that the Skills Bootcamps have had to date in getting new HGV drivers behind the wheel.
“Yet, while the immediate short-term driver shortage has abated, the long-term chronic shortage persists. As we’ve seen, thousands of people in the UK want to become lorry drivers. With further funding, we’re confident we can train even more people in the UK, close the longer-term shortfall of drivers and keep Britain moving.
“Fully qualified drivers coming through the existing scheme are ready to go straight into roles. What’s more, for employers re-considering training budgets, this is a huge opportunity to secure 70% of the funding to train up new drivers or existing staff. While the economy continues to face some major challenges, this scheme really is a lifeline for the UK’s logistics industry.”
Cubo Workspaces exceed 95% occupancy
Cubo has reinforced its position as the UK’s fastest growing provincial serviced office operator, with the news that all five of its flex office spaces have exceeded 95% occupancy.
Cubo Derby and Birmingham are currently operating at 100% capacity. It is the first time all five workspaces have reached almost full occupancy, which has accelerated the company’s planned expansion into other core cities across the UK.
Cubo has a total of 120,000 sq. ft of grade A office accommodation across its sites in Birmingham, Nottingham and Derby, Leeds, and Sheffield.
Over the past three years, occupancy levels have exceeded all expectations, with regional, national and global businesses taking advantage of the buildings’ strategic location and Cubo’s unique offering.
Plans were announced last month to open four new sites. Prime locations in Edinburgh and Manchester have been selected, alongside additional sites in Birmingham and Nottingham due to significant demand.
Cubo, which was launched by property investors Marc and Rebecca Brough, is transforming the traditional serviced office model to enable increasingly intuitive ways of working. It provides an experience-led lifestyle offer to meet the changing needs of businesses – from hot desking to a designated desk, private office, or entire floor.
Derbyshire science firm acquired by Limerston Capital
Contract research organisation Concept Life Sciences, which has offices in Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, has been acquired by Limerston Capital in a carve-out from Spectris plc.
Concept Life Sciences primarily serves the global research and development market, with clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space ranging from blue chip to virtual biotech. The breadth and depth of its expertise ranges from drug discovery and early development through to API manufacturing at multi kilogram scale under good manufacturing practice, which is delivered as a single service or as part of wider discovery and development programmes.
The company has invested significantly in its capabilities since 2020. It has developed world class biology facilities in oncology and immunology, ensuring unmatched insights into fast-growing specialty therapeutic areas and driving innovation.
Its team of around 300 accomplished scientists and over 100 PhDs operate from state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, strategically located in major science hubs across the UK, in Dundee, Edinburgh, Bradford, and Sandwich in Kent as well as High Peak.
Newly-appointed CEO Dr Ben Cliff will head the senior leadership team. He has been part of the Concept Life Sciences senior team for five years and brings a wealth of leadership experience in the CRO industry from Intertek Pharmaceutical Services supporting the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and specialty chemical sectors. His experience covers all aspects of the business including operations, sales and marketing, quality, and strategic development.
Limerston Capital is a private equity firm targeting UK businesses with EBITDA of between £5 million and £15 million. It partners with management teams to help build them into industry leaders through buy-and-build and operational transformation.
Dr Cliff said: “Limerston Capital will be an excellent partner for our business, allowing us much greater commercial and technical focus so we can realise the company’s true potential and deliver the high value service our customers depend on to support their R&D activities.”
“As well as the benefit of providing additional investment, Limerston Capital’s fully-integrated and dedicated operational and investment team will be invaluable to support the carve-out and accelerate our growth.”
Jane Grewar, Senior Operating Partner of Limerston Capital, added: “We see enormous potential for the Concept Life Sciences business which is well positioned to benefit from high growth in the CRO market, with its strong pipeline of high-value, rapidly-growing services and a focus on highly invested therapeutic areas. The company’s excellent track record, highly-skilled team of scientists and industry-leading facilities, particularly in the high-growth areas of immunology, oncology and inflammation, make it a very attractive investment for Limerston Capital. We’re excited to be partnering with such a capable team.”
Mortgage advice company reports £40m surge in revenue
Pride Park-based Mortgage Advice Bureau has said it is ‘well-positioned’ after reporting a £40m surge in revenue to £230.8 million for the year to 31 December.
During the year, the firm increased its number of advisers by 20% to 2,254 – with the number of mortgage completions during the period also rising by 20% to £27.3 billion.
Chief Exec Peter Brodnicki said: “Despite a challenging year for mortgage intermediaries on numerous fronts, I am pleased with our 2022 performance and market share growth, with revenue up 22% and adjusted EBITDA up 15% on the prior year.
“Prior to the mini-budget in September, the group was on track for 2023 to be a record year of growth, despite an expected softening in housing transactions due to inflationary pressures.
“Although mortgage transaction levels have improved since the collapse post mini-budget, they remain circa 35% down year-to-date compared to the same period in 2022.
“MAB is performing considerably better than wider transaction numbers reflect and our market share is continuing to grow strongly. Current trading is in line with our expectations, and we expect a second-half weighted financial performance.”
During 2022, MAB also completed a key acquisition – buying 75% of Fluent Money Group.
“Following the acquisition of Fluent, MAB is well-positioned as a leader in the three largest sectors for mortgage lead generation, comprising estate agency, new build, and price comparison websites.
“The acquisition also extends the group’s customer reach into other specialisms, including secured loans, which alone offers significant mortgage re-financing opportunities.”
Mr Brodnicki added: “We continue to invest in our employees, with the significant capital investment in our Derby head office providing an excellent working environment to support the accelerated growth expected in the medium term.”
Virtual reality showroom becomes a reality for train-builder Alstom
Derby-based train-builder Alstom has created what’s believed to be the rail industry’s first virtual reality showroom.
The facility features an entirely virtualised city in which trains, metros, locomotives, trams, and monorails run in 3D watched by customers, partners and staff immersed in a virtual environment exploring the company’s products, including interactive simulations and whole fleet management systems.
Created in partnership with visual technology specialist SoWhen?, the universe spans almost four sq km of virtual space and offers 12 different types of virtual trains.
Alexis Bonnet-Salkind, digital design manager with Alstom’s advanced and creative design team at its Litchurch Lane site, said: “We want to transform the image of a railway company from something old-school and traditional to modern and high-tech, which is what we are, and an interactive digital platform is a perfect tool for demonstrating that.”
Alstom provided the first glimpses of this virtual reality universe at last year’s InnoTrans, which is the world’s largest rail industry trade fair. It brought Alstom’s rolling stock, signalling, components, and green solutions to life, allowing attendees to experience a wide range of the firm’s product offering.
The company said that the virtual showroom proved to be an “invaluable tool” to showcase the innovation and advanced technology behind Alstom’s products and “further solidify the image of a modern, high-tech railway company, breaking away from traditional perceptions”.
Alexis said: “This unique digital ecosystem can help do a number of things for our customers. We want to turn the invisible visible: some of our signalling technologies, for example, can be hard to wrap your brain around, especially if your background is not technical.
“This technology can also be a game-changer during design concept and mockup review.”
Alstom also believes its virtual universe will be a powerful tool for training and learning within the company as it allow employees to explore the universe at their own pace and learn more about the business.
Boots’ sales secure 16% growth over last quarter
Busy Christmas trading and a record-breaking performance for beauty delivered retail sales growth of 16% for Boots.
The business reported its eighth consecutive quarter of market share growth with gains across all categories, led by beauty – the stand-out performer of the quarter. Footfall, basket size and the number of Advantage Card customers all increased, as more people chose to shop at Boots. The Christmas period was particularly strong with retail sales in the five weeks to 31 December up 17.4% and outperforming the market.
The beauty category delivered a record January, and premium beauty saw its biggest ever sales week in December. Skincare reported three consecutive weeks of record sales in December driven by the ‘expert skincare’ category in which brands including No7, La Roche-Posay, CeraVe and Eucerin proved popular. Boots beauty transformation strategy continued with 19 new beauty halls opened in Q2 and the 170th store to receive a beauty makeover opening at Westfield White City post-period end. Boots now stocks over 500 big name and cult beauty brands and exclusively sells the UK’s leading skincare brand, No7.
Saying that customers continue to return to stores – with footfall increasing 16% in the quarter, and they are also buying more – Sebastian James, MD of Boots UK & ROI, said: “More people are choosing to shop with Boots, largely thanks to our focus on value and our market leading beauty offer. This is reflected in our strong retail sales performance and our continuing market share growth, particularly in terms of Christmas trading. We also delivered an increase in pharmacy sales, despite the challenging sector backdrop.”
British Retail Consortium respond to government’s energy security plan
Responding to the Government’s ‘Powering Up Britain – Energy Security Plan’ (released 30th March), Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:
“Climate change poses a very real threat to people across the world and it is vital we take action without delay. This is why 85 retailers have pledged to make their operations, including supply chains, net zero by 2040 through the BRC Climate Action Roadmap. Today’s announcement contains some positive measures to increase renewable energy, move to zero carbon logistics and build green skills, but with the clock rapidly ticking towards retail’s clean energy and transport deadlines, Government needs to go further, faster.
“Retailers need to make urgent investment decisions on vehicles and infrastructure to reach net zero transport by 2035, but there is a lack of detail on how new models and technologies will be brought to market at-scale, putting investment decisions on pause. The industry also stands ready to work with Government to drive renewable energy generation, including through solar panels, and welcomes action to speed up planning, but Government must do more to incentivise retail investment in this area. The race to net zero must be a collaborative effort and retailers look forward to working with Government harnessing the industry’s scale to drive down emissions and stimulate green growth.”
