With the changes now in effect many businesses are beginning to feel the financial strain, facing increased staffing and payroll costs. So, what can employers do to mitigate the impact?
Sentiment deteriorates across manufacturing sector as cost pressures strengthen and global outlook weakens
Manufacturing output volumes were broadly unchanged in the quarter to April, according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Industrial Trends Survey.
While a broad range of sub-sectors reported lower volumes in April, this was offset by higher output in the motor vehicles & transport equipment sector. Manufacturers expect output to fall marginally in the three months to July.
Domestic orders fell through the quarter, as did the volume of new export orders, albeit marginally. Looking ahead, manufacturers expect the total volume of new orders to decline in the three months to July as both domestic and export orders are anticipated to fall. Half of respondents cited political or economic conditions abroad as a factor likely to limit their export orders in the quarter to July, the highest proportion since April 2021.
Manufacturers reported increased cost pressures. Growth in average costs accelerated in the quarter to April, compared with January, while expectations for costs growth in the three months ahead remain firm. Domestic prices are expected to rise at an accelerated pace in the quarter to July, whereas export prices are expected to be unchanged.
Sentiment across the manufacturing sector deteriorated in April and investment intentions for the year ahead are weak. Manufacturers expect to reduce spending on buildings, plant & machinery, product & process innovation, and on training and retraining, which saw the weakest balance since 2020. Manufacturers cited uncertainty about demand, inadequate net returns and labour shortages as key factors constraining capital expenditure.
The outlook for employment remains poor. Manufacturing headcount fell in the quarter to April, at the fastest pace since October 2020, and manufacturers expect numbers to fall again in the quarter to July.
Ben Jones, lead economist, CBI, said: “The recent downturn in manufacturing output appears to have eased, but manufacturers still seem gloomy about their prospects amid rising costs, an expected decline in new orders and heighted uncertainty around global economic conditions.
“The combination of financial pressures, market instability and falling confidence is leading manufacturers to cut back employment and investment, with plans for spending on buildings, equipment, innovation and training all taking a hit.
“The wider geopolitical environment is becoming increasingly challenging for exporters, with export optimism falling sharply for a second successive quarter and export order volumes now hovering around post-pandemic lows.
“The government is right to make the case for global free trade, with the Chancellor in Washington this week at the IMF spring meeting reaffirming that commitment. The uncertainty around global economic conditions only increases the importance of getting it right in domestic economic policy.
“Firms are already feeling the cumulative burden of rises in NICs and the National Living Wage – and tariffs represent another headwind for the business sector. The government needs to view every decision through the lens of kickstarting growth and incentivising investment.”
Pall-Ex strengthens senior team with operations director
Pall-Ex Group, a Leicestershire-based palletised freight distribution network, has appointed Kevin McDonagh as operations director following a strategic restructure amongst the business’s top talent.
Kevin joins the company with over 30 years of experience in the logistics sector across warehousing, distribution and pallet network services. Joining from Bow Distribution, Kevin boasts an extensive portfolio of qualifications and a proven track record in increasing operational performance.
Key responsibilities in his new role involve enhancing the efficiency of Pall-Ex’s UK hub operations, strengthening collaboration with Pall-Ex’s shareholder members and driving continuous improvement to service levels across the network.
Kevin said: “What initially attracted me to join Pall-Ex Group was the company’s culture and its openness to embracing change. Pall-Ex Group has a strong reputation within the industry for innovation and adaptability and I was inspired by the opportunity to contribute to a business that is committed to evolving and improving.”
Focus areas that Kevin will be prioritising in upcoming months include addressing the growing volume across the UK hubs and refining the current banding structure to streamline efficiencies. Increasing overall service levels across the network is another priority that Kevin will focus on as he heads up the operations team.
Kevin adds: “Through continuous improvement across our operations and by fostering a culture of teamwork and innovation, I am confident that we can navigate any challenges successfully to achieve sustainable, continued growth.
“I am looking forward to working closely with our shareholder members to drive operational improvements throughout the network wherever possible, with the goal to deliver high standards of service to every customer.”
The addition of Kevin as operations director follows a number of recent promotions across Pall-Ex Group, with former Pall-Ex UK managing director, Barry Byers, being promoted to chief operating officer (COO), Michelle Naylor moving from commercial director to managing director – UK networks and former operations director, Paul Pegg, becoming managing director – Pall-Ex Logistics.
E-commerce prep and logistics company moves into new Ilkeston HQ
Craner & Kirkman, the growing e-commerce prep and logistics company, has moved into a new headquarters at Soloman Park, Ilkeston.
The move marks a major milestone for the business, which has grown to over £500,000 in turnover in less than three years under the leadership of founder Tom Singleton.
Singleton, a former account director at Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) in Birmingham, left agency life after a decade to launch Craner & Kirkman. Originally started as a side hustle, the business now supports sellers across Amazon, Etsy, TikTok Shop, eBay, and Shopify.
The new facility at Soloman Park more than doubles the company’s operational space and allows Craner & Kirkman to meet growing demand from UK and EU-based sellers.
“We’ve built this business from the ground up — no outside funding, just good service and word of mouth,” said Singleton. “Moving into our new HQ gives us room to grow, but it also lets us keep raising the bar for e-commerce logistics.”
Limited NHS dental access persists in Leicestershire
Access to NHS dental services in Leicestershire remains a significant issue, with almost 75% of local practices still not taking on new adult NHS patients. Updated data from the NHS’s “Find a dentist” website shows that out of 120 dental practices in the region, 89 are not accepting new adults, mirroring the situation from six months ago.
The situation extends beyond adults, as 59% of practices are not accepting children under the age of 18. For those who are registered, many face long waiting times, with some practices only offering appointments “when availability allows”, which often doesn’t materialise. Rural and coastal areas, in particular, are severely impacted by the shortage, leaving many patients with no choice but to turn to private dental care, which can be expensive.
Efforts to address the problem include ongoing national initiatives to incentivise dentists to take on more NHS patients. Locally, the NHS Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) is making changes to service commissioning to improve access, with a focus on areas of greatest need, including Leicester city, rural regions, and less affluent communities.
However, the issue of limited NHS dental care is not unique to Leicestershire. Nationally, 73% of NHS dentists still do not accept new adult patients, with some practices reporting waiting lists of up to 10 years.
Planning permission granted for Nottingham student accommodation scheme
A purpose-built student accommodation scheme in the centre of Nottingham has been given planning permission.
Peveril Securities and PMI Developments are working with Nottingham-headquartered CPMG Architects to create a residential offering consisting of 37 shared cluster flats and 50 studios – equating to a total of 247 rooms across sections ranging from three to nine storeys.
Originally proposed in spring 2022, the scheme located on Glasshouse Street in the Eastside area of Nottingham has been adapted through collaboration between the project team and Nottingham City Council to ensure it brings the client’s vision together with the needs of key stakeholders.
Chris White, director at CPMG, has led on the project since its inception. He said: “Throughout the design process, we’ve incorporated lots of feedback from various interested parties, while maintaining PMI Developments’ commitment to creating a high-quality offering which contributes to revitalisation of the Eastside.
“The result is much-needed student accommodation that will improve the student experience while also supporting the local economy in Nottingham.
“This is the third project we have worked on with PMI, strengthening the successful working relationship between us and creating more impactful outcomes. We’re excited to see our shared vision come to life, enabling students to join us in calling Nottingham their home.”
The site, which sits at the junction of Glasshouse Street, Rick Street and Howard Street, is currently occupied by a single storey industrial building and has been identified as a redevelopment opportunity to help reduce student demand for surrounding homes.
To contribute to the city’s ongoing regenerative change, the Glasshouse Street scheme is based on a contemporary design incorporating comforting interiors, efficient energy use, greenspace to maximise biodiversity and practical and active travel infrastructure, such as external cycle parking spaces.
Paul Ruane, director at PMI Developments, said: “Nottingham has two world-class universities so it’s important that the city’s residential offering is an equally high standard to continue to attract world-class talent that will train – and hopefully be retained – in Nottingham.
“We’ve maintained close collaboration with local stakeholders to design a scheme that not only helps meet the demand for purpose-built student accommodation but is sustainable and adaptable to the needs of current and future students.
“This is a major milestone in our journey but will be maintaining our unwavering commitment to helping Nottingham realise its potential – to benefit students, local businesses and local communities.”
Northants company provides vital support to local community food kitchen
A vegetation management and landscaping contractor is offering vital support to a local food kitchen, enabling it to provide free food to those in need in Kettering.
Responding to a call out for volunteers and resources, Wellingborough-based VMS Ltd is donating time and equipment to Central Methodist Food Kitchen.
Launched on Monday 7 April with a team of volunteers led by church member Vanessa Taylor-Griffiths, the service operates from its church premises on School Lane in Kettering and provides free, home-cooked, food every Monday between 3-5pm to those in need.
As well as donating volunteering time on a weekly basis, VMS Ltd has also provided essential equipment including soup kettles, a rice cooker, freezer and storage cupboards, to enable the new service to get up and running swiftly.
“It’s been great to see the donated items from VMS being used by the team,” said Kev Garfield, head of business support at VMS Ltd. “I’ve made a commitment to attend every weekly session and it has been fantastic to see the positive response received.
“It’s a big struggle for many right now but the new service is not just about offering food, it’s about giving people the opportunity to socialise and talk to each other. Vanessa and the team should be very proud of themselves.
“As a business we’re delighted to be involved and offer support to those in need within the community and I’m keen to get more businesses involved too.”
Of the support, Vanessa said: “Kev was one of the first to contact me when we put a call out for support in January. VMS donated essential equipment we needed to get up and running and they have also committed to continue supporting the food kitchen long term – both in volunteering, supplies and spreading the word about what we do so that we can keep supporting the community.
“Those using the services say that they love it and have found it really helpful. We now have a pool of volunteers who have all completed hygiene and safeguarding certification and we all have aprons with our names on, so that people know who we are.
“The support of VMS has been brilliant and by providing us with the large cooking items needed, it has taken the pressure off and allowed us to swiftly launch this new, vital, service.”
Commenting on the support given to the Food Kitchen, Rob Mallett, managing director, VMS Ltd, said: “This initiative by VMS is supported through our Asset Operation, Maintenance and Response Framework Contract with the Environment Agency.
“This Framework contract allows us to support various social value projects within the communities in which we work and operate. This specific initiative is part of the Welland & Nene Region, where we currently undertake grass cutting, weed control, tree works, plus other maintenance activities and flood response on behalf of the Environment Agency.”
The Central Methodist Food Kitchen is open Mondays, including Bank Holidays, from 3-5pm.
1.2million sq ft Leicester Logistics Hub site sold in Leicester
The Drummond Estate and Inverock have agreed a sale of an 82-acre site adjacent to the M1 and M69 in Leicester. Together they secured outline planning permission for circa 106,500 sq m of advanced warehouse and distribution space at the site, known as Enderby Logistics Hub, in September 2024.
Royal London Asset Management Property, partnering with Canmoor, plans to speculatively develop 1.2 million sq ft of prime logistics space with an estimated GDV of £300m. Strategically located in the heart of the UK’s logistics ‘Golden Triangle,’ the site sits at junction 21 of the M1 and junction 3 of the M69 on the outskirts of Leicester. The development will also feature a flagship 500,000 sq ft unit to address strong occupational demand. Ultimately, Enderby Logistics Hub will help to meet the region’s pressing need for employment space and would create some 2,000 new jobs, boosting the local economy. Martin Ward, on behalf of The Drummond Estate, said: “The site offers an exceptional location, adjacent to the M1 and at the heart of the UK’s logistics golden triangle. We had an extremely high level of interest as expected and following a competitive tender process have selected Royal London Asset Management Property and Canmoor, both of which have extensive track records of high-quality developments around the country.”Sale of Leicester packaging company set to deliver major growth
Accelerated growth is the target for The Packaging Company (Midlands) following the company’s sale to Antalis.
A provider of bespoke packaging solutions to customers across the Midlands from two premises in Leicester, The Packaging Company (Midlands) was originally established in 1994 as a supplier of packaging consumables to the hosiery sector.
The company has subsequently developed a customer base spanning the healthcare, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries, with annual revenues of £3.2m and a dedicated team of 24 professionals.
Jacob Lord, KBS Corporate deal executive, advised on the sale of The Packaging Company (Midlands) to Antalis, a global leader in distributing paper, packaging and visual communications solutions.
The acquisition will enable Antalis to expand its presence and enhance its service capabilities in the UK packaging market.
“Joining Antalis represents an exciting new chapter for our business,” said Mark Charles, co-founder and CEO of The Packaging Company (Midlands). “This partnership provides significant opportunities to accelerate our growth, expand our technical packaging range and further innovate sustainable solutions.
“Our customers will benefit greatly from access to enhanced resources and the latest packaging technologies. We look forward to collaborating closely to shape the future of packaging.”
Nicholas Thompson, Managing Director UK&I for Antalis, said: “The talented and dedicated team at The Packaging Company (Midlands) are known for their creativity, exceptional service and customer-focused approach.
“We will unlock new opportunities together, delivering even more innovative, sustainable and customised packaging solutions to delight our customers.”
Jacob Lord acclaimed the work of his KBS colleague Keighley Perkin, senior research analyst, in sourcing the buyer.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of the transaction,” said Jacob. “This acquisition will undoubtedly serve as a fantastic foothold for Antalis in their growth plans.”
Developer ordered to halt Leicestershire housing project over planning breach
Work on a 239-home development at Brascote Park in Newbold Verdon, Leicestershire, has been suspended after Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council issued Persimmon Homes a Temporary Stop Notice. The council acted after determining that construction activities had started without all necessary planning conditions being met.
This is the second time in less than a year Persimmon has received such a notice, following similar enforcement action at a site in Earl Shilton in November 2023. The latest notice demands an immediate halt to activities such as topsoil removal, bund creation, pond formation, and construction of compound areas.
The Brascote Park development has faced ongoing controversy. It was initially refused planning permission in 2023 over concerns about traffic and infrastructure strain, but permission was later granted on appeal. Reserved matters were only approved in March this year, with nearly 90 objections submitted during the planning process.
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council described the Temporary Stop Notice as a key enforcement tool to prevent environmental harm and protect public safety. Council officers plan to meet with Persimmon Homes to discuss compliance and next steps. If the developer continues construction without approval, it risks prosecution.
Persimmon Homes maintains that all works have been carried out within permitted boundaries and has criticised the notice as unnecessary.
Nottingham-based Avant Homes East Midlands appoints head of sales to support regional expansion plans
Nottingham-based Avant Homes East Midlands has strengthened its senior management team by appointing a head of sales to support the housebuilder’s continued expansion across the East Midlands.
David Warren has been promoted from regional sales manager having joined Avant Homes just over two years ago from Taylor Wimpey. Prior to starting his career in housebuilding, David worked in the aviation industry.
In his new role, David is leading Avant Homes East Midlands’ sales team across its ten live developments ranging from Cotchett Village in Mickleover to Deacon Meadows in Uppingham.
Commenting on his appointment, David said: “One of my reasons for joining Avant Homes was the clear opportunity there is for people to benefit from ongoing personal development and career progression.
“Being promoted to head of sales within two years is testimony to that, and I have the privilege of leading a great cohort of talented sales professionals and working with the wider East Midlands team.
“We are all focused on delivering quality homes, for everyone, and the sales team take particular pleasure from helping customers before, during and after the purchase of their new home.
“As we continue to expand, we are passionate about helping even more people make their home owning dreams a reality.”
Headquartered in Barlborough, near Chesterfield, the Avant Homes Group operates across the Midlands, the north of England, Scotland and South Wales.
In addition to Nottingham, the housebuilder has regional operating companies located in Sunderland, Wetherby, Wakefield, Eccles, Coalville, Pontypridd and Edinburgh.
Avant Homes East Midlands managing director, Ben Felton, added: “David has made a big impact since joining Avant Homes, so this is a deserved promotion.
“It’s great to have him on the leadership team and he is playing a crucial role in the ongoing delivery of our regional expansion strategy through his highly effective approach to new build sales.”
RMS Locotec strengthens presence in Chesterfield rail sector
RMS Locotec, a key player in industrial rail services, has centralised its operations in Chesterfield, a hub for rail-related businesses in Europe. The move merges teams and assets from various sites into an established transport and engineering facility, located near the grave of George Stephenson, a key figure in industrial rail development.
The company offers a range of services, including locomotive leasing, rolling stock maintenance, and engineering support for infrastructure across depots, ports, terminals, and quarries in the UK. RMS Locotec currently leases 16 shunting locomotives to a mix of passenger and freight operators, as well as clients in the logistics, shipping, and aggregate industries. Additionally, the company has six locomotives available for short-term or long-term hire.
With the relocation, RMS Locotec has appointed Lauren Parker as General Manager to oversee business growth and expansion into new markets. Parker, who joined the company in 2010, will focus on enhancing customer relationships and furthering the company’s reach in the industrial railway sector.
Victorian Society challenges £132m redevelopment of Derbyshire County Hall
Plans to redevelop Derbyshire County Council’s historic Matlock headquarters into a hotel, new offices, and 50 homes have met strong opposition from the Victorian Society, a heritage preservation charity.
The £132 million project would see the Grade II-listed Smedley’s Hydro building converted into a hotel, a five-storey council office built nearby, and housing added to former car park land. The Victorian Society has lodged formal objections, warning the scheme would damage the site’s historic character and undermine the architectural significance of Matlock’s Victorian and Edwardian heritage.
Key concerns include the demolition of original structures, disruption to the historic gardens, and the scale and design of the proposed new office building, which critics say is out of step with the existing site. The Society also objects to the removal of heritage features, such as Doxey’s Girder Bridge.
Derbyshire County Council argues the redevelopment is necessary due to rising maintenance costs, low office occupancy, and the need for investment in the local economy. The council estimates the regeneration will create 130 hotel jobs, deliver a new eco-efficient office space for 500 staff, and inject £150 million into Matlock’s economy.
Parking capacity on the site would be cut by around two-thirds, with 389 spaces lost. A master developer is expected to be appointed by early 2026, with project completion targeted for 2030 Planning decisions are pending with Derbyshire Dales District Council.
Older homeowners control £2.89 trillion in UK housing wealth, says Savills
Homeowners aged over 60 now hold 56% of the UK’s owner-occupier housing wealth, with a total net value estimated at £2.89 trillion, according to new figures from Savills. Despite this substantial equity, the group still has £60 billion in outstanding mortgage debt, representing around 2% of the value of their homes.
Savills’ analysis shows that over-75s alone account for nearly a quarter of the UK’s property wealth, while those under 35 hold just 6%. Older homeowners are more heavily concentrated in regions such as the South West and Wales, with lower representation in London.
The figures highlight the deepening generational divide in property wealth. Older generations, having benefited from decades of equity growth and reduced borrowing, now dominate the housing market, while younger buyers have faced greater barriers to building property wealth.
Savills argues that encouraging downsizing among older homeowners could help ease pressure on the housing market by freeing up family-sized homes and releasing equity to support younger buyers.
Regional estimates from the research show that the South East leads with £603 billion in housing wealth among those over 60, followed by London at £400 billion, the East of England at £354 billion, and the South West at £326 billion. Other regions include the North West with £234 billion, the West Midlands with £212 billion, Scotland with £186 billion, the East Midlands with £178 billion, Yorkshire and the Humber with £169 billion, Wales with £106 billion, the North East with £64 billion, and Northern Ireland with £54 billion.
Savills based its calculations on a combination of HM Revenue & Customs data, the Census, and the English Housing Survey. The findings have important implications for businesses involved in property development, retirement living, and financial services that target later-life planning.
Furnace Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire sold
The former Belfield Furnishing site, located on Furnace Road, Ilkeston boasts new owners following the recent completion of a sale facilitated by Salloway Property Consultants.
However, this was not a conventional sale, as the transaction was conditional upon the demolition of the existing bespoke 98,000sq.ft. two storey factory premises which was positioned to the centre of the site.
Constructed in the 1950s/60s, this specialist building was once used by Cadbury’s Biscuits and was certainly built to last, consisting of fortified concrete pillars and floors which meant that despite a sale being agreed in October 2024 completion has only just taken place.
Clowes Developments Announces Macmillan Cancer Support as 2025/26 Chosen Charity
Clowes Developments are proud to announce that Macmillan Cancer Support has been elected as the group’s Charity of the Year for the financial period 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026, following their annual employee-led nomination and voting process.
Each year, employees are invited to nominate charities they are passionate about. These nominations are carefully reviewed to ensure alignment with the group’s values before being put to a company-wide vote. This inclusive approach helps ensure that the selected charity is meaningful to the team and reflects the causes closest to their collective hearts.
This year, the vote to support Macmillan Cancer Support holds special significance. 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of the passing of the group’s founder, Charles Clowes and also a time to honour the memory of their much loved colleague and friend, Paul Turner, who sadly passed away earlier this year. In their memory, the group has chosen to support a cancer charity that provides critical help to people and families affected by cancer across the UK.
Macmillan estimate that almost 3.5 million people in the UK are currently living with cancer, a figure projected to rise to 4 million by 2030. Receiving a diagnosis can be overwhelming, impacting not just health but also finances, work and emotional wellbeing. Macmillan is there to help people live life as fully as possible, providing compassionate physical, financial and emotional support every step of the way.
In 2023 alone:
· Macmillan supported over 2.3 million people affected by cancer – 250,000 more than in 2022
· Their nurses and support workers reached approximately 730,000 people
· They helped identify £310 million in benefits through local welfare rights services
· Supporters and fundraisers raised an incredible £226.8 million
Clowes Developments Managing Director, Thomas Clowes commented:
“We are excited to contribute to Macmillan’s extraordinary efforts through a series of fundraising events and initiatives over the next 12 months. Further details of our activities will be shared in due course as we rally together to make a meaningful impact.
We would also like to take this opportunity to celebrate the success of our previous fundraising year. From 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025, the group raised an impressive £7,102.61 in support of Derbyshire Mind, our former charity partner. We are incredibly grateful to all employees, supporters and donors who contributed to this achievement.”
Reckitt leans on emerging markets as North America slows
Reckitt posted modest revenue growth in Q1 2025, with strong demand in China and India helping offset weaker performance in North America. The company reported a 1.1% revenue increase overall, despite a 0.9% drop in North America, where economic conditions and consumer sentiment weighed on sales.
Core product lines—covering brands like Dettol, Durex and Gaviscon—grew 3.1% and now account for over 40% of total revenue. Europe delivered 1.7% growth. Emerging markets were the standout, with double-digit growth supporting the company’s full-year outlook of up to 4% revenue growth.
Reckitt is continuing to restructure its business, with plans to exit home care and nutrition. The timeline targets 2025 but remains dependent on market conditions.
The company reported minimal impact from recent US tariff measures, citing limited exposure to China, domestic production capabilities, and pricing power as buffers. A manufacturing expansion in North Carolina is part of this strategy.
Shares fell nearly 5% following the announcement, despite guidance holding steady. Reckitt maintains its focus on health and hygiene, with operational efficiency and emerging market growth key to its roadmap.
Headlam scales up flooring recycling scheme after pilot success
Headlam Group plc, a major UK flooring distributor, is expanding its carpet and underlay take-back programme to York following strong results from a 2024 pilot scheme in Northampton.
The initiative, aimed at reducing landfill waste and supporting circular economy efforts, allows customers to return used flooring materials for recycling. In 2025, the scheme has achieved a 67.99% recycling rate for carpet—an increase from 58.7% in 2024—and a 265% rate for underlay, indicating that more material was recycled than sold, partly from older stock re-entering the system.
The expansion supports Headlam’s broader environmental targets. According to its latest Sustainability Report, the company has cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46% since 2019 and is progressing toward Net Zero by 2040. Energy use has dropped due to increased solar capacity and reduced gas consumption.
Headlam is also working with suppliers through Carpet Recycling UK to develop more sustainable products and integrate circular design principles into its operations.
Second data centre proposed in North Lincolnshire with potential for 1,000 jobs
A large-scale data centre project has been proposed for development near Elsham Wolds Industrial Estate in North Lincolnshire, marking the region’s second major tech infrastructure initiative.
The proposal, currently at the pre-application stage with North Lincolnshire Council, outlines a site covering approximately 180 hectares south and east of the existing industrial estate. If fully developed, the project could generate up to 1,000 jobs over a ten-year construction period.
This follows the approval last year of the £2.2 billion Humber Tech Park near South Killingholme, expected to create nearly 400 jobs and position the area as a hub for artificial intelligence and digital services.
The Elsham Wolds development is still in the early planning stages, with no formal planning permission application submitted yet. However, its scale and job creation potential suggest a significant opportunity for businesses involved in infrastructure, construction, and technology sectors across the UK.
Tackling the rise in Employers’ National Insurance: what businesses need to know
In this episode of The Streets Sessions, host James Pinchbeck is joined by Michael Greene, Partner at Streets, and Anita Wynne, Managing Director of BestStart Human Resources. Together they unpack one of the most talked-about measures from the Autumn Budget 2024 — the rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions.
Rolls-Royce makes final pitch to power UK with factory-built nuclear units
Rolls-Royce has submitted its final proposal to Great British Nuclear (GBN) as part of a competitive process to supply small modular reactors (SMRs) for the UK’s future energy infrastructure.
After six months of negotiations, the company is one of four international vendors shortlisted by GBN. If selected, Rolls-Royce’s SMR solution would mark a major step in reshoring nuclear technology, with implications for domestic manufacturing, energy security, and supply chain growth.
The UK-designed SMRs are intended to be factory-built and rapidly deployed, each capable of producing enough low-carbon electricity to power around one million homes for over 60 years. Rolls-Royce argues that the scalable nature of its design and its advanced stage in regulatory review make it a viable option for the UK’s long-term energy strategy.
Rolls-Royce SMR is also gaining traction internationally, having been chosen by Czech utility CEZ to supply up to 3GW of electricity and progressing in a vendor selection process led by Swedish energy group Vattenfall.
Within the UK, the company is currently in the final phase of regulatory assessment, which places it ahead of its competitors in terms of domestic approval.
