CEO Sleepout urges Nottingham business leaders to spend a night outside

Tess Egginton
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CEO Sleepout urges Nottingham business leaders to spend a night outside

Charity organisers are asking company bosses to join them in the latest CEO Sleepout event which is taking place in Nottingham.

The national initiative raises vital funds to combat homelessness by asking business people from the region to sleep outside and experience one night of what homeless people encounter. This will be the sixth event CEO Sleepout has held in the area since 2016.

Chief Executive Bianca Robinson said: “Every year, the great people of the Nottinghamshire business community have come out in force to spend a night sleeping outside.

“To date CEO Sleepout Nottingham has raised a whopping £237,617 and we’re aiming to reach over the quarter of a million mark this year.”

Speaking of the current economic challenges we are facing, such as the cost-of-living crisis and rising bill prices, Bianca added: “We are seeing desperate inequality all around us because of a turbulent few years.

“Some people will possibly face a real dread of eviction if they fall behind on payments and there is not enough affordable housing to ensure everyone has a secure roof over their heads.

“We need to change this and make a stand against the forces pulling people into homelessness in this country.”

Funds from the November sleepout at Meadow Lane Stadium will benefit charities on the frontline of homelessness and poverty in the area, including Notts County Foundation, Emmanuel House and The Friary.

Denis Tully, the CEO of Emmanuel House, said: “The sleepout is a unique event to raise vital money for charities like ours to fund frontline services for people who need them the most.

“The insights shared about what homelessness is changes understanding and perspectives, which is so important in the long run.”

A large number of local people have already signed up to spend a night under the stars and raise vital funds but there is a limited number of spaces remaining.

Speaking about this year’s participants, Bianca added: “I’m excited to meet everyone who has already signed up.

“It’s an unforgettable night rubbing shoulders with like-minded peers in the business community and there is still time to sign up – all you need is a big heart and a sleeping bag.”

Patrick Dobb, director of Lace Marketing, is taking part in the event for the second time and hopes to raise £1,000. Speaking of his inspiration to sleep out, he said: “I have spent a night in the cold with CEO Sleepout before after I was inspired by a young man called Kurt who was living on the streets through no fault of his own.”

He added: “I would encourage anyone to get involved, it is a great chance to meet like-minded people and raise money for an excellent cause.

“Last year, I signed up 72 hours before the event, so it is never too late!”

The event will be sponsored by 200 Degrees Coffee which has supplied fresh coffee to participants spending a night in the cold for the last six years.

CEO Sleepout is hoping to raise £40,000 at this year’s event to add to the overall total of £3.1 million which has been raised by the national initiative since it was founded in 2013.

For more information or to sign up for the next Nottingham sleepout at Meadow Lane Stadium on November 10th, visit ceosleepoutuk.com/nottingham

William Davis Homes makes three senior appointments

Tess Egginton
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William Davis Homes makes three senior appointments
Housebuilder William Davis Homes has recruited to three new senior roles to support its ambitious expansion plans. The Leicestershire-based company has created separate land director roles for both the East and West Midlands – to drive the procurement and preparation of land for development – as well as appointing a chief financial officer. Matt Colloby is West Midlands land director, heading a new team in that region. He brings significant expertise to the role, having over 35 years in the industry. Matt said: “I’m relishing this exciting challenge – establishing the new office and working with the team to secure a pipeline of developments, which will supplement our current live sites and planning interests.” Sarah Whetton joins William Davis as East Midlands land director, having already worked for a number of different housebuilders across more than 30 years – much of that at executive level.
Sarah Whetton
Sarah said: “Land with planning consent and in good locations is in high demand. I want to be able to help the company deliver a successful long-term land strategy which means acquiring the right opportunities for the business. “I’m already loving it. I have an energetic and committed team working with me who equally understand the William Davis values and the ways in which we do business.” Chief financial officer Richard Irons qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1999 with KPMG. He has a strong track record in corporate and financial leadership across a wide range of sectors and brings a wealth of commercial and operational experience to William Davis.
Richard Irons
Richard said: “The product here is fantastic and the focus on quality and customer satisfaction is part of the William Davis DNA. I see my main role as helping the company to grow sustainably and efficiently without compromising the qualities for which it’s so well known.” Guy Higgins, Managing Director of William Davis Homes, said: “We’re delighted to have made three such high-quality additions to our leadership team. It’s always been our philosophy that to succeed, we need to secure and nurture the best talent.” Richard Irons and Sarah Whetton will be based at William Davis headquarters in Loughborough, while Matt and his new West Midlands team are in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. The housebuilder is planning to build and complete the sale of more than 400 new homes this year, at more than a dozen sites across the Midlands.

Administrations across the Midlands leap over 60% as economic headwinds start to take their toll

Tess Egginton
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Administrations across the Midlands leap over 60% as economic headwinds start to take their toll
The number of companies filing for administration across the Midlands jumped 64% in the third quarter of 2022, as economic headwinds continued to buffet businesses the length and breadth of Britain. These findings were identified by Interpath Advisory in their latest analysis of notices in The Gazette. A total of 36 companies based in the Midlands fell into administration from July to September 2022 – up from 22 during the same period in 2021. This represents the highest number of insolvencies in a quarter in the Midlands since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. August, which is traditionally the quietest month for insolvency appointments, saw the highest monthly number of administrations in the region since March 2020, with 16 appointments. The picture in the Midlands aligns with what is experienced nationally. Across the UK, there was a total of 265 companies which fell into administration from July to September 2022 – up from 176 during the same period in 2021, and up from 243 in Q3 2020. Notwithstanding the uptick in insolvency appointments in the last quarter, administrations both in the Midlands and nationally are still yet to hit the pre-pandemic levels. In Q3 2019, there were 51 and 401 administration appointments in the Midlands and nationally respectively. The rising number of insolvencies can be seen across a wide range of sectors, with building and construction, industrial manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, retail, and the food and drink industry all witnessing increased activity. Chris Pole, Managing Director in Interpath’s Midlands team, said: “The summer months often herald a quieter period for corporate insolvencies, and so the fact that the third quarter of this year, and specifically August, witnessed the highest monthly total in more than two years is particularly telling of the wider challenges which businesses are experiencing. “We know that companies across the Midlands have been wrestling with a myriad of issues for some time, from rampant inflation, to supply chain challenges, to labour shortages, so this is perhaps the first real evidence that a significant shift in activity is now underway.” He added: “And let’s remember: the bulk of administrations seen in the past quarter landed well before the economic and political storm that we’ve witnessed in the past few weeks. “The impact of rising interest rates, currency and gilt yield movements, and the increase in energy prices from 1 October are yet to feed through, but undoubtedly will only serve to compound the extraordinary pressure that local businesses were already under.” Chris Pole continued: “We’re now in a situation where interest rates may well be above 5% by Spring of next year, putting increased pressure on cashflows for businesses with high debt levels, and especially those with an unhedged position. Further, with suppliers trying to navigate the impact of a weaker Sterling, and consumers adjusting to rising mortgages and lower disposable income, businesses are going to be squeezed in all directions. “While the Government has intervened to provide certain relief in respect of rising energy costs and new loans for start-ups and small businesses, for many businesses, some difficult choices lie ahead.” Chris Pole concluded: “Speaking from our own experience at Interpath, we are certainly seeing a rise in activity across the breadth of the Midlands and, based on our current pipeline, we would suggest that by the end of Q4 this year insolvency levels will have risen even further. Identifying cash pinch points and seeking advice at the earliest opportunity will be key for businesses to navigate the challenges ahead over the coming weeks and months.”

Flurry of new lettings at Derbion

Tess Egginton
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Flurry of new lettings at Derbion
Ted Baker, Sostrene Grene, 200 Degrees Coffee and White Rose have become the latest brands to commit to Derbion, Derby’s flagship retail and leisure destination. Ted Baker have taken a lease on 2,960ft² on the prime fashion level on the upper mall. Nearby occupiers include Tommy Hilfiger, Timberland, JD Sports, Beaverbrooks and Footlocker. Sostrene Grene, the Scandinavian furniture and home accessories brand, have acquired premises on the lower north mall comprising of approximately 6,000ft². Fast growing Nottingham coffee roaster 200 Degrees secured premises on Crown Walk, signing a lease on a unit of 1,585ft² adjacent to Boots. This is the 18th store for the brand, complementing their existing store network in Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham and East Midlands Designer Outlet. Sustainable fashion brand White Rose have opened on Albion Walk, a new 3,000 sq ft flagship 14th store in the region following their recent opening in Leicester. Derbion has welcomed a raft of big name brands in recent months including Tommy Hilfiger, Jack Wills and also announced a £2 million investment into the new food terrace which will open pre-Christmas 2022. Frasers are due to open their new 127,000ft² flagship store in November. Alan Pearson of FHP Property Consultants said: “I am delighted to have secured leading regional coffee shop brand 200 Degrees for their Derby debut, 200 Degrees are a fantastic brand which will enhance the food & beverage offer within the shopping centre. “Leading Scandinavian homeware brand Sostrene Grene are building on their existing presence within the East Midlands for their new flagship large format store, which will add another dimension to the centre’s tenant mix.” Michael Boundy, senior asset manager at Derbion, said: “Our leasing momentum has continued to gather pace this year with a string of major lettings alongside some significant upsizes and store refurbishments from H&M and River Island for their new River Studios format. “We continue to drive forward our investment across the centre to ensure it remains the most attractive proposition for leading brands and our customers.”

Trust benefits from government cash boost

Steve Fisher
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Trust benefits from government cash boost
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is celebrating after receiving a cash boost from a pioneering government fund to drive private investment in nature and tackle climate change. The trust’s project is among 50 schemes to benefit from the final round of the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund. Launched by Defra and the Environment Agency, it offers grants of up to £100,000 to environmental groups, local authorities, businesses and other organisations to help them develop nature projects to a point where they can attract private investment. The funding aims to help develop projects so they can demonstrate a return on that investment by capturing the value of carbon, water quality, biodiversity and other benefits provided by natural assets such as woodlands, peatlands and rivers. Revenue is generated through the sale of carbon storage, improvements in biodiversity, natural flood management benefits and reduced water treatment costs. The primary purpose of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s scheme, known as Derbyshire’s Nature Recovery and Natural Capital Investment Aggregator, will be to facilitate nature’s recovery across Derbyshire by making and protecting more space for nature. Matt Buckler, head of wilder landscapes at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded funds from NEIRF to move our Aggregator project forward. “There are several upcoming schemes and income-generating mechanisms such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Carbon Credits and Phosphate Capture, which pose significant opportunities for the trust to generate income through rewilding, accelerating the delivery of our local nature recovery strategies to make much more space for nature. “As a key provider and protector of wildlife in Derbyshire, our priority is to ensure that these schemes deliver the most effective solutions for society and nature. “Using our specialist local knowledge and expertise, we are uniquely positioned to deliver high quality natural spaces that can benefit nature and generate the wider ecosystem services that society needs.”

Manchester plastic products firm acquires Nottinghamshire business

Tess Egginton
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Manchester plastic products firm acquires Nottinghamshire business
Coral Products, a specialist in the design, manufacture and supply of plastic products based in Wythenshawe, Manchester, has acquired Ecodeck Grids Limited (Ecodeck) in a deal worth up to £5.6m. Nottinghamshire-based Ecodeck supply a range of building and landscape products from driveway grids, gravel pathway grids to plastic shed bases and grass grid reinforcement. The range of products are all environmentally and eco-friendly being made from 100% recycled plastic. It is currently owned by Matthew and Kelly Staples. Ecodeck, which is based in Sutton-in-Ashfield will continue to operate from its existing premises. According to unaudited financial statements for the year ended 30 January 2022, Ecodeck’s sales were £6.8 million, profit after tax was £0.9 million and net asset value was £1.9 million. Executive chairman of Coral Products, Joe Grimmond, said: “This acquisition further reinforces our focus on niche, specialist operators in the plastics sector. We have an opportunity to leverage Ecodeck’s on-line platform for other group eco-friendly products. “We see significant scope to add value as we integrate the business into the group – the acquisition continues to broaden our group’s product offering and greatly enhances our available market opportunities. We expect this acquisition will be earnings enhancing in its first year.”

Major Nottingham residential scheme reaching to 22 storeys recommended for approval

Tess Egginton
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Major Nottingham residential scheme reaching to 22 storeys recommended for approval
Plans for a major mixed residential development in Nottingham, comprising a 22 storey tower, 9 storey building and 12 storey building, have been recommended for approval. If given the green light the scheme would be constructed on Queens Road to provide student accommodation and apartments. Until recently the development site contained four single storey industrial units. These have now been demolished. The new development would consist of a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) building with 406 beds, and two buildings containing a total of 238 Build to Rent (BTR) apartments. The developer is proposing to build the PBSA as phase I and the BTR buildings as phase II.

Legal 500 Directory highly ranks Sills & Betteridge LLP

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Legal 500 Directory highly ranks Sills & Betteridge LLP

In another proud announcement from Sills & Betteridge LLP, it has revealed news of its latest results in the world’s leading legal directory The Legal 500. The prestigious 30 year old directory which ranks law firms based on in-depth feedback from clients and peers has reaffirmed Sills & Betteridge LLP’s position as one of the region’s top legal services providers, by again recognising it as a ‘Leading Law Firm’. With acknowledgement for being ‘exceptionally experienced and well regarded’, their family law team achieved Tier 1 status for the first time and all other service areas submitted held their positions in the tier rankings. 15 lawyers across 7 practice areas were given special individual mention for their standout contributions in their field, including corporate lawyer James Conduit who retained his position as a Leading Individual, and family lawyer Chrystal Theofanous who was newly recognised in the same category for her specialist work in the fields of international child abduction, forced marriage prevention, complex care proceedings, domestic abuse and public law children matters. Siobhan Thompson, also a family lawyer, received the accolade of Next Generation Partner following testimonials about her work from leading barristers and clients including praise for being among the most devoted and committed solicitors they had ever worked with. Tax partner David Wood and commercial property partner Melissa Kirk who joined the firm earlier this year were also listed. Karen Bower-Brown, senior partner, said: “Independent assessment means so very much to us so we are all thrilled that a publication as credible as the Legal 500 have acknowledged the outstanding talent of our people and the quality of service we try so hard to deliver.” To view the firm’s results including highlighted testimonials about some of their lawyers, please visit Sills & Betteridge LLP > Lincoln > England | The Legal 500 law firm profiles

Spinning plates? Let’s get organised: By Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency

Tess Egginton
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Spinning plates? Let’s get organised: By Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency
Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency, offers tips on how to organise your time more efficiently to create a more productive and enjoyable day. We are all spinning plates, trying to manage a multitude of tasks on a daily basis and most of the time end up giving ourselves a hard time when we fall short, whether it’s arriving late, missing an appointment or generally chasing our tail when it comes to being organised, leaving us with feelings of dissatisfaction, frustration and even guilt. Having been self-employed, running a business single handily for the past fifteen years, I have had my fair share of experiences with the above feelings and have since learnt a thing or two about how to navigate myself in order to avoid a repeat of them going forward. Granted some days don’t go as planned and that’s just life, but what’s important is that I have also learnt how to manage mindfully those ‘not so great’ days when they occur – and they do and will occur. Here, through my own personal experiences, I share my top six tips on how to organise your time more efficiently in order to create a more productive and enjoyable day:
  1. Build a routine – We as humans are habitual creatures and as such love a routine, so create a realistic one for yourself which incorporates your personal needs, the needs of anyone you are responsible for in your life and of course your work/business. If you are thinking “well, this is nothing new, I’m already in a routine,” why not write down your current routine and then write down a second version that you wish it was more like (e.g. ‘the dream routine’), and by cross checking the two, identify any tweaks you can make to your current routine to edge it nearer to the dream one.
  2. Write it down – To make a start on creating your routine, write it down in list or timeline format – starting with the non-negotiables. Maybe for you that’s the school run, breakfast, gym, work, and cooking dinner, maybe it’s something different. This works great for leaders to structure a work based plan for your teams too, but remember this is YOUR routine so make it work for YOU (or the individual in question by working together to meet all needs). Once you have covered all of the non-negotiables, move onto filling the gaps with any other key responsibilities you have during the day/week/month.
  3. Make time for you – I say this to all of my coaching clients – make time for YOU. Even if your schedule doesn’t seem to allow it, edit it so that it does. One hour per day, every day at least should be allocated to something that nourishes you, makes you happy, inspires and motivates you or simply gives you the space and time you need to refocus and re-energise, whether that is a form of exercise class/gym/sport, a walk to get your steps in each day, cycling to work, taking time for your hobby, or if work-related some business development or idea generation time in order to encourage creative thinking and growth.
  4. Create task lists – On top of your daily routine, you will have ad hoc tasks to complete perhaps both personally and in business, so make a list – seeing the words in black and white will help you to remember and keep accountable to the tasks that lie ahead. You can then incorporate these task lists into your routine, segmenting them against a timeline, again whether it be daily or weekly. I for example make to do lists for the week in order of priority. I tick each task off as I complete them, which gives an enormous sense of satisfaction and I don’t give myself a hard time if I don’t complete them all in the same day – they can simply roll over to the next day.
  5. Set reminders – There are useful software platforms and tools out there that can assist in your daily task busting endeavours, however simply adding reminders to your calendar will suffice, usually these can be accessed on your desktop/laptop/phone as everything of course links up nowadays. I am however old school and still rely on my trusty Filofax, as nothing beats handwriting down my to do lists and tasks, which in turn helps me to remember what I need to do.
  6. Delegate – Ask yourself, “are there certain jobs I can give to other people to do for me?” Can you subcontract some work out – for example can you hire a bookkeeper/accountant/virtual PA/assistant etc? Since delegating work from my business out to others over the years, I have been able to focus on business development and working on the things that I enjoy, rather than spending all my time on, for example, bookkeeping and admin which are super time consuming and don’t necessarily make my soul leap!
However you decide to manage your time and navigate your day, remember to try to prioritize YOU – after all if you don’t who will?   Fiona Duncan-Steer, RSViP www.fionaduncansteer.com  www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk   See this column in the October edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.

Plans for apartments at former lawn bowls club tipped for approval

Tess Egginton
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Plans for apartments at former lawn bowls club tipped for approval
Plans to transform a former lawn bowls club on Addison Street, Nottingham, have been recommended for approval.
The proposals, from Unitech Plus Ltd, would see the construction of 29 one, two, and three-bed apartments. The development would predominantly form three buildings which would front Addison Street. In addition the original three storey element of the pavilion would be retained and converted and two storey extensions added to the east and west.
It is proposed that the area that currently makes up the bowling green would be retained as a communal garden area for future residents.
11 parking spaces and 30 cycle storage spaces are planned.

Multi-million pound engineering group created as CBE+ completes merger with NiTEC UK

Tess Egginton
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Multi-million pound engineering group created as CBE+ completes merger with NiTEC UK
Chesterfield-based engineering supply chain solution provider CBE+ has completed a merger with Electroless Nickel Plating company NiTEC UK, creating a multi-million pound turnover business. The joining of the two businesses began in 2017 when Cooper Brown Enterprises (now CBE+) acquired NiTEC UK. The legal merger completes the integration of the two businesses and consolidates the CBE+ group’s capabilities to include Electroless Nickel Plating (ENP) alongside precision engineering, gear cutting, assembly and test facilities. It takes the headcount at the 70,000 sq ft site in Chesterfield from 65 to 88. The merger is the final stage in realising the vision of CBE+ founders Marie Cooper and Chris Brown to deliver an integrated supply chain solution. CEO Marie Cooper says: “This is the day we have been working towards for the last five years. Customers can now access all of our services from a single location and a single approved supplier, reducing transport costs and eliminating the inconvenience of approving multiple suppliers. “The NiTEC UK business and team relocated to the CBE+ site earlier this year, so customers can expect the same high levels of customer service, quality and delivery from the same expert team.” Formed in 2017 prior to the acquisition of BG Engineering by Marie Cooper and Chris Brown, Cooper Brown Engineering went on to acquire shares in NiTEC and Spire Laboratories. This was followed by the acquisition of Pentag Gears and Oilfield Equipment in 2018, and a wire Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) facility in 2021. The company rebranded as CBE+ in 2019. Today, the business provides multidisciplinary engineering services to manufacturers in sectors including to aerospace, defence, automotive, oil and gas, medical, renewables and general engineering. Technical director Chris Brown says: “Our vision in 2017 was to create a business that combined multiple engineering services to deliver tailored solutions for customers. 1st October marked the final step in that vision becoming a reality, and we are excited about what the future holds.”

East Midlands heat pump specialist boosts capacity seven-fold with six-figure investment

Tess Egginton
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East Midlands heat pump specialist boosts capacity seven-fold with six-figure investment
A Derbyshire business which distributes heating and cooling systems is expanding its capacity to meet growing demand after purchasing a new site in Swadlincote. Logicool has acquired the new 16,000 sq ft property, which is more than three times the size of its existing premises. It will enable the firm to hold up to 900 pallets of components for heat pumps and air conditioning units, over seven times more than its previous site. As well as more storage space, the property will include display rooms to showcase the products and expertise it can offer, in addition to more office space. It will also enable Logicool to transform its existing premises into a specialist training centre for staff and clients. Logicool will also be using these resources to test new design ideas for heating, cooling and ventilation solutions and hopes to find innovative new climate control systems. Logicool works with its customers to design energy-efficient heating and cooling systems tailored to their buildings, utilising the most sustainable technologies such as heat pumps and ventilation systems. By using heat pumps, the firm is able to help businesses reduce their energy input by up to 75% while delivering the same level of heating output. The business used a six-figure finance package from Lloyds Bank to purchase the new site in order to increase its capacity to hold more stock in an effort to mitigate ongoing supply chain issues. It has recently recruited two new members of staff and now employs 18 people in the area, with plans to take on two further employees over the coming months. Karl Richardson, Managing Director at Logicool, said: “We’ve enjoyed consistent growth for a number of years now and we recognised that we needed to increase our capacity to meet this demand. When the opportunity to purchase this site came up we knew it fitted the bill perfectly and the support we had from the Lloyds Bank team meant we were able to get the deal over the line quickly. “We’re only expecting things to get busier now more people are returning to offices and uncertainty remains over supply, so making this investment now will make sure we’re in a good position over the months ahead and beyond.” Mel Howard, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “Logicool has gone from strength to strength and it’s a fantastic example of a local business that is thriving at the moment. Their expertise is also helping businesses across the region to transfer to more sustainable heating and cooling systems and improve their own sustainable credentials. “It’s fantastic to see them expanding with the purchase of the property and we will work with them as they move into the site and look to keep their growth going.”

Government must get serious about jobs, says East Midlands Chamber as region’s unemployment rate rises

Tess Egginton
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Government must get serious about jobs, says East Midlands Chamber as region’s unemployment rate rises
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate has risen for the second month in a row – although it remains in historically low territory. The 3.1% rate for the period between June and August 2022 – which is below the 3.5% UK national average – marked its highest figure in seven months, according to the latest regional labour market data from the Office for National Statistics. Meanwhile, the region’s economic inactivity rate – which measures the number of working-age people who have dropped out of the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – increased from 21.9% to a record-high of 22.6%. East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “Although the unemployment rate remains at historic low levels, the fact it is creeping up should be a cause for slight concern given the issues we’ve been highlighting regarding the UK facing the tightest labour market in years – as illustrated once again by a significant rise in the economic inactivity rate. “Our research shows about four in 10 East Midlands firms have been at full operating capacity over the past half a year and while two-thirds have attempted to grow via recruitment, at least four in five of this cohort have struggled to fill roles. “In our latest Quarterly Economic Survey, although the proportion of businesses that increased their workforce over the third quarter of the year rose by a net 4%, the future outlook is less optimistic with a 9% slide in the proportion of firms that expect to add to headcount before the end of the year. “What this suggests is the stack of economic challenges facing businesses – driven by rising costs for energy, people, raw materials and fuel – is now denting confidence and holding back investment. Should this continue for much longer, we can expect to see more firms deciding to tighten their belts to get through difficult times, with a resulting negative impact on the job market. “If Government is serious about growth, it needs to get serious about jobs. There are key reforms it should adopt to help ease tightness in the labour market. “These include supporting greater business investment in workforce training, adopting flexible working practices, expanding the use of apprenticeships, and a comprehensive reform of the Shortage Occupation List to allow sectors facing urgent demand for skills to get what they need.”

PKF Smith Cooper expands its tax advisory division by enhancing Capital Allowances service line

Michael Fisher
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PKF Smith Cooper expands its tax advisory division by enhancing Capital Allowances service line
Midlands-based accountancy and advisory firm PKF Smith Cooper is expanding its tax division with an enhanced Capital Allowances service, which will help local businesses and commercial property investors maximise tax relief on their capital expenditure costs. The company has recruited a new Capital Allowances Consultant, Thomas Webb, to offer additional expertise and support in this service line. Thomas has over 10 years of local and international experience in providing capital allowances support to businesses and investors across a range of sectors including construction, agriculture, food processing, furnished holiday lets, manufacturing, engineering, retail and hospitality, student accommodation and commercial property investment. In previous roles at KPMG and Grant Thornton, Thomas has worked with a number of high profile clients including supporting Pret A Manger with fixed asset additions on expenditure across the UK, USA and Hong Kong, as well as working with Lego on cost estimation and cost re-build for its head office in Denmark and flagship store in London. He has also developed extensive experience in servicing Midlands-based investors and businesses. Thomas commented: “As a new and solely focussed Capital Allowances Consultant at PKF Smith Cooper, I’m looking forward to developing the service that the firm provides for the benefit of existing and future clients. This is a great opportunity to make a real impact while supporting local businesses and investors in claiming the tax relief they are entitled to. This is an area of tax that can have a real impact on managing the tax burden of clients through identifying and accessing allowances that are often overlooked and I expect this to be important over the next few years. Working alongside the rest of the tax team, my goal is to play a significant part in establishing PKF Smith Cooper as a leading provider of Capital Allowances consultancy services in the Midlands.” From its key offices in Derby, Nottingham and Birmingham, PKF Smith Cooper provides a range of accountancy services. The company’s tax division delivers comprehensive support to clients of all sizes in personal tax, employment tax, VAT & indirect tax and private client tax. The expert tax team behind the services continues to grow, with the addition of twelve new recruits and two promotions in the past year. Gary Devonshire, Tax Advisory Partner and head of innovation and property taxes at PKF Smith Cooper, said: “It’s an exciting time of growth and expansion at PKF Smith Cooper. Last year the firm joined PKF International and this year our Derby team moved into a modern office space to accommodate our growing team which serves our expanding and diverse client-base.” “As part of our tax growth plan, we are now strengthening our tax services in key areas such as capital allowances that will attract new clients and allow us to offer an additional service to our existing clients. I am thrilled to have Thomas on board and look forward to seeing his expertise being delivered to clients and contacts as part of the continued expansion of our tax services at PKF Smith Cooper.”

Derbyshire-headquartered company crosses the finish line in 8,542-mile mental health charity challenge

Tess Egginton
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Derbyshire-headquartered company crosses the finish line in 8,542-mile mental health charity challenge

Employees of a Derbyshire-headquartered firm have finally crossed the finish line in a truly Olympic-sized charity challenge that brought hundreds together to help people with their mental health.

Since 2021, nearly 70 staff at Lubrizol – which has a headquarters in Hazelwood in Derbyshire – have walked, run, cycled, rowed, swam, climbed and even played golf over a total distance of 8,542 miles, between a quarter and fifth of the circumference of the world!

Dubbed the ‘Lubrizol Olympics’, the company’s original aim was to reach a target of £25,000 for mental health charity Mind by covering the equivalent distance from the UK to Japan, 5,882 miles, where the Olympic Games were hosted in 2021.

Team events bringing company staff together were planned to enable Lubrizol to reach its target. But when the third Covid lockdown hit in 2021, employees adapted by completing many challenges on their own in order to reach the goal. One member of staff rowed 1,000 miles on a home-rowing machine, while another took to the water on the Beaulieu River in Poole harbour to row 21 miles – the equivalent of the English Channel.

Eighteen months later, Lubrizol’s employees have finally reached their £25,000 target after a team of 14 from offices in Derbyshire and Barnsley completed the famously gruelling Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, which involves climbing Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough within 12 hours – a distance of some 24 miles.

Chris Hart-Jones, production manager at Lubrizol’s Barnsley site and responsible for orchestrating the Lubrizol Olympics, said: “I’m so proud of Lubrizol, all our employees, and everyone who supported us to complete the Olympics challenge.

“It has gone beyond my expectations. When we started to plan the event, it was pre-Covid. When Covid came, it changed everything. What it did was spur people’s imaginations. Faced with being unable to get to the gym, many of our staff members massively rose to the challenge by coming up with their own ideas, for example: rowing 1,000 miles at home.

“Our final team event, the Yorkshire Three Peaks, was tough but enjoyable. It was a great opportunity to meet people I hadn’t met before because they joined the company during Covid and we had only met over the screen for online meetings.”

Chris personally undertook all team events organised by Lubrizol when social gathering was once again permitted: walking up Snowdon in Wales, Scafell in the Lake District, the Yorkshire Three Peaks and Mam Tor in Derbyshire. He also completed all the distance between Lubrizol’s sites on a Peloton bike!

Another employee who enthusiastically took part in the Lubrizol Olympics and all team events was Suraj Lal, of Derby, who retired this year as an engineer at Lubrizol after working there for 27 and a half years.

Not content with his daily 15-mile return cycle ride from his home in Allestree to work at Hazelwood near Belper, Suraj undertook to pedal an additional 100 miles a month for a half year period in order to help the company reach its target.

Suraj said: “It was the Lubrizol Olympics and we all needed to do something. When lockdown came, it would have been easy to do nothing but sometimes doing something is actually easier still! Once you commit, you have to complete a challenge. I found myself cycling here, there and everywhere at weekends and evenings over and above my normal commute, to reach our goal.

“It was about raising money for Mind, for people who don’t have a voice and perhaps may just go back into their shell when they are struggling. Mind is a very good charity. Covid affected people who used to have a social environment at work. It represented a sudden change in lifestyle. I just thought it was an important cause to be raising money for and I was proud to support it.”

Having now reached its target of £25,000 for Mind, Lubrizol is still carrying on fundraising until the end of 2022 so the total amount raised is likely to be higher still.

Employees from the company’s sites across the UK who participated in the Lubrizol Olympics were supported by more than 800 friends, family and colleagues, whose donations enabled the company to reach its fundraising goal of £25,000.

Other personal challenges included solo completion of the Yorkshire Three Peaks; a team of 15 walking 400,000 steps each in a three-month period; a 24-hour gym challenge undertaken by four students in Manchester, plus Derbyshire Lubrizol employees and married couple Claire and Tim Hollingshurst who ran, walked and cycled the equivalent distance from John O’ Groats to Land’s End – 603 miles – as well as undertaking the Yorkshire Three Peaks themselves.

Chris said: “It’s a wonderful achievement that Lubrizol’s staff have come together to complete this challenge for Mind, and a huge relief that on our last organised team event we hit our target. I think I’ll enjoy a nice rest now but I’ll look forward to seeing what charity Lubrizol will agree to support next.”

Mansfield Innovation Centre boosts local economy by more than £1.2m

Tess Egginton
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Mansfield Innovation Centre boosts local economy by more than £1.2m
Mansfield Innovation Centre has helped to drive a timely economic boost of more than £1.2m for the area by helping local businesses access grant funding, create new jobs and benefit from intensive business coaching and support. In the past six months the centre’s innovation director, David Smith, has helped ten of its resident businesses successfully secure 13 grants from various local and regional funds, totalling more than £120,000. He has also delivered more than 150 hours of intensive one-to-one business coaching to Centre customers. The grants have helped businesses purchase manufacturing machinery, IT equipment and infrastructure, CRM systems, new websites, software and other business tools to help them grow, and access marketing services and business consultancy. Much of this funding has been spent with local providers, helping to keep the money circulating within Mansfield’s economy. More than 20 new jobs will be created as a result of the grant funding and support, while five existing roles will be safeguarded. When taken together, the activities have helped create an estimated £1.2m of economic impact for the local area. David Smith said: “We’re delighted to have been able to support so many great businesses in Mansfield Innovation Centre over the past six months, helping them to secure grant funding and giving them the tools and knowledge they need to realise their growth potential. “The results of our efforts speak for themselves and will have a significant impact on the local economy as we head into the second half of the year. “Providing intensive support is a big part of what we do here at Mansfield Innovation Centre. “As well as providing high-quality office space for growing local businesses, we also aim to provide all our customers with a bespoke package of support to help them achieve their goals and overcome any issues or challenges they may be facing. “This includes intensive one-to-one coaching and mentoring to help businesses develop the strategies they need to support every stage of their growth, as well as practical support to access grant funding and build vital connections with other businesses and support organisations.” The centre provides a base to more than 30 growing businesses. It offers fully serviced offices and workshops, a virtual office facility, hot desk area, and meeting and conference rooms. Managed by Oxford Innovation Space, customers also benefit from a package of support and coaching tailored to each business’s needs and growth aims. One of the businesses to benefit from the support is Mansfield Bi-Folding Doors, part of the Integra Windows Group, which offers a one-stop service for aluminium bi-folding and sliding patio doors, and aluminium windows to trade, DIY and retail customers. The firm became a customer at Mansfield Innovation Centre in 2021, when its Managing Director, Michael Irwin, was looking for additional space to grow the business. Since becoming a customer, Michael has benefitted from several coaching sessions from David Smith, who has also helped support two successful grant funding bids, and an application under the Kickstart scheme to recruit a new young member of staff. Michael said: “The support we’ve received from David and the team since joining Mansfield Innovation Centre has been fantastic. We’ve been able to successfully apply for three different pots of grant funding which wouldn’t have been possible without David’s support. “The coaching we’ve received has also been invaluable. As a small business with ambitions to grow, it’s been great to work with someone who understands what we’re looking to achieve, can advise on the direction and strategy we should take, and just be an impartial sounding board to bounce ideas off.”

£20 million Government funding could be a ‘game changer’ for Lincoln

Steve Fisher
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£20 million Government funding could be a ‘game changer’ for Lincoln

The city council’s Executive are set to discuss how a successful bid for a new railway bridge connecting Skellingthorpe Road to Tritton Road could be a ‘game changer’ Lincoln’s Western Growth Corridor

At Executive on 17 October, members will discuss the city council’s bid for Levelling Up Funding Round 2 and its importance in bringing forward crucial plans for a new railway bridge in the city. Earlier this year, the city council, with support from Lincoln’s Member of Parliament Karl McCartney submitted a bid for £20million to government to bring forward the Western Growth Corridor bridge plans to help alleviate congestion in the area. City of Lincoln Council, sitting as Planning Committee, approved the Western Growth Corridor plans on 12 January 2022. Western Growth Corridor, which will be jointly delivered by City of Lincoln Council and Lindum Western Growth Community Ltd, will be the largest project undertaken in the city for decades, bringing more than £500 million worth of investment into Lincoln over its lifetime and providing hundreds of jobs locally. The development will supply the city with 3,200 much needed new homes, a leisure village, an industrial park and transport infrastructure that will help alleviate some of Lincoln’s worst traffic problems. Significant time has been taken to plan transport infrastructure which will improve the overall road network in the area, including a new spine road, which will run through the centre of the development, providing a main road to connect the development into the city centre and surrounding area. This will connect Skellingthorpe Road to Tritton Road via a new bridge over the railway, which will play a major part in helping ease current congestion at the railway crossing. Subject to Levelling Up funding from government of £20 million, the bridge project is set to be brought forward, and has been highlighted as a ‘game changer’ for traffic concerns in the western part of the city. Subject to detailed technical highway approval, official works, including a new signalised junction into the development on Skellingthorpe Road/Birchwood Avenue, are set to begin in late Spring/Summer 2023. Plans are currently being developed to minimise disruption for local residents, businesses and commuters during these works. Leader of the city council, Cllr Ric Metcalfe, said: “The Western Growth Corridor has significant local importance for the growth of the city, and this funding would be a game changer in accelerating the delivery of the project. “If we could secure the £20 million funding it would enable us to deliver much needed homes for the city far earlier than initially planned, along with securing many construction jobs for local people. “However, unfortunately, we are told that the second round of the levelling up fund is heavily over-subscribed, and Government has not yet said how much they are going to allocate for a project such as this. “With continuous financial pressures on local authorities, we hope for a positive outcome when Levelling Up Round Two funding is announced later this year.”

Lutterworth cyber security solutions company acquires Bracknell firm

Tess Egginton
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Lutterworth cyber security solutions company acquires Bracknell firm
Cyber security company Intercede Group, the Lutterworth-based supplier of Public Key Infrastructure Credential Management Software, has acquired Authlogics, a Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) and Password Security Management (PSM) software vendor. Intercede will pay an initial consideration of £2.5 million (adjusted to approximately £2 million after net debt and working capital adjustments) plus a further deferred conditional and staged earnout payment of up to £3 million. Authlogics is a UK headquartered business based in Bracknell and was founded in June 2015. The company’s products service over 50 customers with 44 annual recurring software contracts across the Finance, Government, Defence and Healthcare sectors. Four of the current Authlogics staff will become Intercede employees, including the two Authlogics founders. Klaas van der Leest, CEO of Intercede Group, said: “The acquisition of Authlogics enables us to deliver on the strategic vision that we have shared with investors of addressing the entire authentication pyramid. “We believe that the addition of the Authlogics products will allow us to support our customers and prospects wherever they are in their authentication journey, and to embrace a wider set of use cases. The deal also increases our recurring revenue base. “We are delighted to welcome the Authlogics team to the group, along with their customers, partners and distributors.”

Revenue grows at electrical retailer against “particularly challenging market back-drop”

Tess Egginton
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Revenue grows at electrical retailer against “particularly challenging market back-drop”
Marks Electrical Group, the online electrical retailer, has hailed a “strong trading period” as revenue increased in the six months ended 30 September 2022. In an update on the London Stock Exchange, the Leicester-based company said strong performance was driven across all categories but particularly in televisions, cookers, vacuums and small appliances. The half saw revenue growth of 15.1% to £43.1m, up from £37.5m in the same period last year, despite “a particularly challenging market back-drop.” Mark Smithson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “After a solid performance in the first four months, the group’s positive trading momentum has continued in August and September as we continued to harness our market-leading customer service proposition and build brand awareness, enabling the group to deliver continued revenue growth and market share gains. “The strong competitive activity we saw in pricing during the first quarter has begun to ease more recently and despite the margin pressure this has had in the first half, we remain focused on controlling our overhead base and confident of achieving our full year targets. “Given the challenging economic backdrop our focus on maintaining inventory whilst improving inventory days has been key, allowing us to close the period with a net cash position of £7.7m. This puts us in a strong position for the months ahead. “Our differentiated operating model, leading customer service and free next day delivery provides a unique offering that sets us apart from the competition. I’m proud of our achievements in the first half and thank all of our colleagues for their focus on developing and maintaining our leading customer proposition in a very challenging market. “As momentum continues to build going into the peak trading period, our focus on operational excellence and cash flow generation, combined with our net cash position, provides us with a robust platform to generate continued profitable market share growth and achieve our full year targets.”

Emmanuel House reveals £2m plans to convert building into 20-bed accommodation to reduce rough sleeping in Nottingham

Tess Egginton
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Emmanuel House reveals £2m plans to convert building into 20-bed accommodation to reduce rough sleeping in Nottingham
Emmanuel House has submitted plans to Nottingham City Council for ‘change of use’ to the first and second floors of its premises on Goose Gate. The organisation wants to create 20 bedrooms that will provide short-term emergency accommodation for people who find themselves homeless. The ‘New Vision’ project will have ensuite facilities, food and 24-hour support provided by a team of trained specialists. The project is set to cost £2 million. If planning is approved, building work will start as soon as the funding is available. The plans have been submitted by CPMG Architects and the project is managed by property and construction consultancy Edge PS. Denis Tully, CEO at Emmanuel House, said: “Our ambition is to reduce the number of people who are homeless in Nottingham city for the benefit of individual people, the neighbourhood and for the City of Nottingham as a whole. The project fits with the city’s strategic plan to tackle homelessness. It will make a significant contribution to year-round emergency respite care. “We have a new vision for Emmanuel House and for Nottingham’s provision to support some of its most vulnerable people. Our purpose as an organisation is to tackle isolation, vulnerability and homelessness within our community. This project is an extension of this mission.” Nick Gregory, director at CPMG, said: “I knew that Emmanuel House was an incredible organisation, but as we’ve worked with them, my admiration for their compassion and commitment to helping those in need of support has grown – they are an inspiration. I am extremely proud that we can assist in bringing these proposals forward – the impact they have will be considerable.” Geoff Tindsley, director at EDGE, said: “Emmanuel House makes such a difference to people in the Nottingham area, and this new accommodation offering will enhance its service further, so we’re incredibly proud to have a role in supporting this. Everyone in the project team is working towards a common goal in helping the organisation enhance its vital services even further, and we look forward to seeing the vision become a reality.” The plans include one-to-one meeting spaces, 24-hour security, common rooms, computer suites, consultation spaces and rooms with disabled access. The project’s second phase will include a ground floor renovation to upgrade the open-access support centre. Denis added: “Every day we’re reminded that homelessness can happen to anyone. This provision is for people who are in crisis and have nowhere else to go. They will be provided with support and a platform to access more secure accommodation. It will also make it easier for people who are homeless to get the services they need, such as medical care. “Emmanuel House is delighted to be making the first step in undertaking this vital and ground-breaking project. Over the past 12 years, the Winter Shelter has provided emergency accommodation for 1621 people, of which 952 were supported in finding long-term accommodation. This on-site provision will continue to offer life-changing support to many more people in the city.” Along with CPMG Architects and EDGE, the project team is made up of suppliers operating from Nottingham city centre, including structural and civil engineers Hexa, and mechanical and electrical engineers Chord Consult.
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