A new study led by the University of Nottingham and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) lays out a strategic roadmap for decarbonising East Midlands Airport (EMA) and its surrounding transport ecosystem. The work is positioned within the UK’s broader target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The research combines technical modelling with stakeholder analysis to explore the role of hydrogen and electrification in cutting emissions across aviation, freight, and ground transport linked to the airport. EMA is a critical logistics hub, handling over 370,000 tonnes of cargo and more than four million passengers annually. It generates around £300 million for the regional economy and supports over 6,000 jobs.

The study highlights the need for integrated planning across transport modes and energy systems, recommending coordinated action between logistics providers, local authorities, and energy suppliers. Stakeholder interviews and scenario modelling were used to map the system’s complexity and assess potential adoption paths for green technologies.

Key outputs include 17 recommendations covering infrastructure development, hydrogen production and storage, links to existing hydrogen clusters, and opportunities to attract sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production to the region. The report also points to the potential for EMA to serve as a replicable model for airport decarbonisation globally.

Leading wind power specialist Boston Energy has underlined its commitment to empowering women to pursue careers in the wind energy industry. Through its Women into Wind campaign, East Yorkshire-based Boston Energy is supporting more women to enter the rapidly-growing sector and fostering greater gender diversity within the workforce. The initiative aims to encourage more women to consider careers in wind energy by offering hands-on training, mentorship, career development and opportunities to help women thrive and lead in this field. Boston Energy works internationally, supplying skilled technicians to global wind farm developers and operators. The company has worked on more than 100 offshore and onshore wind farms across the world since 2012, with its technicians working on more than 6,000 turbines from pre-assembly and Installation to maintenance. The most recent research from the International Renewable Energy Agency found that just 21 per cent of the global wind industry workforce is made up of women, with only eight per cent holding senior management positions. Boston Energy is committed to playing its part in changing this, by supporting women to enter the industry and benefit from the many highly-rewarding and exciting opportunities available working in wind power. As part of this commitment, female Boston Energy team members recently attended a careers event, staged by the Humber-based Women into Manufacturing and Engineering (WiME) partnership, to showcase careers available to women in the industry. The WiME event, held in Grimsby, a major hub for offshore wind, featured a session aimed at schools and colleges, to capture the imagination of girls and young women beginning their career journey, as well as an open session for women of all ages and backgrounds, who may be considering a career change. Boston Energy’s People Manager Sarah Shires said: “At Boston Energy, we believe that diversity is key to driving innovation and progress, particularly in industries like wind energy, which are essential for our sustainable future. “Through our Women into Wind campaign, we’re dedicated to providing the mentorship, training and opportunities needed to help women thrive and lead within this exciting sector. Our commitment goes beyond recruitment; we aim to create a supportive environment where women can not only enter, but excel, in the wind power industry. “Through our participation in events like the WiME careers day and the implementation of our Women into Wind initiative, Boston Energy continues to promote diversity and inclusion. Attending WiME events is crucial for us because it allows us to connect with and inspire the next generation of talent, especially women, to pursue careers in wind energy.” Boston Energy is based at the Hesslewood Office Park in Hessle and is a leading provider of technical labour, services and training to the global wind energy industry. The business works alongside leading names including Siemens Gamesa, Vensys, GE, SSE and Vestas to supply highly qualified and experienced professionals. Embracing a “one team” philosophy, Boston Energy’s technicians integrate seamlessly with customers’ teams to provide high-quality support with an unwavering commitment to safety excellence. Attending events such as WiME is just one of the ways Boston Energy connects with women of all ages to showcase the exciting opportunities in the wind industry and increase female representation in the sector. The team also works with schools and colleges to capture the interest of girls from a young age, while targeted recruitment schemes are also implemented to make women feel more included and welcome in the industry, with gender neutral language used to make job adverts more accessible. Competent Technician Rebecca Hansen joined Boston Energy just over a year ago is currently working on the Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm in the North Sea, with client Siemens Gamesa. She said: “I think a lot of people feel that jobs like these are ‘men’s jobs’ and may be too difficult for women to do, but I think that’s a huge misconception. “There’s no stopping women doing a job in a male-dominated industry – we can do just as well, if not better, and the satisfaction for me in doing so, is just as good as the other benefits the job brings. “I’m very glad to have stepped out of my comfort zone and taken this chance. It changed my life – so to other women thinking about it, I’d say ‘why not take that chance too?’” Boston Energy’s dedication to diversity extends beyond gender, as the company actively supports individuals transitioning from various backgrounds, including armed forces leavers and professionals from other industries, through its Transfer to Wind programme.

The proposed £1.2 billion merger between ready meal suppliers Greencore and Bakkavor has been delayed, with the deadline for a formal bid now extended to 9 May 2025. The extension was granted under the consent of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), with the possibility of further delays.

If it proceeds, the merger will create a £4 billion food company, with Greencore shareholders expected to hold 56% and Bakkavor shareholders 44% of the combined business. Both companies are major players in the ready meals and food-to-go sectors, with Greencore operating a large facility in Worksop and Bakkavor having multiple sites across the East Midlands.

There is no certainty that the deal will go through, and we will provide an update if there are any significant developments.

Luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland is set to close 16 of its UK showrooms and cut around 40 roles following an internal review designed to improve operational efficiency.

The Leicestershire-based company, which operates 155 showrooms nationwide, said it would seek to redeploy affected staff where possible. The job cuts focus on its support services division, which employs over 700 people.

Despite the closures, the group continues expanding its retail footprint through acquisitions and new openings, including a recently launched flagship Rolex boutique in London—one of the largest in Europe. Over the past year, the company opened 22 new locations, refurbished 15, and acquired another 15 via the Ernest Jones brand.

The firm has not disclosed which showrooms are being closed. The restructuring is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and support continued growth in the luxury retail segment.

Ashgate Hospice in Old Brampton, Derbyshire, has reopened its outpatient services following a six-month refurbishment designed to expand capacity and enhance the patient experience.

The £320,000 revamp covered the day services area, clinic rooms, reception, waiting area, and fundraising hub. During the renovation, outpatient care was temporarily relocated within the hospice.

With the updated facilities now operational, Ashgate is positioned to accommodate more day patients and improve service delivery for those already receiving care. The project was funded through contributions from businesses, trusts, and individual donors.

This investment strengthens Ashgate’s infrastructure, aligning with broader efforts across the healthcare and charity sectors to create more functional, patient-centred environments. For B2B stakeholders in healthcare design, equipment supply, and philanthropic engagement, the project signals growing demand for collaborative support in modernising community-based care.

Thistle Loos, a portable toilet and welfare unit hire company based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, has acquired Gloucestershire-based Toilets 4 Hire. The deal will see Toilets 4 Hire absorbed into the Thistle Loos brand, expanding the company’s operational footprint into Gloucester, Cheltenham, North Bristol, Worcester and surrounding areas.

This acquisition brings Thistle Loos’ full range of commercial and event-focused sanitation units—including welfare units, accessible facilities, and luxury trailers—to a wider B2B customer base in the South West. The move is part of the company’s broader growth strategy to enhance service coverage and product availability across the region.

Teenagers in Nottingham have been getting to grips with remote controlled demolition and diamond drilling equipment as part of a national week of action to inspire the next generation of construction workers.

The Drilling And Sawing Association (DSA) in Brand Street, Nottingham welcomed teenagers from across the city as part of Open Doors, which is delivered every year by Build UK, and sees visitors taken on behind the scenes tours of live construction workplaces – from sites to warehouses, and training centres to offices.

This year was a record as over 7000 visitors attended 260-plus Open Doors tours across the UK.

It comes at a time when the construction industry needs to recruit 50,000 new workers a year until 2028 to meet demand for new housing and infrastructure – including 53,000 in the East and West Midlands alone – according to CITB’s Construction Skills Network report.

Visitors to the DSA in Nottingham were able to try their hand at demolishing concrete using a remote-controlled pedestrian operated crushing and breaking machine, as well as diamond drilling holes, while observing hand-sawing techniques.

Julie White, Chair of Build UK and Managing Director of D-Drill, spoke with visitors about different career paths into the industry and earning potential.

She said: “I left school with one GCSE and now lead a growing, nationwide construction business after joining the industry as a teen, and my message to them was clear – if you’re determined and want to challenge and develop yourself, then construction is the industry that will give you a chance to earn a great living.

“Seeing visitors’ faces light up during the interactive activities is what Open Doors is all about, and it is these types of experiences that can help to kickstart countless careers in the industry – at a time when new workers are needed now more than ever.

“The industry desperately needs to recruit to help the government meet its target to build 1.5 million new homes and develop other infrastructure – and Open Doors has a crucial role to play in helping to achieve this.”