UK-based film production company MARV Studios has approached Derby City Council with proposals to develop a state-of-the-art film studio and stunt training facility in Derby.
The academy would be purpose-built and include a film studio; a fitness and rehabilitation centre, which would include a publicly accessible gym and sports facility; and a stunt training facility (Europe’s first).
The anticipated £13million investment in the site is expected to generate economic and social benefits of over £12million a year, including local economy and supply chain spend, job creation at the academy, and a significant increase in visitors to Derby.
The proposed site for the new studio is the former Aida Bliss factory, in Chester Green.
Derby City Council’s Cabinet is expected to meet in June to discuss the proposals from MARV – who are creators of global blockbusters like Kingsman, Stardust and Rocketman. Proposals would see the former factory site sold to MARV to develop and repurpose the historically significant building, that has been vacant for almost 20 years.
Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “This is an immensely exciting prospect for Derby, and a very different suggested use for the Aida Bliss site.
“MARV Studios would be a fantastic media brand for us to attract to Derby, putting us on the map as a key player in the creative media sector. Of course, it would also contribute significantly to our aspirations to diversify the local economy and regenerate the city centre.”
The Aida Bliss site was acquired by Derby City Council in 2018 to enable the construction of a new flood wall as part of the ‘Our City Our River’ (OCOR) scheme. This was completed and proved its worth straight away in the flood event of November 2019.
More recently proposals for 74 new homes were drawn up and shared for consultation, with residents being asked their views on the plans. A planning application for the housing scheme is still anticipated but has not yet been submitted.
Any sale of the site to MARV would be subject to planning permission being secured.
“We’re keen to attract the best possible solution for the site, and any final decisions will of course be taken through the Council’s Cabinet to discuss. We will be arranging an opportunity for local residents to learn more about these proposals and will confirm the arrangements for this shortly,” said Councillor Chris Poulter.
Residents will be able to ask any questions about the proposals at a drop-in session on Wednesday 1 June between 1.00pm and 3.00pm, at St Paul’s Church Hall on Seale Street.
Damien Walters, a spokesperson from MARV Studios, added: “The academy will provide new studio space for MARV, the production company behind the Kingsman film franchise, and other leading international film and TV productions. In addition, it would accommodate Europe’s first stunt training academy, and also provide a National Centre of Excellence in areas of tumbling, trampolining and martial arts and Parkour.
“Core to delivering the Centre of Excellence will be the opportunity for a wide range of local people and organisations to use the facility – from school children in Derby to world-class, high-performance athletes – this will support grassroots and community sports, as well as elite athletes and Olympians.”
Councillors have approved plans for work to get underway on Nottingham’s new Central Library in July, creating a landmark development at the heart of the city’s regenerated Southside.
The replacement for the old Central Library on Angel Row will be ready to open to the public next summer after the work to turn the building into a modern library has been completed.
The City Council’s Executive Board was told that a number of assessments of the design and affordability of the scheme have been carried out and that careful management of the city’s property portfolio and successful sales have allowed £10.5m to be identified within the council’s capital programme for the work.
The work involves turning the shell of the building – part of the new Broad Marsh Car Park and Bus Station complex – into a modern library, and so also involves installing new floors, lifts, electrics and plumbing.
The new library, spread over three floors and fully accessible via lifts, will feature a high-quality children’s library with an immersive story telling room, extensive book collection and comfortable areas to sit and read. Other amenities will include:
Feature book walls and shelving to display a large collection of books
Free wi-fi and free access to computers, laptops and iPads
A café & ground floor reception area which can be converted into a performance space
Specialist and rare collections room for local study material
Learning lab for special activities and school class visits
Meeting rooms
Exhibition space
Creative design areas
Business Intellectual Property Centre for the city.
A new Central Library is one of the key elements of the regeneration of the city’s Southside area. The new library building is surrounded by transformed streets, with extensive pedestrianisation, planting and seating offering pleasant places to walk, cycle and relax.
Similar work is also planned for Collin Street alongside the new library to become fully pedestrianised, with a new plaza planned to link through the demolished section of the former shopping centre to Lister Gate and the city centre beyond. A masterplan is in place outlining a vision for the Broad Marsh site, including green space, an enhanced entrance to the City of Caves attraction and a mixture of housing, retail and leisure uses.
Providing a new Central Library was considered as part of a Libraries Needs Assessment looking at the whole of the library service, which identified it would play an important role in delivering part of the city’s overall offer – a view supported by feedback in the public consultation. Many residents used the Central Library as well as their own local library and valued the special function it plays in supporting the whole service.
Artist’s impression of the new Central Library reception area
City Council leader, Councillor David Mellen, said: “I’m really pleased that this key development in the regeneration of the city’s Southside can now go ahead. We have been committed to providing a new Central Library that meets modern needs and expectations, and while for a number of reasons it has taken a little longer to get to this stage, it’s exciting that work can get underway in a couple of months.
“This will be a bright, state-of-the-art facility with a fantastic children’s library and some great features such as an immersive story telling room using the latest audio visual technology to help bring books alive.
“A new library like this will help to attract people to an area where we are making excellent progress with regeneration work. Previously traffic-choked streets are becoming pleasant pedestrian-friendly areas to relax and linger, and the library with its café and other great amenities will play a key role in bringing people into the city.”
General view of the building which will house the new Central Library
ilke Homes has craned into place the first factory-built home on a site in Beeston which was formerly owned by Network Rail.
In 20 months, ilke Homes has secured the site and achieved full planning permission.
The speed at which the modular housing company has been able to achieve these milestones was one of the main reasons why it was chosen to deliver on the 2.2-acre site by Network Rail.
In partnership with emh group, a housing association, ilke Homes is delivering 42 affordable homes on the vacant brownfield site next to Beeston station.
ilke Homes contracted with Network Rail, the owners and infrastructure manager of the railway network in the UK, in July 2020.
ilke Homes is acting as a full ‘turnkey’ developer as part of the deal. This means emh group purchased a complete development sourced and delivered by ilke Homes.
All of the homes are being precision-engineered along production lines at ilke Homes’ 250,000 sq ft factory in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.
Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, says: “It’s great to reach yet another milestone at the site in Beeston, where we have worked closely with Network Rail and emh group to bring forward a parcel of brownfield land for the development of much-needed housing.
“This development, once complete, will prove to be an exemplary case study of how offsite manufacturing can breathe new life into public land via the delivery of well-designed communities that are connected to transport hubs.”
Robin Dobson, group property director at Network Rail, says: “As one of the most strategically important sites in the UK, we are proud to have created a partnership with ilke Homes on the redevelopment of this brownfield site, to enable the delivery of affordable-led modular sustainable housing in this growing region, putting transport infrastructure at the very heart of the development.
“This is a partnership that focuses on the Government’s strategy to accelerate the rollout of modular sustainable housing to drive local economic growth.
“It’s a project that demonstrates the pivotal role our railway can play in unlocking sites which deliver growth. We’re delivering it through a public and private partnership, an approach we’ll be looking to replicate in other towns and cities across the country. It will provide long-lasting benefits for the local community and the region.”
Chris Jones, executive director of development at emh group, said: “We are delighted that our partnership with ilke Homes enables us to regenerate this brownfield site to deliver much needed, high quality modern homes for local communities. This is part of our wider plan as a strategic partner of Homes England, to create places where people feel proud to live, and thrive.”
The furlough scheme brought in by the Government during the COVID-19 pandemic did not just save millions of people from unemployment and economic hardship, but may have had a lasting effect on the ways in which their employers allow them to work in the future, according to a new report.
Introduced in March 2020, and further modified in July that year to allow for a part-time furlough option, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) enabled organisations to reclaim up to 80% of the wage costs of employees who could not work during the pandemic.
Successful in avoiding mass redundancies during a time of crisis, the scheme may also have ongoing benefits, according to the first wave of a survey conducted by Cranfield School of Management and CBI Economics which found increased employer openness to and knowledge of how to facilitate part-time working.
A ‘fundamental’ change in perceptions
Data from whole-organisation representatives and line managers in 208 UK businesses was collected in February this year and showed that the flexible furlough scheme – which enabled employers to bring staff back to work on a part-time basis and for them to be furloughed the remainder of the time – has impacted employers’ perceptions around working practices, increasing openness to part-time working and other forms of flexible working as viable options for their business.
Key findings include:
Post-pandemic, 62% of line managers in the survey said they were ‘more willing’ to consider employee requests for part-time working.
Almost all (96%) said they were more flexible about where their employees worked, and 87% about how they scheduled their working hours.
Over half of the organisations surveyed expected remote and flexible working to increase in their organisation over the next two years (60% and 58% respectively). A significant proportion (46%) also expected part-time working to increase.
Almost half (45%) believed the use of flexible furlough has helped line managers learn how to design and manage part-time working more effectively.
Similarly, 46% believed line managers have learned how to better match resourcing with periods of peak demand for their business activity as a result of using the flexible furlough scheme.
Prior to the pandemic, most part-time working came about as the result of employee requests, with a proactive approach to recruiting new employees considered a secondary benefit.
Of these initial findings, the report’s authors write: “As working practices settle into a ‘new normal’, there are indications that the shock caused by the pandemic, as well as use of the furlough scheme and adoption of more flexible working during the pandemic, will have lasting consequences on working practices going forward. The survey reveals a mindset of greater adaptability, with line managers more willing to consider requests for part-time and other forms of flexible working.”
Working less than full time
Part-time working is an important feature of any labour market, offering greater choice in working arrangements for employees and widening participation in employment for those unable to work full time. It also brings benefits for employers, helping them retain existing employees and attract new ones, and cover extended operating hours and periods of peak demand.
Pre-pandemic, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows just over a quarter (26%) of UK workers worked part time, some to meet their employer’s needs, and others to allow them to better balance their work with the requirements of their life outside employment.
‘Encouraging’ findings
Anna Leach, deputy chief economist at the CBI, said: “It is clear that the CJRS has been more than just a ‘bridge to the other side’. Both the scheme and the pandemic itself have fostered, even accelerated, large shifts in the nature of work and attitudes towards it.
“We know that the future of work is a key priority for our members, who are conscious of their employees’ renewed focus on work-life balance and desire for more flexibility around the location and organisation of their work, against the backdrop of a very tight jobs market.
“These findings show that changes in working practices, and attitudes towards them, are very much underway. It is particularly encouraging to see that this shift in attitudes is associated with positive financial situations for companies, with the majority of the organisational representatives surveyed reporting that the financial wellbeing of their organisation was good or very good, and expected to remain positive over the next two years at least.”
Professor Clare Kelliher, professor of work and organisation at Cranfield School of Management, said: “The flexible element of the furlough scheme effectively marked a ‘forced experiment’ in part-time working for many employers that had little previous experience of part-time working.
“As is always the case with any enforced situation, it can be a very different story when life returns to ‘normal’, but these survey findings suggest that the practical experience of trying out part-time working has helped to overcome some of the perceived barriers for employers around its feasibility and how to implement it in practice.
“This is heartening, because there is evidence to suggest that more people would like to work part-time than currently do, as well as explore options for greater flexibility in the way in which they work.”
The future of flexible working
The report, The future of flexible working: Lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, was published as part of a broader research project being undertaken by Cranfield School of Management on behalf of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which it is hoped will inform future organisational and Government policy in this area. The project is being funded by the ESRC as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to COVID-19.
Raise the profile of your business by submitting a nomination for East Midlands Business Link’s prestigious Bricks Awards!
Celebrating the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and outstanding developments, the annual awards attract leaders from across the region and are the perfect way for businesses to promote the work they are completing and create more buzz.
Award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner.
A highlight in the calendar, winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September,at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of opportunities to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region.
Henry Brothers, winners of Commercial Development of the Year at the 2021 East Midlands Bricks Awards, reflected on the event: “Henry Brothers was absolutely thrilled to have won the Commercial Development of the Year award at the East Midlands Bricks for the delivery of the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus.
“The Henry Brothers story began in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and the company has grown to become a leading UK construction company. However, this award for Henry Brothers Midlands cements our position as a significant member of the East Midlands construction sector and we are very proud to have been recognised for our contribution.
“We enjoyed the informal atmosphere of the East Midlands Bricks Awards ceremony and hope to nominate projects next year, as we’d very much like to be part of the event in 2022.”
To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.Find out who last year’s winners were here.
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours.
The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker, as well as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking.
Dress code is standard business attire.
Midlands-based developer Cassidy Group has submitted a planning application for a mixed-use scheme at the edge of Beeston town centre that will breathe new life into a derelict site – and bring increased footfall and economic benefit to local retailers.
Built using sustainable materials, the seven-storey mixed use scheme of retail/commercial units will feature student accommodation – meeting the needs of modern student life and freeing up a huge number of Beeston and city HMO student houses for families to move into.
The 419-bed scheme in Station Road, next to The Arc Cinema and Tesco, is a few minutes’ walk from the University of Nottingham campus and is on the tram route. The scheme is situated next to new bars and restaurants such as Ottimo and the forthcoming Beeston Social.
Sam Rose, of Cassidy Group, said: “We are excited to bring this student scheme to Beeston. Not only will students love living there – so close to the amenities they enjoy, as well as their university campus – but we are bringing a derelict site back to life.
“We feel the scheme fits well with the fantastic Beeston town centre that is emerging as a busy and exciting place to be, both day and night. We know from our research that Beeston is becoming a more desirable place for families and students to live. By providing purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), we can open up HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) for families to live in.
“By creating sensitively designed student schemes with fabulous interiors like the one we are proposing for Beeston, we know we can not only create something that benefits the local area – but also an additional student environment where people really want to live.”
Cassidy says the scheme will rely heavily on local transport. It will provide limited parking – allowing only for deliveries and disabled parking – because of the variety of public transport access through bus, tram, and pedestrian routes. It is just a few minutes’ walk from Beeston Railway Station.
The scheme will provide 318 classic studios of 16 square metres, 76 classic plus studios of 16 to 20 square metres, and 25 premium/accessible studios of between 26 and 30 square metres.
“The proposed development will attract students from the University of Nottingham. To discourage students from parking on or near the site, we will be making sure that students take full advantage of all the transport services, as well as scooters and bicycles. We will also be providing travel passes for students to use the tram,” said Sam.
“Encouraging students to use Beeston’s extensive public transport network will benefit the environment, as will the scheme’s energy-efficient design, which guarantees an EPC rating of at least ‘B’-grade, if not ‘A’.”
Figures produced by the Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) show a full-time student population of 63,000 in Nottingham in 2019, up by 22.1% since 2015. Acceptances from both universities have also been rising. Since 2015 the University of Nottingham has seen an increase in yearly acceptances of 13.1% and NTU has seen an increase of 56% in the same period.
“An independent report found that 69% of direct let beds available in Nottingham are provided by HMOs, with less than one third provided by private PBSA operators. In Beeston, with no direct let PBSA available, 100% of the direct let accommodation on offer to students consists of Beeston houses split into flats,” added Sam.
“With Beeston continuing to be popular with families, we know from speaking to local estate agents that there are few places for them to move into – so our planned first PBSA will release those houses to the people who really need them.”
The research also found that annual demand growth in Nottingham for student accommodation at 4.9% could mean a shortfall of student beds in the city of at least 6,021 by 2024.
“There are currently no live PBSA developments south-west of the University of Nottingham and so this Cassidy scheme is really needed,” added Sam.
Businessman Ross Considine, who owns the nearby Ottimo, said: “I am sure I speak for a number of retailers and bar-restaurant owners when I say that I would welcome this scheme with open arms.
“We opened our third bar-restaurant in Beeston because we could see what an amazing, lively town centre it is. In our first few weeks of opening, we have had great feedback – and have also welcomed students. This scheme will further boost local shops and restaurants and of course local transport.
“Student footfall boosts local economies, and the student spend is worth tens of thousands of pounds a year for Beeston – and that must not be forgotten. We want the town to continue to be the bustling, lively and exciting place it is.”
The scheme will be going to planning committee in July and there will be public engagement sessions for the local community and local businesses in May and June. Cassidy is working on six other mixed-use schemes across Nottingham.
A 1,933 sq m purpose built builders merchant facility has completed at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane, Worksop with Travis Perkins set to open in July 2022.
Property development and investment company, CEG, managed the build of the bespoke unit, which will be leased by Travis Perkins. The development will create 20 new jobs, deliver a new supply chain facility for existing local business and bring economic benefits to the area.
Will Moss, acquisition director from Travis Perkins plc, said: “We’re really excited to have secured this new two acre site in Worksop, which will be a key branch for Travis Perkins, providing a fantastic offering for our customers. It’s scheduled to open in July and this means we’ll be able to create new jobs in the community and help support Worksop’s construction workers and tradespeople with the expert knowledge and advice that they come to expect from Travis Perkins.”
CEG is currently managing the comprehensive regeneration of the 17.75ha Vesuvius site. With planning permission for more than 200,000 sq ft of employment space, the first phase of 46,000 sq ft of multi-tenanted industrial units adjacent to Asda completed last year and is almost fully let. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service also acquired land at the site and has built a new fire station.
Subsequent phases will also offer larger employment units including speculative as well as pre-let, design and build development for office, light industry, storage and distribution requirements.
Will Martin, strategic land lead at CEG, said: “We welcome Travis Perkins to this thriving business community. This brownfield regeneration has proved a success with many companies thriving on the site. It has been the largest speculative development of this scale and quality in Worksop for many years and we continue to see strong interest in the space from well-known national trade and industrial occupiers alongside smaller, local businesses.”
In 2018, supported by D2N2, CEG delivered a £5.5million package of works to create a new roundabout and access road opening up the site and remediating it for redevelopment. This makes the site easily accessible to the A60, A57, Worksop and its surrounds.
D2N2 LEP interim CEO, Will Morlidge, said: “It’s great to see that the new Travis Perkins branch has been completed and will soon be open to benefit the local community. The Vesuvius site represents an exciting landmark development for Worksop and the wider area, and we’re very proud to have supported it. The success of the site demonstrates the resurgent appetite for investment across north Nottinghamshire, supporting our collective ambitions to rebuild and grow our economy.”
Chris Proctor & Anthony Barrowcliffe from FHP and Ben Flint from Fisher German are marketing the site. Chris Proctor said: “It is fantastic news to have attracted the big name of Travis Perkins to Vesuvius. This strong brand complements an already strong line up of names at this Worksop business destination.
“We have just four industrial / trade units remaining on this first phase of the development offering from 3,750 sq ft up to 5,100 sq ft. This presents an excellent opportunity for both local and national occupiers. There are also land opportunities for units up to 200,000 sq ft. We would be delighted to talk with any businesses considering a move to Vesuvius, Worksop.”
Construction deals worth more than £32m have been signed in the Midlands after a trio of contractors were selected on behalf of Elevate Property Group.
The independent developer, led by property entrepreneur Steve Dodd, has selected Kings Heath-based Kavanagh Construction to start work on the transformation of Imperial House in Solihull next month.
It marks the start of construction on the final phase of Princes Gate project, with the development of ‘Imperial House’ comprising 60 luxury apartments on the site of a former multi-storey car park in the town.
Also due to start in June is a multi-million pound scheme for a mixed-use retail and residential development on the riverside Muller Yard location in Nottingham, an extension to the Trent Bridge Quays scheme.
Construction of 44 apartments and 14 town houses, along with 5,000 sq ft of commercial space, will be delivered by Leicester-based Bode Contracting.
The final appointment will see Telford-based Bespoke Construction Services Ltd take on a landmark project to bring an historic site in Birmingham’s Gun Quarter back to life.
Gunsmith House, in Price Street, will be restored as part of the overall development that will deliver 85 new homes to the area.
Steve Dodd, of Elevate Property Group, said all three contractor appointments reflected the company’s commitment to working with regional partners on developments which revitalise communities. The build cost for the three projects is in excess of £32 million.
James Costello, Elevate’s development director, added: “We’re proud to be leading the way in the redevelopment of several sites across the Midlands, including investing in high-profile locations in Birmingham, supporting the UK’s heartland to recover post-pandemic.
“We want to partner with contractors who share our values and our vision for delivering exceptional projects of outstanding quality. The appointment of Kavanagh Construction, Bespoke Construction Services and Bode Contracting reflects this commitment and will give confidence to investors, buyers and ultimately the communities where our developments come to life.”
Aiden O’Gara, of Kavanagh Construction, said: “We’re currently working with Elevate on its prestigious Heaton House development in Birmingham, so we are delighted to be continuing this working partnership with a new contract to develop Imperial House at Princes Gate.”
Bode Contracting, which is currently delivering Elevate’s Priory House development, will develop the Muller Yard phase of the Nottingham Trent Bridge scheme, due for completion Q3/Q4 2023. Dan Bodell said: “We have a great working relationship with Elevate and are looking forward to this continuing with the delivery of the upcoming Muller Yard scheme.”
Arran Summerfield, of Bespoke Construction, said: “It’s fantastic to be involved in delivering this landmark project for Elevate in the heart of Birmingham’s gun-making industry. The project is expected to be completed in late 2023.”
Funding for all these developments has been provided by Paragon and Pluto Development Finance.
Leicestershire-based specialist land development and property consultancy, Mather Jamie has announced that one of its founding directors, Martin Ward, has relinquished his position on its management board.
Martin was one of the founders of the company in 1991, and has sold his remaining shares to fellow directors Rob Cole and Andrew Bamber over recent years. Since then, he has relinquished responsibility for business operations but continued managing an extensive and long standing client portfolio. He will remain a director of the company and the Mather Jamie management board now comprises Robert Cole, Andrew Bamber, Alex Reid and Gary Owens.
Whilst Martin has stepped down from his managerial responsibilities, he will continue to focus on the completion of a number of deals that are in the pipeline for his long standing clients, including his work on the sustainable urban extension at New Lubbesthorpe on behalf of the Drummond Trust, and advising the Harpur Crewe Estate on short and medium term residential and commercial development south of Derby, including Infinity Park and Infinity Park Garden Village.
In February 2021, Mather Jamie announced four new senior promotions when Gary Owens and Amy Biddell were promoted to director, Gary Kirk to senior associate director and Hamish Byers to associate director, and Martin will also work alongside the management team to ensure a smooth succession of responsibilities.
Martin said: “Whilst I may no longer be the first person in and the last person to leave the office, I will continue to work for clients and enjoy passing on my knowledge and expertise to the next generation. I plan to work hybridly and will flex my hours to suit the needs of clients and my other personal interests and hobbies. Rest assured, my retirement is still very far away as I am just far too busy and committed to my clients.”
Cartwright Communications and Tank – both based in the city’s Lace Market – are once again the highest ranking agencies in the East Midlands as part of the PR Week Top 150, a national league table of thousands of PR agencies across the UK. Tank was ranked 167th overall, with Cartwright Communications at 178. Cartwright Communications – led by former journalist Liz Cartwright alongside directors Rose Hayes and Annie Brafield – was named the 34th B2B agency in the country and 85th on the national consumer list. Meanwhile, Tank – headed up by Trevor Palmer and co-owners Martin Stone and Max Bevis – ranked as the 32nd agency outside of London, as well as being named as 51st for its credentials in the technology sector.The pair are consistent features on the list, which is compiled annually from the roughly 5,000 agencies practicing PR in the UK.Rose Hayes, director at Cartwright Communications, said: “After two years of an unpredictable market, it’s great to be recognised for our team’s fantastic work and the business’ continued growth. To be ranked in the top 100 for both B2B and B2C is a huge achievement and one that not many agencies in the region can lay claim to. “While the Top 150 recognises financial achievements and growth, our business plan has very much focussed on workplace culture. We’re equally proud of recently gaining our Great Place to Work accreditation as well as being a finalist in the upcoming Inspiring Workplace Awards which mean we’re a fantastic place to work as well as being a top agency to work with.” Commenting on the rankings, Martin Stone, director at Tank, said: “Being named as the top performing East Midlands agency in the overall Top 150 listing for a second year is testament to the strong team that we’ve built at Tank and the culmination of a real group effort.“2021 was not so much about client acquisition but more about taking the lessons learnt during the pandemic and realigning for growth, while also focusing on what makes Tank what it is – our people. This approach resulted in our best performing year to date, marking a solid 12-years of growth.”
Fortec Distribution Network has invested heavily in its Northamptonshire hub to improve efficiency and capacity.
The company has invested £250,000 in a new fleet of 36 forklift trucks from Still, while an additional £180,000 has been spent on upgrading the roof of its 210,000 sq ft warehouse.
The state-of-the-art RX70 LPG forklifts will enable its warehouse team to load and unload more quickly, ensuring a better service for Fortec pallet network members and customers.
Safety was paramount in the choice of forklift truck, with the RX70 LPG delivering excellent all-round visibility alongside its high performance.
The roof upgrade, which is currently being installed, is designed to provide additional visibility through the use of skylights.
Kevin Buchanan, Pall-Ex Group CEO, comments: “This is a significant investment that has provided the operations team with more reliable kit, ensuring quicker turnarounds and an all-round better service from the central hub.
“The Still RX70 LPG is the best in class for the industry and benefits from state-of-the-art technology, a spacious driver’s cab, lateral battery change programmable drive and hydraulic performance, while complying with Euro V emission standard regulations.
“We have replaced the previous fleet and increased it, enabling us to improve handling within the hub and reduce waiting times for our members.
“The addition of the new roof will vastly improve the warehouse environment and provide the right setting to support our ambitious growth plans.
“Since acquiring the business, Pall-Ex Group has invested in all areas of the network to ensure Fortec is operating to the same standard as Pall-Ex and to position it as best in class among the pallet networks.”
Full service digital marketing agency, Purpose Media has further expanded its team following the appointment of Jodie Pringle as a content and marketing executive and Joshua Ware as a digital support technician apprentice.
Jodie was previously a freelance SEO and content writer, having gained experience working for the NHS where she held several roles. She has experience of writing content for travel, mental health, lifestyle companies and small brands and will be working with Purpose Media clients to help create marketing strategies that build brand identity and online presence.
Her role will include creating multimedia content online for social media, website blog articles and other online content to maximise the effectiveness of organic search results (SEO) and paid advertising campaigns (PPC). In her spare time Jodie is also a book blogger and fiction writer.
Commenting on her new role Jodie said: “When searching for my next career move, I was looking to work for a forward-thinking company in a supportive environment where I could develop further. Working at Purpose Media will enable me to expand my experience and widen my skills and knowledge of other sectors and business topics.”
Continuing its support for young people, Joshua joins Purpose Media on a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship provided by EMA Training. His ultimate goal is to support the website development team where he will learn to build new websites and implement ongoing improvements. Joshua plays the piano and also enjoys gaming and IT.
Oracle Cloud and Database technology specialist DSP-Explorer has completed its 5th acquisition, the purchase of UK-based Oracle Applications Partner Claremont, materially extending its services capabilities.
With offices in London, Nottingham and Leeds, DSP-Explorer is an enterprise database infrastructure and managed services specialist that has established a reputation as a trusted partner for companies that want to invest in Oracle, Microsoft, and indeed multi-cloud technologies.
Following funding and investment from YFM Equity Partners in 2018 and 2021, DSP has grown revenues from an initial £5m to an expected group out-turn of £30m in 2022.
Simon Goodenough, CEO of DSP Group, said: “DSP and Claremont already have several clients-in-common, so when the opportunity arose for us to work together as a combined business I was hugely excited.
“We share similar cultural values, especially those of responsiveness and customer success, and both want our businesses to be great places to work for our employees. Where DSP has traditionally been known for its strength in core database and cloud infrastructure, they have been successful in building a first-class Oracle application management business.
“In an industry where both skills and experience are in high demand, this merger allows us to offer a wider variety of complementary services to our customers, whether they are on a journey to the cloud or in the cloud, and whether that have on-premise application workloads, or hybrid models.”
Founded in 2004 and with offices in Guildford and Newcastle, Claremont is an Oracle Managed Services Provider. They are best known in the marketplace for the provision of Oracle E-Business managed services, their infrastructure cloud offering Claremont CloudTM, and the delivery of business-critical Oracle E-Business migration and upgrade projects.
Mark Vivian, CEO of Claremont, who joins the board of the DSP Group, said: “As a provider of complementary services in the Oracle marketplace, DSP-Explorer is a known quantity to Claremont, and a well-respected Oracle partner.
“I am very excited about the fusion of the Claremont and DSP businesses, combining our applications and technology strengths together with a comprehensive multi-cloud services portfolio.
“The breadth of our combined service offering, along with our shared delivery excellence ethos, will enable us to deliver an even more compelling proposition to customers. I’m looking forward to working with Simon and the team.
“I think that this corporate union presents a really invigorating opportunity for the Claremont team as we join forces with our new DSP colleagues to help to shape and grow the combined business going forwards.”
Simon Goodenough added: “Whilst this acquisition hugely broadens our Oracle portfolio, and takes our client base to well over 500, it also gives us greater opportunities to increase our share of the other fast-growing markets that we address through our Any Database | Any Cloud proposition, both here in the UK and globally.
“I already know a number of the Claremont team and it’s going to be a real privilege to start working with them, and indeed learning from them, as we look to grow our mutual business.”
Topps Tiles, the Leicester-based tile specialist, has reported record first half turnover.
According to unaudited consolidated interim financial results for the 26 weeks ended 2 April 2022, turnover reached £119 million, compared to £103 million in H1 2021.
Meanwhile the company recorded a pre-tax profit of £5.6 million, up from £4 million.
Topps noted that like-for-like sales are up 22.7% on a two-year basis in the first half, and up 19.7% on a one-year basis.
Rob Parker, Chief Executive, said: “The group has delivered record first half revenues against a backdrop of continued robust demand for home improvements. While supply chain and inflation headwinds strengthened in the period, we are managing these challenges effectively overall and believe we remain well positioned relative to many of our competitors.
“We have continued to develop the Topps Tiles brand, enhancing our store portfolio and introducing a number of new developments to our award-winning website to further strengthen our omni-channel capability.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Tile Warehouse, a new online-only brand which brings everyday low prices to homeowners. This builds on the acquisition of Pro Tiler Ltd in March and forms the basis for a new, high growth, online-only sales channel, leveraging our core strengths in product, service and scale.
“Looking ahead, we are mindful of the growing burden on consumers from inflation and rising interest rates as well as ongoing supply chain challenges, however, we remain confident in our strategy and medium term growth prospects.”
FHP Property Consultants have sold a self-contained office building on Pride Park, Derby, which it says shows “there is still great demand to purchase good quality well let buildings.”
1 Pride Point Drive is let to two tenants occupying a total space of 557m2 (5,995ft2). The building produces an income of £75,750 per annum and has been sold to private investment clients for £855,000, reflecting a net initial yield of approximately 8.42% net of costs.
Darran Severn of FHP Property Consultants said: “The office market has been particularly active in recent months and this is one of several office buildings we have sold on Pride Park.
“There is good demand to purchase both vacant and occupied buildings. As availability decreases I see capital values beginning to rise.”
Belvoir Group, the property franchise and financial services group with its central office in Grantham, has acquired The TIME Group Limited (TIME) for an initial cash consideration of £3,673,000.
TIME, which trades as the Mortgage Advice Bureau, is an appointed representative firm of Mortgage Advice Bureau, the wholly owned subsidiary of AIM-listed Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) plc (MAB), one of the UK’s leading networks for mortgage intermediaries.
TIME provides mortgage and related financial services to clients through its network of 64 advisers, all but two of which are either self-employed or small businesses operating on a self-employed basis licensed to TIME with MAB providing training, support, compliance, website and national marketing via the wider MAB brand.
The TIME adviser network extends across the north of England and the Midlands.
For the year ended 31 July 2021, based on unaudited financial statements, TIME generated revenue of £4,182,000 and adjusted profit before tax of £630,000. Within the past three years, the number of mortgage advisers within the TIME network has grown from 46 to 64.
Dorian Gonsalves, Chief Executive Officer, Belvoir, said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of TIME, whose network of 64 mortgage advisers will entirely complement our existing financial services network, both in terms of the management infrastructure and geography, creating a total of 307 advisers operating under the Belvoir Group.
“The acquisition of TIME will extend our network of financial advisers to support both our franchisees at a local level, as well as servicing leads from independent agents. This will in turn achieve greater penetration of financial services to the group’s client base for the benefit of both individual franchisees and the group as a whole.
“We would like to extend a warm welcome to the team at TIME to the Belvoir Group.”
Research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), of more than 1,100 UK employers, has uncovered a series of negative impacts from the increase in National Insurance contributions.
Firms said the rise in employer contributions to National Insurance (NI) from 13.8% to 15.05% had increased staffing costs, forced some to put up their prices, and meant they would be limiting their investment.
As part of its call for an Emergency Budget, the BCC is calling for the rise to be immediately reversed for at least a year, as firms battle surging costs on multiple fronts.
The BCC is calling for action to give businesses a chance to keep a lid on rising prices, boost productivity and ease cost pressures.
Hannah Essex, co-executive director of the BCC, said: “Businesses are telling us that the rise in National Insurance contributions has been a body blow as they try to get back on their feet.
“When firms are already facing a toxic mix of surging inflation, rising energy costs and supply chain disruption, this increase is very hard to swallow.
“The tight labour market is already pushing up staff costs and the NI rise has only served to exacerbate that pressure, without having a positive impact on recruitment.
“With firms’ profits also taking a further hit, after two years of the pandemic, it is no surprise that their investment intentions are also weakening.
“But it is not too late to change tack and push the increase back until firms are in a better place to take on the extra burden.
“The costs crises facing firms and people in the street are two sides of the same coin. If we can ease the pressure on businesses, then they can keep a lid on the price rises.
“Acting now will also put businesses in a better position to create the future profits needed to fill tax coffers.”
The other two Emergency Budget proposals include:
• Help firms manage the impact of rising energy prices by cutting VAT on their energy bills from 20% to 5% for a minimum of one year.
• Address labour shortages by reinstating free Covid tests for companies to ease the strain on productivity caused by persistent high absences.
If you haven’t made your entries for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 yet, now is the perfect time to do so! Here we go through each category’s criteria – which can also be found with nomination forms here.
Winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony and networking event on Thursday 15 September at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, in the Derek Randall Suite. The evening, which will run from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, will also feature John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker.
Tickets can be booked here – secure your place now to avoid disappointment.
Most active estate agents of the year
Sponsored by: Blueprint Interiors
The winner of this category will be the estate agents who has had the biggest impact on the commercial property sector over the last 12 months, whether that be in deals done, quality of any given deal, or excellent customer service.
Developer of the year
Sponsored by: Ward
The winner of this category will be the developer that has truly pushed the limit over the last 12 months. Their scheme(s) will have shown to not only be a success, but that there was true demand for them. The winning developer will have displayed courage in a tough market to deliver award winning results. There is no size limit, but schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.
Architects of the year
Sponsored by: OMS
The winner of this award will be the architects who have had the greatest impact on the region, be it in a single development or a series of them. Originality, the ability to rise to a challenge or initiative shown in accomplishing a difficult brief, this award celebrates our architects. Schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.
Contractor of the year
Sponsored by: RammSanderson
Celebrating the contractors who work on the project, this award celebrates builders, construction companies and the contractors themselves, and nominees should be those who have gone above and beyond the word of the contract to deliver a truly exceptional service. Contracts must have been within the last 12 months.
Deal of the year
Sponsored by: Blythin & Brown Insurance Brokers
The winner of this category will be the deal that has truly pushed the boundaries over the last 12 months – from jobs created to complexity, size and scale. However, that’s not to say the biggest deal will automatically win; the deal which has had most impact in the East Midlands is what we’re looking for. The winning deal will have displayed courage in a tough market to deliver a great outcome for all concerned. Deal must have been completed over the last 12 months.
Commercial development of the year
Sponsored by: Frank Key
The winner of this category will be the commercial development that has gone above and beyond in fulfilling the criteria of the build, in terms of design and construction. This can include special requirements, features or elements that make the commercial development stand out from the crowd.
Residential development of the year
Sponsored by: Sterling Commercial Finance
The winner of this category will be the scheme that has displayed a true commitment to providing much-needed housing in the East Midlands. There is no size limit, but schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.
Sustainable development of the year
Sponsored by: Viridis Building Services
The winner of this category will be the scheme that has displayed a true commitment to sustainable development in the East Midlands, whether this be in an environmental development, social enterprise or a scheme which will benefit the region in other ways, so long as it benefits the future generation. Schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.
Excellence in design
The winner of this category will be the developer who has shown true originality in design excellence across a scheme or schemes over the last 12 months, whether this be aesthetically, functionally or in any other manner.
Responsible business of the year
Sponsored by: Press for Attention PR
The winner of this award will have demonstrated corporate responsibility in their field, working in harmony and for the betterment of the local community in which it operates and setting a shining example for the rest of the supply chain.
Overall winner
Sponsored by: Streets Chartered Accountants
This award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated.
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.Submitting a nomination couldn’t be easier – simply clickhere and click on a category’s heading to access its form.
Boston College has opened its new Digital, Transport and Logistics Academy which will lead the way in delivering skills training for Lincolnshire’s logistics and transportation industry.
The new academy, which was opened by John Anderson, the third Viscount Waverley, will offer training courses with a focus on digital innovation and technologies for the future, as well as being relevant to the employment opportunities available within the sector.
“I am honoured to be associated with a new wing at Boston College dedicated to investing in people and skills for freight and logistics,” he said. “The college has rightly recognised the importance of the industry and is to be commended for running with educational delivery feeding into the wider government initiatives.
“These are exciting days and I congratulate Boston College for identifying that freight and logistics are fundamental in playing their part for the United Kingdom to manoeuvre through the challenges before us, establishing Boston College as a centre of excellence for learning in what is a key sector.”
The Digital, Technology and Logistics Academy was funded by a £2.45 million grant from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, while the college paid the remaining £1.05 million. An additional £182,976 of funding from Boston Borough Council was used to purchase industry-standard equipment as part of the Towns Fund.
The Viscount Waverley, along with other special guests including Matt Warman MP, and Ruth Carver, Chief Executive of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, were taken on a guided tour of the building and had the opportunity to observe learners who are currently using the new facilities and equipment.
This includes a transport workshop, a network and hardware computer room holding industry standard equipment, a driving simulator, HGV and electric/hybrid training rigs, and digital software ranging from basic IT skills all the way to modern smart technology to equip local employers for Industry 4.0.
Pat Doody, chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “The UK’s transport and logistics activities employ over 2.2 million people, and this new centre will help support local, national and international supply chains across the sector and generate career progression in the highly skilled digital economy.
“With our £2.4m skills capital grant contribution, the LEP is proud to have enabled the development of this amazing facility in Boston, which will provide much needed industry standard training and a progressive skills pathway from Level 1 to Level 5.”
Boston College principal and Chief Executive, Claire Foster, added: “We are delighted that our Digital Transport and Logistics Academy is finally officially open. The world-class learning environment and equipment are a significant investment supported by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, providing critical technical and professional skills needed by our employers and our economy.
“Our learners at Boston College are already thriving in this new statement space and we look forward to delivering our new International Logistics courses in the DTLA from September.”
Nottingham-based robotic process automation specialist (RPA), The Robot Exchange, is celebrating after more than doubling its business in the last 12 months.
More than 80% of the client projects are based on RPA or Software As A Service (SaaS) platforms.
The result of the wins is an increase in revenue of 81% year on year and a doubling of the number of employees at the RPA specialist, as customers seek greater efficiencies in their processes and seek to reduce wastage of resource and time.
Alongside major work for Coca Cola HBC, the most recent wins have been in the financial services sector, with Aryza and Mansfield Building Society joining the likes of Oakbrook Financial and Primis Mortgage Network in the portfolio.
Andy Wallace, CEO at The Robot Exchange, said: “What we are seeing, especially as the challenges in recruitment continue across the globe, not just here in the UK, is a keen focus on finding the best resource solution. A lot of the time, the simple processes would be far more efficiently performed by RPA, freeing up skilled employees to deal with more complex areas of the business.
“This is especially the case in financial services where we can identify bottlenecks in the system that are resolved by RPA and which can then be handled far more smoothly by qualified personnel who add their value to the customer with advice, not with number crunching and processes.
“We are growing strongly but sustainably and that has been powered by the backing we received with investment from the Midlands Engine Business Fund. Our client book has a total annual revenue of £100 billion between them but whatever size they may be, there is always room for improvement and optimisation of resources – that is where we come in.”
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