Midlands Investment Portfolio has potential to drive billions in inward investment

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Midlands Investment Portfolio has potential to drive billions in inward investment

The Midlands Engine partnership is today (18 May 2022) launching the Midlands Investment Portfolio – a ‘digital front door’ opening up investment opportunities across the region.

Taken together, it is estimated these opportunities could support or create a staggering 220,000 jobs and deliver more than £33bn in Gross Development Value.

The Midlands Investment Portfolio showcases investment opportunities across Midlands core sector strengths including: Health and Life Sciences, Energy, Transport Technology, Cyber and Data, Materials and Products, and Agri-food. Within this, opportunities are available in the Industry, Infrastructure, Retail and Commercial, Research and Development, Residential and Education spaces.

The Portfolio has been developed in collaboration with Midlands Engine partners, including the region’s local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, and leading promotion and investment agencies – to present the most complete picture currently available of Midlands priority investment propositions.

Working with Midlands champions in geographies across the world, the Portfolio now becomes a vital asset for their continued advocacy and support for the economic growth and future prosperity of the region.

The Portfolio forms the keystone of Midlands Engine’s involvement at the UK Real Estate Infrastructure Investment Forum (UKREiiF). Throughout the Forum, the Midlands Engine partnership will showcase the region’s strengths in support of the urgent need to level up and drive economic growth and prosperity.

Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands Engine, said: “The Midlands offering to the world has always been prodigious – from our heritage as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, to the cutting-edge technologies that are being developed right now in sectors as diverse as health and life sciences, digital and clean energy.

“The Midlands Investment Portfolio showcases the exceptional breadth of our region’s investment potential in one place – a comprehensive resource to pinpoint the primary investment opportunities our wonderful region has to offer.

“As Midlands Engine partners continue our work, together, to accelerate growth and prosperity in our region, the Portfolio will be a vital tool in our collaborative efforts to drive inward investment.”

Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone said: “The Midlands Investment Portfolio provides a world-leading resource to maximise investment into the region which will support jobs, boost the local economy and level up the UK.

“This government is committed to supporting the Midlands Engine through trade and investment, thanks to my department’s support and ambition in signing Free-Trade Agreements that will benefit every region of the UK.”

Minister for Levelling Up, Neil O’Brien MP said: “The Midlands is home to a hotbed of talent across a range of important sectors. With this investment portfolio, the Midlands Engine have done a great job of showcasing the very best investment opportunities across the region.

“The Government is working to ensure the Midlands Engine continues to fire on all cylinders as we deliver our mission of levelling up every corner of the country.”

£50m data innovation hub for manufacturers to accelerate digital tech

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£50m data innovation hub for manufacturers to accelerate digital tech
UK manufacturers are to have their productivity and competitiveness boosted thanks to a new data innovation hub and testbed led by Ulster University, Industry Minister Lee Rowley announced today (Wednesday 18 May). The £50 million Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH) will support small and medium size manufacturers to capture and better utilise their data, helping them increase productivity, growth and sustainability. Businesses in sectors spanning from food and drink, aerospace and many more will be supported to develop, test and adopt the latest data-driven technologies. Nearly 10,000 manufacturers are expected to benefit from the hub and 13,000 jobs will be supported, helping to boost economic growth and level-up regions across the UK. The hub will be supported by £20 million from the UK government backed Made Smarter Innovation Programme, along with £30 million of business co-investment. UK Industry Minister Lee Rowley said: “As we embrace the digital manufacturing revolution, it is vital manufacturers across the UK can capitalise on the productivity and growth gains that come with adopting the latest data-led digital technologies. “The Smart Manufacturing Data Hub, backed by £20 million of government funds, will support companies to implement cutting edge production and process techniques themselves, helping bring the next generation of products to our shelves in a more efficient and sustainable way.” The hub will host an online Manufacturing Data Exchange Platform that will enable companies to submit their manufacturing data and receive recommendations in return, helping to improve their products and processes. A dedicated £5 million fund will then provide companies with grants to make further improvements in areas of critical importance to their business. Virtual manufacturing testbeds will allow companies to create a “digital twin” to simulate the implementation of digital technology on their own processes, harnessing data from other manufacturers that have already adopted the technologies to encourage investment. The SMDH will also provide manufacturers with expert analysis of their emissions and energy data from support staff specialising in data analytics and engineering, which will help them target reductions in waste, energy use and ultimately improve sustainability. The SMDH will first be accessible by small and medium size manufacturers in Northern Ireland in the coming months, before going live for companies across the rest of the UK. The programme will be supported across the rest of the UK by 12 delivery partners, including the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership. The funding comes as part of the £300 million Made Smarter Innovation Challenge, a collaboration between UK Government and industry designed to support the development and increased use of new and existing industrial digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and virtual reality. The challenge aims to deliver a resilient, flexible, more productive and environmentally sustainable UK manufacturing sector. It will also develop new technologies that can be exploited commercially across the manufacturing industry, worldwide.

Trio of new partners in East Midlands for Howes Percival

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Trio of new partners in East Midlands for Howes Percival
Law firm, Howes Percival has announced five senior promotions in the East Midlands, including a trio of new partners, Katherine Cereghino, Hannah Pryce, and Alexandra Kirkwood. Neena Jakhu and Owen Franks have been made senior associates. Geraint Davies, Howes Percival’s chairman, said: “I’d like to congratulate everyone on their promotions which acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and invaluable contribution these individuals have made to Howes Percival.
Hannah Pryce
“As a firm we have a reputation for promoting from within and it is great to be able to reward people for their exceptional efforts in supporting our clients during this challenging period. “The whole team have been fantastic over the past 12 months. As a firm, we adapted well to the pandemic and that gave us a very strong base to move forward as things eased and the economy opened up. “Our people have been at the heart of that and consistently provided excellent service to our clients, which has enabled us to capitalise on the opportunities that have arisen. Investment in people, through both external appointments and nurturing our existing talent, is key to our strategy, our continued success and growth.”
Katherine Cereghino
Katherine Cereghino, in the Leicester office, advises on company disposals, acquisitions, share arrangements, company restructuring, reorganisations, and company finance documentation, as well as commercial arrangements and documentation. Katherine has considerable experience advising companies on compliance with consumer protection legislation. Hannah Pryce, in the Northampton and Milton Keynes offices, has considerable experience of providing contentious and non-contentious employment law advice to a broad range of clients. She has particular expertise in tribunal litigation, including complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Hannah is experienced in contentious senior exits and also delivers in-house training for clients. Alexandra Kirkwood, in the Northampton office, joined Howes Percival as a trainee in 2010 and her practice encompasses commercial property sales and acquisitions, residential & commercial development, landlord & tenant matters and property finance. She also regularly assists the firm’s corporate and banking teams with property support work.

New pathways needed for younger people to replace retiring workers as record-low regional unemployment rate disguises key issues

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New pathways needed for younger people to replace retiring workers as record-low regional unemployment rate disguises key issues
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate remains the second-lowest in the country after falling for the fifth consecutive month. It was 2.7% for the period between January and March 2022 – a full percentage point below the national average, which was the lowest since 1974, and only higher than Northern Ireland (2.3%), according to the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) regional labour market figures. However, the region’s economic inactivity rate – which measures the proportion of 16 to 64-year-olds who have exited the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – continues to climb to 21.9%, up by 0.8 percentage points from a year earlier and above the 21.4% national average. Despite the low unemployment rate, the ONS said the number of people in jobs was still below pre-COVID levels, while regular pay fell by 1.2% when adjusted for the impact of inflation, which hit a 30-year high at 7% in March. East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “At first glance, the unemployment rate falling for the fifth month in succession to hit yet another record low is hugely positive for the region’s labour force. It is largely testament to the success of our businesses in steering a strong rebound for our local economy as they got back to what they do best once COVID-19 restrictions were repealed. “However, these figures disguise a historic hiring crunch facing many of our companies. The Chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey showed that while 63% of East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first quarter of 2022, four in five (80%) of this cohort encountered problems with filling vacancies. “In an increasingly tight labour market, competition for skills is ramping up wage costs, leaving many firms unable to recruit the people they need given the other increasing overheads they face, such as energy and raw materials. “Recent increases in economic inactivity have been driven by those aged 50 to 64 leaving the workforce, according to the ONS, so it’s clear we need to find pathways to get younger people into industries including manufacturing, construction and engineering, which are among those struggling the most in recruitment. “With the economic recovery now on a knife-edge – as illustrated by national GDP shrinking by 0.1% in March – it’s imperative the Government does more to help people access retraining opportunities for in-demand jobs. Introducing a new skills tax credit would also incentivise employers to invest in training so we can grow our next generation of skilled workers.”

Recruitment specialists celebrate 30 years with 30 acts of kindness

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Recruitment specialists celebrate 30 years with 30 acts of kindness
Recruitment specialists, Ambitions Personnel, is celebrating its 30th year of business with 30 acts of kindness. Initially planned for 2020, Coronavirus restrictions put a stop to planned festivities. Now, two year’s later, Ambitions Personnel is ready to kick off the celebrations with the launch of #30forThirty. #30forThirty is a varied calendar of 30 events scheduled throughout 2022, including fundraising for charity, staff volunteering their time, and making donations to various good causes, both locally and internationally. Managing Director, Mandy Watson, said: “1990 feels like a lifetime ago, but it also feels like yesterday. It’s humbling to look back to those early years and see how far we’ve come as a business. “For our 30th anniversary, we wanted to give back to some regional and national and international charitable organisations, such as Children with Cancer UK, the Royal British Legion, and more. #30forThirty is our way to celebrate a fantastic 30 (+2) years in Lincolnshire and the East, all while supporting the work of some wonderful charities.” Director Claire Bishop said: “After matching thousands of candidates with fantastic opportunities, it’s hard to believe we’ve been here for 30 years! We were brainstorming how to celebrate our 30th anniversary all the way back in 2019, so #30forThirty has been a long time coming. We can’t wait to celebrate after two years of waiting!” The first of the scheduled events is the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge to raise money for Children with Cancer UK. A number of staff from Ambitions Personnel will be taking part in the challenge on the 11th of June. You can support the team on their Just Giving page. The final challenge will be the National Three Peaks, with the team aiming to scale Mount Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in England and Ben Nevis in Scotland, all within 24 hours. With so many challenges to do throughout the year, Ambitions Personnel will be announcing more of their charitable initiatives in the coming months.

Kyla Bellingall appointed as head of BDO in the Midlands

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Kyla Bellingall appointed as head of BDO in the Midlands
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has announced a new regional managing partner for the Midlands. Audit partner Kyla Bellingall takes over the role from 1 July 2022 and will oversee the 450-strong audit, tax and advisory team across the region. Joining the firm six years ago, Kyla initially focussed on building a portfolio of large complex charity, university, and housing clients. In 2020 she took over the leadership of BDO’s Midlands audit practice and has driven transformation of the group as well as double digit growth in revenue and headcount. The now 150 strong team of audit professionals lead the AIM market in the Midlands and focus heavily on the entrepreneurial mid-market and listed businesses. BDO, which has offices in Birmingham and Nottingham, has experienced strong growth in the Midlands, increasing headcount in the region by 20% over the past 12 months. A key part of this expansion has been developing specialist teams within the region with the skills, attributes and experience to help clients succeed. In her new role, Kyla will be responsible for spearheading the future strategy and vision for the region with support from 28 partners based in the Midlands, as well as BDO’s wider business. The firm is continuing its investment in people locally, having welcomed 35 new trainees in 2021. Another 50 trainees are set to join in September and over 140 employees have been promoted in the last 12 months, including 40 at the start of this month. Kyla succeeds Richard Rose, who will continue in his role as a Midlands tax partner. Commenting on the news, Kyla said: “As a firm we’ve experienced strong growth against in a period of significant change over the past two years. I’m proud to be leading a team of multi-discipline specialists who have the agility and breadth of skills to truly meet our client’s needs from the Midlands. “What sets BDO apart is our people and culture. As well as our own talented teams, this extends to the brilliant ambitious and entrepreneurially minded clients that we advise. I look forward to working with our people to achieve their own ambitions while helping clients navigate the ever-changing backdrop and reach their goals.” Richard Rose added: “We have a fantastic team in the region and Kyla is the perfect appointment to continue to develop this further – I wish her every success in her new role.” BDO has also appointed two partners to its national leadership team. Anna Draper, head of BDO in the South East and Kaley Crossthwaite, head of forensic and valuation services, will replace Wendy Walton and Jon Randall who both retire from their roles at the firm.

Opening ceremony marks completion of new £3.4m fire station in Worksop

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Opening ceremony marks completion of new £3.4m fire station in Worksop

Works on a new, state-of-the-art fire station for Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service have recently been completed by Midlands-based main contractor, G F Tomlinson.

Located at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, the new facility has replaced the former fire station which was built in 1963 and located at Eastgate. 

A ceremony to mark the official opening of the new station took place on Monday 16 May – it was formally opened by representatives from Nottinghamshire County Council including Councillor Michael Payne, chair of the fire authority, and Councillor Sybil Fielding, fire authority member and councillor for Worksop West.

Plans for the scheme were submitted by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service at the beginning of last year and approved by Bassetlaw District Council. The scheme forms part of the wider Vesuvius development – a multi-million-pound redevelopment which aims to become the prime industrial and business location in Worksop, with a mix of light industrial units, food and drinks outlets and office spaces planned, the first phase of which completed last summer.

G F Tomlinson has been working closely with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s project management consultants, Turner & Townsend, on the programme of works. 

Built with the latest renewable technology, the new fire station has the capacity to self-generate up to 50% of its energy consumption. The building comprises of meeting rooms, offices, fire engine bays and a gymnasium for firefighters. An external three-storey training tower and compound store has also been built, as well as new car parking spaces and external landscaping.

Kevin Dodds, construction director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We really enjoyed attending the opening ceremony of this impressive new facility. It has been a real pleasure working collaboratively alongside Nottingham Fire & Rescue Service and their consultant team to successfully deliver this vital service for the local community.

“The fire station itself is completely state-of-the-art meaning that it is not only incredibly energy efficient, but it provides the best possible facilities for firefighters to carry out their critical work and serve the surrounding Bassetlaw community. This project represents a huge investment for the local area and we are thrilled with the final result.”

Terry Scott, head of procurement and resources at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am very proud to be a part of the opening of this state-of-the-art new fire station, which is now our “flagship” property within the Estate. We have provided a fantastic working environment for our staff to best serve the local community of Worksop and the wider Nottinghamshire County. I would like to thank the whole project team on what has been a very successful project.”

Reach Separations marks 10th birthday milestone with further expansion into Europe

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Reach Separations marks 10th birthday milestone with further expansion into Europe
Nottingham-based contract research organisation (CRO) Reach Separations has reported a significant increase in turnover in the wake of sustained demand across Europe for its chromatographic purification services. Reach Separations, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, specialises in chromatography for the analysis and purification of small molecules. When Reach Separations was founded ten years ago, its team of four people took on one small laboratory at BioCity, Nottingham. The company now occupies three large laboratories and office space at BioCity, having expanded its facilities by an additional 1600 square foot in 2020. To facilitate the rising demand for its services, Reach Separations is set to open a new facility in Strasbourg, France later this year, which will accommodate a new team of scientists supporting purification activities in mainland Europe. Reach Separations employs 20 people and has further plans for recruitment across its facilities in the UK and France this year. “Since our inception, demand for our services has rocketed,” explains Peter Ridgway, Business Development Director at Reach Separations. “Passing the 10-year milestone is an incredible achievement for us. We are entering a new, exciting phase of development for the company. Introducing large scale purification capabilities and extending our presence into mainland Europe will only enhance this growth trajectory.” Managing Director of Reach Separations Duncan Cliff, says: “Over the last decade, it has been a privilege to be able to use our expertise and technologies to support clients into early development and accelerate their programmes. As we embark on the next chapter of our growth, Reach Separations is strongly placed as the go-to chromatography provider in Europe, from early discovery to early development.” Peter adds: “Our growth wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our team of specialist scientists, many of whom joined us as graduates, or as apprentices from colleges in the East Midlands region. Nurturing and developing the next generation of scientists will continue to be a key area of focus for us going forward.” Reach Separations specialises in chromatography for the analysis and purification of small molecules. The company provides a high quality and efficient service to its clients returning purified samples and results quickly, allowing them to streamline their internal processes and accelerate their discovery programmes.

myenergi appoints Tom Callow as head of external affairs

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myenergi appoints Tom Callow as head of external affairs
myenergi, pioneer of the world’s first eco-smart EV charger, has announced the appointment of Tom Callow as head of external affairs. Joining the business from bp pulse, Callow is widely regarded as a leading voice in the electric vehicles sector. With more than fourteen years’ experience in senior level strategic and operational roles, Callow has worked with some of the world’s largest automotive and electrification brands. Most recently, he was head of insight and external affairs at bp pulse, with responsibility for both monitoring and influencing the regulatory landscape, as well as representing the business to a wide range of external industry stakeholders. Prior to this, he was head of external communications at Cox Automotive (previously Manheim UK) and helped to build the brand’s national profile as a leading provider of auto auction, defleet, remarketing and retail operations. Having started his career agency side, Callow has been involved in ground-breaking low-carbon, cleantech and electrification programmes for more than a decade. In his new role, Callow will drive myenergi’s engagement with policy and regulation, as well as leading on a wide range of public relations initiatives. Jordan Brompton, co-founder and CMO of myenergi, commented: “As a renowned EV expert, I’ve known Tom for a number of years. His reputation within automotive and electrification is simply unmatched, so we’re delighted to welcome him to the team. “Since founding myenergi in 2016, the business has continued to scale. We now employ more than 350 team members in the UK, with teams growing globally and subsidiaries now operational in Australia, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. Earlier this year, we shipped our 350,000th unit – an important milestone for our rapidly-growing global business. “Tom’s appointment demonstrates our commitment to further developing the team with some of the sector’s most ambitious and respected leaders. I’m looking forward to working in close partnership to further drive our policy and regulation engagement activity over the coming months.” Commenting on his appointment, Callow added: “Having followed the myenergi story almost from inception, I’ve greatly admired what Jordan, Lee and the rest of the team have accomplished in such a short space of time. As someone with a background in the automotive sector, I’ve been acutely aware for many years of the need to transition towards zero emission vehicles and believe that myenergi is truly leading the way. “In my new role, my goal is to ensure that myenergi is not only recognised for its fantastic zappi EV charger, but becomes absolutely synonymous with smart home energy technology more generally. Indeed, with the largest share of household emissions coming from heating, decarbonising homes is of paramount importance.”

Coffee legends unveil brand new store

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Coffee legends unveil brand new store
120-year-old family firm and coffee legends Stokes, has unveiled its new fast and fabulous dining destination – Stokes To Go! The new Stokes To Go take-away, means everyone can enjoy top quality menu options, even when they are on the move. Located next door to the Stokes iconic High Bridge café on Lincoln’s High Street, it’s the only place in Lincoln and for miles around, where you can get your hands on a genuine Cornish Pasty and lots of beautifully presented takeaway options that are making Stokes To Go an irresistible choice. Hungry locals, workers, students and visitors on the lookout for a hunger-busting breakfast, luscious lunch, veggie options, a sweet snack and of course Stokes’ famous freshly roasted coffee will not be disappointed. Stokes To Go has a modern and vibrant interior with a beautiful seating area upstairs for those who want to rest their feet while they tuck into the delicious locally sourced produce, freshly baked pastries, genuine pasties, breakfast ciabattas, fresh-cut sandwiches and even Project D doughnuts. Nick Peel, MD at Stokes Tea & Coffee, said: “We’re thrilled to launch the new Stokes To Go store. Customers have been asking us if we would take over the space next door to our High Bridge Café as it’s been empty for some time. It’s brilliant to see that the whole iconic building has now been brought back to life and everyone can enjoy it. “We were conscious that there hasn’t been a lot of choice for customers who prefer locally sourced, top-quality options for their takeaway breakfasts and lunches. So, opening Stokes To Go means customers can not only enjoy a unique menu served fast, they don’t have to compromise on quality anymore even when they are short on time.” For more information go to stokescoffee.com

Derby’s economy to be the fastest-growing in the East Midlands by end of 2023

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Derby’s economy to be the fastest-growing in the East Midlands by end of 2023
A new economic report predicts that Derby’s economy will be the fastest growing in the East Midlands by the end of 2023 – but it warns that the levelling-up agenda will stall unless more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is attracted to the region. According to Irwin Mitchell’s UK Powerhouse report, produced by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), Derby’s economy is predicted to deliver year-on-year growth of 2% by the end of 2023 with GVA standing at £7.1 billion. The economies of Nottingham and Leicester are both expected to generate 1.7% year-on-year growth by Q4 2023. Despite this increase, economic growth in cities across the Midlands is expected to be exceeded by that of Southern counterparts. The study says the South and the East of England will by the end of next year be home to eight of the top 10 fastest growing cities. Significantly, out of the 50 locations included in the study, over half of the slowest growing economies are expected to be in the North of England. Nottingham and Derby are closely matched in terms of jobs growth by the end of next year, with forecasted annual growth of 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively. This will see Derby adding 3,600 newly filled positions and Nottingham adding 5,500 new jobs. Leicester’s growth is lower at 0.7% with 3,400 more jobs. UK Powerhouse also examines the latest trends in Foreign Direct Investment into the UK. The report reveals the most recent statistics point to a general fall in the number of FDI projects into the UK with the East Midlands in 8th place. The challenge will be for the East Midlands region to spearhead a drive for a greater share of FDI and to make inroads into the dominance of the South. The report suggests that success here is the key to levelling up northern cities as it allows them to benefit from the job creation and growth that such inward investment brings with it. Bryan Bletso, partner and head of international at Irwin Mitchell, said: “This latest UK Powerhouse report makes clear that cities such as Derby, Nottingham and Leicester have huge potential, however the East Midlands’ position for FDI is cause for real concern. With a combination of business, local and central government backing, there’s no reason why it can’t attract its fair share of investment. “The time to invest in their success is now and by doing so, the corresponding economic growth and job creation will go a long way towards safeguarding future prosperity and making levelling up a reality.” Josie Dent, managing economist at Cebr and one of the report’s authors, said: “The economy is still expected to face some turbulence between now and the end of next year, notably through volatility in commodity prices, supply chain pressures, and the emerging cost-of-living crisis domestically. All of these factors are set to impact growth both at the aggregate level and, to a varying extent, within individual cities. “This report highlights that much of the fastest growth during next year will be concentrated in the South. Locations such as Milton Keyes, Cambridge and Oxford have economies which are dominated by fast-growth sectors and they have also been hot spots for overseas’ investment. If economic levelling up is to be tackled effectively, these two issues must be recognised and quickly addressed.”

Purpose Media reaches top 20 recommended UK marketing agencies

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Purpose Media reaches top 20 recommended UK marketing agencies
Derbyshire-based full service marketing agency Purpose Media has been ranked within the top 20 UK marketing agencies to appear in the latest list of ‘Drum Recommended’ agencies in the UK. The ‘Drum Recommends’ website can be accessed by over 1.2m marketing professionals who use it to search for a marketing agency. The Drum rankings are highly regarded and influential because the overall score is determined by feedback from clients returning a customer satisfaction questionnaire to an independent evaluator which usually means feedback is 100% honest. Therefore a high rating can only be achieved as a result of delivering excellent service and advice. Following the completion of their projects, clients are asked to rate their agency on a range of measures including value for money, effectiveness, creative output, and client service. Purpose Media scored 9.9 in all these areas and achieved an overall score of 9.4. Purpose Media is now ranked 19th and is the highest ranked full service marketing agency in the East Midlands. A position that is regarded as a great achievement considering there are literally thousands of agencies based across the UK. Purpose Media Managing Director Matt Wheatcroft said: “I know there are a couple of Midlands agencies also listed in these rankings, but they have only been rated as an agency with a particular marketing specialism. Our rating is based on the accumulated feedback for everything we have delivered as a full service agency. “This includes strategic thinking, creative design, website development, digital marketing, SEO, PPC, video, social media, content writing and PR. It therefore shows the high quality, depth and breadth of the advice and services we can offer our clients as part of a one stop solution.” Founded in 2006, Purpose Media has grown from a small e-commerce website agency into an award winning full service agency. Clients include owner managed businesses and leading brands in retail, manufacturing, wholesaling and sport including True Refrigeration and Derby County Football Club. They were also recently chosen as a delivery partner by East Midlands Chamber of Commerce to deliver the Chesterfield Digital High Street project and Derby City Business Resilience Programme which have helped high street retailers rejuvenate their businesses by embracing digital marketing strategies.

Work set to begin on £10.5m fit-out of Nottingham’s new Central Library

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Work set to begin on £10.5m fit-out of Nottingham’s new Central Library
Nottingham City Council has announced plans for the £10.5m fit-out of the city’s new Central Library and for it to be ready to open to the public next summer. The development is part of the building that houses the new Broad Marsh Car Park and Bus Station and is one of the key elements of the regeneration of the city’s Southside area. A report to the council’s Executive Board on May 24 outlines that a number of assessments of the design and affordability of the scheme have been carried out and recommends that the council now begins the internal fit-out of the library from July. Careful management of the city’s property portfolio and successful sales have made the development affordable from within the Council’s capital programme. 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.
Artist’s impression of new children’s library
The provision of the new Central Library has been considered as part of a thorough Libraries Needs Assessment commissioned by the council, which has been subject to extensive public consultation to help better understand what communities require from a modern library service. Feedback during consultation showed that the Central Library played an important role in delivering part of the city’s overall offer, with over 60% of respondents in the first phase saying this was often the library they visited, in addition to using their own local neighbourhood one. The Central Library’s depth of stock and specialist collections is seen as a fundamental part in fulfilling the city’s Library Strategy and a key link to ensuring and supporting community library delivery and development. 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. City Council leader, Councillor David Mellen, said: “If approved, Nottingham’s new Central Library will be a key element of the regeneration of this part of the city which is well underway, and I’m pleased we are able to announce our plans for its fit-out. I’m really excited to recommend to our Executive that this great new facility should start which would provide a modern Central Library including a fantastic children’s library. “From next summer when it is scheduled to open, we expect more people to be attracted to the area, which has been undergoing a transformation for a number of years. Along with the new college at one end of Collin Street and the revitalised castle offer at the other, the library would help to breathe new life into the area with its reimagined pedestrian-friendly streets and public spaces, new car park, bus station and shops and heritage-led improvements. “The area will change further still when the vision for the former shopping centre site can begin to be put into action, further enhancing Broad Marsh as a great gateway to the city.” Portfolio holder for leisure, culture & planning, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “It’s exciting to see the designs for the modern Central Library. If the proposal is approved it will create a wonderful facility for all residents and visitors, but perhaps especially children who will be able to enjoy a fantastic collection of books, an immersive audio-visual story telling room and plenty of spaces to enjoy reading and take part in fun activities. “While it was of course really important for us to carry out assessments of the scheme’s design and affordability, I understand that people are frustrated by the delay and eager to get the new facility opened – something that came across very clearly in the consultation.” The sale of the former Central Library building at Angel Row also continues, with a planning application for its new use expected to be submitted next month.
General view of the building which will house the new Central Library

Revenues grow at Van Elle as elevated levels of demand continue

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Revenues grow at Van Elle as elevated levels of demand continue
Revenues are growing at Van Elle, the ground engineering contractor, as demand levels continue to rise. In a trading update for the year ended 30 April 2022, ahead of announcing its full-year results, the Nottinghamshire-based company reported that elevated levels of demand in its core markets have continued. Consequently, the group now expects to report results for the period ahead of recently upgraded forecasts, with revenues of approximately £125m. This represents an increase of approximately 48% (a 41% increase after adjusting for the impact of the acquisition of ScrewFast Foundations Limited) compared with the prior year (£84.4m), with operating profits slightly ahead of the top end of the range of market expectations. This continued demand is reflective across the business’s divisions. There has been an increase in work delivered within the rail division, and volumes across housing, specialist piling and general piling have remained consistent. The firm further noted that supply chain challenges are showing some signs of moderating, with the impact of material price inflation being managed through contract pricing mechanisms. In a statement Van Elle said: “The Board is pleased with progress made in the second half of FY22. The trading momentum has continued into FY23 while future prospects in its growth markets remain encouraging.”

Stockyard unveiled as new home for food and drink producers in the Rural Capital of Food

Tess Egginton
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Stockyard unveiled as new home for food and drink producers in the Rural Capital of Food
A new go-to destination for food and drink producers to manufacture and sell their artisan products has been unveiled in the Rural Capital of Food, with the launch of the Stockyard in Melton Mowbray. Situated at Melton Mowbray Market, the Stockyard offers producers a unique space in which to manufacture and sell their food and drink in the heart of the Rural Capital of Food. The agri-chic environment – which for decades has hosted markets and other events – has long been a destination for food lovers. Now part of it has been given a new identity and new investment to attract more artisan manufacturers and traders to the site and build on the heritage of the market…opening the next chapter in its history. Hugh Brown, CEO of Gillstream Markets Ltd, which operates the site, said: “I am delighted to launch the Stockyard, recognising Melton Mowbray’s heritage and future as a key food and drink manufacturing centre and a destination for food and drink lovers nationwide. “We already have a number of artisan food and drink manufacturers and retailers on site, but there is tremendous scope at the Stockyard to create an eclectic mix of producers in this unique agri-chic environment. It provides the perfect opportunity for new and expanding enterprises to have a place in the heart of the Rural Capital of Food and we look forward to additional food and drink businesses joining us over the coming months.” Already on site at the Stockyard are a growing number of artisan food and drink manufacturers and retailers including the multi award-winning Round Corner Brewing, the Melton Premium Craft Distillers, and Simply Chocolate, alongside butchers, bakers and pork pie makers. Smoked food specialist Feast and the Furious will also be relocating to the site during 2022. Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire is the home of the pork pie and Stilton cheese. And for hundreds of years, Melton Mowbray Market in its various guises has played a key role in the ‘farm to fork’ story. Today it has markets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, plus many special events and festivals. These strong foundations have been built on to create the Stockyard, as one part of Melton Mowbray’s food and drink experience. It is further bolstered by the weekly street markets, the Rural Catering Centre at SMB College and the many artisan and historic food producers in and around the town that have contributed to the town being named the Rural Capital of Food. Stockyard Melton Mowbray, working in conjunction with Melton Borough Council, is part of the wider Food Enterprise Centre in the borough, building on the rich food heritage of the local area. Now, with an increasing number of people interested in local food and the provenance of their food and drink, the Stockyard is offering the opportunity for producers to take space in the agri-chic surroundings of the Melton Mowbray Market site. “The Stockyard hosts a range of markets alongside exciting and interesting events, including food and beer festivals, weddings, conferences and the like,” explained Hugh Brown. “The Stockyard encompasses many of the existing values and heritage of the site, retaining close links to our local farmers and our weekly livestock sales. There really is nowhere more ‘farm to fork’ and helps to provide a unique market atmosphere, while establishing the Stockyard in its own right.” The Stockyard is the new brand for the southern part of Melton Mowbray Market, which is the largest town centre livestock market in the country. The Market predates the Domesday Book and moved from its various locations in the central streets of town to its current site in 1869 as part of the Melton Mowbray Cattle Market Act. As standards continued to rise through the 20th Century, the livestock moved into modern purpose-built sheds and the older buildings were repurposed for weekly markets and events. It’s some of these buildings which have been converted into spaces for food and drink businesses. The former chicken shed is now the Fur & Feather bar, adjoining the distillery operated by Melton Premium Craft Distillers which makes Brentingby Gin, while opposite is the brewery and taproom for Round Corner Brewing. Combie Cryan, co-founder of Round Corner Brewing, said: “We are delighted to be an anchor tenant of the Stockyard. In the four years since our opening, we have played a key role in raising the profile of the market and drawing weekend visitors. We have created the perfect place for our brewery and taproom and, alongside our many amazing neighbours, we are looking forward to playing a key role in the future of this exciting newly branded Stockyard, which builds on the history of Melton Mowbray’s long links to agriculture and the food and drink sector.” Jon Oakes, of smoked food specialist Feast and the Furious, said: “We are really excited to be locating our new smokehouse down at the Stockyard amongst some really passionate award winning food and drink businesses such as Round Corner and Brentingby Gin (Fur & Feather Bar). “We are looking forward to enhancing the great food and drink offering at the Stockyard and can’t wait to help create an exciting destination for people near and far to visit for a food and drink experience. “We will be expanding our current offering of cold and hot smoked products with new, bigger smokers, bringing out new products whilst also allowing us to be able to get back to our roots of our hot smoked food (such as smoked beef brisket and pulled pork etc) that we served from our food truck down at the Stockyard on many occasions in the past. “We are looking to open a shop area to sell a range of our cold smoked products and eventually even have a seating area for people to enjoy our hot food offering too.” In collaboration with the Melton Mowbray Food Partnership, Stockyard aims to be home to a growing number of innovative and award-winning independent producers. Hugh Brown added: “Many industrial buildings have been imaginatively repurposed to create interesting spaces but what we have done at the Stockyard is repurpose buildings with an agricultural heritage to give them a new role in the future of the food and drink sector. Here, production is visible and proud. Producers can demonstrate their trade and expertise and customers can see what they are buying. We’re excited for the future of the Stockyard and are looking forward to welcoming more artisan manufacturers to our unique site.”

Build contacts at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022

Tess Egginton
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Build contacts at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022
Taking place on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, the highly anticipated East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while providing a prime opportunity to connect with local decision makers. The event will also feature 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.

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours.

With nominations OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards, it’s time to submit your entries for the prestigious event – showcase your business, team and projects. 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. To submit a business or development please click on a category link below or visit this page.
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.

William Crooks, Managing Director of Cawarden, reflected on winning an award in 2021: “After being named Contractor of the Year at the British Demolition Awards at the start of September, we were absolutely thrilled to win the same accolade from the East Midlands Bricks Awards a few weeks later. The event is a real showcase for the regional property and construction sector and we are proud to be recognised for our project and service delivery expertise as a leading specialist contractor.

“It was a great night and provided an opportunity to catch up with some familiar faces as well as meeting new with the wonderful Trent Bridge Cricket Ground as a backdrop. Well done to the Cawarden team for continuously going above and beyond and maintaining high standards for our valued clients. Congratulations must also go to all the other awards finalists and award winners on the night.”

 
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Lancashire fire safety specialist snaps up Leicestershire firm

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Lancashire fire safety specialist snaps up Leicestershire firm
Lancashire-headquartered fire safety specialist Walker Fire has acquired Leicestershire-based Detector Alarms Limited as part of its continued expansion in the fire detection and security sector. It comes alongside the acquisition of Hampshire-based Southern Fire Protection Limited. Detector Alarms Limited, which trades as Detector Fire and Security, operates across Leicestershire and the Midlands, specialising in the installation and servicing of security and fire safety systems. The deal enables an exit for Detector Fire and Security’s shareholders Carlos Mendez, Scott Thompson and David Loomes. However, Carlos Mendez will continue working with the business and all staff members have been retained. Steven Mather of Nexa Law acted for the sellers. Walker Fire is part of the Moyne Roberts Group. Based at Roman Way Industrial Estate, the business has 238 staff and offers services in the installation and servicing of fire alarms, fire suppression systems and other fire safety equipment, as well as fire risk assessment and fire safety training services. Walker Fire was advised on the transactions by the corporate finance, property and employment teams at law firm Harrison Drury solicitors. Stuart Hinnigan, partner at Scott & Wilkinson accountants, advised on the financial aspects of the deal. David Cosgrove, Managing Director of Walker Fire, said: “Our goal is to become one of the UK’s foremost providers of fire safety and building security services. The two businesses we have acquired have operational capabilities and values that are very aligned with our own and further strengthen our service offering and national footprint.” The advisory team at Harrison Drury was led by Jack Stephenson and Kerry Southworth in the corporate team, supported by Laura Bradley from the commercial property team, and Sarah Astley and Olivia Bailey from the employment law team. Jack Stephenson, associate solicitor in the corporate team at Harrison Drury, said: “We’re proud to have supported Walker Fire’s growth strategy by advising them on a significant number of transactions over the last few years. “These latest strategic acquisitions help Walker Fire grow its capabilities and geographical coverage and we’re pleased to have played our role in making this possible.” Sarah Astley, associate solicitor in the employment team, added: “We’re pleased to be working alongside the team at Walker Fire, supporting them with the employment aspects of these acquisitions and ensuring a smooth transition for all staff, clients and stakeholders.”

Tight labour market drives bonuses up but wider wage squeeze deepens

Tess Egginton
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Tight labour market drives bonuses up but wider wage squeeze deepens
A tightening labour market and an increasingly mobile workforce is driving up bonuses to hire and retain staff, but the wage squeeze for the wider workforce continues to deepen off the back of rising inflation, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest labour market statistics. The UK labour market continues to tighten, with unemployment falling to 3.7 per cent (the lowest since 1974) and the number of vacancies rising to almost 1.3 million, taking vacancy numbers above unemployment levels for the time ever. Workers are taking advantage of this tight labour market by moving jobs – almost a million did so in the first three months of the year. There are signs firms are using bonuses to respond to the hiring and retention challenges posed by this mass movement, with total pay including bonuses rising 7 per cent. Bonuses are up 30 per cent on last year, but remain concentrated in finance and business sectors which account for almost 60 per cent of all bonuses. There is less good news for those not receiving bonuses, with regular pay not responding to rising inflation. Real regular pay growth has fallen sharply by 1.2 per cent – the fastest rate in almost a decade. The Foundation notes that the true scale of Britain’s real wage squeeze is likely to be even deeper as the headline rate is flattered by the effects of last year’s furlough. Finally, the Foundation notes that the UK labour market remains smaller than it was pre-pandemic. While long-term unemployment is falling, there are no signs that the pandemic-induced rise in inactivity is reversing, with half a million people – largely older workers – having completely disengaged from work. As a result, we are working 10 million fewer hours a month than before the pandemic, which will lead to a smaller economy overall. Hannah Slaughter, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The UK labour market continues to tighten, with the number of unemployed people having fallen below the number of job vacancies for the first time ever. People are taking advantage of these conditions to move jobs, and employers are responding by paying bonuses to hire or retain key staff. “But for the vast majority of the workforce, the labour market may feel far less hot. There is little sign of wider pay pressures building and real wages are getting squeezed even tighter. “With inflation having shot up in recent months, the scale of Britain’s wage squeeze is going to get far worse.”

Design duo team up to raise almost £2,000 for Ukraine appeal

Tess Egginton
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Design duo team up to raise almost £2,000 for Ukraine appeal
Two graphic designers have raised £1,927.75 for the Ukraine crisis appeal by teaming up and using their skills to solve a common business branding issue. Trudie Avery of Avery Creative – who is often referred to as the Logo Lady – partnered with illustrator and graphic designer Dave Officer, of Doodle Juice Design, to ‘fix’ business logos in return for donations to Ukraine Crisis Charities. Despite never having met in person, the pair decided to work together on the special project and put out to their LinkedIn connections a one-time offer to create a vector version of company logos – one that is scalable and can be used at any size without losing quality and that can be put on any background without having a white box around it. More than 30 companies took Trudie and Dave up on their offer, each donating £25 or more to the worthy cause. One business pledged a whopping £1,000 for the service. Trudie, who has been working in graphic design and branding for 25 years, said: “We wanted to use our skills to raise some money for the Ukraine. Dave is a fabulous designer/illustrator and came to me with this idea and I jumped at the chance to do something so worthwhile. “Many company logos are jpeg files, which are essentially an image file on a white background. If you use it on a dark background it will have a white box around it and it doesn’t scale up well. “We turned the jpeg files into vector files which are much more useful for scalability and useability and raised almost £2,000 in the process. “What is going on in the Ukraine is so tragic and I was glad to be able to do something to help in this awful situation.” Dave added: “We’ve all sat in absolute horror watching the events in the Ukraine unfold. The feeling of sadness and helplessness is a little overwhelming, but I was keen to do a little something to help. Although the gesture of fixing logos is tiny in the grand scheme of things, I am delighted that the money we’ve raised will make some difference, however small.”

165,000 sq ft Deichmann UK warehouse opens it’s doors at Centrix Business Park, Corby

Tess Egginton
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165,000 sq ft Deichmann UK warehouse opens it’s doors at Centrix Business Park, Corby
European shoe retailer Deichmann opened the doors of a new warehouse at Centrix Business Park on Phoenix Parkway in Corby earlier this month. The new warehouse is around 165,000 square foot in size, making it larger than Trafalgar Square in London. The new warehouse will create 50 new jobs in the region and support Deichmann’s ongoing growth by improving service levels across the business, as well as giving the brand full autonomy to manage its inventory and logistics. Samuel Deichmann, executive board member at Deichmann SE and chairman of the board of directors at Deichmann-UK Shoes Limited, said: “We are thrilled to open our brand new Corby warehouse. Deichmann is experiencing strong success both in our online growth and expansion of UK stores, the new warehouse will allow us to enhance our service and ensure we can keep pace.” The company chose Corby as the site for the brand’s new UK distribution facility as a central location to the network of 120 UK stores and its proximity to the Deichmann head office, which is located in nearby Market Harborough. The former brownfield site, owned and developed by Clowes Developments, provides the ideal home for the footwear retailer. Clowes Developments managed the development of the site which has been built on a former quarry which was later used as landfill for the steelworks. The land has been vacant since tipping on the site ended. Planning conditions meant the developers had to properly manage the heavily contaminated land by adhering to strict conditions to ensure it was safe to build on. Deichmann have invested around £3 million into the facility, which took just under a year to complete and has the capacity to hold just over one million pairs of shoes. The building construction was led by Winvic Construction, the industrial ‘shed’ specialist.
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