Law firm advises on care provider sale
Flint Bishop has advised on the sale of a residential care business to one of the UK’s leading providers.
The law firm has advised the shareholders of Quality Care, a regional provider of residential care for those with learning disabilities and complex needs, on their sale to Choice Care Group.
The Flint Bishop transaction team comprised of partner Joel Nixon, senior associate Mark Wilcock and associate Emma Hadley.
Nicola Bullock and Chris Jones, of Bates Weston, provided corporate finance advice to the sellers.
Joel said: “It was a pleasure to support the team on this successful sale.
“Together they have built a strong business from the ground up through their passion and vocation for caring for those in need.
“Along with continuity of the management team, it is great to see custody being passed into the hands of an organisation such as Choice, which shares the same values with the needs of its service users at its core.”
Progress made on new Derby nuclear manufacturing and research centre site
The new Nuclear AMRC Midlands site progresses after a successful interim period in the iHub at Infinity Park Derby.
Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is “pleased” with the progress of the new 46,904 sq ft research and development design and manufacturing centre at Infinity Park Derby (IPD), for Nuclear AMRC Midlands.
Infinity Park Derby is a unique collaboration between Derby City Council, the Harper Crewe Estate, Rolls-Royce and developers IPD LLP, Wilson Bowden and Peveril Securities. The high-quality employment park is located next to the world headquarters of Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace and is located within 15 minutes of OEMs such as Toyota, JCB and Alstom. SGP have been involved in the development of the masterplan for Infinity Park Derby since 2001.
Working closely with March Developments, who are developers within Infinity Park Derby LLP, as well as Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC), SGP designed a bespoke operational facility to suit the end user’s research and development and advanced manufacturing requirements.
Situated on an approximately 2.4 hectares (6 acres) site, the 21,528 sq ft manufacturing centre, with a haunch height of 10m, provides the best layout for flow, positioning of equipment and maximum use of space. The two storey 25,210 sq ft office and welfare facility contains laboratories, testing and prototyping facilities along with technical development offices. A double height atrium marks the entrance to the facility and provides exhibition space to showcase the work carried out at the facility.
This new facility for advanced manufacturing is expected to add £52 million to the local Derby economy across a five-year period, supporting SMEs in the area to grow by creating opportunities for research and development.
The elevational treatment creates a striking presence in the landscape, using a combination of profiled built-up cladding alongside carefully proportioned flat panel rain screen cladding to create distinctive dark ‘framed boxes’ to define the three volumes. A subtle colour palette enhances the composition whilst the large, glazed volume of the main reception area is set behind projecting brise soleil, which knits together the office and industrial unit.
A new, multifunctional green infrastructure has been designed for the site to provide long term environment enhancement and a potentially strategically important area for wetland habitats. The planting of new broadleaved trees and species rich hedgerows will improve biodiversity across the site.
The design of the building – a high quality contemporary development reflecting the high technology aspiration for Infinity Park Derby – is an important element in establishing IPD as a key manufacturing base for the East Midlands.
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) awarded Derby City Council over £9m in funding – £6.875m from its Getting Building Fund and £2.2m from its Growing Places Fund – to support the development of a Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at Infinity Park in Derby.
The Nuclear AMRC Midlands facility will deliver 70 direct jobs. Nuclear AMRC Midlands will work with companies of all sizes to help them win work in carbon-neutral supply chains as part of the global drive to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Nuclear AMRC Midlands will support 100 businesses through collaborative research and supply chain development projects within the first five years, in high-value sectors such as aerospace, automotive and rail as well as nuclear and other low-carbon energy technologies.
Cllr Steve Hassall, portfolio for regeneration, decarbonisation, strategic planning and transport at Derby City Council, said: “We’re pleased to see construction progressing on the new Nuclear AMRC. Construction of this state-of-the-art research and development centre is great news for Derby’s SME businesses. Not only will it offer a huge boost to our local economy, but also cement our place as a national leader for innovation, manufacturing, and world-class research and development.”
Andrew Storer, CEO of the Nuclear AMRC, said: “The new Nuclear AMRC Midlands facility will play a vital role in helping manufacturers seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges of the national transition to net zero emissions.
“As the first High Value Manufacturing Catapult facility in the East Midlands, we will continue to work closely with local industry, academic and government partners to deliver sustainable growth for decades to come. The coming years will see increasing investment into clean energy and low-carbon technologies, and the region is well placed to capitalise on the opportunity thanks to its wealth of experience, innovation, and engineering expertise.”
The facility will bring together Nuclear AMRC and the University of Derby’s Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Manufacturing (IISE), to carry out research, innovation, supply chain development and teaching with the purpose of developing the skills and capability of businesses in the region and nationally.
Professor Warren Manning, Provost – Innovation and Research at the University of Derby, said: “Co-locating our Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering with the Nuclear AMRC opens up new possibilities for our academics, who are already engaged in work to help achieve the UK’s decarbonisation and Net Zero goals in sectors such as rail and logistics.”
Exciting plans for Kings Mill Reservoir revealed
Artist impressions have been released by Ashfield District Council showing the plans for a new leisure building at Kings Mill Reservoir.
The new building will provide modern, accessible changing and storage facilities for water sports on the ground floor, with a dedicated space for a restaurant on the first floor. The plans will support activities including sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and open water swimming at the reservoir. The new offering will allow more residents and visitors to Kings Mill Reservoir the opportunity to access water sports.
The first floor of the new boathouse will be home to an 80-seat restaurant overlooking the water, taking advantage of the spectacular views of the reservoir.
The new facilities are due to be completed during the summer of 2024. The new leisure facilities will complement the expansion of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Mill Adventure Base to include new outdoor activities which will be operational in 2023.
The plans for the well-loved reservoir are just one of the 17 projects being funded by the £62.6m Towns Fund. The Council was successful in securing the funding from the government in June 2021, and since then have been developing business cases, designs, and plans for the planned projects.
Cllr Matthew Relf, executive lead member for regeneration and corporate transformation, said: “The plans for Kings Mill Reservoir are extremely exciting. We can’t wait to be able to open up the offer of a variety of great new activities to visitors. The location of the new restaurant offering will be a fantastic addition to the reservoir, and will bring in even more visitors to Ashfield.
“Last week we started work on the dilapidated Yorkshire Bank in Sutton as part of the Future High Streets Fund, and now we are in a position to be able to start releasing plans for the other projects. It is a thrilling time to be an Ashfield resident!
“We want to hear from existing or new clubs, and/or individuals, who are keen to get involved in developing and running water sports activities at the reservoir. Please get in touch with the team if you are interested.”
BHP training programmes recruit record numbers
Award-winning accountancy firm BHP has recruited a record number of trainees over the course of the summer.
The firm has welcomed 46 new starters across a number of teams including Audit and Accounts, Tax and Corporate Finance. They will be based in BHP’s offices in Sheffield, Chesterfield, Leeds, York and Cleckheaton.
BHP’s training programmes take on recruits from a range of backgrounds, including university graduates, school leavers and those who are completing a year-in-industry placement. Trainees are encouraged to work hands-on within their departments and, once their training has been completed, many choose to remain with the firm on a permanent basis.
This year’s intake of trainees is higher than BHP’s previous highest intake of 35, who joined the firm in 2020. It follows the firm’s Top 20 ranking in Accountancy Daily’s Top Training Firms of 2021.
Lisa Leighton, Joint Managing Partner at BHP, said: “We’re exceptionally proud of our graduate and apprenticeship schemes, which have enabled us to develop and nurture countless trainees over the years, with some of them remaining with BHP ever since.
“Investment in the growth and development of our people is crucial, not just for each individual but for the firm as a whole. With each intake of graduates, trainees and placement students, we’re widening the blend of skills, expertise and personality we can call upon – something that will only benefit our clients. I always enjoy watching our new starters grow and develop in their roles and I’m excited to see what our newest recruits can bring to BHP.”
Louise Allen, Head of HR at BHP, said: “I’d like to offer a warm welcome to our new trainees and wish them well in their new roles. We’re passionate about providing opportunities to anyone seeking a career in accountancy and, at BHP, we’re very proud of the fact that we take on people from all backgrounds, from undergraduates and graduates to school leavers and career changers.”
Further growth for Nottingham marketing and PR agency
East Midlands marketing and PR agency, V Formation, has boosted its team with the appointment of Andy King as strategic marketing director and Joanne Clark as digital marketing executive.
A veteran marketer with over twenty years’ experience across a range of sectors, Andy will spearhead strategic direction across several of V Formation’s key accounts and will use his wide-ranging business development expertise to help drive growth for the agency in the next phase of its ongoing expansion.
Having worked with several big-name brands early on in his career, including Raleigh, Boots and Cow & Gate/Milupa, Andy spent the formative part of his professional development at Capital One, where, as marketing and brand specialist, he was responsible for running successful direct marketing campaigns and looking after the company’s internal brand activity.
Andy then spent several years in senior marketing and communications roles for Remploy, a leading provider of specialist employment and skills support for disabled people, before taking on the role of commercial director at online florist and gifting company Bunches. He then moved into freelance contracting work, where he advised marketing departments for multiple charities and businesses, including Vision Express.
Most recently, Andy has worked as head of marketing and fulfilment at Cambridge Sleep Sciences, a role he will continue alongside his work at V Formation.
“V Formation is not your typical marketing agency that provides off-the-shelf services then leaves clients to it,” Andy explains. “The team is incredibly passionate about the work that V Formation does and brings heavyweight strategic insight and advice that adds real value to clients.
“Being part of a team where everyone can make a real difference and see where they are adding value is something that excites me. I look forward to working with a range of clients on a variety of initiatives and supporting the agency as it begins its next phase of growth.”
Joanne Clark also joins V Formation as digital marketing executive. Highly skilled in creating and implementing digital strategies, Joanne joins the company from Rock Fall Safety Boots, where she was responsible for content creation. Prior to this, she developed her digital marketing and e-commerce management capabilities at True North Sailing, CoMech Metrology and Sewing Online.
As digital marketing executive at V Formation, Joanne will assist with the planning, execution and optimisation of digital marketing campaigns for the company and its clients and provide the team with regular insights into current and upcoming digital trends.
Commenting on the new appointments, Sue Carr, director at V Formation, said: “With values that are completely in alignment with our own, Andy is a perfect fit for V Formation, and I am confident that his unbeatable skills and experience in the sector will bring enormous benefit to the business.
“We’re also really pleased to welcome Joanne to the team. In the short time she has been with us, her creativity and flare for client communications is already shining through, and she has quickly become an integral part of V Formation’s digital team.”
“We have made these appointments at a hugely exciting time for V Formation,” Sue explains, “2022 has been a landmark year for us – we celebrated V Formation’s fifteenth anniversary in business, expanded the team, and increased turnover by 27 percent – marking a record year to date. We are looking forward to working with more businesses to provide strategic marketing and PR support as our team continues to grow.”
£200m regeneration scheme takes another step forward as commercial units come to the market
Commercial property consultancy Rigby & Co has been instructed by Grainger Plc to find occupiers for the two units at The Condor, the £37 million build-to-rent apartment scheme being constructed in Victoria Street.
The scheme forms part of the £200 million Becketwell regeneration scheme, which is being delivered by St James Securities.
Two ground floor units are available, sized 2,366 sq ft and 4,158 sq ft respectively. Both units are suitable for a variety of uses including retail, leisure, office and food and beverage services.
Russell Rigby, managing director of Rigby & Co, said: “We are thrilled that the UK’s largest listed residential landlord has chosen Rigby & Co to find two commercial tenants for The Condor, which is already rapidly transforming the skyline of Derby city centre.
“Having helped put the original deal together on behalf of St James Securities with Grainger, we have in-depth knowledge of the workings of the site and its enormous benefits and are already in discussions with a number of restaurants, cafés and other retailers who are keen to secure representation in the heart of the city centre.”
The two commercial units sit on the ground floor of the residential tower with frontage to Victoria Street, which links with the intersection of St Peter’s Street and the Cornmarket and will become a key destination within the heart of Derby city centre.
Unit 1 benefits from full width frontage to the proposed new public square, which is scheduled for completion in March, with some external seating available.
Both units will be ready for occupation at the end of Q1, 2023 when The Condor will reach practical completion.
The Becketwell regeneration scheme is the most significant urban regeneration scheme in the city for more than three decades.
It aims to create a vibrant, exciting, new quarter of residential, commercial leisure activity in the heart of Derby city centre.
Phase one involves the delivery of The Condor, the city’s first ever purpose-built, build to rent scheme, which will be owned and operated by Grainger, along with the creation of the new multi-purpose public square.
Phase two of the scheme includes a major £45.8 million 3,500-capacity performance venue, which will be operated by ASM Global.
Future planned phases of the scheme include the potential for a range of other complementary uses of the site, including new grade A offices and commercial space, a hotel and multi-storey car park and purpose-built student residential.
Mr Rigby said: “With Derby’s new 3,500 seat performance venue under construction alongside The Condor, the vibrancy and footfall around this site, at the heart of the historic core of the city centre, will radically change and improve over the next couple of years.”
Sustainability top of the agenda for Lincolnshire business
A Lincolnshire business created to improve the life experience of people with Parkinson’s has announced a raft of commitments to ensure its operations are environmentally sustainable.
Since the inception of Eye Guide MC, a business based in Long Sutton, Spalding, husband and wife duo, Chris and Sandra McDonough have made it their mission to ensure the company didn’t add to the ever-increasing carbon footprint on the planet by sourcing locally, using recycled materials and going digital where possible.
Sandra McDonough, inventor of the Eye Guide MC – a small, non-intrusive device which can control the symptoms of Parkinson’s – has Parkinson’s herself. Before she had the breakthrough for her invention, her illness stopped Sandra from enjoying the outdoors and exploring – which is why she is dedicated to preserving the planet and ensuring her business boosts its eco-credentials.
Sandra said: “From the outset of making the Eye Guide MC, I was adamant we would do all we could as a company to ensure we didn’t increase our carbon footprint on the planet.
“For those that know me, they know how important the environment is to me. I am passionate about reducing plastic waste, so this was one of the first things Chris and I considered at the start of our journey to becoming business owners.”
The Eye Guide MC device arms are specifically made from recycled plastic, and the device itself is made with no wires to plug in or batteries to recharge, therefore not adding to energy consumption – there is also no need for surgery either, which means the Eye Guide MC is as non-invasive to you and to the environment as it possibly can be.
The husband-and-wife duo were also keen to find a local manufacturer to create the device, as it would prevent any unnecessary travel and greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere. It also meant that the small Lincolnshire business was giving back to its community and supporting other local businesses.
Sandra added: “There was no doubt in our minds that we wanted the product to be made as near to our HQ and clinic in Long Sutton as possible, so we opted for a family-run manufacturer in Kings Lynn, just 17 miles away.”
Once the company had sourced a local manufacturer and knew the product arms were being made from recycled plastic, they turned to the next mission of ensuring the presentation boxes followed suit.
Their navy-blue presentation boxes are also fully recyclable, and any leaflets and brochures that are supplied to customers are printed using recycled paper.
Sandra commented: “Even small businesses like ours can have a positive impact and make small changes and actions that will make a big impact on our planet. Whether you cut down on paper, or just swap to recycled materials it’s all part of the bigger picture.”
Ibstock and Earth Friendly Concrete form partnership to support ESG ambitions
Ibstock, a UK leading manufacturer of clay and concrete building products, and Earth Friendly Concrete (EFC) have entered into a new partnership to create ultra-low carbon concrete products.
This exciting partnership supports Ibstock’s ambitious ESG targets. Having recently launched its ESG Strategy to 2030, Ibstock is committed to ‘Manufacture Materials for Life’ and improving the environmental performance of its products. Its milestone 2030 target is to achieve 20% of sales turnover revenue from new and sustainable products.
With the built environment accounting for 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions, Ibstock is proactively seeking to develop new solutions with improved environmental performance. EFC is more sustainable than traditional concrete, with around 70% less embodied CO₂ saving 250kg of CO₂ per cubic metre poured. It is made from a binder consisting of industrial waste products, ground granulated blast furnace slag and pulverised fly ash with no Portland Cement.
The partnership will see EFC’s ultra-low carbon, zero cement technology integrated into Ibstock’s diverse portfolio of high-performance building products for the construction industry, including its range of products for the rail, infrastructure and UK housing markets. The technology has performance advantages over Ordinary Portland Cement-based products including improved durability, lower shrinkage, higher flexural tensile strength and increased fire resistance and is the only zero-cement concrete technology that has been proven at scale on real life commercial projects across the world.
Darren Waters, Chief Operating Officer at Ibstock, said: “As a business at the heart of building, our ambition is to be the most sustainable manufacturer of concrete products in the UK. Collaborating with EFC marks a significant step in achieving this goal as we collaborate and innovate to manufacture materials for life.
“More than ever, customers are looking for products which offer great functionality but also have robust sustainability credentials. In 2020, the Ibstock concrete division invested in a new concrete laboratory at its site in Anstone, Sheffield, to facilitate the development of sustainable concrete that features reduced embodied carbon and therefore has a lower environmental impact. At this advanced facility, we are already developing and testing innovative new concrete mixhat incorporate EFC to ensure we achieve our own sustainability goals, as well as contribute to those of the wider sector, without compromising on quality or performance.”
EFC UK Regional Manager Andy Izod said: “We are delighted to strengthen our presence in the UK through this partnership with Ibstock. We will not only focus on introducing Earth Friendly Concrete into the wider construction market across a range of projects, regions, applications and supply chains but will also share our ground-breaking technology with partners like Ibstock, which will help them to achieve ultra-low carbon outcomes for their business.”
Since it was launched in 2020, EFC has saved around 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ across construction projects. It has been used in several high-profile projects including High Speed 2 (HS2) and Silvertown Tunnel.
Armsons Barlow expand team of quantity surveyors and project managers
Derby-based project managers, construction cost consultants and building surveyors Armsons Barlow have strengthened their team with the appointments of Ryan Thompson and Gavin Hirst.
Ryan joins Armsons Barlow as senior quantity surveyor and project manager from Geo Hodges & Son in Burton-on-Trent, where he spent ten years as a quantity surveyor. During his time with the building and civil engineering contractor, Ryan delivered a variety of schemes ranging in value from £10,000 to £3.7m across various sectors, including retail, industrial and manufacturing.
Coming from a main contractor’s background, Ryan has a strong grounding in managing costs, from estimating through to final account stages, including tracking and appropriately valuing variations.
Gavin joins the firm as a quantity surveyor and project manager from Loughborough-based Edward Cooper Young Chartered Surveyors, where he spent three years as a monitoring surveyor. He gained a broad range of experience, working on schemes across England and Wales – from small residential developments to large developments consisting of 400 plus dwellings.
In their new roles, Ryan and Gavin will work alongside the Armsons Barlow team to deliver a diverse range of project management, employer’s agent, quantity surveying and cost management services to both private and public sector clients.
Commenting on his new role, Ryan said: “It is an exciting time to be joining the business following the merger of Armsons and Barlow Associates. I hope my ten years’ experience working for a main contractor will stand me in good stead as I look to continue my professional development and integrate myself within the team.
“In the short term I aim to achieve RICS membership and develop my portfolio of project deliveries from client side, continue to develop my professional aptitude and knowledge across a broad array of developments.”
Gavin added: “I am thrilled to have joined Armsons Barlow, which has a fantastic reputation in the industry. I look forward to contributing my skills and experience to add value to the firm’s service offering.
“I also have plans to gain my chartership in the near future, which will boost my skill set still further.”
Sally Walters, director of Armsons Barlow, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Ryan and Gavin to the team. They have gained a tremendous amount of experience in their previous roles, working on high budget projects across the country.
“In their new roles at Armsons Barlow, Ryan and Gavin will take on additional responsibilities and will work across a diverse portfolio of projects across a variety of sectors.
“Our team all have significant experience in their respective areas, which enables us to provide clients with a consistently first-class service and achieve the most cost-effective delivery of their project objectives.”
New Company Director for Stepnell
Construction company Stepnell has announced the promotion of long-standing employee Tom Sewell as the company’s newest director.
This senior appointment will see Tom join Stepnell’s board of directors, following close to a decade of service at the company – joining as operations and commercial manager, before progressing to regional director for the East Midlands.
As a regional director, Tom successfully supported the growth of Stepnell’s East Midlands office from 2014, leading the business unit from strength to strength over the years – from developing a strong team culture to securing a plethora of business development opportunities.
Tom has supported many regional successes for Stepnell, including this year’s completion of a sports centre for Martin High School in the village of Anstey – which adds to the 32 Leicester schemes for Stepnell achieved over the course of the past 8 years. Most recently, Tom has been overseeing the fifth and sixth phases of improvement and expansion works to global HR, payroll and finance software company MHR’s Nottingham headquarters.
In his new role, Tom will be assuming wider business responsibilities while continuing to lead the business in the region. Tom will also oversee the relocation of the Stepnell East Midlands office to a bigger and enhanced office space in the coming month.
Tom said: “It has been incredibly fulfilling to grow Stepnell’s presence and project successes in the East Midlands. The growth witnessed has delivered great projects for our customers which we continue to measure through our Net Promotor Score, which is now 51 and continues to flourish. I thank the whole of the East Midlands team and every member of the region who has played their part.
“As a newly appointed director, I now look forward to joining the board to contribute to the leadership of the business as Stepnell anticipates further growth, and to develop our teams, our culture and the service we provide to our clients accordingly.”
Tom Wakeford, managing director at Stepnell said: “For close to a decade, Tom has made an incredible contribution that has really helped both the region and the business embed the right culture and values, through a strong focus on developing teams and team behaviour. Not only this, Tom was a big part of our recent success in securing a place on the SCAPE Regional Construction Framework.
“Thanks to Tom’s many achievements and team-focused ethos, the board sees this promotion as a continuation of the business’ focus on the right culture, and we’re delighted to be working with Tom in this new director role.”
Leicestershire property developer expands into West Midlands
William Davis Homes is opening a West Midlands office, as part of its ambitious business expansion plans.
The award-winning Leicestershire company has appointed a new West Midlands Land Director and two senior land and planning professionals to strengthen its growth strategy in the region.
The specialist team will be based in Warwickshire, giving William Davis a permanent presence in the West Midlands for the first time.
The 5-star housebuilder already has successful housing developments in Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire – and has secured a further 16 parcels of land across the West Midlands, with the potential to deliver thousands of new homes as well as creating new jobs and training opportunities.
Guy Higgins, Managing Director of William Davis Homes, said: “Our aim is to build a pipeline of developments in the West Midlands to support our growth as a business, and we are actively seeking opportunities to acquire more land in the West Midlands. Having a dedicated team of land professionals based in the region will help with this.”
The team is headed by Matt Colloby, who has been appointed as the company’s West Midlands Land Director. Matt has been with William Davis for more than 30 years and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this new role.
He said: “This is an exciting challenge which brings a real opportunity to grow, build upon our existing operations and further strengthen relationships in the region. I am very much looking forward to growing the team over the next twelve months.”
Also in the new West Midlands team are James Chatterton, Senior Planner and Andrew Morgan, who has recently joined the company as Senior Land Manager.
They will be based at Waterloo Place in Leamington Spa from 1 October 2022.
In the current financial year, William Davis is planning to build and complete the sale of more than 400 new homes at more than a dozen sites across the East and West Midlands.
Travis Perkins completes relocation to new Worksop site
Travis Perkins has sold their former site in Worksop and let a new purpose built 14,000ft² site.
FHP acted on behalf of clients CEG, Lawrence Escott in the letting of their new purpose built 14,000ft Builders Merchants on their 2 acre site area and subsequently sold Travis Perkins former site in Worksop too.
The enhanced location surrounded by Asda, Greggs, Burger King and 16 trade counter units supported the move for Travis Perkins to this new location.
FHP were subsequently instructed by Travis Perkins to sell Travis Perkins former site on Carlton Road, Worksop of 1 acre with over 8,000ft of warehousing on the site. After competitive bids, the successful party was Euro Property Investments with Sam Sutton of Phillips Sutton acting for the purchaser.
FHP worked with Stuart Rowse and Will Moss of Travis Perkins throughout the new letting and sale process.
Chris Proctor of FHP Property Consultants commented:- “I am delighted to see the conclusion of Travis Perkins relocation in Worksop, which has provided an enhanced trading position on a more efficient site as well as a successful disposal of their former site. Great to work with all parties involved throughout these transactions.”
Phillips Sutton and FHP have been retained by the purchaser of the Former Travis Perkins on Carlton Road, Worksop with all enquiries for the re-letting of the site.
Rolls-Royce Submarines opens Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby
Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd has opened the doors of its new Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby. 200 new apprentices from all walks of life streamed into the Academy on 26 September for what marks the start of their nuclear careers.
The Nuclear Skills Academy is the first of its kind and aims to sustain nuclear capability within the UK’s submarines programme by creating a dedicated pipeline of talent at the start of their careers.
Based in Derby, the Nuclear Skills Academy is supported by industry and education experts, including the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the National College for Nuclear, the University of Derby and Derby City Council. This ensures new apprentices have access to the best courses and mentors throughout their apprenticeship.
Rolls-Royce announced its plans for the Nuclear Skills Academy in May 2022 to huge interest from across the UK. With more than 1,200 applicants for only 200 places in its 2022-23 academic year it’s been a tough job to narrow down the successful candidates.
Steve Carlier, president, Rolls-Royce Submarines, said: “We are thrilled by the levels of interest in these apprenticeships, and it highlights how attractive a career in the nuclear sector really is. With the growing demand for clean, carbon-free energy and with our submarines contracts with the MoD likely to sustain us into the next century, this could be a job for life for our new apprentices.
“Having started with Rolls-Royce as an apprentice myself and being born and bred in Derby, the launch of the Nuclear Skills Academy is especially exciting for me. I’m delighted that we are leading the way in developing nuclear talent for the submarines enterprise and proud that it will all be done in Derby.”
The Nuclear Skills Academy has the funding to provide 200 apprentices each year with nuclear education across four different courses for at least the next 10 years. The support of key industry organisations in driving the project forward has been invaluable for Rolls-Royce.
Andrew Storer from the Nuclear AMRC spoke of the importance of collaboration when it comes to this programme: “We need to work together to tackle skills shortages which affect the whole nuclear sector. The organisations backing the Nuclear Skills Academy will ensure that apprentices have the best training and support and develop the skills to deliver the UK’s commitments for low-carbon power and national security. As a former Derby apprentice, I am very proud that we are helping set a new standard for training which could be rolled out across the sector.”
Helen Higgs from National College for Nuclear said: “The Nuclear Skills Academy is a significant development for the sector and the National College for Nuclear is delighted to be able to play a vital role in its creation and future development.
“Collaboration between ourselves, industry and education partners is at the heart of NCfN’s delivery model and our vision, and this is a fantastic example of how that partnership can bring about world-class opportunities for many apprentices.”
The apprenticeships are spread across all functions of the business including: Engineering, Manufacturing and Business. They provide fully funded, further and higher education qualifications, while the apprentices receive hands-on practical work experience within the business.
Each of the courses is accredited through the University of Derby and National College for Nuclear.
Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, vice-chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Derby, said: “Equipping the future workforce with the skills and knowledge required to assure a pipeline of talent into the nuclear industry is crucial; the University is delighted to be playing a key role in this.
“Derby is a city at the cutting edge of engineering and manufacturing, with an internationally renowned reputation as a centre for industrial innovation. The Academy will further strengthen this and is set to be a game-changer in how we respond, at pace, to the evolving skills needs of the country.”
The home of the Nuclear Skills Academy is an iconic building in Derby, formerly known as the iHub. The hope is to position the East Midlands as the centre of nuclear excellence in the UK, an aspiration Derby City Council is equally excited by.
Leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Chris Poulter said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the people of Derby which will help to further build our reputation as a city of innovation. It is vital that we bring forward the next generation into the nuclear industry and apprenticeships are a fantastic way for those of all ages to earn while they learn.
“Additional funding worth £1.3m has been secured from Innovate UK to help fund bespoke training equipment and IT facilities for apprentices at the new training centre. The skills academy will also support key employers in the city and help to secure future talent in years to come.”
Applications for 2023-24 academic intake will be opening from October 2022.
For 60 years, Rolls-Royce has provided the power for all of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines from its base in Raynesway, Derby. Their work ensures submariners have the power to protect the UK’s interests at home and further afield.
Taylors takes 42,000 sq ft at Huthwaite logistics site
B. Taylor & Sons Transport has taken 41,914 sq ft of prime warehouse space in Huthwaite.
The logistics and warehousing firm has taken the lease on Unit 2 at Fulwood 28, joining the likes of Alloga, GXO and the Co-op at the site, which is located two miles from Junction 28 of the M1.
The unit at Fulwood 28 is the company’s thirteenth in total.
Commercial Property Partners (CPP) and Gent Visick sealed the deal to bring Taylors to the logistics park.
Sean Bremner, director at CPP, said: “As we expected Fulwood 28 was let swiftly upon coming available, with many requirements being in the market. We have known Alan Taylor and his colleagues for many years and they have experienced considerable expansion over recent times. It is great to do deals with long established family businesses continuing their growth and success in our region.”
Taylors’ Managing Director Alan Taylor added: “This building presented a great expansion opportunity for our business becoming our 13th building in the area to help win further work. We are delighted to have secured the accommodation. It was a pleasure working with Sean at CPP who was very responsive and brokered the deal in a sensible and efficient manner.”
B. Taylor & Sons was established in 1974 in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. It has since grown to incorporate a number of divisions including Taylors Transport International, which caters for clients across the globe.
Specialist metals supplier secures £1m to support growth
A Chesterfield business has secured a £1m investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme.
The funding follows a £500,000 MEIF loan in November last year, which helped the company with a range of business growth activities including marketing, IT, new jobs and a move to bigger premises.
The most recent loan will be used for further staff hires, equipment purchase, and maintaining stock levels to support new contracts.
International Energy Products is a metal stockholder and processor of speciality alloys servicing the oil, gas and renewable energy industries as well as aerospace, marine and defence sectors.
The company was set up in 2017 by Emma Beresford who spent the next two years establishing a robust supply model before full trading commenced in 2020. This has placed the company ahead of the curve in a market where an already challenging supply environment has been worsened by the war in Ukraine.
International Energy Products founder and Managing Director, Emma Beresford, said: “Having just reached the point of trading when the pandemic hit, our growth plans inevitably slowed but we are now ready to scale up in line with the recovery of our customer base.
“As a new business that doesn’t have the trading history needed for bank funding, the MEIF loan will help us with the cashflow and capacity needed to take on new, large contracts and we are thankful to FSE for investing in our future growth.”
Ann Marie McFadyen, investment manager at The FSE Group, said: “We would like to thank Sanjay Vallabh from Vallabh Associates for introducing us to International Energy Products. Emma is a forward-thinking MD who knows her market well and has been appointed Export Champion for the Department for International Trade for the second year running.
“Her innovative approach has allowed her to minimise risk and future-proof against supply chain issues and pricing. Years of hard work have paid off with this small business now years ahead of its competitors and we are thrilled to be supporting Emma and her team at this crucial point in their growth journey.”
Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “The D2N2 area is the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and remains the heartland on manufacturing in the UK. It’s businesses like IEP that underpin our amazing manufacturers, so it’s great to see them being supported. They supply to many businesses who are crucial to us being able to transition to a net-zero future, so the impact of their growth will be felt in businesses across the region.”
Leicestershire business’s epilepsy medicine donation helps address the stigma of witchcraft in Africa
A Leicestershire pharmaceuticals business has helped address the stigma of witchcraft in Africa by donating medicines connected with the treatment of epilepsy.
Morningside Pharmaceuticals, based in Loughborough, donated 1,000 packs of the drug to Syston Aid charity Inter Care, which has since distributed them to communities in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Ghana.
Due to a lack of healthcare provision, many African communities still associate epilepsy with witches and wizards, and often resort to traditional herbal treatments and even public ceremonies in-order-to ward off perceived evil spirits and to heal the patient.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, chairman of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, said: “We have had the privilege of working with African communities for the past 30 years and have seen first-hand the excellent medical talent, skills and expertise taking place throughout the continent.
“Access to quality medicines and healthcare remains a problem, which has led many rural communities to seek traditional remedies. I hope our donation helps support Inter Care and the work of other Aid organisations in addressing the lack of knowledge around conditions such as epilepsy, where a wide range of treatment is available.”
As part of Inter Care’s community epilepsy work, they supported a five-year-old girl called Ella, from the city of Bo in Sierra Leone, who had been suffering seizures from birth.
Her community sought out traditional remedies, which did nothing to prevent her often six seizures per day. This led her family to eventually seek hospital treatment where she responded well to the epilepsy medicine, and her parents were provided with comprehensive information and support to help manage her condition.
Albert Sesay, from Bo Children’s’ Hospital, said: “Like in many epilepsy cases in the communities we support; when a patient has an epileptic seizure the elders of the communities, family members and others always claim they are attacked by witches and wizards, and traditional treatments are administered to them.
“In most cases these patients are given garlics, smoked with traditional herbal medicines leaves and even take them to societal ceremonies. Before receiving medical treatment. Ella and other children and adults in her position go through so much pain and stress.”
Diane Hardy from Inter Care stated: “We would very much like to thank Morningside Pharmaceuticals for their kind donation, which is helping to treat other people facing the same social barriers to seeking proper medical support, which patients such as Ella and her family have encountered.”
According to Bo Children’s Hospital, 20,000 people fall sick with epilepsy each year, including over 2,500 children, which leads to four epilepsy-related deaths each day.
During a recent visit to see Ella following her treatment, her parents were asked for their feedback on the support they have received from Bo Children’s Hospital and the Inter Care UK team. Ella’s mother, Nina, said: “Words cannot express how grateful I am, any time I look at my daughter my heart gladdens. I am so thankful for your relentless efforts. I don’t know if my daughter would have been alive if it were not for your support.”
Work starts on battery storage plant at former Lincolnshire gas power station
Centrica Business Solutions has revealed plans to convert a decommissioned Lincolnshire gas-fired power station into a battery storage facility capable of supplying the equivalent of a full day’s energy consumption for 11,000 households.
Working in partnership with GE, the company has started construction on a 50MW /100MWh battery storage project at Brigg, which will provide energy storage for the 43 onshore wind farms across Lincolnshire, maximising the potential of every megawatt of green electricity and providing vital resilience for the grid. Storing renewable energy in this way makes it possible to better control the peaks and troughs associated with renewable energy generation – charging the batteries when electricity demand is low and discharging when demand peaks. The battery installed at Brigg represents the largest investment in storage capacity Centrica has made to date. It will have the capacity to store 100MWh of electric energy, equivalent to a full day’s energy consumption for around 15 per cent of the homes in North Lincolnshire.
The battery storage system, supplied by GE, will provide grid support and energy services that will not only provide stability to the grid when there are power disruptions but also ensure renewable energy is utilised optimally, which should free capacity to allow more new renewable generation on the network.
Greg McKenna, Managing Director of Centrica Business Solutions, said: “Investing in low-carbon energy assets that boost the UK’s ability to store more renewable energy is key to getting to Net Zero. Lincolnshire has 242MW of onshore wind power capacity, but when supply outstrips demand some of those green electrons will go to waste if not stored. Working with GE we’ll store green energy produced locally and use it as efficiently as possible.
“As the UK’s power generation capacity becomes more distributed and the share of renewables increases, generation flexibility becomes critical to keep the lights on securely, sustainably, and affordably. Brigg battery storage investment will ensure we can maximise the use of the green energy generated by nearby wind farms – storing when the wind blows and discharging when it doesn’t.”
Prakash Chandra, renewable hybrids Chief Executive Officer at GE, said: “The UK has been one of the earliest and largest players in the battery energy storage space and the installed capacity keeps growing. However, there is a need for more if the country wants to achieve its Net Zero emission target for the power sector by 2035. We are glad to bring another project to life together with Centrica.”
Brigg battery storage is set to be fully operational in late 2023 with plans to run the site for 25 years. The solution implemented will be a 2-hour duration system with GE’s flexible duration architecture that will allow Centrica to modify the duration of the system in response to future grid needs and market opportunities.
Revenue and profit leap at Yü Group
The CEO of Yü Group, the independent supplier of gas, electricity and water to the UK corporate sector, and smart meter installation services, has hailed “excellent” unaudited half year results for the six months to 30 June 2022.
Revenue has soared to £129.2m from £65.8m in the same period of 2021, while profits jumped to £4.4m from £0.9m.
The Nottingham-based firm expects the strong H1 performance to continue for the remainder of the financial year and beyond.
Bobby Kalar, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We continue to reiterate our promise to keep delivering profitable growth and are confident this is set to continue.
“I’m very pleased to report another set of excellent results reflecting a strong and reliable performance. Remembering this is our fourth consecutive and consistent set of results I’m proud to confirm our key financial KPI’s are performing well and have exceeded our forecasts following two recent upgrades.
“Revenue is up by 96%, cash in hand has increased 37%, average monthly booking have increased by 49% and EBITDA has jumped over 400% compared to H1 2021. Our strategy is working well and our strengthened and highly disciplined business driven by our joined up processes, people and platforms continues to deliver a seamless customer experience.
“Our digital transformation program is on course and several digital projects are now live and embedded into the business. We will see additional benefits of reduced operating costs, better efficiencies and greater predictability as we scale these digital channels.
“While I’m pleased with the recent government Energy Bills Relief Scheme announcement, pledging support for business customers with their increased energy costs, I fear businesses will feel the ongoing pressure of volatile wholesale commodity prices for some time. We will continue to work hard to help our customers manage these difficult market conditions.
“A £300m Mark to Market trading position gives me comfort our hedge book is very strong, in accordance with our hedging policy, and provides significant confidence in forward gross margin.
“The successful launch of Yü Smart is a game changer in terms of value chain ownership. As well as supplying energy to our business customers we have gained certification from the Retail Energy Code (REC) and approval from Elexon and Xoserve to operate as a Meter Equipment Manager (MEM) and Meter Installer (MI) for both gas and electricity customers, creating the opportunity to install and maintain SMETS2 meters. In addition, owning the asset, creating an annuity income, provides an exciting new value pool for the Group to benefit from. I look forward to updating the market as we rapidly scale this capability.
“We performed well in the pandemic; even better in 2021, despite challenges in the market; and we expect even better performance in the remainder of 2022 and beyond. I’m reassured our business continues to prosper and will use its strength and experience as an anchor for any further turbulence. As we continue to enjoy the fruits of our hard work, I look forward to delivering significant shareholder value in the near future.
“Finally, I would like to thank my wonderful team who continue to support the Board’s target to achieve £500m revenue at over 4% EBITDA as soon as possible.“
Travel company rescued following administration deal
Leger Shearings Group (LSG) has sealed an administration deal, which will see the Rotherham-based escorted tours company acquire the Arena Travel brand and assets.
Arena Travel went into administration on Friday 23 September with a simultaneous transition to the new ownership. The agreement will see LSG acquire the special interest and touring travel company’s database, web domains and social media pages, covering all divisions and sub-brands of Arena Travel.
As part of the agreement all fifty permanent employees will retain their jobs under the TUPE protection of employees’ rights regulations. All bookings were financially protected and LSG are enabling customers to continue with their holidays as planned, so customers won’t lose out.
The three Arena Travel offices in Market Harborough, Buckingham and Nacton, Suffolk will be taken over by LSG.
Arena Travel, which has been in business for over 45 years, is well known for its river cruise holiday and specialist niche escorted holidays, including rail and bridge holidays. Craft holidays are operated under the Stitchtopia brand and cultural and garden tours under the Boxwood and Art Pursuits brands. The company also has a music and events division with Elvis, Memphis and Germany Tours and operates unique events in partnership with the band Queen’s fan club.
Leger Shearings Group CEO Liam Race said: “I am very pleased that the Leger Shearings Group was able to acquire the Arena assets and importantly, protect jobs during these challenging times. We are offering all customers the ability to take the same holiday that they had booked with Arena Travel.
“The companies share some similar products, including an excellent UK tours selection and river cruise holidays, but Arena’s very specialist holidays will add a new high-end dimension to our current portfolio.”
Arena Travel’s Managing Director Steve Goodenough will remain in position and he said: “Arena Travel is long established and prior to the pandemic was very successful, but it came out of covid battered and bruised. Our plan was to have a year of recovery, however, travel disruption hit every aspect of industry, from port delays, to flight and baggage disruption, to low water in Europe’s rivers and it took its toll and the business became untenable.
“I am delighted to be working with the Leger Shearing Group to rebuild the business, with the backing and security of a much larger company, which shares Arena Travel’s value of good quality service. I am especially pleased that the holidays our customers have booked will still take place, without interruption or financial penalty.”
In June 2020 Leger Holidays acquired the assets of former competitor Shearings after parent company Specialist Leisure Group went into administration. The Leger Shearings Group was established in January 2021.
New fully-funded programme launched for manufacturers in the Leicester and Leicestershire region, to support post-pandemic growth
Advanced manufacturers in Leicester/Leicestershire are encouraged to book spaces on the fully-funded Ambition to Grow programme.
The programme has been designed to nurture entrepreneurialism in the region by improving the growth success of advanced manufacturing businesses.
The programme will consist of one-to-one tailored business support from an industry expert, peer networking and a series of six masterclasses which have been designed to address the challenges faced by local manufacturing business leaders.
The programme is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund, organised by Leicester Business Gateway and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice.
To apply for the Ambition to Grow programme go to: https://bit.ly/3RaBR7o
