Derby City Council welcomes the return of the East Midlands Bricks Awards

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Derby City Council welcomes the return of the East Midlands Bricks Awards
As nominations gather pace, Derby City Council has welcomed the return of the East Midlands Bricks Awards for 2022. Councillor Steve Hassall, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Decarbonisation & Strategic Planning and Transport at Derby City Council, said: “As Derby embarks on a major programme of regeneration, with a specific emphasis on the city centre, harnessing the resources and expertise of the regional property and construction supply chain will clearly be key to achieving our ambitions. “We welcome the return of the East Midlands Bricks Awards, which is a good opportunity to recognise the excellent work of our developer partners and hope they make the shortlist.”

If you haven’t submitted your nominations yet, now is the ideal time.

The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrate the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and exceptional developments, and provide the perfect opportunity to shine a light on your team, reward their hard work, and boost morale. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of time to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, 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.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker, as well as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking. Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

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£1.1bn Ideagen acquisition completes

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£1.1bn Ideagen acquisition completes
Hg’s acquisition of Ideagen has completed, seeing the firm become a private company once again with trading in Ideagen Shares on AIM being suspended today and the cancellation of trading of Ideagen Shares on AIM expected to take place on 8 July. As a result of the deal, Ideagen non-executive directors Julian Clough, Alan Carroll and Tony Rodriguez have now resigned, while Richard Longdon will remain on the Ideagen Board. Chris Bayne, currently serving as CEO on the management team of software business Access Group, is to join the Nottinghamshire-based business’s Board. Ben Dorks, Ideagen CEO, said: “We are on an exciting journey of growth and progression, one that continues to deliver solutions to help improve operational efficiency, maintain compliance, manage risk and keep people safe. This new relationship with Hg will give us the ability to accelerate even faster, serve our customers better and scale our business further across the globe.” Ben added: “I’m looking forward to working with Chris and know he will bring valuable sector knowledge to the table. I’m also delighted to be able to continue to work with Richard Longdon, who has agreed to remain on the Board – and thank those non-executive directors who are subsequently stepping down, including Julian Clough, Alan Carroll and Tony Rodriguez. “Your support and guidance has been invaluable, helping to get us to this point in our growth journey and I know I personally have benefitted from your challenge and counsel. It has been a pleasure to work alongside you.” Christopher Fielding, Joris Van Gool and Jean-Baptiste Brian, partners at Hg, said: “We are delighted that our acquisition of Ideagen has now completed. We are excited about what the future has in store for our partnership with the company. “Ben and the team will now have greater flexibility to execute and accelerate longer term growth plans, including investments in product, technology, talent and large scale, accretive acquisitions. Together we are in a great position and remain committed to ensuring that Ideagen maintains and grows as a leader in the sector.”

Revenue soars at Mattioli Woods following recent acquisitions

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Revenue soars at Mattioli Woods following recent acquisitions
Mattioli Woods, the specialist wealth and asset management business, has reported “strong” revenue growth in a new trading update released ahead of final results for the year ended 31 May 2022. Revenues are up over 70% on its prior year, which the firm says reflects the impact of recent acquisitions plus strong organic revenue growth of 10%. Meanwhile profit is in line with management’s expectations. Ian Mattioli MBE, Chief Executive, says: “The last financial year was another period of economic and market uncertainty, throughout which we remained true to our purpose of putting clients first. I am pleased to report this focus has delivered strong revenue and profit growth, representing meaningful progress towards our ambitious strategic goals. “Revenue was up over 70% on the prior year, reflecting the contribution of recent acquisitions and double-digit organic growth, with the increased levels of new business written and a strong pipeline of new business enquiries offsetting the impact of negative market movements on the value of client assets. “Acquisitions completed during the year, together with those completed in the prior year continue to trade ahead of our initial expectations, including the Group’s two largest acquisitions to date of Maven Capital Partners and Ludlow Wealth Management.” He continued: “We expect the challenging macroeconomic conditions to drive an increasing demand for advice from clients, which will underpin growth in pensions and advice business. Like the rest of the UK wealth management sector, we expect market movements in the first half of this calendar year to negatively impact the Group’s investment-related revenues relative to our expectations prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, partially mitigating some of the anticipated revenue gains in our pensions and advisory business. “However, the spectre of rising inflation typically creates an opportunity for further investment inflows as existing and prospective clients consider appropriately investing surplus cash to avoid suffering an erosion in value of savings in real terms. “Despite ongoing management actions to mitigate costs, we expect Inflationary pressures to continue to impact employment costs, professional costs and occupancy costs across our office network. The Board will continue to take a rigorous and proactive approach to the management of costs. “We expect further consolidation within the wealth and asset management sector, and continue to see many new acquisition opportunities coming to market. We will continue to assess and progress bolt-on opportunities as well as potentially more substantial opportunities in the longer term, with all potential transactions required to meet our strict investment criteria and due diligence procedures.” Ian Mattioli MBE added: “The Group’s trading outlook for the new financial year remains positive, with revenues slightly ahead of management expectations, notwithstanding the challenging macroeconomic conditions that we, our clients and the industry face. Inflationary pressures are therefore expected to impact on our margins in the short term. We remain confident in our ability to deliver double-digit revenue growth and long-term sustainable shareholder returns.”

Nottingham apartment scheme reaches practical completion

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Nottingham apartment scheme reaches practical completion
Hindle House on Traffic Street in Nottingham, which has been developed by KMRE Group Ltd, has reached practical completion. The new three-storey scheme sees 62 contemporary one and two-bedroom apartments brought to market, of which only 9 properties remain available for sale, including top floor penthouses. Areas surrounding the development are undergoing extensive regeneration, opening up previously underused parts bordering Nottingham city centre – as well as the ongoing redevelopment of Broadmarsh shopping centre, which will likely see the site split into different zones for residential, retail and commercial developments as well as green spaces. Julia Day, sales and development progression manager at KMRE Ltd, said: “We’re very pleased to see works at Hindle House reach practical completion, with the majority of the properties selling off plan very quickly. Only a handful of these modern apartments remain available, including spacious penthouses which boast excellent views. “This development’s location is very well-connected to transport links and the rest of the city, making it an ideal place to live for professionals and those who commute further afield with Nottingham Railway Station conveniently close by. “Nottingham itself is a thriving and bustling city – and is home to many major employers and company head offices, including Queens Medical Centre, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, Boots, Experian, HMRC and Capital One. The development also offers close proximity to Castle Marina retail park and NG2 business parks, with Nottingham’s canal network, the River Trent and Victoria Embankment beauty spots within walking distance. “As our second scheme in the city, the first being our 81-home luxury apartment development known as The Yacht Club situated on the banks of the River Trent, we are proud to be investing in the city to bring quality new homes to the area.”

Almost 3 in 4 financial services firms see staff training as top business priority

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Almost 3 in 4 financial services firms see staff training as top business priority
With businesses across the economy struggling to access people and skills, the majority of FS firms are putting upskilling and retraining staff (73%) at the forefront of future business strategy and transformation plans, according to the latest CBI/PwC Financial Services Survey. Advances in technology & business transformation (69%) and achieving operational resilience (68%) were second and third most common priorities, respectively, for future strategy and transformation plans. The survey of 78 financial services firms – conducted between 30 May and 17 June – found that 74% of firms are looking to upskill their existing workforce in response to disruption. Regulation (71%), changes in customer preferences and behaviours (62%), acceleration in digital technologies (55%), and skills shortages (52%) were the top four trends said to be driving disruption in the year ahead. Meanwhile, sentiment across the sector remained poor in the quarter to June – falling at broadly the same quick pace as the previous three months – despite business conditions remaining relatively positive and profitability growth accelerating (although business volumes were flat). Furthermore, headcount grew at its fastest rate since December 2019. Looking ahead to the next quarter, FS firms expect business volumes to return to modest growth, while profitability growth is expected to slow. Numbers employed are expected to be broadly unchanged in the three months to September. There was a modest improvement in investment intentions for the next 12 months (compared to the previous 12). Land & buildings and vehicles, plant & machinery investment intentions both firmed on the previous three months, while IT capital expenditure plans remain strong. Uncertainty about demand was the most common factor cited as likely to limit future investment. Nearly half (48%) of all FS firms have initiatives to support consumer and/or commercial clients with the cost of living / cost of doing business. A further fifth (21%) of businesses said they were planning to set up initiatives in the future. Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, said: “The erosion of business confidence seen in the last financial services survey has pulled through to this quarter, likely reflecting concerns about the impact of high inflation on the economy. With pressure expected to persist throughout the year, there’s a real need for government to press ahead with confidence-boosting measures now. “Implementing a permanent successor to the highly successful super-deduction would help to crank-up investment levels and set the country on a path back to higher growth. “One of the bright spots from the survey was FS firms’ commitment to upskilling and retraining. It’s encouraging to see so many firms put staff development at the heart of their business strategies – and that is sure to reap rewards in terms of recruitment and retention later down the line. “It’s also welcome to see so many firms taking steps to support customers and business clients through the cost-of-living crisis. From improving access to finance and better financial education, FS firms have a range of tools to help households cope with rising costs.” Isabelle Jenkins, leader of Financial Services at PwC UK, said: “With a fierce war for talent impacting the financial services sector, it makes sense that firms are putting retaining experienced staff at the top of their to-do list. “That plus the 12 percent growth in employment, the fastest uptick since December 2019, proves that for CEO’s, building and maintaining their workforce is critical. “In fact, our research with the Financial Services Skills Council from earlier this year showed that, reskilling, once seen as perhaps a nice to have, can create cost savings of up to £49,100 per employee compared to recruiting or making a role redundant, a significant sum, especially in light of the increasing headwinds due to inflation. “So the business case is clear, however with half of the firms we spoke to admitting that time remains a barrier in delivering training, there remains a crucial shift that some businesses will need to embark on. “What we are seeing through today’s results show that financial services firms are aware that the fundamentals have been reset, and the breadth of competition for well trained staff means that firms will need to ensure that they can offer the kind of culture, environment and purpose that will attract and keep the very best.”

Specialist cleaning company makes major acquisition

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Specialist cleaning company makes major acquisition
A business finance broker has helped fund a major deal in the specialist cleaning sector by providing a seven-figure structured finance package. PMD Business Finance’s structured finance division has provided part of the funding which has allowed React Group Plc to complete its £8.5m acquisition of LaddersFree Ltd – an established business specialising in commercial window, gutter and cladding cleaning. The deal enables Derbyshire-headquartered React Group to broaden its customer base and achieve further nationwide growth. The AIM-listed company provides a wide range of specialist nationwide services including deep cleaning, decontamination, and hazardous waste removal for sectors including prisons, emergency services, industrial, highways, transport, technology, and hospitality. Based in Exeter, LaddersFree has a network of over 300 service partners and counts established brands like Costa Coffee, Next, Lidl, Holiday Inn Express and Marriot hotels among its customers. PMD Business Finance provided a £2.5m structured finance package to support the cash and shares deal. The deal team at PMD was led by structured finance directors Callum Bull and John Platt. Commenting on the deal, Callum Bull, structured finance director at PMD Business Finance, said: “We’re proud to have supported this significant acquisition that will allow React Group to further diversify its service offering in the specialist cleaning market. “LaddersFree has a highly scalable business model and can look forward to further significant growth through the additional investment and resources provided by React Group.” Mark Braund, chairman of React Group, said: “This is our second major acquisition and one that represents our ambition to build a profitable, industry leading business through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. “LaddersFree has an established customer base and generates significant recurring business, which complements the highly specialist reactive cleaning service we already provide. We’re delighted to welcome the company and its excellent team to the group. “We’re also incredibly thankful to Callum and John in the structured finance team at PMD Business Finance for their invaluable support. It’s been refreshing to deal with an intermediary that has such a clear understanding of the market and was able to guide us carefully through the deal process.”

Stars of cricket and business form new batting partnership

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Stars of cricket and business form new batting partnership
Two Nottingham stars of sport and software have announced a new partnership, as local business Ideagen becomes the official sponsor of Trent Rockets and England all-rounder Natalie Sciver. Speaking about the new relationship, Ideagen CEO, Ben Dorks, said: “Nat perfectly personifies Ideagen as a business – she’s an innovator, she’s widely regarded as one of the best in the world and is a superb all-rounder who has achieved things no-one has ever done before. “The clarity of strategic thinking and tremendous quality of execution displayed by Nat absolutely aligns with Ideagen as a business. We’re immensely proud that our name will be on her bat this season and can’t wait to see her in action for Trent Rockets and England.” The Ideagen branded bat has already had a successful first outing with Nat scoring her maiden test century in against South Africa in Taunton last week. Speaking about the deal Nat said: “I’m really excited for the year ahead and delighted to have Ideagen on board. They’re a global company but have really strong community focus and are active supporters of youth and women’s sport.” Currently at the height of her game, Nat is the top all-rounder in the International Cricket Council’s One Day International (ODI) rankings and second in its batting rankings, closely behind Australia’s Alyssa Healy. Similarly, Nat is classed as second top all-rounder and the highest placed England player in the batting rankings for Twenty20 (T20). Her excellent maiden test-match century also secured her a nomination for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for June 2022. Nat is also one of the faces of BBC Sport’s “We Know Our Place” campaign, which champions female talent in sport, showcasing the phenomenal progress made in recent years to challenge outdated perceptions. She was the first cricketer for England to take a hat-trick in a Women’s T20 International match and has a shot “The Natmeg” – named after her when she hit a cricket ball through her legs during a game. Ben continued: “Ideagen provides software solutions that protect organisations, where safety, quality and compliance are important. Like Nat, we are reliable, consistent and can be trusted to deliver. We truly share Nat’s innate drive to keep improving and evolving, achieving new levels of success while having a positive impact on the world around us.” Beyond its software solutions, Ideagen has a commitment to community, having launched its Think Big initiative in November last year. Working with young people in education, the programme is designed to boost career prospects in technology and to help bridge the digital skills gap. Ideagen is also a sponsor of Nottingham Forest’s academy and Forest Women’s development squad. Ben added: “We have plans to roll out Think Big globally and it would be fantastic to get a role model like Nat involved – cricket calendar allowing!”

East Midlands marketer welcomes Business Gateway campaign on neurodiversity

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East Midlands marketer welcomes Business Gateway campaign on neurodiversity
A Loughborough-based marketing manager has lent his support to a campaign to highlight the benefits of employing people who are neurodivergent. Barry Aldridge, who is himself neurodivergent, works at Flotec Industrial where he uses his condition to create new ideas, bring a different perspective and energise his workplace. Barry has shared his story with the Business Gateway as part of their campaign to highlight the fact that people with a neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism can be valuable assets to a business, particularly when challenging times mean different types of thinking are needed. Barry explained: “From an early age I could tell that my classmates considered me to be different. I always had a sense of humour and my comedy routines always made people laugh. But I could also draw and design to a very high standard and that’s something that I still use in my marketing role today. “When I was younger, I absorbed myself in reading and very often felt far too shy to join in conversations. It felt confusing. I enjoyed being the centre of attention but was also enclosed and introverted. When reflecting on my school life, I don’t think that conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or dyspraxia were at all recognised. “In adult life, I have found coping mechanisms and know which social situations I enjoy, and which ones are best to avoid. I have had to overcome negative comments in my career, but on the flipside, a colleague once told me that I am special, unique and have a wonderful mind. At Flotec I’m appreciated for my energy, ideas and creativity.” Chloe Smith, purchasing executive for Flotec Industrial Limited, added: “Barry’s neurodivergent way of thinking brings really creative ideas to life which not only promotes our company and its products but humanises us as a team where Barry communicates our stories and successes to the world. “One great example is the recent #sharetocare campaign where Barry invited employees to raise awareness about charities and good causes which are important to them and provided a marketing platform and voice for us to raise awareness to an external audience.” Rachel York, manager of the Business Gateway, concluded: “This year we have a special focus on neurodivergence and disability in terms of the benefits they can have on Leicestershire’s business community when it starts to understand more about these issues. “The so-called ‘purple pound’ (the spending power of the UK’s disabled community) is worth £249 billion each year so we want to help businesses get a share of that.  Neurodivergent people bring ideas, creativity and a different perspective which is what we need now more than ever. Our own team includes a person with ADHD and we’re encouraging other businesses to appreciate neurodivergent people for the benefits they can bring.” You can read Barry’s blog at the Business Gateway website: www.bizgateway.org.uk/news If you are a neurodivergent person working in Leicestershire and would like to share your story, please contact the Business Gateway team: peter.allen@bizgateway.org.uk

Barclays Eagle Lab to open at DMU

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Barclays Eagle Lab to open at DMU
Ambitious entrepreneurs and SMEs will be able to access advice and support to scale up and innovate thanks to a new partnership between De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and Barclays Eagle Labs. A new Eagle Lab will open in DMU’s Innovation Centre on campus later this year, offering co-working spaces, mentors, business advice and events. It will be the first Barclays Eagle Lab in the East Midlands. The Barclays Eagle Lab network is one of the largest co-working and incubator networks for start-ups and scale-ups in the UK. They aim to help entrepreneurs and businesses collaborate, innovate and grow. Today (Wednesday July 6) DMU and Barclays are set to host a VIP networking event to welcome key players from Leicester’s entrepreneurial networks to find out more about the Eagle Lab and how it will link up with the city’s current offers for businesses. Last year, Leicester was named one of the most popular cities in the UK to be an entrepreneur after figures showed there were some 5,345 new businesses registered in the city – a rise of 72% on the previous year. Vice-chancellor Katie Normington said: “We are proud to have the region’s first Eagle Lab here at De Montfort University. We know there is so much entrepreneurial talent in Leicester who will benefit from the expertise of the Barclays team as they scale up their businesses. “At DMU we are committed to driving forward a culture of collaborative innovation and we are excited to see this addition to Leicester’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.” John Corbett, head of SME for Central England at Barclays, said: “We are excited to be partnering with De Montfort University to extend the support offered by Barclays Eagle Labs to entrepreneurs in Leicester and the surrounding East Midlands area. Barclays Eagle Labs is committed to supporting entrepreneurs and has a mission to inspire and educate ambitious founders and start-ups across the UK to help them succeed.” Businesses will be able to access banking experts, a network of co-working spaces, mentors and learning tools, as well as events and growth programmes for ambitious entrepreneurs and businesses. It will operate alongside DMU’s existing Innovation Centre, which is home to tenants, a co-working space and The Crucible, the university’s business incubation programme for final-year students, alumni and SMEs which offers masterclasses and training. Details of the opening date and events will be announced nearer the time.

Northamptonshire firm acquired by international manufacturer of customised electronics

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Northamptonshire firm acquired by international manufacturer of customised electronics
discoverIE Group, an international designer and manufacturer of customised electronics for industrial applications, has acquired Northamptonshire-based CDT group. CDT, which is a designer and manufacturer of customised plastic enclosures for circuit boards, membrane keypads and associated electronics components, has been acquired for a total cash consideration of £5m on a debt free, cash free basis, before expenses, funded from the group’s existing debt facilities. CDT will be integrated with the group’s Contour business cluster within the Sensing & Connectivity division, whilst retaining its distinct brand identity. The acquisition will enhance the cluster’s engineering capabilities, further integrating custom electronic designs with their enclosures, enabling more highly differentiated opportunities. Its main markets are medical, renewables, emergency vehicles and industrial companies. The business, which was resilient through COVID, reported revenues for the year ended 31 December 2021 of £2.9m generating an underlying operating profit of £0.8m and an underlying operating margin of 28%. Nick Jefferies, group Chief Executive of discoverIE, said: “The acquisition of the CDT group continues our strategy of building a high quality, higher margin international group that designs and manufactures customised electronics. “CDT will be integrated with our existing Contour business enabling more complex and integrated designs as well as providing CDT with access to our wider base of customers and with it, new sales opportunities. We are delighted to welcome CDT and its employees into the group. “With a clear strategy focused on long-term, high quality growth markets, a diversified customer base, a strong pipeline of acquisition opportunities, the group is well positioned to make further progress on its key priorities.”

Cawarden snaps up final sponsor spot at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022

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Cawarden snaps up final sponsor spot at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022
Cawarden has completed the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, supporting the Excellence in Design category. Speaking with Business Link, William Crooks, Managing Director of Cawarden, said: “Cawarden was crowned the Contractor of the Year at the 2021 East Midlands Bricks Awards and we are excited to be returning as a category sponsor. We are backing the Excellence in Design award – helping to recognise others for their hard work over the last 12 months. “As a specialist demolition engineering contractor, we work closely with developers to clear the way for new schemes. It’s great to be able to play our part in regeneration projects throughout the UK, not least in our home city of Derby. Whilst we enjoy demolishing buildings, we also love to see new buildings going up, breathing new life into places and meeting the needs of the communities that use them. “The Bricks is a real showcase for the regional property and construction sector. We thoroughly enjoyed last year’s event which provided an opportunity to catch up with some familiar faces as well as meet new ones with the wonderful Trent Bridge Cricket Ground as a backdrop. “This award is an exciting opportunity to recognise the developers who have shown originality in design excellence.” The awards, which will take place on Thursday 15 September at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrate the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. Nominations are now OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards. To submit a business or development, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Award categories include: The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

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Trading “encouraging” at Topps Tiles despite continuing headwinds

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Trading “encouraging” at Topps Tiles despite continuing headwinds
Group sales are up at Topps Tiles, the Leicester-based tile specialist, according to a trading update for the 13-week period ended 2 July 2022. The business’s third quarter has seen group sales rise 9.2% year on year, which includes the benefit of a full quarter of trading from Pro Tiler Tools. The company said that it has continued to perform well in the third quarter, with like-for-like sales up 2.9% over the period. However, in the most recent eleven weeks, where the comparative period in FY21 was not impacted by trading restrictions, like-for-like sales were 0.9% lower when compared to a “very strong” period of trading last year. Sales, margins and operating costs remain in line with Topps Tiles’ expectations. Rob Parker, CEO, said: “Despite the continuing headwinds from lower consumer confidence, supply chain challenges and high inflation, trading remained encouraging and in line with our expectations in the third quarter, with Group sales up 9.2%. “Sales per store in Topps Tiles remain significantly ahead of our pre-pandemic performance, Commercial and Pro Tiler Tools are growing well year on year, and we have successfully launched our newest brand, Tile Warehouse. “Whilst we are mindful of the current economic pressures and their impact on the outlook for consumers, we are confident that our successful strategy, multiple growth drivers and strong balance sheet leave us well-positioned to deliver medium term growth and our 20% market share goal of ‘1 in 5 by 2025’.”

£5m Low Carbon Innovation Hub to transform green charging and testing at MIRA Technology Park

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£5m Low Carbon Innovation Hub to transform green charging and testing at MIRA Technology Park
Plans have been approved for a £5m green infrastructure project linked to a Low Carbon Innovation Hub that will support tech companies as they focus on developing low carbon technologies. Funding has been agreed which will transform an existing building at MIRA Technology Park into a low carbon research centre, bringing with it transformational charging and testing infrastructure for electric and hydrogen vehicles. The investment will be made through a partnership between the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) and site owner MIRA Technology Park. The new Low Carbon Innovation Hub will entail the £2.5m refurbishment by HORIBA MIRA of the existing technology building, which fronts the A5. This will be supported by a £2.5m investment from the LLEP and HBBC in the installation of significant electrical vehicle (EV) and hydrogen infrastructure to aid safe testing and handling of EV and related systems at the Leicestershire Enterprise Zone site. The charging infrastructure will help engineers and scientists on the site to further research and development around battery development, hydrogen fuel cells and other low carbon and alternative fuel technologies. The £2.5m LLEP investment in the low carbon infrastructure leverages the delivery of the Innovation Hub, thereby attracting a growing number of players in the transport sector which are developing low-carbon technologies. LLEP Interim Chair Andy Reed OBE said: “The Low Carbon Innovation Hub supports the LLEP’s goal for coming years of supporting economic growth through sustainability and innovation. “The site offers world-class facilities to the mobility sector. Projects such as this will help it continue bringing in employers and creating quality jobs while also supporting wider low carbon testing and development.” A planning application for the project has now been approved by HBBC.

Derby shortlisted to become the new home of Great British Railways

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Derby shortlisted to become the new home of Great British Railways
Derby has taken a step closer in its bid to becoming the new home of Great British Railways (GBR). The city is one of 6 to be shortlisted from 42 expressions of interest from towns and cities across the nation keen to be the HQ location for the new organisation created to deliver a simpler, better railway for everyone in Britain. The other shortlisted cities are Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle and York. Great British Railways will be the new public body responsible for running Britain’s railways. It aims to deliver the most ambitious changes to our railways in a generation, working with the Government, across the rail sector and beyond. In October last year, the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps announced a competition to find a location for the GBR headquarters outside of London. Historical ties with railways and good train connectivity to other places were among the criteria used to decide the shortlist. As the centre of Europe’s largest rail cluster, Derby is a front runner in the competition. There will now be ministerial visits to all the locations on the shortlist followed by a non-binding but influential public vote to measure the level of public support for each location. The public vote closes on 15 August, 2022. The result will be considered as part of final decision making and the winner will be announced later this year. Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Derby has been shortlisted to become the new home of Great British railways. This shortlisting is a testament to the hard work of our team, alongside our key rail partners based across the city – we couldn’t have done it without them. “As well as having a long 180-year plus rail history, what sets us apart is we remain home to a thriving rail ecosystem – Europe’s largest rail cluster. “I’m thrilled that Derby’s rail credentials are being recognised by the Government.” GBR will integrate the railways across the country, owning the infrastructure, collecting fare revenue, running and planning the network, and setting most fares and timetables. Derby’s bid already has the support of councils across the East Midlands including Derby, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, Leicester and Leicestershire, representing over three million people from across the region. Dozens of businesses from within the rail sector and beyond are also backing Derby’s bid to be the home of Great British Railways. East Midlands Airport, East Midlands Railways, Sperry Europe, Costain, Deutsche Bahn ESG, Toyota, Loram, Serco, Derby College Group, Resonate, Train FX, Alstom and the University of Derby are just a few of the East Midlands organisations that have endorsed Derby’s bid. Will Rogers, Managing Director, East Midlands Railway, said: “We are proud to support Derby’s bid to become the new home of Great British Railways and welcome their inclusion in the national shortlist. Derby is our home, an historic centre of railway excellence and well located in the heart of the Midlands, providing excellent transport links to towns and cities across the country. We look forward to the public vote, formal visit and the opportunity to showcase why Derby would make an excellent home for Great British Railways.” Kate Martin is deputy principal at Derby College Group (DCG) whose estate includes the iconic Roundhouse in Pride Park – part of the former loco works. She said: “The shortlist announcement is great news for Derby. As the city’s FE college with strong employer and curriculum links to the rail industry, we are fully behind Derby’s bid to bring the headquarters of Great British Railways to the city.  This will create high quality jobs for many, including our alumni, and act as a catalyst to further inward investment.” Richard Kelly, Managing Director at Loram, said: “Loram is delighted to back Derby’s bid for the new headquarters of Great British Railways. Our US parent company made a conscious decision to base Loram UK in Derby, which is at the heart of the railway. With unrivalled access to a dynamic and diverse supply chain, as well as a highly skilled talent pool, it makes perfect sense to base GBR in this City.” Justin Stroud, Managing Director, Europe at Sperry Rail said: “Derby is the location of Sperry’s European Headquarters because of its connectivity. After 20+ years of conducting very successful business from Derby, I would personally say GBR would be mad not to use the centre of the United Kingdom as the location to grow the Great British Railway.” Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, vice-chancellor at the University of Derby, said: “It is fantastic news that Derby has made the shortlist and we are delighted that the University of Derby is a partner in this important bid. Through our Rail Research and Innovation Centre we support collaborative research and innovation projects, helping to modernise the railway through digital and low carbon solutions. We are also ideally placed to provide the key skills needed to support the anchor employers and supply chain, as well as business support dedicated to the rail and transport sector that will enable growth and create more jobs in the region.” Michael Hulme, site engineering director at Alstom, said: “As the UK’s leading designer, builder and maintainer of trains, we’re proud to call Derby home. The city has been building trains for Britain and the world since 1839 and continues to do so today.  We’re delighted to support the city’s bid.” Councillor Chris Poulter continued: “This is a fantastic boost for Derby, and we urge all residents, businesses and stakeholders from across the whole of the East Midlands to take the time to back the bid and vote for Derby.” You can vote for Derby online.

Kitchen manufacturer to break into bedrooms market after securing £30,000 grant

Tess Egginton
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Kitchen manufacturer to break into bedrooms market after securing £30,000 grant
Luxury British kitchen manufacturer Kesseler is set to expand into new markets after securing grant funding to buy specialist machinery for its Nottinghamshire factory. The firm designs and manufactures luxury kitchen furniture from its base in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and is looking to break into the lucrative bedrooms market. It recently secured a £30,000 grant from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Business Innovation Fund towards the purchase of new manufacturing equipment to help increase production capacity. Mansfield Innovation Centre’s innovation director David Smith, supported its application, advising on the application and helping create the paperwork and documentation. Kesseler joined the Centre in October 2021, taking up office space to house its eight-person sales team, freeing-up space at its main production facility. Founded in 2009 by the Slater family, Kesseler now employs 44 people and has established partnerships with industry-leading brands, including Smeg, Konigstone, Laminam, the 1810 Company, Block Knives and Kaelo and has showrooms across the UK. Ben Slater said: “We are growing at an incredible rate and have plans to continue growing even faster. The new machinery this grant will enable us to purchase is a fundamental part of these plans. “The support we have received from David and the team at the Mansfield Innovation Centre has been invaluable. They’ve helped us navigate the process to give our application the best chance of success, and we’d have struggled to pull it together without David’s input. “The service we get from the Centre is amazing. It means we can house our sales team in a pleasant environment that’s detached from our main factory – which is great from a customer perspective – but we also get advice and insight from David and his team to help us bring our ideas and plans to fruition.” Mansfield Innovation Centre provides a business base to more than 30 growing businesses. It offers fully serviced offices and workshops, a virtual office facility, hot desk area, and meeting and conference rooms. Managed by Oxford Innovation Space, customers also benefit from a package of support and coaching tailored to each business’s needs and growth aims. David Smith said: “It’s great to welcome Kesseler on board as a customer at the Centre and work with its team to support its plans for growth. We were delighted to be able to successfully support its application for this grant, which will enable it to purchase some of the equipment it needs to continue to develop and grow this side of the business. “As well as providing high-quality office space in Mansfield, we also aim to provide all our customers with bespoke support to help them achieve their goals and overcome any issues or challenges they may be facing. Kesseler is a prestigious business to work with, which has an excellent reputation across the UK, so we’re proud to be a part of their journey.”

Lincoln agency expands with five new hires this summer

Tess Egginton
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Lincoln agency expands with five new hires this summer

Lincoln-based behaviour change agency Social Change UK is expanding its team with the arrival of five new faces this summer.

The award-winning research, marketing and creative agency has just welcomed Alison Howard, Ellen Bailey and Megan Horsman through its doors, all bringing a wealth of experience from marketing, PR and business development backgrounds. Alison joins the organisation as the new director of growth and innovation, with the aim of driving new business and increasing Social Change UK’s brand visibility. Megan will be heading up the in-house marketing team to grow the company’s online and brand presence, whilst Ellen’s focus is around managing public relations for client accounts. The team will also be joined by a new director of delivery, John Stacey, and creative designer, Zoe Cooper, in the next few weeks, bringing the total number of changemakers to 18. The appointments follow a successful number of years for the agency, having secured B-Corp status back in March this year and scooping the prestigious Drum Social Purpose Award in 2019 for their “Jiggle, Wiggle” sexual health campaign beating Dove, WWF, Mastercard and the British Red Cross. In 2020, the organisation was also shortlisted for another Drum Social Purpose award for a breastfeeding campaign. During the pandemic years, the business worked on several behaviour change campaigns for the government and public sector. Chief Executive of Social Change UK, Kelly Evans, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome new talent to the team, allowing us to expand our service offerings and helping more businesses deliver profit with purpose. “The company has gone from strength to strength over the last three years to become a leading behaviour change agency in the UK, and I couldn’t be prouder.” Social Change UK works alongside businesses to bring positive social change, helping change the attitudes and behaviours of people by inspiring, influencing and encouraging action through creative campaigns and programmes. The agency helps businesses measure their social value and impact, and through its work has saved society millions through ground-breaking research and award-winning campaigns and change programmes, helping businesses and brands deliver profit with purpose.

Mansfield housing development takes major step forward with completion of new spine road

Tess Egginton
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Mansfield housing development takes major step forward with completion of new spine road
A strategic urban extension of Mansfield has reached a major milestone, with the completion of a new spine road. The Lindhurst development is a £250 million site being built in Mansfield, to the south of Berry Hill, which will expand the existing community and provide new homes and jobs for the area. More than 500 homes have already been built and occupied. It is being delivered by the Lindhurst Group, a partnership between Nottinghamshire County Council, Westerman Homes, and Lindhurst Jersey Ltd. When complete, the 480-acre site will provide new community and commercial space worth an estimated £100 million a year to the local economy, as well as up to 1,700 new houses. It is expected to generate up to 4,000 new jobs and to include 31,000 square metres of commercial space and almost 190,000 square metres of work floor space. The new £3m one-kilometre spine road goes through the centre of the site, linking it to the Adamsway roundabout on the A6117. Funded by D2N2, the spine road will provide access to the planned local centre for the future community, which is planned to include shops, a health centre, a new primary school, a nursery, care homes, and offices. A community park and other green spaces are also planned, as well as a hotel, petrol station and roadside catering. Local bus links and green routes will also be set up. Now that the road is completed, the housing, retail and employment developers can move onto the land in preparation for opening. The road will open progressively as occupiers are ready, over the course of a year or more. The road building work is being carried out by Balfour Beatty and overseen by the Arc Partnership. The workforce is local, with 27% living within 10 miles of the scheme, and a further 56% between 10-20 miles. In addition, more than 95% of construction waste has been diverted from land fill. Ben Bradley MP, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “I’m really pleased to see good progress being made on the Berry Hill site. It’s going to bring in millions to the local economy, thousands of skilled jobs, and contracts for local firms. “It’s also creating hundreds of much-needed new homes for Nottinghamshire. It’s part of our regeneration plans for Mansfield and the rest of the county, so we can build back better and bring in more prosperity, putting in the investment now, so we can create a great place to live for future communities. “I think this is going to be a fantastic area for families, workers, people who already live nearby, and those we’ll attract as the area expands. It’s going to include facilities and green spaces, and I believe it will be a real asset that we can be proud of.” Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 LEP, said: “D2N2 is delighted to be investing £3m towards delivering the Lindhurst development, outlining our commitment and confidence in Mansfield now and in the future. “Sustainable mixed-use development incorporating attractive yet affordable housing, employment opportunities and community facilities are vital to reviving our major towns and helping deliver levelling up across the region. “The Lindhurst scheme will attract new skills and employment and provide an opportunity for young people to remain and prosper in Mansfield.” Richard Bowden, project representative for the Lindhust Group, said: “The Lindhurst Group is delighted to see the spine road project coming to fruition. “It opens the way to key elements of Berry Hill such as the local centre, the site for the new primary school and almost 500 new dwellings, including 170 affordable homes, and connects to the employment area at the east of the development. “The group is grateful to the D2N2 LEP and to Nottinghamshire County Council for helping to make this possible.”

Rolls-Royce SMR shortlists locations for first factory

Tess Egginton
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Rolls-Royce SMR shortlists locations for first factory
Rolls-Royce SMR has announced a list of potential locations for its first factory. This is the first of three factories and will manufacture the ‘heavy vessels’ for its Small Modular Reactor (SMR) power station. Rolls-Royce SMR says this is the largest and most complex facility, therefore, it is important to take decisions early to enable its deployment. Construction will begin once Rolls-Royce SMR receives the go-ahead to build a fleet of SMRs in the UK. The shortlist was selected against a clear set of criteria, picked from over 100 submissions from Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and development agencies – suggesting sites across the UK where the Rolls-Royce SMR factories could be located. The locations of the final shortlisted sites are:
  • Greater Lincolnshire – Grimsby & Pioneer Park, Stallingborough
  • North East – IAMP Sunderland
  • Forrest Park Newton Aycliffe
  • North Yorkshire – Catterick 53, Richmond
  • Wales – Gateway, Deeside
  • Yorkshire – Ferrybridge
  • Cumbria – Kingmoor Park, Carlisle
Rolls-Royce SMR Chief Executive, Tom Samson, said: “I would like to thank everyone who sent in a submission suggesting locations in their region for the first Rolls-Royce SMR factory. The response was fantastic and shows the ambition and appetite of the UK to build and operate a fleet of SMRs which will provide affordable, low-carbon electricity for generations to come. “The final location will come from the shortlist and will result in significant investment, long-term high-skilled jobs and will support the UK Government’s aspirations for levelling-up. Today’s announcement is another example of the pace of our project and why Rolls-Royce SMR is the UK’s domestic nuclear energy champion.” Rolls-Royce SMR’s approach is a completely different way of building nuclear power stations, where 90% of the Rolls-Royce SMR is built in factory conditions significantly reducing the timescales and project risk. The other two factories will manufacture civils modules and mechanical electrical and plumbing (MEP) modules – which will be transported to sites and assembled into a nuclear power station that will generate 470MW of low-carbon electricity. These locations will be selected from the full list of submissions – giving all locations further opportunities to host a Rolls-Royce SMR factory. Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, said: “This is fantastic news for Sunderland, North Yorkshire, Deeside, Lincolnshire and Carlisle which, if these SMRs go ahead, could be at the forefront of manufacturing components for this British-made tech. “Backed by £210m, SMRs have the potential to provide quicker and cheaper low-carbon nuclear power, and today’s announcement underlines the potential for new jobs around the country created by embracing this new technology.”

Significant transformation and investment set for iconic White Hart Hotel as new owner revealed

Tess Egginton
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Significant transformation and investment set for iconic White Hart Hotel as new owner revealed
One of Lincoln’s most well-known hotels, The White Hart has been acquired by Coleby-based chartered surveyor and businessman, Andrew Long. Andrew Long, principal director of Travel Sector Property Limited (TSPL), said: “We are delighted to have acquired this historic 50-bedroom hotel in its unique Uphill location. “We are proud to own this property, located within the imposing presence of the iconic Lincoln Cathedral and a few steps away from the city’s Norman Castle. We look forward to progressing our proposals for significant capital investment to upgrade and improve the existing facilities.” Taking ownership of the hotel and garages on the city’s popular Bailgate, Andrew has acquired The White Hart as a going concern, by way of an ‘off market’ transaction negotiated directly with Ambar Paul, principal of Contemporary Hotels. The current general manager Ian Robinson and all employees will be retained under the new ownership. Former owner, Ambar Paul, said: “We are pleased to have completed the transaction with Andrew and his companies, knowing he will successfully invest in the long term future of the hotel.” TSPL has also entered into a Management Agreement with Luxury Hotel Management Limited (LHM), owned by Nigel Chapman and colleagues who are well-established and highly experienced hoteliers. Andrew and his team also bought the Hotel Polurrian on The Lizard, Cornwall earlier in the year. The Polurrian is a 41-bedroom hotel and spa set in 12 acres of grounds with sea views, which also came with ownership of the Polurrian Cove beach. Andrew added: “The White Hart first opened more than 600 years ago as a Coaching Inn and has been one of Lincoln’s premier hotels since being substantially rebuilt and extended in the early 1800s. “We see the property as being an exceptional redevelopment opportunity. In particular, the garage and car parking areas at 2 Bailgate and off nearby St Paul’s Lane. “The Eastgate Suite (Orangery) has a well-established reputation as a popular wedding and function venue, which also includes the former King Richard Restaurant. We are committing substantial resources to create a prestigious and welcoming upgraded hotel. “Our intentions are to invest in an excellent restaurant, cocktail bar, function suite and leisure facilities, restoring the hotel to its rightful status as a premium leisure and business destination at the heart of Lincoln’s popular historic Uphill area.” Nigel Chapman, principal of LHM, said “We are pleased to be working with Andrew, having got to know him and his professional team very well. Lincoln is a fantastic city and the White Hart Hotel occupies a unique location with strong trading attributes for leisure and business use, along with significantly enhanced food and beverage facilities to serve the local area.” Andrew is a co-founder of the Extra Motorway Service Area Property Investment Group, where he continues to be CEO and an ongoing investor. He has some 40 years of property and operational experience in the hospitality and roadside sectors He has strong links with the city, having originally worked in Lincoln as a commercial property chartered surveyor & partner of Earl & Lawrence, together with Banks, Long & Co. Andrew retired from General Practice in May 2000 to focus on the expansion of Extra MSA Group, having initially trained in Lincoln with A Jackson & Son back in 1980.

HIT Energy scores place in Top 10 Green Businesses in UK

Michael Fisher
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HIT Energy scores place in Top 10 Green Businesses in UK
Lincoln-based HIT Energy Services has won national acclaim by being ranked as one of the top green companies in the UK in the recently released EnviroTech 50 list. Out of hundreds of eligible businesses, HIT Energy not only made the list of 50 companies, but breached the top ten, coming in as the sixth most green company in the United Kingdom. “This is amazing news,” Simon Hopkins of HIT Energy Services says. “We started as a small Lincolnshire company, but to be recognised nationally like this illustrates how much we have grown. When we set out on our journey only a few years ago, we wanted to make solar a reliable, green and viable form of energy for everyone. Our reach has grown massively in a short space of time, and we believe there are exciting times ahead for our innovations and services. To have this recognised by being placed in the top 10 of the EnviroTech 50 list is incredible and shows what a bright future solar has.” HIT Energy Services offers include free health checks of Solar PV – where their engineers will get the systems generating to their full potential. When they carry this out, they can also evaluate export tariffs, and advise the system owners how much income they could generate from excess energy. Through their “HIT Energy Guard” they can also monitor performance 24/7, meaning if any of the solar systems or panels ever drop performance, even for a short time, they can identify and fix it – this has saved some owners thousands of pounds a month. HIT’s work has been recognised with a string of accolades – at Lamma 2020, the UK’s leading agricultural machinery show – they scooped the online innovation award, whilst also beating hundreds of other products to be ranked seventh in the Midlands Tech 50 list.
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