Mid-sized businesses in the East Midlands are preparing to raise their prices in response to spiralling inflationary pressures, according to new research from Grant Thornton UK LLP.
In its latest Business Outlook Tracker survey, Grant Thornton found that 17% of mid-market firms in the East Midlands have already raised their prices, with a further 38% intending to do so in the future.
More than half (56%) of these businesses expect a price increase to remain in place for at least 12 months, though only 19% anticipate that this will be permanent.
The research also found that amid rising costs, wage inflation and energy bills, confidence in the mid-market has dipped. Just 50% of respondents in the East Midlands are optimistic about the outlook of the UK economy, a -12 percentage point (pp) decrease compared to February (62%).
The latest Tracker also recorded a significant fall in respondents reporting revenue growth optimism – dropping down to just 40% of respondents indicating they were confident compared to February’s total of 76%.
These challenges have also led to changes in investment priorities, as investment expectations for the next six months have dropped significantly across all areas monitored by the Tracker.
The most significant drop in the East Midlands (-33pp compared to the last Tracker) is seen in R&D. This is followed by skills development (-29pp), technology (-13pp) and growing in international markets (-7pp).
Sue Knight, partner and practice leader at Grant Thornton UK LLP in the Midlands, said: “With inflation running at 9% and predicted to rise even further, the mid-market in the East Midlands is bracing itself for another challenging period. If they haven’t done so already, many are seriously considering when they need to increase prices in order to maintain acceptable profitability and cashflow levels.
“Acting quickly and decisively to manage rising inflation rates could mean passing on increased prices to the consumer, but management teams also need to be looking at every aspect of their business to identify potential savings.
“Due to the current situation, there’s been a real shift in the mid-market’s priorities, with the increasing uncertainty stalling investment expectations. This is likely because many businesses are facing a double squeeze, with almost every cost increasing alongside rising concern from the potential of slowing consumer demand.”
Leicestershire-based development technical consultants, M-EC, has created a continuous professional development (CPD) session to equip members of the residential development community with the knowledge around new building regulations, coming into effect in June 2022.
Approved Document O (AD-O) is a new building regulation that makes it a requirement to take overheating into consideration with all new residential developments. It is intended to future proof homes against hotter summers in England, as well as avoid overheating which is becoming a cause for concern. It also considers night-time noise levels in bedrooms.
M-EC director, Alex Bennett, comments on what it will mean for the building industry: “These changes are some of the biggest in Building Regulations for a long time. It will mean an increased workload to show compliance and developers on residential projects will need to adopt different design strategies to remove excess heat and limit solar gains from properties. Overheating and noise will now need to be considered together.
“It’s only appropriate to help our clients through these changes when the response from the government has been so limited. Most companies that work in construction aren’t aware of the significant implications of these new regulations and it’s important we highlight this to our clients so there are no surprises at planning or later stages.”
The regulations apply to any dwelling where someone can sleep, so includes houses, student accommodation and care homes, yet not hotels.
Alex adds: “Although it’s a building control matter, it is advised to consider this early to ensure mitigation measures don’t affect planning permission. For developments with planning, providing work starts on site pre 15th June 2023 no compliance is needed.”
M-EC is offering CPD sessions which include an overview of AD-O and its proposed methodology for implementing it into new residential projects.
Adam Walker, acoustic consultant at M-EC, will be undertaking the sessions, he explains: “Significantly onerous ‘simple’ criteria are going to be difficult to meet for many businesses and so thermal modelling is going to become commonplace in residential design for certain building types. Our team is trained in thermal modelling to provide acoustic advice on the implications of overheating strategies.”
M-EC has invested in software which models virtual environments. Adam adds: “Essentially, we are able to draw in a layout provided by the client, including the internal floor plans to ultimately create an accurate 3D model of how a development will sit once it has been completed.
“Using weather files in accordance with the necessary guidance, we can then simulate the thermal conditions over a year which allows us to assess whether there is a risk of overheating in each of the dwellings. As part of the calculations/analysis, the model also considers things like thermal constructions, occupancy of the rooms and window and door openings. Thermal modelling ties in closely to the acoustics work that we do for our clients and can be carried out in a single assessment.”
M-EC will be running the CPD sessions with an overview of Approved Document O throughout May and June 2022. For more information or to book onto a CPD session contact 01530 264753 or email group@m-ec.co.uk.
Commercial property consultants OMEETO has announced a new partnership with one of the world’s most successful sports betting and gaming groups.
The firm will assist Entain plc, a FTSE 100 company which operates in over 20 countries worldwide, in the disposal of their surplus commercial properties throughout the Midlands and South Yorkshire.
Entain’s brands include household names such as Ladbrokes and Coral.
OMEETO owner Chris Wright, who will handle the disposals alongside commercial property agent Caine Gilchrist, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Entain plc.
“They’re one of the biggest betting and gaming groups on the planet. Their brands are well-known high street staples, so this is a great project to be involved with.
“We will be helping the group to dispose of well positioned properties, in prominent locations that are likely to appeal to a broad range of High Street occupiers.”
Derby College Group has been named as one of a select handful of colleges in the UK to offer a special sports qualification for young cycling stars of the future.
It is one of only four colleges to being accredited by British Cycling to offer the Level three Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE).
The two-year programme, based at DCG’s Broomfield Hall College, in Morley, will enable aspiring cyclists aged 16 to 18 the opportunity to train with British Cycling coaches alongside a full-time academic or vocational study programme of their choice.
In addition, places are also available for the RIBBLE rechrg Performance Academy, which is run by DCG in partnership with Ribble junior and development road cycling team – combining topflight training with full time study.
DCG team manager Nick Ramsden said: “It is a huge accolade for Derby College Group to be one of just four colleges in the UK to offer this pathway for aspiring cycling athletes.
“Derby is fast becoming renowned a centre of excellence for cycling – not least with the velodrome facilities at Derby Arena.
“By using all the facilities available to us and utilising the support of the team of expert coaches, trainers and mentors, we will provide a clear pathway for young athletes who have their sights set on a professional cycling career.
“Our aim through the DiSE and RIBBLE rechrg Performance Academy is to enable young athletes to compete at a high level and gain qualifications to open doors to future careers in the sport.”
Tom Stanton, British Cycling’s performance pathway manager, said: “Being in receipt of DiSE places created a new and exciting opportunity for us to expand our support offer.
“As the development pathway evolves, it is key for us to ensure we are attracting and enabling the most talented athletes in the UK to British Cycling.”
Bakery firm Project D has teamed up with one of the leading sellers of artisan bakery products to enable it to reach thousands of commuters and shoppers.
Project D, which produces elaborately decorated doughnuts from its headquarters in Derby, is diversifying by selling its cinnamon scrolls through Batch’d stores.
The sweet treats will be sold in all 15 of the Batch’d shops across the UK, which include railway stations in Leeds and Manchester and shopping centres in Hull, Milton Keynes and Sheffield.
It also means Project D’s products will be available in some of the biggest shopping centres in the UK – including the Bullring, in Birmingham, the Arndale and Trafford centres in Manchester, Eldon Square in Newcastle and Merryhill in Dudley.
It is the first time Project D has allowed another retailer to sell its products and marks a new chapter in the rapidly expanding firm’s journey.
Operations manager Max Poynton said: “We are really excited to be working with Batch’d. It’s a company which is rapidly expanding, just like Project D, and I think the synergy between us will mean we can grow together.
“It’s a great endorsement to be selected by Batch’d as they only work with the very best artisan bakeries and although it’s a national chain they pride themselves on the high standards of their partners.
“Our cinnamon scrolls have always been really popular, but they have lived a bit in the shadow of our doughnuts – just because they are so highly decorated and Instagram-ready.”
Project D launched by selling doughnuts at pop-up events and kiosks in shopping centres until the pandemic hit, when they began an online delivery service.
Max said: “We are exploring new routes to market all the time, and wholesale is definitely part of Project D’s future, as well as the creation of our own flagship stores.”
HSBC UK has launched a £15bn lending fund today for small and medium sized businesses with £950m ring-fenced to support local economies, employment opportunities and drive growth across the East Midlands.
Whilst concerns about the broader market remain, HSBC’s customers are thinking about growth via investment, acquisitions and capital expenditure. Businesses have told us that they are ready to invest for growth and are confident about the prospects for their own businesses. They point to the biggest areas of opportunity are in sustainability (12%) and digitisation (11%)*.
The Fund is a key part of HSBC’s commitment to help British businesses to innovate, thrive and grow in the UK and internationally. SMEs are vital to the UK economy and account for three fifths of the employment and around half of turnover in the UK private sector according to the FSB. The Fund, which includes specific regional and locally focussed allocations, will seek to ensure that companies throughout the country can benefit.
This year’s fund also includes ring-fenced funding for businesses trading internationally (£2 billion), in the agriculture sector (£1.2 billion) the tech sector (£500m) and franchise businesses (£500m).
It is also aligned with the Green SME Fund (£500m) for businesses of all sizes to transition and thrive in a low carbon economy and the new Growth Lending Fund (£250m) for high growth tech businesses to support well-equitised, high growth, loss-making scale ups early in their growth journey.
Since launching the SME Fund in 2014, HSBC has lent more than £90 billion helping businesses to make the most of their money, now and into the future and opening up a world of opportunity for our customers.
In 2021, the HSBC UK SME Fund supported Little Eaton car and van repair centre, Panel Match, with a five-figure package. The support allowed the company to open a new unit, which has increased operating space by 50 per cent and enabled the company to meet increasing customer demand for its body repair and paint services.
Small Business Minister, Paul Scully said: “This new fund puts HSBC on course to have lent more than £100 billion to UK small businesses within a decade, which is a great milestone for HSBC and even better for the communities across the country being helped to thrive.
“This extra funding builds on the support available through government schemes like Help to Grow and Start Up Loans to help small businesses grow and reach their full potential.”
Small Business Commissioner, Liz Barclay, said: “The challenges facing small businesses are beyond imagination. The problems caused by poor payment practices such as late or delayed payments, and extended payment terms pile pressure on cash flow. Small firms are the lifeblood of the economy, and they must be paid fast and fair, and if they are to have the confidence to invest and build the resilience, they’ll need to weather the storms ahead and they will need the support of funds like this more than ever”.
Peter McIntyre, Head of Business Banking at HSBC UK, said: “SMEs are vital to the UK economy, and our customers have told us they are ready to invest for growth. The £15 billion fund will help businesses to expand internationally, as well as here in the UK, supporting key sectors and driving investment across the regions.
“We want to make a significant contribution to economies across the country, driving employment, local wealth and growth by providing funding, when and where it’s needed most. We know our customers are innovating and adapting at pace and British businesses need their bank to be flexible, supporting future growth opportunities.”
A group of Motor Retail Companies operating across the East Midlands and North West areas of England has received a seven figure funding package from Barclays to support their expansion plans with the refinance of existing term and working capital facilities alongside funding to help finance the group’s growth strategy.
RJTK Investments, was established in 1998 as an independent, family run business with a single Vauxhall site and has since grown to employ over 330 people across the East Midlands and North West. The company now boasts 10 sites in locations including: Louth, Boston, Grantham, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, and Bolton, with another 2 locations due to go live between now and the end of 2023. The group currently represents a range of leading brands including Vauxhall, Kia, Suzuki and Maxus.
Tom Wilson, Commercial Director, RJTK Group, said: “Through our initial discussions with Joe and his team, it immediately became clear that Barclays would be the perfect partner for the group as they were aligned with and supportive of our future growth strategy. The motor industry has experienced rapid change over the last two years and our agile structure has meant we have been able to adapt quickly whilst growing the business with existing and new manufacturer partners. Our new relationship with Barclays will allow us to continue this growth and capitalise on opportunities that fit within our business model.”
Turnover for the business is expected to exceed £140million for the current year and further growth is expected in 2023.
Joe Reid, Barclays Business Development Director, and Jag Singh, Barclays Relationship Director put together funding for the deal and said: “RJTK is an excellent business, underpinned by an experienced, established management team that have grown the business to be one of the region’s top performers. We have been impressed with the market knowledge and ambition of the business since our first meeting and are delighted to have been able to support Tom and the Management Teams’ exciting growth plans. We look forward to a long and successful relationship supporting their continued success.”
The entrepreneur behind Derby-headquartered global IT firm, Bam Boom Cloud, has scooped a prestigious international award.
At the recent Women in Cloud Awards, presented at the Ingram Micro Cloud Summit in Miami Beach, Florida, Vicky Critchley, chief executive of Ban Boom, won the MVP Woman of the Year Award.
The awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and businesses within Ingram Micro Cloud’s ecosystem on their efforts to support women in the community.
This year’s winners were all high-achieving individuals and partners who had displayed high levels of innovation, leadership, and advocacy for Women in Cloud in 2021.
The Woman of the Year Award category recognises one individual female seen as the most valuable player, providing inspiration to her team and organisation.
Vicky was recognised for helping Bam Boom Cloud develop a reputation not only for customer excellence, but also as an inclusive and progressive workplace.
Under her leadership, the percentage of women in Bam Boom’s global team has grown to 33%, with over half of senior management positions held by women.
She said: “I am honoured to be awarded the Women in Cloud MVP Woman of the Year 2022 award.
“Ingram has always been a fantastic supporter of women in the tech industry and this Women in Cloud category showcases some of the most brilliant and dynamic female leaders in the world, so to be recognised as one of these is incredible.
“I am so proud to be part of an amazing global crew of super women at Bam Boom Cloud who demonstrate that there is so much interest and passion from women to be a part of our industry.”
Andrea Mullens, vice-president of human resources at Ingram Micro Cloud, said: “We are proud to recognise the hard work of our partners as they continue to drive industry-leading initiatives in which a diverse workplace can thrive and succeed.
“This distinguished group of channel partners and individuals are paving the way in leadership, innovation, influence, and a commitment to continuously deliver an environment that promotes and celebrates the talents of women.”
Independent luxury and supercar dealer Baytree has strengthened its team with a brace of new appointments.
Due to growth achieved over the last three years, the firm has appointed Adam Le’Gallienne as sales executive alongside Steve Patterson who takes on the senior sales executive role.
Steve, who has spent almost 50 years working in the motor trade, said: “Having spent the last 15 years with BMW, I am really looking forward to working with the prestige and supercar brands within Baytree’s portfolio, and, of course, building client relationships.”
Adam, said: “The prospect of dealing with high-end performance cars and helping Baytree build on its successful track record really excites me.”
The appointments mark an exciting period for Baytree as it celebrates its 15th anniversary – and prepares to open new showroom facilities at its Chequers Lane site, following an investment of £250,000.
The works, which are expected to be completed in June, will allow Baytree to stock around 120 prestige and performance cars.
Derby law Firm Flint Bishop has advised on a major deal involving the sale of a compliance consultancy business to a UK listed company.
The law firm advised the shareholders of The Compliance Office on its sale to listed firm Marlowe plc, one of the UK’s leaders in business-critical services and software.
Founded by Andy Donovan in 2014, The Compliance Office has a dedicated team of specialist consultants supporting over 100 law firms.
The deal will see Compliance Office operating closely with compliance technology company VinciWorks, which was bought by Marlowe in 2021, to develop new creative and dynamic compliance offerings.
Martyn Brierley, head of corporate & finance at Flint Bishop, said: “It was a pleasure to support and advise the shareholders on this successful sale.“The technological knowledge of Marlowe and VinciWorks and the compliance expertise of Compliance Office will be a powerful combination and I wish them all the very best in their strategic partnership going forwards.”
A seat has been named in Leicester’s Curve theatre to mark Peter Leathem’s 10th year as Chief Executive Officer of music licensing company PPL.
PPL licenses recorded music in the UK when it is played in public (shops, bars, nightclubs, offices, etc.) or broadcast (BBC, commercial radio, commercial TV, etc.) and ensures this revenue flows back to its members. These include both independent and major record companies, together with performers ranging from emerging grassroots artists through to established session musicians and globally renowned artists.
The presentation took place in The Theatre auditorium, with Leathem meeting Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford alongside Andrea Gray, Managing Director of PPL and PRS for Music’s Leicester-based public performance licensing joint venture, PPL PRS.
Leathem is a board member of PPL PRS and, as Chief Executive Officer of PPL, was instrumental in setting up the company and its launch in 2018. PPL PRS is the biggest public performance licensing venture of its kind in the world, turning over hundreds of millions of pounds.
Under Leathem’s leadership, PPL has regularly supported Curve’s work, including sponsoring the orchestras for recent acclaimed Made at Curve productions of A Chorus Line and Sunset Boulevard – at Home.
The seat is inscribed with the words ‘With thanks to Peter Leathem from Team Curve’ and is situated next to a seat gifted by Curve to Sir Ian McKellen to celebrate the legendary actor’s 80th birthday tour of theatres across the UK.
Peter Leathem, Chief Executive Officer at PPL, said: “It is an honour to be recognised by Curve for PPL’s support of its work and to be allocated a seat next to such a prestigious actor. PPL’s backing of Curve is a natural fit, as we represent more than 130,000 performers and rightsholders of recorded music, helping them get paid when their recordings are played in public. Many of our membership have successful careers thanks to cultural landmarks like Curve. They provide regular opportunities for musicians to perform and also act as incubators for emerging local talent to hone their craft, developing local creative hubs in the process. Our cultural landscape, and PPL’s membership, is enhanced by institutions like Curve, so it is right that we should support its contribution to the UK’s performing arts sector. Thank you Chris and the team at Curve for all that you do.”
Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with PPL and we are indebted to Peter Leathem and his colleagues for their continued support of Curve over the last few years. Peter’s passion and commitment to Leicester is inspiring, and we are thrilled to name a seat in Peter’s name to mark his 10 years with PPL and his contribution to Curve. Many congratulations to Peter and here’s to the next 10 years!”
Land in rural Leicestershire with planning permission for 17 new homes has been sold to a local housing developer.
Specialist land, development and property agency Newton LDP has completed the sale of land off Church Causeway on behalf of its client to Langton Homes.
The 1.81-hectare site, in the village of Church Langton, received outline planning permission for 17 homes in May 2019, with reserved matters approval granted two years later.
Richard Foxon, Managing Director of Newton LDP Ltd, said: “This is a site I know well and have been involved in for some time, initially advising the landowners when they entered into an option agreement with Langton Homes in 2018.
“We are pleased to have negotiated the sale of the land with planning permission for an attractive and sustainable development, which will provide much-needed new homes in this popular part of Leicestershire.”
Mark Coombs, representing the landowners, said: “We engaged with Richard from the outset as we were aware of his strong track record and professional reputation within the development land sector.
“It was thanks to his knowledge, experience and tactical negotiation that ensured we maximised our returns from this scheme.
“I would like to thank Richard and Newton LDP for their attention to detail and due diligence throughout this process, and look forward to seeing this high-quality development being developed out by Langton Homes.”
Ground work has already commenced with Langton Homes anticipating the scheme to be complete in summer 2023.
The site will be called Hanbury Gardens and will provide a range of three, four and five-bed homes, comprised of 11 private and six affordable dwellings.
The high-quality modern development features homes with a highly-insulated timber frame system, underfloor heating, electric vehicle charging points and bespoke designer kitchens.
The project will help to meet the demand for housing in the area, with East Langton and Church Langton expected to deliver 30 new homes by 2031 under Harborough District Council’s Local Plan.
Ben Cripps, Director of Langton Homes, based in Rutland, said: “We are thrilled to be acquiring this land, which will help to meet the council’s requirements for new housing in this area.
“Church Langton is one of the most sought-after villages in Leicestershire, with strong transport links to Market Harborough which is just a short drive away.”
High pass rates and a high number of distinctions are why Access Training (East Midlands) Ltd has been chosen as a Centre of Excellence for End-Point Assessment (EPA), according to City and Guilds.
The organisation, which has training centres in both Nottingham and Derby, joins only 100 of independent training providers/colleges and employer providers across England and Wales to be awarded this standard.
It has been delivering EPA through City and Guilds since the Apprenticeship Standards were first introduced in 2017, for apprenticeships ranging from Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 to Team Leader Supervisor Level 3, and Operations and Departmental Manager Level 5. This follows a number of qualifications delivered in partnership with City and Guilds for over three decades, including in the areas of Childcare, Health and Social Care, Customer Service, Teacher and Assessor Training and Construction.
Rebecca Hollamby, End Point Assessment Partnership Manager servicing City and Guilds, said, “City and Guilds has a 140-year history of working in education and with industry and partners, and is trusted universally as a leading end-point assessment (EPA) services organisation.
“Our ethos is helping learners and employers to identify and develop the skills they need to thrive. Access Training, through their high pass rate, number of distinctions and unfailing commitment to their learners, most certainly brings that ethos to life. They are very worthy recipients of the coveted status of EPA Centre of Excellence.”
Two examples of Access Training’s learners who are benefiting from City and Guilds accredited training are Tim Weymouth and Daisy Bennett from insurance brokers Aston Lark, in Derby. Their Level 3 Team Leader/ Supervisor apprenticeship has already offered a very tangible impact.
Tim comments, “it has given me the “science” behind some of the leadership traits I wish to have, as well as the framework to introduce change to a team.”
Daisy adds, “I know how to build a good team through the knowledge team dynamics, how to manage my time well and also help others in my team to do the same.”
Lorraine Nicholson, Operations Director at Access Training said, “Our relationship with City and Guilds is an important one since, for many sectors such as Construction and Management, the internationally recognised City and Guilds/ILM is the industry standard valued by learners and employers alike.
“Our trainer assessors are tireless in offering the pastoral care our learners need to achieve – whether that be supporting them with additional learning needs like dyslexia, housing issues, or simply lending an ear when things get too much. That – and the sheer will of our learners in working hard to improve their life chances – is what makes this recognition so well deserved.”
A junior lawyer at Timms Solicitors is celebrating after scooping a top award.
Jessica Barnett was recently named Junior Lawyer of the Year at the Derby and District Law Society’s annual awards.
After joining Timms, she worked her way up to a permanent position in the family law team in 2020 – working across the firm’s offices in Derby, Burton, Swadlincote and Ashby.
She has now been accepted onto the Timms Associate Programme as part of her career development.
Fiona Moffat, managing partner at Timms, said: “Jessica is an exceptional solicitor and valued member of the Timms family. We could not be more delighted that she has been recognised in this way.
“During her tenure here, she has worked on several complex cases with care and professionalism that belies her age and has taken on additional duties to help to support organisational improvements in the overall running of the firm.
“Her many other attributes include her willingness to get involved in all aspects of our work including supporting the University of Derby Law School’s mentoring programme, networking events and Timms’ community work.”
North Lincolnshire organisations are being invited to apply for a share of Government cash to kickstart projects.
Last month the leader of North Lincolnshire Council welcomed the announcement of additional levelling up cash to enable even more people to complete high-quality skills training and access well-paid, sustainable jobs.
The cash is part of the Government’s £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund, designed to increase community pride by supporting businesses and helping people achieve better outcomes, access opportunities and lead better lives.
Now, local organisations are being invited to find out more about the fund by joining an online webinar taking place on Thursday 9 June 2022 between 9am and 10am.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“This is further evidence of levelling up here in North Lincolnshire.
“Already, the Government has committed £30m of investment to transform Scunthorpe. A range of projects, including the construction of the enterprise and innovation hub and advanced manufacturing park, as well as the delivery of gigabit broadband and green energy schemes will help to stimulate growth, create jobs and build a different future for residents.
“This new cash injection will go even further and gives local organisations a fantastic opportunity to directly shape North Lincolnshire’s exciting future.”
Examples of projects eligible for funding include further enhancing:
town centres and high streets
arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities
local sports facilities, leagues and tournaments
community measures to reduce cost of living
Please register for the webinar via Eventbrite. To apply for funding, please complete the online proforma by 10am on Friday 17 June 2022.
Aimrok Holdings, the owner of prominent hotel, The Gresham, which is located in one of Leicester’s most iconic landmark buildings, has received £13.8m of new funding from Cynergy Bank.
The Gresham Aparthotel provides luxury accommodation in the historic heart of Leicester. The hotel opened in November 2021 following a £17 million refurbishment. The 121-bed Aparthotel also includes a restaurant and bar, gym, as well as 12,000 sq.ft. of conference facilities and state-of-the-art co-working spaces and four commercial units.
The finance provided by Cynergy Bank enables Aimrok to refinance its existing facilities following the completed development of the Gresham Aparthotel. The group was provided with a Turnkey Funding Solution following the completion of the development.
Mark Copson, partner at Aimrok Holdings and co-owner of The Gresham said: “It was a pleasure to work with Cynergy Bank. The team applied innovative and strategic thinking to find the right solution to meet our requirements. We look forward to building on this relationship and working with the team in the future.
Sat Shingadia, Relationship Director, Cynergy Bank commented, “It has been a pleasure working with Aimrok holdings, to complete the bank’s first hotel turnkey commercial transaction. Aimrok Holdings is a prosperous business and is run by an impressive management team and will no doubt grow from strength to strength.
Dawson Radford Solicitors is celebrating a record value of corporate and commercial property transactions in May.
Reports of a buoyant buying and selling market would appear to be true, as Dawson Radford has completed over £37,000,000 worth of transactions in just one month.
“To say we are only a small team, the value of transactions completing this month is incredible – we really are seeing some great quality transactions at the moment” says Head of Corporate and Managing Director, Jo Dawson.
“We are almost always working alongside major city firms who have large teams of lawyers at their disposal. Although we are a small team, we are a strong team producing high quality work and, most importantly, getting deals done for our clients, sometimes under extremely tight time constraints”.
Jo Dawson has a particular specialism in care home sales and purchases, and this area is particularly active at the moment. However, the transactions Dawson Radford is undertaking at the moment are extremely varied.
“We are seeing activity in all industries at the moment, from manufacturing to logistics, marketing companies to heating engineers, property portfolios to stone masons, security firms to funeral directors” says Jo.
Being able to provide a complete business transaction service to clients relies on the expertise of not only the Corporate department, but also the Commercial Property department, led by Joe Phelan, and the Employment department, led by Liam Kenealy, particularly as commercial property refinance transactions continue to grow.
South Kesteven District Council is to relocate to a modern, open-plan office in a move that will improve business efficiency and working conditions, and save taxpayers an estimated £300,000 a year in running costs.
The switch from St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, to office space on the top floor of the town’s nearby cinema complex was approved at the Council’s annual meeting on Thursday (May 26th).
The Council Leader, Cllr Kelham Cooke, said St Peter’s Hill was an ageing asset that needed significant investment if it was to provide a modern working environment.
“We aim to be a competitive employer of choice making maximum use of technology to obtain value for money and supporting a workforce able to work flexibly to support all residents and service users,” he said.
“This move is a unique opportunity to rationalise the Council’s operations against the backdrop of continued financial challenges and to reflect the significant change in working practices accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Throughout the pandemic the Council showed that it could operate in a more agile way and no longer required such large premises and a blended approach of home and office working is seen as the most effective way forward.
Cllr Cooke said: “No matter how our services are delivered, the first consideration must be the needs of the business and ensuring that our residents and businesses receive high quality, value for money, services.
“We need to identify ways of reducing operating expenditure, maximising the use of assets and removing unnecessary costs.
“The move allows us to make best use of vacant Council-owned assets, eliminate significant annual costs that are being incurred at the present office location, and provide our staff with a modern working environment.
“The projected saving is around £300,000 a year, while the potential sale of St Peter’s Hill could generate a significant capital receipt. Crucially, there will also be a reduction in our carbon footprint – a key priority for us.”
Potential partnerships with other public sector organisations are being explored to develop a Customer Service hub in vacant ground floor units with the cinema complex.
The local Trade Unions have given their support to the move, which could be completed by March next year.
Mather Jamie has announced that one of our founding Directors Martin Ward, has relinquished his position on our management board.
Martin was one of the founders of the company in 1991, and has sold his remaining shares to fellow directors Rob Cole and Andrew Bamber over recent years. Since then, he has relinquished responsibility for business operations but continued managing an extensive and long standing client portfolio. He will remain a Director of the company and the Mather Jamie management board now comprises Robert Cole, Andrew Bamber, Alex Reid and Gary Owens.
Whilst Martin has stepped down from his managerial responsibilities, he will continue to focus on the completion of a number of deals that are in the pipeline for his long standing clients, including his work on the sustainable urban extension at New Lubbesthorpe on behalf of the Drummond Trust, and advising the Harpur Crewe Estate on short and medium term residential and commercial development south of Derby, including Infinity Park and Infinity Park Garden Village.
In February 2021, Mather Jamie announced four new senior promotions when Gary Owens and Amy Biddell were promoted to Director, Gary Kirk to Senior Associate Director and Hamish Byers to Associate Director, and Martin will also work alongside the management team to ensure a smooth succession of responsibilities.
Commenting, Martin said, “Whilst I may no longer be the first person in and the last person to leave the office, I will continue to work for clients and enjoy passing on my knowledge and expertise to the next generation. I plan to work hybridly and will flex my hours to suit the needs of clients and my other personal interests and hobbies. Rest assured, my retirement is still very far away as I am just far too busy and committed to my clients.”
Based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, Mather Jamie is one of the East Midland’s leading commercial and agricultural surveyors and valuers and was recently recognised as a 2022 CoStar Awards winner. It’s principal services include strategic land development advice, acting as rural estate managers and letting agents, and commercial property agents.
Lincoln-based manufacturer, Superfoil, is investing half a million pounds in 2022 so they can gear up manufacturing and help their customers drive down energy bills.
As Managing director, William Bown explains, “There’s a certain amount of pride in manufacturing in-house and using local suppliers, and that’s on top of the compelling environmental argument, the support it gives to our local economy and job creation. This is why we’re so pleased to say that, from Autumn, 70% of our products will be made in Britain.”
“Thanks to some great relationships we’ve built with new, UK-based suppliers and a huge increase in manufacturing at our headquarters in Lincoln, we’ll be able to produce 11 times as much insulation in-house as we could before!
Bringing manufacturing back to Britain
“Back in 2008 when we started SuperFOIL, we simply weren’t in a position where we could do everything ourselves and there weren’t many (or any!) companies producing the components we needed in the UK. As a result, we have had to rely on producers overseas because the cost of doing otherwise would’ve been enormous.
“Fast forward 14 years and the tables have turned; we’re a larger company that now employs 33 brilliant people; we have a vast, five acre site in Lincoln, we’ve found some fantastic new suppliers closer to home, and we’ve been saving up to buy some big, shiny machinery that’s been on our wish-list for a long time.
High rollers
“The first big investment off our wish-list this year is now up and running: A new, custom-build unwinding station.
“While it might look like something from Takeshi’s Castle, this bit of kit will help us increase on-site production by 60% by enabling us to combine five layers of foam wadding and woven aluminium simultaneously. With super smooth bearings and a built-in replenish system for rapidly reloading rolls of material, this helps us produce more multifoil insulation, faster. It’s also a lot less physically demanding on our production team who used to have to carry and lay each layer at a time!
“Now that this is up and running, we’ll soon be going a step further. Next, we’ll be upgrading our machinery to expand our range of bubble foil insulation, which already includes our RadPack radiator reflectors, garage door insulation kids, multipurpose wrap and pipe insulation. We’ll then be introducing new systems to improve efficiency and productivity throughout our production line.
“These investments will bring the total sum we’ve invested into production at our Lincoln HQ to over £1 million and it’ll all be finished before winter.
Making energy efficiency easy and affordable
“With the cost of energy putting a huge burden on households and businesses, we’re stepping up so we can meet the huge demand for affordable energy efficiency upgrades. We’re supplying our insulation in record numbers to construction wholesalers, DIY stores and major retailers (more on that soon) and we’re not slowing down soon.
“With energy prices soaring and set to climb higher this autumn, insulation offers the best solution for many households to reduce their energy bills now and into the future. Combined with the need for everyone to reduce their carbon footprint, we’re scaling up our productivity so we can help more properties become energy efficient and comfortable, making a real difference to the cost of living and the environment.”
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