Van Elle, the Nottinghamshire-headquartered ground engineering contractor, has signed an eight-year partnering agreement with Wood Transmission & Distribution to deliver ground investigation, design and construction activities for piling and foundations across several transmission schemes as part of Ofgem’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) programme.

Subject to performance, the partnership is expected to be worth in excess of £30m to Van Elle over that period.

Works have commenced on initial projects in New Cumnock, Argyll and most recently at Beauly-Loch Buidhe where ground investigation works are mobilising throughout January for 240 towers to be constructed in 2026-27.

Chief Executive, Mark Cutler, said: “Wood has been a long-standing customer for Van Elle, so we are delighted to announce this partnering agreement to help deliver part of the significant scale of energy infrastructure in Scotland together over the coming years.

“Our breadth of capability allows us to integrate ground investigation, design and piling and foundation solutions best suited to the project requirements. Initial works have commenced, and activity levels will now increase as other schemes are mobilised across Scotland. 

“Our recent acquisition of Albion Drilling based in Stirling will support with a local resource base and specialist skills needed to deliver these important commitments, often in remote and challenging locations.

“This agreement is the first of a number that we anticipate in this growing sector; reinforcing our confidence in our medium-term ambitions.”

It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.  It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years. Here we speak to Andrew Bridge, Managing Partner at property consultancy Fisher German. Despite a challenging picture for businesses following the Budget in October, there will still be potential for growth in 2025. The recent NPPF reforms were welcome, but it remains to be seen how effective it will be in delivering the housing the country needs. Inflation and interest rates may continue to slow down the residential market, with the cost of borrowing being a major factor in successful transactions. Commercial growth may also be hindered by a lack of land supply and reliable grid connections, making it difficult for companies to expand. However, the rise in national insurance contributions, while challenging for many businesses, could actually result in opportunities for further work. The National Wealth Fund, a government initiative set up to attract private investment in clean energy and growth industries, is set to invest a further £5.8bn of capital into these projects during this Parliament, which the increase in NICs should help pay for. Whether directly or indirectly, the private sector will be able to contribute to the delivery of these large-scale projects and benefit as a result. Beyond this, businesses will increasingly look to AI to solve their productivity issues, with early adopters likely to reap the most rewards. And looking further ahead into 2026, a planned amendment to banking regulations could free up further access to loans for SMEs and infrastructure projects, with the potential to stimulate property prices.

Cities Outlook 2025 today (20 January 2025) shows the stark pay divides in the UK. Average salaries of £49,500 in London are £16,800 above salaries in the East Midlands (£32,700), according to Centre for Cities. This means that the average worker in London has earned by August what the average worker in the East Midlands will take a year to earn. The pay divide primarily results from some cities having far more “cutting edge” private sector jobs and businesses than others. Places with the highest pay such as London and Cambridge have more than twice as many cutting-edge firms and up to three times as many cutting-edge jobs – in sectors like biotech and AI – as low pay places such as Leicester and Mansfield. The scale of the pay divide underlines why 2025 has to be the year the Government delivers on its ambitions to raise economic growth. In Cities Outlook 2025, its latest annual outlook for urban economies in the UK, Centre for Cities urges the Government to follow through on its economic policy programme – including English devolution, the industrial strategy, and planning reforms. Out of the 63 largest towns and cities, nearly all those with above-average salaries for the UK are in the Greater South East, including Reading and Milton Keynes. Just seven places in the rest of the country have salaries above the UK average – Leeds, Warrington, Derby, Swindon, Bristol, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Cities and towns where workplace wages are low have to address the barriers to growth in cutting-edge parts of their economy. This will require evidence-based assessments on the weaknesses in their local economies, prioritising work in high-skill over high-street activity and investing in fundamentals – such as skills, transport and workspace. Cities Outlook 2025 also emphasises the importance of implementing the proposed changes to the national planning system to make housing delivery easier and quicker. Lowering housing costs is a challenge for cities and large towns with high wages, including London and most places in the Greater South East: half of the ten places with the highest average wages also rank in the ten least affordable housing markets. High housing costs eat into disposable incomes and raise barriers that prevent people moving to these areas to take advantage of the economic opportunities they offer. Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said: “The Government is right to identify boosting economic growth for every part of the country as a top priority. It is the only sustainable route to higher wages. But the stark nature of Cities Outlook’s findings shows an incremental approach is not going to be enough. “Boldness, urgency and scale are crucial. 2025 needs to be year for delivery, particularly on the Government’s Industrial Strategy, framework for English devolution and its reforms to planning. “Bold changes to planning rules can deliver more housing in the most expensive places and in our big cities, where it’s needed most. The Industrial Strategy must prioritise growing the cutting edge of the economy, and avoid calls to do something for all sectors and industries. “And English devolution needs to be fast-tracked so more places, particularly the big cities, have the powers and resources to deliver the pay increases that many parts of the country badly need. “This government has promised more money in people’s pockets. If people across the country are going to earn more by the end of the parliamentary term, then 2025 is year we need to see action and progress on the Government’s growth ambition.”

Toyota has lent Derby’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor a cutting-edge Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle as their official car. Toyota has been developing and trialling hydrogen fuel cell technology in a range of vehicles, including the prototype Hilux fuel cell pick-up truck designed and built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK in Burnaston. Darius Mikolajczak, MD of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in the UK, said: “It is an honour for Toyota to support Derby City Council’s civic activities with the provision of a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. “We believe hydrogen plays a crucial role in decarbonising transport and is a key part of Toyota’s multipath approach to mobility. The Toyota Mirai, with its zero-carbon dioxide and no harmful tailpipe emissions, represents our commitment to sustainable technology and innovation. We are excited to see the positive impact this vehicle may have on inspiring the city’s journey towards a more sustainable future.” Fuelled by hydrogen – extracted from water using zero carbon renewable energy produced at TMUK – the Mirai emits no carbon dioxide or harmful tailpipe emissions when in use. It is estimated that it will save a tonne of CO2 emissions over the trial, and with zero nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide it will be supporting the city’s shift to zero and low emissions vehicles in their fleet. Cllr Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, praised the move. She said: “Our Climate Change Action Plan is all about how we can make changes to build a greener city and encourage partners and residents to do so as well. It’s only right that we lead by example, and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with Toyota to provide this brand new, zero emissions civic car at no cost to the Council. “Our links with hydrogen go back centuries, with Henry Cavendish, who discovered the element, being buried in Derby Cathedral. Now, more than two and half centuries since that discovery, the use of this hydrogen powered car is another reminder of our place as a leader for sustainable fuel technologies.”

 

The former chairman of Northampton Town FC appeared in court yesterday (January 16) in connection with an investigation into an alleged £10.25m theft and fraud case. David Cardoza was one of five men with former links to the redevelopment of the League One club due to appear at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on several counts of fraud and money laundering. The other four included his father – 80-year-old former director Anthony Cardoza, who was excused from appearing at court in person. Also in the dock was Howard Grossman, a 63-year-old property developer, his son – 37-year-old Marcus Grossman, and 54-year-old Simon Patnick. No pleas were entered at the hearing and all five men were bailed to appear at Northampton Crown Court on 27 February, 2025. The charges against the five defendants are as follows:

• All five are charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between September 2013 and April 2015. These relate to false representations, allegedly made to Northampton Borough Council, that money loaned by the authority to the football club would be used solely for developing Sixfields Stadium and an adjoining hotel, which were “untrue or misleading.”
• The Cardozas are also both charged with fraud by abuse of position, contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act, which relates to a sum of £8.75m being paid from the football club to 1st Land Limited, a company owned by Howard Grossman.
• David Cardoza is further charged with transferring criminal property, namely £166,000 in a credit balance via a bank transfer from the bank account of Northampton Town Football Club Limited, knowing or suspecting it to constitute or to represent, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the benefit from criminal conduct.
• In addition to fraud, Howard Grossman faces three charges of transferring criminal property, specifically amounts of £650,000 from the bank account of his company County Homes (Herts) Ltd to his son and fellow director, Hayden Grossman, as well as transferring £10,000 from 1st Land Limited to Simon Patnick and £15,000 from 1st Land Limited to Simpa Investments Limited, a company owned by Simon Patnick.
• Mr Grossman and his son Marcus are further charged with transferring criminal property, namely £20,000, from Marcus Grossman’s account to Simon Patnick, knowing or suspecting it to constitute or to represent, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the benefit from criminal conduct.
• As well as fraud, Patnick is accused of acquiring criminal property contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, namely £61,800 in credit balances via bank transfers from or on behalf of Howard Grossman and Marcus Grossman knowing or suspecting it to constitute or to represent, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the benefit from criminal conduct.
• Howard Grossman faces the same allegation, relating to a sum of £10,000 transferred to Margro Properties Ltd, a company run by Marcus Grossman.

The case marks the first time anyone has been brought before the court in relation to Operation Tuckhill, Northamptonshire Police’s investigation into the disappearance of £10.25 million loaned to the club by Northampton Borough Council to develop a new stand and hotel.

It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.  It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years. Here we speak to Iain Hibbert, CEO at Devello Group. In 2025 the UK property market is projected to experience moderate growth, influenced by factors such as easing borrowing costs, stamp duty changes and regional variations. However, these factors are susceptible to change as the impact of the Autumn budget works its way through. Key predictions include: Mortgage Rates: Average two- and five-year fixed mortgage rates are projected to decrease to around 4% by the end of 2025, enhancing buyer affordability and confidence. House Price Growth: House prices are expected to rise by 2% to 4% in 2025, driven by reducing mortgage interest rates. Stamp Duty Land Tax Changes: From 1 April 2025 SDLT thresholds will be lowered, increasing moving costs for many buyers. This may lead to a surge in transactions before the deadline followed by a potential slowdown. Investor Considerations: Increased SDLT surcharges for second homes and potential regulatory changes may influence investment decisions, particularly in the buy-to-let sector. Rental Market: Rents are forecasted to rise by approximately 17.6% between 2025 and 2029, outpacing wage growth, due to persistent supply-demand imbalances. Planning and Development: Due to the significant “shake up” introduced in the form of the new National Planning Policy Framework 2024, and the Government’s pledged commitment to delivering 1.5 million new homes, activity in this sector is expected to be both significant and buoyant with land promotion taking centre stage. This may be hampered however by the ability of the planning system to cater for the increased volume of applications and appeals. Overall, we think the 2025 UK property market is set for steady growth, with regional disparities and policy changes playing significant roles in shaping market dynamics, despite what is expected to be a year of general economic stagnation.

Loughborough Town Deal is on track for a big 2025 as more projects are due to be completed and get underway, meaning more millions of pounds of investment for the area. The Town Deal is backing 11 projects after securing £16.9 million from the Government’s Towns Fund and, in total, they are worth more than £40 million of investment. Last year marked the completion of key schemes including the restoration of the John Taylor & Co Bellfoundry, new market stalls for Loughborough Market, a revamp of the outdoor space at Queen’s Park café and new events like Music in the Park being held in Southfields Park. Work also started on the Generator arts and culture hub and the installation of the Hope Bell in Queen’s Park. With other completed projects, including the upgrading of two kilometres of canal footpaths, the expansion of SportPark, and the regeneration of Bedford Square, almost £27 million has been invested into the area through Town Deal projects. This includes Government and partner funding. Town Deal Board chair Martin Traynor OBE recently visited the Great Central Railway in Loughborough, which is also due to benefit from Town Deal support to the tune of £280,000. Great Central Railway is using the funding to create a new space for school visits, improve welfare facilities for staff and volunteers, and add a train-driving simulator. Martin said: “We are really excited for 2025 as Loughborough Town Deal projects continue to progress. “We are anticipating work starting on the Digital Skills Hub at Loughborough College, the completion of the Generator and improvements at Great Central Railway. “It was great to visit the railway and hear more about the project. It is a fascinating place and something Loughborough is proud of. I am pleased the Town Deal can invest in its future and support the visitor economy and preserve our heritage.” Malcolm Holmes, Great Central Railway’s general manager, said: “We are investing in the future of Great Central Railway by improving the visitor and educational experience, which will help young people understand the country’s steam train heritage. “We are grateful for the support from Loughborough Town Deal and look forward to completing the works, which are focused on the Locomotive Shed. We believe it will greatly improve the site for staff, volunteers and visitors.” The Digital Skills Hub at Loughborough College will help to enhance the digital skills of the local workforce. It is receiving £2.6 million of Town Deal funding. The Generator project is transforming a derelict 1930s building in Packe Street into a vibrant cultural centre for creative industries and community arts. The project received £1.6 million of Town Deal funding. The Living Loughborough and Lanes and Links projects being led by the Council also continue and involve a number of different schemes. This year will see the completion of the Hope Bell and improved footpaths in Queen’s Park, a new canopy installed in Southfields Park and the addition of information screens in the town centre, alongside improved electrical infrastructure in the centre to support events.