Award-winning mentalist Looch to bewilder guests at the East Midlands Bricks Awards

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Award-winning mentalist Looch to bewilder guests at the East Midlands Bricks Awards
Attendees at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, taking place on Thursday 15 September at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, are set to be bewildered and astonished as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch displays his skills during the evening’s networking. Here, Business Link speaks to Nottingham-based Looch, who performs throughout the UK and Europe with acts that need to be seen to be believed. Can you tell us a little bit about what you do? Absolutely, my name is Looch and for the past 20 years I have entertained all over the world as a mentalist. The term mentalist is not often used here in the UK, so I tend to brand myself as a ‘mind reader’, although that is somewhat tongue in cheek. I perform on stage or in a close up environment at conferences, tradeshows and exhibitions and appear to read the thoughts of audience members and predict their choices and behaviour. It’s all very light hearted and I present it in a relaxed and fun way, however it is something that tends to really fascinate and resonate with people, especially at corporate events. What can attendees at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 expect? To be engaged and amazed! I am really looking forward to being in attendance and will be meeting as many people as I can on the day. I want to show them something incredible that will leave them gobsmacked whilst at the same time ensuring everyone has a fantastic time at this wonderful event that you are organising. I want to keep everything else a mystery until the day! With an illustrious career, who have you performed for before, and what are some of the accolades you have won?
Looch performing at the Belvoir National Conference 2020
Over the years I have been blessed with some very proud moments and I like to try and keep grounded and enjoy the journey as opposed to just focussing on a final destination. Some of my earlier work focussed on entertaining at weddings and I found myself proving very popular amongst footballers, TV celebs and other sports stars. A couple of years focusing in that industry won me the HC award for best wedding entertainment at the TWIA (The Wedding Industry Awards), then in early 2013 I won the #SBS award from former Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis. That opened the door to the corporate world where I have primarily focussed since. The majority of my work sees me working with large companies such as Google, Amazon, KPMG, PWC, 3M etc. at specific events where I am required to create bespoke performances to a set brief. Sometimes that’s promoting a specific product or enforcing a particular company message that they want to reinforce. I am also often hired to work beside teams at trade-shows or exhibitions, I act primarily as a traffic stopper who hooks delegates with a quick demonstration and lead them directly to my client’s booth to increase footfall and generate new leads. You have also written best selling books, what can you tell us about these? My first book was written quite by accident back in 2006. I documented some of my work at the time into a PDF which I sent to a well known publication company within the mentalism industry. At the time I was looking for feedback but was surprised when they asked to meet with me. They wanted to publish the book and did so creating quite a stir in the community. For the next decade I documented my journey transitioning into a full time performer and in 2015 I released it as a limited edition book set which sold out within weeks and went on to win the prestigious ‘Tarbell book of the year’ award for that year. This actually was the catalyst to then set up a limited company that would exclusively deal with the design and manufacture of my mentalism work going forward. I am pleased to say it has proven successful and is now one of the biggest mentalism focussed companies in the UK. What makes you stand out next to other mentalists? There are very few actual working full time mentalists in the world, probably only a couple of hundred so it’s a very rare profession indeed. Of those mentalists you find that success lies within 2 primary areas, the first is as a ‘creator’ who specialises in releasing work to the community and the second are those that focus primarily on the performing side of things. It’s rare to find equal success in both areas, which is alarmingly where I have found myself being positioned. As a result I have consulted for many well known names in the magic community, lectured at every major magic related organisation and convention in the world, whilst also getting to enjoy some incredible moments live on stage myself. I feel very lucky indeed. How can people find out more and contact you? My website is www.looch.co.uk and people can connect with me also on LinkedIn and Instagram searching for @Loochmindreader  
Bringing together the region’s property and construction industry, the prestigious East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will provide an evening of networking and celebration, taking place on Thursday 15 September, at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker.
Nominations for the awards are now OPEN. To submit a business or development, please click here. Tickets can now be booked for the glittering event – click here to secure yours.

North West Leicestershire District Council appoints new Chief Executive

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North West Leicestershire District Council appoints new Chief Executive
North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) has appointed a new Chief Executive. At a meeting of Full Council on Tuesday 10 May 2022, councillors agreed to appoint Allison Thomas, who will join the authority in August. Allison Thomas is currently strategic director for service delivery at neighbouring South Derbyshire District Council, a role she has held for four years. Picture of Allison Thomas, the Chief Executive of North West Leicestershire District CouncilBefore this, Allison spent 21 years with Derbyshire County Council in a variety of roles, including service director for transport and the environment. Speaking of her appointment, Allison Thomas said: “Working just across the border in South Derbyshire, I’ve been impressed by the work that North West Leicestershire District Council does with its strong track record of partnership working, and I’m looking forward to taking up my position as Chief Executive. “Positioned in the middle of the country in an important strategic location and at the heart of the National Forest, the district has a lot of growth on the agenda and the council has a key role to play in this, whilst driving environmental campaigns such as Zero Carbon and Recycle more as well as the plans it has to support its communities. “I’m looking forward to meeting colleagues at the council and across partnership organisations, and really getting to know the district through the council’s work.” Allison’s appointment was confirmed by Full Council following formal interviews and a recommendation by the authority’s appointments panel. Councillor Richard Blunt, leader of NWLDC, said: “I’m delighted to bring Allison on board as Chief Executive. She joins us at a time of great opportunity as we work to support our communities across the district in our far-reaching role as district council. “In her career, Allison has been responsible for a huge range of services, giving her a wealth of experience to draw on and an appreciation of the workings of local government. We’re looking forward to welcoming her to the team.” To provide leadership in the time before Allison takes up the position, NWLDC has appointed an interim Chief Executive, Joanna Davidson, an experienced Chief Executive and local government consultant, who took up the position last week. “North West Leicestershire District Council is a busy authority with a lot of large projects on its agenda,” Joanna said. “It has a strong reputation as a highly effective and well-regarded council, and I have been really impressed with everything I have seen so far. My role is to provide stability and guidance in the time before Allison starts and help to keep important projects on track.”

East Midlands manufacturer provides bespoke kitchens for new residential scheme

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East Midlands manufacturer provides bespoke kitchens for new residential scheme
Mansfield-based Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture and fitout specialists to the residential sector, has completed a contract to provide bespoke, contemporary kitchens for a new development in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Awarded by main contractor Clegg Construction, the contract for Gilder’s Yard was for 158 high specification kitchens which were manufactured and installed by Deanestor. Developed for Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, Gilder’s Yard comprises the renovation of a three-storey Grade II listed former jewellery factory and the construction of three further blocks to provide high quality apartments for rent. There were three kitchen configurations – island, L-shaped and single wall – and two colour palettes for the cabinets – platinum white and graphite grey, both with white quartz worktops and contrasting stainless steel handles. The ‘loft’ finish and open plan island kitchen layout were developed for the apartments in the listed building with the dark grey units designed to complement the exposed brickwork and surfaces. According to Josh Barker, development manager at Grainger: “This was a complex regeneration project which is breathing new life into an historic building in Birmingham’s thriving Jewellery Quarter. “We recognise the importance of quality, durable kitchens that are designed to meet the requirements of our residents, and we are pleased that the Deanestor team helped us to achieve this at Gilder’s Yard.” Tim Croft, project manager for Clegg Construction, said: “The interior design of this scheme was a prominent part of the architecture and was designed to complement the retained exterior which has large picture windows that increase visibility of the internal features such as the kitchens. The new build wings are a modern interpretation of the listed elevation in fenestration and materials. “We were confident in Deanestor’s ability to deliver the quality required for the project and in a short timeframe. Their design team performed well with a good level of detailing and technical expertise. They were able to accommodate variations in layout whilst achieving as much standardisation for manufacturing efficiency as possible. The kitchens have been finished to a high standard.” Deanestor also supplied and installed the integrated appliances for each kitchen.

Digital marketing agency expands digital PR team

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Digital marketing agency expands digital PR team
Lincoln-based digital marketing agency, Distract has grown its PR team with the addition of Elysia Coates as a digital PR executive. As a recent graduate from the University of Lincoln with a master’s in PR, Elysia brings some fresh and innovative ideas to the team. Managing Director of Distract, Peter Watson, said: “Elysia has joined Distract at a time where our team are taking on more exciting opportunities to deliver effective digital PR and provide clients with the results they want. We can’t wait to see Elysia grow and contribute to the success of Distract.” Still continuing to grow, the agency will soon be complete with 15 members of full-time staff covering digital PR, paid social and paid search. Senior PR manager, Andy Clowes, added: “We’re really excited to have Elysia joining the team. She’s made a fantastic start already and we’re all really looking forward to introducing her to our clients!” Elysia said: “I can’t wait to get stuck in at Distract and work on exciting new campaigns and ideas for their growing client base. I’m so happy to be joining a team that is currently experiencing so much success and potential. “I’m looking forward to expanding my skill set and experience to get the best results for our clients.”

Business Hub opens in Stapleford

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Business Hub opens in Stapleford
Nine businesses can now benefit from office space in Stapleford’s new hub. Mayor of Broxtowe, Councillor Richard MacRae, officially opened the Stapleford Business Hub the morning of Tuesday 10 May.
Broxtowe Borough Council developed the old Police Station thanks to funding from D2N2’s local Growth Fund. The site, which has been vacant for several years, has been refurbished into nine affordable offices of varying sizes, as well as kitchen and break out facilities. The facility provides an opportunity for new or expanding businesses to have an official office space in which to grow, right in the heart of Stapleford. The Stapleford Business Hub is the second which has been developed by the Council and follows on from the successful hub in Beeston. As well as affordable rent and rates, the new hub will benefit from dedicated business support, intercom system and parking. The shared space will also offer fantastic networking opportunities with other businesses in the hub. The new hub is just part of an exciting future for Stapleford. Following from the success of the business hub, the Stapleford Towns Deal is funding an upcoming enterprise hub which will offer affordable high quality offices on the first floor. Furthermore, the Town Centre Recovery Fund is now open to support businesses and has already granted funds for private sector development of new office space at 20 Derby Road. These projects respond to the booming office space demand within Stapleford and intend to help the local retail economy to prosper. Councillor Tim Hallam, chair of the Jobs and Economy Committee has said: “The business hub in Beeston has been really successful so its great news that a similar facility will now be able to support growing businesses in Stapleford. With the Town Deal, Stapleford is a really exciting location perfect for new businesses and startups.”

New lease of life for dilapidated Stapleford building

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New lease of life for dilapidated Stapleford building
An important Stapleford high street building will soon offer new business opportunities for people in the town thanks to a £97,330 grant from the Town Centre Recovery Fund.
The Victorian 20 Derby Road, used most recently as a commercial storage facility for local tradespeople, will be converted into three fully accessible offices, with green-spaces and cycle storage with charging points. The building is owned by local property owner Barbara Demetriou, who owns a number of high street buildings. 20 Derby Road has had a variety of uses over the years, and despite the owner’s grand plans for converting the building, the increased costs of building works has meant it hasn’t been affordable. The Town Centre Recovery Fund grant, in addition to personal funding, will help bring the building back to life, with a purpose that will attract businesses and jobs to the town. The funding is being made available through the £21m Stapleford Towns Fund which aims to regenerate and revitalise the town. Barbara said: “I’ve lived, worked and invested in Stapleford for over 30 years and love what the town has to offer. I’ve seen first-hand the difference that investment can make and it’s great that so much money is coming through this grant and the Towns Fund to make it a more popular place to come to, to work in and call home. “Being able to improve the appearance of the high street and provide new opportunities will have a huge impact and we can’t wait to get started as we really want to create something really special for Stapleford.” Ian Jowett, chair of the Stapleford Towns Fund Board, said: “Barbara’s plans to bring this amazing building back to life is just what our town centre needs. We are so pleased to be able to offer funding to support developments like this as we know that it will increase the long-term prosperity of our great town.”

Lincolnshire businesses asked for views on devolution

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Lincolnshire businesses asked for views on devolution

Businesses in Greater Lincolnshire are being asked for their views on devolution – the process which would transfer powers and funding from Whitehall to Lincolnshire.

Devolution Lincolnshire is the start of a conversation with businesses which is being led by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Leaders from the 10 local authorities in the area have asked the LEP to lead this business discussion ahead of submitting a deal to the Government at the end of this year. If you have a view on the benefits or disadvantages of devolution for Lincolnshire, or if you simply want to find out more, you can visit the website and complete the online survey from Wednesday 11 May 2022. Pat Doody, chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We were pleased to be asked by the councils to lead an independent engagement programme with the business community and we would like to encourage people to get involved, look at the website and take the survey. “A devolution deal could give Lincolnshire more powers, more money and more say over public sector funding and can promote local decision-making across many public services that are important to the people, businesses, and communities of Greater Lincolnshire. This in turn should lead to better outcomes and greater prosperity for our area. “A devolution deal for Lincolnshire could also be important to the business community. For example, it could mean that local leaders have more say to get Lincolnshire businesses the right education, training and apprenticeships to meet their needs – both now and for the jobs of the future. “It could also mean that decisions are made locally rather than nationally on the best infrastructure to better connect people to jobs, freight to ports, or energy to facilities, ensuring that local priorities are met. This is the first stage of a long conversation about devolution for our area, and I encourage you to get involved and have your say.” Last year the Government invited civic leaders to bring forward plans for devolving powers to local areas and to work together to help level up the UK. The Government’s Levelling Up White Paper provides a framework for devolution and council leaders across Greater Lincolnshire are working together to develop plans to enable Lincolnshire to reach its full potential.

Planning application submitted for major regeneration of Corah Site

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Planning application submitted for major regeneration of Corah Site

Plans for the major regeneration of the Corah Site on Burleys Way in Leicester City Centre have been submitted to Leicester City Council.

The hybrid planning application, by Cityregen Leicester and Galliford Try Investments, seeks to transform the site into a dynamic new community in the heart of the city with the potential to deliver over 1,000 new homes. The plans include the creation of supporting retail and leisure provision as well as significant public realm on the prominent brownfield site in Leicester’s city centre.

The Corah Site’s industrial heritage will be enhanced, with the principal façade of the Old Textile Building – the oldest building on the site – set to be retained. The Corah Green will provide a new public square, and the two historic chimneys to the rear of the site will act as signposts to the major new destination.

Cityregen Leicester and Galliford Try Investments’ proposal delivers key connectivity, opening up the Corah Site to the public for the first time and creating an exciting new linear park link between Abbey Park and the city centre via a new pedestrian bridge, and the new Burleys Way super crossing.

The City Council has identified the site as an opportunity for regeneration as it falls within the St Margaret’s area of Leicester, a designated Strategic Regeneration Area under the Council’s adopted Core Strategy.

The proposals, which were first unveiled in October 2021, have been informed by an extensive consultation process that engaged with Leicester City Council, local residents and businesses and other key stakeholders.

A spokesperson for Cityregen Leicester and Galliford Try Investments said: “Our transformative proposals promise to unlock the Corah Site and create a new legacy for this important location in the city.

“The plans will bring new life to this area of Leicester, creating a dynamic new community and destination which will act as a catalyst for further growth and regeneration in the area. By delivering a significant number of homes, this site can also play a major role in easing the housing shortages facing local people, while creating fantastic new green spaces and public realm in the city.

“While reinvigorating the Corah Site, our proposals also recognise its important history. Our plans are inspired by this legacy and the heritage of the site has been threaded through the proposals to ensure the people of Leicester are connected to the Corah Site’s past in its new reincarnation.”

Pre-lets secured for Bingham Enterprise Centre

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Pre-lets secured for Bingham Enterprise Centre
FHP Property Consultants, acting on behalf of Rushcliffe Borough Council, have already secured several pre-lets for the currently under construction Bingham Enterprise Centre. The brand-new, state of the art building is situated next to the also under construction Bingham Arena leisure facility located on Chapel Lane in the very heart of the popular market town west of Nottingham. The development of the site is progressing at pace, with the overall structure complete and the focus now shifting to the interior of the building with practical completion of the site envisaged for mid to late Summer 2022. The suites comprise a range of different sizes from 500 to 1,200 sq ft across two floors of accommodation, each unit benefiting from their own kitchen/WC facility with communal shower, bike storage and car parking provision. Amy Howard, of FHP’s Office Department, said: “I am delighted to be working alongside Rushcliffe Council and this exciting new development. The level of interest we have already received for the building so far has been very positive and we hope to achieve further pre-lets prior to the building officially opening later this year.”

East Midlands housebuilder opens up £5,000 community fund

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East Midlands housebuilder opens up £5,000 community fund

Redrow East Midlands has launched a scheme to support deserving community initiatives across the region.

The East Midlands division has created the £5,000 community fund to support as many local groups, organisations and good causes as possible, and is now welcoming applications.

There’s no cause too small, so whether funds are required for art supplies to help local pupils to get creative, a search and rescue team are in need of new lifejackets or a local children’s group wish to go on their first ever camp out, Redrow East Midlands’ initiative can help.

The initiative, which started in 2020, aims to help local organisations with specific donations and give them the tools they need to continue to thrive.

Ryan O’Sullivan, sales director for Redrow East Midlands, said: “We always try to do our bit to help create thriving communities at our developments and in the wider communities. With the success of the community fund last year, we knew we had to re-launch it this year to help even more people across the region.

“This year, we are doing things slightly differently – we would like groups to tell us exactly what they need, such as new tents for a local scout group for an upcoming trip. This way we will be able to give groups and charities the items they really need to continue their great work.

“We’d like to invite volunteers at local charities or community groups to share their story with us, and tell us what they need so they can continue to do the thing they do best – supporting their community.

“We’re looking forward to hearing how we can help people in East Midlands and the surrounding areas.”

The fund is now open and will close on 27th May 2022

For details on how to apply visit: redrow.co.uk/community-fund-application-east-midlands

Charity teams up with Derbyshire canning company to reduce ocean plastic

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Charity teams up with Derbyshire canning company to reduce ocean plastic

A Derby charity dedicated to cutting down on ocean plastic has teamed up with a local company to launch canned water sourced from a local spring.

Think Ocean, a charity that works to keep plastic from the seas through a range of initiatives including transforming it into new products, is this month launching its own canned water produced by Melbourne-based Them that Can.

The Think Ocean cans are being filled with water from a spring at Highfields in Melbourne where Them that Can is based. The water comes straight from the source, 220 feet underground, to the canning facility. It is ready to drink having been filtered through limestone and mineral-rich ground.

Hugo Valdes-Vera, co-founder of Think Ocean, said: “Millions of tons of plastic are released into our seas every year. There is a real awareness now that the scale of this environmental problem is huge. 

“Anything we can do to reduce plastic in our oceans is a big win, as far as I’m concerned. That’s why I’m delighted to be launching these Think Ocean cans. For every person who buys one, that’s one less plastic bottle potentially ending up in the sea.”

Not only is 75 percent of all aluminium ever made still in use today, but recycled cans use 95 percent less energy to produce than new ones.

All profits made from the Think Ocean cans will be used by the charity to carry on its work educating communities on plastic pollution, as well as cleaning more rivers, waterways and oceans. The cans are designed to be highly collectable with images of endangered species depicted on the front. The labels, including the ink, are also plastic-free.

Think Ocean and Them that Can have also produced water cans bearing the Ukrainian flag which have been sent to the war-torn country as a gesture of support.

Think Ocean’s origins go back to 1992 when a group of environmentalists got together to stop whale hunting in the South Pacific. The charity is now dedicated to ending plastic pollution. 

Them that Can was founded by Jamie Kenyon and Mark Banks in 2014, and has recently relocated to its current location in Melbourne.

Jamie, a former industrial engineer in the offshore oil industry, explained that he had the idea for the company after contemplating setting up a brewery abroad, and noticing how cans were a much better solution for the product than bottles.

He said: “Canning is a way of transporting a product easily and efficiently. Aluminium is a renewable resource and it’s also environmentally friendly in the fact that you can fit many more cans in a vehicle than you can fit bottles. The other benefit from a drinks industry point of view is that a canned product means light cannot get in and affect the quality of what is inside.”

The company makes cans for a range of products from its Melbourne facility, including beer, cocktails and even wine.

Jamie said: “We are so proud to be working with Think Ocean on these new water cans. Their vision of the future and how it needs to be, and where we need to go as a world to make that happen, is one that we very much share at Them that Can.”

PR agency to support Northampton Saints Foundation as its first ever charity partner

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PR agency to support Northampton Saints Foundation as its first ever charity partner
A PR agency in Northamptonshire has announced its first ever charity partner. After an intensive selection process, Ballyhoo PR has chosen to support Northampton Saints Foundation, which uses the values of rugby and the power of sport to inspire, support and educate young people. The union will see Ballyhoo PR provide free PR and communications support to the charity for an entire year, to help increase their visibility and brand awareness and support their fundraising. It was a competitive process, with 13 charities shortlisted for the much-coveted opportunity to work with the PR experts. Each worthwhile cause presented their case to the Ballyhoo PR team before a difficult decision was made. Ballyhoo PR Managing Director Emma Speirs said: “We were touched and thrilled by the number of charities who wanted to work with us. All those who applied were hugely worthy causes and we were amazed and humbled by the incredible work taking place locally. We only wish we could offer this opportunity to them all but there could only be one winner. “When Emily presented to us, she told us what a difference our support could make to the charity and the number of young people we could help through providing these services. They have such great ideas for the future but, like a lot of charities, are doing these wonderful things with limited resources. By acting as a virtual comms team for the Northampton Saints Foundation, they can reach a wider audience with some positive press coverage that will make them shine.” Northampton Saints Foundation Managing Director Catherine Deans said: “Northampton Saints Foundation are delighted to be chosen as Ballyhoo’s charity partner for 2022. We feel incredibly lucky to be working with the team over the next year to increase our visibility and brand awareness. “Ballyhoo’s expertise will be invaluable as we accelerate our growth to meet the demand for the work we do to inspire, support and educate young people. The number of young people needing our services has increased exponentially as a direct response of pandemic, which, in turn, means the amount we need to fundraise has also increased. “We’re looking forward to Ballyhoo helping us to reach a broader audience, cementing our branding and sharing our vision to become the leading foundation supporting young people to have a more positive future.”

Lincolnshire financial adviser acquired by international group

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Lincolnshire financial adviser acquired by international group
Kingswood Holdings Limited, the international wealth and investment management group, is to acquire Vincent & Co Ltd, a privately owned independent financial adviser firm based near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. Vincent & Co, ran by Mark Vincent, provides financial advice to over 130 clients in the Lincolnshire area. They hold £25m AuA and in the year ending 31 October 2021 generated revenue of £135k, and profit before tax of £83k. Following regulatory approval, the business will be acquired for total cash consideration of up to £421k, payable over a two-year period. £211k will be paid upon completion of the transaction and the balance paid on a deferred basis. David Lawrence, UK CEO at Kingswood, said: “I’m delighted to announce the acquisition of Vincent & Co, our fifth acquisition this year. Vincent & Co have been established for over 20 years and have built deep relationships with their clients and an ethos which matches ours at Kingswood. This is a great opportunity to make an acquisition that consolidates our presence in Lincolnshire.”

Main building contractor appointed for National Rehabilitation Centre

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Main building contractor appointed for National Rehabilitation Centre
The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) Programme has appointed Integrated Health Projects (IHP) as main contractor to construct the NRC in Nottinghamshire. The NRC will be one of the early schemes to be delivered under the government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. It will also be designed to be Net Zero Carbon, in line with the wider Greener NHS pledge to be the world’s first net zero national health service. Pre-construction activity can now move forward on site which is part of the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate (SHRE) near Rempstone in Nottinghamshire. Main construction will start subject to final agreements from Government. IHP, an established alliance between Vinci Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine, was selected following the Procure process under the P22 Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) procurement framework which provides Design and Construction Services for use by the NHS and Social Care organisations. Partnering is embedded in the contracting process to achieve best results, quality and value. As part of the contract a Partnering Agreement overlay will be adopted which is a collaboration agreement between the central New Hospital Programme (NHP), Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) and IHP, as well as Trusts and contractors for other early NHP schemes. This approach is intended to create a collaborative environment across Trusts delivering the early schemes within the NHP. The NRC is a unique and brand-new facility with the potential to transform clinical rehabilitation across the NHS in England and Wales. Thanks to a wide National Clinical Academic Partnership of 22 Higher Education Institutions with the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University as the leads, the NRC will combine under one roof clinical rehabilitation, research, development and commercial innovation, and training and education. The impact of the NRC for patients is anticipated to be game-changing in terms of the quality of life potentially achievable after serious injury or illness. Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust is the NRC Programme sponsor and NUH is procuring the main contractor appointment. Miriam Duffy, NRC programme director, said: “This is excellent news for all of us eager to see the benefits of the NRC realised and the facility become operational as soon as possible. IHP is a great fit and I’m impressed not just with their technical capability but with their understanding of the uniqueness of the NRC. We’re confident of creating a great construction partnership that will see the outstanding NRC building come to life and help us to get on with treating patients.”
Stuart McArthur, healthcare sector lead at IHP, said: “We are delighted that IHP has been appointed to the construction of the National Rehabilitation Centre through the P22 DHSC procurement framework. Through the 20 successful years of our alliance, we have demonstrated that we have the expertise and experience necessary to match the unique nature of this project. We look forward to working in close collaboration with NHP and NUH on delivering this new model of rehabilitation in an inspiring setting, which will benefit patients and staff whilst supporting leading edge research.”
Natalie Forrest, senior responsible owner for the new hospital programme, said: “This is an important milestone for the National Rehabilitation Centre as we deliver on the government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. Together with eight existing schemes, this will mean 48 hospitals delivered by the end of the decade. This new facility will transform outcomes for people who have suffered potentially life-changing injury, trauma and illness.”
The NRC is a 70-bed facility designed to integrate with the natural landscape of the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate and specified to the highest standards of sustainability. The NRC has been designed to ensure it will continue to achieve net zero carbon over the entire life of the building. It will not require any fossil fuels, and carbon-free electricity will be generated through solar panels on the site. The building will be highly insulated to minimise energy loss and will be built using low carbon materials such as timber for its structure. The NRC will be built on a site approximately 400m from the counterpart Defence facility – the ‘Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Stanford Hall’ – which is operated by the Ministry of Defence and opened in 2018. Both the NRC and the Defence facility are part of the overall Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) Programme. The NRC will share knowledge and some specialist facilities with the Defence facility so that both can benefit. This sharing between NHS medicine and Defence medicine is novel and will enable both facilities to achieve more than the sum of their individual parts. Alongside IHP, the NRC project team includes Ryder Architecture, Arup and Fira (landscape architects).

“Another strong year” for Ideagen

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“Another strong year” for Ideagen
Nottinghamshire-based software firm, Ideagen, has hailed “another strong year,” reporting continued organic growth augmented by strategic acquisitions. In an update on trading for the year ended 30 April 2022, the company said it expects total revenue to rise 41% to approximately £92.2m in comparison to £65.6m in the prior year. Meanwhile adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be up 33% to approximately £30.5m, from £22.9m. Earlier this month (May 2022), the Board of Ideagen reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition by Hg, a software and services investor, for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Ideagen. Ideagen’s directors intend to recommend unanimously that Ideagen shareholders vote in favour of the acquisition at the forthcoming shareholder meetings. It is anticipated that the acquisition will complete in July 2022. The Board meanwhile remains in discussions with Astorg, who have also proposed an offer for Ideagen, who have been granted access to due diligence. Ben Dorks, Chief Executive Officer of Ideagen, said: “I am pleased to report another strong year for Ideagen, delivering strong organic growth and customer momentum. We have completed seven acquisitions that significantly extend our leadership in compliance software for regulated industries and expect to derive synergy opportunities once integrated. “Our primary focus remains growing our recurring revenues and expanding our customer base. The offer received from Hg reflects the quality, track record and future growth potential of Ideagen. Given the momentum in the group, we remain confident about the year ahead.”

Mattioli Woods subsidiary snaps up Scottish firm

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Mattioli Woods subsidiary snaps up Scottish firm
Leicester-based Mattioli Woods, the specialist wealth and asset management business, has revealed that its subsidiary, Ludlow Wealth Management Group Limited, has acquired the trade and assets of Ferguson Financial Management Limited for an initial consideration of £0.6 million and potential further consideration of up to £0.6 million dependent on the attainment of specified performance targets in the year after completion. Ferguson provides financial planning and wealth management services to over 200 private client families with approximately £80 million of assets under advice. Ferguson is based in Glasgow and as part of the deal an experienced employee will join Mattioli Woods and operate from the group’s existing Glasgow office. In the year ended 31 October 2020, Ferguson generated revenues of £0.34 million with a profit before taxation of £0.16 million. At 31 October 2021, Ferguson’s gross assets were £0.19 million and net assets were £0.19 million. Michael Wright, Group Managing Director of Mattioli Woods, said: “We are pleased to complete Ludlow’s first acquisition since joining the group. We continue to work closely with Ludlow’s experienced team as we pursue other transactions of a similar nature to further expand our growing wealth management presence in the north of England and Scotland.” Ian Hemingway, Chief Executive of Ludlow, said: “Ludlow has a track record of successful deals involving retiring financial advisers, a model which Mattioli Woods continues to support. We look forward to working with the Ferguson team to responsibly integrate their clients into the group over the coming months, whilst continuing to explore other opportunities within the market.”

Managing energy price hikes, more than hot air in the Boardroom? By James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants

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Managing energy price hikes, more than hot air in the Boardroom? By James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants
James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, considers the effect of energy price hikes on businesses and what can be done to manage the situation. Whilst the Spring invariably brings warmer weather and lighter days, this year it is unlikely to help businesses weather the storm of unprecedented price hikes in the cost of energy. According to a recent Policy Voice Survey by the Institute of Directors, over 53% of its members surveyed indicated that the cost of energy was and continues to exert a negative impact on their organisation. The energy price hikes have come at a time when there seems to have been a perfect storm with Brexit and the pandemic leading to unprecedented disruption to businesses, with rising costs particularly as a result of labour shortages and supply chain issues and in many cases a lockdown loss of revenue. Whilst some may have been able to pass on such cost increases, for many this has not been the case having to absorb them with a loss of margin. Businesses are no doubt feeling a bit weather beaten with what seems the exponential increases in energy yet another disruption or problem that is adding to the domino effect of challenges faced. The average household is likely to face an increase in their annual energy bill of around £700 in light of the 54% increase in prices. When it comes to businesses, the annual bills for the average small business will increase from £1,150 to £1,725 and for the average medium sized business from £1,860 to £2,864. Many businesses though, depending on what they do, for example those engaged in manufacturing or processing, are set to see in real terms much larger bills. Whilst the first approach to dealing with the situation may be to see if you can seek a cheaper supplier, this is unlikely, given the state of the market, to yield results. For those on contract with their energy supplier, whilst their current deal may be favourable, they should prepare for hikes on renewal. Managing the situation really needs a more strategic approach, starting with an in depth understanding, even audit of your energy consumption. Such information can then be used to determine steps and approaches to reducing consumption and becoming more energy efficient. This may include greater use of more energy efficient equipment, changes in staff attitudes and approaches and working practices through to installing new energy generation technology. Quick and simple short-term measures, though, may not achieve the results required, not least in terms of achieving security or certainty around the supply and cost of your energy. You may then look to capitalise on the tax reliefs included in the Spring Statement and prior Budgets to support those looking at investing in green technologies and alternative energy sources. Those looking to install heat pumps, solar panels or wind turbines can benefit from a removal of the 5% VAT levy on the cost of such installations. The government is introducing targeted business rates exemptions for eligible plant and machinery used in onsite renewable energy generation and storage and a 100% relief for eligible low-carbon heat networks with their own rates bill. It was announced in the Spring Statement that these measures will now take effect from April 2022, a year earlier than previously planned. Businesses investing or incurring expenditure in energy saving or environmentally beneficial technologies can look to benefit from the enhanced capital allowances. The extension to the temporary increase in the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) to 31 March 2023 allows 100% tax relief to businesses investing up to £1 million in qualifying expenditure. Help may also be available from your energy company with many offering schemes or grants to help improve business energy efficiency, which can reduce costs; for example, subsidies on the upfront costs for more energy-efficient equipment. The cost of investing in new technologies could also be financed, with some funders and banks like Natwest offering ‘Green Loans’ and ‘Green Asset Finance’. Finally, food for thought, perhaps the increase in energy prices may see more and more of those who have either opted for hybrid or home working return to their employer’s place of work as they seek to manage their domestic bills.   See this column in the May edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine.

Recognise the exceptional work of property and construction firms at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022

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Recognise the exceptional work of property and construction firms at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022
With nominations now OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards, showcase your business, team and projects by submitting an entry for the prestigious event. Celebrating the region’s property and construction industry, award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region, and featuring John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker. After winning an award at the 2021 event, Allan Joyce Architects said: “We are delighted to have won Architects of the Year at the East Midlands Bricks Awards. It is lovely for the whole team, who always work incredibly hard to create amazing designs, to be recognised in this way. It was wonderful to attend the event in person and to hear about all of the great projects happening in our region and the companies involved in them.” 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. Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

To be held at:

Geldards partner Paul Southby installed as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire

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Geldards partner Paul Southby installed as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
Geldards’ dispute resolution partner Paul Southby has been installed as the 458th High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. The role of High Sheriff is a royal appointment for 12 months and is made by the Queen on the recommendation of the Privy Council. Paul has played an active role in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s business community for many years. He recently stood down as chair of Marketing Nottingham but remains on its board, championing inward investment and growth in the local economic area and the development of the visitor economy locally. He is chair of Nottingham Partners, chair of Broadway Cinema and a member of the Nottingham Growth Board. The origins of the Office of High Sheriff date back to Saxon times when the ‘Shire Reeve’ was responsible for law and order and the collection of taxes due to the Crown and it remains the oldest royal appointment. Supporting the Crown and judiciary are still key components of the role today and the 55 High Sheriffs across England and Wales also lend their support to crime prevention agencies, community groups, charities and voluntary organisations. It is an unpaid, independent and non-political role. Paul has chosen to support Nottingham Partners’ chosen charity of the year Switch Up, a programme to empower children and young people in Nottingham to break the cycle of offending and reoffending. Switch Up delivers mentoring as well as physical training in Nottingham and soon in Mansfield to help young people reflect on their lives and set positive goals and ambitions for a better future. A declaration ceremony at which Paul commenced his duties as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire was held at Broadway in April and was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire Sir John Peace, the recorder of Nottingham His Honour Judge Gregory Dickinson QC, the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Craig Guildford, Marcellus Baz BEM of Switch Up, local political leaders as well as one very proud VIP, Paul’s Mum! Paul said: “I am honoured to be taking on this historic role and am looking forward to supporting our City and County over the coming year through it. I am particularly pleased to lend my support to such a deserving and dynamic project as Switch Up which has real impact in improving the lives of young people in Nottinghamshire. “My main focus will be on supporting local community crime prevention projects and on supporting the work of our county police force and court services. In addition, I intend to do what I can to support our local arts and cultural venues and projects in their recovery post-pandemic.”

Works complete on specialist healthcare facility at Nottingham Trent University

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Works complete on specialist healthcare facility at Nottingham Trent University
Work on a three-storey, specialist training facility for those in the healthcare sector has now been completed at Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Clifton Campus. The renovation of existing NTU buildings and the completion of a new building will serve as a base for the Institute of Health & Allied Professions, which offers a range of specialist courses such as adult and mental health nursing and paramedic science. The whole facility is focused on equipping the healthcare providers of the future with the knowledge and hands-on skills required for modern healthcare. Independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy, Pick Everard provided architecture, interior design and principal design services from concept to completion, working with main contractor Henry Brothers during the construction period. Devika Parmar, director of architecture at Pick Everard, said: “We are delighted to have provided services for such an important scheme for the university and its healthcare students. “We won this project via a competition under the NTU consultancy framework, where we put forward our concept proposals to create a gateway building to the campus that would be visually striking, functional and inspirational for anyone hoping for a career within health services. We’re thrilled that the completed building aligns very closely with our original concept sketch. “Blending our healthcare and HE knowledge, we designed a building that caters to nursing, paramedical, and other healthcare professionals. It accommodates a variety of clinical simulation spaces that support teaching, assessments, and learning opportunities. “Underpinning our design approach was a modular grid and a simplicity in design to create flexibility and standardisation in space planning and construction delivery. Working closely with university stakeholders, we meticulously planned the building to meet user requirements and allow for new educational technologies to support the evolving learning demands.” With flexibility of use in mind, multi-use spaces have the potential to provide students with fully immersive experiences. The new building also provides a welcoming gateway building to the campus with the external façade treatment and quality materials providing aesthetic interest. One floor of the new development is dedicated to realistic simulated healthcare environments for the training of healthcare students. This includes hospital wards, consultations and counselling rooms and a mock flat for home and emergency care scenarios. Meanwhile, a further two floors provide office and flexible teaching space to accommodate creative learning approaches. David Shaw, national design director at Pick Everard, said: “The architecture of the new development has been designed for maximum visual impact on arrival to the campus. We wanted to ensure this new addition to an evolving campus would be complimentary but also distinctive both externally and internally. “The whole consultant team worked closely to deliver this project to ensure the architecture, interior design and engineering has been holistically considered. We were intent on combining the existing building into the project, with the atrium space connecting the refurbished and new accommodations to bring people together in a central collaboration space. “With such unique requirements for its end use, this development provided room for a number of innovations to be adopted. This included the inclusion of virtual reality training spaces that completely immerse students into situational experiences, which is an incredibly valuable experience for their training. “The pandemic has reaffirmed the need for training facilities like this to make sure that the healthcare professionals now and tomorrow have the best quality teaching experience possible. We very much look forward to seeing the building fully occupied by students and professionals and seeing them make the most of their new teaching spaces.” Dr Anne Felton, head of the Institute of Health & Allied Professions at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, said: “We’re incredibly excited that our new teaching centre is now open. The courses we’re providing will directly increase the supply of professional qualified staff into the NHS and related services, as well as providing a dedicated facility to allow greater opportunities for Continuing Professional Development for existing health practitioners within the local area. “The virtual reality training facilities that will provide students with fully immersive situational experiences are a demonstration of NTU’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of the learning experience, while the audio-visual recording equipment installed within the simulation suites will enable feedback and reflection on students’ performances, creating a truly modern learning experience.” Ian Taylor, Managing Director at Henry Brothers Midlands, the contractor for the development, said: “It’s great to see this project reach completion and I look forward to seeing it full of students. Despite being a challenging project delivered during difficult times, I’m really pleased with how the whole team came together to deliver a great looking building for the university’s students and staff.”
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