Triumph for Sandiacre local as she’s awarded prestigious National Young Business Woman of the Year title
The founder and director of architectural design firm The Practical Planning Company has been crowned Young Business Woman of the Year at this year’s National Business Women’s Awards – and Silver Overall Winner.
Jodie Heginbotham, from Sandiacre, Derbyshire, triumphed at the national awards ceremony, which took place at the Hilton Wembley Hotel in London. The awards programme was made up of 21 categories, celebrating the most successful business women from across the UK and judged by a national panel of judges.
“Although I was very much looking forward to the awards ceremony,” comments Jodie, “I saw it just as a chance to celebrate being shortlisted, enjoy some glitz and glamour, and meet some incredible businesswomen. I never expected to actually win. Our business story began right at the end of 2019 and as such a new – and small – company, I could never have hoped to be in such a position.
“So, to be crowned Young Business Woman of the Year was beyond my expectations, and such an honour. And to then be named the Silver Overall Winner, when so many successful women from larger, more established companies were in the running, I was blown away.”
Jodie’s recent successes are the latest in a triumphant year for the firm, which also saw it shortlisted for the Architectural Practice of the Year award at the National Building and Construction Awards 2021.
Jodie hopes that her accomplishment will show other industrious and hardworking, career-conscious parents that a traditional career path is not their only option, particularly if it doesn’t allow the flexibility they need.
“I never planned to walk away from the security of employment but I’m so glad I took the plunge. I wanted to create a business I could be proud of; something that represented everything I’d been looking for, with authenticity and quality along with flexibility and professional satisfaction.
“There have been so many obstacles in the past couple of years – the pandemic, the trials and tribulations of running a small business, working in the male-dominated construction industry, and then trying to balance it all as a working mum. But it’s all been worth it and I’m so proud that I’ve now got these two awards on display in my home.”
Awards Director, Damian Cummins, says: “The National Business Women’s Awards 2021 has shown the very best of Britain when it comes to women in our workplaces. The calibre of finalists in 2021 was higher than ever before and after a challenging year for business as a nation we can celebrate those women who are literally driving UK plc forward.”
East Midlands businesses fear HMRC clamp down on IR35 compliance
With HMRC’s ‘light touch’ approach to IR35 compliance enforcement set to end in April 2022, new research from Grant Thornton UK LLP’s latest Business Outlook Tracker finds that the East Midlands mid-market is struggling to comply with the changes.
The survey found that a quarter (24%) of mid-market businesses in the East Midlands are not confident in their business’s compliance with IR35.
From 6 April 2021, for large and medium sized businesses, the responsibility for determining whether a contractor is deemed an employee for tax purposes shifted to the end-user of their services. Broadly, this means that organisations have new obligations regarding their population of contractors within scope of the updated off-payroll working rules (IR35) and could ultimately be liable for PAYE and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) on this population.
However, HMRC has confirmed that it will take a light touch approach to penalties until April 2022.
With only a few months to go before the ‘light touch’ approach ends, less than three quarters of respondents in the East Midlands (64%) were found to be confident in their business’s compliance. With only 28% responding that they were ‘very confident’.
Commenting on the results, Dave Hillan, partner and practice leader at Grant Thornton UK LLP in the Midlands, said: “Many firms in the East Midlands have been dealing with a roller coaster of changes, upheavals and challenges over the past 18 months. When combined with the fact that HMRC has been lenient on IR35 compliance penalties for nearly a year, it’s possible that many may have overlooked this issue.
“While the new IR35 rules can be difficult to navigate, this won’t be seen as a good excuse for any non-compliance, especially given that the previous 12-month delay to the reforms should have been sufficient time to prepare. For any business that isn’t sure if it’s in line with the new rules, now is the critical time to address this concern before HMRC begins its clamp down.
“Any businesses that are seen as being deliberately non-compliant will not only face significant consequences but it will also not prevent any uncollected PAYE and NICs from being due. Firms using agencies to source temporary resource should be aware that a non-compliant approach could already mean that they are on the hook for PAYE and NICs – plus interest – not collected by the agency.”
HR consultancy expands health & safety provision with acquisition
A HR services consultancy has made its largest acquisition to date, while strengthening its position in the Health & Safety sector.
HR Solutions has significantly expanded its reach in the field by bringing Essential Safety on board – a health & safety and fire safety consultancy, with a team of 12.
Essential Safety is an established Health & Safety consultancy with offices in Corby and London. Its team of experienced and IOSH qualified consultants support and advise clients in a broad range of industries and sectors, including construction, education, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.
Greg Guilford, CEO of HR Solutions, said: “Essential Safety has an excellent reputation in the Health and Safety sector due to the expert knowledge of its consultants and its dedication to clients.
“As a result of this, the company has secured larger corporate clients, as well as working with SMEs. The company’s 25 years’ experience and its expertise compliments HR Solutions’ offering, having recently launched its Health and Safety division in 2020.
“This is a great opportunity to work with a like-minded business that has service delivery and client satisfaction at the heart of what they do.”
The acquisition is HR Solutions’ fifth over the past six years. In 2015 the company merged with Business Human Resources Solutions, followed by the acquisition of HR Services (UK) in 2017, the addition of Crispin Rhodes in 2020 and Cherington HR earlier this year.
Greg added: “Whilst HR Solutions continues to grow organically, we are excited by the opportunity of acquiring similar business to be able to offer a wider range of services to businesses.”
As a result of joining HR Solutions, Essential Safety’s clients will benefit from a wider service offering and access to additional experienced staff with extensive skills.
Dean Howells, Managing Director at Essential Safety, added: “We are delighted to be joining the HR Solutions team, who we have trusted for HR advice and support for the last 10 years. Our clients will now have access to a broader range of services and support from a wider team of consultants and advisors.
“Helping our clients succeed safely has always been at the heart of everything we do at Essential Safety, and that will not change. This new alliance will add further investment and impetus into our business, and our consultants and advisors will benefit from increased support as they continue to deliver the high levels of service our clients expect.”
With a head office in Kettering, Northamptonshire, HR Solutions operates in a variety of industries and has a client list that ranges from small care agencies to multi-national technology firms.
Frasers Group rings up nearly £1bn funding in largest retail deal this year
Frasers Group has refinanced nearly £1bn in bank facilities as it seeks to continue its Elevation Programme.
It will be able to access credit facilities and a term loan totalling £930m to support its growth ambitions. Frasers Group is on an ambitious elevation strategy and continues to invest significantly across its portfolio of retail fascias and digital platforms.
Jointly led by HSBC UK and backed by several other lenders, the deal refinances £913.5m of existing loan facilities and adds £16.5m in new funding. It is the largest bank funding package to be secured in the British retail sector this year.
Chris Wootton, Chief Financial Officer at Frasers Group, said: “Partners like HSBC UK, will allow us to continue with our commitment to the UK high street and retail sector – investing significantly into the future with our on-going elevation strategy that fuels our long-term growth.”
Richard Bacon, relationship director at HSBC UK, added: “The retail sector is undergoing immense change and it is crucial for retailers to have the capability and flexibility to evolve. Frasers Group has a clear plan in place and this substantial package is evidence of our support for, and confidence in, its future direction.”
Work to transform heart of Grimsby given boost
Plans to transform the heart of Grimsby have been given a boost with the appointment of a specialist development management organisation to lead the project.
Queensberry, a nationally recognised regeneration specialist has been brought on board to drive the “Future High Streets” town centre project forward which will create a mixed use cinema and leisure space and a new market in the centre of Grimsby.
Queensberry will coordinate the whole project, from overseeing the work to progressing planning applications, developing the business plans, through to the construction of the new facilities.
Queensberry has been working in partnership with local authority clients for over 10 years. They are currently working on a number of urban regeneration schemes that are transforming places including Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster, Nuneaton as well as several in London.
Cllr Callum Procter, Cabinet member for Economic Growth at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I’m delighted to have Queensberry on board to help us really push on with our plans to transform the heart of the town and build on the great work that’s already been done at St James’ Square and Garth Lane.”
Charlotte Dunlop, Asset Manager at Capreon, the asset managers for Freshney Place, said: “With their vision, knowledge, and extensive credentials, we are confident Queensberry will drive the successful delivery of this exciting town centre project.”
Paul Sargent, CEO, Queensberry, said: “We can’t wait to get started on the scheme with Freshney Place and the Council. We have a huge amount of experience of working with local authorities and understand the challenges that lay ahead. We recognise that Grimsby has its own personality and we will work closely with the Council and the community to restore civic pride and deliver a sustainable long term future for the town.”
This decision means that the Council, in partnership with town centre regeneration specialist, Queensberry, will now progress to the design and consultation phase, with plans to consult local residents and businesses to be announced in the coming weeks.
Earlier this year, the government awarded £17.3 million for the Future High Streets Fund bid from the Council and the owners of Freshney Place Shopping Centre.
The project will provide a leisure-led scheme for the centre of Grimsby town which incorporates a new market and food hall alongside new leisure and retail units and a new cinema.
The overall aim of the project is to provide a new space for people to enjoy the town centre’s day and evening economy.
The scheme will be delivered through the removal of some of the 1960s and 1970s buildings and retail space at the western end of Freshney Place.
New student scheme set for Nottingham at former Marks and Spencer’s Homeware store
Conditional permission has been granted for a new student accommodation scheme in Nottingham, at 22-26 Lister Gate.
Hunter UK Retail Limited Partnership are behind the plans which will transform the former Marks and Spencer’s Homeware store, which has been vacant since March
2020.
The proposals include the partial change of use and conversion of the building, partial demolition at ground to second floors, and 5/6 storey new build accommodation at the rear.
156 bed spaces will be provided in 22 cluster flats and 56 self-contained studios.
Two new retail units will also be created.
Council to cut 50-60 jobs as it looks to save £12.1m
Next week, Derby City Council’s Cabinet will meet to discuss the development of the Council Plan and Mid Term Financial Strategy, including proposals to cut 50-60 job posts.
Cabinet members will review the progress of developing the Council Plan and Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the 3-year period 2022/23 to 2024/25. The plan builds on the Council’s Recovery Plan, refocusing outcomes to ensure better partnership working for the city, improved working with residents and communities and Derby City Council’s ambitions for the future. To support this approach a new Council Vision is proposed of:
Ambitious for Derby – Working with the city, For the city
The Council’s priorities for the future will be focused around four partnership themes. The proposed partnership themes include:
- Green Derby – Making a positive impact on our environment
- Vibrant Derby – A reimagined City Centre with culture at its heart
- Growth Derby – Creating a modern smart city with jobs and skills for the future
- Resilient Derby – Working with communities to reduce poverty and inequalities
Chilled food company snaps up frozen specialist
Wrights Food Group has been sold to The Compleat Food Group.
The Compleat Food Group was formed through the merger of Nottingham-based Addo Food Group and Winterbotham Darby in January 2021 in order to become the UK’s no. 1 chilled prepared food company.
The acquisition of Wrights, a specialist in frozen foods, complements The Compleat Food Group’s existing chilled portfolio, significantly expands its customer base and provides it with much greater penetration into the UK’s foodservice markets.
Wrights Food Group was founded in 1926 as a local family-owned pie business. Under the leadership of Peter Wright, it has grown into one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of frozen savoury pastry, sweet bakery and ready meals to foodservice and retail channels across the UK. It also operates a chain of branded bakery stores in the Northwest.
Oghma Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to the shareholder of Wrights Food Group.
Mark Lynch, partner at Oghma Partners, said: “We were thrilled to be able to work with Peter and the Wrights management team on the sale of the business to The Compleat Food Group. It was important to Peter to pass the ownership of his business to a purchaser that would build on the legacy which the Wrights family worked so hard to create.”
Lincolnshire-based premium foods provider secures £250,000 growth funding
A food & drink producer based across Lincolnshire has secured £250,000 to upgrade its production facilities, create jobs and service its growing customer base.
Wild Jacks Ltd secured the finance from Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). The MEIF funding will help to upgrade the company’s production facilities and create eight new jobs in the next year.
The investment will also allow the company to increase capacity in its existing events catering facilities, refurbish the premises and service new national contracts.
Founded in 2020 by Stuart and Joanna Hancock, Wild Jacks sources high-quality foods, bakery and meat products from Lincolnshire and operates multiple business lines, working with local producers, arable and meat farmers to sustainably provide these products to a range of customers.
Wild Jacks is home to a number of brands including Odling’s Butchers of Navenby, Welbourne’s Wine & Deli, Welbourne’s Bakery and their most recent acquisition, JH Starbuck (Baker & Caterer).
Stuart Hancock, founder of Wild Jacks, said: “Lincolnshire has a proud history of agriculture and thanks to this investment, we will be able to accelerate our growth plans to offer high-quality, sustainable and local produce to a national range of customers. It has been great working alongside Leo and The FSE Group’s Midlands team, the funding arrives at a really important time for the business as we scale up our operations to service our growing customer numbers.”
Leo Magee, investment manager at The FSE Group, which manages the MEIF Debt Finance Fund, adds: “We were impressed by Wild Jacks’ track record of rapid growth. The team boast senior personnel with significant experience in the industry. Additionally, the company has an impressive suite of business lines with a focus on providing the best locally sourced products. We are delighted to be able to offer this funding and look forward to working with Stuart, Joanna and the team to ensure they reach their goals for growth.”
Sarah Louise Fairburn, chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Food Board, said: “This is great news for an exciting new Lincolnshire business, and this funding underlines the importance of the food sector to Greater Lincolnshire. Our area is home to some outstanding food producers, from fish to free range pork and from cheese to chocolate. It’s no wonder that a business which champions Lincolnshire produce has become so successful so quickly. The new UK Food Valley will raise the profile of our food sector even higher and make it easier for innovative businesses like Wild Jacks to thrive.”
Mid-market investor in advanced discussions to make offer for Burton pharma firm
Clinigen, the Burton-based pharmaceutical products and services company, has received a non-binding indicative proposal from Triton Investment Management Limited for a possible offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the business.
The board of Clinigen said it is in advanced discussions with Triton regarding the proposal, but there can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made for the company, nor as to the terms on which any firm offer might be made.
Triton is an investment firm focused on mid-market businesses. They sit within one of four sectors: industrial tech, services, consumer and healthcare.
Triton is required, by no later than 30 December, to announce a firm intention to make an offer for Clinigen or that it does not intend to make an offer.
Grade A office development fully let
Toll Bar House, a 7,105ft² Grade A office development in Edwalton, has now been fully let by FHP Property Consultants.
The three story modern office building is located on the edge of a major residential development next to Wheatcroft Garden Centre that also includes an Aldi supermarket, Costa Coffee Drive-Thru and McDonald’s.
Internally, the office suites provide open plan accommodation, benefitting from LED lighting, heating/cooling systems, shower facilities, with a feature full height glazed reception area and car parking facilities.
The building is now home to Oxalis Planning, T.Bailey Asset Management and IFS (UK) Ltd.
Thomas Szymkiw of FHP Property Consultants’ Office Department, who acted on behalf of the landlord, said: “Toll Bar House is one of the city’s premier new office developments and I am absolutely delighted to have secured tenants for the building.
“Increasingly, business parks are becoming ever more popular with occupiers who are now employing more flexible working practices and therefore require their offices in more accessible locations.”
Westminster endorsement for Leicester space cluster
The ‘integral’ value of the University of Leicester and its flagship Space Park Leicester development to the UK’s space sector has been highlighted in Parliament.
Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West, spoke at a Westminster Hall debate of the significant contribution which the University and its projects continue to make to the UK space sector, following her visit to Space Park Leicester in November.
Science Minister, George Freeman, added his endorsement of the work taking place at Leicester, describing the region as “an absolutely vital location in the UK space ecosystem”.
He went on to describe Space Park Leicester as “an excellent example of locally-led regional technology hubs, and one that I am encouraging others to look at”. He added that “Space Park Leicester is absolutely integral” to the UK’s contributions in space science and technology.
The University of Leicester has a long-standing space heritage stretching back more than six decades.
Leicester research and innovation in space plays a major role in the UK space sector, with Space Park Leicester expected to boost the regional economy by £750m a year and create 2,500 jobs while supporting many of the national objectives of the Government’s new National Space Strategy, published in September.
Speaking as part of the Parliamentary motion, Liz Kendall said: “There is huge potential for space science and technology to create the high skill, high quality jobs of the future, to boost economic growth, to tackle climate change, and help keep our country safe.
“Leicester is at the forefront of the space sector in this country, and is extremely well-poised to lead development both nationally and internationally.
“The University of Leicester is globally recognised for its space research. Space Park Leicester builds on this proud tradition, bringing together our world-leading University research with industry in state-of-the-art high-tech facilities.
“Space Park Leicester is very well-placed to lead growth in the UK in low-cost satellite production and across the world.”
The debate also highlighted the work of the neighbouring National Space Centre – and in particular its National Space Academy outreach programme, inspiring the next generation of STEM ‘superheroes’ – plus the vital work of the UKRI-NERC National Centre for Earth Observation, hosted at Space Park Leicester.
The first phase of Space Park Leicester, with partners including Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, opened to researchers in the summer. The first resident businesses include AST SpaceMobile. A second phase, containing state-of-the-art workshops and labs, as well as the UK’s largest academic clean room for the assembling and testing of space equipment, is due to be operational to most of its occupants by Christmas.
Future plans include further development on the Leicester site, with a commercial Low Cost Access to Space (LoCAS) payload and satellite manufacturing facility for the manufacture of mid-range satellites.
Huge opportunity for East Midlands to develop new supply chains in low-carbon economy, event finds
The Midlands should seek to become a hotbed for emerging supply chains in the low-carbon economy, while end users must be front and centre of our new energy systems.
These were two of the key findings at the Midlands Energy Summit, held by East Midlands Chamber in partnership with the University of Nottingham earlier this week.
Reflecting on the outcomes of COP26 and wider trends in the energy industry, including continuing price increases, it featured keynote speeches and discussions involving companies such as Siemens Energy, Cavendish Nuclear and Consultus International Group.
Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at East Midlands Chamber, said: “What is becoming increasingly apparent is the huge scale of the challenge we face globally, and how a shift in mindset is required now to address this because we need to travel further, faster.
“Rather than this being a daunting prospect though, there are equally significant opportunities at a localised level, particularly in supply chains. The East Midlands, with our energy-intensive manufacturing heritage and world-leading universities, is already at the cutting edge of many future technologies that will guide the energy transition. We now want SMEs to understand that they have a key role to play in the emerging supply chains being built in our region.
“Beyond supply chains, new industries will grow in the space between existing ones. We need to be ready to take advantage of this, while also recognising that taking a user-centric approach is key to bringing people along with us on this journey – viewing our energy consumers as part of the solution, rather than a barrier to change.”
The Midlands Energy Summit, held online on Tuesday (30 November), featured a keynote speech from University of Nottingham vice-chancellor Professor Shearer West. She explained how its Energy Institute is addressing three key societal challenges – energy generation and management, transport and mobility, and communities and the built environment – via a series of sustainable energy research projects.
She said: “Energy is absolutely vital for our survival but our existing energy systems present an existential threat.
“In COP26, we saw a lot about the interconnections between energy and climate change. The transition to net zero relies on a deep thinking for our energy system – not just the technologies we use but our expectations and behaviours.”
There were also presentations about the Midlands Engine’s Ten Point Plan for Green Growth in the Midlands Engine and its work in developing hydrogen technologies, as well as a talk by Cavendish Nuclear’s Michael Dunnett on the growing importance of small modular reactors in making nuclear energy supplies more flexible for industry.
Steve Atkins, head of global trades at Leicester-based energy consultancy Consultus International Group, explained about how a cold winter could cause another spike in gas prices due to relatively low resources, while more investment in zero-carbon energy infrastructure was key to unlocking subsidy-free renewables in the future.
Stephen Scrimshaw, vice-president of Siemens Energy UK & Ireland, focused on how Britain should adopt a “twin track approach” to developing blue and green hydrogen – and, just as importantly, the infrastructure behind it – as part of its net zero strategy.
Work to start on new health and wellbeing centre in Derbyshire village
Work on the much anticipated multi-million pound Creswell health and wellbeing centre is due to start in early 2022.
Working with partners, the project is being built by Elmton-with-Creswell Parish Council with assistance and funding from Bolsover District Council, Elmton-with-Creswell Parish Council, Derbyshire County Council, Viridor, Big Local and Bolsover Partnership.
Creswell Leisure Centre closed its doors in 2016 and Councillor Duncan McGregor set about looking at proposals for a brand new facility for the village. One that would not only provide people with the chance to participate in an active and healthy lifestyle, but one that could link with the importance of the Crags and provide an educational resource.
Five years down the line and contractors Robert Woodhead Limited are due to start work on the £2million+ development. Located on Colliery Road, adjacent to the Model Village, the new facility will provide the following:
- 27 station gym
- Climbing wall and caving experience
- One group exercise studio
- Soft play area
- Two badminton court sports hall
- Café
New fashion academy launches in Leicester
A new fashion academy has launched in Leicester to help train people in the skills they need to work in the textiles industry.
Leicester City Council has invested £300,000 in the project and teamed up with training provider Fashion-Enter Ltd to develop a new skills centre, which will be called The Fashion Technology Academy (Leicester).
£100,000 of the £300,000 funding has come from the local business rates pool, administered by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).
The academy will offer apprenticeships and accredited training for people who work in, or want to work in, the textiles industry.
Current courses are free to people who are unemployed and apprenticeships at various levels are available to employers.
The academy is based in Stonebridge Street, at the heart of Leicester’s garment industry, sharing a state of the art building with renowned local clothing company Ethically Sourced Products Ltd, which has made the second floor of its premises available for the project.
Trainees have already started on some of the academy’s first courses, with an event held for partners, industry professionals, fashion retailers and guests on Tuesday 30 November marking the official launch of the project.
Deputy city mayor, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “The opening of this academy is the result of years of hard work, and ideas that were first formulated at a ground-breaking textiles coalition event hosted by Leicester’s city mayor in 2017. This project has been developed to help tackle the problems that we know exist in the garment industry locally and are determined to address – despite having no enforcement powers ourselves.
“Leicester has the second largest concentration of textiles and fashion businesses in the UK, so this is a hugely important industry to our local economy, and it is one we are determined to support.
“Creating a highly-skilled and specialist workforce is an important and crucial step in creating workplaces where staff are valued, leading to higher standards of workplace compliance.”
Jenny Holloway, director of Fashion-Enter, said: “The opportunity for ethical ‘speed of response’ fashion from Leicester is enormous for retailers and etailers today. Fashion-Enter is delighted to be working collaboratively with partners to train a further generation of multi-skilled workers. Thank you to all involved; this is just the start!”
Kevin Harris is chair of the LLEP Board of Directors. He said: “I’m delighted that the Fashion Technology Academy (Leicester) officially launches today. Our textile sector has a long local history and has faced some tough times, so the LLEP is pleased to support this initiative with a £100,000 investment from the business rates pool that we administer. I look forward to seeing the academy developing the workforce and skills of our future textile specialists.”
The new academy will work closely with local textiles and fashion manufacturing businesses as well as with retailers, with representatives from companies including Asos attending the launch event.
Simon Platts, responsible sourcing director at ASOS, said: “We’ve worked with Fashion-Enter in London since 2010 and financed its Stitching Academy in 2015, helping to grow and retain vital textile manufacturing skills. Now the launch of Fashion Technology Academy Leicester will undoubtedly bring similar benefits to Leicester, helping to turn the city into the fashion centre of excellence that we know it has the potential to be.”
Other partners supporting the project include suppliers Triumph Needle and Alvanon, plus fashion etailer I Saw It First, which has invested £150,000 in training to be delivered by the new academy.
Greg Pateras, CEO of I Saw It First, said: “I Saw It First is committed to the British textiles industry, and our latest investment in the academy reinforces our desire to strengthen the sector and improve standards.”
In a further boost to the industry locally, a recent successful bid to the Government’s Community Renewal Fund means the city council will receive £500,000 to work together with partners Fashion-Enter and De Montfort University to offer co-ordinated support to textiles manufacturers and local textiles workers.
The city council’s adult skills and learning team is also working closely with the academy to offer English courses at the venue for speakers of other languages.
Pledges sought for Christmas Dinner Project – bringing a festive treat to families in need
To make someone’s Christmas Day extra special, Pepperells Solicitors are running the Christmas Dinner Project again in 2021 – and are looking for pledges.
Those who get involved in the Christmas Dinner Project will be helping some of the most needy families in our area enjoy a festive treat.
Morrisons have kept the meal pledge amount the same this year, so for £25 a family can be provided with the festive ingredients they need to make a traditional Christmas meal.
The Christmas Dinner Project works in partnership with churches and food banks to provide a meal for families that would otherwise go without. Many of the families it works with do not have presents under their tree and for them Christmas is just another day.
Last year a record 450 dinners were provided to local families in Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and the North East.
If you would like to pledge, get in touch with Clare Williams at Pepperells Solicitors: Clare.Williams@pepperells.com
Sills & Betteridge lead sale of Hemswell-based International Security Group in multi million pound deal
In a deal which took many months of negotiation, led by Sills & Betteridge Corporate Partner Martin Walsh, Tag Security Holdings Ltd (TSH) has now been acquired by The Smartwater Group, supported by its primary investment partner, Freshstream. As part of the newly expanded group, TSH, which operates as Tag Guard in the UK, and BetaGuard in Europe, will continue to supply mobile security systems (including site intruder detection and access control products and services), and plans to provide an even broader range of technologies which deter crime and maximise the chances of a successful criminal prosecution. The multi million pound transaction involved the sale of TSH, an English holding company with subsidiaries in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Canada, requiring Martin Walsh to co-ordinate multiple advisors and jurisdictions. Commenting on the sale, Martin Berends, Managing Director of TSH, said: “Until completion of the sale of TSH, I was a majority shareholder, a Dutch national and resident, heading the international businesses of the group. I had little knowledge of the complex English legal process concerning selling shares in an English company. It was therefore absolutely vital for us to find and instruct a lawyer of Martin’s calibre. “Martin smoothly guided us to a successful completion following a very lengthy and intensive sales process during which Martin provided the legal and commercial expertise, reassurance and confidence that only comes with more than 30 years of International Merger and Acquisition legal and transactional experience. Martin came to us very highly recommended. He delivered on all counts.” Martin Walsh said: “I am delighted that Martin and the other shareholders were so pleased with the outcome of the deal. Now TSH is part of a much larger global group with an increased product range, their future looks to be very strong and I wish them every success.”
Wealth management firm secures chartered status for sixth consecutive year
Wealth management and financial advice firm, The RU Group, has once again achieved Chartered Status from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), the premier professional body for the insurance and financial planning profession.
This is the sixth consecutive year that the Nottingham headquartered firm, with offices in Derby and Sheffield, has been accredited with Chartered Status and recognised as an exemplar in the field of financial management, planning and advice.
Following an extensive review of The RU Group’s professional conduct and management of its business operations, the firm was awarded the coveted accreditation of Corporate Chartered status. It demonstrates that the high professional standards required by the CII are deeply embedded within the culture, as well as the practice, of The RU Group.
The news comes just months after the firm reached another milestone and celebrated award success. Announcing more than £600million of assets under management for its clients in September, the team was then crowned SME Business of the Year at the 2020/21 Nottingham Business Awards in October.
Ian Browne, head of advice at The RU Group, explains: “The CII requirements are getting more difficult for a firm of our size. Achieving Corporate Chartered status requires a larger percentage of the company’s financial planners to be Chartered themselves, which is an increasing challenge as we grow.
“However, we have successfully embedded a ‘culture of learning’ into the business to encourage ongoing professional development. As such, our clients work with a team of highly skilled, knowledgeable financial planners who are focused on achieving excellent results.”
Ian adds: “Being recognised by the CII, achieving a record level of assets under management and being named as the Best SME in the Nottingham Post Business Awards has given the team a real boost as we reach the end of a challenging year. We look forward to what we can achieve in the year ahead.”
Trading ahead of expectations at Belvoir
Trading is ahead of expectations at Belvoir, for the ten months to the end of October 2021, with both of the group’s divisions, property and financial services, achieving year-on-year growth.
The Lincolnshire-headquartered company noted that its property division, which contributed 77% of the group’s gross profit, achieved gross profit growth of 29%.
Income from lettings was 21% up on 2020 resulting from unprecedented demand for rental properties with rents increasing in all areas of the UK, as well as the acquisition of Nicholas Humphreys, a predominantly student lettings network.
Meanwhile, income from sales was up 65%, mainly a result of the strongest market for property transactions seen since 2007.
The financial services division, which contributed 18% of the group’s gross profit, continued its strong growth with gross profit up by 39%.
Belvoir’s network of mortgage advisers increased by 21% from 202 at the start of the year to 245 by the end of October. This represented a net increase of 43, which arose through organic recruitment and 21 from the acquisition of Nottingham Mortgage Services, the mortgage arm of The Nottingham Building Society.
The group remained focused on meeting the demand for house purchase mortgages for much of 2021, and now, given signs that interest rates might rise, are benefitting from a busy period for remortgages.
The group’s operating activities continue to be highly cash generative underpinned by Belvoir’s significant recurring lettings income stream. As of today, net debt is down to £2.7m (31 December 2020: £3.7m) despite having deployed £4.0m of cash in March to acquire the Nicholas Humphreys network and £0.6m in July to acquire Nottingham Mortgage Services.
Current substantial pipelines of house sales and written mortgages support Belvoir’s end of year forecasts. Consequently, the board expects that the performance for the full year, in terms of profit before tax, will be ahead of management’s expectations for 2021 and substantially ahead of 2020.
Dorian Gonsalves, CEO, said: “In 2021 we have seen our franchisees and mortgage advisers take advantage of an exceptionally strong sales market. The sector undoubtedly benefitted hugely from the Government’s decision to extend the stamp duty holiday until September 2021, following which we have seen a predictable slowing in the number of new instructions as the market normalises.
“We anticipate that given the ongoing pent-up demand from buyers, the market will return to more usual transaction levels in 2022. In the meantime, our current pipelines remain strong and support outperforming our end of year forecasts.
“The board is mindful that 2022 is likely to present further challenges for the wider economy, but we are confident in our business model of supporting entrepreneurial franchisees and mortgage advisers to achieve their business ambitions, and that our growth strategy of organic growth coupled with investment in profitable property franchise and mortgage networks will continue to prove successful and deliver long-term shareholder value.”
Leicester named among global leaders on climate action
Leicester has been named as a leader on climate action and transparency, achieving a place on a global ‘Cities A List’.
International climate research charity CDP has named Leicester as one of only 95 places in the world – including Paris, Helsinki, Stockholm and Reykjavik – to achieve its top ‘A’ grade for leadership in environmental transparency and action.
It is also one of just 11 in the UK – including Bristol, Greater Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham – to receive the top rating.
To score an A, a city must disclose publicly its city-wide emissions, have set an emissions reduction target and a renewable energy target for the future; and have published a climate action plan. An A List city must also have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards and it must be making progress towards achieving its ambitious goals.
Over 1,000 cities disclosed their climate data through CDP in 2021. Fewer than one in ten received the top grade.
Deputy city mayor, Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “We’re very proud to achieve an A grade and to be recognised by CDP for our ongoing work to reduce carbon emissions across our city and do our bit to tackle the climate emergency.
“As a city we have almost halved our carbon emissions since 1990 – and as council we’ve cut our own carbon footprint by two-thirds in just over ten years. Last year we published the first Leicester Climate Emergency Strategy and will continue to deliver important projects and develop our ambitious plans to help us become a carbon neutral and climate-adapted city by 2030
“Being named as one of just 95 cities globally that are leading on climate action and transparency is a huge endorsement that we’re on the right track, but we’re under no illusion that we still face an enormous task.”
Kyra Appleby, CDP Global Director of Cities, States and Regions, said: “We are thrilled to champion the 95 cities from around the globe on CDP’s 2021 Cities A List. A new generation of climate conscious cities is showing what is possible when action replaces words – implementing innovative solutions to cut emissions and adapt to climate change, and demonstrating determined leadership on the defining issue of our time.
“We hope the example of A List cities’ efforts and actions will encourage far greater numbers of cities to ramp up their climate ambition, and work together with government and business, to safeguard our planet for generations to come.”
Leicester City Council declared a climate emergency for the city in 2019 and launched the first Leicester Climate Emergency Strategy last year.
Since then, the city council has led on a range of initiatives and secured external funding of over £100million to invest in low carbon schemes across the city.
These include:
- Investment of £13.5million in construction of the UK’s first carbon neutral bus station building as part of the St Margaret’s Gateway regeneration project.
- A successful bid for £19million of Government funding towards a £47million investment in increasing the city’s fleet of electric buses to over 100, backed by local bus operators Arriva and FirstBus.
- Securing over £24million of Government funding through the Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme for a programme of low carbon, energy efficient improvements to more than 90 council buildings, including schools, leisure centres, libraries and community centres.
- Progress on an ambitious £80million citywide programme of investment in sustainable transport backed by £40million from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).
- Developing plans to build 38 new A-rated low carbon council houses in the Saffron Lane area and launching a £3.1m programme to fit external wall insulation and other energy efficient measures to about 250 homes – including 80 council houses – by Spring 2022. The council has also recently submitted a bid for over £4million from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund to further extend this work across the city.
