New homes are set to be built in a Leicestershire village after a property consultancy secured planning permission for 70 dwellings and went on to sell the site.
Fisher German secured outline planning permission for the 6.8-acre site off Hinckley Road, in Stoke Golding, in just 12 months, which it has now sold to Miller Homes.
The firm acted on behalf of the landowner to secure development partner Richborough Estates which subsequently instructed Fisher German’s planning team to work on the planning application.
The complex process involved the team arguing that the site should be allocated for housing in the Stoke Golding Neighbourhood Plan, which only included part of the site as a reserved allocation for 25 units, due to housing calculations being outdated and an increased amount being required.
Despite these arguments being dismissed by the Neighbourhood Development Plan Advisory Committee, members of the team prepared pre-application submission and undertook a consultation exercise ahead of submitting an outline planning application in May 2021.
Further representations were then made to the Stoke Golding Neighbourhood Development Plan following the publication of an updated version of the neighbourhood plan which had removed the site altogether as a result of the approval of an alternative site in the village.
The firm also made representations to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council which had produced its draft local plan that highlighted the need for more housing in the area, demonstrating that the development could support with this.
After receiving a resolution to grant consent from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s planning committee in October, a third-party call-in request was made to the Secretary of State who later determined not to intervene in the decision-making process.
During this delay, a S106 agreement was prepared and completed within three months of the committee’s resolution, following collaboration with the borough council and Leicestershire County Council.
The firm has now sold the development site, which will provide a mix of starter and family homes along with more than two acres of public open space, on behalf of Richborough Estates to Miller Homes.
Angela Smedley, of Fisher German, who led the planning process, said: “We were very pleased to secure planning permission for the site, and it is fantastic that it has now been sold to Miller Homes.
“Despite facing a number of barriers, we were able to achieve an incredibly quick turn around and secure planning permission just one year after being instructed by Richborough Estates.
“We now look forward to seeing the development, which will provide much-needed new homes for the area, come to fruition.”
Fisher German’s development team dealt with the sale of the site.
Ben Marshalsay, head of development at Fisher German, said: “We were attempting to transact in the tax year just ended and it was always going to be a close-run thing, but we were very impressed with the speed at which all parties worked to hit the tight deadlines and our client was extremely happy with the result.”
Most people tend to think that starting a business is the hardest part; once the business is launched it is all smooth sailing from there, but that is not necessarily the case. You need to take steps to safeguard the future of your business. Simply keeping a business afloat is hard work, let alone making a profit. To ensure that your business has a future, you need to do your best to be flexible and develop your critical thinking skills, so let’s get into it.
Invest in Yourself
While you obviously cannot do everything yourself, as a business owner, there are a lot of things that you have control over which can help to secure your business’s future. First and foremost, you need to do your best to work on your organisational skills. Realistically, you are the one that is responsible for staying on top of everything. It falls to you as the person in charge to make sure that everything is done. In that respect, how well you are able to organise yourself directly affects the success of your business. There are several methods that you can use to stay organised, like to-do lists or tracking programmes. You also need to stay up to date with industry standards and relevant legislation that could affect your business.
In order to ensure that you are properly prepared to run your business and maintain its success in the long term, you need to be willing to work on yourself. As your business grows, its demands on you might change too. Luckily, the internet is an amazing resource. You can find no end of articles and blog posts to further your knowledge and provide you with insights. That being said, it might be better for your business for you to learn these things first-hand. There is a huge range of courses online which can help to arm you with the knowledge that you need to protect the future of your business. Think about areas in which you might be lacking; for example, if running the finances for your business is new to you, then maybe a managerial finance course might benefit you. If you do decide to do a course, then you need to think about the reputation and accreditations of the provider; for example, LSE is a world-renowned institution whose online certificate courses could prove invaluable to your business.
Above all else, you need to always maintain your focus. It is highly unlikely that your business will be an overnight success, and managing a business is a long-term endeavour. You need to be able to keep an eye on the long-term goals of your business instead of simply thinking of the short term. A work-life balance is important because it can help you avoid burning out. By working on your time management skills, coming up with goals and developing strategies that will help you to reach them, you should be able to strike a balance.
Remember that Your Staff are an Asset – Use Them
Most business owners aim to grow their business, and to do this; you need employees. The truth is that your employees can be one of your greatest assets, and you need to treat them as such. In order to ensure that your employees are prepared for the increasing demands of the business, you need to continually be looking for ways to increase their skill set. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You first need to reevaluate your recruitment process. For example, while hiring university graduates or promoting internally might seem like the best practice, you might be unknowingly limiting the skillset of your employees. Instead, you might want to rethink your screening process. In doing so, you might find that your business benefits from applicants with transferable skills or experience that can be of use.
When you put the work into training your staff and improving their skill set, it communicates to the staff that they are appreciated and valued. This in itself can help to boost morale within your employees. Ensuring that they are kept up to date with industry developments simply makes good business sense, and it can help your strategies and the way in which your staff work. It is all about doing your best to encourage your employees to always produce your best work.
Monitor Your Competition
A little healthy competition can work wonders for your business; it forces you to work harder, to find your niche and strive for success. In all honesty, your competitors can prove to be an incredibly useful tool if utilised properly that can provide you with a number of advantages. If you want to ensure that your business has a chance at long-term success, then you need to use them. When you have a better idea of your competitors, you can do your best to differentiate your business from theirs to make your business more unique and, therefore, more appealing to consumers. Do your research and learn from their mistakes so that you may avoid falling into the same pitfalls. Then, find ways to use their successful strategies to your advantage. This isn’t to say that you should copy them directly but find ways to personalise them for your business.
Cater to Your Consumers
This might sound obvious, but it is worth going over in more detail. As a business, you should always strive to deliver an excellent service to your consumers. Customer service is an integral part of any business. A business can only succeed if it has customers who are willing to pay for the products or services that they offer. Prioritising customer satisfaction is one of the ways to guarantee that your business has a future. You should always pride yourself on the service that you provide to your consumers. Often it is one of the defining factors that you can use to set your business apart from your competitors. To put it simply, consistency is key. It can help you to build a reputation that your customers will want to benefit from. Everything you do needs to be geared towards your consumers, from the products that you sell to your marketing methods. Do you have a good idea of who your target audience is? It is not sustainable to try and appeal to everyone; after all, it is a waste of your time and resources. To streamline your process, you need to have a good idea as to who your business appeals to. Your knowledge of your audience translates directly to the long-term success of your business; you need to put the work in to get to know them so that you can be sure to consistently meet and exceed their expectations.
To Conclude
If you want to ensure the future of your business, then you need to work on adopting a few of the habits and considerations listed above. They will help you to arm yourself with the knowledge that you need to guard your business, retain and encourage your staff, as well as grow your consumer base. In all honesty, a significant number of fledgling businesses won’t survive for more than ten years. Building a business and maintaining it long-term is a challenge; make no mistake but taking on board the above advice can help to alleviate some of the anxiety and allow you to anticipate the changing needs of your business.
Belfast-based private equity firm Cordovan Capital Management Limited has acquired Powdertech (Corby) Limited.
Following investments made last year into Spanwall Group and Cubo, this is the third investment closed by its institutional fund vehicle, Cordovan Capital Partners II LP, and the twelfth investment made by the group overall.
Northamptonshire-based Powdertech is a leader in the field of specialist architectural powder coating, providing unique and innovative coating solutions to a wide range of UK and international clients.
Cordovan partner Daniel Anderson said of the acquisition: “This acquisition has seen us support a highly experienced and industry-recognised management team in their ambitions to lead the next chapter of Powdertech’s growth.
“This is a successful, innovative surface technology business whose work can be seen on many iconic buildings, from Wembley Stadium in London to the Riyadh Metro Station in Saudi Arabia, and we are delighted to welcome it into the Cordovan portfolio.”
Giles Ashmead, operations director at Powdertech, said: “We are delighted to have completed this investment into the company which will catalyse significant further growth in the business. I’d like to pay tribute to the founder and seller of the business Martyn Green whose innovative work in our industry has laid a such a strong foundation on which we will continue to build.”
A fast-growing card payment solutions provider aims to treble the size of its business following an £850,000 investment.
Grimsby-based Card Industry Professionals has raised the equity funding from both the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), managed by Mercia.
Founded in 2017, by award-winning young entrepreneur Ciaran Savage, Card Industry Professionals provides card terminals, point of sale and online payment solutions to thousands of merchants throughout the UK. It focuses on SMEs including retailers, hair and beauty salons and hospitality businesses, and offers a range of solutions to suit different trading volumes and requirements.
The company has doubled its revenue each year since it launched. The management team has also been bolstered by the addition of Ciaran’s mother, Lyn Savage, as operations director, and sales director John Selby, who, between them, have over 40 years’ experience in the payments industry.
Card Industry Professionals employs a 13-strong team in Grimsby and has a nationwide network of over 130 sales agents. It currently processes over £25m worth of transactions per month and aims to triple that number in the next 18 months. The funding will enable it to strengthen its board, create around 10 new jobs in Grimsby, and continue to expand its product range by incorporating the latest innovations in payments and fintech.
Ciaran Savage, founder and director, says: “This is an exciting moment for Card Industry Professionals as we continue to grow and develop. The investment will enable us to deliver our long-term plan to support and introduce many more merchants to new and emerging payments technology.
“As we shift to more contactless and digital payment methods, we want to make it as easy as possible for merchants to access and adapt to the new payments technologies available, feel supported with the implementation and enable merchants to provide the choice and flexibility to their customers.
“With this investment we can develop upon our portfolio of products, as well as expand our sales team throughout the UK and customer support teams based within our head office.”
Maurice Disasi of Mercia added: “The pandemic has accelerated the uptake of contactless payments and many smaller firms – particularly ‘cash-led’ businesses such as takeaways and hair salons – are having to adapt.
“Card Industry Professionals focuses on this underserved market and is ideally placed to help businesses make the transition to alternative payment methods. The funding will enable the company to stay at the forefront of technology and expand its market share.”
Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency, reconsiders leadership in the wake of the pandemic.
There is no getting away from the fact that the world we live in has changed in the last two years considerably in many aspects – for all of us.
In relation to business, many industry leaders have had to work hard to rebuild, diversify, and even start again in order to simply survive, let alone thrive, and those same leaders have also had to navigate their staff and teams sensitively and productively, whilst adjusting to a new way of working themselves and it has not been an easy task.
As we continue to learn to “live with COVID” in our new hybrid world, remote working has become the norm for many, as well as an introduction of the four-day working week for some (which I have personally introduced recently and find it highly effective). We have also seen an increase in flexitime, as leaders have come to realise that their teams can be trusted to get the job done without being micro-managed and all this is well and good but…
Should we as leaders be considering a change in the way in which we lead?
Taking into consideration the newly created businesses and job roles that didn’t even exist only a few years ago and the rapid change in marketing styles that accompany those roles, I would say the answer is a big fat YES. Look at it this way, the Gen Z (those born between 1995-2012) are our future leaders and so would it not make sense for them to become a pivotal part of our decision-making processes?
As a millennial myself (those born between 1981-1996), and someone who spends a lot of time coaching and training university business students, I find myself continually learning from those who are younger than I am and it is immensely inspiring to hear their perspectives and ideas. We are living in an age where social media can make a teenager their first million, celebrity culture has become more accessible and therefore a little less special, and ‘everyone’ can now become a podcaster, presenter, journalist, interviewer, reviewer – ‘get spotted’ from an ‘upload’ and get paid for simply living their lives through the public eye. The reality world and influencer culture are well and truly upon us, whether we as leaders like it or not, and so we either embrace it, or we get left behind.
Diversity in all forms within businesses should already be in place and companies are getting better at this, but we need to be even better, so ask yourself…
Do you currently have a diverse workforce?Can more diversity be introduced to include younger minds?How do you feel this will benefit your business going forward?
Integrating different generations, not forgetting Gen X (those born between 1965-1980) and the Boomers (those born between 1946-1964), will only ever result in a positive outcome; different minds, different ideas, different experiences, and different perspectives, all learning from one another and inspiring and motivating each other to ‘be’ and to ‘do’ better, and whilst we are all doing the best we can, we all still have the potential to do a little better.
Fiona Duncan-Steer, RSViPwww.rsvipnetwork.co.ukwww.fionaduncansteer.com
See this column in the April edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine.
The Midlands CBI has bolstered its regional team with the appointment of a new associate director – who aims to help the region’s businesses navigate a path through the current economic challenges to renewed prosperity.
Nicola Adams has worked across a number of different industries, and has spent the past eight years in trade associations primarily supporting the UK’s DIY, housewares, electrical and footwear sectors.
She brings extensive experience in account management, recruitment, business support and event management.
In her new role, Nicola will work closely with CBI Midlands director Richard Blackmore and member businesses to advance the CBI’s ambitions for economic growth, regional prosperity and social equality, as laid out in its strategic vision Seize The Moment.
Regional priorities will include action to boost skills, increase investment and drive infrastructure improvements.
Nicola Adams, CBI associate regional director for the Midlands, said: “It’s been a turbulent few years for business with COVID-19, Brexit and now a growing cost-of-living crisis as inflation rises and energy costs soar. Long-term challenges around levelling up and transitioning to net zero also loom large.
“I’ll be working closely with businesses across the Midlands to not only help them overcome these challenges but also to make the most of the opportunities in front of them too.
“We’re at a crossroads in the economy, and the decisions we take in now will define our future for years to come. I’m committed to enabling businesses to seize the moment and create an even more thriving Midlands economy.”
Richard Blackmore, CBI Midlands director, said: “I am thrilled Nicola has joined the CBI team; she brings a wealth of experience to the role, and her knowledge of the Midlands’ strengths and challenges means she is well equipped to support our members to achieve their ambitions.
“Businesses across the region have faced a tough time over the past two years, but the CBI’s Midlands team stands ready to help them bounce back from these challenges and plot a new trajectory towards a prosperous, equitable and sustainable future.”
A local marketing consultant, golfer and charity fundraiser has been honoured with an award from Dame Esther Rantzen in recognition of raising over £5,000 for the NSPCC and an ongoing commitment to raise £50,000 for NSPCC, and £100,000 overall.
The ‘Esther People Awards’ are held bi-annually to reward NSPCC fundraisers who show innovation and ingenuity in their fundraising, particularly in the face of adversity.
As the 2020 lady captain of the Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club, Bev organised an event called the ‘Three Bunkers Challenge’. Styled like the infamous three peaks mountain climbs, the event involves 24 golfers playing three golf courses in Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham in one day. The courses are Morley Hayes Golf Club, Charnwood Forest Golf Club and The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club.
The event was first planned to be held in 2020, but was delayed due to COVID restrictions. Undeterred, Bev, who is a director of Simple Marketing Consultancy, based in Radcliffe on Trent, re-arranged the event for 2021 and in total raised £13,500 for her chosen charity called ‘Big C Little C’ which splits all money raised from the challenge between NSPCC and Cancer Research. In total, Bev has pledged to continue the event until she has raised £100,000.
Commenting on winning the award, Bev said: “For personal reasons I have been a regular supporter of NSPCC for over 30 years. Since then, I have encouraged all past employers to nominate NSPPC as the beneficiary of charity events. Choosing them as one of my Lady Captain’s charities was a no brainer and I am thankful to all the companies and other golfers who have helped me fundraise.”
Barbara Elsey, NSPCC community fundraising manager, added: “Overall there were over 300 people nominated for an NSPCC award and Dame Esther Rantzen decides the overall winner of the Esther People Award. Bev won the Esther Award because her idea overcame the many restrictions presented by COVID and has also provided NSPCC with a fantastic footprint for a novel idea that we hope other fundraisers will enjoy arranging. It also helps NSPCC to engage more with the business community.”
To make it more interesting, the team captain has to record how many bunkers the players in their team go in and then subtract this figure from their overall points score. This rule underpins the reason for calling the event ‘The three bunkers challenge’.
The five other companies that are helping Bev reach her £100,000 overall target include: business advisory firm Mazars (Bob Johnson), Anthony James Insurance Brokers (Steve Boorman), Breeze Corporate Finance (Paul Bevan), MKM Building Supplies (Kate Tinsley), Fiscal Engineers (Colin Shaw and Gini Bolton), Breedon Electrical Services (Andrew Springhall), and business partner Elliot Cook.
If you would like to donate visit this link. All money raised will be split 50% between NSPCC and Cancer Research.
Rhodes Wealth Management has significantly increased its client base after a merger with another financial advice firm based in Ilkeston.
The company has joined forces with Paul Bainbridge Wealth Management which will allow it to bring complementary services under the Rhodes umbrella.
Adam Rhodes began his firm as a one-man operation in 2007 and it now has a staff of 27 with headquarters in Brailsford, Derbyshire and an office at West Bridgford, near Nottingham.
The link-up with experienced Paul Brainbridge, a fellow St. James’s Place partner, has been agreed as Paul moves towards retirement in coming years.
Paul said: “During 2021 I have been in discussions with various St. James’s Place Partnerships with the idea of merging my business into theirs. The objective has been to improve client servicing by having larger resources to call upon.
“This will also provide my clients with a second contact point as I begin to have an eye on my retirement.
“I am delighted to confirm after many meetings and discussions I have found a St. James’s Place Partnership that I am confident is aligned with my principles and beliefs and has the ability to continue to provide successful client outcomes.
“I have known Adam Rhodes for many years and he has a wealth of knowledge and experience. He and Tristan Gilbody run a successful St. James’s Place Partnership, supported by a fantastic team of financial advisers and well-trained support staff.”
Adam said: “I have known Paul since I started at St. James’s Place and I was delighted when he decided to entrust me and the team at RWM with the task of supporting him and his clients.
“Our business mission is to ‘change people’s lives for the better’. That includes our clients, our team members, our business and charitable partners and, of course, those moving over from Paul Bainbridge Wealth Management.
“Whilst nothing will change for Paul’s clients in the short-term, over time he will begin to hand over the day-to-day management of their finances to advisers from Rhodes Wealth Management. Paul will continue to be on hand to answer any questions or queries they may have.”
Retirement villages operator, Inspired Villages, which has offices in Edwalton, Nottingham, has enhanced its planning team with the hire of Nathaniel Raimi as planner and the promotion of Ellen Pearce to planning manager.
The moves will support Inspired Villages’ ambitions to grow its portfolio to at least 34 villages with a £500m investment from Legal & General and NatWest Group Pension Fund.
Nathaniel has over three years’ experience as a planner, having worked for local authorities, a housing association, and most recently at multidisciplinary design firm HTA Design.
Ellen joined Inspired Villages from property consultancy Savills in 2020 as a planner and has supporting numerous planning applications for sites across the country.
Established in 2017, Inspired Villages has six operational villages, four in construction, and 13 future sites secured. The company helps address a critical need in the UK for more age-appropriate housing for older people. There are now more than 12m over 65s in the UK with this figure expected to increase by 41% to nearly 18m by 2040; however, there are currently only circa 80,000 later living homes in this country and between now and 2025 only around 8,000 new units are forecast to be delivered each year.
The planning team, which is led by land & planning director Stuart Garnett, exchanged contracts on five sites in 2021 alone, adding nearly 800 homes to Inspired’s development pipeline, and secured planning permissions for four sites, totalling almost 500 homes. 2022 promises to be a bumper year for the team with contracts already exchanged on a site in South Cambridgeshire and many more planned. With sustainability a key priority for Inspired Villages, the pipeline includes net zero carbon regulated energy retirement villages.
Stuart Garnett, land & planning director at Inspired Villages, said:“Inspired Villages aspires to be a world-leading operator of retirement villages, and we know that hiring and nurturing the best talent is key to achieving that goal. I’m therefore delighted to promote Ellen to planning manager, it is a well-deserved promotion that is a testament to her skills and dedicated work ethic.
“I’m also pleased to welcome Nathaniel to the team, he brings a lot of relevant experience to the company. Our enhanced planning team will allow Inspired Villages to grow its pipeline of sites even further and help address the critical need for more age-appropriate housing in the UK for our rapidly ageing population.”
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate is now the second-lowest in the country after dipping below 3% for the first time on record.
It was 2.8% for the period between December 2021 and February 2022 – a full percentage point below the national average and only higher than Northern Ireland (2.5%), according to the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) regional labour market figures.
However, the region’s 21.7% economic inactivity rate – which measures the proportion of 16 to 64-year-olds who have exited the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – was 1.8 percentage points higher than a year earlier and above the 21.4% national average.
Nationally, the ONS said there were as many vacancies (1.3 million) as unemployed people, while it also reported that inflation shot up to 7% in March, the highest point since March 1992.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “At first glance, the unemployment rate falling for the fourth month in succession to hit yet another record low is hugely positive for the region’s labour force. It is largely testament to the success of our businesses in steering a strong rebound for our local economy as they got back to what they do best once Covid-19 restrictions were repealed.
“However, these figures disguise a historic hiring crunch facing many of our companies. The Chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey showed that while 63%* of East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first quarter of 2022, four in five (80%) of this cohort encountered problems with filling vacancies.
“Nationally, there are 600,000 more working-age people who have left the workforce than at the beginning of the pandemic. While one suggested remedy may be to coax them back with higher wages and benefits, employers are already hamstrung by an escalating cost of doing business crisis as a result of spiralling inflation, energy prices and staffing costs.
“Two-thirds (67%*) of East Midlands businesses expect they will now be forced to raise prices in the next three months. This impacts consumers, employees and their ability to invest in productivity gains, which is particularly crucial for the 37%* of our region’s firms that say they are at full operational capacity.
“With the economic recovery now on a knife-edge – as illustrated by growth slowing to 0.1% in February – it’s imperative the Government does more to help people access retraining opportunities for in-demand jobs. Introducing a new skills tax credit would also incentivise employers to invest in training for workers.”
Robertson Bell, a professional services recruitment agency for the public and not for profit sectors, has been sold to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
The news, which marks Robertson Bell’s 15th anniversary, comes in light of the company’s best ever trading year, despite troubles for the charity sector caused by the pandemic. Founded by CEO Stuart Bell in 2007, the company faced the prospect of surviving a recession in its early years but navigated this – and recent – turbulent market conditions to achieve year on year growth throughout its 15 year history. Reaffirming his ambition for further growth, the move to sell to an EOT is aimed at building a legacy for the employees who will be creating the company’s future successes.
Introduced in the Finance Act 2014, EOTs allow shares to be held on behalf of a company’s employees. Robertson Bell EOT Limited will facilitate employee ownership of Robertson Bell, ensuring they are the ones to benefit from company profits and the continued growth of the business. Employees become eligible to be beneficiaries of the trust after 12 months of service.
Stuart Bell says: “Having spent 15 years building a business, one that is continually evolving and adapting to the ever-changing needs of the organisations it helps, the time has come to transfer ownership to the those who have made Robertson Bell the success it has been; its people. Through an EOT we can empower staff with the knowledge that they will be the ones to benefit as the company continues to flourish.”
Robertson Bell has grown into a team of 35.
Stuart continues: “This company hasn’t been built by experienced people; it has been built brick by brick by people starting as trainees. With that has come deep-rooted values of being down to earth and I am conscious of protecting this grounding, culture, and emphasis on our people. While I will remain CEO, this is a unique opportunity for those people to take on more responsibility and leadership. It has real potential to change their lives.”
Sales are up at Dunelm Group, the Leicestershire-based homewares retailer, according to a trading update for its third quarter, the 13-week period ended 26 March 2022.
Total sales of £399m were up 69%, significantly higher than the same period in FY21 when Dunelm’s store estate was closed to customers and only Click & Collect and home delivery services were available.
Third quarter sales were 40% higher than Q3 FY20, though the company noted that the final three weeks in that quarter were impacted by the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Excluding those final three weeks, total sales for the first 10 weeks of Q3 FY22 were up 31% compared to the same period in FY20.
Year-to-date total sales meanwhile were up 37% on a year-on-two-year basis, with continued strong growth in store sales and digital sales being more than double the level of two years ago.
Dunelm’s new furniture fulfilment hub in Daventry became fully operational during the quarter.
Nick Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “It has been another good quarter for Dunelm with sustained growth across all of our homewares categories, particularly as customers ready their homes and gardens for the summer.
“Performance has been strong across all channels and our new facilities for e-commerce and furniture fulfilment are now fully operational, which will enhance our multi-channel proposition, whilst providing the capacity for further growth.
“Whilst the macro environment remains uncertain, with significant headwinds and increasing pressures on the consumer, our wide product range offers choice for every budget, whether replacing everyday essential items or refreshing a room in your home.
“The resilience of the Dunelm business model and the ability of our colleagues to adapt quickly to changing circumstances give us confidence in our plans and we remain well placed to continue to grow market share.”
Nottingham-based automotive tech specialist, In Phase International Group (In Phase International), has announced a major boost to their apprenticeship programme.
Six new apprentices have joined the business, which was established in 2001 and is home to a range of automotive technology pioneers, including the Road Angel and Snooper brands.
The apprentices – Dylan Duke, Stefan Makengo, Ned Walker, Phoebe Stott, Kristen Smith and Curtis Knight – will work across all functions of the group, from marketing and sales to design, engineering, customer service and technical support.
Gary Digva, sales director at In Phase International said: “This is a massive year for us as a group. We are celebrating our 21st anniversary of business and we have come a long way since then. Our brands are household names and we also have a selection of other related businesses that stand alone but also dovetail perfectly with the other group businesses.
“We are steeped in technology and innovation but none of that is possible without talented team members. Whilst we reflect on a highly successful 21 years, we also recognise that we need to invest in the future. That is why we have bolstered our apprenticeship programme this year.
“In Phase International is an exciting Nottingham-based business with a national and increasingly international customer base. The whole team and I look forward to working with our apprentices to help them forge their careers with us and in the technology and manufacturing sectors of the future.”
UK astronaut Tim Peake officially opened Leicester’s pioneering space research, innovation and teaching cluster at a special ceremony.
Space Park Leicester is forecast to contribute £750m a year to the UK space sector over the next decade and is expected to support more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs in the East Midlands.
British astronaut Tim Peake
The first British European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) declared Space Park Leicester open in the company of Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, University of Leicester Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, plus scientists, researchers, and representatives from the local community.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, passionate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) advocate Tim Peake said: “Leicester has long been a key location for the UK’s space sector, and it is a real privilege to formally open Space Park Leicester just a short distance away from the National Space Centre.
“Every successful space mission call for experts from a wide range of backgrounds to pull together and collaborate to answer bigger questions: and that’s exactly what somewhere like Space Park Leicester helps to provide.
“I’m also excited to see this project highlighting the exciting careers available within the space sector and helping to train, educate and inspire our future generations.”
Tim, who travelled to the ISS in 2015, was given a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities by Space Park Leicester Executive Director, Professor Richard Ambrosi, and also took part in a series of schools activities.
Developed by the University of Leicester in collaboration with local, national and international partners, the 9,700m2 building provides an inspirational base for space researchers and business minds to collaboratively work together from offices, shared laboratories, teaching facilities and co-working spaces.
The project builds on the University of Leicester’s 61-year history of space research and its role in establishing the neighbouring National Space Centre, and places Leicester at the forefront of space technology in the UK.
Professor Richard Ambrosi, Executive Director of Space Park Leicester, said: “We are delighted that Space Park Leicester, even before today’s formal opening, has already shown itself to be the ideal launchpad for cutting-edge space science research and enterprise.
“By hosting forward-thinking University researchers and high-end technology businesses under one roof, Space Park Leicester enables accelerated collaboration on some of the biggest questions of our time: not least the climate crisis.
“Space, by its very nature, feels very far away from our everyday lives here on Earth, but the work undertaken here has the potential to transform almost every aspect of society, from healthcare to the technology in our mobile phones.”
Award-winning Space Park Leicester houses laboratories, workshops and calibration facilities along with high tech projects such as the pioneering double-walled insulator for the Mars Sample Return 2026 NASA-ESA Mission as well as one of the UK’s largest academic clean rooms for the assembling and testing of space equipment. Other workshops allow researcher to expand work in machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI), while engineers have access to a dedicated drone lab.
Space Park Leicester also proudly hosts the headquarters of the NERC-affiliated National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO).
To date organisations joining space, climate and Earth observation scientists include: nuclear propulsion experts Rolls-Royce; AST SpaceMobile, developers of the first space-based cellular broadband network for mobile phones; Satellite Applications Catapult, a government-backed technology and innovation company; and air quality specialists EarthSense.
The project’s ambition to become a world-leading centre of excellence has also been recognised with the prestigious ‘Place-Based Initiative of the Year’ accolade at the 2021 KE Awards.
Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, said: “We are extremely proud to formally launch Space Park Leicester, and wish to thank Tim Peake for being part of this momentous occasion.
“Our University has a long-established track record of space research over the last six decades and, through the facilities provided here in collaboration with our local, national and international partners, we have well and truly placed Leicester on the map as a key cluster in the UK space sector.
“It is also fitting that we can reflect on our space heritage in this, our Centenary year, as Space Park Leicester gears up to work on technologies for use far into our second Century.”
Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby added: “The development of this world-class facility has been made possible thanks to an outstanding partnership approach that has seen the University of Leicester working with the city council, the LLEP, the National Space Centre, Midlands Engine and others to transform immense ambition and vision into reality.
“It is already bringing together the best academic and business minds to stimulate innovation and growth, and further paves the way for an exciting future that will reinforce Leicester’s reputation as the UK’s Space City.”
Space Park Leicester is led by the University of Leicester in partnership with Leicester City Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).
Phase one development at Space Park Leicester is supported by an £8.175m allocation from the Local Growth Fund, part of government funding awarded to the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) for projects that benefit the local area and economy.
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 small to mid-range satellites.
Vertu Motors, the automotive retailer with a network of 159 sales and aftersales outlets, has purchased the freehold and long leasehold interests in its multi-franchise site in Derby.
The group has operated the 5.5-acre Derby multi-site since September 2012, when the trade and assets of the dealerships were acquired from Co-operative Group Motors Limited. A lease on the premises was granted to the group at the time of this purchase, with this lease due to expire in February 2026.
There are four separate buildings on the site, currently representing the Nissan, Skoda, Renault & Dacia and Peugeot franchises, along with a standalone Bristol Street Motornation used vehicle outlet. The purchase of the freehold and long leasehold interests secures the long-term future of this strategically important location for the group.
The purchase completed on 6 April 2022 for consideration of £7.1m, plus fees.
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu Motors, said: “I am delighted to have secured the long-term interest in this important location for the group. The five successful sales outlets located here make a positive contribution to group performance and are a significant part of Bristol Street Motors representation in the East Midlands.”
Chesterfield is set to capitalise on the ‘flight to prime’ trend by businesses looking for high quality office space in the aftermath of COVID-19, with the launch of a brand-new digital marketing campaign.
With 81% of UK businesses agreeing they need to implement a new workplace strategy, following the lockdown-induced Work From Home movement, Chesterfield’s new campaign aims to prove it has the space to suit office requirements in the town as well as offering a central location and excellent road and rail links.
The new office campaign aims to reach national businesses looking for regional satellite office space as well as local start-ups and established businesses looking to expand.
The campaign, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, has been developed by Destination Chesterfield is partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire Economic Partnership.
Chesterfield newest office developments, One Waterside Place and The Enterprise Centre both feature in the new campaign. Due to be completed later this year, they bring more than 100,000 sq ft of additional office space to Chesterfield’s offering.
The Government’s work from home advice was lifted on Thursday 27 January in England after being in place for nearly two years. With many organisations expected to adopt a work from home/office hybrid approach, demand has increased for flexible, modern large floor plate working space which is easily adaptable and has Covid measures in place.
Launching the campaign, which has been designed by digital agency Defeye Creative, Dom Stevens Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “Progress on the new office developments continued throughout the pandemic and this has put Chesterfield in an excellent position to capitalise on the changing demands for office space post Covid.
“People have been exposed to new ways of working, prompting companies of all sizes and sectors to completely rethink their workplace needs. People now want more choice in how, when and where they work, and we can meet this demand in Chesterfield.”
“With the new office developments at Waterside, the Enterprise Centre and The Glass Yard, alongside existing office provision, Chesterfield can now cater for businesses at every stage of their life cycle – from incubation stage to maturity.”
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “Chesterfield is a fantastic option for businesses whether they are looking to start, relocate or grow. We have a strong community, a skilled workforce, fantastic transport connections and a bright future. We’ve seen recently that the quality of life particularly for young families is unmatched and together all these factors show that Chesterfield is open for business. We are in an excellent position to recover from the pandemic and welcome new businesses and residents to our borough.”
FHP Property Consultants are delighted to confirm the letting of Unit 3 at Waterside in Nottingham to F45 Training. This exciting international brand which is endorsed by celebrities such as David Beckham and Mark Wahlberg has chosen the iconic Waterside building on Trent Bridge for the Nottingham venture.
Waterside is perfectly located close to West Bridgford and Nottingham city centre to make the most of a strong catchment. The unit provides accommodation over ground floor measuring approximately 2,000ft². It is a hugely prominent unit fronting Trent Bridge which has a daily traffic flow of over 40,000 vehicles. The unit is part of the award winning Waterside residential development which comprises 120 high specification apartments and it sits next door to the popular Waterside Bar & Kitchen.
FHP acted on behalf of private landlord clients working jointly with HEB in order to secure the letting.
Oliver Marshall, Associate Director at FHP Property consultants comments:“This is a superb result for this unit and one that will bring an exciting new international concept to the building and to Nottingham. The F45 brand is extremely popular and I wish Harry and Jorja the best success with their exciting journey ahead. The location is ideally suited to them and have committed to a long term lease on the ground floor unit.”
Harry Calver at F45 Nottingham comments:-We are so pleased to have finally received the keys for the unit. After a couple of false starts with other properties, we feel like this is the perfect location for us to launch F45 in Nottingham. We are already underway with our fit out and look forward to welcoming members in the next few weeks with a planned opening in Summer. Despite some difficult situations, Oliver at FHP was great to deal with throughout.”
Manufacturers are having a difficult time of it of late and figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the automotive industry is not immune to the problem.
Despite March normally being a bumper year due to new car registrations, the industry saw the weakest sales since March 1998, with new car sales slumping to 243,479 units, a drop of 14.3%.
Manufacturers had reported robust order books during the first quarter, but ongoing supply chain shortages continued to squeeze supply during what is normally the industry’s busiest month as buyers demand the latest numberplate.
This is, therefore, the weakest March since 1998, which was prior to the introduction of the two-plate system. Given around 20% of total annual registrations are usually recorded in March, the result is massively disappointing for the sector and underscores the long-term impact the pandemic is wreaking on the industry. In spite of the rollback of pandemic restrictions, which limited the industry to ‘click and collect’ in the first part of 2021, overall Q1 registrations for 2022 were down -1.9%.
Richard Peberdy, UK Head of Automotive, for KPMG comments : “It was widely anticipated that the automotive sector would take most of 2022 to sufficiently increase component capacity and put an end to the supply shortages that have limited car production during the pandemic.
But the implications of war in Ukraine and heightened restrictions in China add further complexity and exacerbate this challenge.
“Whilst supply shortages persist, production volumes will remain lower than pre-pandemic, and car makers will continue to focus on higher margin models, as well as the electric vehicles market.
Up until now, this has kept forecourt sales relatively healthy, and also driven up prices of used cars. But the rising cost of living poses significant questions about whether consumers will delay, or even curtail, larger investments, such as on a car. The coming months will tell.”
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, says, “March is typically the biggest month of the year for the new car market, so this performance is deeply disappointing and lays bare the challenges ahead. While demand remains robust, this decline illustrates the severity of the global semiconductor shortage, as manufacturers strive to deliver the latest, lowest emission vehicles to eagerly awaiting customers.
Placing orders now will be beneficial for those looking to take advantage of incentives and lower running costs for electric vehicles, especially as the Ukraine crisis could affect supply still further. With increasing household and business costs, government must do all it can to support consumers so that the growth of electric vehicles can be sustained and the UK’s ambitious net zero timetable delivered.”
Only two weeks remain until the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo, so if you haven’t yet registered for the free event, now is the ideal time.
The highly anticipated expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, will take place on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln, providing everything you require for a great day of networking and business generation.
A well targeted event aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets, exhibitors include Aspbury Planning Ltd, Belvoir, Business Lincolnshire, BSP Consulting, Delta Simons, the Federation of Small Businesses, J Tomlinson, NatWest, Willmott Dixon, and YMD Boon, to name a few.
To see the full list of who is exhibiting click here.
Opening at 9am, the expo will also host a workshop from Team Lincolnshire and Business Lincolnshire. Running from 10:15 – 11:45, it will demystify the procurement process and explore the potential which public sector contracts could bring to your business.
Team Lincolnshire ambassador Neal Wheatley, director and general manager of RG Carter Lincoln Limited, and Barry Taylor, regional director at Parker Technical Service, will be sharing insightful first-hand experiences on winning a major Lincolnshire County Council contract for the construction of the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone and how supporting the local economy is a core value within the RG Carter Supply Chain Commitment.
Sign up to the free workshop here.
As the exhibition closes, it will roll directly into an informal, open buffet style network lunch – tickets for the lunch are just £25 plus vat and can be ordered and paid for directly online. Spaces for the lunch are limited, so order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Tina King, of Business Shows Group, said: “It’s been a long time in the making thanks to the pandemic, but we are finally nearly there, The Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo is gearing up to be one of the best to date!”
To attend the event, register for free here.To generate opportunities by exhibiting at the event, click here.Purchase tickets to the networking lunch here.
Meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.
Michael Ball, tax director at Streets Chartered Accountants, dives into Making Tax Digital.
Since April 2019 most VAT registered businesses with a turnover over £85,000 have been within Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT. This means that they have had to keep digital records and submit their tax returns via MTD compatible software.
From April 2022 MTD for VAT is being extended to all VAT registered businesses. In practical terms this means that they will no longer be able to submit their VAT returns via the old HMRC portal.
What are the requirements?
As already referenced, under MTD a business must keep digital records, but what does that mean?
As the name suggests your business records need to be kept in a digital format, so manual records will no longer be allowed and the records must include the following details:
your business name, address, and VAT registration number
any VAT accounting schemes you use
the VAT on goods and services you supply
the VAT on goods and services you receive
any adjustments you make to a return
the ‘time of supply’ and ‘value of supply’ for everything you buy and sell
the rate of VAT charged on goods and services you supply
reverse charge transactions – where you record the VAT on both the sale price and the purchase price of goods and services you buy
your total daily gross takings if you use a retail scheme
items you can reclaim VAT on if you use the Flat Rate Scheme
A further requirement is that there is a fully digital journey from the records to the submission of the VAT return. The simplest way to achieve this is to keep your records in ‘Functional compatible software’, that is software that can not only keep your records but also can provide and receive information to HMRC directly.
If your records are not kept in such software, for example if you use a spreadsheet, then bridging software can be used to make the submission but there must be a digital link between the software. Similarly, if a set of programs are used, there must be a digital link between the pieces of software.
There are a number of options available for software solutions and a list of compatible software is provided on the HMRC website at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-software-thats-compatible-with-making-tax-digital-for-vat
However, if you have any questions or concerns regarding MTD for VAT or would like to talk over your business and the software options that might work for you then please do get in touch by emailing mtd@streetsweb.co.uk
See this column in the April edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine.
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