EarthSense moves to Space Park Leicester following significant company growth
After achieving 60 per cent year-on-year growth and a recruitment drive which has seen the team grow to 26, EarthSense will occupy a whole floor at Space Park Leicester. The relocation will enable the air quality monitoring firm to benefit from increased workspace for its expanding team and collaborative working with private sector experts and academics.
The newly established research and innovation centre, provides a shared space for academics, researchers, and industry to carry out world-leading research and skill development to support the city’s fast-growing space sector.
EarthSense first began trading in 2016 following 15 years of cutting-edge research at the University of Leicester, which is leading the development of Space Park Leicester in partnership with Leicester City Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).
The air quality specialist offers commercial services for air quality monitoring and modelling which allow organisations such as local authorities, transport businesses, and construction companies to visualise and solve local and nationwide pollution challenges.
EarthSense’s award-winning Zephyr® air quality monitor provides real-time measurements of harmful gases and particulates in ambient air. Measured air quality data is sent to EarthSense’s intuitive MyAir® web application where it can be viewed, analysed, and downloaded to understand air pollution sources, patterns, and trends in more detail.
EarthSense also offers MappAir®, an air quality model which uses cloud-based inputs to provide visualisations of how air pollution behaves and flows around buildings and urban canyons on a city, national, and global resolution. The model provides historic air quality data and up to three-day forecasts, allowing for future planning around days which are likely to see elevated pollution concentrations.
The EarthSense subscription-based monitoring services received the royal seal of approval in April 2021 after being awarded an Innovation Award by the Queens Award for Enterprise 2021.
Tom Hall, Managing Director at EarthSense said: “We have enjoyed continued growth during a challenging time. To enable us to expand we are becoming part of the Space Park Leicester community where we will not only benefit from the increased space, but also the opportunity to collaborate with other like-minded companies and academics from the University.”
Hall continued: “The new office will give us space to further expand the EarthSense team by recruiting new talented individuals, so that we can respond to developments within the air quality market by further improving our technologies and services.”
Dr Roland Leigh, Technical Director at EarthSense said: “As a company which is a result of research from the University of Leicester, we’re benefitting greatly because of our move to Space Park Leicester and our relationship with the University.”
Yacht manufacturer fined £230k after employee seriously injured
A luxury motor yacht manufacturer has been fined after a worker suffered serious crushing injuries to his right hand during a lifting operation.
Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard how on 3 December 2018, an employee suffered serious crushing injuries to his right hand during the lifting of a storage cage at Fairline Yachts manufacturing facility at Nene Valley Business Park, Oundle.
As there was no goods lift in the manufacturing unit an overhead crane was used. As the cage was lifted it began to tip and fall in the direction of the employee. The cage trapped his hand against a boat trolley causing serious crushing injuries to the employee’s dominant right hand.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the lifting operation was not properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised or carried out in a safe manner.
Fairline Yachts Limited of Nene Valley Business Park, Oundle pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £230,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,410.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Aaron Butel said: “When undertaking lifting operations involving lifting equipment companies should ensure that they are always properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Senior tax associate joins WestBridge Group in Leicester
The WestBridge Group has strengthened its tax team following the appointment of Akshay Vaghela as a senior tax associate.
Akshay has an accounting and finance degree from Manchester Metropolitan University and joins from London based accountancy firm Wilson Wright. In his new role he will be working closely with the directors and the senior management team on a wide range of specialist tax advisory projects.
Commenting on his appointment, Tom Moore, tax specialist and director of WestBridge Group, said: “Although our HQ is based in Leicester and we have a flexible working policy, our client base is nationwide so it is important that we expand our team to cover other key strategic locations. We are delighted that Akshay has joined us as he will bring more expertise and dynamism to our specialist tax team.”
Akshay added: “It’s a really exciting time to join this growing business. Despite only joining recently, I have already had fantastic exposure to high-level projects and witnessed the wealth of experience and specialist knowledge the team here possesses. I look forward to being supported through training by the company and furthering my personal and professional development in this collaborative, nurturing and constructive environment.”
Space Centre sees launch of a different kind on a mission to tackle climate change
This week Leicester’s National Space Centre saw the official launch of a unique approach to reducing the carbon emissions produced by businesses in Leicestershire.
Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership and The Business Gateway have funded 100 places for local businesses to monitor and reduce their energy usage using a digital platform developed by software company, Zellar, the world’s first sustainability platform for business. This project is the first of its kind in the Midlands and second only to Manchester in the UK.
Around 100 people gathered in the Planetarium to listen to a range of speakers as they explained what Zellar is going to achieve and why it is needed now more than ever. Chris Brindley MBE, Chairman of Zellar, oversaw the event which he described as “Leicester making the world sit up and take notice.”
His colleague Peter Charlesworth, Chief Operating Officer of Zellar, said: “The key message from COP26 and people like the Queen, David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg is that we shouldn’t just be pledging to do things, we should all actually be taking action now.”
Mr Charlesworth stressed the benefits to business of letting customers know that they are involved in the Zellar programme and pointed out that focusing on sustainability will soon become the norm: “If you’re not doing sustainability now, in five years’ time you may not have a business.”
The LLEP’s Sue Tilley explained that this initiative is part of the Business Gateway’s role of supporting Leicestershire’s businesses with every challenge and opportunity they face. She remembered the city’s track record as one of the first environmental cities in the UK in the 1980s and saw Zellar as a continuation of this history.
“I know how hard it’s been for SMEs since the pandemic, but I believe that being part of Zellar can be a key differentiator for businesses and will help their bottom line. We’re very happy to be investing in our local businesses in this way,” she said.
One of the local businesses which has joined the Zellar programme is The Willoughby Book Club founded by Marianne Chala who said: “It’s vital to me that the business reflects my own personal ideals. I’m really looking forward to getting Zellar’s insight into the changes we can make.”
Other participating companies in attendance were Fisher German, Boards4Agents, Notts Sports and Mattioli Woods. Chief Operating Officer, Nigel Reynolds, said: “Ultimately, it’s a hard-nosed business decision; investment funding in green technologies is set to rise from 15% to 50% in the next few years so we need to be part of it. The government and regulators are going to insist on sustainability very soon, so we see this as an opportunity.”
There are fewer than 20 places still available on the Zellar programme so any interested business should apply using the online form on the Business Gateway website here: https://bit.ly/3bH54oj
Wellingborough manufacturer acquires Castleoak assets
Wellingborough-based Robinson Manufacturing (RML) has acquired the fixtures and assets of Castleoak Timber Frame, after the business appointed administrators last week.
The new facilities, in Ebbw Vale, provide RML with substantial additional Timber Frame manufacturing capacity, and it plans to start production almost immediately.
The business also welcomes a few new colleagues to the team who were made redundant in the Castleoak liquidation. They will join RML based out of its Abercarn branch and work between the two.
RML’s CEO, Simon Kidney, explained the rationale behind the expansion: “The location and infrastructure in the Ebbw Vale plant is well suited to help us meet the increased demand we have been experiencing across our existing network of seven factories.
“Timber frame is featuring heavily in the plans of most major national and regional housebuilders moving forward, and the acquisition of additional capacity further strengthens our business for the future.”
Huge new solar farm proposed for Lincolnshire
Plans have been unveiled for a huge new solar and energy storage project, involving 2,800 acres of land, on the border of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Cottam Solar Project Limited is developing the proposals following the decommissioning of the Cottam coal fired power station.
The scheme could generate enough clean energy to power 180,000 homes, replace around 30% of the former generation capacity of the coal powered Cottam Power Station, and improve energy resilience by diversifying energy production and storing energy for when it is needed most.
It is said the project could also deliver more affordable energy, as the electricity generated from solar is cheaper than electricity generated from fossil fuels and the project would be subsidy free without taxpayer funding.
The proposals involve three areas of land which would host ground-mounted solar panels and be connected by underground cable. The project would generate around 600 MW of renewable energy.
A phase one community consultation has begun on early-stage proposals, which will run until Wednesday 15 December 2021.
Feedback is sought from the local community to help identify and understand any impacts.
Island Green Power, an international developer of renewable energy projects, is behind the development. It has delivered 26 solar projects worldwide totalling more than 1GW of capacity. This includes 14 solar projects in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Subject to approval, it is anticipated that construction would start in 2024.
Financial management group surpasses £600m mark
Nottingham-headquartered wealth management and financial advice firm, The RU Group, has announced a record total in assets under management. As of the end of September 2021, the Group now manages over £600m of investments and private wealth on behalf of its clients.
The growth is due to a combination of factors. New client acquisition has played a significant part, while existing clients have increased their investments. In addition, the Group has made some key strategic partnerships to expand the range of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment it can offer.
Ian Browne, head of advice at The RU Group, said: “This is record level of assets under management and a huge milestone for our business. We strive to ensure we are giving the very best advice to our clients and we continually seek feedback on what they are looking for from their investments.
“We understand clients are increasingly looking for socially conscious or sustainable investing options within wealth management and financial advice. These investment strategies aim to combine financial return with positive social value, that’s why we have this year partnered with EBI Portfolios and Invesco to expand the ESG options we can offer to meet client demand.”
In June, the RU Group partnered with EBI Portfolios to offer Earth Portfolios, where every £1 million invested translates to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to charging 12.7 million smartphones.
Further expanding its ESG offer, in September this year the RU Group also entered a partnership with Invesco, one of the largest and trusted global investment managers. The range of ESG solutions include active and passive, equities, fixed income, real estate, multi-asset, thematic and custom strategies.
Ian Browne adds: “Over the last 18 months, we have undergone a restructure to bring all our existing divisions into a single brand identity, sharing values across one unified business. These results are a testament to our team and the ongoing investment in continued professional development as part of our culture of learning and development. We look forward to building on recent success for many years to come.”
Award-winning PKF Smith Cooper continue to expand team with a number of new appointments
Midlands-based tax, accountancy, and business advisory firm, PKF Smith Cooper, have been enjoying a successful year, building up many of their service lines – with their tax team notably bolstered by 6 appointments in recent months.
This success is reflected in the firm’s September announcement, where they revealed that they had joined the global family of PKF International, placing them firmly at the forefront of the compliance and regulatory world, whilst enhancing their appeal as an employer to potential candidates.
The new team members are spread across the firm’s four core offices – situated in Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, and Ashbourne – and include a mix of talented graduates brimming with enthusiasm, as well as skilled specialists who have accumulated a wealth of experience to benefit a more senior position.
At the firm’s Nottingham office, Megan Whiley and Adam Fox have joined the tax team in the positions of Tax Assistant and Assistant Indirect Tax Advisor, respectively.
Megan – a passionate Panthers fan – has stated that she’s “most looking forward to learning about different businesses and their unique tax queries” during her tenure at PKF Smith Cooper. Adam, meanwhile, a recent Accounting and Finance graduate from the University of Chester and a competitive swimmer, is excited “to meet new colleagues and embark on a professional career”.
The Birmingham office welcomed violin and Lego aficionado, Matthew Taylor – who is excited to “meet new colleagues and help to positively impact clients” – as a Tax Assistant, while Ashbourne has done the same for running-enthusiast, Rachel Leigh, who can’t wait to “learn and gain experience in a completely new field”.
PKF Smith Cooper’s tax team have frequently been the subject of praise in the past due to their personable, client-centred approach, volume of knowledge, and ability to tailor advice and solutions to benefit individual clients. These new recruits – possessing a range of skills, talents, and pursuits – demonstrate the potential needed to further expand the reach and capability of the tax team across all offices.
Badminton-lover, Simran Chohan, who has joined the firm’s Derby office as a Tax Assistant, states that she’s “looking forward to putting the tax theory learned at University into practice”.
Vanessa Johnson, the Derby tax team’s new Tax Senior, echoes the sentiments outlined above: “I’m looking forward to getting back into the world of tax, getting to know my new colleagues and clients across the firm, and working together to provide an efficient, professional corporate tax service.”
With such keen, skilled recruits across the company’s core offices, PKF Smith Cooper are poised on the cusp of further success and notability, whilst nurturing the careers of talented individuals within their teams.
Festive donation from Derby IT business to support local community
IT company Neuways is teaming up with the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance to provide the charity with a range of supplies for the local community ahead of the festive season.
The food bank charity, based in the heart of Derby City Centre, at the Morledge, will ensure that the donation from Neuways is dispersed throughout the community to those that need it the most over the winter months.
The contributions given by Neuways staff and directors, range from essential hygiene products to children’s toys, as well as warm winter clothing and advent calendars. Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance’s Coordinator, Paul Brookhouse, said: “Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance was established during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing together food banks and other key food-based projects to offer unified support to ensure no one went hungry.
“Most importantly, this put the focus on supporting people holistically while addressing the root cause of their needs that have led to deprivation and food insecurity – no matter where they live in the city of Derby and no matter what their circumstances.
“As well as food, we recognise the need for other household items including cleaning and hygiene products, warm clothing in winter and, as we approach Christmas, toys, advent calendars – and of course chocolate!
“Without the generous and vital contributions of the general public and businesses like Neuways, it would be impossible to meet the needs of those in the city and we massively appreciate the support offered.”
Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance supports people in Derby experiencing food poverty. They provide food provision and signposting, as well as education and advice to those in need, with the pandemic affecting many throughout the city of Derby.
Head of Business Support and Accounts at Neuways, Julia Carty, said: “Many of us are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and at Neuways we wanted to make the hardest time of the year for some, a little easier, so we have chosen to support a local charity that do so much within Derby for those who really need it.
“The work that the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance do in supporting domestic abuse victims and children at a time when they need it the most is something we want to wholeheartedly support as much as we possibly can.
“The hard work and efforts of the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance in putting a smile back on the face of the those in need is incredible – as well as ensuring that people have access to basic hygiene essentials and food in their hour of need.
“We are very proud of all of the staff at Neuways for digging deep and helping to deliver our donation to the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, which will ultimately help a lot of people.
“It is hoped this donation can help improve the current situations of people experiencing hardships across Derby.”
Green entrepreneurs bid success for carbon cutting projects
Two new carbon-cutting projects have become the first to get funding from Derbyshire County Council’s Green Entrepreneurs Fund as part of a countywide drive to help tackle climate change.
The council launched the £2 million fund in partnership with the University of Derby in March to support green economic recovery across Derbyshire by offering financial assistance to businesses and organisations interested in developing and investing in green energy and carbon reduction schemes.
Now grants of £20,000 have been awarded to the following initiatives to help get them off the ground:
- Longcliffe Quarries – to install new inverter equipment at their Brassington site which will significantly reduce their energy consumption and is expected to cut their carbon emissions – by 40,000kg of carbon dioxide emissions and equivalent gases each year
- Hayfield Sustainable Transport – to develop software to help businesses in the area organise themselves into transport groups and operate Micro Car Clubs, on-demand shuttles, and shared e-cargo bikes
Planning consent approved for £10m industrial and warehousing development in Brackley
Industrial developer Chancerygate has secured planning permission to build 55,000 sq ft of Grade A industrial and warehousing space at Boundary Road Industrial Estate in Brackley, South Northants.
Called Boundary43, the development will comprise 14 Grade A units ranging from 2,050 sq ft to 19,125 sq ft. The scheme has a projected gross development value of £10m.
Chancerygate purchased the vacant two-and-a-half-acre site in February 2021, and construction on the development is set to commence in early 2022. Practical completion at Boundary43 is expected in late 2022.
George Dickens, development director at Chancerygate, said: “We’re very pleased to have secured planning consent to develop this vacant site in part of one of the town’s most prominent industrial estates.
“Boundary43 will see us provide the region with much-needed Grade A industrial and warehousing space and are already in discussions with a number of occupiers.”
Joint agents for the development are Brown & Co and White Commercial.
46 made redundant as administrators appointed to Derbyshire construction firm
Howard Smith and Chris Pole from Interpath Advisory have been appointed joint administrators to Wildgoose Construction Limited.
Founded in Matlock, Derbyshire in 1896 and now based in Alfreton, the fourth-generation family-owned business is an award-winning building contractor, delivering large-scale projects for clients across a wide range of sectors including housing, education, health, commercial and social care.
Recent significant projects included Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, Brackley Medical Centre and Community Hospital, and the Matlock Spa Development.
The company had recently experienced significant margin pressure as a result of rising raw material prices, supply chain disruption and labour shortages, which resulted in many of its fixed-price contracts becoming loss-making.
The adverse impact of these loss-making contracts on the financial position of the company was further exacerbated by significant one-off costs, including the insolvency of a number of subcontractors and bad debts arising following the insolvency of a key client.
Following a detailed review of the financial position of the company and its trading projections in light of the challenges being faced, the directors took the decision to place the company into administration.
All work on live projects ceased prior to the appointment of the joint administrators, with clients being notified in advance to enable an orderly wind down and to give them appropriate notice to source alternative contractors.
46 members of staff have been made redundant, with a small number retained to assist the joint administrators with the wind-down of the business.
Howard Smith, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “These are extremely difficult times for companies across the construction sector, with recent surges in the price of raw materials, coupled with supply chain disruption, acute labour shortages and wage inflation putting businesses under significant pressure.
“Unfortunately for Wildgoose Construction, these issues ultimately resulted in a number of its fixed-cost contracts becoming unsustainably loss-making, and when combined with the other unexpected significant one-off costs and liabilities which had arisen, the directors had no alternatives other than to place the company into administration.
“Our immediate priority is to assist those members of staff who have been made redundant, providing them with the information and support they need to claim their statutory entitlements from the Redundancy Payments Office.”
Jonathan Wildgoose, chairman of Wildgoose Construction, said: “In light of the multiple challenges being faced by the business, our efforts since the commencement of the pandemic have focused on exploring all possible options in an effort to secure a solution which would have safeguarded the future viability of the business.
“It is with great sadness that we had no alternative but to cease to trade and take the necessary steps to place the company into administration. On behalf of all of the directors, I would like to place on record our thanks for the huge efforts of our employee base and all other stakeholders.”
Travis Perkins acquires stair, floor and door solutions company
Travis Perkins, the Northampton-based supplier of building materials and equipment, has fully acquired Staircraft; a company that provides integrated stair, floor and door solutions.
This development expands Travis Perkins’ customer proposition by adding digital component design, timber engineering and production capability to its portfolio.
Travis Perkins first acquired a minority share (15%) in Staircraft in 2015, and announced its intention to fully acquire the remaining share (85%) of the company at an investors update on 29 September.
“We have enjoyed a close working relationship with Staircraft for the past six years and believe this partnership has many more opportunities for further growth potential for both parties,” explained group COO, Frank Elkins.
“Staircraft is a very exciting business; technology-led and well known for innovation and quality, and for delivering engineering solutions that are developed offsite in factory based conditions.
“This means that their offering plays right into our future strategy of elevating our customer relationships by providing new areas of value-added products and services that deliver efficiency, quality, sustainability and innovation in design, engineering and production,” Frank continued.
“For us, being part of Travis Perkins plc will give us access to new markets, investment and growth opportunities. We also know that our businesses are a great match from a cultural and values driven perspective, and that this partnership will give our colleagues access to new and improved benefits and career and development prospects over time,” said Managing Director of Staircraft, Andy Hamilton, who will remain in post with his leadership team under the new ownership.
Staircraft dates back to 1986 and has 350 employees. The company is headquartered in Coventry and operates from three manufacturing sites across the UK.
Nottingham business in running for national Architectural Practice of the Year title
An architectural design firm based in Nottingham has been chosen as a finalist in the Architectural Practice of the Year category at this year’s National Building and Construction Awards.
The Practical Planning Company was launched in 2019 by Benjamin and Jodie Heginbotham in a bid to provide homeowners with the whole design and planning package for all home improvement projects, from extensions to new builds.
The firm’s shortlisting in the national awards programme comes after two years of helping more than 200 homeowners with their home improvement projects – work which has already earned the team recognition in other awards including The Small Awards and the National Business Women’s Awards.
“Being named a finalist in the National Building and Construction Awards has been a dream of ours since we started our business,” says Jodie. “We’ve worked so hard to offer a service which makes homeowners feel safe and secure when designing and building their dream home and we’re so thankful that this has been recognised. To win the award for ‘Architectural Practice of the Year’ would be the perfect reward for all our efforts.”
As part of the submission, Benjamin and Jodie had to highlight a project which has given them the most satisfaction in terms of creativity, client satisfaction and both personal and professional development. They chose to focus on a chapel extension recently completed in Thurlaston, Leicestershire.
“This project is a favourite of ours for many reasons,” explains Benjamin. “We were tasked with designing an extension that not only provided the chapel’s congregation with a functional space, but also enhanced the area and showcased the original property, its history and character – including that of the graveyard!
“The main feature of the design was the addition of a glass gable end and large glass panels to frame the outdoor space, highlighting the graveyard and creating a better connection between the Chapel and its outside space.
“It’s a project we’re incredibly proud of and to be able to include it as part of our entry was a real honour.”
The National Building and Construction Awards celebrate the achievements of industrious, hardworking and enterprising building and construction businesses. Judged by a national panel of judges, the winners of all categories will be announced at a black-tie ceremony in London on 18 November 2021.
Construction begins on 18-unit Rutland industrial development
Tungsten Properties, the mid-box industrial and warehouse developers, has started construction of its 18-unit industrial and trade counter site in Oakham, Rutland, Leicestershire.
The 3.79-acre (1.53-hectare) site at Panniers Way in Oakham to the east of Leicester was granted planning consent in May by Rutland County Council.
Tungsten Properties will provide 18 high specification industrial and trade counter units between 1,000 sq ft and 9,000 sq ft and include a small amount of retail and fast food uses.
The site sits within a wider masterplan of development to include new residential development and commercial uses including BP/M&S Petrol Filling Station, Aldi Supermarket, McDonald’s restaurant, and a Marstons’ pub.
Construction has been celebrated with a ground breaking ceremony with representatives of Wilten Construction, Tungsten Properties and Phillips Sutton.
The new units are due to be available from early Spring 2022.
Jenny Clarke, associate development director, Tungsten Properties, said: “Oakham has a strong market with high demand, so we’re excited to get started to build these new high spec units for local and national businesses.
“Already, more than 60% of units are under offer to companies to let them, showing the strength of demand out there from businesses. We look forward to announcing the news as soon as we can.”
Reid Commercial Property and Phillips Sutton are joint letting agents. Wilten Construction is the appointed contractor.
New town centre community hub set for Mansfield
Mansfield District Council has started working towards establishing a town centre community hub.
The scheme – Mansfield Connect – would be an ambitious, new, multi-occupancy premises housing a variety of public services along with spaces for private sector occupiers, too, such as food and drink outlets.
The project, which is being led by the council, will form a central part of its bid to round two of the government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF).
The Department for Work and Pensions, Nottinghamshire County Council, West Nottinghamshire College, Nottingham Trent University, health partners, and volunteering co-ordinator the CVS have been invited to be involved in the hub.
The scheme would see the council relocating from the Civic Centre to a site in the town centre and the Civic Centre being redeveloped.
As well as improving the delivery of public services by providing a range of agencies accessible in one core area, it is envisaged that the new hub would generate extra footfall in the town centre which would benefit existing retailers and help drive regeneration by boosting investor confidence.
The scheme would also align with the aims of the council’s emerging Town Centre Masterplan and broader council strategies in relation to its Growth objectives alongside priorities for Aspiration, Wellbeing and Place.
Cllr Stuart Richardson, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, said: “Moving the council to the town centre and joining forces with other authorities and public sector agencies makes a lot of sense for a variety of reasons.
“Bringing services together will make them more joined up, accessible and work better for the public. And it will enable our customers to kill two birds with one stone, so as well as conducting any business they may have in the Hub, being in the town centre means they may stay a while, too, and perhaps visit the bank, or do some shopping, or meet friends for lunch, for instance. This increase in town centre footfall would be a win-win all round.”
A recent report on the scheme to the Mansfield Place Board detailed the aims of the LUF, which focuses on capital investment in local infrastructure and investment in regeneration and growth in places of low productivity and connectivity. Bids can be for up to £20m.
The first round of bids to the Fund closed in June and the council chose not to enter that bidding round due to its tight time frames and other work being done on bids to the government’s Towns Fund and Community Renewal Fund.
Instead, it is planning to submit a proposal for round two of the funding bids to the LUF. Further information has been requested by the council from government about the deadlines for the next round and it is awaiting clarification.
Bids must focus on how they deliver transport improvements, cultural investment and town centre regeneration, such as upgrading eyesore buildings and dated infrastructure, and repurposing brownfield sites.
They have to demonstrate how the investment could be used to reduce crime and bring public services and safe community spaces into town and city centres.
The LUF is designed to target places with the most significant need and Mansfield has been ranked at level one out of three, putting it among those areas with the highest need.
As such it has qualified for £125,000 in funding to help it draw up its bid to improve its chances of success in the bidding process. Among the aspects that a bid to the LUF has to demonstrate is value for money and an ability to deliver its schemes within a specific time frame.
The council has engaged the services of project management specialists ARC Partnership to support the development of the project feasibility, costings and design options.
They will be working closely with consultants Allies & Morrison who are working with the council on the emerging Town Centre Masterplan.
In the meantime, the council has set up a Steering Group to guide development of Mansfield Connect and in securing commitment from partners for their operational requirements within the new hub. This information will be used to help build the case for the LUF bid.
Nottinghamshire County Council has shown support for the idea of a new civic hub in Mansfield with the plan aligning with the county council’s wider aim of reducing its carbon footprint. With more staff working from home and hybrid working, it is reducing its offices from 17 to nine.
Chairman of its Economic Development and Asset Management Committee, Cllr Keith Girling, said: “We are looking into potential plans to move some council services in Mansfield into a potential public services hub, planned by Mansfield District Council as it looks to move into the town centre.
“It is early days, but this approach makes sense as we look to share resources and make council building more multi-functional and include things like conference facilities and, potentially, libraries.”
Opus Trust Communications acquires Adare SEC
Opus Trust Communications, the omnichannel communications specialist headquartered in Leicester, will become a £110m turnover business as it acquires Adare SEC for an undisclosed sum from its private equity owners, Endless LLP.
With sites in Huddersfield, Redditch and Nottingham, Adare SEC is an integrated communications provider specialising in very similar sectors to Opus Trust.
The deal will take the headcount at Opus Trust Communications from 180 to 530, exemplifying the size and scale of the agreement.
Following the strategic acquisition of Critiqom in 2019 and DocCentrics in 2020, the company will once again strengthen its capabilities and geographic footprint within the transactional communications market.
Chief Executive of Opus Trust Communications, Tony Strong, says: “This acquisition is a significant moment in our story, and we look forward to welcoming both colleagues and clients from Adare SEC to the Opus Trust Group.
“While the market is contracting, we are investing to allow us to grow at scale and pace. We made the commitment to become a £100m business within five years and have achieved that in under three.
“With complementary specialisms, we are now a much larger and more resilient business, but we don’t want to lose sight of our values or our wider ambitions. Our focus is to become the largest and best transactional communications partner in the UK market.
“As an acquisitive organisation we are already looking at further opportunities, however the relationships we have with our customers and the way we work so closely with them will remain our point of difference.”
Rachael Nevins, CEO of Adare SEC, says: “When we began the sale process of Adare SEC, we wanted to ensure that the business found the right new ownership. We are delighted that Opus Trust is that new partner who shares our vision of the future of the industry, our culture and our values.”
As part of the sale, Ms Nevins will be stepping down from her role as CEO.
She continues: “It has been an honour to lead Adare SEC and its fantastic workforce over the last four years. All of our colleagues had to go the extra mile in recent times, dealing with impact of the pandemic, and I am humbled to have had the opportunity to represent them all.”
James Woolley, partner at Endless, added: “The sale to Opus Trust represents the culmination of five years of work to transform the business into a leading digital and integrated communications company in this industry. It has been a pleasure to work with Rachael and her executive team and I wish them, and all of our colleagues at Adare SEC, a bright future as part of the Opus Trust Group.”
Lincolnshire housebuilder acquired by global investment management firm
A Lincolnshire housebuilder has been purchased by a global investment management firm.
Current owners Karl and Helen Hick have sold the home building activities of the company to the funds managed by PIMCO.
John Anderson, the current Chief Executive Officer of Larkfleet Group, and Alastair Gordon Stewart, current Chief Financial Officer, will stay on to lead the company under the new ownership.
PIMCO’s decision to purchase the company reflects the heritage of the brand that Karl and Helen have built over twenty years, creating the platform for significant further growth, and the strength and experience of the senior management team.
The sale covers all the house building activities of Larkfleet Group. The new company will continue to trade under the brand names Larkfleet Homes and Allison Homes.
PIMCO will back the existing management team with significant investment to help deliver the business’s ambitious strategy to deliver over 2,000 homes a year within the next five years, maintaining a focus on the delivery of high-quality developments using innovative technology and construction methods.
Karl is to remain as an advisor to the new company to help the transition. Karl will also retain a financial interest in major existing housing projects.
Karl and Helen will retain all the non-home building interests of the Larkfleet Group and will continue their work supporting community and charitable projects, particularly the recently formed Karl and Helen Hick Charitable Trust.
New ownership for Leicester property management business
Bellrock Property & Facilities Management Limited, a provider of specialist risk focused workplace & property management solutions in the UK, has, after a successful partnership with Horizon Capital, secured new ownership and backing from Sun European Partners, LLP to accelerate its potential for future growth.
Sun European is a private investment advisory firm that focuses on defensible businesses in growing markets with tangible improvement opportunities. Sun European’s focus on leading well performing businesses with strong management teams and good prospects will secure future growth for Bellrock. This new partnership will enable Bellrock to capitalise on their unique and differentiated business model through its proprietary and integrated technology platform Concerto.
During Horizon Capital’s ownership, Bellrock has seen its revenues quadruple to over £160m. In addition to organic growth, the acquisition of 11 add-on companies has built scale, depth in new sectors and geographic reach while broadening Bellrock’s capability set and adding strength to its technology offering. The transformation has been underpinned by continuous investment in Concerto, putting Bellrock in a position to capitalise on estate digitisation and future trends in the FM and property market.
David Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Bellrock Property & Facilities Management, said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Sun European Partners, giving us the opportunity to accelerate growth, focusing on key market challenges around sustainability and carbon net zero, whilst continuing our investment in disruptive technologies such as advanced automation and data analytics.
“Sun European Partners has an excellent track record of driving growth within its portfolio companies, leveraging its operational experience to support defensible businesses which makes them the ideal partner for us.
“I would like to thank Horizon Capital, who through our journey together, have helped us deliver, expand, and evolve Bellrock into the market-leader it is today. We are proud to offer the FM market a differentiated proposition challenging the traditional low service FM delivery model. Our management team are fully committed and excited about the next stage of our journey and working with Sun Capital to realise the full potential of the business.”
Gerry Higgins, chairman, Bellrock Property & Facilities Management, said: “Witnessing Bellrock’s growth from a small retail focused Facilities Management provider into its present position as the UK’s leading holistic FM and property services business has been one of the highlights of my business career.
“With technology at its core and customer service firmly established in its DNA, the company is now uniquely positioned to benefit from the opportunities provided through this exciting partnership with Sun European Partners.
“Clear strategic insight coupled with supportive capital investment from Horizon Capital has enabled David and his team to build an innovative, market disrupter in the traditional property and FM sector. I would like to thank our advisors Rothschild & Co, Travers Smith, Graph Strategy and KPMG for their support in helping make this transaction possible.”
Paul Daccus, Managing Director, Sun European Partners, said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Bellrock and continue its excellent track record of organic growth as well as its buy and build strategy.
“They have a highly experienced management team with a proven track record of integrating acquisitions and gaining market share through their proprietary software offering. We look forward to partnering with the team as they transition to their next phase of growth.”
Detailed plans in for 426,000 sq ft Nottingham industrial scheme
HBD has submitted detailed planning for its 426,000 sq ft New Horizon industrial scheme following a £53.8m forward funding deal with Oxenwood Real Estate, announced in September.
New Horizon is a landmark 28-acre site, part of the former Imperial Tobacco plant. The redevelopment will see the delivery of seven new industrial buildings up to 145,000 sq ft, all of which will be developed on a speculative basis.
The development secured outline planning consent in 2019. Now, detailed plans have been submitted to Nottingham City Council for permission for go-ahead at the site.
HBD is aiming to start on site early next year, with completion expected in Q1 2023 following the earlier demolition of the Imperial Tobacco factory.
The developer has repurposed or recycled more than 90% of the original structure throughout the redevelopment of the brownfield site. The team has used various techniques to reduce the scheme’s environmental impact, such as the crushing and reuse of concrete from the old building.
Justin Sheldon, director and head of region at HBD, said: “This is a major scheme for Nottingham – it will not only bring a disused brownfield site back into use, but could create up to 1,000 new jobs.
“New Horizon is a very well-located scheme and the new units will help to meet established demand for industrial stock in the Midlands, which remains in very short supply.”
Lorraine Baggs, head of inward investment at Invest in Nottingham, said: “Developments like New Horizon play a vital role in ensuring that Nottingham has the right space to attract businesses into the city, while also regenerating and restoring life to our old industrial sites and creating much-needed new jobs. This is a fantastic scheme and we look forward to seeing it take shape early next year.”
