- ‘Try before you buy’ – if you are unsure as to what equipment your business may need, you can use a rental system to gauge what would be the most suitable product for you.
- The option to keep your manufacturing process going, whilst Newsome carries out any necessary maintenance on your existing equipment.
- Renting rather than buying allows the flexibility to upscale/downscale your equipment in response to seasonal fluctuations in temperature.
- With cash flow and capital expenditure being stretched, hiring energy efficient temperature control equipment avoids the need for a substantial, initial outlay and enables you to take advantage of fixed monthly costs.
- Tax Relief – Rental expenditure is 100% allowable against corporation tax and will reduce what you pay. What’s more, rental equipment is not considered as an asset, so does not need to be included on the balance sheet.
Newsome invests in new, eco-friendly chiller rental fleet to help manufacturers get ‘summer-ready’
Temperature and humidity control experts, Newsome, are delighted to announce they have just taken delivery of a brand-new range of energy efficient chillers and air handling equipment, for both Industrial & Environmental Cooling applications.
Their new rental range is ready for hire – featuring the latest energy efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing technology, with many of the products featuring low GWP (Global Warming Potential) Refrigerants.
Richard Metcalfe, director, Newsome, says: “With the warmer months fast approaching, our new rental equipment will enable customers to rent a brand-new chiller to keep their manufacturing processes going, whilst they carry out necessary maintenance and checks on existing equipment. Or they can be used as an emergency back-up in the event of a mini heatwave, when average temperatures exceed 30 degrees – which can result in equipment failure and downtimes.
“We’ve invested in energy efficient and environmentally friendly rental equipment, to provide our customers with the most cost-effective systems available,” he concluded.
Renting temperature control equipment, as alternative to buying, can provide multiple benefits:
Property consultancy reveals raft of East Midlands promotions
A property consultancy has made 27 promotions in the East Midlands as part of the firm’s ongoing growth.
Fisher German made the raft of promotions, including one partner promotion and three progressions within the partnership, across its offices in Ashby and Newark.
Sam Parton, who is part of the firm’s Infrastructure Services Division and is based in Ashby, has been invited to join the partnership.
He joined Fisher German as a graduate in August 2010 and initially assisted with the management of various rural estates before moving across to work in utilities and infrastructure in 2012.
He has since worked his way up through the business, and in 2017 took over the role of manager of the Exolum Pipeline System contract, leading a team which completes the land agency and pipeline protection administration for approximately 2,000 km of cross-country oil pipelines.
As part of his role as partner, Sam will also be leading a team involved in the delivery of a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) in the East of England.
Fisher German has made a total of 54 promotions across its 25 offices, including seven progressions within the partnership, as part of its career progression framework which gives employees a clear pathway to advance within the business.
Sam said: “I’m extremely proud to have been invited to join the partnership. I joined Fisher German as a graduate and have always aspired to make it into the partnership, which is something that the firm has strongly supported.
“There is a clear pathway for progression in place for those who want to advance in their careers with line managers being extremely supportive, encouraging and willing to have open and honest conversations with colleagues about what they want to achieve.
“I have worked with some fantastic clients on some challenging projects over the years and I look forward to the challenges ahead, including a large-scale project in the East of England.
“It’s an extremely interesting time for the infrastructure sector as we move towards net zero, and I look forward to continuing to support the growth of this area of the business.”
Fisher German senior partner Duncan Bedhall said: “I would like to congratulate all of those within the firm who have received promotions.
“The high number that have been awarded is recognition of our continued growth and the success of our career progression framework, which gives all colleagues an opportunity to advance in the firm if they aspire to do so.
“I am confident that this success will continue moving forward as we are awarded an increasing number of contracts by both new and existing clients and we are looking ahead to some exciting new projects on the horizon.”
Not long remains until the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo – register now!
With just a few weeks to go until the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo, register now for the highly anticipated event.
The free to attend 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 seminar, and 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.
Duo of new directors at Nicholsons
Nicholsons Chartered Accountants have promoted Steve Robinson and Kate Brown to director.
Steve joined Nicholsons in 2013 as a senior accountant, before becoming an associate director in 2021. Although Steve works in general practice, he has excelled with his expertise in taxation, pensions and audit.
Steve had the following to say: “Since I joined, it’s been an aim of mine to become a director so I’m delighted to not only achieve this, but I’m really grateful for the support and trust that Nicholsons have given me over the years.”
Kate joined Nicholsons in 2021 as an associate director, after working at a previous firm as a partner. As a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, she specialises in advising clients on how to maximise profitability and growth, and takes a real hands-on approach with all her clients.
Kate said: “Having seen the firm’s growth, success and strategic delivery over the years, I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my career, working alongside all the directors to ensure that our clients receive the best service possible, but also that as a firm we’re on the cutting edge of new technologies and processes.”
Richard Hallsworth, director at Nicholsons, said: “We’re delighted with the appointments of Steve and Kate to director. They both have their own areas of expertise, and place client care at the centre of their work. Their appointment marks a really exciting time for Nicholsons as we look to the future and both Steve and Kate will help us drive ahead to achieve our goals.”
Eco-friendly residential development gets green light
Housebuilder William Davis Homes has been given the go-ahead to build 70 eco-friendly homes in the Nottinghamshire village of Sutton Bonington.
Rushcliffe Borough Council has approved a planning application for the development, which will have a strong focus on energy saving and the environment.
By exceeding the requirements of current building regulations, the site’s carbon dioxide emissions will be 75% lower and energy use will be cut by 42% kilowatt hours – equivalent to almost 80,000 average washing machine cycles.
David Dodge, development director for William Davis, said: “We’re delighted that planning permission has been granted for this scheme. We are particularly pleased to create a range of homes which have a rural setting, but are served by high-speed broadband and are exceptional in their energy efficiency.”
The plans for land off Park Lane, on the southern edge of the village, have been shaped by consultation with the parish council, borough council and local residents, alongside input from the previous landowner and an independent design review.
The site will have a range of dwellings, designed to suit the character of Sutton Bonington. There are 49 three, four and five-bedroom homes – plus a range of affordable one and two-bedroom apartments, two bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom houses.
Special features include:
- A tree-lined entrance avenue
- A higher proportion of public open space – with a central green and other areas for recreation and leisure, and areas set aside to support biodiversity
- A community orchard, where local residents will be able to pick apples, pears, walnuts and cherries
- A new village pond incorporating a pedestrian boardwalk
- Solar panels and electric car charging points for all properties
- A series of embedded energy-saving measures, giving homes the highest A efficiency rating (the national average is D)
- Full fibre to all properties, for ultrafast broadband connectivity
LLEP chair will not seek re-election at end of current term
The chair of the Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) has told directors and officers that he will not seek re-election at the end of his current term.
Kevin Harris paid tribute to work completed by colleagues during his four years as chair as he informed them that he would stand down when his current term ends this month.
Mr Harris’ final LLEP Board meeting as chair is on April 12. He has chaired the LLEP since 2018, having spent the prior four years as deputy chair.
His time as chair coincided with delivery of a host of major strategic projects. These include the further development of regional enterprise zones, including Space Park Leicester and the ongoing Pavilion 4 at Sport Park on the LUSEP campus.
Mr Harris also led the LLEP’s role in the successful East Midlands Freeport bid, as well as its response to both the pandemic and the Government’s recent Levelling Up White Paper.
Mr Harris said he was proud that the decision at the time to move ahead with many of the initiatives originally incorporated into the Local Industrial Strategy, and now part of the recently developed LLEP Economic Growth Strategy, was paying dividends. Both pieces of work were produced despite increasing uncertainty in the external environment.
Mr Harris said: “Developing the Local Industrial Strategy was an important stage for the LLEP in enabling us to focus on our strengths and what makes us unique.
“It framed our thinking for the Economic Growth Strategy in terms of how and where we can build a post-Pandemic future which is innovative, inclusive, productive and sustainable.
“There’s undoubtedly lots of change still to come. We recognise that and remain bold in shaping our response to the future.
“But I’m proud that the LLEP is well set up to meet the challenges and the end of this current term therefore feels a natural point to hand the baton on to a new chair.”
Mr Harris will remain on the LLEP Board until the AGM, likely to take place in October, as he seeks to ensure a smooth transition.
Subject to Board agreement on April 12, LLEP vice-chair Andy Reed OBE will serve as interim chair until the AGM and the appointment of a permanent replacement.
Mr Reed said: “Kevin has chaired the LLEP with huge commitment and focus during a challenging period of continual change. He is right to draw attention to the ongoing importance of the Industrial Strategy he helped to drive forward.
“The national conversation continues around the role of LEPs, in relation to County Deals and the wider Levelling Up agenda, and I look forward to working with local partners on that through to October.
“In the meantime, it’s an appropriate time to reiterate our appreciation of Kevin and the LLEP team for all they have done already.”
The LLEP has invested more than £500m in Leicester and Leicestershire since incorporation in 2011, creating more than 6,900 jobs in the process.
In December, Mr Harris led the launch of the Economic Growth Strategy – a key strategic document which focuses on innovation, productivity, sustainability and inclusivity in the years through to 2030.
As well as his work with the LLEP, Mr Harris is a board member of the Midlands Engine and the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce. He is also Leicester managing partner and regional accounting head for RSM UK.
Land deal sealed for Leicestershire housing development
Specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie has completed the sale of land which will be developed for housing in the village of Wymeswold in North Leicestershire.
The 5.2 acre greenfield site was bought to market by Mather Jamie acting as the sole agent working co-operatively with Rainier Developments who had promoted the site for housing and successfully obtained Outline Planning Permission for 65 dwellings.
The land has been sold on an unconditional basis to private housebuilder Dandara who expect to start work on site later in 2022 to create much needed new housing in this rural village location.
Mather Jamie was first instructed by the landowners in 2018 and during this period have advised their clients at all steps along the way with selection of a suitable land promoter, monitoring of the planning promotion exercise and thereafter managing the sale process in such a way as to maximise the value achieved, finally guiding the landowners through the legal aspects of the sale process in under six weeks.
Mather Jamie senior associate director, Gary Kirk, said: “The rise in house prices over recent months means there is high demand for this type of greenfield development site.
“This is creating unprecedented opportunities for the owners of land that has development potential to seek advice from experts like ourselves who have an in depth understanding of the planning requirements to build developments in rural areas.
“We are delighted to have been successful in matching our vendor with Dandara as we know they will be sensitive to the needs of local community and environment.”
Chris Higgins, land & development director at Dandara, said: “At Dandara we create beautiful homes in desirable locations.
“The development is in a tranquil location at the edge of Wymeswold village meaning buyers will have excellent facilities on hand, as well as being midway between Nottingham and Leicester, providing good employment opportunities.
“It’s also within easy reach of a brilliant village primary school and this, coupled with the new play area we are creating, means it will appeal to families. We’re sure the development will be a welcome addition to the community for local buyers.”
Joshua Sinnett from Rainier Developments added: “We are pleased to have completed the sale of the land at Wymeswold to Dandara which will help support their ambitious growth plans across the East Midlands. Having promoted the land on behalf of the landowner since 2019 the site will provide much needed family housing in this sought after Leicestershire village.”
Stoneygate Trust and University of Leicester combine to create pioneering new Centre for Empathic Healthcare
The Stoneygate Trust and University of Leicester have combined to create a pioneering new Stoneygate Centre for Excellence in Empathic Healthcare.
This unique £10m Centre, co-funded by the University and The Stoneygate Trust, will ensure that medical students and healthcare professionals across the UK are taught about the vital importance of empathy as an integral part of all aspects of their medical training.
As part of its work, the new Centre will develop and deliver empathy-focused training for undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare students and professionals in Leicester, with the aim of making this available nationally.
Leicester Medical School is currently the only institute in the UK to deliver a mandatory empathy-focused curriculum to its Foundation Year students, despite an increasing recognition of the hugely positive benefits that empathy can bring to healthcare provision. This training will now be enhanced and extended across the whole School.
The Centre will focus on empathy at all stages in medical training including for example, developing and refining recruitment selection criteria to proactively assess students’ aptitude for empathy when they apply for healthcare degree programmes. We will also further develop our complementary outreach programmes to continue to widen access for underrepresented groups to all areas of health and social care education.
The Centre will also undertake pioneering research into the impact of empathic care on both patients and practitioners, and campaign for empathy to be placed at the heart of our healthcare system.
Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester said: “Our vision is to create a Centre of excellence that will lead the sector in placing empathy at the heart of improved and effective healthcare for patients locally and across the UK.
“Through the expertise and dedication of the team, and with the generous and inspirational philanthropic support of The Stoneygate Trust, we will cement Leicester’s place at the forefront of the empathic healthcare movement, and as a world-leader in producing the most highly capable and empathic doctors and practitioners.”
Sir Will Adderley, Founder and Trustee of The Stoneygate Trust, said: “The Stoneygate Trust is delighted to build on the success achieved by Stoneygate and the University with the Leicester Medical Foundation Programme over the last five years. This has demonstrated the power of empathic healthcare and developed real champions amongst students from diverse backgrounds.
“The University and the Trust together are now building a Centre of Excellence in Empathic Healthcare to train doctors to achieve both better outcomes for patients and increased resilience amongst healthcare professionals. I am very excited by the far-reaching potential of this major initiative.”
Professor Richard Holland, Head of Leicester Medical School, said: “A medical school’s job is to create talented graduates with excellent knowledge, clinical skills, and ability to consult. At Leicester, our ambition has always been to take that mission further and ensure that our students also have a genuinely holistic and empathic approach to all their patients.
“This unique Centre will allow us to undertake a step change in the way we educate and develop doctors of the future, to ensure patients feel that they have been cared for with empathy. I am excited to see the long-term impact that the work of the Centre will have on our students and their future patients.
“It is only through partnership with The Stoneygate Trust that we will be able to realise our shared vision.”
Empathy is a complex term but in the clinical setting we take it to mean the ability to understand a patient’s perspective, their situation and feelings, being able to communicate this understanding to them and then acting on it, with the patient, in a therapeutic and helpful way.
The Stoneygate Trust is a charity established in 2007 by Sir Will and Lady Nadine Adderley, with a particular focus on medical research and helping to support equal educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged children and students.
The new Stoneygate Centre for Excellence in Empathic Healthcare is proposed to officially launch in Autumn later this year.
PKF Smith Cooper appoint new Audit Director
PKF Smith Cooper is delighted to welcome Audit Director Barbara Sims to the team.
Barbara has over 15 years practice experience, working with a variety of clients from owner managed businesses to charities and academies. Her role will be primarily internal, focusing on audit quality and providing technical support to the audit team.
Prior to joining the firm, Barbara worked for 5 years as CFO for a multi-academy trust, which will provide invaluable insights into the challenges facing the sector and add strength to the education offering of the firm.
The audit team at PKF Smith Cooper, of which Barbara will be a key member, work with all types of clients from large corporations to SMEs and not-for-profit organisations, across a variety of sectors, providing tailored advice on all manner of audit, assurance, and advisory matters.
Sarah Flear, Partner and Head of Audit, comments: “I am pleased to welcome Barbara to the team, who will have an integral role in the development of the firm’s audit team, internal quality, and compliance.
Barbara brings with her valuable industry experience, including the education sector, and I look forward to working with her as we continue to provide tailored advice and recommendations, helping our clients achieve their objectives”.
Paragon completes £3.3m finance package with Lodge Park Homes for Milton Keynes scheme
Northampton-based Lodge Park Homes has secured a £3.3 million funding package from Paragon Development Finance to support its new build scheme in Wavendon, Milton Keynes.
Laine Rise is a development of 23 new build apartments, including seven affordable units. The apartments have been designed to offer more space than a typical flat, with some units reaching 1,000 square foot, the same size as a typical three-bedroom house.
Lodge Park Homes was inspired to build the new apartments after receiving increasing enquiries from Londoners who wanted to leave the city for the countryside in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The developers saw the trend continuing so planned for a development that would give city-dwellers the space they needed with great public transport links in a breath-taking location.
The deal is the fourteenth finance facility Paragon has provided to the company, led by Relationship Director Adrian Reeves and Portfolio Manager Bonnie McCloskey.
James Browning, Lodge Park Technical Director, said: “Laine Rise is situated on the outskirts of the beautiful village of Wavendon and near the popular Stables Theatre, which was made famous by the late Dame Cleo Laine and her husband Sir John Dankworth, who were exceptional jazz musicians. Laine Rise is also a short distance away from local train stations, bus routes and the market town of Woburn, as well as a short drive from the M1.”
He added: “Paragon was once again very easy to deal with. The company saw the value in the scheme straight away and the process was smooth and simple.”
Adrian Reeves added: “These apartments offer something different to the usual. They are as spacious as a family home and cater for both existing Milton Keynes residents, but also those maybe looking to leave the capital for some more space. Milton Keynes is less than an hour into London, so it’s an ideal location.”
XPO Logistics awarded Tesco contract for distribution of chilled foods
XPO Logistics, a leading provider of freight transportation services based in Northampton, has been awarded a multi-year contract by Tesco plc to manage Tesco’s chilled distribution to stores in the North West region in the UK. Tesco is the UK’s largest retailer of groceries and general merchandise and a leading fuel retailer. Under the new agreement, XPO will be responsible for temperature-controlled transport using XPO fleet and drivers despatched from Tesco’s distribution centre in Widnes, Cheshire.
Additionally, the two companies will collaborate on developing a plan for a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative solution that supports Tesco’s sustainability objectives. In 2009, Tesco became the first business globally to set a goal of becoming net-zero carbon by 2050.
XPO has provided non-food transport services to Tesco UK for over 25 years. The company deploys a dedicated fleet of tanker trucks and specially trained drivers to collect fuel at 15 refineries and deliver it to nearly 500 consumer filling stations across the UK.
Dan Myers, managing director – UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said, “Tesco and XPO have built trust between our two businesses over many years by working together to ensure a robust supply chain. We believe this has created a solid foundation for the future development of our partnership. Providing transport operations at Widnes distribution centre is a natural evolution in our relationship, and we look forward to supporting Tesco in delivering this next phase in their logistics strategy.”
Is the East Midlands a new commuter belt?
For years now, the Conservative government has pledged to revitalise the north and turn it into an economic powerhouse to rival that of the south.
The latest attempt to achieve this objective involved a series of rail upgrades, which included the highly anticipated eastern leg of HS2. That was meant to run between the Midlands and Leeds, creating a superb transport link for the Midlands and North of England. However, those plans have been scrapped in favour of less costly measures to serve cities like Leeds and Manchester.
Nevertheless, is the East Midlands becoming another premier commuter belt, rivalling that of London’s? Let’s discuss!
The East Midlands is Close to Business Hubs
With proposed upgrades to transport links between the East Midlands and Leeds, we’ll see two of the UK’s emerging commercial hubs better connected.
This is ideal from the perspective of the centrally located East Midlands, which will soon have a long list of major cities with which it shares realistic proximity through public transport.
Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds will all be within commuting distance for East Midlands residents, while London could even be a possibility for those only working in the office once or twice a week.
This makes it ideal as a potential commuter location, especially with employees increasingly likely to seek out homes in affordable and well-connected areas while retaining job roles in bustling central locations such as London, Birmingham and Leeds.
The East Midlands Boasts More Attractive House Prices
The East Midlands also offers access to some genuinely affordable property options, with the average home valued at £216,077 as recently as May 2021.
You’ll also find a raft of new build houses in Nottingham and the surrounding areas, creating affordable and flexible options for buyers while also enabling them to customise elements of the interior design.
Of course, house prices in the East Midlands are continuing to rise, so they won’t always be as affordable or offer the same value for money.
So, you may want to consider your move sooner rather than later, especially if you want to achieve the best value for your hard-earned cash!
Working Patterns are Changing
While many thought that the coronavirus would usher in the age of remote working (or at least accelerate the transition to working from home on a more permanent basis), it’s hybrid working that has proved more popular.
This means that employees will split their time between the office and their home, usually spending two or three days at work before leveraging remote working for the remainder of the time.
Regardless, people are seeking out more flexible working arrangements, enabling them to live further away from their work and expand into more rural and quieter areas away from city centres.
They can do this without compromising on logistics, especially when they target beautiful and semi-rural areas like the East Midlands that also offer access to exceptional transport and commuter links.
200 jobs saved as modular construction business sold
The administrators of Caledonian Modular, Mike Denny and Mark Firmin from professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal, have sold the company to the JRL Group, an integrated construction business with sites across the UK, following an independent sale process.
The sale has secured the future of Caledonian Modular, which is the UK’s largest modular construction company, and saved over 200 jobs at its Newark site.
Mike Denny, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal, said: “The twin challenges of the pandemic and rising inflation have placed strain on balance sheets for businesses across the UK, including those in the construction sector.
“We are delighted to have secured a sale of the business to JRL Group, rescuing the UK’s largest modular construction specialist. We wish the business and its new owners every success for the future.”
Belvoir records 25 years of unbroken profit growth
Belvoir, the property franchise and financial services group, has recorded 25 years of unbroken profit growth in its audited final results for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Hailing “another year of strong growth,” the business, which has its central office in Grantham, posted a record level of group revenue at £29.6m, increasing by 37% in comparison to 2020 (£21.7m), with 12% attributable to acquired businesses and 25% to like-for-like growth.
Meanwhile the firm saw a 39% increase in profit before tax to £9.3m, up from £6.7m in 2020, marking 25 years of consecutive profit growth.
The results follow the acquisitions of Nicholas Humphreys in March 2021 and the mortgage advisory arm of The Nottingham Building Society (NBS) in July 2021.
Dorian Gonsalves, Chief Executive Officer, said: “2021 was the busiest year for our sector in recent times with residential property sales transactions at their highest level since 2007, which boosted both our growing estate agency and financial services businesses.
“We worked closely with our property franchisees and financial services advisers to ensure that they were best placed to respond to the strong market conditions, which drove significant organic growth of 25%.
“In addition to benefitting from the strong market conditions, we took the opportunity to make two strategic acquisitions. Adding the national Nicholas Humphreys franchise network to the Group has enabled us to extend our professional lettings service to encompass the specialist student lettings market.
“We also further strengthened our strategic alliance with the Nottingham Building Society, through the acquisition of its mortgage advisory arm, giving us access to its online savers who we hope will be our future mortgage clients.
“Since the year end, the Group has added a home-based agency network to its stable of property franchise brands, demonstrating the Board’s ongoing commitment to identifying suitable acquisition targets to support Belvoir’s continued growth.
“Given our significant recurring and reliable lettings revenue stream and our substantial financial services client base to draw upon during what is currently a strong market for remortgages, we remain confident that we will continue to perform well relative to the market as a whole, and that our business model and growth strategy will continue to deliver enhanced value for all our stakeholders.”
Lincs director guilty of exposing public to asbestos gets prison term
A Grantham man has received a suspended prison sentence for deceiving the public about his ability to handle asbestos safely.
A court heard that between 2017 and 2019, Lee Charles of Caldicot Gardens acted as a de facto director of Lincs Demolition Ltd in securing lucrative jobs. He was able to do so by marketing himself as a registered asbestos-removal specialist.
Charles operated his deception in 43 towns and cities across England.
When disturbed, asbestos is a hazardous substance and carcinogenic, something Charles knew, but he also claimed to be registered with the Environment Agency. He was neither a specialist or registered.
The use of asbestos in the UK was subject to an outright ban in 1999, after certain types became outlawed in the 1980s.
Lincoln crown court was told Charles pleaded guilty to lying to customers and giving false paperwork to disguise his deception.
Having duped his customers, waste asbestos was stashed in hired storage containers in Welbourn, Lincolnshire, just 200 metres from a school and close to a Girl Guide centre.
Charles told the owners of the storage space that he wanted to keep tools there. When he failed to pay the rent on the containers, the owners forced the locks and were confronted with the dangerous contents.
Once exposed, Charles, 40, abandoned the storage containers at Welbourn, moving his activities to an unpermitted waste site in Little Hale, near Sleaford. He continued to store asbestos unsafely, posing a risk to public health.
Imposing a 12-month prison sentence, recorder Paul Mann told Charles, who has a string of previous convictions that he “knew the regulatory regime well enough to know what he was doing was seriously wrong.”
However, he said that he was “just” able to suspend the sentence for a period of 2 years so that Charles could pay the Environment Agency’s costs. Charles will also be required to pay compensation to the owners of the Welbourn containers for the not insignificant costs they had incurred in cleaning up the site.
Charles was told that he must return to Lincoln crown court in June for consideration of financial orders, including the potential confiscation of his proceeds of crime.
Paul Salter, waste crime officer for the Environment Agency in Lincolnshire, said: “Lee Charles’ crimes were not just illegal, but dangerous.
“In spite of repeated warnings and advice from the Environment Agency, Lincs Demolition, under Charles’ direction, put both the environment and public health at risk.
“Asbestos when inhaled causes serious health problems, the careless storage of which presents a significant hazard, with a risk to the life.
“Taking Charles’ avoidance of costs into consideration, from appropriate staff training to safe storage, Lincs Demolition avoided business costs of at least £50,000.
“It is imperative that all waste businesses have the correct permits in place to protect themselves, the environment and the public. We support businesses trying to do the right thing, only issuing enforcement notices, and penalising businesses as a last resort.”
In 2015, illegal waste activity was estimated to cost over £600 million in England alone, with the figure for the UK likely to be much higher. Charles pleaded guilty to 2 counts of operating a waste operation without a permit, contrary to Regulations 12, 38(1)(a) and 41(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. He also pleaded guilty to 2 counts of keeping or disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm, contrary to Sections 33(1)(c), 33(6) and 157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. On 13 June the court will decide costs against Charles in favour of the Environment Agency and the proceeds of crime order.Midlands-wide support generated for Notts’ bid to host UK’s first fusion power plant prototype
Representatives from businesses and academic organisations from across the Midlands gathered in Parliament to show their support for Nottinghamshire County Council’s campaign, alongside EDF UK, Midlands Engine, D2N2 LEP and Bassetlaw District Council, to host the UK’s first commercially operating fusion power plant.
West Burton A, an existing coal-fired power station, is one of the five government-selected sites in the running to host the new blueprint for the zero-carbon generation for the whole of the UK, known as the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP).
Achieving STEP would transform and regenerate the region, creating thousands of jobs and supply chain opportunities for construction and manufacturing sectors, in an area already intimately linked with fossil fuels.
The Midlands Fossil 2 Fusion event was addressed by Cllr Ben Bradley, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council MP, Co-Chair of the Midland’s Engine APPG Lord Ravensdale, EDF Commercial Director Rachael Glaving and Brendan Clarke-Smith, MP for Bassetlaw.
North Nottinghamshire has a rich heritage in energy generation and has been at the forefront of powering the nation with the region often referred to as megawatt valley.
Fusion has the potential to provide a near-limitless source of low carbon energy by copying the processes that power the sun and stars where atoms are fused to release energy, creating nearly four million times more energy for every kilogram of fuel than burning coal, oil or gas.
West Burton A is recognised as being the ideal location for a number of reasons:
• The site can offer over 300 hectares of land, a brownfield site large enough to accommodate the fusion plant and related enterprises, with a single landowner (EDF UK).
• The site has an existing grid connection and water abstraction licence, as well as a direct rail link, transforming a fossil fuel site into a fusion hub.
• It is closely located to highly respected academic centres and UKAEA’s own Fusion Technology Facility.
• Crucially, it is close to key manufacturers and suppliers for the current and future nuclear new build projects.
• Most importantly there is strong support for the development of the site locally, across political parties with business backing in the region.
Cllr Ben Bradley, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, MP said: “This site in Nottinghamshire has huge reasons to be selected by Government for the STEP programme and the opportunities for thousands of jobs, skills and renewable energy research are just a few. Undoubtedly, the STEP project would make the difference to the region most in need of levelling up. The area is known as megawatt valley, and rightly so.”
Rachael Glaving, Commercial Director, Generation at EDF UK, said: “EDF is the UK’s largest producer of zero carbon electricity, we operate all of the country’s nuclear power stations, so we were delighted to see the West Burton A site on the shortlist for the UKAEA’s very exciting fusion project. It really is a perfect fit for a site.”
Lord Ravensdale, Co-Chair of the Midlands Engine APPG, said: “West Burton is uniquely placed to deliver this with extensive energy capabilities and associated supply chains already in place and this will bring generational transformation to the region.”
Brendan Clarke-Smith, MP for Bassetlaw, said: “Most importantly, there is genuine cross party and community support for the development of the site locally with business backing in the region. The regeneration this would generate for the area and beyond will be huge, and has the added benefit of helping to once again power the nation.”
Cllr Simon Greaves, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council, added: “West Burton is the ideal location for the STEP project. There is local and regional support for the site, a proud history of energy generation, access to skills and a strong supply chain in place. It offers the opportunity to provide jobs and energy for generations to come.”
Manufacturing output and new order growth slow in March as business optimism dips to 14-month low
The end of the opening quarter saw a marked growth slowdown in the UK manufacturing sector. Output and new orders both expanded at reduced rates in March, while new export business contracted for the second successive month. Manufacturers indicated that ongoing
supply shortages, greater caution among clients, escalating inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions had all hampered the upturn.
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global / CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) slipped to a 13-month low of 55.2 in March, down from a three-month high of 58.0
in February. The flash estimate was 55.5.
All five of the PMI sub-components had a negative influence on its level in March. Along with weaker growth of output and new orders, there were slower upturns in both stocks of
purchases and employment and a lessening in the extent to which average supplier lead times were lengthening.
Manufacturing production expanded for the twenty-second month in a row. However, the rate of increase eased to a five-month low, as growth decelerated across the consumer,
intermediate and investment goods industries. The extent of the slowdown was especially marked at consumer goods producers.
New orders rose at the slowest pace during the current 14-month sequence of increase in March. There were reports that growth of domestic demand was less robust, while new
export orders contracted for the sixth time in the past seven months. Lower intakes of work from overseas were linked to rising geopolitical tensions, ongoing difficulties following Brexit and sales lost due to distribution delays.
Manufacturers also faced escalating cost inflationary pressures in March. Input prices rose for the twenty-eighth consecutive month, with the rate of increase hitting a three-month high. Rates of increase accelerated across the consumer, intermediate and investment goods industries, and remained well above long-run averages.
Companies reported a wide-range of goods as up in price, as rising demand for inputs met supply chain constraints, material shortages, higher energy costs and rising geopolitical
tensions. There was also mention of transportation issues, surcharges and exchange rates contributing to higher costs.
Shortages and rising prices at suppliers also contributed to increased costs. Vendor lead times lengthened for the thirty third consecutive month and again to one of the greatest
extents in the survey history. That said, there were further signs that supply bottlenecks had passed their peak, as delivery delays were at their lowest for almost one and a half years (October 2020).
Manufacturers passed part of the increase in costs on to clients in the form of higher charges. Average selling prices rose at the quickest pace in three months, with steeper increases registered at consumer, intermediate and investment goods producers.
March saw employment expand for the fifteenth consecutive month. Increased hirings were seen across the consumer, intermediate and investment goods industries and at small,
medium and large-sized companies. Higher staffing reflected increased output, improved demand and efforts to address labour shortages. Purchasing activity and stocks of inputs
also rose, in some cases due to risk mitigation strategies.
Finally, manufacturers maintained a positive outlook in March, with over 55% forecasting that output would rise over the coming 12 months. However, positive sentiment fell sharply to a 14-month low. Companies voiced concerns about rising geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures and labour shortages.
Commenting on the latest survey results, Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global, said: “March saw a marked growth slowdown in the UK manufacturing sector, with rates of expansion for
production and new orders both easing and new export business suffering back-to-back declines. The slowdown in consumer goods output was especially marked.
“Manufacturers are being hit by several headwinds simultaneously, as supply shortages, greater caution among clients, escalating inflationary pressures, ongoing Brexit factors and rising geopolitical tensions all hamper the upturn. It is therefore little surprise that business optimism has slumped to a 14-month low.
“The inflationary picture also provides no signs of inflation pressures abating, with the already elevated rates of increase in input costs and selling prices both re-accelerating. Job creation is holding up better though, with a further solid increase seen in March, as companies continue to respond to continued growth and address ongoing labour shortages. However, such strong hiring looks unsustainable in the face of the mounting headwinds.”
Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said: “A muted end to the first quarter of 2022, with flatter levels of production and the softest growth in manufacturing for over a year.
“While new order expansion continued in March largely driven by the domestic market, clients hesitated to commit due to strong rises in prices and potentially further disruption to supplies. Pipelines of work from overseas also took a hit and fell for the sixth time in just over half a year as Brexit customs added to the impacts on UK supply chains.
“This triple whammy particularly impacted the consumer goods sector as reluctant shoppers worried about energy costs, national insurance rises and the elevated cost of
food, ruled out shopping for household appliances, clothing and vehicles.
“The sudden weakness creeping into the sector, meant downcast manufacturers showed the lowest optimism for the strength of the marketplace since January 2021. After
building up stocks and staff capacity in readiness for a stronger recovery, the war in Ukraine and subsequent shortages threatens to undo the good work achieved so far.”
Leicestershire law firms merge
Leicestershire-based law firm Websters Solicitors has merged with Lawson West Solicitors Limited.
The merger builds on Lawson West’s previous growth acquisition of Brown and Company Solicitors, with whom it merged in Market Harborough in 2018.
The former Managing Director of Websters, Barry Webster, is known by many people in Leicestershire and over the past 22 years he has grown and developed his practice to be a highly regarded law firm operating from Quorn.
Barry Webster and his wife Tracey will now work alongside Lawson West’s established six-strong commercial property team, headed by experienced solicitor Rebecca Beswick, providing specific expertise to property clients across the region, widening the firm’s commercial property offering and further strengthening its commercial client base.
David Heys, Managing Director of Lawson West, said of the merger: “I have known Websters for several years and I’m thrilled to welcome Barry and Tracey to work with Lawson West. They are both great assets in our combined business and they bring with them fantastic experience and proven commercial and private client skills.
“Websters is a niche legal practice with an incredible local reputation for quality legal advice including outstanding commercial property expertise. I admire Barry’s superb levels of client service and in this regard our two firms are aligned. The culture at Lawson West is caring, helpful, supportive and respectful of clients and the integration of Websters and Lawson West joins together our mutual ambition to provide excellent client service.”
Barry Webster said: “I have been lucky enough to build my legal practice from its early origins as a new sole practitioner business, to be one of the best-known local providers of legal services in North Leicestershire.
“I’m very proud of the success of Websters Solicitors and not only of the team here and our legacy of advising clients on their specific legal needs, but also of how we have been able to nurture and help our clients to grow and expand in the region and further afield. Helping our clients to prosper is what it’s all about and it’s very rewarding for me personally to see their progress and to have been an important part in their development.
“Now that Websters has transferred our business interests to Lawson West Solicitors, I’m confident that our former clients are in safe hands and will benefit from the extended resource of legal services that Lawson West offers and access to a wider network of legal experience and talent. I’m sure the clients who transfer to Lawson West will be pleased to see our joint commitment to quality, great client service and efficiency. It’s a really good fit with Lawson West.”
Masterplan lays out the future of transport network in the Midlands to boost economic growth
Regional Transport body Midlands Connect has launched its Strategic Transport Plan for the Midlands entitled ‘Greener, Fairer, Stronger’.
The plan lays out the key challenges facing transport in the Midlands, including how a lack of mobility is holding back economic growth and productivity, how levelling up and social exclusion can be addressed with better accessibility, and the need to slash carbon emissions. The plan sets out where the region can come together and work as one to tackle some of these challenges.
The plan identifies requirements for major investment needed, from both the public and private sectors, in programmes for:
- Electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
- Alternative fuels, including natural gas and hydrogen for HGVs;
- Boosting mobility in rural areas;
- Creating more space for passengers and freight on our rail network;
- A ‘tap and cap’ smart ticketing solution for passengers using buses, trams, bike hire and the rail network across the Midlands (similar to the system used in London)
- Birmingham-Derby-Nottingham rail journey time improvement
- M1 junction 28 improvements
- A50/A500 Corridor Central Section (around Uttoxeter)
- Nottingham-Lincoln rail journey time improvements
- A1/A52 junction upgrade at Grantham
- Coventry-Leicester-Nottingham new direct rail services and journey time improvements
- A46 improvements at Syston
- M1 improvements including Leicester Western Access and North Leicestershire extra capacity
- A5/A426 Gibbet Hill Junction
- A46 improvements between Stratford and Warwick
- A46 improvements in Evesham area
- Kings Norton area rail capacity improvements
- Reinstatement of Snow Hill Station platform number 4 in Birmingham
- Birmingham Motorway Box – safety and reliability improvements
- A5 improvements between Hinckley and Tamworth
- Birmingham-Black Country-Shrewsbury rail journey time improvement
- M6 J15 improvements
- Birmingham – Leicester rail journey time improvements
Inflationary pressures reach uncharted territory
The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q1 2022 – the independent survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth – shows inflationary pressures on firms reaching levels never previously recorded in its 33-year history.
The survey of over 5,600 firms also revealed a continuing stagnation in the proportion of firms reporting increased domestic sales and investment, while cashflow weakened slightly in Q1.
42% of respondents overall reported increased domestic sales in Q1, down from 45% in Q4. 18% reported a decrease, up from 16% the previous quarter.
62% of firms expect their prices to rise in the next three months, which is another record high figure for this metric and an increase from 58% in Q4. Only 1% overall expect a decrease in their prices.
For production & manufacturing firms, this rises to 75% and stands at 75% for retailers and wholesalers, 70% for construction firms, and 72% for transport and distribution firms. These are also the highest on record.
When firms were asked what pressures they were facing to raise prices, from a list of factors, 92% of manufacturers cited raw materials, 56% cited other overheads (the majority of respondents comments related to energy costs and transport costs), 34% cited pay settlements, and 19% cited finance costs.
When asked what was more of a concern to their business than three months ago, 77% of firms cited inflation which was the highest on record and a rise from 66% in Q4.
The percentage citing interest rates as a concern also rose in the quarter. Nearly 1 in 3 (32%) reported interest rates as a concern, up from 27% in Q4.
Indicators for both cash flow and investment have shown no sign of recovery since the start of the COVID-19 shutdown.
For firms overall, 28% reported an increase to cash flow, a drop from 31% in Q4. 26% reported a decrease, up from 23% in Q4.
Investment in plant, machinery, or equipment continued to stagnate, with 27% overall reporting an increase, while 58% reported no change, and 15% a decline. This metric remains largely unchanged since Q2 2021.
Responding to the findings, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Shevaun Haviland, said: “Our latest survey lays bare the huge financial stress that firms across the country are under.
“The level of inflationary pressures has soared to record levels and we are now truly in uncharted territory. Firms cite cost increases coming at them from all angles, ranging from energy bills to raw material prices and the imminent rise in National Insurance.
“We need to be absolutely clear: this cost of doing business crisis is squeezing firms’ finances, driving further increases in prices and directly fuelling the cost-of-living crisis.
“The Spring Statement was a missed opportunity to ensure business have greater resilience to weather the uncertain and volatile times ahead.
“The Government must provide urgent financial support, through the expansion of the energy bills rebate scheme, to include small firms and energy intensive businesses, and he must introduce an SME energy price cap to protect smaller firms from some of the price increases.
“We also urge the Treasury to rethink and postpone the damaging National Insurance increase. A failure to act now will leave businesses with no option but to continue to raise prices – leading to more difficult months to come for both firms and households.”
Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “Our latest survey points to a solid first quarter for the UK economy, as the release of pent-up demand following the end of Plan B restrictions and reduced consumer concerns over Omicron helped support activity in the quarter. However, our figures also highlight the significant headwinds facing the UK economy.
“Historically high price pressures suggests that the current inflationary surge will escalate significantly in the coming months. The reversal of the hospitality VAT cut, the higher energy price cap and soaring energy and commodity prices amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, should lift inflation well above 8% in the near term.
“The continued sluggishness in cash flow is a key concern as it leaves firms more vulnerable to economic shocks, including the damaging impact of soaring energy bills, higher inflation, and tax increases.
“The first quarter may be the high point for the UK economy with activity likely to stall in subsequent quarters as surging inflation, rising energy bills and higher taxes increasingly drags on activity.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised the risk of a renewed economic downturn by aggravating the financial squeeze on businesses and households and disrupting the supply of commodities to key sectors of the UK economy.”
