Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council have submitted initial proposals to negotiate a combined devolution deal.
The four councils were named as pathfinder areas by the Government in February and were invited to apply for a devolution deal. The councils are now at the front of the queue and are looking to secure the earliest possible deal to bring more decision-making power into the hands of local people.
If agreed, this could create a new East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority, leading to more major decisions being made locally and more funding for services in the region.
Key areas for greater autonomy and funding highlighted in the submission to the Government include transport and infrastructure, business growth, inward investment, strategic regeneration, destination management, employment, education, and skills. Council resources could also be pooled to make them go further.
The combined authority submission follows the publication of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper, in which local leaders were asked to put forward a vision for devolved powers and improved services in their area.
The four council leaders had a “very positive” meeting with Minister Neil O’Brien MP on Monday 21 March, who said that the Government is very encouraged by the level of ambition of the councils and indicated that he expected a good deal for the region could be agreed.
Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire is home to 2.2 million residents, which would make a future East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority the third biggest in the country.
The councils involved, including district and borough councils in these areas, would retain all the powers they already have. The deal would not create a new tier of Government but would bring a level of Government which already exists from Westminster to the East Midlands, to be shaped by local councils, and closer to the residents and businesses it affects.
All four councils will work with district and borough councils, businesses, and other stakeholders to look at the details of the plan, which needs to be approved by the Government. Further discussions with the Government are expected to take place soon.
Councillor Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “The Government’s Levelling Up White Paper offers Derby and our wider region real opportunities for much needed investment. This is a significant opportunity for us to better represent our people and businesses through local level decision-making, with devolved powers and funding.
“The meeting on Monday was a very positive step in our conversations with Government, which should act as a catalyst for securing our region’s fair share of national funding and support.
“The East Midlands has long been overlooked, in comparison to other Combined Authority areas like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester – public spending per person is lowest in the East Midlands at £12,113 – 10% below the UK average.
“We’ve demonstrated our commitment to working together, and I’m reassured by the constructive conversations between all councils.
“As individual authorities we exist to serve and support our residents. We’re convinced that by leaning on our collective resources we can only improve the efficiency and value for money of services provided for our people.”
Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “This is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redress underfunding by successive Governments and to ultimately improve life for local people through new investment, better training and job opportunities, and upgraded and more connected public transport.
“Our residents deserve nothing less than for us to seize this opportunity on their behalf and to put forward a strong and ambitious case to Government – a case that has the greatest potential to deliver the biggest improvements for our communities.
“This is what we have done with today’s submission of a devolution deal, which if successful would be delivered through a County Deal devolution agreement for Derbyshire, Derby, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham.
“Our case to Government builds on our many combined strengths as a region – our existing partnerships and collaboration, our place at the heart of the country, our world class universities, our commitment to green innovation, clean energy growth and improving and protecting our natural environment in both urban and rural areas.
“A devolution deal would simply enable us to deliver more for local people and that’s what is at the heart of it all. Our submission to Government transcends administrative and political boundaries to deliver the very best levelling up opportunities for our region.”
Nottingham City Council Leader, Councillor David Mellen, said: “The East Midlands has been underfunded for many years compared to other parts of the country and so it makes sense for us to look very seriously at anything that could help to redress the balance. This isn’t just about what the Government wants from us, it’s also about what the Government can offer us – investment in jobs and regeneration and additional powers that can help us meet our full potential.
“Working together with neighbouring councils, we will push hard for a devolution deal that delivers the resources for our region that the West Midlands, the Manchester City region and other regions have gained. A combined authority involving Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Derbyshire councils would build on our existing strengths and shared vision to benefit over two million residents across our counties and cities.
“We have been developing plans focused on transport and infrastructure, skills and employment and climate change which could radically improve the lives and prospects of those in our communities. We need Government to back these plans and give us the best deal to benefit our region. There also needs to be further consultation and engagement with citizens before any deal is reached.”
Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “My priority, and the priority of the other council leaders, is improving the lives of local people. The Government have made it clear that to maximise the benefits which are outlined in the White Paper we need to think big, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
“We owe it to our residents, and to future generations, to be ambitious and to get the best possible deal for the county and the East Midlands, working to bring in new investment, more and better jobs, better public transport, an improved environment, and more opportunities for skills and training. That means that a high-level combined authority deal should be our focus.
“If we go for a lesser option that won’t bring about the big improvements that we want to see. We want to stand alongside other areas like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, in terms of getting our fair share of investment, having a bigger voice, and getting the means to deliver positive change for our communities.
“We all know there has been underinvestment in our area when compared to London and the south-east, and this is our chance to address that. Local council leaders already work well together on large scale projects including public health, economic development, environmental strategy, and many other areas, so this would build on existing collaboration.
“We still have a way to go and there is a lot to be confirmed, but this is a very positive step. Our areas have a lot in common, and I believe a joint deal makes a lot of sense.
“We’re working really well as partners on this. I’m optimistic. I think the prospects for getting a really great deal for the East Midlands are high.
“I’m determined to make the most of this opportunity so we can see better outcomes for our residents.”
A new research project at the University of Derby, designed to contribute towards higher rates of investment and increased productivity growth across the UK, has been granted £1.6 million in funding by the Economic and Social Research Council via UK Research and Innovation’s Strategic Priorities Fund.
The study will be led by Professor Marc Cowling, Head of Research and Innovation in the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, University of Warwick, University of Sussex, University of St Andrews, University of Edinburgh and University of Bath.
It is one of only seven to be awarded funding as part of a new £11 million research investment to bring researchers closer to unravelling some of the complex reasons behind the UK’s stagnant productivity. The projects will focus on under-researched topics in relation to improving productivity, including diversity, net zero and the green economy, financial markets, mental health, and wages.
Each will tackle specific aspects of the so-called productivity puzzle with the aim that the findings will help policymakers and businesses take the steps necessary to improve productivity and raise living standards across the UK.
Derby’s study, ‘Understanding how constraints on access to finance and under-investment impact on productivity growth in smaller firms’, will build a picture of the problems that small firms face accessing investment capital and increasing their productivity. This will enable policy makers and businesses to design new policies to drive productivity and growth across the UK.
Speaking about the funding for the project, Professor Marc Cowling, said: “I am so pleased to be leading such a talented team of researchers across seven institutions. Thanks to this funding, over the next three years we hope to advance thinking and knowledge about the key linkages between finance constraints and small firm productivity in the UK.”
ESRC’s Interim Executive Chair, Professor Alison Park, added: “UK productivity levels have been poor by international standards and have stagnated in recent years. Funding research to understand the issues driving low productivity continues to be of paramount importance to the Economic and Social Research Council.
“So we are delighted to be able to fund seven projects that will delve into the reasons behind the UK’s stagnating productivity and provide evidence to help boost productivity and improve people’s living standards.
“Expanding our research portfolio in this way could ultimately improve the lives of millions of people in the UK, as it is addressing arguably the UK’s biggest economic challenge.”
The projects start in April 2022 and will each run for three years.
Business Link chats with Yael Selfin, Chief Economist at KPMG UK on the Chancellors Spring Statement.
“The Chancellor is relying on OBR forecasts that were relatively optimistic on economic growth from next year, with the risk of further escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine lowering growth in 2022 too. This would make it trickier for the Chancellor to meet his fiscal target, and leaves limited room for further incentives for business investment and innovation – now expected in the Autumn Budget.
“The new OBR projections show that the Chancellor is still on track to meet his fiscal mandate in 2024-25 by a £27.8bn margin. Given the rolling nature of the targets, the Chancellor could still find the wiggle room to reduce the tax-to-GDP ratio ahead of the 2024 general election, as the target year is pushed back. However, this is still dependent on the economic outlook.
“Today’s tax cut announcements, however, including on the basic rate of income tax, do little to alleviate the rise in the tax-to-GDP ratio. The tax take is now projected to reach an eye-watering 36.3% of GDP, its highest level since the late 1940s.
“While faster growth since October has boosted public finances, a sharp deterioration in the economic outlook means that more spending is now needed to help households with rising living costs, alongside measures to support small businesses. This pushes up projected net borrowing in the current fiscal year by an extra £16bn.
“Limited additional help was offered to shelter households facing rising home energy prices, with the increase in the National Insurance threshold acting to offset some of the additional costs to working families.
“The reduction in the income tax rate was the Chancellor’s big surprise. While it will please voters ahead of the election, it will not help solve the country’s failing productivity performance. We will need to wait for the Autumn Budget to see what the Chancellor has in store for that.”
Information security management is a challenge for many companies in a world with ever-changing security threats. It’s not enough to put up some firewalls and wait for the hackers to come. You need to be able to react quickly and intelligently when breaches happen.
You can do many things to keep your company secure, from supporting your cyber security staff and implementing ISO 27001 to regularly reviewing policies and learning from top companies in your industry. Here are some top tips for successful information security management.
Support Cyber Security Staff
One of the most important ways to keep your company secure is by supporting your cyber security staff. Cyber security professionals are often understaffed and overworked, so you need to be able to provide them with the resources they need in order to do their job effectively. One of the best ways to do this is by sending them for training. By investing in cyber security staff training, you will make sure that this vital part of your team has the knowledge they need to protect your business from information breaches and other threats.
Implement ISO 27001
Implementing ISO 27001 is a great thing to do in order to keep your company’s data secure. This ensures that you have the right staff and qualifications in place and a great risk evaluation process.
ISO 27001 will help you ensure that you are implementing the necessary controls for all of your information assets and that there is a plan for disaster recovery in place. You’ll also be able to implement controls for how your employees handle sensitive and confidential data. These protections can include two-factor authentication, encryption, or even limiting physical access to certain areas where important data might be stored.
ISO 27001 is not just about making sure that data is protected from outside threats, like malicious hackers. You need to make sure that there are no internal threats as well, such as an employee mistakenly sending an email with confidential information or someone tampering with a system they don’t have the authorisation to access. To get started, you should look at High Table’s website, where you can find plenty of expert advice on how you can implement ISO 27001. You can look at ISO 27001 templates here: https://hightable.io/product/iso-27001-templates-toolkit/.
Conduct Annual Staff Awareness Training
One of the most important things to do for successful information security management is to conduct annual staff awareness training. You may think you’re being proactive by conducting a staff awareness training session once a year, but you’ll be more proactive than ever before by following this advice. If your team members are aware of threats and know how to react, they will be prepared if anything should happen.
Prioritise Risk Assessments
A good place to start is by prioritising risk assessments. This includes assessing the potential impact of a security breach or cyber attack and then taking appropriate steps to mitigate that risk. Risk assessments help you identify areas where you have a high level of sensitivity in regards to data security and privacy so that you can focus your efforts there.
Regularly Review Policies And Procedures
Policies and procedures are the backbones of information security management. They establish clear boundaries for your employees and help them know what’s expected of them. With policies in place, you can clearly articulate your company’s stance on information security, from basic data protection to more complex topics like encryption and password management.
Assess And Improve
One of the most important things you can do to improve your information security management is to assess and improve your company’s security awareness. This includes reviewing, updating, and documenting policies as well as performing periodic reviews on whether your employees are aware of the latest threats. You’ll also want to review firewalls and other forms of protection from digital threats. It’s important to test for what you know is happening and what you don’t know about that could happen in the future to keep your company safe.
Learn From Top Companies In Your Industry
One of the best ways to stay ahead of cyber security threats is learning from companies who have been through it before. Information security management is an industry that changes quickly, so it’s important to keep up with trends.
Take note of the best practices and strategies being used by your competitors. Look at their cybersecurity plans and determine what they’re doing well and what they could be doing better.
Conclusion
Information security is critical for digital transformation, but it’s often overlooked until something bad happens. You shouldn’t wait until something bad happens, as this can severely damage your reputation. The tips in this post can help you find the right balance between cost and risk to keep your business protected.
Streets Chartered Accountants breaks down the Spring Statement, with a handy guide, reactions and deep dives.
The Spring Statement, did it really create a sense of spring and sunnier days ahead?
The government has been reprimanded for releasing details of Budgets and Statements in advance of their hearing in the House. It would seem then such advice was heeded in the case of the Spring Statement, delivered in the House on 23rd March 2022. Little was known of what we might hear in advance. Though perhaps some may feel there was nothing to release or leak?
Read more here.Streets’ Guide to The Spring Statement 2022
Streets Chartered Accountants’ guide to the Spring Statement provides an overview of the updated financial forecasts for the UK economy and public finances. Following the announcements, Streets have put together a report containing the latest tax and financial information.
Read more and download the guide here.Corporate tax partner Luke Prout takes a deeper look at the Spring Statement and what it will mean for business owners, company directors and individuals
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has presented his Spring Statement in Parliament and whilst sparse when compared to previous statements, he made some key announcements that impact both individuals and businesses immediately and in the not-too-distant future.
Read more here.
Greater Lincolnshire LEP is launching a call for innovative projects to support jobs and the region’s labour market by offering funding worth a total of £1.7m
The number of job vacancies in the UK is at all time high, and in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland there are vacancies across a whole range of different sectors, occupations and salaries. There are many reasons for this, and today we are launching a call for projects that is designed to test out activities to support filling vacancies.
Vacancies are particularly high in caring roles, driver occupations, machine operatives, the construction sector and a whole range of jobs within the visitor economy and food sector. The demand for labour in these areas is not new, but the combined impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, a desire for better work-life balance, and a reduction in migrant labour from EU has resulted in large increases.
Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP said: “On behalf of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership I am pleased to launch the Greater Lincolnshire Labour Market Support Fund today. It is designed to test out new ways of supporting and growing talent within our area, and we are keen to see innovative proposals that support future economic growth and resilience.”
Any business, training provider or third-sector organisation in Greater Lincolnshire or Rutland is eligible to apply as long as the proposals do not duplicate existing activity and are innovative in new ways of addressing the challenge.
The fund is seeking to strengthen or address Greater Lincolnshire’s immediate labour market challenges. The LEP is keen for the fund to demonstrate direct short-term impact where possible, understanding that the fund is limited in what it can cover.
The closing date is 29th April 2022 , and the lead officers are Halina Davies halina.davies@lincolnshire.gov.uk and Clare Hughes clare.hughes@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Known barriers to employment and categories that will be considered for funding are:
Training, eg for specific occupations such as Large Goods Vehicle Training (LGV) or training that is more flexible than other funds allow
Labour market attraction schemes, e.g. face-to-face jobs fairs, industry tasters, job related campaigns
Specialist support for people out of work (over and above what is already available through Government funding and European Social Fund schemes)
Specialist recruitment and retention support
Purchase of equipment/capital investment/new technologies, eg to resolve requirement to labour-intensive roles
Support to fill roles that have been continuously challenging to fill
Other innovative or collaborative schemes, eg transport schemes, sustainable childcare schemes
Consideration of the impact of Covid – how do we enable people to return to work ensuring that any mental health needs are addressed?
Rural dimension is very important – are there technology interventions in social care that could be considered? Care, visitor economy and hospitality sectors are losing large numbers of staff to other sectors; what opportunities are there to rebalance this beyond offering higher salaries?
Innovative schemes/structured approaches to help address vacancies in the interim, given that automation and planning for the future take time, eg food sector, loss of seasonal EU staff
Ideas that help address retention of skills in key sectors, eg in the construction and manufacturing sector; many are picking and choosing their jobs in other regions (attraction of larger projects, higher salaries, etc)
Initiatives such as wheels to work, bespoke demand-responsive transport options, understanding the seclusion of many of our rural communities
Innovative ideas that might help attract back recently retired individuals, garnering knowledge and expertise
The LEP has laid down a series of rules:
Wage incentives will not be eligible
Schemes must not duplicate something already funded or readily available and accessible
We are seeking schemes that are innovative and/or collaborative
All projects must address labour shortages in the immediate or short term and focus on solutions that reduce the need for labour or fill job vacancies
Schemes that will not result in addressing labour shortages by March 2026 will not be considered
Where the proposal is for a capital asset, or for funds to train your own staff or recruit staff for your own business, match funding will be required
Schemes that deliver training must result in people moving into job roles that would otherwise not have been filled within 60 days of the end of the intervention
All project proposals must state clearly how outputs or outcomes will be measured and reported
There is a maximum of £1.7m available in this scheme
Scheme proposals can be capital or revenue or a combination of both
Funding requests should be in excess of £200,000, although consideration will be given to proposals that seek £100,000 if there is a very strong case
All funds must be spent by 31st December 2024, and outcomes delivered by 2025
Outline business cases will be welcomed from now. The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Friday 29th April.
Grimsby-based specialist engineering company, Fowler & Holden, is set to expand its manufacturing facilities and invest in new machinery following a £250,000 funding package from HSBC UK.
The support from HSBC will allow Fowler & Holden to significantly expand its facilities through the addition of new and repurposed factory space, with the additional space being used to house a new second moulding line and a new plant room – in turn, increasing the privately-owned company’s production capacity by up to 80 per cent and creating up to 14 new jobs.
In addition, the funding from HSBC UK will enable investment in new equipment, which includes a sand recycling machine that will allow the business to re-use 95 per cent of the sand from its casting process, substantially reducing wastage. As a result, there will be a reduced need for sand quarrying, and fewer HGVs will be required for transportation, significantly reducing traffic and CO2 emissions in Grimsby town centre.
Tim Brooksbank, director of Fowler & Holden, said: “The support from HSBC UK has been invaluable in allowing us to fulfil the requirements to secure our domestic supply chain through the expansion of our facilities and investment into a second moulding line.
“Increased government investment into infrastructure coupled with rising international delivery costs has meant that there is more demand for our products and this funding from HSBC will allow us to grow our business domestically and create new jobs to benefit the local economy.
“We’re also extremely proud to be reducing our environmental impact as a result of the support, proving that foundries and manufacturing facilities can also contribute to sustainability.”
Theodora Akuffo, business banking relationship manager at HSBC UK, added: “Fowler & Holden has demonstrated a clear commitment to manufacturing quality products in a more sustainable manner whilst growing its business in a way that benefits the local community, and we look forward to contributing to its future success.”
Outline planning permission (subject to Section 106 agreement) has been approved for up to 1,600 new homes, along with major commercial development at Overstone Green, an area of land located to the north east of Northampton.
Pegasus Group secured the outline permission from West Northamptonshire Council on behalf of Davidsons Developments Ltd and L&Q Estates.
The scheme, on land east of Kettering Road, Overstone, is set to secure and deliver the balance of the Northampton North Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) as allocated in the adopted West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy.
The plans, which were recommended for approval by planning officers and unanimously approved by Councillors, also include works to accommodate a new section of A43 dual carriageway along with the development of 5.73ha of commercial land to include an employment area, local centre, new primary school and an assisted living/residential care home.
Rachel Pramayon from Davidsons Development Ltd said: “We are delighted that outline permission has been granted for this exciting scheme which is set to deliver a high quality development focusing on place making and design.”
Richard Edwards from L&Q Estates said: “This is an excellent outcome that has resulted from several years of hard work and effort from all the team. This is an important strategic site for our business located in a strong market area and we look forward to delivering the infrastructure the site to enable serviced parcels to be sold to our housebuilder clients.”
Pegasus Group provided a range of services throughout the project, including planning, design, economics, environmental and heritage expertise.
The outline plans approved are:
Up to 1,600 homes
Up to 5.73ha of mixed-use commercial land, including a local centre, over 55s living/residential care home, community hub and light industry/office accommodation
A 2-form entry primary school
Public open space, including allotments and children’s play space(s)
Structural landscape planting
Associated infrastructure including drainage features, footpaths and cycleways and vehicular access
Lincolnshire’s free to attend Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo returns on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln.
Business Link Magazine is a proud partner of the well targeted event aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets.
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 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.
A town’s popular classic car show is set to roar back into life this summer having been cancelled the last two years because of the Covid pandemic.
The Ilkeston Heritage and Classic Vehicle Show will hit the road on Sunday, August 14 bringing the sights and sounds of yesteryear to the town centre.
This will 10 years since the first show, filling the Market Place and surrounding streets with colourful memories and attracting exhibitors and visitors from across the country.
Organisers Erewash Partnership Events – a sister company of enterprise agency Erewash Partnership – hope the revitalised free extravaganza will again be a major attraction after organisers had to cancel it the last two years because of social distancing restrictions and fear of spreading the virus.
Before then it had grown rapidly over seven years to attract thousands of visitors of all ages to make it the biggest one day event in the town.
Families have wandered around hundred of classic and sports cars, motorbikes and scooters, lorries, buses, tractors and steam engines enjoying chats with proud owners about their history.
As well as a great day out there are other benefits – local businesses have opened up on the day enjoying extra trade, charities have received much-needed cash and the event has boosted the profile of both Ilkeston and the Partnership.
The organisers have already had offers of sponsorship from Ilkeston firms car dealer Ron Brooks Toyota and Larklands Body & Paint Centre, and Pidcock Motorcycles of Long Eaton. Proving the show’s popularity, a new sponsor has come forward – Alliance Group Solutions of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, who have done groundwork on the re-opened Bennerley Viaduct and flood defences in the Ilkeston area.
These sponsors have provided almost half the income towards the £7,000 target for putting on the show – but more are needed to ensure it goes ahead as planned.
The organisers are also hoping to recruit more volunteers to set up and close down the displays and act as marshals.
So well-liked is the show that when there was a preliminary mention on Facebook the item attracted 10,000 views in a day.
Ian Viles, chief executive of Erewash Partnership, said: “We are thrilled at the prospect of putting on the car show again and providing an entertaining day out for past attendees as well as new ones which we hope will boost spirits after a difficult time
“Once we are confident that we have received enough support we will then make exhibitors tickets available to book online. We look forward to welcoming people to what we hope will be a great day.”
Property developer Wavensmere Homes has revealed details of its latest development, which will be built on the site of a historic Derbyshire mills complex.
The scheme, called Milford Mills, would be built at the 4.7-acre heritage landmark, on the A6, between, Duffield and Belper – and would feature 69 properties, comprising a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom homes.
The project will be delivered in partnership with Chevin Homes, which will be restoring two buildings at the site – The Dye House and The Pattern House – to create retail, office and leisure space.
James Dickens, Managing Director at Wavensmere Homes, which is currently building the 900-home Nightingale Quarter scheme, in Derby, said: “Milford Mills will offer peaceful, countryside living yet is also conveniently located within just a few miles of Derby centre.
“Derby is currently seeing huge economic regeneration and investment at the moment, and we look forward to continuing to build communities in this region.”
John Fearnehough, director at Chevin Homes, said: “The development of this high-profile and historic site is a labour of love for Chevin and now that we have cleared the site in readiness for development, we’re delighted be working with regeneration specialists Wavensmere on this special project.”
The Milford Mills site is located seven miles north of Derby city centre in the heart of the Derwent Valley. Positioned along the River Derwent, the development is set within the countryside landscapes of Milford village centre.
The Milford Mills site is part of Derbyshire’s industrial heritage and dates back to 1780 when the former mills were some of the world’s first mechanised industrial spinning factories.
The project will include the restoration of key historic features, including the mill building, a 40-meter chimney and a lade for a hydro-electric mill that will be opened up and exposed.
The development sits on Milford Bridge, which was built in 1793 by Jedediah Strutt, who was a hosier and cotton spinner from Belper.
Jedediah Strutt is the man who connected and built all the sites in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site – including the Belper and Milford Mills.
Wavensmere Homes and Chevin Homes will now look to transform the site, which will feature cottage-style homes designed by architects Gould Singleton.
Design features include natural stone facades to compliment the surrounding architecture of Milford and nearby Belper.
Work on the Milford Mills is expected to begin this spring.
James said: “We look forward to working closely with Chevin Homes to produce a beautifully designed site that will be perfect for families, first-time buyers and investors.”
Businesses across the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak areas can access funded support from the University of Derby between now and the start of the summer to help them recover, grow and innovate.
Working in partnership with East Midlands Chamber, Derbyshire County Council, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire and The Food and Drink Forum, the University is offering fully funded support to businesses in these areas, as part of the East Midlands Accelerator Programme.
Part-funded by the UK government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, businesses can access fully funded workshops, training, masterclasses and events, and networking through Derbyshire Accelerator until 30 June 2022. The University and its partners are urging businesses to register their interest soon to ensure they don’t miss out on this opportunity.
Through Derbyshire Accelerator, the University is offering support to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of a company’s business model, as well as develop a pathway to improvement or growth. This can be achieved through support to develop the skills of a company’s leaders and workforce, make better use of digital tools and technology, or develop new processes, products and services.
The Derbyshire Net Zero Accelerator Programme can also provide an opportunity for businesses to improve their energy, resource and operational efficiency; reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions; gain green business skills and take some giant steps in their journey towards Net Zero. Firms with membership will have access to a new sustainable business platform that will allow them to calculate and manage the carbon footprint of their company.
In addition, the University is offering SME’s in the Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, Newark, Sherwood and Nottingham City areas fully funded places on its Help to Grow: Management programme.
Professor Kamil Omoteso, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Science at the University, said: “We are delighted to be part of Derbyshire Accelerator and providing the support needed to help businesses recover, grow and innovate following the pandemic.
“By taking part in the programme, participants can access support with leadership and workforce development, digital innovation and adoption, product, process and service innovation, as well as the Derbyshire Net-Zero Accelerator to help them realise their growth ambitions.”
Increasing levels of sanctions on Russia are leading to an increased threat of cyber attack, warns online payment specialist Takepayments Ltd.
Amongst firms surveyed by the company fears are greatest amongst businesses in engineering, manufacturing, and the law, which has prompted the company to ask James Bore, Director of Bores Security Group, to provide tips in staying safe online.
1. Backup. Back up everything in at least some form separately from your business devices, and test the backups. Nowadays, if you’re using good cloud storage services, they can provide a high level of availability, screening for any known malware, and online storage that business owners can access from anywhere they need for a low cost rather than having to invest in expensive backup hardware. Given the cost of good cloud storage these days, business owners can either identify the most important things to backup or in most cases just ensure absolutely everything data-related is replicated online.
2. Be aware of malware. Malware is any malicious software. There are various different kinds, including viruses, and just like human viruses, no protection will be perfect. Protecting your business from malware is about hygiene – business owners should make sure that their antivirus or antimalware software is installed and turned on (there are good, free options as well as commercial ones, but do your research), make sure staff are not downloading and installing anything dodgy, do regular patching or turn on automatic updates, set up firewalls on machines, and try to avoid using USB sticks or memory cards – with cloud storage these should be largely unnecessary anyway.
3. The hygiene extends to phones and tablets as well. Turning on password protection, using some of the tools business owners are most likely already paying for to make sure devices that go missing can be found, or wiped, keeping everything up to date, and if they use public wifi assume everything they’re doing is visible to someone so don’t do anything sensitive.
4. A few words about passwords. If business owners have the option, secure passphrases (a collection of random words strung together or written in a sentence) are much more secure and easier to remember than a scrabble of letters and symbols. Business owners should also, for anything sensitive, use two-factor authentication – Google and Microsoft provide their own free Authenticator apps, and another good one is Authy – with an app installed on their phone or tablet.
5. Don’t get hooked. The vast majority of attacks happen because of malicious emails, commonly known as phishing emails. There are lots of lists of tips about how to avoid them, many of which are highly technical, but as a very basic piece of advice I usually say that if any message (email or voice) is asking a business owner to do anything out of the ordinary, or causing any sort of emotional response (excitement, fear, etc) then take a few seconds to verify it. To do this do not use any of the contact details provided in the e-mail, instead use a phone number they know to be right, a live chat page on a website, or any other method they know to be safe to confirm that the e-mail is genuine.
Sandra Rowley at Takepayments Ltd said: “Cyber security should ultimately be taken as seriously to a business owner as taking out business and liability insurance. More than one in five small business owners created a website for their business during the pandemic according to our recent report, and cyber security should come as a top priority for any business looking to move online. Unfortunately, as further sanctions are implemented towards Russia, the threat of cyber security attack’s could increase so now is more important than ever for businesses to implement as many cyber security measures as they can to ensure their business is protected as much as possible.”
Firms have been hit by a 63% surge in customs duties – a record high of £4.7bn in the year to the end of January, according to a new report.
The figures – up from £2.9bn in the previous 12 months – show that the last six months to 28 February 2022 are the six highest months on record for customs duties paid, with £2.6bn paid in that period alone. Over the past five years, the total amount of customs duties paid has averaged just £3.3bn per year.
UHY Hacker Young, who compiled the report, says the rise comes as post-Brexit increases in customs duties begin to bite for UK businesses and consumers.
Post-Brexit ‘Rule of Origin’ requirements have dragged far more imports into the customs duty net. These rules mean anything sold in the UK by EU businesses must wholly or largely originate in the EU to be exempt from customs duties when it enters the UK.
The company adds that the tightening of the ‘Rules of Origin’ requirements looks to be already having an impact on UK businesses and consumers. From January 1, the Government introduced a requirement that importers must show a declaration about the origin of the goods at the point of entry. If a business cannot prove the origin, they face paying the full rate of customs duty and additional penalties.
Sean Glancy, Partner at UHY Hacker Young, said: “These figures show that post-Brexit increases in customs costs are hitting businesses and consumers hard. With UK consumers already being hit by a cost-of-living crisis driven by increased energy costs and rising taxes, the jump in customs tariffs is the last thing they need.”
“Businesses are struggling under the weight of tariff costs and additional paperwork. These additional costs are biting just as they try to recover from pandemic-related costs and interruptions.”
“Since Brexit, customs duties have substantially increased costs for many businesses, in some cases making a dramatic impact on the bottom line. Businesses which are heavily dependent on trade with the EU may well be looking to reassess their models.”
“UK consumers are likely to face price increases at a time when the cost of living is already rising. They may also find familiar products no longer in stock should UK businesses cut imports of EU products.”
A new £1.75 million research and innovation centre designed to revolutionise diet and medication by combining biomedical and data science expertise has opened at the University of Derby.
The Facility for Omics Research in Metabolism (FORM), based at the University’s Kedleston Road site, will focus on personalised foods, vitamins, supplements and medicine, while supporting the education of 800 highly skilled learners and providing more than 20 jobs.
FORM, which is backed by £850,000 from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership via its Local Growth Fund allocation, and matched by the University, was officially opened this week (22 March) to guests from industry, academia and local government.
Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University opened the event with a presentation on the University’s research strategy. Professor Chris Bussell, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Science and Engineering and Professor Gyan Tripathi, Director of FORM at the University, then provided guests insights to the research potential of the Facility, a tour of the world-class laboratory, and introduced them to academics and researchers who will be working in FORM.
The Facility is equipped with Metabolomics and Genomics capabilities and is supported by the University’s Human Sciences Research Centre (HSRC). The aim is to improve the health outcomes of people through a stratified medicine approach for a better understanding of the disease pathologies and agents that can improve metabolic conditions and treat diseases.
The University of Derby is already working on metabolomic research for conditions such as COVID-19, diabetes and obesity. The FORM provides the University with the capability of universal detection of genes (genomics), mRNA (transcriptomics), proteins (proteomics) and metabolites (metabolomics) in biological samples which will help advance understanding of diseases and help identify new and innovative solutions to improve health and prevent and treat diseases.
The technologies within the Facility will also be applied to develop forensic investigation work, boost the performance of elite athletes and support new forms of sustainable agriculture, such as vertical farming.
Professor Chris Bussell said: “This new facility will further the capabilities of D2N2 and will establish cutting edge technologies, innovation and world-class research in the Life Sciences sector within Derby and Derbyshire, further advancing the reputation of the region as a hub for innovation in the understanding and treatment of human diseases.
“FORM will not only provide better scientific understanding and knowledge for meditech and personalised treatments, but it will also create more opportunities for the University to work with companies as part of their own R&D and innovation.”
Professor Warren Manning, Provost for Innovation and Research at the University of Derby, added: “We are delighted to be making another significant development in the University’s research capability with the opening of this centre, which will provide vital data and information for industry and consumers alike, with the long-term aim of improving people’s health outcomes.
“Working in partnership with D2N2, the facility will also deliver new jobs and skills and support the recovery and future prosperity of our city and region.”
Commenting on the new facility, D2N2 chair Elizabeth Fagan, said: “The D2N2 LEP is delighted to have supported the University of Derby’s Facility for OMICSs Research in Metabolism (FORM) with £850,000 from our Local Growth Fund.
“Our region has an excellent reputation for biomedical science and the opening of the new facility will continue to advance our reputation in outstanding research.
“This project is just one of many investments D2N2 LEP has made in partnership with the University of Derby, to boost our economy, improve the lives of local people and shape the future of our region.”
David Campbell, director of Surescreen Diagnostics Ltd, added: “The establishment of the FORM centre is a great achievement for the University of Derby and will be a very valuable asset for businesses, education and the economy across the Midlands. Better research and understanding of the body’s metabolism is crucial to improving patient care and developing the right solutions to improve what is currently available going forward.”
Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, talks to Business Link on the Spring Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak:
“The Chancellor quite rightly focussed on the war in Ukraine, and the impact that may continue to have on global economies. He took some welcome steps to sustain confidence in the economy, but he did not go far enough to impact the current challenges facing businesses, especially SMEs in places such as Lincolnshire.
“Our businesses tell us that they are facing several compounded financial pressures with growing inflation, energy costs, supply chain challenges and an increasing cost of living.
“There was also little direct reference to investment in a low-carbon economy, and how we get nuclear, hydrogen and onshore wind investment working for us.
“However, his proposed tax plan to incentivise business investment from next year is good news, and we look forward to seeing the detail on transforming productivity with measures such as capital allowances, R&D reforms and a revised apprenticeship levy on the agenda.”
Residents, businesses, landowners, and developers are being asked to suggest sites for development or land use changes in Chesterfield.
Chesterfield Borough Council is issuing its Call for Sites as part of the Local Plan review process. The aim is to identify sites that have the potential to be developed for housing or employment but also to help find sites that could be used to enhance local biodiversity or other uses.
The Call for Sites is being run through an innovative online consultation platform that will be open for the public for six weeks to submit their suggestions from Monday 21 March until midnight on Monday 2 May 2022.
Councillor Dean Collins, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “The Local Plan is important because it is the starting point for assessing the merits of individual planning applications. The Call for Sites helps ensure that we identify sites for development that meet local need and this must be done as part of the five-year review of our Local Plan.
“We are trialling a new digital platform that we hope will make it easier for everyone to help identify sites with potential across the borough. The online tool uses a map of Chesterfield and when you highlight a site it shows the current Local Plan map and you can then make a simple suggestion for how that land should be used in future.
“I would encourage everyone to give us their views and make sure they do it within the six weeks as we cannot accept any late submissions.”
As well as suggesting sites for housing or business developments, there is also the opportunity to highlight sites for other uses. This can include areas the council can invest in to enhance biodiversity through tree planting and habitat management but also sites that would be suitable for Gypsy and Traveller Sites, community facilities and public open spaces.
The Local Plan must be reviewed at least once every five years and the Call for Sites is a key element of this review.
There are two methods available for submitting a site for consideration, the first is a site suggestion form where the availability or ownership of a site is not known, and the second option is via a detailed site submission form aimed at landowners or their agents.
Sites that are suggested will be assessed later in the year as part of a Land Availability Assessment which in turn will be used to help review the current Local Plan.
Where a site has been suggested by a member of the public, but the availability of a site is not known the council may contact the landowner to find out if it is available or not. Sites which ultimately are not available will not be able to progress as part of the Local Plan review.
A site being put forward to the council and then later considered in the Land Availability Assessment does not mean it will necessarily be considered suitable for development or a particular land use, nor included in a local plan or granted planning permission.
The council are working with the consultants Urban Intelligence who have developed the platform and are experts in using technology and data science to assess property and support the planning process.
Funding for the platform was provided by the Government through the PropTech Engagement Fund with the aim of increasing local engagement with the planning process and giving people a greater say over their local area.
Find out more about the Call for Sites and submit suggestions by visiting www.chesterfield.gov.uk/call-for-sites-2022
As custodian of the Lincoln Brayford, City of Lincoln Council is supporting the area’s latest floating ecosystems project.
Studies have shown over the years the three islands at Lincoln Brayford have provided a valuable refuge habitat for a wide diversity of species from otters and swans to ducks, fish and pollinators.
The project has been jointly funded by the Environment Agency, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and City of Lincoln Council and project teams from the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust, along with local volunteers, have already begun planting up and extending existing biohavens and launching new ones on the Brayford.
Cllr Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place and Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change at City of Lincoln Council said: “We recognise the importance of the Brayford for wildlife within the urban context of the city.
“We are committed as a partner of the Brayford Trust and custodian of the area to enhance our natural environment and do all we can to improve and develop this wonderful space in the city.
“I look forward to seeing this area continue to thrive for the wide variety of species which call the Brayford home.”
Gail Talton, Senior Project Officer at the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust added: “We are delighted to be delivering the second phase of our Brayford Pool Project and increasing the existing habitat for wildlife and for the people of Lincoln to enjoy.
“It is even better that we can engage the local community this time and we are looking forward to the possibility of phase 3 in the future, so watch this space!”
David Rossington, Secretary of the Brayford Trust said: “The Brayford Trust is pleased to be working with the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust, the University of Lincoln and other partners to provide floating biohavens along parts of the north wall and the east wall of the Pool.
“The work is part of a pilot programme to maintain high environmental standards across the Brayford and if successful will be extended further.
“The Brayford Trust is always pleased to receive ideas from the public on further ways in which the Pool can be maintained and improved for the benefit of all.”
Cllr Ric Metcalfe, Chair of the Brayford Trust added: “This is a great initiative, as custodian of the Brayford Pool, the Trust is delighted with this work to protect and enhance the pool’s ecosystem.”
A Nottinghamshire-based manufacturer best known for producing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) parts and sealing solutions for the automotive industry has launched a new range of recycled materials suitable for use in a variety of sectors.
Interflex is using the Ocean brand of materials to manufacture acoustic automotive products designed to reduce noise and vibration in vehicles.
Already approved for use at a major original equipment manufacturer, Ocean is lightweight, mouldable and made from a minimum of 75% recycled polyester. It can also be recycled at the end of its life, making it a sustainable solution for NVH issues.
Ocean can be used for a variety of vehicle interior and exterior applications from headliners to parcel shelves. Although currently being used in vehicle manufacture, it has potential for use in a range of industries including rail, roadways and construction.
“We are excited to be launching this innovative new product which has already attracted significant interest from large manufacturers in the automotive industry,” comments Jim Griffin, MD of Interflex. “Not only is it a high performance acoustic absorbent material, but its lightweight properties also make it an ideal product for manufacturers looking to reduce weight in vehicle production.”
The launch of Ocean is part of the company’s drive to introduce more sustainable materials into the automotive supply chain. It is also part of a plan to expand into new markets.
Jim explains: “With its high-performance properties, Ocean can be used for a wide range of purposes and industries where weight and noise is an issue. As experts in converting materials, the team at Interflex is ideally placed to take Ocean into completely new markets.”
Interflex currently manufacture a range of NVH and sealing solutions for vehicles including door seals, interior trim, under carpet and boot seals. They also coat and cut materials such as the fabric used for armrests. Set up in 2003, the company employs over 40 staff at its 38,000 sq ft site in Langar.
Commenting on the Spring Statement, Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK, said: “It is right that the Chancellor should prioritise help for the lower paid and those most in need at such a difficult time and business will understand this.
“However, Government cannot escape the fact that manufacturers are facing eye watering cost increases that are pushing many towards a tipping point and companies would have been looking for substantial business support measures to help alleviate these. In particular, the lack of action on energy costs for business is especially hard to fathom.
“It has been two years to the day since lockdown began and there is very little in today’s statement to support a sector that kept working throughout the pandemic, ensuring that there was food on the shelves, PPE for our NHS and medicines for the people who needed them. The promise of jam tomorrow with consultations through the summer and action in the Autumn will also be of little comfort for many who would have liked to have seen action and support immediately”.
“We have also yet to see a long-term economic vision that has enterprise, growth and innovation at its heart. Without adding a turbocharger for growth the Government risks leaving the economy spluttering along as a two stroke.”
On the incoming NICS rise Verity Davidge, Director of Policy at Make UK, said: “Today was a missed opportunity for the Chancellor to act on concerns raised by employer and employee groups alike to delay the NICs hike until the economy is in a more robust position. The NICs increase is a tax on jobs with six in ten manufacturers saying it will impact recruitment and the majority planning to pass onto the customer leading to further inflationary pressures. The NICs increase is just one of many significant costs facing UK manufacturers and there will be a big question as to whether the UK is a competitive place to do business right now.
On the lack of support for business on energy, Verity Davidge, Director of Policy at Make UK said: “The lack of support for businesses to tackle spiralling energy costs is beyond disappointing, and deeply frustrating. With manufacturers seeing historically high energy bills, today was the Government’s chance to give businesses much needed support. Reducing the policy costs that make up a large part of overall electricity costs together with a boost to extending energy funds and grants, would have given manufacturers the best chance of cutting their energy bills and keeping their businesses afloat.
On potential reforms to the R&D tax credit scheme Fhaheen Khan, Senior Economist at Make UK, said: “The R&D tax credit scheme is the most commonly used form of innovation support among manufacturers. Any changes to the scheme must be done in close consultation with the manufacturing sector, which is response for 64% of private R&D investment.
“Government must be careful not to throw the baby out of the bath water. While the scheme may not be perfect it should be reshaped and not radically reformed and any suggestions it should be scrapped entirely must be ignored. We look forward to continuing to work with Government to make the scheme work better for businesses of all sizes and ensure the UK can continue to compete on the global innovation stage.”
On commitment to look at investment tax cuts James Brougham, Senior Economist at Make UK, said: “For what was a well-received policy at the time of its inception, the Chancellor has missed the significant opportunity of plucking some low-hanging fruit by way of adjusting some simple, yet fundamental, flaws in the Super Deduction scheme. Alluding to forthcoming investment tax announcements in the next Budget does little to support the industry now, when investment confidence is in dire need of bolstering.
“If the Government wants the economy to invest, innovate and grow now, the Chancellor must also now stand ready to afford confidence to the sector through longer-term policies that show individual businesses are supported in the investments they undertake that ultimately benefit people, places and communities.
“The lack of investment-spurring policy announcements today will send a worrying signal throughout industry that businesses are to bear the risk alone through this fragile recovery, certainly hampering investment in the rest of the year as the tidal wave of rising costs washes away hopes of a prosperous recovery.”
On the review of the Apprenticeship Levy Bhavina Bharkhada, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Make UK, said: “The decision to review the apprenticeship levy is well overdue and will be widely welcomed by manufacturers – the true champions of gold standard Apprenticeships. It will be essential that the Government works with business to make the right calls on future reform so that we get this right. Over the last decade, the Government has committed to an apprenticeship system that is led by employers and it is important that it continues to uphold this principle. Any changes must ensure that funding for apprenticeships is sustainable over the long term, and that businesses are able use it to recruit and retain the apprentices they need.
“In the short term, allowing employers to use some of their levy funds to contribute to apprentice wages would immediately unlock greater investment in apprenticeships. Should the scope of the levy be broadened to include non-apprenticeship training, the Government must demonstrate how funding for apprenticeships would be protected and how manufacturers would be able to use this additional flexibility to access the right skills training for their businesses.”
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