BWB sets out plans to double in size as built environment industry confronts new challenges
Long Sutton dental practice sold to expanding group
Labour’s £600m investment to strengthen construction workforce in the East Midlands
The UK government has committed £600 million to address the growing shortage of skilled construction workers, focusing on increasing workforce numbers nationwide by 2029.
This initiative forms part of Labour’s Plan for Change, which aims to boost the industry by training 60,000 workers and expanding access to construction jobs for young people. Key elements of the plan include creating new training opportunities, expanding apprenticeship programmes, and introducing technical colleges focused on construction skills.
For businesses in the East Midlands, this investment is a significant step toward addressing the long-standing labour gaps in the construction sector. The region, already home to 130,000 construction workers, stands to benefit from these measures, which are expected to provide a sustainable talent pipeline for major housing and infrastructure projects.
These moves come after a significant contraction in the workforce, with approximately 320,000 construction roles lost nationally between 2019 and 2024. The new funding is seen as crucial in revitalising the sector, ensuring that it can meet the UK’s housing and infrastructure demands moving forward.
Training group diversifies with acquisition of Derbyshire firm
Leicestershire care farm for autistic children and vulnerable learners approved
Blaby District Council has approved plans for Peaceful Paddocks, a nature-based care farm at Fossefield Farm in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire. The facility will provide therapeutic and educational activities for autistic children and those at risk of school exclusion.
Designed to support up to 10 children aged five to 18 at a time, the project includes a log cabin for educational and welfare needs and a stable and tack building. The farm may also offer short sessions for adults with learning difficulties and dementia.
The initiative, led by Brian and Hazel Sutton, aims to assist children struggling with traditional classroom environments, including those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Quickline expands full fibre broadband to 6,000 more premises in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Quickline is expanding its Project Gigabit rollout, bringing full-fibre broadband to an additional 6,000 homes and businesses across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The expansion, backed by £11 million in public funding, will ensure improved connectivity in underserved areas.
The move increased the total government investment in Quickline’s fibre network to over £300 million, covering more than 170,000 premises. The rollout targets rural communities across West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire, aiming to provide fast, reliable internet to businesses and residents in hard-to-reach locations.
Project Gigabit, funded by the UK Government, focuses on delivering gigabit-capable broadband to areas lacking access to next-generation speeds. The latest expansion is based on updated data to prioritise locations with the highest need.
The East Midlands Bricks Awards are back for 2025!
New charity partnership for asbestos management consultancy
Small business group appoints new chair for the East Midlands
UK’s largest cold store facility reaches completion near Grantham
Homes England revealed as Broad Marsh site buyer
NatPower plans 1GW energy storage project in Leicestershire
NatPower UK has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening request to Harborough District Council for a proposed 1GW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Leicestershire. The Swinford Energy Park, planned for a 197-acre site at Lambcote Hill Farm in Walcote, would be co-located with a 400kV transmission substation, connecting to existing overhead power lines.
The site, currently arable land, already hosts two wind turbines from the Swinford Wind Farm. The project aims to store excess electricity during low-demand periods and release it when demand peaks. NatPower has indicated that integrating the facility with the existing wind farm and a consented solar farm could create a combined generation and storage hub, supporting the UK’s net-zero targets.
Realise Training Group expands with Smart Gas acquisition
Realise Training Group, backed by private equity firm Endless’ Enact fund, has acquired Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre for a seven-figure sum. The move strengthens Realise’s position in regulated training sectors, particularly in gas, plumbing, and renewable energy.
Based in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, Smart Gas offers training in air source heat pumps, gas engineering, plumbing, and heating. This acquisition marks Realise’s third in three years and aligns with its strategy to diversify into high-demand, regulated industries.
Since securing Enact Fund investment in 2020, Sheffield-based Realise has grown to over 500 staff supporting 16,500 learners. The company is formalising a new group structure to broaden its commercial offering and enhance its training solutions beyond apprenticeships and skills bootcamps.
The acquisition comes as the UK government invests £600 million to train 60,000 skilled construction workers, positioning Realise to support workforce development in critical infrastructure and green energy sectors.
Legal and financial advisors on the deal included Womble Bond Dickinson, Tax Advisory Partnership, and Fox Lloyd Jones. Realise recently secured a multi-million-pound facility from OakNorth to support further expansion and innovation.
UK gig economy employers face jail for failing worker checks
The Home Office has announced that the UK government will require all employers in the gig economy and zero-hour contract sectors to verify that workers have legal employment status. Company directors who fail to comply could face up to five years in prison, business closures, bans from directorship, and fines of up to £60,000 per worker.
The policy change, part of amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, aims to curb illegal working and disrupt people-smuggling networks. The Home Office says the checks, which take minutes to complete, will be provided free of charge.
Major gig economy firms like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats already conduct voluntary worker eligibility checks, but thousands of other businesses currently have no legal obligation to do so. The government argues the new rules will create a level playing field for compliant companies.
The announcement comes ahead of an international summit in London, where ministers from 40 countries will discuss strategies to combat human trafficking and illegal migration routes. The UK government also plans to expand enforcement powers against people-smuggling networks.
Loughborough Building Society upgrades digital strategy with Finastra partnership
Loughborough Building Society is implementing Finastra’s Essence platform to enhance digital banking operations and speed up product launches. The system will support both retail and commercial banking services while improving operational efficiency.
The society will also integrate Finastra’s Retail Analytics module, which will enable data-driven decision-making through real-time performance tracking. Loughborough brought Fairmort, a financial software provider, to manage data migration and regulatory compliance.
The initiative is part of the society’s strategy to modernise its services, adapt to changing customer expectations, and ensure long-term growth.
Archimedia builds momentum with new hire
A Nottingham accountancy firm is continuing its growth journey with another key appointment. Archimedia Accounts, based at Nottingham Science & Technology Park, has welcomed skilled finance professional Chloe Hooton to the team as an accountant. Chris Demetriou, co-owner and finance director, says Chloe is the ideal next hire as the firm continues to grow. He said: “Chloe has a great character, she’s a very capable accountant and incredibly hard working. But more than that — she truly cares about our clients and their success. That’s what matters most at Archimedia.” The appointment follows the hiring of well-known city finance professional Jill Fox as client manager just a few months ago — a move that marked the start of an ambitious growth phase for the business. Chris added: “We’re growing and needed another team member who shares our values. Someone we can rely on to put clients first — and Chloe fits the bill perfectly. She’s a fantastic addition to our expanding team.” Speaking about her new role, Chloe said: “Archimedia has a brilliant reputation for building strong relationships with clients and genuinely caring about their goals. That really stood out to me. I’m excited to be joining a team that’s growing with purpose and staying true to its values.” Chloe joins Archimedia during a period of positive momentum, with further growth and recruitment planned for later in the year.
David Lloyd submits plans for major leisure complex in Kettering
David Lloyd Clubs has submitted plans to North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) for a large health, racquets, and wellness club in Kettering, Northamptonshire. The proposed facility, located off Hanwood Park Avenue near junction 10 of the A14, is part of the wider Hanwood Park development.
The complex would include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a luxury spa, four exercise studios, an indoor sports hall, padel courts, tennis facilities, lounge areas, and a 234-space car park. Developers state the project will address growing demand for sports facilities and create 100 full-time jobs.
The proposal aligns with the Hanwood Park masterplan, which designates the area for employment and leisure use. A public consultation is open until 19 April, with a final decision expected in June.