WBR Group, the UK’s largest independent provider of SSAS services and tax experts announces the acquisition of NM Perris & Co Ltd, which trades as Brunel Trustees along with associated companies Brunel Trustees Limited, and Omniphi Systems Limited, for an undisclosed sum.
All three businesses will continue to trade under their current names.
The businesses are based in Bristol, well-established, with a strong reputation in the SSAS administration sector and software development.
Brunel Trustees focuses on SSAS administration, providing comprehensive services to manage and administer SSAS pensions, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
Brunel Trustees Limited: as a SSAS practitioner and trustee company, Brunel Trustees Limited offers trustee services and expertise in managing SSAS schemes. They play a crucial role in ensuring the proper governance and administration of these pension schemes.
Omniphi Systems Limited: specialises in developing software solutions for SSAS and SIPP administration. Their Omni software is a key tool used by many SSAS and SIPP administrators to streamline and enhance their service offerings.
The acquisition includes 200 SSAS schemes with assets under administration totalling £300 million.
All six SSAS employees, including the Directors, will join WBR Group, while five SIPP employees will transition to Cabot.
This strategic acquisition will enhance WBR Group’s service proposition and further expand its presence in the UK market.
WBR Group is head quartered in Leicester, and following completion has 5 additional offices in Bolton, Bristol, London, Salisbury and Wimbledon, providing support to clients across the UK.
The Group now has over 4,500 SSAS with assets of over £4.5bn and nearly 200 employees.
Established in 2016, the firm boasts an executive team that has over 150 years’ experience providing advice to business owners and other professionals seeking guidance on tax planning opportunities and the benefits of using a SSAS pension.
Martin Tilley , Director of WBR Group, added: “Since we launched in 2016, we have been creating a hub of SSAS excellence, with a dedicated account manager model that is hard to beat. Over the past 6 years we have grown both organically and through acquisitions such as the James Hay and Rowanmoor SSAS books.
“We continue to provide service excellence, high levels of technical support and specialist assistance to clients and the acquisition of NM Perris reflects the synergy of values and service ethos between our firms.
“We are excited to welcome the three NM Perris businesses to the WBR Group and look forward to enhancing our service offerings. Omniphi Systems have been providing innovative software solutions for the SIPP and SSAS sector for over 20 years and will continue to run as an independent business, and having this expertise will help us continue to innovate.”
Nick Perris, CEO of NM Perris & Co, commented on the acquisition: “Having spent 40 years in the profession, it has been a privilege to work with our clients and staff. I am confident that this acquisition will result in minimal disruption to our clients, as the trustee company will remain unchanged, and the Bristol office will continue to operate as usual. I will be transitioning to WBR Group for at least the next 12 months to ensure a smooth handover and maintain client contact. Everyone is excited for the opportunity ahead as we become part of the WBR Group but retaining our brand identities.”
With unemployment rising to 4.3%, up from 4.0% in August, there is room for some nervousness in Westminster and further afield in our region.
However, increases in wage growth (from 3.9% to 4.3% over the same period) may indicate a healthier outlook for those able to stay in business. It’s thought this may have led to the BoE’s somewhat tame take on interest rates, as raising or lowering them too much in either direction could have led to accelerating inflation reminiscent of earlier in the year.
Isaac Stell, Investment Manager at Wealth Club, had the following to say. “A pickup in the unemployment rate may start to ring alarm bells in the halls of Westminster as the rate for September exceeded expectations by some margin. This increase serves as a warning sign to the Government following on from the Budget where businesses saw a large increase in the level of national insurance contributions they will have to pay. If these additional costs restrict hiring and cause jobs to be lost, its so-called growth agenda will be further scrutinised.”
The team at Azets in Nottingham have volunteered their time to the Friary, a charity with a mission to empower homeless and vulnerable adults to rebuild their lives by offering practical services, advice and emotional support.
Explaining the partnership, Sue Maltby, Senior Manager at Azets in Nottingham said: “A group of 11 of us from our Nottingham office volunteered at the Friary to support with sorting the generous food donations following harvest festivals held locally. Seeing and talking to those running the charity gave us a great insight into how much goes on behind the scenes and how reliant they are on donations and volunteer hours.
Across the year, groups of colleagues from our Nottingham office are sharing their time to help the Friary, with a separate team helping with the maintenance of the allotments in May. The allotments not only provide some of the produce that goes into the food provision but also act as a type of therapy for those needing a break from their normal routine, with outdoor craft sessions being added to the Friary’s offering for those in need.
It’s a great charity doing incredible things, and we look forward to continuing our support in the coming months.”
Ben Talbot, CEO at the Friary added: “The Friary team spend time working to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and we don’t always have the time to sort through the harvest donations we receive. We were genuinely blown away by how proactive and efficient the Azets team were. We look forward to welcoming them back again in the future.”
Every employee at Azets’ is entitled to one day a year of volunteering time as part of the firm’s commitment to social causes. The Friary was chosen by the team in Nottingham to be the office’s charity of the year.
Azets in Nottingham offers a full-service capability, including commercial audit, public sector audit, corporate tax compliance and advisory, private client tax, global mobility, technical accounting, outsourced statutory reporting, corporate finance, forensics, and restructuring. The office currently employs 47 people at Chetwynd Business Park.
As part of ongoing commitment to enhancing their capabilities, MRP have announced announce the installation of a new Lamina Fasline Edge 1116 FLE Mounter/Laminator.
This advanced machine offers increased versatility, productivity with up to 8,000 sheets per hour, sheet-to-sheet mounting of paper to board and board to board, whether solid or corrugated and with full servo control, it ensures edge-to-edge registration accuracy of less than 1mm and automatic feeding. It can seamlessly mount two sheets of board of varying thicknesses or paper to board. It is also capable of mounting various substrates to both open and closed-faced corrugated board.
Equipped with an in-line ‘Flip Flop Stacker’ system, it automatically flips sheets to prevent curling without compromising speed—a task that was previously done manually, impacting output.
Stephen Bates Managing Director said “We believe this new addition will offer better options to our clients, reduce turnaround times, and open doors to new markets. With the growing demand for subscription boxes, our clients are increasingly seeking environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic packaging.”
Regional housebuilder Allison Homes is celebrating the success of its apprenticeship scheme, after seeing four apprentices complete their courses early.
Currently, the housebuilder has 11 apprentices working across various trades, including five first-year apprentices and six who are in their second year. This latest group takes the number of apprentices that Allison Homes has trained since 2021 to over 30.
As part of the scheme, Allison Homes welcomes students from colleges across the East region. In particular, the housebuilder is in partnership with Stamford College and is a proud sponsor of its innovative Modern Methods of Construction Centre (MMC).
In the last academic year, two carpentry apprentices, Leland Moore and Poppy Ludgate, and two bricklaying apprentices, Charlie Ransome and Jacob Kelk, graduated from the scheme well ahead of schedule.
Prior to graduating, both Leland and Jacob, who worked at Allison Homes’ Harriers Rest and Abbey Park developments respectively, were recognised as some of the best apprentices in Cambridgeshire at the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards. In 2023 Leland was shortlisted for Construction Apprentice of the Year, and in September 2024 Jacob won the award in the same category.
All four former apprentices are now in full-time employment for the contractors they worked with during their time at Allison Homes.
Speaking about her experience on the scheme earlier this year, Poppy, who worked on Allison Partnerships’ Manning Road development in Bourne, said: “It has been great to learn whilst also
being ‘hands-on’ and putting into practice what I’ve been shown, as well as mixing with all the people on site and understanding how the different trades rely on each other.”
Andy Richards, Construction Director at Allison Homes East, said: “With the UK construction sector facing a significant skills shortage, Allison Homes is committed to playing our part in addressing this challenge. We’re passionate about investing in future talent, equipping young people with the skills and experience they need to build successful careers in the industry.
“Our apprenticeship scheme is a huge benefit both to the students and to us, helping diversify our workforce and inspire not only the next generation, but our established site teams too. Our long-term goal at Allison Homes is that each of our apprentices will go on to work for our contractors and supply chain, and one day come back to us as site managers.
“We look forward to seeing what all our apprentices, past and present, achieve and to continuing our successful scheme long into the future.”
Platform, which provides Shared Ownership homes in Nottinghamshire has donated over £160,000 to charities and communities in the last year. Platform has reported that throughout the financial year 2023-2024, it gave £160,000 to 107 community projects.
This figure represents a number of separate contributions to charity, clubs and societies across the UK as part of its Community Fund, which both the home ownership and the housing association parts of the organisation has supported.
Examples of the projects supported include a baby, toddler and carers club, an organisation that promotes emerging local artists, a community pantry, and a retirement living complex that provides exercise classes to its residents.
As well as this, Platform donated a further £10,000 to its Community Kindness Campaign, which aims to support vulnerable and isolated people, as well as those on lower incomes, at a time when the cost of living continues to be a daily challenge.
In April, representatives of Platform handed midlands-based children’s charity Newlife a, a cheque for £43,533.48 after employees took part in a variety of fundraising activities, such as a 200 mile/2-day bicycle ride, the London Landmarks Half Marathon, bake sales, plant sales, clothing sales, and raffles.
Laura Osborne, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing at Platform, said: “It’s been an incredible experience being able to contribute to so many worthwhile causes throughout the year, and being able to make real and lasting change in the lives of so many how live in the communities that we’re a part of.
“Looking after and actively contributing to those communities that we operate in will always be important to us, and we’ll always do what we can to help support the most vulnerable in those communities. To know that we’re impacting people positively in these areas is as rewarding as it is important.”
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, shared her vision for decarbonising the region and stimulating inclusive growth at the East Midlands Hydrogen Summit, which took place last week on Friday 8th November at Loughborough University.
The Summit showcased the East Midlands’ leading role in the future of clean energy and was brought together by East Midlands Hydrogen, an industry-led initiative supporting the region’s energy revolution by growing the UK’s largest inland hydrogen cluster.
Dr Jeevun Sandher MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Hydrogen and MP for Loughborough, also spoke at the summit. The APPG for Hydrogen focuses on raising awareness of, and building support for, large scale hydrogen projects to help the country meet decarbonisation targets.
Over 400 people attended this year’s Greater Lincolnshire LEP Conference, where artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation were at the top of the agenda.
An inspiring keynote by rebel technologist Brett StClair set the tone for the event, which took place at the EPIC Centre on the Lincolnshire Showground.
A Demonstration Arena showcasing the latest technology and innovation from Greater Lincolnshire businesses and academics proved a popular attraction with delegates, and two
In Conversation discussions on innovation provided much food for thought.
On top of all that, the three past and present Chairs of the LEP – Professor Neal Juster, Pat Doody and Ursula Lidbetter – shared their reflections on the achievements of the LEP and looked forward to the future.
And James Pinchbeck, Chief Marketing Officer at Streets and Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Innovation Commission, launched the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Innovation Routemap.
Developed by the LEP and the University of Lincoln, the routemap sets out a new approach to accelerating innovation-led growth across Greater Lincolnshire.
“The LEP Conference is a chance for us to bring our supporters together, share ideas and see how technology is shaping the future of our economy,” said Professor Neal Juster, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
“One of the great things about the LEP is the collaboration that goes on between businesses. The conference is a great networking opportunity because you never know where your new business friends, supporters and collaborators are going to be.
“Today our theme is innovation for growth, and it’s clear that if businesses are going to survive in a competitive market they need to either do new things or do what they’re currently doing differently. Today is an opportunity to see how other companies are doing things and share knowledge and experiences.
“The feedback from our annual conference has always been extremely positive, and every year we’ve always had more people coming along. What they get out of it is an understanding of how others are operating in Lincolnshire, the challenges they have, the opportunities they’re grasping and how best they can capitalise on new technologies.”
Three new senior roles have been announced within McLaren Construction’s Midlands and North division.
Operations Director – Luke Arnold, Divisional Director – Darren Harding, and Regional Commercial Director – Adam Craven, have been appointed to positions within the Midlands and North team as part of its continued growth strategy.
Luke Arnold will be working alongside managing director, Gary Cramp, to expand the Midlands and North business – developing into new sectors through public sector frameworks, alongside building the current teams to deliver success.
He brings 25 years of experience to the role and will be concentrating on building and motivating high performing teams alongside maximising both operational and commercial performance within the region.
On his new role, Luke said: “I am extremely proud of my client relationships and my ability to develop long standing relationships with supply chain and customers. With a wealth of experience across many different sectors of the industry, along with strong regional knowledge and long-standing customer and supply chain relationships – it’s exciting to have the opportunity to work with Gary and develop the Midlands and North region and I look forward to bringing new opportunities to the business.”
Darren Harding will be responsible for the full day-to-day responsibility of all PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) schemes across the Midlands and North regions, continuing to build on the success of the contractor’s completed schemes, whilst building new high-performing site teams for opportunities in the pipeline.
With over 40 years’ experience in the industry – relationship building will be a key focus of Darren’s new role – allowing him to build strong, professional connections to fortify teams and create new streams of work.
On his new position, Darren Harding, said: “In my new role I will continue to reinforce my client relationships across the Midlands and North region, whilst pursuing a variety of varied workload opportunities. I thrive on the ‘team building’ aspect of my role by means of listening, nurturing, and encouraging all team members to take full ownership for their roles, which ultimately allows them to grow and develop, whilst allowing me to build professional and high performing teams. The future is looking very positive for the business with a full pipeline of new opportunities.”
Business leaders have outlined details on how Chesterfield’s collaborative approach towards regeneration is creating a perfect environment for business growth.
Writing on the Chesterfield web site, Josh Marsh said the Chesterfield Investment Summit had provided an extensive update on projects that will dramatically increase jobs and prosperity across the borough’s communities.
Destination Chesterfield organised the event, which was supported by Markham Vale, We Are Spaces, and East Midlands Chamber. The summit showcased a range of transformative projects taking place across the Borough, many of which have been made possible thanks to collaborative partnerships created across the public and private sectors.
Delegates heard an update from the East Midlands Combined County Authority on the East Midlands Investment Zone, which is set to bring hundreds of high-quality jobs in advanced manufacturing and green industries to the former Staveley Chemical Works site and former Hartington Colliery site.
Cllr Nadine Peatfield, Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands, commented: “The East Midlands Investment Zone is a game changer for our region. Under the leadership of Mayor Claire Ward, EMCCA will help create 4,300 jobs and leverage £383m of private investment.
“Investing in the right places at the right times is going to be crucial to deliver the change needed to make this region the best place in the country to live, work and learn.”
Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has acquired a major site in Hinckley, Leicestershire, with outline planning permission to deliver 475 new homes for the area.
The site, to the east of Stoke Road and north of Normandy Way, in the north of the town, has a development value of £140m. Of the new homes being delivered, approximately 30% will be affordable, 25% will be developed for the private rented sector, and 45% will be for sale on the open market through a combination of its retail brands Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes.
All the houses will be constructed using modern methods of construction, with timber frame panels produced at the local Vistry Works factory in Bardon, Leicestershire. This will improve the sustainability and speed of the construction process, as well as reducing disruption for the local community. Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house.
Andy Reynolds, Managing Director of Vistry South East Midlands, said: “This latest deal adds another high-quality site to our pipeline of projects in Leicestershire. With a significant shortage of supply in the area, the acquisition of this site is a major milestone in bringing forward a new mixed-tenure development that will provide modern, well-connected homes catering to people with a wide range of requirements and at various stages of life.”
Richborough, one of the UK’s largest, best-in-class land promoters, was granted planning permission for the site in January 2024 and was instrumental in brokering the deal with Vistry.
Jordan Gresham, Group Disposals Director at Richborough, said, “Congratulations to Vistry on securing this site. We’re excited to see it come to life and deliver the much-needed new homes.
“I want to extend a huge thanks to our in-house team, and our consultants. Securing permission for 475 dwellings via planning appeal demonstrates our tenacity combined with a well-considered planning strategy.
“A special mention must also go to Steve Louth, our honorary director who passed away in 2022. This site was Steve’s vision, and it has been an honour to be involved in helping deliver this project as part of Steve’s Richborough legacy’’.
Groundbreaking technology that can capture carbon from the atmosphere and lock it into recycled concrete has been brought to the UK by Aggregate Industries.
The Coalville-based building materials supplier, part of the global Holcim Group, nd Swiss company neustark have set up a mineralisation plant in London – the first venture into the UK market for the Swiss cleantech start-up which has 19 other sites in Europe.
Neustark technology helps turn waste from demolished concrete – the world’s largest waste stream – into a carbon sink, permanently locking carbon removed from the atmosphere into processed concrete.
The technology works by taking concrete from demolished buildings which is crushed and screened at an AIUK recycling site. It then undergoes a procedure in which CO2, captured from biogas plants, is liquified and injected into the concrete granules.
This triggers a mineralisation process which permanently locks the captured carbon into the granules and can then be used to make new concrete or other building materials.
So far neustark has permanently removed more than 2,500 tonnes of carbon since it launched commercially in 2023, with an aim of removing a million tonnes by 2030.
Holcim invested in neustark last year, and is collaborating with it to deploy the solution at its sites worldwide, scaling up low-carbon and circular construction to multiple sites. The partnership won the 2023 Deloitte “Technology Fast 50” Venture Client Award for outstanding collaborations between startups and large companies.
Lee Sleight, CEO of Aggregate Industries UK, said: “We are really excited to be introducing neustark into the UK as part of our aim to decarbonise our own operations and the wider industry.
“This takes the battle to reduce carbon emissions to the next level through carbonation. The technology is available now and works – it can make a difference now not in five years time.
“We have London – as one of the world’s largest urban mines – with direct access to demolished concrete from building projects and we have the neustark technology. Together we can remove carbon from the atmosphere and permanently lock it into recycled concrete which can then go on to be used again in new building projects.
“This isn’t just a great carbon removal innovation but a great circular economy innovation where we are taking what was once a waste stream and reusing it, saving us from digging up virgin materials in the first place.
“Once fully operational, we are sure that there will be plenty of like minded contractors and specifiers out there who want to further their own decarbonisation journey with us and we see this technology scaling up and delivering results very quickly. Together we can really drive towards our net zero ambitions.”
Rutland Hall Hotel is delighted to announce the appointment of Sunil Kanjanghat as the resort’s new Director General Manager. With over 20 years of global experience in the luxury hospitality sector, Sunil is set to bring his strategic expertise and focus on first class experiences to Rutland Hall after an exceptional tenure at Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa, part of the Hand Picked Hotels portfolio.
Known for his impactful leadership, Sunil is eager to contribute his vast expertise to the resort’s development and to build on Rutland Hall’s growing reputation as a premier luxury destination in the UK.
“I am thrilled to be joining Rutland Hall Hotel at this time of change and growth,” explains Sunil. “I look forward to working with the existing team and I am also eager to collaborate with the owners, Priyesh Patel MBE DL and Minesh Patel, on the exciting and innovative projects to come. I am looking forward to what the future holds.”
Sunil’s arrival coincides with several new developments at Rutland Hall which include the refurbishment of the leisure facilities and the opening of Four Roots Wellbeing which will offer guests a unique, four-hour curated journey which includes bathing, treatment, relaxation and dining.
Sunil’s career spans senior leadership roles across many luxury five star and four red star experiences in Asia and England, where he has developed a reputation for driving operational excellence. Throughout his 8 years with the Montagu Arms in Hampshire, the Terrace restaurant held a One Michelin star. His portfolio of 5-star hotel successes includes Lainston House, part of the Exclusive collections, Le Meridien luxury hotels and the Sheraton, a 5-star deluxe hotel in Asia.
Sunil is a St Julian’s Scholar and a graduate of the prestigious Innholders Scholarship from Cranfield University. His outstanding success in delivering luxury experiences stems from his exceptional management style, which is characterised by a focus on leading, supporting, and inspiring. This makes him the perfect fit to guide Rutland Hall through this exciting period of investment and development. Sunil’s vision and experience in managing large-scale projects and historical properties will be instrumental in furthering the hotel’s commitment to excellence.
Priyesh Patel MBE DL, co-owner of Rutland Hall Hotel, expressed his enthusiasm for Sunil’s appointment: “We are excited to have Sunil on board at such an important time for our hotel. His leadership style is nothing short of remarkable, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have on our operations, our team, and, of course, our guests.”
Commenting on the Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates to 4.75%, Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at the free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “The Bank of England was right to cut interest rates again today but should move further and faster. Rates are still higher than necessary to keep bearing down on inflation, especially when the Bank is continuing to tighten policy by running down its holdings of government bonds.
“Indeed, a majority of members of the IEA’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee voted to cut rates by a half a point rather than a quarter. Inflation is now back close to target and expected to remain there, but the full effects of past increases in interest rates and the deceleration of money growth have yet to feed through.
“The additional uncertainty and market volatility triggered by the Budget and Trump’s victory had prompted some to speculate that the MPC might hold off today. Delivering the rate cut that almost all had expected should therefore help to reassure households, businesses, and investors.
“The Bank has also endorsed the OBR view that the additional spending and borrowing in the Budget will provide a temporary boost to growth and inflation. This could slow the pace of rate cuts in future, though the Bank stuck to its guidance that rates will fall ‘gradually’ (perhaps a quarter point every three months, taking the Bank rate to 3.75% by the end of next year).
“However, the Bank’s forecasts are based on assumptions about the path of market interest rates which already look too optimistic. The increases in taxes and other business costs in the Budget, compounded by the hit to confidence, should also limit any upsides to growth or inflation.
“The Bank acknowledged the uncertainties here, implying rates could still be cut more quickly. But there is a clear risk that the MPC is too slow to respond.”
Life-saving charity, the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance has responded to its 30,000th call – in its 30th anniversary year.
The helicopter and crew landed at the scene of an RTC near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, in the hours of darkness last week (30 October).
The doctor and paramedic crew treated two women and a child, who were then taken to hospital. It is the unique combination of a specialist crew with the speed and capability of the helicopter that gives patients the best chance of survival.
LNAA CEO Karen Jobling sad: “This milestone during LNAA’s 30th anniversary year, was made possible because of the support of people living and working in the communities of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.”
LNAA’s team of specialist paramedics, doctors and pilots have already responded to almost 1,500 life-saving missions this year.
October proved to be extremely busy and the crews were called out to 141 incidents of which 58 of these were undertaken during the hours of darkness.
With the aid of night vision goggles (NVGs) the crew are able to fly at night to reach patients involved in the most serious of incidents until 2am every day.
LINCS & NOTTS Air Ambulance photo shoot G-LNCC
Each pair of NVGs cost £14,000 and it is thanks to the generosity of people living and working in the communities of Lincs & Notts that we can equip the crew with this state-of-the art equipment allowing them to provide pre-hospital emergency care to those in need whilst everyone is asleep.
Karen added: “We need £13 million this year to provide this 24/7 service, every day of the year. We receive no direct Government funding, and have only come this far, thanks to everyone who continues to support us, giving our patients the best chance of survival and recovery.”
The first 18 environment officers specifically focussed on water company regulation have started work across the East and West Midlands. By the end of the year a further 29 people will have joined the new water industry Enforcement team focused on the Midlands and Severn Trent Water.
These new staff are in addition to existing local teams which will continue to contribute to the regulation of Severn Trent Water.
Across the country the new Environment Agency staff will ramp up water company inspections, enforcement and regulation. The move is part of the national Water Industry Regulation Transformation programme that will see up to 500 new and experienced staff recruited across the country.
Together, the new recruits will enable water company inspections to increase to 4,000 by the end of March 2025,10,000 in 2025/6 and 11,500 in 2026/27.
The EA is already conducting the largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Since 2015, the EA has concluded 63 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £151 million.
Geoff Craig, Water Industry Regulation Manager for the Midlands, said:
“We share the public’s frustration about the levels of sewage in our waterways. Water company performance is not good enough and we are committed to cracking down on non-compliance.
“More boots on the ground is a significant element of how we are improving the way we regulate the water sector. Nationally, over the next three years, we’re spending £15.8 million on improving water company enforcement and investing around £15 million on enhancing our digital systems and tools to help identify the cause of issues, not just the symptoms.
“Taking this action will allow us to bring about a change in performance from the water industry that we all want to see.”
Independent financial planning experts, Midland Wealth Solutions, have relocated to new offices at Sadler Bridge Studios, part of the Connect Derby portfolio of managed workspaces.
Midland Wealth Solutions was founded in 2016 by David Bradley and has expanded to become a trusted name in the financial services sector in the Midlands, London, and the South East.
The company provides independent advice to individuals, families, and businesses across a range of areas primarily focussing on lifestyle financial planning which often leads to advice on investments, savings, pensions, tax planning, and financial protection.
Daviid and his team previously occupied a shared office space on St Mary’s Gate in the city and their relocation was driven by the need for a more professional environment that would support the firm’s expansion and cater for its growing client base.
They checked out a number of managed workspaces across the city, but Sadler Bridge Studios came out on top, thanks to its central location, close to shops and car parking, and its high specification office space and complementary facilities, including meeting rooms and in-house café, RASK.
Commenting on joining Sadler Bridge Studios, David Bradley, director of Midland Wealth Solutions, said:
“We’d been on the lookout for a new office in Derby city centre for a while to support our expanding client base.
“We considered several locations, but Sadler Bridge Studios stood out due to its central location and facilities, especially the in-house café, meeting rooms and super-fast broadband.
“The facilities available here are already making a huge difference. The dedicated meeting rooms are perfect for client presentations, and the reception services and post handling are efficient and professional.”
After more than a decade of inking incredible tattoo designs to people across the UK, Nottingham’s Sarah Louise Powell has been named Black Businessperson of the Year by the Black Achievers Awards.
With a fast-growing business, beloved by its many clients, Sarah has enjoyed rapid success since opening her studio in 2022, after completing residencies alongside other leading tattoo artists across the city.
Taking the plunge she has gone on to create a successful business, which is attracting attention from peers and customers alike, who have fallen in love with her incredible work.
Recently featured as part of a specialist exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall, called Reclaiming the Narrative, Sarah’s work has led her to achieve national fame, with her work now followed by more than 11,000 on social media.
Passionate to pass on her expertise to others, Sarah recently shared her knowledge to students at Nottingham Trent International College, who were enthralled by her experiences and knowledge.
The success of her studio and her drive to help other entrepreneurs was recognised by the judges at these prestigious awards, which saw dozens of entries from across the Midlands.
Speaking about her win at the Black Achievers gala event, Sarah said: “It is an overwhelming honour to be recognised for all of my accomplishments as a business owner.
“I cannot thank everyone around me enough for the support and love they have shown me over the years. This achievement would not have been possible without my family, friends, mentors and clients who have helped me create a successful business.”
Ahead of COP 29 next week, The Green Life Pantry in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, has taken measures to make sure it is one of the small businesses helping to drive progress in the UK’s journey to Net Zero.
The zero waste eco store, which has been running since 2019, provides residents with an opportunity to stock up on day-to-day items in a more eco-friendly way by using ‘bring your own’ containers or paper bags. This includes dry goods, such as baking supplies, dried fruit, loose tea and coffee beans, as well as environmentally conscious replacement products such as wash detergents, shampoo and soaps.
Jenny Salvidge, founder of The Green Life Pantry, came up with the idea as a way of helping her community become cost effective, eco-logical and less reliant on plastic. After leaving full-time-employment, Jenny sought out a Start-Up Loan of £12,000 via programme partner Norfolk & Waveney Enterprise Services to help launch the business.
Jenny Salvidge, founder of The Green Life Pantry: “The Start Up Loan was pivotal in helping me to launch The Green Life Pantry and in turn, allowing me to support a community of eco-conscious people throughout Lincolnshire.
“I would certainly encourage other businesses to consider what steps they can take to become more sustainable, no matter how small they may be.”
Richard Bearman, Managing Director, Small Business Lending at the British Business Bank said: “We are immensely proud to support the entrepreneurial spirit within communities that traditionally face barriers to financing. It is our firm belief that by providing access to financing, we are not only fostering innovation but also empowering individuals to create sustainable enterprises that contribute positively to our economy and society.
The Green Life Pantry exemplifies our commitment to supporting sustainability-focused businesses. Jenny has now established a thriving, eco-conscious business, demonstrating the transformative impact of the Start Up Loans programme.”
A vacant former housing depot in Leicester has been transformed with the development of a new £6.25 million light industrial scheme.
Commercial property developer, Brackley Property Developments, has completed the construction of Blackbird Industrial Park, which comprises more than 30,000 sq ft of new light industrial units at the site on Blackbird Road, on behalf of Leicester City Council.
The scheme comprises four new and environmentally sustainable buildings which are subdivided to provide 21 high quality small units for start-ups and growing businesses, meeting a regional demand for commercial and industrial workspace.
Units are EPC A-rated and range in size from 750 sq ft – 2,500 sq ft. Features include roof-mounted solar panels, super insulation and low-energy smart lighting, and the site provides on-site parking, EV charging and bicycle storage facilities.
The brownfield site was previously home to the Ian Marlow Centre, a former housing depot used by Leicester City Council, which included vacant office, workshop and storage buildings.
The scheme was financed by the government’s Levelling Up Fund following the city council’s successful bid for £19.4million of new investment in 2021 to support the growth of workspaces in Leicester.
BPD won the remit from the council to redevelop the site, following a competitive tender. Wilten Construction was the main contractor and the professional team included Summers Inman LLP, Stephen George + Partners, BSP and BWB Consulting.
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