Work has started on transforming a former restaurant in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter into new headquarters and a community hub for young people and their families affected by child exploitation.
Derbyshire’s specialist child exploitation charity, Safe and Sound, has appointed family-owned Davlyn Construction, based in Shaftsbury Street, to complete the refurbishment of the former Thai Dusit restaurant in Bold Lane.
The construction project, which is due to be completed around Easter, will include a ground floor community hub where young people and families can engage with an expanded range of support services and activities to help them re-build their lives.
The other two floors will include space for 1-2-1 and group support, meetings and workshops as well as office accommodation for Safe and Sound’s team and volunteers who are based there. There will also be provision for other local charities to use space to deliver their services.
The project has been made possible by £250,000 funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Community Ownership Fund.
There have been further donations from businesses and organisations as well as several services provided pro bono including Cawarden, a specialist contractor based in Ockbrook, who helped clear the building to make way for the start of construction work.
The charity is also busy raising funds under its on-going Butterfly Appeal to buy equipment for youth and family therapy activities as well as special features to make the building welcoming for all.
CEO Tracy Harrison explained: “The Bold Lane premises will be an amazing centrally-located community asset and safe space for children and young people who are at risk of exploitation as well as their families.
“Since the confirmation of funding last year, we have been busy scoping out the work that needs to be done and choosing a contractor through a competitive tender process.
“Davlyn Construction really understand our vision for creating a flexible, safe and welcoming space for our young people and families as well as staff and volunteers.
“There is a lot of work to be done but we are excited to see the refurbishment work develop and to start planning our official opening this Spring.”
Davlyn Construction site manager Ellis Boyall added: “We are delighted to be working with Safe and Sound on this project which will bring an empty property back to life and contribute to the overall regeneration of this important part of the city centre.
“There are many challenges in this project but, as a long-established family-owned business with more than 50 years’ experience, we have the expertise and track record to bring this to fruition on time and within budget.”
Safe and Sound works with children as young as seven, young people and their families across Derbyshire whose lives have been affected by child exploitation including online grooming, sexual exploitation, County Lines, trafficking, modern slavery and radicalisation.
The charity is currently based in rented offices in Darley Abbey, a community hub in Allenton, and rents further space for further activity and therapy work.
Last year, Safe and Sound supported a record 343 children and young people who have been victims of or at risk of child exploitation. The charity largely works with 7-18 year olds but includes up to 25 if there are special educational needs and or disability (SEND) issues or children leaving care.
Safe and Sound offers a range of innovative, hands-on programmes to help young people understand what has happened to them, rebuild their confidence and move onto a place of emotional safety, protected from further harm.
Safe and Sound chair Mark Richardson, who is a director of BBJ Commercial, has been working with fellow trustees, CEO Tracy Harrison and key partners in the city to bring the vision to reality.
He concluded: “The start of work on the Bold Lane property is a significant milestone for the charity, the wider voluntary sector and for the vibrancy of the city centre.
“I am delighted that we have found the premises that will be the long-term home for everyone who works at and is supported by Safe and Sound as well as providing much needed accessible space for other organisations supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our local communities.”
Streets Chartered Accountants, a Lincolnshire-based top 40 UK professional service firm, has established Streets Hackett Griffey LLP.
It follows the merger of the well-established Haverhill practice of Hackett Griffey Chartered Certified Accountants with Streets Chartered Accountants.
This latest merger sees Streets establish a greater footprint in the East of England.
When asked about the merger, Jon Griffey, Partner at Streets Hackett Griffey, said: “The firm was founded in 1984 by Philip Hackett but our roots can be traced back to the 1950s, making us by far the longest established firm in Haverhill and the surrounding area.
“As such when myself and fellow partners Simon Iron and Nicky Harris were looking at a merger with a larger firm, it was important that we considered and were able to retain a local presence and personal service that our staff enjoy and clients expect.
“We chose to merge with Streets as they are a very well respected and established firm and we are delighted to say they share the same client focussed ethos as we do which makes them somewhat unique amongst larger firms.
“Streets are not private equity backed and have no interest in being so, which offers long term security for our staff and clients.
“The need to look at a merger was driven by the fact that to remain competitive; to service the needs of clients and to look after our staff now and in the future, we need to be part of something bigger.
“Being part of Streets offers economies of scale and a wide range of expertise and other services, the benefits of which we can pass onto our clients. They also offer sector specialisms such as agriculture, technology, legal and entertainment which will enable us to attract clients that require a more specialist service.
“They also have a strong presence and so were the perfect fit for us.
“The merger will offer much greater career prospects for our staff as Streets are keen to promote rising stars and offer opportunities to do more specialised work if they so want.”
Looking at what the merger means to Streets, the firm’s Managing Partner, Paul Tutin, said: “We are delighted to have partners Jon Griffey, Simon Iron, Nicky Harris and their colleagues join the practice. It is especially pleasing to see and experience the mutual benefits and synergy to be had through firms like ours coming together.
“It certainly is important to us and those firms we come together with to share the same ethos and values and to have a real sense of community in terms of that in which we live, work and for the clients we look after.
“Following on from the merger of the Colchester and Essex practice of Whittles, now Streets Whittles, as well as Mitch Consulting, the specialist tech start up and scale up accountancy practice in the East of England, we have been keen to increase our presence locally.
“With Hackett Griffey joining the practice we are truly becoming a significant player in the region. With our regional approach forming part of our overall strategy to be a substantial UK practice.
“We continue to find that firms we talk to and that merge with us like our approach, which is very different to the private equity led deals, as we seek to build on the success of the existing practice and empower individuals to drive and lead on their future growth and success.”
Streets Law, the firm’s dedicated corporate and commercial law offering led by Managing Director and Solicitor, Adam Aisthorpe, undertook the legal work on behalf of Streets for the merger, including drafting the sale and purchase agreement and dealing with the due diligence process in collaboration with internal colleagues in the tax and audit teams at Streets.
Bellway Strategic Land’s Central region has secured outline planning permission for up to 450 new homes on the edge of Rushden, which will bring more than £4 million of investment in local services and infrastructure.
Outline planning permission for the 58-acre site off Bedford Road, at the south-eastern end of the town, was granted by North Northamptonshire Council. Bellway’s Northern Home Counties division is now preparing reserved matters applications, which it aims to submit in spring 2025.
Bellway Strategic Land first entered into an agreement with the landowner to promote the site in summer 2020, with a draft allocation secured within the emerging Local Plan Part 2 for East Northamptonshire early the following year.
The submission of an outline planning application quickly followed with members resolving to grant planning permission at a planning committee in autumn 2023, ahead of the formal adoption of the Local Plan in December that year.
Matt Smith, Senior Strategic Land and Planning Manager (Central) for Bellway, said: “We are pleased to have secured outline planning permission to create a brand-new neighbourhood on the south-eastern edge of Rushden.
“This consent is the result of extensive discussions with North Northamptonshire Council, and other stakeholders, to bring forward a high-quality scheme which will provide much-needed new private and affordable homes and a range of other benefits to the local area.
“To secure an adopted housing allocation and subsequent permission so quickly is swift progress for Bellway and our landowner in an increasingly challenging planning environment. It is a real demonstration of our team’s ability to manoeuvre quickly and successfully through the planning process.”
As part of the S106 agreement attached to the outline planning permission, Bellway has committed to investing more than £4 million towards local services including schools, sports provision, libraries and bus services, as well as providing 30 per cent of the homes as affordable housing for local people.
The development will include two new play areas, new cycleways, footpaths and a community building, which could accommodate a shop, community hall or health facility. More than 40 per cent of the site will be retained as public open space with provision also made on site for Biodiversity Net Gain.
Nearly £200 million is set to come to the East Midlands for transport across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire.
This significant funding – comprised of several different sources – has been given to East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) from the Department for Transport and is for the year 2025/26.
It includes a new pot of money specifically for Mayoral Combined Authorities: an extra £66 million, on top of last year’s commitments, which pushes the transport budget for next year to nearly £200 million.
This will allow EMCCA to invest in creating better connections between cities, towns and rural areas, making it easier and cheaper to travel around the whole region. It will help give people more choice on how they travel and will make networks safer and improve public spaces.
It will further support major network improvement schemes and improve the reliability of bus services, making them more accessible for everyone and providing better facilities and information for passengers. It will also help to move to fully zero emission bus fleets and support the development of and connectivity to the region’s growth zones.
More money will also go towards highway surface improvements – a local authority responsibility – so they can fill potholes and improve roads.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I am delighted we have been given this additional funding to invest in our roads and local transport programmes across the region.
“This is more than filling potholes and getting people from A to B, it’s about transforming lives and communities, and it will give us a fantastic opportunity to connect people across the region and make it easier to access jobs, skills training, health appointments, and our incredible tourist attractions.
“We will work closely with key partners and councils to make sure every penny of this funding makes a difference. The ambition is to create the best possible transport system for the East Midlands and this funding will help us towards achieving this.
“We want to transform transport opportunities for all those who live, work and do business in our region, as well as those who come to visit our amazing places – creating a region where everyone has the chance to succeed.”
The funding is both capital and revenue and is derived from the following sources: Highways Maintenance, Integrated Transport, Active Travel 5, Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP), City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements 2 – early release.
A Northamptonshire luxury boat maker has fallen into administration, only weeks after gaining new ownership.
Oundle-based Fairline Yachts, which was founded in 1967, has entered into insolvency proceedings after its main lender, DF Capital, triggered the appointment of administrators Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), according to reports from Sky News.
It comes after Hanover Investors sold its interest in Fairline Yachts to Arrowbolt Propulsion Systems, the clean propulsion technology company.
At the time Arrowbolt appointed experienced industry executive Peter Hamlyn as CEO of Fairline, who said: “We look forward to aligning the business with our long-term vision to be a clean and sustainable marine brand.
“However, to be clear, the industry faces a number of economic and market challenges, and we will be assessing the current business before making any strategic long-term investment decisions.”
Michael Magnay, joint administrator to Fairline Yachts Limited, told Sky News the business is continuing to trade as usual, with no redundancies at this time. A sale of the business is being pursued.
A court has fined Northampton-headquartered builders’ merchant Travis Perkins £2m after part of a timber load fell off one of its lorries and into the windscreen of an oncoming car, tragically killing the driver.
The firm admitted three offences contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act and sentence was passed at Hove Crown Court.
On May 13, 2020, father-of-three Jack Stevens, 28, who was driving a BMW, died when a strip of timber came loose from a Travis Perkins vehicle on the A26 after it left the company’s Newhaven depot.
The court heard how only a single strap was used on the load which did not adequately secure it, and the lashing was insufficient.
Lewes District Council conducted an investigation, working collaboratively with the Health and Safety Executive, and brought about the prosecution.
Councillor Christine Robinson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing at Lewes District Council, said: “While we welcome the substantial fine imposed today, it remains an absolute tragedy that Mr Stevens, a much-loved father-of-three, died in this entirely preventable case.
“Our thoughts remain with his family and friends.
“I hope our prosecution sends a strong message to businesses that it is of the utmost importance they adhere to health and safety legislation to ensure that something like this never happens again.
“I am grateful for to our officers for their rigorous investigation and professionalism in pursuing this prosecution over a lengthy period, working collaboratively with the Health and Safety Executive.”
The court awarded £85,000 costs.
Revenue is on the rise at Microlise Group, the Nottingham-headquartered provider of transport management software to fleet operators, following a year of international growth.
In a trading update for the year ending 31 December 2024, the business revealed revenue is expected to increase by 12.9% to £81m, up from £71.7m in 2023, with adjusted EBITDA ahead of market expectations at £11.3m (up from £9.4m in 2023).
2024 marked a year of international expansion for the company, with new direct customers secured in Australia, New Zealand and France.
The business added 375 new customers in the year, including WooliesX in Australia, GSF in the UK, Foodstuffs South Island in New Zealand and STAF in France. Microlise also renewed key relationships, including a five-year extension with JCB.
2024 additionally saw the acquisition of K-Safe and the completion of the acquisition of Enterprise Software Systems (ESS) in January.
Nadeem Raza, CEO, Microlise, said: “The business demonstrated growth across all geographies, and the addition of newly acquired products enabled us to provide more solutions to existing customers. We have signed several new TMS contracts, following the acquisition of ESS at the start of the year, which is particularly pleasing.
“The business responded well to the cyber incident in October, resulting in minimal impact to the forecast FY24. I would like to thank all our staff for their hard work and dedication in restoring services for our customers, and our customers for their patience and understanding during this period.
“The outturn for 2024 shows a strong business with a healthy pipeline and puts us in a great position to take advantage of opportunities in 2025.”
Indurent, a developer and operator of industrial and logistics space across the UK, has leased a 184,000 sq ft Grade A unit in Wellingborough to global engineering firm CTDI. The 10-year lease at unit W184 means Indurent Park Wellingborough is now fully occupied.
CTDI delivers technical engineering, network infrastructure and supply chain solutions to some of the world’s largest tech and telecoms businesses, and employs over 20,000 people globally.
The unit provides 184,000 sq ft of flexible warehousing alongside operationally net zero office space. It includes over 180 HGV and car parking spaces, 32 of which are equipped with EV ports. The unit has achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’ accreditation and is EPC A+ rated.
Its rooftop PV panels have the capacity to deliver significant energy cost savings estimated by Indurent to be up to £163,000 per year, with smart LED lighting also delivering a 75% reduction in energy consumption versus standard lighting.
Indurent Park Wellingborough is part of the £1 billion Stanton Cross development, which will deliver 3,650 new homes alongside community facilities and a range of employment spaces.
Ben Silcock, Senior Development Manager at Indurent, said: “We have delivered a significant volume of high-quality modern warehousing in the East Midlands, which is one of the UK’s most in-demand industrial and logistics markets owing to its exceptional nationwide transport links and strong regional consumer and worker catchment.
“This commitment from CTDI underlines the appeal of our estate in Wellingborough as a base for high-tech businesses seeking to expand their presence in the UK.”
Matthew Bull, Vice President Broadband & UK Mobility Division at CTDI, added: “We are excited to open our newest facility in Europe in Wellingborough and bring exciting jobs with great technical innovations to the local people.
“This facility is beautiful and we are creating a great place for people to work and the facility itself ties in nicely with our sustainable goals. We are looking forward to growing locally over the coming years.”
CTDI’s lease was completed within just six weeks of the agreement being reached and entering into legals, with Louch Shacklock acting as agent.
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Matt Clutterham, Head of Brand Transformation at Q Branch Consulting.
The business world is noisier than ever. Markets are crowded, competition is relentless, and customers are inundated with options.
In 2025, one thing is certain: businesses that fail to stand out will be left behind.
It’s no longer enough to offer a great product or service. Being “good” won’t save you. Being “different” will.
Distinct brands thrive because they claim a clear, undeniable position in the minds of their audience. They understand their customers deeply, articulate their value boldly, and stand apart from the sea of sameness.
So, how can businesses become distinct?
Know Who You’re For: You can’t be everything to everyone. The most distinct brands focus on a specific audience and speak directly to their needs, desires, and values.
Own Your Difference: What sets you apart? It’s not enough to know your unique value—you need to shout it from the rooftops with confidence and consistency.
Craft a Clear Message: Confusion is a killer. If your customers don’t understand why you matter in seconds, they’ll move on. Clarity wins every time.
This is about thriving in a world where attention is currency.
Businesses that play it safe or cling to the status quo will become irrelevant.
In 2025 the brands that succeed will be the ones bold enough to stand out, step up, and be remembered.
Find a way to become distinct—or face extinction.
“Grave concerns” about the impact of the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) have again been raised by Blaby District Council.
Councillor Terry Richardson, Council Leader, and Councillor Ben Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Planning, outline issues in a new letter to government.
Both have written to Heidi Alexander MP, following her recent appointment as Secretary of State for Transport. They call for an early decision to reject the plans.
The 662-acre HNRFI scheme from developers Tritax Symmetry is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
It features a rail hub and 850,000 sq m of warehousing on countryside southwest of Elmesthorpe. The area lies between the M69 and Leicester to Birmingham train line.
It is due to be decided by Ms Alexander following a lengthy review by the Planning Inspectorate.
Last September, her predecessor, Louise Haigh MP, said she was ‘minded to refuse’ the scheme. However, she gave Tritax more time to submit evidence in support of their application.
With those documents received, interested parties have until February 7 to make further comments.
The letter highlights various negative impacts, most notably on the overloaded surrounding motorway network. It says the scheme could stifle, not encourage economic growth.
Ms Alexander is urged to “carefully consider the negative social, environmental and economic impacts of the HNRF” and “consider the highways infrastructure mitigation that is required in this part of the region.”
The Councillors say: “We hope that the recommendation provided by the examining authority and the total lack of effort on behalf of the applicant to mitigate the issues raised will lead you to reach the same conclusion as your predecessor.
“This extended wait for a decision is having a material impact on local plan making but more importantly is causing a huge amount of stress to the residents in this area especially those under threat of losing their homes due to compulsory purchase.”
Councillor Ben Taylor said: “We have always said this scheme would destroy vast swathes of countryside and ruin the rural character of our District forever. We have also raised continual concerns about the huge negative effects it would have on our highways and motorways and the lack of measures from Tritax to overcome these.
“As the deadline for the decision on the HNRFI scheme approaches and with a new Secretary of State for Transport in place, we felt we should again express our grave concerns. We hope Ms Alexander takes these on board and agrees with the previous position that the scheme should be rejected.”
A decision is due on the HNRFI by 10 March.
Over £180,000 has been awarded to businesses in Melton, allowing them to flourish.
These grants formed part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) received as part of the UK Government initiative to enhance opportunities within communities.
Leader of the Council Cllr Pip Allnatt said: “The Council remains committed to supporting local endeavours and is eager to see the positive impacts these grants will bring.
“With a strong focus on collaboration and sustainability, the residents within the borough continue to pave the way for a vibrant and thriving community and these grants highlight a small number of these initiatives within the area.”
In this round, 29 business grant applications were successful, amounting to a total of £180,114. There were 55 applications submitted, and if all had been approved, the funding required would have reached over £324,000.
The business grants support pre-start, start-up and established businesses with growth aspirations and were awarded borough wide. Projects are supporting the retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and creative industries, amongst others.
A multitude of successful businesses have received funding from the council including £9,500 for a new construction company which is creating an online learning platform, providing training and support for small businesses in the construction industry.
In addition, a new town centre pub will receive £7,500 to buy kitchen equipment, creating several job opportunities and will potentially attract more visitors to the area. The scheme has also awarded £9,547 to enable a well-established company to build the first Tier 3 Data Centre in Melton Mowbray. This facility will enhance the local business environment and support technological growth in the community.
Property and planning law firm and strategic planning advisors Devello Group is celebrating a year in business, opening its 100th matter, and having a strong pipeline for 2025.
Set up by friends and former colleagues Shruti Trivedi and Iain Hibbert, Devello Group was founded on the principle of building trusted partnerships with clients, without the traditional legal hourly billing model.
This unique approach has underpinned Devello’s operations and managing director Shruti and CEO Iain believe it’s played a key part in the firm’s organic and sustained growth over the last 12 months.
With offices in Nottingham and Lincoln, Devello Group has grown to a team of five with the hires of a paralegal and a solicitor apprentice, joining the firm in Q3 and Q4 of last year. The company has further plans to expand its team with at least three new hires this year.
As well as growing their team and portfolio, the co-founders are committed to supporting good causes in the communities it operates in. Since the company’s inception, Shruti has become a Trustee of Base 51, a charity that works with young people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to build life skills, healthy relationships and resilience, to prepare them for adulthood.
Shruti said: “Reaching this milestone is really fantastic and testament to the work of our team. A huge thank you to our clients who choose to work with us in what we call a holistic business partnership.
“The last 12 months have been incredible – with our focus on creating a business that puts client experience and team culture first. Having previously been in traditional law companies, Iain and I particularly wanted to support those who need flexibility in the workplace such as working parents and carers, as well as investing in young people, as we have with our apprentice.
“Our focus for the next 12 months and beyond is to help our clients navigate projects, nurture our team as they develop as young professionals, and to support Base 51 and other good local causes who make a real difference in the community.”
Iain said: “At Devello’s core is a new kind of legal practice, with our ethos to put the client first through accessibility, responsiveness and diligence, and our cost structure is flexible to suit the needs of the client and the project. This formula has served us well and with Shruti’s and my combined 40-plus years in property and planning law, our services are in demand.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the business community in the East Midlands who have shown great support for us, it really has been wonderful and it’s an exciting time for us as a new company – having such a strong start and with ambitious plans for 2025.
“We are committed to providing the best possible service and supporting the business community that has supported us – by helping good causes and speaking at industry events to share our knowledge.”
Government announcements that applications for solar farms at Heckington Fen and West Burton have been granted consent are another slap in the face for Lincolnshire, according to a county councillor.
Colin Davie, executive councillor for environment, economy and planning at Lincolnshire County Council, says adding two more giant solar farms to Lincolnshire’s countryside in the face of strong local opposition shows that the government has not listened to residents.
He said: “These two developments add more than 1,000 hectares of solar parks to the county, bringing the total land now allocated for five approved developments to around 3,500 hectares. A further 6,400 hectares are also being proposed in Lincolnshire.
“Trashing the countryside and putting ginormous industrial developments on agricultural land has understandably caused much local outrage. On top of this, I have no confidence that these schemes help in any way to delivering the affordable energy that we need.
“Quite frankly these decisions are another slap in the face for Lincolnshire, and the government must start considering the cumulative impacts of all these proposals in our county.
“In our recent survey, residents have told us that they are very concerned about the impacts that so many Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects will have on Lincolnshire, and the effects on our nature, landscape and communities.
“They also told us that they – like us – consider rooftops and brownfield sites being the most appropriate places to install solar panels. We must stop the industrialisation of the Lincolnshire countryside.”
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, and East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, visited Wavensmere Homes’ Nightingale Quarter in Derby city centre to address the blockers to new homes delivery and discuss how the regeneration of vacant brownfield land can be accelerated.
The £175m development is in the final construction phase for 925 houses and apartments, together with a range of community amenities.
Situated off London Road, the 18.5-acre site – which had lain derelict for a decade prior to Wavensmere Homes’ acquisition and start on site in 2019 – is one of the most significant residential regeneration projects under construction in the UK.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: “House building is a huge priority for this government. Not only is building more homes vital to our mission to achieve greater economic growth, but it is also a vital component in our ambitions to improve living standards.
“It was wonderful to meet everyone involved in the process of getting residents into new homes and understand the pressures and policies that are impacting social landlords, local government and residents. The insights I gathered will be integral going forward as I undertake the Spending Review across Government.”
Claire Ward, East Midlands Mayor, said: “It is my priority to help create more beautiful mixed-tenure homes in places with excellent employment opportunities like Derby. People should be able to afford to live close to their place of work.
“Wavensmere Homes has four live regeneration projects in Derbyshire alone, which are delivering close to 1,500 homes – each of those is an opportunity for the people of the East Midlands to live a great life in a good job.
“Through knowledge-sharing and working hand in hand with the Treasury and Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government, we will get Britain building again.”
The Derbyshire Royal Infirmary opened in 1894 and closed 15 years ago. While the vast majority of the Florence Nightingale-designed Victorian hospital had been bulldozed, Wavensmere Homes pledged to save and restore the imposing pepperpots, despite one of the buildings being previously consented for demolition.
Pepperpot South opened as the marketing suite for the 925 houses and apartments in 2021. With 95% of the homes now sold, the building has been re-purposed as a gym for residents’ use. The second (North) Pepperpot became The Fulton Partnership’s sixth hospitality venue in the Midlands when it opened in February 2024.
James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “When we acquired this vacant site in 2019, we set out to design a landmark scheme that embraced the DE1 location and didn’t turn its back on the city centre.
“We are proud that our 925 apartments and houses have transformed the city living market, acting as the catalyst for thousands more homes to be delivered within central Derby.
“By installing new footpaths, cycle routes, roads, co-working space, a gym – and making a restaurant Nightingale Quarter’s new focal point – this redundant hospital site is once again a vibrant community asset.
“As we currently have over 3,500 plots under construction, or in planning across middle England, we look forward to continuing to assist the government and regional mayors with fresh insight into how much-needed residential regeneration could be accelerated.”
Iconic Northamptonshire shoe brand Dr. Martens has seen a mixed performance around the world in its third quarter whilst making “good progress” in “turning around” its USA performance.
According to a trading statement for the Christmas period, covering the 13 weeks ended 29 December 2024, third quarter group revenue was up 3% (at constant currency) to £267m, with direct to consumer (DTC) revenue up 1% CC.
By channel, the DTC performance was the result of ecommerce revenue growing by 2% CC and retail revenue declining by 1% CC. Wholesale revenue, meanwhile, grew by 9% CC, against a weak comparative. The wholesale performance by region was in line with expectations, with EMEA and APAC up year-on-year and Americas wholesale down single-digit CC.
One of Dr. Martens’ key objectives this year is to return Americas DTC revenue to positive growth in the second half. The business is on track, with Americas DTC revenue up 4% CC.
EMEA DTC revenue, however, declined by 5% CC year-on-year, which the firm said was “impacted by the deep promotional nature of several markets, especially in December, when we maintained our discipline and only participated in promotional activity in line with our discounting strategy.“
APAC DTC was up 17% CC driven by ecommerce. The company’s largest market in the region, Japan, continued to deliver good growth.
Year to date group revenue, conversely, declined 9% to £599m CC.
Ije Nwokorie, Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am excited to be CEO of Dr. Martens. The global relevance of our iconic brand, the strength of our product line and the passionate commitment of our team give me great confidence for FY25 and beyond.
“Our Q3 trading was as expected and our outlook for FY25 remains unchanged. We have made good progress against our objective of turning around our USA performance, with USA DTC in positive growth in Q3.
“We continue to actively manage our costs and are on track to meet our inventory reduction target for FY25. The team and I are squarely focused on returning the business to sustainable and profitable growth.”
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Jonathan Heath, director of project managers and building surveyors Armsons Barlow.
The East Midlands economy is expected to continue its recovery in 2025, boosted by growth in key industries such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, and green energy.
Regional infrastructure projects like the East Midlands Freeport and ongoing HS2 developments are set to bring investment and create opportunities across the supply chain. However, challenges such as labour shortages and energy costs will require businesses to adopt innovative approaches to remain competitive.
Inflation is likely to stabilize at around 2.5%, but its effects will continue to weigh on businesses and households. While interest rates may decrease slightly, forecast changes to Stamp Duty on 1st April 2025 will also impact the housing market, both of which will pose challenges for homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers.
We anticipate continued growth in key sectors of the construction industry, with warehousing and logistics hubs maintaining strong demand due to on-going e-commerce expansion. This is particularly relevant in the East Midlands, a central hub for national logistics.
There is also likely to be sustained interest in the flex office sector as hybrid working models continue to grow in popularity.
Housing pressures will drive continued development in the Private Rental Sector (PRS) and Built-to-Rent (BTR) markets, while public sector projects in education and healthcare are expected to grow following increased government funding commitments.
Town centre regeneration will remain a critical focus. With numerous empty retail units, it’s imperative we explore creative solutions to breathe life into these spaces. A more flexible planning policy is essential to repurpose buildings into mixed-use developments, such as residential, office or leisure facilities to avoid the long-term decline of our town centres.
Nationally, we expect construction inflation to stabilise, although high borrowing costs may constrain new private developments.
The emphasis on sustainability will continue to shape the sector, with stricter carbon targets and the increasing adoption of energy-efficient building methods, such as modern methods of construction (MMC) and retrofitting.
While economic growth may remain modest, the East Midlands is well-positioned to capitalise on its strengths, offering opportunities for businesses that adapt to emerging trends and challenges.
Armsons Barlow will continue to play a pivotal role in delivering cost-effective, future-proof solutions for these evolving market needs.
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Matthew Hayes, Managing Director at Champions (UK) plc.
Business confidence has taken a downturn in recent months, with growth expectations turning negative for the first time in 2024. The OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) said British inflation was likely to average 2.7% in 2025 – higher than in any other G7 country.
The landscape for business is likely to get harder before it improves. The Government and The Bank of England seem to be set on challenging, rather than supporting entrepreneurial opportunity creators.
The marketing landscape will evolve in 2025. With the continued growth of AI, technology will play a greater role in marketing. AI is a powerful tool and enables businesses to go bigger, faster and stronger quickly BUT it is not a silver bullet. The key is, and always has been, having the basics in place. This includes ensuring frequency and consistency of customer messaging and also brands being able to differentiate their offering through a multichannel approach. The more that technology influences marketing, the more people will crave genuine human experiences. This provides a challenge for marketing managers as to how they can embed these new tools into their marketing plans.
In social media there will be a move away from controversial social media platforms like X. Increasingly, social media channels will grow in impact beyond just channels for engagement and brand awareness, into revenue-driving performance channels.
Entrepreneurs are used to overcoming adversity and turning challenges into opportunities. In times of uncertainty, the key is to go left when everyone else goes right. Double down on sales & marketing activity rather than cut back. When competition is reduced, you get a greater share of voice for your money. Spend and grow while the rest are just ‘surviving’, so when the market bounces back, your brand has greater market share.
Island Green Power’s West Burton Solar Project has received the go-ahead from Secretary of State Ed Milliband.
The West Burton Solar Project will provide solar and energy storage in several land parcels in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, approximately 7.4km to the south and up to 14.6km southeast of Gainsborough in the local authority of West Lindsey District Council.
This Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) will provide three electricity generating stations, each with anticipated capacity in excess of 50MW, comprising ground mounted solar arrays, with associated development comprising energy storage, grid connection infrastructure and other infrastructure integral to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the NSIPs.
On completion the project is set to supply up to 480 MW of clean electricity to the National Grid. That’s equivalent to the energy needed to power around 144,000 homes and replace around 24% of the capacity of the coal powered West Burton Power Station.
Tara Chopra, Technical Director (EIA and Major Infrastructure) at Lanpro, who supplied planning, EIA and environmental expertise, said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the Secretary of State’s announcement today for West Burton, which marks the successful conclusion of three years of dedicated work by Lanpro for Island Green Power.
“This decision enables the project to deliver affordable, clean energy to hundreds of thousands of households across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. It plays a vital role in advancing the nation’s Net Zero goals.
“Again, this is a strong reflection of the current government’s commitment to renewable energy, and we are optimistic that it will lead to more favourable outcomes for our clients in the renewable sector.”
In preparing the planning application, Lanpro worked alongside Pinsent Masons (legal advisor), Dalcour Maclaren (land referencing) and Counter Context (communications).
Businesses in Charnwood are being offered free access to a digital platform aimed at helping them become more sustainable.
Charnwood Borough Council has secured 12 two-year subscriptions to sustainability coaching platform Zellar, which sets out to simplify the process of calculating and understanding carbon emissions, enabling businesses to develop tailored decarbonisation plans.
Through the platform, businesses can track their progress, measure their impact, and report on their sustainability initiatives as part of their journey towards ‘net zero’, which means no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Charnwood businesses are being invited to apply for the 12 licences, which will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, and are being funded via the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Councillor Jennifer Tillotson, the Council’s lead member for economic development, regeneration and town centres, said: “This investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting local businesses and driving sustainable growth within Charnwood.
“Zellar provides a user-friendly tool that empowers businesses to take control of their sustainability journey and reduce their environmental impact.”
Gary Styles, founder and CEO of Zellar, added: “We are delighted to welcome Charnwood Borough Council to the Get Zero, Get Zellar programme.
“This partnership demonstrates the Council’s commitment to supporting local businesses and driving sustainable growth.
“We encourage businesses in the region to take advantage of this opportunity to accelerate their decarbonisation journey.”
Plans for a state-of-the-art Leisure Centre and Civic Office in South Derbyshire have taken a major leap forward, with advanced proposals heading to Full Council next month for final approval.
South Derbyshire District Council has spent the past year developing and refining the vision for the project, exploring a range of options and consulting with stakeholders to ensure the final plans meet the needs of the community.
The ‘once-in-a generation’ project will replace two outdated facilities on Civic Way, Swadlincote, with a single energy-efficient, dual-purpose complex at Cadley Park. Designed to serve residents, elected Members and employees, the development looks to enhance public services, improve environmental sustainability, and unlock significant opportunities for local regeneration.
Both the current Civic Offices and Green Bank Leisure Centre are ageing, costly to maintain, and no longer fit-for-purpose. The proposed new facility will replace outdated infrastructure issues, creating a future-proof hub for health, wellbeing, and governance in South Derbyshire whilst contributing significant savings over the life of the new facility.
After a comprehensive options appraisal, Cadley Park was chosen for its size, existing links to the Golf Centre, Country Park, and Urban Park, and its potential to attract future commercial investment. Together with these facilities, the site has substantial potential to become a major destination for visitors, offering even more reasons to explore South Derbyshire.
Cllr Robert Pearson, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, hailed the project as a generational investment: “This is a proud moment for our community. These plans underline our commitment to enhancing services, promoting sustainability, and securing long-term value for residents. With Full Council’s approval, we can move swiftly into delivering this transformational development.”
The project will transform the site of the old leisure centre and civic offices, unlocking a prime town centre gateway that will drive regeneration and growth. Additionally, a new Customer Hub will be established in Swadlincote town centre, providing residents a more accessible and central location to engage with services currently offered through the Civic Offices.
Final approval at the Full Council meeting on 27 February will mark the start of the delivery phase, with work set to begin immediately. During this phase, the Council will continue collaborating with stakeholders, service users, employees, and Members to refine the site’s design and function.
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