Council set to give final go-ahead for landmark new River Trent bridge
Nottingham City Council’s ambitious project to build a new 85 metre long pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent between Trent Basin and Lady Bay has reached a new milestone, with the project expected to receive a final approval from the Council at its Executive Board meeting on 22 October.
Once this approval is given, the project will get a final go-ahead from the Department for Transport before contracts are signed and work can begin in the new year.
The bridge will be the flagship, and final project to come out of the City Council’s Transforming Cities Fund programme, which began in 2020 following a successful bid for over £160 million of central Government funding for projects which encourage inter-city connectivity and lower carbon journeys.
The new traffic-free bridge, the first to be built over the river Trent since Clifton Bridge in the 1950s, and its new and enhanced connecting paths will be a key link between the regenerating Trent Basin area with its new homes and schools, and the south side of the river with its many sports facilities including the City Ground, Trent Bridge, Holme Pierrepont and Nottingham Rugby Club.
By enhancing connections between communities, green spaces and riverside paths, the bridge will make it easier for people living and working in the Nottingham area to travel in a more sustainable way, linking those in communities such as Sneinton and the city centre with green space south of the river.
The new bridge will also help the city towards its Carbon Neutral 2028 ambition as well as improving local air quality and congestion levels by enabling people to get around for work or play without needing a car.
Planning for this ambitious and complex project has been underway since 2019, with many important milestones already achieved including public consultations, detailed design work, land agreements, securing planning permission from the City Council and Rushcliffe Borough Councils, as well as working with the Environment Agency, local residents and other stakeholders to make sure the new bridge works for everyone.
Since the project began, plans have evolved as the design and methods of construction have been refined and this along with other factors outside of the Council’s control, including Covid, the war in Ukraine and periods of high inflation means that the maximum delivery budget for the total project is now £18 million. The final construction costs will be confirmed by December 2024.
Looking ahead, the City Council intends to enter into contracts with the lead delivery partner Balfour Beatty in January with enabling works starting early in 2025.
Then, into the spring and summer, a warehouse used by Flo Skate park will be demolished to make way for the bridge sections to be brought to site and erected before being lifted into place by a gigantic crane during autumn 2025. The new bridge is expected to officially open in early 2026.
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan said: “I’m proud to present this ambitious project to create a new landmark bridge for Nottingham at our Executive Board on 22 October.
“The new bridge will be the first built over the Trent in Nottingham for more than 60 years, creating a vital link between developing new communities and opening up new safer commuter and leisure routes, offering a huge boost to cyclists, pedestrians and runners as well as everyone in our city through improving air quality and congestion.”
Other Transforming Cities-funded projects already completed include the new bus station in Bulwell, the expansion of safe city centre cycle routes and a secure new cycle store at Broad Marsh, the transformation of Collin Street into a new area of public realm and playground and the newly opened Green Heart area.
Progress continues on multi-million-pound refurb to create Chesterfield cultural venue
The multi-million pound refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall – which will create a cultural venue in the heart of Chesterfield town centre – is progressing at pace.
Representatives from Chesterfield Borough Council were provided with a behind-the-scenes tour to review progress and see how work to transform the building has been progressing.
Midlands construction firm, G F Tomlinson, took control of the site last year and has been working to achieve the ambitious plans which include creating a single entrance to both facilities, an expanded theatre, a reconfigured museum, community spaces and a new café bar.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The building has changed dramatically since December 2023 and the work so far is starting to show how this building will feel when it is completed.
“I’m excited to welcome residents and visitors back to this venue once it is completed and think it will be a truly spectacular experience that we can all be proud of.
“This is an ambitious project for our borough and there is a lot of hard work still to do, but it will create a truly unique building where residents and visitors can experience culture and learn about the history of our borough.”
Adrian Grocock, Group Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re pleased with how works are progressing for the delivery of the multi-million-pound sensitive refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Stephenson Memorial Hall and you can really see the pivotal stages taking place to breathe new life into the Corporation Street site.
“Once complete, the landmark state-of-the-art facility in the town centre will be revitalised with its expanded theatre, reconfigured museum and improved community spaces, bringing many new opportunities to the local vicinity for arts and entertainment.”
In the auditorium the changes are significant – the circle has been stripped back, with the decorative panelling being safely stored ready to be reinstalled once the project is complete, and new steelwork brought into the building ready to build an enlarged seating area.
Cut outs have also been made in the walls to create a new access point to the circle from the upper floor of the new café bar. New entrances to the auditorium on the ground floor have been created and a new concrete slab has been laid on the auditorium floor which will allow for the installation of a new air conditioning system that provides heating and cooling for theatre guests.
A new accessible lift shaft has been built that will ensure all guests can access every floor of the building including the circle which will include new accessible seating and the basement where a Changing Places toilet will be created.
On the Corporation Street side, part of the roof has been removed ready for a new Link Gallery to be installed. This will house rooms that can be used for events, school trips, and community activities, and as extra space during performance intervals.
As well as upgrading the facilities, much of the work is also about improving the fabric of the historic building to protect it for generations to come, and ensure it is more energy efficient.
This has included improvements to the roof, where the existing roof tiles have been lifted, and upgrades to the structure, lining and insulation have been installed to help improve the thermal efficiency of the building and ensure the roof is watertight for many years to come.
Works have also included the cleaning of external brickwork and some re-pointing to restore the building its original splendour.
On Station Back Lane a new extension is being built which will house dressing rooms and a new backstage area to provide performers with modern accessible facilities. A new foundation has been laid and the blockwork in this area is progressing well.
In Autumn 2021 Chesterfield Borough Council received almost £20 million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund.
A portion is being used to improve connections across the town centre and create attractive public spaces to support a range of events and markets. Work began on the Market Place earlier this year.
Around £11 million of the Levelling Up Fund grant funding will be used to fund the renovation and remodelling of Stephenson Memorial Hall.
The project received a further funding boost with £695,000 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme which will be used to install a ventilation system in the auditorium and create a new Changing Places toilet.
AxFlow UK acquires Moody Direct
AxFlow UK, a fluid handling solutions firm, has acquired Moody Direct, a long-established supplier of solutions and services to the dairy, food & beverage, brewery, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors headquartered in Retford.
Shorts’ Corporate Finance team were lead advisers to Moody Direct and Wake Smith Solicitors provided legal advice to the sellers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Moody to the AxFlow family,” said Neil Langdown, Managing Director of AxFlow UK. “Their expertise in hygienic sales & servicing and reputation for best-in-class customer service will strengthen AxFlow’s existing position in the UK.
“Moreover, this will enhance our onsite service capability and enable us to offer our customers a comprehensive service offering for homogenisers, separators and plate heat exchangers.”
“Moody’s success has been built on technical expertise and a commitment to customer satisfaction,” noted Ken Wild, Director of Moody. “Joining forces with AxFlow UK not only strengthens our ability to serve customers in our core segments of F&B and Dairy but also opens up new avenues for growth, particularly in the processing industries.”
Andy Ryder of Shorts said: “We are delighted to have successfully concluded this transaction on behalf of the owners of Moody Direct, Ken and David.
“It has been a pleasure for our team of myself, Adam Ames, Brian Gooch and Ahad Choudry to work with them on this international deal and we look forward to hearing of the continued success of this great business as it becomes part of the Swedish owned Axel Johnson AB Group, giving it access to further fantastic opportunities ”
Rebecca Robinson of Wake Smith said: “It was a privilege to act on this transaction. Wake Smith has acted for the Moody group for over 20 years, so it was a real pleasure to be able to assist the shareholders in achieving a successful exit after all their years of hard work and dedication to the business.”
Gateley RJA appoints new technical director in Nottingham
Gateley RJA, the specialist quantity surveying, employer’s agent, project management and clerk of works arm of professional services group, Gateley, has strengthened its residential team with the appointment of Chris Tutin as a technical director in Nottingham.
Chartered quantity surveyor, Tutin, joins from Diafora and brings more than 20 years of experience spanning the construction sector.
This includes ten years specialising in the affordable housing sector both as a contractor, as well as working in-house for housebuilders and developers on residential schemes such as joint ventures with local authorities.
In his role at Gateley RJA, Tutin will be responsible for growing and developing the residential team and its offering in Nottingham, as the consultancy continues to increase its number of affordable and social housing sector projects across the region.
Tutin is also a RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) counsellor and East Midlands board member, as well as a Chartered Institute of Building mentor. He will contribute to Gateley RJA’s internal APC programme to support team members with the chartership process.
On his appointment, Tutin said: “I’ve known and worked with Gateley RJA for many years through previous schemes where they were appointed as the employer’s agent, so I know the directors well and our values and work ethic are very much aligned.
“Gateley RJA has seen tremendous success over the past few years, and I was ready for a new challenge, so joining the consultancy in a new technical director role was the perfect opportunity.”
Hardeep Kooner, director of residential at Gateley RJA, said: “We have secured several significant instruction wins over the past few years which has seen us expand our residential team.
“In line with our growth strategy, it was the right time to bring in a senior appointment to help with developing our people and offering in Nottingham to continue this trajectory.
“Chris has worked both in-house as well as a contractor and so has an enhanced understanding of what our clients need to enable us to work seamlessly as an extension of their team. I’m really looking forward to seeing how he settles in at what is a really exciting time for us.”
Nottingham garden care product manufacturer receives King’s Award for International Trade
Nottingham-based garden care product manufacturer Doff Portland is celebrating after being awarded the King’s Award for International Trade.
Regarded as one of the highest honours in business, the King’s Awards recognise the outstanding achievements by UK companies and are valid for five years.
Doff Portland received the International Trade accolade for “the sale of environmentally responsible horticultural products to European hobby gardeners, and the agricultural sector.”
The award was officially presented during a ceremony held at Doff Portland’s Nottingham headquarters by Lord-Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire Professor Veronica Pickering and Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire Mark Goldby.
Established in 1946, Doff Portland manufactures a number of leading brands and private label products for major retailers in the UK and EU. These brands include Doff, Portland Garden, Power Up and Green Fingers.
Commenting on the award, Ben Sharpio, CEO at Doff Portland, said: “It is fantastic to be recognised with the King’s Awards for International Trade for our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality garden care products across the European market.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of our team, so I thank them all and look forward to working with them to further deliver for our customers both in the UK and Europe.”
Doff Portland was acquired by global pest control manufacturer and supplier Pelsis Group in August this year.
Alex Ashmore, CEO at Pelsis Group, added: “This King’s Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team at Doff Portland to support its customers. I congratulate all those involved in being awarded this highly impressive accolade.
“It is fantastic to have Doff Portland as part of our retail portfolio and I look forward to supporting them to enable further growth in its international trade.”
Local businesses raise £9,950 for PASIC at Rushcliffe Golf Course
Members of the East Midlands business community gathered last month for the annual CAPs (Construction and Property Sector) Golf Day, held at Rushcliffe Golf Course, to raise an impressive £9,950 in support of PASIC.
The event, sponsored by Gleeds, Hexa Consulting, Wilmott Dixon, Influence Planning & Design and Sytner BMW, saw participation from 22 teams comprising property and business professionals, each raising funds through team entries, player pledges, beat the trickster and a raffle.
Stand sponsors Blueprint Interiors, 200 Degrees Coffee and pop-up bar establishment, Rum-ba, provided additional support and hospitality throughout the event.
After a day of friendly competition, guests were treated to an evening BBQ followed by an awards presentation and raffle, with prizes generously donated by sponsors and local businesses.
The winning team of the tournament was BSP Consulting, whose skills on the course earned them the top spot of the day. Other prizes were given for longest drives, nearest the pin and beat the pro competitions.
Beneficiary, PASIC, is a Nottingham-based charity that provides vital emotional, social, and practical support to families of children and young people diagnosed with cancer across the East Midlands.
Since 1977, PASIC has been offering services such as emergency financial assistance, social outings, and peer support groups, helping families navigate the immense challenges of childhood cancer.
The charity works closely with hospitals like Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre and Leicester Royal Infirmary, making a significant difference to the lives of children undergoing treatment, and their families.
Beth Mills, a Fundraiser at PASIC, said of the day: “We are incredibly grateful for the generous support shown at this year’s CAPS Golf Day. Events like this are vital in ensuring we can continue our work with families across the East Midlands, offering a lifeline during some of the most difficult times in their lives.”
David Ford, Director at Gleeds, said: “It’s always inspiring to see the property and construction community come together for such a worthy cause. The generosity shown by everyone at this year’s Golf Day was incredible, and raising £9,950 for PASIC will have a real impact on the families they support.
“A huge thank you to our sponsors, players, and everyone involved in making the day such a success.”
CAPS anticipates a robust calendar of events in 2025, with the next Golf Day already scheduled for 18th September, at Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club.
Frasers pitches revised offer for Mulberry following rejected bid
Following the rejection of Frasers Group’s bid for Mulberry Group, it has submitted a revised offer for the portion of the business it does not currently own.
Frasers is a significant minority shareholder, owning approximately 37% of the issued share capital of the fashion brand. Frasers’ initial offer (in which Mulberry shareholders would have been entitled to receive 130 pence in cash for each Mulberry share) followed Mulberry announcing a proposed subscription for 10,000,000 new ordinary shares in the capital of the company by Challice Ltd (the company’s majority shareholder), at a price of £1 per share, and a separate offer to existing shareholders of the company of up to 750,000 new ordinary shares at the subscription price.Following the rejection of Frasers’ proposal, the business has said it is “unclear to Frasers how…the Board of Mulberry could have concluded that the Subscription Price was appropriate before, days later, rejecting [its] Initial Proposal (at a price 30% higher).”
Frasers further shared “significant reservations” that the £10 million raised under the subscription will be enough to support the business through the near to medium term. Frasers also pushed back against Mulberry’s statement that its offer did not recognise the “substantial future potential value of Mulberry,” noting: “Frasers is clear that there is no current commercial plan, turnaround or otherwise.” It added: “Despite…Mulberry’s catastrophic results, its necessity for emergency funding and difficult market backdrop, Frasers strongly believes it can provide the appropriate insulation and investment to support a much-loved British brand. As part of the Frasers portfolio, the Mulberry brand would be provided with the platform to ensure its long-term survival and success.” Under the new offer by Frasers, Mulberry Shareholders would be entitled to receive 150 pence in cash for each Mulberry Share. This implies a valuation of approximately £111 million for the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital of Mulberry, or approximately £72 million for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Mulberry that Frasers does not own. It marks a premium of 50 per cent to the subscription price of £1.00 per share.Challice Limited, the company’s 56.4 per cent majority shareholder, however, has been quick to state publicly that it “has no interest in either selling its Mulberry Shares to Frasers or providing Frasers with any irrevocable or other undertaking.”
Commuters in Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to get discounts
Commuters in Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who purchase annual bus and tram passes through their employers will soon benefit from a discount thanks to the county and city councils.
Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council are working in partnership to bring the offer to employers, which has been funded through the Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs).
As part of the scheme, employers will be able to offer staff a 20% discount on the cost of annual commuter bus and tram passes.
In Greater Nottingham, annual passes sold to employers by all the local bus operators, including the Robin Hood 12-month season card will be discounted from 1 November 2024.
In Nottinghamshire, Stagecoach East Midlands and trentbarton will also be offering discounts on their products, purchased through employers.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are once again working in partnership with the city council through our Bus Service Improvement Plans to bring about valuable bus travel offers to passengers.
“As more people return to offices for work, we’re offering a discount on annual bus and tram season tickets purchased through employers to give an extra boost to encourage passengers to travel by bus.
“The discount will apply to passes purchased between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.
“We continue to work closely with transport operators across Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to offer ticketing initiatives and improvements to passengers and look forward to hearing about the success of this scheme for employers and employees alike.”
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan, said: “We want to get as many people as possible out of their cars and onto public transport – and so I hope lots of local people will take up this offer, saving them 20% on the cost of their annual bus pass, including the Robin Hood 12-month season card, which is a great option for people who need to travel on the tram and bus frequently.
“I’m proud to see Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council once again working in partnership to bring great value public transport to residents across the county.”
Nissan collaborates with University of Nottingham for electric vehicle charging breakthrough
Nissan has announced the launch of affordable on-board bi-directional charging on selected electric vehicles from 2026, following a successful collaboration with the University of Nottingham.
The initiative forms a key step towards its vision of creating a sustainable energy ecosystem.
The Vehicle to Grid (V2G), or Vehicle to Everything (V2X) technology, which allows EV (electric vehicle) owners to use electricity stored in their car’s battery to power their homes, or sell it back into the grid, will launch in the UK initially, followed by other markets in Europe.
The project progresses the commitment made in Nissan’s business plan, delivering differentiated innovation that enables the EV transition, while unlocking new revenue streams. It also supports the company’s long-term vision, Ambition 2030, to create a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world.
The project is underpinned by Nissan’s extensive experience in V2G, with around 40 pilot projects conducted worldwide throughout the past decade.
Following a successful year-long project at the University of Nottingham, Nissan has become the first car company to gain G99 Grid code certification with an AC-based solution, needed to supply electricity into the UK national energy supply.
The University of Nottingham has hosted Nissan on campus for the past year to allow them to run their testing and space to experiment. Staff with significant research experience in V2G have supported the project, and its integration within energy systems.
The University of Nottingham was also pivotal in the trial, providing a base of operations at its on-campus Creative Energy Homes, a 8-home micro-grid research test bed, and supporting academic research.
Under the banner of Nissan Energy, the company’s aim is to roll-out V2G technology across markets in Europe and beyond, empowering consumers with either AC or DC-based V2G solutions, in alignment with local infrastructure and regulatory requirements.
By using Nissan’s on-board bi-directional V2G technology, customers can cut the annual cost of powering an EV by 50%. The same technology can also reduce net CO2 emissions from charging by 30% per year, per EV for the average UK household.
EVs equipped with V2G technology can play a crucial role in integrating and increasing the mix of renewables into the energy supply, by storing electricity generated by wind or solar, and directing it back into the grid when needed, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Professor Lucelia Rodrigues, Chair in Sustainable and Resilient Cities at the University of Nottingham, said: “I’m delighted that our collaboration with Nissan has enabled such a significant breakthrough that will transform the future of electric mobility and contribute to more efficient and resilient energy systems.”
She continued: “This is a great step forward in the sector and will hopefully be the start of seeing such developments across other companies and countries as we move towards cleaner methods of energy and transport.”
Hugues Desmarchelier, Nissan Vice President, Global Electrification Ecosystem & EV Programs, said: “The technology we are bringing to customers is a potential game-changer for how we view the car.
“Not just as a means of getting from A to B, but as a mobile energy storage unit, capable of saving people money, supporting the transition of our energy systems away from fossil fuels and bringing us closer to a carbon-free future.
“Nissan is proud to democratise technology for the benefit of society. The breakthrough in an on-board solution for two-way charging will be a substantial reduction in the cost of integrating a future EV into your energy supply, and the ability to leverage the car as a source of income over its lifecycle.”
Nissan is continuing to work with the university, and other partners, to achieve the necessary grid certification in other markets, develop a seamless user experience and expand the technology availability to more customers.
Chairperson of Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania region, Guillaume Cartier, said: “One of the big challenges faced by society today is energy supply – how do we make it affordable, reliable and clean.
“At Nissan, we see a future for our customers where their energy comes from the car on the driveway – not only the power station – fully integrated, flexible and cleaner.” Final phase completes at Beauchamp Business Park
Practical completion has been achieved on Phase Two of Beauchamp Business Park, a new commercial development in Kibworth, Leicestershire.
The development has been delivered by Clowes Developments and its team including IMA Architects, TanRo, Millward Consulting Engineers, Gateley Legal and Postins Project Services. Phillips Sutton and TDB Real Estate have been the agents marketing the scheme.
Beauchamp Business Park is situated on a 15-acre site located on the outskirts of Kibworth between Leicester and Market Harborough on the A6. The site features a series of freehold and leasehold industrial units ranging from 1,270 sq ft to 16,272 sq ft.
Phase One, which completed back in July, saw over 80% sold before completion. This boosted Clowes’ decision to begin Phase Two.
Kevin Webster, Associate Director at Clowes Developments, said: “We are delighted to have achieved Practical Completion on Phase Two at Beauchamp Business Park.
“Phase One has proven to be a great success with occupiers and investors and with deals already agreed for several of the units in Phase Two we are certain that popularity will continue. I now look forward to seeing it fully operational and a thriving business park over the coming months.”
Clowes Developments retained agents TDB Real Estate and Phillips Sutton for Phase Two of the scheme.
Sam Sutton, Director at Phillips Sutton, said: “We are thrilled with the success of Phase One at Beauchamp Business Park, with 100% take up. As we move into Phase Two, we are excited to see continued interest, with several units already under offer.
“This growth not only highlights the strategic importance of our location, but the demand for good quality freehold units in Leicestershire.”
Jack Brown, Associate Director at TDB Real Estate, added: “It is fantastic news that we have now reached Practical Completion of Phase Two of Beauchamp Business Park.
“With Phase One being so popular with both local businesses and investors we anticipate Phase Two will continue this trend. The Units all look fantastic, and present really well in a market which has a shortage of good quality stock.”
Phase Two has seen the creation of two additional terraces and a semi-detached unit to be used for B1 and B2 use class, ranging in sizes from 2,271 sq ft to 16,272 sq ft.
Armsons Barlow and Jackson Purdue Lever support Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance with Harvest Festival Food Drive
Derby-based project managers, construction cost consultants, and building surveyors, Armsons Barlow have teamed up with engineering consultancy Jackson Purdue Lever to organise a Harvest Festival Food Drive in support of the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4T).
The initiative is part of Armsons Barlow’s on-going commitment to the organisation, which they selected as their annual charity earlier this year.
Over the past few weeks, both companies have been collecting essential non-perishable food items for DF4T, which has been a crucial lifeline for those facing food insecurity in the Derby community.
The items have been collected from the local business community as well as other companies in the construction industry from further afield with donations including cereal, tinned soup, rice, pasta, biscuits, tinned fruit, tea, coffee and biscuits.
Originally established as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance has since become a longer-term solution to addressing the root causes of deprivation and poverty in the area.
The charity now supports people in Derby who are experiencing food insecurity, through food provision, signposting, support, and advice. To date, more than 241,868 items have been distributed via the charity’s central storage unit on Ascot Drive in the city.
In May of this year, Armsons Barlow raised £2,700 for the charity at their annual golf day at Kedleston Park Golf Club.
Commenting on the food drive, Josh Toon, Director of Armsons Barlow, said: “Our partnership with Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance is incredibly important to us, and we’ve seen firsthand the difference they make in addressing food insecurity in the city.
“Thanks to Jackson Purdue Lever for joining us on the initiative and all the businesses and individuals who have supported our Harvest Festival Food Drive. We look forward to planning more events in the coming months to support DF4T as well as other local charities.”
Andrew Purdue, Director of Jackson Purdue Lever, added: “DF4T has done fantastic work over the past four years to help tackle food poverty in Derby, and our food drive with Armsons Barlow has been a great way for us to show our support.
“We are proud to support DF4T’s mission and would encourage the business community and the general public to come donate whatever they can to support the charity.”
Paul Brookhouse, Senior Manager at Derby Food 4 Thought, added: “We currently support with around 1800-2000 food parcels a month and spend around £8,000 to £10,000 a month on food to keep our partner food providers stocked up, so donations are needed just as much now as when we launched the charity at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
“Thanks to Armsons Barlow and Jackson Purdue Lever for their support of DF4T, which enables us to continue providing essential support to those people across the city who need it most.”
Bakery ‘Hungary’ for success lets Burton premises
Rushton Hickman has let 335 Uxbridge Street in Burton to Sweet Hungarian Kiss Ltd, a bakery offering authentic Hungarian cakes and a variety of baked goods.
The ground floor premises are situated in a popular secondary location, close to its junction with New Street. The property benefits from convenient on-street parking and a welcoming sales area alongside useful storage, providing Sweet Hungarian Kiss Ltd with both functionality and charm.
Eva and her business partner began as a home-based venture, initially supplying cakes to local shops around Burton. Thanks to positive feedback and growing demand for their offerings, the bakery has rapidly expanded its product line to include celebration cakes, solidifying their position in the local market.
Eva expressed her enthusiasm about the new premises, saying: “We began our search for a location to expand our business and that’s how we discovered Rushton Hickman and 335 Uxbridge Street. The moment we stepped inside, we knew it was a perfect fit for us.”
Stephanie O’Leary, the agent who facilitated the letting, said: “We are pleased to have been able to help Eva secure her first premises. It has been a pleasure working with her and we believe that the location on Uxbridge Street complements her business really well.”
Vehicle hire company falls into administration
Swadlincote-based PT Hire, which provided HGV truck, lorry and commercial vehicle hire services, as well as maintenance solutions, has entered administration.
It worked with businesses and vehicle operators nationwide on commercial vehicle procurement needs and at the time of administration the company operated a fleet of 450 vehicles.
The company had faced challenging operating conditions following mechanical issues impacting a substantial proportion of its fleet which resulted in cash flow difficulties that ultimately impacted its ability to provide a service solvently.
Richard Bloomfield, Ian Corfield and Nathan Jones of specialist business advisory firm FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of PT Hire on 7 October 2024.
13 employees have been made redundant, with a small number of employees retained to assist the administrators.
Richard Bloomfield, partner at FRP Advisory and joint administrator of PT Hire, said: “Despite being a trusted supplier across the sector for many years, mounting pressures resulted in the business being unable to meet its financial obligations, and regrettably, this has meant ceasing operations.
“We are now focused on supporting the employees affected to file claims with the Redundancy Payments Service.”
Housing development site sold in Ripley
BB&J Commercial has sold a prime residential development site in Ripley, Derbyshire.
Acting on behalf of the landowners, BB&J Commercial facilitated the sale of the 3.10 acre site, which had the benefit of detailed planning consent for up to 34 new dwellings located on Peasehill Road.
The site is situated close to major transport routes like the A38, A610, and M1, making it an attractive option for developers.
The successful buyer was Futures Housing Group, a provider of affordable housing in the region.
Mark Richardson, Partner at BB&J Commercial, said: “This site attracted a lot of interest, which is not uncommon when dealing with land sales. However, as with many land transactions, it required some careful negotiations and perseverance to ensure the deal was successfully completed.
“We are particularly pleased that the site has been acquired by Futures Housing Group, whose commitment to providing affordable housing aligns with the growing need for homes accessible to all.”
Chesterfield-headquartered IT solution specialist snapped up
Advania, a portfolio company of Goldman Sachs Alternatives and one of the largest providers of IT services in Northern Europe, has acquired Chesterfield-headquartered CCS Media, one of the largest independent IT solutions providers in the UK.
The acquisition aligns with Advania’s strategic focus on expanding both its footprint and its capability within the UK market.
The acquisition will enable new and existing customers of Advania and CCS Media to access deep and broad expertise within IT-services and to transform core business processes, optimise spend and secure operations through a single service provider.
Advania UK’s class leading positioning with Microsoft as a top-tier cloud transformation and AI enablement partner, holding all six cloud solution designations, twelve specialisations and Azure Expert MSP status, combined with CCS Media’s expertise on the provision, supply, implementation and support of the broadest range of technology products offers customers a complete portfolio for digital transformation services backed by comprehensive service experience and extensive industry accreditations. In 2024 alone CCS Media have won awards from Dell, HPE, Lenovo and Logitech.
Hege Støre, Group CEO of Advania, said: “I’m very excited to have CCS Media join forces with Advania. CCS has a strong and proven track record of growth, customer relationships and delivering cutting-edge IT solutions across the UK market. Together with the Advania UK operation, we are certain that this investment will further accelerate our growth and elevate our position in the UK market.”
Terry Betts, CEO of CCS Media, said: “The CCS Media Leadership Team is immensely excited to unite forces with Advania and extend an even greater depth of expertise and services to our loyal customers across the UK. CCS Media was on a journey to develop more comprehensive solution offerings for our customers and the transaction will hugely accelerate this trajectory.
“This acquisition will also benefit our employees, offering wider opportunities for growth and development at such an exciting time in the industry. Like Advania, people are at the heart of our business and our shared culture and customer centricity was a key driver for the deal to progress.
“The extensive capability of the combined business, and particularly Advania UK’s class leading partnership with Microsoft, will enable us to address a broader range of customer needs from devices & infrastructure, to strategy, cloud transformation, AI, and managed services.”
Michael Bruun, Global Co-Head of Private Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, said: “We and our co-investment partners are very pleased to welcome CCS Media into the fast-growing Advania platform and to support the company in further scaling Advania’s operations and offering. The acquisition of CCS Media will create a differentiated and highly compelling end-to-end proposition for the UK market.”
Nine deals in nine months for BDO as East Midlands market remains robust
Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO LLP, has advised on nine deals in the first three quarters of the year, with a combined deal value of nearly £900 million.
The BDO deal advisory team has advised on a number of high-profile deals in the last nine months, working alongside a host of local intermediaries, including regional lawyers, private equity houses and banks.
Regional deals include: providing M&A sell-side and tax advice on the sale of Chesterfield-based Utopia Tableware to Steelite International; providing buy-side financial and tax due diligence to Derbyshire-based Clinigen Group on its acquisition of Kinesys Consulting; advising on the divestment of the retail arm of Kennelpak in Nottingham; advising LDC Private Equity on its investment in Mansfield-based Integrated Doorset Solutions and Fire Door Inspection Solutions, providing commercial due diligence and M&A advice; as well as providing financial and tax due diligence services, modelling services, and forensic M&S services in relation to Joe Jennings Bookmakers’ acquisition of Mark Jarvis bookmakers.
Vinod Patel, Transactions Services partner at BDO in the East Midlands, said: “The first three quarters of 2024 have demonstrated a real appetite in the region for getting high quality deals over the line.
“Although persistent challenges still remain, the local market has been and remains extremely active. The trend of exciting and dynamic businesses attracting significant private equity funding, as well as international investment, is a real feature, while regional businesses continue to execute ambitious growth plans through strategic M&A.
“As we approach the first Autumn Budget under a new Labour Government, much will be made about how this will impact M&A appetite.”
Ben Dawson, M&A Director at BDO in the East Midlands, added: “The East Midlands is blessed with a diversified economy, and a plethora of ambitious, entrepreneurial business leaders who continue to drive M&A activity.
“The deals we have acted on in 2024 to date demonstrate the breadth of BDO’s Deals Advisory service offering, which we continue to invest in, in order to support businesses in the East Midlands to achieve their growth ambitions.”
The Access Group doubles size of Romanian centre creating 654 new jobs
The Access Group, a provider of business management software to mid-market organisations and headquartered in Loughborough, has created 654 new roles at its Global Operations (GO) Centre in Timişoara, Romania, in the first 18 months of operation.
The Romanian office which opened in May 2023, has scaled operations and grown by 145%, increasing from 452 employees to 1,106. The 654 new roles have been created across multiple departments, including employee success, marketing, sales, products and engineering, customer success and customer experience, support and finance.
Commenting on the growth, Radu Giju, managing director at The Access Group in Romania, said: “The success of the GO Centre after just a year and a half is incredible, and our growing teams reflect the skills and potential of the local talent pool here in Romania.
“We embrace sustainability at every level, which guides our operations and drives long-term growth by ensuring we meet the needs of our customers, stakeholders, and local communities while protecting the planet for future generations.”
Supporting education and developing local skills is a priority for Access. During the last 18 months, it has forged relationships with the Polytechnic University of Timişoara and the West University of Timişoara, helping students with digital skills and career development.
Access has also established a Digital Academy in Timişoara. The Early Careers team supports 32 graduates in Romania, including 23 graduate software engineers and nine graduate QA Engineers.
Alongside job creation, Access supports local community organisations. The Access Foundation has awarded 9 grants in the region, totalling £89,327 to help fund community and environmental initiatives.
These include projects with Asociatia Scoala Mamei Junior, Little John’s House Marius and Friends Association, West University of Timişoara, United Way Romania, Asociatia Sinaptica Mehedinti, Asociatia Minunilor (Miracles Association) and Asociatia Impreuna pentru Luptatoarea Maria-2021.
Access has also partnered with environmental delivery partner Eco Club Timişoara, which supports the Group’s ESG goal to preserve and safeguard the local environment in locations where it has a significant presence.
The Access Group colleagues in Timişoara planted 1,000 trees, known as The Access Forest marking the 1,000-employee milestone in the area. In September 2024, over 70 colleagues gathered to take part in an Access clean-up along the Bega River, in the Friedorf neighbourhood of Timisoara.
Access Timişoara’s GO Centre has nominated United Way Romania, an organisation which helps children who have a high risk of dropping out of school, as the charity of the year and aims to raise 100.000RON [TO1] to help provide learning resources, non-formal educational activities and daily meals. The funds will also go towards offering advice to parents and families and training for teachers.
Radu Giju concluded: “We are proud of the strong connections and partnerships we have made with local organisations and communities and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the area. We are excited for the coming years and hope to see this level of growth continue while welcoming more people into our Timişoara team.”
UK economy returns to growth
Following a stagnant July, the UK economy showed growth in August.
According to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, grew 0.2% month-on-month in August, in line with expectations.
It reflects growth across all three key sectors, as services output increased 0.1% month-on-month, construction output rose 0.4% month-on-month, and production output grew 0.5% month-on-month.
Ben Jones, Lead Economist, CBI, said: “There are some encouraging signs in the latest GDP data, particularly the ongoing recovery in retail, but growth remains uneven across sectors and momentum in the economy is a little weaker than was expected a few months ago.
“Our surveys suggest that businesses may have tapped the brakes again in September amid speculation over potential Budget announcements.
“Anecdotally it’s clear that some firms have paused hiring and investment decisions pending more clarity over the direction of the new government’s economic policies.
“With the Chancellor’s first Budget only weeks away, the government has an opportunity to build momentum behind the economic recovery by demonstrating it has a credible plan for boosting the country’s growth trajectory.
“This should include measures to support productivity and business investment, such as adding flexibility to Apprenticeship Levy funded courses and outlining an ambitious Net Zero Investment Plan that includes green tax incentives.
“It must also make the UK’s business environment more attractive to firms at home and abroad by providing them with certainty and clarity via a Business Tax Roadmap.”
Council submits plans for new depot
Ashfield District Council has lodged plans for a new depot to improve service delivery.
