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.
Michael Cummins Employment Solicitors welcomes new senior associate
Specialist law firm Michael Cummins Employment Solicitors has welcomed Katie Baker-Clifton as its new senior associate.
The solicitor has joined the Leicestershire-based legal firm which provides employers with advice and representation on all aspects of employment law.
A qualified solicitor since 2010, Katie previously worked at the Black Country commercial law firm Enoch Evans. The Staffordshire University graduate has a long track record in providing tailored, strategic and pragmatic legal solutions to businesses and individuals.
Her work has encompassed addressing employment grievances, navigating complex exit strategies and representing at Employment Tribunal proceedings, for a diverse client base including multi-nationals, HR teams, owner-managers and independent consultants.
Katie has joined the now six-strong team at Michael Cummins Employment Solicitors, which includes partner Fabienne McAllister and was founded by its director Michael Cummins in 2022.
Michael said: “Katie’s breadth and depth of experience in employment law is an incredibly good fit for the client-focused, pragmatic and commercially savvy services we provide.
“We are very excited that Katie has joined us, as she has both a very sound legal mind and an open and proactive approach to working with the client to achieve optimal outcomes.”
Katie, who is also a qualified Swim England coach as part of her volunteering, said: “I’m very excited to have joined what is a specialist employment law firm with an outstanding reputation. They are also lovely people, which was apparent from the first moments of meeting them.
“I’m looking forward to being part of a bigger team purely focussed on a field of legal services that I have specialised in for 14 years. It is going to be fulfilling to work with a team where I can contribute whilst also learning from their vast experience.”
Willmott Dixon appointed to build £16.8m car park at Royal Derby Hospital
Willmott Dixon has been appointed by developers noviniti to build a new £16.8m multi-storey car park at Royal Derby Hospital to provide an additional 500 spaces.
The car park will be spread over five storeys and replace the current surface level car park. Completion is expected in summer 2025 and it will be open to visitors and patients to help resolve parking and congestion problems on the site.
Ahead of main works starting on the new car park, Willmott Dixon has also created a temporary car park on a site near the hospital with a park-and-ride system in operation.
Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’re pleased to be delivering this infrastructure improvement at Royal Derby Hospital for University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.
“We look forward to delivering a project that will help to improve visitor and patient experience when visiting the hospital by significantly increasing parking provision. It will also provide additional facilities, including electric vehicle charging points.”
Jonathan Houlston, CEO at noviniti, said: “It is a great pleasure for noviniti to have been appointed as developer by United Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust to deliver the new 5-storey Multi-Storey Car Park at Royal Derby Hospital.
“Working in partnership with Willmott Dixon, this much needed facility will greatly ease on-site traffic congestion and positively contribute to the patient and visitor experience.”
Games Workshop makes chair appointment
Games Workshop has appointed Mark Lam as non-executive chair of the company. Mark has been an independent non-executive director of the Nottingham company and the senior independent director since 2023.
Mark takes over from John Brewis. John did not intend to stand for re-election at next year’s AGM and had therefore asked the Nomination Committee to commence a search for the next non-executive chair.
John Brewis will be retiring from the role of non-executive chair of Games Workshop with effect from 1 November 2024, and from the Board of Games Workshop with effect from 31 December 2024.
Mark is an experienced board chair and director, whose commercial experience spans both start-up businesses and listed companies.
Mark is Singaporean and his international experience includes supply chains and business operations in the Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe.
He has held senior positions in retail, telecommunications, and healthcare, including as chief technology officer of Openreach. Mark is currently chair of the Royal Free London hospital group and a non-executive director at Lowland Investment Company PLC.
Summit to spotlight ‘once-in-a-generation’ transformations of Chesterfield high streets
Business owners are invited to explore how Chesterfield’s ongoing regeneration is set to unlock significant investment opportunities in the coming years.
The Chesterfield Investment Summit will take place on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, at Casa Hotel, offering an extensive update on various projects that will dramatically modernise and revitalise the town’s high streets.
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, will address the summit, sharing her vision and priorities for driving investment in Chesterfield and the broader region.
Mayor Claire said: “The regeneration of Chesterfield’s high streets is a key milestone in the broader strategy to breathe new life into our towns across the East Midlands.
“By modernising and enhancing these vital spaces, we are not only improving the everyday experience for residents and businesses, but also attracting significant investment that will create new jobs and opportunities.”
Organised by Destination Chesterfield and supported by We Are Spaces, East Midlands Chamber and Markham Vale, the event will showcase transformative works in Chesterfield Town Centre.
Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council, will provide updates on several key initiatives, including Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield. The project promises over £10 million in enhancements aimed at improving the town centre’s appearance, functionality, and flow.
Ojay McDonald, Chief Executive of the Association of Town & City Management, will discuss the evolving role of high streets and the need for adaptation to future demands.
Attendees will also hear from Amy Revell, Co-Founder of We Are Spaces. Amy’s company is currently carrying out the extensive refurbishment of a Grade II listed building in Chesterfield’s retail core.
She will be joined by Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, who will provide insights into the £6 million regeneration and revitalisation efforts underway in Staveley’s town centre.
Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice-Chair of Destination Chesterfield, added: “The Investment Summit is a fantastic opportunity to spread the word about all the incredible things happening in Chesterfield.
“With the multi-million pound regeneration projects currently underway in Chesterfield and about to begin in Staveley, this is the time to look ahead to the future of high streets and talk about how the interventions we are making will help ensure they can continue to thrive and provide a full range of leisure, retail and cultural experiences.
“I look forward to welcoming local businesses and investors to the summit and discussing with them how they can play a key role in Chesterfield’s future.”
Light industrial investment sold in Ilkeston
NG Chartered Surveyors have completed the investment sale of a prime light industrial unit in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
Acting on behalf of her landlord client, Craig Scholter of CBS Couriers, NG surveyor Alicia Lewis brokered a rare investment deal at Unit 1A, Shipley Court on the Manners Industrial Estate.
The 2,853 sq ft unit is let to Barnfind Detailing, a company which offers safe washes, valeting, monthly maintenance and paint enhancements and corrections.
Alicia said: “Unit 1A, Shipley Court was always going to be popular. It’s located on a well-recognised, popular industrial estate.
“The property is centrally located to various main thoroughfares such as the A6096, A52 and Junctions 26 and 25 of the M1 Motorway, providing access to neighbouring towns. Nottingham is located eight miles away and Derby ten miles – it couldn’t be more ideally situated.
“This deal only took just over ten weeks to finalise with all parties working hard to get it over the line.
“It’s been a pleasure to represent Craig on this deal – and we wish the new owner and their tenant all the very best for the future.”
Work starts at £75m Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby City Centre
Wavensmere Homes has commenced work on site to redevelop Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby city centre. The nationally significant £75m mixed-use project will reanimate two landmark Grade II listed buildings into over 110,000 sq ft of commercial space, alongside 276 new build homes.
Site enabling works across the 11.5-acre (4.96Ha) site are underway, with the groundworks commencing in November 2024. The first phase will incorporate the formation of a new spine road through the site and remediation works to the two listed buildings.
Simultaneously, construction of the first residential phase will take place. This comprises 63 terraced houses, which will be available for occupation before the end of 2026. The full redevelopment, restoration and construction programme is anticipated to complete by the end of 2028.
A painstaking restoration of the 19th Century Bonded Warehouse and Engine House will deliver a total of 111,275 sq ft of flexible offices, health and fitness space, a restaurant/café, together with a regional sales centre for Birmingham-headquartered Wavensmere Homes.
Extensive new areas of open space, including play areas and pocket parks will also be created, in addition to the retention of the TPO tree buffer, to enhance the biodiversity of the site.
The elevated area adjacent to Friar Gate Bridge will become a new multi-purpose public realm and community space, with retention of some of the original railway arch facades.
New vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access will be created at various points around the site, from Uttoxeter New Road, Great Northern Way, and Friar Gate, with the Mick Mack cycling route also to be extended.
Catherine Atkinson, MP for Derby North, said: “After over 50 years of sitting vacant, it was brilliant to visit Friar Gate Goods Yard and see the work underway to bring this local landmark back to life. This redevelopment will restore a piece of Derby’s history while creating jobs and giving a major boost to the local economy, now and in the future.”
Cllr Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “I am thrilled that Wavensmere Homes has made a start on site so soon after receiving planning approval. The two fine terracotta listed buildings are such important historical assets for our city and we can now be assured of their future.
“I cannot wait to see the Bonded Warehouse preserved and brought back into use as the centrepiece for this £75m mixed-use development.”
Octopus Real Estate has provided a £24m loan to Wavensmere Homes to enable the comprehensive four-year programme of work to start without delay. Glancy Nicholls Architects and Pegasus Group worked collaboratively to produce the detailed plans for Friar Gate Goods Yard, which received planning approval earlier this year.
James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “The fine attention to detail and investment we will inject into the reanimation of Friar Gate Goods Yard will see it become a nationally important trophy asset in Derby’s ongoing renaissance.
“We constructed 125 family houses just across the city centre at Nightingale Quarter, but there was such intense demand, we could have sold them four times over. The 227 houses at Friar Gate Goods Yard will provide much-needed choice in the market and be the most energy-efficient in the city, so there is already significant pent-up demand.
“The first opportunity to reserve a home here will be in 2025, but we are collecting people’s details on our website. We’re very pleased to see the amount of early interest from people who’ve bought from us previously, including residents living at Nightingale Quarter.”
The designs for the 227 two- and three-bedroom townhouses that will surround the two listed buildings are bespoke. Curved and terraced street scenes will honour the beauty and vista of the Bonded Warehouse, while incorporating a range of energy saving technologies and strategies.
A four-storey apartment building containing 49 apartments will also reinstate the lost streetscape of the Stafford Street frontage. The highest EPC rating of A is being targeted for the new houses, with all plots designed to be future-proofed ahead of the 2025 Future Homes Standard.
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said: “I am delighted that work has commenced at Friar Gate Goods Yard. This vast historic landmark has lain derelict in the centre of Derby for over 50 years.
“Wavensmere’s redevelopment plans will have a transformational impact on the city’s landscape and image, while also providing a significant boost to the jobs market and local economy.”
The site sits just outside the Friar Gate Conservation Area, which features notable Georgian townhouses with high-quality brickwork and fine architectural detailing. The Friar Gate Goods Yard was intended as the main goods depot for the Great Northern Railway line, to handle coal, livestock, timber, and metals.
Designed in 1870, and entering operation in 1878, the Bonded Warehouse building contained extensive warehouse space and offices. It was used as a store for the American Army in WWII to house ammunition and other supplies.
The Engine House was also built for the Railway by Kirk & Randall of Sleaford. It is Italianate in style and built from Welsh slate. The Engine House supplied power to the hydraulic lifts and capstans at the Bonded Warehouse.
The site first became derelict in 1967, and over time became overgrown and fell into a poor state of repair. An arson attack took place at the Goods Yard in 2020, which exposed the whole inner iron structure of the two historic buildings.
The Goods Yard redevelopment will promote sustainable development through the use of low carbon materials, modern methods of construction, and renewable energy generation.
See Limited continues its commitment to sustainability with £700,000 investment
Corby-based company See Limited has invested £700,000 into its distribution arm, Performance Panels, to drastically improve its environmental footprint while also revolutionising the day-to-day working operations at its distribution facility in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
The company, named after its ethical and sustainability ambitions – Supporting Ethical Enterprise – operates as a holding company for three businesses in the built environment sector, Performance Panels, Inspired Surfaces, and Bousfields.
With a focus on taking sustainable steps forward to reduce their carbon emissions year-on-year, this significant investment through the integration of HOMAG’s STORETEQ P-500 storage system and SAWTEQ S-300 panel dividing saw means that they will now be able to store a higher volume of 5,000 high-performance decorative panels on-site. In addition it will improve efficiencies and reduce energy consumption.
The automated storage system will now organise, stock, and select different sheet sizes and materials in its facility, in what is seen as a huge boost to its distribution arm’s operational capacity.
The new system will also help Performance Panels save 280 bottles of liquid petroleum gas on forklift use alone, equating to an estimated 17,495 kgCO2e avoided per year, based on calculations from the UK Government’s website.
This equates to the same amount of carbon emissions as if you were to drive a petrol-powered car around the world’s equator – twice!
Alongside the investment into the machinery, the Performance Panels facility has also had a complete transformation to get the most out of the storage system. The original floor was dug up and relayed with a new one, new lighting was fitted together with a new CCTV system. The extraction system was also enhanced.
“As Performance Panels continued to grow, it became clear that a full evaluation of our operations was necessary to meet our environmental and sustainable ambitions,” said Robert Thompson, Group CEO at See Limited.
“The implementation of the storage system and panel dividing saw is part of our continuous investment into See Limited’s operating businesses as we continue to grow and evolve.
“In a fast-moving industry, it is crucial we stay ahead of the curve and on top of the latest technological advancements.
“While the implementation of this significant investment has transformed the working operations onsite, it has also enhanced the health and safety measures too. Automation has replaced much of the manual handling and has drastically reduced the time spent locating and retrieving stock.”
Nottingham Venues student named finalist in national industry awards
A student who has spent the past year on work placement with Nottingham Venues has been named as a finalist in a prestigious national industry awards.
Alba Betancourt, an Events Management Student from the University of Derby, has been shortlisted in the ‘Student of the Year’ category at the ABPCO Excellence Awards.
The 21-year-old has spent the past twelve months balancing her studies with a placement at Nottingham Venues and has excelled at both.
Alba hit the ground running during her placement and progressed quickly, showing a strong drive to integrate her academic learning into practical applications in the workplace, supporting the Nottingham Venues team during one of its most successful trading periods.
Alba successfully applied academic knowledge to real-world scenarios. She used project management techniques learned at university to help reduce setup and process time in supporting the catering function.
She dealt with all queries and issues which developed her customer service skills and helped navigate CRM systems for event support. Alba also met numerous clients through supporting the sales team with their site visits. She also successfully built relationships with the wider University teams and helped with market research.
At University, Alba has demonstrated exceptional academic performance, particularly in courses such as Sustainable Events Operations and Facilities and Venues Design, achieving First Class marks in both.
Alba’s University Professors have praised her analytical skills and ability to grasp complex concepts quickly, and she is currently in negotiations to start and run Derby University’s first ever Event Society.
Melissa Sobo, Director of Sales at Nottingham Venues, said: “Alba is an exceptional student and her passion for our industry and commitment to get the job done was clear from day one. A reliable member of the team, she was very conscientious about her work and was not afraid to challenge as to why it was done in a certain way.
“Alba demonstrated strong initiative, an eagerness to keep growing, and a willingness to take on additional tasks to expand her knowledge. Her eagerness to participate in work-related events whilst with us only contributed to her continued learnings and creativity.
“We are all delighted that she has made the finals and will be keeping our fingers crossed that she can take the award home on the day.”
Alba Betancort said: “I was thrilled when I was told I was being put forward for the award, so to actually make the finals is amazing! I loved working at Nottingham Venues, and I am grateful to the team for giving me the opportunity to get stuck in and apply what I have learnt at university into a thriving, real world environment. I can’t wait for the awards!”
NFU President calls for action on finance for farming
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said there had been cross party consensus throughout the debate that food security is national security.
He said: “The agriculture budget is essential to investing in the farming and growing businesses that underpin the future of food and deliver for the environment. As we saw in the debate, food is not partisan. It should not be kicked around like a rotten pumpkin.
“The farming and growing businesses that produce food need long-term certainty so they can plan and invest for the future. The number one way to do this is to ensure we have a strategy to boost Britain’s food security, and this must be invested in, and supported by, an increased agriculture budget.
“The Chancellor recently held an ‘I’m backing British farming’ sign at our Labour Party conference stand. The Defra Secretary, Steve Reed, said at our Back British Farming Day parliamentary reception he was ‘making the case to Treasury to maximise support for farmers’. And the Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner has been on farm six times in the past 100 days.
“There are countless examples of the government showing they value British farming, but these gestures and warm words must now be backed up by policy action,” he added.
Nottingham-based marketing and PR agency expands capabilities with new hire
Nottingham-based marketing and PR agency, V Formation, has bolstered its digital marketing offering with the appointment of Rory Chambers, a specialist in website development and digital marketing.
Joining the agency’s digital team as Senior Digital Marketing Executive, Rory brings strong expertise in graphic design, branding, SEO, and video production, honed through his previous role as Marketing Manager at health tech start-up GripAble. Prior to this, Rory graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Marketing.
His addition to V Formation’s growing digital team further enhances the agency’s ability to deliver innovative, high-quality digital solutions for its expanding client portfolio.
Hilary Campton, Director at V Formation, said: “Rory’s passion for website development and graphic design will be an invaluable asset to both our team and our clients. His appointment comes at an exciting time as we approach the end of the year with new projects on the horizon and continued growth across the board.
“Rory’s skillset aligns perfectly with our mission to provide top-tier marketing and PR expertise and support that empowers our clients to thrive.”
Rory said: “From the outset, it was clear that V Formation isn’t just an agency focused on results – it’s a place where people are genuinely valued and supported. The opportunity to collaborate with such a talented team, whilst continuing to develop as a digital marketer, was a key motivator for me. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into client projects, working across a range of B2B sectors.”
