Roy Geddes Bricks (RGB) have joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, backing the Most Active Agent category. RGB are market-leading suppliers of facing bricks, rainscreen cladding, natural stone, cast stone and bespoke precast products. With a wealth of experience and an exhaustive range of superior quality building materials and masonry supplies, they can help to create dynamic facades for all property types, no matter the size and scale of the project. Established since 1990, RGB has built an adept and knowledgeable team who can help building specifiers source the best suited construction materials for their project. They take pride in their customer led approach which sees RGB strive to exceed the client’s requirements through design input, helpful product advice, value engineering, efficient procurement, logistics management and site support. Speaking with Business Link, a spokesperson for RGB said: “Passionate about everything brick, Roy Geddes Bricks are proud to sponsor the prestigious 2024 East Midlands Bricks Awards, and specifically the Most Active Agent category. There are some brilliant estate agents around the region completing key, quality deals with excellent service, facilitating business expansion and new developments, and we are excited to present the winner with their award. “With our head office in Nottingham we know the important role the East Midlands plays in the UK construction industry. We look forward to celebrating all shortlisted companies and projects, shining a spotlight on the fantastic results this region produces year after year.” Taking place on Thursday 3rd October (4:30pm – 7:30pm) in the Derek Randall Suite at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, the highly anticipated East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 will celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while providing a prime opportunity to connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks. A key event in the business calendar since 2015, the glittering awards ceremony will additionally feature Paul Southby as keynote speaker. Paul is a partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema in Nottingham’s Lace Market, and a longstanding trustee of environmental charity Clean Rivers Trust. He is chair of Nottingham Partners, a group of businesses that supports the work of the local inward investment agency, Invest in Nottingham, and a board member and past chair of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Limited. Paul is also a former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire (2022/23). Paul said: “The East Midlands development and property community faces an exciting time ahead with a new government in place and the advent of a new East Midlands Combined County Authority under the leadership of the first Mayor of the East Midlands. As we step into this new political and economic phase, the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 is a great opportunity to look back on our past successes, to reflect on where we are as a region, to consider what needs fixing, and – looking forward – to emphasise our region’s strengths as a strong investment location.”

Tickets can now be booked for the event – click here to secure yours.

Attend to forge new contacts and see who takes home Most Active Estate Agent, Commercial Development of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, Sustainable Development of the Year, Contractor of the Year, and Overall Winner. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, sponsored by Blueprint Interiors, will also be awarded a grand prize – a year of marketing/publicity with Business Link worth £20,000.   East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 When: Thursday 3rd October 2024, 4:30pm – 7:30pm Where: The Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground Keynote speaker: Paul Southby, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire Dress code: Standard business attire Tickets: Available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-midlands-bricks-awards-2024-tickets-902294566337?aff=oddtdtcreator Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with property and construction professionals while applauding the exceptional companies and projects in the region. Thanks to our sponsors:      

       

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Ashfield District Council has launched a new project to connect businesses with local graduates, funded by their share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Ashfield GradBoost project will work directly with universities in the East Midlands region to encourage graduates from Ashfield to start their careers in one of the many  businesses in the District. They will also support unemployed graduates progress into the variety of graduate level roles that are available on their doorstep. Graduates in employment will be supported to remain in work and enhance their career. The scheme will provide opportunities for graduates from Ashfield to use their skills, knowledge, and experience to contribute to the success of the local area. The project will also offer bespoke consultancy support to small and medium sized businesses in the District to attract, recruit and develop graduate talent, making it easier for dynamic local businesses to recruit graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to take their business to the next level. Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Growth, Regeneration, and Local Planning, said: “Graduates from Ashfield have a wealth of skills and capabilities that would make them an asset to businesses seeking to grow, innovate and diversify their organisation. This project will help to keep that valuable talent in the local area boosting the economy, skill levels and leading to greater opportunities for both the businesses and the graduates. “This project is just one of the ways that Ashfield District Council is supporting local businesses and young people. We know how important it is to keep these highly-skilled people in Ashfield and this scheme will help retain as much local talent as possible. We have a fantastic array of businesses in Ashfield and we want them to help them prosper.” The scheme will end in March 2025 and businesses in Ashfield are encouraged to get in touch with GradConsult Ltd to benefit from the project. Ashfield Graduates can contact GradConsult Ltd to access this free support by visiting the Career Boost portal on Ashfield District Council’s website. Gabi Binnie, Head of Programmes and Research at GradConsult, which delivers the Ashfield GradBoost project on behalf of Ashfield District Council, said: “We are delighted to be working with Ashfield District Council on this new project, which will support economic growth by helping small and medium sized businesses to access graduates from universities across the East Midlands. There has never been a more exciting time for graduates to start their career in Ashfield.”

As shortlisting for the highly anticipated East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 takes place, secure your tickets for the prestigious event. Recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools – attend the Bricks on Thursday 3rd October at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground to celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while connecting with local decision makers. With time for networking before and after the glittering awards ceremony revealing the winners of most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner, don’t miss this opportunity to forge new contacts and strengthen existing ones. The overall winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, sponsored by Blueprint Interiors, will also be awarded a grand prize – a year of marketing/publicity with Business Link worth £20,000. The event, which will begin at 4:30pm and continue until 7:30pm, will additionally feature Paul Southby as keynote speaker. Paul is a partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema in Nottingham’s Lace Market, and a longstanding trustee of environmental charity Clean Rivers Trust. He is chair of Nottingham Partners, a group of businesses that supports the work of the local inward investment agency, Invest in Nottingham, and a board member and past chair of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Limited. Paul is also a former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire (2022/23).

Tickets can be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 here.

Complementary drinks and nibbles will be served on arrival. Dress code is standard business dress.   East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 When: Thursday 3rd October 2024, 4:30pm – 7:30pm Where: The Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground Keynote speaker: Paul Southby, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire Dress code: Standard business attire Tickets: Available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-midlands-bricks-awards-2024-tickets-902294566337?aff=oddtdtcreator Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with property and construction professionals while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in the region. Thanks to our sponsors:      

       

To be held at:

Plans to create a new Derby headquartered organisation that will manage rail infrastructure and train operations in the UK have moved a step closer. Recently, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh launched a shadow version of Great British Railways – the public body that will oversee Britain’s railways. The establishment of Shadow Great British Railways (Shadow GBR) is intended to pave the way for the full establishment of Great British Railways (GBR), which will require legislative approval. In March last year, following a nationwide competition, the Government named Derby as the new headquarters for GBR in recognition of its world-leading position in the sector. Louise said: “Establishing Shadow Great British Railways marks a significant step towards delivering a unified railway with passengers at its heart by bringing together track and train. “This government will direct every penny into creating a stronger, more reliable rail network that works for everyone. “This is about making the railways work for the people that use them – putting passengers first and driving up performance.” The idea behind GBR is to bring together responsibility for both track and train into a single organisation, to make the railway simpler to use, more efficient to run and better for the country as a whole. Earlier this year, the Government published its draft Rail Reform Bill – the legislation needed to create GBR. The draft bill is now being scrutinised by Parliamentarians and industry. Derby beat off competition from locations around the country, including Birmingham, Newcastle and York, to be selected as the home of GBR. It followed a concerted campaign by the city called Destination Derby, which was backed by the public, businesses and politicians, not just from Derby and Derbyshire, but across the region. A spokesperson for the Great British Railways Transition Team said: “The plan to create Shadow Great British Railways (SGBR) is a welcome step. The Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) will use its ‘one-railway’ capability and tools to help SGBR and its drive for better collaboration across the rail sector. “The Prime Minister has been clear that an enlarged GBR headquarters in Derby will be at the heart of a ‘rail renaissance’. GBRTT will take advantage of what Derby has to offer today by continuing to work from its office there together with SGBR partners, ultimately helping to play its part in delivering benefits to customers ahead of broader structural changes under Great British Railways.” On the back of attracting GBR, the city is now looking to establish a new campus devoted to companies and organisations involved in the sector. Derby City Council and East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, together with the Great British Railways Transition Team, will share the vision for Rail Campus Derby at a special conference, which is due to take place in the city in October. It will explore opportunities for railway businesses and organisations from across the country to co-locate businesses or key personnel alongside the new headquarters for Great British Railways at the proposed campus. Speakers from national rail organisations and key regional stakeholders will be supporting the conference, including John Forkin, Managing Director of Marketing Derby.

The region’s businesses joined academics and industry specialists to tackle barriers in achieving Net Zero at the East Midlands Sustainability Summit on 12^th September. Workshops, seminars and presentations unpicked hurdles faced by firms in their journey to become more sustainable at the event hosted by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with the University of Derby, where the summit was held. East Midlands Chamber President Stuart Dawkins opened the summit. He said afterwards: “To see so many businesses, of different types and sizes gathered at this summit was a welcome sight and really underlines just how seriously the East Midlands is taking its approach to sustainability. I get the feeling no one is under any pretence about the obstacles that can make mitigating against Climate Change daunting. How does a business prepare? Are they doing it the right way? “Today’s summit shared best practice, saw research the Chamber has carried out with the University of Derby and workshops to help break down difficulties and find solutions. The East Midlands must, as I reiterated today, think hard about what it leaves for Generation Next-But-One – what we do now directly impacts the life they inherit. Businesses in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire really can be on the right side of history and get this right, but how we all get to that destination, when each business is structured differently, is a conversation that must never stop.” East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “Getting East Midlands businesses together to overcome the challenges around becoming more sustainable is an important step toward achieving Net Zero, but we should remember that the summit was also an excellent opportunity to focus on the economic growth potential for businesses that get the strategy right. “Keeping the momentum of the sustainability journey front and centre of all business operation is essential, as putting it on the back burner to just worry about another day isn’t an option. “We heard from some fantastic speakers today and I extend my thanks to all of them – to our summit sponsors Auditel, Geo Green Power and our partner for this summit, the University of Derby.” Research carried out by the Chamber and the University of Derby into Green Growth Trends – achieving economic growth without negatively impacting the environment – was shared by the university’s Associate Professor of Strategy and Sustainability Dr Polina Baralova.  Findings included three quarters of large businesses reporting that they pursue Green Growth, while half of small businesses did. Following the presentation, Dr Polina Baralova said: “My advice to businesses would be to think a little bit about how to grow sustainably, which we refer to as Green Growth. So, if you have a number of products and services that you trade on the market and they are having green credentials – as in they allow the general public, your customers or suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint and support an environmentally friendly agenda. “At the same time, you also need to start thinking about your decarbonization initiatives and reducing carbon so those two elements go hand to hand. You can’t really have one without another.” Auditel Carbon, Cost and Procurement Consultant Julie Adams explored the importance of ‘carbon maturity’ and how to approach Scope 3 emissions. Following the summit, Julie said: “Coming together like this at the summit has been invaluable, and the sessions that we’ve had have all built upon each other with the message that there is an imperative and an urgency to address sustainability that we all have to pull together to head. “It’s not about having a carbon footprint or reduction plan. It’s how we build this into our lives personally and professionally into a company.” Spenbeck Co-owner, Sustainability and Building Health Consultant Becky Valentine gave a presentation on overcoming barriers to climate engagement. She said afterwards: “This summit has been very much around ‘you’ve started your net zero journey, now how do we help you with the next steps?’ I think these questions are vital, bringing companies together with academics helps us on the next stage of all of our journeys. I think it it’s been a really vital day.” Samworth Brothers Responsible Business Director Andy Wright, on the importance of having the right approach to sustainability, said: “Engaging is the key. People have to understand what it is they’re trying to deliver and make it available in a language that is understandable. So, if you’re dealing with procurement colleagues, it’s probably a different conversation than if you’re dealing with new product development colleagues or operational colleagues. There needs to be a message for everybody.”

Headline findings from Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands 2024 research

• Three quarters of large businesses (75%) report they pursue Green Growth
• Half of small businesses (50%) are pursuing Green Growth, while 39% of micro and 53% of medium-sized companies adopt the strategy
• More than 45% of East Midlands businesses have invested in decarbonisation initiatives over the past 12 months, an increase of 6% on 2023
• Seven out of ten large companies invest in decarbonisation
• One in three businesses have never engaged in nature-based solutions over the last 12 months

Winvic Construction Ltd, a Northampton main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has been invited to join the Advisory Board of the Policy Liaison Group (PLG) on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), as the sole main contractor representing the construction industry. This cross-party forum, based in Westminster, will benefit from Winvic’s industry expertise and leadership in advancing ESG initiatives. Arun Thaneja, Winvic’s Technical Services and Sustainability Director – who last year supported the development of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) guidance on carbon offsetting and associated carbon pricing to support the shift towards Net Zero buildings – will lead Winvic’s attendance at regular roundtables. He will be supported by Heidi Salmons, Winvic’s Head of Marketing, Communications, and Social Responsibility, who will bring valuable insights on the Social aspects of ESG to the discussions. Winvic will play a pivotal role, joining the roundtables with ministers, parliamentarians, regulators, standard-setters, NGOs and academics that the PLG organises, contributing to bridging the knowledge gap in ESG among parliamentarians and advancing the ESG and sustainability agenda in Parliament. Discussions will inform key government figures, maintaining the legacy of being one of the most prominent cross-party groups in Westminster. A place on the Advisory Board means that Winvic will have the opportunity to shape future topics for discussion and make recommendations to parliament as well as shape topics for reports and influence the Decarbonisation Strategy to meet the current 2030 target in The Labour Party manifesto. Bridging the wider corporate world and that of parliament, the PLG’s strategic objectives include identifying and proposing policy solutions for the challenges that companies and investors face when adopting and applying ESG principles and frameworks. The group also aims to align commercial strategies and public sector objectives, such as achieving net zero, reducing biodiversity loss, ensuring a Just Transition and amplifying diversity, equity and inclusion. By supporting the development and implementation of effective, low-burden reporting requirements and showcasing how ESG frameworks and principles can enhance business resilience and lower investors’ exposure to risk, the PLG will help the UK become a global green finance centre and an ESG leader. Arun Thaneja, Winvic’s Technical Services and Sustainability Director, said: “It’s an honour for Winvic to be invited to join the Advisory Board of the Policy Liaison Group on ESG. “Having a seat at the table will allow us to share our expertise, influence cross parliamentary discussions and collaboratively find solutions to ESG challenges and I’m optimistic that Winvic will gain fresh and innovative insights from other industry experts on the Advisory Board. “As the only construction contractor to join this significant cross-party forum, we are committed to representing the industry positively and honestly. We view this role as both a privilege and a responsibility. “We will leverage our extensive knowledge and passion to help advance the ESG and sustainability agenda in Parliament, with the goal of strengthening the UK’s position as an ESG and sustainability leader globally.” Heidi Salmons, Head of Marketing, Communications & Social Responsibility, added: “Winvic has consistently been at the forefront of ESG initiatives in the industry, and we are eager to contribute our expertise to the PLG. “We are particularly passionate about highlighting the Social aspect of ESG, underscoring the importance of a Just Transition to ensure that no one is left behind as we work towards a more sustainable future. “We look forward to supporting the PLG’s mission to help parliamentarians understand ESG, and how frameworks, metrics, practices, and approaches can drive both environmental and social impact, while also securing a more stable and efficient business climate through effective corporate governance.”