£150k grant funding to boost local skills
Newark and Sherwood District Council has granted £150k from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund into Newark College, creating a programme designed to elevate the skills of the local workforce. This initiative aims to bolster organisational growth and foster development among employers throughout the district.
The grant is allocated across two years, supporting the College to deliver their ‘Boosting’ Programme in Newark and Sherwood. The initiative focuses on providing local employers with bespoke services, tools and resources to identify and implement organisational improvement opportunities, as well as aiming to support hundreds of employees through access to a variety of specialist training courses, helping to up-skill the workforce and encourage workplace progression.
The programme offers a range of support to local businesses, including access to team building activities, meeting facilities, online and face to face training courses for employees such as leadership, management, resilience and data training, as well as access to a variety of resources and analytics tools to help improve organisational performance.
Within the first half of the programme, more than 70 individuals successfully completed courses through the project to help them progress within their career, gain relevant skills required and remain in local work.
In addition, 27 local employers benefited from specialist support across a range of industries such as retail, manufacturing, construction, and the technological sector, including small and micro employers up to large scale enterprises. Support will enable businesses to upgrade their organisational processes and adopt new technologies, as well as offer enhanced support to employees through addressing unique workplace training needs.
Councillor Claire Penny, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “As a champion of worked-based learning myself, I really understand how important investing in our people is. That’s one reason why we are proud to support Lincoln College and their Boosting Programme, which is a fantastic initiative that is supporting our local economy.
“The programme is providing essential support to local employers and helping them to overcome the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing economic landscape. The programme is also creating positive impacts for the local workforce, by enhancing their skills and career prospects.”
Penny Taylor MBE, Head of Newark Campuses at Lincoln College, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant funding from the District Council through UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which enables us to provide valuable support to local employers and their workforce in Newark and Sherwood.
“The Boosting programme is designed to help businesses grow and thrive by developing their skills, productivity, and performance. This allows the college to work alongside businesses as our mission is to be employer led supporting opportunities for them and for our students to work with local employers. We have already seen some great results from the programme and we look forward to working with more businesses in the area over the next two years.”
Support through the Boosting programme is currently available to local employers within Newark and Sherwood up until March 2025 and is subject to availability.
Kettering Leisure Village to be sold with £6m price tag
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has been appointed to market Kettering Leisure Village.
Strategically located in the heart of England, this purpose-built, multi-use health and leisure complex was constructed in the early 1990s and sits on a substantial site spanning over 9.4 acres.
Over the years the property has become the established home of Volleyball England and undergone further development with a roll call of attractions including:
- A 576-seat theatre
- Substantial health club with a growing external membership
- A sports arena
- Children’s soft play area which is subject to a third party lease agreement
- Diverse conference facilities
Ultra-thin soft robots to transform narrow spaces inspection across industries
Researchers at Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at the University of Nottingham have developed ultra-thin soft robots, designed for exploring narrow spaces in challenging built environments.
These advanced robots, featuring multimodal locomotion capabilities, are set to transform the way industries, such as power plants, bridges and aero engines, conduct inspections and maintenance.
The innovative robots, known as Thin Soft Robots (TS-Robots), boast a thin thickness of just 1.7mm, enabling them to access and navigate in confined spaces, such as millimetre-wide gaps beneath doors or within complex machinery.
TS-Robots are equipped with a unique sandwich structure driven by dielectric elastomers, allowing them to crawl, climb, swim, and transition between solid and liquid domains. This adaptability makes them ideal for complex environments that include multiple obstacles across various terrains.
Dr Xin Dong, the project’s principal investigator, who initialised the idea, said: “Our TS-Robots are designed to tackle the scientific challenges of multimodal locomotion in soft robotics, particularly when encountering obstacles such as narrow gaps, trenches, walls, and liquids along their navigation paths.
“Unlike conventional robots, which face significant limitations in these environments, our technology offers a potential breakthrough for exploring difficult and complex terrains.”
Notably, the Thin Soft Robots exhibit outstanding performance in terms of output force and speed, achieving forces up to 41 times their weight and speeds of 1.16 times their body length per second.
This exceptional capability enables them to collaborate with multiple TS-Robots or even with other robots, such as drones, enhancing their functionality in tasks such as inspecting challenging environments or delivering goods.
Preliminary tests have already demonstrated the potential of the Thin Soft Robots in real-world applications, including the inspection of electrical generators of advanced hybrid-electric power systems. In this application, the robots successfully navigated the narrow air gap between the rotor and stator of a generator, a feat that traditional tools and robots cannot achieve.
Professor Dragos Axinte, Director at the Rolls-Royce UTC in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology, added: “The next generation of clean power systems presents new challenges for their inspection and maintenance. We are delighted to see these thin soft robots bringing the possibility to address these challenges and contribute to the future of net-zero.”
With these promising results, the research team plans to further optimize the robots’ design and explore new applications in sectors such as aerospace and energy maintenance and nuclear decommissioning. East Midlands economy toughens as latest figures indicate significant downturn
A rise in companies with late payments on their books, as well as a steep fall in the number of new businesses being set up in the region, is indicating a further toughening of the local economy.
This is according to the Midlands branch of national insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 and is based on an analysis of data from business intelligence provider Creditsafe.
R3’s figures show that the number of East Midlands companies with invoices overdue for payment increased from a sizeable 23,194 at the start of the year to 24,258 last month.
Over the same period, the number of invoices which had gone past their payment date in the region shot up from 204,216 to 216,533.
The tightening up of the local economy is also indicated by a dampening of entrepreneurial spirit, with the number of East Midlands start-ups falling by 25.68% from 2,995 in January to 2,226 in August.
R3 Midlands Chair Stephen Rome, a partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper in the region, said: “There will be very few local companies finding the current trading conditions favourable, and these latest research figures back this up.
“While we have seen some economic improvements in recent months, driven mainly by a successful summer of sport and increased political stability following the General Election, doing business remains tough.
“There is a glimmer of positivity on the horizon, however, with the Bank of England expected to cut interest rates later this year and potential for further growth in GDP, but continuing economic uncertainty could overshadow these opportunities.
“R3 would urge any local businesses struggling financially to seek advice as soon as possible. Most R3 members offer a free initial consultation to explore potential solutions for any significant financial issues.”
Local businesses benefit from more than £375,000 in grant funding
With the support of Newark and Sherwood District Council, businesses throughout the district are making big developments expanding their commercial ventures. They’ve gained access to vital grant funding opportunities via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), giving them the boost they need to grow and thrive.
Over 70 local businesses have collectively received more than £375,000 in grant funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund throughout 2023 and 2024 to help their businesses to take the next step, diversify or improve their environmental impact and sustainability.
In addition to the grant funding awarded, a further £1m is committed through UKSPF and REPF under the theme of supporting local businesses and the visitor economy, including providing local enterprises with fully funded specialised training, access to one-on-one advisory services, workshops, as well as investment in town centre regeneration and enterprise infrastructure.
Grants to businesses were awarded following various themed competitive rounds, including grants that specifically support rural economic growth through projects such as farm diversification and tourism creation, improving business sustainability and reducing carbon, and encouraging productivity and the scale up of small and micro businesses.
The funding has supported a variety of projects for businesses, such as capital grants for expansion of event venues, leisure and hospitality sites, funding to purchase key production and manufacturing equipment, solar panel and energy efficiency solutions, and purchases to help businesses improve processes or enhance productivity.
The successful grant recipients include The Sherwood Food and Drink Company, Hockerton, which received funding through REPF towards the purchase of key manufacturing and production equipment to support the scale up of their local oat-based milkshake business, Devoated. The project safeguarded two jobs, supported the future recruitment of one job, introduced new products to market, and introduced new processes to the firm to help significantly grow the business.
The owner of Devoated, Oliver Christy, said: “The Rural England Prosperity grant funding has been instrumental and essential in enabling us scale up our operations and support our business plan…we have been able to fit out our unit and purchase equipment much quicker than we would have otherwise been able to do.”
The UKSPF and REPF are Government funds available until March 2025. Businesses received funding through competitive rounds, and all current funds have now been distributed.
Commitment to people recognised as Nottingham Venues shortlisted for business awards
Nottingham Venues has been named as a finalist in the Commitment to People Development Category at the 2024 East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Nottingham Business Awards.
Part of the East Midlands Business Awards, covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, the awards celebrate the region’s world-class business community across 14 different categories.
The Nottingham Venues team has been shortlisted in the Commitment to People Development category, which recognises organisations demonstrating a firm commitment to people development and the implementation and promotion of a learning and development culture. It also considers how employee wellbeing is supported and how this culture contributes to the business’s overall success.
Stephanie Moss-Pearce, Director of Marketing at Nottingham Venues, said: “This is a fantastic result for our team. Our people reflect us, as a business, and the value we place on them.
“Over the past three years, our commitment to our people has created a happy, engaged, positive workforce and this has been the biggest factor in driving our business success. Our people create our organisational culture which impacts on the atmosphere we create for our guests. Having satisfied guests brings repeat business and our teams’ excellent service builds our reputation, creating positive reviews, which drive our success.
“We’re thrilled that our initiatives for people development have been recognised. The past year has been our best yet, both financially and in terms of business growth and internal promotions, staff engagement and positive guest feedback, all thanks to our dedicated team.”
Designed for connecting, championing and supporting local businesses, organisations and communities, the annual awards provide an opportunity for sponsors, finalists and other Chamber members to come together and celebrate the amazing work that organisations in Nottinghamshire undertake every day.
The finalists for each county’s awards were selected by a panel of judges made up of sponsors and Chamber senior management. They were revealed at The President’s Summer Celebration event, hosted by Chamber President, Stuart Dawkins.
Mr Dawkins said: “When I look at the people and organisations that have entered or been fortunate enough to become finalists for this year’s awards I’m blown away by the calibre and talent.
“The quality of entries was exceptionally high and I’m sure the judging panels had some tough decisions to make as the shortlist was compiled.”
The winners will be announced at the awards dinner on Friday 1st November at Nottingham Belfry, Nottingham, NG8 6PY
Leicester City Council signs up to protect staff from violence at work
Leicester City Council has shown its commitment to keeping all staff safe at work by signing up to a trades union charter to end violence at work.
The UNISON charter aims to encourage organisations to protect employees working in public services from acts of abuse, assault, and threatening behaviour.
Organisations wishing to sign must provide evidence for how they meet ten important standards for protecting staff against violent incidents. These include a clear incident-reporting and investigation procedure, continually collecting and monitoring data on violent incidents, and providing training to ensure staff know how to deal with threatening situations appropriately.
UNISON Branch Secretary Janet McKenna said: “I am delighted that Leicester City Council staff know that their employer has a high standard of policy, procedure, accountability, and support when it comes to issues of violence at work. Other employers should follow the council’s example.”
Leicester City Council’s Chief Operating Officer, Alison Greenhill said: “I was pleased to sign this charter on behalf of the council. We want all of our staff to be safe when working to provide services for the people who live, visit and work in our city. Violence against our staff in any form is completely unacceptable.
“We have procedures in place to control exposure to violence and aggression, and these are monitored to ensure they’re being implemented effectively. We share our findings with trades union colleagues, and together we are committed to improving processes where we can, so that everyone who works at the council goes home safe and well at the end of the day.”
Northampton mechanical handling solutions provider secures £440k to fuel growth
Stantone Mechanical Handling Ltd, a provider in the hire, sale and maintenance of forklifts and access platforms, has secured £440,000 loan funding from NatWest to facilitate the purchase of additional premises. This strategic expansion will support the Northampton-based firm’s growth and create new jobs.
Established in 1961, Stantone was bought over by Director Nigel Martin and his co-Director, wife Lisa, who had been working in the business prior to the acquisition.
Under their leadership, Stantone has experienced continuous, sustainable growth, consistently meeting rising demand by expanding their team and diversifying their offerings, including the introduction of utility vehicles to their product range.
The new premises, funded by NatWest, will include electric vehicle charging stations, reflecting Stantone’s commitment to sustainability and modernising their infrastructure. This expansion aligns with Nigel’s vision for sustainable growth and enhances the company’s capability to meet and exceed its customers’ needs more effectively.
Ian Mccormack, Relationship Manager at NatWest, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Stantone with their expansion plans. This loan will enable Stantone to enhance their facilities and create new job opportunities, further solidifying their position as a leader in the mechanical handling industry.
“We are really excited to see how this investment builds on their success, driving growth for the future.”
Nigel Martin, Director of Stantone Mechanical Handling Ltd, said: “This funding package from NatWest is instrumental in helping us to achieve our growth ambitions. The new premises will not only allow us to better serve our clients but also to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability with the addition of electric vehicle charging stations.
“Working with NatWest has been great, they clearly understand our ambition and have supported us throughout this journey. We’re grateful for NatWest’s support and look forward to our bright future.”
Flint Bishop prepares for further growth with strategic appointment of new Chief Information Officer
Law firm Flint Bishop, with offices in Birmingham, Derby and Leeds, has appointed Paul Tennant as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), as it looks to make further significant investment in innovation and technology to enhance the delivery of its services, support clients’ objectives and disrupt the market in its quest to become a leading scaled provider of legal services in the UK.
Tennant has held several senior technology positions within the financial services and legal sectors, including C-suite and director roles at Simply Conveyancing Group and My Home Move Ltd (now Simplify), the UK’s largest conveyancing firm with over 1,100 employees across the UK and India. He brings over two decades of experience in driving significant growth through innovation, transformation, and the design and delivery of strategically aligned information technology solutions.
In his new role, Tennant will be responsible for developing and executing the firm’s innovation and technology strategy, ensuring the successful delivery of transformational projects across all areas of the business. He will work alongside the broader team to advance the company’s data and technology strategy, keeping it at the forefront of new tools and advancements, including AI, to support both internal processes and client services.
Qamer Ghafoor, Chief Executive of Flint Bishop, said: “I am delighted to welcome Paul to the firm. His extensive experience—particularly in designing and executing technology roadmaps, innovation, managing large-scale IT projects, and leading teams through significant growth and change, together with onboarding several legal businesses through acquisitions—makes him an exceptional addition to our leadership team.
“In today’s rapidly evolving legal landscape, law firms must embrace efficiency, innovation, and diversity to meet client demands. Flint Bishop is firmly on course to adopt client-centric, diversity-focused, and innovative solutions poised for success. I am confident that Paul’s knowledge and expertise will help us continue to innovate and strengthen our position in the market.”
The appointment follows the recent addition of a Chief Operating Officer to Flint Bishop’s senior leadership team earlier this year, further solidifying the firm’s commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the legal sector.
East Midlands Mayor names team for coming year
The Board of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is set to discuss nominations for key political leadership roles for the East Midlands region at its next meeting.
Portfolio leads at EMCCA will each be responsible for leading a number of key priority areas for the region, working with the Mayor and their Board colleagues to make the region more prosperous, sustainable and fairer, helping people and businesses to create and seize opportunities.
Mayor Claire has also selected Cllr Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, as her Deputy Mayor. Cllr Peatfield will take up the role following Board and will receive no salary for the role.
Portfolio nominations are:
- Transport and Digital Connectivity: Cllr Ben Bradley and Cllr Anthony McKeown (deputy)
- Skills and Employment: Cllr Paul Hezelgrave and Cllr Milan Radulovic (deputy)
- Investment: Cllr Neghat Khan and Cllr Simon Spencer (deputy)
- Farming and Rural Affairs: Cllr Barry Lewis and Cllr Paul Peacock (deputy)
Deal completed to deliver 146 new homes in Wellingborough
Vistry Group, the provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has completed a deal to build 146 houses and apartments in Wellingborough in partnership with global investment manager Man Group’s Community Housing team.
The development at Glenvale Park is set to become a community of one and two-bedroom maisonettes, and two, three and four-bedroom homes. The 146 homes will provide a range of tenures. The first 75 homes delivered will offer social rent and shared ownership homes, supported by Homes England.
Situated to the north of Wellingborough, the 7.8-acre site forms part of the wider 3,000-home Glenvale Park sustainable urban extension scheme. This will include 675 affordable dwellings plus a 25,000m² business park which will incorporate a new local centre with retail amenities, new communal hub, two new primary schools, a nursery and extensive parkland.
The new homes have been designed to outperform current building regulation requirements and achieve a minimum rating of EPC B whilst maximising the use of sustainable timber during the manufacturing process.
Having taken over the site from Ilke, Vistry will convert the modular house designs into sustainable timber frame homes using modern methods of construction. The timber frame panels will be produced locally at the Vistry Works factory in Leicestershire and each home built using these panels will emit 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house.
Andy Reynolds, Managing Director of Vistry South East Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Man Group for the first time on this exciting project. Our use of modern methods of construction will reduce the carbon footprint of these homes whilst allowing them to be built at speed to meet the housing needs of the community.
“We’re excited to once again be a part of Wellingborough’s growth and to be entrusted with the build of these much-needed new homes which will create a thriving and sustainable community.”
Shamez Alibhai, Managing Director and Head of Community Housing at Man GPM, said: “Our aim is to help address the UK’s housing crisis by creating affordable, high-quality and sustainable homes. We are pleased to partner with Vistry to deliver on this ambition and develop 146 new homes in Wellingborough. By working together, we have the potential to deliver real social impact and provide environmentally sustainable communities.”
The site already has full planning permission and Vistry has commenced work.
Plans lodged to transform former Nottingham Central Library
Plans have been revealed to transform the former Nottingham Central Library on Angel Row.
The proposals would see the building become halls of residence for students, with the ground floor converted to provide three retail units, one of which is set to be a takeaway.
The halls of residence would offer a mix of cluster flats and one-bedroom studios, broken down to include 53 one-bedroom studios, six two-bedroom clusters, seven three-bedroom clusters, 11 four-bedroom clusters, one five-bedroom cluster, one six-bedroom cluster, and three eight-bedroom clusters.
A reception, meeting rooms, gym, spa, common room, games room, dinner party room, and cinema are also included in the plans, and a new entrace is to be formed on Mount Street.
Harington Students is behind the plans, having been awarded the purchase of the building from Nottingham City Council through a competitive tender. According to documents submitted for the application, other parties were proposing to demolish the existing building.
“Strong set of results” for Dunelm
The CEO of Dunelm has hailed a “strong set of results…in a period when consumers faced inflationary pressures and competing demands for their disposable income.”
According to preliminary results for the 52 weeks to 29 June 2024, the homewares retailer saw sales of £1.71bn, up 4.1% on the year prior (FY23: £1.64bn) despite the softer market.
Profit before tax, meanwhile, increased to £205m from £193m at the Leicestershire firm. Six new stores opened (including one relocation) during the year.Nick Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “This strong set of results is testament to the hard work of our adaptable and committed colleagues. In a period when consumers faced inflationary pressures and competing demands for their disposable income, we have continued to raise the bar on the relevance and value we offer at Dunelm.
“The continued delivery of volume-driven sales growth and further share gains in this softer market underlines this, and the strength and resilience of our business model.
“We have made good progress with our growth plans, including the expansion of our store estate, building a faster and better digital experience for customers, and advancing our tech and data capabilities.
“As we evolve our strategic thinking in this changing environment, we are now even clearer on the areas which will help us to unlock our full potential as The Home of Homes.
“Whilst we are gradually seeing improvements to economic indicators, we are yet to see a meaningful change in consumer spending habits in our markets. Against this backdrop, and compared to a strong first quarter last year, we have made a solid start to FY25.
“Our plans give us a clear pathway to reaching our next milestone of 10% market share in the medium term, and we remain very confident in our ability to deliver long-term sustainable growth as a result.”
Global HSE Group join the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
Global HSE Group have joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, backing the Commercial Development of the Year category.
Global HSE Group are industry leaders in comprehensive fire safety, specialising in passive fire protection and technical fire consultancy, as well as delivering sustainability and MEP (building services), and their own in-house training academy.
Operating nationally across the UK and Ireland, clients include some of the UK’s leading student accommodation providers, hotels, universities, consultants, architects, and developers. They also support several of the UKs largest housing associations, councils, and public sector organisations.
Global HSE Group place people and compliance at the heart of everything they do and pride themselves on their highly knowledgeable and experienced, multi-disciplinary team who work seamlessly to deliver safer buildings right across the UK.
Speaking with Business Link, Andrew Cooper, Managing Director at Global HSE Group, said: “We are delighted to be a sponsor of this year’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, shining a light on the region’s property and construction industry, specifically the Commercial Development of the Year category. There are some fantastic organisations around the region who have completed some innovative development, and we look forward to seeing the shortlist, and presenting the winner with their award.
“We’re industry leaders in comprehensive fire safety and so partnering for the awards aligns well with the wealth of services we offer the property and construction sectors. We look forward to attending the awards ceremony where we can network with business leaders and recognise the excellent work within the region.”
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.”
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:
Speaking with Business Link, Andrew Cooper, Managing Director at Global HSE Group, said: “We are delighted to be a sponsor of this year’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, shining a light on the region’s property and construction industry, specifically the Commercial Development of the Year category. There are some fantastic organisations around the region who have completed some innovative development, and we look forward to seeing the shortlist, and presenting the winner with their award.
“We’re industry leaders in comprehensive fire safety and so partnering for the awards aligns well with the wealth of services we offer the property and construction sectors. We look forward to attending the awards ceremony where we can network with business leaders and recognise the excellent work within the region.”
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.
To be held at:
Automotive business makes Markham Vale move
A Chesterfield automotive business has expanded with a move to Markham Vale, off the M1 at junction 29a.
VEGE is one of the world’s largest independent aftermarket suppliers of remanufactured petrol and diesel engines. The company offers remanufactured cylinder heads, turbochargers, manual gearboxes, brake calipers, diesel injection pumps, common rail pumps & injectors and brake callipers on an exchange basis.
The company has expanded following 21 years of growth in Chesterfield. It is a specialised department owned by the US automotive giant LKQ Corporation.
VEGE’s new base on Greaves Close will also offer space for training with a purpose-built conference facility.
A Markham Vale spokesperson said: “Staff at the company are reported to be very pleased with the move to Markham Vale as the new location provides easy access to the M1 motorway and lots of green space all around…the commute to work just got easier!
We wish Tony Lynn, the Chief Operating Officer, and his colleagues a warm welcome to Markham Vale.”
Development at Markham Vale continues, with property developer HBD bringing forward a new 31,264 sq ft commercial scheme, Markham Vale Trade Park, which could create more than 100 new jobs. Occupiers will also benefit from Gridserve’s new Electric Forecourt being developed on the adjacent plot.
UK economy stands still in July
The UK economy failed to grow in June – the second month in a row, in contrast to an expected rise by 0.2% month-on-month.
According to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, showed no growth in July.
It reflects a modest rise in services output which was offset by drops in both production and construction: services output grew by 0.1% month-on-month, construction output fell by 0.4% month-on-month, and production decreased by 0.8% month-on-month.
Ben Jones, CBI Lead Economist, said: “The figures suggest the UK’s recovery remains on track, though sector performance remains mixed and growth over the second half of the year will probably be a bit slower than in recent quarters.
“Ahead of what promises to be a difficult budget next month, the government is treading a narrow path to put the public finances on a sustainable footing while maintaining the confidence of business and investors in the recovery.
“The government must remain focussed on its agenda for long-term growth. This means avoiding further pressures on business costs and providing firms with the certainty and long-term commitments over tax, regulation and infrastructure that will give them confidence to invest.
“By doubling down on the recently announced planning reforms, introducing a Net Zero Investment Plan and implementing a clearer, fairer and more competitive business rates system, government has an opportunity to supercharge investment and UK growth over the next Budget period and beyond.”
Lincolnshire County Council sells land at Kirton to grow local economy
Lincolnshire County Council has sold 10.16 acres of development land to expand Kirton Distribution Park.
The purchasers – Melbourne Holdings – will initially be constructing ‘Stonebridge Business Park’, a 25,000 sq ft space comprising 9 new industrial units, on the land.
Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy at the county council, said: “This sale marks an important development for the well-established Kirton Distribution Park, paving the way for the phased development that will significantly enhance the area’s economic landscape.
“As a council we have responded to a growing demand for more industrial space in the county. We’re committed to supporting businesses to start up, grow and re-locate in Lincolnshire, creating jobs, supporting local supply chains and enhancing the local economy.”
Lucie Bryant, Director at Melbourne Holdings, said: “We are delighted to further our commitment to supporting employment and industrial growth in Lincolnshire with our recent acquisition and proposed development at Kirton Distribution Park.
“The purchase comes after recently securing planning permission to deliver a diverse range of warehousing that will support start-ups, growing businesses, large companies and international trade in this key strategic position, reinforced by Lincolnshire County Council and Boston Borough Council.
“The units will be available off plan via our appointed agents Pygott and Crone, and we look forward to working with current and prospective requirements with design and builds opportunities being considered.”
Ranger Fire and Security completes acquisition of Nottinghamshire-based Fire Door Specialists
Ranger Fire and Security has acquired fire door business, Fire Door Specialists Ltd (FDS).
This is Ranger’s first acquisition in the passive fire safety space, broadening out the Group’s offering beyond active fire safety.
Based in Nottinghamshire, but offering national coverage, FDS provides comprehensive fire door compliance, including building inspections, fire door maintenance and installation. FDS has a wealth of experience equating to more than 150 years in the fire and safety industry.
Led by Operations Director Ian Maciejewski, FDS has expanded rapidly over the past few years, with the company broadening its services to cater for all types of buildings, student accommodation, schools, factories and offices. Ian will join the senior leadership team at Ranger Fire and Security, supporting the Group’s growth over the coming years.
Ranger evaluated numerous fire door companies before identifying FDS as the passive fire business that best met its stringent criteria and guardrails, including employing skilled engineers, delivering high-quality service, and consistently showing strong growth in its inspections and maintenance services. It also has an existing long-standing, reputable client base, including the NHS and Ministry of Defence.
The acquisition of FDS is a key part of Ranger’s aim to provide quality service for its clients and a comprehensive one-stop solution by offering all fire and security services under one umbrella. FDS will benefit from the Group’s scale, technology, and broader services, which will enhance its customer offering.
While Ranger’s longer-term strategy continues to be active fire focused, the acquisition of FDS complements the Group’s existing service propositions and enhances its customer experience.
Mark Bridges, CEO of Ranger Fire and Security, said: “Fire Door Specialists is a well-known, respected business in the passive fire space that will add a new and key service to the Ranger Group.
“This acquisition marks another milestone for Ranger in our journey to provide the highest quality, complete service offering and opens up significant cross-selling opportunities.
“We are excited to welcome Ian and his team to the Group. As we continue to grow, Ranger remains a dynamic, maintenance-focused business offering a turnkey solution for all fire and security services across the UK and Ireland.”
Ian Maciejewski, Operations Director at Fire Door Specialists, said: “Our decision to partner with Ranger was an easy one – it’s a company I have admired since its launch and presents huge opportunities for our business.
“Ranger is the best partner for us going forward given our shared focus on providing a high-quality service for customers, and I look forward to working closely with Mark and the team to grow Fire Door Specialists, whilst enhancing our systems and insights, fostering collaboration and exploring new avenues of growth.”
The announcement builds on Ranger Fire and Security’s previous acquisitions of AFIL, Ignis Fire Protection Ltd, Syncro Group Ltd, and IPH Fire Solutions Ltd, which together have helped Ranger to enhance its offering in all key areas of fire and security services, such as fire detection and alarms, extinguisher maintenance, suppression and security services.
Since launching earlier this year, with backing from the private investment firm Hyperion Equity Partners, Ranger has embarked on a mission to establish itself as the leading one-stop solution provider in the fire and safety sector. Funding for the acquisition was provided by ThinCats.
Logistics group leases Northampton distribution centre
ID Logistics, an international contract logistics group, has leased the state-of-the-art DC7 facility at Prologis Grange Park in Northampton.
ID Logistics is already a key partner to logistics property investor, owner and developer Prologis, with close to 3 million sq ft leased in Europe (UK, France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands) and South America (Brazil).
DC7, a second generation 342,622 sq ft distribution centre including an additional 389,319 sq ft mezzanine develops a total of 731,941 sq ft for ID Logistics’ operations. Leased by ID Logistics for 10 years, DC7 is equipped with the latest technology and sustainable features designed to optimize logistics efficiency and environmental performance.
The facility’s strategic location, in the heart of the Midlands’ “Golden Triangle” for logistics operators, provides excellent connectivity to major transport networks, ensuring efficient distribution across the UK.
“We are thrilled to welcome ID Logistics to the Prologis family and support their expansion in the UK market,” said Paul Weston, Regional Head of Prologis UK. “DC7 at Grange Park in Northampton offers an ideal location and infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of modern logistics operations. We are delighted to partner with ID Logistics as they expand in the UK market and contribute to the dynamic logistics landscape here.”
Stuart Evans, Managing Director of ID Logistics UK, said: “This transaction in the UK is a significant step for ID Logistics. We are excited to begin operations at Grange Park – the DC7 facility perfectly aligns with our operational requirements and sustainability goals. We look forward to leveraging this strategic location to enhance our service offerings and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”
Planning granted for £42m residential development in Edwinstowe
Housebuilder Honey will build 114 new three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in Edwinstowe after being granted planning permission for a £42m development.
Called Homes by honey at Thoresby Vale, the development is located off Ollerton Road and is part of the wider Thoresby Vale masterplan.
Homes by honey at Thoresby Vale will comprise 12 of Honey’s house types and include semi-detached and detached properties.
Located on the former Thoresby Colliery, Thoresby Vale is a redevelopment masterplan to create a new sustainable community. Once complete, it will comprise 800 new homes, a new primary school, a local centre and up to 250,000 sq ft of commercial space.
Work at Homes by honey at Thoresby Vale is scheduled to start in September. Honey anticipates that the first residents will move into their new homes in June 2025.
Honey chief executive officer, Mark Mitchell, said: “Homes by honey at Thoresby Vale will help satisfy the demand from those living in, or wanting to move to, Edwinstowe for high quality, high specification new homes.
“We have seen significant interest from prospective buyers since announcing our plans and the development will deliver a range of new homes well suited to first-time buyers, families and downsizers.
“With planning now being granted, we look forward to starting works at the site and launching the first homes for sale which combine style, substance and sustainability for the benefit of our buyers.”
