Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is set to cut at least 430 roles in a bid to save over £97 million in the current financial year. The cost-cutting initiative is part of a broader transformation programme aimed at modernising service delivery and improving efficiency across the trust, which operates Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital.

The majority of the planned reductions will affect corporate and support functions, with the trust aiming to reduce its dependency on agency and temporary staff. Clinical roles are expected to be protected where possible, with the trust favouring natural attrition and voluntary departures to minimise compulsory redundancies.

In addition to job cuts, the trust is investing in digital and operational improvements, including a new patient-facing app, enhancements to outpatient services to reduce waiting times, and the expansion of surgical theatres to increase capacity for day case procedures by 5,000 annually.

Despite making £91.2 million in savings last year, the trust overspent by £51.6 million and continues to face pressure to reduce its wage bill, which accounts for 70% of its £1.8 billion annual budget. The organisation currently employs the equivalent of 18,300 full-time staff. The plan supports national directives for NHS trusts to streamline back-office operations.

Holcim UK has acquired an asphalt plant in Sharpness, Gloucester, from Sharpness Asphalt Limited. Strategically located next to the local wharf, the site enhances Holcim’s regional presence and supports its expansion strategy in the UK asphalt market.

The facility will temporarily close for upgrades and is expected to reopen next month under the Holcim Express Asphalt brand. Once operational, the site will focus on rapid turnaround services for small load collections, with a target service time of 30 minutes for single-product loads. Additional services will include material tip-off, an onsite shop for ancillary items, refreshments, WiFi access, and washroom facilities.

The move is part of Holcim’s broader effort to grow its Express Asphalt network, which is designed to cater to trade customers and SMEs requiring fast, reliable service and access to supplementary onsite resources. The acquisition also strengthens Holcim’s footprint in the South West, a region where infrastructure and commercial development continue to generate strong demand for asphalt and surfacing materials.

Leicestershire’s three universities—Loughborough, Leicester, and De Montfort—are scaling up their joint sustainability efforts through a £2.56 million Innovate UK-funded project designed to accelerate progress towards net zero across the region. The GreenerFuture initiative, developed under the Leicestershire Collaborate to Accelerate Net Zero (LCAN) partnership, focuses on decarbonisation, business engagement, and removing non-technical barriers to climate action.

Since its launch, the programme has supported more than 500 businesses and is actively working with 80 organisations to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and access sustainable growth opportunities. Businesses benefit from fully funded support, including in-person carbon literacy training and strategic guidance to align operations with environmental goals.

The universities are also offering Carbon Literacy certification to organisations, enhancing internal knowledge and helping companies meet growing stakeholder expectations for sustainability, transparency, and reporting.

Alongside carbon reduction, all three institutions are advancing biodiversity initiatives as part of their commitments to the Nature Positive Universities Alliance. Projects include wildlife habitat restoration, biodiversity action planning, and on-campus conservation efforts.

Their joint work aligns with the Leicestershire Climate and Nature Pact, a broader regional agreement that unites academia, business, and government in their pursuit of achieving net zero by 2045.

A series of Big Green Week events in June aims to deepen further collaboration between businesses and the community on environmental resilience.