Nottingham garden care product manufacturer receives King’s Award for International Trade
Nottingham-based garden care product manufacturer Doff Portland is celebrating after being awarded the King’s Award for International Trade.
Regarded as one of the highest honours in business, the King’s Awards recognise the outstanding achievements by UK companies and are valid for five years.
Doff Portland received the International Trade accolade for “the sale of environmentally responsible horticultural products to European hobby gardeners, and the agricultural sector.”
The award was officially presented during a ceremony held at Doff Portland’s Nottingham headquarters by Lord-Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire Professor Veronica Pickering and Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire Mark Goldby.
Established in 1946, Doff Portland manufactures a number of leading brands and private label products for major retailers in the UK and EU. These brands include Doff, Portland Garden, Power Up and Green Fingers.
Commenting on the award, Ben Sharpio, CEO at Doff Portland, said: “It is fantastic to be recognised with the King’s Awards for International Trade for our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality garden care products across the European market.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of our team, so I thank them all and look forward to working with them to further deliver for our customers both in the UK and Europe.”
Doff Portland was acquired by global pest control manufacturer and supplier Pelsis Group in August this year.
Alex Ashmore, CEO at Pelsis Group, added: “This King’s Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team at Doff Portland to support its customers. I congratulate all those involved in being awarded this highly impressive accolade.
“It is fantastic to have Doff Portland as part of our retail portfolio and I look forward to supporting them to enable further growth in its international trade.”
Local businesses raise £9,950 for PASIC at Rushcliffe Golf Course
Members of the East Midlands business community gathered last month for the annual CAPs (Construction and Property Sector) Golf Day, held at Rushcliffe Golf Course, to raise an impressive £9,950 in support of PASIC.
The event, sponsored by Gleeds, Hexa Consulting, Wilmott Dixon, Influence Planning & Design and Sytner BMW, saw participation from 22 teams comprising property and business professionals, each raising funds through team entries, player pledges, beat the trickster and a raffle.
Stand sponsors Blueprint Interiors, 200 Degrees Coffee and pop-up bar establishment, Rum-ba, provided additional support and hospitality throughout the event.
After a day of friendly competition, guests were treated to an evening BBQ followed by an awards presentation and raffle, with prizes generously donated by sponsors and local businesses.
The winning team of the tournament was BSP Consulting, whose skills on the course earned them the top spot of the day. Other prizes were given for longest drives, nearest the pin and beat the pro competitions.
Beneficiary, PASIC, is a Nottingham-based charity that provides vital emotional, social, and practical support to families of children and young people diagnosed with cancer across the East Midlands.
Since 1977, PASIC has been offering services such as emergency financial assistance, social outings, and peer support groups, helping families navigate the immense challenges of childhood cancer.
The charity works closely with hospitals like Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre and Leicester Royal Infirmary, making a significant difference to the lives of children undergoing treatment, and their families.
Beth Mills, a Fundraiser at PASIC, said of the day: “We are incredibly grateful for the generous support shown at this year’s CAPS Golf Day. Events like this are vital in ensuring we can continue our work with families across the East Midlands, offering a lifeline during some of the most difficult times in their lives.”
David Ford, Director at Gleeds, said: “It’s always inspiring to see the property and construction community come together for such a worthy cause. The generosity shown by everyone at this year’s Golf Day was incredible, and raising £9,950 for PASIC will have a real impact on the families they support.
“A huge thank you to our sponsors, players, and everyone involved in making the day such a success.”
CAPS anticipates a robust calendar of events in 2025, with the next Golf Day already scheduled for 18th September, at Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club.
Frasers pitches revised offer for Mulberry following rejected bid
Following the rejection of Frasers Group’s bid for Mulberry Group, it has submitted a revised offer for the portion of the business it does not currently own.
Frasers is a significant minority shareholder, owning approximately 37% of the issued share capital of the fashion brand. Frasers’ initial offer (in which Mulberry shareholders would have been entitled to receive 130 pence in cash for each Mulberry share) followed Mulberry announcing a proposed subscription for 10,000,000 new ordinary shares in the capital of the company by Challice Ltd (the company’s majority shareholder), at a price of £1 per share, and a separate offer to existing shareholders of the company of up to 750,000 new ordinary shares at the subscription price.Following the rejection of Frasers’ proposal, the business has said it is “unclear to Frasers how…the Board of Mulberry could have concluded that the Subscription Price was appropriate before, days later, rejecting [its] Initial Proposal (at a price 30% higher).”
Frasers further shared “significant reservations” that the £10 million raised under the subscription will be enough to support the business through the near to medium term. Frasers also pushed back against Mulberry’s statement that its offer did not recognise the “substantial future potential value of Mulberry,” noting: “Frasers is clear that there is no current commercial plan, turnaround or otherwise.” It added: “Despite…Mulberry’s catastrophic results, its necessity for emergency funding and difficult market backdrop, Frasers strongly believes it can provide the appropriate insulation and investment to support a much-loved British brand. As part of the Frasers portfolio, the Mulberry brand would be provided with the platform to ensure its long-term survival and success.” Under the new offer by Frasers, Mulberry Shareholders would be entitled to receive 150 pence in cash for each Mulberry Share. This implies a valuation of approximately £111 million for the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital of Mulberry, or approximately £72 million for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Mulberry that Frasers does not own. It marks a premium of 50 per cent to the subscription price of £1.00 per share.Challice Limited, the company’s 56.4 per cent majority shareholder, however, has been quick to state publicly that it “has no interest in either selling its Mulberry Shares to Frasers or providing Frasers with any irrevocable or other undertaking.”
Commuters in Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to get discounts
Commuters in Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who purchase annual bus and tram passes through their employers will soon benefit from a discount thanks to the county and city councils.
Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council are working in partnership to bring the offer to employers, which has been funded through the Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs).
As part of the scheme, employers will be able to offer staff a 20% discount on the cost of annual commuter bus and tram passes.
In Greater Nottingham, annual passes sold to employers by all the local bus operators, including the Robin Hood 12-month season card will be discounted from 1 November 2024.
In Nottinghamshire, Stagecoach East Midlands and trentbarton will also be offering discounts on their products, purchased through employers.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are once again working in partnership with the city council through our Bus Service Improvement Plans to bring about valuable bus travel offers to passengers.
“As more people return to offices for work, we’re offering a discount on annual bus and tram season tickets purchased through employers to give an extra boost to encourage passengers to travel by bus.
“The discount will apply to passes purchased between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.
“We continue to work closely with transport operators across Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to offer ticketing initiatives and improvements to passengers and look forward to hearing about the success of this scheme for employers and employees alike.”
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan, said: “We want to get as many people as possible out of their cars and onto public transport – and so I hope lots of local people will take up this offer, saving them 20% on the cost of their annual bus pass, including the Robin Hood 12-month season card, which is a great option for people who need to travel on the tram and bus frequently.
“I’m proud to see Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council once again working in partnership to bring great value public transport to residents across the county.”
Nissan collaborates with University of Nottingham for electric vehicle charging breakthrough
Nissan has announced the launch of affordable on-board bi-directional charging on selected electric vehicles from 2026, following a successful collaboration with the University of Nottingham.
The initiative forms a key step towards its vision of creating a sustainable energy ecosystem.
The Vehicle to Grid (V2G), or Vehicle to Everything (V2X) technology, which allows EV (electric vehicle) owners to use electricity stored in their car’s battery to power their homes, or sell it back into the grid, will launch in the UK initially, followed by other markets in Europe.
The project progresses the commitment made in Nissan’s business plan, delivering differentiated innovation that enables the EV transition, while unlocking new revenue streams. It also supports the company’s long-term vision, Ambition 2030, to create a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world.
The project is underpinned by Nissan’s extensive experience in V2G, with around 40 pilot projects conducted worldwide throughout the past decade.
Following a successful year-long project at the University of Nottingham, Nissan has become the first car company to gain G99 Grid code certification with an AC-based solution, needed to supply electricity into the UK national energy supply.
The University of Nottingham has hosted Nissan on campus for the past year to allow them to run their testing and space to experiment. Staff with significant research experience in V2G have supported the project, and its integration within energy systems.
The University of Nottingham was also pivotal in the trial, providing a base of operations at its on-campus Creative Energy Homes, a 8-home micro-grid research test bed, and supporting academic research.
Under the banner of Nissan Energy, the company’s aim is to roll-out V2G technology across markets in Europe and beyond, empowering consumers with either AC or DC-based V2G solutions, in alignment with local infrastructure and regulatory requirements.
By using Nissan’s on-board bi-directional V2G technology, customers can cut the annual cost of powering an EV by 50%. The same technology can also reduce net CO2 emissions from charging by 30% per year, per EV for the average UK household.
EVs equipped with V2G technology can play a crucial role in integrating and increasing the mix of renewables into the energy supply, by storing electricity generated by wind or solar, and directing it back into the grid when needed, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Professor Lucelia Rodrigues, Chair in Sustainable and Resilient Cities at the University of Nottingham, said: “I’m delighted that our collaboration with Nissan has enabled such a significant breakthrough that will transform the future of electric mobility and contribute to more efficient and resilient energy systems.”
She continued: “This is a great step forward in the sector and will hopefully be the start of seeing such developments across other companies and countries as we move towards cleaner methods of energy and transport.”
Hugues Desmarchelier, Nissan Vice President, Global Electrification Ecosystem & EV Programs, said: “The technology we are bringing to customers is a potential game-changer for how we view the car.
“Not just as a means of getting from A to B, but as a mobile energy storage unit, capable of saving people money, supporting the transition of our energy systems away from fossil fuels and bringing us closer to a carbon-free future.
“Nissan is proud to democratise technology for the benefit of society. The breakthrough in an on-board solution for two-way charging will be a substantial reduction in the cost of integrating a future EV into your energy supply, and the ability to leverage the car as a source of income over its lifecycle.”
Nissan is continuing to work with the university, and other partners, to achieve the necessary grid certification in other markets, develop a seamless user experience and expand the technology availability to more customers.
Chairperson of Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania region, Guillaume Cartier, said: “One of the big challenges faced by society today is energy supply – how do we make it affordable, reliable and clean.
“At Nissan, we see a future for our customers where their energy comes from the car on the driveway – not only the power station – fully integrated, flexible and cleaner.” Final phase completes at Beauchamp Business Park
Practical completion has been achieved on Phase Two of Beauchamp Business Park, a new commercial development in Kibworth, Leicestershire.
The development has been delivered by Clowes Developments and its team including IMA Architects, TanRo, Millward Consulting Engineers, Gateley Legal and Postins Project Services. Phillips Sutton and TDB Real Estate have been the agents marketing the scheme.
Beauchamp Business Park is situated on a 15-acre site located on the outskirts of Kibworth between Leicester and Market Harborough on the A6. The site features a series of freehold and leasehold industrial units ranging from 1,270 sq ft to 16,272 sq ft.
Phase One, which completed back in July, saw over 80% sold before completion. This boosted Clowes’ decision to begin Phase Two.
Kevin Webster, Associate Director at Clowes Developments, said: “We are delighted to have achieved Practical Completion on Phase Two at Beauchamp Business Park.
“Phase One has proven to be a great success with occupiers and investors and with deals already agreed for several of the units in Phase Two we are certain that popularity will continue. I now look forward to seeing it fully operational and a thriving business park over the coming months.”
Clowes Developments retained agents TDB Real Estate and Phillips Sutton for Phase Two of the scheme.
Sam Sutton, Director at Phillips Sutton, said: “We are thrilled with the success of Phase One at Beauchamp Business Park, with 100% take up. As we move into Phase Two, we are excited to see continued interest, with several units already under offer.
“This growth not only highlights the strategic importance of our location, but the demand for good quality freehold units in Leicestershire.”
Jack Brown, Associate Director at TDB Real Estate, added: “It is fantastic news that we have now reached Practical Completion of Phase Two of Beauchamp Business Park.
“With Phase One being so popular with both local businesses and investors we anticipate Phase Two will continue this trend. The Units all look fantastic, and present really well in a market which has a shortage of good quality stock.”
Phase Two has seen the creation of two additional terraces and a semi-detached unit to be used for B1 and B2 use class, ranging in sizes from 2,271 sq ft to 16,272 sq ft.
Armsons Barlow and Jackson Purdue Lever support Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance with Harvest Festival Food Drive
Derby-based project managers, construction cost consultants, and building surveyors, Armsons Barlow have teamed up with engineering consultancy Jackson Purdue Lever to organise a Harvest Festival Food Drive in support of the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4T).
The initiative is part of Armsons Barlow’s on-going commitment to the organisation, which they selected as their annual charity earlier this year.
Over the past few weeks, both companies have been collecting essential non-perishable food items for DF4T, which has been a crucial lifeline for those facing food insecurity in the Derby community.
The items have been collected from the local business community as well as other companies in the construction industry from further afield with donations including cereal, tinned soup, rice, pasta, biscuits, tinned fruit, tea, coffee and biscuits.
Originally established as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance has since become a longer-term solution to addressing the root causes of deprivation and poverty in the area.
The charity now supports people in Derby who are experiencing food insecurity, through food provision, signposting, support, and advice. To date, more than 241,868 items have been distributed via the charity’s central storage unit on Ascot Drive in the city.
In May of this year, Armsons Barlow raised £2,700 for the charity at their annual golf day at Kedleston Park Golf Club.
Commenting on the food drive, Josh Toon, Director of Armsons Barlow, said: “Our partnership with Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance is incredibly important to us, and we’ve seen firsthand the difference they make in addressing food insecurity in the city.
“Thanks to Jackson Purdue Lever for joining us on the initiative and all the businesses and individuals who have supported our Harvest Festival Food Drive. We look forward to planning more events in the coming months to support DF4T as well as other local charities.”
Andrew Purdue, Director of Jackson Purdue Lever, added: “DF4T has done fantastic work over the past four years to help tackle food poverty in Derby, and our food drive with Armsons Barlow has been a great way for us to show our support.
“We are proud to support DF4T’s mission and would encourage the business community and the general public to come donate whatever they can to support the charity.”
Paul Brookhouse, Senior Manager at Derby Food 4 Thought, added: “We currently support with around 1800-2000 food parcels a month and spend around £8,000 to £10,000 a month on food to keep our partner food providers stocked up, so donations are needed just as much now as when we launched the charity at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
“Thanks to Armsons Barlow and Jackson Purdue Lever for their support of DF4T, which enables us to continue providing essential support to those people across the city who need it most.”
Bakery ‘Hungary’ for success lets Burton premises
Rushton Hickman has let 335 Uxbridge Street in Burton to Sweet Hungarian Kiss Ltd, a bakery offering authentic Hungarian cakes and a variety of baked goods.
The ground floor premises are situated in a popular secondary location, close to its junction with New Street. The property benefits from convenient on-street parking and a welcoming sales area alongside useful storage, providing Sweet Hungarian Kiss Ltd with both functionality and charm.
Eva and her business partner began as a home-based venture, initially supplying cakes to local shops around Burton. Thanks to positive feedback and growing demand for their offerings, the bakery has rapidly expanded its product line to include celebration cakes, solidifying their position in the local market.
Eva expressed her enthusiasm about the new premises, saying: “We began our search for a location to expand our business and that’s how we discovered Rushton Hickman and 335 Uxbridge Street. The moment we stepped inside, we knew it was a perfect fit for us.”
Stephanie O’Leary, the agent who facilitated the letting, said: “We are pleased to have been able to help Eva secure her first premises. It has been a pleasure working with her and we believe that the location on Uxbridge Street complements her business really well.”
Vehicle hire company falls into administration
Swadlincote-based PT Hire, which provided HGV truck, lorry and commercial vehicle hire services, as well as maintenance solutions, has entered administration.
It worked with businesses and vehicle operators nationwide on commercial vehicle procurement needs and at the time of administration the company operated a fleet of 450 vehicles.
The company had faced challenging operating conditions following mechanical issues impacting a substantial proportion of its fleet which resulted in cash flow difficulties that ultimately impacted its ability to provide a service solvently.
Richard Bloomfield, Ian Corfield and Nathan Jones of specialist business advisory firm FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of PT Hire on 7 October 2024.
13 employees have been made redundant, with a small number of employees retained to assist the administrators.
Richard Bloomfield, partner at FRP Advisory and joint administrator of PT Hire, said: “Despite being a trusted supplier across the sector for many years, mounting pressures resulted in the business being unable to meet its financial obligations, and regrettably, this has meant ceasing operations.
“We are now focused on supporting the employees affected to file claims with the Redundancy Payments Service.”
