Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, revealed as keynote speaker for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

Tess Egginton
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Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, revealed as keynote speaker for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
The keynote speaker for this year’s East Midlands Bricks Awards, taking place on Thursday 2nd October at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, can now be revealed. Councillor Nadine Peatfield is the Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, as well as Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands. Speaking with Business Link, Councillor Nadine Peatfield said: “2025 is a landmark year for Derby. We’re not just planning, we’re actively building a vibrant and welcoming city for everyone to enjoy. This vision has been brought to life thanks to the crucial partnerships with our talented development partners. “The East Midlands Bricks Awards is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional skills and expertise within our region’s property and construction sector, and I’m very excited to see their achievements recognised.” Celebrating the property and construction industry, the East Midlands Bricks Awards showcase the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes, schools and public spaces. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes. Nominations are now OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s 10th annual Bricks Awards. Entering the awards is completely free and making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the event, where you’ll be in the running for one of our coveted awards. To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page. Categories include: All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries.
Tickets can now be booked for the 2025 awards event, click here to secure yours. Taking place in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on Thursday 2nd October from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                      

To be held at:

With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.

Nottinghamshire NHS lands £2.6m to upgrade hospital infrastructure

April Lara
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Nottinghamshire NHS lands £2.6m to upgrade hospital infrastructure

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has secured £2.6 million in government funding to address high-risk maintenance issues and modernise critical hospital infrastructure across five of its sites.

The funding, drawn from the Government’s Critical Infrastructure Risk (CIR) capital programme, will go towards essential upgrades at Rampton Hospital, Wathwood Hospital, Arnold Lodge Hospital, The Wells Road Centre, and Thorneywood Mount. All five facilities are specialist mental health hospitals, providing varying levels of secure care to patients across the Midlands and South Yorkshire.

Work will focus on replacing or upgrading ageing systems tied to fire safety, water and energy infrastructure, and electrical networks. At Rampton, a full-scale overhaul of fire alarms and suppression systems is planned. At The Wells Road Centre, the outdated mechanical plant will be replaced to improve reliability and energy performance. Arnold Lodge will see major improvements to its electrical and energy systems, contributing to the Trust’s wider Net Zero targets.

The projects are part of the Trust’s long-term Estates Strategy and Green Plan, which aims to create safer, greener, and more resilient healthcare environments. Works begin this summer and will be phased through to spring 2026 to minimise disruption to services.

Ambulance upgrade targets faster emergency response in East Midlands

April Lara
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Ambulance upgrade targets faster emergency response in East Midlands

Thirty new ambulances will be rolled out across the East Midlands to replace ageing vehicles, backed by £4.7 million in government funding. The investment forms part of a wider £450 million package aimed at modernising emergency care services across England.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), which currently operates a fleet of over 800 vehicles, is expected to receive the new units by March 2026. The vehicles will support the government’s Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26, a strategy designed to reduce pressure on emergency departments by streamlining frontline response capacity.

The wider plan involves phasing out nearly 500 older ambulances nationwide to improve response times and reliability.

EMAS’s current vehicle mix includes emergency ambulances, rapid response cars, community responder units, and patient transport vehicles, positioning the trust as a major buyer and operator within the region’s emergency care infrastructure.

Local councils seek business backing for foster care campaign

April Lara
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Local councils seek business backing for foster care campaign

Businesses across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are being asked to support a joint initiative aimed at boosting local authority foster care in the East Midlands.

The Foster for East Midlands Councils campaign, launched in March 2024, is a collaborative effort between Derby City, Derbyshire County, Nottingham City, and Nottinghamshire County Councils. Its goal is to increase the number of foster carers and improve support for existing ones through coordinated regional outreach.

As part of its business engagement strategy, the campaign will host two breakfast networking events in June to introduce the initiative to local employers. These events will provide information on how companies can get involved and share insights from current foster carers. Sessions are scheduled for 19 June at Pride Park Stadium in Derby and 25 June at Notts County Football Club in Nottingham.

Beyond attending events, businesses are encouraged to support the campaign by promoting fostering across internal communications channels, offering space for events, or providing discounts to foster families. Companies can also gain recognition by becoming Fostering Friendly employers through The Fostering Network’s national scheme, with support provided to implement the necessary workplace policies.

The councils emphasise the role businesses can play in raising awareness and creating a supportive environment for children in care. Interested organisations can contact the campaign team via phone or visit the website for further details on partnerships and event bookings.

£2m council-backed investment brings H&M to new Grosvenor Centre site

April Lara
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£2m council-backed investment brings H&M to new Grosvenor Centre site

H&M has relocated to a new unit in Northampton’s Grosvenor Centre, supported by a £2 million loan from West Northamptonshire Council. The funding is part of a broader local initiative to revitalise the town centre and attract higher foot traffic through improved retail and commercial offerings.

This investment forms one of two council-backed loans aimed at enhancing the shopping centre’s appeal and functionality. The second, worth £1 million, is earmarked for developing flexible workspaces within the centre to accommodate demand for hybrid and remote working environments. Both measures are part of the council’s strategic push to stimulate economic activity in central Northampton by supporting commercial tenants and enhancing business infrastructure.

H&M’s move from its former site on Abington Street aligns with the council’s efforts to modernise retail space and attract major high street names back to the area. The Grosvenor Centre’s management has highlighted the reopening as a significant boost to its tenant mix and overall commercial offering.

The dual investment in retail and workspace reflects a trend in urban commercial redevelopment, combining experiential shopping with flexible working to future-proof town centres.

Apprenticeship events support Chesterfield’s future workforce

April Lara
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Apprenticeship events support Chesterfield’s future workforce

Chesterfield Borough Council is strengthening its business talent pipeline by connecting school leavers with local employers through a series of Apprenticeship and T Level information events. The initiative targets sectors with strong regional demand, including construction, manufacturing, engineering, and health and social care.

These events, delivered in partnership with the East Midlands Combined County Authority Careers Hub, the ASK programme, and a network of local firms, aim to bridge the gap between education and employment. Outcomes from this academic year already include student enrolment at Chesterfield College’s Construction Skills Hub and new apprenticeship hires.

Employers participating in the events include Frank Shaw Associates, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Stepnell, United Cast Bar, MSE Hiller, and regional universities. The initiative is part of the UK’s first designated ‘Apprentice Town’, a place-based strategy where apprenticeships form a core part of economic development.

There are currently around 60 apprenticeship opportunities available within a 10-mile radius of Chesterfield, according to the national Find an Apprenticeship service. The next council-run information event is scheduled for October.

By focusing on vocational routes and promoting direct employer engagement, Chesterfield is positioning its young talent as a solution to local skills shortages and long-term business growth.

Derby-based PfP Thrive unites 26 industry leaders to tackle housing sector skills shortage

Tess Egginton
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Derby-based PfP Thrive unites 26 industry leaders to tackle housing sector skills shortage
PfP Thrive, part of Places for People, has struck up partnerships with housing associations to deliver bespoke training programmes designed to address the critical skills shortage in the housing and construction sectors. With demand for skilled workers at an all-time high, PfP Thrive is delivering tailored and comprehensive training modules for the UK housing and construction sectors and now, it has announced a new collaboration with 26 major industry names, including Havebury Housing, Amplius Housing, Futures Housing Group, Thrive Homes, Saffron Housing, Wates Group, Peabody Housing, East Midlands Homes (EMH), Alpha Living, Platform HG, Plymouth Community Homes, Novus Property Solutions, Gilmartin’s Group, Breck Group, Flagship Group, Notting Hill Genesis, The Guinness Partnership, Alpha Living, Derventio Housing Trust, Anchor, Riverside, Nottingham Community Housing, Warrington Housing Association, and West Kent Housing. Learning partners have also come on board, with the Retrofit Academy, City and Guilds, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and Study Academy supporting training and accreditation moving forward. By working together, the partnership will rapidly train new and existing colleagues within the housing sector, ensuring the sector has the expertise needed to maintain homes, meet retrofit targets, and deliver ambitious housebuilding programmes. The initiative will focus on traditional trades, emerging skills and housing specific learning ensuring the workforce is futureproofed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. In addition to technical training, PfP Thrive will also offer compliance courses, apprenticeships, and leadership development programmes, helping to create a pipeline of skilled professionals at all levels. Tom Arey, director of PfP Thrive, said: “The skills shortage is one of the greatest challenges facing the housing and construction sectors today. The only way to solve it is through genuine cross-industry collaboration, and that’s exactly what we’ve built with these partnerships and look forward to supporting more organisations across our sector. “By working together, we can equip both the existing and new housing workforce with the skills, knowledge and behaviours the sector needs to thrive. This is about securing the future of our sector, our workforce, and ultimately, the homes we build and maintain.” PfP Thrive aims to train over 100 apprentices in its first year, with a new academy and central hub in Derby welcoming its first intake this autumn.

Chief financial officer steps down at Marks Electrical Group

Tess Egginton
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Chief financial officer steps down at Marks Electrical Group

The chief financial officer at Marks Electrical Group, the Leicester-based online electrical retailer, is set to leave the company to take up a new role as chief financial officer of Roadchef.

Marks Electrical is now commencing a process to appoint a successor. Josh Egan, who remains a director of the company, will continue to fulfil his current role, which will include supporting the business through its preliminary results in June and facilitating a smooth transition. 

Mark Smithson, CEO of Marks Electrical, said: “Josh has made a great contribution to the transformation of Marks Electrical, bringing professionalism and rigour to the finance function and through wider support across the business. Our financial controls, reporting and financial discipline are in a far stronger place than when he arrived.

“Under his guidance, we have improved our financial and operational capabilities, creating a strong platform for our future success. He has been a great colleague, and we thank him for his efforts at Marks Electrical and wish him well in his new role.”

Josh Egan, CFO of Marks Electrical, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Mark and the team, as we transitioned from a successful family-owned business to a publicly traded company. It’s never an easy decision to leave a great business, especially with the progress we have made over the last few years.

“However, the opportunity has arisen for me to take on an exciting new challenge. I leave Marks Electrical in a good position and have every confidence that the business will continue to flourish, as it executes on its strategy of driving profitable market share gains to become the UK’s leading premium electrical retailer.”

PR agency joins creative community in Northampton

Tess Egginton
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PR agency joins creative community in Northampton
Ballyhoo PR, a Northamptonshire-based public relations agency, has moved its operations from Lamport to creative hub Vulcan Works, in the heart of Northampton’s Cultural Quarter. The move marks the start of a new chapter for Ballyhoo PR, which celebrated nine years in business last month. Ballyhoo PR started working with the team at Vulcan Works at the end of 2022, preparing for its official opening in February 2023. Since then, they have established a strong agency/client relationship and Ballyhoo PR has seen first-hand the benefits of using the flexible workspace and additional services provided by Vulcan Works to support business growth. Emma Speirs, founder and director of Ballyhoo PR, said: “As soon as we walked through the doors of Vulcan Works, we were impressed with the space, which combines old and new and pays tribute to Northamptonshire’s shoe-making heritage. “Since then, we have helped to tell the stories of the inspiring entrepreneurs and thriving businesses who call Vulcan Works home. We’ve also seen how hard the team work to support businesses and help them to grow through various events, workshops, and a dedicated business support manager on-site. “I adored our converted barn office in Lamport and it was our home for just shy of four years. But, like many businesses, we adopted a hybrid way of working and were only using the office once or twice a week and the bills were constantly going up. “Now, we have taken out coworking memberships at Vulcan Works for all of the team and use it as our base. We still meet up to work together as a team a minimum of once a week but now have the added benefits of being part of a wider, creative community with additional opportunities for business support too. “The move also gives us a town centre base and makes us much more visible as a business. We should have done this years ago!” Garrick Hurter, centre manager at Vulcan Works, added: “Ballyhoo PR is a perfect fit for Vulcan Works, which was established to provide flexible, scalable workspace solutions for creative businesses. “The Ballyhoo team were always welcome and felt part of our team, but now they are regularly working out of Vulcan Works, we get to see more of them. “Ballyhoo PR has been instrumental in helping tell the Vulcan Works story and the team have a deep understanding of what we’re about. Having them embedded in the space brings everything full circle and we look forward to seeing their business continue to thrive here.”

Airport fleet switches to renewable fuel in East Midlands

April Lara
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Airport fleet switches to renewable fuel in East Midlands

East Midlands Airport has transitioned over 60 of its operational vehicles to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biodiesel, cutting their carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional diesel. The switch includes airfield operations vehicles, fire engines, snow ploughs, and other ground support units.

The move aligns with Manchester Airports Group’s (MAG) five-year sustainability strategy, which aims for net zero operations across its airports, including Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands- by 2038.

Supplied by YourNRG, the HVO fuel is derived from waste vegetable oils and fats. It undergoes hydrogen treatment to create a clean-burning, biodegradable fuel that also significantly reduces particulate emissions.

East Midlands Airport has been carbon neutral since 2012 and was the first UK airport to achieve certification from the Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme. Alongside the new fuel switch, the site uses 100% renewable electricity, has installed commercial-grade wind turbines, and diverts all waste from landfill. Additional upgrades include electric ambulifts for passengers with reduced mobility and expanded electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for airside vehicles.

The fuel conversion reflects growing momentum among UK infrastructure and transport hubs to decarbonise operations with scalable, low-carbon technologies.

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