HMS Pharmacy in Loughborough, Leicestershire, has been sold following the retirement of its long-term owner after 25 years. The business, which dispenses approximately 10,500 items monthly, was acquired by Dr Milan Chande and his family, marking their entry into the pharmacy sector.

The pharmacy operates from a two-storey premises featuring two consultation rooms and a vacant upper floor, offering potential for further development. The buyers previously acquired a dental practice in Leicester in 2021.

The sale was brokered by Christie & Co and comes amid growing transactional activity in the region, with several other pharmacy sales underway in Leicestershire. The deal underlines continued interest from first-time buyers in established community pharmacy businesses with growth potential.

Punch Pubs & Co has expanded its estate by acquiring four pubs from Everards, a Leicester-based brewing and pub company. The acquisition includes The Old Kings Head in Long Buckby, The Paget in Loughborough, The Cricketers in Leicester, and the Dog & Gun in Whetstone.

The deal adds to Punch’s existing portfolio of over 1,300 pubs across the UK. The transition is being managed in coordination with the current publicans and their teams to ensure operational continuity.

Everards, which has invested £3 million into its estate over the past year, stated that the sale will support ongoing reinvestment across its remaining venues.

The East Midlands Chamber and the University of Derby have formalised a new strategic partnership focused on supporting entrepreneurship and high-growth business activity across Derby and Derbyshire.

The agreement deepens their long-standing collaboration, expanding into areas such as decarbonisation initiatives, innovation development, and joint applications for public sector business support. A key element will be designing and delivering funded programmes tailored to local businesses aiming to scale.

The University remains the headline partner of Generation Next, a Chamber-led initiative aimed at professional development for individuals aged 18–35, reinforcing its role in building the region’s future talent pipeline.

This partnership also supports broader regional objectives through involvement in Chesterfield Champions, a collective of over 230 organisations committed to promoting Chesterfield and North Derbyshire’s economic development.

Cyberattacks are no longer limited to major corporations, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the UK, including here in the East Midlands, are increasingly being targeted.

New research from Vodafone Business reveals that UK SMEs lose a staggering £3.4 billion annually due to poor cybersecurity. And closer to home, the East Midlands is far from immune; 29% of SMEs in the region reported experiencing a cyberattack last year, with the average cost per incident reaching £1,559.

This week, high street giant M&S confirmed it has been managing a ‘cyber incident’ for several days. While details remain scarce, customers reported Click & Collect disruptions and temporary issues with in-store returns, suggesting a serious internal systems compromise.

Though M&S quickly reassured customers that stores remain open and that its website and app are functioning normally, the attack highlighted a stark truth: even well-resourced organisations with dedicated IT teams can be vulnerable.

Nationally, over a third (35%) of SMEs suffered at least one attack in 2024 alone, and 6% experienced up to 10 breaches. Yet despite the clear threat, many businesses remain underprepared. Joe Burns, Co-Founder of Reformed IT, says:

“The financial loss is just the tip of the iceberg. The real damage is the erosion of customer trust, reputational harm, and operational disruption. In some cases, businesses never fully recover. M&S, with its extensive resources and immediate access to cybersecurity experts, is likely to recover quickly. But most SMEs aren’t so lucky.”

And the threat landscape is evolving fast. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being weaponised by cybercriminals, allowing them to scan for vulnerabilities, breach defences, and launch ransomware attacks with little effort or expertise. According to Burns:

“AI may be transforming industries for the better, but in the wrong hands, it becomes a serious threat.”

Rural broadband provider Quickline has partnered with the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) to support digital transformation among small businesses and entrepreneurs across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

The three-year initiative is designed to help 60 rural enterprises adopt digital tools and technologies. It forms part of Quickline’s social value contribution to the UK government’s Project Gigabit programme.

The partnership will deliver a series of innovation days, training sessions, mentoring, and workshops tailored to the specific needs of rural businesses. The goal is to enhance digital capability, drive innovation, and create new growth opportunities outside urban centres.

C4DI will lead programme delivery, offering access to its network of experts and support infrastructure, while Quickline provides the digital connectivity and strategic backing necessary to enable long-term adoption.

RDCP Care Holdings, a care provider based in Smethwick, has acquired the Mansfield-headquartered Monarch Care Group in a multimillion-pound transaction. The deal signals a significant expansion for RDCP in the UK residential care sector.

All shares in Monarch have been transferred, with previous owners Angela Bir, Amit Bir, and Hiten Shanghavi exiting the business entirely. The acquisition adds to RDCP’s growing portfolio of care homes, aligning with its broader strategy of consolidating high-performing providers in the sector.

The deal involved multiple professional advisers. Wilkes advised the outgoing shareholders on both corporate and property aspects, with legal support led by Kiran Munawar and Charlotte Keys. Grant Thornton provided corporate finance guidance, and Brindleys acted as accountants.

Barclays Bank, represented by Pinsent Masons, was involved in financing. Kent Finance, Sheridans, and HCR Law advised the buyer.