Derby biotech N4 Pharma strengthens leadership to advance drug delivery platform

April Lara
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Derby biotech N4 Pharma strengthens leadership to advance drug delivery platform

N4 Pharma, a Derby-based biotech firm, has expanded its senior leadership team as it moves to accelerate the development and commercial readiness of its Nuvec® delivery technology.

The new team includes experienced figures from global pharmaceutical and biotech organisations, brought in to support internal R&D, commercial strategy, and manufacturing functions.

Dr Fiona McLaughlin will lead research and development, drawing on over two decades of oncology drug development at GSK, Bayer, and Avacta. Dr Mark Edbrooke, with prior leadership roles in functional genomics at GSK and oncology at AstraZeneca, takes up the role of head of strategy. Commercial director Dr Simon Bennett brings experience from more than 70 biopharma companies, having facilitated over 80 commercial transactions. Dr Margaret Courtney, now leading Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC), has consulted widely across biotech and pharma on drug delivery and contract manufacturing operations.

The appointments reflect N4 Pharma’s focus on advancing its proprietary Nuvec nanoparticle platform, designed to enhance the delivery of RNA and DNA therapeutics. The company aims to secure commercial partnerships and establish an internal pipeline of RNA-based therapies.

Conygar returns to profit and restructures Nottingham loan

April Lara
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Conygar returns to profit and restructures Nottingham loan

Property investment firm Conygar has posted a £6.3 million profit for the six months to 31 March 2025, marking a return to profitability following the sale of two assets in Anglesey: Holyhead Waterfront and Parc Cybi. The disposals contributed to the company’s improved financial position, following losses in the previous period.

The developer also confirmed the restructuring of its Barclays development loan linked to the Winfield Court student accommodation at Nottingham’s Island Quarter. The revised agreement extends the final repayment deadline from March 2025 to December 2025, providing additional flexibility amid ongoing development activity.

Operationally, Conygar reported solid progress at the Island Quarter. Student accommodation lettings at Winfield Court are on track for the upcoming academic year. Meanwhile, revenues at the Cleaver & Wake and Binks Yard hospitality venues have held steady, with margins showing gradual improvement despite wider sector pressures.

The company remains cautiously optimistic about its pipeline, citing supportive trends in the UK real estate market, including continued rental growth, limited new construction activity, and easing lending conditions. Conygar sees long-term value in its Nottingham project and broader portfolio, anticipating future opportunities that align with investor demand for high-quality, sustainable assets.

Oadby & Wigston businesses invited to apply for up to £3,000 in green funding

Tess Egginton
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Oadby & Wigston businesses invited to apply for up to £3,000 in green funding

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council (OWBC) is offering local businesses the chance to apply for up to £3,000 of funding to reduce their carbon footprints and work towards a greener future.

The Green Grant Scheme is designed to help businesses in the borough invest in solutions which will increase their sustainability in the long term, which could include adopting green transport solutions such as e-bikes, or installing energy-efficient systems such as LED lighting, solar panels or heat pumps.

All local businesses are invited to a launch night on Thursday 12 June where they can learn more about the grant and how to submit a successful application. The event is taking place at the Oadby & Wigston Borough Council Offices. For more information, or to RSVP to the launch event, businesses should contact business@oadby-wigston.gov.uk.

OWBC has made a pot of £30,000 available, funded by UK Government, in total for the scheme. Funding of £500 – £3,000 will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible businesses who have a premises and demonstrate they meet all of the application criteria. Applications will close on 30 September 2025, or earlier if the allocation is spent.

Councillor Lee Bentley, deputy leader of OWBC, said: “We are delighted to introduce the Green Grant Scheme as part of our ongoing commitment to reducing our borough’s carbon footprint.

“Supporting local businesses to become more sustainable is an important goal of our new Climate Change Strategy and also supports the UK Government’s goal of a Net Zero economy by 2050.

“As well as the environmental boost this funding could make a real, economic difference to local businesses by allowing them to install more efficient systems, leading to lower overheads and increased profits.

“This is a great opportunity for our businesses, and I really encourage them to come along to the launch night on Thursday 12 June to learn more and think about applying.”

Games Workshop boosts staff bonus after record year

April Lara
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Games Workshop boosts staff bonus after record year

Games Workshop will distribute £20 million in staff bonuses following a strong financial year. The Warhammer franchise continues to grow its global footprint across retail, licensing, and entertainment.

The payout, shared equally among employees, marks an increase from £18 million the previous year and reflects another year of rising revenue and profit. The company currently projects sales of at least £560 million for the year ending 1 June, up from £494.7 million. Licensing income is expected to reach £50 million, primarily driven by its partnership with Amazon to adapt Warhammer 40,000 into television and film.

Games Workshop’s pre-tax profit is forecast at at least £255 million, with core operating profit at £210 million. These figures follow a year of record retail sales across the UK, North America, and Continental Europe, as well as the successful launch of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which sold five million copies by the end of November.

The company’s continued expansion into media and entertainment, supported by defined creative agreements with Amazon, has bolstered its IP monetisation strategy. It also recently entered the FTSE 100 index for the first time, reflecting nearly a decade of consistent growth.

Despite the strong outlook, shares fell 4.5% on Friday morning, making Games Workshop the largest faller on the FTSE. Its current market capitalisation stands at nearly £5 billion.

Midlands selects nine digital health firms for NHS innovation drive

April Lara
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Midlands selects nine digital health firms for NHS innovation drive

Nine digital health companies have been selected for the inaugural cohort of Grow Digital Health Midlands, a regional accelerator focused on scaling healthcare technology across the NHS and broader care system.

Launched in early 2025 as the successor to the East Midlands Digital Health Accelerator, the programme is delivered by Health Innovation East Midlands and Health Innovation West Midlands. It targets high-potential digital solutions that align with national NHS priorities and specific regional challenges, particularly those aimed at improving workforce productivity, enhancing communication, and reducing pressure on hospital services.

The selected companies will receive tailored support, including one-on-one business coaching and access to clinical, regulatory, and commercial expertise. They will also have opportunities to present their technologies directly to NHS stakeholders and care leaders across the Midlands.

The cohort includes Appthealth, which automates care coordination for patients with multiple long-term conditions, and Hope for the Community, which provides digital self-management tools for individuals with chronic illnesses and their carers. AirEmail offers a platform to improve email workflows for healthcare professionals, while Kaenect delivers AI-powered referral automation and patient engagement tools. Surgfit supports remote pre-operative assessment to enhance clinical decision-making, and Heidi Health enables automatic medical transcription to reduce clinician admin. Suvera operates virtual clinics to improve primary care outcomes for patients with long-term conditions. ExpertCare focuses on personalised decision support for hypertension, and Note Dr provides AI-generated clinical documentation in real time.

The Midlands, which spans 11 integrated care systems and a population of nearly 12 million, is the largest NHS region in England. The programme was developed in close consultation with local NHS leaders to ensure each selected solution aligns with regional goals and demonstrates high potential for real-world adoption.

BGF commits £300m to Midlands businesses

Tess Egginton
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BGF commits £300m to Midlands businesses
BGF, the growth capital investor, has pledged £300 million to Midlands-based businesses as part of its £3 billion UK-wide commitment to support high-potential companies over the next five years. This regional commitment builds on BGF’s strong track record in the Midlands, where it has invested £541 million since 2011. As part of the £3 billion pledge, BGF is also committing £300 million to female-powered businesses across the UK, to foster greater diversity in the growth economy. This builds on an initial £25 million commitment to the Invest in Women Taskforce (IWT), which helped raise over £250 million last year. Since 2011, BGF’s portfolio companies across the UK have generated £7.1 billion in revenue growth, £1 billion in export growth, and created more than 27,000 jobs. With 74% of its capital deployed outside London and the South East, BGF’s regional-first approach is central to its mission to reduce capital disparities across the country. Seb Saywood, partner, Midlands, BGF, said: “We’ve backed great businesses in the Midlands for over a decade, from manufacturers to fast-growing tech firms. This new £300 million commitment builds on that track record and reflects our long-term belief in the region’s potential to deliver strong, sustainable growth.”

Three Bunkers Challenge surpasses £60,000 raised for charity

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Three Bunkers Challenge surpasses £60,000 raised for charity
The annual Three Bunkers Challenge has raised £60,000 cumulatively in aid of local charity Big C Little c which supports CRUK, NSPCC and other charities that support children at risk. Another major beneficiary this year will be the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre (CBTRC) at Nottingham University. Now in its 5th year, the Three Bunkers Challenge took place on Friday 22 May and is styled like the infamous three peaks mountain climbs. It involves 24 golfers playing 27 holes at three separate golf courses across the East Midlands within 10 hours, covering just over 70 miles. The winning team this year was Fiscal Engineers and, on the day, a cheque for £11,250 was presented to Big C Little c founders Colin Shaw and Andrew Springhall. Further donations have been pledged meaning the 2025 event will raise in excess of £13,500, bringing the cumulative total raised since 2020 to £60,000. An auction was also held for a signed Nottingham Forest Shirt, tickets for the T20 at the Upton Steel County Ground, and golf fourball vouchers for Beeston Fields, Brierley Forest, Chorley, Coxmoor, Charnwood Forest, Chevin, Mapperley, Radcliffe on Trent and Serlby Park golf clubs. Event co-organiser Elliot Cook from Simple Marketing Consultancy said: “Three Bunkers was started by my business partner Bev Cook and continues to be a huge success. We’d both like to thank everyone who took part or donated as we now only have another £40,000 to raise to reach our £100,000 overall target. “We’d particularly like to thank Morley Hayes, Charnwood Forest and The Nottinghamshire golf clubs as without their support we would not be able to hold the event and raise so much.” Colin Shaw from Big C Little c added: “The Three Bunkers Challenge is an important fundraiser for us as it helps us to deliver tailored support to local people. The NSPCC receives many calls from children who have been affected by a cancer and similarly local research centres like CBTRC need financial assistance to continue the search for pioneering new cancer treatments.” The teams that participated in the 2025 event included Actons Solicitors, Fiscal Engineers, Finance for Enterprise, MAF Finance Group, Michael Reed Wealth Management, Shakespeare Martineau, and Simple Marketing Consultancy.

Landmark lease agreement to see £80m logistics hub built in Leicestershire

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Landmark lease agreement to see £80m logistics hub built in Leicestershire
A new landmark lease agreement between logistics network Pall-Ex and commercial property developer and investor Barberry will result in the construction of a state-of-the-art freight distribution hub in Leicestershire. Pall-Ex’s new Centre of Excellence – the largest build to suit pre-let deal in the UK this year – will cover 408,000 sq ft, with an additional 100,000 sq ft canopy, on a 35-acre site. The £80 million facility will serve as the flagship logistics hub for the network and will house Pall-Ex’s UK and European headquarters. Scheduled to begin construction later this year, the Centre of Excellence has been designed with sustainability and innovation at its core. It will be aiming for EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent accreditation. To achieve the highest rating of EPC A+, the new hub incorporates a variety of energy-efficient and eco-friendly features, including electric vehicle charging stations, solar panels and designated green spaces. Once complete, it will be the first purpose-built facility in the pallet network sector in the UK to be energy self-sufficient. Barberry this week lodged a planning application at Hinckley and Bosworth District Council for the development on land at Bardon, Leicestershire. The proposals show it is expected to create around 500 construction jobs and an estimated 534 permanent jobs. Work is scheduled to start on site in Q4 this year, subject to planning. Jonathan Robinson, Barberry development director, said: “We are thrilled to announce that we have secured a pre-let agreement with Pall-Ex to deliver the company’s new national centre of excellence in Leicestershire – the largest build-to-suit pre-let in the UK this year. “Working closely with Pall-Ex we plan to create a new national palletised freight distribution center that will deliver new ESG credentials, carbon net zero in occupation, staff welfare recreation zone incorporating football pitch, basketball court, club house helping attract and retain staff while providing Pall-Ex with the operational excellence that will make the business stand out amongst its UK competitors. “After agreeing a long-term lease with the company, we have now submitted a planning application to Hinckley and Bosworth District Council for a 408,000 sq ft warehouse at Bardon, located just a couple of miles from junction 22 of the M1, providing access to the national motorway network.” Kevin Buchanan, Pall-Ex Group chief executive officer, views the construction of the new HQ as a pivotal stage of the company’s strategy to revolutionise the way the network operates in terms of sustainability and operational excellence. He said: “Our new, multi-million-pound, cutting-edge Centre of Excellence isn’t just about expansion and growth – it’s about redefining the industry through technology, quality, and state-of-the-art infrastructure. As a market leader, we are immensely proud to unveil plans for premises that will be A+ rated, carbon-neutral, and built for the future. “This investment signals a massive opportunity for our stakeholders, reinforcing Pall-Ex’s position at the forefront of operational excellence. We are once again leading the way and shaping the future of palletised freight distribution through innovation, technology and sustainability.”

Merger strengthens Duncan & Toplis’s footprint in Leicester

April Lara
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Merger strengthens Duncan & Toplis’s footprint in Leicester

Leicester-based accountancy firm Torr Waterfield is set to merge with Duncan & Toplis, expanding the latter’s presence in the Midlands. Subject to regulatory approval, the merger will see Torr Waterfield rebrand under the Duncan & Toplis name.

Founded in 2000, Torr Waterfield provides tax, accountancy, and business advisory services. All 60 staff members, including the firm’s co-founders, will remain in their roles, and the Clarence Street office in Leicester will become part of Duncan & Toplis’s regional network.

The merger is part of Torr Waterfield’s strategic growth plan to enhance service capabilities and client reach. For Duncan & Toplis, it marks another step in its expansion strategy following the February acquisition of North London-based ALG.

Duncan & Toplis has been in business since 1925 and operates 13 offices across the Midlands and London. This latest integration underscores its focus on regional consolidation and investment in experienced teams.

Trade deals open new export pathways for East Midlands sectors

April Lara
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Trade deals open new export pathways for East Midlands sectors

Businesses in the East Midlands are poised to benefit from three major trade agreements recently finalised by the UK Government with India, the United States, and the European Union.

The region’s aerospace sector employs over 23,000 people and is among the primary beneficiaries. The removal of US tariffs on UK aerospace exports and the reduction of Indian tariffs on advanced machinery and medical devices are expected to strengthen supply chains and improve export margins for companies such as Rolls-Royce and other regional employers.

Agricultural producers, supporting over 30,000 jobs in the East Midlands, are also expected to gain from reduced red tape and easier access to the EU market. The new agreement cuts customs checks and other administrative burdens, simplifying cross-border trade for food producers and manufacturers.

Steel businesses employing more than 2,000 people in the region will benefit from continued protections on British exports to the EU, shielding them from restrictive tariffs and trade barriers.

New opportunities are emerging for East Midlands exporters targeting the Indian market. In 2024, 740 regional businesses exported goods worth £308 million to India. The new UK-India deal eliminates import duties on several goods, expanding market access, particularly for the fashion and consumer goods sectors.

The deals across these sectors are expected to foster greater trade stability, attract inward investment, and protect existing jobs while opening up new commercial opportunities in global markets.

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