Turkish Airlines set to be largest user of Rolls-Royce Trent engines

Stuart Pearcey
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Turkish Airlines set to be largest user of Rolls-Royce Trent engines
Turkish Airlines is set to become the world’s largest operator of Rolls-Royce Derby-built Trent XWB engines with its decision to order 140 between 2025 and 2033. It will order 100 Trent XWB-84 variants and 40 XWB-97 ones, all to be covered by the Rolls-Royce comprehensive TotalCare service. This order will complement the airline’s existing fleet, adding to the 40 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 A350-900s already in service and on order, and 26 Trent 700 powered A330s. Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic said: “This announcement is proof that the actions we are taking to transform Rolls-Royce into a high performing and competitive company underpinned by profitable growth are working.
“The Trent XWB is the perfect engine platform to support Turkish Airlines as it continues to grow. This order will make Turkish Airlines the largest Trent XWB operator in the world, and I would like to thank them for putting their trust in Rolls-Royce. “Türkiye is a strategically important market for us, and it is imperative to develop long-term partnerships with the airline and other important Turkish stakeholders. “We look forward to working with Turkish Airlines as they continue to connect their passengers across global communities and cultures.”
Flying to more than 340 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, Turkish Airlines has grown from a passenger base of 10 million in 2003 to more than 82 million in the last twelve months.
 

Copper recycling company falls into administration

Tess Egginton
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Copper recycling company falls into administration
A Leicestershire company which processed unused or discarded copper materials for resale has been placed in administration. Steven Wiseglass, a director at Manchester-based Inquesta Corporate Recovery & Insolvency, has been appointed as administrator of Pure Copper Recycling Ltd. Pure Copper Recycling, based in Gaddesby, had stopped trading while it sought new premises. All eight employees have since been made redundant. The company, founded in 2018, was a granulation specialist which repurposed and recycled unused or discarded copper cables and materials bought from a variety of clients, including scrap merchants, tradesmen, waste sites and electricians. In the period from December 1 2022 to September 28 2023, the business generated sales of £10.4m. Steven Wiseglass said: “We have been appointed as the administrator of Pure Copper Recycling Ltd. “Due to a number of issues, the business was unable to continue trading and regrettably the employees have been made redundant. “We are now working with advisers to assess the value of the company’s assets and will then undertake a sale process with a view to securing a return for creditors.”

Airport academy allows aviation industry careers to take off

Stuart Pearcey
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Airport academy allows aviation industry careers to take off
Next week sees the start of the second course offering learners a direct route into the aviation industry thanks to collaboration between the East Midlands Airport Academy and Nottingham College.
The partnership at the on-site Academy offers tailor-made pre-employment and upskilling training for around 200 unemployed or low-income adult learners a year and existing employees. The two-week courses are free and take place on-site at EMA, covering a range of topics including an introduction to the aviation industry, customer service and team work and aviation terminology, to equip them with the skills needed to take up various careers that are available at EMA. Fifteen learners were the first to complete the course, during which they were taken on an airside tour, took part in mock interviews and given support to apply for roles in the airport including help with CVs, covering letters and five-year checkable history. They heard from guest speakers from, Swissport, DHL, Leonardo’s Hotel, and Boots, as well as EMA’s HR, Security and Assisted Travel teams. Marcella M’Rabety, Group Head of Education, Skills and Employment for EMA’s owner Manchester Airports Group, said: “We are pleased that 15 learners have completed our first course with Nottingham College. They have been given skills and support towards gaining employment on site at EMA and have heard from a range of employers. We are really grateful for our on-site businesses attending the course to talk about roles, job opportunities and inspiring our learners to find work at the airport. “Our next course is 15th January which will include attending the Jobs Fair on Wednesday 17th January. We can’t wait to welcome more learners on site.”

Aggregate Industries adds electric cement mixer truck to its fleet

Stuart Pearcey
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Aggregate Industries adds electric cement mixer truck to its fleet
Leicestershire-based building materials supplier Aggregate Industries has added an electric cement mixer truck to its fleet. It will be based at the Coleshill Readymix Plant in Birmingham, from where it will serve the West Midlands. Putzmeister, as one of the leading manufacturers of concrete equipment, offers the fully electric eMixer under the brand name iONTRON. The electrically powered truck with a 350kWh battery is provided by the parent company SANY. This cooperation ensures zero emissions and significantly reduced noise during transport and on site. EV fleet and battery storage specialist Zenobē provided the charging infrastructure for the e- Mixer with a 120KW/h charger sited at the Coleshill base. Zenobē also integrated the EV charging software to monitor the charging profile of the e-mixer and provide valuable insight into the operational performance of the batteries on the vehicle. This data will be used to develop and roll out Aggregate Industries’ long-term strategy to electrify its heavy fleet. Gary Brennand, Md of Aggregate Industries’ Readymix division, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our latest electric mixer truck in partnership with Putzmeister and Sany. Our mission is to be the UK leader in innovative and sustainable building materials and to decarbonise the construction industry. “Electrification of our fleet, machinery and plant is a vital component of that and of helping us achieve our net zero ambitions. “Traditional mixer trucks use diesel fuel so to be able to have vehicles with zero emissions on the roads is a hugely positive step change in our operations. We are at the start of our journey but this will gather pace as the technology continues to evolve along with the infrastructure.”

Banner Jones welcomes six new trainee solicitors

Stuart Pearcey
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Banner Jones welcomes six new trainee solicitors
Regional law firm Banner Jones has welcomed six more colleagues from across its Chesterfield, Sheffield, and Mansfield offices onto its Trainee Scheme as three more  graduate from it. Banner Jones’ CEO Simon Wright said: “We’re delighted to be training such a large number of colleagues to qualify as Solicitors, in addition to providing support to those undergoing various other qualifications. “It is important to us that all of our staff enjoy working for Banner Jones, and that they have every possible opportunity to further their careers during their time with us. “Our trainees and apprentices are an integral part of our future, and we wish them every success moving forward with their studies.” Training Principal Katie Ash added: “With recruitment so difficult at the moment, and having always sought to support our employees’ development and ambitions, the decision to extend our training programme to nurture even more of our own talent was a natural one.” All the candidates have completed their LPC and are now undertaking their Period of Recognised Training, following which they will be fully qualified solicitors. Over the period of their training they will gain an understanding of several areas of law, spending a period of time in a contentious area of law, a non-contentious area of law and the Company’s compliance department. Banner Jones’ fully-funded Trainee Schemeaims to provide an opportunity for those with a desire and interest to learn new skills to further their careers, whilst also training to achieve a recognised legal qualification. In addition to providing support to this cohort of trainees, the firm is also supporting Tim Barley in his Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship, Claudia Risorto, who joined Banner Jones in September, and is undertaking her Law Degree Apprenticeship, and various other members of staff to undertake CILEx and Licensed Conveyancing qualifications.    

Accountancy firm moves HQ into new offices

Tess Egginton
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Accountancy firm moves HQ into new offices

A Derby accountancy practice has moved its HQ into new offices on one of the city’s established business parks.

Maple Accountancy, whose Derby headquarters is currently based in a period building on Friar Gate, is uprooting and relocating to a purpose-built, pavilion-style office at Wyvern Court on Wyvern Business Park.

William Speed of Salloway Property Consultants, who negotiated the sale to Maple on behalf of a private client, said: “We are experiencing fewer freehold properties coming onto the market currently, so it isn’t surprising to see that when an opportunity like this does present itself there are high levels of interest.

“It is particularly rewarding to close a deal with a well-known Derby professional firm which will now make this property their new headquarters.

“The new office building comprises some 4,300 square feet over two floors and is extremely well located for accessing both the city centre and the principal road network meaning easy access to the rest of the UK.

“It will provide Maple with the perfect opportunity to create a contemporary fit-out which is sure to impress employees and clients alike.”

Jennifer Priestly, Director of Maple Accountancy, added: “We are really excited to make the move over to Wyvern Court. The modern office gives us the perfect opportunity to create a new, state of the art work environment.

“The quality of workspace is becoming more and more important in this modern day and age, creating an environment that encourages people to work in the office is something that we are very keen on achieving at Maple Accountancy.”

William Speed added: “Maple’s strategy follows a common trend we have encountered since COVID. Many companies are seeking to create a more vibrant and versatile work environment allowing for flexible and hybrid working routines and taking into account both staff well-being and the company’s ESG aspirations. Modern freehold offices provide this opportunity.”

Property consultancy strengthens Ashby planning team with four appointments

Tess Egginton
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Property consultancy strengthens Ashby planning team with four appointments
A property consultancy has strengthened its planning team in Ashby after making four appointments. Fisher German has welcomed John Nicol as a planner, Kerry Andrews as an assistant planner, and Isabelle Holliday and Jabu Phiri as graduate planners. John has more than four-and-a-half years’ experience in planning, originally beginning his career in the public sector before moving into the private sector. In his last role, John specialised in renewable energy projects, obtaining planning permission and carrying out pre and post-planning approval project management. Kerry joins the firm after spending more than four years working in the public sector, specialising in planning policy and supporting the development of the authority’s local plan. Isabelle is welcomed to the firm after studying Human Geography at the Manchester Metropolitan University and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sheffield. Jabu joins after studying English at the University of Liverpool followed by a postgraduate degree in planning at the University of Manchester. The expansion comes as Fisher German looks to not only respond to increasing client demand but expand its presence across the Midlands. John said: “I’m extremely pleased to join Fisher German at what is an incredibly interesting time for the planning sector. The firm has a very strong reputation and offers a wide range of property services and expertise, meaning working here exposes you to a great range of work and clients. “My role primarily involves working on infrastructure projects mainly covering water, waste, and power. It is an interesting time to be a planner, particularly in relation to the changing legislation around Biodiversity Net Gain. “It is great to be practising at a time when the operations of the profession are changing quite significantly in this regard and building an understanding of what this will mean for the delivery of development and for our clients in the future is important.” Kerry said: “Fisher German has a fantastic planning team with a strong work ethic. Everyone works together to do a good job for clients, which is excellent to be part of. I’m working in strategic planning on a variety of different projects, of all scales. “Planning plays a huge part in the delivery of new housing, and the next year or two will be very interesting in terms of the new planning regulations being introduced by government.” Liberty Stones, Head of Planning at Fisher German, said: “We are delighted to welcome four new members of the planning team to Fisher German, further strengthening the services we provide to our clients. “There is a significant need for both housebuilding to meet housing targets and large-scale infrastructure projects, and we are well-placed to support the delivery of these.”

Nottinghamshire childcare provider acquires new nursery

Tess Egginton
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0
Nottinghamshire childcare provider acquires new nursery

A Nottingham business providing childcare for children aged two to five has acquired a 2,000 sq ft nursery and hired two additional childcare specialists.

Ducklings Nursery has used a six-figure funding package from HSBC UK to purchase Beeston Nursery, located on Station Road in Beeston.

The purchase ensures Beeston Nursery can continue to offer essential childcare to over 100 local children as well as retaining its 13 staff members. This would not have been possible without the acquisition as the previous owner had decided to retire from the business leaving the future of the nursery in doubt.

In addition to securing the future of Beeston Nursery, the acquisition will also see two specialist jobs added at the nursery with the potential for further expansion and job openings in the future.

Medusa Sojourn, owner and founder of Ducklings Nursery, said: “As a local resident myself, it is heartening to be able to provide a safe, supportive environment for Beeston children. I’m extremely grateful to HSBC UK for its support throughout this process.”

Dominic Edgar, relationship manager at HSBC UK, added: “Ducklings Nursery has a reputation for providing an excellent service to the local community. This commercial business loan from HSBC UK will help the nursery grow significantly, allowing more parents and children to benefit.” 

Ducklings Nursery was established in 2009 when its first nursery opened in Sutton Coldfield. A second nursery was later acquired in Sandiacre.

Rail firm set to help save lives at sea

Tess Egginton
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Rail firm set to help save lives at sea
A charity saving the lives of those who get into difficulty at sea will be helped to continue its vital work with the support of an East Midlands rail maintenance firm. MTMS has pledged its support to the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat, which is based on the Isle of Wight, to help it continue its vital work for the next three years. The organisation’s operations include helping vessels in trouble in the waters around the Isle of Wight, recovering people from cliffs and searching for people or animals in distress. It is based 180 miles away from MTMS’s headquarters in Moira, Leicestershire, which at first glance makes it an unlikely good cause for the firm to support. However, the decision was made by Malcolm Prentice, the company’s group chairman of MTMS, who splits his time between living in South Derbyshire and the Isle of Wight and wanted to make a difference for the community at his island home. He said: “The Freshwater Independent Lifeboat does such vital work which has saved countless lives. It does not get any government support so community and business donations are needed to keep it going. “The Isle of Wight is a special place to me, somewhere where I have made many happy memories. It is an honour for us at MTMS to be able to help such an important and worthwhile cause over the next three years. “Smaller charities desperately need our support to keep doing what they are doing and we must help them where we can.” The Freshwater Independent Lifeboat was founded in 1972 in the village of Freshwater, on the Isle of Wight. Its volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and they cover an area of up to 30 miles offshore from Hurst Point near Lymington on the mainland to St Catherine’s Point, the island’s most southerly point. Rod Adams, Freshwater Independent Lifeboat’s principal fundraiser, said: “This is such an important sponsorship for us, and the first time a major company from the mainland has stepped in to help us maintain our operation on a regular basis. “Knowing that the amazing sum of £3,000 will be available every year for three years provides a real boost to our planning. Everyone helps charities in some way but often small independent units such as ourselves miss out on regular support as we do not have the massive nationwide media power that large charities can avail themselves of.  “The help from Malcolm and MTMS will hopefully spur other companies to step in and help the smaller charities, not necessarily on their doorstep. “I would also like to mention the amazing support from Malcolm’s wife Cherril who has provided a huge number of copies of her two children’s books to sell next year in our lifeboat shop. “Thank you again Malcolm, Cherril and all at MTMS. We look forward to your support in the coming years.” The Freshwater Independent Lifeboat is not part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) so gets no funding from the organisation or the Government. It depends entirely on funds from the local community through donations, business sponsorship and community grants.

Sales slip at Topps Tiles

Tess Egginton
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0
Sales slip at Topps Tiles
Sales have dipped at Topps Tiles, the Leicestershire-based tile specialist, according to a trading update for the 13-week period ended 30 December 2023. Trading in the first quarter reflected ongoing challenges to discretionary consumer spending, particularly those impacting on businesses serving the Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) sector. Group sales in the 13 weeks ended 30 December were 4% lower year on year. Like-for-like sales in Topps Tiles were down 7.1% in the first quarter, with sales to trade customers more resilient than to homeowners. Trading remains strong, however, in Online Pure Play, with significant year on year sales growth, led by Pro Tiler Tools. The Group’s Parkside commercial business, meanwhile, is performing in line with expectations and is profitable in the year to date. Based on factors including the timing of the holiday pay accrual, higher energy usage in H1 and trading in the first part of the year, the Group’s profits in 2024 are expected to be weighted towards the second half. The business said: “The Group remains well-positioned to respond to market conditions and we expect to have gained further market share in the first quarter, driven by our world-class customer service, market-leading brands and specialist expertise, and supported by our strong balance sheet. We remain excited about the opportunities for Topps Group over the medium term.”
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