Figures from Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reveal that in addition to its spin-out companies, the university has a current portfolio of 36 staff start-ups, 135 student start-ups and seven social enterprises. Nottingham is also second in the UK for the turnover of its student start-ups, with its student ventures bringing in more than £400 million for the year 2022/23. The news coincides with a national campaign by Universities UK which shines a spotlight on the billions of pounds worth of local growth and investment resulting from higher-education support. Its campaign, Unis Start Up the UK, highlights how universities drive entrepreneurship across the nation, supporting new enterprises that boost growth, investment, and jobs. Nationally since 2015, universities have helped create 38,750 companies, with a 70% rise in active firms. Student start-up turnover grew by 757%, investment by 346%, and employment by 177%, reaching 64,384 jobs in 2022-23. The University of Nottingham’s Nottingham Technology Ventures team helps turn university research into real-world solutions, through the commercialisation of intellectual property and support to founders. It currently manages a portfolio totalling almost 40 spin-out companies, which are developing cutting-edge technologies in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and the environment, digital, and materials and manufacturing. The university, as part of the eight Midlands Innovation universities, has launched an investment fund, Midlands Mindforge Ltd. Mindforge aims to raise up to £250m to accelerate the commercialisation of the transformational technologies being developed by the spin-out portfolio, further highlighting the potential for driving economic growth across the region and beyond. Meanwhile, the university’s Ingenuity Lab provides students and alumni with the space and resources to explore their business ideas and start their own enterprises. Based at the Ingenuity Centre on Jubilee Campus, it fosters an innovative community of entrepreneurs, working together to develop ideas, encourage radical innovation and produce exciting new start-ups. Through its Ingenuity impact programme, it has provided £1 million in seed funding to create 489 new ventures to address local social and environmental challenges. Nottingham’s entrepreneurial graduates are also making an impact, as reflected in a study by PitchBook, a source of data, research, and insights on global capital markets. It analysed 167,000 university alumni from European universities who have successfully founded companies and raised venture capital in the last 10 years. The study revealed 175 of these founders attended the University of Nottingham – which was ranked as a top 10 university in Europe.

A new economic impact assessment predicts significant long-term financial benefits from the UK’s prototype fusion energy power plant, STEP, set to be built in West Burton, Nottinghamshire. The project, led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), is expected to be operational by 2040 and drive economic growth through job creation and investment.

The report forecasts that the construction phase will generate over 1,000 jobs annually in Nottinghamshire, adding £86 million annually to the local economy. Once operational, the facility is expected to create 2,760 jobs annually, contributing £210 million per year. Across the East Midlands, the total impact is estimated at nearly 3,000 construction jobs and over 6,400 operational roles, boosting the regional economy by £725 million annually.

The project also includes plans for a skills centre and business park, further supporting economic growth. Local councils, including Nottinghamshire County Council and Bassetlaw District Council, partnered with UKIFS to commission the study, which Amion Consulting conducted.

The STEP programme is expected to provide substantial opportunities for regional businesses, infrastructure development, and supply chain contracts, with economic benefits projected well beyond 2065.

Nottingham Venues’ Orchard Hotel and Bramley’s Restaurant, located within the University of Nottingham campus, is being transformed, with a significant refurbishment project currently underway. The Orchard Hotel’s lobby, mezzanine, bar area and Bramley’s restaurant is being re-designed to create a new layout and environment to enhance the guest experience for both corporate and leisure guests. The £1 million project will transform the ground floor of the hotel, creating a stylish space where guests can gather for coffee, drinks and dinner. The bar will be repositioned and expanded, and the guest check-in area will be relocated to the front of the lobby, ensuring a more seamless arrival experience. Work is expected to be completed in April 2025. The hotel’s restaurant, Bramley’s, is also undergoing a full reimagination to create a welcoming environment for both corporate and leisure guests. With a vision to establish Bramley’s as a premier dining destination in Nottingham, Nottingham Venues has appointed David Cartwright as Head Chef. Cartwright, formerly the Head Chef at the renowned fine dining restaurant World Service, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to elevate the restaurant’s culinary offering. The bar will also be enhanced, with a newly appointed Bar Manager overseeing an expanded cocktail menu and a selection of small plates and casual dining options will be available throughout the day. The refurbishment project is currently underway and is being carefully managed to ensure The Orchard Hotel remained open, with the team working diligently to minimise disruption to guests. Tom Waldron-Lynch, CEO of Nottingham Venues, said: “This refurbishment marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing outstanding hospitality. We want to create an enhanced space where all guests will want to spend time in, particularly our corporate guests who want to unwind and socialise following meetings or conferences at the adjacent East Midlands Conference Centre. “Our Bramley’s restaurant is a huge focus for us, and I am looking forward to seeing the restaurant develop in the coming months. We want to put the restaurant on the food map in Nottingham and create a high-quality restaurant that people in Nottingham want to visit, along with our corporate guests. “The new environment will help this, but we are also refining our food and beverage offering, with a real focus on sustainable sourcing of quality produce. The new menu David is creating will help us to showcase this produce to create a memorable experience for our guests.”

Lincoln City Council is set to discuss a proposal to expand its boundaries, merging with parts of West Lindsey and North Kesteven to form a new “Greater Lincoln” authority. The plan will be reviewed in emergency meetings this week ahead of the government’s deadline for local government reform proposals.

The proposed authority would incorporate Lincoln alongside several neighbouring wards, aligning with urban interests rather than the surrounding rural areas. The council argues this would preserve Lincoln’s historical self-governance while creating efficiencies.

The government is encouraging councils to consolidate into larger single-tier authorities, with a suggested population target of 500,000. Lincoln’s proposal, which includes three separate authorities for the region, would not meet this threshold but is projected to save between £4 million and £26 million annually, with an estimated one-off transition cost of £15 million.

The council will submit its initial proposal to the government this week, with final plans due in November.

Superdrug plans to open 25 new stores across the UK in 2025, creating around 600 jobs. The health and beauty retailer will also refurbish 65 existing locations and expand several stores, including Luton and Dundee.

The company focuses on larger-format stores in high-footfall shopping centres and retail parks. The new locations will feature expanded beauty treatment services, including manicures, eyebrow threading, ear piercing, and a wider range of luxury fragrances.

Superdrug has seen a 25% increase in sales from investments in its largest stores. Recent openings include Leeds Briggate, with upcoming launches in Guernsey, Cribbs Causeway (Bristol), and a significant expansion at Meadowhall (Sheffield).

The retailer aims to enhance in-store experiences as part of its bricks-and-mortar growth strategy.