Transformation of former DWP building complete

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Transformation of former DWP building complete
Ashfield District Council have completed the renovation of the former DWP building on High Pavement, Sutton. The finished building, now named High Pavement House, was transformed by the Council, and is the second project completed as part of their £6.27 million Future High Streets Fund. The former DWP building was previously renovated in 2019 by a private investor but following the pandemic, the building was left empty until 2022 when work started. The top floor of High Pavement House now houses 14 modern office units which are ready to be let to start ups, established businesses, and people looking for a professional workspace. To help businesses flourish at High Pavement House, Ashfield District Council are offering a rent relief grant to offset the first three months rent. The grants, funded by the Council’s £3.2 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund, range from £250 – £960, depending on the size of the unit. Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said: “We are extremely pleased to have completed another Future High Streets Funded project that will make a real difference to Sutton, and the wider District. “We are investing time and money into supporting local businesses because we want them to succeed in Ashfield. High Pavement House is perfectly suited to cater to a range of business needs.” High Pavement House also benefits from 24/7 access for members and the office units, as well as a shared social space with kitchen facilities on the ground floor. High Pavement House will also be home to Ashfield’s Makerspace, which is set to open in spring 2024. The Makerspace is a unique workshop space for like-minded people to get together and share tools, equipment, and skills. The Makerspace will be kitted out with top end machinery and equipment for woodworking, metalworking, CNC, laser, 3D printing, screen printing, ceramics, textiles, digital embroidery, a podcast studio, electronics, and a variety of other crafts. Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead for Regeneration, Growth and Local Planning, said: “Everyone knows how excited I am to see the Makerspace for Ashfield, it’s such an interesting concept, one that will benefit so many people. It will allow people to access tools, equipment and skills that they wouldn’t have at home. “Whether you have a DIY project that you need specialist equipment to complete, you’re a complete beginner and want to learn a new skill, or if you’re a making pro, everyone will be welcome. “The completion of the building works marks the next stage of the project. We can now start to bring in the machines and equipment and begin to create the space. We will be able to open the doors for an open evening in the Makerspace in the new year, keep your eye on the Makerspace Facebook page for the date.”

Auctioneer racks up record results and shares £2m with staff

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Auctioneer racks up record results and shares £2m with staff

Nottingham-headquartered national auction house, John Pye & Sons Ltd, has seen record results from its latest financial year end, racking up significant increases in turnover, auction receipts and new bidder registrations.

For year ending 31st July 2023 the firm saw auction receipts hit £119 million and turnover reach £45 million, up 36% on the previous year. And, with new bidder registrations up 90% year on year it has been a record year all round.

Announcing the annual results, Adam Pye, Managing Director at John Pye & Sons, said: “These are incredible figures for our business. The team has worked so hard on several high-profile projects and achieved more than we ever thought possible during the period.

“I’m so pleased to report that we have again built upon the success 2022 and am happy to confirm that we’re in the fortunate position of being able to share discretionary bonuses with colleagues in their November pay.”

Last year the family business paid out in excess of £1,300,000. Based on this year’s results, the John Pye Board has agreed to the largest profit share in its history, at £2,000,000.

Mather Jamie smash charity goal

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Mather Jamie smash charity goal

Having set out to raise £12,000 for charity, specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie has smashed this goal, so far reaching nearly £19,000 plus Gift Aid.

The money will be donated to three East Midlands charities; One Roof Leicester, LOROS and Rainbows. 

The main event this year for Mather Jamie, who are based in Loughborough, was another Top Gear style Bangers & Cash challenge which involved twelve teams from Mather Jamie and their clients travelling from Loughborough to North Norfolk via various checkpoints with additional points awarded for completing activities.

Vehicles chosen this year included old London taxis and a number of battered soft tops with a maximum purchase value of £1,000.

The activities that had to be undertaken enroute included brake tests, wheel changes, buying a pork pie in Melton Mowbray, photos at Rutland Water and at various beach locations.

Teams also had to play a round of crazy golf in Hunstanton and decorate the interior of their car in a theme. Additional points were awarded for least amount of fuel left in the tank on arrival at the final destination.

Bonus points were awarded for cars boasting the highest mileage, team members taking a dip in the sea, reaching other random ‘what3words’ check points released during the trip, and for rescuing other teams.

Meanwhile having to lift the car bonnet, police stops, wrong fuel, parking fines or tyre changes resulted in point deductions. After the event all of the cars were sold off and all monies raised gifted to the chosen charities along with several kind donations. 

Commenting on the event, organiser Robert Cole said: “Whilst this was a fun event and a good team occasion, more importantly we raised a significant sum for some truly worthy causes. Each charity does fantastic work for the local community and based on this year’s achievement we will definitely set the bar higher next year!”

If you would like to donate please visit the Mather Jamie charity page: https://www.matherjamie.co.uk/charity-fundraising/

Make UK welcomes news of Government financial boost of SME in manufacturing

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Make UK welcomes news of Government financial boost of SME in manufacturing
The CEO of manufacturers’ organisation Make UK has welcomed news of a financial fillip for SMEs across the country with the government announcement of £4.5 billion in funding for British manufacturing to increase investment in eight sectors He’s Stephen Phipson, who said: “Make UK has long campaigned for Made Smarter to be a fully national scheme so that all SME manufacturers can benefit from the expertise the programme delivers and we are delighted at today’s decision from government to commit to a national rollout. “Made Smarter has already transformed thousands of companies in the North East, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire & the Humber and now it can help turbo-charge industrial digitalisation in SMEs across the whole of the country. “The end-to-end specialist support the programme delivers has successfully helped smaller businesses dramatically boost productivity, improve energy efficiency, drive growth, upskill roles and deliver new jobs in digital skills to create workforces of the future which will allow Britain’s smaller manufacturers to continue to grow and remain globally competitive.” The funding will be available from 2025 for five years, providing industry with longer term certainty about their investments. Over £2 billion has been earmarked for the automotive industry and £975 million for aerospace, supporting the manufacturing, supply chain and development of zero emission vehicles, and investment in energy efficient and zero-carbon aircraft equipment. Alongside this, the government has committed to £960 million for a Green Industries Growth Accelerator to support clean energy manufacturing, and £520 million for life sciences manufacturing to build resilience for future health emergencies and capitalise on the UK’s world-leading research and development. With the entire manufacturing sector making up over 43% of all UK exports and employing around 2.6 million people, this funding is targeted at the UK’s strongest, world leading sectors; including where the industry is undergoing fundamental changes to remain at the forefront of the global transition to net zero, like the move to zero emission vehicles in the automotive industry. The Green Industries Growth Accelerator investment will support the expansion of strong, home-grown, clean energy supply chains across the UK, including carbon capture, utilisation and storage, electricity networks, hydrogen, nuclear and offshore wind. This will enable the UK to seize growth opportunities through the transition to net zero, building on our world-leading decarbonisation track record and strong deployment offer. The funding forms part of the Prime Minister’s pledge to grow the economy, and his focus on making decisions for the long-term, ensuring this funding doesn’t just focus on the most successful sectors today but looks ahead to how to keep pace internationally and build the UK’s expertise for the industries of the future.

Two units snapped up at urban logistics scheme near Leicester

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Two units snapped up at urban logistics scheme near Leicester
Two units have been taken at Genesis Park in South Wigston, near Leicester, including an 18,570 sq ft unit by healthcare company Fresenius Medical Care to open a new dialysis clinic. Genesis Park is 128,180 sq ft urban logistics scheme delivered and owned by developer Chancerygate and comprises 15 units ranging between 4,800 sq ft to 18,570 sq ft. Fresenius Medical Care is a provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases. The company provides care for more than 344,000 patients globally, with 50 dialysis clinics in the UK and 42 production sites globally. The company has signed a 15-year lease on the unit and is converting it to create a 49-bed renal dialysis unit with training and consulting rooms, which is due to be operational in Autumn 2024. Alongside this, a 12,300 sq ft unit at Genesis Park has also been sold to an owner occupier for an undisclosed price. One further unit at the scheme is currently under offer meaning there are 12 units remaining, ranging between 4,800 sq ft and 9,975 sq ft available on a freehold or leasehold basis. Chancerygate’s senior development director, Matthew Connor, said: “The level of interest throughout the development’s build has been high, and now construction is complete interest in the remaining units is continuing to grow. “We’re very pleased to have completed on these two deals, showcasing our expertise in working with prospective occupiers on both a freehold and leasehold basis. The letting to Fresenius Medical Care further evidences the diverse range of businesses our Grade A accommodation is suitable for.”

191 apartments planned for site near Nottingham train station

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191 apartments planned for site near Nottingham train station
Plans for new apartments on Nottingham’s Waterway Street, in place of a vacant 1970’s two storey office building, have been submitted to the city council. The proposals for the site near Nottingham train station come from Rainier Developments, and would see the demolition of the existing Waterway House building and construction of a new build development comprising 191 apartments. The scheme would offer 122 one bed and 69 two bed flats over a block of three to eight storeys. A courtyard would serve as an amenity space for residents, incorporating green spaces. The development would provide 22 car parking spaces and 4 disabled parking spaces, as well as 191 cycle parking spaces within cycle store rooms. The 0.62-acre site on Waterway Street was purchased by Rainier Developments from Nottingham City Council at the start of the year. At the time, Will Blacker, land director at Rainier Developments, said: “The area around Nottingham train station has been given a new lease of life in recent years via commercial, residential and student developments, and we are excited at the prospect of being able to add to this by helping to potentially transform an unused brownfield site. “We will now use our extensive planning expertise to apply for planning permission for a modern redevelopment to support not only the wider regeneration of the area, but also the ongoing demand for homes. “As a company we are keen in investing in sites that we know have the potential to enrich communities, such as this one in Nottingham, and we are actively seeking other sites nationally.”

Administrators appointed to loan provider

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Administrators appointed to loan provider
Ed Boyle and Rob Spence from Interpath Advisory have been appointed joint administrators to Nottingham-based Morses Club Limited and Shelby Finance Limited. The two companies provide short-term consumer loans, with Morses Club providing home collect credit and Shelby Finance providing loans online under the ‘Dot Dot Loans’ brand. The companies have been under sustained financial pressure for some time, a situation which was exacerbated in recent years by Morses Club facing a significant number of customer redress claims for unaffordable lending. In order to address these issues, the management team worked strenuously in seeking to restructure the businesses. As part of this restructuring, in May 2023, Morses Club entered into a Scheme of Arrangement to provide a mechanism to maximise redress payments to customers and to also allow the businesses to continue to operate. However, Morses Club has been unable to complete the refinancing of its existing debt facilities and therefore the directors took the decision to appoint administrators to the businesses. As a result of the insolvency of Morses Club, the Scheme automatically terminates early. Shortly prior to the appointment of the joint administrators, all new lending ceased, but the companies continue to collect outstanding loans from customers. The company employed approximately 373 staff who worked remotely. While the joint administrators have retained 272 staff across the two businesses to assist them while they assess options for the businesses, 101 redundancies have been made. The joint administrators will be working with the employees affected over the coming days to provide them with any support they need.

Matthew Montague Architects makes senior promotions

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Matthew Montague Architects makes senior promotions
Derbyshire architects, Matthew Montague Architects has promoted two employees; Paul Myers becomes associate architect and Chris Bayliss becomes an associate. The practice, which has offices in Longford, near Ashbourne, has been established for 25 years. The promotion of Paul and Chris strengthens the management team of the practice, which continues to grow following the successful acquisition of some significant projects and clients in 2023. Paul completed his RIBA Part I at Lincoln University in 2012, following a year placement in London, he completed his Part II studies at the University of Kingston; joining the practice in 2015 as a Part II architectural assistant. Paul completed his RIBA Part III at The University of Nottingham, graduating in 2018. Since joining the practice Paul has been involved with a wide range of different projects, covering all stages of work from preliminary design through to production information and contract management. Paul has worked with Repton School, Hanson’s Auctioneers and Marketing Derby. Paul’s designs are influenced by Scandinavian and Nordic architecture, he has worked on several housing developments including the award-winning Elms Barns in Newton Harcourt, Leicestershire and Quarndon Hall. Principal architect, Matthew Montague said: “Paul’s industry knowledge and experience is a great asset to the practice, he has worked across several sectors, designed some excellent buildings and managed several complex projects.” Chris joined the practice as an architect assistant in 2014 after completing a BSc (Hons) Architecture & Environmental Design at Sheffield Hallam University. Since joining the practice in 2014 Chris has gained significant experience in housing, education, sport and commercial sectors, designing and technically detailing some of the practice’s most notable work. He is currently working on projects at Lonsdale House for The University of Derby, a housing development in Hulland Ward and several large scale one-off houses. Matthew added: “Chris’ flair for modern, distinctive design is a great addition to the practice; the work he is delivering on one off houses at the moment is very exciting. I am delighted to promote both Paul and Chris, it’s very much deserved.”

Midlands developer awarded for response to climate crisis

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Midlands developer awarded for response to climate crisis

A Midlands housing developer has received national award recognition for its response to climate change.

Northamptonshire-based Cora were crowned winners of the Just Transition Award at the Edie Net-Zero Awards in London on Wednesday, November 15.

The award recognises businesses making strides in their journey to becoming net zero, with Cora having set targets to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 ahead of its 2050 net zero ambitions.

As a profit-with-purpose housebuilder, Cora has invested heavily into green policies – including its Grow Local programme, which allocates procurement preferences to smaller suppliers within a 50-mile radius of its developments.

It also recycled 96% (374 tonnes) of construction waste in 2021 while planting more than 9,000 trees and shrubs on its sites.

Luke Simmons, Managing Director of Cora, said: “At Cora we are dedicated to creating amazing places – and we can’t do that without having a key focus on the environment.

“All of us have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and take steps to building a greener world. We are thrilled to receive recognition for our hard work with this prestigious award.”

Judges also commended Cora for its use of solar energy to power its compounds and for plans to use off-site construction for 80% of home completions by 2025.

Research is continuing into innovative wastewater heat recovery systems for its homes, with a target also set to stop the installation of fossil fuel heating systems.

This is not the first time Cora has been recognised for its environmental credentials, having also won a Gold Award for sustainability at the SME Northamptonshire Business Awards earlier this year.

Luke was also named Climate Champion of the Year at the Unlock Net Zero Live Awards.

Luke added: “We are continuing to show the industry the benefits of prioritising sustainability and our social responsibilities.

“The feedback we are receiving from our customers is incredible and stands testament to the quality of our homes. We will continue to innovate, improve and inspire others with our work in 2024.”

Cosworth appoints new MD for Advanced Propulsion and Full Vehicle Programmes division

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Cosworth appoints new MD for Advanced Propulsion and Full Vehicle Programmes division
Cosworth has appointed Simon Wilding as Managing Director of the company’s Advanced Propulsion and Full Vehicle Programmes division, Delta Cosworth. Wilding joined the company in November and is based at Cosworth’s Silverstone facility. This strategic move is a natural continuation of Cosworth’s journey of developing a large and diversified range of high-performance, alternative propulsion solutions. Wilding brings almost 30 years of experience to support the growth of the business, focusing on full vehicle programmes, advanced propulsion systems and high-performance battery solutions. Wilding was headhunted by JLR in 2020 to lead a newly established Propulsion department within Special Vehicle Operations, dedicated to the delivery of high-performance ICE and BEV powertrain systems for Halo vehicles. Prior to this, his 25 years’ experience at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains culminated in the position of Head of Automotive Division and Chief Engineer. During this time, he was instrumental in the delivery of numerous significant programmes, including the Kinetic Energy Recovery System. This brought exceptional, groundbreaking hybrid technologies to Formula One for the first time, and was raced in 2009 season by the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One team. Following on from these programmes, Wilding headed the delivery of the HV battery for Mercedes-AMG’s first electric vehicle: the Mercedes-AMG SLS E-Cell and latterly the hybrid Formula One powertrain for the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE hypercar. Delta Cosworth has been part of the UK’s booming motorsport industry for almost two decades. As well as being highly proficient in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance battery solutions, the company has diversified into the development of other sustainable propulsion applications, such as the Cosworth Catalytic Generator. It has embarked on a number of new projects in recent years, including partnerships in the defence industry with Babcock and the Defense Innovation Unit. The appointment of Wilding marks the beginning of the next chapter for Delta Cosworth. The company plans to continue the growth of its existing advanced propulsion and full vehicle capabilities. Wilding replaces outgoing Managing Director, Simon Dowson, who departs the company after almost 20 years. Wilding said: “I am very excited to be joining Cosworth at such an important time in its history. The company is already in an active pursuit to become the leader in the industry, and I believe my experience in growing skilled teams in this area will help to realise these great ambitions. “Cosworth’s developments in electrification are incredibly exciting, and only just beginning to demonstrate the levels of growth I think we can achieve. Everyone has been very welcoming – it is a real sort of family feeling – and I cannot wait to truly get stuck in and continue the Cosworth legacy.” Cosworth CEO, Hal Reisiger, said: “Simon brings extensive OEM experience into our business, which will underpin the next growth chapter for our Advanced Propulsion and Full Vehicle Programmes offering. “It shows the continued momentum of Delta Cosworth as we continue to broaden our reach and demonstrate our capabilities and expertise in new and established markets. We’re delighted Simon shares our same vision and drive to achieve this. “As Simon Wilding comes in, I would like to thank Simon Dowson for his commitment to Cosworth after the acquisition of Delta Motorsport – he has been a hugely valuable member of the senior leadership team, and we wish him all the best in his next venture. We are all excited to see what the future holds for Delta Cosworth.”
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