Freeths launches bursary scheme for Leicester students in honour of Mukesh Patel
Law firm Freeths has established a bursary programme for law students at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University in memory of Mukesh Patel, former Managing Partner of Freeths’ Leicester Office.
The bursary will provide local undergraduate law students with an award of £4,000 a year for three years with a focus on the socio-economic backgrounds of students who want to pursue a career in law.
The firm launched the scheme to honour Mukesh’s legacy and his commitment to diversity and equality within the legal profession and to the local business community.
A respected and popular member of both Freeths and the local legal community, Mukesh, who was born and went to school in Leicester, led the firm’s Dispute Resolution team in Leicester and subsequently became Managing Partner of the Leicester office in 2014. He died on Saturday, February 18th, aged 54, leaving behind his wife Rita and their two sons.
Lisa Gilligan, Managing Partner of Freeths Leicester, said: “Mukesh was always ready to help, encourage and support students particularly those from less privileged backgrounds.
“We hope that this bursary will not only ensure that we continue to honour his vision and passion but also help to support a pipeline of local law graduates to progress their careers in our region.
“Graduate retention in Leicester is a well-documented challenge and the bursary will help Freeths to play its part in addressing this head on.”
Rita Patel and her sons continued: “From humble beginnings himself, Mukesh was a firm believer that anyone with passion and drive should be afforded every opportunity.”
In addition to the financial award, Freeths will also provide the students with a mentor throughout their degree course, a paid summer placement as well as an interview for the firm’s graduate apprenticeship scheme (subject to qualifying criteria) based in the Leicester office.
Sarah Thomson, Director of Engagement at De Montfort University, said: “Mukesh was well known and loved by many at DMU so we are delighted that he will be remembered through this fund which will support students to reach their potential whilst studying at university.
“Scholarships and Bursaries are becoming more essential for more students in the current economic climate to allow them to participate fully in university life. It is fantastic that Freeths are supporting talented students in this way and encouraging them to stay in Leicester to work once they graduate. We would like to express our gratitude to them and to Mukesh’s family for this award.”
Steve Corbett, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at The University of Leicester, added: “The Freeths Skylark Scholarship is a generous package of benefits aimed at supporting Law students who are facing financial challenges throughout their time at university and beyond.
“From monetary support to mentoring and placement opportunities, the Scholarship has been developed to offer recipients a solid first few steps on their way to a successful career in law. A huge thanks to Freeths for choosing to support Leicester students in honour of Mukesh Patel.
“The Freeths Skylark Scholarship is part of the University of Leicester’s broader Skylark Scholarship programme, which has been established entirely thanks to the support of philanthropic donors. We look forward to seeing our inaugural Skylark scholars progress and hope to see this transformational scholarship programme grow.”
Derby Market Hall gets ready for business
Derby’s Market Hall has moved a step closer to completion, with the search for creatives, makers and traders beginning.
Businesses throughout the region are being invited to register their interest in operating from the refurbished Market Hall, which will bring together the best of the region’s independent shopping, eating, drinking and entertainment when it reopens in Spring 2025.
A series of events are planned for a wide variety of potential businesses to outline the opportunities. Almost 100 businesses have signed up to attend the first event at the Museum of Making next Monday, 23 October. ‘Creative Placemaking: Derby’ will look at how culture and creativity can be key drivers for the city’s transformation and growth.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism at Derby City Council, said: “In our 2023 manifesto we pledged to ensure that Derby Market Hall was the right space for Derby businesses and visitors alike.
“In May, I did just that. We brought in Hemingway Design and other experts in modern markets of the future to help us reflect, re-assess and make sure the offer was not only the right thing for Derby but a successful offer for such a prestigious venue that we have waited so long for.
“It’s not surprising that so many businesses are interested in this exciting new chapter of Derby’s Market Hall. This is a fantastic opportunity for both established and up and coming businesses to be part of a modern central hub while benefiting from Derby’s rich history and heritage.
“We aren’t just looking for traditional market traders. When it reopens, the Market Hall will offer permanent and pop-up trading opportunities for a variety of businesses – makers, traders, start-ups, creatives, and more! We want to hear from as many people as possible, from the experienced trader to the start-up who wants to try out an idea.”
The transformed market will offer:
- A carefully curated mix of traditional and themed stalls, including quality fresh produce
- Make and trade stalls and creative space
- A cosmopolitan food court and bars
- Co-working space
- Events and pop-up activity
Derby City Council has appointed design consultancy Hemingway Design to help bring alive the ambition to create a building that will be a hub for creatives, makers and traders, building on the city’s heritage of innovation and industry.
Wayne Hemingway, Partner at Hemingway Design, said: “This is an opportunity for forward-thinking independent start-ups and existing businesses to be part of a project and creative community that will operate out of this magnificently restored, historic Derby building and play a role in re-energising this part of Derby’s city centre.
“The aim for the incoming Derby Market Hall business community is to be a low-risk venture, with affordable and flexible rates and a range of mentoring and support to help businesses grow and develop.”
Located at the heart of the city centre, linking Derbion and St Peter’s Quarter to the Cathedral Quarter and Becketwell, Derby Market Hall will play a key role in widening the diversity of the city centre economy.
Councillor Peatfield added: “A vibrant city centre is a key part of Council strategy to drive confidence and investment in the city. The ambition is for Derby to become a place where more people actively enjoy a wider cultural choice, and we know that’s what people want from their city centre.”
“The Market Hall is one of our most historic and prominent buildings. Our vision is to deliver a place where people want to visit and spend time, rather than pass through. We want Derby to be ‘the place to be’ destination, attracting visitors from nearby towns and cities,” Councillor Peatfield said.
The £35.1m project is partly funded with £9.43m from the Government’s Future High Streets Funding (FHSF) and the transformed Market Hall will generate £3.64m for the local economy each year.
Work is already underway on the Victorian building to turn it into an attractive retail and leisure destination fit for the future.
The extensive structural restoration of the Market Hall’s cast iron, copper and glass roof was finished in August 2022 and needed a scaffolding structure weighing more than eight blue whales to complete the works. Featuring an impressive cast iron and glass barrel-vaulted roof, this will be the only covered market of its type in the East Midlands.
The second phase of the transformation, now underway, focuses on refurbishing the interior and developing the public space outside at Osnabruck Square.
This work includes re-instating the original two entrances and installing a grand central staircase. The old stalls have been removed to reveal a huge open plan space on the ground floor.
A new frontage will incorporate full-length windows overlooking Osnabruck Square to open up the area inside and outside the building, with the scheme set for completion in Spring 2025.
Lead contractor on Western Growth Corridor for City of Lincoln Council appointed
GRAHAM has been appointed by the City of Lincoln Council to design and deliver crucial elements of the Western Growth Corridor development.
The Western Growth Corridor project in Lincoln is set to transform the city and bring new opportunities for housing and economic growth.
The work elements include the design and construction of a new vehicular/cycle/pedestrian bridge over the railway and a pedestrian bridge enhancing safety and connectivity between the site and the existing communities.
The Pagabo Civils & Infrastructure Framework has been used to procure and appoint GRAHAM for this Design and Construct project. The framework ensures that competent and experienced contractors are appointed for major infrastructure projects.
GRAHAM’s extensive experience in delivering similar projects, particularly in the railway sector and knowledge of working alongside Network Rail, played a significant role in its selection.
The firm’s involvement in the Western Growth Corridor project will see its civil engineering team oversee the design and construction of key access routes and bridges.
In August 2022, the city council, in partnership with Member of Parliament for Lincoln, Karl McCartney, submitted its bid for £20 million to create a road bridge and adjacent foot bridge linking the city’s Western Growth Corridor development to Tritton Road. The Government’s Levelling Up Round Two programme will see the bridge completed by March 2025, with work anticipated to start at the beginning of 2024.
The project aims to establish a major access route into the Western Growth Corridor site, enabling the delivery of up to 3,200 new homes as part of a Sustainable Urban Extension to Lincoln.
Subject to design and budget approvals, construction will commence in 2024, with the first phase of homes expected to be delivered thereafter, pending detailed planning approval.
A range of surveys are currently underway, including eco and geotechnical utility surveys, to gather essential data and verify the physical conditions on the ground.
GRAHAM contracts director Alastair Lewis said: “We’re thrilled to be appointed as the lead contractor for key elements of the Western Growth Corridor project, which highlights our expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional infrastructure projects.
“The Western Growth Corridor project is a challenging scheme involving tackling access restrictions, utilities, drainage, and traffic management, among other complexities.
“GRAHAM’s objective is to value engineer the access road and bridge over the railway, seeking creative design and construction solutions that deliver cost and carbon savings while ensuring the long-term success of the strategic masterplan for the site.”
Transformation of engineering campus hits milestone
A capital project to substantially upgrade the engineering and technology centre at Leicester College has passed its midpoint.
Set to complete in November, the redevelopment of the facility on the Abbey Park Campus will provide students with updated learning facilities, to support the delivery of engineering T levels and other types of engineering qualifications.
Stepnell is delivering the construction of a design led by Moss Architecture . Interiors Ltd. The multidisciplinary design team includes quantity surveyors from MDA Ltd, as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers from Steven Hunt Associates Ltd and structural engineers from Price & Myers Ltd.
The project includes the introduction of and upgrade to new industry standard laboratories. These will be used to teach students across specialist engineering disciplines, including electrical engineering, electronic engineering, pneumatic and hydraulics, programmable logic controllers (PLC) and robotics.
A new mechanical engineering workshop is also being constructed by Stepnell to accommodate industry-standard standard lathes and milling machines. Additionally, a specialist hand skills development and projects area, welding booths and a state-of-the-art grinding room will be integrated to enhance the hands-on learning experience.
Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: “With a consistent pipeline of projects within the education sector, this is the third project we have undertaken for Leicester College. We have a key focus to continue developing lasting public sector client relations.
“We understand the college’s needs to provide the best learning experience in the long term while minimising the disruption to the teaching experience during the build, and we’re progressing well ahead of completion in November.
“With a strong familiarity within our construction team of the educational needs for aspiring engineers, it’s a highly rewarding project to help create the ideal learning space to educate future talent.”
The capital project supports the introduction of engineering T Level qualifications at Leicester College, with the Department for Education having provided more than £1 million towards the project cost from T-level capital grant funding.
The college aims to help meet the skills demand at higher technical levels regionally and nationally and provide a valid pathway to higher technical qualifications. It aims to support the forecasted 1.2% growth in engineering and electronic engineering occupations available in Leicestershire and Rutland by 2030.
Ibrar Raja, director of engineering at Leicester College, said: “I am delighted to witness the transformation of our engineering building into a state-of-the-art facility that reflects our commitment to providing the best possible learning environment for our students and supports the need for highly qualified and skilled engineers in the region.
“This refurbishment project embodies our dedication to fostering innovation and excellence in engineering education.”
Landsmiths Oktoberfest raises £4,000 for The Core Centre
Nottingham property law firm, Landsmiths, recently hosted an Ocktoberfest event at The Bierkeller, Nottingham raising £4,000 for local charity The Core Centre.
The event, which took place on Thursday 12 October, was supported by a number of local businesses and brought together the Nottingham business community for a night of celebration, networking and fundraising.
Guests enjoyed traditional Bavarian cuisine and drinks, live music, and plenty of festive entertainment. To boost fundraising efforts there was also a charity raffle, which featured prizes donated by a number of local businesses.
The Core Centre is a small charity, based in Calverton, Nottingham. Their 3 staff, 30 volunteers, Trustees and partner network provide a Community Hub supporting well-being, health, providing advice and community engagement.
Core offers over 30 activities and services which provide optimism and support, evolving to meet the needs of the community post-Covid and with the cost of living crisis. More recently they have had to increasingly focus on reducing the severe impact of the cost of living crisis and are currently preparing for a difficult winter ahead.
Sam and Becky from The Core Centre said: “We can’t thank Landsmiths enough…it was a fantastic event! We were absolutely blown away by everyone’s generosity! The money raised will make such a difference to our charity, filling our funding gaps and helping us to continue our essential services within the community. A huge thanks to everyone involved.”
Sam from The Core Centre added: “We made some great connections on the night who have offered their help/expertise. The opportunity for us to make these connections is just as valuable to us as cash donations.”
Rachael Briggs, director at Landsmiths, said: “At Landsmiths we’re passionate about supporting and giving back to our local community. The Core Centre is such an amazing charity and we wanted to host something big and get other businesses involved to raise as much money for them as possible.”
Vik Moothia, director at Landsmiths, said: “It was a fantastic evening and we’re extremely grateful to all those who attended, sponsored the event, donated raffle prizes, and also to The Bierkeller who donated a set amount for each speciality drink that was purchased on the night.”
Sponsors of the evening included 200 Degrees, A W Lymn, Chord Consult, Groundsure, Innes England, LANDA Associates, Logical Demolition, Monk Estates, Node Consulting, PKF Smith Cooper and SIA.
£4.6m investment will bring 222 jobs to Loughborough lab space
More than 200 jobs will be created through a £4.6m investment in revamping laboratory space at Charnwood Campus.
Highly-specialised lab space, which is currently unused, is to be reactivated to create a world-class biochemistry building.
The project will enable a research organisation to expand into the LLEP area. And it will mean existing facilities can be upgraded as part of the first phase of an Innovation Centre project which will provide specialised laboratories – which meet modern regulatory requirements – for Leicester and Leicestershire’s life sciences cluster.
The total investment of £4.6m will be provided through Enterprise Zone Retained Rates Funding from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council.
Andy Reed OBE, LLEP co-chair, said: “This lab space will bring inward investment through the arrival of the first tenant.
“But it will also support the development and growth of businesses in the pharmaceutical, bio-tech, and med-tech sectors by offering research, development, and small batch manufacturing capacity here in Leicestershire.”
The project will:
- Make available 9,417m² of highly specialised bio-chemistry laboratory and office space;
- Create 100 high value jobs within 12 months – and a total of 222 within five years;
- Introduce a further 1,110 jobs in the supply chain;
- Create 50 parking spaces with electric car charging points.
Cllr Jewel Miah, leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “This project is another example of the opportunity we have to bring significant inward investment to Charnwood through making effective use of world-class life sciences infrastructure.
“Not only will this create cutting-edge lab space, it will also create hundreds of quality jobs and strengthen the supply chain for our local economy.”
Gosia Khrais, commercial and marketing director at Charnwood Campus, said: “This investment will help accelerate our ambition to become a meaningful life sciences asset in the region, attracting inward investment, and providing employment directly on the site and within our local supply chain.
“The project will also allow us to bring forward some of the other schemes that we have been working on in the background. None of this could have happened without really successful partnerships with our local and regional authorities.”
Grants of up to £15,000 made available for rural businesses in North Northamptonshire
Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are now available for rural businesses across North Northamptonshire.
Using monies received from the Rural England Prosperity Fund, North Northamptonshire Council has re-launched a grant scheme to support existing rural businesses, with applications now open.
Following on from round 1 earlier in 2023, round 2 applications are invited from projects that can start quickly and be delivered with all spend claimed by 28 February 2024. Capital Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are available in Round 2.
The grant scheme is intended to help rural businesses become more resilient and support growth. A particular target for Round 2 is rural diversification, including farm diversification and projects which support the visitor economy. The awarding of capital grants will enable rural businesses to invest in equipment or for building extensions and alterations.
Applications for this funding (Round 2) must be received by 5pm on Friday 24 November.
Cllr David Howes, the council’s Executive Member for Rural Communities and Localism, said: “I am pleased that following on from round 1 earlier in the year, we are now launching a new round of capital grant funding for rural businesses across North Northamptonshire.
“Rural businesses face a unique set of challenges and this grant scheme is designed to help them grow and develop.”
Cllr David Brackenbury, the council’s Executive Member for Growth and Regeneration, said: “This latest round of funding is designed to help rural businesses become more resilient and support growth, specifically around diversifying businesses. I would urge any rural businesses in North Northants to get in touch, take a read through the criteria and apply.”
Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, said: “As a council, we are always looking for ways to ensure funds get to those who most need it and these grants will make a real difference. If you are not eligible for funding this time, there will be a further round of funding opening later in 2023.”
Interested rural businesses who wish to apply for funding in round 2 are invited to send a request for an application form, eligibility criteria and guidance notes to ukspf@northnorthants.gov.uk
Rural businesses should also be aware that there will be an additional opportunity to apply for funding in Round 3. This will be for projects that will start in or after April 2024 and can be delivered with all spend claimed by 28 February 2025. Businesses are able to apply to more than one round for different projects.
Derby IT solutions provider acquired
Park Place Technologies, the global data centre and networking optimisation firm, has acquired Xuper, an IT solutions provider based in Derby.
Xuper was founded nearly 40 years ago. Xuper chairman and Managing Director Peter Grogan has announced his retirement but will be assisting through the transition period.
Xuper’s clients will benefit from Park Place’s global access to parts and engineering expertise, as well as its full portfolio of IT Lifecycle offerings, including Professional and Managed Services. Xuper’s engineers average 20+ years in the field.
Park Place clients will benefit from access to Xuper’s team of experienced engineers, staff augmentation services and extensive third-party maintenance capabilities.
Chris Adams, president and CEO of Park Place Technologies, said: “Xuper has a long list of industry accolades and certifications, and nearly four decades of exceptional customer service.
“For decades, Xuper has been a well respected brand. Its culture of finding solutions and building long-term partnerships mirrors Park Place’s mission. Their commitment to channel partners is a complement to our work with the globe’s most accomplished channel companies.”
FHP complete two HMO portfolio sales
FHP and sister brand FHP Student Living have completed two portfolio sales of HMO properties in Nottingham.
David Hargreaves, founding director of FHP and FHP Living, said: “Demand for HMOs from students continues to remain good thanks in part to two very strong universities with rents continuing to rise.
“However with significant increases in interest rates as well as utility costs and increasing compliance and licensing requirements we are starting to see a ‘changing of the guard’ in terms of ownership.
“Many owners of student HMO’s have owned for 20-30 years and are now getting to an age where the constant changes and demands on them are resulting in them looking for an exit.
“At the same time we are seeing an increasing number of large prop co’s and institutionally backed companies buying in to the sector as they build substantial national portfolios of several thousand beds focused on the key university cities.”
Jonty Green, who heads the investment side of the FHP Student Living business, said: “Our two recent portfolio sales fall under such a scenario and the links FHP have with the large prop co’s and institutions through their overall investment work together with our deep local knowledge has put us in a strong position to help our clients achieve their aims.”
The first portfolio of five houses and 26 beds in the prime Lenton area achieved a price of just over £2,000,000 with Massers advising on the legals.
The second portfolio of 22 properties and 112 beds also in Lenton achieved a price of just over £8,000,000 with Helene Maillet-Vioud of Geldards leading on the legals.
AutoNation drops out of the race to acquire Nottingham car retailer
AutoNation has joined Hedin and PAG International in dropping out of the race to acquire Nottingham-based car retailer Pendragon.
The American firm has confirmed that it does not intend to make an offer after initially considering acquiring the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Pendragon for 32 pence per share, in cash.
The news pushes back to the forefront Lithia Motors’ increased offer for Pendragon’s UK motor business and leasing business. The total cash consideration is £397 million, including a previously publicly disclosed subscription for shares in Pendragon.
Last month Pendragon revealed plans to sell its UK motor business and leasing business to Lithia. They also agreed the terms of a strategic partnership, including the rollout of Pinewood, the company’s dealer management software (DMS) business, to Lithia’s existing 50 UK sites and the creation of a joint venture to accelerate Pinewood’s entry into the attractive North American DMS market.
As part of the transaction, it was announced that Pendragon’s Pinewood division, which operates the company’s proprietary DMS business, would become a standalone entity, retaining Pendragon’s existing listing on the London Stock Exchange and creating a pure play Software as a Service (SaaS) business with an accelerated growth plan.
Lithia is one of the largest automotive retailers in North America.
