Headlam invests over £300,000 into Leicester flooring trade counter
Headlam Floorcoverings, the UK’s largest flooring supply specialist, has invested over £320,000 in the newly opened Garrard Waters trade-only counter on Freemans Common Industrial Estate, Chiswick Road, Leicester.
The trades of Leicester have unrivalled access to the UK’s widest range of floor coverings, tools, and accessories, including specialist brands such as Ardex, Mapei, Bostik, and F. Ball.
Located with other key trade outlets, the Garrard Waters trade centre has easy access to the A426 and plenty of free parking on site. Managed by Luke Northern, Luke said: “We are looking forward to welcoming all trades to the counter and sharing our knowledge and experience with our customers.”
The Garrard Waters flooring trade centre is a trade-only store and takes cash or account payments.
“Our location, seconds from the A426 is convenient for trades to collect their orders or pick products from our fully stocked shelves. We’re open from 7:30am to allow our account holders to get ahead with the Leicester traffic,” stated Luke.
He continued: “We have thousands of products on our shelves and a national network to get next-day delivery on even more, including carpets and vinyl cut to your requirements. Our door is always open to the trade; however, we also take orders over the phone and via the MyHeadlam APP. You can even get a free hot drink from the self-serving drinks machine!”
The Garrard Waters trade counter is open from 7:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, and offers next working day delivery if ordered by 4 p.m. Orders by phone on 0116 254 3270 or Luke Northern can be contacted via email at Luke.Northern@garrardwaters.co.uk.
New £5.5m national Institute of Technical Skills and Strategy to be hosted by University of Nottingham
A new £5.5 million national institute is to be launched to ensure that the UK has the technical capability and capacity across academia, research, education, and innovation to enable the UK to be a global superpower in science, engineering, and the creative industries.
The UK Institute of Technical Skills and Strategy (ITSS) is funded by Research England, which is part of UK Research and Innovation. It is being hosted by the University of Nottingham in partnership with a network of organisations and institutions across UK higher education and research.
Technical professionals enable research and innovation in our universities and institutes and build, maintain and enable the use of the UK’s research infrastructure. Despite their critical contributions to UK R&D and HE, technical roles have experienced a lack of visibility, recognition and career development. Career pathways and professional development (PD) can be poor, and an aging workforce means that large numbers of skilled technicians are retiring.
The new institute will focus on technical skills, roles and careers, and their contributions to the economy and how the technical talent and know-how required to fulfil the government’s ambitions for the UK to become an innovation nation can be delivered.
Dr Kelly Vere, Director of Technical Strategy at the University of Nottingham and Programme Director, Technician Commitment (Science Council), who is spearheading the new initiative, said: “We frequently discuss the emerging technologies needed to drive innovation, but rarely do we consider the expert technical skills, roles and careers required to use these technologies. Technical expertise is critical to the success of UK Higher Education (HE), research and innovation, and the growth of the UK economy.
“The UK has a shortage of technicians across all sectors, and there are significant ED&I challenges impacting the current workforce. These factors pose a serious threat to the UK’s innovative strength and global competitiveness.
“We are delighted to be establishing the UK Institute for Technical Strategy to ensure that we have the technical capability and capacity across the country to realise the UK’s ambitions of being a research and innovation superpower.”
The new institute builds on two initiatives which have begun to address this challenge and become the catalyst for advancing the landscape and culture for the technical community.
The Gatsby-funded Technician Commitment has seen universities, research institutes, professional bodies, learned societies and funders sign up to the initiative, which aims to increase the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical skills, roles and careers. It has established recognition of the challenges facing the technical community, started to build a national community of practice, and initiated a commitment from more than 110 organisations. The Technician Commitment will be hosted at the new institute upon its inception.
The TALENT programme, awarded by Research England to the Midlands Innovation consortium in 2020, has begun to build sector wide strategic insight into the UK’s HE and research technical skills base through its TALENT Commission. It has also designed, developed and piloted practical interventions to address the challenges highlighted by the Technician Commitment.
The TALENT Commission established the need for a new, independent, collaborative entity to build on the partnership approach of the Technician Commitment and the legacy of TALENT.
The launch of the ITSS was announced at an event in Westminster to celebrate the impact and progress of the TALENT Commission report, one year on, and to showcase how its recommendations are being implemented across the sector.
Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said: “We are funding the Institute of Technical Skills and Strategy to ensure that we continue to have the necessary technical expertise and capabilities to excel across research, education, and innovation today, while also nurturing the next generation of talent to drive the science, technology & innovation of tomorrow.
“Opening up high-skilled jobs in thriving sectors like science, engineering and creative industries is key to both growth for our economic prosperity and widening access to opportunities for all across the UK.”
ITSS will be the source of sector expertise on technical skills, roles and careers in UK HE and research and will form four new hubs focussed on key areas:
- a research hub focussed on technical roles, skills, careers, education, and training to expand sector understanding of the technical workforce through academic research. It will help to address gaps in knowledge in this area and work with funders to attract new investment for future research.
- a policy hub, working with partner organisations and the extended Technician Commitment community to inform, influence and interpret policy pertaining to technical roles, skills and careers in HE and research.
- a practice hub to develop (and evaluate) innovative approaches to culture change, piloting and evaluating them before rolling them out across the sector. Examples include career pathway models, apprenticeship schemes, workforce planning tools, and flagship and bespoke learning and development opportunities.
- an engagement hub to connect the technical community to government, professional bodies, funding bodies and other organisations in order to build a strong, connected community through engagement and events.
Council becomes sole owner of building development company
Bassetlaw District Council is now the sole owner of the building development company Bersahill Ltd, after Woodhead Regeneration Ltd withdrew their interest from the company.
The Council’s intention is for Bersahill Ltd to restart work on the Madison Court development in Harworth, North Nottinghamshire and deliver the scheme as originally planned.
Bersahill Ltd was originally set up as a ‘Joint Venture’ company owned in equal part by Bassetlaw District Council and Woodhead Regeneration Ltd to deliver quality housing to meet local need.
Bassetlaw District Council have completed the purchase of Woodhead Regeneration Ltd’s shareholding in the company.
Robert Woodhead, the parent company of Woodhead Regeneration, collapsed last year.
Occupational health business makes fresh acquisition
Northamptonshire-based Medigold Health has acquired Health Management in a move that will see the business become one of the country’s largest independent providers of workplace health and wellbeing solutions.
The acquisition has been supported by follow-on investment from BGF which has backed Medigold Health since 2017.
Health Management has been at the forefront of helping some of the nation’s most prestigious organisations to effectively manage the complex issues surrounding workplace health for over 20 years. With a workforce of 400 (over 30 per cent of whom are clinical professionals), it currently runs over 300 clinics nationally, providing services to over 400 clients and more than two million people.
Medigold Health’s takeover of Health Management is the latest in a series of acquisitions that has seen the company’s revenue grow by nearly 1,600 per cent in the last 12 years and comes at a time when demand for occupational health services is rapidly accelerating.
As a result of the deal, Medigold Health’s workforce will grow to over 1,100 (including a clinical cohort 600), who will now serve over 3,500 clients, representing c. 4.5 million employees (or 14% of the UK’s working population).
Medigold’s CEO Alex Goldsmith said: “The pandemic brought a fundamental shift in the way people work and how the workplace is defined, and that has forced employers to look with renewed focus at how they can adapt to better support the safety, health and wellbeing of their people as they compete to attract and retain the best talent.
“Organisations are rightly commanding more from their occupational health provision, and in response providers are increasingly having to invest more in developing new and innovative solutions, all against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging economic climate.
“In uniting decades of clinical heritage and expertise, our acquisition of Health Management will ensure we can continue meeting the current and emerging needs of the UK’s employers and, crucially, make our essential services more accessible to more businesses, allowing us to scale up our clinical capacity, expand our national footprint and broaden our offering.
“The prospect of being able to bring Health Business’s hugely talented team on board was too enticing an opportunity to turn down and I am hugely excited for what lies ahead as we begin the process of blending our two great companies together over the coming months.”
Fiona Gibson, investor at BGF, said: “We’re delighted to be providing follow-on funding to Medigold. Alex and the team are building a market leader in the field of occupational health and we look forward to supporting their ambitions on the next stage of their growth journey.”
Margaret McNab, Managing Director of Health Management, added: “This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Health Management, building on our 20-year track record as a trusted occupational health partner to some of country’s leading companies. We are looking forward to working with the Medigold Health team to deliver on our shared mission of helping even more employers to keep their people in work, safe and well.”
City centre car park to be redeveloped into affordable homes
Derby City Council has revealed plans to build new affordable homes on an under-used city centre car park.
Under the proposals, the Drewry Lane Car Park would become home to 17 properties which would be owned by Derby City Council, and available to rent through Derby Homefinder. A design for six townhouses and eleven apartments has been prepared and will shortly be submitted for planning approval.
Due to several nearby car parks with better access to the city centre, Drewry Lane car park has the lowest usage of any of the Council’s car parks. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, only a handful of vehicles were using its 48 spaces each day.
Councillor Roy Webb, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, said: “Creating new Council homes is a key priority for us, and this development would be a step towards achieving our goal to build or acquire around 100 new homes per year over the next 30 years.
“By repurposing land which is being under-utilised, we can not only improve areas requiring attention within the city centre but also provide affordable and energy efficient homes for residents who need them.”
The new homes aim to meet the Future Homes Standard, with high levels of insulation, solar panels and electric heating or air source heat pumps. This would enable residents to not only access affordable properties in the city centre but also save money on their energy bills from day one. The development will be funded by the Council’s Housing Revenue Account.
If the plans are approved and planning permission is granted, work on the site could start in late 2023, with the new homes completed in early 2025.
Major transformations at Derby Riverside set to move a step closer
A series of major transformations at Derby Riverside are set to move a step closer as proposals head to Cabinet next week.
The work at Derby Riverside will complete the next phase of the Our City, Our River project, and will deliver new flood defences, a desirable urban community, and further sustainable development opportunities.
A planning application has been submitted, and subject to approval, works will start on site in 2024.
At the centre of the plans is the creation of a new flood wall running from Causey Bridge in the north to the railway at Derwent Bridge, future proofing the area against the effects of climate change. The wall would offer enhanced protection to residents, businesses, and transport infrastructure, particularly at Exeter House, Raynesway and Meadow Lane.
Improvements would also provide the protection and resilience needed to allow the delivery of new, high-quality homes, creating a sustainable urban community that contributes to the city’s housing needs.
Several office buildings are proposed to be removed around Stuart Street and Derwent Street. The remaining land will then be transformed with sustainable developments and green open spaces along the river, unlocking its potential for leisure and enjoyment through improved access, experiences and biodiversity.
To deliver these improvements, the Council will work with landowners and businesses to purchase the land and property required. This includes Peat House, Epworth House and Derwent Court on Stuart Street, and Crompton House and Bio House on Derwent Street. The Council is already in negotiations with affected parties and has offered support with relocation where appropriate.
The OCOR project was awarded extra government funding in 2021 and 2022 to deliver Derby Riverside.
Cabinet will be asked to approve the next phase of activity, including design, procurement and construction, as well as the plan for acquiring land, and the acceptance of a further £1m of funding from the Environment Agency.
Councillor Steve Hassall, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Decarbonisation & Strategic Planning & Transport, said: “Derby riverside presents an exciting opportunity to transform the area for the better, opening up new spaces and opportunities. We know the importance of protecting livelihoods and businesses, and these flood defence works will provide resilience to key employment areas of the city.
“There is still work to be done to achieve the desired outcomes, and we will now wait for Cabinet to approve the next steps.
“We have worked closely with stakeholders throughout this process and will continue to do so. We’d like to thank the Environment Agency for their ongoing support throughout the Our City, Our River project.”
Winning blend as Starbucks deal sealed
A new Starbucks drive-thru has opened in the East Midlands following a deal brokered by commercial property consultancy Johnson Fellows.
The launch of the coffee shop at Meltham Lane, Chesterfield, takes 1 Oak Ltd’s portfolio of Starbucks sites to nine.
Johnson Fellows’ retail agency partner Chris Gaskell negotiated a 20-year lease on the 2,200 sq ft unit on behalf of 1 Oak Ltd with landlord Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd.
He said: “It is very satisfying to see 1 Oak Ltd launch its ninth Starbucks coffee shop. We’ve worked with them for many years as they have expanded their portfolio and this is their biggest and best Starbucks to date. They’ve created a winning blend and we wish the company well with their latest venture.”
Forterra hails “strong” 2022
Forterra has hailed “strong” 2022 results, with revenue and profits growing against a backdrop of severe cost inflation.
The brickmaker posted revenue of £455.5m, up from £370.4m in 2021, while profit before tax increased to £70.6m from £50.7m.
The firm’s new Desford brick factory is now operational, with first brick despatches expected shortly, its £30m Wilnecote brick factory redevelopment has commenced with recommissioning expected in Q4 2023, and contracts have been signed for a £12m facility to manufacture clay brick slips with first production in H1 2024.
Stephen Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are pleased with our strong performance in 2022 against a backdrop of severe cost inflation.
“The short-term outlook for the UK housing market remains uncertain. We saw signs of softening demand towards the end of 2022, and this continued into 2023, partly driven by customer inventory reduction.
“Whilst we expect demand for our products to fall in 2023 relative to 2022, we are encouraged by falling mortgage rates and recent reports of improving reservation rates. We wait to see how our customers’ spring new house selling season develops, as this will be a key determinant of demand in the current year.
“Against the continuing inflationary environment we have been able to implement further selling price increases at the beginning of 2023 and secure at least 80% of this year’s energy requirement.
“We remain confident that Forterra is well positioned to face these uncertain times. We began this year with minimal inventory, and are well practiced in managing our production capacity utilisation and cost base.
“With our new Desford factory now operational, we also expect to benefit from the industry-leading efficiency this will offer, manufacturing a range of products ideally suited to displace imported bricks. Alongside this, we possess a strong balance sheet with minimal debt and have recently extended our credit facility.
“Based on our assumption of a 20% fall in underlying demand relative to 2022, mitigated to some extent by the substitution of imported bricks, the Board’s expectations for the Group’s 2023 performance remain unchanged.
“Customer inventory reduction is expected to disproportionately impact H1 performance, resulting in full year revenue and earnings being H2 weighted. In the medium-term we continue to expect to benefit from the attractive UK market fundamentals of population growth, housing undersupply, a shortage of domestically-produced bricks and an increasing focus on the quality of housing stock.”
New Nottingham office for law firm
National consultancy law firm Excello Law has opened a new office in Nottingham and welcomed a significant team move with the arrival of insolvency, corporate recovery and dispute resolution specialists Nicky Calthrop-Owen, Victoria Dunstall and Annabel Whittaker, who have joined from local firm Actons.
The opening of the Nottingham office, in the Dryden Enterprise Centre, brings Excello’s national office network to 11 locations offering its 200+ consultant lawyers modern, city-centre facilities for hybrid and collaborative working as well as client meetings.
The new insolvency team joins local real estate solicitors Matthew Neiland and Michaela Story, and a wider Midlands team of 35 based out of Birmingham and Leicester.
Nicky qualified as a solicitor in 1990 and became a licensed insolvency practitioner in 1998. She has been consistently recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers legal directories and advises clients in complex insolvency / restructuring matters and partnership disputes.
Annabel is dual qualified as a solicitor in 2006, and an insolvency practitioner in 2012, providing legal advice on all corporate and personal insolvency matters, while Victoria, who qualified in 2001 and gained the diploma in advanced litigation in 2005, specialises in both contentious and non-contentious corporate and personal insolvency matters. Both are ranked as Next Generation Partners in Legal 500.
On joining the firm, Annabel said: “We have reached a point in our careers where we are confident that our reputation and experience enables us to generate our own work, and additional work we can refer to solicitors in other practice areas. The freedom and responsibility offered by Excello Law’s structure and ethos was the main attraction of our move to an established and successful consultancy practice.”
Joanne Losty, chief operating officer at Excello, said: “Nottingham is an increasingly important commercial hub and it is great for us to have office facilities at the heart of our client base. Our team is all locally-based and this solidifies our presence in the area, giving us a visible platform to recruit more consultant lawyers in the region.
“We have the largest office network of any of the consultancy firms – and it was a natural extension of our growth ambitions in the central region to open new facilities in the East Midlands to support our team. We’re delighted to have a permanent base in the city and look forward to recruiting more lawyers to the firm.”
Notts manufacturer creates 25 jobs following £150,000 investment
A Nottingham-based performance doorset manufacturer is set to increase its efficiency and production capabilities, while creating 25 jobs in the local area, thanks to a finance package from Lloyds Bank.
Integrated Doorset Solutions, part of the IDSL Group, manufactures performance timber doorsets for customers in the education, healthcare, commercial, residential and accommodation sectors, working with clients such as Unite Students, Balfour Beatty and MACE. The business is active in the domestic market, as well as serving customers in Ireland and oversees.
To support its growth ambitions and increased demand for its products, the business approached Lloyds Bank securing a £150,000 hire purchase funding package that is being used to purchase new automatic sanding machines.
The new sanders will further enhance the quality of products produced by Integrated Doorset Solutions, creating a more superior finish. It will also provide operational efficiencies, saving two people per shift, who can be deployed elsewhere to increase production capabilities. The automated machine also improves safety for colleagues, including entirely removing the risk of injury caused by long term exposure to vibration produced by traditional machinery.
The investment in new sanding equipment is part of a larger £4 million investment made in the business over the past three years. Other improvements include a new racking system, which enables the manufacturer to safely store more timber to protect against supply chain disruption, an automated spray finishing line to apply coatings, and a high-tech edge banding centre to more efficiently lip and edge its performance door products.
With the new technology in place, the business will be able to grow and work on more projects than ever before, allowing Integrated Doorset Solutions to employ a further 25 staff over the next 12 months.
The investment will also support the manufacturer’s growth plans, with ambitions to increase revenues from £37 million gross across the group this year, to over £50 million.
Founded in 2015, the business has grown four-fold, with four businesses now trading within the group – Integrated Doorset Solutions, Performance Joinery Limited, Fire Door Inspection Solutions Limited and Fire Door Inspection Solutions (Southern) Limited.
Nigel Richmond, chairman at Integrated Doorset Solutions, said: “When most people were forced to down tools during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic, we were busier than ever, working overtime to manufacture antibacterial doors for the Nightingale and Aspire hospitals across the country. More recently, as people return to cities and offices, we’ve seen a surge in demand from office and apartment builders, and there’s no sign of this slowing down anytime soon.
“The support from Lloyds Bank has been invaluable in helping us to expand. We’ve been able to introduce new technology that will not only support our growth and increase our efficiency, but ensure we have the best equipment for our employees. We’re excited about the year ahead and look forward to welcoming a number of new colleagues to our team over the next year.”
Mark Smith, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Integrated Doorset Solutions has been a customer of ours for more than six years and during that time we’ve supported them to achieve significant and impressive growth.
“Nigel and the team provide some of the highest quality specialist doors across the UK and are always looking for new ways to innovate and grow their offering. We’ll continue to be by the side of businesses like this across the region to help them capitalise on future growth opportunities.”
