Marchini Curran Associates partners with JUNO Women’s Aid to create safe spaces for all
Nottingham-based architects and interior designers, Marchini Curran Associates, has teamed up with local charity JUNO Women’s Aid, for a long-term partnership based around creating safe spaces for those in need.
Driven by shared values, the partnership will bring together an exchange of knowledge and skills with a purpose of optimising security and refuge for survivors of domestic abuse in Nottingham.
JUNO Women’s Aid is one of the most prominent domestic abuse organisations in the UK, and the largest in the city, working with women, children, and young people to protect survivors – encouraging safety, support and strength.
Marchini Curran Associates will be raising funds, as well as providing expert design advice for JUNO’s refuge accommodation team, to ensure security and comfort is optimal.
In exchange, the experts at JUNO will be providing specialist consultancy support on how to spot the signs of domestic abuse, challenge taboos and help vulnerable people in need.
The mutually beneficial partnership will utilise combined expertise to improve the lives of those affected by domestic abuse in Nottingham and will be part of wider fundraising efforts that will take place this year.
Kevin Smith, director at Marchini Curran Associates, said: “We’re proud to announce our partnership with JUNO Women’s Aid, a charity whose aims and values resonate with us as designers of spaces to live in, spaces to work in – spaces that should be safe.
“As part of the knowledge exchange, we’re looking forward to receiving vital education to help with spotting the signs of abuse, which will allow us to safeguard those we feel are at risk and spread our learnings to our wider network.”
Lauren Leyva, architectural assistant at Marchini Curran Associates, who has been working closely with the JUNO team, said: “As part of our partnership with JUNO, we want to challenge the social stigma around domestic abuse conversations. Protecting women and children, whether it is through design or through raising awareness, is something we hope to achieve, and we look forward to learning more about these issues.”
Alongside the knowledge exchange, any donations raised through fundraising activities by Marchini Curran Associates will be used to help JUNO continue its vital work in the community.
Yasmin Rehman, CEO of JUNO Women’s Aid, said: “We’re excited to announce our partnership and are looking forward to working closely with Marchini Curran Associates, sharing our expertise and working together to make safer spaces for women and children.”
Works get underway on new 20-acre Lincoln employment site
Local contractor and property developer, Stirlin, has commenced works on a new commercial site in Saxilby, Lincoln, which will create hundreds of new jobs.
The new site, known as Enterprise West Lindsey, will provide up to 350,000 sq ft of commercial development opportunity, delivered by Stirlin in partnership with Castle Square Developments.
Enterprise West Lindsey is prominently located on Skellingthorpe Road, opposite Stirlin Court and adjacent the established Riverside Enterprise Park (by Stirlin and Castle Square), benefitting from convenient access to the A1 and A46 Lincoln bypass.
Stirlin are well underway with the first phase of works on site, while working alongside a general ecologist to ensure protection of the natural environment. Phase one includes all main infrastructure works, such as the installation of a pumping station and foul drainage, as well as surface water and access roads, taking it from a greenfield site to development parcels which are ready for building out.
Tony Lawton, Stirlin, says: “We are delighted to commence infrastructure works at Enterprise West Lindsey. This scheme has been several years in the making, so this is a real milestone for all involved. Enterprise West Lindsey will provide employment opportunities for years to come, supporting the continued growth of the economy in Greater Lincoln.”
Surveyor at Banks Long & Co, Harry Collins, says: “We have been working alongside Stirlin and Castle Square Developments for some time to bring this scheme together, it is fantastic to see the hard work coming to fruition and to bring this excellent scheme to the market. Enterprise West Lindsey will conclude another exciting development within Saxilby – an ever growing industrial/employment location near Lincoln.”
Trident completes extensive refurb at one of Europe’s largest retirement villages
Trident Construction Services has completed its largest refurbishment contract to date after a £2.2m modernisation project at Lark Hill Retirement Village, near Nottingham.
The company remodelled and upgraded a number of communal, staff and visitor areas at the site, which is the run by The ExtraCare Charitable Trust.
The work included refurbishing and modernising the bar and bistro, village hall and stage, reception, and main thoroughfares, the Skylark Lounge, craft and multi-use rooms, the gym, yoga studio and changing rooms, the hairdressing salon, launderette, along with staff rooms and staff sleeping quarters, and a guest suite apartment.
Lark Hill, situated on the outskirts of Nottingham at Clifton, remained occupied throughout the 42-week project, which was completed in six phases and on budget.
Craig Johnston, a director at Trident Construction Services, based at Clay Cross, near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, and contracts manager for the project, said: “We were delighted to have been awarded this contract at Lark Hill, helping to enhance facilities for residents and staff.
“Meticulous communication and planning for this extensive and inspiring scheme was imperative, given the nature of the site and the fact that it remained occupied throughout the entire programme of modernisation work.
“We are proud to have built up an excellent relationship with the village staff and residents during the course of this phased remodelling and refurbishment scheme, which has provided Lark Hill with some excellent new modern facilities.
“Trident has previous experience of working in the care sector at Kettering Hospital, the Royal British Legion care home Galanos House in Warwickshire, and ExtraCare’s Pannel Croft Village in Newtown, Birmingham, but this was our most extensive and long-running project to date, and we couldn’t be more proud of the result.”
Lark Hill has 327 one and two bedroom apartments and bungalows, and is home to more than 400 residents. Built in 2009, it came under the spotlight when it featured in Channel 4’s Old People’s Home for Four-year-olds in 2018.
The refurbishment project has been a significant investment in the site.
Kevan Murray, location manager at Lark Hill, said: “This project has been ExtraCare’s most adventurous and comprehensive modernisation project to date.
“The team worked extremely hard whilst retaining a person-centred approach which has been unique and refreshing. Ultimately, I couldn’t have hoped for a better team of people to work with on this project.
“This project absolutely helps us to deliver on our mission ‘better lives for older people’, and on top of communal spaces for our residents, Trident have also supported with staff areas, meeting rooms, training suites, sleep-in rooms, offices and guest suite for family and friends to stay over. All these areas have been completed to a very high standard, transforming the look and feel of the environment which will again, I feel, help take us to the next level.”
Other members of the Trident team included director and quantity surveyor Jamie Keegans and project manager Aiden Hawkins. Employers agent for the scheme was Baily Garner LLP, architect was Nicol Thomas Architects, while Engineering Services Design (ESD) provided mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy.
Nottingham biotech firm raises further £1.1m
NuVision – a Nottingham-based company with a product that speeds up healing of eye conditions – has raised a further £1.1m investment.
The funding has come from existing investors including the MEIF Proof of Concept & Early Stage Fund, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, Mercia’s EIS funds, Pioneer Group (formerly the BioCity Group), the University of Nottingham and private investors. It will enable NuVision to accelerate the development of its first two products in advance of a Series A investment in the next 12 months.
NuVision’s wound dressings are manufactured from amniotic membrane, the sac that surrounds babies in the womb, and are used to aid the regeneration and healing of the eye’s surface. Its first product, Omnigen, is already approved for treatment on the NHS and is used in hospitals and private clinics in the UK and overseas.
Omnigen may be applied in the operating theatre or, when used in combination with the company’s bespoke bandage contact lens, OmniLenz, in the outpatient department or clinic. This enables patients to benefit from amniotic membrane without having to undergo surgery and can enable treatment at an earlier stage in the development of their condition.
Omnigen is a dry, room-temperature stable product that rehydrates on contact with natural moisture from the eye.
NuVision was founded in 2015 by Dr Andy Hopkinson based on his research at the University of Nottingham. The latest funding round brings the total raised by the company to over £5m.
Andy Hill, CEO of NuVision, said: “We are delighted to receive further support from our existing investors. This investment round is an endorsement of our innovative new therapies for ocular care and our commitment to developing rapid and accessible treatment for ocular injury. The next stage of development is the scaling of our commercial and operational capabilities ahead of a planned Series A round in late 2023 or early 2024.”
Mercia first invested in the company in 2015.
Hannah Tapsell, investment manager at Mercia Asset Management, said: “Amniotic membrane has been used in healing for almost a century. NuVision’s unique cutting-edge biotherapy harnesses the benefits but in a format that makes it far more powerful and effective. Its product is already in hospitals in the UK and there is scope to expand its use to other conditions. The funding will enable NuVision to continue the good work and roll it out internationally so more patients can reap the benefits.”
Pioneer, which operates the BioCity Nottingham site where NuVision is based, has a long-standing collaboration with the company, having previously provided it with seed funding and tailored accelerator support.
Dr. Glenn Crocker, executive director of venture capital investments at Pioneer Group, said: “Our follow-on investment in NuVision reflects the quality of the company and its steady growth journey. We have been impressed by its uniquely innovative approach to treating ocular surface disease in a natural way. We are also confident that NuVision’s effective solutions for regenerating and healing the eye surface have the potential to become real game-changers in ocular care.”
Dr. Alice MacGowan, life science executive, Nottingham Technology Ventures, said: “The science underpinning NuVision’s technology was developed at the University of Nottingham, and we are very proud to see the ongoing patient benefit stemming from that research. The University co-invested in the recent round, demonstrating its confidence in NuVision’s team, plans for scale, and, above all, the treatment approach.”
Local pharmacy investment acquisition is just what the doctor ordered
A Northamptonshire shop let to a national pharmacy chain has exchanged hands in a deal brokered by commercial property consultancy Kirkby Diamond.
The freehold retail unit, in a prime town centre location at Watling Street, Towcester, has been acquired by a longstanding private investor client for an undisclosed sum. Lloyds Pharmacy occupies the 3,823 sq ft property on a six-year lease from December 2021.
Mark Hannam, partner and head of professional services at Kirkby Diamond, said: “We were instructed by a longstanding client, a private investor, to identify and acquire a prime town centre retail investment.
“We were very pleased to complete the deal on our client’s behalf, providing the full service from identifying suitable investments that fit the client’s criteria and securing the investment following a competitive bidding scenario.
“We are now undertaking the ongoing property management to ensure the asset value is maintained whilst looking at ways to add value.”
The property is a three-storey, mid terrace building. It has a ground floor retail unit with ancillary storage on the first and second floors.
Phenna Group snaps up Sayvol
Nottingham-headquartered Phenna Group, which aims to invest in and partner with selected niche, independent Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC), and Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) companies, has acquired Sayvol.
Formed in 2002, Sayvol has quickly established itself as a market leading provider of water compliance services to landmark buildings in London and across the UK.
Based out of Kettering and with offices in London Nutley, East Sussex and Stoke on Trent, the business employs over 60 experts delivering a range of water hygiene, treatment, inspection and Legionella risk based consultancy services.
Les White, Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be joining Phenna Group. Since being introduced to the Phenna Team, they have been easy to deal with, acting with integrity throughout. That has only served to increase our confidence, that in Phenna Group we have selected the right partner to help us achieve our ambitious growth plans, well into the future.”
Paul Barry, Group CEO of Phenna Group, said: “Since our first discussions with Les and Martin, I’ve been very impressed with their no nonsense approach and their ambitious plans for their business. I’m really excited the Sayvol team will be joining Phenna Group.
“Their experienced team and their range of services will be highly complementary to those currently offered from our Built Environment Division. This deal really augments our platform, adds breadth to our current service offering. I’m really looking forward to welcoming Les, Martin and their team into our Group.”
Phenna Group were advised by Johnston Carmichael and Avonhurst. Sayvol were advised by Premier Corporate Finance, Knights plc and Meadows.
Revenue and profits jump at Ibstock
Ibstock has hailed a strong trading performance for the year ended 31 December 2022, with both revenue and profit materially ahead of both the prior year and pre-pandemic comparators.
The manufacturer of clay bricks and concrete products and solutions has posted revenue of £513m, up from £409m in 2021, while pre-tax profits rose to £105m from £65m.Joe Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “These strong results reflect our continued focus on commercial and operational execution, which has enabled the Group to deliver significant growth and improved returns despite a challenging backdrop.
“Revenue and profit were materially ahead of both the prior year and pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the strategic progress we have made over the last five years, with the development of a high quality, lower cost and highly efficient asset base allied to the strength of our market positions.
“We have faced into the challenges of recent years to emerge as a more diverse, higher quality business, with a strong management team and a clear strategy focused on value creation in the years ahead.
“As we face another period of uncertainty, we will draw on this experience to optimise our performance in the short term, while continuing to invest in, and diversify, the business to ensure we remain well placed to deliver on our medium-term targets.
“Activity in the early weeks of 2023 has continued to reflect the more subdued demand environment experienced towards the end of last year, although we anticipate this to improve as the year progresses.
“With the strong strategic platform we now have in place, I am confident both in our ability to respond effectively to conditions this year, and to achieve significant growth over the medium-term.”
Losses escalate at Leicester City Football Club
After “a year of continued investment” losses have widened significantly at Leicester City Football Club.
According to financial results for the year ending 31 May 2022, in retaining the Club’s primary playing assets while making further significant investments in player acquisitions and salaries, the Foxes’ pre-tax losses grew to £92.5m from £31.2m in the prior year.
The return of supporters to stadiums, an eighth-placed Premier League finish and a run to Leicester City’s first European semi-final in the UEFA Europa Conference League together generated a revenue figure of £214.6m for the year.
This is a drop in revenue compared to 2021’s £226.2m which is said to be principally due to the reversal of accounting timing differences in the recognition of revenue relating to the COVID-delayed 2019/20 season, whereby 20 per cent (£32.9m) of revenue from the 2019/20 season was recognised in the 2020/21 financial year.
Underlying revenue rose, with an upturn in UEFA revenue (£21.5m from £13.7m) and gate receipts increasing to £21m from £0.5m as supporters returned to stadiums. The increase in revenue was partially offset, however, by a reduction of £6m in Premier League revenue for 2021/22 compared with the previous year due to a lower finishing position.
Season 21/22 was the Club’s second season operating at professional level in the women’s game. Additional investments were made into both the playing squad and the facilities at Belvoir Drive to further professionalise the women’s and girls’ football operation. The Club’s first FA Women’s Super League season ended with top-flight status secure.
Following the successful development of the Club’s world-class training facility in Seagrave, north Leicestershire, the Club is currently finalising agreements with Leicester City Council in order to obtain a formal grant of planning permission for the expansion of King Power Stadium and the development of its wider site (following the Council planning committee’s unanimous approval of the Club’s planning application in September 2022) – a long-term project that will further enhance and diversify the Club’s revenue generation capability.
Leicester City Chief Executive Susan Whelan said: “Under 12 years of King Power ownership, we have consistently sought to invest in the Club’s future and to build from established positions of strength.
“King Power’s unwavering support of the Club provides a secure position from which to capitalise on our opportunities. However, in order to remain compliant with the game’s regulations both domestically and in Europe – where we aim to compete regularly – our ongoing investment strategy must continue to reflect our underlying revenue progression.
“Our long-term ambition is to achieve this through on-pitch success, the commercial growth that comes with it and through the expansion of our stadium and the development of the associated masterplan.
“In the shorter term, as we look to continue to compete with more established opponents, profits from player trading and continued successful recruitment will continue to feature prominently in our strategy. This approach has served us well in the past, bolstering our capability to keep investing in the growth of the Club and forming a cornerstone of the most successful era in Leicester City’s history.
“Everyone at the Club remains committed to the ongoing and responsible establishment of Leicester City as a consistently competitive force in the game’s leading competitions and a powerful force for good in our communities.”
Leicestershire County Cricket Club reveal major redevelopment plans
Leicestershire County Cricket Club has entered into consultation with developers, stakeholders and the community after announcing intentions for a £60m redevelopment of Uptonsteel County Ground.
The club has been working extensively with architects, research consultants and financial bodies to produce design specifications that have the scope to transform the existing stadium and create new facilities for the surrounding community.
Chief Executive Sean Jarvis has revealed that among the options being explored are the development of residential homes, healthcare and retail options. The launch of an Academy of Cricket campus, that could host a wide range of academic activities including the world’s first MBA in cricket management, also forms part of the long-term vision for the project.
The club is currently in talks with a number of interested stakeholders who are eager to get the plans up and running and a local residents’ group has been formed. The group has attended an initial forum to ensure those who live nearby can be fully involved in the process.
Mr Jarvis said: “This is something we have been working on for some considerable time alongside research consultants who have presented us with a number of viable options. It is now a case of putting more ‘meat on the bones’ on the proposals and we will therefore be holding talks with a wide range of interested stakeholders. Our intention is to consult with the community along every step of this journey.
“We need to generate new revenue streams if we wish for the club to develop, and the progression of these plans will not only guarantee a bright future for the club, but also for the local community who will benefit hugely from this investment.”
News of the investment project has been warmly welcomed by Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who said: “Leicester is rightly proud of its sporting institutions. Our city has already benefited from the Tigers’ redevelopment of their Welford Road site, and we are looking forward to LCFC taking forward their ambitious plans very soon.
“I welcome the cricket club’s announcement and their plans to bring wider benefits to the local community, including new academic programmes with the potential to put Leicestershire on the international stage.”
It has also received the backing of supporters with John Stew, Chairman & Secretary of Friends of Grace Road, a volunteer-run supporters club, saying: “This is exciting news, and we look forward to being involved in the process to make our club financially sustainable. This could create a real legacy for Leicestershire County Cricket Club and hopefully inspire greater success on the field.”
Results ahead of expectations as Breedon posts another record year
Breedon Group, the construction materials group, has hailed another record year.
In audited annual results for the year ended 31 December 2022, revenue at the business increased 13% to almost £1.4bn, while pre-tax profits were up 19% to £135.8m.
The news came as Breedon revealed plans to move to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, which it says is “a reflection of [its] scale, maturity and growth ambitions.”
The directors believe this would enhance Breedon’s corporate profile and recognition, as well as extending the opportunity to invest in the group to index tracker funds and a broader group of international institutional shareholders.
Admission is expected to occur during the second quarter of this year.
Rob Wood, Chief Executive Officer, said: “2022 was another record year. Each division progressed and we made meaningful headway on our growth strategy, expanding organically, acquiring strategically important assets, and moving our sustainability agenda forward.
“We grew sustainably through replenishing and optimising our mineral assets, investing in our colleague’s safety and wellbeing, and reducing our carbon footprint while maintaining a secure financial position. We have a mineral pipeline in excess of 100 million tonnes, we achieved the highest substitution of fossil fuels at our cement plants in our history, and we invested for growth while still reducing our leverage.
“In recent years our local and entrepreneurial operating model has been tried and tested, keeping our people safe while growing high-quality earnings, and maintaining a strong balance sheet. Despite the uncertain economic and geopolitical landscape, 2023 has begun positively and we are in a strong position. We will continue to supply essential materials to growing end-markets, and we remain confident in our ability to deliver.”
On the move to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, Amit Bhatia, non-executive chairman of Breedon, said: “Being a member of AIM has served us well. For over a decade the AIM market provided us with access to diverse and engaged investors, within a supportive community that understands the needs of entrepreneurial businesses such as Breedon and we thank them wholeheartedly for their support.
“As an established business, with a track record for growth and value creation, we believe the Main Market now offers the appropriate listing for a company of our scale and heritage and, subject to the required approvals, look forward to our future as a member of the Official List.”
