Sills & Betteridge’s Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team has recently been boosted with the appointment of solicitor Rachael O’Sullivan. Rachael deals with all aspects of litigation, including landlord and tenant disputes, land and boundary disputes, disputes between cohabitees under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, injunctions, committal applications, breach of contract and debt claims. Prior to joining the firm, Lincoln-born Rachael attended university in Nottingham and then took a year out to travel around South-East Asia, and to teach English in Thailand. She returned to Lincoln and spent 6 years working in house for an insurance company in the private residential sector, dealing with landlord possession claims. She gained extensive advocacy experience representing clients at trials in the County Court. Rachael then decided to resume her studies, starting her Legal Practice course in 2019 for which she obtained a distinction, fully qualifying as a solicitor last year. A keen advocate, Rachael will be undertaking a Higher Rights of Audience course in March 2023. Senior partner, and head of Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Karen Bower-Brown said: “We are delighted that Rachael has joined our busy team. She complements the existing arrangements extremely well with her broad litigation knowledge and experience in representing both claimants and defendants. She has settled in well and I am looking forward to seeing her legal career progress with Sills & Betteridge.” Rachael said: “I have known Karen and her colleagues in the litigation department professionally for some time, and always admired the pragmatic approach they take to achieve the best outcomes for their clients. I am very fortunate to work in a team which deals with such a wide range of commercial and civil dispute matters and know I will benefit greatly from their support and mentorship.” Rachael will be based at Lincoln but will handle cases across the wider Lincolnshire area, Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
KPMG set to invest in the Midlands following strong financial year
Professional services firm KPMG is set to invest in its Midlands operations following a strong financial year.
Last year, KPMG promoted 140 colleagues, including six partners, in the Midlands where it has offices in Nottingham and Birmingham. As well as this investment into colleagues, the firm outlined plans to provide new workspaces for its staff in the East Midlands by securing a new office at the University of Nottingham’s Castle Meadows Campus.
The growth was driven by a demand in KPMG’s core services – audit, tax & legal, deal advisory and consulting. Deals completed by the KPMG UK Midlands corporate finance team include: the sale of a construction management software and services company to The Access Group; the acquisition of National Tyres by Halfords; and LDC’s investment into Stonbury, the water and environmental sustainability firm.
Andy Bostock, KPMG UK Midlands regional chair, said: “The past year was an extraordinary year for businesses in the Midlands – Birmingham hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which saw a record number of tourists visiting the region and a continuous flow of inward investment which has ensured that crucial infrastructure projects will be realised.
“In 2022, we invested in our staff by enhancing our benefits package and provided an in-year salary rise to recognise the hard work of our colleagues across the UK. This investment will also be continuing in the Midlands as we set to relocate our office as part of our partnership with the University of Nottingham.
“Being a responsible business is at the centre of what we do and as part of that we’ve encouraged our people to use their skills and expertise to help tackle social issues that impact our communities.
“In 2022, our Midlands based colleagues dedicated over 6000 hours on volunteering and fundraising activities. This included delivering employability programmes for students in the Black Country, raising money for Cure Leukaemia and Marie Curie, and assisting women from the Birmingham Crisis Centre to re-enter the workplace.
“This year, many of our clients will be focusing on how best to optimise the costs of their business operations while ensuring that they can still make impactful investments in digital transformation, improving ESG credentials and upskilling their workforce; and our expert teams will be on hand to support them.
“As we look to the year ahead, I’m excited to see the work that our colleagues will be doing for our clients and the social impact that we can have in the local community.”
Publishing its annual results for the financial year ended 30 September 2022, KPMG UK delivered double digit growth for the second consecutive year, recording a 16% rise in revenue from £2.35bn to £2.72bn, with profit before tax increasing from £436m to £449m.
The firm recorded double-digit sales growth in each of its major business units.
Bridge Help makes senior promotion
Chesterfield-based commercial finance specialist, Bridge Help has promoted Katie Snodden to the newly created role of head of sales.
The promotion recognises the significant contribution Katie has made to the business since she joined as a business development manager in 2021.
In 2022 alone Katie secured more than £8m worth of loans for brokers throughout England and Wales. In her newly created role, she will now lead Bridge Help’s team of business development managers in growing the company’s loan book which it aims to double in 2023.
Chris Sellars, CEO and general counsel of Bridge Help, said: “Katie has built some amazing relationships across the industry, all whilst taking on additional responsibilities within the company. Her appointment is integral to our growth plans for next year and she is absolutely the right person for this role.” Katie added: “I am thrilled to take on this exciting role. One of the many reasons I joined Bridge Help was the opportunity to grow my career and skillset within the business.”
Katie joined the bridging finance sector from the transport and logistics sector having previously worked within financial services for a large, chartered accountancy firm in London. Her appointment at Bridge Help signalled her return to the financial services sector, which she describes as her ‘first love’.
Enrok Construction appoints new quantity surveyor
Derbyshire-headquartered Enrok Construction has appointed a new quantity surveyor as part of its ongoing growth strategy.
Stuart Wedge, who has almost a decade of experience gained across the construction sector, joins Enrok to work across the company’s ongoing projects in the Midlands. These include the restoration of a former mill on Crocus Street, Nottingham, into 27 apartments and a new affordable housing scheme in Handsworth, West Midlands.
Stuart joins Enrok as the company continues to bolster its team as part of its growth plans for the New Year, following a successful 2022. Enrok’s ambitious growth plans were among the reasons Stuart joined the team.
Commenting on his appointment, Stuart Wedge says: “Enrok has a strong team in place already and I am looking forward to adding my experience to the company. The company’s growth ambitions and the potential for me to develop my role on numerous ongoing projects really appealed to me.
“Our work within the affordable housing sector is also something that aligns with my values. I wanted to be part of a company that is committed to working with housing associations to deliver more affordable homes for people across the UK.”
Simon Bennett MCIOB, operations director at Enrok, adds: “Stuart has direct experience that will quickly benefit our client’s projects across the Midlands. His ambition to be part of a growing business impressed us and we are all delighted that he has joined the Enrok team.
“As we focus more on working with Housing Associations in the Social Housing sector, it is essential that we have the right people in the right places across the business. We feel we have achieved this with Stuart, and I am looking forward to working with him.”
Hospital Services Limited launches East Midlands headquarters
After over 60 years working in partnership with healthcare suppliers on the Island of Ireland, Hospital Services Limited (HSL) is growing the company’s footprint in the UK with an investment of over £1.7m to establish a headquarters in the East Midlands.
A specialist distributor of medical and surgical equipment, consumable products, and healthcare IT solutions, HSL is one of the largest privately-owned distributors supplying the health sector in the UK and Ireland. In addition to supplying technologies and solutions to its customers, HSL’s team provides on-going technical and clinical support to the end-user of its products.
With financial backing from the Foresight Group, an independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager with over £6.5 billion of assets under management, HSL continues to grow its offering.
Following continued growth and success in GB where HSL have established a reputation for supplying innovative, efficiency-growing and high-quality radiology and healthtech, HSL have established a Britain-based team of 25 across their new Draycott headquarters, an office in Bath, and positioned remotely across the regions of the UK including Wales.
The company also has ambitious plans to grow the team by at least 60% in the coming years through planned acquisitions and ongoing recruitment campaigns, and has recently appointed Steve Leatherland as regional director of operations in GB.
Commenting on his role in helping strategic growth for HSL Steve Leatherland said: “These are exciting times for HSL with a growing portfolio, an expanding team, and a working environment focused on creating a culture of customer centricity. With over 20 years’ experience in the healthcare service sector, I am looking forward to working with some of the best people and products in the marketplace.”
Graham Stewart, commercial & finance director, HSL, added: “Established 60 years ago this year on the Island of Ireland, HSL has enjoyed close partnerships with NHS trusts and private healthcare providers for decades.
“We are proud to be applying that track record of supplying high-quality and innovative technologies to departments and teams in a wide range of disciplines by doubling-down on plans for growth in the UK with the establishment of our East Midlands office and have further growth in the pipeline for HSL in Great Britain.
“We represent a high calibre of global brands here in England, Scotland and Wales, and our ability to bring a multitude of technologies to clients gives us a unique advantage as we work in partnership with them to build bespoke solutions to meet their needs.”
HSL’s Chief Executive Dominic Walsh said: “Working alongside public and private hospitals, teaching hospitals and colleges, HSL are delighted to share our attitude of service and support with clients across the UK.
“Expanding beyond the idea of selling individual products, our team invests themselves in the success of our clients and we excel at developing a deep understanding of their requirements, ways of working, and desired outcomes and aim to partner long term with the clients to provide ongoing aftercare and support as well as training and continued improvement of solutions offered.”
Sentiment amongst SME manufacturers remains weak as output falls and cost and price inflation remain high
Business confidence amongst the UK’s SME manufacturers remains weak, with sentiment having fallen for the fifth consecutive quarter in the three months to January.
The CBI’s latest SME Trends Survey paints a mixed picture for the quarter to January. Output contracted for a second successive quarter, but less quickly than in the previous quarter, and new orders stabilised following a steep drop in the three months to October. Both output and new orders are expected to be unchanged in the three months ahead.
Both cost and price growth eased slightly for the third consecutive quarter. But cost and price inflation remain high by historical standards and they are expected to remain so in the three months to come.
The number of people employed by SME manufacturers edged up in the three months to January, but at the slowest pace since April 2021. Headcount is expected to rise slightly faster in the next three months. However, SME manufacturers continue to see a shortage of skilled labour as a key constraint on output in the quarter ahead, alongside uncertainty over orders and ongoing shortages of materials or components (though concerns about the latter have eased from their peak in April 2021).
Against this backdrop, SME manufacturers expect to reduce investment in buildings and in plant and machinery over the next 12 months. Innovation spending is expected to be flat, though expenditure on training is tipped to rise.
Ben Jones, CBI lead economist, said: “SMEs in the UK’s manufacturing sector continue to face significant challenges. Cost pressures remain high and concerns about future demand are weighing on optimism.
“The recent decline in output may be bottoming out, with output expected to be steady in the coming quarter. But SME manufacturers still lack the confidence to invest.
“Businesses will be looking to the Government for signs that the Spring Budget will include actions to get firms investing and help the economy regain some momentum.”
Rolls-Royce talks to Czech Republic over deployment of SMR nuclear technology
Rolls-Royce SMR Chief Exec Tom Samson has led a delegation to the Czech Republic to discuss plans for deploying a fleet of small modular reactors there.
Derby-based Rolls-Royce SMR has been working with leading Czech utility company CEZ on plans to deploy SMRs to provide long-term energy security, meet net zero targets and decarbonise both electricity networks and industry.
The visit, building on an agreement signed between the two companies in 2020, looked at the routes to deploying Rolls-Royce SMRs – the UK’s sovereign nuclear technology – in the Czech Republic and at opportunities to build on expertise in the supply chain from both countries.
Mr Samson said: “There is a significant opportunity to export our British technology to the Czech Republic and the wider region in support of their low-carbon energy aspirations. Rolls-Royce SMR has developed a factory-built power station that can provide clean, affordable electricity for generations to come.
“The Czech Republic has a strong nuclear heritage and, by combining the skills and expertise from the two countries, we can find a route to bring this technology here by the early 2030s, in a way that brings huge benefits for all.”
The senior representatives from Rolls-Royce SMR were joined by The Minister of State for Trade Policy, Greg Hands. Mr Hands said: “Exporting not only helps businesses grow, but also supports jobs, drives productivity and boosts the economy.
“I’m proud to be supporting Rolls-Royce SMR in Czech Republic and hope these discussions lead to exciting opportunities for the British brand.
“As the recent Energy Minister, I understand the important role small modular reactors offer for enhancing energy security.”
The visit included a trip to Skoda JS and Doosan Skoda Power manufacturing facilities in Pilsen which, alongside Rolls-Royce SMR factories in the UK, could form an important part of the plans to deploy Rolls-Royce SMRs in the Czech Republic.
Derbyshire is promoted to the world to reboot visitor economy
Derbyshire and the Peak District have been promoted to the world at major travel events in Dublin and London to reboot the visitor economy.
Jo Dilley, MD of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “Increasing international travel to the Peak District and Derbyshire is crucial for the recovery and growth of the visitor economy. Being part of these important face-to-face events helps showcase the area as a world-class destination for both international visitors and key travel trade buyers, inspiring visits from overseas markets which are continuing to build their confidence about returning to the UK again.
“There are lots of potential opportunities for the area to benefit from some big events happening in 2023, with international visitors expected to take a keen interest in both the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool and King Charles III’s Coronation, which gives us plenty of reasons to shout about the Peak District and Derbyshire as a must-visit holiday destination.”
Visit Peak District & Derbyshire showcased the destination to an estimated 40,000 visitors at Ireland’s biggest annual travel exhibition, the Holiday World Show, in Dublin and also met key international travel trade representatives at VisitBritain’s Showcase Britain event and the Britain & Ireland Marketplace, both held in London.
While capturing demand from the rise in domestic staycations has been a key part of their recovery marketing efforts, keeping international markets warm has been just as important, and the Holiday World Show was the first large-scale opportunity the organisation has had since the pandemic to promote the Peak District and Derbyshire to overseas visitors and travel trade buyers.
Visitors to the Visit Peak District & Derbyshire stand were given information on the destination’s vibrant tourism offer and had the chance to taste quality local produce with whisky samples from Ambergate-based White Peak Distillery. Visitors also had the opportunity to win tickets to Chatsworth, an iconic cultural attraction for international tourists.
Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s work to increase international visitor numbers is in line with its key aims to drive visitor spend, boost overnight stays, and extend the tourism season.
Inbound tourism has been identified as a key driver of recovery and economic growth and VisitBritain predicts international visits to the UK will total 35.1 million in 2023 (86% of 2019 levels), with a spend of £29.5 billion (104% of 2019 levels).
Walkers buys land for new plant from Leicester City Council
Land close to Walkers Snack Foods’ main factory site in Leicester is being earmarked as the location for a potato washing plant after the company agreed a £3.5m purchase of the 6.4-acre site near Thurcaston Road with the city council.
The sale, which could bring at least 40 jobs, is conditional on planning permission and developer legal agreements, but providing these are in place, construction of the new building could get under way this summer.
Walkers’ new facility will wash and grade potatoes from farms around the UK in one location, with this centralised operation reducing both the number of transport movements and the amount of water used to prepare the potatoes for processing.
When complete, it will also collect the soil removed from the potatoes and return it to the fields – and, as part of the sustainable process, Walkers also plans to transform leftover potato peelings into fertiliser, using state of the art equipment on site.
As part of the terms of the land sale, the council will fund a £2.25m estate road to serve the new plant and open up access to adjoining land owned by the council at Ashton Green, creating future employment opportunities.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Walkers Snack Foods are a long-established and important employer, so I’m delighted that this agreement will help them expand and consolidate their operations in Leicester.
“This site at Ashton Green is within an area allocated for employment land in our local plan and Walkers have offered us a very fair price, so it’s a great deal for Leicester on every level.
“The new facility will operate sustainably and create new jobs, while the new estate road will help us unlock the potential of further development land at Ashton Green that will lead to many more jobs for local people.”
Leicester City Council is the principal landowner and promoter of Ashton Green, a sustainable urban extension to the north of Leicester comprising 320 acres of greenfield land. When complete, it will provide up to 3,000 homes, employment land, retail space and around 13 acres of green space.
Developers forced to sign contracts to repair unsafe buildings
Developers of multi-storey buildings have been given a six-week window to sign legally binding contracts that will commit them to pay to repair unsafe buildings, and the government is warning that companies who fail to sign and comply with the terms of the contract will face significant consequences.
Legislation will be brought forward in the spring giving the Secretary of State powers to prevent developers from operating freely in the housing market if they fail to sign and comply with the remediation contract.
The contract, which has been drawn up by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will protect thousands of leaseholders living in hundreds of buildings across England. These innocent households would otherwise face costly repairs for serious safety defects, including non-cladding related issues.
Under the contract, developers will commit an estimated £2 billion or more for repairs to buildings they developed or refurbished over the past 30 years. This means that together with the Building Safety Levy, industry is directly paying an estimated £5 billion to make their buildings safe.
The contract also requires developers to reimburse taxpayers where public money has been used to fix unsafe buildings.
This follows Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, demanding developers are held to account, which led to public pledges from 49 of the country’s leading developers that they would take responsibility to fix their own buildings, which will now be turned into legally binding commitments.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, said: “This marks another significant step towards righting the wrongs of the past and protecting innocent leaseholders, who are trapped in their homes and facing unfair and crippling costs.
“Too many developers, along with product manufacturers and freeholders, have profited from these unsafe buildings and have a moral duty to do the right thing and pay for their repair. In signing this contract, developers will be taking a big step towards restoring confidence in the sector and providing much needed certainty to all concerned.
“There will be nowhere to hide for those who fail to step up to their responsibilities – I will not hesitate to act and they will face significant consequences.”
Dean Finch, Group Chief Executive at Persimmon, said: “Persimmon was proud to lead the industry two years ago with our original pledge to protect leaseholders. Since then, we have been making good progress on remediation and aim to be on site on all developments by the end of the year.
“The publication of the developer remediation contract is the culmination of many months of hard work on all sides and we are pleased to confirm our intention to sign the final document in the near future, becoming the first developer to do so.
“The terms of the contract are entirely consistent with our existing commitment to protect leaseholders in multi-storey buildings we constructed from the costs of remediating cladding and life-critical fire-related safety issues. We are pleased to reaffirm this commitment today and that we were able to work constructively with the Government to secure the agreement.”
