East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive appointed as chair of prison’s employment advisory board

Tess Egginton
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East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive appointed as chair of prison’s employment advisory board
One of the region’s most prominent business leaders is helping to bridge the gap between employers and prisoners after being appointed to a key position. East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles is now chair of the newly-formed employment advisory board at HMP Sudbury Prison, in Derbyshire. The 12-person board helps to develop work and training opportunities for prisoners, establish partnerships with local businesses, and invest in projects that will support their progression into long-term employment once they return to the community. The Chamber’s director of resources Lucy Robinson is vice-chair of the board, which also includes business leaders from organisations including Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Blueprint Interiors, Cosy Direct, DPI UK, New Futures Network, PPL PRS, Qinesis and The Alternative Board. Scott said: “It’s a great privilege to be asked to lead the new employment advisory board, which has a crucial role to play both for society and businesses. “We want to ensure prison leavers are given the tools they need to re-enter the community and make a meaningful contribution via a long-term job. “At the same time, businesses are grappling with a skills shortage that is severely hampering their growth prospects, with four in 10 East Midlands businesses that attempt to recruit struggling to fill vacant roles. “With the region’s unemployment rate at a record low of 2.4% amid a rising number of people leaving the workforce, businesses now need to widen their labour pool via inclusive recruitment strategies that tap into people from all backgrounds, including prison leavers. “Some of our members have already started to do this and are hugely enthusiastic about the contributions they make because these individuals are very keen to make a new start, and will show great loyalty to the organisation that gives them a chance.” Businesses offering employment to prison leavers HMP Sudbury, a Category D men’s prison based near Ashbourne, had on average 576 prisoners at any one time between January and December 2021. About 160 of its current population is in regular, full-time paid work at 35 local, national and international businesses, which advertise roles via an employment hub within the prison that also supports with application forms and facilitating interviews. Companies include GXO, Scott Group, W H Ratcliffe, Clipper Logistics, The Bennie Group, RMF Construction. Many of these employers offer additional training, such as forklift licences or construction tickets, and all offer jobs on release. There are often opportunities for progression within organisations to supervisor and management roles. To join the outwork scheme, prisoners must meet a number of criteria, such as completing relevant education and risk assessment courses, and having good work attendance during an internal placement in the prison. To date, 67 Employment Advisory Boards (EABs) have an appointed chair, with ex-offenders working in a host of areas including construction, retail, catering and manufacturing. The Government has committed to establishing 92 EABs in prisons by April 2023. Since the launch of EABs in 2021, 4,000 ex-prisoners are in steady employment six weeks after leaving prison. Employment is one of three golden threads to successful rehabilitation Craig Smith, governor at HMP Sudbury, said: “In my experience, there are three golden threads that enable any individual leaving prison to remain out of prison – a place to live, contact with family and friends, and employment. “Employment offers a wage, dignity, purpose and hope to succeed within the community. I firmly believe that by offering these golden threads, we will succeed in rehabilitating and ensuring we start to reduce our prison population. “The employment advisory board is vital in offering HMP Sudbury the chance to provide these goals. “Scott is ideal to lead this with his knowledge, experience and connections via East Midlands Chamber. I appreciate his honesty, directness and innovative thinking, and I am delighted he is the chair of the board.”

Loughborough colleagues brave mud for Rainbows

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Loughborough colleagues brave mud for Rainbows

Colleagues from a Loughborough firm have raised £750 for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People by getting muddy in an extreme challenge.

Five team members from Anstey Wallpaper Company took on the Wolf Run last month in Leamington Spa.

The challenge saw Natalie Drummond, Dan Johnson, Sean Kelly, Lauren McCabe and Maisie Morris complete the 10k off road obstacle course. Between them, they mastered lake swims, mud pits, fallen trees and dense foliage.

The team said it was “tough but so worth it” as they raised £750 for Rainbows, which supports children with terminal and serious illnesses across the East Midlands.

Natalie Drummond, senior designer at Anstey Wallpaper Company, said: “We laughed the whole way around the course, even when we were covered head to toe in mud and pond weed; we were still laughing.

“It was a great way of showing competitive spirit but we had to work as a team otherwise we would still be in that mud pit now. It’s fair to say those t-shirts will never be as white again. It was an amazing experience and an honour to do it for such a wonderful cause. We hope with the funds raised, Rainbows can keep doing its amazing work.”

Kate Golding, head of Organisational Giving at Rainbows, added: “What the team from Anstey did was incredible and it looked like they had so much fun. Without the support of companies like theirs, we would not be able to provide the vital services that we do to hundreds of families who need us. On behalf of all of the children and young people at Rainbows, I thank them from the bottom of our hearts.”

Full year revenues and profit at Leicestershire X-ray firm to be below expectations

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Full year revenues and profit at Leicestershire X-ray firm to be below expectations

Image Scan, the specialist supplier of X-ray screening systems to the security and industrial inspection markets, has confirmed that revenues and profit for the year will be below market expectations.

In a pre-close trading update of its unaudited results for the year ended 30 September 2022, the company noted that this is principally due to the slippage of contracts into next year that had been expected to complete before the year end.

The firm added that the second half “has been challenging due to government contract delays and component supply issues which have had an impact across our product range and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.”

Image Scan’s Chief Executive, Vince Deery, said: “Despite the challenges of the uncertain economic outlook, contract delays, supply side challenges and exchange rate concerns we retain our optimistic outlook for the future and an improved 2023. We continue to invest in new products and product developments to maintain and grow our market share.”

Frontline scores again with biggest-ever Community Partnership

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Frontline scores again with biggest-ever Community Partnership
Careers specialist Frontline Recruitment, which has offices across the East Midlands, has signed a landmark partnership deal with one of the biggest amateur football leagues in the UK.Frontline has sealed an exclusive Community Partnership deal with the Young Elizabethan League (YEL), which supports and organises grassroots football matches and leagues from North Derbyshire to South Leicestershire and West Derbyshire to Mid-Lincolnshire.The deal represents Frontline Recruitment’s biggest-ever Community Partnership and means the firm’s logo will be seen by 180 clubs, 1,300 teams and 16,000 registered players. As part of the partnership Frontline will be offering exclusive recruitment discounts to everyone involved within the YEL.Frontline operations director, David Essam, said: “This is by far the largest community partnership we have been involved with and I am proud that once again Frontline can support our local community by sponsoring the Sunday YEL league.“As well as exclusive recruitment discounts for all clubs and businesses within the YEL our teams will be on hand to support other YEL initiatives to ensure the children based in our community have the best support structure as possible as they grow up.“I would personally like to thank Rob and Kev from the YEL for giving Frontline Recruitment this opportunity. We are all passionate about our children and we are delighted to step up and support the largest youth league in the country!”

New investment sites set to open up across Chesterfield

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New investment sites set to open up across Chesterfield

Chesterfield is ready to do business and willing to make sound investments to ensure the local economy achieves its growth ambitions. That was the message at the 2022 Chesterfield Investment Summit (28 September).

Speaking at the annual summit organised by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Our record of investment and delivery, with a whole range of partners, shows that the council is willing to invest and provide support to bring projects forward that will help the borough grow and deliver jobs and opportunities to the people that live here.”

A number of new development sites are now set to be opened up for future commercial, industrial, office and residential investment, adding to the current £2billion growth programme already underway across Chesterfield town centre and the borough.

Hartington Industrial Park, a new 75,000 sqm industrial and warehouse development located on the site of the former Coalite Plant in Staveley, aims to build on the success of Markham Vale. Job numbers created by businesses who are based at Markham Vale are now beyond that of when the site operated as a colliery.

Huw added: “Markham Vale has been a tremendous success with demand for commercial space outstripping supply. Chesterfield’s industrial past has opened up a number of investment sites which have the potential to be as successful as Markham Vale in terms of job opportunities and growth in key areas of the borough.”

Alongside industrial sites, Chesterfield Borough Council has also made significant investment in town centre office accommodation, meeting the post pandemic demand for high quality, flexible workspace. 

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, which opened in July earlier this year, already boasts more than 50% occupancy with 17 of the 32 offices now tenanted. Later this year, Chesterfield will gain Grade A, large footplate offices following the completion of One Waterside Place as part of the £320 million Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme. Already tenants have been secured for a number of the floors in the six-storey office block located next to the train station.

Office interiors expert Amy Revell, co-founder and director of We Are Spaces Limited, who spoke at the summit, said: “Chesterfield is an exciting place to be right now. Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre and One Waterside Place have given us Grade ‘A’ office space for people to work in. These workspaces are comparable to those in bigger cities like Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester which deliver the connectivity for hybrid working for a better work/life balance.”

In addition to One Waterside Place, residential and leisure development sites are also being brought forward in the Chesterfield Waterside with the scheme developers, Bolsterstone Group, in talks with hotel and carpark operators as well as investors in a number of Build to Rent apartments.

Confident that investment in the borough will continue at pace, Councillor Tricia Gilby leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “While the current financial climate is a concern, Chesterfield is very resilient and has consistently come out of national crises stronger than it went into them. In the last recession we established Destination Chesterfield, and this has reaped rewards. We also resolved as a council and with all our partners, to come out of the pandemic fighting and as a result a number of developments came out of the ground, including One Waterside Place and the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre. 

“Chesterfield Brough Council and our partners will now work together with inward investors to ensure the next five years are as good as, if not better, than the last five years.”

Work has already begun on the town’s ambitious HS2 Station Masterplan which saw the recent demolition of the Chesterfield Hotel, opening up a further development site for investment.

Councillor Gilby added: “Chesterfield’s geographical location and connectivity are key to attracting investment and new residents. Chesterfield is perfectly positioned making major cities very accessible for post Covid working trends, which combine home and office working and we now have a market-leading portfolio of office space to capitalise on this.”

The 2022 Chesterfield Investment Summit was supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The annual free-to-attend event was held at Casa Hotel. It showcased investment activity in the town and was attended by more than 200 people.

Law firm bolsters team with four new hires

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Law firm bolsters team with four new hires
Grantham-based law firm JMP Solicitors has expanded its conveyancing and private client teams, with the appointment of four new people. Sharon Galley, who qualified as a licensed conveyancer in 2019 and brings 17 years’ experience with her, will manage and head up the conveyancing team with the support of new executives Kirsty Andrew and Jennifer Coath. Sharon brings a wealth of local knowledge with her to the firm and has existing relationships with key estate agents and brokers within the area. Both Kirsty and Jennifer bring a wealth of experience to JMP Solicitors. Kirsty is a member of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme, a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices, and Jennifer is a qualified CILEX lawyer. Kerry Davey also joins the private client team as a newly qualified solicitor with more than six years’ experience within the industry, and will advise clients on probate applications, wills and lasting powers of attorney. Ian Howard, Managing Director at JMP Solicitors, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Sharon, Kirsty, Jennifer and Kerry to the team, they all bring an abundance of skills, knowledge and passion that will help to strengthen our paralegal and conveyancing teams. “We have experienced a period of internal growth and it’s great to be recruiting four new employees at JMP Solicitors. I look forward to seeing them progress and wish them the best of luck in their new roles.”

Ideagen swoops for ProcessMAP in second acquisition of 2022

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Ideagen swoops for ProcessMAP in second acquisition of 2022
Nottinghamshire software firm Ideagen has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire US-headquartered ProcessMAP. Ideagen CEO, Ben Dorks, said: “Both organisations share a common purpose, and this provides a compelling opportunity to do more to support the safe hands and quiet voices that protect the world. “Adding ProcessMAP into Ideagen’s existing suite of solutions builds on our combined strengths and enhances the ways we support organisations to manage their quality, health, safety and environmental needs.” Today’s announcement will see ProcessMAP become “ProcessMAP – an Ideagen solution” with customers benefiting from Ideagen’s expertise as a regulatory software provider and access to a wider portfolio of solutions including quality, collaboration audit, and risk management. It also provides an opportunity for Ideagen to enhance its health and safety offering to the 10,000 organisations it already supports worldwide. Dave Rath, CEO of ProcessMAP, said: “The increased importance of strong corporate ESG strategies has prompted our customers to think and act responsibly to ensure safe and ethical practices for employees and customers. “By combining with Ideagen, we will create a category leading EHSQ software business, sharing talent, technology, innovation, and geographical reach to expand globally, leveraging each other’s infrastructure and customer base.” ProcessMAP’s existing customers are in good company, Ideagen helps the world’s top seven aerospace and defence companies, 15 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies, nine of the top 10 accounting firms, over 250 hospitals in the UK and US and over 300 aviation organisations globally, to protect their businesses. Ben added: “We have, within our global footprint, a diverse mix of large corporations, small, and mid-market customers, whose need for software solutions increase as they grow in size, geographic spread, or place increasing importance on ESG reporting. “This combination provides us with an exciting opportunity to support existing and new customers with a best-in-class health and safety solution that is appropriate to their needs and flexible enough to scale as they evolve.” This will be Ideagen’s second acquisition of 2022 and the fifth since the summer of 2021, as it continues to strengthen its portfolio of software solutions for regulated industries. Hg, a software and services investor, will remain as majority investor in the combined business. Christopher Fielding, Joris Van Gool and Jean-Baptiste Brian, partners at Hg, said: “This is a significant milestone for both businesses and it’s exciting to see such strategic progress so early in our work together. “Both Ideagen and ProcessMAP are high quality businesses, with complementary product suites and diversified regional cover across Europe, North America and APAC. Together the business will be better positioned to serve its customers and take advantage of the numerous tailwinds in regulation, compliance and ESG. We are looking forward to further expansion in the coming months.” The transaction is expected to close in 2022 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

Digital Manufacturing Centre shortlisted for duo of awards

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Digital Manufacturing Centre shortlisted for duo of awards
Silverstone Park business the Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) has been shortlisted in two categories at the high-profile Make UK Manufacturing Awards. The DMC will be a finalist in both the Developing Future Talent and Innovation categories when the awards are held on 18 October. Make UK champions engineering and manufacturing in the UK. Its awards showcase manufacturers which have delivered exceptional work, celebrating their effort, dedication and resilience. Being shortlisted twice recognises the ground-breaking nature of the DMC and its pioneering approach to engineering-led commercial additive manufacturing (AM), alongside a commitment to inspiring and enabling the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) professionals. Kieron Salter, CEO of the DMC, said: “Right from the outset, we aspired to create an AM business that offered more than any other company – a pioneering facility that brought together an expert team, cutting-edge technologies and a revolutionary engineering-led approach. “These two nominations are testament to the fantastic work our team has put in since the facility opened in 2021. It is wonderful to see our efforts in enabling STEM education being recognised by the industry, as it is something we have worked hard to deliver.” The DMC, located inside 20,000 sq ft of industrial premises at Silverstone Park, is an advanced production facility created to harness the disruptive potential of AM. It enables the development of pioneering and innovative technologies across the UK’s most advanced industries, including aerospace, space, defence, automotive, motorsport, medtech, marine and energy. The DMC embraces Industry 4.0 principles and is leading the establishment of an advanced manufacturing supply chain in the UK.

£110,000 pledged to furthering sustainable aerospace research

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£110,000 pledged to furthering sustainable aerospace research

The University of Nottingham’s Aerospace Unlocking Potential (UP) programme has announced it has pledged more than £110,000 in funding to three UK businesses working to improve sustainability in the aerospace sector.

Designed to help smaller companies develop new technologies and solutions to make aviation greener, Aerospace UP, a £20 million programme, is being delivered by the University of Nottinghamand the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and Midlands Engine.

Space debris in low Earth orbit is causing damage to existing spacecraft, meaning satellites require higher, more expensive orbits. Space Resource Laboratory Ltd’s solution, Project Aryabhat, involves the development of a propulsion system that consists of a thruster, fuel tank and avionics control system that can be fitted into a satellite and deliver a de-orbiting solution, minimising the remains left in orbit at the end of the spacecraft’s life cycle.

Meanwhile, Holscot Fluropolymers Ltd is working to produce FEP bladders that will line nano, micro and small satellite propulsion tanks. FEP bladders are a lighter-weight, more compatible alternative to metal tanks, which are potentially re-fillable and re-usable in orbit, in turn, this helps to minimise waste in low orbit space.

Finally, XCAM is developing a device that allows its prototype Particulate Fall Out (PFO) monitor to detect and analyse more complex particulates. The new monitor will include the capability to use neural networks for analysis in space that will, ultimately, minimise the limitations inherent to downlinking data to Earth.

Professor Serhiy Bozhko, Director of the Institute for Aerospace Technology (IAT) at the University of Nottingham says: As the theme of this year’s World Space Week is ‘Space and Sustainability’, we felt it would be the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on companies that are striving to make the world of aerospace greener.

Professor Bozhko continued: “At a time when the road to net zero is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it’s great to see the innovative and fascinating solutions Holscot Fluropolymers Ltd, XCAM and Space Resource Lab Ltd are creating to minimise the environmental impact of space exploration.”

The programme not only provides funding for projects but also offers small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with unique access to industry experts, academic support, and facilities that might otherwise have been unattainable.

Professor Pat Wheeler, Global Director of the Institute for Aerospace Technology at the University of Nottingham adds: It is with great pleasure that we can support industry through the Aerospace UP programme. We’re leading the way in translating our pioneering research on net zero aviation into real world applications by supporting the aerospace supply chain to create innovation capacity.

Andrew Mair, Chief Executive of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, concludes: “We are proud to be awarding grants to great companies, supporting the development of excellent solutions they offer. This is a pivotal time for regrowth as the supply chain provides a critical foundation for driving innovation at deep levels, ensuring the industry can thrive into the future.”

Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield works begin on Packers Row

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Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield works begin on Packers Row
Ambitious plans to revitalise Chesterfield town centre are being brought to life, with the first phase of the multi-million pound scheme now underway at Packers Row. New paving, seating and street furniture – plus overhead festoon lighting to add character – are among the improvements which are being carried out as part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project. Packers Row is one of several areas across the town centre to be revamped as part of the scheme. The changes will mirror the look and feel of nearby Elder Way which underwent a transformation last year – creating an attractive and welcoming route from the Northern Gateway into the town centre. Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “It is fantastic to see work begin in our town centre and I hope it will demonstrate our ambitions for the wider Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project. We are working with our contractor to minimise disruption for businesses with the priority being customer access throughout the project.” The council’s contractor will be working overnight during the first phase of the project, to minimise disruption to businesses and ensure access can be maintained throughout the day. Funding for the works on Packers Row has been provided by Chesterfield Borough Council and its partners to kickstart revitalisation of the town centre and match funding provided by the Government’s Levelling Up fund. The revitalisation of Packers Row will set the standard for future work around the town centre. The council is currently working on detailed designs for the rest of the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project, which includes improvements to the Market Place, New Square, Corporation Street, Rykneld Square and Burlington Street. Together with the major refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall on Corporation Street (which houses the Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum) the project is being brought forward thanks to almost £20m which the council secured from the Government’s levelling up fund.
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