Jobs saved as Joules snapped up by joint venture between its founder and NEXT
The joint administrators of Joules Group plc and Joules Limited have sold the majority of the business and assets to a newly formed company which is a joint venture set up by NEXT and Joules founder Tom Joule.
In addition, NEXT has acquired the Joules head office in Market Harborough.
The new company has acquired around 100 Joules stores, with approximately 1,450 employees across these stores and head office transferring as part of the transaction.
19 stores are not part of the transaction and will be closed with immediate effect. 133 redundancies have therefore been made.
Will Wright, Ryan Grant and Chris Pole from Interpath Advisory were appointed joint administrators of Joules Group plc and Joules Limited on 16 November 2022.
Will Wright, head of Restructuring at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “Following a highly competitive process, we are pleased to have concluded this transaction which secures the future of this great British brand, as well as safeguarding a significant number of jobs.
“To have achieved this in such a short timetable is testament to the support we’ve received from employees, suppliers and other key stakeholders throughout the administration process, so we’d like to express our profound thanks to everyone involved.”
New law firm welcomes first new partner
New specialist law firm Michael Cummins Employment Solicitors has welcomed its first new partner, Fabienne McAllister.
Fabienne has moved from her role as a partner at Knights to join the growing venture launched by Michael Cummins.
It’s a reunion for Michael and Fabienne, who worked together at Knights following its acquisitions of their previous firms – Cummins Solicitors and Emms Gilmore Liberson.
Bilingual in French and English, Fabienne will work alongside Michael and the rest of the team at the Leicestershire-based legal firm, providing employers with advice and representation on all aspects of employment law.
Fabienne said: “It’s exciting to be involved in the early days of this new venture. I am enjoying being part of a small team as it grows. Michael is a very collaborative person and an ethos of the firm is to enable flexibility and autonomy.
“I was previously based in Birmingham, so it is also great to be meeting lots of new clients in the East Midlands and beyond.”
Fabienne qualified in 2002 and has specialised in employment law since 2008, developing on her early work in commercial litigation at the international law firm Ashurst in London and Paris before moving back home to work in the Midlands.
She said: “I really enjoy employment law as it has a real human interest to it, it affects everyone in some way, and people and how they are treated are key to any organisation’s success.
“It is also a constantly evolving field, with new case law and new trends in employment. In the last couple of years, we’ve had furlough to deal with and now there are new hybrid and agile working patterns and the prospect of industrial action in many more workplaces than has been the case for many years.
“Helping employers navigate those new challenges is at the heart of what we do, as there are always fresh developments in the workplace and how people work.”
Michael Cummins said: “We are very pleased indeed to have attracted a new partner of Fabienne’s calibre. Her extensive experience, including at the Employment Tribunal, and her commitment to providing outstanding service will be of great value to our clients.
“Our new business has great growth potential and we will be looking to recruit more colleagues at various stages of their careers.”
SureScreen appoints new CEO
A manufacturer of diagnostic testing kits has appointed a new Chief Executive to drive its operations and deliver new innovations designed to tackle the world’s latest health crises.
Derby-based SureScreen Diagnostics says the appointment of Andrew Wilcher in the CEO role is a significant development that will pave the way for further growth following strong performance over the past two years.
The company was established in 1996 and has long been at the forefront of medical testing in the UK, and Andrew’s appointment follows a significant investment in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in at Sherwood Business Park at Annersley, near Hucknall, which will act as a platform for future diagnostics.
Recent new developments include a 10-minute lateral flow test for Mpox – the World Health Organisation’s new recommended name for Monkeypox – and the first UK-approved lateral flow test to detect both flu and COVID at the same time.
Andrew has worked in healthcare for his whole career, spanning pharmaceutical and medical device sectors before joining SureScreen.
He said: “Over the years, SureScreen has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of research and development when it comes to diagnostic technology, and I am thrilled to be joining as Chief Executive at such an important and exciting time.
“Rapid result tests have got a huge part to play in ensuring the healthcare systems such as the NHS can continue to respond to the needs of the patients because they are able to give immediate diagnoses and markers without the need to send samples to labs, which would save a huge amount of time and money each year, not least in critical care settings such as accident and emergency departments.
“My role will be to ensure the company builds on the strong platform it has established over the past years while exploring new ways to create synergy with other areas of the business in order to offer solutions to assist clinical decisions.”
SureScreen director David Campbell, who runs the company alongside his brothers, Alastair and Alex, said: “We are delighted to be working with Andrew to build on our 25-year history.
“Andrew has extensive experience in healthcare which will allow us to continue to innovate and supply those most at need with reliable and cost-effective tests.”
Access PaySuite strengthens payments offering with acquisition
Access PaySuite, a division of Loughborough-headquartered The Access Group, has acquired Pay360, one of the UK’s leading providers of credit card and payments facilitation services to the UK public and private sector. Pay360 has been providing secure payment services to a range of customers across the public and private sectors for more than 20 years. With significant experience in the public sector, the acquisition represents major growth potential for Access PaySuite as consumers increasingly demand digitised services. The deal will strengthen Access PaySuite’s payments processing capabilities by adding card payments and Payment Facilitation (PayFac) to its existing payments solutions.Commenting on the acquisition, Andrea Dunlop, Managing Director of Access PaySuite, said: “Pay360 joining Access PaySuite is further evidence of our commitment to invest in innovative payment solutions that give businesses and organisations the confidence that they have a credible, secure and scalable payments partner.“As well as expanding our expertise and capability to enter new markets, Pay360 complements the Access Group’s existing footprint, and our customers across the public and private sector can take advantage of our enhanced, best-of-breed payments solutions.“The Access Group has a long and proud track record of investing in the companies we acquire. Bringing great people, as well as great technology, into Access PaySuite was a major consideration for us. I am confident that there is a great cultural fit between the two companies, and we’re committed to improving customer success and product development to become the payments provider of choice for current and future customers.”Stephen Ferry, MD of Pay360, said: “We are delighted that Pay360 is joining the Access family. It provides a strong platform for the company to grow and prosper further. With complementary products and a shared vision, the acquisition will enable the enlarged payments division to really drive forward innovation and customer excellence to the benefits of our customer base.“We look forward to working with our new owners to support and accelerate innovation within our combined product portfolio to ensure our payments can continue to support the needs and requirements of our customers today and tomorrow.”
Derbion reveals ambitious city centre masterplan
Recycling technology leader opens new research and development labs at Loughborough University
Plastic Energy, a global leader in chemical recycling technology, has opened new research and development labs at Loughborough University.
This builds on the company’s impactful research partnership with the University which began in 2012 to accelerate the innovative process to help prevent plastic waste, transforming previously unrecyclable plastic waste into a valuable resource.
Building capability and attracting skilled research and technical staff, Plastic Energy’s research team has grown from the laboratory space it shared with the University’s chemistry researchers into a suite of specialist labs and a dedicated office space on Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP).
LUSEP will be the hub for Plastic Energy’s work on further development and optimisation of its unique chemical recycling technology. The research team will use state of the art equipment in the new labs to test feedstock and improve the quality of the final product from Plastic Energy’s TAC™ process, called TACOIL™.
Plastic Energy leadership and research teams, and key stakeholders at Loughborough University gathered for the official opening event which included a tour of the labs and demonstration of current R&D projects.
“LUSEP is an excellent base for Plastic Energy to continue leading the way to help create a circular economy where plastics are re-used repeatedly, for good,” said Steve Christie, Loughborough University’s professor of Chemical Technologies. “Co-located with the University’s net zero and sustainability research capabilities, I look forward to us continuing working together to realize this shared goal.”
“After a decade of collaboration with Loughborough University, we are delighted to formally open our new Plastic Energy labs and office space at LUSEP,” said David McNamara, chief technology officer at Plastic Energy. “This will provide a base for our research team to continue their invaluable work on our technology and act us a hub for internal and external visitors. We are grateful to Loughborough University for their continued support.”
Alex Owen, Loughborough University chief financial officer and LUSEP lead, says: “Leading the field in the transition to a low-carbon circular economy for plastics, Plastic Energy are a valuable addition to LUSEP’s largest and most established cluster, Energy and Low Carbon.
“With its distinctive added value of the University’s knowledge base and high calibre graduate workforce, I am confident that LUSEP will be a supportive base for Plastic Energy’s R&D team to flourish. I wish them every success.”
Nottingham e-mobility business to lead project reviewing city’s approach to greening businesses’ supply chains
Nottingham-based e-mobility business, Ottr, have been invited by the Nottingham Green Partnership to lead a project to review the city’s approach to greening businesses’ supply chains and procurement processes to help achieve Nottingham’s ambition of being carbon neutral by 2028 (CN28).
The Nottingham Green Partnership, a group of over 20 public and private sector organisations, has been working to help the city to be more sustainable and reduce its carbon dioxide emissions since 1992.
CN28 is Nottingham’s action plan to help achieve a resilient and sustainable carbon neutral city by 2028. The plan spans: carbon reduction measures; carbon removal; resilience and adaption; and ecology and biodiversity.
To date, the city has reduced its overall CO2 emissions per capita by 57.7% which is the highest reduction of any core UK city. Furthermore, if the plans are successful, Nottingham will be Europe’s first carbon neutral city.
Ottr’s involvement in the project is born from the values at the heart of the company: to contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future by creating innovative technology to harness renewable energy through their fleet of electric vehicles.
The brand’s point of difference is that they are actively encouraging and supporting local communities and business to swap their daily car commute for an e-bike or e-moped and their work with Nottingham City Council is yet another example of this.
Ottr became part of the City’s Green Partnership earlier this year and as CEO of Ottr, David Bothwell explains: “We are working with the City Council and other organisations across the city to progress their impressive plans and work out how we, and other businesses striking the same chord, are best placed to help.
“The plan that we at Ottr have in place to reduce our own carbon footprint within supply chain and procurement is something we’re very proud of and we are consequently well placed and well versed to advise other local business on how to achieve similar goals.”
Chris Common, Carbon Neutral Policy Manager at the City Council, added: “We have big ambitions to achieve CN28 and become Europe’s first carbon neutral city. But the City Council can’t do it alone and businesses like Ottr give us the support and collaboration we need to bring other local businesses on this journey with us.”
Dice Environmental makes significant appointments
East Midlands-based Dice Environmental has appointed two new acoustic specialists to its team.
The company, which launched earlier this year, has experienced considerable growth. It now further strengthens its team and service offering with Jonathan Riley appointed as head of acoustics and Claire Starley supporting him as senior acoustic consultant.
Both have a proven track record in environmental and architectural acoustics with Jonathan having worked across sectors including residential, commercial, industrial, energy, education, healthcare, entertainment, and leisure.
Claire’s specialism is in large-scale road and rail schemes, construction modeling and permitting.
These appointments further add to Dice Environmental’s existing team of expert geo-environmental consultants, and expands the company’s service offering.
It has ambitious plans for the future with an exciting year two coming up.
Jake Bayne, director at Dice Environmental, said: “We could not be happier with how the first year has progressed. We’ve grown the team in less than a year to a level which has exceeded all of our expectations.
“The appointments of Jonathan and Claire are important ones for us. When we launched Dice Environmental, we knew there was a demand for quality environmental services such as contaminated land investigations and acoustic assessments from our existing client base, but that demand has been much higher than we planned for.
“These significant appointments signal how serious we are about growing this arm of the business, and by recruiting acoustics specialists, enable us to boost our pre-planning services offering.
“As for the future, we’ll continue to look for ways to build on our service offering and our business resilience and carry on developing key relationships across different sectors.”
Office refurbishments – four key things to consider
An office refurbishment is a great opportunity to breathe life back into your workspace. It allows you to change up your office without having to move to a new building, therefore saving significant amounts of time and money. Lincolnshire-based office design and fit out company, APSS believes there are four key things to consider to help you kit out your office with a new design:
Health and Safety
The first and arguably most important thing you need to think about when refurbishing your office is health and safety. As well as general health and safety checks like trip hazards and ambient working temperatures, the recent pandemic has seen many more people looking for added health and safety measures. These could be elements such as PPE, sanitising stations and privacy screens. Alongside these there are also more minor alterations which, although low in cost and effort, can make a big impact on productivity. Using screen filters to reduce eye strain, offering more natural light sources, daylight bulbs or tubes will lower levels of eye strain. This can also reduce fatigue and will be beneficial to your employees’ health and well-being. For many people, most of their day will be spent in this space, so another factor to consider is the seating and workspace. If this is planned carefully, it will allow you and your staff to feel comfortable during their working hours. A well thought out ergonomic workstation will include a comfortable chair with lumbar support that allows feet to be flat on the floor. Ideally it would also include a desk with adjustable height, tilts displays and shelving within easy reach. Reducing the risk of employee discomfort could also reduce employee absences and potential workplace claims. It is a nice touch, where possible, to include a comfortable break out space. This could be in the same area sectioned off and with cosy, alternative seating, or in a different room that offers a change of scenery and setting. You may also want to consider an outdoor space when planning this area.Company Culture
It is important to factor in the ever-changing office eco system, with more people working from home than ever before. Part time office work needs to be considered when refurbishing your office space as people may not always be using the space provided at the same time. This may make your office refurbishment cheaper, as less people using the space at once calls for less desks and work equipment. Smaller shared kitchen areas and bathroom facilities will also reduce costs. As a result of this, hot desking may be an approach your company would like to take to maximise space efficiency. This means working spaces need to be designed to cater for all working needs rather than just being tailored to a specific individual. Considering modular furniture which can be altered to suit individual requirements will allow greater flexibility, as will furniture on lockable castors and furniture that can be adjusted in height. You may find that, despite hot desking, offering some form of storage space for personal effects will allow staff to still feel a sense of belonging and permanency when working in the office.Sustainability
As there is an increasing global focus on sustainability, this should be one of the main things you consider in your office refurbishment. Try looking at eco-friendly materials, recycled furniture or fittings and more sustainable construction. This could be things such as lowering your carbon emissions, or installing environmentally friendly heating systems. Incorporating solar panels into your build or refit will demonstrate your commitment to a healthier, more sustainable planet. Although pricey in the interim period due to the initial purchase and installation costs, they will not only help the planet but ultimately your energy bill at the end of each month too! It’s not just about being eco-friendly. Making your office socially and economically sustainable as well is also hugely important. This includes making a cost-effective space, whilst still having those little extras that make your office an enjoyable place to work.Budget
There’s no skirting around it – most office refurbishments are expensive. With all the different things to consider, this is probably the factor you will think about first and foremost. Your typical refurbishment will cost between £40-£70 per square foot. The cheapest option is of course to just repaint the walls and purchase new furniture, such as desks and chairs. The most expensive parts of your office refurbishment would be new kitchen areas, or anything more technical, such as lighting, electrical wiring and room partitioning. Office refurbishment can be a big decision for your company to make, so making sure it is done to the best standard is incredibly important. Ensure that the company refurbishing your space is 100% dedicated to creating your perfect work environment. Ask to see prior refurbishments so you can get a feel for their standard of workmanship and ask for recommendations or previous client reviews. A good refurbishment company will have these to hand and will be proud to share them with you. Get some inspiration for your office design on the APSS website.Mortgage Advice Bureau hit by “quick and far-reaching” consequences of mini-budget
A profit warning has been released by Mortgage Advice Bureau, with the Derby-based firm pointing to the September mini-budget as the reason, due to its “quick and far-reaching” consequences.
The business noted that extreme market conditions followed the September mini-budget, and said that significantly heightened levels of uncertainty had a direct negative impact on the mortgage market, including an immediate rise in mortgage interest rates, the withdrawal of many mortgage products by lenders, a rapid tightening in underwriting and reducing availability of credit.
As a result, house purchase activity was significantly reduced and re-financing was also impacted. This situation then persisted as borrowers and lenders awaited some level of reassurance and clarity from the Autumn Statement.
These extreme market and lending conditions have “severely impacted” activity levels across all of the group’s product lines, with written business in October and November circa 50% below expected levels. The reduction in mortgage activity and new house sales is expected to persist until early 2023.
Mortgage Advice Bureau said that its financial result for the year ending 31 December 2022 will be impacted by the adverse market conditions, with adjusted profit before tax expected to be slightly below market expectations, with next year’s result anticipated to be considerably impacted. The company has also noted the placing of property portal Boomin into liquidation has led to a £2.8m non-cash write off for its investment.Peter Brodnicki, CEO of MAB, said: “The consequences of the so-called mini-budget have been quick and far-reaching. Overnight our market moved from being fairly stable and reasonably confident, to almost the polar opposite. The sudden and unexpected pace of mortgage rate increases, combined with the tightening of mortgage lending criteria, have resulted in some customers pausing both home-moving and re-financing plans.
“The recent Autumn Statement and the various Government changes prior to that have helped to stabilise markets. Although macro uncertainty remains for many reasons, we expect mortgage rates to continue to stabilise, allowing some customers to re-enter the home-moving market and also re-finance at more competitive mortgage rates than those seen in recent months.
“Despite the various market and political challenges, MAB remains very well positioned to grow its market share strongly through 2023. In more challenging housing markets although we may see a reduction in organic advisers our new AR recruitment performs strongly, so next year overall adviser numbers could remain flat.
“The re-financing opportunities in 2023 are significant, and with the technology enhancements we have delivered, MAB is in a better position than ever to optimise those opportunities. As expected, protection attachment rates have already started to improve in the current environment, and our focus to ensure that continues has never been greater. As we see in housing downturns, transactions are delayed, they are not lost.”
