Earthworks begin on major Ashby-de-la-Zouch logistics scheme set to create 1,000 new jobs
GLP, an investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, has begun earthworks on the site of G-Park Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
G-Park Ashby is a 48-acre development site benefitting from an outline planning permission to deliver build-to-suit logistics warehouse opportunities of up to 736,487 sq ft. Earthworks are progressing rapidly and are expected to be finished by early 2023, with the full development set to complete by Q1 2024.
The site can be developed as either one single unit or two units, depending on customer requirements, with clear internal heights of up to 18 metres. The development will be BREEAM Excellent and WELL ready, and will feature a range of sustainability features including rainwater harvesting and energy tracking and consumption tools for customers.
Adrienne Howells, senior development director at GLP, said: “G-Park Ashby is an exciting addition to our portfolio in the Midlands and indicates our ongoing confidence in opportunities in the Golden Triangle, following the success of projects such as Magna Park Lutterworth. Trends such as e-commerce have buoyed already high demand for prime logistics space, particularly high-quality, conveniently-located, sustainable facilities such as this.
“Not only will this new development bring excellent opportunities for our customers; it will also boost employment in the region, creating almost 1,000 new jobs and providing major benefits for the local economy. Once again, we are planning our development with place-making as a priority, focusing on environmental features such as our ponds, green open spaces and our G-Hive bee programme.”
Investment firm swoops for Lincolnshire agricultural equipment specialist
The listed Japanese conglomerate, Marubeni Corporation, has signed an agreement to divest Spaldings to investment firm, Inspirit Capital.
Established in 1956, Spaldings has grown to be the UK and Ireland’s largest distributor of tillage aftermarket equipment, as well as an emerging player in professional groundcare, forestry and industrial products.
Lincolnshire-based Spaldings employs over 140 people and has a network of over 30,000 customers. The business also benefits from a number of exclusive or preferred distribution agreements with product manufacturers, as well as an in-house design team focused on the Spaldings own brand product range.
Inspirit Capital is a London-based investment firm that specialises in acquiring businesses that are no longer core to their parent company’s strategic objectives and require a different ownership structure to achieve their full potential.
Will Stamp, founding partner at Inspirit Capital, says: “We are very pleased to be investing in Spaldings, which again reinforces Inspirit’s status as a trusted counterparty for large corporations. We have been impressed by the loyal customer base at Spaldings, as well as the best-in-class service offering. We are excited about the prospect of continuing to grow the business, both organically and through select acquisitions.”
Inspirit has assumed ownership with immediate effect and is making the investment from Inspirit Fund I. As part of the transaction, the business will also benefit from a funding line with Leumi ABL in excess of £10million.
Inspirit was advised on the transaction by BDB Pitmans (legal), FRP Advisory (debt), European Valuations (collateral review) and LSH (property).
20-year vision for A46 corridor to boost economy by £7.1 billion
Sub-national Transport Body Midlands Connect is today presenting its 20-year vision for the A46 corridor, with improvement plans predicted to boost the economy by £7.1 billion over the next 60 years.
The A46 corridor, a major cross-country route, spans 155 miles from Gloucestershire to Lincolnshire. Home to a variety of sectors including automotive, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, textiles and agriculture, it has an economic output of £115 billion a year. Future projections along the corridor have shown that significant growth is expected over the next 20 years, with 600,000 new residents, 150,000 new jobs and 250,000 new homes expected by 2041.
Midlands Connect’s 20-year vision for the A46 aims to future proof the route and if delivered in full, could boost the national economy by an additional £7.1 billion over 60 years. It will also bring 150,000 new jobs to the region.
Suggested interventions include improving junctions, roundabouts and reducing congestion at pinch points along the route.
The vision was presented today at the transport body’s A46 Conference, taking place at Coventry University Technology Park. The conference saw technical experts and representatives from Local and National Government delivering a number of keynote speeches and panels on improving the corridor and maximising productivity.
The transport body is now seeking Government support to fund the improvements needed as new residents, homes and jobs are projected along the corridor over the next 20 years.
Midlands Connect CEO Maria Machancoses said: “Today’s Conference highlighted the urgent need for a long-term, national, and holistic approach into improving the A46 Corridor. I was delighted to see so many leading representatives from local government, industry, trade bodies and local organisations.
“As our speakers attested to today, it is crucial that this road continues to prosper and grow, and to remain a key place of physical and digital connectivity for all. This is truly a levelling up programme and we will continue to work the National Highways and the Department for Transport to make it a reality.”
Sir John Peace, chairman of Midlands Connect, who gave the closing remarks, added: “There is no doubt that the A46 Corridor is a hugely significant route for trade, business, and the economy. A variety of industries and businesses are housed along the corridor, all of which depend upon a reliable road network to connect to major international gateways like Birmingham Airport, the two Freeports at East Midlands Airport and the Humber.
“With significant growth also predicted along the corridor over next 20 years, our proposed improvement plan is critical to ensure the A46 can support such growth and keep the UK economy running.”
Councillor Mark Cargill, chair of the A46 Partnership, said: “The A46 Partnership was formed to understand the crucial role of the A46 route in benefiting the local economy of the Midlands, alongside the wider UK economy. As chair of the Partnership, I am pleased to support Midlands Connect’s important vision in improving the route and supporting future growth, and I am excited to see the plans take action.”
LLEP plan to accelerate economic growth through innovation-driven entrepreneurship moves forward
The LLEP Innovation Board has agreed a 10-point framework for driving forward its vision for regional innovation in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Members last week met for the first time since leaders from business, education and the non-profit sectors gathered at MIRA Technology Park for an away day to generate ideas of how to deliver change through to 2030 and beyond.
The Innovation Board span out of the LLEP’s involvement in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP). It was one of only six Local Enterprise Partnerships selected by the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to take part in the project.
MIT REAP is designed to help regions plan for the acceleration of economic growth and job creation through innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
Participation resulted in the LLEP’s tailored approach of encouraging all businesses to innovate, while simultaneously making full use of the region’s three universities and distinct regional assets in sectors including space, life sciences, sport and cyber security.
The Innovation Board oversees progress towards strategic objectives, supported by an Innovation Steering Group which works with LLEP officers to deliver necessary action.
The 10 points will be used to frame immediate activity taken as part of the LLEP’s commitment to Innovation through its Economic Growth Strategy 2021-30.
The next stage for the Innovation Strategy is the creation of a Delivery Plan setting out tactical activity around communications, advocacy, networks, the annual Leicestershire Innovation Festival and more.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, LLEP Board director and chair of the Innovation Board, said: “Members of our Innovation Board and Steering Group have a wealth of knowledge and skills required to provide strategic focus and thought leadership around innovation in our region.
“We now have agreed parameters which will shape our activity – the next step is getting everyone pulling in the same direction as we introduce an action-based Delivery Plan.”
“What a load of shiitake” – advertising watchdog takes the pistachio out of Tesco: By Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, shows what can be learned from Tesco’s recent advertising ‘controversy’.
If you are easily offended by clumsy humour in an effort to attract attention, look away now. However, if you don’t find digital outdoor posters showing an animation with the slogan “For fettucine’s sake” shocking, read on brave reader. For these are the crimes against humour and humanity that befall Tesco right now after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said they were likely to cause “serious and widespread offence.”
I mean, I was offended by how BAD they were, not the poor taste. Yet the ASA said it had received 52 complaints that the ads were offensive because they alluded to swear words, with some people objecting that they were displayed in places where they could be seen by children.
Imagine the horror…in one example, three images of pasta covered all but the letter F in “fettucine” before rolling away to reveal the slogan in full.
Not mushroom for error…
In one sponsored Twitter post an animation displayed the text: “What a load of shiitake.” An image of a mushroom covering the last three letters was seen to roll away. Now, you know I’m a fungi but let’s look at this seriously for a moment from the PR point of view.
First, Tesco has apologised and said it was trying to portray customer frustration. Genius move. Acknowledge the “error” yet reinforce the key message at the same time. Remember, a line underneath the ad said that big mobile networks were raising customers’ bills.
However, the ASA said the words they were alluding to were “so likely to offend that they should not generally be used or alluded to in advertising, regardless of whether they were used in a tongue-in-cheek manner.”
So imagine how far said tongue was implanted into said cheek when they replied with this little beauty: “We’re really sorry for any offence caused. We know the frustration that consumers face when they notice their mobile phone bill has gone up mid-contract and we were reflecting their frustration – and ours – in these ads. We’re proud to offer our mobile customers supermarket value, and so we used a play on words relating to food products.”
Another great apology whilst hammering home the message loud and clear! And now…the case is all over the mainstream media at absolutely ZERO COST!
Remember, if played correctly, when it comes to PR controversy, sometimes, every little helps.
A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008.
He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.
Join Business Link as the East Midlands Expo returns this November
On Monday 14 November 2022 the East Midlands Expo will return, providing a perfect day for networking and business generation.
An established event of over 20 years, for which Business Link is a proud partner, the free to attend expo is well targeted and aimed at the construction, property, business, investment, finance, professional services and related B2B markets.
Taking place at the De Vere East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, the exhibition will open to attendees at 9am, with a seminar taking place between 10:45am and noon.
A special networking lunch (for which tickets can be purchased here) will then take place between 12:15pm and 2:15pm, and the exhibition will close at 3:30pm.
For more information on exhibiting at the event click here.
To register to attend the event for free click here.
To secure tickets for the networking lunch click here.
Top tips for entering the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022
With the 2022 East Midlands Bricks Awards picking up pace, nominations are now flowing in.
Celebrating the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, this year’s highly-anticipated awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in the Derek Randall Suite, featuring John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker. Tickets can be booked here.
Here are 5 top tips for a successful entry:
- Make your nomination compelling.
- Less is more – as often judges have to read a large number of nomination forms, no one wants to read “waffle” or an excessive use of jargon in an award entry, so be concise and specific with what you write.
- Use facts, statistics and key examples that support why a project, person or business should win an award, as they will make any statement you make much stronger.
- Make sure to read the criteria carefully to be sure that your nomination does in fact fit what is being looked for. Why not reflect on the projects that won last year to get an idea of whether your nomination reflects a certain category’s requirements.
- Finally, proofread your nomination and submit it in plenty of time!
- Most active estate agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
Multi-million pound deal to see former Victorian wool warehouse transformed into apartments
A former Victorian wool warehouse is set to become new apartments following a multi-million pound commercial property deal.
The building started life as a wool warehouse and has more recently been used as a pine manufacturer, then bricklaying workshop and training school, before falling vacant in recent years. Now, it has received planning permission to be converted into 39 residential units, featuring co-working spaces, yoga studio, electrical charging points and other amenities – including a courtyard.
Set to transform the characterful building on Victoria Street in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, is JYD Holdings.
Jinny Yang, founder and Managing Director of JYD Holdings, said: “We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to renovate this former unused warehouse into stylish, one-of-a-kind apartments, bringing this beautiful building back to life and rejuvenating its unique character.
“Aimed primarily at young professionals, this is our first project in Newark-on-Trent and we are thrilled with the designs that have been approved. A unique selling point is that the building will feature a communal co-working space and a yoga studio for the residents, giving them an area perfectly designed to suit the remote ways of working that many of us have adopted.”
Nelsons, which has offices in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, acted on behalf of JYD Holdings, to finalise the acquisition of the Victorian building.
Paul Hinchliffe, commercial property partner and solicitor at Nelsons who worked on the deal, said: “After sitting vacant for several years, it will be great to see this unused warehouse receive a much-needed new lease of life. Jinny’s plans for the building will provide a truly unique offering for the area and it has been a pleasure working with her and JYD Holdings to bring this deal to fruition.
“I’d like to wish them all the best as they embark on this exciting conversion – we cannot wait to see the finished results.”
Jinny added: “Working with Nelsons has meant that the whole process has run incredibly smoothly and we cannot thank them enough for their support from start to finish. With work due to begin in August 2022 and completion set for December 2023, we look forward to being able to welcome our first residents to their new home.”
Derby County deal falls through
The deal to take Derby County Football Club out of administration and under the ownership of American businessman Chris Kirchner has fallen through.
The joint administrators of Derby County, Quantuma, named Kirchner as the preferred bidder for the club in April, after he had initially expressed an interest in acquiring the club in late 2021.
Now, however, Kirchner has withdrawn his offer.
A spokesperson on behalf of the joint administrators of Derby County said: “The joint administrators can confirm that today, Mr Kirchner has withdrawn his offer to acquire the business and assets of The Club.
“We are aware that some will be concerned by this news, however, the joint administrators wish to reassure The Club’s staff, players and supporters that they are continuing to actively engage with a growing number of interested parties, each of whom have a real willingness to complete a deal as soon as possible.
“The joint administrators would remind all stakeholders of the process in place for those parties who wish to acquire The Club. The joint administrators are running a competitive bidding process.
“Bids should be best and final and not contain any referential element. Clearly, any bid is subject to interested parties entering into an NDA, accessing the data room, and undertaking their own due diligence. Of the parties we are engaging with, some are more progressed in this process than others.”
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “The saga surrounding Derby County has already gone on for far too long and this latest chapter only serves to compound the misery felt by many people across Derby and the surrounding area.
“The football club is an integral component of the city’s heritage, make-up and economy, with the prosperity of both intrinsically linked.
“A successful team competing at the top of the sport creates a healthy atmosphere across the whole area and this will always have positive economic consequences.
“Companies located in and around the city benefit from the tens of thousands of people who turn up every match to support their club – pubs, cafés, restaurants and shops will be packed before each game, while local transport networks rely on the increased number of passengers to remain viable.
“But it’s also much more than that. Derby County is a part of the city and county’s fabric.
“So fans, communities and businesses alike have understandably been hoping for a positive update from the joint administrators. This latest takeover setback creates more uncertainty for an area that is desperate for some good news on securing the future of a sporting institution they rely on.
“It’s vital the football authorities and administrators work together to finally put an end to this sour episode and find a positive resolution that secures the long-term future of Derby County Football Club.”
Construction gets underway at new Etwall housing development
A local housebuilder has begun work on a project to build 50 new homes in Etwall, Derbyshire.
Redrow East Midlands has officially started work on the brand-new development, The Nook, after acquiring 21-acres of land off Jackson’s Lane.
Four and five-bedroom homes are already available, and three-bedroom homes will be released as the development progresses.
Ryan O’Sullivan, sales director at Redrow East Midlands, said: “The perfectly quaint village of Etwall offers the perfect location for those seeking a home which benefits from picturesque countryside while remaining just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of thriving city life.
“With great transport networks, a host of local amenities and open green spaces on your doorstep, this development will bring much-need homes to the area – perfect for commuters and families alike.”
