The East Midlands Investment Zone Strategy and Investment Plan has been approved by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Board.
The strategy for the £160m, ten-year programme will unlock inclusive growth and innovation in priority sectors of advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries.
The key activities in the strategy include developing the skills, innovation, businesses, and infrastructure to build on local strengths, championing the East Midlands Investment Zone for global investment for nuclear, vehicle propulsion, and advanced construction industries, and providing business support services for SMEs.
It also includes supporting the planning, coordination, and delivery of skills opportunities to open up pathways to high-quality jobs, creating spaces for organisations to come together to collaborate on new technologies, and accelerating delivery across the designated East Midlands Investment Zone sites.
The East Midlands Investment Zone is set to bring at least £383 million of investment into the region and 4,000 high-quality jobs.
Three designated strategic sites – Infinity Park in Derby, Explore Park in Worksop, and Hartington Staveley in Chesterfield – serve as focal areas for delivery and benefit from targeted tax and business rate retention incentives. However, the programme will offer a range of interventions and opportunities throughout the region.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “The East Midlands Investment Zone represents a powerful statement of intent: that the East Midlands is ready to lead Britain’s journey into a cleaner, smarter industrial future. By nurturing local talent, championing global investment, and accelerating progress across our priority sectors, we are building a region that can thrive.
“Our vision for the East Midlands Investment Zone is rooted in inclusive growth. As Mayor, I’m ensuring that everyone, from school leavers to seasoned professionals and people who are not currently in work, can share in the success of a region that’s set to lead the world in clean energy industries and advanced manufacturing.”
Stagecoach leads UK transport sector in climate engagement
Stagecoach has set a new standard in climate action within the transport sector. It is the only UK and European operator to achieve the prestigious ‘A’ grade on the CDP Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) for 2024, marking a significant milestone in the company’s sustainability journey. The achievement highlights Stagecoach’s leadership in addressing climate change through comprehensive supply chain engagement and environmental strategy.
The CDP A-List recognition was granted for the company’s robust governance practices, commitment to emissions reductions, transparent Scope 3 emissions reporting, and active engagement with its suppliers on climate issues. Stagecoach’s approach is in line with global climate goals, positioning the company as a climate leader in the road transport industry. It remains one of only two companies worldwide to receive this accolade in the sector.
Additionally, Stagecoach secured an ‘A-‘ climate disclosure rating, placing it in the top 1% of companies globally. The company also maintained a ‘B’ rating in water-related disclosures, underlining its efforts to manage water risks and safeguard natural resources across its operations.
Stagecoach’s continued dedication to sustainability is setting a high bar for climate action in the transport sector.
Vulcan Creatives opens applications for third business incubation cohort
Vulcan Creatives has launched its third cohort of the Vulcan Works business incubation programme, inviting aspiring entrepreneurs from Northamptonshire to apply. The six-month programme, designed to support individuals in developing business plans and refining their entrepreneurial skills, is open to applicants aged 18 or over who are committed to dedicating at least two days a week to business coaching and support.
Since its inception in 2024, the programme has successfully helped 20 entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into fully operational businesses. The third cohort will select 10 new participants, who will benefit from tailored mentorship, including one-on-one sessions with business growth experts, access to free coworking spaces, and opportunities to attend masterclasses and networking events.
Graduates of the programme will also gain discounted access to office, coworking, or workshop spaces at Vulcan Works for the following six months. This initiative aims to help entrepreneurs sustain the momentum gained during the programme and continue their business growth.
Applications are open until 12th September, with the third cohort set to begin in October.
Second content creator becomes co-owner in Leicester mobile gaming accessories firm
PuK Gaming, a precision-engineered mobile gaming accessories firm, has welcomed influential gaming content creator Alastair “Ali-A” Aiken as a co-owner and strategic partner. It marks a major milestone in PuK’s mission to transform the mobile gaming landscape.
Ali-A is followed by over 20 million fans worldwide, but is bringing more than just his name to the table, investing time, expertise, and capital into PuK.
As co-owner, Ali-A will play an active role in product development, marketing strategy, and creative campaigns. He joins fellow creator iFerg, who came aboard as a co-owner and strategic investor in June.
“Their modular accessories are next-level, and I’m eager to collaborate on products that give players a real edge,” said Ali-A. “This partnership is about shaping the future of mobile gaming, and I’m all in.”
Simon Burgess, PuK Gaming co-founder and creator of the SCUF® controller, said: “Ali-A joining our growing team of mobile gaming innovators is exciting news for our team. His long-term experience within the gaming sphere is exactly what we need to push PuK to the next level and beyond.”
Egg supplier acquires Leicestershire firm
Egg and poultry supplier Noble Foods has acquired Leicestershire firm Just Egg from Pankaj Pancholi and his family.
Over the past 20 years, Just Egg has become a valued name in the egg industry, manufacturing hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs and egg mayonnaise.
This acquisition supports Noble Foods’ long-term strategy to grow and diversify.
Pankaj Pancholi, founder of Just Egg, said: “This business has been my life’s work, and I’m incredibly proud of what our team has achieved. As I step back, I do so with confidence knowing Just Egg is joining Noble Foods – a company that shares our values and passion for quality. I know the business is in capable hands for the future.”
Duncan Everett, CEO, Noble Foods, said: “We feel honoured to be taking forward the Just Egg legacy. The business Pankaj and his team have built is one we deeply respect, and we’re committed to preserving the quality, service and care their customers value so highly.”
Revenue rises at Yü Group
Revenue is up at Yü Group, the independent supplier of gas and electricity, meter asset owner, and installer of smart meters to the UK SME & corporate sector.
In a trading update for the six months ended 30 June 2025, the Nottingham business highlighted continued strong organic growth in line with management expectations. The firm delivered first half revenue of approximately £341m, up 9% on the same period of the prior year and in line with group strategy of gaining market share.
Average monthly bookings, however, at £41.4m, were down 12%, reflecting the wholesale commodity market normalising.
Yü Group further noted strong meter point growth for the fifth consecutive period. The company delivered a 48% increase in meter points versus the prior year, to close at 107,000. The group added that it continues to grow volumetric consumption and leverages off the implementation of the five-year commodity hedging agreement with Shell Energy enabling continued scaling.
Yü Smart, meanwhile, delivered value and volume, with meters owned in the period up 179% on the same period in 2024, providing 200% increase in forward annualised, indexed annuity income.
Bobby Kalar, CEO, said: “I’m pleased with our continued delivery for the first 6 months providing confidence management are in-line with expectations for the year. Our forward contract book remains strong and continues to grow despite the recent drop in wholesale energy prices.
“While I’m personally disappointed investor appetite remains restrictive, prolonged cash outflows from the UK continue to severely hinder our valuation. I would like to thank all my team for their continued support and effort. We will remain focussed on our growth strategy to deliver continued shareholder value and returns.”
New University of Nottingham partnership to enhance food and drink industry training and development
Training and development for the food and drink sector will be enhanced with a new partnership that will bring together industry and academic expertise.
The University of Nottingham is partnering with Briggs of Burton to launch a new training academy that will provide theoretical and practical training to its staff and valuable hands-on experience for students. The University’s Faculty of Engineering will also be collaborating with Briggs of Burton, exploring world-leading research and future innovation together.
The International Centre for Brewing Science is a centre of excellence for brewing education and research at the University of Nottingham and is where Briggs of Burton designed and built a ‘Research Pilot Brewery’ for the University that has been operating successfully for 14 years.
The centre will now be expanded to offer theoretical and practical training to equip Briggs’ teams with the expert knowledge needed to deliver projects for customers, and generate a new talent pipeline of mechanical, electrical/control, chemical/process, and industrial automation/software engineers.
The Research Pilot Brewery is a production operational environment and a working factory that features a high level of instrumentation and control and automation. Using this as a training facility will allow the Briggs team and students to directly explore and enhance their skills across topics such as hygienic process design, industrial process control, and health and safety operations.
Experts from the University of Nottingham and Briggs of Burton will join forces to deliver a blend of theory and practical training on site. The training will include: practical hands-on brewing experience days, process engineering deep-dives, and health and safety training workshops.
The partnership will also provide opportunities for wider industry engagement and collaboration as the Research Pilot Brewery will be used as a hub for manufacturers, suppliers and customers to explore and learn more about the hygienic process.
Professor Sam Kingman, provost and deputy vice chancellor at the University of Nottingham, said: “Our new partnership with Briggs of Burton further strengthens our position as a leading centre for excellence in brewing research.
“This is an exciting new partnership which showcases how industry and the university can work closely together. It allows us to support Brigg’s objectives to be a sector-leader, creates new research projects and new employment pathways for our students”
Robert Buxton, CEO of Briggs of Burton, said: “The Research Pilot Brewery at the University still surprises people with respect to its design, layout, finish, and sophisticated instrumentation/control.
“Supporting the learning and development of our current and future workforce is a major focus for our business and providing further hands-on access to this excellent facility and worldclass teaching from the team at the University will provide opportunities to members of our own team and potential future engineers.”
Jo Simpson, chief revenue officer at the University of Nottingham, said: “This new partnership brings another global-leading organisation onto our campus to benefit from our unique ecosystem. It is a relationship that is driven by excellence. Combining the very best of our facilities and technical staff with a truly sector-leading company.
“We are proud to support the ambitions of Briggs to develop their outstanding workforce alongside creating important new opportunities for our students to interact directly with industry. This is just the starting point of what is going to be a very exciting partnership.”
Midlands logistics firm shifts gears with new site in Derbyshire
Midlands logistics firm, D&D Transport, has opened the doors to a new facility in Alfreton, marking a major investment in its growth.
Located in an industrial estate in the heart of Derbyshire, the new site spans just under 70,000 sq ft, providing significant space for storage, operations and future development.
The move to Birchwood Way, Cotes Park Industrial Estate, supports D&D Transport’s long-term strategy to strengthen its logistics offering and better serve its growing customer base.
Just minutes from Junction 28 of the M1 and the A38, the new location also puts the firm – which is a member of the Palletways UK network – in direct access of key transport corridors.
Dave Palmer, owner of D&D Transport, said: “This move represents a major step forward for the business. The new site gives us the space to scale and diversify our services and positions us more strategically to serve customers in the region.
“Since opening the facility, we’ve already started to see the positive impact it can have for us and the businesses we serve – we’re excited to accelerate into the next phase of our growth journey.”
Warrick Trimble, network director for Palletways UK, added: “We’re thrilled to see D&D Transport investing in a new facility that will enhance their capabilities.
“Their strategic location and growth ambitions perfectly align with Palletways’ commitment to delivering efficient, reliable logistics solutions across the UK and beyond.”
Four in five Midlands businesses see revenue growth despite global trade headwinds
Businesses across the Midlands are showing resilience and optimism, with the vast majority reporting strong performance and a positive outlook for the future, according to new insights from Barclays UK Corporate Bank.
More than four in five (83%) businesses in the Midlands have seen revenue growth compared to the same quarter last year, underlining the region’s economic momentum. Confidence is equally robust, with 81% of firms expressing optimism about their prospects over the next five years – more than five times the number who feel uncertain (15%).
Trade remains a key driver of this confidence. Two in five (43%) Midlands businesses believe the current ease of importing and exporting will positively influence their long-term growth. Notably, businesses in the West Midlands are significantly more likely to see this as “extremely positive” (15%) compared to just 5% in the East Midlands and 9% across the wider UK.
However, global trade tensions are not without impact. A substantial 77% of Midlands firms express concern over US tariffs and broader trade uncertainty – with this unease more common in West Midlands businesses (81%) than those in the East Midlands (72%). Nearly half of companies across the region (47%) are already planning changes to their operations or supply chains in the US in response to the tariffs.
Despite these challenges, many businesses are finding opportunity in adversity. A notable proportion expect US tariffs to positively affect their profits (36%), supply chain stability (34%) and competitive positioning (29%) – with West Midlands businesses more positive on this issue across every metric examined, than those in the East Midlands. In fact, more than a quarter of Midlands companies (28%) see the tariffs as likely to improve their overall business prospects.
Beyond tariffs, the top issues currently facing Midlands businesses include economic uncertainty (39%), rising operational costs (38%), market competition (32%), and cybersecurity threats (31%). East Midlands businesses are particularly impacted by operational costs (46%), compared to their peers in the West Midlands (31%).
Barclays revealed this data and insight as part of their inaugural ‘Building Confidence in the Midlands’ event, held at the bank’s regional headquarters in Snow Hill. This event offered clients in the area an opportunity to discuss trade, business prosperity and opportunities for Midlands-based businesses to grow – as well as to hear insights from both the Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP and senior leaders at the bank.
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair Business and Trade Committee, said: “As a former entrepreneur, I know that growing a business is never easy – especially when global trade headwinds are blowing strong. So, these figures are a remarkable testament to the resilience, ingenuity and ambition of Midlands firms.
“But we can’t take this success for granted. As Chair of Parliament’s Business and Trade Committee, I’m leading an inquiry into how we can better back our small businesses – especially in the face of growing global risks. If we get this right, we won’t just unlock growth. We’ll unleash a new era of Midlands-made prosperity.”
David Farrow, Head of Barclays UK Corporate and Payments Coverage, said: “These findings paint a picture of a region that is not only weathering global challenges but actively adapting and thriving.
“The Midlands continues to be a powerhouse of UK enterprise, driven by innovation, trade, and a confident outlook for the future. We look forward to working with all of our clients across the region to support them as they navigate and succeed in this dynamic landscape.”
£200m economic impact forecast for East Midlands through British Business Bank support
The British Business Bank has provided crucial support to 1,700 small businesses across the East Midlands, which are set to create 1,200 new jobs and generate an estimated £600m in additional turnover by 2024/25. This assistance is projected to contribute £200m to the region’s economic output over the lifetime of the funded businesses.
A significant factor in this achievement is the £400m Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, which has already secured £37m in funding from both public and private sectors. The Bank’s increased financial capacity, now raised to £25.6bn following June’s Spending Review, allows for greater annual investments of approximately £2.5bn, facilitating higher levels of third-party investment.
The Bank’s continued focus on regions outside London is clear, with 84% of supported businesses based in these areas. This funding boost is expected to enhance local productivity, foster business growth, and create new jobs, significantly driving regional economies and supporting the Bank’s broader commitment to development across the UK.
