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.
Establish new contacts at the East Midlands Expo
On Monday 14 November 2022 the East Midlands Expo will return, offering an ideal day for networking and business generation – meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.
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.
Science Park’s first company goes from strength to strength
The first company to move into Lincoln’s Science and Innovation Park has grown so successfully it is moving into its own premises.
METIS Aerospace was the first through the doors when the Science Park opened in 2017. Originally just two people, the Aerospace, Defence and Security company now has 14 staff and is undergoing a major expansion.
After 23 years flying on RAF Nimrod aircraft, CEO Tony Burnell founded the company in 2011 with the aim of developing specialist signals intelligence solutions capable of delivering real-time threat warnings.
In 2018 METIS was instrumental in the reopening of Gatwick Airport during its Drone Crisis and since then METIS has been actively involved with major airports, enabling to continue operating whilst identifying drone threats that could interfere aircraft and their operations.
“We develop Electronic Warfare Signals Intelligence solutions that detect, track and identify high frequency radio waves emitted by targets of interest. That could be anything from a terrorist organisation’s radio communications to a serious organised crime operation using drones.”
Tony, who sits on the newly formed GLLEP Defence and Security board is also Chair of the UK’s Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space’s Drone Platform and Counter Drone group, said: “What has really made us unique is the many years of experience we have had in the RAF using tech in global conflicts, then testing, evaluating, and developing it. We have used these skills and our experiences of being the end user to provide our customers with better solutions, thereby building a strong business.”
METIS was eager to move into the Lincoln Science & Innovation Park as soon the Boole Technology Centre opened. “The primary driver for moving in was to collaborate with the right people to build better products. That included companies who also moved into Boole and we were right next to the University of Lincoln who we’ve been able to work with to develop emerging technologies and pulling these through into the commercial sector in short timescales. We also liked the ‘wow’ factor of bringing clients to Boole. The biggest benefit was the flexibility and understanding of Tom, the Park’s director. His door is always open, and he is a great person who’s provided support and advice throughout but, arguably more importantly, worked with us to enable the company to grow.”
Tom Blount, Director of Lincoln Science & Innovation Park, said: “We would have loved to keep Tony and his team on site but, sadly, their growth has meant that we simply haven’t the space available in such a short timescale. We will miss having them based at the Park but they remain an important part of our wider science and tech community.”
METIS is now moving to its own premises in North Hykeham which will house its offices, labs and a new manufacturing facility with space to produce drones up to a 6m fixed wingspan.
The Access Group snaps up provider of cloud-based volunteer management software
The Access Group, the Loughborough-headquartered providers of business management software for small and mid-sized organisations, has acquired DutySheet Ltd, trading as Assemble and DutySheet, a provider of cloud-based volunteer management software to hundreds of charities and public sector organisations.
The business will be incorporated into The Access Group’s Non-Profit and Education division, which delivers software that supports over 10,000 public sector, charity and educational organisations in the UK and Ireland.
Simon Baines, Managing Director of Access Non-Profit and Education, said: “The acquisition of DutySheet Ltd proves once again our dedication to supporting our customers in making a greater impact on their causes, offering end-to-end solutions that improve their core mission and operations, whether that’s greater awareness-raising, increased donations and other fundraising activity, better relationships with their volunteers, or more efficiency.
“Today’s charity leaders recognise the growing importance that technology plays as they recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. By integrating Assemble’s volunteer management system into our connected donor management software, Access Workspace for Charities, we can create an unrivalled technology proposition for the sector.
“Our continued investment into the charity sector is matched by our passion for Giving Back, including the Access Charity of the Year initiatives and The Access Foundation, which is focused on making a real difference in people’s lives by awarding grants to charities that make a valuable and measurable positive impact.”
Ben Hayes, co-founder of DutySheet Ltd, said: “Having met the team at Access we believe we have found a company with a similar ethos to our own and see exciting times ahead for our customers and all the team at DutySheet Ltd.
“We know that the organisations and volunteers that we support will benefit greatly from the broader range of connected solutions they will now have at their disposal through the integration of Assemble with Access Workspace for Charities.”
Simon Baines concluded: “Access’s strategy is to continue bringing new and innovative products to market, and the Assemble and DutySheet solutions are a natural fit within our expanding product set.
“We believe there will be a strong benefit to integrating Assemble into Access Workspace for Charities, which allows employees to collaborate easily, securely and confidently with their teams and external volunteers.
“We are also excited to work with DutySheet customers to provide support and enhancements to their solution. Adding the capabilities of DutySheet Ltd’s solutions to our current product range will play an important role as Access continues to deliver best-in-class software solutions that our customers have come to expect.”
Council budget boosted by £30m of property sales – with £90m more to come
Nottingham City Council has brought in over £30m of income from selling land and property it owns over the last two years – with over £90m more in the pipeline over the next few years.
The council owns over 3,600 property assets with a combined asset value of over £1bn and is undertaking a rationalisation programme to identify whether it remains appropriate to continue to hold particular assets or to sell them.
All councils have a portfolio of different types of assets, ranging from operational land and property that is used to deliver services to the public, to commercial properties that are generally let to third parties for one reason or another.
The income from rents or selling properties is increasingly important as Government funding for councils has significantly reduced in recent years, meaning income from other sources can help to keep services running. The City Council is also striving to reduce its debt levels as part of its Together for Nottingham Plan.
Over the last two years, the council has been undertaking an asset rationalisation programme that identifies those properties that are no longer appropriate for it to hold and where best consideration can be achieved through a sale. Commercial properties may no longer be providing sufficient return or be in need of expensive repairs, while the potential social value of community assets will be taken into account when considering possible sales. Over that time, more than £30m of income to the council has been achieved through sales – beyond estimated targets.
This year, the council is focused on a small number of high value asset sales, including The Guildhall, the former Central Library on Angel Row and property at Clifton West, to boost funds further – with an expectation that over £90m could be brought in over the next three to four years.
City Council leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “Selling property and land that we own and no longer require is one of the ways we can bring money into the council at a time when our Government grant is drastically reduced.
“We are not selling things in an unplanned way – it is properly assessed and we seek to sell it for as much as possible, unless they are community assets where there is some social value to be gained. Most of the properties that bring in larger amounts are commercial properties rather than community assets.”
Corporate insolvencies continue to rise
The chair of the Midlands branch of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 is urging directors of the region’s businesses to seek professional advice if they are concerned about cash flow, as corporate insolvency figures continue to rise compared to the same time last year.
Latest figures published by the government’s Insolvency Service show that while the number of companies entering insolvency decreased by 8.9% in May – to a total of 1,817 compared to April’s total of 1,995 – there was an increase of 79.2% compared to May 2021’s figure of 1,014.
R3 Midlands chair Eddie Williams, a partner at PwC in the East Midlands, said: “The monthly fall in corporate insolvencies has been driven mainly by a reduction in Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations. However, numbers for this process and for overall corporate insolvencies are considerably higher compared to this time last year, as well as to May 2020 and to May 2019.
“This suggests that although the current economic challenges are continuing to hit businesses hard and are pushing a significant number into insolvency, insolvency trends are still uneven.
“In recent months, firms have been buffeted by rising costs, falling consumer confidence and reluctance to spend on anything other than the essentials, which has meant that they haven’t made the additional income they needed to offset increased expenditure.
“There has been no time to draw breath between the issues caused by the pandemic and those arising from our current economic challenges, and many businesses who have survived so far are now starting to struggle. Rising interest rates will add extra costs for firms to overcome.
“The Government’s insolvency figures should be a timely prompt for any company director whose business is struggling. Objective advice should be sought from a qualified, professional source to decide the best path forward – and the earlier this is done, the better.
“Most R3 members will give an hour’s free consultation to potential clients to enable them to understand more about the circumstances of the business, and to outline the options available to help them improve the situation.”
Gateley appoints two new partners in Nottingham
Legal and professional services group Gateley has made two new senior hires to join its Nottingham office.
Helen Burgess has been appointed as a partner in the employment team, while Matt Hussey joins as a partner within the corporate team – both will be based at Gateley’s office on The Ropewalk in the city centre.
Helen joins from Shoosmiths where she spent almost 20 years in a number of roles, culminating in heading up the organisation’s Nottingham employment team since 2010. At Gateley, Helen will continue her work in the employment arena, bringing with her a wealth of experience and expertise across all areas of employment law – from corporate transactions to complex tribunals.
Matt, a Nottingham-native, has joined Gateley having spent the last six years working as a principal associate in the corporate team at Eversheds Sutherland. In his new role, Matt will focus on supporting clients within the Private M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) and Private Capital spaces.
Helen Burgess said: “Having seen from afar the great work Gateley carries out for their clients, I am extremely excited to be joining the team. I am looking forward to building trusted relationships with clients in the East Midlands, as well as embracing the great working culture that Gateley offers.”
Matt Hussey said: “This is a great time to be joining the organisation as it continues to grow, and I can’t wait to be a part of its continued success. This is also a really exciting time for the East Midlands corporate finance market, and I am looking forward to working with our clients from across the region.”
Andrew Macmillan, who heads up Gateley’s Nottingham office, said: “We are thrilled to welcome both Helen and Matt to Gateley. They bring with them a wealth of experience and will be a real asset to the clients they support in Nottingham and beyond.”
Lincolnshire insurance broker gears up for growth with office move
An independent insurance broking and risk management specialist that launched in Lincolnshire last year is expanding after relocating to new offices and the company now plans to create six new jobs.
TL Dallas, which has 11 UK offices, expanded into Lincolnshire at the end of 2021, launching Dallas Scott Davey with experienced insurance professionals, Ed Davey and Darren Scott, who have 45 years combined industry experience.
Dallas Scott Davey offers specialist agricultural and business insurance and has now relocated to Plowright House, which is the University of Lincoln’s former agricultural campus within its Riseholme Estate. Today Plowright House is a Barclays Eagle Labs office hub with a focus on cutting-edge AgriTech research and related businesses.
The company now has a team of three in Lincoln and plans to triple in size over the next 18 months, recruiting six new account handlers and brokers.
Ed Davey, director at Dallas Scott Davey, said: “In a short space of time we’ve quickly established a strong client base across a wide area, with our core business being in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
“Farming is experiencing significant challenges across all sectors, not least due to agri-inflation. Steering a course for the businesses and building the right strategy needs more careful attention than ever before. Ultimately farms and associated businesses are having to balance cost versus risk and our specialist industry knowledge and ability to provide a bespoke service is proving very popular.
“Expanding into new premises within the University of Lincoln’s former agricultural campus, which is now home to a wide range of businesses at the forefront of the farming industry, is the perfect address for a specialist agricultural insurance broker.”
Polly Staveley, Managing Director at TL Dallas, said: “Ed and Darren are very experienced and genuinely strive to offer their clients the best products and advice possible and will negotiate hard on their behalf, so we knew they’d be a great fit for TL Dallas.
“Putting their names over the door and launching Dallas Scott Davey is a great way to bolster our business and service offerings in new areas, whilst giving experienced industry stalwarts the opportunity to be shareholders in the business.”
The Lincoln expansion is part of a hat-trick of office moves for Yorkshire-headquartered TL Dallas this year. The company has also relocated its London office to 14 Devonshire Square, in the City of London, close to Liverpool Street Station. In addition, the company’s North Yorkshire office recently expanded to Asquith Business Park in Gargrave near Skipton.
New Melton Mowbray waterside development gets underway
Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) has commenced work on a new ten-acre affordable housing development at Lake Terrace in Melton Mowbray.
NCHA are working in partnership with Leicester-based developer GS Developments and My Pad Developments to deliver these new homes, with support from Melton Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council.
The waterside development of 90 new affordable homes will provide a selection of one, two and three bedroom houses. 48 homes will be available for affordable rent and 42 sold for shared ownership.
The £19m scheme has been funded by contributions from Homes England and NCHA. It is expected to be complete by summer 2024.
Designed by Pelham, the design will maximise the surrounding open space and waterside location, whilst protecting the local environment.
Chair of the Leicestershire Rural Partnership, Pam Posnett, said: “This is good news for Melton. The scheme will provide much-needed homes for individuals and families who are priced out of other local housing developments.”
Allan Fisher, director of development and assets at NCHA, said: “It has been a positive start getting the groundworks underway. We look forward to seeing the new development take shape and contributing 90 new affordable homes to the area.”
Proposals for phase two of the development have already been submitted in the hope that a further 77 affordable homes could be created in the future.
Derbyshire property group to submit bid for Derby County following stadium purchase
Derbyshire-based property group, Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, have purchased the company that owned Pride Park Stadium from fellow local businessman Mel Morris.
Additionally, Clowes have issued an interim loan to the Club which will enable Derby County to start the next season and trade whilst a deal to purchase the Club is concluded.
Clowes have also confirmed that they will, today, submit a bid to purchase Derby County Football Club.
David Clowes, chairman of Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, led the negotiations and said: “With a deadline looming and the start of the next season getting closer, we needed to do something.
“As a local and established property company, purchasing the stadium seemed the obvious first step. Secondly, as a proud Derby supporter, it was inconceivable to me that the Club was at risk of falling away. We’ve worked tirelessly behind the scenes on the stadium purchase and loan agreement to be able to get the Club going again in time for the next season.
“Players, staff and fans needed some good news, and we are delighted to play a part in delivering that.”
It is intended that this step forward will help to alleviate some of the growing pressure, allowing more time to make the right decisions for the future of the Club. The acceptance of Clowes’ offer and swift completion of a deal will also allow the Club to get ready for the upcoming season.
Derby County can then start rebuilding a full team, confirm contracts, prepare for fixtures and allow the commercial aspects of the business to get going and start bringing in the much-needed income for the Club. Staff can plan for the next season and arguably, most importantly, dedicated fans can purchase their tickets.
The purchase of the Pride Park Stadium completed on Friday 17 June 2022. All parties agreed to keep the transaction confidential until the loan agreement was complete and announce recent developments at the same time. The loan agreement has now been formalised which has enabled the announcements to be made.
Rumours and speculation have been circulating in the media for the last few months regarding the future of the Club but, today, all parties have officially confirmed the purchase of Pride Park Stadium, announced the interim loan and the submission of a bid for the Club by Clowes Developments. The negotiation of agreements were conducted privately between all parties concerned. Mel Morris, Clowes Developments, Quantuma and the EFL have worked collaboratively to agree the deals which will help to secure the future viability of Derby County Football Club.
Clowes Developments’ representative said: “Clowes Developments would like to formally thank all parties involved in the deals to date. Collectively we have paved the way for a positive outcome for the future of Derby County Football Club. We would like to take the opportunity to thank our respective teams of professional advisors who have helped us
to successfully purchase the company that owned Pride Park Stadium, secure the loan agreement and confirm the submission of a bid to purchase the Club.
“It must be recognised that great business comes from handling transactions with respect and an open mind. We are very happy to have been able to resolve the issues relating to the ground and are pleased to be in a unique position to help get the Club get ready for the next season. We have made sound professional relationships to date which we hope will continue to prosper from here on out.
“Derby County Football Club are now a few steps closer to exiting administration with the hope of a new owner for the Club just around the corner, an opportunity to move forward with a clean slate.”
All parties are dedicated to rebuilding the Club. Clowes Developments, for which many of their staff are loyal Derby County fans, are excited to resume ‘business as usual’ and support them in League One.
David Clowes, chairman at Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, added: “As a long-standing loyal supporter, I am personally delighted that we are in a position to be able to secure the future of the football Club. This is a very proud and humbling moment for Clowes
Developments.”
£1.1bn bid for Ideagen moves forward
Ideagen’s shareholders have voted in favour of plans to sell the Nottinghamshire-based software firm in a £1.1bn deal.
Rainforest Bidco Limited, a company indirectly controlled by funds managed by software and services investor, Hg, is behind the bid.
Ideagen shareholders shall be entitled to receive 350p in cash for each Ideagen share.
Ben Dorks, Ideagen CEO, said: “This is incredibly exciting news for Ideagen. Hg share our values and our ambition, whilst their operational experience in software has successfully helped businesses to accomplish their goals many times over. This new relationship will give us the ability to accelerate even faster, serve our customers better and scale our business further across the globe.
“I want to take the opportunity to thank those at the heart of our success, including our colleagues around the globe working hard to provide trusted software solutions that help protect organisations, as well as tens of thousands of customers we work with. We are on an exciting journey of growth and progression, one that continues to deliver solutions to help improve operational efficiency, maintain compliance, manage risk and keep people safe.”
Christopher Fielding, Joris Van Gool and Jean-Baptiste Brian, partners at Hg, said: “We are delighted that Ideagen’s shareholders have voted in favour of this partnership with Hg. We have long recognised Ideagen as a high-quality software business and are excited about the future.
“Ben and the team will now have greater flexibility to execute and accelerate longer term growth plans, including investments in product, technology, talent and large scale, accretive M&A. Together we are in a great position and remain committed to ensure that Ideagen maintains and grows as a leader in the sector.”
