Consultancy constructs charity Christmas hampers
Kind-hearted colleagues at a Northampton-based construction consultancy have spread festive cheer by building Christmas hampers and donating gifts to local families needing support.
Bhangals Construction Consultants wore Christmas jumpers to put together the 100 hampers at their Grange Park base on Tuesday.
The parcels are full of both essential and luxury items including biscuits, tinned goods, pasta, rice, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, chocolates and toys for the children.
It is the sixth consecutive year that the generous team have put together the hampers, which cost a total of £2,000.
The bumper bags were then handed over to innovative community support hub SCCYC Waterside Connect, who work tirelessly to provide vital services to the local community and much needed food and supplies to families living in poverty, and in crisis.
Bhangals Construction Consultants associate operations director Katie Newman said: “We are delighted to be able to support SCCYC Waterside Connect for another year with our Christmas hampers. They are an incredible charity and the work they do makes such a positive impact on families who are struggling, particularly at this time of year.
“Spreading some Christmas spirit brings us all great joy and I hope that our contribution will really make a difference in our valued community.”
East Midlands manufacturers see post-Budget slump in confidence
Business confidence among East Midlands manufacturers has dipped sharply to the lowest level in a year in response to rocketing costs, according to a survey published by Make UK and business advisory firm BDO.
The Make UK/BDO Manufacturing Outlook Q4 survey shows that while output remained positive in the last three months at a balance of +12%, orders fell and are forecast to fall further in the next 3 months to -12%. While recruitment intentions in the region remained stable, the fall in confidence resulted in cutbacks in investment which also turned negative at -12%.
This picture contrasts sharply with the previous survey when almost six in ten companies (58%) saw a brighter economic outlook under a new Government and, bar the immediate post-Covid recovery, when business confidence among manufacturers had reached its highest level in a decade.
According to the survey, 70% of East Midlands manufacturers have seen their costs already increase by up to a fifth in the last year, while almost one in ten (8%) had seen their costs rise by up to a half. In particular, the survey shows almost nine in ten companies (86%) will see their business costs increase due to the Make Work Pay reforms, with almost half of companies (44%) saying the increase will be ‘significant’.
With the Budget set to add substantial extra business costs to those that companies were already facing, in particular the changes to National Insurance Contributions, Make UK has cut its growth forecasts with manufacturing contracting by -0.2% this year and growing by just 0.7% in 2025.
In response, Make UK is urging the Government to look at measures which might help alleviate the impact of rising costs, in particular reforms to business rates and current incentives to decarbonise.
Chris Corkan, Region Director at Make UK in the Midlands, said: “Having faced a cost creep for most of the year, manufacturers in the East Midlands are now facing a cost crisis which has brought a sharp dip in their confidence.
“While overall conditions had begun to gradually improve during the year, the Budget has brought this to a shuddering halt, with the substantial increase in National Insurance Contributions potentially the straw that might break the camel’s back for some.
“There is now an urgent need for Government to look at other measures which might mitigate the impact of the rocketing costs that businesses are now facing.”
Jonathan Lanes, Head of Manufacturing at BDO in the Midlands, said: “While manufacturers across the East Midlands have welcomed the Government’s Industrial Strategy green paper, optimism across the region is declining, driven by increased input costs and the implications of the latest Budget on employment costs.
“Increasing investment in improving productivity is vital now more than ever to maintain stability and offer opportunities for growth across the East Midlands and the wider sector.”
HBD and Feldberg Capital launch Origin mid-box industrial and logistics platform seeded with c.£100m development portfolio
HBD, the property investment and development arm of Henry Boot, has formed a UK focused industrial and logistics platform in joint venture with Feldberg Capital, the specialist in rapidly scaling sustainability-focused real estate ventures in high-growth sectors.
The platform will be known as Origin, with seed assets including the first phase of SPARK, a major employment scheme in Walsall.
With a GDV of £53m, the 13-acre first phase of SPARK has full planning consent and comprises two units totalling 270,000 sq ft. Work will begin on the construction of the first phase in February 2025.
Origin, subject to market conditions, intends to deliver circa £1bn of high-quality industrial and logistics schemes across the UK over the next seven years. Alongside SPARK, two further HBD schemes will be among the seed assets; ARK, a new £19m GDV development at Markham Vale in Derbyshire, and INTER a £27m GDV development in Welwyn Garden City.
All three initial sites have the potential to deliver around 450,000 sq ft of prime industrial and logistics space, with the construction of each to commence in H1 2025 for delivery from H2 2025. All developments will target market leading ESG credentials, including BREEAM Excellent and EPC A.
The venture will draw on both HBD’s development pipeline as well as acquiring sites from third parties for further pre-let and speculative industrial and logistics development.
Ed Hutchinson, Managing Director of HBD, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the launch of Origin which will strategically help HBD to expand its industrial and logistics pipeline across the UK.
“The first phase of SPARK is one of the seed assets within the new venture, with the first two units expected to start on site early next year. Feldberg Capital share our commitment to ESG and sustainable development and SPARK is no exception, with net zero carbon, BREEAM Excellent units ready to occupy from H2 2025.”
David Turner, Managing Partner at Feldberg Capital, said: “Having held back from the industrial and logistics market while assets looked overpriced, we believe now is a highly attractive entry point, with land values having come down over the last 24 months and entry yields being at more sustainable levels.
“The positive tail winds within the sector remain, driven by structural trends including the continued growth of e-commerce and more firms serving the UK market looking to ‘onshore’ their production here in the face of a shifting regulatory and geopolitical backdrop.
“Our aim is for Origin to become a market leader in the mid-box space. We’re excited to be working together with HBD, using our tried-and-tested ESG framework to deliver the next generation of units for modern, environmentally responsible occupiers, and driving strong risk-adjusted returns for our investors in the process.”
Origin is immediately well capitalised and will own and develop next generation, ESG compliant industrial and logistics assets, predominantly in the mid box market, across the UK. The venture will be seeded with an initial portfolio of three sites from HBD’s pipeline with a combined GDV of c.£100m (HBD share: £25m).
HBD has a 25% share of the joint venture, while Feldberg Capital will hold a 75% share. HBD will be the development manager, receiving a fee for doing so, and Feldberg Capital will act as investment manager.
Shoosmiths and Linklaters advised Feldberg Capital and HBD was advised by Pinsent Masons.
Counselling service turns a new leaf in Derby
New Leaf Derby, a specialist counselling and therapy service, has relocated to Kings Chambers, part of Connect Derby’s portfolio of managed workspaces.
Founded by Hazel Green, a BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited therapist, New Leaf Derby offers compassionate, client-focused counselling services in a safe and supportive environment.
The move to Kings Chambers offers New Leaf Derby a platform to expand its services. In addition to individual counselling, the practice now provides clinical supervision for qualified and trainee counsellors, along with access to meeting rooms for group work and training sessions, which provides a supportive environment for professional growth.
Previously based at The Wendy Centre on Wilson Street in the city, New Leaf Derby’s new location in the heart of the city brings significant benefits, including improved accessibility via public transport, ample parking, and modern amenities.
Commenting on making a new home at Kings Chambers, Hazel Green said: “I am thrilled to join the Kings Chambers community. Not only does the space foster a professional and calming atmosphere for therapy, it also offers improved amenities which will enable us to better serve our clients and make therapy more accessible to people in the Derby area.
“The move to Kings Chambers has been incredibly smooth, thanks to the supportive and responsive Connect Derby staff. I feel safe and secure in this new space, and I’m excited about the opportunities this move brings for New Leaf Derby and our clients.”
Sonia Kang, operations manager at Connect Derby, added: “We are delighted to welcome New Leaf Derby to our thriving community at Kings Chambers. Hazel’s dedication to mental health aligns with our mission of creating an environment where local businesses can flourish. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of her work on our city.”
Deal landed for former aircraft factory in East Midlands
Hortons has strengthened its presence in the industrial/logistics sector with the acquisition of a multi-let estate in Leicestershire, once home to the famous Auster Aircraft.
Rearsby Business Park is set on a 12.95-acre site near Rearsby, between Leicester and Melton Mowbray, within the M1 corridor.
The estate comprises 155,985 sq ft across 15 fully let industrial units with an additional 2.5 acres of development land for future expansion.
Hortons has acquired the business park from a private investor for an undisclosed price – it is the first time the site has changed ownership in almost 50 years.
Rearsby has a rich manufacturing history and the site was once home to Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Ltd’s factory, where the world-famous single propeller ‘Auster’ light aircraft was designed and built. It has since been extensively modernised, extended and redeveloped, with the last unit being added in 2020.
Established tenants at Rearsby Business Park include: East Coast Fittings, T.E.K Seating, GT Plumbing & Heating Engineers, Lewis & Hill Ltd, Metric Services (Leicester) Ltd, and K & D E Barnett & Sons Ltd.
Steve Tommy of Hortons said: “We are pleased to have secured such a well established asset, in the heart of the East Midlands’ industrial market. The acquisition of Rearsby Business Park complements our expanding industrial/logistics property portfolio, providing a strong existing rental income and opportunities to add value.”
Hortons was represented by Nick Wood at Savills, with Oliver Forster of CBRE acting on behalf of the vendor.
Nottinghamshire County Council to invest in cost-effective, energy saving buildings
Measures to bring more front-line council services into cost-effective, energy saving buildings are set to get the go-ahead next week (Thursday 19 December).
Plans from Nottinghamshire County Council include reducing their overall number of offices, creating more carbon-neutral buildings, generating income by leasing space and co-locating with other public organisations.
An investment worth £7.4 million is due to be approved at next week’s full cabinet meeting to help move these major plans to the next stage. These include the appointment of a specialist commercial agent to bring further expertise to the business case for the future use of County Hall, the council’s current HQ.
Due to the high costs to run and maintain, the aging annex building on the County Hall site is earmarked for demolition to save money and help increase the land value of the site in the long-term. Early feasibility work estimates this would cost approximately £2.5 million.
With the planned departure from County Hall in 2025, many council staff are due to relocate to the nearby Trent Bridge House in West Bridgford. Essential works to this building are required, with initial costs estimated to be around £500,000.
Oak House will be the council’s new low carbon, all-electric office and aims to bring more jobs, skills and investment into the Hucknall area. Despite the spate of recent storms and heavy rainfall, the building is still currently on track to be completed by spring 2025. This has meant more extensive and complex groundwork than planned and, with inflation, an additional £888,000 is needed to complete the project.
The new office is being designed, project and cost-managed by Arc Partnership and delivered through its construction partner, Morgan Sindall Construction. A target of 86 per cent of local spend has been set for the project and associated infrastructure works, with sub-contractors and tradespeople located within 20 miles of the site.
One of the many local firms working on the project include R&R Joinery Services Limited, based in Hucknall. It has installed all internal joinery on the building – including fire rated doors, kitchenette tea points and final fixtures and equipment.
Richard Allen, managing director, describes how the company is delighted to be working on the project and is helping it grow. He said: “Our two owners were born and raised in Hucknall, so the opportunity to be part of this project, providing a great new workspace for Nottinghamshire County Council has been fantastic.
“This project is our first with Morgan Sindall, which has expanded our client base and will allow us to grow and take on an apprentice in the coming six months.”
Oakfield Construction is a family-owned firm based just over two miles away near Eastwood, which also worked on the project.
Carl Tyson, project manager, says the company was proud to have contributed to such an important local project. He said: “We were involved in the Oak House project for around seven months and, as a result, we were able to bring on a new machine driver, and two of our apprentices also gained experience working on the site.
“During this time, we worked on the footings, drainage, ducting, footpaths, edgings and various other aspects of the project.”
Other major building and office plans include a contribution worth £3.5 million towards the new hub planned by Mansfield District Council in the town centre. This hub is planned to be the new home to some of the county council’s key services.
Early work also continues on an energy-efficient contact centre and office building in Worksop to help provide a fit-for-purpose environment for parents and children. The work is expected to be completed in early 2026.
Council Leader, Councillor Sam Smith, said: “We are an ambitious council, and this additional investment is all part of our wider plan to prioritise delivering services rather than just running expensive buildings.”
Councillor Keith Girling, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, added: “This programme focuses on improving our buildings which offer front-line services such as contact points which are used by parents and young children, including looked-after children.
“These buildings are now old and far from ideal, which we are having to regularly address, so we need to put this right.
“This programme is already providing lucrative refurbishment and building contracts for local subcontractors which is benefitting the local economy.”
Council commits to one of its largest-ever property schemes
North East Lincolnshire Council has committed to continuing with one of the largest property schemes it has ever undertaken – the Freshney Place leisure scheme and associated new food hall and complementary market.
Council leader Philip Jackson said the council’s decision to bring forward and support the project would transform the centre of Grimsby.
The leisure scheme will occupy the western end of Freshney Place, the area that is currently the Top Town Market Hall, and some units on the Bullring, which will provide a new offering for the people and businesses in Grimsby town centre.
A pre-let agreement is in place with Parkway Cinema to bring a five-screen cinema to complement its offering at Cleethorpes.
Richard Parkes, owner of Parkway Cinema, said: “We’ve long discussed options for bringing a cinema to Grimsby, and reinventing Freshney Place is precisely the right approach. Town centres are not just about shopping – that doesn’t work any more. We need to provide more reasons to visit and offer more things to do at more times during the day, and that’s just what we’ve signed up for – to bring that to Grimsby.
“We’ll be a living, breathing presence right in the heart of the town, with a new cinema open to and accessible to everyone alongside a new market hall and food outlets. It’s just part of something that will improve the whole town centre for a new generation, alongside the youth zone and other areas of the town like St James Square and the Riverhead. There’s a lot going on, and we can’t wait to be part of it.”
The development also includes plans for a new, vibrant food hall together with an attached complementary market on the area of the former BHS building.
Four additional new leisure, food and beverage, or retail opportunities, including a larger unit to-let are also in the scheme footprint, alongside four refurbished units within Freshney Place, with the return of Starbucks already agreed, and discussions under way with a leading food outlet.
Work is expected to start on site early in the new year.
Fresh merger expands Lincolnshire accountants’ footprint
Lincolnshire’s Streets Chartered Accountants has established Streets Dyke Ruscoe Limited following the merger of the well-established Shropshire and Worcestershire practice of Dyke Ruscoe Chartered Certified Accountants with Streets.
This latest merger sees Streets establish a greater footprint in the West Midlands, close to the Welsh border.
When asked about the merger Carl Davies, Director of Streets Dyke Ruscoe, based in its Ludlow office, said: “Dyke Ruscoe was established around the late 1920’s and has since this time been a local presence in Ludlow, Tenbury Wells and Craven Arms.
“As part of our own succession and growth strategy we have for some time been considering options for the future. Whilst we operate within the West Midlands and the Welsh Marches area, we recognised the opportunity to grow the practice into Wales and across the West Midlands. In part, the barrier to our growth, has been our size and structure, we therefore had to become part of something bigger.
“We are therefore delighted to have merged with Streets, whilst we considered a number of options, we believe that we have found our perfect partner. The Streets philosophy and outlook is similar to ours and they were keen to retain our sense of being a part of the local community and standing something that has been established over the years.
“It was also important for us to continue to be able to provide our services in a relatively unchanged environment with the same great team engaging with our clients.
“In an increasingly competitive market and with growing client needs we are, through joining up with Streets, pleased to be able to offer a greater breadth of services, including more specialisms like personal and corporate tax advice, banking and finance along with other services we have historically had to outsource.
“We are also especially pleased to announce that following the merger we are now able to service the needs of clients who require an audit as these can now be looked after Streets dedicated audit team and practice which acts nationally for groups, large companies, subsidiaries and charities.
“It truly does seem to be a partnership of like-minded people with similar principles to face not only the future and challenges together, but also the great opportunities that exist. Together we can achieve growth not only for ourselves, but for our staff, existing and prospective clients.
“Following the merger, we are delighted to announce that Charlotte Beamond has joined the directorship of the company, following the retirement of Peter Reynolds, we wish her every success in fulfilling her role.”
Looking at what the merger means to Streets, the firm’s Managing Partner, Paul Tutin, said: “We are delighted to have Carl Davies along with fellow directors Brydie Prime and Charlotte Beamond and their colleagues join the practice. It is especially pleasing to see and experience the mutual benefits and synergy to be had through firms like ours coming together.
“Whilst this year has seen our significant growth come about through the merger of firms located in Yorkshire, the East of England and the South West we are particularly pleased to have ventured further into the West Midlands. This is in keeping with our strategic intent to be a truly national and even UK practice.
“We continue to find that firms we talk to and that merge with us like our approach which is very different to the private equity led deals, as we seek to build on the success of the existing practice and empower individuals to drive and lead on their future growth and success.”
Streets Law, the firm’s dedicated corporate and commercial law offering led by Managing Director and Solicitor, Adam Aisthorpe, undertook the legal work on behalf of Streets for the merger, including drafting the sale and purchase agreement and dealing with the due diligence process in collaboration with internal colleagues in the tax and audit teams at Streets.
Lincoln company gets £250k funding to expand into US
Lincoln-based Panoramix has secured a £250,000 follow on debt funding package to implement a comprehensive marketing strategy aimed at expanding its client base, particularly in the US, where it has already seen strong demand.
The funding comes through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II though Maven Capital Partners, appointed Fund Manager for East and South East Midlands.
Panoramix is a specialist intellectual property law firm delivering legal services to both UK and overseas businesses.
Founded in 2019 by IP law specialist Kevin Hanson, Panoramix offers a flexible, attorney-led service without the billable hours model commonly used across the industry. Instead, the business offers fixed fees based on task complexity and value, allowing clients to benefit from transparent and efficient services.
Panoramix supports a range of clients from start-ups and SMEs to multinational corporations across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. It is also one of the few UK-based IP firms authorised to conduct US trademark work, holding direct practice rights with the US Patent and Trademark Office, which enables it to provide UK clients with cost-effective US IP support.
The funding will also enable the company to recruit additional staff, including a client relationship manager, an administrative support role, and a part-qualified patent attorney to support its growing operations.
Kevin Hanson, founder of Panoramix, said: “The support from Maven and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund I in 2022 was critical in enabling us to establish our business in the East Midlands and grow our client base nationally.
“With further funding through Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, we intend to double our headcount and turnover within the next 24 months. This will involve development of new service offerings and expansion into new international markets. The future is looking very bright as we continue to revolutionise the IP legal services industry.”
£3m boost set for transformation of former coal fired power station sites in Bassetlaw
Plans to transform three former coal fired power station sites in Bassetlaw into a world leading clean energy and innovation supercluster are set for a boost, with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) set to approve and allocate up to £3 million in funding at its December Board meeting.
Located alongside the River Trent, the power stations at West Burton, Cottam, and High Marnham once formed part of Megawatt Valley. This critical piece of UK energy infrastructure was created in the 1960s, and at its peak, was responsible for generating 25% of the electricity needed by England and Wales.
The EMCCA funding will support these three huge sites’ transition towards producing clean energy, help drive economic growth across the region and develop innovation, skills and opportunities that will benefit communities in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, and the wider East Midlands.
Councillor Julie Leigh, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council, said: “I am delighted that the Combined Authority is looking to support the transition of the three former coal fired power station sites in Bassetlaw into a clean energy supercluster.
“With West Burton already chosen as the home for the STEP prototype fusion energy plant, it is vital that we seize this opportunity to unlock the massive potential of the power station sites.
“This aligns with our ambitious Vision2040 which sets out our aim for Bassetlaw to become the greenest, most sustainable district in which to live and work, building on its legacy of energy production, manufacturing and logistics to power the net zero economy.”
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “At EMCCA, we have made a commitment to address the global climate crisis and tackle climate change.
“Our journey to Net Zero will see us become carbon neutral by 2050, aligning with national ambitions and taking the region on a journey to become cleaner and more sustainable.
“We want to promote the use green and renewable energy and exploring the potential to increase the region’s electricity network capacity. So, I am pleased we can provide this funding to the three sites in Bassetlaw for the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster.
“North Nottinghamshire will be home to the ground-breaking STEP prototype fusion energy plant. Fusion promises to be a safe, low carbon and sustainable part of the world’s energy supply with potential to help sustain net zero in the future. So this is an exciting project for us to support.”
