Football fundraiser creates business partnership

Tess Egginton
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Football fundraiser creates business partnership
A partnership between two Northamptonshire businesses was created through their involvement in a popular local football fundraiser. Silverstone Soccer, hosted by Silverstone Leasing, has raised thousands of pounds over the past five years for Cynthia Spencer Hospice, bringing together local businesses in a pitch battle for glory. The charity event also provides a fun networking opportunity for local firms and was the kick start for a collaboration between Silverstone Leasing and asbestos management company, Acorn Analytical Services. Both companies have supported the hospice, which provides invaluable palliative care for patients in North Northamptonshire, separately for a number of years so entering a team to Silverstone Soccer was an easy choice for Acorn Analytical Services. Since their debut match, Acorn Analytical Services has also sponsored the popular event, signing up as a sponsor again for this year’s contest in June. They have also leased almost 20 vans and cars from Silverstone Leasing to transport their growing team. Acorn Analytical Services has been working hard to reduce their carbon footprint and as part of their sustainability efforts, have switched their company vehicles to hybrid or fully electric where possible. Silverstone Leasing has been able to offer solutions to help support them with these ambitions. All Acorn Analytical office staff now have electric vehicles, and most site staff have hybrid vehicles, with the team also installing electric charging stations at their Moulton Park base. Acorn Analytical Services head of operations Daniel Crask said: “We first met the Silverstone Leasing team at Silverstone Soccer, which is what kicked it all off! We try to support local businesses as much as we can, and Silverstone Leasing are a fantastic example of a hardworking, trustworthy and efficient Northamptonshire business. “We’ve got a great relationship with the managing director, Scott Norville and with team leader Ryan Bishop. They are friendly, approachable and easy to get on with, and they get the job done. They really get to know their customers, understanding exactly what we need, and they get it sorted in a timely manner.” Ryan Bishop added: “It is a pleasure to work with Acorn Analytical Services. We have built a great relationship with Daniel and the rest of the team. For us its not just about providing our customers with the right vehicle, it’s about helping them to achieve wider business goals. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration and seeing Acorn hit the pitch again for Silverstone Soccer in June.”

Unilode Aviation Solutions take 27,000 sq ft facility at Castle Donington business park

Tess Egginton
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Unilode Aviation Solutions take 27,000 sq ft facility at Castle Donington business park
A 27,000 sq ft facility at Clowes Developments’ Stud Brook Business Park, Unit 5b, has been let to ULD management solutions provider Unilode Aviation Solutions. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, Unilode oversees the largest digitised fleet of nearly 200,000 Unit Load Devices (ULDs) in the aviation sector. The company also operates the most extensive global network for maintaining, repairing ULDs, ULD rentals, inflight galley cart equipment and digitalisation solutions to over 90 airlines, utilising a network that spans more than 550 airports, 18 regional offices, and 50 certified repair stations, all supported by their dedicated global team of over 800 employees. Unilode will be relocating to Unit 5b at Stud Brook Business Park in Castle Donington which will see the company invest and grow their services to fulfil their customers’ needs at East Midlands Airport, just a stone’s throw away from Stud Brook Business Park. Janis Balkens, chief operating officer at Unilode Aviation Solutions, said: “At Unilode, thanks to our dedicated team and valued customers, we take great pride in the achievements we’ve already made at our East Midlands airport location. Our focus has been on delivering exceptional service, while creating a positive working environment. “The decision to relocate our operations, that includes our 30 strong workforce, to Studbrook Business Park, will not only enhance our service capabilities but also enable us to support a larger customer base, while aligning with our sustainability goals on a local and global scale. “Unilode also recognise the importance of a sustainable business model that benefits our employees, customers, and the planet. With this new state of the art facility, we’re committed to our sustainability initiatives, such as utilising 100% renewable energy, improving waste management practices, and aiming for BREEAM certification for our new operations at East Midlands Airport. Together with our customers, partners and suppliers we are embracing a circular economy that drives positive change. “Our East Midlands Airport operations move, as well as developments across the globe such as the moves to new Hong Kong and Singapore MROs, and refurbishments at both Newark (USA) and our London Heathrow MRO, help us to continuously invest and makes sure we remain responsive to the growing needs of our global customer base, which at our East Midland operations includes DHL, West Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, Aer Lingus, Finnair, TUI and many more.” The deal was put together by Tim Gilbertson, director of FHP Property Consultants, who added: “It’s fantastic to announce the letting of a further unit at Stud Brook and again to a globally known company. “The move will help Unilode expand and improve again their services to their clients in the region and from our perspective, it sees yet another deal done at Stud Brook with only a couple of units left available in the first phase. “The final units are due to complete and be ready for occupation at the end of May and with interest still good in the last couple of units, hopefully there will be other deals to announce shortly. “The focus then switches to smaller units which are being developed out speculatively at Stud Brook of up to 5,000ft² which will all be ready for occupation by the end of 2025. “A pleasure to work with Unilode on this deal and I wish them well for the future.”

16 East Midlands businesses receive The King’s Award for Enterprise

Tess Egginton
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16 East Midlands businesses receive The King’s Award for Enterprise
The recipients of The King’s Awards for Enterprise have been revealed today (6 May), celebrating the achievements of businesses from across the UK and Channel Islands. This year, 197 businesses representing a diverse range of sectors, have been recognised by His Majesty The King as among the best in the country, highlighting the ambition, ingenuity, and success of our diverse business community. Of these, a total of 16 awards went to businesses in the East Midlands. Seven in the International Trade category, five for Innovation, two for Sustainable Development and two for Promoting Opportunity Through Social Mobility. This year’s recipients from the East Midlands include:
  • GeoPura, a Nottinghamshire-based business, using their cutting-edge technology to deliver zero-emission power from hydrogen. By cutting air pollution at its source, their technology is helping improve public health, protect workers, and support cleaner, safer communities. They receive the award for Innovation.
  • David Nieper, which receives the award for Sustainable Development for their work designing, manufacturing, and retailing premium clothing for women. They do this while achieving zero waste to landfill, reduced carbon emissions and onshoring their fabric supply chain into Britain. They are based in Derbyshire.
Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports said: “There are some outstanding East Midlands businesses recognised in this year’s King’s Awards for Enterprise: from the pioneering technology of GeoPura to the expert and sustainably focused craftsmanship of David Nieper. “I wish the winners every success as they continue to grow, innovate and prosper, and commend the invaluable contributions they have already made to communities at home in the East Midlands and abroad, helping to boost the UK economy.” Andrew Cunningham, CEO and founder of GeoPura, said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive The King’s Award for Enterprise. It’s a powerful recognition of the hard work, innovation, and commitment of the entire GeoPura team. At a time when the need for clean, reliable energy has never been greater, this award supports the use of green hydrogen to phase out toxic and environment damaging fuels such as diesel, petrol, and HVO. “Designed in the East Midlands, our Hydrogen Power Units (HPUs) are delivering scalable, dependable, zero-emission electricity, wherever and whenever it’s needed, cutting carbon and life destroying emissions, improving local air quality, and enabling sustainable development across the UK and beyond.” Christopher Nieper OBE, managing director of David Nieper, said: “It’s a huge privilege to win a Kings award for sustainable development for the second time. And I’m grateful to The King’s award team for spurring us on to save more energy, employ more local people and build British fashion skills here in Derbyshire. Thank you.” The King’s Awards for Enterprise were previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and were renamed two years ago to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 59th year, has awarded over 8,000 companies since its inception in 1965. His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants – The King’s representatives in each county – will be presenting the Awards to businesses locally throughout the year. One representative from each winning business will also be invited to a special Royal reception event. East Midlands recipients include:
Garner Aluminium Extrusions Limited
Heraeus Electro-Nite (UK) Ltd
Abacus Flooring Solutions Limited
Structural Adhesives Ltd
GeoPura LTD
Collaborate & Innovate Ltd
CABINZERO LIMITED
Enovation Consulting Ltd
Stephensons Online LTD
Ziggurat XYZ Ltd
Abacus Lighting Limited
Midland Aerospace Ltd
Upbeat Enterprise Limited
Bridgeway Consulting Limited
David Nieper Ltd
Michael Smith Switchgear Ltd
  Pino De Rosa, founder and managing director of Bridgeway, which has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity, said: “I am proud of the culture of opportunity that we have created at Bridgeway and honoured that this hard work has been recognised by the Kings Award for Enterprise. “Since our inception 30 years ago this year, I have seen firsthand the incredible impact we can have when we invest in people and empower them to reach their full potential. We will continue to break down barriers to opportunity and provide pathways to sustainable employment.” Sean Smith, managing director of Michael Smith Switchgear, honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of the company’s work in sustainable development, said: “It’s great for our team to see their hard work recognised at the highest level. This has never been a box-ticking exercise for us, it’s an area in which we really want to lead change.” Michael Gladwell, managing director, Upbeat Clean, which secured the award for Promoting Opportunity Through Social Mobility, said: “Our team are delighted to be recognised by the King for combining excellent cleaning with life-changing employment. “We knew before we started that there was huge potential in partnering with refugee women who have fled horrific situations with their children, giving them an opportunity not only to work, but to realise their full potential and take on management and leadership roles. “They’ve done that amazingly, thanks to the incredible support from over 40 Derby companies who are using their budgets to get excellent cleaning and change lives.” Cosy Direct was recognised for its export success with an award for International Trade. Its managing director, David Hook, said: “Our whole team have worked so hard to reform Cosy’s process and quality to get us export fit. “With a brand-new team and offices and staff in the Netherlands, it’s one of our four stellar growth divisions. To be lucky enough to win two King’s Awards as we approach our 15th year is simply brilliant and we’re all over the moon.” Cosy Direct previously won the Sustainable development award – when the scheme was known as the Queen’s Awards – in 2022. Roger Hartshorn, CEO of Garnalex (Garner Aluminium Extrusions Limited), which received a King’s Award for Innovation for its Sheerline aluminium windows and door range, said: “It is a privilege and an honour to be able to share the news that Garnalex has won the prestigious King’s Award for Innovation. The fenestration industry has always been a competitive industry, where accolades such as this make a real difference. “Not only will it enable us to continue to stand out in an increasingly crowded space, but it highlights the far-reaching impact we’re having as a company. We look forward to celebrating and bringing even more industry-changing innovations to market.”

Smith Partnership expands into Stoke-on-Trent with new city centre office

April Lara
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Smith Partnership expands into Stoke-on-Trent with new city centre office

Smith Partnership, a regional law firm headquartered in the East Midlands, has expanded its footprint by opening a new office in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The move forms part of the firm’s wider growth strategy aimed at strengthening its presence across Staffordshire.

The new location occupies the former headquarters of The Sentinel newspaper in Alexander House, a site with historic significance that became vacant when the publication transitioned to remote operations in 2021.

Smith Partnership already maintains offices in Derby, Leicester, Swadlincote, and Burton upon Trent, offering a full suite of legal services. These range from family and criminal law to commercial legal support, personal injury, employment law, and conveyancing. The Hanley office will provide access to the firm’s full range of legal expertise for both private and commercial clients.

This expansion reflects the firm’s continued investment in central, high-visibility locations to enhance accessibility for businesses and individuals in key urban areas.

Bulwell town centre redevelopment aims to boost trade and connectivity

April Lara
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Bulwell town centre redevelopment aims to boost trade and connectivity

Nottingham City Council has released updated details of a £20 million regeneration project designed to revitalise Bulwell town centre, with key improvements targeted at enhancing infrastructure and supporting local commerce.

Funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up initiative, the investment will focus on upgrading public amenities, improving trader facilities, and strengthening the town’s retail environment. Among the planned works are significant updates to Bulwell Market Place, including refurbishing stalls, modernising electrical supplies for vendors, and enhancing overall public realm features such as paving, seating, and planting.

The Bulwell Bogs area, a central recreational spot, will receive an expanded water play zone, new changing facilities, and a refreshments kiosk. Additional security and lighting improvements, including upgraded CCTV, are also planned to support safety and usability.

Public toilets at the bus station are set to be rebuilt to modern standards, aligning with broader efforts to improve accessibility and comfort across the town centre.

The project also aims to create stronger links between the shopping centre and surrounding public spaces, enhancing the pedestrian experience and overall footfall to benefit local businesses.

Council-led information sessions will take place at Bulwell Market on two upcoming dates in May to gather community input. Construction is expected to begin in the autumn.

Nottinghamshire creates £140m emergency care framework for children

April Lara
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Nottinghamshire creates £140m emergency care framework for children

Nottinghamshire County Council has approved a £140 million procurement framework to manage emergency care placements and crisis support for children. The 10-year framework will pre-approve care providers capable of delivering urgent support, including last-minute foster placements and in-home interventions aimed at preventing children from entering care.

The move is intended to replace costly, inconsistent “spot contracts” with a controlled system that improves service quality and procurement efficiency. Providers will be vetted through a digital tendering platform to ensure financial and operational suitability.

The framework will be used only when existing contracts cannot meet urgent needs. It is expected to reduce budget volatility in children’s services and create a more competitive, responsive local provider market. Annual spending could reach up to £14 million, exclusive of VAT.

Patchy broadband slows tech adoption on UK farms

April Lara
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Patchy broadband slows tech adoption on UK farms

Poor internet connectivity is delaying digital transformation across UK farms, particularly in Derbyshire, where rural operations are struggling to access reliable broadband. A new nationwide survey of British farmers highlights the extent to which sluggish internet is blocking progress in adopting technologies such as artificial intelligence, real-time monitoring, and precision farming tools.

According to the Censuswide study commissioned by CityFibre, 60% of farmers see internet access as essential to daily operations, yet 8% of farms are still entirely offline. Even among those connected, nearly half say the lack of reliable broadband is a key barrier to embracing new technology—second only to cost.

The impact is not just operational. Many farmers report having to avoid internet use during peak hours, disrupting both business and family life. Inadequate connectivity also contributes to social isolation in rural areas, cutting farmers off from community resources and affecting wellbeing.

Where full fibre broadband is available, farms report notable improvements: 47% have been able to deploy precision farming systems, while others have seen boosts in administrative efficiency, land diversification, and general productivity.

The findings underline the importance of accelerating rural broadband infrastructure. CityFibre, awarded nine government contracts under the Project Gigabit initiative, is contributing to a £1.2 billion investment aimed at connecting over 500,000 hard-to-reach rural premises, including both homes and agricultural businesses.

Updated proposals shared for £20m Bulwell town centre improvements

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Updated proposals shared for £20m Bulwell town centre improvements
Updated proposals are being shared as part of £20m improvements for Bulwell town centre. Nottingham City Council successfully bid for £19.8m from the previous government’s Levelling Up Fund to revamp the area and boost economic growth. Bulwell town centre is valued in Nottingham because of its longstanding retail offer but it was felt that major infrastructure improvements would enhance this further. The planned works will complement recent transport infrastructure investment through the Transforming Cities Fund. This provided £900,000 for the redevelopment of Bulwell bus station in 2023, which included redesigning the layout – installing a new saw-tooth design – and building new passenger waiting platforms. Nottingham City Transport has also invested £1.8m of private-sector funding into a new electric bus fleet that operates from the facility. The new project will deliver a range of improvements to make the town centre more attractive, including:
  • Bulwell Bogs: The Bulwell Bogs area will be fully refreshed with a new planting and landscape design, including a high-quality play offer to cater for all ages. It will see renewal and expansion of the splash park and introduction of a refreshments kiosk with toilet and changing facilities to make the park a great place to visit – particularly in summer months. Lighting and CCTV will also be upgraded
  • Market place: Existing market equipment will be replaced with a flexible mix of stalls, along with better access to electrical power on site, allowing flexibility in attracting both new and existing vendors
  • Bus station public toilets: The existing bus station toilets will be rebuilt and modernised
  • Wider public realm refurbishment: Paving will be renewed across the pedestrianised areas of the town centre along with new seating and street trees. Connections will be improved between the Market Place and the Bogs area to bring these separate parts of the town centre together
A further aspiration, subject to available budget, is to work with owners and tenants to improve historic buildings around the Market Place, in keeping with its conservation area status and complementing the Public Realm design. The council had submitted a bid in June 2022 to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), as they were called then under the previous Government, seeking funding through the second round of the Levelling Up Fund. Officers spoke to a significant number of local stakeholders in developing the bid, but this was initially unsuccessful. However, in November 2023, DLUHC announced that the full funding (£19.867m) would be awarded in the fund’s third round of grants. Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, said: “These are further exciting plans for Nottingham and another example of the council using grant funding to support communities across our city. “We did well to secure this money amid a lot of competition from around the country and we hope that residents, families and businesses in Bulwell will be pleased at what is delivered. “The much-loved Bulwell Bogs splash park is nearing the end of its life and this is an opportunity to both build on its popularity and safeguard its future with a new and enhanced facility, as well as extend the park around it. “There will also be significant work done to the wider public areas of Bulwell, including the market square and public toilets. “We look forward to work starting in the autumn. We deliberately scheduled the works for this time of the year so that the splash park could remain open during the summer for families to enjoy. The market will also operate throughout.”

Hospitals offer resignation scheme to cut back-office workforce

April Lara
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Hospitals offer resignation scheme to cut back-office workforce

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN), which manages Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital, has launched a Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) in an effort to reduce staffing levels without resorting to compulsory redundancies.

The scheme, which opened this week, targets corporate, administrative, and support roles. Patient-facing clinical staff are not included in the offer. Under MARS, employees can apply to resign in exchange for a severance payment. Unlike standard voluntary redundancy, the process does not require formal consultation.

UHN stated the approach aims to manage staffing reductions in a structured and voluntary way. However, unions have raised concerns about the impact on workloads and patient services if significant numbers of staff leave. NHS guidelines stipulate that such schemes must be time-limited, typically no longer than three months.

While not guaranteeing avoidance of future layoffs, UHN is using MARS as a first step to restructure and streamline operations.

Solar energy project near Heckington moves to next approval stage

April Lara
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Solar energy project near Heckington moves to next approval stage

The proposed Beacon Fen Energy Park, a large-scale solar and battery storage development located 2.5 km north of Heckington, is advancing to the pre-examination phase after the UK Planning Inspectorate accepted its Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

The project, led by renewable energy firm Low Carbon, aims to deliver approximately 400 megawatts of electricity through ground-mounted solar panels, with an additional 600 megawatts of battery storage capacity. It is intended to support the UK Government’s target of reaching 70 gigawatts of solar power by 2035.

Now in the pre-examination stage, the scheme will undergo a formal six-month review in 2025, involving written submissions and public hearings. Businesses and stakeholders can register to participate in the process through the Planning Inspectorate’s platform.

If granted consent, construction could begin as early as 2027. The project is positioned to contribute to the UK’s net zero ambitions while strengthening long-term energy security through increased renewable generation and storage infrastructure.

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