The wonders of the universe are to be brought to life as a new £6.8 million Planetarium prepares for liftoff.
Sherwood Observatory Science Discovery Centre and Planetarium is a joint project between Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society and Ashfield District Council. The project is one of 16 being funded by the Council’s £62.6million Towns Deal.
It has now welcomed its first visitors to the state-of-art facility as they were transported out of this world.
The world class centre has seen a disused underground Victorian reservoir transformed into 59-seater Planetarium showing a journey through space with immersive shows. The original features of the reservoir, such as the intricate brick arches, have been kept, preserving the history of the building.
It also features an exhibition hall, classrooms, meeting rooms and café. It will open to the public on Monday 25 November.
Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said: “It really is spectacular and it is something that will transform the lives of not just the people of Ashfield but also further afield.
“It has been incredible to see the building through the various stages of construction and to see the vision really come to life. I am proud to have been some small part of the process.
“The immersive shows really are incredible and I would encourage everyone to make sure they experience the Planetarium and all that it has to offer. This is something so unique and will see more visitors coming to Ashfield as they are transported through space.
“It truly is an educational experience like no other and hopefully will see more young people develop an interest in learning more about space.”
Steve Wallace, Planetarium Project Manager, said: “This project has been a great example of how collaborative effort can produce amazing things.
“Our fantastic new Planetarium and Science Centre, sitting alongside our original observatory will be a huge draw to bring people to the area and to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. We cannot wait to welcome our first visitors when we open our doors on the 25 November.”
Adrian Grocock, Group Managing Director of G F Tomlinson which delivered the project, said: “We are delighted to have completed works to this unique and significant Nottinghamshire landmark scheme – providing a world-class immersive facility for all ages in the heart of the Midlands.
“The Sherwood Observatory will inspire and entertain visitors, and for many years to come they will enjoy the learnings that come with understanding the wonder and science of space.
“We’ve wholeheartedly enjoyed working alongside the Sherwood Observatory team, Ashfield District Council and other stakeholders who helped in bringing this incredible project to life.”
Company fined after an explosion injures employees
A company which produces electricity from food waste by anaerobic digestion has been fined more than £300,000 after an explosion caused two employees to suffer life changing injuries.
The metal tank the two men were working on was projected high into the air before crashing to the ground nine seconds later.
On 20 September 2017, two employees of Bio Dynamic (UK) Limited were using a grinder to cut and replace pipework at the top of an 11-metre high metal tank containing waste slurry. They were not using harnesses. Sparks from the grinder ignited flammable gasses causing the tank to explode.
Footage of the explosion captured by CCTV has now been released.
Tomasz Patek was flung out of the mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) into the air and landed on the ground in the slurry around the tank. He suffered serious injuries to his back, head and torso and was in hospital for two months. His injuries were so severe that he was not able to work for more than two years.
Tomasz suffers from pre and post-traumatic amnesia and has no specific recollection of the events. In a statement, he said: “After the accident, I was unable to recover emotionally.
“I did not realise what had happened and was in deep shock. I could not cope with the pain. I could not accept an accident had happened to me.”
Robert Tyrko was thrown into the air and landed back in the basket of the MEWP. Following the incident, Robert’s leg was amputated and he remains wheelchair bound as treatment is still ongoing to receive a prosthesis. Also, he sustained a fractured skull and a piece of metal in his elbow that continues to affect his daily life.
In his statement, Robert explains how the explosion has affected his day-to-day life: “This whole situation is having a huge impact on my relationship. I can’t help my wife in anything like I used to be able to. Magda is both wife and husband because all my responsibilities fell on her; along with the kids.
“Also my personality is explosive. I lose my patience very quickly. I attended appointments with a psychologist because I had nightmares that I was still having this accident.”
A joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency found that the company had failed to ensure the health and safety of its employees and others nearby.
The company had kept and treated waste in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment. The explosion was caused by multiple failures in the company’s management system and exacerbated by multiple breaches of the company’s environmental permit.
At a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on 22 November 2024, Bio Dynamic (UK) Limited, of Colwick Industrial Estate, Nottingham:
- pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
- pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 38(2) of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR), and s.33(1)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA).
Plans submitted for new mixed-use development in Boston
Boston Borough Council has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the Crown House site on the Rosegarth Square regeneration scheme.
The Crown House proposal, subject to planning consent, would see a new mixed-use building featuring retail units on the ground floor and apartments on the remaining two storeys above. The scheme will also be enhanced with landscaping, parking and cycle storage to complement the overall Rosegarth Square masterplan. The scheme aims to transform Rosegarth Square as a thriving community space. It will provide the opportunity for the retail units to offer outside dining as well as the wider area being used by family and friends to meet up and enjoy this part of the town.
Within these proposals the Council has also taken the opportunity to provide new public toilet facilities and to relocate the existing Changing Places facility. In addition, the council has also submitted demolition notices for both Crown House and the former B&M buildings, marking an important milestone in transforming this area of the town centre.
These plans follow in the footsteps of the recently approved planning consent for the proposed public realm works, which features new artwork, external social spaces, and a new entrance/drop-off area for the Len Medlock Centre. It will also include a sensory garden designed for quiet contemplation and reflection, as well as an amphitheatre-style seating area.
Councillor Anne Dorrian, Leader of Boston Borough Council, said: “The submission of the planning application is another major milestone in transforming this run-down part of town into an exciting new space for everyone.
“By integrating with the wider Rosegarth Square redevelopment, the proposal is expected to bring lasting benefits to Boston, improving the area’s visual appearance, accessibility, and community potential.
“It’s been a long-held aim of mine to be able to respond to resident’s concerns regarding the provision of public toilets so I am delighted that we are able to offer these improved facilities much nearer to the town centre.
“The plans reflect our commitment to bring a brighter future for our town and a place where Boston people, businesses and visitors can all be proud of.”
Derbyshire charity secures Big Lottery funding to expand work
The pioneering work by Derbyshire’s specialist child exploitation charity, Safe and Sound, has been further recognised with Big Lottery funding – enabling the charity to provide specialist support to more young people and families across the city and county.
The three-year funding will enable the charity to expand its ‘Transforming Young Lives’ programme – helping children and young people who are at risk or are victims of child exploitation and their families move forward with their lives.
This is in response to the increasing demand for its services and support which has grown from 100 cases in 2019 to supporting 385 children and young people in 2023/4.
Thanks to the funding, Safe and Sound will provide:
- Specialist one to one and group support for young people affected by child exploitation including online grooming, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation (including County Lines), trafficking, modern slavery and radicalisation
- Specialist support for families where a child has been affected by exploitation
- Specialist support for young people and families through work in those communities that need a bespoke approach such as new arrivals
- Engagement with schools and community groups to raise awareness of the dangers facing young people online and in person
- Coordination and training for a growing volunteer base who support in a wide range of youth and outreach provision, fundraising and administrative work
Leicester event agency makes acquisition
Premier Events, a full-service event agency, has acquired PYTCH, an event production and technology company. This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone for both Premier Events and PYTCH, as they join forces to create an “industry-leading, fully integrated, full-service event agency.”
Based in Leicester, Premier Events’ headquarters are equipped with over 30,000 pieces of AV equipment, multiple studios, a specialist woodshop and the firm employs a team of 40 professionals across seven key event service departments.
Ben McCarthy, Managing Director of Premier Events, said: “This acquisition is a major milestone for both Premier and PYTCH and a step forward in our mission to become an industry-leading, fully integrated, full-service event agency.
“Building on our strong organic growth in recent years, this partnership will help power our growth plans for 2025 and beyond.”
Johnny Palmer, founder of PYTCH, said: “After 25 years of being in the live events industry, I am delighted to announce that Premier Events have acquired PYTCH. They are a great fit, and Premier will manage the PYTCH brand, clients, and key staff moving forward.
“I am super excited to see how Ben and the team grow their larger operation, and I will remain available to support them in any areas required in the foreseeable future.”
The integration of PYTCH brings expanded benefits for clients of both companies. By combining Premier’s established strengths in AV production, event and delegate management, and creative services, with PYTCH’s cutting-edge technology, clients can expect a streamlined experience with access to a wider range of innovative solutions.
“We are excited to welcome PYTCH into the Premier Events family,” added McCarthy. “Their talent and technology perfectly complement our services and will enable us to deliver even more value to clients. This acquisition strengthens our roots as a premier AV provider and positions us to drive that area of our business forward.”
Trading beats expectations at Games Workshop
Trading is ahead of expectations at Games Workshop, the Nottingham-based manufacturer of miniature wargames, with results outperforming last year.
In a new update the firm revealed that, for the six months to 1 December 2024, core revenue is expected to be no less than £260 million, rising from £235.6 million last year, and licensing revenue is expected to be no less than £30 million, up from £13 million.
The Group’s profit before tax, meanwhile, is estimated to be not less than £120 million, ticking up from £96.1 million.
The business’s half yearly report will be released on 14 January 2025.
University offers free digital support for East Midlands businesses
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in partnership with East Midlands Chamber is offering up to 12 hours of free digital support for businesses in areas across the East Midlands.
The support will be provided by a student Digital Skills Coach from NTU; businesses are invited to apply, highlighting the support they are looking for, and will be matched with the Coach with the most relevant skills.
The skills on offer from the NTU Digital Skills Coaches include:
- DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS using Excel
- EMAIL SKILLS – email distribution and maximising email impact
- SOCIAL MEDIA tuition – platforms, set-up, posts, etc
- PAID MEDIA – explore paid socials, paid media and automated advertising
- SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO) – improving website content to increase online ranking
- DIGITAL MARKETING support – creating content for websites, newsletters and social media
- Discover MARKETING TOOLS for your business
- Using tools such as GRAMMARLY to check written content
- Utilise MICROSOFT TEAMS to improve communications, information sharing across your team and hold virtual meetings
- How AI TOOLS can support your business with research, data analysis or content writing
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS to support your business
- Produce ENGAGING PRESENTATIONS – make the most of presentation platforms such as Prezi, Canva and MS PowerPoint.
Manufacturing output volumes fall, but near-term outlook improves
Manufacturing output volumes fell in the quarter to November, and at a faster pace than in the three months to October, according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS). But the near-term picture is more positive, with manufacturers expecting output volumes to rise modestly in the quarter to February.
Total order books improved relative to last month, while volumes of export order books were unchanged. Both total and export order books were reported as below their long-run averages. Expectations for selling price inflation picked up in November, with prices expected to rise at a rate that is broadly in line with the long-run average. Stock adequacy (for finished goods) was the highest since August 2020.
The survey, based on the responses of 317 manufacturers, found:
- Output volumes fell in the three months to November, at a faster pace than in the quarter to October (weighted balance of -12%, from -6% in the three months to October). Output is expected to rise in the three months to February (+9%).
- Output decreased in 14 out of 17 sub-sectors in the three months to November, with the fall driven by the chemicals, mechanical engineering and metal products sub-sectors.
- Total order books were reported as below “normal” but improved relative to last month (-19% from -27%). The level of order books remained below the long run average (-13%).
- Export order books were also seen as below “normal” in November to the same extent as last month (-27%). This was also below the long-run average (-18%).
- Expectations for average selling price inflation rose in November (+11% from 0% in October) with the balance standing broadly in line with the long-run average (+7%).
- Stocks of finished goods were seen as more than “adequate” in November (+21% from +17% in October), with the balance the highest since August 2020.
Nottingham company’s Tourette’s wristband wins backing from NHS spending watchdog
A device developed by a Nottingham company to ease the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome has been recommended for use in the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the NHS spending watchdog.
Neupulse’s digital wristband stimulates the median nerve in the wrist to help control the tics or involuntary movements caused by Tourette’s. The company raised £500,000 earlier this year from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, through fund manager Mercia Ventures, to help it gain regulatory approvals. It expects the device will be approved for use in the UK before the end of 2026 and plans to make it available to patients directly.
The NICE recommendation is currently in draft format and will need to be agreed by a committee following public consultation, but if the current guidelines are passed, it could mean the wristband is made available on the NHS free of charge and prescribed by doctors once the device has been approved for use by regulators.
It is the first time that NICE has recommended digital therapies for Tourette’s and chronic tic syndrome. Tourette’s affects around one in 100 children, and more than 300,000 children and adults in the UK in total. However treatment options are limited. Experts estimate less than 20% of children and young people with tic disorders have access to behavioural therapies which are often recommended.
Neupulse was founded in 2021 as a spin-out from the University of Nottingham. Clinical trials have shown its device can reduce tic frequency on average by 25% on initial use, with a further reduction in frequency after four weeks of use. The company has raised almost £4.5m in funding to date to help bring it to market.
Paul Cable, CEO, Neupulse, said: “The announcement from NICE is a vindication of our product and clearly highlights the need for more treatment options. While we are planning to make our device available directly to people with Tourette’s, having it prescribed by doctors would bring the benefits to a wider audience.
“NICE has launched a public consultation and we urge those affected by Tourette’s to register with NICE and make their views known. Overall the draft guidance is a big step forward for Neupulse and for the wider Tourette’s community.”
Sandy Reid of Mercia Ventures added: “Winning backing from NICE is a major achievement for any healthtech company, but particularly for one at such an early stage. We believe that Neupulse’s device could transform lives and this recommendation further justifies our faith in the company.”
Neupulse is one of two digital therapies recommended by NICE, the other being an online guided self-help intervention, ORBIT (Online Remote Behavioural Intervention for Tics).
Value of tourism in Nottingham & Nottinghamshire grows to £2.36bn
Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, its visitor economy team – Visit Nottinghamshire and partners, have revealed impressive growth in the city and county’s tourism sector.
Based on the latest 2023 STEAM tourism data measuring trends and impact of visitor economy in the region, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have witnessed a significant increase, underlining the importance of tourism in driving local economic growth and job creation.
The total value of tourism in Nottingham city and county in 2023 reached an economic impact of £2.36 billion, marking a 15.40% increase from the previous period. This reflects the rising appeal of the region as a destination for both day and overnight visitors.
In 2023, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire welcomed 34.33 million visitors, an increase of 4.12%. The average spend per visitor continues to climb as well, with an overall rise of 10.81% to £68.94 economic impact per trip.
Tourism in Nottinghamshire continues to play a crucial role in supporting local employment. The sector currently sustains 22,437 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, reflecting a 9.33% growth. This positive trend highlights the vital importance of tourism to Nottinghamshire’s economy, creating jobs and opportunities for local people across the city and county.
The sustained growth across multiple indicators, from visitor volume to spend and the number of jobs, highlights Nottinghamshire’s growing reputation as a visitor destination. Recent increased investment into the visitor offer and product – such as Sherwood Observatory, St Mary Magdalene Church in Hucknall, and the new play area at Sherwood Pines – alongside strategic marketing initiatives from Visit Nottinghamshire like the visitor guide, a B2C website attracting over 4 million visitors annually, and PR reach exceeding 251 million, places the region on a strong trajectory to attract even more visitors in the future.
This growth will further boost the local economy, support businesses, and enhance the quality of life for residents.
Megan Powell Vreeswijk, CEO of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire including Visit Nottinghamshire, said: “This significant growth in Nottinghamshire’s visitor economy is a testament to the hard work of local tourism sector, our team and partners.
“With a remarkable £2.36 billion generated in 2023 and increased visitor numbers, it’s clear that Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are becoming recognised as standout destinations for both day and overnight visitors.
“This success not only fuels economic growth but also creates valuable jobs and strengthens opportunities for our local people, making it a very attractive place to live, work, invest and visit. Through strategic investments and dedicated promotion, we look forward to continuing to enhance Nottinghamshire’s appeal and impact as a top tourism destination.”
Councillor Keith Girling, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are proud to be the home of globally-recognised legends, from Robin Hood to our local sporting stars. With a rich history and heritage, world-class country parks and green spaces, and a strong contemporary culture, it’s no wonder that people travel from near and far to explore Nottinghamshire.
“Our partnership with Visit Nottinghamshire has boosted promotion of the county at local, regional, and international levels, this alongside working collaboratively with businesses and stakeholders has resulted in fantastic growth.”
He added: “It is extremely encouraging to see growth in employment within the sector as we strive to return to pre-pandemic levels. We are committed to building on this momentum and fostering a vibrant and sustainable visitor economy that benefits both residents and visitors alike.”
Councillor Ethan Radford, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Skills, Growth and Economic Development, said: “I’m pleased to see an increase in tourism numbers for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, our city is a top destination in the East Midlands with amazing retail, entertainment, cultural and heritage attractions.
“Hosting fantastic yearly events like our world-famous Goose Fair, our spectacular Winter Wonderland that kicks off Christmas in Nottingham every year and boasting unique destinations across the city like Wollaton Hall, Nottingham Castle, Newstead Abbey and the newly opened Green Heart.
“More tourists visiting Nottingham is great news for local businesses who work hard to give visitors a unique experience, growing the city and regional economy and providing jobs for local people.
“We will continue to work with our partners and stakeholders to provide the best conditions to build on this success to give visitors the best experience and make sure Nottingham remains the must-visit destination in the East Midlands.”
