Inflation holds steady at 4%
Annualised inflation remained at 4% in January, unchanged from December despite a forecasted rise.
Measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted this was influenced by higher gas and electricity charges, while inflation kept at 4% due to a downward contribution from furniture and household goods, and food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Meanwhile, core inflation, which takes out volatile factors like energy, food, alcohol and tobacco to give a clear picture of underlying trends, came in at 5.1% in the 12 months to January 2024, also the same as December.
Alpesh Paleja, CBI lead economist, said: “No movement in inflation over January is not entirely a surprise, due to base effects and a small rise in Ofgem’s energy price cap coming into effect.
“We may see a few more bumps in the road over the coming months, but the broad direction of travel with inflation is encouraging, having fallen considerably from its double-digit highs 15 months ago.
“The Bank of England seems to share this view, though will want to see more definitive signs that domestic price pressures are continuing to soften. But with monetary policy now believed to be doing the trick, it’s increasingly a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ interest rates will be cut.”
Flexible packaging manufacturer seeks buyer after administrators appointed
Flexible packaging manufacturer Surepak Limited is seeking a buyer after filing for administration. Dean Nelson and Nick Lee, Business Recovery and Restructuring Partners at PKF Smith Cooper, were appointed on 12 February 2024.
Sole director Stuart Yorston made the decision to file for administration to protect the company’s business, assets, goodwill and employees from a winding-up petition recently served by a creditor, which was due to be heard on 14 February.
Surepak Limited will continue to trade in the short term whilst in administration, as an accelerated merger and acquisition process begins with the aim of finding a purchaser in whole or part for the company.
Nottinghamshire-based Surepak Limited manufactures flexible packaging for businesses across a wide range of sectors in the UK. Incorporated in 1991, the company has been trading for over 32 years, starting out as a distributor before moving into manufacturing in 1995.
In 2007, the company relocated its base to a 45,000 sq ft, BRC ‘AA’ accredited facility in Nottingham to facilitate printing.
The company’s financial issues began during the global energy crisis when its electricity costs increased by more than 425%. This cost hike was followed by the loss of two major contracts, which reduced the company’s turnover by £1m due to customers’ packaging requirements and a relocation abroad.
Dean Nelson, Head of Business Recovery and Restructuring at PKF Smith Cooper, said: “Our aim is to preserve the business and protect employees’ jobs, in addition to maximising returns for creditors.
“We will keep stakeholders and the press informed of any developments as matters progress. If you are interested in purchasing the company, please contact me as a matter of urgency.”
Council wins long-running battle to prevent construction of almost 200 homes on greenfield site
Erewash Borough Council has won a long-running battle to prevent almost 200 homes being built on a greenfield haven opposite a historic row of cottages.
The plan would have seen an entire new estate in countryside near Ilkeston – and sparked an appeal by the would-be developer after the authority rejected it.
The Worcester firm argued that the scheme would help the borough meet housing targets. The fight went all the way to the government’s Planning Inspectorate – and threatened the council with a massive legal bill.
But a judgment handed down by the inspector has now backed the authority.
The 196 homes had been proposed off Sowbrook Lane on land facing the historic Twelve Houses – a terrace of isolated Grade II-listed cottages built in 1848.
Locals were enraged by the planning application, which was rejected in October 2022 and led to a public inquiry being hosted at Long Eaton Town Hall.
The government’s Planning Inspectorate said Erewash was right to scotch the plans, which had been slammed by campaign group Kirk Hallam Green Squeeze.
The protesters branded the appeal by Wulff Asset Management Ltd as “just a money-making attempt from the developers who want to challenge the local authority.”
Andrew McCormack, the government-appointed planning inspector, visited the proposed site and agreed with the council that issues included access and transport.
He said of the development: “It would be perceived negatively as a housing scheme that would appear as an isolated development in a countryside setting and unsustainable location.”
Erewash Council leader James Dawson said: “This is a victory for common sense. Despite the need for new homes in the borough this site was never a sensible location for such housing.
“The council is pleased that an independent Planning Inspector has endorsed the authority’s decision to refuse the original planning application.”
Derby Book Festival appoints new chair
Professor Keith McLay, Provost – Learning & Teaching at the University of Derby, has been appointed as the new Chair of Derby Book Festival. He takes over from Liz Fothergill CBE, the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, who has held the position since the Festival’s inception in February 2015.
Professor McLay has been a Derby Book Festival Trustee since October 2019 and has provided an important link between the Festival and the University, one of its key funders. He has also taken an active role at the Festivals by interviewing several high-profile authors on both fiction and non-fiction.
He said: “It is a privilege to be taking on the role of Chair of Trustees which builds on the strong partnership that the University already has with Derby Book Festival.
“Events such as the Book Festival are of vital importance in promoting culture within our city, and it is encouraging to witness its growth and continuing success. As a Civic University we champion the arts as a driver for positive change within our communities and the Book Festival plays a pivotal role in this. I am excited to see what this next chapter in our partnership will bring.”
Flex office operator raises funds for national literacy charity
A fundraising campaign organised by flex office operator, Cubo, has raised £750 for national literacy charity, Bookmark.
The campaign was launched in late November in a bid to encourage members and businesses to ‘Gift a Child a Book at Christmas.’
By the end of the year £750 had been raised, which will enable the charity to buy 150 new books for children.
Cubo has now adopted Bookmark Reading Charity as its annual charity for 2024. The company is set to organise a series of fundraising events throughout the year to buy more books and help transform children’s lives through the joy of reading.
SATs results from July 2023 revealed that one in four children leave primary school without the ability to read proficiently. In addition, the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers has now reached its widest point in a decade (FEA, 2022).
Bookmark was founded by Sharon Pindar in 2018 and aims to change children’s life stories through the joy of reading.
Bookmark works with children who face barriers to becoming readers by providing one-to-one reading programmes, both online and in person.
The charity also equips schools with dedicated resources to offer wraparound support, providing diverse, high-quality books, materials for extracurricular reading, and on-going support for teacher training and development.
As part of its mission, Bookmark aims to deliver 50,741 one-to-one reading sessions to children during 2024. This time, when scheduled back-to-back equates to three years of non-stop reading.
The charity also aims to send out thousands of books and reading resources to children across the country, putting them directly into the hands of children who need them most.
Commenting on the money raised for Bookmark, Rebecca Brough, CMO at Cubo, said: “The response from our members and local businesses in the run up to Christmas was fantastic, and we’re thrilled to have raised so much money in such a short space of time.
“Bookmark is an incredible charity, which is working to brighten the lives of children and empower them through the gift of literature. This aligns perfectly with Cubo’s vision of making a tangible difference in communities where we have a presence.”
To donate to Cubo’s fundraising appeal, visit bit.ly/Donate-cubo.
Go-ahead given for 392,000 sq ft M1 industrial scheme
Developers HBD, part of Henry Boot, and CEG have secured a resolution to grant planning permission for APEX; a new 392,000 sq ft logistics and manufacturing hub in Mansfield that could create up to 500 new jobs. The partnership will deliver five high-spec buildings at the site, formerly known as Penniment Farm, ranging from 30,000 to 150,000 sq ft and ready to occupy from Autumn 2025. APEX is located on one of the Midlands’ key industrial corridors, with motorway access from J28 and J29 of the M1, and each of the buildings is designed with sustainability in mind.Vivienne Clements, head of industrial and logistics at HBD, said: “We’re pleased to be working with CEG to deliver this latest logistics scheme – it benefits from an excellent position on the M1 and, given its sustainability credentials and the local skills base in Mansfield, we expect to see strong interest from potential occupiers.“Supply of high-spec industrial stock coming forward remains low across key industrial corridors in the Midlands – we’ll be looking to bring space forward quickly to meet established demand, with the first buildings ready to occupy from Autumn 2025.” Matthew Rhodes, planning manager at CEG, said: “We have worked on the Penniment Farm development for many years and new homes are already being delivered at the site.
“This significant proposal represents one of the largest job creation projects in Mansfield in recent years and will assist the Council in delivering its economic strategy of attracting inwards investment and creating more job opportunities for local people.
“The development will provide flexibility, both in terms of uses and unit sizes, and is located in a strong commercial location with good transport links and access to a large, growing workforce. The site will appeal to a wide range of occupiers, from inward investing companies, trade and industrial occupiers to local businesses seeking higher quality space.
“Having delivered a number of Midlands employment sites, including Vesuvius at Worksop and Vaughan Trading Estate in Tipton, we are confident that APEX will also be a huge success, creating hundreds of jobs and economic benefits for the local area.”
The property agents for APEX are FHP, CPP and M1 Agency.
Have we become too obsessed about the use of technology in our businesses? By James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants
James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, reflects on the “frenzy of activity” in businesses adopting new tech.
The last 12 months seem to have been unprecedented in terms of the use and introduction of technology and digital innovation. Who would have thought that OpenAI and ChatGPT only really came to market and wider use in November 2022? With the launch of Google’s AI and other platforms there does seem to be a frenzy of activity as organisations seek to understand what artificial intelligence can do for them or how it might impact their businesses.
This follows several years, which included the pandemic and lockdowns, when we looked at the use of technology and digitisation to manage our organisations. Following Brexit increased focus was also placed on the use of technology to address issues around supply chain management and labour shortages.
On a personal basis, all of us no doubt are having to master and get to grips with a growing number of software programmes and platforms aimed at making our lives, or at least the day job, easier. How often though do we find things take longer, don’t work as promised and in fact are more of a hinderance than a benefit?
From a consumer perspective, it seems we are increasingly required to use automated communications, customer portals and management systems, apps, digital receptionists and chat functions. How often though do these leave us with a sense of frustration, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction?
Perhaps the ultimate is when the technology does not work and whilst the problem could be a ‘picnic’ (problem in chair not in computer) there does seem to be an increasing level of system failures. The cost of which can be significant in more ways than just financially, with demoralised workers, dissatisfied customers, and even corporate reputational damage.
Has the time then come for business leaders and organisations to take a fresh look at their strategy and approach to the role and use of technology? At the same time there is a need to consider the balance and our focus around being driven or controlled by technology versus the needs of our customers and work colleagues.
For some there is probably a need to realign our thinking in terms of being focused on the problems technology can solve or the benefits it brings as opposed perhaps to being taken in by the latest ‘exciting’ innovation or trend or the salesperson’s pitch!
A starting point could be considering what problems we look to solve in terms of the use of technology. These include:
- Increasing productivity
- Improving working practices for employees
- Increasing operational capacity
- Reducing costs
- Improving profitability
- Addressing labour and skills shortages
- Improving and enhancing customer experience
- Offering customers something new
- Gaining a competitive advantage
- Improving internal reporting and management
Charity’s office refurbishments reach completion after receiving grant
Living Without Abuse, a charity supporting anyone affected by Domestic Abuse and/or Sexual Violence across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, are finally enjoying their new working spaces after a much-needed refurbishment at their Loughborough and Leicester offices.
Severn Trent Community Fund awarded the charity £14,840 to complete the project, which saw the offices that staff and clients use at LWA receive a much-needed makeover, to provide a warm, welcoming, and safe space for employees and victims escaping trauma.
With almost sixty colleagues using the offices daily to advise, help and support those fleeing or enduring unthinkable situations, it was important that this was done efficiently and quickly, without disrupting them and their workload.
After receiving the funds back in April 2023, LWA wasted no time in planning and ensuring funds were well spent, providing new office furniture, network improvements, furnishings and decorating rooms to allow staff and clients to feel happier in their working environment.
Work began on LWA’s Loughborough office in August, turning their dated meeting room and offices into a relaxed, inviting environment for all.
As well as comfortable furniture and artwork, sound proofing was implemented into the wellbeing/lounge areas to ensure clients and victims of domestic abuse could come and talk to members of LWA’s professional teams in confidence.
The Leicester office located on London Road needed a little more than furniture. Long-serving colleagues were consulted on their opinions and palettes, and after a hiring a decorator to begin the makeover, the client meeting rooms and wellbeing areas were transformed from grey and cold, to warm and inviting in under a week.
Emma Bliss, fundraiser, says: “Thanks to the funding and support from the Severn Trent Community Fund, we have been able to refurbish both our Leicester and Loughborough offices. Our staff deal with a multitude of clients daily, often experiencing stressful and sometimes, very dangerous situations.
“With support needs and demand for LWA’s services increasing every week, it was so important that we could use the funding to provide comfortable and inviting office spaces where colleagues looked forward to coming to work in, and clients could feel safe and relaxed when visiting to discuss sensitive topics.”
Green light for Edwalton convenience store and retirement apartments
Planning permission has been granted for a new convenience store and 77 retirement apartments at Edwalton, near Nottingham.
Developer Charterpoint and not-for-profit housing provider Anchor have received reserved matters planning permission from Rushcliffe Borough Council for the scheme on the corner of Rose Way and Melton Road.
The 2.2 acre site will feature a single-storey convenience store, plus a three-storey retirement apartment scheme providing a range of one and two-bedroom apartments.
Charterpoint has now completed on the deal to sell part of the site to Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life.
Anchor will carry forward and operate the retirement development, which will include a range of residents’ amenities and a courtyard garden, as well as 77 apartments.
Charterpoint will develop the remainder of the site for the convenience store and will announce further details in due course.
Charterpoint CEO Adrian Goose said: “We are very pleased to have received reserved matters planning consent for this key plot in Edwalton and to have subsequently sold part of the site to Anchor.
“The area around the site has grown considerably in recent years, with new housing, retail and commercial developments. Our plan for the site on the corner of Rose Way and Melton Road will bring a new convenience store to the neighbourhood.
“It will also provide much needed affordable retirement apartments for the community, operated by Anchor, which will help to free up larger family homes in Edwalton, West Bridgford and the wider area.”
Patrick Duffy, Anchor’s director of new business, said: “We are delighted to have acquired this site from Charterpoint. This is a key new development for us to work in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council to provide affordable homes for older people locally. We look forward to working with Charterpoint to deliver the wider scheme for the local community.”
The plans for the Edwalton site were designed by Brewster Bye Architects.
Nottingham-based Retail Assist joins Derby tech firm Barron McCann group of companies
Nottingham-based Retail Assist – a provider of managed services and IT solutions that works with the likes of Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Vue International – has been acquired by local businessman Alan Watson, executive chairman and owner of independent technology service provider Barron McCann.
Established in 1977, Barron McCann provide IT installation and maintenance services, solution design and hardware procurement within the retail, hospitality, leisure, and retail banking sectors. Headquartered in Derby with over 300 employees, Barron McCann serves many leading brands throughout the UK and Europe, supporting over 21,000 sites.
This acquisition is the next step in a successful and collaborative partnership between Retail Assist and Barron McCann, spanning over 15 years.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Barron McCann and embark on this exciting new chapter,” said Kevin Greathead, Managing Director of Retail Assist. “Through our strategic partnership, we will deliver increased value and enhanced capabilities for our customers. Our shared vision for growth and customer-centric focus sets the stage for continued success.”
Scott Watson, Managing Director of Barron McCann, said: “We are excited for Retail Assist to join the Barron McCann family. We have spent the past 15 years collaborating on numerous projects and we have built a strong partnership through our shared commitment to providing the very best service to our customers.
“This acquisition formalises our partnership, bringing award-winning managed services and leading ERP software solutions to our group’s ever-growing service portfolio.”
Alan Watson, executive chairman and owner, said: “I am delighted to welcome Retail Assist to the Barron McCann group of companies. This is the latest step in our group expansion strategy, ensuring we provide a wider and more diverse portfolio of leading services.
“Our combined offering will present a new value proposition to our existing customers whilst spearheading our expansion into new sectors.”
