Green light for Grantham social housing scheme
New and affordable housing for Grantham has moved a step closer with the granting of planning permission for 21 new homes to be built for South Kesteven District Council (SKDC).
The Larch Close project is part of SKDC’s housing strategy to build much needed homes across the district and will bring a mixture of one-bedroom flats and two to four-bedroom houses, each with their own parking and cycle storage.
The site, owned by SKDC and on the town’s Earlesfield estate, was previously a play area subject to occasional anti-social behaviour.
Replacement public open space planned for the north of the site is scheduled to be planted with wildflowers and native trees and would include a seating area with ornamental planting.
Council Leader Cllr Richard Cleaver said: “South Kesteven District Council is committed to working with our partners to provide good quality affordable new homes that people want and need.
“This development shows that we are moving forward with this in a sustainable way and it is part of series of important projects across the district which are now at various stages of delivery.”
Planning permission was granted subject to a series of conditions relating to deadlines, archaeology, drainage, ecology and landscaping, plus the completion of a Section 106 agreement.
Council appoints NTU to help local businesses better understand Net Zero
Bolsover District Council has appointed Nottingham Trent University as the contractor to deliver its Hyper-Local Net Zero Innovation Programme (NZIP) and create a programme of support for Bolsover District-based businesses.
As part of Bolsover District Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan for Bolsover District, it is committed to helping develop businesses’ skills and understanding around Net Zero.
To help deliver this commitment, the council appointed the academic partner who will provide activities such as:
- A programme of monthly networking events, Net Zero boot camps, workshops, and seminars.
- One-to-one support for businesses to develop and implement decarbonisation plans and projects.
- Knowledge exchange activities between academic institutions and businesses to improve innovation and adoption of new technology.
- Supporting engagement between businesses, industry bodies, other Net Zero initiatives and grant funding programmes to support innovation projects.
- Supporting businesses to develop green skills and talent.
- Providing access to academic research, expertise, labs, and equipment for testing new technologies, products and/or services.
Company appointed to carry out works at new Northampton cultural hub
Chartered Building Contractor Steele and Bray Ltd, based in Northampton, have been appointed by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to carry out the second phase of improvement works to 24 Guildhall Road.
NN Contemporary Art and West Northamptonshire Council are working in partnership to transform this historic building into a major new cultural centre in the heart of Northampton’s cultural quarter.
The £4.7 million project will see the five-storey heritage building transformed into a vibrant creative community, with a contemporary art gallery, affordable creative studios and public space.
Through extensive regeneration, the building is being brought to life to provide a gallery and artists spaces alongside cultural-commercial opportunities. The second phase of works started on site in October and consist of installing new heating and electrical systems, improvements to the expansive upper floors and detailed refurbishment to NNCA’s space.
Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth at WNC, said: “We are delighted to be working with local based contractors Steele and Bray to carry out the second phase of work to deliver this ambitious project. Once open, 24 Guildhall Road will offer a unique cultural hub in the heart of the Cultural Quarter in Northampton, complementing the ongoing redevelopment of this part of town.
“Working in partnership with NN Contemporary Art and SEMLEP, we are able to combine our vision to regenerate this central building and offer a space for artists and entrepreneurs across our county and beyond. We look forward to continuing to offer local jobs as we enter into the second phase of redevelopment works, supporting our local economy.”
Cooper Parry Wealth makes fresh acquisition
Following its recent swoop for Chamberlyns, Cooper Parry Wealth (CPW) has completed the acquisition of Creaseys Wealth.
The news marks CPW’s third deal of 2023 after the acquisition of Future Perfect back in April.
Previously, Creaseys Wealth was a joint venture. Set up by CPW and Creaseys back in 2015, and headed up by Ben Waite, it grew quickly to £220m AUM. Now, as CPW acquire the second half of that joint venture, Creaseys Wealth will join CPW.
Stephen Jones, Cooper Parry Wealth CEO, said: “The joint venture has been an incredible success. We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved together, but now, with the size Creaseys Wealth has reached (£220m AUM) and our future growth plans, it feels like the right time to simplify the business and take full ownership.
“For our clients, it will be very much business as usual. Since joining us in 2015 to head up Creaseys Wealth, Ben Waite and his team have been fundamental to the success we’ve had, and I’m excited to have them playing a key role in the continued growth of CPW.”
New free tool from HSE helps employers comply with mental health laws
Businesses are being encouraged to sign up to a just-launched free-to-use interactive tool, designed by the HSE’s Working Minds campaign, to understand what they need to do to comply with the law around mental health.
The tool, launched this week, provides the guidance employers need to take action to meet their legal duties and begin to understand how to include stress in their workplace risk assessments.
The new tool is made up of six short modules taking employers through relatable, everyday scenarios, such as how to recognise the signs of stress in individuals and teams like regular lateness to work, being withdrawn and higher staff turnover.
Liz Goodwill, head of work-related stress policy at HSE, said: “More than half of SMEs recently visited by HSE knew they had a legal duty to assess the risk of work-related stress, but the number who actually did this was significantly lower. This new online tool will help employers understand the steps and actions necessary to help bridge this gap. It is a much needed solution.
“Lack of time, money and know-how are common reasons why businesses can struggle to prevent and proactively tackle the issue. Now, they have a resource that provides free learning which is simple and engaging and does not take a huge amount of time to complete.
“Businesses will come away with an understanding of what the law requires of employers and what actions they need to take. It provides an opportunity for employers to refresh their existing knowledge and help drive the culture change that the Working Minds campaign is aiming to achieve. I encourage them to give it a go.”
The tool is available at the HSE’s online Health and Work conference here: HSE Workplace Stress (focusgames.com).
The law requires all employers to carry out a stress risk assessment and act upon the findings to prevent work-related stress and support good mental health in the workplace.
Since 2019, the total annual cost of poor mental health has increased by 25%, costing UK employers up to £56 billion a year. Over half of working days are lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety. Stress, depression and anxiety are the number one reasons for work-related illness in the UK and figures continue to rise.
Liz Goodwill added: “The Mental health and employers report from Deloitte suggests employers see a return of £5.30 on average for every £1 invested in staff wellbeing. By providing this free learning, our aim is to help lower the investment cost and assist employers to reap the potential benefits including increased productivity, lower absenteeism and reduced staff turnover.”
Hot tub supplier joins list of fastest-growing companies
Chesterfield-based hot tub specialist Superior Wellness has been recognised as the 14th fastest-growing business in the Midlands and East of England.
This is part of the Fast Growth 50 index for 2023, which identifies the fifty fastest-growing companies across six nations and regions, including the Midlands and East of England. This achievement underlines Superior Wellness’s significant impact on the Midlands and East of England’s economy and its capacity for growth and innovation.
The Fast Growth 50 is an annual index that identifies the top 50 fastest-growing companies in six nations and regions, including the Midlands and East of England. This year’s index for the Midlands and East of England has highlighted businesses from multiple sectors that together generated a turnover of £3.2 billion, at an average growth rate of 202 percent, with the creation of over 5,267 jobs last year.
Being part of the Fast Growth 50, Superior Wellness has shown strong performance and made a positive contribution to the Midlands and East of England’s business community.
MD Rob Carlinsaid: “This is such an incredible achievement for us as a company and a real accolade to the team and their hard work.”
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, Founder Fast Growth 50 said: “The UK Fast Growth 50 Index demonstrates that a small number of fast growth firms such as Superior Wellness make a substantial contribution to the UK’s economic landscape, providing real examples of how innovation, enterprise and sheer hard work can make a real difference in all sectors from construction to financial services to technology.
“Their incredible growth during difficult times shows that through generating wealth and jobs in their local communities, entrepreneurship is the cornerstone of regional and national prosperity. Most important of all, their success stories demonstrate the impact of ambition and adaptability, providing a blueprint for sustainable growth that will hopefully inspire others to follow a similar journey.”
Derby Levelling up Fund money reallocated to two cultural venues
Following “careful consideration” of the latest estimated costs of constructing a new purpose-built learning theatre on the former Assembly Rooms site, Derby City Council, Derby Theatre and the University of Derby have made the decision not to proceed with these proposals.
Given recent economic challenges of high inflation and interest rates, this has led to significant increases in both construction and borrowing costs which have made the project unviable in its proposed form.
Working collaboratively to explore alternative proposals, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has accepted a plan to equally divide the £20m awarded through the Levelling Up Fund to support the redevelopment of both the Guildhall Theatre and the Derby Theatre sites.
Councillor Baggy Shanker, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “This is a very positive outcome for the city. With the scheme we inherited for the former Assembly Rooms proving unviable, we could have faced the situation where we had to give £20 million of funding back to the Government.
“The financial landscape for local government means that we can no longer take on the risk of proceeding with schemes of this scale, which could put us in the same difficult situation affecting some other local authorities who have had to declare effective bankruptcy. I’m delighted that we can keep this investment in our city.
“We will now work to find an alternative solution for the Assembly Rooms, which in my view and many others’, needs demolishing as soon as possible to enable a fresh start.”
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism, said: “We will now look to use the Levelling Up funding to refurbish the Guildhall Theatre and bring a much-loved heritage building back into use. This versatile performance venue is a vital part of Derby’s cultural offering.
“Meanwhile the Council continues to progress the procurement of a strategic development partner to take forward the regeneration of several key sites in the city centre, with the former Assembly Rooms being the priority. We have received a number of tenders from interested developers which we will now take forward.”
Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby said: “The University of Derby is delighted by the news that the city partnership has been successful in securing Levelling Up Funds of £20 million to support cultural regeneration in the city.
“Derby Theatre, excited by this funding success, will now commence planning to use these funds to develop the Theatre spaces within the city and enhance audience experiences.”
Caution…Here be Dragons: by Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, shares his experiences with Dragons.
Climbing the stairs at a secret London address, my colleagues next to me, contract in hand, things were getting pretty stressful. We were about to meet one of the original Dragons, someone who I would end up chairing a press event for a few years later, but for now, someone who was intent on ignoring me. It wasn’t going well.
We were made to lurk at the other end of the room whilst the Dragon consulted his paperwork. Clue number one, ‘his’. It would be the first but not my last encounter with the fabled Dragons. In fact, the tale stretches back at least a decade.
I’ve discussed walking barefoot in the garden with a really nice Dragon. That one told me that I’m NOT as tall as one of them and if you’ve met me, that doesn’t leave many! I’ve even flagged down a taxi for one of them on New Year’s Eve in the Canary Islands. The queue was horrendous, I was next but this reputed ‘monster’ was getting hounded by hunters of the autographic kind, so I stepped in as a white knight in shabby armour (it was 1am and wine had been taken OK!) and ushered him and his brood to relative safety.
My mum and stepfather even turned down significant funding on the show a few years back. Ask me about it sometime. I’ve also met Sara Davies, who was fascinating, telling the story of how her PR guy got her on Strictly and how it led to the Dragons’ Den and just recently, the incredible Sarah Willingham. Sarah was great to hear from and very open, discussing everything from curry to cocktails, investing to imposter syndrome and everything in between.
The lure of the Dragons guarding their hoard of riches still makes for great TV but when the topic comes up in conversations with my clients and prospects, the treasure they seek is not the cash, more so the kudos. They feel it will be the ‘tipping point’ for their brand.
Now, it might well be but the question is, which way? There is no doubt that appearing on Dragons’ Den could well be the making of a business. However, if that is the case, we know that it can also be the breaking. So what about the in-between? What if you DON’T get the cash, can you still get the kudos? I would say absolutely YES. It is all about leverage, something that far too many people forget when they run PR campaigns.
Imagine pitching a national reporter with your new widget like this: “I see you write about widgets, we’ve got a widget, a lovely widget, a widget we have got.” Those of a certain vintage will recall these immortal lines from the John Smiths advert. The fact is, far too many businesses pitch the media like this.
Now try adding this magic ingredient to the pitch: “I see you write about widgets. Did you see our widget on Dragons’ Den last night? As you will see, we’ve got a widget, a lovely widget, a widget we have got.”
Bottom line, the show and the exposure lends huge credibility to your brand and your pitch, assuming you don’t make a total widget of yourself. However, this approach can be done without the need for a thorough roasting or even light grilling in the den. The media game is all about trust.
If you’ve been featured somewhere before, that is all part of your media arsenal. It means you know your onions, you are a safe pair of hands and that other reporters have less of a chasm to cross when deciding whether to feature you. That is why folk like me create Media Packs and Media Pages for clients. They are basically a round-up or resume of what you can offer to the press value wise and act like a resume when we pitch you.
Back in yonder years, ‘Here be Dragons’ served as a warning about exploring uncharted territory. If you need a map, drop me a line, I might even tell you about when I was ignored by a Dragon and what happened next.
A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008.
He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.
See this column in the November issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
UK GDP flat in third quarter but recession avoided this year
UK GDP (gross domestic product) was flat in the three months to September, compared to the previous quarter, in which the three months to June saw a 0.2% expansion.
It mirrors the Bank of England’s expectations of a flat economy in 2024.
In output terms there was a 0.1% fall in the services sector, which offset a 0.1% increase in construction output and broadly flat output in the production sector.
Meanwhile, in expenditure terms, an increase in the volume of net trade was offset by falls in business investment, household spending and government consumption.
Month on month, the economy showed growth of 0.2% in September, following a 0.1% rise in August (having been revised down from 0.2%) and a 0.6% fall in July 2023, suggesting the UK has managed to avoid recession this year.
Expectations have been beat, however, of a 0.1% fall in GDP.
Ben Jones, CBI lead economist, said: “Forecasts for the UK economy have generally been edging down recently and the latest growth figures lived up to this gloomier view of near-term prospects.
“It’s clear that higher interest rates are starting to bite, and demand has become less resilient. CBI surveys agree with that overall picture and suggest that private sector activity is likely to stagnate in the coming months.
“The Bank of England’s latest forecasts make for particularly grim reading, with the economy expected to be flat next year – before growing at feeble rates in both 2025 and 2026. But action from the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement in a couple of weeks’ time could change that outlook.
“Unlocking business investment across the economy by making full expensing permanent could – according to CBI analysis – lead to a 2% increase to GDP by the end of the decade.”
Recruitment company makes Oberoi Business Hub move
A recruitment company which specialises in industrial and commercial job roles has chosen Oberoi Business Hub in Pride Park as its springboard office premises.
Omega Management Group has been operating in logistics across the industrial heartland of the UK for nearly three years and decided that serviced offices in a prime business location were a key component in their ambitious growth plans.
Managing Director Aaron Waller explained: “We operate in a highly competitive industry and keeping control of costs without compromising on the working environment and support services is crucial for a company such as ours at this stage of our development.
“Moving to serviced offices at Oberoi Business Hub is already paying dividends. We know exactly what our costs are with transparent terms and conditions; the support from the Oberoi team is fantastic; the offices are high quality, easily accessible and with plenty of parking and there is superb mobile phone and wifi coverage.
“The whole team is extremely happy with the move and it has given us the lift we needed to take the company forward, expand our service proposition to both clients and candidates and move positively towards the new year.”
Oberoi Business Hub manager Jodie Brady continued: “We pride ourselves on making an office move simple and straight forward so that our businesses can concentrate on their own operations.”
And founder and Managing Director Kavita Oberoi OBE concluded: “Omega Management Group are the perfect fit for us – an SME who benefit from a prestigious serviced office location and address with their sights set on growth.
“We look forward to them settling into the Oberoi business community and supporting them with their ambitious plans.”
