UK defence spending boost to prioritise SMEs

April Lara
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UK defence spending boost to prioritise SMEs

The UK government has announced new measures to increase small business participation in defence contracts, including SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence and the launch of a support hub to help firms access supply chain opportunities.

With defence spending set to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, the initiative aims to channel more funds to small businesses, particularly outside London and the South East, where nearly 70% of defence expenditure already occurs. In 2023-24, only 4% of defence spending went to SMEs, prompting the government to act.

The support hub will assist SMEs in securing contracts, financing, and workforce training, ensuring that more companies can contribute to national security while benefiting from the investment. The government sees this as a way to strengthen the UK’s defence industry, accelerate technological advancements, and drive economic growth in small towns and regional economies.

In 2023-24, defence spending supported over 430,000 jobs across the UK, with significant increases in government investment in regions such as the East Midlands, Northern Ireland, Yorkshire, and the North West. The government expects these new measures to boost SME participation further and enhance Britain’s defence capabilities.

Maximising Pension Contributions Before the Tax Year Ends

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Maximising Pension Contributions Before the Tax Year Ends
Dry January may be behind us, but as gloomy February rolls in, there’s a glimmer of optimism on the horizon—spring is approaching, and with it comes the end of the tax year for individuals and businesses with a 31st March year-end. This is the perfect time to reassess financial strategies, particularly, pension contributions. Why Now is the Time to Act For individuals, making pension contributions before the tax year closes can optimise tax relief. The current annual allowance for contributions eligible for tax relief is up to £60,000 or the value of your earnings—whichever is lower. However, for high earners and those who have already accessed their pension, there are additional rules to consider. Seeking expert financial advice can help navigate these complexities. If you haven’t accessed your full pension allowance in previous years, you may be able to take advantage of the ‘carry forward’ rule. This allows you to utilise up to three years of unused pension allowance while still benefiting from tax relief. Depending on your circumstances, this could mean up to a further £140,000 in available contributions. SMEs with 31st March year-end For SMEs, pension contributions can offer valuable corporation tax relief. Contributions made to controlling directors’ pensions before the year-end should qualify, making this a key area for businesses to explore with their accountants. Planning Ahead for the Next Tax Year With just a couple of months until the tax year ends, now is the ideal time to evaluate your pension contributions, but please, do take professional advice.   For further information call 0333 320 9230 or visit wbrgroup.co.uk

New endoscopy unit at Leicester General Hospital tops out

Tess Egginton
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New endoscopy unit at Leicester General Hospital tops out
Henry Brothers Construction has joined University Hospitals of Leicester to celebrate the topping out ceremony at the new Endoscopy Unit being built at Leicester General Hospital. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) executives, members of the endoscopy department and representatives from the construction team attended the event at the specialist unit which is being built next to the East Midlands Planned Care Centre. Last year Henry Brothers was awarded a £10m contract to build the one-storey facility which is being delivered to a BREEAM Excellent standard and will feature endoscopy pods, discharge lounges, offices, staff areas and stores, with a plant room on the roof. The project is Henry Brothers’ first contract at Leicester General Hospital. Managing director for Henry Brothers Construction, Ian Taylor said: “We were very proud to have been appointed to deliver a new endoscopy unit at Leicester General Hospital for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. “Henry Brothers has significant experience of delivering new public sector investment in the Midlands and other areas of the UK. The topping out ceremony represents a key stage in the development of this important new facility which will help to improve healthcare for the people of Leicestershire and the surrounding areas.” To mark the occasion, a tree will be planted on the site as part of the landscaping process. UHL Deputy Chief Executive Simon Barton said: “It’s great to be able to celebrate this milestone in the project, as we’re excited to be building an important new facility for the endoscopy service here at Leicester General Hospital. “Endoscopy is a key part of our diagnostic services, and also provides treatment for some conditions, and this new unit is part of our commitment to providing state-of-the-art healthcare for the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. “This is part of our wider strategy to improve care and cut both waiting lists and waiting times. Endoscopy at East Midlands is right next door to the East Midlands Planned Care Centre, which opened in December and will eventually provide around 100,000 appointments every year. “It’s great to have these celebratory moments as a team, as everyone is working hard on behalf of our patients. I’d like to thank everyone involved.” Other members of the team working with East Midlands-based Henry Brothers Construction on the development are project manager Selcon, quantity surveyor Rider Levitt Bucknall, principal designer Stephen George & Partners, architect P+HS, structural engineer Curtins, and mechanical and electrical engineer CPW. Completion of the building is due late summer 2025. The endoscopy unit will see around 17,500 patients each year once it is opened.

Increase your sales with professional marketing videos

Tess Egginton
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Increase your sales with professional marketing videos
Professional video quality can dramatically improve your brand image and overall video marketing effectiveness. Glowfrog is an award-winning professional video production company, based in Derby. They help local companies in the East Midlands to increase sales conversions by providing high-quality marketing videos, and they are multi-award winners for corporate videography. Glowfrog also offer the best rates for professional quality marketing videos across the East Midlands (from £599) and consistently receive 5 star reviews. If you have a product or service that you would like promoting through video, enter your name and email at www.glowfrogvideo.com and they will be in touch within 24 hours to discuss your video production requirements.

Midlands shows small signs of improvement in Women in Work Index

Tess Egginton
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Midlands shows small signs of improvement in Women in Work Index
The Midlands is showing small signs of improvement in PwC’s Women in Work Index, an annual report that assesses progress made towards achieving gender equality at work. West Midlands climbed two places in the rankings to 10th place, while East Midlands fell from 11th to 12th place. The report shows that the female full-time employment rate for West Midlands increased substantially by 4.5%, from 56.9% to 61.3%, while East Midlands saw a small 0.4% increase to 57.77%. Both regions continue to have a gender pay gap higher than the national UK average of 14%; East Midlands saw an improvement in the gender pay gap from 17.1% to 15.9%, while West Midlands saw no change at 15%. There was a small increase in female labour force participation in the West Midlands, shifting from 73.6% to 74.2%, while the East Midlands saw a decrease of 1.3%, to 72.1%. Overall, the report showed that the East Midlands was the worst performing region with its index score decreasing by 6.3 points from 35.9 to 29.6 between 2022 and 2023. Notably, the region has the worst participation rate gap, of 12.7%, a decline of 4.5 percentage points from 8.2% in 2022. Alex Hudson, PwC UK Market Senior Partner East Midlands, said: “The latest Women in Work Index shows that there is much more to be done to support women in the Midlands with better access to equal opportunities at work. “It’s positive to see an overall increase in the female full-time employment rate, however action needs to be taken to increase the female participation rate, as we know this is essential for growth in our economy. “To enhance productivity and drive GDP growth in our region, we must also look to reduce the gender pay gap as it still lags the UK average – the only way to do this is by working closely with business leaders and policy makers to address this. “We know that women are underrepresented in industrial and manufacturing industries, and with the rise of AI and emerging technologies in the workplace, it’s essential that women are represented and have the right skills – this will play an important part in improving our ranking.”

From Nottingham to Cannes, unlocking regional investment at the world’s largest property event

Michael Fisher
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From Nottingham to Cannes, unlocking regional investment at the world’s largest property event
OTTINGHAM will be represented by more than a dozen organisations from the public and private sector as it heads to next week’s MIPIM in Cannes, France.
Headlined by framework managing agent Pagabo from the private sector, Team Nottingham – working in partnership with East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) – will fly the flag for the city, county and the wider EMCCA region at the world’s largest property event.
The four-day festival attracts thousands of investors and developers from across the globe, creating a showcase for the public and private sector to encourage further investment into the region.
The full line-up of sponsor organisations is:
  • Pagabo (headline sponsor)
  • Arup
  • Cartwright Communications
  • Chord Consult
  • CPMG
  • Gleeds
  • Innes England
  • Morgan Sindall
  • Nexa Finance
  • Sandbox
  • Scape
  • Waterman Building Services
  • Willmott Dixon
Having been made up entirely of private sector businesses since 2022, this year’s event sees  Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CEO Megan Powell Vreeswijk attending alongside EMCCA’s deputy mayor Cllr Nadine Peatfield.
Megan Powell Vreeswijk, CEO of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire including Invest in Nottingham, said: “MIPIM is our chance to put Nottinghamshire’s real estate potential in the global spotlight. Working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority, our Invest in Nottingham team will be championing our region’s latest opportunities, driving investment, and unlocking new avenues for growth. We look forward to making some long-lasting connections with industry leaders and showcasing why Nottinghamshire is the perfect place to invest.”
Cllr Neghat Khan, leader of Nottingham City Council said: “Although we won’t have anyone there from the council, we fully support Nottingham’s presence at MIPIM as a powerful statement of our city’s great ambition. As a Core City, we are showcasing not just the scale of our regeneration, but also our unwavering commitment to a sustainable future.
“We’re inviting global investors to be part of a city that’s building both prosperity and a greener tomorrow, and solidifying Nottingham’s position as a leading destination for forward-thinking investment.”

Futures Housing Group introduces new executive team structure

Tess Egginton
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Futures Housing Group introduces new executive team structure
East Midlands-based housing association Futures Housing Group has brought in a new Executive Team structure designed to help strengthen the central role of customers and their needs in the running of the organisation. The new Executive Team has four roles, each of which has been filled by existing Directors following a thorough recruitment process. The new roles and their postholders are: Group Director, People & Change – Nicky Hope, Group Director, Customer Experience – Helena Thompson, Group Director, Homes & Communities – Sarah Wyke, and Group Director, Finance & Growth – Ian Skipp. Explaining the change, Chief Executive Tim Mulvenna said: “Futures is a great organisation and punches well above its weight as one of the region’s main providers of affordable homes. We’re financially strong, have a great workforce and our customers are mostly very satisfied with what we provide. “We have the basics right and now it’s time to build on that by ensuring that every action we take and decision we make will deliver even more for customers. This new top team will help ensure that customers are front and centre at every step on our journey to being truly outstanding.”

New arts venue to provide home for creativity to thrive in Nottingham

Tess Egginton
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New arts venue to provide home for creativity to thrive in Nottingham
A new arts space in the heart of Nottingham is opening its doors to the public for the first time this month. Fisher Gate Point, which is inviting people to a special launch event on Saturday 8 March – International Women’s Day – ahead of the public opening on Monday 10 March, is the brainchild of Tricia and Ian Gardiner, the founding directors, who have realised a long-held ambition to create a welcoming community-led space where Nottingham’s creative grassroots sector can thrive. They received the keys to the building just before the UK’s first lockdown in 2020. Over the last five years, Fisher Gate Point has organically grown to provide a home to both emerging and established artists, cultural leaders, and young collectives. Following a significant refurbishment, the space is ready to open its doors and welcome the public into its multi-use community hub. Founding director Ian Gardiner said: “We believe in the power of the arts and community to change lives, and we recognised that individual artists, small community groups and grassroots companies delivering hands-on interactive events and workshops needed a space to feel at home. “We think we have created a positive space for that to happen in Nottingham for now and for future generations. Everyone is welcome here and we all want to collaborate. Come and get involved!” The two-storey multi-use venue has already become home to several key organisations in Nottingham’s creative sector, including Hockley Hustle, Nottingham Poetry Festival, Cherry on Top, Circle of Light, Sugar Stealers, The Actors Workshop, Nottingham CYF, Nottingham Music Hub and HOAM, the city’s first female-led music studio. It offers options for live performances, workshops, rehearsals and co-working, with a downstairs capacity of 110 and an upstairs capacity of 150. Alongside the event space, the new café and bar will serve as a central gathering point.

East Midlands programme to drive digital health innovation

April Lara
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East Midlands programme to drive digital health innovation

Health Innovation East Midlands and Health Innovation West Midlands have launched Grow Digital Health Midlands, a programme to support businesses in developing and scaling digital health solutions within the NHS.

Launched on 27 February 2025, the initiative expands on the former East Midlands Digital Health Accelerator, now covering 11 integrated care systems and a population of 11.8 million. To accelerate adoption, participants will receive business coaching, product development support, and direct access to NHS decision-makers.

The programme aligns with national healthcare priorities, with NHS and care system leaders selecting innovations that address regional challenges. The 2025 focus areas include improving NHS productivity and communication and reducing demand for hospital-based care.

Applications close on 24 March 2025, and potential applicants will be briefed on 4 March and 13 March 2025.

UK businesses warn of hiring and price pressures from National Insurance hike

April Lara
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Rising employer National Insurance contributions, set to take effect in April 2025, could force UK businesses to adjust hiring plans and raise prices, according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce and professional services firm AAB.

The study found that 60% of businesses expect recruitment to be affected, while more than half anticipate increasing prices. Overall, 80% of firms believe they will feel the financial impact of the change.

East Midlands Chamber CEO Scott Knowles highlighted similar trends in the region, where 22% of businesses plan to revise hiring strategies—double the previous quarter’s figure. The chamber warns that the higher costs, combined with inflation, could hinder economic growth.

With a comprehensive spending review approaching, business groups urge policymakers to consider the impact on firms and introduce measures that support growth.

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