A nationwide survey has revealed a significant disparity in export confidence and activity between firms based in London and those in the North and Midlands. While export performance improved overall in Q1 2025, regional businesses outside the capital remain less optimistic about growth, prompting renewed calls for targeted government support.

The UK Trade Barometer, launched by Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and the Growing Together Alliance, surveyed more than 1,500 businesses nationwide. The findings show that while 68% of London firms already trade internationally, only 39% of companies in the North and 43% in the Midlands and East of England do the same.

In Q1, 63% of exporters increased sales to existing markets and 47% entered new ones. However, expectations for further growth were uneven: 41% of London-based firms plan to expand into new markets in Q2, compared to 19% in the North and 21% in the Midlands. Similarly, only 24–27% of firms outside the capital expect increased sales in current export markets, compared to around 50% in London.

Despite geopolitical uncertainty, notably around potential US tariffs, 41% of firms already exporting to the US anticipate further growth there in Q2. However, future diversification appears to be a priority, with EU markets, especially France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain, ranking alongside Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Japan as top targets for market entry.

MAG and the Growing Together Alliance, which includes six major regional business groups, argue that a national strategy is needed to equip firms outside London with better trade infrastructure and support. The data suggests that boosting regional exports could improve productivity and narrow the economic gap with the capital.

The barometer will be updated quarterly to monitor exporter sentiment and identify trends in global trade activity from different parts of the UK.

Evolve Holdings Limited, a Leicestershire-based technology and innovation group, has acquired Secret Source Technology S.L., a software development company headquartered in Spain. The acquisition expands Evolve’s software delivery capabilities and drives enhanced value to clients in the UK, Europe and beyond. In a strategic move in 2018 Evolve Holdings Limited was formed as the parent company to Evolve IT Consulting Limited and Evolve Dev Limited with a mission to drive digital transformation through innovative thinking, scalable solutions, and strategic partnerships. The addition of Secret Source brings new depth to the group’s development capacity and strengthens its offering for clients. “This acquisition is about more than expanding operations — it’s about aligning with a team that shares our values of quality, transparency, and innovation,” said Colette Wyatt, CEO of Evolve Holdings Limited. “Secret Source has built an impressive culture and capability in Spain, and together we’re now positioned to deliver even greater value to our clients.” Secret Source Technology S.L., based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, has earned a strong reputation for its collaborative development approach, skilled technical teams, and successful partnerships with UK clients. Since its founding, the company has specialised in nearshore development, enabling businesses to scale their technical capacity while maintaining close cultural and operational alignment. Richard Clarke, founder of Secret Source Technology S.L., added: “We’re incredibly excited to be joining forces with the Evolved Group. From the beginning, it was clear that we shared the same values – especially our belief in placing people and wellbeing at the centre of great software development. “We’re really looking forward to growing our Spanish operation together, creating more opportunities for our team and delivering even greater impact to our clients as one team.”

The CEO of a Northants business has shared his personal mental health journey to mark Mental Health Awareness week, which takes place from 12^th-18^th May. Robert Thompson of See Limited, a group holding company for businesses involved in the built environment industry, is candid about his experiences and hopes that by sharing his story, others experiencing a similar situation will be inspired to seek out the help and support they need. It was during what Robert calls, ‘the dreaded Covid outbreak’ that he recalls this being the turning point of when his life changed. “I was working at 100 miles an hour and then Covid-19 came along. It was a massive disruption to a lot of businesses and families but it was also a time when my body just crashed. “Automatically I questioned whether this was a by-product of Covid and I never really got to the bottom of it. “Obviously, I went to the doctors and they did blood tests, but my body was shot. I couldn’t get out of bed and at the time, it was quite easy to put it all down to Covid. But in reality, whether it was long Covid or not, my body was pretty much shutting down and saying, ‘enough is enough’.” Robert says that this was the wake up call he needed to make positive change in his working and personal life, though he freely admits that this was a real challenge as he was impacted both mentally and physically. “I wasn’t able to do half the things I wanted to do and was trying hard to figure out how to fix myself, as my natural persona is to fix things but I felt I couldn’t do this.” Robert’s mental health struggles were also compounded by the news that his wife, Katie, was diagnosed with stage four cancer while he was away on business in the US. “The news of my wife’s cancer diagnosis was very traumatic but she was amazing in the approach she took. She embraced the diagnosis in a positive way and it was her approach that helped me significantly in terms of trying to understand what was wrong with my body – and that’s where my real journey began.” On his route to recovery, Robert recognised that he needed to prioritise his mental and physical wellbeing. He gave up alcohol and meditates alongside embarking on regular daily exercise. “To function properly, you need to look after yourself. Through my own experiences, I soon realised that I also had to be more patient in order to improve and get healthy. “I have four beautiful children and a wife and wanted to fully appreciate the simple things in life. Although it was, and continues to be, hard work I was determined to get better and as I progressed, I started to feel better mentally and physically. The one percent changes that I made to help improve my wellbeing made all the difference. For me, making those small changes helped me deal with the harder times; it’s all about being consistent.” It is from that consistency that Robert has benefitted. He now has what he calls ‘non-negotiable daily routines’ of exercise and meditation that enable him to take the time out he needs to be truly present, both at work with his colleagues and at home with his wife, children and dog Molly. Robert freely admits that his mental health journey continues, as does the challenges faced by his wife. However, he firmly believes he has been given a second chance and is determined to continue to seek out the good in every day. Consistency and a willingness to talk are, he says, vital steps in anyone’s recovery. “Everyone should have an awareness of mental health and the challenges that it can bring. I still have peaks and troughs but I think it’s important that people understand that they are not alone. “Mental health is often stigmatised but the more people talk about how they are feeling and keep in mind the importance of giving back, will only transcend itself into a greater wellbeing for all. “Hopefully sharing my story will resonate with others facing similar challenges and encourage them to seek out the support they need.” Since 2001, the Mental Health Foundation has been leading Mental Health Awareness Week. This year it takes place from 12^th-18^th May.

Nominations are now OPEN for Business Link Magazine’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, taking place on Thursday 2nd October, and last year’s winners are reflecting on the prestigious event, encouraging others to enter. Lee Parry, MD for Vistry East Midlands, which won Developer of the Year in 2024, said: “It was a real honour to be given the title of Developer of the Year at the East Midlands Bricks Awards in 2024. “These awards celebrate all that is good in property and construction across our region, and I’d encourage everyone to get involved to show how your business is making a difference in the sector.” This year’s eagerly anticipated awards ceremony will mark 10 years of the event, making its return on Thursday 2nd October at Nottingham’s famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrates the successes of property and construction companies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Recognising those behind the changing landscape of the East Midlands, the occasion highlights development projects, businesses, and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. It also toasts the work of architects, agencies, and those behind large schemes. Welcoming almost 150 professionals, nominating a company or project for the awards is a great way to showcase your successes, recognise your team’s efforts, and reach our audience of over 60,000 business readers, while also offering a chance to connect with respected professionals. And better yet, it’s completely free to enter! Making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the event, where you’ll be in the running for one of our coveted awards. To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here. Or to go directly to a category’s nomination form click on the category headings below. Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Categories include:

• Contractor of the Year
• Developer of the Year
• Architects of the Year
• Most Active Agent
• Deal of the Year
• Residential Development of the Year
• Sustainable Development of the Year
• Commercial Development of the Year
• Excellence in Design
• Responsible Business of the Year
• Overall Winner

All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements. Upon submitting a nomination, we will get in touch for any information, imagery, and video nominees would like to be featured on their showcase page. Thanks to our sponsors:                            

To be held at:

With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.

A Midlands-based IT and telecoms support company has launched a bespoke cyber security service in the wake of an avalanche of damaging cyber attacks on big businesses.

Link ICT, based at Pride Park, Derby, has partnered with Cyber Global UK to expand its services to provide bespoke high level global cyber security packages to SMEs across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Mark Fryers, managing director and co-founder at Link ICT, said: “Recent high profile cyber attacks have made businesses acutely aware of the risks posed by hackers. Our new service provides penetration testing systems which will find any gaps in security – it’s ethical hacking.”

The firm said that prior to its partnership with Cyber Global UK it had been unfeasible to offer MSPs cyber security at this level due to the sheer expense and manpower needed to provide a fully comprehensive and watertight service.

However, by partnering with the specialist, which has over 100 engineers working globally, tailored packages would now be available to regional businesses.

Simulating real world cyber attacks, ethical hacking by cyber security experts identifies and fixes vulnerabilities in a system before malicious hackers find those gaps.

  Mark said: “Cyber security cannot be an ‘off the shelf’ product. Packages need to be bespoke to a particular industry or business in order to test and find very individual risks. “It is thanks to the new partnership with Cyber Global UK that we can now offer such top-level security.”

James Harvey, managing director of specialist firm Cyber Global UK, said he was delighted to be sharing the firm’s expertise with Link ICT.

He said: “To offer this level of security there has to be a high degree of trust between all partners – the client, Link ICT and us. Businesses are opening up their systems so that we can find the weak spots before hackers do.

Cyber Global UK has been working in the UK for a number of years supplying white label cyber security services to partners handling sensitive data, for organisations such as the NHS.

The firm says its mission is to “embody a unified brand in cybersecurity while maintaining a strong local presence, consistent standard of excellence and top-tier cybersecurity solutions”.

The East Midlands Chamber and the University of Derby have launched an expanded partnership to accelerate business growth in Derby and Derbyshire. The collaboration focuses on strategic areas such as decarbonisation, innovation, and workforce development, emphasising accessing public sector funding and delivering structured support programmes for local firms.

The agreement extends a long-standing relationship between the two organisations and positions the university as a core delivery partner for the Chamber’s business engagement efforts. It also strengthens links between the region’s academic and business communities, particularly around knowledge exchange, internships, and joint bids for government-backed initiatives.

The University of Derby continues to be the lead partner for Generation Next, a Chamber-led platform for developing future business leaders aged 18 to 35.