East Midlands business confidence drops

Tess Egginton
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East Midlands business confidence drops
Business confidence in the East Midlands fell 13 points during July to 40%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Companies in the East Midlands were less optimistic about the economy, down 22 points month-on-month to 32%. When taken together with their confidence in their own business prospects, down six points at 47%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 40% (vs. 53% in June). Looking ahead to the next six months, East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth as entering new markets (37%), investing in their team, for example through training (35%), and evolving their offering, for example through new products or services (35%). The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. National picture Overall, UK business confidence increased one point in July to 52% – its highest level since 2015 and the third consecutive monthly increase. Firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects rose one point to 58%, while their confidence in the wider economy increased two points to 47%. Wales was the most confident UK nation or region for the second month in a row (76%), followed by the North East (73%). Sector insights July saw the service sector’s confidence increase by 11 points to 61%, one of the main drivers behind this month’s overall increase in business confidence, indicating strong momentum in the sector. This gain was partially offset by declines in other areas, with retail firms down eight points, manufacturers down four points and the construction sector down six points. Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands, said: “Despite a dip in overall business confidence, East Midlands firms are still focused on driving growth – whether that’s through entering new markets or investing in further training for their team. As they pursue their ambitions, we’ll continue to be with them every step of the way.”

East Midlands development project could bring 4,250 new homes to the area

April Lara
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East Midlands development project could bring 4,250 new homes to the area

A major development near East Midlands Airport aims to bring 4,250 new homes to the region, with plans for schools, leisure facilities, and commercial spaces. The proposal, set in farmland adjacent to Isley Walton and close to Castle Donington in North West Leicestershire, also includes two primary schools, a secondary school, and a sports centre.

The development, known as Isley Woodhouse, could introduce approximately 10,000 new residents to the area, according to the developers, Harworth Group and Caesarea Development Holdings. It is part of the North West Leicestershire District Council’s local plan, which identifies suitable locations for residential and commercial developments.

In addition to housing, two neighbourhood centres are proposed to include local shops, restaurants, and hotels, along with ample green spaces for residents. The outline application is now submitted for approval, with further details on housing types and layouts to be provided later. The development will offer a range of housing, including detached, semi-detached, terraced, and apartment options.

If approved, the project is expected to support local economic growth and improve infrastructure in the area.

Moulton College partners with Positive Planet to boost sustainability efforts

Tess Egginton
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Moulton College partners with Positive Planet to boost sustainability efforts
Moulton College has partnered with Positive Planet to accelerate its environmental sustainability efforts, marking a step forward in reducing its carbon impact. The move will enable Moulton College to reduce its environmental impact and empower staff and students with the tools, skills, and awareness needed to lower carbon emissions. Positive Planet, a consultancy helping organisations take meaningful action on climate change, will support Moulton College through a range of initiatives including carbon footprint measurement, emissions reduction planning, staff training, stakeholder engagement, and the delivery of impactful sustainability programmes. Oliver Symons, principal and chief executive, Moulton College, said: “We are committed to helping tackle climate change by minimising our impact on the environment, promoting sustainability, and incorporating environmental best practise into our teaching and learning. Positive Planet will work with us to produce and embed a comprehensive suite of sustainability actions and knowledge, enabling us to meet our environmental goals and positively impact our local community.” Moulton College has undertaken a series of measures to date as part of its Sustainability Strategy, which is based on the FE Climate Action Roadmap and the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, including moving to recycled paper stock for its printed marketing materials and rolling out projects including rewilding and water harvesting at the land-based College’s agricultural hub. Moulton College also plays a role in the development of Green Skills locally, having introduced tailored courses focusing on solar panel installation. As part of the collaboration and to measure its impact, Positive Planet will provide an independent measurement of current emissions and will then work closely with Moulton College on a plan to reduce its impact on the planet, as it takes steps to achieve Positive Planet Certified Bronze accreditation. In addition, Positive Planet will deliver Carbon Literacy training to 20 staff members at the College, including its sustainability ambassadors and curriculum staff, to equip employees with the practical knowledge needed to ensure the College can achieve its carbon reduction aims. Oliver adds: “The training will give our workforce the tools and insight needed to understand the impact of everyday activities on climate change and how to reduce them. We’re delighted to be working with Positive Planet as part of our goal of Net Zero by 2030.” Stephen Henry, co-founder, Positive Planet, added: “We’re excited to partner with Moulton College to strengthen their sustainability journey. Our work will include a detailed carbon footprint analysis, practical carbon reduction strategies, and tailored training to support their Net Zero goals. Together, we’ll ensure these initiatives create lasting benefits for both the College community and its wider stakeholders.”

Infinity Park Derby to drive growth through Investment Zone inclusion

April Lara
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Infinity Park Derby to drive growth through Investment Zone inclusion

Infinity Park Derby is set to become a catalyst for economic growth, as proposals to integrate the site into the East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ) gain traction. The new status, aimed at attracting investment, is expected to generate thousands of high-value jobs and stimulate the local economy.

The plan, which was submitted to the Government in March 2024, includes designating Infinity Park as a Business Rates Retention area. This move allows Derby City Council to retain a portion of the business rates, which will be reinvested in infrastructure projects and local services, boosting Derby’s economic prospects.

The park’s integration into EMIZ offers a series of tax incentives to businesses operating within the area, encouraging innovation, particularly in green technologies and advanced manufacturing. These sectors are central to Derby’s broader strategy of becoming a leading hub for sustainable industries.

Infinity Park Derby, already an established business district, is strategically located near key players like Rolls-Royce and Toyota. The new status will further enhance its appeal as a location for investment, as businesses benefit from access to tax incentives and a thriving local economy.

This step is part of a broader effort by Derby City Council to position the city as a prime destination for high-value industries, providing long-term economic benefits and job opportunities for local communities.

Peveril Homes

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Peveril Homes
A family-owned and managed company, Peveril Homes has been building new homes for over forty years. At the head office in Belper, the experienced team of professionals, including architects and designers, creates homes that fit the needs of customers. Peveril uses the latest building methods, materials and advances in energy efficiency, and builds beautiful quality homes that will stand the test of time.
Abbey Central
For Peveril it’s not about being the biggest, it’s about being the best. They take care of building your home, so you can build a life in it. Committed to creating thriving communities, not just homes, Peveril is a housebuilder that cares and engages with the community. It makes contributions above and beyond statutory section 106 agreements to support the surrounding areas in which it builds. This includes sponsoring many local events and providing much needed funding to them to ensure they can continue to run. Passionate about working with local schools and pledging to donate funds to help them with children’s education and various projects, Peveril regularly invites classes to developments to inform and educate children on the processes of a new-build construction.
Abbey Central
With a focus on promoting a ‘family feel’ – the business is based on family values around stability, opportunity, quality of life, honesty and tradition. Peveril is committed to training, developing and rewarding its people. Peveril Homes and Stagfield Group’s flagship joint development Abbey Central was recently named ‘Residential Development of the Year, under 100 plots’ at the Midlands Residential Property Awards. Located on the former Rushcliffe Borough Council Recycling Depot in West Bridgford, Nottingham, Abbey Central is a transformational development that has turned brownfield land into a vibrant, sustainable community. This visionary scheme delivers 71 high-quality new homes – including 21 affordable homes – and sets a new benchmark for low-carbon, family-friendly urban living.
Abbey Central
As one of the largest No-Gas developments in the region, Abbey Central features Air Source Heat Pumps, Solar PV panels and EV charging points throughout. Recognised as a blueprint for Net Zero development within the region, Abbey Central has been highlighted in Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Low Carbon and Sustainable Design Planning Document and is setting the standard for the future of sustainable housebuilding in the Midlands.   To find out more about Peveril Homes, please visit https://peverilhomes.co.uk/

Evo Corby

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Evo Corby
Evo Corby is a best‑in‑class logistics facility combining exceptional design, cutting-edge sustainability, and strategic logistics positioning. Located at Corby’s Sallow/Hunters Road intersection, it is positioned within easy reach of the A43, A14, M1, within 2 hours’ drive of Felixstowe and Heathrow, and provides access to 87% of the UK population within 4.5 hours HGV drive. Developed by PBBE Corby BV, and with PineBridge as asset managers, the scheme includes Evo Corby 169, a distribution warehouse with 169,127 sq ft of high-quality space, and Evo Corby 60, offering 61,060 sq ft. Both boast generous eaves (15 m and 12.5 m respectively), ample dock‑level doors, and deep yards ideal for modern logistics operations, as well as excellent power provision, robust flooring (50 kN/m²), and high-speed fibre. Both units have achieved BREEAM Excellent, are Net Zero Carbon (in operation) and have been rated EPC A+. Achieving the highest building standards, reducing environmental impact and raising corporate ESG profiles, the units reflect ultra‑efficient design and operations and feature solar PV arrays, LED lighting with sensors, extensive rooflights, recycled materials, EV chargers, and large cycle storage areas. The development includes fully-fitted offices with comfort cooling, raised access floors, LED lighting, and high-speed broadband for a premium workspace environment, while clear breakout zones, natural light, and flexible layouts make the development operationally efficient and human-centred. Both units boast E(g), B2, B8 use classes which caters for various occupier needs, from logistics to light industrial and trade. Evo Corby is not merely a commercial warehouse; it’s a transformative landmark and it blends logistics excellence, sustainability leadership, tenant-centric design, and strategic economic integration. Both buildings are available either on a new lease or freehold purchase. To find out more, please visit https://evocorby169.co.uk/ and https://evocorby60.co.uk/ or contact Evo Corby’s agents, Tydus, M1 or CBRE.

Start-ups driving women’s health and disability inclusion secure funding

April Lara
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Start-ups driving women’s health and disability inclusion secure funding

The Ingenuity Impact Showcase 2025 has recognised impactful start-ups in women’s health and disability inclusion, offering early-stage businesses vital support to drive social change. The showcase, powered by the University of Nottingham, awarded £50,000 in funding across multiple categories to businesses addressing health, social, and environmental challenges.

FUSE, a business focused on reducing ACL injuries in women’s football, won the prestigious Ingenuity Impact Entrepreneur of the Year award. Their device, designed to analyse hormone levels, helps female athletes monitor hormonal fluctuations that increase ACL injury risks, aiming to improve injury prevention protocols for women in sport.

Ben Jones and Ed Donell’s business, Lowland Meadows, took home the Climate Champion award for helping farmers enhance sustainability while supporting developers in securing planning permissions through Biodiversity Units. The duo praised the programme for its networking opportunities and access to valuable insights from more established businesses.

The Communities Champion title was awarded to Lita-Louise Gardner and Stephen Covell for Project EDI, which seeks to improve accessibility and ethics in AI tools for sign language. Their open-source initiative supports the Deaf community by developing inclusive technology for both signers and learners.

Monet Davis received the University of Nottingham Champion award for FaceFlavour, her catering business that champions cultural representation and inclusivity at corporate events and private dining experiences.

Ingenuity Impact continues to foster innovation, supporting entrepreneurs dedicated to creating a positive societal impact.

Managing director promotion for East Midlands housebuilder

Tess Egginton
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Managing director promotion for East Midlands housebuilder
Allison Homes has promoted Karl Edwards from operations director to managing director for its East Midlands region, as the business sets its sights on growth across Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Growing up in Nottingham, Karl combines extensive experience with deep local knowledge, which has been central to establishing the East Midlands region and building a robust land bank with a strong development pipeline. Since joining Allison Homes nearly three years ago, Karl has leveraged over 25 years of land and development expertise gained from senior roles at Gladman, Chase Homes, Rippon Homes and Bryant/Taylor Wimpey. Having started his career as a joiner and progressing to site manager at Barratt Homes East Midlands, Karl brings a deep-rooted knowledge of housebuilding. Karl has led the launch of the regional headquarters at Castle Donington and scaled the team from a single individual to 19 employees, with further recruitment in progress across planning, commercial, technical and sales functions. Karl Edwards said: “I’m really excited to be stepping into this new role leading Allison Homes in the East Midlands. We’ve built a great team and having our new office in Castle Donington puts us exactly where we need to be. “We’re committed to delivering high-quality homes, building trust in the region, and growing in the right way. With strong land acquisitions already in place and several sites moving forward, we’ve got a solid foundation to scale up and make a real difference in this high-demand market.” John Anderson, chief executive of Allison Homes, added: “Karl’s deep operational experience and leadership have played a huge part in building our presence in the East Midlands so quickly. “I have every confidence in his ability to take the business forward and continue making a real impact in the region. Seeing what Karl and his team have achieved so far makes me genuinely excited for the next chapter for Allison Homes in the East Midlands.”

Nottingham aviation data platform secures investment

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Nottingham aviation data platform secures investment
Northcote Equity has backed aviation data and intelligence platform RDC Aviation, headquartered in Nottingham. Leveraging more than two decades of aviation expertise, RDC provides mission-critical insight into airline performance, route profitability, emissions, and airport charges — powering decision-making for airlines, airports, and aviation stakeholders. RDC’s client base spans hundreds of global airlines and airports, including British Airways, Lufthansa, and easyJet. Northcote is investing alongside RDC’s existing management team led by CEO, Peter Hind. This partnership will accelerate RDC’s analytics and insights capabilities, expand its go-to-market strategy and international growth, and deepen the integration of its platform into the aviation sector’s decision-making processes. Scott Fairlie, Northcote Equity co-founder, said: “Supporting exceptional founder-led businesses like RDC is exactly why we started Northcote. We’re thrilled to partner with Peter, Iain and the team to help RDC scale its impact across the global aviation industry.” Peter Hind, CEO of RDC, said: “Finding the right partner for the next stage in our journey was essential. Building strong relationships has always been vital to our success. With Scott and the Northcote team, we’ve found not just deep experience in aviation and scaling data businesses, but a genuine rapport that makes the journey enjoyable. We’re excited about what we’ll achieve together in the years ahead.” The transaction was led by Scott Fairlie (co-founder) and Tom Gilbride (investment manager). Scott Fairlie and Charles Dale (co-founders) will join the board.

Derby retail software provider snapped up

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Derby retail software provider snapped up
ClearCourse, the software and payments specialist, has acquired Davidson Richards, a retail management and EPOS (electronic point of sale) systems provider. Davidson Richards provides cloud-based management and EPOS systems tailored to the retail industry. Founded in 1977 and based in Derby, Davidson Richards launched its flagship product, OpSuite, in 2012. Joining the ClearCourse group will enable Davidson Richards to expand their offerings, providing customers with in-house payment and eCommerce solutions. Christina Hamilton, CEO of ClearCourse, said: “We are delighted to welcome Davidson Richards into the ClearCourse group as part of our Retail & Hospitality Software vertical. OpSuite is a market leading product that is well positioned to expand its innovative offering into new sectors. “We are excited about the natural integration this partnership enables, as OpSuite will be able to offer in-house payment and other commerce enabling solutions through the wider ClearCourse group products.” Keith Bateman, sales director at Davidson Richards, said: “This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for our business and customers. Joining the ClearCourse group will enable us to enhance the service we offer our customers, particularly through the introduction of an in-house Electronic Funds Transfer solution. “ClearCourse is the ideal partner to help us to grow the business through an increased investment into marketing and to reach more customers.”
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