A £12 million upgrade is underway at Queen’s Medical Centre, part of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, to expand and modernise its endoscopy unit. The project, funded by the Trust and NHS England, aims to increase clinical capacity and improve service delivery.

The new development will add a third procedure room to the unit, enabling a higher volume of more complex endoscopic procedures. Benefits are expected to include shorter waiting times, especially for urgent inpatient diagnostics, enhanced patient privacy, and compliance with national clinical standards for ventilation and space.

Henry Brothers Construction is handling the construction, which is scheduled for completion in early 2026. The project is part of a broader three-year regional investment programme through which NHS England has allocated over £57 million to endoscopy services across the East Midlands.

The upgrade is being delivered through the Pagabo Major Construction Works Framework, with architectural and engineering support from CPMG Architects, Keith Simpson Associates, EP Consulting, and Meller.

This infrastructure investment is designed to help the Trust meet the growing demand for endoscopy services and improve clinical team operational efficiency.

Work has started on a hub in Loughborough that will help equip local people with digital skills for the future.

Loughborough Town Deal is providing £2.6 million for the project to create a Digital Skills Hub at Loughborough College to improve the digital skills of residents to increase their employability. The project will also work with local employers to deliver work placement opportunities.

It is one of 11 projects Loughborough Town Deal is backing after securing £16.9 million of Government funding. In total, the projects are worth over £40 million of investment for the town.

Martin Traynor OBE, Loughborough Town Deal chair, said: “It is great news that work has begun to build the Digital Skills Hub at Loughborough College.

“The hub has the potential to be vital to many residents in Loughborough as we are living in an ever-increasing digital world where these skills are so important to have.

“The Town Deal is supporting the project as it is not just about creating a world-class facility here in Loughborough but it will also make a huge difference to the employment opportunities of local residents whilst working with local businesses.

“We are already seeing the positive impact that the Loughborough Town Deal is making through the projects that are being supported and I look forward to seeing the Digital Skills Hub progress at the college.”

Corrie Harris, principal and CEO at Loughborough College, said: “Breaking ground on our Digital Skills Hub marks an exciting milestone in the continued growth of our campus.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Loughborough Town Deal for backing this transformative project. Their support is helping us create an innovative, student-first facility that not only strengthens digital skills, but also opens doors to new opportunities for people across our region.

“By placing students at the heart of everything we do, we’re shaping a stronger, more connected community – one that’s equipped to meet the demands of local employers and thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

The Loughborough Town Deal investment will support the construction of the new Digital Skills Hub building located on the College campus on Radmoor Road as well as classroom furniture and IT equipment.

The hub will contain six classrooms, equipped with state-of-the-art IT equipment. It is expected to be open in November 2025.

The Digital Skills Hub will support the delivery of T Levels, apprenticeships, industry placements and higher technical qualifications to skill-up local people as Loughborough moves into a more digitally-focussed future.

It will also target unemployed and semi-skilled adults to support them into employment.

Construction has started on a refurbished and expanded state-of-the-art endoscopy unit at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s (NUH) Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC). Backed by a £12 million investment from NUH and NHS England, the project involves the reconfiguration and expansion of the existing unit, creating a significantly larger and more modern facility. It is being delivered by contractor Henry Brothers Construction and will increase clinical capacity, adding a third procedure room. This will enable a higher volume of complex endoscopic procedures to be performed each year. Other patient benefits include increased capacity and reduced waiting times, particularly for urgent inpatient diagnostics, enhanced patient experience, with improved privacy, dignity, and safety, and compliance with national standards for ventilation and room size in endoscopy services. Ian Taylor, MD of Henry Brothers Construction, said: “We are very proud to have been appointed to develop a new state-of-the-art endoscopy unit for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. “Henry Brothers Construction is based in Beeston, just a short distance from the Queen’s Medical Centre, and it gives us great pleasure to be helping to improve the infrastructure and patient care at our local hospital. “We have significant experience in the healthcare sector, so we are extremely pleased to be supporting the Trust and NHS England with its investment in capital projects in Nottingham.” The contract was awarded to Henry Brothers through the Pagabo Major Construction Works Framework and the new QMC endoscopy unit is scheduled to open in early 2026. Dr Andrew Baxter, deputy head of service for endoscopy, said: “This investment marks a transformational step for endoscopy at QMC. Expanding from two to three procedure rooms, means we’re significantly boosting our capacity – not just in volume, but in the complexity of what we can offer. “The new unit will allow us to deliver more advanced procedures in a purpose-built, modern environment. With more space and equipment, we’re not only improving patient care but we’re also strengthening our position as a centre of excellence for high-quality, complex endoscopic care.” He added: “Current and future staff will see some significant benefits though an enhanced training environment.” Other members of the construction team include CPMG Architects, structural and civil engineers Keith Simpson Associates, EP Consulting for mechanical and electrical engineering, and Meller for quantity surveying services. A spokesperson for NHSE Midlands said: “This is a significant milestone for East Midlands patients. NHS England in the Midlands has been investing in improving and expanding endoscopy services across the region to ensure we have sufficient capacity for the population’s needs. “The expansion at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has been part of a three-year programme to increase capacity which has seen over £57M invested in Endoscopy services.”

ULD management provider Unilode Aviation Solutions has secured a new 27,000-sq-ft facility at Stud Brook Business Park in Castle Donington, strategically positioned to support operations at nearby East Midlands Airport.

The move is part of Unilode’s broader regional capacity and sustainability investment. The Swiss-headquartered firm manages a global network of over 550 airports and maintains nearly 200,000 digitised Unit Load Devices (ULDs). It will relocate its 30-member team from its current East Midlands Airport base to the new site.

The upgraded premises will enable Unilode to scale services for key logistics and airline clients in the region, including DHL, TUI, Finnair, Aer Lingus, Singapore Airlines, and West Atlantic. The facility is designed to meet high environmental standards, with plans to run on 100% renewable energy, improve waste management, and achieve BREEAM certification.

FHP Property Consultants arranged the letting. Only a few units remain available in Stud Brook Business Park’s current phase, with further smaller units expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Unilode’s East Midlands expansion complements global infrastructure developments, including new maintenance and repair facilities in Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as refurbishments in Newark and London Heathrow. These upgrades align with the company’s strategy to enhance service delivery and sustainability across its international operations.