Derbyshire invests in broadband upgrades to boost business connectivity

April Lara
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Derbyshire invests in broadband upgrades to boost business connectivity

Derbyshire County Council has approved two new grant programmes to enhance internet speeds for businesses and households that continue to experience poor broadband access.

Around 32,000 premises across the county currently receive less than 100 Mbps, with approximately 3,000 still receiving speeds below 10 Mbps. Many of these are located in rural areas with no commercial plans for a full-fibre rollout within the next three years.

Funding from the council’s Digital Derbyshire reserves will support the rollout. The Gigabit Fibre Connectivity Grant will deliver full fibre networks to clusters of hard-to-reach properties, while the Interim Connectivity Grant will provide short-term alternatives such as satellite or mobile broadband in areas where fibre installation is not economically feasible.

The initiative is designed to enhance digital capability for local businesses, improve productivity, and strengthen the county’s competitiveness. Derbyshire County Council is also working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority to identify future funding opportunities to expand broadband access further.

Cadent unveils East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline to drive industrial decarbonisation

April Lara
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Cadent unveils East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline to drive industrial decarbonisation

Cadent has confirmed the route for the first phase of its East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline, a 140-kilometre network that will link hydrogen production sites in the Humber and North Nottinghamshire to energy-intensive industries across the East Midlands. The project is designed to help regional manufacturers transition away from natural gas and reduce emissions at scale.

The initiative has secured more than £42 million from Ofgem to progress planning, technical, and consenting work. Once operational, it could remove up to 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually. Industries including steel, chemicals, lime and brick production, and food manufacturing are expected to benefit from the shift to low-carbon hydrogen.

Adam Knight, ECHP Project Director at Cadent, said the pipeline marks a critical milestone in the UK’s journey to net zero. He described it as “vital to the UK’s overall decarbonisation efforts,” adding that it is about “unlocking a new low-carbon future for the East Midlands and the Humber, one that keeps industry thriving while cutting emissions.” He noted that hydrogen provides “a viable route to decarbonise sectors that can’t easily electrify,” positioning the pipeline as a key part of national infrastructure.

A central hub in the project will be the HyMarnham Power site in Nottinghamshire, a joint venture between JG Pears and GeoPura. The site’s 15MW electrolyser is due to be fully operational by autumn 2025, with the potential to expand to over 900MW of production capacity once the pipeline is in place. Andrew Cunningham, Director at HyMarnham Power, said the connection to Cadent’s network “opens up the opportunity to supply clean, low-carbon energy directly to the region’s most energy-intensive industries.” He added that the collaboration will “cut emissions, protect jobs, and build new skills in a future-focused energy economy.”

By 2050, hydrogen development across the East Midlands and Humber is projected to create 10,000 permanent jobs, 7,000 construction roles, and contribute £3.4 billion in gross value to the regional economy. It could also save more than 9.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline is expected to integrate with a broader national hydrogen network, enhancing energy resilience and positioning the region as a cornerstone of the UK’s low-carbon transition. East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward said the project aligns closely with the region’s Growth Plan, describing it as “the kind of ambitious investment that sits at the heart of our East Midlands Growth Plan.” She added that linking HyMarnham Energy Park with key employers “helps businesses to decarbonise while also creating the foundations for sustainable economic growth and skilled jobs for generations to come.”

Cadent’s route announcement took place during the East Midlands Hydrogen Summit, where more than 100 organisations from industry, technology, and government gathered to discuss the region’s growing role in the UK’s hydrogen economy.

Plans progress for major East Midlands business park expansion

April Lara
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Plans progress for major East Midlands business park expansion

Plans for the next stage of development at Towcester Park in West Northamptonshire have been recommended for approval, signalling continued progress on one of the region’s largest employment sites.

Developer IM Properties has submitted detailed proposals for two industrial units measuring around 50,000 and 131,000 square feet within Zone B of the 45-acre site. The applications are expected to be reviewed by West Northamptonshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee later this month.

The wider Towcester Park scheme, which received hybrid planning approval in 2022, is designed to deliver around 1,464 full-time equivalent jobs once fully operational. Earlier this year, detailed plans for two large facilities in Zone C—covering 161,000 and 468,000 square feet—were granted permission following a comprehensive planning review.

The development aims to enhance industrial and logistics capacity in the East Midlands, an area experiencing high demand for modern employment space. If approved, construction on the new units would represent another significant step in implementing the park’s long-term master plan and enhancing the region’s commercial infrastructure.

Inwido strengthens UK presence with Nottingham acquisition

April Lara
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Inwido strengthens UK presence with Nottingham acquisition

Inwido has acquired Fast Frame, a Nottingham-based PVCu window and door manufacturer serving the trade and commercial markets. The deal, structured as a bolt-on acquisition to Inwido’s Dekko Window Systems, is designed to extend the group’s presence in the UK and deepen its reach in the commercial construction sector.

Established in 2002, Fast Frame employs 25 staff and reported around £7 million in sales for the 2024–2025 financial year, achieving profitability above Inwido’s average. The business has built a reputation for its PVCu products across commercial projects but has not previously offered an in-house aluminium range. The integration with Dekko, which already supplies aluminium systems, is expected to create efficiencies in production and sales, while expanding the combined product portfolio.

“By acquiring Fast Frame, we can integrate products from Inwido’s business unit Dekko into their portfolio, allowing us to capture a broader share of the commercial market,” says Fredrik Meuller, Inwido CEO. “Fast Frame and Dekko have had a professional relationship for many years, where Dekko has supplied aluminium windows and doors to several different Fast Frame projects, mainly in the commercial sector. The acquisition offers a unique opportunity to enhance Inwido’s market position to meet the evolving needs and demands within commercial construction.”

Under the agreement, Inwido will initially acquire 85% of Fast Frame’s shares, with an option to purchase the remaining 15% in early 2028. The transaction values the company at an EBITDA multiple of 4.2 based on the 2025 fiscal year. The move reflects Inwido’s ongoing strategy to build scale and strengthen its position in the UK’s competitive building products market.

Work starts to transform former Wilko store into campus for college students

Tess Egginton
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Work starts to transform former Wilko store into campus for college students

Work has begun to transform Sutton’s former Wilko store into the Portland Square campus for college students.

Ashfield District Council purchased the building earlier this year using money from their £62.6m Towns Deal and have leased it to West Nottinghamshire College.

The former Wilko building is now in the process of being fully refurbished, creating a campus for students aged 16-18, adults and apprentices to gain trade skills and qualifications in plumbing and electrical installation.

The move will bring a range of benefits to Sutton. As well as bringing a major vacant unit back into use, students spending more time in town before and after college, the town centre will see more footfall, a bigger spend in local businesses, and a livelier town during the day.

Cllr Matthew Relf, Ashfield District Council’s executive lead for growth, regeneration and local planning, said: “Wilkos has stood empty for a couple of years now and we are so pleased to be able to bring it back into use. It’s a fantastic space, and will make a great new addition to West Nottinghamshire College’s offering.

“This new facility’s town centre location makes it easily accessible by public transport and brings more young people into our town centre. Breathing life into the former Wilkos complements the wider work we are doing to regenerate Sutton town centre, including the new and improved Portland Square, and the newly renovated Cornerstone Theatre, all of which are bringing new opportunities and vibrancy into Sutton.”

Portland Square campus will also be a centre for ‘green skills’ courses including ground source and air source heat pump, photovoltaics, and the wiring of electric vehicle charging points for homes.

Andrew Cropley MBE, principal and chief executive at West Nottinghamshire College, said: “I’m thrilled that work has begun to create another fantastic training facility for local people and local businesses.

“The construction sector is of huge strategic significance, both locally and nationally, and I hope this forward-looking centre will inspire even more young people to seek careers in plumbing and electrical installation, and help adults who wish to advance their careers in these valuable trades.

“This opportunity has already enabled us to complete the UK’s first Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing on the outskirts of Sutton and will allow us to modernise and further increase our capacity in other construction trades, as well as motor vehicle maintenance. I can’t wait to see the new campus come to life.”

The conversion, carried out by Vaughandale Construction Ltd, will involve a major programme of internal works to create classrooms, workshop space, offices and student social space across three floors within 29,428 sq ft, plus renovation and redesign of the building’s façade.

Darren Atkins, contracts director at Vaughandale Construction, said: “As one of the leading construction companies in the East Midlands, we are delighted and proud to be working with West Nottinghamshire College to deliver this prestigious project, transforming the former Wilko building in Sutton into a new construction training campus.

“We are particularly pleased to be involved in the development of the new training centre. Along with our apprenticeship partnership with the college, this facility will provide tremendous benefits to our local community, inspiring the next generation of young people entering the construction industry, which closely aligns with our company values and ethos.”

Homes England supports SME developer with £7m loan to deliver Derbyshire scheme

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Homes England supports SME developer with £7m loan to deliver Derbyshire scheme

Homes England is supporting SME developer, Forge New Homes with a £7m loan to deliver 58 new properties at Welbeck Gardens in Bolsover.

The Derbyshire development will provide a mix of three- and four-bedroom homes, including a proportion of affordable homes. Forge New Homes has secured the loan through Homes England’s Home Building Fund, which provides development finance to small and medium-sized housebuilders that may face barriers accessing traditional funding. Simon Century, chief investment officer at Homes England, said: “Small and medium-sized housebuilders are essential to building the diverse and resilient housing sector the country needs.

“Welbeck Gardens is a prime example of how we are working with partners like Forge New Homes to support the SME housebuilders that are crucial to building a diverse and resilient housing sector.”

Andy Beattie, managing director of Forge New Homes, said: “Our aim has always been to deliver new homes that are both attainable and affordable for local people.

“This partnership with Homes England is a significant step forward, and we’re grateful for their support in helping us make these much-needed homes a reality.”

Eco-friendly web design agency achieves B Corp status

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Eco-friendly web design agency achieves B Corp status
A Northamptonshire-based web design agency that specialises in creating low carbon WordPress websites has achieved B Corp status. Poppy Eco Hub, founded by Marie Baker and Daniel Lister last year, specialises in creating sustainable and accessible websites that reduce carbon, meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards and comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Verified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, the new certification sees Poppy Eco Hub join a growing number of companies that are reinventing business for the benefit of all people and our shared planet. There are currently around 9,700 certified B Corporations – or B Corps as they are better known – in the UK. Each one of these companies has had to undergo a stringent assessment process that shows it meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. The whole process took Marie and Daniel around nine months to complete and they were proud to not only achieve the certification, but to attain an overall score of 98.1 – well above the pass mark of 80. Marie Baker, director of Poppy Eco Hub, said: “We are over the moon to announce that Poppy Eco Hub is now officially a B Corp after just over a year of trading. “We knew when we set up the business that we wanted to be a B Corp organisation as it just aligns so well with our mission and purpose – to create sustainable, accessible and visually stunning websites that reduce environmental impact while empowering organisations to thrive in the digital world. “We are committed to combining innovation with responsibility, championing eco-friendly practices, and promoting inclusivity to build a greener, more connected future.” Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome Poppy Eco Hub to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies that are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. “We know that Poppy Eco Hub is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.”

Timely deal as home care provider takes third floor at The Clock Tower

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Timely deal as home care provider takes third floor at The Clock Tower
The third floor at The Clock Tower, Nottingham city centre has been let to home care provider Q Care Assist, with the deal agreed and completed within a four-week timeframe. The third floor comprises 2,773 sq ft of office accommodation, prominently positioned on the corner of Talbot Street. The space has recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment, including the installation of new mechanical and electrical systems, a modern kitchenette, and full redecoration to create an open-plan layout with natural light throughout. Enhancements to the lobby and entrance area further elevate the building’s appeal. Jamie Simms, from Bildurn, said: “It is fantastic to have a quality tenant secured for the recently refurbished third floor space on Talbot Street in Nottingham city centre. Following this letting, we’ll be refurbishing the second floor and look forward to working with Amy again to secure another strong tenant and bring the building back to 100% occupancy.” Amy Howard, surveyor at FHP Property Consultants, said: “We’re thrilled to have achieved such a swift and successful letting for our client and the tenant. The location and quality of the space make it a suitable choice for occupiers and I am excited to continue working with Bildurn to secure a new tenant for the second floor. “It’s also been a pleasure assisting Q Care Assist in finding their new office home. After viewing several options together, it’s rewarding to see them settle into a space that suits their needs perfectly. We wish them every success in this exciting next chapter.”

Student accommodation developer sees 95% occupancy across key cities

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Student accommodation developer sees 95% occupancy across key cities
Study Inn, the privately owned operator, developer, and manager of student accommodation, has reported a 95% occupancy across its seven properties in six university cities — Leeds, Leicester, Exeter, Bristol, Nottingham, and Loughborough — for the 2025/26 academic year. Matt Shakespeare, managing director of operations at Study Inn, said: “Achieving 95% occupancy across our portfolio reflects the strength of our model and our ability to meet the diverse needs of both international and domestic students nationwide. “Our flexible, high-quality offering continues to attract residents seeking a premium life experience supported by service, comfort, and community at a price point that represents exceptional value for money.” Recent data from UCAS and HEPI points to ongoing strength in the UK higher education market, with total UCAS applicants rising to 665,070 in the 2025 cycle — up 1.3% year-on-year — and UK 18-year-old applicants reaching a record 328,390, an increase of 2.2%. UCAS also projects that growth in the UK’s 18-year-old population will continue to drive additional applicants over the coming years, supporting robust future demand for student accommodation. Study Inn says its success is underpinned by its vertically integrated business model, which provides full control over acquisition, design, development, and operations. The company’s all-inclusive offering includes utilities, internet, kitchens, towels, bedding, housekeeping, shared lounges, social spaces, and landscaped outdoor areas. Study Inn has achieved strong annual growth over all of its assets since inception of the brand. Current average achieved weekly rent is £226, and is forecasted to increase in 2026/27. “These are exciting times for Study Inn,” added Shakespeare. “With our experience, adaptability, and continued investment in quality, we’re perfectly positioned to capitalise on the macro favourable market conditions whilst remaining very responsive to the micro market conditions in each city and deliver strong occupancy and sustained growth across our portfolios.”

University and Chamber strengthen regional business insight

April Lara
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University and Chamber strengthen regional business insight

The University of Leicester and East Midlands Chamber have renewed their partnership to enhance economic research and knowledge sharing across the region’s business community.

The collaboration continues the university’s role as exclusive research partner for the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey. The study gathers detailed data from local firms, analysing trends in sales, exports, recruitment, investment, and the impact of economic pressures such as inflation and taxation. The findings help inform regional policy discussions and national economic reports.

Through the partnership, the university will support evidence-based decision-making and strengthen links between academia and industry. It will also contribute to the development of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and executive education programmes designed to boost innovation, productivity, and workforce skills in the East Midlands.

University of Leicester School of Business Associate Dean of Enterprise Prof Mohamed Shaban said: “We are delighted to continue the University of Leicester’s Strategic Partnership with East Midlands Chamber. This enduring partnership underscores our shared commitment to bridging the gap between education and the business community. Together, we look forward to driving positive impact through executive education, knowledge exchange, research, and student enterprise.”

Both institutions aim to use the alliance to provide clearer insights into business performance and ensure local enterprises are better equipped to respond to economic challenges and growth opportunities.

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