Games Workshop makes chair appointment

Tess Egginton
-
0
Games Workshop makes chair appointment

Games Workshop has appointed Mark Lam as non-executive chair of the company. Mark has been an independent non-executive director of the Nottingham company and the senior independent director since 2023.

Mark takes over from John Brewis. John did not intend to stand for re-election at next year’s AGM and had therefore asked the Nomination Committee to commence a search for the next non-executive chair.

John Brewis will be retiring from the role of non-executive chair of Games Workshop with effect from 1 November 2024, and from the Board of Games Workshop with effect from 31 December 2024.

Mark is an experienced board chair and director, whose commercial experience spans both start-up businesses and listed companies.

Mark is Singaporean and his international experience includes supply chains and business operations in the Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe.

He has held senior positions in retail, telecommunications, and healthcare, including as chief technology officer of Openreach. Mark is currently chair of the Royal Free London hospital group and a non-executive director at Lowland Investment Company PLC.

Summit to spotlight ‘once-in-a-generation’ transformations of Chesterfield high streets

Tess Egginton
-
0
Summit to spotlight ‘once-in-a-generation’ transformations of Chesterfield high streets
Business owners are invited to explore how Chesterfield’s ongoing regeneration is set to unlock significant investment opportunities in the coming years. The Chesterfield Investment Summit will take place on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, at Casa Hotel, offering an extensive update on various projects that will dramatically modernise and revitalise the town’s high streets. Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, will address the summit, sharing her vision and priorities for driving investment in Chesterfield and the broader region. Mayor Claire said: “The regeneration of Chesterfield’s high streets is a key milestone in the broader strategy to breathe new life into our towns across the East Midlands. “By modernising and enhancing these vital spaces, we are not only improving the everyday experience for residents and businesses, but also attracting significant investment that will create new jobs and opportunities.” Organised by Destination Chesterfield and supported by We Are Spaces, East Midlands Chamber and Markham Vale, the event will showcase transformative works in Chesterfield Town Centre. Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council, will provide updates on several key initiatives, including Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield. The project promises over £10 million in enhancements aimed at improving the town centre’s appearance, functionality, and flow. Ojay McDonald, Chief Executive of the Association of Town & City Management, will discuss the evolving role of high streets and the need for adaptation to future demands. Attendees will also hear from Amy Revell, Co-Founder of We Are Spaces. Amy’s company is currently carrying out the extensive refurbishment of a Grade II listed building in Chesterfield’s retail core. She will be joined by Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, who will provide insights into the £6 million regeneration and revitalisation efforts underway in Staveley’s town centre. Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice-Chair of Destination Chesterfield, added: “The Investment Summit is a fantastic opportunity to spread the word about all the incredible things happening in Chesterfield. “With the multi-million pound regeneration projects currently underway in Chesterfield and about to begin in Staveley, this is the time to look ahead to the future of high streets and talk about how the interventions we are making will help ensure they can continue to thrive and provide a full range of leisure, retail and cultural experiences. “I look forward to welcoming local businesses and investors to the summit and discussing with them how they can play a key role in Chesterfield’s future.”

Light industrial investment sold in Ilkeston

Tess Egginton
-
0
Light industrial investment sold in Ilkeston
NG Chartered Surveyors have completed the investment sale of a prime light industrial unit in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Acting on behalf of her landlord client, Craig Scholter of CBS Couriers, NG surveyor Alicia Lewis brokered a rare investment deal at Unit 1A, Shipley Court on the Manners Industrial Estate. The 2,853 sq ft unit is let to Barnfind Detailing, a company which offers safe washes, valeting, monthly maintenance and paint enhancements and corrections. Alicia said: “Unit 1A, Shipley Court was always going to be popular. It’s located on a well-recognised, popular industrial estate. “The property is centrally located to various main thoroughfares such as the A6096, A52 and Junctions 26 and 25 of the M1 Motorway, providing access to neighbouring towns. Nottingham is located eight miles away and Derby ten miles – it couldn’t be more ideally situated. “This deal only took just over ten weeks to finalise with all parties working hard to get it over the line. “It’s been a pleasure to represent Craig on this deal – and we wish the new owner and their tenant all the very best for the future.”

Work starts at £75m Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby City Centre

Tess Egginton
-
0
Work starts at £75m Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby City Centre
Wavensmere Homes has commenced work on site to redevelop Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby city centre. The nationally significant £75m mixed-use project will reanimate two landmark Grade II listed buildings into over 110,000 sq ft of commercial space, alongside 276 new build homes. Site enabling works across the 11.5-acre (4.96Ha) site are underway, with the groundworks commencing in November 2024. The first phase will incorporate the formation of a new spine road through the site and remediation works to the two listed buildings. Simultaneously, construction of the first residential phase will take place. This comprises 63 terraced houses, which will be available for occupation before the end of 2026. The full redevelopment, restoration and construction programme is anticipated to complete by the end of 2028. A painstaking restoration of the 19th Century Bonded Warehouse and Engine House will deliver a total of 111,275 sq ft of flexible offices, health and fitness space, a restaurant/café, together with a regional sales centre for Birmingham-headquartered Wavensmere Homes. Extensive new areas of open space, including play areas and pocket parks will also be created, in addition to the retention of the TPO tree buffer, to enhance the biodiversity of the site. The elevated area adjacent to Friar Gate Bridge will become a new multi-purpose public realm and community space, with retention of some of the original railway arch facades. New vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access will be created at various points around the site, from Uttoxeter New Road, Great Northern Way, and Friar Gate, with the Mick Mack cycling route also to be extended. Catherine Atkinson, MP for Derby North, said: “After over 50 years of sitting vacant, it was brilliant to visit Friar Gate Goods Yard and see the work underway to bring this local landmark back to life. This redevelopment will restore a piece of Derby’s history while creating jobs and giving a major boost to the local economy, now and in the future.” Cllr Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “I am thrilled that Wavensmere Homes has made a start on site so soon after receiving planning approval. The two fine terracotta listed buildings are such important historical assets for our city and we can now be assured of their future. “I cannot wait to see the Bonded Warehouse preserved and brought back into use as the centrepiece for this £75m mixed-use development.” Octopus Real Estate has provided a £24m loan to Wavensmere Homes to enable the comprehensive four-year programme of work to start without delay. Glancy Nicholls Architects and Pegasus Group worked collaboratively to produce the detailed plans for Friar Gate Goods Yard, which received planning approval earlier this year. James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “The fine attention to detail and investment we will inject into the reanimation of Friar Gate Goods Yard will see it become a nationally important trophy asset in Derby’s ongoing renaissance. “We constructed 125 family houses just across the city centre at Nightingale Quarter, but there was such intense demand, we could have sold them four times over. The 227 houses at Friar Gate Goods Yard will provide much-needed choice in the market and be the most energy-efficient in the city, so there is already significant pent-up demand. “The first opportunity to reserve a home here will be in 2025, but we are collecting people’s details on our website. We’re very pleased to see the amount of early interest from people who’ve bought from us previously, including residents living at Nightingale Quarter.” The designs for the 227 two- and three-bedroom townhouses that will surround the two listed buildings are bespoke. Curved and terraced street scenes will honour the beauty and vista of the Bonded Warehouse, while incorporating a range of energy saving technologies and strategies. A four-storey apartment building containing 49 apartments will also reinstate the lost streetscape of the Stafford Street frontage. The highest EPC rating of A is being targeted for the new houses, with all plots designed to be future-proofed ahead of the 2025 Future Homes Standard. Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said: “I am delighted that work has commenced at Friar Gate Goods Yard. This vast historic landmark has lain derelict in the centre of Derby for over 50 years. “Wavensmere’s redevelopment plans will have a transformational impact on the city’s landscape and image, while also providing a significant boost to the jobs market and local economy.” The site sits just outside the Friar Gate Conservation Area, which features notable Georgian townhouses with high-quality brickwork and fine architectural detailing. The Friar Gate Goods Yard was intended as the main goods depot for the Great Northern Railway line, to handle coal, livestock, timber, and metals. Designed in 1870, and entering operation in 1878, the Bonded Warehouse building contained extensive warehouse space and offices. It was used as a store for the American Army in WWII to house ammunition and other supplies. The Engine House was also built for the Railway by Kirk & Randall of Sleaford. It is Italianate in style and built from Welsh slate. The Engine House supplied power to the hydraulic lifts and capstans at the Bonded Warehouse. The site first became derelict in 1967, and over time became overgrown and fell into a poor state of repair. An arson attack took place at the Goods Yard in 2020, which exposed the whole inner iron structure of the two historic buildings. The Goods Yard redevelopment will promote sustainable development through the use of low carbon materials, modern methods of construction, and renewable energy generation.

See Limited continues its commitment to sustainability with £700,000 investment

Tess Egginton
-
0
See Limited continues its commitment to sustainability with £700,000 investment
Corby-based company See Limited has invested £700,000 into its distribution arm, Performance Panels, to drastically improve its environmental footprint while also revolutionising the day-to-day working operations at its distribution facility in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The company, named after its ethical and sustainability ambitions – Supporting Ethical Enterprise – operates as a holding company for three businesses in the built environment sector, Performance Panels, Inspired Surfaces, and Bousfields. With a focus on taking sustainable steps forward to reduce their carbon emissions year-on-year, this significant investment through the integration of HOMAG’s STORETEQ P-500 storage system and SAWTEQ S-300 panel dividing saw means that they will now be able to store a higher volume of 5,000 high-performance decorative panels on-site. In addition it will improve efficiencies and reduce energy consumption. The automated storage system will now organise, stock, and select different sheet sizes and materials in its facility, in what is seen as a huge boost to its distribution arm’s operational capacity. The new system will also help Performance Panels save 280 bottles of liquid petroleum gas on forklift use alone, equating to an estimated 17,495 kgCO2e avoided per year, based on calculations from the UK Government’s website. This equates to the same amount of carbon emissions as if you were to drive a petrol-powered car around the world’s equator – twice! Alongside the investment into the machinery, the Performance Panels facility has also had a complete transformation to get the most out of the storage system. The original floor was dug up and relayed with a new one, new lighting was fitted together with a new CCTV system. The extraction system was also enhanced. “As Performance Panels continued to grow, it became clear that a full evaluation of our operations was necessary to meet our environmental and sustainable ambitions,” said Robert Thompson, Group CEO at See Limited. “The implementation of the storage system and panel dividing saw is part of our continuous investment into See Limited’s operating businesses as we continue to grow and evolve. “In a fast-moving industry, it is crucial we stay ahead of the curve and on top of the latest technological advancements. “While the implementation of this significant investment has transformed the working operations onsite, it has also enhanced the health and safety measures too. Automation has replaced much of the manual handling and has drastically reduced the time spent locating and retrieving stock.”

Nottingham Venues student named finalist in national industry awards

Tess Egginton
-
0
Nottingham Venues student named finalist in national industry awards
A student who has spent the past year on work placement with Nottingham Venues has been named as a finalist in a prestigious national industry awards. Alba Betancourt, an Events Management Student from the University of Derby, has been shortlisted in the ‘Student of the Year’ category at the ABPCO Excellence Awards. The 21-year-old has spent the past twelve months balancing her studies with a placement at Nottingham Venues and has excelled at both. Alba hit the ground running during her placement and progressed quickly, showing a strong drive to integrate her academic learning into practical applications in the workplace, supporting the Nottingham Venues team during one of its most successful trading periods. Alba successfully applied academic knowledge to real-world scenarios. She used project management techniques learned at university to help reduce setup and process time in supporting the catering function. She dealt with all queries and issues which developed her customer service skills and helped navigate CRM systems for event support. Alba also met numerous clients through supporting the sales team with their site visits. She also successfully built relationships with the wider University teams and helped with market research. At University, Alba has demonstrated exceptional academic performance, particularly in courses such as Sustainable Events Operations and Facilities and Venues Design, achieving First Class marks in both. Alba’s University Professors have praised her analytical skills and ability to grasp complex concepts quickly, and she is currently in negotiations to start and run Derby University’s first ever Event Society. Melissa Sobo, Director of Sales at Nottingham Venues, said: “Alba is an exceptional student and her passion for our industry and commitment to get the job done was clear from day one. A reliable member of the team, she was very conscientious about her work and was not afraid to challenge as to why it was done in a certain way. “Alba demonstrated strong initiative, an eagerness to keep growing, and a willingness to take on additional tasks to expand her knowledge. Her eagerness to participate in work-related events whilst with us only contributed to her continued learnings and creativity. “We are all delighted that she has made the finals and will be keeping our fingers crossed that she can take the award home on the day.” Alba Betancort said: “I was thrilled when I was told I was being put forward for the award, so to actually make the finals is amazing! I loved working at Nottingham Venues, and I am grateful to the team for giving me the opportunity to get stuck in and apply what I have learnt at university into a thriving, real world environment. I can’t wait for the awards!”

NFU President calls for action on finance for farming

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
NFU President calls for action on finance for farming
MPs called on the government to back warm words with an increased agriculture budget after an opposition debate day in the House of Commons raised the importance of farming to Britain’s food security, environment, and economic growth.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said there had been cross party consensus throughout the debate that food security is national security. He said: “The agriculture budget is essential to investing in the farming and growing businesses that underpin the future of food and deliver for the environment. As we saw in the debate, food is not partisan. It should not be kicked around like a rotten pumpkin. “The farming and growing businesses that produce food need long-term certainty so they can plan and invest for the future. The number one way to do this is to ensure we have a strategy to boost Britain’s food security, and this must be invested in, and supported by, an increased agriculture budget.
“The Chancellor recently held an ‘I’m backing British farming’ sign at our Labour Party conference stand. The Defra Secretary, Steve Reed, said at our Back British Farming Day parliamentary reception he was ‘making the case to Treasury to maximise support for farmers’. And the Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner has been on farm six times in the past 100 days. “There are countless examples of the government showing they value British farming, but these gestures and warm words must now be backed up by policy action,” he added.  

Nottingham-based marketing and PR agency expands capabilities with new hire

Tess Egginton
-
0
Nottingham-based marketing and PR agency expands capabilities with new hire
Nottingham-based marketing and PR agency, V Formation, has bolstered its digital marketing offering with the appointment of Rory Chambers, a specialist in website development and digital marketing. Joining the agency’s digital team as Senior Digital Marketing Executive, Rory brings strong expertise in graphic design, branding, SEO, and video production, honed through his previous role as Marketing Manager at health tech start-up GripAble. Prior to this, Rory graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Marketing. His addition to V Formation’s growing digital team further enhances the agency’s ability to deliver innovative, high-quality digital solutions for its expanding client portfolio. Hilary Campton, Director at V Formation, said: “Rory’s passion for website development and graphic design will be an invaluable asset to both our team and our clients. His appointment comes at an exciting time as we approach the end of the year with new projects on the horizon and continued growth across the board. “Rory’s skillset aligns perfectly with our mission to provide top-tier marketing and PR expertise and support that empowers our clients to thrive.” Rory said: “From the outset, it was clear that V Formation isn’t just an agency focused on results – it’s a place where people are genuinely valued and supported. The opportunity to collaborate with such a talented team, whilst continuing to develop as a digital marketer, was a key motivator for me. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into client projects, working across a range of B2B sectors.”

£14m investment will change freight industry across the country

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
£14m investment will change freight industry across the country
Development of lorry parks at multiple locations throughout our region feature in a raft of grants being introduced in a £14m nationwide scheme to enhance efficiency and working conditions in the haulage industry. Funds are being given to enhance parking and driver welfare facilities throughout Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire including at Immingham, Stallinborough, Ulceby, Colsterworth on the A1, Newark, Sutterton, Bardon in Leicestershire, and numerous Moto locations amongst other. it’s also intended that more green e-cargo bikes will deliver parcels to doorsteps and that better truckstops will help relieve local congestion, thanks to efforts from both government and industry to drive innovation in freight and improve working conditions. Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood revealed the 23 successful applicants of up to £4.5 million from the government to improve truckstops and working conditions for lorry drivers. The investment will also help build better dining, changing and rest facilities, as well as new CCTV and secure fencing to boost welfare and security for lorry drivers. The funding is from the third year of the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme, which will come in addition to £8 million from industry, for a total funding boost of £12.5 million to improve truckstops. This investment comes on top of £1.8 million from the government for 10 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to trial new groundbreaking technology for decarbonising freight and driving innovation in the sector. Ideas that will become reality include TUAL working with Wincanton to trial high-performance powerbanks for electric lorries, and Innervated Vehicle Engineering working in partnership with Asda to retrofit hydrogen power to small delivery vans. This funding is the third tranche of the department’s Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator Programme, a £7 million government investment across 3 years to support the freight sector in deploying AI and automation to improve the way trains, lorries, vans, and ships carry parcels and goods. Lilian Greenwood said: “Freight is a crucial engine of our economy and it is only right we do all we can to improve working conditions, pioneer innovation and drive sustainability across the industry.

“Our funding, combined with investment from the industry, will ensure lorry drivers can enjoy safer parking, a proper rest and a warm meal, while supporting UK businesses to harvest the best of technology to move freight faster, decarbonise our supply chain, and grow the economy for all.”

New Employment Rights Bill makes almost 30 changes to workers’ rights

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
New Employment Rights Bill makes almost 30 changes to workers’ rights
Government is introducing a new Employment Rights Bill which brings forward 28 individual employment reforms, from ending zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers. Its also intended to strengthen statutory sick pay, remove the lower earnings limit for all workers, cut out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in, and scrap the existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal. Flexible working will be made the default where practical, and large employers will be required to create action plans to address gender pay gaps and support employees through the menopause, as well as strengthened protection against dismissal for pregnant women and new mothers. The Government says getting the labour market moving again is essential to economic growth, with one in five UK businesses with more than 10 employees reporting staff shortages. It says flexibility, for workers and businesses alike, is key to answering this challenge and is at the heart of the legislation to upgrade the law to ensure it is fit for modern life and a modern economy. It’s also intended to consult on a new statutory probation period for new hires, allowing for a proper assessment of an employee’s suitability to a role as well as reassuring employees that they have rights from day one, enabling businesses to take chances on hires while giving more people confidence to re-enter the job market or change careers, improving their living standards. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “This is the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation, boosting pay and productivity with employment laws fit for a modern economy. “The UK’s out-of-date employment laws are holding our country back and failing business and workers alike. Our plans to make work pay will deliver security in work as the foundation for boosting productivity and growing our economy to make working people better off and realise our potential.”
1...170171172...1,010Page 171 of 1,010