New team joins 3 Bunkers fundraiser

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New team joins 3 Bunkers fundraiser

The Nottingham office of wealth managers, RBC Brewin Dolphin has signed up to be the sixth team to take part in the annual 3 Bunkers challenge which aims to raise £100,000 for local charity Big C Little C.

‘The 3 Bunkers Challenge’ is styled like the infamous three peaks mountain climbs, but involves 24 golfers playing 27 holes within 10 hours at Morley Hayes in Derbyshire, Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire and The Nottinghamshire, covering just over 70 miles.

RBC Brewin Dolphin has a history dating back to 1762 and has 30 offices based across the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands.

The team from RBC Brewin Dolphin will be led by Robin Mellows, Head of Office in the East Midlands.

Commenting Ian Cooper, Divisional Director, Investment Management from RBC Brewin Dolphin said: “Our brand has been associated with many of Nottingham’s leading business awards and charity fundraisers and we are delighted to be taking part in this challenge to help research cures for cancer and help local children escape abuse and neglect.”

Established in 2020, the 3 Bunkers Challenge is organised by in Elliot & Bev Cook from Simple Marketing Consultancy and so far £40,000 of the £100,000 target has been raised.

This year, the event takes place on Friday 24 May 2024. The other five teams taking part are from Actons Solicitors, Fiscal Engineers, MAF Finance Group, Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors and Simple Marketing Consultancy.

Big C Little C was founded in 2019 by business entrepreneurs, Andrew Springhall and Colin Shaw who joined forces to create a charity that would encourage East Midlands businesses to organise events to raise money for Cancer Research, the NSPCC and other children related charities.

The organisers welcome support via online donations. The fundraising link is: https://givestar.io/ev/the-3-bunkers-challenge-2024

NTU invests £1.3m in ‘Mandalorian’ film technology

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NTU invests £1.3m in ‘Mandalorian’ film technology

Hollywood tech seen in Disney’s The Mandalorian will be available for filmmakers to use in Nottingham thanks to major investment in the digital arts by Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

As part of the forthcoming Design & Digital Arts (D&DA) building, professional filmmakers and NTU students alike will access one of the most advanced Virtual Production suites in the UK.

The technology – which wowed millions around the world in the epic Star Wars spinoff – is being delivered in collaboration with audiovisual technology specialists Creative Technology and ARRI Solutions.

The £1.3 million investment by NTU will allow artists, such as actors, to perform in front of a huge LED screen which can virtually transport the audience to anywhere in the world, or beyond, in an instant.

Standing at 30ft wide by 13ft tall, the display features almost 10 million pixels, making 2D and 3D moving images and special effects appear lifelike, both in-person and on-camera.

The suite includes high-quality sound and camera systems used by professionals around the world, and a lighting system specially designed to ensure that fine details, such as skin tones and colour reproduction, appear authentic in the LED environment.

Included in the collaboration is a greenscreen studio – complete with state-of-the-art lighting and rigging systems – allowing students to get to grips with the technologies used by professionals, before they embark on their own creative careers.

There will be a studio where students can learn studio techniques for lighting, cameras, motion capture and more, and a recording studio and control room for audio related workflows.

The Creative Technology and ARRI Solutions teams will provide ongoing support and assistance with the technologies, workflows, and best practices in virtual production as part of the collaboration.

Michael Marsden, Executive Dean of the Nottingham School of Art & Design at NTU, said: “This investment has the potential to inspire a renaissance in Nottingham’s filmmaking industry, the likes of which that hasn’t been seen since the days of the former Central and Carlton television studios.

“We’re making available some of the most advanced filmmaking technology in the world that could change the way local filmmakers work, and attract new ones to the city, leading to previously unimagined possibilities.

“At the same time, we will become a global leader in digital arts and filmmaking education, creating a rich talent pool of young creatives who will graduate with sector-leading expertise and hands-on industry experience.

“This is an exciting development in our 180-year history which will help position NTU, and the city as a whole, as the most innovative hotbed for digital art and design talent in the UK.”

The D&DA building, which is set to open in September 2024 for its first intake of students, is part of an ambitious plan to build on NTU’s reputation as one of the world’s leading art and design schools.

As well as digital filmmaking, the space will enable NTU to develop its credentials in animation, UX design, gaming, graphic design and illustration, together with traditional design practice.

The investment as a whole is expected to create an additional £1 million in student expenditure in the local economy.

Tom Burford, Director of Technical Services Creative Technology UK, said: “The delivery of NTU’s Virtual Production space will be borne out of experience of being at the cutting edge of technology, workflows and language that has developed at a huge rate of knots over the past few years.

“With all of this experience our purpose at Creative Technology has always been to share, educate and inspire. Our partnership with NTU allows us to do just that and I’m excited and positive for the journey to come.

“Engaging and sharing with not only today’s practitioners but more importantly the future generation is a must for anyone working in the technology environment. We will be working with both the educators and the students, giving them real-time hands-on experience and knowledge with current workflows and techniques at the new facility in Nottingham.

“We are also going to be looking at additional support as part of our ConneCT education initiative, with ‘on set’ experience, work placements and mentoring sessions from industry leading figures and organisations. I’m delighted to be part of the supporting team and very much looking forward to every step of the way.”

Kevin Schwutke, Senior Vice President and Business Unit Head, Solutions, ARRI, said: “The Design & Digital Arts building, and its studio facilities stand as a landmark development, not only for NTU, but also for the city’s creative industries.

“Collaborating from the project’s inception, we’ve integrated our expertise in efficient studio design, industry-leading camera and lighting technology, and cutting-edge digital tools.

“This productive partnership between the University and industry partners has delivered a facility which not only assures the highest production values, but also enables students to gain invaluable hands-on experience in an environment mirroring the professional settings found in top-tier film sets.”

Furnley House Foundation raises over £38,000 for local Leicestershire charities

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Furnley House Foundation raises over £38,000 for local Leicestershire charities

Over 170 people attended the Furnley House Foundation Summer Ball on Saturday 11th May at Winstanley House, Leicester, raising over £38,000 for local Leicestershire charities. 

Hosted by comedian Patrick Monahan, guests enjoyed drinks at the reception, a three-course fine dined meal and a live performance from local choir group, Musical Village. Attendees also had the opportunity to take home some amazing items in both live and silent auctions including weekend getaways and exquisite dining experiences. 

The Furnley House Foundation was born out of local financial adviser and mortgage broker Furnley House’s ambition to create opportunities and improve the lives of the local community. The Foundation holds a number of events each year to help bring the community together whilst raising money for deserving causes.    

This year, all funds raised will support three charities that were selected during the 2023 Leicestershire Community Champions Awards and includes: Charity of the year winners, Steps Conductive Education Centre and finalist Focus Charity and Heartwize.  

Steps Conductive Education Centre is a registered charity supporting families with children who have special educational needs. Focus Charity supports vulnerable young people, many of whom are in mental health crisis. Heartwize delivers basic life support training which includes CPR using resuscitation dolls as well as teaching how to use a defibrillator. 

Simon Winfield, Chairman of the Furnley House Foundation, said: “The Summer Ball is always one of the highlights of year, and it was great to see it receive so much support from the Leicestershire community again.

“The money raised helps us to achieve our mission of improving and saving lives in Leicester and Leicestershire. Thank you to everyone for their support and we look forward to our next event, the Leicestershire Community Champions Awards, later in the year.” 

Premier Asset Finance appoints business development manager for the Humber and East Midlands

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Premier Asset Finance appoints business development manager for the Humber and East Midlands

Andy Craggs has joined Premier Asset Finance as business development manager, focusing on the Humber and East Midlands. Andy joins Premier Asset Finance with over 35 years of experience in the asset finance industry, having spent the last 25 as Managing Director at asset finance brokerage, ECS Group. As Managing Director of ECS Group, Andy supported clients and equipment suppliers across the Humber, East Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire regions, specialising in sourcing suitable funding solutions for businesses with a focus on renewable and sustainable energy projects. As a business development manager across the Humber and East Midlands for Premier, Andy will work with new and existing clients and report to Ken McKeating, Managing Director of Premier Asset Finance. Commenting on his appointment, Andy said: “I’m delighted to have joined Premier Asset Finance, working with Ken and the team to develop new relationships with clients in the East Midlands and the Humber, as well as continue to service our existing clients in this region.”

Ken McKeating, Premier Asset Finance Managing Director, added: “We’re pleased to welcome Andy to the Premier Asset Finance team. Andy has a wealth of experience in the asset finance industry, running ECS Group, a respected asset finance brokerage for 25 years.

“At Premier we’re continuing to bolster our already experienced team and Andy will be bringing his invaluable experience from the industry, especially in the green asset space. Building our knowledge in this area continues to be a key focus for Premier as we grow.”

Nottingham charity marks decade of fundraising for baby loss families

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Nottingham charity marks decade of fundraising for baby loss families
Nottingham baby loss charity Forever Stars marked its milestone 10th anniversary last week with a party for its trustees, sponsors, supporters and army of volunteers. Among the party guests were Nottingham Forest legend John McGovern who did the charity’s first ever fundraiser and continues to support Forever Stars today, and Runners World UK journalist Alice Ball who ran an ultramarathon in Tanzania in 2024 to raise £17,000 for the charity. Set-up in May 2014 by Richard and Michelle Daniels following the still birth of their daughter Emily on 19 December 2013, Forever Stars has raised almost £700,000 over the last 10 years. The charity has used the money to support its vision to promote and protect the health of parents affected by still birth, miscarriage or other perinatal or neonatal death of their child or children. Also joining Richard and Michelle at the tenth anniversary celebrations was Mandy Dann, a bereavement midwife who supported the couple when they lost Emily and with whom they first discussed the idea of setting up the charity within the first few months after losing their daughter. Richard says: “Among Forever Stars’ first decade’s biggest projects, is the Serenity Suite at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, that opened in April 2016 and for which Forever Stars provided the £185,000 for its construction; the charity provided £145,000 for the creation of the Serenity Suite at Nottingham’s City Hospital that opened in 2017; and the Forever Stars Serenity Garden at Highfield Park Nottingham, which the charity officially opened in July 2021.” “The Serenity Centre and Serenity Garden are both a personal highlight for me,” he adds. “These took the charity from being a fundraiser for specific projects, through to being a service provider for baby loss families, and I think helped to develop the baby loss community in Nottingham and the wider East Midlands, where everyone supports one another. “The Serenity Garden has two sculptures and in July last year, we added 700 beautiful petals to these in memory of some of the babies lost by the families the charity has supported since it began life in 2014.” Forever Stars was officially given charity status by the Charity Commission in England on 9 May 2014, became a Baby Loss Awareness Alliance Partner in October 2018, and hosted its first ever flagship fundraiser the Pink & Blue Ball in October 2019. “We owe so much to our army of dedicated volunteers and trustees, who work tirelessly behind the scenes and give so much time to the charity every single month,” Richard says. “Our corporate sponsors are also incredible, with many, including SMS – Smart Made Simple, Gleeds, John Pye Auctions, Frontline Recruitment, JMK Wealth Management, Co-op, and Long Eaton Rugby Club, supporting us for many of the last 10 years, alongside newer additions PJS Consulting Engineers, Tesco, Wates, Gateley Legal and Interim Consultant. “We are also so grateful to the organisations that have appointed Forever Stars as their charity of the year, including Nottingham Forest FC in season 2014/2015.” Earlier this year, Forever Stars unveiled its challenge that will mark its tenth anniversary milestone. “On 1 March, we officially launched ‘Supporting 1 in 4 for 2024’, so called because one in four pregnancies sadly ends in miscarriage,” Richard explains. “We are making good progress towards raising our target £50,000 which will be used to finance the renovation and improvement of Ward A23’s clinical and non-clinical areas at Queen’s Medical Centre Nottingham. “We are also looking for help from local artists and businesses to donate their time, skills and materials for a DIY SOS-style makeover project for A23’s garden, which is in desperate need of a lot of care and attention to make it into a place where families suffering baby loss through miscarriage receive specialist care and support, can retreat to try and deal with the weight of their loss. “This is one of our biggest ever challenges. We need as many people as possible to join our fundraising efforts to help us to create a truly special environment for the families that need to use the ward. Support – big or small – can make a genuine difference to the lives of families across the East Midlands who rely on A23 during their miscarriage journey.” Anyone wishing to donate their time, expertise or materials, or fundraise for the charity and the 1 in 4 Campaign, can email: enquiries@foreverstars.org.

Chesterfield motor finance firm grows with acquisition of Leeds broker

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Chesterfield motor finance firm grows with acquisition of Leeds broker
Chesterfield-headquartered Evolution Funding is set to acquire motor finance broker Creditas Financial Solutions, subject to FCA approval. This strategic move marks a milestone in Evolution Funding’s growth trajectory and underscores its commitment to expanding dealer access to the group’s finance platform, technology, and broad lender panel. Founded in 2007 by Andy Shaw and headquartered in Leeds, Creditas employs 60 staff and oversees four Appointed Representatives. Creditas will continue to operate under its own brand as a subsidiary of Evolution Funding Group and with its existing management team at the helm. Evolution has completed several acquisitions as part of its expansion plan, including automotive Software-as-a-Service provider Click Dealer in 2021 and the motor finance broker Motion Finance in 2023. Evolution secured majority investment from global private equity firm Carlyle in July 2023, leading to significant reinvestment in the company’s platform, technology, and digital capabilities. Lee Streets, CEO of Evolution Funding, said: “The acquisition of Creditas is highly complementary. With little overlap between Creditas and Evolution Funding Group’s dealer partners, it will grow Evolution’s footprint with independent retailers. “At the same time, our technology, processes, and partnerships will enhance Creditas’ proposition for dealers, maximising its potential and driving long-term growth across the group. “We have been impressed with Creditas’ approach to motor finance, the focus they put on building relationships and doing the right thing for consumers, an ethos at the heart of our own operations. We look forward to working closely with Andy and the team to identify further opportunities and harness our mutual strengths.” Andy Shaw, Managing Director of Creditas, said: “I am delighted we have joined part of the Evolution Group. Having built Creditas up over the last 17 years now is the time to become part of a much larger entity. We are looking forward to working with Lee and his team moving forward – it’s going to open a lot of new options for the benefit of our dealers.” Creditas were advised by Peter Williams, David Kendrick, and Fraser Pirie of UHY Hacker Young (Manchester) LLP.

Construction begins on 760,000 sq ft unit at Magna Park North Lutterworth

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Construction begins on 760,000 sq ft unit at Magna Park North Lutterworth
GLP has commenced construction of MPN 761, a speculative unit measuring 761,361 sq ft in Magna Park North Lutterworth. MPN 761 will target a BREEAM Outstanding accreditation while the overall scheme will be a net-zero development with each unit independently certified by Planet Mark. It will benefit from best-in-class specifications and ESG features including wide service yards, significant HGV and car parking allocations, dock levelers, level access doors, increased natural light, electric vehicle charging and abundant power supply. The building will be designed to WELL principles with the occupiers in mind, with GLP aiming to provide a more productive and pleasant working environment for employees. GLP will also be supporting customers to reduce energy and operational costs, by providing a complimentary Planet Mark program to help monitor, track and reduce their respective carbon footprint. Construction is expected to be completed in June 2025. Bruce Topley, Managing Director at GLP, said: “We are pleased to have commenced development of MPN 761 in Magna Park North. This is a testament to our confidence in the resilience of the UK logistics market and the strategic importance of the Midlands in particular. “As companies look to benefit from a prime location, we look forward to welcoming customers to our existing units and positioning Magna Park North Lutterworth for long-term success.” Joe Garwood, Senior Development Director at GLP, said: “The development of MPN 761 will be an excellent addition to our existing units in Magna Park North Lutterworth. “At GLP, we embed customer-centricity at the outset of any development alongside aligning environmental and social concerns. This site is a great example of that and at the cutting edge of the warehouse market in the UK.”

Innovation consultancy’s partnership with University of Nottingham to transform AI-assisted consumer insights

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Innovation consultancy’s partnership with University of Nottingham to transform AI-assisted consumer insights
An innovation consultancy is set to revolutionise its consumer insights capabilities by embarking on a collaboration with researchers from the University of Nottingham.
With vast experience in the food, beverage, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries, Strategic Innovation Ltd provides its clients with innovative solutions to complex challenges, including strategic road mapping, consumer insights, and technology scouting. The company’s passion for sustainability and ambition to become sector-leaders in AI-assisted consumer insights, has resulted in Strategic Innovation entering into a 26-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the University of Nottingham. KTPs are a three-way collaboration between a UK-based business or charity, a research organisation, and a qualified graduate known as a KTP Associate who has the capability to lead a strategic business project. This collaboration sees Strategic Innovation partnered with two centres of excellence at Nottingham University Business School – behavioural analytics and social data science specialists N/Lab, and the Haydn Green Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Leading the project, computer scientist and KTP Associate Dr Weiyao Meng will work alongside the company, bridging the gap between academia and industry. She said: “I’m delighted to be working with Strategic Innovation on such an exciting project. Together, we’re utilising the power of cutting-edge AI and data analytics to advance consumer research, driving impactful change for social good.” She continued: “I’m truly excited to contribute my skills in Computer Science and AI to such a meaningful endeavour, especially with the supportive network provided by Strategic Innovation and the University of Nottingham.” The partnership aims to strengthen Strategic Innovation’s consumer insights, scaling up their existing services, by applying machine learning and advanced AI techniques used by the university, to increase the speed, quality and precision of its data capture and analytical processes. Dr John Harvey, Associate Professor at N/Lab, said: “At a time when misinformation thrives online, gathering reliable, trusted data that can inform optimal decision making has never been more valuable. “We at N/lab and Nottingham University Business School are excited to collaborate in this KTP with Strategic Innovation, using NLP (Natural Language Processing) to advance consumer research. Helping organisations to both better understand their audiences and promote social good.” Through the formation of its ‘Think Better World Alliance’ concept, the company intends to identify and harness rich text and human behavioural insights to support the collaborative transformation of food systems towards sustainability. Key to this is democratising data to ensure everyone has access to the latest, relevant, and reliable information. Paul Frobisher, Strategic Innovation’s Director, said: “I’m so excited to be at the start of a dream that has been incubating for several years. This KTP with the University of Nottingham will help us to develop innovative and scalable approaches to AI-enabled better consumer insight analysis, through which we hope to engage stakeholders from farm to fork – and beyond – to better understand the barriers and enablers to sustainability.”

Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham Forest FC to sign new partnership agreement

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Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham Forest FC to sign new partnership agreement
An agreement is set to be signed to strengthen ties between Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham Forest Football Club. Known as a MOU (memorandum of understanding), the agreement sets out how the two organisations can work more closely to further benefit local communities and boost the economy. Nottingham Forest FC’s ambition to deliver new training and stadium infrastructure, as well as promoting the educational and health benefits of sport, links in with the Council’s priorities to find more ways to support the health and well-being of Nottinghamshire families and residents. Councillor Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Nottingham Forest FC, like all the great sporting clubs we have in this county, is an important partner for us. The Club brings so much investment potential to the area which helps our infrastructure and economy. “This agreement is a win-win as it will give us more scope to explore further options to benefit local communities and help with Forest’s ambitions and future plans.” Nottinghamshire County Councillor Keith Girling, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, added: “This is great news as we welcome the chance to work more closely with the Club and the Nottingham Forest Community Trust. “This includes working collaboratively to identify suitable county council sites that could benefit both the Club and our ongoing commitment to bring more investment and jobs to Nottinghamshire.” Tom Cartledge, Nottingham Forest Chairman, said: “The recent launch of our new Vision for Sport in Nottinghamshire has brought us closer to colleagues at the County Council. It is therefore excellent that we can now formalise our working relationship with them to explore opportunities for everyone to enjoy the growth of sport across the county.”

Nottingham Venues signs the Hoteliers’ Charter

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Nottingham Venues signs the Hoteliers’ Charter

Nottingham Venues has signed the Hoteliers’ Charter, the national standard that champions the hospitality industry and advocates for working in hotels as a viable long-term career choice.

In becoming a Charter Hotelier, one of only three in Nottinghamshire, Nottingham Venues is demonstrating its commitment to its 270 employees and to providing a workplace environment built on the foundations of respect, fairness, equality, diversity and opportunity.

By signing the charter, Nottingham Venues also re-affirms its commitment to supporting employees’ career development, their wellbeing and to ending low pay.

Tom Waldron-Lynch, General Manager of Nottingham Venues, says: “We take the wellbeing of our employees seriously and have worked hard to ensure that we are a leading employer within our sector. In 2022, we became a living wage employer, and we offer some of the most competitive salaries and pension packages in the hospitality industry.

“We support our colleague’s wellness with a range of initiatives, including a team of Mental Health First Aiders, and offer the opportunity for all our employees to request flexible working.

“The ambitions of the Hoteliers’ Charter to raise standards and demonstrate that working in hospitality is a viable long-term career choice reflect our own.

“By becoming a Charter Hotelier, we are confirming to our current team and those who wish to join us that we are committed to their wellbeing and to recruiting, developing, and retaining the best talent in our industry.”

The move to achieve Charter Hotelier status is the latest part of Nottingham Venues’ People Development Strategy led by HR Director Suzie Adams who joined the business in 2022.

Since then, there have been measurable improvements in employees’ happiness and satisfaction at work. Nottingham Venues’ staff engagement score of +67 is above the industry average and the company benchmarks well against others in the industry.

Nottingham Venues is a collection of hospitality destinations located on the University of Nottingham’s campuses – including the 4* Orchard Hotel & Restaurant, the Jubilee Hotel and Conferences venues, Campus Venues and the East Midlands Conference Centre. It provides meeting space from 5 to 1,000 delegates, with over 40 meeting rooms, 2,000 sq ft of exhibition space and 300 bedrooms at the Orchard Hotel and Jubilee Hotel combined.

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