For more information on exhibiting at the event click here.
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To secure tickets for the networking lunch click here.
Two months to go until the East Midlands Expo!
In two months time, the East Midlands Expo will return! Register NOW to secure your spot at the free to attend event!
Already seeing more bookings than last year, the established event of over 20 years will take place on Monday 14 November 2022, offering an ideal day for networking and business generation.
Event organiser Tina King said: “It is great to see so many exhibitors and delegates engaging with networking and exhibiting again following Covid restrictions.”
The expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, is well targeted and aimed at the construction, property, business, investment, finance, professional services and related B2B markets.
Taking place at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, the exhibition will open to attendees at 9am, with a seminar taking place between 10:45am and noon.
A special networking lunch (for which tickets can be purchased here) will then take place between 12:15pm and 2:15pm, and the exhibition will close at 3:30pm.
From property agents to developers, architects, contractors, investors, PR firms, and more, see the list of current exhibitors here.
New sports bar and leisure venue set for Burton
Burton-based commercial property agents, Rushton Hickman Ltd, has let a 5,500 sq ft retail unit located at 6/8 Station St, Burton upon Trent, as a new sports bar and leisure venue.
The premises had historically operated as a bar, with several changes of name and ownership over time.
The `Break Room Sports Bar’ is planned to open on Sunday 18 September and was conceptualised by two local businessmen, Ryan Gibbs, and Paul Fox, both of whom are experienced cue sport players.
Ryan said: “We will be offering high quality pool and snooker facilities, along with interactive smart darts, which cannot be found anywhere within the local area. These facilities will be accompanied by a fully stocked bar and freshly made cocktails, with live sports shown around the club.
“The town is currently lacking in entertainment venues, forcing its residents to travel further afield for leisure facilities. Our aim is to offer high quality entertainment facilities within the town centre, to attract people to stay in their local area.
“We will ultimately promote cue sports to compliment the abundance of talent we have within the county and the high-quality local leagues. This will be backed up by a new concept of `Smart Darts’ which has taken the bigger cities by storm by offering people a new leisure activity and a great time.”
Paul said: “The Break Room will provide the people of Burton on Trent with a much-needed entertainment venue, where they are encouraged to bring friends and family along for a competitive but friendly night out. Burton on Trent has a great history of pubs and bars in the town centre, and we feel the very large pool and snooker community within the area will certainly welcome our new club.
“For a long time, the town has held large and very popular cue sports leagues, with participation ever increasing and we are well placed to offer teams within those leagues a club with the best facilities around. Ryan and I know the cue sports scene extensively, having played at a very high level for many years.
“With the support of the local town, The Break Room can be the go-to place when planning a night out, for an experience that keeps customers coming back again and again. We hope to have something for everyone, this isn’t just a pool and snooker club. The Break Room Sports Bar will be a venue where people can enjoy a freshly made cocktail with friends or put their competitive streak to the test on one of our activities.
“The former Camino Bar premises was an obvious choice of property for us to choose, as it is mainly open plan which allows us to maximize the space to accommodate 2 full size snooker tables and 8 English pool tables plus dedicated darts playing area. The location of Burton town centre is absolutely ideal for us.
“Simon and the whole team at Rushton Hickman provided exceptional service throughout the process and always responded swiftly to respond to any queries. We can’t thank them enough for helping to make our dream happen!”
Rushton Hickman commercial property agent, Simon Walker, said: “This latest town centre letting is yet more fantastic news for the communities of Burton upon Trent and the surrounding areas. To find a suitable tenant, with an ideal use for a large empty town centre retail unit of 5,500 sq ft, is by no means an easy task. We are `over the moon’ to have agreed this letting and of course both tenant and landlord are absolutely delighted that we got a deal agreed for them.”
Developer buys prominent Nottingham city centre building
A developer with ambitions of reversing the fortunes of Nottingham’s high street has bought a prominent city centre building.
ALB Group is pressing on with its rejuvenation of local shopping streets, after buying 11-15 Low Pavement, and is hoping to attract a high-end restaurant to occupy a ground floor space.
The Grade II-listed Low Pavement building, which boasts both Georgian and Victorian architecture, housed the former TSB bank until it closed in 2020, and fragrance shop, Jo Malone currently occupies number 15.
The firm has also acquired the adjacent 12 Pepper Street – home to the Pepper Rocks cocktail bar and creperie.
Pepper Rocks and Jo Malone now have a new landlord, in ALB Group, but the Nottingham-based developer says negotiations are ongoing with a view to extending their leases at the site, which is situated over three floors and features a courtyard as well as a roof terrace.
The overall plan is to give ALB Group – which bought a number of properties in Bridlesmith Gate and Lister Gate last year with a masterplan to revitalise the area and make it as thriving as London’s Carnaby Street – greater scope for the revamp.
Arran Bailey, ALB’s Managing Director, said: “As we own the adjoining buildings it gives us greater control when it comes to regeneration of the area.
“We bought nearby buildings in the latter part of last year, and within less than six months, we had renovated and found exciting new tenants for those buildings, while reassuring existing tenants that we were out to turn the area around.
“We are delighted with the completion of the purchase, and excited for the future.”
The acquisition was made possible thanks to London-based McMullen Real Estate.
A spokesman for McMullen said: “McMullen Real Estate acted on behalf of Oakgate Group in the successful sale of the property.”
Oakgate Group put the building on the market last year, and had described how it was located “in the heart of Nottingham’s prime district, surrounded by high-end fashion retailers and restaurants.”
ALB Group is continuing to pull up the area by the bootstraps. But less than six months after snapping up 11 vacant premises, along with three on Lister Gate, ALB Group had all but one of its units filled, with vibrant and on-trend independent traders filling the void.
Among the businesses which have moved into the prime retail space so far are ladieswear boutique Stick and Ribbon, estate agent Pygott & Crone, craft coffee and deli shop Barista LAB, 18 Montrose and Sneakerverse.
Nottinghamshire plumbing, heating and electrical services contractor secures funding for growth
OakNorth Bank has provided a bespoke debt finance facility to FDBC Holdings, part of Neil Shacklocks, one of the UK’s largest plumbing, heating and electrical contractors.
The transaction will help support the business’s future growth plans following the completion of a management buy-out in June 2020, which saw the full transfer of shares to the firm’s new owners.
Headquartered in the Nottinghamshire market town of Sutton-in-Ashfield and incorporated in 1968, Neil Shacklocks undertakes installation projects throughout the East Midlands and South Yorkshire regions.
Its client list includes some of the largest, blue-chip housebuilders, including Taylor Wimpey, McCarthy & Stone, and Barratt Homes, with previous notable projects also including Barcelona’s Olympic Village complex, Centre Parcs’ Thetford site, the Don Valley Stadium and Folkestone’s Channel Tunnel complex.
Chris Hodgson, Managing Director of Neil Shacklocks, said: “Since Neil Shacklocks launched over five decades ago, it has managed to build an extensive and highly impressive client book, serviced by a dedicated and forward-thinking professional team.
“The business is continually looking to improve its performance and with sales in the plumbing and heating supply chain increasing dramatically following the pandemic, we’re confident Neil Shacklocks is set to thrive moving forward.
“We are grateful for the support we received from the team at OakNorth Bank, who were transparent and entrepreneurial in their approach. The funding will allow our new management team to pursue our corporate strategy, which will focus heavily on strengthening efficiency.”
Dale Cowdell, associate director of debt finance at OakNorth Bank, added: “I’ve known Neil Shacklocks for nearly a decade and in this time, the business has truly cemented itself as a leader in the plumbing, heating and electrical services industry. It has the reputation of being one of the best and largest contractors operating throughout the East Midlands and South Yorkshire since its launch over 50 years ago.
“With the sector set for significant growth over the next five years, Neil Shacklocks is in a prime position to capitalise on this opportunity. We are delighted to have been selected as the firm’s funding partner to support its growth journey and we look forward to strengthening our relationship with them in the future.”
OakNorth Bank was advised on the transaction by Harrison Clark Rickerbys.
University of Leicester engineer to work on game changing drone technology
A university engineer will take a year away from teaching to work on state-of-the-art drone technology.
Dr Bing Ji has been working alongside aerial logistics firm Skyfarer and Dynex Semiconductor Ltd to develop intelligent gate drivers for silicon carbide and gallium nitride devices.
Dr Ji, who works in the University’s School of Engineering says that the development of these components could be revolutionary for electric transportation and could help the UK achieve its net-emissions goals in the future.
These devices promise significant increases in efficiency, power density, temperature, and switching frequency for electric power trains.
Dr Ji said: “By working with Skyfarer and Dynex, the University of Leicester is seizing an historic moment in the reinvention of electric transportation.
“This research is helping to improve the field robustness and reliability of eTransportation by developing the latest intelligent drivers for silicon carbide and gallium nitride devices.
“The latest intelligent gate drivers will help system designers to reliably maximise the transistor potentials while providing in-situ status awareness, adaptive protection and device-level control.
“The associated power converters have been utilized in electric vehicles and drones to improve the energy efficiency and reliability of the systems.
“As the UK is becoming a greener and more innovation-led economy, the consequent industry and economic impacts are becoming clear, thanks to the collaboration of academia and industry on the research and development of power electronics and research.”
Because of his work, Dr Ji is one of seven engineering researchers to receive The Royal Academy of Engineering’s prestigious Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship.
The fellowship will cover the costs of a replacement academic to take over teaching and administrative duties.
Talking about the fellowship, Dr Ji said: “This award will enable our industry partners to get access to this new technology early on in its development and to assess how this can be adopted for commercial exploitation. It will also significantly benefit my research and career developments.”
Matlock accountancy practice merges with Buxton chartered accountants
Matlock-based accountancy practice, Malcolm J Harris Ltd, have merged with Buxton chartered accountants, SMH BullockWoodburn, enabling the firm to offer an increased level of service to its clients as it becomes part of the wider Yorkshire and Derbyshire-based SMH Group.
The firm now operates from the SMH BullockWoodburn office on Hardwick Square North in Buxton.
Ross Jordan, partner of SMH BullockWoodburn, says: “The merger is an excellent opportunity for both firms. It provides long term security and more added value services for clients of Malcolm J Harris and allows for further growth of SMH BullockWoodburn within the SMH Group.
“Clients of Malcolm J Harris will now benefit from a complete range of services that they haven’t been able to access before, including our personal financial services, such as pension & investment advice, and assistance with wills & probate and Inheritance tax planning – all of which can be accessed via our Buxton office by the most highly skilled, specialist staff possible.
“Having recently been appointed as a director and partner of SMH BullockWoodburn, I am actively looking to grow the business, and the merger with Malcolm J Harris Ltd is a great place to start. We’d like to offer a warm welcome to all staff and clients into the SMH family.”
Malcolm Harris, on behalf of Malcolm J Harris Ltd, adds: “We have always offered our clients a personal, proactive and customised service to meet their needs and requirements. However, for a smaller company the burden of increased administration, regulation, and AML, as well as looming tax legislation changes, combined with our retirement plans, has meant that we need a larger partner to continue to provide the excellent level of service we have always prided ourselves on offering to our clients.
“I am certain that the SMH Group is the right partner for us and I am very pleased to be introducing our clients to Ross and his team in Buxton.
“My wife, Jill and I will be staying on as consultants to ensure our clients have continuity and to introduce them to members of the team that will be working with them across all the specialist departments within the SMH Group.
“SMH Group have the expertise to continue to deliver the highest quality service to our clients, as well as introducing their full-service offering meaning they will be able to access all their financial requirements under one roof. I am confident the merger will be of benefit to all our clients.”
The addition of Malcolm J Harris Ltd into the SMH Group is the 6th merger to take place since 2018, and the first to join SMH BullockWoodburn since they joined the SMH Group in 2018.
Ten tips on how to avoid burnout in a busy world: by Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency
Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency, offers useful tips on avoiding burnout.
In an ideal world, we would anticipate burnout and illnesses so that we have time to make changes to try to prevent them. However, nine times out of ten we don’t realise we are in the ‘burnout phase’ until it is too late, and therefore from my own personal experience of having to learn the hard way, I have put together ten of my top tips for avoiding burnout…
- Be self-aware – No one knows your body and mind like you do, so if something doesn’t feel right, you feel off or are aware that you are heading towards the danger zone, then the first rule is recognising this, so that you at least have a fighting chance at doing something about it to turn it around, before it’s too late.
- Be realistic – Following on from tip number one, we would ideally manage our stress every day, sleep like babies and live an ultra-healthy lifestyle, wandering around with smug looks on our faces knowing that our bodies are temples and nothing can touch us. However the reality is we are all just doing the best we can and our best is all we can do, so as long as we are taking steps in the right direction and not putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves (which could cause more stress) then that is good enough.
- Prevention is better than cure – This age old saying is a good’n and one which still stands today, given that living a healthy, relatively stress free lifestyle has been scientifically proven to give a better quality and longer life span, so be aware of what you put into your body, keep moving, drink plenty of water, get outside every day in the fresh air and nourish yourself with whatever it is you need – every day.
- You are what you eat – I’m totally guilty of skipping meals when on the go. Back-to-back meetings are the norm these days, or being too tired to cook dinner in the evenings, so plan ahead. Meal prepping is great for the busy worker during the week, or sign up to a meal delivery service that takes all the hard work away from you, to ensure that you still get all the goodness into you without the effort attached to it.
- Turn it off – Whether it’s your phone, the television, radio, social media – turn it off. Have a break from it and ‘digital detox’ as they say. Now more than ever we are continually ‘connected’ and this can have all kinds of negative results on the mind and body. It’s pretty simple to click the off button once in a while and enjoy being in the present moment, but rarely do we allow that space and time for it – factor it into your day even for just an hour.
- Say no – Being a people pleaser to the detriment of oneself is not a badge of honour to wear proudly and will only end in tears, as you continue to say yes to everything and everyone who wants a piece of you. You are only human and have one life to live, so live it for you and not for others. Granted there will be friends and family, or work colleagues and staff that you have or want to be there for from time to time, but keep boundaries in place and only do what you feel you are able to do and don’t be afraid to say no once in a while without the need for explanation.
- Find your sanctuary – Appoint a safe space for yourself, somewhere you can go near or far that makes you happy and feel grounded and at peace. This can be someone else’s home (as long as you know them!), a particular park bench, a village you like to visit or your greenhouse -wherever you can escape to for even ten minutes to readjust, recuperate and rest before going again. We all need to recharge and holidays are a great way of doing this, but aren’t always attainable or regular, so allocate your own local safe space and sanctuary and visit once in a while when you recognise that you need to recharge your batteries.
- It’s good to talk – Communication is everything, so keep talking. Whether it is to your loved ones, hairdresser, therapist, or a stranger at the bus stop – having a natter works wonders for the mind, so get whatever it is off your chest as fast as you can and don’t let it fester. Famous activist Maggie Kuhn once said: “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” Wise words.
- Balance the scales – It’s easier said than done, but work life balance is so important now more than ever, with the rat race we live in, the external stresses of the world around us and the fact that we are connected to everything happening on a daily basis – constantly. It is exhausting and so ensuring that we give ourselves as much ‘rest and recouperation time’ as we do ‘on the go time’ is super important for our mind, body and souls and to ensure a blissful night’s sleep.
- Do what makes you happy – Life is too short to spend hours and hours per day in a job you dislike, or spending time with someone that makes you unhappy – making even just small changes can offer huge results on your happiness, so if you’ve been procrastinating then ask yourself why? What is holding you back from taking that leap? No one ever regretted making the change they were once scared to make that resulted in them being happier than they were before.
King Power Football Stadium redevelopment plans approved
Leicester City Football Club’s redevelopment plans for King Power Football Stadium have been approved.
The hybrid application sought full planning permission for an extension to the East Stand of the stadium to provide an additional 8,000 seats with ancillary facilities, and works to the North and South Stands. This will allow for a capacity of around 40,000 from the current 32,312.
The extension to the stadium would be on land to the east of the current stand which is currently a concourse used by the public gaining access to that part of the stadium and its surrounds. The expansion to the stand would also extend over to the site of the National Grid Building which is to be demolished. The extension would also wrap round to the north and south stands and would enlarge both the concourses.
The plans include a new upper tier over and behind the existing East Stand. The extension would include a series of levels providing various facilities including hospitality suites, catering facilities, a sensory room and first aid room.
Meanwhile, outline planning permission was sought for a new Club retail store, 220-bedroom hotel, commercial office space and food & beverage uses, residential building with a maximum of 234 flats, multi-purpose arena with a capacity of 6,000 people, multi-storey car park and energy centre.
Prominent Derby site sold to expanding local business
The former Derby Wholesale Market, which is situated off Pentagon Island, Derby, has been sold to Richford Motors in a multi-million pound deal.
Joint agents FHP Property Consultants and Commercial Property Partners secured the deal on behalf of Rotherhill Developments.
Richford Motors will occupy the site to service a number of contracts across Derby.
The 3 acre site comprises a 25,000ft2 warehouse with ancillary buildings, with the remaining area comprising hard surfaced storage land.
Darran Severn, director at FHP Property Consultants, said: “This must be one of the most prominent sites in Derby and I am pleased to have completed the sale in what has been a great result for all parties involved. We received significant interest from day one from both owner occupiers and developers. There were over 40 credible enquiries which we were able to whittle down to 9 serious offers, eventually going under offer to Richford Motors.”
Edward Jeffrey of Rotherhill Developments said: “We are very pleased to have successfully completed a sale of the former Derby Wholesale Market site to Richford Motors having explored a range of development options. This is a well-configured site of scale with frontage to Derby’s principal access corridor, demonstrating excellent fundamentals. It was a pleasure to work with Richford Motors who were efficient and delivered. Our thanks go to joint agents FHP and CPP, together with our legal advisors, Howes Percival, for acting on our behalf.”
Sean Bremner, director at Commercial Property Partners, said: “From the inception of this project we were all very confident this would prove to be an attractive opportunity to offer to the market. Numerous enquiries from a wide range of end users were forthcoming all wanting to take advantage of the profile and flexibility that the site offered. Congratulations to Richford Motors for securing it.”
Plans submitted to demolish former furniture warehouse for apartments
Plans to demolish a former furniture warehouse in Nottingham to make way for a new residential scheme have been submitted.
The proposal is for two apartment buildings providing 34 flats with communal bin stores, 15 parking spaces, and secure bike storage.
The scheme at 25 Sherwin Road aims to provide 100% affordable dwellings.
Building A would consist of 23 flats, while Building B consists of 11 flats.
GEDA Construction and Jigsaw Homes Midlands are behind the plans.
