Female-led Loughborough furniture business fitted out for growth following cash injection

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Female-led Loughborough furniture business fitted out for growth following cash injection

A Loughborough furniture fit-out business is looking to accelerate its growth ahead of its 25th anniversary, after securing a £250,000 loan from Lloyds Bank.

Fieldhouse Furniture is a female-founded family business which specialises in bespoke large scale interior design projects for high-end student accommodation, homes, boutique hotels and workplaces in the UK and EU.

The £250,000 invoice finance facility will enable Fieldhouse Furniture to access funds earlier, allowing the business to procure materials further in advance, focus on diversification into high-end student accommodation and invest in talent acquisition and development to drive growth.

Invoice finance allows you to unlock up to 90% of the funds tied-up in unpaid invoices quickly, often within 24 hours, without needing to wait for invoices to be settled.

Next year marks 25 years since Fieldhouse Furniture was established, having grown from a small curtain maker to a £5m turnover business, employing more than 115 staff across its international operation. The firm works with well-known developers such as Watkin Jones and Gilltown to deliver the design, supply, manufacturing and fit for projects in the UK, as well as Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

Elizabeth Wild, founder and Managing Director of Fieldhouse Furniture, said: “The funding from Lloyds Bank will allow us to protect the business against the challenges that the construction industry is currently facing while continuing to drive growth.

“A key area of focus where many businesses are struggling at the moment is talent acquisition. As a family firm, it’s essential that we’re recruiting special people who are going to be a good fit, as well as ensuring that our talent strategy gives back to the local community. This funding will help us to invest in our workforce and secure the business’s future.”

Gemma Heath, associate director, specialist client solutions at Lloyds Bank, said: “Fieldhouse Furniture is a hugely ambitious local business which has demonstrated resilience and the ability to prosper in the face of market headwinds. I’m excited to see what they’ll achieve with the funding.”

Mel Howard, relationship manager, SME banking at Lloyds Bank, said: “Over the last 25 years, Fieldhouse Furniture has crafted an excellent reputation among customers who trust that they will always deliver quality work on budget and on time. We’re proud to support a well-respected firm with such strong values.”

Administrators sell The Health Store

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Administrators sell The Health Store

The joint administrators of Health Stores (Wholesale) Limited, Chris Pole and Ryan Grant from Interpath Advisory, have completed a sale of The Health Store brand and its assets to Hunt’s Food Group Limited.

Hunt’s Food Group is a leading Foodservice, Retail and Natural products supplier based in the south of England with its head office in Sherborne, Dorset. The transaction will see 17 employees at Health Stores (Wholesale) Limited’s base in Nottingham transfer to the purchaser. 

Chris Pole and Ryan Grant were appointed joint administrators of Health Stores (Wholesale) Limited and Tree of Life UK Limited on 22 August 2022. The companies form part of the UK’s largest independent health food and wellness products distribution platform, supplying a broad range of third party and owned brand goods, food and drink, personal care, and vitamins, minerals and supplements. A further company within the group – Health Made Easy Limited – was placed into administration on 26 August 2022.

Chris Pole, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “Hunt’s Food Group has an excellent reputation within the industry, and has broadened both its produce and service offerings in recent years to supply a wide ranging customer base.

“We’re pleased to have concluded the sale of The Health Store Brand and its assets to Hunt’s Food Group, ensuring The Health Store will continue to trade and providing certainty for those employees who will transfer to the new owners. We’d like to thank all those who helped to deliver this transaction within a short timetable, and wish Hunt’s Food Group every success in the future.”

Access works for £800m Fairham neighbourhood to get underway this Autumn

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Access works for £800m Fairham neighbourhood to get underway this Autumn
Work is due to start to improve an existing access road and create a new route into the £800 million Fairham neighbourhood in Nottinghamshire. The work is taking place off the Mill Hill roundabout and on the Clifton South tram terminus access road from the A453 Remembrance Way. Day and night-time works will start to increase from Monday 5th September 2022 with a completion in April 2023 in order to create a new access road and controlled junction for Fairham, along with improved access to the existing Park & Ride site. Access to and from the Clifton South Park & Ride will be maintained at all times to keep traffic flowing while works to create new earthworks, carriageway and signalisation takes place. Construction traffic will be rerouted away from civilian traffic during the works. The 606-acre site is in the process of becoming a whole new neighbourhood for Nottingham with 3,000 new homes, one million sq ft of employment space and 200 acres of open green space. The works are all part of £100 million of infrastructure improvements scheduled for Fairham. O’Brien Contractors Ltd will be carrying out the work on behalf of Clowes Developments, the company behind the Fairham masterplan. Fairham is being brought forward in partnership with Homes England, the government’s housing accelerator. As well as new homes and employment space, there will also be a neighbourhood centre plus new educational, community and sports and leisure facilities at Fairham, along with a protected future route for the NET tram. Clowes Developments and Homes England have been working with Highways England, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council to ensure the access works achieve the maximum benefit for the least amount of disruption for the travelling public. Due to bring thousands of new homes, jobs and opportunities to Nottingham, Fairham will be the East Midlands’ most significant mixed-use development. The new community has been designed around a highly sustainable, ultra-connected location set amid the green landscape of south Nottinghamshire. With all amenities co-located alongside one another, it will be one of the most highly accessible as well as greenest new communities in the region. The scheme will help provide new employment opportunities across the region as well as assisting Rushcliffe Borough Council in meeting its new homes target of 13,500 dwellings by 2030. Ali Malik, infrastructure director at Clowes Developments, said: “This work is all about creating an important new access for Fairham that will link to the whole of the development in the future. This will allow us to continue to build the internal road network to service the new homes, jobs, amenities and leisure facilities we’re creating at this major new neighbourhood for Nottingham.” O’Brien Contractors Ltd added: “The start of these further enabling and access works at the northern entrance to Fairham will bring improved and easier access to the development and surrounding area. It is all part of a package of works being completed across the Fairham site that will facilitate the next phase of development for the benefit of people across the region.”

New project to focus on skills needs in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire

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New project to focus on skills needs in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is to lead a new project which will look at the future skills needs of businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and technical education provision in the area. By working with local employers and key education providers, this project will seek to set out the key priorities and changes needed to make post-16 technical education or training in the area more closely aligned with the skills needs of local employers and the local economy. The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is an initiative funded by the Department for Education, which has selected FSB as the lead Employer Representative Body (ERB) to head up the LSIP in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. As part of the project, FSB will be holding a series of events during the autumn in conjunction with employers and education and training providers across the region. This will influence the recommendations of a report to be completed by mid-2023. FSB national chair, Martin McTague, said: “FSB has long encouraged and promoted the need for an employer-led skills agenda and so we’re delighted to have this opportunity to lead the development of this plan in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. “We look forward to working alongside employers, key education providers and local stakeholders to help shape the future skills and local provision in the area.” FSB development manager for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, Natalie Gasson-McKinley said: “We’re keen to hear from and engage with a range of businesses to shine a spotlight on the skills employers most need in the workplace but struggle to find locally. “We’ll work closely alongside key education providers in the region to build on the relationships between business and education and ensure practical solutions can be agreed to drive change locally. “We’re confident this will be a ‘win-win’ scenario for all local employers finding the talent suited to their business needs, whilst boosting employability for young people in post-16 education. “As we work towards producing the report next year we are keen to align with regional strategies and help ensure local businesses and people have the skills they need to thrive and grow in the future.”

Thorn Baker recruit 180 people for Nottinghamshire logistics company

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Thorn Baker recruit 180 people for Nottinghamshire logistics company

180 people in Nottinghamshire have been able to find employment thanks to a successful recruitment campaign carried out by industrial recruitment specialist, Thorn Baker Industrial Recruitment.

The company partnered with DMW Logistics Limited to support its ambitious recruitment plans for the remainder of 2022 and has successfully found 180 people new roles with the logistics specialist in just four weeks.

All the jobs are based at DMW’s site in Sutton In Ashfield and are necessary to help the company prepare for its busy Christmas period. DMW, which specialises in contract packing and delivery for a range of major high street retailers across the UK and Europe, needed temporary contract packing workers for the peak season. Additional roles such as logistics, warehouse and fork-lift truck drivers have been filled, and others remain available.

Thorn Baker managed the entire recruitment process, finding high quality staff for DMW following the successful renewal of its contract which was first awarded in 2021. Thorn Baker has an established on-site recruitment team at DMW’s premises so that it can best serve the candidates working on site. The team includes Elene Ursache, Diana Ion and David Strzelecki who all have a wealth of recruitment experience.

Matthew Dann from Thorn Baker says: “We were delighted to be selected as the preferred recruiter again and I look forward to building a long-term relationship with DMW. In a difficult recruitment market, I am pleased that the team has found suitable staff for DMW so quickly and that we will be on hand to support the company over its busy period in the run up to Christmas.”

Stefan Wilcockson, production manager at DMW, says: “We chose Thorn Baker as our preferred supplier again as even though last year proved very difficult for temporary staffing, we received high service levels throughout the year, and this year has been the same!”

Richard Borland, head of On-Site at Thorn Baker, adds: “There are still some roles available at DMW so I would encourage anyone looking for employment to get in touch and speak with us about the variety of roles available. We have developed a good team here and our onsite department is here to make people’s journey into their new role successful, so you will be supported throughout the process.”

Milestone Communications joins RSK Group

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Milestone Communications joins RSK Group
Milestone Communications, specialists in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering for the UK’s leading telecoms and renewable energy suppliers, has joined RSK Group, a global leader in the delivery of sustainable solutions. Established in 2004 from their head office in Leicestershire, Milestone boasts a team of 80 sector experts and has grown to a yearly turnover of more than £8m. Milestone’s joint Managing Directors, Adrian Whalley and Gavin Baxter, said: “This is an exciting step for both Milestone’s future as a business and for our highly skilled employees. We are looking forward to bringing Milestone’s unique service offerings and culture to the RSK Group as well as gaining the structure, support and opportunities that the group environment will provide.” As RSK continues to deliver its ambitious growth strategy it is now comprised of more than 175 companies, employing 10,000 people. The group’s annual turnover at the end of FY22 is expected to be in excess of £800 million, more than double the previous year. The acquisition adviser was Max Ward of Independence Capital. Alan Ryder, RSK Group CEO, said: “The addition of Milestone’s considerable expertise to RSK will serve the group and its clients well; enhancing our current strength in the renewables sector whilst improving the group’s access to the telecommunications market. We are particularly excited about Milestone’s steel fabrication capabilities which will bring a much-valued skillset in-house for the group and allow us to continue to expand in line with growing market demands.”

Nottingham nursery setting sold to national operator after 31-year ownership

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Nottingham nursery setting sold to national operator after 31-year ownership
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Carrington Day Nursery in Nottinghamshire to Kids Planet. Established by exiting owner, Tina Jones, in 1991, Carrington Day Nursery is a busy setting with a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating. It has capacity for up to 98 children aged six weeks to five years, and is ideally located at the start of the Mansfield Road in the Nottingham suburb of Carrington. Over the years, Tina has maintained an excellent reputation as a proactive owner with a dedicated and loyal team. After 31 years of ownership, she decided to sell to retire from the sector and pursue other interests. The setting has now been purchased by national operator, Kids Planet, which was particularly attracted to the location and the prominence of the setting. With this acquisition, the group has 126 nurseries in its portfolio. Tina Jones says: “I’m looking forward to having the time to pursue other interests now I’m in the knowledge that Carrington Day Nursery is in Kids Planet’s safe hands.” Clare Roberts, CEO at Kids Planet, says: “Carrington Day Nursery is set in a wonderful Victorian building and has established a good reputation in the local area. The setting has a strong focus on quality provision and experiences for children and their families, and I see many synergies with our own ethos. We are delighted to welcome Carrington into the Kids Planet family and we look forward to supporting the team.” Jassi Sunner, associate director – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, who worked on the sale, says: “It has been a real pleasure to negotiate the sale of Carrington Day Nursery, not only because of the quality and reputation of the setting but also for the parties involved who worked well together after our introduction. Kids Planet continue their dominant acquisition trail in the Midlands and we are delighted to be part of the introductions made to those tentatively seeking an exit.” Carrington Day Nursery was sold for an undisclosed price.

Only two weeks left until the winners of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 are revealed at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground

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Only two weeks left until the winners of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 are revealed at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
With the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 set to take place later this month (Thursday 15 September), there’s not long left to secure your seat at the prestigious event. The awards recognise and celebrate those behind the changing landscape of our region – the very best companies, teams, individuals and projects – showcasing the exceptional work carried out across the East Midlands over the past 12 months. They also present a prime opportunity to network with the leaders of property and construction businesses from across the East Midlands. Attend the glittering awards ceremony at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground to see who takes home the title of Contractor of the Year, Developer of the Year, Commercial Development of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Sustainable Development of the Year, Deal of the Year, Most Active Agents of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, Responsible Business and of course Overall Winner.

Tickets can be booked here.

The event, which will begin at 4:30pm and continue until 7:30pm, will also feature John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker, as well as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking. Complementary drinks and canapés will be served on arrival. Dress code is standard business dress.  

Shortlist for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022

Most Active Agent – sponsored by Blueprint Interiors Mather Jamie OMEETO BB&J Commercial Commercial Development of the Year – sponsored by Frank Key Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park – Galliford Try Construction Etiquette Park – Clowes Developments Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service joint HQ – Henry Brothers Responsible Business of the Year – sponsored by Press for Attention PR Cawarden Arc Partnership Phoenix Brickwork Residential Development of the Year – sponsored by Sterling Commercial Finance The Rise, Southwell – Stagfield Group Glenvale Park – Glenvale Park LLP Hindle House – KMRE Group Deal of the Year – sponsored by Blythin & Brown Insurance Brokers St James Securities – Phase Two of the Becketwell regeneration scheme in Derby – 3,500 capacity Becketwell performance venue with ASM Global Wells McFarlane, APB and Newton LDP – sale of 460 acres of land in North Leicestershire, making way for a new garden village Morgan Industrial Properties Limited – acquisition of the former Ewart Chain site in Shaftesbury Street, Derby Developer of the Year – sponsored by Ward Hockley Developments St James Securities HBD Architects of the Year – sponsored by OMS Swain Architecture Rayner Davies Architects CPMG Architects Excellence in Design – sponsored by Cawarden  St. Peter’s Gate renovation – CPMG Architects Health and Allied Professions Centre at Nottingham Trent University – Pick Everard Brookside Farm – Chevin Homes Sustainable Development of the Year – sponsored by Viridis Building Services Refurbished HQ for LKAB Minerals – Scenariio Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre – Chesterfield Borough Council, Whittam Cox Architects, Robert Woodhead Group Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park – Galliford Try Construction Contractor of the Year – sponsored by RammSanderson Galliford Try Construction Cawarden Enrok Construction The Overall Winner, sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants, will also be announced at the ceremony, who will be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
 
Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

To be held at:

Plans submitted to create visitor destination and education centre within the grounds of historic Harlaxton Manor

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Plans submitted to create visitor destination and education centre within the grounds of historic Harlaxton Manor
Urban Edge Architecture has submitted a planning application to South Kesteven District Council on behalf of Harlaxton College for the restoration of the disused Walled Garden at the historic Harlaxton Manor, near Grantham, to create a stunning and sustainable visitor attraction and educational experience. As landscape architect and project lead, Urban Edge worked in close collaboration with Harlaxton College to create a masterplan for the 56.65ha site and a detailed landscape design focused around the historic Grade II* Listed Walled Garden, which will not only restore the historic fabric, but recreate the original productive function of the garden and introduce opportunities for education and participation. The proposals have been submitted following extensive engagement with stakeholders and with representatives of the community and officers of South Kesteven District Council, Historic England and Lincolnshire County Council. Andrew Cottage, head of Landscape Design at Urban Edge, said: “This is an exceptional project in which we have applied our landscape design skills and understanding of the historic environment to deliver a practical and beautiful scheme that will meet the needs of the College and satisfy the requirements of Historic England and the planning authority. “On completion the public will have access to assets of heritage significance which have previously been inaccessible to visitors helping them to understand, appreciate and interpret the past.” The Walled Garden will be made fully accessible and will be arranged around a series of axial vistas dividing the area into a series of garden rooms, each with a different character. Some areas will focus on the historic roots of the garden, emphasising the production of fruit, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers, with others being themed with specialist planting, such as four seasons, medicinal and sensory gardens. Tall hedges aligned with the axial paths will introduce a sense of intrigue and drama by not allowing the whole garden rooms to be seen at once and will create a sense of arrival in to the next character area. The scheme includes associated visitor infrastructure such as a new car park; footpath network and play area, whilst a large lawn will create a flexible space for informal gatherings and more formal events such as performances and parties. The listed Gardener’s House is being restored and converted by HP Architects Ltd into a new café, visitor facilities and education centre. The two historic vineries will be sensitively replaced and will serve as a café seating area with splendid views across the gardens and an education centre. Despite the challenges of working with heritage assets, sustainability was a key focus of the design, which included elements such as green roofs, ground source heat pumps and solar panels on the roof of the new energy centre. EV charging points will be included in the car park, and the whole project is targeting BREEAM Very Good. Concludes Andrew: “This is a remarkable opportunity for us to be involved in a very exciting project to restore an historic walled garden and make it relevant in the 21st century, creating opportunities for education, participation and horticultural innovation. It was immensely rewarding to lead and coordinate such a talented multidisciplinary design team to achieve such an impressive outcome.” Urban Edge’s design is part of an on-going process by Harlaxton College, the overseas study centre of the University of Evansville, in close liaison with Historic England, to restore and preserve the historic features within the estate and remove the Grade II* listed grounds and gardens from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. Full Design Team: Landscape Architect: Urban Edge Architecture Architect: HP Architects Ltd Business planner and Cost Consultant: Focus Consultants M&E Engineer: BCA Structural and Civil Engineer: CTP Engineers Sustainability Consultant: Focus Consultants Ecologist: Inspired Ecology Arboriculturalist: RPS

New account director and office for Nottingham PR agency

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New account director and office for Nottingham PR agency
There is cause for double celebration at Nottingham PR agency RedTree PR as the company opens its new office on Regent Street in Nottingham City Centre, and appoints a new account director following a period of consistent growth. The move into its new office lays the foundations for the future growth of the business, which was established by Managing Director Chris Mitchell in 2013. Since then, the firm has grown to work with a range of clients across the UK, primarily in the education, finance, property and construction sectors. To support its client base, the company has also appointed Sarah Wilkinson. Sarah joins the business as an account director, and will be responsible for developing and delivering client PR and content strategies and supporting the growth of RedTree PR. Sarah joins the business from her previous role as PR & content marketing specialist at Mortgage Advice Bureau, and brings with her a wealth of marketing experience from numerous different industries, including travel and tourism, software development and financial services. Speaking on the appointment, Chris Mitchell, Managing Director at RedTree PR, said: “Sarah has significant experience that will be perfect for our current clients, future clients and the business as a whole. I am delighted to welcome Sarah to RedTree and I am looking forward to her becoming an integral part of the company over the coming years.” Sarah added: “Having worked as part of an inhouse Marketing team for the past five years, I am delighted to join the RedTree team and very much look forward to rediscovering my agency roots. “RedTree is held in very high regard by its broad portfolio of clients so I’m excited to get stuck in and deliver results for our clients and drive the growth of RedTree.” The move to Regent Street and Sarah’s appointment follows a period of consistent growth driven by new client wins. The company has recently started working with IMA Architects and construction company Enrok Construction, and has also been retained by its established clients.
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