Melton Building Society office refurbishment leads to huge furniture donation drive
Schools, community clubs, charities and businesses around Melton Mowbray have benefitted from a generous donation of thousands of pounds worth of furniture and electrical appliances courtesy of Melton Building Society, who are undertaking the major renovation of their Mutual House offices on Leicester Road.
As part of the clear out, a significant number of chairs, tables, storage units, desks, printers and other electrical appliances have been donated to worthy recipients including, Wreake Valley Academy and Birchwood School, where it is hoped that the staff and students will benefit from the extra equipment.
Local charity, Melton and District Money Advice Centre (MADMAC) were thrilled to receive some items of furniture to improve their office space.
Chief Executive of the charity, Amanda Heath, said: “We are so pleased with the furniture we received for our charity which has upgraded the reception area with a lovely leather settee and chair set. We also have new office chairs for all our desks which has made working so much more comfortable.
“We wouldn’t have been able to afford to buy these items ourselves, so all our staff, volunteers and clients will benefit from this wonderful donation.
“We were also able to bless some grateful clients with items such as fridges, microwaves and our old office chairs and sofa, which otherwise they wouldn’t be able to afford.”
At the end of the office clear out it’s hoped that all the items have been recycled and rehomed, limiting anything being unnecessarily sent to landfill.
Some items went to local independent businesses such as Stace Roofing, who in turn gifted a generous donation to the Melton Mowbray Building Society Charitable Foundation, which raises funds for charities and community activity in the Melton area.
Andrew Stace, Managing Director of Stace Roofing, said: “Stace Roofing Ltd are so very grateful to Melton Building Society for the generous repurposing of their office furniture.
“The tables, chairs, cabinets and meeting table will be put to good use in Stace Roofing’s new offices. It was a pleasure to donate to the MMBS charitable foundation. It’s good to give back.”
Rachel Kolebuk, chief customer officer at Melton Building Society, said: “We’re so grateful to see these items go to such great homes and we’re working hard to ensure that the furniture and devices being replaced during the refurbishment are recycled and go towards supporting the community as part of our drive towards environmental and social sustainability.”
Construction work gets underway on new public square at Becketwell Derby
Construction work is underway on a new multi-purpose public square which is being built as part of the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme in Derby.
Developers St James Securities were joined by representatives from Derby City Council, D2N2, main contractors GMI Construction Group and other key stakeholders at a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of building works on Springwell Square, which will be located on the site of the former Central United Reformed Church.
Springwell Square will be the centrepiece of the £200m Becketwell development and is being delivered as part of phase one of the scheme. It will be adjacent to The Condor, 259 one and two-bedroom Build to Rent (BTR) apartments, which are being built on the site of the former Debenhams store on Victoria Street and have been forward funded, acquired and will be operated by Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed provider of private rental homes.
It is envisaged that the square will be multi-purpose, but with a focus on interaction with adjoining buildings and as a place to pause and relax, rather than a formal civic meeting or gathering place.
Both the BTR apartments and Springwell Square are scheduled for completion by Spring 2023.
Phase two of the scheme will feature a new 3,500-capacity performance venue on the site of the former Pink Coconut nightclub, Laurie House offices, Pennine Hotel and multi-storey car park on Colyear Street, which will be operated by ASM Global, the world’s leading venue management and services company, and producer of live experiences.
It will be a fully flexible, scalable space capable of staging concerts, stand-up comedy, family shows, musical theatre, conferences, and exhibitions, along with a range of business events.
Construction work on the performance venue is set to commence in early 2023, with completion and handover to the operator in late 2024.
Future planned phases of the scheme include the potential for a range of other complementary uses of the site including new grade A offices and commercial space, a hotel and multi-storey car park and purpose-built student residential.
Commenting on the start of construction work on Springwell Square, Paul Morris, director of St James Securities, said: “We’re delighted to see construction work start on schedule on Springwell Square, the next stage of this landmark regeneration scheme for the City of Derby.
“Over the past five years, we have been real trailblazers, prepared to take on a site that has been challenged for many years and putting together a scheme which will breathe new life into the area.
“Springwell Square will open up land to the south and bring it back into use. It will be a place where people can meet and relax in an informal space and will improve the vibrancy and attraction of the city centre.”
Cllr Steve Hassall, cabinet member for regeneration, decarbonisation, strategic planning and transport at Derby City Council, added: “We can see with the work that has already taken place exactly how significant a development Becketwell is for our city centre, with a new public square at its heart. We secured the funding for this scheme with an aspiration to make Derby a vibrant place where people want to live, work, and visit. We are now seeing that aspiration become a reality.
“We look forward to the next stages of the development, which will bring economic and social benefit to Derby’s residents and businesses. The performance venue will create hundreds of jobs, generate millions of pounds and kick-start further investment around the city centre.”
Andy Bruce, Divisional Managing Director at GMI, added: “Partnerships are vital to our success at GMI and we are pleased to have started work on this exciting development with St James Securities and Derby City Council.
“We understand the importance of community spaces and, being the centrepiece of the development, Springwell Square will provide a great opportunity for residents to come together and enjoy the green, outdoor space that it provides.”
Nottingham Castle Quarter office building snapped up
Family owned trading company, the RO, has acquired 37 Park Row in Nottingham. The building is a modern multi let office property situated in a prime position on the corner of Park Row and Cumberland Place in the heart of Nottingham’s historic Castle Quarter and was acquired from Mayfair Capital.
37 Park Row is fully let to the undoubted covenants of Nottingham City Council and Thompsons Solicitors LLP. The office building comprises 26,513 sq ft across four floors and has 21 secure car parking spaces.
The property is let off a low passing rent of £17.83 per sq ft with prime rents in Nottingham having now reached £25 per sq ft. Neighbouring occupiers include KPMG, Freeths, Eversheds and RBS. The property benefits from being adjacent to Mount Street NCP multi storey car park and is in close proximity to Nottingham’s principal retail pitch providing an extensive amenity offer.
Nick Cashmore, investment director, RO Real Estate, said: “We are delighted to complete the acquisition of 37 Park Row, Nottingham which represents another strong addition to the portfolio. The purchase is in line with our strategy to focus on buildings with quality fundamentals where there is potential to improve ESG credentials.
“The low average rent in the building twinned with the very limited Grade A office supply and development pipeline in Nottingham is an attractive dynamic. We continue to seek new additions to the portfolio in strong commercial locations with asset management and future development potential.”
David Kershaw, group real estate director, RO Real Estate, said: “We are very happy to have made this investment in Nottingham, one of the top ten fastest growing economies in the country outside of London, and which boasts high profile corporate occupiers such as Domestic & General, Boots, E.ON, Gateley, Specsavers, RSM, Experian, Siemens, Eversheds Sutherland, and KPMG.
“Nottingham has invested significantly in its infrastructure network, including a £150 million upgrade of Nottingham Station in 2018 and a £570 million extension of the NET Tram system, which has supported the expansion of businesses, cementing the city’s position as a core regional hub, and making it an attractive location for us to invest in.”
The RO Group was advised by JLL. Mayfair Capital was advised by CBRE.
Work begins on new multi-million-pound school in East Leake
Work has begun on a multi-million-pound project to build a brand-new permanent school in a Nottinghamshire village.
The Millside Spencer Academy is being built on former farming land on Rempstone Road in East Leake, as part of a £14 million investment in education in the village, led by Nottinghamshire County Council and its partners.
It is expected to open for the new school year in September 2023 and will eventually have a capacity for 315 primary places plus a 26-place nursery.
The new school – which will be run by Spencer Academies Trust and is being built in the heart of a new David Wilson Homes housing development called The Skylarks – has been planned as part of the County Council’s commitment to ensure children across Nottinghamshire are able to attend good and outstanding primary schools.
Students at Millside are currently being taught in a Temporary Learning Village, which has been provided by the county council and was opened last month, ahead of the new permanent building opening next year.
The new-build project is being sponsored by Spencer Academies Trust, designed and managed by Arc Partnership, and delivered through Arc’s construction partner Morgan Sindall Construction.
Sara Williams, head of pre-construction at Arc Partnership, said: “We are proud to be working in collaboration with Nottinghamshire County Council to design and manage the delivery of Millside Spencer Academy.
“From the start, we have been dedicated to providing an exceptional learning environment which can inspire and support more than 300 pupils.
“The school has been designed to be Net Carbon Zero in operation, incorporating sustainable elements to benefit both staff and pupils. This includes EV charging points and making the building 100 per cent electric through renewable energy sources.”
Sophia Thorne, principal of Millside Spencer Academy, says everyone at the school is looking forward to the new building opening next year.
She said: “Everyone in the Millside Spencer community is immensely excited about the completion of our permanent school in 2023.
“We are currently very much enjoying our Learning Village and the Forest School area with great views of the school being constructed.
“However, our new building will allow us to offer even more incredible opportunities, such as subject-specific learning areas, a whole school library, multiple outdoor play areas, and additional after-school clubs. We cannot wait!”
Richard Fielding, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said: “We believe that the spaces in which children learn have a huge impact on their future – our aim is to create modern learning environments pupils can be proud of and that will enable them to develop and grow. Millside Spencer Academy is a fantastic example of that, and we can’t wait to work with our partners to deliver the project.”
Key player in global space race moves to Space Park Leicester
An organisation which is pioneering the development of nuclear power sources for space exploration has moved to Space Park Leicester.
The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission and is working with academics and industry partners to develop spacecraft systems for the European Space Agency that provide reliable, long-lived power for harsh environments.
It has created a process to extract Americium 241 from plutonium and repurpose it as fuel for systems developed by the University of Leicester, with support from the UK Space Agency, for use in future space missions.
NNL’s work is helping to stimulate jobs and growth and is cementing the UK’s position as a scientific superpower.
NNL account director, professor Tim Tinsley, said: “With the opening of an office at Space Park Leicester, we are committed to deepening our collaboration with the University of Leicester.
“This builds on 10 years of successful joint projects, delivering on our shared ambition for deployable space nuclear power.”
The move has been welcomed by Space Park Leicester, which was created by the University of Leicester to provide an inspirational base for space researchers and businesses.
Space Park Leicester executive director, professor Ambrosi, whose own work focuses on space instrumentation and space nuclear power systems, said: “The synergies between the UK’s world class space and nuclear sectors are exemplified by the long-standing collaboration between the National Nuclear Laboratory and the University of Leicester in the development of space nuclear power systems and in particular radioisotope power technologies.
“We are proud to welcome the National Nuclear Laboratory to Space Park Leicester as part of our expanding collaboration and we look forward to exploring new opportunities with NNL.”
Council gives local business a lift with procurement strategy
New figures released by Nottinghamshire County Council have revealed that over 200 local businesses are providing services for the authority in contracts worth millions of pounds.
The council currently has contracts with 273 suppliers based in Nottinghamshire worth £135m.
Services provided by local suppliers for the council include catering, plumbing, and gardening.
Suppliers in Nottinghamshire make up 57% of the council’s total procurement contracts, with 39% from a local small or medium-sized business.
Councillor Richard Jackson, the county council’s cabinet member for finance, said: “It is great news we’ve been able to reach out to hundreds of quality local businesses to provide a range of services and tasks for our council.
“We always expect value for money, and the excellent services provided are a credit to the entrepreneurial spirit in our county.
“I’m especially pleased we have been able to engage so many local small businesses after a pandemic which caused countless challenges for our sole traders and entrepreneurs.”
The success at getting more local businesses onto the council’s supply chain comes from its 2019-2023 procurement strategy.
The strategy had called for 50% of contracts to be provided by local businesses.
The council’s Cabinet has now approved a new sustainable procurement policy to build on the work of its procurement strategy.
The new policy commits the county council to support thriving businesses and deliver environmental, social and economic benefits from its procurement choices.
Councillor Jackson added: “Our new sustainable procurement policy is crucial to our already existing procurement strategy and emphasises the social value of our contracts.
“When considering who will work for us in future, we’ll measure the environmental, social and economic impact of the procured goods and services.
“It will help build on the work we are doing with local businesses, for example, how we can use our procurement choices to get more young people out of work into a job.
“Of course, we will continue to spend taxpayers’ money wisely and support local communities through this new and exciting policy.”
Council looking to run national competition for major Mansfield housing scheme
Mansfield District Council is looking to launch a major competition inviting architects worldwide to design a significant new social housing scheme on a derelict site close to the town centre.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) would manage the competition to find an outstanding design for Mansfield’s White Hart Street area.
The council purchased land in this area in order to facilitate the regeneration of this key town centre site. The area has stood derelict for over a decade now. It previously had planning permission for a mixed retail and residential scheme in 2008, but market conditions meant this scheme was never taken forward.
The area subsequently became blighted and has, as a consequence, become a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Redevelopment of this area would strongly align with the council’s Growth, Aspiration, Wellbeing and Place priorities.
Cllr Marion Bradshaw, portfolio holder for safer communities, housing and wellbeing, is now being recommended to approve a decision on 21 October about appointing RIBA to manage the competition.
Last year she approved a decision for the council to purchase parcels of land in the area so that the site, as a whole, could be redeveloped for council housing.
A budget of £16.5m for this was approved by Full Council in 2019 as part of the council’s programme to build over 100 council homes.
She said: “We want to improve this derelict and blighted part of Mansfield and see something really special on this piece of land.
“It must be a development which respects its historical significance and the conservation area in which it sits but also looks to the future. It also needs to be a development which is environmentally sustainable and mitigates climate change.
“It will promote a safe place to live and, crucially, it must reflect the council’s available budget for this scheme.
“The redevelopment would represent a vital element of the masterplan which we are in the process of putting together for the town centre to map out a future path for growth and regeneration.
“A key vision of that masterplan is to make the town centre a place where people want to live because this will increase the footfall for retailers and improve the look of the centre, all of which, in turn, should act as a catalyst for external investment.”
If approved by Cllr Bradshaw on 21 October, the RIBA-managed competition would cost the council a maximum of £79,000.
The council believes that having such an eminent organisation managing the competition would give the council access to the RIBA’s global membership and attract high-quality design responses.
Having RIBA on board is considered critical in the eyes of many architects and would also bring rigour, credibility and prestige to the selection process, and reassurance that the competition would be managed to best practice standards.
It would also help to ensure the whole process of redeveloping the site is structured and auditable.
Cllr Bradshaw added: “Running a RIBA-approved competition would promote the district of Mansfield nationally and internationally and demonstrate that, as a town, it is progressive in its aspirations and open for business. It would bring with it a real atmosphere of excitement.”
The firm winning the competition would progress the design for planning permission – subject to approval by the Full Council of the business case.
The area to be redeveloped is located within the Bridge Street conservation area which contains buildings of historic and architectural merit. The homes built are expected to be a mix of housing types and would be added to the council’s stock of affordable homes.
It is anticipated the design competition would run between November 2022 to March 2023, with a decision on the winner made in April 2023.
After that, a detailed design would be drawn up, with a decision on the business case expected in September 2023.
If that business case is approved, it would be followed by a planning application in October 2023. If that is approved, demolition work could start in early 2024 and building work in July 2024.
FHP secures investment sale of Mansfield unit
FHP have secured another successful deal within Mansfield with the investment sale of Soak Interiors to a local occupier, achieving a net initial yield of 7.76%.
The unit comprises 4,715ft² of warehouse, office and ancillary space with a generous yard area. It occupies an elevated position on Rock Valley, just off the Mansfield Inner Ring Road.
FHP said the strong level of interest received on the property shows the freehold / investment market is still going strong despite the current economic uncertainties.
Amy Howard, surveyor at FHP Property Consultants, said: “It was great to see this deal cross the line for both parties who are now starting a new exciting chapter.
“The amount of interest received on this property from day one was great to see, and we managed to receive several credible offers at the asking price. It is reassuring to see that the demand is still there for the sub-5,000ft² freehold market.”
East Midlands Chamber and De Montfort University KTP associate wins national award for using data to drive inward investment
A data engineer who has created a regional business research and intelligence unit that will be used to drive more investment into the East Midlands has won a national award.
Harsh Shah, a knowledge transfer associate based at East Midlands Chamber, beat competition from 20 other finalists to be crowned with the Future Leader Award at the Innovate UK KTP Awards.
As part of the 27-year-old’s role, which was created last year in a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) between the chamber of commerce and De Montfort University (DMU), Harsh creates data-driven insights about the East Midlands economy that can be used to improve competitiveness and productivity across the region.
Harsh, who graduated from a DMU master’s degree in business intelligence systems and data mining in 2020, said: “I am overwhelmed to win this award, which is wonderful recognition for all the hard work we have been doing at the Chamber and DMU in establishing a regional business intelligence unit.
“I believe my drive, passion and integrity to be the best has enabled me to be recognised at national level and this is a fantastic personal achievement. It was never something I believed would be possible 18 months ago when I began the KTP, which has already accelerated my career prospects.
“It gives me great confidence to not only perform better in my role, but also highlights the work we are doing and validates the project – which aims to equip business leaders and policymakers with data-driven insights that will improve decision-making and ultimately drive more investment to the region.”
The Future Leader Award is given to associates who have shown “exceptional skills in driving and delivering innovation strategy, demonstrating great teamwork and outstanding leadership potential”.
Harsh began the two-year KTP in April 2021 with a goal to create a business research and intelligence unit that collates, analyses and utilises data-led intelligence in order to address the productivity gap and lack of inward investment across the East Midlands.
During this period, he has automated the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey – which gauges the health of the region’s economy across a number of indicators – and provided personalised results for participants.
Harsh also developed dashboards for a collective intelligence skills observatory (CISO) for Leicestershire as part of a trailblazer pilot for the Department for Education’s Local Skills Improvement Plan, which aims to put employers at the heart of skills delivery. The observatory enables businesses and further education colleges to better understand where skills gaps lie locally in order to improve training and education provision.
At the same time, he has presented at a national data strategy event hosted by Experian, developed reports used by regional media outlets to illustrate economic trends, and taken part in the Alan Turing Institute’s Data Study Group to resolve challenges for Siemens and Rolls-Royce, where he won the Data Driven Approach award for his enthusiasm and determination.
Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Harsh is a hugely deserving recipient of the Future Leader Award after demonstrating tremendous leadership skills in turning an idea into a commercially viable product, while also showing a real eagerness to immerse himself into the organisation and a commercial environment.
“More broadly, this recognition also helps us to demonstrate the power of data in business decision-making, as we firmly believe the insights we are creating will bring tangible rewards for the East Midlands economy by improving productivity and attracting inward investment.”
New appointment strengthens team at Mineral Products Qualifications Council
The Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC) has appointed a new member of staff to help the sector connect with younger audiences by championing the diverse career opportunities within the quarrying and mineral products industry.
Emily Noble joins MPQC as its future careers manager at its Eastwood offices near Nottingham. She is a qualified and experienced career development practitioner and careers advisor, with previous roles at D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, Derby College and Derby City Council.
Viv Russell, CEO of the Mineral Products Qualifications Council, says: “Emily has a great deal of experience from her previous job roles and qualifications; it’s clear that she is passionate about raising the aspirations of young people.
“MPQC is looking forward to benefiting from Emily’s experience, expertise and enthusiasm as she champions our sector. We wish her luck and are delighted to welcome her to our team.”
Emily’s new challenge at MPQC involves raising the profile of the sector and inspiring young people to become the next generation of mineral products professionals. She will form part of the team leading the ‘Minerals Matter’ initiative, working in collaboration with sector organisations to increase participation of industry ambassadors within education, and develop strategic partnerships to support and target key projects more effectively.
Commenting on her new role, Emily said: “I grew up in Derbyshire with family employed locally within the mineral products industry and saw first-hand some of the challenges faced by SMEs in the area. I’m looking forward to supporting industry and education to collaborate more meaningfully, and create impactful opportunities for young people, particularly from an earlier age if we are to create lasting change for the sector when it comes to future recruitment.”
Emily achieved her Master’s Degree in Career Education and Coaching at the University of Derby. She is a Member of the Career Development Institute, as well as a registered Career Development Practitioner. In her spare time, she enjoys clay pigeon shooting, walking and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Established in 1983, the Mineral Products Qualifications Council is a ‘not for profit’ membership organisation whose purpose is to fulfil the extractive sector’s need for a safe, competent and sustainable workforce through the setting and maintaining of standards and qualifications, ensuring quality training and assessment.
