The proposals for the closed two-storey hotel, which comprised of 20 bedrooms, a restaurant, function rooms and associated parking, follow a previous submission refused in 2021.
The new application sees the scale of the development reduced and also looks to address concerns over bat activity.
Fresh plans submitted to replace Derby hotel with apartment blocks
Fresh plans to demolish a Derby hotel, to make way for new apartments, have been submitted to the city council.
The plans from Elgie Properties would see the La Gondola hotel on Osmaston Road replaced with 42 flats in two blocks.
Record year for Leicester online electrical retailer
Marks Electrical Group, the Leicester-based online electrical retailer, has hailed a record year.
According to a trading update for its fourth quarter ended 31 March 2022, ahead of announcing its full year results, the company posted record full year revenue with growth of 44% to £80.5m, up from £56.0m in the year prior. Meanwhile Q4 saw revenue grow 19% from £17.4m to £20.7m.
Mark Smithson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The fourth quarter was another excellent trading period for us, with 19% revenue growth vs. a particularly strong comparative of 127% in the prior year. Our disciplined focus on margin management, capital allocation and cash generation has also led to a strong returns profile from our asset light operating model.
“During the period we have continued to enhance our operational capacity and have added additional resources in our customer services and driver-installation teams, helping us to maintain our market-leading customer service score of 4.8 on Trustpilot. Our USP of free next day delivery with our own fleet of vehicles, combined with our capacity unconstrained single site location, is helping us deliver operational excellence and gain market share in a highly competitive market.
“We continued our focus on improving brand awareness with our offline marketing campaigns, coupled with our search engine optimisation improvements, driving higher levels of organic and direct traffic.
“With face to face meetings back on the agenda, we have met with multiple suppliers during the period and discussed our expansion plans and ways in which we can support each other’s growth objectives. This, coupled with inventory expansion in the second half, as supply constraints start to ease, is making Marks Electrical a more prominent retailer for our brand partners.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues and brand partners for helping us achieve a record year, despite a challenging market environment. We are well placed to seize the opportunities ahead thanks to our compelling customer proposition, low-cost operating model and continued focus on profitable market share growth, with more and more people from across the UK coming into contact with the Marks brand for the first time. As we look forward to FY23, our trading momentum has continued during the start of April, setting us up well for our FY23 financial targets.”
Generate business at the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo
With the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo just around the corner, register now for the highly anticipated event.
The free to attend expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, will take place on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln, providing everything you require for a great day of networking and business generation.
A well targeted event aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets, exhibitors include Aspbury Planning Ltd, Belvoir, Business Lincolnshire, BSP Consulting, Delta Simons, the Federation of Small Businesses, J Tomlinson, NatWest, Willmott Dixon, and YMD Boon, to name a few.
To see the full list of who is exhibiting click here.
Opening at 9am, the expo will also host a workshop from Team Lincolnshire and Business Lincolnshire. Running from 10:15 – 11:45, it will demystify the procurement process and explore the potential which public sector contracts could bring to your business.
Team Lincolnshire ambassador Neal Wheatley, director and general manager of RG Carter Lincoln Limited, and Barry Taylor, regional director at Parker Technical Service, will be sharing insightful first-hand experiences on winning a major Lincolnshire County Council contract for the construction of the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone and how supporting the local economy is a core value within the RG Carter Supply Chain Commitment.
Sign up to the free workshop here.
As the exhibition closes, it will roll directly into an informal, open buffet style network lunch – tickets for the lunch are just £25 plus vat and can be ordered and paid for directly online. Spaces for the lunch are limited, so order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Tina King, of Business Shows Group, said: “It’s been a long time in the making thanks to the pandemic, but we are finally nearly there, The Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo is gearing up to be one of the best to date!”
To attend the event, register for free here.
To generate opportunities by exhibiting at the event, click here.
Purchase tickets to the networking lunch here.
Meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.
Still time for Leicestershire businesses to benefit from up to £10k for low carbon improvements
Businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire are being reminded that they have just a few weeks left to apply for grants to help to pay for energy efficiency improvements.
Leicester City Council’s Green BELLE scheme offers grants of up to £10,000 to small and medium-sized businesses to help cover the costs of low carbon, energy efficient improvements to their premises.
Green BELLE grants can be used to support a wide range of measures such as installing efficient heating systems, low-energy lighting, building insulation or solar PV panels.
Grants can be awarded to cover up to half of the total costs, with the remaining amount paid for by the business as match-funding.
So far, the scheme has provided a total of £812,904 of grant support to over 150 local businesses. It is estimated that has helped result in carbon savings of over 1,000 tCO2e per year – equivalent to the total carbon footprint over 300 typical homes.
Businesses have also seen a significant reduction in their energy bills as a result of improvements made through the Green BELLE scheme.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “These grants give local small and medium-sized businesses the chance to become more energy-efficient and save money on their running costs.
“We have ambitious plans to help make Leicester a carbon neutral and climate-adapted city. The Green BELLE scheme is a really good way to welcome more local firms on board and show them that becoming more energy efficient is good for business and for the city.”
Cllr Danny Myers, assistant city mayor for jobs and skills, said: “Leicester’s wider future economic development is going to be driven by our large, thriving and diverse small and medium sized business sector. This scheme is a great way to both save these businesses money and ensure that the city has a more environmentally sustainable economy.”
Businesses must express interest in the scheme by the end of May 2022, and the deadline for submission of full applications is currently the end of June 2022. There is a limited amount of funding available being allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
All works must be completed by December 2022.
Green BELLE stands for Green Business Energy in Leicester and Leicestershire. The project is run by Leicester City Council’s sustainability service with support from Leicestershire County Council.
Leicester businesses invited to join fully-funded summer internship scheme
The University of Leicester has launched a new summer internship programme, designed to boost graduate employment in the regional economy.
This fully-funded internship scheme is one in a series of projects to commemorate the University’s Centenary.
Citizens of Change internships will take place between Monday 4 and Friday 29 July 2022, and are targeted at middle-year undergraduate students. Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a community-focused project in a Leicester or Leicestershire based organisation for a total of 140 hours over the four-week period.
Rob Fryer, Director of the Career Development Service at the University of Leicester, said: “Alongside the Leicester Graduate City Project internship, the Citizens of Change programme will undoubtedly benefit both the local economy and the University’s talent pipelines.
“And with our focus on employability, these internships will help to boost students to secure ongoing work and create a pathway towards their chosen careers.”
The benefit to business are that salaries costs are completely covered, providing access to talented undergraduates to support projects and add real value.
Fahad Manier, from city-based personal trainers Team Fighting Fit, said: “These internships are really valuable for both the business and the students involved. As a community engagement initiative, these funded schemes really help to promote local business and make a difference to the lives of the people in Leicester.”
Organisations who host projects with a focus on community engagement and/or impact are invited to submit expressions of interest. Categories of interest should align with the University of Leicester’s strategic goals, including; health and wellbeing; innovation; environmental sustainability; equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI); or research.
If you are an organisation interested in participating get in touch with Mariyah Mandhu, Project Manager (Internships) on mm977@leicester.ac.uk by Friday 29 April 2022.
Plans progress to bring Friar Gate Goods Yard back to life
Clowes Developments, owners of Friar Gate Goods Yard and surrounding land running from Friar Gate, Uttoxeter New Road and Great Northern Road have been working closely with local authorities and professional advisors to secure a viable future for the historical landmark in the centre of Derby.
In the last few weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in activity at the site whilst works permitted under planning applications have commenced including;
1. 21/01157/LBA; “Structural stabilisation works to dismantle damaged and unstable construction elements and to make safe the existing external walls. Temporary protection works to the remaining structure to prevent further collapse of residual roof elements and prevent ongoing water ingress” and;
2. 21/01158/LBA; “Structural works to ensure the lateral stability of the external walls and loose items of building fabric. Erection of scaffold for footpath protection and to allow access to window and roof level and provide restraint to the building. Roof works to include capping beams or reinstatement roofing and remodelling of the external ground levels.”
The proposed plans include a commercial and residential mixed-use development with a large, open, green space located at the centre of the scheme. The provisional plans include restoring the external walls of the historic and protected bonded warehouse building which they hope will remain an integral feature of the design of the scheme moving forward.
Land & planning director at Clowes Developments, Robert Hepwood, commented on the scheme: “Clowes Developments have been engaging in conversations to secure a viable use for the site for several years. We are delighted to finally be moving forward with these exciting proposals.
“Working closely with Derby City Council, Historic England and other parties including Friends of Friar Gate Bridge we have created an award-winning team of advisors including Maber Architects Ltd, Jackson Purdue Lever and Rigby and Co.
“We feel we have the right team in place to bring Friar Gate Goods Yard back to life and develop a scheme which Derby will be proud of whilst restoring some of the city’s most iconic historical buildings.”
Offer accepted for Derby County Football Club
The joint administrators of Derby County have accepted an offer from American businessman Chris Kirchner to acquire the football club out of administration.
The bid is for the purchase of the football club only with the terms of the club’s ongoing occupation of Pride Park stadium to be negotiated with external stakeholders.
Mr Kirchner had initially expressed an interest in acquiring the club in late 2021.
Quantuma says discussions have taken place with key stakeholders, and Mr Kirchner has been named as the preferred bidder for the Club, with immediate effect.
The joint administrators have entered into a period of exclusivity with Mr Kirchner and his advisers, during which further operational, commercial and contractual discussions will take place.
Carl Jackson, joint administrator, Quantuma, said: “We are delighted to be able to name Mr Kirchner as preferred bidder, which the Joint Administrators consider represents the best deal for creditors and one which will secure the long-term future of the Club.
“The naming of our preferred bidder represents a significant milestone in the administration, and we look forward to working with Mr Kirchner and his team to complete the sale of the Club.”
New Castle Donington HQ for recruitment agency
FHP Property Consultants, on behalf of clients, have agreed the letting of Unit 2, Redwing Court in Castle Donington to The Recruitment Group for their new head office.
The property provides the company with just under 2,000ft² of modern, self-contained office accommodation over two floors with a good designated car parking provision.
Redwing Court itself is a purpose built office development on Willow Farm Business Park.
Thomas Szymkiw, of FHP’s Office Agency Department, said: “I am delighted to have secured The Recruitment Group as tenants for Unit 2 Redwing Court. The property was previously under offer to another party – however as soon as it came back to the market, I knew it would be perfect for their requirements and after a brief viewing we agreed a swift deal with my client. Paul and the team were a pleasure to deal with throughout the process and I wish them all the best of luck for the future.”
Paul Hipkiss of The Recruitment Group said: “I would like to thank Thomas and his team at FHP for their hard work getting us into our new head office which we are absolutely delighted with. This new office will give us the platform to continue our growth plans as we look to build on a very successful last 2 years.”
Ideagen’s football fundraising efforts score more than £1,000
The corporate football team of software firm and Nottingham Forest Football Club (NFFC) partner, Ideagen Plc, raised more than £1,000 for charity after reaching the national finals of a corporate football tournament.
Ideagen’s team – made up of employees based at its Ruddington HQ – reached the final 16 in the knockout stages out of 404 total teams in the Business Fives National Final in Manchester, after winning the Nottingham tournament last November.
Since last year, the team has been fundraising as part of its sporting success and following the final, raised a total of £1,105 for Ideagen’s chosen charity, the Alzheimer’s Society.
The tournament is hosted by corporate sports provider, Business Fives Group, which encourages firms across the country to participate in sports events to raise money for a charitable cause of their choice.
Last year, it held regional events all across the country, with the best teams from each qualifying for the final, taking place at Manchester Central Powerleague.
In July last year, Ideagen joined NFFC’s partner programme as a sponsor of the Academy and girls’ development teams and last November launched its Think Big education initiative alongside the Nottingham Forest Community Trust.
For the final, the team proudly donned its own Ideagen branded kits for the tournament, kindly supplied by the NFFC Academy team.
Callum Davidson, talent development manager at Ideagen and captain of the business’s football team, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have raised more than £1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society – a charity particularly close to our hearts. The team played brilliantly and we’re so proud to have reached the National Finals, raising a substantial sum of money for charity in the process.
“A big thank you goes to our partners at Nottingham Forest for supplying our kits. Although we didn’t win the tournament, our goal was more than just success on the pitch; we are delighted with our performance off the pitch, raising a substantial amount of money for a cause which will really benefit.
“We’ll be entering into next season’s Nottingham tournament again which is due to take place later this year.”
Ideagen’s team is made of staff from its Marketing, Sales and People departments:
GK – Stanley Paton-Rawthorne
DEF – Tom Shanks
DEF – Joe Giles
MID – Martin Weightman
MID – Joe Palmer
MID – Tim Harruna
ATT – Callum Davidson (C)
ATT – Jacob Hunt
Derbyshire-headquartered Forest Holidays merges with Sykes Holiday Cottages
Mid-market private equity firm LDC has realised the investment from its 10-year partnership with Derbyshire-headquartered Forest Holidays through a merger with Sykes Holiday Cottages.
Forest Holidays is the owner and operator of environmentally sensitive cabins set across Britain’s forests. Since the mid-1970s, the company has sensitively created cabins under the guiding principles of sustainable woodland use and the preservation of the countryside and biodiversity.
To date, Forest Holidays has invested over £100 million into Britain’s forests, increasing recreational use, improving facilities, and creating and maintaining trails. Forest Holidays has 12 forest locations with many in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in Scotland and opening later this year in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.
LDC first invested in Forest Holidays in 2012 and has supported the management team to deliver its plan, while continuing to support its sustainability strategy. During LDC’s partnership with the business, the management team has opened five new locations across the UK.
Sykes shares Forest Holidays’ approach to sustainable tourism which strives to have a positive impact on the planet and local communities whilst providing memorable shared experiences for its customers. The combined business will be united by a common purpose to bring further benefits to nature, people and local communities.
Bruce McKendrick, CEO of Forest Holidays, said: “Forest Holidays has always sought to balance social, environmental and economic benefit. The benefits we bring to physical and mental well-being are more important than ever and in Sykes we have found a partner who shares this ethos.
“They also recognise the importance of our long-term partnership with the Forestry Commission and our shared objective to offer holidays that are good for people, good for nature and good for the environment. I’m grateful for LDC’s long-term support and for backing our plans to continue to invest in our locations throughout the pandemic.”
David Bains, partner and head of East Midlands and East of England at LDC, added: “Forest Holidays is a real East Midlands success story. From their head offices in Derbyshire, Bruce and his team have sensitively developed the UK’s leading provider of cabin holiday experiences at some of the nation’s most astounding locations of natural beauty. We’re proud to have played a part supporting their expansion over the last 10 years.”
