The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022: putting property and construction businesses in the spotlight

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The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022: putting property and construction businesses in the spotlight
Shining the spotlight on the region’s property and construction businesses, raise the profile of your firm, developments, and reward your people by submitting a nomination for Business Link’s prestigious East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022! While winning an award at the Bricks will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly, the business that clinches the ‘overall winner’ award will also take home a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000. A highlight in the calendar, winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of opportunities to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will additionally welcome 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. To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
  • Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

To be held at:

Local company Proludic attributes two decades of success to its core values

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Local company Proludic attributes two decades of success to its core values
June 6th marks a special date in Nottingham-based play equipment provider Proludic Ltd’s calendar. On this day in 2002, the UK subsidiary was officially formed to sell Proludic manufactured play and sports equipment into this new market as part of the group’s strategy to expand its representation globally. Initially, the offices were based in Nottingham’s West Bridgford suburb, and Proludic then consisted of 9 employees. Fast forward 20 years and the company has expanded to what is almost fifty members of staff based in modern offices on the outskirts of the city. This phenomenal growth has so far left a legacy of over 6,000 play and sports areas up and down the length and breadth of the country. Inspired by its early origins as a family-owned business created in France in 1988, the UK subsidiary has harnessed a similar close-knit ethos throughout its culture. As a result, the privately-owned company has cultivated passionate like-minded employees supported by a global organisation that combines to make the Proludic family. Proludic’s 4 core values of Experience, Innovation, Commitment and Proximity have undoubtedly been the guiding formula underpinning its success to date. These have inspired the company’s mission to create engaging play and sports areas that contribute to the development and wellbeing of their users and the communities they serve. Reflecting on the success of the company, Rob Baker, Proludic’s MD, said: “I strongly believe our substantial growth can be put down to the quality of people that we employ, coupled with a strong set of core values that guide the culture and our mission. We are certainly not going to rest on our laurels and we will continue to harmonise the inspiring commitments we make to our customers whilst also making Proludic a fun and professional environment for our staff to thrive.” Despite this continued success, Proludic is showing no signs of slowing down! As one of the global leaders in the play industry, offering innovative, inclusive, and bespoke designs, the company will continue to leverage its core values to deliver a quality service for its clients.

Golfers raise £12,260 for Big C Little C

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Golfers raise £12,260 for Big C Little C
Local charity Big C Little C is to benefit from a donation of £12,260 from 24 golfers representing six East Midlands businesses who have completed the 2nd annual ‘Three Bunkers Challenge’. Styled like the infamous three peaks mountain climbs, the ‘Three Bunkers Challenge’ involves 24 golfers playing three golf courses in each of the East Midlands counties of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester in one day. The event was established by Andrew Allsop from Morley Hayes and Bev Cook of Simple Marketing Consultancy which is based in Radcliffe on Trent. Having raised £13,000 last year, Bev pledged to repeat the event until £100,000 is raised and was recently honoured with a NSPCC ‘Esther People Award’ which was presented by Dame Esther Rantzen in recognition of this commitment. The six companies that participated were: business advisory firm Mazars (Bob Johnson), Anthony James Insurance Brokers (Steve Boorman), Breeze Corporate Finance (Paul Bevan), MKM Building Supplies (Kate Tinsley), Fiscal Engineers (Colin Shaw), and Bev and Elliot Cook from Simple Marketing Consultancy. Colin Shaw from Big C Little C said: “Each year the amount each team raises gets better and better and with donations still coming in I’m hoping we will reach at a 2 year cumulative total of £30k, so only another 4 years to go! I’d like to thank all players for rallying round to encourage donations and all three golf clubs for allowing us to play their courses in this format.” This year the event started at 6.30am at Morley Hayes Golf Club, then players travelled to Charnwood Forest Golf Club and concluded at The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club. To make it more interesting, the team captain has to record how many bunkers the players in their team go in and then subtract this figure from their overall points score. This rule underpins the reason for calling the event the three bunkers challenge. The winning team was Breeze Corporate Finance comprising; Paul Bevan, Ben Collins, Bob Newsome, and Duncan James. Richard Lawrence from Charnwood Forest Golf Club said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the 3 Bunkers challenge today at Charnwood Forest Golf Club. We fully support all the hard work each team is doing to raise money for Big C Little C and we’re delighted to have them booked in our diary for next year’s event in their quest to raise £100,000.” The charity Big C Little C was founded by business entrepreneurs, Andrew Springhall from Breedon Electrical Services and Colin Shaw, former chairman of PKF Cooper Parry, who joined forces in January 2019 to create a charity to encourage businesses to organise events to raise money to support local initiatives that will support NSPCC and Cancer Research.

Revenues recover, but challenges remain for Midlands businesses

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Revenues recover, but challenges remain for Midlands businesses
The majority of Midlands mid-sized businesses have returned to pre-pandemic revenues, two years after seeing sales fall. According to new research from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, nearly a third of regional businesses are generating the same level as they were before COVID-19, with 46% increasing revenues. Despite the financial recovery, the region still faces considerable challenges, with the biggest threat to growth over the next three months being supply chain challenges (28%). The ongoing impacts of Brexit, such as complicated customs legislation, also ranked highly in the Midlands. As a result, ongoing issues are preventing companies from prioritising other important issues, with 25% of Midlands businesses sharing they feel unable to support employee wellbeing and 29% admitting they are pausing investment in the business. Tim Foster, partner at BDO in the Midlands, said: “To see such a high number of companies return to pre-pandemic revenues demonstrates the resilience and ambition of mid-sized businesses in the region. “However, the fact remains that the economic landscape is still fraught with challenges – some unique and some very much intertwined with the pandemic. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 ranks as the number one issue that has adversely impacted businesses in the last two years. As such, the culmination of challenges is leading many to pause investment in the business, or seek external finance or investment to counteract current trading conditions. “However, businesses in the Midlands continue to support their people, with many implementing measures to support staff with the rising cost of living. According to the survey, 64% of regional businesses have increased wages in line with or ahead of inflation, while others have offered staff benefits, such as a one-off bonus or childcare support.” Foster added: “Despite the fact businesses in our region continue to face a range of pressures and have paused some types of investment as a result, it’s hugely encouraging to see the majority are investing in people and doing what they can to support their teams with the cost-of-living crisis.”

Medical device designer and manufacturer secures £250,000 investment

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Medical device designer and manufacturer secures £250,000 investment
Loughborough-based medical device designer and manufacturer Uvamed has secured a growth finance loan from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund, and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). The £250,000 investment will be used to fund new warehouse and sales staff, marketing activity, accreditation, patents and tooling. Uvamed’s Rainbow Trays are compartmentalised trays for holding syringes containing anaesthetic drugs for use in surgery. These syringes are labelled using an internationally recognised critical care colour coding system which is replicated across the sections of the Rainbow Tray. The concept was developed using extensive research in collaboration with healthcare professionals to reduce the cognitive load for anaesthetists working during an emergency and in high pressure situations. Uvamed is an approved NHS supplier after its Rainbow Trays were successful in feasibility and usability trials and as its domestic and export sales continue to grow. An estimated 237 million medication administration errors occur across the sector each year in England, with the financial burden to the NHS upwards of £98 million. The Rainbow Tray helps to mitigate the potential cost of litigation and aftercare, as well as improve patient experience and save lives. Keith Fawdington, Managing Director at Uvamed, said: “The pandemic put our initial plans on hold as health services everywhere were overwhelmed. As our funding requirement didn’t fit traditional loan criteria, the MEIF investment proved crucial for us to expedite growth and get the products into hospitals. We look forward to having The FSE Group and MEIF on board as an investor.” Ann Marie McFadyen, investment manager at The FSE Group, said: “Keith and his team have created an award-winning and industry-recognised solution to an identified market gap. They have expanded the range to provide for a number of medical environments and needs, including tamper evident trays, and they are working on a trauma tray for military field surgical teams. There is clear potential for the Rainbow Tray to become a go-to tool in operating theatres across the world and we are delighted to be supporting this dynamic team to achieve its potential.”

Celebrate outstanding projects and businesses with a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022!

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Celebrate outstanding projects and businesses with a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022!
Place the spotlight on exceptional businesses and projects, and reward the teams behind them, by submitting a nomination for East Midlands Business Link’s esteemed Bricks Awards! The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrate the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and outstanding developments. Award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of opportunities to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region.

William Crooks, Managing Director of Cawarden, reflected on winning an award at the 2021 event: “After being named Contractor of the Year at the British Demolition Awards at the start of September, we were absolutely thrilled to win the same accolade from the East Midlands Bricks Awards a few weeks later.

“The event is a real showcase for the regional property and construction sector and we are proud to be recognised for our project and service delivery expertise as a leading specialist contractor. It was a great night and provided an opportunity to catch up with some familiar faces as well as meeting new with the wonderful Trent Bridge Cricket Ground as a backdrop.

“Well done to the Cawarden team for continuously going above and beyond and maintaining high standards for our valued clients. Congratulations must also go to all the other awards finalists and award winners on the night.”

To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000. Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

To be held at:

Land development and property consultancy appoint new director

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Land development and property consultancy appoint new director

Specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie has announced the promotion of Gary Kirk to director.

Gary was promoted to senior associate director by the Loughborough-based firm of Chartered Surveyors in February 2021 and subsequently joined the management board alongside fellow directors Robert Cole, Andrew Bamber, Alex Reid, Gary Owens, and Amy Biddell.

Having spent a placement year with Mather Jamie during 2008-09, Gary re-joined the company in 2010 having obtained a degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management from Harper Adams University College. Gary later became a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2012 and a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers in 2013.

Over the last 12 years, Gary has steadily progressed his career and expanded the firm’s client base and his involvement in property transactions and estate management. In recent years he has played an influential role strategically advising clients on the disposal of land to leading housebuilders and property developers that require land to create residential developments ranging in size from sites for two dwellings up to large-scale developments that will deliver hundreds of homes.

Commenting on his promotion, Gary said: “Mather Jamie offers a great environment for young people to learn from experienced and well-respected professionals. My career is evidence of the way the firm supports young professionals and allows them to grow and flourish via their pathway of internal promotion.

“I am really pleased that my long-term commitment to the firm and our clients has been rewarded with promotion to director and that I have been entrusted to help to ensure the future longevity of the firm. I am extremely grateful to my colleagues and clients for their support over the years.”

Mather Jamie Managing Director, Robert Cole, added: “We pride ourselves in offering a director-led service and Gary should be really proud of the way he has progressed his career at the firm. Being a strategic adviser requires patience and supporting talented young people to progress their career within the same firm enables us to build the kind of long-term trusted relationships that ensures our clients achieve their short and long term objectives.”

Over the last month Gary and the team have completed transactions including the sale of land to Jelson Homes, Sheppard Developments, Dandara and Cameron Homes. The firm was also recognised as a 2022 CoStar Awards winner, which honour the very best agents in commercial real estate.

Clowes Developments and Bellway join forces for major residential development

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Clowes Developments and Bellway join forces for major residential development
Clowes and Bellway have joined forces with their combined land holdings in Chellaston to form Snelsmoor Grange. The planning application for the residential development was submitted jointly to Derby City Council and received approval in March 2022. The 800-home development will form part of Boulton Moor, a larger settlement on the outskirts of Chellaston. Following the news of the successful application, Clowes Developments have sold their share of the land holdings to Bellway to enable the national housebuilder to progress with the residential development. Clowes Developments director, Thomas Clowes commented on the deal: “We are delighted to finally see this scheme coming to fruition. The relationship between Clowes and Bellway spans many years, collaborating on a number of projects up and down the UK. Snelsmoor Grange has presented a unique opportunity to work together and deliver another exciting development.” Paul Coleman, Managing Director of Bellway East Midlands, said: “Derby City Council’s resolution to grant planning permission for this new residential development in Chellaston is very pleasing for everyone who has worked incredibly hard to put forward the proposed scheme. We have worked very closely with Clowes to secure this agreement, building on our longstanding relationship with the team there. “Bellway is looking forward to delivering the new Snelsmoor Grange development and will announce further details on the project once construction work begins on site in the near future.” As well as the 800-residential dwellings, Snelsmoor Grange will have a village park and various social-amenities. The development will also provide a brand-new primary due to open as early as September 2023. The school will be able to accommodate 315 primary and 39 nursery pupils.

East Midlands’ mid-market businesses poised to raise prices

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East Midlands’ mid-market businesses poised to raise prices
Mid-sized businesses in the East Midlands are preparing to raise their prices in response to spiralling inflationary pressures, according to new research from Grant Thornton UK LLP.

In its latest Business Outlook Tracker survey, Grant Thornton found that 17% of mid-market firms in the East Midlands have already raised their prices, with a further 38% intending to do so in the future.

More than half (56%) of these businesses expect a price increase to remain in place for at least 12 months, though only 19% anticipate that this will be permanent. The research also found that amid rising costs, wage inflation and energy bills, confidence in the mid-market has dipped. Just 50% of respondents in the East Midlands are optimistic about the outlook of the UK economy, a -12 percentage point (pp) decrease compared to February (62%). The latest Tracker also recorded a significant fall in respondents reporting revenue growth optimism – dropping down to just 40% of respondents indicating they were confident compared to February’s total of 76%. These challenges have also led to changes in investment priorities, as investment expectations for the next six months have dropped significantly across all areas monitored by the Tracker. The most significant drop in the East Midlands (-33pp compared to the last Tracker) is seen in R&D. This is followed by skills development (-29pp), technology (-13pp) and growing in international markets (-7pp). Sue Knight, partner and practice leader at Grant Thornton UK LLP in the Midlands, said: “With inflation running at 9% and predicted to rise even further, the mid-market in the East Midlands is bracing itself for another challenging period. If they haven’t done so already, many are seriously considering when they need to increase prices in order to maintain acceptable profitability and cashflow levels. “Acting quickly and decisively to manage rising inflation rates could mean passing on increased prices to the consumer, but management teams also need to be looking at every aspect of their business to identify potential savings. “Due to the current situation, there’s been a real shift in the mid-market’s priorities, with the increasing uncertainty stalling investment expectations. This is likely because many businesses are facing a double squeeze, with almost every cost increasing alongside rising concern from the potential of slowing consumer demand.”

M-EC launches CPD training sessions to prepare for new building regulations

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M-EC launches CPD training sessions to prepare for new building regulations
Leicestershire-based development technical consultants, M-EC, has created a continuous professional development (CPD) session to equip members of the residential development community with the knowledge around new building regulations, coming into effect in June 2022. Approved Document O (AD-O) is a new building regulation that makes it a requirement to take overheating into consideration with all new residential developments. It is intended to future proof homes against hotter summers in England, as well as avoid overheating which is becoming a cause for concern. It also considers night-time noise levels in bedrooms. M-EC director, Alex Bennett, comments on what it will mean for the building industry: “These changes are some of the biggest in Building Regulations for a long time. It will mean an increased workload to show compliance and developers on residential projects will need to adopt different design strategies to remove excess heat and limit solar gains from properties. Overheating and noise will now need to be considered together. “It’s only appropriate to help our clients through these changes when the response from the government has been so limited. Most companies that work in construction aren’t aware of the significant implications of these new regulations and it’s important we highlight this to our clients so there are no surprises at planning or later stages.” The regulations apply to any dwelling where someone can sleep, so includes houses, student accommodation and care homes, yet not hotels. Alex adds: “Although it’s a building control matter, it is advised to consider this early to ensure mitigation measures don’t affect planning permission. For developments with planning, providing work starts on site pre 15th June 2023 no compliance is needed.” M-EC is offering CPD sessions which include an overview of AD-O and its proposed methodology for implementing it into new residential projects. Adam Walker, acoustic consultant at M-EC, will be undertaking the sessions, he explains: “Significantly onerous ‘simple’ criteria are going to be difficult to meet for many businesses and so thermal modelling is going to become commonplace in residential design for certain building types. Our team is trained in thermal modelling to provide acoustic advice on the implications of overheating strategies.” M-EC has invested in software which models virtual environments. Adam adds: “Essentially, we are able to draw in a layout provided by the client, including the internal floor plans to ultimately create an accurate 3D model of how a development will sit once it has been completed. “Using weather files in accordance with the necessary guidance, we can then simulate the thermal conditions over a year which allows us to assess whether there is a risk of overheating in each of the dwellings. As part of the calculations/analysis, the model also considers things like thermal constructions, occupancy of the rooms and window and door openings. Thermal modelling ties in closely to the acoustics work that we do for our clients and can be carried out in a single assessment.” M-EC will be running the CPD sessions with an overview of Approved Document O throughout May and June 2022. For more information or to book onto a CPD session contact 01530 264753 or email group@m-ec.co.uk.
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