Mansfield manufacturer to supply 4,000 items of kitchen furniture for major residential scheme
Nottinghamshire-based Deanestor, the furniture and fitout specialists, has won its second contract to provide bespoke kitchens for Grainger plc – the UK’s largest listed residential landlord.
The contract awarded by main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland is for the manufacture and installation of 261 high specification kitchens for a new £64m residential development in Milton Keynes.
Deanestor is manufacturing around 4,000 items of furniture for the kitchens in three layouts and both straight run and L-shaped configurations. Two kitchens also feature in the show apartment for the development.
The scheme will provide 261 purpose-designed rental homes ranging from studios to one and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom duplexes. Construction of two eight-storey blocks is underway on a brownfield site historically occupied by the YMCA. The developers are Peveril Securities with Mayforth and the architects are Pick Everard.
Commenting on the project, William Tonkinson, Managing Director of Deanestor, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Bowmer + Kirkland on our second Grainger build-to-rent scheme. This reaffirms our position as a leading specialist in the supply of contemporary yet long-lasting kitchen solutions to the private rental sector.
“We offer a complete furniture and fitting out service for exceptional quality kitchens and are working for some of the UK’s leading private residential developers and contractors on major schemes for both rent and market sale.”
Wayne Catterall, project manager at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “We need the kitchens to be robust and durable for the long-term operation of the buildings, to deliver value for the client, and to contribute to an attractive living environment for residents. We are confident in Deanestor’s ability to achieve the quality, finish and detailing required for the project and to our programme.”
Deanestor is also providing high specification kitchens for a build-to-rent scheme for Grainger in Birmingham.
The bespoke base and wall cabinets manufactured by Deanestor in Mansfield will have a white carcase with doors and front edges in a high gloss graphite finish to contrast with white flecked solid surface worktops. A tall unit is being supplied to accommodate an integrated fridge freezer and the contract also includes the procurement, supply, and installation of white goods – dishwasher, freestanding washing machine, electric oven and hob, extractor, sink and taps.
Summit hears how Chesterfield’s ambitions have not been derailed
Speakers at the recent Chesterfield Investment Summit have revealed that the borough is on course for a faster recovery from the pandemic than many other towns and cities.
The town’s high rate of public sector employment combined with its strong retail, manufacturing, and logistics sectors, have been attributed to Chesterfield’s significantly lower increase in unemployment during the pandemic compared to the national average.
At the Summit, which was held on 24 November and attended by more than 130 members of the business community, it was revealed that the borough’s level of unemployment increased by 46% during the pandemic compared to the national average of 77%.
The annual Summit, which was held in-person for the first time in two years, was organised by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Economic Partnership and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Speaking at the Summit, Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council revealed the town’s plans for its recovery and growth, include plans to make the case for the re-opening of a rail line and a new £125 million road in the north east of the borough.
He said: “The town has shown a great degree of resilience and done really well during the pandemic. We are now looking towards recovery and growth. Chesterfield’s myriad of competitive advantages, including location, history, transport links, university, skills base, affordability and current construction projects have come together to make it an attractive opportunity for investors.”
Despite the ‘bitterly disappointing news’ to axe the eastern leg of HS2, Dr Bowen, said: “This won’t stop us in bringing forward our ambitious plans to redevelop the former Staveley Works Corridor. We look forward to working with the landowners to bring forward a mixed-use scheme comprising housing, leisure, retail, and light industrial units anchored around a new road and Chesterfield Canal.”
At the summit it was announced that the council remains hopeful that the Government will commit to supporting the reopening of the former Barrow Hill line which will connect Staveley, Barrow Hill, and Whittington to Chesterfield and Sheffield. Proposals for the re-opening of the rail line will, all being well, be submitted early next year.
A total of £1bn of investment is expected to be made in Staveley over the next 15 years, creating 3,500 new homes and 2,200 new jobs. Dr Bowen added: “We have two priorities – to make Chesterfield a thriving borough and improve the quality of life for local people.”
Chesterfield Borough Council is also pressing ahead with its plans to transform the area around Chesterfield train station. The multi-million-pound Station Masterplan, which includes demolition of the former Chesterfield Hotel, will ‘create a sense of arrival’ with modern landscaping and ‘land hungry carparks’ being converted into multi-storey carparks to free up land for residential, commercial, and light industrial development.
Demolition of the Chesterfield Hotel will begin in spring next year with detailed plans for redevelopment of the site still to be confirmed.
2022 looks set to be a formative year for the town, with a number of high-quality office developments – One Waterside Place, The Glass Yard and the Enterprise Centre set to be completed. Construction is also expected to begin on Summit @PEAK, phase one of the low carbon / net zero all year leisure, education, wellness, and entertainment gateway resort.
Speaking at the Summit, Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield and Managing Director of Bolsterstone Group, which is developing the 60-acre Chesterfield Waterside scheme, said: “The pandemic has brought about changes in the requirements for office space. Businesses want good quality, sustainable office space with environmental and social governance being a key consideration. Once again, Chesterfield is ahead of the curve with the modern, quality office developments already under construction which will enable the town to attract investors, create jobs and new opportunities for local people.”
In addition to Dr Huw Bowen and Peter Swallow, the Summit also heard from representatives from the town’s public / private partnership – Blue Deer Developments, Lomas Mitchell Architects, Whittam Cox Architects, Devonshire Property Group Limited and Derbyshire County Council – which are working together to ensure Chesterfield meets its ambitions.
Jillian Mitchell of Lomas Mitchell Architects, and Vice-Chair of Destination Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group, commented: “Nationally, we are on the precipice of a time of seismic change in property design and Chesterfield is ahead of the game on this. The town’s commitment to sustainable construction through private/public collaboration is an opportunity for Chesterfield to lead on nationally.”
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “I am very pleased at the wide range of construction projects going ahead across the borough right now. All these developments represent new jobs and opportunities for local people, especially those looking to start their careers.
“Making sure that Chesterfield residents benefit from local economic growth is a key priority for us and our partners. A great example of this is the mentoring support provided by Chesterfield Property and Construction Group, which helps ensure that local people get the jobs that are coming to Chesterfield – including those created during the construction phase of projects, as well as opportunities within the businesses that relocate and grow here.
“It is a very exciting time for Chesterfield, which has been made possible by the hard work and commitment that the council and its partners have put in over many years.”
Mansfield energy supplier collapses
Entice Energy, which comprises both Entice Energy Supply Limited and Simply Your Energy Limited, are to cease trading.
Based in Mansfield, Entice Energy supplies around 5,400 domestic customers.
In recent weeks there has been an unprecedented increase in global gas prices which is putting financial pressure on suppliers, seeing many go bust.
Hinckley-based Avro Energy entered administration in October, preceded by the collapse of Nottingham electricity and gas supplier, ENSTROGA.
Customers of Entice Energy will be contacted by their new supplier, which will be chosen by Ofgem.
Neil Lawrence, director of retail at Ofgem, said: “Ofgem’s number one priority is to protect customers. We know this is a worrying time for many people and news of a supplier going out of business can be unsettling.
“I want to reassure affected customers that they do not need to worry: under our safety net we’ll make sure your energy supplies continue. Ofgem will choose a new supplier for you and while we are doing this our advice is to wait until we appoint a new supplier and do not switch in the meantime. You can rely on your energy supply as normal. We will update you when we have chosen a new supplier, who will then get in touch about your tariff.
“Any customer concerned about paying their energy bill should contact their supplier to access the range of support that is available.”
Leicester wholesaler expands to new premises following rapid growth in vape and CBD
Rapid growth in the twin markets of vaping and cannabis oil has seen UK and international retailer JM Wholesale move to major new premises in Leicester.
Having outgrown its original city centre premises, the company has taken over 50,000 square foot premises in Whetstone, on the city’s fringe.
The site will include offices and warehouses, as well as a clean room, production facilities, a showroom and a conference room, in a six-figure investment by JM Wholesale on the fit-out.
Logie Rajan, CEO of JM Wholesale, said the new premises will last the company for another decade as he predicted ongoing growth for the business.
For now, the warehouse and offices will house 40 staff covering management, operations and product research and design. However the move also coincides with a recruitment drive which will see JM Wholesale take on a further 30 staff over coming months.
Logie said: “This move reflects our rapid expansion and our growth to take our position as one of the most prominent wholesalers in our industry.
“Specialists in business-to-business supplies, we are carving out a unique position in the vaping and CBD market.
“It’s an exciting time for everyone at the company and, on an individual note, I’m delighted to be able to supply employment and career development opportunities at a time when we’re all recovering from a difficult period in our professional and personal lives.”
Figures from Statista suggest that in 2019, the vape market in the United Kingdom generated a revenue of an estimated 2.8 billion US dollars, a figure which is set to rise to roughly 3.9 billion US dollars in 2023.
CBD use in the UK, meanwhile, has skyrocketed. In 2018, only around 250,000 Britons reported using CBD products. This was a time when the local market was largely unregulated, and CBD oil was all lumped under the label of “cannabis oil”.
Fast forward three short years, and the grass has grown immensely greener. The UK’s CBD market is currently the second largest in the world, surpassing other countries where CBD has been legal for longer. In 2020, 8.4 million people had consumed CBD products, or planned to.
Logie said: “We now have all the facilities necessary to become the leader in our field, with lab testing facilities and the ability to carry out cutting-edge research and development.
“So as the CBD and vape industry continues to grow, as the public loses its inhibitions about the products we serve and as CBD use in particular becomes a more accepted method of treating medical and mental health problems, we’re in a great position to expand further.”
Derbyshire Employers offering £500 Sign Up bonuses amid ‘staffing squeeze’
East Midlands employers are going above and beyond to recruit new staff – offering enticing perks including bonuses of up to £500.
Businesses are facing the most severe shortage of job candidates on record due to the post-lockdown surge in the economy and Brexit, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).
But award-winning local firm, Sky Recruitment Solutions, says its clients are coming up with lucrative ways to attract the right candidates.
Sky, which has offices in Derby, Burton, Mansfield, Ripley, Huddersfield, and a sister white collar recruitment company called Capella Professional, based in Nottingham, is currently half-way through filling 200 jobs on behalf of online retailer Buy It Direct, at its new 563,000 sq ft warehouse near Castle Donington.
Buy It Direct is offering a £500 attendance bonus, with half paid after eight weeks and the remainder after a second eight-week period.
Meanwhile, another of Sky’s clients, a Burton-on-Trent-based warehouse and distribution firm which supplies the crafters industry, which is looking to fill 50 picking and packing roles with general warehouse duties, have a £250 attendance bonus on offer, if workers have less than three absences in the run-up to Christmas.
Another of Sky’s clients, TEX Plastics, in Allenton, Derby, which manufactures plastic components for life critical applications, electronic products and medical solutions, which has 20 vacancies, has a £25 weekly bonus based on attendance.
And a car manufacturer on Sky’s books, based in Foston, South Derbyshire, has increased its rates, with a bonus that is paid once workers go permanent. Ten to 15 production operatives are needed at the site.
David Torrington, Managing Director at Sky Recruitment Solutions said: “In 20 years, I have never seen anything like this in the sector, it is unparalleled. Never before have employers been offering such high incentives to encourage staff to join them. My concern is how businesses maintain this going forward. With higher rates of pay, there is a danger that these extra costs will be passed onto consumers.”
Beckie Elliott, Sky Recruitment Solutions’ business manager, said: “Most companies are now paying whatever they can to incentivise workers and motivate them to be able to stay.
“Obviously retention is important for them, but the turnover of staff is ridiculously high at the moment.”
Giving reasons for low retention rates, Beckie added: “Workers have more of a choice now of where they are going to work, rather than how it used to be.
“They could start a job and the next day, they could be offered a different job for £2 more an hour.
“Clients are doing what they can – it’s really competitive, our role is to partner our clients to attract and retain the right staff. We are trying to advise clients on the best approach to getting people through the door.”
To find out more, or for more information about any of the above vacancies, visit www.skyrecruitmentsolutions.co.uk
Green glory for Cawarden
Derby-based Specialist Contractor, Cawarden, has claimed two new awards to add to its 2021 collection of prizes – receiving gold and silver recognition from the Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice delivered at the former Summit Colliery site in Nottinghamshire.
They competed against more than 800 other nominations and were presented with their trophies and certificates at a glittering presentation ceremony hosted by Liz Kendall MP at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, London on November 15th, 2021.
Cawarden was awarded the accolades for the remediation and conservation work it carried out at the former colliery site on behalf of Bolsover Properties Ltd. Their work enabled the site to be re-developed for commercial/industrial use – all whilst providing a long-term sustainable solution to protect the existing botanical diversity that had flourished, including the Common Spotted-Orchid and Bee Orchid, and maintain the conservation status of Dingy Skipper butterflies.
The vision for the site was brought to life through the creation of new habitats and the relocation of rare species from their current locations on the site to the periphery of the development.
The project succeeded beyond expectations and has provided the population with a long-term future in the area. Numbers are such that expansion into new habitats – beyond the existing range – will likely occur in the future.
William Crooks, Cawarden Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to have won gold and silver in the International Green Apple Environment Awards. These prestigious award wins have shone a light on our unwavering commitment and passion for the environment. Also, the partnership approach we take to supporting our clients to achieve their sustainable development goals.
“We hope our work at Summit Colliery helps others around the world to learn from our achievements. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams who continue to raise the bar in the delivery of our works through industry and environmental best practices.”
Darren Rideout, Head of Land Regeneration & Planning at Bolsover Properties Ltd, congratulated Cawarden on their success: “Congratulations to Cawarden on winning gold and silver at the Green Apple Awards. I am incredibly proud that Summit Colliery has received this international award recognition.”
As a result of Cawarden’s Green Apple Award success, they have been invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow their example and learn from their achievement. They could also progress to represent the United Kingdom in the Green World Awards 2022 and have 100 trees planted in their name as part of the United Nations Billion Trees initiative.
The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries.
The awards are organised by The Green Organisation – an international, independent, non-political, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.
The Green Apple Awards are supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management, REHIS and other independent bodies.
University of Derby is launching a new Business School and inviting the community to be involved in the planning process
Thoughts invited on plans for Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station site
Residents and interested parties have been invited to have their say on plans for the Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station site and a Local Development Order (LDO) that could give the green light to new industry and business projects and the potential of thousands of permanent highly-skilled jobs.
The power station, owned by international energy company Uniper, will close at the end of September 2024 in line with government policy to end coal-fired power generation.
Rushcliffe Borough Council want to hear views at rushcliffe.ratcliffeLDO.com from Monday November 29 and at two local events on helping secure its long-term future with a site of local, regional and national importance after its closure.
If taken forward, the LDO would grant planning permission for a range of modern industrial uses on the redeveloped site, including advanced manufacturing, low-carbon energy production, battery production, energy storage, logistics, and research and development.
A masterplan for the site is currently being prepared to support the redevelopment, which will guide growth and development over the coming years including the proposals linked to the previously announced East Midlands Freeport and the Development Corporation that could create further jobs and significant investment.
The emerging vision for the site sets out the guiding principles by which the development would be brought forward, and seeks to deliver:
- A zero-carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands
- Highly skilled jobs
- Modern industry and business uses, served by on-site sustainable energy generation and storage
- Advanced manufacturing, for example to produce electric car batteries
- A hub for research, development, and innovation, through links with universities, business support organisations and established industry.
- Tuesday November 30, 3pm-7pm at Thrumpton Village Hall, Church Lane, Thrumpton, NG11 0AX
- Tuesday December 7, 3pm-7pm at Gotham Memorial Hall, Nottingham Road, Gotham, NG11 0HE
County council approves 10-year vision for Nottinghamshire
A new plan which sets out Nottinghamshire County Council’s 10-year vision to deliver a “healthy, prosperous, and greener future” for communities has been approved.
The Nottinghamshire Plan is a nine-point blueprint shaped by the responses to the Big Notts Survey, which was conducted earlier this year and led to more than 12,000 residents having their say on their hopes and aspirations for the county.
County council leaders say the plan will address residents’ hopes and concerns as Nottinghamshire and the country continues its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and look to the next 10 years and beyond.
Levelling up life opportunities are at the heart of the wide-ranging plan by investing in priority communities, improving Nottinghamshire’s roads and pavements, and making core council services such as adults and children’s social care fit for the future.
The aspirational plan also outlines how securing greater investment by bringing more powers and funding from London to Nottinghamshire would support the delivery of major infrastructure projects like HS2 and the East Midlands Freeport.
Responding to residents’ concerns about climate change, the county council has also set itself a bold target of making all its activity net carbon neutral by 2030 – as well as planting more than 250,000 trees to support local biodiversity.
Set out in nine ambitions, the Nottinghamshire Plan details actions the council will fulfil over the next four years, including:
- piloting Family Hubs which give access to all family support services under one roof;
- providing sufficient school places in good schools so that parents have greater choice;
- creating the world’s first 5G Connected Forest within the historic Sherwood Forest area.
Council purchases shopping centre for £9.9m
Leicester City Council is the new owner of Leicester’s Haymarket Centre. The council has purchased the landmark shopping centre for £9.9m after securing a deal before the property went to market.
Funding for the purchase comes from a pot of £10m set aside for capital investment within the council’s overall capital programme. This funding can only be spent on buying or improving buildings or highways, and not on running services.
Before purchasing the property, the council was a major tenant of the previous owners, contributing 19 percent of all revenues paid to them. It paid rent for the Haymarket car park, Haymarket Theatre, Haymarket House (sub-let to Travelodge) and Haymarket Health (sexual health clinic).
Savings from rent payments and the income generated from rent paid by other tenants will give the council an income to continue to support critical services.
The shopping centre will be a major addition to the council’s Corporate Estate portfolio, which is worth more than £112m and includes buildings such as the Corn Exchange and Loseby Lane properties, but also 400 industrial units and 263 retail units, more than half of which are in neighbourhoods.
It also supports small businesses and start-ups by letting workspace at a low rent. However, the entire estate generates an annual income of more than £7m which the council uses to support services.
Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, said: “This council has invested in property in Leicester for many generations. Unlike many other councils, we are continuing to invest in our own city, and these assets make a huge contribution to its economic prosperity.
“The Haymarket Centre is a significant and important addition to our holdings. It also fits in with our wider regeneration of this area, where we have already invested in a new bus station, the pedestrianisation of surrounding streets, and a new link road to St Margaret’s bus station.
“Government cuts to our revenue budget mean that like all councils we face very difficult spending decisions in the coming months. Using our capital budget in this way will generate much-needed income that we can spend on jobs and services, and will also give us the opportunity to have a positive impact on the city centre and the many businesses and jobs it provides.”
Built in the early 1970s, the Haymarket Centre is currently home to 65 shopping outlets. Major tenants include Matalan and B&M. The units leased by Primark, TK Maxx and Metro Bank are owned by another local authority outside the East Midlands.
The council will work with the current, experienced managing agents to operate the centre, whilst working on a medium to long-term plan looking at how its performance could be improved.
