G F Tomlinson has formed a long-term partnership with the University of Nottingham to further strengthen its para and inclusive sport offerings. This collaboration will enable the growth and development of the university’s para and inclusive sport offerings and forms a key step in the university’s overarching vision to be the sector leader in ensuring equity of opportunity for the whole of the university’s community. The new partnership will enable a range of initiatives to be implemented including increased Para athlete recruitment, growth of the BUCS Championship winning Wheelchair Basketball Team, increased numbers of students accessing the disability sport and fitness membership, and wider support to help the University Sports clubs grow their inclusive sport offer. G F Tomlinson has a long history working with the university, designing and building key facilities across its campuses. The university’s para-athletes and teams will work closely with G F Tomlinson to help drive new standards for inclusive design and build in the sector. Students will further benefit from this partnership with new year in industry placements and degree apprenticeship pathways being created with G F Tomlinson. Andy Sewards, Chairman, G F Tomlinson, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the university to further develop our expertise in inclusive design and build. The synergy we share is incredible, and we are proud to help develop a more inclusive campus environment alongside supporting the university community to thrive. “I have been incredibly inspired by the athletes I have met and the ambition of the university. I am so excited to see where this journey takes us all and we can’t wait to see Nottingham’s para-athletes competing on the world stage and more people than ever involved in the university’s sport programmes.” Jo Simpson, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We want to be known as the sector leader for Para and inclusive sport. This new partnership is an exciting part of our journey to achieve this vision. Para sport can truly change lives and Tomlinson’s support to enable this strategy showcases their value led approach in all that they do. “This is a sector defining moment and one which will become the catalyst for an even more inclusive environment on our campuses and across the sector. It is a true showcase of how our partners can work with us to create a global leading vision and impact.” Professor Katherine Linehan, Pro-Vice Chancellor Education and Student Experience, added: “This new partnership with G F Tomlinson’s is ground-breaking. It allows us to work together to further drive new inclusive standards in both the construction and higher education sectors. “This collaboration facilitates the university’s commitment to become an organisation that is truly inclusive by design. It allows us to build on the strong foundation the inclusive sport team at the university have established to ensure that both recreational and professional sports opportunities are open to our whole community.”

Derby’s proposed restrictions on window signage have been delayed after business community opposition. The city’s planning commission approved most of the 2025 zoning and subdivision amendments on April 3 but paused changes related to window signage and duplex design for further review.

Currently, Derby exempts window signage from its sign regulations, allowing full window coverage. City staff proposed new limits, ranging from 10% of total façade area in residential zones to 35% in industrial areas. A 30% limit was suggested for the B-3 business district, aligning with wall sign rules.

Several local businesses and the Derby Chamber of Commerce raised concerns, citing the impact on visibility, branding, and operational benefits like temperature control and security. Instead of coverage limits, alternatives such as quality and maintenance standards were suggested.

The signage changes will be reviewed further before any decision is finalised. All other proposed zoning amendments were approved.

Framework, the charity helping homeless people across the East Midlands, is inviting people who want to make a difference to join its board of trustees. The charity is seeking board members with financial skills to help the charity navigate a challenging landscape in the years ahead. Each year Framework supports around 18,000 people with housing, health, employment or support and care needs across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Sheffield. Framework, which is both a registered charity and registered social landlord, provides more than 1,300 units of supported accommodation. Its work includes helping rough sleepers, providing emergency accommodation, move-on units and community-based support. It is active in developing new, purpose-built accommodation. Suzanne Williamson, Framework’s Director of Finance, Governance and Risk, said: “We are keen to attract applicants who share our values and ethos and are committed to helping make a difference to the life chances of some of society’s most vulnerable individuals. “We are particularly keen to hear from people with expertise in Finance, Commercial and Risk and who possess a finance or accounting qualification. “By joining our Board of Trustees you will be working alongside our Senior Leadership Team to navigate an external environment that is challenging and continually changing: we have to think carefully about how to create efficiency without compromising on quality.” These voluntary roles require a commitment to attend eight board meetings each year plus the annual conference. Meetings are held at Framework’s central office in Nottingham but applications are welcomed from across all the geographical areas the charity operates. Framework has recently welcomed two new board members – Tom Jackson, Director of Operations at YMCA Heart of England, and Jane Bethea, Director of Public Health at North Northamptonshire Council and an Honorary Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Nottingham. Tom explained why he wanted to join the Framework board, saying: “It is an organisation that I am very familiar with, having worked in housing-related services across the Midlands for the past 16 years and having lived in Nottingham over this period. “I have been able to see firsthand the challenges that many people face and the fantastic impact that organisations like Framework can have on a person’s prospects in life. “The opportunity to join the board and be part of an organisation that is truly committed to tackling homelessness and helping people to reach their potential is something that I felt would be an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience.” Interested candidates can find more information at www.frameworkha.org/about-us/careers/ and are invited to apply online before 5 May 2025. Interviews will be held on 21 May.

Rykneld Homes has won two awards at this year’s Efficiency East Midlands Building Communities Awards. The annual regional awards ceremony, now in its ninth year, is renowned for recognising and celebrating professionalism, excellence, and innovation within the housing and construction community. The team faced strong competition with a 40% increase of submissions compared to last year. The Community Involvement Team’s delivery of a Duke of Edinburgh scheme saw Rykneld named winners of the Best use of an EEM Charitable Donation Award for the second year running. And Rykneld’s partnership working with Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd won the Refurbishment Project of the Year Award. Judges were impressed with the delivery of the £21m retrofit decarbonisation project, which has seen improvement works to over 640 properties. Rykneld Homes was also named runner up in the Sustainability category. Entries were judged by an expert panel with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the housing and construction industry. Heather Summers, Head of Neighbourhoods at Rykneld Homes, said: “Our Community Involvement Team offer something completely unique through the Duke of Edinburgh Award and have made a real difference to the lives of the young people they are working with and their wider communities. “They thoroughly deserve to have their efforts recognised.” Helen Brown, Head of Regeneration and Redevelopment, added: “Our work with SBS has produced real results and is improving the homes of our customers – something we are committed to doing. “We’ve won several awards for our work with SBS, it’s great to be recognised again.” EEM is a not-for-profit procurement consortium set up to drive cost and efficiency savings in the public sector. Since 2010, EEM and its members have worked together to deliver comprehensive yet simplified procurement solutions, which offer a wide range of compliant, competitive and high-quality products and services. Fundraising on the night raised £30,000 for EEM’s chosen charities, the Ben Kinsella Trust and Heartsafe Bleed Kits.