Nottinghamshire care group adds fifth home to growing portfolio
Nottinghamshire dementia specialist Church Farm Care has acquired Wren Hall Nursing Home.
Selston-based Wren Hall will add a further 54 beds to the Church Farm Care portfolio – joining the already four-strong group of homes based across Cotgrave, Radcliffe-on-Trent and West Bridgford.
Wren Hall’s former owner Anita Astle MBE – daughter of Doctor and Mrs Kesari who first built the home – will continue leading her team of 120 and working as registered manager.
Lucy Atkinson, director of Church Farm Care, said: “Wren Hall has been achieving a high standard of care in Nottinghamshire for a long time, and we are honoured to now be adding our voice and expertise to this as the team becomes part of the Church Farm family.
“Wren Hall is known for its focus on family-run, person-centered, specialist care – something that really resonates with our own approach and reputation.”
The acquisition also sees Church Farm Care taking over Little Wrens Nursery and Preschool that sits on the same site.
Patrick Atkinson, director of Church Farm Care, said: “This marks the start of an exciting period of expansion for us. Our goal has always been to grow sustainably while maintaining a high level of care across all our homes, and this acquisition allows us to do just that.
“We will continue doing what we do best, as well as taking on the new challenge that comes with not only taking on an additional home but also a nursery and preschool. We look forward to combining the knowledge and experience of both teams to drive forward exceptional standards of specialist care.”
Wren Hall Nursing Home was built in 1989 and has been providing specialist dementia and end of life care for more than 35 years. The 54-bed nursing home is multi-award winning, having received national accolades such as Care Home of the Year, and managing director Anita Astle was awarded an MBE in 2014 for her services to older people.
Anita said: “Deciding to pass the torch was an emotional moment for me and my family but I am confident that Patrick and Lucy share Wren Hall’s vision and values. Their commitment to maintaining Wren Hall as a leader of nursing care and innovation aligns perfectly with the culture we’ve built.
“In the immediate future, I will be staying on as registered manager and look forward to working alongside the Church Farm Care team as this transition takes place.”
Key appointment sees Howes Percival increase support for charitable and not-for-profit sector
East Midands law firm Howes Percival is expanding its offering for the charitable and not-for-profit sector following the recruitment of sector specialist Sally Hopwood.
Sally specialises in advising charities and not-for-profit organisations in relation to their legal and regulatory affairs. She has broad experience in charity matters, gained over many years in both private practice and in-house roles working as Group Legal Counsel and Company Secretary in UK charities.
Sally is experienced in constituting and registering charitable entities of all kinds and has a particular interest in charity governance, supporting clients with board development, preparing and advising on policy documents, recommending improvements to governance procedures and advising on and implementing restructuring. She is also experienced at assisting with complex registration issues and charity disputes.
Sally holds the Chartered Governance Institute Certificate in Charity Law and Governance and is a member of the Charity Law Association.
Howes Percival Partner, Alexandra Hornsby, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Sally to Howes Percival. We have been looking to expand our charity specialism for some time, but experts of Sally’s calibre, with such fantastic experience aren’t easy to find.
“Sally’s appointment will allow us to offer a more complete and highly specialist charity service and will also help us to train up the next generation of Howes Percival charity lawyers.
“The charitable and not-for-profit sector is hugely important in filling gaps in governmental support and funding throughout the economy, with thousands of organisations relying on charitable funding to provide and maintain their services across education, health, community development, amateur sport, relief of poverty and deprivation and numerous other areas.
“The sector is highly regulated and therefore difficult for organisations to operate in successfully without support.
“High quality legal advice that is focused on practical solutions to issues is vital for many charities to enable them to carry out their purposes, protect their trustees and employees and fulfil their legal and regulatory obligations.
“With the strength of our wider legal offering now, we are able to put together a team of experts for organisations ranging from small family charities up to much larger not-for-profit organisations.”
Burton retail unit sold to accounting services firm
Rushton Hickman has sold a prominent retail unit close to the train station and on the edge of Burton Upon Trent town centre.
77 Station Street offers a ground-floor retail area, with rear storage space and access, which presents the potential for residential development upstairs.
The new owners, Bespoke M&A Ltd, specialise in accounting services and are dedicated to helping clients build fully integrated forecast models and Power BI data analytics platforms. Their mission is to provide clients with deeper insights into their financials while automating key business processes and they believe that their new home will help them with this goal.
Taylor Millington, Rushton Hickman agent, said: “During our initial viewing with Matthew from Bespoke M&A, it was clear that this property was a perfect fit for their needs! The location and positioning are ideal for their business, and we look forward to witnessing their continued success.”
Dalkia UK secures two-year extension for Derby College FM contract
Dalkia UK has secured a two-year extension to its facilities management (FM) contract with Derby College after a competitive tender process.
The extended agreement covers planned maintenance, reactive support, and statutory compliance across the college’s multiple sites. Facilities involved include classrooms, laboratories, catering areas, sports facilities, and specialist environments such as animal care units.
In addition to day-to-day FM operations, Dalkia will provide strategic support to help Derby College meet its long-term sustainability targets, including energy efficiency improvements and Net Zero ambitions.
Derby College delivers education and training to a diverse student base, including school leavers, apprentices, higher education students, and adult learners.
Businesses, developers and investors invited to join East Midlands mayor at UKREiiF
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, is beginning the countdown to the East Midlands taking centre stage at the UK’s biggest development showcase next month.
Mayor Claire will lead partners from across the East Midlands at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) taking place in Leeds over the three days of 20-22 May, with 15,000 national and international investors and developers expected to attend.
At a dedicated launch event in Nottingham on 7 May, the mayor will outline her vision and ambition for the East Midlands at UKREiiF and bring partners, businesses and stakeholders together ahead of the three day event later that month.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “UKREiiF is a marketplace for attracting investment into our region. Deals made there can lead to the development of commercial spaces, housing, and infrastructure – creating jobs during construction and beyond.
“This is the biggest opportunity our region has had, since we were created, to showcase the regeneration opportunities our region has to offer. I need businesses, developers and investors in the region to join me in making that case.
“Doing so together, means we can accelerate plans to revitalise our town centres, brownfield sites, or underused assets – turning them into places people want to live, work and visit.”
Alongside Mayor Claire who will lead the launch event, keynote speakers are Amy Harhoff, CEO, East Midlands Combined County Authority, and Matt Christie, director of external relations and content, UKREiiF.
The East Midlands will be represented at UKREiiF by the senior leadership teams at East Midlands Combined County Authority, the East Midlands Freeport, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Marketing Derby, Invest in Nottingham, Destination Chesterfield and Invest in Derbyshire.
Freeths go into bat with Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Law firm Freeths has been appointed as legal advisors to Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC), becoming its Official Legal Partner from the start of the 2025 / 26 season.
As one of 18 first-class county clubs in England and Wales, the new framework will see Freeths advise across all legal matters for the club going forward.
Under the new partnership, Freeths will also play a key role in LCCC’s wider business community engagement, by assisting in a range of marketing and hospitality initiatives throughout the year.
Real estate partner Caroline Smith has been named as the client partner. She will be supported by corporate partner Martin Smith and other specialists across the firm.
Caroline Smith said: “Being Leicester born and bred and coming from a family of avid cricket lovers, I’m excited about this new partnership and how we can support and work with the club to help achieve its ambitions. It demonstrates our commitment to Leicester and the local business community.”
John Williams, LCCC commercial director, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Freeths to the Foxes family. The firm’s reputation for excellence and community focus aligns perfectly with our values, and we’re excited to work together on a number of key initiatives throughout the season.”
Furnley House Foundation Summer Ball returns for 2025
The Furnley House Foundation’s Summer Ball will return on Saturday 28 June 2025.
Held at Winstanley House in Leicester, the evening offers an opportunity for people to come together and make a lasting impact for Leicestershire-based charities.
The Furnley House Foundation was created by Furnley House, a Midlands financial adviser, with the aim to improve the lives of those less fortunate. At the last Summer Ball, 170 guests attended and raised over £38,000 for local charities.
The headline charity for this year’s ball is PASIC Cancer Support for Children and Young People, who make sure no family in the East Midlands faces childhood cancer alone. The evening will also raise money and awareness for One Roof Leicester, who tackle homelessness by offering housing, support, and opportunities to those in need, and Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital, which rescues and rehabilitates sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.
Simon Winfield, chairman of the Furnley House Foundation and managing director of Red Monkey Play, said: “The Summer Ball is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together. Every year, we witness the incredible generosity of businesses and individuals who share our passion for making a difference.
“Previous Balls have been fantastic evenings and raised thousands for charity we can’t wait to welcome everyone for another unforgettable night.”
Leicestershire Business Voice appoints new board director
Leicestershire Business Voice (LBV), the business advocacy group for Leicester and Leicestershire, has appointed Dillan Shikotra as its new board director.
Dillan joins 10 other directors on the LBV board alongside new chair, Sue Tilley. Dillan will help the board to deliver on its strategy of supporting members by shaping the conversation and influencing the future of business in the region.
Dillan Shikotra is managing partner at Leicester-based Microtech, a leader in cybersecurity, software solutions and IT support. He is also vice president of the Shree Wanza Community charity in Leicester.
Commenting on his new role at LBV, Dillan Shikotra said: “I was born and raised in Leicester, and as a local business leader, I am looking forward to working with the LBV board and its members to grow and develop the business community across Leicester and Leicestershire.
“Having proudly been selected for the prestigious Goldman Sachs Accelerator Programme, I’m a staunch advocate of the opportunities that can be realised through strategic business mentoring and making connections with other business leaders.
“I hope that I can champion this approach across the membership base and beyond to help LBV deliver growth and learning opportunities for the local business community.”
Sue Tilley, chair of LBV, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Dillan to the LBV board. He brings a range of specialist experience and skills from within his particular sector that will further strengthen the expertise that our board can offer to support our members.”
Phoenix Brickwork secures double win worth £4.5m
Brickwork, scaffolding and SFS specialist Phoenix Brickwork, based in Pinxton, Derbyshire, has won two major projects with a combined value of £4.5m.
Working with client Willmott Dixon, Phoenix will supply the brickwork package for the University of Staffordshire’s new student village in Stoke-on-Trent. At the same time, Phoenix will also work on a multi-million-pound contract to build a new 28-bed children’s facility in Sleaford, Lincolnshire – providing much-improved facilities for young people.
Work on Stoke’s landmark project will start in March and see 700 new student rooms built in cluster blocks and townhouses alongside a village ‘hub’ facility – which will include a roof-top terrace, well-being spaces and a study area. In addition, BMH Scaffolding, part of the Phoenix Brickwork group of companies, will provide the scaffolding for this high-profile scheme, which is estimated to take 40 weeks.
In Lincolnshire, the ground-breaking project to build a new children’s home has been funded by the Department for Education and is expected to be complete by 2027. The flagship build has been designed to reach net-zero in operation and provide an innovative partial grid solution – supported by solar panels and a state-of-the-art power storage.
Christian Watson, group chairman at Phoenix Brickwork (UK) Ltd, said: “These two new projects represent an impressive win for our group and signal a strong start in 2025.
“Securing these two projects is a fantastic achievement for Phoenix Brickwork and BMH Scaffolding, showcasing the strength of our group and the expertise that we bring to major developments around the country.
“In particular, this collaboration demonstrates our ability to support main contractors on major projects, undertaking multiple interfacing trades and our growing capacity to deliver on ambitious builds.
“The new student village in Stoke and the children’s facility in Lincolnshire, are a significant investment and it’s exciting to see contemporary sustainable architecture blend so effortlessly with nature.
“With Phoenix Brickwork now providing SFS design, masonry and scaffolding, the business is fast becoming a key player in the national sub-contracting landscape.”
Rory Talbot, contracts manager at BHM Scaffolding, said: “The new student village in Stoke-on-Trent and the children’s facility in Sleaford, are both extremely impressive projects and we are excited to be involved.
“We are looking forward to making a coordinated and efficient start to ensure we can deliver both of these projects on time and complete them fast and efficiently.”
Three new partners among law firm’s senior East Midlands promotions
East Midlands law firm, Howes Percival has made nine senior promotions, including three new partners, Hannah Ball, Alishia Marrocco and Gary Pitt.
Louise Hunt, Stephen Ruse and Will Taylor have been promoted to the level of legal director, while Sobia Ahmad, Stephanie Millerchip and Aimee Newton have been made senior associates.
Geraint Davies, Howes Percival’s chairman, said: “Huge congratulations to everyone on their promotions. I think the whole team at Howes Percival has made an enormous contribution over the last 12 months, so while we celebrate the specific landmark of a promotion, we also recognise the hard work, dedication, and invaluable contribution everyone has made.
“We continue to invest in our people, our technology and our offices, to make Howes Percival a great place to work and develop your career. That means upgrading our offices as we have done in Leicester and Cambridge recently, to create fantastic, modern working environments. But it also means creating the opportunities for personal development.
“By opening three new offices in the last 10 years, we have built new teams and created opportunities across the firm both in terms of promotion and brand-new jobs at every level within Howes Percival.”
