Climate conscious law firm Sills & Betteridge LLP are delighted to announce the introduction of a range of energy saving, carbon emission reducing initiatives. Its largest undertaking is the recent installation of 79 solar panels to its central Lincoln Head Office with the aim of generating 1/3 of the site’s total energy usage – for 4 months of the year, solar energy will fully power the 4 floor office. Derrick Denton, Director of UK Alternative Energy of North Hykeham in the city who managed the project said of the install “With Sills and Betteridge now occupying the whole of Aquis House, the challenge was to find a solar solution to help reduce the energy use within the building. A total of 79 x 405 W Canadian solar panels giving a system size 30.37kw, 3 x 10kw Solis inverters have been installed using a flat roof mounting system. This system has been equally split throughout the building and connected to the consumer units within the plant room. This system should see 25,000kwh of electricity generated each year and should see a saving of around six tons of CO2 every year. All the inverters are online, and the system can be displayed and monitored from anywhere in the world”. Another investment has been the purchase of a new MG ZS Electric Hatchback car, bought to replace one of the firm’s diesel vehicles. It will be used by members of the firm to attend client appointments, external meetings and events. A charging point has been installed at Aquis House which clients are welcome to use when they are when visiting for appointments. The firm aspires to have a fully electric fleet by 2025. Remote working and online video meetings are encouraged to help reduce avoidable travel across the region. Such methods became very popular with both clients and employees, further to their introduction during lockdown. Digital and paper-light file management and document storage are another efficiency that the firm is embracing, to cut down on paper consumption and the cost of print and archiving. Document management system iManage is being rolled out across the firm to support its main practice management system. Even the firm’s website www.sillslegal.co.uk is green, as verified by The Green Web Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation which tracks how much of the internet runs on green energy. Developed by DBS Internet Marketing, the site minimises the use of resources (and therefore energy) through quick download speeds and user-friendly navigation on all classes of device – and their hosting partner OVH used either renewable or low-carbon energy for 77% of its power last year with plans to increase it to 100%. Chief Executive Officer of Sills & Betteridge, Martyn Hall said “Like many law firms, we are working hard to understand the impact of our operations and working methods on the environment and are actively seeking to reduce our overall carbon footprint with the initiatives and best practices outlined above. Our team have welcomed the new projects and we look forward to introducing more across the wider firm.”  

Business confidence in the East Midlands fell five points during August to 25%, the lowest reading of all UK nations and regions, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.  Companies in the region reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 13 points at 24%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up two points to 27%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 25%.  East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as investing in their team (44%), diversifying into new markets (32%) and evolving their offer (28%).
 
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. 
 
A net balance of 27% of businesses in the region expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 12 points on last month. Overall UK business confidence increased to its highest level since February last year, jumping 10 points to 41% in August. All 11 regions and nations reported a positive business confidence reading in August, with nine regions and nations reporting a higher confidence reading month-on-month. Optimism in the UK economy also increased in August by 16 points to 37%, and the number of businesses expecting an increase in their trading prospects rose by three points to 46%. Businesses in London reported the highest levels of business confidence at 52% (up 20 points month-on-month), its strongest reading in 14 months. Firms in the South East reported the second highest reading at 47% (up 17 points month-on-month), followed by those in the South West at 46% (up 12 points month on month). The construction, retail and service sectors all saw a rise in business confidence in August. Services gained 12 points to reach a 22-month high of 42%, while retail firms were up nine points to 44%, an 18-month high. Construction firms’ confidence also increased by 11 points to a four-month high of 42%. In contrast, manufacturing confidence fell for a second consecutive month with a 4-point decline to 30%, taking it to the lowest level since April 2023.  Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Despite a slip in confidence in the East Midlands this month, businesses remain focused on the future. They continue to identify opportunities for growth, in particular focusing on developing their teams. “In order to ensure they have the capital to attract, retain and train talent, businesses need to keep a close eye on their cash flow as we go through the latter half of the year. Lloyds Bank will be by the side of the region’s firms to support them with the financial tools they need as they invest in their workforce and the future.” Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “The bounce in economic optimism this month is the standout point. Our analysis shows that businesses felt relief that interest rates may be reaching their peak, alongside hopes that measures to tackle inflation are having an impact. “With trading prospects remaining stable, and hiring and wage intentions also rising, the macro environment for small businesses and those outside the manufacturing sector is more upbeat. “From the data, large firms and manufacturers are experiencing some degree of caution, which is likely to reflect the wider global economic environment and, for manufacturing, the rotation of spending towards services.”

With entries closing TOMORROW (31 August) for East Midlands Business Link’s prestigious Bricks Awards, don’t miss this opportunity to raise the profile of your business by submitting a nomination! Celebrating the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and outstanding developments, the annual awards attract leaders from across the region and are the perfect way for businesses to promote the work they are completing and create more buzz. 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. A highlight in the business calendar, winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of chances to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. After winning deal of the year at last year’s event, Trevor Wells, director at Wells McFarlane, said: “For Wells McFarlane, the Broadnook Garden Village deal involved more than a decade of work, requiring extensive collaboration and detailed local knowledge to navigate its numerous complexities. The sale completed in July [2022] and will allow for the creation of an entirely new community comprising homes, businesses, a primary school, leisure facilities and natural open space. It’s fantastic news that our years of hard work are now recognised as the East Midlands’ most significant deal of 2022. We would also like to thank East Midlands Business Link for organising such a successful and well-attended event.” To enter your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page:

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground 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, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:

Local leaders from a range of sectors came together this month to discuss the progress of East Midlands devolution, as plans to give the region extra powers and funding gather pace and momentum. The event, held on Friday 18 August, saw Chief Executives at Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council provide updates on key elements of the region’s proposed devolution deal, including transport, skills and adult education, housing, and net-zero. Stakeholders representing a broad range of interests across the region – including business, universities and colleges, and emergency services – were given the opportunity to put questions to senior officers at the four councils. The event was held ahead of several major devolution milestones over the coming months. For the proposed East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to come into existence, new legislation is required from the Government, which is anticipated to be in place before the end of the year. Detailed devolution proposals would then be sent to the Government for approval, meaning that EMCCA could be a reality from spring 2024, with the first ever election for a regional mayor – covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham – taking place in May 2024. Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, said:The East Midlands has historically received the lowest levels of public funding in England. The fact that the East Midlands has consistently delivered GDP growth close to the UK average, from very low levels of investment, is testament to the commitment and ingenuity of the thousands of SMEs that are the backbone of the region’s economy. Devolving decision-making powers over how funding is spent to local areas is an important step and a once in a generation opportunity to organise ourselves in a way so that it’s easy for Government to provide us with the funding we need to grow our local economy, productivity and wealth. Greg Broughton, Sustainable Growth and Place Manager at the Environment Agency (East Midlands), said:Reflecting on the recent devolution stakeholder event, it was abundantly clear that there is a strong collective enthusiasm and drive to seize the opportunity for devolution to work together, to collaborate in new ways and to make the changes needed to transform the region. I was particularly pleased to hear that tackling environmental inequality and climate change is at the heart of the commitment to build a resilient and vibrant future for the people and places of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and I am excited to be part of building this new vision. If the plans go ahead, the EMCCA – spanning two counties and cities – would be the first combined county authority in the country, with a new elected regional mayor at the helm, representing around 2.2 million people. Devolution would provide the region with a guaranteed income stream of at least £1.14 billion, spread over a 30-year period. More funding is expected to become available once the EMCCA is formed – so far, £18 million has been awarded to the area as early investment during devolution negotiations, which is being spent on improving local housing, transport and skills provision. Thanks to devolution proposals, the East Midlands has been invited to establish an ‘Investment Zone’, which will attract £80 million of support over five years, with tax incentives for businesses to help boost economic growth right across the region. Emma Alexander, Managing Director at Derbyshire County Council, said:Devolution would unlock major benefits for our region, including extra powers and funding around a range of issues including housing, transport, skills, adult education and the environment. It is vital that we engage with key stakeholders every step of the way in this process, which is why I was delighted to see so many partners and colleagues in attendance at our event. Adrian Smith, Chief Executive at Nottinghamshire County Council, said:I’m hugely optimistic that the way partners are working together means we will ensure that everybody across the length and breadth of our region will benefit from this unprecedented opportunity. We have a great many strengths on which to build and the new funding and powers we will bring to the East Midlands will help us improve living standards, business growth, transport, the environment and health and wellbeing. Paul Simpson, Chief Executive at Derby City Council, said:It’s important to recognise that our devolution deal is just the beginning of our aspirations for more powers and funding for the East Midlands. We’re focused on building on the deal, as other areas like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester have done, so it was fantastic to connect with local business groups, organisations and partners at our stakeholder event as we develop this ambitious vision. Mel Barrett, Chief Executive at Nottingham City Council, said:It is vital that we work closely with partners and stakeholders to ensure that our region makes the most of the new powers and funding that would become available as part of our once in a generation devolution opportunity.