Nottingham’s Botham expands into heart of London’s financial district
Botham Accounting, together with its sister company Botham Capital, has expanded into the heart of London’s financial district, marking a significant milestone in its continued growth.
The business has taken office space at 99 Bishopsgate, a stone’s throw away from Liverpool Street station.
The boutique firm which specialises in the real estate and healthcare sectors was set up by managing director Andrew Botham in 2008 and has undergone rapid growth in recent years with turnover and staffing numbers increasing year on year by over 20%.
In 2023, the firm established a debt advisory and finance brokerage; Botham Capital, with Wes Hodelin at the helm.
The new office will initially be led by Botham Accounting director Tom Gregory, who heads up the firm’s healthcare offering; and Wes Hodelin, managing director of Botham Capital. Both will divide their time between the new office in London and the company’s headquarters in Nottingham city centre.
Gregory said: “The London office is a natural next step for us. We advise clients all over the UK but there is a concentration of clients in London so for us to have a base down has always been on the agenda. With the office at Bishopsgate, we’re in a great location for transport links as well as being close to funders and lawyers that we work with.”
The news of the London office comes just a few weeks after the firm returned to their main office on College Street, in Nottingham’s professional quarter following a three-month refurbishment project.
New MD for Gateley RJA
Leicestershire-headquartered Gateley RJA, the specialist quantity surveying, employer’s agent, project management and clerk of works arm of professional services group, Gateley, has appointed Steven Collin as managing director.
Chartered quantity surveyor, Collin, joined the business in 2017 and has spent the last six years in a director role. His appointment is part of the implementation of a succession plan following Richard Julian stepping down as managing director.
In his role, Collin will continue to drive the consultancy’s national growth across the private rented and affordable housing, commercial and insurance sectors.
On his appointment, Collin said: “It’s an honour to be taking up the position of managing director at Gateley RJA and I’m extremely grateful for Richard’s guidance, as well as the support of the directors and wider team.
“Thanks to some big instruction wins, the business has experienced rapid expansion over the past two years, which has seen our team reach a headcount of 80 colleagues. I look forward to building on this trajectory as we begin the next chapter following the acquisition.”
Nottingham College sells Arthur Mee Centre
Acting on behalf of Nottingham College, FHP has sold the Arthur Mee Centre in Stapleford.
Following completion of the college’s new £5.4 million purpose-built centre for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (SLDD) named ‘The Gateway’, FHP has concluded the sale of the Arthur Mee Centre.
The funds raised from the sale have contributed towards this bespoke Grade A facility located at the college’s Basford site. The Gateway centre for supported learners opened in February 2025 and provides the very latest standards in specialist teaching and learning resources for special educational needs education.
Phil Daniels of FHP said: “The Arthur Mee Centre, a former Victorian school property, comprised nearly 20,000ft² on 1.6 acres and proved very popular when we launched it onto the market.
“We had strong interest from a range of parties including developers and existing users but in particular from the private educational sector. The property was sold to the Outcomes First Group, a provider of special educational needs training.”
Gary McGinty, head of estates and capital development at Nottingham College, said: “We thank FHP very much for their support on the sale of the Arthur Mee Centre. We achieved a great result which will benefit our supported learning students at Nottingham College. A great job efficiently executed by the team at FHP.”
The purchaser, Outcomes First Group, were represented by Jack Murray at Jaxxons Group, a specialist surveyor representing businesses in the special educational needs sector.
Rushton Hickman raises the roof at Burton business park
Rushton Hickman has let Unit 17 at Eccleshall Business Park to MCM Roofing Ltd, a roofing solutions specialist.
The 1,292 sq ft unit offers an ideal space for MCM Roofing’s operations. The open-plan workshop includes a roller shutter door, facilitating easy access for equipment and materials.
Located on Hawkins Lane, one of Burton upon Trent’s principal industrial estates, the unit provides excellent connectivity to the town centre, just a mile away, as well as to the A38 trunk road, which is less than two miles from the site.
As Rushton Hickman Ltd welcomes the new tenant, Jade Martin, associate director, said: “We are delighted to have secured a top-tier tenant for our client, matching them with a space to support their growth plans.”
Derbyshire businesses urged to attend free digital conference
The Derbyshire Digital Awareness Conference 2025, set for 9th May at Derby’s Reach Conference Centre, has already surpassed 200 bookings, attracting business leaders from across the region. The event, organised by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Derbyshire County Council, will feature expert speakers from Microsoft, Openreach, and the University of Derby.
The conference is designed for businesses looking to improve their digital capabilities and productivity. The event will cover various aspects of digital transformation, including AI, data integrity, SEO, and blockchain, as well as practical workshops focused on implementing new technologies and managing utility costs.
Derbyshire County Council will also present its 2024-2030 Digital Connectivity Strategy, reflecting its ongoing efforts to improve broadband access for businesses in the county. With limited availability, business representatives are encouraged to secure their spots to take advantage of this opportunity for expert guidance on digital tools and strategies. The event is free for businesses in Derbyshire.
Plans unveiled for 270,000 sq ft light industrial scheme in Derby
Hortons has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of Sinfin Commercial Park, Derby, which will deliver 270,000 sq ft of new light industrial and logistics space.
The masterplan proposes 17 new units, ranging in size from 5,000 – 70,000 sq ft, on a 23-acre site near the Rolls-Royce Sinfin campus, with connectivity to the A50 and M1 motorway.
The scheme will target EPC A+ and includes electric vehicle charging points, photovoltaic panels and the creation of green amenity spaces to enhance the estate’s environmental credentials.
Hortons recently commenced demolition works on a redundant 207,000 sq ft warehouse unit at the park, paving the way for the proposed new development. The company acquired the vacant unit last year, following its earlier acquisition of 21 fully occupied warehouse units on the adjoining estate. Hortons owns an additional eight acres of open storage and development land, contiguous with the holding.
James Slater, head of development at Hortons, said: “Sinfin Commercial Park presents a rare opportunity to transform a strategically located site into a modern, sustainable industrial/logistics hub.
“Our investment reflects Hortons’ confidence in the logistics market and our commitment to delivering best-in-class facilities that meet occupier demands. This project is part of a wider strategic development programme of larger multi-let shed schemes across the Midlands area.”
MEC prioritises workplace wellbeing as it achieves new ISO certification
Multi-disciplinary technical consultancy, MEC Consulting Group has achieved ISO certification for Psychological Health & Safety at Work.
The firm, which has offices in Leicester, Birmingham and Brighton, has passed ISO45003, which focuses on managing psychological health and safety in the workplace.
Recognised as the first global standard for guiding employers on mental health and wellbeing, ISO45003 provides a framework for identifying workplace conditions and demands with the potential to create psychosocial risks, and how to address these to ensure a supportive environment for employees.
“ISO45003 is a ‘bolt on’ to our existing 45001 accreditation for Occupational Health and Safety,” explains MEC’s managing director, Alex Bennett. “The team’s wellbeing and safety is our highest priority and we wanted to be proactive about monitoring this. ISO45003 ensures we not only have the correct procedures in place but are also being guided by a recognised process.
“I was particularly pleased to discover that many of the criteria needed to pass this accreditation were already inherent in our working practices, meaning we have a robust process that prioritises wellbeing and ensures any workplace risks are managed effectively,” adds Alex.
MEC’s new ISO certification follows on from the firm’s associate environmental consultant, Nathan Allen becoming an accredited counsellor and mental health first aider. Nathan said: “Sometimes people spend more time with work colleagues than family members so it’s important to know what support is available.
“As a trained workplace first aider, I provide stress and mental health awareness training to all line managers, helping them to identify potential triggers and warning signs, and also promote our Employee Assistance programme, which offers individual help and guidance.”
Alex continues: “It’s reassuring to know that our ‘wellbeing first’ approach pairs with ISO guidance and that we have the right people and policies in place to properly support our team. It’s also especially pertinent to have secured this certification during Stress Awareness Month, which runs throughout April and is an initiative we support annually.
“To mark this, Nathan is hosting specific training sessions on the causes and effects of stress, along with sharing a range of effective stress management tips, how to spot signs of those experiencing poor mental health, and where to find appropriate help.
“Following this year’s ‘Lead With Love’ theme, we are encouraging all staff to share hints and tips about what works best for them in terms of good mental health practice but also extending their kindness and gratitude for each other through email tokens of appreciation, that are being shared companywide.
“Throughout the year, we will then continue this alongside monthly coffee mornings to inspire conversation, lunchtime walks, wellbeing meals, and walking meetings wherever possible,” concludes Alex.
East Midlands digital agency unveils new leadership team and ownership structure
East Midlands digital agency Quiet Storm Solutions has unveiled a new leadership team and ownership structure.
The Coalville-based firm, established in 1987, designs and creates ecommerce platforms, websites, business management tools and digital engagement activities across all business sectors.
Over the years, the business has worked with clients including Breedon Group, Aggregate Industries, Culina Logistics, the International Paralympic Committee, LG Electronics, the Rail Delivery Group and the NHS.
Quiet Storm founder Steve Megson will continue to oversee the planning, strategy and growth of the business as CEO. He’ll hand over its day-to-day running to new managing director Lewis Combey, who joined Quiet Storm as an apprentice, aged 17, in 2015.
Amy Heath, who joined as project manager in 2018, takes on the role of company secretary. Several team members have also taken up share options, meaning the business is now 100% employee-owned.
Steve Megson said: “These changes mark the next exciting chapter in the Quiet Storm story and will secure the future of the business as we continue to develop and grow.
“The transition to 100% employee ownership was five years in the making. It creates a genuine stake for our team in the company’s future success, which will directly benefit our clients through enhanced creativity, customer service and dedication.
“We’ve always been big investors in people. Our vision was to build a business that could run without me and my co-directors – my wife, Kathy and my brother, Phil. We’ve spent years bringing in the right people and developing their talents, and we’re now in a position to hand over the reins to a new generation to inject some fresh energy, thinking and innovation.
“Our clients will still receive the same high levels of service, care and support they’ve come to expect from Quiet Storm as we continue to adapt to emerging technologies and deliver clever solutions that solve real-world business, sales and marketing problems.”
Lewis Combey added: “I’m delighted to be taking on this new challenge and steering Quiet Storm through the next exciting phase of our journey.
“We’ve built an exceptional team of talented individuals who share our commitment to innovation and excellence.”
The Ivy to expand with Nottingham restaurant
The Ivy Collection is set to open a new location in Nottingham, taking over the former Hugo Boss store on Bridlesmith Gate in the heart of the city. This marks a strategic move for the iconic brand, which has already established a strong presence across the UK, with 15 restaurants in London and 27 others nationwide.
The new Nottingham venue will become the second in the Midlands, joining the existing restaurant in Birmingham. Troia (UK) Restaurants, the parent company of The Ivy Collection, has applied for a licence for the Bridlesmith Gate site, with proposed operating hours running from 8am to 12.30am daily. The opening strengthens The Ivy’s expansion strategy, continuing its growth beyond major metropolitan areas.
Alpha Construction appoints architects to create landmark headquarters
Matthew Montague Architects has been appointed by Alpha Construction to lead the redevelopment of Alpha House, the construction company’s current head office.
Alpha Construction plans to create a modern office development on the site, with the intention of renting out their existing building once they have relocated.
The project will transform the site into a sustainable, state-of-the-art headquarters. The redevelopment of Alpha House will involve the demolition of the existing single-storey office and garage, making way for a two-storey office building.
The new headquarters will feature a raised ground floor to address flood risks and will be strategically positioned at the rear of the plot to optimise the site layout and ensure ease of maintenance.
The project is set to be delivered in a phased approach. Phase 1 will create a dynamic workspace, including offices, open-plan workspaces for the current workforce and further space for growth, meeting rooms, canteen & breakout spaces, and additional facilities such as a shower room and archiving space.
Phase 2 will focus on flexibility, providing space for future expansion or the potential development of standalone premises for leasing.
In addition to the office building, the plans include the construction of a new garage and maintenance store for groundskeeping equipment, as well as a reconfiguration of parking at the company’s current office in Chatsworth Court to improve usability.
Sustainability is a key focus for the project, with Alpha Construction aiming to meet the Lloyds Clean Growth Financing Initiative’s requirements. Sustainable features will include; solar panels, EV charging points, rainwater harvesting systems and LED lighting and enhanced roof insulation.
“We are thrilled to work with Alpha Construction on this transformative redevelopment of Alpha House,” said Daniel Evans, director at Matthew Montague Architects.
“This project represents an exciting opportunity to design a headquarters that not only meets the operational needs of the business but also showcases their forward-thinking approach and commitment to sustainability. We look forward to delivering a workspace that Alpha Construction can be proud of for years to come.”
Managing Director Anthony Bamford said: “We established a 10-point checklist to define project success, Matthew Montague Architects’ proposals aligned seamlessly to our requirements and expectations. It was also clear that Daniel and his team shared our vision for our new Alpha House. We look forward to working with them to successfully deliver our project.”
Planning for the project is already underway, with positive preliminary discussions held with South Derbyshire District Council.
Alpha Construction aims to submit the planning application as soon as possible, with the goal of moving back into the redeveloped Alpha House within the next two years.
