Breedon Group, the construction materials group, has completed three recent bolt-on transactions with a combined enterprise value of up to £19m.
In Northern Ireland the acquisition of Robinson Quarry Masters Limited, a family-run quarrying and concrete block business in Country Antrim, has further extended Breedon’s footprint North of Belfast and enhanced its aggregate reserves on the Island of Ireland.
Robinson Quarry Masters has a well-established customer base with exposure to housing, commercial and infrastructure end-markets.
In Great Britain Breedon has acquired two downstream businesses.
Broome Bros. Limited is a leading manufacturer of concrete blocks based in Doncaster, adjacent to one of the company’s existing ready-mixed concrete sites, and Minster Surfacing Limited is an award-winning regional surfacing business based in Lincoln with strong sustainability credentials delivering a diverse portfolio of works from the Midlands to London.
Rob Wood, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Many of our transactions come to us through our local knowledge and personal engagement with the owners. As a result, our active M&A pipeline has continued to yield high quality, earnings enhancing opportunities that will enable us to progress our sustainable growth strategy.
“Each of these independent family run businesses is aligned with our vertically-integrated operating model, providing further opportunity to pull through upstream building materials while extending our downstream footprint to deliver profitable growth. We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to Breedon and look forward to working with them.”
Vital funds raised by DHP Family’s charity festival Beat the Streets in 2023 have been handed over to Framework to support its work helping the homeless population in Nottingham.
The award-winning festival generated £89,500 from this year’s outing in January – up from £76,000 last year – thanks to a combination of ticket sales, bar takings and donations. All artists generously give their time for free as well.
Since its launch in 2018, the festival has become renowned for the vital funds it has raised for Framework, with the running total now topping £400,000. More than 300 separate individuals have benefited directly from interventions wholly or partly funded through Beat the Streets.
Framework will be putting the funds from this year’s festival towards the creation of eight self-contained flats for entrenched rough sleepers who have been on the streets for more than 20 years.
The charity has already been granted planning permission to build the Housing First flats. The accommodation will provide rough sleepers with permanent housing combined with a programme of unlimited person-centred support towards independence. They will be able to access a range of Framework’s other services including, drug and alcohol, mental health and employment support to ensure outcomes are permanent, and they do not fall back into the cycle of repeat homelessness.
Framework’s Chief Executive Andrew Redfern said: “Thank you to everyone at DHP Family who made it possible to raise a stunning £89,500 at this year’s Beat the Streets festival.
“This is another amazing result and a massive contribution to our urgent work tackling homelessness in Nottingham and further afield. The money raised will play a major part in funding eight new flats for rough sleepers at Birkin Avenue in Nottingham.
“Our partnership with DHP in tackling homelessness is unique and greatly appreciated: the award-winning Beat the Streets festival has become a hugely popular focus for those who are raising awareness of homelessness and encouraging the public to contribute towards tackling it.
“It was astonishing to realise that over the past five years Beat the Streets has raised more than £400,000. This remarkable total demonstrates the magnificent commitment and support of our friends at DHP Family along with all the hundreds of bands, solo artists, technicians, stewards and administrators who have so generously given their time and talent to make it possible.
“More than 300 separate individuals have benefited directly from interventions wholly or partly funded through Beat the Streets. These interventions have taken various forms ranging from emergency shelter, referral for an urgent health assessment, a period in specialist supported housing, or a permanent home with wraparound support.
“The leadership of DHP has motivated other partners, including local businesses, to join the effort – thus further enhancing the scope and effectiveness of responses to homelessness and rough sleeping. There is no doubt that the wholehearted support of DHP, musicians and audiences will continue to be much needed.”
DHP Family’s MD George Akins said: “As a Nottingham based company, it means a lot to all of us that work here to continue to deliver a fantastic Beat the Streets festival each January as we know how vital the funds are to Framework and the people they support across the city.
“We hope to continue to use our expertise as music promoters and festival organisers to make a difference. We are extremely grateful to all the artists who give their time to play and each and every person that bought a ticket as together, we are helping to support something very worthwhile.”
Refugees from countries including Ukraine and Syria are being supported into work across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire by a partnership between two chambers of commerce.
East Midlands Chamber and Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce are working together to develop refugees’ skills, employability and social integration, with the aim of enhancing confidence among individuals who have fled war, violence or persecution to take on jobs here – and in turn help businesses to fill vacancies.
In response to the crisis in Ukraine, members of East Midlands Chamber’s employment services team have made weekly visits to Nottinghamshire Ukrainian Cultural Centre to help refugees arriving in the area.
The team has supported more than 150 individuals with personalised training courses, CV and job application writing, interview preparation, housing and financial assistance, introductions to employers, including Nottingham Venues, Pizza Factory and Smyths Toys. It has also worked with Nottingham-based charity Refugee Roots to provide English language lessons and address mental health barriers.
Paul Needham, head of employment services at East Midlands Chamber, which represents Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, said: “Given the extremely tight labour market we are experiencing right now – our research shows that while six in 10 East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first three months of 2023, almost three-quarters (73%) of those struggled to fill roles – we have been engaging businesses about the benefits of adopting inclusive recruitment policies to open up vacancies to a wider pool of people, including refugees.
“Supporting Ukrainian refugees in Nottinghamshire over the past six months has been a really rewarding exercise for our team given the desperate circumstances these people find themselves in, and it has provided an important platform for introducing more families and individuals to our wide portfolio of employment services, which break down barriers to work.
“We now want to replicate this work in Derbyshire in partnership with Staffordshire Chamber, which has had great success within its own area, to provide further job opportunities that will enable refugees to integrate into our society and contribute to the communities they now call home.”
Positive Pathways programme supports more than 250 individuals
For the past two years, Staffordshire Chamber has run the Positive Pathways programme, which provides employability skills development and business start-up advice to Afghan, Syrian and Ukrainian refugees now based in Staffordshire, and connects them with local companies.
Part-funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, it has supported more than 250 people, including highly-skilled professionals such as doctors, surgeons, nurses, psychologists, dentists, engineers, project managers and accountants.
All individuals have had to meet Government criteria showing their right to work in the UK and been aged 18 or older.
Positive Pathways project manager Julie Priestnall said: “Refugees are often skilled and capable individuals who hold qualifications and practical experience across various areas of work, as well as a willingness to learn, which means they can provide a significant contribution to businesses with a little bit of support.
“The impact of Positive Pathways has been enormous – not just on the individuals who have needed our support to give them the confidence to take on jobs but also to the local economy, which has benefitted from their skills to plug gaps in the labour market. Global events mean this type of support is needed now more than ever.”
Some of the barriers to employment faced by refugees include a lack of work references or knowledge of the labour market, not having completed education before fleeing their country or qualifications not being recognised in the UK.
The chances of refugees returning to employment often lesson the longer they are unemployed as they lose confidence and self-esteem.
Nottingham Venues takes a lead in employing refugees
East Midlands Chamber has already worked with conference and event space operator Nottingham Venues, helping to place Ukrainian national Anastasiia Markeliuk as a food and beverage assistant.
Anastasiia comes from Kherson, one of the first areas in Ukraine to be invaded by the Russian army, and was taken in by a family from Lady Bay, Nottingham, after fleeing the country via Poland. She has a master’s degree in geography and sociology, and understands her current role is a stepping-stone for future job prospects.
She said: “I am very grateful for the support I have received since I have arrived in the UK, both from my host family and Nottingham Venues.
“The refugee community often features very skilled people who have a lot to offer and can make a real difference to companies, so I would encourage businesses to be open to the opportunities that employing refugees can provide.”
Suzie Adams, HR director at Nottingham Venues, which operates East Midlands Conference Centre and The Jubilee Hotel and Conferences among other venues, added: “We have a number of employees from the Ukrainian community working in a variety of roles within our business.
“We are trying to support them as much as possible, whether in a work capacity or if they need any support outside of work.
“Almost all are highly educated with a wide variety of qualifications. Their spirit, determination combined with an ability to turn their hands to anything makes them an asset to our team or indeed any business.
“There are skills shortages in many sectors in the UK at the moment and businesses should not be discouraged from employing refugees to fill those roles, as well as training and developing home-grown staff. There is support out there from the Chamber of Commerce and other organisations that can help companies looking to employ refugees.”
Nottingham currently has a massive £4 billion worth of recently completed developments and opportunity sites across half a square mile of the city centre, highlighting the Core City’s importance as a major driver of the regional and national economy.
A newly created development map of the city highlights a total of 14 major schemes sites including two of the largest and most significant city centre projects anywhere in the UK – Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter.
Together the new developments would provide over 7,000 new homes, 15,000 new jobs and create 2 million square feet of new office and commercial floor space.
Nottingham’s £4bn development programme was presented this week at UKREiiF, the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum in Leeds.
City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, spoke at the event which was also attended by the council’s Chief Executive, Mel Barrett and Corporate Director for Growth and City Development, Sajeeda Rose, as part of the city’s team at the event led by Invest in Nottingham.
Cllr Mellen said: “In Nottingham we support development sites with major improvements to the public realm and transport network. So the Broad Marsh has already benefitted from public investment in a brand-new state-of-the-art car park and bus station, while the surrounding streets have been transformed into a thriving multi-activity area featuring a popular new skateable space and major new street art.
“We remain ambitious for our city – in spite of the current cost-of-living crisis – and we pride ourselves on the way we work with partners to ensure this important development can continue.
“Right now we are re-imagining our city centre – reinventing ways for people to live, work and enjoy the city – through better connectivity, better sustainability and perhaps most importantly the creativity to be able to see how people want their city centres to evolve – so that we can offer them a greener, brighter future.”
In addition to Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter, key sites include the Nottingham Waterside development; the University of Nottingham’s new Castle Meadow campus and Unity Square phase two alongside phase one, the new HMRC office.
Broad Marsh
Broad Marsh is a “a once in many generations opportunity” for Nottingham to lead the way in city centre regeneration following the impacts of Covid-19 and online retailing.
Heatherwick Studios, led by the world renowned and highly acclaimed British designer Thomas Heatherwick, was commissioned by the City Council and the Greater Broad Marsh Advisory Group to create a new vision for the 20-acre site.
The vision offers social and economic opportunity to Nottingham on an unprecedented and historic scale, generating over 6,000 jobs, creating up to 1,000 new homes and over 500,000 square feet of commercial and office space.
The council has been working to procure a master planner and supporting team to turn the vision into a more detailed master plan over the next few months and is now nearing completion of this process. A more detailed business case and delivery strategy will be developed to help procure the very best private sector partner to work closely with the council to deliver an exemplar sustainable development with social value, viability and deliverability at its core.
Significant development has already taken place around Broad Marsh over the last three years including the new Nottingham College City Hub and a state-of-the-art car park and bus station.
Major improvements to the public realm have been completed on Sussex Street next to the new Nottingham College, creating a thriving multi activity area featuring a popular new skateable space and major new street art.
A new ‘Green Heart’ public space the size of a football pitch, designed by Townshend Landscape Architects, is being created at the centre of the Broad Marsh site following the partial demolition of the old shopping centre with work starting later this year. Work is also due to start soon to create a new playable public space on the now pedestrianised Collin Street alongside the new Nottingham Central Library.
The Library is nearing the end of its fit out and the books and other equipment will soon be delivered and installed ahead of a planned opening later this year.
The Island Quarter
The 36-acre Island Quarter site, 500m from Nottingham Station, had been derelict and blighted for over three decades before work started on a major redevelopment three years ago.
The Island Quarter is an exciting mixed-use development and unique, not just for Nottingham but for the Midlands and the UK. The 36-acre site is being totally transformed to bring new homes, grade A office space, creative spaces, a lifestyle hotel, PRS apartments and co-working space, retail units, a ‘linear’ park and vibrant community and event space as well as student accommodation to the city.
1 The Island Quarter – the site’s first phase – opened in 2022, comprising restaurants Cleaver & Wake and Binks Yard. The venue’s outside space opened earlier in 2023, and will be hosting live events and entertainment throughout the summer.
The purpose-built student accommodation on the east side of the site will top out in summer 2023 and be ready for the September 2024 intake of students, and phase 1B – featuring a dual-branded IHG hotel and private rented apartments – will start on site later this year.
Nottingham’s integrated transport system
Nottingham has taken a joined up approach to planning and transport over the last two decades.
The council has retained public ownership of the bus company Nottingham City Transport and made significant investment in public transport including a tram system and Park & Ride which helped grow usage from 67m in 2004 to 80m in 2019.
Nottingham City Transport has the largest fleet of bio-gas double decker buses in the world with remaining diesel buses using technology which reduces their emissions by 90%.
A Workplace Parking Levy was introduced in 2011 which helped fund the tram network extension and improvements to Nottingham’s railway station.
Integrated smart ticketing has been introduced across all forms of transport and also e-mobility hubs which support the roll out of electric vehicles including e-bikes, e-scooters, a recent wireless electric taxi charging pilot and fleet vehicles which actually put electricity back into the grid.
Nottingham City Council are also investing in its cycle network including a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent.
All of these measures support Nottingham’s target to be a carbon neutral city by 2028.
A brand new programme to help businesses and organisations in Leicestershire become heathier places to work has been launched.
The Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire programme from Leicestershire County Council’s Public Health team has been designed to help places of work and local organisations achieve the ‘Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Accreditation,’ with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service becoming one of the first organisations to benefit from the programme.
Businesses and organisations who sign up can benefit from the Workplace Health Needs Assessment, Health MOT’s for staff, training for managers and other support that is available. The programme ensures a fully bespoke and tailored programme for each workforce.
Launched during Mental Health Awareness Week, and with mental wellbeing often under discussed in the workplace, the scheme also offers both Mental Health First Aid training and Healthy Conversation Skills training.
As one of the first to take advantage of Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Programme, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s 700-strong workforce, including 580 firefighters, have committed to undergoing a Workplace Health Needs Assessment for their staff, and hosted a special launch event at Birstall Fire and Rescue Station.
Councillor Louise Richardson, lead member for health and wellbeing at Leicestershire County Council, said: “I am so pleased to see our new Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire programme launch, especially during Mental Health Awareness week.
“We spend so much of our adult life at work that it is important that we make steps to ensure both our physical and mental health is looked after in the workplace. Our new initiative will enable local businesses across the county to do just that. I am especially thrilled to see Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service get involved and I wish them all the best in their healthy workplace journey.
“We are excited to see this new initiative bring a positive impact to the health and wellbeing of our residents and workforce.”
Karl Bowden, Area Manager for People and Organisational Development at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome the support from the Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Programme.
“This will further enhance our ongoing commitment to support the health and wellbeing of our employees and ensure our wellbeing strategy remains focussed where there is identified need.”
Bolsover District Council has launched two grant schemes aimed at supporting existing businesses whilst also giving new businesses that all-important helping hand as they start.
The Business Growth Grant Scheme provides funds from £1,000 to £10,000 and is aimed at existing businesses (trading for more than 18-months) to help them grow, create jobs, become more carbon efficient or diversify into new markets.
The funding could be used for new equipment and machinery, computer hardware/software or specialist consultancy/training. Up to 80% of the total project cost can be applied for (up to a maximum of £10,000) and businesses must be located in Bolsover District and have up to 249 employees.
Businesses will also need to be paying business rates to Bolsover District Council or be receiving small business rates relief. Once an application has been approved the business will be required to purchase eligible items and then submit a claim to receive their grant.
The Business Start-Up Grant Scheme offers grants up to £500 and is available to pre-start and new businesses located in Bolsover District who have been trading for less than 18-months.
Up to 100% of the project cost can be applied for which could include equipment, tools and machinery, fixtures and fittings and marketing materials. Items purchased before an application is approved will not be eligible for grant payment.
Councillor Steve Fritchley said: “This is the second business grant scheme we have launched in a matter of weeks and re-iterates our pledge to help our local businesses and boost the economy as much as we can.
“This is a great opportunity for our growing local businesses to get a cash-injection and help them diversify into new products, expand their customer base and grow their workforce.
“Our team of economic development experts are on hand and ready to help throughout the grant process and I would urge businesses to contact us so we can provide you with as much help and assistance as possible.”
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Business coaching franchise ActionCOACH Loughborough has announced actor and executive coach Paul Ryan as guest speaker for its quarterly GrowthCLUB event on Friday 30 June.
Having previously appeared in Channel 4’s BAFTA nominated Brexit: The Uncivil War, BBC One’s The Trial of Christine Keeler and Ghosts, Paul is also an author, executive coach and presentation skills trainer. After a three-year stint in the West End production of Mamma Mia, he took the plunge and set up presentation training company Improve on You in 2012.
Designed to transform the future of businesses and business owners’ lives, GrowthCLUB trains individuals on strategies to help them master their time, be clear on their priorities, equip them with the mindset and tools they need to achieve personal and business goals over the next 90 days.
The fully immersive, one-day event will be held between 8.30am – 5pm, at Prestwold Hall in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and hosted by Managing Director and UK Coach of the Year 2021, Matt Bull.
The day will include motivation, education and inspiration from Matt and two ActionCOACH Loughborough coaches – Laurence Duncan and Kerry Malster – as well as Paul. Previous guest speakers have included accomplished English cricketer Tamsin Beaumont and former English badminton player Gail Emms.
Matt Bull said: “We are thrilled to have Paul Ryan join us as guest speaker at our upcoming GrowthCLUB event, his expertise in communication, leadership and team building will guarantee to inspire and motivate our members.
“Attendees can also look forward to receiving valuable insights and practical tips on how to improve their businesses, network with other like-minded entrepreneurs, and learn from experts in the field of business coaching. We look forward to seeing you all there!”
Paul Ryan said: “I’m delighted to be joining Matt and the team at GrowthCLUB, which is the perfect opportunity to share my skills of getting up on stage and presenting – something that is a far greater challenge than it was before.
“Whether you’re an experienced public speaker or a novice, I’ll be reminding individuals of their core skills and teaching them the body language secrets to control your nerves and win the confidence of your audience before you’ve said a word.”
Breedon Group, the construction materials group, has made the move from AIM to the Premium Listing Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
The business believes the move will support it in the delivery of its long-term strategy and offers “an appropriate listing for a company of [Breedon’s] scale and heritage.”
Breedon’s directors previously noted how the move would enhance the firm’s corporate profile and recognition, as well as extending the opportunity to invest in the group to index tracker funds and a broader group of international institutional shareholders.
Rob Wood, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Today marks a significant moment in Breedon’s history as we celebrate our move from AIM to the Premium Listing Segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
“Being a member of AIM has served us well. For over a decade, AIM has provided us with access to diverse and engaged investors within a supportive community that understands the needs of entrepreneurial businesses such as Breedon. We thank them wholeheartedly for their support.
“As an established business with a track record for growth and value creation, we believe the move to the Main Market will support Breedon in the delivery of our long-term strategy and offers an appropriate listing for a company of our scale and heritage. We look forward to our future as a Main Market company.
“This would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of everyone at Breedon, and I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their continued support.”
Property developer ALB Group has acquired 25 Bridlesmith Gate in Nottingham, currently home to fashion brand Joules.
25 Bridlesmith Gate provides a ground floor sales shop of circa 2,500ft² with the ability to create a rear courtyard garden. The upper floors are already vacant but will be redeveloped to provide office or residential accommodation.
Ben Tebbutt, director at BOX Property, says: “This latest acquisition demonstrates ALB’s continued commitment to Bridlesmith Gate.
“Working closely with our clients we have already let the units to the southern end of the street to the likes of Sneakrverse, Stick & Ribbon, Barista Lab coffee shop and the vintage clothing retailer Garms.
“By owning larger parts of the street, we are able to take a very holistic approach to the lettings, in order to create the right mix of retail and leisure uses.”
Chris Ward of Robinson Webster acted on behalf of the vendor.
Leicester-based Watches of Switzerland has hailed another record year of revenue and profitability.
In a new trading update, for the 52 weeks to 30 April 2023, the company highlighted group revenue of £1.54bn, up 25% on the prior year.
Meanwhile adjusted EBIT is expected to be between £163 million and £167 million, up from £130 million last year.
The business noted “excellent progress” in the first two years of its Long Range Plan, with Watches of Switzerland entering its new financial year “significantly ahead of schedule.”
Brian Duffy, Chief Executive Officer, said: “FY23 was another record year of revenue and profitability, with revenue growth of 25% at reported rates (+19% at constant currency) and continued EBIT margin expansion.
“Although, as expected, the second half of FY23 saw a more challenging trading environment, demand remains strong and continues to exceed supply, with client registration lists continuing to grow. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.
“We have an exciting pipeline of showroom projects, and I am delighted to announce the Group has signed a letter of intent with Audemars Piguet (AP) confirming its intention to open an AP House in the UK in the region of St Anne’s, Manchester, via a Joint Venture partnership in Spring 2024.
“This is an important expansion in our partnership with Audemars Piguet which has spanned more than 50 years and we look forward to what will be a great showroom for the city of Manchester. We also announce today our plan to open a flagship TUDOR mono-brand boutique at Old Bond Street, one of the most prestigious addresses in London, in Q4 FY24.
“We enter FY24 significantly ahead of where we expected to be in our Long Range Plan following two years of exceptional performance and notwithstanding the macroeconomic backdrop. Our FY24 guidance assumes revenue growth of 8 to 11% at constant currency with EBIT margin in line with prior year.
“We remain confident in our goals to maintain our leadership position in the UK, become the clear leader in the US, and capitalise on our growth potential in Europe.”
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