Blueprint Interiors complete flagship Bupa wellness centre
Leicester-based workplace consultants and commercial office fit-out specialists Blueprint Interiors has completed the six figure fit out of a new Bupa assessment centre in Cheshire jointly with Enigma Wellness.
The new healthcare assessment centre is located at Portal Business Park on the outskirts of Tarporley. The space started out as 3,230 sq ft of commercial office space and has been transformed into a flagship Bupa and Enigma Wellness health assessment centre from which to deliver treatment and diagnosis.
This is the first joint centre between Bupa and Enigma Wellness and will provide a number of enhanced health and wellbeing services, including health assessments, private GP appointments, physiotherapy, muscle, bone and joint services and menopause support to people within their catchment area.
Commenting on the fit-out, Niki Fieldhouse, project & marketing manager from Enigma Wellness, said: “This is definitely the blueprint we will follow in future as the finished centre is spectacular. We are now in a perfect position to expand and create a wellness hub in the centre of Cheshire.
“The space was a blank canvas yet Blueprint Interiors has been able to interpret our vision into reality due to their expert knowledge and expertise of design, healthcare and CQC regulations.
“Bupa have been blown away with their attention to detail and how the requirement to combine safety and hygiene have not been compromised by the need to deliver a high-quality calming environment, befitting of a paid for healthcare experience.”
The fit-out includes a welcoming reception centre with four treatment rooms and a pathology lab downstairs, with a further five consultation rooms upstairs for private consultations and assessments, including a staff dining and training room.
Particular attention has been given to ensuring the space places people first, with mental health and well-being central to design.
The private practice required a calming and inviting experience for patients, reflecting Enigma Wellness values. Using soft furnishings and introducing biophilia, feature lighting, and acoustics, a holistic design approach was developed to ensure an air of calmness, confidentiality and privacy. Avoiding noise transference into public and staff areas was essential to both patients and employees whilst also enabling staff to feel free to enjoy break time away.
Hannah Dixon, lead project designer from Blueprint Interiors, added: “As with any design and build project, the real hard work is done during the discovery phase – the devil is in the detail! Working with the Enigma Wellness team in the defining stages enabled us to realise, in detail, their vision and develop that within the design.
“This ensured there was total clarity, and the finished outcome met all expectations. We were thrilled with the feedback from Enigma and Bupa and look forward to developing our working relationship in the future.”
Leicester Tigers’ plans to raise up to £13m approved
Leicester Football Club Plc shareholders have approved, at a General Meeting on Friday (March 3), plans to raise up to £13m by way of a share subscription from Tom Scott and Peter Tom – both existing shareholders and members of the Board.
The Board believes that the subscription is essential to secure the financial position and future success of Leicester Tigers.
The proposal will see Scott, a non-executive director, and executive chairman Tom increase their shareholdings in the club, with Scott becoming a majority shareholder.
Leicester Tigers’ CEO Andrea Pinchen said ahead of the vote: “Tom Scott is a long-standing supporter of the club and a valued member of the board of directors who over his tenure with the club has already invested over £10m.
“Peter Tom has been chairman of Leicester Tigers since 1993, having made 130 appearances for the club between 1963 and 1968 and has been a huge part in navigating the club through the professional era.
“We are very grateful that Peter and Tom are looking to extend their investments in Leicester Tigers at a time when the club is suffering some very challenging conditions from factors mostly outside of our control.
“Their decision to invest at this time will give the club the financial assurance to execute the club’s strategy of continued success and financial sustainability.”
Leicester Tigers will initially receive £8.3m, to be followed by a further £4.7m.
If the investment plans were not passed, the appointment of administrators was anticipated.
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Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange plans withdrawn for further work
Developers Tritax Symmetry have withdrawn their application for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange.
Tritax had submitted the application to the Planning Inspectorate on 6 February for consideration.
However, the Planning Inspectorate have told Tritax they failed to provide a required technical report in their submission documents.
It is understood Tritax will now take several weeks to prepare this report and will then need to resubmit their application.
This will restart the process from the start of the acceptance phase.
The scheme, earmarked for 662 acres of land between the M69 and the Leicester to Birmingham railway line, falls mainly within the boundary of Blaby District Council, south-west of Elmesthorpe village.
While Blaby District Council can comment on the application throughout the formal process, it cannot make the final decision. The scheme is considered of such scale and national importance it will be determined by the Secretary of State.
On 20 February, Blaby District Council submitted a representation about the adequacy of the scheme’s consultation, followed on 21 February by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council submitting a response that the scheme’s consultation fell short of what should have been undertaken, highlighting deficiencies in the time and information available during consultations, and that there were limitations and gaps in the baseline information provided.
It is expected this delay will add several weeks to the currently expected timetable.
Study shows CSR engagement remains high among East Midlands businesses but lots of work still to do
Six in 10 East Midlands businesses continue to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities despite the ongoing cost-of-doing-business crisis, new research shows.
A study by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with the University of Derby and Loughborough University, found that while there was a slight drop-off in engagement from 66% to 60% of firms in the year to 2022, 42% plan to increase charitable and community activities over the next 12 months – with fewer than 4% expecting a decrease.
When asked to rank the importance of CSR to organisational strategy, it was given an average rating of 5.7 out of 10.
This week, the Chamber hosted a roundtable session involving business leaders to learn why many organisations place importance on CSR and how to support those that don’t currently engage in any activities.
East Midlands Chamber director of policy and external affairs Chris Hobson said: “This research demonstrates the continued importance of being a responsible business, something that many firms are prioritising even in a tough economic environment of cost pressures from all cylinders.
“Responsible businesses are more successful in attracting and retaining employees, winning contracts and tenders, and being recognised as an important part of their community. This ultimately results in more successful businesses.
“We now want to help more businesses to do more CSR engagement, and in a more impactful way, using the insights of this research and discussions with our members.”
Key findings in East Midlands Chamber CSR research
The CSR analysis has been conducted since 2017 as part of the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey.
The latest study took place in November within the Q4 2022 survey, featuring 389 respondents from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Key findings included:
· CSR engagement among service-based firms (64%) tends to be higher than among manufacturers (50%)
· There is a correlation between CSR engagement and the size of an organisation – while 83% of large firms are engaged, this decreases for medium (73%), small (66%) and microbusinesses (47%)
· A lack of resources remains the main barrier to greater adoption, cited by 32% of all companies but higher among microbusinesses (35%)
· Other key barriers include not being something an organisation has considered (20%), not part of a strategic business plan (17%), too busy (13%), not the right time (11%) and unsure how to begin (7%)
· The desire to give something back (15%), being the right thing to do (14%), develop links with the community (13%) and staff development (11%) were cited as the main motivations for CSR engagement
· Charitable activities (40%) like corporate fundraising and donations are the most popular types of CSR engagement, followed by environmental activities (27%), community initiatives (23%) and staff volunteering (10%)
· Smaller organisations are more community-focused than their larger peers, which regard CSR as more critical to their strategy
· Despite the slight fall in CSR engagement between 2021 and 2022, virtually all (97%) organisations are looking to maintain, if not increase, their CSR activities in the coming year
The analysis is published in a report titled Corporate social responsibility engagement in the East Midlands, authored by Dr Barbara Tomasella at the University of Derby and Dr Elaine Conway at Loughborough University.
Dr Tomasella said: “This study highlights how organisations in the East Midlands are good advocates for engaging in CSR activities and is a very positive bellwether of the strength of community spirit in the East Midlands.
“Despite barriers to resource availability, many organisations do find the opportunity to invest in CSR, and have a strong sense of wanting to give back and develop their local communities – a commitment that still looks strong in the forthcoming year.”
Dr Conway added: “It’s important we now look to support more firms to join their peers in CSR engagement – not only because of the community benefits but because it makes good business sense – and we will be looking at how we can support this via positive storytelling, toolkits and training.”
Leicestershire foodbank receives £2,500 boost from local housebuilder
Leicestershire developer David Wilson Homes has supported Coalville Foodbank with a £2,500 donation towards food and toiletry supplies, and assisting the vital work of volunteers.
Based at New Life Church, and close to the developer’s head office in Bardon, the foodbank has been operating for roughly 10 years and provides food parcels to local people in need on a referral-only basis.
It also offers debt advice to clients, and helps to signpost them to other supporting charities and organisations.
Alison Carr, administrator at Coalville Foodbank, said: “We are really grateful for David Wilson Homes’ generous donation, as we rely on donations to be able to keep Coalville Foodbank full of food.
“Community support through food donations and funding is so important, as we wouldn’t be able to operate without this support.
“We’d like to thank David Wilson Homes for its donation as it means a lot to our organisation and is always appreciated.”
John Reddington, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to support Coalville Foodbank at a time where togetherness and community spirit is crucial.
“The representatives of the Trussell Trust do an outstanding job in providing emergency supplies to those in need, and we hope our donation will support their admirable work during these testing times.”
Coalville Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Between 1 April 2022 and 30 September 2022, foodbanks in the Trussell Trust’s national network distributed 1.3 million food parcels to people facing hardship – this is an increase of 52% compared to the same period in 2019. Half a million of these parcels were distributed to children.
£75,000 funding to support Broxtowe businesses
£75,000 funding is now open for applications to support businesses in Broxtowe as part of a new grant scheme from Broxtowe Borough Council.
The scheme will fund grants of up to £2,500 for things like:
- Shop and business frontage improvements including signage
- Street scene or conservation area related initiatives
- Environmental energy saving measures
- Disability access improvements
- Digital, productivity and ecommerce investments that improve productivity or create jobs
- Kimberley – £25,000 as part of the Levelling Up Fund
- Eastwood – £25,000 as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
- Beeston/Chilwell – £25,000 as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
New industrial development set for Corby following funding agreement
Commercial developer, Brackley Property Developments (BPD) has secured funding for the construction of a new industrial/warehouse building on a two-acre development site in Northamptonshire.
The commercial developer has entered into a full forward funding agreement with specialist property investment firm, Leftfield for the speculative development of the new unit at Cockerell Road in Corby.
Work has commenced on the development, which gained planning consent from North Northamptonshire Council towards the end of last year.
The new 43,000 sq ft unit will contain two dock loading doors, two level access sectional overhead doors and ancillary office space, as well as staff and visitor parking. It is programmed for completion in Q3 2023.
Stephen Pedrick-Moyle, managing director of BPD, said: “This is an exciting mid-box development opportunity in a prominent, well located site. The new unit will offer occupiers the chance to secure high quality industrial/warehouse accommodation north of Corby town centre and within close proximity of a large local labour supply.
“We are very pleased to further our relationship with Leftfield, following our development of 110,000 sq ft of new industrial accommodation at Leftfield Park in Walsall.”
Nico Fourie, chief executive of Leftfield Advisors, said: “Leftfield Fund III continues to accumulate strategic assets in key locations. Our conviction to the sector requires quality buildings, which attract strong covenants. We are delighted to work closely again with BPD on this new project.”
Cockerell Road is an established commercial location, with occupiers including Wickes and Andrews Building Supplies. The nearby A6003 provides direct access to junction 7 of the A14 dual carriageway and main arterial routes.
TDB Real Estate acted on behalf of BPD and Bampton Satchwell Bull (BSB) acted on behalf of Leftfield. Prop-Search advised the vendor during the original site acquisition process.
Nottingham Forest owner makes significant financial commitment to the club
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has made a further significant financial commitment to the club with the conversion of £41m worth of loans into shares in the 2021/22 financial year.
Converting the £41m debt into equity helps relieve the financial burden on the club, reaffirming Marinakis’ commitment to the continued development and future success of Nottingham Forest.
The move forms part of the club’s financial accounting process for its 2021/22 accounts. Details of the arrangement have been submitted to Companies House.
This follows a similar conversion of £12m of debt into equity in the previous year and over £20m in the year before that.
Chairman Nicholas Randall KC said: “Nottingham Forest is incredibly fortunate to have such generous financial support from its ownership.
“This latest financial commitment follows substantial spending on the playing squad in the Summer and January transfer windows, together with significant investment in infrastructure across the club.
“This includes the redevelopment of the tunnel, dressing rooms and hospitality areas in the Main Stand at The City Ground and improvements to pitches and training facilities at the Nigel Doughty Academy complex.”
Profits up at The Nottingham
With an increase in mortgage lending and pre-tax profit compared to 2021, The Nottingham says it ended 2022 in a strong position.
According to results for the year ended 31 December 2022, group pre-tax profit stood at £18.9m (growing from £15.1m in 2021), with underlying pre-tax profit of £15.2m (increasing from £7.4m in 2021).
Gross mortgage lending meanwhile was up 18% at over £659m for 2022.Sue Hayes, CEO of Nottingham Building Society, said: “I am pleased to report that we ended the year in a strong position, with profit before tax of £18.9 million, up £3.8 million on 2021.
“Our financial performance has been achieved despite additional costs and increased provisions for expected future credit losses driven by the rising cost of living, and inflationary challenges that our borrowers face into 2023 and beyond. Increasing interest rates have supported the strong performance.
“We have made it a key priority to support our members through these difficult times by paying savers the best rates we could whilst strengthening the Society. Building the right team has also been very important. In 2022 we announced some significant hires to bolster our talented executive team.
“Alongside this, finding the right allies to support our ambitions was a focus. Our partnership with Generation Home, announced in November, is a great example of how we will think differently to help achieve our goals.
“I am proud of the results we are sharing today and would like to thank our members, and each one of our dedicated colleagues, for their continued trust in the Society. We look ahead to the coming years with a renewed sense of focus, guided by a clear and impactful purpose, with mutuality as our bedrock.”
