| Region | 2023 GVA Growth | Region | Annualised GVA Growth 2024-26 |
| London | -0.2% | London | 2.6% |
| Scotland | -0.6% | South East | 2.2% |
| UK | -0.6% | UK | 2.1% |
| East | -0.7% | South West | 2.1% |
| Northern Ireland | -0.7% | East | 2.1% |
| South East | -0.7% | West Midlands | 2.1% |
| North West | -0.7% | North West | 2.0% |
| Wales | -0.8% | Northern Ireland | 1.9% |
| South West | -0.8% | East Midlands | 1.9% |
| North East | -0.8% | Wales | 1.7% |
| West Midlands | -0.8% | Yorkshire & the Humber | 1.7% |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | -1.0% | North East | 1.7% |
| East Midlands | -1.0% | Scotland | 1.7% |
East Midlands’ Information and Communications sector forecast to be UK’s fastest growing sector in 2024-26
The East Midlands’ Information and Communications sector is forecast to be one of the UK’s fastest growing regional sectors between 2024-26, as the UK economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to EY’s latest Regional Economic Forecast.
When measured by Gross Value Added (GVA), the sector is set to grow by an average 4.4% each year between 2024-26 in the East Midlands – faster than any other sector in any other region. However, as a region the East Midlands is forecast to grow at the second lowest rate over the same period, with average annual GVA growth of 1.9%, compared to the UK average of 2.1%. Leicester and Nottingham are expected to lead the region with annual average GVA growth of 1.9% between 2024-26, while Derby, Boston and Mansfield are not much further behind at 1.7%.
The region’s GVA is expected to contract 1% this year, compared to a 0.6% contraction for the whole of the UK.
Looking ahead, East Midlands employment growth is expected to be affected by job losses in the region’s manufacturing sector partly offsetting gains in the retail and health sectors. As a result, average annual employment growth in the East Midlands (1.2%) is forecast to be marginally behind the UK average (1.3%) over 2024-26 – although the region is set to just outperform the West Midlands’ 1.1% annual average growth over the same period.
Simon O’Neill, managing partner at EY in the Midlands, said: “Sectors continue to play a key role in forecast performance at a city and town level. While the pandemic put pressures on city centres or supply chain-dependent manufacturing areas, the rising cost of living is likely to have the biggest impact in places that are dependent on the local High Streets or public sector jobs, due to the squeeze on consumer spending and wages.
“According to the report, the East Midlands is over indexed to the UK’s slowest growing sectors – and currently the least exposed to the five fastest growing. This is why the forecast performance of the region’s information and communications sector is so important. It’s the type of high value sector which can boost growth across the region and add resilience to the economy.
“However, high value sectors won’t function without a high value workforce and the East Midlands needs a clear strategy for retaining and uplifting its skill base. This needs to be approached from several angles: graduate and skills retention relies not just on the development of well-paid jobs, but strategic planning on the broader set of social, environmental and structural components that determine the quality of life in a given region too.”
EMEC welcomes ex-army captain as new project manager
Nottinghamshire-based East Midlands Environmental Consultants (EMEC) has taken on Lee Holland as a new project manager in response to a number of significant new contracts won.
Prior to joining EMEC, Holland was a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Upon leaving the armed forced he obtained a APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ). Holland also holds an BSc Economics (Hons) degree.
In his new role, he will be responsible for project managing many of the firm’s regional and national projects, where EMEC is responsible for acting as the consultant ecologist tasked with protecting habitats and offering added value advice to developers so that the communities they create, incorporate diversity.
Established in 1991, EMEC is a one stop shop for specialist ecology, biodiversity, land management and arboriculture services. Notable clients include Severn Trent Water, Nottingham City Council and Centre Parcs.
Commenting on his decision to join EMEC, Holland said: “Growingly environmentally aware, I wanted to work for a business that was positively impacting our natural environment. Having recently left the armed forces I qualified as a project manager and wanted to join a smaller, local business that was ambitious whilst maintaining strong core values and beliefs and EMEC ticked all these boxes.”
Dr Ed Tripp, consultancy director at EMEC, added: “To have someone of Lee’s background join the business is a major coup. EMEC is entering an exciting period having won some exciting new contracts, which Lee will be a valued member of our project management team.”
Outside of work, Holland plays ice hockey for the Nottingham Lions senior men’s team. He is also continuing service in the Army Reserves as part of 202 Field Hospital.
A wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, all EMEC’s profits are gift aided to the Trust to support nature conservation.
Leicestershire businesses focus on skills, costs, and exports as region moves on from lockdown
Small businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire continue to keep a close eye on skills, costs, and exports as the region moved past lockdown and addressed new challenges.
Results from the latest Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Business Tracker Survey, conducted in December 2022, have now been published.
They show the responses from local SMEs to the latest of four surveys, each of which has checked the pulse of businesses over the last two years.
The purpose of the project throughout has been to better understand, and respond to, the needs of local businesses as a consequence of the pandemic.
The first survey was conducted in December 2020 and provided officers with data around how business was managing the impact of Covid-19.
Data has provided an insight into local business confidence, where support has been required, been used as evidence for funding bids, and shown how businesses have adapted.
The sequence started two years ago and 118 businesses participated in the fourth and final survey.
Tracker survey data has been used to support successful bids for the £3m Made Smarter programme, which is supporting digitalisation of East Midlands manufacturing businesses, and the £1.3m Create Growth programme, which is helping East Midlands creative businesses to grow.
Headlines from the final survey include:
-
Only 30% of organisations were satisfied with their workforce’s basic skills. This is the lowest level recorded and fits with anecdotal evidence from local businesses that new starters may have missed out on learning ‘soft skills’ in a physical working environment.
-
There remain many skills challenges to address. The LLEP is now working to improve alignment between skills required by businesses and how schools and further education support students to meet these challenges.
-
Recruitment difficulties also remain. Businesses are responding with salary rises and increased training. In total, 38% of businesses had experienced difficulties with recruitment during the last six months. More than two-fifths of businesses have capacity to offer work experience.
-
Europe continues to be the key trading partner for both imports and exports. More than 50% of those involved in exporting were experiencing challenges, which most blamed on the UK’s exit from the EU. Import challenges were blamed both on Brexit and shipping issues.
-
Around 8% of businesses are struggling to repay Government support accessed during the pandemic. This is likely to become a more serious issue once increased costs associated with cost of living and energy prices are factored in.
-
About 57% of businesses have been significantly impacted by inflation of raw material costs. Shipping costs and utility prices also factored, with most businesses raising their own prices, as well as looking for cost and supply chain savings.
Andy Reed OBE, co-chair of the LLEP Board, said: “The survey has covered themes that directly impact local businesses of all sizes, from skills and recruitment to digital investment and exporting patterns.
“What it has shown us is that the situation remains delicate for many small businesses in the region.
“This time a year ago, 90% were cautiously optimistic about the future, but that has since slid to just over eight in ten as the impact of inflation began to bite.
“We will continue to use the data from all four tracker surveys to inform programmes and policy at the LLEP as we move forward.”
The survey went to businesses ranging from two to 249 employees. About a quarter were based in the city, with the remainder operating across Leicestershire.
Businesses covered a range of sectors, from agriculture and construction through to logistics, education, hospitality and the arts.
Funding awarded to accelerate growth of Nottingham’s medtech businesses
Medtech and life sciences businesses in Nottingham will continue to benefit from the support, connectivity and collaboration delivered by specialist life science industry association, Medilink Midlands, following its successful bid with Nottingham City Council to be part of the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Medilink Midlands has received £271,872 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver business growth support to the medtech and health tech industry across the city of Nottingham.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and is to provide £2.6bn of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, people and skills.
Part of the UKSPF’s Supporting Local Businesses fund, the Business Growth fund aims to support start-up businesses, support businesses with innovation and R&D, and provide tailored dedicated support in order to grow business productivity, increase the local business pool and drive growth in the economy. Its main objective is to support high growth, high value jobs and sectors, as well as sectors that are significant or important to Nottingham.
As one of four organisations awarded Business Growth grant funding, Medilink Midlands’ project will focus on the delivery of business and innovation support to companies already in, or transitioning into, the life science and medtech sector within Nottingham, to ensure Nottingham continues to be recognised globally as a city for pioneering medtech and health tech innovation.
Chief Executive of Medilink Midlands Simon Himsworth said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding which we will use to help stimulate a culture of innovation across Nottingham, and further develop our comprehensive, integrated, co-ordinated life science ecosystem to support companies to accelerate their ideas to market.”
“Medilink Midlands has been delivering innovation support to Nottingham SMEs for a number of years,” Simon explained. “Using our comprehensive cross-sectoral knowledge and networks across the med tech and life sciences industry, this project will enable us to support more companies in the city to increase their competitive advantage and facilitate collaborations with industry suppliers and partners, academic research, the NHS, local government, and other sector stakeholders.
“We are committed to delivering opportunities for business growth across the East and West Midlands regions, and await the outcomes of other bid applications which we hope will further enable us to set a precedent for the delivery of life sciences support in the Midlands as a whole.”
Robert Dixon, Head of Business Growth and Inward Investment at Nottingham City Council, said: “We are delighted that Medilink Midlands will be using our UKSPF funding to provide business support for the life science sector in Nottingham.
“Nottingham is an increasingly nationally important home to many new life science businesses, based on the strengths of the two universities, the home of BioCity/Pioneer Group, which is Europe’s most successful life science incubator, and Boots – the UK’s premier health and wellbeing retailer.
“We are confident that Medilink Midlands can support businesses to grow with its concept of creating synergies between business, academic research, and NHS and healthcare providers.”
Professor Steve Morgan, Director of the Centre for Healthcare Technologies at the University of Nottingham, said: “We are proud to be partnering with Medilink Midlands on this exciting project with Nottingham City Council. The medical technologies sector in Nottingham is vibrant and growing, and we are delighted to be able to play our part in facilitating further growth by supporting the adoption and adaptation of new knowledge and innovation for local businesses.”
Simon Himsworth added: “The life sciences sector in Nottingham is incredibly diverse, with many innovations and technologies being developed to address socio-economic and health issues. Through additional support, these innovations can be developed and accelerated through the development process and can play a key role in the ‘levelling-up’ of Nottingham city.”
Key milestone reached in Severn Trent’s £76m Mansfield makeover
Severn Trent’s £76m Mansfield makeover has reached a major milestone with the completion of the first town centre rain garden.
The company is installing sustainable drainage systems across the town to help protect against flooding, while bringing big community benefits.
Over the next three years communities should become more resilient against the increasing threat of flooding as Severn Trent has collaborated with Mansfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to develop a greener, cleaner vision for the town.
The completion of the first town centre rain garden is the first of thousands of sustainable drainage systems set to be installed across the town to reduce the risk of flooding for up to 90,000 local people. Not only will they look smart and be good for the environment, they’ll also help to stop our sewers becoming overwhelmed during heavy rain and reduce the need for overflows to be used.
Severn Trent’s first raingarden was completed by working partners Galliford Try, who will be continue to work with Severn Trent as the project moves to Ravensdale.
Adam Boucher from Severn Trent said: “This really is a key moment of the project, as our first rain garden in the town is now complete, and it’s been a truly collaborative effort. With the support of the local councils and our contractors, we’re really excited that those living in Mansfield will soon benefit from the rain gardens and makes us excited about what we can achieve over the next couple of years.
“When all the plants are in full bloom, this area of the town will look greener and be a place for people to enjoy visiting. While the rain garden has a very real purpose of reducing flooding and protecting businesses from flooding, it will improve how the area looks and boost the biodiversity in the area and make Mansfield a nicer place for people to spend time.”
Councillor Andy Burgin, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure, said: “These gardens bring endless benefits to our communities, alleviate the growing risk of flooding, and make Mansfield cleaner and greener.
“This location is perfect, right in the heart of town, and will bring a sense of calm and enjoyment to the Market Place. The Memorial Garden is also just a stone’s throw away, giving residents and visitors another relaxing and green environment to enjoy and reflect.
“The innovative Severn Trent programme fits perfectly with our ambitious plans to ‘green up’ Mansfield. We’re pleased that our urban greening project works are underway. Most recently, the Pocket Park near Walkden Street car park is now fully open for use, and planting 3,200 trees in our award-winning parks is under way too.
“I am confident as the roll-out of these rain gardens continues that it will help to make Mansfield more attractive and encourage people to spend more time in the town centre for the benefit of the local economy, our residents and visitors.”
Nottingham homeless to benefit from local man’s Antarctica trip
Charities supporting homeless people in Nottingham are set to receive a £5,000 donation from local software firm Ideagen, after one of their employees completed a trek to the South Pole.
The money will go to Nottingham Street Aid after Ideagen asked team member, Adam Cooper (47), to pick a charity of his choice in recognition of completing his gruelling Antarctica expedition earlier this year.
Speaking about the donation Adam said: “I chose to spend several nights out in the cold recently, some people don’t have that choice. Being able to help in some way is important to me.
“I live close to Nottingham city centre and when I heard about Nottingham Street Aid, what they do, how they operate and their long-term objectives they sounded like the ideal recipient for this donation.”
Nottingham Street Aid is hosted by Street Support Nottingham, part of an umbrella network spread across over 30 UK towns and cities. Street Support provides information for the public about homeless charities in those cities and how the public can help by donating time, money, or goods.
Paul Scotting, who coordinates Nottingham Street Support’s activities, said: “This generous donation from Ideagen will make a real difference. On any given night there will be 20 to 30 people sleeping rough in the city. But there are hundreds who are vulnerable.
“Any Nottingham charity can apply to the Street Aid fund on behalf of an individual to buy specific items that will help them move on from homelessness.”
Claire Knee, global community lead at Ideagen, said: “We are delighted to be able to help Nottingham Street Aid. Our company values are Ambition, Adventure and Community and Adam’s expedition and his choice of charity, embodies those values perfectly.
“We are a global business, but we’re headquartered in Nottingham, so supporting local initiatives, is important to us.”
Adam skied 80 miles in temperatures as low as minus 30 before tackling the 16,000-foot Mount Vinson (which is a few hundred feet higher than Mont Blanc).
After hearing what he was planning to put himself through, Ideagen CEO, Ben Dorks, promised the donation to a good cause of Adam’s choosing.
Proposals revealed to transform Northampton car park into Heritage Park
Business, residents, and community groups are being invited to provide their views on proposals for a Heritage Park along Marefair in Northampton Town Centre.
West Northamptonshire Council is seeking feedback on proposals to transform Chalk Lane Car Park in Marefair, Northampton into a Heritage Park. This will offer open green space for families and the local community to enjoy while celebrating the heritage of the area.
Marefair and the surrounding area has a fascinating and important history which includes archaeological excavation sites, historic local buildings such as the Old Black Lion Pub, Hazelrigg House, Castile Hill URC and St Peters Church and even Castle Mound, the site of the once famous Northampton Castle.
Castle Mound, where part of the castle used to stand, forms part of this new Heritage Park and the council are looking to understand how it can best reflect the heritage of the area into the designs for the new park and share the stories of this area with all the people who visit.
People are invited to review the plans and have their say on the online consultation, which runs until Friday, 7 April.
There will be public engagement sessions where members of the public can drop in anytime to view the plans and discuss with the officers and architects working on the project. These will be held on:
- Saturday 4 March from 10am – 4pm at the Grosvenor Centre outside the Primark unit on the ground floor
- Wednesday 15March between 4:30pm – 7:30pm at Springs Family Centre, 9 Tower Street, NN1 2SN.
Ibstock Brick donation helps Air Ambulance build new HQ
A third of the thousands of bricks needed to build a new air ambulance HQ of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity near Cosford have been given by Ibstock Brick.
Four years in the planning, the charity’s new facility will complement its existing air ambulance-led service across six Midlands counties to help some of the region’s most critically ill and injured patients. Designed to future-proof the advanced pre-hospital emergency service, the headquarters will include a new environment for crew and charity staff, including main offices, warehousing and storage and space for two aircraft and critical care cars to allow the charity to expand its service in the future. As a recognised ‘Centre of Clinical Excellence’ for pre-hospital emergency medicine, it will also help develop clinical skills and talent.
Martin Runc, National Contract Sales Manager at Ibstock Brick, said: “Our business is at the heart of building, so there couldn’t be a more worthy beneficiary than a charity that provides lifesaving care. It was great to visit the construction site to see first-hand the difference our donation has made, and I’ll follow the progress with interest.”
Hanna Sebright, Chief Exec of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, added: “We’ve used a proportion of our modest reserves to fund the new airbase. Therefore the brick donation is greatly appreciated and means so much. Our sincere thanks go to the whole team at Ibstock Brick.”
More than 90 per cent of funding for the new airbase and headquarters facility has been obtained via major grants from organisations such as the Department for Health and Social Care and the HELP Appeal. In addition, the charity is undertaking fundraising campaigns for specific areas of the new construction, including a clinical simulation training suite, memory garden and community education zone. The facility is expected to be completed summer 2023.
Industries come together to learn more about workplace wellbeing
Industry leaders from warehouse, transport and logistic businesses across West Northants joined West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to learn more about wellbeing in the workplace.
WNC’s health protection, public health and regulatory service colleagues held the forum for businesses on Friday, 10 February at the Ford Motor Company, Daventry. Representatives from Ford Motor Company Ltd, DHL and Pristine International attended to encourage and share best practice with businesses.
The forum provided businesses with information on future health and safety priorities and initiatives, to encourage change and reduce accidents that result from occupational behaviour.
Key topics including staff training, focus on wellbeing and how this can reduce accidents in the workplace, as well as how to manage workplace hazards.
Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Engagement and Regulatory Services, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer businesses the opportunity to hear from our colleagues about wellbeing in the workplace. We’re dedicated to providing businesses with the tools they need to keep their employees safe and look forward to holding more forum events in the future.”
Cllr Matt Golby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “Being able to support positive workforce wellbeing is hugely important, and it is great to be working with local industries on providing information and advice on how to achieve this. These events support the workforce wellbeing agenda and provide a brilliant opportunity for businesses to network and find out more about the many wellbeing services available and how to access them.”
Losses widen at Oncimmune
Losses have widened at Oncimmune Holdings, the Nottingham-based immunodiagnostics group, with administrative and research & development expenses jumping.
According to audited results for the 15-month period ended 31 August 2022 (FY2022), while revenue grew slightly to £3.79m, from £3.72m in the year prior, loss after tax stood at £11.52m (2021: £5.08m).
Stronger growth is being reported in the current financial year, however, with first half revenue already expected to exceed the revenue generated in the whole of the 15-month period to 31 August 2022.
Dr Adam M Hill, CEO of Oncimmune, said: “FY2022 was a period of investment in the ImmunoINSIGHTS platform following a successful, oversubscribed fundraise in March 2021, which allowed us to evolve our offering, substantially increase capacity and drive our pipeline.
“The short-term impact of investment and effort has been to increase the quality of our revenue, with more partners opting for multi-year Master Service Agreements in order to access the platform across multiple studies.
“The medium-term impact is likely to result from the development of novel IP related to immune-related diseases, in which Oncimmune is recognised as expert, and their treatment.
“These developments would not have been possible without both our people and all of our stakeholders, including our finance providers, who remain steadfast in their commitment and unwavering support and who we would like to thank.
“The ImmunoINSIGHTS business is now seeing improving growth in the first half of this financial year and has a growing number of contracts.
“Whilst short-term challenges remain in the operating environment and in financing, the Board is determined to meet these and to enable conversion of the growing pipeline of opportunities to deliver the significant returns available from our differentiated offering and expertise.”
