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Nottingham investigative tech firm makes senior appointment

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham investigative tech firm makes senior appointment
The Nottingham-based provider of investigation and intelligence management software, Altia, has appointed a director of sales and partnerships for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to further expand its global footprint. Natalie Farr will lead commercial growth across EMEA, improving sales functions and processes. She will collaborate closely with global and product-specific teams to embed best practices that align with customer needs. Natalie brings a wealth of experience in public safety, national security, and enterprise transformation. She began her career working with UK police forces before moving into senior roles at Microsoft, where she helped transform law enforcement and defence organisations across the UK as part of the Public Safety and National Security division. She also held a leadership role at Google, further broadening her expertise at the intersection of technology, public service, and innovation. Rob Sinclair, CEO of Altia, said: “At Altia, we pride ourselves on delivering the best and most innovative tools to support our customers, and that starts with having the right people. We are incredibly excited to welcome Natalie to the team. “Her exceptional experience, along with her ability to lead high-performing teams and build strategic partnerships, will be invaluable as we scale our presence internationally and continue to evolve our sales approach to meet the needs of our customers.” Natalie will work alongside the senior team to ensure that Altia’s solutions and services are closely aligned to both evolving market demands and customer outcomes. Natalie Farr said: “I’ve always found purpose in helping organisations that protect the public, and that’s why I’m so excited to join Altia.” “I get a real buzz from creating tangible impact, and working in policing and justice is where I know I can make a meaningful difference. This role brings together everything I care about: innovative technology, frontline impact, and the opportunity to lead a global team.” A strong advocate for diversity in tech, Natalie regularly volunteers in schools to promote STEM careers and inspire young women to pursue roles in technology and leadership.

UK migration reforms raise pressure on skills development

April Lara
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UK migration reforms raise pressure on skills development

The UK Government’s latest migration reforms are drawing criticism from the business community. Industry groups warn that they could intensify existing labour and skills shortages unless backed by a robust domestic workforce strategy.

The new rules, outlined in a white paper, include tighter criteria for skilled worker visas, a higher English language requirement, an increase in the qualifying period for settlement to 10 years, and a cap on post-study work visas for graduates to just 18 months. The care worker visa route will also be closed entirely.

These changes are expected to significantly restrict the flow of overseas workers into key sectors such as health and construction, industries already facing serious recruitment gaps.

According to data from the East Midlands Chamber, nearly 70% of regional firms reported difficulties filling both skilled and non-skilled roles in recent quarters. Businesses are calling for investment in training infrastructure, including reforms to the apprenticeship levy, to provide more flexibility and align with labour market needs.

Melton Mowbray to expand with 900 new homes under strategic growth plan

April Lara
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Melton Mowbray to expand with 900 new homes under strategic growth plan

A major housing development in Melton Mowbray is moving forward as Bloor Homes submits plans for 900 new homes in the town’s south, marking a significant phase of the broader Melton South Sustainable Neighbourhood initiative. The site off Kirby Lane forms part of a larger scheme for up to 2,000 homes designated in Melton Borough Council’s local plan.

The Bloor proposal outlines a seven-stage phased delivery of the 900 units, including around 130 affordable homes. The development would incorporate extensive green infrastructure, such as a semi-natural woodland, a new park, green corridors, and hedgerow walks.

This application follows a separate approval granted in December for 1,200 homes in the northern part of the town. That northern scheme includes nearly £30 million in developer contributions for community services and infrastructure.

The Melton South plan, approved in 2021, includes residential construction and land allocated for new schools and employment use. Davidsons Homes has also been contracted to build additional housing across the wider southern site.

The council anticipates that approximately 1,700 homes within the Melton South scheme will be completed by 2036. A public consultation on Bloor’s 900-home application remains open until 2 June.

Journeo signs £10m tech supply deal with First Bus to modernise fleet

April Lara
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Journeo signs £10m tech supply deal with First Bus to modernise fleet

Journeo has secured a £10 million framework agreement with First Bus UK to supply technology solutions to improve fleet efficiency and safety.

The three-year contract, running until March 2028 with an option to extend by two years, will see Journeo provide its Software as a Service (SaaS) platform and related systems to enhance vehicle operations. Key components of the deal include access to the Journeo Portal for secure video and data processing, upgrades to CCTV infrastructure, digital wing mirror installation on new vehicles, and remote asset monitoring services.

This agreement builds on a partnership between the two companies dating back to 2010 and comes as First Bus expands its fleet through the acquisition of RATP London, bringing its vehicle count to over 5,750, more than 10% of which are electric.

The collaboration supports First Bus’s transition to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035 while enhancing operational oversight and service quality across its network.

Retailers recommit as £3m invested to rejuvenate Lincoln’s Waterside centre

Tess Egginton
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Retailers recommit as £3m invested to rejuvenate Lincoln’s Waterside centre
Joint venture owners Wykeland Group and Lincolnshire Co-op have rejuvenated Lincoln’s Waterside centre, delivering a £3m programme of investment and securing the long-term commitment of three major retail brands. The investments by Yorkshire-based property development business Wykeland and Lincolnshire Co-op have been delivered in under two years since they acquired Waterside and have now resulted in a trio of high street stores renewing their leases. Fashion and homeware retailer H&M has extended its lease at Waterside and committed to a major £2m revamp of the centre’s anchor store. Next and The Body Shop have also each signed new leases, giving a major vote of confidence to Waterside and ensuring the three popular stores remain in Lincoln city centre for years to come. New operators have also come on board, including luxury lifestyle brand Rituals, which is opening a new store at Waterside next month. Hull-based Wykeland and member-owned Lincolnshire Co-op acquired Waterside in June 2023. Since then the owners have committed to a significant and ongoing programme of investment that has given Waterside a new lease of life. This has included the creation of a new coffee shop at the heart of Waterside, operated by local independent operator Seven Districts Coffee. Waterside’s joint owners are also investing to create a more attractive and welcoming frontage to the centre from Lincoln’s High Street, along the River Witham. This will enable an improved pedestrian flow by the riverside, into the centre and across the river into The Cornhill Quarter. Two units on High Street have been acquired to form part of the centre and enable the reshaping of the entrance to take place, while Waterside has also undergone a rebrand. These changes have also attracted more visitors into the centre, with footfall in 2024 up by three per cent compared to 2022, before Wykeland and Lincolnshire Co-op acquired Waterside, bucking the national trend. Wykeland managing director Dominic Gibbons said: “Since acquiring the Waterside centre in a joint venture with Lincolnshire Co-op, we’ve invested significantly to ensure it remains a key destination for both local people and visitors to Lincoln. “The new, long-term commitments by H&M, Next and The Body Shop reflect the strength of Waterside and the very positive reaction from tenants to the rejuvenation of the centre. “Waterside’s footfall is buoyant, trading is strong and there’s a great deal of confidence in the centre’s future. “The investments we’re continuing to make, with our partners at Lincolnshire Co-op, are enabling Waterside to buck the retail trend and play a key role in Lincoln remaining a highly attractive location.” Kevin Kendall, head of property at Lincolnshire Co-op, said: “It’s been fantastic to work alongside Wykeland to bring new services into the area, as well as updating pre-existing ones. “Our joint investment is reflected in the shopping centre’s success – long-term commitments from tenants and increased footfall are both great indicators of this.” Waterside’s owners and H&M are now jointly investing in a £2m refit of the centre’s anchor unit. Among other investments, frontages on a number of smaller units at the centre are being revamped and £60,000 has been invested to refurbish the customer toilets.

UK economy sees better growth than expected in first quarter

Tess Egginton
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UK economy sees better growth than expected in first quarter
The UK’s economy has grown more than expected in the first three months of the year, following a rise in activity in March. According to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, is estimated to have grown by 0.2% in March, following a 0.5% expansion in February. It reflects, across key sectors, services output rising by 0.4% in March, construction output growing by 0.5%, and production output falling by 0.7%. GDP in the first quarter, meanwhile, is estimated to have grown by 0.7%, following an uptick of 0.1% in the previous quarter. Ben Jones, lead economist, CBI, said: “The rise in activity in March was a pleasant surprise, coming on the back of the strong bounce in February. “While the latest data adds to signs that a gradual recovery in household spending may be underway, the strength of GDP over Q1 is likely to prove a one-off. “An up-tick in inflation and a cooling labour market will see real household income growth slow this year, though lower interest rates should encourage consumers to save less and spend more. “Businesses remain cautious over hiring and investment plans given the steep rise in employment costs following the Autumn Budget. And the uncertain global economic backdrop is hardly conducive for long-term planning. “Now is a critical time for government to hardwire growth into the economy through the upcoming Spending Review. Measures to accelerate tech adoption alongside a modern Industrial Strategy can support the UK’s investment and growth potential and bolster the UK’s competitive position.”

“A great deal of PR/media profile” and “a great motivational boost” – East Midlands Bricks Awards winner encourages firms to enter in 2025

Tess Egginton
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“A great deal of PR/media profile” and “a great motivational boost” – East Midlands Bricks Awards winner encourages firms to enter in 2025
With nominations now OPEN for Business Link Magazine’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, taking place on Thursday 2nd October, last year’s winners are reflecting on the prestigious event’s impact and encouraging other firms to enter. Russell Rigby, managing director at Rigby & Co, which took home Most Active Agent at last year’s event, said: “It is a real thrill and boost to be awarded the Most Active Agent of the Year award at the 2024 Bricks! The ceremony, and the award, generated a great deal of PR / media profile, which was very very helpful, and it also served as a great motivational boost to the team at Rigby & Co. I would encourage firms to enter and have a go!” Russell also thanked Donna Hill and her team at BH PR & Communications for assisting with the business’s nomination. Russell added: “Donna writes our award nominations and has an incredible track record!” Marking 10 years of the event, this year’s eagerly anticipated awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 2nd October at Nottingham’s famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrates the successes of property and construction companies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Recognising those behind the changing landscape of the East Midlands, the occasion highlights development projects, businesses, and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. It also toasts the work of architects, agencies, and those behind large schemes. Welcoming almost 150 professionals, nominating a company or project for the awards is a great way to showcase your successes, recognise your team’s efforts, and reach our audience of over 60,000 business readers, while also offering a chance to connect with respected professionals. And better yet, it’s completely free to enter! Making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the event, where you’ll be in the running for one of our coveted awards.

To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here. Or to go directly to a category’s nomination form click on the category headings below.

Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Categories include: All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements. Upon submitting a nomination, we will get in touch for any information, imagery, and video nominees would like to be featured on their showcase page. Thanks to our sponsors:                            

To be held at:

With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.

Optimising director PAYE in 2025 – navigating national insurance changes for limited companies: by Theresa Waddingham, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants

Tess Egginton
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Optimising director PAYE in 2025 – navigating national insurance changes for limited companies: by Theresa Waddingham, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants
Theresa Waddingham, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, helps navigate changes to national insurance. Following the changes to the employer national insurance contributions, some concerns have been raised over the optimum amount a director should receive through PAYE on their Limited Company. For employee national insurance, the allowance is £12,570 per annum before any Class 1 employee national insurance becomes payable. The lower earnings limit which ensures that you receive a qualifying year for state pension and goes towards receipt of certain state benefits is £6,500 per annum. This means that earnings taken through PAYE between £6,500 and £12,570 will not incur any employee deductions. I am sure you are now thinking what about employer national insurance? From April 2025 the government lowered the level at which employer national insurance is applied to £5,000. Anything processed in excess of that becomes payable at 15%. Why pay it you may ask? You may not have to. The government also removed some of the restrictions on claiming employment allowance. If you have a payroll with two or more directors/employees earning above £5,000, providing it is a qualifying entity, the £10,500 per annum allowance can be claimed. This allowance offsets the employer national insurance that subsequently becomes due on the amount over £5,000. It therefore makes sense to process the maximum £12,570 per annum to obtain the qualifying year and the access to certain state benefits. A word of caution; one director on your payroll with no other employees means that you cannot claim employment allowance. In order to obtain your qualifying year for state pension you will need to pay employer national insurance. Please see the link below on how to make the payment: https://www.gov.uk/pay-paye-tax You may note that there is no mention of tax. Do be aware of your tax code as that may influence your decision, as could corporation tax. For these areas please do consult one of our tax specialists for the optimum solution for your personal circumstances. Please feel free to get in touch by emailing info@streets.uk or calling your local office.   See this column in the May issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.

Nine startups selected to drive NHS digital innovation in Midlands

April Lara
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Nine startups selected to drive NHS digital innovation in Midlands

Health Innovation East Midlands and Health Innovation West Midlands have jointly launched the first cohort of Grow Digital Health Midlands, a programme aimed at scaling digital innovation across the NHS. Nine early-stage health tech companies have been selected from a pool of 51 applicants to receive targeted support to speed up digital tool adoption within healthcare settings.

The selected companies will gain access to coaching, product development advice, and introductions to NHS and care system leaders across the Midlands. The region’s 11 Integrated Care Systems cover nearly 12 million people, making it the largest NHS region in England. The initiative is expected to provide startups with a unique opportunity to engage directly with health service providers and demonstrate value at scale.

The chosen firms are tackling a range of NHS priorities. One company is developing a platform to automate care coordination for patients with multiple long-term conditions, aiming to reduce administrative burden and increase appointment efficiency. Another offers a digital self-management programme designed to improve health literacy and reduce demand on clinicians.

Other innovations include an email triage tool that helps clinicians identify urgent messages, a platform that connects GPs with community pharmacies to streamline referrals and appointments, and a system for remote pre-operative assessment that supports clinical decision-making and reduces waiting lists.

Further selected solutions involve real-time transcription of medical consultations to cut down clinician admin, a virtual clinic platform to support long-term condition management, and a tool that gathers personalised data from hypertensive patients to inform prescribing decisions in line with NICE guidelines.

The programme reflects a broader NHS priority to reduce hospital dependency and boost productivity through proven, scalable digital solutions. The first Grow Digital Health Midlands cohort will run through 2025.

New cargo carriers expand East Midlands Airport’s role in UK freight logistics

April Lara
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New cargo carriers expand East Midlands Airport’s role in UK freight logistics

East Midlands Airport (EMA) is expanding its position as a key UK freight hub. Several international cargo carriers have arrived, and new direct routes to China and the United States have been established.

US-based Atlas Air has launched scheduled cargo flights into EMA, operating five times weekly during the summer using Boeing 747 aircraft. These flights support trans-Pacific trade by linking the UK with China via the US.

In addition, Ethiopian Cargo has introduced a twice-weekly service to China from EMA, while Chinese carrier Central Airlines has commenced operations on behalf of cross-border logistics provider YunExpress. YunExpress has indicated plans to establish long-term UK operations outside the airport.

These developments follow a broader trend of logistics providers seeking alternatives to congested southern UK airports. EMA’s central location, strong road connectivity, and permissive night flying policies attract operators aiming to streamline supply chains and ensure faster turnaround times.

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