Nottingham’s Phenna Group makes third Australian deal of 2024

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham’s Phenna Group makes third Australian deal of 2024

Nottingham-headquartered Phenna Group, which invests in and partners with selected niche, independent Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) companies that serve a variety of sectors, has acquired Resolve Group.

The acquisition is Phenna Group’s third deal in Australia this year and continues its strong growth in the region, whilst augmenting the firm’s Built Environment platform across the country.

Resolve Group is a building surveyor consultancy with capability in the construction, property and mining sectors.

Founded in 2011 by Scott Roberts and Kieran Hunt, they have built a reputation providing building code consultancy and certification services to a diverse mix of public and private sector clients, working on a number of iconic projects.

Scott Roberts and Kieran Hunt, Resolve Group Directors, said: “We are very excited to be joining Phenna Group. Making a decision like this after many successful years was a big step in the evolution of our business to ensure its ongoing growth and success.

“From our first engagement with Phenna Group it was clear that their business model and their team was the right fit for our business.”

Brett Coleman, Divisional MD, Australia said: “I am very excited to welcome Scott, Kieran and their team to Phenna Group. Since 2011 they have built a very successful business with an excellent reputation for customer service and technical capability.

“I look forward to working with them to continue their growth, and to realise the significant opportunities that exist as part of the Phenna Group in Australia.”

Paul Barry, Executive Chairman & Founder of Phenna Group, added: “I am delighted to welcome Scott, Kieran and their team to Phenna Group.  The addition of Resolve Group and their experience and capability supports our fast-growing certification and compliance operations in Australia.

“I look forward to working with Brett, and the Resolve Group team to continue their exciting journey.”

Phenna Group were advised by Macpherson Kelley and Pitchers Partners. Resolve Group were advised by Red Swan Partners, RSM and Holding Redlich.

New appointment for LCS IT Solutions

Michael Fisher
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New appointment for LCS IT Solutions

LCS IT Solutions Ltd are thrilled to welcome Matthew to our Support Team.  He brings with him a wealth of experience after spending 20 years at a well known agricultural firm in Lincolnshire.  Matthew has a strong knowledge base in all Microsoft systems as well as physical and virtual server infrastructures European wide.

Here at LCS, we now have a Team of 10 who are all dedicated to providing an honest, friendly and professionaI service to meet our clients’ specific needs.

LCS IT Solutions Ltd’s aim is to be Lincolnshire’s most trusted IT advisors, implementation and supporting solutions which are effective, secure and effortless to use.

Accountancy firms join forces

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Accountancy firms join forces
East of England accountancy firm Moore Thompson has joined forces with Jackson and Grimes, based in Stamford. Moore Thompson has long sought to extend its footprint into the local market. The senior directors of Jackson and Grimes identified Moore Thompson as the ideal partner to ensure the necessary succession that benefits clients and staff alike. Mark Hildred, Managing Partner at Moore Thompson, said: “This move brings together two firms with a shared ethos of excellence, client service, and community engagement.” Moore Thompson is taking on the entire workforce of Jackson and Grimes, including three directors. This move not only enriches Moore Thompson’s team with fresh expertise and insights but also ensures continuity of service for all existing clients of Jackson and Grimes. “The synergy between Moore Thompson and Jackson and Grimes has made this possible, setting the stage for enhanced service offerings to clients,” added Mark. “We are looking forward to welcoming the clients of Jackson and Grimes, as we deliver an even broader spectrum of accountancy and advisory services tailored to their needs. “This is more than a merger of resources. It represents a fusion of values and visions aimed at fostering growth, innovation, and community development.”

Loughborough University to help make manufacturing more eco-friendly

Tess Egginton
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Loughborough University to help make manufacturing more eco-friendly

Loughborough University’s role in a national partnership will develop tools and technologies to help manufacturers across the UK become more efficient and eco-friendly.

The University has been announced as a partner in a new research hub focused on creating a sustainable circular manufacturing ecosystem nationwide. The hub, which will be named the EPSRC Manufacturing Research Hub in Robotics, Automation & Smart Machine Enabled Sustainable Circular Manufacturing & Materials (RESCu-M2), will be led by the University of Birmingham as part of UK Research and Innovation’s ‘Manufacturing research hubs for a sustainable future’ programme. The aim of the hub is to transform the sustainable use of critical materials, whilst improving the productivity of ‘Re-X’ manufacturing processes – which include reusing, repurposing, repairing, remanufacturing, and recycling. These processes are currently much more labour-intensive than traditional manufacturing and businesses could save up to £23bn per year by making improvements at little or no cost. Professor Shahin Rahimifard from the University’s Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, believes the impact of the hub can be wide-reaching: “It’s vitally important for all manufacturing businesses to embrace sustainable and circular innovative technologies being investigated by the hub. “These will aid global societies to tackle many challenges in “new norms” caused by the rapidly evolving and growing climate crisis. “Diminishing material reserves, the rapid growing industrial waste, increasing diversity of environmental regulations alongside the socio-political concerns regarding undisrupted access to critical raw materials have formed a perfect storm which leaves us with little choice but to take this path. “Introducing a widespread move to a circular economy will take advantage of the latest advancements in intelligent automation to improve productivity and reduce costs whilst seeing material resources retained and reused – rather than being lost to landfill or converted to energy. “It’s fantastic that Loughborough University is a part of this wider project. The Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing and Recycling Technologies (SMART) has been at the forefront of the circular manufacturing approach for the past two decades and our latest project, ReMed, which is investigating the circular use of medical devices has been adopted as one of the flagship themes of the new hub.”

Mayor sets out vision for high streets and visitor economy in Newark

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Mayor sets out vision for high streets and visitor economy in Newark
Backing high streets and championing the region’s visitor economy were two key priorities outlined by the East Midlands Mayor on a visit to Newark. Claire Ward, who was recently elected as the first-ever East Midlands Mayor, visited Newark where she met with small business owners, community leaders and representatives from Newark and Sherwood District Council. The visit included a tour around the town’s historic marketplace and conversations with the owner of local independent business BeanBlock Community Café. This allowed the Mayor to understand more about the current challenges faced by retailers and the types of support that could be provided to help high streets across the region thrive. Representatives from the council provided a tour of current projects in the town, including the Riverside regeneration project, the redevelopment of a former retail space on Stodman Street into high-quality living accommodation and a trip to Newark Castle to learn about the ambitious Gatehouse project, which will be a key attraction to help bring more visitors into the town. Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said: “I’ve had a great visit to Newark to see the potential they have and learn about the extra investment they have received and how it’s being used to revitalise the town centre. “We’re seeing local towns and cities across the region recognising that the future of our high streets is a mixed economy with services, community activities, housing, and a great retail offer. Providing this mix of uses helps increase visitor numbers which will ensure places can thrive, creating new jobs and opportunities for our residents. “The most exciting part of being Mayor is looking at the all the fantastic work being done by councils across the region and thinking about how strategically we can bring together the funding and powers from Westminster to support these areas and deliver the changes our residents want to see.” Cllr Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the first ever regional Mayor for the East Midlands Claire Ward to our wonderful town of Newark. It’s an exciting time for the area and through collaborative working, we’re eager to bring more opportunities, a bigger voice and more influence locally. “Championing our High Streets, supporting job growth and making places more vibrant are some of our top priorities and these are shared by the East Midlands Combined Authority. “We both share a passion for making our town centres a bustling place to visit by working to increase footfall through several means including events and business engagement. We’re looking forward to the next few years of positive collaboration that will benefit our residents across the district.” Claire Ward was elected as the first Mayor of the East Midlands Region on Friday 3 May. As Mayor she will lead the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and, over time, have access to over £4 billion in funding, alongside devolved powers around transport, housing, skills and adult education, Net-Zero and economic development. This week the Mayor will be representing the East Midlands at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), where she will be participating in a panel session to tell people exactly why they should invest in the region – and why it should be now. She will also be launching a new investment prospectus to highlight the region’s key investment opportunities and explaining the role the region can play in the future of energy at the East Midlands Hydrogen reception.

Research and technology organisation joins Space Park Leicester

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Research and technology organisation joins Space Park Leicester
An independent research and technology organisation has joined the University of Leicester’s £100 million science and innovation park – Space Park Leicester. TWI is a membership-driven organisation which helps firms design, create and operate products by providing them with expert advice and safety assurance related to engineering, materials and joining technologies. It has been active in the space sector for decades and has joined Space Park Leicester to further increase its reputation among space companies. TWI Business Development Manager Vito Di Pietro said: “We’re very well suited to tackling the manufacturing challenges faced by space companies and have joined Space Park Leicester to define our identity in the sector. “Joining Space Park Leicester is helping us to engage with other established space companies and organisations and gives us a physical presence in the East Midlands to take advantage of regional funding opportunities and to join local clusters. “Moreover, we see value in gaining access to Space Park Leicester’s manufacturing and testing capabilities which are complementary to our offering.” As of this month, TWI is also the European Space Agency’s official Technology Broker in the UK and will run a Space technology transfer programme called Prepare for Space. The Technology Broker activity aims to create, support and promote an ecosystem of space and non-space entities. The Prepare for Space programme will enable companies from non-space sectors to apply for business and technical support to reduce the barriers to entering the space industry. Vito added: “We see this as an opportunity for collaboration with Space Park Leicester and the University of Leicester, and as an additional service that Space Park Leicester could offer to attract new players to the space sector and to Leicester’s new Space City cluster.” Vinay Patel, Head of Commercial and Innovation at Space Park Leicester, said: “TWI is one of the world’s foremost independent research and technology organisations. It employs around 650 people and has an annual turnover in excess of £60 million. “TWI has provided services such as the development of materials, coatings processes and procedures to the space industry for over 30 years, working on several projects related to materials engineering and manufacturing technologies, developing advanced welding, joining and inspection technologies for space applications, as well as innovative materials such as lightweight alloys and composites. “We’re thrilled that TWI has joined our vibrant community at Space Park Leicester.”

£1.4m grant awarded to revamp Newark Castle Gatehouse

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£1.4m grant awarded to revamp Newark Castle Gatehouse
Newark and Sherwood District Council has received a £1.4m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its plans to create a new and improved visitor attraction at Newark Castle.
Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project will allow visitors into Newark Castle’s original Romanesque Gatehouse where they’ll be able to learn more about the castle’s story through time as five gallery spaces bring its medieval history to life through interactive displays, designed by Nissen Richards Studio. Councillor Rowan Cozens, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “This is absolutely wonderful news for the town, and is the final piece of the puzzle we’ve been waiting for to kick start this fantastic project. “Without the funding from National Lottery players and the Heritage Fund, we could not start the project, so I’m delighted they have made such a substantial grant to the project, and like us, could see the huge benefit this could bring to Newark. I thank them wholeheartedly.” Robyn Llewellyn, Area Director, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to be supporting these ambitious plans to revitalise the historic Newark Castle Gatehouse. The story of the castle dates back to the 12th century, and it’s fantastic that support from National Lottery players will keep this historic site relevant for future generations.” The project will enable people to discover the origins of the castle and explore the wealth of its history which dates back to the 12th century. There will also be a tower-top viewing platform from which visitors can overlook great views of Trent Valley. The project aims to enhance and protect the natural environment and green space within this historic site, establishing more biodiversity and enhancing accessibility through landscape development. More than 600 visitors and non-visitors were initially consulted to help shape the development. The District Council then worked closely with historians, archaeologists, conservators, ecologists, access consultants, architects and designers to ensure that plans are robust and well-researched. Local people’s ideas were also taken on board and have been incorporated in the final design. HE Milner’s beloved flowerbed will remain, and the gardens will be physically accessible for everybody. It’s anticipated that, once works are completed, the Castle will attract almost 17,000 visitors each year from outside of the district, helping to deliver sustainable economic growth. It is proposed that entry to the exhibition will be half price for Newark and Sherwood residents, with free entry for children and young people. Visitors will also be able to return for free as many times as they like within a 12-month period. Access to the grounds will remain free for all. Councillor Cozens continues: “This project ensures accessibility and biodiversity remains at its very heart while providing a beautiful green space for our residents as well as our visitors. It is hoped that increased visitors to the site will be a huge boost to our local economy too with local businesses having access to more people who can spend in their stores. “The District Council is planning to use the grounds for a range of activities and events for all the community and entry to the galleries itself will be reduced for Newark and Sherwood residents. I’m incredibly excited about the future for Newark Castle and am waiting with eagerness for the next stage in its journey.” The town’s early evening economy will be supported too with plans to improve the lighting in the grounds to enable a safe ‘after dark’ experience. The project will cost £5.4m in total, with a £3m investment already committed from Newark and Sherwood District Council’s application to the Government’s Towns Fund initiative through Newark Town board. Work on the Castle is expected to take place in late 2024 with construction likely to take a couple of years.

Businesses prioritising retention of talent following Covid, finds employment survey

Tess Egginton
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Businesses prioritising retention of talent following Covid, finds employment survey

Over four out of five businesses across the UK are still struggling to recruit people in 2024 following the Covid-19 pandemic four years ago. A total of 81 per cent of employers revealed the main reason being a lack of candidates with the right skillset.

Hybrid working is also being considered as challenging with HR teams finding people don’t want to return to the office for a variety of reasons, including a number reporting that a factor is anxiety of having to be separated from their pets.

The research, compiled by the employment team at national law firm Freeths, analysed a variety of sectors and found that the main HR priorities for 2024 are retention of employees, health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and motivation, engagement, and performance management.

Amongst this:

  • The most common top HR priority for 2024 is employee retention
  • The most popular reason given for resistance experienced in getting staff to return to the office was that it meant a poorer work life balance.
  • Over 35% of respondents reported that a reason given to them for not wanting to return to work in the office was fear of being separated from their pets
  • Whereas only 20% of these surveyed cited family separation as a reason given for not returning to the office
  • Only a mere 11% of respondents said that they would trust AI tools to recruit the best candidates, and only 19% said that they had a good understanding of artificial intelligence HR tools available.
  • 43% of employers said that they would trust AI tools to support employee learning and development.

Rena Magdani, Partner and National Head of Employment at Freeths, said: “Our survey has provided valuable insights into how businesses are coping with the past and looking to the future. Employers are still experiencing the impact of the covid pandemic with challenges in recruitment and finding working arrangements that suit all parties.

“Looking ahead, there seems to be a low level of trust in AI, perhaps linked to the lack of knowledge of the available tools. It will be interesting to see the extent to which attitudes towards AI will change during this year.”

PR and communications agency appoints former journalist to support East Midlands growth

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PR and communications agency appoints former journalist to support East Midlands growth
A PR, communications and public affairs agency has made a major appointment in its bid to grow in the East Midlands. PLMR Advent, part of the Westminster-based PLMR Group, is based in Coventry and was founded 25 years ago. It has a string of clients in the East Midlands and is looking to grow its client base in the area after some recent wins. It has just appointed Leicestershire-based Paul Suart as an account manager. Suart has 20 years’ experience in the industry as a reporter, copy writer and content editor, most recently working for Reach plc. Suart will work across the PLMR Advent client base and will support growth in the East Midlands. Lee Corden, a PLMR board director who heads the Coventry office, said the appointment was part of a plan to extend the company’s footprint. “We work with clients locally, nationally, and internationally but have a strong focus in the Midlands as we are based in Coventry and Birmingham,” he said. “In recent years, that scope has widened and we work with clients both based in the East Midlands or with projects in the area. “That has gone very well on every level, with our work for them appearing in regional, national and trade titles, and we have grown our client base as a result. “We are delighted to have attracted Paul to join us. He has great experience in the media and his presence in the East Midlands will prove very useful as part of our ongoing push to attract more clients from that part of the region.” Suart added: “I had been considering moving into public relations but wanted it to be with an agency with the highest quality. I have dealt with PLMR Advent for more than a decade and I know how well they represent their clients. “They have a great knowledge of the media, employ staff who have a proven track record in producing accurate and relevant copy and are very sharp when it comes to what has news value. “As a journalist there are certain agencies you can rely on – and PLMR Advent is among the best.”

Island Quarter developer makes gym site purchase

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Island Quarter developer makes gym site purchase

The Conygar Investment Company has purchased the long-leasehold interest of the site occupied by Virgin Active gym, located on The Great Northern Close at The Island Quarter, Nottingham.

The freehold of the site is already owned by Conygar, with the leasehold purchased from Wood Pension fund.

The purchase, which enables better control of Conygar’s arrangements for this and the adjoining site at The Island Quarter, was subject to signing a new direct 25-year lease with Virgin Active at a rent of £600,000 per annum with a 12-month rent free period spread across the first 24 months.

This will replace the rent received by Conygar from the long-leasehold, which amounted to 10% of the rent previously received by the vendor from Virgin Active.

The purchase price of £5.9 million was funded by way of a drawdown of the second and final £7 million tranche of an existing debt facility with ASK Partners Ltd. The surplus funds received over the purchase price and associated fees will be applied in the further progression of The Island Quarter.

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