Demand for Mercia Marina places high after planning permission is confirmed

Stuart Pearcey
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Demand for Mercia Marina places high after planning permission is confirmed
The UK’s largest inland marina reports high demand for a new £6 million mixed used development for which planning permission was recently confirmed. Councillors at South Derbyshire District Council approved the plans for the Mercia Marina development, known as the Promenade, last March – but have now formally green-lit the scheme, paving the way for construction to start. The Promenade will house 14 apartments above seven ground floor retail units. Made from glass, stone and timber, the building will mirror two similar developments, which have been created at the 77-acre site, near Willington, over the past decade – the Boardwalk and Piazza. Mercia Marina has grown from a former fishing lake in a gravel pit to becoming one of the leading leisure and tourism businesses in the East Midlands, supporting more than 300 jobs directly, and many more indirectly. It has moorings for more than 600 narrowboats, as well as housing dozens of holiday lodges.

Chesterfield businesses expand into new spaces at Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Tess Egginton
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Chesterfield businesses expand into new spaces at Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Two Chesterfield-based companies have expanded into larger offices at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre after growing their businesses over the last year.

We Are Spaces, a commercial interior design and property solution company, and Integrated Interest, a sales and marketing technology company, have expanded into larger office spaces in the centre.

Owned by Chesterfield Borough Council, the office development opened in July 2022 and with the expansion of these businesses is now 85% let.

Amy Revell, co-founder and director of We Are Spaces, said: “The Enterprise Centre is a wonderful space for us to call our home. The Grade A space and service we receive from the team here really is great value for money. We are incredibly settled and have a great relationship with the other businesses and staff, so we didn’t want to lose this, when needing to increase the size of our office to meet the new needs of our team.

“The Enterprise Centre has made the process so easy for us to move into a bigger suite without incurring big moving costs and disruption. We always knew that when we first based ourselves here, it provided us with lots of flexibility to grow efficiently and we are doing just that.

“It’s a pleasure to have our offices within the enterprise centre and we are investing a huge amount to create an amazing fit out for our clients and staff to enjoy for many more years to come.”

Steven Brough, director of Integrated Interest, said: “When we first started looking for office space the Enterprise Centre was at the top of the list straight away, with it being in such a prominent location.

“It is perfectly placed for access by car, bus or train, and with access to Chesterfield town centre and Queen’s Park, there is everything you need on the doorstep. With it being such a new building, everything is modern and creates the feel I wanted for a technology company.”

The Enterprise Chesterfield model aims to provide space for new and small businesses, where they can access a range of support that will help them to grow.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “It is fantastic to see local businesses growing, employing more of our residents, and expanding their presence in the Enterprise Centre.

“Our investment in the development formed a key part of our economic recovery plan following the pandemic – the growth of these businesses and the high occupancy rate of the centre shows how the building has helped our borough’s economy to bounce back and has created new employment opportunities for our residents.

“As well as growing the local economy, our enterprise centres also provide a small income for the council. This income helps ensure we can support businesses to grow whilst still providing the essential services our residents rely on.

“We knew our Enterprise Chesterfield model would be successful because we’ve seen businesses based at our other centres grow significantly and expand their presence in our borough, but it is great to see this working as planned in our newest centre less than two years since opening.”

Renewable energy experts move to new Nottingham head office

Tess Egginton
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Renewable energy experts move to new Nottingham head office

Renewable energy experts Geo Green Power have moved to new head office premises at Bradmore Business Park, Nottingham, thanks to rapid growth in demand for its green energy solutions which is expected to see the business double in size by 2025.

With the company on target to grow its turnover by 50 percent this year to more than £18m (from £12m to 31 March 2023), Geo Green needs more space as team numbers have passed 60 people and will continue to rise. At 6000 ft over two floors, the new head office can house the existing office team of around 30 with capacity to more than double in the years ahead. Warehousing and supply will continue at Geo Green’s existing premises in Costock.

Geo Green Power operates nationally with multiple teams installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, electric vehicle (EV) charging, heat pump and battery storage systems in both the commercial and residential sectors for customers including Kingspan, Mitchells & Butlers, Inchcape, Mercedes-Benz and JCB.

James Cunningham, MD, Geo Green Power, said: “It’s been an incredible three years at Geo Green Power, our purpose-built offices have served us well but the rapid expansion that we have seen since 2021 has quite literally seen them overflow.

“We’ve a fantastic team, and it was important that we moved to a location that would enable us to keep them all. I’m delighted that our new offices will give our people much needed space and storage, more meeting rooms, kitchen facilities and a fabulous break area which we’re still fitting out. It’s absolutely what they deserve for the hard work and commitment they have shown while delivering year on year growth.”

Geo Green worked with commercial property agents FHP to secure the new premises at Bradmore, which includes 25 car parking spaces and is leased for five years. Interior design and office fitout work was undertaken by 360 Commercial Projects.

Inflation holds steady at 4%

Tess Egginton
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Inflation holds steady at 4%
Annualised inflation remained at 4% in January, unchanged from December despite a forecasted rise. Measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted this was influenced by higher gas and electricity charges, while inflation kept at 4% due to a downward contribution from furniture and household goods, and food and non-alcoholic beverages. Meanwhile, core inflation, which takes out volatile factors like energy, food, alcohol and tobacco to give a clear picture of underlying trends, came in at 5.1% in the 12 months to January 2024, also the same as December. Alpesh Paleja, CBI lead economist, said: “No movement in inflation over January is not entirely a surprise, due to base effects and a small rise in Ofgem’s energy price cap coming into effect. “We may see a few more bumps in the road over the coming months, but the broad direction of travel with inflation is encouraging, having fallen considerably from its double-digit highs 15 months ago. “The Bank of England seems to share this view, though will want to see more definitive signs that domestic price pressures are continuing to soften. But with monetary policy now believed to be doing the trick, it’s increasingly a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ interest rates will be cut.”

Flexible packaging manufacturer seeks buyer after administrators appointed

Tess Egginton
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Flexible packaging manufacturer seeks buyer after administrators appointed

Flexible packaging manufacturer Surepak Limited is seeking a buyer after filing for administration. Dean Nelson and Nick Lee, Business Recovery and Restructuring Partners at PKF Smith Cooper, were appointed on 12 February 2024.

Sole director Stuart Yorston made the decision to file for administration to protect the company’s business, assets, goodwill and employees from a winding-up petition recently served by a creditor, which was due to be heard on 14 February.

Surepak Limited will continue to trade in the short term whilst in administration, as an accelerated merger and acquisition process begins with the aim of finding a purchaser in whole or part for the company.

Nottinghamshire-based Surepak Limited manufactures flexible packaging for businesses across a wide range of sectors in the UK. Incorporated in 1991, the company has been trading for over 32 years, starting out as a distributor before moving into manufacturing in 1995.

In 2007, the company relocated its base to a 45,000 sq ft, BRC ‘AA’ accredited facility in Nottingham to facilitate printing.

The company’s financial issues began during the global energy crisis when its electricity costs increased by more than 425%. This cost hike was followed by the loss of two major contracts, which reduced the company’s turnover by £1m due to customers’ packaging requirements and a relocation abroad.

Dean Nelson, Head of Business Recovery and Restructuring at PKF Smith Cooper, said: “Our aim is to preserve the business and protect employees’ jobs, in addition to maximising returns for creditors.

“We will keep stakeholders and the press informed of any developments as matters progress. If you are interested in purchasing the company, please contact me as a matter of urgency.”

Council wins long-running battle to prevent construction of almost 200 homes on greenfield site

Tess Egginton
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Council wins long-running battle to prevent construction of almost 200 homes on greenfield site
Erewash Borough Council has won a long-running battle to prevent almost 200 homes being built on a greenfield haven opposite a historic row of cottages. The plan would have seen an entire new estate in countryside near Ilkeston – and sparked an appeal by the would-be developer after the authority rejected it. The Worcester firm argued that the scheme would help the borough meet housing targets. The fight went all the way to the government’s Planning Inspectorate – and threatened the council with a massive legal bill. But a judgment handed down by the inspector has now backed the authority. The 196 homes had been proposed off Sowbrook Lane on land facing the historic Twelve Houses – a terrace of isolated Grade II-listed cottages built in 1848. Locals were enraged by the planning application, which was rejected in October 2022 and led to a public inquiry being hosted at Long Eaton Town Hall. The government’s Planning Inspectorate said Erewash was right to scotch the plans, which had been slammed by campaign group Kirk Hallam Green Squeeze. The protesters branded the appeal by Wulff Asset Management Ltd as “just a money-making attempt from the developers who want to challenge the local authority.” Andrew McCormack, the government-appointed planning inspector, visited the proposed site and agreed with the council that issues included access and transport. He said of the development: “It would be perceived negatively as a housing scheme that would appear as an isolated development in a countryside setting and unsustainable location.” Erewash Council leader James Dawson said: “This is a victory for common sense. Despite the need for new homes in the borough this site was never a sensible location for such housing. “The council is pleased that an independent Planning Inspector has endorsed the authority’s decision to refuse the original planning application.”

Derby Book Festival appoints new chair

Stuart Pearcey
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Derby Book Festival appoints new chair
Professor Keith McLay, Provost – Learning & Teaching at the University of Derby, has been appointed as the new Chair of Derby Book Festival. He takes over from Liz Fothergill CBE, the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, who has held the position since the Festival’s inception in February 2015. Professor McLay has been a Derby Book Festival Trustee since October 2019 and has provided an important link between the Festival and the University, one of its key funders. He has also taken an active role at the Festivals by interviewing several high-profile authors on both fiction and non-fiction. He said: “It is a privilege to be taking on the role of Chair of Trustees which builds on the strong partnership that the University already has with Derby Book Festival. “Events such as the Book Festival are of vital importance in promoting culture within our city, and it is encouraging to witness its growth and continuing success. As a Civic University we champion the arts as a driver for positive change within our communities and the Book Festival plays a pivotal role in this.  I am excited to see what this next chapter in our partnership will bring.”

Flex office operator raises funds for national literacy charity

Tess Egginton
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Flex office operator raises funds for national literacy charity
A fundraising campaign organised by flex office operator, Cubo, has raised £750 for national literacy charity, Bookmark. The campaign was launched in late November in a bid to encourage members and businesses to ‘Gift a Child a Book at Christmas.’ By the end of the year £750 had been raised, which will enable the charity to buy 150 new books for children. Cubo has now adopted Bookmark Reading Charity as its annual charity for 2024. The company is set to organise a series of fundraising events throughout the year to buy more books and help transform children’s lives through the joy of reading. SATs results from July 2023 revealed that one in four children leave primary school without the ability to read proficiently. In addition, the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers has now reached its widest point in a decade (FEA, 2022). Bookmark was founded by Sharon Pindar in 2018 and aims to change children’s life stories through the joy of reading. Bookmark works with children who face barriers to becoming readers by providing one-to-one reading programmes, both online and in person. The charity also equips schools with dedicated resources to offer wraparound support, providing diverse, high-quality books, materials for extracurricular reading, and on-going support for teacher training and development. As part of its mission, Bookmark aims to deliver 50,741 one-to-one reading sessions to children during 2024. This time, when scheduled back-to-back equates to three years of non-stop reading. The charity also aims to send out thousands of books and reading resources to children across the country, putting them directly into the hands of children who need them most. Commenting on the money raised for Bookmark, Rebecca Brough, CMO at Cubo, said: “The response from our members and local businesses in the run up to Christmas was fantastic, and we’re thrilled to have raised so much money in such a short space of time. “Bookmark is an incredible charity, which is working to brighten the lives of children and empower them through the gift of literature. This aligns perfectly with Cubo’s vision of making a tangible difference in communities where we have a presence.” To donate to Cubo’s fundraising appeal, visit bit.ly/Donate-cubo.

Go-ahead given for 392,000 sq ft M1 industrial scheme

Tess Egginton
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Go-ahead given for 392,000 sq ft M1 industrial scheme
Developers HBD, part of Henry Boot, and CEG have secured a resolution to grant planning permission for APEX; a new 392,000 sq ft logistics and manufacturing hub in Mansfield that could create up to 500 new jobs. The partnership will deliver five high-spec buildings at the site, formerly known as Penniment Farm, ranging from 30,000 to 150,000 sq ft and ready to occupy from Autumn 2025. APEX is located on one of the Midlands’ key industrial corridors, with motorway access from J28 and J29 of the M1, and each of the buildings is designed with sustainability in mind.Vivienne Clements, head of industrial and logistics at HBD, said: “We’re pleased to be working with CEG to deliver this latest logistics scheme – it benefits from an excellent position on the M1 and, given its sustainability credentials and the local skills base in Mansfield, we expect to see strong interest from potential occupiers.“Supply of high-spec industrial stock coming forward remains low across key industrial corridors in the Midlands – we’ll be looking to bring space forward quickly to meet established demand, with the first buildings ready to occupy from Autumn 2025.” Matthew Rhodes, planning manager at CEG, said: “We have worked on the Penniment Farm development for many years and new homes are already being delivered at the site. “This significant proposal represents one of the largest job creation projects in Mansfield in recent years and will assist the Council in delivering its economic strategy of attracting inwards investment and creating more job opportunities for local people.
“The development will provide flexibility, both in terms of uses and unit sizes, and is located in a strong commercial location with good transport links and access to a large, growing workforce. The site will appeal to a wide range of occupiers, from inward investing companies, trade and industrial occupiers to local businesses seeking higher quality space.
“Having delivered a number of Midlands employment sites, including Vesuvius at Worksop and Vaughan Trading Estate in Tipton, we are confident that APEX will also be a huge success, creating hundreds of jobs and economic benefits for the local area.”
The property agents for APEX are FHP, CPP and M1 Agency.

Have we become too obsessed about the use of technology in our businesses? By James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants

Tess Egginton
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Have we become too obsessed about the use of technology in our businesses? By James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants
James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, reflects on the “frenzy of activity” in businesses adopting new tech. The last 12 months seem to have been unprecedented in terms of the use and introduction of technology and digital innovation. Who would have thought that OpenAI and ChatGPT only really came to market and wider use in November 2022? With the launch of Google’s AI and other platforms there does seem to be a frenzy of activity as organisations seek to understand what artificial intelligence can do for them or how it might impact their businesses. This follows several years, which included the pandemic and lockdowns, when we looked at the use of technology and digitisation to manage our organisations. Following Brexit increased focus was also placed on the use of technology to address issues around supply chain management and labour shortages. On a personal basis, all of us no doubt are having to master and get to grips with a growing number of software programmes and platforms aimed at making our lives, or at least the day job, easier. How often though do we find things take longer, don’t work as promised and in fact are more of a hinderance than a benefit? From a consumer perspective, it seems we are increasingly required to use automated communications, customer portals and management systems, apps, digital receptionists and chat functions. How often though do these leave us with a sense of frustration, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction? Perhaps the ultimate is when the technology does not work and whilst the problem could be a ‘picnic’ (problem in chair not in computer) there does seem to be an increasing level of system failures. The cost of which can be significant in more ways than just financially, with demoralised workers, dissatisfied customers, and even corporate reputational damage. Has the time then come for business leaders and organisations to take a fresh look at their strategy and approach to the role and use of technology? At the same time there is a need to consider the balance and our focus around being driven or controlled by technology versus the needs of our customers and work colleagues. For some there is probably a need to realign our thinking in terms of being focused on the problems technology can solve or the benefits it brings as opposed perhaps to being taken in by the latest ‘exciting’ innovation or trend or the salesperson’s pitch! A starting point could be considering what problems we look to solve in terms of the use of technology. These include:
  • Increasing productivity
  • Improving working practices for employees
  • Increasing operational capacity
  • Reducing costs
  • Improving profitability
  • Addressing labour and skills shortages
  • Improving and enhancing customer experience
  • Offering customers something new
  • Gaining a competitive advantage
  • Improving internal reporting and management
We also need to consider the wider implications around the introduction of new technology in terms of implications for users, the need for training, ongoing support, security and increasingly good governance. If any of this article resonates with you then perhaps it is time to revisit your approach and even attitude to the use and adoption of technology in your organisation.   See this article in the February issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
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