With the nomination deadline (Friday 15th August) drawing nearer for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, local leaders are encouraging businesses to enter.
The 10th annual celebration of the property and construction industry is the perfect way for firms to raise their profile, reward teams, spotlight successes and promote the work they are completing, all while reaching Business Link Magazine’s audience of over 60,000 business readers and connecting with respected professionals.
It’s an opportunity to showcase exceptional new commercial and residential developments, those demonstrating a leading position in sustainability and design excellence; gain recognition as outstanding developers, architects, contractors, and agents, as well as for significant deals; and ensure efforts in corporate social responsibility are rewarded, from eco initiatives to charity work, to social value schemes.
Making a nomination is completely free – with finalists also winning free tickets to the awards ceremony.
See what local leaders had to say below:
Megan Powell Vreeswijk
Megan Powell Vreeswijk, Chief Executive of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, said: “For 10 years, the East Midlands Bricks Awards has helped to champion businesses that define our region through innovation, ambition, and resilience in the built environment sector.
“These businesses help to shape our communities and drive economic growth across Nottingham & Nottinghamshire. I encourage organisations across Nottinghamshire and the wider East Midlands to enter the Bricks Awards and showcase the incredible work happening here – let’s put our region firmly on the map.”
Mike Denby
Mike Denby, Director for Inward Investment and Place at Invest In Leicester, said: “The East Midlands Bricks Awards are a great way to highlight the innovation and high standards of Leicester and Leicestershire’s construction industry, a sector that we are incredibly proud of.
“That’s why Invest in Leicester is encouraging all our partners and businesses to get involved, as celebrating these achievements will motivate future projects that will ultimately benefit our residents and the wider economy.”
Cllr Liam Kelly, Executive Member for Growth, Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Lincolnshire’s property and construction sectors have a real impact on communities across the county, from vital infrastructure schemes to extra care housing developments – all while supporting thousands of jobs across the local economy. There’s a lot to be proud of, and I hope that Lincolnshire’s fantastic businesses step forward to get the recognition they deserve at this year’s East Midlands Bricks Awards.”
Scott Knowles
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “Property and construction are significant drivers of growth and despite having had to overcome tough challenges like higher National Insurance contributions or the skills shortage making recruitment hard, the East Midlands can be proud of the impressive scale of modernisation to our towns and cities.
“Whether Nottingham’s Island Quarter, Derby’s Castleward Urban Village, Leicester’s Waterside or Ashton Green projects, you don’t have to look far to see progress. The Bricks Awards showcase the people and firms that are to thank for shaping how our urban spaces and architecture will be seen for future generations and it’s right we recognise that work.”
John Forkin
John Forkin, Managing Director at Marketing Derby, said: “This year, in particular, Derby has seen some major regeneration projects come to fruition, including Vaillant Live and Derby Market Hall – and later this year, we will see the opening of the University of Derby’s Cavendish Building, which will be the new home of its Business School.
“There is so much great work going on in the built environment and we would really encourage companies to consider applying to these awards.”
Nottinghamshire County Councillor, James Walker-Gurley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, said: “The property and construction industry is vital to our local economy and one to be proud of in Nottinghamshire and the region.
“The industry generates skilled jobs, investment and contract opportunities for the supply chain. And with the STEP fusion prototype powerplant due to be built right here in our county, this will bring many more lucrative opportunities.
“So I would encourage everyone to get nominating for these awards and help celebrate this industry.”
Councillor Nadine Peatfield
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands, and keynote speaker at this year’s East Midlands Bricks Awards, said: “2025 is a landmark year for Derby. We’re not just planning, we’re actively building a vibrant and welcoming city for everyone to enjoy. This vision has been brought to life thanks to the crucial partnerships with our talented development partners.
“The East Midlands Bricks Awards is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional skills and expertise within our region’s property and construction sector, and I’m very excited to see their achievements recognised.”
To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page. Entry is free – with finalists also winning free tickets to the awards ceremony.
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 chance to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 2nd October (4:30pm – 7:30pm) at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region over nibbles and complimentary drinks.
Attendees will additionally hear from keynote speaker Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands.
The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm)
Where: Derek Randall Suite,Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham
Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands
Tickets: Available hereDress code: Standard business attire
Thanks to our sponsors:
REFLEKT Clothing, a sustainable clothing manufacturer based in Leicestershire, has received over £14,000 in funding from First Enterprise under the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme.
The brand, founded by Daniel Williams, designs and manufactures all its garments in the UK, operating with sustainable first practices, such as small batch production, low impact dyes, OCS certified organic cotton, and biodegradable packaging.
The funding will be used to create further brand awareness through advertising, improve the website and manufacture more menswear to keep up with a growing demand for products – there has been an increase of more than 100% in the past 12 months.
Petra Eddison, business advisor, First Enterprise, said: “It was inspiring to see Daniel’s passion and dedication to REFLEKT Clothing and producing sustainable, high-quality menswear. Helping him through the loan application was a pleasure, and I look forward to seeing the business continue to grow.”
Revenues are up and profits are down at Ibstock, the manufacturer of building products, according to results for the six months ended 30 June.
Group revenues increased by 9% to £193m, driven by significant volume growth in Clay, where revenue grew by 12% to £134m. Revenue in Concrete was also marginally ahead of the prior year at £60m (2024: £59m).
Meanwhile, statutory profit before tax came in at £8m, dropping from £12m in the same period last year.
The business noted that the first half “reflected a period of strong volume growth, with profitability…tempered by steps to activate core network capacity to meet recovering demand.”
Joe Hudson, CEO, said: “The new-build residential market showed encouraging signs of recovery in the first half of theyear, but activity is still well below normalised levels. As we plan for a period of further market growth, we have invested in restoring core capacity to meet demand. Whilst this has impacted margins in the first half, it will ensure we are able to benefit fully from the recovery as the market progresses.
“With both our core and diversified platforms now substantially in place to meet growing demand, I am confident in our ability to deliver on our medium-term revenue goalsalongside improvements in profitability and returns driven by margin focus and significant operational leverage through the recovery cycle.”
Vistry Group has exchanged contracts to expand its Western Gate community in Harpole, near Northampton. The addition of 233 new homes brings the total build to 1,070 of the planned 1,900 properties at Norwood Farm.
The 233 additional homes will be built across a mix of tenures, with 83 affordable homes, 80 PRS properties, and 70 open market homes. This announcement follows West Northamptonshire Council’s approval of reserved matters for phase two of the development, allowing Vistry to start building 278 family homes.
On this portion of the development 139 homes will be available on the open market and with 139 will be affordable properties through Vistry’s partnership with Platform Housing Group.
In addition, Vistry has secured its first contract with Zen Housing, an affordable home provider, who will own and manage 18 affordable properties.
Andrew Harvey, managing director of Vistry South Central Midlands, said: “I am thrilled to announce the completion of contracts for an additional 233 mixed-tenure homes at Western Gate and our first contact with Zen housing.
“This brings the total to 1,070 of the 1,900 new properties planned at Norwood Farm. Our commitment goes beyond house building, with £9 million allocated to bolstering services for both new current residents.”
John Okell, investment director at Zen Housing, said: “The contract for the additional homes coincides with receiving reserved matter to start work on a further 278 properties for the affordable and open markets.
“This clearly shows Vistry’s dedication to meeting housing needs by building homes across multiple tenures to an exceptional standard, creating a thriving and sustainable community.
“We are delighted to mark the start of our partnership with Vistry Group on this phase of homes at Western Gate. These 18 high-quality affordable homes reflect our commitment to delivering sustainable, well-connected communities.
“Executing the deal in just five weeks ahead of completions in August highlights the strength of collaboration between our teams. We look forward to supporting the wider Norwood Farm vision through tenure-diverse, community-focused delivery.”
Phase one of this scheme to build an initial 439 properties is well under way.
Superior Wellness, a leading manufacturer of hot tubs and swim spas, has secured a £2.3 million funding package backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF) and NatWest Bank. This financial support will enable the company to expand its export activities in key international markets including the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.
The General Export Facility (GEF) will assist Superior Wellness in scaling its distribution network and supporting its working capital needs, ensuring continued growth while securing cash flow. The investment comes as the company continues its rapid expansion, particularly in North America, where it has increased its market share and opened a new warehouse in South Carolina.
As part of its growth, Superior Wellness has created 15 new positions at its Chesterfield headquarters and five new roles at its South Carolina site, bringing its global workforce to over 140 employees. The company’s portfolio includes brands such as Platinum Spas, AquaSolus, HEKLA saunas, and Chill Tubs ice baths.
UKEF’s support aims to help UK businesses grow internationally, with a focus on sustainable export growth and job creation both at home and abroad. The funding aligns with the government’s efforts to stimulate regional growth through export-driven initiatives.
Leicester College is constructing a new Electrotechnical Workshop and Test and Inspection Lab at its Freemen’s Park Campus in the city.
The new facility will provide T Level, Technical Level 2, and evening Level 2 and 3 programme learners with greater exposure to a broader range of industry-standard materials, tools and equipment, significantly enhancing their knowledge, skills and behaviours in preparation for employment.
The building of the new facility, refurbishing an existing sports hall, is scheduled to be fully operational by September 2025.
Nick Allen, programme area manager at Leicester College, said: “It’s widely accepted that the UK electrical industry is experiencing an increase in demand for skilled electricians but faces a significant skills shortage.
“By establishing this new facility, Leicester College is providing access for learners to state-of-the-art electrical equipment that will boost their expertise and, consequently, their employment opportunities.”
Darren Roome, director of curriculum – construction at Leicester College, said: “The new Electrotechnical facility will provide the next generation of students with access to excellent teaching, learning and assessment opportunities.
“Equipped with a purpose-built workshop and the latest test and inspection technologies, the experienced teaching team will be well-positioned to deliver an enriched educational experience. It’s an exciting development for both staff and students.”
The new labs will be equipped with modern training and assessment rigs supplied by Test Rigs UK Ltd.
Phillip Hague, company director at Test Rigs UK, added: “Test Rigs UK Ltd are so privileged to work in partnership with Leicester College to produce and supply these products.
“The training and assessment rigs will allow the next generation of learners to practise and train in a safe, simulated environment allowing realistic testing and fault-finding practices to be learned and hopefully taking those skills with them into their future work as electricians in the industry.
“Test Rigs UK Ltd was set up for this very reason and to be a major player in this industry, and to be recognised by such an establishment like Leicester College is an honour. We look forward to seeing the learners in action on these rigs.”
Mid-market private equity investment in the Midlands held firm in the first half of this year, according to KPMG UK’s mid-year private equity pulse.
The mid-year study into private equity deal activity found that mid-market private equity interest in the region maintained at H1 2024 levels, with 41 deals completed.
The findings come despite a backdrop of economic uncertainty, influenced by ongoing geopolitical developments and concerns surrounding the potential impact of trade tariffs.
Bolt-ons remained the largest component of mid-market private equity activity across the region, making up more than half of all deals. Traditional and leveraged buyouts (LBOs) were the second largest deal type, followed by minority investments.
The Midlands’ mid-market private equity interest accounted for 11% of the total mid-market private equity backing in the UK. Deal activity in the mid-market slowed down across all regions in the UK, except the South West, which experienced increased activity in terms of deal volume, compared with the first half of 2024 (28 vs 22).
Stuart Sewell, head of M&A for the Midlands at KPMG UK, said: “While deal volumes remained flat in the first half of 2025, the picture is still positive in the context of a nationwide drop.
“The resilience of Midlands businesses is clear, and these results show a promising sign that capital is available for regional businesses demonstrating strong management and innovation. In times of relative uncertainty, it’s no surprise that bolt-ons are prominent as investors look to back management teams that are already delivering and sectors they know.
“The Midlands remains home to high-growth businesses that are still pursuing expansion, despite ongoing economic headwinds. Firms can therefore press ahead with cautious optimism, pushing for growth in the second half of the year.”
The demand for on-site work is rising, according to a recent report by the British Chambers of Commerce, with four out of ten businesses increasing their expectations for employees to return to the office. However, the East Midlands Chamber has highlighted that the future of hybrid working is not a one-size-fits-all solution, as it largely depends on the unique needs of each business.
The report reveals that 40% of businesses have increased their requirements for employees to work on-site over the past year. Additionally, 10% of businesses have seen staff resign due to the push for employees to return to the office. Meanwhile, 60% of manufacturers expect all work to be in-person within the next 12 months, while almost half of businesses anticipate a fully on-site model in the coming months.
The East Midlands Chamber emphasises that flexibility in working arrangements is crucial. Some businesses, particularly those in frontline or customer-facing roles, require employees to be on-site, while others benefit from a hybrid model that accommodates diverse working styles. Technological advancements have made it easier for businesses to manage remote tasks efficiently, offering more flexibility in structuring work.
For employers, the key challenge is balancing the need for remote and in-office work to attract and retain talent. Employees with family commitments or those who need a quieter environment for focus have found remote work appealing, while others thrive in the office, where collaboration and networking are more prevalent. As recruitment remains a challenge in the East Midlands, businesses will need to continue evaluating their hybrid work policies to ensure they meet both employee needs and business goals.
Clowes Developments has become a Trust Partner of Derby County Community Trust, supporting its mission to deliver impactful programmes that improve lives and strengthen communities across Derbyshire.
The partnership reinforces Clowes Developments’ long-standing commitment to investing in the local community and promoting positive social change. As a sponsor, Clowes will support a wide range of initiatives run by the Trust, which span health and wellbeing, education, inclusion, and sports participation.
Thomas Clowes, managing director at Clowes Developments, said: “We are delighted to partner with Derby County Community Trust, an organisation whose values and impact align closely with our own.
“Supporting the communities we operate in has always been important to us, and this partnership gives us the opportunity to make a real difference alongside a team that is already doing exceptional work across the region.”
Derby County Community Trust deliver programmes that engage thousands of participants each year. The Trust’s initiatives include mental health support, disability sport, education and resources to help young people access training and employment opportunities.
Chris Tomlinson, head of business development at Derby County Community Trust, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Clowes Developments on board as a Trust Partner. For the last few years Clowes have supported the Trust as headline sponsor of the Black & White Fundraising Ball.
“Individuals from the Group have backed volunteering projects including The Community Meals Programme and Rams In Kenya. Their continued support will play a valuable role in helping us continue to reach and support people across Derbyshire, and we look forward to working together over the coming year.”
This partnership adds to Clowes’ wider Environmental Social Governance (ESG) strategy, which includes sponsorships, charitable giving, and long-term support for regional development and volunteering.
PepsiCo has announced plans to restructure its operations at Walkers’ key manufacturing sites, sparking concerns over potential job losses. The company is consulting on changes at its Leicester, Coventry, Lincoln, and Skelmersdale facilities, but the number of jobs affected remains unclear.
PepsiCo confirmed that no decisions would be made without consulting employees and their representatives. The company emphasized that the restructuring aimed to align its UK operations with the structure of other international sites, improving operational efficiency and technical capabilities.
The changes come after a series of recent investments in Walkers’ facilities, including £24m in Lincoln, £58m in Leicester, and £13m in Coventry, to enhance production capacity and meet growing consumer demand. These investments underscore PepsiCo’s ongoing commitment to its UK operations, despite the proposed changes to its workforce.
Unite, the union representing workers, has vowed to protect jobs during the consultation process, with plans to negotiate against compulsory redundancies and secure fair severance packages. The union’s involvement signals the significant impact these restructuring efforts could have on the workforce across the affected sites.
A PepsiCo UK spokesperson said: “We recently told our teams that we will be consulting on proposed changes to our operational structure, affecting a proportion of employees at our snacks manufacturing sites in the UK. No decisions will be made without first consulting affected employees and their representatives. Our priority is providing support for our people throughout this process.
“The changes being proposed are intended to bring our UK sites in line with a different operating structure we have had success with at some of our other international sites, leading to better ways of working and increased technical capabilities.”
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