As nominations flow in for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, is wishing good luck to those entering from the area. Mike said: “The transformation of Leicester has been significant over recent years, thanks to a strong public and private collaboration. The recent regeneration of our city is a great example of how the property industry and the council can deliver meaningful, sustainable regeneration for our residents and local businesses. I wish the best of luck to our developer partners and hope to see them make the shortlist for what has been a successful partnership over recent years.”

If you haven’t submitted your nominations yet, now is the ideal time.

The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrate the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and exceptional developments, and provide the perfect opportunity to shine a light on your team, reward their hard work, and boost morale. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of time to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page. Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

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Around £570 million is being set aside for 50 Derbyshire regeneration schemes designed to improve the county’s economic prospects. Derbyshire County Council said it is supporting the funding over the next few years, which will help deliver major projects, including new homes, employment land, infrastructure. The money will come from a combination of the county council, government pots and local private and public sector partners. It will support projects including the South Derby Growth Zone, which the county council will deliver in collaboration with Derby City Council. At a recent meeting of the county council’s cabinet, members were updated on the progress of the county’s key regeneration schemes. Councillor Carolyn Renwick, the county council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “This regeneration programme demonstrates good growth in Derbyshire with major regeneration projects across the county to support job creation and keep Derbyshire moving. “We’re proud to be a driving force for regeneration and levelling up in Derbyshire and welcome much-needed investment from Government to improve our county’s economic prospects.” Some of the regeneration schemes being supported are already underway. They include £6 million for the Ashbourne airfield expansion, opening up land for employment and housing and adding a new roundabout on the A52. And almost £11 million has been committed to a new road into Chesterfield Station, with a planning application now in, while £2.4 million will be put into a new roundabout and access to a housing development in Buxton, along with a new a section of the White Peak Loop cycle trail. Among the projects being prepared is the £55 million South Derby Growth Zone, which involves building a new junction off the A50 and a link road, supporting commercial development and housing at Infinity Garden Village. An outline business case for funding is due to be submitted to the Government later this year, requesting £49 million to help fund the project, with a further £6 million expected to be contributed by local partners. Some £35 million could also be put into the restoration and transformation of Elvaston Castle, a project which in consultancy Planning & Design Practice is involved. One of the biggest schemes is the £125 million Chesterfield-Staveley Regeneration Route. The project involves reclamation works and construction of a 3.7-mile road connecting Chesterfield with Staveley, opening up land for jobs and housing. The Government would be asked for £106 million to help fund the project with a further £19 million expected to be contributed by local public and private sector partners. Elsewhere, more than £20 million would be needed for the Ashbourne Relief Road project, around £50 million to improve access to Shirebrook and a similar figure to find a solution for Swarkestone Causeway, across the River Trent. The Staveley Town Deal Investment Plan could get £25 million, as could the Long Eaton Town Deal Investment Plan, while Chesterfield Borough Council is leading a £20 million project to improve the town centre. The county council said it was also supporting a bid for £25 million to build on work already done to establish the East Midlands Freeport, which is the UK’s only inland freeport.

Confidence among East Midlands firms is rapidly declining amid a price squeeze that is causing a “cost of doing business crisis,” new research reveals. East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), which gauges the health of the region’s economy, found that only a net 8% of companies in the region expect profitability to increase over the coming year, down from a net 31% at the start of the year. A net 42% of those surveyed during the second quarter of 2022 anticipate turnover to improve, down from a net 62% in the previous quarter. The findings, from a questionnaire filled out by 322 businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire between 16 May and 10 June, show that the low confidence stems from weakening overseas sales and orders, alongside a flat UK market. These issues are driven by spiralling inflation and costs for energy, raw materials, people and fuel – and are now affecting business investment, which is crucial to driving the productivity gains that can help to beat inflation. Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Issues with supply chains – which have been readjusting since the pandemic impact and surging demand as we emerge into this post-pandemic period – alongside changes in trading conditions resulting from the UK leaving the EU and, more recently, the impact on prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have all combined to hit business confidence and activity levels. “This dent to confidence has knock-on effects on investment, with intentions to invest in training (down 3% quarter-on-quarter) and equipment (down 6%) both being scaled back, and at a time where 40% of businesses report operating at full capacity – a record for the survey in recent times. “The underlying concern here is, for an economy to grow, businesses need to invest. A struggling economy isn’t being driven by a lack of demand, but rather a hindered ability to respond to that demand. This in turn puts further pressure on prices, risking a situation that continues to deteriorate as the months progress.” East Midlands Chamber QES Q2 2022 data Key findings from the Quarterly Economic Survey Q2 2022 for the East Midlands included: · UK sales flatlined between Q1 2022 and Q2 2022, with a net 27% of businesses reporting these increased in both periods, while there was a net 4% drop in advanced orders between the quarters · Overseas sales and orders were down for a net 9% and 11% for companies respectively · While a net 11% of businesses increased their workforce in Q2, this marked a 9% drop compared to the previous quarter. Similarly, a net 33% of firms believe they will aim to increase their labour force over the coming three months, but this was 3% down on Q1 · Two-thirds (66%) of businesses attempted to recruit in Q2 but, of this cohort, four in five (82%) encountered problems with filling vacancies · There was positive movement in cashflow, which had been down for a net 3% of firms in Q1 but had increased for a net 4% in Q2 – a 7% swing · Six in 10 (62%) businesses expect they will be forced to raise prices over the next three months, although this was a 4% drop compared to Q1 · A lack of room at the margins means investment intentions in plant and equipment are down by 6% compared to the beginning of the year, while intentions for investing in training dropped by 3% · Business confidence nosedived, with the proportion of businesses expecting profitability to increase dropping by 23% and those anticipating improved turnover falling by 20% How Government can support businesses to invest and ease inflation Chris called for the Government to urgently address key financial challenges faced by businesses that will eventually be passed on to consumers. “Businesses need an injection of confidence to enhance their investment plans and respond to the challenges they’re facing,” he said. “Given that many of these issues are external, this is easier said than done, but there are levers the Government can pull to support business. On fuel, it should act to further cut duty and reduce VAT applied to fuel purchases, while the HMRC mileage rate should be increased from 45p per mile to 60p. “Small businesses should be offered greater grant support on fuel bills, similar to that received by consumers, and those struggling with repayments linked to coronavirus-associated support schemes should be given more leeway for repayments to be made. “Finally, incentives should be given to businesses looking to invest in their people, similar to schemes that already exist for capital investment, which themselves should be extended. “These are not usual times, but the current state of affairs is also not permanent. It is right that Government should act to introduce special measures at a time when the economy needs it, with the knowledge that once there are calmer waters ahead, businesses will continue on their growth trajectories and drive a competitive UK economy.”