The government has welcomed an initial bid from local council leaders to form an East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority.
Neil O’Brien MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said he was “very pleased” that Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council are looking for a mayoral deal, describing the plans as “exciting” and welcoming the “ambitious devolution deal.”
The leaders of the four councils sent initial proposals to negotiate a combined devolution deal in March, after being named as pathfinder areas by the Government in February and being invited to apply for a devolution deal.
If devolution plans are approved, it could mean additional funding for the regions, more major decisions being made locally, nearer the people they affect, and a bigger voice for the region, which is home to 2.2 million people.
The councils are looking for greater funding and autonomy in areas including transport and infrastructure, business growth, inward investment, strategic regeneration, destination management, employment, and skills.
If the proposals are given the green light, the first election for a regional mayor, for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire, could be in May 2024.
Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “The Government’s response has been extremely positive, and welcomed by all of the councils. It’s testament to our collaborative working so far.
“Of course, nothing is agreed yet, but all signs so far are good. The East Midlands has long been overlooked, in comparison to other Combined Authority areas like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.
“We’re convinced that by leaning on our collective resources we can only improve the efficiency and value for money of services provided for our people.”
Councillor Barry Lewis, leader of Derbyshire County Council and chairman of the Vision Derbyshire Joint Committee, said: “This is a huge opportunity to level up county areas like Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire that have been underfunded historically, and to bring powers from Whitehall closer to communities.
“The East Midlands has a big opportunity here to put itself on an equal footing to areas like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, and to bring investment to our counties and cities.”
Nottingham City Council leader, Councillor David Mellen, said: “Our devolution plans are about bringing in much needed investment, giving our region a bigger voice, and having more major decisions made locally, nearer to the people they affect. We’re asking for greater autonomy and funding for key areas including public transport, investment for business growth, jobs, skills and training, education and improved environments.
“This is all about getting the best possible deal for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The East Midlands has long been overlooked in comparison to areas that already have a Combined Authority, such as the West Midlands and Greater Manchester. Public spending per person is lowest in the East Midlands at £12,113, 10% below the UK average. This is our chance to address this, and make the most of this opportunity for the benefit of local people.”
Ben Bradley MP, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council and chairman of the City of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Economic Prosperity Committee (EPC), said: “Devolution plans are all about getting a better deal for our area, to help improve things for residents.
“With a population of 2.2 million, a future combined authority will be one of the biggest in the country. It’s time that we got our fair share, so we can deliver better services and better outcomes for the people who live and work in the East Midlands, and improve people’s lives.
“It’s still early days, but the potential benefits could be enormous. This will give us a bigger voice and help us work together to achieve the improvements we all want to see. We’ve had a very positive response from the Government, so we’ll keep working on the details, discussing this, and get the best deal we can, so we can make the most of this opportunity to bring in more funding and more local decision making. It’s really good news.”
The devolution plan does not involve merging or scrapping existing local councils or replacing them. If the deal does go ahead all local councils in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Derbyshire will continue to exist, and will not lose any powers they have now. Local councils would still be responsible for most public services.
The mayor would focus on wider issues that span across the area, like transport, regeneration, and employment. The four councils will continue to closely involve district and borough councils in the plan.
The deal would not create a new tier of government. It would move resources and decision-making powers which already exist from London to the East Midlands.
The four councils will continue to work with district and borough councils, businesses, and other stakeholders, to look at details of the plan, which need to be approved by the Government. If a combined authority plan is approved, a devolution agreement could be in place by the end of this year.
Local universities and the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce are also backing devolution for the region.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “Our region is home to a wide range of fantastic businesses, from industrial powerhouses with household names to university spin-outs that boast vast potential, and everything in between.
“What they now need is the political apparatus that removes any obstacles to national and local decision-making, enhances our ability to attract investment and ultimately creates a more business-friendly environment.
“This would help them to take strides forward in productivity and innovation, enabling firms to drive the economic growth that creates jobs and wealth locally.
“For too long, our region has lagged behind when it comes to being backed by central Government, with the East Midlands historically receiving the least funding per head of any UK region.
“What any new political structures will look like ultimately rests with our elected politicians, but businesses are increasingly becoming aware of the benefits of devolved decision-making powers in other regions like the West Midlands, Sheffield City Region and Tees Valley, whose experiences we can learn a lot from.
“For example, the public investment gap per capita between the East and West Midlands grew by 21% in the period since Andy Street was elected Mayor of the West Midlands.
“Our local political system needs to make sure we can address this imbalance and close these funding gaps, enabling us to create new economic opportunities that allow those of us who work, live and play in the East Midlands to prosper.”
Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, vice-chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “We are delighted that the authorities within the East Midlands are working to secure a deal for a combined authority. This should provide an opportunity to present a compelling case to central government for more levelling up funding that can be spent strategically to improve productivity and the number of highly skilled jobs across the region. It will also enable universities, and other providers of skills, innovation and business support, to work collaboratively with a single group ensuring spend on regional development delivers the best value for money.”
Professor Edward Peck, vice-chancellor and president of Nottingham Trent University, said: “Nottingham Trent University is focused on reimaging the role of our university within our local communities. We utilise our skills and our resources to create opportunities for economic, social, and cultural development, working in close collaboration with partners across the region.
“We are confident that the creation of an East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority will strengthen these partnerships, broadening the range of areas that are important to local people on which together we can make and implement key decisions.
“In particular, NTU will relish the chance to take ever more innovative steps that will transform the provision of skills training for all residents within the Combined Authority. These will improve the financial prospects of individuals, support the economic viability of neighbourhoods, and enable existing and incoming businesses to thrive and grow.”
Professor Shearer West, vice-chancellor of the University of Nottingham, said: “As an institution that is committed to growth, investment, and success for the region that we are proud to call home, the University of Nottingham would be pleased to work with councils and partners across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in the creation of the East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority.
“We are particularly keen to support the research and innovation that leads to economic regeneration and provides the skills and knowledge to help businesses thrive and create the employment that people want and which our region needs.
“The University was pleased to support the application for a devolution deal for the East Midlands, with a significant contribution from our Honorary Professor of Economics, Andy Haldane, and looks forward to working with all levels of government to improve the lives of all communities in our region.
“A new combined authority for the East Midlands would strengthen the work which is already taking place between the public, private and higher education sectors, so that we can better work together to improve things for everyone who lives and works in the East Midlands.”
With this year’s East Midlands Bricks Awards picking up pace, there’s also a grand prize worth £20,000 up for grabs.
Celebrating the property and construction industry, the prestigious event recognises development projects 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.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September,at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening of celebration and networking with professionals from across the region. Tickets for the event can be booked here.
To nominate a business or development, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Find out who last year’s winners were here.
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours.
The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker, as well as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking.
Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:
West Northamptonshire Council has been allocated more than £7m in funding from the Government to boost the local economy over the next three years.
The money will be used to improve people’s life chances, increase skills, create stronger communities, and support local businesses.
It is made up of £5.4m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the largest allocation in the South East Midlands, and a potential allocation of up to £1.9m in Multiply funding, which both replace previous strands of European social funding.
The Shared Prosperity Fund is intended to:
Boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector
Spread opportunities and improve public services
Restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging
Empower local leaders and communities
Multiply funding is specifically targeted at improving numeracy as better education in this area has been shown to improve people’s chances of progressing their careers. Its allocation is dependent on a robust business case.
Its primary aims are to:
Result in more adults achieving maths qualifications
Improve outcomes for employers
Increase general numeracy levels
The council will work with partners and providers to develop proposals to deliver these funds which will have the greatest beneficial impact for West Northamptonshire and support the local community.
Cllr Dan Lister, cabinet member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth, said: “This money will help us ensure that residents, businesses and communities in West Northamptonshire have the support they need to grow and adapt to our changing economic landscape.
“In collaboration with stakeholders, community groups and local partners, we will analyse the greatest needs for West Northamptonshire and develop proposals to best address the opportunities using these funding pots.
“We are dedicated to supporting and growing the local economy, particularly as it recovers from the pandemic. It is the vision for WNC to deliver economic prosperity in this area, making it a place where everyone will thrive.”
Plans have been submitted for the redevelopment of an area at the centre of Swadlincote.
The work planned by South Derbyshire District Council, subject to planning permission, would see a multi-functional event space created on the site of the former covered market in Midland Road. Events such as theatre and performance, specialist markets and open-air cinema are envisaged in addition to the site being available for free car parking.
Frank McArdle, South Derbyshire District Council’s Chief Executive, said: “I am pleased that we are able to submit detailed plans and illustrations for the regeneration of a major part of Swadlincote town centre.
“The plans also include work to be carried out to clear the former Sabine’s Yard site off Belmont Street and demolish the former Bank House building off Midland Road.
“This will allow the creation of a pocket park with a small wildflower meadow, a picnic lawn, trees, a play area and a considerable amount of free public parking at the northern part of the site.
“A further 63 additional free public car parking spaces will be provided on the site of the former Bank House building. However, the five large trees on the approach from Civic Way will remain and be protected.
“If approved, the work would be carried in conjunction with the replacement of the surface and complete refurbishment of The Delph area in the centre of the town.”
The plans will be considered by South Derbyshire District Council’s Planning Committee and, if approved, the work would be completed by the Spring of next year.
Early illustrations of the proposed plans.
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate remains the second-lowest in the country, after it was recorded at 2.7% for the period between February and April 2022.
This came in at 1.1% below the national average of 3.8%, with only Northern Ireland (2.6%) lower, according to the Office for National Statistics’ latest regional labour market figures.
However, the East Midlands’ economic inactivity rate – which measures the proportion of 16 to 64-year-olds who have exited the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – climbed by three-tenths of a percentage point to 22.2%, which is well above the UK average of 21.3%.
The latest data follows confirmation the UK’s GDP shrunk by 0.3% in April.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “While on the face of it a low unemployment rate is a positive for the region’s labour force, this trend shows there is a major constrain on businesses when it comes to finding the staff they need to fill key jobs.
“The ONS figures reflect what we are finding in the East Midlands, where two-thirds (66%) of businesses attempted to recruit new employees in the second quarter of the year but 82% of these struggled to find people, according to our latest Quarterly Economic Survey.
“Four in 10 businesses told us they are now at full capacity, which strongly suggests they need staff to meet high demand. From our conversations with members, industries such as manufacturing – which are important drivers of economic output – are struggling the most due to early retirement among workers and a lack of skilled workers to replace them.
“When combined with inflationary pressures that are now hitting cashflow and investment intentions, this perhaps explains why GDP has now dropped as ultimately businesses are constricted in their ability to make the productivity gains that will drive the economic recovery.
“We need to find ways of bringing people back into our labour market. Flexible working practices, rapid retraining opportunities and a focus on workplace health can support many economically inactive people to return to the workplace.
“But for some roles where there is clear evidence of a national skills shortage, firms need access to people at all skill levels from outside the UK. As well as issuing temporary and seasonal visas, the Government needs to urgently review the shortage occupation list.”
Sills & Betteridge LLP has recently appointed Sanjeve Kumar to its Residential Property Team in Nottingham.
Qualifying as a solicitor in 2007, Sanjeve joins the firm as an associate solicitor.
He comes with a reputation for being an ultra-efficient, clear-thinking lawyer – his approach always to provide solutions-focused advice and straightforward assistance to individuals, businesses, investors, developers and landowners.
He will work on a wide range of residential property matters, including sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold properties, re-mortgages, equity release, transfer of equity and new build conveyancing.
Head of the Residential Property Team, Edward Sharpe, is delighted Sanjeve has joined the team: “We have a very committed team of property lawyers in Nottingham and Sanjeve will fit in perfectly with his drive to always go the extra mile for his clients. He has worked in the East Midlands area for over 16 years and brings with him a wealth of local knowledge and insight.”
Sanjeve says: “I am delighted to have joined a Legal 500 Leading Firm, which has such a strong reputation for excellence in the legal services it provides. As a full-service law firm it has a wide range of fantastic lawyers each highly skilled in their own area of law, which my clients have access to should their requirements extend beyond property law. As the market continues to evolve, clients need the skills of forward-thinking lawyers and I am pleased to be part of a team that offers this.”
Sanjeve will be based at 4 George Street in the Hockley area of the city. The firm relocated from King Street in March 2020 just as the city was about to go into lockdown. The office is now fully operational – internal renovations to the building which is considered to be of ‘special architectural interest’ are now complete with external decoration to commence mid June.
GLP, an investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, has begun earthworks on the site of G-Park Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
G-Park Ashby is a 48-acre development site benefitting from an outline planning permission to deliver build-to-suit logistics warehouse opportunities of up to 736,487 sq ft. Earthworks are progressing rapidly and are expected to be finished by early 2023, with the full development set to complete by Q1 2024.
The site can be developed as either one single unit or two units, depending on customer requirements, with clear internal heights of up to 18 metres. The development will be BREEAM Excellent and WELL ready, and will feature a range of sustainability features including rainwater harvesting and energy tracking and consumption tools for customers.
Adrienne Howells, senior development director at GLP, said: “G-Park Ashby is an exciting addition to our portfolio in the Midlands and indicates our ongoing confidence in opportunities in the Golden Triangle, following the success of projects such as Magna Park Lutterworth. Trends such as e-commerce have buoyed already high demand for prime logistics space, particularly high-quality, conveniently-located, sustainable facilities such as this.
“Not only will this new development bring excellent opportunities for our customers; it will also boost employment in the region, creating almost 1,000 new jobs and providing major benefits for the local economy. Once again, we are planning our development with place-making as a priority, focusing on environmental features such as our ponds, green open spaces and our G-Hive bee programme.”
The listed Japanese conglomerate, Marubeni Corporation, has signed an agreement to divest Spaldings to investment firm, Inspirit Capital.
Established in 1956, Spaldings has grown to be the UK and Ireland’s largest distributor of tillage aftermarket equipment, as well as an emerging player in professional groundcare, forestry and industrial products.
Lincolnshire-based Spaldings employs over 140 people and has a network of over 30,000 customers. The business also benefits from a number of exclusive or preferred distribution agreements with product manufacturers, as well as an in-house design team focused on the Spaldings own brand product range.
Inspirit Capital is a London-based investment firm that specialises in acquiring businesses that are no longer core to their parent company’s strategic objectives and require a different ownership structure to achieve their full potential.
Will Stamp, founding partner at Inspirit Capital, says: “We are very pleased to be investing in Spaldings, which again reinforces Inspirit’s status as a trusted counterparty for large corporations. We have been impressed by the loyal customer base at Spaldings, as well as the best-in-class service offering. We are excited about the prospect of continuing to grow the business, both organically and through select acquisitions.”
Inspirit has assumed ownership with immediate effect and is making the investment from Inspirit Fund I. As part of the transaction, the business will also benefit from a funding line with Leumi ABL in excess of £10million.
Inspirit was advised on the transaction by BDB Pitmans (legal), FRP Advisory (debt), European Valuations (collateral review) and LSH (property).
Sub-national Transport Body Midlands Connect is today presenting its 20-year vision for the A46 corridor, with improvement plans predicted to boost the economy by £7.1 billion over the next 60 years.
The A46 corridor, a major cross-country route, spans 155 miles from Gloucestershire to Lincolnshire. Home to a variety of sectors including automotive, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, textiles and agriculture, it has an economic output of £115 billion a year. Future projections along the corridor have shown that significant growth is expected over the next 20 years, with 600,000 new residents, 150,000 new jobs and 250,000 new homes expected by 2041.
Midlands Connect’s 20-year vision for the A46 aims to future proof the route and if delivered in full, could boost the national economy by an additional £7.1 billion over 60 years. It will also bring 150,000 new jobs to the region.
Suggested interventions include improving junctions, roundabouts and reducing congestion at pinch points along the route.
The vision was presented today at the transport body’s A46 Conference, taking place at Coventry University Technology Park. The conference saw technical experts and representatives from Local and National Government delivering a number of keynote speeches and panels on improving the corridor and maximising productivity.
The transport body is now seeking Government support to fund the improvements needed as new residents, homes and jobs are projected along the corridor over the next 20 years.
Midlands Connect CEO Maria Machancoses said: “Today’s Conference highlighted the urgent need for a long-term, national, and holistic approach into improving the A46 Corridor. I was delighted to see so many leading representatives from local government, industry, trade bodies and local organisations.
“As our speakers attested to today, it is crucial that this road continues to prosper and grow, and to remain a key place of physical and digital connectivity for all. This is truly a levelling up programme and we will continue to work the National Highways and the Department for Transport to make it a reality.”
Sir John Peace, chairman of Midlands Connect, who gave the closing remarks, added: “There is no doubt that the A46 Corridor is a hugely significant route for trade, business, and the economy. A variety of industries and businesses are housed along the corridor, all of which depend upon a reliable road network to connect to major international gateways like Birmingham Airport, the two Freeports at East Midlands Airport and the Humber.
“With significant growth also predicted along the corridor over next 20 years, our proposed improvement plan is critical to ensure the A46 can support such growth and keep the UK economy running.”
Councillor Mark Cargill, chair of the A46 Partnership, said: “The A46 Partnership was formed to understand the crucial role of the A46 route in benefiting the local economy of the Midlands, alongside the wider UK economy. As chair of the Partnership, I am pleased to support Midlands Connect’s important vision in improving the route and supporting future growth, and I am excited to see the plans take action.”
The LLEP Innovation Board has agreed a 10-point framework for driving forward its vision for regional innovation in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Members last week met for the first time since leaders from business, education and the non-profit sectors gathered at MIRA Technology Park for an away day to generate ideas of how to deliver change through to 2030 and beyond.
The Innovation Board span out of the LLEP’s involvement in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP). It was one of only six Local Enterprise Partnerships selected by the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to take part in the project.
MIT REAP is designed to help regions plan for the acceleration of economic growth and job creation through innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
Participation resulted in the LLEP’s tailored approach of encouraging all businesses to innovate, while simultaneously making full use of the region’s three universities and distinct regional assets in sectors including space, life sciences, sport and cyber security.
The Innovation Board oversees progress towards strategic objectives, supported by an Innovation Steering Group which works with LLEP officers to deliver necessary action.
The 10 points will be used to frame immediate activity taken as part of the LLEP’s commitment to Innovation through its Economic Growth Strategy 2021-30.
The next stage for the Innovation Strategy is the creation of a Delivery Plan setting out tactical activity around communications, advocacy, networks, the annual Leicestershire Innovation Festival and more.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, LLEP Board director and chair of the Innovation Board, said: “Members of our Innovation Board and Steering Group have a wealth of knowledge and skills required to provide strategic focus and thought leadership around innovation in our region.
“We now have agreed parameters which will shape our activity – the next step is getting everyone pulling in the same direction as we introduce an action-based Delivery Plan.”
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