Lincoln-based manufacturer, Superfoil, is investing half a million pounds in 2022 so they can gear up manufacturing and help their customers drive down energy bills.
As Managing director, William Bown explains, “There’s a certain amount of pride in manufacturing in-house and using local suppliers, and that’s on top of the compelling environmental argument, the support it gives to our local economy and job creation. This is why we’re so pleased to say that, from Autumn, 70% of our products will be made in Britain.”
“Thanks to some great relationships we’ve built with new, UK-based suppliers and a huge increase in manufacturing at our headquarters in Lincoln, we’ll be able to produce 11 times as much insulation in-house as we could before!
Bringing manufacturing back to Britain
“Back in 2008 when we started SuperFOIL, we simply weren’t in a position where we could do everything ourselves and there weren’t many (or any!) companies producing the components we needed in the UK. As a result, we have had to rely on producers overseas because the cost of doing otherwise would’ve been enormous.
“Fast forward 14 years and the tables have turned; we’re a larger company that now employs 33 brilliant people; we have a vast, five acre site in Lincoln, we’ve found some fantastic new suppliers closer to home, and we’ve been saving up to buy some big, shiny machinery that’s been on our wish-list for a long time.
High rollers
“The first big investment off our wish-list this year is now up and running: A new, custom-build unwinding station.
“While it might look like something from Takeshi’s Castle, this bit of kit will help us increase on-site production by 60% by enabling us to combine five layers of foam wadding and woven aluminium simultaneously. With super smooth bearings and a built-in replenish system for rapidly reloading rolls of material, this helps us produce more multifoil insulation, faster. It’s also a lot less physically demanding on our production team who used to have to carry and lay each layer at a time!
“Now that this is up and running, we’ll soon be going a step further. Next, we’ll be upgrading our machinery to expand our range of bubble foil insulation, which already includes our RadPack radiator reflectors, garage door insulation kids, multipurpose wrap and pipe insulation. We’ll then be introducing new systems to improve efficiency and productivity throughout our production line.
“These investments will bring the total sum we’ve invested into production at our Lincoln HQ to over £1 million and it’ll all be finished before winter.
Making energy efficiency easy and affordable
“With the cost of energy putting a huge burden on households and businesses, we’re stepping up so we can meet the huge demand for affordable energy efficiency upgrades. We’re supplying our insulation in record numbers to construction wholesalers, DIY stores and major retailers (more on that soon) and we’re not slowing down soon.
“With energy prices soaring and set to climb higher this autumn, insulation offers the best solution for many households to reduce their energy bills now and into the future. Combined with the need for everyone to reduce their carbon footprint, we’re scaling up our productivity so we can help more properties become energy efficient and comfortable, making a real difference to the cost of living and the environment.”
Eden PR have been appointed to lead the PR strategy and delivery for the first and only all outstanding/excellent schools group in the UK.
The Nottingham based agency has been selected as the agency of choice by Forfar Education to lead on the PR activity programmes for its expanding network of independent preparatory schools following a detailed proposal, pitch and chemistry meeting.
Founded in 2016, Forfar Education, which has a strong family ethos at its heart, currently owns and manages several of the UK’s leading prep schools. These include Cameron Vale in Chelsea, Horris Hill in Newbury, The Gleddings in Halifax, Brackenfield School in Harrogate, Park School in Bournemouth and Argyle House School in Sunderland. The group’s aim is to create inspiring schools that teach self-belief, deliver academic excellence and produce pupils who are confident, kind, resilient, happy and equipped to navigate and succeed in whatever the future may bring.
Director and Head of New Business at Eden PR, Emily Winsor-Russell, said: “We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been appointed by the leadership team at Forfar to deliver a headline-making, thought-leader creating PR approach for its network of excellent schools.
“As many of the Eden team are parents themselves, with personal backgrounds linked closely to the teaching profession, our understanding of the important themes, opportunities and challenges for the school sector is intrinsic – we’re naturally inclined to identify and develop impactful and brand-elevating media relations for Forfar. Getting to know the school leaders has been a real pleasure and we’re thoroughly enjoying working alongside such passionate and inspiring educators.”
In the past year, we have expanded our extensive media relations services alongside an established digital and social marketing offer. Working with some of the most well-known names in sectors across the UK from logistics to property, recruitment and insurance to funeral care, alongside event and exhibition support, we have continued to grow the team and range of services since 2000, delivering exceptional results for clients requiring creative, eye-catching and headline-grabbing media relations and communications strategies.
Marketing Director at Forfar Education Claire Grundy said: “The Eden team stood out to us from our very first contact with them as being immersed in and extremely knowledgeable about the topics that matter to our schools. They demonstrated a clear, innovative and engaging vision for where we should take our media communications strategy and have immediately hit the ground running with excellent press content across the group. We’re looking forward to expanding our footprint across the UK and showcasing the fantastic news stories from our schools in partnership with Eden.”
Situated in the heart of Nottingham’s historic Lace Market, we are a team of public relations experts with a wealth of knowledge and exceptional track record across B2B and B2C portfolios. The team combines a mix of communications professionals from a tapestry of backgrounds, from journalism marketing to stakeholder comms and social media. Contact us now to discuss your PR needs or to chat about how our services can help boost the reputation and build awareness of your business, brand or campaign.
Hillview Real Estate, the UK regional office investor, has sold an office campus on the edge of Birmingham to Clowes Developments for £13.1 million, reflecting a net initial yield of 7.5%.
The campus is 2620-2650 Kings Court, which comprises six self-contained office buildings, totalling 52,373 sq ft, at Birmingham Business Park, the premier business park in the Midlands, located by the M42 in Solihull. It was acquired by Hillview in 2020 for Hillview Partners Property Fund III, its £300 million value-add regional real estate fund.
The sale comes after Hillview completed a series of value-add sustainability and lease initiatives to reposition the campus. Asset management highlights included renewing with Crimson its lease at unit 2640 for a further 10 years at a 45% higher rent and comprehensively refurbishing unit 2620, which was vacant at the time of acquisition, and subsequently letting it to Rivus Fleet Solutions on a 10-year lease at a record rent for Birmingham Business Park. The refurbishment and sustainability initiatives included installing energy efficient lighting, ventilation and water systems, and providing recycling units, as well as bicycle racks to promote cycling to work, and electric vehicle charge points.
Nadav Livni, founder of Hillview Group and fund manager of Hillview Real Estate, said: “This sale follows the successful completion of our business plan for the asset and provides us with equity for reinvestment into more active opportunities. It has generated an excellent return for the fund and corroborates our ESG investment strategy of repositioning carefully selected properties through active asset management”.
Robert Hepwood, Director at Clowes Developments commented on the deal,
“We are pleased to complete the acquisition of 2620-2650 Kings Court at Birmingham Business Park. Adding these properties to our portfolio will further complement our existing holdings across the Midlands.”
Hillview was advised by CBRE and Clowes Developments was advised by Holt Commercial.
The sale of Derby County may be delayed until June 1st according to official sources.
The Rams, have been in administration since September 2021, and were relegated from the Championship at the end of the season after being hit by a 21-point deduction, were due to be purchased by American businessman Chris Kirchner.
Kirchner, hoped to finalise the deal by today (Tuesday 31st May) but Quantuma, one of the joint administrators explained that despite “very good progress” being made completion by Wednesday may not be possible.
A Quantuma spokesperson stressed: “We would like to reassure all stakeholders but specifically all staff, players and fans that we fully expect completion to happen within the revised timescales set out above.”
The sale was previously held up due to complications surrounding the ownership of their Pride Park stadium, but contracts were exchanged earlier this month at which time administrators set a target date of May 31 for completion.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney is to stay at Derby as manager next season and Kirchner has confirmed that work has already begun to line up signings to strengthen the squad, once the transfer embargo is lifted by the English Football League.
Taking place on Thursday 15 September,at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, the highly anticipated East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while providing a prime opportunity to connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks.
The event will additionally feature 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.
With nominationsOPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards, it’s time to submit your entries for the prestigious event – showcase your business, team and projects.
Award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner.
To submit 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.
William Crooks, Managing Director of Cawarden, reflected on winning an award in 2021: “After being named Contractor of the Year at the British Demolition Awards at the start of September, we were absolutely thrilled to win the same accolade from the East Midlands Bricks Awards a few weeks later. The event is a real showcase for the regional property and construction sector and we are proud to be recognised for our project and service delivery expertise as a leading specialist contractor.
“It was a great night and provided an opportunity to catch up with some familiar faces as well as meeting new with the wonderful Trent Bridge Cricket Ground as a backdrop. Well done to the Cawarden team for continuously going above and beyond and maintaining high standards for our valued clients. Congratulations must also go to all the other awards finalists and award winners on the night.”
Lincolnshire-based commercial interior design and fit out business APSS has sponsored the 11th annual charity 100-mile bike ride, submitting its largest team of 17 riders to take on the challenge.
The Castle to Coast to Castle (C2C2C) bike ride first started with 79 riders in a bid to get local businesspeople out of the office and onto their bikes. Now in its 11th year, more than 600 riders take part for local charities.
This year the event will raise money for charities including the APSS charity of the year St Barnabas Hospice in addition to EDAN Lincs, Headway Lincolnshire and Just Lincolnshire.
Laurence Barrass, APSS Managing Director, said: “As a company, APSS wants to help support and strengthen its local community. It’s a great bonding opportunity for our staff, clients, and supply chain alike and is always an excellent challenge for all involved. This year we have a team of 17 people, 10 of which are APSS staff.
“Seeing so many people take up the challenge within the office is fantastic and we are looking forward to raising more money for chosen our charity of the year – St Barnabas Hospice.”
Claire Grieves, one of the event organisers, said: “As a committee we are incredibly grateful for local businesses, like APSS, which have supported the ride over several years as sponsors, and often fielding a large team of riders on the day.
“It is down to generous support of our sponsors covering the costs, that allows all rider entry donations go straight to local charities.”
If you would like to support the APSS riders, please donate via the APSS Just Giving Page.
Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer for May 2022 shows:
Confidence among East Midlands businesses rose nine points during May to 25%
Region’s firms identify top growth opportunities as investing in their teams (41%), evolving their offering (27%) and diversifying into new markets (24%)
Overall UK business confidence rose five points during May to 38%, its highest level since February, with seven out of 11 nations and regions recording a higher reading than April
Business confidence in the East Midlands rose nine points during May to 25%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Companies in the East Midlands reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up one point at 20%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 17 points at 30%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 25%.
The region’s businesses identified a range of growth opportunities for the next six months, including hiring new employees and investing in the development of their teams (41%), evolving their offering with new products or services (27%) and diversifying into new markets (24%).
The Business Barometer, which questions 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
A net balance of 15% of East Midlands businesses expect to increase staff levels over the next year, down four points on last month.
Overall UK business confidence increased by five points during May to 38% – its highest level since February. Firms’ outlook on their future trading prospects rose three points to 42%, and their optimism in the economy increased seven points to 33%. The net balance of businesses planning to create new jobs also increased by 11 points to 37%.
Every UK region and nation reported positive confidence readings in May. London (up 23 points to 63%), Scotland (up 14 points to 42%) and the North West (up 12 points to 44%) reported the largest increases month-on-month, with London now the most optimistic region overall. The East of England, which experienced a 20-point dip in confidence in the last month, is now the least optimistic overall, at 14%.
Dave Atkinson, regional director for the West Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “With confidence among West Midlands businesses rising for a second consecutive month, it’s clear that, despite the challenging environment, the region’s firms are looking forward with optimism and identifying new opportunities for growth.
“Firms looking to expand their geographical footprint in particular should be getting ahead of the game by looking at the best markets for the products and services they offer, and ensuring they are clued up on how they might need to adjust their operations to succeed. At the same time, all companies should now be taking the opportunity to review how they’re managing their working capital – the amount of money tied-up in the day-to-day operation of their business. Optimising factors such as supplier and customer payment times and stock levels are both steps firms can take now to help ensure they have the cash they need, when they need it, to make the most of future demand.
“Whatever they want to achieve, we will be by the side of businesses across the region to help them realise their growth ambitions.”
From a sector perspective, retail confidence fell two points to 27%, remaining lower than the all-sector average of 38% in the last three months. The confidence level is also the lowest since March 2021 as pressure on household real incomes weigh on spending prospects. In contrast, there was a 21-point rise in construction to 54%, while manufacturing sentiment remained resilient, up two points to 45%. Confidence in the services sector reached a three-month high, increasing 4 points to 36%.
Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Business confidence improved this month and firms in general seem able to rebuild some of their margins through price increases. However, they also report several challenges ahead, including concerns around higher costs and an economic slowdown. More immediately, consumer-facing industries, such as retail, are not feeling the same confidence uplift amid the widespread reports of a squeeze on household incomes.”
South Holland District Council is to submit a significant bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to fund major investment into their Castle Sports Complex in Spalding.
The ambitious plans would seek to remodel the site to create a new and improved offer focused around health, wellbeing, leisure, sport, recreation and community spaces. As well as new indoor facilities the bid would also look to improve the site’s outdoor offering, as well as looking to help attract further footfall into the town centre.
The bid to Government, which is expected to be up to £20million, would come as part of the second round of their Levelling Up funding, designed to invest in infrastructure that has the potential to improve lives and give people pride in their communities.
The Council is currently working alongside a range of partners to prepare its submission for the District, ahead of the Government’s deadline in July.
Councillor Nick Worth, deputy leader and portfolio holder for people, places, economy, said: “Although we are still in the early stages this is an incredibly exciting proposal for South Holland and for Spalding, that has the potential to transform our leisure offer in the District and create a long-lasting legacy with its impact.
“There is still a lot of work to do and a long way to go, but if successful these plans would help to significantly improve our sport, recreation and leisure facilities, have great benefits for the health and wellbeing of our residents and enhance and diversify the variety of services and activities on offer in Spalding town centre.”
Sir John Hayes MP has also backed the plans, saying: “I am delighted to support this bid to Government to bring significant funding into South Holland. These exciting plans would make a real difference to residents across the District and bring welcome investment into the centre of Spalding.”
If South Holland’s bid is successful, more detailed proposals will be developed with input from partners and with close engagement with residents, organisations, community groups and businesses.
A team of hugely experienced property and investment professionals will help advise on the progress of one of the biggest development opportunities in the UK.
The East Midlands Development Company has recruited a team of private sector non-executive directors to work alongside its local authority partners, commercial advisors and core team as it seeks to promote the development of three sites which between them cover an area the size of three London Olympic parks.
EM DevCo has been set up as a partnership by five local authorities in the East Midlands as the predecessor body to a regional development corporation – flagged in the government’s Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill as vital to boost growth in the UK regions.
The five new non-executive directors at EM DevCo are:
Lucy Blasdale, former development director at Homes England who will shortly be joining Barratt David Wilson
Gary Colligan, an architect and town planner who founded spatial design business Think Place
Ben Denton, CEO of L&G Affordable Homes, one of the leading developers and operators of affordable homes
Imogen Ebbs, head of UK funds for the investment arm of insurance giant Aviva
Adrian Turner, the former Morgan Sindall executive who heads advisory business Lagom
They join local authority representatives on an independent board chaired by Sir Chris Haworth, the former head of commercial at Carter Jonas who himself has a 40-year career in the property and development industry.
He said: “With our local authority partners, we now have a really experienced team, who come on board at a pivotal moment for EM DevCo. We have a series of large-scale opportunities in front of us, our commercial partner has just been announced, and government has signaled its belief that the development corporation model will play a leading role in levelling up.
“The mix of property, development and investment wisdom we now have alongside our local authority partners will enable us to provide expert guidance to the DevCo as it explores the enormous commercial potential of these sites and the contribution they can make to growing the regional economy.”
The announcement about the private sector non-executive directors comes after EM DevCo revealed that Areli Developments – whose team worked on landmarks like Battersea Power Station in London and Gunwharf Keys in Portsmouth – has been appointed to advise on the commercial potential of the three sites.
EM DevCo has also been selected by government as one of its Design Codes pilots, with a remit to work with partners to ensure the development of places which achieve high standards of design.
EM DevCo’s Managing Director, Richard Carr, said: “Our sites represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver transformational growth in the East Midlands from community to economy level. We are now building real momentum, and the appointment of our new non-executive directors give us access to a range of high-level professional insights that will help us channel our efforts and accelerate progress.”
The Midlands delivered a strong Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) performance last year – with both the East and West Midlands FDI-backed projects growing at a faster rate than the rest of the UK.
According to the 2022 EY Attractiveness Survey, the West Midlands hosted 78 FDI projects in 2021, up 27.9 per cent from the 61 projects located in the region in 2020.
The East Midlands hosted 39 projects in 2021, up 2.6 per cent from the 38 projects in 2020 and the same number of projects as 2019. By comparison, UK project numbers grew just 1.8 per cent from 975 in 2020 to 993 in 2021.
Meanwhile, the West Midlands improved on its immediate pre-pandemic performance, with only 64 projects taking place in 2019.
The East Midlands has good reasons for optimism about future growth, with 8.6 per cent of investors surveyed by EY describing it as the most attractive UK region for investment, behind only London (26.9 per cent), Scotland (15.8 per cent) and the South East (9.3 per cent).
The East Midlands’ 2021 project total was above its 10-year average of 34.6 and more than double the 17 projects in the region in 2012.
Leading sectors were transportation and logistics (nine projects), agri-food (seven), and machinery and equipment (seven).
Both transportation and logistics and machinery and equipment projects were at their highest level in the last five years.
Business services (22 projects) were the key activity in the West Midlands, followed by manufacturing (15), which saw its first increase in project numbers since 2017.
In the East Midlands, manufacturing led the way with 12 projects, followed by logistics (11).
Simon O’Neill, office managing partner at EY in the Midlands, said: “The regions’ successes have been built on a diverse mix of sectors, whether it’s digital technology in the West Midlands or logistics in the East Midlands.
“Looking ahead, there are reasons for optimism. Across Europe, there is a swing towards investment in manufacturing, a sector in which the Midlands has historically excelled.
“Combined with the growing importance of ‘cleantech’, the Midlands has an opportunity to establish itself as a European centre for developing and building the green technologies needed for the UK to reach its Net Zero targets.
“Notably, manufacturing projects tend to bring investment to towns rather than cities, which means they can help levelling-up within regions, not just between them.
“One thing which is consistently very clear from investors is that the strength of local business networks matters when they’re choosing where to site their projects within a country.
“Local skills and infrastructure, support from regional development bodies and access to regional grants are also part of the mix too, reinforcing the importance of devolving power and fostering local ecosystems.
“Building a unique sense of place from in its economy will help the West and East Midlands build their attractiveness to investors.”
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