East Midlands sole traders unaware of looming tax reporting changes
National Grid expands Lincolnshire transmission plans to boost energy capacity
National Grid has outlined new proposals to upgrade electricity transmission infrastructure in Lincolnshire and neighbouring regions. The aim is to support growing energy demands and facilitate the transition to renewable power sources.
The latest proposal involves a 37-mile overhead power line connecting a planned substation at Weston Marsh near Spalding to a grid connection point in eastern Leicestershire. The project is in early development, and some routes would use existing transmission corridors.
This follows an earlier controversial proposal for a separate 87-mile pylon route between Grimsby and Walpole, which has met resistance from local authorities, including Lincolnshire County Council.
In parallel, National Grid is advancing its Eastern Greenlink project series (EGL3, EGL4, and EGL5), designed to bring offshore wind-generated electricity from Scotland to England. These primarily undersea cables would land at Anderby Creek near Skegness, with underground connections extending inland.
EGL5 is planned to terminate at a new converter station near Alford, with two potential sites under consideration: Bilsby or Huttoft. Previous plans for converter and switching stations in Bilsby and a separate underground line have been scrapped.
Each Greenlink cable is expected to transmit enough power to supply approximately two million homes, reflecting a strategic shift from imported fossil fuels to domestic renewable energy.
Public consultations for EGL3–5 are underway, with meetings scheduled this month, and separate consultations for the Weston Marsh pylon line set for June.
Devello Group backs the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
Speaking with Business Link, Shruti Trivedi said: “We are delighted to again be supporting the Bricks Awards with other notable local businesses. Last year’s event was invaluable in helping to establish our new company amongst our peers who share our vision of providing outstanding client service in a forward-thinking, innovative manner.
“We are looking forward to catching up with our co-sponsors, last year’s winners and this year’s nominees at the 2025 Bricks Awards, to celebrate those within the industry who are making a notable contribution and delivering exceptional results.
“We know last year’s winners were delighted to receive this recognition and encourage anyone who has an exceptional project worthy of recognition to apply!”
The East Midlands Bricks Awards, which will take place on Thursday 2nd October at Nottingham’s famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrates the successes of property and construction companies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire.
To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here.
Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Categories include:- Contractor of the Year
- Developer of the Year
- Architects of the Year
- Most Active Agent
- Deal of the Year
- Residential Development of the Year
- Sustainable Development of the Year
- Commercial Development of the Year
- Excellence in Design
- Responsible Business of the Year
- Overall Winner
Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.
To be held at:
With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor. Doctor Spin will see you now – Marvel’s PR headache dissected: by Greg Simpson, founder of Press For Attention PR
Pension funds commit billions to private UK assets in industry-backed push
Seventeen major UK pension schemes and providers have pledged to allocate at least 10% of their defined contribution (DC) default funds to private markets by 2030, half of which will be earmarked for investments in UK-based assets. This initiative, the Mansion House Accord, is a collaboration between the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI), and the City of London Corporation.
The move is expected to mobilise over £50 billion in capital across the next five years, with £25 billion directly targeted at UK investments. This represents a significant potential capital boost for British businesses, particularly those seeking venture capital or growth equity.
The agreement follows an earlier 2024 pledge, the Mansion House Compact, which revealed UK pension funds held just £800 million in unlisted equity, equating to around 0.36% of their total DC default fund holdings. The new targets aim to substantially improve that figure and bring the UK more in line with international peers regarding private market exposure.
The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is using this momentum to lobby for greater inclusion of venture capital in pension fund portfolios, positioning the asset class as capable of delivering strong long-term returns. The group emphasises that much of the benefit from UK innovation is currently being captured by overseas investors and calls for domestic funds to take a more active role in supporting UK growth sectors, including life sciences, AI, and net-zero technologies.
The government has also signalled continued support for reforming pension regulations to help unlock greater capital flows into British scale-ups.
Marston’s begins £5.4m solar rollout across pub estate
Marston’s has begun installing solar panels at 120 of its UK pubs as part of a £5.4 million renewable energy programme to cut operational costs and carbon emissions.
Two Blues Solar is leading the year-long rollout, with Nuvolt handling installation and technical execution. Atrato Onsite Energy is financing the entire initiative, which will retain ownership of the systems and manage performance over a 25-year contract period.
The energy solution is structured as a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), allowing Marston’s to buy all on-site generated electricity without owning the solar assets. This setup eliminates upfront costs and gives the business long-term energy price certainty, shielding it from market volatility.
Each site is expected to produce roughly 30,000 kWh of electricity annually, meeting around 15–20% of a typical pub’s energy needs. The project will reduce carbon emissions by 600 tonnes in its first year, aligning with Marston’s Net Zero goals for 2040.
The agreement is among the first large-scale PPAs in the UK pub sector. It offers a blueprint for other multi-site operators looking to decentralise energy procurement while accelerating sustainability targets.
£5m award to help commercialise Lincoln-led agri-tech research
A new partnership led by the University of Lincoln, to develop a globally recognised agri-tech innovation cluster in the East of England, has received a major national funding award from Research England to advance commercialisation of research through new spin-out companies.
Shoosmiths exits Nottingham office in shift to flexible work hubs
UK law firm Shoosmiths is shutting down its Nottingham office and transitioning the team to a flexible workspace model, as part of a broader rethink of its national office footprint.
The move is aligned with the firm’s 2030 strategy, which emphasises a hybrid work structure. Shoosmiths is phasing out underutilised offices in favour of three types of space: core offices in key cities, flexible hubs, and community spaces. The Nottingham office, currently based at Waterfront House, will be replaced with a flexible workspace later this summer.
Shoosmiths’ central offices will remain in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Edinburgh. Community-style locations will initially launch in Milton Keynes and Nottingham, offering a more adaptable setting to support client engagement and staff flexibility.
Long-term changes in employee work habits and client interaction preferences drive the strategy. Shoosmiths expects the shift to generate £2 million in annual savings by streamlining its real estate commitments.
The Nottingham office had been home to departments covering real estate, corporate, business advisory, and personal legal services. The new model is intended to maintain this capability while reducing physical infrastructure and operational overhead.
Church purchase ends retail chapter for Derby city landmark
A historic retail building in Derby city centre has been sold for the first time since its construction, marking a notable shift in its future use. The former Central Co-op department store at the junction of East Street and Exchange Street, most recently occupied by furniture retailer Lee Longlands, has been acquired by RCCG Solid Rock Church.
The church, currently based on Woods Lane, will relocate its operations to the city-centre site. This acquisition follows the recent closure of Lee Longlands, ending the building’s longstanding role in retail.
Property agency Rigby & Co facilitated the commercial transaction on behalf of Central Co-op. The building occupies a strategic position between Derbion shopping centre and the soon-to-reopen Victorian Market Hall, both key elements in Derby’s urban regeneration efforts.
Market Harborough Building Society donates £60,000 to new community hub
