Aircraft robotics pioneer raises £1m to support business expansion
A £1 million equity investment in True Position Robotics has become the first deal from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, facilitated by fund manager Mercia Ventures.
True Position Robotics (TPR) is a Nottingham-based company whose industrial robots could revolutionise aircraft production and slash the cost of new planes. The investment comes as demand for new planes has surged due to a rise in passenger numbers and a drive by airlines to replace ageing fleets with more modern, fuel-efficient craft.
TPR, founded in 2018 by Roger Holden, has pioneered a way to automate the assembly process for aircraft using low-cost ‘off the shelf’ industrial robots adapted with its own software and hardware. The company is already working with leading industry names including BAE, which has adopted the technology as part of its Factory of the Future programme.
Currently aircraft assembly is largely a manual process. Parts must be lined up, holes positioned precisely and carefully drilled. TPR’s robots automate the entire drilling process and the subsequent inspection. Its unique optical tracking technology and clamp system keeps the drill in place for 100% accuracy.
This pioneering approach to aircraft assembly enables planes to be built in a fraction of the time and reduces the amount of material required, resulting in lighter craft with better fuel efficiency. The use of lightweight standard robots also means that TPR’s systems are around a tenth of the cost of a traditional automation line and use far less energy.
The equity investment received through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II and managed by Mercia Ventures will enable the business to scale up operations and continue its research and development. Shakespeare Martineau in Nottingham provided legal advice to Mercia Ventures on the deal.
Roger Holden, CEO, True Position Robotics, said: “Unlike vehicle assembly, where processes are repeatable, with aircraft the need for lightweight components and high precision means that no two operations are the same. For this reason automation has so far proved too difficult or too costly. Our robot guidance systems overcome these challenges.
“The investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will enable us to consolidate our position and start work on the next generation of products to ensure we maintain our position as thought leaders in the industry.”
Hannah Tapsell Chapman of Mercia Ventures added: “True Position Robotics’ technology addresses some of the key challenges for UK manufacturers – how to increase productivity, reduce cost and energy use and move towards net zero.
“Despite being an early-stage business, it has already gained real traction and attracted major clients. The funding will help Roger and the team to scale up their operation and pursue their mission to revolutionise aircraft manufacturing.”
Midlands businesses plan multi-million pound investments over the next five years
Mid-sized businesses in the Midlands plan to invest millions over the next five years, with nearly half (42%) planning to spend upwards of £3 million to grow their business, according to accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO LLP.
The firm’s bi-monthly Economic Engine survey of 500 mid-sized businesses, which generate a turnover of between £10 to £300 million each and account for one in four UK jobs, has revealed that nearly a third (29%) of those in the region plan to direct their investment primarily within the UK.
More than a quarter of Midlands businesses (27%) said that sourcing new capital to fund growth was one of their top priorities between now and the end of the year. This includes private equity investment, venture capital or additional bank loans. A similar number (24%) are prioritising developing new products or services.
With a new government now in post, Midlands businesses are calling for policies that will help them deliver their scale-up plans. Facing persistent recruitment challenges, almost half (45%) want to see the Government prioritise policies to ease workforce pressures, including reform of the apprenticeship levy or more support towards the cost of skilled worker visas.
To enable better access to finance, two-fifths (40%) want to see the new Government prioritise smaller business banks entering the market or increasing access to grants for their business. Meanwhile, 40% are calling for more progress on investment in the regions outside London and the South East. The follows the announcement last week during the King’s Speech that an English Devolution Bill will streamline the process to transfer more powers to elected mayors in combined council areas.
Kyla Bellingall, regional managing partner in the Midlands at BDO, said: “With a new government in place and inflation hitting the Bank of England’s 2% target in May, businesses in the region have some reason to be optimistic after years of challenging economic conditions and uncertainty.
“The message from Midlands business is clearly one centred on growth, but they will need the support of central policymakers to ensure that the regions receive the required investment to accelerate those ambitions, with Labour looking to take a fresh approach to tackling regional inequalities.”
Government asked to rule on ‘first of a kind’ reactor design from Rolls-Royce
The government has been asked by the Nuclear Industry Association to give a justification decision for Rolls-Royce SMR’s reactor design.
Justification is a regulatory process which requires a Government decision before any new class or type of practice involving ionising radiation can be introduced in the UK.
A justification decision is one of the required steps for the operation of a new nuclear technology in the UK, but it is not a permit or licence that allows a specific project to go ahead. Instead, it is a generic decision based on a high-level evaluation of the potential benefits and detriments of the proposed new nuclear practice as a pre-cursor to future regulatory processes.
The new application, the first of its kind for a UK reactor design, makes the case that the benefits of clean, firm, flexible power from the reactor would far outweigh any potential risks, which are in any event rigorously controlled by robust safety features, including passive safety systems, built into the design, in line with the UK’s regulatory requirements.
The application also demonstrates that the reactor design would support nuclear energy’s contribution to a stable and well-balanced electricity grid, which is essential to reduce consumer bills and maintain economic competitiveness.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “Rolls-Royce SMR’s design, like other SMRs, offer huge possibilities for the UK to revive our industrial capabilities and deliver low-carbon energy for net zero and energy security. We are delighted to support this step to get the design approved in its home country.
“It is essential that our nuclear renaissance is made in Britain, so the new Government should ensure that we deploy enough SMR designs to justify investment in the UK supply chain to deliver them.”
Helena Perry, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Safety and Regulatory Affairs Director, said: “As the UK’s most advanced SMR design, today’s submission for regulatory justification is another important step to ensure that we can continue to move at pace towards deployment in the UK.
“Each Rolls-Royce SMR ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plant will provide enough clean, affordable, electricity to power a million homes for 60+ years – delivering energy security, enabling net zero and making a transformational contribution to the UK economy.
“Rolls-Royce SMR remains on track to complete Step 2 of the Generic Design Assessment by the nuclear industry’s independent regulators and move immediately into the third and final step this summer.”
Views sought on £20m improvements for Bulwell town centre
Following Nottingham City Council’s bid for Central Government funding which saw the city allocated around £20 million, the money was formally accepted this spring to transform Bulwell.
The money will allow Nottingham City Council to make huge improvements to Bulwell including:
- A new modern marketplace – around 20,000 square metres of improvements and the creation of a ‘Bulwell Promenade’ linking the marketplace and bogs area.
- More trees and greenery
- Improved public toilets at Bulwell Bus Station
- Better pedestrian links between spaces and links to local transport
- Improvements to Bulwell Bogs, including new play elements, seating areas and and improved connectivity with the River Leen
- Historic buildings and shopfronts will have their heritage features restored
Draft designs approved to change the face of Cleethorpes
Draft designs that will change the appearance of Cleethorpes Market Place and Pier Gardens with the help of an £18.4m government grant have been agreed, and detailed designing can now begin.
The centre of the Market Place is to be pedestrianised for parts of the day, allowing for cafes and public events. This will swallow up most of the parking spaces, though lay-bys and drop off zones will still feature in the plans within Market Place to make sure businesses have access for deliveries.
Additionally, changes are being progressed to convert High Street Car Park into a short stay only car park. The unused land behind the Old Vic pub, is also proposed to be converted into a public car park of around 40 spaces.
Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson said: “We are having discussions with businesses. We know that there are concerns, but we’ve also seen in other areas across the country what these sort of projects do to help local economies, and what the possibilities are.”
The Pier Garden design harks back to the historic use of space, where people went to spend time. The new vision brings people of all ages and abilities together, and creates a more family orientated area, alongside areas for quiet reflection and education, whilst also increasing biodiversity in the resort.
The design proposes a “zoning” system, which will provide a mixture of uses across the park with a consistent theme throughout.
- arrival space at Sea Road/Alexandra Road junction, creating a welcoming space to the gardens;
- events zone to support a mixture of activities/events that could take place;
- play/recreation zone which would consist of a larger central space and provide a mixture of activities for young and older children alike;
- reflection zone at the Sea View Street end of the gardens supporting the existing armed forces memorials that are situated there.
Light Science Technologies’ CEM division to see record breaking year in pest control market
Light Science Technologies Holdings, comprising three divisions: controlled environment agriculture (CEA); contract electronics manufacturing (CEM) and passive fire protection (PFP), has seen continued strong momentum at its CEM division – underpinned by an expected record breaking year for the division in the pest control market.
Last week the company added £628,000 in committed forward orders within its CEM division, which are in addition to historical forward order profiles. As a result, pest control revenues already booked and committed forward orders received and to be satisfied in the current financial year are £825,000 (or 15%) higher than total revenues received from this segment during FY 23.
The CEM division has received a follow-on order from the company’s client in the sports entertainment segment worth £130,000. When this contract was initially announced in February 2024, the company highlighted the significant potential for follow-on revenue, and this order signals the next phase of roll out.
This division continues to benefit from recent positioning to handle larger volume projects and take advantage of wider market trends and the move away from Far East manufacturing.
Overall, the company anticipates reporting full year revenues for the CEM segment of between £9m to £9.5m. Trading in the company’s other two divisions remains in line with management expectations.
Simon Deacon, CEO of LSTH, said: “I’m delighted with the continued momentum within the CEM Division. Importantly we are establishing long-term relationships with clients that have the ability to underpin repeat business opportunities, which will result in increased visibility as we convert our strong quoted sales pipeline.
“We are excited by the significant opportunity within our existing and potential customer base and look forward to providing further updates in due course.”
Gibbet Hill junction nearly at 100% capacity
New analysis released by Midlands Connect shows the vital Gibbet Hill junction is virtually at 100% capacity.
The A5 junction at Gibbet Hill, located on the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border is at 98% capacity every morning. This junction is an important strategic location interchange between the A5 and A426, providing connections between the M1 and M6, as well as providing resilience to the strategic and local road network.
Average daily flows on this section of the A5 Corridor are approximately 7,000 vehicles in each direction but the Gibbet Hill junction is the third worst bottleneck along the A5 corridor; this is anticipated to deteriorate further as more planned growth comes online.
Heavy congestion has been observed at the junction, particularly during peak times, with the volume of traffic close to exceeding traffic capacity and resulting in delays and long queues which impact residents, businesses and commuters.
The corridor is one of the Midlands’ most important east-west connections and is at the heart of the ‘Logistics golden triangle’, bounded by the M1, M6 and M69. This is an area of the country from which drivers can reach 90% of the population within four hours, a very important location for logistics firms.
Integrated Transport Programme Lead, Swati Mittal said: “The A5 at Gibbet Hill is an area that we need to upgrade to unlock the growth the economy needs. At the moment the area is not fit for purpose, and we need to do more.
“An intervention in this area is necessary to facilitate growth and jobs and allow us to then look at other parts of the A5 in the years ahead. This is the major piece in the puzzle.”
Cllr Anthony Gillias, Chair of the A5 Partnership, said: “When traffic snarls up, we see rat-running through nearby smaller villages, to avoid queuing at the junction, creating noise and speeding issues for residents.
“The Gibbet Hill junction is now at critical mass and requires the most urgent attention to complement the proactive work of local councils and their visions of growth, new jobs and prosperity for local people.
“We need a solution once and for all to fix this issue for local residents and the national economy.”
Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “While the A5 is managed and maintained by National Highways, we fully support the work being done to secure improvements.
“As the highway authority, we know problems such as bridge strikes, congestion and accidents are having a detrimental impact on our residents throughout Hinckley as well as the villages in the south of the county.
“The A5 isn’t functioning, and we share the views of partners who are calling for improvements to be prioritised and additional funding made available.
“Securing and delivering improvements on the A5 also resonates with the core themes of our draft new Local Transport Plan, which include supporting growth and boosting the local economy, improving people’s health and reducing the impacts of traffic on our communities. The urgent need is there to improve the road.”
Rolls-Royce appoints chair of engine leasing joint venture
Chris Cholerton, Group President and member of the Rolls-Royce Executive Team has been appointed Chair of Alpha Partners Leasing Limited (APL), the holding company of its engine leasing business, Rolls-Royce & Partners Finance, and asset management business, Aether Asset Management.
Chris has deep aerospace sector experience having previously led Rolls-Royce’s Civil Aerospace and Defence divisions.
Chris Cholerton said: “I am delighted to join the Board of APL and look forward to working with the Board, CEO Bobby Janagan and the leadership team to support the growth and success of the business.”
Since 1989, Rolls-Royce & Partners Finance has played a vital role in helping Rolls-Royce’s customers access competitive finance for their spare engines. Rolls-Royce & Partners Finance was the first engine leasing business to obtain an investment grade credit rating and is the leading financier of Rolls-Royce spare engines.
More recently, APL launched its Aether Asset Management business, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce, to better serve customers accessing short-term lease engines as part of Rolls-Royce’s TotalCare engine health and maintenance service.
Seamus Murphy, Rolls-Royce Director of Group Finance and Performance Management, has also been appointed to the APL Board.
Bobby Janagan, Chief Executive Officer of APL and Rolls-Royce & Partners Finance, said: “I am really looking forward to working closely with Chris and Seamus. They both bring significant experience, domain knowledge and expertise.”
APL is a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and GATX.
Aether Asset Management is the exclusive manager of Rolls-Royce’s central pool of engines supporting its TotalCare service.
Construction starts on new Community Diagnostic Centre
Construction work has begun at Walton Hospital, so patients across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire can utilise a ‘one-stop-shop’ Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), from Spring 2025.
The £5.2m development at the Walton Hospital Site is part of the wider £29.9m investment in CDCs across Derby and Derbyshire. Following an ecologist review, the site is now undergoing preparatory work, including the demolition of old plant rooms; paving the way for a state-of-the-art modular building.
Expecting to care for thousands of patients per year, the CDC will enable diagnostic services like blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI scans, CT scans and point-of-care testing to be delivered closer to patients’ homes and offer patients the ability to have multiple tests.
Once fully operational, the CDC at Walton is expected to complete thousands of diagnostic tests a year.
The demolition of the plant room and ground preparation is expected to take approximately ten days, with a custom-built modular build arriving on site in approximately 12 weeks.
Michelle Veitch, Chief Operating Officer at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Community Diagnostic Centres allow patients to access services often closer to home. This means that our patients will have even more choice about where and when they receive their tests, allowing a shorter turnaround of results and the start of any required treatment.
“This is the start of the journey to deliver another fantastic facility for our communities. We believe the CDCs will reduce wait times for diagnostic tests and provide a more convenient and efficient service for patients in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and surrounding areas.”
Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a Trust we are delighted to be able to expand our services further into the community. Our partnership with Derbyshire Community Healthcare Services NHS Foundation Trust means that we can provide diagnostic services from community bases across our region, like Walton Hospital and Whitworth Hospital.
“The purpose-built CDC at Walton Hospital will transform how we deliver diagnostic services to our patients throughout Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, where we anticipate around 5,260 tests being booked within the first month of opening.”
Dean Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The purpose-built diagnostic facility at Walton Hospital will be a fantastic addition to health services in our community, allowing more patients to receive even more tests under one roof.
“I look forward to seeing progress on site and to the official opening of the community diagnostic centre next year. Thank you to everyone involved who is helping to make this much-anticipated facility a reality for the benefit of patients.”
East Midlands firms merge to tackle sustainability
Hillside Environmental Services and Infinitas Design, two East Midlands-based industry leaders in climate-change initiatives, have revealed a strategic merger which will enable the two firms to deliver on the ambitious growth strategy of its founders.
Forming HI Group, based out of Newark, this strategic merger marks a decade-long partnership and signifies a new era for sustainable solutions in the UK.
HI Group co-founder Russell Burton says: “Over the past decade, Hillside and Infinitas have collaborated on numerous projects, sharing a common vision for environmental sustainability.
“This merger is a testament to our seamless collaboration and shared commitment to creating environmentally sustainable solutions. By joining forces, we harness the unique expertise and knowledge of each team, transforming them into a more potent force for change.”
Co-founder Laura Bishop explains: “As HI Group, we are positioned to offer enhanced resources and comprehensive support to assist our clientele on their journey towards a greener future. This merger enhances our capacity to cater to our clients’ needs, providing them with the robust, innovative solutions they’ve come to expect from each of our teams.”
Founded in 2014 by Burton, initially supporting major consultants and technology providers, Hillside built its expertise through significant projects like the Nottingham City Council Heat Network and NHS Property Services estate decarbonisation.
By 2020, Hillside shifted to directly supporting clients, achieving successes in the Further Education sector by helping over 35 institutions with net zero strategies and energy retrofits.
Infinitas Design, also founded in 2014, saw Bishop’s team specialise in creating low carbon heating systems, particularly heat pumps and heat networks. Noteworthy projects include the Swaffham Prior heat pump district heat network and the Eden Project’s geothermal heat network.
Covering every phase of the sustainability journey, HI Group specialises in initial carbon auditing and strategy development, to funding knowledge and applications, through to hands-on implementation and ongoing performance monitoring.
Laura adds: “Together, as HI Group, we are poised to lead in the low-carbon solutions market, providing innovative, effective and financially viable sustainability solutions. This unified approach enhances our impact on environmental challenges, ensuring we continue to meet and exceed our clients’ sustainability goals.”
