MIRA Technology Park breaks ground on next phase of development
Rolls-Royce nuclear reactor model features in new Science Museum exhibit
Alstom to mothball Litchurch Lane factory
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “The uncertainty at Alstom has dragged on for too long and the government need to act urgently to safeguard production at Litchurch Lane.
“We know that as a country we have new rolling stock needs that can be met by the highly skilled workforce we have in Derby and its wider regional supply chain – any inability to iron out the gaps in orders would represent a significant failure of national planning and have detrimental knock-on effects in Derby, Derbyshire and across the country.
“This can’t be allowed to happen – it is imperative government intervention is stepped up so we can get a workable resolution that protects jobs in the sector now and for the long-term future.”
Nottingham City Council’s Workplace Travel Service secures new funding stream
- Worked with 87 local businesses and organisations to support them with either 100% or 75% funded improvements
- Awarded more than £800,000 in grants to enable the installation of green travel measures, including EV chargers, bike shelters, pool e-bikes and more
Home and garden PR agency enters phase of rapid growth with team and services expansion
Leicester property investor sells two industrial units
Funding sees automotive remanufacturer drive growth overseas
Grantham-headquartered engineering firm Autocraft Solutions Group has secured a £24 million Asset Based Lending facility from HSBC UK to fund domestic growth and set up new facilities in Europe and the USA.
The facility will directly fund significant growth for Autocraft Solutions Group’s existing UK and European contracts with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and as part of the expansion plans, the business is projected to increase turnover by over 50 per cent and to increase its headcount by over 10 per cent.
The funding will also assist Autocraft Solutions Group in accelerating its expansion plans by replicating its REVIVE® facility in Arnhem in the Netherlands at multiple global locations, including Scandinavia, Southern Europe and North America. The first of these locations is expected to open in mid-2025, which will enable the business to grow with existing and new global customers.
The new REVIVE® sites will triage, repair and remanufacture EV battery packs, enabling the business to process 1,400 EV batteries each year. This more environmentally friendly alternative to creating new battery packs will see each facility save around 1,500 tonnes of CO2, six megawatt-hours of electricity and two million litres of water per year.
Mike Hague-Morgan, Executive Director at Autocraft Solutions Group, said: “We are growing the legacy of engine remanufacturing, and we’re also at the forefront of EV technology. HSBC UK’s global capabilities made the bank an ideal partner to support our next phase of growth and international expansion. Importantly, the bank also shares our passion for green-tech and helping our customers in their journey to net-zero.”
Sam Owen, Business Development Director at HSBC UK, added: “Autocraft Solutions Group is playing an important role in the automotive sector’s transition to net zero, and this deal provides the business with financial firepower to boost supply to the growing EV market.”
Administrators sell Northamptonshire caravan firm
Following their appointment as joint administrators, Ryan Grant and Chris Pole from Interpath Advisory have sold White Arches Caravans Limited and its operating subsidiary, P.N. Sharpe Limited.
Trading from sites in Rushden and Wellingborough, White Arches Caravans Limited is a retailer of new and used caravans and motorhomes. Both companies are part of the Robinsons Caravans group.
Over the past 12 months, the Group’s cashflow declined due to a number of macroeconomic factors. In particular, the cost-of-living crisis has meant customers have had less disposable income leading to the company experiencing a decrease in both the number of caravans purchased and the average purchase price.
Additionally, White Arches had seen costs rise, including financing costs as a result of high interest rates. This, coupled with the impact of the financial issues seen across the wider Group, further harmed the company’s cash position.
As a result of these mounting pressures, the directors sought to undertake a review of their investment, refinance and sale options. When it became clear that a solvent solution could not be found, they took the decision to seek the appointment of administrators.
Immediately following their appointment, the joint administrators sold the business and assets of the companies to a newco owned by Spinney Motorhomes and Caravans. As part of the transaction, all 55 staff members have transferred to the purchaser.
Charlie Holland, Director of Spinney Garage Limited, said: “We’re delighted to welcome White Arches into the Spinney group. As a family-run business ourselves, our values and philosophy are very similar to those of White Arches, so we’re looking forward to taking the company back to its roots. To this end, we intend to continue to trade the business under the White Arches name, retaining its well-respected brand.”
Ryan Grant, managing director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “Having traded for over 45 years, White Arches is a well-established and well-respected name in the caravan and motorhome sector. We are delighted therefore to have concluded this transaction which will enable the business to continue to trade under new ownership. We wish the team all the very best for the future.”
Harris Lamb appoints new head of environment team
The Director of property consultancy Harris Lamb’s Environment department has announced her departure from the business in order to specialise in heritage projects and is handing over the reins to her right-hand man.
Dr Holly Smith joined Harris Lamb in February 2018, tasked with building an ecological arm to the business to operate in conjunction with the Planning department. In the six years since, she has built a seven-strong team of ecologists and developed a UK-wide portfolio of clients requiring ecological advice and support.
Holly is joining the HCUK Group, an environmental consultancy with a focus on heritage and archaeology projects specialising in the management of change within the historic environment.
Holly said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision. I am immensely proud of the team of colleagues I have built here, the diverse range of invaluable services we offer and in particular, what we have achieved in terms of supporting clients throughout the residential and commercial sectors about environmental impact and biodiversity net gain.
“My passion for history and heritage projects dates back to my childhood, and I’m currently studying part time for a Masters degree in Historic Buildings at York University, so the opportunity to combine that with my ecological experience and to work alongside and learn from archaeological experts was one I simply couldn’t pass up,” she said.
Craig Greenwell, who joined the team as an Associate in 2022, will take over as head of department.
Simon Hawley, Director of the business’s Planning department, added: “We are extremely sad to see Holly go, but she goes with our best wishes. My planning colleagues and I had worked alongside Holly for five years prior to her joining us to form the Environment team, and we are very grateful for the time and effort she put into growing such a successful department from a standing start.
“Craig has proved himself a key member of the team from the moment he joined us, and we have no doubt he will be an enthusiastic successor who will follow in her footsteps when it comes to continuing to develop and inspire the team.”
Craig Greenwell said: “Holly’s are big shoes to fill but I am delighted to have been trusted to head up such a motivated and talented team of ecologists. The work our team does, and the passion they have, is a matter of real pride to us, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with them and our diverse client portfolio to oversee national projects and support organisations on the work we do and the steps they can take to enhance the natural environment alongside their own developments.”
PR Guru launches high-tech assistant in major Ai move
Greg Simpson, the Nottingham-based PR behemoth and former business journalist, who really should know better than to issue a story on a Bank Holiday, has announced his latest innovation.
According to Simpson’s missive, which was announced via a cloud of hot air, smoke and mirrors, “Pepe” will “transform the way writers of press content approach these dark arts and bring it kicking and screaming back into the good old days when life was simpler.”
As yet, it has not been revealed exactly how the assistant works but Simpson has apparently been teaching it basic commands which render the use of adjectives in headlines and opening paragraphs impossible to execute without an override.
Capital letters in job titles are also understood to be under threat.
As are curiously short paragraphs that add little value but do break up the copy and lead seamlessly into a quote, like this one here: “It’s high time that professional press botherers like myself started to take the impact of Ai more seriously,” Simpson explained.
“The threat to original thought, content and humour is very real. Meanwhile, the impact of that on being able to build a brand that people can actually be bothered to take at least casual notice of is as palpable as the content is pulpable.”
Beta-testing of “Pepe” in a controlled environment has already produced promising results, with helpful suggestions from the system including: “Hey! It looks like you’re writing a press release,” “Try a quote that doesn’t mention being DELIGHTED” and “Please don’t use the photo of you shaking hands below the company logo.”
Early adopters of Pepe can get a trial account by using the code AFool.
