New director for engineering design company
Bennett Engineering Design Solutions Limited, which is in its 25th year of trading, has appointed a new director.
Seleena Creedon, who has been with Bennett Engineering since April 2020 as an external marketing and business consultant, has become a director of the company and will soon take a 40% shareholding.
Her expertise from the world of manufacturing, her project management skills and ways of working have already helped the company over the last few years. As she steps into this new role she says: “My love for the world of manufacturing and engineering is absolutely met at Bennett Engineering.
“The team are exceptionally talented, one of my favourite things is to see a CAD design, which is very complex, made. On a recent trip to a client’s base, it was fantastic to see something in full size after seeing it so much on my colleague’s computer screens. I am looking forward to growing the company and my professional skill set in my role as a director.”
Seleena’s appointment follows that of Lewis Garrett in September as a trainee CAD technician, having completed a Physics degree at University of Leicester and a course on mechanical engineering.
Lewis says: “Before Bennett Engineering I had a few jobs related to manufacturing engineering, I am grateful for the skills I gained but I never felt like I was pushed to succeed or growing my skill set. After just 4 months at Bennett Engineering I feel like I have grown more than the years I spent in other jobs. With the team genuinely interested in seeing me develop the future is bright.”
John Bennett founded Bennett Engineering to offer project management and engineering services to manufacturers in the East Midlands. After over 25 years running the company and 50 years as an engineer, he’s going to spend more time on his mountain bike and less time in the business during the working week.
John says: “I now feel very fortunate to be blessed with dyslexia. The special powers it brings were definitely NOT valued at school, but it has allowed me to have a successful whole life career as an engineer.
“Over the past 50 years I have had the privilege of working with many skilled and talented people who have happily shared their knowledge and helped me to a position where I have bought up a family living off ideas that pop out of my head.
“I would encourage anyone who has the ‘knack’ to become an engineer because they can experience the thrill of seeing the ideas become reality. As I have done here at Bennett Engineering.”
Next green light given to Newark Castle
Plans to create a new and improved visitor attraction at Newark Castle got another green light after plans were approved during Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Planning Committee.
Through a funding application via the National Lottery Heritage Fund along with a £3million allocation from Newark’s Towns Fund deal and a capital contribution, this project will see Newark Castle’s original Romanesque Gatehouse, named by Historic England as the most complete example of such a structure in England, reinstated as the spectacular entrance just as it was centuries ago.
The new entrance will lead to five gallery spaces which follow the Castle’s story through time and bring its Medieval history to life through fascinating, fun and interactive interpretation including models, real and replica tactile objects and furniture, embroideries, trails and play, designed by Nissen Richards Studio.
There will also be a tower-top viewing platform from which visitors can overlook great views of Trent Valley. These have been a focus of the project which also aims to enhance and protect the natural environment and green space within this historic site, establishing more biodiversity and enhancing accessibility through landscape development.
Expert ecologists have been consulted to create a planting scheme which is more wildlife friendly, creating habitats and feeding places for insects, bees and birds, and incorporating bat and moth friendly lighting and bat roosts.
The gardens were developed in the Victorian era with a commitment to provide a public space for everyone to enjoy. However, this did not account for modern accessibility and the plans will see routes updated for wheelchair users, people with low mobility and those with prams or pushchairs to be able to enjoy them equally as well as increased benches and seating.
Councillor Rowan Cozens, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s great news that planning permission has been granted and we are now another step closer in bringing this amazing project to life.
“It was important to us that local people were consulted during this process and we have listened, ensuring that HE Milner’s beloved flowerbed remains and that wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility are able to enjoy the full extent of the gardens.
“This of course means that changes must be made but our landscape architect at Urban Edge Architecture has worked very hard to create new paths which comply to accessibility legislation. I’m delighted that this work will also see an increase in the biodiversity of this important green space as well as driving visitor numbers to boost our local economy and, hopefully, bolstering our residents’ pride in this very special local asset.”
The project has received funding from Newark and Sherwood District Council’s application to the Government’s Towns Fund initiative which Newark Towns Fund Board supplied £3million to deliver the Castle Gatehouse project. The District Council has further submitted a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a further £1.4million and it is hoping that this application will be successful.
Councillor Cozens continues: “I’m delighted that the beautiful grounds will remain free for everyone. The District Council is planning to use the grounds for a range of activities and events for all the community and entry to the galleries itself will be reduced for Newark and Sherwood residents. I’m incredibly excited about the future for Newark Castle and am waiting with eagerness for the next stage in its journey.”
It’s anticipated that, once works are completed, the Castle will attract almost 17,000 visitors from outside of the district, helping to deliver sustainable economic growth as a destination attraction.
The development incorporates a new facility beneath the gatehouse bridge which will be used for both learning visits and for community groups and outreach, providing an extra space in the centre of town for residents to come together.
The town’s early evening economy will be supported too with plans to improve the lighting in the grounds to enable a safe ‘after dark’ experience.
Burton pharma services firm acquires innovative cancer health tech business
Sciensus, a Burton-based technology-enabled pharma services business managing the complex medicine needs of more than 250,000 chronic, rare and cancer patients, has reached an agreement to acquire Vinehealth, a cancer patient and physician support tool.
Founded by Rayna Patel, formerly an NHS physician, and Georgina Kirby, a leading data scientist, Vinehealth has grown to become the top-rated cancer support app. It is underpinned by best-in-class technology trusted by patients, physicians, life science companies, and regulators, with support and approvals from the NHS, FDA, MHRA, and EU-MDR.
In recent years Sciensus has invested heavily to build an integrated portfolio of powerful patient engagement and real world evidence solutions to enhance patient connectivity and insight. Centred on the Sciensus InTouch app, these tools support more personalised care and enhanced patient outcomes. Every day thousands of patients use the app to help manage their condition.
The addition of Vinehealth further expands Sciensus’ digital platform. Sciensus will accelerate Vinehealth’s expansion into new geographies and therapeutic areas beyond cancer to support patients worldwide.
Darryn Gibson, CEO of Sciensus, said: “Vinehealth presents a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire a fast-growing, highly innovative business, which is transforming cancer patient outcomes and will significantly strengthen our digital insight offerings.
“We look forward to welcoming Rayna, Georgina, and their team to Sciensus and working together to enable cancer patients to be even more engaged with their treatment.”
The founders of Vinehealth said: “This deal marks an important milestone for Vinehealth. Uniting with Sciensus will extend our reach to patients by leveraging their patient network, and relationships with all the leading pharmaceutical companies and healthcare practitioners.
“Together, we’re poised to enhance the patient experience and generate meaningful patient insights through best-in-class patient support programmes and rich longitudinal real-world data to drive advancements in chronic disease patient support.”
Leicestershire energy solutions company snaps up energy management division
eEnergy, the net zero digital energy services provider, has entered into an agreement to sell the company’s wholly owned energy management division to Leicestershire’s Flogas Britain.
The deal involves an initial consideration of £29.1 million and additional contingent consideration based on the trading performance of the energy management division for the period to 30 September 2025.
Harvey Sinclair, eEnergy CEO, says: “I am pleased to announce this agreement to sell our energy management division to Flogas. Once approved by shareholders, the transaction will unlock significant immediate cash for eEnergy and give the opportunity to deliver significant additional value to shareholders through the earnout period.
“Whilst energy management is the smaller by revenue of our two divisions, the initial transaction proceeds alone will be c. 90% of eEnergy’s current market capitalisation.
“The sale of the energy management division will allow us to focus entirely on our similar sized, high growth energy services division which grew 87% in the past 12 month period despite being undercapitalised.
“The sale will simplify our business, strengthen our balance sheet and will bring the opportunity to invest further in the higher growth segments of solar and EV charging across the UK.
“I would like to thank our colleagues in the energy management division. They will have an excellent new owner in Flogas who is in an ideal position to take the business forward.”
Ivan Trevor, Managing Director, Flogas Britain, says: “Together with Certas and the recent acquisitions of Protech, Centreco and DTGen, this acquisition further expands our capability in energy management services, providing a comprehensive range of products and services to partner with our customers on their journey to Net Zero and supporting our ambition to halve the carbon emissions of the energy we supply by 2030.”
Planning granted for £20.35m residential scheme in Matlock
Housebuilder Honey will build 75 new one-, two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in Matlock after being granted planning permission for a £20.35m development.
Called Hazel, the development is located opposite Matlock Golf Club on Chesterfield Road and will comprise maisonettes, terraces, semi-detached and detached properties.
The development is Honey’s second in Derbyshire, its first being a £14m, 50-new home development called Amber in South Normanton, near Alfreton.
Work on site at Hazel is scheduled to start in spring with the first residents expected to move into their new homes by the end of this year.
As well as providing new homes for the area, Honey is also making a £670,000 contribution to initiatives that will benefit the local community.
Honey Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mitchell, said: “Hazel generated a great deal of interest from prospective buyers from the moment we announced plans had been submitted.
“Our development will provide much needed new homes for people living in and around Matlock whether they are first time buyers, second steppers, families or downsizers.”
Since the start of the year Honey has secured three further sites across the East Midlands. The housebuilder has exchanged contracts on a site in Duckmanton and acquired sites in Edwinstowe and Killamarsh.
Subject to planning, these three sites will deliver 563 new homes with a combined gross development value of £170m.
YMCA Derbyshire encourages businesses to sleep out for one night, so other people don’t have to
YMCA Derbyshire is calling on businesses across the city and county to come together and spend a night sleeping under the stars to support local people most in need.
YMCA Derbyshire is one of several YMCAs across the country that have joined forces to raise awareness of homelessness during the national YMCA Sleep Easy Week, running from 8 to 15 March.
The week will see participants sleep out for one night across England and Wales to raise
awareness of homelessness and vital funds to support those who find themselves at risk of
homelessness.
YMCA Derbyshire’s event will take place at the Incora County Ground home of Derbyshire County Cricket Club on Friday 8 March 2024. Registration costs £10 for those in full-time employment and £5 for all others.
Each year the event brings together upwards of 100 participants who challenge themselves to sleep out for one night, so others don’t have to. Last year’s event raised just under £30,000 and these funds were directed to YMCA Derbyshire’s changing lives fund.
This fund enabled the charity to provide a whole host of youth and community provision to enable those they support to move along their positive pathways.
Over the twelve months YMCA housed 272 individuals with 88 moving on to independent living, 61 entering formal education, 7 going to university, 74 attending a job interview and 59 gaining employment.
This year’s event will raise vital funds to continue and expand the work that YMCA do, including their new service Padley@YMCA Derbyshire which has been born from a merger of Padley Group into YMCA Derbyshire in July 2023.
Funds raised will enable YMCA to provide vital youth and community provision including
therapeutic counselling, activities at Wilmorton community allotments, physical sports sessions, support entering work-based programmes and volunteering opportunities.
Padley@YMCA Derbyshire will be moving to a new Community Hub, here they will continue to offer and grow their traditional services for individuals; warm meals, activities to combat
loneliness and isolation, shower facilities and community pantry but will also develop their
provision to meet the evolving need of the city.
New services will enable members of the community who are unable to access food provision to have a place to use community kitchens to cook their own food for their families, have access to a laundrette alongside opportunities to learn through training and education and volunteering opportunities.
Gillian Sewell, CEO of YMCA Derbyshire, said: “We are extremely grateful to every individual, family and business that gets behind our Sleep Easy events, either through participating or sponsors others to do so, its truly down to the funds raised at events such as this that we can achieve such positive outcomes for the people we serve.
“With the emerging cost of living crisis we are seeing a significant increase in those experiencing poverty and or at risk of homelessness we are hoping to make Sleep Easy 2024 our biggest event yet, but we need your help.
“We urge individuals, families and businesses to come together and spend one night sleeping out so others don’t have to. We often say it’s the most unusual networking event you’ll attend all year. One night really can make a life time difference to those who need it most.”
People interested in taking part in YMCA Derbyshire’s Sleep Easy can find out more by visiting www.ymcaderbyshire.org.uk/sleepeasy or by calling 01332 579550 to speak with the fundraising team.
East Midlands levelled down since 2010 with people £6,840 poorer on average
The average person in the East Midlands has missed out on £6,840 in disposable income when compared with predictions based on 2010 trends, according to new analysis published by Centre for Cities in Cities Outlook 2024.
While jobs increased, weak productivity growth meant that growth of disposable incomes was underwhelming. Total disposable income per head in Mansfield since 2010 was £13,490 lower than it would have been if it had grown in line with 1998-2010 trends, while in Leicester and Nottingham the figures were £7,980 and £3,000 respectively.
Both Derby and Northampton bucked the national trend, with residents being better off than they would have been if incomes had grown at pre-2010 rates. But this was because of poor growth pre-2010, rather than a strong performance post 2010.
This national underperformance is reflected in every place in the country, in both places that have struggled with decline and departure of local industries and places with more dynamic local economies. At a national level, people have been left with £10,200 less to spend or save on average since 2010 than if the economy had grown at pre-2010 trends.
Looking at the data from every place reveals more about the stagnation of disposable incomes:
- Jobs boomed in most towns and cities after 2010, pulling more people into work. Overall, the East Midlands added 232,114 jobs since 2010. Derby and Mansfield had jobs growth of more than 15 per cent.
- But productivity growth – a key driver of wages – declined almost everywhere too. Productivity growth lagged pre-2010 performance in all cities in the East Midlands. Derby and Mansfield were less productive in 2021 than in 2010. Major places Northampton and Leicester struggled, hitting local incomes.
- Housing costs have increased in most places. High housing costs have left the average person with even less income left over to spend or save at the end of the month. Housing became less affordable in every large city and town in the East Midlands.
- The nature and prevalence of poverty has changed. Rates of children in relative poverty have risen in every city and Derby and Leicester are now two of six places in the country where more than one in three children live in households in relative poverty – as recently as 2014, there were none nationwide.
The most crucial factors to remember when choosing a solar partner and installer
Solar power has emerged as a leading contender in our seemingly never-ending quest for sustainable and eco-friendly energy solutions. As individuals and businesses alike increasingly think about harnessing the sun’s energy to power their homes and facilities, choosing the right solar partner and installer becomes paramount. The decision involves carefully considering various factors to ensure a seamless transition to clean energy. Here are the most crucial factors to remember when selecting a solar partner and installer in the East Midlands today.
1. Expertise and experience: Choosing a solar partner with a proven track record and extensive experience is fundamental. Look for a trusted commercial solar company that has successfully completed many solar installations. An experienced installer will be well-versed in navigating local regulations, obtaining necessary permits, and handling potential challenges that may arise during the installation process.
2. Reputation and reviews: Word of mouth is a powerful tool when it comes to selecting a solar partner. Research the reputation of potential installers by reading customer reviews and testimonials. Platforms like Google Reviews can provide valuable insights into the experiences of previous clients. A company with a positive reputation will likely prioritise customer satisfaction and deliver high-quality services.
3. Licensing and certification: Ensure the solar partner and installer you choose is licensed and certified. Licensing ensures that the company complies with local regulations and standards, while certification from recognised bodies demonstrates a commitment to excellence and adherence to industry best practices.
4. Quality of solar products: The efficiency and durability of solar panels and other components play a pivotal role in the overall success of a solar installation. Inquire about the brands and models of solar panels the installer uses and research their performance metrics. A reputable installer will offer high-quality products with solid warranties, providing peace of mind for the long-term performance of the solar system.
5. Customisation and system design: Every property is unique, and an effective solar installation requires a customised approach. A reliable solar partner will conduct a thorough site assessment and design a system tailored to meet the specific energy needs of your home or business. Consider companies prioritising a personalised approach to ensure maximum energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
6. Financing options: The upfront cost of solar installation can be a significant consideration for many homeowners and businesses. Therefore, you should look for solar partners that offer flexible financing options, including leases, power purchase agreements, or low-interest loans. Understanding the financial aspects and available incentives, such as tax credits and rebates, can make the transition to solar power more affordable.
7. Maintenance and support: Solar systems require minimal maintenance, but choosing an installer that offers ongoing support is crucial. Inquire about their maintenance packages and warranty coverage to ensure that your investment remains protected in the future. A responsive and reliable support system can address any issues promptly, maximising the lifespan and efficiency of your solar installation.
Choosing a solar partner and installer involves careful consideration of expertise, reputation, licensing, product quality, customisation, financing options, and ongoing support. By prioritising these crucial factors, individuals and businesses can embark on a sustainable energy journey with confidence, knowing they have selected a reliable partner to harness the sun’s power.
2024 Business Predictions: David Roberts, owner and founder of JDR Group
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to David Roberts, the owner and founder of Derby digital marketing agency JDR Group.
In 2023 we saw the introduction of Meta’s social media network Threads and the continuing growth of AI platforms such as Chat GPT, and while they had contrasting fortunes in 2023, they were another reminder of how dynamic and ever-changing the digital marketing world is.
We decided quite early on to explore Chat GPT and to wait and see on Threads and, in the end, that decision paid off, and we were able to advise our 200 or so clients across the UK on what new platforms to adopt – or not – and roll out training programmes to our staff.
We see AI becoming a part of daily working life in 2024, as it becomes increasingly embedded in platforms such as HubSpot, LinkedIn, Google and Microsoft. We have found, if used well, that Chat GPT can be incredibly useful, although the idea that it can turn a novice into a marketing expert are wide of the mark – you really need expertise to be able to use it effectively, otherwise you just produce poor marketing faster.
So AI platforms like Chat GPT will continue to play a big part in marketing, as it will with most areas of business. As regards the social media side of things, it looks for now like Threads has unravelled, although it’s not gone away and Meta will no doubt be making improvements.
In 2024 all eyes will still be on X and whatever plans Elon Musk might have for it.
Otherwise, although the economic outlook for 2024 looks uncertain and marketing technology continues to change, the advice to clients from our industry will be to get the fundamentals right. They should resist the temptation to cut their marketing and look for short term quick fixes but instead invest long term in tried and tested methods, work to a strategy and not immediately jump on whatever the next big thing might be.
2024 Business Predictions: Dan Taylor, Director at Ford & Stanley
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Dan Taylor, Director at Ford & Stanley.
As we assess what 2024 might bring, there are some ongoing key themes for businesses to fully embrace as they become significant factors for candidates as well as employees.
The employer-employee relationship has undergone a paradigm shift, as seen by the recent trends in the labour market. Both employees and employers are in a position of power due to the rising demand for specific skill sets and higher rates of inflation, which paves the way for a mutually beneficial relationship. In this new dynamic where both sides have substantial influence on the nature of the workplace, cultivating a harmonious culture that emphasises cooperation and communication is crucial.
Given the changing nature of the workforce and the value that employers now place on training, flexible work schedules, bonuses, raises, and perks, it is imperative that retention be given top priority.
Reskilling and upskilling will also become more prevalent, so it’s important for businesses to provide training and development programmes to staff, to help improve employee morale, increase adaptability and enhance employee confidence.
Candidates now evaluate pay in addition to emotional support, so talent will be drawn in with promises of generous leave, flexibility, and mental health benefits. Initiatives such as mentoring and support for wellbeing are now considered prerequisites for businesses.
All of this is being fuelled by unlocking a healthier, happier workforce, as organisations seek to further invest in both personal and professional development of their people to increase staff retention and enhance their sense of purpose which ultimately, will drive further company growth.
