Chesterfield firm wins packaging deal for Estee Lauda ranges
Chesterfield’s Robinson Paperbox Packaging has been commissioned to manufacture two promotional boxes for Estee Lauder’s premium haircare brand Aveda.
Pierre-Alexandre Latimier – marketing assistant for Aveda EMEA said: “We have used Robinson Paperbox Packaging for a number of projects previously. Their pricing and service levels are one of the main reasons we chose them for this project. With demanding lead times to work to it’s great to have a supplier that can deliver on time and in full.”
Jon Walker, new business development manager for Robinson Paperbox Packaging said: “These boxes were manufactured on our new SATE rigid box line which has been recently installed. This machine is the most advanced on the market and produces exceptional quality boxes”.
Nomination deadline approaches for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
With only a short time remaining until nominations close on Thursday 31 August for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, submit your entries NOW!
Reward the hard work of your team and showcase your successes.
The annual East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrate the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and outstanding developments. 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.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of opportunities to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region.
To enter your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page:
To be held at:
- 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
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
Find out who last year’s winners were here.
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
Banking on “discretion” a PR disaster for Coutts: by Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, reflects on the Coutts/Farage situation and the impact of taking a political stance as a business.
Imagine carefully building a global brand over three centuries that is essentially based on discretion and then it is all undone in a matter of moments after the very modern “cancel culture” card is waived. The irony of course being that this stellar reputation has just been annihilated by none other than its own Reputation Committee.
That’s what has happened to Coutts after a certain N Farage was put onto a “glide path” from his Coutts accounts to a generic NatWest account because he no longer met the criteria to qualify for Coutts’ exclusive services.
In an internal document it transpired that the bank views Nigel as a “disingenuous grifter” who promoted “xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views.” Now, that may well be the opinion of the bank and perhaps many readers of this column. It may well be the absolute opposite.
The problem is, the banking brand that is built on discretion has been found wanting for that exact corporate value and it probably couldn’t have happened with a worse client in mind given Nigel’s skill in riding the media waves when the tide turns his way.
Never one to let personal embarrassment get in the way of an opportunity, Farage has skillfully turned the topic into a wider debate about “cancel culture” recognising that this will strike chords with folk who follow him or perhaps had forgotten about him post-Brexit. “If they can cancel me, they can cancel you,” Nigel warned.
Dame Alison Rose (the head of parent company NatWest) issued a public statement on Thursday and even wrote a letter to Farage apologising for the way Coutts had handled its decision to cut ties with the Brexit campaigner. This came after a series of interventions by the prime minister and senior members of his cabinet, and more than two weeks after Farage went public about Coutts no longer wanting him as a client.
Rose said the comments, prepared for Coutts’ wealth reputation risk committee, “do not reflect the view of the bank,” adding: “No individual should have to read such comments and I apologise to Mr. Farage for this.”
However, she stopped short of reinstating Farage as a Coutts client, instead reiterating an offer to open a basic account for him at NatWest. Ouch!
Farage then accused Rose of being forced into an apology: “…so thank you Dame Alison for apologising. What I’ve actually been told quietly, privately, is that you were forced into doing this by the Treasury.
“But at least you’ve done it, I suppose. But the whole letter smacks of ‘not me, guv, I mean I’m just the chief executive, I mean, don’t blame me for what the banks under my direct control are doing’.”
Here’s the clever bit from Nigel. He turns the debate away from himself and shines the spotlight back onto the average person, suggesting there were thousands in the same position as him, as he vowed to battle on: “I’m afraid I can’t just walk away from this. I’ve started this, and I’ve got to continue. So thank you for the apology. It’s a start, but it’s no more than that.”
Rose had said it was not the bank’s policy “to exit a customer on the basis of legally held political and personal views.” However, the problem here is twofold. Coutts is being dragged into an unseemly public debate which is all very much “poor form” and not what one would expect of a brand that has banked every royal family since way back.
It is also in danger of “virtue signalling” as it tries to attract a younger clientele that is distinctly not Nigel but yet was happy enough to bank former Chilean dictator Pinochet and many more, less than savoury characters.
Now, some might argue that Coutts is making a good start and that they should take a stand. Maybe it will attract a new generation of clientele to Coutts who will be delighted by this booting out of Nigel. “No such thing as bad publicity” etc. etc. etc.
Nonsense. If one banks with Coutts, darling, one expects a tad more decorum and discretion. Whoever one is.
A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008.
He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.
See this column in the August edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
Building materials supplier acquires highways waste recycling solutions provider
Building materials supplier Aggregate Industries, a member of the Holcim Group, has acquired OCL Regeneration Limited, a provider of highways waste recycling solutions.
The acquisition of the Kent-headquartered business will further strengthen Aggregate Industries’ asphalt and surfacing operations, where it is a key player on National Highways and local authority contracts.
OCL was founded in 2006 as a recycled highways construction materials business. It focuses on recycling a selection of materials from highways maintenance and construction projects including aggregates, asphalts, concrete and tar, which otherwise would have to be specially disposed of.
The materials are reprocessed and reused in new highway construction or maintenance projects as low carbon products, resulting in reduced emissions and in support of the circular economy. It has six depots situated in Avonmouth, Medway, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland and Oxford.
Dragan Maksimovic, CEO of Aggregate Industries UK, said: “OCL Regeneration has made great strides in the reuse of highways planings and the development of low carbon products and solutions.
“This is very much in sync with our own strategy and commitment to achieve our sustainability goals and continue to deliver on our green growth objectives as a business.
“The acquisition further enhances Aggregate Industries’ position in the UK highways and surfacing market and puts us at the forefront of circular construction supply and delivery.
“We will gain further industry expertise and innovation through the work and product portfolio OCL has developed over the last 16 years. It also gives us a further foothold in important geographic locations and aligns with our ambition of being the leading supplier of sustainable construction materials and solutions in the UK.”
Stuart Gready, founder and Managing Director of OCL Regeneration, said: “OCL is thrilled to be joining Aggregate Industries. This allows us to underpin the health and growth of the company and the security and development of our teams and services.
“We look forward to optimising our existing client offering, while also having increased support to develop new and exciting innovations in the highway circularity and decarbonisation space.
“Holcim and Aggregate Industries UK have an impressive portfolio of low carbon products and solutions which we are very pleased to become a part of. We will gain access to new opportunities, assets and geographies which align well with our growth strategy.”
East Midlands start-ups rise, despite historical summer lull and increasing interest rates
Entrepreneurial spirit in the East Midlands has not been dampened by the wet weather and any historical summer lull, with the number of start-up businesses in the region increasing despite spiralling interest rates and the approach of the holiday season.
Research from the Midlands branch of R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body, shows that East Midlands start-ups rose by 4.23% last month, from 2,269 in June to 2,365 in July. This contrasts with the same period last year when start-ups fell by 2.85%.
R3 Midlands’ figures, which are based on an analysis of data from business intelligence provider Creditsafe, also show that the monthly number of start-ups in the region has increased by almost a half [41.70%] since the end of last year, when December saw 1,669 businesses set up in the East Midlands.
The research further reveals that the monthly total of the region’s businesses with late payments on their books has continued to fall consistently since the 2023 high in February but, despite the drops, the figures remain high, with July registering 23,503 local companies with overdue customer invoices.
R3 Midlands chair Stephen Rome, a director at local law firm Thursfields, said: “It’s evident that business confidence is still there in our region, despite sizeable economic challenges, not least yet another rise in interest rates.
“Some of the factors working in our favour are the lower cost of workspaces here compared to the capital, as well as our position at the centre of the UK transport network. For start-ups having to be particularly careful with their finances, the East Midlands is an appealing economic option.
“However, while there is still scope for growth in the current environment, it is crucial that our entrepreneurs receive the best support possible to overcome the current challenges, which include stubbornly high inflation, rising costs of materials and wages as well as a squeeze on consumer spending.
“Should significant cash flow difficulties arise, there is a significant amount which can be done to rescue local companies, beyond traditional insolvency solutions, if help is taken early enough.
“It’s worth knowing that many R3 members offer a free initial consultation to those who want to explore their options.”
Create Finance wins prestigious industry award
Specialist Derby-based mortgage broker Create Finance have been awarded the title of Mortgage Broker of the Year at the Mortgage Strategy Awards 2023.
The company, which is based at Connect Derby’s Friar Gate Studios, scooped the coveted award at a ceremony which took place at the JW Marriot Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Create Finance beat off competition from fellow mortgage brokers Coreco, Connect Mortgages, Mortgage 1st, The Mortgage Mum and The Mortgage Store to win the award.
The company was founded in 2015 by experienced mortgage broker Gindy Mathoon.
Gindy Mathoon, senior mortgage broker at Create Finance, said: “This accolade is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. Create Finance will be celebrating its eighth birthday this year, so to be recognised as the best the industry has to offer is a real celebration of all we have worked for.
“The future looks very bright, and we look forward to expanding our already excellent staff and taking the whole team with us on this brilliant journey.”
Ann Bhatti, head of Connect Derby, added: “Massive congratulations to Gindy and his team for winning this fantastic national award.
“To be named Mortgage Broker of the Year is a tremendous accolade and is testament to all the company’s hard work over the past eight years as a Connect Derby tenant. We would like to wish them every success for the future.”
Judges at The Mortgage Strategy awards added: “Widely recognised as the ‘Oscars’ of the mortgage industry, the accolades are not awarded lightly. Several rounds of shortlisting take place before a selection of expert judges’ comb through each entry to decide on a winner.
“A culmination of all the hard work and effort made by the industry over the past twelve months, the rigorous judging process associated with the Awards ensures that winning one of the 28 categories really is a mark of excellence.”
Clowes Developments appoints new Managing Director
Thomas Clowes has been appointed as Managing Director of Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd.
Chairman of Clowes Developments, David Clowes, said: “The Board of Directors voted to appoint Thomas Clowes as Managing Director. Supported by myself as chairman, and our experienced board members, Tom will lead the team at Clowes as we continue to evolve and strengthen our privately owned property business.”
Despite being a part of the family, Tom formally joined the business in 2016 following a period of time dedicated to gaining industry experience elsewhere. Being placed within the Land and Planning team, Tom was promoted to the Board of Directors in 2021 and now takes the appointment of Managing Director.
Thomas Clowes commented on his appointment: “This has never been a sure-thing for me, I started at Graduate level and have worked my way through the business, aiming to understand every facet.
“Nepotism isn’t a word in the Clowes family dictionary, David would agree with me that Dad often aimed for the opposite of that. Something I wasn’t thankful for at the time, but I know has paid dividends for me now. I am honoured to be able to carry on his legacy and put my mark on the group.”
In recent years, Clowes Developments have seen sustained growth. The group reported a record turnover and profit for the last financial year with similar headlines expected for this year’s financial statement.
Work begins to build new homes on former Long Eaton lace factory site
Representatives from emh group, Erewash Borough Council and developers MyPad held a ground-breaking ceremony recently to celebrate the start of work to build new affordable homes on a brownfield site in Long Eaton.
The new Oakleys Road scheme is being developed on the former Oaklea Mill lace factory site, and will provide 46 new, mixed tenure, affordable homes. The new homes include 29 homes for affordable rent, and 17 for shared ownership. Work has recently begun on the site, and the homes are expected to be completed in winter 2024.
The £10m scheme is being funded and delivered by emh group, with a grant contribution from Homes England as part of its Strategic Partnership agreement with Homes England.
Chan Kataria, Group Chief Executive at emh, said: “We were delighted to join our partners Erewash Borough Council and MyPad to celebrate the start of working on this exciting new scheme.
“We are proud that our close work with Erewash Borough Council means we can be certain that the homes offered by the scheme will contribute towards meeting the housing aspirations of local people. We look forward to seeing the development progress in the coming months.”
Through close partnership working with Erewash Borough Council, emh group has ensured the types and size of the homes meet the housing needs of local people. The new homes, developed by MyPad, will be available in a range of sizes, including one-bedroomed apartments, and two-, three- and four-bedroomed houses. The houses come with gardens, apartments have amenity spaces, and there is plenty of parking available for the new homes.
Councillor James Dawson, leader of Erewash Borough Council, says: “We need more homes in the borough, particularly affordable housing for those on Erewash’s housing register, some of whom will be facing homelessness, or living in difficult conditions.
“Also, buying a home is out of reach for many people. So these 46 new homes for rent and for shared ownership are really welcome. We know that emh will provide well-managed, energy efficient and long-term homes for local residents.
“The Council is proud of our partnership working with emh and we look forward to coming back again in the next 18 months or so, to greet residents in their new homes.”
Dave Holland, operations director at MyPad, said: “We are thrilled to be the chosen developer working closely with our partners, emh and Erewash Borough Council in developing this project. Our emphasis is to create affordable, sustainable and efficient housing, that will provide quality homes for a thriving community.”
All homes will be provided by emh group, who will manage the sale of the shared ownership homes. Once completed, the rented homes will be available through Erewash Borough Council’s housing register.
Duo of deals sees finishing line crossed at Dunstall Park
Derby-based developer Ivygrove Development’s successful Dunstall Park regeneration scheme has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion with the letting of the last remaining space.
Salloway Property Consultants, Ivygrove’s agents, have secured two tenants for the concluding block of units at the business park.
Totalling some 31,500 sq ft, the two units will be occupied by West Midlands-headquartered Advanced Maintenance Supplies Limited and Derby-based Riverside Medical Packaging Limited.
Hugo Beresford, the surveyor at Salloway who negotiated the two simultaneous lettings, is thrilled with the final outcome.
“I am delighted that we have been able to attract two high-calibre tenants to complete the final furlong. In tandem with Ivygrove, we were able to agree terms early enough in the construction process in order to meet the tenants’ requirements for slightly larger units than those initially planned.
“It is typical of Ivygrove to show flexibility and they should be congratulated for delivering yet another successful regeneration scheme in Derby which provides much needed workshop and warehouse space accommodation for forward-looking businesses.”
Dunstall Park occupies a former Rolls Royce car park site of some 7.18 acres, located just off Ascot Drive, on the Osmaston Park Industrial Estate. Following its completion, it now provides 21 business units totalling approximately 81,200 sq ft along with a new Police Station.
Salloway Property Consultants has worked closely with Ivygrove since the inception of Dunstall Park. Beresford outlined the process: “Initially we acquired the site for Ivygrove and our first deal saw an agreement with Derbyshire Constabulary to procure a new Police Station.
“Since then, Ivygrove has built a range of workshop units in their trademark high-quality style, all of which we have let or sold. The park is now the home for 19 progressive businesses. Ivygrove has already embarked upon its next project known as Merlin Park on Osmaston Road where we can offer new build industrial premises from 240 sq m, with practical completion of the first available units anticipated at the end of this year.”
Leicester electrical retailer sees strong trading momentum
Leicester online electrical retailer, Marks Electrical Group has seen strong trading momentum in the first four months of its new financial year.
In a new trading update, for the four months ended 31 July 2023, the company saw revenue growth of 30.7%, reaching to £36.2m, up from £27.7m in same period of the prior year.
Mark Smithson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’ve made a fast start to FY24 with revenue growth of over 30% against an MDA & CE market that is marginally down in the first months of our financial year.
“We’ve maintained our industry leading Trustpilot score of 4.8, and reached over 50,000 reviews on Trustpilot, which I am particularly proud of as it takes a combined effort from all our excellent team members, from sales ordering, through to picking, logistics, delivery, and customer aftercare, to deliver an exceptional customer service.
“Our focus and attention on growing our installation offering is enabling us to create a truly differentiated, market-leading proposition for customers, further enhancing the strengths of our operating model. We have been very encouraged by the take-up of this service, which is now available to over 65% of the UK population on a next-day basis, and are excited about its potential.
“Despite a challenging market backdrop, including wage inflation and strong competitor activity on gross margin, we have maintained our tight control on inventory, overhead cost management and disciplined capital allocation, ensuring we have a healthy cash position and remaining focused on profitable market share gains as our brand awareness continues to grow.
“We’ve started August well and are laser-focused on maintaining our performance management discipline on revenue, profit and cash in order to continue to demonstrate our superior proposition and become the UK’s leading premium electrical retailer.”
