Record year for Leicester interior fit-out contractor
A Leicester-headquartered interior fit-out contractor has reported a record financial year and added new apprentices to its workforce.
EE Smith Contracts, which marked its 125th anniversary last year and employs over 300 staff, has posted the highest annual revenues in its history for a second successive year – £75.1 million to the year ending March 31, 2023.
This record-breaking activity includes working on multiple prestigious developments, particularly the luxurious Peninsula London hotel alongside Hyde Park Corner and Wellington Arch, and the completion of two super-prime London residences.
EE Smith Contracts has added 18 new apprentices during the last financial year to build on its long-established apprenticeship programme.
The business has reduced carbon emissions by 30 per cent over the last two years despite a material growth in activity and is aiming to further reduce its carbon consumption in the next 12 months.
Neil Bottrill, Managing Director of EE Smith Contracts, said profits have returned to pre Covid-19 levels despite the business absorbing significant building products inflation in the year due to, now completed, fixed price contracts.
He said: “When viewed against the continuing headwinds of material and labour inflation, as well as huge increases in energy costs, this last 12 months has been a financial success and one to be very proud of.
“We have had the pleasure, and challenge, of carrying out work in what can only be described as the very pinnacle of the super-prime fit-out market, both in the residential and hotel sector in London.
“This underlines the fact that our skillset, drive and attention to detail continues to attract the elite of the fantastic industry that we are in.
“Our apprentice programmes continue to prosper and are producing excellent results. We are actively producing our next generation of highly skilled joiners, supervisors and managers. Our schemes continue our underlying philosophy to ‘train and retain’ our skill base because our workforce will always be our greatest asset.
“We have a promising year ahead with the excitement of handing over the largest project in our history at The Peninsula London hotel this summer, and we will also be starting work on some phenomenal new schemes which complement our existing portfolio.”
Neil Simpson, finance director at EE Smith Contracts, added that the business has continued to invest in its facilities and employee development.
He said: “With the challenges of Brexit, the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over the last five years, we have seen an extended period of uncertainty for UK industry.
“The strength of our markets, our continuing focus on client satisfaction and our relentless hands-on approach have allowed our business to grow significantly in size and capability against this testing backdrop.
“Due to high client satisfaction, we have a continuous stream of new business prospects from previous clients or their professional advisors.
“The company is well set to continue to grow in the coming years, having retained surplus profits and further strengthened our robust balance sheet.
“I am excited to see what the business can deliver once freed from the external challenges.”
4 ways to create a better workspace
The environment your staff work in has a big impact on their mood and productivity. Lincolnshire-based commercial design and fit out company APSS looks at four ways to make the office as appealing as possible.
Here are some ideas to consider when it comes to your office design:
Keep things simple
Technology means we now carry our work with us wherever we go, via laptops, tablets and mobile phones. With so many distractions already lowering productivity, companies don’t want to add to this. Keeping it simple is a good way to reduce distraction.
Take time to declutter the office, a clean environment helps promote productivity. Make sure you have enough storage solutions for everything.
Nice views, daylight and simple written graphics or sculptures are great. They aid creativity and lift the general mood. However, big TV screens, busy artwork or loud colours often go the other way.
Flexible noise
Different people work better with different noise levels. Consider what’s right for your office and your staff.
Is it appropriate to play music? Do people have the need for headphones or do people need silence at certain points of their working day? Consider the neurodiversity of your employees.
Neurodiversity is a topic that has seen more attention lately and with good reason. If people have certain triggers within an environment, every step needs to be taken to address this from an employer’s perspective.
Creating a certain mood within a working space is integral to motivating employees. For business owners, it can increase employee productivity. Glass walls or partitions can be a great addition to an office space. Installing them creates a natural divide to give people privacy and quiet. However, they still give the feel of an open space.
Modern ways to work
Staff want comfort in their workplace now, having spent so many months at home during the pandemic changed the way people saw the workplace. Many businesses are moving away from the traditional work surface of desk and chair. The aim is to create a more relaxed environment to aid creativity and teamwork.
Sofas and lounge furniture are great for rest breaks, relaxation or brainstorm areas. However, they might not necessarily be good for long hours of work. They can have comfort and health implications if used for too long.
Biophilic design is also important, the process of bringing the outdoors inside has had a proven calming effect on employees. It can be as simple as providing more natural light, investing in diverse plant life or creating outdoor spaces that opens up existing office space. The days of harsh strip lighting and dull surroundings are set to be a thing of the past.
Standing up at work is becoming increasingly popular as the nation becomes more health-conscious. Therefore it’s always good to give people various options.
A question of light
Maximising natural light in the workplace is known to boost morale and in turn productivity. When it is not possible to have windows close to the workspace, there are other ways to make best use of what is available.
LED lights are proving to be very popular in modern offices as they have many health benefits. Lamps can also be fun and functional in an office space where certain areas need more lighting than others.
Try to keep wall colours light and fresh. This will make the overall space seem lighter, airier and larger than darks or vibrant bright colours.
For office design inspiration, APSS has more than 25 years’ experience providing exceptional workspaces across the East Midlands.
Armsons Barlow raise £2,000 for Derby charity
Derby-based project managers, construction cost consultants and building surveyors Armsons Barlow have raised £2,000 for local charity the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance at their annual golf day.
Members of the Armsons Barlow team visited the company’s warehouse on Ascot Drive in the city to present the cheque for £2,000 to the charity.
The money raised will help people across the city suffering from food poverty and help to provide long term solutions to deprivation and poverty.
The funds were raised at Armsons Barlow’s charity golf day, which was held at Kedleston Park Golf Club in Derby. 14 teams of four comprising guests from the business community and Armsons Barlow staff took part in the tournament.
Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance was initially created to respond to the needs of people at the start of the COVID pandemic in March 2020, but since then has progressed to deliver substantial work across the city.
In 2022, the charity distributed more than 20,000 food parcels and supported 22,000 adults and 17,000 children.
Commenting on the cheque presentation, Joshua Toon, director of Armsons Barlow, said: “It has been a very positive experience to visit Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance and see their valuable work at first hand.
“The charity has done fantastic work over the past three years to help tackle poverty in Derby, and we hope the £2,000 raised at our annual golf day will enable them to provide their valuable services to even more local people.”
Paul Brookhouse, senior manager at Derby Food 4 Thought, added: “We are currently giving away over 2,000 food parcels a month and due to a drop in food donations, are currently spending a significant amount on purchasing food to meet demand.
“The £2,000 will help us ensure that fresh fruit and vegetables are still provided as part of our ambient food parcels. We are so grateful for the support.”
“Strong” year for Dunelm
Dunelm has hailed “another strong performance” for its latest financial year, despite a backdrop of increasing input cost prices and high general inflation.
In a trading update the Leicestershire homewares retailer reported robust sales of £1.64bn in a challenging consumer environment – 6% higher than the year prior and nearly 50% higher than the last full year before any impact from Covid.
Meanwhile, profit before tax for the full year is expected to be slightly ahead of current analysts’ consensus of £188m.
Nick Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The breadth and relevance of our product offer has continued to resonate with our home-loving customers over the last quarter of the year. This has been reflected in our strong financial performance despite the challenging broader consumer backdrop.
“Against this backdrop, our commitment to value is stronger than ever. During the quarter we lowered prices on over 1,000 lines, and our customers were also able to take advantage of great offers in our Summer Sale.
“We have a strong business model, with committed colleagues and suppliers, who strive every day to improve our customer proposition. We continue to focus on further strengthening our product mastery, developing our stores, enhancing our digital channels, and building out our marketing ecosystem, in order to create an even better experience for our customers. With these improvements to our customer proposition and business capabilities we see a compelling opportunity for sustainable and profitable growth and are confident about the future.”
Pendragon hails robust first half performance
Car retailer Pendragon has “delivered another robust performance” in the first half of 2023, according to a trading update for the six months ended 30 June.
Growth in gross profit more than offset underlying pressures of interest rate rises and ongoing cost inflation.
As a result, the Nottingham-based business expects to report a 9% increase in underlying profit before tax to £36.5m for the first half of 2023, growing from £33.5m in the same period of 2022.
Bill Berman, Chief Executive of Pendragon PLC, said: “Pendragon has continued to perform well, demonstrating the continued success of our strategy. Increased sales across all divisions and higher profitability more than offset cost pressures, resulting in a strong cash position.
“While we expect high inflation and interest rates to persist in the second half of the year, our resilient model means we are well-placed to perform in line with Boards expectations.”
Planning application submitted for major Clay Cross town centre improvements
A planning application for major regeneration in Clay Cross town centre has now been submitted.
North East Derbyshire District Council and the Clay Cross Town Board have made progress over recent months, culminating in the planning application for the Town Centre Regeneration project.
The planning application has been submitted as part of the next steps in delivering the £24.1m Clay Cross Town Deal and is a momentous occasion as the reality of the project draws nearer for residents and businesses.
A public consultation was undertaken to gauge opinions of the proposed plans following on from ongoing face-to-face engagement with local businesses over the last few months. Feedback from this has been positive and has been taken into consideration as part of the ongoing project to help shape the future of Clay Cross.
The planning application is made up of four key elements in the proposals, which are:
- The creation of a new Town Square which will become a public space to be used for markets, seasonal events and as a public forum.
- Food and Beverage and Leisure Units – the route from Broadleys to the public square to be lined with artisan food companies, leisure operators and cafes and restaurants.
- The Clocktower (Derbyshire Adult Education Centre) – to make the best use of the existing building, enhancing existing uses and bringing the library into the heart of the town.
- The “Block A” (working title) proposal – Repurposing an existing historic building with the aim of providing a quality food and drink offering and leisure opportunities, directly overlooking the public square.
Showcase sustainable developments at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
With the nomination deadline for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 approaching quickly, there are 10 categories open for entry, providing a perfect opportunity to shine a light on outstanding businesses, teams and projects at the annual event celebrating the region’s property and construction industry.
One such category is Sustainable Development of the Year, which can be entered here.
The winner of this category will be the scheme that has displayed a true commitment to sustainable development in the East Midlands, whether this be in an environmental development, social enterprise or a scheme which will benefit the region in other ways, so long as it benefits the future generation. Schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.
Last year, Galliford Try Construction scooped the award, for Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park, beating out stiff competition from Scenariio, for the refurbished HQ for LKAB Minerals, and Chesterfield Borough Council and Whittam Cox Architects, for Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.
Judges said: “We felt that the building whilst sustainable in its own right could play a larger role in the longer-term sustainability of Nottingham by balancing people, planet and prosperity!”
Jon Marston, Managing Director of Building East Midlands, Galliford Try Construction, said: “We are immensely proud of the work that has taken place at Broad Marsh Car Park, and the recognition it has received at the East Midlands Bricks Awards is just reward for the efforts of the team.”
With this year’s Sustainable Development of the Year award once again sponsored by Viridis Building Services, a spokesperson for the company said: “We are proud to sponsor the Sustainable Development of the Year award at the East Midlands Bricks Awards for another year. We promote this award in particular because of its relation to us as a business and how it fits within our values. Sustainability isn’t just what we do – it’s who we are and to be able to live this through this award makes us proud to be involved.
“Through this award we are ensuring the East Midlands is leading the market through sustainable design. We understand the passion from those involved towards this award and we know the great pride in delivering these outcomes. Therefore, to present this award allows us to promote this type of design and ensure innovative, collaborative and pragmatic solutions are provided. This not only helps promote those involved in the design stages, but also to promote those who will be using the spaces in the future.
“We look forward to seeing this year’s entries to the Sustainable Development of the Year award and attending the event to reveal the winner. We feel the awards bring the East Midlands together, not just within the Sustainable Development of the Year category, but for all the categories – we are proud to be part of the East Midlands Bricks Awards to promote the area and molding its future.”
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region.
Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active Estate Agent, Commercial Development of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, and Residential Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here.
The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
To be held at:
Submit your nominations for Sustainable Development of the Year here before entries close on Thursday 31 August.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region.
Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active Estate Agent, Commercial Development of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, and Residential Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here.
The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
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:
Chartered surveying practice snapped up by Gateley
Gateley, the professional services group, has acquired Richard Julian and Associates Limited, trading as RJA Consultants, in a deal worth up to £6 million.
The deal includes, subject to certain revenue targets being achieved, an earn out based on the EBITDA achieved in each twelve-month period expiring 31 March 2024 and 31 March 2025.
Established by founder and Managing Director, Richard Julian, RJA is a chartered surveying practice, providing quantity surveying and project management services across a variety of construction sectors. It specialises in the provision of these services to organisations that deliver affordable housing, a resilient sector which is underpinned by high levels of grants to support delivery of the Government’s housing targets.
Richard Julian and directors Steven Collin, Liza Julian, Hardeep Kooner and Chris Clubb, will continue to work as part of the RJA management team post acquisition.
The company employs approximately 50 staff based in Nottingham and Leicester.
In the financial year ended 31 March 2023, RJA generated revenue of c.£3.9 million, corporatised profit before tax of c.£0.8 million and organic revenue growth of 65% against the prior year.
Rod Waldie, Chief Executive Officer of Gateley, said: “I am delighted to welcome the team from RJA, who are already well known by our colleagues in Gateley Smithers Purslow.
“There are common threads between the two teams and across our Property Platform, bringing opportunities to increase market share, as well as target new markets and workstreams. They have considerable expertise in the construction market and specifically in resilient sectors such as affordable housing and insurance services.
“RJA has a strong track record of growth, excellent relationships with clients, a dedicated and positive culture and an ambitious management team, qualities which closely match Gateley’s business and culture.”
Nottingham firm named as one of the first retail partners of premium Korean car manufacturer
Nottingham-based Pendragon PLC has been chosen as one of the first retail partners of premium Korean manufacturer, Genesis.
Further building its Stratstone brand portfolio, which includes manufacturers such as Aston Martin, BMW and Mercedes, Pendragon will operate the Genesis Leeds, York, Sheffield market area from January 2024.
With the agreement signed last week, over the Genesis Scottish Open, the move will support Genesis’ expansion plans to grow capacity and capabilities for test drives, sales and service operations, ahead of further expansion into other European markets.
Bill Berman, Chief Executive Officer of Pendragon PLC, said: “We are delighted to add Genesis to our Stratstone roster and be able to offer Pendragon customers another luxurious and sustainable brand from next year. As the fastest-growing luxury car brand in the world, we are looking forward to being an integral part of Genesis’ continued success and its plans to become an EV leader in the UK.”
Lawrence Hamilton, Managing Director for Genesis Motor Europe, said: “This is an exciting milestone for Genesis in the UK. Earlier this year, we announced we would be expanding the Genesis footprint and we are delighted to now have Pendragon on board who share our vision for the future.
“With Pendragon now officially part of the Genesis family from the start of 2024, it means we can deliver our unique Korean customer service directly to our new and existing customers in Leeds, York and Sheffield.”
New homes and retail offer to breathe new life into Newark
Work to transform the empty former M&S building on Stodman Street in Newark into an attractive hub made up of homes and retail units is nearing its start date. The project will breathe new life into the heart of the town when completed.
Stepnell has been appointed to undertake the demolition and mobilisation of the project.
Plans will see the empty building made into an attractive hub made up of 29 high-quality residential homes in the heart of Newark which will provide a new town centre housing offer with a sympathetic but eye-catching and vibrant design.
There will also be two refurbished retail units which will improve Newark’s retail offer with the aim of attracting more people into the town centre.
Matt Lamb, Director of Planning and Growth at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Like us, our local community care passionately about the health of our town centre and we’re doing all we can to support businesses and find new ways to bring people to the town in challenging times.
“The loss of a town centre Marks and Spencer store left a significant vacant building within the town which was generating little interest from new tenants.
“This development enables a new approach, bringing a high-quality residential scheme into the town centre for private let and sale, alongside two new ground floor commercial spaces, with smaller footprints to make them more attractive to retailers.
“The scheme will bring more residents and footfall into the Town Centre, acting as a catalyst for a revitalised and thriving town centre.”
Tom Cartledge, Co-Chair of the Newark Town Board, said: “Everyone wants a town centre that is thriving where living, working, shopping, leisure and enjoyment can all merge together.
“This is an opportunity to transform a large empty building into something that will be hugely beneficial to the health of our high street in the future. Across the country retail in towns and cities is in decline which is why we’ve put this project together to inject new life in the area with the aim to make the heart of Newark a great place to live and shop.
“While Newark performs well compared to the UK average for numbers of vacant town centre retail units, it’s important that we continue to do all we can to attract people. Currently, the average vacancy rate for England Town Centres is 13.9% while Newark equates to 9.54%.
“There are many other projects running alongside the development including Newark Cultural Heart which has already brought people to the town centre through creating exciting events and programmes and the Stodman Street work is an extra step in encouraging more to visit, stay longer and take advantage of the activities and hospitality on offer.”
Tom Sewell, Regional Director at Stepnell, said: “We are proud to be working as a complete construction partner with the council on such a fantastic scheme for the people of Newark. As well as facilitating the demolition and mobilisation works, we will also be making a significant investment back into the local community.
“Our team at Stepnell will do this via targeted regional spending, employability programmes with local schools and colleges, and sustainability initiatives to reduce our carbon impact throughout our work on the project.
“We understand the power regeneration projects like this have to provide more opportunities for local people and to develop a more vibrant town centre. Our work aims to reflect the same value, so it is a privilege to bring our construction expertise to the development of this new and exciting town hub.”
Despite a vigorous search and engagement process where a long list of national traders had been approached to find a retailer to occupy the store as it is, no one has stepped forward as the current unit is too large for most traders in a town centre the size of Newark. Cost increases were predicted but will not affect the ability to deliver the project which continues to be supported by government grants.
Work on the site is set to take place in late summer this year. The construction phase is likely to begin around Christmas 2023 with completion in summer 2025.
The Stodman Street development is one of many projects being funded by Newark Towns Board’s successful application to the Government’s Towns Fund initiative. It is being delivered by Newark and Sherwood District Council whose aim it is to breathe new life in Newark town centre. Other projects include the £3m restoration of Newark Castle and a £2.1m Cultural Heart project aiming to provide a varied and exciting events programme alongside investments to improve the town centre even further.
