Steel firm snaps up substantial Sherwood Park warehouse space

Tess Egginton
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Steel firm snaps up substantial Sherwood Park warehouse space
Acting on behalf of private investor clients, Tim Gilbertson, director of FHP Property Consultants, has sold substantial warehouse space at Sherwood Park, Nottingham to Parkside Steel, which will facilitate their expansion and relocation from their current unit on the estate. The building sits just off Junction 27 of the M1 motorway and offers a mix of storage and production space with two storey offices augmented by extensive car parking and separate delivery yard. The deal concluded sees the sale of just under 60,000 sq ft of space, enabling Parkside Steel to expand and relocate as their business continues to grow. Tim Gilbertson said: “I was delighted to see this sale go through on Sherwood Park which remains an attractive and sought after location just off Junction 27 of the M1 motorway. “It was a pleasure to deal with our purchasers, Jack Audley of Parkside Steel throughout and as ever it is good to see a local company growing and expanding. “Equally, my vendor clients were delighted with the disposal in a deal where both parties behaved impeccably and despite having some hurdles to cross with the sale, both did their utmost to achieve a common goal of a transaction in the simplest manner. “Thank you to my clients for this instruction and I wish Parkside Steel well.”
Jack Audley of Parkside Steel said: “Parkside Steel has been based on Sherwood Park since 2006 and with our continued growth it became clear that space was going to be our biggest hurdle. Byron House presented the perfect solution and will allow us to keep up with customer demand as we expand into other markets. “Opportunities like this don’t come around often, especially for privately owned family businesses such as ours, so our thanks go to Tim Gilbertson at FHP for his help in reaching a deal both parties were happy with. Our aim is to be the market leader in steel supply and processing and Byron House means we have a clear roadmap to making that happen.”

Workplace expansion development moves ahead at Space City

Stuart Pearcey
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Workplace expansion development moves ahead at Space City
The plan to expand innovative workspace at Space City Leicester is taking shape with Leicester City Council’s expansion of its existing Dock and Dock 2 workspace hub with two new Dock-style office buildings and a terrace of high-quality manufacturing spaces. The steel frame of the first of the new buildings in place, with construction of the entire scheme due to be complete by spring 2024. The two new offices will provide space for up to 45 businesses across 4,000sqm, with the purpose-built industrial units providing an additional 2,000sqm of workspace across nine units. A range of energy efficiency measures will mean the new buildings will be net carbon zero. These include roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps, super insulation, and low-energy LED lighting. The new buildings will require no gas heating. Twelve chargers will also be installed for electric vehicles in a new parking area. The £16.5million project is supported by £13million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) is also providing £3.5million towards the project from Enterprise Zone retained business rates. Andy Reed OBE, LLEP Co-Chair, said: “Investing in creating a sustainable ecosystem for regional businesses is at the heart of our Economic Growth Strategy. The high occupancy rate at the existing Dock buildings gives us great confidence that dozens more exciting new businesses will move into these new energy-efficient workspaces when they open next year.” The new buildings have been designed to complement the look and feel of the original Dock workspace buildings which they are being built next to. Once complete, the new buildings will become part of an expanded Dock campus, which is managed by the city council. The existing Dock buildings are home to around 50 businesses, with 90 per cent of the available workspaces currently occupied. The new development is part of Space City Leicester, one of the largest and most connected Enterprise Zones for space-related activities in the UK. It will be home to space research, production, manufacture and development as well as non-space related knowledge economy businesses, those working towards decarbonisation, innovative start-ups and established businesses looking for grow on space.

Biomass business snapped up in multi-million pound acquisition

Tess Egginton
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Biomass business snapped up in multi-million pound acquisition
Flush Energy Limited has looked to Lincolnshire for its first acquisition, as the start-up business seeks growth opportunities in the biomass sector. Flush Energy has secured a multi-million pound funding package comprising private equity investment as well as debt finance to assist with its growth plans, following its acquisition of the business and assets of 3F Pellets Limited (in administration), a manufacturer and supplier of wood-based pellet products including biomass heating pellets. Flush Energy is now focussed on returning the Lincolnshire-based plant to production and targeting further acquisition opportunities. Led by corporate partner, Philip Ashworth, a multi-disciplinary team at Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP comprising Nicole Waldron (corporate), Samuel Peake (property), Nick Wilson (employment) and Fiona Phillips (tax), advised Flush Energy on the acquisition from joint administrators, Andy Pear and Milan Vuceljic of Moorfields Advisory. Andrew Jackson also advised Flush Energy on the private equity investment and debt finance package. The insolvency and reorganisation team at international law firm Clyde & Co LLP, led by partner Andrew Foster and assisted by Tristan Cox-Chung (legal director), Andrew Robertson (senior associate) and Lily Pidge (associate), were instructed by the joint administrators on the acquisition. Clyde & Co’s corporate team, led by partners Simon Gamblin and Rob Lowe, provided legal advice to the debt funders. Grant Lodge, CEO of Flush Energy, said: “We are delighted to have concluded the acquisition of the Lincoln pellet plant and are making swift progress with getting it back into production and yielding RHI income. “We look forward to continuing to work with Philip Ashworth and his excellent team at Andrew Jackson Solicitors, who we expect to be a key part of our team, helping us with our growth plans in the coming years.” Philip Ashworth said: “We are absolutely delighted to have assisted the team at Flush Energy on its first acquisition. It has been a complex transaction involving various regulatory issues, raising private equity and debt funding. Flush Energy is now well placed to grow the business, which offers a solid customer base from a fantastic location. “It has been a pleasure to act for Grant and his team and we are confident that they will make significant in-roads into the biomass sector over the coming months.”

Last chance to enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – nominations close TODAY

Tess Egginton
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Last chance to enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – nominations close TODAY
With nominations closing TODAY (Thursday 31 August) for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, this is your last chance to shine a light on property and construction businesses, professionals, and projects in our region! An opportunity to reward the hard work of your team, boost morale, and showcase your successes, the Bricks celebrate the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of the East Midlands, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes. The glittering awards ceremony revealing winners will take place on Thursday 28 September, at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, also offering the perfect chance to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will additionally feature Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, as keynote speaker. Nominations for the awards close TODAY. 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:
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000. After winning a trio of awards at last year’s event, 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. I congratulate all those involved for their achievement in winning these three awards.”
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:

Businesses urged to give the gift of Hope in new charity partnership led by Derby agency

Tess Egginton
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Businesses urged to give the gift of Hope in new charity partnership led by Derby agency

Businesses are being urged to give families the gift of ‘Hope’ in a new charity partnership spearheaded by a Derby PR agency.

The me&dee charity has launched a new sponsorship scheme allowing businesses to give families ‘Hope’ – a special keepsake elephant with a voice recorder in the zip-up pouch contained in its ear, which has been used by hundreds of families to record poignant last messages of loved ones, often children.

The device allows families with a potentially life-limiting diagnosis to record the voice of a loved one, providing huge comfort in times of bereavement. The elephant has even been used to record the voice of a very ill boy’s snoring, which his mum listened to after he had sadly passed away.

Now the charity is urging businesses to lend support with a 12-month sponsorship of the adorable elephant, with the offer of one Hope embroidered with a business’s logo as the ideal friendly companion around the office.

The first business to offer sponsorship of Hope is Derby-based Penguin PR.

Maria Hanson MBE said: “In times of bereavement, having Hope the elephant can be enormously comforting to families.

“Hope has been so popular with our families since we first started giving her five years ago. Families started putting little notes in her ears which gave me the idea that we could include a voice recorder. It was prompted by one of the people we help who said what they dreaded most was that they would forget how their loved one’s voice or laugh sounded.

“Since then providing Hope has turned into one of the most powerful things we can do for people. We have had family members recording their heartbeat into Hope’s voice recorder so that if the worst happens, that comforting record of the person who has left us can live on.

“We give Hope too all of our families who are facing short, uncertain or challenging futures. We recently lost a little boy at Burton Hospital. His mum wanted to record his snoring, so that she can hug Hope and listen to him snoring.

“We are now working closely with families at Royal Derby and Burton hospitals who really appreciate being given a Hope keepsake when they are going through tough times together. She is much, much more than a cuddly toy. She helps families keep memories alive, and you can’t put a price on that. And if you get businesses to the office, you might be able to talk about ‘the elephant in the room’!”

Simon Burch, director of Penguin PR, said: “We love working with me&dee and we are delighted to sponsor this worthwhile charity with our sponsorship of Hope. She looks very smart with her Penguin PR logo emblazoned on the front and it’s good to think we are helping families by providing another 12 Hopes through a year’s sponsorship scheme.

“It would be great to see other companies following suit and ordering their own branded ‘Hopes’ too – anyone’s company logo would look great!

“We know how much it means to Maria and her charity to know they can provide comfort to families too.”

Gifting a Hope for 12 months with the option of a specially branded keepsake with your company logo costs £35 a month.

Law firm’s sustainability initiatives – steps towards a greener future?

Michael Fisher
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Law firm’s sustainability initiatives – steps towards a greener future?

Climate conscious law firm Sills & Betteridge LLP are delighted to announce the introduction of a range of energy saving, carbon emission reducing initiatives. Its largest undertaking is the recent installation of 79 solar panels to its central Lincoln Head Office with the aim of generating 1/3 of the site’s total energy usage – for 4 months of the year, solar energy will fully power the 4 floor office. Derrick Denton, Director of UK Alternative Energy of North Hykeham in the city who managed the project said of the install “With Sills and Betteridge now occupying the whole of Aquis House, the challenge was to find a solar solution to help reduce the energy use within the building. A total of 79 x 405 W Canadian solar panels giving a system size 30.37kw, 3 x 10kw Solis inverters have been installed using a flat roof mounting system. This system has been equally split throughout the building and connected to the consumer units within the plant room. This system should see 25,000kwh of electricity generated each year and should see a saving of around six tons of CO2 every year. All the inverters are online, and the system can be displayed and monitored from anywhere in the world”. Another investment has been the purchase of a new MG ZS Electric Hatchback car, bought to replace one of the firm’s diesel vehicles. It will be used by members of the firm to attend client appointments, external meetings and events. A charging point has been installed at Aquis House which clients are welcome to use when they are when visiting for appointments. The firm aspires to have a fully electric fleet by 2025. Remote working and online video meetings are encouraged to help reduce avoidable travel across the region. Such methods became very popular with both clients and employees, further to their introduction during lockdown. Digital and paper-light file management and document storage are another efficiency that the firm is embracing, to cut down on paper consumption and the cost of print and archiving. Document management system iManage is being rolled out across the firm to support its main practice management system. Even the firm’s website www.sillslegal.co.uk is green, as verified by The Green Web Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation which tracks how much of the internet runs on green energy. Developed by DBS Internet Marketing, the site minimises the use of resources (and therefore energy) through quick download speeds and user-friendly navigation on all classes of device – and their hosting partner OVH used either renewable or low-carbon energy for 77% of its power last year with plans to increase it to 100%. Chief Executive Officer of Sills & Betteridge, Martyn Hall said “Like many law firms, we are working hard to understand the impact of our operations and working methods on the environment and are actively seeking to reduce our overall carbon footprint with the initiatives and best practices outlined above. Our team have welcomed the new projects and we look forward to introducing more across the wider firm.”  

East Midlands business confidence lowest in UK

Tess Egginton
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East Midlands business confidence lowest in UK
Business confidence in the East Midlands fell five points during August to 25%, the lowest reading of all UK nations and regions, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.  Companies in the region reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 13 points at 24%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up two points to 27%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 25%.  East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as investing in their team (44%), diversifying into new markets (32%) and evolving their offer (28%). The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.  A net balance of 27% of businesses in the region expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 12 points on last month. Overall UK business confidence increased to its highest level since February last year, jumping 10 points to 41% in August. All 11 regions and nations reported a positive business confidence reading in August, with nine regions and nations reporting a higher confidence reading month-on-month. Optimism in the UK economy also increased in August by 16 points to 37%, and the number of businesses expecting an increase in their trading prospects rose by three points to 46%. Businesses in London reported the highest levels of business confidence at 52% (up 20 points month-on-month), its strongest reading in 14 months. Firms in the South East reported the second highest reading at 47% (up 17 points month-on-month), followed by those in the South West at 46% (up 12 points month on month). The construction, retail and service sectors all saw a rise in business confidence in August. Services gained 12 points to reach a 22-month high of 42%, while retail firms were up nine points to 44%, an 18-month high. Construction firms’ confidence also increased by 11 points to a four-month high of 42%. In contrast, manufacturing confidence fell for a second consecutive month with a 4-point decline to 30%, taking it to the lowest level since April 2023.  Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Despite a slip in confidence in the East Midlands this month, businesses remain focused on the future. They continue to identify opportunities for growth, in particular focusing on developing their teams. “In order to ensure they have the capital to attract, retain and train talent, businesses need to keep a close eye on their cash flow as we go through the latter half of the year. Lloyds Bank will be by the side of the region’s firms to support them with the financial tools they need as they invest in their workforce and the future.” Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “The bounce in economic optimism this month is the standout point. Our analysis shows that businesses felt relief that interest rates may be reaching their peak, alongside hopes that measures to tackle inflation are having an impact. “With trading prospects remaining stable, and hiring and wage intentions also rising, the macro environment for small businesses and those outside the manufacturing sector is more upbeat. “From the data, large firms and manufacturers are experiencing some degree of caution, which is likely to reflect the wider global economic environment and, for manufacturing, the rotation of spending towards services.”

SLG secures four new sites as Midlands portfolio expands

Tess Egginton
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SLG secures four new sites as Midlands portfolio expands

The Strategic Land Group (SLG) has continued its expansion into the Midlands, agreeing terms for land promotion agreements for four new sites totalling 76 acres.

Its latest four sites span Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire and, combined, could deliver more than 300 new homes and 440,000 sq ft of commercial space.

SLG is already actively promoting three sites in the region, including a scheme in Stone, which would deliver 130 new homes, a site in Market Drayton where planning is in for 125 properties and a potential scheme in Newcastle-under-Lyme consisting of circa 90 homes. All three are now proposed housing allocations in emerging Local Plans.

Headed up by Managing Director Paul Smith, SLG is currently working with a portfolio of 16 sites.

Paul said: “We have seen considerable growth in our portfolio across the Midlands during the last 12 months as landowners seek to maximise the value of their land or diversify holdings that are no longer used for farming. Developers are still keen to acquire well-located sites bordering established towns and villages, particularly given the shortage of suitable sites. 

“The housing crisis has reached an acute level and it is more important than ever that councils and developers work together to build new homes in the right places. Failure to do so not only has a huge impact on the young and their aspirations to own their own home, but also carries implications for economic growth, particularly in less prosperous areas.”

Nottingham training provider MP Skills apprenticeship all ‘good’, says Ofsted

Michael Fisher
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Nottingham training provider MP Skills apprenticeship all ‘good’, says Ofsted
Eastwood-based MP Skills, a training provider for the mineral products industry, has been rated a ‘Good Provider’ by Ofsted inspectors. The recent three-day inspection covered several aspects of the provision of the Level 2 mineral processing mobile and static plant apprenticeship. The inspection included the apprentice learner experience, course content, mentoring and safeguarding. Throughout the inspection the quality of education was reviewed along with behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership, and management of the apprenticeship. The inspection report noted:
  • Apprentices are enthusiastic about their courses.
  • Apprentices develop positive relationships with their learning mentors.
  • They benefit from a rich curriculum that is informed by the frequent conversations that MPQC staff have with a range of employers in the sector.
  • Leaders and managers use their extensive industry experience to select the course content that is most useful to apprentices.
  • Apprentices develop their knowledge and skills and become valued employees with several gaining promotion and additional responsibility.
  • Learning mentors provide opportunities for apprentices to visit a range of sites so that they can learn about environments, working practices and job roles across the whole sector.
  • Arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
  Commenting on the results, Neil Peacock, General Manager, MP Skills said, “This Ofsted result is testament to the hard work, specialist knowledge and commitment from our expert delivery learning mentors and assessors, plus our fantastic apprenticeship coordinator and management teams. We strive to provide excellent learner development and structured apprenticeship experience to support the needs of the wider industry over multiple employers, and I am incredibly proud of what we, as a business, have achieved. “In the ever-changing arena of competence development, it is vitally important that we value the contribution of good quality education and qualifications such as this apprenticeship. Setting industry standards is one of the key pillars of Minerals Matter, the mineral products sector’s approach to future skills and succession, and we work reciprocally with them to ensure qualifications have a pivotal role in the journey to a safer, more effective workforce.” “This apprenticeship and the success stories which have emerged from the candidates that have undergone the programme, is down to the blended learning approach that we created to ensure we support the sector and manage expectations and complexities of working with multiple employers both large and SME, who forward their employees to the programme. “ The Ofsted report also commented on the use of classroom and virtual formats, ongoing training, mentoring and pastoral care of candidates. Task setting, a suite of e-learning and the use of external learning opportunities enrich candidates’ CPD development. Simon Smith, Operations Director, describes his experience of the apprenticeship, “As an SME, Longwater Gravel knows that investing in our employees, by providing them with high quality training and assessments for which they gain nationally recognised qualifications is vital to the success of the business. Apprenticeships are a much-enhanced investment, for example the Mineral Processing Mobile and Static Plant Operator Apprenticeship, developed and delivered by the team at MP Skills, includes a fantastic programme of training which not only ensures that apprentices become competent operators, but also enables them to gain a much wider understanding and appreciation of the industry and all the opportunities it has to offer”. Sharan Ghattora, HR Project Manager for Day Group Limited added, “Working with MP Skills on apprenticeship programmes has supported Day Group to be able to provide structured training which helps apprentices to develop and to be able to get to see processes from start to finish on the job. This has helped our apprentices add to our organisation making it more effective, productive, and competent whilst also bringing new ideas and knowledge from their learnings. “The experience working alongside MP Skills has been seamless as they are great at communicating, organised and supportive to not only the apprentices but also to the managers. It is a really rewarding experience seeing apprentices develop professionally and personally throughout the course”. MP Skills is currently mentoring its eighth cohort since 2019, with 14 apprentices currently on the programme, working with five companies. A new apprentice cohort begins in September. “We offer the opportunity to companies in the sector to place apprentices on our programme every March and September, but also will work flexibly with employers should there be enough to start further cohorts outside these enrolment times. This consistency is important in driving up knowledge and opportunity and knowing that our programme has this Ofsted endorsement further underpins its value”, added Neil.

Derby-based large format print, graphic and signage firm MX Display received heartfelt thanks from Derbyshire hospice

Michael Fisher
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Derby-based large format print, graphic and signage firm MX Display received heartfelt thanks from Derbyshire hospice
Derby-based large format print, graphic and signage firm MX Display has received a delivery of birthday cakes from staff at a Derbyshire hospice. MX Display, which is based in Derby’s Meteor Business Park, was sent the surprise package of ice-topped muffins – after brightening up the interiors at Treetops Hospice and supporting the charity with its new branding. Staff at MX Display, which is based on Mansfield Road, created brand-new fascia signs and window graphics and installed them at a total of 17 Treetops charity shops across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The firm donated all the signs to Treetops Hospice and members of the MX Display team installed them for free. The massive delivery of cakes to MX Display was organised to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Treetops Hospice, which offers nursing care and emotional support to adults    with life-limiting conditions, those who’ve been bereaved, and their loved ones. David Lister, Sales Director at MX Display, said: “We had no idea that we were going to receive the cakes from Treetops Hospice. It was a lovely surprise for staff, and we were very grateful. “The team enjoyed the treats, and it was extremely kind to be recognised for the support we have given Treetops over the years. “We helped with the charity’s rebrand and created new fascia signs and window graphics. We also worked to enhance the Wellbeing Space and counselling centre with murals and designs for patients to enjoy. “This charity is close to our hearts and that is why we wanted to support the outstanding work it does in our local community.” MX Display installed a large textured 3D mural of a tree in the hospice counselling centre. This is where clients come for bereavement and life-limiting illness counselling. The team also created a three-metre tall bespoke illustration of silver birch trees and birds for the hospice Wellbeing Space which welcomes hundreds of patients and visitors through its doors every month. Julie Heath, chief executive at Treetops Hospice, said: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone at MX Display for their incredible generosity. They’ve helped us to rebrand all our charity shops across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and the additional design work around our site provides a warm welcome to patients and visitors. “We are very proud of our new Treetops brand which we launched last year. At the time, we couldn’t justify the spend on big things like rebranding our shop signs. That’s when wonderful businesses like MX Display stepped in to help and we are extremely grateful for their support.” Since the launch of MX Display in 1996, the business has specialised in the production and installation of high-quality interior branding graphics, signage and displays across the East Midlands and beyond. It focuses on delivering high calibre print for a diverse range of clients including the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, the University of Derby, Chester Zoo, and blue-chip companies including Coca-Cola, Triumph Motorcycles and Liverpool Football Club. David said: “We love the fact that our work at MX Display is so varied, and we are always excited to bring unique designs and ideas to life. “We very much enjoy meeting clients and discussing our bespoke graphics and signage solutions and we thoroughly enjoy getting creative for people. Week by week, month by month, we continue to grow our client base across the UK.”
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