With nominations set to close on Friday 15th August for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, Leicester businesses are being encouraged to enter the prestigious event. Mike Denby, Director for Inward Investment and Place at Invest In Leicester, said: “The East Midlands Bricks Awards are a great way to highlight the innovation and high standards of Leicester and Leicestershire’s construction industry, a sector that we are incredibly proud of. “That’s why Invest in Leicester is encouraging all our partners and businesses to get involved, as celebrating these achievements will motivate future projects that will ultimately benefit our residents and the wider economy.” The East Midlands Bricks Awards, which will take place on Thursday 2nd October at Nottingham’s famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrates the successes of the property and construction industry in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Entering a company or project for the awards is a great way to showcase your successes, recognise your team’s efforts, bolster morale, and reach our audience of over 60,000 business readers, while also offering a chance to connect with respected professionals. It’s completely free to enter and making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the awards ceremony and networking event on Thursday 2nd October, which will welcome Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands, as keynote speaker. Take this chance to spotlight exceptional new commercial and residential developments, those demonstrating a leading position in sustainability and design excellence; gain recognition as outstanding developers, architects, contractors, and agents, as well as for significant deals; and ensure efforts in corporate social responsibility are rewarded, from eco initiatives to charity work, to social value schemes.

To make a nomination for the 10th annual East Midlands Bricks Awards, please click here, or on the category headings below.

Categories include:

• Contractor of the Year
• Developer of the Year
• Architects of the Year
• Most Active Agent
• Deal of the Year
• Residential Development of the Year
• Sustainable Development of the Year
• Commercial Development of the Year
• Excellence in Design
• Responsible Business of the Year
• Overall Winner

All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, click here to secure yours.

Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the exceptional companies and projects in our region.

New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements.

The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Tickets: Available here Dress code: Standard business attire Thanks to our sponsors:                                                                                          

To be held at:

The UK Government has confirmed that a winding-up order has been issued for NRS Healthcare, a prominent supplier of community healthcare equipment. This follows reports of the company’s financial instability and imminent compulsory liquidation. The court has appointed the Official Receiver, Gareth Jonathan Allen, as Liquidator, with assistance from PwC’s Mark James Tobias Banfield and other Special Managers to support the process.

NRS Healthcare, which employed around 1,500 staff and provided essential healthcare equipment to the NHS and over 40 councils across England and Northern Ireland, is now under liquidation. The company supplied products such as wheelchairs, hoists, hospital beds, and fall-monitoring pendants, alongside offering maintenance and repair services.

The Official Receiver has a duty to investigate the cause of NRS Healthcare’s financial difficulties and the actions of its directors. Customers and suppliers affected by the liquidation are advised to contact the Special Managers to register as creditors and submit their claims for any unpaid goods or services.

With the liquidation process underway, stakeholders are urged to complete the necessary documentation to ensure their claims are processed.

Two hospitals in Northamptonshire are set to reduce their workforce by up to 800 positions as part of a cost-cutting strategy. The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN), which includes Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals, announced it is pursuing a Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) aimed at reducing salaries and overall operational expenses.

The voluntary resignation programme has already led to the departure of 329 staff members, with the remaining 450 expected to leave over the coming months. The scheme is designed to lower workforce costs without directly impacting patient care, as employees in patient-facing roles are excluded from the scheme.

The hospitals have confirmed that the plan, which aims to save significant sums in wages and agency costs, is progressing ahead of schedule. While this initiative is part of a broader effort to cut costs amid increasing financial pressure on the NHS, the trade union UNISON has expressed concerns that these job cuts may exacerbate existing pressures on the healthcare system.

With staffing costs making up about 60% of the hospitals’ annual expenditure, UHN is focused on reducing its workforce as part of its broader strategy to manage financial sustainability without sacrificing care quality.