Manufacturing Growth Programme delivers over 1,250 East Midlands jobs as it targets new-look funding landscape
One of the UK’s most successful industrial business support programmes comes to an end in June after helping East Midlands manufacturers create or safeguard 1,255 jobs since 2016.
The Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), which is designed and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, will see funding from the European Regional Development Fund end and is now urging the Government and local authorities to ensure that tailored advice for manufacturing SMEs is quickly put in place.
A recent independent evaluation of the programme found that MGP has delivered excellent value for money and achieved real results.
The report revealed that over 95% of companies surveyed expected their business to grow in the next five years because of receiving support from the programme, with 63% identifying the development of new products as one of the key areas.
In addition, 63% said they had already seen an increase in turnover, while 52% cited improved productivity as the main outcome of the support received.
MGP was established in October 2016 to address some of the main barriers to growth experienced by SME manufacturers.
Since then, it has been providing grant funding for business improvement/capital projects and specialist mentoring from industry experts, with hundreds of companies assisted across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Greater Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Its dedicated team of Manufacturing Growth Managers has delivered more than £2.3m of grants that, in turn, have unlocked £3.978m of private sector investment. Importantly, it also generated, on average, £38,382 Gross Value Added (GVA) per employee in the region.
Jane Galsworthy, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Advice, said: “This independent evaluation further demonstrates that specialist business support programmes like the Manufacturing Growth Programme play a crucial role in supporting companies to overcome everyday challenges and barriers to growth.
“With the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) dividing up funding for business support at a very local level, there is a risk that East Midlands businesses will only be able to access generic, low-quality support which delivers lower value for money and less measurable impact on businesses and the economy.”
She went on to add: “We’ve proven over the last seven years what targeted support can do for SME manufacturers, helping them accelerate growth, improve productivity and create jobs. With funding for MGP coming to an end, this creates a significant hole in specialist high-quality support for smaller manufacturers.
“The results of our own survey of manufacturers revealed reinforces this, with 91% of companies admitting they do not know where to turn for business support once this programme completes.
“Manufacturing is critical to the UK economy as it accounts for around half of all UK exports and nearly 10% of the country’s overall economy (GVA). We are keen, therefore, to engage with government agencies and local authorities to see how funding can be best utilised to provide continued specialist support for manufacturers.”
Verity Davidge, director of Policy at Make UK, said: “Manufacturing is central to the future of the UK economy as a provider of high skill, high value jobs, especially in emerging technologies, digitalisation, and the move to net zero. SMEs are the absolute backbone of the sector employing the vast majority of people and it’s vital that support programmes are maintained to ensure they can grow and prosper.”
Armsons Barlow raises £2,000 for Derby charity with golf day
Derby-based project managers, construction cost consultants and building surveyors Armsons Barlow have staged their inaugural charity golf day in aid of local charity the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance.
14 teams of four comprising of guests from the business community and Armsons Barlow staff took part in the tournament, which was held at Kedleston Park Golf Club in Derby.
The winning team was Alex Ashton from Ivygrove Group, Jim Malkin from JMI Planning and Jamie Taylor and Ben Durkin from AJS Structural Design.
Other prizes were awarded for the longest drive, nearest the pin and the pink ball competition.
£2,000 has been raised for the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, which helps people across the city with food poverty and looks to provide long term solutions to deprivation and poverty.
Commenting on this year’s event, Jonathan Heath, director of Armsons Barlow, said: “It was great to welcome so many clients and fellow professionals to our inaugural charity golf day.
“We had a lot of fun and more importantly, raised a significant amount of money for our chosen charity.”
Clifton South Park & Ride access road works complete
After years of planning, the team behind the delivery of the new Nottingham development, Fairham, have successfully completed a complex infrastructure package.
The works, located off Mill Hill Island, were designed to improve access to Nottingham Express Transit (NET’s) Clifton South Park & Ride and create a brand-new signal-controlled entrance into the 606-acre neighbourhood, Fairham.
A key part of the project involved reconfiguring the road from Mill Hill Island to Clifton South Park & Ride with minimal disruption to its patrons. Owned by Tramlink Nottingham Limited, which operates the NET concession, the popular Clifton South Park & Ride is located just off the A453, with capacity for over 1,000 spaces.
Works began in September 2022. Despite terrible weather conditions and a tight timescale for delivery, a collaborative team approach by all stakeholders enabled Park & Ride patron’s access at all times and achieved practical completion of the works on 18 April 2023.
Furthermore, the new road leading into Fairham known as ‘Fairham Way’ was fully adopted by Nottingham County Highways upon hand over.
The access to and from the Clifton South tram Park & Ride remained open at all times to keep traffic flowing while works to create new earthworks, carriageway and signalisation took place.
O’Brien Contractors Ltd were awarded lead contactor status to complete the multi-million-pound infrastructure project by Clowes Developments who are delivering Fairham in partnership with Homes England, the government’s housing accelerator.
Tom O’Brien, director at O’Brien Contractors Ltd, said: “O’Brien Contractors are delighted that Clifton South Park and Ride access road and Fairham’s brand new signalled access road have been handed over on programme.
“This has been a team effort from the outset, by taking an open and honest collaborative approach, we have delivered a complex package of works which we are all very proud of. I, along with everyone from O’Brien Contractors, look forward to hopefully working with stakeholders on future projects.”
The 606-acre site is in the process of becoming a whole new neighbourhood for Nottingham with 3,000 new homes, one million sq ft of employment space and 200 acres of open green space. The works form part of £100 million of infrastructure improvements scheduled for Fairham.
Tramlink is currently in talks with Clowes to offer a Green Travel Plan for commercial unit occupiers and has committed one free tram pass for occupiers of the first 1,000 homes delivered at Fairham.
Andrew Conroy, Chief Operating Officer at Tramlink, said: “Each day, our park & rides across Nottingham offer a great solution for those living outside the city centre who want a convenient and more sustainable way to access the city. And, our Clifton South Park & Ride is no exception.
“It allows drivers living in and around Clifton and further afield to park their cars and use our trams to avoid busy rush-hour traffic on the roads or to get around the city cheaper.
“The recent infrastructure project delivered by O’Brien Contractors Ltd and Clowes Developments marks an exciting step for the people of Clifton and the many new homeowners who will call it home when the new Fairham site launches.”
As well as new homes and employment space at the new Fairham site, there will be a neighbourhood centre plus new educational, community and sports and leisure facilities. There will also be a protected future route for the NET tram.
Ali Malik, director at Clowes Developments, said: “The infrastructure works completed to date was all about creating an important new access for Fairham that will link to the whole of the development in the future. This will allow us to continue to build the internal road network to service the new homes, jobs, amenities and leisure facilities we’re creating at this major new neighbourhood for Nottingham.”
The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – “a fantastic platform to celebrate some of the most successful businesses, individuals and developments” in the property industry
With Business Link’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 picking up pace, East Midlands Chamber has highlighted the “fantastic platform” the event provides “to celebrate some of the most successful businesses, individuals and developments” in the region’s property and construction industry.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “The importance of the property and construction industry to the East Midlands can’t be understated, with a number of eye-catching developments popping up in our cities and towns.
“The Becketwell and Island Quarter regeneration sites in Derby and Nottingham, respectively, are among the most high-profile transformations, while development in the waterside areas of both Chesterfield and Leicester is breathing new life into these communities.
“The property and construction industry underpins critical infrastructure in our region, and while its businesses continue to face significant challenges resulting from the cost-of-doing-business crisis and deeply-entrenched skills shortages, they have displayed extraordinary resilience in tackling these head-on.
“It’s important we shout about our region’s achievements, and these awards once again provide a fantastic platform to celebrate some of the most successful businesses, individuals and developments in one of the East Midlands’ largest industries.”
To nominate 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:
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
- Overall winner
Nominations end 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. The event will also feature Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, as keynote speaker.Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – 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 County Cricket Club 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. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
First businesses win funding from Erewash Borough Council’s new Research and Development Grant scheme
Funding has been awarded to the first three successful bidders to Erewash Borough Council’s new Research and Development Grant scheme.
Precision Motorsport Components in Breaston, Medigarments in Long Eaton, and Comfa in Little Eaton were awarded the grants to help them develop their innovative projects.
The awards were made to the most promising submissions received in order to help them develop their innovative projects to be market ready.
Alex Breene, lead member for planning & regeneration, says: “These awards reflect the Council’s shared ambition with local businesses to deliver sustained economic growth for Erewash. We recognise economies globally and locally are both challenging and changing. Investment in Research & Development paves the way for a brighter future for the area.”
The Grant scheme has been designed to support local manufacturing enterprises in developing and piloting new products to help improve their businesses.
Erewash-based businesses can apply for grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 and are required to provide 33 per cent match-funding of the total value of each project.
The scheme, which launched in April and will run until early 2025, is being operated by Erewash Borough Council and is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Construction underway at new Maker Space
Construction work has commenced on a new Maker Space in the old Department for Work and Pensions building (DWP) in Sutton-in-Ashfield, breathing new life and opportunities into the disused building.
Situated in the heart of the town, High Pavement House is a new hub for business and innovation, offering modern business space alongside a community-operated workshop facility.
On the ground floor, Maker Space at High Pavement House is a place where people can learn, socialise and collaborate while accessing a range of machinery and equipment along with practical advice in a live workshop setting. It’s a place where anyone can create, build and learn new skills.
On the first floor is a modern, well-equipped business centre containing various lettable units complete with communal kitchen, meeting space, breakout areas and high-speed internet.
The new Makerspace Committee was formed in January – a group of local enthusiasts who will manage the creative space when it opens later this year. Funding is being invested from the Future High Streets Fund as part of the £6.2 million secured from government, to be used to transform Sutton Town Centre.
Executive Lead for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning, Cllr Matt Relf, visited the site as works commenced and said: “Today marks the start of something special in Ashfield. This new state of the art multifunctional space will create a hub in Ashfield and allow residents and businesses inclusive access to industrial equipment, skills and opportunities which may have been out of reach previously.
“Work is on track and we look forward to seeing the facilities when they are up and running in November and to welcoming new members who will be supported by the committee to make the most of this fantastic initiative.”
Fast Followers funding brings net zero boost to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Councils in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) have been awarded over £277,000 of funding to accelerate progress on the regions’ net zero ambitions. Fast Followers is part of Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme, designed to help places and businesses across the UK to accelerate the delivery of the transition to Net Zero.
The bid was led by Nottingham City Council in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, Gedling Borough Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Achieving net zero goals in the region requires partners to work together, and the Fast Followers funding will build on the positive collaboration between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to date.
Councillor Corall Jenkins, Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment, and Waste Services and Parks at Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that we’ve secured this funding to progress our net zero ambitions through partnership working. Local authorities have been ambitious in their plans to tackle the climate crisis and are well-placed to lead this agenda.
“Research shows that around a third of the UK’s emissions can be influenced by local authorities, but opportunities are often missed due to plans being developed and delivered separately. Our collaborative approach across D2N2 through the Fast Followers scheme will allow us to overcome these challenges to scale up our efforts to reach Nottingham’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2028.”
The project will be run through the Midlands Net Zero Hub (which is accountable to Nottingham City Council) and will be used to create a consistent and coordinated approach across the D2N2 region to supporting residents, businesses and communities to understand how their actions contribute to climate change. The aim is to embed long-term positive behaviour changes to reduce carbon emissions. Not only does taking climate action reduce carbon emissions, but can also bring benefits including reduced bills, cleaner air quality and improved health outcomes.
A Stakeholder Engagement Plan will be created which will build on successes that have already been achieved in partnership across the region. For example, the Nottinghamshire Green Rewards platform incentivises users to make sustainable choices to move up the leader board and be in with the chance to win monthly prizes. More than 6,000 people across the region have signed up and avoided the equivalent of 426 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.
“A lack of consistent messaging to citizens and businesses about sustainable choices available is an issue for local authorities reaching climate goals. For example, misinformation about low carbon technologies such as heat pumps is limiting take up in households. Engaging with citizens and organisations is vital to mitigating the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Through schemes such as Notts Green Rewards, we can see the successes that we can achieve by working in partnership. I’m looking forward to seeing what more can be achieved through the Fast Followers programme,” Wayne Bexton, Director of Environment and Sustainability at Nottingham City Council said.
In addition to work to engage with citizens and organisations in the region, the funding will also be used to support the development of a co-county Energy Plan. This planning will support climate ambitions across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and has the potential identify the most effective pathway to decarbonising each district across D2N2.
Michael Gallagher, Head of Midlands Net Zero Hub, said: “A recent report into the socio-economic benefits of Energy Planning for the region outlined that the total net benefit is considered to be £11bn from an investment of £7.6bn. By investing in this sector, we can create more than 4,500 jobs which demonstrates how we can use the green revolution to grow the economy. By understanding how we can transform our local energy system using the Fast Followers funding, we are presented with an opportunity to unlock significantly larger than expected benefits for the region.”
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at Derby City Council, commented: “We’re delighted to have received this funding that will allow us and our key partners in the region to move forward with key projects to decarbonise Derby and neighbouring areas.
“While we have an ambitious Climate Change Action Plan for the Council, we know that we also need to work closely with our communities and partners to empower everyone to join us on our journey to Net Zero. Local authorities are key players in supporting the wider area and providing leadership on decarbonisation ambitions.”
Mike Biddle, Executive Director, Net Zero, Innovate UK, said: “Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme aims to transform our towns, cities, and communities through removing the barriers to adoption and creating demand for new Net Zero technologies. This cohort of Fast Followers winners demonstrate innovative ideas that are designed at grass roots level specifically to overcome their particular barriers and sometimes unique challenges. Seeing the range of projects is inspiring and, as well as running their individual initiatives, the Local Authorities will share best-practice allowing others to capitalise on proven solutions.”
Lincolnshire plant supplier acquired by international Agronomy-Services group
Origin Enterprises, the international Agronomy-Services group, providing specialist advice, inputs and digital solutions to promote sustainable land use, has acquired British Hardwood Tree Nursery Limited (BHT).
Headquartered in Lincolnshire, BHT is one of the UK’s leading specialist wholesale suppliers of bare root trees, shrubs, hedgerow plants and planting accessories to the forestry, farming, estate management, corporate and landscaping sectors.
Sean Coyle, Chief Executive Officer, Origin Enterprises plc, said: “The addition of British Hardwood Tree Nursery complements recent acquisitions and further strengthens the Group’s amenity, environmental and ecological portfolio.
“Tree planting will continue to play an important role to help tackle climate change and restore biodiversity. We welcome British Hardwood Tree Nursery to the Group and look forward to working with the team, utilising their expertise in offering planting advice, horticulture and the supply of quality plants.”
Gateley “pleased” with performance as revenue grows
Legal and professional services group Gateley says it is “pleased” with the group’s performance for the year ended 30 April 2023.
A new trading update highlights a year of further revenue growth, which the business says demonstrates “the resilience of the group’s diversified business model.”
Revenue for the year is expected to be not less than £161m, a 17% increase on the prior year (£137.2m), with underlying adjusted profit before tax expected to be in line with market expectations.
Rod Waldie, Chief Executive Officer of Gateley, said: “I am pleased with the performance of the group, in what has been a challenging year politically and economically. I would like to thank our ever-expanding client base for their trust and support and our people who continue to work tirelessly to constantly deliver for our clients.
“Whilst the macro challenges facing the economy remain, we look forward to continuing to grow and diversify the business further, both organically and via acquisition. We remain committed to our purpose of delivering results that delight our clients, inspire our people and support our communities, and deliver strong returns for all of our stakeholders.”
12 benefits of video for businesses
One of the most effective ways to engage with customers and promote your brand is through video. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of video for businesses and why it should be a crucial part of your marketing, as well as a few tips for how to incorporate video advertising into your strategy.
1. Increases Engagement and Reach
One of the primary benefits of video for businesses is that it can significantly increase engagement. Videos are more interactive and engaging than text-based content. They capture attention and can effectively communicate your brand message. Video content is more likely to be shared on social media, which means it has the potential to reach a wider audience.
2. Improves SEO Ranking
Google’s algorithm favours websites that have relevant and engaging content. By incorporating video content into your website, you can increase the time visitors spend on your site. This sends a positive signal to search engines that your website is providing value to users and, in turn, boosts your SEO ranking and starts creating a snowball effect that leads to more and more website traffic. Furthermore, video content can increase backlinks, which can improve your website’s domain authority.
3. Builds Trust, Credibility and Brand Authority
By showcasing your products or services in action, you can demonstrate their effectiveness and reliability, which helps to build trust and credibility with your audience. Videos also provide an opportunity to showcase your brand’s personality and values, which can help build an emotional connection with your audience. Creating high quality video content can even establish your business as industry leaders and build brand authority, particularly if your content is informative and educational.
4. Increases Conversions
Video content has been shown to increase conversions. By providing potential customers with an in-depth look at your products or services, you can convince them to take action. Videos can also provide a clear call-to-action, which leads to higher conversion rates.
5. Return on Investment
Creating video content does not have to be expensive. So long as you hire a professional videographer, instead of making brand-damaging low quality videos on a phone, you are likely to see very good ROI on video production. Our recommended local video production company, Glowfrog, can be hired from as little as £600 depending on the video content you would like.
6. Appeals to Mobile Users
By creating mobile-friendly video content, you can more effectively target mobile users and increase engagement with your brand. You can make your videos more mobile-friendly by creating multiple versions of your video, e.g. in 1:1 (square) and 9:16 (portrait) which take up more ‘real estate’ on a phone screen.
7. Demonstrates Products and Services
Video content allows businesses to showcase their products or services in action. This can help potential customers better understand how the products or services work and what value they offer. By providing a visual demonstration, you can increase the chances of customers making a purchase.
8. Provides an Emotional Connection
Video content can evoke emotions and create a sense of connection with viewers. By telling a compelling story or showcasing your brand’s values, you can create an emotional bond with your audience. This can increase brand loyalty and lead to repeat business.
9. Stand Out From The Competition
Video content provides a unique way to help increase brand awareness by showcasing your brand’s personality, values, and products. By creating memorable and engaging videos, you can increase brand recognition and stand out from your competitors.
10. Provides Analytics
Video content provides valuable analytics that can help you to track the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. With tools such as YouTube Analytics and Google Analytics, businesses can track the number of views, engagement rate, and other key metrics. This data can help you to optimise your video content and improve your overall marketing strategy.
11. Enhances Customer Support
Video content can also be used to enhance customer support. By creating instructional videos and tutorials, businesses can help customers troubleshoot common issues and answer frequently asked questions. This can improve the customer experience and reduce support costs.
12. Diversifies Marketing Strategy
Video content can be used for various purposes, including product demos, customer testimonials, and brand storytelling. By experimenting with different types of video content, you are inherently diversifying your marketing strategy, plus you can identify what works best for your target audience.
In summary, video content offers a range of benefits for businesses, from improving SEO ranking and increasing conversions to enhancing customer support and building brand authority. If you’re interested in hiring our local recommended video production company, please visit www.glowfrogvideo.com.
