Final teams confirmed for epic football final in support of UK emergency services
After a second successful season, the 2023 Motor Source Emergency Services Football League finals are to take place on Sunday 4th June 2023 at Broadhurst Park Stadium, home of FC United of Manchester.
With 96 teams taking part this season across three competitions including Women’s League, Men’s Open Age League and Veteran’s League, it has been an exciting season for all.
After a combined total of over 400 hours of football played through 270 games and over 850 goals scored, through to the celebrated finals day are:
Women’s Final – West Midlands Police Vs London Fire
Men’s Open Age – North Wales Police Vs Thames Valley Police
Men’s Vets – London Fire Vs Met Police
The Motor Source ESFL was set up in 2019 by two Detective Constables who work for West Yorkshire Police, Andy Smurthwaite and Pete Overton, with the aim to bring together the police service, the fire service, the NHS and the prison service in a competitive UK wide league and the only league of its kind in the UK!
It was during the duo’s involvement in the running of the West Yorkshire Police Team that they realised how limited fixtures were and the difficulties in arranging games. Each of the respective Emergency Services have their own competition but surprisingly there were none that brought the 999 community together. From here the idea of the Emergency Services Football League was born!
Founder Pete Overton said: “Our original aim of the Emergency Services Football League was to help improve the health and wellbeing of those individuals serving in the UK’s emergency services.”
Title sponsors of the league, Motor Source Group offer new car discounts for Emergency Services personnel, saving them on average £6,019 each on their new cars, and have been supporting the ESFL from its initial days.
CEO Steve Thornton said: “It is well documented that Emergency Services professions, although rewarding, are highly stressful roles with significant risks associated with their undertaking, and so when we heard about the aims and benefits of the ESFL we knew instantly that we wanted to help and support.”
The Motor Source ESFL Final matches will be played on Sunday 4th June at Broadhurst Stadium, and will welcome supporters of the teams taking part as well as the local community from in and around Manchester. Everyone is welcome!
Ladies ESFL Final, 12:00 kick off
Mens Open Age ESFL Final, 15:30 kick off
Mens Veterans ESFL Final, 19:00 kick off
Tickets are just £5 for adults and £2.50 for children under 16 and you can watch all three final matches included in your ticket! Get your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/MotorSourceESFLFinal
Multi-utility services provider secures £7m facility to support working capital and future growth
OakNorth Bank has provided a £7m working capital facility to TriConnex and eSmart Networks to support working capital and future growth.
Previously part of AIM listed Nexus Infrastructure plc, TriConnex is a provider of multi-utility services, including electricity, water, gas, fibre and EV charging, and eSmart Networks, and is a fully accredited Independent Connections Provider, delivering the decarbonisation of the UK transport and energy systems.
Established in 2011 and with offices in Essex, Leicester and Bristol, TriConnex works closely with residential developers and SME housebuilders to offer end-to-end multi-utility solutions. Recently launching their new Grid Dynamix Service, TriConnex are further set to support developers in finding, capturing, and keeping the electrical connections they require for their live project pipelines.
Also founded by experienced business leader, Mike Morris, eSmart Networks design, supply, and install EV charging infrastructure, including grid connections, charger installations, civil engineering components, and battery storage solutions.
In addition, the business connects solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources to the electricity network, whilst also designing and building the on-site high-voltage electrical infrastructure required to get these renewable energies to the grid.
Both companies were acquired in February 2023 by FitzWalter Capital, the global private investment firm, from Nexus Infrastructure plc.
Alan Martin, Chief Financial Officer at TriConnex and eSmart Networks, said: “TriConnex and eSmart Networks have built-up very strong reputations within the UK’s utility industry. The recent acquisition by FitzWalter Capital is a testament to the two businesses and their successes over recent years. We were drawn to OakNorth as we required a specialist lender with experience in the sector and one that could provide us with a credit line that fitted our specific needs.”
Stuart Blair, director of debt finance at OakNorth Bank, added: “This transaction presented us with an opportunity to support both TriConnex and eSmart Networks alongside a successful equity fund to enhance their future growth plans. With the UK’s utility market set for significant growth over the coming years, driven by the government-led Review of Electricity Market Arrangements, both TriConnex and eSmart Networks are in a perfect position to capitalise on this tailwind.”
Local businesspeople become ambassadors for Safe and Sound
Derbyshire’s specialist child exploitation charity, Safe and Sound, has recruited more local people to help raise awareness of the dangers facing vulnerable children and young people.
Entrepreneurs Persha Ward and Nadia Jane Asamoah as well as University of Derby lecturer Bev Crighton and marketing specialist Claire Morrison have become official ambassadors for the charity.
Mother-of-two Persha Ward runs her own business administration business S&A Management and was supported by Safe and Sound as a teenager.
Nadia Jane Asamoah runs Nadia Jane Performing Arts in Green Lane, and Derby, where hundreds of young people – boys and girls – have trained over the years in a wide range of dance and performing arts disciplines.
As well as lecturing in Business Management at the University of Derby, Bev Crighton is currently employability lead in the education department at Derby County in the Community Trust (DCCT) as well as deputy chair of Erewash Partnership and an active member of the DCFC women’s board.
And Claire Morrison helped Safe and Sound raise its social media presence whilst previously working for digital marketing agency, Creationz.
They join the existing team of ambassadors: Derbyshire actor Molly Windsor, local business woman Amanda Strong and child exploitation survivor Louise Murphy-Fairclough.
Safe and Sound Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said: “Our ambassadors have an important role in our work to raise awareness of the dangers facing children and young people both online and in our local communities.
“Talking about child sexual exploitation is not an easy conversation but our ambassadors doing an incredible job to spread the word about the issue and the work of Safe and Sound in their own networks.
“We are extremely grateful for their support and I also hope that raised awareness will also encourage more groups, businesses and individuals to support our Butterfly Appeal so that we can further expand the range of support available for young people across Derbyshire and their families.”
Nadia Jane Asamoah continued: “Our dance and performing arts school is one big family and many of the young people feel able to talk to me about things that are happening at home or at school. Parents also confide in me about any concerns for their own children’s wellbeing.
“We have so much synergy with Safe and Sound and I jumped at the chance to become an Ambassador. As well as raising awareness, it is good to have access to an established network of professionals who can offer additional support to young people that we come in contact with if needed.”
Bev Crighton added: “I firmly believe that everyone – but particularly those in education and business leadership – need to understand the issues that affect our local communities and know about the support that is available.
“Having been an active member of the local business community for many years, I hope that more people will feel comfortable to engage in talking about these issues so that, together, we can make even further inroads into creating a greater understanding of the dangers that face children and young people.”
And Persha Ward, who was groomed as a teenager, concluded: “The support I had from Safe and Sound was amazing. They helped to open my eyes to what was going on, taught me to respect myself and gave me the support and strength to realise that I deserved better.
“I have been determined that my experiences as a teenager would not define my whole life. When I was 13 I didn’t think I was worth anything and certainly would not have thought that I could have gone on to have two wonderful children and my own business. Those days were a chapter in my life and now I have turned that page.
“My message to young people – whatever their experiences – is therefore to listen to the people who can help – which in my case was Safe and Sound.”
Swedish group acquires Northamptonshire compressed air distributor
Northamptonshire-based Maziak Compressor Services, a distributor of air compressors, nitrogen generators and process cooling equipment as well as related services and support, has been acquired by Atlas Copco.
Maziak, which was founded in 1958 and employs 40 people, will continue to operate as a stand-alone company within the Atlas Copco Compressors UK division of Atlas Copco UK Holdings Ltd, under the Maziak brand name and the current senior management team, for the foreseeable future.
James Maziak said: “I’d like to thank all the amazing people inside and outside the Maziak business, for their support over the last 32 years as we have built such a successful business on the foundations laid by my mother and father.
“Becoming part of Atlas Copco Compressors UK, with its focus on interaction, innovation and commitment, will propel the business forward to deliver even more for our people, our customers and the environment.”
Founded in Stockholm, Sweden 150 years ago, Atlas Copco is a global market leader in compressed air solutions and has been present in the UK for over 100 years. They offer a broad range of air compressors, air blowers, industrial gas generators, vacuum pumps, process cooling solutions and related services.
Notts County Cricket Club launches initiative to reduce carbon emissions at Trent Bridge
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has partnered with sustainable cup specialist Event Cup Solutions to provide the most environmentally responsible reusable cup solution at Trent Bridge this season.
Event Cup Solutions, the company behind the ONE Planet ONE Chance® Reusable Cup System, will provide the ground with its unique solution for the 2023 season, enabling the club to reduce their carbon footprint further.The ONE Planet ONE Chance® Reusable Cup System encourages spectators to return their cups to specialist bins located throughout the stadium, ready for Event Cup Solutions’ on-site team to collect, prepare and return to the company’s state-of- the-art wash facility in West Bromwich, where they are put through a specialist wash and drying process preparing them for the next match.
Michael Temple, commercial director at Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, said: “As a venue of considerable size, and with another busy summer ahead, we’re fully aware of our responsibility to minimise our environmental impact – and it’s a responsibility we’re determined to rise to.
“This year, we’ll welcome hundreds of thousands of cricket-lovers through our gates once more, and we’re sure that our members and supporters will share our desire to stage our sporting summer as sustainably as possible.
“The ONE Planet ONE Chance® Reusable Cup System will allow us to dramatically reduce our plastic usage, without compromising the first-rate matchday experience that we have become known for.”
John Reeves, director of Event Cup Solutions, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Nottinghamshire CCC has embraced the concept of our ONE Planet ONE Chance® Reusable Cup System and committed to rolling it out throughout Trent Bridge over the coming months.
“We estimate the club will use in excess of 400,000 cups over the course of the 2023 season. Our aim is to make it easy for visitors to return the cups by providing collection bins which will be positioned in easily accessible and visible areas of the venue.
“We hope this is the beginning of a strong partnership with the club. We’ve enjoyed excellent results within the football, rugby, horse racing and motor sports sectors, and it’s fantastic to have Nottinghamshire CCC leading the way within the cricket world.”
Leicestershire-headquartered building materials supplier snaps up Telford firm
Leicestershire-headquartered building materials supplier, Aggregate Industries, a member of the Holcim Group, has further bolstered its operations with the acquisition of Besblock Ltd., a supplier of precast materials to the Midlands construction industry.
The acquisition of Telford-based Besblock will see Aggregate Industries expand upon its existing products with the introduction of a range of technically niche and sustainable building blocks, and enable closer working relationships with large and medium sized housebuilders across the Midlands. The acquisition will also provide further growth opportunities outside of the region.
Through its two manufacturing facilities in Telford, Besblock currently produces around 1.7 million m² building blocks per year, equating to approximately 250kT. Its products include the industry-leading Star Performer block, a sustainable and multi-purpose on-site solution, with recycled aggregates and 24 % less material than a solid block. The business has strong sustainability credentials, with its fleet of lorries one of the most efficient in the country and with the recent installation of a new 1.65MW biomass boiler and renewable energy system, which will see the business become carbon neutral when operational.
Dragan Maksimovic, CEO of Aggregate Industries UK, said: “The acquisition of Besblock Ltd is an important milestone in our journey as we strive to become the UK’s leading supplier of sustainable construction materials and solutions.
“Besblock has invested heavily in sustainability in recent years and its market-leading product range has strong synergies with our own. We’re delighted to be able to enhance our products and capabilities with the acquisition of this progressive and market-leading business.”
Andrew Huxley, Managing Director at Besblock Ltd., said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a business in the last 50 years; particularly of the investments we have made in sustainable solutions, both in terms of products and practices. We’re excited to continue to expand the business and continue our sustainability journey with the support of Aggregate Industries.”
Metal recycling specialist makes duo of new appointments
Midlands-based metal recycling and waste management specialist, Ward, has made two new additions to its commercial team with the appointment of Mick Roots as national construction manager and Kieron Shanks in the newly-created role of senior bid-manager.
These two new hires underpin Ward’s commitment to continuous investment to meet the needs of its ever-expanding customer base while realising the firm’s ambitious growth targets. Both appointments will be based at Ward’s head office, Donald Ward House in Ilkeston, where they will join the commercial team, reporting into Heather Foo, head of Purchasing (Metals) and Sales (Waste).
Working within the waste team, Mick brings 25 years of sector experience and will be responsible for developing Ward’s customer base of key national and regional tier 1 construction contractors. Establishing strong working relationships and identifying opportunities against project pipelines will be a main focus, as well as working in partnership with customers to identify requirements and align with Ward’s offering.
Kieron brings nine years of bid management experience to the business and will be responsible for increasing bidding capabilities and driving the bid function for Ward’s entire offering, supporting growth through the tender process.
Following on the back of its Queen’s Award for Excellence in International Trade success last year, Ward has already implemented several strategies to meet its future aspirations, including refurbishing its processing operations at Ilkeston, implementing site improvements across its nationwide locations, expanding its FORS Gold accredited vehicle fleet and developing its teams through training, development and recruitment.
Heather Foo, head of Purchasing (Metals) and Sales (Waste), said: “It is great to have Mick on board to further enhance the waste team and the wider business. His experience and passion shines through and we are very pleased to have him as part of the Ward family.
“The business is equally thrilled to welcome Kieron to the team, who will have a key role in expanding the business through the bid process. This is a new role for Ward and one that will see the business grow through focusing on winning work through tenders. With Kieron’s experience, knowledge and enthusiasm, we are excited to see this develop.”
Rolls-Royce drops part of carbon capture operation
Rolls-Royce is to drop part of its carbon capture operation, as the firm’s CEO looks to cut costs and the company’s transformation programme moves at pace, according to Sky News.
Reports indicate that Rolls-Royce is to end work on creating a direct air capture product, transferring workers to other roles.
Insiders speaking to Sky News however said that the business would continue to work on a government-funded research project focused on direct air capture.
In January (2023) Rolls-Royce’s new CEO, Tufan Erginbilgic, gave an unsparing critique of the engineering company, saying it will not survive without transforming how it operates.
This month (May 2023) the Derby firm has hailed making “good progress,” with its financial performance “improving,” with Erginbilgic saying this reflects positive changes driven by Rolls-Royce’s transformation programme.
Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic said: “We are transforming Rolls-Royce into a high quality and competitive business with a strong balance sheet and growing profit, cash flows and returns. We are already benefitting from the actions we are taking as well as recovery and growth in our end markets.”
He added: “Work on the transformation programme is moving at pace. Our increased focus on efficiency and simplification is helping to keep costs down and has already identified savings, for example the closure of our R2 Factory venture. We are encouraged by the early progress of our commercial optimisation and working capital workstreams, with positive results expected to build as the year goes on. Our strategic review is on track and as previously indicated, we will communicate the findings and medium term targets in the second half of 2023.”
Frasers Group sets sights on cycling specialist
Shirebrook-based retail giant Frasers Group could be on the verge of buying the stock and intellectual property assets of ProBikeKit from THG, according to reports from Sky News.
The acquisitive company is said to be in advanced talks to buy the cycling brand, with the potential for a deal to be finalised and announced this week.
Sky News says the acquisition is expected to be handled through Frasers’ Evans Cycles subsidiary.
The deal follows news that THG is to close or sell off a number of its non-core subsidiaries.
