Translink Express secures £5m logistics deal with Ramon Hygiene

April Lara
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Translink Express secures £5m logistics deal with Ramon Hygiene

Translink Express Logistics has signed a five-year agreement valued at £5 million to continue providing logistics and warehousing services for Ramon Hygiene Products. The Leicester-based hygiene supplier relies on Translink Express to manage daily pallet shipments across the UK, which range from 100 to 150 fully tracked units destined for supermarkets, wholesalers, and distribution centres.

The renewed contract extends a partnership that began in 2007 and includes warehousing support for Ramon Hygiene’s extensive product range. Translink Express operates from its Narborough headquarters and a 62,000 sq. ft. storage and distribution facility in Whetstone.

The company’s logistics capabilities are strengthened through its membership in the Pallet-Track network, which enables national coverage through a network of shareholder members. The deal is the largest in Translink’s history and reflects its role as a key B2B logistics partner for growing enterprises.

Both firms are locally based and family-run, reinforcing a regional supply chain partnership that supports national distribution. The contract positions Translink Express to scale its operations with Ramon Hygiene’s growth, while offering consistent service delivery across the UK.

Leicester business expands with a tasty acquisition

Tess Egginton
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Leicester business expands with a tasty acquisition
Aarti Sweet Centre has acquired Sangam Paneer, a manufacturer of paneer, supported by a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK. The acquisition will allow Aarti Sweet Centre to grow its client base by integrating Sangam Paneer’s roster of long-standing customers, including major supermarkets. The deal secures 22 existing jobs and is expected to create new employment opportunities as Aarti Sweet Centre continues to expand. It will also increase the business’s overall production capacity, enabling it to meet rising demand across the UK. Hardas Keshwala, director at Aarti Sweet Centre, said: “With HSBC UK’s backing, we’re delighted to welcome Sangam Paneer into the Aarti Sweet Centre family. This strategic acquisition strengthens our production capabilities and enables us to serve an even wider client base across the UK. “We’re committed to preserving the heritage and quality Sangam Paneer is known for, while continuing to grow our offer.” Hitesh Mistry, relationship manager at HSBC UK, added: “This acquisition not only safeguards and creates local jobs but also brings together two respected brands to deliver high-quality vegetarian food at scale.” Richard Parker, area director at HSBC UK, said: “By supporting Aarti Sweet Centre’s growth, we have allowed them to not only foster innovation and quality but also create new employment opportunities in the local area.” Aarti Sweet Centre is now set to build on its expanded footprint and pave the way for growth in the UK’s vegetarian food sector.

Gateley RJA secures Eastern Procurement framework appointment

Tess Egginton
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Gateley RJA secures Eastern Procurement framework appointment
Leicester-based Gateley RJA, the specialist quantity surveying, employer’s agent, project management and clerk of works arm of professional services group, Gateley, has secured a place on Eastern Procurement’s £17m development consultancy services framework. Eastern Procurement drives procurement solutions for councils, housing providers and other public bodies across the East of England. Its development consultancy framework has been designed as a one-stop shop for providing built environment services. Initially appointed for four years, Gateley RJA will deliver employer’s agent, quantity surveying and clerk of works services across core regions including the East of England, East Midlands, North and North East Lincolnshire, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. Steven Collin, managing director at Gateley RJA, said: “We are thrilled to be awarded a place on Eastern Procurement’s development consultancy framework which will see us support with built environment services across the East of England. “Eastern Procurement prides itself on quality and efficiency, so the appointment really is testament to the high standards produced by our dedicated teams across schemes for the private rented and affordable housing sectors.”

Viridis backs ‘Sustainable Development of the Year’ at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

Tess Egginton
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Viridis backs ‘Sustainable Development of the Year’ at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
Viridis Building Services Ltd has joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, backing the Sustainable Development of the Year category for a further year. Growing your business by building greener, Viridis are experts in providing sustainable passive environmental building services solutions incorporating renewable, low carbon, low energy, H.V.A.C, M.E.P, systems for the built environment whilst meeting client’s aspirations, helping you create sustainable, appealing and cost-effective buildings on the journey to Net Zero. Speaking with Business Link, a spokesperson for Viridis Building Services Ltd said: “We’re proud to once again sponsor the Sustainable Development of the Year award at the Bricks Awards. At Viridis Building Services, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the foundation of everything we do, which is why we are so passionate about sponsoring this particular award. “Last year’s event was a fantastic showcase of innovation, collaboration and local talent, and it was inspiring to see so many projects delivering real, measurable impacts, having positive impacts on local social aspects, the environment and the local economy. We believe that building sustainably should also mean building smart, achieving environmental excellence without excessive cost, and this is what we saw last year. “This year, we’re especially looking forward to reviewing and understanding the amazing projects completed and in the pipeline, which promote sustainability in its greatest form. It allows opportunity for connecting with like-minded professionals, celebrating the power of local collaboration, and shining a spotlight on those who are pushing boundaries in sustainable design and construction. “We strongly encourage everyone in the industry to nominate the projects that are helping to shape a greener, more responsible future.” 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 property and construction companies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Recognising those behind the changing landscape of the East Midlands, the occasion highlights development projects, businesses, and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. It also toasts the work of architects, agencies, and those behind large schemes. Welcoming almost 150 professionals, nominating 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 event.

To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here.

Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Categories include: 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.

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. Upon submitting a nomination, we will get in touch for any information, imagery, and video nominees would like to be featured on their showcase page.

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:

With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.

Pink Storage expands in Midlands with £1.5m Nottingham deal

April Lara
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Pink Storage expands in Midlands with £1.5m Nottingham deal

Self-storage operator Pink Storage has acquired Nottingham-based facility StoreWise in a deal valued at £1.1 million, with a further £370,000 committed to upgrades. The 1.3-acre site, which houses 102 existing storage units, will be rebranded and integrated into Pink Storage’s tech-enabled service model, bringing the company’s UK footprint to 22 sites, a 22% portfolio growth this year.

The company plans to add 150 new units, boosting overall capacity for business and domestic users in the East Midlands. Upgrades will include resurfaced roadways, 24/7 CCTV, automatic number plate recognition, and digital access via online sign-up and secure PIN codes.

The site remains operational during the transition. Around 100 existing customers are being migrated to Pink Storage’s platform, with continuity provided by the existing site manager, who will remain in post.

This is the company’s fourth site addition in 2025, underscoring its strategic push into the Midlands and North. Pink Storage is seeking further acquisition targets as part of its growth strategy, which is focused on scalable technology, regional expansion, and improving access to secure storage in underserved locations.

Nottingham BTR project approved with design changes

April Lara
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Nottingham BTR project approved with design changes

A major build-to-rent (BTR) scheme adjacent to Nottingham railway station has secured planning approval, with conditions requiring changes to its visual design.

The second phase of MRP Nottingham’s Queens Road development will deliver 247 residential units across three connected buildings ranging from 8 to 18 storeys. It follows the earlier delivery of a 406-bed student accommodation block on the same site, forming part of a long-term redevelopment of this strategic city centre gateway.

The new scheme includes a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, alongside shared four—and five-bedroom units. The project is designed as a fully build-to-rent offering and aligns with rising investor and institutional interest in rental housing in key urban centres.

However, Nottingham City Council’s planning committee approved the application to revise the top three floors to deliver a “softer” visual profile. The director of planning and transport, in consultation with committee leadership, has been delegated final design decisions.

Located at the historic “Wagon Works” site on the corner of Queens Road and London Road, the project sits opposite the Hicking Building, now a successful mixed-use redevelopment, reinforcing the area’s ongoing urban regeneration.

UK explores hydrogen blending for gas supply decarbonisation

April Lara
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UK explores hydrogen blending for gas supply decarbonisation

The UK Government is actively considering introducing hydrogen blending into the national gas network as part of wider decarbonisation efforts. According to energy minister Michael Shanks, a formal decision is expected shortly following an evidence-gathering phase assessing the impact on consumers and infrastructure.

Blending up to 20% hydrogen with natural gas is technically feasible with most existing boilers and appliances in domestic and commercial settings. Gas network operators have indicated that current infrastructure could handle such a mix without significant modifications, offering a transitional path toward lower-carbon heating.

Scotland is leading several green hydrogen production projects to leverage the country’s renewable energy capacity. Recent developments include a large-scale hydrogen facility approved in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, and discussions around the Grangemouth industrial site as a potential hydrogen hub.

While hydrogen presents a cleaner alternative to natural gas, its lower energy density requires greater volumes to produce the same heat output. This raises ongoing questions about the viability of a 100% hydrogen gas grid for domestic use.

Tariff uncertainty triggers cautious recalibration among UK mid-market firms

April Lara
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Tariff uncertainty triggers cautious recalibration among UK mid-market firms

According to new research from Grant Thornton UK, UK mid-sized businesses are adjusting their international strategies amid growing trade pressures. While overall sentiment remains relatively strong, a shift in confidence is evident as decision-makers respond to an evolving global trade landscape.

The firm’s April 2025 Business Outlook Tracker found that while most mid-market leaders remain upbeat about the domestic economy in the short term, fewer expect their profits to rise, suggesting emerging caution. Optimism surrounding economic conditions slipped slightly, and profit expectations have seen a more notable drop.

Internationally, trade with the US is under review. Despite strong historical ties and growth potential, tariffs are causing businesses to rethink. A majority still see the US as a key market, but a growing number are preparing to scale back or exit entirely. Nearly half of firms with current US trade exposure expect to stop altogether, and only a minority foresee no disruption.

Barron McCann opens doors to future tech talent

April Lara
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Barron McCann opens doors to future tech talent

IT services firm Barron McCann recently hosted an employer engagement day for 15 students from Bemrose School in Derby, offering them hands-on exposure to workplace operations and technology. Aimed at students facing barriers to traditional work placements, the event focused on building skills and confidence through structured activities.

The day included a guided tour of the company’s Innovation Hub, warehouse, and training facilities, where students explored the operational side of an IT services business. They were then grouped to develop and present ideas around two business themes: social media and community engagement, and inclusion in the workplace.

The initiative also highlighted the importance of inclusive design, with students from the school’s SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) department contributing personal insights into accessibility challenges and improvements.

Barron McCann’s programme is part of a broader effort to support local talent pipelines and widen access to technology and business services careers. By engaging with secondary school students early on, the company is helping to address skills gaps while reinforcing its commitment to community partnerships and social value.

As corporate insolvencies hit 2025 high, full impact of current economic uncertainty yet to be felt, says R3 Midlands

Tess Egginton
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As corporate insolvencies hit 2025 high, full impact of current economic uncertainty yet to be felt, says R3 Midlands
Rising costs and ongoing economic and political uncertainty are continuing to drive corporate insolvencies upward, while an increasing number of local entrepreneurs are seeking insolvency and restructuring advice and considering the future of their businesses. This is according to the Midlands branch of the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 and comes on the back of latest figures from the Insolvency Service which show that corporate insolvencies in England and Wales increased by 2.9% last month [April] to a total of 2,053 and by 13.2% compared to April 2023’s figure of 1,813. R3 Midlands chair Stephen Rome, a partner at law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper in the region, said: “April’s corporate insolvency figures were the highest we have seen since July 2024, with Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations remaining the process companies most commonly enter into. “Their consistently high numbers reflect the ongoing challenges, high costs and political and economic uncertainty Midlands businesses face, as well as the toll these are taking on their finances and their confidence in their ability to turn their situation around. “Compulsory liquidations have also hit their highest level in more than five years as creditors chase down unpaid debts in an attempt to meet their own payment deadlines, led by the HMRC as the Government attempts to balance the national books. “April saw the introduction of the new rates for Employers’ National Insurance Contributions and Minimum Wage, which have increased overheads for local businesses at an already challenging time. Many companies will already have increased prices and cut expenditure to cope with the existing economic challenges and many, especially SMEs, will find it increasingly difficult to respond to further cost increases. “It is unlikely that we will see the full impact this will have on Midlands businesses until later in the year, but the prospect of these changes being introduced has influenced an increasing number of directors’ decisions to seek insolvency and restructuring advice and consider the future of their businesses. “The recent rise in unemployment indicates that the tax increases, along with the prospect of the Employment Rights Bill coming into law, has also affected hiring levels and investment as management teams wait to see how it will impact on their wage bills. We expect this to continue until the picture is clearer. “Alongside this, Midlands businesses have faced the impact of the introduction of the US tariffs. While some of the outcomes from the US President and Prime Minister’s recent announcement will be a relief to businesses in a range of sectors, a number of the details of the tariffs still need to be confirmed, and there is no denying their introduction will make it more expensive for local companies to export to America. “The uncertainty and unpredictability around US tariff policy generally is also likely to affect costs, growth and investment as both business owners and lenders will look at how the tariffs will affect revenue and profits and may choose to change their plans, or review or withdraw their funding once these have been considered. “Looking across the local economy, the sectoral picture is a mixed one. Construction continues to be affected by ongoing issues with the price of materials, payment and client hesitancy about commissioning new work, while the care sector is trying to navigate the Government’s proposals to end overseas recruitment for social care visas. “On a more positive note, Midlands retailers have benefited from the late Easter and improved weather, which has led to an increase in sales, and hospitality has also seen a rise in activity and spending levels. However, there is no escaping the fact that all of these sectors will be seriously affected by the changes to National Insurance and Minimum Wage, which will put a further squeeze on margins and increase costs, and could lead to more businesses becoming financially distressed. “R3’s message to anyone worried about the finances of their business is to seek professional advice as soon as concerns arise. It can be an incredibly hard conversation to have, but timely discussions with a qualified advisor may provide more options than waiting until a problem becomes more severe. “Most R3 members will give prospective clients a free initial consultation so they can learn more about the issues they face and outline the potential options to resolve them.”
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