A £150,000 support programme is launching to help East Midlands businesses – particularly those in manufacturing, logistics, and professional services – strengthen their defences against cybercrime. Led by Dr Ismini Vasileiou, associate professor at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and founder and director of the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster, it offers practical, hands-on support to businesses that want to improve how they manage cyber risk, train staff, and future-proof their operations. The project will be delivered in collaboration with 1284 Communications and Bulb Studios. Funded through the Government’s Cyber Local scheme, this project takes a hands-on approach to tackling one of the region’s biggest economic challenges: how to make cyber resilience not just the responsibility of IT departments, but a core part of how organisations think, operate and grow. It was one of just 20 projects funded across England, selected from more than 110 applications. Dr Vasileiou said: “The programme is designed to meet businesses where they are. It’s aimed particularly at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that do not have dedicated cyber security expertise in-house or rely on the same trusted person to ‘do the IT’. “The reality is that cyber threats have changed. Ransomware, phishing scams and data breaches are constantly looking for weaknesses. Whether you’ve got a full IT team or just someone who’s always ‘looked after the computers,’ now’s the time to think differently. “It’s about building confidence and capability. Our mission is to make cyber resilience as second nature as health and safety. “As a region powering the UK’s manufacturing, logistics, and professional sectors, the East Midlands urgently needs practical, localised cyber support to protect its businesses and sustain economic growth. This project turns national ambition into local action – equipping East Midlands businesses with the tools to become resilient, confident, and digitally secure.” The pilot will directly support 30 businesses to embed cyber resilience at every level – from boardrooms to shop floors. This will include:

• 15 businesses which will take part in a structured programme to build organisational cyber resilience, focusing on governance and strategy
• 10 businesses who will be supported to develop internal cyber workforce plans, identifying and reskilling existing staff into cyber roles
• 5 businesses who will host academic placements from DMU to trial research-led cyber innovations

Alongside this, a sustained outreach campaign will target traditionally underrepresented organisations, ensuring the benefits of the project are widely felt and not just confined to those already engaged in the cyber sector.

DHL Supply Chain is set to invest £550m to launch a new health logistics centre in Derby and further advance automation within its UK and Ireland operations. This move supports rising demand in e-commerce and healthcare logistics. The company has already allocated £860m to automation over the past three years, with over 3,200 digitalisation projects implemented across the region.

This investment forms part of DHL’s larger strategy to scale its UK and global operations by 2030, with robotics and digital technologies at its core, driving growth. The expansion is driven by increased demand for efficient and sophisticated logistics solutions, particularly in high-growth sectors like e-commerce and life sciences.

DHL plans to integrate cutting-edge robotics, including the deployment of 750 Assisted Picking Robots and the introduction of Boston Dynamics Stretch Robots for container unloading. These innovations aim to boost productivity, reduce physical strain, and improve return on investment for customers.

The new Derby facility will support the rapidly expanding life sciences and healthcare sectors, which are expected to see double-digit growth in the UK in the next five years. It will feature cold chain and cleanroom capabilities, integral to DHL’s broader health logistics network. This investment solidifies the UK’s role as a key logistics hub within DHL’s global strategy.

Freeths Leicester has advised Electric Land on its new collaboration with battery energy storage system (BESS) developer-operator Dais Energy Ventures (Dais), as the businesses announce a joint venture to develop, build and operate 4GW of BESS projects in Germany. Electric Land invests and develops freehold powered land for energy generation and storage across Europe. The business has been a dominant specialist investor in the energy market since 2015, across renewables, reserve power generation and storage facilities. Dais catalyses energy system decarbonisation through energy storage. The company operates throughout European markets as a fully integrated platform, specialising in the development, construction and operation of energy storage solutions. This partnership will allow the two companies to collaborate and deploy the grid-scale BESS projects at strategically selected sites across Germany, with the first project anticipated to reach commercial operation next year. Leading the Freeths team on this deal was director Hannah Tessyman. She was supported by director Michelle Wilkinson and associate Ryan Belcher. Commenting on the deal, Hannah Tessyman said: “It was a pleasure to advise Electric Land on its milestone partnership with Dais. This joint venture will allow the business to build out a substantial German pipeline, scale investment opportunities, and expand its international reach. We very much look forward to watching this relationship flourish, bringing new opportunities to the BESS market.” Nell Mueller-Shaw, senior legal counsel at Electric Land, said: “Hannah was a pleasure to work with and the Freeths team helped us efficiently lay the foundations for our exciting new strategic partnership in Germany.”

On Thursday 2nd October East Midlands Business Link’s prestigious Bricks Awards will return to the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground to celebrate the region’s property and construction industry. With nominations open until Friday 15th August, and 10 categories available to enter, take this opportunity to showcase your projects and team, reward their hard work, and boost morale. Amongst this year’s categories is Architects of the Year, which can be entered here. Sponsored by Roy Geddes Bricks, the winner of this award will be the architects who have had the greatest impact on the region, be it in a single development or a series of them. Originality, the ability to rise to a challenge or initiative shown in accomplishing a difficult brief, this award celebrates our architects. Schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months. It’s completely free to submit a nomination and making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the awards ceremony. Last year the award was won by Matthew Montague Architects, with IMA Architects and Design Haus Architecture runners up. Upon winning, Matthew Montague Architects said: “Winning the Architects of the Year at the Bricks Awards for the second consecutive year is an incredibly rewarding achievement for us at Matthew Montague Architects, and we are truly delighted. “This award not only enhances our visibility in the industry but also serves as a powerful endorsement of our team’s dedication and creativity. It fosters trust with potential clients and showcases our capability to deliver outstanding projects across various sectors.” Submit your nominations for Architects of the Year here before entries close on Friday 15th August. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 2nd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground (4:30pm – 7:30pm) – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region, and hear from 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. Other award categories open for entry include: Responsible Business of the Year, Developer of the Year, Sustainable Development of the Year, Commercial Development of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Excellence in Design, Deal of the Year, Most Active Agent, and Residential Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here. The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 will also receive 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.  

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:

E.ON is working with STEM Returners for the second time to support professionals who have taken a career break and wish to return to work. The initiative offers 12-week hybrid placements, combining remote work with time spent at E.ON’s offices. Roles are available across engineering and technology.

The partnership focuses on helping candidates gain hands-on experience, with support from STEM Returners, who provide mentoring and career coaching. Successful participants may have the opportunity to secure permanent roles at E.ON.

This collaboration continues E.ON’s commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, recognising the value of experienced talent that may face barriers to re-entering the workforce. E.ON aims to tackle recruitment bias, especially for women who often find it harder to return to their fields after a break.

The programme builds on the success of last year’s first initiative, which helped individuals like Nicola Kennedy transition back into full-time employment. Since 2017, STEM Returners has helped nearly 600 candidates overcome the challenges of rejoining the workforce, particularly in industries facing skills shortages.

This latest programme will continue addressing the gap in skilled professionals, while offering participants the resources to reintegrate into their careers.

East Midlands Councils (EMC) and Transport for the East Midlands (TfEM) have expressed dismay at the decision to ‘pause’ indefinitely the next phase of electrification of the Midland Main Line. The announcement comes almost exactly 10 years after a previous Conservative Government also decided to ‘pause’ the scheme. The Department for Transport has now confirmed that ‘investment will instead be focused on other schemes during this Spending Review period’. As a result, there will be no further enhancements to the region’s railway before the next General Election. Sir Peter Soulsby, chair of TfEM and mayor of Leicester, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the government has yet again paused work on electrifying the Midland Main Line. “Electrification is not just a technical upgrade, it is a critical investment in the capacity, reliability and sustainability of our railway. It reduces carbon emissions, lowers operating costs, and provides the infrastructure that could transform local as well as inter-city rail services across the East Midlands. “The Midland Main Line is now the only mainline route that remains largely non-electrified. This puts our region at a disadvantage compared to others and undermines the national ambition to deliver a cost effective, reliable, low-carbon railway.” This is not the first time electrification of Midland Main Line has stalled with work on the route having faced numerous delays and cancellations over the last 45 years, despite repeated commitments from successive governments. Work to electrify the Midland Main Line from London northwards started in 1981 but was terminated at Bedford in 1983. In 2009 the then Labour Government prioritised Great Western instead of the Midland Main Line, but in 2012 the successor Coalition Government committed to full Midland Main Line electrification by the end of that decade. Under the Conservatives the scheme was paused in 2015, cancelled in 2017 and then resurrected as part the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan in 2021. Successive Government’s ‘stop-start’ approach to electrification has driven up costs compared to other European countries – including Germany, Ireland and even Scotland. However, recent work by Network Rail to extend electrification to Market Harborough and South Wigston and to upgrade the wires south of Bedford has been completed on time and on budget. Procurement of the next phase through Leicester and into Nottinghamshire was delayed by the 2024 General Election and then by the Spending Review – and now the scheme has been indefinitely ‘paused’ by Government. There was a major opportunity to use Midland Main Line electrification to establish a ‘production approach’ – a UK template for affordable electrification which could cut unit costs by up to 30%.  However, the knowledge and expertise gained over the last few years will now be lost as teams are demobilised. Sir Peter continued: “Each pause damages confidence, makes delivery more expensive and pushes back the benefits for passengers, freight and the environment. “TfEM has consistently made the case for full electrification of the Midland Main Line over many years. A case that has been accepted in principle but repeatedly delayed in practice. We urge the government to set out a clear, funded timetable for completion of the project, and to work with us to deliver the rail infrastructure this region needs and deserves.” Midland Main Line electrification would create up to 4,300 new jobs, including many skilled roles and over 100 apprenticeships, generating £61 million in economic value from jobs created in the East Midlands and nearly £18 million in social value. Elaine Clark, CEO of Rail Forum, said: “We are extremely disappointed at the Government’s decision to pause Midland Mainline Electrification (MMLe), a decision that will have a direct impact on supply chain businesses now. We risk losing further highly skilled individuals and jobs, which will ultimately add to costs for other projects. “Stopping MMLe makes no sense; it is a shovel ready project that could deliver tangible benefits this parliament. It’s a bad decision for the UK taxpayer and it’s a bad decision for users of the MML with several of our larger cities now condemned to using diesel traction for the foreseeable future.” The East Midlands is currently the most diesel-dependent region in Great Britain. East Midlands Railway is being forced to refurbish its fleet of 25-35-year old diesel trains to keep services running for another decade. Completing Midland Main Line electrification would allow for the introduction of next generation battery-electric rolling stock already deployed in Germany and Merseyside and unlocking an additional £400 million in socio-economic benefits. EMC and TfEM will continue to press the case for completion of Midland Main Line electrification, alongside other rail and transport improvements to support growth, connectivity and sustainability across the region.