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.

Centrica has transformed the site of an ageing power station in Lincolnshire into an ultra-modern 150 megawatt (MW) energy park. The former turbine hall at the Brigg Power Station, which was decommissioned in 2020 after nearly 30 years of operations, is now home to a new 50MW peaking plant. Peaking plants only operate when there’s high or peak demand for electricity, or when generation from renewables is too low to meet demand. The new peaking plant is the second to be constructed at Brigg, doubling the capacity of power generation at the site to 100MW. The new engines, designed and manufactured by sustainable technology business Wärtsilä, are highly efficient, and will be used in a trial to blend hydrogen into the plant which is due to start later this year. In addition, Centrica has completed construction of a 50MW two hour battery system on the site, representing the largest investment in battery storage capacity the company has made to date. Storing renewable energy in this way makes it possible to better control the peaks and troughs associated with renewable energy generation – charging the batteries when electricity demand is low and discharging when demand peaks. With a combined capacity of 150MW, Brigg Energy Park now provides the electricity network with resilience, facilitating the continued expansion of clean, green renewable energy the UK needs, and is capable of powering around 100,000 homes during periods of peak demand, such as mornings and early evenings. Chris O’Shea, group chief executive of Centrica, said: “The energy transition will only be successful if it’s secure, affordable and sustainable. The Brigg Energy Park plays a vital role in all three of these providing a level of resilience that underpins our energy future – a future that’s increasingly electrified and renewable. “Battery storage and fast response gas fired peaking plants are essential in ensuring every home and business has access to a reliable electricity supply, even when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.” Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin welcomed the development: “The Centrica team at Brigg have been consistently creative in getting the best out of ageing assets. The plant makes a significant contribution to energy production at peak times, and I am delighted to welcome the biggest investment by Centrica here in the local site. Congratulations to all involved.”

Leading UK supermarkets are pressing the Government to take immediate steps to implement due diligence laws aimed at tackling illegal deforestation in global supply chains. Retail giants, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Lidl, are in a holding pattern as they await progress on key legislation under the Environment Act 2021.

The proposed laws would prevent businesses from using or selling products containing palm oil, cocoa, beef, leather, and soy sourced from deforested land. However, the Government has yet to publish the necessary secondary legislation or set a timeline for its introduction, leaving retailers uncertain about how to adjust their operations in line with potential requirements.

Supermarkets are concerned that the delay in legislation could affect supply chain stability and food security. They warn that the UK could face millions of pounds in export losses to the European Union, as the EU’s deforestation regulations are set to take effect later this year. The retailers argue that aligning UK regulations with EU standards is critical for ensuring competitiveness and preventing disruptions in global trade.

In addition to the business risks, the supermarkets highlight the environmental and social importance of deforestation laws, citing their role in supporting climate change mitigation and ensuring the long-term security of food and commodity supply chains. Increased weather volatility and food price inflation, particularly in sectors like cocoa and coffee, have made addressing these issues even more pressing.

Retailers are urging the Government to act quickly and to adopt secondary legislation that aligns with European deforestation standards. They also emphasised the need for greater supply chain transparency after the point of import to safeguard against products linked to illegal deforestation entering the market.