PwC’s Midlands transaction services team completes £3.5bn of deals in 2021
PwC’s Transaction Services (TS) team in the Midlands completed deals with a total value in excess of £3.5bn in 2021, topping the £2.5bn transactions delivered in 2019-20.
The TS team operates across the Midlands and the North, with the combined value of the transactions across both regions amounting to £12bn in 2021.
Over half of the deals completed involved supporting corporate clients and Private Equity (PE) backed portfolio companies with buy and build growth strategies.
Helen Ward, transaction services partner and private equity leader for PwC in the Midlands, said: “We have seen record-breaking deal activity over the last 12 months, with demand for our expertise remaining strong particularly in areas such as technology, transformation and ESG. Looking ahead, there is still pent up demand for deals and this will play a key role in the economic recovery with clients looking to us to solve their most pressing issues.
“Our recent CEO Survey shows that successful vaccine roll out and significant government funding have given the UK a head start on recovery. Meanwhile our listed assets represent good value, at a time when many investors have full war chests to spend on resilient businesses. The challenge and opportunity is to attract the right investments and partnerships to deliver sustainable growth across the UK.”
The deals market continues to see high levels of activity, providing PwC’s Midlands TS team with the opportunity to work with a diverse range of corporate and PE clients and across a broad spectrum of sectors, including TMT, Business Services, Industrial Products, Healthcare, Retail Consumer and Leisure and Financial Services, working on over 27 completed transactions in the Midlands.
To meet this demand, the TS team has further invested in its team in the Midlands with eight promotions announced this month, which include partner admission for Jeffery Nye and Rachael Ellis promoted to director.
In addition to the promotions, the team has invested in recruiting 20 new people over 2021. The diverse team is made up of 50% female and 35% from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Tecserv UK appoints new security project manager
Fire and security alarm maintenance and installation specialists Tecserv UK has appointed Paul Hopcroft as its new security project manager.
Paul has over 29 years of experience within the fire and security industry, starting out at Shorrock Security as an installation engineer and progressing to installation supervisor before moving into their national account division as a project engineer.
More recently Paul worked for Clymac Fire and Security as their senior technical engineer which involved project design support, internal auditing, engineer training and mentoring and providing onsite engineer support.
In his new role at Tecserv UK Paul will be responsible for all security projects involving the installation of intruder alarms, access control and CCTV systems and will manage all projects from confirmation of order right the way through to completion and successful handover to the customer.
Paul said: “I was seeking a new challenge and when I heard about the opportunity to join Tecserv I jumped at the opportunity to join such a well-respected company. The team is well renown within the industry for its consultative approach and reputation for delivering high levels of customer service.”
Tecserv UK is based in Underwood on the border of Nottingham & Derbyshire. The company specialises in the installation and maintenance of fire and security systems for businesses of all sizes including some of the UK’s most prestigious brands and iconic buildings such as St Paul’s Cathedral in London, The Ritz and Bulgari hotels, Pinewood Group, Harvey Nichols, M&S and McArthurGlen Designer outlet shopping complexes.
Become the leader you want to be, with support from the Business Gateway
Leicester and Leicestershire Business Gateway is offering small business owners a unique opportunity to develop their skills with a personalised package of coaching, support and consultancy.
The leadership package – called ‘Become the Leader you want to be’ – is a refreshing change from generic leadership training delivered using slides and an online presentation.
It will be delivered by highly experienced consultant, Ian Baker who explained: “I think people have had enough of sitting through ‘one size fits all’ presentations; we’re all different, we’re all individuals so our approach reflects that. We will provide you with individual 1-2-1 sessions so that you can raise your leadership game and feel able to tackle your business issues.
“First of all, we’ll have a deep dive session into what you’re all about as a person and a business leader – don’t worry, we make it enjoyable for you! From this, we create a plan together with tangible actions and goals. People tend to stick to this plan because it’s been co-created.”
The programme has been designed in response to what the Business Gateway has seen among many small and medium businesses: they achieve a certain amount of growth without formal leadership but within time reach a crucial point where they can’t progress any further without it. Often issues such as apparently poor processes or a lack of focus in the business actually come because of this lack of leadership skills and focus.
Ian Baker added: “If you’re running a business but you have a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right, this support is for you. Perhaps you feel stuck and unable to get to the bottom of these issues on your own. That’s why we start with the people first as that’s really useful when it comes to looking at the processes and physical aspects of the business. I help people become better leaders and business owners and create their own legacy.”
The support programme is fully funded and therefore free of charge to participating small businesses. It is available from now until 31 March 2022. Because of Ian’s approach, each package of support will be unique to the individual but with a maximum of 8 hours per person.
Anyone wishing to apply should contact the Business Gateway Business Advisers on 0116 366 8487 or email growthhub@bizgateway.or.uk
University of Leicester researchers sign major agreement with one of the world’s largest mining companies
Researchers at the University of Leicester have signed a major research agreement with BHP, one of the world’s largest mining companies, to identify new areas for the discovery of metals critical to the electric vehicle (EV) revolution.
Dr David Holwell from the Centre for Sustainable Resource Extraction in the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, will work in partnership with BHP to explore deposits of nickel and copper.
The two-year project, ‘Craton Margin Exploration Targeting 4D’, also involves colleagues at the University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth, and Macquarie University, Sydney. It is funded by BHP’s Resource Centre of Excellence and Metals Exploration and will support three post-doctoral research fellows located in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Dr Holwell said: “We are delighted to have agreed this partnership with BHP. It is particularly exciting to have the opportunity to apply some of our recent and ongoing research on nickel-copper-platinum group metal deposits directly to exploration targeting. We have a truly international and diverse team with complementary expertise and I am very excited to get started!”
The project and partnership with BHP has developed directly from recent work by the Leicester-UWA group that has shed new light on the processes involved in the sources and transport mechanisms of metals through the lithosphere in magmatic systems, published in Nature Communications (Holwell et al., 2019; Blanks et al., 2020) and Lithos (Chong et al., 2021).
This innovative work will be coupled with novel advances in experimental petrology and tectonic modelling to highlight ‘sweet spots’ of crust that have undergone a series of favourable processes through geological time.
The collaborative research project will challenge scientists’ current understanding of the nickel mineral system, potentially opening up new exploration search space for nickel across the globe. Nickel is a major component in the lithium-ion battery cathodes used in the manufacture of EVs, and is therefore vital to the EV revolution.
Alongside Dr Holwell, the international project team involves Professor Marco Fiorentini and Dr Weronika Gorczyk at UWA, Professor Steven Foley at Macquarie University, with Dr Daryl Blanks taking up the position of BHP Research Fellow at Leicester. The BHP project team includes Dr Libby Sharman and Dr Nicole Januszczak.
Professor Fiorentini added: “We are very proud to collaborate with BHP to tackle key knowledge gaps that currently hamper successful exploration of metals needed for the green future of our planet.” Plans in to convert Nottingham’s British Waterways Building into flats
Plans have been submitted to transform the British Waterways Building in Nottingham into a residential scheme.
H2O Urban, a joint partnership between The Canal and River Trust (current owners of the building) and specialist developer bloc Ltd, are behind the proposals.
The grade 2 listed building would be converted to provide 95 residential units (12 studios, 42 one bedroom apartments and 41 two bedroom apartments) including construction of a rooftop extension providing 8 apartments.
The building, constructed in 1919 as a canal transit warehouse for the Trent Navigation Company, is currently partially occupied by a comedy club (Glee), however the lease for the space is coming to an end and will not be renewed. The other areas of lower floors were formally occupied by a pub and the upper floors by a gym but are all currently empty.
A design statement says: “The proposal to convert the listed British Waterways building into a residential apartment scheme will provide a viable repurposing of this prominent landmark to protect its long-term future.”
Raleigh owner to be acquired
Accell Group, the owner of Nottingham brand Raleigh, and a consortium led by global investment firm KKR have reached a conditional agreement for the purchase of the former for a total consideration of approximately EUR 1.56bn (£1.31bn).
Other well‐known bicycle brands in Accell Group’s portfolio include Haibike, Winora, Ghost, Batavus, Koga, Lapierre, Sparta, Babboe and Carqon. Accell Group employs approximately 3,100 people across 15 countries.
The deal values the Netherlands-based bicycle, bicycle part and accessory-maker’s shares at EUR 58 (almost £49) per share.
No jobs are expected to be lost in the deal.
Rob ter Haar, chairman of the supervisory board of Accell Group, said: “The supervisory board unanimously supports the transaction and recommends the offer by the consortium,
which we believe will promote the sustainable success of Accell Group. The offer reflects a compelling and immediate value for our shareholders.
“Having the consortium as a strong shareholder focused on long-term value enhancement will enable Accell Group to grow its business in an accelerated timeframe and to strengthen
its position as one of the world’s leading bicycle market players, against the backdrop of continued supply chain volatility and a dynamic global environment full of challenges and opportunities.”
Ton Anbeek, CEO of Accell Group, said: “Today’s announcement marks an important step for Accell Group. With the consortium as our new shareholder we will have a financially strong and knowledgeable partner to accelerate the roll-out of our existing strategic roadmap, enhance our global footprint, explore suitable acquisitions and further leverage our scale.
“As such, the transaction will enable us to take a leap forward as a group which also brings along enhanced career opportunities for our employees. We continuously strive to be a leader in the bicycle industry by combining smart design and innovative technology with the best value and customer experience.
“With KKR coming on board as majority shareholder, and with the continued support of Teslin, we would be able to accelerate the execution of our strategic agenda, launch new innovations for green mobility and support to the benefit of people and communities.”
Accell Group acquired Raleigh in 2012 for £62m.
2022 Business Predictions: Chloe Sproston, Creative Director, Blueprint Interiors
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Chloe Sproston, Creative Director from workplace strategy consultants and commercial office fit-out specialists, Blueprint Interiors.
For the early part of 2022, I think businesses will continue to grapple with the question “What do I need an office for?”
Business owners will be questioning how much office space they are going to need and identifying how their people will want to work. Particularly as the work from home trend has now become the new normal.
I also think we will continue to see peaks and troughs in the number of people working from home and the office according to fluctuations in COVID infection rates – which means office spaces will need to be flexible to accommodate this.
MS Teams and other video conferencing tools have proved to be a useful and productive way to conduct meetings that are about process, but when people need to collaborate, innovate or meet socially to bond and team build, the desire for face to face interaction will remain high. We are after all, social beings and will need these interactions to benefit our health and well-being.
However, I also predict that individuals will need to hold greater responsibility for how their career will develop – especially if they are working from home and no longer in front of the people who will influence their career progression on a daily basis. Consequently, I think we will see a shift in the provision of tools that will help employees focus on themselves.
In order to complement the face to face and video interactions managers already have in place with their team, I think we will see an increased use of online tools that will help them to develop and manage teams that are working remotely. The emphasis that is being placed on workplace diversity and inclusion will also quite rightly gain more and more momentum.
2022 Business Predictions: Ben Cree, Director at Lesley Cree Opticians
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Ben Cree, Director at Lesley Cree Opticians based in Nottingham.
As we head into 2022, there are some exciting developments occurring in the world of Optometry.
Whilst the UK High Street is continuing to take a hit, as big name brands close their doors, for local independents like ourselves, we are continuing to see a trend of people shopping local. Consumers have enjoyed the personal service and the community spirit that has been created by supporting independents and I think this loyalty will remain.
Myopia Control will also be a keen talking point throughout 2022. Myopia control is the area of children’s eye care dedicated to slowing down myopia progression or otherwise known as short-sighted. Whilst there’s nothing currently available which can promise to STOP myopia progression, it is important to consult with your local Optometrist to perhaps consider strategies to slow down the progression, whether that be with special contact lenses or spectacle lenses.
In the wake of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November, discussions around sustainability have come into the spotlight. A number of high profile eyewear manufacturers are now opting to use plant-based or eco-friendly materials when designing and manufacturing their frames and lenses. I definitely see this trend to continue in 2022, as manufacturers look to provide products that cater for consumers’ sustainable buying habits.
Nottinghamshire County Council new virtual employment hub launched to help residents and businesses
A virtual one-stop-shop has been launched to support residents find work opportunities and help employers develop their talent pool.
Nottinghamshire Opportunities aims to be the go-to-place to explore local career opportunities and provides a platform for people to search for jobs, training courses, and apprenticeship opportunities.
Funded by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with careers guidance service Futures, the portal will ultimately improve access to training and employment – matching an individual’s skills and training with job opportunities.
Councillor Keith Girling, chairman of the county council’s Economic Development and Asset Management Committee, said the online portal would provide much-needed support for job seekers and employers.
He said: “Our goal is to remove employability barriers and provide access to better and more rewarding jobs that allow individuals to progress in their careers and fulfil their potential.
“We have lived through some of the most challenging and difficult times in living memory because of the pandemic, which means the launch of a platform such as Nottinghamshire Opportunities is more important than ever as residents look to find employment or upskill.
“It will also be a very useful tool for employers in our county who are looking to recruit local talent to join their teams as they continue to recover from the impact of the various lockdowns in the past two years.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how Nottinghamshire Opportunities supports and links people to advice to help them build the right career path, whether they’re a student wanting an apprenticeship in a particular industry or have recently been made redundant and want to explore different job options – we’ll be here to support them every step of the way.”
Futures CEO Paul Price-Hazlehurst said he was delighted his organisation was playing a ‘critical role’ in delivering a ‘fantastic’ initiative.
He said: “Nottinghamshire Opportunities portal has everything you need to help build a career.
“Futures is delighted to part of this fantastic initiative by Nottinghamshire County Council.
“The landscape of careers, employment and skills provision is complex, but there’s lots of support out there for employers, young people, and jobseekers.
“Nottinghamshire Opportunities can really help overcome that complexity and we at Futures are delighted to be playing a critical role in the delivery of this new service.”
The virtual hub also provides an opportunity for job seekers to try out a bespoke Skills Toolkit, which offers free digital courses to help individuals to progress in work and boost their job prospects, as well as support packs for people facing redundancy.
To access Nottinghamshire Opportunities, go to Nottinghamshire Opportunities | Get a foot on the career ladder (oppsinnotts.co.uk).
Plans approved to redevelop school building for student flats
Plans to redevelop a former school building at 203 Ilkeston Road, Nottingham, into student apartments have been granted conditional permission by the city council.
The proposals would provide 158 student beds, with indoor and outdoor communal amenities at ground level, including a landscaped garden. The rooms would be a mixture of studios and en-suite bedrooms with a cluster kitchen/living space.
A design statement submitted by Leonard Design Architects says: “The existing school building is of good quality with clear heritage and townscape value. Much of the street facing façades are of reasonable condition but are in need of repair.
“Meanwhile much of the character has been lost within the two courtyard spaces due to a series of 20th century additions including a large hall, which is proposed to be demolished and replaced with a new student accommodation block.
“The interior, however, is in a state of poor repair and is no longer fit for purpose for modern use. As such it is proposed that major refurbishment works will be undertaken to convert the building for use as student accommodation. Refurbishment will include performance upgrade to windows and insertion of new floors where appropriate.”
A new two storey gate house is also proposed along Stanfield Street, which will “define a new street scene and mark the entrance to the site.”
The student flats would be spread across the three buildings (the existing ex-school, the new build extension and the gate house).
The site is currently vacant, however it was originally used as a school and more recently was used by Nottingham City Council to house the Radford Unity Centre.
