Boots to move forward as private standalone company following Sycamore Partners acquisition
Charity Gala Dinner to help transform derelict lace factory into rough sleeper accommodation
Toyota plans large-scale solar expansion at Burnaston plant
Toyota has submitted plans for a 56-acre solar farm at its Burnaston manufacturing site in Derbyshire. The project is expected to generate 16 megawatts of electricity annually, covering approximately 19 per cent of the plant’s energy requirements.
The Burnaston facility, which employs over 2,500 staff, produces around 150,000 vehicles a year. The new solar installation would sit 150 metres south of an existing 4.1-megawatt solar farm that has operated on site since 2011.
The land earmarked for development was last used for agriculture in 2018. Toyota’s application highlights the existing screening around the site and its distance from residential areas as factors that may minimise local objections.
Burnaston forms the core of Toyota’s UK manufacturing operations, with additional facilities at Deeside in North Wales. Since opening in 1992, the site has produced more than five million vehicles and has received over £2.1 billion in investment to date. The plant applies the Toyota Production System and operates as one of Toyota’s global sustainable plants, emphasising low-carbon production and renewable energy integration.
If approved, the solar farm will expand Toyota’s capacity to source clean energy on site and support its commitment to sustainable manufacturing while maintaining local employment.
Muse marks Midlands expansion
Shortlist revealed for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
Book your place at the awards now to avoid disappointment!
The event will begin at 4:30pm and continue until 7:30pm, with plenty of time for networking and celebrating. The occasion will additionally feature Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands as keynote speaker.Shortlist for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
Architects of the Year – sponsored by Roy Geddes Bricks Church Lukas Morrison Design Pelham Architects Contractor of the Year – sponsored by EMEC Ecology Goodward Construction Miller Knight Winvic Construction Developer of the Year – sponsored by Devello Clowes Developments St James Securities Vistry East Midlands Most Active Agent – sponsored by Knapton Wright Salloway Property Consultants OMEETO Rigby & Co Deal of the Year – sponsored by Frank Key Built-to-rent deal at next phase of Derby Castleward regeneration – Lovell, Placefirst Vaillant Live deal – St James Securities Top Wighay deal – Vistry East Midlands Residential Development of the Year – sponsored by Build Manager Abbey Central – Stagfield Group & Peveril Homes Riber Castle – StudioTwenty Prospect Place – TUNE Commercial Development of the Year – sponsored by Global HSE Group Sherwood Observatory – G F Tomlinson Canopy, Leicester – Henry Brothers Homefield College SEND Building – Scope Construction Vaillant Live – St James Securities Sustainable Development of the Year – sponsored by Viridis Evo Corby – PBBE Corby BV, PineBridge Rykneld Homes North East Derbyshire retrofit – Coactivation Nottingham College Construction Skills Centre (CSC) and The Gateway – G F Tomlinson Abbey Central – Stagfield Group & Peveril Homes Excellence in Design – sponsored by Konsileo Loughborough University DigiLabs Teaching Space – APSS Sutton on Sea Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens – G F Tomlinson Vaillant Live – St James Securities Responsible Business – sponsored by Wright Vigar Scope Construction G F Tomlinson Morrison Design The Overall Winner, sponsored by SEV, will also be announced at the ceremony, who will be awarded a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity with Business Link worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of their 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:










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East Midlands takes control of adult skills funding
The East Midlands will manage £53 million in Adult Skills Funding locally from August 2025, shifting decision-making from central government to the Mayor of the East Midlands and local authorities. The funding covers programmes including the Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs, aimed at adults aged 19 and over.
Local authorities and the East Midlands Combined County Authority will determine how the money is allocated, focusing on training, apprenticeships, and development opportunities that align with regional labour market needs. Businesses, colleges, independent learning providers, and voluntary organisations will play a key role in shaping delivery.
Consultations and focus groups over the past year have informed the approach, ensuring funding addresses skills gaps, supports workforce development, and targets communities and sectors that need it most.
The move is designed to create a more responsive, locally tailored skills system, linking training directly to employment opportunities and the economic priorities of the East Midlands.
Sodexo secures eight-year extension at Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Sodexo Health & Care has been awarded an eight-year extension to its patient dining contract with Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, taking the partnership to 33 years. The new contract, valued at £24.8 million, commenced on 1 April 2025 and follows a competitive tender process.
The company will continue providing a mix of in-house prepared meals and Apetito products, alongside an extensive range of special diets accommodating cultural, religious, and medical requirements. Meals are prepared in the hospital’s central production kitchen, transported via specialist regeneration trolleys, and served by Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services (DSFS) staff.
The refreshed inpatient menu, launched in May, introduces two specialised ranges. A finger food selection supports patients with dementia by enabling independent eating, while a high-energy mini meal range addresses reduced appetites and calorie-dense requirements for patients needing nutritional support.
Patient Service Assistants are undertaking training and sampling sessions to ensure the consistent handling and serving of the new meals. The extended agreement reinforces the hospital’s focus on providing nutritious, tailored food to support patient recovery, wellbeing, and overall dining experience.
Bidding opens to find operator for multi-million pound tech centre
East Midlands Airport fuels growth in regional exports
East Midlands Airport is driving expansion in the Midlands’ international trade through its growing cargo operations. More than half of regional exporters increased sales in the second quarter of this financial year, with East Midlands-based companies ranking second nationally for entering new markets. Recent trade data shows strong growth in sales to the US and rising demand for exports to China.
The airport handled over 100,000 tonnes of cargo between May and July, up 17.4% on the same period last year. This growth exceeded Heathrow, where cargo volumes carried in passenger aircraft have remained largely flat. East Midlands specialises in cargo-only flights, operating predominantly overnight, which reduces delays caused by passenger schedules. Its central location adjacent to the M1 provides access to 90% of the UK population within four hours, enhancing efficiency for freight carriers.
Major logistics firms, including DHL, UPS, and FedEx, have established UK operations at East Midlands, while four new cargo airlines have launched services since May. Several of these airlines operate routes to China, reflecting the growing demand from exporters targeting the Asian market.
To support rising cargo volumes, the airport has reconfigured aprons to accommodate additional wide-bodied aircraft. Long-term plans include four runway-side plots for redevelopment, offering 122,000m² of warehouse space, new taxiways, and stands for up to 18 aircraft. Forecasts anticipate a 54% increase in express freight over the next two decades, potentially creating more than 20,000 jobs and contributing nearly £4 billion to the economy.
Two sites hold Freeport tax status, and a third is designated for a logistics and advanced manufacturing park led by Prologis, expected to unlock £1bn in investment. These developments position East Midlands Airport as a strategic hub supporting regional exports, advanced manufacturing, and broader economic growth.