Work starts on new £5m children’s home
A ground-breaking ceremony has taken place at a £5 million purpose-built children’s home being developed by Derbyshire County Council to provide essential short-break and long-term care for children and young people with significant disabilities and complex learning needs.
County council officials joined project design and build partners at the ceremony at Spire Lodge in Chesterfield.
The home, situated on the Ashgate Croft School campus, will offer tailored support and create a nurturing environment for children and their families, supporting the council’s commitment to improve services for children with special needs and disabilities (SEND).
The Derbyshire County Council-funded project has been designed by the authority’s design consultant partner Concertus and is being built by construction partner Stepnell.
Principal Architectural Designer from Concertus, Andrew Elliot said: “We are excited to be part of such a vital project for young people in Derbyshire, which will provide residential facilities in new flagship accommodation. We are pleased to further collaborate with our appointed contractor Stepnell and strengthen our positive working relationship with our client Derbyshire County Council.”
Tom Sewell, Regional Director at Stepnell, said: “Our work at Spire Lodge shows how an effective construction process can have positive impacts not only on end users but also the wider community. The finished facility is set to provide such essential care for children and young people that need it the most, and we’re proud to have been involved.
“The project is one example within a collection that we’ve had the opportunity to be part of alongside both Concertus and Derbyshire County Council, both of which are partnerships that we’re looking forward to continuing in our work across the region.”
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Support Member for Education, Councillor Robert Flatley said: “It was great to join with the council’s design and build partners to mark the start of construction on the new Spire Lodge children’s home.
“Alongside the £7.5 million investment into new children’s homes recently approved by the council’s Cabinet, projects like these demonstrate our continued and long-term commitment to supporting some of the county’s most vulnerable children and young people.
“The new children home features a bespoke design to support children in an individual but social environment in the heart of the community, with local shops, amenities, and parks nearby and is next to Ashgate School where some of the children will attend.
“I was particularly pleased to hear about the provision the home gives to children in care with disabilities and how it builds a bridge to adult services, supporting families in managing transitions and helping to maintain education placements. l look forward to seeing the building’s completion offering an exciting new chapter of memories and experiences for the children and young people of Spire Lodge.”
The site is due to open in November 2025.
Payment Assist expands leadership team
Provider of flexible payment solutions in the automotive sector, Payment Assist, has expanded its leadership team with two new appointments.
With decades of experience in consumer lending, automotive finance, and digital payments, Richard Sharp, as Chief Operating Officer, and Chris Masters, as Chief Payments Officer, are implementing a future-forward strategy to enhance Payment Assist’s offerings further.
Richard brings a wealth of experience to Payment Assist, having spent 25 years in consumer lending. His career includes working within the motor finance, unsecured and secured lending markets in various executive positions for large-scale PLCs and challenger banks.
Richard’s expertise in regulated financial services, risk management, customer experience, and operational efficiency makes him a great asset in the growth strategy of Payment Assist.
As Chief Operating Officer, Richard is leading the company’s transformation efforts, focusing on digitalisation, enhancing the customer journey, and making sure operations are as resilient as possible. He is also overseeing Payment Assist’s preparation for full FCA regulation, ensuring compliance without compromising efficiency.
Richard said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Payment Assist at such an exciting time for the business. We have ambitious growth plans, and I’m excited to bring my experience in transformation, change, and improving our customer experience, as well as implement risk management measures so that we remain compliant and efficient as we grow.”
Chris has spent 18 years in the automotive sector and has worked with some of the UK’s biggest retailers and partners.
He initially worked for the digital media business Motors.co.uk, building relationships across the industry before moving to iVendi to lead business development. During this time, Chris gained valuable insight into customer behaviour and purchasing trends, particularly as the business shifted towards online transactions.
His move into payments came in 2018 when he began working with online payment solutions, helping automotive businesses transition to e-commerce. Now, as Chief Payments Officer at Payment Assist, he leads on commercial strategy, marketing, and product innovation.
Chris is focused on optimising Payment Assist’s payment processes and developing a next-generation platform that makes transactions seamless for automotive retailers and garages alike.
Chris added: “We have a fantastic foundation from our consumer finance products, but it’s our vision to develop and deliver a best-in-class payment platform for our network. The motor industry is an amazing sector to work in, with lots of forward-thinking businesses; we want to support them with a solution that will be at the forefront of technology.
“We’ve structured our teams to create dedicated support for customers and partners, which ensures that payment processing is easy and accessible for businesses.”
Trent Bridge Care Home scoops Best Architectural Design at Healthcare Design Awards
The team behind Trent Bridge Care Home are celebrating after winning Best Architectural Design at the Healthcare Design Awards.
The home, developed and operated by Tanglewood, was up against strong opposition across the country, including a £35m, 40 bedroom Learning Disability scheme in Liverpool, Dyson Cancer Centre in Bath, Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre in Kent, Melwood Grange care home in Ryston, and Whitstable House in Whitstable.
Designed by C Squared Architects, Trent Bridge Care Home is a luxury new facility offering residential, dementia, and respite care located in West Bridgford.
The interiors, designed by Care Home Interiors, focuses on the location near sports facilities, to make Trent Bridge Care Home one of a kind.
The design was developed with the residents who would be living there in mind, resulting in a home which is community focused, making it a welcoming place with plenty of room for community groups, meetings, and events.
Offering 72 bedrooms arranged over five storeys with a rooftop terrace on the sixth floor, it is set on a comparatively small and irregular-shaped site.
Four residents’ communities are created, one per floor, above ground floor level. Each community has a maximum of 18 residents and these are supported by their own open-plan lounge/dining room and separate quiet lounge. In addition, each floor has an assisted bathroom, assisted WC, and ancillary rooms.
The home also has communal facilities on the ground floor including a bistro café, activity room, garden lounge, hair and beauty salon, and a cinema/multi-purpose room.
Each community has access to the outdoors with a range of spaces, whether that be from a secure large balcony off the lounge/dining room, the ground-floor communal gardens, or the communal rooftop terrace which has views across the Nottingham skyline and directly into Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
The residents’ lounge and dining rooms have been located in a central location where the two 8/10-bedroom wings meet for ease of wayfinding.
The interior has been thoughtfully designed with dementia in mind, with short corridors, lots of natural light, and destination points, as well as utilising colour, light, texture, and materiality to support the care needs of the residents.
The judges said: “This blew us away. It was very brave to choose such a city centre location next to very, very busy roads, but we have rarely been to a care home so warm and welcoming from the moment you walk in.
“The residents we spoke to loved it there. There are so many great breakout areas and the verticality shortens travel times for residents who may have issues with mobility. The whole building feels light and airy and it has been extremely cleverly designed.
“We have this mental image of a care home as being typically suburban, low level, and often sprawling, and this is really showing a different way of doing things and could lead to a paradigm change. This cannot have been an easy brief, but it has been done very, very well.”
The home also has communal facilities on the ground floor including a bistro café, activity room, garden lounge, hair and beauty salon, and a cinema/multi-purpose room.
Each community has access to the outdoors with a range of spaces, whether that be from a secure large balcony off the lounge/dining room, the ground-floor communal gardens, or the communal rooftop terrace which has views across the Nottingham skyline and directly into Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
The residents’ lounge and dining rooms have been located in a central location where the two 8/10-bedroom wings meet for ease of wayfinding.
The interior has been thoughtfully designed with dementia in mind, with short corridors, lots of natural light, and destination points, as well as utilising colour, light, texture, and materiality to support the care needs of the residents.
The judges said: “This blew us away. It was very brave to choose such a city centre location next to very, very busy roads, but we have rarely been to a care home so warm and welcoming from the moment you walk in.
“The residents we spoke to loved it there. There are so many great breakout areas and the verticality shortens travel times for residents who may have issues with mobility. The whole building feels light and airy and it has been extremely cleverly designed.
“We have this mental image of a care home as being typically suburban, low level, and often sprawling, and this is really showing a different way of doing things and could lead to a paradigm change. This cannot have been an easy brief, but it has been done very, very well.”
Loughborough event firm snapped up following fall into administration
veSpace, the Swindon-based venue, event and production company, has expanded its portfolio of businesses with Noble Events.
veSpace has acquired the trade and assets of the Loughborough-based event firm, which also has an office in Dubai, following its fall into administration.
FRP Advisory were recently appointed administrators of the business, which has been delivering events since 2008, holding long-term partnerships with major global brands such as Bentley Motors and Honda.
veSpace said: “We are delighted to announce that veSpace International Limited has acquired the trade and assets of Noble Events Limited; an award-winning agency who works with some of the worlds’ leading brands. This addition extends our incredible portfolio of companies.
“Their culture, ethos and team spirit absolutely echo our own brand values. Under the veSpace umbrella, Noble Events will have continuity of service for their clients and security for the talented team members.”
Speculative development starts on final phase at Derby manufacturing hub
Indurent, a developer, owner and operator of industrial and logistics space across the UK, has started the speculative development of the final phase at Indurent Park Derby, the 50-acre estate for high-tech manufacturing, R&D and logistics.
The new unit, which will incorporate 43,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, will be delivered to the Indurent Code for sustainable development and target BREEAM ‘Excellent’ for sustainability and EPC ‘A’ for energy efficiency.
Originally conceived as a seven-year, six-phase scheme, Indurent Park Derby will be completed in just four years in response to high demand in the region for modern industrial workspace with strong ESG credentials.
The Park is currently home to Rolls Royce, which occupies a 148,000 sq ft facility completed in 2024, as well as heat pump manufacturer Vaillant, Swedish medical technology company Getinge, and a national training centre for Kia.
Winvic Construction Ltd is the principal contractor for the final phase, having successfully delivered the previous three phases at the Park.
Rob Richardson, Development Director at Indurent, said: “The start of the final phase at Derby is a significant milestone and the accelerated development programme underlines our conviction for the location as one of the UK’s fastest-growing manufacturing hubs.
“The Park is home to a wide range of businesses and supports hundreds of high-skilled jobs, reflecting the adaptability of modern industrial buildings. We anticipate strong interest in the final unit as demand for modern, high-spec space in the region continues to outweigh supply.”
Danny Nelson, Managing Director – Industrial, Distribution & Logistics at Winvic, said: “We’re proud to continue our partnership with Indurent, delivering the final phase of Indurent Park Derby – a testament to our commitment to supporting our clients in meeting the demand for high-quality, sustainable, manufacturing, R&D, and logistics space.
“As with the earlier phases we’ve successfully completed, our expertise and strong collaboration will support us in meeting the fast-track programme and we look forward to handing over the project in December 2025.”
Knight Frank and Savills are instructed as agents on the final unit.
Howden expands aviation insurance with Forbes and Hill acquisitions
Howden has acquired Forbes Insurance Limited and the book of business from Hill Aviation Insurance Services Limited, strengthening its aviation insurance capabilities in the UK. Both companies will be rebranded under Howden and integrated into a new retail aviation division within Howden UK&I.
Forbes Insurance, based in Leicestershire, specializes in aviation coverage for airfield operators, maintenance firms, product suppliers, and aircraft owners. CEO Terry Moyes will lead Howden’s aviation division and oversee a new Leicester office. Hill Aviation, founded in 1991 in North Yorkshire, will transfer its book of business to Howden, with founder Steve Hill retiring from the industry.
The expansion adds to Howden’s network of over 200 UK and Ireland locations and aligns with its strategy to enhance specialist expertise.
Rising inflation puts pressure on East Midlands businesses
Inflation climbed to 3% in January, up from 2.5% in December, marking a 10-month high, according to the Office for National Statistics. The increase surpasses the Bank of England’s 2% target and could force businesses to raise prices.
East Midlands Chamber reports that inflation remains a significant concern for local businesses, with 60% expecting to increase prices, according to its Quarterly Economic Survey. Rising costs, including the upcoming National Insurance hike in April, add further strain.
The Bank of England’s response is now in focus, as the inflation spike may delay expected interest rate cuts in March. Economists still anticipate rates to fall later this year. Business leaders urge the government to provide economic stability and targeted support in its upcoming spending review.
London calling (again) for Nottingham’s OTB Legal
The Nottingham-headquartered UK immigration law firm, OTB Legal, has moved swiftly to further boost the expertise of its personal immigration team, with Laura Ralph joining the firm as Associate Solicitor at its London office.
Laura joins the team in the capital hot on the heels of her new colleague Natasha Mitter, who arrived last week.
Graduating from the University of Essex in 2010 with a First-Class Honours degree in Law and completing the LPC with distinction at the College of Law in 2013, Laura is an experienced and knowledgeable immigration solicitor.
Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2015, practicing exclusively in immigration law for the last decade and has held Senior Caseworker membership under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme.
The continued growth of the team at OTB Legal’s London office builds on the momentum of the location being opened last summer, which itself was preceded by the opening of their new Manchester office earlier in 2024.
Commenting on Laura’s appointment, Director Mark Lilley-Tams said: “OTB Legal is in a planned phase of consistent growth and we are delighted to be able to add someone with such focused expertise as Laura to our personal immigration team so soon after welcoming Natasha Mitter. They are both excellent solicitors and will be fantastic assets for us as a firm and for our clients.”
Offering expert legal advice and support from sponsor licences and skilled worker Visas to spouse Visas and citizenship, OTB Legal has grown consistently from its Chase Park headquarters just outside Nottingham.
Commenting on her new role, Laura said: “It is immediately clear on arriving here at OTB Legal that this is a firm that is modern, ambitious and is not afraid to look at things from a fresh perspective. I particularly look forward to bringing my specialist knowledge of family-based applications under Appendix FM to OTB Legal and representing clients with appeals to the immigration tribunal where appropriate.”
First details revealed for new £5m battery pack production facility in Northamptonshire
Software-accelerated battery pack developer, IONETIC, has revealed the first details of an all-new £5 million smart battery production pilot facility in the UK.
Called Arc Fab Pilot, the phase one battery pack manufacturing plant in Brackley is set to be brought online in 2025 and has been designed to significantly slash the time-to-market and development costs for electric vehicles – reducing risk for automakers needing custom battery packs and providing a local approach to battery-pack manufacture in light of ongoing uncertainty affecting the EV sector.
The 5,000 sq ft facility will also serve as IONETIC’s global HQ and industrialisation centre, creating 30 high-skill jobs in its first phase.
The £5 million Arc Fab Pilot facility will be fully-operational by Q3 2025, having opened in Q4 2024, marking a key step in IONETIC’s mission to provide specialist OEMs – such as those producing trucks, buses, off-highway and commercial vehicles – with a rapid, cost-effective route to high-quality, customised EV battery packs.
James Eaton, CEO and Co-Founder of IONETIC, said: “With EV adoption accelerating, OEMs need effective, flexible battery solutions. By embedding agility into the core of our production model, we’re removing the most significant barriers to custom EV battery production; cost, time, risk and scalability.
“Arc Fab Pilot will be the first step towards unleashing the potential of our Arc technology stack, allowing us to produce custom battery packs at a speed and price point that the current market simply doesn’t allow for, from right here in the UK.”
The Arc Fab Pilot Facility will use automation hardware and integrated control systems from Rockwell Automation, as well as software such as Emulate3D platform to build comprehensive digital twins of IONETIC’s production facilities.
Mansfield School secures £2.5M refurbishment contract
High Oakham Primary School in Mansfield has been awarded a £2.5 million refurbishment contract as part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s School Building Improvement Programme. Scheduled to begin later this year, the project will involve critical upgrades, including a new roof, lighting, ceilings, and fire alarm systems. These improvements ensure the school meets modern safety standards and supports a productive learning environment.
Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, will manage the project’s design and delivery. They will use their expertise in public sector construction to oversee cost management and project execution. This partnership highlights the growing trend of public-private collaborations in large-scale infrastructure projects.
The project is expected to create significant opportunities for local subcontractors in the construction, design, and materials sectors, potentially boosting the local economy. The refurbishment aligns with the council’s ongoing efforts to invest in public sector buildings, demonstrating a commitment to improving facilities while offering businesses the chance to engage in high-value public contracts.
