Business chosen to build Sea Road building in Cleethorpes
JemBuild Ltd, based in Humberston, have won the contract to build the iconic Sea Road building in Cleethorpes.
Committed to using local companies where possible, JemBuild have already been working with North East Lincolnshire Council on the retaining wall works behind the old beach safety offices. Once this has been completed, work will start on the main building.
A new three-storey building will be constructed on the brownfield site on Sea Road, comprising retail or hospitality space, as well as new public amenities and a changing places facility. Work is ongoing to secure the pre-let agreement for the hospitality provider, which will be announced in due course.
Paul Barker, Managing Director of JemBuild, said: “I am delighted to have secured this fabulous contract with North East Lincolnshire Council and look forward to working with NELC along with our construction partners, Hodson Architects and C2C Structural along with our local suppliers on this exciting project that will undoubtedly cement its place on the local landscape to become as iconic as its sister building, the prominent Pier.”
Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of the council, said: “This is great news for the area and it’s good to see things moving forwards. The Cleethorpes Masterplan, carried out by renowned consultants, Hemingway Design, has helped us create a vision for the future of the resort, based on what people who took the time to respond to the Masterplan want to see. And hundreds of people have been having their say about the future designs for Pier Gardens and Market Place in the last few weeks too.”
Interrupted by COVID, the three-storey Sea Road building was granted planning permission in 2020, and promises to offer new high quality outside space, with public viewing areas as well as balconies. The first floor of the building will be accessible from Pier Gardens, giving a gracious nod back to how the pier was accessed when it was first constructed.
Other elements of the building hark back to the Art Deco seaside style and the buildings constructed around the resort at that time, such as the small retail kiosks on Central Prom, and the former Electricity Board showroom on Isaac’s Hill.
Work to deliver the three key schemes in Cleethorpes, the Sea Road building, Pier Gardens and Market Place, along with a small amount for signage, is being funded by HM Government.
Keepmoat signs lease on Alexandra Dock site in Grimsby
A lease that will result in new housing in the Alexandra Dock area of Grimsby has been signed with Doncaster-based homebuilder Keepmoat.
The 6.25-acre town centre site bordered by Fisherman’s Wharf and the River Freshney will eventually see a community of around 130 homes with supporting commercial accommodation.
The brownfield site has been the subject of consultation with developers in the housing market since November last year. This is a process where developers register an interest in the site, and then, through rounds of discussions, submit a final bid to take over the build lease of the site which then allows them to put in a planning application for their proposals.
Investment worth about £7.8m to support the development at this site has already been secured through the Government’s Towns Fund, and the build will be supported by brownfield funding secured as part of the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal.
Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of the council, said: “We want to create a place that connects the town and its community with its waterside, creating a fantastic urban living environment.
“North East Lincolnshire must develop as a place where people want to live and work. If that does not happen, we risk stagnating as a borough. We’re committed to making sure that does not happen.
“There’s a long way to go yet, and developments of this scale don’t happen overnight. But we are working to improve the town centre as a whole and this is part of that vision.
“We want people who work in our borough to also live here as this will maximise the economic benefits to the area.
“Step-by-step, along with other initiatives in the town centre, we’re changing how our town centre can be used safely, and enjoyed by everyone.”
Ben Hindley, Regional Land and Partnership Director at Keepmoat, Yorkshire East, added: “We’re excited to be working in partnership with the Council to regenerate a large parcel of brownfield land and deliver new homes in Grimsby.
“At Keepmoat we pride ourselves on supporting local authorities to achieve their housing targets and we are honoured to be the housebuilder of choice for this project, selected to create much needed quality housing stock for generations to come.
“We are approaching the project in the Alexandra Dock area of Grimsby with healthy life principles in mind, to ensure the scheme is not only visually appealing, but has plenty of available green spaces for walking, cycling and spending time outside.”
Strong levels of M&A activity expected in UK manufacturing
Strong levels of M&A activity are expected across UK manufacturing for the remainder of 2024, as dealmakers see a rise in business confidence.
According to accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, M&A activity looks set to gain momentum in the final quarter of the year, as long as the political and tax backdrop remains conducive to dealmaking. However, reports of a potential rise in capital gains tax in next month’s Autumn Budget could impact sentiment towards M&A transactions.
BDO’s latest Manufacturing Deals Review shows that in the first half of 2024, 307 deals were completed in the sector, across the likes of engineering services, food & drink, building products and packaging and materials. Of these, 18% were buy-outs, with cross-border deals representing a third of transactions (34%).
Roger Buckley, Deal Advisory partner, Industrials and Manufacturing, at BDO, said: “While overall deal volumes remained relatively steady compared to 2023 figures, we expect to see strong levels of M&A activity over the coming months, with the market keeping a watchful eye on the Chancellor’s first Budget announcement at the end of October.
“Manufacturing remains one of the most resilient sectors, with a wide range of market drivers motivating M&A activity. This includes ESG, with the circular economy becoming a growing feature in manufacturing deals, reaching across all sub-sectors. Unsurprisingly, for the third year in a row, the sector has attracted the most circular economy-related investment, accounting for over a third of total deals by volume.”
In 2023, manufacturing saw a 25% increase in circular economy deal volumes, combined with the total deal value soaring to over £400 million of invested capital. The average disclosed deal size increased from £6.7 million to £12.2 million.
Buckley said: “The correlation between manufacturers making their businesses more sustainable and higher circular economy deal volumes is clear to see. More and more UK manufacturers are embracing circularity – a trend that is accelerating due to strong consumer attitudes towards sustainability and investors showing a significant interest in businesses addressing this issue.”
According to a BDO/Make UK survey of more than 200 SMEs in the sector, 40% of respondents believe that operating a circular business model will be more profitable than a linear model, suggesting an increase in manufacturers’ understanding of the economic benefits of circularity. The survey also showed that more than half of businesses (56%) plan to make circular changes in the next three years, with nearly a third (32%) stating that circular or sustainability credentials differentiate them from their competitors.
Rory McPherson, Deal Advisory partner at BDO, added: “Given the pace at which society’s attitude towards sustainability continues to change, it won’t be long before positive environmental credentials are seen as a minimum standard as opposed to a cherry on the top.
“For those who resist change without good reason, the lack of circular and sustainable practices will inevitably become a negative differentiator and dissuade customers from engaging. At the point the customer stops buying, it might be too late.”
Interest rates held at 5%
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 5%, in line with expectations.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, voted by a majority of 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 5%. One member preferred to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4.75%.
The news follows last month’s reduction in interest rates, which marked the first decrease in four years.
Alpesh Paleja, Interim Deputy Chief Economist, CBI, said: “The Monetary Policy Committee was widely expected to hold fire this month, after the first rate cut in four years in August. There remain very varied views among the MPC around the degree of inflation persistence, and over what horizon this will dissipate.
“Monetary policy will be walking a fine line for a little while yet: between balancing upside risks to inflation, but not being too tight, so as to choke off activity. Developments in fiscal policy in October’s Budget will also be a key consideration for growth prospects.
“We still anticipate another rate cut in November, and a few more next year, in line with the MPC moving at a slow but steady pace. On their own, lower interest rates will be a welcome respite to households and businesses.”
Penny drops as business psychologist rebrands with people-focus
Business psychologist and executive coach Penny Strutton has rebranded with a focus squarely back on putting people first. Strutton, who founded Think Forward Consulting 13 years ago, will now once again operate under her own name, with the Think Forward brand becoming the mechanism of delivery and training. Penny’s “Think Forward” approach is built on creating lasting behavioral change in organisations by focusing on people—helping them unlock their potential, collaborate effectively and lead with confidence in today’s fast-paced work environment. To support this strategic shift, Penny has partnered with Press for Attention PR, led by former journalist and thought leadership expert Greg Simpson, who are also sponsors at Business Link’s East Midlands Bricks Awards. Together, they will work to amplify Penny’s message, highlighting her unique approach to leadership development, career growth, and organisational transformation in a rapidly evolving work environment. “People love to make marketing complicated but at the end of the day, people buy from people,” explains Simpson. “Penny is quite rightly honing in on and developing her personal brand by placing her name and vibrant personality front and center. “In a world that is more and more driven by Ai and the digital experience, it is crucial for experts like Penny to embrace their unique character as much as market their skillset. Think Forward will remain the cornerstone of Penny’s coaching and leadership development methodology but Penny herself will lead with a renewed focus on human-driven results.” “In today’s landscape, where AI is automating many tasks, people want to work with real people, not faceless brands,” said Penny Strutton. “My work has always been about helping individuals and teams thrive and by bringing my personal brand to the forefront, I’m better able to connect with clients who value that human touch. Think Forward remains the core methodology I use to deliver results but this partnership with Greg will ensure that personal touch and human message is heard clearly.”
Over thirty new businesses open in Derby
Derby City Centre has welcomed over thirty new businesses since May, according to the latest report from the city’s two Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
New cafés, bars and restaurants and a range of other independent shops are now trading within the Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) and the St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) areas.
Brad Worley, BID Manager for Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter, said: “We are delighted to announce this news, and we want to celebrate the fact that Derby has welcomed so many new businesses trading in the city.
“Since May, more than 30 businesses have set up and we would like to officially welcome these entrepreneurs our two BID areas. We are also working with a handful of other businesses who are preparing to open before the end of the year.
“We still have empty units in and around Derby, but the findings from our new report are hugely positive. Like every other city across the UK, there are challenges when it comes to city centre trading, but we are determined to strengthen the quality of our city centre streets.
“The fact that we have seen such a large number of businesses open in Derby in recent months – and more are coming in the next few weeks, is testament to the fact that Derby has a lot to offer.”
Derby mum, Anum Zafar, is currently gearing up to open a new cafe on The Strand in Derby. She is bringing her artisan bakery, Glamberry, to the city after trading from an industrial estate on Mansfield Road.
She said: “I started Glamberry four years ago as a hobby and after a year of running the business out of my parents’ kitchen, I expanded to a commercial unit in Derby.
“I’ve worked tirelessly for the past few years to achieve my dream of opening my own café. I am unbelievably excited and proud that I’ve been able to get such a dream location for Glamberry.
“The building is beautiful and when I’ve finished the renovations it’ll be the perfect café on The Strand. I’m hoping to create a welcoming environment for my customers to enjoy whilst indulging in coffee and cake!”
Houseboat, a South Indian tapas-style restaurant, opened on St Peters Street in July and has been wowing diners with its Asian dishes. It specialises in food from Kerala, a region of South India, and the owners have transformed the building which was once home to the Swiss Cottage café.
Manager, Johns Geo, said: “We are thrilled to be part of the vibrant Derby community. We are excited to bring our unique flavours and warm hospitality to the area and look forward to serving the wonderful people of Derby.”
Farhan Mahmood also has a new shop in Derby after running his stall in the Eagle Market for 30 years. He now runs his business, BCS Electricals, on Albert Street, next door to Martin’s Fruit, who also relocated from the Eagle Market.
He said: “I struggled to find a shop, but Martin’s Fruits was my neighbour in the market, and he helped me. We are now neighbours again and it is great.”
For Yunis Alenzi it was an easy decision to open Shwarma Al-Sham on St Peters Street. He wanted to bring his Syrian-style of food to the city.
The 24-year-old said: “I have been living in Derby for 14 years and had been looking for a shop to open. This one is perfect as it is not too big and not too small.”
Futures Housing Group names new Chair and Board members
The Board of Futures Housing Group has confirmed the appointment of Pauline Davis as the new Group Chair.
Pauline, who was previously a Board Member and Vice Chair, brings over 30 years’ experience in housing, health, regeneration and education, as well as a passion for place shaping and working with local communities.
She will start the new role on 1 October and takes the place of Mike Stevenson who has been Chair since 2019 and was previously also a Board member. Mike has now served the maximum term of office as set out under the organisation’s governance terms and therefore had to stand down this year.
Commenting on the change, Futures’ new Chief Executive, Tim Mulvenna, said: “On behalf of everyone at Futures I want to thank Mike for all he’s done for the organisation.
“He’s helped push us forward with his focus on customers and on ensuring we’re a well-run and financially solid organisation. He’s had a huge impact on how we work which has translated into lasting benefits for our customers. I’d like to wish him the very best in his next ventures.”
Alongside the change of Chair, Futures also recently appointed two new Board members to take the place of others who had reached their maximum term.
Patrick Duffy, who has worked in residential development for almost 20 years, also sits on the Asset Investment Committee and Gary Middleton, who brings experience in commercial banking and residential property, is a member of the organisation’s Audit & Risk Committee as well.
“I want to extend our congratulations to Pauline and a warm welcome to Patrick and Gary,” added Tim. “These are challenging times for our sector and for our customers and it’s fantastic to have new skills, experience and energy on our Board to help us rise to those challenges and do the very best we can for the communities we house and support.”
Buxton Opera House secures vital funding
Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre have been successful in their application for funding from Theatres Trust.
Together with nineteen other venues spanning across the United Kingdom, the High Peak Theatre Trust (operators of Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre) will receive the grant award through the Small Grants Programme with The Linbury Trust.
The funding will be used towards the modernisation and futureproofing of the backstage communications system within the Grade II*-listed Buxton Opera House. This project is being undertaken to continue to offer the best experiences to touring productions and in-house productions, as well as providing industry standard training opportunities to young people across the local areas.
Amy Simcox, Head of Development at Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre, welcomed the news of Buxton Opera House’s successful funding application through the Small Grants Programme with The Linbury Trust: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this funding to improve our backstage communications system.
“The new system will be a vital contribution in enabling us to support young people to learn brand new technical skills, forming the foundation of a potential career in arts production. This funding also means we can continue to offer a great experience to both our touring and in-house productions for years to come. We are very grateful to the Theatres Trust for their support.”
Jon Morgan, Director of Theatres Trust also offered his congratulations to Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre in their successful grant award: “Theatres Trust is delighted to support this wonderful theatre with a project that will benefit young people training in theatre skills, audiences and performers alike. This is exactly type of project that our Small Grants Programme with The Linbury Trust was designed to fund.”
Logistex wins significant automation contract for Yusen Logistics (UK) Ltd in Northampton
Logistex have secured a significant automation contract with Yusen Logistics (UK) for their new 1.2 million square foot warehouse facility in Northampton.
This Sustainable Distribution Centre (SDC), with a total capacity of 240,000 pallet locations, will serve as an automated shared user facility for both B2B and B2C operations, featuring two distinct chambers for Pharmaceutical and Ambient activities.
Logistex’s scope includes an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) with Aisle Changing and Fixed Aisle cranes, an Automated 4-way Pallet Shuttle solution tailored for Pharmaceutical clients, and a further Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) Goods to Person solution servicing both Pharma and Ambient chambers.
Logistex’s warehouse system, Reflex, will directly interface with all technologies and automation equipment providers, ensuring complete inventory and picking control.
Justin Saw, Business Development Director at Logistex, said: “The team at Logistex have collaborated closely with Yusen Logistics (UK) throughout the tender process, establishing a strong partnership. With the freedom to integrate best-in-class technology to optimise the solution, this collaboration showcases Logistex’s capabilities as a systems integrator at the highest level.”
Benjamin Bird, Business Development and Solutions Director at Yusen Logistics, said: “This project represents a strategic milestone in our commitment to delivering sustainable logistics services before 2030, giving our customers net zero warehousing solutions.
“It will also empower Yusen Logistics to meet the future needs of our customers through shared user automation, able to deliver B2B & D2C operations. Alongside the Sustainable Distribution Centre’s proximity to the new rail terminal, it is ideally positioned to offer further carbon reduction incentives for our customers and create a full operation that has ESG at its heart.”
Large firms to be held to account over late payments
The government has unveiled new measures to eradicate late payments from large firms to small ones and the self-employed, which are estimated to cost small firms £22,000 a year on average and lead to 50,000 business closures each year.
All large businesses will be required to include payment reporting in their annual reports – putting the onus on them to provide clarity in their annual reports about how they treat small firms. This will mean company boards and international investors will be able to see how firms are operating.
Enforcement will also be stepped up on the existing late payment performance reporting regulations which require large companies to report their payment performance twice a year on GOV.UK.
Under current laws, responsible directors at non-compliant companies who don’t report their payment practices could face criminal prosecutions including potentially unlimited fines and criminal records.
The consultation which will be launched in the coming months, will also consider a range of further policy measures that could help address poor payment practices.
Every quarter, 52% of small firms in the UK suffer from late payments, meaning roughly 2.6 million small firms face this issue, with the Federation of Small Businesses describing it as one of the biggest problems facing SMEs.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Late payments are simply unacceptable and this government is determined to level the playing field for small business. When the cashflow runs dry, small firms go under, which is why we need to hold larger business to account with their payment practices and foster an environment that supports growth and jobs.
“Slashing trade barriers, reforming business rates, getting more SMEs exporting – this government is committed to small firms. We know there’s a lot more to be done, but today we are calling time on late payers once and for all.”
Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair at the FSB, said: “This is what real change looks like. Listening to small firms and prioritising action to tear down each and every barrier to growth.
“The Business Secretary has clearly recognised the importance of eradicating bad payment culture, which so devastates the UK supplier base and holds back growth. This series of actions today – including the crucial steps being taken to deliver on Jonathan Reynolds’ commitment on audit committees – shows the Government is rightly focused on delivery and working in partnership with the business community.“There will be so many decisions the Government needs to get right, early – an actively pro-small business budget, a good industrial strategy and tackling late payment. Announcing this programme of work today is a huge confidence boost for the small business community and a clear signal the new Government intends to stand up for small firms.”
