Haines Watts Leicester Ltd reaffirms independence amidst changes to East Midlands network
Haines Watts Leicester Ltd, which provides accountancy, tax, R&D, and business advisory services, has confirmed its continued commitment to the Haines Watts brand and its decision to remain independent, following recent changes elsewhere in the East Midlands network.
While former entities have been acquired by private equity-backed businesses, Haines Watts Leicester Ltd has made a “clear and conscious decision” not to be part of that transaction.
“We believe that staying independent and true to the Haines Watts ethos is the right decision for our clients, our people, and our future,” said Shazin Tayub, Director at Haines Watts Leicester Ltd.
“Our clients value the deep relationships we build with them and the continuity of service they receive is invaluable to support their needs,” added Shazin.
HCR Hewitsons bolsters East Midlands operations with key partner hires
HCR Hewitsons has reinforced its East Midlands operations with the addition of two new partners at its Northampton office, signalling the firm’s strategic commitment to supporting regional businesses. These appointments come as the firm seeks to expand its presence in the area and cater to growing client demand for specialised legal services.
The firm’s Northampton office, which relocated to Lancaster House in 2022, has become a strategic hub for HCR Hewitsons. The move is part of a broader plan to strengthen its service offering to businesses and individuals in the region, including its role as the Official Legal Partner to Northampton Saints.
In January, Haydon Simmonds joined as a Partner in the firm’s Banking and Finance team. Specialising in corporate banking, Simmonds brings a wealth of experience advising on complex funding deals across various industries, including automotive retail, real estate, and healthcare. His appointment reflects the increased demand for banking and finance legal services in the Midlands.
Shortly after, Rachel Gwynne took on the role of Partner and Head of Charities and Not-for-Profit. With a reputation for expertise in charity law, Gwynne joins from a national firm and has a proven track record of advising over 400 organisations. Her team holds a Tier 1 ranking in the Legal 500, solidifying the firm’s position as a leader in the sector.
These appointments highlight HCR Hewitsons’ ongoing investment in its Central England operations, ensuring the firm remains well-positioned to support the diverse needs of businesses and charitable organisations across the East Midlands.
Midlands mid-market braces for tariff impact
Over half of Midlands mid-market businesses have said that they expect to be directly affected ‘to a significant extent’ by the US Government tariffs, according to the latest survey from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO.
Its survey of 500 mid-market businesses conducted between 24 March and 2 April – before the US administration’s tariff announcement – shows that regional businesses were realistic about the possible impact of the policy change, with 54% saying they expected to be directly affected ‘to a significant extent’ while 46% said ‘to some extent’.
No respondents said they would not be affected.
Simon Bird, international tax partner at BDO in the Midlands, said: “Mid-market businesses in the Midlands have clearly seen the writing on the wall and have braced themselves for the impact of the US administration’s tariff policies.
“However, this doesn’t mean that they are all prepared. Some UK companies will urgently need to take proactive measures to confirm the correctness of their goods classification and to verify the true country of origin for the goods they export into the US.
“Supply chains can often be complex – for example, Chinese goods are often trans-shipped via other countries to the US but they remain of Chinese origin and would be subject to the tariff levels being placed on Chinese goods.
“Longer term, many businesses will need to consider supply chain and wider operational footprint changes – such as changing the territory of sourcing and/or the location of their manufacturing operations.”
Nottingham planning consultancy forms 21-site partnership with housebuilder
Nottingham planning and urban design consultancy Nineteen47 has partnered with Sheffield-headquartered Honey to advise on all of the housebuilder’s 21 secured development sites.
Nineteen47 is providing Honey with a combination of planning, urban design and visualisation services to support the housebuilder’s ongoing growth.
Subject to planning, Honey’s sites will deliver 2,850 new homes across Yorkshire and the Midlands with a gross development value of £795m.
Honey founder and chief executive, Mark Mitchell, said: “Nineteen47 have been instrumental in enabling our fast growth since day one. We benefit hugely from their integrated approach to planning, urban design and visualisation and how it enables us to gain consents.
“We have the pleasure of working with a team of creative professionals at Nineteen47 full of enthusiasm and vibrancy who understand our business and our commercial requirements. We look forward to continuing to partner with them as we grow the Honey brand throughout Yorkshire and the Midlands.”
Nineteen47 co-founder and urban design director, Richard Walshaw, said: “Honey is a remarkable business with a distinctive and fresh approach to housebuilding.
“It is not very often that you get the opportunity to advise a housebuilder from its inception. We have been on an exhilarating journey in partnership with Honey and immersed ourselves within the business to fully understand what sets it apart.
“Most importantly, we have been able to demonstrate the effectiveness of our integrated offer, which has allowed Honey to get on site and start building and selling homes to match its growth plans.”
Northampton College secures £1.9m for campus upgrades
Northampton College has received £1.9 million in government funding to improve facilities across its three campuses, as part of the wider £302 million Plan for Change initiative targeting further education.
The investment will support upgrades to the college’s estates at Booth Lane and Lower Mounts in Northampton and Badby Road West in Daventry. The improvements are intended to modernise learning environments and support curriculum delivery for the 10,000 students.
This funding aligns with the government’s strategy to equip further education institutions with the infrastructure needed to train future skilled workers. The broader programme aims to address outdated college estates and ensure educational spaces meet modern demands, focusing on removing barriers to opportunity and supporting economic growth through skills development.
The funding signals continued government backing for vocational and technical education—an important pipeline for workforce development. It also opens potential opportunities for local suppliers and contractors involved in construction, technology, and campus services.
Landmark partnership between G F Tomlinson and University of Nottingham to drive innovation in para and inclusive sport
G F Tomlinson has formed a long-term partnership with the University of Nottingham to further strengthen its para and inclusive sport offerings.
This collaboration will enable the growth and development of the university’s para and inclusive sport offerings and forms a key step in the university’s overarching vision to be the sector leader in ensuring equity of opportunity for the whole of the university’s community.
The new partnership will enable a range of initiatives to be implemented including increased Para athlete recruitment, growth of the BUCS Championship winning Wheelchair Basketball Team, increased numbers of students accessing the disability sport and fitness membership, and wider support to help the University Sports clubs grow their inclusive sport offer.
G F Tomlinson has a long history working with the university, designing and building key facilities across its campuses.
The university’s para-athletes and teams will work closely with G F Tomlinson to help drive new standards for inclusive design and build in the sector.
Students will further benefit from this partnership with new year in industry placements and degree apprenticeship pathways being created with G F Tomlinson.
Andy Sewards, Chairman, G F Tomlinson, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the university to further develop our expertise in inclusive design and build. The synergy we share is incredible, and we are proud to help develop a more inclusive campus environment alongside supporting the university community to thrive.
“I have been incredibly inspired by the athletes I have met and the ambition of the university. I am so excited to see where this journey takes us all and we can’t wait to see Nottingham’s para-athletes competing on the world stage and more people than ever involved in the university’s sport programmes.”
Jo Simpson, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We want to be known as the sector leader for Para and inclusive sport. This new partnership is an exciting part of our journey to achieve this vision. Para sport can truly change lives and Tomlinson’s support to enable this strategy showcases their value led approach in all that they do.
“This is a sector defining moment and one which will become the catalyst for an even more inclusive environment on our campuses and across the sector. It is a true showcase of how our partners can work with us to create a global leading vision and impact.”
Professor Katherine Linehan, Pro-Vice Chancellor Education and Student Experience, added: “This new partnership with G F Tomlinson’s is ground-breaking. It allows us to work together to further drive new inclusive standards in both the construction and higher education sectors.
“This collaboration facilitates the university’s commitment to become an organisation that is truly inclusive by design. It allows us to build on the strong foundation the inclusive sport team at the university have established to ensure that both recreational and professional sports opportunities are open to our whole community.”
Window signage restrictions put on hold as Derby reviews impact on local businesses
Derby’s proposed restrictions on window signage have been delayed after business community opposition. The city’s planning commission approved most of the 2025 zoning and subdivision amendments on April 3 but paused changes related to window signage and duplex design for further review.
Currently, Derby exempts window signage from its sign regulations, allowing full window coverage. City staff proposed new limits, ranging from 10% of total façade area in residential zones to 35% in industrial areas. A 30% limit was suggested for the B-3 business district, aligning with wall sign rules.
Several local businesses and the Derby Chamber of Commerce raised concerns, citing the impact on visibility, branding, and operational benefits like temperature control and security. Instead of coverage limits, alternatives such as quality and maintenance standards were suggested.
The signage changes will be reviewed further before any decision is finalised. All other proposed zoning amendments were approved.
Nottingham development leads government’s railway land housing push
A major brownfield site near Nottingham Station is set to become the location for 200 new homes under a government-backed initiative to repurpose disused railway land.
The site, located at the junction of Station Street and London Road, has been identified as one of the first four developments in the UK to kick off a broader regeneration plan aimed at unlocking surplus government-owned land for housing. This push is part of the new Labour Government’s effort to increase housing supply and revitalise underused urban areas.
Network Rail, in partnership with joint venture blocwork, is working with Nottingham City Council to progress the plans. A planning application is expected to follow.
This project follows the nearby Barnum development, a 10-storey, 348-unit build-to-rent scheme delivered by Network Rail, blocwork, and investor Grainger. Completed in late 2023, that scheme repurposed a former car park and set a precedent for converting transport-linked sites into residential communities.
Alongside Nottingham, Newcastle, Cambridge, and Manchester have also been earmarked for similar initial developments, highlighting a strategic focus on high-demand urban centres with strong transport connectivity. The initiative opens up opportunities for developers and investors to work with public sector partners on large-scale regeneration in key UK cities.
Leisure centre closures spark concerns over unpaid memberships
Two public leisure centres in Lincoln have shut down following the collapse of Active Nation, the charity responsible for their management. The centres affected are Yarborough and Birchwood, which were owned by the City of Lincoln Council. The charity attributed the closures to the ongoing utility crisis and the financial pressures it has created.
Active Nation confirmed the centres would remain closed indefinitely, with no alternative operators secured. The City of Lincoln Council, which owns the buildings, expressed disappointment and stated it was evaluating potential solutions. However, members with prepaid memberships have raised concerns, fearing they may lose their money due to the lack of receipts or assurances regarding refunds.
The City of Lincoln Council advised those affected to contact their bank or card provider for potential refunds. Meanwhile, the Lincoln 10K event, scheduled to take place on Sunday, will still proceed as planned from the Yarborough Leisure Centre despite its closure.
Active Nation, which also operated leisure facilities in Southampton and Aldershot, acknowledged the disappointment caused by the closures but noted the inability to find a new operator as a key factor in the decision.
Historic Vine Hotel in Skegness drops in price to £1.8 million
The Vine Hotel, a historic venue in Skegness dating back to 1770, is now listed for sale at £1,795,000, a significant reduction from its previous asking price of £2,750,000. The property, which holds the distinction of being the oldest in Skegness, serves as both a guest house and event venue.
Christie & Co, the specialist business property adviser, first listed the hotel for sale in April last year. With its longstanding history and well-maintained facilities, the property is still expected to attract interest from potential buyers in the hospitality sector.
