East Midlands start-ups soar as insolvency experts warn of heightened cashflow ‘red flags’

Tess Egginton
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East Midlands start-ups soar as insolvency experts warn of heightened cashflow ‘red flags’
A steep rise in the monthly number of businesses set up in the East Midlands since the end of last year is coinciding with a substantial heightening of cashflow ‘red flags’, indicating that a ‘perfect economic storm’ could be brewing in the region. This is according to the Midlands branch of national restructuring, turnaround and insolvency trade body R3 and is based on a monthly analysis of regional start-up data from business intelligence provider Creditsafe. The R3 Midlands figures show that the monthly number of start-ups rose steeply by 40.23% in the East Midlands in July compared to last December, and by 10.67% against July last year. At the same time, insolvency-related activity – which includes liquidator and administrator appointments as well as creditors’ meetings – has risen by 7.41% in the 12 months to July 2025. The number of local companies with late payments on their books remains high, with 25,607 East Midlands businesses recording unpaid invoices past their due date in July alone. R3 Midlands chair Stephen Rome, a partner at law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper in the region, said: “While local entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly confident in riding out current economic challenges – which include higher employment costs, cautious consumer spending and growing global uncertainty – insolvency-related activity has risen and late payments remain a significant issue. “If we are to avoid the destructive effects of any economic ‘perfect storm’, it is essential for entrepreneurs to be extra-vigilant, keeping a sharp eye on costs and cushioning cash flow where possible. Business owners should also not back away from taking professional advice as soon as it may be needed. “Conversations about finances are not always the easiest ones to have, but there is a significant amount which can be done to rescue and support local companies if help is taken early enough.”

St. James Securities

Tess Egginton
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St. James Securities
Founded in 1982, St. James Securities is an award-winning commercial property development company with an excellent background working on difficult and sensitive projects in challenging locations. Having led the way in pioneering in-town mixed-use regeneration on brownfield land, the business has secured a reputation as an innovative and trusted developer that delivers ambitious developments, on time and to budget. St. James Securities has established an enviable track record for all types of commercial property across all asset classes including mixed use regeneration, offices, leisure, retail and distribution. The firm is not solely focussed on a single sector of the property market, and its experience continues to grow in new areas such as the new 3,500 capacity multi-purpose arena at Becketwell Derby. Bringing forward Becketwell Behind the most ambitious urban renewal project Derby has seen in over 30 years, St. James Securities are the developers of the £240m Becketwell regeneration scheme, transforming a long-neglected site into a mixed-use scheme and significant place-making initiative. The six-acre regeneration scheme, which makes up nearly 5% of Derby city centre, so far includes a new public square, The Condor (Grainger plc’s first Built to Rent scheme in Derby), and the £45.8m Vaillant Live arena. The next phase of the scheme will bring forward a Grade A office building, while future proposals include a hotel, multi storey car park, and further residential. To learn more about St. James Securities, please visit https://sjs.co.uk/

Rigby & Co

Tess Egginton
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Rigby & Co
Rigby & Co is a dynamic commercial property consultancy heavily involved in regeneration and development consultancy, which has been active in public and private sector joint efforts to market Derby since the early 1990s. The business has driven forward some of the most high-profile property transactions in the East Midlands, with its latest work in regeneration, office agency and strategic acquisitions solidifying the firm’s reputation as market leaders. A standout achievement in the past 12 months saw the firm facilitate the high-profile sale of the former Friar Gate Goods Yard and Station, a complex heritage site on the edge of Derby city centre, on behalf of Clowes Developments. Selling the 12-acre site to Wavensmere Homes, who are known for delivering award-winning residential-led schemes including Derby’s Nightingale Quarter, 200 homes are now planned. The firm has additionally successfully disposed of the former Bennetts department store, another heritage asset, led on complex leisure and mixed-use acquisitions, including the 195-acre Horsley Lodge golf club and the historic Allestree Hall, and continues to support Cubo’s national expansion as a flex office provider, having helped acquire over 300,000 sq ft of Grade A office space across the UK. Meanwhile, further impact has been made through completing the final commercial lettings at the £300m Becketwell scheme for Grainger Plc, bringing Coffee#1 and Phenix Salons to the city’s most ambitious regeneration project in over three decades. An award-winning commercial property consultancy, Rigby & Co’s work was last year recognised with Most Active Agent at the East Midlands Bricks Awards and Most Active Single Branch Agency – Acquisitions & Disposals 2024 by CoStar. These achievements reflect Russell Rigby and his team’s strategic influence and long-term commitment to transforming key locations.

Microlise drives growth with two pivotal appointments

Tess Egginton
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Microlise drives growth with two pivotal appointments
Microlise, a provider of innovative solutions for the transport sector, has appointed Tom Watts to the new post of partnerships director and Debbie Pearce as channel manager. Tom will oversee Microlise’s entire partnerships strategy, including managing new and existing partner relations. He will also work with Microlise’s product management, engineering, sales and marketing teams to develop joint solution offerings as well as go-to-market plans with and for partners. Prior to joining Microlise, Tom spent 26+ years working at Paragon Software Systems (acquired by Aptean, March 2020) where he worked as sales director for the UK and Ireland, generating £30m worth of sales. In his spare time, he has completed marathons, triathlons and endurance bike rides. He was an integral part of Team MSS which broke two world records on their row across the Indian Ocean in 2009. Debbie Pearce joins Microlise from IBM, where she worked for over 10 years, most recently as a partner sales specialist. In her new role, she will use her experience in complex stakeholder environments to identify, onboard and expand relationships with new and existing channel partners, driving sales and business growth. Her new role with Microlise will include a dedicated focus on two key strategic partners – Babcock and the Road Haulage Association – and will see her taking ownership of Microlise’s channel growth plan. Speaking on her new appointment, Debbie said: “I’m excited to join a company with a fantastic culture that strives to put customers at the heart of everything they do. I look forward to establishing sustainable partnerships that drive growth with my existing partners and to onboarding new partners over the coming months.” Microlise CEO Nadeem Raza said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Tom and Debbie to the Microlise team. “As we look to strengthen and expand our partnerships, their expertise will play a pivotal role in ensuring we not only maintain our high standards but continue to deliver exceptional service that keeps our customers ahead of the curve.”

UK private sector growth hits one-year high

April Lara
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UK private sector growth hits one-year high

UK private sector activity reached its strongest level in a year in August, led by growth in the services sector, according to preliminary S&P Global data. The flash UK composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 53.0, up from 51.5 in July, signalling expansion across the economy.

Services, which cover finance, real estate, hospitality, and entertainment, saw the largest increase in new work. Firms reported stronger domestic demand and rising overseas sales following a subdued spring. Manufacturing output, by contrast, continued to contract, with the rate of new orders falling sharply.

Employment across the private sector has declined for 11 consecutive months, as companies manage rising operating costs. Input cost inflation reached its highest level since May, driven by increases in food, transport, international shipping, and national insurance contributions. Businesses, particularly in services, have passed on higher costs to customers through increased pricing.

Despite the growth, analysts note that the overall demand environment remains uneven, with ongoing geopolitical uncertainty affecting business confidence. The rebound in services is moderating previous weakness, but challenges in manufacturing and cost pressures continue to shape the broader UK economy.

Profits jump at Chesterfield packaging manufacturer

Tess Egginton
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Profits jump at Chesterfield packaging manufacturer

Robinson plc, the Chesterfield-based packaging manufacturer, has seen profit and revenue rise.

In its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2025, the business shared how pre-tax profits have jumped to £1.8m, from £700,000 in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, revenue saw a 2% increase to £27.6m, from £27.1m, with sales volumes in line with the first half of 2024.

Alan Raleigh, chairman, said: “The results for the first half of 2025 continue to build on the excellent progress made in 2024.

“Whilst market conditions remain challenging and we continue to experience softness and volatility in demand from some existing customers, we also continue to see new opportunities in our sales pipeline which we expect to see the benefit of in future periods.

“We are delivering on our surplus property disposal agenda, which will reduce indebtedness and create a simpler more streamlined business. We continue to refresh our strategy to identify opportunities and the necessary capabilities for further growth in revenue and profits.

“The Company expects underlying operating profit for the 2025 financial year to be ahead of 2024 and in line with current market expectations. We remain committed in the medium-term to delivering above-market profitable growth and our target of 6-8% underlying operating margin.”

Robinson was formerly a family business with its origins dating back to 1839, and currently employs nearly 400 people.

Fresh Italian acquisition for Nottingham’s Phenna Group

Tess Egginton
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Fresh Italian acquisition for Nottingham’s Phenna Group
Phenna Group has made its second strategic investment in continental Europe with the acquisition of IPI Srl, an Italian inspection and certification body. Authorised by the Italian Ministry of Labour, IPI provides a range of regulatory inspection services for lifting equipment, pressure systems, electrical systems, and elevators. In addition to these services, IPI includes a specialised certification division known as Certing, which acts as a Notified Body (2624) recognised by the European Commission. This division delivers certifications under the Machinery, Lift, and PED Directives, third-party validation in manufacturing environments, and product compliance assessments for international markets. The addition of IPI strengthens Phenna Group’s overall technical portfolio and deepens its presence in Southern Europe as it builds a network of Testing, Inspection, Certification, and Compliance (TICC) businesses. Giovanni Iocca, CEO of IPI, said: “Joining Phenna Group allows us to scale with strength while maintaining our specialist focus. With the support of the wider Group, we look forward to delivering even greater value and resilience for our clients.” Phil Marshall, CEO of Phenna Group, added: “This second acquisition in Italy enhances our technical portfolio and continues our European momentum. IPI brings deep expertise and regulatory trust to our Group, a perfect complement to our expanding TICC platform.”

New National Highways hub set to boost Derbyshire road operations

April Lara
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New National Highways hub set to boost Derbyshire road operations

South Derbyshire District Council has approved a National Highways facility near the A38/A50 Toyota Roundabout. The compound will centralise winter road treatments, vehicle maintenance, and emergency response operations, employing 50 staff and housing six gritters.

Designed for 24/7 operations, the site will feature offices, a garage, fuel and wash stations, and a large salt storage container. National Highways expects the facility to improve response times for snow clearance, gritting, and other severe weather interventions, ensuring critical routes remain operational within required service windows.

While residents raised concerns over traffic, noise, and round-the-clock activity, planners determined that economic and operational benefits outweigh the impact on nearby properties. The compound is also expected to generate indirect support for local businesses through staff expenditure.

The development reflects a wider trend of strategic investment in road infrastructure, emphasising operational readiness and community support while meeting regulatory and service obligations on key transport networks.

Manufacturing output volumes see sharp fall in three months to August

Tess Egginton
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Manufacturing output volumes see sharp fall in three months to August
Manufacturing output volumes fell at a sharp pace in the quarter to August, after being broadly flat in July, according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS). Manufacturers expect output to fall again over three months to November. Total and export order books were both reported as below “normal” and were below their long-run averages. Stocks of finished goods were more than adequate in August, but that adequacy stands below the long-run average. Meanwhile, expectations for selling price inflation eased noticeably in August, with the expected pace of growth in selling prices over the coming quarter the weakest since October and around its long-run average. Ben Jones, CBI lead economist, said: “Manufacturers report that rising costs are squeezing margins and leaving customers more cautious, which in turn is hitting orders and weighing on output. With weak demand compounded by trade frictions and policy uncertainty, the outlook for UK manufacturers remains challenging. “As firms continue to cite, they are contending with a range of cost pressures from high energy costs to the additional burden from last year’s Autumn Budget increase in employer NICs. “Against this backdrop, the upcoming Autumn Budget is a pivotal moment to shore up business sentiment. The government must provide business tax certainty and further Growth and Skills Levy flexibility, accelerate industrial and infrastructure strategy implementation, and broaden support to tackle uncompetitive energy prices. “The CBI stands ready to partner with the government to co-design the policies that will build a truly competitive, innovative, and prosperous UK economy.”

Developer submits plans for 80 affordable homes in Derbyshire

April Lara
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Developer submits plans for 80 affordable homes in Derbyshire

Wheeldon Brothers Limited has lodged an outline planning application with Amber Valley Borough Council for a residential development west of Crosshill, situated between Codnor and Heanor. The proposal covers 80 homes designed to provide a mix of one- to four-bedroom properties.

Planning documents indicate the scheme is intended to address the local shortfall in affordable housing. The developer frames the project as a response to both regional housing pressures and national policy objectives aimed at increasing the supply of new homes. The submission includes details on the layout and housing mix but remains at the outline stage, meaning final designs, infrastructure plans, and timelines are subject to further approval.

If approved, the development would add to the area’s stock of lower-cost homes, potentially supporting local workforce retention and meeting growing demand from households priced out of the wider market. The council’s planning team will assess the proposal for compliance with local planning policy, infrastructure capacity, and environmental considerations before any permission is granted.

The application signals continued interest from developers in delivering housing projects that align with affordability targets while contributing to regional growth strategies.

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