- Start-up Accelerator: Providing support for individuals looking to launch their own businesses.
- Net Zero Accelerator: Offering free energy audits and training to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint.
- Digital High Street Accelerator: Connecting businesses with digital technology experts to enhance their online presence.
- Innovation Accelerator: Providing intensive support to high-growth businesses.
- Financial Accelerator: Offering growth vouchers and grants to help businesses invest in training, consultancy, and innovation.
Derby businesses encouraged to apply for innovation and growth grants
Derby businesses are being encouraged to apply for grants and support from a project that is making a difference to the city’s business community.
Since its launch last year, the Derby Accelerator project has provided adviser support to over 370 businesses, with 25 applying for grants and 19 receiving growth vouchers. These initiatives are expected to create 50 new jobs and safeguard 19 existing positions.
Funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Derby Accelerator project is made up of five strands:
Work completes on new Leicestershire SEND school
A new specialist school for pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs has completed in Shepshed, Leicestershire, offering facilities for students aged 4-16 from September 2024.
Bowman Academy, which is situated on the former site of St Botolph’s Primary School, located to the east of Shepshed on Loughborough Road, will see pupils benefit from a range of facilities to suit their needs.
This includes classroom suites with vinyl areas to support practical learning, a sensory ‘dark room’, practical teaching spaces including a domestic kitchen, a library, a calming room, and a main hall with a demountable stage.
The new build SEND school, which has been designed sympathetically to the needs of SEMH learning, has space for 64 pupils, with facilities for 16 primary-aged children across two ground floor classrooms, with the remaining 48 secondary-aged pupils split across two ground floor classrooms, and a further four on the first floor. The first floor also has an additional three classrooms for practical uses.
Pick Everard provided architectural services for main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, which was procured by the Department for Education (DfE) under the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC1) framework.
Joe West, associate at Pick Everard, said: “Working on SEND schools is always a privilege, with unique design applications and special consideration for the needs of a diverse range of learning.
“Creating an environment that is both functional and comfortable for pupils was central to the aims of the project, which should in turn aid the school in attracting and retaining students in the area.
“The construction technique employed on this project was a fully offsite solution, so thorough sequencing and planning was paramount to ensure all materials were delivered safely and successfully, as well as meeting the highest standards.
“We’re delighted to have worked alongside Bowmer + Kirkland once again to deliver this fantastic academy for pupils in the area with SEMH needs.”
Driving sustainability initiatives, Bowman Academy’s design includes a ‘fabric-first’ approach, which reduces the energy requirements of the building through measures including high levels of insulation, heat recovery and air tightness.
High efficiency boilers have been installed at the school, which will be run by the Community Inclusive Trust (CIT), as well as LED lighting with occupancy and daylight controls for resource management. The building also has glare control and sustainable natural ventilation, providing a low energy cost solution.
Additionally, the site includes a photovoltaic panel array, providing a ten per cent energy consumption offset from renewable technology.
Steve Waldron, Bowmer + Kirkland Contracts Manager, said: “We have been working for the DfE since 2013 and are proud of the 73 schools we have completed, but specialist schools are unique in the enormous difference they make to the pupils and their families.
“We are delighted to continue our relationship with Pick Everard to deliver another fantastic facility which will improve the lives of so many young people.”
Nottingham charity welcomes new Celebrity Ambassador
Nottingham-based charity, Footprints Conductive Education Centre has welcomed Pat Lally as its newest Celebrity Ambassador.
Pat is an actor and voice over artist from Manchester, and has appeared in many films, theatre productions and TV programmes, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Pat has supported Footprints for a number of years, including being part of Team Footprints FC charity football matches.
The announcement forms part of the charity’s ambitious plan to grow, enabling it to work with and provide more support to children living with communication and mobility difficulties across the East Midlands, as well as empowering and supporting their families.
It also follows a recent announcement that the charity will soon be relocating to the new Footprints Centre in Clifton.
Footprints’ Business and Charity Manager Stephen Frew said: “We’re so pleased to welcome Pat to the Footprints team as our newest Celebrity Ambassador, especially at such an exciting time for us and everyone we’re connected to. Pat brings his experience and network to our charity and we’re so pleased he will be supporting us.
“By working with Pat, and our fantastic team of ambassadors, we will ensure more people know about Footprints, we can reach more families and form new partnerships.”
East Midlands businesses latest to be targeted by HMRC in National Minimum Wage non-compliance crackdown
Small and medium-sized businesses in the East Midlands are the latest to be targeted as part of HMRC’s crackdown on perceived non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
The tax authority has confirmed that the East Midlands has been added as one of 12 locations being specifically targeted. Businesses found guilty of non-compliance will be ordered to pay NMW arrears to workers in addition to increased National Insurance Contributions (NICs).
If a business does not accept HMRC’s initial offer of a health-check meeting, they also risk financial penalties of up to 200% and public naming and shaming.
Many of these businesses could be inadvertently breaking the rules due to their complexity and common misunderstandings around how to accurately calculate NMW beyond an hourly rate of pay.
HMRC has committed more than £27 million to tackling NMW non-compliance, with regional enforcement being its main focus. Areas are being targeted based on data suggesting a larger volume of workers potentially being paid below the required NMW rate, as well as intelligence gathered such as complaints made by workers in the region.
HMRC is targeting workers paid in excess of £30,000 per annum. Therefore, Azets estimates that more than 50% of the East Midlands’ SMEs could be caught up in the enforcement activity, requiring checks of their business records and hours’ worth of administrative burden, even for compliant companies.
Kyle Newton, Head of National Minimum Wage at Azets UK, the accountancy and advisory firm, said: “Maintaining compliance with National Minimum Wage is commonly misunderstood, with the calculation made up of several components across five core pillars – it is not just an hourly rate of pay. As an employer, unless you understand these pillars and have policies in place to govern and control each, you are at risk of non-compliance.
“From our experience, it is sometimes the case that enforcement is inconsistent with the circumstances of the targeted business, meaning that often HMRC calculations have applied incorrect assumptions.
“With HMRC continually ramping up enforcement and the Government granting the Low Pay Commission further powers to align NMW rates with real living costs, now more than ever there is a greater probability of business facing scrutiny. Employers should take proactive steps to ensure compliance before a letter lands on their desk.”
Many East Midlands-based businesses will receive letters from HMRC as part of a three-stage process.
Targeted businesses will receive an HMRC nudge letter providing a list of common areas that can lead to NMW non-compliance. The next stage is a letter from HMRC offering to perform a free health-check. Failure to take up this offer will result in HMRC opening up a formal enquiry.
Kyle Newton added: “Effectively HMRC is flooding the post code area, using a variety of methods to gather intelligence to aid its enforcement and collection of National Minimum Wage arrears and penalties.
“Additional tactics include targeting workers directly through a series of letters and social media campaigns encouraging them to check their pay and whistle blow if they believe they are paid below the required rate.
“By taking proactive steps to ensure compliance and mitigate risk, businesses will avoid the 200% legal penalties, protect their reputation, and ensure fair treatment of their employees.
“The phased approach gives an employer the opportunity to make corrections without severe penalty, but if you ignore the phase two letter, HMRC has been clear it will enforce and penalise to the full letter of the law.”
East Midlands business confidence falls, but remains above national average
Business confidence in the East Midlands fell 10 points during August to 52%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Although East Midlands businesses’ confidence in the economy climbed three points to 53%, their confidence their own business prospects fell 25 points month-on-month to 50%. When taken together these figures give a headline reading of 52% (vs. 62% in July).
Looking ahead to the next six months, businesses in the East Midlands identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training (34%), entering new markets (32%) and evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (31%).
A net balance of 44% of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year – the same proportion as in July.
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
National picture
The East Midlands’ confidence remained above the UK average, which was unchanged from July in August at 50%.
UK firms’ confidence in the overall economy increased two points to 47%, offsetting marginally weaker confidence from businesses in their own trading prospects, which fell two points month-on-month to 54% but remained above the long-term average.
The North East was the most confident UK nation or region in August (65%), followed closely by Scotland (64%).
Sector insights
Output expectations for the various sectors remained at or near their three-year highs. Construction had a steep increase to 58%, up by 14 points, whereas other sectors experienced slight declines. Trading prospects for manufacturing dropped by 2 points to 58%, at the same level as construction, while Retail and Services fell to 53% down 7 and 3 points respectively.
Dave Atkinson, regional director for the Midlands, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “East Midlands business confidence remains above the national average – a testament to the steps that companies have taken to manage challenging periods.
“Our local firms have ambitious growth plans for the month ahead, led by investment in their teams – something that could be bolstered by the recent announcement of new green and digital skills courses from North East Derbyshire District Council and Chesterfield Borough Council. Whatever their ambitions, we will continue to be by businesses’ side as they put their plans into action.”
Will you take home the title of Overall Winner and a £20,000 marketing prize at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024?
With entries closing next week for Business Link’s prestigious East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, there’s also a grand prize worth £20,000 up for grabs at the celebration of the region’s property and construction industry – going to the event’s Overall Winner.
While this award cannot be entered, the Overall Winner will be selected from those nominated for the occasion’s 10 other categories and will receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Speaking with Business Link, Chloe Sproston, Creative Director at Blueprint Interiors, the sponsor of Overall Winner, shared: “We’ve been involved in the awards since 2019 either as an award nominee or a sponsor. We continue to be impressed with both the quality of award submissions, but also the event, which attracts the elite of our region’s construction and property professionals.
“This year, we’re particularly excited to sponsor the Overall Winner category, further demonstrating our commitment to showcasing the very best talent in the region’s property and construction industry.”
Nominations for the event are open, and now is the perfect time to make your submissions, ahead of the deadline (Thursday 5th September).
To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Award categories include:
Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 – click here to secure yours.
Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
- Most active agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards)
Nominations end Thursday 5th September
A glittering awards ceremony revealing winners will take place on Thursday 3rd October (4:30pm – 7:30pm) in the Derek Randall Suite at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, also offering the ideal opportunity to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will additionally feature Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, as keynote speaker.
Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
Ground-breaking ceremony marks next phase of major Castleward regeneration
Construction work has officially commenced on the fourth phase of the major Castleward development in Derby city centre, where a further 112 new homes will be delivered.
Regeneration specialist Compendium Living, Derby City Council, housing developer Lovell Partnerships and Homes England celebrated the occasion with a breaking-ground ceremony on the brownfield site.
Castleward is a £100 million development and one of the city’s largest housing projects, situated between Derbion shopping centre and Derby Midland Station. In total, the scheme will provide around 700 new homes, as well as green space and nearly 35,000 square feet of commercial retail space. It is a long-term placemaking project, being delivered over a period of 15 to 20 years.
The fourth phase of Castleward will be close to Liversage Square and split over two sites, one located on Canal Street providing 62 homes and one on John Street with 50 homes. The development will consist of a range of two and three-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom apartments.
The properties will be a mix of 78 open market sale homes and 34 affordable homes. Work on phase four is expected to be completed in early 2027.
Bruce Lister, Managing Director at Compendium Living, said: “Castleward is a hugely significant development, both for us at Compendium Living and for the people of Derby, and we couldn’t be happier to have commenced work on our fourth phase.
“Phase one of Castleward commenced over a decade ago and I am so proud of the bustling, vibrant community that has grown here in that time. To now be breaking ground on phase four is an incredible milestone, and we are looking forward to adding to our previous success and welcoming more residents into their new homes.
“We are committed to delivering this next phase to the same high standards, as we continue to breath a new lease of life into this brownfield site.”
Cllr Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “It’s great to see work beginning on this latest phase of the Castleward Urban Village and I’m delighted to attend this groundbreaking ceremony with key partners behind the project.
“This development is a key part of our work to transform our city centre into a vibrant and attractive place to live, work and visit. Already we’ve seen hundreds of people call the area home and have created a new gateway between the city centre and the railway station.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the new homes take shape over the coming months and seeing more residents make the switch to city centre living.”
Derby retail unit sold for £1.3 million
Midlands property agency Bond Wolfe has secured the £1.3 million sale of a unit on Derby’s Southgate Retail Park to Connect Derby Properties Ltd.
The modern retail unit has The Gym Group as its long-term tenant on a reversionary lease until 20 March 2031.
As a result, the 11,643 sq ft purpose-built unit is currently generating a passing rent of £97,344 per annum exclusive, representing a low £8.36 per square foot.
The Gym Group has leased the unit since 2011. Southgate comprises 48,000 sq ft of retail space, anchored by a Lidl store.
Clark Brookes Turner Cary Solicitors in West Bromwich acted for the seller and Elliot Matther in Derby advised Connect Derby Properties Ltd.
James Mattin, managing director agency at Birmingham-based Bond Wolfe, said: “We are pleased to announce the sale of this key retail investment on Southgate retail Park.
“The property went under offer very quickly after being released to the market, which demonstrates further evidence of the demand for these types of assets from the private investor market.
“We are shortly releasing a number of similar opportunities in the area and would be pleased to discuss specific requirements from investors looking for opportunities.”
Streets Chartered Accountants continues run of mergers
Preston-based Turner Accountants has merged with Lincolnshire’s Streets Chartered Accountants, seeing the establishment of Streets Turner Chartered Accountants.
This latest merger is one of more than seven that Streets Chartered Accountants have completed in 18 months and which has seen the practice grow, now with more than 27 offices and fee income over £35 million.
Mike Turner, Managing Director at Turner Accountants, said: “I am delighted and excited about the merger. The practice was founded in 1996 by myself and over the years it has grown based on our reputation and the demands of clients in and around Preston.
“As with any business we cannot stand still and to overcome the challenges we and our clients face, we needed to develop our business. We looked for some time to find a perfect partner to support us and one with which we share mutual values and we believe we have found that in Streets.
“Certainly, there is a great match, both in terms of client focus and cultural fit. The merger has also given us the opportunity to promote three, highly valued, members of the team, Henry Abell, Lynda Rainford and Catherine Clifton to directors.
“Now that Turners is part of a larger practice, we can confidently promise greater continuity of service to our clients and improved career prospects for our team.
“We also believe that our clients will benefit in that the combined firm will be able to offer a wider range of services including areas of specialist corporate and private client tax planning, banking and finance, international advice, personal financial planning and even a virtual finance office whilst still retaining those personal relationships.
“As a result of the merger, we are also now able to undertake statutory audits for larger clients, as well as businesses and organisations across Preston.”
Streets Chartered Accountants’ Managing Partner, Paul Tutin, said: “In line with our strategy to become a truly UK practice we are looking at and working with a number of firms looking to become part of Streets. The merger of Turner Accountants in Preston is the latest in line with our plans to expand our geographical coverage and provides us with an ideal presence in Lancashire.
“We were delighted to enter into a conversation with Mike Turner and his team at Turner Accountants. Very early on in our discussions it was clear that we shared the same vision and values for the profession and for supporting our clients.
“We are really looking forward to working with Mike, Henry, Catherine and Lynda to grow the practice and to further establish it as a pre-eminent accountancy, business and tax advisory firm servicing the needs of businesses and individuals across Lancashire and the North West.
“Looking ahead with a number of further mergers and acquisitions in the pipeline which include a number of practices across the UK, we are on track to achieve our target revenue of £40m by the end of the year.
“The profession is going through significant consolidation with heightened levels of merger and acquisition. In contrast to many our approach seeks to build on the success of merging firms, ensuring we retain and build on their winning approach. An approach we believe is particularly liked by many of those looking to exit routes, the challenge of growing their practice or facing increased competition and the need to widen their service offering.”
Streets Law, Streets Chartered Accountants’ dedicated corporate and commercial law offering led by Managing Director and Solicitor, Adam Aisthorpe, undertook the legal work on Streets Chartered Accountants’ behalf for the merger, including drafting the sale and purchase agreement and dealing with the due diligence process in collaboration with internal colleagues in tax and audit teams.
Major solar farm completed and sold in Nottinghamshire
Lightsource bp has completed its largest UK solar project to date. Completion was followed by the sale of the solar farm and co-located energy storage project to specialist renewable investment manager Schroders Greencoat.
Lightsource bp will provide asset management and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services for the solar project via its in-house O&M team.
Tiln Farm is a 49.9MWac solar project near Retford in Nottinghamshire and, now complete, is providing power to building products manufacturer Forterra via a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
The signing of the PPA with Forterra in 2022 heralded the company taking significant steps to a sustainable future. Tiln Farm solar will provide the Northampton-headquartered brick, block, and concrete producer with around 70 percent of its electricity needs, in a sector-leading investment that will provide renewable energy to Forterra’s 17 sites for 15 years.
Construction on the project began in 2022, on what is the first Lightsource bp project globally to be co-located with energy storage, with a 25MW/50MWh (two-hour duration) battery also now operational onsite.
Declan Keiley, Head of Business Development for the UK and Ireland at Lightsource bp, said: “We’re proud to have completed our first co-located energy storage project and largest solar project in the UK to date. The Tiln Farm project is a milestone for the company in many ways, and the ongoing partnership with Schroders Greencoat, as the project’s new owner, underscores Lightsource bp’s strong credentials as a trusted development partner.”
Matt Tingle, Investment Director at Schroders Greencoat, said: “We’re proud to continue to lead in renewable infrastructure with this investment. Co-located assets like this have an important role to play in balancing intermittent renewable energy generation, as well as delivering vital grid stability services. Sharing the same grid connection also helps to optimise increasingly scarce grid capacity as the UK transitions towards net zero.
“As the largest manager of operating ground mount solar farms in the UK, with around 1.9 GWp of solar assets under our management, this acquisition adds to our diverse UK portfolio. It will play an important part in meeting our investment objectives, helping to deliver long-term inflation-linked cashflows to our investors.”
Lightsource bp was advised by TLT and JLL throughout the process, and Schroders Greencoat was advised by Norton Rose Fulbright and Everoze.
