Shining a light on the region’s property and construction industry, nominations are OPEN until Thursday 5th September for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards. With 10 categories available to enter, make sure to take this opportunity to showcase outstanding businesses, teams and projects at the prestigious event. One such category is Deal of the Year, which can be entered here. The winner of this category will be the deal that has truly pushed the boundaries over the last 12 months – from jobs created to complexity, size and scale. However, that’s not to say the biggest deal will automatically win; the deal which has had most impact in the East Midlands is what we’re looking for. The winning deal will have displayed courage in a tough market to deliver a great outcome for all concerned. Deal must have been completed over the last 12 months. Last year the award was won by Rushton Hickman, for their Branston Locks deal, with Bassi Group Nottingham Ltd (job saving Pizza Hut takeover) and Rigby & Co (Aida Factory deal) runners up. Upon winning, Graham Bancroft, director at Rushton Hickman, said: “We are thrilled to have won this award at the prestigious Bricks Awards, especially as we were up against such outstanding competition, it means the world to us. The deal to Werner had many challenges during the time of the pandemic and escalating build costs, but all parties’ commitment and determination to get an agreement in place was exceptional and the building that our client, Nurton Developments, produced for Werner was fantastic so credit goes to all parties. I am hugely proud of the whole Rushton Hickman team for winning this award.” With this year’s Deal of the Year award sponsored by Tutum Consulting, director, Simon Prescott, said: “Sponsoring the ‘Deal of the Year’ award aligns with Tutum Consulting’s mission to recognise and celebrate exceptional achievements within the industry. “As an independent, emerging company established during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tutum understands the unique challenges and opportunities that come with navigating a tumultuous economic landscape. By sponsoring this award, Tutum aims to recognise those who have demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation in these trying times. “The Deal of the Year category showcases the hard work and impact that can be achieved by colleagues. As a small, independent company, we know the great pride and effort required in achieving these outcomes “We know firsthand the tremendous effort involved in bringing complex deals to fruition, and we want to acknowledge the teams and individuals who have made significant contributions to their project. By sponsoring this award, we aim to celebrate those who share our dedication to pushing boundaries and driving progress in the construction industry.” Simon added: “We are looking forward to seeing this year’s entries and learning about the innovative ways in which businesses have worked. The awards show is a fantastic way for colleagues in the industry to not just connect, but celebrate and promote their own services and achievements. “For Tutum Consulting, this event is an invaluable opportunity to network with landowners, property developers, planners, and architects. We are keen to learn about other services in the East Midlands, identifying opportunities where our expertise can complement and enhance collaborative projects.” Submit your nominations for Deal of the Year here before entries close on Thursday 5th September. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground (4:30pm – 7:30pm) – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region, and hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby. Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active Estate Agent, Commercial Development of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here. The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.

Derby-based Monarch Security have bought out another local company and taken a step further in their goal to become one of the region’s largest security and executive protection companies. Monarch Security, based at Oberoi Business Hub in Pride Park, was set up during the pandemic by Farhaan Bhatti and Phil Wright who have more than 30 years’ combined experience in the industry. The company was approached by Leigh Baldwin, the owner of Burton-based Security Kings, to take over his business – incorporating its clients and staff into Monarch Security’s operations. The buy-out increases Monarch Security’s team which provides a range of services including personal protection, mobile patrols, manned guarding, key holding and alarm response for clients across the East Midlands as well as nationally and internationally. Security Kings has been established since 2017 and provides a wide range of services to businesses and residents including retail and site security, alarm response and key holding. Mr Baldwin is now concentrating on his new business Liberty Maze which provides supported housing for young people in care in the Burton and Derby areas. He said: “Having built up a successful business, I was keen to diversify and the only people I trusted to take over Security Kings were Farhaan and Phil at Monarch Security. “We have worked together for many years and I know that both the Security Kings clients and staff are in safe hands.” Monarch Security co-director Phil Wright, whose expertise includes providing close security for high profile celebrities and members of several Royal families in the Middle East and Far East, continued: “We have achieved a great deal in a short space of time and merging Security Kings operations into our own is an important step in our expansion plans. “We are particularly pleased with how we have grown in our own region of the East Midlands – expanding our local teams and vehicle fleet to protect premises and sites for businesses, organisations, individuals and families.” Farhaan Bhatti continued: “The approach from Leigh at Security Kings reflects our reputation for service excellence and the investment we have made in our systems, fleet and calibre of team members. “Our goal is to be one of the region’s largest security companies and we welcome the clients and staff from Security Kings who will be an important part in our continued success.”

Leicestershire-based housebuilding giant Barratt’s £2.5 billion purchase of rival Redrow Homes looks set to complete later this week, the business has revealed. Earlier this month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) concluded a Phase 1 investigation into the deal. The CMA has found that overall, the merger does not raise competition issues except for concerns regarding the supply of new build private residential housing in one of the more than 400 local areas where the two companies overlap.

Barratt and Redrow are continuing to engage with the CMA with the objective of agreeing suitable undertakings which would address its concerns and avoid the need for a reference to a full Phase 2 investigation.

Clearance from the CMA is a condition to the combination. Further to the CMA’s announcement on 8 August, however, Barratt has waived the CMA condition and the parties now intend to complete the combination this week.

In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, Barratt added: “This removes uncertainty for the employees, supply chain and wider stakeholder groups of both businesses, and allows us to accelerate the creation of an exceptional UK homebuilder in terms of quality, service and sustainability, which in turn can accelerate the delivery of high-quality, sustainable homes and communities for customers across the UK, addressing the country’s need for homes.”

In accordance with the CMA’s standard practice and following completion, Barratt and Redrow expect the CMA to impose an initial enforcement order (IEO) on the parties, preventing any action which might prejudice the CMA’s process. As a result of the IEO, whilst integration planning can continue, Barratt and Redrow would be prevented from integrating their two businesses, until the proposed undertakings have been agreed with the CMA or the CMA otherwise agrees to such actions taking place.

Myriad Ted Baker stores are shutting as doubts are raised for a future licensing partnership with retail giant Frasers Group. According to reports in Sky News, talks between the Shirebrook-based group and Ted Baker’s owner Authentic have broken down, with sources close to Authentic indicating that there were no ongoing talks between the two, while property industry sources suggested there had been talks of reopening a few Ted Baker shops in the last few weeks. Administrators of Ted Baker’s partner No Ordinary Designer Label are overseeing the closure of 31 remaining shops in the UK. A source from one store told Sky News their last trading day would be Tuesday.