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Surfacing company invests to improve Leicester’s roads
A Leicester-based company is leading the way in safer road surfacing following a year of business investments. The company is raising awareness of the importance of safe road surfaces this Road Safety Awareness Week (17-23 November).
HMS Decorative Surfacing has invested heavily in its resurfacing services over the past year, including doubling its team of workers, to cater for the growing demand for road repairs across the country.
This comes as the so-called ‘pothole plague’ was addressed in parliament last month during the Chancellor’s Budget speech, with £500m pledged towards improving Britain’s roads.
The AA recorded over 600,000 pothole related call outs last year and the RAC reported a 53% increase in road surface related breakdowns in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023. According to Cycling UK, 255 cyclists have been killed or seriously injured due to unsafe road surfaces since 2017 and 70 motorcyclists will die or suffer injuries every single year.
HMS has appointed new Surfacing Operatives, an Administration Assistant and invested in two new surfacing trucks. It has also worked towards upholding its BBA (British Board of Agrémen) accreditation, to keep up with the increasing number of reported potholes across Leicester and beyond, and ensure all repairs meet rigorous standards for quality, durability and safety.
Laura Wilson, Director at HMS Decorative Surfacing commented on the business’ growth. She said: “The need for effective and long-lasting road repairs has become increasingly evident over the past couple of years, as we’ve seen the number of pothole related accidents and breakdowns skyrocket. This Road Safety Week, we want to highlight the need for safer road surfacing in the UK to keep people safe and save lives.
“As a business we’ve seen this demand and so anticipated the labour government’s pledge to make improvements within the Autumn Budget. We’ve made many strategic decisions to support this; from doubling our numbers working on the ground, to growing our admin team and investing in new vehicles so we can extend our services.
“I’m really proud of how far we’ve come this year, and with this extra government funding, we now look to the future of HMS – aiming to grow our business and offer even more resurfacing services across the East Midlands and the rest of the UK.”
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Hydrogen innovation earns Luxfer Gas Cylinders gold at regional manufacturing awards
A commitment to pioneering the use of hydrogen technology has seen Luxfer Gas Cylinders recognised for its innovation at the regional Make UK Manufacturing Awards – paving the way for the company to compete in the national finals in January 2025.
Luxfer Gas Cylinders – the world’s largest manufacturer of high-pressure composite and aluminium cylinders – was presented with the Make UK Midlands Innovation Award earlier this month.
Organised by Make UK, the body that represents manufacturing industry across the UK, the awards were held to mark the achievements of companies from across the Midlands.
Judges handed a gold to Luxfer Gas Cylinders in recognition of its extensive and relentless efforts to develop new systems and infrastructure to transport hydrogen safely. This has involved significant seven figure investment in R&D across teams in the UK and North America in order take advantage of what is expected to be a substantial uptake in the use of hydrogen for clean energy in the future.
Lucy Morris, Marketing Manager, Luxfer Gas Cylinders Europe, said: “We’re so proud to be recognised by Make UK, and particularly in this category, because innovation is something that is fundamental to our organisation, and specifically to our highly skilled alternative fuel experts. They are bringing to bear our decades of experience in gas containment to develop clean, green, solutions that will encourage adoption of hydrogen technology.
“It’s an exciting time for this sector, and we’re pleased to be acknowledged as a pioneer, breaking new ground and helping reformulate what’s possible in hydrogen mobility and storage.”
Chris Corkan, Region Director for Make UK in the Midlands, added: “These awards are a testament to the dynamic companies and individuals working within engineering and manufacturing. The sector remains at the heart of creating wealth in the Midlands and as we grow our economy there will be a bright future for companies and individuals that make the most of their talent.”
East Midlands businesses and property owners urged to assess risks of living walls
An insurance expert is calling on East Midlands architects, property owners and hotel or leisure venues to assess the risks associated with living walls, which may not be fully covered by standard insurance policies.
Vince Kelly of specialist insurance broker Lycetts has issued the warning as the demand for sustainable ‘vertical gardens’ grows.
“With the increasing integration of green roofs and living walls in modern architectural designs, there is a pressing need to address the fire risks linked to the materials used in these on-trend systems,” Kelly said.
“While we wholeheartedly support the move towards sustainable buildings that contribute to net zero targets, it’s crucial that safety is not compromised in the process.”
Highlighting the potential dangers, he pointed out that all cladding systems feature a backing wall with insulation and that even when cavity barriers are installed correctly, some components might still be combustible, posing a risk of fires spreading.
“To mitigate this, it’s essential that the backing wall, insulation and supporting structures – including potting, irrigation and drainage systems – are constructed from non-combustible materials wherever possible,” he said.
“The impact of severe weather events and potential water leaks can significantly affect the safety and insurability of the building, as well as adjacent structures, if the living wall is not meticulously designed, installed and maintained.”
Kelly also pointed out the unique challenges posed by green roofs.
“Unlike conventional roofs, green roofs are considerably heavier due to the additional weight of the support structure, the requisite irrigation systems as well as the plants themselves,” he explained. “Plus, the extra water retention capacity during heavy rainfall must also be factored into architectural considerations.”
To ensure the longevity and safety of these sustainable features, Kelly recommends that installers conduct extreme water tests immediately after installation to check for leaks and consider installing electronic leak detectors. Annual inspections are also advised to remove problematic plants and those developing strong, deep roots to reduce the risk of leak damage.
Furthermore, he recommends that architects and property owners engage a qualified structural engineer during the design phase to assess load-bearing capacity and ensure the building is fit to support these installations. Fall protection measures and access for ongoing maintenance should also be planned into the design to ensure safe upkeep.
“Living walls and green roofs offer numerous environmental, aesthetic and health benefits but the ongoing maintenance and repair can be a challenging and costly process,” Kelly added.
“I would urge anyone involved in a new sustainability project or retrofit that incorporates a living wall to consult their insurer during the planning stages to mitigate the risks and ensure the creation of buildings that are not only stunning and sustainable but also safe.”
Major Boost for a joined up visitor economy strategy for the East Midlands
In a first of its kind, at its meeting on Monday 4 November, the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Board agreed to develop a regional approach to delivering a thriving visitor economy for the East Midlands. The Board agreed funding of up to £60k to support the joint work of the region’s two Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) to develop a Destination Management Plan for the EMCCA region to add value, strengthen collaboration and avoid duplication.
The approach agreed by the Board focuses on three core elements to boost the visitor economy:
- By promoting our place and products to deliver enhanced profile, greater reach and more visitors.
- By developing the offer, working with our stakeholders to improve and increase, for example, hotel accommodation and live venue, conference facilities etc
- By realising the value of the sector, showing the wider benefits to our region over and above the contribution to our economy.
Promoting our place and products
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has begun a series of engagement events in order to hear directly from key organisations across the sector. This has included a Derby and Derbyshire-focused meeting hosted by the Devonshire Group at Chatsworth House, an Arts Council-led event in Chesterfield, bringing together representatives from across the culture and heritage sectors, and a Nottingham and Nottinghamshire-focused event hosted at the National Civil War Centre in Newark. These events provided valuable feedback regarding the challenges and opportunities for organisations in the sector.
Developing the offer
There are now two Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) that cover the whole of the EMCCA area, Visit Nottinghamshire and Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby and they are both formally accredited by Visit England. They will work with us to develop a strategic vision for the region, highlighting all the fundamentals of making our destinations thrive, while supporting local businesses.
Realising the value of the sector
The tourism/visitor economy makes a significant contribution to our economy, worth around £5.25bn in 2023 and supporting around 52,000 jobs. The aim is to take up numerous opportunities to grow the value of the sector, both in terms of direct economic impact and wider benefits that support EMCCA’s inclusive growth objectives.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “The Visitor Economy is one of my key priorities because it matters everywhere: to our cities, our market towns, and our rural areas alike.
This is a vital agenda for the whole region and I’m delighted to lead and strengthen collaboration with our regional partners. Our joined up Destination Management Plan means that we can have more impact, and improve our offer for visitors, residents and grow our economy.”
Megan Powell Vreeswijk, CEO of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire including Visit Nottinghamshire, said: “Collaboration across the East Midlands is key to driving a vibrant and sustainable visitor economy, and we are delighted to work in partnership with East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and Visit Peak District Derbyshire and Derby to make this vision a reality. EMCCA’s commitment to the Destination Management Plans marks a major milestone in building a unified approach that enhances the unique offer of our regions, while providing a strategic framework for growth.
Together as the two LVEPs with our regional partners, we will elevate the profile of the East Midlands, to attract more visitors, and create new opportunities for local businesses, visitors, and residents.”
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