Small firms need Government to reduce cost of international trade
Small firms say the “supply chain could crumble” unless the next Government prioritises international trade.
Figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) show that one in five (22%) small firms are worried about the costs of exports and imports over the next five years.
The research also shows how one in four (27%) would like to see a reduction in the cost and time it takes to import and export.
Elsewhere, three in ten (28%) say that one of the measures in FSB’s manifesto proposal for a Small Business Act should focus on making it easier for the UK to trade internationally.
Tina McKenzie, FSB’s Policy Chair, said: “International trade fuels progress and fresh ideas, and without it, our supply chain crumbles. Small firms who reach global markets also tend to grow faster and be stronger during tough economic times.
“However, our research presents some troubling figures, so the next Government will therefore need to keep trade at the top of their agenda.
“Strengthening trade links with major markets like the EU and USA is key to the UK’s future as a global trading force. This would also incentivise small firms to start and continue trading.
“Our election manifesto outlines ways to achieve this, including creating a simple online trade portal that collects all the information small firms need to provide just once – a “once and done” approach. The hefty paperwork and confusing fees associated with international trade are also a concern, and those administrative burdens need to be reduced.
“Investing in training for Border Force staff is a quick way to keep goods moving smoothly across the borders, as will on-the-ground resources to improve customs training.
“There also needs to be plans for a next-generation export development grant or tax relief scheme, taking inspiration from successful international examples, such as the ones used in Australia for decades.
“In the 2026 review of the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Government should negotiate to remove the need for an intermediary for the EU VAT system. They should also aim for mutual recognition of product standards and professional qualifications in key sectors.
“We were pleased to be invited to work with the Labour Party on an exports taskforce, which will create a better approach to industrial trade and policy, and be published shortly.
“Simplifying international trade for small businesses will allow us to drive significant economic growth and increase resilience. We must not let this opportunity pass us by.”
Stud Brook Business Park takes shape with lead construction contractor appointed
Clowes Developments have confirmed that TanRo will be the lead construction contractor on units 2-7 at the 20-acre Stud Brook Business Park in Castle Donington.
The mixed-use development will include employment, amenity, office and industrial units for sale or let ranging in size from 1,500 to 45,000 sq ft – as well as a retail offer. The units have been designed by IMA Architects.
James Richards, Development Director at Clowes Developments, said: “With the recent success and speed of delivery at Fairham Business Park, we have secured a contract to work with TanRo again on this development which is just a stone’s throw away from Fairham in Castle Donington. We are really pleased to see this site coming to life and we look forward to further cementing our relationship with TanRo on this project.”
Duncan Paterson, Contracts Manager at TanRo, added: “We are delighted to work with Clowes Developments again on this brand-new mixed-use development at Castle Donington.
“At Fairham Business Park, we have consistently delivered high-quality units ahead of schedule, and we are excited to bring the same level of excellence to Stud Brook Business Park. This collaboration underscores our commitment to developing premier commercial property that meet the needs of its occupiers and contributes to the growth of the local economy.”
NG Chartered Surveyors have been appointed as joint agents with FHP Property Consultants to market leasehold opportunities at Stud Brook Business Park.
Local partners celebrate completion of new homes in Blaby District
Representatives from emh group, Blaby District Council, Homes England and Lovell recently met to celebrate the opening of The Villers in Whetstone.
The Villers is an affordable housing development, providing a range of family housing, dementia-friendly bungalows, and supported living for people with a variety of complex needs. The homes are built on a former industrial brownfield site, and the development contains 77 homes with a range of types and sizes, with a split of social rent and shared ownership tenures.
The Villers was delivered by emh group, as part of its Strategic Partnership agreement with Homes England, and in partnership with Blaby District Council and development partners Lovell.
Emh worked closely with Blaby District Council to ensure the development met critical local housing needs and helped to ease pressure on the local need for temporary housing.
Chan Kataria, Group Chief Executive at emh, said: “I’m delighted that we were able to come together with our partners to celebrate the completion of this fantastic scheme.
“Through our strong partnership with Blaby District Council, we have delivered homes that meet the needs of local people, helping them to meet their housing aspirations. I’m proud that we have been able to work with our partners to achieve emh’s ambition of building high-quality homes for thriving communities.”
Ian Jones, Housing Services Manager for Blaby District Council, said: “It is so satisfying to see this development completed. Thanks to our partnership with emh Group and Homes England we now have a range of modern and much-needed affordable new homes in Blaby District. This will enable more people to get on the property ladder as well as access homes at an affordable rent.”
The Villers has seen a high level of demand, particularly for the shared ownership homes which had over 500 people interested in the 39 available homes. All new residents come from the local area, helping them to stay connected to schools, family, friends and support networks.
The Villers is built on land which until recently consisted of derelict industrial buildings and overgrown vegetation. The site has historical significance, being the former home of the Whittle Estate, developed by Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, and later an important centre for the nuclear industry and computer research. The site also incorporates part of the embankment of the disused Great Central Railway.
The site has a sense of openness, with homes addressing a soft landscaped area centred around a pond creating a ‘village green’ feel. The connection to open green space is further enhanced through the integration of the wildlife corridor along the former railway line.
Coalville Town FC scores big with donations from Aggregate Industries
Grassroots football team, Coalville Town Youth Football Club, has a new, full size 3G pitch and extended car park thanks to a significant monetary and material donation from construction supplier, Aggregate Industries.
Coalville Town Youth FC started 25 years ago and over the past five years has become a non-profit organisation and then a charity. This enabled the club to be eligible for The Football Foundation and FA grants to improve its facilities.
Before it could receive grant funding for its priority 3G pitch, it was clear from the start that the club would need to raise a minimum of £220,000 to put towards the project. As well as other fundraising efforts by the club, Aggregate Industries’ Bardon Hill Community Fund donated the final £15,000 needed to get the club over the line of its £220,000 barrier.
Not stopping there, the team at Aggregate Industries was keen to offer further support to help the club complete its projects and grow. The business consequently donated 260 tonnes of Type 1 aggregate to complete the car park area at the Owen Street club, allowing parents and local crowds ample space to easily park.
This year Coalville Town Youth FC will have around 1,000 children and young adults signed up to one of its many teams. This includes both male and female football teams across every age group from under sevens to adult teams, mini football for those under the age of six and inclusive football sessions. In addition the facility will be used by the wider community for walking football, wellbeing sessions and as a training venue for other local football clubs and for Coalville Town Rugby Club.
Wayne McDermott, Club Secretary at Coalville Town Youth FC, said: “We are so grateful to Aggregate Industries for not only completing our efforts to raise £220,000 to kickstart our 3G pitch project, but then going above and beyond to donate such a high quantity of material from its local quarry to our car park.
“With our new 3G pitch, we will not only be able to better serve our many youth teams, but also offer more casual games, wellbeing sessions, and an educational program run by Derby County in the Community. In the past we have had to operate over four sites, however that’s changed now the 3G pitch has been installed at Owen Street, and we can use it seven days a week, which will enable it to become an important hub in the local community.”
The new car park was completed just in time for its first use during the club’s annual presentation weekend, which saw all of the players and their families attend to collect awards and celebrate their participation and achievements over the season.
Lee Sleight, Managing Director Aggregates at Aggregates Industries, adds: “When we heard how close Coalville Town FC was to raising the necessary £220,000 for their 3G pitch project, we were more than happy to help get them over the finish line. Upon seeing the great work they do for so many children and young adults in the local community, we knew that there was more we could do to support them and were delighted to be able to utilise our expertise in construction materials to donate the much-needed aggregates for their car park.
“We hope that both the funding and materials help the club continue to flourish and offer a greater breadth of services to Coalville locals.”
Government clears funding for TfL to order ten new Elizabeth Line trains to be built at Derby
The government has confirmed funding for TfL to procure 10 new Elizabeth Line trains to be built by Alstom at Derby, providing certainty for the factory.
Following careful consideration of TfL’s business case, the government has approved TfL’s request for funding for the additional trains.
The trains are needed due to strong passenger demand, expected growth on the Elizabeth Line, and will allow TfL to increase capacity on the network in the coming years.
In accordance with section 101 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, the government will provide TfL with the capital funding requested for the additional trains only.
Alstom has signed a contract worth around €430 (£370) million for 10 new nine-car Aventra trains for Transport for London’s Elizabeth line, along with associated maintenance until 2046.
“We are delighted to now have a confirmed workload for Derby Litchurch Lane and our supply chain across the UK,” said Nick Crossfield, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.
He added: “The UK remains one of Alstom’s most important global markets.”
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “The base at Litchurch Lane has been a powerhouse of UK train manufacture for decades and is a key driver of both Derby’s economy and the country when you consider the wider supply chain. “With the continued uncertainty the factory has been facing for so long, due to a gap in orders, news of this multimillion-pound order for the Elizabeth Line is welcome, especially as the new trains will be built at the site itself.”Nottingham College Chair recognised in HM The King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List
The Chair of Governors from Nottingham College has been recognised in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024.
Carole Thorogood, who has been Chair since 2017, has been recognised as Medallist of the Order of the British Empire, in acknowledgement of her services within further education (FE) over the last 18 years.
During her tenure at Nottingham College and before then as Chair of Central College Nottingham, Carole has steered transformational change, overcome an extraordinarily challenging financial landscape for the college and delivered education improvement to benefit Nottingham and beyond.
This has culminated in the delivery of the flagship £58m City Hub in the centre of Nottingham, one of the largest investments of its kind for any further education college in the country. City Hub houses a 200-seat theatre, a gourmet training restaurant and state-of-the-art classrooms and learning facilities for students.
Today, Nottingham College is the only FE college serving the city, with around 21,000 learners enrolling every year. An award-winning education institution, the college prides itself on its responsiveness to the educational and training needs of the region, to ensure students are equipped with the skills and attributes that will enable them to make a positive contribution to the economy and society at large.
Carole said: “This is an absolute honour and of course a complete surprise. During my time at Nottingham College I have been supported by countless colleagues who have shared my passion for the city, for its young people and for the transformational power of further education. This award is testament to the collective impact of those individuals.
“Together, over the last few years, we have steered the college through some choppy waters and have secured its future as a high-performing, first choice education provider for Nottingham, that people can rightly be proud of.
“I’m truly thrilled to have been included in this year’s HM The King’s Birthday Honours List and I draw a huge sense of pride knowing that I have played my part in a much larger ensemble cast, throughout the last 18 years, who have led the charge for further education in this city. I’ve loved every minute of it!”
Janet Smith, CEO and Principal at Nottingham College, said: “Carole is an outstanding Chair of Governors, and this award is testament to her leadership and dedication to the people of Nottingham who choose to study, train and work here.
“Our ambition for Nottingham College is to be recognised as an outstanding provider of choice for education and skills training, and to know that we have the influence and support of our exceptional Chair and Governing Board underpins this goal.
“We are absolutely delighted for Carole and offer our congratulations and thanks for her many years of service to Nottingham College – and we hope many more years to come.”
Europe’s disabled golfers given proper send-off as Derby fundraisers chip in with £15,000
A Derby golf day held to raise money to fund Europe’s challenge in this summer’s Cairns Cup competition has helped send the team off in style – after generous players chipped in with £15,000.
The corporate event, which took place at Morley Hayes, was organised to help with the travel and accommodation costs to ensure 16 players from across the continent can line up against a USA team when the Cup tees off next month.
The Cairns Cup is disability golf’s premier matchplay event and resembles the Ryder Cup, with a three day event with a four-ball, foursomes and singles rounds, contested by golfers with a range of disabilities, including paralysis, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s.
Among those who will line up in the Cup is vice-captain Kris Aves, who lost the use of his legs when he was struck by a van driven by a terrorist in London in 2017, and James Gallagher, who has cerebral palsy.
Both Kris and James were also present and playing alongside the golfers at the event, which was organised and sponsored by Derbyshire firms Purpose Media and S O’Brien Heating Solutions.
They invited firms across the East Midlands to take part in a day’s worth of golf, ending with a charity auction which added a few more 0’s to the final total.
Matt Wheatcroft, managing director of Purpose Media, said: “Our target for the event was £10,000 so everyone delighted that we smashed that and raised such an incredible amount of money.
“Kris gave a very compelling speech during the prize-giving and was out and about on the course, while James was running a putting competition, so everyone got to see what they could do and learn more about disabled golf and the Cairns Cup.
“I’ve been involved with the Cairns Cup for nearly 10 years now and I want to help them. I’ve had two horrendous injuries in the past and so I understand where these guys are and how important being able to play sport is.”
Stephen O’Brien, managing director of S O’Brien Heating Solutions, added: “We had a cracking day, we got a lot of positive feedback and £15,000 raised for the Cairns Cup is not to be sniffed at.
“Kris was fantastic, he knows that his story helps to promote disabled golf and raise awareness of the Cairns Cup. He was a big golfer before his accident and it’s helped him to get back to where he needs to be mentally.
“I think we all understand how sport and getting out into the fresh air helps us with our mental health and he was a great example of that.”
The Cairns Cup takes place Cherry Creek Golf Club in Detroit at the end of July, where the European team will be looking to avenge their defeat from when the Cup was last contested at the Shire Golf Club two years ago.
Dains Group makes Scottish acquisition
The Dains Group has acquired Condies Chartered Accountants in a move that underscores their commitment to the Scottish market.
Condies has offices in Dunfermline, Edinburgh and Dundee and has grown consistently in recent years, driven by a commitment to investment in technology and an experienced and dedicated team.
Pauline Hogg, Managing Partner at Condies, said: “Joining forces with Dains Group is a fantastic opportunity for our team and clients. We are excited about the synergies this partnership will bring and the enhanced capabilities we can offer. Our clients will benefit from the extensive resources and expertise of the Dains Group, while still receiving the personalised service they value.”
Graeme Bryson, Managing Partner of Dains Scotland, added: “This acquisition represents a significant step in our growth strategy, allowing us to extend our reach in Scotland and leverage the exceptional talent at Condies. Together, we are well-positioned to offer an even broader range of services to our clients. I am looking forward to working with Pauline as joint Managing Partner of Dains Scotland.”
“We are proud to welcome Condies to the Dains family,” said Richard McNeilly, CEO of Dains Group. “Extending the incredible work done by Graeme Bryson and the Dains Scotland business is a fantastic opportunity. Pauline and the team at Condies are the blueprint for the perfect acquisition with a total focus on client support backed up by exceptional talent. Working in parallel with the Group, the team are in an amazing position to offer an even broader range of services to our clients.”
Luke Kingston, Managing Partner at Horizon Capital, said “This is another example of an excellent addition to the Dains group, and we are delighted to have supported Richard and the team on this acquisition. With group revenues now over £70m it is clear that Dains is one of the leading operators in its sector.”
Dains were advised by DSW (financial and tax due diligence), Forward Corporate Finance (Financial Modelling), Deloitte (Tax structuring) and CMS (Legal). Condies were advised by Curle Stewart (Legal).
Back-to-back deals see full occupancy at Evelyn Street Industrial Estate
FHP have finalised on the remaining two units at Beeston’s Evelyn Street Industrial Estate, Southwest of Nottingham City Centre.
Both units comprise circa 5,500ft² of clear span warehouse / industrial space benefitting from office and ancillary areas. In order to achieve an attractive rental figure and set a new headline rent throughout Evelyn Street Industrial Estate, FHP’s client carried out a refurbishment to secure a rental of £8.00 per ft².
Initial interest in the units was slower than anticipated, FHP noted, although over time it was evident that the desire and need for circa 5,000ft² units had shifted and increased, generating a number of enquiries leading to several offers brought forward on both units.
Mission Room Ltd and Vaunt Design Ltd are the latest occupiers to secure a unit on Evelyn Street, with a further deal being agreed by joint agents CPP, Sean Bremner, for Unit 37.
Amy Howard, surveyor at FHP Property Consultants, said: “It was a great result to get both of these deals over the line for our client. After a slow start with interest, it was certainly challenging, but this quickly changed with an increase in enquiries and all three units going under offer within two months of each other.
“Securing a new headline rent for the site was also a positive for our client and further
highlights the industrial market rental tones rising due to limited stock availability. Secondary industrial units of this size bracket are achieving £8.00 to £8.50 per ft², it is evident there is limited availability of units within this size range as demand still continues to be on the rise.
“Both Vaunt Design Ltd and Mission Room Ltd worked with our client from initial discussions and developed a landlord-tenant relationship which is key to driving deals across the line. It was a delight to work alongside both tenants and I wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”
Sean Bremner, director at CPP, said: “Great to see Evelyn Street back to 100% occupancy. Working alongside FHP, we advised our clients on the essential refurbishment works and they have been rewarded for their investment. Enquiry levels got stronger with multiple
parties pressing to secure the final unit, reinforcing the growth in the rental tone. A fantastic result for the estate.”
Derby businessman named in King’s birthday honours list
Entrepreneur Dean Jackson, whose innovative technology has helped some of the world’s greatest Olympians win gold medals, is picking up a gong of his own after being awarded an MBE in the King’s birthday honours.
Dean is the founder and owner of global triathlon and cycling brand HUUB, whose products have been worn by athletes including the Brownlee Brothers, Sir Jason Kenney and David Weir as well as countless amateur competitors.
Now Dean, who left Noel Baker School with just two O-Levels, will be heading to Buckingham Palace later in the year to pick up an MBE for his services to business and innovation.
But even Dean admits to suffering from imposter syndrome, initially believing the letter informing him of the honour to be an elaborate hoax.
He said: “I found myself checking the phone number on the letter, I even sniffed the paper it was written on, because I couldn’t actually believe it could be true.
“I am incredibly proud, humbled and excited – I’m just a normal bloke from Derby who is working in his passion and loves making athletes faster and better. This is recognition for the amazingly smart people I get to work with every day, who help me create some exciting products.
“I have always wanted to make my family and parents proud and I know this will have surpassed all their expectations. My mother passed away last October, and I hope she’s looking down as gobsmacked as I am.”
Dean famously launched HUUB from his kitchen table creating pioneering technology to measure active drag and create performance-enhancing products for swimmers, runners and cyclists.
The company, which has a Queen’s Award for innovation and two patents for its technology, has collaborated with experts and world-class athletes to create products for sporting participants of all ages and abilities.
In addition, Dean has also worked closely with athletes including Olympic gold medalists Alex Yee, Georgia Taylor Brown and Jess Learmonth, two-times triathlon world champion Helen Jenkins and he has supported world record attempts by local athlete Leigh Timmis.
Throughout his career with HUUB, Dean has been a dedicated champion of Derby, helping to bring events to the city such as the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon and the annual Brownlee Foundation Triathlon which is enjoyed by 1,200 key stage two school pupils.
Dean also launched Derby City Cycling – the city’s first road cycling team – and the HUUB Wattbike squad made up of multiple national and world champions, world tour riders and UCI World Cup winners. With the rest of the HUUB team he has supported the Derby 10k and a host of comic and sport relief events.
He added: “It’s not bad for a lad from Alvaston – who probably had a collection of neurodiversities that allowed him to see the world in a more creative way.
“My younger self wouldn’t believe I’m getting an MBE and going to Buckingham Palace. I’d love to put my arm round that young lad and tell him that while he may not have a string of qualifications it’s how he sees and interprets the world that will make him shine.
“My family are the greatest believers in me and my customers are my greatest supporters. Thank you to my family and especially my wife Angela and the amazing team of people at Huub – none of this would have been possible without them.”
