GeoPura secures £27m for UK hydrogen expansion and Danish hub

April Lara
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GeoPura secures £27m for UK hydrogen expansion and Danish hub

GeoPura has secured £27 million in green financing from Barclays to expand its hydrogen energy operations in the UK and establish a new base in Denmark. The package includes a £16.5 million guarantee from the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), marking EIFO’s first international Power-to-X guarantee.

The funding supports HyMarnham Power, GeoPura’s joint venture with JG Pears, which will produce low-carbon hydrogen at a former coal-fired power station in the East Midlands. Expected to become the first project under the UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1) to reach commercial operation, it will supply hydrogen for GeoPura’s zero-emission power units and other industrial uses.

The new Danish hub, GeoPura (Europe) Limited, will secure electrolyser capacity and support delivery capability across Europe, strengthening the company’s continental operations.

GeoPura’s hydrogen systems replace diesel generators in sectors such as construction, data centres, film production, and major events. Clients include National Grid, Balfour Beatty, and the BBC. Its next-generation Hydrogen Power Unit 2 is designed for higher-capacity applications, expanding its reach into new markets.

The Barclays-EIFO partnership highlights growing UK-Danish collaboration in clean energy finance, aiming to drive investment, job creation, and industrial growth in both markets.

Davies Turner reports turnover surge past £260m amid steady profits

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Davies Turner reports turnover surge past £260m amid steady profits

Davies Turner Holdings has recorded a sharp rise in turnover, reaching £264 million for the year ending 31 March 2025, compared with £213.3 million the previous year. Pre-tax profits remained stable at £15.1 million, down slightly from £15.9 million.

The Coleshill-based logistics group, established in 1870, continues to operate one of the UK’s most extensive multimodal networks, providing freight forwarding, haulage, warehousing, and logistics services. Its operations span 19 sites across the UK and Ireland, including major hubs in Dartford, Heathrow, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, and Glasgow.

The company’s performance reflects continued strength in demand for integrated logistics and supply chain solutions, supported by ongoing investment in warehousing capacity and transport infrastructure. The group has signalled that it remains focused on expanding its market share through its global partnerships and multimodal capabilities.

Davies Turner, one of the UK’s longest-standing logistics operators, said it is positioning itself for long-term stability and incremental growth following the solid results of its latest financial year.

Quotient Sciences records annual loss amid industry slowdown

April Lara
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Quotient Sciences records annual loss amid industry slowdown

Drug development accelerator Quotient Sciences has reported an £8.8 million pre-tax loss for the year ending 31 December 2024, reversing its previous year’s £12.6 million profit. Revenue declined to £71.3 million from £74.2 million in 2023.

The Ruddington-headquartered firm operates drug development, manufacturing, and clinical testing sites across the UK and US, including Reading, Edinburgh, Alnwick, Miami, and Philadelphia. The company stated that its performance reflected weaker conditions across the broader life sciences sector.

Quotient Sciences implemented cost reduction measures during the year to address market pressures. These initiatives incurred one-off costs that limited their immediate financial impact but are expected to strengthen the company’s position in 2025.

Management said the business entered the new financial year with a lower cost base and capacity to improve revenues and margins as market conditions stabilise.

JLR prepares phased return to production after cyber attack

April Lara
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JLR prepares phased return to production after cyber attack

Jaguar Land Rover is moving towards a controlled restart of manufacturing after a cyber attack forced the company to halt operations across its UK sites. Testing has begun at several facilities, with production expected to resume shortly at the Wolverhampton engine plant.

The disruption, which began on 31 August, affected the company’s sites in Solihull, Halewood, and Wolverhampton. Manufacturing was suspended throughout September as cybersecurity teams worked to contain the breach and restore systems. The company extended its production pause until at least the start of October while coordinating recovery efforts with the National Cyber Security Centre and law enforcement.

Analysts estimate the shutdown could cost the manufacturer around £120 million, with production normally averaging 1,000 vehicles a day. The pause also placed pressure on suppliers within the UK automotive supply chain, many of which are small and medium-sized firms dependent on JLR’s orders.

To mitigate financial risks, the Government announced a £1.5 billion loan guarantee to support JLR and provide assurance to suppliers awaiting payments. The automotive giant employs around 120,000 people across its supply chain and is one of the largest contributors to the UK’s manufacturing output.

Midland Scaffolding Services’ charity challenge a runaway success

Tess Egginton
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Midland Scaffolding Services’ charity challenge a runaway success
Charity champions at Midland Scaffolding Services (MSS) are celebrating their fundraising success after raising thousands of pounds for Caudwell Children. The company pledged to raise £20,000 for the charity, which supports disabled and neurodivergent children and their families, with colleagues taking on an ultra-marathon running from Birmingham to Northampton. The charity challenge, called 50 Miles for Poppy, was led by MSS colleagues Ben Ekins and Jordan Harrison. They were inspired to take on the fitness feat by colleague Gary Rouse’s baby daughter Poppy, who was born with Down’s syndrome and a heart condition, which recently required major surgery. The MSS team was inundated with generous donations, raffle prizes and support by multiple companies, suppliers and customers who backed the charity campaign, which culminated in a family fun day at Northampton Town Football Club to welcome Ben and Jordan across the finish line. Father-of-15 Gary said: “It’s a fantastic achievement – thank you all very much. It’s been a tough year for me and my family, and it still is, but we battle on every day. I must say a massive thank you to MSS, the company has supported me all this year and helped me out more than I could have possibly imagined. “We still have got a long way to go but Poppy is doing OK after the operation, which went well and she’s recovering. She’s a really very special part and addition to our slightly large family and we all love her to the moon and back.” After crossing the finish line to the ecstatic cheers of the crowds, the relieved runners celebrated their achievement as it was announced the company received an award from the charity in recognition for its fantastic fundraising efforts. MSS contracts director Ben said: “Now I’ve completed the ultra-marathon I’m very tired, very sore and quite emotional. But it’s been a massive achievement, and I am very proud of what we’ve done.” MSS estimator Jordan added: “The running was pretty hard, I feel emotional but it’s all for a great cause, so I’m happy.” The team from the charity was there to congratulate them on their incredible achievement, which helped to smash the original fundraising target. Amy Helliwell, marketing operations manager for Caudwell Children, said: “A huge thank you to Ben, Jordan, everybody at Midland Scaffolding Services and to everyone who has donated to Caudwell Children. “We provide support and services to thousands of neurodivergent and disabled children and their families every year. It’s incredible they ran 50 miles all in the aid of Caudwell Children. It was fantastic to see them at the finish line and an honour to shake their hands and speak to them afterwards. “Midland Scaffolding Services has put their heart and their soul into their fundraising efforts. It is amazing to see how much they have raised, and every single penny will go to help a child. “That’s why we’re also awarding Midland Scaffolding Services with our Fundraising for Change moment, to recognise not just the miles they’ve run, but the difference they’ve made. Their passion and commitment show the real power of community in helping children and families thrive.” Amie Bailey, commercial director at MSS, was delighted with the success of the family fun day event and that the company was able to raise so much money for the charity, which will be able to offer support and services to Poppy, Gary and family in the future. Amie added: “It is fantastic to receive the award from the charity in recognition of everyone’s efforts. We want to thank everyone, including all our customers and suppliers, who donated all the fantastic raffle prizes and helped us hit the £20,000 target. “It’s incredible what Ben, Jordan and all the other runners and riders have done; we are so proud of them all. We’ve got some great suppliers, great customers, and a great workforce – we couldn’t ask for better people to be surrounding us and to be surrounding Gary and his family.” To support or donate visit 50 Miles For Poppy is fundraising for Caudwell Children.

Florist takes root on Swadlincote High Street

Tess Egginton
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Florist takes root on Swadlincote High Street
Commercial property specialist Rushton Hickman has let 74b High Street in Swadlincote to an expanding florist. The 437 sq ft premises comprise a ground floor retail unit situated in a prime retail location in the heart of Swadlincote. The new tenant, Mrs Bouquets Flowers, was established in 2018 and they currently have a thriving premises in Shelton Lock. When the property in Swadlincote came to the market, they saw this as an ideal to opportunity to expand their “blooming” business. Richard Fairey, director at Rushton Hickman, said: “Given the location of the premises, we expected it to generate plenty of interest and were very pleased to tie up a deal with an established business so quickly. We have no doubt that the tenant will be successful in Swadlincote.”

Someone tried to clone me on Instagram — so I beat them to it: by Greg Simpson, founder of Press For Attention PR

Tess Egginton
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Someone tried to clone me on Instagram — so I beat them to it: by Greg Simpson, founder of Press For Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press For Attention PR, explains why he created an AI clone. Apparently, someone’s tried to impersonate me on Instagram. Flattering? Maybe. Accurate? Not even close. Here’s how you can tell a fake me from the real one: The fake one is all buzzwords, hustle, and motivational quotes. The real one talks about timing, tension, and how to actually land a story that gets published. The fake me drops emojis. The real me drops press coverage. It did get me thinking though…if someone’s going to try and clone me — they might as well do it properly. So, I cloned myself. No ring light. No ego. Just 20 years of PR insight crammed into a little AI called Dr Spin. Why I did it Because I’m fed up of watching actual experts miss out on press coverage whilst loud-but-lightweight ‘personal brands’ take up all the space. Real founders. Real businesses. Real stories. Ignored — not because they’re not good enough…but because they’re not prepared enough. They think PR is about being famous. Or about having a flashy logo, a big team, or a blue tick. It’s not. Journalists want experts, not egos. They want stories, not slogans. They want relevance, not reach. And you — the business owner who’s actually doing the work — already have what they’re looking for. You just need to package it properly. That’s what I help people do. And that’s what Dr Spin is trained to help you practice. I built him because so many of you told me the same things: “I don’t know what makes a good story.” “I don’t feel big enough for the media to care.” “I don’t know how to pitch without sounding desperate.” So here’s what I’ve been telling them — and now, so can he:
  1. Start with what’s different
Not your entire origin tale. Just one clear, timely angle that solves a problem or reframes an issue.
  1. Show results, not reach
Followers are not the metric here. Impact is. What changed because of what you did?
  1. Be findable, helpful and human
Journalists don’t need perfection — they need clarity and confidence. Make it easy to say yes.
  1. Lead with insight, not ego
What do you know that most people don’t? That’s your story. The rest is noise.
  1. Make your soundbite your superpower
Practice saying smart things in short, sharp ways. That’s what gets you quoted. Try it. Then try pitching. Dr Spin isn’t a gimmick. He’s not a hype machine. He’s my best advice, distilled into something you can test and apply today — even if you’ve never pitched a journalist in your life. Use him to practise your angle. Use him to check if your story’s press-worthy. Use him to feel like you’ve got this, before you hit send on a pitch. Try it now while it’s still free: https://pressforattention.com/chat-with-dr-spin/ Because if someone’s going to clone me, it might as well be me — and it might as well help you get featured.   A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press For Attention PR in 2008. He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective. See this column in the October issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.

DX Group expands capacity with new site in Northamptonshire

April Lara
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DX Group expands capacity with new site in Northamptonshire

DX Group has opened two new distribution facilities in Birstall and Wellingborough, expanding its DX-2 network to nine Super Sites across the UK.

The Birstall site, based on Norquest Industrial Estate, covers 35,000 sq ft, while the Wellingborough facility spans 10,000 sq ft at Ise Valley Industrial Estate. Both locations are part of the company’s continued investment in infrastructure to support growth in its two-person delivery division, which specialises in handling large and heavy consumer goods.

The DX-2 network now operates 19 depots, including the nine Super Sites, and runs a dedicated fleet managing over 100 daily routes. Around 450 employees support the division, which delivers to homes and commercial properties nationwide.

By expanding its Super Site network, DX aims to enhance operational efficiency, reduce travel distances and emissions, and strengthen customer service. The investment follows several years of network development across the Group, including upgrades to IT systems, vehicles, and equipment.

Ian Truesdale, Chief Executive Officer of DX Group, commented: “We are delighted to have opened these additional new DX-2 Super Sites in Birstall and Wellingborough. They will provide our DX-2 operations with greater capacity, further increase capability and get us closer to our customers’ customers. They also help to make us more efficient and reduce our stem mileage, which in turn will lower our overall carbon emissions. We continue to focus on setting market-leading service standards. We have invested significantly in our depot network over the past few years and will continue this programme across the Group, including IT, vehicles and equipment.”

Kiril Mischeff expands portfolio with Primepak Foods acquisition

April Lara
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Kiril Mischeff expands portfolio with Primepak Foods acquisition

Kiril Mischeff Group has acquired East Yorkshire-based Primepak Foods Ltd, continuing its expansion in the UK food manufacturing sector.

The Nottinghamshire-headquartered company, established in 1935, is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of food ingredients and products to manufacturing, retail, and foodservice markets. The addition of Primepak Foods strengthens the group’s product range in cheese, cooked meats, and sandwich fillers, which are produced under the Wolds Edge brand and private labels.

Primepak Foods, a family-run business, operates as a specialist processor and manufacturer serving retail, delicatessen, and foodservice clients. The acquisition aligns with Kiril Mischeff’s strategy to diversify its product lines and consolidate its position in the convenience food and ingredients market.

Dimiter Mirchev, Managing Director of Kiril Mischeff Group, commented: “Primepak Foods is a family owned and run business, that offers synergies with our existing products and services. This acquisition will allow us to expand and develop our offering and we welcome the Primepak team to the Kiril Mischeff family of companies. We look forward to working together for a mutually successful future.”

Advisory support for the transaction included Schofield Sweeney and Affinia for Kiril Mischeff, while Primepak Foods received guidance from DSW Corporate Finance, Bradbury and Co Accountants, and Wilkin Chapman Rollits.

The deal further extends Kiril Mischeff’s operational footprint in the UK food production landscape, reinforcing its vertically integrated supply capabilities across multiple categories.

Equity deals and values grow while external finance usage falls in the East Midlands

Tess Egginton
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Equity deals and values grow while external finance usage falls in the East Midlands
The East Midlands was one of only three of the UK’s nations and regions to achieve annual growth in both equity deal numbers (7.8%) and investment values (26.1%) in 2024 amid more mixed trends elsewhere. However, smaller businesses across the region took a largely cautious approach to borrowing in 2024 as external finance use fell, according to the British Business Bank’s fifth Nations and Regions Tracker. The region had the sharpest fall in the use of external finance amongst smaller businesses (-9 percentage points) of any region, with similar reductions across other lending types, including bank loans, credit cards and leasing, hire purchase and vehicle finance. East Midlands sees growth in equity deals and values against overall national contraction The East Midlands was one of only three UK Nations and regions to achieve annual growth in both equity deal numbers (7.8%) and investment values (26.1%) in 2024 amid more mixed trends elsewhere. The number of equity deals in the region rose to 55, with investment totalling £91m. Comparing equity deals and investment value per high-growth enterprise in each UK Nation and region, the East Midlands, continues to lag. Along with the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands shows the lowest levels on this indicator with 8 equity deals and £13m investment per 100 high-growth enterprises, far below the UK average outside London (14 deals and £54m) between 2022 and 2024. This points to structurally lower equity activity in these regions relative to their high-growth enterprise base. Equity investment across the UK fell slightly (-2.5%) to £10.8bn in 2024, while equity deal volumes were down 15.1%, returning close to 2018 levels. Initial H1 2025 data suggests that this contraction is continuing, reflecting continued market uncertainty. Use of external finance fell in the region External finance use amongst smaller businesses fell in half of the UK’s nations and regions in 2024, including the East Midlands. External finance use dropped to 39% (-9 percentage points) amongst smaller firms in the region, with similar drops seen in the North East (-8) and Wales (-7). Overall, the share of UK smaller businesses using external finance was steady, declining by just one percentage point to 45% in 2024. The Nations and Regions Tracker also shows a reduction in the use across most types of finance across smaller businesses in the East Midlands, with credit cards use down (-7) as well as leasing, hire purchase and vehicle finance (-6). Increased openness to external finance Businesses that did not need to borrow, or already had the facilities that they needed, are described as ‘future happy non-seekers of finance’ by the Nations and Regions Tracker. The East Midlands had one of the largest declines of ‘future happy non-seekers’ (-6 percentage points), indicating a growing appetite for future borrowing. However, a cautious approach still dominates, with 17% of smaller firms in the East Midlands reporting they were open to using external finance, but thought this would be difficult to secure – 5 percentage points higher than in 2022. Vicky Mears, UK network director, North of England and Midlands at the British Business Bank, said: “Smaller businesses in the East Midlands appear to have been taking a cautious approach to external finance in 2024. However, now that interest rates have fallen and inflation is more stable, many are considering growth – and how to fuel it. It is crucial that these ambitious firms are backed and given the support and access to the finance they need to grow “The British Business Bank is committed to supporting businesses wherever they are in the UK. From the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II to our expanding Regional Angels programme, the Bank is here to support the region’s entrepreneurs to ensure that promising companies are connected to the right capital at the right time.”
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