Funding pledge helps SV2 support more young survivors
SV2, the Derbyshire charity that supports anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, is recruiting another children’s therapist to help more young survivors move forward with their lives. The expansion is thanks to a funding pledge from Alstom.
SV2 is one of the 11 recipients of the Alstom UK and Ireland Community Project Fund – with charities and organisations sharing nearly £160,000.
Alstom’s CPF aims to fund projects that deliver social and environmental value for the local communities in which the company operates and Alstom also encourages staff to use their annual volunteering day to support beneficiaries in their local areas.
Staff are encouraged to nominate good causes as part of the annual funding cycle and then work with a charity or community group to complete an application for up to £30,000. A senior panel then reviews applications against a robust criteria and, if successful, the project sponsor continues to support the individual scheme through delivery.
SV2’s funding will support its Children’s RASSO (Rape and Serious Sexual Offences) Therapy project which is available to children and young people across Derbyshire.
The charity, which has bases in Ripley, Derby and Buxton, provides a wide range of services to support victims and survivors of sexual abuse regardless of their age, gender, when the offence took place or whether they have reported the crime to police or not.
SV2 supported 1,536 children, young people and adults between March 2023 and March 2024 through a range of services including through the helpline, ISVA support through the criminal justice system, counselling and therapy.
The charity also supports the wider families and works to prevent and raise awareness of rape and sexual abuse and their effects through training and education programmes across the county.
Thanks to Alstom funding, the charity is recruiting another children’s therapist with further education work planned to raise awareness of the issue amongst young people and the wider community.
CEO Rachel Morris explained that child sexual abuse had significant and far-reaching impacts on both the survivors and local communities.
She said: “We are extremely grateful to be receiving support from Alstom which will make a real difference to the lives of children and their families across Derbyshire whose lives have been devastated by sexual violence.
“Demand for our children’s therapy services is sadly high and we have a waiting list which includes children as young as three-years-old.
“This financial support will enable us to put in the resources so badly needed to reduce the waiting list. It gives us the means to provide more children the specialist support they need to recover from their trauma and to ensure that the dreadful sexual assault or rape which they have suffered does not define their future.”
Colin Haynes, Environment, Health and Safety Director at Alstom UK and Ireland, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to award another round of funding for charities and community-led projects across the UK and Ireland.
“It was a humbling experience sifting through the applications because it was clear to me that many of these projects were looking for relatively modest grants, which in turn made a significant difference to lives and life chances.”
He added: “Alongside employment opportunities and mobility solutions, it is vital that we reflect the communities we serve and the Community Project Fund is just one way in which we can do this.
“By supporting initiatives that address social and environmental needs, we not only contribute to the well-being of these communities but also strengthen Alstom’s own commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
“It’s a privilege to witness the positive changes these projects bring about and to be part of a company that prioritises making a meaningful impact beyond business operations.”
Staffline confident as positive momentum continues
Staffline, the Nottingham-based recruitment and training group, is “confident” that it is on track to deliver results in line with expectations, it has shared in a trading update ahead of its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
It comes as “positive momentum” reported across the final quarter of 2023, has continued into the first four months of 2024.
In particular, Staffline noted that it is encouraged with the performance of its recruitment businesses, which supported strong trading cashflow performance, that is ahead of management expectations.
Recruitment GB has seen a year-on-year uplift in temporary worker hours, up 8.6% for the first 19 weeks of 2024 compared to the prior year, as a result of new sites awarded with Tesco, Sainsbury’s, GXO Logistics and Wincanton.
Recruitment Ireland has reported permanent fees up 25% in the first quarter and PeoplePlus remains cautiously optimistic in its bid pipeline.
Reflecting on the progress, Staffline said: “The Board remains confident that the Group is on track to deliver results in line with management expectations for the full year.”
Revenue dips at Van Elle
Revenue has dipped at Van Elle, the Nottinghamshire-based ground engineering contractor, according to a trading update for the 12 months ended 30 April 2024, as it lines up a range of further cost saving measures, including headcount reductions and efficiency projects.
Group revenue for the year is expected to be £140m, approximately 6% below the previous year including five months contribution from the acquisition of Rock & Alluvium Limited.
Van Elle noted that this “is in line with expectations and reflects the impact of prevailing market conditions, with the housing and infrastructure sectors being impacted by lower levels of demand and delays.” Meanwhile, the business expects to report profit before tax in line with market expectations, as a result of continued focus on operational performance, whilst controlling its cost base. Looking ahead Van Elle said: “Both the housing and infrastructure sectors are widely expected to recover in the near term, and whilst timing remains uncertain, the Group will benefit from increased volumes. Van Elle is also developing a strong position in the water and energy sectors, which are both expected to contribute materially to activity levels from FY26 and beyond.“The Group has been awarded new frameworks in Q4 FY24 including in Network Rail’s CP7 civils and geotechnical programme, with the Coal Authority for national ground investigation services and for key customers in the energy sector.
“The Group will commence its first major energy transmission scheme in FY25 with further tender opportunities expected this year and is designing modular foundation solutions for several customers ahead of AMP8 in the water sector.
“The Board remains conservative on the timing of a full recovery in the housing sector, but the Group is seeing early signs of progress with order intake and rig utilisation increasing over the last three months.
“The Group has identified a range of further cost saving measures, consisting of headcount reductions and efficiency projects, with targeted annualised savings in excess of £1m.”
East Midlands among top regions for female trade workers – yet only making up 2.35% of workforce
A new study reveals that despite East Midlands having the third-highest number of female trade workers, women only make up 2.35% of the industry workforce.
This new research follows the recent revelation that the industry is one of the least diverse. This shortfall could potentially cost the UK economy around £98 billion in economic growth by 2030¹.
Currently, there are 1,051,508 skilled workers in England and Wales. Of this, 1,026,734 are male, with just 24,774 females making up the remaining workforce. This stark gender disparity in the trade sector is a pressing issue that needs immediate attention.
So, just how diverse is East Midlands skilled trades workforce? By analysing the data, money.co.uk business insurance experts can reveal the demographic differences across the skilled trades sector in the top three UK regions, including East Midlands.
The top three female-to-male diversity in the skills trade workforce:
Kyle Eaton, money.co.uk business insurance expert, offers tips on how trade businesses can attract diverse talent: “Workplaces focusing on diversity have a range of experiences, opinions and beliefs that can benefit your business, improve morale and solve problems creatively. With this in mind, here are some pointers to attract diverse talent to your skilled trades business:
| Female | Male | |||
| Region | Total | % | Total | % |
| London | 4,986 | 3.42% | 140,655 | 96.58% |
| South West | 2,818 | 2.36% | 116,507 | 97.64% |
| East Midlands | 1,990 | 2.35% | 82,831 | 97.65% |
- Review your recruitment strategy
- Focus on the positives
- Promote a supportive company culture
- Encourage word-of-mouth referrals
- Target diverse spaces
Business funding package to boost Ashfield economy
Grants worth up to £30,000 are available to businesses across Ashfield thanks to a new scheme aimed at boosting the local economy.
Ashfield District Council is offering grants to support the growth of established micro, small and medium sized businesses based in the District.
The programme is being funded using some of the £3.2 million allocated to Ashfield District Council from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The business grants – which range from £8,000 to £30,000 can be used to support staff training, IT equipment and machinery, marketing, consultancy services, overseas trade visits including conferences, and other project-related expenses.
To apply businesses need to be engaged on the Ashfield Accelerator Project and have an eligible project cost of at least £16,000. This is a match funded grant scheme, with an intervention rate of 50%.
The scheme will close on 31 October 2024 and any awarded projects must be completed by 31 January 2025 at the latest to be accepted.
Diane Beresford is Deputy Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, which delivers the Ashfield Accelerator Project on behalf of Ashfield District Council. She said: “We are delighted to be working with Ashfield District Council on this new grant, which will provide a boost to local businesses and the local economy.
“We think there will be a lot of interest in the new fund and would urge businesses to get in touch now, talk to an Accelerator Business Adviser and discuss the growth projects they have in mind before all the funds are allocated.”
Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said: “Business investment is crucial as we continue to drive local growth. Ashfield is an area where businesses can thrive, knowing they can access support to help them flourish. This scheme is another fabulous example illustrating our commitment to growing Ashfield’s economy.”
Manufacturers’ output volumes rise for first time in year and a half
Manufacturers reported that output volumes rose for the first time since November 2022 in the three months to May, according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS). Manufacturers expect output to rise further in the three months to August, albeit at a modest pace.
Order books remain under pressure, with both total and export order books weakening in May. Manufacturers reported that stocks of finished goods were more than adequate to meet expected demand. Meanwhile, expectations for selling price inflation softened, having picked up earlier in the year.
The survey, based on the responses of 245 manufacturers, found:
- Output volumes rose in the three months to May, having been flat or falling in every month since November 2022 (weighted balance of +14%, from +3% in the three months to April). Output is expected to rise modestly in the three months to August (+7%).
- Output increased in only 8 out of 17 sub-sectors, but this was sufficient to offset flat or falling volumes in the remaining sub-sectors, with the chemicals, food, drink & tobacco and motor vehicles & transport equipment sub-sectors driving overall growth.
- Total order books weakened in the three months to May, with a net balance reporting order books as “below normal” falling to -33% (from -23%). The level of order books therefore remained below the long-run average (-13%).
- Export order books were seen as below normal and deteriorated relative to last month (-27%, from -23%). This was also below the long-run average (-18%).
- Expectations for average selling price inflation softened in May (+15%, from +27% in April), having picked up steadily over the first four months of 2024.
- Stock adequacy for finished goods improved in the three months to May, with the net balance of firms reporting that stocks were “more than adequate” rising to +14% (from -1% in the three months to April), broadly in line with the long-run average.
Trio of appointments at Rothera Bray
Rothera Bray, the East Midlands law firm, has made a trio of appointments following the launch of its licensing team at its Nottingham office.
The firm has bolstered its services with the addition of three experienced professionals specialising in licensing law. Senior associate Jo Soar, associate Lesley Harper, and senior paralegal Caroline Twist collectively bring over a century of expertise in this domain.
The establishment of the licensing team follows the recent appointment of corporate partner David Kaplan.
Reflecting on her appointment, Jo said: “I am delighted to join Rothera Bray and eager to lead the team in building upon our success and reputation. We remain committed to serving leading names in the leisure and hospitality industry, continually enhancing our team to meet the evolving licensing needs of clients at both local and national levels.”
Christina Yardley, CEO at Rothera Bray, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jo, Lesley, and Caroline to the firm and expand our core services through the establishment of a dedicated licensing team. Their wealth of experience will further strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional legal solutions to our clients.”
Inflation nears Bank of England target
Inflation has continued its journey towards the Bank of England’s 2% target, coming in at 2.3% in April, down from the 3.2% reported in March.
Measured by the consumer prices index (CPI), it is, however, slightly ahead of forecasts (2.1%).
Falling gas and electricity prices resulted in the largest downward contributions to the monthly change, while the largest, partially offsetting, upward contribution came from motor fuels. There were also large downward effects from alcohol and tobacco, food and non-alcoholic beverages, recreation and culture, and communication.
Meanwhile, core inflation, which takes out volatile factors like energy, food, alcohol and tobacco to give a clear picture of underlying trends, stood at 3.9% in the 12 months to April 2024, down from 4.2% in March.
Alpesh Paleja, CBI Lead Economist, said: “A big fall in inflation was always on the cards for April, given Ofgem’s 12% cut to the energy price cap. Households and businesses will welcome a more benign inflationary environment, but it’s worth noting that many will still be struggling with a high level of prices, particularly in food and energy bills.
“Today’s data further sets the stage for interest rate cuts in the coming months. While the Monetary Policy Committee is likely to reduce interest rates over the summer, they are still holding out for more definitive falls in measures of domestic price pressures.
“It’s encouraging that pay growth is now a touch below the Bank of England’s forecast, but there’s still a long way for it to get closer to levels consistent with inflation at target.
“The Bank will also be mindful of growing upside risks to inflation in the near-term: with the growth outlook improving at home, and tensions in the Middle East threatening to stoke commodity prices and supply pressures globally.”
Leicester rag trade £1.3m tax fraudsters handed jail terms
The directors of a Leicester clothing company that supplied high street and online retailers have been jailed for a £1.3m tax fraud.
Hifzurrehman Patel, 40, and Ehsan-Ul-Haque Dawood Patel, 46, set up a sophisticated network of front companies to evade VAT between 2014 and 2017.
They were caught after a specialist rag trade taskforce made an unannounced visit to their Midlands Trading Ltd factory in December 2015.
The taskforce, which included officers from HMRC, became suspicious when staff clock cards completely disappeared during a tour of the factory while the business also handed over false invoices.
Investigators discovered the pair had been diverting VAT liabilities to a string of front companies, by claiming they produced clothes on their behalf.
It meant they evaded paying £1.3m of VAT on the clothes they were in fact producing themselves and selling on to unsuspecting high street and online retailers.
The pair were jailed for a total of nearly nine years at Leicester Crown Court on 17 May 2024. Hifzurrehman Patel of Evington Parks Road, Leicester, was sentenced to five years in prison having been convicted of conspiracy to evade VAT, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act (1977), and two counts of money laundering.
Ehsan-Ul-Haque Dawood Patel, of Homeway Road, Leicester, was sentenced to 47 months in prison having been convicted of conspiracy to evade VAT, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act (1977), and two counts of money laundering.
Mark Robinson, Operational Lead in HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said: “Hifzurrehman and Ehsan Patel carried out a relentless and sustained attack on the tax system. They invented contracts and forged documents to evade VAT. This is money that should have been helping to fund our public services and was instead spent on cars and property.
“Tax fraud is not a victimless crime. It has real consequences for the public services we all rely on and we are working hard to ensure tax cheats do not gain an unfair advantage over their law abiding competitors.”
Paula Lloyd, Specialist Prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “While other businesses were doing the right thing by paying their taxes, these criminals thought they could enjoy a cushy lifestyle paid for hardworking taxpayers.
“The CPS will be taking them back to court to confiscate any goods or assets they bought using money from their offending.
“We are determined to ensure tax dodgers face the full consequences and hopefully this will make others think twice before they do the same.”
A further three people were convicted for their roles in the fraud. Pravinbhai Purshotam Valland, 54, was handed a suspended two-year prison sentence at Leicester Crown Court on 17 May 2024.
Mohsin Dawood Patel, 42, and Munaf Yusuf Banglawala, 62, will be sentenced at the same court on 21 June 2024.
Final handover of family homes for new Bestwood community
Vistry Group, the provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has celebrated the final handover of new family homes at their Ridgeway development in Nottingham. The final home was completed and handed over 20 months after the development received planning permission.
Situated on a 4.2-acre brownfield site in the Bestwood area of Nottinghamshire, the 71 one-, two-, and three-bedroom properties comprise 33 affordable homes, built on behalf of Nottingham City Council and 38 homes for private rent through Start Living, the single-family build-to-rent platform established by Gatehouse Investment Management and TPG Real Estate Partners.
All the homes were built using modern methods of construction (MMC) reducing the carbon footprint of every property. The properties were manufactured off site using open panel timber frames from the Vistry Works East Midlands factory in Bardon in neighbouring Leicestershire. Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house and has a faster construction time.
The development’s completion heralds a new era of enhanced living standards for residents and the local community, with landscaping, public open spaces, and road improvements. The wider community has also benefitted from investment with £1,911,255 towards local educational and a further £85,764 going to other services.
Lee Parry, Managing Director of Vistry North East Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to mark the successful handover of the final homes on our Ridgeway development. This milestone represents not just the final stages of this project but also the beginning of a new chapter for the residents as this new community flourishes.”
Councillor Jay Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Housing and ward representative for Bestwood at Nottingham City Council, said: “I’m delighted to see these new properties reach completion, ready to become family homes in a part of the city with high levels of housing need. We’re creating new communities that everyone who lives in the area will benefit from.
“The amount of housing being delivered currently in Nottingham is a positive sign and it’s also a clear indication of the willingness for developers to invest here. Construction activity has a large and positive impact on jobs and the local economy, so this is great news for Nottingham.”
John Coles, Head of Acquisitions at Gatehouse Investment Management, added: “Ridgeway was one of the first Start Living locations to be acquired, forming part of our wider investment in the area, and it is hugely pleasing to see the final properties delivered.
“Many residents are already enjoying the high-spec homes and fantastic local amenities that Ridgeway has to offer, and we look forward to more families moving into these last few homes. We are also due to launch an additional 64 plots at the adjacent Padstow site in the coming months, which is already generating strong interest.”
