Taking place on Thursday 2nd October, the highly anticipated East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 is just days away. The awards recognise and celebrate those behind the changing landscape of our region – the very best companies, teams, individuals and projects. An ideal networking opportunity, the occasion also presents a chance to form new connections with property and construction professionals from across the East Midlands over nibbles and complementary drinks, sponsored by Wood Moore & Co. Attend the glittering awards ceremony at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground to see who takes home the title of Contractor of the Year, Developer of the Year, Commercial Development of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Sustainable Development of the Year, Deal of the Year, Most Active Agents, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, Responsible Business and of course Overall Winner.

Book your place at the 10th annual awards now to avoid disappointment!

The event, which will begin at 4:30pm and continue until 7:30pm, will also feature Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands, as keynote speaker.

Shortlist for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

Architects of the Year – sponsored by Roy Geddes Bricks Church Lukas Morrison Design Pelham Architects Contractor of the Year – sponsored by EMEC Ecology Goodward Construction Miller Knight Winvic Construction Developer of the Year – sponsored by Devello Clowes Developments St James Securities Vistry East Midlands Most Active Agent – sponsored by Knapton Wright Salloway Property Consultants OMEETO Rigby & Co Deal of the Year – sponsored by Frank Key Built-to-rent deal at next phase of Derby Castleward regeneration – Lovell, Placefirst Vaillant Live deal – St James Securities Top Wighay deal – Vistry East Midlands Residential Development of the Year – sponsored by Build Manager Abbey Central – Stagfield Group & Peveril Homes Riber Castle – StudioTwenty Prospect Place – TUNE Commercial Development of the Year – sponsored by Global HSE Group Sherwood Observatory – G F Tomlinson Canopy, Leicester – Henry Brothers Homefield College SEND Building – Scope Construction Vaillant Live – St James Securities Sustainable Development of the Year – sponsored by Viridis Evo Corby – PBBE Corby BV, PineBridge Rykneld Homes North East Derbyshire retrofit – Coactivation Nottingham College Construction Skills Centre (CSC) and The Gateway – G F Tomlinson Abbey Central – Stagfield Group & Peveril Homes Excellence in Design – sponsored by Konsileo Loughborough University DigiLabs Teaching Space – APSS Sutton on Sea Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens – G F Tomlinson Vaillant Live – St James Securities Responsible Business – sponsored by Wright Vigar Scope Construction G F Tomlinson Morrison Design The Overall Winner, sponsored by SEV, will also be announced at the ceremony, the winner of which will be awarded a grand prize – a year of marketing/publicity with Business Link worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of their choice.

The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham. Limited parking available onsite with additional free parking at Notts Sports Ground. Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Tickets: Available here Dress code: Standard business attire Thanks to our sponsors:                                                                                          

To be held at:

NGA Care have concluded the sale of Willover Property Limited, the holding company for two Derby nursing homes, Stanley House and Abbeydale. Owned and operated by the Shepperson family for nearly 50 years, the homes are both located on Duffield Road close to Derby city centre. Both currently hold a ‘Good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and are registered for a total of 83 residents. Stanley House opened in 1975, followed by Abbeydale in 1986. The transaction enables directors Mike and Nicky Shepperson to retire from the sector after decades of service to the local community. Former director Mike Shepperson said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to care for so many wonderful residents and to work alongside a truly dedicated team. Abbeydale and Stanley House have always been about putting people first and I am confident that through the sales process with NGA Care, the homes are in excellent hands.” The homes have been acquired by Iqbal and Perminder Sanghera, owners of the New Lodge Nursing Home in Mickleover, also acquired through NGA Care. Iqbal Sanghera added: “It was a pleasure working with Nick on another successful transaction, the whole process from start to finish was well managed and professional. Stanley House and Abbeydale’s values, staff, and community ties will remain intact. “The homes have been a cornerstone of Derby for five decades. My priority is to honour its heritage while ensuring seamless continuity in the exceptional care residents and families rely on.” Nick Greaves, managing director of NGA Care, said: “Through a highly confidential and targeted marketing campaign, we generated strong interest and multiple bids on two fantastic care homes. “It was an absolute pleasure to have acted on behalf of our clients to facilitate their well-deserved retirement from the sector.”

Modella Capital has acquired the majority of Claire’s UK and Ireland operations, comprising 156 stores and approximately 1,000 staff members. The transaction follows Claire’s UK entering administration in August 2025, after its US parent initiated Chapter 11 proceedings.

Around 145 stores remain under administration while their future is assessed. The business employs approximately 2,100 people across 278 locations in the UK and 28 outlets in Ireland.

The acquisition adds to Modella Capital’s existing retail portfolio, which includes WH Smith, Hobbycraft, and The Original Factory Shop, reinforcing its position in the high-street sector. Administrators will continue running the remaining stores while exploring strategic options for the unsold sites.

Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire has recorded its largest vineyard harvest to date, with operations commencing in late August, three weeks earlier than usual. Exceptional weather conditions contributed to improved grape quality, with harvesting expected to continue until the end of September.

The estate’s two-hectare vineyard, established six years ago on an east-west-facing slope, cultivates Solaris, Pino Prococe, Siegerrebe, and Seyval Blanc grape varieties. Previous production has fluctuated, rising from 700 bottles in 2021 to over 20,000 in 2022 and 2023, before dropping to 4,000 bottles in 2024 due to high rainfall. This year’s yield reflects a significant rebound.

Winemaking is carried out in partnership with Halfpenny Green Winery in Staffordshire, applying traditional double fermentation for sparkling wines, followed by two years of ageing. The estate highlights the vineyard’s soil composition and slope as key factors for frost management and vine health.