Steve prepares to sleep under the stars to raise money for veterans experiencing homelessness and hardship
Steve Davies will be swapping the comfort of his own bed for a sleeping bag today, Friday, March 15, when he takes part in the Great Tommy Sleepout to raise money for veterans who are experiencing hardship and homelessness.
Steve, who is Same Day Operations Manager at Hannington-based Xtra Express Logistics, is showing his supporting for the event, which has been organised by the Royal British Legion to support 6,000 vulnerable veterans. Steve will be sleeping out under the stars in his own garden in Northampton to help raise money and awareness.
He said: “This is a cause which is really close to my heart, so I want to raise as much money as possible. My Grandad served during the war, and I do a lot to support the Royal British Legion, so this was very personal for me.
“I was given a tent free of charge by Alan Day, a very kind-hearted person on Facebook Marketplace from Milton Keynes, and I’m looking forward to getting involved.”
Steve has worked for Xtra Express Logistics for 11 years and says the support he has received from his colleagues has been overwhelming.
He said: “They’ve been brilliant and I am very grateful. They have made donations and really helped me on my way towards my fundraising target.”
To show your support for the Great Tommy Sleepout visit www.facebook.com/donate/1081130819591866/.
University of Leicester-led training centre to fuse AI into metals industry
A new training centre at the University of Leicester aims to boost the metals industry with the skills in data and artificial intelligence to take on the global competition of the future.
The new £18 million Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Digital Transformation of Metals Industry (DigitalMetal) has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), who announced £7m funding, five partner universities (Birmingham, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick) and industry.
It’s part of the UK’s biggest-ever investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills, totalling more than £1 billion, announced by Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan. 65 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) will support leading research in areas of national importance including the critical technologies AI, quantum technologies, semiconductors, telecoms and engineering biology.
The DigitalMetal CDT has been designed to meet a national, strategic need for training a new generation of technical leaders able to lead digital transformation of metals industry and its supply chain with the objective of increasing agility, productivity & international competitiveness of the metals industry in the UK.
It will provide postgraduate training that combines metals and alloy engineering with digital technology and AI skills, to help the UK metals and manufacturing industries to reap the benefits of ‘big data’. The vision is to deliver the future industry leaders who can rapidly take advantage of the latest discoveries in manufacturing processes through digital twinning to enable defect-free, ‘right first-time’ manufacturing at reduced costs.
The metals industry is a vital component of the UK’s manufacturing economy and makes a significant contribution to key strategic sectors such as construction, aerospace and space, automotive, energy, defence and medical, directly contributing £20bn to UK GDP, and underpins over £190bn manufacturing GDP.
Professor Hongbiao Dong FREng from the University of Leicester School of Engineering, and Director of the Centre, said: “Without a new cadre of leaders in digital technologies, equipped to transform discoveries and breakthroughs in metals and manufacturing technologies into products, the UK risks entering another cycle of world-leading innovation but losing the benefits arising from exploitation to more capable and better prepared global competitors.
“For the UK metal industry to lead at a global level, we must raise its competitiveness and create robust and agile manufacturing processes and sustainable supply chains enabled by digital technology. DigitalMetal CDT is timely due to the readiness of smart digital technology and the availability of new scientific advances to help move the industry to Industry 4.0 and sustainability. Future students trained by DigitalMetal CDT will lead this important industry sector to drive economic growth, job creation and global inward investment in the current challenging post Brexit and Covid-19 economic landscape.”
Professor Sarah Davies, Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering said: “I am delighted that the University of Leicester will be working with the EPSRC, our four partner universities and thirty-five industrial partners to develop and deliver high-quality, exciting research training to our future scientists and engineers. The University of Leicester has a strategic commitment to nurture the next generation of researchers and this Centre for Doctoral Training, led by Professor Hongbiao Dong FREng, will train metals and manufacturing researchers and engineers with the required combination of experimental, analytical, computational, business and professional skills needed for innovation.”
Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, said: “The Centres for Doctoral Training announced today will help to prepare the next generation of researchers, specialists and industry experts across a wide range of sectors and industries.
“Spanning locations across the UK and a wide range of disciplines, the new centres are a vivid illustration of the UK’s depth of expertise and potential, which will help us to tackle large-scale, complex challenges and benefit society and the economy.
“The high calibre of both the new centres and applicants is a testament to the abundance of research excellence across the UK, and EPSRC’s role as part of UKRI is to invest in this excellence to advance knowledge and deliver a sustainable, resilient and prosperous nation.”
Science and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: “As innovators across the world break new ground faster than ever, it is vital that government, business and academia invests in ambitious UK talent, giving them the tools to pioneer new discoveries that benefit all our lives while creating new jobs and growing the economy.
“By targeting critical technologies including artificial intelligence and future telecoms, we are supporting world class universities across the UK to build the skills base we need to unleash the potential of future tech and maintain our country’s reputation as a hub of cutting-edge research and development.”
New tenants take on organic farm on Paget Estate
The historic Paget Estate has attracted new tenants for Hungary Lane Farm, which will become the sixth organic farm on the 2,500-acre estate located on the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire border.
Loughborough based specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie promoted the farm, interviewed applicants and arranged the farm business tenancy agreement on behalf of the landowner, Joanna Herbert-Stepney.
The new tenants are Amy and Lance Charity, who have taken on a twenty-five-year tenancy for the farm. Both come from a family of farmers and previously leased a council farm holding.
Hungary Lane Farm is a 275 acre formally biodynamic, arable and livestock farm, including a four-bedroom farmhouse and modern and traditional farm buildings that will be used to create a diverse range of organic farming and craft activities.
Amy and Lance have a flock of 200 pedigree polled Dorset sheep, a breed which has the unique ability to lamb out of season in September. A proportion of lamb will be sold to Waitrose as part of the Dorset scheme and will provide a year-round supply of 100% British lamb.
Commenting on their plans for the farm, Amy Charity said: “This is an exciting leap for us to move with our young family. As well as the continuing as an organic arable farm, the new farm shop will stock our own organic produce from our farm and market garden, including eggs, lamb and eventually pork. We also have a food prep kitchen ‘Hungary Lane Bakes’ which will launch soon offering brownies, bakes and cookie slices.”
Lance Charity added: “We aren’t here to grow to astronomical levels, we are here to supply and support our local community, the villages, towns and cities around us. Our focus is on producing good quality locally grown food that is 100% traceable. We are very grateful to have this excellent opportunity to become part of the Paget Estate. The landowner, Joanna Herbert-Stepney is hugely supportive of organic farming principles and has been extremely welcoming, taking a keen interest in our story and farming practices.”
Lance and Amy are committed to the principles of regenerative agriculture, looking after soils and increasing biodiversity. At Hungary Lane Farm they plan to continue bi-cropping, which means growing a spring crop legume, alongside wheat and will supply local mills with both heritage and more commercial wheats.
Alongside the farm, Lance and Amy also run an embroidery business called ‘Needle in a Haystack’ which already has a full order book offering personalised workwear to local businesses, schools and clubs.
As Managing Agents for the Paget Estate, Mather Jamie has previously re-let Home Farm and Cedars Farm as organic ventures within the last five years. Sam Woodhouse, Rural Surveyor, said: “As experienced, pro-active organic farmers, this is a great opportunity for Lance and Amy to develop a successful organic farming business, whilst conserving the natural habitat and landscape.
“After visiting them at their previous small holding and seeing their hard work and passion for their farming business, we had no doubt that they would be the ideal tenants for Hungary Lane Farm.”
Looking to the future there are plans to have farm opens days for visiting schools and community groups as well as improving public footpaths so more people can enjoy the countryside which will hopefully also increase footfall to the farm’s many enterprises.
Electric vehicle scheme to bring thousands of jobs to Midlands Consortiums
Figures released by Sub-national Transport Body, Midlands Connect show the economic benefits of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVI) scheme for the Midlands.
As well as employment opportunities, the Midlands EVI Consortiums are estimated to bring £1.87bn of economic benefits to the region over the life of the project, from 2025 to 2040. It will also bring an additional £1.46bn in environmental benefits from supporting the transition from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles.
The Midlands EVI Consortiums have secured funding from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund – a government-funded programme which supports councils to install electric vehicle charge points with additional private investment from charge point operators, is likely to support approximately 11,000 jobs in the whole electric vehicle charging supply chain.
In September 2023, Midlands Connect partnered with Local Authorities for a total of £40.3m of the LEVI Fund, accounting for 61% of the region’s £66.5m funding.
The scheme is expected to create direct and indirect jobs across the charge point supply chain. Of these, 2,000 will be during the development phase of the scheme, with a further 9,000 roles to be created during the 15-year operational phase, supporting the Midlands region, UK and wider charging infrastructure.
The news comes following Midlands Connect’s Electric Vehicle Conference, which took place virtually last week. Leaders from across the industry shared visions on the electric revolution, from charging infrastructure to fleet electrification.
Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect, said: “These figures really show the importance of investing in green transport. As the UK moves towards Net Zero, there must be more green jobs and investment, especially in an industrial region such as the Midlands.
“Electric car and fleet use is on the rise so it’s great to see the funding for infrastructure will have such a positive impact, it will create thousands of jobs across the region.”
New workplace designer joins Blueprint Interiors
Workplace consultants and interior fit-out specialists Blueprint Interiors has appointed Caitlin Houlbrook as a workplace designer.
Caitlin is relocating to the East Midlands having worked in similar roles for leading London based office designers. She is also a WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) and holds a BA in Product Design from Nottingham Trent University.
WELL AP practitioners are recognised for their expertise in the WELL Building Standard (WELL) which aims to advance human health and wellness in buildings and communities around the world. Blueprint Interiors already has one WELL AP practitioner and their HQ in Ashby de la Zouch was the first business in the East Midlands to achieve the WELL Health-Safety rating.
Commenting on her new role Caitlin said: “I am really pleased to be joining Blueprint Interiors as their values align closely with my own. As a WELL AP I am looking forward to using my skills in a business that supports and promotes these standards when creating workplaces that support healthy and happy employees.”
Chloe Sproston, Blueprint Interiors’ creative director, added: “Sustainability, mental wellbeing and emotional health are just as important to embrace when creating productive workplaces.
“The WELL Building Standard is at the heart of our process so that our designs help protect the planet and look after our people. With Caitlin as part of our team we will be able to encourage more businesses to embrace these design principles and incorporate sustainability into their workplace.”
Assembly Rooms plans unveiled for Derby’s new cultural heart
The site of the long-closed Assembly Rooms venue in Derby will pave the way for a massive redevelopment project, marking a significant step towards the regeneration of the Market Place.
To mark the ten-year anniversary of the fire which closed the Assembly Rooms, a new image has been released giving an artist’s impression of how the site could look once finished.
The proposed new cultural, commercial, and creative public space will feature a multi-functional building, with spaces for meeting, working, and creating alongside restaurant and commercial space. The image also shows how the redesigned and enhanced Market Place could look, as it once again becomes a focal point for the city.
Last month, Derby City Council announced VINCI Developments UK and ION Developments as its preferred development partners for the redevelopment of the Assembly Rooms site. Along with proposals for other key areas within the city centre, the partnership has produced an outline masterplan to create a new cultural quarter on the site, forming Derby’s cultural heart.
The derelict 1970s theatre building will be demolished to make way for a new multi-purpose development, containing leisure, commercial and community facilities that will put culture at the heart of the city centre.
Work is now underway to develop the detailed proposals alongside stakeholders in the city. Pre-demolition works began on the site in 2023 and continue to progress at pace, with the main structural demolition planned to begin in autumn 2024 to make way for the new development.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism said: “For the past ten years the Assembly Rooms has stood empty, waiting to be regenerated into a hub of cultural activity.
“After several unviable plans being put forward over the past decade, this administration is confident that we can deliver on these plans for the citizens of Derby. I’m thrilled to be announcing that we plan to progress on the demolition of the Assembly Rooms’ this autumn.
“We’re on a journey to transform Derby into a vibrant city centre with culture at its heart, creating a go-to destination which not only attracts visitors from outside of the wider region but also offers an affordable place for our citizens to enjoy. It’s fantastic to see change happening in the city centre, with the Market Place taking centre stage at the heart of Derby’s transformation.”
Change is already happening in the Market Place, with new hoardings recently installed around the former tourist information office. The hoardings display the Council’s regeneration projects for the city centre and its cultural offer, including the Becketwell Performance Venue and Derby Market Place that are both due to open in 2025.
Graham Lambert, Managing Director of VINCI UK Developments, said: “Derby as a city has much to offer and potential to be harnessed. We share the ambition of the Council, the local community and businesses, in seeking to revitalise the cultural core of the city.
“The Council has laid the foundation for this, and we will create community led assets, flexible and diverse spaces and a quality business district that compliments the inward investment in the city.
“We are proud to be chosen by the Council as partner for this important strategic project and look forward to working collaboratively with the Council and local stakeholders.”
Steve Parry, Managing Director of ION Developments, said: “We are delighted to be selected alongside VINCI Developments to work up these exciting plans for Derby City Council and the people and businesses of Derby.
“Together, we will use our extensive experience to create a thriving city centre location that offers a blend of cultural, community, and commercial space to meet Derby’s needs, both now and long into the future.”
VINCI and ION will continue to work closely with the Council, local businesses and community stakeholders over the next six months to develop their vision and submit their plans for the site.
Planning permission granted for Louth residential development
Planning permission has been granted to developer Charterpoint and housebuilder Snape Properties for a 90-home residential development in Louth.
It marks the sixth and final phase of the popular Westfield Park scheme masterminded by Charterpoint.
The developer has now sold the 12-acre site off Daisy Way to Snape Properties – paving the way for work to get under way on the final 90 homes.
Once these have been delivered, the 47-acre site will be complete – featuring a total of 330 homes, plus Meadows Park Care Home.
Adrian Goose, CEO of Charterpoint, said: “Westfield Park has developed into a flourishing community and this additional piece of land will facilitate the natural extension of it. It is the sixth and final phase of a residential scheme that we are very proud to have masterminded.
“The site off Daisy Way will provide 90 much-needed homes for the Louth area, and we are delighted that East Lindsey District Council has granted full planning permission for the scheme, which allows building work to start.”
The 90 properties include a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, plus a children’s play area, surface water attenuation ponds, wildflower meadows, sustainable drainage and an amenity lawn for communal informal recreation.
The site, which is bounded by the A16 Louth bypass to the north west and by Westfield Park to the south and east, will include green infrastructure to provide an attractive quality environment for residents and visitors with consideration given to access for pedestrians and cyclists, enhancement of wildlife biodiversity, sustainable drainage solutions and promotion of use of outdoor spaces for improved mental and physical health and well-being.
Open water, swales and ditches are also included as part of the sustainable drainage strategy to contribute to local biodiversity.
Nottingham MedTech company raises £8.4m
Nottingham-based MedTech company, Locate Bio has raised £8.4 million in an oversubscribed funding round.
It will help progress the orthobiologics company’s ongoing clinical study of LDGraft, which is being developed for use in patients who require surgery for chronic lower back pain.
The news was revealed by Mercia Asset Management, which has invested £2.5 million into Locate Bio as part of the syndicated funding round. Mercia’s fully diluted direct stake now becomes 20.1%.
The announcement came alongside Mercia confirming investments into other firms, MIP Discovery and Warwick Acoustics.
Dr Mark Payton, CEO of Mercia Asset Management PLC, said: “We continue to be encouraged by the overall development of our direct investment portfolio. A number of the companies in our portfolio are maturing as they scale the commercial applications of their underlying IP.
“Furthermore, the syndicated nature of these funding rounds, where nearly 80% of the investment funding is coming from outside of Mercia’s balance sheet, reflects the confidence of the wider venture community in these companies.
“Our significant liquidity means that we are able to continue selectively supporting the existing portfolio’s growth ambitions, with or without additional syndicated co-investment.”
Think there’s no such thing as bad publicity? Trust me, it’s your funeral: by Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, illustrates why there is such thing as bad publicity.
When I hear that tired old cliche “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” I cringe.
The classic Gerald Ratner “cr*p” comment is the one that most often gets cited but that was at least off-camera and off the cuff. Plus, the only bad taste about it was the product, not the message or the media. Let alone the audience.
Compare that to the astonishing ill-conceived Valentine’s Cards sent to residents at Whitegates Care Centre in Surrey with the heart-felt (profit driven message) “Sent with love from TH Sanders & Sons.” As if this wasn’t enough, the care home thought it was wise to distribute them! That was the “sliding doors” marketing moment here.
Take a pause, think carefully, politely decline for fear of potential offence caused, let alone brand damage!
Nobody needs to be made to feel awkward, embarrassed or distressed – well, maybe some embarrassment for the funeral firm but they probably deserved that.
To make matters worse, the care home has since come out defending the actions!
They did so with some lovely little marketing messages too: “We’re deeply embedded within the local community, and we value the support and engagement of all our neighbours, including TH Sanders. Out of their own kindness and goodwill, they have brought warmth, joy, and generosity to residents through various initiatives.”
Out of context, this sounds wonderful! They go on: “From delivering Christmas blankets, donating to our charity raffles, sending in cards and sweets, to gifting seeds for our garden, their contributions have been received with gratitude and appreciation from both residents and our team members alike.”
How lovely! However, this goodwill does not give anyone carte blanche to ride roughshod over a potentially devastating and raw time for any number of residents, their families, friends and their caregivers. Apparently: “Residents were thrilled to receive the Valentine’s Day cards and they all had a lovely day celebrating.”
Well, you would say that wouldn’t you? No press quotes are ever going to come out saying: “To be honest, it was a tad awks for some. We had one resident taken to A&E yesterday and another has had family over all weekend as things aren’t looking too good but at least there was a jolly card to remind them of a local firm who can take care of their looming doom.”
The reply from the spokesperson for Dignity, the funeral director’s parent company, is far better mainly because they have admitted fault albeit they have then thrown the local branch under the marketing bus: “We deeply regret any unintended distress caused by the Valentine’s card sent to Whitegates Care Centre by one of our branches. We are committed to maintaining a positive and respectful relationship with the communities we serve. We accept that, in this instance, our efforts to connect with the local community were misjudged and not appropriate.”
So, still think there’s no such thing as bad publicity?
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 March issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
Investment in engineering and physical sciences training to enable Loughborough to build green hydrogen workforce of the future
Loughborough University is set to launch a new research training facility that will help accelerate the affordability, scalability and sustainability of green hydrogen.
EnerHy, the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero, will play a central role in developing the skilled workforce needed to enable rapid growth in green hydrogen-related technology.
The centre is 1 of 65 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) CDTs being launched, following a £1 billion funding boost.
The investment, which is the UK’s biggest-ever in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills, was announced by Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Ministry of Defence are investing £500 million and a further £590 million is being provided by universities and business partners.
Collectively, the centres will train more than 4,000 students and address key challenges such as net zero, AI, defence and security, healthcare and quantum technologies.
Loughborough’s EnerHy CDT has been developed in partnership with Cranfield University and the University of Strathclyde, as well as more than 60 industry and civic partners, including global organisations, regional developers and local councils.
Over 60 academics, with expertise in engineering, science, manufacturing and economics, will work together to train and support the future leaders of the hydrogen industry, whilst also delivering nationally important research and innovation. The University of Strathclyde will lead the wind energy training and research and Cranfield University will lead on elements relating to chemical processes and scale up, alternative fuels and social science.
Professor Dani Strickland, Professor of Electrical Power Engineering within Loughborough University’s School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, and lead academic for the EnerHy CDT, said: “To enable rapid growth in hydrogen-related technology for net zero, there are complex global challenges around affordability, supply and waste chain development and scalability, new technologies, and social acceptance.
“EnerHy CDT builds on the research that is already happening at Loughborough, Cranfield and Strathclyde to address these challenges. Together with our large network of external partners, we will expand the work we are doing much further and faster, whilst also nurturing the next generation of hydrogen innovators, researchers, specialists and industry experts.
“We welcome new researchers from all backgrounds, including STEM, business and social sciences and will be offering fully funded studentships to successful applicants.”
Professor Dan Parsons, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Loughborough University, said: “Hydrogen offers the scope to deliver energy security and acceleration to net zero and there has never been a more important time to accelerate our wider ambition in this area. Growing the quality and volume of our doctoral researcher community is a key part of our University’s Research and Innovation Core Plan, underpinning a significant expansion in our research endeavours.
“Loughborough University is already working with global, national and local partners in research, industry and policy to accelerate the production of hydrogen, as well as creating space for businesses to expand their own research and innovation in this area and supporting new skills and knowledge exchange at all levels.
“Through our ambitions for The Hydrogen Works, we are driving innovation and productivity to create a hydrogen superpower in the East Midlands, and the EnerHy CDT is set to enhance and accelerate this intention further.”
The University is also a partner institution in two other CDTs that will be launched as part of the same investment: the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience, led by the University of Hull, and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Transformation of Metals Industry, led by the University of Leicester.
Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, said: “The Centres for Doctoral Training announced today will help to prepare the next generation of researchers, specialists and industry experts across a wide range of sectors and industries.
“Spanning locations across the UK and a wide range of disciplines, the new centres are a vivid illustration of the UK’s depth of expertise and potential, which will help us to tackle large-scale, complex challenges and benefit society and the economy.
“The high calibre of both the new centres and applicants is a testament to the abundance of research excellence across the UK, and EPSRC’s role as part of UKRI is to invest in this excellence to advance knowledge and deliver a sustainable, resilient and prosperous nation.”
