Academics from the University of Nottingham have received funding to research how to ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) is safe to use, in a new project alongside the Universities of Oxford and Warwick.
The UKRI funded Responsible AI UK (RAI UK) has announced its first round of Impact Acceleration projects, investing £1.8m to ensure AI is safe, and that it will be responsible to the needs of society, addressing topics such as Generative AI in teaching and learning.
In one of these Impact Acceleration projects, researchers from Horizon Digital Economy Research and the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham will join colleagues from the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick to deliver ‘Responsible Innovation Advantage in Knowledge Exchange ‘RAKE’’.
The project will work with a variety of stakeholders including businesses, standards bodies, funding organisations, research teams, doctoral training centres and SMEs to explore how Responsible Innovation (RI) can be better embedded and will deliver RI training sessions in these differing environments.
Dr Alan Chamberlain, in the School of Computer Science at the University of Nottingham, will lead on the development of an international interdisciplinary network to bring together academics, researchers and experts to better understand responsible AI in the context of the Arts and Humanities.
He said: “Starting to examine how people understand and apply responsible AI in their work is important. It will help us to approach the design of responsible systems together. Involving the public is fundamental, it’s vitally important to enable people to participate and have input into research.”
Professor Elvira Perez Vallejos and Dr Virginia Portillo at the University of Nottingham, along with Dr Carolyn Ten Holter at the University of Oxford, have a wealth of expertise and knowledge and will lead work with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association, UKRI CDTs and AI spinouts to map current RI practice, identify gaps and develop guidance to embed and drive knowledge exchange. Alexandra Dock Housing site released to market
An opportunity to create a brand new housing development on brownfield land near the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre has been released.
The site, behind the newly renovated Garth Lane waterfront area, has been earmarked by the Council for urban housing and the Council is now looking for a development partner to come forward to drive the project forward.
The 6.25 acre town centre site bordered by Fisherman’s Wharf and the River Freshney will eventually see a community of around 130 homes with supporting commercial accommodation.
The frontage of the site, bordering Alexandra Dock, was completed in 2021, and includes the new footbridge over the River.
This area was identified for homes in Grimsby’s Town Centre Masterplan, which is supported by Homes England, and is cited as an ideal location given the water nearby and the improvements that have already taken place.
Investment worth approximately £7.8m to support the development at this site has already been secured through the Government’s Towns Fund.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the council with responsibilities for the economy, net zero, skills and housing, said: “The main objective of this work is to create a place that connects the town and its community with its waterside, creating a fantastic urban living environment.
“There’s a long way to go yet, and developments of this scale don’t happen overnight. But we are working to improve the town centre as a whole and this is part of that vision. Step-by-step we want to change how our town centre is used and enjoyed as a whole.”
Potential bidders can view documentation on www.find-tender.service.gov.uk– external site. Selected developers will then take part in a competitive dialogue, followed by an invitation to submit formal tenders to develop out the site from 2024 onwards.
Investor swoops for Wellingborough engineering company
Nene Capital, an investor in UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has acquired MTS (Motor Technical Services Ltd), a Wellingborough engineering company.
Stephen Bayliss, Managing Director of Nene Capital, said: “With its strong track record of delivering high-quality products and services to its customers, MTS is a clear fit with our investment strategy.
“It has a unique value proposition and a compelling vision, we look forward to supporting the talented management team to deliver their growth plans over the long term.
“This acquisition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to identifying investment opportunities in the SME space with long term growth potential, and creating value on a risk adjusted basis.”
MTS, which specialises in the sale, servicing, repair and reconditioning of electric motors, generators, fans and pumps, will now benefit from Nene Capital’s resources and strategic guidance.
This synergy is expected to further elevate MTS’s position in the engineering sector and enable the company to explore new avenues for growth and development.
Simon Stringer, finance director of Nene Capital, said: ”MTS has performed consistently for a number of years through putting customers first – delivering a solution-based quality product to a loyal client base.
“These fundamentals, combined with the massive opportunities in this market, now and in the future, make it another excellent SME acquisition for Nene Capital.”
“We are thrilled about the opportunities that this acquisition will bring to MTS and its stakeholders,” said Tony Libertucci, Managing Director of MTS. “Nene Capital’s commitment to supporting the growth of UK SMEs aligns perfectly with our vision for expanding our reach and capabilities.”
County leaders sign proposed Lincolnshire devolution deal
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Levelling Up Jacob Young met the three Greater Lincolnshire Council Leaders today (27 November 2023) as they united to sign the greater county’s proposed devolution deal.
Mr Young joined North East Lincolnshire Council Leader Cllr Philip Jackson, along with Cllr Martin Hill OBE from Lincolnshire County Council and Cllr Rob Waltham MBE from North Lincolnshire for the ceremonial event held at Scunthorpe’s 20-21 Visual Arts Centre.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up Jacob Young said: “It’s fantastic to be here in Lincolnshire today announcing our devolution deal for the Greater Lincolnshire area.
“It comes alongside extra funding, more powers and a new directly elected mayor for the Lincolnshire area. I know it’s going to have a dramatic impact across the whole of the Lincolnshire County.”
Cllr Martin Hill said: “This is a deal which will be fantastic for Greater Lincolnshire, from the Humber down to the Wash.
“It gives us a lot of extra spending power over the next 30 years, £24 million a year for the next 30 years, and some additional money straight away that we can spend on our priority areas.
“But importantly it will give us extra powers as well to make sure that we can direct that spending in areas that we know local people need it, around infrastructure, around transport, around housing, flood defence and various other areas where we know we’ve got need in the county.
“We know it’s going to be great for us in determining the future direction of Greater Lincolnshire.”
Phase one at Beauchamp Business Park 80% sold
Over 80% of units in phase one of Beauchamp Business Park, a new commercial development in Kibworth, Leicestershire, have now been sold or are under offer, just two months after being made available for enquiries.
Beauchamp Business Park is being brought forward by Clowes Developments and its team including IMA Architects, TanRo, Millward Consulting Engineers, Gateley’s Legal and Postins Project Services. Philips Sutton and TDBRE have been instructed as agents on the scheme.
The level of take up at Beauchamp Business Park demonstrates the strength of demand from local companies wanting to grow their business within Leicestershire and companies from outside of the region choosing to make Leicestershire their new home.
By working in partnership with Investment Manager, Oliver Whittaker at Invest in Leicester, Clowes Developments has formed a strategic partnership that is committed to enhancing the local economy by attracting new companies, creating employment opportunities and promoting future growth. This collaboration will benefit the local economy and boost job creation in the local area.
In October, Units A and B were purchased by a Leicester based family of investors, and now terms have been agreed on the majority of remaining units.
Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment at Invest in Leicester, says: “Leicester and Leicestershire presents an exceptional location for businesses seeking expansion, as evidenced by the popularity and quality of businesses at Beauchamp Business Park.
“By collaborating with companies like Clowes Developments and its partners, we can provide the infrastructure that supports ambitious businesses, fuelling growth within our region.”
Paul Turner, Construction Director at Clowes Developments, says: “The level of demand we have seen for the site has been phenomenal which shows the strength of the real estate market in Leicestershire currently. We are proud to be delivering another scheme that will benefit the East Midlands economy and boost job creation in the local area.”
Ben Hall, Director at IMA Architects, adds: “We have been involved in the creation of Beauchamp Business Park from the start and have been able to create units that will be perfect for a range of industrial uses. It is fantastic to see the popularity of the site and I am sure it will be an asset to the local economy for years to come.”
Construction is underway at the site with Phase One completion expected in April 2024. Phase Two is currently being marketed on a leasehold and freehold basis. When complete, the site will feature a series of freehold and leasehold industrial units ranging from 1,270 sq ft to 10,085 sq ft.
PwC appoints Helen Ward as Midlands deals leader
PwC has appointed Helen Ward as Midlands deals leader, succeeding Matthew Hammond who has led the deals practice over the past few years.
Helen joins the Midlands senior leadership team having built her career with PwC since 1996, most recently as a transactions partner in the deals practice. Helen specialises in providing financial due diligence services to a range of corporate and private equity clients, with a national focus on industrial products and services sectors, as well as a broad range of clients based in the Midlands.
Her priorities in the role will be to continue to build the deals practice in the region to support local businesses, as well as working with some of the firm’s biggest national clients, and helping to develop the next generation of talent.
Speaking about the appointment, Helen said: “I’m delighted to be taking on the role of Midlands deals leader. Having built my career in the Midlands since first joining the firm, it’s fantastic to be supporting the vision and strategy for the future of the region.
“As a diversity champion, I’m particularly focussed on developing our exceptional talent base and ensuring we have the right pathways in place to help all of our colleagues reach their career goals.”
David Morris, PwC UK Midlands regional market leader, said: “Helen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working with some of the firm’s largest clients, and her commitment to developing talent will benefit so many of our colleagues.
“With almost 50% of PwC’s people based outside London, this appointment reflects the continued commitment and investment in our regional practices.”
Community health business acquires local pharmacies
Health business Jhoots Pharmacy has acquired 36 community pharmacies with support from HSBC UK, with sites spanning from the Peak District to Hampshire. The deal is expected to protect 212 jobs and create up to 130 new roles.
Jhoots Pharmacy will use a £17.4m funding package to acquire the sites across the UK which were previously owned and managed by Lloyds Pharmacy, securing jobs within small neighbourhoods and villages.
Jhoots Pharmacy, which owns and operates 63 sites across the UK, will use the funding to undertake refits and enhance pharmacy offerings, ensuring local communities have access to urgent care services – such as referrals from doctors, sexual health consultations and travel clinics – to alleviate GP waiting times.
Sarbjit Jhooty, business development director at Jhoots Pharmacy, said: “We were looking for the right banking partner to support our business and our vision to grow into a larger pharmacy chain. With HSBC UK’s backing, we’re committed to providing a service that puts the community first, with a strong face-to-face approach that will offer enhanced support to local areas.”
Partho Bose, relationship director at HSBC UK, added: “It’s extremely important to increase the access to care in the UK. With our extensive understanding and experience within the health sector, we’re providing Jhoots Pharmacy with financial foundations to realise the business’s ambitious growth plans as well as protecting and creating jobs.”
Citra Living acquires 63 homes at Leicester Waterside
Citra Living, the rental housing owner and operator that is part of Lloyds Banking Group, has acquired 63 homes from national housebuilder Keepmoat at its Waterside scheme in Leicester, marking the next step in their partnership.
A new neighbourhood at the gateway to Leicester city centre, Waterside forms part of the wider regeneration of the city’s waterways that is unlocking underused brownfield land along the River Soar and Grand Union Canal.
It will see formerly neglected industrial buildings transformed into a new neighbourhood of 300-homes. It also benefits from its proximity to a range of schools, supermarkets, and green spaces such as Abbey Park and Castle Park, as well as over 50 restaurants within a 15-minute walk.
The properties Citra has acquired include eight apartments and 55 houses, from one to four-bedrooms, designed to suit a range of residents from growing families to commuters and empty-nesters who want to be close to the city centre.
Seven properties have already been handed over to Citra, with a further 56 due to be completed by August 2024. JLL will provide property management services for these new homes.
Sustainability is at the heart of the development, with smart technology used throughout to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. In line with this, 95% of the homes that Citra has acquired will have an EPC environmental rating of ‘B’.
The wider Waterside regeneration project also includes plans for flood protection measures, enhancements to biodiversity and improved access to the canal and river.
The partnership between Citra and Keepmoat was announced earlier this year, with the aim of increasing the supply of high-quality rental housing across the UK by building Citra’s portfolio of purpose-built rental properties. This latest acquisition follows the partnership’s exchange of almost 50 homes at Gedling, Nottingham in August.
Andy Hutchinson, Managing Director of Citra Living, said: “The unused brownfield site at Leicester’s waterside has so much potential and, thanks to the ongoing investment from the Council and others, it is set to become a vibrant new neighbourhood that will benefit the community for generations to come.
“That’s what made it the perfect fit for Citra, as we continue to offer rental options where people want to live long-term, close to employment hubs and amenities.
“Like many other UK cities, Leicester has a striking shortage of homes available for rent, so, we’re pleased to be able to support Keepmoat in replacing unused land with high-quality, sustainable homes.”
Tristin Willis, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, East Midlands added: “Partnering with Citra to progress the development of the disused brownfield land at Waterside is a huge success for the area and is also paramount to Keepmoat’s commitment to creating sustainable communities.
“We’re extremely proud of our partnership model that allows us to work across local authorities, partners and housing associations to deliver much needed sustainable, new homes.”
Flogas acquires standby generator specialist DTGen
Syston-bsed off-grid energy provider Flogas Britain has acquired DTGen, a specialist in standby power generators and combined heat and power systems.
This move is said to represent a pivotal step in Flogas’ mission to provide commercial and industrial businesses across the UK with a comprehensive range of energy solutions.
With DTGen on board, Flogas will now be able to offer a broader range of energy solutions to customers with high energy needs. This includes emergency/standby diesel and gas power generators that can also be fuelled using lower carbon LPG and HVO, as well as CHP systems, and high voltage services – all of which are aimed to lower emissions, increase energy efficiency and reduce costs.
The move also combines DTGen’s specialist engineers, high-voltage certified professionals and skilled service technicians with Flogas’s expert team, so customers right across the UK will benefit from the highest quality of service and support all in one place.
Flogas MD Ivan Trevor says: “DTGen is a fantastic addition to the Flogas family, and this move really step changes our offering to higher energy users and those with onsite power generation needs. The synergy between the businesses was clear, and we knew that combining our offering and expertise would really strengthen our proposition. By joining forces, we can now deliver start-to-finish, tailored solutions for commercial and industrial customers, whilst also fulfilling their on-going energy supply – it makes us a real one-stop-shop.”
Paul Moore, MD at DTGen adds: “This is a really positive and exciting development for our business and the growth of our people, opening up lots of new opportunities. We’ve worked really successfully with Flogas in the past, so by coming together and operating as one team, our offering and combined expertise becomes unrivalled, and we’re excited to bring this to large-scale energy users nationwide. We’re also equally dedicated to helping businesses transition towards a lower carbon future, and together we have the perfect portfolio and future-ready energy supply to make this happen.”
Olympic cycling medallist joins University as Head Coach
Double Olympic cycling medallist Bryan Steel has joined the University of Derby’s Team Derby Performance Sport Cycling as Head Coach.
Bryan Steel represented Team GB at four Games from 1992 to 2004, winning bronze in the team pursuit event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and silver in the same discipline at the 2004 Athens Games. He has also picked up five World Championship and three Commonwealth Games medals.
Bryan has been actively involved in the development of cycling in the region since 2012 and founded his own cycling academy in 2015.
Team Derby’s Performance Sport Cycling programme supports student athletes in track, mountain biking and road cycling to develop as athletes and study for a degree. Cyclists on the programme attend weekly sessions at the state-of-the art velodrome at Derby Arena and are offered a comprehensive support package to help them balance their studies and training.
Bryan said: “Over the last eight years my passion has been to support and develop young talented cyclists to achieve their full potential. Now, working with the University of Derby, I feel we have the chance to develop one of the best rider pathways while giving each rider a better career opportunity inside and outside the sport.”
