Derby sports manufacturer HUUB has given a helping hand to three city charities by donating unwanted goggles and repurposing wetsuits whose swimming days are over. The firm has stepped in to help safeguarding charity Safe and Sound, YMCA Derbyshire, and the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre by reusing and recycling the items after collecting them during an autumn amnesty. HUUB held the initiative as part of a partnership with British Triathlon, which saw athletes taking part in triathlons invited to leave any unwanted goggles or wetsuits in large containers at the end of their races earlier this year. These were then collected, with the wetsuits either repaired and resold, or, if they were beyond mending, handed over to the YMCA’s Key College and Safe and Sound to be cut up and turned into items such as coasters and mouse mats. The goggles, meanwhile, were donated to the children’s holiday centre, which is based in Skegness, for the visiting children to use during their stay. The partnership was the first of its kind in the industry and Dean Jackson, founder of HUUB, said it was launched as part of a sustainability drive to save the goggles and wetsuits from ending up in landfill. But, he said, it was also a chance for the company to give something back to the Derby community, by using the unwanted items to encourage children to go swimming, or to help the YMCA and Safe and Sound raise badly needed funds. He said: “Sustainability is huge in the sport of triathlon and we are proud to say at HUUB that we never throw a wetsuit away, but will instead always offer to repair them on behalf of our athletes. “However, it’s inevitable that, as we launch new, innovative products, our customers will want to buy the latest items, meaning that they will end the season with kit they no longer want or need. “As an ethical company, we feel we have a responsibility to ensure that kit isn’t simply thrown away, so this year we encouraged them to hand it over to us so that we could either repair and resell it, find another home for it, or even take it to bits and sell it as a new product. “We’ve been delighted with the level of support this amnesty has received and thrilled that we’ve been able to put the goggles and wetsuits to good use for three charities who do such good work here in Derby.” Gillian Sewell, CEO of YMCA Derbyshire, said: “A small group of Enterprise learners from our YMCA Key College in Ilkeston took on this project and went to Derby to meet Dean and hear him talk about how he built up his business. “For many of the young people, who faced challenges at school or struggle with anxiety, this was a unique and welcoming opportunity to explore the world of work. Projects like this are invaluable in helping our learners develop employability skills and confidence and we’re so grateful to HUUB for making it possible.” Janine Holmes, CEO of the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, said: “We are delighted with the donation of goggles from HUUB. “Many children who come to our centre don’t benefit from items that lots of families take for granted – like a pair of goggles. I know that children who come to enjoy a holiday with us will so appreciate having these goggles to enjoy their swimming, especially as they have come from such a well respected brand and have been worn by some of the world’s top athletes. “We’d like to thank Dean Jackson and the team at HUUB for this very generous donation which will be much used and enjoyed.” Tracy Harrison, CEO of Safe and Sound, said: “We are so grateful to HUUB for their ingenious donation. This collaboration transforms what would have been waste into vital funds, allowing us to continue our work supporting vulnerable young people. Every mouse mat and coaster purchased is a direct investment in a safer future for a child in our community.”

Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, is celebrating a triple win at the Construction Awards of Excellence ceremony held in Birmingham by the National Federation of Builders (NFB), taking home the title spots for three categories – Rising Star, Innovation in Construction Technology, and the Remarkable Heritage and Conservation Project. The Rising Star award recognises emerging talent demonstrating exceptional potential, innovation, and leadership within the construction industry. G F Tomlinson had two shortlisted out of the four finalists, with Amy Kelly and Harry Gilsenan who had been selected from 300 applicants. Amy Kelly was triumphant on the night, standing out for her journey from technical trainee to assistant site manager in under six years, showcasing technical skill, environmental responsibility and a commitment to community engagement. Amy has made an impact through mentoring young people, promoting sustainability on-site, and driving improvements in operational efficiency. Her passion for social value and outreach has connected hundreds of local students and residents with live construction projects – including the high-profile Sherwood Observatory scheme. The Innovation in Construction Technology award celebrates projects that use advanced digital tools and modern methods of construction to transform the way the industry delivers. G F Tomlinson received this award for its work on the Sherwood Observatory in Sutton-in-Ashfield – a £6.8 million world-class STEM facility that has reimagined a disused Victorian underground reservoir into a cutting-edge educational and community destination. By merging heritage, science, and technology, the contractor delivered a landmark scheme that not only celebrates engineering excellence but also fosters educational opportunities and community pride. The project demonstrated outstanding innovation through its use of 3D laser scanning, Building Information Modelling (BIM), off-site manufacturing and real-time digital engagement tools to achieve precision, quality and sustainability. Stephen Spiegelhalter, G F Tomlinson’s project manager for the scheme was on hand to receive this prestigious award. The Remarkable Heritage and Conservation Project award recognises outstanding craftsmanship, sensitivity, and innovation in the preservation and restoration of historically significant sites, and the nominated scheme recognised G F Tomlinson’s exceptional work on the restoration and refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Central Building at the University of Nottingham’s Castle Meadow Campus. A landmark project that has transformed a unique 1990s tensile-roof structure into a modern education and events hub, the restoration involved the sensitive preservation of one of the UK’s youngest listed buildings, including the complex renewal of its 4,500 sq m PTFE roof, extensive structural repairs and refinishing of over 900 sq m of glass and aluminium cladding. Through innovative engineering solutions, collaborative heritage stewardship and a commitment to carbon reduction, the team delivered major programme, cost and sustainability benefits for the university, while breathing new life into a building of significant architectural importance. Lee Roberts, G F Tomlinson site manager, who has worked for the company for over 30 years, proudly received the award on behalf of the project team. Andy Sewards, chairman at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been recognised with three prestigious awards at this year’s Construction Awards of Excellence organised by the NFB. Each win is a testament to the dedication, talent and collaborative spirit of our team. “These accolades celebrate not only our technical excellence but also our purpose to build responsibly, sustainably and with long-lasting benefit for the communities in which we operate.”

A new collaboration between the University of Northampton, Moulton College and Northampton College has been launched to coordinate the county’s skills provision and strengthen the local talent pipeline.

The initiative, called Futureskills Northamptonshire, creates a formal structure for the three institutions to work together on a shared skills strategy. The agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the partners, setting out plans to deliver training that reflects employer needs across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction, health, digital, and logistics.

Professor Anne-Marie Kilday, Vice Chancellor and CEO of University of Northampton, said: “Futureskills Northamptonshire not only means local people will have easy access to a wider range of high-quality education at every stage of their lives, but it will also help us power the region’s economy by matching that education to the needs of employers across a range of sectors where there are gaps in the local workforce.

“This new way of working, more closely and collaboratively with the county’s colleges, shows how Northamptonshire is leading the way responding to the needs of learners and business alike.”

The partnership will map and align education routes across all levels, from entry programmes to postgraduate study. It will also expand access to retraining and upskilling for adults to improve workforce resilience and support Northamptonshire’s economic goals.

A Tripartite Skills Board will guide delivery and ensure the strategy reflects priorities in the Local Skills Improvement Plan, the East Midlands Combined County Authority growth agenda and the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

Futureskills Northamptonshire was launched at an event at Northampton College on 17 November. The partners plan to increase progression between institutions, develop more employer-shaped courses, and position the county as a model for coordinated skills planning by 2027.

New rules requiring directors and people with significant control to verify their identity have come into force, marking a major shift in how UK companies are monitored and regulated.

From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes compulsory for anyone newly appointed as a director or registered as a PSC. Companies House is introducing the system over a 12-month transition period to tighten the accuracy of the UK companies register and strengthen efforts to combat economic crime. Existing directors must complete the process when they file their next confirmation statement, while PSCs have specific 14-day windows based on their status and date of birth as recorded on the register. New PSCs registered after 18 November 2025 will receive notification of their individual deadline shortly after being added to the register.

The verification process can be completed online through GOV.UK One Login or via an authorised corporate service provider. The service is free when done directly through GOV.UK, and most checks can be completed using standard identification documents. Individuals only need to verify once and will receive a personal code for future filings. More than 1.5 million people have already verified their identity through the voluntary system introduced earlier in the year.

Companies House has outlined a compliance approach supported by a new enforcement framework. Failing to verify on time is an offence and may lead to financial penalties, referral to the Insolvency Service, or prosecution. Serious breaches involving fraudulent or criminal behaviour may trigger the organisation’s most extensive enforcement powers, working alongside law-enforcement partners.

The changes stem from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which introduced extensive measures designed to improve the reliability of company information and prevent misuse of the corporate register.

Further verification requirements for limited partnerships, corporate directors, corporate LLP members, and officers of corporate PSCs will be introduced later. Since March 2024, all companies have also been required to maintain a registered email address for official communication, which Companies House is now using to inform businesses of their verification obligations.