Friday, July 18, 2025

Policies in Employment Rights Bill are barriers to growth says Chamber

East Midlands Chamber has reinforced calls for parts of the Employment Rights Bill to be reconsidered after UK-wide research revealed significant concerns from businesses across a number of areas, such as the speed at which the Bill is travelling through Parliament and the impact of policies on tax, employment and regulation seen as a ‘barrier to growth’. Nearly 8 out of 10 businesses that took part in the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) study felt the impact of policies is not being adequately assessed, while a third said trade union proposals would have a negative impact. Measures outlined in the Bill, currently going through the report stage in the House of Lords, include removing the lower earnings limit from statutory sick pay; requiring employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of employees; ‘day one’ rights given to employees for parental or paternity leave and protection against unfair dismissal. Findings from the British Chambers of Commerce research on business views on the Employment Rights Bill:
  • One third (33%) said trade union proposals would have a negative impact
  • Only 2% of firms believe the proposals would be positive
  • Nearly 8 out of 10 (79%) of firms don’t feel the impact of new government policies is being properly assessed
  • 77% don’t think policy change is moving at the right pace
  • Nearly 7 out of 10 (69%) think government policies such as tax, employment and regulation are barriers to growth
East Midlands Chamber director of resources, Lucy Robinson said: “Parts of this Bill, including requirements like statutory sick pay and day one paternity leave are due to kick in as soon as April next year – that doesn’t give much time for businesses to prepare – and then they’ll be followed not long after with a number of other measures, like the end of ‘fire and rehire’ and day one unfair dismissal protection, according to the timeline the government recently published. “The proposed measures are going to impact the way most firms operate and are likely to add to their pile of paperwork and associated costs, as well as limit the scope of those looking to restructure. While I appreciate there’s been some consultation from the government, for 8 out of 10 businesses across the country that took part in the British Chambers of Commerce research to have said the impact has not been properly assessed underlines the need to get a better steer from the business community and how they’ll be affected. “7 out of 10 UK businesses in this research said policies around things like tax, regulation and employment would be a barrier to growth – I’d say that’s a clear red flag and shows a need for more consultation to get this right. With the speed this Bill is moving through Parliament, also highlighted as a concern in this study, the government should be open to making changes before these policies are set in stone. “When you consider the barrage of challenges firms have had to contend with recently, whether increased staffing costs from higher National Insurance contributions or inflation, it’s essential their needs are prioritised before this Bill is passed. “For East Midlands businesses, I’d urge taking advantage of the Chamber’s HR Forums as a really useful resource around what the proposed changes might mean for them.” British Chambers of Commerce deputy director of public policy, Jane Gratton said: “The opportunity to make any significant changes to the Employment Rights Bill to ease the cost and disruption to business is fast disappearing over the horizon. While the government has consulted on several aspects, and listened to some concerns, the legislation still does not strike the right balance. “A number of the proposals are deeply worrying for employers. They will increase employment costs, complexity and risk for firms, particularly SMEs who will be disproportionately affected. We are likely to see unintended consequences that could limit people’s employment opportunities and the UK’s economic growth. “To grow our economy, firms must have the flexibility and agility to deal with challenges and opportunities. Government needs to help not hinder businesses – to innovate, adopt new technologies and be more productive and competitive. By adding more restrictions and building in further delays before change can happen, the Bill jeopardises all of this. It is creating a lose-lose scenario for everyone in the workplace. “While there many are things in the legislation that reflect what good businesses are already doing, there are some specific proposals that need amending. Planned changes to dismissal rules, trade union ballot thresholds and zero hours contracts, for example, are some of the critical areas that need to be revisited. “The government must continue its positive approach to engagement with business and remain open to changes. Only then can it ensure this legislation is proportionate, affordable and right for both firms and their employees.”

Nottingham Venues to open Castle Meadow Central following two-year refurbishment

Nottingham Venues has been appointed to operate Castle Meadow Central, the iconic Grade II listed building in Nottingham city centre. The building will reopen in early September following a significant two-year refurbishment and will serve as a new destination for conferences, events and flexible working. It will also be home to a new deli which will be open to the public, offering a range of locally sourced fresh food and 200 Degrees Coffee. Nottingham Venues, which also operates the East Midlands Conference Centre, Orchard Hotel and Bramleys Restaurant, as well as the Jubilee Hotel and Conferences on the University of Nottingham campus, will operate Castle Meadow Central as the city’s newest location for conferences and events. With the capability to host events for up to 300 people Castle Meadow Central will become an integral part of the company’s portfolio of venues across Nottingham. Castle Meadow Central is part of the wider Castle Meadow Campus and is located just a short walk from Nottingham Train station and Castle Wharf on the banks of the Nottingham and Beeston Canal. Originally completed in 1994, Castle Meadow Central is widely regarded as a landmark of 1990s British architecture. Its distinctive tensile fabric roof, supported by four steel masts, remains a defining feature. The building was one of the first in the UK to achieve the highest possible BREEAM rating and was awarded both a Brick Award and a Concrete Society Certificate of Excellence in the 1990s. The building has now been adapted for public and commercial use following a two-year renovation. It will offer a variety of flexible spaces, including five meeting rooms and a large central atrium suitable for conferences and larger events. The ground floor will feature Deli Central, a café open to the public, providing locally sourced food and refreshments in a relaxed setting. The café will also serve the wider business community based at Castle Meadow Campus. Tom Waldron-Lynch, CEO of Nottingham Venues, said: “Castle Meadow Central is one of the region’s most recognisable buildings. For many years it was home to HMRC, and while people in Nottingham have always known the building, very few have had the opportunity to step inside and experience it. “That is now changing. We are delighted to be operating this iconic venue and opening it up for meetings, events and public use for the first time. “Our aim is for Castle Meadow Campus to become a real asset to Nottingham, not just for the businesses based here, but for the wider community. With its unique design, central location and high-quality facilities, we hope it will become a valued part of Nottingham life for years to come.” The opening will also create new local employment opportunities, with Nottingham Venues recruiting staff across hospitality, events and facilities roles.

Asbestos management consultancy raises £3,000 at halfway point of charity challenge

The mammoth fundraising mission of a Northampton-based asbestos management consultancy has already raised more than £3,000 for a trio of charities. In April, Acorn Analytical Services pledged to complete 10 events in six months to raise much-needed cash for local cause Cynthia Spencer Hospice, plus Mesothelioma UK and Muscular Dystrophy UK. Already, after just three months, the dedicated team have completed six fundraising events including the London Moonwalk, the Northampton Dragon Boat Festival and Cynthia Spencer’s annual Northampton Colour Run, as well as a parachute jump and boxing match. Two courageous colleagues, Viviana Pista and Abbie Bruce, from sister company Acorn Safety Services, also abseiled down the Northampton Lift Tower. Collectively, the efforts of the whole Acorn Analytical team have taken their charity collection so far to £3,255 – more than half of their £6,000 target. The final four fundraisers – the Pretty Muddy course, the first ever Acorn coffee morning, the Northampton Half Marathon and a gruelling 100 miles in 24 hours trek attempt – will complete the gargantuan challenge by September. Alongside the 10 charity events, Acorn Analytical have also raised an additional £3,500 for the charities involved with the actual events, for example the Moonwalk also raised £2,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness and the Dragon Boat and boxing events both raised cash for smaller local charities. It is hoped that at the end of the challenge, the team will have raised £10,000 in total, £2,000 of which Acorn Analytical has donated as a company through entry fees. Acorn Analytical Services managing director, Sam Savage said: “It has been an amazing start to our charity challenge. The dedication and enthusiasm of the team has been contagious and to watch them all in their fundraising efforts has been inspiring. “Six events down and four to go and we are more determined than ever to reach that £6,000 target for our three fantastic charities. These causes make such an incredible difference in their vital work and we’re proud to be able to show our support. “If you’re able, please do back our charity campaign as we hurtle towards the finish line.” A Go Fund Me page has been set up to cover all events. All proceeds from the page will go to the three partner charities. Anyone can donate by visiting: https://gofund.me/0ee714e7

East Midlands businesses face new challenges with upcoming changes to employment rights

The government has outlined a timeline for implementing its Employment Rights Bill, which will bring several significant changes to employment law, affecting businesses in the East Midlands. Companies will need to prepare for increased administrative tasks, including updating staff contracts, managing higher costs, and addressing new paperwork requirements.

Starting in April 2026, the Bill will grant workers “day one” rights for paternity and unpaid parental leave. Statutory sick pay will be extended, with the removal of the lower earnings limit. By October 2026, businesses will no longer be able to use “fire and rehire” practices, and employers will be required to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

By 2027, additional protections will be introduced for pregnant women and new mothers, including enhanced dismissal protections. Employers will also face new measures to prevent unfair dismissal from the very first day of employment. These changes will require businesses to adjust their practices and ensure compliance with the new legal landscape.

Northampton launches masterplan to revitalise its town centre

West Northamptonshire Council is inviting local residents, businesses, and community groups to help shape the future of Northampton town centre through the draft Northampton Town Centre Masterplan. This initiative aims to provide a long-term vision for the area, focusing on enhancing streets, public spaces, housing, and supporting local businesses.

Building on significant ongoing projects such as the revitalisation of Market Square and plans to redevelop former M&S and BHS stores, the masterplan offers a cohesive approach to guide future investments. The goal is to ensure these developments meet the needs of the community and align with their aspirations.

Key to the plan is a focus on making the town more walkable and better connected, improving the riverside to boost leisure and nature spaces, and restoring heritage buildings to their former glory. The vision also includes creating more housing options in the town centre to foster a vibrant, mixed-use community that supports local shops, promotes pedestrian and cycling access, and increases the area’s overall vibrancy.

To gather community input, the council has launched a dedicated website, northamptonforward.com, where people can review the proposals, explore different ideas, and share their feedback through a brief survey. This initial round of engagement will inform the final version of the masterplan, which will be published later this year, ensuring that future changes reflect the priorities of those who live and work in Northampton.

Another year of revenue growth for Gateley

Professional services group Gateley has seen another year of revenue growth – its tenth consecutive year since IPO – against an unpredictable economic backdrop.

According to audited results for the year ended 30 April 2025 (FY25), the business delivered revenue growth of 4.1%, increasing to £179.5m from £172.5m in the year prior.

Meanwhile, group underlying profit before tax rose to £23.3m from £23m, though reported group profit before tax dropped to £6.4m from £14m.

Rod Waldie, CEO of Gateley, said: “FY25 represents another year of revenue and underlying profit growth for Gateley, set against an unpredictable economic backdrop for much of the year. We are particularly pleased that this growth was driven by the combination of positive returns on our recent investments with an increase in activity levels and active management of cost inflation.

“In-Period highlights include the renewal and increase of our revolving credit facility to £80m. This is primarily to support further investment in our diversified growth strategy and our Employee Benefit Trust in facilitating our equity incentivisation and recirculation strategy.

“We remain ever alert to acquisition opportunities that will add value to our diversified portfolio and build on our successful M&A track record. Despite an increasingly competitive backdrop, we are confident in the quality of our pipeline, the rigour of our selective process and we look forward to updating shareholders in due course.

“Looking forward, the resilience of our diversified model, our strong financial foundations, and our unbroken track-record of revenue growth, underpins our confidence. Our long-term strategy of client-focused investment in people augmented by continued improvements in our internal structure and technology, will ensure the Group is positioned well to deliver profitable growth in FY26 and beyond. Whilst we continue to monitor and adjust in response to the unpredictable environment, the Group is carrying good momentum into the current financial year.”

Burton testing, inspection and certification services provider acquires Scottish firm

Burton-based provider of testing, inspection and certification services, SOCOTEC UK and Ireland has acquired United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC), an independent fire testing laboratory based in East Kilbride.
The acquisition significantly expands SOCOTEC’s capabilities in fire safety and compliance, while reinforcing the company’s growing presence in Scotland, with its second acquisition in the country, following the purchase of Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys. Matthew Marriott, CEO of SOCOTEC UK and Ireland, said: “The acquisition of UKTC represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy and commitment to enhancing building safety across the UK. “This marks our second acquisition in Scotland within the last 12 months, demonstrating our intention to continue investing in this important region, as well as developing our capabilities to serve clients throughout the UK and Ireland.” David Brown, director at UKTC, will continue to lead the laboratory operations under SOCOTEC ownership, and added: “Joining forces with SOCOTEC UK and Ireland provides an exciting opportunity to invest and expand our testing provisions and deliver enhanced services to our clients. “Our East Kilbride facility has become the centre of excellence for fire testing in UK, and as part of SOCOTEC, we look forward to building on that legacy while accessing wider resources and expertise.”

Shareholders back takeover of Boots’ parent company

The shareholders of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), parent company of Nottingham health and beauty retailer Boots, have approved the takeover of WBA by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. According to preliminary results, approximately 96% of votes cast at a Special Meeting by all shareholders were voted in favour of the merger agreement proposal. In addition, approximately 95% of the votes cast at the Special Meeting by unaffiliated shareholders were voted in favor of the merger agreement proposal. “We appreciate the consideration and overwhelming support from our shareholders in our value-maximizing transaction with Sycamore,” said Tim Wentworth, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. “With Sycamore’s partnership, we will be better positioned to accelerate our turnaround strategy, further enhance the customer, patient and team member experience and become the first choice for pharmacy, retail and health services. We look forward to closing the transaction and entering this next chapter.” WBA expects to close the transaction in the third or fourth quarter of 2025. The $10bn deal comes after Walgreens had a market value of over $100bn a decade ago. The fate of highstreet staple Boots remains in question, with the Sycamore transaction expected to pave way for considertation of a sale, following WBA’s two previous attempts to offload the business.

Loughborough University part of new collaboration advancing zero carbon aviation with hydrogen

Loughborough University is collaborating with academics from Oxford University, Imperial College London, and King’s College London to develop hydrogen-powered jet engines.

The £9.5m project, backed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), aims to transform aviation by achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The team will tackle critical scientific challenges associated with using cryogenic liquid hydrogen (LH2) as fuel for gas turbines. Hydrogen is seen as pivotal for the future of sustainable aviation because it produces no carbon emissions when combusted, emitting only water. The project’s vision is to replace conventional aviation fuel with hydrogen, thereby making mid-range commercial flights zero carbon. This programme will lay the fundamental scientific groundwork to realise that vision. At Loughborough the work will be led by professor Jon Carrotte and the National Centre for Combustion and Aerothermal Technology. Speaking about the project he said: “The team at NCCAT are delighted to be part of this new ambitious research programme that will build on our existing hydrogen knowledge base. “In collaboration with our partners at Oxford, Imperial, and King’s College we look forward to developing Hydrogen as one of the potential future fuels to decarbonise jet engines that power the aviation sector in the ongoing pursuit to achieve net zero flight.” The programme also benefits from support and collaboration from key industry and international partners, including Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Honeywell, Zeroavia, Boeing, Parker Hannifin and the European Space Agency. The partners will provide direct contributions such as funded studentships, valuable industrial guidance, and critical testing facilities. Across the universities involved, more than 12 studentships are being supported, significantly enhancing training opportunities for future aerospace leaders. The project is being led by the University of Oxford.

Derby developer acquires Looms site

The well-known car breaking site of Albert Looms at Spondon has been acquired by Derby-based developer, Ivygrove Developments Ltd. Ivygrove, who specialise in the provision of small and medium size industrial premises, is rapidly progressing towards conclusion on their latest project at Merlin Park on Osmaston Road, and the Looms site will ensure a continuous supply of Ivygrove units into the Derby market. The new development, to be known as ‘Looms Business Park’, will provide up to 20 industrial premises ranging in size from 2,000 to 20,000 sq ft which will be available in 2026. Nick Blount of Ivygrove said: “We are keen to continue supplying workshop and storage units into the local market and our successes at Merlin Park demonstrate that demand continues unabated for our product. “Employment land for small and medium-sized units is difficult to find, and it seems housing is being prioritised by developers whereby sites are more readily available. We are therefore absolutely delighted to have acquired such a prime site as the former Looms yard, and we cannot wait to start building.” The Looms site was a popular location from the early seventies for hundreds of car owners who required parts for their ageing cars which were not always available at local franchises. John Blount, chairman of Ivygrove, looks back even further: “Looms were responsible for breaking up steam engines and timber goods carriages in the early sixties after Dr Beeching took ‘the axe’ to the railways, closing hundreds of stations in rural England and Wales. “The change from Steam to Diesel also played a major part in the demise of the famous Princess and Jubilee class Steam Engines, together with the workhorse engines many of them built in Derby at the ‘Loco Works’ which is now the home of hundreds of businesses on Pride Park.” Salloway Property Consultants represented Ivygrove in the acquisition of the Looms site and director Stephen Salloway said that it was a competitive process: “Unsurprisingly, such a prime site generated considerable interest and potential buyers were asked to make their best offers in an informal tender procedure. “Ivygrove made a very competitive bid but moreover, they were able to demonstrate an impressive ‘track record’ which provided the sellers with the ‘comfort’ and ‘certainty’ they were seeking. I am grateful to Nick Hosking at Innes England, who represented the sellers, and helped to overcome some of the hurdles encountered during the contract process.” Ivygrove are expecting to submit a detailed planning application before the end of July.

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