Nottingham Building Society appoints new chief technology officer

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham Building Society appoints new chief technology officer
Nottingham Building Society has appointed Russ Thornton as its new chief technology officer. Russ initially joined the 176-year-old mutual in March 2025 as a strategic advisor in an interim capacity from Shawbrook Bank, a specialist bank where he spearheaded a comprehensive multi-year digital transformation, from creating the strategy and its roadmap to delivering its execution. He replaces Paul Howley, who departs in July following three years at the organisation as its first ever chief technology and transformation officer in 2022. Russ brings 34 years of experience in leading digital transformations to drive business growth, having also held senior leadership positions at Cofunds, Legal & General, Aegon, and WorldRemit. He will now be responsible for the delivery of Nottingham Building Society’s core banking and mortgage transformation strategies. Speaking about the appointment, Sue Hayes, CEO at Nottingham Building Society, said: “Russ brings deep expertise and a proven track record of delivering digital transformation at pace and scale. Since joining us earlier this year, he’s had a great impact, and I know he will continue to do so as he leads our transformation programme. “He has successfully delivered complex transformation across banks, fintechs, and global financial services institutions, including most recently at Shawbrook, where his work played a key role in more than doubling the bank’s loan book and deposits while radically improving digital experiences for customers and brokers alike. “This is a pivotal moment for the Society as we prepare to launch new technology that will transform the mortgage experience for brokers, borrowers, and colleagues alike. Russ shares our values, our purpose, and our belief in building a modern mutual that serves real lives. “With over three decades of experience, Russ has led enterprise-wide technology strategies, built and scaled high-performing engineering and product teams, and driven operational excellence through innovation. He brings not only technical depth, but also the leadership and cultural insight needed to embed lasting change that puts the customer first.” Sue added: “We pass our thanks on to Paul Howley for everything he has done during his time with us. Paul’s legacy is not only the systems and structures he helped deliver, but the culture he helped shape.” Russ Thornton added: “I’m extremely excited to join the Society at such a transformative point to continue to deliver on its purpose and promise to its members and communities. That sense of purpose and its ambition to serve members who don’t fit the traditional mould was really attractive to be part of. “Under Paul’s guidance, the team has made fantastic progress modernising its mortgage and savings platforms, and I’m looking forward to building on that momentum. My focus will be on ensuring we have the right capabilities, controls and culture in place to grow with confidence and deliver great outcomes for our members and broker partners.” It has also been confirmed that Aaron Shinwell, formerly of Santander UK, where he was commercial director – homes, will be starting his new role as chief lending officer at Nottingham Building Society in August.

Road improvements at M1’s J28 could boost surrounding economy

Tess Egginton
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Road improvements at M1’s J28 could boost surrounding economy
New figures released by Midlands Connect and Natalie Fleet MP show that within three miles of Junction 28 of the M1, strategic companies collectively support over 43,000 jobs and generate more than £10.5 billion in annual turnover.
Midlands Connect’s Roads Programme Lead, Swati Mittal, said investment in road upgrades could help ‘boost’ the area’s economic growth. Advanced Manufacturing and Retail are the dominant sectors, accounting for the largest shares of employment and economic output. The first sector alone contributes over £1.6 billion in turnover and employs more than 10,000 people, highlighting the area’s role as a hub for manufacturing and supply chain activity. Retail also plays a major role, contributing nearly £6.7 billion in turnover and supporting 16,900 jobs, showing how the corridor also serves regional consumer markets. The concentration of logistics and business services shows the importance of fast, reliable links to the wider motorway network. This concentration of industry and retail sector hubs underscores the need for reliable connectivity to sustain business operations, freight logistics, and access to skilled labour. Data shows that by 2035, due to the economic success of the area, there could be 81,830 extra trips a week using Junction 28, even though the junction is at 107% capacity in the morning rush hour. Midlands Connect Roads Programme Lead, Swati Mittal, said: “With over 43,000 jobs and £10.5 billion turnover concentrated within just 3 miles, junction 28 enables national and international connectivity for key industries. “Investment to address congestion, improve journey reliability, and unlock capacity will support manufacturing competitiveness, supply chain efficiency, and enable planned growth in housing and employment in the region.” Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet, the Parliamentary Champion for Junction 28, said: “These figures show how critical making improvements at junction 28 is for employment and the economy. “People in Bolsover and beyond need to be able to travel to and from their jobs in this area without sitting in congestion and businesses need to get goods in and out of their sites without unnecessary delays. “I will continue to push for the improvements that we need.”

Just 3 weeks remain to make your nominations for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

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Just 3 weeks remain to make your nominations for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
With just three weeks remaining until nominations close for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, ensure to submit your entries for the 10th annual celebration of the property and construction industry by Friday 15th August. It’s an ideal opportunity to boost your firm’s profile, showcase successes, reward teams, and bolster morale, all while reaching our audience of over 60,000 business readers. Scheduled to take place on Thursday 2nd October (4:30pm – 7:30pm), the Bricks shine a light on the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects, businesses and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes. The glittering awards ceremony revealing winners, at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, will also offer the perfect chance to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will additionally welcome 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. To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page. Entry is free – with finalists also winning free tickets to the awards ceremony. Categories include: All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements.
Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 2nd October in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.

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 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:

 

Time Out: Jane Biggs, managing director, Bygott Biggs

Tess Egginton
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Time Out: Jane Biggs, managing director, Bygott Biggs
It’s Friday, and the weekend is just around the corner. That means it is time to kick up your feet and relax with some quick fire questions. This ‘Time Out’ features Jane Biggs, managing director at Bygott Biggs, who it turns out is a secret black belt at karate. What is the first thing you do to get the weekend started? Ask my husband to make me a gin and tonic. What is your hobby? Husband would say scrolling through rightmove – I think it’s country walks with the dog. What is your favourite movie?  A classic – Four Weddings and a Funeral. If you hadn’t been successful at what you do, what would you be doing instead as a career?  Interpreter. I studied Russian at Uni. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Flying. I love travelling. Wouldn’t that make it so much easier? What is your secret talent? A black belt at karate. What is your favourite genre of music? Depends on the mood. If it’s dance my current fave song is Mark Ronson and Rae – ‘Suzanne’. If you could travel to any moment in time, where would you go?  Back to before I met my husband! (Tongue in cheek – he’s reading this over my shoulder!)

East Midlands investment zones set to drive regional economic growth

April Lara
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East Midlands investment zones set to drive regional economic growth

The East Midlands is positioning itself for significant economic growth with a £4bn Government investment designed to support business expansion, job creation, and infrastructure development. The investment will focus on a series of key projects across the region, including the Hartington-Staveley site in Chesterfield, Infinity Park in Derby, and The Explore Park in Worksop, all of which aim to attract businesses and provide new opportunities for local economies.

This funding, managed by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), is guided by the newly formed Inclusive Growth Commission. The commission, led by the Royal Society of Arts, is tasked with ensuring the region’s development benefits a broad spectrum of its population. The commission’s recommendations, due for publication in September, will inform the EMCCA’s Local Growth Plan, which outlines how the region will contribute to national economic objectives.

The strategy also includes developing transport corridors, such as the Derby-Nottingham Trent Arc, and sustainable tourism, stretching from the Peak District to Sherwood Forest. These projects aim to create 100,000 jobs, build 52,000 homes, and boost the region’s economy by £4.6bn.

Local leaders, including Mayor Claire Ward, have emphasised the importance of inclusive growth, ensuring that people across the region, including those in rural and deprived areas, have access to well-paid, secure jobs. Public transport improvements, with the eventual transfer of responsibilities from local councils to EMCCA, are a central part of this vision.

The Mayor’s approach focuses on fostering a healthy, active population capable of seizing the opportunities generated by these investments. A key part of this strategy is collaborating with health organisations to address public health challenges, including mental health and economic inactivity, to ensure that more people can participate in the growing economy.

East Midlands engineering firm enters administration after contract issues

April Lara
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East Midlands engineering firm enters administration after contract issues

Franklyn Yates Engineering, a Derbyshire-based provider of mechanical and electrical services, has entered administration due to severe cashflow problems. Specialising in industries such as power, water, and energy from waste, the firm’s struggles stemmed from difficulties with a key contract, leading to financial instability.

The company’s joint administrators, Tyrone Courtman and Gareth Harris from RSM UK Restructuring Advisory, were appointed on July 15. They are now focused on liquidating the company’s assets to maximise returns.

Following the administration, 25 employees were made redundant, and the company’s future remains uncertain. In 2023, Franklyn Yates Engineering reported assets valued at £5 million and net assets just under £2 million.

The Greenbank Group, which owns Franklyn Yates, has confirmed that other businesses within the group remain unaffected and continue to operate normally.

Development approved for former colliery site in Nottinghamshire

April Lara
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Development approved for former colliery site in Nottinghamshire

A housing project on a former Nottinghamshire colliery site has been approved, following the finalisation of developer Harper Crewe’s community contribution agreements. The development will see the construction of 126 homes at the Clipstone Colliery site on Mansfield Road.

The plans include a mix of 88 open-market and 38 affordable homes, ranging from one to five bedrooms. The development will also retain the historic Clipstone Headstocks, listed by Historic England, which stand as a reminder of the area’s industrial past.

The approval, granted in October 2024, comes after developer agreements to invest in local infrastructure. These include £150,000 for bus service improvements, over £174,000 for community facility enhancements in Clipstone, and £90,000 towards special educational needs services to increase capacity. The project will also contribute £123,000 to improving local medical facilities.

Initially, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning officers raised concerns about parking, roads, and the proximity of the new homes to the Grade II listed headstocks. Despite these issues, the planning committee gave the green light to the project, citing the community contributions as a mitigating factor.

Clipstone Colliery, which operated from 1922 to 2003, was once one of Britain’s most productive coal mines, producing nearly one million tonnes of coal annually at its peak.

£130m East Midlands boost expected from India trade deal

Tess Egginton
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£130m East Midlands boost expected from India trade deal
Businesses and workers in the East Midlands are set to benefit from the UK’s trade deal with India, according to the Government, as new analysis shows the agreement will deliver a £130m boost for the local economy. Both Prime Ministers met yesterday morning for the signing of the UK-India trade deal, expected to bring a £4.8bn increase to UK GDP each year. 740 East Midlands businesses exported goods worth £130m to India last year, which could grow under the new deal. The region’s high value manufacturing and automation sectors, for example, could see a boost thanks to lower tariffs on advanced manufacturing goods and on importing Indian textiles. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “The millions brought to the East Midlands each year from the deal we’ve signed with India will be keenly felt across local communities, whether that’s higher wages for workers, more choice for shoppers, or increased overseas sales for businesses.” The UK already imports £11bn in goods from India but liberalised tariffs on Indian goods will make it easier and cheaper. For businesses in the East Midlands, this could mean potential savings in the region’s established manufacturing sectors, including machinery, equipment and automotive components. India’s trade weighted average tariff will drop from 15% to 3% which means companies in the East Midlands selling products such as luxury knitwear to India will find it easier to sell to the Indian market. Aligned with the UK’s recent Industrial and Trade Strategies, the Government says the deal will support the sectors which drive the most growth for the economy – such as precision engineering and high-value manufacturing in the East Midlands – will offer significant opportunities for rail manufacturing – for which the East Midlands is globally recognised – and unlock opportunities for transport experts in the region. Established in 1784 in Lea Mills, Derbyshire, John Smedley Ltd is a manufacturer and retailer of luxury knitwear who will benefit from liberalised tariffs on imports of Indian textiles. Bill Leach, global sales director, John Smedley Ltd, said: “India is one of the fastest growing luxury markets in the world, and we are very excited about the UK- India Free Trade Agreement coming to fruition. “John Smedley knitwear is already sold in over 50 countries around the world, and now that the FTA has been signed, we shall very much look forward to ensuring that an ever-increasing number of discerning luxury consumers in India will enjoy greater access to The World’s Finest Knitwear.”

Preparatory works get underway for Ashfield Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre

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Preparatory works get underway for Ashfield Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre
Preparatory works are underway for the £20 million Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre (ADMC) in Ashfield. It is hoped the ADMC will be a national centre of excellence for automation and the jewel of a £100 million Innovation and Technology Park, bringing employment opportunities to the area. The 2,800 sq m centre will support businesses of all sizes to design and implement bespoke automation strategies, boosting productivity, competitiveness, and long term economic growth. Before work can begin on the building, major alterations to a road junction need to be completed alongside other associated works. The roadworks are set to start in the coming weeks. Ashfield District Council leader, Cllr Jason Zadrozny, said: “This ADMC will become a magnet for businesses who recognise the need to embrace new technology to drive growth and improve. It will provide a legacy for generations to come and one that will attract more high skilled jobs to Ashfield. “Regeneration is hugely important for Ashfield and our ambition to grow the District’s economy. We’re excited about work beginning and I look forward to seeing the centre take shape in the coming months.”

NOCO becomes official battery partner for Nottingham Forest

April Lara
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NOCO becomes official battery partner for Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest Football Club has announced a new partnership with NOCO, which will become the official battery power product partner for the 2025/26 season. As part of the deal, NOCO’s branding will be prominently displayed at the City Ground during all Premier League and domestic cup matches next season.

NOCO, a company established in 1914, is renowned for its advanced battery power solutions. Its product range includes jump starters, tyre inflators, battery chargers, and lithium batteries, all designed to deliver reliable power for both personal and professional use.

This partnership aligns with Nottingham Forest’s ongoing efforts to partner with innovative and reputable brands. The deal also signals NOCO’s expansion into the UK football market, enhancing its visibility in a key sector. Both organisations are expected to benefit from increased exposure throughout the season, with NOCO playing a pivotal role in supporting the club’s growth on and off the field.

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