Environmental consultancy EMEC has joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, backing ‘Contractor of the Year’. A returning sponsor, EMEC is a one stop shop for specialist ecology, land management and arboriculture services. A wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, all profits are gift aided to the Trust to support nature conservation. Based in the heart of the East Midlands, EMEC operates for its clients throughout the UK. It serves developers, planners, architects, power and extraction industries, utility companies, local authorities, government agencies and private individuals. Its varied portfolio of work ranges from major national research contracts and large-scale ecological impact assessments for housing and industry, through to management planning for nature reserves, bat surveys of barns and churches and habitat surveys of small-scale developments. Dr Ed Tripp, Consultancy Director at EMEC, said: “We’re proud to once again sponsor the ‘Contractor of the Year’ category at the Bricks Awards, which continues to be a fantastic celebration of the region’s construction and property sectors. “Last year’s event was a brilliant showcase of talent, innovation and collaboration, and we thoroughly enjoyed connecting with so many like-minded professionals who are helping shape the future of our built environment.

“At EMEC, we work closely with contractors across a wide range of projects, so it’s a real pleasure to help shine a spotlight on those delivering excellence on site. As an environmental consultancy, we believe it’s vital for contractors to take a responsible and forward-thinking approach to sustainability, and this year’s winner will be someone who goes above and beyond to embrace biodiversity within their developments. “We’re looking forward to another inspiring evening and encourage all within the industry to get their nominations in—it’s a great opportunity to recognise hard work, dedication and impact across the industry.” The East Midlands Bricks Awards, which will take place on Thursday 2nd October at Nottingham’s famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrates the successes of property and construction companies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Recognising those behind the changing landscape of the East Midlands, the occasion highlights development projects, businesses, and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. It also toasts the work of architects, agencies, and those behind large schemes. Welcoming almost 150 professionals, nominating a company or project for the awards is a great way to showcase your successes, recognise your team’s efforts, bolster morale, and reach our audience of over 60,000 business readers, while also offering a chance to connect with respected professionals. It’s completely free to enter and making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the event.

To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here.

Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Categories include:

• Contractor of the Year
• Developer of the Year
• Architects of the Year
• Most Active Agent
• Deal of the Year
• Residential Development of the Year
• Sustainable Development of the Year
• Commercial Development of the Year
• Excellence in Design
• Responsible Business of the Year
• Overall Winner

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. Upon submitting a nomination, we will get in touch for any information, imagery, and video nominees would like to be featured on their showcase page.

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:

With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.

East Midlands Chamber has welcomed the outcomes of the UK and EU ‘reset’ talks, saying they will help ease challenges businesses have faced since Brexit. Outcomes from the summit included:

• Routine checks on plant and animal products removed
• Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement on food and drink import and export
• Closer cooperation on emissions
• British steel exports protected from EU tariffs
• eGates at borders open to British passport holders

East Midlands Chamber head of international trade Lucy Granger said: “After such a prolonged and frustrating time for firms importing or exporting goods with the EU, where moving even small amounts of goods has been prohibitively expensive and reams of unnecessary paperwork time consuming, these agreements are a welcome step forward and pave the way for further improvements. “Getting agreement and removing most routine checks on animal and plant products will make a big difference to businesses trading with the EU, as will the sanitary and phytosanitary deal – that enables everything from burgers to sausages to be shipped without costs getting in the way. “There’s still more that can be achieved – a return to the Pan Euro Mediterranean Convention would mean alignment on rules for components and raw materials, taking out another cost and an exemption on fiscal representation on VAT in the EU would remove another hurdle for businesses, so it’s essential the government build on this first stage of talks.”

New data highlights the East Midlands as the most favourable UK region for tradespeople regarding working hours, commute lengths, and mental health outcomes. The findings come from a report by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles that analysed regional variations in working life for trades professionals.

Tradespeople in the East Midlands work fewer hours on average, 9.03 per day, compared to the national average of 9.25 hours. In contrast, those in the West Midlands work 9.81 hours daily. This adds up to a significant difference over a working week, giving East Midlands professionals more personal time or increased availability for additional jobs.

Commute distances also varied sharply. The East Midlands reported the lowest average daily mileage at 67.95 miles, well below the UK average of 88.37 miles. Tradespeople in London and the North West drove more than 100 miles a day, meaning East Midlands workers potentially save over 20 miles daily, equivalent to 82 hours annually.

This efficiency appears to have mental health benefits. Workers in the East Midlands lost just 2.84 days due to mental health challenges in 2024, undercutting the national average of 3.58 days. Wales recorded the highest at 5.75 days lost.

Key stress factors across the UK included long hours, poor work-life balance, and the job’s physical toll. The data suggests that even incremental schedule or travel time improvements can reduce these pressures.

The study also underscores the potential for electric vans to support productivity and well-being across the trades sector. Most electric vans on the market now cover over 150 miles per charge, well above the average daily requirement, making them a practical option for reducing driver fatigue and enhancing comfort with quieter, tech-enabled cabins.

Aurrigo International has reported annual revenue of £8.9 million, up 34% year-on-year, driven by strong growth in its autonomous airport operations division.

Based in Coventry with offices in North America and Asia, the company now has ten autonomous vehicles deployed globally. Commercial deals with airports have boosted adoption of its Auto-Sim® digital simulation platform and Auto-DollyTug® electric baggage and cargo tugs.

Following successful trials at Amsterdam Schiphol, Aurrigo’s autonomous equipment has been approved for recommended deployment across a 60+ airport network operated by Aviation Solutions.

In April, the company launched the Auto-Cargo®, its largest vehicle to date, capable of transporting up to 16,500kg. Backed by Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, it will next be trialled by UPS at East Midlands Airport, the UK’s second-largest freight terminal.

Revenue in Aurrigo’s autonomous division rose by 433%, supported by continued business from automotive clients for precision components and wiring harnesses.

The company employs over 110 people and is positioning itself as a first-mover in intelligent Ground Support Equipment (iGSE), targeting wider airport automation opportunities.