A programme of grants and support for local businesses is being rolled out by Nottingham’s two universities that provide access to talent and expertise to help drive innovation, productivity and skills in the city.
The Talent and Innovation Grants project has received £124,441 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The scheme was run for the first time last year and saw 60 businesses receiving financial support through a mixture of Talent Grants and Innovation Vouchers.
Under the Universities for Nottingham Civic Agreement, The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are again working with Nottingham City Council to offer Talent Grants of up to £2,000 which can be used to subsidise the recruitment of a university graduate or student for a minimum of eight weeks.
In addition, Innovation Vouchers of up to £5,000 will be offered to city businesses through the Universities for Nottingham Innovation Centres of Excellence, enabling them to access a range of technically-focussed support and consultancy leveraging research facilities and expertise from across the two universities.
To qualify for either grants, businesses need to demonstrate that the graduate/student project/role would be used to implement or improve technology or processes, enable the business to enter new markets, improve or implement new products or services, improve productivity or increase business sustainability.
Mountpark has started construction on a 1.46 million sq ft logistics park, Mountpark Hinckley, in the heart of the UK’s Golden Triangle.
It follows Mountpark securing approval of a complex hybrid planning application by Rugby Borough Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council. Detailed consent has been granted for the development of a 491,926 sq ft unit, which has been pre-let to a major supermarket retailer.
Mountpark has appointed Winvic Construction to deliver the infrastructure and enabling works, as well as the vertical build of Unit 1, which is scheduled for practical completion in spring 2026.
Mountpark has also submitted Reserved Matters Applications for the two remaining plots, which will offer 514,100 sq ft and 258,000 sq ft of logistics space.
“This marks an exciting step forward with construction now underway on site at Mountpark Hinckley, following over five years of dedicated work by our planning team to bring the development to fruition,” said Tom Kilmister, senior development director at Mountpark.
“This project reflects our commitment to unlocking new sites, our continued investment in the East Midlands’ logistics infrastructure and our ability to deliver high-quality space that supports market demand for our customers.
“The pre-letting of Unit 1 is a testament to our customer-focused approach, working closely with occupiers to deliver tailored solutions that align with their operational needs and long-term growth ambitions.”
West Northamptonshire Council has approved the conversion of a commercial property in Northampton into shared residential accommodation.
Kingswood House, located in Cliftonville, will be transformed from its former use as offices into a house in multiple occupations (HMO) that accommodates up to 23 residents. The building previously housed an insurance firm, a fertility clinic, and a laser eye surgery business.
The development will reconfigure the property into five shared flats. These will include a four-bedroom unit on the lower ground floor, two three-bedroom units on the ground floor, an eight-bedroom unit on the first floor, and a five-bedroom unit on the second floor. All bedrooms will be en suite, and each flat will have shared kitchen and living areas. Two communal laundry rooms will be available to all residents.
The conversion is mainly internal, with only minor alterations planned for the building’s exterior. The property will retain 15 on-site parking spaces. The first floor has already been stripped of its internal services in preparation for redevelopment.
The council considers HMOs a critical part of the local housing strategy, particularly for students, young professionals, and others requiring short- to medium-term accommodation. This project is expected to support demand in the area’s pressured rental market.
Watches of Switzerland Group posted full-year revenues of £1.65bn, up 8% year-on-year, as the business rebounded in the UK and US markets. The company, which is headquartered in the East Midlands, reported 2% revenue growth across the UK and Europe, while sales in the US rose sharply by 16% in the 12 months ending 27 April 2025.
The group attributed the stronger second-half performance to stabilised trading following a period of consumer hesitation linked to the initial announcement of US tariffs. While April trading returned to typical levels, the unresolved US tariff situation continues to add uncertainty to the outlook.
The retailer expanded its showroom portfolio during the year, opening a new flagship Rolex boutique on Old Bond Street in London. Several high-profile Rolex developments were also delivered in the US, including new and upgraded locations in Texas, Florida, and Georgia.
The business remains focused on capitalising on sustained demand for luxury timepieces, despite broader macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical risks affecting future planning, particularly in the US. It maintains a strong pipeline of showroom openings and anticipates continued interest in key high-demand brands.
Global HSE Group have joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, backing the ‘Commercial Development of the Year’ category.
Supporting the event for a second year, Global HSE Group are industry leaders in comprehensive fire safety, specialising in passive fire protection and technical fire consultancy, as well as delivering sustainability and MEP (building services), and their own in-house training academy.
Operating nationally across the UK and Ireland, clients include some of the UK’s leading student accommodation providers, hotels, universities, consultants, architects, and developers. They also support several of the UK’s largest housing associations, councils, and public sector organisations.
Global HSE Group place people and compliance at the heart of everything they do and pride themselves on their highly knowledgeable and experienced, multi-disciplinary team who work seamlessly to deliver safer buildings right across the UK.
Speaking with Business Link, Andrew Cooper, Managing Director at Global HSE Group, said: “We’re really proud to be returning as a sponsor of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, once again sponsoring the ‘Commercial Development of the Year’ category. Last year’s event was a brilliant celebration of the region’s property and construction talent, and it was fantastic to see so many inspiring projects and passionate people under one roof.
“Sponsoring this category for the second-year running was an easy decision for us. At Global, we’re committed to supporting excellence in property and construction, and the East Midlands Bricks Awards is a perfect platform to do that. We’re especially excited to see the nominations this year, there’s no doubt the standard will be incredibly high again.
“We’d encourage anyone who has delivered an exceptional project to complete a nomination form. It’s a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the teams, collaborations and achievements within the region, and we’re looking forward to another memorable evening of celebrating success and connecting with peers across the industry.”
Chris Sharman of Global HSE Group (right) hands over the Commercial Development of the Year award to Tim Hubner and Nick Pettit of G F Tomlinson at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
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:
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 hereDress 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.
Staffline, the Nottingham-based recruitment group, has secured a significant strategic partnership with one of the UK’s leading food and drink supply chain management and logistics providers covering the whole of the UK and Ireland.
This new partnership comprises an initial two-year agreement with a one-year extension option to outsource to Staffline 100% of the agency labour services that are currently supplied by the wholly owned in-house labour supplier. This partnership will see the Group deliver flexible, temporary employment solutions in addition to managing second tier suppliers across the client’s chilled and ambient business operations.
The contract is anticipated to strengthen Staffline’s market position in the logistics sector. The mobilisation of 3,000 temporary workers across driving, warehousing and security activities will begin no sooner than the end of Q2 2025 and is expected to continue during Q3 2025.
Albert Ellis, chief executive officer of Staffline, said: “We are delighted to have secured such an important, value enhancing strategic partnership.
“This new contract reinforces Staffline’s strong reputation as a trusted partner for supplying volume labour to the food and drinks, logistics and FMCG sectors and materially enhances the Board’s expectations of Group performance over the life of the contract.
“Over the coming months the Staffline team will be working with the leadership to manage a smooth transition, creating efficiencies, synergies and opportunities for all parties.”
Cambridge & Counties Bank reported a 15% year-on-year rise in gross new lending for 2024, reaching £376 million. The growth was driven by continued property and asset finance strength, despite a cooling interest rate environment.
The bank’s pre-tax profits stood at £35.8 million for the year. Property finance drawdowns totalled over £285 million, marking a third consecutive year of growth in that core segment. Asset finance lending rose sharply, up 39% to £89 million.
Finance for classic, vintage, and sports cars increased notably, climbing 41% to £72 million. Customer loan balances rose 11% to £1.23 billion, while customer deposits grew 10% to £1.27 billion.
The lender invested heavily in operational infrastructure during the year, including new offices in Manchester and Reading to support asset finance. Headcount increased by 8%, ending the year with 243 employees.
2024 also saw the expansion of its lending portfolio with new offerings such as development finance and more fixed-rate products. The bank continues to focus on SMEs and underserved segments of the UK market, aiming to support business investment and property growth.
Mansfield District Council has been awarded £1.58 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with funding allocated via the East Midlands Counties Combined Authority. The investment will support business development, workforce upskilling, community grants, and local events.
This round of funding is part of the wider £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to reduce regional disparities and boost economic performance across the country. The financial package was reviewed during a council meeting in early May.
The Access Group, a Loughborough-based provider of business management software, has acquired Fonn, extending its offering in ERP software globally.
Founded in 2016, Fonn is a project management platform that streamlines documentation, task tracking, and communication for teams in the construction, fit-out, and facility management industries. Fonn has grown to a base of 50,000 users from within the construction industry across the UK, USA and Norway.
Claire Carter, managing director of Access ERP, said: “Fonn is a great fit for our business. The proven success and innovation from the Fonn team excite us and show huge potential for the future of this world-class product, in conjunction with the other solutions we provide today. We are delighted to welcome Fonn into our Access ERP eco-system.”
Jan Tore Grindheim, Fonn CEO, said: “Joining The Access Group marks a significant milestone for Fonn. We have been impressed by the Access Group’s focus on customers and commitment to innovation. We are excited to join the team where we can accelerate our ambitions, further enhance our customer experience, and become part of a bigger mission.”
Greencore’s £1.2 billion acquisition of Bakkavor has taken a step forward with the boards of both companies agreeing the terms of a recommended acquisition.
The transaction, which Bakkavor is unanimously recommending to shareholders, would create a leading UK convenience food business with a combined revenue of £4 billion and approximately 30,500 employees.
The businesses believe that their combination will drive significant benefits for customers and colleagues and will make a significant continuing contribution to the UK economy.
Greencore shareholders are expected to own approximately 56 per cent of the combined group, while Bakkavor shareholders will own approximately 44 per cent.
Bakkavor, a major supplier of ready meals and desserts to UK supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, earned £2.29 billion in revenue last year, more than 80% in the UK. Greencore, based in Dublin with significant operations in Worksop, brought in £1.81 billion over the same period through its ready meals and food-to-go products.
Leslie Van de Walle, the chair of Greencore, said: “We have long admired Bakkavor and we are pleased to announce a transaction that will create a true UK leader in convenience food.
“We intend to bring together our strong and complementary companies to deliver high-quality, innovative food to UK customers and consumers. We are excited about the potential that a combination presents and the value it will deliver for both Greencore and Bakkavor shareholders.”
Simon Burke, chair of Bakkavor, said: “We are very happy with the progress made by Bakkavor delivering its strategy and significantly improved returns, both in the UK and abroad. We have clear plans for continued growth and are confident in the prospects for Bakkavor over the coming years.
“However, there has always been a clear strategic, commercial and financial rationale for a combination with Greencore. Having considered a combination previously, we believe that this Transaction now proposes terms that we consider are very attractive to Bakkavor’s shareholders.
“The Transaction offers shareholders a significant premium, with an attractive combination of cash on completion and the ability to participate in the future value creation anticipated from bringing the two businesses together. For this reason our board is unanimously recommending it to shareholders.”
Dalton Philips, chief executive officer of Greencore, said: “We are bringing together two experienced teams and our complementary portfolios will drive benefits for customers and consumers across the UK.
“The combined group will be able to invest more in innovation and product development ensuring we can provide the consumer with greater food choices at more points in the day, bringing together Greencore’s “food for now” expertise with Bakkavor’s “food for later” portfolio.
“We look forward to welcoming Bakkavor’s employees and creating an exciting, combined business for all stakeholders. Bakkavor is the ideal partner for Greencore and we look forward to delivering on the significant growth potential of the enlarged business.”
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Operating nationally across the UK and Ireland, clients include some of the UK’s leading student accommodation providers, hotels, universities, consultants, architects, and developers. They also support several of the UK’s largest housing associations, councils, and public sector organisations.
Global HSE Group place people and compliance at the heart of everything they do and pride themselves on their highly knowledgeable and experienced, multi-disciplinary team who work seamlessly to deliver safer buildings right across the UK.
Speaking with Business Link, Andrew Cooper, Managing Director at Global HSE Group, said: “We’re really proud to be returning as a sponsor of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, once again sponsoring the ‘Commercial Development of the Year’ category. Last year’s event was a brilliant celebration of the region’s property and construction talent, and it was fantastic to see so many inspiring projects and passionate people under one roof.
“Sponsoring this category for the second-year running was an easy decision for us. At Global, we’re committed to supporting excellence in property and construction, and the East Midlands Bricks Awards is a perfect platform to do that. We’re especially excited to see the nominations this year, there’s no doubt the standard will be incredibly high again.
“We’d encourage anyone who has delivered an exceptional project to complete a nomination form. It’s a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the teams, collaborations and achievements within the region, and we’re looking forward to another memorable evening of celebrating success and connecting with peers across the industry.”
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. 
