QUAD seeks £150,000 Derby City Council loan

Tess Egginton
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QUAD seeks £150,000 Derby City Council loan
QUAD, a cultural organisation in Derby providing opportunity for engagement in visual art, film, education and participatory activities, is seeking a £150,000 loan from Derby City Council. An Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, in its 2021/22 financial year QUAD reached 541,921 people through its programme and 4,790 people took an active part in learning activities. However, Audience Agency data from Spring 2023 has highlighted the compounding pressures facing arts and cultural organisations, as audiences already slow to return post-pandemic have been stalled by the cost-of-living crisis. For QUAD this is impacted further by reduced footfall due to the closure of the surrounding cultural buildings Market Hall, Guildhall Theatre and Assembly Rooms.
QUAD is said to be implementing an organisational review to address a short-term budgetary shortfall and establish longer-term sustainability. To support cash-flow during the delivery of this recovery process, the loan provision of £150,000 has been requested from Derby City Council. The council has recommended approval of the loan ahead of a meeting next week. A council document noted: “There is the option to not provide the requested loan facility to QUAD. However, this would increase financial risk to the organisation and slow the pace of their recovery. QUAD is a key cultural organisation that can support city centre regeneration through increased vibrancy and placemaking. Slowing the pace of QUAD’s recovery will have impact on the wider city centre.” Whilst the details of the loan repayment are yet to be agreed, the intention is that this will be an interest free, unsecured loan over a three year period.

SME of the Year Highly Commended Award goes to Cawarden

Tess Egginton
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SME of the Year Highly Commended Award goes to Cawarden
Derby-based Specialist Contractor, Cawarden, has been ‘highly commended’ at an industry awards ceremony in Nottingham. In its first year of entry, the company was presented with the ‘SME of the Year’ 2023 Highly Commended trophy by Maz Patel, Managing Director of Scope Group, at the Constructing Excellence Midlands Awards. Rodgers Leask, Morrison Design and Excelsior Land were also shortlisted, but it was Cawarden’s work and ethos that shone through while Kori Construction took the top spot for the category. Jonathan Groves, quality director at Cawarden, said: “We’re all over the moon with this award. The recognition represents exceptional business growth over the past 12 months and all the hard work and dedication from everyone on-site and in the office who goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional projects for our clients across the UK. “Safety, quality, service and sustainability are always at the heart of everything we do. Thank you to Andrew Carpenter and all the team at Constructing Excellence for organising such a fantastic evening and ceremony in Nottingham to celebrate the best of the sector.” SMEs are the backbone of the industry and are recognised by Constructing Excellence for their dominance of and contribution to the supply chain. Cawarden was also delighted to be in attendance as a sponsor for the ‘Civils Project of the Year’ award. Andrew Pickering, representative of Cawarden, announced the winning project ‘Colliery Way’ with the award presented to Balfour Beatty plc and Nottinghamshire County Council. Each award is judged by panels of industry experts with a two-stage process involving written entries and interviews. The Midlands Awards evening took place on Thursday 29 June at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham and was hosted by Pamela Aculey – the award-winning author, entrepreneur and CEO of ‘Just Like Me Books’. During the course of the night, an incredible amount of money was raised for Children with Cancer – a charity that plays a vital role in funding ground-breaking research into understanding – and ultimately conquering – childhood cancers.

Chesterfield barbershop proves it’s a cut above the rest for apprenticeships

Stuart Pearcey
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Chesterfield barbershop proves it’s a cut above the rest for apprenticeships
Chesterfield barbershop Less Than Zero has reached the top five in an annual list of the best SME apprenticeship employers nationwide.  The business, based on Soresby Street, has ranked 5th in England by the Government for its outstanding commitment to apprenticeships.  The Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers 2023 recognises leading small & medium-sized apprenticeship employers across a range of criteria. These include the employer’s commitment to employing apprentices, its creation of new apprenticeships, the diversity of its new apprentices, and the progression of its apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.  Employers are ranked not just for the number of apprentices they take on but also for their commitment to diversity and apprenticeship achievements. A dedication to delivering high-quality apprenticeships plays a crucial role in boosting the skills and career opportunities of people from all backgrounds while plugging skills gaps and helping the economy to grow.  Martin Keyworth, owner of Less Than Zero Barbers, said: “We are immensely proud to be in Chesterfield and bringing this accolade back to the town”  Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Congratulations to all the employers which have been recognised for their brilliant apprenticeship programmes.”  “My apprenticeship was my golden ticket to a successful business career. These employers in digital, childcare and healthcare recognise the benefits apprentices can bring to their business, helping to create a talent pipeline and filling skills gaps to grow the economy.  I would encourage all businesses – regardless of size or sector – to follow their lead.”  Chesterfield has a commitment to supporting apprenticeships and has declared itself an Apprentice Town.   The Apprentice Town initiative has been developed by Chesterfield Borough Council and partners and seeks to develop Chesterfield as a leading apprenticeship destination.  It looks to grow individuals’ careers and futures alongside successful businesses and a growing local economy.  Apprentice Town aims to increase the number, levels and quality of apprenticeships available by raising awareness of apprenticeship opportunities in Chesterfield including traineeships, higher level apprenticeships and align these with opportunities emerging in the local economy. 

Manufacturer targets £50m turnover with £12.5m investment

Tess Egginton
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Manufacturer targets £50m turnover with £12.5m investment
A Midlands manufacturer is looking to grow its turnover by 50% to £50m in the next three years, supported by £12.5m of funding from Lloyds Bank. Linecross is a UK engineer and manufacturer of moulded plastic components for vehicles in the prestige automotive, transport, leisure and off-highway markets. It is a supplier to some of the UK’s most iconic vehicle brands, providing a broad range of exterior and interior parts from its two sites in Cannock and Rutland. The business was purchased in 2003 by its current owners, David Austin and Stuart Fry, as part of a management buyout. Since then, the two directors have grown Linecross’s turnover from £6m to more than £34m, and increased its team from 100 employees to 295. Through a strategy of innovation and investment the firm now has a plan to reach a turnover of £50m by 2026. To realise this growth, the manufacturer has used the funding facilities from Lloyds Bank to purchase a range of state of the art plant machinery which will not only extend its capacity, but also provide a broader process offering, enhanced productivity, quality and reliability as well as energy efficiency. The investments include such items as two large Cannon vacuum forming machines with two 5-Axis CNC machines. As the machinery is purchased from Europe and paid for before delivery, Linecross will utilise asset finance, trade finance, a capital import finance facility and invoice finance totalling £10.5m, supporting the business’s cashflow to ensure healthy working capital and headroom are maintained. The machinery investment is supplemented by the addition of another 25,000 sq ft factory unit adjacent to its existing Cannock facility and a number of key appointments to strengthen its management team. Linecross is also investing in sustainability. The firm is installing 914 solar panels across its manufacturing site in Rutland. The panels will be capable of generating 325,000kwh annually, saving over 60 tonnes of CO2 each year, as well mitigating a proportion of the recent significant energy cost increases. David Austin, chairman and financial director at Linecross, said: “It has always been in Linecross’s DNA to grow through innovation, investment and collaborative relationships with our trading partners. Lloyds Bank and their focus on both UK manufacturing and the Green Agenda have proved to be the right financial partner to help Linecross realise both the next phase of our financial aspirations and support our transition to a sustainable future.” Khush Johal, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “Linecross makes a significant investment in new machinery year on year to maintain a high quality end product for its clients and futureproof the business. “As a firm targeting rapid and sustainable growth, it’s essential that they maintain strong cashflow, enabling the business to maximise on commercial opportunities in their market. “We’ve supported Linecross with asset finance funding over the past four years, and will now provide them with a further suite of bespoke funding and financial products, to boost growth and help the business deliver its revenue targets. “We’re proud to be by the side of such an ambitious privately owned UK manufacturer, which plays a key role in the supply chain of so many iconic British brands.”

Low Carbon Challenge Fund launched by Clay Cross Town Deal

Tess Egginton
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Low Carbon Challenge Fund launched by Clay Cross Town Deal
Businesses within the Clay Cross Town Deal boundary can now apply for grant funding to contribute towards low-carbon initiatives. Grant funding is available from an allocation of £645,000, out of the £24.1m Town Deal fund. The Government announced that Clay Cross would receive £24.1m of funding to deliver a number of projects contained in the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan. “We work hard to support our businesses to help them thrive and grow whilst also helping them be equipped to reduce their carbon emissions,” Cllr Jayne Barry, North East Derbyshire District Council portfolio holder for Growth and Assets said. “Supporting them to be more environmentally efficient is the purpose of this initiative and these grants will not only help them achieve this but ensure they are compliant and future-proof in what is an exciting time for Clay Cross with the Town deal investments.” The application begins with submitting an Expression of Interest form, followed by a more detailed application once invited by administrators if eligibility criteria are met. Eligible activities could include:
  • Improved insulation, lighting, heating and controls
  • Efficient motors, compressors, equipment
  • Vehicle chargers
  • Renewable energy (PV panels, ASHPs, GSHPs etc.)
  • Resource efficiency
  • Waste reduction and recycling
  • Improved metering and low-cost Building Management Systems
  • Emerging technological solutions
Applicants are expected to contribute at least 25% of the cost of their investments, and all financial activity for the projects should be completed by 31 December 2024.

Leicester City FC to be fined up to £880k after admitting anti-competitive arrangement with JD Sports

Tess Egginton
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Leicester City FC to be fined up to £880k after admitting anti-competitive arrangement with JD Sports
The CMA has provisionally found that Leicester City FC and JD Sports colluded to restrict competition in the sales of Leicester City-branded clothing, including replica kit, in the UK. As part of an investigation which began in September 2021, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a statement of objections, which sets out its provisional assessment of the case. This follows admissions by Leicester City FC and JD Sports that they broke competition law by entering into an arrangement which limited competition in the sales of Leicester City-branded clothing, including replica kit, in the UK. Leicester City FC and its parent companies have, under the settlement procedure, admitted Leicester City FC’s participation in the alleged arrangement. They have agreed to pay a fine under the CMA’s settlement policy of a maximum £880k. This includes a settlement discount from the fine that would have otherwise been imposed reflecting resource savings to the CMA as a result of Leicester City FC admitting to acting illegally and helping bring a swifter resolution to the CMA’s investigation. Although the findings are addressed to Leicester City FC’s parent companies, as well as to the company itself, this is because of the standard legal rules that parent companies have joint and several liability for competition law infringements; the CMA is not suggesting, and has no reason to believe, that the parent companies themselves were directly involved in the unlawful conduct. JD Sports reported the illegal conduct and admitted its participation in the alleged conduct by way of a leniency application. It will not receive a fine provided that it continues to co-operate and to comply with the other conditions of the CMA’s leniency policy. The case relates to the following arrangement between Leicester City FC and JD Sports:
  • In August 2018, that JD Sports would stop selling Leicester City-branded clothing online for the 2018/19 season
  • In January 2019, that JD Sports would not undercut Leicester City in terms of online sales for the 2019/20 season by applying a delivery charge to all orders of Leicester City-branded clothing – disapplying its company-wide promotional offer of free online delivery for all orders over £70
  • By July 2020, that JD Sports would continue to apply delivery charges to online orders of Leicester City-branded clothing for the 2020/21 season as well. This continued until at least 26 January 2021
Michael Grenfell, Executive Director of Enforcement at the CMA, said: “Strong and unimpeded competition between retailers is essential to consumers’ ability to shop around for the best deals. “Football fans are well-known for their loyalty towards their teams. In this case we have provisionally found that Leicester City FC and JD Sports colluded to share out markets and fix prices – with the result that fans may have ended up paying more than they would otherwise have done. Both parties have now admitted their involvement, allowing us to bring the investigation to a swift conclusion.

“The fine that Leicester City FC and its parent companies have agreed to pay sends a clear message to them and other businesses that anti-competitive collusion will not be tolerated.”

Council plans major savings with move of civic and democratic base from “expensive” County Hall

Tess Egginton
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Council plans major savings with move of civic and democratic base from “expensive” County Hall
Bringing long-term savings for the taxpayer and environment, Nottinghamshire County Council could move its civic and democratic base to a new building near Hucknall. The proposal comes off the back of a review which has found that it is no longer practical to keep the building, which opened in 1946, as the Council’s main base in the long-term, as it will be too expensive to maintain and improve to meet the Council’s environmental ambitions. With the rise of home working, the building also is now too large for the Council’s needs. County Hall costs more than £1.7m to operate and maintain each year and requires essential maintenance costing more than £30m over the next 12 years, with up to a further £28m needed to bring the building up to modern environmental standards. The Council’s new low carbon, all-electric office near Hucknall, which has already had full planning permission, could be the new home of the council’s civic, democratic and leadership functions, subject to approval at a Full Council meeting on Thursday 13 July 2023. If approved, construction will start later this year and should be completed by winter 2024/25. The building is also earmarked to be the new home of two key council front line services, the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) for vulnerable children and adults, and the council’s customer service centre, which handles all public enquiries. Nottinghamshire County Council Leader, Councillor Ben Bradley, MP explains: “County Hall is an old building which is too expensive to operate and maintain and would cost tens of millions of taxpayers’ money to make it viable for the future, which we of course can’t justify. We want to spend that money on public services, not on running office buildings. “We are looking to the future. This move will help ensure that we have sustainable finances, and also mean that the decision-making function of this Council is based in the very heart of our county. That will help to bring jobs, skills and investment into the Hucknall area. “It’s still too early to comment on the future of County Hall, but we will be speaking to our staff and partners about all the options for the future. Being an iconic Nottinghamshire landmark with a riverside location along the Trent, makes it a very attractive site. But whatever happens, its heritage will be respected.” Nottinghamshire County Councillor Keith Girling, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, said: “We have to make this decision and investment now to save taxpayers’ money in the long run. “Like other Councils in the county and the region, we are faced with a decision to leave a building which has been synonymous with the Council for many decades but is no longer fit for purpose. “County Hall is often only around a third full, so it is not being used to its full potential, with many of our staff continuing to work productively from home which adheres to our hybrid model of working. “We have looked into all the options and none of our current buildings have the potential to host a public meeting space or facilities needed for our democratic and civic functions. “We already had plans for new, low carbon buildings near Hucknall for front-line services, so it makes sense to update the designs to also accommodate a wider civic function ahead of these offices being built. “We will continue to have a major base in West Bridgford as we have no plans to move out of Trent Bridge House.” Due to inflation, rising costs in the construction industry and additional design costs to potentially incorporate the civic and democratic function, the office building near Hucknall is now estimated to cost £18.3m. Councillor Keith Girling added: “This project is good value. We will save significant sums on running costs in the new building compared with County Hall, and, of course, by looking at future options for County Hall, we’ll save more than £50m in maintenance and refurbishment costs.” The new building will be all-electric and built to standards which will rank the building within the top 10 per cent of new UK (non-domestic) buildings in terms of environmental sustainability. Thanks to a low carbon design, high insulation levels and heat absorbing features, heating bills will be kept as low as possible. This design will also help keep the building cool in the warmer months, so no air-conditioning will be installed. Rooftop solar panels will also help generate electricity. These plans are part of a wider buildings’ programme which aims to save taxpayers’ money by creating more carbon-neutral council buildings, generating income by leasing older buildings with higher running-costs and co-locating with other public organisations. The new office is being designed and managed by Arc Partnership and delivered through Arc’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty.

Asbestos consultancy has plenty to celebrate after being named Overall Winners at county business awards

Tess Egginton
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Asbestos consultancy has plenty to celebrate after being named Overall Winners at county business awards
Independent asbestos consultancy Acorn Analytical Services has kicked off its 10th anniversary in style by scooping the High Growth Award and being crowned Overall Winners at the prestigious Northamptonshire SME Awards. The company, based on Moulton Park in Northampton, won the coveted High Growth Award in recognition of a truly exceptional year which has seen them increase both profit and turnover, grow their team and celebrate the opening of a new regional office in Wolverhampton. At the end of the evening, which was held at Daventry Court Hotel, Acorn Analytical Services were also named Overall Winners, an accolade which will see them go through to the National SME Awards being held in Wembley later this year. Director Neil Munro said: “It has been an exceptional year for the team at Acorn Analytical Services and to win the High Growth Award is an amazing way to celebrate our achievements. To then be named Overall Winners on top of that means everything to all of us. “I want to thank the whole team at Acorn for their hard work this year – we are absolutely over the moon.”

Flex office operator continues rapid expansion

Tess Egginton
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Flex office operator continues rapid expansion
Cubo, the Derby-based flex office operator, has opened the doors to its first ever workspace in Scotland – a new 16,000 sq ft workspace at 40 Princes Street, a Grade A office building in the heart of Edinburgh city centre. The new Cubo centre offers office accommodation arranged over two floors, with 360 desks available. Features include a reception area with custom-made desks and walls, bespoke furniture, glass lifts, on-site showers, and cycle racks. Princes Street is Edinburgh’s most sought-after location with high-end boutiques and department stores alongside world class dining, artisan coffee shops and places to stay. It is also a short stroll from St James Quarter, a retail led, lifestyle district, and is adjacent to the city’s Waverley mainline station. Earlier this year, Cubo, which was launched by property investors Marc and Rebecca Brough, set out plans to open four new workspaces by the end of 2023. Cubo Edinburgh will be its seventh site, with a Manchester site to be announced shortly. Marc Brough, CEO at Cubo, said: “We are delivering on our plans to roll-out the Cubo brand nationally and are excited to have launched our first flex office space in Scotland, and in what we believe is Edinburgh’s most amazing office location. “Edinburgh is a city with little Grade A supply, but the setting, location and quality of 40 Princes Street blew us away when we first saw it. With its unrivalled location in one of the city’s premium office buildings, proximity to the train station and strong retail neighbours, it is the ideal home for many growing businesses. “The new space continues our rapid expansion and reinforces our commitment to opening in the very best locations across all the UK’s core cities.”

New specialist housing scheme gains council support

Tess Egginton
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New specialist housing scheme gains council support
Blaby District Council is supporting a unique development which will provide specialist, supported housing for adults with mental health needs. Together with Homes England the Council has partially grant funded a scheme to bring 15 one-bed self-contained apartments to Blaby village. The project is being delivered by developers Pelham working in partnership with Norton Housing and Support and Modus Partnerships. This is the first affordable supported housing scheme to be brought forward in the District for some time and will meet a demand recognised by the Council. The scheme has been four years in the making and the Council’s Strategic Housing Team have worked closely with partners to progress the project, including providing evidence of the need for the scheme and liaising with planners in order to make sure any site constraints were overcome. The funding from the Council and Homes England was instrumental in ensuring the viability of the development. Councillor Terry Richardson, Leader of Blaby District Council, said: “This is a fantastic example of partners working together to deliver a project which we hope will change the lives of people in the District. “We have recognised for some time there was a lack of supported accommodation for adults with mental health needs. These apartments should help bridge that gap and we are pleased to have been instrumental in ensuring the development gets off the ground.” The apartments will be let at social rent and owned and managed by Norton Housing and Support. The Leicestershire-based charity and registered housing association supports adults with mental health needs and women at risk of homelessness. The site, off Grove Road in Blaby, is Norton Housing and Support’s first purpose-built development scheme. Pelham are working with them as development agents to support this small housing association bring their home-building ambitions to life. The new self-contained homes will offer residents an enhanced housing management support service, to enable independent living for people in need. Councillor Les Phillimore, Blaby District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community, Housing and Environmental Services, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this new housing project which will provide much-needed, supported accommodation for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. “The scheme is a fantastic example of organisations working in partnership to deliver first-class facilities for our communities. We all look forward to seeing the accommodation completed, welcoming the new residents and to seeing them thrive on their journey to independent living.” Sue Cowling, Chief Executive at Norton Housing and Support, said: “While Norton has been supporting people with mental health needs in the Leicester and Leicestershire area for over 38 years, this will be our first new build scheme and first development of this size.” Modus Partnerships have worked with Leicestershire-based IMA Architects in designing the two modern, two-storey blocks that will blend into the local environment and respect neighbouring properties. The development is expected to be completed in spring 2024.
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