Doncaster firm sold to Brazilian owners with help of Shorts of Chesterfield

Stuart Pearcey
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Doncaster firm sold to Brazilian owners with help of Shorts of Chesterfield
Financial Services specialist Shorts has teamed up with Freeths to act as lead advisors and legal representatives to Doncaster-based AML Juratek Ltd in their sale to Brazilian car parts manufacturer Fras-Le in a deal worth £18.2m. Founded in 1995, Juratek Ltd supplies automotive aftermarket braking products for light & commercial vehicles, from its head office in Doncaster. The Company employs 50+ people and distributes around the world. Matt Robinson (Managing Director), Toby Whewell (Sales & Marketing Director) and Mark Clegg (Operations Director) took over full control of the business in 2019 following a Management Buyout, and the business subsequently acquired Braking specialists Bettaparts in 2021 before now selling to Fras-le. Andy Ryder, Partner at Shorts said: “Having assisted Matt, Toby and Mark through a number of transactions over the last four years, it has been an absolute pleasure to have advised them through the latest stage of the Juratek journey.” Matt Robinson added: “This is a fantastic deal for the shareholders but also the start of an exciting journey for the company under the ownership of Fras-Le.” President and CEO of Fras-le, Sergio L. Carvalho said: “With this strategic action we reaffirm our position as one of the largest portfolios of brands for the auto parts aftermarket, expanding the model that has been working in Brazil for new markets; allowing even more growth, important operational synergies and adding value to our business and quality in delivering solutions to our customers.” With a long-standing heritage of over 130 years, Shorts has grown from a local business to a nationally recognised award-winning firm which is home to a wide range of experts and specialists.

Grants of up to £10,000 available to Northamptonshire businesses

Tess Egginton
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Grants of up to £10,000 available to Northamptonshire businesses
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to growing businesses across Northamptonshire for a limited time. SEMLEP is providing the grants through its Growth Curve programme which offers a comprehensive suite of support to business leaders, including one-to-one meetings with business advisers, university masterclasses and peer networking opportunities. With funding for the Growth Curve programme coming to an end soon, businesses which want to take advantage of its grants need to register for the scheme quickly and make their grant applications by April 28. SEMLEP Growth Hub manager Vicky Hlomuka said: “Growth Curve is a fantastic programme which has provided invaluable support and training for local businesses. “When firms register for Growth Curve they’re initially invited to take advantage of three hours of one-to-one support with one of our business advisers and then they are able to apply for grants to fund revenue projects. “This is a great opportunity for growing businesses and I’d urge firms to get in touch with us as soon as possible to make sure they don’t miss out.” The maximum grant available to businesses is £10,000 and match-funding is required from the company. The grants are for revenue projects and the funding needs to be spent by June 15. To help businesses with their grant applications, SEMLEP is running a free online Revenue Grant Surgery from 10am to 12 midday on Friday, April 21. Growth Curve is open to businesses which are experiencing or projecting high growth in the next two to three years, have a minimum of two employees and a current annual turnover of £100,000 with projected 20 per cent annual growth minimum.

Nottingham Venues selected to host UDine Awards

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham Venues selected to host UDine Awards

Nottingham Venues has been selected as the host venue for the upcoming UDine Awards. Up to 130 people from across the UK’s university hospitality sector will attend the event at Nottingham Venues’ Orchard Hotel on Tuesday 20 June. The event will be hosted by celebrity chef, restaurateur, and TV host Simon Rimmer.

The UDine awards are a joint initiative between Inside Foodservice and University Hospitality Seminars. The annual event celebrates excellence in the university hospitality sector and recognises the organisations that are leading the way in the industry.

Prior to the awards, Udine and Nottingham Venues will host an afternoon of networking and a series of seminars where leaders within the industry can discuss sector issues and share best practice. Sustainability is high on the agenda, and the Orchard Hotel’s strong environmental credentials and focus on reducing its environmental impact is one of the reasons it was chosen as the host venue.

In addition to hosting the event, Nottingham Venues has also put the Orchard Hotel forward for the University Hotel Award. Located within the University of Nottingham campus, the 4* eco-friendly hotel comprises 202 bedrooms, 6 meeting rooms, a restaurant and welcomes thousands of business and leisure guests each year.

Tom Waldron-Lynch, general manager of Nottingham Venues, says: “The Udine Awards are a landmark event within the university hospitality sector, and I am delighted that we will be hosting the event this year.

“Over the past year, the Nottingham Venues team has been focussed on putting our venues on the map in terms of the quality of provision we can offer industry award organisers, so I’m pleased that the organisers of the most significant awards in our sector has chosen to partner with us for the 2023 Udine Awards.”

David McKown MBE, director of the UDine Awards, adds: “Nottingham Venues’ facilities and its location within the grounds of the University of Nottingham made it the perfect location for this year’s awards. Sustainability is a huge issue within our industry, and we therefore also wanted to partner with a venue that put sustainability at the heart of its service.”

12 speakers confirmed for free day-long ‘Survive and Thrive’ event for SMEs

Tess Egginton
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12 speakers confirmed for free day-long ‘Survive and Thrive’ event for SMEs

Expert speakers who will share tips on how to ‘survive and thrive’ in business in 2023 have now been confirmed for a free event next week.

The one-off conference has been organised by the Business Gateway Growth Hub and will be hosted by LLEP Board Members Glynis Wright MBE and Sonia Baigent.

It takes place on Tuesday April 18, at Leicester’s Morningside Arena and will cover a variety of cost-saving themes and explore possible solutions to current pain points faced by local firms.

This will include effective workforces, managing energy costs, and leading in challenging times.

There are still some places left for businesses to register now to attend the event.

Business owner and qualified accountant Sonia has provided business consultancy and support to SMEs for more than 15 years.

She will give her own talk, using ‘real life’ examples and success stories, as will local business leader and qualified solicitor Glynis. Also taking to the stage will be:

  • Caitlin Davies – Microsoft UK
  • Steven Mather – Steven Mather Solicitor
  • Azar Khan – Axiom Energy
  • Anna Cyhan – LLEP Skills
  • Alpa Chauhan and Sally Drew – Leicester Employment Hub
  • Sally Newnham – Mental Health and Productivity Pilot
  • Christiane Startin-Lorent – Carbon Literacy Advocate and Trainer
  • Stu Spencer – Charnwood Accountants
  • Sam Goddard – St James Systems
  • Saleem Arif – ReviewSolicitors

Presentation topics include recruitment, negotiating energy contracts, navigating debt, financial resilience, productivity hacks, and more.

Sonia said: “With such a strong roster of speakers and stallholders, business owners and attendees will leave the expo feeling positive and motivated. They will also be armed with useful tips that they can use to strengthen their position.

“The current cost of doing business means local owners and directors are facing a daily challenge to manage the needs of both their business and its stakeholders.

“My session will look at how you can bring focus and clarity to everyday decisions, as well as covering the support and options available to businesses in times of distress.

“Our other speakers will also draw from their experiences to offer practical advice and tips on how to access support.

“The purpose of the event is to signpost business owners to available support, whilst also providing practical tools and tips to help manage the current cost of doing business during the cost of living crisis.”

There will be an expo outside of organisations offering free help and support to local businesses. Universities, banks, networks and trade bodies are among confirmed stallholders so far. They include:

  • ACAS
  • Axiom Energy
  • Barclays Eagle Labs
  • Centre for Organisational Resilience
  • East Midlands Chamber
  • Embark CSR
  • Federation of Small Businesses
  • Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership
  • Leicester City Council
  • LUInc (Loughborough University business incubator for the LLEP-supported Wayfinder programme)
  • NatWest
  • ReviewSolicitors
  • Sir Thomas White Loan Charity
  • Steven Mather Solicitor
  • The Anderson Partnership
  • University of Leicester School of Business

Sonia added: “Over the last few years, the challenges of running a business have grown. The fallout from the pandemic, high inflation, impossible energy hikes – it’s all taken its toll. We aim to provide practical advice that can be used immediately, for businesses to survive and grow in 2023 and beyond.”

Reserve your ticket now

DSP (Interiors) unveils new agile offices for Surescreen Diagnostics

Tess Egginton
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DSP (Interiors) unveils new agile offices for Surescreen Diagnostics
Design, refurbishment, and fit-out specialists DSP (Interiors) Ltd have completed the design and fit out of new agile offices for SureScreen Diagnostics Ltd, at their lateral flow test production facility at Sherwood Business Park in Annesley, Nottingham. Over the past two years, the company, which is based on the Parker Industrial Estate on Mansfield Road in Derby, has been principal designer and contractor on a range of fit-out projects across their premises in Derby and Nottingham. SureScreen wanted to centralise their office base for staff across various locations at the same time as moving away from a traditional office structure to an agile workspace that would foster a more collaborative and innovative culture. The team at DSP (Interiors) has created a new office space, which incorporates the latest in agile office design principles to create a flexible and dynamic workplace. One of the key elements of the design was the creation of a variety of workspaces that cater for different work styles and needs including workstations, meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, breakout areas and social spaces. Drawing inspiration from local history, a guiding theme for the project was Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak. The design incorporates biophilia extensively throughout, including features such as a striking moss wall with SureScreen branding, an impressive floating wooden ceiling raft intertwined with vines and various other bespoke planters with foliage. Fabric backed wooden slat walls and fabric ceiling rafts complement the biophilic design and warming flooring whilst providing a more comfortable acoustic environment. Extensive graphic walls and manifestation to glazing incorporating nature landscapes serve to bring the ‘outdoors inside,’ creating a calming backdrop and promoting wellness in the workplace. A suite of high-end double glazed banded acoustic enclosed offices and meeting spaces provide quiet zones for focused and team-based tasks. The fit-out process involved the installation of a range of contemporary furniture, technology and equipment to create a modern, efficient and flexible workspace. The new agile office design has resulted in a significant increase in employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction. The new workstations, breakout areas and collaboration spaces have facilitated communication and teamwork, enabling employees and other visitors to work together more effectively. Speaking about the creation of the new agile offices at Sherwood Business Park, Andy Priestley, director of DSP (Interiors) Ltd Derby, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work alongside SureScreen Diagnostics on this exciting project, which has brought together the latest in agile office design principles to create a new flexible and dynamic workplace for SureScreen’s Diagnostics team. “As principal designer, DSP (Interiors) Ltd set out to create a contemporary working environment, which would incorporate biophilia and create nature-inspired spaces that help workers engage with each other and their surroundings. “We look forward to continued collaboration with them on the next phase of their state-of-the-art manufacturing site at Sherwood Park.” Alastair Campbell, director of SureScreen Diagnostics, added: “The new space has helped us to create a more collaborative and innovative workplace. Once again, Andy and his dedicated team have provided an excellent service from start to finish. The variety of the working space and the fit and finish helped in the process of coming together from several smaller sites in Derby, and the team quickly appreciated the opportunity to evolve the way they work together, for the better. “For visitors, we can present a forward looking and interesting location for meetings, and the comments from our visiting colleagues has been very complimentary. “As a business involved in health diagnostics, we present ourselves as innovators who don’t cut corners, but with an approachable demeanour, and the agile office reflects those attributes. We would highly recommend Andy and the whole team at DSP as they continue to deliver outstanding workplace environments for us.”

Trio of promotions for Nottingham accountancy firm

Tess Egginton
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Trio of promotions for Nottingham accountancy firm

Nottingham-based chartered accountants, Clayton & Brewill, has promoted three of its senior team to directors, in line with the next phase of its succession plans.

Promoted to directors are the firm’s Amanda Stefanetti, Rebecca Higginbottom and Adam Rostance.

Having obtained her ACA qualification at Newby Castleman, Amanda Stefanetti joined Clayton & Brewill in 2008, where she went on to achieve FCA status. In her role at the firm, Amanda works with SMEs and their directors, assisting them with accounts preparation, management accounts, VAT returns and company and personal tax returns.

Prior to Clayton & Brewill, Rebecca Higginbottom previously worked for Hyett & Langfield. When the firm was acquired by Clayton & Brewill in 2003, she continued in her account manager role and went on to achieve her AAT, ACA and FCA qualifications. At Clayton & Brewill, Rebecca undertakes a wide range of accountancy services, including management accounts, year-end reporting, and personal and corporate taxes.

Adam Rostance joined Clayton & Brewill in June 2012 as an AAT apprentice. After initially working within the firm’s compliance department, Adam transferred to the audit department as an audit junior, working his way up to the role of accounts and audit manager. He now oversees a portfolio of clients ranging from small sole traders to large group companies.

Doug Perry, partner at Clayton & Brewill, says: “Amanda, Rebecca and Adam are highly valued members of the team, fantastic ambassadors for the firm, and exceptionally talented accountants. As well as delivering an excellent service to meet varying client needs, they provide a robust support network for the firm’s partners. These promotions recognise their commitment to Clayton & Brewill and the diligence they have shown over the years.”

Plastic packaging designer and manufacturer enters administration

Tess Egginton
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Plastic packaging designer and manufacturer enters administration
Martyn Rickels, Allan Kelly and Simon Farr of specialist business advisory firm FRP have been appointed as joint administrators to iTEC Packaging (Mansfield) Limited and iTEC Packaging (Chester-Le-Street) Limited. iTEC Packaging is a plastic packaging designer and manufacturer that employed 247 staff across sites in Chester-Le-Street and Mansfield. The business, which provides injection moulding, thermoforming, extrusion and compression moulding services, faced financial pressures following difficult trading conditions. The joint administrators will continue trading iTEC Packaging to fulfil outstanding orders where possible while they market the business and assets for sale. Upon appointment, 44 roles were made redundant. The remaining staff have been retained to assist the joint administrators in their duties. Martyn Rickels, joint administrator at iTEC Packaging, said: “iTEC Packaging has sizeable operations in Chester-Le-Street and Mansfield with manufacturing capabilities that can produce a vast range of packaging products. We have begun a marketing process to find a buyer and encourage any interested parties to come forward. “In the meantime, we are trading the business as we fulfil outstanding orders for customers.”

Change in tourism status hailed as huge opportunity for tourism businesses

Stuart Pearcey
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Change in tourism status hailed as huge opportunity for tourism businesses
The two organisations responsible for bringing more tourists to the Derby, Derbyshire, and thePeak District are joining forces to gain Local Visitor Economy Partnership status from VisitEngland. Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby is one of 12 new LVEPs to be announced by Visit England. The new, formal partnership aims to encourage partnership working and increase visitor numbers in their area. As part of the LVEP status, the Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby team will be able to access specialist training on topics like sustainability and accessibility as well as support to make bids to the Government for funding to increase visitor numbers. LVEP status recognises exemplar tourism bodies, that work in partnership to support the development of the tourism economy in their destination areas. This is achieved through ensuring the area is inclusive, accessible and sustainable for all visitors. Rob Gorton, Chair of the Derby Destination Development Board said: “For Visit Derby and Visit Peak District and Derbyshire to be successful as one of the first VisitEngland accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships is a great achievement. “Derby, with its rich heritage of making, and its vibrant and diverse cultural life today, is a fantastic partner and complement to Derbyshire and the Peak District’s offer. “The opportunity for the city and its visitor facing businesses is huge, and access to national campaigns and support from the national Tourism Board will help significantly increase footfall in the city. “We will work to help make Derby the best possible partner for the LVEP, and to increase the city’s attractiveness as a great place to visit, as a great place to do business, and as a great place to live and work.” Rachel North, Strategic Director of Communities and Place at Derby City Council added: “This is a real step forward for Derby. Our wonderful city is the beating heart of the county which much to recommend it to visitors from its vibrant nightlife , diverse cultural venues including the nationally acclaimed Museum of Making and the exciting Darley Park Weekender to the hugely successful Derbion shopping centre. “Achieving national accreditation will help the city to reach wider audiences and attract more domestic and international visitors. We look forward to working in partnership alongside Visit England to develop the LVEP model and help to transform the visitor economy in Derby.”

Nottingham industrial site sold

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham industrial site sold
The sale of a mixed industrial site in Nottingham has signalled the latest foray north for one of the Midlands’ leading commercial property agencies.
The completion of the sale of Daleside House in Calverton highlighted the continued expansion of Coventry-based Bromwich Hardy beyond the firm’s traditional Warwickshire patch. Daleside House, in Park Road East, was sold for £2.5 million, which included the sole asset company Park Road East Developments Ltd which owned the site. Bromwich Hardy consultant Charles Smith, who handled the sale, said the site had offered a tremendous opportunity for asset management. He said: “Daleside House has enjoyed consistently high occupancy levels over the years, with many of the tenants of the larger units having been on the site for many years. It is in a designated employment zone and offers lots of potential for a good yield on the investment.” Daleside House is a large industrial, warehouse and office building sub-divided into individual units. The site is fenced and gated and includes a 50-space car park. To the front is a two-storey brick office block, with the industrial and warehouse units in a ‘U’ shaped block around a central service yard and parking area. In all, there are 41 individual offices or units, including nine larger self-contained warehouse and industrial units. Most of the buildings are steel portal frame construction but some parts have a concrete frame. The site is in Calverton, a village about seven miles north-east of Nottingham city centre and ideally situated to link to the East Midlands transport networks. The sale of Daleside House was the latest deal concluded by Bromwich Hardy in the north of England. Working on behalf of Socotec UK Ltd, Charles has also worked on three deals in the Doncaster area, including the sale of a site on Askern Road and an office building on Hexthorpe Road, and advising and negotiating a lease on a warehouse on Wellsyke Road. Tom Bromwich, founding partner of Bromwich Hardy, said: “Congratulations to Charles for successfully concluding the sale of Daleside House. This and the deals he worked on in Doncaster prove that Bromwich Hardy is a trusted name far and wide, and I look forward to broadening our reach into even more areas in the future. “Our team are all well respected in the field, and it is great that Charles could use his experience and his contacts to make inroads into a new area for us. “Bromwich Hardy is going from strength to strength thanks to the talent and expertise we have in our team.”

Independent housebuilder secures funding package for Northamptonshire development

Tess Egginton
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Independent housebuilder secures funding package for Northamptonshire development
Paragon Bank’s Development Finance division has provided a £2.5 million finance package to support the development of 10 new build houses in Flore, Northamptonshire. The funding package will result in two two-bedroom affordable homes, two three-bedroom affordable homes, a row of three three-bedroom properties, two four-bedroom detached houses and one five-bedroom detached house. The homes are being developed on the site of a former petrol station in the centre of the village. Barry Howard Homes has been creating new and renovated homes in the East Midlands since the 1990s. The new development is situated at the heart of the historic Flore village in the Northamptonshire countryside and is ideally located for both Daventry and the M1. Funding for the development was led on behalf of the bank by relationship director Adrian Reeves, with support from portfolio manager Jess Pilkington. Barry Howard, CEO of Barry Howard Homes, said: “Paragon understood the passion we have for creating beautiful homes and is the ideal funding partner for our Flore development. This is set to provide the region with wonderful new properties.” Adrian Reeves, Paragon Bank Development Finance relationship manager, said: “With work now underway, I have been pleased to follow the progress of Barry Howard Homes’ latest development and am delighted that Paragon is assisting the company in delivering new, affordable properties.”
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