Local construction partners come together to help fulfill Lincolnshire charity’s new HQ project
Landscape architecture practice, Influence Landscape Planning & Design, is bringing together volunteer construction and professional services partners to deliver fit-out works for Lincolnshire charity Naomi’s Garden.
Louth-based Naomi’s Garden, which provides conductive education and special education needs consultancy, has been raising funds to find a new HQ having outgrown its current centre in Manby.
The current site limits the amount of adults and children it can support resulting in its therapists having to travel the length and breadth of Lincolnshire to provide its specialist services, reducing the sessions it can deliver.
The charity raised enough funds to secure a new property on Manby Park, but is continuing to fundraise to turn the new building – previously a motorcycle shop – into a fit-for-purpose facility, where it can deliver its lifechanging services to more people.
East Midlands construction partners who have committed to providing their services, with materials needed for the project being provided at cost price, are Influence, contractor G F Tomlinson, project manager and quantity surveyor Gleeds, GBM Demolition, A + G Architects and professional services firm Knights.
The construction partners will be working together to completely transform the premises into Naomi’s Garden’s forever home. Works include raising floors, installing ramps, new windows and doors, and complete interior decoration.
When complete, the new centre will enable the charity to extend its working hours, provide group sessions and create a dynamic learning environment for all no matter what their disability, resulting in supporting 50% more adults and children each year. The building will also give them the option to run group sessions and be used for wider community use.
Sarah-Jayne Walker, lead conductor at Naomi’s Garden, said: “We currently have a waiting list of families across Lincolnshire who are waiting to benefit from the unique therapy we provide. Therefore, we desperately need our new more accessible hub to be functional, so we can continue our work and expand to help those families who are relying on us as the only service provider of our kind in our area.
“The team and I are overwhelmed by Sara’s offer to help and the professional team she has brought together are incredibly kind and we would not be able to progress with the adaptation of our new building without their knowledge and skilled services. A huge thank you to all our wonderful partners. We feel incredibly excited by what comes next.
“However, we do still need to raise enough funds to help us reach our next goal of adapting it to create our new centre. Please consider making a donation. Thank you.”
Newark-based Influence Landscape Planning & Design are chartered landscape architects, urban designers, environmental planners and arborists and offer knowledge and consultancy across a wide range of disciplines.
Managing Director Sara, who lives in Louth, contacted Naomi’s Garden during the pandemic having read about their plight and initially offered to help by providing landscaping services. That conversation continued to Sara offering to bring together a team of willing partners to deliver the works to the new building.
Sara said: “At a time when no one was feeling the impact of the pandemic quite like charitable organisations, and with Naomi’s Garden delivering such life impacting work and in my local area, the team and I wanted to help.
“The charity has worked so hard to get to this position; to have secured its new home through fundraising is a real achievement. While more money is needed to buy materials for the fit-out, the construction industry here in the East Midlands has some incredible companies and individuals who want to make a real difference to good causes. I simply picked up the phone to some of my contacts and was humbled by those wanting to support.
“Thank you to those partners and I’m looking forward to working with you all when the works start.”
Naomi’s Garden raised £160,000, which enabled them to secure the new building. Fundraising activities included hiking the National Three Peaks, a skydive, a Christmas concert, a charity ball and social enterprise company Key Fund provided the charity with a loan of £30,800 and a grant of £9,200.
The construction works to be undertaken to the new premises will cost approximately £350,000 and further fundraising and grant applications are underway to achieve this.
Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “As a Midlands-based contractor, we deliver projects throughout Lincolnshire that deliver life changing facilities and provide opportunities for the local communities to flourish. When Sara invited G F Tomlinson to be involved in this project, we jumped at the chance to give our support to such a worthy cause.
“Naomi’s Garden makes a real impact on the lives of many Lincolnshire families, and we are proud to be helping them, alongside other like-minded construction partners, to reach and support more people with their specialist services.”
Naomi’s Garden provides conductive education in Lincolnshire to families who have loved ones with movement disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s, Dyspraxia and Motor Delay. The charity also has a SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) specialist who works with the needs of children with autism, ADHD and sensory processing issues.
With the help of Lincolnshire County Council, Naomi’s Garden also provides free school holiday provision services including free healthy meals and enriching activities for children.
Works are due to start on the new premises in the Autumn, when the charity hopes to have the final confirmation of a funding application.
To make a donation towards Naomi’s Garden’s new premises please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/naomis-gardens-big-move?utm_campaign=p_nacp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
Ideagen to make fourth acquisition of 2023
Nottingham-based Ideagen are looking to strengthen the portfolio of solutions they offer to organizations in regulated and high compliance industries by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire San Francisco-headquartered DevonWay, a provider of compliance and operations management software to sectors such as energy and utilities, advanced manufacturing, nuclear power generation, and US national laboratories.
Speaking about the news, Ideagen CEO Ben Dorks said: “The addition of DevonWay will provide us with a very exciting opportunity to strengthen solutions for those complex high-risk industries that may have to meet the requirements of multiple regulatory bodies.
“Chris and the team have built a great solution and have supported a loyal customer base to transform how they manage their risk, quality, safety and compliance and we believe that together we can support its global growth.”
DevonWay solutions provide a complete, fully integrated, configurable product suite across environmental health and safety, quality management, enterprise asset management and workforce management.
DevonWay CEO, Chris Moustakas, said: “Joining Ideagen offers us the opportunity to scale at pace. We always knew that to take the business to the next level would require some form of investment.
“After running a highly competitive process over many months, Ideagen emerged as the clear choice. Their values, culture, strategic focus and existing client base make them a natural fit that is in the best interests of our customers, partners and employees. I’m incredibly excited by this next step in our journey.”
The acquisition is expected to close on Friday 29 September. Due to the industries and organizations DevonWay supports, and the fact that Ideagen is headquartered in the UK, the transaction is undergoing a customary regulatory review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
Company fined £1.275m after man crushed to death
A Birmingham company has been fined £1,275,000 after a 26-year-old man was crushed to death during maintenance work at Mountsorrel Quarry in Leicestershire.
Luke Branston, from Leicester, died in the early hours of 21 June 2017 after becoming trapped between a conveyor and a feed hopper.
Luke’s family, who loved going stock car racing with him every weekend, say they are devastated by his passing.
The contractor, working on behalf of Branston Site Services Limited, was part of a nightshift maintenance team that was repairing a feed hopper at the Loughborough quarry, operated by Tarmac Aggregates Limited.
He had been stood on a conveyor that was located under the feed hopper and had not been effectively isolated – through cutting the power – before the repair work started.
The conveyor was then inadvertently switched on, trapping Luke against the feed hopper, fatally crushing the 26-year-old.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into this incident found Tarmac Aggregates Limited had failed to ensure the feed hopper was properly isolated before the repair work commenced. The test button on the conveyor electrical panel was not connected to the test circuit and was therefore inoperative. This issue appears to have existed for many years before the incident, meaning Tarmac Aggregates Limited failed to ensure critical defects were recorded and rectified in a timely manner. The company should have also provided a visual and audible pre-start alarm for the conveyor.
Tarmac Aggregates Limited, of Trinity Park, Bickenhill Lane, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £1,275,000 and ordered to pay £200,000 in costs at Leicester Crown Court on 27 September 2023.
HSE inspector Adrian Jurg said: “This is a devastating tragedy that claimed the life of a young man. Luke’s family have made clear the impact his passing has had on their lives and our thoughts remain with them.
“When a company like Tarmac profit from the hard work of contractors like Luke then the very least they owe him and his family is a duty to ensure he gets home safe at the end of his shift.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
This prosecution was supported by HSE enforcement lawyer Alan Hughes.
Revenue and profit rise at Microlise
Nottingham-based Microlise Group, the provider of transport management software to fleet operators, has seen double digit growth as supply chain issues begin to ease.
According to unaudited results for the six months ended 30 June 2023, revenue grew 10.5% to £33.9m, from £30.7m in the same period of 2022. Pre-tax profits, meanwhile, increased 5.7% to £1.5m. The results follow Microlise’s first acquisition since IPO, of Vita Software for £1.86m.Nadeem Raza, CEO of Microlise, said: “Microlise delivered another strong performance during H1 2023 as we successfully executed our growth strategy. We secured new customers in our key geographies beyond the UK including France, Australia and New Zealand, expanded our customer base, and efficiently integrated our latest acquisition.
“We have successfully navigated the company through global supply chain issues and subsequent delays in new vehicle availability, maintaining strong relationships with our valued customers. We are seeing significant improvements in all these situations, which we expect to have normalised by the start of 2024.
“During the second half of the year, our focus will remain on investing in growth, expanding our product portfolio, and growing our strong customer base and geographical presence. Whilst it is sensible to look to the future with a degree of caution, given the continuing global macro-economic challenges, the Company’s positive trading performance during the period and proven ability to navigate these challenges, underpin the Board’s confidence that the Group’s performance for FY23 will be in line with market expectations.”
Kettering logistics firm enters administration
A Kettering logistics group has entered administration amidst challenging market conditions, with around 730 employees to be made redundant.
KNP Logistics Group was subject to a cyber attack earlier this year, which joint administrators Rajnesh Mittal and Philip Armstrong of FRP Advisory said had harmed the group’s financial position and ability to secure further funding and investment.
The news comes as one of the group’s firms, Nelson Distribution, has been sold. Kinaxia Logistics acquired the trade and assets of Derbyshire-based Nelson Distribution, securing the jobs of 170 staff.
KNP was formed when Knights of Old merged with Nelson Distribution in 2016 and includes Steve Porter Transport.
New business support service for Hinckley and Bosworth
Businesses across Hinckley and Bosworth now have access to a new funded business support programme, the Leicestershire Business Advice Service.
The free to access support will include start-up workshops, accelerator programmes, one-to-one advice and more to help businesses at all stages of their journey. Whether you have a business idea, have just started out, are an established organisation looking to accelerate your growth or just need a bit of advice to help with your business planning, the Leicestershire Business Advice Service will be able to support you.
The set up of this service is a partnership between the seven district councils in Leicestershire: Harborough District Council, Blaby District Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, Melton Borough Council, and Charnwood Borough Council.
Each council has funded the Leicestershire Business Advice Service through their allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Funding. Hinckley and Bosworth’s allocation was £78,478.57.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leader, Cllr Stuart Bray said: “Businesses of all sizes in our borough will be able to benefit from the help and expertise this service can offer. This locally based business support service will give people the information, skills and connections to start-up, protect and grow their business, so I would urge companies to get in touch and make the most of this free and impartial advice.”
The service will be provided by Exemplas who are experienced in delivering business support programmes that helps small and mid-sized companies develop, communities thrive and local economies grow.
Martin Coats, Operations & Commercial Development Director at Exemplas, said: “Exemplas is pleased to bring our expertise and proven experience in economic support and development to deliver this much needed service. We’re excited to introduce a team of advisers that not only have experience in starting and running successful businesses, but also know the county well and will help businesses flourish.”
This support replaces previous EU funded programmes which have now come to an end. The Leicestershire Business Advice Service will run until March 2025.
Staveley town centre regeneration plans released
Revised proposals for the multi-million-pound regeneration of Staveley town centre have been released by Chesterfield Borough Council, following Government approval to allocate additional funding to the project.
The six-million-pound Staveley 21 project has been in development over the last year following publication of the Staveley Town Centre Vision Masterplan which received strong public support in November 2021.
The proposals – which are funded through the Staveley Town Deal – were shared at a meeting of Staveley Town Council on Tuesday night.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We know everyone has been keen to see the council’s proposals for Staveley town centre and I’m delighted that we are now able to share these. As a package the proposals seek to enhance the town centre – opening it up for new uses that will encourage more people to visit whilst also supporting existing retailers, market traders and high street businesses.”
A range of visuals have been prepared to bring the proposals to life with a particular focus on the new pavilion building and how the marketplace will look and could be used by different audiences.
The new pavilion building sits between the Staveley Miners Welfare building and Staveley High Street. Of modern design but one that is also reflective of Staveley’s heritage, the building will form a striking new focal point in the heart of the town centre. Several uses for the building are currently being considered including as a potential site for Derbyshire County Council’s relocation of Staveley library and also for retail, leisure, and business start-up uses.
As an enlarged public open space, the marketplace will be designed as a flexible environment to support existing uses such as Staveley Town Council’s regular markets but also as a setting that can be used to host a wide range of new events to encourage more people to visit the town centre.
Tiered outdoor seating will be introduced to support outdoor theatre and open-air cinema screenings, and play equipment installed to help make the marketplace more attractive to families.
New paving, lighting, street furniture and planting will help create an enhanced atmosphere and visitor experience at any time of day or night whilst new signage will help connect the town centre with Staveley’s other visitor attractions including the Chesterfield Canal and Staveley Hall.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, continued: “Town centres across the country are changing and our proposals reflect this need to adapt. We have already secured a main contractor to deliver the project and our aim is to achieve planning permission in Spring 2024. In line with the Government’s requirements, we plan to be on site in Autumn 2024 and for all of the construction work to have been completed by the end of 2025.
“Ahead of this, we are committed to carrying out extensive engagement on the proposals to ensure that we capture the views of all stakeholders and make appropriate adjustments ahead of submitting the necessary planning application.
“We’re also still seeking applications for the shop front grant scheme which we launched in February. A total sum of £600k is available to support shop owners and landlords to make improvements to their premises.”
Ivan Fomin, chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “The delivery of the Staveley 21 project is a big first step towards realising the Staveley Town Centre Vision Masterplan which received strong public support in November 2021.
“It’s exciting to see Chesterfield Borough Council move the project forward into this next phase, which reflects the Staveley Town Deal Board’s vision and ambition for Staveley town centre.
“These are significant proposals which will ensure Staveley town centre is a place where local people and visitors will want to spend time whilst also supporting local businesses to grow not only now but in the future.”
Free eco scheme to help local fleet operators
Leicester City Council has become the latest UK local authority to join the ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme.
The voluntary scheme encourages and supports operators of HGVs, buses and vans to run their fleets more efficiently and help improve air quality.
The city council has teamed up with international transport consultancy TRL to encourage more local fleet operators to sign up to the scheme. Funding for Leicester’s ECO Stars scheme comes from the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit and joining is free of charge.
By signing up, organisations will receive an expert appraisal of their fleet along with practical advice about how to improve efficiency and cut fuel consumption.
So far, over 30 local fleet operators have joined the city council in signing up to Leicester’s ECO Stars scheme.
Samworth Brothers are one of the organisations who have already signed up to ECO Stars, and are in the process of converting vehicles to become more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.
Paul Marrow, Samworth Brothers Supply Chain Operations Director, said: “This scheme has been of great use for Samworths. We are doing our bit for the city by lowering the emissions our vehicles produce and are grateful of the support ECO Stars has offered our organisation.”
Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on climate, economy and culture, said: “We’re pleased to be to be bringing ECO Stars to Leicester. The scheme offers practical help and advice to local fleet operators on how to operate more efficiently and reduce fuel consumption. This can help local business bring down their running costs and do their bit to cut emissions and help improve air quality.
“We’ve had a really good response from local operators so far, but we want to make sure as many local operators as possible have the chance to benefit from this free, voluntary scheme.”
Leicester City Council is following industry best practice by managing its own fleet for efficiency and safety, and is adopting a move to electric vehicles where possible as part of its overall renewal programme.
Jim Chappell, fleet efficiency principal consultant at TRL, said: “For over 10 years the ECO Stars scheme has provided commercial vehicle operators with individually tailored practical help to reduce their emissions through the sharing of industry best practice and providing independent advice on new technologies. TRL is delighted to roll the scheme out in Leicester as part of the city’s actions to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life for local residents.”
Local schools join Derby engineering firm for National Manufacturing Day
Students from schools across Derbyshire have visited Acres Engineering’s Melbourne facility to celebrate National Manufacturing Day (NMD – 28th September).
Around 60 Year 10 engineering design students from Chellaston Academy, Pingle Academy (Swadlincote) and Ashby School joined the family-run firm for an eye-opening experience at their recently expanded site.
Luke Parker, MD of Acres Engineering, says: “Acres has an ambition to drive more students into manufacturing and hope that by opening our doors we can inspire both girls and boys to be interested in an exhilarating career.
“The goal of NMD is to show the reality and increase the appeal of modern manufacturing careers so we are always keen to play our part in encouraging the next generation by working with our local schools.”
As well as Q&As with the Acres team, students created poppies for Remembrance Day from start to the end product, using CNC machines before applying a powder coat finish.
National Manufacturing Day demonstrates the value of a Manufacturing Apprenticeship, engaging with students, parents, teachers, community leaders and local residents.
Chris Corkan, Interim Region Director, Make UK, added: “I applaud Acres Engineering for throwing open their doors in support of National Manufacturing Day. An important showcase of what we do, make and the careers on offer in modern high-tech environments. Our sector provides fulfilling and exciting careers that pay wages 9% higher than the overall economy.
“The UK is the eight largest manufacturing nation in the world. National Manufacturing Day is all about shouting about that success and sharing with the local community how industry remains on the forefront of delivering net zero and entering into the fourth industrial revolution.”
Property professionals will gather tonight for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023!
It is finally the day to attend the eagerly anticipated East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023!
It is an evening for Business Link and professionals alike to recognise, celebrate, and network with the property and construction industry – those behind the changing landscape of our region.
Winners will be announced today (Thursday 28 September) in the Derek Randall Suite at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The event will start at 4:30pm and conclude at 7:30pm, with complimentary drinks and canapés served on arrival, kindly sponsored by Nicholas Associates Group.
The event will also feature Matt Wallace, Director of Estates and Building Services at Leicester City Council, as keynote speaker.
East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
When: Thursday 28 September 2023, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Where: The Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
Keynote speaker: Matt Wallace, Director of Estates and Building Services at Leicester City Council
Dress code: Standard business attire
Parking: Due to the Notts V Middlesex 4 day County Championship fixture, parking will likely be limited at Trent Bridge on the day, therefore parking has been made available for Bricks guests at the Notts Sports Club, Holme Road, NG2 5AA (by Nottingham Rugby Football Club), quoting “Bricks Awards” to any parking and gate stewards.
Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
Shortlist for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
Most Active Estate Agent – sponsored by OMS
BB&J Commercial
Mather Jamie
FHP Commercial Development of the Year – sponsored by MKMHBD – Power Park, Nottingham
Henry Brothers Construction – SportPark Pavilion 4, Loughborough
Bolsterstone Group Plc, Chesterfield Borough Council – One Waterside Place, Chesterfield Responsible Business of the Year – sponsored by Press for Attention PR Cawarden G F Tomlinson Aspbury Planning Limited Residential Development of the Year – sponsored by Sterling Commercial FinancePhoenix Brickwork UK Ltd – St Marks student accommodation, Lincoln
Elms Developments – Elms Phase Two Ltd
St James Securities, Grainger – The Condor, Derby
Deal of the Year – sponsored by Mather JamieRushton Hickman Limited – Branston Locks deal
Bassi Group Nottingham Ltd – Job saving Pizza Hut takeover
Rigby & Co – Aida Factory deal
Developer of the Year – sponsored by WardChevin Homes
Clowes Developments
Brackley Property Developments
Architects of the Year – sponsored by Blueprint InteriorsIMA Architects
Matthew Montague Architects
Influence Landscape Planning and Design
Excellence in Design – sponsored by CawardenChevin Homes – Amber Farm
Marchini Curran Associates – Phoenix cinema and art centre
Trident Construction Services – Lark Hill Retirement Village refurbishment
Sustainable Development of the Year – sponsored by Viridis Building Services LtdHBD – Power Park, Nottingham
Henry Brothers Construction – SportPark Pavilion 4, Loughborough
Elms Developments – Elms Phase Two ltd
Contractor of the Year – sponsored by RammSanderson CawardenEE Smith Contracts
Bowmer + Kirkland
The Overall Winner, sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants, will also be announced at the ceremony, who will be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
To be held at:
