Rolls-Royce has successfully completed the first tests of its UltraFan technology demonstrator at its facility in Derby. The first tests were conducted using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
This is an historic moment for Rolls-Royce – it’s the first time in 54 years the aero-engine manufacturer has tested a brand-new engine architecture and is proof of what can be achieved when industry and Governments work together.
Confirming the capability of the suite of technologies incorporated in the demonstrator is a big step towards improving the efficiency of current and future aero-engines. UltraFan delivers a 10% efficiency improvement over the Trent XWB, which is already the world’s most efficient large aero engine in service.
In the nearer term, there are options to transfer technologies from the UltraFan development programme to current Trent engines, providing customers with greater availability, reliability and efficiency.
In the longer term, UltraFan’s scalable technology from ~25,000-110,000lb thrust offers the potential to power new narrowbody and widebody aircraft anticipated in the 2030s.
Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce plc, said: “The UltraFan demonstrator is a game changer – the technologies we are testing as part of this programme have the capability to improve the engines of today as well as the engines of tomorrow.
“That is why this announcement is so important – we are witnessing history in the making; a step-change in engine efficiency improvement. When combined with Sustainable Aviation Fuels, more efficient gas turbine engines will be key to hitting the industry’s target of Net Zero flight by 2050. Today we are closer to achieving this ambition.
“Collaboration is key in driving the decarbonisation of air travel and the UltraFan programme is a great example of what can be achieved when government and industry come together with a common purpose.”
The tests took place in the world’s largest and smartest indoor aero-engine testing facility – Testbed 80. The 100% SAF, derived primarily from waste-based sustainable feedstocks such as used cooking oils, was provided by Air bp.
Testing the demonstrator is the culmination of many years work, which has been supported by the UK Government through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Innovate UK; the EU’s Clean Sky programmes plus LuFo and the State of Brandenburg in Germany.
UK Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, said: “This cutting-edge technology will help the transition towards a greener future for aviation while attracting further investment into the UK’s aerospace industry, helping grow the economy.
“I’m proud that the Government has backed this initiative through our Aerospace Technology Institute programme, and we will continue to work with manufacturers like Rolls-Royce as we seek to grow the UK’s share of the global aerospace market.”
UltraFan has been a decade in the making, with the concept unveiled publicly in 2014.
One of Ascot Drive’s most prominent industrial properties has been let to Stonbury, the water and environment sustainability specialists who work with the UK’s water companies and the Environment Agency.
Stonbury have relocated their Derby premises to Unit 5 Sidney Robinson Business Park, Ascot Drive, in a deal facilitated by Salloway Property Consultants.
William Speed, of Salloway Property Consultants, acted on behalf of a private landlord client to secure the new tenant for the 10,000 sq ft industrial unit shortly after the premises became vacant.
William said: “There remains exceptionally high levels of occupier demand for industrial space of this nature – a point proven by the fact that were able to secure such a high-quality tenant within just one week of the property becoming vacant.
“The property, which benefits from excellent visibility and access, will provide Stonbury with the perfect platform for their planned growth locally and I wish them all the best in their new premises.”
Mark Coope, of Stonbury, said: “We are thrilled to be in our new premises and are settling in well already. We have big plans ahead of us and our new premises provides us with the scope and scale to meet these plans and more.
“It was refreshing to deal with William from Salloway Property Consultants and we were extremely happy to be able to take occupation as soon as possible following the previous tenant vacating.”
Nottingham City Council has approved Conygar’s detailed application for the next phase of The Island Quarter development in the city.
The application comprises a 249,000 sq ft bioscience building, which includes both laboratory and office space.
The permission is subject to the documenting of the section 106 agreement.
Robert Ware, Chief Executive of Conygar, said: “We are delighted that the next phase of development has been approved.
“Nottingham is already home to a large number of exciting businesses in the bioscience space and this scheme will be an excellent addition to the mixed-use development we are creating at The Island Quarter.”
Literacy Capital has invested in Cubo, the Derby-headquartered flexible office provider, acquiring a significant minority stake and providing capital to fund further growth of the business.
Founded in 2020 by property investors Marc and Rebecca Brough, Cubo has sites in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield and Derby.
Earlier this year, Cubo announced plans to almost double its footprint by the end of 2023. New workspaces in Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh are set to open in the coming months with sites in other regional towns and cities in the pipeline.
The investment from Literacy Capital will support Cubo’s expansion plans, which come at a time where the flex office market is experiencing unprecedented growth.
Cubo joins a roster of portfolio companies including Grayce, Oxygen Freejumping, Butternut Box and Antler Homes.
Marc Brough, CEO of Cubo, said: “We are committed to establishing a network of Cubo workspaces across the length and breadth of the UK. Our model of securing leases in prime locations across all the UK’s core cities is reaping massive benefits for our members with all our sites currently enjoying 98% occupancy.
“The opportunity to work with Literacy Capital will enable us to secure further sites quickly and fit-out in multiple locations simultaneously to meet the growing needs of both existing members and other corporate occupiers who have committed to work with Cubo as the business grows a nationwide platform.
“We look forward to capturing more of the market for hybrid working in 2023 and beyond.”
Richard Pindar, CEO of Literacy Capital, added: “Marc and his team have built a solid track record of investment in flexible office space and client relationships in just three years, which is a great foundation for long-term success in a rapidly growing market.
“Cubo is exactly the type of business we are looking to partner with, having executed its plan very well in regional cities which have been less well served by competitors. Cubo is also well positioned to double its footprint by the end of this year and progress plans further beyond this.
“We are delighted to be supporting Marc and the business on their continued rollout and look forward to supporting the company as growth is maintained and accelerated following our investment.”
Advisers on the deal were: Rigby & Co (Property Adviser); Brown J (Vendor Legal); Walker Morris (Vendor Property Legal); Deloitte (Corporate Finance); Marcussen (Tax); Addleshaw Goddard LLP (Investor Legal); Keystone (Investor); DSW (Investor Finance); GT (Vendor Finance).
Breedon Group, the construction materials group, has completed three recent bolt-on transactions with a combined enterprise value of up to £19m.
In Northern Ireland the acquisition of Robinson Quarry Masters Limited, a family-run quarrying and concrete block business in Country Antrim, has further extended Breedon’s footprint North of Belfast and enhanced its aggregate reserves on the Island of Ireland.
Robinson Quarry Masters has a well-established customer base with exposure to housing, commercial and infrastructure end-markets.
In Great Britain Breedon has acquired two downstream businesses.
Broome Bros. Limited is a leading manufacturer of concrete blocks based in Doncaster, adjacent to one of the company’s existing ready-mixed concrete sites, and Minster Surfacing Limited is an award-winning regional surfacing business based in Lincoln with strong sustainability credentials delivering a diverse portfolio of works from the Midlands to London.
Rob Wood, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Many of our transactions come to us through our local knowledge and personal engagement with the owners. As a result, our active M&A pipeline has continued to yield high quality, earnings enhancing opportunities that will enable us to progress our sustainable growth strategy.
“Each of these independent family run businesses is aligned with our vertically-integrated operating model, providing further opportunity to pull through upstream building materials while extending our downstream footprint to deliver profitable growth. We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to Breedon and look forward to working with them.”
Vital funds raised by DHP Family’s charity festival Beat the Streets in 2023 have been handed over to Framework to support its work helping the homeless population in Nottingham.
The award-winning festival generated £89,500 from this year’s outing in January – up from £76,000 last year – thanks to a combination of ticket sales, bar takings and donations. All artists generously give their time for free as well.
Since its launch in 2018, the festival has become renowned for the vital funds it has raised for Framework, with the running total now topping £400,000. More than 300 separate individuals have benefited directly from interventions wholly or partly funded through Beat the Streets.
Framework will be putting the funds from this year’s festival towards the creation of eight self-contained flats for entrenched rough sleepers who have been on the streets for more than 20 years.
The charity has already been granted planning permission to build the Housing First flats. The accommodation will provide rough sleepers with permanent housing combined with a programme of unlimited person-centred support towards independence. They will be able to access a range of Framework’s other services including, drug and alcohol, mental health and employment support to ensure outcomes are permanent, and they do not fall back into the cycle of repeat homelessness.
Framework’s Chief Executive Andrew Redfern said: “Thank you to everyone at DHP Family who made it possible to raise a stunning £89,500 at this year’s Beat the Streets festival.
“This is another amazing result and a massive contribution to our urgent work tackling homelessness in Nottingham and further afield. The money raised will play a major part in funding eight new flats for rough sleepers at Birkin Avenue in Nottingham.
“Our partnership with DHP in tackling homelessness is unique and greatly appreciated: the award-winning Beat the Streets festival has become a hugely popular focus for those who are raising awareness of homelessness and encouraging the public to contribute towards tackling it.
“It was astonishing to realise that over the past five years Beat the Streets has raised more than £400,000. This remarkable total demonstrates the magnificent commitment and support of our friends at DHP Family along with all the hundreds of bands, solo artists, technicians, stewards and administrators who have so generously given their time and talent to make it possible.
“More than 300 separate individuals have benefited directly from interventions wholly or partly funded through Beat the Streets. These interventions have taken various forms ranging from emergency shelter, referral for an urgent health assessment, a period in specialist supported housing, or a permanent home with wraparound support.
“The leadership of DHP has motivated other partners, including local businesses, to join the effort – thus further enhancing the scope and effectiveness of responses to homelessness and rough sleeping. There is no doubt that the wholehearted support of DHP, musicians and audiences will continue to be much needed.”
DHP Family’s MD George Akins said: “As a Nottingham based company, it means a lot to all of us that work here to continue to deliver a fantastic Beat the Streets festival each January as we know how vital the funds are to Framework and the people they support across the city.
“We hope to continue to use our expertise as music promoters and festival organisers to make a difference. We are extremely grateful to all the artists who give their time to play and each and every person that bought a ticket as together, we are helping to support something very worthwhile.”
Refugees from countries including Ukraine and Syria are being supported into work across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire by a partnership between two chambers of commerce.
East Midlands Chamber and Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce are working together to develop refugees’ skills, employability and social integration, with the aim of enhancing confidence among individuals who have fled war, violence or persecution to take on jobs here – and in turn help businesses to fill vacancies.
In response to the crisis in Ukraine, members of East Midlands Chamber’s employment services team have made weekly visits to Nottinghamshire Ukrainian Cultural Centre to help refugees arriving in the area.
The team has supported more than 150 individuals with personalised training courses, CV and job application writing, interview preparation, housing and financial assistance, introductions to employers, including Nottingham Venues, Pizza Factory and Smyths Toys. It has also worked with Nottingham-based charity Refugee Roots to provide English language lessons and address mental health barriers.
Paul Needham, head of employment services at East Midlands Chamber, which represents Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, said: “Given the extremely tight labour market we are experiencing right now – our research shows that while six in 10 East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first three months of 2023, almost three-quarters (73%) of those struggled to fill roles – we have been engaging businesses about the benefits of adopting inclusive recruitment policies to open up vacancies to a wider pool of people, including refugees.
“Supporting Ukrainian refugees in Nottinghamshire over the past six months has been a really rewarding exercise for our team given the desperate circumstances these people find themselves in, and it has provided an important platform for introducing more families and individuals to our wide portfolio of employment services, which break down barriers to work.
“We now want to replicate this work in Derbyshire in partnership with Staffordshire Chamber, which has had great success within its own area, to provide further job opportunities that will enable refugees to integrate into our society and contribute to the communities they now call home.”
Positive Pathways programme supports more than 250 individuals
For the past two years, Staffordshire Chamber has run the Positive Pathways programme, which provides employability skills development and business start-up advice to Afghan, Syrian and Ukrainian refugees now based in Staffordshire, and connects them with local companies.
Part-funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, it has supported more than 250 people, including highly-skilled professionals such as doctors, surgeons, nurses, psychologists, dentists, engineers, project managers and accountants.
All individuals have had to meet Government criteria showing their right to work in the UK and been aged 18 or older.
Positive Pathways project manager Julie Priestnall said: “Refugees are often skilled and capable individuals who hold qualifications and practical experience across various areas of work, as well as a willingness to learn, which means they can provide a significant contribution to businesses with a little bit of support.
“The impact of Positive Pathways has been enormous – not just on the individuals who have needed our support to give them the confidence to take on jobs but also to the local economy, which has benefitted from their skills to plug gaps in the labour market. Global events mean this type of support is needed now more than ever.”
Some of the barriers to employment faced by refugees include a lack of work references or knowledge of the labour market, not having completed education before fleeing their country or qualifications not being recognised in the UK.
The chances of refugees returning to employment often lesson the longer they are unemployed as they lose confidence and self-esteem.
Nottingham Venues takes a lead in employing refugees
East Midlands Chamber has already worked with conference and event space operator Nottingham Venues, helping to place Ukrainian national Anastasiia Markeliuk as a food and beverage assistant.
Anastasiia comes from Kherson, one of the first areas in Ukraine to be invaded by the Russian army, and was taken in by a family from Lady Bay, Nottingham, after fleeing the country via Poland. She has a master’s degree in geography and sociology, and understands her current role is a stepping-stone for future job prospects.
She said: “I am very grateful for the support I have received since I have arrived in the UK, both from my host family and Nottingham Venues.
“The refugee community often features very skilled people who have a lot to offer and can make a real difference to companies, so I would encourage businesses to be open to the opportunities that employing refugees can provide.”
Suzie Adams, HR director at Nottingham Venues, which operates East Midlands Conference Centre and The Jubilee Hotel and Conferences among other venues, added: “We have a number of employees from the Ukrainian community working in a variety of roles within our business.
“We are trying to support them as much as possible, whether in a work capacity or if they need any support outside of work.
“Almost all are highly educated with a wide variety of qualifications. Their spirit, determination combined with an ability to turn their hands to anything makes them an asset to our team or indeed any business.
“There are skills shortages in many sectors in the UK at the moment and businesses should not be discouraged from employing refugees to fill those roles, as well as training and developing home-grown staff. There is support out there from the Chamber of Commerce and other organisations that can help companies looking to employ refugees.”
Nottingham currently has a massive £4 billion worth of recently completed developments and opportunity sites across half a square mile of the city centre, highlighting the Core City’s importance as a major driver of the regional and national economy.
A newly created development map of the city highlights a total of 14 major schemes sites including two of the largest and most significant city centre projects anywhere in the UK – Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter.
Together the new developments would provide over 7,000 new homes, 15,000 new jobs and create 2 million square feet of new office and commercial floor space.
Nottingham’s £4bn development programme was presented this week at UKREiiF, the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum in Leeds.
City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, spoke at the event which was also attended by the council’s Chief Executive, Mel Barrett and Corporate Director for Growth and City Development, Sajeeda Rose, as part of the city’s team at the event led by Invest in Nottingham.
Cllr Mellen said: “In Nottingham we support development sites with major improvements to the public realm and transport network. So the Broad Marsh has already benefitted from public investment in a brand-new state-of-the-art car park and bus station, while the surrounding streets have been transformed into a thriving multi-activity area featuring a popular new skateable space and major new street art.
“We remain ambitious for our city – in spite of the current cost-of-living crisis – and we pride ourselves on the way we work with partners to ensure this important development can continue.
“Right now we are re-imagining our city centre – reinventing ways for people to live, work and enjoy the city – through better connectivity, better sustainability and perhaps most importantly the creativity to be able to see how people want their city centres to evolve – so that we can offer them a greener, brighter future.”
In addition to Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter, key sites include the Nottingham Waterside development; the University of Nottingham’s new Castle Meadow campus and Unity Square phase two alongside phase one, the new HMRC office.
Broad Marsh
Broad Marsh is a “a once in many generations opportunity” for Nottingham to lead the way in city centre regeneration following the impacts of Covid-19 and online retailing.
Heatherwick Studios, led by the world renowned and highly acclaimed British designer Thomas Heatherwick, was commissioned by the City Council and the Greater Broad Marsh Advisory Group to create a new vision for the 20-acre site.
The vision offers social and economic opportunity to Nottingham on an unprecedented and historic scale, generating over 6,000 jobs, creating up to 1,000 new homes and over 500,000 square feet of commercial and office space.
The council has been working to procure a master planner and supporting team to turn the vision into a more detailed master plan over the next few months and is now nearing completion of this process. A more detailed business case and delivery strategy will be developed to help procure the very best private sector partner to work closely with the council to deliver an exemplar sustainable development with social value, viability and deliverability at its core.
Significant development has already taken place around Broad Marsh over the last three years including the new Nottingham College City Hub and a state-of-the-art car park and bus station.
Major improvements to the public realm have been completed on Sussex Street next to the new Nottingham College, creating a thriving multi activity area featuring a popular new skateable space and major new street art.
A new ‘Green Heart’ public space the size of a football pitch, designed by Townshend Landscape Architects, is being created at the centre of the Broad Marsh site following the partial demolition of the old shopping centre with work starting later this year. Work is also due to start soon to create a new playable public space on the now pedestrianised Collin Street alongside the new Nottingham Central Library.
The Library is nearing the end of its fit out and the books and other equipment will soon be delivered and installed ahead of a planned opening later this year.
The Island Quarter
The 36-acre Island Quarter site, 500m from Nottingham Station, had been derelict and blighted for over three decades before work started on a major redevelopment three years ago.
The Island Quarter is an exciting mixed-use development and unique, not just for Nottingham but for the Midlands and the UK. The 36-acre site is being totally transformed to bring new homes, grade A office space, creative spaces, a lifestyle hotel, PRS apartments and co-working space, retail units, a ‘linear’ park and vibrant community and event space as well as student accommodation to the city.
1 The Island Quarter – the site’s first phase – opened in 2022, comprising restaurants Cleaver & Wake and Binks Yard. The venue’s outside space opened earlier in 2023, and will be hosting live events and entertainment throughout the summer.
The purpose-built student accommodation on the east side of the site will top out in summer 2023 and be ready for the September 2024 intake of students, and phase 1B – featuring a dual-branded IHG hotel and private rented apartments – will start on site later this year.
Nottingham’s integrated transport system
Nottingham has taken a joined up approach to planning and transport over the last two decades.
The council has retained public ownership of the bus company Nottingham City Transport and made significant investment in public transport including a tram system and Park & Ride which helped grow usage from 67m in 2004 to 80m in 2019.
Nottingham City Transport has the largest fleet of bio-gas double decker buses in the world with remaining diesel buses using technology which reduces their emissions by 90%.
A Workplace Parking Levy was introduced in 2011 which helped fund the tram network extension and improvements to Nottingham’s railway station.
Integrated smart ticketing has been introduced across all forms of transport and also e-mobility hubs which support the roll out of electric vehicles including e-bikes, e-scooters, a recent wireless electric taxi charging pilot and fleet vehicles which actually put electricity back into the grid.
Nottingham City Council are also investing in its cycle network including a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent.
All of these measures support Nottingham’s target to be a carbon neutral city by 2028.
A brand new programme to help businesses and organisations in Leicestershire become heathier places to work has been launched.
The Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire programme from Leicestershire County Council’s Public Health team has been designed to help places of work and local organisations achieve the ‘Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Accreditation,’ with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service becoming one of the first organisations to benefit from the programme.
Businesses and organisations who sign up can benefit from the Workplace Health Needs Assessment, Health MOT’s for staff, training for managers and other support that is available. The programme ensures a fully bespoke and tailored programme for each workforce.
Launched during Mental Health Awareness Week, and with mental wellbeing often under discussed in the workplace, the scheme also offers both Mental Health First Aid training and Healthy Conversation Skills training.
As one of the first to take advantage of Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Programme, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s 700-strong workforce, including 580 firefighters, have committed to undergoing a Workplace Health Needs Assessment for their staff, and hosted a special launch event at Birstall Fire and Rescue Station.
Councillor Louise Richardson, lead member for health and wellbeing at Leicestershire County Council, said: “I am so pleased to see our new Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire programme launch, especially during Mental Health Awareness week.
“We spend so much of our adult life at work that it is important that we make steps to ensure both our physical and mental health is looked after in the workplace. Our new initiative will enable local businesses across the county to do just that. I am especially thrilled to see Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service get involved and I wish them all the best in their healthy workplace journey.
“We are excited to see this new initiative bring a positive impact to the health and wellbeing of our residents and workforce.”
Karl Bowden, Area Manager for People and Organisational Development at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome the support from the Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Programme.
“This will further enhance our ongoing commitment to support the health and wellbeing of our employees and ensure our wellbeing strategy remains focussed where there is identified need.”
Bolsover District Council has launched two grant schemes aimed at supporting existing businesses whilst also giving new businesses that all-important helping hand as they start.
The Business Growth Grant Scheme provides funds from £1,000 to £10,000 and is aimed at existing businesses (trading for more than 18-months) to help them grow, create jobs, become more carbon efficient or diversify into new markets.
The funding could be used for new equipment and machinery, computer hardware/software or specialist consultancy/training. Up to 80% of the total project cost can be applied for (up to a maximum of £10,000) and businesses must be located in Bolsover District and have up to 249 employees.
Businesses will also need to be paying business rates to Bolsover District Council or be receiving small business rates relief. Once an application has been approved the business will be required to purchase eligible items and then submit a claim to receive their grant.
The Business Start-Up Grant Scheme offers grants up to £500 and is available to pre-start and new businesses located in Bolsover District who have been trading for less than 18-months.
Up to 100% of the project cost can be applied for which could include equipment, tools and machinery, fixtures and fittings and marketing materials. Items purchased before an application is approved will not be eligible for grant payment.
Councillor Steve Fritchley said: “This is the second business grant scheme we have launched in a matter of weeks and re-iterates our pledge to help our local businesses and boost the economy as much as we can.
“This is a great opportunity for our growing local businesses to get a cash-injection and help them diversify into new products, expand their customer base and grow their workforce.
“Our team of economic development experts are on hand and ready to help throughout the grant process and I would urge businesses to contact us so we can provide you with as much help and assistance as possible.”
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
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