Belper school extension reaches completion

Tess Egginton
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Belper school extension reaches completion
Derby-based project managers, construction cost consultants and building surveyors Armsons Barlow have completed work on the extension and refurbishment of Belper School and Sixth Form Centre. Work on the project included the construction of a first-floor extension over the existing sixth form centre and alterations to the ground floor space to provide additional teaching facilities for the school. The new extension will provide a range of new high quality teaching facilities for staff and students. A second storey has been added to the original sixth form centre, with the installation of a new steel frame along with new foundations, structural alterations, new roofing and flooring, new windows and the installation of timber rainscreen cladding. The ground floor layout has also been altered. Armsons Barlow worked alongside Derby-based architects YMD Boon, structural engineers Jackson Purdue Lever, mechanical and electrical engineers DGMEP Services and contractors Kingfisher Construction on the project. Belper School is the main secondary school in the Belper area and caters for more than 1,200 students. The additional space will enable it to open its doors to more students. Commenting on the completion of the project, Sally Walters, director of Armsons Barlow, said: “The addition of a second storey to the building will create more high-quality teaching and recreational space for staff and students. “We’re pleased to see construction work on Belper School & Sixth Form Centre completed. Thanks go out to our colleagues at YMD Boon, Jackson Purdue Lever, DGMEP and Kingfisher Construction for helping to create such a fantastic addition to the school.”

WBR Group strengthens WBR Tax with tax director and tax manager appointments

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WBR Group strengthens WBR Tax with tax director and tax manager appointments

Leicester-based WBR Group (WBR), the independent provider of SSAS services and tax experts, has appointed Tom Lodge to the position of tax director and Akshay Vaghela as tax manager.

Tom will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the WBR Tax function, with 11 people reporting to him, making it one of the largest tax teams in Leicester and the Midlands. He will be a member of the Executive Board, headed by David Downie and will also report to the main board on all tax related matters.

Tom joined WBR Group in 2019 and has over 10 years’ experience in the tax sector. He started his career within Grant Thornton’s tax compliance unit where he qualified as a tax technician before transferring to their private client and entrepreneur advisory team in Birmingham where he qualified as a chartered tax adviser.

Tom has advised on a wide variety of tax planning opportunities. However, his main focus is corporate reconstructions and sales where he applies his technical understanding, and research skills, to identify creative solutions and tackle any tax risks.

Akshay joined WBR Group in 2021 as a senior associate with a particular specialisation in restructuring. He joined the firm from Wilson Wright where he was a tax supervisor.

Tom Moore, CEO, WBR Group, said: “We are delighted to appoint Tom to the newly created role of tax director and Akshay to the role of tax manager. Tom has been with the business for 4 years and has been an invaluable member of the team, with a strong appreciation for technical detail, taking a keen interest in case law and future developments of tax policy.

“With his deep understanding of the legislation and wider concepts he is able to advise on complex situations. His extensive experience and knowledge of the tax landscape will be invaluable as we continue to grow WBR Tax. The promotion of Tom and Akshay further strengthens our tax team and demonstrates our commitment to providing our clients and professional connections with the highest level of expertise and service.”

Tom Lodge said: “I am honoured and thrilled to take on the role of tax director at WBR Group. I look forward to leading our talented team and providing our clients with innovative and effective tax solutions. I am excited to be part of the executive board and to contribute to the continued success of WBR Group.”

“Positive” first quarter for Breedon

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“Positive” first quarter for Breedon
Trading during the first quarter of 2023 has been “positive” for Breedon, the construction materials group, according to a new trading update ahead of the business’s Annual General Meeting. The Derbyshire-headquartered company highlighted encouraging levels of enquiries, while revenue during the first quarter was 10% ahead of the same period last year, or 7% on a like-for-like basis. Breedon noted that it thus continues to trade in line with expectations. Rob Wood, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our performance in the first quarter demonstrates the resilience and flexibility of our team and business model. Our teams have stayed close to their customers and we continue to manage our cost base prudently, enabling us to grow revenue while fully recovering input cost increases. Longer term, our end market exposure remains underpinned by structural growth dynamics. “Our vertically-integrated, local operating model enables us to respond nimbly to market conditions and, whilst the economic backdrop remains uncertain, we are encouraged by our trading performance to date. As such, we expect to deliver results in line with the Board’s current expectations.”

Building Better Opportunities scheme helps almost 9,000 economically inactive people to find work or training

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Building Better Opportunities scheme helps almost 9,000 economically inactive people to find work or training
An innovative programme that connects local authorities, businesses and other key agencies with the aim of tackling long-term unemployment has supported 8,908 economically inactive people across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The D2N2 Building Better Opportunities (BBO) scheme, which comprises three distinctive projects promoting social inclusion, has helped 1,102 of these individuals to progress into employment, assisted 864 into long-term education or training, and enabled 492 people to independently search for jobs. Funded by the European Social Fund and National Lottery Community Fund, BBO – which ended last month after six years – has been led by a consortium of voluntary and community organisations across the country. In the D2N2 region, four stakeholder managers were employed or seconded to East Midlands Chamber and hosted within the four upper-tier councils, with a remit to co-ordinate the £31m programme across the wider employment and skills landscape. The Chamber has also played a central role in connecting individuals with employers, and promoting an inclusive recruitment agenda among businesses that have skills gaps. East Midlands Chamber’s head of employment services Paul Needham said: “It’s fantastic to be able to reflect on the tremendous work of the BBO programme in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, where the lives of many people have been transformed because of the support it has offered them. “Our stakeholder managers have been remarkable additions to the employment and skills landscape in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire over the past five years, generating new person-centric ideas and influencing system change in how we tackle the issue of long-term unemployment. “At the Chamber, we have been keen to promote the inclusive recruitment agenda among the business community. With our members telling us about the skills shortages that are consistently holding them back from growing, expanding the labour pool to encompass people from a wide range of backgrounds can bear fruit by filling vacancies with employees who have received support to address barriers to work and turn their lives around.” The three employment and skills projects are: · Opportunity and Change: A £9.8m support programme led by Framework for people with multiple and complex needs, such as homelessness, substance abuse, at risk of offending, mental ill health and domestic abuse victims · Towards Work: Led by Groundwork Greater Nottingham, the £14.6m scheme provides a personalised service to help people overcome barriers to work and take their first steps towards employment · Money Sorted in D2N2: Led by St Ann’s Advice Centre, the £6m project helps people experiencing financial difficulties to feel more in control of their finances. Examples of the methods used to support people into work and training have ranged from funding for buying computer equipment in order to study for qualifications through to paying for dental treatment to address poor oral health that had been a personal barrier to work for someone lacking in confidence. Projects have also helped people who are homeless or ex-offenders into work. In addition, the BBO programme has helped participants to wipe out more than £10m in debt and, on average, grew participants’ weekly disposable income from £18.62 to £92.17 over a six-month period through personal finance education. Paul added: “These projects have provided us with many learnings, which we will take forward in our other workstreams within the Chamber’s employment support programmes, in which we work in collaboration with Government and work agencies to give people a helping hand into sustainable work and training.”

Press for Attention PR backs Responsible Business of the Year at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023

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Press for Attention PR backs Responsible Business of the Year at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
Press for Attention PR has joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, backing the Responsible Business category for a further year. Speaking with Business Link, Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, said: “We have proudly sponsored this category for many years now because we think that it is crucial that companies that proactively demonstrate that corporate responsibility is an important part of their culture should be recognised. “Without being too political, the past weeks have brought further attention to the impact that we as individuals and companies can have on our planet. Change is in the air and that is being welcomed and embraced by employer and employee alike and will play an increasing role in purchasing, hiring and procurement decisions. CSR is not (or certainly should not be) a box-ticking exercise, it is part of being a responsible organisation and I look forward to learning more from our finalists.” The awards, which will take place on Thursday 28 September at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrate the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. Nominations are now OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards. To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Award categories include: Nominations end Thursday 31 August. Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:

Transformation of Derby’s historic Friar Gate Goods Yard site takes step forward

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Transformation of Derby’s historic Friar Gate Goods Yard site takes step forward

The landowner for the historic Friar Gate Goods Yard in central Derby has selected Wavensmere Homes to collaboratively bring forward development proposals for the derelict 11.5-acre (4.96Ha) site, which includes two landmark Grade II listed buildings.

The site has been in the ownership of the Clowes family for 40 years, with a number of options for redevelopment proposed but not progressed, due to heritage considerations and commercial viability.

The site, which is accessed off Uttoxeter New Road, is now set to be transformed into around 275 homes, plus a significant element of mixed-use commercial space, which will bring about the restoration of the Grade II listed Bonded Warehouse and Engine House. A planning application is currently being prepared, in consultation with Derby City Council and a range of stakeholders.

Thomas Clowes, director of Derbyshire-based Clowes Developments, said: “We are very pleased to be working with a highly innovative developer, who not only has a reputation for restoring heritage assets and revitalising previously used land, but already has a strong legacy of success here in Derby.

“Birmingham-headquartered Wavensmere Homes has become one of this city’s most prominent residential developers, with the £170m multi-award-winning Nightingale Quarter becoming one of the finest regeneration and restoration assets in the region.

“The Wavensmere team had the vision to transform the former Derby Royal Infirmary on London Road – which had laid derelict for a decade – into the vibrant new community it is today. The public, the Council, and all stakeholders can be reassured that the team will be applying the same collaborative approach and huge investment injection to Friar Gate Goods Yard.

“We would like to mention Cawarden, the specialist contractor, who orchestrated the recent stabilisation works to the listed structures, as well as other site preparation, to allow ourselves and Wavensmere Homes to finally bring the site forward.”

Glancy Nicholls Architects has been appointed to design the mixed-use scheme, which will reflect the significant opportunity for exemplary placemaking. The latest green energy features will be incorporated into the design for the new homes and commercial space, to enable the highest EPC rating of A to be targeted. The proposed development would also be compliant with the new Part L building regulations.

James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Clowes Developments to reanimate this landmark, centrally located site.

“The design proposals that we are currently working up are ground-breaking and provide solutions for bringing the two badly fire-damaged 150-year-old listed buildings within the Goods Yard back into use. A key marker of success will be introducing innovative energy saving technology that keeps the future running costs to occupiers to a minimum.

“We hope that the people of Derby will once again get behind the collaborative efforts being made to create something truly special here. It is vital that Friar Gate’s two important heritage assets are finally removed from English Heritage’s ‘at risk’ register.”

The proposed development site sits just outside the Friar Gate Conservation Area, which features notable Georgian townhouses with high-quality brickwork and fine architectural detailing. The Friar Gate Goods Yard was intended as the main goods depot for the Great Northern Railway line, to handle coal, livestock, timber, and metals. Designed in 1870, and entering operation in 1878, the Bonded Warehouse building contained extensive warehouse space and offices. It was used as a store for the American Army in WWII to house ammunition and other supplies.

The Engine House was also built for the Railway by Kirk & Randall of Sleaford. It is Italianate in style and built from Welsh slate roofs. The Engine House supplied power to the hydraulic lifts and capstans at the Bonded Warehouse. The site first became derelict in 1967, and over time became overgrown and fell into a poor state of repair. An arson attack took place at the Goods Yard in 2020, which exposed the whole inner steel structure of the two historic buildings.

The collaborative development agreement was brokered by Russell Rigby of Derby-based property agents Rigby and Co.

Joules relaunch accelerated but further jobs at risk

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Joules relaunch accelerated but further jobs at risk
Following NEXT and Tom Joule’s acquisition of Market Harborough-based Joules out of administration in December, the relaunch of the lifestyle group has been accelerated – but jobs may be at risk. Moving to a new digital platform, the originally proposed launch date was March 2024, but “significant progress in reducing the lead times for the delivery of TOTAL PLATFORM (TP)” now means Joules can launch its TP site much earlier than expected, with a launch date now planned for October 2023. The TOTAL PLATFORM focusses on providing website, warehousing, distribution, contact centre, online advertising and retail services, with a significantly wider scope of planned services for Joules, including NEXT product systems, finance, payments and accounting systems, and HR systems. While the transition to the TOTAL PLATFORM is intended to deliver material cost savings to Joules, with the decision to deliver much broader services to the business, significantly greater savings are anticipated. However, as a result of these changes, a number of tasks performed by Joules personnel will be absorbed into NEXT teams or no longer be needed. How many jobs are affected is not clear. NEXT says: “Where roles are no longer required, NEXT will be working with those affected to ensure that they are considered for any suitable vacancies at NEXT, whose Head Office is located close to Joules’ headquarters in Market Harborough. It is anticipated that those remaining with Joules (i.e. the Senior management, Product and Marketing teams) will continue to work from Joules’ existing offices.”

Law firm makes raft of promotions

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Law firm makes raft of promotions

Rotheras LLP has made six promotions at its Nottingham office.

Natalie Abbott (employment) joined Rotheras in 2020 before being promoted to senior associate in 2021. Having been tasked with setting up the employment law department, and having driven this forward successfully, she has now been promoted to partner.

Lucy Pettitt (conveyancing), James Briggs (private client), Sarah Soo (private client) and Grant Benskin (dispute resolution) have all been promoted to senior associate, and Rebecca Lister who began as a trainee at the firm and qualified into the child care department, has been promoted to associate.

The promotions will take effect from 1 June and bring the total number of partners and senior associates across its Nottingham and Derby offices to 30.

Rotheras CEO Christina Yardley said: “This year’s cohort of promotions are incredibly talented individuals that reinforce the strength and depth of our legal services.

“Natalie Abbott has supported us in our goal of expanding our service areas to ensure that we deliver on our firm values of excellence for clients, looking after their needs through a diverse service offering with exceptional client care driving everything we do.

“I am delighted for our associate and senior associate promotions to be making headway in their careers with Rotheras, we invest heavily in nurturing talent and creating a culture that fosters career progression. I wish all of our newly promoted staff a very long and successful career with Rotheras.”

Modular housebuilder secures £70m investment

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Modular housebuilder secures £70m investment
TopHat, the modular house builder, has raised £70 million from new and existing shareholders as the company draws closer to opening Europe’s largest modular housing factory, from which it will manufacture up to 4,000 ultra low-carbon homes a year. In a major show of confidence in TopHat and the UK’s fast-growing modular housing sector, FTSE-100 housebuilder Persimmon and institutional investor Aviva, through its Aviva Capital Partners unit, have each made a substantial investment in the company. Existing shareholders Goldman Sachs Asset Management also subscribed to TopHat’s latest fundraising round. Homes England, which has funded TopHat’s development at Kitchener Barracks in Chatham, continues to explore the potential for additional support as part of its ongoing commitment to the sector. Persimmon aims to embrace the innovative manufacturing techniques used by TopHat to complement its existing Space4 timber frame product, drive further build efficiencies while expanding its product offering to customers and support moves to meet the Future Homes Standard. Aviva Capital Partners, Aviva plc’s newly launched in-house capital unit which originates infrastructure assets using Aviva group capital, has invested to bolster its sustainable community strategy. This successful fundraise will help to cement TopHat’s leadership of the modular homebuilding sector. In addition to its current output of up to 800 homes a year from its first factory in Derby, it will begin production from its cutting-edge 650,000 square feet manufacturing facility in Corby, Northampton in 2024. The new factory will employ 1,000 people, many of whom will be apprentices or employees entering the sector for the first time, working alongside the most advanced house building robots operating at scale in the UK. Jordan Rosenhaus, CEO and founder at TopHat, said: “Today’s announcement is testament to the innovative approach that TopHat continues to take to house building and marks a step-change for the future of housing. “It has been clear for some time that designing and building green, beautiful homes in factories is a critical part of solving the housing crisis – and today’s announcement will enable TopHat to reach the scale where the new generation of modular homes can be made available to everyone.” Dean Finch, Group Chief Executive at Persimmon, said: “Persimmon is delighted to announce this partnership, combining the country’s most innovative modular manufacturer with the most cost-effective volume house builder. “This investment provides Persimmon with guaranteed access to very energy-efficient volumetric modular units as well as TopHat’s innovative brick façade to use with our Space4 timber frame products. “This will provide further build efficiencies, manage the growing challenge of labour shortages in key trades and expand our product range for customers. Combining our complementary industry-leading capabilities alongside other significant new investment makes me excited for the opportunities ahead.” John Cummins, CEO, Aviva Capital Partners, said: “Aviva is using its financial strength to invest in the sustainable infrastructure and real estate which are central to the UK’s net zero transition. TopHat is a pioneer of low-carbon homes and this investment will make sustainable housing more widely available, making a difference to communities and providing a retirement income for our customers.” Harry Swales, Chief Investment Officer at Homes England, said: “Modern Methods of Construction have the potential to revolutionise the housing sector, driving greater efficiency and productivity, reducing carbon emissions, decreasing disruption caused by construction and increasing consumer choice. “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, we’re committed to increasing the use of MMC, and supporting our partners in the sector to invest in it. This investment from TopHat, Persimmon and Aviva Capital is not only an important step forward for TopHat, but really encouraging for the wider sector.” TopHat is already working with some of the UK’s biggest developers and investors, including BoKlok, Man Group and Urban & Civic.

Travis Perkins hails “resilient first quarter” as total sales decline in challenging market conditions

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Travis Perkins hails “resilient first quarter” as total sales decline in challenging market conditions
Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins says it has delivered “a resilient first quarter trading performance” despite total sales declining by 2.8% amid challenging market conditions. The Northampton-headquartered company highlighted that trading volumes in the Merchanting business were impacted by weakness in the new build housing and domestic repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) markets. The commercial, industrial and public sector markets, which represent just under half of the group’s end market exposure, saw more resilient demand. Overall, Merchanting total sales were down by 4.7% in the quarter. Nick Roberts, Chief Executive, said: “As we had anticipated, trading conditions were challenging in the first quarter but our diverse exposure across the construction sector has enabled us to deliver a resilient performance. The timely actions taken to prepare our businesses for a lower demand environment mean that we continue to expect to deliver a full year performance in line with market expectations. “We are focused on ensuring the right balance between cost and capital discipline and investing to deliver against our strategic priorities. The growth opportunities provided by the need to decarbonise the UK’s built environment, improve the energy efficiency of public and private buildings and increase the UK’s housing stock remain significant. “Allied to our strategy of expanding value-added services in the Merchant businesses and maximising the growth potential of Toolstation, these structural drivers leave the group well placed for future outperformance.”
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