G F Tomlinson supports local Nottingham community with access to central sanitation facilities

Tess Egginton
-
0
G F Tomlinson supports local Nottingham community with access to central sanitation facilities

As part of the company’s commitment to delivering social value, Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has supported Arena Church to deliver sanitation facilities at its Nottingham City Centre premises, which will be open in the near future.

The church, which is based on Western Street in the Hockley area, currently provides refuge, shelter and hot refreshments for vulnerable Nottingham residents who need it most.

G F Tomlinson has worked with local sub-contractors alongside pastor, Jono Kirk, from Arena Community to convert previously unused space into a shower and washer / dryer facility for vulnerable Nottingham residents to use who lack access to basic sanitation facilities.

The vital additions will act as an extension of Arena Church’s mission to ‘Go, Grow, Love and Serve’ in Nottingham City, and facilities will be on hand ready for when the church launches its new ‘Care for a Coffee’ initiative once funding is secured.

‘Care for a Coffee’ will provide warm, safe spaces for vulnerable people to get a weekly hot meal, with an option to clean and dry clothes and make the most of a ‘shower hour’.

Kevin Dodds, construction director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are great advocates of the work that Arena Church do for the local area, and are proud to have been involved in the delivery of vital sanitation facilities in the building, helping to support vulnerable communities.

“We hope those who need it most are reassured that there is a safe space where they can spend time, have a hot meal and use the shower and washing facilities.”

Jono Kirk, pastor at Arena Church, said: “We at Arena Church, Nottingham are so thankful for the work that G F Tomlinson and all subcontractors have carried out, transforming previously unused space to make an incredible difference to the lives of people with no access to such facilities. 

“We believe this will act as a springboard in Arena Church Nottingham’s mission to serve the city and will really help in bringing our new ‘Care for a Coffee’ vision to life. Without G F Tomlinson and all they have done, this wouldn’t be possible. A big heartfelt thank you to all involved.”

G F Tomlinson recruited the services of Prime Flooring Solutions, Amptron Electrical Services, Browns Builders Merchants, and SV Timber to work alongside them to deliver the works at Arena Church, which started in mid-January and completed in February.

Despite soaring energy costs, only 29% of UK manufacturers consider net zero to be a priority

Tess Egginton
-
0
Despite soaring energy costs, only 29% of UK manufacturers consider net zero to be a priority

Energy prices are negatively impacting the majority of UK SME manufacturers, according to the latest Manufacturing Barometer survey by SWMAS. But, with the government’s ambitious target to achieve net zero by 2050, are SMEs on course to succeed?

This quarter’s statistics indicate half of respondents (51%) see net zero as a positive expansion for UK manufacturing. However, less (42%) are confident this will actually be beneficial for their individual business.

Almost three quarters of manufacturing firms have said they are already working towards net zero (73%), although only a very small number of these businesses (2%) actually know the carbon footprint for the products they supply, and just 3% have a detailed carbon footprint ready for their organisation. 50% of manufacturers have started, but are yet to formally establish any metrics, and an additional 23% have so far only attained a basic carbon footprint for their organisation.

Nick Golding, Managing Director at SWMAS, says: “Profitability remains a challenge for most firms, particularly with the current energy crisis which is showing no signs of waning. It is understandable that for most, implementing the new net zero standard isn’t a priority with other challenges being faced, particularly when planning and implementing a scheme to neutralise their carbon footprint will cost additional time, resources and money.”

Only 37% of respondents have actually taken a pledge for their business to achieve net zero but, encouragingly, three quarters of these firms aim to reach this at least 10 years before the government’s 2050 target. On the other hand, over 70% of the firms questioned reported that the transition to net zero is not a current priority for their business.

There are still many barriers being faced by manufacturers dominating their current and future business focuses. As many as 64% do not think the benefits outweigh the cost of implementing low carbon improvements and almost half (44%) have said there is nothing driving them to prioritise net zero over other issues in the business. This is further backed up by the fact that over three quarters of responding businesses said none of their customers have asked them to provide their carbon footprint data.

How will carbon footprint credentials benefit UK manufacturers? Almost half (48%) have said they think being able to promote their net zero ambitions will help them win future work. Furthermore, 27% believe this would attract potential employees at a time when the competition for skilled workers is at an all-time high.

Nick adds: “These findings indicate some optimism from UK manufacturers despite the ongoing challenges around price increases, supply chain disruption, and skills shortages. It’s clear that many firms see the benefits of achieving net zero, but there are a number of challenges that could be preventing their progression.

“There are lessons for policymakers to consider, particularly in relation to simplifying planning requirements for onsite energy systems such as solar and wind as well as incentives for these technologies to support the manufacturing transition towards a net zero future.”

Cawarden hosts an employment event with a difference

Tess Egginton
-
0
Cawarden hosts an employment event with a difference
Ahead of National Careers Week in March, Cawarden employees were invited to bring their sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren to a special behind-the-scenes look at one of its Leicestershire sites to provide an early taste of the demolition industry and an insight into what their family member does for a job. The visit to the site of a former leisure centre was led by Managing Director, William Crooks – who is also the current standing president of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC). The children, aged between two and five years old, donned their hi-vis and hard hats for their first-ever tour of a demolition site. During the visit, the children learned about site safety and the reasons why protective clothing is worn on-site. They explored the different jobs and skills involved in demolishing a building and got to meet the site manager, machine drivers and labourers. The importance of recycling building materials was also talked about. William Crooks, Managing Director of Cawarden, said: “We had a wonderful time meeting the children and showing them around our demolition site. I don’t think you can ever be too young to learn about demolition and it was great to witness the children’s interest and engagement during the visit. My sons grew up on-site and this event provided the perfect opportunity for Cawarden employees to bring their children to work. “All the children loved looking at the big demolition machines working and all intently observed – something I still don’t get bored of seeing. We discussed the different jobs on the site and we talked about the importance of being safe when building work is taking place in their communities – which we complemented with activities back in the site office. I was really impressed by the knowledge of the older children and pleased at how much they all enjoyed and learnt from the experience. “With the skills shortage growing in our sector, as well as the challenges in recruiting young, diverse talent, it is essential that we find ways to inspire the next generation – and today’s event is just one of the ways we’re supporting this goal.” When asked what their favourite part of the day was, one child, aged four and a half, said: “It was really exciting to see the big machines in real life.” Another child, aged five, said: “I loved seeing the diggers working.” The children left the site with a goodie bag which included a copy of the children’s book ‘When I Grow Up’ along with a new perspective of a demolition site.

Pop-up businesses could feature in Nottingham’s revitalised Broad Marsh plans

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Pop-up businesses could feature in Nottingham’s revitalised Broad Marsh plans
Pop-up businesses could set up shop in Nottingham’s Sussex Street, Collin Street and Listergate, and potentially stay in the area long-term as Nottingham City Council wishes to revive streets around the Broad Marsh area. The council is looking for ideas from potential operators. Proposals are at an early stage, but could involve independent traders, food and drink outlets, entertainment including seasonal events and opportunities for local producers, suppliers and artists to showcase themselves. The aim is to provide opportunities to temporarily use sites initially for up to five years, with a view to starting to establish some of the new activities from towards the end of this year. The move comes as the area continues to be redeveloped, with the new Central Library due to open and work on the Green Heart area starting later this year. Public realm improvements like those already carried out on Carrington Street and Sussex Street will also get underway on Collin Street, connecting the new library and new college via amphitheatre-style steps and offering a fresh new gateway to the city via the Green Heart area and Listergate. More than a million people pass through the area every year, including visitors to the city coming from the train station, tram system and new Broad Marsh bus station and car park, along with thousands of students at the new Nottingham College. The aim is to create new destinations to attract others and give everyone a reason to stay, by providing a taste of the activity that the area will ultimately deliver when the full vision is realised over the next 15 years. The three proposed sites are a 450sqm area at the bottom of the amphitheatre steps on Sussex Street near Nottingham College, and 700sqm spaces on Collin Street across from the new library and the Lister Square part of the new Green Heart area. City Council Leader David Mellen said: “We’ve made fantastic progress on our plans to completely change the look and feel of this part of the city. Streets that were once filled with traffic are now pleasant places to be, students are enjoying the new college, and the new bus station and car park are up and running in a modern building where the new central library will open later this year. “Work on the Green Heart and Collin Street improvements will also get underway this year – but we know that it will be some years before the vision for the whole site will be fully realised. Rather than wait, we are keen to start to find ways to animate the area, make it a destination in its own right and give people reasons to linger and enjoy it rather than simply passing through. We want to hear from organisations with ideas for what could help to animate the area, for an initial period of up to five years, with a view to becoming part of the Broad Marsh experience long-term.”

Castle Donington company acquires Heathrow-based freight specialist

Tess Egginton
-
0
Castle Donington company acquires Heathrow-based freight specialist
International freight forwarding company Spatial Global has acquired Hollyport Logistics for an undisclosed consideration, advised by Browne Jacobson. Spatial Global, which is part of the Keswick Enterprises Group, is headquartered in Castle Donington and was founded in 1980. Hollyport Logistics is based near London Heathrow and was founded in 2010. Hollyport provides freight and customs services in various sectors, including the IT sectors and operates various international transport services including air, road and sea freight and custom clearance. It also has a dedicated storage, handling and delivery service within a third-party location (3PL) operation in Amsterdam for EU shipments. The transaction will enhance both parties’ capabilities of international & domestic freight movements, warehousing capabilities and customs brokerage and will offer access to a wider range of carriers. The Browne Jacobson team comprised partner and head of the firm’s Manchester office, Peter Allen who led on the transaction along with associate Harpinder Nahl. Senior associate Lincoln Darlington advised on real estate aspects and associate Christian Burchardt advised tax. Peter Allen said: “There is great synergy in the values of both Spatial and Hollyport. They both have solid market strengths in providing high quality logistics and delivery solutions to a diverse customer portfolio, so it makes sense for Hollyport to come into the Spatial fold, in a move that offers both businesses a fantastic opportunity to bolster their international and domestic freight operations.” Mike Wallis, executive chairman of Spatial Global, said: “The opportunity to acquire Hollyport arose and very early on we saw a business built on the same values that we work to. We are very pleased that all staff at Hollyport Logistics Ltd will remain as they are vital to the process and relationship with the customers and suppliers. We are happy to have a Heathrow base going forward.”

Council loan could trigger regeneration of area surrounding Derby railway station

Stuart Pearcey
-
0
Council loan could trigger regeneration of area surrounding Derby railway station
Derby’s Council Cabinet members intend to provide a £500,000 loan to property and regeneration firm London and Continental Railways, who want to buy Midland House, near to Derby Midland Station. It’s thought the acquisition could spark significant regeneration of the city’s Railway Conservation Area and create a more attractive gateway into the city centre. The building is currently owned by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities who have declared it “surplus to requirements”. The former industrial land between the River Derwent and the railway lines on the east side of Derby station has now successfully developed into Pride Park, home to many rail-related businesses, including East Midlands Railway. Following the publication of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands in 2021, Derby station area now has HS2 East status and forms part of the HS2 Growth Strategy for the East Midlands. LCR is wholly owned by the Department for Transport and works in partnership with local authorities, Network Rail and Homes England. The company has invested millions of pounds transforming underused public sector properties, particularly around railway stations and transport hubs, into vibrant destinations. The company also delivered a new Business Park at the former Rail Technical Centre (RTC) in London Road, Derby. Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council said: “The opportunity to support the purchase of Midland House, an important building close to the station, is really good news. Any step towards the improvement of the area around the railway station is most welcome. “This is another example of how we have supported regeneration development in the city. The investment should tie in well with other improvements expected, through developments around main stations within the HS2 programme. “Before Easter we should know where the headquarters of Great British Railways will be located which, if Derby is indeed selected, would further add to the potential improvements, to what is a crucial development area of Derby.” The emerging regeneration masterplan for the station area will be the subject to public consultation, as will any subsequent planning applications associated with Midland House and/or the wider area. Built in the early 1870s, Midland House was originally the headquarters of the Midland Railway. Along with Midland Hotel and the remaining Railway Cottages, it is one of the city’s unique rail heritage buildings on the west side of Derby rail station.

Construction firm appointed for new Chesterfield mental health hub

Tess Egginton
-
0
Construction firm appointed for new Chesterfield mental health hub
A new mental health hub for Chesterfield has taken a step forward with the appointment of a construction firm to lead the redevelopment of the building. Local firm Beighton Construction will oversee the refurbishment of the former Register Office on Beetwell Street for charity Derwent Rural Counselling Service. The new centre is set to open in summer 2023.   Grand plans for the three storey premises include office space, treatment and consulting rooms, meeting rooms and relaxation space to help cope with an increased demand for DRCS services in the area plus tenanted options including rooms and floorspace.Belper-based Norder Design Associates will be supporting the scheme with project management, architectural and engineering design services.Janette Smeeton, Chief Executive at DRCS, said: “This is a huge milestone having a construction firm on board and will mean we can move forward at pace from mid-March to progress to a brand new future for the new building.  “By having our services here we can be more efficient, maximise manpower and continue to deliver a high-quality service to support our service users. It will also allow us to offer room rentals and services to other organisations in the town.” Andrew Holmes, director at Beighton Construction, based in Chesterfield, said: “We are really pleased to start a new working partnership with DRCS. This project allows us to take a well known premises in Chesterfield and deliver a true future-proofed building, serving needs across the town and the county. It is a demanding refurbishment, but we will deliver it for this summer.  “We are very excited not only about the building development, but the much needed services and benefits it will bring for local people once it’s completed.”The new premises is part of ambitious plans for the charity which currently operates a team of 60 freelance and employed staff working from home and out of seven centres across the county covering the Amber Valley, Erewash, Chesterfield, Buxton, Matlock, Ashbourne, Derby, Swadlincote and the Peak District. Mark Serby, chair of trustees for the Bakewell-headquartered charity, said: “This is a hugely exciting project for the charity, and for people across the county.“By investing in the purchase and renovation of the property, DRCS will be in a position to scale active services and have capacity to introduce potential new ones to meet changing needs, providing a positive impact on the community.”Martin Lythgoe, director at Norder Design Associates, said: “We’ve been working closely with DRCS to develop this project over the last 12 months and we’re really pleased that Beighton Construction have now been appointed to undertake the refurbishment. The project will bring an important local building back to life and provide an asset of lasting value for the local community.”Over the last 30 years, DRCS has become the largest third sector provider of counselling services in the region offering help to individuals, via self referral or via a GP, with common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress and long term conditions through counselling, CBT, guided self-help, and other forms of talking therapy. For the last eight years, DRCS has been in partnership with Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust to improve access to psychological therapies throughout Derbyshire achieving above national recovery rates and shorter waiting times.

East Midlands business confidence grows

Tess Egginton
-
0
East Midlands business confidence grows
Business confidence in the East Midlands rose eight points during February to 18%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.  Companies in the region reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up two points at 26%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 11 points to 9%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 18%. East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as evolving their offer (41%), diversifying into new markets (28%) and investing in sustainability (26%).The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.A net balance of 14% of businesses in the region expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 14 points on last month. Overall UK business confidence decreased by just one point to 21% in February. Firms remained positive about their own trading prospects with a net balance of 31% expecting business activity to increase in the coming 12 months. Firms also reported plans to create new jobs with 20% of businesses intending to make new hires over the next 12 months – up three points from January. All UK regions and nations reported a positive confidence reading in February, with six areas reporting a month-on-month increase in confidence. Of those, the West Midlands (up 30 points to 48%) and Yorkshire and Humber (up 22 points to 34%) saw the largest monthly increases.Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “It’s pleasing to see confidence in the East Midlands increase this month. January tends to be quieter for businesses but firms in the region are clearly buoyed by their trading prospects and are looking to diversify their offering, demonstrating their resilience to more challenging market conditions. “To help steel against potential future disruption, firms in the region should take a proactive approach to managing their cashflow, ensuring they have corporate cards and overdraft facilities to help with short-term finance needs.” Retail confidence bounced back, rising for the first time in three months to 21% (up 14 points), led by improvements in both trading prospects and economic optimism. However, business confidence fell in construction (down eight points to 19%) and services (down five points to 20%) although this remains higher than in the latter part of 2022. Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Business confidence has lost a little momentum this month, following the strong gains seen recently. Firms are feeling more cautious about the wider economy. However, confidence in their own trading prospects continues to strengthen, helped by tentative signs that wage and other cost pressures may be reducing. “While inflation appears to be tapering, pressures on consumers will need to ease further to help make it a more stable environment for businesses to operate.”

More than half of SMEs predict rising costs will be key challenge in 2023

Tess Egginton
-
0
More than half of SMEs predict rising costs will be key challenge in 2023
Recession, rising costs and retention of staff were the three key challenges identified by SMEs for 2023, according to the latest survey from a HR consultancy. The third annual SME Survey, from Kettering-based HR Solutions, has revealed that “finances are arguably a higher priority than ever before” with more than half of the companies questioned predicting rising costs will be an issue in the year ahead and 70% stating that available finance would have the biggest impact on decision making, closely followed by profitability and inflation. A total of 46% of participants admitted managing and controlling costs is a major financial challenge for 2023 and to effectively manage costs, 38% of SMEs have highlighted that maintaining a sufficient cash flow will continue to be vital throughout the year. The fieldwork took place at the end of 2022 and all the companies surveyed had fewer than 250 employees. The respondents spanned multiple industries, including manufacturing, education, care, hospitality, finance, energy, insurance, property, and pharmaceuticals. HR Solutions first launched the SME Survey in 2021, during the pandemic, and priorities have changed dramatically since then. In the first and second SME Survey reports, Covid-19 had a huge impact on the findings. However, this year not one SME mentioned the virus. Business financial performance and securing new business have consistently been selected as key challenges throughout each of the three surveys, and, unsurprisingly, 46% of survey respondents selected a potential recession as one of the main challenges in 2023. HR Solutions CEO Greg Guilford said: “Each year, our SME Survey provides a pulse check on the SME landscape. We look at how the previous year has impacted businesses, and we use our results to predict key factors for the year ahead, sharing insight on how to leverage opportunities, and overcome challenges. “This is our third SME Business Survey and offers us the chance to evaluate how trends have changed over the past few years. The UK now finds itself on the verge of a recession which is highly likely to have impacted the survey data for 2023 and swayed the statistics heavily towards a financial focus. Finances are arguably at a higher priority than ever before. “Recruitment and employee retention also remain key priorities for SMEs as they continue to focus on their people, as they did in 2022. The importance of mental health at work has increased by six per cent when compared to the 2022 SME Business Survey results. Business owners must continue to see this as a high priority, particularly with external factors including the cost-of-living crisis, which are likely to have an impact on employee wellbeing throughout the year.” In the report, HR Solutions address the issues raised and suggest recommendations for SME business owners to overcome the challenges. The forward-thinking firm have created a dedicated hub of resources, templates and guides as well as a 10-point plan to help companies manage effectively in a recession. The plan, which can be used as a checklist, covers topics including cost cutting, organisational structure and pay. Greg added: “With 69% of SMEs focusing on increasing turnover this year, forward planning and innovative thinking will be crucial for SMEs to succeed.”

90 jobs on the line at JD Sports brands acquired by Frasers Group

Tess Egginton
-
0
90 jobs on the line at JD Sports brands acquired by Frasers Group
90 jobs are on the line at fashion brands acquired by Frasers Group from JD Sports in December, according to reports in the Retail Gazette. Redundancy consultations are said to have begun at a number of the businesses that were snapped up in the £47.5 million deal. The Shirebrook-based business swooped for premium fashion brands including Base Childrenswear, Choice, Clothingsites (including Brown Bag Clothing), Cricket, Giulio, Kids Cavern, Missy Empire, Nicholas Deakins, Pretty Green, Prevu Studio, Rascal Clothing, Tessuti (including Xile), Scotts, Watch Shop and Topgrade Sportswear (including Get The Label). It followed an acquisitive year for the company, with purchases of Missguided, I Saw It First and Coventry Building Society Arena. Retail Gazette notes that some of those affected have been offered work at Frasers Group’s Derbyshire HQ.
1...600601602...1,007Page 601 of 1,007