Leicestershire businesses focus on skills, costs, and exports as region moves on from lockdown

Tess Egginton
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Leicestershire businesses focus on skills, costs, and exports as region moves on from lockdown

Small businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire continue to keep a close eye on skills, costs, and exports as the region moved past lockdown and addressed new challenges.

Results from the latest Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Business Tracker Survey, conducted in December 2022, have now been published.

They show the responses from local SMEs to the latest of four surveys, each of which has checked the pulse of businesses over the last two years.

The purpose of the project throughout has been to better understand, and respond to, the needs of local businesses as a consequence of the pandemic.

The first survey was conducted in December 2020 and provided officers with data around how business was managing the impact of Covid-19.

Data has provided an insight into local business confidence, where support has been required, been used as evidence for funding bids, and shown how businesses have adapted.

The sequence started two years ago and 118 businesses participated in the fourth and final survey.

Tracker survey data has been used to support successful bids for the £3m Made Smarter programme, which is supporting digitalisation of East Midlands manufacturing businesses, and the £1.3m Create Growth programme, which is helping East Midlands creative businesses to grow.

Headlines from the final survey include:

  • Only 30% of organisations were satisfied with their workforce’s basic skills. This is the lowest level recorded and fits with anecdotal evidence from local businesses that new starters may have missed out on learning ‘soft skills’ in a physical working environment.

  • There remain many skills challenges to address. The LLEP is now working to improve alignment between skills required by businesses and how schools and further education support students to meet these challenges.

  • Recruitment difficulties also remain. Businesses are responding with salary rises and increased training. In total, 38% of businesses had experienced difficulties with recruitment during the last six months. More than two-fifths of businesses have capacity to offer work experience.

  • Europe continues to be the key trading partner for both imports and exports. More than 50% of those involved in exporting were experiencing challenges, which most blamed on the UK’s exit from the EU. Import challenges were blamed both on Brexit and shipping issues.

  • Around 8% of businesses are struggling to repay Government support accessed during the pandemic. This is likely to become a more serious issue once increased costs associated with cost of living and energy prices are factored in.

  • About 57% of businesses have been significantly impacted by inflation of raw material costs. Shipping costs and utility prices also factored, with most businesses raising their own prices, as well as looking for cost and supply chain savings.

Andy Reed OBE, co-chair of the LLEP Board, said: “The survey has covered themes that directly impact local businesses of all sizes, from skills and recruitment to digital investment and exporting patterns.

“What it has shown us is that the situation remains delicate for many small businesses in the region.

“This time a year ago, 90% were cautiously optimistic about the future, but that has since slid to just over eight in ten as the impact of inflation began to bite.

“We will continue to use the data from all four tracker surveys to inform programmes and policy at the LLEP as we move forward.”

The survey went to businesses ranging from two to 249 employees. About a quarter were based in the city, with the remainder operating across Leicestershire.

Businesses covered a range of sectors, from agriculture and construction through to logistics, education, hospitality and the arts.

Funding awarded to accelerate growth of Nottingham’s medtech businesses

Tess Egginton
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Funding awarded to accelerate growth of Nottingham’s medtech businesses
Medtech and life sciences businesses in Nottingham will continue to benefit from the support, connectivity and collaboration delivered by specialist life science industry association, Medilink Midlands, following its successful bid with Nottingham City Council to be part of the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Medilink Midlands has received £271,872 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver business growth support to the medtech and health tech industry across the city of Nottingham. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and is to provide £2.6bn of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, people and skills. Part of the UKSPF’s Supporting Local Businesses fund, the Business Growth fund aims to support start-up businesses, support businesses with innovation and R&D, and provide tailored dedicated support in order to grow business productivity, increase the local business pool and drive growth in the economy. Its main objective is to support high growth, high value jobs and sectors, as well as sectors that are significant or important to Nottingham. As one of four organisations awarded Business Growth grant funding, Medilink Midlands’ project will focus on the delivery of business and innovation support to companies already in, or transitioning into, the life science and medtech sector within Nottingham, to ensure Nottingham continues to be recognised globally as a city for pioneering medtech and health tech innovation. Chief Executive of Medilink Midlands Simon Himsworth said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding which we will use to help stimulate a culture of innovation across Nottingham, and further develop our comprehensive, integrated, co-ordinated life science ecosystem to support companies to accelerate their ideas to market.” “Medilink Midlands has been delivering innovation support to Nottingham SMEs for a number of years,” Simon explained. “Using our comprehensive cross-sectoral knowledge and networks across the med tech and life sciences industry, this project will enable us to support more companies in the city to increase their competitive advantage and facilitate collaborations with industry suppliers and partners, academic research, the NHS, local government, and other sector stakeholders. “We are committed to delivering opportunities for business growth across the East and West Midlands regions, and await the outcomes of other bid applications which we hope will further enable us to set a precedent for the delivery of life sciences support in the Midlands as a whole.” Robert Dixon, Head of Business Growth and Inward Investment at Nottingham City Council, said: “We are delighted that Medilink Midlands will be using our UKSPF funding to provide business support for the life science sector in Nottingham. “Nottingham is an increasingly nationally important home to many new life science businesses, based on the strengths of the two universities, the home of BioCity/Pioneer Group, which is Europe’s most successful life science incubator, and Boots – the UK’s premier health and wellbeing retailer. “We are confident that Medilink Midlands can support businesses to grow with its concept of creating synergies between business, academic research, and NHS and healthcare providers.” Professor Steve Morgan, Director of the Centre for Healthcare Technologies at the University of Nottingham, said: “We are proud to be partnering with Medilink Midlands on this exciting project with Nottingham City Council. The medical technologies sector in Nottingham is vibrant and growing, and we are delighted to be able to play our part in facilitating further growth by supporting the adoption and adaptation of new knowledge and innovation for local businesses.” Simon Himsworth added: “The life sciences sector in Nottingham is incredibly diverse, with many innovations and technologies being developed to address socio-economic and health issues. Through additional support, these innovations can be developed and accelerated through the development process and can play a key role in the ‘levelling-up’ of Nottingham city.”

Key milestone reached in Severn Trent’s £76m Mansfield makeover

Stuart Pearcey
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Key milestone reached in Severn Trent’s £76m Mansfield makeover
Severn Trent’s £76m Mansfield makeover has reached a major milestone with the completion of the first town centre rain garden. The company is installing sustainable drainage systems across the town to help protect against flooding, while bringing big community benefits. Over the next three years communities should become more resilient against the increasing threat of flooding as Severn Trent has collaborated with Mansfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to develop a greener, cleaner vision for the town. The completion of the first town centre rain garden is the first of thousands of sustainable drainage systems set to be installed across the town to reduce the risk of flooding for up to 90,000 local people.  Not only will they look smart and be good for the environment, they’ll also help to stop our sewers becoming overwhelmed during heavy rain and reduce the need for overflows to be used. Severn Trent’s first raingarden was completed by working partners Galliford Try, who will be continue to work with Severn Trent as the project moves to Ravensdale. Adam Boucher from Severn Trent said: “This really is a key moment of the project, as our first rain garden in the town is now complete, and it’s been a truly collaborative effort. With the support of the local councils and our contractors, we’re really excited that those living in Mansfield will soon benefit from the rain gardens and makes us excited about what we can achieve over the next couple of years. “When all the plants are in full bloom, this area of the town will look greener and be a place for people to enjoy visiting. While the rain garden has a very real purpose of reducing flooding and protecting businesses from flooding, it will improve how the area looks and boost the biodiversity in the area and make Mansfield a nicer place for people to spend time.” Councillor Andy Burgin, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure, said: “These gardens bring endless benefits to our communities, alleviate the growing risk of flooding, and make Mansfield cleaner and greener. “This location is perfect, right in the heart of town, and will bring a sense of calm and enjoyment to the Market Place. The Memorial Garden is also just a stone’s throw away, giving residents and visitors another relaxing and green environment to enjoy and reflect. “The innovative Severn Trent programme fits perfectly with our ambitious plans to ‘green up’ Mansfield. We’re pleased that our urban greening project works are underway. Most recently, the Pocket Park near Walkden Street car park is now fully open for use, and planting 3,200 trees in our award-winning parks is under way too. “I am confident as the roll-out of these rain gardens continues that it will help to make Mansfield more attractive and encourage people to spend more time in the town centre for the benefit of the local economy, our residents and visitors.”

Nottingham homeless to benefit from local man’s Antarctica trip

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham homeless to benefit from local man’s Antarctica trip
Charities supporting homeless people in Nottingham are set to receive a £5,000 donation from local software firm Ideagen, after one of their employees completed a trek to the South Pole. The money will go to Nottingham Street Aid after Ideagen asked team member, Adam Cooper (47), to pick a charity of his choice in recognition of completing his gruelling Antarctica expedition earlier this year. Speaking about the donation Adam said: “I chose to spend several nights out in the cold recently, some people don’t have that choice. Being able to help in some way is important to me. “I live close to Nottingham city centre and when I heard about Nottingham Street Aid, what they do, how they operate and their long-term objectives they sounded like the ideal recipient for this donation.” Nottingham Street Aid is hosted by Street Support Nottingham, part of an umbrella network spread across over 30 UK towns and cities. Street Support provides information for the public about homeless charities in those cities and how the public can help by donating time, money, or goods. Paul Scotting, who coordinates Nottingham Street Support’s activities, said: “This generous donation from Ideagen will make a real difference. On any given night there will be 20 to 30 people sleeping rough in the city. But there are hundreds who are vulnerable. “Any Nottingham charity can apply to the Street Aid fund on behalf of an individual to buy specific items that will help them move on from homelessness.” Claire Knee, global community lead at Ideagen, said: “We are delighted to be able to help Nottingham Street Aid. Our company values are Ambition, Adventure and Community and Adam’s expedition and his choice of charity, embodies those values perfectly. “We are a global business, but we’re headquartered in Nottingham, so supporting local initiatives, is important to us.” Adam skied 80 miles in temperatures as low as minus 30 before tackling the 16,000-foot Mount Vinson (which is a few hundred feet higher than Mont Blanc). After hearing what he was planning to put himself through, Ideagen CEO, Ben Dorks, promised the donation to a good cause of Adam’s choosing.

Proposals revealed to transform Northampton car park into Heritage Park

Tess Egginton
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Proposals revealed to transform Northampton car park into Heritage Park
Business, residents, and community groups are being invited to provide their views on proposals for a Heritage Park along Marefair in Northampton Town Centre. West Northamptonshire Council is seeking feedback on proposals to transform Chalk Lane Car Park in Marefair, Northampton into a Heritage Park. This will offer open green space for families and the local community to enjoy while celebrating the heritage of the area. Marefair and the surrounding area has a fascinating and important history which includes archaeological excavation sites, historic local buildings such as the Old Black Lion Pub, Hazelrigg House, Castile Hill URC and St Peters Church and even Castle Mound, the site of the once famous Northampton Castle. Castle Mound, where part of the castle used to stand, forms part of this new Heritage Park and the council are looking to understand how it can best reflect the heritage of the area into the designs for the new park and share the stories of this area with all the people who visit. People are invited to review the plans and have their say on the online consultation, which runs until Friday, 7 April. There will be public engagement sessions where members of the public can drop in anytime to view the plans and discuss with the officers and architects working on the project. These will be held on:
  • Saturday 4 March from 10am – 4pm at the Grosvenor Centre outside the Primark unit on the ground floor
  • Wednesday 15March between 4:30pm – 7:30pm at Springs Family Centre, 9 Tower Street, NN1 2SN.
WNC and Northampton Forward has secured £1.5 million from the Government’s Towns Fund towards the creation of this Heritage Park in Marefair and will deliver new green space, trees, play areas, community gardens, pathways and lighting for everyone to enjoy. Cllr Dan Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth, said: “As part of our wider strategy to redevelop Northampton town centre, we’re looking to create a new heritage park for communities to enjoy. “Marefair provides the entrance into our town from the train station and we’re seeking to create a welcoming space for visitors and residents alike, this exciting project will provide really important open green space for the communities of Spring Boroughs to enjoy and understand more about the history of the town. “Now, we want to hear some of the fantastic ideas you have, as this is your space and should host the kinds of things you want to see here.” Martin Mason, Managing Director of Tricker’s and Northampton Forward Board member, said: “Northampton Town Centre is undergoing extensive regeneration and the proposals aim to offer a community space at the heart of our town for everyone to access. I would encourage everyone to either come along to one of the events or have their say online.”

Ibstock Brick donation helps Air Ambulance build new HQ

Stuart Pearcey
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Ibstock Brick donation helps Air Ambulance build new HQ
A third of the thousands of bricks needed to build a new air ambulance HQ of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity near Cosford have been given by Ibstock Brick. Four years in the planning, the charity’s new facility will complement its existing air ambulance-led service across six Midlands counties to help some of the region’s most critically ill and injured patients. Designed to future-proof the advanced pre-hospital emergency service, the headquarters will include a new environment for crew and charity staff, including main offices, warehousing and storage and space for two aircraft and critical care cars to allow the charity to expand its service in the future. As a recognised ‘Centre of Clinical Excellence’ for pre-hospital emergency medicine, it will also help develop clinical skills and talent. Martin Runc, National Contract Sales Manager at Ibstock Brick, said: “Our business is at the heart of building, so there couldn’t be a more worthy beneficiary than a charity that provides lifesaving care. It was great to visit the construction site to see first-hand the difference our donation has made, and I’ll follow the progress with interest.” Hanna Sebright, Chief Exec of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, added: “We’ve used a proportion of our modest reserves to fund the new airbase. Therefore the brick donation is greatly appreciated and means so much. Our sincere thanks go to the whole team at Ibstock Brick.” More than 90 per cent of funding for the new airbase and headquarters facility has been obtained via major grants from organisations such as the Department for Health and Social Care and the HELP Appeal. In addition, the charity is undertaking fundraising campaigns for specific areas of the new construction, including a clinical simulation training suite, memory garden and community education zone. The facility is expected to be completed summer 2023.

Industries come together to learn more about workplace wellbeing

Tess Egginton
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Industries come together to learn more about workplace wellbeing
Industry leaders from warehouse, transport and logistic businesses across West Northants joined West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to learn more about wellbeing in the workplace. WNC’s health protection, public health and regulatory service colleagues held the forum for businesses on Friday, 10 February at the Ford Motor Company, Daventry. Representatives from Ford Motor Company Ltd, DHL and Pristine International attended to encourage and share best practice with businesses. The forum provided businesses with information on future health and safety priorities and initiatives, to encourage change and reduce accidents that result from occupational behaviour. Key topics including staff training, focus on wellbeing and how this can reduce accidents in the workplace, as well as how to manage workplace hazards. Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Engagement and Regulatory Services, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer businesses the opportunity to hear from our colleagues about wellbeing in the workplace. We’re dedicated to providing businesses with the tools they need to keep their employees safe and look forward to holding more forum events in the future.” Cllr Matt Golby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “Being able to support positive workforce wellbeing is hugely important, and it is great to be working with local industries on providing information and advice on how to achieve this. These events support the workforce wellbeing agenda and provide a brilliant opportunity for businesses to network and find out more about the many wellbeing services available and how to access them.”

Losses widen at Oncimmune

Tess Egginton
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Losses widen at Oncimmune
Losses have widened at Oncimmune Holdings, the Nottingham-based immunodiagnostics group, with administrative and research & development expenses jumping. According to audited results for the 15-month period ended 31 August 2022 (FY2022), while revenue grew slightly to £3.79m, from £3.72m in the year prior, loss after tax stood at £11.52m (2021: £5.08m). Stronger growth is being reported in the current financial year, however, with first half revenue already expected to exceed the revenue generated in the whole of the 15-month period to 31 August 2022.

Dr Adam M Hill, CEO of Oncimmune, said: “FY2022 was a period of investment in the ImmunoINSIGHTS platform following a successful, oversubscribed fundraise in March 2021, which allowed us to evolve our offering, substantially increase capacity and drive our pipeline.

“The short-term impact of investment and effort has been to increase the quality of our revenue, with more partners opting for multi-year Master Service Agreements in order to access the platform across multiple studies.

“The medium-term impact is likely to result from the development of novel IP related to immune-related diseases, in which Oncimmune is recognised as expert, and their treatment.

“These developments would not have been possible without both our people and all of our stakeholders, including our finance providers, who remain steadfast in their commitment and unwavering support and who we would like to thank.

“The ImmunoINSIGHTS business is now seeing improving growth in the first half of this financial year and has a growing number of contracts.

“Whilst short-term challenges remain in the operating environment and in financing, the Board is determined to meet these and to enable conversion of the growing pipeline of opportunities to deliver the significant returns available from our differentiated offering and expertise.”

Leicester prepares launch of ambition to develop ‘Space City’

Stuart Pearcey
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Leicester prepares launch of ambition to develop ‘Space City’
Leicester is planning for the launch of ‘Space City’, which it claims will be the UK’s definitive cluster for space research, production, manufacture, and development. The cluster will be made up of the science and innovation hub Space Park Leicester, and the flexible working space and high-tech business incubator facilities at Dock and Dock 2. The workspace will be expanded to include Dock 3 innovation workspace and newer industrial and business incubator facilities at Abbey Court, making it one of the largest and most connected Enterprise Zones for space-related activities in the UK. Space City is also open to non-space related businesses in the knowledge economy, those working towards decarbonisation, innovative start-ups and established businesses looking for space to grow. The launch event is scheduled to take place at the National Space Centre on Tuesday, 14th March, 2023, from 8am till 10am. Attendees will enjoy a networking breakfast, which will be followed by speeches from Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, National Government representatives, the University of Leicester, and several businesses that have set up in Space City. The event will provide an insight into the plans to make Leicester a vital part of the UK’s Space Spine, which will further establish the city as a leading location for the research and development of space and space-related technologies.

Stirlin to deliver £10m worth of schemes in 2023 as it hits 15 years of trading

Tess Egginton
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Stirlin to deliver £10m worth of schemes in 2023 as it hits 15 years of trading

Lincoln-based Stirlin Construction, part of Stirlin Group, has reached 15 years of trading, with completed projects totalling over £70m and plans to deliver £10m worth of schemes in 2023.

The milestone comes just months after Stirlin Group expanded its senior contracting team with the hire of Howard Griffith as head of construction and Ryan Goddard as quantity surveyor.

Stirlin Group is a development and construction company based in its purpose-built premises on Sadler Road in Lincoln.

Since its first commercial project in 2007, Stirlin Construction has successfully delivered 30 commercial and residential schemes across Lincolnshire, for private clients and joint venture partners.

The recent hire of Howard and Ryan takes the team to 20, and as the company increases its portfolio of projects, the team will expand further this year with the hire of a commercial manager and a number of other positions.

Stirlin Group’s strategy for 2023 is to further build its presence and reputation for quality in its home county, along with expansion into the wider Midlands – with conversations already taking place with clients.

Tony Lawton, Managing Director of Stirlin Group, said: “Our ambition has always been to be one of the leading residential and commercial developers and contractors in Lincoln and I believe we have achieved this. With the sustained demand for our services and approach, we are growing our team and widening the areas that we operate in to enable us to meet that demand and attain our aspirations for the future.

“Stirlin Group is largely known as a property development company – which it certainly still is – but we have also been successfully managing the construction of our own developments and projects for a variety of clients, developing a strong reputation over the years.

“It’s wonderful to have reached 15 years of contracting, and with a strong order book for this year, ambitious growth plans and our talented team, it’s a very exciting time for the business. I would like to thank the whole Stirlin Group team for their passion and commitment and to our valued clients who choose to work with us.”

Active projects for the contractor include a 10,000 sq ft office development for Duncan & Toplis in Louth, an industrial/office development at the Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) in Holbeach, and new phases added to commercial schemes at Kirk’s Yard in Branston and Leafbridge Business Park in Hykeham.

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