Record month for Nottingham property developer
Hockley Developments, the Nottingham-based supported living and residential property developer, has exchanged on £5m of forward sales in the month of October.
Announcing the record month, head of construction, Paul Kennedy, confirmed demand continued to be higher than the business could supply.
“With one of our repeat buyers exchanging on the full development at The Phoenix development, a 26 apartment new build development in Nottingham, and further exchanges at our site at Westbridge House, this highlights the confidence in the value, finish and specification that our buyers have.
“With us expecting a similar amount of sales to be agreed in November across two new developments in Sherwood and St Anns in Nottingham, we are now focusing on securing further sites to develop in 2022.
“We also expect to expand our supported living developments across the East Midlands next year with sites being identified in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.”
More than half of UK private equity firms have made investment strategies more ESG focused
More than half of UK private equity firms have made their investment strategies more ESG focused, despite COVID-19 threatening to halt progress as firms rallied to support portfolio companies throughout pandemic uncertainty.
According to accountancy and business advisory firm BDO, which studied the environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies of 100 private equity (PE) houses with UK operations, PE firms are increasingly having to prove to investors that they take ESG issues seriously.
While the majority have started to make their investment portfolios more responsible from an ESG perspective, progress stalled slightly during COVID-19 as PE houses focused their attention on supporting portfolio companies through the worst of the pandemic.
- In 2021, 57% of UK PE firms clearly set out the changes they have implemented to make their investments more ESG focused.
- 55% of UK PE firms now adhere to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), the world’s most-recognised set of ESG principles. This is up from 49% in 2020.
- 48% of UK PE firms now report in detail on the ESG impact of their investments – unchanged from the previous year.
- 29% of UK PE firms now have a dedicated individual or team responsible for embedding ESG into the investment process – up from 25% in 2020.
Thousands of young people across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to benefit from Careers Hub expansion
Over 92,000 young people across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will benefit from new support to prepare them for the world of work.
The local Careers Hub, run by the national body for careers education, The Careers & Enterprise Company in partnership with the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), is expanding to support 118 more schools across the region.
Operating since 2019, the Careers Hub will now support a total of 150 secondary schools and colleges in the region and their 118,000 students. The Hub brings together school staff, particularly those who lead on careers education, and provides them with additional support, resources and training for their schools to deliver “modern, 21st century careers education for every child, no matter their background or circumstance.”
The Careers Hub also links the region’s schools with employers, Further Education colleges and apprenticeship and in-work training providers, to make sure young people in the region know about the options available to them after they leave education, and the different jobs open to them.
Research carried out by The Careers & Enterprise Company shows that schools and colleges that are part of a Careers Hub deliver more support to students, have stronger links with local employers, offer more work experience opportunities and develop innovative ways of linking the curriculum with different jobs a student could go on to do.
Over the next year, the D2N2 Careers Hubs will work with member schools to ensure each has a fit for purpose strategic careers plan while delivering a range of experience events and programmes for young people to access, made possible by the backing of supporting employers.
Will Morlidge, Interim Chief Executive at D2N2 LEP, said: “This exciting initiative couldn’t be better timed. Bringing the worlds of work and education together is a vital part of our strategy to lead a green recovery from the impact of Covid-19.
“Our four Careers Hubs will play a key role in inspiring our future workforce about the amazing opportunities that lie ahead for them across the D2N2 area. It’s no secret that our young people have been disproportionally affected by the effects of Covid-19, so this is a real opportunity to level the playing field.
“It has been a real collaborative effort to bring these Careers Hubs to our region and we look forward to working with all our partners as we look to transform the careers landscape across the D2N2 area.”
Oli de Botton, the Chief Executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, the national body for careers education in England, said: “Modern, 21st century careers education for every child, no matter their background or circumstance couldn’t be more important.
“Over the last few years schools and colleges across the country have been improving careers education, and helping more and more of their young people to take their best next step out of education and into the wider world.
“Careers Hubs have played an incredibly important role in making this happen. They are helping businesses, schools, apprenticeship providers and colleges to collaborate and work together as effectively as possible.
“I want to say a huge congratulations to the team in in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Derby for making this happen, and for expanding their Careers Hub so it helps to improve the lives of many more young people in the area.”
Minister for Skills, Alex Burghart, said: “Careers Hubs ensure young people can see and know about the huge range of different jobs and career pathways on offer, and make decisions that work best for them and their futures.
“Good careers education is such a valuable asset, so it’s fantastic to see that the Careers Hub in Nottingham, Derby, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire is expanding, extending the support to make sure more young people have the information they need to make the most of their talents.”
Mansfield District Council Chief Executive resigns
The Chief Executive of Mansfield District Council has announced she is stepping down from the role in the new year.
Hayley Barsby, who has worked at the council for nearly 22 years, is leaving on 9 January to spend more time with her family.
From starting her working life as an industrial engineer at Mansfield Shoe Group, Hayley moved to the council in 1999 starting as a clerical assistant.
Over the next two decades, she progressed through the ranks to Head of Housing and Director of Communities. She became the Interim Chief Executive in May 2017 before being appointed to the role on a permanent basis in January 2018.
Hayley has led the organisation through some of its most difficult years to date. She took over at a time when the council needed to make significant financial savings as a result of cuts in Government grants. COVID-19 has been a major focus for much of the last two years with the council’s main priorities during the height of the pandemic being on maintaining vital services and supporting the district’s most vulnerable residents.
A married mother of two children with disabilities, Hayley was born and went to school in Mansfield Woodhouse. She lives just outside Mansfield but considers it to be her home town.
She said: “I love Mansfield – both the people and the place and I hope I have made a difference. I will be sad to leave the organisation but I feel the time is right for someone else to take Mansfield to the next level.
“I have dedicated 22 years to Mansfield and the past few years have been challenging, particularly since the start of the pandemic. During my time as Chief Executive I have lost both my parents. My Dad passed away in April and I am still feeling the after-effects of having COVID-19 in the summer.
“Over the years I have made sacrifices for the job, and rightly so, but these life-changing events have made me reassess and I’m now making a conscious decision to put my family first.”
Speaking about her proudest achievements, Hayley said: “I’m most proud of the work we have done with Nottingham Trent University to bring students to Mansfield. It’s early days but I’m proud of the opportunities this is creating for local people to enter employment in some of our anchor institutions such as at Sherwood Forest Hospitals’ Trust.
“I’ve invested a lot of time into understanding the needs of our communities and working closely with partners, particularly around prevention rather than intervention. I’m proud of how we responded to COVID-19 and how we have provided our local communities with hope and support when they needed it, for example, through our food clubs and cultural services outreach work.
“I’m immensely proud of how we built our housing schemes at Poppy Fields and Town View to help meet the needs of over-55s and those who need extra support and care. In 2010, during my time as the Head of Housing, the council built its first new council homes for 30 years. Even then, climate change was at the forefront of our minds and the 43 energy efficient homes on the Bellamy Road estate have either ground source heat pumps or solar panels and water harvesting.
“With the Government funding we’ve secured and the publication of the Local Plan and draft town centre masterplan, we have an ambitious vision for how the town centre and wider district could be transformed in the coming years. I’ve created the right foundations for Mansfield and this is an exciting time for someone to take over and see these major projects through to fruition. I’ll be rallying behind Mansfield all the way.”
Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “Having worked her way up from the bottom to the top, which is inspiring in itself, Hayley has been the font of all knowledge leading Team Mansfield.
“She has been a rock throughout the pandemic, forward-thinking, anticipating problems and ensuring everything is in place to keep our residents and her staff safe, and local businesses protected where possible.
“I will miss her sound and reliable advice and guidance but she has assembled a fantastic team that I have every confidence in to deliver our ambitious plans for the district. The new Chief Executive will be well placed to pick up the torch and carry on the great foundation Hayley has left and lead our residents to a brighter future.”
No decisions have been made on interim arrangements or the recruitment process.
Business Gateway provides SUBStantial support for start-ups interrupted by COVID
Good news for any Leicestershire business that started in 2018 or after, and had to stop trading due to COVID; a huge programme of no-cost business support has been funded by the Business Gateway to help get these businesses back on their feet and growing.
SUBS or Start-Up Business Support will provide training, mentoring, peer networks and digital workshops to over 150 businesses in Leicestershire.
Simon Weaver, senior project manager at the LLEP, said: “This programme is open to any business less than 36 months old, from any sector, based in Leicester or Leicestershire. The only other eligibility criterion is that you must be registered as a business with HMRC or Companies House. It is likely you will be a micro-business or small to medium enterprise.”
Four companies have won the contract to deliver the support programmes. NBV’s Beryl Pettit will be delivering the three-week programme ‘Gearing for Growth’. Stuart Hartley and his company Incrementa will deliver a six-week programme including mentoring, weekly workshops and 1-2-1 support. Sam Larke will lead the Leicester Start-Ups CIC programme to help solve the most critical business challenges. Finally, Ben Mainwaring and his team from So Very Creative will deliver SMARTUP, a digital marketing accelerator.
Mr Mainwaring said: “We’re very much looking forward to supporting Leicester businesses who had to stop trading because of COVID. We’re aiming to deliver really practical sessions that they can use to grow their businesses and leave COVID in the past.”
Simon Weaver concluded: “We’re advising any business that wants to take up this offer to speak to one of our Business Advisers first. There is quite a range of support packages and a Business Adviser can help you decide which one is right for you. Just call the Business Gateway on 0116 366 8487 or there’s more information on our website: https://bit.ly/2YX18zg.”
M-EC welcomes five new staff members
M-EC, the development technical consultants, has recruited five new members of staff.
The company is experiencing strong demand for its services as the construction industry and the economy continues to pick up following the pandemic. The new appointments, which will all be based at the firm’s Leicestershire head office, will enable M-EC to further meet client demand.
Joining the firm are:
Zoe Jordan: assistant flood risk engineer
Simran Matharu: assistant transport planner
Isobel Jones-Walters: land surveyor
Natasha Kearl: geo environmental engineer
Adam Walker: acoustic consultant
As part of M-EC’s commitment to developing a diverse workplace and training and developing its own staff, two of the new appointments, Zoe Jordan and Simran Matharu are recent graduates and four are women, which is unusual in a traditionally male dominated sector.
Zoe and Simran are taking their first steps in the engineering industry after leaving university. Isobel Jones-Walters, Natasha Kearl and Adam Walker join M-EC with a wealth of engineering experience so can hit the ground running and immediately get started on client projects.
Alex Bennett, director of M-EC, says: “We are extremely pleased to be expanding our team with these five new appointments. Each individual is bringing a specific set of expertise to the company and I am looking forward to seeing them grow within M-EC and positively impact our client base.
“It’s great to see increased interest in careers in engineering and development consultancy from women. It’s certainly a growing trend across the country and I know more women joining the industry will bring huge benefits, both to individual firms and the sector as a whole. M-EC is proud to support a diverse workforce as an equal opportunities employer.”
APPEX programme to help Advanced Manufacturers reach new heights
The Business Gateway is demonstrating its support for Leicestershire’s key sectors by creating a programme for innovative Advanced Manufacturing companies.
Called APPEX, the course will help participating companies achieve Advanced Manufacturing Product and Process Excellence to help boost turnover.
The programme is worth at least £5,000 but will be free of charge to the ten businesses that qualify to take part.
APPEX helps businesses get a detailed understanding of their business capabilities, leadership team priorities and how to select, plan and execute a focussed improvement project with external support. It also gives them the chance to see and learn best practices from other non-competing Advanced Manufacturers on the programme.
APPEX is available to manufacturers in several growing and innovative sectors including aerospace, pharmaceuticals, medical, transportation, construction equipment, low carbon, and power generation among others.
To qualify to take part, companies need to have been trading for more than three years, have more than 50 employees, have an annual turnover of more than £4m and have a functional leadership team structure. They should also be manufacturing a product that is new to market or using innovative manufacturing processes.
Dr Chris Owen, MD of Owen & Partners Ltd, who will be delivering the programme, said: “We’ve put together a really practical programme of support for Leicestershire’s Advanced Manufacturers.
“Companies will learn how to select and drive focussed improvement projects to boost their competitive positioning and productivity and win more orders. As part of the very first cohort of its kind, participating leaders will also become pioneers in building a community of innovative advanced manufacturing leaders to further boost the sector in Leicestershire.”
Rachel York, Business Gateway manager, added: “We’re delighted to be able to offer such high-quality support to Leicestershire’s Advanced Manufacturing sector, particularly the companies who are embracing innovation because that’s an essential element for growth. Hopefully the companies that participate will spread the word across the sector and we will see more companies taking up our offer.”
Any company that meets the criteria should contact a Business Adviser on 0116 366 8487 to discuss applying for the programme.
Plans revealed for new business park in Leicestershire
Brackley Property Developments (BPD) has revealed plans to develop a new business park in Leicestershire.
The commercial developer has submitted a reserved matters application to Harborough District Council for the first phase of development at Elm Business Park in Broughton Astley.
The scheme proposes the development of industrial and warehouse units ranging in size from approximately 8,000 – 50,000 sq ft on a 17-acre site adjacent to Broughton Astley Golf Complex.
Units will be available on a design and build basis, which will provide occupiers with the opportunity to tailor the size and specification to their requirements. The largest building which can be accommodated is c.120,000 sq ft, subject to layout.
Elm Business Park lies on a prominent site off the B4114 Coventry Road, within six miles of the M1/M69 interchange. Outline planning consent was granted in December 2020 for a mix of uses including industrial, office, retail and leisure.
Stephen Pedrick-Moyle, Managing Director of BPD, said: “We are expecting planning approval for phase one towards the end of the year but we are already engaging with occupiers to discuss potential requirements for the site. This is with a view to starting construction during the first quarter of 2022.”
Approval for 275-bed student scheme at Argos site
Plans for a new student accommodation scheme and commercial space at Lombard House in Nottingham have been approved by the city council.
The site, at 37-41 Lower Parliament Street, is currently occupied by Argos.
Bmor Ltd are behind the 275-bed student accommodation development which would provide a mix of clusters and studios, including 23 studios which are included in the existing Argos building.
The proposals involve the demolition of the warehouse section of the Argos for a new development. The scheme would be up to 10 storeys.
Acquisitive firm snaps up majority stake in Notts furniture company
Storskogen, the Swedish firm which acquires and manages well-managed and profitable small and medium-sized enterprises, has snapped up a qualified majority stake in Julian Bowen Ltd.
Julian Bowen is a Nottinghamshire-based e-commerce design and fulfilment specialist for home furniture, with annual revenue and EBIT of approximately £34.9m and £6.9m, respectively. Julian Bowen is Storskogen’s second acquisition in the UK and represents a major milestone in the group’s international expansion.
Established in 1987, online retailers now comprise about 70 per cent of Julian Bowen’s sales, while the company offers a flexible fulfilment model to suit its wide range of customers that includes e-commerce, traditional bricks and mortar retailers, and contract furniture providers.
Amazon, Wayfair, Dunelm and DFS can be found among Julian Bowens customer base. Julian Bowen has also amassed a wide range of international suppliers.
Julian Bowen has a workforce of around 100 employees, while Managing Director Emmett Lenaghan and buying director Mark Pickup will remain in their existing senior roles within the company.
“We are delighted that Storskogen have chosen to partner with us. Their support and expertise will be highly beneficial as we continue to deliver our ambitious plans for the company,” said Emmett Lenaghan, Managing Director of Julian Bowen.
Julian Bowen will join the business area Trade headed by Christer Hansson.
“Throughout our discussions, we have been immensely impressed with Julian Bowen, in particular their extensive e-commerce operations and capacity to innovate in partnership with customers and suppliers. Julian Bowen is an ideal partner for Storskogen, and we will continue to support the expansion of their flexible and dynamic customer offering,” said Christer Hansson, EVP and Head of Business Area, Trade.
Storskogen UK CEO Philip Lofgren believes the UK has an integral role to play in Storskogen’s international expansion plans, and Julian Bowen represents another step towards realising these objectives.
“Julian Bowen represents our second investment in the UK following our acquisition of SGS Engineering in Q2 2021. Like SGS, Julian Bowen is exceptionally well positioned to benefit from the ongoing migration from bricks and mortar towards digital retail channels.
“We have extensive expertise in the B2B and B2C e-commerce space and are excited to partner with the existing Julian Bowen management team to develop these capabilities further,” said Philip Lofgren, CEO of Storskogen UK.
