New fully-funded programme launched for manufacturers in the Leicester and Leicestershire region, to support post-pandemic growth
Advanced manufacturers in Leicester/Leicestershire are encouraged to book spaces on the fully-funded Ambition to Grow programme.
The programme has been designed to nurture entrepreneurialism in the region by improving the growth success of advanced manufacturing businesses.
The programme will consist of one-to-one tailored business support from an industry expert, peer networking and a series of six masterclasses which have been designed to address the challenges faced by local manufacturing business leaders.
The programme is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund, organised by Leicester Business Gateway and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice.
To apply for the Ambition to Grow programme go to: https://bit.ly/3RaBR7o
Approval granted on widespread improvements for Staveley Town Centre
Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet has given its approval to a new long-term vision for Staveley town centre and an initial £5m package of improvements, to be delivered over the next four years.
A public consultation which took place late last year showed strong support for the draft Staveley Town Centre Vision Master Plan, with 70% of respondents stating that they would be more likely to visit Staveley town centre if the Master Plan’s proposals were implemented.
The immediate improvements planned for Staveley town centre also received a high level of support from the public. These improvements include the regeneration of the Market Square, a shop front improvement scheme, a new and improved link to the canal, a new landmark pavilion building, an enhanced public realm and better signposting of facilities and attractions.
The initial package of improvements will be funded and delivered through the Staveley Town Deal and have been selected on the basis of their ability to improve the current town centre offer, uplift footfall, and prepare the ground for future investment. They are also deliverable within the set timeframe for the Town Deal.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We want Staveley to be a thriving town centre, that attracts both residents and visitors, encourages new business start-ups and supports existing retailers and businesses to flourish.
“We received lots of support for the ideas and proposals that we set out within the draft Vision Master Plan but we cannot deliver everything at once. Our aim is to make best use of the Staveley Town Deal funding to deliver an initial package of improvements that will help ensure Staveley has a bright future as a place to start, to stay and to grow.
“We will continue to work closely with Staveley’s retailers, businesses and residents to ensure we deliver the planned improvements to time and budget.”
The planned improvements, many of which are conditional on receiving planning consent, include the regeneration of the Market Square, which was supported by 77% of respondents to the public consultation. Elsewhere in the Market Square, the disused toilet block will be demolished and a landmark pavilion building with new commercial space created.
The Market Square will also benefit from new paving, lighting, planting, and benches, as well as improvements to Barnfield Close to encourage members of the public to shop and socialise. Ninety percent of respondents to the public consultation indicated that they would be more likely to visit the town centre if there was more space for festivals and events, which the planned improvements are designed to achieve.
The High Street will benefit from a rejuvenation of the public ream, and a shop front improvement grant scheme will encourage retailers to make changes to their store frontages.
There will also be a focus on increased connectivity both to the canal and wider Staveley area with improved signage, paths and cycling hubs. These improvements were supported by 74% of respondents to the public consultation. There will also be enhanced digital connectivity through the creation of a town centre wi-fi network.
As part of the process of developing the draft Vision Master Plan an independent review was undertaken by IntoPlaces Ltd., a team of three High Street Task Force experts. IntoPlaces Ltd. commented that the Vision Master Plan has the capacity to transform Staveley town centre into a vibrant hub by creating new and diverse spaces and enhancing the current offer. The planned improvements have also been supported by Derbyshire County Council.
The next step is for the Council to appoint a dedicated design team to finalise the planned improvements and seek planning consent, where applicable.
Councillor Kate Sarvent added: “It will take time for us to finalise our plans and gain planning consent but we are committed to working with the community throughout the delivery process in order to ensure that we achieve the best possible outcome for Staveley town centre, its residents and businesses.”
Local businesses club together for CAPs charity golf day
Members of the East Midlands business community are coming together for the annual CAPs (construction and property) charity golf day, which is taking place on Thursday 29 September at Springwater Golf Club in Calverton, in support of Our Dementia Choir.
Our Dementia Choir was formed by actress Vicky McClure in 2019, as part of a BBC documentary, as she set out on a journey to discover the true extent of music’s power of combatting dementia – following the death of her grandmother in 2015, who suffered with the condition.
Vicky formed the choir, which is made up of those living with dementia, in her hometown of Nottingham and supports them through singing and musical activities to provide a calm, engaging and friendly space for the community.
She was also previously a patron for CAPs’ chosen charity in 2021, Switch Up, which is run by British boxing coach, Marcellus Baz BEM, and provides mentoring and physical training to engage young people in positive activity. Four of Switch Up’s young people will be volunteering at the charity golf day this year.
Businesses such as Morgan Sindall, Wilmott Dixon and John Pye will be in attendance, with Blueprint Interiors, Jennie Holland PR, Influence Landscape Planning & Design, 200 Degrees Coffee, Pygott and Crone, GT3 Architects, and Hexa Consulting sponsoring the event.
Coastal Distillery, a Lincolnshire-based and family-run business that makes a range of artisan spirits including gins, vodkas and liqueurs, has donated the refreshments at the halfway house. All monies raised from drinks sales will go to the charity.
Following the end of play on the course, Our Dementia Choir will be performing to the players, before the prize presentations.
CAPs, which was founded in 2017 by John Tansur, client services director at Knights, and David Ford, director at Gleeds, has so far raised a total of £30,000 through a number of fundraising events, with further plans to host a black-tie dinner “with a twist” in February and a sports and Ladies Day in June next year.
John Tansur said: “We are really looking forward to the return of another CAPs golf day – this will be our sixth year. When David and I first set up CAPs, we wanted to create an event for the construction and property sector that would be fun and more importantly raise much-needed funds for charities.
“We are confident this year’s event will raise in excess of £7,000 for Our Dementia Choir, which is fantastic. We felt that people are unclear about how they can support those affected by dementia and by raising much needed funds and awareness of the charity via the golf day, this will help to get the message out there.”
David Ford added: “CAPs couldn’t go ahead without everyone getting involved to make it happen and we are incredibly grateful for their generosity. The choir is such a deserving and worthwhile cause, and we are so looking forward to their performance on the day. It will be great to see so many from the construction and property sector socialising and networking!”
Karen Bonser, charity manager of Our Dementia Choir, said: “We are simply over the moon that Our Dementia Choir has been chosen as CAPs’ charity this year. In whatever way, we want to raise the profile of dementia across all communities and show that music can really make a massive difference.
“The funding raised from this event will enable the choir to reach out to many more people living with dementia and their families, as well as ensuring current members get access to this wonderful resource. We need about £40,000 per year to run effectively and professionally with the correct, professional support choir members and their families need, so this funding will go a long way; it will ensure the choir’s sustainability and ability to reach out to more people living with dementia in the Nottingham area.
“We are really looking forward to the day and can guarantee that everyone at CAPs will be touched by the choir’s performance.”
200 Degrees set to open in Derby
East Midlands-based coffee roaster 200 Degrees is opening a coffee shop in Derby within Derbion shopping centre on London Road.
The coffee shop, which will seat over 60 customers, will be located on the ground floor of the centre next to Boots, and will feature 200 Degrees’ classic fireplace with antique armchairs as well as a cosy ‘secret’ seating area.
The new Derby coffee shop is the roaster’s 18th across England and Wales and is the 7th in the East Midlands; with shops in Lincoln, Leicester, Nottingham and at McArthur Glen East Midlands Designer Outlet.
200 Degrees will be serving its handcrafted coffee and food, such as deli-style sandwiches, baguettes, salads, soups, cakes and pastries – including vegan and gluten-free options – which are available to eat in or takeaway.
The coffee shop will bring around 12 new full-time and part-jobs to Derby and the barista team will be serving freshly roasted coffee, from the 200 Degrees roast house in Nottingham, as well as iced tea, smoothies and milkshakes.
Rob Darby, CEO at 200 Degrees, said: “Being East Midlands-based, we have had our sights set on opening a coffee shop in Derby for some time – and it’s fantastic that we have now found the perfect location at Derbion.
“As a prime retail destination in the city, we are looking forward to serving our freshly roasted coffee blends and food to our new customers and being an active member of the centre and wider Derby community.”
Coffee lovers can also purchase freshly roasted beans, coffee machines and home brew equipment in store.
Rob and his business partner, Tom Vincent, founded the company in 2012 in Nottingham, and have expanded the 200 Degrees footprint across England and Wales, now boasting shops in major cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, York, Birmingham and Cardiff.
The new Derby coffee shop will be open 7.30am – 7.30pm Monday to Friday, 7.30am – 8pm Saturday, and 9.30am – 5.30pm Sunday.
Apprentice awards vital for promoting industry
The best of the next generation of agricultural engineers will be celebrated at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show, with awards that are vital for promoting careers within the industry.
Like many career avenues, agricultural machinery firms are struggling to recruit – and someone who has been helping apprentices recognise their talent for years is Andrew Silvester, academy manager at machinery dealer Chandlers. “I taught agricultural engineering apprentices for seven years at Riseholme College – the highest number was 21 at any one time. During that time we had lots of successful candidates enter apprentice awards at the Midlands Machinery Show,” says Mr Silvester.
Having joined Chandlers last year to run its apprenticeship programme, he is passionate about educating the next generation of engineers. “There’s a vast shortage of engineers in the country and across the world,” he says.
But why should young people consider apprenticeships in the first place? “Students tend to learn better in the workplace because they’re mentored constantly, it’s education 24/7 really. It’s not just learning about being an engineer, it’s learning about life at the same time as learning about the machinery, repairs and safety.
“It’s a win-win for me because if a student is committed to it, there’s no better way to learn and get paid. Most companies pay for everything they need.”
But with all these benefits, why is the industry struggling to recruit apprentices? “As an industry, we’re notoriously bad at promoting ourselves, and we recognise that, so we are trying to improve it. A lot of manufacturers are getting together now and offering more training” says Mr Silvester.
“For me, I wanted to create a career path for apprentices – not just the three years of college, but what comes after. We have skilled, advanced and master – so it’s an eight-year career path.”
And this clear career path can be good for retention. “I think once they’ve reached the end of those eight years they’re more likely to stay in the industry.”
Mr Silvester supports apprentices in applying for the apprentice awards at the Midlands Machinery Show each year. “It’s another method of promoting apprenticeships and agricultural engineering – it’s a great show and the awards are brilliant,” he explains.
“I encourage the apprentices to apply, it’s for their own benefit and there’s a great financial bursary because tools are expensive and that’s what they can use their reward for.”
Last year’s awards saw six students accept a cheque for £250 each – the first in a two-year instalment totalling £500. One of them was Stella Hubbard, who works at Farol as a John Deere apprentice. “At the age of five I would come into Farol with my dad and assist with picking parts for jobs/ customers,” she says. “During school I developed an interest in metal work and design and took a particular interest in removing and installing components.”
Having worked at John Deere in both Australia and the UK, she is now enjoying being given the independence to carry out jobs by herself. “I would like to inspire more women to take on this career. I would also love to own my own farm and develop a career in farming.”
And Chandlers boasted two apprentice winners last year; Kieran Snowden at the Grantham depot and Zac Elsdon at Holbeach. “It makes me very proud that the work I do helps farmers to carry on working and put food on our tables,” says Mr Snowden. “It was a great honour to have been selected for this award and will help me progress in my career as well as giving me confidence that the industry is behind me.”
Entries for the apprentice awards are open until 14 October 2022 for any agricultural apprentice aged 17-25 who is living and working in the Midlands region, says Elizabeth Halsall, show organiser. “Supporting aspiring agricultural engineers is vital for the future of the industry and our awards recognise up and coming talent within the sector.”
Social Robots Purchased by Lincoln School of Health and Social Care
Significant investment has been made into social robots to enhance critical discussions into the role of emerging technology in care settings.
The University of Lincoln, UK has purchased two robots for their School of Health and Social Care: one is a PARO harp seal initially designed to fulfil the psychological requirements of enrichment and joy for senior dementia patients; the second is NAO, a more advanced programmable robot that might come to be seen as a ‘personal assistant’.
Michael Rowe, Associate Professor (Digital Innovation in Health & Social Care), said: “The 2019 Topol Report urged the NHS to develop a workforce that will be able and willing to transform it into a world leader in healthcare AI and robotics, so it seems plausible that we will soon see efforts to recruit healthcare professionals with the interdisciplinary skillsets and expertise to lead clinical teams that include non-human actors that are likely to include robots.”
PARO was first made in 2004 by Japanese engineer Dr Takanori Shibata. Pet therapy has long been considered beneficial for certain conditions, hence, the PARO robots aim to simulate this engagement without the hygiene and other impracticalities of live animals.
The manufacturers advertise the seals as suitable for treating emotional and behavioural distress, cognitive disorders, developmental disorders, PTSD and social isolation in addition to their original function as support for dementia patients.
NAO has been purchased with the aim of exploring more advanced features of social robots in the context of health and social care. In contrast to the PARO seal, NAO has the ability to walk, articulate and recognise objects, allowing it to, for instance, fetch a phone for its user via voice command.
The superior range of NAO equips the robot with the potential to act as a non-human team member following further development and understanding. Through introducing students to robotic models as part of the simulation programme in their undergraduate training, they will gain familiarity and a useful critical perspective to navigate their possible uses of social robots in the future.
An analytical approach will be taken to the presence of robotics in health and social care by encouraging students to discuss concerns surrounding privacy and ethics. Questions may be posed regarding the psychological impact of having personal conversations with a robot or the risks should robots collect a patient’s data.
Michael Rowe explains: “In addition to preparing our students to work in the NHS of the future, we also need to prepare critical evaluators of the technology, so that our graduates are able to ask the kinds of questions that ensure patient needs and therapeutic relationships are always our primary considerations.”
The limited understanding of how well the robots really work provides plentiful opportunities for new lines of research inquiry. Colleagues or students in Computer Science, Psychology and Engineering may be able to collaborate with Lincoln’s School of Health and Social Care on unique interdisciplinary studies concerning social robotics.
Ted Baker headlines trio of new lettings for Derbion
Ted Baker, Søstrene Grene and 200 Degrees have been announced as the latest brands to sign up at Derbion, the East Midlands’ leading retail and leisure destination, following a string of recent lettings including Jack Wills, River Studios, Frasers and Boux Avenue.
Iconic fashion brand, Ted Baker, has signed a lease on a 2,960 sq. ft store, which will feature a range of collections from across womenswear, menswear, footwear and accessories. The new Ted Baker store at Derbion will add to the much-loved lifestyle brand’s strong international portfolio which spans across the UK, USA, Europe, Middle East and Asia.
The brand is the latest fashion retailer to secure a lease at Derbion, following a raft of lettings including Tommy Hilfiger, Mango, FLANNELS, Jack Wills and the first concept store for River Studios. Frasers will open its 127,000 sq multi-brand flagship store at Derbion in November, spanning three floors, and luxury lingerie brand, Boux Avenue, will open before Christmas.
Occupying over 6,000 sq ft of floorspace, Søstrene Grene will offer a wide range of stylish and affordable furniture items and home accessories, as it continues its UK expansion at Derbion. Set to open later this autumn, the Scandinavian brand will join the centre’s growing portfolio of home and interior retailers, including H&M Home which will arrive later this year as the retailer doubles its footprint at Derbion to 25,000 sq ft.
Independently owned coffee roasters, 200 Degrees, have signed a lease for a 1,585 sq ft coffee shop, which will serve handcrafted coffee by a team of highly skilled baristas.
Supporting the continued growth of its food and beverage offer, Derbion has announced a £2 million investment into the refurbishment of its food court. Seating capacity will be increased to meet growing demand and the centre will welcome a number of new brands, including famed American fried chicken restaurant, Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen.
Michael Boundy, senior asset manager at Derbion, commented: “Our leasing momentum has continued to gather pace this year with a string of major lettings alongside some significant upsizes and store refurbishments.
“We’re proud to be announcing the arrival of Ted Baker, Søstrene Grene and 200 Degrees as we broaden our offer across retail, home and food and beverage, and we continue to drive forward our investment across the centre to ensure it remains the most attractive proposition for leading brands and our customers.”
Phase one in progress at job-creating Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park
Works are well underway on the first phase of a business park which will unlock new jobs for North Kesteven.
Phase one of the 37-acre Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park is expected to complete by August next year, ready for the first businesses to move in and call it home.
Local contractor Smith Construction is carrying out the initial enabling groundworks for plots one and three to be built, which make up this phase along with the civils and spine road. Harlaxton Engineering based in Grantham meanwhile are delivering the site-wide utilities connections for the park.
Within plot one will be nine business units ranging from 1,313 sq ft to 2,066 sq ft benefitting from solar panels, energy efficient insulation and electric vehicle charging points.
Plot three contains six slightly larger grow-on business units ranging from 3,369 sq ft to 5,123 sq ft benefitting from solar panels, an electric vehicle charging shelter and extra efficient insulation.
North Kesteven District Council leader councillor Richard Wright said: “To stand onsite where in just under a year’s time there’s expected to be finished units ready to welcome businesses is just fantastic. It’s a real moment to celebrate as a Council committed to investing in our communities, and something to be proud of together as a District.
“There’s been great levels of interest in Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park so far and our marketing agent Banks Long & Co continues to actively promote it and liaise with potential tenants.
“I look forward to seeing the site develop as we reach the next stages of construction, and of course the ripple effect I hope Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park will have in encouraging carbon and energy-saving features to be embedded into other business parks and commercial developments elsewhere.”
Plan submitted for expanded aviation heritage museum
A new museum could champion the pivotal role of RAF College Cranwell and the history and importance of aviation in North Kesteven and the county, if approved.
A new planning application details an expanded aviation museum with a café and educational space, which if given the go ahead would be developed by North Kesteven District Council to replace its current Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum near North Rauceby.
The application if approved would see the creation of the new museum through changing the use of an existing farm building which sits adjacent onsite.
Previously the Carlight factory and currently an industrial unit, this farm building would be reimagined into a cutting-edge tourism and heritage destination marking the advances in aviation history made at RAF College Cranwell and by its servicemen and women past and present, while further cementing North Kesteven’s aviation heritage in the heart of Lincolnshire.
The building’s total footprint would be 6,700 sq ft, up from the current museum which measures around 1,800 sq ft. In addition to bigger and improved exhibition spaces, the bespoke café and learning and conference facilities, there would also be dedicated retail space and car parking under the plan. These expanded facilities could help create additional jobs and volunteer roles.
An outdoor children’s play area would also be added, along with a new access road off Main Street which will help make the museum more visible from the A17 with submission of this signage to follow at a later date.
The new museum would incorporate use of green energy too and electric vehicle charging points, with the Council’s aim in mind for the District to be carbon neutral by 2030.
North Kesteven District Council leader councillor Richard Wright said: “The planning application if approved would see a much larger space made available to display aviation heritage in North Kesteven.
“The next steps will follow the usual planning application process that includes seeking views from various statutory and local consultees. Should the application need to be put forward for consideration by Planning Committee then I look forward to viewing it in more detail as a committee member.”
Delivery of it would be subject to securing funding opportunities. If the planning application submitted is approved, it would become an ‘oven ready’ project to be implemented when all funding is in place and a contractor secured through procurement for the works. When complete all current exhibits would be moved over from the current museum building and this then handed back to the owner.
As part of the project there would also be volunteer opportunities and chance to help shape the implementation of the new museum if approved.
Pre-let deal sees expansion at Leicester trade park
North Leicester Trade Park at Hamilton is expanding with a pre-let deal to build and rent high quality workshop and service premises to Sytner Group Ltd.
Leicestershire commercial property specialist Andrew + Ashwell, which is overseeing the trade park development, has negotiated the deal with Sytner to extend further services alongside the group’s Porsche showroom next door.
Close proximity to Leicester’s inner and outer ring roads, with fast access both to the city centre and major road and motorway links, has put North Leicester Trade Park in demand for growing businesses looking for high quality premises, which are currently in short supply.
Jon Archer, A+A director, explained: “We previously obtained planning permission for an Aldi food store on the site pre-lockdown, more than three years ago. This store is now well established and popular locally. However, difficulties with the slope of the land involved the time-consuming construction of a large retaining wall in order to release further viable development.”
Since then A+A has agreed terms for several further occupants of the site, including a drive-through on the higher level, which it is hoped will go ahead in the coming months. Planning is also underway on a variety of further schemes available for rent for industrial, warehousing and trade development use, which it is hoped will get underway early next year.
Sytner Group Ltd is a prestige car dealership specialising in premium franchises, including Audi, Porsche and BMW, based in Leicester for over 50 years.
Steve Dickinson, Centre Principal, said work was currently underway to complete the building and site, with launch set for late 2023.
“The new workshop and service premises will support and boost current capacity, as well as enhancing customer experience.
“This increased capacity will help reduce customer lead times in servicing and allow us to process more vehicles. The addition of extra outdoor space will in turn create more customer parking and ease congestion on site.
“We will also be looking to recruit new staff as business continues to grow and are greatly looking forward to the launch.”
With expansion of the trade park also in the pipeline, Jon Archer added: “New-build industrial and commercial premises have been in short supply for years and whenever a new scheme comes out of the ground there is always high demand. The market is particularly strong at the moment, with no sign of a slowdown because there is always that pent-up need.”
