Funding secured for new renewable energy battery storage facility in Chesterfield

Tess Egginton
-
0
Funding secured for new renewable energy battery storage facility in Chesterfield
Chesterfield has been named as one of the areas to benefit from investment in a battery storage facility, adding to the town’s green growth. Santander UK has provided a £27m funding package to 4 Renewable Energy, the independent power producer (IPP) arm of RGREEN INVEST, an independent French investment management company specialised in equity investments and financing for energy transition and climate change adaptation infrastructure projects. The funding supports construction and operations of four new-build battery storage facilities in England that 4 Renewable Energy acquired last year. The new local facility will be based on Back Lane in Chesterfield, with facilities also being built in Rochdale, Plymoth and Bexhill on Sea. Battery storage is key to ensuring the UK’s homes and businesses can be powered by renewable energy. It plays an important role in boosting the nation’s capability to capture, store and release renewable energy, providing a more reliable and regular supply. Owned 100% by RGREEN INVEST’s INFRAGREEN IV fund, 4 Renewable Energy has plans to expand its UK portfolio beyond its first four battery storage facilities. It is actively pursuing additional battery storage projects under development or ready-to-build in the UK and is establishing a local team. RGREEN INVEST’s managed entities have invested in more than 1,500 renewable energy projects to date and in large battery storage facilities in France – on the mainland and overseas. 4 Renewable Energy has wind, solar and battery storage projects under development and construction in Spain, Bulgaria, Portugal, Romania and Poland. Its portfolio of renewable energy projects totals more than 1.5 GW. Since the start of 2019, Santander UK has committed more than £250m to the battery storage sector. This funding is part of Santander’s global target to lend €120bn in green finance to businesses throughout the world by 2025. The funding package provided to 4 Renewable Energy was partly financed by Santander UK’s Environmental and Social Growth Fund, which is designed to support lending that benefits the environment or society and contributes toward the UK’s sustainability agenda. Sébastien Rondel, head of direct investment for RGREEN INVEST and director of 4 Renewable Energy, said: “This is our first venture into the UK market, and we are excited to be an active player. Our banking partner, Santander UK, has greatly supported this venture and is helping us pursue our strategic development abroad. Our choice of the UK is significant as the nation has made an ambitious decision to accelerate its transition to renewable energy sources, and battery systems are poised to become a key component of this strategy’s success.” Mark Cumbo, director, specialised and project finance at Santander UK, said: “We are delighted to support RGREEN INVEST’s entry into the UK renewables market with funding for the construction of its four battery storage facilities. Santander UK strongly supports clients such as RGREEN INVEST that are bringing positive environmental change to the UK’s energy sector, and we are delighted to provide funding for these new battery storage facilities throughout England.”

UK workmates from Derbyshire-based company to have their first meeting up a mountain in charity fundraiser

Tess Egginton
-
0
UK workmates from Derbyshire-based company to have their first meeting up a mountain in charity fundraiser

Work colleagues from a chemicals company with a Derbyshire headquarters are to meet for the first time by climbing one of the UK’s tallest mountains together.

Employees of Lubrizol, which has a UK headquarters in Hazelwood, near Belper, are taking on a series of walking challenges over the next few months with the aim of reaching their £25,000 fundraising target for mental health charity Mind. 

The first is a climb of Wales’ highest peak, Mount Snowdon, which will see colleagues from Lubrizol’s offices around the UK meet up – some for the very first time.

Chris Hart-Jones, Lubrizol’s production manager at its Barnsley site, who will be taking part in the 1,085-metre ascent of Snowdon, said it would present an opportunity for people who had joined the company since COVID to see each other in person rather than just converse over a screen. 

He said: “We’ve all spent the past two years meeting new team members over the screen. We have not had the opportunity to meet them face to face.

“These walking challenges, starting with the ascent of Mount Snowdon, are a great chance for us to get together, meet people we have only met virtually in the past, and raise some money for charity in the process.”

Lubrizol has offices across the UK in Manchester, Barnsley, Consett, Huddersfield, and Mostyn in Wales, as well as Derbyshire. Colleagues will be walking up Mount Snowdon on May 21, the first of four walking challenges that teams from the company will be undertaking over the summer and autumn. In July, Lubrizol staff will take on England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike, before they face the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge within a gruelling 12-hour timeframe the following month. To finish off, there will be a gentler company walk up Mam Tor in Castleton in September.

The four walks are all part of Lubrizol’s ‘Olympic challenge’ in aid of Mind, which began in April 2021. The idea behind the challenge was for staff to collectively cover the distance between the UK and Beijing, 5,800 miles, by a range of means including walking, cycling and running. 

So far, the company’s staff have raised more than £22,000 for Mind with a variety of activities, one of the most recent of which has been a 24-hour gym challenge undertaken by four students based in its Manchester office.  

Chris said during lockdown many of the company’s fundraising activities had been undertaken solo by employees, due to social distancing rules, so the four walks over the next few months were a chance for people to exercise as a group. 

Claire Hollingshurst, from Lubrizol’s Derbyshire office, said: “At Lubrizol we believe strongly in supporting mental health as much as we can. COVID has taken a toll on many people’s emotional wellbeing and that’s why we have chosen as a company to raise £25,000 for Mind.

“We’re very proud of the money we have raised and we hope to reach our target through these four walking challenges over the next few months. Fresh air and exercise can be a great way of boosting mental health so it’s fitting that as a company we will be taking on some of the UK’s highest mountains together in aid of this very worthy cause.

“It’s lovely too that some of our newest colleagues will be able to meet up for the first time by climbing mountains together.”

Potential £1.05bn acquisition of Ideagen revealed

Tess Egginton
-
0
Potential £1.05bn acquisition of Ideagen revealed
A cash acquisition of software firm Ideagen is set to be recommended by directors to shareholders. The deal would value the Nottinghamshire-based firm at £1.05bn. Rainforest Bidco Limited (Bidco), a company indirectly controlled by funds managed by Hg Pooled Management Limited (Hg), is behind the acquisition. The boards of Bidco and Ideagen have reached agreement on the terms of the cash acquisition in which Bidco would acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Ideagen. The acquisition is conditional on, amongst other things, the approval of Ideagen shareholders. Bidco is a newly formed company owned and controlled by funds managed by Hg, a software and services investor. Richard Longdon, non-executive chairman of Ideagen, said: “We believe that the offer from Bidco represents value for shareholders and the Ideagen directors unanimously intend to recommend the offer to shareholders. “The all-cash offer represents a compelling and attractive opportunity for shareholders to realise and crystallise their investment in Ideagen in the near term and also provides a significant premium to the prevailing share price notwithstanding the backdrop of the wider risks posed by the political and macro-economic environment. “The offer reflects the quality, strength and long-term performance of Ideagen’s businesses and its future growth potential. We believe that Hg’s track-record and expertise in supporting and growing software businesses would provide a complementary partner for Ideagen’s stakeholders.” Christopher Fielding, Joris Van Gool and Jean-Baptiste Brian, partners at Hg, said: “At Hg, we have spent over 20 years focused on the business-to-business software space. We have long admired how Ben and his highly motivated team have grown Ideagen into a leader in its sector. “Our experience in the sector gives us strong conviction that Ideagen represents a high-quality platform, and we are committed to providing additional capital and resources that are required to further support and enhance Ideagen’s next phase of growth. “Hg has a strong track record of investing in and growing UK-based software businesses. We recognise that Ideagen is a global organisation with stakeholders around the world, but with deep community ties and a strong local heritage. We strongly believe that the core of the business should be maintained in its Nottingham base, including its executive team and technological development centre.”

Further downgrades to UK growth with squeeze on business investment and consumer spending raising risk of recession, says EY ITEM Club forecast

Tess Egginton
-
0
Further downgrades to UK growth with squeeze on business investment and consumer spending raising risk of recession, says EY ITEM Club forecast

Inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, skills challenges and increasing supply chain issues are continuing to squeeze the outlook for business investment, according to the new EY ITEM Club Spring Forecast.

UK business investment is now forecast to grow 10% this year, having been expected to grow 12.7% in February’s Winter Forecast and 11.3% in March’s Interim Forecast. This represents an estimated £5.5bn shortfall from February’s forecast. With a sluggish recovery last year presenting a disappointing starting point for 2022, investment is now not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels until the end of this year.

The EY ITEM Club has also downgraded the outlook for UK growth overall, with UK GDP now expected to grow 4.1% in 2022 – down from the 4.2% predicted in March – before growing 1.9% in 2023 and 2.2% in 2024. Growth will be dependent on under-pressure households continuing to spend by saving less and borrowing more – and the EY ITEM Club says that the possibility they may not raises the risk of recession.

Hywel Ball, EY UK chair, says: “Uncertainty about the pandemic has been replaced by geopolitical uncertainty, which has also had consequences for the cost of capital goods and supply chain frictions. The temporary super-deduction tax incentive should support an investment pick-up this year, but its impact is being countered by strong headwinds.

“Some businesses also appear to be grappling with labour shortages and aren’t always able to access the talent needed to identify or deliver investment opportunities. At the same time, many large businesses are actually well-placed to invest, having paid down bank debt during the pandemic and built cash holdings which could can be used to fund new projects.”

The EY ITEM Club estimates that, as of February 2022, UK corporates had accumulated approximately £150bn in extra cash holdings – 5.5.% of GDP – compared to what they would have had access to had pre-pandemic deposit trends continued.

Hywel Ball adds: “Investment prospects could rely, in part, on the labour market outlook – and whether the pandemic-linked rise in non-participation can be reversed. Focusing on skills and talent will be key for businesses, society and the wider economy. Until business investment is unlocked, the UK economy will be even more dependent on consumers, who are facing their own challenges.”

The UK unemployment rate fell to 3.8% in the three months to February 2022, but the number of ‘inactive’ working-aged people is 490,000 higher than two years ago, mainly because of rising numbers of people on long-term sick leave or taking early retirement. Employment is down by over half a million people compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Consumer squeeze continues – and the risk of recession rises

While the EY ITEM Club’s central forecast does not see the UK economy entering a recession, it warns that there is a “serious risk” of this happening later in 2022 if consumer spending does not meet expectations, or if October’s energy price cap review results in a higher-than-expected rise in bills.

Consumer spending is now forecast to rise 4.9% in 2022, down from the 5.1% and 5.6% expected in March and February. Growth of 1.5% is predicted in 2023, down from the March and February forecasts of 1.7% and 2.9%.

Inflation, meanwhile, is still expected to have peaked at 8.5% in April, while average inflation for 2022 is now forecast to be 6.7% (up from 6.5%), the highest level since 1991. With average earnings forecast to rise by just over 4% this year, British workers are set to see the biggest fall in real wages since 1977.

However, consumer spending – and the economy – is expected to benefit from households continuing to release the almost-£180bn worth of ‘excess’ savings (8% of GDP) built up during the pandemic. The EY ITEM Club notes that the household savings ratio fell more rapidly in Q4 2021 than expected, falling to 6.8% from 7.5% in Q3 and a lockdown-induced 18.3% in Q1, but is still above the immediate pre-pandemic average of 4.9% (2017-19).

Martin Beck, chief economic advisor to the EY ITEM Club, says: “The UK economy is not without supports. Momentum at the start of the year should help offset new headwinds to deliver calendar-year growth for 2022. The balance sheets of many households and businesses are unexpectedly strong, having built up a combined £300bn of ‘excess’ savings over the course of the last two years.

“But accumulated savings are not a panacea for the economy. There is a significant risk that consumers, faced with a sustained squeeze on their finances, may cut spending in response. And while the rising cost of living will affect almost all households, some are more vulnerable than others. The distribution of savings built up in the pandemic is heavily skewed towards richer households, while lower income groups will be disproportionately affected by higher energy bills and benefits increases being outpaced by inflation this year.

“The forecast for households improves significantly in 2023 and 2024, but we’re not there yet. Economic growth this year will depend heavily on squeezed households being willing to spend, which, in turn, will rely on falls in real incomes being offset by households saving less or taking on more debt. There is scope for households to do this but there are no guarantees consumers will come to the rescue.”

The EY ITEM Club expects pressure on households to ease from next year. Energy prices are predicted to fall across 2023 and 2024, pushing down on inflation, which is forecast to average under 2% in 2024. The benefits uprating in April 2023 is likely to be over 7%, well ahead of prices rises. And while high inflation will mean the four-year freeze on tax allowances and thresholds will affect more taxpayers than intended, this will be mitigated by a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax from April 2024.

Hat-trick of senior promotions for Shoosmiths’ Nottingham office

Tess Egginton
-
0
Hat-trick of senior promotions for Shoosmiths’ Nottingham office
Shoosmiths has promoted three members of its Nottingham office. The promotions round sees Su Kemp become a partner, Charlotte Thomas step up to legal director and Will Thomas take on the role of principal associate. Su enters Shoosmiths’ partnership after joining the law firm in 2015 as a non-contentious real estate solicitor with a recognised specialism in retail and a broad experience of dealing with complex matters for property occupiers. Su’s focus as partner will be on accelerating Shoosmiths’ growth in Nottingham – adding to both its UK-wide real estate client base and the office’s team, which now totals 77 staff. Charlotte’s promotion will see her become a legal director in the firm’s banking and finance team, with experience in multimillion pound acquisition and leveraged finance transactions. Will’s move to principal associate comes after successfully handling a number of major planning appeals and High Court challenges as part of Shoosmiths’ planning practice. The trio of promotions follows Shoosmiths recently announcing a new head of office in Nottingham, with partner Michael Briggs taking the reins from Deborah Gordon-Brown. Michael Briggs, partner and head of Shoosmiths’ Nottingham office, said: “Shoosmiths is building something special in Nottingham. The full-service office is home to over 70 staff and boasts a client base that features some of the biggest companies and brands in the UK across multiple industries. “This latest round of promotions shows the talent we have in Nottingham, while also demonstrating that Shoosmiths is a firm where you can get ahead and build a career. “We’d like to congratulate Su, Charlotte and Will on their new positions and look forward to working with them and the wider team to deliver the office’s growth plans.” The promotions at its Nottingham office forms part of a firm-wide promotions round for Shoosmiths, which sees the firm appoint seven new partners, nine new legal directors and a cohort of principal associates and associates.

Sustainable health and beauty firm agrees long-term lease for brand new Ilkeston warehouse

Tess Egginton
-
0
Sustainable health and beauty firm agrees long-term lease for brand new Ilkeston warehouse
Sustainable health and beauty pioneer Weleda has agreed a long-term lease with fellow Derbyshire-based company, Clowes Developments, for a state-of-the-art facility. Unit B at Etiquette Park comprises of a warehouse and office facility totalling 23,500 sq ft. Works began on site back in January 2022 with construction contractor TanRo tasked with delivering two facilities totalling 50,000 sq ft at the newly established business park located near Manners Avenue Industrial Estate in Ilkeston, the heart of Ilkeston’s existing industrial, warehouse and distribution hub. Both occupiers, Weleda and Catering24, are locally established businesses who were keen to remain close to their roots, retain their workforce and continue to grow their successful enterprises within the area. Jayn Sterland, Managing Director, Weleda UK, said: “We are excited to be expanding our existing operations at Heanor Road with a brand-new warehouse and office space at Etiquette Park, which will be tailored to meet our very individual needs. “As a manufacturer of natural and organic cosmetics and holistic wellbeing products, it is essential that our stock is stored in very specific conditions which meet GMP standards. The new build will allow us to grow our business whilst remaining in the area where our manufacturing site and Demeter-certified organic medicinal herb gardens are also based. “The new facility means our Customer Care team can also relocate to Etiquette Park, which will in turn free up space for us at Heanor Road to enable us to expand the rest of our operations as we grow.” Weleda was first founded in Switzerland in 1921. The British Weleda Co. Ltd was initially established in London in 1925 and has since enjoyed over four decades at its Derbyshire premises at Ilkeston and its herb growing site just up the road at Shipley. Today Weleda UK is part of an international group employing over 2,500 people and operating in over 50 countries across 5 continents. At the end of 2021, Clowes Developments announced that Catering24 had agreed a lease for the brand-new purpose-built warehouse and distribution facility at Etiquette Park. The deal marks significant expansion for the food packaging distributor who have doubled their turnover in the past 18 months. Catering24 has the option to purchase the property within the first 2 years which Catering24 aim to do and represents a total investment in the warehouse, equipment, racking and IT software to the sum of £2.8million. Richard Sutton, Managing Director at NG Chartered Surveyors and joint agent on the scheme, said: “It’s fantastic to see TanRo progressing with such pace at Etiquette Park and I’m proud of our involvement in the bespoke scheme by Clowes Developments. “Letting over 50,000 sq ft of space shows just what a quality development Etiquette Park is, and I wish both Weleda and Catering24 all the very best in their new homes.” Planning permission for both warehouse units totalling 50,000 sq ft was approved by Erewash Borough Council at the later end of last year. Construction on site is progressing and both occupiers are looking to move into their premises by the end of this year. FHP Property Consultants are joint agents on Etiquette Park, director Tim Gilbertson added: “This has been a really good outcome for Clowes as well as for the Ilkeston market.”

Grantham law firm expands

Tess Egginton
-
0
Grantham law firm expands

JMP Solicitors has expanded its personal injury team in its Grantham office with the appointment of senior solicitor, Monique Medd.

Monique brings a wealth of experience to the firm having specialised in litigating high value and complex personal injury claims for the last 22 years. Many of these claims were for catastrophic injuries – where people have suffered life changing injuries due to different types of accidents, as well as pursuing claims for the victims of asbestos exposure and other serious industrial diseases.

Monique will be advising clients on all aspects of personal injury law including workplace claims, road traffic accidents, criminal injuries, fatal accidents, and public liability claims.

As an active member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, Monique is committed to fighting for the rights of injured people. APIL is a not-for-profit organisation representing injured people and is dedicated to protecting and enhancing access to justice, improving the services provided for victims of personal injury, and campaigning to change the law wherever appropriate.

Neil McKinley, also a personal injury solicitor at the firm, was elected the president of APIL in May 2021.

On her new appointment, Monique said: “JMP Solicitors is an approachable practice and well regarded for this area of law.

“As a well-established Lincolnshire firm, I’m very excited to be joining such a friendly and passionate company and utilising my skills and experience within the team.”

Ian Howard, Managing Director at JMP Solicitors, said: “We’d like to give a warm welcome to Monique on joining the JMP team. Monique is ideally positioned to drive forward our work in this critical area, bringing with her a real passion for helping people, alongside an impressive track record.

“Accident claims are the core of our business and over the years we have won millions of pounds of compensation for thousands of clients all over England and Wales. I believe she will fit in perfectly with other team members and we wish her all the best of luck in her new role.”

Boston Town businesses to receive fully-funded support

Tess Egginton
-
0
Boston Town businesses to receive fully-funded support
Businesses based in Boston Town can now benefit from fully-funded support and training to help them to prosper and grow. The Centre for Food and Fresh Produce Logistics has been set up by the University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) in association with Boston College. Funded through the Boston Town Deal this forms one of the eight projects within an overall funding package of £21.9 million to Boston provided through the Town Deal Initiative by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The funding is aimed at businesses in: Agri-Food Technologies, Port & Logistics, Manufacturing, Engineering & Packaging, Equipment & Technical Services plus Food Service including Retailers and Restaurants. The delivery partners provide an outstanding resource base and work in collaboration with Boston businesses to identify growth needs and provide suitable solutions. The ambition is to enable businesses to grow through adoption of innovation, digital technologies, scientific research, training and development of workforce, products and process development plus business advice. There is also a Capital Grant element to help towards equipment purchases. Benefits are tailored to suit the needs of the business and employees with a focus on: Business Support to Enhance Productivity, Profitability and Job Creation Access to technical services and consultancy provided by a dedicated team of experts at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), Boston College, Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology and University of Lincoln College of Science. Project examples include – Digitalisation, Automation, Product Trials and New Product Development, Processes, Packaging, Robotics, Finance, Marketing, Crop Storage, Scientific Research and General Business Consultancy. Knowledge Transfer and Networking Programme members benefit from business networking and knowledge sharing activities such as – Events, Equipment Demonstrations, Masterclasses and Signposting to other sources of relevant support. Workforce Development through enhancement of Skills and Knowledge Boston College provides the lead for the development and delivery of training programmes to match the growth needs of programme businesses. Topics aim to upskill the workforce and enhance the effectiveness of business leadership and management. Sector activities will also campaign for career awareness, create a talent pipeline and encourage new entrants. Some courses will be delivered via distance learning and course costs will be covered by the programme, thus avoiding the main barriers to workforce development. Capital Grants Potential for Capital Grant funding contribution towards the purchase of equipment identified as required to meet project needs established during programme engagement. Up to 50% of purchase cost to a maximum of £5000 could be available, subject to application and panel approval. Councillor Paul Skinner, leader of Boston Borough Council, said: “This new opportunity which focuses on skills development for the food chain and technology sector is something we have been looking forward to for many months now. The Centre for Food and Fresh Produce Logistics forms part of the wider South Lincolnshire food knowledge cluster centred on the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone in Holbeach. Getting this project underway by enhancing and developing our younger generations education is key to future successes.” Chair of the Boston Town Deal Board, Neil Kempster, said: “I am delighted to see the official launch of the Centre for Food & Fresh Produce Logistics which is a key component within the portfolio of projects being supported through the funding from the Boston Town Deal. “It targets some of the key sectors of the local economy providing support and access to funding and resources that will enable local businesses to prosper, as well as helping to educate our younger generations of the significant opportunities available to them in this specialist and diverse environment. I would encourage as many local businesses as possible to take advantage of this initiative which I believe will make a real difference to the local economy.” Dean of The University of Lincoln Holbeach Campus and head of NCFM professor Val Braybrooks MBE said: “The new Centre for Food and Fresh Produce Logistics will enable Boston Town to play a pivotal role in achieving the Local Enterprise Partnerships UK Food Valley ambitions to grow and promote our world class food sector as a major talent and investment hub. “It will help to drive business partnered enterprise, innovation, and research, with an aligned skills offer to enhance productivity and provide access to high quality career opportunities for Boston’s agri-food sector and community.” Principal & CEO of Boston College, Claire Foster, said: “We are delighted to be associated with this Boston-focussed project to support our food and logistics sector. Never before has it been more important for colleges, universities and businesses to combine our efforts for innovative collaborations, mutual support and benefit, increasing productivity for the shared prosperity of all. We look forward to being integral to the success of our local industries, providing skills and employment opportunities for now and the future.”

D2N2 LEP awards £6.5m to seven low carbon projects

Tess Egginton
-
0
D2N2 LEP awards £6.5m to seven low carbon projects
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership has announced it will be investing £6.5million from its Low Carbon Growth Fund into seven innovative projects based across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire. The ground-breaking fund, which was launched in December last year, aims to provide solutions to help reduce the region’s carbon dioxide output and deliver more sustainable industrial practices. The funded projects are expected to deliver wide-ranging support and diversification of the local economy. The selected initiatives have a strong focus on innovation with the potential to assist nationally important industries and sectors – and will also benefit small and medium-sized businesses, public sector organisations, and community groups. Today’s announcement builds on the work of the D2N2 LEPs Low Carbon Group, which was set up last year to convene and coordinate low carbon programmes to deliver opportunities for investment, business growth and jobs to support national and regional policy, including the government’s “Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener” and the “The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.” All project funding is subject to the delivery of a full business case which will be considered by the D2N2 investment and main boards. Elizabeth Fagan CBE, chair of the D2N2 LEP, said: “This announcement is a further signal of our region’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and supporting the growth of our green economy. These projects have the potential to accelerate sustainable carbon reduction across our region and provide commercial solutions to carbon challenges across the UK. ” Wayne Bexton, director of carbon reduction, energy and sustainability at Nottingham City Council, said: “As co-chair of the D2N2 Low Carbon Group I’m thrilled to note the award of funding across the region to deliver innovative solutions to the carbon reduction challenge. Collaboration and sharing of best practice is a key pillar in enabling sustainable change at pace and I have no doubt that this funding award will lead to fantastic results. I look forward to the further opportunities for low carbon jobs these initiatives will bring.” Becky Rix, D2N2 Board member and marketing director at Roadgas, said: “It is vital that D2N2 encourage and support local SMEs to consider their carbon emissions in the development of new projects in our region. The Low Carbon Growth Group is committed to supporting the city’s #CN28 campaign as well as delivering green growth in pursuit of our economic recovery. Sustainability and exciting innovation is at the heart of these successful bids.”

Drone firm flies into Silverstone Park

Tess Egginton
-
0
Drone firm flies into Silverstone Park
Crowded Space Drones, whose advanced drone technology the government uses to help with counter-terrorism and public safety at high profile venues and events, has located to Silverstone Park. The business is currently completing a full fit-out of 2,350 sq ft of industrial accommodation. Inside, after installation of a new internal second floor, the premises will house a broadcasting centre and conference and training rooms for seven full-time staff, plus a workshop to maintain its drones – some costing over £20,000 each. MD Andrew McQuillan, previously head of security for Game of Thrones and in charge of the Drone Racing League, said: “We get a pure fibre connection from the Innovation Centre – incredibly fast speeds which is one of the things we require. “Silverstone Park offered us really good options on unit size, but also the location means the travel radius from here is phenomenal – for example we might need to be in Portsmouth to film for Virgin Cruises and it’s still only two hours away.” Linked up to Crowded Space’s head office in Belfast, the business is CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) accredited – all its pilots are CAA-trained – and, says Andrew: “We’re probably the only business who can do what we do.” “Essentially, we’re a very specialist drone services company which the CAA will give special permissions to,” he continued. “After the Gatwick drone incident in 2018, we responded to counter-terrorism police and covered all other UK airports for them. “Soon after that incident, we prevented someone trying to fly a drone down a runway at another major airport and also potentially into the path of a large passenger jet on its final approach. “A lot of that work is when we bring our range of detection systems into play – they can detect any drone from around 40km away. We undertake similar counter-terrorism measures for governments in the USA and Ireland, but it’s mainly UK. “We’re also active in other areas such as the Wimbledon tennis tournament for the full three weeks and even I’m a Celebrity, where we use infra-red drones through the forests to detect people trying to access the set illegally.”
1...882883884...1,052Page 883 of 1,052