New defence and security cluster to be created in Lincolnshire

Tess Egginton
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New defence and security cluster to be created in Lincolnshire

A new defence and security cluster is to be created to support the surveillance and reconnaissance capability at RAF Waddington.

The Defence and Security Board of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is to form a Greater Lincolnshire Regional Defence & Security Cluster to support the ISTAR Force at RAF Waddington. ISTAR stands for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. The new development was announced at a dinner at the Belton Woods Hotel near Grantham on Wednesday 30 March. The dinner was hosted by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and attended by representatives from the Government’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), which oversees the Regional Defence & Security Cluster programme. Others attended from the LEP, local RAF stations, government and local authorities, business, industry, the University of Lincoln and the Lincoln Science & Innovation Park. The guest speaker was the former Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, who outlined the region’s historical links to the defence sector, its long tradition of innovation, and its suitability to host a cluster focused on supporting innovation in the field of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. Julian Free CBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln and Chair of the LEP’s Defence and Security Board, said: “This event was all about putting our defence and security sector on the map and discussing our ambitions for this very important area. “Defence and security is one of Greater Lincolnshire’s game-changing sectors and the dinner was an excellent opportunity to bring some of the key players together to discuss the way forward. “Our ambition is to establish Greater Lincolnshire as a national defence and security innovation, production and service hub and to promote our ability to develop and support defence and security programmes to increase regional wealth through greater public and private inward investment and the creation of high-value, better paid jobs. “Our history, our present-day links with the RAF and our growing capabilities in defence and security technology make Greater Lincolnshire an eminently suitable location for this cluster.” The focus of the Greater Lincolnshire Regional Defence & Security Cluster will be on the sensors, tools and processes required to collect information and data to enable better and quicker decisions. This field encompasses all facets of data science (collection, management, storage, fusion, wrangling, analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and visualisation), secure communications and cyber-security. Harry Leyland, Campaign Manager at defence and security firm Leonardo UK, said: “As a Defence and Security Board member representing Leonardo it was an outstanding event and reinforced the reliance and respect that we as prime contractors have for our very broad regional SME sub-contractor support. “The efforts of the Defence and Security Board to develop the Regional Defence and Security Cluster were strengthened by the superb speech given by Air Chief Marshall Sir Stuart Peach. “The board will continue to direct all efforts towards the successful establishment of the RDSC, promoting to the MOD the great defence and security benefits it will provide and the advantages Lincolnshire and the surrounding region offer to the establishment and growth of such an enterprise.” Dale Atkins, International Trade Adviser at the Department for International Trade, said: “This initiative will certainly help to raise the profile of Greater Lincolnshire as a region and help showcase the unique depth of capability on offer here.”

R3 Midlands warns of potential increase in creditor action against distressed businesses as winding-up legislation changes

Tess Egginton
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R3 Midlands warns of potential increase in creditor action against distressed businesses as winding-up legislation changes
The Midlands branch of national insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 is warning the region’s directors to seek advice if their business is distressed, following a change in the winding-up petition threshold at the beginning of this month (1 April). Companies can now face a winding-up petition for debts of £750, after temporary legislation which had previously set the threshold at £10,000 expired on March 31. Increasing numbers of distressed Midlands businesses could now face action from their creditors if they have not already come to an agreement about managing their debts. R3 Midlands chair Eddie Williams, a partner at PwC in the East Midlands, said: “Now, more than ever, it’s critical company directors seek advice if they’re worried about their businesses or concerned about their ability to pay staff, landlords or suppliers. If they don’t, they could face the financial, operational and emotional effects of contesting winding-up petitions in court over a debt of £750. “Encouragingly, over the last two years we have seen a number of instances where creditors have recognised that engagement leads to better outcomes then enforcement. Many creditors appreciate the climate that businesses are operating in and are willing to have a conversation about how and when they can be paid, but that needs to take place sooner rather than later.” Restrictions preventing commercial landlords from issuing winding-up petitions against limited companies for unpaid rent during the pandemic have also expired. Eddie Williams continued: “Rent is typically one of a company’s largest expenses, especially in the retail and service sectors. Coupled with the prospect of increased fuel and energy costs, balancing the books could become considerably more challenging for local businesses. “If you’re worried about your company’s financial position, or you’re having problems paying suppliers, taxes or staff, it is crucial to seek advice from a qualified source. Doing so sooner rather than later typically leads to better outcomes and can provide more options.”

Local employer fined £160k for failing to keep employees safe

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Local employer fined £160k for failing to keep employees safe
A local employer has been fined £160,000 by Derby Magistrates Court for failing to keep employees safe from material risks in the workplace, following an investigation from Derby City Council’s Food and Safety department. An employee of Guardian Building Products suffered life-changing injuries following an accident that occurred on 20 August 2018 whilst unloading heavy bathroom panels from a shipping container on site. The incident caused damage to the spinal cord and permanent disability, fundamentally changing the individual’s nature and quality of life. The company pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), and have been fined £160,000. The investigation found that Guardian Building Products, a bathroom products sales firm, failed to carry out a risk assessment of the task, or to take reasonable steps to protect employees and agency workers and ensure the task could be carried out safely. Speaking after the hearing, Elizabeth Blaney, Food and Safety Manager at Derby City Council, said: “Workplace transport activities are one of the biggest risks in the warehousing and distribution industry. “This incident, and the resulting life-changing injuries suffered, were avoidable and occurred because of a fundamental management failing on the part of the Company, who failed to identify the risks involved in unloading shipping containers of stock and put in controls to protect the workers. “Now that the case is concluded we will proactively raise awareness of the need for businesses in Derby to risk assess unloading of deliveries arriving from port in shipping containers, and put suitable controls in place to protect their workers.”

Peak District Mining Museum exploring opportunity to relocate to National Stone Centre

Tess Egginton
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Peak District Mining Museum exploring opportunity to relocate to National Stone Centre
A popular museum detailing the story of the Derbyshire mining and quarrying industry is exploring opportunities to relocate its valuable historical collection to the National Stone Centre (NSC) in Wirksworth. The opportunity for the Peak District Mining Museum to move to a new home has arisen following the 2021 merger of the NSC with the Institute of Quarrying (IQ). The shared ambition of the IQ and NSC is to create a world class visitor experience and an internationally significant centre of excellence for the quarrying and mineral products industry on the existing site of the NSC. Viv Russell is IQ’s chair. He explains: “Derbyshire has a long history of quarrying and mining, which has shaped the area’s natural environment that so many people enjoy today. When we announced the merger of the IQ and NSC last summer and outlined our plans to redevelop the NSC, it got us noticed by the directors of the Peak District Mining Museum, who approached us for further exploratory conversations about a possible move. It’s still early days but it feels like there’s a real energy and enthusiasm for this to work.” Clare Herbert is museum manager at the Peak District Mining Museum. She adds: “We are quite literally just down the road from the National Stone Centre, so a move to the IQ’s proposed ‘centre of excellence’ for quarrying and mineral products would be a perfect fit for us. It would also enable us to realise the ambition we have for the museum and collection, whilst remaining embedded in the Derbyshire mining communities from which we draw our inspiration.” The National Stone Centre officially opened in 1990 to inspire people to engage with the origin, industry and the history of stone. It is set within six former limestone quarries on a 40 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). IQ’s vision of creating a knowledge centre for the industry will result in a destination that can be used by the industry to engage employees and other stakeholders vital to the future success of the sector.

 

BGF appoints investor to East Midlands team

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BGF appoints investor to East Midlands team
BGF, the growth capital investor, has strengthened its East Midlands team, with the appointment of Adam Huckerby as investor. Adam joins BGF from Foresight Group, where he spent over three years in the private equity team, investing in East Midlands-based SMEs across a variety of sectors. Prior to this, Adam spent six years in PwC’s restructuring team in the Midlands. At BGF, Adam is based in the Nottingham office and will be responsible for all aspects of the investment process, from originating and executing new investments to supporting management teams of portfolio companies. Seb Saywood, investor in the East Midlands, said: “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Adam’s calibre to BGF. Our investor team plays a vital role in identifying exciting and entrepreneurial businesses, ripe for growth. “Adam is an excellent addition to our team – someone who understands the nuances of the East Midlands market and our desire to support forward-thinking companies that are eager to scale up with the support of a minority investor firmly focused on taking a patient and long-term outlook to growth.” Recent deals led by the Midlands team include the £11 million investment in wearable technology brand, MyZone, and the multi-million pound investment into Alliance Transport Technologies (ATT). Adam said: “BGF’s approach to providing minority, flexible investments can be instrumental in helping management teams fulfil their exciting growth plans. I am delighted to be supporting the diverse, ambitious businesses we are privileged to have in our local region.” Adam’s appointment follows the arrival of David Bellis as investor. He joined at the end of 2021, bringing more than eight years’ corporate and M&A advisory experience to the role, having previously worked at Alantra Corporate Finance and PwC.

Local Nottingham business renovates historic Humber works factory

Michael Fisher
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Local Nottingham business renovates historic Humber works factory
Windows and doors manufacturer, KLG Rutland, has announced that it has almost completed the renovation work of the historic Humber works in Beeston. The purchase and development of the site has created 4,700 sq. ft. of additional storage and warehousing space for the Nottinghamshire business. The remainder of the building is being refurbished for general industrial usage including glass processing for its sister company KLG Glass. The completion of the project has brought new life to a building at the heart of Nottinghamshire’s industrial heritage. Thomas Humber founded his bicycle manufacturing business in 1878 and built the Humber works to scale his production rapidly. In 1887, Humber sold the business to a group of investors under the name Humber & Co Limited and the company eventually became a leading British manufacturer of motorcycles and first series-production cars. The redevelopment of the Humber works comes at a time of growth for the business, with KLG Rutland recently investing £200,000 in new state-of-the-art plant and machinery to improve production capacity and quality. The business growth has also created 5 new jobs within the company in the past 12 months. “For a manufacturing and installation business like ours to renovate a piece of local industrial history is just amazing,” said Terry Hill, managing director of KLG Rutland. “Being a manufacturer ourselves we recognised these sites are often demolished and used for housing, something that we didn’t want to use the historic building for.’

Record revenues and profits for SourceBio

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Record revenues and profits for SourceBio
SourceBio International, the provider of laboratory services and products, has witnessed a record year, according to final results for the year ended 31 December 2021. Revenue increased by 82% to £92.4 million at the Nottingham-based firm, up from £50.7 million in 2020. Meanwhile gross profit grew by 77% to £36.2 million, up from £20.5 million in 2020. The news follows SourceBio’s acquisition of LDPath Limited, a pioneer in digital scanning technology for histopathology, in March 2022. Jay LeCoque, executive chairman, said: “I am pleased to report to shareholders record revenues and profits in an extremely busy year for SourceBio. The results have been dominated by the provision of COVID-19 PCR testing services which has been pivotal in allowing us to re-invest in our core Healthcare Diagnostics business unit, through acquisition. “It is particularly encouraging to see our core business units meeting or beating pre-COVID-19 levels of trading. In particular, our Cellular Pathology business is seeing material month-on-month growth in volumes and revenues, fuelled by the return of elective surgeries and the Government initiatives to reduce the enormous backlog of patient waiting lists. “This was the rationale for our recent acquisition of LDPath, which provides us with the wet laboratory and Digital capacity to accelerate growth in market share and profitability. The integration of LDPath will take the best of the best from each of SourceBio and LDPath to create an unparalleled combined new business opportunity. The Board is appreciative of the dedication and efforts from all its staff in a very challenging year and is also grateful for the support from its shareholders.”

Newsome invests in new, eco-friendly chiller rental fleet to help manufacturers get ‘summer-ready’

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Newsome invests in new, eco-friendly chiller rental fleet to help manufacturers get ‘summer-ready’
Temperature and humidity control experts, Newsome, are delighted to announce they have just taken delivery of a brand-new range of energy efficient chillers and air handling equipment, for both Industrial & Environmental Cooling applications. Their new rental range is ready for hire – featuring the latest energy efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing technology, with many of the products featuring low GWP (Global Warming Potential) Refrigerants. Richard Metcalfe, director, Newsome, says: “With the warmer months fast approaching, our new rental equipment will enable customers to rent a brand-new chiller to keep their manufacturing processes going, whilst they carry out necessary maintenance and checks on existing equipment. Or they can be used as an emergency back-up in the event of a mini heatwave, when average temperatures exceed 30 degrees – which can result in equipment failure and downtimes. “We’ve invested in energy efficient and environmentally friendly rental equipment, to provide our customers with the most cost-effective systems available,” he concluded. Renting temperature control equipment, as alternative to buying, can provide multiple benefits:
  • ‘Try before you buy’ – if you are unsure as to what equipment your business may need, you can use a rental system to gauge what would be the most suitable product for you.
  • The option to keep your manufacturing process going, whilst Newsome carries out any necessary maintenance on your existing equipment.
  • Renting rather than buying allows the flexibility to upscale/downscale your equipment in response to seasonal fluctuations in temperature.
  • With cash flow and capital expenditure being stretched, hiring energy efficient temperature control equipment avoids the need for a substantial, initial outlay and enables you to take advantage of fixed monthly costs.
  • Tax Relief – Rental expenditure is 100% allowable against corporation tax and will reduce what you pay. What’s more, rental equipment is not considered as an asset, so does not need to be included on the balance sheet.
Hiring one of Newsome’s new chillers with a low GWP refrigerant will also help customers improve their energy consumption – providing energy cost savings, whilst reducing their carbon footprint. For further info visit: https://newsome.ltd.uk/

Property consultancy reveals raft of East Midlands promotions

Tess Egginton
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Property consultancy reveals raft of East Midlands promotions
A property consultancy has made 27 promotions in the East Midlands as part of the firm’s ongoing growth. Fisher German made the raft of promotions, including one partner promotion and three progressions within the partnership, across its offices in Ashby and Newark. Sam Parton, who is part of the firm’s Infrastructure Services Division and is based in Ashby, has been invited to join the partnership. He joined Fisher German as a graduate in August 2010 and initially assisted with the management of various rural estates before moving across to work in utilities and infrastructure in 2012. He has since worked his way up through the business, and in 2017 took over the role of manager of the Exolum Pipeline System contract, leading a team which completes the land agency and pipeline protection administration for approximately 2,000 km of cross-country oil pipelines. As part of his role as partner, Sam will also be leading a team involved in the delivery of a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) in the East of England. Fisher German has made a total of 54 promotions across its 25 offices, including seven progressions within the partnership, as part of its career progression framework which gives employees a clear pathway to advance within the business. Sam said: “I’m extremely proud to have been invited to join the partnership. I joined Fisher German as a graduate and have always aspired to make it into the partnership, which is something that the firm has strongly supported. “There is a clear pathway for progression in place for those who want to advance in their careers with line managers being extremely supportive, encouraging and willing to have open and honest conversations with colleagues about what they want to achieve. “I have worked with some fantastic clients on some challenging projects over the years and I look forward to the challenges ahead, including a large-scale project in the East of England. “It’s an extremely interesting time for the infrastructure sector as we move towards net zero, and I look forward to continuing to support the growth of this area of the business.” Fisher German senior partner Duncan Bedhall said: “I would like to congratulate all of those within the firm who have received promotions. “The high number that have been awarded is recognition of our continued growth and the success of our career progression framework, which gives all colleagues an opportunity to advance in the firm if they aspire to do so. “I am confident that this success will continue moving forward as we are awarded an increasing number of contracts by both new and existing clients and we are looking ahead to some exciting new projects on the horizon.”

Not long remains until the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo – register now!

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Not long remains until the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo – register now!
With just a few weeks to go until the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo, register now for the highly anticipated event. The free to attend expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, will take place on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln, providing everything you require for a great day of networking and business generation. A well targeted event aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets, exhibitors include Aspbury Planning Ltd, Belvoir, Business Lincolnshire, BSP Consulting, Delta Simons, the Federation of Small Businesses, J Tomlinson, NatWest, Willmott Dixon, and YMD Boon, to name a few. To see the full list of who is exhibiting click here. Opening at 9am, the expo will also host a seminar, and as the exhibition closes, it will roll directly into an informal, open buffet style network lunch – tickets for the lunch are just £25 plus vat and can be ordered and paid for directly online. Spaces for the lunch are limited, so order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Tina King, of Business Shows Group, said: “It’s been a long time in the making thanks to the pandemic, but we are finally nearly there, The Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo is gearing up to be one of the best to date!” To attend the event, register for free here. To generate opportunities by exhibiting at the event, click here. Purchase tickets to the networking lunch here. Meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.
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