Derby’s Mortgage Advice Bureau swoops for Bolton business

Tess Egginton
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Derby’s Mortgage Advice Bureau swoops for Bolton business
Derby firm Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) has agreed to acquire approximately 75% of Project Finland Topco Limited, or the “Fluent Money Group,” in a £73 million deal. Bolton-headquartered Fluent is a technology enabled telephone advice mortgage broking platform with approximately 420 employees including 125 advisers across Mortgages (first charge mortgages), Secured Personal Loans (second charge mortgages), Later Life lending and Bridging Finance. The acquisition will be funded from renewed and increased debt facilities, existing cash resources and the proceeds of a proposed placing of new ordinary shares in the company to raise £40 million. Completion of the acquisition is not expected to occur before the second half of 2022. Peter Brodnicki, founder and CEO of MAB, said: “We are very excited to partner with a like-minded management team and high growth intermediary that is a leader in centralised telephone mortgage advice. “This acquisition is a perfect example of our strategy to invest in complementary businesses and platforms to help accelerate growth by broadening our proposition. MAB has targeted the fast-growing sector of national lead generation by using technology to link together its key Appointed Representatives and invested firms seamlessly. “Combined, we expect that Fluent and MAB will be able to grow this new market share opportunity quickly and effectively, complementing the local/regional strategy delivered by the rest of MAB’s growing distribution.” MAB has also entered into a shareholders’ agreement with founders/management who will be retaining 25% of the issued share capital of Fluent at completion. This also provides for a put and call option for MAB to acquire the remaining stake after 6 years at a valuation subject to performance criteria relating to future growth and profitability to align with MAB’s growth objectives. The total consideration for this put and call option and a put and call option over growth shares that will be issued in Fluent to the wider management team will be capped at £118m.

Lincolnshire door and loading bay firm snapped up

Tess Egginton
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Lincolnshire door and loading bay firm snapped up
Based in Welbourn in Lincolnshire, Fen-Bay, the suppliers of industrial doors and loading bays, has become part of Hörmann, the European provider of gates, doors, frames and operators. The move will see ongoing investment in the group which includes Lincolnshire-based Fen-Bay Services and Doncaster-based Transdek. Combined, the Fen-Bay group employs 150 people, including over 100 full-time engineers who support its 24/7, nationwide service support provision. Commenting on the acquisition, Wolfgang Gorner, Managing Director of Hörmann UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Fen-Bay Group to the Hörmann family. We see this as a natural fit and a key part of our drive to increase our footprint in the Industrial and Service sectors. “The Fen-Bay Group with its excellent brand, reputation and nationwide coverage will complement our existing operations, but will allow us to compete even more so in these areas. “We are also excited to build on the success already achieved by Transdek throughout Europe and we are committed to ongoing investment in the Fen-Bay Group operations. We see great potential moving forward.” The owners of Fen-Bay Group engaged Duncan & Toplis to explore the potential sale of the company. Director, Damon Brain who served as Fen-Bay’s dedicated adviser through the transaction said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Fen-Bay and Hörmann on this sale. “Fen-Bay is a renowned and respected company based in our region and we’re pleased to have played a role in helping to secure its future with a committed investor that can support its continued growth and success.” Carl Sedlan, Managing Director of the Fen-Bay Group, said: “We already have extensive experience of Hörmann and its strong family values, which resonated strongly with our Management Team. Everyone is genuinely excited by the opportunities moving forward and becoming part of such a well-known and respected Group.”

Aspire CRM appoints alliances manager

Tess Egginton
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Aspire CRM appoints alliances manager
Dan Orton has joined Aspire CRM, the Derby-based Salesforce Partner, and will be responsible for the delivery of projects for both the commercial and public sector. Dan will be working with both the client teams and the technical delivery team at Aspire CRM and will be responsible for driving customer success across all projects. Dan has had over 15 years’ experience in IT, managing teams in sales, project delivery and service delivery and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into the business. Another part of the role as alliances manager will be to strengthen relationships with strategic partners to enhance solution offerings and commercial streams. Dan said: “Having spent the vast majority of my career servicing enterprise IT clients in the maintenance space I felt like I needed new challenge with company that has the right culture fit and the desire to do right by the customer every time. “From the initial conversations with the Managing Director, Richard Ashmole, plus people I knew who already worked in the business, it was clear to see we all shared the same values which isn’t something I’d experienced previously. “I’ve also been lucky to have worked closely with Salesforce in the past and have been part of a team that designed and implemented various different process flows and automation in a previous business and really enjoyed how a system can really work for you and not just be a place to log sales opportunities. I’d often joke saying ‘We are in the wrong business’, not realising at the time this was likely to be my next career goal.” Richard Ashmole, Managing Director, Aspire CRM, said: “As we continue to grow as a business it was clear that we needed someone full time to manage our overall project delivery and relationships. “Having spoken with Dan and understood his values and his previous experience it was clear he was the right individual to help us continue our growth and customer success. It’s a key position for the business, one that requires excellent people skills, stakeholder management and a commercial acumen. Dan ticks all of these boxes and we can’t wait to get started together.”

Progress continues on new urgent care department at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Tess Egginton
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Progress continues on new urgent care department at Chesterfield Royal Hospital
The ‘super structure’ of the £24m Urgent and Emergency Care Development (UECD) at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has now been completed. The UECD, due to open its doors in Spring/Summer 2023, has now reached the next stage in its build with the final concrete floor slab now in place thanks to the expertise of specialist tradespeople. The final section will be the base for offices, changing facilities and staff rooms. Berenice Groves, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer, said: “This is a great landmark moment for the development. It means we have completed a pivotal stage, without issue or concern and the structural elements are now in place. As we move forward, we’re focusing more on how the building will function and truly benefit our patients, colleagues and visitors.” Berenice added: “The move to complete our structure of the UECD is a hugely positive and welcome one. The concrete – like many of the elements of the building – was managed by professionals, who are specialists in their area and we are very pleased with the process to date.” The Trust recently went out to patients, colleagues and the public to ask about the colours and artwork for the new development – the results of this will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

New business park in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, given the go ahead

Michael Fisher
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New business park in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, given the go ahead
A new business park set to create 50 new jobs has been given the go ahead by West Lindsey District Council on 27 January 2022. Wharton Place, which will be located on the outskirts of Gainsborough will be developed by established local commercial and residential property developer, Stirlin. Stirlin received planning approval from the local authority at the end of January for three phases of Wharton Place, which will be their third commercial development in the area. Stirlin Developments Development Manager, Matt Padley said: “Gainsborough has a bright future, with major growth ambitions and regeneration plans. With its wealth of opportunities, excellent transport links, impressive commercial offering and vibrant business community, there has never been a better time to invest in the town. “Following the success of our first commercial development on Foxby Lane: Stirlin Place, we’re pleased to provide further investment in the area with two new business parks: Willoughton Place and Wharton Place. “The new business parks will help facilitate the town’s growing economy and bring new employment to the area.” The site is suitably located on Foxby Lane, neighbouring Lincoln County Council’s Business Centre, Mercury House, with easy access to the A1, M180 and A15 road networks. It will provide over 18,500sq ft of new employment space across 1.3 acres, with a mix of light industrial units in sizes ranging from 1,270sq ft – 2,500sq ft. West Lindsey District Council’s Director of Planning and Regeneration Sally Grindrod-Smith is delighted to hear the news. She said: “The development of Wharton Place will be a great addition to Gainsborough, and we hope that this will also encourage other businesses to either start-up, re-locate or expand in the area. We look forward to working alongside Stirlin Developments as they continue to grow.” Allocated parking, an electric sectional door, a personnel door and DDA compliant toilet facilities, as well as an eaves height of 5 metres to accommodate a mezzanine floor upon request are all benefits that the units will see.

Geldards reveals leading role on landmark Becketwell Scheme

Michael Fisher
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Geldards reveals leading role on landmark Becketwell Scheme
Geldards law firm has revealed its most recent role in the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme, acting as legal advisor to Derby City Council. Geldards has been providing legal advice to the Council on its regeneration of the Becketwell area for some time, and construction is already underway on Phase One to transform the former Debenhams site with 259 built to rent apartments. Legal agreements have been completed and demolition has now started on Phase Two which will include the development of a much-needed 3,500 capacity performance venue to be owned by the Council and managed by ASM Global,  which will create over 200  new jobs locally. Geldards’ Public Sector team have advised Derby City Council on all legal aspects of the Becketwell regeneration scheme since the Council acquired the former Debenhams site in 2017. Partner Tiffany Cloynes, who heads the Public Sector team at Geldards led a team of over 10 lawyers in delivering the multi million pound deal which will regenerate a strategically important part of the city centre. Supported by Property Partner Paul Hilsdon and also by Senior Associates Rebecca Gilbert and Clare Hardy, Geldards advised on a wide range of complex legal issues for the benefit of the project from across the firm’s Commercial Property, Planning, Construction and Tax departments. Commenting on the project Tiffany Cloynes, says: “Geldards is pleased to have played such a significant role in this major regeneration project for Derby City Council which will be transformational for the city centre. The work was complex and multi-faceted and required a great deal of specialist legal advice, but we were delighted to be able to work so closely and effectively with the Council’s very supportive  in-house team. “ Paul Simpson, Chief Executive at Derby City Council added: “Becketwell Performance Venue is a landmark development for Derby. It will see the Council funding and owning the 3,500 capacity venue with St James Securities delivering the development and ASM Global becoming the operators on a long term lease. “The deal is key to putting culture at the heart of regeneration in our city, generating an additional £10m a year for the area and diversifying the local economy. Geldards were a key member of the Council’s delivery team and instrumental in developing the partnership.”

Student accommodation plans approved for former leather works

Tess Egginton
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Student accommodation plans approved for former leather works
Plans for new student accommodation in Nottingham have been granted conditional approval by the city council. Sandy Kay Ltd proposed to convert and develop the site of a former leather works at Denman Street to provide 73 studios across four storeys. The site is currently made up of the remaining 19th century leather works factory, located to the south-east of the site, but the majority of the site is occupied by a warehouse building, which has been added to and extended over time.
The site is currently used by a lounge and snooker club called ‘Hidden Spot’.

MTMS appoints new MD as it gets on track for the Great British Railways revolution

Tess Egginton
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MTMS appoints new MD as it gets on track for the Great British Railways revolution

A former site engineer who started his career as an electrical apprentice has been appointed to lead one of the UK’s biggest rail depot maintenance firms as it seeks further growth and prepares for the Great British Railways era.

Matt Forst has been promoted to Managing Director of Midlands-based MTMS, with previous MD Malcolm Prentice taking up the position of group chairman.

MTMS, based in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, currently services and maintains rolling stock and rail depot specialist equipment and carries out routine infrastructure tasks at more than one third of rail depots across the UK, serving such familiar names in mainline rail as First MTR South-Western Railway, Govia ThamesLink Railway, Hitachi Rail Europe, Arriva and Siemens.

Over the past 12 months it has invested heavily in new IT and telecommunications systems, tripled its workforce to 30 and picked up new accreditations, as well as moved to a new purpose-built headquarters.

It is now seeking to recruit more engineers in order to become the market leader in depot maintenance for train operators, ahead of the implementation of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, which will see Network Rail replaced by Great British Railways and the replacement of franchises with Passenger Service Contracts.

The changes, which will come into effect next year, will see the industry move towards a more customer-centric approach and will herald vast changes in the way the industry is operated.

Matt’s appointment is key to MTMS’s preparations for this because he brings skills and experience from other industry sectors, having started out as an electrical apprentice in Burton before becoming a site management technician working in a wide range of organisations, from schools to distilleries, and working on a variety of systems, from high voltage cables to pneumatics.

During that time, he has built up particular expertise in process and control and was headhunted by Malcolm Prentice in 2015 as the MTMS venture was taking shape.

Matt said: “I am proud and honoured to have been appointed Managing Director of MTMS ahead of what is set to be an important time for the company and the rail industry as a whole.

“We work with some of the biggest names in the industry and we take really seriously our responsibility to ensure that trains are smart, clean, reliable and give the customer everything they expect of a twenty-first century product.

“We have worked extremely hard over the past to put the building blocks in place at MTMS to ensure that we have everything we need to continue to provide this level of service in order so that we can position ourselves as the market leader.”

Malcolm said: “As the original maintenance manager at MTMS and its operations director throughout 2020, Matt has been a pivotal figure in the development of the business. In the post-pandemic world and ahead of significant changes to the industry, railways need to be prepared to do things differently and in a more customer-centric way.

“This means there is a refreshing openness to thinking from outside the railways, and Matt brings fresh insights and different perspectives to the industry that will enable MTMS to bring this quality to supporting train operators.”

Creative Agency Director presented with Nottingham Trent University’s Outstanding Alumni Fellow Award

Steve Fisher
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Creative Agency Director presented with Nottingham Trent University’s Outstanding Alumni Fellow Award

Nottingham-based creative agency The Dairy is celebrating the achievements of one of its team after Account Director, Tom Walters, was recently named as a recipient of Nottingham Trent University’s prestigious Outstanding Alumni Fellow Award.

The award recognises the exceptional contributions made by Alumni and Industry Fellows who have donated their time and talents generously for the enrichment of the university’s students.

Tom has been nominated as a result of the time he has given to NTU’s alumni fellowship programme for the School of Arts and Humanities over the last five years, as well as his commitment to providing valuable marketing internships for NTU students at The Dairy since joining the business in 2016.

The Dairy is a Nottingham-based full-service creative agency working with businesses across a diverse range of industries to help them tell authentic brand stories. 2022 marks The Dairy’s 20th anniversary and Tom joined the business as an Account Executive in 2016 before progressing quickly through the ranks – being promoted to Account Manager in 2018 and then Account Director in 2020. He was also invited to become a Board Director in the same year. Tom graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2012 with a BA Hons Degree in Media and Communication and Society and has since gone on to complete his Level 6 Diploma in Professional Marketing with the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Tom’s Outstanding Alumni Fellow Award will be presented at one of NTU’s forthcoming School of Arts and Humanities graduation ceremonies on Wednesday 13th April.

Reacting to the news, Tom said, “It’s a genuine honour to be recognised in this way by NTU. I always give my time to the university freely because I’m passionate about supporting the next generation of creative industry professionals,”

He continues, “I’m quite a humble person and I never do what I do because I seek recognition for it, but to be chosen to receive this award is a true honour and a real career highlight for me. Thank you to the Vice Chancellor and the university for such a special accolade. NTU and its students will always have a special place in my heart.”

The Dairy’s Managing Director Nigel Rowlson is delighted to hear that Tom is being recognised for his selfless work with his former university and sees it as just rewards for his dedication in supporting the next generation of talent.

“The Dairy has always been passionate about developing talent and giving opportunities to those who need the chance to prove what they can do in order to improve their future career prospects. Tom is, in fact, a shining example of that ethos because he was an intern with us ten years ago while he was studying for his degree!”

Nigel continues, “Since joining the business full-time six years ago, Tom has embraced the responsibility for bringing interns into the company – alongside his day-to-day account management and creative marketing responsibilities. He’s also given his time freely to NTU as a mentor while delivering lectures, talks and panel sessions to lend his expertise and insights to the industry’s future leading lights. On behalf of the whole Dairy team, I’d like to say a big well done to Tom – he thoroughly deserves this recognition.”

How to use AI to improve your marketing strategy

Tess Egginton
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How to use AI to improve your marketing strategy
As AI technology evolves, more and more businesses are finding ways to use it to improve their marketing strategies. Artificial intelligence has increased the efficiency and effectiveness of digital marketing, helping businesses to target their audiences more accurately and generate better results. AI gets more and more data every day, and businesses are taking advantage of this data to improve their marketing campaigns. There are several ways that businesses can use AI to improve their marketing. It’s vital to determine the right approach to get the highest efficiency and return on investment. Some of the ways businesses are using AI to improve their marketing strategies include:

1. Using AI for Targeted Advertising

Targeted advertising is one of the most effective ways to use AI in marketing. Businesses can use AI to create ads that are more likely to be clicked on by potential customers interested in what they have to offer using data collected from past customer behaviour. With an AI text generator, businesses can create ad copy that is more relevant to the target audience and likely to result in conversions. This approach leads to increased clicks and conversions and, ultimately, better results for the business. Additionally, AI can be used to target ads to specific locations. This is done by using data such as the user’s IP address and GPS location. By targeting ads to specific locations, businesses can ensure that their ads are seen by potential customers who are most likely to convert.

2. Automating Customer Segmentation

Customer segmentation is dividing customers into groups based on shared characteristics. This helps businesses better understand their customer base and develop targeted marketing campaigns that are more likely to resonate with each group. In the past, customer segmentation was a time-consuming process that required manually sorting through customer data. Nowadays, AI can automate customer segmentation by analysing past customer behaviour and identifying patterns. This helps businesses save time and resources and create more effective marketing campaigns. 

3. Creating Personalised Recommendations

Personalisation is vital for marketing, and AI can help businesses personalise their marketing campaigns in several ways. Businesses can use AI to personalise their marketing by creating targeted recommendations for potential customers. Based on data such as past purchase history and browsing behaviour, companies can use AI to recommend products or services that are more likely to interest the customer. This helps businesses increase conversions by providing potential customers with recommendations relevant to their needs and interests. Another way to use AI for personalisation is through the use of chatbots. Chatbots are computer programs that can mimic human conversation. They can be used to engage with customers in various ways, such as answering questions, providing product recommendations, and even making purchases on behalf of the customer.

4. Improving Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing is a powerful tool to reach many people with a personalised message. However, crafting an effective email marketing campaign can be time-consuming and difficult. Fortunately, AI can help businesses improve their email marketing campaigns in several ways. For example, AI can segment customers into groups so that businesses can send more targeted emails. Additionally, AI can create personalised subject lines and content for each customer, making it more likely that they will open and click through the email.

5. Analysing Customer Sentiment

Customer sentiment analysis is understanding how customers feel about a product or service. This helps businesses to make changes to their products or services based on customer feedback. In the past, customer sentiment analysis was a manual process that was time-consuming and often inaccurate. However, AI can now automate this process, making it faster and more accurate. AI can also help businesses identify patterns in customer sentiment, which can be used to make changes that are more likely to result in positive customer sentiment.

6. Generating Targeted Content

Content is key when it comes to marketing, and businesses need to produce a large amount of content to be successful. Businesses need to create content relevant to their target audience and interest them to succeed. AI can help businesses generate targeted content that is more likely to be clicked on and shared. By using AI to analyse customer data, businesses can create content tailored to their target audience’s interests. Additionally, AI can create automated content regularly updated with the latest information. This helps businesses ensure that their content is more likely to be read and shared, leading to more conversions.

7. Optimising Ad Campaigns

Ad campaigns need to be well-designed and well-targeted to be successful. AI can help businesses to optimise their ad campaigns in several ways. For example, AI can segment customers and target them with ads that are more likely to be relevant. Additionally, AI can analyse customer behaviour and determine the best time to show ads for maximum engagement. A high level of AI enables endless customisations and predictive modelling to fine-tune an organisation’s marketing plan and dramatically improve results. The opportunities for AI-driven marketing are endless, and businesses that don’t start to explore the possibilities will soon find themselves at a disadvantage. By using AI, businesses can improve nearly every aspect of their marketing strategy, resulting in more successful campaigns and increased profits.

8. Improving Customer Service

Customer service is an important part of any business, and AI can help businesses improve their customer service in several ways. One way that AI can be used for customer service is by automating customer support tasks. This helps reduce the workload of customer support staff and allows them to focus on more complex tasks. Another way that AI can be used for customer service is by providing customers with information about products and services. This helps customers find the information they need quickly and easily, leading to a better overall customer experience. When used correctly, AI can be a powerful tool to help businesses improve their marketing strategies and increase sales. However, it is important to remember that AI is only as effective as the data fed into it. Businesses need to collect accurate data about their customers to get the most out of AI. Additionally, businesses need to use AI tools that fit their specific needs.
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