Commercial office fit-out specialists expand team

Tess Egginton
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Commercial office fit-out specialists expand team

Workplace consultants and commercial office fit-out specialists, Blueprint Interiors has expanded its team following the appointment of Kate Bennett as a project designer and Martyna Paluszkiewicz as pre-construction manager.

Kate joins an all-female design team that collectively has over 55 years of experience and degrees from three top class design universities. In her new role, Kate will be responsible for discussing and defining design briefs, space planning and specifying materials. She will then translate these ideas into visual concepts for presentation to clients for approval.

Martyna has a background in commercial fit out and joinery and will be responsible for overseeing projects from the briefing stage, right through to completion. She will ensure the scope of work is defined accurately and transfers to post contract stage, ensuring it runs smoothly and the highest quality fit-out standards are achieved.

Commenting on her appointment, Martyna said: “WorkLife Central is an amazing place to work with a friendly atmosphere and great people. From day one I have felt like part of the team and I am looking forward to making a positive contribution to the company in order to ensure our clients’ offices meet their business objectives and the design brief.”

Kate added: “I have worked across most industry sectors and so I have a wide variety of transferrable skills and experience which I’m almost certain I will be able to bring to my new role. Our ‘people first’ approach starts within our great office in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and I can’t wait to advise other employers how they can benefit from this ethos.  By involving us during the feasibility stages of their decision we can help to ensure their space meets the needs of their people.”

East Midlands start-up businesses drop as economy bites deeper

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East Midlands start-up businesses drop as economy bites deeper

The number of new businesses set up in the East Midlands has fallen to its lowest point this year, as record levels of inflation and other key economic stressors start to impact on post-pandemic recovery.

Latest research from the Midlands branch of national insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 shows that there were 2,199 start-ups in the East Midlands in April, an 18% decrease on the March figure of 2,675, and 3% below the 2,257 statistic for February.

R3’s research, which is based on an analysis of data from business intelligence provider Creditsafe, highlights the effect that the current climate of spiralling inflation, a contracting economy and decreasing consumer confidence is having on the region’s entrepreneurs.

R3 Midlands chair Eddie Williams, partner at PwC in the region, said: “The statistics have revealed that, during the first quarter of 2022, there was an overall increase in start-ups in the East Midlands, many of which were led by individuals who were furloughed or made redundant during the pandemic and who used the lockdowns as a springboard to venture out on their own.

“However, with news that prices are now rising at their fastest rate for 40 years and that UK inflation jumped by 7% between March and April, it appears that the region’s entrepreneurial spirit has been significantly dampened.

“With the global, national and local economies facing enormous challenge, the majority of start-ups are having to fight hard to survive and grow, particularly as they set up and bed in new operating controls and procedures as well as establish and build relationships with suppliers, customers, employees and other stakeholders.

“For those new businesses whose directors may be worried about its situation, the sooner professional advice is sought, the more opportunities may be available to support a company’s survival and future success. Many R3 members offer a free consultation to those who are looking for such help and want to explore their options.”

MHR supports The Queen’s Green Canopy amid ongoing sustainability drive

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MHR supports The Queen’s Green Canopy amid ongoing sustainability drive

John Mills, president and founder of MHR International, the HR, payroll, finance, and learning expert, has marked the company’s celebrations of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by planting a new tree in the grounds of MHR’s headquarters as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a national initiative inviting people to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

The new hornbeam tree has been planted among 107 other mature hornbeam trees at MHR’s Ruddington Hall HQ in Nottinghamshire, which all sit in a 19-acre section of the grounds now named the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy Garden’ in honour of the occasion. The Jubilee tree planting not only celebrates the landmark anniversary, but also forms part of MHR’s continued commitment to sustainability, having been listed among the top 500 most sustainable companies in the Midlands.

This latest initiative forms part of MHR’s ongoing investment in both conservational and environmental maintenance, having undertaken significant work to protect and preserve its headquarters at Ruddington Hall and the surrounding grounds, where it has planted a large number of trees over the years, as well as those at its new office campus, a six-acre site on Mere Way at the Ruddington Business Park.

The development of MHR’s offices also reinforces the UN Sustainable Development Goals, built with an ethos of supporting local trade and businesses, whether for maintenance, decoration, or refurbishment.

John Mills, president and founder of MHR, who holds a Royal Warrant for Supply of Payroll and HR Systems to Her Majesty The Queen, said: “At MHR we are very proud to play a small role in commemorating The Queen’s 70-year long reign and decades of remarkable devotion to a life of service to the nation.

“The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful initiative, and we wanted to create a lasting and physical memory of this special occasion  by dedicating a garden to The Queen in the grounds of Ruddington Hall. The planting of the 108th tree will stand proud alongside the many others we’re fortunate to have surrounding us.

“While we take pride in maintaining the MHR grounds, we also take this out into the local community too, making sure our younger generations can also enjoy green spaces. Supported by a team of colleagues, we recently helped to restore the Loughborough-based Rainbows Children Hospice’s Eco Garden at the end of 2021.

“The project has created a tranquil space in which over 300 children and young people cared for and supported by Rainbows, as well as their families, can reflect, recharge, and enjoy. We’ll soon be undertaking another great project for the hospice by painting the fence in the Remembrance Garden.

“We do this every year as part of a continuous relationship to maintain the space for the families that use it, and we’ll be back again this September. I’m pleased we can give something back for future generations by supporting these types of sustainable legacies,” added Mr Mills.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree-planting initiative created specifically to commemorate The Queen’s 70-year reign. Everyone from individuals to community organisations, schools, and businesses, is invited to plant a tree, creating a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership over seven decades and to benefit future generations.

Blaby District Council’s Garden Village ambitions receive funding boost

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Blaby District Council’s Garden Village ambitions receive funding boost
A further £135,000 in Central Government funding has been received to help Blaby District Council continue its ambitious plans for a potential future Garden Village site. Set against the challenge for local authorities to provide large numbers of additional new homes in the coming decades, the Council says it has worked proactively to carry out its responsibility of planning for this need. Whetstone Pastures, a proposed development in the south-east of the district, was one of only 19 local authorities to be awarded Garden Village status in 2019 by the then Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, now Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The Council has previously received £300,000 of capacity funding since this status was awarded in 2019. Garden Villages are a Government initiative for proposed developments of between 1,500 and 10,000 homes. The status ensures that any site has a mixture of housing, housing types, green spaces, employment opportunities, and social infrastructure, all delivered with strong local vision and engagement, with the aim of creating sustainable, vibrant, diverse and, importantly, affordable communities. The Council has now been given a further £135,000 for the next stage of this pro-active growth of the district to ensure that larger-scale, sustainable development sites are utilised to be the home of future district residents and to help prevent existing communities losing their sense of identity. This capacity funding will be used for specialists advising the Council on matters including master planning, urban design, and viability. Blaby District Council considers it vital that developments like this are shaped to include those things deemed to be essential for a sustainable and future proofed true Garden Village Community. The funding will also boost resource within the Council’s Planning Department, helping to ensure that whilst the development if approved is still many years away, Blaby District Council are able to input into the proposal at the earliest possible stage. It is important to note that the site does not benefit from planning permission, nor does it have any planning status in terms of an allocation in the Council’s Local Plan. Any proposals must go through the planning application process before receiving any permission. Councillor Terry Richardson, leader of Blaby District Council, said: “This Government funding is something all residents should be delighted with. “We have to keep making sure that the homes we need to build are placed in sustainable communities. If we don’t do this our only other choice is to add on large numbers of houses to existing villages. “If permission for this proposed Garden Village is given, we can work hard to plan and take control of how new communities look. Our track record with New Lubbesthorpe proves this is something we are excellent at doing. “We are confident that Blaby District Council can and will deliver and, in turn, protect our existing towns and villages.”

Council creates new hope for derelict grammar school with plans for mixed-use development

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Council creates new hope for derelict grammar school with plans for mixed-use development
Amber Valley Borough Council has taken ownership of the former Heanor Grammar School and has commenced with developing proposals for returning the building to its former glory. The council has acquired the site in support of its Future High Streets project, which has secured £8.6m of Government funding, as part of an overall £17.8m town centre regeneration programme. The future of the former school, in Mundy Street, Heanor, which was previously owned by Derby firm Vale Property Limited, has been a subject of discussion for a number of years, with local residents growing increasingly concerned as the building visibly deteriorated. Having now secured the Grade II-listed building for redevelopment, Amber Valley Borough Council now plans to see it restored and repurposed as a mixed-use development, with some work and business space, as well as community facilities for local residents to use. The council has moved quickly to appoint an architect who is experienced in sensitive historic buildings and has commenced the process to appoint the principal contractor to move the project forward quickly due to tight deadlines. Councillor Tony Harper, Amber Valley’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It is with huge pleasure that we are able to announce the acquisition of the former grammar school site. “I’m also pleased that we’ve been able to hit the ground running, by appointing the architect and commencing the procurement of the principal contractor, so that we can meet what are very challenging deadlines. “The council is fully aware of how important the building is to the local community and also Heanor’s heritage, and we will now be in a position to preserve and re-purpose it for future generations.” Relevant partners and members of the community will be invited to help shape the overall development through a planned consultation process. Previous plans by the former owner to turn the listed building into 24 apartments, with a further nine apartments in the former science block and 19 homes in the school grounds, were turned down in 2018. Heanor Grammar School operated at the site from 1912 until 1976, at which point it became an annex of South East Derbyshire College before being taken over by Derby College in 2010.

Garden Communities schemes to get funding injection in North Northamptonshire

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Garden Communities schemes to get funding injection in North Northamptonshire
A funding injection for new Garden Communities which will put green, wildlife friendly spaces at the heart of new development has been welcomed by North Northamptonshire Council. The Government has announced that the Council will receive money to take forward projects in support of Hanwood Park in Kettering, and Stanton Cross in Wellingborough. Both projects will deliver footpath/cycleway infrastructure, integrating these new communities into routes that follow the Ise Valley Way, receiving £200,000, and the Nene Greenway receiving £241,000. Tresham Garden Village is another new Garden Community receiving funding support from the Government in its planning. The development of the garden communities is key to regenerating local areas by providing housing and creating job opportunities. The programme provides support to progress long-term major housing projects from their earliest stages. It enables local authorities to recruit specialist staff, undertake the required planning and receive advice and support from the housing delivery body, Homes England. The announcement builds on plans in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to put beauty and nature at the heart of new development design, with the introduction of mandatory design codes, which will make sure developers respect styles drawn up and favoured locally – from the layout or materials used, to how it provides green space. Cllr Jason Smithers, leader of the Council, said: “This is fantastic news for North Northamptonshire and is a terrific boost for us to be able to provide the homes and jobs which are necessary to allow growth and prosperity to thrive in our communities. “We want North Northants to prosper and flourish and be an area that creates great opportunities for our residents, while at the same time being mindful of our environment. Garden Communities are an innovative way of managing long term growth and I’m delighted to see these projects moving forward.” Cllr David Brackenbury, the Council’s executive member for growth and regeneration, said: “It is a huge undertaking for the Council to plan and manage these projects to deliver the high-quality development and infrastructure that our communities rightfully expect. The funding from the Government recognises this. “This is exciting news for North Northamptonshire as the Garden Communities offer a positive vision for how development can take place in a sustainable way that respects the existing communities and environment.”

Plans submitted for Health & Wellbeing Hub

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Plans submitted for Health & Wellbeing Hub
Architects working on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council have submitted a planning application to develop a vacant site owned by the Council on Newgate Street into a Health and Wellbeing Hub. Located next to Newgate Medical Practice, the proposed development would be built by Bassetlaw District Council and leased to the NHS. Leader of Bassetlaw District Council, Cllr Simon Greaves, said: “We are working in partnership with the NHS and Newgate Medical Practice to bring forward a vacant site and deliver a new Health and Wellbeing Hub that will benefit residents and patients across the area. A great deal of work has taken place to get us to the current stage. “The submission of the planning application is an important milestone and highlights the ambition of the Council and our NHS partners. The development is still subject to planning permission and NHS funding, but I am hopeful that we could see works begin over the next year.” A spokesperson for Bassetlaw CCG said: “NHS Bassetlaw continues to work in close collaboration with Bassetlaw District Council and Newgate Medical Group to support the development of a high quality Health and Wellbeing Hub adjacent to the current site of the Newgate Medical Practice. “A business case is being developed which seeks to attract several million pounds of NHS investment and, if successful, would mean the commencement of work within the next 12 months.”

Half of firms now more likely to invest in carbon reduction measures

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Half of firms now more likely to invest in carbon reduction measures
New data from the Institute of Directors shows that, as a result of rising energy costs, half of businesses are now more likely to invest in carbon reduction measures.
In a survey of nearly 600 business leaders, 16% also agreed that rising energy costs would make them more likely to invest in carbon reduction measures in the short term, 28% in the medium term and 22% in the long term. Alex (Alexandra) Hall-Chen, senior policy advisor at the Institute of Directors, said: “With rocketing energy prices, many businesses are increasingly looking at investing in carbon reduction measures to ensure that they are more resilient to the impacts of energy price volatility in the short, medium and longer term. “However, businesses also need clear signals from government to encourage long-term planning to move towards net zero. That is why we have called on government to introduce a lower corporation tax rate for companies that achieve net zero.” In its recent policy paper, ‘The Green Incentive: how to put net zero at the heart of business planning’, the IoD has put forward proposals to provide businesses, and particularly SMEs, with an effective incentive to play their part in decarbonising the economy.

Frasers Group sells pair of US businesses

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Frasers Group sells pair of US businesses
Frasers Group has disposed of its US retail businesses trading as Bobs Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS). The businesses have been sold for a cash consideration of $70m to GoDigital Media Group (GDMG). Frasers Group says the funds will go into its general working capital pool. In a statement, Frasers Group said: “The board of FG is grateful to staff in Bobs and EMS for their loyal service and wishes these businesses every success for the future.”

DCJ Group swoops for fellow Chesterfield business

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DCJ Group swoops for fellow Chesterfield business
DCJ Group, which is part of Global Risk Partners, has acquired SM Commercial Insurance Brokers Ltd (SM Commercial). SM Commercial was founded in 2006 and, like DCJ, is based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The deal is the third acquisition for DCJ since it became part of GRP in 2018. Steve Higgins, founder and Managing Director, will remain with the business under new ownership along with all the employees. Chris Breeze, Chief Executive of DCJ, said: “SM Commercial is a highly respected community broker with a reputation for high quality client servicing. I’m looking forward to working alongside Steve and his team to help them take the business to the next stage of its development.” Chris said that DCJ has an appetite for further acquisitions. “I am keen to talk to vendors who want more from their business and are keen to build out their footprint. DCJ is fully aligned to vendors who want to do more with their businesses, and, alongside our parent GRP, we create the best possible conditions for brokers to thrive and prosper.” Steve Higgins said: “Everyone at SM Commercial is excited by the prospect of being part of a bigger family and I’m excited by the opportunity to make a step change in the scale of our ambitions for the future. “As part of DCJ, with the extra leverage provided by being part of GRP, we will be in a great position to support our clients as the economy emerges from the pandemic.”
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