< Previous10 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk FINANCE NEWS Leicestershire-based alternative lender closes P2P Ashby-de-la-Zouch-based ThinCats, the alternative lender to mid-sized businesses, has moved to an institution-only funding model for future loans. No new loans will be offered on the P2P Platform operated by Business Loan Network (BLN), one of the ThinCats Group companies. The P2P Platform has entered a run-off phase and has closed to new Investors already using the P2P Platform will continue to receive interest and capital repayments on the loans that they hold in the usual way. All existing systems, controls and staff will remain in place to ensure investors’ interest and capital is collected when due or The ThinCats Group will continue to support the funding of UK SMEs through its institutional lending products where up to £700 million of funding has been made Jill Sandford, Chief Executive, BLN said: “The number of loans funded by the P2P Platform has fallen significantly over the last two years and it is no longer cost effective or practicable to raise funds in this way. We have, therefore, made the decision to close the P2P Platform to new business and initiate a run-off process for existing investors. “The controlled run-off of the P2P Platform will ensure that there is no impact on the returns or service levels that existing investors will receive.” Invest to Grow funding sees new employees and national customer accounts for Notts firm Print & Display Ltd has created 10 new jobs, almost doubled its turnover and opened 20 new customer accounts, after it was awarded £48,733 funding from the University of Derby’s Invest to Grow scheme to install new equipment. Since 2003 Print & Display Ltd (P&D) has designed, developed and manufactured 3D cardboard point of sale displays for retailers, brands, design agencies and print management companies. The company was awarded the funding to purchase a 3D cutting machine which was subsequently installed last summer. This machine has since sped up production, boosted P&D’s market presence and increased the company’s finish control, as well as broadening the firm’s client base and increasing overseas sales. P&D has also employed 10 new members of staff including a marketing manager and designer. The funding has supported strong sales in the company as increased clarity and control over when production has ensured tighter deadlines can be met. Alongside this P&D saw increased sales enquiries from customer and acquired new customer accounts from national businesses including Warburton’s, Mr Kipling’s and Sorren. © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / STANISLAUV Telephone 0800 009 6066 Email info@nnbcfinancial.co.uk Asset Finance, Leasing, Contract Hire, Sale & Leaseback • Property Development Finance • Commercial Property and Business Mortgages • Factoring and Invoice Finance Clugston Group enters administration James Clark and Howard Smith from KPMG’s Restructuring practice have been appointed joint administrators to Clugston Group Limited and Clugston Construction Limited. In addition James Clark and Chris Pole from KPMG’s Restructuring practice have been appointed joint administrators to Clugston Services Limited. Operating from over 25 sites primarily across the North and Midlands, the business has companies involved in construction, civil engineering, logistics, property development and facilities management. The businesses have suffered as a result of losses on a number of large and complex energy from waste contracts, accentuated by the insolvency of a key subcontractor. Despite negotiations with key stakeholders to resolve issues caused by the losses, mounting pressures on the business have caused the directors to seek the appointment of administrators. 150 of the companies’ 412 employees have been made redundant. The joint administrators will continue to trade certain divisions and are seeking to sell valuable contracts, with 262 members of staff retained to assist with this. © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / INDYPENDENZ 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 12:00 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 11 We’re the bridging loan experts. Any property used as security, including your home, may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. *Includes unregulated and regulated bridging loan applications over 34 years. Have a client who needs funds fast? Think of us. For decades, we’ve provided more than 59,000* personal and commercial bridging loans worth £5.9bn*. No matter how complex the case, we’ll work fast, apply a flexible, common-sense approach, putting you and your clients first. Contact your Regional Development Director: Katie Roberts – 03717 053 143 katie.roberts@togethermoney.com FINANCE NEWS Using short-term lending to secure that can’t-miss opportunity Planning is everything in business. But every now and then, an opportunity you hadn’t planned for comes out of the blue and it’s just too good to miss. But how do you move fast on a great opportunity if you don’t have the cash ready? Specialist lender Together has spent the last four decades helping businesses grow and thrive, with commercial loans and short- term finance designed for the pace of modern commerce. They particularly specialise in bridging loans – a great option if you can pay it back in the short-term – and use experienced underwriters, not tick boxes, to make a common-sense decision. Katie Roberts, Together’s Regional Development Director for East Midlands, works with business professionals to connect them – and their clients – to finance at various points of the business lifecycle, as she explains: At start-up “Cash flow can be challenging when you’re just starting out, so short-term finance could help you get out of the planning phase and up-and-running quicker. Bridging loans can help with stock, infrastructure costs and general trading costs until the cash starts rolling in. And because you can borrow over 12 months – and in some instances can choose to make no monthly payments at all – it could be the ideal option to give you some financial breathing space in those tricky early days.” In a cashflow crisis “When you’re waiting on a customer to pay their bill and you’ve got a big outlay on the horizon – like your tax bill – it can be incredibly stressful. Or perhaps you’ve landed a big order and need cash to buy raw materials or pay extra staff to get the job done. If you know the money’s coming and just need cash to plug the gap, a bridging loan could be the answer.” To grow your business “If you’re converting a building, you can find yourself in funding limbo because it’s part-way between residential and commercial, and if there’s a spanner in the works you could run out of working cash. Short-term finance can help fund one-off costs and gaps between current and future value, and can be repaid when all that hard work pays off.” Find out more at togethermoney.com/katie Any property used as security, including your home, may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 12:00 Page 2Charles Bentley & Son to manufacture Dragon backed products Loughborough-based manufacturer Charles Bentley & Son Ltd has obtained the European license to manufacture and distribute Gripit the plasterboard fixing as well as the Marxman, professional marking tool, both backed by Dragon’s Den entrepreneur, Deborah Meaden. The brushware and homeware specialist has a manufacturing plant in both the UK and China, and now adds both Gripit and Marxman to its existing portfolio of DIY and Charles Bentley, Managing Director, said: “These products are an exciting but natural addition for us. It is one of a number of Dragon’s Den-backed innovations that we produce and distribute, working with inventors, bringing new products to a worldwide market.” A sixth-generation family business, operating for nearly 160 years, Charles Bentley & Son has a wide range of customers serving both the homeware and DIY markets. It is planned to commence distribution of Gripit and Marxman products from mid-December. Charles Bentley continued: “Gripit is a fantastic Brand, and we are confident that with our substantial heritage and experience in global manufacturing, shipping and distribution coupled with our own established brand, we are confident we can build further on its success.” Earlier this year, UK Building Products limited, who own the Gripit brand, underwent a re-structure, and as part of the company’s future, awarded the Gripit licence to Charles Bentley & Son. Gardner Aerospace acquires firm at ‘forefront of 3D printing’ Derby-based Gardner Aerospace has acquired FDM Digital Solutions Limited. Formed in 2012 by Graeme Bond, Burnley based FDM is at the “forefront of 3D printing” and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading polymer additive layer manufacturers. FDM’s business model of customer collaboration and innovative design solutions, aligned with extensive manufacturing capability, has proven to be successful in the automotive, medical, motorsport, F1 and aerospace industries. Going forward, the business will become part of the Gardner Technology Centre, a newly created business unit focused on advanced technology, innovative solutions and research and development. Dominic Cartwright, Chief Executive Officer at Gardner Aerospace, says: “Gardner Aerospace is breaking new ground in terms of technology. “The acquisition of FDM and the creation of our new Technology Centre business unit provides us with the perfect opportunity to expand our technical knowledge, R&D capability and product offering, and aligns us with our customers’ growing expectations on innovative solutions, continuous improvement and cost competitiveness. “The role of 3D printing within manufacturing is constantly expanding and this newly acquired additive layer manufacturing capability complements Gardner’s long-standing capabilities as a producer of metallic detailed parts and sub-assemblies.” 12 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MANUFACTURING NEWS UK manufacturing sector finishes the year on a low note Manufacturing output volumes in the three months to December fell at the fastest pace since the financial crisis, according to the latest monthly CBI Industrial Trends Survey. The survey of 289 manufacturers found that total order books remained weak (to a similar extent to last month), while export order books worsened compared to November. Both total and export order books remain below their long-run averages. Output volumes in the three months to December fell at the quickest rate since the financial crisis (Sep 2009), with output expanding in only six out of 17 sub-sectors. The headline fall in output was primarily driven by the motor vehicles sub-sector, chiming with the recent weakness in the global car sales. Meanwhile, the main positive contributor to output volumes was the electronic engineering sub-sector, alongside a boost from aerospace output. Looking ahead, firms anticipate that output volumes will fall at a slower pace in the first quarter of 2020. Manufacturers reported that stocks of finished goods rose further above “adequate” levels from November. Additionally, firms expect output prices to pick up somewhat in the next three months. Anna Leach, CBI Deputy Chief Economist, said: “With manufacturers reporting that output is declining at a pace not seen since the financial crisis, alongside another month of softer order books, it is crucially important to rebuild business confidence in this sector. “ 12-13.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 12:03 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 13 MANUFACTURING NEWS © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / ANDRII YALANSKYI Prestigious industry award for Derbyshire manufacturer Gowercroft Joinery has won a national award from the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) for the design, manufacture and installation of over 300 timber external and internal joinery items at Templeton House, a Grade II listed property in London. The specialist high end timber window and door manufacturer based in Derbyshire won the ‘Woodworking Project of the Year Award’, sponsored by Centor®. The BWF Awards celebrate the best of the best in UK woodworking, recognising technical innovation, design, process efficiencies, health & safety and the rising stars of the industry. Gowercroft Joinery won the Award for its bespoke design and manufacture of 180 external joinery products, 75 full sets of traditional internal shutters, 60 internal doors and over a kilometre of skirting boards for Templeton House in Roehampton a former home of Winston Churchill. The timber joinery was part of a £32 million restoration of the Grade II listed mansion which included sympathetic replacement of the original sliding sash windows, to provide modern levels of performance whilst maintaining the historic integrity of the building. The company’s sliding sash windows, specially developed for the conservation market, combined traditional joinery with ultra-thin vacuum glazing in order to replicate the classic appearance of the original single glazed windows. Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the BWF said: “Gowercroft’s Joinery’s contribution to the restoration of Templeton House demonstrated exquisite craftsmanship – returning the building to its former glory with much improved levels of performance. “Impressing the judging panel, the project involved traditional joinery skills, modern technology, design innovation and complex project management making Gowercroft’s work at Templeton House a worthy winner of the ‘Project of the Year Award’.” Roadmap for manufacturing industry launched by UK’s biggest union A “radical” new blueprint intended to transform the nation’s manufacturing industry has been launched by Unite. The ‘Manufacturing Matters’ document details a long-term industrial plan, which provides a route map for industry. It is rooted in trade union and labour values and its aim is the delivery of a strong, diverse economy providing secure, skilled jobs. At the heart of the strategy is the need for a sustainable manufacturing sector based on an ambitious 10 point plan that includes investment, defending foundation industries and crucially, a demand that we ‘Build local – Buy UK’ supporting jobs, skills and communities relying on a strong manufacturing sector. “We have in our hands the power to make sure that government at every level uses its procurement budget to support British manufacturing and its extended supply chains,” said Steve Turner, Assistant General Secretary for Manufacturing at Unite. “We can and must bring back the thousands of manufacturing jobs that moved overseas in order to shorten supply chains and reduce our overall global carbon footprint — and we need a “just transition” to new green sustainable jobs. Workers must be leaders in our industries and trade unions must be on the frontline of the green industrial revolution. “Guaranteeing high quality vocational apprenticeships and lifelong learning are also key. Workers must have the opportunity to learn new skills and develop during downtimes without loss of pay in a radical shake up of working time. “With regards to automation and artificial intelligence, the next industrial revolution can either herald a dystopian future or it can enrich our lives, freeing us to fulfil our true potential as human beings. Only with a strong, determined and confident trade union voice will this next industrial revolution benefit workers and wider society.” © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / GORODENKOFF 12-13.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 12:03 Page 214 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PROPERTY NEWS Second phase of development gets underway at Lincoln industrial scheme Work has started on the second phase of development at St Modwen Park, Lincoln. Lindum has been appointed to build two units of 25,000 and 55,000 sq ft on the 70-acre site off the A46 at Witham St Hughs. The development will provide industrial and warehouse space with transport links to the A46, the M1 and nearby air and sea ports. Construction work is expected to be completed by Summer 2020. The scheme’s expansion follows the successful letting of two units, delivered as part of the first phase of development. International courier, parcel, and express mail division of German logistics company Deutsche Post DHL has occupied 32,000 sq ft on a 15-year lease and international ice cream and confectionery distributor NIC has occupied a 64,000 sq ft unit on a 10-year lease. The two new units, which are being speculatively developed, are designed to cater for modern occupier needs with high bays, top specification offices, generous car parking and ample yard space. Nick Kay, Development Director at St Modwen, said: “The units delivered as part of our first phase of development were quickly taken off the market by two very prestigious brands, demonstrating the strong appetite for well-located space. This second phase provides a further opportunity for medium-sized industrial and logistics businesses to take advantage of this popular, growing scheme.” Leicester office buildings acquired for £21m Maya Capital LLP, a specialist real estate investment firm, has acquired 1 & 2 Colton Square in Leicester for a total consideration of £21 million. 1 & 2 Colton Square consists of two office buildings totalling 107,100 sq ft and are multi-let to eight tenants. The buildings were constructed in 2007 and are a 3-minute walk from Leicester train station. The acquisition forms part of Maya Capital’s flagship regional UK office strategy, which targets office assets outside London. Maya is continuing to build a portfolio of medium- sized secondary office assets, with active management potential. Further transactions are anticipated in the coming months to reach a total deployment of up to £100m by the end of 2020. David Pralong, Managing Partner of Maya Capital, said: “We are delighted to acquire this property, one of best assets in Leicester, for what we believe is a good price. This achievement is the result of our stock picking methodology, which rigorously selects the best assets to create value for our investors. “The outcome of [the] general election brings with it a greater degree of certainty. We therefore remain keenly focused on the UK regions where we continue to see substantial investment opportunity. A combination of high yields and low market vacancy rates means that regional investments still compare favourably to London. We expect to acquire further high-quality assets in the coming months.” Deal with landowner to see multi-million-pound police station go ahead A new multi-million-pound police station in Derby will go ahead after a deal with the landowner was agreed. Derbyshire Constabulary has signed contracts with Ivygrove Developments after a deal was brokered by Salloway Property Consultants. The £9.5 million development will be linked to the existing fire station in Ascot Drive. Operational costs for both Derbyshire Constabulary and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service will be reduced by sharing the facilities and services of the two linked stations. Planning permission has already been granted for the station which is on Ivygrove’s Dunstall Park site on a vacant former Rolls-Royce site and car park which faces on to Osmaston Road. It will replace the ageing Cotton Lane police station after it was deemed that repairs would be too expensive and unfeasible. More than 200 staff will be based at the station where policing of football at nearby Pride Park Stadium will be centred. The new police station is also intended to serve the south of the city and to cater to more housing developments set to come forward in the south of the county. Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Hardyal Dhindsa, said the move typified the exceptional working relationship between the two emergency services. © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / ELLE AON 14-15.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 12:05 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PROPERTY NEWS Planning permission granted for dementia care homes Two Nottingham dementia care facilities have received planning permission. The proposals for Church Farm at Rusticus and Church Farm at Skylarks involve internal architecture such as walkways with curved walls to increase visibility and sliding partitions to allow flexibility of spaces to promote independence, comfort, and quality of life for residents as well as ensuring they remain an active part of the community. In addition to increased bedroom space, the designs include independent living pods for assisted living or carer respite. Becky Smith, dementia design specialist at Leonard Design, said: “The support from the local community has been overwhelming and, despite a complex process, we’re thrilled that planning has been granted and Nottingham will be home to two ground- breaking care facilities; the likes of which are hardly seen elsewhere in the UK.” Becky Smith continued: “Our team shares the Church Farm Care belief that care facilities don’t have to be treated as purely clinical spaces, prioritising the practical over the personal. After looking at the Dutch approach to care home design, specifically seeing first-hand the revolutionary Hogeweyk ‘dementia village’ in the Netherlands, we were determined to deliver the real health benefits of intelligent design to these two UK schemes. The design is also very sympathetic to the environment and has even reduced long-standing flood risks.” International expansion for KAM Project Consultants KAM Project Consultants has expanded into Europe with the opening of its first international office, KAM Project Consultants GmbH, in Germany. Founded in 2013, the independent construction company of project managers and cost consultants has enjoyed year on year growth; with offices in Leicester, Milton Keynes and KAM GmbH is located in the AGENDIS Business Center - just walking distance from Frankfurt Airport - providing convenient transport links to the rest of Germany and mainland Europe, which had a significant influence on the selection of the location. Already working on a number of high-profile projects in Europe and with further developments in the pipeline, KAM has invested in a permanent presence in Frankfurt to better support its German and wider European client base. Tobias Neumeier, director of project management and country lead for KAM business in Germany will be based at the Frankfurt office, focusing on leading and growing the KAM GmbH business in the country, supporting existing clients in mainland Europe and managing contracted consulting services. With a Masters in Civil and Structural Engineering from the Technical University Munich (Dipl. Ing. Bauwesen) and as a member of the Association for Project Management (since 2015) and Bavarian Chamber of Civil Engineers (since 2000), Tobias has 24 years of experience in the industry, working for the likes of AECOM, BMW, Rolls Royce and MINI. Tobias said: “I am very much looking forward to a new challenge working for an innovative business that explores new markets, utilising my industrial skill set and combining my UK and German construction knowledge to further establish KAM GmbH in Germany and mainland Europe as a prime project and cost management consultancy. “Having worked for many international high-profile brands as a client and a consultant, my experience enables me to understand both sides of a project and manage these effectively. I wish to combine my UK and German market experience to create a successful base in mainland Europe, to open up new markets for KAM.” Fast-growing cake supplier commits to Derbyshire Commercial property specialists NG Chartered Surveyors have sealed a deal which will see a fast-growing cake supplier commit to Derbyshire. Cabico have renewed their lease on Unit 1B and 2 on Cossall Industrial Estate, near Ilkeston, Derbyshire. The deal sees the company occupy 27,000 sq ft of prime industrial space on the estate. Sunny Landa, director at NG, said: “We’ve had great success on Cossall Industrial Estate this year, with 44,000 sq ft let in the last month alone. Once again we’ve seen that proactive landlords who invest in their property produce happy tenants. “Cabico are a great company to work with; we know their base on the industrial estate is very popular with staff and customers alike and this is a great outcome for our landlord tenant. We wish Cabico all the very best as the company continues to thrive at Cossall.” Cabico is owned by Bisca A/S, Denmark’s leading bakery. In turn Bisca is part of Scandza A/S, a Norwegian FMCG conglomerate with interests ranging from food production and grocery to health & beauty distribution. East Midlands Business Link 15 14-15.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 12:05 Page 2Nominate yourself or another company here now www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk/mag/bricks-2020 Over 150 property and construction professionals gathered at Trent Bridge County Cricket Ground for Business Link Magazine’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2019, which saw professionals recognised for their achievements in the 2018-19 period. This year, our 2020 Bricks Awards aims to be bigger than ever. The East Midlands Bricks Awards, organised by East Midlands Business Link Magazine, is an independent awards and publicity programme, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. The awards are split into 10 categories covering every aspect of the property sector and will celebrate the achievements and standards set by both companies and individuals. The Bricks Awards will be held on the 25th of March 2020, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The event begins at 4:30pm and continues until 7:30pm with time for networking included. Come and join us at the East Midlands Business Link Bricks 2020 16-17.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 12:08 Page 1Categories and sponsors: We hope you will join us on 25th March 2020 at Nottingham's stunning Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, for this one-of-a-kind event. Most active agent Excellence in design Deal of the year Developer of the year Residential scheme of the year Commercial scheme of the year Architects of the year Sustainable development of the year Contractor of the year Last years’ awards sold out in advance and saw 150 professionals from the construction, development and property sectors in the region attend the ceremony. Overall Winner Tickets available www.eventbrite.com/e/east-midlands-bricks-awards-2020-tickets-84605225507 Responsible Business 16-17.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 12:08 Page 25S 5S 18 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Improving productivity and efficiency shouldn’t be simple one-time targets, but rather a continuous improvement programme, and the organisational framework of 5S provide the first fundamental steps for a company to take when implementing lean manufacturing. We explore this concept, what it means for manufacturers, and how they can implement it. PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY IN MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT Japan’s post-war ‘economic miracle’ ushered in a period of record economic growth that lasted until the early nineties. During this era, the nation became a leader in the financial services and technology industries and defined the model of modern businesses with the idea of the so-called ‘salary man’ still prevalent in Japan to this day. For decades, Japanese businesses set the high-bench mark for corporate efficiency and productivity with concepts that have been adopted and folded into companies in the UK. Although many of these have fallen out of fashion in more recent years, often relegated to motivational posters on the boardroom or meeting room wall, there’s still plenty that can be learned from these business concepts for companies looking to usher in productivity and efficiency gains in their workplaces. One such concept is 5S. Doubtless many readers will have come across this concept at some point in their career, but for those that haven’t, or require a refresher, it’s a form of visual management used to maximise efficiency and profit. This organisational framework emphasises the use of a specific mindset and offers tools to create efficiency and value. It involves observing, analysing, collaborating and searching for waste and inefficiencies in order to create a leaner, more efficient operation. It’s named after five Japanese terms used to describe the steps involved – Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. In English, these translate into: Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardise and Sustain. A simple example of these five terms in action involves removing items that are no longer needed (sort); organising the items to optimise efficiency and flow (straighten); cleaning the area in order to more easily identify problems (shine); implementing colour coding and labels to stay consistent with other areas (standardise); and developing behaviours to keep the workplace organised in the long-term (sustain). It’s important to understand that whatever business improvement strategy a company is looking to implement is doomed from the start if they don’t have a clearly defined idea of where 20 u 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 20/12/2019 11:33 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 19 © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / PAND P STUDIO PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY IN MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 20/12/2019 11:34 Page 2Next >