< PreviousGlobal textiles giant comes toAlfretonCommercial Property Partners LLP (CPP) has announced the letting of West 28 atBramble Way, Clover Nook Industrial Estate, Alfreton, to global textile manufacturerGuildford Europe on behalf of client PMW Property Developments.Guildford Europe, which forms part of the Lear Corporation and supplies internationalbrands with high-tech performance fabrics, has taken a lease upon the 72,480 sq ftindustrial warehouse in a bid to further develop its automotive division at J28 of the M1.The refurbished premises comprises a combination of level access and dock levelloading doors, a large secure and gated yard, internal eaves of up to 6.8 m as well asoffices and ancillary accommodation.Bramble Way is a popular estate positioned within 2 miles of J28 of the M1. It hasattracted occupiers including Eurocell, SIG, Slimming World and Recticel.Sean Bremner, partner at CPP, said: “This is a significant deal for our client. We knewthe incumbent tenant was relocating and worked fast to identify a new occupier toensure minimal void period from one lease ending and the new one starting. Demand inthe area remains very strong and this unit presented itself as the perfect premises forGuilford Europe’s expansion.“Junction 28 is experiencing a limited supply of good quality buildings between50,000 and 100,000 sq ft. There has been virtually no new build accommodationintroduced to the market over the past few years, with occupiers having to securethe best of the second hand premises.“As a result of the current demand and supply dynamic the region has seenlease lengths extend, incentives reduce and some rental growth evident – whichis good news for landlords.“It’s further good news for the local economy to see Guildford Europeexpanding in the area; on behalf of CPP we wish them every success in thefuture”.Mike Wrigley of PMW Property Developments added: “We are delightedto have secured a new lease upon West 28 so quickly. Sean at CPPworked quickly and effectively to attract the right interest, and we haveachieved a great result. We have significant holdings in and aroundJunction 28 all of which are performing very well for us where wehave assisted occupiers to expand and retain a presence in thearea. We are pleased to welcome Guilford Europe into the portfolio.“Our confidence in the location is further confirmed withbuilding works starting upon a speculative development onWest Way which will provide 30,000 sq ft of brand newindustrial and warehouse accommodation which we expectto be well received in the marketplace”.Guilford Europe (part of the Lear Corporation) wasrepresented by Jacques Esterhuizen of CBRE’sLeeds office.PROPERTY NEWSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk10Nottinghamshire’s mostexpensive house comeson the marketThe most expensive house in Nottinghamshire hasbeen placed on the market. FHP Living will be selling the£4.8m, 12,000 sq ft property in the village of ColstonBassett, located between Nottingham and Leicester.Every square foot of the property is worth in theregion of £400.The new build has five bedroom suites, a spaciousintegral garage and as the name “Tanglewood”suggests, it is surrounded by just under an acre ofprivate grounds, boasting uninterrupted views of thecountryside and church.Designed by award winning international developerGuy Phoenix, no expense has been spared on themansion, which features indulgent interior design andmodern technology – including full Lutron mood lightingsystem and underfloor heating – throughout.Steve Parker of FHP said: “It is a pleasure to beworking alongside Guy Phoenix in marketing anotherone of his spectacularly designed homes. We havealready received several enquiries after an initialnewspaper campaign and as marketing gets into fullswing we are expecting to receive a considerableamount more. We therefore encourage you to get incontact to find out more information about this uniquehome”.£30 millionbioscience building unveiledDevelopers, contractors and council leaders have marked a significant milestone inthe construction of a £30millionNottingham bioscience building co-funded by the D2N2 LocalEnterprise Partnership.On Friday 29th April, the finalconcrete was poured to create astate-of-the-art bioscience“incubator” building overlookingLower Parliament Street – anexpansion of the existing BioCityNottingham complex.The five-storey building willsupport more than 700 newbioscience roles in the city over thenext 30 years and cementNottingham’s position as the UK’s fastest growing life sciences community.The building will feature a sunscreen, known as a “Brise Soleil”, which isdesigned to reduce the risk of overheating. It will also help make the building moreenergy efficient by minimising the need for air conditioning.Designs for the Brise Soleil – known as Corona – were revealed by local artistWolfgang Buttress in partnership with physicist Dr Martin Bencsik of NottinghamTrent University.The bioscience building expansion is being delivered by a number of local partnersunder the Scape framework. The site was bought, cleared and decontaminated byNottingham City Council, and the project has been funded by the City Council, alongwith £6.5m from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s £192million Local Growth Fundallocation.Other partners on the biosciences project are Willmott Dixon, CPMG, Morgan Tucker,Gleeds, Pick Everard and Couch Perry Wilkes.The facility will be operated by BioCity on behalf of the Council from spring 2017.Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council and Portfolio Holder for StrategicRegeneration, said: “This building recognises the importance of bioscience to our local economyand, just as the first BioCity building has done so successfully, it will provide fledgling companiesand the next generation of entrepreneurs the chance to grow and expand by making use of a rangeof high-tech chemistry and biology laboratories”.Leicestershire surveyor scoopsprestigious awardA director at commercial agents Mather Jamie is celebrating after beingnamed the most prolific surveyor in Leicestershire and winning a prestigiousindustry award for the second time in three years.Alex Reid, commercial director at Mather Jamie, has won the EstateGazette’s Dealmaker award for the 2015/16 financial year, securing more thantwice as many property deals than any other agent in the county. He first wonthe Dealmaker award for the 2013/2014 period.In total, Reid secured more than 70 deals in the county, while hisLoughborough-based firm was named as the second “Most Active Agents” inLeicestershire for the same period.He said: “This award shows the high level of sales and lets we continue toachieve for our clients, and it’s a great achievement to have been namedDealmaker by Estates Gazette for the second time in the last three years.“Research done by the Estate Gazette shows that office space take-up inLeicestershire increased by a staggering 87% last year, and it’s gratifying toknow that our efforts have contributed to this considerable surge.“It’s fantastic that Mather Jamie’s continuing success has also beenrecognised, particularly as the firm is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year”.Major deals secured by Reid in the last 12 months have included the sale of Loughborough’s largest warehouse – theformer Morris Cranes site on North Road – to Charles Bentley & Son and the letting of listed building Chapel House to liftfirm Axess 4 All.The commercial side of Mather Jamie now actively manages 315 commercial properties and 10 business parks, and iscurrently marketing 41 industrial units, 35 offices and 24 retail premises.Expanding law firmopens Leicester officeRapidly expanding law firm Edward Hands and Lewis (EHL)has become the first business to move into the former HMRCoffice building on St Margaret’s Way, Leicester.City Gate House, prominently situated just off Leicester’s innerring road, is now home to EHL’s new dedicated commercialdivision EHL Commercial Law. The building, which boasts 7,000sq ft of space over one and a half floors, was let to the firm bycommercial property agent Innes England acting with joint agentJones Llang LaSalle.EHL, which has taken a five-year lease, has invested £150,000on re-fitting the building to include gym and break-out areas forits staff.There are currently 15 fee earners based at the new premises,but EHL is aiming to double this number to 30 over the next 12to 18 months.Rik Pancholi, head of EHL commercial law, said: “EHL hasbeen acting for clients in Leicestershire since 1897 so it seemedfitting that our first dedicated commercial office should be inthe city.“City Gate House is conveniently situated for our staff,clients and visitors. It also has excellent on-site parking, whichis difficult to find in the city centre.“As a firm which is experiencing rapid growth, we arecommitted to providing the best possible workingenvironment for our staff and continue to make thiscompany one of the best businesses to work for”.EHL, which has offices in London, the Wirral,Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire as well as acrossLeicestershire, currently employs 150 people. The firmintends to expand to approximately 20 branches by theend of 2016.Jenny Clarke, associate director at Innes England’sLeicester office, added: “City Gate House meetsEHL’s brief perfectly. It is in a prime location inLeicester city centre close to Highcross and withexcellent transport links. It also has the majoradvantage of on-site parking for about 30vehicles”.PROPERTY NEWSwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 11APPOINTMENT NEWSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk12Gateley announces East MidlandspromotionsThe Nottingham and Leicester officesof Gateley, the UK’s first publicly-quoted law firm, have announced twokey promotions each. The news comesas Gateley announces its firm-widepromotions – 22 in total including fournew partners.Corporate lawyer Paul Simpson, whoadvises on the full range of corporatematters including private equity, MBIsand MBOs, acquisitions and disposalsis promoted to legal director. RealEstate lawyer Charlotte Chapman, whohas been with the firm since qualifyingin 2010 and whose specialisms includepension scheme property work andportfolio management, has beenpromoted to associate.Andy Matthews, head of Gateley’s Nottingham office, said: “We are in the middle of anexciting phase for Gateley. As the firm continues to grow, it becomes increasingly importantthat we retain the region’s top talent, and with Paul and Charlotte we are doing that”.In Leicester, Gateley has promoted two lawyers in its commercial dispute resolution team. Claire Herbert has beenpromoted to senior associate, and Natalie Howes has been promoted to associate.Herbert is an experienced commercial disputes resolution lawyer with over 14 years’ experience. She advises clients on arange of commercial disputes including professional negligence, shareholder and partnership disputes, commercial judicialreview and enforcement action. She also specialises in contentious probate/inheritance claims, media litigation andreputation management.Howes advises on a variety of commercial disputes including breach of contract, professional negligence and partnershipdisputes. She acts for both corporate and individual clients, and regularly acts on conditional fee agreements and otherforms of funding arrangements, as well as advising clients on pre-issue settlements, including those negotiated throughmediation. She also deals with cases which are the subject of court proceedings.Corporate partner and head of the Leicester office Gareth John said: “I am happy for Claire and Natalie, both promotionsare well deserved. The firm has grown considerably over the last twelve months, and these promotions are evidence of thetalent currently within the firm, and the expertise we are able to deliver to our clients”.In addition to its East Midlands promotions, Gateley has announced three in London, nine in Birmingham, four in Leedsand two in Manchester.Two new hires atFlint BishopKirpal Bidmead, partner and head of thefamily law team at Flint Bishop Solicitors, haswelcomed two new solicitors – Erika Perrinand Gareth Protheroe – to support the team’sgrowth.Perrin joins from the East Anglia-based firmFraser Dawbarns. She has almost 7 years’specialist family law experience and adviseson divorce, cohabitation, finances andarrangements for children.Protheroe joins from East Midlands firmSmith Partnership. He qualified as a solicitor 2years ago and specialises in all aspects offamily law with a particular emphasis on theresolution of children’s cases.Ian Beardmore, managing partner forprivate client services, said: “I’m delighted towelcome Erika and Gareth. Their recruitmentis part of our continued organic growth and anindication of our confidence and aspirationsfor the future. Our Family Law team is one ofthe strongest in the region, led by Legal 500recognised Partner and Head of Family, KirpalBidmead, who I’ve no doubt Erika and Garethwill thoroughly enjoy working with. I wishthem the very best in their new roles at FlintBishop”.Barclays expands its North Nottinghamcorporate banking teamBarclays has expanded itscorporate banking team in NorthNottingham with the appointmentsof Ashley Hallam and GurinderMandir.Hallam has been appointed asrelationship director and will beresponsible for a portfolio of mid-corporate clients, across a varietyof sectors includingmanufacturing, retail & wholesaleand transport & logistics. Hebegan his career at Barclays in2004 and has undertaken anumber of roles prior to hislatest appointment in thecorporate banking division.He said: “I am excited about the prospect of working with our corporate clients focussingpredominantly in the North Nottingham area. My remit is to serve my clients, add value to theirbusiness and grow our client base”.Mandir has been appointed as business manager looking after the North Nottingham and SouthLincolnshire area. He joined Barclays’ degree programme in 2012 as a cashier after leaving sixth form.He has since progressed through the ranks, undertaking a number of roles in the retail and businessbank.He said: “It has always been my long term goal to work in the business bank supporting ourbusiness clients. I pride myself on building strong working relationships and gaining a realunderstanding of my client’s businesses”.Karen Rutter, area corporate director at Barclays, said: “I am really pleased to have been able toappoint both Ashley and Gurinder into their new roles. These appointments demonstrate theopportunities for career progression within Barclays and they will be a valuable addition to the team.The North Nottingham market is vibrant and both Ashley and Gurinder will work hard to support theirclients and their aspirations for their business”.Box09 appoints new field engineers toservice growing demandDerby-based facilities maintenance companyBox09 has announced the creation of adedicated data cabling department with a newteam of field engineers to service growingdemand.The company offers businesses a way ofsourcing and managing their regularmaintenance requirements and buildingprojects, so the new department – specificallydesigned to help with office moves, additionsand layout changes – will complement its overallportfolio.The move represents over £100k worth ofinvestment over the next 2 years.Company director Chris Stubbings said: “Datacabling could be considered a niche service sowe want to make sure companies in and aroundDerby and Nottingham know we can help them in this area. We’ve certainly got background and history in thisindustry so we see it as an opportunity for us to excel. The two new staff members Chris Truby and Tom Chadwickare time served and come with a wealth of experience in all aspects of data cabling, fibre optic and audio visualinstallations, so we’re looking forward to introducing them to our existing customer base and growing this departmenteven further”.The company aims to add other complementary in-house departments focussing on security and electrical servicesnext year.McArthur parkshimself atgrowing NGNG Chartered Surveyors is growingagain after appointing James McArthur asdirector at its West Bridgford office.McArthur joins from Humberts wherehe was associate director – head ofmanagement. Before that he spent nineyears as a surveyor in the managementdepartment at Innes England.The appointment represents a majorcoup for NG as it continues to bolster itssenior staff numbers.At NG, McArthur will handle a diverseportfolio of properties from individualretail and industrial units through tolarger industrial estates and multi-occupied offices, dealing with all aspectsof property management from rentcollection and service charges toplanned maintenance programmes.He said: “NG has an excellentreputation, when I was offered the roleI knew instantly it was the right thingfor me to do.“I’m joining a fantastic team and Ihope to not only bring NG newclients, but also new ideas to helpNG to develop further. I have an in-depth knowledge of the localproperty market which will enableme to hit the ground running whenI join NG”.He added: “I have always feltthat, in order to deliver a highquality of service, beingsuccessful in the commercialproperty sector is all aboutgood communication andbuilding strongrelationships, not only withclients but also withtenants, contractors,colleagues and otherprofessionals that youdeal.www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 13APPOINTMENT NEWSEEF warns against apprenticeship levy “carcrash”EEF, the manufacturers’organisation, is urging thegovernment to delay launchingthe Apprenticeship Levy until atleast September next year afternew research found that firmshave grave concerns about thescheme’s design andimplementation. Misgivings areso strong that just 1% ofmanufacturers support thelevy’s roll out in its presentguise, while the majority believethat the scheme looks set to fail.Almost three quarters (72%) want it delayed until businesses and government are satisfied that it is fit-for-purpose.The findings show widespread support amongst business (70%) for the government’s drive to deliver agreater number of apprenticeships for the UK. At the same time, however, less than two in ten firms(18%) think that the Apprenticeship Levy as it currently stands will help deliver this. This suggests that thepresent rush towards an April 2017 rollout could prove detrimental for both industry and the government,ushering in a policy doomed to fail and potentially causing long-term damage to the drive to boostapprenticeships in the UK.For the scheme to work, business says the levy must be simple to administer (92%), easy to understand(89%) and offer easy access to the funding (79%). Instead firms find it confusing (53%), overlycomplicated (49%) and think it will simply become another cost burden on business (54%).The findings also show that fairness and transparency should be fundamental to how the scheme is setup – almost three quarters of firms (73%) say it needs to be fair in order to work, while half (50%) say itmust be open to public scrutiny.Worryingly, the government has claimed that firms will be able to get more out of the scheme than theyput in. However, little over one in ten (11%) companies currently have faith in that claim, while just 13%believe the scheme will level the playing field and enable smaller businesses to offer apprenticeships too.At the moment, less than a third of companies (31%) think that the levy will prove to be a game changerfor apprenticeships in the UK.EEF says that officials responsible for implementing the scheme have engaged fully with business, butthe policy itself is flawed. It is now urging the government to take stock of the feedback and delay roll-outof the scheme, including the charge on business, until September 2017 at the earliest. This will allow timefor industry and government to jointly tackle concerns and will enable the launch of an end-product that isfit-for-purpose and has better industry buy-in.MANUFACTURING NEWSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk14Retail display solutions manufacturer geared for growthA Loughborough business that makes point-of-sale materials for some of the UK’s biggest retail brands has moved to new premises andinvested in machinery to grow its capacity with the support of a £650,000 funding package from Lloyds Bank.SDI Displays, based on Ridgefield Business Park, specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of point-of-sale and point-of-purchasematerial for brands and retailers including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Dyson and Arcadia Group.The move to the new 50,000 sq ft premises from its former site in Leicester has given the business additional space to house a new powdercoating facility. As a result, the firm is now expecting its turnover to increase by 50 percent.The machinery purchase was funded by Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance, which provided an asset finance facility to ensure the investmentdoes not affect its day-to-day cash flow.The business currently employs 70 staff, and on the back of its recent investments is planning to increase its headcount by 10 in the next sixmonths in line with its expansion.As part of its longstanding relationship with the business Lloyds Bank supported the management buyout of SDI Displays in 2013.Ian Wright, managing director at SDI Displays, said: “We operate in a highly competitive space, and the latest phase of our expansion plan hasseen us invest in valuable resource, to ensure we can remain at the forefront of our industry.“Lloyds Bank has played an important role in the growth of our business over the years, helping us to execute our growth ambitions with bothspecialist expertise and funding”.Mike Middleton, relationship director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “SDI Displays is a longstanding client of ours with a highlyambitious management team, and its investment in new machinery and equipment means it can substantially increase its capacity, marking animportant milestone in its expansion plans.“The asset finance facility has provided the business with the financial backing to buy vital new equipment, and it now has a strong platform forgrowth and to create new job opportunities. Firms like this are integral to the region’s economy, which is why in 2015 we have increased our netlending to SMEs five per cent year on year”.Toyota UKreachesmanufacturingmilestoneToyota Motor Manufacturing UK iscelebrating after its 10 millionth vehiclewas made in Europe, with its Derbyplant at Burnaston having played amajor role in producing enough cars toalmost circle the globe nose-to-tail.Johan van Zyl, president and chiefexecutive of Toyota Motor Europe, said:“Our European manufacturing trackrecord includes building the first B-segment hybrid car sold in Europe,assembling hybrid engines andexporting vehicles to North America andJapan. Over the next two years, weexpect our overall production in Europeto increase by a further 20%”.Recent years have seen theBurnaston plant go from strength tostrength with Auris and Avensisproduction increasing by 10% alongsidea £100 million investment.Students gain insight into advancedcompositesEngineering students at DerbyCollege have spent a week gaining aninsight into the advanced compositesmanufacturing business atepm:technology’s £6 millionmanufacturing, research anddevelopment facility in Derby.The students, who are all studyinglevel three engineering studyprogrammes at the College’sRoundhouse campus, are members ofthe epm:technology EmployerAcademy at Derby College.The programme is part of DerbyCollege’s wider initiative in partnershipwith businesses across the EastMidlands to bridge the gap betweeneducation and world of work.More than 200 students across theCollege are benefiting from work experience, involvement in projects and masterclasses fromemployers. They will be guaranteed an interview for potential apprenticeships and jobs at thecompanies at the end of their study programme.epm:technology supplies complex and engineered composite components to the highlycompetitive motorsport arena, including Formula One.Graham Mulholland, managing director of epm:technology, said: “Advanced composites is thefastest growing area in engineering in the UK and particularly in Derby which is the country’snumber one high-tech city.“As a leading employer in advanced composites, our own experiences support the nationalresearch that the main challenge facing this industry is the lack of employees with technical,practical and job-specific skills.“We were therefore keen to work with Derby College to introduce advanced composites intothe Engineering curriculum. By working closely with the students, we can build their industry-specific problem solving, team working and communication skills.“We are a rapidly growing company with a structure apprenticeship programme so will beoffering interviews to all the students at the end of the programme. Those who are successfulwill join epm and the others will stand a far greater chance of gaining apprenticeships with othercompanies having been through the Academy. The launch of this Academy is therefore good forour business and for the engineering and advanced composites sectors as a whole.MANUFACTURING NEWSwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 15ThorworldIndustries celebrates35 years in businessDerbyshire-based loading and unloadingequipment manufacturer Thorworld Industrieshas celebrated 35 years of business with an openmorning for its staff and their families.Founder and managing director John Mealedecided to open the doors to the company’s headoffice in Chesterfield on Saturday 7th May to saythank you to his staff, and give their friends andfamilies a glimpse of what goes on at Thorworld.He said: “Since Thorworld Industries sold itsfirst loading solution in 1981, we’ve continuallystrived to provide an extensive portfolio of highquality products, all supported by unsurpassedcustomer service. We have been able to do thisthanks to our employees, who are the reason wehave reached this fantastic milestone”.“Their knowledge of the industry anddedication to the company have been invaluablein ensuring Thorworld continues to be thesuccessful company it is. We wanted to dosomething which showed our appreciation andalso gave our members of staff the opportunity toshare the celebrations with their loved ones”.It has already been an eventful year forThorworld. Not only is the company celebratingits 35th anniversary, but it has recently appointedthree new directors. Traditionally a family runbusiness, these appointments mark a progressionfor the company, with new ideas and strategieshelping to strengthen and expand the business.Meale added: “It’s our employees who makeus the leading loading and unloading specialist inthe industry. We recruit highly driven and skilledemployees who manufacture, install and maintainequipment which is designed to perform andlast. We’ve always taken the opinion that younever stop learning. To that end we ensure allour employees have the knowledge, continualtraining and development to place Thorworld atthe cutting edge. This knowledge andunderstanding enables each team member toserve customers better and deliver the very bestsolutions every time.“The first 35 years of Thorworld have beenextremely successful – and if we continue toinnovate, develop and learn, the next 35 shouldbe as equally impressive”.LinkingbusinesstogetherEast Midlands Business Link has been bringing businesses together through itsonline pages and we’re now offering even more chances to network andcreate new relationships with a host of special events – and there are numerous sponsorship opportunities to help promote your brand!Round TablesBringing together leading names from local businesses, our round table events debate the latest hottopics. By sponsoring the event you can decide on the topic and help shape the guest list to ensurerelevance. The resultant debate will appear in our pages.Breakfast EventsEast Midlands Business Link's breakfast events present topical and incisive discussion. A panel ofexperts offer their views on business matters in front of an informed and interested audience –alongside plenty of opportunities to network! Sponsors of the event receive access to the delegate list as well as extensive pre- and post-event coverage.AwardsHighlighting the best of local business, there are myriad sponsorship opportunities atEast Midlands Business Link's awards evenings. Bringing together guests from across the region,sponsoring a category or even the entire event will ensure exceptional exposure for your business! These events are also a great place to entertain and welcome distinguished guests.Business Link is renowned as the voice of the East Midlands business scene. By partnering with us at these special events you can take advantage of our strong reputation and enjoy exceptional exposure for your brand!Connectwith us today to see what we can do for your business...FASTEST 40 AWARDSwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 17EMBL’s annual Fastest 40ceremony, held on 26th May inthe auspicious surroundings ofNottingham’s Galleries ofJustice, saw professionals fromacross the East Midlands cometogether to celebrate the creamof the region’s youngentrepreneurial talent.The awards, now in their third year,were sponsored by Streets CharteredAccountants, Eden PR, HR Protected,Else Solicitors and Press for AttentionPR.After a keynote speech by RonLynch, East Midlands regional directorat the Institute of Directors, thenominees and winners wereannounced with James Pinchbeck,marketing partner at Streets; KathrynGreenwood, joint MD at Eden; LizStrama, MD at HR Protected; andAdam Gilbert, partner at Else allpresenting awards.The East MidlandsBusiness Link Fastest 40Awards 2016 The East MidlandsBusiness Link Fastest 40Awards 2016 The shortlists for the awards were asfollows: Fastest Owner-Manager (sponsoredby Streets Chartered Accountants)Tina Clough – Poppy-PRTom Craig & Aaron Dicks – ImpressionGary Digva – Space Data CentresMark Dryden – Box09Sam Sutton – Phillips SuttonFastest in Professional Services(sponsored by Eden PR)Rebecca Aldridge – Balance: WealthPlanningEMBL editor Ian Evans; AaronDicks & Tom Craig, Impression;Ian Morris, EHL Group; RossDavies, Strafe CreativeFASTEST 40 AWARDSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk18Simon Browning – UHY Hacker YoungSteve Eston – Precision Search Paul Hayes – PKF Cooper ParryIan Morris – EHL GroupFastest in the Creative Industries(Sponsored by HR Protected)Ross Davies – Strafe CreativeJake Elliott – Hallam InternetEd Hollands – DrivenMedia (Powered byThe Advert Man)Rob Tomkinson – ImpressionBen Wood – Hallam InternetThe Overall Winner category wassponsored by Else Solicitors and a lavishdrinks reception was sponsored by Pressfor Attention PR. Ian Morris, group commercial directorat Leicester’s EHL Group, swept to victory,claiming the Fastest in ProfessionalServices prize before being crownedOverall Winner.Aaron Dicks and Tom Craig, jointfounders of digital marketing agencyImpression, won the Fastest Owner-Manager prize and Ross Davies of StrafeCreative was named Fastest in theCreative Industries.Ian Morris said: “I’m unexpectedlyecstatic, not least because I know some ofthe other people who were shortlisted inmy category and I thought they would beclear winners. It was a pleasant surprise tobe named Fastest in ProfessionalServices, but to be crowned OverallWinner is absolutely amazing. I owe thisto everyone at EHL, and especially SarahMcDowell who wrote my submission. Iwouldn’t be here without them”.Aaron Dicks said: “We are delighted towin this award. We’ve had a really greatcouple of years, and this is furthervalidation of what we’re trying toachieve”.Ross Davies said: “It was awesome justto be shortlisted, so I’m very happy tohave won my category. This is for thewhole team at Strafe, not just me”.EMBL editor Ian Evans added: “Thespirit of enterprise is alive and wellamongst younger people in the region,and the quality of the applications wereceived for these awards is testament tothat. Many thanks to all our sponsors formaking the awards possible, and, ofcourse, many congratulations to all thewinners!”James Pinchbeck, marketing partner at Streets Chartered Accountants;Tom Craig & Aaron Dicks, Impression; EMBL editor Ian EvansRoss Davies, Strafe Creative & LizStrama, MD at HR ProtectedIan Morris, EHL Group & Adam Gilbert,partner at Else SolicitorsFASTEST 40 AWARDSwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 19PHOTOS COURTESY: HTTP://WWW.TOBYNEALPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK/Ron Lynch, East Midlands regional director at the Instituteof DirectorsIan Morris, EHL Group & Kathryn Greenwood, joint MD atEden PRNext >