< Previous10 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk FINANCE NEWS Ideagen lands £100m funding package to support growth strategy NatWest and Santander UK are supporting software management solutions company Ideagen with a funding package worth up to £100m to help spur on its growth strategy. The package comprises a three-year revolving credit facility split evenly across the two banks. £75m of the package is committed and there is scope for a further uncommitted £25m to support future growth. As part of its targeted acquisition strategy, Ideagen has acquired 21 companies in the UK and overseas in the past decade. Its next phase of growth will involve moving into additional new markets through further acquisitions, with support provided by the funding package from Santander UK and NatWest. Ideagen has a presence in 150 countries and both Santander UK and NatWest are delivering additional support through international banking and cash management solutions. Emma Hayes, Ideagen Chief Financial Officer, said: “Securing an additional line of credit with Santander UK, in addition to our existing facilities with NatWest, is a fantastic endorsement of our strategy from two leading financial institutions. “Despite the pandemic, we have had another successful year and I am looking forward to working with Santander UK and NatWest to deliver further growth for our business and more good news for our shareholders.” Mike Malone, Director, UK Financing Solutions at NatWest said: “NatWest are delighted to provide continued and increased financing support to our long standing, much valued client Ideagen. “Having had the privilege to work alongside Ideagen as their strategic banking partner for a number of years, we have been incredibly impressed by their values, their ambition and the market leading growth the management team have delivered. “We very much look forward to working alongside Ideagen in to the future and supporting their continued growth and success.” A1 Comms sells Go Mobile retail franchise A1 Comms Ltd., the Derbyshire-based mobile phone and connectivity solution provider, has sold its Go Mobile high street estate to KTM Online Ltd. (trading as Fonehouse). A1 Comms will continue to own and focus on its digital consumer business – namely its portfolio of online brands in Affordable Mobiles, Buymobiles and Phones.co.uk – as well as its nationwide business-to-business operation, under Yappl. A1 Comms acquired Go Mobile in 2012 and has nurtured the high street retail estate into a franchise with 31 stores across the UK. Bobbie Bhogal, Managing Director of Digital at A1 Comms, said: “We’re delighted to have completed the sale of the Go Mobile business from A1 Comms to KTM Online. “The agreement will no doubt help further Go Mobile, its franchisees, employees, and partners included. A1 Comms’ primary objective is now focussing on our rapidly growing digital consumer business, having generated a 62% increase in sales year-on-year, resulting in our best ever year as a business. “Following our record-breaking year, which also saw our Affordable Mobiles brand pick up the Uswitch Mobile Reseller of the Year 2021 award, on top of launching our first TV campaign, we felt the time was right to focus on the core of our business, which remains online and through our extensive B2B network.” Ben Branson, CEO at KTM Online, added: “The Go Mobile business fits neatly into our strategy of growing a retail estate that is complementary to our network partners alongside our increasingly popular websites. “From a commercial perspective, we’re delighted to bring on a retail estate that has boomed in between lockdowns and even happier to be able to secure jobs and support the retail sector in such uncertain times.” MBO completes at Eight Days A Week Print Solutions A management buyout has completed at Nottingham-based Eight Days A Week Print Solutions (EDWPS). Managing Director, Lance Hill led the transaction and the team also comprised of Karen Herbert and Jake Beardsley. Former owner and chairman, David Beardsley, who had taken a back seat since Hill joined in September 2019, has now retired. EDWPS specialises in direct and essential mail, digital print, web to print and hybrid mail for a range of sectors including healthcare & pharmaceutical, retail, education, financial services and travel & leisure. The £5m turnover business employs 20 staff at its Nottingham facility and has experienced a good period of growth in the last 12 months, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Hill said: “We are very excited about the future, we’ve managed to ride through a tough 12 months, partly due to our significant footprint in the healthcare & pharmaceutical sector which has been very stable, and we have also seen some growth. “Many of our customers understandably pressed pause in the eye of the storm, but we are now seeing them come back with positive plans for the rest of this year, and into the next. This business is fundamentally solid financially, which is a compliment to David’s hard work over the years which has created a great foundation for the next phase of growth.” EDWPS have also taken advantage of the government Kickstart scheme to employ two production operatives via the IPIA who set up a gateway for smaller businesses to access the scheme. In addition, they are also actively recruiting for another account manager to join team client services team due to the recent growth and new client wins. Financial advice and support was provided by Pippa Hawkes of BSN Associates and legal representation for the MBO team through Graham Spalding of Lodders Solicitors LLP. Matthew Bradley of Bradley & Jeffries was the legal support on behalf of David Beardsley. Bobbie Bhogal Emma Hayes 06-15.e$S_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:32 Page 5Advanced software provider embarks on international expansion following funding boost EkkoSense, a Nottingham-based advanced software and technology provider, has received a seven-figure cash injection from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), East & South East Midlands Debt Finance fund managed by Maven Capital Partners (Maven). EkkoSense will use the funding to support its international expansion across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa. To aid this new level of growth, the business is adding a high number of resources to its sales, development and operational departments. Based at the University of Nottingham Innovation Park, EkkoSense is recognised as a leader in the provision of advanced software and sensing technologies that help organisations visualise, manage and optimise real-time performance in their data centre facilities. Founded in 2013 by Dean Boyle (CEO) and Dr Stuart Redshaw (CTIO) and backed by an experienced management team, EkkoSense has previously received investment from the MEIF East & South East Mids Equity Fund, managed by Foresight Group. Dean Boyle, CEO at EkkoSense, said: “We’re excited to be pushing forward with our next key growth phase and this additional MEIF funding will support our plans in a number of specific areas. “In 2021, we will be strengthening support for our growing global partner network, expanding sales teams in key international markets and continuing to invest heavily in our core software proposition.” Jonathan Lowe, Investment Director for Maven adds: “We’re delighted to have provided MEIF funding to EkkoSense, which reflects our faith in its management team, impressive technology and ambitious business plan. “Supporting the ever-increasing focus on driving carbon reductions across the world, EkkoSense has built an impressive client base that recognises the value that its technology can bring. The team have a strong track record in the sector, with supportive investors, and we are pleased to play our part in the next phase of growth.” FINANCE NEWS www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 11 Begbies Traynor acquires Derbyshire finance broker in £11m deal National professional services consultancy, Begbies Traynor Group, has acquired finance broker, MAF Finance Group, previously known as Midlands Asset Finance, in a deal worth up to £11.75m. Under the deal, the nationwide firm of finance brokers, which is headquartered in South Normanton, Derbyshire will become part of the Begbies Traynor Group, bringing an experienced 46-strong team of finance experts, as well as industry expertise spanning construction, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and renewables, fleet management and vehicle leasing. On joining Begbies Traynor Group, Dave Chapman, Director of Sales and Property at MAF, said: “This is an important step in our nationwide growth, while staying true to the Midlands roots and culture that made us what we are today. “We will continue to trade under the MAF brand as a ringfenced broker, looking after our growing customer base, but with the all the benefits of being part of a wider group, which brings additional services to our clients, as well as the added value of a national office network across the UK.” Sue Chapman, Managing Director at MAF, added: “Since we founded MAF in 2009, our guiding principles have been about creating a fulfilling environment in which our talented team can thrive and provide the very best level of service to our clients. “We instantly recognised the same approach with Begbies Traynor Group and a number of synergies between our respective service offerings and are excited about how this will support the next stage of our growth. Being part of a larger group will also present our staff with exciting opportunities to further enhance their careers.” Ric Traynor, Executive Chairman of Begbies Traynor Group plc, said: “MAF is a true specialist in providing growth capital for investment and has developed excellent relationships with both clients and financial institutions over many years.” Sue Chapman, Dave Chapman and Ric Traynor Lance Hill, Karen Herbert, Jake Beardsley 06-15.e$S_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:32 Page 6Loughborough University spinout raises £180,000 in seed funding round Loughborough University’s latest spinout, Figura Analytics, has raised £180,000 in seed round funding from private investors and the early-stage investor SFC Capital. Figura was spun out of cross-disciplinary Chemistry research in January 2021, backed by an Innovate UK grant, to develop its rapid testing technology platform aimed at helping the drinks industry to improve quality and consistency of ingredients and finished products. The company’s nanopore technology, using microfluidics, sensors and software algorithms, enables them to recognise and characterize any particle suspended in a solution. Figura’s rapid analysis technology has a number of uses in drinks manufacturing, from analysing flavours and filters, through to replacing traditional microbiological tests. Mark Platt and Rhush Maugi, Figura’s academic founders, have spent years developing the technology format that will be low in cost and easy to use. The technology was fast-tracked through Innovate UK’s Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) programme in 2020 and Figura was formed in January 2021. They are already working with national and international drinks industry partners to further develop their technology and processes, along with The Manufacturing Technology Centre (The MTC), as they get ready to start commercial production in 2022. Nick Whitehurst (CEO) said: “We are delighted to welcome SFC and our new private investors to Figura Analytics. We have had great initial feedback from the drinks industry to a completely new way for them to rapidly analyse their products and ingredients, and we look forward to building our business as we further develop our technology platform and manufacturing capability.” 12 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MANUFACTURING NEWS University of Nottingham awarded £7.6m for green aviation facility The University of Nottingham has been awarded £7.6 million by the D2N2 LEP towards the development of the £16.8 million UK Electrification of Aerospace Propulsion Facility (UKEAPF). The UKEAPF is one of ten projects across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire which has received funding from D2N2’s £44 million share of the government’s £900 million Getting Building Fund. Hosted within the new Power Electronics and Electrical Machines Centre at the University of Nottingham, the facility will support the East Midlands vision to be the world’s foremost location for low carbon aerospace innovation. The facility will accelerate the development of new electrical machines and drive systems required for the greening of aviation through extensive test and validation equipment. It will rapidly stimulate economic activity through the development of a new generation of aerospace electrification industrial technologies and manufacturing processes co-created with local industrial partners, and create new opportunities for the regions business base supporting new jobs. By March 2024, it is estimated that £140 million worth of industrial work aligned with this facility will be undertaken, creating 300 new jobs and 150 new learners by 2025. At a national level, UKEAPF will support the government’s target of raising research and development investment and contribute to the Governments 10 point green plan by supporting increased decarbonisation in a key sector. Elizabeth Fagan, Chair of D2N2 LEP Board, said: “UKEAPF will accelerate the green recovery and growth for the UK aerospace industry, ensuring the East Midlands remains the world’s foremost location for aerospace innovation unlocking investment, creating new jobs and protecting the aerospace supply-chain jobs in the region.” Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, Professor Shearer West, said: “The University’s global research programme has a well-deserved reputation for supporting a more sustainable planet and solving global problems.” Electro-chemicals manufacturer acquired in $60m deal H.K. Wentworth Limited (HKW), a Leicestershire-based manufacturer of electro-chemicals for the electronics, LED, automotive and industrial manufacturing industries, has been acquired for approximately $60 million. The business has been sold to Element Solutions Inc, a NYSE-listed global and diversified speciality chemicals company based in Miami, US. Alantra, the global mid-market investment banking firm, advised the shareholders of HKW in the deal. Headquartered in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, HKW is a global specialist in formulated chemical products for the electronics industry, offering an array of products, including thermal management materials, conformal coatings, encapsulation resins, electronic cleaning solutions and general maintenance products with a presence in over 55 countries. The business has manufacturing facilities in the UK, India and China and its products serve customers globally across a diverse set of end-markets, including consumer electronics, telecommunications, medical, automotive, military and aerospace. HKW generated sales of approximately $44 million in 2020. Ron Jakeman, CEO of H.K. Wentworth, said: “We now have a partner in Element Solutions that will provide global support to help us accelerate our plans. They are the perfect strategic fit and we are excited about the growth opportunities that this partnership will bring to both organisations.” © Shutterstock /FocusStocker The Figura team 06-15.e$S_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:32 Page 7Malaysian manufacturer acquires Lutterworth firm Emerging trends in global markets and product requirements have prompted electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider ESCATEC to acquire 100% of Lutterworth- based JJS Manufacturing in a private deal. The acquisition adds electro-mechanical production facilities in the United Kingdom and Czech Republic to ESCATEC’s portfolio of manufacturing locations. The deal will enable Swiss-owned ESCATEC, headquartered in the global electronics cluster of Bayan Lepas on Penang island, Malaysia, to cater to OEM brands requiring products to be manufactured or assembled in the UK or Central Europe, whilst also enhancing the Group’s capabilities and expertise especially for electro-mechanical manufacturing. ESCATEC’s production capacity in Europe thus far has been centred on a design & development and advanced production facility in Heerbrugg, Switzerland. The addition of JJS Manufacturing, with modern factories and a highly competent workforce, will immediately expand the scope of ESCATEC’s offerings. “This acquisition is a direct outcome of our strategic plan to grow ESCATEC into a major player in the global EMS industry and further demonstrates our commitment to serve our customers’ needs. I am delighted to welcome everyone at JJS Manufacturing to the ESCATEC family at this very exciting time,” states Patrick Macdonald, CEO of ESCATEC. Established in 1974, ESCATEC offers a range of electronics and box build manufacturing services – from design & development and certification to mass production and after-sales service – to a global customer base. The Group operates two production facilities on Penang island (near the Malaysia- Thailand border) with two further facilities in Johor Bahru, Malaysia (minutes from the Malaysia-Singapore border), while ESCATEC Switzerland AG in Heerbrugg is situated very close to the Austrian border. With Group revenue exceeding USD$200 million, the acquisition of JJS Manufacturing together with ongoing expansion of its Malaysian operations is expected to rapidly propel ESCATEC’s annual revenues beyond the USD$300 million mark. The acquisition of JJS Manufacturing will add 14,000 sqm of production space with a headcount of 500 skilled employees in the UK and Czech Republic. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 13 MANUFACTURING NEWS Engineering company transforms HQ into new Global Technical Centre After doubling its turnover, and achieving its best yearly performance to date, Briggs of Burton has transformed its Burton on Trent headquarters into a new Global Technical Centre. The hygienic process engineering company has a long standing history with Burton on Trent’s brewing heritage and has offices in the USA and China. With the refurbishment and major extension to its current site, the company says it is “providing a strong foundation for the business to further grow and develop [its] innovative engineering solutions across a variety of sectors.” Robert Buxton, Managing Director of Briggs of Burton PLC, said: “It was the right time to invest and create the headquarters of the future, empowering our employees to deliver world-class sustainable solutions for our clients across all of our sectors. “Our team pride themselves on Health & Safety and Quality, and these underpin everything we do. Our ultimate goal is creating an environment to grow our team and nurture the next generation of innovative engineers.” Focusing on environmental and wellbeing benefits, the site has not only created additional office space, break out areas and conference suites, but also planted many hundreds of trees and shrubs, together with over an acre of wildflower and grassland into the surrounding landscape. New shower and changing facilities mean the team can take advantage of the site’s close proximity to the train station and encourage the use of public transport or cycle to work where possible. George Crombie, Engineering Director, said: “For Briggs this is the start of a new chapter and a catalyst for our ongoing growth to ensure we continue to ‘deliver what we promise’ to our customers and offer the most sustainable engineering solutions assisting them to move towards carbon neutrality. “It is an exciting time at Briggs, and we are looking forward to our future. We are proud to be not only investing in the town where it all began but also in our employees – the people who make Briggs what it is today.” Briggs of Burton PLC was originally formed over 285 years ago specialising in brewing equipment and engineering. © Shutterstock /petrmalinak 06-15.e$S_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:32 Page 8PROPERTY NEWS Daventry warehouse sold to ingredient supplier Barberry Industrial has completed the sale of a speculatively developed warehouse unit to a food company for its new Midlands regional distribution centre. Kent Foods, the supplier of ingredients to the food manufacturing industry, has acquired the freehold of the 73,257 sq ft Barberry72 warehouse at Sopwith Way in Daventry, Northamptonshire. The £9.4 million deal is expected to bring further investment and new jobs to the area as part of Kent Foods’ expansion strategy, said Barberry development director Jon Robinson. The high specification unit has been developed on the 3.5-acre site of a former Focus DIY store. Jon said: “Barberry 72 is a prominent, high quality warehouse/manufacturing unit, in the highly sought-after mid-box size range, in what is an excellent location within the golden triangle of logistics. This transaction has delivered the outputs of our business plan and secured a new quality occupier for Daventry, creating economic growth and new jobs for the town. “We are delighted to have completed the sale of Barberry 72 to Kent Foods and we wish the company success with its new regional distribution centre.” Glasgow-based Kent Foods is one of Europe’s largest independent suppliers of sugars, sweeteners, dairy products, oils and fats to the food manufacturing industry. Rob Watts, associate director of Avison Young, who acted for Kent Foods, said: “We were delighted to act for Kent Foods in this transaction. A comprehensive search was undertaken last year to identify and acquire a new facility for their expanding operations. We identified Barberry 72 in Daventry as a preferred building due to the excellent location and specification. It was a pleasure to work with the Barberry team during the process and we wish Kent Foods all of the best in their new acquisition.” University reveals vision for new city centre business school The University of Derby has revealed its vision to build a new business school in the centre of the city. Set to open in September 2024, the building is projected to be the study base for over 6,000 students by 2030, who will benefit from a transformative learning environment delivering teaching, research, innovation and skills aligned to regional, national and global needs. The landmark building is proposed to be net zero carbon in construction and operation, aligning to the University’s sustainability strategies and its low carbon expertise and research agenda. It will be located at Ford Street in Derby on a University-owned site opposite One Friar Gate Square – home to the School of Law and Social Sciences. Professor Kamil Omoteso, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby, said: “Our ambitious plans for an iconic new business school, located in the centre of Derby, are part of a broader vision to expand the University’s reach and reputation across the UK and globally. “To do so, the University must be in a position to offer the best possible learner experience that reflects its values of being bold, brilliant and future focused. We intend to build on our already strong reputation to become a leading business school for applied real world learning; one that creates opportunities for a diverse range of students to attain their full potential and become successful and responsible future leaders.” While the existing Derby Business School is currently based at its Kedleston Road site, the new location will support the University’s ambition to have a greater physical presence in the city centre, providing a central and attractive destination for students, as well as increasing the accessibility of the new business school to residents, schools and colleges, D2N2 businesses and the local entrepreneur/start-up community. 14 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Department for Work and Pensions agrees major letting in Northampton The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to take almost 25,000 sq ft of space at Princess House in Northampton, in one of the town’s biggest office lettings so far this year. The letting at the Helmsley Group-owned building will see the DWP replace fellow government department HMRC, which is relocating after 10 years of occupancy at the building in Cliftonville, following the expiration of its lease. Ed Harrowsmith, director at property investment and development specialist Helmsley Group, said: “This is a landmark property transaction given the present market conditions and we are delighted to have secured the DWP as an anchor tenant at Princess House.” Chris Drummond, director at TDB Real Estate, who secured the letting on behalf of Helmsley Group, added: “This is a blue-chip covenant and a strong indicator of confidence in the Northamptonshire property market. “Take-up in towns such as Northampton has been limited over the last 12 months given the uncertainty caused by Covid-19 so this is a sizeable letting in what is still a challenging market. Princess House is now fully let, which is excellent news.” From left: Emilie Douglas and Jonathan Robinson, of Barberry, are joined by Simon Norton, of Colliers, Rob Watts, of Avison Young, and Christian Smith, of Savills. 06-15.e$S_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:32 Page 9PROPERTY NEWS Clowes Developments Directors, James Richards and Paul Shanley, have exchanged contracts on the group’s largest deal to date. They have agreed a transaction to develop six logistics facilities throughout the UK with a landmark deal worth in the region of £100 million with UK insurance giant NFU Mutual. The deal will deliver six new Grade A logistics facilities, five of which will be speculatively built with the sixth building being a new pre-let facility. Totalling in excess of 1 million sq ft, NFU Mutual are investing substantially across three Clowes Developments premier logistics sites including EMDC, Castlewood Business Park and Centrix Park. The size of the units will range from 58,586 sq ft at Centrix Park to a unit of close to 250,000 sq ft at EMDC. One of the properties included in the deal is the brand new Deichmann- Shoes UK Ltd building at Centrix Park, Corby. The 162,500 sq ft design and build property has already been granted planning permission and contractors, Winvic Construction, are on site building the unit. Deichmann will take possession of the purpose-built facility as early as January 2022. The remaining five units include a 58,586 sq ft industrial/warehouse/distribution building located opposite to the Deichmann building at Centrix Park. The wider site is home to BakeAway, MKM Building Supplies and several national trade counter retailers. At Castlewood Business Park two units will be delivered. On Plot 1 a unit of 176,817 sq ft and on Plot 8 a unit of 134,192 sq ft will be delivered. These sites are the two remaining large plots on the 120-acre Business Park at Junction 28, which has already attracted Co-op Food, Alloga and the specialist furniture manufacturer Parker Knoll. At EMDC there will be two larger buildings with 3a EMDC delivering 189,573 sq ft and 3b EMDC delivering the largest single unit of 249,418 sq ft. EMDC is accessed from the A50(T) and J24, M1 and has attracted the 1 million square foot e-commerce M&S distribution centre, the UK HQ of Moran Logistics, one of the largest e-commerce furniture providers, Birlea Furniture, Interlevin Refrigeration and the regional head office for Redrow Homes. Plans revealed for Skegness Gateway urban extension Plans to transform Skegness with the development of a sustainable urban extension to the west of the town have been revealed. The proposals for Skegness Gateway, to be the subject of a Local Development Order (LDO) with East Lindsey District Council later this year, outline a scheme that will provide hundreds of jobs, a new college, amenities, and new homes for the area. Sue Bowser of Croftmarsh, said: “We have farmed the land for over 30 years with a long-term view that certain areas of land could be used for development, and we are very excited to see those plans starting to take shape. We believe that the scheme being proposed will act as a catalyst for positive change for Skegness and position the town in its rightful place in the East Midlands as a place with opportunity and ambition.” The 136-hectare site is located to the west of Skegness and is being proposed through an LDO in conjunction with East Lindsey District Council, which is expected to be submitted later this year. The proposed masterplan includes: around 1,000 new homes, specialist accommodation for older people, a tourism offering, a ground- breaking TEC partnership college, crematorium, employment and commercial land as well as significant green spaces and amenities for local people. Logistics specialist secures fourth warehouse on Magna Park Logistics specialist Rhenus has opened a fourth site on Magna Park in Lutterworth due to business growth. The brand-new warehouse will be used as a dedicated solution for a new business win, a client in the machinery manufacturing sector. Rhenus Warehousing Solutions Lutterworth, formerly CML, has been operating on Magna Park for 22 years and already occupies three warehouses on the park. This brand-new warehouse takes Rhenus to a total of just over 650,000 square feet (60,300 square metres) of warehouse space on Magna Park, with 70,000 pallet locations. The announcement of the new warehouse follows a period of sustained growth for Rhenus. As the business continues to grow, it is preparing for further expansion in 2022. Kerry Delaney, Managing Director at Rhenus Warehousing Solutions Lutterworth, said: “We are very proud to have secured a fourth warehouse on Magna Park. This new site will allow us to meet the demands of our growing business and new client, enabling us to continue to deliver our high-quality, personalised service. “We’re very excited about our business expansion and are looking forward to finding further success throughout 2021 and beyond.” www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 15 Clowes Developments agrees landmark deal with NFU Mutual L-R: Sue Bowser of Croftmarsh, Matt Warman MP, Cllr Tom Ashton and Neil Sanderson of Croftmarsh on the proposed Skegness Gateway site. 06-15.e$S_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:32 Page 1016 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk COMMERCIAL PROPERTY There’s no doubt that Nottingham comprises one of the critical nodes that make up the East Midlands. This issue, we home in on some of the most important developments taking place in and around the city. Nottingham can trace its roots back to at least 600 AD, but it’s hardly a city stuck in the past. While diving into its vibrant tech, digital and arts sectors would demonstrate this, ample evidence can also be found in the city’s latest developments. Recently, plans have been submitted to Nottingham City Council to redevelop a site at the junction of King Edward Street and Glasshouse Street with a major mixed use scheme. Fusion Students are behind the development, the proposals for which comprise a full planning application for 568 student bedrooms, with associated amenity/ancillary spaces and external landscaped terraces, and an outline application for 96 residential apartments with a mix of one, two and three bed units. The student accommodation would reach up to eight storeys, while the apartments would reach nine storeys. 4,555 sq ft of commercial office space and 1,184 sq ft of retail space would also be created. The development site is currently occupied by a cluster of offices and associated surface car parking. A design statement for the scheme says: “The proposed site offers a considerable opportunity to bring forward a high-quality mixed-use scheme that would reinforce and improve a key arterial route into the North-East of the city, whilst creating a benchmark for development in the surrounding areas.” Elsewhere, Elevate Property Group has secured an £18.6 million funding package from Paragon Development Finance to support the second phase of its Trent Bridge Quays waterside development in Nottingham. The second phase of construction has commenced and will result in a total of 95 townhouses and apartments on the banks of the River Trent when complete in Q4 2021. Phase I of the scheme is now Nottingham All about Nottingham 16-18.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:40 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 17 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY complete and residents have started to move into their new homes. Paragon says it is keen to support further phases of the Trent Bridge Quays development. Steve Dodd, Managing Director of Elevate Property Group, said: “The area will be transformed as a lifestyle destination in the coming years as the city have adopted a master plan to redevelop the entire riverbank from Trent Bridge all the way to the racecourse.” Toby Burgess, Paragon Bank Development Finance Relationship Director, added: “Our continued support of Elevate Property Group highlights Paragon’s ambition in supporting experienced, high quality developers. Trent Bridge Quays is a fantastic development which is regenerating the area, creating high-specification homes with spectacular views over the Trent and across the city.” Trent Bridge Quays 18 Á © Shutterstock /trabantos 16-18.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:40 Page 218 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Lastly this issue, a major step forward has been taken in the construction of a £30 million multi-purpose site in Nottingham. Property development company AC Lloyd Commercial and Nottingham-based Henry Davidson Developments (HDD) have already agreed deals with Storage Giant, Tool Station, Screwfix and Howdens to open new units at Teal Park off the Colwick Loop Road in Netherfield. Work on the 53,000 sq ft trade park and an industrial unit of 28,860 sq ft started in early January by Stainforth Construction. Construction work is well underway with the steel frames having been built and cladding work now underway. Sub-contractors have been appointed which includes groundworkers, steel fixers and cladding contractors with 2,530 people currently working on-site. As part of the phased construction at the 20-acre site, the national food store operator Aldi will anchor the Local Centre which will also include four more retail units, a children’s day nursery and a pub if planning permission is approved by Gedling Borough Council. A care home for people with residential and residential dementia care needs, which is being operated by LNT Care Developments, is already open as part of Phase One at Teal Park. Approximately 50 full-time jobs have been created at the care home, which includes a cinema, garden room, library, hairdressing salon, coffee shop and tea shop, and 66 en-suite bedrooms with wet rooms. Mark Edwards, Managing Director of AC Lloyd Commercial, said work is currently going to plan for this phase of Teal Park and is due to be completed this autumn. Despite all the uncertainly caused by COVID-19, our construction programme remains on track and we are adhering to all the Government guidelines,” he said. “The weather has generally been kind to us in the initial stages of getting the main frames of the trade park and industrial unit underway and it is fantastic to see it really taking shape. On the wider site, the LNT care home has now been completed and it is great to see that residents have already moved in and are starting to receive the high-level of care that they need.” Teal Park © Shutterstock /urbex.tr 16-18.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:40 Page 31 Years Subscription £33.60 2 Years Subscription £63.00 3 Years Subscription £81.90 E A S T M I D L A N D S L E E A D I N G B U S I N E S S M A G A A Z I N E APRIL 2021 £3. .50 COM MING OUT THE C E OTH ER SI IDE YY FACTOR OFFICE LOGIS STICS Engineering the fut TIOT AUTOMA Y AF WW ACTOR ning to Retur SOLUTIO OFFICE etur WW EASTMIDL ON The Gol LOGIS fice f o the of LANDSBUSINE ONS riangler lden T ESSLINK CO U STICS w UK www.blmgroup.co.uk & Call now to subscribe on 01472 310301 8 or order online www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk/subscribe ORDER FORM First name: Last Name: Address: Town: County: Post Code: Tel: Mobile: Email: Payment by DEBIT/CREDIT card Name as it appears on card: Type of card: Mastercard Visa Visa Debit Other Card Number: Card Verification number (3 digits on signature strip) : Expiry Date: Amount Authorised: Cheque enclosed YES / NO Please post this form back to: Subscriptions, East Midlands Business Link Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby. 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Lincolnshire DN31 2QE Make cheque payable to Business Link Magazine Group 1 Year: £33.60 2 Years £63.00 3 Years £81.90 or scan QR code Secu lifelinlif li FINANCE CO RPORATE uring a i e i a FINANCE CO RPORATE lifelin L ine L s Link t Midlands Busines Eas42 tmidlandsb eas.www tmidlandsbusineeas.ww w .ukoc slink.busines t Midlands Busines Eas .ukoc slink.es © Shutterstock /Ascannio 52 s Link S ECURITY C c Combati i crimc yber b ting imei S ECURITY e and servic security serio ork bec ith wW yc pandemic, runni have faced malic confidential mat e cyber sec ensur COVID-19 outbr work f data a oelectr s com A taff a s and its s e a busines es that ensur ecautio , implementing the right pr ,ously easingly digital, it is vital th oming incr c crimc yber . ely ating secur e operar oducts ons and using pr e cyber ses tak hat busines ime budgets and less security egular activities esume r es can r esponse plan in However with a r o likely to experience higher luctant to invest in cyber security e a victim of a security incident, e new customers. 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Wher us softwar e per cent of businesses have up- e facing - and f arf and attacks staf © Shutterstock /Thitichaya s Link t Midlands Busines Eas 44 costs and poten e, m and softwar paralyse a netwo with disruption, accounts and da tmidlandsbusine eas.www .ukoc slink. tmidlandsbusines eas.www d change passwor e wipe the data, r egulatory fines, as well as ntially r emedial e will be r meanwhile ther e dwar oy key files, har ork, destr as an attack on systems may ata. Businesses will have to deal .ukoc slink.es 46 ds and update/run anti-virus e this with the backups, estor t Midlands Busines Eas Á 54s Link 54 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk AUTOLINK East Midlands Business Link 55 AUTOLINK Kia K8 Kia have really stepped up of late with designs that make the brand stand out. The Kia K8 combines cutting-edge innovation, dynamic performance and contemporary design to establish new benchmarks for premium quality in the saloon class. The exterior runs with a bold new design that embodies the premium qualities of the K8 and according to precise specifications from the BMW Group and integrated into model-specific high-voltage batteries. This gives the xDrive40 a range stated at over 249 miles. The most exacting environmental compatibility requirements have been put in place throughout the value chain and for the full life cycle of the BMW iX. The car is currently in the final phase of its series development. Market launch will get underway at the end of 2021. Ford Mustang Mach 1 The Mustang Mach 1, the most track- capable member of the Mustang line-up to ever grace UK shores – and perhaps one of the most recognisable names in automotive history - arrives in early summer. Performance is boosted to a level worthy of the iconic Mach 1 moniker with enhanced aerodynamics, a specially-calibrated 5.0-litre V8 engine and uprated cooling for improved track capability. The Mach 1 is also the first production Mustang in Europe available with a high- performance TREMEC six-speed manual transmission, featuring rev-matching technology for seamless down-shifts and an upgraded oil-cooler system for high- demand performance driving. You won’t be rocking up to the office in this, but you may certainly enjoy blazing down country roads with it outside of work. Mercedes-Benz EQS The EQS is the first all-electric luxury 56 Á B MW iX xDrive40 Kia K8 Flash and new What’s the point of working hard if we can’t enjoy the fruits of our labours? Today, we look at new motors entering the market that any businessman or woman would be proud to own, both for business and for pleasure. takes inspiration from high-end luxury yachts. A progressive but graceful front-end featuring the frameless Tiger Nose Grille is complemented by a muscular ‘fastback’ rear with strong, dropping shoulders. The front-wheel-based AWD K8 will be available with the 3.5 GDI Smartstream powertrain that helps to deliver tailored power and performance driving characteristics while achieving improved fuel economy and reduced emission, perfect for those who want style and elegance but who are also conscious of the environment. BMW iX xDrive40 The BMW iX heralds a new age in mobility. It combines trailblazing design and modern luxury with the latest innovations in automated driving, operation, connectivity and digital services. In the BMW iX xDrive50, the drive system – which features one electric motor on the front axle and another at the rear axle – produces total output of over 370 kW/500 hp and enables acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 5.0 seconds. The battery cells are manufactured Recently, I was drawn towards a quotation by the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, which I would like to share with you: “If you don’t understand the details of your business, you are going to fail.” My initial response to reading this was something along the lines of: “Bit harsh there Jeff!” But coming from one of the most successful entrepreneurs out there, who is now allegedly the richest person in the WORLD, with an estimated net worth of 197 billion US dollars (as of April 2021), we can’t not listen to his advice when it comes to business. I particularly like this quotation of his because in my experience ‘detail’ is often so overlooked in business. I’ve lost count of the times over the years where the attention to detail has been completely disregarded, and detail in my opinion is the MOST important part of business. Our businesses are made up of a million and one different aspects - these are the details that when encompassed in your unique identity, form a unique brand and together are the difference between a successful business and an unsuccessful one. Whether you are aware of it or not, those looking from the outside into your business will certainly notice them (or lack of them), even if you don’t. Yes we should know our numbers. Yes we should know our audience. Yes we should know our core values. Yes we should know our products/services. Yes we should understand our operations. Yes we should have a marketing strategy. Yes we should know our ‘why’. ... and on it goes... By Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency 22 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusines slink.co.uk NETWORKING Taken one step further, do you know the bare bones - the ‘details’ of your business? It may seem daunting to embark on the process of analysing every little thing you do, identifying what works and what doesn’t, continually experimentin g with new ideas and highlighting aspects of your business you have never really paid attention to before, but looking at the bigger picture, if you see it as your contribution towards creating a more successful business for yourself and therefore life for yourself, it won’t seem like such a burden and you may even start to enjoy it and in turn make it a part of your day to day routine. Pay attention, monitor and highlight every aspect, however small WITHIN the above larger elements that make up your business and that is where the sweet spots are, that is where you will discover your golden USPs, that is where innovation derives from, that is where inspiration lives, waiting to be discovered. The detail is what sets your business apart from the rest - pay attention to it. …pay a ttention to it For help in identifying the details of your business further, contact me: fiona@rsvipnetwo rk.co.uk www.rsvipnetwor k.co.uk www.fionaduncan steer.com It’s all in the detail Delivered straight to your door It’s the best value around 19.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 15:42 Page 1Next >