INSOLVENCYAmostpeculiarrecessionITTheITmanager’stoolkitTHEBIGQUESTIONWheredoesHS3leavetheEastMidlands?JULY2014EASTMIDLANDSLEADINGBUSINESSE-MAGwww.blmgroup.co.ukJULY2014WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKWhyistheEastMidlandsworking?WhyistheEastMidlandsworking?EMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:40Page1FORBUSINESSESTHATARESERIOUSABOUTREDUCINGTHEIRCARBONFOOTPRINTWWW.RENEWABLESANDENVIRONMENT.COMYoucanreadRenewables&Environmentonthego!Availableonsmartphonesandtablets.IdealforthosewhospendtimeawayfromtheirofficeEMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:42Page2EDITOR’SNOTESwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEastMidlandsBusinessLink3AttheendofJuly,EastMidlandsBusinessLinkishostingitsflagshipeventoftheyear-theEastMidlandsRegionalSummit.Whenwewereputtingthiseventtogether,onecentralthemestoodout:shouldthethreecitiesintheEastMidlandsworktogetherforthegreatergood.Thediscussionshouldbeilluminating.Ourpanel,whichincludesGaryChurchfromWillmottDixon,RichardFarnsworthfromPwCUK,AndrewSpringhallofBlusourceandDavidWilliamsfromGeldards,willdiscusswhetheraunifiedEastMidlandswouldbeabletocompeteforinwardinvestmentbetterifitcametogether?We'lllookatthebarrierstoachievingunity–ordoesitactuallyexistinallbutname?AndhowdoestherestoftheUK–andtheworld–seetheEastMidlands;asaplaceofopportunityforbusiness,oravagueregionsomewheretotheeastofBirmingham?Thispanelofregionalbusinessleaderswilldiscusswhetherdecades-oldparochialismshouldbesetasideforthegreatergoodoftheregion.Infrontofaliveaudiencemadeupthefastest-growingSMEsintheregion,we’lldiscusswhatmakestheEastMidlandssuchadrawforinternationalinvestors,andwhatwecoulddotobettermarketourselvesbothintheUK–andoverseas.TherearesignsthatthethreecitiesofDerby,LeicesterandNottinghamarebeginningtounderstandthattheEastMidlandscanpunchwellaboveitsweightifitcomestogethertotakeontheestablishedcentresofbusinesssuchasBirmingham,LeedsandManchester.We’lldiscoverwhetherthisisreallyhappening,how,andwhatitcouldmeanforthefuturesuccessoftheEastMidlands.Let'smakeitclear;whatwe'renottryingtodoismakeacallfortheEastMidlandsDevelopmentAgencytoberestored.AsmuchasweweresupportersofEmdawhenitwasaround,thereisnowayback-weunderstandthismuch.However,wealsounderstandthat,ifDerby,LeicesterandNottinghamhaveanyhopeofcompetingwiththelikesofBristol,Birmingham,ManchesterandLeeds,thenithastocometogetherasoneregion.That'sourcolourspostedtothemast-letusknowwhatyouthink.SamMetcalfEditorReachfortheSummit...EMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:42Page3ContentsJuly2014LatestNews6ThelatestnewsfromtheregionAdvice7HowtoapproachajournalistwithyourbusinessstoryCommercialPropertyNews8AllthelatestfromthepropertysectorManufacturingNews10NewsandviewsfromaroundtheEastMidlandsAppointments12Who’smovingwhereDeals14ThelatestnewsfromthedealmakersaroundtheregionTheBigQuestion16WhatcantheEastMidlandsgainfromHS3?WeaskedbusinessleadersfromaroundtheregionwhethertheregionwouldbenefitfromGeorgeOsborne'slatestannouncementonhigh-speedrail.EmploymentLaw19From6thMay2014,newruleswereintroducedwhichregulatethewaythatproceedingsshouldbeissuedinrespectofemploymentrightsatanemploymenttribunal.TheBigInterview20SamMetcalfspoketothenewmanagingdirectorofPall-Ex,CrisStephenson,abouthisplansforthefutureofthecompany,andwhytheEastMidlandsistheperfectlocationforHilaryDevey’sbusiness.Licensing22DavidLucas,headoflicensingatFraserBrown,assesseslicensingsectorintheEastMidlandsIT24NeilArmstrong,directorofbusinessservicesatNewark-basedTimicogivesanoverviewofeverythingthemodernITmanagerneedstoknowaboutITandcommunications.TheBigInterview26EightmonthsonfromsteppingintotheroleofofficemanagingpartneratBakerTillyinNottingham,RichardKingspoketoEastMidlandsBusinessLinkabouthowthefirmiscommittedtoNottingham,RoundTable27WiththeLondonresidentialmarketsohot,cansomeoftheheatbedrawnuptheM1totheEastMidlands?Ourlatestroundtable,sponsoredbynichepropertyfirmBradySolicitors,foundout.TheBigQuestion30FiguresfromtheOfficeforNationalStatisticsshowthattheEastMidlandsisenjoyingthebiggestfallinunemploymentintheUK.Butwhyisthis?Weaskedbusinessleadersfromacrosstheregiontorevealall.Queen’sSpeech32BusinessownersandleadersintheEastMidlandsbroadlywelcomedyesterday’sQueen’sSpeech,whichsetoutplansforthenextParliament.EastMidlandsBusinessLinkspoketojustafewofthem.RoundTable33Ourlatestroundtable,kindlysponsoredbyGateley,broughttogetherapanelofbusinessleadersfromacrossthespectrumtoaskwhethertheEastMidlandshadtheskillsitneedstobeatrulyglobalplayer-andwhetherDerby,NottinghamandLeicesterwouldbebettertoformaunitedfronttoattractinwardinvestment.Insolvency37Thishasbeenamostpeculiarrecession-strangerstillifyouhappentobeanInsolvencyPractitioner(IP),accordingtoJohnHarlow,managingdirector,HarlowInsolvencyAutoLink38Lastmonth,salesofnewcarsgrewattheirfastestlevelforovertwoyearsgivingmotordealersamuchneededboost.Herewerevealafewmoremodelsduetobeunveiledinourregion’sshowroomswhichshouldwhettheappetiteofreaderswhohaven’tyettakentheplunge…OutofOffice36AlltheleisuresectornewsfromthelastmonthServicedOffices43Istheservicedofficemarketstillfrownedupon,ordosmallbusinessesnowtrulyvaluetheflexibilityitcanbring?InafeaturekindlysponsoredbyRegus,SamMetcalffindsout.DressDownFriday41ThelightersideofEastMidlandsofficelife4EastMidlandsBusinessLinkwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:42Page421EditorSamMetcalfs.metcalf@blmgroup.co.ukAdvertisingLisaMucklel.muckle@blmgroup.co.ukAccounts&SubscriptionsAngelaSharman,DawnCookaccounts@blmgroup.co.ukTel:(01472)310301Fax:(01472)310311Design&ProductionGaryJorgensen,MarkCasson,RachelGreenstudio@blmgroup.co.ukTel:(01472)310304Fax:(01472)310314E-Mail:eastmidlands@blmgroup.co.ukPublisherHaychartLtd,t/aBusinessLinkMagazineGroup,ArmstrongHouse,ArmstrongStreet,Grimsby,N.E.Lincs.,DN312QE.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,transmitted,photocopied,recordedorotherwisewithoutexpresspermissionofthecopyrightholder,forwhichapplicationshouldbeaddressedfirsttothepublisher.Whileeveryreasonablecareistaken,neitherthepublishernoritsparticipatingagentsacceptliabilityforlossordamagetoprints,colourtransparencies,negativesorothermaterialofwhatevernaturesubmittedtothispublication.Theviewsexpressedinthispublicationarenotnecessarilytheviewsofthoseheldbythepublisher.@BLMEastMidlandsBLMEastMidlandswww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEastMidlandsBusinessLink5Coverphtocurtesyofwww.shutterstock.com/ThomasReichhartEMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:42Page5EastMidlandsBusinessLinkwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk6NEWSLazyLawnpredicts25%salesgrowthLazyLawn,basedinRutland,ispredictinga25percentleapinsalesoverthenext12months,andsaysturnoverwillreach£6.5m.JimFootitt,managingdirectoroftheartificiallawninstaller,said:“Wehadabumperyearin2013witha£5mturnoveranda25percentgrowthinsales.“Duetothehighnumberofbookingswehavereceivedalreadythisyear,weareexpectingthegrowthtocontinuein2014asmorepeoplejointheLazyLawnrevolution.“WearealsonowlookingfornewLazyLawnlicenseesaroundthecountrytoinstallourproductsinordertohelpusmeetthisgrowingdemand.“InrecentyearswehavealsoseenasignificantincreaseinthenumberofschoolsandnurserieschoosingtoinstallLazyLawn,asitoffersahardwearingplaygroundthatisfastdrainingandmud-free.“Businessesarealsochoosingartificialturfbecauserequireslittlemaintenanceandwe’vealreadyworkedwithanumberofhighprofilenames,creatingbeergardensforJDWetherspoonandadventuregolfcoursesforCentreParcs."Thefirmsaysitisexpectingtoinstall250artificiallawnseverymonthin2014.SPSrunsintoproblemsas38jobsaxedHucknall-basedtrainingproviderSafetyProblemSolutionshasenteredadministration,withthelossof38jobs.PKFCooperParryhavebeenappointedadministrators.SPSprovidesmorethan400drivingandsafetyrelatedcourses–manyofwhichweregovernmentfunded.NickEdwards,jointadministratoratPKFCooperParry,said:“Duetodifficulttradingconditionsandaseriesofissueswiththewaythecourseswerefunded,SPShasgoneintoadministration.“Whilstwealwaystry,wherepossible,toprotectthebusinessandthejobsofthestaff,inthiscasetradingonwasnotpractical.Wehavestartedawinddownofthebusinessinsuchawayastominimisedisruptiontothelearners,whilstprotectingasfaraspossiblethepositionofthecompany’screditors.”SPShasmorethan850learnersonitsbookscarryingoutworkplacetrainingandapprenticeshipsacrossarangeofbusinesssectors.NottinghamcigarettefactoryclosureredundancypackageagreedThe540-strongworkforceatImperialTobacco’splantinNottinghamhasvotedoverwhelminglytoaccepta‘substantial’redundancypackage,accordingtounionUnite.ImperialTobaccoisduetocloseitsfactoryinNottinghaminMay2016,endingalinkwithcigarettemakingintheEastMidlandscitythatstretchesbacktothe1830s.UniteregionalofficerLukePrimarolosaid:“TheclosureoftheImperialTobaccofactoryisabitterblowfortheworkforceandveryseriousforthelocalNottinghamshireeconomy.Itendsalinkwiththecitythatgoesbacktothefirsthalfofthe19thcentury.“UniteandtheGMBunionhavenegotiatedwhatwefeelisasubstantialredundancypackageforourmembers,butthisshouldnotdistractfromthefactthestaffwillhavetofindnewjobs.“Thefirstredundancieswillnotoccuruntil1DecemberthisyearandthefactoryisduetocloseinMay2016.“Unitewon’tbedisclosingthedetailsoftheredundancytermsasitisapersonalfinancialmatterforindividualmembers.”InApril,ImperialTobaccoannouncedthewholesaleclosureoftheNottinghamsiteandanendtoImperialTobaccomanufacturingcigarettesintheUKandthemovingofproductiontoeasternEurope.ImperialTobaccoattheNottinghamsitecurrentlyproducesLambertandButler,Richmond,EmbassyNo1,Regal,JPS,SuperkingsandGoldenVirginia.HS3:Don'toverlooktheEastMidlands,saysCowcherThechiefexecutiveoftheChamberofCommerceforDerbyshire,NottinghamshireandLeicestershirehaswarnedGeorgeOsbornenottoforgetabouttheEastMidlandswhenitcomestoplanninghigh-speedrailinfrastructure.ChancellorGeorgeOsbornehasunveiledplansforathirdHighSpeedRailphasetoconnecttheproposedHS2linesacrossthenorthofEngland.TheHS3projectwouldbebasedontheexistingManchester-to-Leedsraillinebutjourneytimeswouldbereducedbybuildingnewtunnelsandinfrastructure,inabidtolinkallmajornortherncitiestotheHighSpeedRailnetwork.GeorgeCowcher,ChiefExecutiveoftheChamberofCommerceforDerbyshire,NottinghamshireandLeicestershire,said:“WhiletheChancellorisrighttolookatwaysofrebalancingtheeconomyawayfromLondonandunlockingtheeconomicpotentialofthenorth,heneedstoensurehedoesn’toverlooktheimportanceoftheEastMidlands,whichistheUK'smanufacturingheartland.“Havinganeweconomicpowerhouseinthenorthandanalreadywell-establishedoneinthesouthwouldplacefurtheremphasisonensuringnorthtosouthconnectivityforthisregion.“It’salsoimportanttostressthatinvestmentinbothHS2andHS3shouldn’tcomeattheexpenseofinvestmentinrailinfrastructureingeneral,toensuretheEastMidlandshasatransportnetworkwhichbefitsitsreputationasasignificantdriveroftheUK'seconomicgrowth.”EMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:42Page6www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEastMidlandsBusinessLink7EEtocreate300newjobsinDerbyEE,thedigitalcommunicationscompany,hasannouncedthecreationof300newjobsinDerby.EEispartneringwithWebhelpUKtocreatetherolesandsaysithasalreadykickstartedrecruitment.EarlierthisyearEEcommittedtodriveupcustomerservicelevelswiththereturnofover1,000servicerolestotheUKfromoverseascallcentres.ThecreationofthenewrolesinDerbymarksthesecondstageofthisplan,andfollowstheopeningofanewcustomercentreinDerry/LondonderryinMay.OlafSwantee,EECEO,said:“TheopeningofournewcallcentreinDerbyisthesecondUKcontactcentrewehaveopenedinjustafewweeks.ItunderlinesourinvestmentintheUKaswellasourdeterminationtomakeEEnumberoneforserviceintheUKtelecomssector.“ThebenefitsforourcustomersareclearastheperformanceofUKcallcentresareshowntoexceedthatofthoseoverseas.But,justasimportantly,today’sannouncementshowsoursignificantinvestmentintheUKisnotrestrictedtoournetworkanddemonstratesacontinuedcommitmenttojobcreationforcommunitiesacrossthecountry.”The300newrolesdeliverawelcomeboosttoemploymentlevelsintheEastMidlandsregion.ThelatestOfficeforNationalStatisticsLabourMarketstatisticsrevealedthatDerbyhasayouthunemploymentrateof21percentandtoday’sannouncementwillhelpcontinuetoaddressthisongoingissue.TheJune2014figureswillbeannouncedlatertoday.ADVICEHowtoapproachajournalistwithyourbusinessstoryByGregSimpson,director,PressforAttentionPRDoyourhomeworkMyfirstpieceofadviceistoaskyourself,canthejournalistyou’reapproachingreallyhelpyou?Believeitornot,notallbusinesseswillbenefitfromadouble-pagespreadinTheTimes.Couldyouhonestlyhandlethatkindofcoverageandthenumberofordersthatwouldcomefloodingin?Sure,it'sa"good"problemtohave,but–inthelongterm–itcoulddamageyourbusiness,ifpotentialcustomersareturnedawayorunhappywiththelevelofserviceyoucanrealisticallyprovide.What’syourhook?Asyoucanimagine,it’snoteasygettingintonationalpress,asyou’recompetingwiththousandsofotherstories.Askyourself,isyourstoryofgenuinenationalinterest?Let’ssayyou’vedevelopedsomesuper-efficientfishbaitinthedarksmithiesofyourgardenshedlaboratory.Wouldn’tyoubebetteroffapproachingtheanglingpress?Evenifyou’veidentifiedthe10bestjournalistsinyourchosenfield,whichisthebesttocoveryourstory?Onemayonlycoveranglingcompetitions;another,fishingskillsandtechniques.GettingintouchSo,you’vefoundthebestjournalisttocoveryourstory.Let’scallhimFinDiesel.YounoticehehasaTwitteraccount,andscrollthroughhistimelinetoseeifhe’sever‘carped’aboutpoorPRapproachesorgoodones.Fin’sTwitterbio,actually,saysheprefersemailed‘pitches’fromPRs.Bingo!NotalljournalistsstatetheirpreferencesasclearlyasFin.Butlet’ssayyoufindhisemailaddress,sendFinasimpleemailwithabriefintroduction(oneline)andperhaps3bulletpointssummarisingthestory,thenthefullstory,below.Makesureyoursubjectlineisclear.Fingetshundredsofemaileveryday,andjustscanshisinbox.Shouldyoucallhim?Ifyou’veneverspokentohimbefore,andcan’tfindhisemailaddress,calltheswitchboardandaskforhisemailaddress.Ifheanswers,justexplainthatyouwantedtosendoverastoryaboutyourfishbait(inonesentence–don’twaffle),andyoucouldn’tfindhisemailaddress.Fin’sintrigued!Great.Politelythankhim,thensendhimyourstoryimmediately.He’llbeexpectingit,whichisabonus.Youcanalsoasktargettitlesfortheireditorialschedule.They’remoreprevalentinthetradepress,buttheycanreallyhelpwithyourplanning.Ifyou’vedoneyourhomework,andyou’resendingtimelyandusefulcontent,it’llbeawin/winforyouandyournewjournalistfriend!EMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:42Page7StepnellexpandswithnewEastMidlandsofficeConstructionfirmStepnellhasopenedanofficeinNottinghamfollowinganupsurgeinitsbusinessacrosstheEastMidlandsthatcouldbringnewsjobs.TheofficeisattheEldonBusinessPark,Chilwell.TheEastMidlandsbusinessspecialisesinprojectsfortheeducation,commercial,residential,studentaccommodation,retailandleisuresectors.Currentschemesincludea£1mrefurbishmentprogrammefortheStGeorge’sHouseofficeblockinLeicestercitycentrewhichbeganattheendof2013anda£1.5mnew-buildhousingdevelopmentatScraptoft,Leicester.StepnelloperationsandcommercialmanagerThomasSewell,whoheadsthenewoffice,said:“We’redelightedtohaveopenedthisnewofficeinNottinghamwhichwillsupportourexpandingconstructionoperationsintheregionandenhancethelocaldeliveryofprojects.”Thenewofficeisexpectedtocreateanumberofnewjobandtrainingopportunitiesintheregionoverthenext18months,includingtraineepositionsandconstructionapprenticeships.Stepnellisa£66mturnoverbuildingandcivilengineeringbusinessheadquarteredinRugby.Nottinghamofficemarketishotproperty,saysDTZDTZ’slatestforward-lookingFairValueIndexreport,whichlooksattheattractivenessofcommercialpropertyinvestments,ratesNottinghamofficesas“HOT”andNottingham’sretailandindustrialsectorsas“WARM”.“HOT”indicatesthataninvestorpurchasinganinvestmentnowcanexpecttoachievehigherthananticipatedreturnsand“WARM”indicatesthattheyshouldachievereturnsinlinewithwhatarerequired.DTZsaysthatbehindthe“HOT”rating,theofficesectorisassessedtobeunder-pricedcurrentlyandisexpectedtoseegoodcapitalandrentalgrowthoverthenextfiveyears.Incomparison,theretailandindustrialsectorsareassessedtobefairlypricedinthemain,althoughretailmayexperiencesomecapitaldepreciation.PhilipGlenn,valuationadvisorydirectoratDTZinNottinghamsaysthatwithmoretransactionalactivityinthemarketthereareinevitablygoingtobemoreopportunitiesforlendersinthesphereofnewlendingorloanreview.“Weareseeinganincreaseindemandforbetterqualityinvestmentpropertiesparticularlyintheindustrialandlogisticssectorwherethereisaweightofmoneychasingalimitedsupplyofopportunities.InvestorsareincreasinglylookingoutsidetheSouthEastandthereisanincreasedwillingnesstomoveuptheriskcurveandconsidershortertermincome."Lackofsupplyinthesectorparticularlyfornewbuildswillalsoencouragedevelopmentalthoughspeculativedevelopmentisnotyetafeatureintheregionalmarket.Yieldsarebeingdrivendownbythesefactorswhichwillinevitablyimpactoninvestorreturns.Therearealsosignsofincreasedinterestinprimeretailalthoughlackofstockisalsoafeatureinthissector.Headded:"Therearesomeconcernsoveroccupationalmarketswhicharenotrecoveringorgrowingasfastastheinvestmentmarketparticularlyforsecondaryproperty.”COMMERCIALPROPERTYEastMidlandsBusinessLinkwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk8Mabecsubmitsplansfor374citycentreapartmentsNottingham'sapartmentboomshowsnosignofabating,withtwoplanningapplicationsinthelastweekhopingtobringnearly374unitstothecitycentre.MabecProperties,basedinNottingham,hassubmittedapplicationsfor240unitsatNewlandHouseonMountStreet,andafurther134atNewtownHouseonMaidMarianWay.NewtownandNewlandHouseformpartoftwomixed-usedevelopmentsconstructedinthelate1960s.NewlandHousewasaformerEONcallcentrebeforetheenergygiantmovedintoitspurpose-builtofficesatTrinityHousein2012.Together,thebuildingscompriseofsome103,492sqft.ThebuildingswerebeingmarketedforofficeusebyDTZ,withanaskingpriceof£3.5m.ArchitectsFranklinEllisisactingasagentforMalbeconbothplanningapplications.EMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:43Page8GymnasticClubcomesonleapsandboundswithhelpfromNGNGCharteredSurveyorsiscallingonCharnwoodBoroughCounciltosupportthedevelopmentofthesportingstarsofthefutureafterhelpingagrowingLoughboroughgymnasticclubtakeonnewpremises.RichardSutton,directoratNGhasbrokeredadealthatwillseeLoughboroughAcrobaticsGymnasticClub(whichwasCharnwoodcluboftheyear2009&2012)moveintoasingle,dedicatedbaseatUnit8,WeldonRoadIndustrialEstate.TheClubwaspreviouslyoperatingfromthreedifferentvenues,whichwasprovingproblematic.TheWeldonRoadpremiseswasboughtbyDeanPropertyfromF&CReitinMarch2013,withNGbeingretainedassoleagents.Suttonsaid:“Thisisperfectcasestudyofalandlordreapingthebenefitsofbeingflexible.Unit8willchangeuse,butDeanPropertyweremorethanhappytoaccommodatetheClubtosealthedeal.KathrynLacey,headcoachatLoughboroughAcrobaticsGymnasticClub,said:“LoughboroughAcrobaticsGymnasticClubisdelightedtofindanewgymnasium,andishopingtogainCharnwoodBoroughCouncilsupportbygrantingitchangeofuse.TheclubfeelspositivethattheCouncilwillseethewidercommunitybenefitsforopeningadedicatedgymnasticscentre,andinayearwhentheCommonwealthGamescomestotheUK,we’dliketothinkwecancapturesomeofitslegacylocallyandnurturethegymnasticstarsofthefuture.”Suttonadded:“WedesperatelywanttheClubtobeabletomakethemostoftheirnewpremises,andwecallonCharnwoodBoroughCounciltograntthempermissiontodoso.Whatbettertimetodothisandkick-startthenextgenerationofOlympichopefulsthaninaCommonwealthGamesyear?”IanTorrofCleggsSolicitorsadvisedLoughboroughAcrobaticsGymnasticClubonthedeal.DerbyplansresirevolutionatPropertySummitDerbyneedsmoreresidentialdevelopmenttogrow,keepexistingemployersandattractnewones-thatwasthemessagefromtheMarketingDerbyPropertySummitheldinthecity.ChairedbyBBCpresenterDeclanCurry,theSummitheardaboutnewplansfortheredevelopmentofthecity.AndrewCarter,thedirectorofpolicyresearchatCentreforCities,praisedDerby,saying:"Mostcitiesclaimtobeworldclassinadvancedmanufacturing-Derbyactuallyis.However,institutionalinvestorsknowlittleaboutcitiesoutsidetheUKtop5.Derby,though,isthecapitalforinnovation.Thereisarenaissanceintheregions;Londonandthesouth-eastisoverheated,buthowdoesinvestmentreachbeyondtheM25?It'sattractedtogrowthsectors,andDerbyhasone,alongwithaplanforGradeAofficesandcityliving."AndrewWilkinson,chiefexecutiveofDerbyCityCouncil,saidthereexisteda'builditandtheywillcome'ethosinthecity.Heoutlinedfuturedevelopments,includinganOlympic-sizedswimmingpool,GradeAofficesatNumberOneCathedralGreen,Bolsterstone's£12.4mofficedevelopmentatCentralSquareandCedarHouseInvestment'smixed-useCityGateHouse.HealsosaidtheCouncilwaslookingforpartnerstoredevelopRomanHouseandforresidentialdevelopmentinthecitycentre.ThePropertySummitwasattendedbyaround300businessleadersfromacrossthecityandbeyond.InnesEnglandfashionsCastleCourtdealFashionaccessoriesbrand,totesISOTONERhasrelocateditsNottinghamofficefollowingadealcompletedbypropertyconsultantInnesEngland.totesISOTONERistheUKsubsidiaryoftotes»ISOTONER®Corporation,oneofthelargestfashionaccessorycompaniesintheUS,withoperationsinNorthAmerica,theUK,ScandinaviaandthroughoutEurope.Thefirmhasrecentlytakenupa1,019sqftunitatCastleCourt,abuildingwhichwasdesignedbyNottinghamarchitectWatsonFothergill–thelargestindustrialbuildingthathedesigned–in1894forpapermerchantsSimonsandPickard.GilesDavis,surveyoratInnesEnglandinNottingham,handledthedealonbehalfofthelandlord,family-ownedpropertycompanyRushcliffeEstates.Hesaid:“totes’Nottingham-baseddesignanddevelopmentteamisacreativeoneand,assuch,theywerelookingforaninterestingpropertywithinthecityfollowingthedecisiontorelocatetheiroffice.“CastleCourthasarichhistoryandoffersthatsomethingdifferentwhichtotesISOTONERwaslookingforinitssearch.Ofcourse,thearchitecturalaestheticsofthebuildingweresomethingthatattractedthefirmtotheofficesthere,butthedesignandlayoutinternallyalsoprovidedtherightfit.”Thefive-strongtotesISOTONERteammadethemovetoCastleCourtinAprilfollowingthedecisiontoleavetheirpremisesintheLaceMarket.COMMERCIALPROPERTYwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEastMidlandsBusinessLink9EMBLJULY:Layout126/6/1409:43Page9Next 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