EXPORT Expanding horizonsEAST MIDLANDSSUMMIT Region at a crossroadsTHE BRICKSAWARDSAll the winnerswww.blmgroup.co.ukWWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKJULY 2015EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS E-MAGJENNA FRUDDD:WE’RE BUILDING BRITAIN AGAINWWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKLinkingbusinesstogetherEast 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...EDITOR’S NOTESWe've had a busy month of events here at East Midlands Business Link, and I've alwayssaid that getting people together in a room is really the best way to get to the real story ofwhat's going on in the local economy.The year's East Midlands Regional Summit was an eye-opening affair. Whilst most in the80-strong audience were confident that the region's businesses would continue to grow,David Williams the well-respected chairman of law firm Geldards warned that the region "isat a crossroads".Williams could well be correct. There is a real danger that the East Midlands - and theMidlands as a whole could be squeezed by the so-called 'Northern Powerhouse' and theconstant full-throttle of London and the South-East. The Midlands needs to get its acttogether and has co-opted George Osborne's mantra that the region is the Engine Room ofthe UK economy. Slogans are all well and good if there is a joined-up strategy behind them, but are wereally moving forward, or blowing hot air into the wind? Can the East Midlands continue toexist in isolation, or should it be seen as an extension of the wider Birmingham region? Onething's for sure, we'd be strong together than we are apart; is it time for East to meet West?I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.We have coverage of all of the last month's events in this bumper online issue of EastMidlands Business Link. Many thanks to the sponsors for backing them, and everyone forcoming along - it's always a pleasure to meet you all. And if you'd like to host and sponsor asimilar event, please do get in touch.Sam MetcalfEditorAt a crossroads?ContentsJuly 2015Latest News 6The latest news from the regionFinance News8The latest news from the dealmakers around the regionProperty News10All the latest from the property sectorAppointments12Who’s moving where Interview... 14First into a recession and first out of it - that’s what theysay about housebuilders. But how did FC7 Constructionsurvive the downturn, and where is the money comingfrom to build the new houses the UK needs? Sam Metcalfspoke to director Jenna Frudd.Bricks Award 201516Development company Blueprint were double winners atEast Midlands Business Link's Bricks Awards andNetworking Evening, held at Smith Cooper's offices inDerby last month.Nottingham Property Summit31Nottingham should reignite its push for an elected mayorwho could "deliver a great city centre", according to onelocal commercial property professional.Residential Property 34To market or not to market, that is the question. Thepopular press and indeed many commentators from withinthe property field seem confident of a property stampedepost the recent general election. East Midlands Property Summit 35The chairman of one of the largest law firms in the EastMidlands, says the region is at crossroads, and businessesshould feel positive about the future.Export 38Have exports from the East Midlands moved beyond thetraditional manufacturing sector, and what impact with theCole Report have on companies looking to trade overseas?Our special report, sponsored by UKTI, finds out.Business Scene 43The search to find the Midlands best family businesses andtheir leaders has begun as nominations for the sixthMidlands Family Business Awards opened in style thismonth, at Baresca in Nottingham. Tax 44Free of the requirement to consider another partiesagenda or manifesto, as part of a coalition government,and with a mandate from the electorate, the Prime Minsteralong with the cabinet can now deliver their plans inaccordance with their manifesto, says James Pinchbeck,marketing partner, Streets Chartered Accountants.Coaching 46Stuart Ross of Global High Growth often comes acrossconfusion as to what a strategy is...AutoLink 48Estate cars are perfect for anyone in business looking for abit of additional room over a normal saloon or hatchback.Be it a luxurious executive model or an all round business-cum-family focused limo, these vehicles offer comfort, ahushed cabin, pleasing handling, a respectable range ofengines and, above all, stacks of space.Public Relations50Ryan Air is hitting the headlines for all the wrongreasons... again, says Greg Simpson of Press for AttentionPR.Finance 51You can’t blame your accounts software – it’s down to youBy Serena Humphrey, F Word TrainingRenewable Energy53Associate at Bruton Knowles Stuart Hastings discusses thebenefits and advantages of installing a small or a microrenewable energy unit for your business.1738EditorSam Metcalfs.metcalf@blmgroup.co.ukAdvertisingLisa Muckle l.muckle@blmgroup.co.ukAccounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, Dawn Cookaccounts@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark Casson,Rachel Greenstudio@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310304Fax: (01472) 310314E-Mail:eastmidlands@blmgroup.co.ukPublisherHaychart Ltd, t/a Business Link Magazine Group,Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE.All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied,recorded or otherwise without expresspermission of the copyright holder, for whichapplication should be addressed first to thepublisher. While every reasonable care is taken,neither the publisher nor its participating agentsaccept liability for loss or damage to prints,colour transparencies, negatives or othermaterial of whatever nature submitted to thispublication. The views expressed in thispublication are not necessarily the views of thoseheld by the publisher.@BLMEastMidlandsBLMEastMidlandsGENERAL NEWSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk6ALB reveals £4mIlkeston residential planThe former Co-op on South Street in Ilkeston is to beturned into 60 apartments and seven commercial units,after developer ALB Investments revealed a £4m plan.The Co-op department store closed in April 2013 alongwith two other sister stores in Nottinghamshire and afterincreasing concerns over local trade.Managing director at ALB Investments Arran Bailey, whorecently won the Young Professional of the Year trophy atEast Midlands Business Link's Bricks Awards evening, said:"South Street has clearly been neglected and I understandthat residents are worried about what is going to happen tothe building. I viewed the building and instantly saw a gapin the market for this sort of high quality investment.“I always look to undertake projects that will lead towider regeneration, and the renovation of the old Coop willbe a fantastic boost to the town’s shops, bars andrestaurants who will reap the benefits from the extrafootfall.”The Co-operative Society began trading in Bath Street in1837 before moving to South Street a year later. It built thenew site in the 1904 but closed in 2013 after the home andclothing store had been making substantial losses.Paul Giles, associate director at Savills Nottingham,added: “The acquisition of the former Co-op DepartmentStore by ALB Investments signals the beginning of a majorregeneration for Ilkeston. Forming an integral part of thetown centre, the property will undergo significantredevelopment to create both a residential and commercialhub.“Upon completion, the site will offer exciting new retailand leisure opportunities aimed at national operators andboost footfall to the adjoining Market Place.”Turtle Bay to create 60 jobs in Derby - turtle bay picTurtle Bay, the Caribbean restaurant opening in the Cathedral Quarter, is set to create up to 60 new jobs.Turtle Bay is hiring for roles including chefs, cocktail bartenders, restaurant hosts and waiting staff. The restaurant is searching forcandidates with the right mix of people skills, motivation and an upbeat and friendly attitude and is urging anyone who thinks they havewhat it takes to come forward.Ajith Jaya-Wickrema, founder of Turtle Bay, said: “The Caribbean ethos is founded upon the friendliness of its people which is why it’sso important we find staff who embody this and can make our customers feel comfortable and relaxed.“We take the stance that you can teach anyone to carry plates and clear tables, but you cannot teach someone how to make acustomer laugh - that comes with personality.“Our interview process has been geared to find those happy, friendly people who have a desire to learn new skills and want to bepart of the Turtle Bay team. In order to do this we needed to think outside the recruitment box so we have devised tasks that will allowindividual personality to really shine through. Yes, our interview process is unusual, but amazing fun and everyone walks away with asmile on their face.”Since 2010, Turtle Bay has opened restaurants in Nottingham, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Southampton, and Bristol.Aircraft company nosedives intoadministrationThe loss of amajor contract withGA Telesis has seena Leicestershire fallinto administration.Administratorsfrom businessadvisory firm PKFCooper Parry havebeen appointed byArrcam after thecompany’s affairsfell into difficulty.Arrcam had beentrading for aroundthree years from itsBruntingthorpe proving ground and its services included aircraft recovery, aircraftmaintenance, recycling and care.Most recently it had secured a contract to recycle a number of Boeing 747- 400’sfor a US-based customer, GA Telesis, which itself had secured a contract to breakupthese aircraft for one of the world’s major airlines.However, before the first of the aircraft was completed, a dispute broke out betweenArrcam and GA Telesis, causing the customer to terminate the contract, whichexacerbated the financial difficulties the business was facing.Tyrone Courtman, partner at PKF Cooper Parry, said “Our first priority was to securethe assets with a view to maximising their recovery and realisation for all of thecompany’s creditors.“It appears that Arrcam had in fact ceased trading some time before we wereappointed and that the around 30 sub-contractors who were engaged in assisting thecompany with its business, had already been made redundant.”“We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the termination of itsGA Telesis contract and are endeavouring to provide to customers the property thatsome desperately need, whilst at the same time seeking every opportunity tomaximise Arrcam’s leverage for all its creditors.“It is unlikely that we shall be able to effect a sale of the company’s business andassets as a going concern, but will be looking to effect a better realisation of thecompany’s assets than would have been the case had the company proceeded intoVoluntary Liquidation.”Parties who wish to express an interest in the company’s plant and equipment usedfor the breaking and handling of large commercial aircraft, should contact theappointed valuation agents, Lambert Smith Hampton.“At the present time, it is too early to say what the dividend prospects will be forArrcam’s unsecured creditors, although we are hopeful of being in a better position todo so within the next 6-7 weeks,” added Courtman.“I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who can shed any light on thecompany’s activities, its assets and its liabilities.”GENERAL NEWS7Knights toembark onDerbycrusade Law firm Knights is setto continue its expansionby opening a Derby officeon Pride Park in August.Knights made headlinesin 2012 when it becamethe UK’s first commerciallaw firm to attract privateequity investment.It plans to build a 30-strong professional team in Derby over the next 12 months.CEO David Beech said: “Derby fits well with our focus on communities where thebusinesses and individuals value local expertise and quality instead of having to turn to thelarger cities of Birmingham or London, for example.“We are looking forward to joining the thriving business community in Derby and offeringexciting career opportunities for the region’s talented lawyers and other professionals.”Knights’ Derby office will be located on Pride Park.www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link Freeths reveals£100m turnoverambitionNottingham-headquarted law firm Freeths hasannounced a record set of results with double-digitgrowth taking its turnover up 12 per cent to£55.8m for 2014-15.Strong growth has meant a recruitment drivewith the firm adding 50 new staff in the past year.Freeths workforce reached 679 across an 11-strongnational office network this year.The firm says it now looks to double its turnoverto £100m by 2020.Peter Smith, CEO, said: “It’s an excellent result,ahead of our target, and the fruit of a lot of hardwork to identify strategic opportunities, focus onbusiness efficiency and deliver great customerservice. Our office network around the countrymeans we know our local markets, while our sizeand the expertise of our teams in various sectorsmeans we can pull together big national deals.”Nottingham recruitmentfirm set to double Scottishoffice An expanding recruitment company which is headquarted inNottingham is looking to double its headcount in Glasgow.Linsco's head office might be in Nottingham, but it also operatesout of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Northampton, Sheffield,Bristol, Cambridge, Coventry, Glasgow and Warrington. Thecompany has ambitious plans to double the number of staff at itsGlasgow office.The news comes after Linsco was unveiled as the fastest growingrecruitment company in the East Midlands Top 200 compiled by theCBI and business advisors Grant Thornton. Overall, Linsco came in84th place - some distance ahead of its sector rivals.Matt McGregor, managing director at Linsco, said: "We are veryproud of how the company has expanded over the past few years, and we're determined that this trend will continue. This growth shows our businessplan is working, and we will continue to expand the brand not just across the Midlands, but nationwide."Our growth over the last two years has come on the back of recovering jobs market and a lot of hard work. I'd like to thank our trusted staff and loyalclients in helping us achieve this accolade and look forward to continued growth in the years to come."FINANCE NEWSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk8SHARC getsits teeth into£4m fundingSHARC Energy Systems, basedin Nottingham, has secured a£4m investment from Equitix andthe UK Green Investment Bank(GIB) to finance the installation ofthe SHARC sewage heat recoverysystem under heat purchase agreements.The Equitix managed fund Energy Saving Investments (ESI), in which GIB is acornerstone investor, is investing £2m in the programme and an additional £2m of privatesector capital has been mobilised from the Equitix Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF). This isnow being used to support the first project at Borders College and a pipeline of othersbeing developed across Scotland. The first scheme will see waste water from ScottishWater’s network used for the heat recovery system.Commenting on the deal, Russ Burton, CEO of SHARC Energy Systems, said: “We haveworked closely with Equitix and their technical legal advisers to get them comfortable withthe ability of the system to deliver the energy savings. The technical due diligencechallenged every aspect of the system’s credentials and, although it was a stringent processto go through, the outcomes have reaffirmed the efficiency and opportunity our equipmentpresents for saving energy."He continued: “The funding now enables SHARC to move ahead with the flagshipinstallation at Borders College which will involve a 20-year contract between the college andSHARC, making it the first organisation to adopt the world-leading technology in the UK. Italso represents a major step forward in its heat production and energy efficiency targets forthe entire campus.”Borders College, based in the south east of Scotland and with 5,500 students, hasentered into a Heat Purchase Agreement with SHARC Energy Systems, which means theCollege will purchase their heat from SHARC at a discount to gas prices that will besustained for an extended period. The system that has been designed for the College willdeliver 95 per cent of the College’s heat requirements.Shepherd Directlands £10m BGF dealA Nottingham property services firm headed upby the former chief executive of Egg and foundingdirector of First Direct, has received a £10minvestment from the Business Growth Fund (BGF).Shepherd Direct, headquartered in Nottingham,manages more than 150,000 property valuations ayear for major mortgage lenders including HSBC,First Direct, Lloyds and Santander, and providessurveying, lettings and estate agency servicesacross the UK.The £10m investment will be used to supportgrowth and to acquire a minority stake inStonebridge Mortgage Solutions, a network ofindependent mortgage brokers, to increase itsfootprint in the mortgage broking market.Paul Gratton, former chief executive at Egg plcand a founding director of First Direct, set-upShepherd Direct in the late 1980s as the UK’s firstprovider of property valuations to mortgage lendersvia independent firms of surveyors. Together withShepherd Direct’s now commercial director RobClifford, the pair also set-up, grew and successfullysold Mortgageforce. The management team issupported by non-executive chairman JonathanBloomer, the former chief executive at Prudential.Paul Gratton, group chief executive officer,Shepherd Direct said: “For more than 20 years wehave built a broad and diverse business serving theUK residential property market. Shepherd Directplays an important role in supporting a vibranthousing market, which is an essential component inincreasing the availability of homes across thecountry. The regulatory environment is changing theway that lenders do business and this is generatingnew opportunities that we want to pursue. Nowfeels like the right time to accelerate our growth bybringing on board a new equity partner.“We are looking to invest in entrepreneurialbusinesses to help them to grow and deliversynergies and stronger working relationships withlenders. We expect to continue in this vein withother strategic investments in the surveying andmortgage aggregation sectors.”FINANCE NEWSwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 9LEP agrees £6.5m grant for BioCityextension - use biocity picA £6.5m grant towards a new life sciences complex – set to create hundreds of Nottingham jobs– has been approved by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.Nottingham City Council plans to build the £31m building, on brownfield land next to the BioCityNottingham facility on Plough Lane, in the city centre.Building of the new facility is set to begin this summer with it to be completed in spring 2017. Itis anticipated it would safeguard and create around 250 jobs in the short term in the life sciencesindustries, and create a further 700 jobs over a 30 year period.The new facility will provide 51,000 sq ft of floor space, over five storeys, chiefly for new andrecent start-up companies, working in the life sciences and bio-sciences sector.David Ralph, chief executive for the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Life sciences hasproved a boom sector in Nottingham over the last ten years and it needs room to grow.“D2N2 is committed to aiding the growth of its key sectors, life sciences being one, and so wewere happy to make this major investment in the plans put forward by our local authority partner,Nottingham City Council.”Councillor Jon Collins, Nottingham City Council leader, added: “We are pleased that the LocalEnterprise Partnership has approved this grant. It will ensure that that we can expand the BioCitycomplex, which is one of the most successful in the country. It will help create jobs, regenerate theeast side of the city, and keep Nottingham at the forefront of life sciences’ research anddevelopment.”BioCity, which was opened 2002, has welcomed the news.Director, Toby Reid, said: “We are delighted that there is further investment in the sector here inthe city.“BioCity is committed to making Nottingham, and indeed all of our sites across the UK, powerfulclusters for the life sciences. That takes commitment from all of our stakeholders and partners. Thisnews demonstrates a huge commitment from the City Council and the LEP to this sector."Nottingham City Council started preparing the site this spring. The main contractor duringconstruction will be Willmott Dixon and the architects, CPMG of Nottingham.Foresight Fund on themove in NottinghamThe investment team managing the £40m ForesightNottingham Fund has relocated to larger offices within the LaceMarket area of Nottingham city centre.The Fund, which was created to support SMEs in Nottinghamand Nottinghamshire, has recently invested into Morgan Tucker.Senior investment manager Seb Saywood said: “The movefrom Lace Market House in High Pavement was necessary. TheOld School House at Heritage Mews – further down HighPavement near to Weekday Cross – has provided us withadditional office space and the flexibility to meet future needs aswe expand. It also means a better working environment andimproved facilities for visiting clients.“We have up to seven members of staff operating from thepremises and are currently recruiting for staff, which will providea small jobs boost to the Creative Quarter."Derbyshire day nursery securesfifth schoolA Derbyshire family-run nursery business has acquired a fifth nursery followingfunding from Barclays.Kingfisher Day Nursery, which is owned by Helen Allanson, has purchased thePlay Station near Belper which offers care for 70 children and is managed byEmma Harvey.Allanson set up her first nursery in 2004 in Spondon following a twelve yearcareer as a nursery nurse. She also worked for the Local Authority advising onchildcare provision and as an Ofsted inspector. Since the time, she hasestablished nurseries on Duffield Road, Derby, Swadlincote and Nottingham.Allanson said: “When I first started in 2004, it would have been hard to believethat we would have five nurseries by now. We set our standards high and I amdelighted that we have been able to secure the Play Station which has anexcellent reputation in the area.”Funding for the freehold was provided by Barclays. James Rutter, seniorbusiness manager at Barclays said: “Since 2004, Helen has steadily grown thebusiness and I am delighted that we have been able to support her with this latestpurchase. She prides herself on offering a high standard of care provision forchildren across the County and we look forward to seeing her continuedsuccess.”Next >