AUGUST 2025 EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www..co.uk WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK £3.50 Print and packaging adapts to a new rulebook Accountancy steps up in uncertain times Intelligent eventsEXHIBITOR APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN! WE D NES D A Y 15 TH OCTOBER Call 01522 522900 Visit lincolnshireshowground.co.uk Email events@lincolnshireshowground.co.uk REGISTER YOUR INTEREST www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/lincolnshire-showcaseWith the UK’s unemployment rate rising, the number of people on payroll dropping, stronger than expected inflation and flatlining economic growth, figures from the last month have not painted a particularly positive picture for the country’s businesses. Firms are facing increased jobs taxes and employer pension costs, expanding energy bills, new legislation, and a volatile global environment; the cost of doing business crisis is swelling. Companies are stuck trying to manage costs and streamline processes as we continue through the year, instead of focusing on growth and innovation. As we start to approach the Autumn Budget it is therefore vital that the Government works collaboratively with businesses to ease their burdens. With firms across the private sector expecting activity to fall in the next three months, extending a run of negative sentiment that began in late 2024, according to the CBI’s Growth Indicator, confidence must be restored. Steps in the new Small Business Plan are welcome — from tackling late payments and improving access to finance, to simplifying access to advice and support, and a commitment to reducing administrative burdens — but there is much still to be done, and the real-world results of these commitments to be seen. Good reading, as always. Tess Egginton Editor www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 3 EDITOR’S NOTES welcome…@BLMEastMidlands BLMEastMidlands Latest news 6 A round-up of the latest news from our region. Commercial property 16 From industrial premises to retail destinations and marinas, a diverse range of deals have recently been completed across the East Midlands. Environmental and waste management 20 As tighter regulations and rising costs reshape how companies handle materials, firms are turning waste into value through innovation, collaboration and long-term planning. Accountants review24 Firms are turning to accountants for more than compliance, with strategic advice, technology and scenario planning now central to financial stability and growth. Tax 28 Jennie Brown, tax partner at Streets, provides an update on the inheritance tax changes recently confirmed by HMRC. Print and packaging spotlight30 Brands and suppliers are rethinking materials, machinery and compliance as sustainability, speed and shelf impact become non-negotiable in modern production. Contents August 2025 16 30 40 Public relations 34 Greg Simpson, founder of Press For Attention PR, explains. Supply chain management 36 Logistics firms are using advanced tracking, automation and cleaner fleets to deliver goods with precision, speed and resilience in an increasingly demanding market. AutoLink 40 Mock the names all you like - they’re here, and they’re serious. Chinese manufacturers have gone from copycat curiosities to global players in record time. Here is your 2025 guide to who’s who, what they’re selling, and which ones are worth your time (and possibly your driveway). • We put the McLaren 750S Spider through its paces. Corporate hospitality 44 Technology is transforming events; enhancing decision making, attendee engagement and satisfaction. Events52 A timely look at forthcoming business events around the East Midlands. And finally...54 Here’s Frazer’s collection of the weird and wonderful ‘news’ that came his way over the last few weeks. 20 Group Editor Steve Fisher s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Editor Tess Egginton t.egginton@blmgroup.co.uk Sales Director Angela Cooper a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310310 Accounts & Subscriptions Angela Sharman accounts@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311 Design & Production Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson studio@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310304 E-Mail: eastmidlands@blmgroup.co.uk Publisher Haychart Ltd, t/a Business Link Magazine Group, Huntingdon House, 278-290 Huntingdon Street, Nottingham NG1 3LY Cover photographs courtesy: stock.adobe.com/Ian Law • Mercedes • SKW • Rama • AI Background All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher.Silverstone Composites teams up with TC Group to accelerate growth Silverstone Composites has partnered with TC Group to support its expansion and strengthen its financial position. As a leader in advanced materials, Silverstone has earned a strong reputation across motorsport, aerospace, and custom sectors. With this new alliance, TC Group will provide strategic guidance across multiple areas, including property, HR, tax, and R&D. One of the first outcomes of the partnership is the relocation of Silverstone Composites to Silverstone Park, a key area for high- tech innovation. The partnership has also unlocked valuable funding opportunities, enabling further reinvestment in cutting- edge projects and talent development. TC Group’s experts are also assisting with the company’s succession planning, ensuring sustainable growth in the future. This collaboration underscores TC Group’s approach to offering comprehensive advisory services, extending beyond the typical accountancy and compliance roles. The partnership brings together the expertise needed to drive Silverstone Composites into the next stage of its growth. 6 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk GENERAL NEWS Henton and Chattell acquires Newark site from Farmstar Henton and Chattell is taking over the Newark branch of Farmstar Ltd. The acquisition marks the next stage in Henton and Chattell’s growth strategy and strengthens its presence in the agricultural, groundcare, and garden machinery sectors across the East Midlands. All existing staff will be retained. Peter Chaloner, managing director of Henton and Chattell, said: “We are incredibly pleased to officially welcome the Newark team and customers into the Henton and Chattell family. “This is a significant milestone for our business, and the Newark site provides us with a strong platform to further expand our reach and deliver an even broader range of products and services in the region. “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Sam Davies, Managing Director of Farmstar Ltd, whose constructive and collaborative approach has helped ensure a smooth and positive transition for all parties involved.” East Midlands Airport fined for environmental breaches East Midlands Airport has been fined £892,500 after being found guilty of breaching environmental permits. The offences, which took place between 14 January and 4 February 2022, involved discharges of drainage water contaminated with de-icing fluid from aircraft and runways. The Environment Agency reported that the airport’s surface water drainage system failed to meet required quality standards, leading to potential long-term damage to watercourses and overall water quality. These discharges, which violated the conditions set out in the airport’s environmental permit, raised concerns over the risk of water pollution in the area. In response to the breaches, the airport has committed to significant improvements. Over £11 million has been invested in upgrading its drainage and water management systems. This includes the installation of advanced monitoring equipment, enhanced water treatment capabilities, and a new daily inspection and maintenance regime. The airport has also introduced measures such as using adapted sweepers to remove de-icing fluid before it enters the drainage system. These steps aim to ensure compliance with environmental standards and prevent future violations. Peter Chaloner and Sam Davies © stock.adobe.com/ ronstickwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 7 GENERAL NEWS • Commercial • Events • Headshots • Automotive • Fashion CALL OR EMAIL FOR A QUOTE 07506 998855 STEVE@STEVEEDWARDSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM STEVEEDWARDSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Creating eye-catching images to help businesses build their brands and engage with clients. Road improvements at M1’s J28 could boost surrounding economy New figures released by Midlands Connect and Natalie Fleet MP show that within three miles of Junction 28 of the M1, strategic companies collectively support over 43,000 jobs and generate more than £10.5 billion in annual turnover. Midlands Connect’s Roads Programme Lead, Swati Mittal, said investment in road upgrades could help ‘boost’ the area’s economic growth. Advanced Manufacturing and Retail are the dominant sectors, accounting for the largest shares of employment and economic output. The first sector alone contributes over £1.6 billion in turnover and employs more than 10,000 people, highlighting the area’s role as a hub for manufacturing and supply chain activity. Retail also plays a major role, contributing nearly £6.7 billion in turnover and supporting 16,900 jobs, showing how the corridor also serves regional consumer markets. The concentration of logistics and business services shows the importance of fast, reliable links to the wider motorway network. Data shows that by 2035, due to the economic success of the area, there could be 81,830 extra trips a week using Junction 28, even though the junction is at 107% capacity in the morning rush hour. Leicester City and King Power deepen ties with University of Leicester through new scholarships and initiatives Leicester City Football Club and King Power have reinforced their partnership with the University of Leicester through a fresh agreement to enhance collaborative efforts in Thailand. The expanded cooperation focuses on child health, education, and professional development, aiming to drive impactful change in both Leicester and Thailand. A major element of the partnership is the extension of the Leicester City Football Club Professorship in Child Health, which has been a key resource since its establishment in 2018. The role will now support projects related to gestational diabetes and environmental health in Thailand, alongside ongoing research into the health of pre-term babies. The agreement also includes the launch of two new scholarships: one for disadvantaged students in Leicester and another for Thai students to study at the University of Leicester. These scholarships will provide much-needed financial support to help young people overcome barriers to higher education. Additionally, the University will offer professional development programmes to King Power executives, strengthening the ties between the two organisations. © stock.adobe.com/ arenaphotouk © Image credit: Leicester City © stock.adobe.com/ arenaphotoukSladen Estates makes pair of senior appointments The developer behind schemes including Unity Square, Summit Park, and Bicester Arc has bolstered its project management and delivery teams with a pair of senior appointments. Sladen Estates has appointed Taf Chisambara as associate director project management, and Chris Beardsmore as project architect, both working out of the developer’s Derbyshire office. The duo will be working on key ongoing projects, including the retail and industrial scheme The Boulevard in Peterborough, which is due to start on site in August, and the company’s office, industrial, BTR and PBSA schemes in Reading, Nottingham and Bicester. Taf joins Sladen from Leeds-based property advisors Fox Lloyd Jones, building on more than a decade of project management across defence, office, higher education and PBSA, most recently working in the retail sector. Chris began his career in Brazil and has experience working in Italy, qualifying as an architect in 2018. He has previously worked for YMD Boon, Acres Architects and Hayward Architects among others, working in sectors as diverse as luxury residential and industrial and logistics. Nottingham Building Society appoints new chief technology officer Nottingham Building Society has appointed Russ Thornton as its new chief technology officer. Russ initially joined the 176-year-old mutual in March 2025 as a strategic advisor in an interim capacity from Shawbrook Bank, a specialist bank where he spearheaded a comprehensive multi-year digital transformation, from creating the strategy and its roadmap to delivering its execution. He replaces Paul Howley, who departs following three years at the organisation as its first ever chief technology and transformation officer in 2022. Russ brings 34 years of experience in leading digital transformations to drive business growth, having also held senior leadership positions at Cofunds, Legal & General, Aegon, and WorldRemit. He will now be responsible for the delivery of Nottingham Building Society’s core banking and mortgage transformation strategies. It has also been confirmed that Aaron Shinwell, formerly of Santander UK, where he was commercial director – homes, will be starting his new role as chief lending officer at Nottingham Building Society in August. Derby creative agency makes trio of appointments Full-service agency Fluid Ideas has boosted its team with the appointment of three new members of staff. Arthur Tyrer, Al Davies and Nikita Ghai have joined Fluid from other agencies in the Midlands. Arthur has moved to Fluid as an account director from Nottingham outfit m360. He has more than 10 years’ experience in a full-service creative agency environment. Al has joined as a senior creative in Fluid’s strategy and creative team. He brings almost 20 years’ experience in graphic design, brand and creative roles, and has previously worked at Nottingham- based agencies, including Adtrak and Hallam. Al is also a public speaker and a guest university lecturer on branding and creativity. Nikita has joined Fluid’s performance and innovation team as a paid media executive. She was previously at Dentsu, where she worked across all major social platforms, including Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Chris Beardsmore and Taf Chisambara Nikita Ghai, Arthur Tyrer and Al Davies Russ Thornton 8 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk APPOINTMENTSMarket Harborough Building Society appoints head of savings and branch operations Market Harborough Building Society (MHBS) has appointed John Vickers as its head of savings and branch operations – a newly created role. John joins MHBS with extensive experience in financial services, having led customer-facing teams and operational functions across the sector. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the Society’s community-based branches across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, its contact centre, and back- office operations. He’ll work closely with colleagues to enhance the Society’s savings proposition. He will also play a key role in growing the Society’s presence through local engagement and its Thrive! programme, which focuses on giving back through projects that support customers and strengthen communities. John said: “I’m delighted to be joining MHBS at such a pivotal time. The Society has a strong reputation for putting members at the heart of everything it does. I’m looking forward to building on that foundation, reinforcing our local presence, developing meaningful partnerships, and continuing to deliver a first-rate service.” Managing director promotion for East Midlands housebuilder Allison Homes has promoted Karl Edwards from operations director to managing director for its East Midlands region, as the business sets its sights on growth across Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Growing up in Nottingham, Karl combines extensive experience with deep local knowledge, which has been central to establishing the East Midlands region and building a robust land bank with a strong development pipeline. Since joining Allison Homes nearly three years ago, Karl has leveraged over 25 years of land and development expertise gained from senior roles at Gladman, Chase Homes, Rippon Homes and Bryant/Taylor Wimpey. Having started his career as a joiner and progressing to site manager at Barratt Homes East Midlands, Karl brings a deep-rooted knowledge of housebuilding. Karl has led the launch of the regional headquarters at Castle Donington and scaled the team from a single individual to 19 employees, with further recruitment in progress across planning, commercial, technical and sales functions. BDO welcomes new head of manufacturing in the Midlands Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has named partner Chris Cole as its new head of manufacturing in the Midlands. Having joined BDO in December 2023 as audit partner, Chris takes over the role from Jon Lanes, who was appointed as head of risk advisory services at BDO earlier this year. In his new position, Chris will be responsible for managing the Midlands manufacturing team. He will also continue in his role as audit partner in the region. Chris has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, with particular expertise in auditing US-listed businesses under the United States Public Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards, including auditing SOX controls – measures put in place by companies in order to identify and prevent errors or inaccuracies in financial reporting. Having worked in the US, UK and Australia throughout his career, Chris has built up significant international credentials, while bringing expertise across a wide range of sectors, such as automotive, international manufacturing and mining. At BDO, he is responsible for leading the region’s US reporting proposition, while working alongside the London Audit Group’s US team. Chris Cole John Vickers www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 9 APPOINTMENTS Karl EdwardsNext >