< Previous£5.8m engineering centre willplug skills gaps, say collegechiefsA training centre that is preparing young people and adults forcareers in engineering has opened its doors in Sutton-in-Ashfield.West Nottinghamshire College has invested £5.8m in creating aflagship engineering and automotive hub that provides students withsome of the best vocational training facilities in the East Midlands.College chiefs say the Engineering Innovation Centre will producehighly-trained technicians in specialist fields while helping plug skillsgaps across a range of sectors including manufacturing, vehiclemaintenance and advanced automation.The building boasts dedicated workshops for electrical, electronicand mechanical engineering, fabrication and welding, and motor-vehicle maintenance. In addition to being trained in carbon and hybridtechnologies, students have access to advanced design andmanufacture machinery, along with high-spec motor vehicle diagnosticfacilities.It also features classrooms, IT suites, a library and learning resourcearea housed on a giant mezzanine overlooking the main vocationalareas.Supported by local employers, the centre accommodates morethan 600 students per week including full-time learners, apprenticesand those studying higher education programmes.Previously, the college’s engineering courses were run out of twoseparate, smaller sites in Mansfield, which gave limited scope toexpanding its provision. Running them under one roof means it is nowdelivering a multi-skilled curriculum that boosts students’ employmentprospects by exposing them to a greater number of disciplines.Head of engineering, Brian Malyan, said: “The EngineeringInnovation Centre is purposely-designed to equip students with boththe technical skills and the ability to adapt to technologicaladvancements by moving between engineering disciplines.Increasingly, employers are demanding their workforce is both highly-trained and flexible, so these are key parts of preparing students forthe jobs market.“The centre also comprises areas dedicated to the core skills ofEnglish and maths, and the development of personal qualities such asindependent-thinking, problem-solving, team-working, communicationand leadership. This is done through technical projects and briefssupplied by employers to give students experience of typicalworkplace situations.“These are important aspects of the curriculum and the aim is toinstil in young people the confidence to follow aspirational careerpaths.”The college has pumped £3.9 million into the centre, with theremaining £1.9 million coming from a Skills Funding Agency grant. Itforms the latest phase of a £40 million redevelopment of the college’sestate across Mansfield and Ashfield, to equip students with some ofthe best facilities and learning opportunities in the region.Principal and chief executive, Dame Asha Khemka, said: “In creatingthis flagship centre, the college is responding to the region’s existingand emerging skills needs by ensuring we produce the highly-trainedengineers required by employers. Higher-level skills are whatemployers frequently say they are missing and, with many engineersapproaching retirement age, it’s vital we help plug the skills gap.“The engineering sector’s significance to the economy and to localjobs growth cannot be underestimated, given that it runs through somany key industries such as transport, manufacturing and low-carbon.“And with the East Midlands being home to major employers in theaerospace, automotive and rail sectors, along with SMEs in the localsupply chain, there is a vast range of employment opportunities forthose with the right qualifications. That’s why high-quality, job-relevanttraining has never been more important.”Architects for the scheme were ibi Taylor Young while the buildingcontractors were Wildgoose Construction.Rail engineering company pullsinto DerbyAspin®, an infrastructure engineering company with a sizeable raildivision, has opened an office in Derby, creating 17 jobs.The new office Royal Scot Way, Pride Park, is the company’s sixth office.Managing director Andy Hoffman said: “Aspin® are industry leaders andinnovators in their fields of expertise and the opening of the sixth officelocated in Derby will allow Aspin® to better serve existing and futurepartners in the local area.“This is therefore an important move for Aspin® to ensure that wecontinue to provide a local presence and focussed support to ourcustomers. Aspin® is committed to providing all of its customers with themost innovative and effective solutions.“Aspin®’s primary rationale to locate in Derby has been to be close tothe rail infrastructure in the region to capitalise not least on theelectrification of the Midlands Mainline. We were also keen to be co-located next to our existing client base to ensure collaborative working isat its strongest.“Our growth ambition is to bring new positions to the area andadditional revenue with potential for further growth in support ofinfrastructure opportunities within the UK.“The plan is to utilise local technical capability and form relationships tosupport the Rail sector initially and furthermore into transportinfrastructure, water, energy and retail.The company’s growth has been supported by the city’s inwardinvestment company Marketing Derby and a grant from Derby City Councilthrough the Derby Enterprise Growth Fund.Derby City Council deputy leader and cabinet member for Planning,Environment and Regeneration councillor Martin Rawson chairs the DEGFpanel of industrial and financial experts who consider businessapplications.He said: “The decision by Aspin® to choose Derby for this keyexpansion is fantastic news – particularly in the year that we arecelebrating the 175th anniversary of rail manufacturing in the city.“It reaffirms our reputation internationally as the UK’s number one cityfor hi-tech industries and innovation.“The proactive work by Marketing Derby and the DEGF team at DerbyCity Council has shown Aspin Consulting and others that this city meansbusiness and that we are prepared to go the extra mile to secure inwardinvestment.MANUFACTURING NEWSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk10Exports stall manufacturing growth,says CBThe recovery inBritish manufacturingcontinued in the threemonths to October, butthe pace of growthslowed as new exportorders declined,according to the latestCBI Quarterly IndustrialTrends Survey.The survey of 448firms reportedsustained aboveaverage growth in orders and output volumes. Yet the pace of growth for both in thelast three months was the slowest for a year. The rate of expansion in domestic neworders eased a little, and export orders experienced their first decline in a year and ahalf.Despite this, numbers employed in the manufacturing sector continued to grow ata strong pace.Firms anticipate continued growth for the next three months, but there arereduced expectations for total new orders and exports growth.Looking to the year ahead, manufacturers’ plans for investment in buildingsslipped to their weakest in a year, but in plant and machinery, and product andprocess innovation, they stayed well above average.The proportion of firms concerned that political and economic conditions abroadmay limit export orders remained above its long-run average for the secondsuccessive quarterly survey.Rain Newton-Smith, CBI director of economics, said: “It’s disappointing that asluggish exports market has taken some of the steam out of manufacturing growth,which was going from strength to strength throughout most of this year.“However, growth in orders and output is expected to continue ahead, albeit withexpectations moderating, and domestic orders have continued to rise at a healthypace. And it is encouraging that job numbers are growing.“Nevertheless, the manufacturing sector is clearly facing headwinds. Globalpolitical instability, mounting concerns about weakness in the Eurozone and recentrises in Sterling are all weighing on export demand.”Hillarys eyes recordturnoverThe chief executive of Nottingham-based HillarysBlinds has said the steps the company put into placeduring the recession has seen it within sight of a£150m turnover figure for the first time.John Risman, who led a £225m buyout of Hillarysbacked by European Capital in 2007, told EastMidlands Business Link that even though tradedropped by 7-8 per cent during the recession, thedecision to expand the company's product range toinclude carpets, curtains and shutters has seen Hillarysapproach the £150m turnover mark."The business has traditionally focused on blinds,but we now sell curtains, shutters and awnings," hesaid. "They're different markets supplying to differentcustomers, and that's been the story of Hillarys for thelast five or six years. We've expanded our productrange, and that has led to turnover rising."Risman said that Hillary's, which doesn't a HighStreet presence and sells its products through around950 self-employed sales advisers, had also taken asmall number of concessions in shopping centresacross the UK."The company was sold right at the peak of themarket in 2007," said Risman, "and we realised eventhen that the big-box retailers were in trouble whatwith the rise of Amazon and online retailing."However, we have taken around a dozenconcessions in shopping centres. We think this is acost-effective route to market, as we have been able tonegotiate good deals with the shopping centreoperators.Hillarys was founded from a garage in Nottinghamby Tony Hillary in 1971, has recently received a further£5.5m equity investment from European Capital aspart of a £113.5m refinancing.MANUFACTURING NEWS11www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link Rolls-Royce signs Spanish JVRolls-Royce and Hispano-Suiza have signed a final agreement to create a jointly-owned company that will design, develop, produce and support accessory drive traintransmissions (ADT) for all of Rolls-Royce's future civil aircraft engines.Based on an initial 25-year contract, the joint company will cover the entire rangeof civil aircraft, from business jets to widebody commercial jets. In particular, it willcontribute to the Airbus A330neo, a new aircraft for which Rolls-Royce won theengine contract in July 2014 with its Trent 7000.The new joint venture company will be headquartered at Hispano-Suiza's site inColombes, in the greater Paris area, and will also operate at Rolls-Royce's facilities inDerby and in Dahlewitz, Germany.A production plant will be built in a competitive country starting in 2015, with theaim of starting operations in late 2016 or early 2017. The joint venture company willinitially total about 180 employees, including staff from its parent companies."With each parent company contributing its world-class skills to this joint venture,we have taken a major step forward in performance," said Norbert Arndt, Rolls-Royceexecutive vice president, structures and transmissions. "Our aim is to meet therequirements of our customers, both aircraft-makers and airlines, by giving themoutstanding, cost-competitive products."Hélène Moreau-Leroy, chairman and CEO of Hispano-Suiza, added: "For both Rolls-Royce and Hispano-Suiza, the creation of this joint venture marks a major steptowards the consolidation of our historical relationship within a long-term partnership,and enables us to stake out a position on new aircraft programs. It will also provideexciting new opportunities for our employees." Patricell appoints new sales execNottingham-based immunology and biotech product provider Patricell has appointedCarla Stemate as sales executive.Based at BioCity, Stemate’s appointment was accelerated by grant support fromMedilink East Midlands.She said: “I am excited to be part of the team. Patricell has a loyal customer base thatenjoys the personal approach that Patricell offers. I intend to develop those relationships and open up new opportunities for growth in the UK and thewider European market.”Managing director, Patrick Munch-Fals, added: “It is not just about the products we offer, but about our clear understanding of what our customersare trying to achieve and our ability to ensure that we offer them the right advice to support their research projects. Carla’s academic backgroundcombined with her commercial skills will help Patricellprovide the best possible support, advice and products to our customers.”Patricell says it has plans to move into Europe next year.APPOINTMENT NEWSPoppy PR expands withBerminghamappointmentIlkeston-based Poppy PR is expandingits workforce as it celebrates its fourthanniversary by bringing in a new PRexecutive.Thomas Bermingham, a printjournalism student from NottinghamTrent University, has joined Poppy.Director, Tina Clough, said: “It hasbeen an amazing four years for us atPoppy-PR and we have become one of theonly agencies in The Midlands to specialise inthe property and construction sector. I am delightedto welcome Tom to the team, he brings both a sharp writing style andenthusiasm to the table.”Bermingham said: “After studying journalism, I was always interested inworking in public relations, I am delighted to have the opportunity to work forPoppy-PR and to join an agency that is getting bigger every year. It has beenamazing to see where my work is being used and I feel a real passion already inhelping boost the brand awareness of our client base.”Lucky 13 for GrantThorntonThe Leicester office of business and financialadvisers Grant Thornton has announced promotionsfor thirteen staff, including six to managementpositions, across its Tax, Audit, VAT and BusinessSupport teams.Six of the promotions are made in the firm’s Auditteam – Amit Patel becomes Senior Manager, ClaireWright and Katie Powell are promoted to AssistantManagers, and Shane McNeill, Stuart Fullerton andLaura Keeling become Audit Executives.In the Tax team, Lee Hayes is promoted to Manager,and Mandeep Bagri and Jade Orsborn to Executives,whilst Amisha Upadhyaya is promoted to Manager inthe VAT team.In Business Support, Jo McBride is promoted toOffice Manager and Sharee Grant to Team Secretary.Matt Norris is promoted to Business Services GroupExecutive.Chris Frostwick, partner and practice leader of GrantThornton in Leicester, said: “The team in Leicester iscommitted to supporting and helping dynamic andambitious businesses to grow, and our highly skilledand talented people are the key to making this happen.Each of the individuals promoted exhibit exceptionaldrive, ability, desire and commitment, and make asignificant contribution to the firm and the service weprovide our clients.“Congratulations to all thirteen on their promotions,which are very well deserved.”East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk12McAuley joins CleggsSolicitor Suzanne McAuley hasjoined Nottingham-based CleggsSolicitors’. She joins from RotheraDowson.Areas of expertise for McAuleyinclude private client matters such aswills and probate, administration ofestates, powers of attorney and courtof protection work, inheritance taxplanning, trusts and residential carefees planning.She said: “I am thrilled to be joiningCleggs Solicitors and am very muchlooking forward to working with a rangeof private clients.“Having been working in West Bridgford and living in Nottingham for the last five years I amdelighted to be joining a team where I can continue to offer a high quality service to clients in the localarea.”Savills boosts LincolnshireteamSavills Lincoln has recruited two new faces to its team. Michael Gilbertand Lewis Smith will be working on the architectural services and ruralestate management teams at the property adviser.Gilbert joins as building and architecture Surveyor and will be workingon the building consultancy team alongside director David Morris.Morriss said: “Our department works with clients on architecturalwork across the county and beyond. Michael’s experience will add to theteam’s pedigree in helping clients to convert farmhouses, barns andlisted buildings.”KPMG makes six director promotions KPMG has announced the appointment of six new directors in the Midlands, including one inNottingham.The newly-promoted directors include Colin Brearley in audit in KPMG’s Nottingham office. Heis joined in Birmingham by Gordon Docherty and James Tracey in audit, Gwyn Llewelyn andNick Taylor in transactions and restructuring and Kaljinder Nijjar in tax.Mike Steventon, Midlands regional chairman at KPMG, said: “In the Midlands we have over1,200 of the firm’s most experienced and talented professionals, and we are constantly workingto enhance the services and offering we provide to businesses across the region.“These promotions recognise our clear and continued commitment to grow our business andprovide experienced professionals to work closely with both new and existing clients, wherethey will help to address the business issues and opportunities they are facing in what is aflourishing economic climate.”Alexandersappoints salesdirectorEast Midlands estate agent Alexanders hasannounced the appointment of sales directorBradley Thompson.John Alexander, chairman of Alexanderssaid: “We are proud to announce theappointment of Bradley; he will injectincreased enthusiasm into the growth ofthe Alexanders brand and add anotherexpert valuer to our marketing team.”Thompson said: “I am thrilled to bepart of the Alexanders team. The firmholds a significant amount ofexperience within the local propertyindustry and has a strong reputationfor the service it provides to itsclients. It values professionalism andmore importantly efficiency.“I am by nature an energeticperson and hugely enthusedabout the future growth of thebrand as a whole.”Alexanders has offices inWest Bridgford andLoughborough.APPOINTMENT NEWSwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 13East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk14DEALSAIM on target with DEGFfundingA Ripley company has created six jobs after receiving a £60,000grant from the Derby Enterprise Growth Fund (DEGF).AIM Commercial Services specialises in training and consultancysupport for the haulage and logistics industry throughout the UK.AIM applied to DEGF for a grant to buy new premises in HeageRoad Industrial Estate – paving the way for the introduction of newtraining services and creating the space to employ more staff.Two full time positions and four part time roles have alreadybeen created and AIM are now planning for future growthincluding fork lift truck and trailer maintenance training andultimately HGV driver training.Allison Kemp, owner, who is the third generation of her family towork in haulage, said: “The support from DEGF has literallycatapulted us to the next stage in our business plan.“We have expanded the team to give us the capacity to growour training programmes and the diary is already filling up.“Without the support of DEGF, we would have had to turn awaywork and put any thoughts of growth on the back burner.“Although we work with businesses large and small throughoutthe UK, a large percentage of our work is Derbyshire and Midlandsbased as we are a hub for logistics in the UK.“Legislation changes and lack of investment in training hasmeant that there is a huge demand for our services and we arealready planning future growth to keep up with demand.”New jobs and reduced carbon in the pipeline forDerbyshire firm A Derbyshire firm is planning a multi-million pound investment to create jobs and reduce its carbon footprint thanks to the D2N2 LocalEnterprise Partnership.DSF Refractories and Minerals Ltd is pressing ahead with the £2.8m project to install 12.3km of natural gas pipeline which will lead togrowth and have a positive environmental impact.It will safeguard the 108 jobs already in existence and create a further 15 as the pipeline is installed in the verge adjacent to the A515from Brielow Bar to Newhaven, then alongside the A5012 to Friden.As the pipeline has to be legally transferred to the National Grid upon completion under Gas regulations “normal” asset basedfunding options were unavailable to the company.The Newhaven firm, which is 12 miles from Buxton, said as a consequence the project would have struggled to go ahead without a£280,000 grant from D2N2’s Unlocking Investment for Growth programme, which is backed by the Government’s Regional Growth Fundas well as securing a loan from the Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growing Places Fund.Once complete, the project will lead to reduced production costs and reduced carbon emissions and there could be an added benefitin the future to local businesses and farms to taking a spur off the line to reduce their own costs.New internal pipework will be constructed to take the gas from the roadside meters to the kilns and other equipment. New burners suitable fornatural gas will then be installed on the kilns, driers and heaters that currently use LPG or fuel oil.Phil Bearn, finance director, of DSF said: “We are indebted to both the Regional Growth Fund and the Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growing PlacesFund in providing support in circumstances where normal asset based funding was unavailable. This is a game changing project allowing us tocompete on a level playing field against our European competition in worldwide export markets. Without the assistance of these two funds this projectwould not have not taken place and enabled us to grow our business and secure jobs long into the future for all our employees.”David Ralph, chief executive of D2N2, said: “D2N2 is about providing sustainable jobs. Jobs of the right sort, in the right place and at the right scale.“Innovation and low carbon are two of our top priorities and complex high-quality manufacturing often has a significant need for heat, power andwater.“Therefore investment to be more energy efficient and reduce carbon are likely to reduce costs and where they are part of an expansion to directlyincrease the workforce, we are interested in providing our own support and investment.“DSF has been working with us for some time, so we are delighted that this project is now proceeding.”Spearing Waite advises on £2mcapital raisingThe corporate team atLeicester-based Spearing Waitehas advised AIM-listed BeowulfMining in connection with a£2m capital raising.Beowulf, a mineralexploration and developmentcompany principally focusedon the Kallak North and KallakSouth iron ore projects innorthern Sweden, secured the£2m capital raising whichcomprised a placing, asubscription from investmentfirm Lanstead Capital and anopen offer to Beowulf’s existingshareholders.Steve McElhone and OliverBrookshaw for SpearingWaite’s corporate team workedwith Beowulf’s board and other advisers in both the UK and Sweden on thedeal.“The capital raising will allow Beowulf to continue to progress thedevelopment of its mineral asset portfolio, particularly its Kallak iron ore projectwhere the recently announced results of the 2014 drilling campaign haveshown high grades of iron and have extended the known resource,” saidBeowulf’s executive chairman, Clive Sinclair-Poulton.McElhone has acted for Beowulf for over 10 years. He said: “We aredelighted to have assisted Beowulf on its latest capital raising. Despite difficultmarket conditions for mineral resource companies over recent years Beowulfhas shown that, with quality projects and management, public markets remaina viable route to access capital. We look forward to continuing to work with thecompany as it moves its projects from the exploration phase towardsdevelopment.”www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 15DEALSForSkills snaps upGurooNottinghamshire-based ForSkills, thesecond largest UK provider of diagnosticsand e-learning resources for English,maths and ICT Functional Skills, hasbought rival Guroo.The new company will have over 10,000content items, a 25 per cent share of UKcolleges and 30 per cent share of thetraining provider market.Formed in 2005, ForSkills’ virtuallearning environment and SkillBuilder diagnostic assessment software is used by hundreds oftraining organisations, including the largest, such as learndirect, Babcock and Capita, as wellas FE colleges including Ealing, Hammersmith and West London, LESOCO, Derby, Barnsleyand Hugh Baird. In the past 12 months over 300,000 learners have been registered onForSkill’s online platform and 1.4 million assessments delivered. ForSkills also suppliesassessments for the National Numeracy Challenge – an initiative dedicated to helping adultslearn the maths needed for everyday life – which is the subject of the Tonight programme:“Trouble with Numbers” aired on ITV on 30th October.Guroo customers of note include awarding bodies OCR and City & Guilds, trainingproviders NLTG, CT Skills, Kaplan and HTP, and a selection of colleges including Chesterfield,Myrescough, Oldham, and Haringey.Pauline Paley, chairman, said: “Improving the maths and English skills of the workforce ishigh on the Government’s agenda and we will be well placed to assist with this aspiration in avery efficient manner.”Former Dragon callsfor better access tofinanceEntrepreneurs across the East Midlands musthave better access to funding to grow – accordingto a former Dragon’s Den star who will bedelivering a keynote speech at a business event setto be held in the region next year.Simon Woodroffe OBE, the multi-millionairefounder of Yo! Sushi, former star of Dragons' Denand serial entrepreneur, will be speaking atVenturefest – a summit bringing togetherinnovators and investors to encourage thematching of “capital with creativity”.Having built the Yo! global brand from scratch,the Woodroffe says he fully understands the issuesfacing entrepreneurs aspiring to start up and grow abusiness, such as funding, sales and marketing andcash-flow.He said: “Getting finance is the biggest hurdlefor small businesses. Venturefest East Midlands willhelp entrepreneurs and innovators to overcome thisby connecting them with the right investors.“Give entrepreneurs and innovators guidanceand advice and they will be inspired, give theminvestment and, in the right environment, they willgrow. That will develop the local economy, createjobs and regional prosperity.”Michael Carr, director of business engagementand innovation services at The University ofNottingham, and member of the Venturefest EastMidlands project board, said: “It’s vitally importantfor businesses to innovate their products, servicesand processes if they are going to stay competitive.We are delighted to have Simon Woodroffe onboard to pass on his invaluable experience to ourentrepreneurs. I’m sure that Simon will help toinspire the next generation of regional businessleaders at Venturefest.”Venturefest East Midlands will take place onWednesday, 8th April 2015, at the East MidlandsConference Centre, Nottingham and is free toattend.Chalice Medical goes for growth withgrantA company that designs and manufactures equipment used in heart surgery is to create 28new jobs after a near £500,000 grant boost from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.After securing £487,500 from D2N2’s Unlocking Investment for Growth programme,Worksop-based Chalice Medical will now be able to press ahead with the £1.95m expansionproject into new 25,000 sq ft premises, located at Manton Wood Enterprise Park, in Worksop.The site is almost three times the size of its previous location in Coach Crescent, Shireoaks,from where they moved in the summer.The company is also investing in new machinery to establish an in-house research anddevelopment and engineering workshop.The project will see 28 new jobs created to add to the 49 people already employed full-time. Philip Bousfield, of Chalice Medical, said: “While the grant process was very competitiveand rigorous we are very pleased to have been successful in getting this grant which willenable our expansion and enhance our exporting capabilities.“We are using this opportunity to develop new ways to support critically ill patients andpush back the boundaries of intensive care and extracorporeal support.”GROWING PAINSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk16GDP growth is slowing and there’s a General Election justaround the corner. Sam Metcalf seeks out some of the EastMidlands fastest-growing companies, and asks others whatwe need to hear in the Election manifestoes is the region isto maintain its status as the fastest growing region outside of London and the South-East.Can the EastMidlandsmaintainmomentumWhat sort of state is the East Midlandseconomy in? Whilst GDP grew by 0.7 percent in the third quarter of 2014 – and by3 per cent compared to the same quartera year ago, it was slightly down from the0.9 per cent increase in Q2 2014 on aquarter-on-quarter basis.GDP is now now 3.4ppts above thepre-crisis peak (in Q1 2008), after thegreat recession shrank the economy by 6per cent. Growth is balanced, with all four majorsectors of the economy showing uplift:Manufacturing (0.4 per cent); Services(0.7 per cent); Construction (0.8 percent); Agriculture (0.3 per cent).On an annual basis, for the secondquarter in a row, the three largest sectorsof the economy - Services,Manufacturing and Construction (makingup 95.5 per cent of the economy) - eachgrew by three percent or more. Prior tothe last quarter, the last time all threesectors grew by three percent or more,on the year, was in Q1 (versus Q1 1999).As the figures were released, theChancellor of the Exchequer GeorgeOsborne said: “[Today’s] strong growthfigures show that the UK continues tolead the pack in an increasingly uncertainglobal economy. With all the mainsectors of the economy growing it’s clearthat our recovery is broadly based. Butthe UK is not immune to weakness in theeuro area and instability in globalmarkets, so we face a critical moment forour economy. If we want to avoid areturn to the chaos and instability of thepast then we need to carry on workingthrough our economic plan that isdelivering stability and security.”But how are East Midlands businessowners growing their businesses? Weasked a specially-selected panel.Trevor Palmer, director of Tank PR: “Istarted my PR consultancy in 2010 andwe turned over under £100,000 in thefirst year of trading with two employees.We now have 11 members of staff andlook set to exceed £1 million turnover in2015. “The recovery of the region has playedits part in this growth. Roughly 60 percent of our clients are East Midlandsbased, with many in the services sector. Ibelieve that a healthy services sector is agood barometer of an improving regionaleconomy. “The downturn created a lot ofopportunity for businesses like mine, asthe balance of power amongst PR andmarketing agencies changed with thereduction in the availability of publicsector work. We were lucky in that ourinitial specialism was working withdynamic SME’s – a segment of theeconomy that has thrived post-recession.“Also key to our successes is theabundance of great expertise in theregion, and we have worked withexcellent business coaches through PeraConsulting and the GrowthAcceleratorservice. Indirectly this has also providedus with opportunities in San Diego, sowho knows what may be around thecorner?”Langley Mill-based GEM Vending is anindependently-owned supplier of vendingservices to private and public sectororganisations across the greater EastMidlands. With a turnover of over £5.5million, the company has recently wonthe UK-distribution rights for a leadingUS branded hot drinks system.Steven Gallagher, managing directorsaid: “We are seeing encouragingly highsales volumes from smaller independentretailers, offices and workshops, and Iput this down to companies looking foran additional income stream as well as aGROWING PAINSwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 17slight competitive edge. On the back ofthis, we are recruiting for both sales andadministration posts.”Quadrant Events in Nottingham wentthrough a successful managementbuyout in 2012. The company is set toachieve a 12 per cent increase inturnover this financial year with strongunderlying profit growth.Andy Hogben, managing director ofQuadrant Events said: “It is now apparentthat the management buyout andsubsequent restructuring we startedthree years ago have positioned us wellto build on the recent economic uplift inproductivity. Turnover has reached over£2m and our UK sales trends areencouraging. We look set to add a further25 per cent to turnover by 2017.”Ursula Lidbetter, chair of the GreaterLincolnshire LEP, said: “We conducted amajor survey recently and found thatnearly two-thirds of Greater Lincolnshirebusinesses were reporting improvedperformance over the past year.“What’s more, almost three-quarterssaid they expect their business to growin the next 12 months.“Twenty-seven per cent of all GreaterLincolnshire employers expect toincrease their number of staff over thenext year compared with just 3 per centwho don’t.“These are clearly optimistic signs andwhile there are still challenges ahead, 70per cent of employers in our prioritysectors say Greater Lincolnshire is aplace where their business can grow.”Ron Lynch, regional director for theInstitute of Directors said: “The EastMidlands economy continues to performwell and there are welcome signs thatproductivity is still rising. The challengenow is to ensure that economic growth isfelt in people’s pockets so that consumerconfidence increases.”Simon Gray, chief executive ofNottingham Means Business (NMB), theorganisation which works withNottingham City Council to support andencourage investment in the city andcounty said: “We represent a number ofbusinesses across Nottingham andNottinghamshire and from discussions17ÁAdam BirdDavid MooreAndy HogbenDavid RalphGareth SingletonSarah DavidsonGROWING PAINSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk18with business owners it’s clear that theeconomic temperature of the UK hasrisen and the recovery is well underway.Local businesses appear to be back topre-financial crisis levels and arerevealing increased positivitysurrounding investment decisions,recruitment and future growthexpectations.”John Forkin, managing director,Marketing Derby said: “With its emphasison design, production and export, theregion continues to punch its weight inhelping rebalance the economy.“In Derby, we have seen growth in hi-tech SMEs in sectors such as rail,aerospace, composites and software,attracted by the workforce cluster aroundBombardier, Rolls-Royce and Toyota”.David Ralph, chief executive of D2N2,the Local Enterprise Partnership forDerbyshire and Nottinghamshire, said:“This year has seen continued signs ofthe economy moving in the rightdirection and, as a result, confidence hasrisen among businesses.“There has been positive news thismonth with the extension of RegionalGrowth Fund (RGF) money to the D2N2area, through the University of Derbysecuring almost £16.5m of Governmentfunding to help grow firms in our area,now being made available.“Our own RGF pot, which has beentopped up by European RegionalDevelopment Fund money, continues tohelp local businesses grow through theUnlocking Investment for Growthprogramme. Since launching last year,businesses from across Derbyshire andNottinghamshire have seen the benefits,with the programme approving £3.2m ingrant funding which will create morethan 300 jobs. “Further applications at an advancedstage are requesting in excess of £1.6mand expect to create an additional 200jobs, with Chalice Medical in Worksop arecent announcement, with a near£500,000 grant from us helping to create28 new jobs. This is the largest grantawarded to date from our grantprogramme.“But while there continues to bepositive signs in a growing economy, therecent EU slowdown and global issuesmean we must remain vigilant as wemove forward and nothing can ever betaken for granted.“For D2N2 to be successful in drivingeconomic growth, local businesses andstakeholders must engage with us. Wehave to continue to make strides in theright direction and while that ishappening, our ambition has to be, andwill be, to make sure we are exceedingour potential.”But what of the future? With theGeneral Election looming large on thehorizon next May, what do East Midlandsbusinesses want to see in the mainparties’ manifestoes - and what can theydo to drive growth? We asked a selectfew.Gareth Singleton, head of BDO in theEast Midlands, said: “The time is now forpolitical parties to stand up andrecognise the unsung heroes of the EastNigel BaxterJeff ToddJohn ForkinMidlands.“I’m referring to the ‘squeezed middle’.Not those that have been caught by therising cost of living and stagnant wages,but the businesses that are too large tobenefit from policies tailored to smallbusiness, yet too small to win theattention that FTSE firms command.Medium-sized companies are bigbusiness. But no-one’s helping thembecome bigger. Our mid-market isoverlooked and under-valued. This isespecially true if you realise how muchmid-sized businesses already contributeto the East Midlands.“There are nearly 2000 medium-sizedbusinesses in our region, employing385,000 people. Putting that inperspective, they account for less than1% of all firms yet create a massive 23%of our jobs. In short, they punch farabove their weight. With the rightpolices in place, however, they could bepunching even harder. “September’s political conferenceseason fired the starting gun for nextyear’s election. We now have a rareopportunity to persuade all parties tofactor the mid-market into their policythinking to help drive the region’seconomic regeneration.”Adam Bird, founder of OneDiary andserial entrepreneur, said: “Tax breaks forcompanies that provide employees tolocal schools for pupil skills developmentwith funding for curriculum developmentfrom their trade bodies. Schemes likeCode Club have demonstrated that withthe right guidance software developersGROWING PAINSwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 19Scottish referendum raised the issue ofdevolution; I’d like to see the EastMidlands have more power to makedecisions that benefit the region, ratherthan seeing individual cities and countiescompeting against each other.“We don’t seem to work togethereffectively in the East Midlands. Too muchtime and money is spent on banging thedrum for each town or city, rather thanworking together to strengthen theregion’s appeal as a whole. With City,County and Borough Councils responsiblefor so many different aspects of theregion’s economy, they too often seem toend up battling each other.“There has been talk in recent years ofcreating supercities in the north tochallenge the power house that isLondon; I see no reason why weshouldn’t be embracing this type ofapproach for the East Midlands, especiallyas, if we don’t, we will be squeezed outeven further with national fundingbypassing us. Improving transport linkswithin the region would be key, making iteasier to do business with one anotherand draw talent from further afield.”Nigel Baxter, managing director of RHCommercial Vehicles, said: “Despite theperceived infatuation with UKIP it is goingto be a straight choice between a pro-business, low tax, Conservativegovernment, and the opposite prospectwith a Labour administration. The pollstoday suggest Labour may edge it.“What I would like to see is Milibandsetting out his agenda for corporation taxand capital allowances. Low tax forbusiness is essential for jobs, investmentand growth.”Jef Todd, business developmentdirector at Nottingham-based civil andstructural engineering firm BSPConsulting, said: “We’d like to see apledge for increased spending on socialhousing in the general electionmanifesto, as this would help ease theshortage of housing accommodation andwould also give a boost to theconstruction industry. From 2015 theHomes and Communities Agency and theGreater London Authority are due towork with housing providers to build165,000 affordable homes over the nextthree years. This is welcome news butwe’d like to see a commitment to moresocial housing, particularly in theregions.”Simon GrayTrevor PalmerSteve GallagherUrsula Lidbettercan make a different in schools. Let’sopen that out to more skills and preparechildren properly for work opportunities.”Sarah Davidsonhead of research &development for Gleeds Property &Construction Consultants, said:“Solidifying plans for HS2, specifically theEast Midlands station hub. There is quitea lot of debate, bordering on frustration,amongst regional businesspeople aboutwhere the hub is going to be located. Idon’t think there is any doubt in people’sminds that it will bring growth to theregion, we just need a decision.“From a construction perspective,addressing the skills shortage is still ahuge priority. A commitment from theGovernment to promote construction-based education – both professional andtrade – would be great. The challengearound skills shortages isn’t a new one,but the recession has deepened theimpact and it needs addressing. “As an advocate of BuildingInformation Modelling (BIM), aninvestment in BIM Level 3 would behugely exciting. Gleeds is supporting theBIM Task Group in lobbying Vince Cableto accommodate this in the AutumnStatement, so a pledge in the generalelection manifesto would be a bonus. Byinvesting in smarter constructionmethodology, greater strides could bemade in asset efficiency for owners andoccupiers.“Free haircuts for the over 40s wouldalso get my vote!”David Moore, director at marketingagency Rock Kitchen Harris, said: “TheNext >