< Previous10 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk FINANCE NEWS Cooper Parry Wealth eyes national expansion Cooper Parry Wealth (CPW) is entering a new chapter, with new leadership and plans to scale across the UK, starting with a major push into Manchester and the North West. David Kendrick, who stepped into the role of managing director in July, is leading the charge. With CPW already managing over £1.7bn of assets for 900 families, the goal is to grow that figure to £6bn over the next three years, delivering £50m revenue. That growth will be driven by strategic acquisitions, key hires, digital investment and deeper integration with Cooper Parry’s wider business – particularly across its eight hubs in the East and West Midlands, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, Dungannon Northern Ireland, Manchester, Reading and London. David has already started to expand the business in the North West, with key hires of Hannah Davies – director of growth, Paul Clifford – relationship manager and Anna McKenzie – paraplanner team leader. This rapid team growth is expected to continue, alongside acquisition conversations in the region. Nottingham caravan retailer secures support to drive growth and sustainability efforts Kimberley Caravan Centre, a family-run business established in the early 1980s, is preparing for its next phase of growth with the support of a £500,000 working capital package from Lloyds. Founded by Mike Lowe, the business started life on a small Mansfield site before expanding to its current home in Nottingham. Over the years it has steadily grown to employ 75 people across two branches in Nottingham and Darlington and now generates more than £33m in annual turnover. Sustainability is central to the firm’s long-term strategy. It has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging points at both its branches, transitioned its company fleet to electric cars, and updated recycling processes in line with new legislation. The Lloyds funding will enable further investment in operations by consolidating all financial services through Cardnet. This streamlining will accelerate payments, provide faster access to working capital, and support reinvestment into stock, site improvements and customer service. As part of its growth journey, the firm has invested in modern facilities, including state-of-the-art workshops, offices and showrooms at its Nottingham site, and a major upgrade to the Darlington branch. Patchworks secures £2m to accelerate growth and expand into US market E-commerce integration platform Patchworks has received £2 million in growth funding from Palatine Growth Credit, with additional backing from Gresham House Ventures. The Nottingham- and London-based company enables retailers to connect systems such as e- commerce storefronts, POS, ERP, CRM, warehouse management, and marketing tools into one streamlined platform. The investment will support further platform development, enhance operational efficiency, and help attract large-scale enterprise clients. It will also fund the company’s expansion into the United States, marking its next phase of growth. The funding represents the seventh deal completed under Palatine’s Growth Credit Fund, which was launched in early 2024 to provide flexible capital to high-growth regional businesses across the UK. The fund targets companies achieving strong revenue growth in sectors including cyber, fintech, SaaS, healthtech, medtech, AI, and advanced manufacturing. Palatine’s Growth Credit Fund sits alongside the firm’s existing Buyout and Impact funds, reflecting its broader strategy to invest in technology-driven businesses across the UK’s key innovation regions. Patchworks’ addition to the portfolio reinforces the fund’s commitment to scaling regional firms with global potential. David Kendrick, MD, Cooper Parry Wealthwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 11 FINANCE NEWS © stock.adobe.com/ Zenzeta Private equity firm exits investment in Leicester’s Obsequio Group Beech Tree Private Equity has exited its investment in Obsequio Group, with Warren Equity Partners joining as the new investment partner. Obsequio is a provider of fire safety, water hygiene, security, asbestos, energy, and environmental compliance services across the UK, supporting both public and private sector clients. The business will continue to be led by Simon Abley (CEO) and Simon Cashmore (executive chairman) who together founded the Obsequio Group in 2020. This transaction represents the first exit from Beech Tree PE Fund III and delivers strong returns for Beech Tree, with Obsequio’s revenues increasing from £17m to over £70m over the course of Beech Tree’s investment. Obsequio, headquartered in Leicester and now employing over 630 staff, has expanded rapidly since Beech Tree’s investment in 2023 both organically and through a series of seven bolt-on acquisitions, which have extended the range of compliance services offered by the Group as well as expanded its geographic coverage. As part of the investment from Warren Equity Partners, two further acquisitions have been announced: Atlas World and PLP Fire Protection. © stock.adobe.com/ Yingyaipumi SSAS Loan Backs: A Flexible Funding Option for SMEs For business owners seeking more control over their pension savings, Small Self- Administered Schemes (SSAS) continue to offer significant advantages. One standout feature that sets a SSAS apart from a SIPP is the Loan Back — a unique mechanism that allows the company to borrow from its own pension scheme. A SSAS Loan Back enables the sponsoring employer to borrow up to 50% of the scheme’s net assets for commercial purposes. It can offer a faster and more flexible funding solution than traditional business loans, with a key benefit: interest repayments go into the pension fund (not a third party lender), boosting its value. Even better, these returns are treated as investment income — not contributions — so they don’t affect the member’s annual allowance. Key Criteria for a Compliant Loan Back: •Maximum term of five years •Equal, regular repayment of capital and interest •Fixed interest rate (minimum Bank of England base rate +1%) •First legal charge over a tangible asset of equal or greater value In most cases, the loan is secured against commercial property. No other charge can take precedence over the SSAS’s interest. For trustees and members, a Loan Back offers a fixed, secured return — often helping to generate liquidity for future pension payments. When structured correctly , a SSAS Loan Back is a powerful tool: helping to fund business growth while supporting long- term retirement planning. Professional advice is essential to ensure everything is in order and HMRC rules are adhered to. Caitlin Southall – Director of SSAS at WBR GroupRolls-Royce Submarines and Siemens sign strategic agreement Rolls-Royce Submarines and technology company, Siemens, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on digital optimisation and boost efficiency across engineering. The MOU encourages shared and mutual collaboration, with the ultimate aim to minimise time to production for new Rolls-Royce technology, while reducing cost and risk within an increasingly complex engineering, manufacturing and operational environment. Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs more than 5,000 people and designs, manufactures and provides in-service support to the pressurised water reactors that power every boat in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet. Siemens’ software and hardware from the Siemens Xcelerator open business innovation platform helps companies transform processes – accelerating innovation, improving productivity and enhancing efficiency. This collaboration with Siemens will support Rolls-Royce Submarines in delivering UK sovereign defence requirements more effectively, enabling a more knowledgeable, productive, secure and agile operation. The collaboration will benefit from the sharing of best practice across the digital landscape, with the ultimate aim being to enhance skills across engineering, manufacturing, research & development, training and reactor operation and maintenance, using digital technology as an enabler. 12 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MANUFACTURING NEWS Cadent unveils East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline to drive industrial decarbonisation Cadent has confirmed the route for the first phase of its East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline, a 140-kilometre network that will link hydrogen production sites in the Humber and North Nottinghamshire to energy-intensive industries across the East Midlands. The project is designed to help regional manufacturers transition away from natural gas and reduce emissions at scale. The initiative has secured more than £42 million from Ofgem to progress planning, technical, and consenting work. Once operational, it could remove up to 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually. Industries including steel, chemicals, lime and brick production, and food manufacturing are expected to benefit from the shift to low-carbon hydrogen. A central hub in the project will be the HyMarnham Power site in Nottinghamshire, a joint venture between JG Pears and GeoPura. The site’s 15MW electrolyser is due to be fully operational by autumn 2025, with the potential to expand to over 900MW of production capacity once the pipeline is in place. Toyota backs new micromobility research in Derbyshire Toyota will lead a £30.3 million research and development project in Derbyshire to create a lightweight battery electric vehicle aimed at the urban mobility market. The initiative, funded under the UK Government’s DRIVE35 Collaborate programme, includes a £15 million grant from the Department for Business and Trade through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC). The project will focus on validating a small, lightweight electric vehicle in the L6e category, designed to address rising demand for sustainable transport in dense urban areas. Manufacturing and testing will take place at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston facility, reinforcing the company’s long-term investment in Britain’s automotive R&D sector. The vehicle will feature an integrated solar roof, enhanced connectivity, and sustainable lightweight materials intended to support recycling and resource recovery. The consortium brings together industry and academic partners, including ELM, which specialises in lightweight delivery vehicles; Savcor, leading the development of solar photovoltaic roofs; and the University of Derby, which will research user behaviour and the role of solar energy in micromobility. Toyota Motor Europe will contribute by supporting skills development among the Burnaston team. Image credit: East Midlands Hydrogen L-R: Brian Holliday, Managing Director, Digital Industries at Siemens UK and Ireland; Adam Raine, IT & Digital Director, Rolls-Royce Submarines; and Lee Warren, Engineering & Technology Director, Rolls-Royce Submarines. Credit: Rolls-Roycewww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MANUFACTURING NEWS Italian manufacturer invests in new Derbyshire facility Italian building materials firm Fassa Bortolo will open a major production site at New Stanton Park near Ilkeston, creating around 100 jobs in Derbyshire. The plant will manufacture approximately 300,000 tonnes of pre-mixed plasters and renders each year, marking a significant expansion of the company’s UK operations. The new facility will include 30,000 square feet of office space, a Fassa Academy training centre, and 140,000 square feet of warehousing. It forms part of a €400 million investment programme across Fassa Bortolo’s international network of 21 production sites and nine commercial branches. Fassa Bortolo, which has operated a UK commercial office in Gloucestershire for a decade, is strengthening its presence in response to increasing demand for construction materials. Recruitment will focus on local hires in production, logistics, engineering, and quality control, with an emphasis on sustainability and advanced manufacturing. The New Stanton Park site, located close to the M1 and with access to the Midland Mainline, is undergoing redevelopment to support up to 4,000 jobs and 2.2 million square feet of industrial space. Fassa Bortolo’s investment represents one of the first large-scale manufacturing commitments at the site. AF Switchgear and West Nottinghamshire College strengthen engineering skills pipeline West Nottinghamshire College has launched the AF Switchgear Academy in partnership with the Sutton-in-Ashfield-based manufacturer, expanding a long-running collaboration to train future electrical engineers. The initiative is designed to address industry demand for skilled workers in the design, manufacture and installation of low voltage switchgear and control panels — key components in the UK’s energy, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. The academy offers a five-day blended training programme combining classroom learning with hands-on experience at AF Switchgear’s headquarters and the college’s Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing. Students are introduced to technical and theoretical aspects of switchgear production, with opportunities for apprenticeship placements following completion. A pilot group will start training in November, with up to four cohorts expected each academic year. Students will be selected based on ability and progress, and teaching will be shared between college staff and AF Switchgear trainers. © stock.adobe.com/ tongpatong Shawpak secures £500,000 funding for expansion Shawpak, a Derby-based manufacturer of specialist packaging machinery for the medical sector, has secured £500,000 in funding through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II). Founded in 2013, Shawpak develops compact thermoforming machines that produce components for radiotherapy masks, hospital beds, MRI machines, and other medical devices. Its rotary thermoforming technology reduces floor space, speeds up tool changes, and minimises material waste, supporting efficiency and operational continuity for global clients. The MEIF II funding will enable the company to move to a larger, modern facility, expand production capacity, accommodate bigger machines, and scale service and spares operations. CEO David Shaw said: “This investment marks an exciting new chapter for Shawpak. With the support of Maven and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, we can expand into a facility that will allow us to increase capacity, deliver even greater innovation, and continue supporting our customers worldwide.” © Maven East Midlands Business Link 13Construction begins on new family contact centre in Worksop Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has started works for a new purpose-built family contact centre in Worksop, providing vital support services for vulnerable children, young people, and families across the county. The energy-efficient facility is being designed, project, and cost managed by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, and is expected to be complete by summer 2026. The new centre, which was procured under the SCAPE Regional Construction framework, will offer a significantly improved setting for supervised contact visits, safeguarding and educational services, including private contact rooms, two conference rooms, kitchen facilities and a secure outdoor play area, creating a calm and welcoming environment for families and professionals. The development, which replaces an outdated bungalow accommodation building, will be a single storey steel frame structure, with external brick walls. Landscaping and car parking will also be included in the scheme. The building will host a number of features that reduce electricity demand from the grid and improve energy security for the Council. Major student development hits key milestone in Beeston A new student development in Beeston has moved a step closer to completion with a topping out ceremony hosted by developer Cassidy Group. Once completed, Beckton House, situated in Station Road in the town centre, will provide 419 studio apartments for students at Nottingham’s two universities. The five-storey block is currently under construction with contractor Winvic Construction, with the completion of the building’s structural frame marked with the traditional topping out ceremony featuring representatives from Broxtowe Borough Council and the developer’s consultancy team. The project is due to complete in August next year and will open its doors for the September 2026/27 academic year. Patric Cassidy, director at Cassidy Group Ltd, said: “Beckton House will be great not just for the students that will live here, but it will hugely benefit the surrounding area. Students will have first-class accommodation within what will be an EPC ‘A’ rated energy efficient building with great transport links right outside their front door, and it will boost the local retail economy due to an influx of customers keen to find out what Beeston has to offer.” Plans revealed to transform Nottingham’s Hanson House site into student accommodation Plans to sensitively regenerate Hanson House and the adjoining Big City Tyres site in Nottingham city centre have been unveiled, setting out proposals to bring the derelict side back into use as purpose-built student accommodation. Brought forward by developers Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates, the scheme has been designed to respond sensitively to its prominent location close to the Broadmarsh regeneration area. The existing buildings are in poor structural condition, with independent assessments confirming that retention is not viable. The proposals would deliver around 329 new student bedrooms, predominantly self-contained studios. Residents will also benefit from shared amenities, including study and quiet rooms, social lounges, exercise space, cinema rooms and an enclosed roof terrace. Rachel Wood, managing director at Sladen Estates, said: “This project gives us the opportunity to reimagine Hanson House and bring new life to a prominent city centre site. The existing building is in poor structural condition and these proposals represent a chance to deliver a development that contributes positively to Nottingham’s future by helping to kickstart regeneration across the wider Broadmarsh area.” 14 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PROPERTY NEWSAshmere relocates headquarters to new Swanwick offices Ashmere, a regional care operator in the East Midlands, is relocating its headquarters to a new, centrally located office. Currently based in Heanor, Ashmere will move to two purpose-built offices at Turnpike Business Park in Swanwick. The company plans an extensive refurbishment and fit-out to create state-of-the-art office accommodation and dedicated training facilities for its employees. William Speed of Salloway Property Consultants, who negotiated the sale to Ashmere on behalf of a private client, said: “We are seeing fewer freehold properties coming onto the market at the moment, so it’s no surprise that opportunities like this attract high levels of interest. “It’s particularly rewarding to complete a deal with such a well-known and respected care operator as Ashmere, who will now make these offices their new headquarters and training centre.” The two buildings provide approximately 10,000 sq ft of space, offering Ashmere the opportunity to design and deliver bespoke office and training environments tailored to their needs. Housebuilder buys land for £35m second phase of Nottingham’s Barton Quarter The landowner for the Barton Quarter development in the Nottingham suburb of Chilwell, Beeston has sold the land for the second phase to Cameron Homes. The 4.9-acre site has full planning for 93 houses and apartments, designed by prize-winning London-based architect Ben Pentreath. Located off Queens Road West, the site was previously Barton’s bus depot, which had been owned by the Barton family since 1913. The company teamed up with The Prince’s Foundation, Stockbridge Land and Pentreath to masterplan the brownfield site for a total of 221 homes. Work commenced on the first phase of 30 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in 2021, with residents moving in from 2022 onwards. Enabling work for Cameron Homes’ newly acquired £35m development will commence in Q1 2026, followed by a start of construction during Q2 2026. The housebuilder has programmed the first homes to be ready to move into in early 2027. The scheme will be launched to the market next year. £21m partnerships deal to deliver 98 homes in Duckmanton Housebuilder Honey is partnering with emh to deliver 98 homes for the housing association at its Pearl development in Duckmanton. The £21m deal is the first between the two businesses and will comprise 70 grant-funded homes and 28 Section 106 properties. Work on the homes is due to commence at the end of this year, with the first handovers scheduled for summer 2026. All of the homes will be delivered over a period of two years. Honey is using timber frame construction on the homes as part of the housebuilder’s sustainability strategy. Honey chief executive, Mark Mitchell, said: “This partnership with emh marks part of what we believe is our social purpose to address the lack of housing supply, through providing more affordable homes. The deal will enable us to deliver homes with sustainability designed into their core for those who need them the most in Duckmanton.” www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 15 PROPERTY NEWS16 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Industrial and logistics schemes see significant progress Industrial and logistics schemes see significant progress www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 17 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Industrial and logistics schemes are marking key milestones across the East Midlands, as the ‘Golden Triangle’ continues to attract developers, investors, and businesses. W ith the East Midlands’ sterling reputation as a prime location for industrial and logistics developments, the past month has seen schemes across the region make significant progress. At Markham Vale, Origin has reached practical completion on the first phase of its £20m ARK development, providing 107,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space. It follows the joint venture partnership between HBD and Feldberg Capital recently attracting Capital Angling to take the first unit at ARK, measuring 17,050 sq ft. Phase one comprises four units — all BREEAM Excellent with EPC A rating — while HBD recently submitted a planning application for the second phase of ARK, which comprises a final 53,000 sq ft unit. Vivienne Clements, executive director at HBD, said: “ARK was one of the first Origin schemes on site so it’s great to see phase one complete. Markham Vale is a proven I&L location, providing occupiers with excellent transport links and sustainable infrastructure plus a strong local labour 18 Á Origin has reached practical completion on the first phase of its £20m ARK development at Markham Vale 18 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk COMMERCIAL PROPERTY “Completing phase 2 at Horizon 29 is the next major milestone for the expanding hub for large-scale logistics, which we have been an integral part of since starting construction on phase 1A and 1B in 2022. We’ve delivered two more energy-efficient units to the same high standard as earlier phases, using sustainable materials and the latest low- carbon technologies. We’re proud to continue our work with our valued client Equation Properties to realise the vision for Horizon 29, a landmark destination for the East Midlands distribution and logistics sector.” Meanwhile, logistics network Pall-Ex and commercial property developer and investor Barberry have been given the go-ahead for the construction of a state- of-the-art freight distribution hub in Leicestershire. Pall-Ex’s new Centre of Excellence – the largest build-to-suit pre-let deal in the UK this year – will cover 408,000 sq ft, with an additional 100,000 sq ft of canopy space, on a 14.2- hectare site. The £80m facility will serve supply. While supply has increased within the region, there remains a shortage of good quality stock in prime locations; particularly for best-in-class, ESG compliant space.” It comes after McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) completed the £41m second phase of a major industrial and logistics development at Horizon 29 in Bolsover, Derbyshire. Delivered on behalf of Equation Properties, phase 2 comprises two single-storey distribution warehouses, Units 7 and 8, each spanning approximately 250,000 sq ft, including two-storey office accommodation, 23 loading docks and dedicated transport offices. The completion marks an important milestone in the continued transformation of the 1.15 million sq ft site. McLaren Construction also completed phase 1A and 1B of Horizon 29 in February last year, which comprised four warehouse units. Luke Arnold, regional director of McLaren Construction (Midlands and North), said: as the flagship logistics hub for the network and will house Pall-Ex’s UK and European headquarters. The Centre of Excellence has been designed with sustainability at its core, aiming for EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent accreditation. The new hub incorporates a variety of energy-efficient and eco-friendly features, including electric vehicle charging stations, solar panels and designated green spaces. Jonathan Robinson, Barberry development director, said: “We are thrilled to announce that, having earlier this year secured a pre-let agreement with Pall-Ex to deliver the company’s new national Centre of Excellence in Leicestershire, we have now achieved planning consent. Our development is key to the region and will create around 500 construction jobs and an estimated 534 permanent jobs, business rates for the local authority and economic growth for local businesses and the community. Working closely with Pall-Ex, we will create a new national palletised freight distribution Pall-Ex and Barberry have been given the go-ahead for the construction of a freight distribution hub in Leicestershire www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 19 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY the formation of plateaus to enable future development of Units 1 and 2 as part of a later phase. Significant infrastructure improvements will also be delivered, such as Section 278 highway works to Netherfield Lane and Tamworth Road. The development is targeting BREEAM Excellent certification and includes full external works, such as HGV and car parking, access roads, and landscaping. Peter Goodman, managing director at Glencar, said: “This is an important milestone for Glencar as we embark on our first project with both VGP and Newlands. The VGP Park East Midlands scheme stands out not just for its scale but also for its ambitious sustainability targets and technical complexity. We look forward to bringing our expertise to the table and working collaboratively to deliver a best-in-class logistics park.” Phase 1 is expected to complete in October 2026. Finally, revealing a new scheme for the region, Caddick has lodged a centre that will deliver new ESG credentials, carbon net zero in occupation, staff welfare recreation zone incorporating football pitch, basketball court, club house, helping attract and retain staff while providing Pall-Ex with the operational excellence that will make the business stand out amongst its UK competitors.” Further making progress is the first phase of VGP Park East Midlands, a multi-unit logistics development, where Glencar has been appointed as the principal contractor for its design and construction. This represents Glencar’s first project with VGP, a pan-European industrial real estate developer, and Newlands, who are acting as development managers. Phase 1 of the project involves the construction of two industrial units: Unit 3, measuring 240,000 sq ft, and Unit 4, measuring 130,000 sq ft. Both units will include integrated office space. In addition to the vertical construction, the works will comprise full site-wide earthworks and planning application with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council for a major development close to Junction 22 of the M1. The proposal for the agricultural land outlines an industrial and logistics park covering around 700,000 sq ft across six units. The site will feature a mix of large units and modern incubator spaces, offering opportunities for businesses of all sizes – from regional occupiers to growing local SMEs. Each unit will feature integrated office accommodation and staff amenity space. Targeting BREEAM Excellent, the development will further integrate EV charging facilities, air-source heat pumps, energy-efficient systems, and PV-ready roofs with provision for battery storage. If approved, the scheme is projected to create over 1,000 jobs, spanning construction, operations, and long-term, skilled positions. It is also expected to contribute approximately £2.5m in annual business rates, supporting local services and the regional economy. McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) has completed Phase 2 of the major industrial and logistics development at Horizon 29 in Bolsover Next >