Iconic property in Nottingham’s Old Market Square acquired
Free marketing course to help small businesses grow in 2025
Small Business Britain is partnering with Adobe Express to launch a free six-week marketing programme aimed at helping small businesses improve their branding and sales strategies. The initiative comes in response to research showing that over 60% of small business owners prioritise sales and customer acquisition, while nearly half want to enhance their social media marketing skills.
Starting on February 25, 2025, up to 500 small businesses across the UK will have the opportunity to join the Small Business Britain x Adobe Express Marketing School. The programme will focus on key marketing areas such as brand identity, social media strategies, and video marketing. Participants will gain hands-on experience using Adobe Express, a design tool that allows users to create professional-quality marketing materials without prior design expertise.
Each week, Adobe’s Senior Manager of Product, Andy Lambert will lead interactive workshops designed to provide practical marketing insights. The course will include live demonstrations, showing how businesses can quickly create standout content, from social media graphics to branded materials. Participants will also have access to a LinkedIn group to connect with peers and share learnings.
The programme aims to give small business owners the tools and confidence to elevate their marketing efforts, making professional design and content creation more accessible.
Plan to expand Derbyshire Business Park could create 600 jobs
A proposal to expand Dove Valley Park in Foston could bring up to 600 new jobs if approved by South Derbyshire District Council. The plan, submitted by Dove Valley Park Limited, seeks to extend the business park by 35 acres into surrounding land near the A50.
Council officers have recommended approval at a meeting on February 18, where councillors will make the final decision. If given the green light, the project would add four warehouse units of varying sizes and an innovation centre designed to support workforce training. Burton and South Derbyshire College would oversee the centre, which aims to train up to 100 apprentices annually.
A market assessment by Cushman and Wakefield highlights strong demand for warehouse space in the East Midlands, identifying potential tenants such as an online retailer, a pharmaceutical distributor, a local manufacturer, and a builders’ merchant. The report also highlights the region’s importance to the UK’s logistics sector.
The proposal has drawn objections from local residents, with concerns about the loss of agricultural land, increased traffic, and noise pollution from heavy goods vehicles. Critics argue that available sites within the current business park should be used first.
To address transportation concerns, the developer has pledged £185,000 to support public transit, enhancing the Burton-to-Uttoxeter bus route and adding links to Derby. Council planners acknowledge the project would alter the landscape but emphasise the potential economic benefits, job creation, and training opportunities.
Councillors will decide whether to approve the expansion at the upcoming meeting.
Digital ID strengthens networking, enterprise mobility and supply chain visibility with acquisition
ID card company, Digital ID has acquired Connected ID, a leader in Networking and Enterprise Mobility solutions.
With sites in Corsham and Leicester, Connected ID has built a reputation for the supply of Handheld Devices, Mobile Computers and Wireless Network Solutions. By integrating their expertise with Digital ID’s Photo ID and Security Solutions, Digital ID says it is “creating a technology powerhouse that enables organisations of all sizes to seamlessly identify both People and Products – faster, smarter, and more securely than ever before.” Recognising the synergy between Digital ID and Connected ID, Digital ID’s owners at Levata saw an opportunity to merge the two businesses, bringing best-in-class Identity, Authentication, Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technologies under one roof. This collaboration unlocks new opportunities for Digital ID customers by offering a single-source, end-to-end solution for identity management and product tracking. “Connected ID has an outstanding reputation, backed by a highly skilled team and loyal client base,” said Stephen Dodd, Vice President of Digital ID Europe. “This acquisition is a major milestone for us. By combining our expertise, we can deliver an unparalleled suite of Identity, AIDC and Networking solutions, ensuring businesses operate more securely and efficiently. I’m thrilled to welcome Jamie and his team into our growing organisation.” Jamie Dickinson, Managing Director of Connected ID, said: “From the start, it was clear that Digital ID and Connected ID share a commitment to innovation and customer success. This acquisition strengthens our solutions, expands our market presence, and enhances the overall customer experience. I’m excited to be part of this next chapter and look forward to driving new growth and opportunities together.” The acquisition boosts Digital ID’s headcount to 200 employees across five key locations in the UK and Europe.Mansfield’s new specialist school reaches construction milestone
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Nationwide Platforms empowers employees through apprenticeships
This National Apprenticeship Week (10th – 16th February 2025), Nationwide Platforms is championing the value of lifelong learning through employees like Yetunde Adefila, a 40-year-old HR Business Partner who’s using an apprenticeship to sharpen her leadership skills and shape company HR strategy.
With an engineering background and a degree in computer science, she began her career in the technical sector. However, she soon realised she missed the human interaction element in her work, leading her to transition into HR in her late 20s. Since joining Nationwide Platforms as an HR Advisor three years ago, she has progressed rapidly, being promoted to HR Business Partner within a year.
While transitioning into her new role, Yetunde sought guidance from a mentor outside of work who recommended an apprenticeship to strengthen her leadership and strategic HR skills. Already holding a Level 7 qualification in HR Practices, Yetunde opted for a career-adjacent route, enrolling in a Level 5 Coaching Professional apprenticeship through KnowledgeBrief. Her apprenticeship is focused on coaching and influencing and takes 12 months to complete, involving online learning, bi-monthly meetings with a skills coach, portfolio development, and a final exam. Now two months in, she is already seeing improvements in her approach to HR strategy. “I absolutely love my role,” says Yetunde. “Every day is different, and I enjoy the gentle strategising that comes with it. HR is often the first place people turn to when they’re struggling at work. I want to be able to guide them effectively, balancing emotional support with strategic decision-making. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to level up. I describe myself as a ‘certification freak’, but this apprenticeship is more than a qualification. It’s about applying frameworks in real-time and developing the soft skills that make a real difference. Balancing work, studies, and family life is no small feat, and Nationwide Platforms’ hybrid working policy has been crucial to maintaining this balance while still enjoying precious family time.”Charlie Stanley, HR Director at Nationwide Platforms, said, “Nationwide Platforms champions internal career development through apprenticeships. By providing employees with the tools, flexibility, and support to advance their careers, the company is fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Yetunde’s experience is a testament to the power of lifelong learning and the impact of investing in people. Nationwide Platforms is proud to play a part in helping employees reach their full potential, proving that career growth is always within reach.”
New Procurement Act set to reshape business operations
The UK government will implement the Procurement Act 2023 on February 24, 2025, introducing changes to increase small business participation in public contracts. The government spends £400 billion annually on public procurement and has set a target to direct over £120 billion to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Only 11% of contracts are awarded directly to SMEs, rising to 24% when subcontracting is included.
A key change under the new Act is the introduction of a Central Digital Platform to replace and enhance the Find a Tender service. The platform will centralise supplier registration, store core business details for multiple bids, and improve visibility into public procurement opportunities. Suppliers can manage profiles, track procurement notices, and set up tender alerts. The platform will also capture procurement data for future analysis.
All suppliers seeking public sector contracts must register on the new platform, regardless of previous registration on Find a Tender or Contracts Finder.
Robin Hood Energy’s final liquidation report shows £50m unpaid debts
The final liquidation report for Robin Hood Energy has confirmed that more than £50 million in debts remain unpaid, according to a report from the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The Nottingham City Council-owned energy company, established in 2015, collapsed five years ago. It left 347 claims from individuals and businesses totaling £67.1 million. Only £13.7 million has been repaid, with most creditors unlikely to recover their money.
An independent review showed significant governance failures, and the losses were a key factor in Nottingham City Council’s economic crisis. In November 2023, the council issued a Section 114 notice, signaling its inability to balance its budget.
Number of companies in Leicestershire hits record high
Blueprint Interiors complete full interior design and fit out at Inizio’s new Ashby office
In line with the company’s core values, the project had clear sustainable goals. The building’s EPC A rating was maintained, existing furniture was repurposed, and recycled products made from ocean plastic were installed. Other features of the fit out included exposed ceiling designs, sustainable bespoke furniture pods and meeting rooms named after Ashby’s traditional trades, such as Smithy, Forge and Cooper.
Kate Kelly, Managing Director UK & Ireland at Inizio Engage, said: “The new office has truly transformed how we work. It’s an engaging, sustainable space that brings our Inizio Engage teams together and adapts perfectly to our evolving needs. Every detail reflects our unique culture and values, creating an environment where our people want to spend time because they feel empowered to succeed.”
Chloe Sproston, Creative Director at Blueprint Interiors, said: “Having worked with Ashfield Healthcare before it became Inizio, it was fantastic to be supporting them again on their impressive new office space. Just six minutes from our own HQ, the Inizio team were pleased to have sourced a local partner, echoing its sustainable and community focusses.
“After immersing ourselves in the Inizio business and culture, we interviewed stakeholders to gain a view of the company’s aims and ambitions. With a clear sense of the project goals, we set to work to create a dynamic workspace that met the needs of the evolving business.
“The space we designed brings people together and reflects the culture of the teams based out of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch location. With areas for different styles of working and socialising, alongside sustainable practices, Inizio has a workplace which enhances its wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and environmental policies.”
As fit out designer, supplier and main contractor, Blueprint Interiors worked alongside Gleeds as project manager.
Emma Wiggin, Director at Gleeds, said: “We were pleased to provide project management services on this exciting new space for Inizio. It was fantastic to work alongside them and other project partners to help achieve their ambitions for an office that truly serves their purpose. It was also great to lead on the delivery of a project that prioritised circularity, which aligns with Gleeds’ focus on sustainable practices in construction.” Derby ICT company appoints Sales Manager to grow presence in SME sector
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Plans for a new rail freight in Leicestershire
- Over £800m of private sector money invested into delivering major infrastructure, providing direct employment
- New southern slip roads for M69 J2, making this junction fully accessible for both northbound and southbound traffic
- New link road between M69 J2 and A47, alleviating traffic from Hinckley and Burbage
- Up to 850,000 sq m (9.1million sq ft) of modern, rail-served, warehousing and logistics space
- Creation of c.8,000 jobs of all skill levels
- Improvement of road junctions near the development
- Fully funded additional bus services which will serve local areas and the development
- Improved cycling routes serving the development and surrounding area
- At least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
- 50 acre extension to existing Burbage Common amenity space, including planting nearly 20,000 new trees
Good performance in a challenging environment for Dunelm
Dunelm Group, the Leicester-based homewares retailer, has hailed a “good performance and strategic progress in a challenging environment” in newly released interim results for the 26 weeks to 28 December 2024.
The business saw total sales of £893.7m, up from £872.5m in the same period of the prior year, with sales growth of 2.4% driven by volume.
Profit before tax, meanwhile, reached £123.2m, increasing from £123m.Nick Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our performance over the first half reflects the growing attraction of the Dunelm offer for a wide range of customers, and the quality and resilience of our business model.
“Amidst a challenging backdrop for retail, those attributes have helped us deliver increased sales, a strong gross margin, and both customer and market share growth.
“We have also pressed ahead with our strategy. Whether our customers prefer maximalist prints or neutral plains, the elevation of our product is apparent through the diverse range of styles on offer for all tastes, with quality once again endorsed through the awarding of a Royal Warrant to our Dorma brand.
“Our thriving total retail system is connecting that product with more customers, and we saw further growth in our increasingly personalised digital channels, as well as some exciting firsts for our store portfolio; we arrived in inner London at Westfield, acquired 13 stores in Ireland, and we will open our 200th store in the second half.
“As ever, whilst pleased with our results, we are eager to move faster and with greater purpose. Customers love Dunelm, but we can grow to become a destination for more customers, across more categories, more of the time.
“With our dedicated colleagues, who have shown incredible adaptability in a difficult trading environment, this gives us a renewed confidence in unlocking our full potential as The Home of Homes.”
The results come as Wilkinson has revealed his intention to retire from Dunelm and full-time executive life, following seven years in the role.Alison Brittain, Chair of Dunelm, said: “Nick has been a tremendous leader for Dunelm and amongst his many achievements, he has successfully guided the Group through a global pandemic, driven a step-change in the digital offer, established strategic capabilities across the business including in tech and data, and maintained the unique, entrepreneurial culture which makes Dunelm so special.
“Nick will continue to lead the business over the coming months as we transition to a new CEO, maintaining a focus on delivering long-term, sustainable growth for all stakeholders.”
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Dedicated Nottinghamshire apprentice travels 161 miles to complete apprenticeship programme
A Nottinghamshire apprentice who battles a six hour journey to complete his apprenticeship training, part-based in Newcastle, has spoken about his career transformation after enrolling on the course.
21-year-old Riordan ‘Rio’ Keetley is currently undertaking a Level 2 Bricklaying apprenticeship at the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) Training Hub in Scotswood, Newcastle. Rio travels the 161 miles for his training block weeks to the Training Hub by train from his home in Nottingham to pursue his career and achieve a nationally recognised qualification.
Before starting his apprenticeship in March last year, Rio worked a number of jobs, including being a waiter, a hospital cleaner and a CCTV operator but he was left feeling unsettled about his future.
Rio chose the apprenticeship route over traditional college or university education because he wanted to learn a practical skill that would serve him for life. He explains: “Construction has always interested me but I struggled to find an apprenticeship initially. I finished school during lockdown and the restrictions meant opportunities were limited.
“I took on various jobs in the meantime, becoming a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. Then, a family member told me about apprenticeship opportunities at Keepmoat, and I knew this was the chance I had been waiting for.
“The apprentice programme with a reputable house builder such as Keepmoat was exactly what I needed. It’s really rewarding to learn a valuable skill, help the community, and know I’m building a great future for myself. The travel is a small price to pay for such an amazing opportunity. I’m excited to see where this career takes me.”
Rio’s apprenticeship includes tailored and immersive training at the NHBC Training Hub, covering both theory and practical skills before working on site. Rio is developing his skills at Park View, a Keepmoat development in Gedling, Nottinghamshire which will deliver 400 homes.
He adds: “I enjoy the physical nature of the job and knowing that what I’m doing is making a difference. It’s satisfying to watch the hard work pay off and use my NHBC industry leading training to see something built the right way by a hard working team. My apprenticeship has given me confidence, independence, and a clear path forward. I’m proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished so far.”
Geoff Scott, Social Value Manager at Keepmoat, comments: “The team is extremely pleased with Riordan’s progression throughout his apprenticeship. He’s a great team player, who is both dedicated and hard working. Our apprenticeship schemes are a testament to Keepmoat’s commitment to delivering key skilled workers into the talent pipeline in the face of a skills shortage.
“It is a privilege to see our apprentices thrive in their roles and become part of the next generation of much-needed bricklayers and we look forward to seeing them progress and succeed in the industry.’’
Roger Morton, Director of NHBC’s apprentice training programme and hubs, said; “It’s fantastic to see how Riordan is thriving at the NHBC Training Hub in Newcastle. Our hubs are not only creating a local supply of talent for the house-building industry but also making a significant positive impact on the lives of apprentices.
“Bricklaying is at the heart of house building and is a vital skill. Through our existing training hubs and our £100 million investment in a national network of 12 new multi-skill hubs, NHBC is committed to supporting the next generation of housebuilders. Our industry-leading, recognised training equips apprentices like Riordan with the skills he needs to deliver high-quality new homes.
“By immersing apprentices in real site conditions from day one, we fully prepare them for life on site. Quality drives everything we do and our tailored approach is enabling Riordan and other apprentices to qualify in just 14 to 18 months, with many achieving distinctions. That’s nearly twice as fast as traditional education routes, which can take up to 30 months.”
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