Pendragon bucks trend with £14.7m pre-tax profit in 3rd quarter

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Nottingham-headquartered car retailer Pendragon has delivered a strong trading performance in Q3 2022 with robust margins and impressive new car sales, despite new vehicle volumes elsewhere continuing to be impacted by reduced supply.

Pendragon appears to have outperformed the market with new units up 14.2% in the quarter and new margins also remaining strong, with gross profit per unit (“GPU”) of £2,597 up £743 compared to Q3 FY21.

In airport to the London Stock Exchange, the listed company reported that aftersales revenue and gross margin were both higher than in the prior year, with revenue up 5.0%, margin rate up to 51.7% (Q3 FY21: 50.3%) and gross profit up 7.8% as a result.  The strong performance in new cars and aftersales broadly offset the lower used car volume and anticipated decline in used car margins. 

Overall, underlying profit before tax was £14.7m (Q3 FY21: £25.1m).

Bill Berman, Chief Executive of Pendragon PLC, comments: “We are pleased with the performance in Q3 FY22 and remain confident in delivering progress towards our long term goals.  While we continue to expect both new and used vehicle supply shortfalls for the last quarter of FY22 and into 2023, the new car order bank remains well above historic normal levels at over 20,000 at the end of September.  The economic backdrop remains challenging, however we continue to expect to deliver group underlying profit before tax in line with Board expectations for the current financial year.

“We are encouraged that the momentum we saw going into the second half has continued throughout the third quarter. Our agile and diversified business model positions the business well to respond to the uncertain environment, as demonstrated by the outperformance in new vehicles and the strong margin profile of the broader UK Motor division.

 “While supply chain challenges and other market pressures are set to persist, we are confident we have the right strategy in place to deliver for our customers and partners, and to meet our expectations for the full year.”  

 

Boots to recruit over 10,000 workers

Boots is recruiting for over 10,000 seasonal roles in its stores, warehouses and operations this festive period. The roles will be available across a wide variety of areas to cater to all job-seekers keen to find work in the run up to the holidays, and will include:
  • Over 6,500 Christmas Customer Assistant roles, where team members will be responsible for helping customers to find the items they need and ensuring shoppers receive the excellent customer experience that they expect from Boots.
  • Up to 3,000 roles at the Boots Beeston and Burton-on-Trent distribution centres, including Warehouse Operatives and Picker Packers who play a crucial part in keeping the gears turning smoothly for in-store and boots.com orders.
  • 2,000 roles for in-store Customer Operations Assistants – with team members helping to pick and pack deliveries as well as supporting day-to-day store operations – acting as the important link between the shop floor and distribution of Boots deliveries.
Donna Hodgins, Head of Recruitment at Boots, said: “Team members who join our business over the festive period are always truly valued members of store and distribution centre teams, providing crucial support for our stores and customers alike.  We’re looking to recruit a diverse range of team members that represent the communities we serve every year. “Our roles are perfect opportunities for anyone looking to explore career paths in the retail industry to gain valuable work experience that could potentially lead to a permanent position in future. Provided you have a passion for customer service and being a team player, everyone is welcome at Boots – something that is evident in our range of recruitment accreditations, from Age Inclusive and Menopause Friendly to being a Disability Confident Employer.” New joiners will benefit from Boots’ extensive range of team member benefits. This includes a market competitive hourly rate and access to the generous Boots team member discount scheme. Boots has recently enhanced the scheme for all team members to support with the rising cost of living, offering up to 45% off all Boots own brand products until at least January 2023. This covers over 6,300 products, including the new Boots everyday range, which features great quality essentials from 50p (28p with discount). Many roles are already hiring, giving successful applicants a long lead time to help them acclimatise to their role before the busy Christmas period. Boots also recently announced 2022 would be the most affordable Christmas ever, with an extensive programme of deals and its widest range of gifts for every budget this fetsive season. T

Leicester footwear giant sees revenues soar

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Leicester footwear retailer giant, Shoe Zone, seem resilient in the face of a mixed year with a revenue leap of 31.2% despite the closure of 63 stores.

The listed firm has reported group revenue increases, from £119.1m in 2021 to £156.2m translating into pre-tax profits of some £11m.

Chief Executive Update, Anthony Smith says: “I am pleased to announce that Shoe Zone had a positive year that included a full 52 weeks trade post pandemic. We continue our strategy to expand our Hybrid and Big Box formats via refits and relocations.  Shoe Zone continues to show how resilient it is, with a proven track record of delivering robust results during times of economic uncertainty.

We look forward to updating shareholders in more detail at the time of our final results on 10 January 2023.

I would like to thank all of our teams for their continued commitment and hard work that have produced these great results.”

Wyvern House sells for £1.45m

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E.ON’s former premises on Phoenix Business Park has been sold to a national church group for £1.45m. Acting on behalf of private clients, FHP have concluded the sale of Wyvern House on Phoenix Business Park, a detached 12,000 sq ft office building which was previously occupied by Eon prior to their rationalisation on the park. The property has been sold to The Winners Chapel, a church group, predominately for office and administrative functions of the organisation which operates nationwide with ten branches in the UK to date. The property was sold at a price of £1,450,000 and will now undergo a substantial refurbishment to provide modern office spaces and an open congregational hall area on part of the ground floor. Mark Tomlinson, Director at FHP, who concluded the sale on behalf of the sellers commented: “We are very pleased to have completed this sale which will hopefully breathe new life into this part of Phoenix Business Park which had suffered from reduced occupancy levels since the Coronavirus Pandemic. We are delighted to see that many of the occupiers within Phoenix Place are now returning to the office and this deal, alongside other projects we are working on in the business park will bring Phoenix Place back to full occupancy, which is very pleasing to see.” Savills were joint selling agents on the deal.

Nottingham property specialist secures off-market double deal in city centre

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Commercial property specialists NG Chartered Surveyors have scored a double deal on the same property in an off-market deal in Nottingham city centre. Acting on behalf of the vendor, NG has sold 3-7 Middle Pavement in Nottingham to new owner, DGH of FHP, while at the same time acting on behalf of the new owner to lease the ground floor of the same building to Mint Duck Clothing. 3-7 Middle Pavement is made up of the former Whistles clothing outlet on the ground floor, which will now be occupied by new tenant Mint Duck. Meanwhile, the upper floors consist of office space. The whole building totals some 5,880 sq ft. Charlotte Steggles secured the deal on behalf of the vendor. She said: “Middle Pavement is one of Nottingham’s prime locations, and with the rejuvenation of Bridlesmith Gate ongoing just around the corner, this property is in an ideal location for both the new owner and tenant. “This was also a great deal for our client, who is looking to realign their portfolio and leave it in safe hands for the future. An off-market deal in the city centre is always particularly satisfying, and it demonstrates, once again, NG’s knowledge of the local and regional property market.”

Entries open for annual Medilink Midlands Business Awards

Entries are now open for the 2023 Medilink Midlands Business Awards – the annual event celebrating the achievements, innovations, and breakthroughs of life sciences companies across the East and West Midlands. Medilink Midlands is the Midlands life sciences industry association with a vision to stimulate the growth of the Midlands life science sector by helping companies establish, develop, and grow. Its annual Business Awards will once again showcase the very best collaborations between industry, academia, and the NHS across the Midlands. Sponsored by the University of Birmingham and the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA), the 2023 Awards have seven free-to-enter categories including Start-up, Delivering Innovation in Health and Care, Innovation, Outstanding Achievement, Advances in Digital Healthcare, Export Achievement, and Partnership between Academia and Business. In addition, Medilink Midlands’ independent judging panel will be invited to nominate businesses that show great growth potential for the One to Watch award. Winners will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony and dinner at the Great Hall, University of Birmingham on Thursday 16 March 2023. All winning organisations will be automatically entered in to the Medilink UK National Awards, part of the Med Tech Innovation Conference & Expo (MTI), taking place on the 7 and 8 June 2023. Simon Himsworth, Chief Executive of Medilink Midlands, said: “Our annual Business Awards recognise and showcase the excellence that Midlands companies are achieving at the leading edge of the healthcare sector. The event is also a fantastic opportunity for the Midlands life science community to come together, network and celebrate their successes. “All life sciences businesses in the East and West Midlands are invited to enter, with our regional winners set to go forward to the national Medilink UK Business Awards, which will celebrate the country’s top life sciences companies.” Richard Fox, Strategic Business Engagement Partner for Life Sciences, University of Birmingham, added: “The University of Birmingham and the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator are proud to be sponsoring the Medilink Midlands Business Awards 2023. These awards shine a light on the businesses at the forefront of healthcare innovation and the thriving life sciences community in the region. “The Precision Heath Technologies Accelerator, based at the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, will further accelerate the adoption of healthcare innovations in the region and beyond, creating opportunities for transformative collaborations between businesses, the university and NHS partners. And who knows, some of the winners of the Medilink Midlands Business Awards may become PHTA residents and collaborators of the future!” Chris Barker, who is CEO at Spirit Healthcare, winners of the 2022 award for Advances in Digital Healthcare, said: “The trophy is one of the first things you see when you enter Spirit House. It not only serves as a reminder to the whole team of all the incredible work we have done so far, but also spurs us on to do even more to support our patients and partners.”  

Henry Brothers Midlands stages official opening of new offices after expansion into larger premises

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Construction contractor Henry Brothers Midlands has staged an official opening of its new premises after moving into larger offices as part of continued growth. Northern Ireland-based company Henry Brothers established a Midlands division in Nottingham in 2015 – operating from an office in Beeston. Led by Henry Brothers Midlands Managing Director Ian Taylor, the company quickly cemented itself as a key operator in the East Midlands construction sector. Now the company has relocated to a much bigger office in Eldon Road, Beeston, with its team of almost 60. Members of the Henry Brothers main board attended the official opening event, including Chairman Emeritus Jim Henry, his sons Group Managing Director David Henry and Group Director Ian Henry, his daughter HR Director Julie McKeown, Commercial Director Alan Mitchell and Financial Director Allen Reid. Henry Brothers Chairman Emeritus Jim Henry said: “This is a proud day, as we open new, much larger offices for our Midlands team. It’s been very pleasing for me to see how the Midlands division of Henry Brothers has grown and flourished in a relatively short space of time and I congratulate all those involved in the success. “I am delighted to cut the ribbon to officially open the new offices and signal the next stage of development for Henry Brothers Midlands.” Key personnel from the Henry Brothers Midlands team at the event included Midlands Managing Director Ian Taylor, Commercial Director John Fielding, Design and Planning Director John Sowter and Construction Director Justin Hicklin. Ian Taylor added: “Henry Brothers Midlands has experienced continued and sustained growth since being launched in 2015. In seven years we have grown to become a division with an annual turnover of £60m. “We have built up strong relationships with a number of clients in the Midlands and beyond, including Nottingham Trent University, Loughborough University, Lincoln University, Staffordshire University and Derbyshire County Council. “We are proud to have delivered first class schemes for the education sector, the blue light sector, the defence sector and others – providing both new-build and refurbishment services to our clients. “Moving to a new office opens the next chapter for Henry Brothers Midlands, allowing us to maintain our growth in the Midlands and further afield. Our aim is to continue to offer clients an exceptional service, working in partnership to support them with their development plans.” The new two-storey office in Beeston includes modern, flexible working spaces and more than doubles the space of the company’s previous Midlands headquarters. Henry Brothers Midlands has delivered a number of significant projects since being launched in 2015 including the £30m refurbishment of the W & S buildings at Loughborough University, the new joint headquarters for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service at Sherwood Lodge, and a new Alfreton Park School in Derbyshire. The company has also delivered multiple schemes for Nottingham Trent University including the £9m Dryden Enterprise Centre, the new £23m Engineering building, the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF), and the £15m Health and Allied Professions Centre – working to improve facilities on both the Clifton Campus and the Nottingham City Centre Campus. Its current projects include the £9m SportPark Pavilion 4 Passivhaus scheme and a £3m Energy and Data Hub at Loughborough University, along with two projects at RAF Waddington and a £12m refurbishment of the Chemistry Building at The University of Manchester. Henry Brothers Midlands is currently on eight frameworks, including Crown Commercial Service’s Construction works and associated services 2/Procure23 (P23) Framework alliance to provide design and construction services to NHS capital projects in the East and West Midlands, and the Department for Education’s (DfE) 2021 Construction Framework for projects from £6m to £12m for the East of England.

Timms wills and probate team wins national recognition

Timms Solicitors, which has offices in Derby, Burton, Ashby and Swadlincote, have been hailed the Midlands Solicitor Firm of the Year in the British Wills and Probate Awards. The Wills and Probate team from Timms were presented with the prestigious award at the 5th annual gala event in Birmingham in recognition of all round excellence, client engagement, technology transformation, commitment to staff development and providing an outstanding service to the local community. Managing Partner Fiona Moffat said: “We are delighted that the Wills and Probate team have been recognised with this prestigious award. “We have been serving our community and clients from our High Street bases for more than 130 years and, under the leadership of Jo Robinson, our established team has gone from strength to strength. “  We are committed to investing in all of our staff and as a result we are able to provide an exceptional service to our clients.” Head of Department Jo Robinson added: “I am particularly delighted that the award has highlighted how the team has gone above and beyond to support clients and our wider local communities. “We are often asked to host informal sessions to raise awareness and highlight the importance of planning for later life or the unexpected. “The judges were also particularly complimentary about our commitment to embracing new technologies to improve internal and external communications and processes as well as our efforts to assist other solicitor firms and accountants by sharing best practice. “Our focus moving forwards is to continue to develop and grow the department, maintain our current high standard of work, and for each fee earner to develop their own specialism. We seek to broaden our contentious probate department as this is a rapidly growing area of work.”

Gardening business digs in with good practice

While Oliver Lockwood was on furlough in 2020 the seed of an idea began to formulate for his future. Having always loved gardening could he go from a corporate marketing job to being someone who turns up in a van, sits on a bucket to eat lunch and looks after someone else’s garden? After working on a family garden, the answer came back as a huge yes! Oliver started Stonebridge Garden Services in September of that year providing lawn care and garden maintenance to residential customers in Leicestershire. Growth has been rapid as the team expands, including his wife Gemma. It is seeing more than 50% of its income from repeat business with new work largely coming via referrals from existing customers. A meeting with his accountant led to the topic of grant funding and Oliver was referred to the Business Gateway Growth Hub and Business Adviser, Aruna Bhagwan. Over the last year, Oliver and Gemma have had several meetings with Aruna and also attended workshops on applying for grant funding and HR through the Business Gateway. Oliver said: “We’ve been willing to spend money on training but as a start-up, it’s vital for us to take advantage of everything free. The concern I have when you look around at other things is the quality. “Aruna signposted quality, free training and advice. Above anything else, that’s the thing we’ve been very confident about. Everything that comes via the Business Gateway has come with almost a quality badge attached because it’s been very good.” Stonebridge aims to be a sustainable business. It has changed a lot of its gardening kit to electric and installed an electric charging point for vans. It was Aruna who introduced them to the VegVan Community Farm, another Business Gateway client, enabling them to divert green waste from landfill to the farm where they can use it. Business Adviser, Aruna Bhagwan said: “Oliver’s passion and enthusiasm for the business is infectious. They’ve really worked on setting something up which will benefit their people and their customers. I’ve been able to guide them with their strategy and signpost them to other resources, which is a key strength of the Growth Hub. They’ve also adjusted their approach to grant applications, taking advice on board from our conversations and courses attended. Stonebridge is definitely one to watch.” One thing that did leave a lasting impression on Oliver from his last job at Ibstock PLC was the impact a social conscience and vision could have and how you can use business to do good. Oliver explained: “It’s rare gardening companies are set up to succeed and look after their customers or look after staff through salaries or holiday pay. Fundamentally, we identified gardening as an area we had a passion for and one that would get us close to people who really needed our help.” “We’re finding more and more people who are caring for older relatives with dementia or other illnesses. We have eight staff, all the kit we need and a scheduling system second to none that family members can use to see payments and schedules.” Social responsibility also applies to those working for the business. Oliver continued: “When you find people and you can give them a safe space to work, they feel both respected and appreciated. If they do specific tasks very well it allows them to grow with those tasks.  If they love certain jobs why would I get someone else to do them? “This not only opens up opportunities for them but us too as we optimise our workforce and add specialisms where appropriate. We need to stop using words like disabilities because when we hire people, they might not be able to do everything, but if they can do the things we want them to do well, where’s the disability?” Oliver has ADHD which he says was more of a challenge whilst at school than now. He feels that it’s a benefit far more than a negative. Therefore, he is keen to bring out people’s strengths rather than focus on labels. Oliver plans to have, at any given point in time, at least 25% of their hours operated by people with learning difficulties or disabilities. He also wants to diversify his team to include more women and people from different ethnicities and backgrounds. But Oliver emphasises that every single decision has been made to have a commercial upside. “It costs a lot of money to bring someone onboard and there’s all that uncertainty. So when you’ve got someone you can dedicate to certain tasks, like mowing, and they are happy to do that, they are in a comfortable environment and you look after them, they are going to stick with you – hopefully for a long time. So you don’t have to worry about onboarding new people or staff turnover.”

Rishi Sunak to become Prime Minister

As Penny Mordaunt fails to reach the necessary 100 backers to become PM, and with Sir Graham Brady perhaps unintentionally casting doubt on Boris Johnson’s claims by saying that Rishi Sunak was the “only” candidate to earn 100 backers, the decision of the next Prime Minister of the UK has been decided. This marks the second PM unelected by the people, and the third this year, and is likely to lead to a very divided reception from the public. Businesses in the region, however, will be hoping for swift and decisive action to bring back some modicum of stability.

East Midlands law firm rewards team with a number of promotions

Nottingham law firm Nelsons has promoted eight employees within several of its departments. Chartered financial planner Zoe Till has been promoted to investment director, while Gemma Hopper, Sarah Gregory, Emily Rose, Katy Swinbourne and Ella Sheppard have been promoted to senior associate. Additionally, Paula Haverkamp has been promoted to associate and litigation executive and Sophie-Laura Noble to senior marketing executive – collectively these eight women have worked at Nelsons for more than 46 years. Investment management specialist Zoe, who has 19 years’ experience in the financial services industry, joined Nelsons in 2018. She said: “In the four years since I joined the firm, Nelsons has continued to grow and adapt in response to the changing needs of our clients.  We are a truly motivated team that provides comprehensive, high-quality advice and expertise that empowers the clients, trustees and attorneys that we work with. “My main priority moving forwards is to continue to bolster our profile in the region and beyond.” The promotion comes after a successful year for Zoe, which saw her make it to the final eleven in the ‘Financial Adviser of the Year – Midlands and East Anglia’ category at the Women in Financial Advice Awards. Meanwhile, Gemma joined Nelsons’ Court of Protection team in 2019, after qualifying as a solicitor with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in 2016, to specialise in powers of attorney and deputyship appointments. Gemma has recently been awarded the Solicitors for the Elderly Full Accredited Membership for her work in advising on older client law. Sarah, who joined the corporate team last year, specialises in acquisitions, mergers and disposals, while Emily, who joined Nelsons in 2014 before qualifying in 2018, advises on medical negligence cases and inquests. In the family department, Katy, who joined the firm in 2020, advises on children law matters, including adoption and care proceedings, whereas employment specialist Ella advises businesses and individuals on a wide range employment law and HR matters. She joined Nelsons in 2015 and qualified as a solicitor four years later. Paula has been advising on landlord and tenant issues as well as property disputes at Nelsons since 2001 and Sophie-Laura, who joined in 2019, is an integral part of the firm’s marketing team. Stewart Vandermark, chief executive at Nelsons, said: “Zoe, Gemma, Sarah, Emily, Katy, Ella, Paula and Sophie-Laura have all shown great dedication in their respective areas of expertise. The fact we have so many people being promoted in Nottingham is a testament to all their hard work and I’d like to congratulate everyone on their promotions.”

Over £200m to be pumped into battery research and innovation

The UK’s world-leading manufacturing industries will be boosted thanks to £211 million in new government funding for battery research and innovation, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed today. The record funding uplift will be delivered through the Faraday Battery Challenge, which began in 2017 and supports world-class scientific technology development and manufacturing scale-up capability for batteries in the UK. It will help to seize on opportunities for private investment and economic growth in industries where powerful, fast charging batteries will be essential – such as domestic energy storage and electric vehicles. The funding, from last year’s settlement, will be delivered between 2022 and 2025 by UK Research and Innovation with support from the Faraday Institution, Innovate UK and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre. It’s claimed it will help the sector deliver 100,000 jobs in battery gigafactories and the battery supply chain by 2040. Supporting the scale-up of these technologies and unlocking further private investment supports the sustainable growth of the economy, which will boost tax revenues and put public services on a more secure footing for the longer term, helping improve life for people across the UK. Speaking on a visit to the £130 million UKBIC, the UK’s centre of excellence in battery manufacturing, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “Safe and powerful batteries are central to our plans to grow the industries of the future. From our world leading renewables industry, to our growing electric vehicle sector, secure supplies of batteries are key to delivering jobs and prosperity.

“The Faraday Battery Challenge has brought the UK’s greatest minds and best facilities together to develop the innovations that will help us achieve this goal. The work it has done since 2017 has laid the groundwork for our future economic success and I am pleased to confirm this work will continue, supported by record funding.”

Greater Lincolnshire pumps £1.6m into training to tackle labour shortages

Extra training is being provided for HGV drivers and food production is becoming more automated thanks to funding worth more than £1.6 million from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Five projects have received funding totalling £1,649,788 from the Greater Lincolnshire Labour Market Support Fund to help address labour market challenges in the area. The projects are: Greater Lincolnshire LGV Driving Academy (MODAL Training Centre, Immingham; £286,275); Drive 2 Work (Lincoln College and Stamford College; £747,343); Professional Driver Development Programme (Boston College; £265,284); Production Line Automation (Worldwide Fruit, Spalding £150,886); and Business Capacity Development for Best Practice Recruitment and Development (SkillsReach, Lincoln; £200,000). Job vacancies across Greater Lincolnshire are at an all-time high, but employers across all sectors are experiencing labour shortages caused by the combined impact of the pandemic, a reduction in migrant labour from EU, and a desire for a better work-life balance.
Clare Hughes, Skills and Employment Executive Manager at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “Many of our businesses are experiencing a perfect storm of adverse conditions which together are making it extremely difficult to recruit and retain high-quality employees. “The Greater Lincolnshire Labour Market Support Fund was created to address these challenges, and we’re very pleased to have agreed grant support for five projects which we’re confident will make a big difference. “We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition, and we would encourage other businesses to contact us for support and advice if they are experiencing difficulties recruiting and retaining staff in this challenging period.”

New College Head of Year crowned at BBC Radio Leicester’s Make a Difference Awards

Nominated by colleagues, students and parents, the recognition comes as a result of Bernie’s tireless work during the pandemic. Providing support to students and their families during challenging times, Bernie went above and beyond her call of duty to help others. Keen to ensure students did not miss out on their education during lockdown, Bernie – an unsung hero of the education sector – took to the road to deliver work packs to those who needed them, at the same time providing a friendly face to the school’s families that were stuck in isolation. But missed education was not the only fire she was fighting; 55% of New College’s students are entitled to free school meals, so when the Government were unable to fulfil their free school meal voucher scheme, there was great concern for the families that relied on this support. Taking it upon herself to lessen the burden, Bernie developed a local voucher scheme which ensured that New College families could access nutritional food while the school was closed. She was also at the forefront of on-site Covid testing, busy organising and managing the students on to site for their test and then safely off again to await their results. Speaking on the accolade, Jane Brown, Principal at New College, said: “Bernie is already a local hero in that she lives locally and is extremely community minded. Always putting other people first, Bernie has New College Leicester and New Parks running through her veins. “During the pandemic, she was a constant force for good and consistently went out of her way to help. No matter what she was asked to do, or took it upon herself to do, she always did it with a smile on her face – because the children come first.” Bernie Walker said: “I feel truly honoured to have won this award. My only aim is to help people within the New College community, and being thanked in this way is something I will remember forever. Thank you to everybody who took the time to nominate me and to those who make the work I do even more enjoyable.” BBC Radio Leicester’s Make a Difference Awards celebrate people who go above and beyond to make a difference in their local community. A chance to say ‘thank you’ and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for others, local people are celebrated across eight key categories with winners selected by a panel of judges. Awards given in each category across all local BBC radio stations.

£34m Investment in Zero-Emission Electric Bus Fleet

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Nottingham’s historic Trent Bridge Bus Garage, once home to horse drawn trams, now has a new Zero Carbon future as Nottingham City Transport orders its first electric single deck buses and appoints Zenobē Energy as the delivery partner for the electrification of 78 buses! As the delivery partner on the project, Zenobē, a leading EV fleet and battery storage specialist, will supply the charging infrastructure to Trent Bridge Bus Garage, which housed horse-drawn and electric trams back when it opened in 1901. It will draw on its extensive experience working with 90% of the major bus companies in the UK, providing the charging infrastructure for the site, as well as managing construction, delivery and implementation of its charging software, working to optimise the fleet and run an efficient service for the operator. The infrastructure will allow NCT to extend the electric fleet in future, aligned with the operator’s net-zero ambitions. Pelican Bus & Coach will deliver the first 12 fully zero-emission electric buses to join the NCT fleet, which are expected to enter service in late 2023. The vehicles are manufactured by Yutong, who are the largest bus and coach manufacturer in the world, with over 133,000 zero emission vehicles delivered to date and 32 billion kilometres of tried, tested and proven operating experience. These 12.2m buses will be fully accessible, feature full electric air-conditioning, provide a quiet travelling experience with no engine vibration or noise and have free Wi-Fi and USB charging points on board. Liam O’Brien, NCT’s Head of Engineering said, “Following a rigorous public procurement process and operational trials of several electric buses, Yutong Bus & Coach and Zenobē were a clear winner to deliver our first electric buses. The buses are superior in terms of space and comfort for passengers and have air conditioning as standard. With the software and charging service provided by Zenobē, the buses can do a full days’ operation on a single, overnight, charge, which is essential for ensuring we can keep them all on the road throughout the day, providing a better, cleaner service for our customers”. Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK at Pelican Bus and Coach said, “We are absolutely delighted and honoured to have been awarded this contract to work in partnership with NCT. The vehicles will be fully completed at our family owned dealership in Castleford, and we look forward to supporting Nottingham on their zero emission journey”. Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and Parks, Councillor Audra Wynter, said: “These new state of the art electric buses are fantastic news for Nottingham. Getting more people using greener public transport is a key part in tackling the twin emergencies of toxic air pollution and climate breakdown. These electric buses will help Nottingham to reach our carbon neutral 2028 goals while getting people around the city quickly and easily as part of our award-winning bus network.” Steven Meersman, Co-Founder and Director at Zenobē said “We’re thrilled to be delivering our first infrastructure in Nottingham and to be working in collaboration with Nottingham City Transport. We know that bringing 78 buses to the local area will have a huge impact on emissions and bring the City of Nottingham closer to its ambition of being carbon neutral by 2028. We are proud to be a part of this project. Working across the public and private sector is essential to scaling emissions faster, and we’re looking forward to delivering a greener service to the city”. When NCT’s electric bus project is fully delivered, 3,800 tonnes of CO2e will be saved each and every year. Over the lifetime of the buses, they will also make a significant contribution to wider efforts to improve air quality, with an estimated 31 tonnes of harmful NOx and 777kg of PM2.5 removed from the atmosphere. This £34m project is being supported with £15.2m from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) Fund.

Building a career to be proud of! Leicester 22-year-old is first to complete housebuilder degree in the region

A newly qualified graduate is celebrating after being the first to complete a degree with a local housebuilder. 22-year-old Beth Salisbury, from Leicestershire, is the first person in the East Midlands to complete Redrow’s sponsored degree programme. Fully funded by Redrow, the degree programme launched in 2017 in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University and teaches participants the skills needed to work in a range of departments at Redrow, over a three-year period. The first dedicated degree of its kind, students split their time between studying and working in one of the developers’ divisions across England and Wales. The Construction Management in Housebuilding degree is designed for those looking to kickstart their career, working alongside the housebuilder’s most experienced employees while studying for a qualification. Beth graduated earlier this year with a First Class Honours in her Construction Management in Housebuilding degree, she now works as a quantity surveyor in the East Midlands division. Beth said: “I wanted to go into the property industry as a lot of my family work within the housebuilding sector, making it a trade which I was heavily exposed to as a child. “My dad works for a leading supplier of facing bricks, dealing with some of the country’s major housebuilders, so from a very early age I had an interest in his role, as well as house building in general. During my school years I had an avid curiosity for business and economics, so becoming a quantity surveyor fit these passions all together perfectly.” Commenting on the qualities required to be a successful graduate at Redrow, Beth added: “While the opportunity to complete a degree alongside working full time is unparalleled, it comes with its obstacles. Time management, perseverance and dedication are probably the three most important qualities needed when it comes to completing the degree while also making progress within your career. “For anyone who has the drive and determination to climb the career ladder while also gaining a highly valued qualification, the opportunity is second to none. I couldn’t recommend the degree scheme enough. “For anyone considering a Redrow sponsored degree programme, I would say go for it! It’s not often the chance comes around to work for such a reputable company, gaining valuable experience to progress in your career, surrounded by colleagues with years of experience to learn from, while also gaining an extremely well-regarded qualification.” James Corden, Head of Commercial, at Redrow East Midlands, concluded: “We are delighted that Beth has graduated with flying colours from the Redrow sponsored degree programme here in the East Midlands. “Each year – as part of our continued commitment to valuing people – we provide opportunities for young people in the area to kickstart a career in housebuilding. From work experience and apprenticeships to sponsored degrees and graduate programmes, here at Redrow East Midlands we offer something for everyone. “I’m delighted that Beth is now working in our Commercial team as a quantity surveyor and I look forward to working with her throughout her career with us. It’s wonderful to have witnessed so many success stories, including Beth, who never ceases to amaze us with her hard work and willingness to learn. I’d advise any school leavers searching for a rewarding career to look into our degree, we’ll be excited to welcome more sponsored degree participants to begin their career with us.” Redrow’s sponsored degree programme provides a deep dive into housebuilding skills, including assessing quality, project management, health and safety, business skills and negotiation, right through to relevant aspects of law, mathematics and economics.

Frasers Group increases investment in Hugo Boss

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Frasers Group has increased its investment in Hugo Boss.

In a statement issued to the London Stock Exchange this morning (24 October), the Shirebrook-headquartered retail group reported it now holds 4.3% of the iconic clothing giant’s total share capital and 20,089,000 shares of common stock via the sale of put options, representing 28.5% of Hugo Boss’s total share capital

This brings Frasers Group’s maximum aggregate exposure in connection with its acquired interests in Hugo Boss, with the common stock holding valued at the closing share price on 21 October 2022, to approximately £840m.

The board state that strategic investments Frasers Group makes offer new opportunities for The Company, whilst also helping to support the long-term future of the existing retail businesses, and the many thousands of jobs they sustain.

The news follows the firm’s recent acquisitions of Studio Retail Limited and Missguided. Frasers has extensive ambitions to grow the business internationally and this latest acquisition will help further that ambition.

Boris Johnson pulls out of leadership race, leaving Sunak in clear position to be next PM

In a startling move, Boris Johnson has pulled out the leadership race for PM, saying that although he had the necessary backing of 100 MPs (over 50 have come forward at this time, but not 100) he feels that it is “not the right time” to run for PM. Saying that the Conservative party needs unity and that Rishi Sunak did not accept his offer of withdrawing and granting him the position, Boris Johnson will not run. This has obviously placed Sunak in pole position to become the next Prime Minister, although Penny Mordaunt is said to be working to gather votes to challenge him.

£1.14 billion devolution deal to go to councils for approval

Detailed proposals about a devolution deal, and what it would mean for our area, are due to be discussed at key council meetings in around two weeks’ time. Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council are all due to decide whether to formally agree that a public consultation about the devolution deal proposal should go ahead. Nottingham City Council is the first to discuss the deal at its Full Council meeting on Monday 31 October, followed by Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council on 2 November and Nottinghamshire County Council on the 4 November. The leaders of each of the four councils signed up to work on a devolution deal on 30 August this year at Rolls Royce in Derby, after the Government offered the region a package of new powers and funding worth £1.14 billion. Since August, the councils have been working on agreeing a more detailed proposal, which includes more information about how devolution would work in our area. These proposals will be discussed for formal agreement at key council meetings and if approved, a full consultation would follow – giving residents, businesses and other organisations the chance to have their say on the plans for a devolution deal, which would see a new regional mayor and new type of combined authority created for the area from 2024. The deal would provide the region with a guaranteed income stream of £38 million per year over a 30-year period, and would cover around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country. Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council, and David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said in a joint statement:Formal agreement by each council to go ahead with a consultation is the next step towards securing a devolution deal. It is about us getting a better deal for our area and getting a fairer share for both counties and cities. It would mean more funding for our region, and the opportunity to have more meaningful decisions made here, near the people they affect, rather than in London, so they can be better tailored to local needs. “We don’t want to miss out on the advantages that devolution would bring, which other parts of the country have already benefited from. We’ve seen how devolution has given other areas more influence, a bigger presence, and helped them make the most of their strengths. “We want to make the most of every opportunity, and of every penny, that this deal would bring in. It could make a real difference to people’s lives. More and better jobs, more investment, economic growth, better transport, housing, skills training, an improved greener and more sustainable environment. These are the things we all want to see, as we work together for a better future for the East Midlands. “We often haven’t had the same level of funding or influence as other areas, and this is a big chance to turn that around and help us live up to our potential as a region.” If the devolution deal goes ahead, it would create the first of a new type of combined authority, which requires new legislation from central government. As well as the £1.14 billion, it would include an extra £16 million for new homes on brownfield land and control over a range of budgets like the Adult Education Budget, which could be better tailored to the needs of people in our communities. The devolution deal on the table is a level 3 deal, which offers the most local powers and funding. It would mean a new elected regional mayor, like those which already exist in other areas, who would represent both cities and counties. The role of the mayor would be to look at major issues affecting the whole region, give the area a bigger voice, and take advantage of local knowledge and expertise. The deal means that a future mayor and combined authority could:
  • Work towards Net Zero and cleaner air with new low carbon homes, retrofit existing houses with external wall insulation, promote the use of renewable energy, and protect and enhance green spaces, like areas for wildlife and green verges
  • Build on the region’s existing knowledge and expertise in green technology and promote the growth of a future low carbon economy by investing in related skills training at colleges and other training facilities
  • Set up and coordinate smart integrated ticketing and enhanced concessionary fares schemes
  • Work with Homes England to build more affordable homes, by using new powers to buy land and housing (with district and borough council consent)
  • Enhance the region’s economy by developing new commercial space to maximise opportunities
  • Work with national Government on initiatives to address homelessness, domestic abuse, community safety, social mobility and support for young people
  • Take advantage of economies of scale by using combined and devolved budgets to deliver more value for taxpayers and more cost-efficient services.
The four councils sent initial proposals to negotiate a combined devolution deal in March, after being named as pathfinder areas by the Government in February and then being invited to apply for a devolution deal. The councils have been working with the Government to develop details of the deal, alongside discussions with district and borough councils, businesses and other stakeholders. If the devolution deal is formally approved, the Government would pass legislation bringing a new mayoral county combined authority for the East Midlands into existence. The first election for a regional mayor for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham would be in May 2024. The regional mayor would lead the new combined authority, which would also include representatives from local councils, with decision making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands. Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations. The devolution deal would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area. The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.

Promote your business and make new contacts at the East Midlands Expo

Have you registered for the East Midlands Expo yet? If not, with just three weeks left until the long-established event, now is the perfect time to do so! A well targeted exhibition and networking opportunity, aimed at the construction, property, business, investment, finance, professional services and related B2B markets, the East Midlands Expo has everything you require for a great day of business generation, with the chance to meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road. Taking place at East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham on Monday 14 November 2022, the free to attend expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, will begin with exhibitor breakfast networking, with the exhibition opening to attendees at 9am. A seminar will take place between  directors Mark Rayers and Tony Goddard lined up to present ‘Sustainability and how engineering plays its part’.

For more information on exhibiting at the event click here.

To register to attend the event for free click here.

To secure tickets for the networking lunch click here.

From property agents to developers, architects, contractors, investors, PR firms, and more, see the list of current exhibitors here.