Work has begun on a multi-million-pound project to build a brand-new permanent school in a Nottinghamshire village.
The Millside Spencer Academy is being built on former farming land on Rempstone Road in East Leake, as part of a £14 million investment in education in the village, led by Nottinghamshire County Council and its partners.
It is expected to open for the new school year in September 2023 and will eventually have a capacity for 315 primary places plus a 26-place nursery.
The new school – which will be run by Spencer Academies Trust and is being built in the heart of a new David Wilson Homes housing development called The Skylarks – has been planned as part of the County Council’s commitment to ensure children across Nottinghamshire are able to attend good and outstanding primary schools.
Students at Millside are currently being taught in a Temporary Learning Village, which has been provided by the county council and was opened last month, ahead of the new permanent building opening next year.
The new-build project is being sponsored by Spencer Academies Trust, designed and managed by Arc Partnership, and delivered through Arc’s construction partner Morgan Sindall Construction.
Sara Williams, head of pre-construction at Arc Partnership, said: “We are proud to be working in collaboration with Nottinghamshire County Council to design and manage the delivery of Millside Spencer Academy.
“From the start, we have been dedicated to providing an exceptional learning environment which can inspire and support more than 300 pupils.
“The school has been designed to be Net Carbon Zero in operation, incorporating sustainable elements to benefit both staff and pupils. This includes EV charging points and making the building 100 per cent electric through renewable energy sources.”
Sophia Thorne, principal of Millside Spencer Academy, says everyone at the school is looking forward to the new building opening next year.
She said: “Everyone in the Millside Spencer community is immensely excited about the completion of our permanent school in 2023.
“We are currently very much enjoying our Learning Village and the Forest School area with great views of the school being constructed.
“However, our new building will allow us to offer even more incredible opportunities, such as subject-specific learning areas, a whole school library, multiple outdoor play areas, and additional after-school clubs. We cannot wait!”
Richard Fielding, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said: “We believe that the spaces in which children learn have a huge impact on their future – our aim is to create modern learning environments pupils can be proud of and that will enable them to develop and grow. Millside Spencer Academy is a fantastic example of that, and we can’t wait to work with our partners to deliver the project.”
An organisation which is pioneering the development of nuclear power sources for space exploration has moved to Space Park Leicester.
The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission and is working with academics and industry partners to develop spacecraft systems for the European Space Agency that provide reliable, long-lived power for harsh environments.
It has created a process to extract Americium 241 from plutonium and repurpose it as fuel for systems developed by the University of Leicester, with support from the UK Space Agency, for use in future space missions.
NNL’s work is helping to stimulate jobs and growth and is cementing the UK’s position as a scientific superpower.
NNL account director, professor Tim Tinsley, said: “With the opening of an office at Space Park Leicester, we are committed to deepening our collaboration with the University of Leicester.
“This builds on 10 years of successful joint projects, delivering on our shared ambition for deployable space nuclear power.”
The move has been welcomed by Space Park Leicester, which was created by the University of Leicester to provide an inspirational base for space researchers and businesses.
Space Park Leicester executive director, professor Ambrosi, whose own work focuses on space instrumentation and space nuclear power systems, said: “The synergies between the UK’s world class space and nuclear sectors are exemplified by the long-standing collaboration between the National Nuclear Laboratory and the University of Leicester in the development of space nuclear power systems and in particular radioisotope power technologies.
“We are proud to welcome the National Nuclear Laboratory to Space Park Leicester as part of our expanding collaboration and we look forward to exploring new opportunities with NNL.”
New figures released by Nottinghamshire County Council have revealed that over 200 local businesses are providing services for the authority in contracts worth millions of pounds.
The council currently has contracts with 273 suppliers based in Nottinghamshire worth £135m.
Services provided by local suppliers for the council include catering, plumbing, and gardening.
Suppliers in Nottinghamshire make up 57% of the council’s total procurement contracts, with 39% from a local small or medium-sized business.
Councillor Richard Jackson, the county council’s cabinet member for finance, said: “It is great news we’ve been able to reach out to hundreds of quality local businesses to provide a range of services and tasks for our council.
“We always expect value for money, and the excellent services provided are a credit to the entrepreneurial spirit in our county.
“I’m especially pleased we have been able to engage so many local small businesses after a pandemic which caused countless challenges for our sole traders and entrepreneurs.”
The success at getting more local businesses onto the council’s supply chain comes from its 2019-2023 procurement strategy.
The strategy had called for 50% of contracts to be provided by local businesses.
The council’s Cabinet has now approved a new sustainable procurement policy to build on the work of its procurement strategy.
The new policy commits the county council to support thriving businesses and deliver environmental, social and economic benefits from its procurement choices.
Councillor Jackson added: “Our new sustainable procurement policy is crucial to our already existing procurement strategy and emphasises the social value of our contracts.
“When considering who will work for us in future, we’ll measure the environmental, social and economic impact of the procured goods and services.
“It will help build on the work we are doing with local businesses, for example, how we can use our procurement choices to get more young people out of work into a job.
“Of course, we will continue to spend taxpayers’ money wisely and support local communities through this new and exciting policy.”
Mansfield District Council is looking to launch a major competition inviting architects worldwide to design a significant new social housing scheme on a derelict site close to the town centre.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) would manage the competition to find an outstanding design for Mansfield’s White Hart Street area.
The council purchased land in this area in order to facilitate the regeneration of this key town centre site. The area has stood derelict for over a decade now. It previously had planning permission for a mixed retail and residential scheme in 2008, but market conditions meant this scheme was never taken forward.
The area subsequently became blighted and has, as a consequence, become a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Redevelopment of this area would strongly align with the council’s Growth, Aspiration, Wellbeing and Place priorities.
Cllr Marion Bradshaw, portfolio holder for safer communities, housing and wellbeing, is now being recommended to approve a decision on 21 October about appointing RIBA to manage the competition.
Last year she approved a decision for the council to purchase parcels of land in the area so that the site, as a whole, could be redeveloped for council housing.
A budget of £16.5m for this was approved by Full Council in 2019 as part of the council’s programme to build over 100 council homes.
She said: “We want to improve this derelict and blighted part of Mansfield and see something really special on this piece of land.
“It must be a development which respects its historical significance and the conservation area in which it sits but also looks to the future. It also needs to be a development which is environmentally sustainable and mitigates climate change.
“It will promote a safe place to live and, crucially, it must reflect the council’s available budget for this scheme.
“The redevelopment would represent a vital element of the masterplan which we are in the process of putting together for the town centre to map out a future path for growth and regeneration.
“A key vision of that masterplan is to make the town centre a place where people want to live because this will increase the footfall for retailers and improve the look of the centre, all of which, in turn, should act as a catalyst for external investment.”
If approved by Cllr Bradshaw on 21 October, the RIBA-managed competition would cost the council a maximum of £79,000.
The council believes that having such an eminent organisation managing the competition would give the council access to the RIBA’s global membership and attract high-quality design responses.
Having RIBA on board is considered critical in the eyes of many architects and would also bring rigour, credibility and prestige to the selection process, and reassurance that the competition would be managed to best practice standards.
It would also help to ensure the whole process of redeveloping the site is structured and auditable.
Cllr Bradshaw added: “Running a RIBA-approved competition would promote the district of Mansfield nationally and internationally and demonstrate that, as a town, it is progressive in its aspirations and open for business. It would bring with it a real atmosphere of excitement.”
The firm winning the competition would progress the design for planning permission – subject to approval by the Full Council of the business case.
The area to be redeveloped is located within the Bridge Street conservation area which contains buildings of historic and architectural merit. The homes built are expected to be a mix of housing types and would be added to the council’s stock of affordable homes.
It is anticipated the design competition would run between November 2022 to March 2023, with a decision on the winner made in April 2023.
After that, a detailed design would be drawn up, with a decision on the business case expected in September 2023.
If that business case is approved, it would be followed by a planning application in October 2023. If that is approved, demolition work could start in early 2024 and building work in July 2024.
FHP have secured another successful deal within Mansfield with the investment sale of Soak Interiors to a local occupier, achieving a net initial yield of 7.76%.
The unit comprises 4,715ft² of warehouse, office and ancillary space with a generous yard area. It occupies an elevated position on Rock Valley, just off the Mansfield Inner Ring Road.
FHP said the strong level of interest received on the property shows the freehold / investment market is still going strong despite the current economic uncertainties.
Amy Howard, surveyor at FHP Property Consultants, said: “It was great to see this deal cross the line for both parties who are now starting a new exciting chapter.
“The amount of interest received on this property from day one was great to see, and we managed to receive several credible offers at the asking price. It is reassuring to see that the demand is still there for the sub-5,000ft² freehold market.”
A data engineer who has created a regional business research and intelligence unit that will be used to drive more investment into the East Midlands has won a national award.
Harsh Shah, a knowledge transfer associate based at East Midlands Chamber, beat competition from 20 other finalists to be crowned with the Future Leader Award at the Innovate UK KTP Awards.
As part of the 27-year-old’s role, which was created last year in a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) between the chamber of commerce and De Montfort University (DMU), Harsh creates data-driven insights about the East Midlands economy that can be used to improve competitiveness and productivity across the region.
Harsh, who graduated from a DMU master’s degree in business intelligence systems and data mining in 2020, said: “I am overwhelmed to win this award, which is wonderful recognition for all the hard work we have been doing at the Chamber and DMU in establishing a regional business intelligence unit.
“I believe my drive, passion and integrity to be the best has enabled me to be recognised at national level and this is a fantastic personal achievement. It was never something I believed would be possible 18 months ago when I began the KTP, which has already accelerated my career prospects.
“It gives me great confidence to not only perform better in my role, but also highlights the work we are doing and validates the project – which aims to equip business leaders and policymakers with data-driven insights that will improve decision-making and ultimately drive more investment to the region.”
The Future Leader Award is given to associates who have shown “exceptional skills in driving and delivering innovation strategy, demonstrating great teamwork and outstanding leadership potential”.
Harsh began the two-year KTP in April 2021 with a goal to create a business research and intelligence unit that collates, analyses and utilises data-led intelligence in order to address the productivity gap and lack of inward investment across the East Midlands.
During this period, he has automated the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey – which gauges the health of the region’s economy across a number of indicators – and provided personalised results for participants.
Harsh also developed dashboards for a collective intelligence skills observatory (CISO) for Leicestershire as part of a trailblazer pilot for the Department for Education’s Local Skills Improvement Plan, which aims to put employers at the heart of skills delivery. The observatory enables businesses and further education colleges to better understand where skills gaps lie locally in order to improve training and education provision.
At the same time, he has presented at a national data strategy event hosted by Experian, developed reports used by regional media outlets to illustrate economic trends, and taken part in the Alan Turing Institute’s Data Study Group to resolve challenges for Siemens and Rolls-Royce, where he won the Data Driven Approach award for his enthusiasm and determination.
Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Harsh is a hugely deserving recipient of the Future Leader Award after demonstrating tremendous leadership skills in turning an idea into a commercially viable product, while also showing a real eagerness to immerse himself into the organisation and a commercial environment.
“More broadly, this recognition also helps us to demonstrate the power of data in business decision-making, as we firmly believe the insights we are creating will bring tangible rewards for the East Midlands economy by improving productivity and attracting inward investment.”
The Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC) has appointed a new member of staff to help the sector connect with younger audiences by championing the diverse career opportunities within the quarrying and mineral products industry.
Emily Noble joins MPQC as its future careers manager at its Eastwood offices near Nottingham. She is a qualified and experienced career development practitioner and careers advisor, with previous roles at D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, Derby College and Derby City Council.
Viv Russell, CEO of the Mineral Products Qualifications Council, says: “Emily has a great deal of experience from her previous job roles and qualifications; it’s clear that she is passionate about raising the aspirations of young people.
“MPQC is looking forward to benefiting from Emily’s experience, expertise and enthusiasm as she champions our sector. We wish her luck and are delighted to welcome her to our team.”
Emily’s new challenge at MPQC involves raising the profile of the sector and inspiring young people to become the next generation of mineral products professionals. She will form part of the team leading the ‘Minerals Matter’ initiative, working in collaboration with sector organisations to increase participation of industry ambassadors within education, and develop strategic partnerships to support and target key projects more effectively.
Commenting on her new role, Emily said: “I grew up in Derbyshire with family employed locally within the mineral products industry and saw first-hand some of the challenges faced by SMEs in the area. I’m looking forward to supporting industry and education to collaborate more meaningfully, and create impactful opportunities for young people, particularly from an earlier age if we are to create lasting change for the sector when it comes to future recruitment.”
Emily achieved her Master’s Degree in Career Education and Coaching at the University of Derby. She is a Member of the Career Development Institute, as well as a registered Career Development Practitioner. In her spare time, she enjoys clay pigeon shooting, walking and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Established in 1983, the Mineral Products Qualifications Council is a ‘not for profit’ membership organisation whose purpose is to fulfil the extractive sector’s need for a safe, competent and sustainable workforce through the setting and maintaining of standards and qualifications, ensuring quality training and assessment.
Work has started on national housing association Stonewater’s development of 148 new homes at Glenvale Park in Wellingborough, forming part of a larger urban extension of around 3,000 new homes to the north-west of the town.
Of Stonewater’s 148 new affordable homes, 74 will be available for social and affordable rent. There will also be 35 new homes available for shared ownership, and 39 being offered through the Rent to Buy scheme, allowing customers to rent a home at 80 per cent of the market rent, whilst they save towards a deposit and after five years, buy their own home.
Glenvale Park is a brand new neighbourhood for Wellingborough. It brings together six housebuilders who will each develop a parcel of land. Plans also include two new primary schools, a community hub, local shops, and green spaces for new residents and the local community.
Wellingborough has seen a recent increase in affordable homes being built year on year, with Stonewater’s new homes contributing to a total of 675 affordable homes at Glenvale Park, bridging the gap between the provision of, and demand for, affordable housing.
Stonewater has acquired the land and has contracted with Partner Construction to deliver the new homes, a mixture of houses and apartments, and will be supported by Ridge as Employers’ Agent. The project will utilise over £7m of Homes England funding.
Sustainability is a key focus of the site, aligning with Stonewater’s own ambitious low-carbon and energy-efficiency commitments. The houses will be fitted with air-source heat pumps that will ensure lower carbon emissions, and the site will also incorporate electric vehicle (EV) charging points.
As well as including additional trees within the development there are also plans to incorporate public art around the site, with the hope of engaging with the new community to assist with creating a sense of place through public art. It is expected that work will be complete by June 2025, with the first homes ready for occupation in Autumn 2023.
Chris Montague, director of development (East and North) at Stonewater, said: “We are thrilled to be starting work on this exciting new development, and to be providing such a large number of much-needed affordable homes for customers in Wellingborough.
“The variation of housing we’ll be providing at Glenvale Park will offer great choice for customers looking for a safe, sustainable and affordable place to call home, and I look forward to seeing work progress on our homes within the site.”
Geoff Brown, project manager, United Living New Homes, said: “We are delighted to have started building work at Glenvale Park. Working collaboratively with Stonewater and our delivery partners, we look forward to delivering high-quality, affordable new homes that will provide a welcome housing boost to the local community.”
A Derby accountancy firm has boosted its team with the appointment of a new head of operations and management accounts.
Experienced Amie Fellows has joined Vibrant Accountancy after spending almost seven years with Birmingham-based KPMG, where she worked with various-sized companies, covering a variety of industries and their finance needs.
Vibrant owner Bev Wakefield says that Amie brings a wealth of experience with her, and that clients will benefit from the appointment.
“We are absolutely delighted that Amie has joined Vibrant Accountancy and, with her, she brings knowledge of managing various-sized corporate management accounts,” said Bev, “she has bags of experience which will benefit our clients and she compliments our team perfectly.”
Amie, who lives in Burton with her husband Jake and two small children, said: “I enjoyed my time with KPMG but wanted a new challenge and something that was a little closer to home.
“I value the work/life balance that Vibrant Accountancy offer, and I admire their ethos; I didn’t want to work for ‘traditional’ management accountants after leaving KPMG. I wanted to work for a company where my views are valued and I feel appreciated, and Vibrant Accountancy ticks all those boxes.”
Amie, who tap dances with sisters Katie and Megan in her spare time, says that she is also looking forward to meeting clients.
“I’m very much a people-person and it will be nice to be able to go out and meet clients in person,” she said.
Amie’s appointment takes the Vibrant team to eight. Bev is hoping to add a ninth member imminently so that she can focus her attention on other areas of the business.
Ian Ball’s departure to Pride Park-based CoMech Metrology – Ian co-founded Vibrant with Bev in 2019 before she took over sole ownership last month – has meant new roles for the Vibrant team.
Bev said: “We have a strong foundation here at Vibrant, but September meant a reset for us. We have outsourced various aspects of the business including our HR and marketing.
“My vision for the future is to continue to make an impact on our clients, team and community and so we will be involved in more community events. We’ve committed to taking part in the YMCA Community Meal and have joined Derby County Community Trust as a partner.
“They fit our ethos perfectly and help people of all ages through various projects. It’s a great charity to be involved with.”
The University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering has continued its commitment to aspiring engineers following the major refurbishment of two state of the art workshop spaces.
The Rapid Prototyping (RP) and Engineering Applications (EA) workshops, situated on University Park campus, have undergone major upgrades as part of the Faculty of Engineering’s long-term strategy to revolutionise its digital manufacturing offering.
Simon Lawes, associate professor and course director for Mechanical Engineering, said: “While both facilities have existed for a long time, these upgrades will provide our mechanical and Product Design and Manufacturing students and researchers with brand-new facilities that will enable them to work in a faster, more sustainable way in an environment that mirrors those across the industry.
“As a centre for excellence in Additive Manufacturing, and home to one of the country’s biggest research groups, these new technologies provide researchers and students alike with a springboard to create more precise and complex designs, resulting in higher quality outputs that will really set them apart.”
The refurbishment included improving the accessibility of both workshops, the installation of 50 new 3D printers and further investment in other new technologies, such as Fuse 1 SLS Machines, Stratasys F170 Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) printers, a SwiftCut Pro plasma cutter, and a range of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinery.
Jason Young, technician in the Faculty of Engineering, said: “Technology is constantly evolving, which is why it’s crucial that we ensure our facilities are updated to reflect these advancements.
“The recent upgrade and refurbishment, along with the introduction of industry level automated machinery, offers our students the opportunity to enhance their design capabilities when producing physical components.
“Additionally, we now have a zonal workshop, which allows our students to have greater flexibility when it comes to producing manufacturing plans for project work, and have introduced offline programming solutions, allowing our students to simulate their designs for manufacture regarding material, tooling, and labour costs.
“All this combined means that our students now have the opportunity to produce parts with greater design freedom, while maintaining maximum efficacy, and all to an industrial level of accuracy and precision.”
The new facilities were officially opened in October, ready to welcome the latest cohort of students beginning their studies at the university.
The RP and EA workshops aren’t the first Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering facilities to have been modernised in recent months, after the product design and manufacturing studio was refurbished in September 2021, and there are more improvements in the pipeline over the coming years.
Simon added: “We’re already looking at the next part of our strategy to revolutionise digital manufacturing at the university, with our attentions now turning to the construction of a Virtual Reality (VR) lab. This is an incredibly exciting time for students and researchers in engineering and we’re looking forward to continuing to improve our facilities for future aspiring engineers.”
PharmaLex Group, the provider of specialised services for the pharma, biotech and MedTech industries worldwide, has announced a merger with Leicestershire pharmaceutical and healthcare services consultancy, NeoHealthHub Limited.
The agreement with NeoHealthHub (NHH), which was signed Thursday, 13 October and closes at the end of October, will be an important step in building a pan-European market access practice covering major markets, including the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the Nordics.
Founded in 2013, NHH supports its customers by offering innovative and comprehensive market access, data and capability development solutions across all phases of the pharmaceutical and healthcare brand lifecycle through its four business units – NeoNavitas, NeoN, NeoSypher and NeoOptima.
NHH has its headquarters in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, employing around 50 people.
“The merger is a good strategic fit for NHH because we share similar values and corporate culture with PharmaLex, built on an entrepreneurial spirit,” said NHH CEO Simon Doyle.
“Both our organisations support a model of thinking global but acting local, which for us means responding to the unique and complex needs of the pharmaceutical and healthcare marketplace. We have created an organisation and structure that allows us to operate in a truly agile way, maximising opportunities as they emerge. Through the merger, we will be able to build on those opportunities and offer extended services and expertise to our clients, while further expanding the client base.”
“The merger with NHH is a welcome step for both our businesses and we are delighted to welcome the talented and knowledgeable team of market access, data and capabilities experts,” said Pharmalex CEO Dr. Thomas Dobmeyer.
“By combining our expertise, we are better able to support our clients globally with their market access, data and capability needs and at the same time build a very successful local market access business that now includes the UK.”
With the East Midlands Bricks Awards over for another year, the event can now be re-lived through a new video of the evening.
Property and construction professionals from across the region gathered last month (Thursday 15 September) at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground for Business Link Magazine’s annual East Midlands Bricks Awards.
Recognising and celebrating those behind the changing landscape of our region, rewarding the very best companies, teams and individuals, the event offered the perfect opportunity to showcase the outstanding work carried out across the East Midlands over the past year and network with many of the region’s industry leaders over canapés and complementary drinks sponsored by Brooklands Service Group.
Highlights of the night saw John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, kick off the event with the keynote speech, Galliford Try Construction take home a hat-trick of awards for Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park, while Cawarden stole two awards.
Watch the event and see the list of winners below.
Victoria Golborn, Mather Jamie, Amy Bidell, Mather Jamie, Sue Alland, Mather Jamie, and Rob Day, Blueprint Interiors
Most Active Agent – sponsored by Blueprint Interiors
Winner
Mather Jamie
Runners up
OMEETO
BB&J Commercial
Alistair Branch, Stephen George + Partners, Phillip Johnson, Galliford Try Construction, Ben Bowley, Leonard Design, and Ben Sansom, Frank Key
Commercial Development of the Year – sponsored by Frank Key
Winner
Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park – Galliford Try Construction
Runners up
Etiquette Park – Clowes Developments
Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service joint HQ – Henry Brothers
Emma Attwood, Cawarden, and William Crooks, Cawarden
Responsible Business of the Year – sponsored by Press for Attention PR
Winner
Cawarden
Runners up
Arc Partnership
Phoenix Brickwork
Sarah Woolf, Sterling Commercial Finance, and Angie Cooper, on behalf of Glenvale Park
Residential Development of the Year – sponsored by Sterling Commercial Finance
Winner
Glenvale Park – Glenvale Park LLP
Runners up
The Rise, Southwell – Stagfield Group
Hindle House – KMRE Group
James Phillips, APB, Trevor Wells, Wells McFarlane, Richard Foxon, Newton LDP, Sam Jones, Newton LDP, and Richard Picton, Blythin & Brown Insurance Brokers
Deal of the Year – sponsored by Blythin & Brown Insurance Brokers
Winner
Wells McFarlane, APB and Newton LDP – sale of 460 acres of land in North Leicestershire, making way for a new garden village
Runners up
St James Securities – Phase Two of the Becketwell regeneration scheme in Derby – 3,500 capacity Becketwell performance venue with ASM Global
Morgan Industrial Properties Limited – acquisition of the former Ewart Chain site in Shaftesbury Street, Derby
Josh Spencer, HBD, Mark Evans, HBD, and Donald Ward, Ward
Developer of the Year – sponsored by Ward
Winner
HBD
Runners up
Hockley Developments
St James Securities
Steve Rayner, Rayner Davies Architects, and Laura Burton, OMS
Architects of the Year – sponsored by OMS
Winner
Rayner Davies Architects
Runners up
Swain Architecture
CPMG Architects
Nick Gregory, CPMG, and William Crooks, Cawarden
Excellence in Design – sponsored by Cawarden
Winner
St. Peter’s Gate renovation – CPMG Architects
Runners up
Health and Allied Professions Centre at Nottingham Trent University – Pick Everard
Brookside Farm – Chevin Homes
Alistair Branch, Stephen George + Partners, Ben Bowley, Leonard Design, Philip Johnson, Galliford Try Construction, and Lee Marshall, Viridis Building Services
Sustainable Development of the Year – sponsored by Viridis Building Services
Winner
Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park – Galliford Try Construction
Runners up
Refurbished HQ for LKAB Minerals – Scenariio
Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre – Chesterfield Borough Council, Whittam Cox Architects, Robert Woodhead Group
Nick Sanderson, RammSanderson, Emma Attwood, Cawarden, and William Crooks, Cawarden
Contractor of the Year – sponsored by RammSanderson
Winner
Cawarden
Runners up
Galliford Try Construction
Enrok Construction
Alistair Branch, Stephen George + Partners, Philip Johnson, Galliford Try Construction, Ben Bowley, Leonard Design, and James Pinchbeck, Streets Chartered Accountants.
Overall Winner –sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants
Galliford Try Construction
1 of 56
Guests network at the East Midlands Bricks Awards
Guests network at the East Midlands Bricks Awards
Lee Marshall, of Viridis Building Services, hands over the 2022 Sustainable Development of the Year award to Alistair Branch of Stephen George + Partners, Ben Bowley of Leonard Design, and Philip Johnson of Galliford Try Construction for Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park
Victoria Golborn, Mather Jamie, Amy Bidell, Mather Jamie, Sue Alland, Mather Jamie, and Rob Day, Blueprint Interiors
Thanks to all our sponsors for supporting the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022. Business Link Magazine looks forward to returning next year for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023!
Nottingham-headquartered recruitment and retention consultancy, Macildowie, has announced the latest step of its long-term growth plan with the acquisition of Signet Resources.
Founded in 2003, Maidenhead-based Signet Resources specialises in delivering permanent and interim recruitment & resourcing solutions in HR, marketing, accounting & finance and commercial operations.
The deal will see Macildowie acquire 100% of the shareholding of Signet, and Signet’s team, led by Managing Director Nicky Pusey and director Vanessa Pegg, will join Macildowie Group’s 75 strong workforce.
James Taylor, CEO of Macildowie, said: “We are very excited by the acquisition of Signet. The culture, values and business practices of the two businesses are very closely aligned making us a great fit for one another. That was a huge factor in identifying Signet as the first acquisition for the expanded Macildowie group.
“’Building Great Futures’ is a key part of Macildowie’s vision. We believe that this acquisition will enable both companies to deliver an even greater breadth of service to their already loyal customers and clients, while also enhancing the long-term career opportunities of all of our employees.”
Macildowie chairman John O’Sullivan has known both businesses for many years. He said: “Both Signet and Macildowie are part of the Elite Leaders recruitment network which I chair. When Macildowie started looking for a possible acquisition Signet sprang to mind immediately. I knew that the directors, Nicky, Vanessa, James and James would make an unbeatable executive team.
“They share the same passions for excellence and the wellbeing of their people. The fact that the operations of the two businesses fit like a glove made this a no-brainer.”
Nicky Pusey, Managing Director of Signet Resources, added: “Over the past 18 months Signet has grown significantly but we still felt that there was a lot more potential for the business. Having known John O’Sullivan for over 10 years when he approached us about a conversation with the Macildowie board we decided that we should explore the opportunity.
“It was critical to Vanessa and I that we work with a business that mirrored our values and passion for delivering exceptional service. We wanted to ensure that what makes Signet so special would remain intact, and we know that joining Macildowie will provide the strong leadership and back office support to enhance our offering for our staff and customers.”
Vanessa Pegg, director at Signet Resources, said: “Macildowie has a long-standing and well-respected heritage in the recruitment sector and, after meeting with James Taylor and James Stewart, their passion and expertise shone through. These characteristics will undoubtedly help us to build on the success our team has delivered. We’re delighted to join Macildowie and look forward to working closely with the whole team.”
A Nottingham company which has devised a blood test that could revolutionise management of tuberculosis (TB) has raised a further £2.4m to further develop the test and support clinical trials.
The funding for PBD Biotech has come from a consortium led by fund managers Mercia and Foresight Group, both investing from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, alongside the University of Nottingham and private investors.
TB is the world’s most fatal infectious disease after Covid – although treatable, it is difficult to identify carriers requiring treatment. PBD Biotech, which is a spin-out from the University of Nottingham, has developed a rapid screening test that can identify infection at an early stage.
Clinical trials at the University of Leicester have shown that its Actiphage® test is able to diagnose human TB before the patient develops symptoms. By enabling rapid screening of a population, it offers a breakthrough in disease prevention and treatment. Further trials of Actiphage are currently running in the UK, South Africa and Zambia.
The latest funding round follows a £2.3m investment in March 2021 to help the company validate a test for bovine TB. Due to strong commercial interest the focus has now switched to developing a test for bovine paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease and the human TB test. The company is in talks with a number of potential partners around the world.
Jane Theaker, CEO of PBD Biotech, said: “We are delighted to receive follow-on funding from this supportive group of investors. Since the last round in March 2021, clinical trials have shown that Actiphage could detect non-symptomatic carriers and identify those that would later develop TB. This breakthrough has excited public health professionals worldwide. The follow-on funding will be used to further develop Actiphage to address this global unmet need.”
Sandy Reid of Mercia said: “While TB is regarded as a disease of the developing world, it is a major burden globally with around 10 million active infections at any one time. PBD’s test not only detects the disease at an early stage, but could also be used to select the correct antibiotic and monitor patients undergoing treatment. The funding will help the company build further evidence of the test’s effectiveness.”
Ray Harris of Foresight added: “We’re delighted to again be supporting PBD as the team work to address one of the world’s most fatal diseases and make breakthroughs in disease prevention and treatment.”
The AMP, the £4 million flagship business development in Arnold Town Centre, has officially been completed and handed over to Gedling Borough Council.
The building will be the new home to several new business start-ups as well as the Post Office, who will be the first business to open its doors to the public. New businesses are due to be moving into the units, with terms on their leases being agreed. There will be a wine tasting experience outlet, a cat and dog accessory and treats store, a cake shop and a delicatessen to go alongside the Post Office, which has relocated from nearby Worrall Avenue.
Funding for the project came from Gedling Borough Council’s capital programme budget, boosted by a successful bid for £1.25 million from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund that supports town centre improvements. The project created around 40 new jobs through business employment and through the construction of the new building.
The AMP is an acronym of the famous Arnold Market Place but it can also mean amplification and amphitheatre, as the outdoor square will be a space used for events and entertainment. The name was chosen following consultation with local residents and businesses and after looking at several options, The AMP stood out as the obvious choice for this exciting project.
The building was constructed by developers G F Tomlinson, the company who previously built the council’s Café 1899 at Gedling Country Park. The design of the building has created a new eastern gateway into Arnold Town Centre thanks to a new public realm space that will be the central focal point for the new shopping area. The building has been designed to use less energy, use more renewable energy and reduce its CO2 emissions. The building has a number of energy efficient designs including 51 solar panels, natural ventilation points, and high efficiency LED lighting.
The 51 solar panels on the roof of the building will help generate an estimated annual yield of 14,924 kWh of power to the units. The building is also fitted with rainwater retention tanks that will be used to reduce flood risks and feed the semi-mature trees that are planted around the public realm to offset carbon emissions, contributing to the council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The project meant that Arnold Town Centre received the most significant investment it has ever had with up to £4 million allocated to the project as part of the council’s plan to revitalise the centre and create a new space that will help boost visitors to the town centre and support local businesses.
Gedling Borough Council purchased the land in 2018 and began work on the building in 2020. The site was the home of Arnold Market for over 50 years and, following an extensive consultation, the stallholders moved to nearby Eagle Square while the works were carried out and, thanks to its success, plans are in place for the traders to stay at the location, subject to consultation with the stall holders. The council’s future plans for the new public space will include increasing the use for community events. The council will also be looking at options for specialist markets, including evening and weekend markets.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “We are incredibly pleased to announce that the AMP building is officially complete and our new tenants will begin moving in to this wonderful new building in the heart of Arnold Town Centre. I would like to thank everyone involved in helping getting this ambitious project over the line, it has taken a colossal amount of work to get this done by Gedling Borough Council staff, G F Tomlinson and several other partners who all contributed to this project and made it a success.
“We made a manifesto pledge that we would revitalise the town centre and this will be the jewel in the crown for Arnold.”
Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said: “This new flagship building and public square will bring new business to Arnold and boost the economy for the existing businesses in and around the town centre. This is something that everyone can be proud of, not just in Arnold but also in our surrounding towns and communities.
“This investment, one of the largest investments there has ever been in Arnold, has come at a time when the council is still one of the worst affected councils in the country in terms of funding cuts from central government. We are incredibly proud that we have reached this remarkable milestone despite the significant financial pressures the council is under. The AMP is here and we hope residents and businesses will support it and be proud of the things we can achieve together as a community.
“We are also committed to revitalising and investing in our other fantastic local town centres and high streets across the borough. We are investing in Carlton Square, have secured a significant amount of funding to make our streets safer in Netherfield and have invested in a dedicated team working to support our small businesses across the borough.”
Confidence among East Midlands firms continues to decline as cost pressures – coupled with falling customer demand and access to cash – take a toll, new research reveals.
East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), which is delivered in partnership with the University of Leicester School of Business and gauges the health of the region’s economy, found the proportion of businesses expecting to record improvements in profitability and turnover over the coming year has fallen by 21% and 17% respectively between the second and third quarters of 2022.
A lack of optimism on what lies ahead is being driven by a decline in UK and overseas sales, as well as advanced orders, alongside an 18% negative swing in cashflow quarter-on-quarter.
The tightening grip of the “cost-of-doing-business crisis” – led by rising costs for energy, people, raw materials and fuel – means almost six in 10 firms now expect they will be forced raise their own prices, while intentions to invest and recruit are now sliding.
East Midlands Chamber director of policy and external affairs Chris Hobson said: “These results paint a difficult picture for businesses. Many of the sentiment indicators of how the economy is performing – those relating to investment intentions and confidence levels – have been trending downwards for a few quarters now.
“However, for the first time, demand indicators – how busy businesses are in selling their goods and services – have also dropped, both internationally and here in the UK. This is a concern as it suggests the impacts of inflation, especially the increasing volatility in energy markets and subsequent interest rate rises, is starting to dull activity.
“Cashflow is now worsening for more businesses than it’s improving for and, when considered with the well-publicised price pressures that are now at a critical point for many firms, this all points to the need for immediate action to support businesses.
“We also need a longer-term strategy in order to instil confidence and give them the encouragement they need to start taking more strategic decisions around investment.”
East Midlands Chamber QES Q3 2022 data
Key findings from the Quarterly Economic Survey Q3 2022 for the East Midlands included:
· Sales dropped between the second and third quarters of the year – falling by 22% domestically and 12% overseas – while advanced orders also fell by 19% in the UK and 1% internationally
· While there was a 4% rise in businesses increasing their workforce between the quarters, future outlook is less optimistic with a 9% slide in the proportion of firms expecting to add to their headcount
· This comes as two-thirds (66%) of businesses attempted to recruit in Q3 but, of this cohort, 82% encountered problems with filling vacancies – across a relatively even split of professional, skilled manual, unskilled and clerical workers
· A net 58% of businesses expect they will be forced to raise prices (down from a net 62% in Q2) as they grapple with rising costs for utilities, people, raw materials and fuel
· Cashflow, having been up for a net 4% of firms in Q2, is now down for a net 14% of businesses, marking an 18% negative swing, while opportunities for growth are in short supply with four in 10 (39%) at full operating capacity
· A lack of room at the margins means investment intentions continue to trend downwards – falling by 6% quarter-on-quarter for both plant and machinery, and training
· Business confidence has nosedived, with the proportion of businesses expecting improvements in profitability dropping by 21% and those anticipating a higher turnover falling by 17% between the second and third quarters
Businesses debate future prospects
The Quarterly Economic Survey Q3 2022 results were unveiled at an Economic Performance and Prospects Review event held at the University of Leicester School of Business yesterday (13 October).
It marked the launch of a new strategic partnership between the two institutions focused on economic thought leadership via research, skills data visualisation, business support and an annual State of the Economy Conference.
A panel of business leaders – comprising the University of Leicester’s associate dean for business and civic engagement Professor Mohamed Shaban, Galliford Try head of business development Neus Garriock, Freeths’ Leicester managing partner Mukesh Patel, Assist Consultancy director Sonia Baigent and Highcross Leicester senior general manager Jo Tallack – discussed the survey findings, how the cost-of-doing-business crisis is affecting their sectors and how policy can support firms.
Professor Dan Ladley, dean of the University of Leicester School of Business, said: “I’m very pleased to be able to launch the partnership between the East Midlands Chamber and University of Leicester School of Business.
“The data show these are potentially difficult times for businesses with challenging headwinds to navigate. It’s important in these times that we continue to do everything we can to support the success of our regional businesses.”
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) is pleased to welcome a new member to its executive team. Colin Butler will join the college later this month as Executive Director People and Culture with a brief to lead on workforce and organisational development.
Colin, who has a strong background in working within the further education sector, most recently for Loughborough College, is currently employed in a senior private sector HR role for Parking Facilities, part of Hill & Smith Holdings plc which manufactures sustainable infrastructure for transport applications.
He said, “I am excited to be joining NWSLC and welcome the opportunity to support the team across all its campuses to deliver the best possible experience for students. In my experience, this depends on building an ethos where employees are well-supported, enjoy coming to work and feel valued.”
With a background in retail management and more than 12 years in the logistics sector, Colin led the HR division of DHL Aviation in the UK and Europe, gaining industry plaudits for his work to develop maths and English skills in the workplace. In addition, Colin spent time teaching on a master’s level HR programme at De Montfort University in Leicester.
Colin has also worked for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust where he relished the opportunity to help employees deliver a high quality and memorable experience at this unique visitor attraction. From there, Colin moved on to become Vice Principal for People and Planning at Loughborough College in which role he led teams delivering HR, marketing, and student recruitment. He was Acting Principal in 2017 during Ofsted’s inspection of the college which recorded a ‘Good’ outcome with aspects of provision rated as outstanding.
Colin added, “I have worked in a range of industries, but my heart lies in education, so I am glad to be returning to a sector that I love. Further education makes such an important impact on the life chances and social mobility of young people and adults, and I am pleased to be able to work with NWSLC to ensure that individuals continue to benefit from a skilled and fulfilled college workforce.”
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive said, “We are looking forward to welcoming Colin Butler to the role of Executive Director People and Culture. I am sure that Colin will bring a wealth of knowledge from his previous experiences in further education and beyond.
“Our college relies on the energy and commitment of our dedicated staff and this appointment will help to ensure that we continue to support them in the best possible way so that our team can continue to deliver a fantastic learning experience for all our students.”
Leicester manufacturing firm Clements Limited has entered administration, after appointing Midlands-based advisory and accountancy firm PKF Smith Cooper to lead the process. Dean Nelson and Nick Lee, Business Recovery and Insolvency Partners at PKF Smith Cooper, were appointed as joint administrators on 4th October 2022.
Based in Leicester, Clements designed, manufactured and installed luxury retail interiors, as well as providing marketing, brand and logistical support to global manufacturers. The company experienced significant financial losses in 2020 and 2021 as a result of reduced demand, project delays and customer bad debt caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately Clements was unable to recover and PKF Smith Cooper was appointed to deal with the business and its assets.
Dean Nelson, Business Recovery and Insolvency Partner at PKF Smith Cooper, commented: “Creditors have been provided with the relevant information regarding the administration process, to enable them to partake in proceedings. We are in the process of dealing with all enquiries and working to assist the affected employees with processing their claims for statutory entitlements at this difficult time. We will strive to achieve the best outcome for everyone involved.”
Partner Caroline Bowler joins Rotheras’ dispute resolution team where she will specialise in equine law including disputes relating to the sale and purchase of horses and co-ownership of horses in addition to negligence claims predominantly involving the veterinary profession.
Caroline also has considerable experience in commercial litigation and property litigation matters. Her practice in property litigation has focused on disputes relating to rights of way and adverse possession. In the context of commercial litigation, she is regularly instructed on contractual disputes, partnership disputes and professional negligence claims against surveyors, solicitors and other professionals. In recent years she has been instructed on a number of high-profile matters related to peer-to-peer lending.
Caroline was previously a director and head of dispute resolution at Actons and has 15 years’ experience in litigation.
Caroline said: “I am delighted to be joining Rotheras. The firm has a reputation for providing an excellent service. Having known a good number of individuals from the firm for a number of years I have first-hand knowledge of the quality and calibre of their work. I am also aware that they are a down to earth and friendly bunch of people. I am excited to introduce my specialism of equine law into the firm in addition to bolstering the already strong dispute resolution team.”
Christina Yardley, CEO at Rotheras, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Caroline to the firm. Caroline has an outstanding reputation in the area of equine law as well as being an extremely talented commercial litigator and combines excellent technical experience whilst being approachable and thoroughly down to earth. A winning combination in my view.”
Staff members at an online flooring retailer based in Leicestershire did some DIY tasks of their own for the benefit of young residents at a local homeless charity.
Through its Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) programme, UK Flooring Direct employees made a visit to Hinckley Homeless Group, which provides accommodation and other forms of support for homeless young people between the ages of 16 and 25.
Ashleigh McKenna, HR advisor, and Maya Choto, buying admin assistant, did a four-and-a-half-hour decorating stint with Louise Adams and the Hinckley Homeless team in the corridors and stairways of Lawrence House, which is used by residents throughout the day and into the night.
The day was a success, with both important tasks completed during their time at Hinckley Homeless, which is based in Wood Street in Hinckley.
The Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) programme ensures every member of the UK Flooring Direct team is given a fully-paid day to offer their services to a charity or good cause.
As part of the scheme, UK Flooring Direct has partnered with Hinckley Homeless Group, RSPCA Coventry and District Branch, Shine A Light and Make Good Grow.
Ashleigh McKenna, HR advisor at UK Flooring Direct, said: “Both myself and Maya had a really enjoyable time joining Louise and the Hinckley Homeless staff for the day, and are pleased that our hard work has gone a long way towards the upkeep of Lawrence House, a place that provides shelter and warmth for young people throughout the year.
“We were kept really busy, and were motivated to do something good for fellow members of the Hinckley community who are facing challenging circumstances and to also support Hinckley Homeless and their incredible work in the local area.
“Through our ESV programme, we are keen to support all four other organisations that we’re working with as part of the scheme as much as we can, and are already discussing new opportunities for the coming months.”
Louise Adams, project manager at Hinckley Homeless Group, said: “Given our day-to-day responsibilities to our residents, it’s easy for practical DIY tasks to be forgotten about, so we’re grateful to both Ashleigh and Maya for helping us with some much-needed renovation work.
“I was really impressed by the speed in which they worked and their commitment to the jobs at hand – which even included Maya getting covered in paint at one point!
“Some of our previous residents and the 12 young people that are currently in our care are understandably nervous and anxious so we really want to make Lawrence House as homely and friendly as possible.
“The positive and helpful relationship we are developing with UK Flooring Direct is encouraging, and we are keen to collaborate again and support our residents in any way we can as we all start to turn our attention towards the autumn.”
Hinckley Homeless Group welcome young people from across the Hinckley and Bosworth area, as well as individuals in need from Nuneaton, Blaby and areas of north west Leicestershire.
To find out more about Hinckley Homeless Group, including how to donate and the application process for a place at Lawrence House, visit www.hinckleyhomeless.com.
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