£1 billion in support announced for businesses most impacted by Omicron
With the rise of the Omicron variant set to see many businesses struggle over the coming weeks, the government has revealed it will be providing one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises for businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors in England.
At what is often their most profitable time of year, many pubs and restaurants have seen cancellations and reduced footfall as people have responded to the rise in cases ahead of Christmas, with Hospitality UK reporting that many businesses have lost 40-60% of their December trade, often their most profitable month.
Around 200,000 businesses will be eligible for business grants which will be administered by local authorities and will be available in the coming weeks.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said: “We recognise that the spread of the Omicron variant means businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors are facing huge uncertainty, at a crucial time.
“So we’re stepping in with £1 billion of support, including a new grant scheme, the reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and further funding released through the Culture Recovery Fund.
“Ultimately the best thing we can do to support businesses is to get the virus under control, so I urge everyone to Get Boosted Now.”
To support other businesses impacted by Omicron – such as those who supply the hospitality and leisure sectors – the government is also giving a more than £100 million boost to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) fund for local authorities in England.
As increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases means more workers taking time off work, the government is also reintroducing the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS).
The SSPRS will help small and medium-sized employers – those with fewer than 250 employees – by reimbursing them for the cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences, for up to 2 weeks per employee. Firms will be eligible for the scheme from today and they will be able to make claims retrospectively from mid-January.
To provide continued support to the cultural sector, £30 million further funding will be made available through the Culture Recovery Fund to support organisations such as theatres, orchestras and museums through the winter to March 2022.
Responding to the Chancellor’s announcement of new financial support for hospitality and leisure businesses, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “These measures will provide some welcome respite to many of those businesses that have been hit hardest by the latest Covid-19 measures.
“The Chancellor and his team has engaged with the British Chambers of Commerce in talks over the past week, considered the experiences of business communities including in the East Midlands, and the proposals we put to them.
“We are pleased the Chancellor heard our call for additional grant funding for hospitality and leisure businesses, which will provide some much-needed support in the face of this increasingly difficult trading period.
“The festive season is vital to the survival and prosperity of hospitality and leisure businesses in particular. Having missed out on the opportunity to maximise income last year, a second cancelled Christmas may have been devastating without the necessary financial backing.
“Clarity and speed will be needed to ensure these grants are paid out swiftly to help these hard-pressed firms weather the next few weeks.
“While these measures are a positive starting point, if restrictions persist or are tightened further, then we would need to see a wider support package, equal to the scale of any new measures, put in place.”
Grant writing service merges with Loughborough counterpart
Inventya Grants Limited has completed a merger with Loughborough-based Cresco Innovation Limited.
The merger will allow Inventya to “further enhance [its] combined offering of innovation and growth support to [its] clients via increased grant writing services.”
With over a decade of grant writing experience, Cresco’s team of bid writers has raised more than £30million in grant funding for clients in the last three years.
Aldo De Leonibus, CEO of Inventya Limited, says: “We are delighted to have completed this merger, as it will allow us to offer our enlarged customer base an enhanced service to further support our mission to help innovative companies bring their products and services to market in the UK and internationally via funding, finance, R&D tax credits and consultancy.”
Jo Derbyshire of Cresco Innovation Limited says: “This is a move driven by the collective vision to work proactively on behalf of our clients, drawing on our experience to maximise both bid and tender success with our commitment to support innovative growth and myself along with the team are excited to be joining a larger group to provide a greater range of client services.”
For more than 10 years, Warrington-headquartered Inventya Group has helped more than 2,000 businesses grow and raise more than £160million in finance. The merger will increase staff members to 75+ and provide Inventya with two main bases of operation in the UK.
Work to start on next stage of Midland Main Line electrification
A month after announcing £96 billion of rail investment for the North and Midlands, work is starting on the Integrated Rail Plan with the launch of the next stage of Midland Main Line electrification.
Main works to electrify the Midland Mainline between Kettering and Market Harborough will start on 24 December 2021, laying the foundation for the planned upgrade of the line all the way to Sheffield and Nottingham and setting the starting gun for quieter trains, greater decarbonisation, better connectivity and more local services across the region.
Today (21 December 2021), on a visit to the Leicester hub of Network Rail contractors SPL, the Transport Secretary saw wiring gantries being built for the Midland Mainline and met with staff to mark the launch of the biggest ever government investment package for the North and Midlands, which will boost opportunity and support job creation across the regions.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ”Last month, I promised we would get on with delivering the Integrated Rail Plan by Christmas and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
“Today marks the beginning of a transformation of rail journeys for the Midlands and the North, where we will slash journey times and build better connections between towns, cities and everywhere in between.
“Under our plans, people won’t have to wait 2 decades for better services. This unprecedented investment will deliver better railways sooner.”
Maria Machancoses, Chief Executive Officer of Midlands Connect, said: “It is great to see the government putting the Integrated Rail Plan into action so quickly after the report was released. Extending the Midland Main Line electrification is an early Christmas present to the region and is the first step towards giving the East Midlands the transport infrastructure it deserves.
“Our job now is to build the infrastructure around it with HS2 trains coming to Derby and Nottingham through East Midlands Parkway and our flagship project the Midlands Rail Hub progressing well, too.
“Today’s news is testament to local councils, businesses and MPs who have successfully made the case for upgrades on the Midland Main Line for years and the Department for Transport for working with us. Today is a good day for the Midlands as spades start to go into the ground.”
Paul McKeown, Investment Director for Network Rail’s Eastern Region, added: “It’s our pleasure to welcome the Secretary of State to Leicester. This next phase of electrification will bring real benefits to passengers and the communities we serve in the East Midlands. Teams will be working throughout Christmas to install the equipment which will carry the electric wires as far north as Market Harborough.”
East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) Chief Executive, Scott Knowles, said: “Electrifying the Midland Main Line is one of the biggest infrastructure priorities for our region, so it’s fantastic to see some real progress finally being made with work beginning – a welcome early Christmas present for the East Midlands economy.
“After the huge disappointment of the HS2 Eastern Leg being scaled back significantly, once more leaving the East Midlands at risk of being structurally disadvantaged compared to the west of the country, this is a great opportunity for the Department for Transport (DfT) to demonstrate it is serious about delivering much-needed infrastructure in our region.
“It will also offer some confidence to potential investors that our region is a great place to spend their money, which ultimately benefits businesses and residents across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire because investment begets investment.
“However, it must be remembered that we were promised upgrades to this key rail route many years ago and we are merely playing catch-up. This is also just the first small step of a major project, so it’s important we now have a full timetable and clear milestones for the delivery of the entire Midland Main Line electrification.
“Timescales in the Integrated Rail Plan suggested it won’t be completed until 2030 at the earliest but we will be pushing the DfT to speed this up because after years of uncertainty over the future of our rail infrastructure, we can’t afford to waste any time.”
Consultation launched on proposed Workplace Parking Levy in Leicester
People are being asked to give their views in a public consultation over a proposed Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) which could help fund a radical overhaul and long-term modernisation of Leicester’s public transport, cycling and walking networks.
Over the summer Leicester City Council carried out initial consultations into a possible scheme, and now more detailed plans for the WPL have been published.
An extensive 12-week public consultation has now been launched, giving people and employers the chance to find out more details about the proposed WPL and how it would work, and to comment on the scheme. It runs until March 13, 2022.
The WPL would be citywide and would play a vital role in bringing forward a comprehensive programme of transport improvements across Leicester.
The improvements are key to meeting tough environmental and air quality targets set by both the Government and the city council itself, as well as dealing with congestion and connecting new housing developments with sustainable transport.
Under the WPL, most employers with more than 10 spaces would pay £550 per space per year for a licence to provide car parking for their employees. The high number of small businesses in Leicester means that around nine out of 10 are too small to have to pay.
The income from a WPL could be around £95million over the first 10 years, and would enable the city council to match-fund with other grants to invest up to £450million. It would mean the council could plan for long-term transport investment rather than just relying on uncertain Government funds.
The WPL is designed to encourage people who travel into the city regularly for work to use alternatives to cars for their daily commute, while financing the improvements needed to ensure the city’s public transport, cycling and walking networks provide realistic alternatives to car travel.
Plans for a WPL were featured as part of the Council’s Draft Leicester Transport Plan 2021-2036, published in the summer, which sets out priorities in meeting the city’s transport needs over the next 15 years. Transport priorities a WPL would help fund include:
- Over 400 high-quality electric tram-like buses by 2030, running on 25 Mainline services across city neighbourhoods, and five express Greenline commuter services linking six park and ride sites.
- Giving buses priority on key routes to ensure they run regularly and frequently, using tickets which can be used across different bus services, and featuring real-time bus information.
- Affordable bus fares with discounts for elderly, disabled, young and unemployed people and the ability for all travellers to get the ‘best fare’ on any journeys across the city.
- A comprehensive network of cycleways linking existing city centre routes to local neighbourhoods.
- Investment in the railway station to ensure good regional and national connections and to build on the £22m of funding recently secured to revamp the station.
2022 Business Predictions: Heath Roberts, Operations Director at Axess Systems
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Heath Roberts, Operations Director at Denby-based Axess Systems, who shares his thoughts on remote working in 2022.
One of the best things about our industry is it gives us a real insight into how the world of work is evolving, through the demands of our clients.
Before Covid, our order book showed us that staff coming into the office on their daily commute and sitting at a desk was still set to be the norm for the vast majority of companies. This meant their IT needs were, by and large, focussed on the technology being consumed on their premises.
However, so much has changed over the past year and with the PM advising us to work from home again – if we can – remote working or, once restrictions ease, hybrid working, will continue in 2022.
There has been a huge rise in businesses implementing the remote working solutions we supply at Axess Systems, working with Citrix, Microsoft and Dell Technologies, to deliver a digital workspace which allows staff to securely work from anywhere, on any device and any network. And these enquiries will, I predict, increase further in 2022.
While initially we saw large organisations implement remote working systems, SMEs are now getting on board, finding that there are cost-effective options available for them too and, rather than spending thousands of pounds upfront on servers and storage, the company can pay for what it uses monthly.
This will be a big deal in 2022 and beyond. This is the future of work, whether or not the virus stays around, and we all need to start prepping now. Whatever the eventuality.
easyJet and Rolls-Royce to collaborate on future aviation sustainability research
easyJet and Rolls-Royce have confirmed they will be working together on research into industry-wide sustainability solutions for commercial aircraft.
The study, which will commence in January 2022 and run for up to two years, will seek to explore alternative energy and power solutions, including low carbon and zero-emission technologies, and their application for aircraft.
The study will include analysis of wider elements of the aviation energy and operational ecosystem, including fuel production, transportation, storage and handling.
The airline and engine manufacturer are working together to further develop knowledge of these topics in relation to both electrical and hydrogen-based power systems.
For further insight and understanding, both companies intend to involve a wide range of expertise, including energy providers, airports and aviation safety regulators.
David Morgan, director of flight operations, easyJet, said: “easyJet remains absolutely committed to sustainable flying and a zero-emissions future. We know that technology is a key driver to achieve our decarbonisation targets.
“Disruptive technologies such as electric and hydrogen propulsion show great potential for short-haul airlines like easyJet and we look forward to collaborating with Rolls-Royce to support bringing this technology to maturity as early as possible.”
Jason Ash, head of product development – large engines, Rolls-Royce, said: “We know that Sustainable Aviation Fuels already provide a drop-in solution, and so will have the most powerful impact on decarbonising aviation and achieving Net Zero by 2050.
“But we also want to better understand other forms of propulsion, energy and power and their potential benefits along with the challenges in operation. We look forward to working closely with easyJet to increase our understanding in these areas.”
New institute of technology will lead the UK’s digital and green revolution
Pandemic rattles East Midlands business confidence – again
The confidence and resilience of East Midlands businesses that held up well during the roller-coaster journey through 2021 is facing another dip over the impact of Covid this winter.
Grant Thornton UK LLP’s Business Outlook Tracker surveyed c.600 mid-market businesses every other month during a year that began in full lockdown and was followed by a gradual exit from restrictions up to ‘Freedom Day’ in July.
Optimism in the East Midlands about the country’s economic prospects averaged 72% over the year, matching the national average. One of the biggest dents in confidence was recorded in the penultimate survey, conducted in late September and early October, with 16% of businesses in the region describing themselves as ‘pessimistic’ about the future of the UK economy.
September’s panic buying and resulting fuel shortages also led to the year’s most marked setback in regional confidence, with 18% of businesses in the East Midlands saying they were ‘pessimistic’ about their ability to grow revenues.
The latest round of views were gathered during the initial outbreak of the Omicron variant, just prior to the announcement of the Government’s Plan B measures. Pessimism in the nation’s business landscape was evident, with more than a quarter (26%) of firms in the East Midlands being unwilling to express optimism in the UK economy.
Across the UK, confidence around revenue growth within businesses peaked in the summer, (with 83% expressing optimism) before plunging 17 percentage points to 66% by December. The East Midlands ended the year above the national average for the same metric at 82%, resurging from only 66% of businesses expressing optimism in the autumn.
Dave Hillan, partner and practice leader at Grant Thornton UK LLP in the Midlands, said: “It’s not an over exaggeration to say that 2021 has been a year like no other, and the twists and turns we’ve seen in our survey are testament to the rapidly changing landscape that businesses in the East Midlands have had to cope with.
“Unfortunately there’s still more on the horizon to be dealt with, ranging from COVID-19 restrictions, higher inflation levels and interest rates, supply chain shortages, labour concerns and rising costs.
“Many, especially in the tourism, retail and hospitality sectors, will be wondering what more can be thrown at them! However, we know that the East Midlands’ business leaders have proven themselves to be exceptionally resilient, agile and innovative since the first lockdown began and they will have a lot of valuable experience to draw on as they face the challenges of 2021.
“With the right government support and by leaning into the region’s many strengths we know that it won’t be long before businesses in the East Midlands are feeling optimistic again.”
First phase at Nottingham trade park fully let
The first phase of trade counter units at the Teal Trade Park scheme in Nottingham is now fully let with a line up which includes Screwfix, Howdens, Tool Station, Trent Valley Windows, Trent Vehicle Charging and PaintWell.
The final two units on the scheme are now under offer with details to be revealed shortly.
The second phase of the scheme is set to be completed in April 2022 and three of the units have already been pre-let.
The Teal Park scheme comprises two terraces of trade counter units which have prominence to the Colwick Loop Road and sits adjacent to the Persimmon Housing development which is due to deliver some 800 houses surrounding the scheme, alongside a new school, care home and Aldi Supermarket.
The completion of the Gedling Relief Road is anticipated for Spring 2022 which provides further accessibility to this location which will effectively form the eastern loop road of Nottingham.
Further units are set to be delivered in the Summer of 2022 where FHP and Phillips Sutton, acting on behalf of Northwood Urban Logistics, will be offering units from 9,000ft² to 35,000ft² for further trade, warehouse and industrial occupiers.
Iain Taylor, director at Northwood Investors, said: “We are very excited to have made our recent acquisition of Teal Park at a time when there is chronic lack of supply in the area. Teal Park is able to cater to a wide range of occupiers who will be able to adapt the units for a variety of uses.”
Mark Tomlinson, director at FHP, said: “We are delighted to have put together such a strong trade line up for this scheme within weeks of practical completion of the first phase and we look forward to working with further Tenants on the scheme in the early part of next year.
“With the amount of development going on in this locality and the new housing being delivered in the immediate location it isn’t surprising that we have brought forward such good levels of interest in the scheme to date.”
Brodie Faint of Phillips Sutton said: “We are very pleased to see the quality of occupier that the scheme has attracted, especially as we have been involved with this site from the initial acquisition. It is testament to the strength of the area, with new housing schemes, road infrastructure and now Teal Park contributing.
“With limited supply in Nottingham and the surrounding areas, we look forward to securing further complementary occupiers for the second phase which will be completed in April 2022.”
Innovative new skills research
Employer call to action to support innovative new skills research with new pilot being launched along side the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce.
For the purpose of this pilot we are seeking businesses in the following sectors to participate: Are you a manufacturing, logistics or sport & physical activity, employer based in #Leicester or #Leicestershire?
We want to hear from a range of people including frontline staff, operations and support staff, team leaders, managers, HR departments or learning and development professionals.
Working across the Leicester and Leicestershire area, the East Midlands Chamber and other partners are looking for employers of all sizes to support a data gathering project to help to share the future of skills training in the region. This is part of the government funded Local Skills Improvement Plan – one of just eight pilot projects taking place around the UK, putting local employers at the centre of skills provision, building stronger links with local colleges and training providers.
The success of this initiative is dependent on the willingness of employers to engage and participate in the completion of data gathering and workshop activity.
It will just take a couple of minutes of your time each day to take part, and you’ll be helping to make technical skills training more responsive to the needs of employers in our area.
If you’re interested in finding out more then we’d love to hear from you – please email lsip@emc-dnl.co.uk for more details!
Chamber website link: Leicestershire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) – East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) (emc-dnl.co.uk)
Manufacturing activity strengthens, but stock adequacy hits another record low
UK manufacturing output growth in the quarter to December accelerated to its fastest pace since July, according to the latest monthly CBI Industrial Trends Survey.
The survey of 258 manufacturing firms saw output increasing in 15 out of 17 sub-sectors, with growth being mostly driven by the food, drink & tobacco and motor vehicles & transport equipment sub-sectors.
Total order books in December were judged to be ‘above normal’ to a similar extent to last month’s record high, while export orders were rated as broadly ‘normal’.
However, manufacturers’ inventory positions deteriorated further in December, with stock adequacy of finished goods worsening to a new record-low position for the second month in a row.
Respondents also said they expect price pressures to remain acute in the next three months.
Anna Leach, CBI deputy chief economist, said: “UK manufacturing demand remains strong, and output accelerated to meet this demand in December. However, behind the scenes, firms are battling pressures on a number of fronts.
“Stock adequacy of finished goods worsened to an all-time low for the second month in a row, and continued expectations for sharp price growth are a further challenge for the sector.
“The spread of the Omicron variant will have been a blow to business confidence. However, firms will welcome the Government’s decision to move from isolation to testing as a method of controlling the virus without unduly impacting their ability to operate.”
Tom Crotty, group director at INEOS and chair of the CBI Manufacturing Council, said: “While it is positive that manufacturing activity has remained strong, we have also seen a further worsening in stock adequacy of finished goods. At a time of continuing global supply chain difficulties, labour shortages and material shortages, the government should seek longer-term solutions that promote growth and investment in UK manufacturing.
“On Covid-19, the government must offer clear guidance in good time for manufacturers to continue operating safely as the country grapples with the Omicron emergency.”
Senior associate at Ashby property consultancy voted Midlands chair of key industry association
A senior associate at a property consultancy has been voted Midland’s chair of a key pipeline industry association.
Jenny Occleshaw, of Fisher German, has become the Midlands chair of the Pipeline Industries Guild (PIG), the only association worldwide to cater directly for the needs of the pipeline industry.
She was voted in at the association’s regional AGM, succeeding Rachel Bridge, also of Fisher German.
Jenny joined Midlands PIG in November 2015 as part of its Professional Development Network (PDN) for young professionals, becoming chair in 2019, before moving up to the main branch committee in 2020 as deputy chair and secretary.
She is set to focus on sustainability and achieving net zero during her tenure as chair, looking at how innovation, new technologies and sharing best practice can help achieve sustainability across the pipeline industry.
Jenny is an integral part of the infrastructure and sustainable energy planning team at Fisher German, and is based at the firm’s Ashby office, providing planning advice to corporate and private clients working in water, waste, gas, electricity and sustainable energy.
She said: “I am very pleased to be voted in as chair at what is an extremely exciting time for the industry.
“Fisher German has a strong connection with the Guild, with Rachel as outgoing Midlands Chair, planner Antonia Wyatt as the current PDN chair, and a number of PIG members across the firm.
“As we look forward to the net zero targets there needs to be a shift towards new ways of working in the pipeline industry to ensure there is sustainability throughout the supply chain and at every stage of a development.
“This includes everything from the materials we use to ensuring that the project itself is sustainable, taking into consideration new regulations around biodiversity net gain.
“We need to adapt across all areas and make use of new technologies and innovations to achieve net zero targets.
“The Guild is a fantastic platform for sharing knowledge, and I will be facilitating events and networking opportunities to ensure members can share ideas and best practice across their different disciplines.
“I am really looking forward to my new role and collaborating with members as we all work towards the same sustainability goals.”
Dates announced for Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2022
Following on from the success of Innovation Week in June this year, dates have been announced for 2022 with the focus on innovation due to spread across a fortnight to accommodate the wide range of events.
It has been announced that Leicestershire Innovation Festival will run from Monday, 14 February to Friday, 25 February 2022. The celebration of solving problems by thinking differently will be launched officially with an event at Space Park Leicester on Valentine’s Day and continue until Innovation Friday 12 days later. The Innovation Awards will take place on Thursday 24 February.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, Chair of Leicester Innovation Board, explained: “There are so many innovative ideas and projects in Leicestershire, which simply won’t all fit into five days. Last time we found that some events were competing against each other, so this year we would like our audience to have the opportunity and flexibility to see everything to be inspired to create their own innovation culture within their businesses.
“For the Innovation Festival we are inviting anyone who wants to share their innovations to organise an event and we will support by adding it to the official calendar and publicising it through the Business Gateway website and partners. This is a great opportunity for Leicestershire businesses to showcase their successes to a very wide and influential audience.”
The Innovation Festival is a partnership between Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, Leicestershire’s three universities, Innovate UK Edge, Midlands Engine and the Business Gateway.
Sonia Baigent, Chair of the Business Gateway Board, added: “The launch event at Space Park Leicester will be focused specifically on encouraging innovation in our Manufacturing sector. However, during the Festival we expect to see innovation highlighted in lots of different sectors and applications such as automotive, food and drink, textiles, medicine, and lots more. Every business – big and small – benefits from innovation, and that’s part of our message.”
Any organisation that would like to organise an event for the Innovation Festival should email peter.allen@bizgateway.org.uk before Christmas.
Further information will be published shortly on the innovation pages of the Business Gateway website: www.bizgateway.org.uk
Agency MD reacts to impact of interest rate rise and outlook for 2022
Purpose Media Managing Director, Matt Wheatcroft, reflects on the impact of the interest rate rise and looks ahead with some useful insights for 2022.
When asked what they think about the current economic and political landscape there are no doubt plenty of business owners saying “it’s tough” – except most are probably using a much stronger expletive instead of ‘tough!’ The rise in mortgage interest rates is already leading to a more cautious approach from banks towards borrowing and credit limits which in turn will impact both commercial and personal customer spending. Couple this with the stresses of the employment market and the clouds of perfect storm are already forming. Problems getting staff for roles in retail, logistics, food and drink and healthcare have been repeatedly highlighted, but the same issues are happening within the marketing profession as businesses battle to retain customers and market share. The demand for people with specialist digital marketing skills and experience and the salaries being offered has gone sky high – in fact, it’s gone to another galaxy! Companies which had already embraced digital marketing strategies within their marketing toolkit wanted more – and those who previously thought them unnecessary realised that lockdowns, store closures and people working from home required radical changes to their marketing approach. Businesses have been forced to make changes in order to counteract the loss of in-store and face to face interactions and the brand profile lost from traditional sponsorship or advertising at empty venues. Those affected have simply had to embrace the use of websites to sell online or offer click and collect services, as well as use email marketing, social media and digital PR in order to communicate with customers. Consequently, the battle for talent to meet this demand means that not a day goes by when marketing agency bosses don’t hear reports of a team member getting a call from a head hunter. If the combination of these dynamics adds to the likelihood of inflation (which I think it will), I fear there is a risk is that employees who jumped ship for inflated salaries might find themselves the first casualty when their new employer looks to rationalise their overheads – regardless of industry sector. So my advice to those looking to jump ship is to really consider if the grass really is greener on the other side? Would it be a better long term option to show a little bit of loyalty and stand by your current employer – particularly if they’ve treated you fairly over two of the worse years you will probably ever have experienced. As a business our saving grace has been the fact Purpose Media did everything to protect the financial and mental well-being of our staff has strengthened employee and client relationships. Also, a key part of our recruitment strategy has been to develop and nurture a good proportion of our talent by offering apprenticeships. The fact we can offer a structured career path has helped create a great place to work and lots of loyalty and many apprentices progress to be part of the senior management team. Offering these opportunities also gives me a lot of personal satisfaction as it is this generation of learners who has been most impacted by the last two years.Digital marketing agency wins helicopter filming contract in Swiss Alps for refrigeration company
The video production team from Derbyshire-based full service digital marketing agency Purpose Media has won a contract to film and photograph the delivery by helicopter of a refrigerator to a remote location in the Swiss Alps on behalf of global commercial refrigeration company, True Manufacturing.
Over the last 4 years Purpose Media has been helping the company develop its UK and European marketing strategy and has successfully launched its new brand message and communication strategy to establish True’s ‘Passion for Cold™’.
Day one of the contract in Switzerland involved filming True products in use in a commercial bakery, a commercial kitchen and a busy restaurant. The final day of the project involved filming and photographing the delivery of a refrigerator by helicopter to a restaurant in a remote location in the Alps.
Olga Beck, Marketing Manager EMEA at True Refrigeration, said: “The team at Purpose Media went above and beyond for us and we cannot thank them enough for their hard work across two intensive days. They project managed their time perfectly to scope out the scene and plan each day’s filming. The finished film and photography is something quite extraordinary and has certainly helped to demonstrate True’s ‘going above and beyond’ brand values.”
Claudio Davanzo, Creative Director at Purpose Media, said: “This was an incredible experience for the team. We’ve gone from working next door to the Peak District to filming in the Swiss Alps. There were challenges with the weather, but the team managed to get the shots they needed, and I’m pleased to say the end product is a triumph. Our team have certainly shown their versatility on this project.”
Nottinghamshire funeral firm unveils £350,000 plan to transform Eastwood’s historic police station
A Nottinghamshire funeral firm will soon be able to host services in its own purpose-built chapel thanks to an ambitious £350,000 renovation scheme that will give a town’s 19th Century police station a brand-new purpose.
Gillotts Funeral Directors has unveiled its plans to create a 20-seat chapel alongside a number of other new facilities on the ground floor of the building in Eastwood, which was built to serve the town in 1878 but has stood empty for more than four years.
The company, which is based next door in Nottingham Road, bought the police station three years ago and was recently granted permission by Broxtowe Borough Council to carry out a conversion which will ensure the building continues to perform a community function.
Under the plans, Gillotts will create multi-purpose spaces, including three chapels of rest, one of which will be large enough to hold intimate funeral ceremonies when only a small number of attendees are expected. There will also be facilities for families to prepare their loved ones for burial or cremation themselves, which is an important requirement of certain faiths.
An existing vehicle entrance between Gillotts’ current premises and the police station will be filled in and converted into a reception area, and the existing funeral home will be renovated to include two family rooms and more office space.
The expansion of the Eastwood site is also necessary because of its role as the headquarters for the wider Gillotts group, which also operates funeral homes in Kimberley, Selston, Heanor and Stapleford. Clients from any of its funeral homes will be able to make use of the new facilities.
Joanne Hutsby, a partner in Gillotts, says that the police station conversion is three years in the making and will follow other ambitious schemes to convert community buildings that the company has undertaken.
This includes a successful £300,000 renovation of the ground floor of the former United Methodist Free Church chapel in Main Street, Kimberley, which was turned into a funeral home six years ago, and the conversion of Selston’s former police station five years ago.
She said: “Eastwood Police station is a part of the history of the town and so we’re really pleased to be able to announce plans which will ensure that it will soon have a role in the lives of the community again.
“Changing trends and the lockdown has meant that many families prefer to have smaller, intimate funeral gatherings and our plans for a larger multi-purpose chapel will give them somewhere they can hold a service before their loved one is taken to be buried or cremated.
“It’s a first for Gillotts, but it’s another sign of how we are adding new facilities to keep up with what families are looking for when they set about planning their loved ones’ funerals.”
The police station, which has a more modern extension stretching around the corner into Oxford Street, was replaced in 2018 by a new station co-located with Eastwood Town Council just 150 yards away, on the site of the former Post Office.
Logistics REIT acquires duo of East Midlands properties
Urban Logistics, the specialist UK logistics REIT which recently completed a £250 million equity raise and moved to the Main Market in December, has acquired four assets, using proceeds raised, for a total consideration of £28.6 million.
The value accretive assets include three immediately income-producing properties and the forward funding of a development project.
Two of the properties are in the East Midlands, including a distribution depot at Elland Road, Leicester. The 27,115 sq ft site is a parcel delivery hub let to the Royal Mail Group. The purchase price paid was £3,180,000 at a NIY of 5.0%.
A warehouse at Caswell Road, Northampton was also acquired. The 22,783 sq ft unit is let to Tuffnells Parcel Express until 2031. The purchase price paid was £5,600,000 at a NIY of 5.7%.
The company further snapped up a warehouse facility of 117,031 sq ft near the airport in Dundee, occupied by Hermes Parcelnet, and entered into an agreement to forward fund the development of a new logistics unit in Sheffield. The agreement is subject to planning, and the development is expected to complete in November 2022, and will comprise a warehouse of 131,500 sq ft.
Richard Moffitt, Chief Executive, said: “We’re pleased to confirm our continued deployment of capital following the close of our recent oversubscribed equity raise. This is testament to our team’s ability to act swiftly and reliably on deal execution.
“As previously stated, we have an excellent pipeline of “last mile / last touch” logistics assets to acquire and the team will be working hard over the coming months, investing in those quality assets that will be accretive to shareholder value, with further acquisitions expected before the end of the year.
“Our strategy of acquiring mid-box last mile logistics assets, in key locations, with excellent transport links has not altered since inception in 2016. We acquire properties which are key to our tenants’ operations, and we continue to create additional performance through active asset management and improved environmental performance.”
Morris Homes agreed as development partner for latest phase at Ashton Green
A housing developer has been appointed to deliver the next phase of building at a landmark regeneration site in the north of Leicester.
Leicester City Council has selected Morris Homes as its development partner for the next parcel of housing development at Ashton Green – major project to create a new neighbourhood of up to 3,000 homes, along with community facilities, green space and retail.
Morris Homes is one of the largest independently-owned house builders in the country and will deliver a new village centre with around 380 new homes, including 114 affordable homes, a supermarket, some smaller shops and attractive open space.
The city council has agreed to sell to Morris Homes 46-acres of land across two plots bordering Ashton Green Road.
This will be the third parcel of land developed for new housing at Ashton Green. Morris Homes was also the council’s development partner for the first phase of building, completing the construction of 100 new homes in late 2020. All these homes are now occupied.
The new homes will be contemporary in style, similar to the first phase, and will include a mix of three, four and five-bedroom family homes and two-bedroom apartments. The homes will meet the environmental standards for Ashton Green and will also incorporate well-designed landscaping with high ecological value and sustainable urban drainage.
Morris Homes aim to secure planning approval next year and will begin work on site in 2023, with the first of the new homes expected to be completed later that year.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Morris Homes were the first to commit to developing at Ashton Green. Their appointment to deliver a third phase of new house building, with much-needed affordable homes, will help maintain the momentum of this vital regeneration project.
“Appointing a development partner to deliver another 380 homes is an important milestone and represents significant further investment in our growing city.
“The ambitious programme of house building at Ashton Green is already making a valuable contribution to the number of new homes that are needed in Leicester – and it will ultimately contribute greatly to the economic prosperity of the city.
“Over the next five years, we expect to see developers invest an additional £150million at Ashton Green, and deliver more than 1,000 additional new and affordable homes.”
Mike Gaskell, Chief Executive of Morris Homes, said: “We at Morris are delighted to be partnering with the city council on this important next phase at Ashton Green which will provide much needed houses and facilities to the local community. We have an excellent working relationship with the council and our shared aim is to provide an exemplar development,”
Leicester City Council is the principal landowner and promoter of the Ashton Green development. It has already delivered substantial highway infrastructure improvements including new walking and cycling routes, traffic calming measures, new bus facilities at Beaumont Shopping Centre and major road building schemes.
Most recently, the city council led on the delivery of a series of new spine roads to help unlock a further 40 hectares of future housing development land at Ashton Green, backed by £10million of government funding from Homes England.
Construction of another 307 houses is already underway by Tilia Homes, which began work earlier this year.
Some 3,000 new homes are planned in total as part of the overall development of Ashton Green, and it is expected that 30 per cent of these will be affordable homes for rent or shared ownership.
Derbyshire company staff write letters of festive cheer to people lonely at Christmas
Employees at a Derbyshire company have given a huge boost to a campaign designed to lift people’s spirits by sending them personalised letters.
The Give … a Few Words campaign was set up during the Covid pandemic in 2020 to try to reach out to isolated people by matching them up with volunteer writers who would send them a letter with a personal touch. Letter recipients were initially from care homes but the campaign has now expanded to include those who are isolated in other settings, as well as families going through a tough time who may appreciate the boost a letter can bring.
Lubrizol, a company with branches all over the world including at Hazelwood near Belper, has given the campaign huge support with more than 40 employees signed up to write letters to people they have never met, including writers from Mexico and the USA.
The campaign has recently launched a festive #Letters for Christmas drive to reach out to people who may be alone, or otherwise struggling, during the festive period – and a team of Lubrizol employees have been taking part.
One of them is Jagienka Harrison, from Allestree, who knows a thing or two about the importance of letter writing. When she arrived in the UK from her native Poland aged 19, Jagienka relied on letters to keep in touch with her family.
Jagienka said: “When I first moved to England in 1999, the Internet wasn’t a thing and I used to write letters to people. I used to try and ring my mum every now and then but it cost a lot more in those days. Letters were great and I used to receive a lot of them.”
When writers take part in the Give … a few words scheme, they are given some details about the interests of the person receiving the letter, which may range from handicrafts to sport, history or even a love of jokes! The writer then crafts a personal letter which is sent to the charity’s post box in Huddersfield where it is then forwarded to the recipient – and only positive content is allowed! They are also able to write an email – the idea is just to communicate personal positive messages through the power of the written word.
Jagienka, an HR administrator for Lubrizol, said: “I think it’s a great scheme. It pushes you a little bit! What I always think about, especially over Christmas last year, is that although my grandmother is no longer alive, if she had been, she would have felt very lonely in Covid times on her own, I’m sure, and she would have loved to receive a letter from somebody.
“I just think that it doesn’t cost anything apart from a piece of paper and a stamp but you might just make somebody’s day.”
The idea of the Give … a few words campaign is that it is not intended to be a long-running pen pal scheme, which may make participants feel the pressure of long-term commitment, but rather, a one-off letter.
Founder Sharron Wilkinson, of Huddersfield, has now set up the campaign as a community interest company.
She said: “Some people receiving these letters have been in tears. They are overwhelmed. There is something really, really special about receiving a gift of something and there is nothing expected in return.
“Care homes have had such a tough time. Residents have had a tough time. A letter gives everybody a lift.”
Sharron said Lubrizol’s support for their campaign had been “amazing”, with letter writers from its branches overseas having got involved outside the festive season too.
She said: “Lubrizol has really, really embraced this. They have been involved from really early on. We are highly appreciative of their support and kindness.
“Some people are on their own, that’s the reality. Or they might be having a tough time. It’s just a really nice thing to be able to do to give some people a bit of a lift, and a bit of a smile.”
For more on the Give … a few words campaign, see https://thegive.co.uk, phone 07498 818838 or email hello@thegive.co.uk
2022 Business Predictions: Andrew Mair, partner and head of BDO LLP in the East Midlands
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Andrew Mair, partner and head of BDO LLP in the East Midlands.
There’s little doubt that the last 12 months have continued to test the resilience of the East Midlands business community. Impacted by the emergence of a global pandemic in 2020 and its lingering presence, regional businesses have also had to contend with the fall-out from Brexit – adapting the way they operate to manage pressures on domestic and international supply chains, input price inflation, worker shortages and additional red tape and regulation.
The challenges have remained consistent throughout 2021, but the way businesses have dealt with those issues has evolved. East Midlands businesses have remained optimistic about the rate of recovery, have committed to delivering on growth strategies and have stayed focused on critical business issues that transcend COVID-19, such as ESG.
The recent emergence of a new variant has reminded us all that the pandemic is an ever-present threat to businesses and the way in which they operate. According to our latest Rethinking the Economy survey of 500 medium-sized businesses, leaders in the East Midlands fear supply chain disruption will affect their ability to offer the usual range of products and services, impacting end of year trading. Nearly half of companies in the region are planning to increase the prices of their goods and services as a result.
Despite these pressures, more than a quarter (27%) of companies in the region expect to see their revenues return to pre-pandemic levels within three to six months. That sense of optimism translates into plans for 2022, with nearly a quarter (23%) of East Midlands companies surveyed prioritising investment in international expansion, with one in five Midlands businesses looking to drive growth into the US next year.
M&A opportunities have continued to rank highly in terms of investment priorities in 2021, and we expect this trend to continue into next year. It’s fair to say that the regional marketplace has rebounded from a turbulent 2020, with the uplift in activity leading to eager and cash-rich investors willing to pay over the odds for businesses, skewing valuations.
Reassuringly, the fundamental market dynamics remain steadfast, with the appetite of corporate acquirers, private equity, alternative investors and open debt markets showing no signs of abating. The key is finding a good home for the ‘wall of money’ that’s currently available in the regional market.
Sectors to watch in 2022 are technology, which will remain at the forefront of activity, biotech, pharmaceuticals, life sciences and telecoms. The good news for the East Midlands is the re-emergence of ‘forgotten’ sectors, such as automotive and aerospace, as well as hospitality and leisure, which have all suffered at the hands of the pandemic.
One thing is certain in 2022 and that’s the ongoing debate about the threat of climate change, the environment, the depletion of natural resources and the role that businesses have to play in helping to achieve the stated aims of our own and other nations. As a region that has a rich heritage in manufacturing and exports across the world, the East Midlands has a real part to play in the ESG movement – whether that’s by prioritising the green agenda or focusing on achieving net-zero emissions. The efforts to combat climate change will create real changes to business models, operational costs and regulation – and corporate strategies will have to evolve to manage the shifting landscape.
There’s much to digest from 2021 and much to consider for 2022, no more so than the growing emergence of modern, collaborative working, and the transition for many to an agile-workforce. For now, businesses will have to balance the pressures of supply chain disruptions, geopolitical risks, the continuing fall out from Brexit, price inflation, and labour shortages – factors that have and will continue to influence day-to-day operations.
