Lindum Group, a construction contractor based in Lincoln, has recorded a turnover of £198.8 million for the year ending November 2024, reflecting an increase of £12.6 million from the previous year. Pre-tax profits rose significantly, reaching £10.3 million, up from £8.1 million.

The company attributes its success to a culture of close teamwork and a decentralised management approach, which continues to drive performance. Lindum employs 633 staff, 507 of whom hold shares in the company.

The results follow the leadership transition after David Chambers’ retirement as chairman, with Freddie and Edward Chambers now at the helm. The company is committed to long-term growth, prioritising employee involvement and a client-focused, value-driven service.

Bradley Hall, a property firm established in Newcastle in 1988, has opened a new office in Birmingham as part of its strategic expansion into the West Midlands. The company, which already operates in various regions including the North East, Yorkshire, and the North West, aims to strengthen its presence in the commercial and residential property sectors in this growing market.

The Birmingham office will initially focus on RICS Red Book Valuations, with plans to broaden its services to become a full-service agency. Phil Bartleet, a commercial property expert with extensive experience in the sector, will lead the branch.

Bradley Hall’s recent performance includes valuing £1bn worth of residential property from March 2024 to March 2025. The firm has also been appointed to several major valuation panels, including HSBC, Handelsbanken, NatWest, Yorkshire Building Society, and Lloyds, providing services for lending, legal matters, and commercial property transactions.

The Birmingham expansion is part of Bradley Hall’s broader strategy to increase its footprint in key UK markets. Supported by a central infrastructure covering marketing, operations, HR, and finance, the firm aims to continue attracting top talent as it expands across the country.

Wattbike, a Nottingham-based company specialising in indoor performance fitness bikes, has been sold to Interactive Strength, a NASDAQ-listed firm known for its innovative fitness equipment brands CLMBR and FORME.

This acquisition creates a comprehensive fitness equipment portfolio with a strong presence in three of the world’s largest fitness markets: the US, Germany, and the UK. By leveraging Interactive Strength’s marketing and distribution capabilities, the deal is expected to significantly enhance Wattbike’s international growth.

Wattbike’s team, renowned for its high-performance indoor cycling equipment, is set to expand its reach with new product launches. The company plans to continue developing training solutions for athletes and fitness enthusiasts while also targeting the mainstream health and wellness market.

Interactive Strength’s acquisition of Wattbike aligns with its strategic goals to drive growth in the global fitness sector, particularly across the US, UK, and Germany, with further expansion into Asia.

According to new findings from Vodafone Business, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across Derbyshire are collectively losing £84 million annually to cyber-attacks. The surge in cybercrime has left many local businesses exposed, with nearly one in three (29%) reporting they were targeted at least once in 2024 alone.

The study showed that more than 10% of businesses in the region were hit with between one and five cyber-attacks, while 5% faced multiple attacks, with some experiencing more than ten. This translates to a loss of £1,559 per business each year.

A key issue is the lack of robust security measures. Many local businesses struggle with limited budgets and insufficient expertise, leaving them vulnerable to data breaches, system failures, and reputational damage. These challenges are part of a broader national problem, with UK small businesses collectively losing £3.4 billion annually to cyber-attacks.

The research highlighted several concerning trends. Over half of SMB employees (52%) have not received cybersecurity training, and nearly a third (32%) of businesses operate without adequate protection against digital threats. Furthermore, despite the growing risks, 38% of businesses invest less than £100 annually in cybersecurity. With remote working becoming more common—64% of companies have staff working off-site regularly—cybersecurity vulnerabilities are exacerbated by using personal devices for work, with 60% of companies allowing this practice.

The most common attacks reported include phishing, which affects 70% of businesses, ransomware (23%), and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks (20%). In light of these findings, some businesses are opting to restrict remote working for employees to mitigate the risks associated with cybercrime.

To address the escalating threat, Vodafone Business is emphasising the importance of SMEs investing in scalable, cost-effective cybersecurity solutions. The company also offers a complimentary one-month trial of CybSafe, a platform that leverages AI and behavioural science to improve cybersecurity awareness and practices within organisations.