Nissan has announced the launch of affordable on-board bi-directional charging on selected electric vehicles from 2026, following a successful collaboration with the University of Nottingham.
The initiative forms a key step towards its vision of creating a sustainable energy ecosystem.
The Vehicle to Grid (V2G), or Vehicle to Everything (V2X) technology, which allows EV (electric vehicle) owners to use electricity stored in their car’s battery to power their homes, or sell it back into the grid, will launch in the UK initially, followed by other markets in Europe.
The project progresses the commitment made in Nissan’s business plan, delivering differentiated innovation that enables the EV transition, while unlocking new revenue streams. It also supports the company’s long-term vision, Ambition 2030, to create a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world.
The project is underpinned by Nissan’s extensive experience in V2G, with around 40 pilot projects conducted worldwide throughout the past decade.
Following a successful year-long project at the University of Nottingham, Nissan has become the first car company to gain G99 Grid code certification with an AC-based solution, needed to supply electricity into the UK national energy supply.
The University of Nottingham has hosted Nissan on campus for the past year to allow them to run their testing and space to experiment. Staff with significant research experience in V2G have supported the project, and its integration within energy systems.
The University of Nottingham was also pivotal in the trial, providing a base of operations at its on-campus Creative Energy Homes, a 8-home micro-grid research test bed, and supporting academic research.
Under the banner of Nissan Energy, the company’s aim is to roll-out V2G technology across markets in Europe and beyond, empowering consumers with either AC or DC-based V2G solutions, in alignment with local infrastructure and regulatory requirements.
By using Nissan’s on-board bi-directional V2G technology, customers can cut the annual cost of powering an EV by 50%. The same technology can also reduce net CO2 emissions from charging by 30% per year, per EV for the average UK household.
EVs equipped with V2G technology can play a crucial role in integrating and increasing the mix of renewables into the energy supply, by storing electricity generated by wind or solar, and directing it back into the grid when needed, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Professor Lucelia Rodrigues, Chair in Sustainable and Resilient Cities at the University of Nottingham, said: “I’m delighted that our collaboration with Nissan has enabled such a significant breakthrough that will transform the future of electric mobility and contribute to more efficient and resilient energy systems.”
She continued: “This is a great step forward in the sector and will hopefully be the start of seeing such developments across other companies and countries as we move towards cleaner methods of energy and transport.”
Hugues Desmarchelier, Nissan Vice President, Global Electrification Ecosystem & EV Programs, said: “The technology we are bringing to customers is a potential game-changer for how we view the car.
“Not just as a means of getting from A to B, but as a mobile energy storage unit, capable of saving people money, supporting the transition of our energy systems away from fossil fuels and bringing us closer to a carbon-free future.
“Nissan is proud to democratise technology for the benefit of society. The breakthrough in an on-board solution for two-way charging will be a substantial reduction in the cost of integrating a future EV into your energy supply, and the ability to leverage the car as a source of income over its lifecycle.”
Nissan is continuing to work with the university, and other partners, to achieve the necessary grid certification in other markets, develop a seamless user experience and expand the technology availability to more customers.
Chairperson of Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania region, Guillaume Cartier, said: “One of the big challenges faced by society today is energy supply – how do we make it affordable, reliable and clean.
“At Nissan, we see a future for our customers where their energy comes from the car on the driveway – not only the power station – fully integrated, flexible and cleaner.” Final phase completes at Beauchamp Business Park
Practical completion has been achieved on Phase Two of Beauchamp Business Park, a new commercial development in Kibworth, Leicestershire.
The development has been delivered by Clowes Developments and its team including IMA Architects, TanRo, Millward Consulting Engineers, Gateley Legal and Postins Project Services. Phillips Sutton and TDB Real Estate have been the agents marketing the scheme.
Beauchamp Business Park is situated on a 15-acre site located on the outskirts of Kibworth between Leicester and Market Harborough on the A6. The site features a series of freehold and leasehold industrial units ranging from 1,270 sq ft to 16,272 sq ft.
Phase One, which completed back in July, saw over 80% sold before completion. This boosted Clowes’ decision to begin Phase Two.
Kevin Webster, Associate Director at Clowes Developments, said: “We are delighted to have achieved Practical Completion on Phase Two at Beauchamp Business Park.
“Phase One has proven to be a great success with occupiers and investors and with deals already agreed for several of the units in Phase Two we are certain that popularity will continue. I now look forward to seeing it fully operational and a thriving business park over the coming months.”
Clowes Developments retained agents TDB Real Estate and Phillips Sutton for Phase Two of the scheme.
Sam Sutton, Director at Phillips Sutton, said: “We are thrilled with the success of Phase One at Beauchamp Business Park, with 100% take up. As we move into Phase Two, we are excited to see continued interest, with several units already under offer.
“This growth not only highlights the strategic importance of our location, but the demand for good quality freehold units in Leicestershire.”
Jack Brown, Associate Director at TDB Real Estate, added: “It is fantastic news that we have now reached Practical Completion of Phase Two of Beauchamp Business Park.
“With Phase One being so popular with both local businesses and investors we anticipate Phase Two will continue this trend. The Units all look fantastic, and present really well in a market which has a shortage of good quality stock.”
Phase Two has seen the creation of two additional terraces and a semi-detached unit to be used for B1 and B2 use class, ranging in sizes from 2,271 sq ft to 16,272 sq ft.
Armsons Barlow and Jackson Purdue Lever support Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance with Harvest Festival Food Drive
Derby-based project managers, construction cost consultants, and building surveyors, Armsons Barlow have teamed up with engineering consultancy Jackson Purdue Lever to organise a Harvest Festival Food Drive in support of the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4T).
The initiative is part of Armsons Barlow’s on-going commitment to the organisation, which they selected as their annual charity earlier this year.
Over the past few weeks, both companies have been collecting essential non-perishable food items for DF4T, which has been a crucial lifeline for those facing food insecurity in the Derby community.
The items have been collected from the local business community as well as other companies in the construction industry from further afield with donations including cereal, tinned soup, rice, pasta, biscuits, tinned fruit, tea, coffee and biscuits.
Originally established as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance has since become a longer-term solution to addressing the root causes of deprivation and poverty in the area.
The charity now supports people in Derby who are experiencing food insecurity, through food provision, signposting, support, and advice. To date, more than 241,868 items have been distributed via the charity’s central storage unit on Ascot Drive in the city.
In May of this year, Armsons Barlow raised £2,700 for the charity at their annual golf day at Kedleston Park Golf Club.
Commenting on the food drive, Josh Toon, Director of Armsons Barlow, said: “Our partnership with Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance is incredibly important to us, and we’ve seen firsthand the difference they make in addressing food insecurity in the city.
“Thanks to Jackson Purdue Lever for joining us on the initiative and all the businesses and individuals who have supported our Harvest Festival Food Drive. We look forward to planning more events in the coming months to support DF4T as well as other local charities.”
Andrew Purdue, Director of Jackson Purdue Lever, added: “DF4T has done fantastic work over the past four years to help tackle food poverty in Derby, and our food drive with Armsons Barlow has been a great way for us to show our support.
“We are proud to support DF4T’s mission and would encourage the business community and the general public to come donate whatever they can to support the charity.”
Paul Brookhouse, Senior Manager at Derby Food 4 Thought, added: “We currently support with around 1800-2000 food parcels a month and spend around £8,000 to £10,000 a month on food to keep our partner food providers stocked up, so donations are needed just as much now as when we launched the charity at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
“Thanks to Armsons Barlow and Jackson Purdue Lever for their support of DF4T, which enables us to continue providing essential support to those people across the city who need it most.”
Bakery ‘Hungary’ for success lets Burton premises
Rushton Hickman has let 335 Uxbridge Street in Burton to Sweet Hungarian Kiss Ltd, a bakery offering authentic Hungarian cakes and a variety of baked goods.
The ground floor premises are situated in a popular secondary location, close to its junction with New Street. The property benefits from convenient on-street parking and a welcoming sales area alongside useful storage, providing Sweet Hungarian Kiss Ltd with both functionality and charm.
Eva and her business partner began as a home-based venture, initially supplying cakes to local shops around Burton. Thanks to positive feedback and growing demand for their offerings, the bakery has rapidly expanded its product line to include celebration cakes, solidifying their position in the local market.
Eva expressed her enthusiasm about the new premises, saying: “We began our search for a location to expand our business and that’s how we discovered Rushton Hickman and 335 Uxbridge Street. The moment we stepped inside, we knew it was a perfect fit for us.”
Stephanie O’Leary, the agent who facilitated the letting, said: “We are pleased to have been able to help Eva secure her first premises. It has been a pleasure working with her and we believe that the location on Uxbridge Street complements her business really well.”
Vehicle hire company falls into administration
Swadlincote-based PT Hire, which provided HGV truck, lorry and commercial vehicle hire services, as well as maintenance solutions, has entered administration.
It worked with businesses and vehicle operators nationwide on commercial vehicle procurement needs and at the time of administration the company operated a fleet of 450 vehicles.
The company had faced challenging operating conditions following mechanical issues impacting a substantial proportion of its fleet which resulted in cash flow difficulties that ultimately impacted its ability to provide a service solvently.
Richard Bloomfield, Ian Corfield and Nathan Jones of specialist business advisory firm FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of PT Hire on 7 October 2024.
13 employees have been made redundant, with a small number of employees retained to assist the administrators.
Richard Bloomfield, partner at FRP Advisory and joint administrator of PT Hire, said: “Despite being a trusted supplier across the sector for many years, mounting pressures resulted in the business being unable to meet its financial obligations, and regrettably, this has meant ceasing operations.
“We are now focused on supporting the employees affected to file claims with the Redundancy Payments Service.”
Housing development site sold in Ripley
BB&J Commercial has sold a prime residential development site in Ripley, Derbyshire.
Acting on behalf of the landowners, BB&J Commercial facilitated the sale of the 3.10 acre site, which had the benefit of detailed planning consent for up to 34 new dwellings located on Peasehill Road.
The site is situated close to major transport routes like the A38, A610, and M1, making it an attractive option for developers.
The successful buyer was Futures Housing Group, a provider of affordable housing in the region.
Mark Richardson, Partner at BB&J Commercial, said: “This site attracted a lot of interest, which is not uncommon when dealing with land sales. However, as with many land transactions, it required some careful negotiations and perseverance to ensure the deal was successfully completed.
“We are particularly pleased that the site has been acquired by Futures Housing Group, whose commitment to providing affordable housing aligns with the growing need for homes accessible to all.”
Chesterfield-headquartered IT solution specialist snapped up
Advania, a portfolio company of Goldman Sachs Alternatives and one of the largest providers of IT services in Northern Europe, has acquired Chesterfield-headquartered CCS Media, one of the largest independent IT solutions providers in the UK.
The acquisition aligns with Advania’s strategic focus on expanding both its footprint and its capability within the UK market.
The acquisition will enable new and existing customers of Advania and CCS Media to access deep and broad expertise within IT-services and to transform core business processes, optimise spend and secure operations through a single service provider.
Advania UK’s class leading positioning with Microsoft as a top-tier cloud transformation and AI enablement partner, holding all six cloud solution designations, twelve specialisations and Azure Expert MSP status, combined with CCS Media’s expertise on the provision, supply, implementation and support of the broadest range of technology products offers customers a complete portfolio for digital transformation services backed by comprehensive service experience and extensive industry accreditations. In 2024 alone CCS Media have won awards from Dell, HPE, Lenovo and Logitech.
Hege Støre, Group CEO of Advania, said: “I’m very excited to have CCS Media join forces with Advania. CCS has a strong and proven track record of growth, customer relationships and delivering cutting-edge IT solutions across the UK market. Together with the Advania UK operation, we are certain that this investment will further accelerate our growth and elevate our position in the UK market.”
Terry Betts, CEO of CCS Media, said: “The CCS Media Leadership Team is immensely excited to unite forces with Advania and extend an even greater depth of expertise and services to our loyal customers across the UK. CCS Media was on a journey to develop more comprehensive solution offerings for our customers and the transaction will hugely accelerate this trajectory.
“This acquisition will also benefit our employees, offering wider opportunities for growth and development at such an exciting time in the industry. Like Advania, people are at the heart of our business and our shared culture and customer centricity was a key driver for the deal to progress.
“The extensive capability of the combined business, and particularly Advania UK’s class leading partnership with Microsoft, will enable us to address a broader range of customer needs from devices & infrastructure, to strategy, cloud transformation, AI, and managed services.”
Michael Bruun, Global Co-Head of Private Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, said: “We and our co-investment partners are very pleased to welcome CCS Media into the fast-growing Advania platform and to support the company in further scaling Advania’s operations and offering. The acquisition of CCS Media will create a differentiated and highly compelling end-to-end proposition for the UK market.”
Nine deals in nine months for BDO as East Midlands market remains robust
Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO LLP, has advised on nine deals in the first three quarters of the year, with a combined deal value of nearly £900 million.
The BDO deal advisory team has advised on a number of high-profile deals in the last nine months, working alongside a host of local intermediaries, including regional lawyers, private equity houses and banks.
Regional deals include: providing M&A sell-side and tax advice on the sale of Chesterfield-based Utopia Tableware to Steelite International; providing buy-side financial and tax due diligence to Derbyshire-based Clinigen Group on its acquisition of Kinesys Consulting; advising on the divestment of the retail arm of Kennelpak in Nottingham; advising LDC Private Equity on its investment in Mansfield-based Integrated Doorset Solutions and Fire Door Inspection Solutions, providing commercial due diligence and M&A advice; as well as providing financial and tax due diligence services, modelling services, and forensic M&S services in relation to Joe Jennings Bookmakers’ acquisition of Mark Jarvis bookmakers.
Vinod Patel, Transactions Services partner at BDO in the East Midlands, said: “The first three quarters of 2024 have demonstrated a real appetite in the region for getting high quality deals over the line.
“Although persistent challenges still remain, the local market has been and remains extremely active. The trend of exciting and dynamic businesses attracting significant private equity funding, as well as international investment, is a real feature, while regional businesses continue to execute ambitious growth plans through strategic M&A.
“As we approach the first Autumn Budget under a new Labour Government, much will be made about how this will impact M&A appetite.”
Ben Dawson, M&A Director at BDO in the East Midlands, added: “The East Midlands is blessed with a diversified economy, and a plethora of ambitious, entrepreneurial business leaders who continue to drive M&A activity.
“The deals we have acted on in 2024 to date demonstrate the breadth of BDO’s Deals Advisory service offering, which we continue to invest in, in order to support businesses in the East Midlands to achieve their growth ambitions.”
The Access Group doubles size of Romanian centre creating 654 new jobs
The Access Group, a provider of business management software to mid-market organisations and headquartered in Loughborough, has created 654 new roles at its Global Operations (GO) Centre in Timişoara, Romania, in the first 18 months of operation.
The Romanian office which opened in May 2023, has scaled operations and grown by 145%, increasing from 452 employees to 1,106. The 654 new roles have been created across multiple departments, including employee success, marketing, sales, products and engineering, customer success and customer experience, support and finance.
Commenting on the growth, Radu Giju, managing director at The Access Group in Romania, said: “The success of the GO Centre after just a year and a half is incredible, and our growing teams reflect the skills and potential of the local talent pool here in Romania.
“We embrace sustainability at every level, which guides our operations and drives long-term growth by ensuring we meet the needs of our customers, stakeholders, and local communities while protecting the planet for future generations.”
Supporting education and developing local skills is a priority for Access. During the last 18 months, it has forged relationships with the Polytechnic University of Timişoara and the West University of Timişoara, helping students with digital skills and career development.
Access has also established a Digital Academy in Timişoara. The Early Careers team supports 32 graduates in Romania, including 23 graduate software engineers and nine graduate QA Engineers.
Alongside job creation, Access supports local community organisations. The Access Foundation has awarded 9 grants in the region, totalling £89,327 to help fund community and environmental initiatives.
These include projects with Asociatia Scoala Mamei Junior, Little John’s House Marius and Friends Association, West University of Timişoara, United Way Romania, Asociatia Sinaptica Mehedinti, Asociatia Minunilor (Miracles Association) and Asociatia Impreuna pentru Luptatoarea Maria-2021.
Access has also partnered with environmental delivery partner Eco Club Timişoara, which supports the Group’s ESG goal to preserve and safeguard the local environment in locations where it has a significant presence.
The Access Group colleagues in Timişoara planted 1,000 trees, known as The Access Forest marking the 1,000-employee milestone in the area. In September 2024, over 70 colleagues gathered to take part in an Access clean-up along the Bega River, in the Friedorf neighbourhood of Timisoara.
Access Timişoara’s GO Centre has nominated United Way Romania, an organisation which helps children who have a high risk of dropping out of school, as the charity of the year and aims to raise 100.000RON [TO1] to help provide learning resources, non-formal educational activities and daily meals. The funds will also go towards offering advice to parents and families and training for teachers.
Radu Giju concluded: “We are proud of the strong connections and partnerships we have made with local organisations and communities and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the area. We are excited for the coming years and hope to see this level of growth continue while welcoming more people into our Timişoara team.”
UK economy returns to growth
Following a stagnant July, the UK economy showed growth in August.
According to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, grew 0.2% month-on-month in August, in line with expectations.
It reflects growth across all three key sectors, as services output increased 0.1% month-on-month, construction output rose 0.4% month-on-month, and production output grew 0.5% month-on-month.
Ben Jones, Lead Economist, CBI, said: “There are some encouraging signs in the latest GDP data, particularly the ongoing recovery in retail, but growth remains uneven across sectors and momentum in the economy is a little weaker than was expected a few months ago.
“Our surveys suggest that businesses may have tapped the brakes again in September amid speculation over potential Budget announcements.
“Anecdotally it’s clear that some firms have paused hiring and investment decisions pending more clarity over the direction of the new government’s economic policies.
“With the Chancellor’s first Budget only weeks away, the government has an opportunity to build momentum behind the economic recovery by demonstrating it has a credible plan for boosting the country’s growth trajectory.
“This should include measures to support productivity and business investment, such as adding flexibility to Apprenticeship Levy funded courses and outlining an ambitious Net Zero Investment Plan that includes green tax incentives.
“It must also make the UK’s business environment more attractive to firms at home and abroad by providing them with certainty and clarity via a Business Tax Roadmap.”
