If you are yet to make your entries for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, now is the perfect time to do so! Here we go through each category’s criteria – which can also be found with nomination forms here. Winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony and networking event on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, in the Derek Randall Suite. The evening will run from 4:30pm – 7:30pm.

Contractor of the Year

Sponsored by: EMEC Ecology Celebrating the contractors who work on the project, this award celebrates builders, construction companies and the contractors themselves, and nominees should be those who have gone above and beyond the word of the contract to deliver a truly exceptional service. Contracts must have been within the last 12 months.

Developer of the Year

Sponsored by: IMA Architects The winner of this category will be the developer that has truly pushed the limit over the last 12 months. Their scheme(s) will have shown to not only be a success, but that there was true demand for them. The winning developer will have displayed courage in a tough market to deliver award winning results. There is no size limit, but schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.

Architects of the Year

Sponsored by: Mather Jamie The winner of this award will be the architects who have had the greatest impact on the region, be it in a single development or a series of them. Originality, the ability to rise to a challenge or initiative shown in accomplishing a difficult brief, this award celebrates our architects. Schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.

Most Active Estate Agents of the Year

Sponsored by: Roy Geddes Bricks The winner of this category will be the Estate Agents who has had the biggest impact on the commercial property sector over the last 12 months, whether that be in deals done, quality of any given deal, or excellent customer service.

Deal of the Year

Sponsored by: Tutum Consulting The winner of this category will be the deal that has truly pushed the boundaries over the last 12 months – from jobs created to complexity, size and scale. However, that’s not to say the biggest deal will automatically win; the deal which has had most impact in the East Midlands is what we’re looking for. The winning deal will have displayed courage in a tough market to deliver a great outcome for all concerned. Deal must have been completed over the last 12 months.

Responsible Business of the Year

Sponsored by: Press for Attention PR The winner of this award will have demonstrated corporate responsibility in their field, working in harmony and for the betterment of the local community in which it operates and setting a shining example for the rest of the supply chain.

Commercial Development of the Year

Sponsored by: Global HSE Group The winner of this category will be the commercial development that has gone above and beyond in fulfilling the criteria of the build, in terms of design and construction. This can include special requirements, features or elements that make the commercial development stand out from the crowd. Developments must have been completed within the last 12 months.

Residential Development of the Year

Sponsored by: Devello The winner of this category will be the scheme that has displayed a true commitment to providing much-needed housing in the East Midlands. There is no size limit, but schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.

Sustainable Development of the Year

Sponsored by: Viridis Building Services Ltd The winner of this category will be the scheme that has displayed a true commitment to sustainable development in the East Midlands, whether this be in an environmental development, social enterprise or a scheme which will benefit the region in other ways, so long as it benefits the future generation. Schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months.

Excellence in Design

Sponsored by: Cawarden The winner of this category will be the developer who has shown true originality in design excellence across a scheme or schemes over the last 12 months, whether this be aesthetically, functionally or in any other manner. Overall Winner Sponsored by: Blueprint Interiors This award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards.   Submitting a nomination couldn’t be easier – simply click here and click on a category’s heading to access its form. Nominations end Thursday 5th September.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 3rd October 2024 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks sponsored by Devello Group, while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:      

             

To be held at:

Troubador Publishing is under new ownership. The company’s founders Jeremy Thompson and Jane Rowland have stepped down as directors of the company following a Management Buy Out (MBO).

The company has been acquired by former New Business Development Manager Alex Thompson, who now becomes the Managing Director, and Customer Service Manager Chloe May, who now becomes Operations Director.

Both Alex and Chloe have been working at Troubador for over two years. Both have been instrumental in the company’s development over the last two years, introducing the Troubador Hub and new technology to make the company more efficient as well as being at the heart of discussing new projects with hundreds of authors. Alex, who is Jeremy’s eldest son, has lived and breathed Troubador for most of his adult life. Outgoing Managing Director Jeremy Thompson said: “Troubador is in a good position at the moment following the last few years of Covid and the cost of living crisis, and much of that is down to Alex and Chloe having brought a new perspective to the company in a changing world. “It is because of our confidence in them, having seen the positive influence they have brought in the last two years, that my co-director Jane and I feel now is the right time to step down. We are absolutely sure that they will provide strong leadership while retaining Troubador’s ethos of quality and excellent customer service. “I started the company that was to become Troubador in 1989, in a back bedroom. Troubador became a limited company in 1996, and my co-director Jane joined in 1998. From that point on, together we grew the company to a staff of 29, and have published thousands of books on behalf of our authors. “While I shall of course be sad to leave the company I founded 35 years ago, I am very happy that it will continue pretty much ‘as is’ following the MBO. “I wish to thank all those thousands of authors who decided to place their trust in the company over the years, and all those staff members who have worked and are still working for the company. “It is the team members who make the company successful, and without doubt the staff Troubador now has is by far the most skilled and professional that we have ever had. I wish all our authors, staff and new directors the very best for the future at Troubador.”

A new operator has taken over the running of Sinfin Golf Course, with Derby City Council appointing Link Golf UK to manage and operate the facility. The course was previously run by Sheffield City Trust (SCT), under a lease agreement with the Council. SCT indicated it wished to surrender the lease this year, so the Council launched a process to find a new operator. They were looking for an operator who met the Council’s objectives to:

• Secure capital investment in the existing and new facilities
• Encourage increased participation in golf
• Work with Derby Golf Club with the joint aim of promoting golf for the enjoyment and benefit of all
• Encourage additional community outreach programmes
• Ensure the maintenance of the non-golfing areas of the property to protect and conserve the natural environment and ecological character of the land.

Following a selection process, Link Golf UK was identified as the preferred new operator. Established in 2019, Link is committed to making golf affordable and accessible for all. With six venues across the UK, the company aims to breaks down traditional barriers to entry, offering inclusive and budget-friendly golfing experiences. Their mission is to create a welcoming environment for both seasoned players and newcomers, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the game of golf. Link is taking on the operation of the golf course for a period of 50 years, ensuring a sustainable future for the course. The company plans to make a significant investment in the site over the next three years, with plans to improve the course and the club house. The firm also hopes to create a new driving range. Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Link Golf UK as the new operator of Sinfin Golf Course. Our priority was to find an experienced operator to look after the courses and the clubhouse to ensure they are preserved for the benefit of people in Derby, and we’ve found that in Link. “Their ethos is to break down barriers and make golf inclusive for all sections of the community, which is exactly what we want to do. They will work in close partnership with Derby Golf Club and keep the courses and clubhouse to a high standard, while their investment plans promise an even better experience for everyone. “I’d also like to thank Sheffield City Trust for their management of the course since 2015.” Sinfin Golf Course has an 18-hole parkland golf course and a 6-hole footgolf course/academy course. Other facilities include a practice area, practice putting green, pavilion clubhouse and greenkeeping complex. The site also includes Cotton Farmhouse, situated close to the clubhouse, which Link hopes to bring back into use. Link Golf UK directors Andrew Terry and Joe Jackson said they were thrilled to take over the operation of Sinfin Golf Course. They added: “We extend our thanks to Derby City Council and Sheffield City Trust for their support during this transition. We’re excited about our new plans for the course and look forward to getting to know all the members and visitors.” Mick O’Hanlon, chairman of Derby Golf Club, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Link Golf UK to promote golf for the enjoyment and benefit of everyone. This is a great opportunity to build on course’s existing success and we’re excited about the prospects for the future.”

A group of entrepreneurs from Northamptonshire have graduated from the first cohort of an incubation programme facilitated by the team at Vulcan Works. The inaugural Vulcan Creatives, a six-month programme funded by West Northamptonshire Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), commenced in January and saw 10 businesses work with business growth manager Darren Smith to either turn an idea into a viable business or grow their fledgling enterprise. The entrepreneurs who took part in the programme were selected from tens of applications with a preference given to those working in the creative or digital sector – emerging industries in the county that Vulcan Works was created to support. Those who completed the programme attended a Vulcan Creatives Showcase event to mark their graduation. During the event, each participant gave a presentation about their journey to the specially invited guests. Nabil Abbas, who has developed a decentralised instant messaging app, found the programme “really helpful and really useful,” saying that the sales training provided helped him to find developers in the same way he would find customers and Darren introduced him to people in his own network. He was also able to work on his networking and presenting skills, with Vulcan Works loaning him space to hold his own networking events too. He said: “I would really recommend this programme, regardless of the industry you are in. The biggest challenge I had was finding the right people. The technology I am developing is really new and that limits my talent pool in terms of other developers I can work with and my options in moving the business forward. “I’m happy to report that I now have a small team of developers and we are working together on some really exciting projects that are going to be integral to what I want to build. Being surrounded by other like-minded entrepreneurs gave me the chance to bounce ideas off people who weren’t in my tech bubble and Darren really has gone above and beyond to help me.” Emma Colton, a brand photographer who works with female business owners, had never done networking or presenting before and has now delivered workshops, including a branding workshop for her fellow Vulcan Creatives. In doing this, she realised her background in graphic design was of huge added value to potential clients and has added this to her service offering and developed logos and branding for some of her Vulcan Creatives counterparts. She said: “I didn’t expect there to be so much camaraderie and for us to build such a strong network between us. I have come away from this with friends, which I didn’t expect to happen.” Chelsea Henry joined Vulcan Creatives as an experienced interior designer who had been made redundant from a role working in show homes. She didn’t have a business when she started the programme in January and launched Knook Interiors in May. She said: “I joined Vulcan Creatives with nothing. I didn’t have a name, logo or business plan, just a vision to empower people through interior design and make it attainable for all. Through Vulcan Creatives, I have been able to collaborate with some amazing people. Emma did my branding, I have designed a space for Vulcan Works and Roddy has done my photography. Having Darren to go to – a person I can trust for business advice – has been invaluable.” Musician Matt Lewis wanted to develop his band, Party Beats, into a collective, ‘Pick and Mix’ option that enables clients to create their own band from a group of musicians for events. He said: “I had been operating as a business for six months and got to a point where I was getting frustrated and didn’t know what the next step was. Then, through luck or the universe, I found Vulcan Creatives. I have learned a lot and had tons of breakthrough moments. Our four-piece band is now a collective with more musicians on board and we can do more than one event on the same night under the band name. “The workshops have been fantastic and the help from Darren has been mindblowing. I started thinking about my cash flow after a workshop with Natwest and realised I had made a fatal mistake of not planning ahead in what, it turns out, is a seasonal business. I had a breakthrough in the sales workshop too and realised I had been approaching it all wrong. I feel I know so much more about sales funnels, branding and marketing, which is great.” Roddy-Lloyd Jones, a retired teacher who created a portable photography studio in a decommissioned ambulance, had a similar experience. He said: “I was a teacher for 37 years and it has been amazing to collaborate and work with other people that help you to learn continually. I launched LJPhotostop in October. “Workshops from Barclays and Natwest have provided me with so many insights that, coming from the world of education, I just had no experience of. Like Matt, I noticed the seasonal element to my business and have started doing property photography and weddings. Rather than a jack-of-all-trades photographer, I now own a business in photography.” Gary Morgan created Enable AI, an artificial intelligence assistant, weeks before being accepted onto Vulcan Creatives. He said: “I arrived at Vulcan Creatives with an idea. Emma has helped with my branding. I have a website about to be launched and I just want to say thank you to Vulcan Creatives.” Gavin Prior runs Pixli, a business that produces virtual reality and augmented reality apps. He said: “Pixli was essentially an idea in my head in January and I came to Vulcan Creatives to see how I could turn that into a business. I’ve met a really good network of people and everyone has just helped each other, which I didn’t realise I also needed.” Tamara Holland, founder of Dot & Stripe, already had a successful marketing consultancy but wanted to niche down and specifically work with children’s activities providers. She said: “Vulcan Creatives gave me the confidence to push the imposter syndrome to one side and go ‘all-in’ with targeting my niche of children’s activities providers. “This year I have had a huge boost in revenue and some incredible opportunities to host training and workshops to my ideal customers. With the support of my fellow cohorts, Darren and the additional training and support, I have been able to smash my goals.” Hairdresser Aprille Russell and make-up artist Aveline Rust run Glam-Start, a hair and beauty academy. Aprille ran a hair salon from home and Aveline also ran a permanent make up and beauty clinic from home. Both felt there was a demand for a course in the industry that taught you how to run a beauty business, rather than just training in the various beauty and hairdressing qualifications. Since joining Vulcan Creatives, the duo have run taster days of their courses, launched a website and have taken on workspace in Vulcan Works that they are in the process of moving into, ready to commence their courses in September. Aprille said: “Since January, we have dedicated every Wednesday to coming into Vulcan Works to work on the business and meet with Darren. He has been a huge help to us – the contacts he has, the information he has given us – we just can’t thank him enough. The taster days also led to sales, which we wouldn’t have had if Vulcan Works hadn’t lent us the space to host them.” Darren said: “Vulcan Creatives was a brand new idea and has been helped by so many individuals and businesses who have put on clinics, workshops and masterclasses which has been appreciated. “We wanted to guide entrepreneurs with an idea through a process to create a business and make use of the great facilities at Vulcan Works and it has been great to see the success stories of those who have taken part. I’m also really proud of the fact that we have been able to help these businesses with grant applications too, resulting in all of them being awarded a £1,000 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. “One thing that has been key and a great part of this programme has been the way that everyone has collaborated together. Some have even been each other’s first customer.” Vulcan Creatives is now open for pre-applications for the next cohort, which begins in September.