Nottingham-based marketing and PR agency, V Formation, has bolstered its digital marketing offering with the appointment of Rory Chambers, a specialist in website development and digital marketing.
Joining the agency’s digital team as Senior Digital Marketing Executive, Rory brings strong expertise in graphic design, branding, SEO, and video production, honed through his previous role as Marketing Manager at health tech start-up GripAble. Prior to this, Rory graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Marketing.
His addition to V Formation’s growing digital team further enhances the agency’s ability to deliver innovative, high-quality digital solutions for its expanding client portfolio.
Hilary Campton, Director at V Formation, said: “Rory’s passion for website development and graphic design will be an invaluable asset to both our team and our clients. His appointment comes at an exciting time as we approach the end of the year with new projects on the horizon and continued growth across the board.
“Rory’s skillset aligns perfectly with our mission to provide top-tier marketing and PR expertise and support that empowers our clients to thrive.”
Rory said: “From the outset, it was clear that V Formation isn’t just an agency focused on results – it’s a place where people are genuinely valued and supported. The opportunity to collaborate with such a talented team, whilst continuing to develop as a digital marketer, was a key motivator for me. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into client projects, working across a range of B2B sectors.”
Development of lorry parks at multiple locations throughout our region feature in a raft of grants being introduced in a £14m nationwide scheme to enhance efficiency and working conditions in the haulage industry.
Funds are being given to enhance parking and driver welfare facilities throughout Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire including at Immingham, Stallinborough, Ulceby, Colsterworth on the A1, Newark, Sutterton, Bardon in Leicestershire, and numerous Moto locations amongst other.
it’s also intended that more green e-cargo bikes will deliver parcels to doorsteps and that better truckstops will help relieve local congestion, thanks to efforts from both government and industry to drive innovation in freight and improve working conditions.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood revealed the 23 successful applicants of up to £4.5 million from the government to improve truckstops and working conditions for lorry drivers.
The investment will also help build better dining, changing and rest facilities, as well as new CCTV and secure fencing to boost welfare and security for lorry drivers.
The funding is from the third year of the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme, which will come in addition to £8 million from industry, for a total funding boost of £12.5 million to improve truckstops. This investment comes on top of £1.8 million from the government for 10 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to trial new groundbreaking technology for decarbonising freight and driving innovation in the sector.
Ideas that will become reality include TUAL working with Wincanton to trial high-performance powerbanks for electric lorries, and Innervated Vehicle Engineering working in partnership with Asda to retrofit hydrogen power to small delivery vans.
This funding is the third tranche of the department’s Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator Programme, a £7 million government investment across 3 years to support the freight sector in deploying AI and automation to improve the way trains, lorries, vans, and ships carry parcels and goods.
Lilian Greenwood said: “Freight is a crucial engine of our economy and it is only right we do all we can to improve working conditions, pioneer innovation and drive sustainability across the industry.
“Our funding, combined with investment from the industry, will ensure lorry drivers can enjoy safer parking, a proper rest and a warm meal, while supporting UK businesses to harvest the best of technology to move freight faster, decarbonise our supply chain, and grow the economy for all.”
Government is introducing a new Employment Rights Bill which brings forward 28 individual employment reforms, from ending zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers.
Its also intended to strengthen statutory sick pay, remove the lower earnings limit for all workers, cut out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in, and scrap the existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal.
Flexible working will be made the default where practical, and large employers will be required to create action plans to address gender pay gaps and support employees through the menopause, as well as strengthened protection against dismissal for pregnant women and new mothers.
The Government says getting the labour market moving again is essential to economic growth, with one in five UK businesses with more than 10 employees reporting staff shortages. It says flexibility, for workers and businesses alike, is key to answering this challenge and is at the heart of the legislation to upgrade the law to ensure it is fit for modern life and a modern economy.
It’s also intended to consult on a new statutory probation period for new hires, allowing for a proper assessment of an employee’s suitability to a role as well as reassuring employees that they have rights from day one, enabling businesses to take chances on hires while giving more people confidence to re-enter the job market or change careers, improving their living standards.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “This is the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation, boosting pay and productivity with employment laws fit for a modern economy.
“The UK’s out-of-date employment laws are holding our country back and failing business and workers alike. Our plans to make work pay will deliver security in work as the foundation for boosting productivity and growing our economy to make working people better off and realise our potential.”
Two heritage and culturally significant attractions are set to expand their offer and attract even more visitors to the Lincolnshire Wolds following the approval of planning consent.
On 3rd October, on determining two separate applications with unanimous decisions, East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee granted planning permission and listed building consent for Alford Manor House and the grounds of Alford Windmill.
The consent marks a huge milestone for both projects which, once complete, will see new uses for each attraction, generating greater footfall into the town all year round, supporting the local economy, and safeguarding these heritage assets for future generations.
Both sites, along with Spilsby Sessions House, are part of the Lincolnshire Wolds: Culture and Heritage Programme. The ambitious regeneration scheme is benefitting from £8 million funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to regenerate the assets to secure their future.
The permission for Alford Manor House will realise a new permanent, flexible event space which will see the temporary marquee removed that has been in place since 2006. The new function room will allow the Manor House to provide event space for up to 100 people. The consent also includes minor works to the car park and construction of a canopy to store large pieces of machinery for the Rural Life Museum and workshop.
The consent for the Alford Windmill site includes a new visitor centre incorporating a café and shop, refurbishment of the Miller’s Cottage into a two-bed holiday accommodation, refurbishment of the Sail Store as an educational space, the pigsty to be converted into a children’s play area, refurbishment of the former shop to display Millwright tools, and landscaping throughout the site.
The approvals follow a period of public consultation, including local residents, Alford Town Council, Historic England, Natural England and Heritage Lincolnshire. The Council will continue to work alongside Lincolnshire County Council at Alford Windmill as the project develops.
Cllr Graham Marsh, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at East Lindsey District Council, said: “I am delighted the Council’s planning committee has supported these ambitious plans which will help secure the future for these attractions.
“The Council is working collaboratively with Alford Manor House and Alford Windmill Trust as well as other partners to bring new uses and extend the visitor offer which is important for the local economy and to grow tourism opportunities in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
“These attractions hold so much historic value for local people as well as wider East Lindsey. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to get to the milestone of planning approval today and I look forward to seeing these projects being delivered further over the coming months.”
Cllr Adam Grist, Portfolio Holder for Market Towns at East Lindsey District Council, said: “Both Alford Manor House and Alford windmill are part of the fabric that makes Alford the historic market town that it is. I am therefore, delighted that these schemes have been given the go ahead to bring these plans to life.
“The plans offer great potential to really impact the tourism economy of the Lincolnshire Wolds and bring visitors and holidaymakers to Alford and the surrounding Wolds.
“These plans are hugely exciting and the benefits they bring will be far reaching for businesses and organisations in Alford and surrounding areas.”
William Silby from STEM Architects said: “We are pleased to see the planning officers and local councillors support the projects with a unanimous decision to approve both applications.
“It has been a pleasure working with the rest of the design team, ELDC and the trustees at both Alford Manor House and Windmill. We are looking forward to continuing with the next stages of both projects. In particular, it is fantastic that these schemes will support the ongoing viability of the Windmill and Manor House and protect these beautiful heritage assets for generations to come.”
A range of pre-construction work will now continue on both sites ready for work to start next year. A planning application for Spilsby Sessions House is due to be submitted later this year.
The latest in a line of mergers for the fast-growing practice Streets Chartered Accountants sees a coming together of two highly successful, pioneering tech powered firms, which focus on innovation in delivering assurance and financial management, especially for Fin Tech start-ups and scale-ups.
Streets, a top 40 UK professional service firm, has revealed that the boutique practice of Mitch Consulting Limited, which provides outsourced accounting and finance solutions centred around the use of cloud-based programmes and digital platforms, has merged with the firm’s Bristol practice Streets Steele, which has developed an industry leading virtual finance office service for clients running a fast moving, dynamic and rapidly growing business.
When asked about the merger, Mark Mitchell, co-founder of Mitch Consulting Limited, said: “With a background and career in the financial management of technology related businesses including some very large and well known companies, we founded Mitch Consulting in 2014, based on a clear understanding of the need to support start-up and scale-up enterprises. In particular we recognised that many such businesses could benefit from a CFO and finance team but couldn’t afford them.
“Through the use of a technology stack using the latest in accountancy and financial management software and more contemporary ways of working, we found we were able to provide an affordable and highly effective solution. An experienced team of highly qualified accountants with relevant industry experience has also ensured that we have been able to offer high end and specialist advice and support.
“For our practice to grow and as part of our own succession planning, we needed to consider the next steps for the business. We spent some time considering the options as well as potential firms to join up with. The decision was very much focused around a shared vision and appreciation of our business model, especially around the need to embrace technology and realise its benefits in terms of looking after and working with clients.
“With its established virtual finance office service and appetite and enthusiasm for innovation, we were delighted to enter into discussions and ultimately come together with Streets.
“We particularly like the opportunities that the merger offers for the continued growth of the business and the opportunities it offers existing and future team members. We also see the merger benefiting clients through their ability to access additional services, including specialist personal and business tax planning, specialist R&D tax reliefs, banking & finance and corporate law.”
Looking at what the merger means to Streets, the firm’s Managing Partner, Paul Tutin, said: “The merger of Mitch Consulting with Streets is one of five mergers we have completed in less than 6 months. This, the latest one, was particularly exciting as it has enabled us to build on our focus to drive innovation in the delivery and provision of service for our clients both now and in the future.
“We fully recognise the importance of embracing technology and the role it can play in meeting the need for effective and meaningful financial reporting and management for all businesses, especially those operating in the fast-moving Fin Tech sector.
“Having Mitch Consulting join us, along with our dedicated VFO team in Bristol, provides a real boost to our service offering and helps to set us apart from our competition. We are truly excited about the opportunities this merger provides and developing an industry leading service.
“This latest merger with Streets means that the practice now has 27 offices, over 60 Partners and directors, more than 350 members of staff and annualised fee income of more than £39 million.
“We are also currently in discussions with a number of firms around potential mergers, with hopefully a number of further announcements over the next few months.”
Streets Law, the firms dedicated corporate and commercial law offering led by Managing Director and Solicitor Adam Aisthorpe, undertook the legal work on behalf of Streets for the merger, including drafting the sale and purchase agreement and dealing with the due diligence process in collaboration with internal colleagues in the tax and audit teams at Streets.
The firm’s in house law team has now completed 10 mergers for Streets in the last 3 years, whilst at the same time advising the Streets client base on M&A transactions worth in excess of £250 million in that time. Streets Law also advises clients on business restructuring and refinancing transactions, MBOs, shareholders agreements and a variety of commercial contracts.
Ashton Legal, Norwich and Corporate and Commercial Solicitor Jasmine Allen acted on behalf of the sellers, Mark Mitchell and Jane Mitchell, on the sale of the practice to Streets.
Woodall Homes, the BGF-backed Derbyshire house builder, is gearing up for significant growth after securing full planning approval on its latest site – the ninth development now in progress in the region.
The house builder, which received a £4.25 million investment from BGF three years ago, has received approval for 87 dwellings in Ashbourne. This follows a recent full planning approval for 161 dwellings on their Boleappleton View site in Bolsover.
In addition, development has commenced on 75 dwellings in Calow, 18 in Darley Dale, and 15 in Stocksbridge. It is also due to commence construction on a high profile and exclusive 65-dwelling part conversion / part new build scheme near Lowdham, Nottinghamshire early in the New Year.
In total, Woodall Homes is on target to deliver over 400 homes in the next three to four years, taking full advantage of its recent planning successes, which have provided the house builder with immediate delivery opportunities in line with its ambitious growth strategy.
Chris Dwan, Land and Planning Director at Woodall Homes, said: “The foundations that we’ve put down by bringing these key strategic sites forward will position us perfectly in the coming years, aligning with our strong growth aspirations.
“That said, we are always looking for further opportunities, whether that’s sites with or without residential planning status or allocation. The current pipeline of developments demonstrates our in-house planning capabilities and strengthens our position as a key strategic development partner, working with landowners to enhance their land values through the planning system.”
Aaron Baker is an investor at BGF and sits on the Woodall Group board. He said: “The success that Woodall Homes has achieved in the last few years is testament to their ability to bring to market exciting developments, while remaining committed to building a strong land bank.
“As the team continues to seize opportunities and accelerate development activity, we expect them to deliver against their ambitious growth plans and realise the potential that exists in the regional residential property market.”
There has been a 38% increase in the serious penalties issued for what HMRC says are ‘deliberate’ VAT errors in the last year, according to chartered accountants and business advisors Lubbock Fine.
These errors refer to cases where HMRC believes the business made an active decision to illegally underpay VAT, perhaps by not declaring the correct VAT on sales, or overclaiming VAT on costs. In those cases businesses can be fined up to 100% of the VAT owed.
The number of these serious fines has increased to 2,781 in the past year from 2,011 in the previous year. In total, HMRC handed out £153 million in fines across 46,376 penalties in the past year as it cracks down on errors that are deemed ‘deliberate’.
Jas Dhillon, VAT Partner at Lubbock Fine, says: “HMRC is getting tougher with its VAT fines and issuing a growing number of its most serious penalties. It’s difficult not to conclude that it’s a concerted effort to bring in more cash.
“HMRC appears to be taking a tougher approach to VAT penalties, aiming to categorise more inaccuracies as ‘deliberate’. Classifying errors as ‘innocent’ would result in lower penalties, or even no penalty at all – which of course means a smaller take for the taxman.”
For the most serious cases – those HMRC terms ‘deliberate and concealed’ – penalties can range between 30% and 100% of the tax due. These are cases where HMRC believes the taxpayer has deliberately or intentionally tried to avoid paying their taxes, often through false or amended documents. The number of these penalties rose 4% in the past year, from 1,924 to 1,994.
Milton Keynes-based Grand Union Housing Group and Rushden-based Longhurst Group have agreed to come together and merge as single entity after Boards at both organisations unanimously agreed to the proposal and signed off a detailed business case.
The aim is for both organisations to come together formally and legally in December under a new name and brand.
The new organisation will own and manage over 37,000 homes and employ over 1,400 colleagues across the Midlands and East of England. This will make it one of the largest housing associations in the region.
By joining together, the organisations say they will unlock significant potential to invest even more in their existing homes and communities, while building more much needed affordable homes and improving the services their customers receive.
Back in July, the two housing associations announced their intention to merge and have since completed a consultation with their customers about the proposal and undergone a process of due diligence before reaching their final decision.
Lasting six weeks, the customer consultation closed in September and saw just under 2,000 customers provide feedback, either by post, online or over the phone.
In total, 47 percent of all feedback from customers of both organisations was positive or very positive, with only 20 percent negative or very negative.
A Shadow Board and Shadow Executive Team have been appointed and will take on responsibility for the new organisation.
Chief Executive of the new organisation will be current Longhurst Group Chief Executive, Julie Doyle, while Emma Killick, currently Chair of Grand Union’s Board, will become Chair.
After 25 years with the company, Aileen Evans, the current Chief Executive of Grand Union, decided not to put herself forward for a role with the new organisation and will step down from Grand Union once the merger is completed.
Emma Killick, Chair of Grand Union, said: “It’s a real privilege to take on the role of Chair as we bring these fantastic organisations together.
“Our new organisation will have significant potential to make a positive difference to thousands of people’s lives across the regions we serve, improving the homes and services we provide and building more homes.
“I’m really looking forward to working more closely with Julie Doyle. We share the same drive and passion to improve the lives of people who rely upon us the most and her philosophy and her values align so closely with those of Grand Union.
“Bringing the two organisations together really does seem like the perfect fit and we’ll be in extremely safe hands with Julie at the helm.”
Julie Doyle, Chief Executive of Longhurst Group, said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed Chief Executive of the new organisation. A significant amount of work has already taken place and I can’t wait to formally bring the two organisations together in December.
“I’m aware I have some very big boots to fill. I’m proud to class Aileen as a friend and she’s someone I have huge respect and admiration for. I’m confident that the new organisation will build on these principles to ensure we’re able to do even more for our customers, the communities we serve and our colleagues.
“I’m looking forward to working with Emma and the rest of the Board, and senior leadership team, to bring both organisations together and ensure we have the plans in place to realise our objectives.
“Both organisations have acknowledged that we haven’t got everything right and there are improvements we need to make, but the opportunity to merge brings with it fantastic potential for us to achieve even more, building more affordable homes and being a reliable and trusted landlord that delivers the homes and services that our customers need and expect.”
Reflecting on the integral role Aileen Evans has played in Grand Union’s growth and success over the years, Emma Killick added: “Aileen has been pivotal to ensuring that Grand Union has continued to deliver on its purpose of providing homes for those that need them.
“In recent years, she’s continued this fantastic work despite the sector experiencing some of the most challenging environments it has faced in years, including the pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Aileen. With her fantastic reputation and profile in the housing sector, a sector I know she retains huge affection for, I’m sure she’ll continue to be a force for good and drive change and improvement.
“I, along with the rest of the Board and all Grand Union colleagues, thank her wholeheartedly and wish her all the very best for the future.”
Aileen became Group Chief Executive in July 2017, having previously been Group Operations Director. Under her leadership, Grand Union came together as a single organisation following a unification, then moved to a single office in Milton Keynes. From there, the organisation has started to transform and modernise the way it works, by using data and technology to improve services for customers and colleagues.
Aileen, who will still serve on the board of the Chartered Institute of Housing and volunteer for Furnishing Futures – a charity that creates healing homes for domestic abuse survivors – said: “Stepping down from Grand Union is the hardest decision I’ve ever made.
“It’s a bit of a cliché, but it genuinely has been a privilege to lead Grand Union over the last seven years and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved in my time as Chief Executive.
“I’m incredibly grateful to those who have helped us achieve what we have. Every day I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside amazing colleagues and board members and got to see the positive impact they consistently have.
“Julie will be a fantastic CEO of the newly merged organisation, her values and integrity guide everything she does, and I feel happy in entrusting Grand Union’s proud legacy to her.
“After a bit of a break, I’ll still be around in the sector. As well as all the other issues facing the sector, there’s a housing crisis to solve.”
Northampton College will tackle the UK’s acute shortage of construction workers with up-to-date ‘green skills’ head on with the opening of a £500,000 renewable energies education and training facility.
The new Green Skills Centre at Booth Lane will provide up to 250 students with daily access to the latest green technologies each year, reskill adults who want to move into the construction industry and upskill existing professionals in the sector.
It will also support a variety of green initiatives run by Northampton College, such as the Big Rig Low Carbon Challenge, which promotes sustainable construction careers to secondary school students across the county.
Designed by decarbonisation specialist and renewable training provider Quantum, the centre features rigs and bays for air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, solar PV, solar thermal, wind generation, electrification of vehicles and EV charging and promotes sustainable construction methods and materials.
Students will receive training on top-of-the-range low carbon technologies such as Daikin air source heat pumps.
Deputy Principal Patrick Leavey said: “We tasked Quantum with creating one of the best renewable technology centres in the country for us and they haven’t disappointed.
“This incredible facility will support the UK’s targets around carbon reduction and help to address the acute skills shortages within construction personnel to meet the rising demand for green technologies.
“This is a fantastic resource for Northamptonshire and the region and will strengthen the area’s construction and built environment workforce by providing them with specialist green construction skills which are needed across the UK.”
Construction Curriculum Manager Mark Bradshaw added: “The technology in our Green Skills Centre is highly sophisticated and we’re replicating the best contemporary professional practices there to help our region get to net zero.
“With support from Castle Climate Control and Thorn Electrical we’ll be offering master classes, we’re developing a range of competency and licence-to-practice courses in various green technologies and we’re also creating a sustainability course.”
The new facility, which is next to the College’s existing Advanced Construction Engineering Centre, will also be used to support an ongoing partnership Northampton College has with the University of Northampton to research efficient design and implementation of low carbon adoption.
Green skills was identified as a priority skills development area within the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), with the centre partially funded with support from the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF).
With the rise of Ai, Greg Simpson, founder of Press For Attention PR, stresses the importance of being more ‘I’.
I had an interesting exchange with someone recently, when discussing branding, Ai and marketing.
For some, Ai, images-wise for blogs as far as I’m concerned, has been a game-changer. I have been able to be even MORE prolific in my content. It has freed me up no end in terms of productivity and getting things done that look waaaaay better than a woeful stock image would muster.
For others, they have finally begun making some marketing moves. I love this. However, whilst Ai has made content so much easier to create, with that ease has come a tidal wave of tedium. There is less personality, simply by dint of it being way easier to bash out some copy and conjure a clever picture. It is almost too easy and with that, there is always a danger of even more “Meh” in your marketing.
It doesn’t have to be like this! That’s why when I do media stories about me working with my clients, there is zero Ai. There is ME, with my client, being human and…hold the phones…having FUN! Dun, dun, durrrrrr!
Take the press release I put out this week about working with business psychology expert Penny Strutton. Penny is FUN. She is not from a corporate background and has a wonderful vibrancy about her. So, the photo we did to illustrate the story was dynamic.
Was it a faff? Yes! Did we have to carve out 2 hours for travel and logistics? Yes. Did Penny forget the Twister mat thingy she uses and had to go back and get it? Yes. But the point is, she did. Did I fall over attempting to stretch in an unnatural way? No comment.
The result is that people know we are working together, and they know why, mainly because Penny is rebranding from her “Think Forward” corporate identity, which all sounds very nice and professional BACK to her name. Why?
You’ve all heard the phrase ‘People buy from people’, so put the people back into the brand.
Penny’s brand is actually HER. Here’s Penny’s take: ‘‘In today’s landscape, where Ai is automating many tasks, people want to work with real people, not faceless brands.
“My work has always been about helping individuals and teams thrive and by bringing my personal brand to the forefront, I’m better able to connect with clients who value that human touch. Think Forward remains the core methodology I use to deliver results but this partnership with Greg will ensure that personal touch and human message is heard clearly.”
Note Penny used my name, not ‘Press For Attention PR’.
In a world of Ai, be more ‘I’. Maybe the penny will drop for a few folk reading this too.
A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008.He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.
See this column in the October issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine, here.
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