BDO makes over 160 Midlands promotions, including two new partners
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has promoted 169 people across its Midlands offices, including two promotions to partner.
BDO has promoted 136 people in its Birmingham office, with a further 33 promotions in Nottingham. Nationwide, the firm has promoted over 2,400 of its people, including 36 new partners.
As part of the audit leadership team in the Midlands, new audit partner Cindy Hrkalovic has extensive experience in delivering high-quality audits and business assurance services to large private, private equity owned, and listed audited entities across a range of industries.
She has more than 20 years’ experience and is also Head of Food and Drink at BDO, leading the firm’s strategic development in the sector.
Meanwhile, new business restructuring partner Ben Peterson is a licensed insolvency practitioner with 25 years’ experience across a broad range of restructuring and insolvency work.
He specialises in both contentious insolvency and assignments within the manufacturing sector, leading the Business Restructuring stream’s food and drink manufacturing team. He has dealt with a number of complex and high-profile insolvencies in recent years.
Kyla Bellingall, Regional Managing Partner at BDO in the Midlands, said: “Cindy and Ben have both demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication in their fields, and their promotions reflect both their achievements and our confidence in their leadership to drive growth for the Midlands region.
“This latest round of promotions reinforces our commitment to investing in our people, whose expertise and dedication are key to our long-term success. Congratulations to all 169 of our new promotees, who have each shown talent and hard work and richly deserve this recognition.”
Free training set for East Lindsey businesses
PAB Sema4 has been allocated extra funding to support additional Lincolnshire businesses after the success of its Global Gateway Programme.
The scheme – designed to amplify growth across Lincolnshire’s business community by equipping local companies with essential skills for international success – surpassed outcome targets and received fantastic feedback from customers.
Now the programme is receiving extra funding to support businesses in East Lindsey – and organisers are calling for local companies to come forward to take advantage of it.
E-commerce & Marketing Specialist Advisor at PAB Sema4, Nigel Garner, said: “Leveraging a rich foundation of academic insight, hands-on expertise, and cross-disciplinary research, this programme is designed to equip people with practical competencies required to excel in the international arena.
“Ideal for professionals overseeing multicultural teams within logistics or manufacturing, those immersed in the intricacies of sales and marketing, or navigating the complexities of international markets, Global Gateway offers strategies and tools to enhance effectiveness in a global setting.”
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme is free to eligible businesses in East Lindsey and is designed to boost economic growth and community development.
Intercultural Communication Trainer and Advisor at PAB Sema4, Iwona Lebiedowicz, said: “We are delighted to offer this exciting programme of courses for professionals, giving them the opportunity to harness the latest research, innovation and thinking that the PAB Sema4 team has to offer.
“Across the UK, many people work in cross-cultural settings, engaging with remote or international teams. However, the messages we send are not always the messages received, as national culture influences our thoughts, behaviours, and communication methods.”
Research indicates that poor customer service costs UK businesses over £37 billion annually, as dissatisfied customers switch to competitors or discontinue services.
According to PwC, 59% of UK consumers would stop doing business with a company after several bad experiences, and 17% would switch after just one poor experience. Retaining customers is significantly less expensive than acquiring new ones, so poor service has a direct, negative impact on long-term profitability and customer acquisition costs.
The Global Gateway Programme supports businesses in East Lindsey by enhancing their capabilities and ultimately driving regional economic growth and fostering strong community ties.
Through comprehensive training in areas such as e-commerce localization, multicultural marketing, and intercultural communication, the Global Gateway Programme empowers professionals to lead diverse teams, engage effectively with international clients, and navigate the complexities of global markets.
East Lindsey Councillors Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for The Coastal Economy, and Adam Grist, portfolio holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy, said: “East Lindsey District Council is excited to support PAB Languages in delivering this interesting programme of courses for professionals through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
“This programme will give those who access it the opportunity to grow and, in turn, aid many individuals to receive support, especially people who work in cross-cultural settings, enhancing their knowledge.
“This has the intended aim of supporting those in employment to become confident in dealing with international trade and international markets, supporting East Lindsey’s drive to get our businesses exporting.”
The training begins in December 2024.
Derby manufacturer and supplier to the rail industry sold to Swedish group
Tidyco, a Derby-based manufacturer and supplier of hydraulic and pneumatic products and assemblies to the rail industry, has been sold to Swedish-based Indutrade AB.
Indutrade is an international technology and industrial business group based in Sweden that operates through more than 200 subsidiaries with some 9,600 employees in more than 30 countries across six continents.
Tidyco has been at the forefront of the rail sector for over 50 years. Tidyco offers a broad range of products and assemblies, as well as the provision of overhaul services of specific systems to the UK rail industry.
There is a strong focus on the aftermarket of rail rolling stock, but Tidyco also serves other industrial segments with its core offering such as the design and supply of commercial HVAC solutions and mobile hydraulic hose replacement.
Dains provided support throughout the transaction, including the provision of corporate finance advice, accounting support and tax services.
The deal was led by Roy Farmer, Head of Corporate Finance at Dains, and supported by Lisa Richards, Constance Host and Brendan Shea, working closely with the Tidyco team to navigate the complexities of the sale. Tax support was provided by Adam Longmore and Rebecca Jones. Flint Bishop, led by Martyn Brierley, acted as the sell-side legal advisers, contributing to the smooth execution of the transaction.
James Tidy, Managing Director of Tidyco, said: “Having recently completed the sale of Tidyco with Roy Farmer, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the team at Dains. The whole process took approximately five months from start to finish.
“I took full advantage of the Dains ‘one-stop shop’, benefitting from their expertise in business pre-sale preparation, IM production and analysis, sales negotiation, tax advice, integration with legal advisers, accountancy, audit, and most importantly, delivering the deal.
“It has been a pleasure working with Roy. From a seller’s perspective, I have felt in safe hands all the way. There was never any drama—just cool, methodical, sensible, and measured responses backed up with sound facts and input from my business.”
Roy Farmer, Head of Corporate Finance at Dains, said: “We are delighted to have advised James and the team at Tidyco on this significant milestone. Tidyco is a fantastic business with a strong reputation in the rail industry.
“By identifying Indutrade as a strategic buyer early in the process, we were able to secure a deal that aligns with Tidyco’s values and future aspirations. Achieving a pre-Budget completion was important for James, and we’re pleased we could deliver this. We wish James and everyone at Tidyco continued success under Indutrade’s ownership.”
Martyn Brierley, Head of Corporate & Finance at Flint Bishop, said: “We’re delighted to have advised the shareholders on this significant transaction. The legal process was completed within a tight 3 week timescale, which included a pre-sale re-organisation.
“We worked tirelessly night and day to see this transaction was closed ahead of the budget, saving the shareholders a significant sum given the following increases to capital gains tax.
“The acquisition not only highlights Tidyco’s strong market position but also aligns perfectly with Indutrade’s strategic vision for growth and innovation in the rail sector. We are proud to have facilitated a smooth but accelerated transaction that sets the stage for Tidyco’s continued success under Indutrade’s ownership.”
Work begins on affordable homes in South Normanton
Representatives from emh group, Bolsover District Council and developers Owl Partnerships recently met to celebrate the start of work to build new affordable homes in South Normanton.
The Meadow is being developed on land to the rear of Red Lane in South Normanton, and will provide 52 new, mixed tenure, affordable homes. This includes 28 homes for social rent and 24 for shared ownership, with a mix of 1-bedroomed maisonettes, and 2-, 3- and 4-bedroomed semi-detached and detached family homes.
Chan Kataria, Group Chief Executive at emh, said: “We’re delighted to have joined our partners at Bolsover District Council and Owl Partnerships to celebrate the start of work on this exciting new scheme.
“We’re proud of our close partnerships which allow us to develop high quality, affordable homes, enabling local people to meet their housing aspirations. We look forward to seeing the development progress in the coming months.”
Local councillor for South Normanton, Emma Stevenson said: “We know there is a shortage of houses across the country and the range of properties on this development will certainly meet a need in the local area. The rented accommodation that will be available is also a welcome addition, enabling us to assist people with social housing.”
Bolsover District Council Leader, Councillor Steve Fritchley backed this sentiment by saying: “We have made no secret that one of our main ambitions is to build more housing. Our population is growing and we have to provide good quality housing for them to be able to live in, not just private homes but good quality affordable social housing as well and this development ticks all these boxes.”
The homes, developed by Owl Partnerships, have been designed to reflect the character of homes in the local area, and with sustainability in mind.
Andrew Browne, Land & Partnerships Director at Owl Partnerships, said: “Owl Partnerships are delighted to be working with the emh Team to bring forward the delivery of these much-needed affordable homes to South Normanton.
“We are dedicated to delivering quality, energy efficient homes that meets the needs of residents. We look forward to welcoming families into their new homes soon.”
It is anticipated that the first homes will be available in summer 2025, with the scheme being completed in winter 2026. All homes will be provided by emh group, who will manage the sale of the shared ownership homes. Once completed, the rented homes will be available through Bolsover District Council’s housing register.
Homes get green light on historic Derby mill site
Planning permission has been granted for the £3m conversion of a dilapidated Victorian mill in Derby into 64 apartments.
Derby City Council has approved the application for conversion of the former Osmaston Works building, in Osmaston Road, which was formerly home to adult swingers’ club The Attic.
Nottingham-based Swish Architecture submitted the planning application on behalf of mill owner ALB Group to fully regenerate the site, creating housing for the area.
In addition to the planned 64 one- and two-bed apartments, ALB Group will be refurbishing a two-bed terraced home on the site, incorporating a gym on the ground floor of the three-storey mill building and adding residents’ parking bays.
The development, which is expected to be completed by next summer, represents phase one of a two-phase project. The second phase, which is yet to be registered for planning, involves the construction of a stand-alone apartment block of around 40 units with associated parking.
Arran Bailey, managing director of Nottingham-based ALB Group, said: “Together with Swish Architecture, we have worked extremely closely with the team at Derby City Council to agree a scheme that will really benefit this area of Derby.
“We’re delighted that our plans have been approved and look forward to delivering this much-needed housing – as well as creating a much brighter future for this impressive piece of Derby’s industrial heritage.”
Remedial works have already begun on the ground floor of the imposing mill building under a ‘permitted development’ agreement that had previously been granted.
Nottingham-based Hallsgrove Construction Limited has been appointed as the main contractor for the project.
The refurbishment of the main mill building will include the installation of new aluminium double-glazed windows to the front elevation, to ensure the end-result is in keeping with the existing heritage while providing an essential modern thermal upgrade.
ALB Group is no stranger to reclaiming and regenerating large-scale historical buildings that have fallen into disrepair.
In recent years it has successfully transformed Draycott’s Victoria Mill into 73 luxury apartments.
The firm has also submitted a planning application for the £4m refurbishment and restoration of the historic Bridge Mills complex in Long Eaton.
Having purchased the site more than three years ago, ALB Group is now seeking to convert the space that has, up to now, been occupied by businesses into 82 residential apartments. It will continue to offer short-term lets to businesses while the planning process is underway.
ALB Group is also behind the transformation of Nottingham’s Bridlesmith Gate, having purchased more than a dozen buildings in the street, now filled with a mixture of new business tenants.
Arran said: “Many developers are fearful of taking on historic building conversions, as it is so much easier to create new-build schemes. But we are determined to protect the amazing heritage of our local towns and cities – and it’s a genuine buzz for us when we see our work breathe new life into these often run-down areas.”
First Bus and Centrica choose Leicester to launch new EV charging partnership
An event at the First Bus depot in Leicester has launched a new partnership between the company and Centrica under which Centrica will get access to First Bus’ rapid electric vehicle charging infrastructure at bus depots nationwide.
This new deal sees Centrica join the ranks of Openreach, DPD and Police Scotland, plugging into this shared infrastructure initiative from First Bus. The initial phase of the partnership will enable Centrica to charge a selection of its EV fleet at First Bus’ Leicester depot while buses are out on the road in service. This allows Centrica engineers to cover more ground, reduce their environmental impact, and dedicate more time to the needs of their customers. The partnership then has the potential to extend to further depots across the bus operator’s UK infrastructure in the future. Centrica currently has more than 3,000 electric vehicles in its fleet but its aiming to convert all its diesel vehicles to zero-emissions by 2030. Rob Simister, Director of Fleet Operations at Centrica, said: “As we continue to electrify our fleet, we’re always looking for innovative ways to0 addresssoem of the operational challenges that come with such a large transition. This partnership with First Bus will mean were more effective at getting to our customers, while speeding up the rollout of our electric vehicles.”Ceremony marks opening of new Construction Skills Centre at Nottingham College
The new £5.4m Construction Skills Centre (CSC) at Nottingham College is now complete and open for students, as marked with an official handover last week.
The CSC is a new build specialist centre offering flexible teaching and learning facilities that will support the curriculum and estate objectives of the college, meeting the growing need to provide training for construction skilled trades in the local area. Delivered by midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, the CSC will act as a critical educational facility meeting the rising demand for post-16 sector education. The scheme was procured through Pagabo’s Medium Works framework managed by Pagabo on behalf of contracting authority The Education Alliance. The building is designed to align with the Department for Education’s (DfE) output specification and support the sustainability ambitions of Nottingham College, working towards becoming carbon zero by 2030. The 1,500m² building comprises a large double height construction trades workshop, as well as additional classrooms, a smaller modern construction workshop and associated staff and support facilities. The handover was a great opportunity to highlight the modern facilities the CSC has to offer, helping to support Nottingham College’s commitment to improving vocational education and training for its students. The scheme is the first of two major new additions to the college portfolio that G F Tomlinson has worked on this year, the contractor is also close to completing a new centre for Students with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (The Gateway) – a new two-storey building comprising 13 classrooms, a teaching kitchen, dining area and ancillary spaces, as well as associated external works which is due for completion in December this year. As part of G F Tomlinson’s commitment to delivering social value, a total of £1.8 million social value-added was provided on the scheme, calculated using specialist social value tool, Loop. Activities included including organised site visits, regular newsletters and career talks with students from nearby schools. 1,669 apprentice hours, 44.5 apprentice weeks and 779 student engagements were also provided by G F Tomlinson’s construction ambassadors. The company also partnered with Nottingham College earlier in the year and hosted a two-day workshop for their construction students. Using materials kindly donated by Vision Joinery, the students learned valuable carpentry skills by designing and building bird boxes. The workshop not only enhanced the students’ practical abilities but also aligned with joint sustainability goals by supporting local wildlife. 79% of local labour was sourced within a 20-mile radius and 81% local spend within 20 miles of the site. Other sustainability initiatives on the project involved the installation of 60 PV panels, three air source heat pumps and the achievement of 100% waste recycled and diverted from landfill, contributing positively to the local environment and national carbon net-zero agenda. Adrian Grocock, Managing Director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the development of this major scheme for Nottingham College, building on our extensive education experience through the Pagabo framework. This project is crucial in addressing the growing demand for skilled trades training in the local area and the centre will not only support the college’s curriculum but also play a pivotal role in upskilling the local workforce to meet the needs of the construction sector within the region.” Carl Ara, Assistant Principal at Nottingham College Basford Campus, said: “A project of this scale was ambitious, making it incredibly satisfying to see it come to life. Watching our students learn and grow in this new space is truly rewarding, and these facilities will elevate our training programmes, empowering young people and adults across the city to excel in full-time study programmes and apprenticeships. “G F Tomlinson has done an exceptional job – completing a project of this magnitude on a busy campus was no small feat. The builders also provided invaluable experiences for our construction students, from site tours and industry talks to hands-on work placements. “As demand for skilled construction workers rises, especially in housing, transport, and renewable energy, our new CSC enables us to equip the next generation with the skills they need for the future.” Adam Brumfitt, Midlands regional delivery manager at Pagabo, commented on the collaboration: “The Construction Skills Centre is poised to significantly enhance the educational experience for students and staff alike, and we are proud to have contributed to its development by ensuring the compliant appointment of GF Tomlinson as main contractor. With the use of social value tool Loop, it’s fantastic to see the bigger impact that this project has had on its local community too.”Steel frames in place to extend business premises at Calverton
A development of four new industrial units in Calverton, to the north east of Nottingham, has reached a major milestone, with the steel frames now in place.
The new units are being built by Lindum Group for Gedling Borough Council to meet growing demand for commercial space at Hill Crest Business Park.
Lindum Construction Manager Simon Hope said: “It’s great to be working with Gedling Borough Council on another project.
“These new facilities will enable local businesses to thrive by giving them a base of operation in an already popular estate. It also offers opportunities to local people by creating new jobs in Calverton.”
The existing car park will be extended to 41 spaces to accommodate space for tenants of the new units and existing businesses. There will be four disabled access bays and two EV chargers.
Facilities will include a total 194m2 of photovoltaic (PV) panels for renewable electricity generation, and a new bio-diverse planting scheme, in alignment with Gedling Borough Council’s net-zero carbon ambitions.
Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy at Gedling Borough Council, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Lindum on the construction of four additional industrial units at the popular Hill Crest Business Park.
“The delivery costs for the extension of this project are supported by D2N2 LEP with grant funding alongside the UK Government Shared Prosperity fund (UKSPF) and further capital funding by Gedling Borough Council.
“These eco-friendly developments provide valuable opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to thrive and offer employment to the local community.”
Businesses in the park’s eight existing units include a machinery manufacturer, directory publisher, shopfitting contractors and a facilities management company.
Quantum Development Finance provide £15m loan funding for Wavensmere’s Milford Mills in North Derbyshire
Quantum Development Finance has agreed to provide Wavensmere Homes with a £15m loan to enable the £22m redevelopment of Milford Mills, which overlooks the River Derwent, located between Belper and Duffield in north Derbyshire.
The development will comprise 69 new homes to be delivered on the historic brownfield site, which is within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accessed off Derby Road (A6) in the centre of Milford village, the redevelopment of former commercial premises will feature 42 two- and three-bedroom houses and 27 one- and two-bedroom apartments, within a four-storey building overlooking the River and Mill Lade.
With development finance in place, Wavensmere’s team is continuing to work alongside officers from the Borough Council to enable construction to commence in January.
This marks the second time Quantum Development Finance and Wavensmere Homes have teamed up to deliver brownfield regeneration within Derbyshire. Earlier this year, the London-based specialist property lender provided a £15m loan for the construction of the final phase of the £175m Nightingale Quarter scheme in Derby city centre. The ‘E6’ block incorporates 79 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom apartments, with a raft of green energy features.
Sam Hudson, Head of Portfolio Management at Quantum Development Finance, said: “Following the success of our initial loan at Nightingale Quarter we are delighted to continue this partnership on Milford Mills. At Quantum Development Finance we pride ourselves on building long-standing relationships, especially with one of the leading regeneration specialists in the UK.
“The former 18th Century cotton mill housed some of the world’s first mechanised industrial spinning factories. This highly unique project will incorporate retention of historic features, including the Mill Lade that now feeds a hydroelectric power plant downstream, along with the repair of all original stone boundary walls. We look forward to witnessing the transformation of this brownfield site into attainable family homes, and it is testament to Wavensmere Homes that both sites also have strong sustainability credentials.”
Surfacing company invests to improve Leicester’s roads
A Leicester-based company is leading the way in safer road surfacing following a year of business investments. The company is raising awareness of the importance of safe road surfaces this Road Safety Awareness Week (17-23 November).
HMS Decorative Surfacing has invested heavily in its resurfacing services over the past year, including doubling its team of workers, to cater for the growing demand for road repairs across the country.
This comes as the so-called ‘pothole plague’ was addressed in parliament last month during the Chancellor’s Budget speech, with £500m pledged towards improving Britain’s roads.
The AA recorded over 600,000 pothole related call outs last year and the RAC reported a 53% increase in road surface related breakdowns in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023. According to Cycling UK, 255 cyclists have been killed or seriously injured due to unsafe road surfaces since 2017 and 70 motorcyclists will die or suffer injuries every single year.
HMS has appointed new Surfacing Operatives, an Administration Assistant and invested in two new surfacing trucks. It has also worked towards upholding its BBA (British Board of Agrémen) accreditation, to keep up with the increasing number of reported potholes across Leicester and beyond, and ensure all repairs meet rigorous standards for quality, durability and safety.
Laura Wilson, Director at HMS Decorative Surfacing commented on the business’ growth. She said: “The need for effective and long-lasting road repairs has become increasingly evident over the past couple of years, as we’ve seen the number of pothole related accidents and breakdowns skyrocket. This Road Safety Week, we want to highlight the need for safer road surfacing in the UK to keep people safe and save lives.
“As a business we’ve seen this demand and so anticipated the labour government’s pledge to make improvements within the Autumn Budget. We’ve made many strategic decisions to support this; from doubling our numbers working on the ground, to growing our admin team and investing in new vehicles so we can extend our services.
“I’m really proud of how far we’ve come this year, and with this extra government funding, we now look to the future of HMS – aiming to grow our business and offer even more resurfacing services across the East Midlands and the rest of the UK.”
