Churchill Environmental Services appointed to duo of public sector frameworks
Churchill Environmental Services (CES), the specialist environmental and water arm of Churchill Group, has been appointed to two new frameworks. The frameworks are with Efficiency East Midlands (EEM) and Consortium Procurement (the commercial trading arm of the non-profit Northern Housing Consortium).
EEM, a not-for-profit procurement consortium, provides compliant products and services in repairs, maintenance, and new builds for its members in the public sector. EEM appointed CES for its reputation in water and environmental compliance, which complements EEM’s existing facilities services framework.
Consortium Procurement provides compliance services and dynamic purchasing to its 400 public sector members across the UK. Its members include organisations in construction, asset management, independent living accommodation, and financial inclusion. CES was selected for this framework because of its bespoke solutions for public-sector organisations.
Spencer Culley, director at Churchill Environmental Services, said: “We’re delighted to be appointed to these frameworks. Both EEM and Consortium Procurement provide high-level management strategies and we’re excited to broaden our network of partner organisations in the public sector. The appointments further imbed our position as a leading service provider across multiple industries.”
Sutton building given clean and green transformation
A former empty charity shop on Low Street, Sutton, has been transformed into a clean and green building by Ashfield District Council.
9-11 Low Street, the former YMCA shop, is being renovated as part of the Council’s £6.27million Future High Streets Fund, from empty eyesore to an attractive, green, commercial unit.
The buildings eco credentials come from the installation of photo voltaic panels on the roof, insultation, innovative sun tubes that provide natural light inside the building, and a living, green roof. The roof has been planted with sedums that will not only help capture carbon emissions, and absorb rainfall, they benefit pollinators when flowering during summer.
Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said: “This project is a great example of how we are transforming former grotspots in town centres, in ways you can see, and those that you can’t. The green roof is a clever and easy way for the Council to increase biodiversity whilst helping the environment, helping us achieve one of our key priorities; cleaner and greener.
“Projects across Sutton and Kirkby are really picking up pace now with the start of works on Fox Street and Portland Square this month. It won’t be long until residents, businesses, and visitors start seeing real transformational change in Ashfield.”
The internal works to 9-11 Low Street are almost complete.
The Future High Streets Fund is also paying for the renovation of the theatre at Sutton Academy, the transformation of Fox Street, and the refurbishment at High Pavement House.
Affinity back on board with transport specialist Vectare in £3.5m funding deal
A Loughborough-based transport solutions company has made a second major investment after landing a funding deal through Nottinghamshire’s Affinity Asset Finance.
In November 2022, Vectare enhanced its environmental credentials by acquiring ten Alexander Dennis Enviro E200 low carbon emission buses after securing a £2m deal arranged by Affinity.
Now, they have partnered once again, with 15 new Alexander Dennis Buses being procured following a £3.5m deal.
Neil Kimberley, Director at Affinity Asset Finance, said: “We have built a proactive relationship with Vectare which has enabled us to not only be seen as a ‘preferred supplier’ but also offer advice and guidance on all areas of funding.
“Given the outlay in terms of deposit and the VAT amounts due, we structured a cash flow friendly way, meaning that assets payments are over the same lifespan as the contract.
“We have seen this business grow organically and via acquisition, with consistently improved and impressive cost management, fleet efficiency analysis and shrewd contract negotiations which in turn has meant they are being regularly awarded new contracts across the UK.”
Founded in 2016 by young entrepreneurs Dominic Kalantary and Peter Nathanail, who met at university, Vectare is a nationwide provider of mobility and transport technology solutions.
It now employs over 300 staff with a fleet of 200 buses, coaches and minibuses, working in partnership with 125 schools and 80 partner coach operators to deliver more than 600 daily home to school transport routes.
Earlier this year it launched its ‘Bigger Business – Better Buses’ strategy, setting out its plans for its next phase of growth.
Dominic Kalantary from Vectare said: “Thanks to Affinity Asset Finance, we’re able to invest further in a brand new fleet to improve the quality of journey we deliver to our customers.
“Outside of this investment, we are also restructuring our management team to bolster our resource levels, and analysing every aspect of our customers’ journey with us to identify opportunities to make journeys more reliable, more consistent and more enjoyable.”
Affinity’s package will see Vectare add 15 8.9m ADL Enviro200 MMC single-deck service buses to a bespoke interior specification.
Why you should not always be DeadHappy with publicity: by Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, explains how there is such thing as bad publicity.
So, it’s happened again…. “There’s no such thing as bad publicity Greg” – someone said to me at a conference I was speaking at yesterday.
It was a room full of just under 400 business owners and I was there to lift the lid on the dark arts of PR. I was fielding a question about what to do in a PR crisis, which to me, starts way before the crisis occurs. Like, before you start any external communications at all. Get your ducks in a row before any detritus starts hitting any rotating blades.
Anyway, as I was explaining how to begin this process, a chap at the back cheerfully yelled out the old cliche. I laughed along as the room nodded sagely that they felt this to be true until I pointed out something very stark: “I promise each and every one of you in this room right now that I can make you famous before 5pm today. Just come and see me at the break and we will have a little chat and Robert’s your father’s brother. In fact, I won’t even charge you for it.”
Now, as you might imagine, this set of a ripple of excitement through the room. Not only was I GUARANTEEING them fame, I wasn’t even seeking a fortune for this game changing moment.
I let the dust settle before quietly adding a caveat: “Of course, I didn’t say WHAT I was going to make you famous FOR or HOW.”
That’s the crux of the problem with this old cliche. Gerald Ratner is famous for calling his own products and stores cr*p. Super famous. So famous it destroyed his business. Not so smart.
As I was setting out my column for this month, following a gentle reminder from Tess on the editorial team, a similar theme reared its ugly head. DeadHappy, the controversial insurance broker, filed for administration.
I’ve been at the sharp end of this media wise before and it is a time of huge stress and major uncertainty for everyone, especially the employees. So, I take no pleasure in calling them out on their marketing, but the fact remains that the way they courted controversy for the sake of column inches went way too far.
It raised eyebrows for sure. It got them attention, that is beyond doubt. Did it make them some friends? Maybe. Did it get them clients? Yes. Did it also put up a great big ”Bargepole Alert” sign within a traditional industry that wanted to steer well clear of partnering with them? Yes.
It was a short-term approach to marketing that they saw as making a splash and being disruptive, but far too many people who made the business model feasible pushed back against or actively ran from. It was not sustainable but that didn’t appear to bother them.
Note that I said “appear” – who knows what they really thought but frankly, appearances are nine tenths of the PR law.
The Harold Shipman furore was the straw that broke the camel’s back but the response from DeadHappy’s founder was tone deaf: “Being provocative is different to being offensive and it is of course never our intention to offend or upset people. It is our intention to make people stop and think. If however you have been personally distressed by this advert we do sincerely apologise.”
Communication is all about what the listener receives, not what you say. DeadHappy have learned that lesson the hard way.
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 July issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council makes £80,000 available to boost rural businesses
Rural businesses and organisations are being invited to apply for grants by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council.
The grants could help them boost productivity, improve community buildings or to improve accessibility to tourist attractions and green open spaces that support local communities and businesses.
The scheme aimed at boosting the rural economy launched Round three of funding on Monday (8th July 2024) with around £80,000 of capital only funding available. Applications will be treated on a first come first served basis until all funding has been allocated.
The scheme, made possible thanks to £400,000 from Rural England Prosperity Fund in 2023, has been extremely popular and has already seen a wide range of businesses and organisations funded to make business performance improvements, purchase new machinery and vehicles and install energy efficiency measures.
Those eligible for the grant include businesses and local organisations that wish to invest in new technologies and equipment that increase productivity; protect and improve local historic buildings and tourism venues which can include new kitchens, energy efficiency improvements and cultural offerings; provide diversification outside of agriculture and develop local tourism attractions.
There are a range of grants available, with funds from £7,500 to £22,500. The grants also have an intervention rate of 75%, meaning businesses and organisations need only find a minimum of 25% of the total eligible project costs to apply.
Executive Member for Rural Affairs at the Borough Council, Councillor Martin Cartwright said: “We are delighted to be able to continue to offer these grants to support our rural communities and businesses, helping them to thrive especially given the challenging and difficult circumstances over the recent years.
“Due to the amount on offer, we are expecting these grants to be very competitive, so please apply straight away if you think you’ll be eligible. Our thanks to the Rural England Prosperity Fund for helping to make this possible.”
Nottingham City Council sets out plan to bring about improvements
Nottingham City Council has drawn up a blueprint for how it will become a financially sustainable, resilient and better run organisation.
The Council’s Improvement Plan, due to be discussed by its Executive Board on 16 July, addresses the issues and challenges which led to the Government’s appointment of Commissioners to oversee the authority. The Plan has been developed and agreed with the Commissioners and will guide the improvement required across the Council over the next 2 years.
Delivery of the Plan will result in a Council that looks, feels and operates significantly differently to the way it currently does. It will enable the Council to be:
- A Council that delivers for Nottingham with a clear direction and purpose – a clear vision and purpose will guide the transformation of the organisation, its budget strategy, workforce development, and future priorities for the city and its residents; and clearly explain how the council will deliver, enable and influence others to achieve those priorities.
- A Council that is financially sustainable – The Council needs to ‘live within its means’ and be able to deliver a balanced budget and sustainable financial plan. This will be attained through the delivery of credible savings plans, robust financial management, improved commercial practice, and a programme of capital assets disposal.
- A Council that is well run with effective people, processes and systems – The Council will continue to modernise how it operates and improve its productivity and operational efficiency so it can deliver to the best of its ability. This includes strengthening governance, making sure roles and responsibilities are clearly understood, and looking at how service delivery is supported and enabled by business processes and systems.
Over £17k raised by East Midlands business at annual charity football event
A provider of innovative technology solutions has helped raise over £17,000 in support of fundraising initiative The Transaid Cup.
Working alongside the charity and Libra Europe, 15 Microlise Group employees took to the pitch at Ilkeston Town F.C. to compete against 14 other industry teams.
The teams played against each other in a 7-aside format, with Dawsongroup going head-to-head with Brigade in the final match, stealing the crown with an impressive 3-0 victory. Other teams in attendance on the day included Blue Cube, Boughey, Goodyear, GXO, Iron Mountain, RHA, MAN, Libra Europe and Michelin.
Creed generously supported the event for a second year in a row, providing items for the tuck shop for team players to enjoy at the end of the day – including soft drinks, crisps, snacks and ice creams. All teams also provided a raffle prize up to the value of £50.
The money raised will go directly to international development organisation, Transaid, which helps to transform lives through safe, available and sustainable transport in sub-Saharan Africa.
The charity works closely with local communities, government agencies, and the private sector to develop sustainable transportation systems and advocate for policy changes that enhance mobility and improve road safety.
The Transaid Cup offered multiple avenues for participation, including team registrations, spectating, volunteering, and company sponsorship. Its JustGiving page is still open for donations.
Nadeem Raza, Microlise Group’s CEO, said: “Following the success of last year’s event, where we raised £15,000, we are delighted to extend our support for Transaid this year.
“Its dedication to increasing road safety and supporting the career development of drivers closely aligns with our own in-house values. We’re hugely proud of our team members for making the day a huge success and we’re looking forward to continuing to support such a worthy cause.”
Caroline Barber, Chief Executive at Transaid, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Transaid’s long-term corporate partner Microlise, for their generosity and support.
“It’s incredibly heartwarming to see the industry come together to support our charity, raising vital unrestricted funds which will enable us to save lives through our vital work in improving road safety in sub-Saharan Africa. The day was a great success!”
Head of BDO Midlands celebrates two years at the helm with new senior appointment
Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO has added its Midlands Regional Managing Partner, Kyla Bellingall, to its new national Leadership Team.
The appointment follows the election of Mark Shaw as the firm’s new Managing Partner with both appointments effective from 1st October 2024. Kyla’s leadership team role will focus on regions, markets and sectors and she will continue as Regional Managing Partner in the Midlands.
Kyla has more than 25 years’ experience having joined the profession as a school leaver apprentice. She joined BDO as an Audit Partner in 2015 with a focus on developing a not-for-profit sector group in the Midlands. Prior to her appointment as Regional Managing Partner, Kyla was Head of Audit for the Midlands for two years, navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and driving revenue growth of 75%.
Since taking on the position of Regional Managing Partner in July 2022, BDO’s Midlands practice has experienced strong growth including nine new partners and revenue growth of over 40%, with a team of over 500 people now working across its Birmingham and Nottingham city centre offices.
Commenting on her appointment, Kyla said: “After a wonderful two years of leading BDO’s Midlands team I am delighted to be taking on this additional role, ensuring we continue to champion our regional offices at the most senior level within the firm. I have ambitious plans for BDO’s Midlands practice with further investment planned for later in the year.
“The growth of our Midlands practice is a reflection of BDO’s growth as a firm overall. Our core market of mid-sized, ambitious and entrepreneurial businesses has demonstrated strength and resilience during a challenging economic period.
“I look forward to working with Mark and the new Leadership Team at an exciting time for BDO as we continue to support businesses across the UK, building on our heritage and looking to our future.”
Mayor meets Prime Minister for devolution talks
The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has been to Downing Street with the country’s regional mayors to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to discuss more powers and funding for the East Midlands.
Mayor Claire attended a high-level roundtable for UK Mayors as the government announced it was setting up a council for regions and nations to support a drive to loosen Westminster’s “tight grip” over big cities and regions.
The Prime Minister said: “I’m a great believer in the idea that those with skin in the game – those that know their communities – make much better decisions.”
The government has said it wants to give more power to the regions, recognising the part regions like the East Midlands have to play in delivering economic growth – a central pledge by the new government.
Mayor Claire said: “It’s the beginning of a new era for our villages, towns and cities. After years of languishing at the bottom of every funding league table, the East Midlands will finally get the investment it deserves. I wholeheartedly welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to giving our communities more of a say on some of the most important issues.
“I think it’s significant that the roundtable took place so early in the government’s first week in charge. Both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister understand that mayors are uniquely placed to make the best decisions for the places we serve and know that we can lead the drive for growth across the country.
“It was, of course, a thrill to be in Downing Street and make the case for our great region. There are many challenges ahead, but I’m confident we’ll have great support from the government to make our region the best place to live, to work and to learn.”
Northamptonshire residential park home maker snapped up
Hull family business J.R. Rix & Sons Ltd has acquired a Northamptonshire residential park home maker to build on its holiday home and lodge portfolio manufactured by Victory Leisure Homes.
The company has become sole shareholder in Prestige Communities Group Ltd – parent company of well-known residential brand Prestige – for an undisclosed sum.
The move sees Rix Group enter the residential park home sector for the first time, after growing Victory Leisure Homes into one of the UK’s top holiday home and lodge manufacturers. The Prestige portfolio also offers an extended range of premium holiday and leisure homes, growing the Group’s presence and market share.
James Doyle, Managing Director of J.R. Rix & Sons, said the acquisition will bring stability to Prestige Communities Group, which has undergone several changes in ownership over recent years.
Mr Doyle said: “We’re delighted to complete the purchase of Prestige. I feel we are well positioned to support and invest further in the company ensuring it remains at the forefront of innovation in the park home and leisure space.
“The acquisition extends our product range into the residential park home sector and will enable us to build on the successes achieved by Victory Leisure Homes in the holiday park sector.
“We feel there is a good cultural fit with the people at Prestige which will be fundamental to the business’s future success and we look forward to working with Mitchell Comer and his management team.”
Mitchell Comer, CEO of Northamptonshire-based Prestige, said: “Following the restructuring in February, we have been seeking and discussing a long-term investor/owner proposition that would give Prestige a foundation to build upon, securing the legacy, but equally enabling funding and support for continued growth and innovation.
“J.R. Rix & Sons demonstrated a long-term vision, both for their group of companies, as well as Prestige, and during discussions it was clear we shared common values and aspirations.”
