Commercial interior design and fit out company APSS has created a stunning interior design for Lincolnshire charity Naomi’s Garden as part of a volunteer project bringing together construction and professional service companies across Lincolnshire.
Louth-based Naomi’s Garden provides a conductive education and special education needs consultancy. It also provides Bowen Therapy along with running a Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) in conjunction with Lincolnshire County Council.
Conductive education is based on a ‘simple’ concept of human potential, meaning that everyone has the capability to learn and develop irrespective of their starting point. The Bowen technique comprises a series of precise movements over muscle and connective tissue to naturally assist the body in re-balancing and re-setting itself. Between each set of moves there is a pause allowing the nervous system to adjust the tension level in the muscles.
The charity is currently raising funds for its new HQ in Manby Park near Louth to transform it from a motorcycle repair shop into a fit-for-purpose facility, where it can deliver its life-changing services to more people who need them.
APSS designer Caitlin Maginess created the interior concept which steered away from a usual clinical interior and made it a more welcoming and fun experience for the children and adults who require the services.
Caitlin said: “It was important to have a home away from home for people to visit, so we focused on creating a homely feel with a contemporary industrial design using a lot of soft furnishings.
“There are areas within the design where we toned the concept down to focus on the needs of the people who will be using the space.
“In addition to providing the primary service, there will be a space for people and businesses to rent out for classes like Zumba or spinning and birthday parties. There is also a communal kitchen that everyone can use in addition to therapy rooms, meeting rooms and counselling rooms as well as the classroom which will be the heart of the facility.”
When complete, the new centre will enable the charity to extend its working hours, provide group sessions and create a dynamic learning environment for all – no matter what their disability – resulting in 50% more adults and children being supported each year. The building will also give them the option to run group sessions and be used for the wider community.
Sarah-Jayne Walker, Lead Conductor at Naomi’s Garden, said: “When we received the designs from APSS, I cried. We were blown away with how beautiful they were and exactly what we were after.
“Now we need to continue our fundraising journey while we gather as many Lincolnshire-based companies to make this dream a reality. We are in awe at the generosity we have already received from these local companies and businesses along with other charities who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us.
“We currently have a waiting list across Lincolnshire who are keen to benefit from the unique therapy we provide. We desperately need our new more accessible hub to be functional so we can continue our work and expand to help those families who are relying on us as the only service provider of our kind in our area.”
To make a donation towards Naomi’s Garden’s new premises please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/naomis-gardens-big-move?utm_campaign=p_nacp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
To view the latest video about this project, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx6_OIBNzjANaomi’s Garden Memorial Wall Designed by APSS
A Leicestershire-based interior fit-out and joinery specialist has opened its first office in London following the successful completion of its largest ever contract.
EE Smith Contracts has invested almost £500,000 in its new base at the Business Design Centre in Islington to build on its work on prestigious projects in the luxury residential and hotel sector.
Twenty-five staff including project managers, design managers and quantity surveyors are based at the new office which includes a meeting room to meet existing and prospective clients.
This decision follows the successful completion of the biggest contract in the company’s 127-year history at the Peninsula London Hotel on Hyde Park Corner where EE Smith Contracts fitted out the ballroom and meeting areas and the hotel and residential spa on two floors of the five-star hotel.
Their order book remains strong after securing a number of contracts for 2024-2025 including a multi-unit residential development in the heart of Mayfair, delivering public areas for one of the world’s most illustrious hotels, and providing bespoke joinery at two super mansions in the Home Counties.
Neil Bottrill, Managing Director of EE Smith Contracts, said although the majority of its employees will remain at its headquarters in Leicester, it made sense to open a London office.
He said: “The majority of our biggest contracts are driven from central London and the South East and opening a London office has been on our radar for quite a few years.
“With the confidence we have in the market, we decided to take a lease at the Business Design Centre and fit out a suite to give us a permanent base for our staff and a space to host clients and meet sub-contractors.
“The market at the moment is quite phenomenal with high-end residential and hotel markets remaining incredibly strong despite a challenging economic backdrop.
“The industry itself has had a difficult couple of years with the energy crisis, inflation on building products and interest rates putting pressure on developers’ build costs, but our pipeline remains strong.
“We are enjoying a continual stream of flagship opportunities, based on client satisfaction levels of previous works, and we’re confident we’re going to win more high-profile contracts in the near future.”
EE Smith Contracts has had a solid year in turbulent times with profit levels maintained despite macro-economic pressures reducing turnover for the year ending March 31, 2024.
Neil Simpson, Finance Director at EE Smith Contracts, said the Group is now debt free, which provides a secure base for the coming years.
He said: “In recent years, we had produced the highest annual revenues in our history and we have continued to produce healthy profit and a strong balance sheet with sufficient capital to deliver large prestigious schemes despite these challenging times which have led to some similar companies in our sector no longer being able to trade.”
EE Smith Contracts has also invested £100,000 in a dedicated learning centre at its HQ in Morris Road, Leicester, after recruiting seven further joinery apprentices this month.
Rushton Hickman has sold ‘The Thomas Sykes building’, which comprises a unique split-level former licensed public house that was originally developed from stables within the historic Everards Burton Brewery site.
The property is situated in an area that has seen a surge in the conversion of commercial buildings to residential use and being so prominently situated in a busy location, there is significant potential for the building.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God Zion Hill Burton has acquired the Thomas Sykes building and they intend to transform it into a community centre that will be open to all, providing much-needed assistance, support and opportunities to strengthen the local community.
Mr Owaboye from the Redeemed Christian Church said: “We were extremely happy with the speed of the sale and the property itself. The community centre will help us to provide a range of activity to the general public, reduce inequalities and help us deal with the required demand.”
Commercial Property Agent, Taylor Millington said: “When we brought this property to the market, it generated a lot of interest due to being in the heart of a residential area and close to the town centre. It is rewarding to see the building being utilised for community welfare which will ultimately benefit the local residents.”
Alongside Chesterfield Canal Trust, landscape architecture practice, Influence Landscape Planning & Design, has commenced works on the next section of the Chesterfield Canal restoration project.
The works, which are taking place on a 2.6km stretch of the canal, from Staveley Basin to the south of Renishaw, Derbyshire, will revitalise the historic canal for people to enjoy and for nature to thrive.
Funded in part by the Staveley Town Deal, these works will see the reconstruction of up to 850 metres of canal channel, the construction of two new bridges – including a bridleway bridge to carry the Trans Pennine Trail over the canal – a new lock, and the enhancement of footpaths and cycleways.
Following planning permission in 2021, on behalf of Chesterfield Canal Trust, Influence Landscape Planning & Design was appointed to produce a landscape masterplan for the project, which led to detailed landscape plans and a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP). Working alongside Peak Ecology and Rodgers Leask Consulting Engineers, the team successfully discharged the planning conditions related to the works.
The design features of the landscape plan include attractive seating areas, viewing points, areas for families to play, information boards and clear wayfinding – as the scheme is integrated with the surrounding network of public rights of way.
The landscape proposal includes native tree and shrub planting, areas of wildflower meadow, and aquatic planting along the length of the canal, creating a picturesque backdrop and a robust habitat for wildlife.
Since restoration began in 1989, 12 miles of the Chesterfield Canal have been restored, alongside 37 locks, 11 bridges, and two marinas. The most recent sections completed include Staveley Basin in 2012 and Hartington Harbour in 2018.
This phase of construction works is being delivered by Midlands-based O’Brien Contractors, who are leading the first phase of this 18-month project, which includes major groundworks to clear the canal route and the landscaping. Following this, the abutments for the new Trans Pennine Trail bridge will be constructed, and by October, the 38-meter-long structure will be installed.
Subsequent phases will see the reinstatement of the canal length, a new lock, another accommodation bridge at the bottom of Bellhouse Lane, a pumping system, and the creation of Bellhouse Basin. The towpath will be upgraded to a multi-user trail, extending across the Doe Lea Valley to Renishaw. This restoration project not only enhances outdoor spaces and creates new leisure infrastructure, but it is also expected to increase visitors to the Staveley area by 20%, boosting local economic activity.
George Rogers, Development Manager at Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “This project represents a major advance in the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal, as we move out of Staveley and into the Doe Lea valley. Moving into a more rural environment, it was really important to us that we gave proper consideration to the landscaping and to ensure that the restoration has a positive impact upon its surroundings for both wildlife and the community.
“Working with Influence and Peak Ecology on these plans has been enlightening and rewarding, and we are excited to see the new landscape maturing over time and the local community being better able to access this wonderful corner of Derbyshire.”
Kathryn Dunk, Principal Landscape Architect at Influence Landscape Planning & Design, said: “It’s been such a pleasure to be involved in a project that marries engineering heritage with new public spaces for all to enjoy, and importantly, this scheme gave us the opportunity to reinstate and enhance native planting to create new habitats for wildlife.
“It’s fantastic to see these former canal routes coming back to life and the historic importance of this site is truly fascinating. The team and I look forward to seeing people spending leisure time on the newly restored pathways and on the water.”
Winvic Construction Ltd, a Northampton main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has been invited to join the Advisory Board of the Policy Liaison Group (PLG) on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), as the sole main contractor representing the construction industry.
This cross-party forum, based in Westminster, will benefit from Winvic’s industry expertise and leadership in advancing ESG initiatives.
Arun Thaneja, Winvic’s Technical Services and Sustainability Director – who last year supported the development of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) guidance on carbon offsetting and associated carbon pricing to support the shift towards Net Zero buildings – will lead Winvic’s attendance at regular roundtables.
He will be supported by Heidi Salmons, Winvic’s Head of Marketing, Communications, and Social Responsibility, who will bring valuable insights on the Social aspects of ESG to the discussions.
Winvic will play a pivotal role, joining the roundtables with ministers, parliamentarians, regulators, standard-setters, NGOs and academics that the PLG organises, contributing to bridging the knowledge gap in ESG among parliamentarians and advancing the ESG and sustainability agenda in Parliament.
Discussions will inform key government figures, maintaining the legacy of being one of the most prominent cross-party groups in Westminster.
A place on the Advisory Board means that Winvic will have the opportunity to shape future topics for discussion and make recommendations to parliament as well as shape topics for reports and influence the Decarbonisation Strategy to meet the current 2030 target in The Labour Party manifesto.
Bridging the wider corporate world and that of parliament, the PLG’s strategic objectives include identifying and proposing policy solutions for the challenges that companies and investors face when adopting and applying ESG principles and frameworks. The group also aims to align commercial strategies and public sector objectives, such as achieving net zero, reducing biodiversity loss, ensuring a Just Transition and amplifying diversity, equity and inclusion.
By supporting the development and implementation of effective, low-burden reporting requirements and showcasing how ESG frameworks and principles can enhance business resilience and lower investors’ exposure to risk, the PLG will help the UK become a global green finance centre and an ESG leader.
Arun Thaneja, Winvic’s Technical Services and Sustainability Director, said: “It’s an honour for Winvic to be invited to join the Advisory Board of the Policy Liaison Group on ESG.
“Having a seat at the table will allow us to share our expertise, influence cross parliamentary discussions and collaboratively find solutions to ESG challenges and I’m optimistic that Winvic will gain fresh and innovative insights from other industry experts on the Advisory Board.
“As the only construction contractor to join this significant cross-party forum, we are committed to representing the industry positively and honestly. We view this role as both a privilege and a responsibility.
“We will leverage our extensive knowledge and passion to help advance the ESG and sustainability agenda in Parliament, with the goal of strengthening the UK’s position as an ESG and sustainability leader globally.”
Heidi Salmons, Head of Marketing, Communications & Social Responsibility, added: “Winvic has consistently been at the forefront of ESG initiatives in the industry, and we are eager to contribute our expertise to the PLG.
“We are particularly passionate about highlighting the Social aspect of ESG, underscoring the importance of a Just Transition to ensure that no one is left behind as we work towards a more sustainable future.
“We look forward to supporting the PLG’s mission to help parliamentarians understand ESG, and how frameworks, metrics, practices, and approaches can drive both environmental and social impact, while also securing a more stable and efficient business climate through effective corporate governance.”
A group of work colleagues from across the Midlands have completed a 15 km Tough Mudder challenge and raised nearly £1,200 for Derbyshire’s specialist child exploitation charity, Safe and Sound.
The seven-strong team from the central division sales team of Hydro-X Water Treatment Ltd came together for the gruelling challenge in Birmingham and worked together to complete a series of 20 obstacles.
Account manager Mark Judson, who lives in Burton-on-Trent and nominated the charity for the fundraising event, explained: “I am a keen runner so enjoyed that part of it but some of the obstacles were particularly tricky – especially those which gave out electric shocks!
“Overall it was great fun and really brought us all together – drawing on everyone’s individual strengths to negotiate the obstacles which ranged from crawling through mud to plunging into an ice bath.
“Having supported Safe and Sound previously, I am very proud of all my colleagues who have collected a very respectable total for an extremely worthwhile local charity.
“I would like to thank Hydro-X for supporting this fantastic charity and organising the event for us and also my team mates Ben, Wes, Scott, Ani, Chris and Antony for making it a memorable experience.”
Tracy Harrison is chief executive of Safe and Sound which supports children, young people and families whose lives have been affected by child exploitation including online grooming, sexual exploitation, County Lines, trafficking, modern slavery and radicalisation.
She said: “The team at Hydro-X have done an amazing job collecting sponsorship and then tackling this gruelling course.
“Our own challenges are often focused on going beyond people’s comfort zone and this definitely fits that brief so congratulations to the whole team.”
A community hub in Loughborough which welcomes thousands of people every year has been given a funding boost.
The Arc Community Hub in Knox Road has been running since 2019 and hosts a regular programme of events including exercise classes, health clinics, a youth club and a weekly community café.
Now the centre – which has had more than 26,600 people walk through its doors in the past 12 months – has been given £1,000 towards its running costs by housebuilder Miller Homes East Midlands.
Sue Halford, operations manager of The Arc Community Hub, said: “The centre was set up to be the heart of the community and, five years later, is a thriving hub of activities and events for people of all ages.
“As a charity, our services are supported by volunteers who generously give their time, and we work hard to fundraise through our day-to-day operations, with money generated through room hire and some of our groups.
“Sponsorship and charitable donations are always a big help to keep the centre running, and so we’d like to thank Miller Homes East Midlands for its generous donation.”
Miller Homes East Midlands, which is based in Pride Park, Derby, provides funding to charities and community groups across the region each year as part of its Community Fund initiative.
The housebuilder is currently building at its Charters Gate development in nearby Castle Donington and plans to build more new homes in the Loughborough area in the near future.
Rob Wain, sales manager for Miller Homes East Midlands, said: “The Arc relies on donations to provide some fantastic services and an event facility for the community of Loughborough to enjoy.
“The dedication and hard work of the volunteers and staff make the centre what it is, and we’re pleased to support them through our Community Fund.
“Sue and David from The Arc were very welcoming and I’d like to thank them for showing me around and explaining more about the mission of the centre.”
Newark and Sherwood District Council has granted £150k from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund into Newark College, creating a programme designed to elevate the skills of the local workforce. This initiative aims to bolster organisational growth and foster development among employers throughout the district.
The grant is allocated across two years, supporting the College to deliver their ‘Boosting’ Programme in Newark and Sherwood. The initiative focuses on providing local employers with bespoke services, tools and resources to identify and implement organisational improvement opportunities, as well as aiming to support hundreds of employees through access to a variety of specialist training courses, helping to up-skill the workforce and encourage workplace progression.
The programme offers a range of support to local businesses, including access to team building activities, meeting facilities, online and face to face training courses for employees such as leadership, management, resilience and data training, as well as access to a variety of resources and analytics tools to help improve organisational performance.
Within the first half of the programme, more than 70 individuals successfully completed courses through the project to help them progress within their career, gain relevant skills required and remain in local work.
In addition, 27 local employers benefited from specialist support across a range of industries such as retail, manufacturing, construction, and the technological sector, including small and micro employers up to large scale enterprises. Support will enable businesses to upgrade their organisational processes and adopt new technologies, as well as offer enhanced support to employees through addressing unique workplace training needs.
Councillor Claire Penny, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “As a champion of worked-based learning myself, I really understand how important investing in our people is. That’s one reason why we are proud to support Lincoln College and their Boosting Programme, which is a fantastic initiative that is supporting our local economy.
“The programme is providing essential support to local employers and helping them to overcome the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing economic landscape. The programme is also creating positive impacts for the local workforce, by enhancing their skills and career prospects.”
Penny Taylor MBE, Head of Newark Campuses at Lincoln College, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant funding from the District Council through UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which enables us to provide valuable support to local employers and their workforce in Newark and Sherwood.
“The Boosting programme is designed to help businesses grow and thrive by developing their skills, productivity, and performance. This allows the college to work alongside businesses as our mission is to be employer led supporting opportunities for them and for our students to work with local employers. We have already seen some great results from the programme and we look forward to working with more businesses in the area over the next two years.”
Support through the Boosting programme is currently available to local employers within Newark and Sherwood up until March 2025 and is subject to availability.
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has been appointed to market Kettering Leisure Village.
Strategically located in the heart of England, this purpose-built, multi-use health and leisure complex was constructed in the early 1990s and sits on a substantial site spanning over 9.4 acres.
Over the years the property has become the established home of Volleyball England and undergone further development with a roll call of attractions including:
A 576-seat theatre
Substantial health club with a growing external membership
A sports arena
Children’s soft play area which is subject to a third party lease agreement
Diverse conference facilities
Additionally, planning consent was granted in 2018 for a 194-bedroom hotel to be positioned at the front of the site, which has now lapsed. However, there is an opportunity for a new owner to regain planning permission to create a hotel alongside the regional conference and leisure centre.
Jeremy Jones, Head of Brokerage, Christie & Co, says: “Kettering Leisure Village is a unique property in the UK. Producing growing profits from across a range of health, leisure and commercial activities as well as strong rental income. There are a whole range of asset management opportunities to capitalise on to grow the profits and income.”
Offers are invited in the region of £6,000,000 for the long leasehold interest by way of a share sale.
Researchers at Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at the University of Nottingham have developed ultra-thin soft robots, designed for exploring narrow spaces in challenging built environments.
These advanced robots, featuring multimodal locomotion capabilities, are set to transform the way industries, such as power plants, bridges and aero engines, conduct inspections and maintenance.
The innovative robots, known as Thin Soft Robots (TS-Robots), boast a thin thickness of just 1.7mm, enabling them to access and navigate in confined spaces, such as millimetre-wide gaps beneath doors or within complex machinery.
TS-Robots are equipped with a unique sandwich structure driven by dielectric elastomers, allowing them to crawl, climb, swim, and transition between solid and liquid domains. This adaptability makes them ideal for complex environments that include multiple obstacles across various terrains.
Dr Xin Dong, the project’s principal investigator, who initialised the idea, said: “Our TS-Robots are designed to tackle the scientific challenges of multimodal locomotion in soft robotics, particularly when encountering obstacles such as narrow gaps, trenches, walls, and liquids along their navigation paths.
“Unlike conventional robots, which face significant limitations in these environments, our technology offers a potential breakthrough for exploring difficult and complex terrains.”
Notably, the Thin Soft Robots exhibit outstanding performance in terms of output force and speed, achieving forces up to 41 times their weight and speeds of 1.16 times their body length per second.
This exceptional capability enables them to collaborate with multiple TS-Robots or even with other robots, such as drones, enhancing their functionality in tasks such as inspecting challenging environments or delivering goods.
Preliminary tests have already demonstrated the potential of the Thin Soft Robots in real-world applications, including the inspection of electrical generators of advanced hybrid-electric power systems. In this application, the robots successfully navigated the narrow air gap between the rotor and stator of a generator, a feat that traditional tools and robots cannot achieve.
Professor Dragos Axinte, Director at the Rolls-Royce UTC in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology, added: “The next generation of clean power systems presents new challenges for their inspection and maintenance. We are delighted to see these thin soft robots bringing the possibility to address these challenges and contribute to the future of net-zero.”
With these promising results, the research team plans to further optimize the robots’ design and explore new applications in sectors such as aerospace and energy maintenance and nuclear decommissioning.
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