Hospital service move paused after review

April Lara
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Hospital service move paused after review

Plans to transfer nine outpatient services from Buxton to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport have been paused while NHS leaders carry out further scrutiny.

Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board confirmed it had raised concerns after Stockport NHS Foundation Trust signalled in October that it intended to relocate ophthalmology, ENT, rheumatology, gynaecology, urology, respiratory care, surgical, diabetes, and pain management clinics.

The board said its issues related to the planning process and the level of engagement undertaken before the announcement. It has asked the trust to produce a full business case explaining the rationale for the proposal, alongside detailed impact assessments and an outline of required public involvement before any permanent changes can be authorised.

Discussions between the two organisations are ongoing, and the proposed changes remain on hold while further evidence is gathered.

Global transport and logistics company to become first occupier of Mercia Park expansion

Tess Egginton
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Global transport and logistics company to become first occupier of Mercia Park expansion
Global transport and logistics company DSV is to become the first occupier of the expansion of Mercia Park, creating 420 additional jobs, subject to planning permission, IM Properties (IMP) has revealed. The £150m Mercia Park expansion could deliver between 1,000 and 1,700 jobs on site when fully occupied. DSV is set to take 600,000 sq ft which will leave a further plot capable of delivering up to 450,000 sq ft designed for manufacturers and logistics companies. The site has been identified as a potential location for future development in North West Leicestershire District Council’s emerging plan. DSV currently occupies around one million sq ft at its existing flagship facility within Mercia Park. The continued growth of DSV, following its acquisition of Schenker, has driven the need for additional space to support its expansion. Richard Sykes, development director at IM Properties, said: “DSV’s continued investment in Mercia Park demonstrates the long-term confidence occupiers have in both the quality of the location and our partnership approach with occupiers and local stakeholders. “Their commitment to community and sustainability aligns closely with our Sustainable Futures strategy and we’re proud to create further growth and job opportunities in North-West Leicestershire and support them as they expand their operations here.”

Plans lodged for new retail units at Fernwood Business Park

April Lara
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Plans lodged for new retail units at Fernwood Business Park

Newsholme Developments has submitted planning applications to Newark and Sherwood District Council for a new Tesco supermarket, a Costa Coffee drive-thru, and a further drive-thru restaurant at Fernwood Business Park.

The proposal outlines around 150 new jobs. It includes a full-line Tesco store, a Costa Coffee unit with indoor and outdoor seating, and a second drive-thru restaurant, to be named once an operator is confirmed.

The applications follow a public consultation held in September. A total of 385 responses were received. Most respondents supported the introduction of a Tesco supermarket. Many participants said the facilities would help meet the needs of the growing local population.

The planned retail units sit within the wider Fernwood Business Park masterplan. The site is earmarked in the Newark and Sherwood Local Plan for employment space and community services linked to more than 3,200 new homes planned for the area.

Nottingham College plans new sustainable construction centre

April Lara
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Nottingham College plans new sustainable construction centre

Nottingham College is preparing to establish a Centre for Sustainable Construction Technology at its Ruddington campus, with the first students expected in September 2026. The project is backed by more than £1.2m in Office for Students capital funding, supported by matched investment from the college.

The plan is designed to address persistent regional skills shortages. The centre will offer Level 4 and 5 qualifications in Modern Methods of Construction and Electrical Engineering, expanding the supply of higher technical training in low-carbon and advanced construction practices.

Janet Smith, CEO and Principal of Nottingham College, said: “This Centre for Sustainable Construction Technology will be a unique learning environment for students to develop the skills needed to be future ready. We are incredibly excited to be working towards the opening of this facility, as something of a ‘living laboratory’, where students will experience net zero construction through daily interaction with renewable energy systems, energy-efficient building services and environmental monitoring technologies.”

She continued: “Today’s announcement combines our commitment to sustainability with our agile response to local skills need, directly supporting our students embarking on a career in construction and green energy, and in turn contributing to the region’s economic growth and the UK’s net zero ambitions.”

The centre will occupy a refurbished building fitted with photovoltaic installation, LED lighting, and renewable energy training systems. Students will train on industry-standard equipment, including BIM workstations, timber frame assembly stations, and immersive digital technology for safety instruction.

The project reflects priorities set out in the D2N2 Local Skills Improvement Plan and Skills England’s focus on Construction, Clean Energy Industries and Advanced Manufacturing. It aligns with wider investment in the Trent Arc Corridor near Ruddington, where major housing development is planned.

Electrical engineering has been the college’s fastest-growing area over the past two years, providing a pipeline for further technical advancement. The new centre builds on recent expansion in engineering and green skills facilities across the college estate. All construction and installation work is scheduled for completion by March 2026.

University of Northampton attracts £800,000 investment to create cutting-edge facility

Tess Egginton
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University of Northampton attracts £800,000 investment to create cutting-edge facility
The University of Northampton is set to benefit from a capital funding investment of more than £800,000 to facilitate the creation of a cutting-edge biomedical laboratory teaching and data analysis suite at its Waterside Campus. The Office for Students (OfS) capital funding is allocated to institutions dedicated to delivering new opportunities for students and support national growth, regional economies, and local employers through investment in new buildings, facilities and equipment for universities and colleges across England. As one of only 60 institutions across the UK to receive the funding, the University of Northampton has committed to delivering a biomedical laboratory teaching and data analysis suite to enhance practical training in scientific and digital skills. Housed within the University’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the state-of-the-art facility will include microscopy equipment, analysis workstations, and specialised software, including refurbishing existing laboratories to support continued work-based learning in bioscience data, artificial intelligence (AI) in life sciences, as well as digital health. “We’re incredibly grateful to the OfS for its investment and support of the University of Northampton’s mission to support aspiration, create opportunities, and deliver social impact,” said the University of Northampton’s vice chancellor, professor Anne-Marie Kilday. “The installation of the new laboratory spaces will continue to ensure environmental sustainability and pioneering STEM education are at the forefront of our mission to continue delivering a gold-standard education for our student scientific minds of the future.” As a direct result of this financial investment, the University of Northampton will enhance its teaching provision to more than 420 core students and additional interdisciplinary learners, improving graduate readiness and strengthening the region’s capacity for groundbreaking innovation in life sciences and digital health. Aligning with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and Lifelong Learning Entitlement, the installation of the laboratory spaces will be fully operational as of September 2026, ahead of the next academic year. As of 2028, the laboratory spaces will address the training needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and ensure long-term sustainability through the delivery of short courses and continuing professional development (CPD).

Premier Foods commits £36m to expand Worksop operations

April Lara
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Premier Foods commits £36m to expand Worksop operations

Premier Foods is set to increase production capacity at its Worksop site through a £36 million upgrade programme. The investment includes a new high-speed manufacturing line, expanded storage facilities, and a link road to support logistics. Work will continue through to 2029.

The plan will bring Loyd Grossman’s cooking sauces production in-house from early 2028, ending reliance on a third-party supplier. The business has also extended its licensing agreement for the Loyd Grossman brand until 2034, with an option to extend for another five years. This supports the long-term development and supply of one of its key product ranges.

Alex Whitehouse, CEO of Premier Foods, commented: “A key pillar of our growth strategy is investing in our supply chain to increase productivity and efficiency. Representing our largest site investment in over 15 years, today’s announcement is a great example of this strategy in action. It will enable us to more than double our annual cooking sauces production capacity, supporting growth opportunities and providing enhanced capabilities for innovation across our cooking sauces’ brands, while improving the site for our colleagues.

Renewing our partnership with Sir Loyd Grossman reinforces our belief in the future of this brand and our ability to continue to drive growth through the application of our Branded Growth Model. At the heart of it all is our commitment to UK manufacturing and to the Worksop community, where we’re proud to be investing for the long term.”

Once complete, the expansion will more than double annual cooking sauce output, supporting Premier Foods’ strategy to build capacity, improve efficiency, and accelerate innovation. The Worksop facility currently produces Sharwood’s, Loyd Grossman and Homepride sauces, along with Batchelors, Bisto, Saxa and Oxo products. The site employs around 500 people.

The Worksop project follows a separate £19 million investment at Premier Foods’ Lifton Creamery in Devon. Both initiatives sit into a broader capital programme that is expected to reach £55 million in the 2025/26 financial year.

Funeral firm purchases “forever home” in Kimberley at historic former church

Tess Egginton
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Funeral firm purchases “forever home” in Kimberley at historic former church
Nottinghamshire-based Gillotts Funeral Directors has bought its “forever home” in Kimberley, snapping up an historic former Methodist church at auction. For the last decade Gillotts has been based at the old United Methodist Free Church on Main Street in Kimberley where the long-running funeral firm has been renting out the ground floor. Now Gillotts owns the whole building after successfully bidding on the three storey property at auction. The old church had been put up for sale following the passing of its previous owner who lived on the upper two floors. While renting the space the firm then spent £200,000 to create a funeral home complete with a reception, family room and two chapels of rest. Gillotts partner Anthony Topley said he was now proud to own the building in which people have been saying goodbyes to loved ones in Kimberley for generations – in its roles both as church and funeral home. With developers having shown an interest in the property, he said he was pleased Gillotts would be retaining the building, enhancing its period feel and continuing its long-term purpose. Anthony said: “We are very proud to own the building outright. We are keeping the purpose of the building as what it was originally used for. It’s no longer a religious building but it’s still a place where people are saying goodbye to loved ones. “Our office has been open there for 10 years and we are very pleased that we now have the keys to this church that has a long-established history in the town. The building has such a striking presence in Kimberley and always attracts comments, so we’re delighted to have secured our future here. “We are hoping this is going to be our forever home in Kimberley.” Built in 1890, for many years the imposing Victorian building was a church with capacity for hundreds of congregation members. Many of the building’s original features still remain, one of which is a large organ extending over the top two floors. There are no immediate plans for the use of the upstairs floors.

Inflation eases to 3.6%

Tess Egginton
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Inflation eases to 3.6%
Inflation fell to 3.6% in October, easing from the 3.8% rate reported in September, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). Housing and household services made the largest downward contribution to the change, while food and non-alcoholic beverages made the largest offsetting upward contribution. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.4% in October 2025, compared with a rise of 0.6% in October 2024. Core inflation, meanwhile, which takes out volatile factors like energy, food, alcohol and tobacco to give a clear picture of underlying trends, came in at 3.4% in the 12 months to October, down from 3.5% in September and below forecasts. The figures make the case for an interest rate cut in December from the Bank of England look increasingly likely. Ben Jones, lead economist, CBI, said: “Inflation eased in October, broadly in line with the Bank of England’s expectations. With Q3 GDP figures confirming a weak growth backdrop, and the labour market continuing to soften, today’s figures add to the evidence that price pressures are gradually subsiding. “Combined with the likelihood of further fiscal consolidation measures at the Budget, the data should give the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee confidence that inflation risks are diminishing. If this trend continues, the case for an interest rate cut in December looks increasingly compelling.”

Air Europa outlines A350 fleet growth with Rolls-Royce engines

April Lara
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Air Europa outlines A350 fleet growth with Rolls-Royce engines

Air Europa has announced plans to expand its long-haul fleet by up to 40 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, each powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines. The intention was confirmed during the Dubai Air Show, signalling a major future commitment that strengthens the airline’s alignment with Airbus and Rolls-Royce platforms.

The Trent XWB-84 remains the dedicated engine for the A350-900 and continues to attract carriers seeking lower fuel burn and improved operating economics on widebody routes. Its performance record has positioned it as a preferred choice for long-haul efficiency.

Rolls-Royce is advancing a £1 billion investment programme across its modern Trent engines. The upgrades aim to lift durability by an average of 80%, with significant improvements due to enter service in 2025.

Ewen McDonald, Chief Customer Officer, Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, said: “Air Europa is already a valued customer, so it’s extremely exciting to deepen that relationship as we welcome them into the Trent XWB family. The continued popularity of the Airbus A350-900 powered by the Trent XWB-84 is important to us and we look forward to working with Air Europa as they embark on their fleet renewal.”

Law firm strengthens regional business ties

April Lara
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Law firm strengthens regional business ties

East Midlands Chamber has formed a strategic partnership with Leicester-based law firm Howes Percival, opening a wider channel for the firm to support policy discussions and engage with more than 4,000 member businesses. The move positions the firm to share legal and commercial insight across Chamber activity while contributing to broader regional business conversations.

The partnership follows a strong run of national and regional recognition for the firm. Best Companies named Howes Percival the UK’s top law firm to work for in 2025 and the leading organisation to work for in the East Midlands. It also retained its 3-star World Class accreditation for workplace engagement.

The firm’s success within the Chamber network has been consistent, including Business of the Year at the 2024 East Midlands Chamber Leicestershire Business Awards and People and Work Business of the Year at the 2025 British Chambers of Commerce Awards.

East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “With recent recognition from Best Companies, named Business of the Year at the Chamber’s Leicestershire Business Awards in 2024 and going on to receive People and Work Business of the Year at the British Chambers of Commerce Awards this year, Howes Percival is a firm the county can be proud of. Firmly established in Leicester and having grown at impressive pace over nearly three decades, I’m delighted Howes Percival is to be a strategic partner of the Chamber. I look forward to close collaboration with them.”

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