Cariad Babi wins Derbion ‘new store’ contest
Derbion will be welcoming a new independent brand after announcing baby and children’s retailer Cariad Babi as the winner of its Hatch competition.
Hatch offers small business owners the opportunity to take their brand to the next level and open a store within the centre. The prize includes a rent-free store in Derbion for six weeks.
Established by Derbyshire-based entrepreneur Kia Roberts in 2019, Cariad Babi specialises in providing rear facing car seats and baby carriers that exceed safety standards.
Kia said: “Our vision is to build a community of parents that support, and feel supported by, other parents of Derbyshire.
“Being able to open a store within Derbion will help us take the next step up, as well as help grow our brand and network across the region.”
Beth McDonald, MD at Derbion, said: “For five years, our renowned Hatch competition has provided entrepreneurs from across the East Midlands with the chance to take the next step and open a physical store in a shopping centre.
“Cariad Babi impressed the judges with its commitment to excellent and dedication to supporting the needs of the local community, and we are confident that the brand will be a hit with our shoppers.”
Chamber outlines planning asks for East Midlands as government holds public consultation
Speeding up planning permission and bringing in the private sector to support local authorities are among asks set out by East Midlands Chamber as the government holds an open consultation on national planning.
Government proposals include the building of 1.5 million new homes across the UK, broadening the definition of brownfield land and support for renewable energy. Respondents have until 24th September to express their views via an online portal.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “The planning system has needed significant reform for years. Development takes far too long in the East Midlands, it costs too much and that’s a barrier to businesses unlocking growth, investing, creating new jobs and to the UK’s transition to net zero, as infrastructure projects get delayed.
“Whatever the findings of the government’s consultation nationally, we’ve clearly laid out the planning reform needed for this region in our Manifesto for Growth 2024. Staffing issues at councils can be helped by the private sector stepping in; access to the National Grid needs to be easier for renewable energy production and local plans need to reflect the reality of how people live, work and move.”
National vision correction provider moves into Grade A premises in Nottingham
A top national vision correction provider has moved into new Grade A premises in Nottingham.
Optegra Eye Health Care, which has its head office in London, has expanded onto Apex Court in Wilford, Nottingham after taking a lease on the ground floor of Building C at the business park. The brand-new clinic will provide NHS cataract surgery to local people.
Darren Whitelaw, Head of Property and Asset Management for Optegra, said: “We have opened 11 new NHS clinics around the country over the past two years, as we work to support the NHS and deliver timely cataract surgery. Each build has been unique and had its own challenges, while delivering an Optegra-style hospital for patients.
“In Nottingham our challenge was to split a two-floor property into two separate units, and then create the hospital on the ground floor. NG have been a pleasure to work with, and very helpful throughout this process. We are delighted with the result and are confident our patients will be too.”
Charlotte Steggles, Associate Director at NG, brokered the deal for Optegra’s new premises on behalf of a private landlord client.
She said: “It’s fantastic that we’re able to help Optegra with their expansion plans at Apex Court, which continues to be extremely popular given its excellent transport links to not only Nottingham city centre, but the rest of the UK. Our landlord tenant now has a very high calibre client which is growing across the country – and Optegra has some stunning new premises from which to operate.
“However, this was a real team effort from my colleagues at NG and the deal only enhances our reputation as a quality full-service agency.”
NG Director Jude Weston manages the building on behalf of the landlord, while fellow building consultancy director Paul Rogers procured the Cat A works to split the property and oversaw the tenant’s work.
“It’s great to be working closely with our property management and agency colleagues to provide a cohesive and complete property solution to our client,” said Paul.
He added: “Our primary focus was to ensure the Cat A works were completed on time, to design and to budget. We were familiar with the property having previously completed insurance reinstatement cost assessments and dilapidation services when the former tenant exited. We have worked closely with the tenant’s representative to approve and monitor the Cat B works.”
Leicester and Leicestershire’s visitor economy sees strong growth
New figures have revealed that the economic impact of the tourism sector in Leicester and Leicestershire is now worth £2.391 billion. This figure relates to activity in 2023 and is up by 15.5% on the 2022 figure of £2.070 billion.
Over 31.28 million people visited the city and county in 2023, an increase of 2.46% on the previous year’s figure of 30.53 million. Of these numbers, the county welcomed 21.04 million visitors whilst 10.24 million visited the city. The number of visitor days rose to 38.53 million, up 2.34% on the 2022 figure of 37.65 million – with 24.62 million visitor days in the county and 13.91 million in the city during 2023.
The new figures also show that the number of tourism-related jobs is on the rise, with more than 22,923 people now employed in the visitor economy sector across the city and the county – an increase of 8.96% on 2022.
In the 2019 (pre-pandemic) figures, visitor numbers for the city and county totalled 35.37 million, the economic impact was £1.962 billion and 22,714 people were employed in the sector.
The tourism figures for Leicester and Leicestershire are taken from the 2023 Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) survey.
The positive tourism results have been welcomed by City Mayor Peter Soulsby and County Council Acting Leader, Deborah Taylor.
Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “The economic value of tourism in Leicester continues to grow which is excellent news. The growth we’ve seen in tourism-related jobs gives a huge boost to our economy, as do the millions of visitors who come here and spend their money with local businesses.
“These figures show that our investment in making the city centre an attractive place that’s easy to get around has been well worth it. They also reflect the hard work of everyone involved in the tourism and hospitality sector in our city.”
Leicestershire County Council acting leader, Deborah Taylor, said: “This is great news and shows that the city and county are on the up. Whether it’s discovering history, tasting world-famous cuisine or trying more active escapes such as kayaking, we are a top visitor destination.
“And with 21 million people visiting the county last year, spending money in hotels, restaurants, attractions and local shops, enabling businesses to grow and more jobs to be created, it’s an important boost for our local economy.
“Leicestershire is an excellent place to live, invest and visit and I’m pleased that more people are enjoying the wealth of attractions on our doorstep.”
Erika Hardy, Chair of the Tourism Advisory Board for Leicester and Leicestershire, said: “We welcome this new data which is further evidence to prove that we have a thriving and vibrant tourism and hospitality sector locally, full of people passionate about our city and county.
“The campaigns run over recent years to promote Leicester and Leicestershire as a fantastic destination for visitors have really highlighted the huge number of reasons to visit.”
Growth and new jobs on the horizon in ‘creative powerhouse’ merger
DPS Digital has merged with sister-firm Intervino to create a new brand – IV Creative, headquartered in Nottingham – amid plans to expand into the international market.
Launched in 2012, print specialists DPS Digital has rapidly grown, providing services for major brands including Moonpig.
Formed 18 years ago, Intervino boasts clients including Doritos, Coca-Cola, and Diageo – for whom the company has provided personalised packaging, gifting and fulfillment services.
IV Creative’s Chief Operating Officer Helen Smith hopes the merger will help the business fulfil its “immense potential.”
“Both DPS Digital and Intervino are success stories, and I believe this merger will only lead to more success and growth,” she said.
“Our long-term goal for IV Creative is to expand further into the international market and offer our services globally, and we hope that growth could bring about new employment opportunities for the area.
“IV Creative has immense potential and this merger will help us to unleash it.”
Having started above a shop with a team of just three, DPS Digital currently employs almost 100 staff at the firm’s base in Sleaford Business Park.
The merger will bolster the firm’s diverse leadership team, which is split equally between males and females.
Among the key appointments is Amy Lennox, who previously served as Intervino’s Chief Executive Officer and is a recently nominated finalist in the National Business Women’s Awards.
She will now take on the role of IV Creative’s Group CEO following the rebrand. This will see technology, staff, and processes integrated as part of a streamlined approach that will ultimately lead to more financial benefits – and more services.
“With both companies providing complementary services, the merger made perfect sense to us and it is just the latest stage of the incredible transformation in this business during the last few years.
“We’ve developed an enviable workplace culture and invested heavily in training, safety and technology – such as state-of-the-art printing equipment – so that we remain at the industry’s forefront.
“We plan to dominate the global personalisation, print, and gifting space by continuing to partner with some of the biggest brands and businesses in the World. We want to attract top talent to work in our dynamic, fast-paced and exciting business.”
‘FoMO’ is a key risk factor for mental health and burnout at work, say University of Nottingham researchers
Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a key risk factor for employee mental health and, along with information overload, may increase burnout, according to new research.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham’s Schools of Psychology and Medicine analysed survey data from 142 employees to investigate the ‘dark side’ of digital working and found that employees who are worried about missing out on information and are overloaded by it are more likely to suffer stress and burnout. The results have been published in SAGE Open.
Elizabeth Marsh, PhD student from the School of Psychology, said: “The digital workplace is now recognised as a key strategic asset in organisations that enables worker productivity and flexibility in context of hybrid working. However, the potential downsides in terms of worker well-being also need to be considered, especially given the proliferation of digital communication channels and tools since Covid.”
This new study connects to previous work which revealed that employees who are more mindful in the digital workplace are better protected against stress, anxiety and overload.
In this research FoMO is defined as anxiety about missing out on both important information and updates, as well as opportunities for relationships and interactions. FoMO has long been a term used in relation to social media, and now this new research shows it is an effect that is being felt in the workplace.
The participants in the study were surveyed about their experiences of the dark side effects of the digital workplace which were identified as; stress, overload, anxiety and fear of missing out and how these affected their wellbeing.
The results showed that among the dark side effects, those relating to information – both feeling overloaded by it and fearing missing out on it – proved particularly detrimental for well-being both directly and by elevating overall stress related to digital working.
Elizabeth adds: “The glut of information flowing through channels such as email, intranets or collaboration tools can lead workers to worry about missing out on it as well as succumbing to overload as they strive to keep up. To help people cope with information overwhelm, serious and sustained attention should be given to both optimising information management and supporting information literacy.”
The research makes some practical suggestions for employers which include investing in practices to optimise the amount and flow of information to employees. The findings could also be used by HR departments to consider policy and training options that would support the end-users of the digital workplace to better access, manage and consume information in a way that is conducive to well-being as well as productivity.
Professor Alexa Spence, School of Psychology, said: “Consideration of the digital workplace in work and job design is essential to not only employee productivity but also well-being in modern organisations. Where this is lacking, elevated stress and burnout as well as poorer mental health may result. Our findings indicate the information ecosystem as an important area for attention both inside organisations and among the research community.”
The research was funded by ESRC-MGS (Economic and Social Research Council – Midland Graduate School). Take a look in the (Daily) Mirror to see how being the media expert can power your profile: By Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, helps you position yourself as an expert in the media.
Ever wondered how to position yourself as an expert? Or, perhaps more importantly, why? It comes down to trust.
Now, a lot of people do get this and that is why they tend to hire me. Positioning via profile. However, I also get a lot of people asking me why the media never asks them for their opinion and instead relies on what they see as “The Usual Suspects.”
They think this is “unfair” or that the media is being lazy, or it is a closed shop. Nonsense. Just consider how busy a journalist is. They get email pitches that run into the THOUSANDS every week. This means that they are unlikely to start merrily seeking new contributors until they are good and ready (and on a deadline).
So, you have three choices:
- Proactively pitch topics before they think of them.
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- Do s*d all and hope and then moan about not being asked to the dance.
“An excellent platform to recognise excellence and innovation within Leicester’s construction industry” – the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
With nominations set to close in less than a month for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, Leicester businesses are being encouraged to enter the prestigious event.
Mike Denby, Director for Inward Investment and Place at Invest In Leicester, said: “The East Midlands Bricks Awards are an excellent platform to recognise excellence and innovation within Leicester and Leicestershire’s construction industry.
“Invest in Leicester is proud to support the awards and encourage our partners and businesses to participate and enter. By celebrating achievements, the awards will inspire future developments, ultimately benefiting local communities and the economy.”
A key event in the business calendar, showcasing the exceptional work of the region’s property and construction industry, the East Midlands Bricks Awards will take place on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground (4:30pm – 7:30pm).
Revealing the winners in a glittering awards ceremony, the evening also offers time to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region, and hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby.
Nominations for the annual event are open, and now is the ideal time to make your submissions, ahead of the deadline – Thursday 5th September.
To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Tickets can now be booked for the 2024 awards event, click here to secure yours.
Taking place in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on Thursday 3rd October, from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Award categories include:
- Most active agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards)
Nominations end Thursday 5th September
Tickets can now be booked for the 2024 awards event, click here to secure yours.
Taking place in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on Thursday 3rd October, from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Dress code is standard business attire.
To be held at:
State-of-the-art veterinary education facility finalised at University of Nottingham ahead of new academic term
The newly built small animal clinical teaching building at the University of Nottingham’s Sutton Bonington Campus has reached completion, allowing the university to double its intake for related courses.
Called the Sir Peter Rubin Centre for Veterinary Education, the detached single storey facility has been designed by Nottingham-based architecture practice CPMG. The £3 million project showcases standout elements including glulam framing to support the university’s net zero carbon strategy – keeping embodied carbon to a minimum through the choice of engineered wood beams.
In a bid to support the university’s aim of bridging the skills gap currently facing the veterinary industry, the state-of-the-art facility includes a full practice, space for general teaching, along with spaces for both small animals and larger livestock.
Additional expert design considerations include an increased focus on hygiene throughout, due to the animal and veterinary care activity the space is set to be used for.
Alex Walker, associate and project lead at CPMG said: “Seeing this project come to fruition, with the facility now finalised and ready for the next intake of students, is incredibly rewarding as a Nottingham-based business.
“Following our appointment in March 2021, we’ve continued to grow our relationship with the university, working closely in reliable and timely manner to ensure the finalised practice is fit for purpose, made even harder during times such as the pandemic.
“Utilising both the internal and external design, it’s great to see how this building is already at home next to the other facilities across the campus.
“The final result truly showcases some of the best elements of architecture, adaptability and project management, and it is a notch in our belt that we are very proud of at CPMG, as we continue to demonstrate our expertise in the private sector and education sector.”
The finalised project has achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’, as well as exceeding RIBA’s targets for embodied and operational carbon. After a nomination, the project was shortlisted within the public sector category for the RICS Awards.
Professor Gary England, Foundation Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, said: “We are delighted that the Sir Peter Rubin Centre for Veterinary Medicine is complete. This facility will enable us to further provide state-of-the-art facilities to our ever-growing number of students.
“This new space is also another step towards helping us to fulfill our ambition in bridging the postgraduate skills gap currently facing the veterinary sector across the UK.”
Alongside CPMG, the project team included main contractor RG Carter, structural and MEP engineers Arup and landscape architects, Ares Landscape Architects
Former Toyota vice president takes up key role with new business school
The University of Derby has appointed Marvin Cooke, former Executive Vice President for Manufacturing at Toyota Motor Europe, as its Professor of Enterprise.
Professor Cooke, who takes up his role on 1 September, will lead on Industry Engagement – a strategic priority for the University – and drive forward employability, enterprise and business development as the University prepares for the opening of its new city centre-based Derby Business School building in 2025.
Members of the Derby Business School research team are in the World-Ranking top 2% scientist list, created annually by Stanford University, and Professor Cooke will play a key role in supporting academic teams across the University in delivering impactful industry engagement and research.
He said: “I am honoured to join the University of Derby and its high-performing, rapidly expanding business school.
“This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the University’s efforts to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among students. The role will not only allow me to contribute to the University’s learning and teaching strategies, but to also support research teams and foster professional practice-based collaborations with academic, industrial and government entities.”
Professor Cooke’s 40 years’ industry experience – including 33 spent at Toyota – means that he has a deep knowledge and understanding of business leadership at an executive level that can be applied to students at the University of Derby.
He said: “My experience in a fast-paced, high-tech global environment across many European countries means that I understand the importance of students acquiring both academic and practical skills to prepare for their future careers.
“My aim is to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, helping students see how University knowledge translates into real-world scenarios, thereby enriching their educational journey.”
Professor Kamil Omoteso, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences, said: “We are delighted to have Professor Marvin Cooke on board.
“Marvin is a highly qualified seasoned executive with an exceptional record of radically transforming manufacturing operations at C-Level; raising standard, optimising operations and driving efficiencies.
“He brings with him more than three decades of experience in strategic leadership, business development, cross-border stakeholder management and innovation.
“Professor Cooke will work with colleagues to support the University’s industry engagement efforts, particularly in the areas of business support for growth, efficiency, innovation and talent development.
“He’ll work on collaborative research, knowledge exchange and executive education, and joins the University of Derby as we prepare to move into our new state-of-the-art building that has been designed as a gateway for businesses.”
