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Plans for a new rail freight in Leicestershire
- Over £800m of private sector money invested into delivering major infrastructure, providing direct employment
- New southern slip roads for M69 J2, making this junction fully accessible for both northbound and southbound traffic
- New link road between M69 J2 and A47, alleviating traffic from Hinckley and Burbage
- Up to 850,000 sq m (9.1million sq ft) of modern, rail-served, warehousing and logistics space
- Creation of c.8,000 jobs of all skill levels
- Improvement of road junctions near the development
- Fully funded additional bus services which will serve local areas and the development
- Improved cycling routes serving the development and surrounding area
- At least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
- 50 acre extension to existing Burbage Common amenity space, including planting nearly 20,000 new trees
Good performance in a challenging environment for Dunelm
Dunelm Group, the Leicester-based homewares retailer, has hailed a “good performance and strategic progress in a challenging environment” in newly released interim results for the 26 weeks to 28 December 2024.
The business saw total sales of £893.7m, up from £872.5m in the same period of the prior year, with sales growth of 2.4% driven by volume.
Profit before tax, meanwhile, reached £123.2m, increasing from £123m.Nick Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our performance over the first half reflects the growing attraction of the Dunelm offer for a wide range of customers, and the quality and resilience of our business model.
“Amidst a challenging backdrop for retail, those attributes have helped us deliver increased sales, a strong gross margin, and both customer and market share growth.
“We have also pressed ahead with our strategy. Whether our customers prefer maximalist prints or neutral plains, the elevation of our product is apparent through the diverse range of styles on offer for all tastes, with quality once again endorsed through the awarding of a Royal Warrant to our Dorma brand.
“Our thriving total retail system is connecting that product with more customers, and we saw further growth in our increasingly personalised digital channels, as well as some exciting firsts for our store portfolio; we arrived in inner London at Westfield, acquired 13 stores in Ireland, and we will open our 200th store in the second half.
“As ever, whilst pleased with our results, we are eager to move faster and with greater purpose. Customers love Dunelm, but we can grow to become a destination for more customers, across more categories, more of the time.
“With our dedicated colleagues, who have shown incredible adaptability in a difficult trading environment, this gives us a renewed confidence in unlocking our full potential as The Home of Homes.”
The results come as Wilkinson has revealed his intention to retire from Dunelm and full-time executive life, following seven years in the role.Alison Brittain, Chair of Dunelm, said: “Nick has been a tremendous leader for Dunelm and amongst his many achievements, he has successfully guided the Group through a global pandemic, driven a step-change in the digital offer, established strategic capabilities across the business including in tech and data, and maintained the unique, entrepreneurial culture which makes Dunelm so special.
“Nick will continue to lead the business over the coming months as we transition to a new CEO, maintaining a focus on delivering long-term, sustainable growth for all stakeholders.”
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Dedicated Nottinghamshire apprentice travels 161 miles to complete apprenticeship programme
A Nottinghamshire apprentice who battles a six hour journey to complete his apprenticeship training, part-based in Newcastle, has spoken about his career transformation after enrolling on the course.
21-year-old Riordan ‘Rio’ Keetley is currently undertaking a Level 2 Bricklaying apprenticeship at the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) Training Hub in Scotswood, Newcastle. Rio travels the 161 miles for his training block weeks to the Training Hub by train from his home in Nottingham to pursue his career and achieve a nationally recognised qualification.
Before starting his apprenticeship in March last year, Rio worked a number of jobs, including being a waiter, a hospital cleaner and a CCTV operator but he was left feeling unsettled about his future.
Rio chose the apprenticeship route over traditional college or university education because he wanted to learn a practical skill that would serve him for life. He explains: “Construction has always interested me but I struggled to find an apprenticeship initially. I finished school during lockdown and the restrictions meant opportunities were limited.
“I took on various jobs in the meantime, becoming a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. Then, a family member told me about apprenticeship opportunities at Keepmoat, and I knew this was the chance I had been waiting for.
“The apprentice programme with a reputable house builder such as Keepmoat was exactly what I needed. It’s really rewarding to learn a valuable skill, help the community, and know I’m building a great future for myself. The travel is a small price to pay for such an amazing opportunity. I’m excited to see where this career takes me.”
Rio’s apprenticeship includes tailored and immersive training at the NHBC Training Hub, covering both theory and practical skills before working on site. Rio is developing his skills at Park View, a Keepmoat development in Gedling, Nottinghamshire which will deliver 400 homes.
He adds: “I enjoy the physical nature of the job and knowing that what I’m doing is making a difference. It’s satisfying to watch the hard work pay off and use my NHBC industry leading training to see something built the right way by a hard working team. My apprenticeship has given me confidence, independence, and a clear path forward. I’m proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished so far.”
Geoff Scott, Social Value Manager at Keepmoat, comments: “The team is extremely pleased with Riordan’s progression throughout his apprenticeship. He’s a great team player, who is both dedicated and hard working. Our apprenticeship schemes are a testament to Keepmoat’s commitment to delivering key skilled workers into the talent pipeline in the face of a skills shortage.
“It is a privilege to see our apprentices thrive in their roles and become part of the next generation of much-needed bricklayers and we look forward to seeing them progress and succeed in the industry.’’
Roger Morton, Director of NHBC’s apprentice training programme and hubs, said; “It’s fantastic to see how Riordan is thriving at the NHBC Training Hub in Newcastle. Our hubs are not only creating a local supply of talent for the house-building industry but also making a significant positive impact on the lives of apprentices.
“Bricklaying is at the heart of house building and is a vital skill. Through our existing training hubs and our £100 million investment in a national network of 12 new multi-skill hubs, NHBC is committed to supporting the next generation of housebuilders. Our industry-leading, recognised training equips apprentices like Riordan with the skills he needs to deliver high-quality new homes.
“By immersing apprentices in real site conditions from day one, we fully prepare them for life on site. Quality drives everything we do and our tailored approach is enabling Riordan and other apprentices to qualify in just 14 to 18 months, with many achieving distinctions. That’s nearly twice as fast as traditional education routes, which can take up to 30 months.”