Property consultancy hires new risk and compliance director
A property consultancy has appointed a risk and compliance director as the business goes from strength to strength.
Christian Fleischmann will lead a team based in Fisher German’s Ashby-de-la-Zouch head office, providing expertise on enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, quality management, business acceptance, complaints, insurance, and claims.
A practising solicitor, Christian has a strong governance, risk and compliance background having spent over 20 years in the financial services sector. He joins from Unity Trust Bank plc where he led on conduct risk, enterprise risk and operational resilience.
Andrew Bridge, managing partner at Fisher German, said: “On behalf of the business I would like to welcome Christian to Fisher German.
“As we continue to grow, most recently through a merger with Matthews & Goodman, we remain committed to the highest standards of risk and compliance and Christian brings with him a wealth of experience to support this.”
Christian added: “Joining Fisher German at this stage in my career is a great opportunity. It’s an entrepreneurial firm with big plans, committed people and high standards. I really look forward to working with Andrew and the rest of the team.”
Brady Solicitors adds trio of hires to senior team
Nottingham property management law firm, Brady Solicitors, has made three key appointments to its senior management team as part of the next phase of its strategic growth plans.
The firm has recruited Rachel Thompson as head of talent and HR, Adam Hollis as head of litigation and Brad Clarke as head of sales, who will all be based at its Nottingham offices on Regent Street.
Rachel Thompson joins Brady Solicitors in a new role as head of talent and HR, where she is responsible for developing the company’s employer value proposition (EVP) and leading the recruitment drive. Rachel previously worked for Nottingham Trent University as talent acquisition lead, where she established and led a resourcing and talent acquisition shared services team and ensured an efficient, effective and stakeholder centric service.
Rachel says: “The war for talent is particularly aggressive in the professional services, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for firms to retain good people on their teams. As head of talent and HR, it is my job to challenge the status quo, analyse where there are barriers to the profession, and to utilise my understanding and experience of talent to help make Brady Solicitors think differently. I have already implemented a successful trainee assessment programme since joining and have lots of plans in the pipeline to help the firm continue its journey to becoming the employer of choice for top legal candidates.”
Adam Hollis joins Brady Solicitors from Taylor & Emmet, where as head of property litigation, he handled a full range of commercial and residential property disputes. A strong manager, with in depth sector expertise, Adam’s deep understanding of both leasehold law and commercial property matters means he is well equipped to handle a broad spread of property related disputes, from service charge matters through to complex mixed-use cases.
Adam says: “With the firm embarking on its phase of growth, now is an exciting time to be joining Brady Solicitors. As head of litigation, I am relishing mentoring our next generation of trainees and supporting them throughout their career journeys to learn, develop and fulfil their potential.”
Expert sales leader Brad Clarke joins Brady Solicitors from Inflo, a financial data analytics software company, where he was global head of sales. With extensive experience in managing B2B relationships and a wide range of commercial expertise, Brad’s role involves overseeing client retention, growth, and new instructions across the firm and ensuring an exemplary client experience.
Brad says: “I am thrilled to have joined Brady Solicitors as head of sales. This is also a brand-new role for the firm, and I am enjoying putting my strong client management expertise to good use and really making the role my own. Brady Solicitors is a supportive and hands-on law firm with an exceptional legal reputation in its sector. I hope to play a key role in its continued growth and success.”
Clare Brady, Managing Director, adds: “We are thrilled to welcome Rachel, Adam, and Brad to the team; their appointments represent significant additions to the firm and are a part of our wider five-year development strategy. Our reputation within the property management sector means we are enjoying continued strong growth but, with this growth, comes the challenge of building a top-rate, experienced senior team. I am delighted that these three talented and ambitious people have joined us and it’s fantastic to see them already making a big impact at the firm.”
The Access Group acquires ProspectSoft
Access ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), a division of Loughborough-headquartered The Access Group, a provider of business management software to small and mid-market organisations, has acquired ProspectSoft Ltd, set up over 25 years ago to provide organisations operating stock management with an effective CRM solution, geared toward working within the B2B product supply chain.
Access acquired Unleashed in 2020, a key integration partner for ProspectSoft. This latest acquisition brings together three organisations to offer customers a broader range of integrated ERP and business management solutions.
Brendan Flattery, Managing Director, ERP, said: “Access’s decision to acquire ProspectSoft reflects our desire to offer market leading software solutions to key market sectors, specifically to organisations involved in the manufacture, wholesale and distribution of B2B products.
“ProspectSoft operates in the world of stock management, offering a highly effective CRM solution, geared toward organisations working in the B2B product supply chain. ProspectSoft is a business that shares our passion for helping our customers achieve their goals and we’re delighted to bring ProspectSoft into our ERP Division.”
Andy Ardron, ProspectSoft founder and CEO, said: “This is fantastic news for our business, people and customers. Just like Access, we’re passionate about delivering market-specific technology that solves real-life problems for our customers.
“Bringing together ProspectSoft and Unleashed, as well as introducing a greater breadth of business management tools such as HR, Payroll, internal communications and more, gives us the opportunity to support our customers even better, and reach more customers through Access’s growing global platform. I, Stuart, Tanya and the team are excited to be part of this next evolution and we can’t wait to join Access ERP.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Maven Capital Partners, who have played a big part in our success over the last five years – from the initial funding of our management buyout in 2017 to support the ongoing growth of ProspectSoft Ltd and financing a spin-out venture (Zing Dev Ltd) in 2019. We now look forwards to further accelerating our growth and success from within the Access Group.”
Just 4 weeks left to make your nominations for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022!
With only four weeks left until nominations close for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, make sure to submit your entries for the annual celebration of the property and construction industry by 19 August!
Scheduled to take place on Thursday 15 September, the Bricks shine a light on the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes.
The glittering awards ceremony revealing winners, at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, will also offer the perfect chance to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will additionally feature John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker.
Nominations for the awards are open until Friday 19 August. To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Thanks to our sponsors:
- Most active estate 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, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. The event will also welcome award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking. Dress code is standard business attire.
To be held at:
Late payments top 330,000 as East Midlands firms struggle with overdue invoices
Latest research from the Midlands branch of national insolvency and restructuring body R3 reveals that East Midlands firms had over 330,000 overdue invoices on their books in June, a figure which has increased steadily in recent months, rising by over 4% since March of this year.
According to R3’s report, which is based on an analysis of data from business intelligence provider Creditsafe, there is also a sizeable increase in insolvency-related activities in the region. The number, which includes liquidator and administrator appointments as well as creditors’ meetings, rose by over 12% between May and June of this year, indicating the extent of the economic challenge currently facing the region’s companies.
R3 Midlands chair Eddie Williams, a partner at PwC in the East Midlands, said: “Late payment is a key contributory factor in business insolvency, despite huge effort being made by professional bodies such as R3, policy makers and opinion formers to improve business practice around paying suppliers on time.
“With the UK inflation rate spiralling upwards, along with the cost of raw materials, manufacturing and distribution, there is enormous pressure on business cashflow, which bears the added strain of rising fuel and utility costs and decreasing consumer confidence.
“Now, more than ever, it is crucial for business owners to ensure that they are in control of their invoice ledger and tackling late payment challenges as soon as they become apparent.
“If problems linked to late payment or any other cashflow issue arise, then the sooner business owners look for expert advice on what they can do to resolve them, the more options they will have for finding the best possible outcome.”
Securiscape gets set to bring safety to the Middle East as it ties up export deal
Life-saving counter-terrorism products designed and manufactured in the heart of the UK could soon be installed across the Middle East after a Derbyshire security products firm signed a new export deal.
Securiscape, which supplies hostile vehicle mitigation planters, guardrails, bollards and temporary street barriers, has entered into a partnership with Dubai-based Securicity IFZA, which plans to supply the equipment to countries including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The company, which is operated by entrepreneur Erna Agustin, will promote and sell Securiscape’s products, which include street planters designed to be positioned outside buildings such as hotels and banks to prevent ram raids or hostile attacks, gliding bollard systems used to control vehicular access into residential developments and reinforced pedestrian guardrails, which can be used to line roads and protect pedestrians from cars or trucks driven deliberately towards them.
Securiscape, which is based in Ashbourne and began developing its first product in the wake of a vehicle-borne attack on Glasgow International Airport in 2007, has supplied its products to businesses and councils across the UK over the past 16 years but, apart from supplying a row of street planters to New York, this is the first overseas distribution deal of its type.
Mark Stone, Managing Director of Securiscape, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for Securiscape and we’re thrilled to be working with Erna and her team, who have more than 30-years industry knowledge and excellent contacts in the region.
“We have spent the past 18 years developing our product range, which has included carrying out hundreds of crash tests and working with a designer to make sure that they do not look out of place in the public arena, so they’re tried and tested.
“We have no doubt that they will help defend communities and organisations in the Middle East as well without creating a climate of fear.”
Erna said: “Safety and security are of as much paramount importance to both residents and visitors to the Middle East as much as anywhere else and we’re thrilled to be able to work with Securiscape Ltd as its distribution partner in this region.
“The quality, performance and breadth of its product range means that there is massive scope for Securiscape Ltd to be able to play a leading role in helping to protect people in towns and cities across the Middle East and beyond.”
Beeston student scheme tipped for approval
Officers at Broxtowe Borough Council have asked its planning committee to approve a mixed-use scheme of student accommodation and commercial space in Beeston.
The 419-student bed space scheme in Station Road, next to the Arc Cinema, was submitted for planning earlier this year. At the borough council’s planning committee on Wednesday (27.7.22), councillors will be asked to approve the scheme proposed by Midlands-based developer Cassidy Group.
Cassidy says that the scheme at the edge of Beeston town centre will breathe new life into a derelict site and will bring increased footfall and economic benefit to local retailers. It will also free up much-needed housing in the town, currently occupied by students, for family homes.
A council report agrees and recommends that councillors approve the scheme. The recommendation comes after months of deliberation by the council and an extensive public engagement exercise led by Cassidy. Council officers say in a planning report that they agree the student scheme will free up many of Beeston’s houses – particularly since a restriction in change of use from houses to HMOs (houses of multiple occupation) earlier this year.
The report states that the scheme would create a “significant boost of housing numbers when maintaining an adequate supply is becoming more challenging. The additional dwellings would also be on previously developed land that is not in green belt or otherwise protected, reducing pressure on land that is.”
The report adds: “The proposal would therefore be purpose built and could accommodate occupiers who could otherwise occupy C3 dwellings [houses, flats, apartments], to the detriment of the wider community, as this would represent the loss of accommodation that would be more suited to families and other longer-term residents.”
In the report, officers noted that while a part of the building rises to eight storeys and would be the tallest structure in Beeston, the development would take place on a prominent town centre site “considered to be capable of accommodating a building of the height proposed without detriment to the character of the area or neighbour amenity.”
The report also noted that the design and scale of the Station Road development would relate well to its town centre location and that the building’s tallest block would be of a comparable height to the cinema complex next door.
The planning report also touched on concerns by residents that the six parking spaces proposed as part of the development were insufficient.
But officers say in the report: “When considering there are regular public transport services and amenities within the immediate locality, and parking on surrounding roads controlled by Traffic Regulation order, it is not envisaged that any shortfall in parking would result in a highway safety issue.”
Cassidy has stated in its planning application that students would be prohibited to park on site and it would be made clear in tenancy agreements. Furthermore, Cassidy has committed to providing a free tram pass to all students for the entire duration of their occupancy. It will also provide on site bike storage for 114 bicycles.
Officers also stated that the scheme would boost local trade in terms of restaurants, leisure and retail.
The 34-page report concludes that “any potential concerns would be outweighed by the benefits of the scheme, which is considered to be in accordance with the policies contained within the development plan.”
Officers recommended that planning permission is granted subject to 26 conditions – including the provision of a detailed landscape and ecological management plan and that plans for community artwork features are provided.
As part of a list of contributions to the town, Cassidy has been asked to contribute towards local GP services in Beeston.
The Cassidy scheme is a few minutes’ walk from the University of Nottingham campus and is on the tram route. The scheme is situated next to new exciting bars and restaurants such as Ottimo and the forthcoming Beeston Social.
Sam Rose, of Cassidy Group, said: “We are excited to bring this student scheme to Beeston. Not only will students love living there – so close to the amenities they enjoy, as well as their university campus – but we are bringing a derelict site back to life.
“We feel the scheme fits well with the fantastic Beeston town centre that is emerging as a busy and exciting place to be, both day and night. We know from our research that Beeston is becoming a more desirable place for families and students to live.
“By creating sensitively designed student schemes with fabulous interiors like the one we are proposing for Beeston, we know we can not only create something that benefits the local area – but also an additional student environment where people really want to live.”
Cassidy says the scheme will rely heavily on local transport. It will provide limited parking – allowing only for deliveries and disabled parking – because of the variety of public transport access through bus, tram, and pedestrian routes. It is just a few minutes’ walk from Beeston Railway Station.
Businessman Ross Considine, who owns the nearby Ottimo, said: “I am sure I speak for a number of retailers and bar-restaurant owners when I say that I would welcome this scheme with open arms.
“We opened our third bar-restaurant in Beeston because we could see what an amazing, lively town centre it is. In our first few weeks of opening, we have had great feedback – and have also welcomed students. This scheme will further boost local shops and restaurants and of course local transport.
“Student footfall boosts local economies, and the student spend is worth tens of thousands of pounds a year for Beeston – and that must not be forgotten. We want the town to continue to be the bustling, lively and exciting place it is.”
Seven senior promotions at BRM Solicitors
Growth at regional law firm BRM Solicitors continues with seven promotions across its two offices in Chesterfield and Sheffield.
The promotions include two new heads of departments, one director, three senior associates and an associate.
The round of promotions are to acknowledge the continued hard work of key staff within the firm.
James Alger, newly appointed as head of Sheffield real estate, said: “This is an important chapter in the continued growth of BRM, I aim to continue to grow the real estate team and continue to provide a top-tier service to all clients.”
New corporate director Trevor Bird said: “The team at BRM are very talented and it is great to see the team being strengthened to support our growing client base.”
Property litigation solicitor, James Parden, plot sales specialist, Rachael Sawyer, and real estate solicitor, Chris Hey have all been promoted to senior associate.
Wills and probate solicitor, Rose Evans, was promoted to associate.
Additional promotions have also been made at the firm, including employment specialist Ellie Leatherday who has been promoted to the position of senior solicitor in the employment team, who have seen strong growth in its client base over the last 12 months.
Sanjeev Batra, new head of Chesterfield real estate, said: “The promotions highlight BRMs commitment to staff development and we are dedicated to offering mentoring and clear career progression for our staff.”
Ground broken at £20m HQ for fast-growing pharmacy chain
St Francis Group, a property development and investment group, and its joint venture partner ALMCOR have officially broken ground on a new 113,000 sq ft robot led HQ/warehouse for fast growing Chesterfield-based pharmacy chain Peak Pharmacy at its Horizon 29 industrial development site at Bolsover, North Derbyshire.
Works on the £20m ultra-modern headquarters and facility commenced at the start of June and are accelerating rapidly. The new facility will use state of the art robotics and automated systems to support staff handling over 400,000 medicines and other prescribed items every month, equating to 20,000 a day, more than 40 every minute.
The new Pharmacy Service Centre will handle prescriptions and dispatch medicines for the firm’s 150 community pharmacies across England. Prescriptions will be assembled for individual patients, then either delivered to local pharmacies for collection the next day, or direct to patients’ homes.
The new hub is expected to take nine months to build and due to open in April next year. It will house up to 100 staff, with the potential to grow into a 24-hour operation in future.
MCS Construction has been appointed as the main building contractor. St Francis Group also acknowledges the support of the Northeast Derbyshire District Council, Bolsover District Council, Derbyshire County Council and the D2N2 LEP in bringing this development forward.
Speaking about the start on site Gareth Williams, development director at St Francis Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have formally marked the start of works onsite and to be building this fantastic new facility for fast-growing customer Peak Pharmacy with the team onsite already having made significant progress.
“This new facility serves as the first unit to be built at Horizon 29, welcoming our first occupier. Since we commenced the extensive remediation of the site interest in the scheme has been extensive and the recent sale by the JV of 80 acres of land to BentallGreenOak for the speculative development of 1.2 million sq ft of warehouse and logistics space speaks to that.
“We look forward to working with the team at Peak Pharmacy and delivering a first-class facility next year.”
Joe Cattee, Managing Director of Peak Pharmacy, said: “These are ambitious plans for our company, staff and customers – in the face of a rapidly changing pharmacy landscape.
“This new facility will be truly transformational for us. We’re investing now to future-proof our business, so that we can continue to provide great local customer service which means so much to us.
“We are very pleased to be working with St Francis and ALMCOR and the full project team and look forward to seeing the development rise out of the ground as it happens.”
6 acre Nottingham site to be acquired by Lidl
FHP have negotiated the acquisition of a 6.6 acre site next to the Nottingham City Hospital for Lidl on a subject to planning basis.
The site was marketed jointly by Nottingham City Council and Stephen Hemming of Lambert Smith Hampton – Birmingham.
David Hargreaves said: “This is a much larger site than the typical Lidl site of 2 acres. FHP provided advice to Lidl about the development options for the likely surplus land of some 4 acres and because the location will fill a gap in the Lidl network in Nottingham they decided to buy the whole site subject to planning.”
FHP subsequently agreed terms on behalf of Lidl with MyPad to sell on the surplus land subject to planning which will be developed to provide new Affordable Family Housing.
A mixed use joint Planning Application has now been submitted to Nottingham City Council by Lidl and MyPad.
Hargreaves said: “This acquisition is a great example of the flexibility that Lidl bring to their site acquisition programme, whilst demonstrating FHP’s ability through our market knowledge and contacts to be able to underwrite risk for our clients.”
It is hoped planning consent will be secured this summer with Lidl opening Spring 2023.
