- 522 businesses – with a combined turnover of £1.15 billion and employing 4,148 people – received medium density support, including one-to-one consultancy and digital expertise including e-commerce, digital marketing, PR, branding and social media
- 1,013 businesses – with a combined turnover of £1.12 billion and employing 11,412 people – received high density support, including through the nationally-recognised Peer Network programme, the innovative advanced manufacturing programme, APPEX, and Start-Up Business Support (SUBS)
- 344 individuals were helped to start a business through a range of grants and programmes.
Local businesses helped by Business Gateway during 12-month period topped £2billion combined turnover
The LLEP’s Business Gateway Growth Hub supported more than 1,500 businesses – with a combined turnover topping £2billion – during just 12 months.
The service also helped hundreds more people in Leicester and Leicestershire as they started their own businesses between April 2021 and March 2022.
The Business Gateway is a regional one-stop-shop for businesses, providing free business support including access to grants and funding, one-to-one business advice, events and signposting to other providers.
And a new report to Government describes its positive impact on local small enterprise as the region emerged from Lockdown. Figures show:
Local contractors secure place on £750m Midlands construction framework
SCAPE, the public sector procurement authority, has announced the eight contractors that will deliver up to £750million of new investment in the public sector across the Midlands and East of England via its Regional Construction framework.
Jeakins Weir, Stepnell, GF Tomlinson, Lindum Group, Ashe Construction, Conamar, Clegg Construction and R G Carter have been appointed to help local authorities and public sector organisations deliver ambitious, community-focused construction projects up to a value of £7.5million from 26 August 2022.
Public sector organisations using the direct award framework will gain instant access to high quality construction contractors and an extensive local supply chain, supporting the delivery of projects that will generate social value, training, apprenticeships and leave a positive legacy for local communities whilst helping them to achieve their net zero ambitions.
The new four-year framework will build on the positive impact of SCAPE’s existing Regional Construction framework which has successfully delivered 400 projects over the past four years. During this period, local spend and labour within 20 miles of each project accounted for 62% and 60% respectively of the framework’s output, with waste reduction from landfill achieving more than 96%.
With an increased value banding of up to £7.5million, the next generation framework will operate under a parallel lotting structure to provide public sector clients with a greater contractor choice before commissioning a project.
This is alongside a new ‘net zero-ready’ lifecycle agreement feature, which will support the public sector’s ambitious sustainability goals and provide an effective response to the climate emergency.
John Simons, group procurement director at SCAPE, said: “The next four years represent a pivotal time for public sector construction across the Midlands and East of England to deliver infrastructure that empowers local communities and generates regional economic growth.
“After receiving positive feedback from clients, we’ve enhanced the framework to provide our public sector colleagues with the tools to not only deliver value-driven infrastructure in their areas but support their journey toward a net zero built environment.
“Aligned with SCAPE’s 15-year heritage of empowering local authorities to achieve their infrastructure objectives, the direct award framework is designed to achieve value for money, drive sustainability and deliver a local economic impact on every project.”
Mark Robinson, group Chief Executive at SCAPE, said: “As we continue to play our part in delivering infrastructure projects across the region that are more sustainable and strengthen local communities, our new framework will help our clients meet their goals and allow local contractors to build long-term relationships to grow their business.
“The addition of a new lifecycle contract form as part of the framework’s ‘net zero ready’ offering is testament to SCAPE’s commitment to supporting clients with energy conservation and the operational efficiency and performance of their assets.
“The new framework will act as a vehicle for contractors to champion greener infrastructure and upskill their teams to be able to deliver on the sustainability ambitions across the Midlands and East of England.”
Major warehouse sales completed
FHP Property Consultants has sold Conspare and Prospare’s former site at Bestwood Road, Pinxton to SIS Pitches, after completing the former’s move to Castlewood Business Park, taking a bespoke design and build unit for their new home.
An internationally recognised leader in sports pitches, SIS Pitches will utilise the Bestwood Road site for their own occupation and investment.
James Bullock, Managing Director of Conspare and Prospare Limited, said: “Having built both of our businesses at Bestwood Road over the last 45 years, we are sorry to be leaving our long-term home as a result of continued expansion.
“However, it’s good to know that we are leaving our Pinxton site in the hands of Paul and his team at SIS Pitches, who have been great to work with throughout the sale and handover process. We wish them every success in the future.”
Paul Barker, Managing Director of SIS Pitches, the new owners of Bestwood Road, Pinxton said: “We are delighted to have moved to our new property. The whole process from start to finish has been smooth with a special thank you to Chris Proctor of FHP for assisting us every step of the way. We also have gained some new friends in James and David Bullock (Prospare / Conspare) who have been fantastic sellers. The new facility will really allow us to expand our operation and fulfil our long-term business plans.”
Chris Proctor and Tim Gilbertson of FHP Property Consultants said: “Overall, this has been an excellent result for all parties involved with Conspare and Prospare moving to a superb new facility to aid their further expansion and growth, along with being able to find a new home for SIS Pitches. We are delighted to be involved in both transactions and are pleased to see both these businesses growing in the local area.”
Freeths Solicitors acted on behalf of Conspare in relation to the property transactions.
How businesses can survive the cost of living crisis
The cost of living crisis is having a real impact on business. Consumers are now left with less after their living expenses have increased while wages remain stagnant. Rick Smith of business consultants and insolvency experts, Forbes Burton, explains how businesses can avoid this without taking too much of a bite out of their business.
There’s a significant sense of trepidation in the air at the moment. With energy, food and prices in general rising with no signs of abatement, there’s a real pressure on consumers to spend less and save more. The cost of living crisis has been exacerbated by myriad factors, but real world events such as the conflict in Ukraine and the fallout that has on the global supply chain means wallets are more squeezed than in recent memory. Those with the misfortune to live through the last recession will have feelings of deja vu, while those who have not experienced this before will no doubt be slack-jawed at the almost vertical rises in costs.
But what about business?
As much as individuals are suffering, this will no doubt have impacts on business. As people tighten their belts and ultimately want to spend less as their wages are reserved for the spiralling costs of rent, food, energy and other necessities, businesses are left on the back foot at times. Rather than simply burying heads in the sand however, this is actually a great time to rethink, regroup and think about the future sensibly.
What can businesses do?
It’s simple really, plan ahead. Look at the following elements of your business:
Review your business plan: When was the last time you truly looked at your business plan? A year ago, two years ago? What has changed since then? How can you act on the changes that have been put your way? Seek out new, more realistic goals given the circumstances and even if things are going well now, look at what could be coming your way in the future. Could there be an unseen ramping up of costs for other elements of your industry that will impact you? Are the implications here simply going to be delayed?
Set out a clear marketing strategy: There’s never a better time to go to market than in a crisis or at pinch points in global financial periods of stress. Stopping marketing is what a lot of companies in distress set out to do once trouble heads their way. However, if you stop speaking to your audience, they will presume that you have simply shut up shop. Do some research, where are your customers spending most of their time? What are they searching for? Concentrate on those elements now and commit to a ‘mop up’ campaign to cover other channels to ensure you don’t miss anomalies along the way. Remember, to stop is to block your customers from ever finding you and established ones from coming back.
Look again at cash flow: Take a look at your projections for cash flow. If trouble does head your way, how long can you last on the cash reserves you have? Is it really time for that large purchase or would it be better to be able to pay your staff’s wages for another six months? Do you have enough liquidity or is there a gap in your finances that cannot be plugged? Use your cash wisely, try to consolidate debt to make headway on having a reserve if things get truly bad.
Look after your own: Staff retention is possibly more important now than ever. Making yourself an attractive employer at the moment would be key to keeping staff, attracting more dynamic individuals and keeping afloat. The costs associated with the hiring of new staff or replacing them pales in comparison to simply retaining them. Also reach out to your staff, are you confident they are making it through without too much trouble? Be helpful and offer help if they are struggling.
Proposals to demolish Domestic & General offices for major student scheme approved
Plans to demolish an office building in Nottingham, to make way for student accommodation, have been approved by the city council.
The plans for Chaddesden House, at 77 Talbot Street, come from McLaren Property (Nottingham) Limited.
The building currently hosts the offices of Domestic & General, which will move to new premises on Station Street in 2022.
A design statement says: “The vision for this proposal is to create a high quality purpose built student accommodation scheme with external courtyards and landscaping, which sits well within the conservation areas well as within its more immediate context.
The new development is to provide 318 student beds as well as communal facilities. A mix of 1 bed self contained studio apartments and ensuite cluster bedrooms, with clusters ranging from 4-8 beds, would be created.
“Refurbishment of the existing building was considered at an early stage but unfortunately was not found to be viable.
“Instead the existing building will be demolished in order to make way for this new development.”
Trio of Derby redevelopment projects set for fresh Levelling Up Fund bid
Three key city sites have been announced as part of plans to Level Up Derby. They include a new Theatre on the Assembly Rooms site, a premium hotel at Becketwell and the redevelopment of the Friar Gate Goods Yard into work and living space. The bold proposals would be a step change towards creating a successful and dynamic city centre.
Subject to sign off by the Council’s Cabinet the three sites will be submitted to Government to receive funding as part of the second round of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF). All three redevelopments are widely supported locally and each of the key sites will be sponsored by a Derby MP.
Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “We know to Level Up Derby, tinkering around the edges is not going to be enough. We need to deliver a step change to create a successful and dynamic city centre.
“These three projects can unlock Derby’s potential. Linking with other redevelopments already in the pipeline they will give confidence to local businesses, investors and external funders. This will lead to further investment into the city.
“It is a transformative and ambitious package put together by the public and private sector, but it needs the Government to come to the table as well. All of this cannot be delivered without Government backing.”
Assemble – A new learning theatre
Assemble would be a new learning theatre constructed in partnership with University of Derby on the key city centre site of the former Assembly Rooms. It would use culture to regenerate the area bringing events and activity to the city centre. The new theatre would contribute to Derby’s City of Culture 2029 bid. Assemble would increase the scale and appeal of Derby Theatre’s locally produced content, attract a variety of toured works. It would also build on artist development programmes, embed a research hub into the organisation and enable them to expand and develop the theatre’s youth, community and outreach programmes. The project would increase theatre attendance by 83,000 and attract an additional 25,000 visitors to Derby each year. It would also generate a net additional £1.7m per year for the local economy. Derby City Council would lead the development of the venue which would be operated by Derby Theatre which is a subsidiary of University of Derby. A Levelling Up Fund bid of £20m is proposed for this project, delivery of the project would also require Council borrowing.Becketwell hotel
Despite strong corporate demand, Derby city centre currently lacks a premium quality full-service hotel. A new hotel would be a boost for the city centre, capitalising on visitor demand from the delivery of the 3,500 capacity Becketwell Performance Venue. It would also add value to Derby’s business community especially the larger global companies with a strong local presence, including Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Alstom. The hotel would be delivered in partnership with St James Securities. At this stage, the bid assumes a LUF allocation for up to £15m, and delivery of the project would also require Council borrowing. However it is anticipated that operation of the hotel will generate a net revenue income stream for the Council, which should offset some or all of the costs of borrowing. Paul Morris, development director at St James Securities, said: “We are delighted to be working with Derby City Council to bring forward the delivery of a much-needed upper mid-scale hotel to the city and are working with the council on their bid for Levelling up Funding. “Phases one and two of the Becketwell scheme are already underway, with 259 one and two-bedroom build to rent apartments set to come on stream in early 2023 and demolition work in progress for the exciting new 3,500 capacity performance venue. “The Becketwell scheme will provide Derby city centre with a mixed-use development of regional significance, which will be enhanced by the delivery of an upper mid-scale hotel.”Friar Gate Goods Yard and Bridge
Friar Gate Goods Yard is a major high profile regeneration opportunity in the north of the city centre being brought forward by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd. The development proposals consist of a mixed-use development including workspace, residential units and green space. It will bring Friar Gate Goods Yard back to life and develop a scheme which Derby will be proud of whilst restoring some of the city’s most iconic historical buildings. The council will apply for funding to renovate Friar Gate Bridge to create new active public space and invest in the City’s heritage. The scheme would refurbish Friar Gate railway bridge and restore this superb listed Victorian structure to being a fitting gateway to the city centre. The LUF bid for Friar Gate Goods Yard and Bridge will be between £14 and £16m. Thomas Clowes, director at Clowes Developments, said: “Accessing levelling up funds for the regeneration of Friar Gate Goods Yard would be a massive step forward. The funding would help to springboard the regeneration of this iconic and historic Derby landmark.” The Council’s Cabinet meeting to consider the bold proposals to Level Up Derby is on Tuesday 5 July.£40 million facility at the University of Nottingham to be unveiled
A new £40 million research facility that will drive forward advances in powerful, clean electrification technology and pave the way towards a new generation of low-carbon, sustainable electric vehicles, power and propulsion is to be unveiled by the University of Nottingham.
The state-of-the-art Power Electronics and Machines Centre (PEMC) on the university’s Jubilee Campus will be officially opened by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Shearer West, on Wednesday 29 June.
The PEMC offers purpose-built laboratories for the Power Electronics, Machines and Control research group, the largest such group of researchers in the world, and sits at the heart of the university’s commitment to establishing Nottingham and the East Midlands as a hub for the translation of net zero technologies from research bench to real world solutions.
The building is also home to the Government-funded Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre – Midlands, which is developing innovative technology and manufacturing processes for advanced electrical machines and drives to support the UK’s net zero ambitions, and houses the 20MW UK Electrification of Aerospace Propulsion Facility, which offers industry testing at a scale unrivalled by any other research centre in the world.
The facility is funded by UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, Wolfson Foundation, DER, D2N2 and industry partners.
Professor Sam Kingman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Faculty of Engineering, said: “The creation of our new Power Electronics and Machines Centre is truly game-changing when it comes to the future of transportation electrification, including the aviation and automotive sectors.
“Our 20 megawatt UK Electrification of Aerospace Propulsion Facility (UKEAPF), which sits within it, allows us to test electrical propulsion systems powerful enough for regional and medium-haul aircraft. No other research institute in the world can offer this to the emerging electric transport propulsion industry.”
AgriTech and net zero innovators awarded top prizes
The University of Lincoln has awarded Colombian sustainability business Entio a cheque for £10,000 and trophy at their AgriTech and Net Zero Accelerator Programme final.
At the event, 14 early-stage AgriTech and Net Zero businesses from across the UK and beyond pitched for a range of prizes in front of a live Zoom audience.
The event on 25th May was the conclusion of 11 weeks of intense business support as part of the University of Lincoln’s AgriTech and Net Zero Accelerator Programme, supported by Barclays Eagle Labs and delivered by Lincolnshire business accelerator specialists, known as the “10×10”.
The programme provides an opportunity for businesses with growth potential, at any stage of their development, to benefit from intensive professional and personal support over 10 workshops.
After 30 hours of workshops, three masterclasses, an “Ask the Expert” panel session and several hours of specialist mentoring from experienced AgriTech and Net Zero professionals, the businesses were put through their paces. Each had five minutes to pitch in a Dragons Den-style format to a panel of four judges selected from the University, Barclays Bank and Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub, as well as Martin Collison, AgriFood Advisor to the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.
The eventual winner, Rafael Cepeda Lopez from Entio, pitched from Colombia and impressed the judges immensely, even while presenting at 5am local time.
Rafael and his team have developed a business which uses waste materials from coffee and cocoa production to grow insect larvae which is then added into animal feed, driving down both landfill waste and significant financial costs.
The runner-up prize was awarded to Luke Smith, a University of Lincoln final-year student who is developing an innovative business which uses a special type of seaweed as an animal feed supplement to drive down harmful methane gas emissions. Luke won a three months’ membership to the innovative Eagle Labs Farm at the University’s AgriFood campus at Riseholme.
Taking third place were Paul Coker and Rebecca Cole-Coker from PCI Technology, an early-stage business which has created an app called ‘Farm Smarter’ to help farmers and small-holders in developing economies to be more productive and efficient.
Charlotte Baxter, Enterprise Manager at the University of Lincoln, said: “We are deeply invested in helping fledgling businesses to flourish. Our Riseholme Campus’ Eagle Labs Farm gives start-ups access to invaluable business support and innovative facilities, tailored to a sector of great importance to our institution and region.
“We are delighted to widen and strengthen this support in partnership with Barclays Bank and 10×10, while shining a spotlight on talented, game-changing innovators in the AgriTech and Net Zero areas, each seeking to make a difference to our planet and communities. Congratulations to all involved!”
Adam White, Head of Agriculture at Barclays Business Banking, said: “Reducing the impact of the agriculture sector on the climate will not come from any one action but from the combined efforts and innovations of firms throughout the industry, so the wide variety of innovative AgriTech businesses that took part in the accelerator was brilliant to see.
“I applaud all the businesses that presented and look forward to seeing how they play a part in the sector’s transition towards achieving Net Zero.”
Eddisons makes £1.8m property agency acquisition, strengthening Midlands operation
National property consultancy Eddisons has acquired commercial property firm Budworth Hardcastle in a £1.8m deal which significantly strengthens Eddisons’ presence in the region. The 18-strong firm operates from offices in Peterborough, Kettering and Northampton.
Budworth Hardcastle will integrate its team with Leeds-headquartered Eddisons, which has a network of 25 UK offices. The Midlands firm was established in the 1990s and has a strong reputation as a full-service agency with in-depth regional market knowledge.
The acquisition builds on Eddisons existing strength in the Eastern region where it has offices in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough. The combined team will be led by Eddisons director Steve Hawkins and provide a full range of property services.
Eddisons managing director Anthony Spencer said: “I am very pleased to welcome the Budworth Hardcastle team to Eddisons, which extends our footprint in Eastern England. They are a highly experienced team with a proven track record in delivering high quality professional advice. We continue to seek further opportunities for expansion across the UK.”
The addition of Budworth Hardcastle to Eddisons’ operation follows the firm’s acquisition of South Coast-based firm Daniells Harrisons earlier this year and East of England commercial property agency Barker Storey Mathews in 2019. Eddisons now employs over 360 people and is one of the UK’s fastest growing property consultancies.
Budworth Hardcastle director Mark Budworth said: “We have built up an unrivalled presence in the region through the passion of our talented team of people. We are excited to be joining Eddisons, and realising the opportunities that this deal presents.”
Derby diagnostic firm SureScreen takes part in three-way collaboration to trial monkeypox lateral flow test
A new lateral flow test that can detect monkeypox infections in humans in just 10 minutes is being trialled in London as part of a research partnership between Derby life science firm SureScreen Diagnostics, medical technology provider TestCard and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
The antibody test, which is run by using a small drop of finger-prick blood, is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe and has been developed to help contain the spread of the virus and trace its progress across the country more effectively.
So far 846 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in the UK and it has now been declared as a notifiable disease by the UK Health Security Agency, which places the onus on medical and health professionals to alert local health authorities to suspected cases.
Monkeypox, which spreads through close contact, is currently diagnosed by a PCR test with a viral swab taken from one or more vesicle or ulcers that appear on patients’ skin by a clinician, which must then be sent to the laboratory for testing.
It can take time for results to come back from laboratory testing, so having a rapid diagnostic device with a digital reader app that can be used next to the patient, and even away from the hospital via community screening, could help inform clinicians much quicker about the spread of the disease.
Building on the back of SureScreen’s 25-year history of expertise in lateral flow testing, the company has been able to develop this latest test in record time to react quickly to the need of clinicians and if clinical trials at Guy’s and St Thomas’ are successful, the tests could be ready for deployment within a couple of months.
SureScreen and Guy’s and St Thomas’ will work together with digital partner TestCard to incorporate the monkeypox lateral flow device into TestCard’s ClearScreen app, which will enable the results to be transferred rapidly directly onto the patient’s medical record and making it easier to track the spread of the disease and notify health bodies.
The monkeypox trials are the latest project in an ongoing partnership between the three organisations, who previously worked together on developing lateral flow tests and digital reading applications for COVID-19.
SureScreen’s COVID-19 antigen LFTs were the first European tests to pass the validation process in the laboratory by Public Health England last year and, as well being used as part of the UK Government’s rapid testing programme, they are currently being exported to around 60 countries worldwide.
David Campbell, a director at SureScreen Diagnostics, said: “We’re extremely grateful to be working with such a great team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ on this ground-breaking work in developing a rapid lateral flow antibody test that can be used to help monitor and understand the spread of monkeypox throughout the UK and further afield.
“We don’t expect monkeypox to be an issue anything like what COVID-19 has been, but as we learnt during the early stages of COVID-19 it is critical that quality testing is put in place quickly so we can better understand the nature and spread of the disease.
“This work also demonstrates yet another example of how lateral flow technology can play such a critical part in healthcare across the world outside of COVID-19 and it will help us to improve healthcare in the future.”
Dr Rahul Batra MD, technologies and innovations lead at the Centre for Clinical Infection and Diagnostics Research at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said: “While monkeypox does not spread easily and there is currently not a need for mass community testing, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that emerging infectious diseases require rapid diagnostics development, effective surveillance and health information systems capable of using point of care diagnostic data for rapid and effective interventions.
“Building on the previous successful collaboration with our diagnostics and digital technologies partners SureScreen and TestCard we have been able to quickly develop and begin trialling a new point-of-care test for monkeypox antibodies.
“Our hope is that this test and others like it that we have in development will provide a mechanism to assist clinicians with rapid identification of cases, clusters, and the sources of infection sooner than previously possible, in order to provide optimal clinical care to patients and prevent further transmissions.”
