Broxtowe Borough Council developed the old Police Station thanks to funding from D2N2’s local Growth Fund. The site, which has been vacant for several years, has been refurbished into nine affordable offices of varying sizes, as well as kitchen and break out facilities. The facility provides an opportunity for new or expanding businesses to have an official office space in which to grow, right in the heart of Stapleford.
The Stapleford Business Hub is the second which has been developed by the Council and follows on from the successful hub in Beeston. As well as affordable rent and rates, the new hub will benefit from dedicated business support, intercom system and parking. The shared space will also offer fantastic networking opportunities with other businesses in the hub.
The new hub is just part of an exciting future for Stapleford. Following from the success of the business hub, the Stapleford Towns Deal is funding an upcoming enterprise hub which will offer affordable high quality offices on the first floor. Furthermore, the Town Centre Recovery Fund is now open to support businesses and has already granted funds for private sector development of new office space at 20 Derby Road. These projects respond to the booming office space demand within Stapleford and intend to help the local retail economy to prosper.
Councillor Tim Hallam, chair of the Jobs and Economy Committee has said: “The business hub in Beeston has been really successful so its great news that a similar facility will now be able to support growing businesses in Stapleford. With the Town Deal, Stapleford is a really exciting location perfect for new businesses and startups.”
Business Hub opens in Stapleford
Nine businesses can now benefit from office space in Stapleford’s new hub. Mayor of Broxtowe, Councillor Richard MacRae, officially opened the Stapleford Business Hub the morning of Tuesday 10 May.
New lease of life for dilapidated Stapleford building
An important Stapleford high street building will soon offer new business opportunities for people in the town thanks to a £97,330 grant from the Town Centre Recovery Fund.
The Victorian 20 Derby Road, used most recently as a commercial storage facility for local tradespeople, will be converted into three fully accessible offices, with green-spaces and cycle storage with charging points.
The building is owned by local property owner Barbara Demetriou, who owns a number of high street buildings.
20 Derby Road has had a variety of uses over the years, and despite the owner’s grand plans for converting the building, the increased costs of building works has meant it hasn’t been affordable.
The Town Centre Recovery Fund grant, in addition to personal funding, will help bring the building back to life, with a purpose that will attract businesses and jobs to the town.
The funding is being made available through the £21m Stapleford Towns Fund which aims to regenerate and revitalise the town.
Barbara said: “I’ve lived, worked and invested in Stapleford for over 30 years and love what the town has to offer. I’ve seen first-hand the difference that investment can make and it’s great that so much money is coming through this grant and the Towns Fund to make it a more popular place to come to, to work in and call home.
“Being able to improve the appearance of the high street and provide new opportunities will have a huge impact and we can’t wait to get started as we really want to create something really special for Stapleford.”
Ian Jowett, chair of the Stapleford Towns Fund Board, said: “Barbara’s plans to bring this amazing building back to life is just what our town centre needs. We are so pleased to be able to offer funding to support developments like this as we know that it will increase the long-term prosperity of our great town.”
Lincolnshire businesses asked for views on devolution
Businesses in Greater Lincolnshire are being asked for their views on devolution – the process which would transfer powers and funding from Whitehall to Lincolnshire.
Devolution Lincolnshire is the start of a conversation with businesses which is being led by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Leaders from the 10 local authorities in the area have asked the LEP to lead this business discussion ahead of submitting a deal to the Government at the end of this year.
If you have a view on the benefits or disadvantages of devolution for Lincolnshire, or if you simply want to find out more, you can visit the website and complete the online survey from Wednesday 11 May 2022.
Pat Doody, chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We were pleased to be asked by the councils to lead an independent engagement programme with the business community and we would like to encourage people to get involved, look at the website and take the survey.
“A devolution deal could give Lincolnshire more powers, more money and more say over public sector funding and can promote local decision-making across many public services that are important to the people, businesses, and communities of Greater Lincolnshire. This in turn should lead to better outcomes and greater prosperity for our area.
“A devolution deal for Lincolnshire could also be important to the business community. For example, it could mean that local leaders have more say to get Lincolnshire businesses the right education, training and apprenticeships to meet their needs – both now and for the jobs of the future.
“It could also mean that decisions are made locally rather than nationally on the best infrastructure to better connect people to jobs, freight to ports, or energy to facilities, ensuring that local priorities are met. This is the first stage of a long conversation about devolution for our area, and I encourage you to get involved and have your say.”
Last year the Government invited civic leaders to bring forward plans for devolving powers to local areas and to work together to help level up the UK.
The Government’s Levelling Up White Paper provides a framework for devolution and council leaders across Greater Lincolnshire are working together to develop plans to enable Lincolnshire to reach its full potential.
Planning application submitted for major regeneration of Corah Site
Plans for the major regeneration of the Corah Site on Burleys Way in Leicester City Centre have been submitted to Leicester City Council.
The hybrid planning application, by Cityregen Leicester and Galliford Try Investments, seeks to transform the site into a dynamic new community in the heart of the city with the potential to deliver over 1,000 new homes. The plans include the creation of supporting retail and leisure provision as well as significant public realm on the prominent brownfield site in Leicester’s city centre.
The Corah Site’s industrial heritage will be enhanced, with the principal façade of the Old Textile Building – the oldest building on the site – set to be retained. The Corah Green will provide a new public square, and the two historic chimneys to the rear of the site will act as signposts to the major new destination.
Cityregen Leicester and Galliford Try Investments’ proposal delivers key connectivity, opening up the Corah Site to the public for the first time and creating an exciting new linear park link between Abbey Park and the city centre via a new pedestrian bridge, and the new Burleys Way super crossing.
The City Council has identified the site as an opportunity for regeneration as it falls within the St Margaret’s area of Leicester, a designated Strategic Regeneration Area under the Council’s adopted Core Strategy.
The proposals, which were first unveiled in October 2021, have been informed by an extensive consultation process that engaged with Leicester City Council, local residents and businesses and other key stakeholders.
A spokesperson for Cityregen Leicester and Galliford Try Investments said: “Our transformative proposals promise to unlock the Corah Site and create a new legacy for this important location in the city.
“The plans will bring new life to this area of Leicester, creating a dynamic new community and destination which will act as a catalyst for further growth and regeneration in the area. By delivering a significant number of homes, this site can also play a major role in easing the housing shortages facing local people, while creating fantastic new green spaces and public realm in the city.
“While reinvigorating the Corah Site, our proposals also recognise its important history. Our plans are inspired by this legacy and the heritage of the site has been threaded through the proposals to ensure the people of Leicester are connected to the Corah Site’s past in its new reincarnation.”
Pre-lets secured for Bingham Enterprise Centre
FHP Property Consultants, acting on behalf of Rushcliffe Borough Council, have already secured several pre-lets for the currently under construction Bingham Enterprise Centre.
The brand-new, state of the art building is situated next to the also under construction Bingham Arena leisure facility located on Chapel Lane in the very heart of the popular market town west of Nottingham.
The development of the site is progressing at pace, with the overall structure complete and the focus now shifting to the interior of the building with practical completion of the site envisaged for mid to late Summer 2022.
The suites comprise a range of different sizes from 500 to 1,200 sq ft across two floors of accommodation, each unit benefiting from their own kitchen/WC facility with communal shower, bike storage and car parking provision.
Amy Howard, of FHP’s Office Department, said: “I am delighted to be working alongside Rushcliffe Council and this exciting new development. The level of interest we have already received for the building so far has been very positive and we hope to achieve further pre-lets prior to the building officially opening later this year.”
East Midlands housebuilder opens up £5,000 community fund
Redrow East Midlands has launched a scheme to support deserving community initiatives across the region.
The East Midlands division has created the £5,000 community fund to support as many local groups, organisations and good causes as possible, and is now welcoming applications.
There’s no cause too small, so whether funds are required for art supplies to help local pupils to get creative, a search and rescue team are in need of new lifejackets or a local children’s group wish to go on their first ever camp out, Redrow East Midlands’ initiative can help.
The initiative, which started in 2020, aims to help local organisations with specific donations and give them the tools they need to continue to thrive.
Ryan O’Sullivan, sales director for Redrow East Midlands, said: “We always try to do our bit to help create thriving communities at our developments and in the wider communities. With the success of the community fund last year, we knew we had to re-launch it this year to help even more people across the region.
“This year, we are doing things slightly differently – we would like groups to tell us exactly what they need, such as new tents for a local scout group for an upcoming trip. This way we will be able to give groups and charities the items they really need to continue their great work.
“We’d like to invite volunteers at local charities or community groups to share their story with us, and tell us what they need so they can continue to do the thing they do best – supporting their community.
“We’re looking forward to hearing how we can help people in East Midlands and the surrounding areas.”
The fund is now open and will close on 27th May 2022
For details on how to apply visit: redrow.co.uk/community-fund-application-east-midlands
Charity teams up with Derbyshire canning company to reduce ocean plastic
A Derby charity dedicated to cutting down on ocean plastic has teamed up with a local company to launch canned water sourced from a local spring.
Think Ocean, a charity that works to keep plastic from the seas through a range of initiatives including transforming it into new products, is this month launching its own canned water produced by Melbourne-based Them that Can.
The Think Ocean cans are being filled with water from a spring at Highfields in Melbourne where Them that Can is based. The water comes straight from the source, 220 feet underground, to the canning facility. It is ready to drink having been filtered through limestone and mineral-rich ground.
Hugo Valdes-Vera, co-founder of Think Ocean, said: “Millions of tons of plastic are released into our seas every year. There is a real awareness now that the scale of this environmental problem is huge.
“Anything we can do to reduce plastic in our oceans is a big win, as far as I’m concerned. That’s why I’m delighted to be launching these Think Ocean cans. For every person who buys one, that’s one less plastic bottle potentially ending up in the sea.”
Not only is 75 percent of all aluminium ever made still in use today, but recycled cans use 95 percent less energy to produce than new ones.
All profits made from the Think Ocean cans will be used by the charity to carry on its work educating communities on plastic pollution, as well as cleaning more rivers, waterways and oceans. The cans are designed to be highly collectable with images of endangered species depicted on the front. The labels, including the ink, are also plastic-free.
Think Ocean and Them that Can have also produced water cans bearing the Ukrainian flag which have been sent to the war-torn country as a gesture of support.
Think Ocean’s origins go back to 1992 when a group of environmentalists got together to stop whale hunting in the South Pacific. The charity is now dedicated to ending plastic pollution.
Them that Can was founded by Jamie Kenyon and Mark Banks in 2014, and has recently relocated to its current location in Melbourne.
Jamie, a former industrial engineer in the offshore oil industry, explained that he had the idea for the company after contemplating setting up a brewery abroad, and noticing how cans were a much better solution for the product than bottles.
He said: “Canning is a way of transporting a product easily and efficiently. Aluminium is a renewable resource and it’s also environmentally friendly in the fact that you can fit many more cans in a vehicle than you can fit bottles. The other benefit from a drinks industry point of view is that a canned product means light cannot get in and affect the quality of what is inside.”
The company makes cans for a range of products from its Melbourne facility, including beer, cocktails and even wine.
Jamie said: “We are so proud to be working with Think Ocean on these new water cans. Their vision of the future and how it needs to be, and where we need to go as a world to make that happen, is one that we very much share at Them that Can.”
PR agency to support Northampton Saints Foundation as its first ever charity partner
A PR agency in Northamptonshire has announced its first ever charity partner.
After an intensive selection process, Ballyhoo PR has chosen to support Northampton Saints Foundation, which uses the values of rugby and the power of sport to inspire, support and educate young people.
The union will see Ballyhoo PR provide free PR and communications support to the charity for an entire year, to help increase their visibility and brand awareness and support their fundraising.
It was a competitive process, with 13 charities shortlisted for the much-coveted opportunity to work with the PR experts. Each worthwhile cause presented their case to the Ballyhoo PR team before a difficult decision was made.
Ballyhoo PR Managing Director Emma Speirs said: “We were touched and thrilled by the number of charities who wanted to work with us. All those who applied were hugely worthy causes and we were amazed and humbled by the incredible work taking place locally. We only wish we could offer this opportunity to them all but there could only be one winner.
“When Emily presented to us, she told us what a difference our support could make to the charity and the number of young people we could help through providing these services. They have such great ideas for the future but, like a lot of charities, are doing these wonderful things with limited resources. By acting as a virtual comms team for the Northampton Saints Foundation, they can reach a wider audience with some positive press coverage that will make them shine.”
Northampton Saints Foundation Managing Director Catherine Deans said: “Northampton Saints Foundation are delighted to be chosen as Ballyhoo’s charity partner for 2022. We feel incredibly lucky to be working with the team over the next year to increase our visibility and brand awareness.
“Ballyhoo’s expertise will be invaluable as we accelerate our growth to meet the demand for the work we do to inspire, support and educate young people. The number of young people needing our services has increased exponentially as a direct response of pandemic, which, in turn, means the amount we need to fundraise has also increased.
“We’re looking forward to Ballyhoo helping us to reach a broader audience, cementing our branding and sharing our vision to become the leading foundation supporting young people to have a more positive future.”
Lincolnshire financial adviser acquired by international group
Kingswood Holdings Limited, the international wealth and investment management group, is to acquire Vincent & Co Ltd, a privately owned independent financial adviser firm based near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire.
Vincent & Co, ran by Mark Vincent, provides financial advice to over 130 clients in the Lincolnshire area. They hold £25m AuA and in the year ending 31 October 2021 generated revenue of £135k, and profit before tax of £83k.
Following regulatory approval, the business will be acquired for total cash consideration of up to £421k, payable over a two-year period. £211k will be paid upon completion of the transaction and the balance paid on a deferred basis.
David Lawrence, UK CEO at Kingswood, said: “I’m delighted to announce the acquisition of Vincent & Co, our fifth acquisition this year. Vincent & Co have been established for over 20 years and have built deep relationships with their clients and an ethos which matches ours at Kingswood. This is a great opportunity to make an acquisition that consolidates our presence in Lincolnshire.”
Main building contractor appointed for National Rehabilitation Centre
The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) Programme has appointed Integrated Health Projects (IHP) as main contractor to construct the NRC in Nottinghamshire.
The NRC will be one of the early schemes to be delivered under the government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. It will also be designed to be Net Zero Carbon, in line with the wider Greener NHS pledge to be the world’s first net zero national health service.
Pre-construction activity can now move forward on site which is part of the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate (SHRE) near Rempstone in Nottinghamshire. Main construction will start subject to final agreements from Government.
IHP, an established alliance between Vinci Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine, was selected following the Procure process under the P22 Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) procurement framework which provides Design and Construction Services for use by the NHS and Social Care organisations.
Partnering is embedded in the contracting process to achieve best results, quality and value. As part of the contract a Partnering Agreement overlay will be adopted which is a collaboration agreement between the central New Hospital Programme (NHP), Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) and IHP, as well as Trusts and contractors for other early NHP schemes. This approach is intended to create a collaborative environment across Trusts delivering the early schemes within the NHP.
The NRC is a unique and brand-new facility with the potential to transform clinical rehabilitation across the NHS in England and Wales. Thanks to a wide National Clinical Academic Partnership of 22 Higher Education Institutions with the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University as the leads, the NRC will combine under one roof clinical rehabilitation, research, development and commercial innovation, and training and education. The impact of the NRC for patients is anticipated to be game-changing in terms of the quality of life potentially achievable after serious injury or illness.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust is the NRC Programme sponsor and NUH is procuring the main contractor appointment.
Miriam Duffy, NRC programme director, said: “This is excellent news for all of us eager to see the benefits of the NRC realised and the facility become operational as soon as possible. IHP is a great fit and I’m impressed not just with their technical capability but with their understanding of the uniqueness of the NRC. We’re confident of creating a great construction partnership that will see the outstanding NRC building come to life and help us to get on with treating patients.”
Stuart McArthur, healthcare sector lead at IHP, said: “We are delighted that IHP has been appointed to the construction of the National Rehabilitation Centre through the P22 DHSC procurement framework. Through the 20 successful years of our alliance, we have demonstrated that we have the expertise and experience necessary to match the unique nature of this project. We look forward to working in close collaboration with NHP and NUH on delivering this new model of rehabilitation in an inspiring setting, which will benefit patients and staff whilst supporting leading edge research.”
Natalie Forrest, senior responsible owner for the new hospital programme, said: “This is an important milestone for the National Rehabilitation Centre as we deliver on the government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. Together with eight existing schemes, this will mean 48 hospitals delivered by the end of the decade. This new facility will transform outcomes for people who have suffered potentially life-changing injury, trauma and illness.”
The NRC is a 70-bed facility designed to integrate with the natural landscape of the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate and specified to the highest standards of sustainability.
The NRC has been designed to ensure it will continue to achieve net zero carbon over the entire life of the building. It will not require any fossil fuels, and carbon-free electricity will be generated through solar panels on the site. The building will be highly insulated to minimise energy loss and will be built using low carbon materials such as timber for its structure.
The NRC will be built on a site approximately 400m from the counterpart Defence facility – the ‘Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Stanford Hall’ – which is operated by the Ministry of Defence and opened in 2018. Both the NRC and the Defence facility are part of the overall Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) Programme.
The NRC will share knowledge and some specialist facilities with the Defence facility so that both can benefit. This sharing between NHS medicine and Defence medicine is novel and will enable both facilities to achieve more than the sum of their individual parts.
Alongside IHP, the NRC project team includes Ryder Architecture, Arup and Fira (landscape architects). 