- have not had their 2021/22 rates bills reduced due to the Extended Retail Discount (covering retail, hospitality and leisure sectors) or the Nursery Discount;
- are the direct ratepayer and have occupied the property for business rates purposes, and having an amount to pay during the 2021/22 financial year; and
- have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to the impact.
New support scheme available for Leicester businesses affected by the pandemic
Businesses across Leicester that were not previously eligible for COVID-19 business rates relief may now be eligible for new support if they were adversely affected by the pandemic.
Leicester City Council has received £8.7m from the Government to administer the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund. This funding will be used to support a percentage reduction on 2021/22 business rate bills, with higher reductions for the worst affected businesses.
Businesses that are eligible are those that:
Shoosmiths names new Nottingham head of office
Law firm Shoosmiths has revealed the new head of its Nottingham office.
Michael Briggs, a partner and employment law specialist, takes on the role from Deborah Gordon-Brown who has held the post since 2015.
Michael, who joined Shoosmiths as an associate in 2013, will lead 77 staff at the firm’s Waterfront House office on Station Street and is set to oversee plans to continue growing its presence in the city and wider region.
Shoosmiths has operated in Nottingham since 1984 and has expanded into a full-service office covering real estate, corporate, business and personal advisory. It supports major brands including Travelodge, The Open University and Mountain Warehouse.
Michael’s strategic priorities include refurbishing and re-fitting the office, with the project due to take place this summer, alongside accelerating recruitment – adding to the three new staff that have already joined the firm in Nottingham in recent months.
As well as his role as partner, Michael chairs Shoosmiths’ LGBT+ Staff Network, PROUD.
Michael Briggs, partner and head of Shoosmiths’ Nottingham office, said: “2022 is a year of opportunity for Shoosmiths in Nottingham. There’s a lot to be excited about, including the office refurbishment – transforming it into a landmark social and business destination for our colleagues and clients.
“Our success in Nottingham is testament to the work of the entire team under Deborah’s leadership. I’m committed to continuing this legacy as the new head of office. As well as expanding our team and client base, my focus will be on cultivating the existing talent in the office, which I believe is home to the next generation of Shoosmiths’ leaders.”
Deborah is set to support Michael closely in his role as head of office, while also helping to oversee the delivery of the Nottingham office refurbishment project. Deborah will also continue her role on the board of the Shoosmiths Foundation and the regional boards of Business in the Community and Confederation of British Industry.
Deborah Gordon-Brown, Shoosmiths partner and outgoing office head, said: “Shoosmiths’ Nottingham office is a real legal powerhouse. The team are representing and advising some of the biggest companies and brands in the UK across multiple industries.
“We’ve achieved significant growth and I’m confident that under Michael’s stewardship the office will continue to thrive. I’m looking forward to supporting the team as we look to deliver on the ambitious plans put in place for the firm over the next few years.”
Land acquired for 280-home development in Radcliffe-on-Trent
Housebuilder Spitfire Homes is set to provide 280 new homes in Radcliffe-on-Trent, after acquiring a site with outline planning consent.
Proposals for the new development are set to see the delivery of a range of one-to-five-bedroom homes. The proposals feature 30% affordable housing and Spitfire will deliver ecological enhancements to the area, with CIL payments and community levies paid to the local council to support the community infrastructure.
This will be Spitfire’s debut development in the Nottinghamshire area, and a reserved matters planning application is due to be submitted in the coming months.
Ben Leather, Managing Director at Spitfire Homes, said: “We are excited to be bringing this new collection of homes to Radcliffe-on-Trent, with the acquisition of this site marking Spitfire Homes’ first move into Nottinghamshire following recent acquisitions in Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
“Radcliffe on Trent is a desirable village with significant buyer demand. Spitfire’s stylish range of homes will offer considered layouts designed for modern living and will fit well into this charming and attractive village setting. We look forward to working with the relevant stakeholders through the planning process in order to bring these homes to fruition.”
Landmark building on Pride Park sold to investors in multi million pound deal
2NB Property Investments Limited, a Derby-based investment company, has acquired Prospect House, situated on Pride Park, Derby.
Prospect House was one of the first HQ office buildings built on Pride Park. The property occupies a highly visible position directly opposite Pride Park Stadium and the accommodation spans over three floors offering modern open plan space.
The property was sold on behalf of private clients by joint agents FHP Property Consultants and Andrew Butcher & Associates.
Darran Severn of FHP Property Consultants said: “I am pleased this sale has completed and I wish the new owners every future success with their investment which I understand will be occupied later this year after a comprehensive refurbishment. There is a continued demand for office premises across Derby with a significant focus on Pride Park at present.
“Occupiers are seeking to increase the quality of their working environments and to create more of a collaborative lifestyle choice to boost collaboration, mental health and wellbeing, team building and to support the upskilling of junior members of the workforce. With a general lack of stock in market particularly on Pride Park we are starting to see capital values rise.”
David Nelson from 2NB Property Investments Limited said: “We’re delighted to complete the purchase of Prospect House and wish to thank all the professionals that assisted with the transaction. We look forward to turning the building into high specification grade A office accommodation that will be occupied later this year.”
Andrew Butcher of Andrew Butcher & Associates said: “I am delighted to have concluded the sale of this property on behalf of our private clients, following a relatively short marketing period. The demand for freehold properties and the short supply saw competition for this property and it is good to see that after a refurbishment, this will be home to a growing professional occupier, further extending the occupational life of the building.”
35 jobs saved at Nottingham sportswear manufacturer
A division of a Nottingham-based sportswear manufacturer has been sold after the company entered administration, saving 35 jobs.
Philip Stephenson and Jon Roden, both of Grant Thornton UK LLP, were appointed joint administrators to Dreamsport Limited on 30 March 2022.
The company experienced a decline in trading following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its directors elected to place the business into an insolvency process.
A spokesperson for the joint administrators at Grant Thornton UK LLP said: “Following their appointment, the administrators secured the sale of the company’s Teamwear division to an unconnected third party (Dreamsport 2022 Limited, part of the The Stevenson Group), which secured the employment of 35 people.
“However, there was no interest in acquiring the remainder of the business and unfortunately this has resulted in the redundancy of the remaining five employees.
“The administrators are continuing to carry out their statutory obligations in respect of realising remaining value from the company and ensuring an orderly wind-down. Further information will be made available in due course.”
Weetabix takes a bite out of high-protein market with Lacka Foods acquisition
Weetabix Food Company, the Northamptonshire-based breakfast brand, has acquired Lacka Foods Ltd, owners and manufacturers of ŰFIT, the ready-to-drink high-protein shake brand.
The all-cash deal, backed by Post Holdings, unites two of the UK’s market leading food and drink businesses and unlocks growth opportunities for Lacka Foods both in the UK and in international markets.
The two firms will operate separately, with the Lacka Foods management team continuing to run the business and drive growth in the fast growing high-protein RTD market.
Austin Bailey, founder and Managing Director of Lacka Foods, said: “Securing investment from a like-minded British business and family favourite such as Weetabix is a transformational step in the Lacka Foods story, and will help accelerate our pace of growth in a rapidly expanding category both here in the UK and internationally.”
Industrial market remains strong as unit let at Amber Business Centre
FHP Property Consultants have completed on the letting of Block 17.1 Amber Business Centre in Riddings, Alfreton to CST Engineering Ltd.
The property is an end terraced light industrial unit comprising 747ft2 of clear span space with some welfare facilities.
The premises is situated within a established industrial estate providing close proximity to nearby towns including Ripley, South Normanton, Belper and Kirkby in Ashfield, with main road links to the A38 and Junction 26 – 28 of the M1 motorway.
Dan Mooney of FHP Property Consultants said: “This was a smooth process having taken just 3 weeks from agreeing heads of terms to completion, so a great result for all involved.
“We received a solid level of enquiries for this unit especially from new businesses looking to get their foot in the door, so it is a pleasure to have agreed a deal with CST Engineering. We wish them all the best moving forward.”
Nottingham outdoor retailer set to scale-up with seven-figure funding package
Outdoor retailer Alpkit has received a £2.7 million funding package from HSBC UK, backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), to support its international growth.
Alpkit will use the funding to purchase more stock to meet an increase in demand as well as for the development of a new footwear range set to launch this summer. Since the pandemic, demand in the sector has been increasing, with Alpkit seeing particular growth in its sales across cycling, outdoor swimming and technical outdoor clothing.
The company, which has eight sites in key locations across the UK, is also seeing demand increasing from international markets across Europe and the US. Alpkit plans to continue to grow its physical presence with the opening of new UK stores, as well as expanding its product ranges and digital trading capability worldwide.
The funding package from HSBC UK includes a £2 million General Export Facility (GEF) backed by UKEF, the government’s export credit agency. The scheme, which launched last December, has already provided over £275 million for businesses across the UK, and can be used by firms to help cover everyday costs linked to exporting and to scale up their business operations.
David Hanney, Chief Executive at Alpkit, said: “This deal will help accelerate our growth as we look to capitalise on a significant increase in demand domestically and internationally. It also means we can invest in innovation to create lower impact, long-lasting technical outdoor gear that is both repairable and recyclable.
“HSBC UK has stood side by side with us, providing support through the good and the challenging times. Our relationship manager at the bank, Anthony Greenfield, has been a constant source of support and reassurance which has been immensely valuable.”
Paul Armstrong, HSBC UK area director for East Midlands, added: “With the outdoor retail sector continuing to see substantial growth, Alpkit has moved swiftly to increase its offering across not only the UK but also international markets. We are delighted to work with UKEF to provide continued support as the business grows from strength to strength.”
Andy Mannix, UKEF export finance manager, added: “The accessibility, flexibility, and certainty of our GEF is a game-changer for companies like Alpkit. We have recently more than doubled the amount that HSBC can automatically administer to an exporter through its facilities to £5 million, and I am delighted our close partnership has helped make this deal happen.”
Alpkit donates one per cent of all turnover to the Alpkit Foundation, a charitable organisation set up by the Alpkit founders to support grass-roots and direct action projects to remove the barriers in getting outdoors and experiencing wild places. The charity has supported over 1,500 projects and donated over £450k to date.
Free workshop on becoming a council supplier set for the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo
Have you ever thought about supplying your local council with goods or services? Would you like to access public sector contract opportunities but are unsure where to start?
Team Lincolnshire and Business Lincolnshire are set to run a free workshop on this very topic at the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo, taking place on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln.
Running from 10:15 – 11:45, the workshop will demystify the procurement process and explore the potential which public sector contracts could bring to your business.
Team Lincolnshire ambassador Neal Wheatley, director and general manager of RG Carter Lincoln Limited, and Barry Taylor, regional director at Parker Technical Service, will be sharing insightful first-hand experiences on winning a major Lincolnshire County Council contract for the construction of the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone and how supporting the local economy is a core value within the RG Carter Supply Chain Commitment.
Senior commercial and procurement officer at Lincolnshire County Council, Megan Rice, said: “We recognise the frustrations caused and the barriers created through a lack of understanding of the public sector procurement process around why and how decisions are reached.
“This event will guide businesses through what is meant by procurement and why public sector bodies must follow certain processes, as well as providing insights into where to find tender opportunities including new procurement pipelines and how to identify supply chain opportunities.”
Sign up to the workshop here.
Opening at 9am, the free to attend Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo, provides everything required for a great day of networking and business generation. Business Link is a proud partner of the well targeted event, which is aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets. As the exhibition closes, it will roll directly into an informal, open buffet style network lunch – tickets for the lunch are just £25 plus vat and can be ordered and paid for directly online. Spaces for the lunch are limited, so order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. To attend the event, register for free here. To generate opportunities by exhibiting at the event, click here. Purchase tickets to the networking lunch here. To see the full list of who is exhibiting click here. Meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.West Yorkshire firm swoops for Burton pitched roof systems manufacturer in £535m deal
West Yorkshire-based Marshalls, a supplier of concrete and natural stone products for external landscaping, has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire Marley Group in a £535 million deal.
Burton-headquartered Marley is a leader in the manufacture and supply of pitched roof systems to the British construction market.
The acquisition is conditional, amongst other things, on the approval of Marshalls shareholders, and completion of the acquisition is expected to occur in late April / early May.
Martyn Coffey, Chief Executive of Marshalls, said: “The acquisition of Marley represents a significant step towards achieving our strategic goal to become the UK’s leading manufacturer of products for the built environment.
“Marley is a highly profitable business with established market positions across UK RMI and new build housing. Much like Marshalls, its position is underpinned by a track record of product quality and customer service, and we believe Marley will represent a strong cultural fit with our own business.
“We would like to welcome Marley’s management team and colleagues to the Marshalls family and look forward to working with them in the coming years.”
Marley’s management team, led by David Speakman (Chief Executive Officer), Dominic Heaton (Chief Financial Officer), and Paul Reed (Chief Operating Officer), will continue to lead Marley following the acquisition and Marley will operate initially as a standalone division within the Marshalls group.
David Speakman, Chief Executive of Marley, said: “Marley is a robust business with a strong future ahead of it. As part of the Marshalls family, I believe we will be extremely well-positioned to continue our growth strategy to the benefit of our colleagues, customers and partners.”
