Focus presents £6,000 to BASE 51 after Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge
Multi-disciplinary consultancy Focus has handed over £6,000 to Nottingham-based charity BASE 51 after completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge.
The company undertook the challenge as part of Focus’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
Founded in Nottingham in 1994 and now with offices in London and Leicester, the Focus team wanted to mark the occasion by helping a local charity.
The donation will support BASE 51’s vital services, which provide crucial support and resources to young people in the Nottingham area, including mental health support, educational programmes, and recreational activities. The funds raised by Focus will help continue and expand upon these essential services that already have a positive impact on those in the local community.
Recently, two representatives from Focus, Managing Partner Jason Redfearn and Senior Consultant George Jones, presented a cheque for £6,000 to BASE 51. This impressive total was made possible by the support and contributions from clients, friends, family, and the dedicated efforts of the Focus team.
Jason Redfearn said: “Completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge was an exhilarating experience for all of us, but the true highlight was the overwhelming support we received from our clients, friends, and family. We are deeply grateful for the generosity shown and are honoured to support BASE 51’s incredible work with this donation.”
Verity Woods, Head of Fundraising & Events at BASE 51, commented on the donation: “We were delighted that Focus chose to support Base 51 with their Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge, as a local charity the support of business makes a huge difference to our work – the money they raised will help provide over 80 hours of counselling for young people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Thank you to everyone who took part and donated!”
The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, which involves hiking over 24 miles and climbing three of Yorkshire’s tallest peaks—Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough— in under 12 hours, was a formidable challenge for the Focus team. However, the sense of camaraderie and the motivation to support BASE 51 kept the team going.
Leicester hotel secures funding package
Assetz Capital, a provider of property-secured finance, has successfully structured a funding package of £9.95m facility for VOCO Leicester Hotel financed with Atom bank.
Last year, hotel management company Kew Green Hotels announced their plan to reflag two existing properties in Leicester and Manchester under IHG’s VOCO brand. The group acquired management of Hotel Brooklyn Leicester and Hotel Brooklyn Manchester and has signed a franchise agreement with IHG to rebrand them as VOCO properties during 2024.
David Hehir, relationship director at Assetz Capital, said: “I enjoyed playing a vital role in structuring this finance package with Atom bank to ensure its successful delivery for the Voco Leicester Hotel.
“Following Assetz Capital recent completions of an IBIS Styles Hotel in Glasgow for £5m, it is positive that we have expanded our reach structuring this fantastic hotel in Leicester. We would also like to pass on our thanks to Paul Goodman of Goodman Corporate Finance for his help with the transaction.”
Andrew Fraser, chief commercial officer at Assetz Capital, said: “We are pleased with the commerciality and speed shown by Atom on this £9.95m transaction. Assetz Capital and Atom bank have now completed a series of deals including office investments, leisure assets and now a branded hotel chain.
“The transaction completed in less than 12 weeks from initial discussion. We look forward to continuing to work further with Atom bank in the real estate space providing loans up to £10m.”
David Castling, head of intermediary distribution at Atom bank, added: “Our capability to fund loans of up to £10m in size at speed across the whole of the UK, reinforces our ongoing appetite to support the whole SME debt spectrum from small to large loan sizes.
“Assetz Capital and Atom bank’s collaborative approach ensured a smooth and efficient transaction, and we look forward to providing further funding to companies like VOCO in the future.”
Housebuilder acquires land for new homes in Leicestershire village
Housebuilder Allison Homes East Midlands is set to bring 50 new homes to the Leicestershire village of Stanton-under-Bardon.
Situated off Main Street, the five-acre site will become home to 50 two, three and four bedroom mixed tenure properties, including 15 affordable homes and five homes that will be available through the First Homes scheme.
The homes will be designed and developed using materials that reflect the local vernacular within Stanton-under-Bardon.
A range of biodiversity initiatives will also be implemented on site to encourage nature to grow and thrive. New trees will be planted and the open space on the development will include an attenuation basin seeded with wildflowers.
The housebuilder will also be retaining the existing public footpath within the site and supporting the Stanton-under-Bardon community, with financial contributions to the area’s NHS, education services, library and public transport in Coalville.
Construction work on the site is scheduled to commence in early 2025 and complete in summer 2026. The Stanton-under-Bardon development will be built alongside schemes in Shepshed and Anstey.
Karl Edwards, Operations Director at Allison Homes East Midlands, said: “We are going from strength to strength at Allison Homes East Midlands, and I am incredibly proud of the team for securing our third parcel of land, following the acquisition of sites in Shepshed and Anstey earlier this summer.
“We have worked incredibly hard with Mather Jamie and Caddick Land on this acquisition, and we are now looking forward to getting started on site and providing the people of Stanton-under-Bardon with a sustainable, new community.”
Flint Bishop strengthens national presence with strategic acquisition of Walker Morris’ Banking & Finance Recoveries division
Flint Bishop, a leading law firm, has made a significant move in the legal sector by acquiring the entire Volume Banking & Finance Recoveries division from the wider Banking & Finance team of Walker Morris LLP, welcoming 34 new staff to the business.
The strategic acquisition also marks Flint Bishop’s entry into the Leeds market and substantially enhances the firm’s capabilities in broader litigation and recoveries work, along with establishing a firm footprint to develop its full legal services offering across the UK.
The Walker Morris team, known for its national reputation and inclusion on several bank panels, was carefully selected by Flint Bishop for this strategic move into the financial services sector.
The acquisition propels Flint Bishop into the bank recovery and litigation arena, positioning the firm as one of the top legal providers to major banks and financial institutions. Flint Bishop has revealed plans for significant investments in staff, systems, and technology to further expand its national presence in this sector.
The acquisition brings numerous senior-level experts into the fold, increasing the firm’s total staff to over 280. As part of the transfer, Justin Coley will assume the role of Head of Recoveries, whilst Rebecca Calland and Ellen McLean have been promoted to the position of Partner. Other key figures joining from Walker Morris include banking litigation senior associates Georgina Davis and Olena Jarockyj.
Flint Bishop has also recruited banking litigation specialist Kate Hicks, currently with Yorkshire Building Society and formerly with DLA Piper and Walker Morris, to lead the Finance Dispute Resolution team, which will manage complex and contested banking litigation matters. Niall Gilhooley, former Chief Executive of Ascent, a division of Irwin Mitchell, who joined Flint Bishop two years ago, will serve as overall Debt Services Division Head.
Qamer Ghafoor, Chief Executive of Flint Bishop, said: “This strategic acquisition positions Flint Bishop as one of the UK’s top legal firms specialising in volume banking litigation and recovery-related work. It dramatically strengthens our Litigation, Debt and Property Services business by expanding our reach in the financial services market.”
Jeanette Burgess, Managing Partner at Walker Morris, said: “This strategic move allows us to focus on complex banking and finance litigation and other main practice areas, while ensuring the clients within our Recoveries division will continue to receive high-level service they are accustomed to. We wish the team great success in their new home.”
Ghafoor added: “The acquisition presents a prime growth opportunity and an excellent location for all our practice areas to capitalise on and have a presence. Not only will it grant us access to new markets and clients, but it will also introduce us to a thriving city for recruiting additional skilled lawyers to enrich our firm’s capabilities in existing and new practice areas.
“I am highly committed to growing the firm across all commercial and private client practice areas, providing opportunities for all, and ensuring our full-service offering thrives across all three locations: Derby, Birmingham, and now Leeds, with other planned locations on the horizon. With a fantastic team backing us, we’re in a prime position to introduce the Flint Bishop brand into new sectors across the UK and make a significant impact.”
This bold move signals Flint Bishop’s ambition to become a dominant force in the UK banking litigation and recoveries arena, setting the stage for accelerated growth and market leadership in the coming years.
Leicester maintains position as highest ranking East Midlands city in PwC’s Good Growth for Cities Index
Six of the seven cities in the East Midlands included in PwC’s Good Growth for Cities Index are out-performing the UK average on income distribution, measured by the ratio of median to mean income, an indicator of wealth equity.
The Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index ranks 51 of the UK’s largest cities (generally considered those with populations of at least 350,000 people), plus the London boroughs as a whole, based on the public’s assessment of 12 economic measures, including jobs, health, income, safety and skills, as well as work-life balance, housing, travel-to-work times, income equality, high street shops, environment and business startups.
Leicester maintained its position as the region’s highest ranking city (20th), despite slipping down slightly from 16th position in the previous index. Derby, Lincoln, Nottingham, Northampton and Peterborough have all seen an increase in overall rankings on the index, with Northampton achieving the biggest increase, moving from 42nd to 39th. The full East Midlands rankings are below:
- Leicester – 20th
- Peterborough – 22nd
- Derby – 23rd
- Lincoln – 24th
- Nottingham – 35th
- Northampton – 39th
Viking Park, Congleton continues to progress with food retailer’s opening
Food retailer, Aldi has completed the build and fit out for its new food store at Viking Park, Congleton.
The 2-acre fully serviced plot located in the retail zone of the mixed-use development is home to the single storey 20,000 sq ft purpose-built food retail facility.
The exterior of the building has been designed to sympathetically reflect its green surroundings, a design code condition which has been applied across the scheme. Aldi has invested an estimated £7.5m in Congleton and has delivered the new store less than nine months after construction began.
Bryn Richards, Aldi Real Estate Director said: “Opening our new store at Viking Park, Congleton, marks an exciting milestone for Aldi. We are proud to have delivered this high-quality facility in record time, providing the community with access to our award-winning range of products at unbeatable prices.
“This significant investment not only underscores our commitment to Congleton but also supports local jobs and the wider economy. We look forward to welcoming customers through our doors and becoming a key part of the Viking Park development.”
Marc Freeman, Director, Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd added: “The official opening of this store will bring the retail element of this development to life. The timing coincides well with our lead construction contractors, Roe Developments, gearing up to begin building the next stage of roadside convenience, a Starbucks, Greggs and KFC.
“Additionally, we will be starting to construct a 20,000 sq ft builders merchants and speculatively building a further 9,000 sq ft industrial unit which will be available on an all-enquiries basis. We anticipate all units will be open for business March 2025.”
Elsewhere on the mixed-use scheme, residential developer, Bloor Homes, are progressing well with the construction of their homes.
On completion, Viking Park will deliver up to 175 homes, a 20,500 sq ft supermarket/roadside convenience, as well as 36,800 sq ft office facilities and 219,500 sq ft of industrial units.
WBR Group further strengthens leadership team
WBR Group (WBR), the independent provider of SSAS services and tax experts, has appointed Julie Sebastianelli as a Non Executive Director. Julie brings a wealth of experience in the high net worth (HNW) sector and will play a crucial role in enhancing the strategic direction of WBR Group.
Julie Sebastianelli has held a number of senior roles within the financial services industry, such as Deloitte and Brown Shipley. She was also a shareholder and Board Director at Hurley Partners, and most recently, a Wealth Management Director at Mattioli Woods, a position she held until April 2024.
Julie’s extensive expertise spans SIPP and SSAS pensions, complex financial planning, inheritance tax (IHT) and estate planning, and a wide range of tax related areas. Renowned for her ability to simplify complex financial matters, she has earned a reputation for delivering trustworthy guidance in clear, understandable terms that resonate with clients.
Julie’s appointment marks a significant step forward for WBR Group as it continues to strengthen its leadership team with experienced professionals who bring diverse insights and expertise.
Tom Moore, CEO, WBR Group said: “We are really pleased to welcome Julie to our Board. She is already well-known to many of the team here and her exceptional track record and expertise in wealth management and financial planning will be invaluable as we strive to enhance our service offerings and continue our growth trajectory.
“Julie’s ability to communicate complex financial strategies in a way that clients can easily understand aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering unparalleled client service.”
Julie Sebastianelli said: “I am excited to join WBR Group at such a pivotal time in the company’s growth. The opportunity to contribute to a firm that shares my commitment to client centric, transparent service is one that I greatly value.
“I look forward to working with the Board and the management team, leveraging my experience to help drive WBR Group’s strategic objectives forward.”
Connect with property and construction professionals at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
While nominations for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 are assessed, book your tickets for the highly anticipated event taking place on Thursday 3rd October.
Recognising and celebrating those behind the changing landscape of our region – the very best companies, teams, individuals and projects – the event showcases the exceptional work carried out across the East Midlands over the past 12 months.
The awards further present a perfect networking opportunity, with the leaders of property and construction businesses from across the East Midlands in attendance.
The event will additionally feature Paul Southby as keynote speaker.
Paul is a partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema in Nottingham’s Lace Market, and a longstanding trustee of environmental charity Clean Rivers Trust. He is chair of Nottingham Partners, a group of businesses that supports the work of the local inward investment agency, Invest in Nottingham, and a board member and past chair of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Limited. Paul is also a former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire (2022/23).
Attend the glittering awards ceremony at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground to see who takes home the title of Contractor of the Year, Developer of the Year, Commercial Development of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Sustainable Development of the Year, Deal of the Year, Most Active Agent of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, Responsible Business and of course Overall Winner.
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, sponsored by Blueprint Interiors, will also be awarded a grand prize – a year of marketing/publicity with Business Link worth £20,000.
East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
When: Thursday 3rd October 2024, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Where: The Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
Keynote speaker: Paul Southby, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
Dress code: Standard business attire
Tickets: Available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-midlands-bricks-awards-2024-tickets-902294566337?aff=oddtdtcreator
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with property and construction professionals while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in the region.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Tickets can be booked here.
The event will begin at 4:30pm with networking and continue until 7:30pm, with additional time thereafter for connecting and celebrating. Complementary drinks and nibbles will be served on arrival. Dress code is standard business dress.
To be held at:
£3m awarded to power welfare and sustainability in poultry production
A new £3 million project aims to address significant health and welfare issues in poultry production.
Nottingham Trent University is a partner on the ‘FeedFlow’ project, which is led by insect farming innovator Flybox® and funded by Innovate UK as part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme.
The work – which brings together a consortium of industry leaders and academic institutions – will utilise advanced technologies and black soldier fly (BSF) larvae to improve poultry welfare and promote sustainability in the poultry industry.
Despite significant advancements in production sustainability through genetic selection, the poultry industry faces persistent issues – including poor leg health, high mortality rates, and variable feed conversion ratios.
Poultry production also contributes notably to ammonia emissions in the UK.
To address these issues and stay competitive against low-cost imports, UK production systems must evolve continuously. Black soldier fly farming and artificial intelligence are emerging as revolutionary solutions for improving poultry welfare and performance, while also supporting sustainability.
BSF larvae are renowned for their ability to promote natural poultry behaviour and provide a nutrient-rich, high-quality protein source enhanced with antimicrobial peptides.
AI systems, meanwhile, propel precision agriculture by delivering real-time data on flock welfare and early warnings of potential issues. The FeedFlow project harnesses these technologies with a cutting-edge rapid intervention system. It integrates FLOX360, an in-demand computer vision platform powered by enterprise-grade AI algorithms, with the nutritional advantages of BSF larvae.
This innovative approach aims to amplify poultry health and productivity, setting new standards for welfare and sustainability in the industry.
Additionally, the project incorporates Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), led by Jess Callaghan from the University of Chester, to assess Global Warming Potential (GWP) and prevent a race to the bottom in emissions. Flybox’s ® collaboration with NTU’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences further strengthens the project, utilising fortified BSF larvae to deliver a rapid nutrient boost that addresses health challenges more effectively than traditional feed interventions.
Together, these innovations streamline feeding processes, enhance flock health and behaviour, and promote environmentally responsible decision-making, all while reducing impacts across the entire value chain.
Emily Burton, Professor in Sustainable Food Production in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: “Insects are an essential part of our transition from linear to circular resource use, and projects like this are accelerating insect production to commercial viability by thinking outside the box about how we can harness them to improve poultry production.”
Supported by a consortium that includes Flybox®, FLOX, the University of Chester, Nottingham Trent University, Courteenhall Farms, Menchine Farm, and Clarke Group Construction, the project is dedicated to developing a comprehensive, sustainable solution for the poultry industry.
Last year Flybox® and NTU embarked on a study to feed BSF larvae food waste – nutritionally-enhanced using nanometre sized natural minerals – before being added to poultry feed. The work is part of a feasibility study which aims to increase the nutritional value of chickens and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of ingredients.
Barwood Capital appoints new senior residential development manager
Northamptonshire-based real estate investment and development platform, Barwood Capital (Barwood) has welcomed Alex Jervis to the Barwood Residential Investment Platform (BRIP) as senior residential development manager.
Alex brings over 8 years of experience in the property industry, having previously worked for Savills at its UK head office. During his time there, Alex advised a diverse range of clients on matters related to the delivery of residential development projects, ranging from single houses in central London to urban extensions and new settlements throughout the UK.
In his new role, Alex will be responsible for leading the day-to-day management of BRIP’s delivery partners, to ensure the successful delivery of projects that meet the strategic objectives of the business, ensuring maximum returns for Barwood’s investors and delivery partners alike.
Alex said: “I am thrilled to be joining the BRIP team at Barwood Capital at such an exciting time, following on from what has been a very challenging environment for SME residential developers.
“Through BRIP’s unique offering, I am relishing the opportunity to work closely with all existing and new partners, and investors, to create and deliver much-needed high-quality homes in desirable locations where supply can often be the most constrained.”
Hugo Trower, residential chief operating officer at Barwood, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alex to Barwood Capital. His extensive and varied experience working on a multitude of differing projects across the residential market, coupled with his proven ability to manage multiple complex projects and teams, makes him an ideal fit for our business.
“We are confident that Alex will play a significant role in advancing our developments, processes and initiatives, and helping us achieve our ambitious goals.”
