Green light for Staveley Town Deal project building skills for the future
A project that ensures Staveley residents can develop the skills they need to have great careers and bright futures has been given the green light.
The Construction Skills Hub will provide a practical platform for construction training, careers activity and work experience on a live construction site in Mastin Moor. Over ten years, it aims to provide training, careers insights, and work experience for over 5,000 learners.
The Skills Hub is one of the eleven projects that will be funded by the £25.2m Staveley Town Deal. Following formal Government sign-off, work to secure a training provider and develop the site can begin.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “This is a fantastic project for Staveley as it will help residents to access the training they need to secure good quality jobs.
“It serves as a great example of what we hope to achieve through the Staveley Town Deal – the creation of new opportunities, open to all. We can now start to work towards delivering this project and encouraging people to register their interest.”
Initially the Skills Hub will provide training in site and bench joinery, brickwork, ground works and electrical installation but in time the offer will expand to include training in retrofit and green technologies. It will be open to school leavers and other residents seeking to train or retrain.
There will also be a careers insight programme, which will be developed in collaboration with local schools, and opportunities for work experience to help young people make informed decisions about their futures.
The project has received support from local construction companies.
Ivan Fomin, chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “Establishing the right connections between construction companies, training providers and local people from the outset will be key to the success of this project. It is critical that the training provided meets the needs of the sector. We want Staveley to be a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed – to start, to stay and to grow.”
A site has already been identified for the Construction Skills Hub in collaboration with the Devonshire Group who will be bringing forward a new housing development in Mastin Moor from the Autumn. This will allow trainees to develop their skills on a live housing site whilst in time there will also be opportunities to gain experience on other Staveley Town Deal construction projects.
A training provider will shortly be appointed to deliver the skills packages and operate the Hub. The provider will help influence how the Hub is developed to ensure that the space and facilities are optimised to meet the needs of learners and the sector.
The first cohort of learners will be engaged from September 2022 with the training compound expected to be fully operational from September 2023.
Staveley is set to benefit from £25.2 million of investment through the Town Deal. This investment will support eleven different projects across the town and provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to help shape the future by improving transport links, creating new housing, providing skills for local people, enhancing community facilities, and regenerating the town centre.
EMR team up with school pupils and local artist for Lincoln-inspired artwork
East Midlands Railway (EMR) has supported a project to produce artwork that promotes the history and heritage of Lincoln.
The six pieces of artwork, which are now on display next to platform five at the city’s station, were designed in collaboration with local artist Mel Langton and pupils from Hospital School, the National Citizen Service and Lincoln City Foundation.
The striking artwork includes designs featuring Lincoln Castle, the cathedral, Newport Arch and Lincoln City Football Club, while one piece of art depicts the railway network, and another reflects the history of Lincoln being the birthplace of the tank.
They were devised over several months in a bid to brighten up a section of the station and give customers an insight into the culture and history of Lincoln.
The artwork was sponsored by EMR, Community Rail Network and North Notts & Lincs Community Partnership, as well as Lincoln City Foundation and The Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia.
Tamsin, who is in year 11 at Lincoln Christ Hospital School, said: “Taking part in this community project was a wonderful experience, seeing it all come together was a dream.”
While her classmate Caitlin said: “I’ve enjoyed every moment of this amazing project. I am grateful that I was given the chance to work alongside a real artist, to create something that all of us, as a community, can enjoy for years to come.”
Elaine Porter, Art Teacher at Lincoln Christ Hospital School, said: “Working with EMR and Mel has had a significant impact on the Year 11 Creative Arts Enrichment Group. It provided them with the opportunity to develop their skills in digital art, taking their artwork out of the classroom and into the community.”
Artist Mel Langton said she was delighted to have been chosen to create the artwork and work alongside the pupils. She said: “It is great to be able to help bring some fun and colourful imagery to Lincoln Railway station.
“We wanted to produce some vibrant designs that would brighten the station and welcome visitors into Lincoln, whilst sharing a little of our counties history and great places to visit.
“Along with designing my own pieces for the project, it was a pleasure working with the schools involved and the LCFC National Citizen Service to create the further three vibrant and diverse designs that are now on display.
“I really hope that the artwork will be enjoyed for many years to come.“
Donna Adams, Community Engagement Manager at East Midlands Railway, said: “Everyone involved in this project should feel very proud and we would like to thank all the volunteers for their help and time.
“The artwork is a lovely addition to the station, it not only brightens up the area, but also manages to highlight the rich history, heritage and wonderful landmarks that the city has to offer.”
The Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia adopted Lincoln station five years ago and has been busy transforming the disused platform, clearing weeds and picking up litter.
Peter Harrold, from the The Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia, said: “We spoke with the station manger and formed an adoption group to see what could be done. The platform has been transformed and the artwork is the icing on the cake.
“Titled ‘Romans to Railways, the artworks feature Lincoln’s Roman and Industrial past, including references to the first tank which was built here in Lincoln and the importance of railways to the city. Lincoln’s famous football club, the Imps, is not forgotten either.”
£17m refurb approved for Stephenson Memorial Hall
Ambitious plans to refurbish Chesterfield’s historic Stephenson Memorial Hall, which houses the museum and the Pomegranate Theatre, have been approved by Chesterfield Borough Council’s planning committee.
This approval means that Chesterfield Museum is now closed to begin the complex process of moving the historic collection into safe storage.
The refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall is projected to cost around £17 million with £11 million of funding being secured via the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. Chesterfield Borough Council has received almost £20 million through this Government fund, the other £8 million will be used to support and enhance the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield Project.
Together this funding will help ensure that Chesterfield is a vibrant market town by improving connections across the town centre and enhancing the visitor economy.
Under the plans the refurbished Stephenson Memorial Hall will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, education and community facilities.
The work will also protect the Grade II listed building and ensure that it remains part of the borough’s heritage for many more generations to come.
Creating a more accessible experience is another key aim of the proposals. The plans include three new lifts which will significantly improve the accessibility of the building for visitors, artists, and employees.
Also included in the plans are improvements to lighting, heating, and ventilation.
Consortium drops out of race to buy Boots
A duo of major investment firms that came together to form a multibillion pound takeover bid for Boots have ditched their plans, according to Sky News.
It was revealed that Bain Capital and CVC Capital Partners had set their sights on the Nottingham-based retail giant in January after it was reported that Boots’ parent company was considering a sale of the business, which would see it valued at over £5bn.
Sky News has now learnt that the consortium, one of the frontrunners, decided against submitting an offer for Boots last week, primarily driven by the price expectations of the chain’s owner, Walgreens Boots Alliance.
This leaves just a few remaining bidders for Boots. Asda, Apollo Global Management, and Sycamore Capital are said to be among these.
A pharmacy-led health and beauty chain, Boots has over 2,000 stores and a team of over 50,000 colleagues.
Workplace challenge to boost active travel
Workplaces in Leicester & Leicestershire are being pitted against each other for a fun challenge to see who can get the most staff to leave their cars at home.
The Let’s Go – Betterpoints Workplace Challenge is inviting anyone who travels to work to walk, run, wheel, ride or use public transport to help their team climb the leaderboard.
And there’s the chance to get rewarded for your efforts, with participants going into a prize draw to win prizes including an electric bike from Rutland Cycling, a FitBit, and £400 worth of outdoor gear.
The challenge takes place throughout March and is easy to join. Simply download the free Betterpoints app, register and join the Choose How You Move and Let’s Go challenges. You can then track your activities – such as walking or cycling to work – and earn points and rewards.
Workplaces based in Leicester or Leicestershire can register to take part at any time throughout the challenge and workplaces of all sizes can take part, from self-employed individuals to those with hundreds or thousands of staff on site. Email customercare@betterpoints.uk to get started.
Throughout the challenge, there will be daily opportunities to win points, plus weekly prizes such as shopping vouchers and family experiences on offer. There will also be the chance to win free monthly passes for Santander Cycles Leicester, the city’s e-bike share scheme, or to win credit for your Santander Cycles Leicester account.
A £500 charity donation will also be given as a reward and split across the five workplaces in each size category which get the most employees taking part.
All public transport, walking, cycling and running activities recorded within Leicestershire, of at least half a mile, will count towards the challenge. If you are working from home, all walking, cycling and running completed will also count.
Deputy city mayor for environment and transport Cllr Adam Clarke said: “This is a great challenge with some really good prizes on offer. We know how popular last year’s Beat The Street game was with schools and families, where you could collect points for walking and cycling – so this is a chance for workplaces to get involved in something similar.
“We’re facing a climate emergency and it’s never been more important to think carefully about how we travel and whether car journeys are the best option for the environment, our health and the air quality in our city. This is a chance for people to try out different ways of getting around, discover the benefits of active travel, and get rewarded for doing so.”
The workplace challenge is being supported by a project called Choose How You Move Leicester and Leicestershire. This is a Department for Transport-funded programme to promote walking and cycling, supporting active travel across the city and county.
Manufacturers set sights on PE investment in 2022
Manufacturers are turning their attention to private equity (PE) investment as the sector makes a strong post-pandemic recovery and sets its sights on growth.
According to research by Make UK and business advisory firm BDO, a third (34%) of manufacturers are considering private equity investment to help fund the growth of their business.
70% of respondents said their company had a good understanding of how private equity works – a jump of 10% compared to 2019 when respondents were asked a similar question – with manufacturers increasingly realising the broader benefits PE investment can bring to their business.
While 45% believe private equity would be more attractive if investors had longer-term investment intentions, more than half (51%) concur that PE investors bring much more to the table than an injection of money, saying they would also benefit from the additional skills, expertise and credibility that such investment brings.
BDO says the figures demonstrate the appetite for growth among UK manufacturers. Following a difficult few years and despite escalating cost pressures, firms are gearing themselves up for a future centred on digitalisation, automation and sustainability.
Roger Buckley, UK Industrials M&A Partner at BDO, said: “Manufacturers faced a brutal 10% decline in output in 2020 due to the pandemic but rebounded proudly with some record-breaking figures in 2021.
“They have entered the year with their eyes wide open to the challenges ahead, most notably the intense costs pressures they are facing. However, they are doing so with a renewed sense of confidence, knowing they have battled the last few years with unrivalled resilience.”
In 2021, UK deal completions rose to their highest level since 2008. The 2,782 deals completed by both trade and private equity buyers last year marked a robust recovery from the activity levels seen in 2020 – up 42%.
BDO says there is an abundance of ‘dry powder’ and a desire to invest, with strong competition from buyers for quality assets and resilient businesses.
Roger Buckley adds: “As manufacturers warm up to the idea of PE investment to help fund the growth their business, the fundamental drivers for strong deal activity are in place.
“We would expect the pent-up appetite and sheer quantity of dry powder to convert to some serious deal flow in the manufacturing sector this year, particularly among mid-sized businesses with strong growth ambitions.”
East Midlands Freeport secures formal Government approval
The East Midlands Freeport has secured formal Government approval for its plans to offer businesses locating in the Freeport special incentives.
The UK’s only inland freeport is set to deliver over 61,000 jobs for the East Midlands and an extra £8.9bn for the local economy over the next 30 years.
The greenlight means that from 22nd March 2022, eligible companies investing in designated areas within the Freeport’s boundary will be able to access a range of benefits offered through the Government’s Freeport policy. These areas, known as ‘tax sites’, cover the Freeport’s three main locations at East Midlands Airport and Gateway Industrial Cluster (‘EMAGIC’), East Midlands Intermodal Park (‘EMIP’) and the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station Redevelopment Site.
The special incentives will be offered to companies whose development plans support the Freeport’s main objectives, including promoting growth in advanced manufacturing and logistics, and turbocharging the drive towards Net Zero. By building on the Freeport’s other unique advantages as the nation’s only inland Freeport with unparalleled global transport links, these benefits will help attract and accelerate new high value, low carbon investment that promises to create thousands of skilled green jobs.
By creating much-needed jobs and boosting the economy, the Freeport is set to benefit communities across the East Midlands and make a critical contribution to the Government’s levelling-up agenda. It is one of eight Freeports being established across England.
Hailing a pivotal moment in the development of the Freeport, Penny Coates, chair of the East Midlands Freeport Board, said: “The Government’s approval for our tax sites means that the East Midlands Freeport now offers a total of 533ha of prime, strategic development land where companies can not only benefit from a fantastic location with fantastic global transport links; they can also benefit from a comprehensive package of special incentives that make our Freeport one of the best places to invest in the UK.
“That’s why today’s announcement is the moment when we can really start to turn our ambitions for the Freeport into reality, delivering well-paid green jobs for communities, supporting levelling-up and helping achieve a Net Zero economy.”
Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: “Freeports are a key element of levelling up the UK and I’m delighted to have reached this major milestone. This is a big moment for the East Midlands. As the UK’s only inland freeport, the innovative plans will power up the region’s economy, create much-needed jobs and put the East Midlands firmly on the map. We can now get to work on starting to deliver its promise.”
Clare James, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, said: “We look forward to continuing our work with public and private sector partners to make a success of the UK’s only inland Freeport, and to playing our role in the future prosperity of the East Midlands. By building on the strengths of the region’s leading sectors including advanced manufacturing, logistics and R&D, the Freeport is well-placed to drive future investment and economic growth which will create new and diverse jobs for local people.”
Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director, National Logistics, SEGRO, said: “As a long-term investor in the Midlands, we believe warehouse infrastructure can contribute to wide socio-economic benefits, from creating sustainable employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth to enhancing infrastructure and enabling better consumer choice. We welcome the approval of the East Midlands Freeport as a way of accelerating the contribution SEGRO, our customers and partners can make to delivering these benefits as well as driving forward the levelling up agenda.”
John Williams, Maritime Transport’s executive chairman, said: “Maritime Transport is excited about the Governments’ confirmation of Tax Site designation for EMF. The designation and accompanying benefits will undoubtedly attract and accelerate investment into the region, where Maritime’s Rail Terminal, located within the EMAGIC Tax Site, is the key freight gateway for East Midlands Freeport global connectivity.”
Dave Johnson, site manager for Uniper, said: “Uniper welcomes the Government’s statement confirming Tax Site designation for the EMF. As landowner of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station site, Uniper continues to work with regional stakeholders to progress plans for the redevelopment of the site into a zero carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands, with the potential to create employment opportunities based around modern industrial and manufacturing uses.
“The benefits associated with the designation of Ratcliffe as a Tax Site within the freeport will significantly enhance its attractiveness as a location for new businesses; boosting future employment and growth opportunities.”
Plans for the A614/A6097 scheme accelerate as planning application is submitted
Plans for upgrades to six junctions as part of the A614/A6097 scheme have now been submitted to Nottinghamshire County Council’s planning team.
The junctions included in the plans are:
- Ollerton Roundabout – the intersection of the A614 / A616 / A6075 roundabout
- Mickledale Lane junction – the A614 / Mickledale Lane crossroads
- White Post roundabout – the A614 / Mansfield Road roundabout
- Warren Hill junction – the A614 / A6097 priority junction
- Lowdham Roundabout – the A6097 / A612 Nottingham Road / Southwell Road roundabout,
- Kirk Hill junction – the A6097 / Kirk Hill crossroads.
Midlands in line for huge jobs boost as electric vehicle rollout ramps up
A raft of new jobs will be created throughout the Midlands as a result of the Electric Vehicle (EV) boom.
Analysis by WSP for Midlands Connect shows that nearly 30,000 jobs could be created due to the projected boom in EV use.
The analysis shows that 4,575 jobs could be created in EV charge point installation, 4,548 in charge point operation, 665 manufacturing jobs, 1,383 retail jobs, 3,157 energy distribution and storage jobs and 1,754 new energy production roles.
The figures also show that 10,872 jobs would be created in energy retail and 1,556 in value-added services.
These figures come alongside data released by Midlands Connect which suggests that the Midlands is on the brink of an EV boom and could see over 1.7 million electric cars on its streets by the end of the decade.
Figures suggest that the Midlands will see a 2,475% increase in uptake in electric vehicles by the end of 2030, with projections predicting to rise from 68,713 EVs today to 1,769,855 on its roads by the end of 2030. This means nearly a third (28.4%) of all vehicles registered in the Midlands Connect area could be an electric vehicle by the end of 2030.
Nottingham City Council recognised as first Carbon Literate council in Nottinghamshire
Nottingham City Council has reinforced its commitment to reaching carbon neutrality by 2028 after receiving accreditation as a Bronze Level Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO). The City Council is the first local authority in Nottinghamshire to achieve this status.
This award from the Carbon Literacy Project is internationally recognised and shows that the council is prioritising climate change action through the training of its senior colleagues. City Council Deputy Leader Councillor Sally Longford, along with fellow councillors Zafran Khan and Rosemary Healy, and Director of Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability Wayne Bexton, have all successfully completed their Carbon Literacy Training, becoming among the first people to do so at the City Council.
Carbon Literacy Training is an immersive, one-day learning experience which allows participants to better understand the impacts of climate change and the role they play in reducing carbon emissions in the workplace and their own lives. By having senior leaders at the council undertake this training, the council can integrate climate change awareness into strategic decisions that are made.
Having Carbon Literate leadership is vital for Nottingham as it provides an opportunity to influence decisions needed to become a more sustainable city and improve its transition to carbon neutrality. The Carbon Literate councillors can use the knowledge they gained through the training in their work – creating a low carbon culture across the council.
In January 2020, Nottingham City Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency, acknowledging that urgent action is needed to prevent further damage to the environment. The council has committed to work with Nottingham’s residents, business owners and visitors to reduce emissions in the city, aiming to be carbon neutral by 2028.
This target will be achieved by following Nottingham’s Carbon Neutral Action Plan, which includes actions such as further developing climate change awareness, understanding and knowledge among the council’s own staff.
Councillor Sally Longford, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment and Waste Services, said: “Becoming the first Bronze Level Carbon Literate local authority in Nottinghamshire is another step on the city’s journey to reaching carbon neutrality.
“We’re already making great progress towards our climate change targets, through the electrification of our fleet, retrofitting homes across the city and engaging with citizens through the Green Light in the City pop-up space. Undertaking Carbon Literacy Training will allow the council’s leaders to further embed an awareness of carbon emissions into how we work and will help us to mitigate the impacts of the climate emergency on the city.
“We know there’s still lots to do, so I would like to encourage everyone in Nottingham to help us achieve our ambition. Everyday actions all add up to make a positive difference, no matter how small they may seem.”
Wayne Bexton, Director of Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability, said: “I’m really pleased to be one of the first key leaders within Nottingham City Council to achieve a Carbon Literate accreditation and delighted that we have achieved our bronze status for the whole organisation. The commitment of the council on the sustainability agenda is well known, and this is another step towards our carbon neutral ambitions.”
