Former Lincolnshire County Council offices hit the market
Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) have been appointed by Lincolnshire County Council to dispose of its former offices at The Avenue, Lincoln.
The offices, which are distributed across two pairs of semi-detached buildings and a further detached building, offer some 15,780 sq ft of accommodation between them.
The period buildings occupy a prominent location within Lincoln city centre and will be offered for sale as a whole or in up to three separate lots.
Andrew France, associate director at LSH, said: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire some landmark heritage assets in a prime central location. The configuration of the buildings offers enormous redevelopment potential and we are looking forward to seeing proposals come forward.”
Nottingham City Council makes senior finance appointment
Nottingham City Council has made a permanent appointment to a key role on its senior management team.
Ross Brown will take up the role of corporate director for finance and resources and Section 151 Officer on 3 January, taking over from Clive Heaphy who has held the position on an interim basis.
Ross is an experienced senior officer who has worked in local government for more than 17 years, including as Section 151 Officer at the London Borough of Ealing.
Ross said: “I am delighted to be joining Nottingham City Council at this key stage of its transformation and improvement journey.
“The council’s challenges are well documented and while I don’t underestimate the scale of the task ahead, I’m excited to be joining an ambitious and determined authority which is committed to addressing the issues which led to Government intervention and transforming itself into a better-run council.
“I’m confident that with the support of committed and dedicated colleagues, we’ll work together to build, develop and enable a Finance and Resources Directorate at the heart of the council’s vision for delivering together for Nottingham’s residents and businesses.”
Chief Executive Mel Barrett said: “I congratulate Ross on his appointment and I and my colleagues look forward to working with him when he takes up his post in the New Year.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to the work carried out over the past two years by Clive Heaphy and wish him the very best for the future.”
Councillor David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “We welcome the experience that Ross will bring to a key role within the council’s operation. He further strengthens the senior leadership team at a time when our budgets are being placed under real pressure.”
Galaxy Row set to progress
The submission of a Summary Document to Government for the proposed Galaxy Row redevelopment project, part of the Long Eaton Town Deal, has been approved by Erewash Borough Council.
On December 13 Council Executive considered the project summary to claim the remainder of the £3.5m Towns Fund grant funding from the government that is needed for the project.
The aim of the project is to remove the eye sore of the former derelict Galaxy cinema on Derby Road and replace it with a new development made up of commercial and residential units, including a courtyard/car park, that enhance the town centre. This would be part of a larger development which includes the former cinema, a tyre depot, adjacent shop fitter’s store and former Stage 1 bar and nightclub. Galaxy Row is one of six projects that form the town deal. The development would create new jobs and benefit the town centre economy.
If funding is secured it will be necessary for the council to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire the buildings in order for the development to proceed.
Richard Ledger, chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, says: “The submission of the summary document to secure Government funding will be a big step forward for this exciting project, which is central to the Long Eaton Town Deal. With this funding in place the plans for Galaxy Row can really start to gain pace and we look forward to sharing further news of town centre regeneration with residents.”
In July 2021 Council Executive approved heads of terms with government to deliver the projects in the investment plan using £24.8 million of town deal funding. The other projects are:
- West Park visitor attractions, including an events space and waterfront.
- Stable Block Managed Workspace Units. Conversion of a former stable block into office space.
- Pedestrian and cycleway improvements, including bridges at Broad Street which connects West Park to the town centre and Britannia Road.
- Improving Derby Road Junctions around Long Eaton Green.
- Long Eaton High Street.
HMP Fosse Way prison extension approved
A 250-capacity cell block extension to the new HMP Fosse Way prison has been approved by Councillors on Blaby District Council’s planning committee.
The new four-story building was given the green light at the planning committee held on Thursday 15 December.
Approval was also given to a two-storey ancillary building, a sports area and 80 extra parking spaces, all located on the north of the site.
The design of the buildings is set to match those already being constructed on the site of the former Glen Parva Young Offenders’ Institution.
In addition to the additional built development on the site, the proposals include the provision of new trees, wildflower meadows, semi-improved grassland, a new wildlife pond and other habitat improvements on the remainder of the northern part of the site, to achieve an overall biodiversity net gain of 3.45 per cent.
The former Glen Parva Young Offenders’ Institution was demolished in 2017 with outline planning permission granted for the replacement prison the same year and full approval given in 2020.
Originally the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) planned to house 1,715 Category C inmates in the new seven block prison, recently named HMP Fosse Way following a public competition.
As the Government seeks to increase prison places, a public consultation was held in August by the MoJ into extending the proposals and Blaby District Council conducted its own public consultation when the formal planning application was submitted.
The expansion move is directed by the Government’s aim to create around 20,000 new prison places across the country by the middle of the decade. Private firm Serco has been named as the operator of the jail which will focus on training and resettlement when it opens next year.
Councillor Ben Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Planning Delivery and Enforcement and Corporate Transformation, said: “We have already seen an economic boost locally thanks to the construction of the new HMP Fosse Way and hope this extension will help prolong that.
“Since approval was first granted we have been proud to have taken advantage of the building of this new prison in our area to team up with stakeholders and give local businesses access and opportunity to bid for work, as well as working with schools to provide an insight into the construction industry for students.
“With Serco announced as the operator for HMP Fosse Way, we also aim to work with them in the future to ensure the facility has a positive, long-term impact on the community.”
The site has already created 230 jobs and 16 apprenticeships during construction and when open, it is expected to offer more than 600 jobs, providing a further significant boost to the local economy.
The prison extension is expected to open in 2025.
2023 Business Predictions: Donald Ward, operations director at WARD
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Donald Ward, operations director at Midlands-based metal recycling and waste management specialist, WARD.
There’s no doubt that we are living through some of the most turbulent times in recent history. The aftermath of the pandemic is bringing even more new challenges, with rising inflation and ongoing economic uncertainty.
There is a sense of getting through until the Christmas break, that everyone is ready for, and this is potentially providing a period of delay before tough times start in the New Year. Unfortunately, there will be some businesses that won’t survive and inevitably there will be some really challenging times ahead.
Energy costs are the major issue for business, with prices rising over 300% for most on 2021 levels. It is impossible to absorb dramatic rises like this without making costs savings elsewhere, in either labour or materials or operations. Ultimately doing more with less.
The energy crisis reduces margin and therefore any ability to make profit, and pushes up the cost of doing business for everyone. Once the Government removes the cap for businesses it will be telling. We are keen to see what additional support will be put in place, as businesses will fold and there will be job losses if Government does not step in, which will have a wide economic and social impact across the country.
Running businesses through Covid has taught us all resilience and those businesses that have been able to get through it have done exceptional things to stay on an even keel. Through investment and forward planning, we managed to secure the plant and equipment needed early on to support our growth plans for bulk metal recycling operations in 2023 and beyond, however, it is difficult to find the right people to support this growth.
There is a significant skills shortage post-Brexit and a shift in the available workforce. Like the rest of industry, we are short of qualified and experienced drivers. We also need to address the wider skills gap and the way that people want to work. We need less people with better skills who are willing and able to work on site. Employers need to look at flexible employment packages that fit around family life, rather than just providing a job.
As a business we are determined to remain positive and still have plans to grow our metal recycling sites and waste management service offering. We are also planning a programme of wellbeing and charitable activities to smash some goals in 2023 and keep the team momentum going.
2023 Business Predictions: Jennie Holland, Managing Director, Jennie Holland PR
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Jennie Holland, Managing Director at Jennie Holland PR.
Putting to one side the current economic challenges, I want to focus my 2023 predictions on that of the business owner.
Everyone I speak to is incredibly busy and has been for what feels like a long time, and while we don’t know what the future holds in Q1, Q2 and beyond in 2023, I think we have a good idea of what might be to come.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom, there is so much good that we take for granted. Business owners, and the teams that they lead, are accustomed to change, to adapting, to being agile – we learnt all about that during the global pandemic and some of those changes we made at that time continue to play their part in businesses.
I predict that business owners will face what’s to come head-on and with a can do, carry on regardless attitude, because that’s what they do and have done before. They will keep their focus on their business strategies and goals and always with a positive mindset.
So, whatever the economic weather in 2023, I know that with business owners at the helm of our East Midlands economy, we are in the strongest position we can be.
HSH Cold Stores to acquire fellow Grimsby firm
Grimsby-headquartered HSH Cold Stores, part of Constellation Cold Logistics and a provider of temperature-controlled storage and distribution solutions across the UK, has reached agreement to acquire fellow Grimsby firm Associated Cold Stores & Transport Limited (ACS&T), a subsidiary of Camellia.
The transaction is expected to close on 10 January 2023.
The acquisition of ACS&T will expand HSH’s strategic presence across the UK, increasing the company’s storage capacity to include ACS&T’s facilities in Grimsby, Tewkesbury, and Wolverhampton, and grow the company’s storage offering to around 140,000 pallet positions.
In addition, the acquisition will boost HSH’s offering of temperature-controlled distribution services, which grows to 75 LGV lorries when including HSH and ACS&T’s existing fleets.
Anthony Howard, Managing Director at HSH, noted the strategic benefits of HSH’s acquisition of ACS&T: “We are enormously proud and excited to welcome ACS&T to the HSH family, the acquisition will provide a unique opportunity for HSH to expand its storage and distribution services for our new and existing customers.
“Having co-founded HSH nearly 20 years ago, I am extremely proud to see how our company has grown over the years and would like to extend my gratitude to our team on reaching this milestone. I look forward to collaborating with the team at ACS&T to accelerate our growth and develop new high quality cold chain solutions.”
Frasers Group snaps up raft of fashion brands from JD in £47.5m deal
Shirebrook-based Frasers Group has acquired a number of premium fashion brands from JD Sports Fashion.
The deal, including Base Childrenswear, Choice, Clothingsites (including Brown Bag Clothing), Cricket, Giulio, Kids Cavern, Missy Empire, Nicholas Deakins, Pretty Green, Prevu Studio, Rascal Clothing, Tessuti (including Xile), Scotts, Watch Shop and Topgrade Sportswear (including Get The Label), comes by way of the acquisition of shares held by JD and the transfer of all of the indebtedness owing to JD by the businesses, by, and to, subsidiaries of Frasers Group.
The amount payable for the acquisition of the shares and the indebtedness from JD is up to £47.5 million in the aggregate and will be funded from Frasers Group’s existing cash resources.
Completion of the acquisition of eight of the businesses and the debt took place on exchange, with completion of the acquisition of the remaining seven businesses (Cricket, Tessuti, Scotts, Giulio, Choice, Rascal Clothing and Topgrade Sportswear (including Get The Label)) expected to take place in early 2023.
Auctioneer reinforces senior management team with new director promotion
Following significant growth of the business, Nottingham-headquartered national auction house, John Pye & Sons Ltd, has reinforced its senior management team by appointing Addison Pye to the Board of Directors.
Addison Pye, grandson of founders Ann and John Pye, has been promoted to director from his previous position as a commercial manager, providing security and clear succession among the firm’s senior management.
With more than seven years of experience throughout the business, starting as an auction porter, Addison has more recently led expansion projects in Europe with a new facility in Zaragoza in Spain. In addition, Addison has played pivotal roles in the development of new initiatives within trading and delivery departments, with him and his team often acting as the bridge between many operational departments, from IT to the sale rooms and marketing, requiring both creative and critical thinking skills daily.
Addison Pye, director, said: “I’m excited and honoured about the director’s decision to elect me to join the John Pye & Sons Ltd Board. I look forward to bringing my ideas to the table and continuing the rapid expansion of this dynamic business.
“It feels surreal to be following in the footsteps of my grandparents, the founders of the business, and I’m delighted to now be a part of the company I’ve grown up being fascinated with. I’m extremely driven to make the family and company proud and achieve our full potential over the years to come.”
John Pye & Sons Managing Director, Adam Pye, said: “Naturally I’m delighted and very proud. The continued success of the current Board is vital for our clients, customers and colleagues alike.
“My parents and founders, Ann and John are very proud, not just because the family business remains on a good course, but because Addison has a natural flare for business and finance. Addison’s well-rounded ability and creativity bring a new dynamic to the board and demonstrates the company’s ambition for the future.”
John Pye Auctions has continued to take industry leading strides in a record breaking 2021/22 financial year, now employing over 700 staff members and expanding into Europe. It recently celebrated having exceeded £33 million turnover for its last set of unaudited accounts, improving on the previous year’s turnover of £26.4 million by over 28 per cent, as it continues to realise its ambitious plans for growth.
£14m creative business hub prepares for 2023 opening in Northampton
A new £14 million hub for creative businesses is gearing up to open its doors in Northampton.
Vulcan Works has been created by transforming a Grade II listed ironworks factory in the heart of Northampton’s Cultural Quarter into a space that will support start-up businesses in the creative industries through the provision of lettable office space, workshops, meeting rooms and co-working spaces.
The construction and refurbishment works have been funded by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), who facilitated a Local Growth Fund contribution of £6.3 million, together with £3.06 million from the European Regional Development Fund.
Vulcan Works has already attracted lots of interest from prospective tenants and viewings have been planned for the new year. Key stakeholders joined representatives from WNC for a first look in August once construction was completed. This was followed in September by the announcement that Oxford Innovation Space would take over as the management company for the new hub.
Since Oxford Innovation Space started managing Vulcan Works in September, work has progressed and support staff and local suppliers are currently being appointed with a view to Vulcan Works officially opening in February.
Among the newest recruits are commercial manager Kelly Boosey, centre manager Garrick Hurter and assistant centre manager Gail Haddon.
Kelly said: “I am thrilled to come on board and work on such an exciting project. Already we have received a great volume of enquiries from a range of businesses within the creative and digital industries and have planned to start showing people around the space in the New Year.
“We will host our first Open Day mid-January which is already fully booked with further dates planned, so that we can showcase this extraordinary space. We can’t wait to start building the community at Vulcan Works.
“We are more than just space. Along with the fantastic, specialised business support we offer, we are going to create a brilliant hub for start-ups and scale-ups in Northampton. We would encourage anyone wanting to find out more to get in touch.”
It is estimated that Vulcan Works will support around 150 start-up businesses in its first 10 years, creating around 500 jobs in the area. The centre has also pledged to work with local contractors and agencies, ploughing more money back into the local economy.
Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth, said: “We are thrilled with how Vulcan Works has turned out. The space has been finished to an exceptionally high standard, whilst retaining a number of period features which provide a nod to our local history here in Northampton.
“The project is really gaining momentum now and is close to opening its doors. I look forward to finding out more about the creative start-up businesses who will call this unique space home and seeing what they achieve through the dedicated support on offer.”
As part of the Vulcan Works’ unique offer, Oxford Innovation Space will also provide access to a programme of workshops, seminars, 1:1 coaching and networking.
Jo Stevens, Managing Director at Oxford Innovation Space, added: “We have been managing Innovation Centres across the country for more than 30 years and each centre is different.
“We are hugely excited by Vulcan Works and it has been an honour to be part of such an inspiring regeneration project. We can’t wait to see some talented creative businesses move in and hope they feel just as inspired by this space as we are.”
