University of Nottingham purchases 350,000 sq ft of buildings for new campus

Tess Egginton
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University of Nottingham purchases 350,000 sq ft of buildings for new campus
Mapeley Steps Limited and Malabar Investment Holdings Limited, advised jointly by Savills and Metis, have sold the freehold of Castle Meadow Campus in Nottingham to the University of Nottingham. The property was marketed at a guide price of offers in excess of £36 million.
Set across more than nine acres (three hectares), the campus comprises six highly specified three and four storey office buildings and a dedicated health & wellbeing hub totalling 351,247 sq ft (32,635 sq m). Four of the five office buildings are let to Mapeley Steps Contractors Ltd until late 2022, and are currently occupied by HMRC who will be vacating at the end of September 2022 to new accommodation at Unity Square, whilst the remaining building is let to Browne Jacobson LLP. Upon purchasing, the University has plans to provide a campus for final year and postgraduate students, realising its long standing ambitions to have a greater physical presence within the city centre. Castle Meadow Campus occupies a prominent canal side position immediately to the south west of the City Centre within Nottingham’s central office core and is overlooked by the renowned Nottingham Castle. The Campus is within easy walking distance from Nottingham Train Station, Castle Marina Retail Park, Sainsbury’s and Aldi, and a number of pubs and restaurants. Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West from the University of Nottingham said: “This is a symbolic milestone in the story of both the city and the University of Nottingham and presents a hugely exciting opportunity. Opening an additional UK campus is an expression of confidence in the future of both the University and the city of Nottingham. “Having a campus in the city, with transport links that offer a gateway beyond the region, will help enhance our civic agenda and enable us to deliver on our ambitions to support jobs, investment and growth across the city. It also offers greater opportunities for collaboration with local business, industry and SMEs, making it easier for partners to engage with us and develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. “For students in particular the site could enable greater and more convenient links with regional business and industry through placements, entrepreneurship, and collaboration to deliver a professional and practice-based curriculum, enhancing their graduate employment skills and opportunities to remain and work in the city. “A civic and professional campus at Castle Meadow will accelerate the delivery of our strategic ambitions, demonstrating to the people of Nottingham just how far we are prepared to go to make a positive difference for the city, while offering the best of facilities for staff and current and future students.” A representative from Malabar Investment Holdings Limited says: “This deal represents a successful conclusion to a very positive collaboration with Mapeley following the lease extension agreed with Browne Jacobson last year and we would like to thank the teams involved. It is exciting to see the Castle Meadow campus move into the next stage of its lifecycle, and we look forward to seeing the University’s plans delivered.”

Nottinghamshire nursery sold to growing East Midlands group

Tess Egginton
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Nottinghamshire nursery sold to growing East Midlands group
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Dragonflies Day Nursery Ltd in Nottinghamshire. Dragonflies Day Nursery Ltd is an independent setting for up to 51 children aged 0-5 years. With an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted report, the nursery also has an outdoor area which includes a container unit that was expertly designed and converted by early years experts with toddlers in mind. The setting comes with the opportunity to extend the premises to one side and to streamline management in line with their existing group. The nursery is located in a former police station in the village of Calverton in Nottinghamshire with various amenities in the locality providing plenty of drop-off points and access for local parents walking to work. The business was previously owned by Miss Michele Larman who successfully ran the nursery for over six years and recently decided to sell to pursue an early retirement and spend more time abroad. It has now been purchased by growing East Midlands-based nursery group, Purley Ltd, which comprises nurseries in Stoke, Northampton and Chesterfield. The group is owned by husband-and-wife team, Mrs Tushi Popat and Mr Anant Popat, who have financial and legal backgrounds which aided their acquisition process. Miss Michele Larman says: “Having converted the police house and police station in 2014 into a purpose-built nursery, it was important when I was considering handing over the reins that it would be to someone who would lavish the same care and attention to detail that I have for the last seven years.” Jassi Sunner, associate director at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, says: “Dragonflies Day Nursery is a delightful setting with some really unique features and is situated in a fantastic location. “The business attracted an array of interest and, much like other recent instructions, garnered a competitive process leading to bids in excess of the asking price. “As ever, the buyers want to see where they can add value and where the uplift is in the business and Dragonflies is an excellent example of a well-run business with a fantastic reputation with, crucially, room to grow and build on that success. “Day nurseries like this will always garner significant attention due to the lack of businesses coming to market, which can enable the best price possible for the seller – as was the case for Michele. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Michele, I wish her and her family good health and hope they enjoy more time together following the sale of the business.” Dragonflies Day Nursery Ltd was sold for an undisclosed price.

Harrogate smart energy firm swoops for Leicester company

Tess Egginton
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Harrogate smart energy firm swoops for Leicester company
Chameleon Technology (UK) Ltd, the Harrogate-based smart energy technology company, has acquired GenGame Ltd, Leicester-based specialists in consumer energy technology and app development. The deal signals the next milestone in Chameleon Technology’s plans to provide consumers with a platform for intelligent, optimised control over their home energy system, which will be a crucial element of everyone’s personal journey to net zero. Mike Woodhall, CEO, Chameleon Technology, says: “Acquiring GenGame is a timely strategic move to further advance our product roadmap. Our focus is on enabling all consumers to understand and reduce both their energy consumption and carbon emissions. “With this acquisition we gain another means of empowering those consumers and the ability to put the data needed to help them on their personal journey to net zero in their hands. We are aiming to make the management of home energy smarter, simpler, greener and more personalised. “GenGame’s experience in delivering applications that demystify some of the complexity of the energy system is going to be a big part of this. The acquisition is well-timed to leverage and support the transformation of the energy industry and will cement our position as a leader in smart home energy management.” Stephane Lee-Favier, Managing Director, GenGame, says: “It is great to be joining the Chameleon Technology group, and at a very exciting time for the future of energy. We are looking forward to scaling and commercialising what we have built and driving a consumer-led, low-carbon offering together. “Both of our companies’ missions are totally aligned in allowing the consumer to see value in changing their home energy behaviour, and this makes it an ideal opportunity for GenGame.” GenGame, who work with utility companies including Ecotricity, Green Energy UK and So Energy, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chameleon Technology (UK) Ltd and will exist as an ongoing entity. GenGame will continue to be based in Leicester and all of the staff will remain in place with Stephane Lee-Favier as Managing Director. Stephane will also be joining the Chameleon Technology Operations Board to provide strategic input into future technology developments.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service launches an emergency Christmas safety initiative for businesses

Eleonora Gallina
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Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service launches an emergency Christmas safety initiative for businesses
The business safety team at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has joined forces with the licensing team at Nottinghamshire Police and the team at Mansfield Business Improvement District (BID) to engage with members of staff in businesses to raise awareness of certain fire safety issues which arise during the festive period. Business education advocate, Sophie Winterbottom, said: “This initiative was an opportunity to create wider relationships with the businesses in our communities as well as provide them with safety advice. The majority of businesses we visited in Mansfield were aware of the extra precautions they have to take during this period. “If you have a business, please ensure that you are not covering fire exit signs with tinsel, overloading plug sockets with Christmas lights or blocking fire escape routes with Christmas stock.” Paul Horton, Senior Licensing Officer, said: “It is always great to come together with our partners and offer this support to businesses as a partnership. The aim of this initiative really was to ensure businesses have the most up-to-date and best possible safety advice in the run up to Christmas. “We spoke to businesses around making sure their CCTV is working and retrieving footage, as well as where to place Christmas decorations so this coverage isn’t affected should an incident occur which we need to investigate. “Organising adequate door staff at busy times was also something we discussed with the premises, as well general vigilance, including taking note of how potentially vulnerable people might be getting home and organising taxis. “Christmas is a great time for people to enjoy themselves and I think it’s fair to say that, as a collective, we are committed to taking these proactive steps to make sure businesses are in the best possible position and that the public can have a safe and enjoyable festive period if they choose to go out.”

New chairman and investor for Bis Henderson Group

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New chairman and investor for Bis Henderson Group
Bis Henderson Group, the talent-to-solutions supply chain services company, has appointed Adrian Fawcett as chairman. Adrian, who has also invested in the Northampton-based business, will join the board of directors to help the business accelerate through the next phase of its growth, as the company seeks to develop into the largest platform provider for warehouse space, consulting and recruitment services to the supply chain and logistics sector. Adrian is also currently chairman of Park Holidays UK. The company has seen its fortunes grow during his tenure, through four PE sponsor transactions, from being a sub £15m company into the £1bn business it is today. A sale to Sun Communities of the USA has just been agreed. His early career was spent at Bass Brewing where he helped build and sell the business and was instrumental in the creation of Tradeteam Exel distribution. He also led the growth of Punch Taverns, successfully floating the business as a 9,300 plus outlet, ftse 100 company. In the healthcare sector he became CEO of BMI Healthcare, where he elevated the company to being the largest private UK healthcare system servicing the breadth of the UK. And as chairman of Silentnight Group Adrian has overseen a transformation of the company’s fortunes, taking it to a market leading position in the sleep category. Andy Kaye, CEO of Bis Henderson Group, said: “Adrian brings a wealth of experience and a fantastic track record of working with teams to create some of the fastest growing, market leading and transactionally active companies in their sectors. “The board and I welcome Adrian’s insight and energy in helping us build for the future and we look forward to working with him in what is planned to be an exciting chapter of growth and development for our business.” Adrian Fawcett said: “Fast and efficient access to available warehouse space has become increasingly critical and relevant to the new, agile business models of today – and this is true across retail, manufacturing, distributors and supply chain service providers. “The Brexit and Pandemic dislocations have created accelerated and unavoidable new requirements – meaning that Bis Henderson’s integrated solutions and services are increasingly vital for business success.”

South East Coalville development enters second phase with further plot sale to Bellway

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South East Coalville development enters second phase with further plot sale to Bellway
Harworth Group plc, a regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, has sold a 13.8-acre land parcel at its South East Coalville residential development to Bellway. The land parcel will deliver 189 new homes and represents the first sale as part of the scheme’s second phase, which is focused on the Swinfen Vale area of the site. South East Coalville is Harworth’s largest residential development in its Midlands region. The 250-acre site is situated just two miles from Junction 22 of the M1, and has an outline planning consent for the creation of a sustainable new community of more than 2,000 homes. The development comprises two distinct areas: Hugglescote Grange to the north and Swinfen Vale to the south, both named after surrounding villages. The first phase of South East Coalville began in 2020, with land sold to Redrow for the delivery of 204 homes and Bellway for 166 homes, following extensive infrastructure works carried out by Harworth. Construction has already begun on Bellway’s first parcel of land at the site at Hugglescote Grange. Earlier this year, Harworth began enabling works for the second phase of the scheme. This will see the delivery of additional homes, a local centre with convenience retail, a new primary school and other civic amenities. A focus on environmental protection and enhancement is integral to the masterplan for South East Coalville. The completed site will feature 15 acres of parkland and amenity space, in addition to a 23-acre riverside green corridor along the River Sence. Further design elements will include an innovative energy efficient specification for the new school, the translocation rather than removal of hedgerows, and the creation of an Open Mosaic Habitat to boost biodiversity. Andrew Blackshaw, Chief Operating Officer, Harworth Group plc, said: “Earlier this year, Harworth unveiled an ambition to double the size of its business over the next five to seven years. One of the key drivers of this growth will be accelerating sales and broadening the range of our residential products. “With the completion of three land parcel sales representing over 500 housing plots in the space of two years, South East Coalville underlines our ability to deliver on this strategy.” David Cockroft, Regional Director – Midlands, Harworth Group plc, said: “Harworth’s second sale to Bellway at South East Coalville demonstrates the demand for our well-designed spaces where people want to live and work, and our position as a trusted partner to housebuilders. “We look forward to working with our partners to deliver these new homes alongside further amenities, infrastructure and green space as part of South East Coalville’s exciting second phase.”

£2m to help improve businesses and skills in Derbyshire

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£2m to help improve businesses and skills in Derbyshire
Around £2 million has been given to projects to help boost businesses, create jobs and improve the career prospects of residents in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales following Derbyshire County Council’s bids for government cash. Funding from the government’s UK Community Renewal Fund has been awarded to the following.

Better Futures project – £500,000

This pilot project will help unemployed people primarily in the Derbyshire Dales to improve their skills and find work locally. It will also help to improve the skills of residents who have recently found work, are at risk of unemployment, in part-time roles but wish to go full-time or are highly skilled but in low paid, low-skilled jobs.

Derbyshire Accelerator project – £1.48 million

This will help fund initiatives in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales including:
  • DE-Carbonise – extra funding for this existing project to help more businesses to reduce their carbon emissions with grants of up to £8,000 to help businesses put carbon reduction recommendations in place
  • Digital Market Town Accelerator – a project to help small to medium sized businesses to start trading online, with a digital advisor offering hands-on support and access to financial support, digital events and peer networks offering help and advice. Grants of up to £8,000 will be available to help businesses adopt new technology or business processes
  • D2 starter programme – extra funding for this existing project, a mentoring and support network for new businesses with grants of up to £2,000 available to help them get started
  • Kick-start accelerator – support the government’s existing Kickstart programme for apprentices by providing online training support as well as financial support to turn job placements into a permanent role or recruit graduates looking for work. Grants of up to £8,000 will be available to help businesses subsidise wages for a new Kickstart role or graduate
  • upskilling the workforce – grants of up to £8,000 will be available to help businesses to provide specialist training to boost staff skills
  • COVID support – funding of up to £2,000 for businesses in need of consultancy advice to address resilience or growth challenges in the wake of the pandemic
  • funding for feasibility studies to look at the design and use of apps to support the development of leisure tourism across the Peak District
Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “We welcome this funding which will help us to support local businesses, create jobs and provide residents with the skills needed to either find work or improve their career prospects in the wake of the pandemic. “We’re committed to helping to reduce carbon emissions generated within the county to net zero by 2050 or sooner and so we also welcome the opportunity to reignite our successful DE-Carbonise programme to help local businesses on their Journey to Net Zero by supporting them to cut their carbon emissions. “Government identified the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales areas as priorities for funding, but we’re determined to continue pushing Westminster for further funding to ensure similar support can be offered in other areas where there is a need.”

Loughborough graduate startup acquired by The Access Group

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Loughborough graduate startup acquired by The Access Group
A telecare company founded by a Loughborough University graduate has become part of The Access Group, a leading provider of business management software to UK, Ireland and Asia Pacific mid-market organisations.
The acquisition of Alcuris provides the Access Group’s Health and Social Care business with new technology that allows a step change in social care. Both companies are based on Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP). Alcuris launched from LUSEP in 2017, one year after Access joined – The Access Group recently officially opened its new £20 million headquarters on site.  Alex Nash founded Alcuris in 2015 whilst he was studying Product Design Engineering at Loughborough, following his grandfather’s diagnosis of dementia. The company has grown at pace, securing more than £3m investment to create 16 jobs and deploy at scale its multi-award-winning telecare platform. Alcuris provides a combination of hardware and an in-home digital hub to provide daily living insights for users and carer management insight for families and the professional care community. The technology helps address a key gap within the current social care system caused by the absence of smart technology, and in doing so supports caregivers to take pre-emptive care action faster, whilst supporting the desire for people to live independently for longer. Digital insight direct from in-home monitoring systems allows for the reduction and prevention of hospital admissions, helps support sustainable care delivery in the lowest cost setting i.e., the home and allows care providers to reach more residents than budgets will have previously allowed. Steve Sawyer, Access Health and Social Care MD, said: “Alcuris, together with Access health and social care solutions, truly connects a fragmented market of hardware products and siloed patient and care monitoring. “Furthermore, the in-home digital-hub technology helps local authorities, care homes and sheltered housing providers upgrade old analogue alarms and monitoring systems to new digital standards. In connecting and analysing data across our broad range of Access solutions we can provide detailed and integrated insights for the delivery of better patient and service user care.” Alex Nash said: “The Alcuris team is thrilled to be joining The Access Group, whose Health and Social Care division is the leading provider to the local government, health and social care sectors in the UK. “Earlier this month we announced our partnership with Medequip Assistive Technology Ltd and Wirral Council; the first local authority to deploy next generation telecare services at scale. As part of the Access family, we look forward to setting the standard in a digital care system that connects people, data and services and enables intelligent care decisions at the speed of life.” Dr Jen Fensome, Loughborough University Director of Research and Enterprise and LUSEP lead, said: “Since its launch, Alcuris has shown outstanding potential and I am delighted that this has been recognised by The Access Group. “The acquisition is excellent news for Alcuris, LUSEP, the regional economy and the transformation of social care. Furthermore, Alex Nash’s entrepreneurial journey will inspire even more startups from the University’s student and graduate enterprise community.”

Nottinghamshire halal baby food manufacturer secures £400k

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Nottinghamshire halal baby food manufacturer secures £400k
Nottinghamshire-based halal baby food manufacturer, For Aisha Baby Foods (For Aisha), has received a £400,000 investment to develop new product ranges and meet overseas demand. For Aisha received the funding from the D2N2-supported Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). This follows on from an initial equity investment from the MEIF East & South East Midlands Equity Fund, managed by Foresight Group. The company, which operates out of Edwalton, will use the funding to accelerate For Aisha’s expansion plans, initially recruiting a commercial director to develop its UK business as an immediate priority as well as to take the brand into new overseas markets, whilst the further additional two positions will strengthen the business as it grows. The finance will also allow it to focus on increasing stock levels to meet current UK and overseas demand, whilst developing new products to add to their range. For Aisha is currently the only major commercial certified brand of Halal and Tayyib baby food in the UK. Its main aim is to help infants to broaden their tastes when solids are introduced, with blended ingredients incorporating gentle spices. The business has won 20 national food awards, including the “Made for Mums” and “World Food Innovation” awards. Joy Parkinson, executive chair of the business, said: “Thanks to The FSE Group for guiding us through the funding process. We are really looking forward to strengthening the team, building stock which will allow us to meet both our supermarket and online shop orders. “The funding will also enable us to conduct research to develop exciting new recipes aimed at older toddlers. We are really looking forward to the range extension and getting more toddlers experiencing lots of different tastes from our selection of varied meals.” Ann Marie McFadyen, investment manager at The FSE Group, which manages the MEIF Debt Finance Fund, added: “For Aisha is an established brand with a strong existing client base. The range is readily available in leading supermarket chains as well as directly from their website. The business has the capacity to ramp up the production of their products to meet the growing demand for their brand. We look forward to seeing the brand go from strength-to-strength.” Will Morlidge, Interim Chief Executive at D2N2 LEP, said: “For Aisha is an amazing success story and a great example of an innovative firm investing in new product lines to support their growth ambitions. I’m delighted the Midland Engine Investment Fund is continuing to improve productivity and support job creation across the region.”

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire fashion businesses offered support to overcome sustainability challenges

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Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire fashion businesses offered support to overcome sustainability challenges
As consumer pressure grows for fashion brands to become more sustainable, clothing businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire are being offered support to lessen the environmental impact of their products through a new programme run by Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University. The Big House Sustainable Fashion Accelerator (SFA) programme will help small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) overcome the difficult technical and commercial challenges of adopting a sustainable strategy. For many, the changes needed can be challenging, such as using different materials and manufacturing, dyeing and finishing techniques; reducing waste and transport; making products that are easier to recycle; and adopting leading edge technologies. Lynn Oxborrow, Big House programme lead and Associate Professor in Small Business and Supply Chain Management at Nottingham Business School, said: “Ultimately the most effective way to reduce fashion’s environmental footprint is to make and sell less and provide items that consumers want to keep in use for longer – but commercially, this goes against the grain. “Reducing the social impact of clothing could involve choosing responsible suppliers; investing in wages, training, working conditions and other benefits; and improving transparency across the supply chain. This can increase costs and reduce the flexibility that enables fashion to be fast and responsive.” The SFA programme is designed to help SMEs to design and sell more sustainable fashion by sharing technical knowledge and expertise, promoting peer learning and innovative collaborations, and providing a test bed for SMEs in D2N2 to overcome some of the challenges they face. Up to ten businesses will be supported in 2021 / 22 with access to a workshop programme on identified common themes, such as alternative materials or ways to market sustainable fashion; expert mentoring, networking and pitching opportunities with potential advisors, clients or investors. Participants will also be offered grants and access to student expertise and consultancy projects. The SFA will launch with an event on Thursday 2 December from 9.30 to 12.30 with a keynote presentation from sustainable fashion expert, Charlotte Turner. Charlotte has supported international brands, retailers and manufacturers to set up and run responsible businesses with long-term sustainability strategies, create and sell high quality products and services in the most socially just and environmental ways possible, and communicate authentically about sustainability. Through roles including head of Sustainable Fashion and Textiles at leading consultancy Eco-Age, and as a British Fashion Council mentor, she has supported numerous start-ups, SMEs and large-scale global brands, retailers and manufacturers to understand, manage and improve their social and environmental performance through training, developing and implementing long-term sustainability strategies, action plans and tools, and introducing alternative materials and processes to supply chains. She has then guided clients to transparently communicate these strategies and achievements with diverse audiences across multiple media platforms. The online event will be fully interactive, with panel discussions, Q and A sessions and opportunities to get involved. Dr Oxborrow added: “Small and new fashion businesses may lack the resources and impetus to change the whole supply chain, but they can be the source of amazing innovations that can lead to positive changes. But given the challenges they face, SMEs need a helping hand to enable them to find ways to make fashion more sustainable. The Sustainable Fashion Accelerator aims to provide that.” The SFA builds on NTU’s active research in the area of sustainable fashion, including the Durability Dozen and clothing longevity research.
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