New project lights up Derby to boost the city centre
A new project supported by Derby City Council is set to light up landmark buildings with high definition illuminations, making the city centre a more attractive place to be.
QUAD, Derby’s arts centre and charity based in Derby Market Place, is behind the project which has won £50,000 from Derby City Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Vibrancy fund.
With the funding TECH:SQUAD, QUAD’s technical team, have bought three high definition 20,000 lumens projectors to light up city centre buildings to create events in themselves. They are also buying smaller projectors and lenses to use for displays such as lighting the frontages of historic shop buildings.
The team has built up expertise in projected light displays over a number of years, working with leading national landmarks such as the National Trust to wrap up a property like a Christmas tree as part of a festive light night, or projecting the history of Derby onto the Silk Mill. Each time this has involved hiring in expensive projectors, adding to the cost.
Now TECH:SQUAD own their own projectors, partners in the city will be able to use them with QUAD’s support in developing the content and operating them. Derby City Council is putting together guidelines to ensure they are used for maximum impact.
The team at QUAD is already working with Derbion, who have put additional funding into the project to produce animated displays, including fireworks, on the side of the shopping centre. Trials for the new equipment also took place in the run up to Christmas, with festive illuminations on Derbion and snowfall projected onto the front of the Council House for the Christmas lights switch on event.
Derby Cathedral tower is another location where there are plans to use the projectors. QUAD produced the stunning animated projections there during Christmas 2020. Their newly-acquired large projectors, first used in the UK for the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, will give double the quality and definition of those displays.
Dr Alex Rock, Head of Technical and Commerical Services at QUAD, said: “TECH:SQUAD has had a vision to purchase these projectors for the city of Derby since 2019, and the ARG funding alongside support from Derbion has facilitated that. What this now means is that the city of Derby, at low cost, can use projection mapping to highlight its key landmarks, bringing vibrancy to the city and spectacular light shows to the public.
“We’re very excited, in 2022, to be working on projection-mapping projects across the city, including Derbion roof, Derby City Council house, the tower of Derby Cathedral, and a number of key historic retail units in the city centre.”
Adam Tamsett, general manager at Derbion, added: “Derbion is proud to be working alongside Derby City Council and Derby QUAD on the illuminations on the exterior of the centre. The projections were live throughout December, helping to spread cheer throughout the festive period and we look forward to continuing to work together on the project.”
The aim of the ARG Vibrancy Fund is to support projects that will help bring footfall back into the city centre, making it a more attractive place to be while local businesses and the city economy recover from the impact of COVID. So far the pot of £250,000 has funded around 11 projects.
Councillor Ross McCristal, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing, said: “This funding for QUAD will make vibrant, high quality lighting projections possible for our partners across the city as we all work to find ways to bring people back to the city centre. It’s this kind of working which is at the heart of our bid to become UK City of Culture 2025. It’s a good example of how our ARG Vibrancy Fund can be used to good effect, although the real winners will be visitors to Derby who will experience some fantastic light shows that are events in themselves.”
Karcher takes final spot at Phase 1 of Teal Trade Park
Phase 1 of Teal Trade Park, Netherfield, Nottingham, has reached full occupation following an 8,429 sq ft letting of units T19 & T20 to Karcher.
The German household name joins occupiers including Screwfix, Howdens, Toolstation, Paintwell, Trent Valley Windows and Trent Vehicle Charging. The development has reached full occupation in under four months of practical completion.
Iain Taylor of Northwood Urban Logistics said: “We are very excited to have made our recent acquisition of Teal Park at a time when there is chronic lack of supply in the area. Teal Park is able to cater to a wide range of occupiers who will be able to adapt the units for a variety of uses.”
Mark Tomlinson of FHP Property Consultants said: “We are delighted to have secured Karcher for the last two units on phase 1. They are a complimentary trade user to an already excellent line up of occupiers on the estate.
“We now turn our attention to phase 2 and would suggest there is a real opportunity on the estate for Electrical trade users, Tile Trade users and Automotive trade users to fill a gap in the development. We look forward to speaking with more occupiers and progressing the Trade Park with clients Northwood and joint agent Phillips Sutton.”
Brodie Faint of Phillips Sutton said: “It is another good news story for Teal Park to have attracted such a high quality occupier as Karcher to the scheme to further complement the existing line up of trade users. With good interest in the second phase, we don’t expect the remaining units to remain available for long and would urge occupiers to come forward early to register their interest ahead of the units’ completion in April.”
Phase 2 of the development is well underway with construction with a further six trade units ready for April 2022 ranging between 215 sq m (2,311 sq ft) to 401 sq m (4,315 sq ft) with already one unit pre-let. A further phase of six larger units will be ready for Summer 2022 ranging between 878 sq m (9,450 sq ft) to 2,923 sq m (31,470 sq ft).
Carter Jonas acted on behalf of Karcher in the letting.
East Midlands unemployment rate hits fresh record low – but skills development must be prioritised to combat lingering recruitment issues
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate continues to drop – once again hitting its lowest point on record, new figures show.
It was 3.4% for the period between October and December last year, compared to a 4.1% national average.
This is the lowest level since the Office for National Statistics (ONS) began publishing regional labour market figures in April 2015, and is higher than only four other regions – East of England, South West, Wales and Northern Ireland.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “After falling to 3.5% in the previous reporting period, it’s fantastic news for the region’s labour market that the unemployment rate has fallen to a new record low, which sends a clear signal that the East Midlands is open for business.
“It reflects our own research that indicates our region’s firms are creating jobs to meet strong demand following the effects of the pandemic. The Chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q4 2021, covering the same period as the ONS figures, showed two-thirds of companies attempted to recruit, while a net 35% expected to increase their headcount in the first three months of 2022.
“We are represented by a very diverse economy in the East Midlands but there have been some standout sectors to celebrate in recent times, such as a logistics industry that has been a major driver of job creation during the pandemic, which has accelerated pre-existing online shopping trends.”
Tightening labour pool presents acute challenge for businesses
However, the East Midlands economic inactivity rate – which measures the proportion of 16 to 64-year-olds who have exited the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties or studying – was above the 21.2% national average at 21.9%. It recorded the largest increase compared with the previous year at 1.7 percentage points.
Another key finding in the ONS data was that UK wage growth continues to lag behind the rising cost of living – representing a 0.8% fall when taking inflation into account.
The ONS said early estimates suggest employers are beginning to push up wages further and faster – with median monthly wages in January increasing by 6.3% compared with the same month last year, and 10.3% higher than before the pandemic in February 2020.
Scott added: “Despite the positive trajectory in unemployment, businesses are still encountering major recruitment challenges in a super competitive jobs market, as evidenced by yet another record of 1.3 million job vacancies nationally between November and January.
“The significant rise in the proportion of people exiting the labour market in the East Midlands means there are fewer people to choose from – a worrying trend at a time when companies are desperately trying to fill roles to cope with demand, which will enable them to continue growing and creating more opportunities for local people.
“Many companies in traditional industries such as manufacturing and construction often tell us about the difficulties in replacing an ageing workforce with younger talent, and the latest QES showed that eight in 10 of those that attempted recruitment struggled to find people with the right skills.
“All this highlights the importance of investing heavily in skills, something that was highlighted in the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper as one of its 12 ‘missions’ but must now be prioritised with rapid action to ensure our post-Covid and post-Brexit economic recovery doesn’t stall.”
Flurry of deals for Trent Gateway as region’s industrial sector sees continued growth
Due to high demand in recent months, Northwood Urban Logistics now has just two units (one 10,488 sq ft unit and one 3,250 sq ft unit) remaining at its Trent Gateway scheme.
Recent deals, brokered by JLL and FHP, have included Tekled, Conker Bespoke Furniture Ltd, and Europadisc. They join a range of other established businesses based on the 18-unit industrial site, including RSK Group and BW Flexible Systems.
Demand for logistics real estate in the East Midlands is on an upward trajectory, according to the leasing agents of Trent Gateway.
JLL’s own research has revealed that the industrial property sector is being driven by increasing demands on ecommerce and express parcel delivery, as well as those requiring third-party logistics, healthcare and life sciences. Yet, suitable land and planning permission for new units is currently in short supply.
Gemma Constantinou, industrial director at JLL East Midlands, said: “The uplift in demand for space within the East Midlands reflects the wider trend visible across the sector regionally and globally. Our own research has shown that 74% people in the sector are expecting growth in the next five years but equally struggle to secure the facilities required.
“Nottingham continues to experience this robust demand with limited new build Grade A options. Trent Gateway has benefited from having quality units, in a great location with enviable green credentials.”
Iain Taylor, director at Northwood Urban Logistics, said: “We are very pleased to welcome our latest occupiers to the scheme. Trent Gateway is able to accommodate a wide range of occupiers who will be able to adapt the units for a variety of uses.”
Anthony Barrowcliffe, surveyor at FHP said: “The marketplace is starved of excellent quality industrial units like Trent Gateway and due to this we have experienced great success with only 2 units remaining but with several active conversations taking place on these remaining units.”
New Leicestershire HQ for international hygiene company
A hygiene company is on the move to new headquarters.
Citron Hygiene has signed a five-year lease to make Ceva House in Ashby de la Zouch its new UK HQ in a deal concluded by commercial property specialists Bromwich Hardy.
Citron has taken more than 3,000 sq ft of space on the ground floor of the Grade A office development, which sits close to junction 13 of the M42.
The company, which provides bespoke managed washroom & hygiene services, has its international headquarters in Canada, and supplies and services more than 30,000 commercial premises across the UK.
Bromwich Hardy’s Michelle Mills negotiated the deal just 12 months after helping the company find six new sites across the UK covering more than 35,000 sq ft of space, to help it meet its strategic growth plans.
“We are delighted to have been able to find this excellent property for Citron and help play a further part in their continuing success,” said Michelle. “The offices are superbly equipped and well located and are ideal for Citron as the company continues to grow across the UK.
“The deal was tied in with negotiating a surrender of Citron’s current warehouse in Bardon, Leicestershire, from where they are relocating their finance and corporate development team.”
Robert Guice, CEO at Citron Hygiene, said: “In line with our rapid growth strategy and continued expansion, the move to a new headquarters seemed only a natural progression for the business.
“Our new home supports Citron’s ongoing recruitment drive with state-of-the-art facilities available for our staff and customers to reap the benefits as we continue to cement our position as a market leader in the washroom hygiene space.”
Avison Young acted for the landlord over the deal.
EMR to improve wayfinding signage at eight stations across its network
East Midlands Railway (EMR) is rolling out wayfinding improvements across eight of its stations aimed at helping its customers use more logical and safer ways to navigate its sites.
The £73,000 project will deliver accessible wayfinding improvements at locations up and down EMR’s network, including Kettering, Wellingborough, Nottingham, Beeston, Bulwell, Newark Castle, Hinckley and Sheffield.
The new signage has been placed to allow customers to better understand how to get to a platform, exit, or entrance, as quickly and as safely as possible. EMR has also reduced sign clutter as much as possible, helping customers navigate the station environment with confidence and in a way that suits individual needs.
Standardising the language used on the signs is another feature of the work, helping customers to become familiar with the same words and better understand their meaning.
The project is wholly funded by EMR with the exception of a £3,000 match funding contribution from Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council.
Depending on funding, similar wayfinding projects at other stations could also be rolled out in the future.
Examples of the works include:
Sheffield
The current signs in the concourse (directly below) show three separate way out lines. In the new design this has been changed to two, with different alignment disciplines to improve the wayfinding experience.
Bulwell
The installation of a new poster case that highlights the step free route to the town centre.
Helen Dolphin MBE, Chair of East Midlands Railway’s Inclusivity Panel, said: “The Inclusivity panel is delighted to see the introduction of this much improved wayfinding signage.
“The signage will significantly improve the experience of customers, particularly those with disabilities where finding the quickest and safest route is vitally important. As a society we don’t always appreciate the difficulties people can have navigating around a station and this signage is going to make a big difference.”
Lisa Angus, Transition and Projects Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “We are always looking at better ways to help our customers navigate easily and safely around our stations.
“We hope this project will help in this regard and cut down the number of trips and falls which do occasionally happen when customers mistakenly take a more challenging route to either a platform, entrance or exit.”
Nottingham City Council set to invest £230m in five-year housing programme
Nottingham City Council looks set to invest £230m in a five-year investment programme in its housing stock, when it goes to Executive Board next week.
The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme provides funds for improvements to properties, new build council housing and improvements to estates. The HRA, which is the council’s landlord account, will also need to fund improvements to make council homes warmer and more energy efficient, both in new builds and retrofitting of the current stock. With energy prices rising sharply, creating and investing in energy efficient homes is becoming increasingly important to help lower fuel bills.
Nottingham City Council, along with its arms-length housing management company, Nottingham City Homes (NCH), has already built over 650 houses, with over 300 more new council homes planned or in the pipeline across Nottingham over the next two years, including at Bestwood and Clifton, where 144 new homes are already under construction.
The council capital programme, which aims to help improve the council’s current housing stock of 25,218 homes, includes new kitchens and bathrooms, energy efficient windows, solar panels and external wall insulation.
Additional home improvements include:
- Upgrading around 2,500 heating, 1,100 of which are high efficiency boilers
- Upgrading existing fire alarm systems across 375 homes in low rise blocks
- Delivering new, large-scale fencing, guttering, painting and concreting as part of the Decent Neighbourhoods programme, due to start shortly.
- Overall, housing stock reduction caused by Right to Buy and the need to create more new council homes to replace them
- Impact of Covid 19 on housing management costs and rental income
- Increased construction cost affecting the costs of repairs and the overall new build and investment programme
- The impact of implementing new regulations including the Building Safety Act, the Social Housing White Paper and energy efficiency requirements.
Regional Economic Observatory to positively impact the region’s businesses, people and communities
A new independent initiative is being launched by the University of Derby designed to support businesses and communities within the region to have their say about their growth and the decision making that affects them.
The University of Derby Regional Economic Observatory (UDREO) aims to work with local businesses to build a robust evidence base to inform economic and social policy deliberations, engage with people and communities and produce analysis to support engagement with local and national government policy.
The University will regularly collect empirical data on business intelligence, social attitudes and the labour market, so it can report on the real challenges, barriers and opportunities facing the region.
The UDREO’s first task has been to develop a new business diagnostic tool, designed to collect data that will enable key decision makers, the supply chain and support services to focus their efforts for maximum return, inform how businesses can recover and improve performance during the current challenging economic climate. The business diagnostic tool and wider UDREO initiative will be launched at the University ‘Planning for Growth in 2022’ event on Wednesday 16 February, where businesses can learn more about the programmes, funding, consultation services and advice offered to businesses by the University. Dr Mark Gilman, Professor of Economics at the University of Derby, is leading the initiative. Speaking about the launch, he said: “Business growth is integral to successful regional economies. However, many firms are constrained by factors such as employee skills, finance, innovation and strategic planning, and are experiencing new challenges, intensified by pandemic. “To support companies in addressing these obstacles, the University’s business diagnostic tool will focus on helping organisations grow quicker, work better, and perform more competitively. Our mission is to make a real difference to the region’s businesses, people, and the communities they live in, with evidence based informed solutions rather than policy-based evidence making. “The UDREO’s reporting will provide a platform for them to have their say about what is having a positive or negative impact on their growth, so that the decisions affecting them can be made with real data and insight.” Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University, Professor Kamil Omoteso, added: “We are delighted to be launching the University of Derby Regional Economic Observatory to businesses and community leaders at our Planning for Growth event. “At Derby, we recognise the inter-connectedness of people, work, business and community in a way that transcends traditional policymaking. This initiative and our tools will identify current and future barriers and opportunities and inform our research agendas to help us build a resilient economy as we recover from the impact and challenges of the pandemic.”Sarah steers ProCon Emerging Talent
Leicester architect Sarah Grocock is the new chair of Emerging Talent, the ProCon Leicestershire group for young and new professionals in property and construction roles.
Sarah has been attending Emerging Talent events since the group started in 2017 and will now lead its steering committee as they plan a year of social and professional events in 2022.
A De Montfort University graduate, Sarah has been working at the Leicester office of the architectural business rg+p for almost a decade and is now a team leader at the practice’s Princess Road West offices.
Sarah said: “Emerging Talent is a great way to get to know people of a similar age and at a similar stage of your career. I would recommend anyone at the outset of their career to take a look at our group, say hello and join in.
“It is nice being part of the group and being in a position to help other people in our sector and encourage them to progress.
“It’s also great to mix with and get to know people from across the professions, including architects, contractors, quantity surveyors, solicitors, agents and those from the public sector.
“It’s good to get to know people on a social level and find out more about what role they play, and it is also useful when you work with them on projects.”
Events in the pipeline for 2022 include a bowling night, a quiz and a masterclass given by a senior professional in property or construction.
Navkiran joins Nottingham PR team along with new travel and property clients
Digital PR firm Jennie Holland PR has appointed Navkiran Bains to its team as senior social media executive.
Navkiran joins the agency as it welcomes new clients in the travel and property sectors who have appointed the team to provide digital PR, social media and influencer marketing services.
New clients include holiday company The Perfect Break, which provides value UK holidays for adults.
Expanding on the agency’s extensive experience within the property and construction sector, the team has also been appointed to provide PR and social media services to Addison Hunt and Sherwood Oak Homes.
Chartered quantity surveyor and project management company, Addison Hunt, is working with the agency to raise the profile of its services – client and contractor side – and its skilled team, based at its Loughborough office.
Residential property developer, Sherwood Oak Homes, has chosen Jennie Holland PR to publicise and build desirability for its new homes and lifestyle offering at its new 300+ home Mansfield development, The Oaks, and other UK-wide sites.
Navkiran, from Derbyshire, is a social media content and engagement specialist and will be leading the social media strategy and execution for a number of clients across the agency.
Navkiran said: “The opportunities presented by social media are unlimited for businesses and at Jennie Holland PR we harness that and maximise what can be achieved through company platforms. At the heart of our social media management service is building relevant and engaged online communities.
“I’m honoured to have joined the talented team at Jennie Holland PR and to be delivering innovative content strategies for our clients.”
Navkiran’s appointment comes just months after Katie Ford joined the agency as senior PR manager. Katie joined the business from the marketing team at hosiery brand Pretty Polly and is the creative lead for clients in the food & drink, property and professional services sectors.
Managing Director, Jennie Holland, said: “It’s wonderful to welcome Navkiran to the business. As an agency, we found that the pandemic compelled many businesses to put marketing at the forefront of strategy, leading to further demand for our services. Continuing to build our team is a fantastic journey and one of my favourite parts of my job is getting to know new team members.
“I’d like to thank our new clients for choosing us as their PR partner. These are impressive businesses and organisations and we are already working with them to reach their marketing and wider business objectives.”
