Rolls-Royce and Porterbrook agreement to drive rail decarbonisation
Rolls-Royce is teaming up with Derby rail rolling stock owner and asset manager Porterbrook, to identify and develop technological innovations to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality across the rail network.
The two companies, who have signed a memorandum of understanding, will investigate the potential for the use of synthetic and net zero fuels, including hydrogen, both in fuel cells and internal combustion engines. Building on their recent success of jointly introducing hybrid battery-diesel railcars into passenger service, the two companies will also explore the potential for advanced hybridisation.
The relationship also includes considering the role of the wider rail ecosystem in decarbonisation, including fuel chain supply, infrastructure and operational models that can aid innovation and the transition to net zero.
The UK’s railway accounts for approximately 1% of all domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the Government’s ambition is to remove all diesel-only trains – both passenger and freight – from the network by 2040 and achieve a net zero rail network by 2050.
The UK Government has identified a number of different routes to this target including alternative forms of power such as hydrogen, fuel cells, batteries, hybrid-electric and sustainable fuels.
Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said: “We have extensive experience of rail technology and are able to draw upon expertise from across our business in new net zero and zero emissions technologies for safety critical applications.
“We are committed to helping our customers make the transition to net zero by enabling them to use our current and future products in a way that is compatible with emissions reduction, and this relationship with Porterbrook will help us further understand the options for decarbonising rail transport.
“For us, playing a leading role in enabling the energy transition is both a societal imperative and a very significant commercial opportunity.”
Mary Grant, CEO, Porterbrook, said: “We have been at the forefront of developing alternative traction systems for rolling stock over recent years, through our innovations and long-term asset management approach.
“Our partnership with Rolls-Royce will mean that we continue to lead the UK’s rail sector in sustainable solutions, by leveraging expertise across industries on the pathway to net zero.”
Italian-owned manufacturer acquires Derbyshire business
OMFB Spa, the Italian-owned manufacturer of hydraulic components has acquired its UK-based sales and distribution arm Commercial Vehicle Hydraulics Limited (CVH).
OMFB, which has global revenues in excess of €90m, adds Derbyshire-based CVH to its Group Companies in Italy, France, Spain, Australia, China and India. CVH will remain as the trading name of the business following the acquisition.
Carl Hinds, Managing Director of CVH, said: “The acquisition by OMFB will allow CVH to increase its product and service offering in the UK for the benefit of its current and future customers.”
Philip Waterfall, chairman and founder of CVH, said: “Throughout the 30 years of partnership with OMFB, we have shared an ethos of product and service excellence. I am proud that such a fantastic and world-renowned business has decided to preserve that relationship for the future through its acquisition.”
The deal was brokered in Italy by David Nelson, senior partner at PKF Smith Cooper, who led negotiations on behalf of the shareholders of CVH. Legal advice to the shareholders was provided by Murray Macnab and Jennifer Geary at Ellis-Fermor & Negus.
NatWest to close more East Midlands branches
NatWest Group is set to shut 32 branches – including a number in the East Midlands – with 21 under its NatWest brand closing as well as 11 RBS branches.
The bank says this comes as more people turn to online services.
Most jobs are safe, with the company noting 12 jobs were at risk while the majority of those impacted would be transferred to other branches.
NatWest branches set to close in the East Midlands include Nottingham City, Bulwell and Hucknall in Nottinghamshire, and Derby Crompton House, Derbyshire.
Meanwhile Royal Bank of Scotland closures are set for Leicester Market Street and in Nottingham City Centre.
First phase begins to deliver new industrial warehouses at St Modwen Park Derby
Winvic Construction and St Modwen Logistics have started the first phase of a significant project in Derby.
St Modwen Park Derby, which is located off the A52 and close to junction 25 of the M1, will initially see Winvic complete four modern industrial units at the new 67-acre business park in less than 10-months.
It will deliver over 224,000m3 of cut and fill works on the site adjacent to the River Derwent to enable the development plots, build 800m of new road infrastructure and create more than 20 acres of natural landscaped area in order to improve the working environment for those working within and living close to the Park.
Works will be undertaken using two new Volvo EC300EL hybrid excavators – the first of their kind in the UK – which are powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel.
Units D39 (35,467 sq ft warehouse with 4,123 sq ft office accommodation), D54 (49,577 sq ft warehouse with 5,680 sq ft office accommodation), D79 (72,107 sq ft warehouse with 6,886 sq ft office accommodation) and D131 (121,987 sq ft warehouse with 8,962 sq ft office accommodation) will be completed in phases between July and October 2022.
Richard Carter, senior director, construction, at St Modwen Logistics, added: “Our partnership with Winvic strengthens as they continue to deliver St. Modwen Parks to our Swan Standard – a set of industry-leading sustainable development guidelines, with a focus on responsible building practices that meet the needs of our customers and their employees.
“The Park will deliver BREEAM Excellent standard, demonstrating significant investment and innovation in sustainability above current regulation and practice, as well as a number of health, wellbeing and biodiversity enhancements to improve the environment for those working at the Park and those living close by.”
Recruitment key for unlocking growth for Midlands businesses
Midlands businesses plan to hire more people to support growth in 2022, according to new research from accountancy firm, BDO.
More than a quarter of medium-sized businesses intend to increase the size of their workforce over the next 12 months, with 18% planning to pay staff more in order to attract and retain talent.
The bi-monthly Rethinking the Economy survey of 500 medium-sized businesses revealed that Midlands companies remain optimistic about recovery post-pandemic, with 38% of businesses expecting to return to pre-COVID-19 revenues within the next 12 months – growth ambitions will be supported by new hires, together with an increase in prices of products and services (35%).
However, a shortage of workers and the rising costs of employment could hamper recovery in 2022. When asked about skills shortages, nearly a third (32%) of businesses in the region stated that finding enough people with the right skill-set was one of their biggest concerns, with a particular challenge around the number of available apprentices.
Two years on from Brexit, 34% of businesses are also concerned about a shortage of overseas workers. This is leading to an increased focus on hiring domestic employees, with nearly a quarter (23%) relying on a greater percentage of UK-based workers this year.
Tim Foster, partner at BDO based in the Midlands, said: “The recruitment challenges facing Midlands businesses are well documented and the war on talent is very real. The task of finding the right people to fill a growing number of vacancies transcends sectors, levels and specialisms.
“However, despite the rising cost of employment, and an impending increase in National Insurance contributions, regional companies are remaining faithful to the importance of investing in people to achieve growth.
“While it’s extremely encouraging to see such optimism within the Midlands business community, both in terms of the speed at which they expect revenues to return to pre-COVID levels and the confidence they have in the rewards of new hires, there is clearly a real job to be done in encouraging more young people to consider the value of apprenticeships, particularly those from a low socio-economic background who may not consider this route a viable option for them.
“The Government’s commitment to apprenticeships through its announcement most recently in the 2021 Autumn Budget, where funding for apprenticeships and the National Skills Fund (NSF) was increased, will undoubtedly help to bridge this gap.”
The Rethinking the Economy survey also found that in 2022 Midlands businesses will look at a variety of different ways to overcome the problem of staff shortages, with 23% admitting that they’ve been able to hire from a more diverse pool of candidates as a result of the rise in remote working.
What’s more, 23% of regional companies intend to introduce a number of new perks in 2022, such as increasing salaries and new joiner bonuses, in order to attract and retain staff.
Foster added: “The pandemic, combined with factors such as rising inflation and Brexit, have forced many Midlands businesses to think outside of the box when it comes to addressing staff shortages and shoring up their workforce.
“The reality is that these factors will remain front and centre for businesses throughout 2022 and it’s vital for companies to continue to rethink recruitment and retention strategies to stay in line with an evolving landscape.”
New city centre home for Community Action Derby
Community Action Derby, which has been at the forefront of co-ordinating the volunteer effort during the COVID-19 pandemic, has expanded its operation with a move to the iconic Shot Tower building in the heart of the city centre.
The charity, which provides support and guidance for voluntary and community groups across the city, has moved from its existing home on Charnwood Street to the Shot Tower on Albert Street, which has been part of the Connect Derby managed workspace scheme since 2015.
As the Volunteer Centre for Derby city, the organisation also offers a brokerage service for potential volunteers and organisations and supports all those organisations that engage with volunteers.
During the first lockdown in March 2020, the team at Community Action Derby joined forces with Derby City Council and other statutory organisations, local community organisations and volunteers, to create the Derby COVID Community Response Hub in order to help the most vulnerable people in the city.
Community Action’s Charnwood Street office became the ‘de facto’ headquarters for the COVID Community Response Hub, co-ordinating the support effort, matching up potential volunteers with people in need and co-ordinating food donations for the city’s food banks.
The charity had been planning to move across the road to one of its vacant buildings, but the increase in demand for its services, and social distancing requirements, meant that was no longer a feasible option.
Shot Tower joined the Connect Derby portfolio of manged workspaces in 2015, following a complete £1m refurbishment to transform it into a virtual business hub to encourage people from disadvantaged communities to set up their own business and support not-for-profit groups, start-ups, graduates, and other people considering self-employment.
In 2018, the building was taken on by one expanding business, but was vacated due to the pandemic.
With the Derby City Council-owned building vacant, it made sense to bring Community Action’s services to a more central location, which provides additional space, increases visibility, and raises the profile of the organisation.
Commenting on the move, Kim Harper, CEO of Community Action Derby, said: “Moving to the Shot Tower will bring a variety of opportunities for Community Action and our Hub partners.
“The building will provide a welcoming open space that will allow us to provide all of our services from a central and accessible environment. The Volunteer Centre and café will be available for anyone to drop in and relax and we are very much looking forward to moving in and continuing our work.”
Councillor Matthew Eyre, Cabinet Member for Place and Community Development at Derby City Council, added: “Our communities and the voluntary sector have been at the forefront of Derby’s COVID emergency response, and I strongly believe that building even stronger relationships and partnerships within our city and our communities is crucial to our successful recovery and future resilience.
“The Emergency Community Response HUB was created in March 2020 to support the infrastructure of our city’s VCSE sector and community response, bringing together staff and partners, and crucially Community Action Derby, into one vibrant team.
“I’m delighted that this arrangement is to continue, and in fact strengthen, as the new Community HUB moves into the Shot Tower in the city centre. This move reflects their success, safeguards this new way of working, and provides the perfect platform to continue to build stronger and safer communities.
“I am extremely thankful to Community Action Derby and all our VCSE and partners for the continued efforts; it’s clear that we are truly ‘better together,’ and long may this continue!”
Ann Bhatti, head of Connect Derby, added: “Shot Tower is a fantastic building in a great location, and it is great to see Derby City Council property services and Connect Derby working together to provide them with the space they need be able to carry out their services at time where help is needed by many.
“We are pleased to see Shot Tower continuing to be used for the purposes it was originally intended and we look forward to supporting the Community Action Derby team as they continue to grow and support the people of Derby.”
New consulting partner for PwC Midlands
Professional services firm PwC has appointed Will Stevns as its consulting leader in the Midlands taking over from Nick Atkin, who now leads the firm’s industrial manufacturing, automotive and services practice.
Will brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role, having led on large scale transformation projects working with clients across the UK and globally spanning a wide range of industries, and in particular in financial services.
Will’s appointment coincides with the acquisition of Olivehorse, which was completed on 12 February. Olivehorse will bring in a further 60 members of staff with vital insight and knowledge in the fields of supply chain management consulting.
Welcoming the appointment, Matthew Hammond, PwC’s Midlands region leader, said: “I’m delighted that Will will be leading our consulting business in the Midlands. I would also like to thank Nick Atkin for his dedication, enthusiasm and expertise over the last three years and the successful period of growth he has led.
“Will’s appointment reflects our Midlands commitment and sector focus on technology enabled transformation, particularly in financial services. The pandemic has presented both challenges and opportunities and we need leaders to negotiate the uncertain landscape and capitalise on new opportunities. Will’s experience of managing digital change, transformation and integration programmes will help grow our consulting business further.
“Will’s appointment coincides with the acquisition of Olivehorse Consulting. The acquisition will strengthen Olivehorse’s already outstanding and FT Gold medal ranked supply chain expertise. Demand for this expertise has increased rapidly during the pandemic and will continue to be a key area of need for our clients going forward.”
On his appointment, Will Stevns said: “I’m excited to be appointed to the role of consulting partner at PwC for the Midlands, and delighted that Olivehorse are joining the firm. By combining our capabilities, people, networks and credentials, we are reflecting, in very real terms, our ambition to invest and grow quickly in this market.
“The challenges facing the UK and global economies require innovative and technology enabled solutions, combined with deep industry insight. Olivehorse joining PwC is another fantastic example of our commitment to continue to make such market leading capabilities available to our clients.”
Fred Affuko, co-founder and Managing Director of Olivehorse, said: “We at Olivehorse are delighted to be joining the PwC family and see this as the next step in our journey. We are confident that through joining with PwC, we will be able to bring huge additional value to our clients and enhance the amazing offering PwC already has, through the addition of our talented people.”
Final budget proposals to be put before Council Cabinet
Derby City Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) will take a step closer to being approved next week, with the Council’s Cabinet reviewing final budget proposals ahead of Full Council approval at the end of the month (Monday 28 February).
The revised proposals consider comments from the public, local businesses and politicians during a four-week consultation period.
Despite considerable budget pressures that remain as the city continues to emerge from the impacts of COVID-19, the MTFP sits alongside a revised Council Plan, that paints an ambitious and overall positive picture for the coming financial years. The report proposes a net revenue budget of almost £260m for 2022/23.
Priorities for the future will be focused around four partnership themes:
- Green Derby – Making a positive impact on our environment
- Vibrant Derby – A reimagined City Centre with culture at its heart
- Growth Derby – Creating a modern smart city with jobs and skills for the future
- Resilient Derby – Working with communities to reduce poverty and inequalities
The ‘bard’, your brand and the power of media love this Valentine’s Day: Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR and the PR and Communications Ambassador for the IoD in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, helps you stand out.
Shall I compare thee to a competitor?
Thou art more skilful and competitive:
Rough reviews may shake them, yes they may,
And their Google profiles hath all too short a date;
Sometime too hot the eye of Facebook shines,
And often are Twitter’s old reflections binned;
And every share and reshare sometime declines,
By sod’s law or the zeitgeist’s changing course untrimmed;
But thy eternal spotlight shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of your prospect’s mind;
Nor shall your pipeline slow or start to fade,
When in eternal lines in the press thou grow’st:
So long as buyers buy and they can see,
Your profile rise, and this gives leads to thee.
And they say a degree in Philosophy and English Literature sets you up for nothing! Seriously though, this Valentine’s Day, I want you to start to think about how you can stand out. There is just so much NOISE out there, how are you going to woo your ideal customer or even…their most trusted mate who can set you up? “Who is this mate?” I hear you cry. Well, picture the old-school dating scene, you have your eye on someone, you kind of know them, they kind of know you. You want to get on their radar. You want to show them what makes you tick. You want to show them what they’re missing. And, as luck would have it, you have a mutual friend…. “My mate Tess wants to go out with you” – you know the drill! Now, forget about my fumbled approach to dating back in the ‘90s and just think for a minute about how this works in business. You see, I’ve never suggested that PR is the be all and end all when it comes to marketing. In my own business, I have lots of different marketing ‘pillars’ and they include direct mail, e-newsletters, blogs, free guides, lead magnets, webinars, social media (3 different platforms), advertising, events and speaking. However, what PR does give me (and my clients) is an unfair advantage. Why? Because MOST people don’t use it or…if they DO use it, they play at it, they dip their toe, they flirt with it, then get frustrated when they don’t get to date the media right away! It’s like they spot the person they want to date but they never ask them out or they just whisper it and hope someone takes notice. The thing is, when you combine PR with all of the other good marketing stuff, you really will be noticed and crucially, you will be noticed for the right reasons! Imagine the wider marketing approach to getting that date with your ideal customer. Maybe you’ve bought flowers, some chocolates and a card. How about some heart balloons? Now…assuming you have actually sent them to someone that should be a good match for you (your IDEAL customer) you are at least in with a shot. So what if we could tip the scales in your favour? What if we could position you so that your date had ALREADY heard about you and thought you were AWESOME? What if they’d been hearing about you for a few months now and were actually waiting for you to call? What if they just needed you to simply ask for the business (a date to be clear!)? Enter, stage left, the unfair advantage – the media You see, this is the trusted friend. This is the person nudging, suggesting that you two would be great together! This is the person who is bigging you up without you blowing your own trumpet! They have the instruments, you just need to give them a tune to play! As luck would have it, I can help you here, keep an eye out for my “PRkive” launching in Spring, it is designed to help make you BETTER at media dating and even setting you up together. Big love, Greg x A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008. He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.The Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo returns
The Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo is back for 2022, providing everything you require for a great day of networking and business generation.
A well targeted, free to attend event aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets, for which Business Link is a proud partner, the expo will take place on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln.
Take this opportunity to meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.
Opening at 9am, as the exhibition closes (circa 2pm), it will roll directly into an informal network lunch – tickets are just £25 plus vat and can be ordered and paid for directly online.
To attend the event, register for free here.
To generate opportunities by exhibiting at the event, click here.
Purchase tickets to the networking lunch here.
