Loram UK lands multi-million-pound deal with Network Rail
Loram UK, the Derby-based rail and rolling stock maintenance specialists, has secured a multi-million-pound deal with Network Rail to repurpose at least 250 side tipper ballast wagons.
The work will involve removing the tipper element of the wagons to create reusable and far more versatile non-tipping static containers.
Loram UK and Network Rail have worked together on maintenance and infrastructure programmes before, and Andrew Watson, Loram UK’s International Business Development Director, said the programme would further strengthen that relationship.
He said: “The availability of wagons generally is an issue so to be able to repurpose 250 provides much greater flexibility for Network Rail. It’s a project we’re very excited to be involved in and allows us to expand our horizons.
“We are always looking at diversifying and this allows us to not only carry out the work, but manage the logistics regards collecting the wagons, the processes around the repurposing and sending them back to Network Rail.”
The two-year repurposing programme will be done in Derby, where Loram has its UK base, and will help secure around 35 jobs for the duration, along with 20 others across the supply chain.
The design of the new ballast boxes, integration and modifications are being carried out by global testing and certification company TUV Rheinland Risktec Solutions, which has a UK base on Pride Park in Derby.
Laura May, business development manager, said: “We are especially excited about this project because of the local, collaborative opportunity it presents working with Loram, who are a stone’s throw away from our offices in Derby.
“We support the mission behind the project of repurposing the wagons and improving the renewal of the infrastructure of our railway. People of all levels of skillset will be utilised in supporting this project from our apprentice to our principle consultant, so there is great opportunity across the board.”
East Midlands businesses face serious funding problems unless RLS and CBILS rules amended warns banking expert
Many East Midlands businesses could face major refinancing problems in the latter half of 2022 if the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is not extended beyond the summer and banks continue to refuse to transfer outstanding CBILS when companies refinance, a banking expert is warning.
Mark Huddlestone, banking & finance director with Azets, is calling upon the Government and British Business Bank to extend the RLS further to the end of 2022 and to insist that lenders accept CBILS transferred under the RLS scheme.
RLS is scheduled to end on 30 June 2022 whilst the CBILS scheme ceased in March 2021. Many banks currently require any outstanding CBILS to be repaid before they will consider refinancing applications.
“The current arrangements mean that it is going to be extremely difficult for businesses with outstanding CBILS or RLS funding to secure continued financial support into the second half of 2022 if not before,” said Mark Huddlestone.
“Businesses funding requirements can change quickly, and lenders appetite for risk and funding strategies also change, so the market for refinancing needs to be as accessible as possible.
“The CBILS and RLS schemes helped protect countless businesses and jobs, but there is a risk that these rigid rules could start creating extensive problems for those same businesses saved by the schemes.
“Fortunately, a handful of lenders are now considering using the RLS to replace a CBILS facility, but that is only of any value if the RLS scheme is extended for a significant period, ideally to the end of 2022.”
Mark Huddlestone concluded by encouraging businesses concerned about their CBILS and RLS arrangements to seek early advice.
“The recent Budget announcement of an RLS extension to 30 June 2022 is not enough. Hopefully the government and British Business Bank will see the merit of a solid extension to the end of 2022 and insist that CBILS can be rolled over with any refinancing.”
Recognition for Sills & Betteridge Litigator
Head of Clinical Negligence Louise Bush has recently been accepted as a Senior Litigator of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). This highly respected accreditation is awarded to practitioners who demonstrate a range of key competencies and a real desire to always achieve the very best outcomes for their clients. Stephen Wilson the firm’s Senior Partner and APIL Fellow, says “Louise should be very proud to have achieved this accreditation. She works tirelessly to help her clients, many of whom have been through extremely distressing circumstances. Her passion, tenacity and technical excellence are second to none”. Louise says “I am delighted to have been awarded this accreditation by APIL, having been a member and supporter of their values on behalf of injured people for almost 25 years. The accreditation reinforces my commitment, passion and empathy to help anyone that finds themselves requiring assistance, often in tragic and life-changing circumstances.” Louise qualified as a Solicitor in 1998 in Manchester and relocated to Lincolnshire in 2002. Although she has always worked on behalf of injured people, in 2009 she began to specialise exclusively in Claimant Clinical Negligence work. Louise joined Sills & Betteridge in January 2016 as a Partner and Head of the department. She handles cases for Claimants in all aspects of Clinical Negligence, working hard to assist both adults and children, as well as with families who have lost relatives due to Fatal Medical Accidents. This often includes liaising with HM Coroner to include assisting with Inquest representation.
Developer acquires historic Derby site for new industrial units
Morgan Industrial Properties Limited (MIP) have acquired the former Ewart Chain site in Shaftesbury Street, Derby with plans to undertake a significant redevelopment of the five-acre employment site, creating new industrial units and jobs for the city.
MIP are a property development company based in Alfreton Road, Derby specialising in the development of commercial property in the industrial and office sectors. They have developed numerous strategic sites in Derbyshire including the Northedge Business Park in Alfreton Road and Outrams Wharf Business Park in Little Eaton.
The former Ewart Chain site comprises some five-acres of employment land accessed off Shaftesbury Street, an established location close to the Sir Francis Ley industrial estate. The site is situated just off the arterial Osmaston Road (A515) with a quick connection to the outer ring road (A5111). The site also has the benefit of connection to the railway.
The site will provide some 90,000 sq ft of new-build industrial floor space to the market available on a leasehold basis. A single unit of 90,000 sq ft with a railway connection can be provided; or smaller units will be available starting at 2,500 sq ft. Each unit will have the benefit of car parking, overhead tracked loading door access and three-phase electricity.
David Powell, commercial property manager at MIP, says: “We are delighted to have acquired another strategic employment site in Derby in an established industrial location. The site will create a significant number of jobs and provide more high-quality industrial units to the market for local and national businesses.”
David Brown, director at David Brown Commercial, says: “The site could provide a range of different sized units for business, industrial and storage users.
“The quality of MIP’s units is consistently high and I anticipate strong levels of interest from businesses wanting to upgrade, grow or relocate. I am delighted that this redevelopment means that the former Ewart Chain site will continue to provide employment opportunities for the city of Derby.”
Derby payroll firm acquires pensions bureau
A Derby payroll firm has acquired an award winning pensions bureau.
Pride Park-based RollPay have completed the successful acquisition of Tailored Auto Enrolment in Devon for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition will create several new jobs including apprenticeships in the company’s own payroll academy supporting local academics looking for a career in payroll and accounting.
Matthew Duro, Managing Director of RollPay, said: “RollPay have been offering a very strong payroll and auto enrolment service for many years now. We have a very diverse customer base servicing thousands of clients all over the UK. We’re keen to continue our expansion by adding new financial solutions that add value to our loyal client base.
“Tailored Auto Enrolment share our passion for dedicated customer service and delivering excellence so were a perfect fit. Existing and new clients alike can take advantage of having more services all under one roof with a single point of contact following the same vision.
“I’m excited to welcome Tailored Auto Enrolment and the team to the group and look forward to working with them.”
SureScreen Diagnostics named Derbyshire Business of the Year
SureScreen Diagnostics, which has supplied millions of Covid-19 lateral flow tests to British people during the pandemic, has been crowned the Derbyshire Business of the Year by East Midlands Chamber.
The Derby-based company picked up four awards in total at the Derbyshire Business Awards on Friday 12 November, also including Excellence in International Trade, Excellence in Innovation and the Outstanding Growth Award.
It has grown from a workforce of 50 employees to 450 over the past 18 months as it has scaled up production of its rapid antigen tests, which diagnose whether an individual has Covid-19 with 98% accuracy.
These have been shipped to about 40 countries and the UK Government ordered 22 million units, while antibody tests have also been supplied to 53 countries – leading to SureScreen planning to build extra manufacturing capacity that could create another 1,000 jobs in future.
The Derbyshire Business Awards, held in partnership with headline sponsor Mazars, recognised winners across 13 categories, ranging from Business Improvement Through Technology and Environmental Impact Award within an organisation to individual honours for Entrepreneur of the Year and Apprentice of the Year. There were new categories this year for Collaboration Project of the Year and Excellence in Innovation.
Finalists, chosen by a judging panel of the Chamber’s senior leadership and board of directors, as well as sponsors, discovered their fate during a gala dinner attended by 350 people at Derbyshire County Cricket Club – marking a return for face-to-face celebrations after being held virtually last year.
Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “There has been so much to celebrate within our business community despite a challenging 18 months and these awards have showcased some of the incredible companies that call our region home.
“As the economic recovery continues, and new opportunities present themselves in a new era of global trade and sustainable business, these are just the kinds of organisations we should be highlighting when we’re shouting about everything the East Midlands has to offer. We know it’s a great place to do business and these are living proof.
“We received so many high-calibre applications, which demonstrated how the pandemic hasn’t been a period in which we have just stood still. Instead, the time afforded for reflection has led to many companies seeking out new opportunities, innovating and driving themselves forward.
“While last year offered us a different kind of experience in a virtual awards ceremony, it was great to be back holding such a landmark event for the Derbyshire business calendar in person once more. Once again, we are so thankful to our sponsors for making this event so successful.”
The Derbyshire Business Awards – one of three awards hosted by the Chamber, with others in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to follow – were hosted by British-Gambian broadcast journalist Haddy Ndure and featured entertainment by Turner and McHugh, a female duo who joined forces after featuring on BBC singing competition The Voice.
A raffle was held to raise funds for East Midlands Chamber president Eileen Richards MBE’s three chosen charities this year – Chesterfield Samaritans, Help the Homeless Leicester and Nottinghamshire Hospice.
Eileen, who owns Leicester-based ER Recruitment, gave a speech in which she highlighted the national importance of the new Museum of Making, regeneration projects like the Becketwell scheme currently underway, and the potential impacts of Derby being selected as a UK Capital of Culture for 2025 and the home of Great British Railways.
Commenting on the awards, she added: “During my year as president, I’ve been privileged to witness some of the amazing success stories that don’t always receive the wider recognition they ought to, so I’m thrilled to see some of these come to the fore at the Chamber’s Business Awards.
“The Derbyshire Business Awards has shone the spotlight on some well-deserving winners but I’d also like to congratulate the finalists for their outstanding entries too as we had some really strong competition across many categories this year.
“SureScreen Diagnostics is a very worthy winner of the Derbyshire Business of the Year and I’ve been in awe of the growth it has experienced over the past 18 months while also playing a pivotal role in the fight against Covid-19 both in the UK and overseas.”
Winners of Derbyshire Business Awards
Business Improvement Through Technology – Sponsored by Purpose Media Winner Futures Housing Group Finalists Healthy Stuff Penny Hydraulics Scenariio Thompson Tree Services Midlands Community Impact Award – Sponsored by University of Derby Winner Fortem Solutions Finalists Griffith Foods Liniar MVIS Resilient World Solutions Outstanding Growth Award – Sponsored by Amazon Winner SureScreen Diagnostics Finalists Fibre Tec Solutions Professional Heating Solutions Project D Sky Recruitment Solutions Environmental Impact Award – Sponsored by Futures Housing Group Winner Derby City Council – DE-Carbonise Project Finalists Devtank Griffith Foods Liniar MVIS Commitment to People Development Award – Sponsored by 2020 Training Winner Peak Indicators Finalists AIM Commercial Services Aztec Oils Nelsons Purpose Media Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Derby College Group Winner Lisa Scarboro – Futures Housing Group Finalists Keenan Gregory – Futures Housing Group Amelia Burton – Griffith Foods Mia Cooper – Joined Up Careers Derbyshire Tom Sharratt – Neuways Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Ryley Wealth Management Winner Max Vaughan – White Peak Distillery Finalists William Crooks – Cawarden Adam Bamford – Colleague Box Peter Ellse – Cosy Direct Jillian Thomas – Future Life Wealth Management Education and Business Partnership Award – Sponsored by RDS Global Winner Dronfield Heritage Trust Finalists Access Training (East Midlands) Derby College Group Embark Federation REAL Education Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by Aston Lark Winner UK Asbestos Training Association Finalists Anoki MaryJanes Catering Purpose Media The Accountancy Recruitment Group UK Asbestos Training Association Excellence in International Trade – Sponsored by HSBC Winner SureScreen Diagnostics Finalists Atlas Copco Medical Aztec Oils Cathelco Graphoidal Developments Small Business of the Year – Sponsored by Begbies Traynor Winner Project D Finalists Peak Indicators The Input Group Think3 Thompson Tree Services Midlands Excellence in Innovation – Sponsored by Rolls-Royce Winner SureScreen Diagnostics Finalists HSG Liniar Scenariio Excellence in Collaboration – Sponsored by HSBC Winner Derby Market Place Finalists Derbyshire Voluntary Action Penguin PR with Colleague Box and Vibrant Accountancy Safe and Sound The Swap Shop Business of the Year – Sponsored by Mazars SureScreen DiagnosticsBathroom supplier expands into Derby
Trade supplier, Clifton Trade Bathrooms, has expanded into Derby, taking occupation of 5,812 sq ft of a new build development at Eagle Park.
Clifton Trade Bathrooms is a supplier of tiles fittings, adhesives, and silicones for bathroom fitters. Moving to Derby seemed like the logical step for the firm, with many of their showrooms being based in the Midlands and Northern England.
Eagle Park is in an established area of Derby with nearby occupiers such as Screwfix, Howdens, Jewsons, Andrew Page and City Electrical Factors.
Occupying a spacious unit, this property is completed to an open plan shell specification, ready to receive the tenant’s fit out. The units provide a tracked loading door, ample loading space and allocated parking.
Graham Bancroft, partner at BB&J Commercial and agent responsible for the unit sold, said: “The letting to Clifton Trade Bathrooms provided my client with another strong covenant in their property portfolio. This was the tenant’s 24th unit and we were delighted to welcome them to the Eagle Park site, and we believe that they will be a great success.”
Robust first half and further acquisition for Ideagen
Nottinghamshire software provider, Ideagen PLC, has made a further acquisition, swooping for CompliancePath – a UK and US-based leader in software validation and assurance, focused predominantly on the healthcare and life science sectors.
The news came as Ideagen provided an update on trading for the six months to 31 October 2021.
The business said its performance in the first half of the year was in line with expectations and demonstrates a continuing growth in high-quality recurring revenues.
Ideagen expects to report total revenue for the first half up 33% at approximately £38.8 million (H1 2020: £29.2 million). Recurring revenue recognised in the period grew by 41% to £34.2 million, representing 88% of total revenues (H1 2020: 83%).
Total revenue grew organically at 6% (H1 2020: -2%), whilst organic recurring revenue growth was 10% (H1 2020: 10%) driven by continued strong customer retention rates as well as new business wins.
Adjusted EBITDA is expected to increase by 32% to approximately £13.2 million (H1 2020: £10.0 million).
Ben Dorks, Chief Executive Officer of Ideagen, said: “Ideagen delivered a robust performance in the first six months, which not only reflects the strength of our business model and the merits of SaaS, but also the investment in our people, our products, and our customers.
“Since the first half ended, I am pleased to have completed four acquisitions with significant synergy opportunity and welcome these products and teams to the Group. The Group continues to generate strong organic growth while executing on our strategy of acquiring businesses that extend our leadership in compliance software for regulated industries.
“Ideagen enters the second half of the year in a great position, confident of delivering on its expectations for the year and the considerable opportunity continuing our current M&A plus organic growth strategy that lies ahead.”
Manufacturing industry to receive a big boost towards reaching zero carbon with new project
The UK manufacturing industry is set to receive a big boost towards reaching zero carbon with the creation of a new project aimed at siphoning the knowledge of the country’s leading social science experts.
Loughborough’s Professor Jan Godsell will co-direct a new network that will encourage academics to research the social and economic factors that will help UK manufacturing achieve ‘net zero’ by 2050.
Prof Godsell and Professor Jill MacBryde, of the University of Strathclyde, will lead the £4m InterAct initiative – a project funded by the UKRI’s £147m Made Smarter Innovation programme.
The network is a call to arms for academics from the social sciences to support the innovation and distribution of digital technologies that bolster the UK economy while also bringing it into line with national environmental targets.
The 38-month programme is due to end in December 2024.
Alongside Prof Godsell and Prof MacBryde, the programme will also be supported by a Network Management Team and a core research team from Loughborough, Strathclyde and Sheffield universities.
Prof Godsell, Dean of Loughborough’s School of Business and Economics, said: “Looking to the future, our aspirations for InterAct is a community with clear added-value for all where stakeholder groups want to engage and be part of the Made Smarter Network Plus.
“We will embed diversity and inclusivity. Diversity of thought will bring benefits of multiple perspectives. Inclusivity will help us to embrace and collaborate with existing research groupings, rather than compete with them.
“Participation will be based on expertise, not status, and we will seek to develop people at all stages of their careers.
“Our vision of success would be that the InterAct is seen as a partner of choice; easy to work with, welcoming, and professional.
“Ultimately, we would like to be a one-stop-shop that curates existing and emerging knowledge and capabilities (research and education) and showcases leading practice.”
Prof MacBryde added: “Our long-term vision is to build a strong, vibrant, interdisciplinary community to support UK manufacturing in the adoption and development of digital technologies that will result in a stronger, more resilient, manufacturing base. We know that technology alone is not enough.
“We need to harness the knowledge of people and society to really reap the full benefits that technology can bring. Whilst there are clear advantages of this network for the economy, manufacturers and technology providers, there are also benefits for the academic communities.
“Collaborative working, new challenges and contexts will open up new avenues for world-leading research.”
There are five key elements to the InterActive programme:
- A Commissioned research programme will provide the opportunity to curate, augment and amplify insights from the ESS to support the diffusion and adoption of IDTs. 5 different funding mechanisms have been adopted to broaden the appeal of the programme and increase participation. These include systematic reviews, small projects, a sandpit, Early Career Researcher (ECR) Fellowship programme, and an impact acceleration fund resulting in 18 interdisciplinary projects.
- A Knowledge exchange programme is critical to the diffusion of ideas from the ESS to the policymakers, manufacturers and IDT providers who could benefit from the adoption of IDTs. The comprehensive programme includes a range of activities that amplify the core research programme (international webinars, discovery days, annual conference), provide education and insights (impact workshops, insight days, summer school), support academic publication (special tracks, journal special issue) and enable and amplify the diffusion of ideas (website and curation platform, mentoring programme, access to Emerald impact services).
- The Core research programme complements the commissioned research programme base by addressing more systemic problems that require a longer term and more in-depth research. It has the additional benefit of providing a common purpose to galvanise the team. Future-focused it considers the future of manufacturing ecosystems (Prof. Jan Godsell and Dr Alok Choudray, Loughborough), future of work (Prof. Jill MacBryde and Prof. Colin Lindsay, Strathclyde) and the future of the economy (Prof. Vania Sena and Prof. Philip McCann, Sheffield).
- An Impact acceleration programme. There are lots of ESS insights currently in existence, that are not in a form that is easily accessible to policymakers, manufacturers, and IDT providers. Researchers often lack the time and skills to turn their work into more accessible outputs. An impact acceleration programme has the dual benefit of building impact capacity within the ESS community whilst making the insights more accessible to end-users.
- A Storytelling fellowship programme. The ability to use storytelling as a methodology and form of dissemination is a key research skill for economic and social scientists. The storytelling fellowship programme has the dual benefits of building storytelling capacity within the ESS whilst using stories to make insights more accessible to the end users, the network and society at large.
Skill shortages threaten to derail optimism around ‘levelling-up’
UK business leaders are optimistic that the Government’s levelling-up agenda can realistically be delivered but the so-called ‘skills gap’ is proving a challenge for the regions outside of London and the South East, according to new research from accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO.
The survey of 500 leaders of medium-sized businesses across England and Scotland, reveals that almost all respondents (94%) believe the Government will deliver on its levelling-up promises in the next decade. More than half (54%) say that this could realistically be achieved within the next three years.
However, despite optimism around the Government’s agenda, access to skilled people may be a threat to the growth of regional businesses. All those surveyed reported some form of staff shortages, with a third saying that their biggest recruitment challenge is a lack of available talent in their region.
Looking at the comparison throughout the UK, those worst affected by regional skills shortages are outside of London and the South East and areas heavily reliant on the manufacturing sector.
More than a third of manufacturing businesses nationwide cited staff shortages as the number one issue affecting their ability to operate at normal levels, with 40% of manufacturers unable to fill their apprenticeship positions.
In a bid to reduce the so-called ‘skills gap’ a £3.8bn investment in skills and education was announced as part of the recent Budget and spending review, including £170m allocated to funding apprenticeships.
The Chancellor also announced that £1.7bn of the £4.8bn levelling-up fund has been allocated to more than 100 small-scale infrastructure projects throughout the UK. These include a ‘growth zone’ in Derbyshire, the redevelopment of Leicester train station and transport investments in Liverpool, Plymouth, Newcastle and Nottingham.
Ed Dwan, partner at BDO, said: “After experiencing a period of great uncertainty, it is pleasing to see that business leaders from across the country are optimistic that real progress on the ‘levelling-up’ agenda will happen in the not too distant future.
“The investment in shovel-ready projects announced as part of the levelling-up fund will be a welcome boost to those areas that need them the most. However, it is clear there is more to levelling-up than just transport and infrastructure, and the Government must not overlook this.
“Skills and staff shortages are being reported across the board and remain a large barrier to the growth of many businesses, particularly of those in some in the regions outside of London and the South East.
“The newly announced £3.8bn skills investment from the Government is crucial in order to ensure the skills gap doesn’t widen, but there is no quick fix. As businesses navigate complex challenges post-Brexit and pandemic, the Government must listen to their needs and implement long-term policies that will have an impact nationwide in order to truly ‘level-up’ the UK.”
| Region | % citing a lack of available talent in their region |
| South West |
53% |
| Thames Valley |
47% |
| West Midlands |
41% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber |
40% |
| East Anglia |
39% |
| East Midlands |
37% |
| Central South |
33% |
| North East |
30% |
| South East |
24% |
| Greater London |
23% |
| North West |
22% |
