Nottingham Venues celebrates success at the Nottingham Hospitality Association Awards 2025
Nottingham Venues, the collection of independent venues specialising in meetings and events set within the University of Nottingham campus, is celebrating success in three categories at the Nottingham Hospitality Association Awards 2025.
The event, held on Thursday 23 January 2025, recognised excellence across the local hospitality sector, with Nottingham Venues’ dedicated team receiving well-earned accolades. The company entered five categories and either won, or was placed, in three.
Among the evening’s highlights was the remarkable victory of Sing Ding Yu and her Operations Team at The East Midlands Conference Centre, who were awarded the prestigious Top Team Award. The team’s commitment to delivering exceptional service, developing a strong team culture and contributing to record-breaking sales earned them the award.
Tom Waldron-Lynch, CEO of Nottingham Venues, said: “The Operations Team are true advocates of our business, always striving to deliver excellent customer service in our mission to be the best meetings and events business. They exemplify our core values – inclusive, ambitious, fair, open and respect and have contributed to record sales and exceptional team engagement.”
In addition to success for the Operations Team, individual team members were also recognised for their hard work and contribution to the success of the business.
Lassad Jaballah was named runner-up in the Unsung Hero Award category, honouring his invaluable behind-the-scenes efforts that keep operations running seamlessly.
Bozena Juszko secured third place in the Back of House Customer Service Award, a testament to her consistent dedication to delivering excellence.
Peter Bartlett, General Manager of Nottingham Venues’ Orchard Hotel and East Midlands Conference Centre, added: “These accolades are a reflection of the talent, hard work, and passion that drive Nottingham Venues forward every day. The company extends its congratulations to all nominees and winners, and thanks to every team member who plays a role in Nottingham Venues’ ongoing success.”
Vistry Group completes contracts on 475-home site in Hinckley
Vistry Group, the provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has completed contracts for a major site in Hinckley, Leicestershire, with outline planning permission to deliver 475 new homes for the area.
The site, to the east of Stoke Road and north of Normandy Way, in the north of the town, has a development value of £140m. Of the new homes being delivered, approximately 30% will be affordable, 20% will be developed for the private rented sector, and 50% will be for sale on the open market through a combination of its retail brands Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes.
All the houses will be constructed using modern methods of construction, with timber frame panels produced at the local Vistry Works factory in Bardon, Leicestershire. This will improve the sustainability and speed of the construction process, as well as reducing disruption for the local community. Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house.
Andy Reynolds, Managing Director of Vistry South East Midlands, said: “Completing the purchase of this high-quality site is hugely exciting as it is destined to become Vistry’s flagship development in Leicestershire, providing 475 mixed-tenure homes for the area.
“With a significant shortage of supply in the area, the acquisition of this site is a major milestone in bringing forward a new mixed-tenure development that will provide modern, well-connected homes catering to people with a wide range of requirements and at various stages of life.”
Lincoln industrial engineers place business in hands of employees
Lincoln industrial engineers Castlet Holdings Ltd, who list Siemens, Tata Steel and BAE Systems among their customers, have placed their company’s future in the hands of the employees. On the advice of Sills & Betteridge Corporate Partner Euan McLaughlin, Castlet Holdings Ltd has been sold to an Employee Ownership Trust. Having provided remedial advice on various shareholder issues in the past, Euan proposed to the Board that an EOT was the key to the long-term stability and success of the business – which was already owned by a group of its employees. Euan collaborated with other professionals, including business consultants Mobius Group and regional accountancy practice Wright Vigar, to flesh out the terms of the deal and undertake shareholder engagement. Euan said: “EOTs are a relatively new phenomena which are fast gaining traction as their benefits become more widely understood – tax advantages, succession planning and social responsibility among the key motivators. “They are most suited to business owners who value the future of their company and the people who helped to build it, over an immediate cash sale – and can be an excellent option where a trade sale is either unavailable or unattractive to business owners.”
Pets become part of the climate change solution as Nottingham dog food company embraces solar power
The UK’s dogs are now part of the climate change solution, thanks to Nottingham-based fresh dog food company Years.com, which has partnered with solar developer Electron Green and commercial landlord Urban Logistics to harness solar power for its operations.
The new rooftop solar installation is projected to reduce Years.com’s reliance on the electricity grid by over 26%, delivering projected electricity savings of almost £22,000 in its first year alone.
Darren Beale, founder of Years.com, said: “At Years.com, our mission is to help dogs live longer, healthier, and happier lives. Protecting our environment is part of that bigger picture, and we are thrilled to have solar power in place.
“We had been considering this for some time, but with competing business priorities, it always seemed out of reach. Thanks to Electron Green and our landlord Urban Logistics, the solar system is free and we pay for the green electricity we use.”
The solar panels were installed in January 2025, covering 761 square metres of rooftop space with 390 panels. The entire installation was funded by landlord Urban Logistics, with Years.com purchasing the clean electricity it generates.
The solar energy will feed directly into the Years facility, effectively powering the steam cooking process, which accounts for approximately 26% of the company’s total power demand.
Because the solar is on the roof of Years.com, the supply has guaranteed provenance and is not subject to transmission losses associated with renewable electricity fed through the grid.
Daniel Green, CEO and Co-Founder of Electron Green, said: “British businesses consistently tell us they need greater certainty over their future energy costs, alongside practical, off-the-shelf solar solutions that reduce emissions. The Years.com and Urban Logistics partnership is a great example of taking decisive action, benefitting both businesses as well as the environment.
“We’re here to provide businesses with flexibility on how they manage and pay for electricity. With energy demands expected to rise by 50% over the next decade, businesses need confidence in their energy supply and greater control over their costs.”
Richard Moffitt, Director of Urban Logistics REIT, said: “This is an excellent example of strong asset management from Urban Logistics, working in partnership with our tenant to deliver a sustainable, cost effective solution that is easily replicable and to the benefit of all stakeholders.”
Global investment manager acquires East Midlands solar project
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, a specialist global investment manager, has acquired the 350 MW solar PV project, Mallard Pass in the East Midlands.
The project, located on the Rutland-Lincolnshire border, represents Quinbrook’s second nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) after Cleve Hill Solar, which is in final stages of construction.
Construction of Mallard Pass is expected to begin in 2026 with commencement of operations in 2028.
Managing Director and Regional Leader UK for Quinbrook, said: “Renewable power projects of the scale of Cleve Hill and Mallard Pass help accelerate the UK’s energy transition and decarbonisation along with enhanced resilience of energy supply.
“Mallard Pass represents another value-add investment opportunity for Quinbrook in large scale solar. Quinbrook plans to leverage our extensive global experience in large-scale renewables development, construction and operations to bring high-quality solar technology and innovation to Mallard Pass including its demand-side capacity potential.”
Preliminary analysis indicates that over the project’s anticipated lifetime, Mallard Pass could support more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs and generate upwards of £124 million in local socio-economic contributions.
Mallard Pass is estimated to produce over 14 million MWh of renewable power over its lifespan and reduce CO2 emissions by 665,000 tonnes, equivalent to CO2 emissions from 738,691,906 pounds of coal burned.
Quinbrook also aims to deliver a 71% biodiversity net gain at Mallard Pass, combining natural capital enhancement and creation initiatives and leveraging its experience from implementing 67% biodiversity net gain at Cleve Hill.
“Solar projects of this scale play an important role in the decarbonisation of the UK grid and our country’s energy security,” said Rosalind Smith-Maxwell, Director for Quinbrook. “The investment in Mallard Pass is another excellent example of Quinbrook’s focus on holistic and impactful investment in the infrastructure needed to advance the energy transition.”
Quinbrook and affiliate, Private Energy Partners, will now proceed with detailed design, procurement and construction planning.
Derby’s £45.8m Becketwell Live venue reaches practical completion
The £45.8 million Becketwell Live has reached practical completion with developers St James Securities delivering the venue on time and on budget.
Derbyshire-based construction firm Bowmer + Kirkland recently completed the final stages of construction on the entertainment venue ahead of its opening this Spring. The venue has now been handed over to owners Derby City Council and operators Legends and ASM Global.
Becketwell Live is set to become a hub of entertainment, attracting audiences from across the region and beyond.
Built on the site of the former Pink Coconut nightclub on Colyear Street, the new venue will significantly enhance Derby’s cultural offering, with a larger, more flexible space than the city centre has had in the past.
Set to attract an additional 250,000 visitors to Derby each year and generate more than £10m GVA per year for the area, the flexible venue will bring diverse events to Derby, drive the night-time economy and increase levels of investment in surrounding areas of the city centre.
With a capacity of 3,500, made up of a flexible combination of floor seating, retractable bleacher seating and fixed upper tier seats, the venue can host a range of events from concerts, stand-up comedy, and exhibitions, to business events.
The venue will boast state of the art acoustics, all of which have gone through thorough sound testing for all types of events. The purpose-built, state-of-the-art back of house spaces have been designed in such a way to ensure smooth transitions from one type of event to another. Plus, there is an array of General Admission and premium space for guests to enjoy.
The Becketwell regeneration scheme is being delivered by Leeds-based property developers St James Securities, who have a track record of delivering successful major regeneration schemes.
In February 2022, Peveril Securities, the development arm of the Bowmer + Kirkland Group, agreed to become funding and development partners for future phases of the Becketwell scheme.
Becketwell Live forms the second phase of the £200m scheme, which is the most significant urban rejuvenation project in the city for more than three decades.
Phase one includes The Condor, the city’s first purpose-built Build to Rent scheme, owned and operated by Grainger plc and Springwell Square, and a new public green space for the city.
Commenting on practical completion of the arena, Paul Morris, Development Director at St James Securities, said: “The completion of Becketwell Live marks a transformative moment for Derby, delivering a world-class venue that will and drive significant economic growth and serve as a catalyst for the city’s future regeneration.
“This project has been more than five years in the making, and we are immensely proud to have developed a venue that will attract top-tier events and enhance the city’s cultural vibrancy, enriching the lives of its residents.”
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Culture, said: “This is a huge leap forward in the Becketwell journey, bringing us much closer to realising our vision of transforming Derby into vibrant city centre that prioritises and celebrates culture.
“A huge thanks to all of our partners and everyone involved for their incredible work on this project. This has been a long time in the making and I’m very proud that we’ve been able to support our partners to reach practical completion on time and on budget.
“Becketwell Live will provide a significant boost to our city’s cultural sector and economy and we can’t wait to open the doors to the public this Spring.”
Marcus Sheehan, General Manager of Becketwell Live, said: “This is yet another exciting milestone as we move closer to opening the doors of Becketwell Live. Thanks to the brilliant teams who have done an incredible job in bringing this venue to life, ready to bring the very best in live entertainment to the heart of Derby.”
Gus Kedzior, Bowmer + Kirkland’s Regional Director for North Midlands & Yorkshire, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been appointed to build this amazing landmark venue in Derby. Our site team has done a great job in ensuring this project has been handed over on time, within budget, and we are thrilled with the final outcome.
“It really has been a team effort throughout, and a pleasure to work collaboratively with St James Securities, Legends and ASM Global, and Derby City Council. Becketwell Live will now become the third scheme we have completed for DCC, joining Moorways Sports Village and Derby Arena.
“It is also worth noting the additional social value that a building of this scale creates for the local area, bringing jobs, apprenticeship opportunities and income. We are proud to have played a vital role in helping to rejuvenate this area of the city and are looking forward to seeing its doors open to the public in the spring.”
Ralph Jones, Managing Director of Peveril Securities and main Board Director of Bowmer + Kirkland, added: “Peveril Securities and St James Securities both share the same ambition for Derby city centre, and we are proud to have worked together to deliver such a transformational scheme.
“We are delighted to have brought our financial strength, development and construction expertise to this exciting project, which is local to Peveril Securities.”
Staffline hails “outstanding” 2024 performance
Staffline, the Nottingham-based recruitment and training group, has hailed an “outstanding” 2024 performance in a trading update for the year ended 31 December.
Revenue passed £1bn at the firm, seeing a 12.8% increase on 2023, which Staffline said reflected “market share gains, and strength of Staffline’s business model despite a challenging market for recruitment and training.”
Gross profit increased by 9% to £88.1m, “driven by a strong performance across the Group’s recruitment activities and underpinned by an excellent result in permanent placement fees from new customers.”
Meanwhile, underlying operating profit saw a 7.8% increase to £11.1m, with stronger performance from Recruitment GB and Recruitment Ireland offsetting a weaker performance from PeoplePlus, and underlying pre-tax profit exceeded market expectations, “notwithstanding the impact of the slower than expected reduction in interest rates, which partially offset the strong underlying operating profit performance.”
Looking to 2025, Staffline believes its performance will be impacted by ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.
Albert Ellis, Chief Executive Officer of Staffline, said: “The Group delivered an outstanding operational and financial performance in 2024, driven by increased market share and new customers combined with a disciplined approach to costs.
“The traditional peak trading period in the run up to Christmas was a success due to the Company’s commitment to service excellence. Strong trading cash flow exceeded expectations, underpinning the share buy-back programme, and resulted in £9.7m of net cash (pre-IFRS16) at the end of the year.
“Staffline remains a trusted strategic partner across a number of key sectors, both in the UK and Ireland, and I am confident that despite the challenging backdrop, our track record in continuing to increase market share will continue to support growth in 2025.”
Housebuilder acquires land for 45 new homes in Cotgrave
Housebuilder Allison Homes’ newly established East Midlands region has secured its first site in Nottinghamshire, bringing new homes to the town of Cotgrave.
The upcoming, 3.8-acre development is located off Hollygate Lane and will provide a total of 45 new energy efficient properties, which will be installed with air source heat pumps.
Alongside delivering new homes, Allison Homes East Midlands will be making section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions worth over £650,000 to support Cotgrave’s highways, bus services, play areas, education services and waste management.
The housebuilder will be submitting a reserved matters planning application following pre-application advice, and subject to approval construction work is due to commence later in 2025.
This scheme will be Allison Homes East Midlands’ fifth site overall and first in Nottinghamshire.
Karl Edwards, Operations Director at Allison Homes East Midlands, said: “We are incredibly proud to have acquired our first site in Nottinghamshire, and are looking forward to establishing ourselves in the county.
“This new development will deliver 45 high-quality homes, community benefits and a host of new employment and training opportunities for local people, as well as help boost the local economy.”
Phenna Group acquires environmental consulting services firm
Nottingham-headquartered Phenna Group, which invests in and partners with selected niche, independent Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) companies, has acquired STM Environmental.
This acquisition is the firm’s second deal in 2025 and adds service and geographic extension to its Infrastructure division.
Established in 2004, STM Environmental is based in Twickenham, London and provides a diversified offering of environmental consulting services to the public and private sector.
This is predominantly focussed on the supply of geo-environmental and flood risk & drainage services and complemented with the development and supply of environmental data management systems to Local Authorities.
Simon Makoni, Director of STM Environmental Consultants, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition: “We’re thrilled that the Phenna Group has recognised our hard work, success, and potential.
“Selecting the right partner to aid our ambitious growth plans was a big decision for myself and the STM Environmental team, but from our first engagement with Phenna, we felt confident that we’d found the right partner. I am excited to collaborate with Stuart and his team as we embark on the next phase of growth.”
Stuart Abbs, Divisional MD, Infrastructure at Phenna Group, said: “I am very excited to welcome Simon and his team to Phenna Group.
“STM Environmental have an excellent reputation in delivering top-tier environmental services for private and public sector clients and their capability perfectly complements our existing capabilities. I am excited to see the STM Environmental team deliver on their exciting growth plans.”
Phil Marshall, CEO of Phenna Group, added: “I am delighted that Simon and his team have decided to join our Group and warmly welcome them to our team.
“STM Environmental is a market leader in the environmental consulting space and this acquisition boosts our current service offering within the Infrastructure division. I look forward to seeing Simon and his team excel within Phenna.”
Phenna Group were advised by RSM UK and Browne Jacobson. STM Environmental were advised by Oaklins and Hemingways.
New head of traffic and transportation at BSP Consulting
Jason Davenport has been promoted to director of traffic and transportation at East Midlands-based civil and structural engineering company BSP Consulting.
He takes over from one of the founding directors of BSP Consulting, Mark Rayers, who is stepping back to become a part-time consultant to the business.
Jason, who was previously associate director of transportation at BSP Consulting, joined the company as a transport engineer just a month after it was founded in 1999 and has been a key member of the team ever since.
His expertise includes transport planning, travel plans, transport assessment, access strategy, noise assessments and safety audits. Jason’s experience ranges across all sectors, having worked on schemes at airports and universities through to supermarkets and housing developments.
BSP MD Carl Hilton said: “We are very pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Davenport to director of traffic and transportation at BSP Consulting.
“Our ethos is to promote from within wherever possible, which provides our team with opportunities to progress their careers and also enables smooth succession planning for the business.
“Jason has been a loyal, experienced, and valued part of the team at BSP right from the start and his promotion is very well deserved.
“As one of the founding directors of BSP Consulting, Mark has played a pivotal role in the success of BSP – helping the company to grow to become one of the largest independent civil and structural engineering businesses in the East Midlands.
“We are very pleased that he is staying with us as a part-time consultant and continuing to support the extensive network of clients that we have built up since the business began more than 25 years ago.”
Throughout his time at BSP, Jason has held positions as transport engineer, senior transport engineer, associate and associate director. His appointment as director of traffic and transportation began on 1st February 2025.
He said: “Under Mark Rayers, the traffic and transportation department at BSP Consulting has earned an excellent reputation as a professional and skilled team that provides outstanding service to clients.
“I have worked with Mark for 28 years in total, having met him before he became a founding director at BSP, and I am proud to have been appointed to head up the team going forward and to continue the good work that BSP has become renowned for.”
Jason, who lives in Gedling, Nottingham, is based in BSP’s head office in Nottingham but heads up the traffic and transportation team across the group.
Mark Rayers is one of the original four founders of BSP Consulting, which was launched in Oxford Street, Nottingham in 1999. The company has since expanded with offices in Pride Park, Derby and De Montfort Street, Leicester, as well as an office in South Yorkshire, on Smithy Wood Crescent, Sheffield.
He has stepped down in his role as a director but will remain a part-time consultant to BSP Consulting, working one day a week.
