Pall-Ex strengthens senior team with operations director

Tess Egginton
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Pall-Ex strengthens senior team with operations director
Pall-Ex Group, a Leicestershire-based palletised freight distribution network, has appointed Kevin McDonagh as operations director following a strategic restructure amongst the business’s top talent. Kevin joins the company with over 30 years of experience in the logistics sector across warehousing, distribution and pallet network services. Joining from Bow Distribution, Kevin boasts an extensive portfolio of qualifications and a proven track record in increasing operational performance. Key responsibilities in his new role involve enhancing the efficiency of Pall-Ex’s UK hub operations, strengthening collaboration with Pall-Ex’s shareholder members and driving continuous improvement to service levels across the network. Kevin said: “What initially attracted me to join Pall-Ex Group was the company’s culture and its openness to embracing change. Pall-Ex Group has a strong reputation within the industry for innovation and adaptability and I was inspired by the opportunity to contribute to a business that is committed to evolving and improving.” Focus areas that Kevin will be prioritising in upcoming months include addressing the growing volume across the UK hubs and refining the current banding structure to streamline efficiencies. Increasing overall service levels across the network is another priority that Kevin will focus on as he heads up the operations team. Kevin adds: “Through continuous improvement across our operations and by fostering a culture of teamwork and innovation, I am confident that we can navigate any challenges successfully to achieve sustainable, continued growth. “I am  looking forward to working closely with our shareholder members to drive operational improvements throughout the network wherever possible, with the goal to deliver high standards of service to every customer.” The addition of Kevin as operations director follows a number of recent promotions across Pall-Ex Group, with former Pall-Ex UK managing director, Barry Byers, being promoted to chief operating officer (COO), Michelle Naylor moving from commercial director to managing director – UK networks and former operations director, Paul Pegg, becoming managing director – Pall-Ex Logistics.

E-commerce prep and logistics company moves into new Ilkeston HQ

Tess Egginton
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E-commerce prep and logistics company moves into new Ilkeston HQ
Craner & Kirkman, the growing e-commerce prep and logistics company, has moved into a new headquarters at Soloman Park, Ilkeston. The move marks a major milestone for the business, which has grown to over £500,000 in turnover in less than three years under the leadership of founder Tom Singleton. Singleton, a former account director at Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) in Birmingham, left agency life after a decade to launch Craner & Kirkman. Originally started as a side hustle, the business now supports sellers across Amazon, Etsy, TikTok Shop, eBay, and Shopify. The new facility at Soloman Park more than doubles the company’s operational space and allows Craner & Kirkman to meet growing demand from UK and EU-based sellers. “We’ve built this business from the ground up — no outside funding, just good service and word of mouth,” said Singleton. “Moving into our new HQ gives us room to grow, but it also lets us keep raising the bar for e-commerce logistics.”

Limited NHS dental access persists in Leicestershire

April Lara
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Limited NHS dental access persists in Leicestershire

Access to NHS dental services in Leicestershire remains a significant issue, with almost 75% of local practices still not taking on new adult NHS patients. Updated data from the NHS’s “Find a dentist” website shows that out of 120 dental practices in the region, 89 are not accepting new adults, mirroring the situation from six months ago.

The situation extends beyond adults, as 59% of practices are not accepting children under the age of 18. For those who are registered, many face long waiting times, with some practices only offering appointments “when availability allows”, which often doesn’t materialise. Rural and coastal areas, in particular, are severely impacted by the shortage, leaving many patients with no choice but to turn to private dental care, which can be expensive.

Efforts to address the problem include ongoing national initiatives to incentivise dentists to take on more NHS patients. Locally, the NHS Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) is making changes to service commissioning to improve access, with a focus on areas of greatest need, including Leicester city, rural regions, and less affluent communities.

However, the issue of limited NHS dental care is not unique to Leicestershire. Nationally, 73% of NHS dentists still do not accept new adult patients, with some practices reporting waiting lists of up to 10 years.

Planning permission granted for Nottingham student accommodation scheme

Tess Egginton
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Planning permission granted for Nottingham student accommodation scheme
A purpose-built student accommodation scheme in the centre of Nottingham has been given planning permission. Peveril Securities and PMI Developments are working with Nottingham-headquartered CPMG Architects to create a residential offering consisting of 37 shared cluster flats and 50 studios – equating to a total of 247 rooms across sections ranging from three to nine storeys. Originally proposed in spring 2022, the scheme located on Glasshouse Street in the Eastside area of Nottingham has been adapted through collaboration between the project team and Nottingham City Council to ensure it brings the client’s vision together with the needs of key stakeholders. Chris White, director at CPMG, has led on the project since its inception. He said: “Throughout the design process, we’ve incorporated lots of feedback from various interested parties, while maintaining PMI Developments’ commitment to creating a high-quality offering which contributes to revitalisation of the Eastside. “The result is much-needed student accommodation that will improve the student experience while also supporting the local economy in Nottingham. “This is the third project we have worked on with PMI, strengthening the successful working relationship between us and creating more impactful outcomes. We’re excited to see our shared vision come to life, enabling students to join us in calling Nottingham their home.” The site, which sits at the junction of Glasshouse Street, Rick Street and Howard Street, is currently occupied by a single storey industrial building and has been identified as a redevelopment opportunity to help reduce student demand for surrounding homes. To contribute to the city’s ongoing regenerative change, the Glasshouse Street scheme is based on a contemporary design incorporating comforting interiors, efficient energy use, greenspace to maximise biodiversity and practical and active travel infrastructure, such as external cycle parking spaces. Paul Ruane, director at PMI Developments, said: “Nottingham has two world-class universities so it’s important that the city’s residential offering is an equally high standard to continue to attract world-class talent that will train – and hopefully be retained – in Nottingham. “We’ve maintained close collaboration with local stakeholders to design a scheme that not only helps meet the demand for purpose-built student accommodation but is sustainable and adaptable to the needs of current and future students. “This is a major milestone in our journey but will be maintaining our unwavering commitment to helping Nottingham realise its potential – to benefit students, local businesses and local communities.”

Northants company provides vital support to local community food kitchen

Tess Egginton
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Northants company provides vital support to local community food kitchen
A vegetation management and landscaping contractor is offering vital support to a local food kitchen, enabling it to provide free food to those in need in Kettering. Responding to a call out for volunteers and resources, Wellingborough-based VMS Ltd is donating time and equipment to Central Methodist Food Kitchen. Launched on Monday 7 April with a team of volunteers led by church member Vanessa Taylor-Griffiths, the service operates from its church premises on School Lane in Kettering and provides free, home-cooked, food every Monday between 3-5pm to those in need. As well as donating volunteering time on a weekly basis, VMS Ltd has also provided essential equipment including soup kettles, a rice cooker, freezer and storage cupboards, to enable the new service to get up and running swiftly. “It’s been great to see the donated items from VMS being used by the team,” said Kev Garfield, head of business support at VMS Ltd. “I’ve made a commitment to attend every weekly session and it has been fantastic to see the positive response received. “It’s a big struggle for many right now but the new service is not just about offering food, it’s about giving people the opportunity to socialise and talk to each other. Vanessa and the team should be very proud of themselves. “As a business we’re delighted to be involved and offer support to those in need within the community and I’m keen to get more businesses involved too.” Of the support, Vanessa said: “Kev was one of the first to contact me when we put a call out for support in January. VMS donated essential equipment we needed to get up and running and they have also committed to continue supporting the food kitchen long term – both in volunteering, supplies and spreading the word about what we do so that we can keep supporting the community. “Those using the services say that they love it and have found it really helpful. We now have a pool of volunteers who have all completed hygiene and safeguarding certification and we all have aprons with our names on, so that people know who we are. “The support of VMS has been brilliant and by providing us with the large cooking items needed, it has taken the pressure off and allowed us to swiftly launch this new, vital, service.” Commenting on the support given to the Food Kitchen, Rob Mallett, managing director, VMS Ltd, said: “This initiative by VMS is supported through our Asset Operation, Maintenance and Response Framework Contract with the Environment Agency. “This Framework contract allows us to support various social value projects within the communities in which we work and operate. This specific initiative is part of the Welland & Nene Region, where we currently undertake grass cutting, weed control, tree works, plus other maintenance activities and flood response on behalf of the Environment Agency.” The Central Methodist Food Kitchen is open Mondays, including Bank Holidays, from 3-5pm.

1.2million sq ft Leicester Logistics Hub site sold in Leicester

Michael Fisher
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1.2million sq ft Leicester Logistics Hub site sold in Leicester

The Drummond Estate and Inverock have agreed a sale of an 82-acre site adjacent to the M1 and M69 in Leicester. Together they secured outline planning permission for circa 106,500 sq m of advanced warehouse and distribution space at the site, known as Enderby Logistics Hub, in September 2024.

Royal London Asset Management Property, partnering with Canmoor, plans to speculatively develop 1.2 million sq ft of prime logistics space with an estimated GDV of £300m. Strategically located in the heart of the UK’s logistics ‘Golden Triangle,’ the site sits at junction 21 of the M1 and junction 3 of the M69 on the outskirts of Leicester. The development will also feature a flagship 500,000 sq ft unit to address strong occupational demand. Ultimately, Enderby Logistics Hub will help to meet the region’s pressing need for employment space and would create some 2,000 new jobs, boosting the local economy. Martin Ward, on behalf of The Drummond Estate, said: “The site offers an exceptional location, adjacent to the M1 and at the heart of the UK’s logistics golden triangle. We had an extremely high level of interest as expected and following a competitive tender process have selected Royal London Asset Management Property and Canmoor, both of which have extensive track records of high-quality developments around the country.”

Sale of Leicester packaging company set to deliver major growth

Tess Egginton
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0
Sale of Leicester packaging company set to deliver major growth
Accelerated growth is the target for The Packaging Company (Midlands) following the company’s sale to Antalis. A provider of bespoke packaging solutions to customers across the Midlands from two premises in Leicester, The Packaging Company (Midlands) was originally established in 1994 as a supplier of packaging consumables to the hosiery sector. The company has subsequently developed a customer base spanning the healthcare, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries, with annual revenues of £3.2m and a dedicated team of 24 professionals. Jacob Lord, KBS Corporate deal executive, advised on the sale of The Packaging Company (Midlands) to Antalis, a global leader in distributing paper, packaging and visual communications solutions. The acquisition will enable Antalis to expand its presence and enhance its service capabilities in the UK packaging market. “Joining Antalis represents an exciting new chapter for our business,” said Mark Charles, co-founder and CEO of The Packaging Company (Midlands). “This partnership provides significant opportunities to accelerate our growth, expand our technical packaging range and further innovate sustainable solutions. “Our customers will benefit greatly from access to enhanced resources and the latest packaging technologies. We look forward to collaborating closely to shape the future of packaging.” Nicholas Thompson, Managing Director UK&I for Antalis, said: “The talented and dedicated team at The Packaging Company (Midlands) are known for their creativity, exceptional service and customer-focused approach. “We will unlock new opportunities together, delivering even more innovative, sustainable and customised packaging solutions to delight our customers.” Jacob Lord acclaimed the work of his KBS colleague Keighley Perkin, senior research analyst, in sourcing the buyer. “We are very pleased with the outcome of the transaction,” said Jacob. “This acquisition will undoubtedly serve as a fantastic foothold for Antalis in their growth plans.”

Developer ordered to halt Leicestershire housing project over planning breach

April Lara
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Developer ordered to halt Leicestershire housing project over planning breach

Work on a 239-home development at Brascote Park in Newbold Verdon, Leicestershire, has been suspended after Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council issued Persimmon Homes a Temporary Stop Notice. The council acted after determining that construction activities had started without all necessary planning conditions being met.

This is the second time in less than a year Persimmon has received such a notice, following similar enforcement action at a site in Earl Shilton in November 2023. The latest notice demands an immediate halt to activities such as topsoil removal, bund creation, pond formation, and construction of compound areas.

The Brascote Park development has faced ongoing controversy. It was initially refused planning permission in 2023 over concerns about traffic and infrastructure strain, but permission was later granted on appeal. Reserved matters were only approved in March this year, with nearly 90 objections submitted during the planning process.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council described the Temporary Stop Notice as a key enforcement tool to prevent environmental harm and protect public safety. Council officers plan to meet with Persimmon Homes to discuss compliance and next steps. If the developer continues construction without approval, it risks prosecution.

Persimmon Homes maintains that all works have been carried out within permitted boundaries and has criticised the notice as unnecessary.

Nottingham-based Avant Homes East Midlands appoints head of sales to support regional expansion plans

Michael Fisher
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Nottingham-based Avant Homes East Midlands appoints head of sales to support regional expansion plans
Nottingham-based Avant Homes East Midlands has strengthened its senior management team by appointing a head of sales to support the housebuilder’s continued expansion across the East Midlands. David Warren has been promoted from regional sales manager having joined Avant Homes just over two years ago from Taylor Wimpey. Prior to starting his career in housebuilding, David worked in the aviation industry. In his new role, David is leading Avant Homes East Midlands’ sales team across its ten live developments ranging from Cotchett Village in Mickleover to Deacon Meadows in Uppingham. Commenting on his appointment, David said: “One of my reasons for joining Avant Homes was the clear opportunity there is for people to benefit from ongoing personal development and career progression. “Being promoted to head of sales within two years is testimony to that, and I have the privilege of leading a great cohort of talented sales professionals and working with the wider East Midlands team. “We are all focused on delivering quality homes, for everyone, and the sales team take particular pleasure from helping customers before, during and after the purchase of their new home. “As we continue to expand, we are passionate about helping even more people make their home owning dreams a reality.” Headquartered in Barlborough, near Chesterfield, the Avant Homes Group operates across the Midlands, the north of England, Scotland and South Wales. In addition to Nottingham, the housebuilder has regional operating companies located in Sunderland, Wetherby, Wakefield, Eccles, Coalville, Pontypridd and Edinburgh. Avant Homes East Midlands managing director, Ben Felton, added: “David has made a big impact since joining Avant Homes, so this is a deserved promotion. “It’s great to have him on the leadership team and he is playing a crucial role in the ongoing delivery of our regional expansion strategy through his highly effective approach to new build sales.”

RMS Locotec strengthens presence in Chesterfield rail sector

April Lara
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RMS Locotec strengthens presence in Chesterfield rail sector

RMS Locotec, a key player in industrial rail services, has centralised its operations in Chesterfield, a hub for rail-related businesses in Europe. The move merges teams and assets from various sites into an established transport and engineering facility, located near the grave of George Stephenson, a key figure in industrial rail development.

The company offers a range of services, including locomotive leasing, rolling stock maintenance, and engineering support for infrastructure across depots, ports, terminals, and quarries in the UK. RMS Locotec currently leases 16 shunting locomotives to a mix of passenger and freight operators, as well as clients in the logistics, shipping, and aggregate industries. Additionally, the company has six locomotives available for short-term or long-term hire.

With the relocation, RMS Locotec has appointed Lauren Parker as General Manager to oversee business growth and expansion into new markets. Parker, who joined the company in 2010, will focus on enhancing customer relationships and furthering the company’s reach in the industrial railway sector.

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