CityFibre makes key appointment as work gets underway on Lincoln’s Full Fibre rollout

Tess Egginton
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CityFibre makes key appointment as work gets underway on Lincoln’s Full Fibre rollout

CityFibre, the independent full fibre platform, has announced its city manager for Lincoln as it starts work on a £21m project that will see almost every home and business benefit from access to a full fibre broadband network.

Lincoln has been chosen as one of the latest cities to benefit from CityFibre’s £4bn Gigabit City Investment Programme, which will bring next generation, gigabit-speed broadband to nearly every home and business in the city, and to up to 8 million premises nationwide.

Neal Wright has been appointed by CityFibre to spearhead delivery of the Lincoln project. As city manager, Neal will be responsible for ensuring a state-of-the-art full fibre network is rolled out with minimal disruption while delivering maximum benefit for the wider community.

Neal will be overseeing work on Saxilby Road, a main access route to the city centre which saw some initial work commence yesterday, with further works due to start on Greetwell Road on 28 February. The work in Saxilby Road is planned to take around two days, while the rollout in Greetwell Road is scheduled for completion on 11 March, with traffic management systems to help minimise disruption.

Works will then progress onto Monks Road, Cannon and Winn Street.

With over 20 years’ experience in the telecoms industry, Neal is passionate about technology, digital infrastructure, and the benefits of full fibre connectivity. He joined CityFibre in 2017 having previously worked in wholesale for 10 years, where he was responsible for signing on internet service providers as partners and selling private circuits and complex WAN solutions.

Neal is also currently responsible for overseeing CityFibre’s £21m full fibre rollout in Worcester, having previously led projects in Derby and Nottingham.

Building on his wealth of experience, his new role with CityFibre will position Neal as the lead point-of-contact for all of Lincoln’s stakeholders. He will also be a key advocate of the benefits that a full fibre network will bring to city’s residents and businesses.

He said: “A state-of-the-art digital infrastructure plays a crucial role in growing and protecting local economies and I’m delighted to be leading such works in Lincoln, which will transform the city’s digital capabilities for decades to come.

“While the benefits of full fibre broadband are undeniable, we completely understand that this project is a major undertaking for the community – particularly when we need to install the network in busy arteries such as Saxilby Road and Greetwell Road. We’d like to reassure Lincoln residents that we are doing everything we can to manage disruption as much as possible, and thank them for their support and patience.”

He continued: “As we roll out the new network, we will abide by all council processes and keep residents updated. Once construction is complete, households in Lincoln will be among the growing number of UK communities with access to full fibre broadband, unlocking a new world of digital opportunity.”

Construction of the full fibre network is being delivered by Trust Utility Management on behalf of CityFibre.

Plans approved for new energy efficient council homes in St Ann’s

Eleonora Gallina
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Plans approved for new energy efficient council homes in St Ann’s
Plans for new energy efficient council homes in St Ann’s have taken a step forward when they were approved at Nottingham City Council’s Executive Board (22 February). The proposals for 24 homes for affordable rent include ten 2-bed houses, five 3-bed houses and nine 1-bed apartments and will be built to higher energy efficiency standards. This will create warmer homes, using less energy, which is not only better for the environment, but will help support residents to keep their energy costs to a minimum. The homes will include triple glazed windows, increased solar power, battery energy storage, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and wastewater heat recovery to all baths.The scheme will also contain parking, car charging points and bike storage to encourage less car use. The homes would be built on the site of a disused former care home, which was no longer fit for purpose and demolished in 2019 and would be owned by Nottingham City Council and managed on their behalf by Nottingham City Homes (NCH). The development is subject to planning approval and therefore the scheme design and detail is subject to change. Right To Buy replacement funding, the money councils receive when tenants can buy their council home at a discounted rate, will help meet up to 40% of the costs for developing the new housing. Cllr Linda Woodings, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing at Nottingham City Council, said: “Building council homes which are warmer and even more energy efficient is becoming increasingly important to help support residents to keep their energy costs to a minimum, as the cost of fuel continues to rise. “Sites like Oakdene in St Ann’s which are no longer fit for purpose are part of the Nottingham City Council plan to provide high quality, energy efficient homes for affordable rent across the city and will provide much needed council housing in the area for local people in need of a home.” Joanne Hill, Assistant Director of Development at Nottingham City Homes, said: “We are aware of the need for more affordable housing in the St Ann’s area, and we’re looking forward to creating new homes at this site, subject to the necessary approvals. “There will be some parking on site for residents, although part of the appeal of this location is its proximity to the city centre and major public transport links, which makes it ideal for those who want to lower their carbon footprint in this way.”

BDO expands tax risk team across North & Midlands

Tess Egginton
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BDO expands tax risk team across North & Midlands
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has made two new hires to its tax risk team as the business continues to invest in growth in the regions. Salman Anwar joins as associate director for the Midlands and North and brings experience from working in an advisory firm and for HMRC. He will support clients with a range of aspects of managing tax risk, including dealing with enquiries from HMRC and working with businesses and individuals facing investigations. Haris Rehman has been appointed as a manager in the team. He has also built a track record in helping clients with HMRC enquiries, having started his career as a fraud and investigations specialist at HMRC where he spent five years. Lucy Sauvage, tax risk partner at BDO, said: “Businesses are facing a myriad of pressures as they navigate the long-term impacts of the pandemic and an increasingly complex tax environment. “We work with businesses to proactively address gaps in their  tax control framework to support their long-term goals, as well as helping clients to  respond to HMRC enquiries and investigations in order to reach an effective solution with HMRC. “Our own team has expanded on the back of our clients’ growth and the resilience of the mid-market. It’s brilliant to announce new hires across the region as BDO commits to attracting the best talent into all areas of the business.” Associate director, Salman Anwar, added: “BDO’s reputation in the market with clients, combined with its supportive culture made the move a compelling one. Because of my experience working at HMRC, I understand how an investigation is run inside-out. I’m really looking forward to working with the wider BDO teams to give our clients peace of mind when it comes to their tax risk and ultimately to help them succeed.”

Commercial businesses the most common victim for fraud in the East Midlands in 2021

Tess Egginton
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Commercial businesses the most common victim for fraud in the East Midlands in 2021
Despite the lockdowns experienced last year, courts across the Midlands experienced a surge in the number of fraud cases being heard in 2021. The volume of cases increased by 84 per cent, from 25 in 2020 to 46 in 2021, while the value decreased by just 1 per cent, from £59.8m in 2020 and £59m in 2021. In the East Midlands the number of cases has increased by 67 per cent, while the value of cases has decreased from £23.6m in 2020 to £16m in 2021. Commercial businesses were the most common victim type, accounting for eight of the 20 cases heard in the East Midlands. The majority of these cases were committed by employees or management. Julie Bruce, forensic director at KPMG in the Midlands, said: “As courts across the region continue making their way through a backlog of cases, we’re now starting to see a glimpse of the true picture of fraudulent activity. “The fact that the volume of fraud cases increased yet values dropped, albeit ever so slightly, could suggest that on the surface the trend of committing higher value crimes isn’t as prevalent as it has been in previous years. However, I believe it’s much more likely that this is down to the delay in cases reaching the courts, as challenging economic circumstances almost always serve as encouragement for fraudsters to take advantage. “With household purse strings tightening and concerns over rising energy bills and inflation, we expect to see a spike in fraud cases reaching courts in 2022, and if the pattern we’ve seen so far is anything to go by, we could see a record year for fraud values and volumes. With fraudsters looking for every and any opportunity to strike, businesses and consumers need to stay on high alert and ensure protective measures are in place to help them to do so.” Case studies to reach the region’s courts during this period include a Nottinghamshire-based surgery practice manager who pocketed £200k funds from his employer while claiming that the money was being spent on finding locum doctors.

The national story

The number of alleged fraud cases heard in UK courts in 2021 went up by 66 per cent compared to the same time in 2020. Despite another lengthy COVID-19 lockdown at the start of 2021, UK courts appear to have got back on their feet and made headway with the backlog of cases that built up because of initial COVID-19 measures.

Figures from KPMG UK’s Fraud Barometer released today, found 298 alleged fraud cases were heard during 2021 (up from 180 in 2020). Yet the opposite trend was seen in terms of fraud value: the Fraud Barometer figures, which records alleged fraud cases with a value of £100k and above, saw the total value of fraud reaching UK courts in 2021 fall significantly from £724m in 2020 to £444.7m in 2021.

Whilst cases in UK courts provide an indicator of fraud activity, these cases are small in the context of fraud crime reported to Action Fraud. Between 2020 and 2021 there were 875,622 reports made to Action Fraud with a reported loss value of £2.35bn, pointing out the stark reality that relatively few cases are brought to court.

When analysing the data in more detail, it appears that there weren’t any high value fraud cases over £50m last year, rather it was the lower value crimes that increased in both value and prevalence. Fraud cases worth between £100k and £5m rose from 164 in 2020 with a value of £100.3m, to a total of 285 in 2021 to the value of £178m.

Commenting on the findings, Roy Waligora, partner and head of UK investigations at KPMG, said: “With the introduction of the BEIS White Paper and heightened focus on fraud, I would hope that it has helped tackle the prevalence of high-value fraud. With increased controls, it is only logical that less of these crimes slip through the net.

“In 2020, there was a £200m film piracy case which accounted for 28 per cent of the fraud value reported, hence why there has been such a significant fall in fraud values. With new regulation and heightened awareness of fraud, I hope cases as catastrophic as that one will no longer be seen in the future.

“Another reason for the fall in value could be that more complex cases are still being delayed as a result of the pandemic or are still currently being heard in court, and we will closely monitor for this in next year’s data.”

Technology management consultancy chooses Derby’s iHub innovation centre as new base

Tess Egginton
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Technology management consultancy chooses Derby’s iHub innovation centre as new base
Specialist technology management consultancy Project4 Learning Lab is the latest hi-tech business to relocate its operation to Connect Derby’s iHub innovation centre on Infinity Park. The company was founded by Keith Howells in 2019 after a 21-year career with Rolls-Royce, working in senior engineering leadership roles and running transformational programmes. He now inspires leaders to change their way of thinking in order to improve operational performance. The office space and facilities available at the iHub will help the company to expand its services and team further as the business grows. Its six dedicated areas of expertise include leadership training and development, business agility consulting, lean agile product development consulting, coaching for performance, digital enablement, and strategy deployment consulting. The company currently employs six staff and is expanding on a growth trajectory, with revenue up three times compared to the same time last year, which was up three times on the previous year. There are plans to recruit further staff during 2022 to cope with demand. The iHub, which has Enterprise Zone status, provides flexible workspace for start-ups, early-stage businesses and high growth SME’s looking to establish, or expand their role in the transport engineering and hi-tech sectors. Since it was launched in 2016, the £12m facility has attracted a diverse range of businesses from across the rail, aerospace, and automotive supply industries. As well as 18 traditional office workspaces, it features 14 ground floor workshops for businesses seeking a more hybrid working environment. This is complemented by the innovative ‘iLab’, which provides a local facility to undertake initial design, prototyping and testing of new products and services. It features an additive manufacturing cell, including vacuum casting machine, digital microscope, 3D printers and 3D AutoCAD software. Speaking of their decision to base their business at the iHub, Keith Howells, said: “We are delighted to be at the iHub, which is perfect for our needs. It was essential for us to find a high-quality, flexible workspace, and the iHub gives us a great platform to expand our customer base and collaborate with more businesses in the planes, trains, and automobiles (PTA) sector. “The Connect Derby staff have all been very welcoming, including the reception team and business support adviser Pauline Roessler, who provided me with invaluable advice. “We enjoy helping businesses who want to be more agile and understand their external environment better to change and improve. “We work from the premise that insight and impetus result in innovation and work hard to improve our clients’ speed of learning, give them the insight to act differently and deliver innovation. Going forward we plan to grow the size of the team and increase our presence in different areas and help businesses make a bigger contribution to CSR.” Ann Bhatti, head of Connect Derby, added: “We’re excited to welcome Keith and his team to the iHub. For the last five years, the iHub has established a reputation for supporting innovative businesses like Project4 Learning Lab. “We provide a collaborative environment for businesses to grow, and we look forward to supporting the team at Project4 Learning Lab as they continue their impressive growth.”

Nottinghamshire celebrates record year for company formations

Michael Fisher
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Nottinghamshire celebrates record year for company formations
Latest figures show that more new businesses were established in Nottinghamshire during 2021 than in any previous year – despite the continuing economic challenges resulting from the pandemic. In total 8,810 new companies were registered in the county, bringing the total number of registered companies in Nottinghamshire to 58,780. The statistics come from the Inform Direct Review of Company Formations using data from Companies House and the Office for National Statistics. Nottingham formed the highest number of new businesses (3,255), followed by Mansfield (1,091) and Broxtowe (976). John Korchak, Operations Director at Inform Direct said: “It is excellent news to see that Nottinghamshire has achieved a record year for new company formations during 2021 despite the continuing challenges of the pandemic. “This demonstrates an active economy with entrepreneurs motivated to invest in new businesses which meet current and emerging demands for goods or services. The overall picture for the UK as a whole is also an optimistic one with the total number of companies now exceeding five million for the very first time.” The UK saw 771,617 new businesses formed, compared to 780,760 in 2020. The overall number of UK companies totalled 5,005,147, a 3.5% increase on the total of 4,837,426 at the end of 2020. This continues a ten-year trend which shows the number of businesses in the UK doubling in that period. Whilst company formations grew, the number of dissolutions across the UK – 606,912 during 2021 – hit a record high. Reasons for this may be that new enterprises set up early in the pandemic may no longer be operating as people have returned to full-time employment or businesses thriving pre-COVID-19 have suffered as behavioural and spending patterns have changed.

East Midlands council leaders consider options for new devolved powers and resources

Eleonora Gallina
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East Midlands council leaders consider options for new devolved powers and resources
The leaders of Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council have released a joint statement about options for devolution. It follows the publication of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper in which local leaders were invited to put forward a vision for improved services. If approved, authorities would be granted greater powers and more funding from Westminster, to improve services and the lives of communities and residents. “It is clear the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper offers real opportunities for much needed investment in our region. We were pleased to be named in the White Paper as Cities and Counties which are ready for devolution of essential powers and resources, to help level up our places and economies. “It is important we consider all options and garner wide support. We have met to consider the options available to us, and there have been initial discussions between senior council officers and Government officials. It is too early to say where these discussions will lead. “We have made it clear that we are open to joint working, because we can see how collaboration between us and with our partners could bring significant benefits to local people. It is clear that the East Midlands has not had its fair share of government funding for a number of years, so it is important that we explore every avenue to address this issue.”
  •  Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council and Chairman of the City of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Economic Prosperity Committee (EPC)
  •  David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council
  •  Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council
  •  Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council

Green light for new business park in Lincolnshire

Tess Egginton
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Green light for new business park in Lincolnshire
Around 50 new jobs are one step closer as the green light is given for a brand-new business park in Lincolnshire. Located on the outskirts of Gainsborough, the new business park named Wharton Place, will be developed by established local commercial and residential property developer, Stirlin. Stirlin have received planning approval from West Lindsey District Council for three phases of Wharton Place, which will be their third commercial development in the area. The site is located on Foxby Lane, adjacent to Lincoln County Council’s Business Centre, Mercury House, with easy access to the A1, M180 and A15 road networks. Wharton Place will provide over 18,500 sq ft of new employment space across 1.3 acres, with a mix of light industrial units in sizes ranging from 1,270 sq ft – 2,500 sq ft. The site currently has consent for Use Class E(g), with the potential to consider other uses subject to planning. All units on the development will benefit from allocated parking, an electric sectional door, a personnel door and DDA compliant toilet facilities, as well as an eaves height of 5 metres to accommodate a mezzanine floor upon request. Tony Lawton, Managing Director of Stirlin, says: “We are delighted to receive approval for Wharton Place. We’re seeing a significant increase in demand for modern, cost-effective industrial units for manufacturing and distribution, particularly now that more people than ever are trading online. “This is the third plot of land in Gainsborough that we have purchased from Lincolnshire County Council, following the success of our two other developments in the area: Stirlin Place and Willoughton Place. “Our investment in the area is a testament to the town’s growing appeal as a thriving place to live, work and invest in. We are pleased to be able to help facilitate the town’s growing business base and bring new employment to the area.” Cllr Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economy at Lincolnshire County Council, says: “The sale of this land and development of the new business park will be a great and substantial addition to this part of Gainsborough. Building on and enhancing the commercial offer that is already in place nearby, including our own business centre Mercury House, the land will support businesses to start-up, re-locate and grow.” Now that plans are approved, further details are due to be released on the first phase imminently.

Revenue rises, pre-tax profits fall and shareholders approve acquisition at Clinigen

Tess Egginton
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Revenue rises, pre-tax profits fall and shareholders approve acquisition at Clinigen
Revenue is up, while pre-tax profits have dipped at Clinigen, the pharmaceuticals and services group, according to half year results for the six months ended 31 December 2021. The Burton-based business posted net revenue of £238.1m, up from £215.7m in the same period of the year prior. Meanwhile profit before tax was £10.1m, down from £23.5m. The news follows Clinigen’s shareholders voting to approve an increased all-cash acquisition of Clinigen by Triley Bidco Limited. In December 2021, Clinigen announced an agreement on the terms of a recommended all-cash offer by Triley Bidco Limited (a company indirectly owned by Triton Investment Management Limited) for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Clinigen. Under the terms of the original offer Clinigen shareholders would have been entitled to receive 883 pence for each Clinigen share. On 17 January 2022 the terms of an increased and final recommended all-cash offer were announced at an increased value of 925 pence for each Clinigen share. The increased final offer values the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Clinigen at approximately £1.3 billion on a fully diluted basis. Shaun Chilton, Group Chief Executive Officer of Clinigen, said: “We have seen good delivery across all areas of the business during the first half of the year. Our EBITDA and net revenue growth despite the ongoing market challenges presented by COVID-19 demonstrates the benefits of our diverse and global lifecycle platform. “Shareholders have voted to approve the increased all-cash acquisition of Clinigen by Triley Bidco Limited, which the Board has recommended, and we are excited about the next chapter of Clinigen’s growth as a private company. We will continue to focus on those areas of the business where we have sustainable competitive advantage and build out the platform to deliver more value for our pharmaceutical clients and healthcare professional customers globally.”

Major improvement plan that could create over 12,000 jobs published for A50/500 corridor

Tess Egginton
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Major improvement plan that could create over 12,000 jobs published for A50/500 corridor
Regional transport body Midlands Connect has released a major report outlining a series of improvements to A50/A500 corridor. The upgrades are targeted at reducing congestion, supporting local businesses and promoting greener transport use – including the take up of electric vehicles.   The plans from Midlands Connect could create a £12 billion economic boost and help to unlock over 12,000 jobs. New research released alongside the report shows that drivers are losing over half an hour (37 minutes) every weekday due to congestion on this vital route.   The report, called Levelling-up Stoke, Staffordshire, Derby & Derbyshire: The road to success outlines a series of strategic recommendations for long-awaited upgrades, badly needed to alleviate bottlenecks along the 90km long A50/A500 corridor, which links Derby, Nottingham and Leicester to Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and the North-West.    Large manufacturers such as JCB, Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Alstom rely on this key East-West route to keep supply chains moving and provide links to international markets – currently, traffic congestion on the A50/A500 threatens to stand in the way of business growth. The route sees between 60,000 to 90,000 vehicles passing along it every single day.   With deadlines to secure funding via the Department for Transport’s Road Investment Strategy (RIS) schemes fast approaching, Midlands Connect is working closely with local authorities and other partners to help turn its plans into reality. By putting together a phased, corridor wide approach, it is hoped that improvements can be brought forward and provide good value for money, something that has previously been a barrier to progress.  

Suggested improvements on the corridor include:   

On the corridor’s Western Section, running from Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire to M6 J15-16 (through Stoke-on-Trent):  
  • Strategic improvements to M6 J15 to resolve congestion, to improve safety and facilitate better flow of traffic on M6 and A500  
  • Enhancements at Sideway to make traffic flow more smoothly, including strategic changes to the roundabout and lanes at the junction, as well as addressing the signalled junctions that cause traffic to build up on the route  
  • Technology-led improvements to improve the reliability and safety of the M6 between Junction 15 and 16  
On the corridor’s Central Section that runs from the A50/A38 Toyota junction to Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire  
  • Grade separation of the A50 and local roads at two locations in Uttoxeter, with associated slip roads to provide access and other potential enhancements to support growth and boost local active travel networks   
  • Enhancements to existing roundabouts at Sudbury and Blythe Bridge to increase capacity and reduce delays   
On the corridor’s Eastern Section from the M1 to A50/A38 Toyota junction  
  • Improvements to A38/A50 Toyota junction to improve capacity, safety and general operation (recommended as immediate priority to be delivered through an appropriate source of funding).  
  • Widening of the A50 south of Derby, between Junction 2 for the A6 at Chellaston and Junction 3 for the A514 near Aston-on-Trent (recommended to be undertaken in RIS4).  
  • Building a new link road between the A50 (near junction 1) and A42 (near junction 14, Breedon-on-the-Hill). This is recommended as a long-term option to be considered for RIS5 or beyond.  
Commenting on the release, Sir John Peace, chair of Midlands Connect, said: “This report released today outlines why upgrades to the A50/A500 manufacturing corridor are crucial both to keep international markets open after Brexit and to reduce emissions by enabling more direct and efficient journeys.    “This suggested strategic enhancement plan from Midlands Connect is based on comprehensive research which proves just how economically important this 90km East-West stretch of road between Crewe and Derby is. Improvements will also make it easier for business and local communities to prepare for a future where electric vehicles and alternative fuels become the norm.   “A key location for manufacturing and industrial activity due to its fantastic links with major UK cities and local supply chains, the corridor is home to industry leading businesses including JCB, Toyota, Rolls Royce and Alstom, and will soon link the new HS2 hubs at Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent with the planned freeport close to East Midlands Airport. “However, the busy A50/ A500 has slowly become more congested over time and regular bottlenecks form at junctions during peak times. Widespread development is planned for the surrounding area, meaning that change is needed now, with this sustainability-led plan to keep locals, employees and businesses moving.”
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