Global manufacturer signs up for final phase of Leicester Distribution Park
Property developer Graftongate has announced the first letting in the final phase of development at the 45-acre Leicester Distribution Park (LEDP), a joint venture with Blackrock.
Piping Rock, a global manufacturer and supplier of health products, has signed a 10-year lease on Unit 8, a newly built, speculative distribution unit extending to 75,000 sq ft. The letting marks the US health product giant’s expansion in the UK market.
The final phase three of LEDP will deliver four new distribution and logistics units with a combined area of 300,000 sq ft. All four units will be completed in March 2022 and include remaining units of 30,000 sq ft, 45,000 sq ft and 150,000 sq ft.
The units have been built to carbon neutral construction and operational standards, and are rated as BREEAM ‘very good’. They will benefit from sustainability features including PV solar panels, EV charging points, rainwater harvesting, sustainable drainage systems and intelligent energy monitoring.
Graftongate and BlackRock developed four units with a total area of 400,000 sq ft during the first two phases of the scheme, for established occupiers including Samworth Brothers, Power Towers, Company Shop Group and Leicester Tissue Company.
The completed scheme will contain eight Grade A logistics units with a total combined area of 700,000 sq ft.
Colin Beasley, director at Graftongate, said: “Piping Rock are a welcome new occupier to the scheme and we wish them all the best in their expansion into the UK market. They have chosen LEDP to locate their national distribution centre and will benefit from its location at the heart of the UK distribution network. We have very strong interest in the remaining units and we hope to be able to announce further lettings shortly.”
International Air and Space Training Institute takes another step forward in Newark
The planning application for the IASTI’s permanent home – a state-of-the-art Institute in central Newark – has been approved.
Students at the International Air and Space Training Institute (IASTI) are already experiencing some of the most exciting technical training and development opportunities in the UK, and now the future dreams of Newark’s younger generation take another step forward.
Since launching in September 2021, the first intake of students at IASTI Newark have been honing their flying skills in the flight simulator (currently based at the interim facility at Newark College) and taking to the air in the IASTI’s leased aircraft from Nottingham Aerodrome in Tollerton, to put their theory into practice.
Those studying on the engineer pathway can learn and enhance their skills on brand new equipment, providing the most up-to-date training experience. While learners that elect the ground pathway will have their eyes opened to the varied career possibilities within this field, including air traffic control, airfield operations and aircraft dispatchers.
Once their training is complete, IASTI students will provide the UK with the next generation of pilots, engineers and ground crew thanks to the input and support from industry experts including the Royal Air Force, East Midlands Airport, Inzpire, AAR, Leonardo, Eagle Eye, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance and the National Space Centre.
The momentum is set to grow further with building work due to start at the IASTI’s permanent home in Summer 2022. The new state-of-the-art Institute, in central Newark, is expected to open its doors in September 2023, when there will be a focus on both further and higher education offers based on engineering linked with local universities, plus further specialism in cyber, avionics and robotics, and communications.
Director of IASTI Newark, Tom Marsden, said: “We are delighted that our planning application has been approved. The whole focus of the IASTI is to provide training opportunities for local people in Newark and the surrounding area, so that they can enter the aviation and space sectors with the skills and contacts to succeed.
“We are developing a highly productive local workforce that can fulfil the demand for a wide range of careers within this industry; from engineers to air traffic controllers, airport operations staff, aircraft dispatchers and pilots. We are also developing aviation specific data analysis, leadership and management training to provide through life education and skills.
“The planning approval marks a significant steppingstone in our journey. We are excited to see the new Institute take shape in line with our vision and to add recognised social and economic value to our local community by providing high quality education and training.”
The IASTI is one of nine priority projects developed by Newark Towns Fund Board and is funded through the Government’s Towns Fund initiative.
Councilor David Lloyd, Co-Chair of Newark Towns Fund Board and Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “I am pleased to hear that the planning application for the first IASTI in the UK has been approved. Along with eight other priority projects, the Towns Fund projects play a huge part in transforming Newark for our younger generations to a place where people want to live, work, study and visit.
“It is with much excitement and anticipation that I wait for this transformational ambition to come to life in our wonderful town and the IASTI is an integral part to our future education offer.”
Regeneration plans for former Marks & Spencer site in Newark approved
Planning permission to preserve, enhance and redevelop 32 Stodman Street in Newark, the former Marks & Spencer site, has been granted by Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Planning Committee.
The redevelopment consists of creating 29 new homes and between two to four new retail units whilst retaining the art deco façade.
The application, submitted by architects RG+P Ltd, has been developed to retain the significance of the building whilst ensuring that it does not remain an unused building anymore. The new building will complement the surrounding historic townscape while providing high-quality housing and retail premises.
Comments received as part of the application process from heritage and conservation organisations emphasise that no harm to the significance of the front of the building will occur with the retention of the art deco facade.
The new site will also provide an opportunity to reinstate historic links by removing the eastern projection of the building to give visibility from Lombard Street to Stodman Street, improving the pedestrian thoroughfare, increasing the public realm, and returning the area to the historic layout of the town all of which is aimed at increasing greater footfall which will be welcomed by local businesses, retailers and hospitality providers.
The redevelopment of 32 Stodman Street is one of nine priority projects outlined in Newark’s ‘Town Investment Plan’ (TIP), developed by the Newark Towns Fund Board. By increasing the town centre housing offer, and therefore the resident population, it is forecast that the town centre will benefit from an increase in spend, use of facilities, footfall, new jobs, land value uplift, and improved access to services.
Councillor David Lloyd, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council and Co-Chair of Newark Towns Fund Board, said: “It is incredibly exciting that following approval from the Planning Committee, we can start to make tangible progress towards the redevelopment of the former Marks & Spencer site. Despite our best efforts, no retailer was prepared to take on the big site as it currently stands.
“These plans will provide an excellent opportunity to breathe life back into this vacant space with an interesting and imaginative design that is sympathetic to the surrounding heritage buildings in Newark town centre and materially enhance the quality of the public realm. In addition, by creating new high-quality homes, retail space and job opportunities, this redevelopment will benefit our town and its residents in the long term.”
Building work is due to begin in April 2022. The new homes are expected to be available for residents by 2024 and will compromise 16 one bed and 13 two bed apartments with private balcony spaces to the eastern side. A shared amenity space would also be provided on the third floor with 12 car parking spaces, a motorbike parking spot and 48 cycle spaces. In addition, the ground floor will include smaller retail units which are more attractive to businesses.
Inspired Villages grows senior team with two new hires
Retirement villages operator Inspired Villages has grown its senior team with the hire of Louise Read as legal counsel and Tajinder Samra as head of tax.
The appointments, which are new roles for the company, come at a key time for the business. Last year, Legal & General and NatWest Group Pension Fund committed to investing £500m into Inspired Villages to support its growth to 34 retirement communities.
Louise brings 16 years of real estate legal experience to Inspired Villages, joining the company from law firm Browne Jacobson. She was also a part-time law lecturer at Nottingham Trent and Nottingham Law School. Louise will support Inspired Villages with a wide spectrum of legal advice as the company seeks to expand its portfolio to support over 8,000 residents.
Taj, a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor, joins Inspired Villages from High Speed Two, where Taj led on tax matters for the largest infrastructure project in Europe. Taj has over 10 years of corporate tax experience and has also held roles at KPMG and PwC. Taj will take leadership of the tax function within the business, advising on corporate tax matters, managing VAT affairs and overseeing other tax-related projects within the business.
Louise said: “I’m delighted to be joining Inspired Villages at this exciting time in its evolution as a company. I wanted to take my career in a new direction and use the skills I gained in private practice to focus on work with a more obvious social impact. Inspired Villages appealed to me because of the way the company supports older people in society; I was particularly impressed by the way they kept residents safe but not isolated during lockdown.”
Taj said: “In my career I’ve always particularly enjoyed working at companies that work to improve infrastructure, so I’m pleased to be joining Inspired Villages, which delivers vital age-appropriate accommodation for older people. I look forward to bringing my many years of experience as a corporate tax specialist to this role and supporting the company in its ambitions.”
Jamie Bunce, CEO of Inspired Villages, added: “At Inspired Villages we are driving towards becoming the world’s leading retirement villages operator and we know that we can only succeed in that aim by nurturing the best talent. I’m therefore thrilled to welcome Louise and Taj to the company. They both bring a wealth of experience to their respective roles that will enhance the way we work and help us deliver retirement communities that allow older people to live the best years of their lives with us.”
450,000 sq ft business park secures planning
A new business park, which could bring over a thousand new jobs and significant inward investment to Market Harborough, has been given the go ahead by Harborough District Council – following a planning committee meeting.
The committee resolved to grant outline planning permission for the development of Wellington Business Park, comprising some 450,000 sq ft of industrial, warehousing and office accommodation on 33-acres of land north of Airfield Farm, which already has planning permission for 1,500 dwellings, a primary school and associated community facilities.
The site is strategically located to the north-west of the Market Harborough, within one mile of the A6 and forms part of the wider Market Harborough Strategic Development Area, allocated in the Harborough District Council Local Plan for development. Historically, the site formed part of the airfield that was used by the RAF in World War II and was home to the Wellington Bombers of No. 14 Operational Training Unit of RAF Bomber Command.
Commercial property agent, Prop-Search has been appointed as sole agent to market and promote the new business park.
Director at Prop-Search, Richard Baker, said: “Wellington Business Park represents an exciting opportunity to create business opportunities and we look forward to engaging further local, regional and national businesses in respect of this exciting opportunity now that we have secured the resolution.
“With its proposed sustainable and high-quality design, it will undoubtedly relieve some of the latent demand for space from occupiers and lead to a high level of job creation.
“Working closely with Harborough District Council, we are confident that this site will boost investment in the region and support local economic growth.”
Buildings will initially be available on a build to suit basis with industrial/warehouse units from 10,000 sq ft to 100,000 sq ft and office buildings from 5,000 sq ft. Opportunities will be available on a leasehold or freehold basis.
New City Masterplan set to transform University of Derby estate
A vision for how the University of Derby intends to develop its city centre footprint and improve connectivity between its sites has been launched.
The City Masterplan, which has been devised in conjunction with Matthew Montague Architects, focuses on the development of the area around One Friar Gate Square, Ford Street, Bridge Street, Agard Street and Nuns Street, in Derby.
The overall ambition is to create two distinct but linked areas in the city: an Academic Zone, centred around the University’s current Sir Peter Hilton Court site, and an Enterprise Zone, based around the Princess Alice Court halls of residence and Enterprise Centre area.
In addition to the proposed new Derby Business School, the Academic Zone will have the capability of delivering additional learning space, Union of Students’ facilities, catering, and student residential space, as well as staff and lettable office accommodation.
The Enterprise Zone will aim to deliver a mixed-use development comprising commercial lettable and business start-up/grow-on space, as well as provision for retail, entertainment and student residential space.
The Masterplan supports the University’s ongoing commitment and contribution to the inclusive and regenerative growth of Derby city and its surrounding area, encouraging enterprise and innovation collaboration with businesses and expert academics.
It aligns with the University’s aspirations to develop further as a civic institution with an increased city centre presence and enhanced connectivity across the University’s estate, delivered through the creation of greener and more connected routes from the city out to Markeaton Park, and the University’s sites at Markeaton Street and Kedleston Road.
The plan has been created to be flexibly phased, with the University’s new Business School, proposed to be built in the city centre and set to open in 2024, being the first part to kickstart the development.
Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Derby, said: “Derby is a city with huge momentum and as its only university we are committed to supporting and driving forward its ongoing regeneration, making a long-lasting positive impact on the communities within it and helping to enhance its overall offer.
“The links between the two areas we have identified are critical to developing a vibrant hub that creates a safe and welcoming space for students, staff and the wider public, and enables them to feel connected and involved in our city. This is an exciting time for both the University and the city as we move towards realising our ambitions, and we look forward to working closely with stakeholders as our plans develop.”
Matthew Montague, principal architect at Matthew Montague Architects, said: “The Masterplan is ambitious and a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future development of the University and the city. With a phased development these plans can come to fruition, and we are delighted to be involved.”
Daniel Evans, lead architect of the Masterplan, added: “The concept for design focuses on simplicity, vibrancy, safety and sustainability. It draws on Derby’s industrial heritage and uses it to create a modern environment, keeping spaces open day and night.”
Last May, the University announced its vision for a new Derby Business School. The building is projected to be the study base for over 6,000 students by 2030, who will benefit from a transformative learning environment delivering teaching, research, innovation and skills aligned to regional, national and global needs. A public consultation on the plans was held at the end of 2021 and a planning application is expected to be submitted in March.
Nottinghamshire warehouse logistics business goes into administration
H Beardsley Limited, a warehouse and logistics business supplying and distributing warehouse facilities and goods to customers across the UK for more than 90 years, has gone into administration.
Lee Lockwood and James Miller of RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP were appointed joint administrators to the Nottinghamshire-based firm on 4 February 2022.
Due to a combination of increased fuel and property costs and staff retention challenges, the directors took the decision to cease trading. The company made all 32 staff redundant prior to the appointment of administrators.
Following the appointment of RSM, administrators secured the sale of the company’s unencumbered assets together with a licence to occupy the company’s leasehold site, Huthwaite to B. Taylor & Sons Transport Limited.
Lee Lockwood, partner at RSM and joint administrator, said: “It’s disappointing to see the closure of such a long-established business in the Nottinghamshire area. This situation demonstrates that, whilst there are new opportunities in the transport and warehousing sector, significant challenges remain due to increasing running costs and staff shortages.
“To ensure that the company’s warehousing customers receive continued support throughout this process we have engaged with relevant stakeholders to secure the sale of assets and leasehold occupancy. This will support existing customers and provide new employment opportunities for a number of the company’s redundant workforce.”
Mike Ashley-backed Studio Retail to appoint administrators
Studio Retail, the digital value retailer, is set to bring in administrators after attempts to secure a £25m loan failed.
Backed by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, the business has suspended its shares on the London Stock Exchange, where on Monday it revealed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators.
On 31 January, Studio announced it had a surplus stockholding requiring additional working capital funding whilst it is sold through to customers. The company requested a short-term loan of £25m from its lending banks to fund the surplus stockholding which it believed was sufficient to enable it to sell through the stock to customers. However, these talks have failed.
Studio Retail said: “Following detailed discussions with our UK lenders, the company has not been able to reach agreement with them to provide the additional funding Studio requires.
“The Board therefore now intends to file a notice of intention to appoint administrators to SRG and Studio Retail Limited, its wholly owned subsidiary, as soon as reasonably practicable.
“The Board is taking this action to protect the interests of its creditors.”
UNiDAYS acquires Indian firm
UNiDAYS, the Nottingham-based student affinity network with over 20m members worldwide, has acquired Student Identify, the Indian digital student verification provider.
The acquisition will provide UNiDAYS, which works with over 800 global brands, with the tools and local market insight to make a marked step-change and reward more of India’s fast-growing student population.
The acquisition comes during a period of heightened growth for UNiDAYS which, after launching in India last year, predicts it will have 2.5m Gen Z members in India by the end of the 2022/23 financial year.
Launched in 2019, Mumbai-based Student Identify is an automated digital verification technology built to address the specific challenges of the India market.
By integrating Student Identify, UNiDAYS will deliver a more seamless experience to students, while giving global brand partners access to this highly valuable market in India.
Josh Rathour, founder and CEO of UNiDAYS, says: “We’re delighted to welcome Student Identify to UNiDAYS. Integrating Student Identify’s verification capabilities with our own proprietary technology will enhance our global verification solution, meeting the specific needs of the fast-growing India market and delivering a better verification experience for members and brands. Having them on board will help drive the UNiDAYS offering in India to new levels.”
Armaan Vananchal, co-founder of Student Identify, says: “Students are extremely important consumers and in today’s digital India, they are influencing purchase decisions like never before. We are thrilled to join hands with UNiDAYS and extend rewards to a new legion of customers via UNiDAYS’ advanced solutions and brand partners. This is a big moment for students in India – exciting times ahead!”
Can we really futureproof our careers? By Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency
Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency, discusses how humans and businesses can futureproof themselves.
Recently I had the pleasure of facilitating a series of webinars for the psychology department of a university I work closely with and in amongst the array of knowledgeable and inspiring speakers was a very articulate gentleman whose job title was ‘Futurist’, specialising in helping organisations manage their future and ‘navigate the new normal’- a genius business service that is more prevalent now than ever.
We explored the topic of ‘Humans Verses Machines’, covering everything from technology in the workplace to AI and everything in-between. Alongside this talk, and many others delivered by psychologists within various specialisms from forensic, to cognitive, to occupational to clinical, I noticed a stand-out key theme within their messages and that was – ‘be more human’.
What do I mean when I say, ‘be more human’?
Well, it’s exactly as it sounds, given that the hybrid world we now live in is slowly being taken over by automation and technology, some might say that we as humans are in danger of becoming extinct – well not exactly extinct, but certainly replaceable, so the obvious would be for us as humans to somehow ensure that we are irreplaceable right?
So, how do we ensure that? How do we futureproof ourselves?
The question one might ask is, what jobs are currently out there, or what business products or services can be created that we as humans can do but robots/machines can never do?
Reverting back to the presentations from the psychologists, my scribbled down notes throughout pointed to words such as ‘critical thinking’ – no amount of technology could ever replace a person’s ability to ‘reason’, ‘reflect’ and ‘experience’ – not to mention ‘creative thinking’, ‘idea generation’, ‘innovation’ itself, all of which cannot be pre-programed.
So, the answer seems simple, we must continue to draw upon our key human skills such as empathy, support, compassion, and resilience to ensure that whatever we do in our careers or businesses we offer that personal, human service of support. An almost integrated holistic way of working, which can of course still be combined with strategy, innovation and strong leadership skills – these are after all the USPs we as humans possess and have the potential to develop.
We have all learned to adapt and navigate change in our own ways these past few years, but it doesn’t stop here, we live in a world of supply and demand. When a gap in the market appears, someone, somewhere will fill it. When a new market trend goes viral, new businesses launch from it – look at how many jobs have been created from the arrival of the digital space, such as SEO experts, social media managers and the ‘influencer’ concept in more recent years as an example. ‘LinkedIn experts’ offering to assist in your digital marketing and more recently since events and education has transferred to screen, we have now seen an influx of ‘hybrid event management’ companies or ‘podcast management services’ ready to assist in offering you even more exposure via every possible platform. We have all become so accessible, so digitised and as such so much more exposed and vulnerable – which has led sadly to an increase in mental health issues.
As a result of this, we have seen an increase in mental health support services, such as holistic therapies, counselling support-based groups and the launch of retreats offering everything from yoga to fitness to meditation and as such an increase in these kinds of businesses being launched in the mainstream and guess what? We aren’t interested in booking a 1-2-1 session with a robot when we need support, empathy or compassion because quite frankly we know the only way we are going to get what we need is by seeking out someone who is…more human.
As Futurist Matt O’Neill says: “We need to get better at being human.”
Fiona Duncan-Steer, www.fionaduncansteer.com / www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk
