New investment brings a bright smile to Cardinal Square
Nurton Development’s £150,000 investment at Cardinal Square to boost the wellbeing of its occupiers has helped attract new letting Smile Dental.
Smile Dental has taken 1,350 sq ft at the landmark building which now includes a revamped internal courtyard, which is a hidden oasis in Derby city centre.
The new courtyard includes greenery, water features, meeting pods and outdoors games so people working at the Grade A offices can enjoy being outside come rain or shine.
Created by local company, Talbot Landscaping, the investment is part of on-going upgrades to the offices which has totalled £1.5 million over the past three years.
Smile Dental is one of a number of occupiers signing up to the improvements including Bulkhead, Freeth’s, City Fibre, FTT, Randd, Astute, FHP, and the NHS.
David Dyas, asset manager for Nurton Developments, said modern occupiers are looking for buildings that offer more than just offices.
“Creating a high-quality working environment now involves thinking about the experience of the workplace as much as the physical offices, and providing attractive spaces for employees to work, meet and enjoy breaks are important considerations for wellbeing and productivity.
“The new-look courtyard is like a pocket park to bring the Cardinal community together and provides a unique added value amenity, in addition to all the great shops, restaurants and bars just a short walk away.”
Dyas added: “Being able to connect to the outdoors is a welcome surprise for new occupiers and offers a real wow factor for people as they walk through the building.
“Smile Dental is one of a number of lettings we’ve gained over the past 12 months including FTT and Randd and we’re pleased to welcome them to the building and demonstrate that our strategy for positive asset management pays off.”
Following the letting to Smile Dental, the third floor is being divided up into three refurnished suites ranging in size from 1,111 sq ft to 3,748 sq ft, to accommodate businesses in Derby looking to get ahead or downsize their footplate in the city.
FHP and Rigby & Co act as joint agents on the scheme.
Siblings team up to launch Engage & Grow Central Midlands
Employee engagement specialist Rachael Bull has teamed up with her brother and leading UK coach Matt Bull, to launch Engage & Grow in Central Midlands.
Engage & Grow is a global brand that focuses on re-engaging and re-energising workforces across the world, through bespoke group coaching programmes and workshops, operating in more than 80 countries. Its mission is to create a globally engaged workforce, one employee at a time.
After a successful career in journalism and public and private sector communications and engagement, Rachael became a certified coach and has joined her brother and Managing Director at ActionCOACH Loughborough, Matt, to launch Engage & Grow.
Rachael said: “It’s fantastic to be teaming up with Matt to bring Engage & Grow to the Central Midlands. My previous roles have always centred around communication and engagement, but what drew me to the business was the focus on bringing leaders and employees together to decide what actions and behaviours will help the business succeed, actually putting it all into practice, and seeing results so quickly.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy what they do, we spend so much of our lives in the workplace and if people are coming to work demotivated and uninspired then neither the employee nor the employer will benefit.
“Part of Engage & Grow’s mission is to re-engage employees and help businesses enjoy the huge value and benefits of having an engaged workforce. You can’t grow and be successful with disengaged staff and I believe it’s something that every business needs to do. Companies not doing so are missing a trick – those with engaged employees enjoy 22% more profitability, as well as significantly lower staff turnover and great retention.”
Matt said: “I’m really excited to be on this new venture with Rachael, combining my coaching experience with her employee engagement expertise. Our goal is to help leaders recognise the impact that having engaged staff can have on the business, through developing their leadership, communication and culture – all things that can easily be neglected. In fact, only 9% of the UK’s workforce is engaged.
“Globally over the past decade, Engage & Grow has brought about an average of +257% engagement growth for SMEs and +361% engagement growth for corporates and governments – our goal is to bring that success to the region’s workplaces.”
Engage & Grow Central Midlands, which is based in Loughborough, works with organisations across Nottingham, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Programmes can be delivered, either in person or virtually.
Rachael and Matt are offering companies the opportunity to get clarity on their current employee engagement score through a free-of-charge, no obligation survey. “This is first crucial step – knowing what your engagement score is and the aspects of engagement that are stifling your organisation’s success,” Rachael explains. “We can then advise on the best way forward to make the improvements needed to ramp up that score and bring about the numerous benefits that increased employee engagement brings.”
Employers can start the Engage & Grow processes by first getting a clear idea of where their business is at and how engaged employees are. Engage & Grow offers employee surveys to create bespoke plans for companies, at no obligation.
To find out more about Engage & Grow Central Midlands and its free engagement survey, please visit: www.engageandgrowcentralmids.co.uk or contact Rachael Bull on Rachael@engageandgrowcentralmids.co.uk
Planners approve trio of new developments at Leicester’s Pioneer Park
Commercial developer, Brackley Property Developments (BPD) has secured planning consent to deliver three new buildings at a science and technology park in the East Midlands.Leicester City Council has given approval for the development of Plot 3C, a c.1.1 acre parcel of vacant land at Pioneer Park, Exploration Drive, within Leicester’s Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone.The new self-contained developments will deliver high quality, contemporary accommodation suitable for knowledge based and creative businesses, ranging in size from 6,000 – 25,000 sq ft. Features will include LED lighting, raised floors, heating and cooling systems, as well as dedicated on-site parking, EV charging provision and cycle storage.Major infrastructure works are underway to support the new business space at Pioneer Park and bring forward an adjacent four hectares of land at Space Park, University of Leicester’s development for space research, learning and innovation. More than 42 high-tech businesses are already located within the Dock, a successful and managed development within the existing science park.Managing Director of BPD, Stephen Pedrick-Moyle, said that the developer had begun a design and tender process and anticipated being on site at Pioneer Park in early 2023.He said: “We’re pleased to have exchanged with Leicester City Council and secured planning consent for the development of Plot 3C. These new buildings will enhance the facilities available to the research and development sector and will cover a wide range of uses, from software development to bespoke laboratory space. They also have the potential to support local jobs, retaining talented graduates from Leicester’s two universities.”
East Midlands timber firm acquired by National Timber Group
East Midlands firm SV Timber has been acquired by Sheffield-based National Timber Group (NTG) in its drive to be the largest, independent, specialist timber processing and distribution group in the UK, with a focus on value-added products and solutions.
SV Timber fills a geographic gap in NTG’s existing branch network and further extends its customer reach within the Midlands. This follows the acquisition of Orchard Timber in late 2021 and the development of specialist business units National Timber Systems (NTS) and Intelligent Door Solutions (IDS).
Established in 2004, SV Timber is a specialist, independent timber merchant supplying a range of timber materials to a broad range of trade and commercial customers, including joiners and manufacturers, from three branches. SV Timber recently supplied the timber for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The former directors of SV Timber will remain in the business, working closely with Patrick Guest, Managing Director of NTG England, to ensure a smooth integration into the Group and to realise the full potential of the opportunities that this partnership offers for future growth.
By joining the Group, the customers of SV Timber will also have access to a broader range of products and services, including national delivery capability, bespoke timber production, door-set manufacturing, and engineered roofing systems.
Ed Holder, Managing Director of SV Timber, said: “When the opportunity arose to join the National Timber Group, we were really pleased to find we share the same passion and vision to drive the business forward. The scale and capability of the Group will help us to strengthen what we do and allow us to further improve the value we can deliver to our customers.”
Patrick Guest, National Timber Group Managing Director for England, added: “As a specialist added-value timber distributer, we are absolutely delighted to welcome SV Timber to the Group – our shared expertise and commitment to our customers makes this a great partnership. Together, we will extend our range of services and capability in the region, further improving our customers’ experience.”
Mike Ashley to stand down from Frasers Group board
Frasers Group has announced that Mike Ashley will not be standing for re-election as a director at this year’s annual general meeting and will therefore step down from the board following the AGM on 19 October 2022.
The firm said Mike Ashley will continue to be available to the board and senior management in an advisory capacity when called upon.
As part of Mike Ashley’s continuing support for the business and its elevation strategy, he will provide the group with £100m of additional funding alongside and on the same commercial terms as the group’s existing unsecured borrowing facilities.
Mike Ashley said: “Since Michael Murray took over the leadership of Frasers Group earlier this year, the business has gone from strength to strength. It is clear that the group has the right leadership and strategy in place and I feel very confident passing the baton to Michael and his team.
“Although I am stepping down from the board, I remain 100% committed to supporting Frasers and Michael’s plans and ambitions, and I look forward to helping the team as and when they require me. My commitment and support as a Frasers’ shareholder is as strong as ever.”
Michael Murray, CEO, added: “Mike has built an incredible business over the past 40 years and, on behalf of the board and the group, I want to thank him for all he has done. With our new strategy and leadership team, we are driving this business forward at pace and we are all excited for the future.
“We are grateful to have Mike’s support and expertise available to us as we continue the next stage of Frasers Group’s journey.”
Fashion marketplace’s directors reject Frasers Group’s takeover offer
The directors of Australian-based fashion marketplace MySale have recommended that shareholders do not accept Frasers Group’s offer to snap up the business.
In August Shirebrook-based retailer Frasers Group revealed a cash offer to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of MySale not already held by the business for 2 pence per share.
It came after Frasers Group acquired a 28.7% stake in MySale earlier this year.
The offer valued the rest of the company at approximately £13.6 million.
At the time Frasers Group said that it had “extensive ambitions to grow its business outside of the UK and is exploring the potential for further international expansion through acquisitions, joint ventures and organic openings.”
The company noted it had not made an approach to, or had any discussions with, MySale management in relation to the offer. Frasers Group added that it intends to invest in MySale and use MySale as a vehicle for making other investments in the region.
Now, however, the MySale directors have said they “are of the view that a price of 2 pence per MySale Share does not reflect an adequate value or premium for control of MySale and therefore undervalues MySale and its prospects.”
A statement continued: “Accordingly, the MySale directors, who have been so advised by Singer Capital Markets as to the financial terms of the offer, do not consider the terms of the offer to be fair and reasonable AND THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT MYSALE SHAREHOLDERS DO NOT ACCEPT THE OFFER, just as they will not accept the offer in respect of their own shareholdings in MySale.”
Rolls-Royce completes sale of ITP Aero
Rolls-Royce has completed its sale of ITP Aero to a consortium of investors led by Bain Capital Private Equity, at an enterprise value of approximately €1.8 billion.
The completion of the transaction, which was announced on 27 September 2021, follows the announcement on 3 August 2022 of approval of the transaction from the Spanish government.
Sale proceeds were €1.6 billion. In addition a dividend of €0.1bn was paid shortly prior to completion. The proceeds will be used to reduce debt with the immediate repayment of Rolls-Royce’s £2 billion loan, which is supported by an 80% guarantee from UK Export Finance, helping to rebuild the Rolls-Royce balance sheet in support of its ambition to return to an investment grade credit profile in the medium term.
The sale of ITP Aero completes the disposal programme Rolls-Royce announced on 27 August 2020.
ITP Aero will remain a key strategic supplier and partner for Rolls-Royce across both Civil Aerospace and Defence programmes.
Council steps in to deliver building contracts after contractor ceases trading
Bolsover District Council has announced that it will be taking over a number of building contracts after the contractor it used went into administration.
Woodhead Construction announced on Thursday 15 September 2022 that they were ceasing trading, putting contracts like the council’s Bolsover Homes scheme at risk.
However the council says it has stepped in and took the decision to continue to deliver both the live projects and any projects that are planned, without delay.
Bolsover District Council is currently investing £36m in building new council properties including current sites at Langwith and Shirebrook and is working in partnership with Elmton-with-Creswell Parish Council on the new Heritage and Wellbeing Centre and can confirm all projects will continue as planned.
Council leader, Steve Fritchley, said: “The key thing for me was to keep our building program going to ensure we deliver what we said we would. We have therefore employed the current site managers where appropriate and are talking to the sub-contractors to ensure they are fully engaged to make sure the projects continue.
“Once we learned the contractor was to cease trading we took swift and decisive action to ensure our assets were protected and we could continue to deliver what we had set out to do.
“I am a big believer in the council being in control of its own destiny so we are putting into place plans to ensure we have more control of our future residential and commercial projects.”
Regenerative farming conference at the Midlands Machinery Show
The NFU will hold a half-day conference on regenerative farming at the Midlands Machinery Show on 16 November.
The ‘mini conference’ is aimed at farmers who want to find out more about what regenerative farming is, beyond the buzz word. It will include sessions that outline regenerative farming practices; examine the impact of practices on businesses’ bottom lines; and talks from farmers already employing regenerative farming.
“I am delighted to be chairing the East Midlands NFU Conference this year,” says David Exwood, NFU vice president.
“The growth in interest from farmers about regenerative farming is clear to see and with this conference, our role will be to help members understand the principles and how it might fit into their businesses as food producers.”
Simon Fisher, NFU environment adviser, is organising the conference. “It is for farmers who see a lot of words about regenerative farming but wonder what it’s all about,” he explains. “Soil health is under the microscope at the moment, and that’s the foundation of regenerative agriculture – Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy focused on it, as does the NFU’s own Foundation of Our Food report.
“We also know that Defra is putting together a soil health action plan, and there is generally a lot of interest in regenerative farming amongst farmers themselves – this conference will therefore help them make a bit more sense of it all.
“We know a lot of soils are depleted, and if we’re going to be a more sustainable industry going forward then we’ve got to start putting some of these things right – if nothing else for the next generation of farmers.”
Precision technology to minimise inputs and no-till drills can help with more sustainable farming, adds Mr Fisher. And there will be plenty of them to see and compare at the Show itself, along with farm business consultants offering advice on the various environmental and grant schemes available.
Survey will paint picture of regenerative farming in region
The NFU is also hoping to use the conference to run a survey about what regenerative farming practices farmers are already using in the region, says Mr Fisher.
“There are five regenerative farming principles, and a lot of farmers are probably already doing at least some of these, like cover cropping and min-till which plenty of people have been doing for about five to seven years now. It will be interesting to see who is doing what, and how many are engaged in the full regenerative farming spectrum.”
Octavian Security UK appoints new armed forces champion
Octavian Security UK has appointed Rick Todd as its new armed forces champion.Rick joined the army in 1985, and was born into a military family. His father was in the RAF. Rick ceased his army career in 1999 with his final posting in Germany, as a full corporal before stepping into the security world and embarking on his new career path. He joined Octavian in July 2022 as its new operations manager.The armed forces champion is the person who supports and works with HR to bring veterans, reservists and forces families into the company and assists them with their career path.Reshma Sheikh, chairperson at Octavian Security UK, said: “We are proud of their Silver status through the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, and our armed forces champion is the ‘go-to’ person for any staff seeking advice on a range of matters.”
