HR consultancy expands health & safety provision with acquisition
A HR services consultancy has made its largest acquisition to date, while strengthening its position in the Health & Safety sector.
HR Solutions has significantly expanded its reach in the field by bringing Essential Safety on board – a health & safety and fire safety consultancy, with a team of 12.
Essential Safety is an established Health & Safety consultancy with offices in Corby and London. Its team of experienced and IOSH qualified consultants support and advise clients in a broad range of industries and sectors, including construction, education, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.
Greg Guilford, CEO of HR Solutions, said: “Essential Safety has an excellent reputation in the Health and Safety sector due to the expert knowledge of its consultants and its dedication to clients.
“As a result of this, the company has secured larger corporate clients, as well as working with SMEs. The company’s 25 years’ experience and its expertise compliments HR Solutions’ offering, having recently launched its Health and Safety division in 2020.
“This is a great opportunity to work with a like-minded business that has service delivery and client satisfaction at the heart of what they do.”
The acquisition is HR Solutions’ fifth over the past six years. In 2015 the company merged with Business Human Resources Solutions, followed by the acquisition of HR Services (UK) in 2017, the addition of Crispin Rhodes in 2020 and Cherington HR earlier this year.
Greg added: “Whilst HR Solutions continues to grow organically, we are excited by the opportunity of acquiring similar business to be able to offer a wider range of services to businesses.”
As a result of joining HR Solutions, Essential Safety’s clients will benefit from a wider service offering and access to additional experienced staff with extensive skills.
Dean Howells, Managing Director at Essential Safety, added: “We are delighted to be joining the HR Solutions team, who we have trusted for HR advice and support for the last 10 years. Our clients will now have access to a broader range of services and support from a wider team of consultants and advisors.
“Helping our clients succeed safely has always been at the heart of everything we do at Essential Safety, and that will not change. This new alliance will add further investment and impetus into our business, and our consultants and advisors will benefit from increased support as they continue to deliver the high levels of service our clients expect.”
With a head office in Kettering, Northamptonshire, HR Solutions operates in a variety of industries and has a client list that ranges from small care agencies to multi-national technology firms.
Frasers Group rings up nearly £1bn funding in largest retail deal this year
Frasers Group has refinanced nearly £1bn in bank facilities as it seeks to continue its Elevation Programme.
It will be able to access credit facilities and a term loan totalling £930m to support its growth ambitions. Frasers Group is on an ambitious elevation strategy and continues to invest significantly across its portfolio of retail fascias and digital platforms.
Jointly led by HSBC UK and backed by several other lenders, the deal refinances £913.5m of existing loan facilities and adds £16.5m in new funding. It is the largest bank funding package to be secured in the British retail sector this year.
Chris Wootton, Chief Financial Officer at Frasers Group, said: “Partners like HSBC UK, will allow us to continue with our commitment to the UK high street and retail sector – investing significantly into the future with our on-going elevation strategy that fuels our long-term growth.”
Richard Bacon, relationship director at HSBC UK, added: “The retail sector is undergoing immense change and it is crucial for retailers to have the capability and flexibility to evolve. Frasers Group has a clear plan in place and this substantial package is evidence of our support for, and confidence in, its future direction.”
Work to transform heart of Grimsby given boost
Plans to transform the heart of Grimsby have been given a boost with the appointment of a specialist development management organisation to lead the project.
Queensberry, a nationally recognised regeneration specialist has been brought on board to drive the “Future High Streets” town centre project forward which will create a mixed use cinema and leisure space and a new market in the centre of Grimsby.
Queensberry will coordinate the whole project, from overseeing the work to progressing planning applications, developing the business plans, through to the construction of the new facilities.
Queensberry has been working in partnership with local authority clients for over 10 years. They are currently working on a number of urban regeneration schemes that are transforming places including Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster, Nuneaton as well as several in London.
Cllr Callum Procter, Cabinet member for Economic Growth at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I’m delighted to have Queensberry on board to help us really push on with our plans to transform the heart of the town and build on the great work that’s already been done at St James’ Square and Garth Lane.”
Charlotte Dunlop, Asset Manager at Capreon, the asset managers for Freshney Place, said: “With their vision, knowledge, and extensive credentials, we are confident Queensberry will drive the successful delivery of this exciting town centre project.”
Paul Sargent, CEO, Queensberry, said: “We can’t wait to get started on the scheme with Freshney Place and the Council. We have a huge amount of experience of working with local authorities and understand the challenges that lay ahead. We recognise that Grimsby has its own personality and we will work closely with the Council and the community to restore civic pride and deliver a sustainable long term future for the town.”
This decision means that the Council, in partnership with town centre regeneration specialist, Queensberry, will now progress to the design and consultation phase, with plans to consult local residents and businesses to be announced in the coming weeks.
Earlier this year, the government awarded £17.3 million for the Future High Streets Fund bid from the Council and the owners of Freshney Place Shopping Centre.
The project will provide a leisure-led scheme for the centre of Grimsby town which incorporates a new market and food hall alongside new leisure and retail units and a new cinema.
The overall aim of the project is to provide a new space for people to enjoy the town centre’s day and evening economy.
The scheme will be delivered through the removal of some of the 1960s and 1970s buildings and retail space at the western end of Freshney Place.
New student scheme set for Nottingham at former Marks and Spencer’s Homeware store
Conditional permission has been granted for a new student accommodation scheme in Nottingham, at 22-26 Lister Gate.
Hunter UK Retail Limited Partnership are behind the plans which will transform the former Marks and Spencer’s Homeware store, which has been vacant since March
2020.
The proposals include the partial change of use and conversion of the building, partial demolition at ground to second floors, and 5/6 storey new build accommodation at the rear.
156 bed spaces will be provided in 22 cluster flats and 56 self-contained studios.
Two new retail units will also be created.
Council to cut 50-60 jobs as it looks to save £12.1m
Next week, Derby City Council’s Cabinet will meet to discuss the development of the Council Plan and Mid Term Financial Strategy, including proposals to cut 50-60 job posts.
Cabinet members will review the progress of developing the Council Plan and Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the 3-year period 2022/23 to 2024/25. The plan builds on the Council’s Recovery Plan, refocusing outcomes to ensure better partnership working for the city, improved working with residents and communities and Derby City Council’s ambitions for the future. To support this approach a new Council Vision is proposed of:
Ambitious for Derby – Working with the city, For the city
The Council’s priorities for the future will be focused around four partnership themes. The proposed partnership themes include:
- Green Derby – Making a positive impact on our environment
- Vibrant Derby – A reimagined City Centre with culture at its heart
- Growth Derby – Creating a modern smart city with jobs and skills for the future
- Resilient Derby – Working with communities to reduce poverty and inequalities
Chilled food company snaps up frozen specialist
Wrights Food Group has been sold to The Compleat Food Group.
The Compleat Food Group was formed through the merger of Nottingham-based Addo Food Group and Winterbotham Darby in January 2021 in order to become the UK’s no. 1 chilled prepared food company.
The acquisition of Wrights, a specialist in frozen foods, complements The Compleat Food Group’s existing chilled portfolio, significantly expands its customer base and provides it with much greater penetration into the UK’s foodservice markets.
Wrights Food Group was founded in 1926 as a local family-owned pie business. Under the leadership of Peter Wright, it has grown into one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of frozen savoury pastry, sweet bakery and ready meals to foodservice and retail channels across the UK. It also operates a chain of branded bakery stores in the Northwest.
Oghma Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to the shareholder of Wrights Food Group.
Mark Lynch, partner at Oghma Partners, said: “We were thrilled to be able to work with Peter and the Wrights management team on the sale of the business to The Compleat Food Group. It was important to Peter to pass the ownership of his business to a purchaser that would build on the legacy which the Wrights family worked so hard to create.”
Lincolnshire-based premium foods provider secures £250,000 growth funding
A food & drink producer based across Lincolnshire has secured £250,000 to upgrade its production facilities, create jobs and service its growing customer base.
Wild Jacks Ltd secured the finance from Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). The MEIF funding will help to upgrade the company’s production facilities and create eight new jobs in the next year.
The investment will also allow the company to increase capacity in its existing events catering facilities, refurbish the premises and service new national contracts.
Founded in 2020 by Stuart and Joanna Hancock, Wild Jacks sources high-quality foods, bakery and meat products from Lincolnshire and operates multiple business lines, working with local producers, arable and meat farmers to sustainably provide these products to a range of customers.
Wild Jacks is home to a number of brands including Odling’s Butchers of Navenby, Welbourne’s Wine & Deli, Welbourne’s Bakery and their most recent acquisition, JH Starbuck (Baker & Caterer).
Stuart Hancock, founder of Wild Jacks, said: “Lincolnshire has a proud history of agriculture and thanks to this investment, we will be able to accelerate our growth plans to offer high-quality, sustainable and local produce to a national range of customers. It has been great working alongside Leo and The FSE Group’s Midlands team, the funding arrives at a really important time for the business as we scale up our operations to service our growing customer numbers.”
Leo Magee, investment manager at The FSE Group, which manages the MEIF Debt Finance Fund, adds: “We were impressed by Wild Jacks’ track record of rapid growth. The team boast senior personnel with significant experience in the industry. Additionally, the company has an impressive suite of business lines with a focus on providing the best locally sourced products. We are delighted to be able to offer this funding and look forward to working with Stuart, Joanna and the team to ensure they reach their goals for growth.”
Sarah Louise Fairburn, chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Food Board, said: “This is great news for an exciting new Lincolnshire business, and this funding underlines the importance of the food sector to Greater Lincolnshire. Our area is home to some outstanding food producers, from fish to free range pork and from cheese to chocolate. It’s no wonder that a business which champions Lincolnshire produce has become so successful so quickly. The new UK Food Valley will raise the profile of our food sector even higher and make it easier for innovative businesses like Wild Jacks to thrive.”
Mid-market investor in advanced discussions to make offer for Burton pharma firm
Clinigen, the Burton-based pharmaceutical products and services company, has received a non-binding indicative proposal from Triton Investment Management Limited for a possible offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the business.
The board of Clinigen said it is in advanced discussions with Triton regarding the proposal, but there can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made for the company, nor as to the terms on which any firm offer might be made.
Triton is an investment firm focused on mid-market businesses. They sit within one of four sectors: industrial tech, services, consumer and healthcare.
Triton is required, by no later than 30 December, to announce a firm intention to make an offer for Clinigen or that it does not intend to make an offer.
Grade A office development fully let
Toll Bar House, a 7,105ft² Grade A office development in Edwalton, has now been fully let by FHP Property Consultants.
The three story modern office building is located on the edge of a major residential development next to Wheatcroft Garden Centre that also includes an Aldi supermarket, Costa Coffee Drive-Thru and McDonald’s.
Internally, the office suites provide open plan accommodation, benefitting from LED lighting, heating/cooling systems, shower facilities, with a feature full height glazed reception area and car parking facilities.
The building is now home to Oxalis Planning, T.Bailey Asset Management and IFS (UK) Ltd.
Thomas Szymkiw of FHP Property Consultants’ Office Department, who acted on behalf of the landlord, said: “Toll Bar House is one of the city’s premier new office developments and I am absolutely delighted to have secured tenants for the building.
“Increasingly, business parks are becoming ever more popular with occupiers who are now employing more flexible working practices and therefore require their offices in more accessible locations.”
Westminster endorsement for Leicester space cluster
The ‘integral’ value of the University of Leicester and its flagship Space Park Leicester development to the UK’s space sector has been highlighted in Parliament.
Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West, spoke at a Westminster Hall debate of the significant contribution which the University and its projects continue to make to the UK space sector, following her visit to Space Park Leicester in November.
Science Minister, George Freeman, added his endorsement of the work taking place at Leicester, describing the region as “an absolutely vital location in the UK space ecosystem”.
He went on to describe Space Park Leicester as “an excellent example of locally-led regional technology hubs, and one that I am encouraging others to look at”. He added that “Space Park Leicester is absolutely integral” to the UK’s contributions in space science and technology.
The University of Leicester has a long-standing space heritage stretching back more than six decades.
Leicester research and innovation in space plays a major role in the UK space sector, with Space Park Leicester expected to boost the regional economy by £750m a year and create 2,500 jobs while supporting many of the national objectives of the Government’s new National Space Strategy, published in September.
Speaking as part of the Parliamentary motion, Liz Kendall said: “There is huge potential for space science and technology to create the high skill, high quality jobs of the future, to boost economic growth, to tackle climate change, and help keep our country safe.
“Leicester is at the forefront of the space sector in this country, and is extremely well-poised to lead development both nationally and internationally.
“The University of Leicester is globally recognised for its space research. Space Park Leicester builds on this proud tradition, bringing together our world-leading University research with industry in state-of-the-art high-tech facilities.
“Space Park Leicester is very well-placed to lead growth in the UK in low-cost satellite production and across the world.”
The debate also highlighted the work of the neighbouring National Space Centre – and in particular its National Space Academy outreach programme, inspiring the next generation of STEM ‘superheroes’ – plus the vital work of the UKRI-NERC National Centre for Earth Observation, hosted at Space Park Leicester.
The first phase of Space Park Leicester, with partners including Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, opened to researchers in the summer. The first resident businesses include AST SpaceMobile. A second phase, containing state-of-the-art workshops and labs, as well as the UK’s largest academic clean room for the assembling and testing of space equipment, is due to be operational to most of its occupants by Christmas.
Future plans include further development on the Leicester site, with a commercial Low Cost Access to Space (LoCAS) payload and satellite manufacturing facility for the manufacture of mid-range satellites.
