Office building sold at Nottingham Business Park
H4 Ash Tree Court on Nottingham Business Park has been sold to CadXtra, a multi-disciplined Design Consultancy.
H4 is a self-contained, mid-terraced office building situated across two floors, comprising 2,350 sq ft. Prior to the sale, the property underwent extensive refurbishment.
FHP collaborated with a private client to secure the sale. Despite initial limited interest, demand eventually increased. This interest led to best and final offers, resulting in a strong sale price that set a new benchmark for freehold values within close proximity to the subject property.
CadXtra, the purchaser, had been searching for an ideal office space for some time and found H4 Ash Tree Court to be the perfect fit.
FHP have also secured a new letting at G6 Ash Tree Court, which is currently under offer and expected to complete in the coming weeks. Additionally, there is interest in the remaining office suite at H7, which is available as an investment opportunity.
Amy Howard, Surveyor at FHP Property Consultants, said: “It was a great result to finalise this sale for my client. After a slow start, we soon attracted a strong level of enquiries for both rental and purchase options. We secured an excellent sale price for my client and it was a pleasure to work alongside CadXtra in the sale, helping them find their ideal office space.”
Rolls-Royce SMR prepares for next meet the buyer event
Rolls-Royce SMR is gearing up for another supplier event, the latest in a series of conferences and ‘meet the buyer’ sessions, designed to create the diverse and resilient supply chain necessary to deploy a global fleet of Rolls-Royce SMR’s factory-built nuclear power plants.
Ruth Todd, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Operations and Supply Chain Director, said: “Our Supply Chain Programme was launched at the first Supplier Conference in Sheffield last year, where we were joined by hundreds of representatives from every level of the global supply chain.
“The next conference, one of several planned for 2025, will be another important step on our journey as we continue to grow and mature as a project delivery organisation – in the UK and around the world.”
Building a world class supply chain, with a strong SME element, is critical to Rolls-Royce SMR’s success and to delivering social value in the communities where it operates, says the company.
The Rolls-Royce SMR offers a radically different approach to delivering new nuclear power. Each ‘factory-built’ nuclear power station will provide enough low-carbon electricity to power a million homes for more than 60 years, and will create thousands of long-term, high-skilled jobs.
University of Nottingham partners with food producers to pioneer future of plant-based protein products
Researchers in the Division of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Nottingham have been awarded funding to develop the next generation of plant-based protein products.
The funding is part of the UK-Canada Innovate UK initiative that aims to strengthen ties between the UK and Canadian food sectors, fostering innovation as both countries intensify efforts toward achieving net zero and creating more sustainable food supply chains.
This collaborative transdisciplinary project will involve three leading research groups from the University of Nottingham, plant-based food producer Jampa’s, as well as the Canadian food manufacturer, Tartistes
Jampa’s already has a range of clean label plant-based products focused on delivering great taste and texture. By integrating product reformulation, nutrition science, sensory science and packaging design, the project seeks to maximise the commercial success of the product and provide valuable insights into the broader category, as meat analogues face challenges from consumers.
Dr. Qian Yang, project lead at the University of Nottingham, said: “This collaboration represents an exciting step forward in our work developing innovative, sustainable food solutions.
“By collaborating with Jampa’s, this grant bridges the gap between cutting edge research and real-world application. It takes a consumer centric approach to develop nutritionally enriched and great-tasting reformulated products that truly resonate with consumers’ needs and preferences.”
Dr Yang adds: “This balanced approach will provide valuable insights in the food sector, offering healthier and more sustainable choices for consumers across global market.”
Jampa’s is building on its successful, long-standing relationship with the Food Innovation Centre (FIC) who is leading in the product design and development. The project will focus on reformulating Jampa’s current plant-based beef analogue to include local and valorised crops that have potential in both UK and Canadian markets.
To enhance nutritional value, the project places a strong emphasis on delivering nutritious plant-based products with high nutrient bioavailability and digestibility. This will be achieved at the University’s Nutritional Composition and Digestibility lab where the team will use recently developed and robust in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion techniques integrated with cutting edge mass spectrometry to evaluate protein and amino acid digestibility.
The products will then be subjected to rigorous taste tests with consumers to ensure they are optimised to the highest standards by experts at the Sensory Science Centre. The team will collaborate closely with Jampa’s innovative packaging designers to create a seamless connection with its consumers, ensuring the product characteristics are communicated effectively.
Richard Fox, Chef Co-Founder of Jampa’s, said: “Working with the University of Nottingham was an absolute game-changer for our grant application process. We’ve worked with the FIC for a couple of years, and when the IUK call came out and we needed a UK partner, they were the obvious choice.
“The entire UoN team provided unwavering support every step of the way from aligning our vision with the grant criteria to bringing together various departments whose expertise would help us achieve project objectives and create a strong proposal.
“They helped us clarify our proposal in an impactful way, and their guidance on data, formatting, IP, and deadlines ensured our application was polished and professional. What stood out most was their genuine investment in our success—they truly became partners in our journey.” 2025 Business Predictions: Andrew Bridge, Managing Partner of Fisher German
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Andrew Bridge, Managing Partner at property consultancy Fisher German.
Despite a challenging picture for businesses following the Budget in October, there will still be potential for growth in 2025.
The recent NPPF reforms were welcome, but it remains to be seen how effective it will be in delivering the housing the country needs. Inflation and interest rates may continue to slow down the residential market, with the cost of borrowing being a major factor in successful transactions.
Commercial growth may also be hindered by a lack of land supply and reliable grid connections, making it difficult for companies to expand.
However, the rise in national insurance contributions, while challenging for many businesses, could actually result in opportunities for further work.
The National Wealth Fund, a government initiative set up to attract private investment in clean energy and growth industries, is set to invest a further £5.8bn of capital into these projects during this Parliament, which the increase in NICs should help pay for.
Whether directly or indirectly, the private sector will be able to contribute to the delivery of these large-scale projects and benefit as a result.
Beyond this, businesses will increasingly look to AI to solve their productivity issues, with early adopters likely to reap the most rewards.
And looking further ahead into 2026, a planned amendment to banking regulations could free up further access to loans for SMEs and infrastructure projects, with the potential to stimulate property prices.
Nottingham haulage company starts new journey following acquisition
A freight and courier company described by its acquirer as “a credit to the previous owners” has been sold.
Direct Sameday Services was founded in 1999 and utilises a fleet of modern vehicles to provide haulage and courier services across the UK and into Europe.
The company is headquartered in Bulwell on the outskirts of Nottingham, with a North West base in Rochdale, specialising in same-day parcel, pallet and tender document deliveries and employing over 60 staff.
Westland Assets is the acquirer of Direct Sameday, having been impressed by the business built up by co-founders Ian Gleave and Paul Tomkinson.
A lengthy search for a suitable acquisition opportunity by Westland Assets director David Whitefoot culminated in the deal for Direct Sameday.
“Of all the ones I have seen in the past two years, this is the best documented and most well-run business I have seen in a long time,” David told Motor Transport.
“The business was set up just over 25 years ago and considering the (industry) regulation that has followed since then, it is a credit to the previous owners.”
There are now ambitious plans to expand Direct Sameday, with David adding: “We have bought this business with the intention to scale up, not down.
“We want to grow the business in 2025 and 2026, make more investments in it and possibly expand it geographically. We have a vision of where we want to take this business.
“This strategic investment shows the commitment of investors, vision in the UK transport industry and understanding of all the future challenges ahead. We have full confidence in Direct Sameday Services, which has a bright future ahead in 2025.”
The transaction was advised on by KBS Corporate.
“I’m delighted with the result we managed to achieve for our clients,” said Joe Norris, KBS Associate Corporate Director. “It was far from easy at times, but I’d like to credit everyone involved in the deal on both the buy and sell side for their hard work and perseverance.
“We managed to overcome every issue and arrive at an outcome that worked for everyone.”
New year brings influx of tenants to Ednaston Park Business Centre
Ednaston Park Business Centre has welcomed an influx of new tenants.
With fellow occupiers comprising IT support and service specialists, Wytech Ltd, Bennet Samways Estate Agents, and creative agency, MacMartin, the Business Centre is now also home to L.T. VA Services LTD, EAL Engine Services, Dhesi Conveyancing Limited, D.A. Pak Limited and Gutu Mirror Limited, with more to be announced.
Virtual Assistant, Lisa Tenant from L.T. VA Services said: “After spending the last few years working from home with two teenage boys stealing the bandwidth and struggling to separate life from work, sometimes working 17 hours a day, I decided it was time for a change. Ednaston Park has given me that work-life balance I desperately needed, and the great Wi-Fi is an added bonus!”
Additionally, Light Science Technologies Holdings PLC (LSTH) have relocated from their office in Ednaston Park Business Centre to the brand new, Ednaston Barns. Completed at the start of 2024, the Barns sit within their own self-contained plot to the side of the Business Centre’s main building.
Simon Deacon, CEO at LSTH, said: “Light Science Technologies Holdings PLC was listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) 3 years ago and has seen significant growth.
“We have taken advantage of moving into the newly refurbished Byre at Ednaston Park Business Centre, which has been finished to a high standard, where we can continue our growth strategy in an idyllic working environment.”
In 2022, Clowes demolished the old nunnery living quarters at the back of the main building to create a further three units known as Ednaston Mews which are currently fully occupied.
Set in 18-acres of landscaped gardens, Ednaston Park Business Centre was built in the 19th century. Until 2016 it housed the St Mary’s Nursing Home; it was then bought by Clowes Developments in September 2017.
Since then, the developer has invested heavily in the property to turn it into modern office accommodation, combining contemporary styling with many of the building’s original period features.
Ednaston Park now comprises of flexible commercial space in the form of 29 office suites ranging in size from 54 sq ft to 553 sq ft, available as single or multi-office lets. It also features meeting rooms, a break-out area and landscaped gardens.
Workers in London earn by August what workers in the East Midlands earn in a year
Cities Outlook 2025 today (20 January 2025) shows the stark pay divides in the UK. Average salaries of £49,500 in London are £16,800 above salaries in the East Midlands (£32,700), according to Centre for Cities.
This means that the average worker in London has earned by August what the average worker in the East Midlands will take a year to earn.
The pay divide primarily results from some cities having far more “cutting edge” private sector jobs and businesses than others. Places with the highest pay such as London and Cambridge have more than twice as many cutting-edge firms and up to three times as many cutting-edge jobs – in sectors like biotech and AI – as low pay places such as Leicester and Mansfield.
The scale of the pay divide underlines why 2025 has to be the year the Government delivers on its ambitions to raise economic growth. In Cities Outlook 2025, its latest annual outlook for urban economies in the UK, Centre for Cities urges the Government to follow through on its economic policy programme – including English devolution, the industrial strategy, and planning reforms.
Out of the 63 largest towns and cities, nearly all those with above-average salaries for the UK are in the Greater South East, including Reading and Milton Keynes. Just seven places in the rest of the country have salaries above the UK average – Leeds, Warrington, Derby, Swindon, Bristol, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
Cities and towns where workplace wages are low have to address the barriers to growth in cutting-edge parts of their economy. This will require evidence-based assessments on the weaknesses in their local economies, prioritising work in high-skill over high-street activity and investing in fundamentals – such as skills, transport and workspace.
Cities Outlook 2025 also emphasises the importance of implementing the proposed changes to the national planning system to make housing delivery easier and quicker.
Lowering housing costs is a challenge for cities and large towns with high wages, including London and most places in the Greater South East: half of the ten places with the highest average wages also rank in the ten least affordable housing markets.
High housing costs eat into disposable incomes and raise barriers that prevent people moving to these areas to take advantage of the economic opportunities they offer.
Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said: “The Government is right to identify boosting economic growth for every part of the country as a top priority. It is the only sustainable route to higher wages. But the stark nature of Cities Outlook’s findings shows an incremental approach is not going to be enough.
“Boldness, urgency and scale are crucial. 2025 needs to be year for delivery, particularly on the Government’s Industrial Strategy, framework for English devolution and its reforms to planning.
“Bold changes to planning rules can deliver more housing in the most expensive places and in our big cities, where it’s needed most. The Industrial Strategy must prioritise growing the cutting edge of the economy, and avoid calls to do something for all sectors and industries.
“And English devolution needs to be fast-tracked so more places, particularly the big cities, have the powers and resources to deliver the pay increases that many parts of the country badly need.
“This government has promised more money in people’s pockets. If people across the country are going to earn more by the end of the parliamentary term, then 2025 is year we need to see action and progress on the Government’s growth ambition.”
Out of the 63 largest towns and cities, nearly all those with above-average salaries for the UK are in the Greater South East, including Reading and Milton Keynes. Just seven places in the rest of the country have salaries above the UK average – Leeds, Warrington, Derby, Swindon, Bristol, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
Cities and towns where workplace wages are low have to address the barriers to growth in cutting-edge parts of their economy. This will require evidence-based assessments on the weaknesses in their local economies, prioritising work in high-skill over high-street activity and investing in fundamentals – such as skills, transport and workspace.
Cities Outlook 2025 also emphasises the importance of implementing the proposed changes to the national planning system to make housing delivery easier and quicker.
Lowering housing costs is a challenge for cities and large towns with high wages, including London and most places in the Greater South East: half of the ten places with the highest average wages also rank in the ten least affordable housing markets.
High housing costs eat into disposable incomes and raise barriers that prevent people moving to these areas to take advantage of the economic opportunities they offer.
Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said: “The Government is right to identify boosting economic growth for every part of the country as a top priority. It is the only sustainable route to higher wages. But the stark nature of Cities Outlook’s findings shows an incremental approach is not going to be enough.
“Boldness, urgency and scale are crucial. 2025 needs to be year for delivery, particularly on the Government’s Industrial Strategy, framework for English devolution and its reforms to planning.
“Bold changes to planning rules can deliver more housing in the most expensive places and in our big cities, where it’s needed most. The Industrial Strategy must prioritise growing the cutting edge of the economy, and avoid calls to do something for all sectors and industries.
“And English devolution needs to be fast-tracked so more places, particularly the big cities, have the powers and resources to deliver the pay increases that many parts of the country badly need.
“This government has promised more money in people’s pockets. If people across the country are going to earn more by the end of the parliamentary term, then 2025 is year we need to see action and progress on the Government’s growth ambition.” Nottingham tram operator raises over £15,000 for local charities
Throughout 2024, Nottingham Express Transit (NET) raised more than £15,000 for a range of local charities and community initiatives in Nottingham, as part of its pledge to celebrate its 20th anniversary through an acts of kindness campaign.
As NET’s 2024 charity of the year, Nottingham Central Women’s Aid was a key focus for NET’s charity initiatives throughout the year. This included raising nearly £2,000 during a ‘walk the network’ initiative in May, which saw 30 members of the team walking along the tram network for over 13 miles from Hucknall to Clifton South.
NET also raised funds from its family fun day in August, and this Christmas, transformed a tram into a Santa’s grotto which welcomed 14 children and their mothers who are supported by the charity, for an afternoon of festive fun.
Alongside the charity of the year, NET team members were also encouraged to nominate their own chosen charities and take part in individual fundraising efforts.
Their efforts included supporting a fundraiser by 13-year old Lillie for the Brain Tumour Charity, a cause nominated by network controller Lee Wood. Meanwhile, experience agent John-Paul Redman raised £950 for When You Wish Upon a Star by walking 1,815 miles in 127 days.
The network also supported external fundraising efforts by Jacob Gadd, son of tram driver Alun Gadd, helping him to raise more than £2,000 for Our Dementia Choir. This charity has now been named as NET’s 2025 charity of the year.
Other group-wide donations included £700 towards Step Out Stay Out, giving more than £1,200 to Aspley food bank, and two separate donations of £1,000 to the Strelley Family Fun Day and Operation Polarised, an initiative in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police to support Nottingham’s youths ages seven to 17.
Rebecca Horne, business engagement manager at NET, said: “2024 has been a really strong year for us in terms of fundraising and we’re incredibly proud of the amount raised for so many worthy local causes.
“Central Women’s Aid, our charity of the year for 2024, was chosen by our colleagues and it’s been fantastic to see how much of a collaborative effort the team has put in to support them.
“Last year we also saw many of our colleagues undertake their own charitable work in support of a range of causes, and we will continue to champion this in years to come.”
Charge Cars acquired by consortium of private investors
Charge Cars, which was placed into administration on 31 May 2024, has been acquired by a consortium of private investors.
The creator of the ’67 – the all-new luxury, bespoke, electric muscle car – now plans to accelerate final development of the vehicle at its new global HQ in Silverstone.
Paul Abercrombie, CEO of Charge Cars, said: “On behalf of the consortium, I am delighted to announce the acquisition of Charge Cars.
“The ‘67 establishes a new class of EV – and we will now accelerate final development at our new global HQ in Silverstone, UK, rapidly delivering this exciting luxury vehicle to customers.
“The Charge brand has huge global potential, and we look forward to revealing more details very soon.”
The ’67 is designed and engineered from the ground up to create a new high performance luxury vehicle.
It is a hand-crafted car, with a body licensed by Ford Motor Company, combining American muscle car styling with an entirely new platform and the latest technology to captivate a new generation of sustainability-conscious automotive aficionados.
Toyota puts Derby’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor on the road in hydrogen-powered car
Toyota has lent Derby’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor a cutting-edge Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle as their official car.
Toyota has been developing and trialling hydrogen fuel cell technology in a range of vehicles, including the prototype Hilux fuel cell pick-up truck designed and built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK in Burnaston.
Darius Mikolajczak, MD of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in the UK, said: “It is an honour for Toyota to support Derby City Council’s civic activities with the provision of a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle.
“We believe hydrogen plays a crucial role in decarbonising transport and is a key part of Toyota’s multipath approach to mobility. The Toyota Mirai, with its zero-carbon dioxide and no harmful tailpipe emissions, represents our commitment to sustainable technology and innovation. We are excited to see the positive impact this vehicle may have on inspiring the city’s journey towards a more sustainable future.”
Fuelled by hydrogen – extracted from water using zero carbon renewable energy produced at TMUK – the Mirai emits no carbon dioxide or harmful tailpipe emissions when in use. It is estimated that it will save a tonne of CO2 emissions over the trial, and with zero nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide it will be supporting the city’s shift to zero and low emissions vehicles in their fleet.
Cllr Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, praised the move. She said: “Our Climate Change Action Plan is all about how we can make changes to build a greener city and encourage partners and residents to do so as well. It’s only right that we lead by example, and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with Toyota to provide this brand new, zero emissions civic car at no cost to the Council.
“Our links with hydrogen go back centuries, with Henry Cavendish, who discovered the element, being buried in Derby Cathedral. Now, more than two and half centuries since that discovery, the use of this hydrogen powered car is another reminder of our place as a leader for sustainable fuel technologies.”
