Sales grow at Dunelm

Tess Egginton
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Sales grow at Dunelm

Dunelm Group, the Leicester-headquartered homewares retailer, has seen a rise in second quarter sales.

According to a trading update for the 13-week period ended 28 December 2024, sales grew by 1.6% to £490m, in a challenging market. 

It sees first half sales reach £894m, a 2.4% increase, with the business’s furniture categories performing particularly well. “We are pleased with this solid performance in a market which remained volatile,” Dunelm shared.

Nick Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re pleased with our performance in the first half; we are growing sales and volume, with customers again responding well to the value and choice we offer across our ranges. 

“At the same time, we’ve made significant strategic progress across multiple initiatives which are helping us to improve our attractive, specialist offer and continue to gain market share. We have taken our first steps outside the UK with the acquisition of 13 stores in Ireland, opened our first inner London store in Westfield, and made further improvements to our online customer experience which is contributing to continued strong digital growth.

“As we move into the second half of FY25, we have successfully launched our Winter Sale which is being well received by customers seeking amazing value across a wide choice of relevant products for the colder months. As we navigate this challenging environment, we see even more opportunities to harness our unique business model, raise the bar on our proposition and fulfil our ambitions as The Home of Homes.”

Revenue slips at Ibstock in challenging year for construction markets

Tess Egginton
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Revenue slips at Ibstock in challenging year for construction markets
The CEO of Ibstock, the Leicestershire-headquartered manufacturer of building products, has praised the business’s “resilient performance” in 2024, in a new trading update, despite a dip in revenue.

Full year revenues at the company are expected to have decreased by 10% to approximately £365 million, in comparison to £406 million in 2023. The decline comes in hand with 2024 being a challenging year for UK construction markets, with total UK brick deliveries expected to be over 30% below the 2.5 billion recorded in 2022.

Ibstock highlighted a progressive improvement in sales volumes across the second half of 2024, with revenues in H2 2024 being 3% ahead of the prior year period and 6% ahead of H1 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA for 2024 is expected to be approximately £79 million.

Joe Hudson, CEO of Ibstock PLC, said: “We are pleased to have delivered a resilient performance, consistent with the guidance we gave at the half year, in a market where revenues continued to be impacted by subdued activity levels.

“This result reflects our active management of capacity and cost, continued disciplined pricing and a progressive improvement in demand across the second half, as expected.

“Looking to 2025, we expect a further improvement in market volumes to build through the year. We made good strategic progress during 2024 to add efficient and sustainable new capacity to our network and we will continue to bring capacity back into production selectively to support our customers.

“We see a significant opportunity for a new era in housebuilding in the UK and with the investments we have made and our market leadership positions, the Group remains well placed to support this over the medium term.”

Heritage Fund supports final phase of museum transformation project

Tess Egginton
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Heritage Fund supports final phase of museum transformation project
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced its initial support for the final stage of  transformation at a Leicester museum. Development funding of £411,111 has been awarded to Leicester City Council that will allow it to work up its latest plans for Leicester Museum & Art Gallery in more detail, before it applies for a full grant of more than £5 million next year. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the funding means that the council can now develop its proposals for a scheme that would complete the refurbishment of Leicester Museum. Plans include two brand new galleries that would focus on the people and the events that have shaped the city’s history over the past 2,000 years, new teaching spaces, and a major new environment gallery that would cover themes such as natural history and climate change. The new gallery would mean a welcome return for some of the animals in the city’s natural history collection, with new displays and new interpretation reflecting the changes in attitude to the environment that have taken place over the last 20 years. The animals have been in storage since the Wild Space gallery closed last year. As part of the Voices of Leicester project, an extensive activity plan would also be rolled out to engage with local communities, ensuring that those who live in the city today can help shape the museum’s exhibits and events. Thanks to the funding, the council will now appoint design teams to develop detailed schemes for the new galleries and carry out some initial public engagement activities to help it work up its final proposals. An application to the Heritage Fund for a full grant of £5,234,445 will be submitted in spring/summer 2026, which – if successful – would fund the new galleries. Assistant city mayor for culture Cllr Vi Dempster said: “Leicester Museum has been welcoming people for more than 175 years, but the old building has needed ongoing investment to bring it up to the standards of a modern visitor attraction. “Over the past 10 years we’ve been upgrading the infrastructure of the building, installing new lifts and ramps, for example, to improve access to all areas of the museum – and this week, we’ve started work on a major scheme that will create a new suite of art galleries, a new shop and a brand new café. “But this initial funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the icing on the cake. “Thanks to National Lottery players, we have the opportunity to complete the refurbishment of Leicester Museum with a project that would include two new galleries that would delve into the city’s 2,000-year history, and an important new gallery that would focus on key environmental themes, including climate change. “We’ve called this our Voices of Leicester project because listening to what people want to see and do at Leicester Museum is so important, if the museum is to continue to be relevant to visitors from all of Leicester’s communities. “We’re extremely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, whose support will help us ensure that every gallery and every space at Leicester Museum offers visitors an exceptional experience, allowing us to reach even more people within Leicester and beyond.” Robyn Llewellyn, Area Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are pleased to support Leicester City Council with their ambitious plans for Leicester Museum & Art Gallery’s redevelopment. “Thanks to National Lottery players this project will create new opportunities to engage Leicester’s communities with heritage and spark discussion, learning and enjoyment.”

Fusion energy development gets £410m investment

Stuart Pearcey
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Fusion energy development gets £410m investment
Researchers developing cutting-edge fusion energy are being given investment of £410m investment to kickstart economic growth. The funding will support rapid development of the UK fusion energy sector over the next two years, with investment in the skills needed for scientists, engineers, welders and programme managers to enter the cutting-edge industry. Fusion already supports at least 2,400 jobs in the UK, with thousands more to follow as the technology advances. Industry leaders have been shortlisted by UK Industrial Fusion Solution Mayor for the East Midlands Claire Ward said: “This is fantastic news for Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands, a region that’s ready and willing to lead the way in clean, green energy.

“I am delighted the government is committed to this investment in the East Midlands and look forward to working together to kickstart a green industrial revolutions, creating skilled jobs in our former coal mining communities.”

Five construction and engineering bids have progressed to the next round of the UKIFS competition to deliver the prototype fusion energy plant by 2040, driving progress towards the commercialisation of fusion in the UK to supply families and businesses with secure, clean and unlimited energy.

Professor Sir Ian Chapman, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) CEO, said: “I am delighted by the strong support from government to delivering fusion as a safe, sustainable energy of the future, and to anchor this exciting new industry in the UK.”

Office building let at The Triangle

Tess Egginton
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Office building let at The Triangle
A major office deal has been completed at one of Nottingham’s most prestigious addresses. The transaction has seen the 4,055 sq ft building on the NG2 Business Park, on the fringe of Nottingham city centre, let. The two-storey building sits alongside existing occupiers including Experian, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Land Rover, Pentland, Specsavers, Staffline and VF Northern Europe. Charlotte Steggles, Director at NG Chartered Surveyors, brokered the deal on behalf of a private landlord client. Amy Howard of FHP Property Consultants acted for the new tenant. Charlotte said: “This is a great outcome for both the new occupier and our forward-thinking landlord who has continued to invest in The Triangle. “This city fringe location combines the benefits of city centre premises with the attraction of a modern business park environment that also provides good access to the city’s main arterial route, and this deal shows that demand for high quality office space is very much alive and kicking in the city.” Amy said: “We are pleased to have successfully assisted our retained client in securing their office suite after an extensive year-long search for the ideal fit for their requirements. “NG2 Business Park, located on the fringe of Nottingham city, offers a prime location with nearby amenities such as cafes, bars and restaurants as well as excellent transport links and secure parking. The business park provides the perfect out-of-town office space within an in-town location.”

2025 Business Predictions: David Roberts, owner and founder of JDR Group

Tess Egginton
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2025 Business Predictions: David Roberts, owner and founder of JDR Group
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 David Roberts, owner and founder of Derby digital marketing agency JDR Group. 2024 has been a pivotal year for the marketing industry, particularly for SMEs. More business owners are recognising the importance of digital marketing, not just to attract customers but to streamline operations, align marketing and sales and improve decision-making through data-driven insights. The ability of CRMs to automate processes, track KPIs, and predict outcomes is becoming a fundamental part of business strategy and companies which invest in CRMs and AI-driven platforms are reaping the benefits. Both these technologies had a significant effect on SMEs during 2024. Demand for marketing agencies remains strong, but there’s a noticeable trend of businesses attempting to bring marketing in-house. While this can provide a sense of control, it often leads to challenges in managing marketing and sales effectively, resulting in missed opportunities. Marketing agencies that stay ahead of technological advancements, especially in AI, and demonstrate their value to clients will continue to thrive. Agencies will need to demonstrate they can deliver better results faster, which requires constant upskilling and investment in technology, and they will need to clearly communicate their value and show measurable results to retain clients. We are confident and optimistic about 2025, because we have experienced downturns before and this experience gives us a strong foundation to navigate whatever 2025 brings. The biggest factor influencing businesses in 2025 will be uncertainty, particularly regarding the new government’s policies, taxation, and economic trends. New employment laws, rising taxes, and energy policy changes are all likely to affect SMEs. These factors could have a knock-on effect on smaller businesses in their supply chains or local economies, so businesses will need to plan ahead, understand their ideal customers and implement systems to attract and retain those customers. Marketing agencies will need to be proactive in helping them with this, while they will need to also be mindful of new technology which will affect the marketplace. We know about the effect of AI, which will continue to transform marketing, but also we are looking at driverless cars in the USA, where the technology is advancing rapidly and where Tesla is looking to launch innovations, and blockchain. Companies will need to stay informed about all of these innovations to ensure they do not miss out on any opportunities they’ll bring during the next 12 months.

Nottingham team acts on major petrol stations purchase

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham team acts on major petrol stations purchase
Law firm Freeths Nottingham has advised Zuber Issa, CEO of EG On The Move, on the acquisition of Applegreen’s 98 petrol filling stations across the UK, boosting its forecourt presence. The purchase is expected to be completed by the end of the month, bolstering the business’s sites to almost 150. EG On The Move is known for its electric vehicle fast charging features and franchises. As part of the deal, all 1,142 Applegreen’s UK petrol filling roles will be retained, bringing the EG On The Move employee headcount to 4,500. The transaction was led by Freeths’ Real Estate Partner Atiyya Khaliq, supported by (amongst others) Managing Associates Michaela Maosn and Zac Clayton, and Associate Sam De La Bertauche. Commenting on the deal, Atiyya Khaliq said: “As a long-standing client, it’s always a pleasure to support the team with its ongoing strategic growth. This deal secures a wider presence across the South of England, cementing its position as leader within the market.”

UK economy returns to growth

Tess Egginton
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UK economy returns to growth
The UK’s economy returned to growth in November. According to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, expanded by 0.1%, although this was below expectations of 0.2% growth. It reverses a 0.1% fall in October. It reflects, across key sectors, monthly services output expanding by 0.1% in November, after falling by 0.1% in October, construction output increasing by 0.4% in November, following a fall of 0.3% in October, and production output falling by 0.4% in November, following a fall of 0.6% in October. UK GDP showed no growth in the three months to November. Ben Jones, CBI Lead Economist, said: “After a string of disappointing data, it’s good to see that growth returned to positive territory in November, though the economy is still only on track for a very modest expansion at best over the final quarter of last year. “In the wake of the Autumn Budget a mood of caution seems to have settled over UK businesses. Many firms are entering 2025 with a focus on reducing operational expenditure, which is likely to weigh on pay, hiring and investment in the months ahead. “The Government can help shift the UK’s economic narrative with more determined focus on measures that could underpin growth. “Reforming the business rates system, implementing flexibility in the Apprenticeship Levy and supporting people to stay in work through expanding employer occupational health provision would give businesses immediate flex for investment. “In the long-term there is a pressing need to develop an effective industrial strategy that supports our whole economy.”

Plans to revitalise Boston’s Rosegarth Square take step forward with Crown House redevelopment approval

Tess Egginton
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Plans to revitalise Boston’s Rosegarth Square take step forward with Crown House redevelopment approval

The planning application for the redevelopment of Boston’s Crown House has been approved. This mixed-use building will be a prominent part of the Rosegarth Square area.

The Crown House development will see a new mixed-use building featuring retail units on the ground floor and apartments on the remaining two storeys above. The scheme will also be enhanced with landscaping, parking and cycle storage to complement the overall Rosegarth Square masterplan, as well as relocating the current toilets and Changing Place into the new building. The scheme aims to transform Rosegarth Square as a thriving community space. It will provide the opportunity for the retail units to offer outside dining as well as the wider area being used by family and friends to meet up and enjoy this part of the town. The changes to the area will also enable quick and easy access to both the bus and train stations and become the gateway to the heart of Boston. This project is a significant part of the Rosegarth Square transformation. With planning permission and demolition notices, Boston Borough Council can now start with the next steps of this project.
The plans follow in the footsteps of the recently approved planning consent for the proposed public realm works, which features new artwork, external social spaces, and a new entrance/drop-off area for the Len Medlock Centre. It will also include a sensory garden designed for quiet contemplation and reflection, as well as an amphitheatre-style seating area. Councillor David Middleton, Chair of Planning Committee at Boston Borough Council, said: “The approval of the Crown House redevelopment is a significant milestone for Rosegarth Square and for Boston as a whole. This project exemplifies how thoughtful planning can transform underused spaces into vibrant hubs that benefit the entire community. “The committee was impressed with the vision and detail in the plans, which will not only enhance the area’s aesthetic appeal but also provide practical benefits like improved connectivity and new facilities. We look forward to seeing this exciting development come to life.”

Nottinghamshire’s DEA Aviation secures new multi-million pound finance package

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Nottinghamshire’s DEA Aviation secures new multi-million pound finance package

DEA Aviation, a specialised aerial data-acquisition company based in Nottinghamshire, has secured a multi-million pound finance package with Santander UK, supported by UK Export Finance (UKEF).

It is DEA’s second round of funding secured with the support of UKEF, to sustain growth in its export and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) business segments. Last year, DEA secured £16.5m in its first tranche of funding with Santander UK to meet job creation, capacity and capability objectives, focused primarily on its ISR and export operations. DEA is a technology-led provider of specialised aerial data-acquisition services in the ISR, search and rescue and aerial mapping sectors. It is frequently relied upon to provide security services of national importance, demanding class-leading safety and compliance processes. In 2024, DEA flew ISR and search and rescue missions for its major European customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. It provided real-time intelligence to support thousands of events that arose in their border and illegal-activity protection roles. Since the initial investment, DEA’s workforce has grown by 10%. It now employs over 220 people worldwide, most of whom are highly-skilled engineers, pilots, sensor operators, systems architects and software developers operating from accredited facilities in Nottinghamshire. Joanna Allen, CFO of the DEA Group, said: “This new funding package, enabled by UKEF, positions DEA to continue a strong growth trajectory in its export and ISR operations internationally as the worldwide demand continues to mount.

“The funding recognises that DEA is a substantial exporter and will enable the company to continue to build upon the momentum that we have generated over the course of the past year.”

Tim Reid, Chief Executive Officer of UKEF, said: “This announcement of our second Export Development Guarantee for DEA shows how we can develop longstanding relationships to help UK businesses scale up. UKEF’s support is already helping DEA to unlock its potential by creating new jobs and growing.”

Liz Pickering, Relationship Director, Santander Corporate and Commercial, added: “We are pleased to have provided DEA Group with an additional lending package to support the Group’s expansion. The funding will help the business establish itself further as a major exporter of tech-led aerial data services. We look forward to continuing working with the DEA team and UKEF.”

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