‘Rebels of accountancy’ make further acquisition
Cooper Parry (CP) has completed the acquisition of fast growing NetSuite consultancy, MacroFin.
The firm’s 11th deal in less than 2 years sees the ‘rebels of accountancy’ target £185m group turnover for the current financial year. The deal is also the second of their rapid expansion within the digital and tech space following the recent acquisition of Salesforce consultancy, Cloud Orca.
MacroFin is a NetSuite-certified ERP consultancy specialising in the implementation of NetSuite products and other support packages.
Co-located in London, Manchester and the Philippines, MacroFin has proven experience across all sectors, including fintech, professional and financial services.
The deal further accelerates CP’s creation of the UK’s next-gen professional services group – embracing accountancy, wealth management, tech and law.
The firm’s headcount now tips 1,450 including 128 Partners, across superhubs in London, the Midlands, Manchester and the Thames Valley.
Cooper Parry CEO, Ade Cheatham, said: “This MacroFin deal is another massive statement for CP – both for our offering in the digital/tech space, but also for our sustainable next-gen group ambitions.
“The momentum across the UK grows and grows, right on the back of our two transformational deals last month in Manchester and Thames Valley – as well as some brilliant strategic hires. Ross, Steve and his team have created a cracking business and it’s another key piece in our tech expansion.”
MacroFin CEO and co-founder, Ross Latta, added: “The reason that Steve and I launched MacroFin was that, as two chartered accountants with 10+ years client-side experience, we believed that finance and ERP implementations could, and should, be more successful if they were predominantly finance-led. Truly, we have built a business which is NetSuite for accountants, by accountants.
“So, it’s no surprise that the business fit with Cooper Parry is a natural one.
“Not only are they accountants, but they’re also one of the most dynamic, fastest-growing, team-focused accountants around who share our ambition and dedication to growing both our, and our clients’ businesses.
“Steve and I are incredibly proud of, and grateful to, the team we have built and this move brings a completely new level of opportunity for our team to grow and reach the potential we know it has. We cannot wait to see how far we can all go together.”
Corby Town Centre agrees 10-year lease with B&M
Corby Town Shopping & Willow Place (Corby Town Centre) has agreed a 10-year lease with B&M. B&M will take up 40,242 sq ft of space at 1 Queens Square, in the heart of the town centre.
This is the latest in a string of major leasing initiatives undertaken at Corby Town Centre. Leases have been exchanged with both Cards Direct and Boyle Sports, both of whom are due to open in time for Christmas.
A new lease has also been completed with Shoezone, which relocated within the town centre to upsize its premises. The recent strong demand from both the national market and local independents has pushed the centre’s occupancy to 95%.
With an annual footfall of 8 million, Corby Town Centre is home to Primark, TK Maxx and H&M. The centre comprises over 150 shops, bars and restaurants.
Corby Town Centre was acquired by Northdale Asset Management and Magnetar Capital in late 2022. Sovereign Centros from CBRE act as Asset Managers of Corby Town Centre and are advised by Wright Silverwood and Knight Frank.
Tom Nuttall, Asset Manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “Corby Town Centre is the premier shopping and leisure destination for North Northamptonshire, home to many of the country’s leading retailers. Following a proactive leasing strategy, B&M’s new anchor store, in addition to other significant lettings, further positions Corby as a vibrant hub for residents and visitors.”
CT Skills launches new payroll apprenticeship
CT Skills, the apprenticeship and training providers, has launched a new Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship.
The new Level 3 apprenticeship has been created to meet demand for people with payroll qualifications from companies across the UK, and from learners who are keen to continue their professional development and specialise within this area.
Alex Ford, CEO at CT Skills, said: “We are witnessing strong demand from employers for people with payroll qualifications. As it is a qualification that can be used across all sectors there is plenty of opportunity for people looking to develop their skills in this area.
“We have learners that are undertaking HR or accountancy apprenticeships, so the Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship has been designed as a progression route for both these courses. Also, many existing payroll staff are self-taught and whilst having a wealth of on the job experience, this gives the opportunity to get additional training, a formal qualification and recognition for that expertise.
“It provides another option for people to build on the knowledge they have gained in their current role, as part of a HR or accountancy apprenticeship and, if they want to, move into a slightly different job role.”
The Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship is a 16-month programme that covers the practical skills required for a career in payroll, and also the range of legal and financial knowledge, such as tax and pensions, that is necessary to be successful in the role. It will also include training on how to comply with any changes outlined in the Autumn Budget to payroll legislation, pension contributions and Employers National Insurance.
Learners undertaking the apprenticeship will study for the qualification through in work training and online with the support of CT Skills’ expert training team. The company is expecting strong demand, with an initial cohort of 30 spaces available over the next three months.
CT Skills works closely with the Department for Education (DfE) and employers to develop apprenticeships that provide learners with the skills they need for a successful career. When developing the Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship, CT Skills collaborated on a DfE ‘trailblazer group’ that fine-tuned the skills required on the course to make it as relevant and effective as possible.
Michelle Phoenix, CT Skills’ Head of Quality and Curriculum, adds: “We want our learners to go into employment and therefore we need apprenticeships to be applicable and give people real skills and experience that they can take into the workplace.”
Stannah colleagues brave charity abseil at Northampton Lift Tower
32 of lift specialist Stannah’s colleagues participated in a thrilling and challenging charity abseil at the iconic Northampton Lift Tower on Saturday 26th October 2024.
Originally designed as a testing facility for lifts and now a centre for research and development, the 127-metre (418-foot) Northampton Lift Tower is the UK’s tallest permanent abseil tower.
The team faced the daunting drop with courage, overcoming personal fears and challenges as they descended this iconic structure. Through their collective efforts, they raised an impressive £8,124 for the UK Lift Industry Charity, which provides financial aid to the families of lift industry workers who have been injured or lost their lives at work.
The Stannah Group generously covered the costs of the abseil and matched the donations, bringing the total to £16,248 for the UK Lift Industry Charity.
Jools Black and Gemma Moore, Trustees of the UK Lift Industry Charity, attended the event and even took on the challenge of abseiling themselves. Jools expressed their gratitude, saying: “A huge thank you to everyone at Stannah who contributed and participated in the abseil. Every penny raised goes towards supporting engineers or anyone in the lift industry who’s been unfortunate to get injured while on the job.”
Gemma continues: “Just before I went over the edge of the tower, I received a text from one of the lift engineers we’re currently assisting through the charity. He thanked us for the financial and wellbeing support, saying it eased his mind so he could focus on recovery. His message gave many of us the courage to take that step and complete the challenge.
“A massive thanks to everyone for raising funds for the UK Lift Industry Charity.”
Dan White, Service Director from Stannah Lift Services, said: “It was lovely to have so many staff from across the branches and divisions within Stannah to come together on the day. I’ve heard the camaraderie and team spirit was great with many families coming on the day to support their loved ones and the whole team.
“Not only was it a fantastic team and personal achievement for everyone, but it’s also a meaningful way for us to give back to communities and charities close to our hearts.”
Donations to support the Stannah team’s fundraising efforts can be made through their fundraising page at Just Giving.
District Council provides update on Climate Emergency actions
In 2019, Newark and Sherwood District Council declared a Climate Emergency, setting a target to reduce the impact of climate change and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Monday’s Policy and Performance Improvement Committee was an opportunity for District Councillors to look at the progress that has been made towards this goal.
The District Council’s carbon footprint for 2023/24 was 3,141 tonnes and the Council is working on reducing this through many activities and behaviour changes, including switching to greener utility providers and exploring alternative fuels like HVO for environmental services vehicles, which account for nearly a third of these emissions.
In the past year alone, the Council has installed solar panels at Dukeries Leisure Centre, Vicar Water Country Park and Sconce and Devon Park as well as planting over 4500 trees across the district.
Solar PV projects are also a major part of the District Council’s strategy to cut carbon emissions. The District Council has installed solar panels at multiple sites, saving money and reducing its carbon footprint.
Projected savings over the next 12 months indicate that, across Newark Sports and Fitness Centre, Vicar Water Country Park, Dukeries Leisure Centre, Sconce and Devon Park, and The Beacon, carbon will be reduced by 74 tonnes and over £42,000 will be saved.
A Decarbonisation Plan for Council buildings has been created in partnership with Newark firm BE Design. This plan outlines energy efficiency measures and carbon reduction strategies for sites including Blidworth Leisure Centre, Brunel Drive Depot, Castle House, Dukeries Leisure Centre, Newark Beacon, the Palace Theatre Newark and National Civil War Centre, Sconce and Devon Park and Vicar Water Country Park.
In the past few years, The Carbon Trust has updated its stance on tree planting and now considers this a valid method for accounting for carbon savings. The District Council has been successful with tree planting schemes and plans to do more to offset carbon emissions in this way.
Since 2019, over 19,000 trees have been planted or given away, and the Council is always looking for more opportunities to increase this number. This year, even more trees will be planted once planting season begins, including new trees on Clay Lane and Sherwood Avenue Park as part of its regeneration.
The Green Rewards App was launched in the district in 2022, helping the community to make positive changes by logging carbon-reducing activities. With 608 residents signed up (a 5.2% increase since April 2024), 73 tonnes of carbon emissions have been avoided so far. Residents have also been aided in lowering their carbon emissions with the rollout of kerbside glass recycling, reducing multiple visits to and from recycling sites.
£93,000 has recently been awarded to the Sherwood Forest Trust from the District Council’s UKSPF allocation to support a community tree nursery. Their goal is to plant 10,000 trees in the next 3 years and, so far, they’ve recruited 680 volunteers for planting and seed collection, gathered 40,000 seeds, planted 2,000 trees, and have 4,600 trees maturing on site, ready for planting.
Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment, said: “These are just some of the exciting initiatives the District Council is undertaking to help achieve our net zero targets by 2035.
“This is an extremely important cause to me personally and we must act with urgency. The enthusiasm of our officers in pursuing this goal and thinking creatively about ways in which to do so is really heartening.
“I recognise that setting an example for our residents is vital and we’re always looking for solutions to help residents reduce their carbon footprint, making it as easy for them as possible.
“Together, our actions are securing cleaner air for residents and better protecting tenants’ homes and residents’ services against volatile energy prices. We’ve also got some exciting climate action plans up our sleeve and can’t wait to share our growing ambitions with you all soon.”
Housebuilder submits plans to deliver 170-home development in Lincolnshire
Housebuilder Honey has submitted plans and exchanged contracts on a 12.3-acre site in Witham St Hughs, Lincolnshire, to deliver a £45m, 170-home development.
The proposed site, which will be called Nova, is located off Warren Lane and is a short drive from the A46.
Subject to planning, the development will comprise a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes and feature 17 of Honey’s different house types. Of the 170 homes, 28 have been allocated as affordable housing.
The proposed site in Witham St Hughs will form part of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan which looks to ensure that all new homes are well-designed and in appropriate locations to benefit the needs of the community.
If given the go ahead by North Kesteven District Council, work at the development is anticipated to start in early 2025 with the first residents expected to move in by the end of next year.
Since being launched in October 2022, Honey has secured 19 sites across Yorkshire and the East Midlands that will deliver 2,349 homes and a combined gross development value of £665m.
The housebuilder is backed by private equity firm Alchemy Partners and its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.
Honey Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mitchell, said: “Our thorough market research identified Witham St Hughs as a popular residential location for us to build in and expand our development footprint in the East Midlands.
“We are seeing strong demand for high-specification homes from prospective buyers living in and looking to move to the local area. Our thoughtfully designed homes, which combine style, substance and sustainability will satisfy this.
“Now that we have exchanged contracts and submitted plans for our Nova development, we look forward to North Kesteven District Council considering our proposal.”
Next upgrades profit guidance for the year to over £1bn after strong third quarter
A strong third quarter performance at Next has seen the retailer increase its profit guidance for the year.
Full price sales in the third quarter (August – October) were up 7.6% versus last year. This was 2.6% ahead of Next’s guidance for the quarter of 5.0%. The business believes the performance was driven by the early arrival of colder weather this year, versus an unusually warm September and early October last year.
As a result, Next is increasing guidance for fourth quarter full price sales growth by 1.0%, to 3.5%.
The improved sales in Q3 along with its forecast for Q4 add £43m to full price sales and £10m to profit; accordingly Next is upgrading its profit guidance for the full year from £995m to just over £1bn.
Rolls-Royce SMR and ČEZ Group partner to deploy SMRs in UK and Czechia
Rolls-Royce SMR and ČEZ Group will join forces to bring their global capabilities and know-how to the deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR’s small modular reactor (SMR) technology.
This is enabled by an equity investment by CEZ into Rolls-Royce SMR and a strategic partnership to deploy up to 3GW of electricity in the Czech Republic using Rolls-Royce SMR power plants.
The agreement strengthens Rolls-Royce SMR’s ability to deploy SMR technology in Europe and globally, and puts CEZ, Rolls-Royce SMR, and its existing shareholders, BNF Resources, Constellation, QIA and Rolls-Royce at the forefront of SMR deployment.
These efforts further support the UK and Europe to reach their ambitious net zero goals and contribute solutions to address the challenges of climate change.
Tufan Erginbilgiç, CEO of Rolls-Royce plc, said: “We are pleased to receive this significant opportunity to deploy our SMR technology in the Czech Republic and welcome CEZ as a strategic investor and partner in Rolls-Royce SMR.
“We have a shared vision and CEZ further strengthens our ability to build stable, secure, low carbon power – delivering on our promise as a leading SMR business. Today’s announcement ensures that the Rolls-Royce SMR business is set up for success in the UK, the Czech Republic and around the world.”
Daniel Beneš, CEO of CEZ Group, said: “This investment enables our commitment to international collaboration in delivering clean power at home and abroad. The Czech Republic hosts some of the world’s leading nuclear supply chain companies.
“This collaboration in deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR units offers a unique opportunity for growth and prosperity to the nuclear sector through our participation in the development of the technology and will enable CEZ and other local companies to play a significant role in its future global production.”
Subject to customary regulatory clearances and security assessments, CEZ will make an investment into Rolls-Royce SMR, acquiring a stake of approximately 20 percent.
On 18 September, Czech Prime Minister Fiala announced that CEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR would enter a strategic partnership to enable the development and construction of SMRs in the Czech Republic.
CEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR will work collaboratively on plans for the deployment of up to 3 GW of clean, affordable energy in the Czech Republic. CEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR will work to finalise contractual order terms for an order of the first unit with early works expected to commence as soon as 2025.
Furthermore, CEZ will support Rolls-Royce SMR to deploy SMR projects across Europe, leveraging the learning curve and knowledge transfer across projects.
This collaboration, expected to last several decades, is more than just an agreement between Rolls-Royce SMR and CEZ, it represents an important strengthening of ties between the UK and Czech Governments.
It also signals a strong commitment to building an international supply chain, generating an enormous opportunity to develop skills in both countries and deliver significant economic growth.
Nuclear energy will play a key role in both the UK and the Czech Republic as both countries seek a secure, clean, and affordable supply of electricity for generations to come.
Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station is expected to produce 470MWe of stable, affordable, emission-free electricity – enough to power a million homes for at least 60 years.
Nottinghamshire partnership helps deliver investment worth millions of pounds
A partnership spearheaded by Nottinghamshire County Council has helped to deliver 3,511 community-boosting projects and £394 million worth of investment since its launch.
Arc Partnership was formed as a joint venture between the county council and public sector procurement specialist, SCAPE, in 2016.
On behalf of the council and the communities and people it represents, Arc Partnership delivers multi-disciplinary property design, consultancy, master planning, regeneration, project and programme management, emergency, reactive, compliance asset management and planned services.
The unique partnership was launched to drive greater efficiencies and lead on innovation in the design, management, and maintenance of property services in the public sector.
Now, eight years after the joint venture’s launch, the county council has approved a five-year extension to its initial 10-year contract with Arc Partnership for it to continue delivering a wide range of services for the benefit of Nottinghamshire and its communities.
Speaking after the contract was extended until 2031, Councillor Keith Girling, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, said Arc Partnership has been a huge success and hailed it for delivering ‘integrated customer focused services’, value for money and supporting ‘regeneration and economic growth’.
He said: “Our relationship with Arc Partnership has grown significantly in service provision since the joint venture was launched in 2016 and the ongoing demonstration of best value and delivery means we are happy to extend the contract early and by a further five years.
“I am delighted with the progress Arc Partnership has made in the last eight years, especially when you look at the incredible number of projects which have delivered across Nottinghamshire.
“To date, Arc Partnership has delivered 3,511 projects – which equates to more than £394 million worth of investment, of which an impressive £344m has been spent locally.
“This is fantastic news for the local economy; they’re dealing with businesses here in Nottinghamshire and employing local people – with 95% of its team living locally, which is incredible.
“You also must remember a lot of this has been delivered during a time when local authorities have faced extremely difficult financial challenges in addition to the pressures brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Arc Partnership constantly delivers value for money and does a fantastic job supporting us to create an efficient, safe and sustainable land and property portfolio, helping to deliver more integrated customer-focused services, value for money as well as supporting regeneration and economic growth.”
The multi-million-pound projects it has delivered on behalf of the county council include new state-of-the-art schools, refurbishment of existing maintain schools, modernising its libraries and managing the development of the county council’s new low carbon, all-electric office Oak House headquarters, near Hucknall.
The new office is being designed, project and cost-managed by Arc Partnership and delivered through its construction partner, Morgan Sindall Construction.
A target of 86 per cent of local spend has been set for the project and associated infrastructure works, with sub-contractors and tradespeople located within 20 miles of the site.
In addition to delivering value for money, quality of output and customer excellence, a key part of Arc Partnership’s ethos is social value and demonstrating real value in terms of local spend.
Daniel Maher, who has been Arc Partnership’s managing director since 2016, said the organisation’s commitment to social value and local spend ‘is at the core of everything’.
He said: “The early contract extension highlights the ‘trust’ the county council has placed in Arc Partnership, and it is a true partnership based on collaboration and delivering real value together. To me that’s important and we’ve had cross-member support, from all different political persuasions. They’ve always supported us on that journey.
“We are a humble organisation but the one thing we are proud of, outside of the services we provide for the county council and the communities of Nottinghamshire, is that we are delivering using a locally employed workforce and supply chain. That says a lot. People talk about doing it, but we’ve done it.
“It’s nice to see local people and the local economy have benefited because of this journey, too.”
Arc Partnership has also forged a ‘strong relationship’ with Nottingham Trent University through a three-year strategic partnership and the University of Nottingham, focusing on unlocking the next generation of employees and developing career pathways for growing and retaining local talent.
Daniel added: “We have our placements, and we employ people. There’s a direct relationship with Nottingham Trent University because basically all its faculties mirror everything we do – so there’s a synergy there between us all.
“The partnership has also been successful in retaining graduates locally instead of leaving Nottinghamshire to work elsewhere in the country.”
Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena plays leading role in developing green guide for UK arenas
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham has been at the centre of developing a green guide to help all 23 major UK Arenas become more sustainable.
The National Arenas Association (NAA) has published its Green Guide, developed in collaboration with live event sustainability experts, A Greener Future (AGF) to help the largest indoor arenas in the UK and Ireland to share best practice and operate more sustainably.
The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham is already making good progress on its own sustainability journey:
- 1,000 solar panels – the largest single site installation in Nottingham – power 30 live events
- electric vehicle chargers in the car parks
- 98 percent LED lights
- 25 percent reduction in energy consumption in last few years
- 33 tonnes of waste recycled each year
- No waste goes to landfill
- Reuses wastewater from the cooling towers to make the ice rinks
