Former bank and bar in Daventry could be converted into apartments

April Lara
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Former bank and bar in Daventry could be converted into apartments

If planning approval is granted, a former Halifax bank and the adjacent Retro Bar in Daventry could be redeveloped into nine apartments. The site, located at the corner of High Street and New Street, is owned by Achrom Limited, which has submitted a proposal to convert the upper floors into residential units while retaining the former bank’s ground floor for commercial use.

The plans include four one-bedroom and five two-bedroom flats, replacing the 17-room HMO setup. To improve the exterior, proposed changes to the building include reopening blocked windows, installing new doors, and repairing or replacing broken windows. Due to its central location and access to local amenities, the development will not include on-site parking.

The project aims to bring the long-vacant building back into use, addressing concerns over its deteriorating condition and its impact on the town’s appearance. The proposal is open for public consultation, with a final decision expected by the end of April.

Kettering hospital secures £713k for solar panel installation

April Lara
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Kettering hospital secures £713k for solar panel installation

Kettering General Hospital (KGH) has received £713,000 in funding to install over 1,000 rooftop solar panels, which is expected to reduce energy costs by approximately £150,000 annually.

The investment is part of the initial phase of nationwide funding from Great British Energy, the Labour government’s new state-owned energy company. It is separate from KGH’s planned £57 million energy centre project and the hospital’s scheduled rebuild between 2032 and 2034.

The hospital estimates savings of around £3 million from the solar panels. Nationally, the programme is projected to save the NHS £8.6 million per year and up to £260 million over the panels’ lifespan.

Sales soar at Next

Tess Egginton
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Sales soar at Next
Enderby retailer Next has seen profit and sales soar in the year to January 2025. The company saw total group sales of £6.3bn, up from £5.8bn in the year prior. Meanwhile, pre-tax profits passed £1bn, growing from £918m. Maintaining this momentum, full price sales in the first eight weeks of the year have been ahead of Next’s expectations, seeing the business upgrade its financial guidance for the year to January 2026. The firm has now put full price sales guidance for the first half to be up 6.5% (from 3.5%), resulting in sales for the full year being up 5% (from 3.5%). Moreover, pre-tax profit guidance has increased by £20m to £1.066bn, up 5.4%.

Microlise delivers record performance

Tess Egginton
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Microlise delivers record performance

Microlise Group, a provider of transport management software to fleet operators, has hailed “strong” results for 2024, delivering a record performance.

Revenue at the Nottingham-based firm grew to £79.5m, according to audited results, increasing from £71.7m in 2023. Meanwhile, adjusted profits increased 16% to £6.5m.

A cyber incident cost the business £4.4m, though this is expected to be covered in full by cyber security insurance.

The year further saw over 375 new customers, including companies such as GSF, Woolies, STAF and FSSI, and 52 contracts were renewed, including JCB, Bidfood, Sainsbury’s and Cemex.

Microlise also experienced strong international growth with new direct customers secured in Australia, New Zealand and France.

Nadeem Raza, CEO of Microlise, said: “Microlise delivered record performance in FY24, exceeding market expectations in cash levels and adjusted EBITDA which is reflective of our comprehensive growth strategy and continually improving customer offerings. We have continued to secure major customer contracts and have renewed our longstanding partnerships with longstanding customers such as JCB.

“Toward the end of the year, the hard work of the Microlise team and our previous commitment to cyber security ensured that we successfully navigated a cyber security incident, loosing no customers and we have continued to build and convert our new business pipeline.  

“We remain focused on improving our customer offering and expanding our international business in key geographies such as Australia, New Zealand and France. Our strong pipeline, paired with our growing international footprint gives us much to look forward to in 2025 and I would like to thank everyone at Microlise for their hard work in the period.”

Nottingham City Council puts focus on long-term financial stability

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Nottingham City Council puts focus on long-term financial stability
Nottingham City Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee met yesterday (26 March) to review progress on the Council’s multi-year Improvement Plan. The Council reported that most of its eleven key programs are currently on-track. This positive news comes alongside its recent approval of the five-year Council Plan and confirmation of the Council’s current financial stability. While making strides forward, it has been highlighted that the Council needs to keep working on two specific areas: ensuring ongoing financial sustainability (Programme 4) and strengthening financial management (Programme 5). The Council claims to have already taken “strong steps” to address these through its finance improvement plan, for example now having healthy reserve funds, an improving financial performance, and its 2024/25 general fund spending anticipated to be very close to its budget. Looking ahead, the Council has significantly reduced its budget gap for 2025/26 to approximately £20.79 million – an improvement from the £41 million gap faced in 2024/25, and this gap is expected to shrink further. The Council added: “With our finances now stable, we’re focusing on achieving full financial sustainability. This will involve successfully implementing our planned transformation program, with a key goal of having a completely balanced budget by 2027/28.”

Multi-million pound enterprise hub prioritises all-electric development

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Multi-million pound enterprise hub prioritises all-electric development
Independent construction and property consultancy Edmond Shipway has been appointed to provide mechanical and electrical (M&E) consultancy services for a multi-million pound enterprise hub building in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, called the Pencil Works. The multi-use hub will comprise of seven ground-floor starter units which will be occupied and fitted out by local businesses, as well as office spaces on the upper floors that will be rented out by Broxtowe Borough Council. Edmond Shipway was appointed in a joint bid with Maber Architects following the successful completion of the Arnold Market Place, a similar scheme that the two worked on together under Gedling Borough Council. Having recently received planning permission, the project is due to start on site in May and is expected to complete in 2026. Josh Croft, director at Edmond Shipway, said: “It’s always rewarding to work on projects that benefit the community, and the Pencil Works is no exception, delivering vital business and retail space that prioritises small businesses and enables them to get a foot on the ladder. “We’re working closely with the Stapleford Towns Fund team at Broxtowe Borough Council, as well as Maber Architects on what will be a fantastic space for local people and businesses to enjoy together.” As part of the project, the team at Edmond Shipway carried out energy modelling to predict the energy consumption of the all-electric building. Adopting a fabric-first approach, the hub will utilise heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and high efficiency LED lighting, while solar PV panels will also be installed on the roof. Funded through the £21.1m Stapleford Towns Fund, the hub is expected to create 50 jobs and 1,000 square metres of new retail, leisure and office space, including spaces for specialist craftspeople and artists, retail units for food and drink outlets, and flexible office space for small businesses. Disabled parking, bicycle storage and public toilets are also included in the plans. Emma Georgiou, head of environment at Broxtowe Borough Council, said: “Our new Pencil Works building exemplifies our commitment to sustainability. “With a fabric first approach and all electric systems, we are utilising heat pumps, solar panels and LED lighting to minimise the building’s carbon footprint. The project showcases our focus on energy efficiency and the council’s proactive role in mitigating climate change.”

Greencore renews takeover bid for Bakkavor

April Lara
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Greencore renews takeover bid for Bakkavor

Greencore has made a third takeover bid for rival food supplier Bakkavor after its previous £1.1 billion offer was rejected earlier this month. The latest proposal values Bakkavor at 189p per share, offering a 25% premium on its market price.

The offer includes 85p in cash per share and 0.523 Greencore shares, with Bakkavor shareholders also eligible for a 4.8p dividend. If accepted, Greencore shareholders would own 59.8% of the combined company, while Bakkavor investors would hold 40.2%.

Both companies are major UK food manufacturers, supplying ready meals and food-to-go products to supermarkets. Greencore, headquartered in Ireland with a UK base in Worksop, turned over £1.8 billion last year and operates 14 factories nationwide. Bakkavor, which generated £2.3 billion in revenue in 2024, runs 20 factories and four distribution centres. The company has faced supply chain disruptions, including a strike at its Spalding site that led to shortages of dips, soups, and wraps.

Bakkavor’s board has rejected Greencore’s offers, stating they undervalue the company and its prospects. Greencore said it remains open to strategic opportunities but has not confirmed whether it will make a firm offer.

Anglian Water expands emergency water supply capacity in East of England

April Lara
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Anglian Water expands emergency water supply capacity in East of England

Anglian Water has signed a new three-year agreement with emergency water supplier Water Direct to enhance rapid-response water deliveries across East England. The deal ensures up to 20,000 emergency water deliveries per year for households on Anglian Water’s Priority Services Register (PSR), which supports vulnerable customers during supply disruptions.

The partnership, which dates back to 2008, increases Anglian Water’s reserves in Water Direct’s Nationwide Bottled Water Bank (NWBW) for faster emergency response. Water Direct has committed to delivering water to at least 2,000 households within 24 hours when required.

The agreement aligns with regulatory changes expected to expand the number of customers eligible for PSR support by up to 40%. By outsourcing emergency deliveries, Anglian Water can reallocate internal resources to focus on resolving supply issues, improving operational efficiency.

Water Direct is also developing a technology platform to enhance real-time tracking, customer data verification, and delivery management, ensuring more efficient and transparent emergency water distribution.

Vaillant opens £40m Derby plant, creating 200 jobs

April Lara
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Vaillant opens £40m Derby plant, creating 200 jobs

Vaillant has opened a £40 million manufacturing plant in Derby, adding 200 jobs to the local economy. The facility at Indurent Park will produce hot water cylinders, including the new uniSTOR high-recovery range, set to begin production next month.

The plant, which spans 12,200 sq m, includes manufacturing and warehousing space and incorporates sustainability features such as rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting, and heat pump technology.

Vaillant, a global heating and cooling solutions provider with 17,000 employees, has expanded its UK manufacturing presence to meet the growing demand for low-carbon heating solutions. The company previously launched the UK’s first boiler manufacturer-led heat pump plant in 2022.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband highlighted the plant’s role in supporting local employment and advancing the UK’s low-carbon transition. Vaillant Group UK’s plant director, Joe Dunn, emphasised the company’s commitment to Derbyshire, its historic roots, and its continued investment in sustainable heating technology.

Retailers boost wages as competition for workers intensifies

April Lara
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Retailers boost wages as competition for workers intensifies

Major UK retailers have increased pay rates in 2025 to attract and retain staff amid rising living costs. Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, and John Lewis offer higher wages for store employees.

Aldi raised its minimum hourly rate to £12.75 nationally and £14.05 within the M25 in March, with further increases to £12.85 and £14.16 set for September. Lidl matched Aldi’s £12.75 national rate and pays £14.00 within the M25, with longer-serving staff earning up to £13.65 nationally and £14.35 in London.

Tesco has invested £180 million in wage increases, setting hourly pay at £12.45 to £12.64 nationally and up to £13.85 in London. John Lewis and Waitrose opted to reinvest £114 million into employee wages instead of offering partner bonuses, setting new shop floor rates at £12.40 nationally and £13.85 in London.

Other retailers making notable pay increases include B&Q (£12.71 nationally, £14.05 in London), Sainsbury’s (£12.45–£12.60 nationally, £13.70–£13.85 in London), and Marks & Spencer (£12.60 nationally, £13.85 in London).

The pay hikes reflect ongoing competition in the retail sector to offer competitive wages and retain workers in a tight labour market.

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