Grantham Industries secures £500,000 facility to support Rutland waste site acquisition
Lincolnshire-based waste management, earthmoving and demolition company Grantham Industries has secured a £500,000 finance facility from Paragon Bank’s SME Lending division to support the purchase of a commercial waste site in Rutland.
The £500,000 funding will also enable Grantham Industries to renovate the site, building the existing waste transfer station into a waste and recycling centre offering a broader package of services to the local area. The new site in Rutland has expanded the company’s geographical presence, building on its existing operations in Louth, Lincoln and Doncaster.
In addition to the funding facility, Paragon has also recently supported Grantham Industries with a £198,000 asset finance package to purchase a Volvo Wheel Loader for use on one of its current waste transfer sites, expanding its fleet of vehicles.
Grantham Industries offers a range of services under its GBM Demolition, GBM Plant Services and GBM Waste Management brands. The company was started in 2001 by Managing Director Simon Grantham and his brother Andrew Grantham.
The company employs over 90 people and operates across the country.
This deal has been led on behalf of Paragon’s SME Lending division by Henry Oakes, Business Development Manager in the Vendor team, headed by Terry Lloyd.
Grantham Industries Finance Director Leanne Fairburn said: “We had a very specific requirement to purchase a waste site and were looking for a lender to support this transaction. We were delighted that Paragon could support us with a funding facility, building on our existing relationship with the bank after purchasing equipment previously.
“Purchasing the site in Rutland will be a new opportunity for us to expand our footprint and proposition, and we’re grateful to Henry and the Paragon team for all their help in making this a smooth process.”
Business Development Manager Henry Oakes added: “It’s been a pleasure to help Grantham Industries expand its business and purchase the site which will undoubtedly bring about new opportunities for them.
“At Paragon we strive to support clients with their business goals through various financing options, so we were thrilled to be able to arrange a funding facility for Grantham Industries.”
East Midlands business confidence sees slight rise in January
Business confidence in the East Midlands rose one point during January to 39%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds.
Companies in the East Midlands reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 14 points at 53%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down 11 points to 25%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 39% (vs. 38% in December 2024).
Looking ahead to the next six months, East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth as evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (51%), investing in their team, for example through training (38%) and introducing new technology such as AI or automation (29%).
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
National picture
Overall, UK business confidence fell two points in January to 37%.
While firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects strengthened four points to 51%, their confidence in the wider economy dropped seven points to 24%.
For the third month in a row, London was the most confident UK nation or region in January (55%), with the West Midlands following behind (51%).
Sector insights
There were similar falls in manufacturing, construction and retail this month, with a slight increase in services. Confidence fell to 38% in manufacturing (down 4 points), 36% in construction (down 5 points), and 40% in retail (down 3 points). However, confidence in services increased by 3 points to 38%.
These results come within a general trend of larger confidence declines in retail and services in recent months. Within the services sector, confidence has notably fallen in hospitality but has remained more stable in business services and health-related services.
Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds, said: “The resilience and ambition of businesses in the East Midlands is evident in this month’s results. And it’s particularly encouraging to see businesses prioritising steps that will support their long-term growth, such as investments in their team and technology.
“As firms kick-off their 2025 plans, we’ll continue to be their side to help them make the most of every opportunity ahead.”
Council to sell eight care homes
Eight residential care homes that are owned and operated by Derbyshire County Council are to be put up for sale as going concerns. Business and commercial property sales agent Ernest Wilson has been appointed to sell the homes.
The eight nursing and residential care homes that are being put up for sale are Castle Court in Swadlincote, Thomas College House in Bolsover, The Grange in Eckington, Briar Close in Borrowash, New Bassett House in Shirebrook near Mansfield, Rowthorne Home in Alfreton, the Leys in Ashbourne and Nottingham’s Lacemaker Court in Long Eaton.
Registered for 260 residents in total, the eight care homes are being offered for sale individually, in packages or as a whole group, with the condition that buyers must have a track record in running care homes to a standard certified as Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
No guide prices will be suggested and Ernest Wilson will market the properties until 16 March, by which date expressions of interest and offers must reach its offices to be considered.
Mark Czajka, director at Ernest Wilson, said: “Residents and their families were naturally concerned about the threat of closure for these eight care homes.
“By selling them as going concerns to experienced and outstanding care home operators, the council is firmly placing the emphasis on the continued and uninterrupted excellent care of the current and future residents.”
Profits and revenue slide at Van Elle
Profits and revenue have slid at Van Elle, the Nottinghamshire-based ground engineering contractor.
According to unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 October 2024, profit before tax dipped to £1.9m from £2.5m in the same period of the year prior.
Meanwhile, revenue of £65.2m marked a decrease of 4% compared to last year (£68.2m).
The business noted that a “strong performance” in Specialist Piling and Rail was offset by weaker volumes in General Piling and Ground Engineering Services.
Market conditions in each of the firm’s end markets are expected to remain challenging for the remainder of the current financial year. However, Van Elle is said to have “continued to secure a solid pipeline of future work, including several targeted key contract wins, and has a strong order book for delivery in the final quarter of the financial year.”
Mark Cutler, Chief Executive, said: “The Group has faced another challenging period, however, it has continued to make significant strategic progress, positioning Van Elle in attractive end markets and strengthening its core offering to deliver for clients. We have been focussed on driving operational efficiencies and have a right-sized cost base, appropriate to the current levels of demand.
“The acquisition of Albion Drilling has accelerated our expansion into both Scotland and the Energy sector and broadened our specialist capabilities, while Specialist Piling activity levels notably increased in the Period. The Group as a whole has continued to secure a solid pipeline of future work, including several targeted key contract wins.
“Alongside the increase in volumes experienced in our Housing Division, our other key markets are expected to continue improving over the coming months, and coupled with a strong order book, we remain confident in delivering a full year performance in line with market expectations.”
Midland Tyre Solutions parks up at Derwent Business Park
Rushton Hickman has let an industrial unit on the Derwent Business Park Estate.
Midland Tyre Solutions are the new tenant of Unit 1 Derwent Business Park which comprises 1,615 sq ft of industrial space.
Midland Tyre Solutions specialises in supplying and fitting a range of tyres, catering to various vehicles from motorbikes to tractors. Their expertise extends to high-performance vehicles and Off-The-Road (OTR) machinery, including agricultural and heavy plant equipment.
Taylor Millington, who brokered the letting for Rushton Hickman, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Midland Tyre Solutions to Derwent Business Park. Their presence not only strengthens the local business community but also enhances the overall landscape of the estate in providing essential services to the town and contribute positively to the area.”
New business support programme starts in Northamptonshire
A new business support initiative for ambitious entrepreneurs has started at Vulcan Works.
The John Franklin programme was recently launched to run alongside the town centre workspace’s existing incubation programme for start-up businesses, known as Vulcan Creatives.
Vulcan Creatives, led by business growth manager Darren Smith, supports 10 ambitious local people hoping to kick start a new business or grow an existing idea with specialist support. The second cohort began in November with business support workshops, specialist grant opportunities and one to one coaching from Darren.
The popular six-month initiative, funded by West Northamptonshire Council utilising £40,000 of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), had more than 50 applicants this year.
Rather than let 40 down, South Midlands Growth Hub offered to collaborate with Darren and use remaining funds from West Northamptonshire Council to offer a second project.
An additional 21 people have joined the John Franklin programme, which also runs for six months and offers participants collaborative learning opportunities, guidance and advice in starting or growing a business.
Darren said: “By taking on another 21 people in the John Franklin programme, we can spend that money earmarked for this purpose on more entrepreneurs who need the support, and more Northamptonshire businesses will benefit from that decision.
“The John Franklin participants will have access to the Vulcan Creatives business support workshops, as well as one to one coaching with the Growth Hub at Vulcan Works.”
South Midlands Growth Hub business adviser Jessica Stead said: “We had such a high number of people wanting to join the Vulcan Creatives that rather than let them fall away we thought we’d support them too.
“We thought we’d mirror what Darren is doing and offer that initial consultation meeting to ensure they’re aware of the business workshops happening at Vulcan Works and can network with the Vulcan Creatives team.
“We are funded by the Department for Business and Trade to provide advice for any SME in the region, so this was a perfect fit for us. All those taking part can come to us for advice after the programme finishes too.”
2025 Business Predictions: Sunny Landa, director, Landa Associates
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 Sunny Landa, director at Landa Associates.
Why workers continue to resist call backs to the office…
There remains a real challenge for the office in a post pandemic world as traditional offices no longer offer worker-friendly environments that give workers the same comforts as their homes.
Workplace planning will be key in 2025 as changing workplace dynamics such as hybrid working, particularly amongst younger generations, become key drivers for companies seeking to attract and compete for talent.
Grade A offices should now offer collaborative spaces as well as work place food options and we will see AI begin to play a key role in making the office environment more friendly, such as facial recognition technology, and also play its part in collecting data for senior managers. Company bosses are being advised by workplace change
management specialists employees needs are paramount and we will also see early adopters of a 4-day workweek.
There will continue to be active demand for office space from tech and media businesses, insurance and financial services as well as professional businesses, but we will see a real decline from charities and associates, public service sectors, government, education and health sectors.
The ultimate driver for these active sectors will be competition for talented people and staff retention which in my view will force many tenants to drive for quality in their office environments.
Despite market uncertainty grade A office space will continue to be a coveted asset for more people wanting to return to the office. In the post pandemic world, the dominant choice for many tenants is to now have collaborative spaces in larger open plan offices. This working style lends itself well to hybrid working and hot desking which is very much the new norm.
Fit-out cost will remain a barrier for most occupiers but those willing to invest in their office space by making them the best in their class will undoubtedly win. 2024 has shown us that top tier Grade A offices continue to let and the polarisation between unrefurbished space becomes bigger with less take up in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
New Nottingham partnership to drive innovation for brewing industry
Technical resources for the brewing sector have been given a boost by the combining of two of the UK’s leading resources of brewing education and support.
The University of Nottingham has launched an expanded partnership with Murphy and Son that will drive forward enhanced research and development, with the Murphy and Son laboratory and R&D team relocating to the International Centre for Brewing Science.
This new partnership is the progression of a successful collaboration that has been built over several years. Over this period, the partnership has facilitated numerous graduates through apprenticeships, fellowships, knowledge transfer partnerships and post-graduate placements.
Murphy and Son’s own team has also expanded with University of Nottingham alumni and these talented individuals have become integral members of their lab and technical teams.
As part of the expanded partnership, Murphy and Son’s laboratory and R&D team will be relocating to the International Centre for Brewing Science. This move will provide greater access to state-of-the-art facilities, enabling more comprehensive product testing services for customers and expand lab testing offerings to include a wider range of analysis for wine, cider, spirits as well as brewing.
The International Centre for Brewing Science is a centre of excellence for brewing education and research and is home to one of the country’s most advanced pilot brewing systems. Combined with 135+ years of brewing know-how and global reach from Murphys, a platform for the advancement of brewing excellence and innovation has been created.
Professor Sam Kingman, Interim Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Nottingham, said: “I am thrilled to see Murphy and Son continue to deepen their relationship with the University. We are a centre of excellence for brewing education and research and through this partnership our shared expertise will be translated into world-leading innovation, helping to define the future of the sector.”
Sustainable brewing is a core objective in Murphy’s history, and they aim to find innovative solutions to increase efficiency and address various production challenges. The goal is to provide customers with cutting-edge solutions that enhance their drinks production processes.
Charles Nicholds, Managing Director of Murphy and Son, said: “We are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with the University of Nottingham. This partnership not only enhances our research and development capabilities but also strengthens our commitment to supporting the next generation of beverage producers.
“By relocating our lab and R&D team to the International Centre for Brewing Science, we can leverage advanced facilities to better serve our customers and expand our testing services. Additionally, this collaboration will help us continue to push the boundaries of our R&D, finding innovative solutions to deliver on our goal of being the number one technical resource for drinks producers.”
Jo Simpson, Chief Commercial Officer at the University of Nottingham, said: “Our partnerships are built on innovation and impact and our relationship with Murphy and Son exemplifies this.
“Combining our world-leading facilities, research expertise and new pathways for our students and graduates to thrive has created a partnership that will have an impact globally. I am very much looking forward to seeing the continued success and growth of Murphy and Son alongside the University.” Wavensmere sells 262 homes to Kennedy Wilson
Wavensmere Homes has exchanged on the sale of a portfolio of 262 single-family homes in the Midlands to global real estate investment company, Kennedy Wilson.
The portfolio comprises 131 homes which are currently under construction at Wavensmere Homes’ £75 million redevelopment of Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby city centre. 131 houses will also be delivered at the housebuilder’s £150 million Wolverhampton Canalside South site, where construction work will commence imminently.
Wavensmere Homes’ bespoke product is purpose-designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects for institutional ownership in the rental market. The portfolio, comprising two- and three-bed city centre rental homes, is being delivered as a fully-fitted turnkey package and is expected to become available for occupation between 2026-7.
Designed to an EPC-A specification, each house will have an EV car charging port, together with an air source heat pump and solar PV panels to generate green energy.
The off-plan transaction was brokered by ACRE Capital Real Estate’s Operational Living team.
James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “We are thrilled to announce this significant deal, bringing institutional capital from a major global investor into regeneration sites that had long been derelict in the centres of Derby and Wolverhampton.
“We continue to see huge demand for eco-focused single-family housing that’s close to major centres of employment, retail and leisure, with extensive healthcare, public transport, and education provision.
“This transaction enables us to accelerate our construction programme, delivering homes for local people, whilst supporting local supply chains at Derby’s Friar Gate Goods Yard and Wolverhampton Canalside South.
“An additional 145 open market houses and apartments at Friar Gate, and a further 450 mixed-tenure homes at Canalside South, will become available in-line with our build programmes.”
Mike Pegler, President, Kennedy Wilson Europe, added: “Wavensmere Homes has garnered a strong reputation for urban regeneration and the delivery of major housing-led schemes within city centre and town locations.
“These homes will offer residents high quality, well-designed and sustainable rental housing in excellent locations within Derby and Wolverhampton. We are looking forward to construction progressing as we continue to grow our UK single family housing platform.”
Mark Wilson, Partner at Acre Capital Real Estate, said: “This UK residential portfolio offers prime city centre addresses and exemplary ESG credentials which is reflective of Wavensmere’s high quality developments.
“These two well-amenitised Midlands locations have the added benefit of the range of on-site communal facilities Wavensmere delivers for residents, such as co-working offices, screening rooms, community gardens, and fitness and play spaces.”
Progress made in improving Rutland and Melton transport services with green light for Jules House alterations
Progress has been made in improving vital transport services for residents of Rutland and Melton following the planning approval of alterations to the former Jules House building in Oakham.
The proposals are part of a broader scheme, known as Rural Innovation in Action, being collaboratively delivered between Rutland County Council and Melton Borough Council under £22.95m UK Government funding.
The scheme will be centrally located in the former Jules House area, close to Oakham Train Station and leading to Rutland Memorial Hospital. The plans include establishing two new bus routes from the site, featuring both fixed-line and demand-responsive transport operated by 11 additional buses.
Councillor Christine Wise, Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and Communities at Rutland County Council, said: “Receiving planning permission for this important infrastructure and transport initiative marks an exciting step forward.
“Once fully operational, we expect the new bus service to significantly enhance the mobility of thousands of residents across Rutland and Melton, integrating the two rural market towns and boosting the local economy.”
The approved plans also involve reconfiguring the current land to accommodate suitable parking and turning areas for minibuses on the site. An accessible path will be created through the former Jules House site, seamlessly connecting pedestrians between the hospital area and the town.
The Jules House property will benefit from an expanded rear extension, full interior refurbishment, and new landscaping. The redevelopment will also provide much-needed community space, with first-floor office space available for rent to support the scheme’s economic viability.
Cllr Wise added: “The addition of community space in the approved plans will be welcomed by the local community and serve as an important area for residents and local groups once open.
“As we move towards the next stage of the project, Rutland County Council will be keeping local residents and key stakeholders informed as it progresses towards construction.”
