Strong pipeline of work within the public sector for G F Tomlinson
Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson is celebrating success on several local schemes it has secured preferred contractor status on via a number of public sector frameworks, including Pagabo, Scape and the Department of Education, giving the firm a forward pipeline of work for the second half of 2023 and through to 2024 of £60 million.
These schemes include 90 new council houses in Worksop for Bassetlaw District Council valued at £21 million which will comprise of a mix of two, three and four-bed houses and two-bed bungalows. The scheme contains a host of green credentials including energy efficient air source pumps, solar panels, high insulation and electric vehicle charging points. There will also be cycle routes to encourage health and wellbeing.
George Betts Primary Academy in Smethwick valued at £9 million comprises a newbuild replacement school for 420 pupils and 26 nursery places. Once on site the works will be phased so that the existing school can continue to operate whilst the new school is being built.
Another high-profile scheme is the refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Stephenson Memorial Hall, which houses both the Pomegranate Theatre and Museum, for Chesterfield Borough Council valued at £16 million. The project aims to enhance the building by creating a modern visitor experience in the heart of the town centre and extend the life of an important heritage asset – creating a gateway impact and a ‘sense of arrival’ to the town.
Works comprise refurbishment, refit and extension to the listed building, which stands within a conservation area. This includes creation of a new café bar to enhance the theatre and museum experience and the installation of new lifts and a changing places toilet to improve accessibility. The scheme also includes improvements to Corporation Street with new paving and lighting that will revamp this key gateway to the town centre and provide a welcoming environment for visitors to the refurbished theatre and museum.
The final project to highlight is the Sherwood Observatory Science Discovery Centre in Sutton in Ashfield, valued at £5 million, which will transform a disused underground Victorian reservoir, dating back to 1880, into an education centre for school and group visits. The scheme will feature an exhibition hall, classroom, a cafe and meeting rooms as well as the state-of-the-art planetarium. It is hoped the new facility will increase annual visitor numbers from 3,000 to 20,000.
The company’s strategy has been to concentrate on the public sector, particularly through frameworks, which continues to provide ongoing opportunities in buoyant markets such as education, healthcare and bespoke civic schemes being funded by Government Spending initiatives including Towns Fund, the Levelling Up Agenda and Department for Education.
Andrew Sewards, group chairman at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are delighted with these recent successes, which are testament that our strategy of concentrating on the public sector is paying off. We continue to invest in and strengthen our workforce in order to capitalise on the opportunities we have moving forward, ensuring we remain in a very positive position within the marketplace.”
G F Tomlinson is also providing sustainable employment for its local supply chain, helping to generate social, economic and environmental benefits to the surrounding communities in which they work in.
82 jobs saved as street style brand rescued from administration
Street style retailer, Just Hype Limited (Just Hype) has been sold out of administration.
Quantuma Chief Executive Carl Jackson, and director Kelly Mitchell were appointed as joint administrators of Just Hype on 31 March 2023, and completed a sale of the business and assets shortly afterwards.
Just Hype was established in 2012 and operated from headquarters located in the East Midlands. The company’s target market is primary and secondary school aged children and it primarily sells direct to consumers through its online platform and from a single retail store located on Carnaby Street, London. According to its latest accounts filed in December 2020, the business reported a turnover of £22.8m.
The business has been jointly acquired by Lux360 Ltd and JHB2C Ltd who also acquired sister company Toatee Limited, which facilitates the sale of products through high street retailers and other online retail platforms.
The transaction secures the jobs of all 82 members of staff and enables the brand to continue to thrive and the business to move forward without the burden of legacy debt.
The store located on Carnaby street has closed, following the forfeiture of the lease prior to the involvement of the joint administrators.
Quantuma joint administrator Kelly Mitchell said: “The business was adversely affected by the Covid pandemic which was further compounded by the cost-of-living crisis. Just Hype has a globally recognised brand presence, regularly collaborating with other established brands. However, the investment in marketing to raise profile did not translate into revenue, as a result of public reduction in spending on non-essential items.
“Our strategic accelerated sale process enabled us to protect the value in the brand and the established online platform, to improve realisation prospects. The absence of a break in supply of goods and services, is also likely to ensure a more effective debt collection process to ensure realisations are maximised on behalf of creditors.
“I am delighted to have been able to complete the sale of this popular worldwide street fashion brand, and in doing so, securing all roles of all staff members.”
Light Science Technologies raises £1.6m
Derbyshire-headquartered Light Science Technologies Holdings has confirmed it has raised aggregate gross proceeds of £1,588,555 through the issue and proposed issue of 158,855,500 new ordinary shares at a price of 1 penny per share.
£1,077,500 was raised by the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology and contract electronics manufacturing (CEM) group through the issue of 107,750,000 placing shares, £355,000 was raised through the issue of 35,500,000 subscription shares, and £156,055 was raised through the issue of 15,605,500 WRAP retail offer shares.
An application has been made for the conditional placing shares, subscription shares and WRAP retail offer shares to be admitted to trading on AIM, which is expected to take effect on or around 24 April.
The funds will be predominantly used for product development and intellectual property protection within the company’s CEA division, as well as for general working capital purposes, including funding costs associated with the fundraising.
Leicestershire records 30% increase in job vacancies
Newly-released report data on the local employment market shows that the number of job vacancies in Leicestershire was up by about a third last year.
Recruits were sought for roles in traditional sectors including health and social care and business, finance, and professional services – but there were also vacancies in emerging areas of the economy that are creating green jobs and creative vacancies.
World of Work Leicester and Leicestershire is collated annually by the Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) to offer an overview of the local labour market.
It crunches data relating to vacant and advertised roles, skills sought by employers, and roles being created by emerging new sectors and markets.
Anna Cyhan, LLEP Skills Officer and the compiler of the report, said: “We have a healthy labour market with opportunities and roles across the board. We have large international and national companies as well as thousands of small and medium enterprises and a good showing of microbusinesses too. All of this means there is something out there for anyone looking.
“Many people are not aware of the breadth of sectors open to them and the guide should help individuals to find out more.It’s a great time for people looking to develop new or existing skills, with lots of free options, to find themselves a role to match.”
The new World of Work shows that business, finance and professional services accounts for the largest share of employees in the Lecester and Leicestershire economy (74,879), followed by health and social care.
The release of World of Work 2022-23 comes after results from the most recent LLEP Business Tracker Survey, conducted in December 2022, suggested that the region is currently in a jobseekers’ market.
In total, 38% of businesses had experienced difficulties with recruitment during the preceding six months, responding with salary rises and increased training.
In response, the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub is this week staging a day-long conference to help SMEs build workforce.
Among events will be sessions providing practical ways to overcome recruitment challenges, and attracting and retaining staff.
Also on the agenda during the free event at the Morningside Arena will be practical tips and advice around energy, finance, personal resilience.
Five thousand printed copies of the guide are currently being handed out across the city and county to organisations including Job Centres, adult education centres and careers centres.
Tax advisory firm expands into East Midlands with Nottingham office
The independent tax advisory firm, Claritas Tax, has expanded into the East Midlands through the opening of its newest office in Nottingham.
The firm currently has offices in Birmingham and Manchester.
Ses Memhi, associate partner, who will lead the Nottingham office, explained: “The office will allow us to attract high calibre students and professionals in the region who are keen to develop their professional career in an environment where they will be provided with many challenging opportunities to develop, progress, and become part of our exciting growth story.”
The office has been designed with the needs of the team at its core, to enable flexible working and collaboration, and great transport links in a thriving business district.
Ses continued: “This is an exciting time for Claritas as we embark on the next stage of our growth plan with a new office in the East Midlands. My own professional journey continues having joined Claritas almost 8 and ½ years ago as the 4th fee earner; there are now 47 of us!
“Having previously worked in Nottingham and continuing to work alongside many contacts and clients in the region, I am fully aware of the talented professionals and leading-edge businesses in the region.
“I have also lived in Derby for over 13 years and with family in Leicester, I am truly excited and enthused at the prospect of leading our offering in the East Midlands and would like to thank everyone for the support they have shown to Claritas and to me personally.
“My role as head of transactions tax means my time will be split between the West and East Midlands, so don’t worry my ‘West’ friends; I’ll still be there!”
Iain Wright, partner and founder of Claritas, adds: “Ses has been an important member of the senior team over the last 8 and ½ years, bringing in a wealth of experience, knowledge, and ideas. He has some fantastic long-standing relationships within the East Midlands, which we are keen to see grow. With this move, our clients will benefit from greater local collaboration, enabling us to deliver enhanced outcomes for them and their businesses.”
Nottingham grass machinery distributor doubles warehousing space
Grass machinery distributor, Henton & Chattell, has expanded its warehousing space with the purchase of a substantial new unit near its head offices in Nottingham.
The family business was established in 1931, and now employs 85 people across the country, supplying the general public, golf, public authorities and 1,500 garden machinery dealers across the UK and Ireland. The new warehouse is set to create eight more jobs for the city and doubles the capacity of the current premises.
The increased space enables improved stock availability so that orders can be fulfilled quickly and efficiently, streamlining the overall logistics of the company, its deliveries and order fulfilment.
On the expansion, Peter Chaloner, Managing Director, said: “There are some really exciting times ahead for us all here at Henton & Chattell, not just with the new facility but also within the products we plan to bring to market in 2023.
“The acquisition of the new warehouse is a massive step in the company’s journey and, hopefully, it is one of many more to come. We always pride ourselves on our commitment to our dealers and the ambition we have to deliver the best possible service to support them and their businesses.
“With this new increased capacity, we’ll be able to provide an even greater level of support that will improve operations all round.”
Journeo secures framework agreement extension with Arriva UK Bus
Journeo, the Ashby-de-la-Zouch-headquartered information systems and transport technical services group, has secured a one-year extension to its framework agreement with Arriva UK Bus. The agreement was initially entered into on 22 May 2019 and extended on 7 December 2021.
This new framework contract extension will continue to April 2024 and is expected to generate c.£1.1m in revenue. This contract is separate to and sits alongside the company’s existing 3-year fleet-wide SaaS contract with Arriva UK Bus, announced on 24 November 2021.
Arriva UK Bus has a fleet of approximately 5,000 buses and is the UK’s third largest bus operator outside of London, with over 15% market share. In London, Arriva’s 1,500 buses provide 17% of the capital’s bus services. Outside of London, Arriva’s 3,500 buses provide vital regional bus services.
Pursuant to the extended framework agreement, Journeo will provide high-definition CCTV systems and nationwide engineering support, along with technical design, new technology evaluation and project management services for new and legacy vehicles.
It is anticipated that the majority of the revenue will be recognised this financial year and this contract, in conjunction with other recent wins, supports the company’s medium term growth expectations.
Russ Singleton, Chief Executive Officer of Journeo plc, said: “We have been working with Arriva UK Bus since 2010 and are delighted to continue this long-standing relationship through this framework contract extension. Our safety critical CCTV and associated on-board IT systems are designed to assist Arriva in protecting their passengers, drivers and members of the public and enhance the passenger travel experience.”
Salary sacrifice seminar is your chance to stay ahead
Is your business on the road to net zero? Do you want to help your employees with more affordable and sustainable motoring? And do you want to attract and retain the best employees on the jobs market? If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’ then you need to learn about the ‘next generation’ of salary sacrifice car schemes and attend this free seminar.
Electric vehicle (EV) leasing via salary sacrifice is the employee benefit that has got the business world talking, and as a progressive employer you can’t afford to be left behind. Signing-up for a salary sacrifice car scheme with Pink Salary Exchange means your employees have access to the most extensive range of electric and hybrid vehicles, but it also means they benefit from the most expertly designed and comprehensively researched salary sacrifice car scheme available. And at the free seminar in May you can ask all the questions you need and receive great information and advice on how it works.
To be held in the Tony Waddington Suite at Stoke City’s Bet365 Stadium on 17th May 2023 between 9.30am and 2.30pm, this Pink Salary Exchange seminar will bring together the UK’s foremost experts in salary sacrifice, and present a unique opportunity to learn how salary sacrifice could transform your business.
The salary sacrifice car scheme has signed-up over 12,000 individual employees since it was first launched in August 2021, and an independent panel of accountancy and employee benefits specialists recently voted it the best EV salary sacrifice scheme currently on the market. This is because it was designed with the direct input of specialists in vehicle leasing, taxation, insurance and finance models.
This expert involvement, coupled with 20 years’ experience in vehicle leasing has produced a product that delivers critical tax advantages for the employee, as well as lifestyle flexibility and the twin appeal of cost savings and reducing a driver’s carbon footprint. Two of the UK’s leading tax advisors will be on hand at the seminar to explain how the HMRC-approved scheme works and how the employer benefits also.
If you are wanting to manage your fleet better, meet your environmental targets and also learn about the best ways to be a considerate employer offering a great remuneration package, then you can’t afford to miss this fact-filled seminar. There are limited spaces still available, but as a business local to the Pink Salary Exchange headquarters, you are invited, so book your place today and get on the road to net zero.
Register for the free seminar today: https://pinksalaryexchange.co.uk/pink-salary-exchange-seminar/
Acquisitive pub chain sets sights on East Midlands venues
A Derbyshire-headquartered independent pub company has revealed ambitious plans for the growth of its estate following new investment.
The Pub People Company is targeting the acquisition of up to 60 freehold venues across the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
The move is being financed by investment manager, Downing LLP, which has committed to expansion having acquired the business last year.Commercial property agent, FHP, has been appointed to source suitable properties to add to the Group’s estate, and is exploring opportunities with both independent pub owners and groups keen to sell.Formed in 1993, The Pub People Company has developed a reputation for cask ale and good value fresh food, underpinned by a quality estate and well-resourced central function. Its managed pubs includes an existing portfolio of 40 properties, which are based in and around Nottingham, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, and Lincoln. Andy Crawford, Managing director of The Pub People Company, said: “The Pub People Company is keen to invest in further venues in the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire areas. We’ve got a great following in our current estate of 40 pubs and we would like to expand on those.“The pub sector continues to have its challenges but with a long established business, strong backing and well invested properties in the area, we’re keen to add to our estate. We are looking to acquire freehold pubs in community and town locations across the region and are keen to speak to individual pub owners and groups who may be looking to sell, so please do get in touch with our agents at FHP.”Doug Tweedie of FHP said: “This is an exciting time of expansion for The Pub People Company and we’re delighted to be helping them to find new freehold pub sites.“We’ve formed a strong team between the two parties, which means we are able to appraise and make decisions on new acquisitions quickly and efficiently. We’re looking forward to speaking to like-minded individual owners and pub groups about new opportunities.”
College opens Modern Methods of Construction Centre
The grand opening of the Modern Methods of Construction Centre at Stamford College was celebrated among local dignitaries, stakeholders, Inspire Education Group (IEG) staff and Stamford College students, in a ceremony that recognised the wealth of opportunities conceived from the £3.3 million facility.
The 900 sq m upgrade to the College’s existing facilities, which was designed by Waterland Architects and built by Lindum, comes after substantial growth in recent student applications; around fifteen per cent more each year.
Jointly funded by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and Department for Education Post-16 Capital Funding, the Modern Methods of Construction Centre is now the primary learning facility for over 500 additional plumbing, carpentry, brickwork and electrical installation students, working to bridge the estimated 49,000 person skills shortage within the Eastern region.
Pat Doody, outgoing chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “The LEP’s £2.1m investment in this scheme recognises the need for a skilled workforce in the construction and engineering sectors, responding to the emerging requirements of modern methods of construction.
“Not only will the project create new opportunities for future students, but it will also meet the needs of local employers, address local and regional skills gaps and directly contribute to local, regional and national economies, enabling an innovative and employer-focused curriculum and accommodating forecast high demand.”
The building itself reflects its responsibility to teach and provide learning opportunities that reflect the rapid evolution of the construction industry through automation, carbon reduction and the increased use of prefabrication.
56 solar panels were installed on the roof as a source of renewable energy within the College, air-source heat pumps heat the building, and its bricks have been sourced from environmentally friendly manufacturers to ensure the carbon footprint of the building is minimised.
The build will now house six retrofit courses, designed to prepare the construction workforce of the future to meet the UK’s legally binding commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050.
