JG Pears named Nottinghamshire Business of the Year at East Midlands Chamber Business Awards
JG Pears, a family business that has become one of the UK’s largest sustainable processors of animal by-products and food waste, has been crowned the Nottinghamshire Business of the Year by East Midlands Chamber.
The company, whose factory just outside Newark has been behind cutting-edge techniques that recycle resources otherwise destined for landfill and produce sustainable animal feed ingredients, also won the Environmental Impact Award at the Nottinghamshire Business Awards.
A key proponent of the circular economy – a resource management system that enables materials and products to be constantly reused so waste is minimised – JG Pears has also developed a net zero co-incineration plant powered by renewable biomass generated from animal by-products.
It is also a successful exporter, with its animal fats shipped globally to countries including the USA, South Africa, Vietnam, Chile and Myanmar, where they are used in pharmaceuticals, waxes and biodiesel, as well as high-quality, protein-rich feeds for the pet food and fish aquaculture markets.
The Nottinghamshire Business Awards, held in partnership with headline sponsor Mazars, recognised winners across 13 categories, ranging from Business Improvement Through Technology and Environmental Impact Award within an organisation to individual honours for Entrepreneur of the Year and Apprentice of the Year. There were new categories this year for Collaboration Project of the Year and Excellence in Innovation.
Finalists, chosen by a judging panel of the Chamber’s senior leadership and board of directors, as well as sponsors, discovered their fate during a gala dinner attended by hundreds of people at Colwick Hall – marking a return for face-to-face celebrations after being held virtually last year.
Scott Knowles, chief executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “There has been so much to celebrate within our business community despite a challenging 18 months and these awards have showcased some of the incredible companies that call our region home.
“As the economic recovery continues, and opportunities present themselves in a new era of global trade and sustainable business, these are just the kinds of organisations we should be highlighting when we’re shouting about everything the East Midlands has to offer. We know it’s a great place to do business and they are living proof.
“We received so many high-calibre applications, which demonstrated how the pandemic hasn’t been a period in which we have just stood still. Instead, the time afforded for reflection has led to many companies seeking out new opportunities, innovating and driving themselves forward.
“While last year offered us a different kind of experience in a virtual awards ceremony, it was great to be back holding such a landmark event for the Nottinghamshire business calendar in person once more. Once again, we are so thankful to our sponsors for making this event so successful.”
The Nottinghamshire Business Awards – one of three awards hosted by the Chamber, along with Derbyshire and Leicestershire – were hosted by British-Gambian broadcast journalist Haddy Ndure and featured entertainment by Red Lane.
A raffle was held to raise funds for East Midlands Chamber president Eileen Richards MBE’s three chosen charities this year – Chesterfield Samaritans, Help the Homeless Leicester and Nottinghamshire Hospice.
Eileen, who owns Leicester-based ER Recruitment, gave a speech in which she spoke about the economic potential of the Broadmarsh and Island Quarter – two of the largest city centre regeneration sites in the UK – as well as the recently-reopened Nottingham Castle and ongoing project to repurpose the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station.
Commenting on the awards, she added: “During my year as president, I’ve been privileged to witness some of the amazing success stories that don’t always receive the wider recognition they ought to, so I’m thrilled to see some of these come to the fore at the Chamber’s Business Awards.
“The Nottinghamshire Business Awards has shone the spotlight on some well-deserving winners but I’d also like to congratulate the finalists for their outstanding entries too as we had some really strong competition across many categories this year.
“JG Pears is a very worthy winner of the Nottinghamshire Business of the Year and is playing a critically important role in promoting the circular economy to make its products sustainable and drastically reduce waste – an issue that has really come to the fore in recent weeks during COP26. It’s also a big exporter and exactly the type of company our region should get behind.”
The Nottingham’s £38,000 for Stonebridge City Farm as new charitable foundation continues Samuel Fox legacy
The Nottingham Building Society will next week (Wednesday 24 November) give £38,000 to a Nottingham community farm – the first donation from its new Samuel Fox Foundation.
Aptly the cheque will be presented to Stonebridge City Farm on the anniversary of the birthdate (24 November 1781) of philanthropist Samuel Fox, who as well as founding the building society in 1849 also helped feed, home and educate those who needed it most in and around Nottingham during the same era.
For over 170 years since then, The Nottingham has continued to adopt the philosophy of supporting communities. In the last ten years alone the building society and its teams have donated and fundraised over £1.3m to local good causes, helping nearly 53,000 of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
The Samuel Fox Foundation was set up this year and will be the target of in-house fundraising as well as donations from The Nottingham. Funds from the foundation will support projects and causes that help communities thrive, with a focus on helping young people fulfil their potential, inspire career journeys and build their future. As a mutual financial services organisation, encouraging financial capability also remains a focus of the building society’s community engagement programme.
It is fitting that the first foundation donation is to Stonebridge City Farm, who The Nottingham have ardently supported for years in recognition of the charity’s great work in providing a free-to-enter farm – the operation of which is supported by over 140 volunteers a week, many of whom have a mental health challenge or learning disability.
That backing has been in the form of donations and fundraising, but also hundreds of hours of volunteering time that has seen building society staff help with everything from painting barn walls to fixing fences.
Commenting on the latest donation and ongoing support, Stonebridge City Farm General Manager Peter Armitage said: “To receive an award of this magnitude is absolutely amazing. It will help us to continue to provide more opportunities and support for our volunteers in the months ahead.
“Stonebridge City Farm is a community charity that relies on support from local organisations and there is no doubt that The Nottingham leads the way in actively supporting local community groups such as ourselves.
“As well as financial support, they have provided many teams of volunteers that have helped us with essential work across the farm. Something that stands out is how everyone always takes a genuine interest in understanding our work and the challenges we face. Thank you so much to everyone at The Nottingham.”
The Nottingham’s Head of People and Development Anne Leivers added: “We are delighted that the first Samuel Fox Foundation donation is to Stonebridge City Farm, to support their excellent work.
“We are passionately committed to continuing to the legacy of our founder, Samuel Fox, and are confident he would have been extremely proud of not only the donation to Stonebridge but also the setting up of the foundation, in his name, to help many more great causes in the future.”
Levelling up of the UK economy demands significant additional investment according to the latest Competitiveness Index
The economic levelling of the UK economy over the coming years is unlikely and can only be addressed through significant additional investment in the local areas of the UK that ‘have been left behind’.
This is the conclusion of the 2021 edition of the UK Competitiveness Index, which is compiled by researchers at Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University, and Cardiff University.
The Index, which has been published since 2000, assesses the competitiveness of local authority areas, Local Enterprise Partnerships, cities and city regions across England, Wales and Scotland, and forecasts have compiled data to predict how they will fare in the years to come.
The most competitive localities are situated in London and the South East, with the City of London remaining the most competitive locality in the UK followed by Westminster and Camden. The least competitive localities are a mix of old industrial towns and more rural areas. The old industrial area of Blaenau Gwent in Wales is the least competitive locality. Redcar and Cleveland in the North East and Mansfield in the East Midlands also display lower levels of competitiveness.
The study finds that Covid-19 restrictions are likely to have impacted on sectors that are dominant in older industrial areas, with Brexit causing problems with access to the cheap labour that agriculture, hospitality and tourism sectors are reliant on in the more rural areas.
The least competitive cities are the old industrial cities of Kingston on Hull, Stoke-on Trent and Sunderland. In contrast, Leicester and Nottingham have seen improvements in their rankings, and a number of city regions that received City Deal funding have seen increases in competitiveness, such as Liverpool City Region, Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Region and Leeds City Region.
However, the findings suggest that these remain exceptions rather than a levelling up, with the likelihood that the competitiveness landscape of the UK will become more uneven, with the least competitive locations forecast to grow at the slowest rates, and negative growth rates predicted for some areas.
In the East Midlands there remain considerable differences in competitiveness between the individual localities. Although the larger cities of Derby, Leicester and Nottingham have not only retained their competitiveness, but improved it in recent years, other more peripheral areas of the East Midlands have seen the opposite occur.
In many cases these areas with industrial heritages, such as North East Derbyshire and Bolsover, or a more rural nature, such as East Lindsey, already had lower levels of competitiveness compared to the larger cities of the East Midlands and those located close by. Further reductions in their UKCI will be likely to increase disparities in the employment and broader life opportunities available when comparing the most and least competitive parts of the region.
One of the report’s authors, Professor Piers Thompson, economist and competitiveness expert at Nottingham Business School, said: “Although the full long-run impacts of the twin shocks of the global Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit will only become apparent in years to come, it is clear that in all regions of the UK there are localities which have been hit harder than others.
“Changes in the way that people consume and work, along with rising costs associated supply chain constraints and access to appropriate staff, mean that the sectors responsible for the competitiveness of some areas is may recover to some degree, but without intervention it is unlikely to return to pre-shock levels.
“While existing policies to support the rejuvenation of a number of cities outside London and the South East appear to be bearing fruit, it is important that ‘levelling up’ is an endeavour that considers all parts of the UK.
“Efforts must be made to ensure that a reduction of inequalities between regions is not simply replaced with greater inequalities within regions. In particular, areas outside larger cities that have previously benefited from low-cost labour could be in danger of being ‘forgotten’ when plans for large scale infrastructure projects and other investments in skills and education are made.”
The UK Competitiveness Index measures current economic competitiveness across local and regional areas of Britain based on a basket of economic indicators.
Van Elle reports “significantly increased revenues”
Van Elle, the ground engineering contractor, has hailed “significantly increased revenues” for the six months ended 31 October 2021, ahead of announcing its half-year results.
In a trading update, the Nottinghamshire-based company said strong activity levels have continued in most divisions, leading to significantly increased revenues of approximately £60m in the period.
This represents a 56% increase over the prior year comparative period (HY21: £38.3m) as well as a return to growth over pre-Covid comparative revenues, with run rates exiting the period showing good capacity usage across all divisions.
The business added that, as expected, recovery in Rail volumes continued to lag the other segments, with residential construction showing the highest activity levels. However the Rail business has seen an improvement in enquiries and contract activity towards the end of the period, according to Van Elle, which is expected to continue in the second half.
Meanwhile the firm has continued to experience the effects of industry-wide supply chain challenges, salary inflation and short-term employee availability. “These challenges continue to be mitigated at an operational level,” Van Elle said. “Management is focused on improving its margin mix and remains confident that the strong market recovery and divisional performance will underpin an improved outlook.”
Administrators appointed to Lincolnshire turbines business
Jobs have been lost after a Lincolnshire turbines business entered administration.
James Clark and Howard Smith from Interpath Advisory have been appointed Joint Administrators of Turbine Efficiency Limited (TEL) and Turbine Efficiency Group (TEG).
Operating from a leasehold facility in Witham St Hughes in Lincolnshire and incorporated in January 2000, TEL operated as a specialist provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services for industrial gas turbines in the utilities, oil and gas, power generation, and industrial process support sectors.
TEG was incorporated in December 2011 and operated as an intermediate holding company, and was the 100% shareholder of TEL.
TEL suffered significant capital constraints in its 2021 Financial Year as a result of customers reducing capital expenditure projects following the impact of COVID-19.
The directors undertook an early options process to try to secure new investment for the business, but with no deliverable offers for the business and assets forthcoming, the directors took the difficult decision to place the companies into administration.
On appointment, the companies had 39 employees, of which 17 have been retained to finish outstanding items of work in progress, assist with asset realisations and the wind down of the business. The remaining 22 employees were made redundant upon appointment.
James Clark, Managing Director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “As we commence an orderly wind-down of the business, our immediate priority is to provide those employees impacted by redundancy with the support and assistance they need to make their claims to the Redundancy Payments Office.”
Award-winning Loughborough manufacturer retains ‘Best Family Business’ title
A sixth-generation homeware and garden supplier is celebrating another successful year, after gaining the title as ‘Best Family Business’ for the second year running in a prestigious Leicestershire awards ceremony.
After winning the same award at last year’s event, the Loughborough-based manufacturing company, Charles Bentley & Son beat two other worthy finalists to retain its title at the Niche Business Awards 2021.
Businesses across Leicester assembled for the return of the recognised awards at a ceremony at Athena in Queen Street, Leicester. Last year, strict coronavirus restrictions meant businesses were forced to celebrate virtually.
Steve Law, Sales Director at Charles Bentley & Son, said: “Winning any award just once is hard, retaining the award for the second year running and against such tough competition shows how determined we are within the Charles Bentley business to always look to improve. The continued dedication of every colleague within the company ensures that we always move forward collectively and with the same goals. With that said, we haven’t finished yet.”
He added: “With more projects to be delivered over the coming 12 months and beyond and with the further addition of talented people joining an already talented team, our eyes are certainly on the hattrick in 2022.”
Earlier this year, Charles Bentley & Son beat off well-known brands to claim the Retailer Support Initiative award for Retailer Support in the DIY Week Awards.
As a global supplier of contemporary home, garden and leisure products, the business – first established as a manufacturer of chimney sweep brushes 161 years ago – is passionate about transforming houses into homes. Over the years, the firm has reinvented itself to become a multi-million-pound global supplier of contemporary, high quality yet cost-effective brushware and homeware products.
With a workforce of 160, the manufacturer is now a major provider of Dropship Services for the UK’s biggest home and garden retailers and produces in excess of two million brushes each year.
Director, James Bentley, said: “It is a huge honour to win an award for the second year running at the renowned Niche Business Awards.
“Retaining this prestigious title is a massive achievement for the team who work around the clock to deliver an excellent service to all of our customers.”
He added: “None of this would be possible without the outstanding commitment by the people who work in the business. The team’s ongoing drive and ability to adapt has been a significant factor contributing to our success.”
Jenny Cross, CEO of Cross Productions, organisers of the Niche Business Awards said: “As Charles Bentley & Son are a sixth-generation, local, independent business, their passion in their products and services shines through. They believe that there really is no place like home and so they epitomise what it means to be part of the Leicester community.”
Jo Tindley joins team Pro-Noctis off the bike as well as on
Jo Tindley, perhaps best known as part of the elite women’s cycling team Pro-Noctis- Red Chilli Bikes-Heidi Kjeldsen has become the latest recruit for team Pro-Noctis as she joins the human performance specialist company as Brand Ambassador and Performance Consultant.
Jo is one of the most experienced riders in the British Peloton and was recently crowned British Champion, having won the National Circuit Championships in her hometown of Lincoln.
Jo brings with her a wealth of elite performance experience, and having reached out to Pro-Noctis during her campaign for the National title, Jo has first-hand experience of the importance of mindset, and self-belief in achieving your goals.
Phil Kelly, Pro-Noctis Managing Director said: “Jo epitomises our values of taking performance to the next level, and with first-hand experience of working with us and achieving amazing results, she is the perfect ambassador for our team.”
Jo Tindley, Pro-Noctis Brand Ambassador and Performance Consultant said:” I am looking forward to working with the team. I learnt so much this season off the bike, about my motivations and the power of self-belief in performance. Through working with Pro-Noctis I was able to take my performance to the next level, and I hope to inspire others to also achieve their goals.”
Jo will join fellow Cyclist and Olympic Champion Ed Clancy as a Brand Ambassador for Pro-Noctis, as the company embarks upon a year of exciting developments.
Alstom signs agreement for first ever UK hydrogen train fleet
Derby train-maker Alstom has signed an agreement, which aims to deliver the UK’s first ever hydrogen train fleet.
The firm has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with train owner and financier Eversholt Rail to design, build, commission and support a fleet of 10 three-carriage hydrogen multiple units (HMUs).
The two companies have agreed to work together, sharing technical and commercial information necessary for Alstom to develop the new fleet, which would be built in the UK and be based on the Aventra, which is currently built in Derby.
Alstom said the intention is that final contracts for the fleet will be signed early next year.
Nick Crossfield, Alstom’s Managing Director for UK and Ireland, said: “COP26 is a reminder of just how urgent the need to decarbonise our world is.
“Rail is already the lowest emission transport mode, but we can do even more, and I am delighted that we have concluded this agreement with our friends at Eversholt Rail which will lead to Britain’s first ever fleet of new hydrogen trains.”
According to both firms, the hydrogen trains project will help with the British and Scottish governments’ targets to decarbonise rail.
Alstom is a global leader in the provision of rolling stock solutions and was the first company in the world to produce a hydrogen powered train – the Coradia iLint – which is in operational service in Germany.
Mary Kenny, Chief Executive at Eversholt Rail, said: “It is important that we start sooner rather than later to decarbonise UK rail if we are to meet the 2050 ‘net-zero’ target.
“Hydrogen propulsion will play an important role, and this project with Alstom will demonstrate how the private sector can work together to make a difference.”
Both companies have a track record of working together on a hydrogen rolling stock solution for the UK rail sector.
The ‘Breeze’ project involves the proposed conversion of an existing Electric Multiple Unit to hydrogen power.
Both companies now believe that there is a market for a fleet of new trains for use by train operators across Britain.
Alstom said that the breadth, depth of knowledge and experience gained from the Breeze project, together with stakeholder feedback on future fleet strategies, has been invaluable in shaping the product planning.
Works reach new milestone at £25m riverside development
One of Nottingham’s latest waterside residential developments, The Yacht Club, is reaching a new milestone as construction works on the luxury scheme continue to progress.
The 81-home development, which is situated to the south of Trent Lane in a prime riverside location, is being developed by KMRE Group Ltd.
Now at 45% sold, the scheme includes a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including penthouses.
The first of the development’s three blocks, known as Block C, is now nearing completion with new residents expected to move in by the end of the year, as the rest of the site continues to take shape.
Block C features 39 apartments and four penthouses, and all terraces and internal communal areas are now finished, and a new riverside pathway has also been formed for residents and the public to use, connecting to the area’s wider network of cycling and footpaths around the river.
The Yacht Club is one of a number of new residential schemes being built alongside the River Trent, in what is known as Nottingham’s waterside regeneration area.
The latest design for a new cycle and pedestrian crossing over the River Trent has also been released recently, in what will create safer and more convenient public access to the river’s network of paths and cycle ways, and cater to the new residents of the nearby developments.
Kam Mogul, director at KMRE Group Ltd, said: “We are incredibly pleased to see works at The Yacht Club progressing at pace – Block C is a few weeks away from being finished and we are looking forward to seeing the new residents move into their waterside homes.
“The Yacht Club is an exclusive scheme that has been designed with the benefits of living by the water’s edge and the location’s tranquillity in mind; the spectacular views, the peaceful flowing river and the modern, spacious apartments make this a wonderful place to live.
“The development’s secluded location is a unique one – there is no passing traffic and you are surrounded by nature, but it is by no means disconnected from the rest of the city. Nottingham city centre and train station are just a 25-minute walk away – as is the affluent West Bridgford area and its many independent shops, bars and restaurants.
“Natural beauty spots, places of interest and retail parks such as Holme Pierrepont, Colwick Country Park, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and Victoria Retail Park are also within easy reach, so it’s the perfect location with amenities close by.
“We’re very proud to be investing in new homes in Nottingham – a city on the rise, with burgeoning waterside developments opening up new neighbourhoods and connecting areas around the River Trent to the rest of the city and beyond.”
Belmayne delivers first instalment of charity cash
Dronfield-based independent financial planners, Belmayne, have donated £6,000 to four local charities, with more on the way.
The firm has handed over the money raised through its Belmayne Foundation in the first half of this year to Helen’s Trust, Pathways of Chesterfield, FareShare Yorkshire and Nenna Kind.
Each organisation received an initial payment of £1,500 and the balance of its fundraising activities will be shared equally at the end of the year.
Due to the pandemic, Belmayne decided to support its 2020 charities for another 12 months and staff have completed a number of sponsored activities to raise funds on their behalf, including the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and the Five Dales Sportive.
Belmayne partner, Jon Stevens, said: “We are so pleased to see our nominated charities at last benefiting from our endeavours, after the pandemic curtailed efforts in 2020. They each support the community in which we operate and we know every donation received is put to incredibly good use. We have been working hard to keep up the fundraising momentum and are looking forward to delivering more good news at the end of the year.”
