Bathroom supplier expands into Derby
Trade supplier, Clifton Trade Bathrooms, has expanded into Derby, taking occupation of 5,812 sq ft of a new build development at Eagle Park.
Clifton Trade Bathrooms is a supplier of tiles fittings, adhesives, and silicones for bathroom fitters. Moving to Derby seemed like the logical step for the firm, with many of their showrooms being based in the Midlands and Northern England.
Eagle Park is in an established area of Derby with nearby occupiers such as Screwfix, Howdens, Jewsons, Andrew Page and City Electrical Factors.
Occupying a spacious unit, this property is completed to an open plan shell specification, ready to receive the tenant’s fit out. The units provide a tracked loading door, ample loading space and allocated parking.
Graham Bancroft, partner at BB&J Commercial and agent responsible for the unit sold, said: “The letting to Clifton Trade Bathrooms provided my client with another strong covenant in their property portfolio. This was the tenant’s 24th unit and we were delighted to welcome them to the Eagle Park site, and we believe that they will be a great success.”
Robust first half and further acquisition for Ideagen
Nottinghamshire software provider, Ideagen PLC, has made a further acquisition, swooping for CompliancePath – a UK and US-based leader in software validation and assurance, focused predominantly on the healthcare and life science sectors.
The news came as Ideagen provided an update on trading for the six months to 31 October 2021.
The business said its performance in the first half of the year was in line with expectations and demonstrates a continuing growth in high-quality recurring revenues.
Ideagen expects to report total revenue for the first half up 33% at approximately £38.8 million (H1 2020: £29.2 million). Recurring revenue recognised in the period grew by 41% to £34.2 million, representing 88% of total revenues (H1 2020: 83%).
Total revenue grew organically at 6% (H1 2020: -2%), whilst organic recurring revenue growth was 10% (H1 2020: 10%) driven by continued strong customer retention rates as well as new business wins.
Adjusted EBITDA is expected to increase by 32% to approximately £13.2 million (H1 2020: £10.0 million).
Ben Dorks, Chief Executive Officer of Ideagen, said: “Ideagen delivered a robust performance in the first six months, which not only reflects the strength of our business model and the merits of SaaS, but also the investment in our people, our products, and our customers.
“Since the first half ended, I am pleased to have completed four acquisitions with significant synergy opportunity and welcome these products and teams to the Group. The Group continues to generate strong organic growth while executing on our strategy of acquiring businesses that extend our leadership in compliance software for regulated industries.
“Ideagen enters the second half of the year in a great position, confident of delivering on its expectations for the year and the considerable opportunity continuing our current M&A plus organic growth strategy that lies ahead.”
Manufacturing industry to receive a big boost towards reaching zero carbon with new project
The UK manufacturing industry is set to receive a big boost towards reaching zero carbon with the creation of a new project aimed at siphoning the knowledge of the country’s leading social science experts.
Loughborough’s Professor Jan Godsell will co-direct a new network that will encourage academics to research the social and economic factors that will help UK manufacturing achieve ‘net zero’ by 2050.
Prof Godsell and Professor Jill MacBryde, of the University of Strathclyde, will lead the £4m InterAct initiative – a project funded by the UKRI’s £147m Made Smarter Innovation programme.
The network is a call to arms for academics from the social sciences to support the innovation and distribution of digital technologies that bolster the UK economy while also bringing it into line with national environmental targets.
The 38-month programme is due to end in December 2024.
Alongside Prof Godsell and Prof MacBryde, the programme will also be supported by a Network Management Team and a core research team from Loughborough, Strathclyde and Sheffield universities.
Prof Godsell, Dean of Loughborough’s School of Business and Economics, said: “Looking to the future, our aspirations for InterAct is a community with clear added-value for all where stakeholder groups want to engage and be part of the Made Smarter Network Plus.
“We will embed diversity and inclusivity. Diversity of thought will bring benefits of multiple perspectives. Inclusivity will help us to embrace and collaborate with existing research groupings, rather than compete with them.
“Participation will be based on expertise, not status, and we will seek to develop people at all stages of their careers.
“Our vision of success would be that the InterAct is seen as a partner of choice; easy to work with, welcoming, and professional.
“Ultimately, we would like to be a one-stop-shop that curates existing and emerging knowledge and capabilities (research and education) and showcases leading practice.”
Prof MacBryde added: “Our long-term vision is to build a strong, vibrant, interdisciplinary community to support UK manufacturing in the adoption and development of digital technologies that will result in a stronger, more resilient, manufacturing base. We know that technology alone is not enough.
“We need to harness the knowledge of people and society to really reap the full benefits that technology can bring. Whilst there are clear advantages of this network for the economy, manufacturers and technology providers, there are also benefits for the academic communities.
“Collaborative working, new challenges and contexts will open up new avenues for world-leading research.”
There are five key elements to the InterActive programme:
- A Commissioned research programme will provide the opportunity to curate, augment and amplify insights from the ESS to support the diffusion and adoption of IDTs. 5 different funding mechanisms have been adopted to broaden the appeal of the programme and increase participation. These include systematic reviews, small projects, a sandpit, Early Career Researcher (ECR) Fellowship programme, and an impact acceleration fund resulting in 18 interdisciplinary projects.
- A Knowledge exchange programme is critical to the diffusion of ideas from the ESS to the policymakers, manufacturers and IDT providers who could benefit from the adoption of IDTs. The comprehensive programme includes a range of activities that amplify the core research programme (international webinars, discovery days, annual conference), provide education and insights (impact workshops, insight days, summer school), support academic publication (special tracks, journal special issue) and enable and amplify the diffusion of ideas (website and curation platform, mentoring programme, access to Emerald impact services).
- The Core research programme complements the commissioned research programme base by addressing more systemic problems that require a longer term and more in-depth research. It has the additional benefit of providing a common purpose to galvanise the team. Future-focused it considers the future of manufacturing ecosystems (Prof. Jan Godsell and Dr Alok Choudray, Loughborough), future of work (Prof. Jill MacBryde and Prof. Colin Lindsay, Strathclyde) and the future of the economy (Prof. Vania Sena and Prof. Philip McCann, Sheffield).
- An Impact acceleration programme. There are lots of ESS insights currently in existence, that are not in a form that is easily accessible to policymakers, manufacturers, and IDT providers. Researchers often lack the time and skills to turn their work into more accessible outputs. An impact acceleration programme has the dual benefit of building impact capacity within the ESS community whilst making the insights more accessible to end-users.
- A Storytelling fellowship programme. The ability to use storytelling as a methodology and form of dissemination is a key research skill for economic and social scientists. The storytelling fellowship programme has the dual benefits of building storytelling capacity within the ESS whilst using stories to make insights more accessible to the end users, the network and society at large.
Skill shortages threaten to derail optimism around ‘levelling-up’
UK business leaders are optimistic that the Government’s levelling-up agenda can realistically be delivered but the so-called ‘skills gap’ is proving a challenge for the regions outside of London and the South East, according to new research from accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO.
The survey of 500 leaders of medium-sized businesses across England and Scotland, reveals that almost all respondents (94%) believe the Government will deliver on its levelling-up promises in the next decade. More than half (54%) say that this could realistically be achieved within the next three years.
However, despite optimism around the Government’s agenda, access to skilled people may be a threat to the growth of regional businesses. All those surveyed reported some form of staff shortages, with a third saying that their biggest recruitment challenge is a lack of available talent in their region.
Looking at the comparison throughout the UK, those worst affected by regional skills shortages are outside of London and the South East and areas heavily reliant on the manufacturing sector.
More than a third of manufacturing businesses nationwide cited staff shortages as the number one issue affecting their ability to operate at normal levels, with 40% of manufacturers unable to fill their apprenticeship positions.
In a bid to reduce the so-called ‘skills gap’ a £3.8bn investment in skills and education was announced as part of the recent Budget and spending review, including £170m allocated to funding apprenticeships.
The Chancellor also announced that £1.7bn of the £4.8bn levelling-up fund has been allocated to more than 100 small-scale infrastructure projects throughout the UK. These include a ‘growth zone’ in Derbyshire, the redevelopment of Leicester train station and transport investments in Liverpool, Plymouth, Newcastle and Nottingham.
Ed Dwan, partner at BDO, said: “After experiencing a period of great uncertainty, it is pleasing to see that business leaders from across the country are optimistic that real progress on the ‘levelling-up’ agenda will happen in the not too distant future.
“The investment in shovel-ready projects announced as part of the levelling-up fund will be a welcome boost to those areas that need them the most. However, it is clear there is more to levelling-up than just transport and infrastructure, and the Government must not overlook this.
“Skills and staff shortages are being reported across the board and remain a large barrier to the growth of many businesses, particularly of those in some in the regions outside of London and the South East.
“The newly announced £3.8bn skills investment from the Government is crucial in order to ensure the skills gap doesn’t widen, but there is no quick fix. As businesses navigate complex challenges post-Brexit and pandemic, the Government must listen to their needs and implement long-term policies that will have an impact nationwide in order to truly ‘level-up’ the UK.”
| Region | % citing a lack of available talent in their region |
| South West |
53% |
| Thames Valley |
47% |
| West Midlands |
41% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber |
40% |
| East Anglia |
39% |
| East Midlands |
37% |
| Central South |
33% |
| North East |
30% |
| South East |
24% |
| Greater London |
23% |
| North West |
22% |
Further delays hit new Daventry cinema
The opening of Daventry’s new cinema has been put back again following delays to remedial work being carried out by the project’s main contractor.
Willmott Dixon have made a number of attempts to remedy defects related to a ceiling support system affecting all four auditoriums. Their latest works are due to conclude during November, but these delays have prevented the Arc Cinema completing their own fit out in time for a Christmas opening.
The remedial work – which must be completed before The Arc Cinema can install their state-of-the-art digital laser projectors and screens, immersive surround sound systems, and leather recliner seats – is being carried out at no extra cost to West Northamptonshire Council or the operator.
Much of the other work on the £12.5m Mulberry Place development is largely complete, including the cinema’s foyer, the two restaurant units, and the new public square with decorative fountains. Operators for the restaurants are also lined up.
Councillor Lizzy Bowen – Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth on WNC – said: “This is a really exciting project that will deliver a first-class leisure destination, so it’s very frustrating that it won’t open for Christmas as we had hoped.
“Please be assured we are engaging with Willmott Dixon on a regular basis to get the remedial work completed as quickly as possible, so that our partners at The Arc Cinema can complete their fit-out.
“The work that The Arc Cinema have carried out inside the building so far is really impressive and, once finished, this will be a fabulous leisure facility that the people of Daventry and the surrounding area can really be proud of.
“I know there is a lot of anticipation around this development, and I would like to thank everyone for bearing with us as we get closer to completion. We’re just as eager for it to open as you are, and I for one can’t wait to settle down to watch a great movie at this wonderful new cinema.”
New multi-million pound vehicle test track set to attract global interest
A Government minister has visited a new multi-million pound vehicle test track being built inside a Victorian railway tunnel in West Northamptonshire.
Minister for Business and Industry Lee Rowley was at the Catesby Aerodynamic Research Facility to see the progress on this unique project as it nears completion.
The facility, near the village of Charwelton, is a previously disused Victorian railway tunnel which has been transformed into a unique indoor world class aerodynamic vehicle testing centre.
The almost 3km-long and perfectly straight tunnel is more accurate and efficient than a wind tunnel and will give the UK a unique proposition in automotive and race car development, which is attracting global interest.
The project has been led by Aero Research Partners (ARP) with construction firm Stepnell designing and building the unique scheme.
The delivery of the project was made possible through a partnership approach, which involved West Northamptonshire Council. The Council bought the tunnel from the Department for Transport and it is now leased to ARP.
The project also received £4.2 million of investment from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured through the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP).
Work on site got underway in January 2018 and is now in its final stages, with ARP undertaking commissioning and trials before Stepnell returns to lay the final asphalt layer so vehicle testing can get underway.
Derbyshire firm shows its support for the UK armed forces as it picks up a silver employers award
A Swadlincote company has strengthened its pledge to help support current and ex-service personnel after it was officially recognised for the work it does to recognise the contributions made by Britain’s armed forces and provide employment for veterans.
MTMS, which provides depot maintenance services for the rail and transport industry, was this week awarded the Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for its ongoing commitment to upholding the values of the Armed Forces Covenant.
The company previously held the bronze award but has taken another step further by introducing a host of new measures, including offering an extra five days unpaid leave for any employees who might be called away with the Territorial Army or the UK’s other reserve forces.
It also advertises itself as a pro-military veteran employer, has pledged to give careers advice to young people attending their local army, air force or navy cadet units and also offers a free counselling service to ex-military staff who might be suffering from anxiety or need advice on overcoming other life or career issues.
MTMS, which employs 35 people and is based in Marquis Drive, was handed its silver award by Kirstie Lawrence, deputy regional employer engagement director for the East Midlands, and is now aiming to get its gold award some time during the next 12 months.
The firm currently employs three former servicemen, including Andy Tarrant, who is now a compliance and quality assurance advisor but previously served as a Royal Engineer before leaving the army in 2003.
He is also a mentor for Buildforce, which is an organisation set up to help service leavers make the transition to the civilian world.
He said: “Making the transition from life in the military to civvy street can be very difficult for many people because of the change in the way of life, the type of situations you work in and a change in status.
“Having a company that promotes itself as service leaver-friendly by displaying the silver award is a huge benefit because it shows that they understand the issues that military personnel face, whether they have just left the forces or are a reservist.”
Malcom Prentice, Managing Director of MTMS, said: “At this time of year we take time to recognise the sacrifices of Britain’s Armed Forces but at MTMS we recognise that our servicemen and women put their lives on the line to protect us 365 days of the year.
“It’s only right that we repay that by offering them the opportunities they deserve when they leave or, if they are a reservist, the extra support they need to fulfil their duty.
“In return we have benefitted greatly from the former service personnel that we have employed. They leave the forces with excellent qualifications and plenty of transferrable skills, and they’ve got a really good work ethic too.”
Communication across branches: how to ensure your teams get all the information they need
Communication between teams is crucial to create good collaboration and make sure effective work is done. Business leaders should do all in their power to enable that good communication across multiple branches and offices. There are many ways to do this, and management should lead by example.
Business leaders should take a holistic approach to communication across branches and teams. They should consider the bigger picture for the business and consider all areas of their organisation. This article will explore some of the most effective ways to improve communication between staff in multiple locations.
Choose One Central Communication Platform
Often business leaders are tempted to try out multiple communication platforms for various uses. This can lead to an excessive number of communication tools which can, in turn, lead to poor communication.
It is best to choose one platform and make sure that all teams in the business use it. For instance, communication platforms like Slack allow direct messaging between individuals as well as group communications. This can be a great way to ensure communication and avoid having too many platforms for staff to choose from.
Create A Feedback Culture
Feedback is crucial to help staff and management improve and progress. All people in a business can benefit from feedback, from entry-level staff to CEOs. Creating a culture of feedback can guarantee that this powerful tool is utilised often. After completing projects, it is a good idea to host a meeting to assess how the project went, what could be improved on and what was successful.
Business leaders should single out employees who have done good work and praise them in front of others. If providing feedback on how individual employees could improve, it is best to do so in private. Leaders should avoid criticising employees in front of their peers as this can lead to mistrust in management.
Utilise Video Conferencing Technology
When ensuring communication between teams in multiple locations, it can be beneficial to use video conferencing technology. This allows teams to communicate in real-time where face to face time isn’t achievable. It may help to implement weekly cross-team video conferences to ensure that everyone can discuss the company goals and projects and ensure they are all on the same page.
Use Cloud Storage
Cloud storage can be an excellent way to ensure that all teams have the documents and information they need to do their work correctly. This can be particularly beneficial if your business deals with a lot of paperwork. Business leaders should make sure that teams scan all hard copies to upload to the cloud, allowing staff in all locations access. Management should ensure that the cloud storage they use is appropriate, offers all the services they need and can easily host the amount of documentation they use.
Set Company-Wide Goals
Having company-wide goals can be a great way to guarantee that all team members are working on the same page. Business leaders should be clear in their plans for the business and take the time to update all employees on what these goals are regularly.
Having clear, bigger-picture goals to work towards can help employees feel more confident in their roles and check that they know what they need to do to contribute to the company’s success. When discussing the company goals, business leaders should highlight the importance of communication.
Make Files Easy To Share
In addition to cloud storage, the documents your business uses should be easy to share. Sometimes employees will need to share documents via email or through communications platforms, so they must know how to make larger documents more manageable to work with. Adobe offers excellent guides to help users learn how to compress a PDF file which can be invaluable for employees who need to share documents regularly. Business leaders should teach their staff to understand the ways to turn larger documents into more manageable sizes.
Host Social Activities Outside Work
Ensuring your employees can connect outside of work is a great way to help foster stronger workplace bonds. The more comfortable employees feel with one another, the more likely they are to reach out at work when they need help or information. Business leaders should consider hosting regular social events such as drinks after work on Fridays, company retreats and business lunches.
Team lunches can be a great way to fit socialising into the typical working day. If your offices are spread across a larger area, leaders should consider hosting quarterly get-togethers for meals or team-building exercises. Leaders could also encourage staff to create company-wide clubs or societies so that employees with similar interests can bond outside of work.
Lead By Example
Business leaders should show their staff a good example by acting in the way they expect their staff to behave. A good way to show your commitment to creating a healthy communication culture at work can be to have an open-door policy. This allows employees face time with management to air concerns or offer suggestions.
Use Project Management Tools
Project management tools can be an excellent way to keep track of the various work and projects being done at any given time. It can also be an excellent way for employees to track their own work and identify who they need to collaborate with to get their job done. Business leaders should look into the various available tools and ensure that the one they choose will be beneficial for the type of work their business carries out.
Reward Collaboration
Rewarding good collaboration and communication can be a great way to encourage the behaviours you want to see in a business. Reward systems can be implemented that allow employees to give points to other employees when they help them out or do good work. Over time these points can be built up and redeemed by the employee into rewards such as vouchers or gifts. This can be an excellent way to encourage collaboration between employees and help staff feel valued.
Choose The Right Leaders
The leaders in a business make all the difference in ensuring a healthy culture of communication. When hiring or promoting employees to leadership roles, choosing people who make effective communication a priority is crucial. Interview processes should include questions about communication style and how a prospective leader will boost communication across various teams.
Hire The Best People
Hiring the right employees, to begin with, can make a huge difference in ensuring effective collaboration. Business leaders should make their company attractive to the best talent by offering a competitive salary, attractive conditions and a positive work environment. There should also be clear progression paths for employees of every level.
Final Thoughts
Ensuring effective communication across multiple branches can be a real challenge for business leaders. It is crucial to confirm that all areas of the business are considered and that employees have the tools and knowledge they need to communicate effectively. Encouraging healthy social interactions among employees can also be invaluable.
Management should lead by example and show junior staff the type of behaviours they expect to see. Offering employees training in communication can also be an excellent way to improve collaboration across the board.
Proposals submitted to demolish Domestic & General offices for major student scheme
Plans to demolish an office building in Nottingham, to make way for student accommodation, have been submitted to the city council.
The plans for Chaddesden House, at 77 Talbot Street, come from McLaren Property (Nottingham) Limited.
The building currently hosts the offices of Domestic & General, which will move to new premises on Station Street in late 2022.
A design statement says: “The vision for this proposal is to create a high quality purpose built student accommodation scheme with external courtyards and landscaping, which sits well within the conservation areas well as within its more immediate context.
The new development is to provide 318 student beds over 10 levels, as well as communal facilities. A mix of 1 bed self contained studio apartments and ensuite cluster bedrooms, with clusters ranging from 4-8 beds, would be created.
“Refurbishment of the existing building was considered at an early stage but unfortunately was not found to be viable.
“Instead the existing building will be demolished in order to make way for this new development.”
Safety tech startup Tended receives £2.4m funding boost
Lincolnshire safety technology startup Tended has secured £2.4m in investment to further propel its growth, bringing the company’s total funding to £4.4m.
The funding was led by existing investor Blackfinch Ventures, with participation from early-stage European venture capital firm Basinghall Partners, UKRI, and a number of industry-specific angel investors.
Founded in 2017 by Leo Scott Smith, Tended creates wearable safety solutions that are used across industries, including construction, manufacturing, utilities, and logistics to improve employee safety and site efficiency.
The start-up already counts industry leaders, such as Siemens, Rolls-Royce, Network Rail, Unilever and Babcock, as its customers, helping them to improve their occupational safety.
Tended’s CEO and founder, Leo Scott Smith, said: “Every company has its own unique set of safety challenges. Interventions such as training and processes only go so far to improve safety. We’re helping companies uncover and understand the underlying influences of unsafe actions and provide the resources to help them change those behaviours
“We aim to help companies achieve sustainable change to promote a safer workplace and positive employee experience. The team has been working hard on product development and thanks to investors like Basinghall, we’re one step closer to making sure loved ones return home from dangerous working environments at the end of the day.”
Ginette Oebel, founding partner at Basinghall Partners, said: “Tended is an inspiring company with a vision to significantly improve safety in workplaces using precision and science-based tools. Basinghall is delighted to support Tended on its journey and also to make Tended’s solutions accessible to our Industry Partners.”
