Acorn Safety Services wins two national awards
A Northampton health and safety consultancy has won two prestigious national awards.
Acorn Safety Services has won the UK Best Health & Safety Consultancy award at the SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards which showcase the region’s industry leaders.
News of the win came hot on the heels of Acorn’s health and safety manager, John Crockett, winning The Alan McArthur Unsung Hero Award at The Safety Health and Excellence (SHE) Awards. These national awards celebrate innovation and achievements in the health and safety sector and attract hundreds of entries from across the UK.
During the past 45 years, John has helped tens of thousands of clients, including the likes of Bovis Construction, London Midlands Trains, HSBC Data Centres. BP, British Gypsum, Heathrow Airport, McDonald’s, Taylor Woodrow and Network Rail.
Since joining Acorn in early 2020, John has helped more than 600 of its clients with their health and safety needs and helped the firm to further extend its range of services.
He said: “I’ve always worked hard but I’ve never sought to be rewarded. To win the award was incredible because I was up against tough competition. I’m pleased for myself, but I’m also delighted for Acorn because winning these awards shows people that Acorn is somewhere they can go for expert health and safety advice in a wide range of areas.”
Acorn director, Ian Stone, said: “We’re so proud to have won these awards and are thrilled for John whose expert guidance has saved countless lives, prevented many injuries and saved so many clients from issues that would have ended in prosecutions.”
Plans for planetarium at Sherwood Observatory move a step closer
An ambitious project to build a state-of-the-art new £5.25m planetarium and science discovery centre in Nottinghamshire has moved a step closer after funding was secured and a contractor appointed.
The team at Sherwood Observatory, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, has secured support via the Towns Fund programme for the scheme that aims to inspire interest in STEM learning and careers.
They have also appointed a local contractor, Robert Woodhead Limited, to carry out the building work, procured through SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading procurement authorities.
A planning application will be submitted in early 2022, with work on the development due to start later next year. The project has been accelerated through SCAPE Construction, a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings.
Planetarium project manager, Steve Wallace, said: “The new centre will create a unique visitor attraction and help raise the profile of our area significantly.
“It will focus on delivering STEM content in an exciting and hands-on way, to raise awareness of the opportunities that STEM careers can unlock an important aspect of future jobs creation in our region.”
Leo Woodhead, director of Robert Woodhead Limited, said: “We are so pleased to have been appointed to build the new centre through the SCAPE. It means we can bring our construction expertise in delivering exceptional visitor attractions at the earliest possible stage.
“This early engagement has a multitude of benefits to the project, one being how we can get people involved in discovering STEM during the design and construction phases to deliver exceptional social value.”
Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “This project is a great example of how government funding can be channelled to breathe new life into local communities. Not only will it stimulate the local visitor economy but also inspire children and develop much needed interest in STEM-based careers.
“We’re extremely proud to have helped accelerate the project through procurement and, in turn, ensure Sherwood Observatory will be supported by a best-in-class local delivery team.”
The project aims to turn a disused underground Victorian reservoir on the site of the Sherwood Observatory into a state-of-the-art tourist attraction and education centre. The reservoir will be repurposed to house a multi-functional exhibition area and teaching spaces while preserving the existing architectural heritage features.
The striking designs have been drawn up by Nottinghamshire Architects, Player Roberts Bell. HSP Consulting Engineers, based in Eastwood, will form part of the experienced design team.
A 10m diameter planetarium, accommodating approximately 60 people per show, will sit on the reservoir’s roof. The planetarium is being designed though a partnership of RSA Cosmos and ST Engineering Antycip, global leaders in digital planetariums and visual displays. The area around the planetarium will serve as a viewing platform for portable telescopes.
It is set to become one of just a handful of UK destinations to combine a planetarium with an observatory – and has the potential to attract at least 20,000 visitors a year to support the local visitor economy.
The plans were presented to an audience of business and community leaders at the head office of local business Total Integrated Solutions on the 24th November, along with a call for more local businesses to back the project and provide the outstanding funding required to bring it to fruition.
It is hoped that the education and outreach activities it carries out will help create a pipeline of talented and motivated people interested in STEM, which will support prosperity in the area and develop the skills needed by local businesses.
To progress the project further, it needs to secure a further £3 million of matched funding. If funding is confirmed, the site could open in early 2024.
Plans in for 200-acre Derbyshire employment site
Plans to create a major 200-acre employment site in Derbyshire, which would create thousands of new jobs, have been submitted.
Following a public consultation, which started in October, Verdant Regeneration has submitted a planning application to Erewash Borough Council to create the rail connected scheme near to Junction 25 of the M1, on part of the former Stanton Ironworks.
Verdant, which is a joint venture featuring the owners of Ward Recycling, completed a deal for the site towards the end of last year – and first revealed its plans for the development – called New Stanton Park – back in April.
According to Verdant, if the scheme gets to go-ahead, the site could provide around two million square feet of employment space and create 4,000 new jobs once fully developed.
David Ward, of Verdant Regeneration, said: “The submission of the outline planning application is a hugely important step in bringing forward the regeneration of this major strategic site.
“In its redevelopment we are aiming to deliver high quality real estate that will drive occupier activity and job creation.”
With a direct and operational link to the Midland Main Line railway, the New Stanton Park site has potential to become a key distribution point for materials being imported and exported efficiently throughout the UK and beyond.
Mr Ward said that Verdant would take a “sustainable approach” to the development, combining energy efficient buildings with green space.
Fishing ponds, rural walkways and cycle tracks would also be created to enhance biodiversity and link the site and its wider communities.
David Grier, of Verdant Regeneration, said: “Having acquired the site in 2020, we have worked hard across the team to quickly bring forward an outline planning application on what is one of the largest regeneration projects within the region.
“New Stanton Park offers an excellent strategic location, blending an active rail connection with strong private and public transport connectivity, plentiful labour and large power supply.
“When combined, we are confident this will result in a highly successful development with the next chapter set to positively transform and improve the area, bringing forward large scale job creation in the process.”
New Stanton Park is being jointly marketed by M1 Agency and TBD Real Estate.
James Keeton, of M1 Agency, said: “The submission of the outline planning application is a major milestone in the delivery of New Stanton Park and the regeneration of this large-scale former brownfield site.
“With strong initial occupier interest, subject to receiving a positive outcome, we are confident of quickly bringing forward development and realising the transformation and improvement of the area in a high quality and sustainable manner, most importantly, delivering large scale job creation in the process.”
Chris Drummond, from TDB Real Estate, said: “The redevelopment of the site has been talked about for a significant period of time and it is excellent news that it is now hopefully set to come to fruition.
“Verdant Regeneration has been hugely pro-active in its approach since purchasing the site and with active occupier engagement we welcome the delivery of an outline planning consent to thereafter bring forward the transformation and improvement of this strategically important site.”
Leicester criminal law practice acquired by national firm
National law firm Reeds Solicitors LLP (Reeds) has acquired Bray & Bray’s (Bray) criminal law practice in Leicester.
The acquisition, which consists of two offices, marks the firm’s first steps into the Midlands and adds to its suite of offices across London, Thames Valley, the South East, South West, the North and Wales.
The team in Leicester, lead by partner Mike Garvey, will continue to service its existing client base in all aspects of criminal legal services, whilst also leveraging on Reeds’ extensive national coverage.
Reeds continues to not only be one of the UK’s largest suppliers of legal aid services, but the firm also acts for an increasing number of clients on a private basis offering services in criminal, family, mental health, court of protection and prison law as well as numerous services in business law ranging from white-collar crime to health and safety law.
The new team brings the firm’s total headcount to more than 170 fee earners and 240 staff.
Commenting on the merger Reeds’ managing partner, Jan Matthews, said: “This is an exciting new chapter for us all here at Reeds. With offices now in the Midlands, we intend to capitalise on our increasing national footprint and offer clients the very best service that they have come to expect from us. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new colleagues and look forward to working closely together into the new year.”
Hitachi/Alstom JV wins contracts to build HS2 trains in Derby
A Hitachi/Alstom JV has been awarded the contracts to build Britain’s next generation of high speed trains at their factories in Derby and County Durham in a major deal set to support 2,500 jobs.
The landmark contracts – worth around £2bn – will see the JV design, build and maintain a fleet of 54 state-of-the-art high speed trains that will operate on HS2 – the new high-speed railway being built between London, the West Midlands and Crewe.
Capable of speeds of up to 225mph (360km/h), the fully electric trains will also run on the existing network to places such as Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and the North West.
Building on the latest technology from the Japanese Shinkansen ‘bullet train’ and European high-speed network, they will be some of the fastest, quietest and most energy efficient high-speed trains operating anywhere in the world.
The design, manufacture, assembly, and testing of the new trains will be shared between Hitachi Rail and Alstom.
- The first stages including vehicle body assembly and initial fit-out will be done at Hitachi Rail’s facility at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham; and
- The second stage of fit out and testing will be done at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory in Derby.
Ecology consultancy celebrates 30th birthday with over £1m gift aid to Notts Wildlife Trust
East Midlands ecology consultancy, EMEC, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Founded in 1991, and based in the heart of Nottingham, East Midlands Environmental Consultants Limited (EMEC) is a specialist ecological consultancy that undertakes ecological surveys, arboriculture and land management services for many of the UK’s leading developers and utilities companies.
Over the last 30 years, EMEC has gift-aided over £1m to Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT) which has been used to fund habitat conservation work across nature reserves under the management of NWT and other wildlife conservation activities and campaigns.
Whilst balancing the need to protect and enhance biodiversity, EMEC has played an integral role in helping to facilitate the delivery of many high-profile projects. Their strategic planning and consultancy advice has helped clients such as Nottingham Trent University, Wilmott Dixon, J Tomlinson Ltd and Centre Parcs to repair, regenerate or renew landscapes aligned to a culture of shared ecological values.
Since 2019, EMEC have designed and created over 60 wildlife ponds, providing much needed habitat for great crested newts, a nationally protected species, and have overseen the planting over 23,000 trees in the Midlands on behalf of its clients.
Commenting on their 30th company anniversary, Managing Director, Paul Wilkinson, said: “We are understandably delighted to reach this milestone. EMEC has grown to be a successful practice and a leader in its field, providing knowledgeable, cost-effective consultancy solutions for our client portfolio of landowners, developers, planning consultants, architects, and utility companies across the UK.”
Based in The Old Ragged School in Sneinton, Nottingham, EMEC Ecology employs 22 staff and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Ward supports campaign raising over £4,700 for Rainbows Hospice
Derbyshire-based metal and waste recycling specialist, Ward, has supported a campaign to raise funds for a local hospice which provides essential respite for a member of the Ward team and their family.
Min Bawa, senior transport manager at Ward, has two children, Aveena and Nevaiah, who were both born prematurely. Aveena has Cerebral Palsy and a brain injury from a bleed at birth. She only has one kidney and as she outgrows that, she will need a transplant. Nevaiah was starved of oxygen at birth due to complications, which means she has a brain injury.
Looking after them both is difficult and the family use the facilities at Rainbows to access respite care to give them long weekends away from time to time, as well as emotional support. Rainbows provides a safe place where they know their children can be cared for as all the staff are well trained to help.
During the height of Covid, Rainbows stepped up for Min as the existing care package from the council just collapsed and it was quite a stressful time as Aveena was admitted into hospital fighting for her life.
As part of Diwali, the festival of light, Min’s wife, Armandeep, began a campaign to raise money for Rainbows Hospice through Just Giving, achieving local press coverage to try and reach an initial target of £1,500.
Being a proud family business, Min’s story was shared among the Ward team and many members of the extended family backed the campaign, helping them exceed the fundraising target.
Min Bawa, senior transport manager at Ward, said: “On behalf of myself and my whole family, we want to extend a huge thank you from us all for the support and donations to my wife Aman’s Diwali fundraising campaign for Rainbows Hospice.
“The work that they do supports families across the East Midlands with all kinds of essential care. It provides one place for our family to have a complete rest, with the peace of mind that our daughter is 100% safe, happy and her needs are fully cared for.”
A happy coincidence also occurred when one of the Ward team was announced as the winner of a charity prize draw courtesy of Qualitech Environmental Services at an industry trade show.
As Qualitech Environmental Services director, Matt Dodd, explains: “We attended the RWM show at Birmingham NEC earlier in the year and instead of providing marketing giveaways our firm decided to donate £5,000 to charity through a business card draw at our exhibition stand.
“We thought that instead of giving out things with our logo on we would use the marketing budget for good causes and split it into one £3,000 and two £1,000 prizes. We’ve previously supported Claire House Children’s Hospice North West and we do a lot of work to support different causes and this gave us the chance to extend the opportunity to those attending the event.”
Qualitech’s top prize of £3,000 was won by Heather Foo, head of purchasing (Metals) at Ward, and she was keen to connect with the Bawa’s campaign for Rainbows, saying: “It was perfect timing. Min and his wife’s Diwali campaign for Rainbows was running when I found out I’d been selected for the very generous charity prize from Qualitech. It’s been so great to give their fundraising efforts an additional boost.”
Rainbows, based in Loughborough, provides support and care to more than 300 families from the East Midlands. It requires over £6million a year to run and gets less than 15% funding from the government, so it totally relies on the generosity of fundraisers and donations.
Hayley Purser, corporate partnerships fundraiser at Rainbows, said: “This is a fantastic donation to date of £4,711 and incredibly important to Rainbows to enable us to continue providing the vital care that we do to so many babies, children, young people and their families. We are so grateful to Min and his family, Ward and Qualitech for combining their fundraising activities and supporting Rainbows in this way.”
CloudCall to be acquired in £39.9m deal
CloudCall’s directors have unanimously recommended an all cash offer for the business to shareholders, valuing the company at £39.9 million.
The Leicester-based firm has reached an agreement with Xplorer Capital Growth I, LLC (Xplorer Capital), a newly formed company owned by funds managed and advised by Xplorer Capital Management LLC.
Under the terms of the acquisition, CloudCall shareholders will be entitled to receive 81.5 pence for each CloudCall Share.
Xplorer Capital believes that CloudCall would benefit from returning to private ownership with the support of a growth-focused shareholder.
It intends to provide the capital and long-term view of value creation to enable the management team to make the necessary investment in working capital to upgrade its technology platform, improve and expand product capabilities, and greatly expand and enhance the company’s sales capacity.
Keith Nilsson, founder and managing partner of Xplorer Capital Management LLC, said: “We are delighted to have reached agreement on the terms of the acquisition with the board of CloudCall.
“We believe CloudCall would benefit from returning to private ownership with the support of a growth-focused shareholder and look forward to accelerating the growth of the business and helping it to reach its full potential by providing CloudCall with access to significant additional capital resources.”
Peter Simmonds, non-executive chairman of CloudCall, said: “Over recent years, the management of CloudCall has continued to develop its product mix, enhanced its client base and positioned itself for growth.
“However, CloudCall operates in a highly competitive environment where many of its peers are larger and better capitalised and CloudCall will require additional funding to continue to support its strategy and remain competitive.
“Against this backdrop, I believe the offer from Xplorer Capital represents an attractive premium, provides certain value today for CloudCall shareholders and provides CloudCall with the opportunity to access significant further capital to implement CloudCall’s strategy in the future.”
Frasers Group “very pleased” as revenue and pre-tax profit grow
Revenue and pre-tax profit are on the rise at Shirebrook-based Frasers Group as both bricks and mortar and online businesses “continue to perform well.”
According to unaudited interim results for the 26 weeks to 24 October 2021 (FY22 H1), revenue has increased to £2,339.8m, in comparison to £1,893.3m in the same period of the previous year.
Statutory profit before tax meanwhile increased to £186m from £106.1m, and adjusted profit before tax increased to £186.8m from £115.5m.
In a statement to London Stock Exchange, Frasers Group said: “The Board is very pleased with the overall trading performance of the Frasers Group during the first half of the year and I want to extend my thanks on behalf of the Board to our hardworking and dedicated teams across the Group.
“Both our bricks and mortar and online businesses have continued to perform well since reopening from the last lockdown in the UK in March 2021.
“Unfortunately we still have the shadow of uncertainty cast by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, with restrictions including lockdowns returning to parts of Europe and with the emergence of new variants.
“There are also supply chain risks which to date we have proven resilient to but which must be factored into our future forecasting given these could continue for some time.
“On top of this there are the well-publicised macroeconomic factors contributing to a likely cost of living squeeze which could impinge on consumers spending plans heading into the new year.”
Frasers Group believes it can achieve an adjusted profit before tax of between £300m to £350m by the end of the financial year, assuming no significant UK lockdowns before then.
Rolls-Royce well positioned to hit savings target
The gradual recovery in international flying combined with market recovery in Power Systems and resilience in Defence are “driving improvements” in trading performance, Rolls-Royce has said, while savings of more than £1bn have been made in 2021.
The company’s restructuring programme, launched in May 2020, is said to be delivering “sustainable cost savings more quickly than initially anticipated,” positioning Rolls-Royce well for its £1.3bn savings target by the end of 2022.
By the end of 2021 the business expects to have removed more than 8,500 roles, with the pace of restructuring running ahead of its original plan and footprint rationalisation continuing through the second half of the year.
Free cash outflow in 2021 is now expected to be better than previous guidance of £2bn.
Chief Executive, Warren East, said: “We are delivering on the elements within our control and are focused on our commitments. We have achieved good results with our fundamental restructuring programme, as we sustainably reduce costs and deliver a leaner and more efficient company and are firmly on course to complete our disposals programme.
“While external uncertainties clearly remain, we have seen continued gradual recovery in our Civil Aerospace business, a growing order book in Power Systems and have secured a significant contract win in Defence.
“We are investing in the net zero technologies and solutions that we need across the group to grasp the tremendous commercial opportunity of the global energy transition and drive long-term value. This all underpins our strategy of creating a better quality and more balanced business which can deliver significantly improved returns and cash flow into the future.” 