Transport Made Simple (TMS) has joined FlixBus UK’s network, adding five Yutong GT12 coaches to its long-distance service. The first routes under this partnership will launch in mid-April.

TMS, formerly known as Vectare, has grown significantly since its 2016 launch and now operates a fleet of 200 vehicles. The company will manage the new FlixBus services from its Nottingham depot under the Central Connect division. It also runs school and local bus routes in the East Midlands, Essex, and Hertfordshire.

The partnership aligns with TMS’s strategy of integrating coach and bus services into a broader multimodal transport system. It also follows TMS Group’s recent acquisition of Simonds, a Norfolk-based coach operator with a 96-year history.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is moving forward with six key projects for funding from the 2024/25 Investment Fund. These projects aim to support long-term economic growth, create jobs, and drive sustainability across the region.  EMCCA’s Devolution Deal includes an allocation of £38 million per year for the East Midlands Investment Fund, with £9.5 million earmarked for capital projects in the 2024/25 financial year. The projects include: South Derbyshire Growth Zone (SDGZ) (South Derbyshire) – Funding to help facilitate a new junction on the A50 Trunk Road, which would enable plans to build 4,500 homes (with Garden Village status) and 3.45 million square feet of commercial floorspace, plus supporting infrastructure including a secondary school.  Trent Clean Energy Supercluster (Bassetlaw) – Funding to move delivery forward for the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster, which centres on three former coal-fired Power Stations located alongside the River Trent: West Burton, High Marnham and Cottam, all in Bassetlaw. The West Burton power station site will be home to the ground-breaking STEP prototype fusion energy plant.   Derby City Urban Quarter (Derby) – Funding to transform priority areas to create a vibrant, sustainable, and accessible urban quarter. The funding will enable the wider project work to revitalise historic buildings, enhance transport infrastructure, create new homes and improve public realm.  Broad Marsh (Nottingham) – Funding to carry out demolition of part of the frame on the land near to the newly opened Green Heart. This will be an important step in helping to bring forward work on Broad Marsh which will, when complete, provide 1,600 homes and create just over 2,000 jobs, whilst providing a wide range of facilities, entertainment, and attractions.  Infinity Park (Derby) – Funding for a Research and Development Facility within EMCCA’s Investment Zone to support advanced manufacturing and nuclear sectors. The project will provide services, facility hire and collaborative space to attract new supply chain businesses and inward investment. The funding from the Investment Fund will be used to repurpose existing space available on the Investment Zone site to enable the delivery of new research and development activities which would mean more jobs created.  Avenue Site Southern Access (North-East Derbyshire) – Funding for The Avenue (Wingerworth), which continues the delivery of one of the most ambitious and effective remediation projects ever undertaken in the UK. This funding will go towards creating a southern access to the sites to deliver improved access for vehicles and pedestrians and enable future development.  The six projects are part of a broader pipeline of investments that were identified through collaboration with local councils. These projects are expected to play a significant role in boosting the local economy and ensuring that the region remains competitive and forward-looking. EMCCA’s Board recommended that the final approval of these business cases be delegated to the Mayor.    Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “These projects have been chosen for funding this year because their delivery will help boost the region’s economy. They will create jobs, help towards building homes, boosting local businesses and manufacturing, and produce cleaner energy. “We want to support and enable them to continue their work and help us towards achieving our vision for an East Midlands full of opportunities, from having good jobs, quality education, and thriving local economies. “We want to invest in vital projects, we can’t achieve the vision on our own, we need to work with partners across the region to invest in the right projects, projects that will make a real difference and this funding is just the start for the East Midlands.”

The latest KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs survey, compiled by S&P Global, indicated that the Midlands saw a considerably softer decline in permanent placements midway through the first quarter of 2025. The reduction in new permanent joiners was the softest in eight months and only modest overall. That said, temp billings fell for the first time in just under a year, albeit only marginally. Demand for staff remained weak during February, with both permanent and temporary vacancies declining sharply. In fact, the latter saw the steepest reduction since the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. On the pay front, both permanent salary and temp wage inflation eased on the month and remained well below their respective series averages. The KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: Midlands is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to around 100 recruitment and employment consultancies in the Midlands. Softest fall in permanent placements in eight months February data pointed to a further reduction in permanent placements in the Midlands, extending the current sequence of decline to nine months. That said, the reduction was modest and the softest since last June. According to respondents, a lack of recruiter confidence and market uncertainty meant that companies were reluctant to hire. The reduction in permanent placements in the Midlands was the slowest of the four monitored English regions. For the first time since March 2024, temp billings fell in the Midlands midway through the first quarter. Where a decrease was reported, economic uncertainty and a focus on taking on permanent candidates were mentioned. The Midlands saw the softest fall across the monitored English regions, with the sharpest decline in London. Demand for both permanent and temporary workers declined during February, and to larger extents than was the case in January. Permanent vacancies fell markedly, with the rate of contraction slightly stronger than in January. Only London posted a softer fall than that in the Midlands, however. Demand for temps was down for the sixth successive month, and at the fastest pace since the opening wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. Sharp increase in permanent candidate numbers Redundancies meant that permanent staff availability increased markedly in February. The number of candidates rose for the twenty-third month running, and at a slightly sharper pace than in January. The increase in the Midlands was the fastest of the four English regions. The rate of increase in temporary candidate numbers quickened slightly during February, and was steep overall. The rise in the Midlands was the second-softest of the monitored English regions, ahead of the South of England. As was the case with permanent staff, the rise in availability of candidates for temporary positions was mainly due to redundancies. Permanent salaries rise at softer pace As has been the case since March 2021, starting salaries for permanent workers in the Midlands rose in February. Panellists reported that the increase often reflected the offering of higher salaries in order to attract suitably skilled candidates. The rate of inflation was solid, though the Midlands was one of only two regions to register permanent salary growth, together with London. Hourly pay rates for temporary staff increased for the third consecutive month midway through the first quarter. The rate of wage inflation softened from January and was much weaker than the series average. The increase in temporary pay rates in the Midlands was the sharpest of the English regions covered. Commenting on the latest survey results, Kate Holt, People Consulting Partner at KPMG in the Midlands, said: “While challenges to the nationwide job market show few signs of easing, here in the Midlands, the markedly softer decline in permanent placements during February could indicate that the worst is behind us. “Although a product of wider economic uncertainty, a decline in temporary billings also signals businesses are prioritising investment in hiring for permanent roles – something that will be received well by a growing number of candidates looking for permanent positions in the region. “Midlands businesses still need to be on the front foot and invest in their teams, building long-term skills among their employees.” Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, said: “After a long winter, there are some hints of a turn in the labour market in the UK as we head into Spring. This is led by the private sector in the UK – despite recent tax rises – and that should not be missed. “The reduction in permanent placements was modest in the Midlands and the softest since last June, and the region saw the softest fall in temp billings of the English regions. “Enabling companies to grow is at the heart of our prosperity – the Chancellor must use the Spring Statement to build their confidence in growth. At the moment, though, things are still slow as companies hold their breath in the face of significant costs rises from April with changes to National Insurance and the National Living Wage. “Getting the Industrial Strategy flying is a key part of this – for the whole economy, not just key sectors – as is addressing policies in the Employment Rights Bill so they do not prove to be a brake on growth. “Despite a long slowdown, some sectors in the Midlands still face skill shortages. This comes from mismatches, training gaps and the impact of an ageing population. Addressing productivity through technology and better management will be critical to addressing this, and recruitment firms will be key partners for businesses in changing their approach. “Pay growth is easing and broadly unchanged across much of the country which should please the Bank of England rate setters.”