< PreviousFINANCE NEWS Natural energy snack brand raises £2.4m to fuel growth TRIBE – the natural energy snack brand with a manufacturing site in Leicester – has raised £2.4m in a funding round led by Mercia Ventures and including Yeo Ventures, Crowdcube and private investors. The funding will enable it to continue its rapid growth and make seven new senior appointments. TRIBE’s products are stocked at health food stores and major supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, the Co-op and Morrisons. As part of the funding round, the company has appointed a new Chair in the form of Steve Rich, the former Managing Director of FulFil who led its sale to Ferrero for £140m in 2022. Rafael Joseph of Mercia Ventures said: “With consumers moving away from ultra-processed foods, healthy snacks are amongst the fastest-growing grocery categories. “Restrictions on displaying ‘unhealthy’ foods in supermarkets are also bolstering TRIBE’s sales. TRIBE has all the ingredients for success – an exceptional product underpinned by consumer trends and the ideal team to back it up.” Soft furnishings company falls into administration Nottinghamshire-based soft furnishings company Home Curtains (UK) Limited has fallen into administration. Home Curtains is a leading name in the home furnishings industry, with over 35 years of industry experience, supplying products to a large number of retailers and direct to customers. Due to rising costs of materials, shipping and energy, alongside reduced consumer spending and inflationary pressures, the company faced difficulty maintaining profit, and now Dean Nelson, Head of Business Recovery and Restructuring at PKF Smith Cooper, has been appointed joint administrator. Trading of the business is being continued over the coming weeks, under the supervision of the joint administrator, whilst either a purchaser is found for the business and its assets, or the substantial quantity of stock is wound down and sold. The administrator has already negotiated a significant sale for a proportion of the company’s available stock. DEA Aviation secures new multi-million pound finance package DEA Aviation, a specialised aerial data-acquisition company based in Nottinghamshire, has secured a multi-million pound finance package with Santander UK, supported by UK Export Finance (UKEF). It is DEA’s second round of funding secured with the support of UKEF, to sustain growth in its export and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) business segments. Last year, DEA secured £16.5m in its first tranche of funding with Santander UK to meet job creation, capacity and capability objectives, focused primarily on its ISR and export operations. Joanna Allen, CFO of the DEA Group, said: “This new funding package, enabled by UKEF, positions DEA to continue a strong growth trajectory in its export and ISR operations internationally as the worldwide demand continues to mount. “The funding recognises that DEA is a substantial exporter and will enable the company to continue to build upon the momentum that we have generated over the course of the past year.” The TRIBE team 10 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukFINANCE NEWS © stock.adobe.com/Ascannio Grantham Industries secures £500,000 facility to support Rutland waste site acquisition Lincolnshire-based waste management, earthmoving and demolition company Grantham Industries has secured a £500,000 finance facility from Paragon Bank’s SME Lending division to support the purchase of a commercial waste site in Rutland. The £500,000 funding will also enable Grantham Industries to renovate the site, building the existing waste transfer station into a waste and recycling centre offering a broader package of services to the local area. The new site in Rutland has expanded the company’s geographical presence, building on its existing operations in Louth, Lincoln and Doncaster. In addition to the funding facility, Paragon has also recently supported Grantham Industries with a £198,000 asset finance package to purchase a Volvo Wheel Loader for use on one of its current waste transfer sites, expanding its fleet of vehicles. Grantham Industries offers a range of services under its GBM Demolition, GBM Plant Services and GBM Waste Management brands. The company was started in 2001 by Managing Director Simon Grantham and his brother Andrew Grantham. The company employs over 90 people and operates across the country. Maximising Pension Contributions Before the Tax Year Ends Dry January may be behind us, but as gloomy February rolls in, there’s a glimmer of optimism on the horizon—spring is approaching, and with it comes the end of the tax year for individuals and businesses with a 31st March year-end. This is the perfect time to reassess financial strategies, particularly, pension contributions. Why Now is the Time to Act For individuals, making pension contributions before the tax year closes can optimise tax relief. The current annual allowance for contributions eligible for tax relief is up to £60,000 or the value of your earnings—whichever is lower. However, for high earners and those who have already accessed their pension, there are additional rules to consider. Seeking expert financial advice can help navigate these complexities. If you haven’t accessed your full pension allowance in previous years, you may be able to take advantage of the ‘carry forward’ rule. This allows you to utilise up to three years of unused pension allowance while still benefiting from tax relief. Depending on your circumstances, this could mean up to a further £140,000 in available contributions. SMEs with 31st March year-end For SMEs, pension contributions can offer valuable corporation tax relief. Contributions made to controlling directors’ pensions before the year-end should qualify, making this a key area for businesses to explore with their accountants. Planning Ahead for the Next Tax Year With just a couple of months until the tax year ends, now is the ideal time to evaluate your pension contributions, but please, do take professional advice. For further information call 0333 320 9230 or visit wbrgroup.co.uk Caitlin Southall, Head of SSAS Proposition WBR Group www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 11 New jobs set for Derby as Rolls-Royce signs landmark Ministry of Defence contract Rolls-Royce has signed the biggest UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract in its history, creating 1,000 new roles within Rolls-Royce Submarines which will predominantly be seen in Derby. The Unity contract stretches over eight years and brings together all elements of research and technology, design, manufacture and in-service support of the nuclear reactors that power the Royal Navy’s fleet of submarines. This contract is worth £9 billion and will provide full support of the in-service UK Royal Navy submarine fleet throughout the period. It also includes continued support of the build and commission of Dreadnought Class submarines and the beginning of the previously announced SSN-AUKUS contracts. Steve Carlier, President Rolls-Royce Submarines, said: “We’re delighted to announce the Unity contract, which confirms our commitment to the Royal Navy and the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. This long-term contract enables us to invest in the right skills, equipment, and facilities to play our part in protecting UK interests at home and overseas. “The Unity contract enables our business to work truly collaboratively with the Ministry of Defence, meeting the evolving needs of the UK Royal Navy.” MANUFACTURING NEWS Leicestershire precision engineering firm swoops for supplier A precision engineering firm in Hinckley has acquired one of its main suppliers. H2M Engineering Limited, which is based in Hinckley and specialises in producing machined components, has purchased Accurate Grinding Limited. Accurate Grinding Limited, which was based in neighbouring Barwell, operates grinding machines to grind, shape and finish metal components and has now re-located to the H2M Engineering site. H2M Engineering produces and assembles components for a range of industries including aerospace, autosport and gas generation across the UK. Penelope Sankey, of Wright Hassall, acted on the acquisition, with the corporate finance advice provided by Greg Philp and Holly Andrews, of Horizon TAS. Penelope said: “We are extremely pleased to complete this acquisition on behalf of H2M Engineering as the business looks to expand its offering. “This deal has seen H2M acquire one of its key suppliers, enabling it to bring everything under one roof and offer an expanded range of products to its clients.” Rescued manufacturer falls back into administration Administrators have been appointed to five entities of the Fablink Group: Wharfside Industrial Ltd, Fablink (Evenwood) Ltd, Fablink (Luton) Ltd, Fablink (Northampton) Ltd and Fablink (Wolverhampton) Ltd. The group, employing 427 people, specialises in the manufacture of metal pressings, fuel and hydraulic tanks, operator cab assemblies and other complex structures. It was acquired out of administration in September 2024, but since then it has lost the business of certain key customers. The group’s management team has worked to find a viable solution to rescue the business, however, the significant loss of business has severely impacted the group’s future viability. As a result, the directors have determined that they have no option other than to place the group into administration, with Dan Hurd and Lucy Winterborne of EY appointed as joint administrators. Given the lack of ongoing business, the majority of employees have been made redundant whilst the joint administrators continue to explore a sale of certain parts of the group and its assets. Penelope Sankey of Wright Hassall © stock.adobe.com/thomathzac23 12 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukUpperton completes build of new £7m sterile manufacturing facility in Nottingham Upperton Pharma Solutions, the contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), has completed the build of its new sterile manufacturing facility in Nottingham. The new 7,000 sq ft facility is in addition to its existing 50,000 sq ft facility, Trent Gateway. The expansion is a natural progression for Upperton which already develops and manufactures small molecule and biological, non-sterile, oral, nasal and pulmonary dosage forms from early development to late-stage clinical manufacture for global biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Nikki Whitfield, Chief Executive Officer at Upperton, said: “We are delighted to complete the build of our sterile facility. “The combined experience of our leadership team in sterile facility builds and subsequent operations ensures that we are ideally placed as a CDMO partner of choice for small to mid- sized biotech and pharma looking to get into the clinic quickly with fast access to sterile manufacturing services.” MANUFACTURING NEWS US giant acquires Lincolnshire PPE manufacturer Goldfreeze Limited, the manufacturers of Chill, Cold and Freezer PPE, based in Sleaford, Lincolnshire and founded by Tarek Hayat, has been acquired by US giant RefrigiWear for an undisclosed sum rumoured to be in the region of £3-4 million. RefrigiWear, established in 1954, has 70 years of commitment to designing warm industrial apparel, with an understanding of the challenges faced by working in the extreme cold. RefrigiWear entered the UK market in Q1 of 2024 determined to “become the trusted and go-to supplier for Thermal Protective Clothing globally,” raising a share capital of in excess of £13 million before acquiring FlexiTog (Goldfreeze’s largest competitor) in March 2024. Having acquired FlexiTog and Goldfreeze, RefrigiWear has become a powerful force in the UK cold chain industry’s PPE supply chain. RefrigiWear CEO Ryan Silberman now sits on the board of Goldfreeze. © stock.adobe.com/NAMPIX L-R: Made in Group CEO Jason Pitt and Francesca Hughes, partnerships manager at Mental Health Innovations Manufacturing network teams up with charity to provide free mental health support Made in Group, the network that champions, unites, and empowers manufacturers across the Midlands and Yorkshire, has teamed up with Mental Health Innovations, a national charity that powers the Shout helpline. This partnership will enable the group’s 300+ member companies to provide free mental health support to 126,000 manufacturers. The Made in Group is funding access to a Shout helpline, a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging mental health support service run by trained volunteers, for all network members. Made in Group CEO Jason Pitt explains the thinking behind the project: “Studies show that manufacturing ranks in the bottom 10% of industries for employee mental health, with 17 million days lost due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety between 2021 and 2022. “Our aim is to enable our members to provide free, confidential support for their employees and to help break down stigmas surrounding mental health. We are also keen to encourage a culture of more open conversations about mental health in the workplace and the industry.” © stock.adobe.com/kokliang1981 www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 13 PROPERTY NEWS Derby’s £45.8m Becketwell Live venue reaches practical completion The £45.8 million Becketwell Live has reached practical completion with developers St James Securities delivering the venue on time and on budget. Derbyshire-based construction firm Bowmer + Kirkland recently completed the final stages of construction on the entertainment venue ahead of its opening this Spring. The venue has now been handed over to owners Derby City Council and operators Legends and ASM Global. Becketwell Live is set to become a hub of entertainment, attracting audiences from across the region and beyond. Built on the site of the former Pink Coconut nightclub on Colyear Street, the new venue will significantly enhance Derby’s cultural offering, with a larger, more flexible space than the city centre has had in the past. Set to attract an additional 250,000 visitors to Derby each year and generate more than £10m GVA per year for the area, the flexible venue will bring diverse events to Derby, drive the night-time economy and increase levels of investment in surrounding areas of the city centre. More than 100 affordable homes to be built in Langley Mill Derby-based developer Wheeldon Brothers is set to deliver more than 100 new affordable homes in Langley Mill following a deal with Places for People. Wheeldon, which has been operating in the East Midlands since 1867, has partnered with the UK’s largest social enterprise to deliver 109 new homes at the site located off Bridge Street. Under the partnership, the eight-acre brownfield site will be transformed into a combination of two- and three-bedroomed houses and two-bedroomed bungalows across a mixture of tenures. Theo Till, land manager at Wheeldon Brothers, said: “This is a site that has sat vacant for a number of years in the heart of Langley Mill, which is now set to be transformed into much- needed new homes for the area. “The development will include 109 new homes and a mix of tenures including affordable rent and shared ownership, which will cater to a variety of local housing needs. “We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Places for People to deliver this fully affordable scheme.” Vistry Group gets green light and signs partnership deal to build 140 new homes in Earl Shilton Vistry Group has been granted planning permission by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to bring 140 new homes to Leicester Road, Earl Shilton. Simultaneously, Vistry has completed on a contract with Places for People, the Social Enterprise, for 83 properties. This £31m new development will consist of one-, two-, three-, and four- bedroom mixed-tenure houses and maisonettes designed to blend with the town’s historic community. Andy Reynolds, Managing Director of Vistry South East Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to have secured planning permission to start work on these much-needed mixed-tenure homes in the historic town of Earl Shilton. “Working in partnership with Places for People means that this development will not only meet the housing needs of the area but will blend family- friendly homes and green open spaces to create a thriving and sustainable community for the future.” The new homes will be built using modern methods of construction (MMC) reducing the carbon footprint of every property. The homes will be manufactured off site using open panel timber frames from the Vistry Works East Midlands factory in Leicestershire. 14 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukPROPERTY NEWS Leicester shopping centre snapped up Evolve Estates, part of commercial property and investment collective M Core, has acquired Beaumont Leys, a community shopping centre in Leicester. The 10-acre site is the dominant local retail offer within the area, serving a significant residential population of 670,000 people. The acquisition is a joint venture with M Core. The shopping centre has recently benefitted from significant capital investment, including developing a drive-through Starbucks, further boosted by B&M committing to the former Wilko unit on a 10-year lease. This community asset serves residents’ requirements for convenience shopping and Evolve will use its expertise in this sector to manage the asset, working the tenant mix while optimising the centre for the local community’s needs. Beaumont Leys is anchored by Tesco Extra and Aldi, with key tenants B&M, McDonald’s, Poundland, and Boots. There are three car parks, which provide 1,500 free car parking spaces and 12 EV charging points. Sebastian Mcdonald-Hall, Partner at Evolve, said: “The shopping centre is perfectly positioned for the local community; Beaumont Leys is a key district within Leicester and is home to several attractions that contribute to its vibrant life.” Construction commences at £22m Milford Mills scheme Wavensmere Homes has commenced construction to redevelop Milford Mills, which overlooks the River Derwent, located between Belper and Duffield in north Derbyshire. The £22m development will comprise 69 new homes to be delivered on the historic brownfield site, which is within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accessed off Derby Road (A6) in the centre of Milford village, the redevelopment of former commercial premises will feature 42 two- and three-bedroom houses and 27 one- and two-bedroom apartments, within a four- storey building overlooking the River Derwent and Mill Lade. Ground and site enabling works across the 4.7-acre site are underway, with the first phase of construction to incorporate 10, two- and three-bedroom houses, which will be ready to move into during autumn 2026, constructed from locally quarried stone and natural slate. A second phase of 15 three-bedroom houses will be completed before the end of 2026. The handover of the waterside apartment building and the full redevelopment, restoration and construction programme is scheduled to conclude by mid-2027. A topping out ceremony has been held at a new local centre at New Lubbesthorpe in Leicestershire which is being delivered by developer Charterpoint in association with The Drummond Trust. It marked a significant milestone in the construction of the two-storey, mixed-use development known as the Brook Centre. When completed, it will house a Sainsbury’s Local store and four additional units for retail, including a café/bistro, on the ground floor, with the first floor being occupied by Forest House Medical Centre. Charterpoint MD Giles Nursey said: “We were very pleased to stage a topping out ceremony at Brook Centre to mark a key milestone in the delivery of this important community facility for New Lubbesthorpe.” Brook Centre will be the first local centre at the new community in Blaby which will eventually include more than 4,000 new homes. It was designed by Franklin Ellis Architects and is being built by Derby-based contractor Davlyn Construction on behalf of Charterpoint and The Drummond Trust. Work is expected to be completed by spring 2025. Topping out held at new local centre in Leicestershire www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 15 16 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk COMMERCIAL PROPERTY T he East Midlands has powered into 2025 by reaffirming its strength as a prime location for industrial & logistics property. It comes after take-up of logistics space exceeded the long-term average in 2024, according to research from Savills as part of its Big Shed Briefing, reaching 7.95 million sq ft. Despite a -2% year-on-year change, this reflects a 29% increase over the long-term annual average and a 65% rise above the pre-Covid average annual activity. The past month saw the announcement of a plethora of new starts and lettings for industrial and logistics schemes, including Hillwood UK starting on site at Quattro, Raunds; a multi-unit industrial and logistics project that is being developed on a speculative basis fronting the A45 corridor. Quattro will provide four ‘mid-box’ units in total ranging from 10,650 to 117,050 sq ft, built to the highest specification, including BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification and EPC ‘A’ rating. A&H Construction have been appointed as Main Contractor by Hillwood UK and are targeting practical completion in December 2025. Greg Dalton, Vice President for Hillwood UK, said: “We’re delighted to have reached the next key milestone on this exciting project, A&H are well placed to deliver the scheme and we look forward to working with them again. These units will provide best in class, high specification accommodation that is much needed for surrounding occupiers and we would welcome conversations with prospective tenants.” Furthermore, at Silverstone Park the construction of over 100,000 sq ft of industrial premises and employee facilities has begun. Called ‘Evolve’, the industrial development will include more than 95,000 sq ft of industrial units and office space on a six-acre plot of land adjacent to both the Park’s Innovation Centre and the entrance to the neighbouring Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. Nine properties, in hybrid style, ranging from 7,549 to 24,638 sq ft, will be built as part of the development which will also feature a reception area, contemporary offices, double- height workshop space and loading doors. Demand for the space has seen several pre- Hillwood UK have started on site at Quattro, Raunds An industrial & logistics property leader The East Midlands continues to strengthen its reputation as a powerhouse in industrial & logistics property. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 17 lets already in talks, with performance automotive parts specialist AliTech Precision finalising its contracts as spades were going in the ground. Darren Cudd, Managing Director, AliTech, said: “We are excited to join Silverstone Park’s growing campus. As a hub of innovation and engineering in the UK, located adjacent to the world famous circuit, we believe this is the perfect place for AliTech to further our businesses growth and we look forward to working alongside the other global leaders already based here.” The new phase of development will also see the arrival of a new café, children’s nursery, and gym. Meanwhile, in a significant deal, Indurent, a developer and operator of industrial and logistics space, has leased Indurent Park Wellingborough 18 Á18 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk COMMERCIAL PROPERTY a 184,000 sq ft Grade A unit in Wellingborough to global engineering firm CTDI. The 10-year lease at unit W184 means Indurent Park Wellingborough is now fully occupied. The unit provides 184,000 sq ft of flexible warehousing alongside operationally net zero office space. It includes over 180 HGV and car parking spots, 32 of which are equipped with EV ports. The unit has achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’ accreditation and is EPC ‘A+’ rated. Ben Silcock, Senior Development Manager at Indurent, said: “We have delivered a significant volume of high- quality modern warehousing in the East Midlands, which is one of the UK’s most in-demand industrial and logistics markets owing to its exceptional nationwide transport links and strong regional consumer and worker catchment. This commitment from CTDI underlines the appeal of our estate in Wellingborough as a base for high-tech businesses seeking to expand their presence in the UK.” Moreover, in Nottingham, a supplier of fixings and support systems to the construction sector, MIDFIX (Midland Fixings Limited) has revealed its relocation from Beeston to Oxenwood’s Power Park industrial and logistics scheme. The new 101,837 sq ft warehouse and administrative headquarters is one of the six-unit development, totalling just over 426,000 sq ft of warehouse space. The warehouse will see the complete relocation and expansion of the business from their current facilities on Lilac Grove in Beeston, which is less than a mile away. Accent Interiors will be undertaking a substantial fit-out for MIDFIX which involves extending the office accommodation to provide an additional 7,000 sq ft. MIDFIX chose Power Park for its new HQ and central warehouse due to location and being able to create efficiencies through bringing three buildings under one roof. The move will create a state-of-the-art logistics centre and modern office facilities with space to facilitate future growth plans. Stewart Little, CEO of Oxenwood, said: “Power Park Nottingham is proving to be an important scheme for the area, it has delivered much needed new industrial warehouse facilities into the market, and we are very pleased to welcome MIDFIX here. They are a successful local business who had been looking for the right building for some time and now join our other new tenants Kast Concrete Basins and Skillnet at Power Park.” Finally, Freeport plans in the region have taken a step forward with MAG (Manchester Airports Group), which owns and operates East Midlands Airport (EMA), announcing Prologis as its partner to take forward the development of an industrial logistics and advanced manufacturing park near EMA. The new park is a designated East Midlands Freeport tax site which will stimulate economic growth, investment and employment in the region, helping to unlock £1bn of investment in and around the airport. A planning application for the park has been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council, which, if approved, will bring up to 2,000 new jobs, £132m of economic growth per year (GVA) to the East Midlands, whilst contributing £9m of additional business rates. As part of the partnership, Prologis will also deliver a dedicated centre for logistics job training and education in Leicestershire. Power Park, NottinghamThe key to capturing attention www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 19 PRINT AND PACKAGING D esigning and executing the best packaging for your brand, identity and product can be a labour of love, often necessary to attract customers in the first place. But it’s worth the attention to detail, down to the literal fine print that can hold consumer attention by providing them with vital information. Even in these smaller details, there are a multitude of functions such as accessibility, placement and appearance to consider. Conveying unique selling points and features – even in just a few words to as many people as possible – contributes a great deal to making an instant emotional connection, or being able to tell an intriguing story to anyone spotting a product on a shelf. Whether the focus is image, colour, text or a combination of all three, ergonomic and attractive packaging design is what first grab the eye in a highly competitive retail environment. It establishes brand recognition and loyalty, and serves as a marketing tool by creating a visual or narrative identity that distinguishes a product from its competitors. To look, feel and be different from the competition, start by making your print and packaging designs vibrant and unique, but simple and clear in their functionality and communication. A clean and uncluttered design allows consumers to focus on the essential details and helps the product stand out, while consistency with colour, shape, imagery and taglines fosters instant recognition and trust with consumers. Simplicity and speaking volumes aren’t mutually exclusive. A single well-chosen graphic or short phrase can be more striking and resonant than all the words or pictures in the world. Looking at brand image and identity as making the best possible first impression might be helpful when creating or reworking designs. Flashy gimmicks might be handy for an instant buzz but irritate customers in the long term. Ditching loud logos or a brash tone in favour of softer colours and gentle language may better put across honesty, caring and trustworthiness – values that’ll encourage long-lasting loyalty. When acting to encourage more customers to stick around, accessibility goes further and encompasses more than you might expect. Simplicity and softer colours in your imagery, while keeping print bolder in colour and easy For businesses looking to communicate brand identity and captivate customers with their packaging, they can’t afford to forgo clarity and sustainability. 20 ÁNext >