< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk FINANCE NEWS Founder and MD of M-EC Development Technical Consultants sells stake in company after 14 years M-EC Development Technical Consultants, operating in the field of engineering and technical consulting, is undergoing a transformative change. Co-founder and majority shareholder Eddie Mewies has sold his stake in the Leicestershire-based company, stepping back from his role as Managing Director with Alex Bennett, acquiring all shares, assuming full ownership of M-EC and the role of Managing Director. Eddie and Alex founded M-EC Development Technical Consultants in 2009 at the height of the recession, with a vision to provide innovative and sustainable technical solutions to clients across various industries. Reflecting on his decision, Eddie stated: “It has been an honour to build and lead M-EC alongside a team of talented professionals. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved, from delivering exceptional projects to fostering excellence and innovation within the organisation. As I take this step back, I am excited to follow M-EC’s journey into the new era ahead. I am confident that the company’s dedicated team and leadership will continue to thrive and excel.” Nottingham-based credit firm secures £500,000 investment Foresight Group, a listed regional private equity and infrastructure investment manager, has announced a £500,000 investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) into Lightbulb Credit Ltd. Founded by James Piper in 2018, Lightbulb provides UK companies with the opportunity to improve their credit ratings with the main UK based credit agencies. The company is based in Long Eaton, Nottingham, where it employs six individuals. Since 2020, Lightbulb has successfully developed a technology-based approach to its unique solution enabling it to scale quickly without incurring additional costs. Foresight’s investment will enable Lightbulb to expand its reach, improve its service offering and target new customers. Foresight’s Private Equity portfolio companies have previously used Lightbulb’s solutions. James Piper, CEO of Lightbulb, said: “We’re delighted to receive funding and support from Foresight and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund. We see this as being a real catalyst for our growth and expanding our reach.” Northamptonshire firm sets up strong foundations for growth with £1.6m investment A Northamptonshire-based supplier and manager of earth materials for construction and landscaping is expanding its services as demand for sustainable construction products increases. Storefield Group, headquartered in Kettering, has acquired their first quarry, the 50-acre Earls Barton Spinney Quarry outside Northampton and has invested in a new ‘wash plant’ with the support of a £1.6m funding package from Lloyds Bank. The business provides aggregates – materials such as sand, gravel and stone extracted from the ground, and used in construction and landscaping. Storefield also recycles materials recovered from live building projects so that they can be reused. The investment comes amid a period of expansion for the group, which has grown its vehicle fleet by 10 per cent and upgraded to bigger lorries to reduce vehicle trips. In the last 12 months, the business has grown from two main operating sites to four, with planning permission secured for a new former steelworks site to be regenerated into a recycling facility, commencing development next year. The Group is targeting to hit £20m in turnover by the end of 2024, after recording a turnover of £12m last year. © stock.adobe.com/ jirsak Tim Rose, company director, and Alex Bennett, sole owner and Managing Director of M-ECFINANCE NEWS www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link Cooper Parry and Haines Watts London come together to create next gen accountancy firm Derbyshire accountancy firm Cooper Parry has come together with Haines Watts London and its associated audit and advisory businesses across the South East and the Midlands. The deal sees Cooper Parry add 11 offices across London, the South, Birmingham and the Midlands to its existing portfolio, increasing its workforce to 1,150 and propelling turnover to £125m. This represents a tripling in size for the firm over the last 12 months since partnering with Waterland Private Equity. The move follows record-breaking organic growth and Cooper Parry’s previous acquisitions of London-based companies iHorizon and Acclivity (both in February) and Future Perfect in April 2023. The transformational Haines Watts deal will establish Cooper Parry as the UK’s 11th largest accountancy firm. Ade Cheatham, Cooper Parry CEO, says: “We’re always looking for firms that are a right fit, culturally and strategically. As a result, we’ve got to know Michael and his management team over the best part of five years. “In that time, we’ve been impressed by their growth and recognize the like- minded nature of both firms. Working alongside them, this deal underlines our determination to create the UK’s next gen accountancy firm.” £12.1m loan agreed to finance construction of 47 new homes in the Peak District The development lender Atelier is to provide a £12.1m loan facility to the Chesterfield-based developer Stancliffe Homes to enable it to build 47 new homes on the southern edge of the Peak District. The finance will be provided alongside an investment from Housing Growth Partnership, an equity investor that’s part of Lloyds Banking Group. Stancliffe Homes is a family-run business. Its new development, Bentley Walk, is in the village of Tansley near Matlock. Bentley Walk will include a full range of home types, including bungalows, semis and detached houses with up to five bedrooms as well as six affordable homes. In this, its first collaboration with Housing Growth Partnership, Atelier has structured the finance for the scheme to give Stancliffe maximum flexibility and help it to best meet the project’s specific requirements. The 27-month, 66% LTV ‘peak debt’ facility will enable the developer to complete and sell some of the 47 homes while others are still under construction, boosting its cashflow while also reducing both debt and interest. East Midlands accountancy firm snapped up by expanding group Dains Accountants has acquired HSKSG in a move that propels them towards becoming one of the Top 30 firms in the UK. An accountancy firm in the East Midlands, HSKSG has offices in Nottingham, Derby and Uttoxeter. The business has grown consistently in recent years, buoyed by a commitment to the use of technology, alongside high-quality personal and tailored relationships. Richard McNeilly, CEO of Dains, said: “We have followed the progress of HSKSG for several years and it became increasingly clear that their approach to client delivery and people development closely aligned with ours. As a long-established firm in the East Midlands, we believe they are ideal partners to support our continued growth in the Midlands.” Colin Peacock, Managing Director of HSKSG believes the transaction provides the business with an improved client proposition and potential for growth and said: “By joining the Dains Group, our ability to deliver an even broader range of services is enhanced and we look forward to joining the Dains team on this incredibly exciting journey.” Richard McNeilly Ade Cheatham Leicester manufacturer makes solar investment Energy costs at Leicester-based manufacturer Michael Smith Switchgear (MSSL) have dropped by more than £20,000 per year as investment in a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system means around two-thirds of its energy now comes from the sun. Results from its first full year of operation show that the solar PV system is generating 102 kilowatts (kW) at peak and produces approximately 97,000kWh of electricity annually. It means the MSSL factory has reduced its carbon emissions by more than 25 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking five petrol cars off the road. Design and installation of the new energy system, which includes 284 solar panels on the south-facing pitch of the factory roof, was completed by specialist renewable energy installer Geo Green Power. With two-thirds of its energy generated entirely emissions-free, Michael Smith Switchgear says the solar PV system has exceeded expectations. The company expects to see a full return on its investment within three years while saving more than £500k on energy bills over the next 25 years. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MANUFACTURING NEWS Hydrogen storage system pioneers make more than £1m investment in Nottingham-based alternative fuel hub An investment of more than £1 million in Luxfer Gas Cylinders’ European base in Nottingham has been announced, which will establish a new production facility to support ‘virtual’ gas pipelines that can distribute hydrogen across the UK and Europe. Luxfer Gas Cylinders, a division of Luxfer Holdings PLC, is a manufacturer of high- pressure aluminium and composite cylinders. Its Nottingham manufacturing base produces up to one million cylinders each year – and is home to alternative fuel specialists who have embedded world-first hydrogen-powered systems into buses, trucks, trains, boats, tractors and even drones. This new purpose-built facility will produce Multiple Element Gas Containers (MEGCs), with the very first units available from summer 2024. Mark Lawday, vice president and general manager of Luxfer Europe, explains: “This investment is the natural next step in continuing to build our European hydrogen capability and support the development of the hydrogen economy, which is going to be essential in enabling all of us to reach our decarbonisation goals in Europe in 2030 and beyond.” Manufacturing output falls further, with volumes tipped to be flat through to the year’s end Manufacturers reported that output volumes declined more quickly than expected in the three months to September, according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey. Output volumes are expected to stagnate over the next three months. Following eight consecutive months in which expectations for selling price inflation have eased, manufacturers reported that growth in selling prices would pick up again in the three months to December. However, barring last month’s survey, selling price expectations remain at their weakest since early 2021. Anna Leach, CBI deputy chief economist, said: “Output in the manufacturing sector weakened over the past quarter and is expected to flatline at best through the rest of this year. With order books having been below their long-run average for 8 out of the last 9 months, manufacturers see little prospect of a recovery in the final months of the year. “Materials and financing costs are high and squeezing manufacturers and their customers alike. The Autumn Statement provides an important opportunity for the Government to lay the foundations for a sustainable recovery through a broad focus on tax incentives for investment, support with upskilling workers and help for firms to make the most of green growth opportunities.” © stock.adobe.com/ moodboard Luxfer Gas Cylinders’ Mark LawdayEast Midlands manufacturer hails record turnover with £5m increase in sales Mansfield-based Deanestor, the furniture and fitout specialists, has hailed a strong financial performance with a 35 per cent increase in turnover to £19m and a return to pre-pandemic profit levels, according to its latest accounts which have now been released. Turnover increased by £5m in the financial year ending 31st December 2022 and operating profit rose to £750,000. Sales of £17.5m have already been secured so far in 2023 with a strong order pipeline which extends into 2025. Deanestor’s financial performance is now one of the strongest in the FF&E (furniture and fitout) sector and the business has continued to grow across each of its target markets – student accommodation, build-to-rent, healthcare, and education. Its turnover in Scotland increased by 75 per cent since 2021 to over £7m last year. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link MANUFACTURING NEWS Adhesives company acquires business of Nottinghamshire firm H.B. Fuller Company, the pureplay adhesives company, has acquired the business of Nottinghamshire-based Sanglier Limited, the independently owned manufacturers and fillers of sprayable (aerosol and canister) industrial adhesives. The acquisition expands H.B. Fuller’s innovation capabilities and product portfolio across the UK and Europe, particularly in the Construction Adhesives and Engineering Adhesives businesses, complementing technologies obtained through the acquisitions of Apollo and Fourny and spray capabilities acquired and developed in the United States. “Transforming adhesive applications to enable sprayable delivery provides end users with an opportunity to greatly improve labor efficiency. This is particularly valuable in today’s tight labor market and is a key megatrend that H.B. Fuller is applying its unique innovation capabilities toward to enable our customers’ success,” says Boz Malik, senior vice president, H.B. Fuller Construction Adhesives. “Sanglier shares a similar business model, which includes providing customized, high-quality solutions to support and develop our customers’ brands. This acquisition will strengthen the integration of our adhesive manufacturing and packaging capabilities, which we will leverage to generate a strong market advantage in terms of operations, innovation, and service.” Local schools join Derby engineering firm for National Manufacturing Day Students from schools across Derbyshire have visited Acres Engineering’s Melbourne facility to celebrate National Manufacturing Day (NMD – 28th September). Around 60 Year 10 engineering design students from Chellaston Academy, Pingle Academy (Swadlincote) and Ashby School joined the family-run firm for an eye-opening experience at their recently expanded site. Luke Parker, MD of Acres Engineering, says: “Acres has an ambition to drive more students into manufacturing and hope that by opening our doors we can inspire both girls and boys to be interested in an exhilarating career. “The goal of NMD is to show the reality and increase the appeal of modern manufacturing careers so we are always keen to play our part in encouraging the next generation by working with our local schools.” © stock.adobe.com/ SFIO CRACHO William Tonkinson, MD of Deanestor PROPERTY NEWS Planning permission granted for housing development near Louth New homes are coming to Louth after developer Charterpoint received outline planning permission to build up to 90 new properties on a 12-acre site off Daisy Way. East Lindsey District Council has approved the outline application for a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes, plus a children’s play area, surface water attenuation ponds, wildflower meadows, sustainable drainage and an amenity lawn for communal informal recreation. The site is an extension of the popular Westfield Park. Adrian Goose, CEO of Charterpoint, said: “We are very pleased to have received outline planning permission for this site on the edge of Louth. It will provide additional much-needed, attractive housing for individuals and families in an area close to the services and amenities that the town offers. “Charterpoint has extensive experience of delivering quality schemes and we look forward to drawing up detailed designs for this site and extending the popular community that we have created at Westfield Park.” Homebuilder swoops for Nottingham regeneration site Homebuilder Keepmoat has completed the acquisition of a parcel of land on Thane Road in Nottingham. It sits within the brownfield land within the 286-acre Boots site, which is part of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone. The large-scale regeneration project will see Keepmoat deliver over 600 multi-tenure new homes over a period of six years, with construction due to complete in 2029. Of the 604 new homes, more than half will be delivered on behalf of Platform Housing, one of the largest housing associations in the Midlands, for affordable rent, and shared ownership. Commenting on the acquisition of the land, Tim Beale, CEO at Keepmoat, said: “I am incredibly proud that Keepmoat, in particular our East Midlands region led by Tristin Willis, has successfully completed one of the most significant land deals of the last decade, for the delivery of new homes, in Nottingham. It is a fantastic achievement. “For me personally, having been brought up in Nottingham and lived here for most of my life, I am delighted that we will be delivering this landmark development on this special site, which will bring much needed, high-quality new homes and significant investment to the city.” East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Gleeds completes Nottingham office move Property and construction consultancy, Gleeds, has successfully relocated its operations to a new office space in the heart of Nottingham City Centre. The firm’s new office can be found at 11 Station Street, marking a significant step in Gleeds’ commitment to supporting local communities and adapting to evolving work trends. The modern facility boasts over 11,000 sq ft of office space designed to meet the highest standards within the city, emphasising sustainability as a core principle. The new space fosters flexibility in work arrangements and places a strong emphasis on employee well-being, promoting collaboration and team synergy. Transforming the raw space into a high spec functional office environment required a substantial investment, with a Cat B fit-out project managed by workplace consultants and commercial office fit-out specialists, Blueprint Interiors. Andy Sawyer, project director at Blueprint Interiors, said: “We are thrilled to have partnered with Gleeds on this project. We were able to ensure that every aspect contributed to realising Gleeds’ vision for this iconic development, encapsulating the company’s brand identity, workplace cultural development and values within all aspects of the consultation, design and delivery process.” PROPERTY NEWS Land deal to pave way for up to 805 new Nottinghamshire homes Vistry Group, operating through its partnership’s subsidiary, has signed a land acquisition deal with Nottinghamshire County Council that will see approximately 800 new homes built to address local housing needs. Situated approximately 2km north of Hucknall town centre and to the east of Annesley Road (A611), the development, granted outline planning permission in April 2021, is Nottinghamshire County Council’s flagship mixed-use scheme. Across an 86-acre site, it has outline planning consent for up to 805 homes, 21 acres of employment land for offices and warehousing, as well as retail within the local centre and a planned new primary school. This site is on land which has been earmarked for development for more than a decade and does not impact on any green belt land. Following the deal, Vistry will consult with the community to finalise the details of the scheme and ensure it meets local people’s needs, before submitting a detailed planning application later this year with a view to starting on site in 2025. With a commitment to environmental preservation, the project will seek to retain and enhance existing green infrastructure, ensuring a harmonious blend of modern living and the surrounding natural elements. The scheme will aim to meet varying requirements, offering a mix of private sale, private rental, affordable rental and shared ownership homes, with a range of different house types and sizes. Cawarden awarded place on transformative £8bn Procure Partnerships Framework deal Derby-based specialist contractor Cawarden has won a place on an £8 billion framework deal. Procure Partnerships Framework has appointed 87 contractors to its second-generation National Framework. The body has been operating and delivering a successful national contractor framework across England for the past four years, supporting the delivery of over 150 projects year on year. 35 contractors were reappointed on the next iteration of the framework, which is set to be the biggest framework ever awarded across the UK, structured across 9 sub-regional lots covering 5 value bands starting at 50K and going up to 50M+. 65% of contractors within the lots up to £15m are small to medium enterprises. The successful bidders will now cover four disciplines: Construction, Decarbonisation and Retrofit, Demolition and Site Preparation, and Infrastructure. Procure Partnerships Framework will start to support the procurement of projects from 1st November, and successful bidders will lend to its success for the next four years until 2027. Architects submit planning application for new meditation hall A planning application has been submitted to South Derbyshire District Council for a new Meditation Hall at the Grade II listed Ashe Hall in Etwall on behalf of the Tara International Kadampa Retreat Centre. Matthew Montague Architects have designed a new Tara Meditation Hall that can be used for a variety of teaching and meditation practices. A simple, light and airy space which can be opened up to the surrounding landscape. Ashe Hall was built in 1869, it was a family home until it became a boarding school for boys in 1920. The hall was used as a World War II Red Cross hospital and then passed to local government ownership and operated as a special school until it was purchased by The Tara Buddhist Centre in 1996. Since it has operated as the Tara International Kadampa Retreat Centre. The centre had a meditation hall for many years – a pre- fabricated structure, that fell into a state of disrepair and was demolished in the late 1990’s. The new hall will comfortably accommodate 250 people and will be a focal point for the thousands of visitors who use it for classes, retreats and national Buddhist celebrations every year. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link Architects impression of the new centre East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk EMEC ECOLOGY T he concept of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has surged in importance since its incorporation into the Government’s prominent Environment Bill of 2019. Dr. Ed Tripp, Consultancy Director at East Midlands Environmental Consultants (EMEC), offers insights into the collaborative efforts of developers and conservationists who are coming together with a common goal, particularly as BNG is poised to gather further momentum with the impending mandatory requirement taking effect in November 2023. How is BNG reshaping the future of the construction industry? As a business with three decades of experience, and as a subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, EMEC has witnessed numerous transformations. Nevertheless, we believe that the Environment Act, with its mandatory 10% BNG requirement, provides a platform for all stakeholders in the construction process to collaborate effectively. BNG offers a framework that fosters nature conservation without impeding the government’s goal of constructing 300,000 new homes annually. For those unfamiliar with the concept, Biodiversity Net Gain represents an approach to terrestrial development and land management aimed at leaving the natural environment in a demonstrably improved condition, offsetting any potential ecological harm resulting from new developments. Achieving BNG involves careful planning, assessment, and implementation of strategies that promote biodiversity, such as habitat restoration and sustainable landscaping. How is BNG reshaping development practices? Prioritising Sustainable Design: BNG is encouraging architects and engineers to integrate sustainability and biodiversity into the design phase of projects. This shift is leading to innovative and eco- centric construction practices. Land Use Planning: BNG is leading to more thoughtful land use planning. Developers are increasingly selecting sites for construction that have lower ecological value, therefore preserving other more ecologically significant areas. This approach minimises harm to critical habitats and ecosystems. Habitat Enhancement: Construction projects are now more likely to include measures that actively enhance local habitats. This can include planting native species, creating wetlands, and installing bird and bat boxes. Such enhancements not only contribute to biodiversity but Q&A EMEC Ecology Unlocking the future: the impact of Biodiversity Net Gain on development. Dr. Ed Trippwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link EMEC ECOLOGY also provide ecosystem services like pollination and pest control. In the past, ecologists, planners, property developers, and builders might have been seen as adversaries to new developments. However, since the introduction of BNG legislation, this perception couldn’t be further from the truth. Each party is gaining a deeper understanding of the advantages of BNG and the most effective ways to align with the aspirations of all stakeholders involved in a proposed development. As stipulated in the Environment Act, starting from November 2023, new developments exceeding a certain size will be required to achieve a minimum 10% BNG. EMEC’s ecology and land management experts have established strong working relationships with some of the UK’s leading architects, developers, planners, and national infrastructure organisations to ensure their projects meet the new legal requirements. In recent years, EMEC has achieved significant success by collaborating with various partners to deliver sustainability- oriented developments. These projects include assessing the performance of villages for a prominent forest-based holiday provider against their Biodiversity Action Plan targets and managing the treatment of 190 individual invasive species across 66 sites in support of a national infrastructure initiative. These instances illustrate how collaborative thinking and transparent communication can help meet biodiversity criteria. EMEC is among a select group of ecology consultants appointed as a delivery partner for Natural England, working on the creation or restoration of vital ponds to provide habitats for great crested newts (GCN) under the District Level Licensing scheme. EMEC collaborates with local landowners, councils, and Wildlife Trusts to identify potential sites within Strategic Opportunity Areas in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. By advocating for and educating landowners and developers about the advantages of District Level Licensing, EMEC has played a pivotal role in creating over 1 hectare of dedicated GCN habitat, thereby enhancing overall biodiversity. Our role as consultant ecologists extends beyond habitat protection; we also provide value-added advice to developers, ensuring that the communities they create embrace diversity. By engaging ecologists and integrating biodiversity into development projects from the outset, all stakeholders can contribute significantly to the creation of high-quality living and working environments. It’s imperative that we move beyond the idea of ecologists and developers sitting on opposite sides of the table and transition to a scenario where ecologists collaborate constructively and creatively with developers to identify opportunities and ambitions, not only to meet the 10% BNG legal requirement but to exceed it whenever possible. For more information call 0115 9644828, email: mail@emec-ecology.co.uk or visit: https://emec-ecology.co.uk East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Gould Alloys’ new unit at Markham Vale East Midlands industrial and logistics properties maintain their popularity While the market starts to calm post-pandemic, the East Midlands remains a popular location for businesses seeking out industrial and logistics properties. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link COMMERCIAL PROPERTY F ollowing a boom in demand for industrial and logistics space in the East Midlands over recent years, the market is starting to normalise to pre-pandemic levels. Home to the golden triangle of logistics, however, the region remains a key target for many 3PLs, manufacturers and retailers, and the past couple of months have seen a number of new deals sealed and new developments make progress. In September, developer Chancerygate revealed it had sold Boundary43, its 55,000 sq ft urban logistics scheme in Brackley, to a private investor for an undisclosed sum. Positioned on the Buckingham Road Industrial Estate off Boundary Road, the development comprises 14 high specification Grade A units, ranging from 2,100 to 19,200 sq ft and available on a leasehold basis. All properties at the development achieved an EPC A and BREEAM Very good rating and benefit from electric vehicle charging points. In addition, the units are constructed from high- performance building materials and 15 per cent roof lights to reduce CO2 emissions and occupational energy costs. Chancerygate development director, George Dickens, said: “This deal is the culmination of years of hard work and expertise to develop Boundary43 and will help satisfy the strong demand there is for prime urban logistics accommodation in the region. The sale is also a testament to our product’s sustainability credentials, flexible sizing and proximity to key infrastructure and transport hubs, all of which are attractive to both investors and occupiers.” Meanwhile Gould Alloys recently expanded at Markham Vale, taking a further 55,000 sq ft on a 10-year lease. The deal, which will see Gould Alloys grow into the MV55 unit, comes almost a decade after the business first arrived at Markham Vale, moving into a purpose-built 50,000 sq ft building and investing more than £1m 20 ÁNext >