Cristina Diaconu
First Firethorn Trust UK Development Secures Occupier

First Firethorn Trust UK Development Secures Occupier

The first Firethorn Trust UK development, called Northampton Cross, has been fully-leased by MH Star UK, who will occupy the 37-acre scheme from October 2021. The e-commerce retailer has signed a 15-year tenancy on the two units, which span a total of 354,000 sq. ft. MH Star UK, a specialist

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G F Tomlinson Continues to Protect Local Wildlife

G F Tomlinson Continues to Protect Local Wildlife

Midlands based contractor G F Tomlinson continues its quest to protect local wildlife as part of their day-to-day construction activities and have recently installed by way of example hedgehog highways and houses in locations close to their existing projects. Four hedgehog friendly homes were installed and bespoke fencing was developed

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‘Agent of the Year’ Shortlisting for FHP Property Consultants

‘Agent of the Year’ Shortlisting for FHP Property Consultants

Midlands property consultancy FHP has been shortlisted for ‘Agent of the year’ at the annual East Midlands Property Dinner awards. Having advised on over £500 million worth of property transactions in the last 12 months, FHP has played a major role within the region’s property sector. Celebrating the expertise and

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Workplace Injuries: What To Do And How To Protect Your Rights

The common workplace injuries and accidents include cuts, lacerations, slips, falls, trips, crashes, collisions, inhaling toxic fumes, loud noise exposure, and being hit by tools, construction materials, and other falling objects. The extent of injury greatly affects recovery time. There are also other consequences such as lost wages or the

Read More »

Common Problems with Tenants and How To Deal with Them

What do you do when you’ve got a tenant who seems to be causing problems? Many landlords and property managers have encountered this problem, and the result is a very frustrated landlord. Understanding the reasons why tenants behave as they do and what that means for your rental business will

Read More »
Retirement Village Site Acquired by Joint Venture

Retirement Village Site Acquired by Joint Venture

A joint venture has managed to acquire a site in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells with planning permission to develop a purpose-built retirement village. The scheme, which has a gross development value of £55 million, will incorporate 89 luxury apartments, penthouses and hotel-style facilities. The joint venture that acquired

Read More »
Plans Approved for Leeds Life Science Development

Plans Approved for Leeds Life Science Development

A new life science centre of excellence has received planning permission on a historic site in Leeds with the potential to support about 300 jobs. CEG has submitted a planning application earlier this year for the redevelopment of Drapers Yard on Marshall Street to create a new facility for Labcorp,

Read More »
Renovation Specialist Receives Loan to Support Its Growth

Renovation Specialist Receives Loan to Support Its Growth

A £200,000 CBILS-backed loan via SWIG Finance has been given to a Bristol-based renovation specialist to support its future growth plans. Over the last 12 months Missiato Design and Build has experienced a period of rapid expansion, and the loan was required to help with ashflow as the business transitions

Read More »
String of new hires for leading Nottingham architectural firm

String of New Hires for Nottingham Architectural Firm

East Midlands-based Franklin Ellis Architects has welcomed a host of new hires to its interior design and architectural teams at its Nottingham office. The firm, which also has an office in Leicester, has hired five new team members in a short space of time over the summer. The flurry of

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Latest Issue
Issue 327 : Apr 2025

Cristina Diaconu

First Firethorn Trust UK Development Secures Occupier

First Firethorn Trust UK Development Secures Occupier

The first Firethorn Trust UK development, called Northampton Cross, has been fully-leased by MH Star UK, who will occupy the 37-acre scheme from October 2021. The e-commerce retailer has signed a 15-year tenancy on the two units, which span a total of 354,000 sq. ft. MH Star UK, a specialist in home, outdoor, office, pet and children’s products sold by several in-house brands, has experienced rapid growth over the last year, accelerated by the consumer shift to e-commerce following the Covid-19 pandemic. “As more consumers adapt their spending habits and shift to e-commerce, it has been increasingly important for us to source high-quality warehousing solutions so that we can effectively respond to ever-increasing demand. Northampton Cross delivered on every aspect, from modern, flexible office spaces to renewable energy provisions and welfare facilities for employees,” said Arvind Panchmatia, General Manager at MH Star. “It has been a pleasure working with Firethorn Trust, and we are delighted to be leasing both units at the scheme. This new site will put us in a strong position to drive forward MH Star UK’s expansion as the business continues to grow and evolve.” The new site, which is located directly off Junction 15A of the M1 and offers enhanced access to the UK motorway network, will put the retailer in prime position for continued expansion, whilst bringing a boost to the local jobs market. “MH Star’s tenancy is an incredibly exciting milestone for Firethorn. Northampton Cross is the first UK development opportunity that we acquired, we are proud to have agreed such a significant lease within a year of bringing the scheme to market, and prior to its completion in October,” added Chris Webb, Partner at Firethorn Trust. “This deal underpins Firethorn’s ongoing commitment to creating highly-specified, modern and adaptable industrial and logistics solutions in strategic locations across the UK, to help connect businesses, people and places.” Firethorn Trust has a current development pipeline of more than 3m sq. ft. nationwide, including an eight-unit scheme at Ascent Logistics Park in Leighton Buzzard, which will be available for occupation later this year. Knight Frank acted for MH Star, while Lambert Smith Hampton & DTRE acted for Firethorn Trust.

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G F Tomlinson Continues to Protect Local Wildlife

G F Tomlinson Continues to Protect Local Wildlife

Midlands based contractor G F Tomlinson continues its quest to protect local wildlife as part of their day-to-day construction activities and have recently installed by way of example hedgehog highways and houses in locations close to their existing projects. Four hedgehog friendly homes were installed and bespoke fencing was developed to ensure they can nest safely and move freely through domestic gardens – after their presence in a woodland adjacent to their Staffordshire site was confirmed by a specialist ecologist survey. Skilled tradesmen crafted two of the houses from recycled timber on site. With guidance from The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, this caring wildlife initiative has been rolled out across two key sites located in Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire in the hope their actions will help to preserve their habitat, to protect, nurture and encourage the presence of hedgehogs within the local area. “We partnered with The British Hedgehog Preservation Society back in September 2020 and their advice has been invaluable to help us to protect these vulnerable animals. We are hoping to roll out hedgehog houses and highways across more sites in the coming months alongside other ongoing environmental initiatives,” said Andy Sewards, managing director of G F Tomlinson. “In Staffordshire, leaflets were distributed to local businesses, offering a guide to helping hedgehogs in the area along with a brief case study identifying the local woods nearby and their significance to the hedgehogs. The G F Tomlinson site team will also soon be seeding indigenous wild flowers within the adjacent meadow to our site to improve biodiversity and encourage bees and insects to populate these important areas of natural beauty. They are also creating greater awareness to the general public of the hedgehogs by placing ‘slow down hedgehog’ signs on the bespoke fences near to site.” The hedgehog population has sadly seen a deep decline in Britain in recent years, with the animal now included in the ‘red list’ of endangered species. “Hedgehogs have declined by a third in urban areas since the turn of the century,” added Fay Vass, Chief Executive at the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. “We all need to play our part in bringing them back from the brink – so we are delighted that G F Tomlinson are doing their bit to improve these valuable habitats for hedgehogs.”

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‘Agent of the Year’ Shortlisting for FHP Property Consultants

‘Agent of the Year’ Shortlisting for FHP Property Consultants

Midlands property consultancy FHP has been shortlisted for ‘Agent of the year’ at the annual East Midlands Property Dinner awards. Having advised on over £500 million worth of property transactions in the last 12 months, FHP has played a major role within the region’s property sector. Celebrating the expertise and innovation within the region’s booming property industry over the last year, the East Midlands Property Dinner awards recognise the most impressive commercial and residential property deals, developments, builders, developers, agents and personalities who have led the way during a challenging period. FHP Property Consultants is a multi-award-winning firm with specialist teams covering retail, leisure, office, industrial, education, property management, investment and residential. With its HQ in Nottingham, the firm has been representing clients for over 30 years. FHP has completed a remarkable volume of deals in the last 12 months across all its divisions, with the most recent East Midlands EG (Estates Gazette) sector report stating the business had eight of the ‘top deal makers’ in the region – with the retail and leisure team classed as fifth most active in the country – amounting to 140 deals totalling 250,000 sq ft of retail space let, sold or acquired during 2020/21. “The sheer number of deals completed across the board at FHP during this period is incredible, and is testament to the team’s expertise and tenacity to deliver the best possible service to our clients,” said David Hargreaves, director at FHP Property Consultants. “2021 has been a highly successful year for the business and I certainly didn’t expect to say that back in March. The FHP team is proactive through and through – enabling our clients to maximise their return on their investment, by advising the right developments for their sites, advising on rental and capital values, identifying occupiers and negotiating head of teams. We simply get the job done.” Major deals in this period for FHP include the acquisition of land and providing advice on the largest office letting in Nottingham for many years – 285,000 sq ft to HMRC for Sladen Estates by John Proctor. Further notable deals include 714,000 sq feet let for distribution purposes to the likes of Panettoni, Hermes, Food Innovations and Amazon. A letting to Tesla and store acquisitions for Lidl were also amongst the agent’s high-profile deals. The success continues within the FHP investment team who were involved in more than £50m of investment sales and acquisitions, including the sale of the Beechdale Retail Park near Nottingham centre for the for the HDD Ltd. Winners of the East Midlands Property Dinner categories will be announced during a black-tie dinner in September at the DeVere East Midlands Conference Centre. More than 50 finalists have made the shortlist, as the event celebrates its landmark 21st anniversary.

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Workplace Injuries: What To Do And How To Protect Your Rights

The common workplace injuries and accidents include cuts, lacerations, slips, falls, trips, crashes, collisions, inhaling toxic fumes, loud noise exposure, and being hit by tools, construction materials, and other falling objects. The extent of injury greatly affects recovery time. There are also other consequences such as lost wages or the inability to provide financial support to the worker’s family. Workers who sustain injuries or accidents while on duty may run at risk of losing work hours because of the need to recover from their current physical condition. Injuries may range from minor wounds and cuts to major injuries like temporary loss of body part function or permanent disability due to amputation, brain damage, or spinal cord injury. If you’ve encountered a workplace accident, it’s important to know what to do and how to protect your rights by reading below. 1. Talk To A Lawyer Once you’re safe from harm and you received the appropriate medical attention, it’s important to talk to a lawyer from www.mitchelllawcorp.com and other firms immediately. A personal injury lawyer who’s an expert in workplace accident cases is knowledgeable and highly trained in helping clients receive the rightful amount of compensation for their damages. Your lawyer will present the available legal options. In this way, you can choose the next course of action that’s favorable for you. Also, your workers’ compensation attorney can give you a rough estimate of how much you can get from your company’s insurance provider to cover your hospitalization and other medical expenses, as well as your lost wages and pain and suffering. On the other hand, a lawyer may also help you in case the company’s insurance company denies your claim based on unreasonable grounds. Some common reasons why workers’ compensation is disapproved include not being a qualified employee, failure to notify your employer about the accident and the injury, missed filing deadline, or when they find that the injury wasn’t sustained at work.  Hence, if you’ve sustained a personal injury at work and you file a claim but have been denied due to any of these grounds, talking to a lawyer would help you move on to other options. They may still help you get the compensation you deserve.  2. Report Properly  Right after the incident, reporting to your immediate supervisor is crucial. You may need to collect evidence like photos and videos of your injuries, the cause of the problem, and other relevant scenes. If you work outdoors or in the field, contact your supervisor immediately after the incident. If you can’t do it because of your injury, then ask someone to do it for you. In this way, your manager can report the incident the same day, which can be substantial in your claim. But of course, there are instances when employees can’t report an incident right away such as the victim lost consciousness and woke up the next day. Hence, other workers should report the incident. But if the job is confined and a solo man’s job, then reporting can be delayed to prioritize the victim’s health and safety first. Companies usually have standard operating procedures (SOPs) when it comes to incident reporting. That way, they can report all workplace incidents to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as soon as possible.  The OSHA requires employers to report any fatality in the workplace within 8 hours, including severe injuries, like loss of an eye, amputation, or hospitalization, within 24 hours. Employers must keep all records for at least five years. Furthermore, employees can also directly report to OSHA through its website. 3. Demand Just Compensation For Your Damages If you got injured in an accident at work, the damages you can seek compensation for include your physical injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Physical injuries may include minor or major ones, such as spinal injury and permanent disability. For lost wages, it includes all days that you’re absent from work because of hospitalization and full recovery. Moreover, pain and suffering are more difficult to substantiate, but a personal injury lawyer can help navigate this aspect of the case. You have the right to demand from your employer fair compensation for your damages, most especially if it’s not your fault. It’s the responsibility of your employer to ensure that the work area is safe from harmful chemicals, substances, and other safety hazards.  Workplace safety should be every employer’s top priority. If the workplace lacks the necessary safety gear and equipment or safety protocols, then there’s a high chance of the incident from happening to other workers. Therefore, the company can be held liable for damages. Your lawyer can help you determine every detail and evidence to prove your claim. Aside from proper compensation, you have the right to demand being retained in your employment even after having permanent injuries, so long as you can perform your tasks. A good employer can assign you to a different department to reduce your workload.  4. Don’t Sign Anything Without Your Lawyer Many employers and insurance companies trick employees into signing a narrative statement of the incident or similar declaration to protect themselves from liabilities. Don’t be a willing victim. If you fall into any of these tricks, you might end up not getting the right compensation or invalidating your claim. If your employer or the insurance company asks you to sign something, make sure you know the content of the document. It’s much better to sign with the presence of your legal counsel. While your employer may seem to offer a very good deal, you just want to make sure that they’ll fulfill their promises following a legal process.  Your employer can’t force you to sign any paper against your will. If your employer harasses you or threatens you with losing your job, then report this to your lawyer. The law protects employees under the employment law or labor code, so make sure you’re aware of this. Conclusion  Workplace injuries and accidents can change victims’ lives forever. They can

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Common Problems with Tenants and How To Deal with Them

What do you do when you’ve got a tenant who seems to be causing problems? Many landlords and property managers have encountered this problem, and the result is a very frustrated landlord. Understanding the reasons why tenants behave as they do and what that means for your rental business will help you develop a workable strategy for managing this often difficult relationship. Bad tenants can take on many forms, from the irresponsible to the frankly criminal. Here are some common problems with tenants and tips for dealing with them. Late or Partial-Paying Payers Since landlords manage properties, they often see tenants as customers. Failing to look at it from the tenant’s perspective and understand why they might be late in paying rent, however, will only lead to problems. Landlords need to identify who their most profitable, reliable and long-term tenants are early on in the relationship. And once they do, landlords should strive to retain them as much as possible by building a good personal relationship with them and communicating effectively. Whiners A landlord who has a tenant who is a constant complainer may finally have to evict them. The strategy will depend on the landlord’s reason for wanting to get rid of the tenant. A tenant who sublet without permission or a lease is another example of a troublemaker, as well as one who causes a major disruption in the apartment complex or building. Indulgent Pet Owners Landlords face different problems from pet owners every day. Most often face premises liability issues with pet faeces, urine, damaged property and general disturbance to neighbours. Many pet owners are reasonable, but some pet owners let their animals do what they want and disregard the property rules. It is important for landlords to have a clause in the tenancy agreement that covers renting with pets (such as size, number, and appropriate care) and address the potential cost of damages to the property. Landlords should also be aware that tenants can be held responsible for the behaviour of their pets and must be willing to follow through on any eviction proceedings. Destroyers Even the best tenants can damage your property. The first step is to sanction them immediately in writing for damage and then begin the eviction process. Start by serving an eviction notice which is a legal document used by a landlord to evict a tenant for not complying with the original terms of the lease or rental agreement. Don’t let tenant problems ruin your home, your cash flow, or your peace of mind. You can protect your property with insurance. Landlord insurance is a type of insurance that covers your own possessions and liability in case of lawsuits or claims from damage caused to property and/or bodily injury. It can also cover damage to the inside of your home caused by your tenants if you have chosen to rent out your house. Conclusion Solving common problems for tenants is one of the hardest but most profitable duties of a landlord. Some problems may be as simple as returning calls or messages. Most problems can be solved with little to no issues, but it never hurts to make sure everything is covered in your tenancy agreement just in case.

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Retirement Village Site Acquired by Joint Venture

Retirement Village Site Acquired by Joint Venture

A joint venture has managed to acquire a site in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells with planning permission to develop a purpose-built retirement village. The scheme, which has a gross development value of £55 million, will incorporate 89 luxury apartments, penthouses and hotel-style facilities. The joint venture that acquired the retirement village site is the UK Retirement Living Fund (ReLF), managed by Schroders Capital and advised by Octopus Real Estate, and Elysian Residences. The new retirement development is the second acquisition made by the ReLF/Elysian JV, following the purchase in April this year of a site for a new retirement scheme in Berkhamsted, which has planning consent and will provide 103 apartments and hotel-style facilities. “This latest acquisition emphasises our belief that retirement communities provide investors with a strong return and an opportunity to create a positive impact for our ageing society through delivering beautifully designed and sustainable real estate,” said Kevin Beirne, director, head of retirement at Octopus Real Estate. “This is our eighth retirement village (at different stages of development) and Elysian Residences is actively looking for new sites and investment opportunities as part of our vision to be the foremost provider of inspiring and elegant retirement communities in the UK,” added Gavin Stein, chief executive at Elysian Residences. ReLF’s primary objective is the development of a portfolio of new retirement communities across the UK on the back of undersupply and increasing demand, driven by a growing ageing population. “The Royal Tunbridge Wells and Berkhamsted acquisitions have been undertaken with efficiency and focus, demonstrating the strong working relationship and united objectives of the partners,” concluded Patrick Bone, fund manager at Schroder Real Estate Capital Partners, Schroders Capital.

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Plans Approved for Leeds Life Science Development

Plans Approved for Leeds Life Science Development

A new life science centre of excellence has received planning permission on a historic site in Leeds with the potential to support about 300 jobs. CEG has submitted a planning application earlier this year for the redevelopment of Drapers Yard on Marshall Street to create a new facility for Labcorp, a global diagnostics and drug development company. “Now planning permission has been granted, work will start immediately with the aim of occupation by summer 2022. We will work closely with Labcorp on the refurbishment. Drapers Yard is at the heart of the Temple masterplan area, where we are working with Leeds City Council and other partners on the delivery of a thriving business destination south of Leeds City Station, with Temple Works as its cultural centrepiece. The Centre of Excellence for Labcorp further builds the huge momentum for inward investment that we are experiencing within the Temple District,” commented Antonia Martin-Wright, head of investment at CEG. Labcorp currently operates out of two sites in Leeds and plans to consolidate the team into one building for more efficient, collaborative working. It is also aiming to double in size, retaining and creating almost 300 highly skilled scientific and healthcare jobs in the city. The proposed life science facility would comprise about 85,000 sq ft of floorspace, including a 100-bed clinic, pharmacy and Labcor’s UK office headquarters. Drapers Yard will be transformed with a new façade, roof top amenity space with a green, sedum roof and new landscaping and planting on Marshall Street and Sweet Street. Biodiversity is set to be enhanced and the setting of heritage assets protected, including the adjacent grade I-listed Temple Works. The council has now granted planning permission for the development, subject to conditions, under delegated powers. A report from the chief planning officer accompanying the decision said: “The development is likely to build confidence that the area is a strong business and commercial destination, helping to attract future inward investment opportunities. “The repair of the fabric of the Drapers Yard building would improve its appearance and, in conjunction with minor alterations to the facades, would improve the setting of Temple Works and the wider conservation area.” Drapers Yard was previously owned by Kays catalogue company but has been vacant since 2004. It was originally constructed as an extension to Temple Works, which adjoins to the north via a link building. The building is located within the Temple masterplan area where CEG, alongside Leeds City Council, are bringing forward further development. About four million sq ft of accommodation is set to be created, with Temple Works as its heart as a cultural centrepiece.

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Renovation Specialist Receives Loan to Support Its Growth

Renovation Specialist Receives Loan to Support Its Growth

A £200,000 CBILS-backed loan via SWIG Finance has been given to a Bristol-based renovation specialist to support its future growth plans. Over the last 12 months Missiato Design and Build has experienced a period of rapid expansion, and the loan was required to help with ashflow as the business transitions through this phase of growth. Missiato has a team of tradesmen who undertake bespoke projects such as new build homes, interior and exterior renovations, loft conversions and landscaping. The business is led by Adamo Missiato and Luke Sperring, who have both enjoyed successful careers as tradesmen themselves. Missiato currently employs 20 staff and 15 sub-contractors, with a new administration role being created to support business growth. The business plans to create more jobs in the coming year. “Due to the nature of our business, our cashflow can be complex. We work on multiple projects simultaneously and our material expense is high, which can skew our profit and loss statement. We knew we needed a lender who could look beyond the immediate figures and view the business as a whole, which is what SWIG Finance did,” said co-owner Adamo Missaito. When the directors identified a need for external finance, they approached Jack Seymour of Pinnacle Business Finance, who connected them with community development finance institution (CDFI) SWIG. “When I initially spoke to Adamo from Missiato Design and Build it was evident that he was very ambitious with a clear vision of how he wanted to grow the business,” said Jack Seymour. I worked closely with Adamo to get an In-depth understanding of how best to facilitate his requirements for funding. “SWIG’s CBILS loan was the ideal solution for Missiato Design so the business could continue to grow whilst fulfilling larger more complex works.” SWIG Finance business manager, Jordan Berg, who worked with the business owners and their finance broker to secure the funding, added: “Missiato Design and Build has grown substantially over the last year with the pandemic playing a role in fuelling a surge for home improvement projects. The business has a solid order book for the year ahead and 2021 is set to be a record year for them.”

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As homeowners say it’s too expensive to go green, how businesses can help them

According to the building society Nationwide, Britain’s housing is directly responsible for 15% of the UK’s carbon emissions, as The Times reports. However, in a recent survey, 28% of homeowners said they did not intend to make any green improvements to their homes in the next decade.  In that July survey, where 3,000 UK homeowners were polled by NatWest banking group and IHS Markit, two thirds of respondents said the expense of eco-upgrades was the biggest stumbling block. So, how could UK businesses do their bit to help lower the high financial entry price? How can homeowners check where they could make green upgrades? Since 2007, all home sellers have been required to provide buyers with an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). Hence, it’s not hard for households to investigate how they could enact carbon-cutting improvements in their properties.  Nonetheless, many households could understandably baulk at the costs attached to many of the options on offer. This is MONEY.co.uk highlights one situation faced by 32-year-old Chris Simons and his partner Oliver when their EPC recommended insulating their home’s solid floors. Though this measure pledged a yearly saving of £84 due to reduced heating bills, the cost of installing this flooring insulation would have been in the region of £4,000 to £6,000, the EPC estimated. Simons thus dismissed the idea as “just totally unworkable”. What green improvements are capable of paying off? “I’d love to be more eco-friendly, but the economics have to stack up,” Simons said. Unfortunately, many green measures are marketed as cost-cutting even when this is actually far from the case. Nonetheless, certain eco-friendly moves can more than pay for themselves over time. One good example is buying a hot water cylinder jacket – which, though priced at £35, would save the household £85 yearly. Similarly, while installing loft insulation would cost £270 on average, it would also bring a financial return in less than two years.  The addition of this insulation would not have to be at the expense of the loft’s practicality, either. Raised loft boarding, like that installed as part of the award-winning loft boarding service from Instaloft, can hide insulation under the loft’s flooring without hurting that insulation’s effectiveness. How businesses could capitalise on consumer interest in green products One piece of good news for businesses offering these products is that consumers are evidently interested in them. Last year, online searches for terms like “how much are heat pumps” and “where to buy insulation” grew, despite this trend not translating into higher sales. According to one calculation made by the energy supplier Bulb and reported by inews.co.uk, at least four million homes could have been insulated – with CO2 emissions consequently being cut by two million tonnes – if customers hadn’t been deterred by the high prices of green home products. Therefore, the onus is on businesses to educate customers on what green moves they can practically afford to make. For example, while cavity wall insulation is only viable for some properties, it can generate a financial return in less than four years.

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String of new hires for leading Nottingham architectural firm

String of New Hires for Nottingham Architectural Firm

East Midlands-based Franklin Ellis Architects has welcomed a host of new hires to its interior design and architectural teams at its Nottingham office. The firm, which also has an office in Leicester, has hired five new team members in a short space of time over the summer. The flurry of new hires comes as a result of a buoyant first half of 2021 for Franklin Ellis, and following the easing of lockdown restrictions, the company has set its sights on expanding its interior design department. This will accommodate a significant increase in client work in the hotel, restaurant and bar sectors. Joining the practice as senior interior designers are Laura Carruthers and Viktorija Perry, with more than 18 years of combined industry experience between them. Laura, who studied BA (Hons) Interior Design at the University of Huddersfield, brings more than seven years of experience with her to the new role. Her specialisms include hospitality Bar and Restaurant design and she will be responsible for handling concept and detailed designs, layouts, furniture, fixings and equipment selection and client presentations. With more than 12 years’ experience, Viktorija Perry will lead interior design projects including hotels, spas, offices and residential communal spaces. As an ‘all-rounder’ with design experience ranging from concept development and visualisation through to delivery on site, Viktorija will utilise her skills on a number of large-scale hospitality, commercial and residential projects in her new role. Three more hires were made to Franklin Ellis’ architectural and technical departments following an influx of work in the company’s pipeline – Sam Taylor and Angela Scott-Parkin who both join as architectural technologists, and Sandra Petkute as a BIM coordinator. Sam, who recently graduated from the University of Derby with a BSc (Hons) degree in Architectural Technology and Practice, has returned to Franklin Ellis after completing his placement year at the firm in 2020. Angela also graduated from the University of Derby having previously worked at an international engineering company based in South Africa, and completing three years’ work experience in the UK before joining Franklin Ellis. As architectural technologists, both Sam and Angela’s main responsibilities will include producing architectural drawings for schemes in their early stages, and managing the company’s 3D printer to manufacture physical to-scale models of building projects. Sandra Petkute joins the team as a BIM coordinator to oversee the company’s architectural building information management, adoption of digital architectural tools, development of workflow optimisation and assisting the rest of the team with BIM training. “We’re pleased to welcome Laura, Viktorija, Sam, Angela and Sandra to the team. Each bring specialist, in-depth knowledge and skills to Franklin Ellis, which I’m sure will prove to be a huge asset for the company,” said Matthew Branton, managing partner at Franklin Ellis Architects. “After the challenges of 2020 and the beginning of this year, we are experiencing substantial growth as the property and construction industries pick up speed once again following COVID-19 and it is exciting to be progressing with several large-scale projects for both our existing, repeat clients and new ones. This is a positive time for the firm as we have a strong pipeline of work and a rapidly expanding team that allows us to continue delivering excellent, high-quality service for our clients. Best of luck to all of our new starters in their roles.”

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