Cristina Diaconu
Fluorescent Smogg Experiments with New Tile Designs

Fluorescent Smogg Experiments with New Tile Designs

Fluorescent Smogg is excited to present ‘Portal Patch’, in collaboration with world renowned US artist Mars-1. The new collaboration focuses on 15 hexagonal, bas-relief ceramic tiles exploring natural form and geometric patterns, designed by Mars-1 and made with master craftsmen and tile artisans Viuva Lamego. Mario Martinez, aka Mars-1, is known

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Truck Firm Launches Heavy Plant Division with SANY

Truck Firm Launches Heavy Plant Division with SANY

Commercial vehicle specialist MC Truck & Bus has launched a new division in partnership with heavy machinery manufacturing giant SANY. MC Plant has won the franchise to undertake the sales, support service and repairs of SANY excavators and other plant for Kent, Surrey & East Sussex. The move comes as SANY

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What To Do When You Get Injured From A Workplace Accident

Employers have the responsibility of providing their employees a healthy and safe working environment. They have to make sure the location is ergonomically suitable for the workers. However, accidents such as slipping and spraining your ankle can happen, and anyone could still be injured despite the precautionary measures being followed.

Read More »
New Homes, Jobs and Apprenticeships for Huyton

New Homes, Jobs and Apprenticeships for Huyton

National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes pledges to help the next generation in Huyton with apprenticeships and career opportunities and combat the construction skills shortage. As part of their commitment to create a sustainable community during the construction of its Canterbury Park development, bringing 303 much-needed new homes to the town, Keepmoat

Read More »
New Family Homes Coming to Dorset

New Family Homes Coming to Dorset

Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has extended its South West footprint to the West Dorset town of Beaminster where it will be building new family homes surrounded by open countryside. The Torquay-based family homebuilder, whose current developments can be found across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, has acquired a site with planning

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Are Waterproof Work Boots Worth It?

The employee’s head-to-toe safety is paramount, especially for construction, factory, and hazardous jobs. Aside from annual checkups, workers should be equipped with the right safety gear. Worker footwear matters a lot, influencing productivity, health, safety, and overall job performance. One type of footwear includes waterproof work boots. But are they

Read More »
Grade II Listed Hotel Receives £11.2M Loan

Grade II Listed Hotel Receives £11.2M Loan

Funds advised by Hilltop Credit Partners, a specialist funding partner for SME residential developers, have completed an £11.2 million loan to Ascena Developments for the redevelopment of the historic, Grade II listed Bishop’s Court hotel in Torquay, Devon. The project will deliver 15 high-specification houses and 5 flats within a

Read More »
New Premises for Award Winning Restaurant

New Premises for Award Winning Restaurant

Vegan restaurant brand Stem & Glory is moving to new, larger premises at the prestigious CB1 site in central Cambridge, part of the city’s burgeoning new business and cultural quarter. The award-winning plant-based restaurant will take up the ground floor in one of Cambridge’s largest office buildings at 60 Station

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Latest Issue
Issue 334 : Nov 2025

Cristina Diaconu

Fluorescent Smogg Experiments with New Tile Designs

Fluorescent Smogg Experiments with New Tile Designs

Fluorescent Smogg is excited to present ‘Portal Patch’, in collaboration with world renowned US artist Mars-1. The new collaboration focuses on 15 hexagonal, bas-relief ceramic tiles exploring natural form and geometric patterns, designed by Mars-1 and made with master craftsmen and tile artisans Viuva Lamego. Mario Martinez, aka Mars-1, is known for his fantastic, imaginary worlds. Inspired by surrealism, street art and abstract expressionism. He creates densely composed extraterrestrial landscapes brimming with light effects, floating orbs, and other flying geometric forms, referencing physics, collective consciousness, and the mystery of life itself. Nike CEO Mark Parker and Grammy Award-winning musician Everlast are among the collectors who have bought his work. The tiles are showcased via a cutting-edge virtual gallery, inviting collectors, art fans and interior designers to see the tiles in virtual environments alongside world class artists represented by Fluorescent Smogg. Collectors can visit the gallery to explore hand finished editions of the tiles and tile artworks. The tiles are available in 3 colourways, black, white and teal. PortalPatch.com also features a configurator, enabling visitors to place combinations of the designs to suit their application and wall size, switching between single and mixed colour schemes. It also showcases 3 different configurations from Mars himself. The collection represents a lexicon that can be arranged in almost endless combinations, whilst retaining the artisanal process that makes these ceramics unique. The designs include shapes like Icosahedron Suction Cup and Multi Vortex, reflective of the otherworldly influences for which Mars-1 is famous. “When starting this project, I had the idea to build on old world knowledge and traditions, to connect with and blend modern technologies and tools for creating art,” said Mars-1. “We worked closely with Viuva Lamego in Portugal, a company that has been in business for 150 years, to hand produce and manufacture the tiles. We utilised 3D software and printing for the prototypes to lean into the symmetrical and perfect geometric nature of the shapes and designs that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to create.” Fluorescent Smogg has long held a reputation as a forward-thinking production house, working with the world’s leading contemporary and progressive artists for over a decade. This new venture continues that trend, merging art and interiors, fusing traditional and cutting edge crafts.

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Truck Firm Launches Heavy Plant Division with SANY

Truck Firm Launches Heavy Plant Division with SANY

Commercial vehicle specialist MC Truck & Bus has launched a new division in partnership with heavy machinery manufacturing giant SANY. MC Plant has won the franchise to undertake the sales, support service and repairs of SANY excavators and other plant for Kent, Surrey & East Sussex. The move comes as SANY continues to establish a regional dealer network across England and Wales after its arrival in the UK in 2015. New jobs will be created with MC Plant currently hiring specialist technicians and the division will grow organically as business expands. MC Plant will be headquartered at one of the group’s main bases in Larkfield, Maidstone, with support from the company’s existing dealerships in Burgess Hill, Hythe and Aylesford. All new and used machinery will be sold from Larkfield – the first stock is already on the ground – with mobile technicians working from each site. The new division is headed up by MC Truck & Bus’s hugely experienced truck and plant sales manager Paul Cogger. He said: “There are very few dual truck and plant dealers in the UK and so this exciting new venture will not only strengthen links with the industries we serve with our current brands but also create dynamic new synergies. This new focus will undoubtedly reinforce relationships with existing and new customers. Our aim is to provide our customers with continuity through their business by offering plant and commercial vehicle services. “We were honoured when SANY approached us and feel our business foundation of strong service and customer-focused solutions will stand us in good stead. SANY is a global brand in the construction industry, well known for producing many products from excavators and loading shovels to cranes and concrete machinery. Their quality plant, allied to our experience, will lead us to our goal of being the number one excavator & plant supplier in the South East.” SANY, founded in Lianyuan, Hunan province in central China in 1986 and now headquartered in Beijing, has 25 manufacturing bases and 18 overseas regional headquarters and works with 8,000 suppliers and 400 dealers.  SANY ranks among the top three global construction machinery manufacturers, offers an industry leading five year warranty across its full range of excavators sold in the UK. Established in 1987, independently-owned MC Group is a complete commercial vehicle solutions provider and asset management company. It is comprised of MC Truck and Bus Ltd and MC Rental Ltd. The company, which hires out, sells, services and maintains commercial vehicles from seven locations across Essex, Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, employs 380 staff and has a rental fleet of more than 2,800 vehicles. MC Group, praised for keeping essential transport services running during the Covid-19 pandemic, was last year named 190th in the prestigious Sunday Times’ special edition of its Top Track 250 listings with sales up nine per cent at £131.8 million. With strong family links across generations, the company also has its own training school. It offers a comprehensive range of services to the commercial vehicle industry, including new and used truck sales, servicing, repairs contract maintenance and preventative maintenance and parts. 

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How to Start a Business if you Don’t Have Very Good Finances

If you want to start a business, then you will have probably spent quite some time trying to work through your ideas. You’ve also probably thought of having a distant aunt who could leave you a fortune so that you can get a jump-start. This isn’t likely, so you have to make sure that you think about realistic ways you can start a business if you don’t have any money. If you want to find out more, simply take a look below. Test out the Market You have to make sure that whatever you produce, you provide a good service. You need to find out what the market wants and you also need to do your research on social media too. If you make a bad product then you may find that you end up suffering in terms of your reputation and this is the last thing that you need. Test the market and also find out if you can do anything to try and perfect your idea. If you can do this, then you will soon find that things work in your favour much more than you realise. Get a Good Business Plan If you want to gain funding from anyone who is not your friends and family, you have to make sure that you have a good business plan. If you intend to keep the cost low, then you can write it yourself. If you want a good result, then don’t be afraid to ask someone else to do it for you. They will usually be more than happy to if you are willing to pay them a fee. Focusing on the numbers and being modest overall in the regards to the projected sales will help any potential investors to see how your business is going to grow. It will also help you to create a great deal of profit in the future. If you need some help searching for a loan then there are providers out there who can help. Swedish Prekredit is just one example. Get some Funding If you know that you need to get funding from somewhere else then remember that there are numerous ways that you can get it. In general, the most traditional route you can take would be for you to head to the bank so you can get a loan. The issue here is that you can get into lots of debt by doing this. Don’t buy everything at once by using your credit card. Instead, try and use the company revenue you have to finance a lot of your expenses. Try and use a crowdfunding platform if you can as this will allow the public to fund your idea. They can fund everything anonymously if they believe that it is going to work and this is all done in exchange for a reward. You can also take some pre-orders through the platform if you want as well so it is vital that you keep this in mind. Know what your Strengths Are If you want to generate a good amount of cash flow then you’ll be glad to know that it is very affordable for you to set up a service-oriented business. If you provide a service that you are fully aware people need, then you can easily use it to collect your funds. The funds can then be built up and you can use it to generate a good amount of cash flow to generate a second business if you want. Your second business might well be product-based. Try something simple, like selling stock photography or even by investing in tutoring. Barter Starting a company without having access to a laptop or even the internet is difficult to say the least. It may be that you need to barter for things that you cannot normally afford. It’s worth noting that there are some competitions that your company can invest in and this will help you to succeed overall. It’s also possible for you to look into prize draws as you never know when you are going to come out with a win. Access Free Tech You do not need to have something like a fancy site or even a fully fledged customer service system if you don’t have many customers yet. You need to try and promote your business for free by using website builders if possible. If you can do this, then you’ll soon find that everything comes together nicely.

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What To Do When You Get Injured From A Workplace Accident

Employers have the responsibility of providing their employees a healthy and safe working environment. They have to make sure the location is ergonomically suitable for the workers. However, accidents such as slipping and spraining your ankle can happen, and anyone could still be injured despite the precautionary measures being followed. Should you ever be injured in the workplace, here are the necessary steps for you to follow: 1. Attend to your Injury First Administering to your injury is the primary thing to do. As soon as the incident take place, it’s important to be treated with proper first aid in order to prevent any further harm. See to it that you limit your movements and be stationary in your area. Legally, every workplace is obligated to have a first aid kit and a designated first aider who would tend to the person’s immediate need. Try to get the attention of the assigned person or have one of your co-workers find the first aider. Getting immediate medical help after the workplace accident can help in your recovery and could reduce aggravation.  Although your injury may not be serious, its repercussions to your body can become lifelong without proper treatment. For instance, an unchecked wound or limp can be detrimental in your overall physique. Thus, make sure to get a full assessment of your injuries coming from a qualified medical practitioner.  At the same time, the medical records can help prove that your injuries were a result of an accident in the workplace. These records can help in your demands for compensation and other insurance policies. 2. Report the Injury to your Supervisor or Employer As soon as you’re physically well, you need to inform your employer about your work injury and detail how it happened. In addition to your verbal report, you may also write and e-mail a formal document, so there’s a definitive proof of notifying your employer about the incident.  Don’t wait a day or two for the pain to go away or clear up on its own. It’s critical that you quickly inform your supervisor or employer so there won’t be any doubts as to where, when, and how the injury occurred.  Your supervisor or employer should have an incident report which explains the situation in detail. Make sure to request it right away and have copies for your own record. 3. Partner with a Lawyer Prior to filing a claim, it’s often a good idea to consult and hire a professional like a slip and fall attorney. Navigating through the process of getting compensation can be stressful and confusing, but you don’t have to go through all of these alone. Professional lawyers with experience on workers’ compensation claims can protect your rights and assist you in your legal journey. They can help you in filing your claim, dealing with the workers’ compensation insurance company, and getting the right compensation for your injuries.  By having a reliable attorney at your side, you remove the hassle of dealing with all the legal matters, so you can focus more on your physical recovery and other work matters. 4. Create an Incident Report Most states will have a very short deadline by which a worker could report the incident and become insured under the workers’ compensation laws, which is why it’s important to report any workplace accident you’re involved in right away.  Filing a thorough report about the accident can immediately protect you in case you don’t exhibit any consequence of the injury until weeks after happening. 5. Keep Track of Absences and Expenses Depending on the type and severity of your injury, you may qualify for a workers’ compensation benefit. In most cases, this means that your partially lost wages for missed work and reasonable medical expenses will be covered.  Vying for the claim would require you to have a detailed record of the time you missed from work along with all of your expenses related to your injury. This includes lab tests, doctors’ visits, medications, surgeries, or medical equipment like wheelchairs or crutches.  Your medical receipts and records will be crucial for building your claim and ensuring that you receive the right compensation. Conclusion Workplace accidents cannot be predicted. Getting injured while on the job, even the minor ones, can cause missed work and unnecessary expenses. As unfortunate as it may be, it also gives you unnecessary stress of processing compensation claims. But as you continuously work on your recovery and rehabilitation, these steps should help you be compensated and get back on your feet.

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Michael Akkawi Discusses Predicted Surge in House Prices in Australia

The housing market in Australia has experienced a bumpy ride over the past year, as have most industries dealing with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. However, data from September 2020 suggests a strong recovery in 2021. The economics team of Westpac has forecast house prices bottoming out at a fall of 2.3% by June 2021, compared to earlier predictions of a 10% slump over the same time period. Between June 2021 and the middle of 2023, experts are now expecting a national average rise of 7.5% per year, or 15% in total. These gains will be led by certain areas including Perth and Brisbane, while some major cities including Melbourne are expected to decline further than average over the coming months. Michael Akkawi is an entrepreneurial property developer with a focus on addressing the housing shortage. Akkawi’s work is known for its attention to detail and unique aesthetics, delivering lifestyle solutions to the housing market. Information shared in January 2021 showed that some regions of Australia were already experiencing a boom in house prices. The median house price for Sydney reached $1.2 million and Melbourne also reached record highs. This is despite the recession triggered by the response to COVID-19 and the fact that many urban professionals have chosen to relocate to more affordable coastal areas. Six out of eight capital city markets in Australia reached record highs for house prices in December 2020. While Perth and Darwin did not break any records, house prices still rose in both cities. With more professionals working from home, there has been an exodus towards coastal properties with scenic locations. The knock-on effect of this is that house prices in these typically more affordable areas are also on the rise as demand increases and stock levels remain low. An interest rate cut in November 2020 has been partially responsible for increased demand across the Australian housing market, with rates cut to an all-time low of 0.1% for cash rate. This helped to drive demand, with access to cheaper credit making mortgage payments for more expensive properties more affordable to many. Experts from Westpac have stated that the sustained low rates will push up average house prices from shore to shore, coupled with fiscal support from state and federal governments and ongoing regulatory support.

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New Homes, Jobs and Apprenticeships for Huyton

New Homes, Jobs and Apprenticeships for Huyton

National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes pledges to help the next generation in Huyton with apprenticeships and career opportunities and combat the construction skills shortage. As part of their commitment to create a sustainable community during the construction of its Canterbury Park development, bringing 303 much-needed new homes to the town, Keepmoat Homes has pledged to support the local area and generate opportunities in training and employment, as well as complete community projects to benefit groups and organisations in the area, which will be delivered throughout the lifetime of the project. Keepmoat Homes has already created 20 apprenticeships at its developments in Huyton, including Canterbury Park and Jubilee Gardens, to support young people establish a career in construction. Local resident Sonny Canavan, 18, is currently working with Sterling Plastering – a Keepmoat Homes subcontractor- having secured full-time employment as a trainee quantity surveyor. After completing a Diploma in Engineering at Cronton Sixth Form College, Sonny struggled to find employment in the industry and through Keepmoat’s partnership with North Huyton Communities Future, he was able to secure a work placement with Sterling Plastering. His commitment impressed the company that he was offered an apprenticeship at its Huyton office. “The apprenticeship helped me gain vital work experience and ultimately a career. Before I started at Sterling Plastering, I was really struggling to find a job and was doing a lot of volunteer work at the L14 Community Centre, which is where this amazing opportunity came from and changed everything for me. I am extremely thankful for the support Keepmoat Homes and Sterling Plastering have both given me and I’m thoroughly enjoying learning all the tricks of the trade. I can finally look forward to an established career within the construction industry,” commented Sonny. Gareth Roberts, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: “As a company, we’re driven to go beyond just delivering new homes and strive to make a big impact in the local community which we serve. From working very closely with subcontractors, we ensure that we’re supporting local businesses as much as possible and providing jobs in the area. “Work experience and apprenticeships is a great way for local students to gain an insight into a role that interests them and enables them to learn new skills and gain practical hands-on experience on a live development. We’re pleased to be working with North Huyton Communities Future, The Gate Community Centre and Knowsley Works to offer work placement and apprenticeship opportunities at our Canterbury Park development and Sonny is a prime example of how we strive to not only provide an opportunity for the next generation of builders to gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the construction industry, but a career afterwards. We wish Sonny all the best in the future and look forward to working with him at our developments through Sterling Plastering.” Other recent collaborations include the team volunteering at The Gate, to refurbish a local community venue as well as donating crafts equipment for their L14 youth club. The Canterbury Park development has just entered its fourth phase of the North Huyton Masterplan to regenerate the area. In partnership with LIVV Housing Group, the development will bring 303 new homes to the area, 31% of which are affordable.

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New Family Homes Coming to Dorset

New Family Homes Coming to Dorset

Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has extended its South West footprint to the West Dorset town of Beaminster where it will be building new family homes surrounded by open countryside. The Torquay-based family homebuilder, whose current developments can be found across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, has acquired a site with planning permission for up to 100 new energy-efficient homes, with 35 percent marked as affordable housing for local people. Located off Broadwinsor Road, the new homes will be on the edge of Marshwood Vale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and close to the historic rural market town. “Acquiring 11.4 acres with planning consent in the beautiful town of Beaminster and in such a brilliant spot surrounded by open countryside and within walking distance to the town centre is fantastic. Our last new homes development in Dorset was Blue View near Lyme Bay which completed in 2011, so we’re looking forward to returning to the area and delivering more high-quality new homes in this wonderful part of the Westcountry,” said Cavanna Homes’ Head of Land and Design, Michael Newman. As well as a new community of homes, Cavanna Homes will be providing a new access road, a play park for local families, and enhancing the landscaping and outdoor space for residents to enjoy. The new family homes will be a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties and designed to suit all buyers’ requirements. As well as acquiring new land in Dorset, Cavanna Homes is also celebrating being once again awarded the maximum five-star rating from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) following the annual customer satisfaction survey, which saw over 90 percent of the firm’s homeowners recommending Cavanna Homes has a trusted homebuilder, as well as endorsing the build quality and the standard of finish. The firm also recently celebrated being crowned Housebuilder of the Year for the second consecutive year in the national Housebuilder Awards 2020. Cavanna Homes want to target Dorset as a growth area for the business, so the firm’s land team are actively seeking more land in the area from agents and landowners.

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Are Waterproof Work Boots Worth It?

The employee’s head-to-toe safety is paramount, especially for construction, factory, and hazardous jobs. Aside from annual checkups, workers should be equipped with the right safety gear. Worker footwear matters a lot, influencing productivity, health, safety, and overall job performance. One type of footwear includes waterproof work boots. But are they worth it? Find out the answer if waterproof work boots are worth it by reading below. Waterproof Boots Keep The Feet Dry Keep your feet dry with waterproof boots designed to repel water away from your feet. Also, this footwear is highly recommended for construction workers because they keep the boots dry and will still be in good condition for a long time.  Even if the sun is high, the construction site can be full of mud. Hence, the waterproof feature of your construction boots can be highly beneficial, buying a branded one shouldn’t be easily damaged after getting off a muddy place. You can buy waterproof construction boots online conveniently from a reputable brand. Here are the advantages of keeping the feet dry when working on the construction site: Avoid smelly feet due to moisture and water penetration.  Reduce discomfort while working in muddy construction areas. Prevent foot fungal infections such as athlete’s foot. Waterproof Boots Protect the Feet  Construction field workers such as engineers, architects, and construction workers should wear durable footwear to protect their feet from hazards that cause injury. Waterproof work boots protect the feet from water exposure. The materials used for creating waterproof construction boots are of good quality. Even if it rains, your boots won’t get wet for a long time. Waterproof boots are generally made with rubber, vinyl, nylon, neoprene, or polyurethane. Construction boots made of nylon, leather, and other coated materials are water-resistant. Here are the things that waterproof boots can protect the feet from: Flying and Falling Objects: Because construction workers usually operate and carry heavy equipment and materials. Objects can fly and fall accidentally, causing injury to the feet. Waterproof work boots can prevent foot crushing injuries. Punctures: Sharp objects are everywhere on the construction site. That’s why fieldworkers should wear work shoes with thick materials and heavy-duty soles, surrounding the foot for the best protection.  Cutting Hazards: Construction and manufacturing machinery contain moving components such as sharp blades, exposing the workers to cutting hazards. Wearing construction boots help protect the feet from chainsaws and other tools and equipment that may come in contact with the feet.  Electricity: Electric shocks and the static electricity are safety risks in construction sites and other workplaces. Avoid an electrical accident by wearing waterproof work boots. A pair of high-quality waterproof work boots are non-conductive footwear, usually made from rubber, leather, or other materials. Slips, Falls, and Trips: These workplace accidents can cause injury to the feet. Aside from installing an anti-slip floor and avoiding walking on slippery floors, wearing proper footwear can provide extra protection against slips, falls, and trips because of appropriate traction. Burns: Fire can happen in any workplace, which may result in chemical burns. Footwear, such as construction work boots are made from durable materials. Waterproof boots prevent burns from molten metal splashes, chemicals splashes, and other dangerous substances, posing injury to the feet. Waterproof Boots are Comfortable to Wear Waterproof work boots are comfortable to wear. Workers feel good that they wouldn’t mind taking it off after fieldwork. When choosing waterproof construction boots, make sure to choose the right brand featuring great durability and promoting optimum foot comfort. Also, good brands of waterproof boots are stylish to wear, matching the rugged look of field workers.  OSHA Compliant According to OHSA, employers should ensure that affected employees use protective footwear in work areas where there’s a danger of foot injuries caused by rolling or falling objects. Industrial and construction businesses should comply with OSHA requirements by following guidelines on appropriate safety shoes in the workplace.  Regardless of the nature and size of your business or job, it’s crucial to follow OSHA guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.  Are Waterproof Work Boots Worth It? Waterproof work boots are a worthwhile investment given the best features and benefits of this type of footwear. Choosing the right waterproof work boots will help protect both employees and employers from safety hazards in the construction industry.  Conclusion Waterproof construction boots are worth the investment. They keep the feet dry and protected from all sorts of hazards. Also, waterproof boots are very comfortable to wear with less worry on your feet, improving productivity at the job site. Protect your feet from burns, punctures, cuts, electricity, injuries from trips, falls, and slips. 

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Grade II Listed Hotel Receives £11.2M Loan

Grade II Listed Hotel Receives £11.2M Loan

Funds advised by Hilltop Credit Partners, a specialist funding partner for SME residential developers, have completed an £11.2 million loan to Ascena Developments for the redevelopment of the historic, Grade II listed Bishop’s Court hotel in Torquay, Devon. The project will deliver 15 high-specification houses and 5 flats within a gated community, overlooking Torbay from the Warberries – one of the most desirable residential areas in the English Riviera. The original hotel mansion is to be converted into 5 flats, retaining most of its original Victorian features and set at the centre of the development, with 14 houses and a cottage built upon the original eastern and western flanks. With the post-Covid shift in homebuyer focus to more provincial areas, the prime residential market outside of London has seen exceptional performance over the past few quarters. The latest figures from Halifax suggest average prices have risen by as much as 17 percent year-on-year, whilst research by one of the leading estate agents in the South West reveals that the Torbay area in particular has experienced one of its strongest annual price jumps in history. “Hilltop’s enthusiasm for the development matches our own – an elegant building in a picturesque location is the perfect opportunity for current market dynamics. We expect a very successful project,” said on the partnership, Alan Rees of Ascena Developments. Torbay Council has recently launched a series of regeneration schemes, including significant enhancements to the connectivity of the town centre and links to the proposed new railway station near Torbay Hospital. Significant investments into the marina and surrounding leisure/retail facilities are ongoing, increasing the allure to buyers from London, the West Midlands and the Bristol-Gloucester corridor. The project sponsor team comprises a successful national property investor and entrepreneur plus an experienced local developer with over 40 years’ regional construction experience and a large network of local authority contacts. “This is a high-end development with large unit sizes and a charming, in-demand location. Coupling this with local market data and the post-Covid shift in purchasing attitudes, I have no doubt there will be significant demand,” added Tiger Craft, Chief Investment Officer of Hilltop Credit Partners.

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New Premises for Award Winning Restaurant

New Premises for Award Winning Restaurant

Vegan restaurant brand Stem & Glory is moving to new, larger premises at the prestigious CB1 site in central Cambridge, part of the city’s burgeoning new business and cultural quarter. The award-winning plant-based restaurant will take up the ground floor in one of Cambridge’s largest office buildings at 60 Station Road. The restaurant, which has been designed by world renowned designer, Afroditi Krassa, fronts Station Road, just metres from Cambridge railway station, and has a large outdoor terrace. Supported by a generous landlord package and a capital grant from Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority the site will open end May 2021. At this new site Stem & Glory will offer its new vegan pizza concept (currently piloting on the Stem & Glory online store) alongside its healthy and innovative vegan menu, and will also feature breakfast and brunch offerings. The site is built to service both dining and off-site sales, which is a rapidly growing part of the business. “We have been looking for the perfect site in Cambridge for quite a while, after outgrowing our existing Cambridge site soon after opening. We’ve watched the amazing CB1 regeneration project grow over the past few years, and we are really looking forward to joining now that it is nearing its completion. For us, it’s the most exciting quarter in our home town of Cambridge,” said Stem & Glory founder Louise Palmer-Masterton. Stem & Glory will join some of the world’s most successful brands at the mixed use CB1 development, including Microsoft, Apple and Amazon. As well as the restaurant, Stem & Glory will provide a stylish cafe within the office building premises at 60 Station Road, which is also home to WeWork. “We survived and thrived during 2020, and we are looking forward to resuming our expansion plans in 2021 and beyond. We feel very fortunate to have had the amazing support of our customers and our 1200 strong investor community throughout the past year. Opening our doors again last year saw both our sites extremely busy, and we are feeling very optimistic for the rest of this year. With more and more people opting for healthier lifestyles post Covid, we see our expansion as a fantastic opportunity to help people live healthier and more compassionate lives,” added Palmer-Masterton.

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