A leading manufacturer and supplier of power transmission products, material handling components and systems has opened its first European operations at a multi-million pound business park in Leamington Spa. US-based Martin Sprocket & Gear has signed a 10-year lease for a unit 5, a 41,173 sq ft warehouse and offices
Resonance, a data communications consultancy, has released the results of its research on 19 million Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) showing the extent to which the energy-saving home improvements are required. Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out a £2 billion grant scheme in England for home improvement projects such as wall insulation,
Landwood Group’s Commercial Asset Management division is expanding its headcount as it celebrates adding a leading health care provider to its books. The Manchester-based business have been instructed to manage Mental Health Care UK’s portfolio of over 30 sites across North Wales and the North West of England. MHC is
National proptech company, MakeUrMove, has been recognised for its leading customer service with a prestigious award win for ‘Best Online Estate Agent’ at The ESTAS (The Estate Agent of the Year Awards). MakeUrMove focuses on providing a software solution for landlords, helping them to manage their properties effortlessly, and the
The first phase of the £650 million Island Quarter development, called Canal Turn, in Nottingham has been unveiled. Artists’ impressions of the long-derelict site include a three-storey pavilion on the water which features two restaurants, events space and a large rooftop terrace. Conygar also revealed a bandstand and significant amounts
The Midlands must have no limits on its ambitions to develop “the goldmine” of the UK Central Hub, a project set to bring more than 70,000 jobs and £6 billion a year to the regional economy. The UK Central Hub is a 20-year project to connect and develop the area
Hard up Britons looking for a new line of work are being urged to invest in a van and overhaul their careers and job prospects. The vehicle experts at LeaseVan.co.uk have compiled a list of the businesses you can start from your van in a bid to encourage people to make the
The UK’s leading specialist sheet piling contractor, Sheet Piling (UK) Limited is in the process of once again setting the benchmark in its specialist field, to the benefit of all sectors of the construction industry. Having already shaken the sector up and provided new ways of managing sheet piling and
The proportion of UK small businesses predicting growth has almost doubled in just three months – from 14% to 27% – giving one of the first tangible indications that the Government’s easing of lockdown is having a positive impact on a key area of the UK economy. The quarterly tracking
The University of Manchester’s procurement process to find its development and investment partner for the £1.5 billion ID Manchester project has resumed. The search was paused in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the four highest scoring bidders having already been notified that they would be taken forward into the detailed
A leading manufacturer and supplier of power transmission products, material handling components and systems has opened its first European operations at a multi-million pound business park in Leamington Spa. US-based Martin Sprocket & Gear has signed a 10-year lease for a unit 5, a 41,173 sq ft warehouse and offices at Spa Park, which has been jointly developed by Stoford Developments and asset management company BlackRock. The industrial specialist, which stocks a wide range of its standard power transmission and bulk material handling products, took occupation of the unit in June 2020. In its first phase of operations, it has a machine shop to re-work standard products to customers’ requirements, with further operational phases planned to expand the machine shop to enable it to manufacture made-to-order and special-design parts. In the next two years, it aims to create 10 jobs. Phillip Hewitt, General Manager EMEA of Martin Sprocket & Gear UK Ltd, said the new venture means it can service existing and new customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions, as well as complement its facilities across in the USA, Mexico, Brazil and China. He said as well as creating local jobs, it was also committed to supporting the region’s economy by working with local companies, where possible. “We looked at many sites across the Midlands and the north of England as our goal was to have a location that is close to the motorway network, to our major customers and to ports and airports. Spa Park ticks all those boxes,” he said. “Our aim is to service the EMEA market by following the philosophy of our founder Joe Martin senior in 1951, of having large inventory, providing a quality product and being easy to do business with. Our success will be good for the local economy as we will recruit locally and source consumables from local companies wherever possible.” Welcoming Martin Sprocket & Gear UK Ltd to Spa Park, Edward Peel, Development Manager at Birmingham-based Stoford Developments, said: “Attracting yet another global name to Spa Park is testament to the quality of the development as well as the excellent location and national road networks. “There remains strong demand for business units and warehouses of this size in the area, which has been experienced through the interest we have received in the scheme to date. The remaining two units on site are currently still available. However we are in discussions with a number of interested parties and hope to welcome the next occupier to the park soon.” Spa Park comprises four units and is located on Tachbrook Road. Last year it signed Liberty 920E, part of the prestigious Liberty Vehicle Technologies, for a 50,000 sq ft unit. Units 3 and 4 remain available and comprise 61,075 sq ft and 30,715 sq ft of space respectively, including ancillary offices, and are suitable for advanced manufacturing, e-fulfilment and distribution uses (B1, B2 and B8 classes). Spa Park is close to the A46 and junctions 14 and 15 of the M40. Leamington Spa train station is less than one mile away. Spa Park is already home to lingerie and swimwear brand Bravissimo, Detroit Electric and global medical company Smith + Nephew.
Resonance, a data communications consultancy, has released the results of its research on 19 million Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) showing the extent to which the energy-saving home improvements are required. Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out a £2 billion grant scheme in England for home improvement projects such as wall insulation, double glazing and loft insulation. Resonance analysed the EPC data to find out where the projects are likely to have the most impact and the types of property likely to benefit. Percentage of homes that could benefit the most: Proportion of homes reporting “Very Poor” energy categories in one or more of the categories – 45% Very poor wall insulation – 26% Very poor loft insulation – 18% Very poor lighting efficiency – 17% Very poor window glazing – 7% Contrary to some reports and commentary, the research found that owner occupied housing is the worst performing of all the home occupancy types: Average Rating Type 59.2 Owner occupied 61.4 Rental (private) 68.2 Rental (social) 81.4 New dwelling The grant scheme has only been announced for England, but the research has found that the least efficient regions of the UK are Scotland and Wales. Within England, the regions set to benefit the most are the North West and the East Midlands: Average Rating Region 56.6 Scotland 60.3 Wales 62.0 North West 62.2 East Midlands 62.3 West Midlands 62.3 South West 62.6 East England 63.0 North East 63.3 East of England 63.8 South East 64.9 Greater London Tom Fry, head of data at Resonance, said: “The UK housing stock is still very much lacking when it comes to energy efficiency. 35 per cent of UK homes have very poor insulation which means they have little or no loft or wall insulation, or they still have single glazed windows.” “While this scheme will help benefit houses in England enormously, the research highlights that housing in Scotland and Wales is most in need of this type of grant, and the government now needs look at how it can help improve energy efficiency in these areas too.”
Landwood Group’s Commercial Asset Management division is expanding its headcount as it celebrates adding a leading health care provider to its books. The Manchester-based business have been instructed to manage Mental Health Care UK’s portfolio of over 30 sites across North Wales and the North West of England. MHC is one of the UK’s top 50 providers of support to individuals with learning disabilities, mental health issues, autism, and behaviours that challenge. Landwood will provide full asset and property management services, working closely with the on-site estates team to support MHC in “providing positive outcomes for people” across its residential and health care facilities. “We are delighted and proud to have been selected by MHC to provide Asset Management support for their care business. This draws upon our knowledge of the care sector, our asset management expertise and hands-on approach to property management and we are looking forward to working with the leadership team at MHC,” said Anna Main, Director and Head of Commercial Asset Management at Landwood. It comes as Landwood continues to grow its Commercial Asset Management team with two new recruits following a bumper 2020, which has seen them win a raft of high profile new instructions. Clients include Cervidae who have enlisted them to manage its One Didsbury Point office development in Manchester, Si One multi-let offices in St Ives on behalf of Cambridge Corporate properties, Eastbank Street in Southport, and two further mixed use schemes in Liverpool and Warrington. And to ensure they can continue to deliver the outstanding levels of service that have seen the business grow so quickly, Landwood are on the lookout for experienced Client Accountants to join them. “We’re immensely proud of our recent successes at Landwood. It shows that our determination to go above and beyond for each and every one of our clients is paying off. That’s why we’re on the lookout for the very best Client Accountants who will go that extra mile to deliver results,” concluded Anna Main.
National proptech company, MakeUrMove, has been recognised for its leading customer service with a prestigious award win for ‘Best Online Estate Agent’ at The ESTAS (The Estate Agent of the Year Awards). MakeUrMove focuses on providing a software solution for landlords, helping them to manage their properties effortlessly, and the company’s fantastic service, efficiency and expert advice resulted in the Proptech firm taking home the Gold award. The ceremony, which usually sees more than 1,000 guests attend each year, was held virtually and hosted by TV property personality, Phil Spencer. “As the longest-standing and fastest-growing landlord software platform, we’re delighted to have been recommended by our landlords for our fantastic service. Our technology is built around our landlord’s needs, so it really is an honour to be recognised as part of these esteemed awards, celebrating the greatest companies within our sector,” said Alexandra Morris, managing director of MakeUrMove. The ‘Best Online Estate Agent’ category, which is voted for by landlords, saw MakeUrMove shortlisted against HouseSimple. In 2019, MakeUrMove was awarded Silver in the same category. The ESTAS is the UK’s largest independent customer service feedback and awards platform for the residential property sector, and celebrates those property firms who deliver great customer service. MakeUrMove is a leading proptech company and the only platform of its kind aimed at landlords.
The first phase of the £650 million Island Quarter development, called Canal Turn, in Nottingham has been unveiled. Artists’ impressions of the long-derelict site include a three-storey pavilion on the water which features two restaurants, events space and a large rooftop terrace. Conygar also revealed a bandstand and significant amounts of public space. The webisode also included a new showcase video with Cllr David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, and chief executive of Conygar, Robert Ware. “Conygar has been working closely with the architects and design teams to develop these plans, not only for the first phase but also for the bigger site as well. The site will create a worldwide destination for Nottingham which will provide year-round interest and community facilities which can be used from dawn until dusk,” said Richard Watson, director of Conygar Nottingham who is overseeing development plans. Outline planning permission for the whole development was granted by Nottingham City Council in April 2019. The overall plans for the 40-acre site will bring new homes, grade A office space, creative spaces, lifestyle hotel with PRS and co-working space, a ‘linear’ park and community and event space as well as student accommodation to the city. “The layers of cultural and historic legacy of this site go on for decades if not centuries. What we’re producing is a pavilion that evokes the memory of the industrial and railway age – something which looks as if it’s a legacy element that’s been left on the quayside of a working canal and will blend with that history while providing incredibly up to date and current facilities for the future,” added James Dilley, director of architect Jestico+Whiles which has worked on Canal Turn. Paul Seddon, director of planning and regeneration at Nottingham City Council, also commented: “The Island Quarter has been vacant for far too long. It is part of our wider city centre – it’s very visible and has perhaps been a symbol of our city in previous years. This project is a significant part of the once-in-a-generation regeneration of Nottingham and as we move into challenging times, seeing this site progress over the next decade will be critical for the city.”
The Midlands must have no limits on its ambitions to develop “the goldmine” of the UK Central Hub, a project set to bring more than 70,000 jobs and £6 billion a year to the regional economy. The UK Central Hub is a 20-year project to connect and develop the area around Birmingham Airport, Jaguar Land Rover, the NEC, Birmingham International station and the coming HS2 Interchange station. Key components in The Hub’s development are the £350m redevelopment of Birmingham International, proposals for a £140m Metro link to North Solihull and Birmingham, and the Sprint express bus service which will eventually run to the centres of Birmingham and Solihull. UGC managing director Jonathan Bretheron said, fully realised, the site could create 70,000 jobs and add £6.2 billion a year to the Midlands’ economy. “The ambition is that The Hub will be more than just a transport node which people pass through: it will become a destination in its own right, a place which attracts world class investment and development. But if it’s to be all that we hope for we have to be optimistic, be excited and proud about the project – and push, push, push for the best outcome,” he added. Interest in The Hub has soared in recent days on the back of two announcements. One of them is Arden Cross, the 346-acre greenfield development site at the heart of the project, which announced a £3 billion masterplan that sets out ambitions to build six million sq ft of office space, creating and securing 27,000 jobs. Regional transport body Midlands Connect also revealed its £180 million Airport Connectivity rail improvement scheme. It would create hourly direct connections to Birmingham International and Coventry railway stations from Derby, Yorkshire and the North East, bringing in up to two million passengers a year.
Hard up Britons looking for a new line of work are being urged to invest in a van and overhaul their careers and job prospects. The vehicle experts at LeaseVan.co.uk have compiled a list of the businesses you can start from your van in a bid to encourage people to make the most of their vehicles and create new streams of income. Vans are commonly associated with builders, plumbers and other tradespeople but there are hundreds of different businesses you can start from your vehicle depending on your skills. Suggestions include furniture restoration, setting up your own cleaning business, becoming a mobile hairdresser or enjoying the outdoors and starting your own gardening firm. Also, depending on the type of business you’re running, it would be best to purchase a vehicle. It will be closely related to how frequently you put your hands to work. Decision to start business is an amazing choice. Especially considering the fact that you can buy college assignments and be immersed into the work of your choice. Once you’ve been dedicating enough time to your business, it might be the right time to move forward. Find here more vans for sale so you don’t miss the best deal for you. A spokesperson for LeaseVan.co.uk said: “Most people buy a van for labouring work but don’t think they’re just for tradespeople. A van is ideal for any business which requires driving to different places and lots of equipment. “There are hundreds of businesses you can start; it all depends on your interests and skills. Having a larger vehicle simply means more flexibility and options if you’re looking at working for yourself.” Here are LeaseVan.co.uk’s suggestions on businesses you can start from your van: Cleaning company If you love the look and feel of a super clean and tidy home, general domestic cleaning services would be a great focus. This could include more niche services like carpet cleaning, window cleaning or even pool cleaning, depending on your clientele. Targeting big business parks is another option, as many companies will outsource their office cleaning to small agencies. Your van will provide ample room for all your cleaning supplies and with some nice branding on the sides, could really help your business succeed. Painter/decorator For budding interiors experts, setting up your own painting and decorating company could be an enjoyable, fuss-free way of making money. Start by offering your new services to family and friends to build up some experience before taking to your van and extending your services further afield. It’ll be relatively low cost, too, and you can build up your inventory over time. Gardening Not everyone has the time to tend to their outside space so gardening could be the perfect job for green-fingered Brits. A van is ideal for transporting all the tools and equipment you need. Simply start working for a neighbour and work your way up to an empire. Dog walking Animal lovers might love nothing more than the idea of getting to take four-legged friends on mini-adventures day in, day out, so make this idea a reality by offering dog walking services in and around your local area. This business idea has one of the lowest start-up costs as all you’ll need is your van to pick up your canine chums, and lots of stamina! Remember to make sure you have all the correct insurances in place and your van is safely kitted out inside. Pet grooming Similarly, starting a pet grooming business might be another ideal for animal lovers, but this one requires more training, qualifications and a larger start-up cost. Certain dogs need regular haircuts with styles varying, and grooming depending on the breed, so you’ll need to receive some proper training in advance. Caterer Once you have all the equipment, certificates and licenses, you’ll be able to use your van to ship tasty feasts to the required location. Start small by offering buffet-style spreads before finding and developing your niche. Mobile hairdresser If you already have the relevant training, experience and work or have worked as a hairdresser in the past, going it alone as a mobile hairdresser could be the business venture for you, especially right now when everyone’s desperate for a trim. You’ll be able to stock your van with everything you need and take to the road to make every day a good hair day for your clients. Furniture restorer If furniture renovations are your thing, start making money out of it by commissioning restoration pieces to clients. You can find fantastic, cheap pieces of furniture in charity shops and second-hand stores which will fit into your van with ease, then you can jazz them up accordingly before delivering them to buyers.
The UK’s leading specialist sheet piling contractor, Sheet Piling (UK) Limited is in the process of once again setting the benchmark in its specialist field, to the benefit of all sectors of the construction industry. Having already shaken the sector up and provided new ways of managing sheet piling and infrastructure widening, following the introduction of its unique long-reach telescopic leader rig, the TM 12/15 LR in 2018, a second, even more powerful rig has been commissioned. This agile machine, created to bespoke specifications set by Sheet Piling UK, is set to arrive in the UK in August 2020. Sheet Piling (UK) has the full details under wraps at present but is promising to revolutionise sheet piling in the UK, with a rig with capabilities that are peerless. In the two years since the arrival of the TM 12/15, Sheet Piling (UK) has proven how the long reach rig can deliver massive savings to Tier-1 contractors, in terms of both time and money. The sheet piling specialist has been delivering such benefits on smart motorway emergency rescue area projects, on HS2 groundworks and on a variety of other projects. Whilst designed to optimise works where its long-reach capacities can come into their own, the TM 12/15 has proved to be equally effective when used in standard, rather than long-reach mode. The new and capability-enhanced rig, again commissioned from ABI GmbH in Germany, will be as useful on port and harbour, or commercial and domestic construction projects, as on road or rail infrastructure widening works. Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd’s managing director, Andrew Cotton, says: “Our new rig will surpass the TM 12/15 LR in a number of ways, to become the ultimate steel piling rig in the construction sector, with the TM 12/15 LR a close second. With these two rigs in our fleet, we will be able to deliver impressive financial and operational benefits to a wide variety of projects across the UK, making a tangible and irresistible difference to the cost control that Tier-1 contractors can achieve.” Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd is already booking in projects for this second long-reach rig and briefing contractors on a one-to-one basis when it comes to what it will be able to accomplish, when working in situ.
The proportion of UK small businesses predicting growth has almost doubled in just three months – from 14% to 27% – giving one of the first tangible indications that the Government’s easing of lockdown is having a positive impact on a key area of the UK economy. The quarterly tracking study by Hitachi Capital Business Finance goes beyond sentiment and confidence – it examines the percentage of small businesses that actually predict growth in the next three months. Following last quarter’s report, which saw the percentage of small business owners predicting growth plummeting from 39% to just 14%, the new findings show the highest quarter-on-quarter rise in five years. With 27% predicting growth overall, there were significant rises in the percentage of small businesses predicting moderate expansion the next three months (up from 10% to 23%) or no change (26% to 43%). This meant there has been a huge reduction in the percentage of businesses that fear contraction (down from 31% to 19%) or collapse in the next three months (down by almost two thirds from 29% to 11%). By sector, the IT/telecoms sector had the highest proportion of small businesses that predicted growth for the three months to 30th September (44%). The biggest rises in confidence since lockdown were evidenced in and transport and distribution (up from 8% to 34%) and manufacturing (9% to 30%), where the resurgence of growth forecasts was striking. There were also significant rises in sectors hardest hit by lockdown: In retail, the percentage of small businesses predicting growth rose from 21% to 27% – and in hospitality growth forecasts rose from 11% to 16% in the three months since April. The research also suggests that smaller, more agile enterprises will be the fastest to adapt to the UK’s re-emergence from lockdown: Small businesses that had been trading for less than five years (35%) and those that employed 10-49 employees (37%) were most likely to predict business growth for the next three months (to 30th September). Gavin Wraith-Carter, Managing Director at Hitachi Capital Business Finance commented: “The latest Hitachi Capital research findings are remarkable for both the scale and the speed of the revival in small business confidence. We knew last quarter that small business confidence would fall as lockdown started and the scale of the fall was a concern, particularly the steep rise in the number of business owners fearing for their survival. Our new research – just in – shows what an immediate and positive impact the easing of lockdown has had on the small business community. Whilst bigger businesses are having to adjust and adapt at a slower pace, small business confidence across the UK has bounced back and as the engine room of the British economy, today’s figures can give us confidence that small businesses will lead the nation’s effort to rebuild the economy and secure growth.”
The University of Manchester’s procurement process to find its development and investment partner for the £1.5 billion ID Manchester project has resumed. The search was paused in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the four highest scoring bidders having already been notified that they would be taken forward into the detailed dialogue stage. “The university is committed to the delivery of ID Manchester and our ambition to create the innovation capital of Europe is unwavering. Having paused, reviewed and reflected, we now have a way forward to resume the final stage of the selection process to find our joint venture partner,” said Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice-chancellor of The University of Manchester. The final partner selection will be made in the spring of 2021. “We look forward to beginning the detailed dialogue with the selected bidders. Pausing the process has allowed ourselves and the bidding teams space to deal with the immediate impact and challenges created by the pandemic. ID Manchester is an incredibly exciting project and we are looking forward to progressing to the next stage,” added Diana Hampson, director of estates and facilities at The University of Manchester. Since 2004, the university has contributed more than £746 million to the economy and it is on these foundations it seeks to build ID Manchester. ID Manchester has been earmarked as an engine for economic growth with the potential to create more than 6,000 jobs. The available development space is four million sq ft. it benefits from existing green space and the 650,000 sq ft Sackville Street Building.