Innovation initiative targets diversity-focussed companies in latest recruiting round to help drive development of UK SMEs Of the Innovation Accelerator’s third cohort, two of the five SMEs have female CEOs or founders, and three have BAME CEOs or founders HS2 Ltd has launched a new phase in the development of
The Concrete Centre’s annual student Structural Concrete competition, in partnership with Laing O’Rourke, has been won by Ashley Andersen from the University of Surrey. The 2021 competition challenge for teams of engineering students was to design a civic centre comprising a library and council offices in a new garden town in the north west
Faulty or overflowing septic tanks can be a horrible sight for homeowners. Usually, septic tanks are buried deep under the ground, and you’ll probably don’t even notice its presence until you see some unusual signs. There are a couple of signs that are associated with septic tank issues: Gurgling/Bubbling sounds
The decision means Godwin Developments has secured approval for 1000+ units this week following the approval of The Meridian in Sheffield. PLANS for the redevelopment of the former Royal Mail sorting office into a 692-bed student living development took a step forward today (Wednesday, 18th August) after members of the
WORK has advanced at Founders Yard, as Clegg Construction begins building a new ten storey build-to-rent (BTR) scheme on the site of the former Queens Hotel in Scotland Street, Sheffield. Developed by RISE Homes, the scheme comprises 229 one-and-two-bed furnished residential apartments as well as a handful of luxury two-bed duplex apartments. With
MAPP has been awarded B Corporation certification – the largest real estate consultancy in the UK to be recognised for its environmental and social performance. The company, which manages £13.2bn of commercial property across the UK, said the certification gives it a “formal framework” to continue pursuing its ESG agenda.
The projects will see the construction of a new 196,000 sq ft build to suit manufacturing facility for Stovax at a site in Exeter in addition to a 89,000 sq ft industrial distribution unit for Furniturebox at a site in Chippenham. Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the industrial,
INSPIRING DESIGNS for a new £21 million Northumberland leisure centre and library – which puts inclusivity, community pride, and connectivity at its heart – have been revealed by sports and leisure experts GT3 Architects as work gets underway on site. The design places the residents of Morpeth first, with the
Midlands property consultancy FHP has been shortlisted for ‘Agent of the Year’ at the annual East Midlands Property Dinner awards. Having advised on over £500m 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
ProperPR, the property specialist PR agency, are set to host a live, online event on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd September which will seek to gently probe representatives from Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market, Boomin and One Dome on a number of related questions. It will be a face to
Innovation initiative targets diversity-focussed companies in latest recruiting round to help drive development of UK SMEs Of the Innovation Accelerator’s third cohort, two of the five SMEs have female CEOs or founders, and three have BAME CEOs or founders HS2 Ltd has launched a new phase in the development of the UK’s SME tech sector with the opening to a third cohort of its successful Innovation Accelerator programme, delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult and Bruntwood SciTech. The company delivering Britain’s new high speed rail network took a conscious decision to reach new and diverse thinking by focusing on small digital and data technology firms and building strategic partnerships with diversity-focused entrepreneurial SMEs. Putting measures in place to champion equality, diversity and inclusion, such as assessing applications blind and anonymously, enabled HS2 to secure a diverse talent pool. As a result, two of the third cohort’s five SMEs have female CEOs or founders, and three have BAME CEOs or founders. HS2 Ltd Innovation Manager, Rob Cairns said: “With the third cohort intake we focused on reaching a diverse range of businesses who we believe can bring fresh thinking and a new perspective to our mission of reducing HS2’s carbon footprint and improving the health and safety of our teams, as well as the security of our worksites.” Entering the Accelerator in August, the five firms were chosen to develop techniques for designing carbon out from the railway and to monitor and improve site safety and security. As one of the most sustainable high speed railways in the world, HS2 will support the UK in making the transition to a net zero carbon economy. It has set a commitment to reduce the carbon impact of construction on the project by 50%, as well as delivering low carbon journeys and cutting carbon emissions from other forms of transport. The Innovation Accelerator’s new entrants are: Looper, established by Yiqiang Zhao, is developing cutting-edge technology that analyses designs to ensure that the plans and materials use the least-carbon intensive options. HS2 Ltd believes the technology can be refined on Phase One of the project and deployed across later phases. Looper’s founder, Yiqiang Zhao, said: “The HS2 Accelerator provides an ideal platform for us to further validate, fine-tune and embed our solution into the biggest infrastructure project in Europe. It’s a great opportunity for us to help HS2 contractors automate carbon tracking and calculations through the design and build. In the four months of the programme, we hope to secure a pilot project and seek fundraising.” MachineMax is developing technology to monitor and improve the operating efficiency of worksite plant and machinery. It will identify where assets are working below capacity in order to cut emissions, accelerate works programmes and reduce costs. A key feature of Machine Max’s software is that it is “agnostic”, meaning it can be used on any make of site equipment. MachineMax CEO Shweta Saxena said: “We are so excited to be in Cohort 3 of the HS2 Accelerator. It is a great opportunity to work with best in class professionals and be part of the innovation that will leave a legacy in the UK for years to come. Our goal is to integrate MachineMax across the HS2 digital ecosystem and connect the entirety of the fleet to monitor and improve on-site emissions and efficiency.” Tended, founded by Leo Scott Smith when he was aged 22, enters the Innovation Accelerator to develop wearable technology for worksite teams. It works to improve worksite safety practices with a buzz to alert the wearer to a potential risk. In addition, by feeding the risk alerts back to a central database, the programme can build a site map and identify if hotspots are occurring so that the repeated risk can be remedied. Tended founder Leo Scott Smith said: “We’re very excited to be working with HS2. We share the ambition to transform safety on site and set the standards for others to follow. Working with HS2, we believe that Tended’s blend of technological capability and deep understanding of human behaviour can revolutionise site safety for HS2 and its supply chain.” FYLD’s technology uses artificial intelligence, language processing and machine learning to inform site teams’ safety, quality and productivity decisions. The solution’s safety features include high-risk job alerts and proactive fatigue management. Equipping teams with these data-driven actionable insights delivers safer, more productive, and environmentally-friendly operations. FYLD CEO, Shelley Copsey said: “We are confident that as the UK accelerates the progress of one of the most exciting transport projects in Europe, our technology will have a transformative impact on field workers and rail businesses alike. We’re looking forward to collaborating with both HS2 Ltd and the other cohorts as part of this programme as we make an impact through increased efficiencies, improved health and safety, and a lower carbon footprint.” Sensing Feeling’s solution for de-risking construction sites uses advanced sensing software powered by computer vision and machine learning to detect how people, machines and vehicles behave in real-time. Founder Jag Minhas said: “We’re super-excited to be joining some really smart companies in bringing innovative technologies to HS2. We’re looking forward to working with potential ecosystem clients and cohort collaborators to accelerate the use of advanced sensing products to make places safer for workers and customers.”
The Concrete Centre’s annual student Structural Concrete competition, in partnership with Laing O’Rourke, has been won by Ashley Andersen from the University of Surrey. The 2021 competition challenge for teams of engineering students was to design a civic centre comprising a library and council offices in a new garden town in the north west of England. The client has requested bids from design-and-build contractors for the construction of the building and its maintenance over the next 30 years. One of these contractors has commissioned an initial design for the new building at Porchester New Town, from a firm of consulting engineers. Entrants must respond as though they are the structural engineer responsible within the consultant’s team. This year, The Concrete Centre held a virtual prize giving awards ceremony via webinar, which took place on Thursday 19 August 2021, where the winners were announced to all delegates. The online event celebrated the winner’s highlights and achievements along with their fellow entrants and the judges. The 2021 competition attracted entries from across UK schools of engineering and three prizes were awarded. First prize – University of Surrey Runners up – Salford University Sustainability Award – Salford University Jenny Burridge, judge and head of structural engineering at The Concrete Centre said “This year’s project was a five-storey civic building comprising a lower ground floor library and four floors of offices. The judges were pleased by the level of design knowledge shown in the entries and the work that had been done to understand the requirements of the brief.” Ashley Andersen from the University of Surrey impressed the judges with his very high standard submission that included exciting ‘tree’ columns in the library which framed rooflights to allow more daylight into the space. Ashley’s drawings were clear and well presented. Daniel Dickinson from the University of Salford came a close runner-up with his submission which included long span post-tensioned beams. Daniel was also awarded the sustainability prize for his report, which included an embodied carbon calculation. This was Daniel’s second year in the competition, having won last year. The brief for the next competition “Structural Concrete 2022” was also launched at the event and is to design a school building within an existing school development in the suburbs of a large UK city. More information can be found at http://www.concretecentre.com/competition
Faulty or overflowing septic tanks can be a horrible sight for homeowners. Usually, septic tanks are buried deep under the ground, and you’ll probably don’t even notice its presence until you see some unusual signs. There are a couple of signs that are associated with septic tank issues: Gurgling/Bubbling sounds coming from the plumbing system Damp area or standing water near the septic tank Toilet not flushing properly Foul smell near your lawn or from the drains Water draining slowly or backing up All these signs indicate there is some problem with your septic tank, and it needs prompt action. It’s a signal that your septic tank needs urgent maintenance or repairs. But do you know why such a situation arises? Let’s explore some of the common septic tank issues and how you can solve them? Common Septic Tank Issues And Their Solutions Ground Movement Even the slightest ground movement can put considerable pressure on the septic tank. This can cause cracks or even fractures in the walls, causing a set of problems such as Backing up in your septic tank Your septic tank needs need to be emptied more often The tank will fail to separate liquid from solid waste Ultimately, there is no way out than replacing the septic tank in a ground movement. Tree Root Damage Septic tanks are wet places that attract nearby shrubs or plants to go through the tank’s walls. As the plants grow over time, the roots get stronger, causing cracks and damage to the tank. The infiltrated roots not only block the pipes leading to the property but prevent the tank from working properly. The root damage will let the liquids from the tank escape and water from the ground to get in. You can get the roots removed by performing a septic tank and pipe cleaning. Root infiltration can be prevented by installing newer, plastic pipes capable of withstanding damage from roots. Also, you can treat your lines with root growth inhibitors to prevent root growth. Collapsed Baffle A baffle is like a barricade within the septic tank that stops the solids from escaping into the soakaway system. Yoursoakaway system allows the dirty water from the septic tank to percolate through the soil around it. This is a kind of treatment for the wastewater as it is dispersed into the surrounding soils to prevent any nasty smells. A collapsed baffle is a serious situation as it allows the solids to enter into the soakaway system and stop the treatment from happening. You can see the collapsed baffle by peeking into the septic tank. If your septic tank baffle is lost or damaged, it can be refitted to prevent the solids from flowing to the soakaway system. Damaged Dip Pipe A dip pipe has the same function as a dip pipe. Depending upon the design of the septic tank, you will either have dip pipes or baffle, or both. It makes sure that the waste gets separated and the dirty water flows into the soakaway system. If you notice it at the base of the septic tank, you need to get it repaired. As mentioned earlier, if the solid waste enters the soakaway system, it backs into the house. It can be solved by lining inside of the tank, making it watertight, or refitting the dip pipe. Old Septic Tank Septic tanks can be as old as 100 years and may not fit into the requirements of modern houses. For example, they might not have dip pipes and have a single instead of double chamber structure. Such old septic tanks might start giving problems to the new homeowners. Also, the soakaway systems might not work after some time, causing problems. When the tank is too old, then it’s better to get it replaced than repaired. Lack Of Maintenance Your septic tank must get cleaned every year. For a 1,000-gallon septic tank, you can do it every 4-5 years. You can get it cleaned by calling a professional plumber who can pump, empty, clean your tank and do the essential maintenance and repairs. Understand that you can’t do the septic tank repairs yourself and seek professional help. Check out the local plumbing services in your area and schedule an inspection so that they can figure out the actual septic tank issue and give you appropriate solutions. It is advisable that you only call a licensed and insured plumbing service as installing a septic tank or soakaway or fixing them is a complex task that can only be done by an experienced professional.
The decision means Godwin Developments has secured approval for 1000+ units this week following the approval of The Meridian in Sheffield. PLANS for the redevelopment of the former Royal Mail sorting office into a 692-bed student living development took a step forward today (Wednesday, 18th August) after members of the Nottingham City Council planning committee resolved to grant planning permission for Godwin Development’s proposals for the Bendigo Building. The decision was made subject to clarification of further design details. The scheme will see the currently disused property – which has been vacant for nearly 20 years – demolished and replaced with purpose build student accommodation (PBSA), which will provide new high-quality, contemporary living spaces for students in the city. The development – which is situated less than half a mile from Nottingham Trent University – will consist of a mix of modern studio apartments, four, five and six-bedroom clusters and accessible studio rooms. The scheme will also incorporate a range of indoor amenities such as two receptions, a spacious residents lounge, gym, study and games rooms, as well as a fully landscaped courtyard garden with outdoor seating, recreational and outdoor exercise equipment, 6 car parking and 312 cycle storage spaces. Two commercial units, located on the ground floor, will also provide an additional amenity for residents and the neighbouring community. Matt Chandler, development director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have received the resolution to grant planning approval from Nottingham City Council for our proposals, which will transform this eye-sore of a building into a thriving student hub. “With unmet demand of over 7,000 student beds in the city and the number of undergraduates rising as both universities continue their expansion plans, there is a clear requirement for more dedicated student spaces where young people can live, study, and socialise together. Our plans will not only cater to this demand but also support the Council’s ambitions to keep the city centre vibrant, house students better, and protect further traditional family housing from being converted for student occupation.” “The Bendigo Building will also bring a substantial amount of investment, attracting £234 million of economic activity to Nottingham and the region in the form of construction, employment and discretional spend. Other community benefits will include a large contribution towards open spaces as well as employment and training, improvement of public realm and safety.” “We would like to thank Nottingham City Council’s planning team for their support of the scheme, as well as our partners – architects RG+P, planning consultants P&DG and engineering business HSP Consulting – for their work to-date.” The Bendigo Building is conveniently positioned within easy walking distance of Nottingham city centre, Sneinton Market, Nottingham Trent University and the main food and entertainment quarter, with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham train station also readily accessible via public transport. The scheme has been designed with sustainability in mind and contains features, such as air source heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) roof panels and an energy efficient building fabric. It promotes greener ways of travel in and around the city, supporting cleaner air and reducing traffic congestion in the area. Once underway the Bendigo Building will create around 300 jobs during the construction phase – and 40 full-time positions when fully operational. James Mulcare, Head of Residential Capital Markets at Godwin Developments, said: “In recent years, Nottingham has cemented itself into a major higher education destination. The city attracts nearly 80% of its full-time students from the UK, making it resilient to fluctuations in international student demand. “As vaccination rates across the country continue to rise and young people seek to return to face-to-face learning and socialising, the need for purpose-built student accommodation will continue to grow – and with it a strong interest from investors across the globe. “We are confident that the Bendigo Building with its prominent location and high amenities provision will be popular with young people and will deliver attractive long-term returns to investors seeking to capitalise on the strong local PBSA market.” For further information on Godwin Developments, visit https://www.godwingroup.co.uk/developments/.
WORK has advanced at Founders Yard, as Clegg Construction begins building a new ten storey build-to-rent (BTR) scheme on the site of the former Queens Hotel in Scotland Street, Sheffield. Developed by RISE Homes, the scheme comprises 229 one-and-two-bed furnished residential apartments as well as a handful of luxury two-bed duplex apartments. With resident’s lifestyles in mind, Founders Yard is set to feature extensive indoor and outdoor amenity areas. This will include a rooftop garden, external courtyard, lounge, workstations for remote working, a bookable meeting room that doubles as a movie room plus a basement car park. The scheme also prioritises sustainable solutions and will integrate innovative renewable energy with a biomass district heating system that will give residents the benefit of low cost, efficient heating and hot water from a renewable source. Stephen Brown, contract manager at Clegg Construction, said: “This scheme is a real jewel in the crown for city centre BTR schemes, particularly in Sheffield, as it will have some incredible facilities on offer – so I have no doubt it will be incredibly popular with prospective renters. “This project is also set to be really interesting to build. It’s located on a difficult site, with the topography requiring significant retaining structures to be constructed, as well as building out the underground car park. However, we’re always up for a challenge and the team is really enjoying pushing forwards and seeing progress begin.” Located to the north of the city, Founders Yard is within walking distance of Sheffield’s vibrant city centre and great transport links. The project is being delivered for RISE Homes, a top residential property developer that specialises in high-quality rental accommodation. The firm is a leader in the development of sustainable buildings, incorporating renewable features such as PV panels, battery storage, living walls, zinc roofs and several distinct heating systems across its developments. Furthermore, its Tribe Apartments scheme, which completed in 2015, achieved BREEAM outstanding – winning the global award for a residential scheme from the industry body. Nigel Rawlings, chief executive officer at RISE Homes, said: “Clegg Construction has a proven track record of working on high quality residential schemes and we’re delighted to be partnering with the team to deliver Founders Yard. “The Sheffield development compliments our high quality completed schemes in Manchester, Stockport, and Coventry as well as our schemes on site or with planning in Wolverhampton, Manchester and Leeds. We’re therefore very much looking forward to seeing the project come to life and reach the next milestone.” Following successful planning consent at the end of last year, construction work is well underway and is due to complete in early 2023. For more information about Clegg Construction, please visit cleggconstruction.co.uk and for further details on RISE Homes or Founders Yard head to: risehomes.co.uk/developments/foundersyard
MAPP has been awarded B Corporation certification – the largest real estate consultancy in the UK to be recognised for its environmental and social performance. The company, which manages £13.2bn of commercial property across the UK, said the certification gives it a “formal framework” to continue pursuing its ESG agenda. Few property companies in the UK have received B Corp status, which involves scrutiny over a company’s operations across five areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers. MAPP implemented several measures as part of the certification process, including the total abolition of zero hours contracts, increased diversity and inclusion, financial coaching for employees, “market leading” maternity policies and the opportunity to lease electric or hybrid cars. To qualify, businesses have to complete the B Impact Assessment, which evaluates how the company interacts with workers, customers, community and the environment, before sharing confidential documentation to validate the responses. Companies have to update their assessment every three years to maintain their certification. Besides MAPP, the only property management or investment companies in the UK with B Corp status are TSP, FORE Partnership, Newcore Capital Management and igloo Regeneration. A number of coworking operators have also been certified: The Hub Kings Cross, ARK and x+why, eOffice. Nigel Mapp, CEO of MAPP, said: “Since our inception 23 years ago, being a force for good and making a meaningful contribution to our communities has been in the company’s DNA. “There is an authentic correlation between the principles of B Corporation and the practices and standards we aspire to, so pursuing this accreditation felt like a natural progression in the MAPP story. “Becoming part of the B Corporation movement is the beginning of a new chapter. It provides us with the formal framework to continue to push the boundaries with how we deliver, measure and assess the impact we have with our people, partners, the community and environment, while empowering us to build on our progress and do even better.”
The projects will see the construction of a new 196,000 sq ft build to suit manufacturing facility for Stovax at a site in Exeter in addition to a 89,000 sq ft industrial distribution unit for Furniturebox at a site in Chippenham. Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the industrial, logistics, distribution, manufacturing, life science and pharmaceutical sectors has today announced that it has been awarded two new project instructions by logistics and industrial specialist St. Modwen Logistics at strategic development sites in Exeter and Chippenham. At the site in Exeter within St Modwen’s Skypark Development in Clyst Honiton, Glencar will construct a 196,000 sq ft build to suit manufacturing facility for Stovax – the UK’s largest stove and fireplace producer. In addition to the base build works Glencar will undertake Cat A and Cat B fit out together with associated external works. At the site at St Modwen Park in Chippenham, Glencar will undertake the construction of a single unit of 89,000 sq ft of industrial distribution and storage space, complete with integral offices, internal plant deck and associated external works for online furniture specialist Furniturebox. Both projects are due to commence shortly and be completed during Q2 2021. Speaking about the double appointment Glencar Managing Director Eddie McGillycuddy said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive our first, inaugural double project instruction from leading industrial and logistics specialist St. Modwen Logistics to construct two new build to suit projects at key sites within their expanding U.K. portfolio. Glencar is widely recognised as an expert in the construction of high quality and bespoke industrial and logistics facilities and we look forward to working with the project teams on each development to deliver to the standard our customers have come to expect.” Also talking about the projects Steven Smith Construction Director St. Modwen Logistics said “We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming Stovax and Furniturebox to two of our most high-profile developments in Exeter and Chippenham respectively. We are pleased to award the contract to build both developments (built to suit) to Glencar who presented an excellent set of credentials and who come with a very strong pedigree. We look forward to working with them and the broader project team and delivering each building to the customers exacting specification” So far this year, Glencar has been instructed upon new projects in excess of £175M for new and existing customers across the industrial, logistics, manufacturing, retail, mixed use and pharmaceutical sectors including various base build, refurbishment and fit-out instructions.
INSPIRING DESIGNS for a new £21 million Northumberland leisure centre and library – which puts inclusivity, community pride, and connectivity at its heart – have been revealed by sports and leisure experts GT3 Architects as work gets underway on site. The design places the residents of Morpeth first, with the practice consulting key groups through workshops and VR sessions to reach a design solution that truly meets their needs. The key themes – connecting the high street, creating local pride for the centre, and offering a diverse range of uses – were developed and incorporated into the design to create a hub where leisure meets learning. The state-of-the-art scheme combines leisure facilities with a comprehensive library and learning suite to suit Morpeth’s diverse community. Paul Reed, associate director at GT3 Architects, said: “Inclusivity is at the heart of this project and it was so important to us that the leisure centre’s new facilities were designed to be integrated and connected to the town centre. “We really enjoyed hosting workshops, presentations, and VR sessions with stakeholders from the library, adult learning, and community groups to really get to know the people of Morpeth to deliver exactly what they need. “During these workshops we discovered the importance of the three key themes of inclusivity, community pride, and connectivity. The design therefore extends to the high street through a series of stepping-stones that figuratively and literally integrate and connect to the town centre ensuring inclusivity and accessibility. The town also has a strong identity, so we wanted to capture that pride and nod to the town’s ‘living amongst woods and streams’ motto. “The result was an accessible and community-focused design, with people at its heart, and we can’t wait to see the finished development. The facility is set to include a new two-storey library, customer services and adult learning classrooms as well as a six-lane 25m swimming pool with spectator gallery, a learner pool, spa facilities, a four-court sports hall, a new 100 station fitness suite, a dedicated spinning studio, a soft play area and a café that is open to the public. The scheme is funded by Northumberland County Council. Jeff Watson, Northumberland county councillor and cabinet member for healthy lifestyles, said: “The new centre will be a real asset for the town and a wonderful place with great facilities for residents and visitors to enjoy for many years to come.” The scheme will provide 550m2 of library space, including a group room, poetry corner, and children’s library, as well as 450m2 of learning space with five flexible classrooms, offices, and tutorial spaces. The centre will be located at Gas House Lane with a new library garden addressing the river from its north bank sat amongst the existing mature trees. For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects
Midlands property consultancy FHP has been shortlisted for ‘Agent of the Year’ at the annual East Midlands Property Dinner awards. Having advised on over £500m 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. David Hargreaves, director at FHP Property Consultants, said: “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. “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.
ProperPR, the property specialist PR agency, are set to host a live, online event on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd September which will seek to gently probe representatives from Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market, Boomin and One Dome on a number of related questions. It will be a face to face ‘Question Time’ style event broadcast live on the Unissu platform and available to watch back thereafter. It’s hoped that the outcome will be a frank and constructive exchange of views on what a portal really offers to their estate agency customers and to consumers; what the future holds in terms of innovation and technology features; and where the portal and agent relationship will look like in say five years’ time. The same as now? Better? Or worse? Co-founder of property PR specialists ProperPR and organiser, Russell Quirk, says “Senior representatives of each of the top five property portals have all been invited to this important event and most have confirmed their attendance. This will be no Punch and Judy show – but instead a reasoned debate amongst the sector’s main players to probe their business model, their success and their overall approach to property search. We’ll ask how they think about agents and consumers and where the future lies for them and their stakeholders’. ‘We will be asking grown up questions, the type of questions that the estate agency industry would like clarification on and not least how the relationship between portals and agents is likely to develop in the coming years. Given the enormity of the portal space now, with its value at close to £10bn, this is an opportunity for the property portals to sell themselves and to justify their propositions and indeed their value”. Russell asks “If agents have specific questions that they would like asked and answered, email me at russell@ProperPR.co.uk for consideration. There will also be a live chat facility during the session where the digital audience can pose questions”. You can sign up to the FREE event on the Unissu Events platform here