Works start on Lincolnshire charity’s new HQ project
Works have now started on new premises for charity Naomi’s Garden following a team of construction partners coming together to offer free labour and materials at cost price.
Louth-based Naomi’s Garden provides conductive education to families who have loved ones with movement disorders, such as Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s, Dyspraxia and Motor Delay, as well as conditions including Autism, ADHD, sensory processing and genetic disorders and Long Covid.
Having outgrown its current centre – which limited the number of families it could support – the small team of therapists at the charity raised enough funds to secure a new building, however funds are still needed to complete the purchase and to renovate it to make it fit for purpose.
Landscape architecture practice, Influence Landscape Planning & Design, stepped in to support Naomi’s Garden by bringing together construction and professional services partners to move the project forward.
Internal works have now officially begun by Lincolnshire firm GBM Demolition, who are stripping out and widening door frames.
As previously reported, East Midlands-based construction partners who have committed to providing services are Influence, contractor G F Tomlinson, project manager and quantity surveyor Gleeds, solicitor Knights, and A + G Architects.
New to the project are commercial fit-out company APSS, glazer Tradeglaze, GRS Electrical, retailer B&Q Louth, and West Lindsey Landscapes. The charity is still hoping to find a drainage, heating, and M&E partner.
The new centre, located on Manby Park in Louth, was previously a motorcycle shop and needs extensive internal and external works to make it suitable for the charity to deliver its life changing services.
The construction partners will be working together to completely transform the building, with works including internal strip out, raising floors, installing ramps, new windows and doors, complete interior decoration, and landscaping to the exterior.
If enough money is raised, which is approximately £150,000, Naomi’s Garden’s new centre should be complete at the end of this year and welcoming families in early 2025.
When complete, the new centre will enable the charity to extend its working hours, provide group sessions and create a dynamic learning environment for all – no matter what their disability, resulting in supporting many more adults and children each year.
Managing director of Influence Landscape Planning and Design, Sara Boland, who lives in Louth, contacted Naomi’s Garden during the pandemic after having read about its plight and initially offered to help by providing landscaping services. That conversation continued to Sara offering to bring together a team of willing partners to deliver the works.
Sara said: “It’s been a real journey to get to this stage. This small charity worked incredibly hard to get to this position and through sheer grit and determination, the new centre they so desperately need is now in sight.
“A really big thank you to the companies which have supported us to date. What we are creating will positively impact so many lives and with these sort of services limited across the country, will offer more Lincolnshire and East Midlands-based families hope.
“Fundraising continues while the construction team and I focus on finding new partners and getting the work done. Any offers of help toward the project, no matter the size, are always welcome.”
Sarah-Jayne Walker, lead conductor at Naomi’s Garden, said: “As a small charity, we are overwhelmed by the kindness of local businesses who have come alongside us to help create Naomi’s Garden’s permanent home.
“Teamed with the fundraising efforts of our community we have started to see the transformation take place. We, as trustees, are beyond grateful as we continue to build on Naomi’s Legacy. Here’s to the next stages!”
Retailer B&Q at Louth recently chose the charity for its volunteering community day. At the end of October volunteers from the store spent a day creating some of the outside spaces, which included planting hedging, bulbs, hanging baskets, raised beds and clearing pathways. The retailer also donated £1,000 worth of B&Q materials which were needed for the day.
West Lindsey Landscapes were also present, preparing and digging the ground for the hedging which they kindly donated. B&Q and West Lindsey Landscapes have transformed the external areas of the new centre.
Naomi’s Garden has a SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) specialist who works with the needs of children with autism, ADHD and sensory processing issues, and with the help of Lincolnshire County Council, also provides free school holiday provision services including free healthy meals and enriching activities.
To make a donation towards Naomi’s Garden’s new centre, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/naomis-gardens-big-move?utm_campaign=p_nacp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
Finance For Enterprise announces double appointments
Finance For Enterprise (FFE) has appointed Adele Wells as Credit Manager and Andy Christiansen as Senior Business Lending Manager, as part of its continued growth and commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK.
Adele Wells brings an impressive career with Yorkshire Bank to her new role as Credit Manager at FFE. During her time at Yorkshire Bank, Adele rose through the ranks, starting as a Cashier and eventually leading the Business Credit underwriting team.
Her extensive experience in credit underwriting, business lending, and leadership will be instrumental in her new role, where she will assess loan applications of up to £250,000 to help support FFE’s SME clients.
In his new role, Andy will focus on delivering essential working capital solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular emphasis on supporting businesses across London and the Southeast.
Andy brings with him a diverse professional background. He began his finance career in the banking sector, gaining valuable experience in understanding the financial needs of businesses. Prior to entering the world of finance, Andy worked in the travel industry, local government, and education, offering him a unique perspective on different sectors.
Commenting on her decision to join FFE, Adele said: “I was drawn to Finance For Enterprise after discovering its strong company values and ethos. Moving from a large corporation to a niche lender offers an exciting new challenge, and I’m eager to contribute my skills to support SMEs.”
Andy said: “FFE’s commitment to supporting businesses and the welcoming nature of the South Yorkshire team made joining the business an easy decision. I’m excited to play a part in helping SMEs access the capital they need to thrive.”
Andrew Austwick, Managing Director at FFE, said: “We are excited to welcome Adele and Andy to the team. Their wealth of experience and dedication will be invaluable in supporting business growth across the region and helping SMEs navigate their financial challenges.”
Harleyford Capital to upgrade Sheffield trade scheme
Harleyford Logistics Partnership, the joint venture between Tristan Capital Partners and Harleyford Capital, is to reposition part of the recently completed estate on Greenland Road in Sheffield.
As one of the premier trade parks in the region, rebranded as Sheffield Trade Park, it offers rare opportunities for more occupiers to take space.
Harleyford Capital has already commenced a programme of works to enhance roadside visibility, with landscaping improvements, larger signage zones and large illuminated totem signage alongside other on-site changes.
The highly prominent scheme enjoys substantial high profile frontage to the busy A6102 Greenland Road, with over 29,000 vehicles passing daily, and is already home to Costa Coffee, Wolseley, Formula One, Auto Windscreens and Headlam Flooring. Destination operators such as Edmundson Electrical, Kwik-Fit, Lidl, McDonalds and Shell PFS are also close by.
Four additional trade units, capable of accommodating requirements from 3,031 to 12,334 sq ft, are available on the scheme with Knight Frank and Ogle Property appointed by Harleyford to market the scheme to national and regional operators, post upgrade and rebranding.
Thomas Mallindine, on behalf of the Harleyford Logistics Partnership, said: “Sheffield is the sixth largest city in the UK and is a key target location for our investment strategy. The high quality space at Sheffield Trade Park means we have already seen strong occupier interest in the few units available.”
Harry Orwin-Allen, Associate at Knight Frank in Sheffield, added: “Sheffield Trade Park offers best in class trade accommodation based in a prime location with fantastic links to Sheffield City Centre, Meadowhall and the M1 Motorway, all within seven minutes journey time.
“The units have been designed to a high specification with trade occupiers in mind offering flexible floor plates, 8 metre eaves, ground level full height loading doors, generous dedicated car parking, excellent road frontage to Greenland Road and strong environmental credentials with remaining units having EPC A and BREEAM ‘Very Good’.”
Alfred Bartlett of Ogle Property also commented: “The scheme already possesses all the attributes sought by trade operators. The proposed works should reposition the park as one of the premier trade schemes in the region, that will appeal to both regional and national trades not already represented on the park, and to operators seeking additional representation in Sheffield.”
Leeds period building welcomes five new firms following major refurbishment
Five businesses spanning accountancy to healthcare can now call No.1 King Street in the heart of Leeds city centre their home, after the Victorian building underwent a significant refurbishment.
Strategic property and construction advisors, Fox Lloyd Jones and joint agents WSB have received high levels of interest in the contemporary workspace spanning 14,118 sq ft in total across lower ground, ground and three upper floors, situated in the professional district of Leeds on the corner of King Street and Wellington Street.
The five firms acquiring offices to take advantage of its prominent location and open plan working environment are chartered surveyors Walker Singleton, Aysgarth Chartered Accountants, engineering consultants Joseph Gallagher, sleep aid app developer Sleepiest, and law firm Ison Harrison Solicitors, who have expanded from the neighbouring building.
No.1 King Street has a rich historical legacy, with the building originally a textile warehouse before transitioning in the mid-20th century to accommodate a broader mix of businesses. The major refurbishment works recently completed include enhancing the façade, the introduction of a new main entrance and a Category A refurbishment of the office suites.
Matthew Welsh, owner of No. 1 King Steet, said: “We’re delighted to welcome five businesses of this calibre to No. 1 King Street, following the hard work and investment that has gone into completing a refurbishment on this scale.
“We feel we’ve created a vibrant working space that will immediately meet their needs, whether that’s needing to accommodate increased staff levels due to recent expansion through to accelerating growth plans in a more central location in Leeds.”
Harry Finney, associate director at Fox Lloyd Jones, said: “The number of deals transacted in such a short space of time is testament to the quality of the refurbishment.
“The building is perfectly positioned on the corner of King Street and Wellington Street with demand for high quality workspace particularly strong in this area of the city and we are delighted to have the building now 90% let. We look forward to seeing all five businesses thrive in their new working environment.”
Cosmetic Repair Company sold to property services group
Sam Moore, Managing Director of Cosmetic Repair Company (Northern) (CRC), envisages a bright future as part of integrated property services company MA Group after selling 76% of the business’s share capital.
Based in Halifax, CRC, which began trading in 2016, provides a wide range of specialist property cosmetic services including damage repairs; brick and stone tinting and cleaning; UPVC, wood and aluminium spraying; and mastic sealant services.
Operating in sectors which include housebuilding, general construction, commercial and retail buildings, and hotel and leisure, CRC will enhance the range of products and services MA Group can provide to insurers and their intermediaries, housebuilders, housing associations and build-to-rent specialists.
KBS Corporate was instructed on a sale of the company in line with Sam’s aspirational plans to push major growth, and for CRC to become a leading operator in its industry throughout the UK.
In a speedily executed transaction, led by Jacob Lord, KBS Corporate Deal Executive, a sale to MA Group was facilitated – and Sam is remaining involved in the business with strikingly positive plans to continue scaling and developing CRC.
“I’m really looking forward to joining the MA Group team and to fulfilling the growth plans for CRC,” said Sam. “The company will now have the infrastructure to execute services for our clients at a higher level with the assistance and help of a wider group.
“These are very encouraging times for CRC and I’m excited about what the future will bring as part of the MA Group. I’d like to thank everyone who has helped with the transition and we are all looking forward to building on the success so far.”
MA Group, based in Aylesbury, has been trading since 1996 and is among the UK’s market leaders in its field, managing over 200 suppliers (building contractors, surveyors, specialist contractors and disaster restoration branches) nationwide, project-managing tens of thousands of claims each year.
Paul Hayman, CEO of MA Group, said: “I’m delighted that we have completed this acquisition, bringing more scale, technical expertise and excellence to MA Group.
“Our continued expansion into surface repairs complements our existing services and will bring more benefits to our clients and their customers.
“We are excited to build a nationwide surface-repair solution in a fragmented industry. We look forward to bringing the same market-leading changes to the surface repair industry that we have brought to the restoration industry.”
Jacob Lord praised the work of his KBS Corporate colleagues Carmen Wong (Document Writer) and Julia Gorska (Research Analyst) for helping to enable the transaction to be completed within six weeks of the initial Heads of Terms being signed.
“The marketing documents were well prepared by Carmen and the buyer introduced by Julia,” explained Jacob. “MA Group were among the first buyers introduced as a result of Julia’s research efforts. We were quickly into negotiations following positive meetings.
“MA Group were very impressed by what Sam had built. Sam’s ongoing role in the business was of vital interest as they recognised his talent and drive early in the discussions.
“Sam has been a pleasure to deal with from start to finish – a very motivated and driven individual, which was ideal in this collaborative process. The buyers were also very professional, moved quickly, had the right people involved and focused on the aspects of the deal that mattered.”
Jacob also expressed thanks to Richard Coulthard of the Ison Harrison law firm for the “exceptional job” he did in maintaining Sam’s best interests throughout the transaction.
Leeds co-living scheme given the green light
Leeds City Council has approved Watkin Jones’ plans for the conversion and re-purposing of Headrow House at 42 The Headrow, into 230 co-living homes.
Headrow House is a vacant office block in the centre of Leeds. When completed in 2028, the project will deliver a supported communal living environment, offering managed homes for city centre living and will help to address the demand for rental accommodation that continues to outstrip supply in Leeds.
The project is a prime opportunity to restore and repurpose an historic building and contribute to the regeneration of vacant buildings in the city centre. The scheme will retain retail units on the ground floor, helping to support local residents and businesses and Headrow House will only be a short walk from popular restaurants and shopping centres.
The co-living design supports the Group’s ESG strategy, emphasising reuse and energy efficiency, and attaining BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification. The retrofit enhances thermal efficiency and air permeability, with electric heating for net zero carbon, energy-efficient windows, and air source heat pumps.
Photovoltaic panels, efficient lighting, and energy-saving controls will optimise performance. By reusing the building, the scheme will reduce embodied carbon by 78% and Watkin Jones will use sustainable landscaping throughout.
Importantly, the design will serve evolving residents’ needs and will include many social benefits. Headrow House will offer its occupiers a gym, shared kitchens and dining areas, a cinema, co-working lounge, library, laundry room and bicycle parking in addition to personal storage rooms.
Iain Smith, Planning Director at Watkin Jones, said: “We are very excited to announce planning approval for Headrow House, our first co-living project in Leeds. Ranked the third largest city by population in the UK, Leeds is a vital commercial and residential centre, and we are committed to providing high-quality, sustainable co-living accommodation that will help to address the on-going demand for rental homes in Leeds city centre.
“We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with Leeds City Council and our local communities to address this growing demand, while also supporting our ESG targets as a business.”
Austrian Ambassador visits Siemens’ Goole rail village
Austrian Ambassador to the UK Bernhard Wrabetz has visited Siemens Mobility’s state-of-the-art Rail Village in Goole.
He said he was looking forward to riding on the London Underground’s new Piccadilly Line trains being built there, 80% of which were being built there, with the first 20% coming from Vienna.
He said: “Thank you for the opportunity to visit the Siemens Mobility manufacturing plant and supply chain Rail Village in Goole where the new fleet of London Underground Piccadilly line trains are being built. The first of these trains were manufactured and tested by Siemens in Vienna, with the remainder to be completed at Siemens’ new facility here in Goole.
“I am looking forward to riding on the new trains, knowing that the cooperation between the Siemens teams in Austria and the UK are making journeys on the London Underground smoother and more energy efficient.”
Sambit Banerjee, Joint CEO at Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland, said: “We were incredibly honoured to welcome the Austrian Ambassador, His Excellency Bernhard Wrabetz, to our Rail Village in Goole. It was fantastic to see his enthusiasm for our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, where 80% of the new Piccadilly line trains will be assembled, complimenting the first 20% that are being produced in Vienna.
“It was a pleasure to share the progress of the Goole Rail Village with the Ambassador and demonstrate how our facility continues to set the standards for British train manufacturing. We are proud to contribute to Britain’s rail network with the support of our skilled team, both here in Goole and across the UK. This visit provided an excellent opportunity to showcase our commitment to the rail industry, our mission to transform rail travel and transport as well as the substantial economic benefits our investment will bring to the East Riding of Yorkshire.”
The visit comes only weeks after the official opening of the Goole Train Manufacturing Facility on 3 October. The Ambassador was taken on an in-depth tour of the site where Siemens Mobility recently announced a new investment of up to £40 million, in addition to the initial investment of up to £200 million in the Goole Rail Village.
South Holland celebrates business successes
More than 250 businesspeople gathered at Springfields Conference and Events Centre in Spalding for this year’s South Holland Business Awards.
Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce Chief Exec Simon Beardsley said: “South Holland is brimming with talent and exceptional service, and these awards are a chance to highlight and celebrate the outstanding work being done here. We are proud to offer a platform for businesses to showcase their achievements and success.
“A huge thank you to our headline sponsor, FreshLink Bulk, for their invaluable support. This event wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of all our sponsors, and we’re excited to continue this journey with you in the future.”
TED Talk speaker and creator of the ‘Share a Coke’ campaign, Richard Askam, hosted the event, guiding guests through the categories and revealing the winners.
Award winners:
Business of the Year – sponsored by Woodhouse Farm Hotel & Spa: PSP IT
Businessperson of the Year – sponsored by South Holland District Council: Reinhard Biehler
Business Innovation of the Year – sponsored by Lincolnshire Field Products: Contained Technologies Ltd
Excellence in Customer Care – sponsored by Calthrops Solicitors LLP: The Woodlands Hotel
Food, Drink and Farming Business of the Year – S.E.L to the World (HM Government, Midlands Engine and The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership): Worldwide Fruit
Small Business of the Year – sponsored by Charmed Interiors: Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre
Supporting the Community – sponsored by Lightspeed Broadband: PSP IT
Young Achiever of the Year – sponsored by the University Academy Holbeach: Wiktoria Koscielniak & Daniel Nieuwenhuizen
Lifetime Achievement: David Norton
Sponsors were: FreshLinc Bulk, Charmed Interiors, Woodhouse Farm Hotel & Spa, South Holland District Council, S.E.L to the World (HM Government, Midlands Engine and The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership), University Academy Holbeach, Lincolnshire Field Products, Calthrops Solicitors, Americold, Seagate Homes, Lightspeed Broadband, Quince Contracting Services, Davis-Wright Haulage Ltd.
Trio of Lincolnshire firms named amongst nation’s ‘most impressive’
Three companies from Lincolnshire have been named amongst the nation’s 100 most impressive small firms by the Small Business Saturday UK campaign, kicking off a wider call to encourage public support for small businesses.
They are Business Bollox, Reuseabox, and Stewton Stars Hideaway. Business Bollox is a specialist marketing strategy consultancy for B2B SMEs, founded by Emma Easton in 2020 after Covid redundancy. It helps small business create solid strategic foundations, while also mentoring for early career marketers, lecturing and keynote presentations.
Reuseabox is a B Corp certified circular economy packaging company that encourages businesses to reuse cardboard boxes because it is better for the planet and your bottom line. The company was founded by Jack Good in 2015 shortly after he left school and in just 9 years with key investment in local people and becoming customer-centric in its approach, the company has rapidly grown into a multi-million-pound company.
Stewton Stars Hideaway is a dream turned reality for female owner and founder – Jessica Ramshaw. Located in the pretty green hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds, Stewton Stars Hideaway offers a tranquil countryside retreat for couples and families who want to get away from it all and recharge amidst natures beauty.
Following a nationwide search, all three firms have been selected as part of this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up, which showcases 100 of the most impressive independent businesses from across the nation as part of the count-down to Small Business Saturday on 7th December.
Running in the UK for over a decade, Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign, which takes place each year on the first weekend in December, celebrating small businesses and encouraging consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities.
New financial offering will help foreign firms to buy British
UK Export Finance has introduced a new guarantee product to help British firms secure international contracts for engineering, design and technical services.
The Early Project Services Guarantee is now available to overseas buyers who choose to use British services firms to scope and design their projects in the planning phase.
The guarantee helps overseas buyers of UK services to access private finance by assuring lenders that they will receive payment, making the UK offer more attractive.
Once the project services contract is complete, there is potential for the guaranteed loan to be refinanced alongside financing the wider construction project. The prospect of subsequent finance throughout the life-cycle of projects incentivises overseas buyers to select UK services firms for the early-stage work.
Carl Williamson, Director of SME and Trade Finance, UK Export Finance, said: “This new export finance support will give international buyers even more incentive to tap into UK design and engineering expertise. Year-on-year growth in service exports shows that the demand is there for this country’s professional and technical services.
“The development of our Early Project Services Guarantee is a clear signal of UKEF’s commitment to helping the services sector to maintain its competitive edge and international renown.”
The EPSG addresses gaps in market provision for financing the preparatory stages of major projects. It also contributes towards UKEF’s objective of helping a broad range of businesses to export, driving growth across all regions of the UK.