Nottingham based insurance broker, Russell Scanlan, is extending its senior team with two promotions following a year of change, development and expansion. The long-established firm, which is based in Wellington Circus in Nottingham City Centre, has promoted Steve Wright to Claims Director and Matt Franklin to Director. Both experienced professionals with many years’ experience within the Russell Scanlan team. The pair now join the senior team alongside Managing Director, Bryan Banbury, Director Simon Winiarski and Sales and Marketing Director, Mike Dickinson, to help drive the business forward. Matt first joined Russell Scanlan in 2004 as an Account Handler, learning the […]
The post Russell Scanlan Appoints Two New Directors first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Leading housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Midlands, based in Northampton, has built 515 homes in the region during the past year and contributed over £101m to the UK’s economic output. The achievements are highlighted in a new report which measures the housebuilder’s social and economic contribution to the South Midlands region over the past financial year (31st June 2019 – 30th June 2020). The developer covers Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire. Included within the company’s socio-economic footprint are key figures relating to the company’s support for the housebuilding supply chain, local communities, environment, public services and employment. The […]
The post LEADING HOUSEBUILDER INVESTS IN THE SOUTH MIDLANDS first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Specialist private client solicitors at a national law firm are warning people about the lasting consequences of making a DIY will rather than enlisting the help of a professional adviser. The private client team at Clarke Willmott LLP has recently launched their ‘Good Will’ campaign and are encouraging people to not only make a will, but to make a good will with expert advice.   Georgia Collier, solicitor and private capital specialist, says homemade wills can cause serious issues upon a person’s death and can result in the beneficiaries receiving reduced sums in the long run.   “It’s definitely not […]
The post Lawyers warn of lasting consequences of DIY wills first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Viewings on UK properties valued at more than £10 million are falling at the steepest rate in a decade due to international travel restrictions. However, the number of new buyers registering is growing by the most in ten years. The disparity underlines the extent to which pent-up demand for UK property is building overseas, thanks in part to the success of the country’s vaccine roll-out The total number of £10 million-plus deals in London in 2020 was 93 compared to 99 in 2019, although the total for last year will rise as more data comes in. Total spend was £1.62 […]
The post Overseas demand builds as UK vaccination programme advances first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Regional contractor G F Tomlinson has commenced works on a new 65,000 sq. ft. warehouse at Wakefield Hub for Newmarket Lane Ltd, a joint venture between developers HBD and Yorkcourt. Expected for completion by the end of summer 2021, the £6.4m scheme is being constructed at the Wakefield Hub industrial and logistics development for end user H B Clark, which is part of the Kitwave Wholesale Group. Delivered to a fast-track programme, G F Tomlinson is undertaking the design and construction of the 65,000 sq. ft. purpose-built warehouse, which also includes ancillary office space, to accommodate Kitwave’s expansion plans within […]
The post £6.4m warehouse underway at Wakefield Hub first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Stepping onto the property ladder as a single homebuyer can sometimes prove a challenge, but one Warwickshire resident found the perfect solution at The Long Shoot. Rachel Pritchett (28), from Nuneaton, began her journey as a homeowner at Barratt Homes’ community on Fleece Lane and, in addition to using the Help to Buy scheme, made the most of the leading developer’s mortgage subsidy offer. She already had two friends living at The Long Shoot and, after purchasing her two bedroom property, convinced a third friend to secure the same Kenley style home to move onto the next street. Rachel, a […]
The post SOLO BUYER SECURES AN IDEAL STARTER HOME IN NUNEATON first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Feed the Need Coalville has received a £250 donation from Leicestershire homebuilder David Wilson Homes East Midlands to support those in need throughout the ongoing pandemic. Based on High Street, the foodbank distributes food and essentials across Coalville and the contribution from the Bardon-based developer will go towards its work amidst the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. The charity runs two weekly foodbank sessions where people can come without an appointment to collect bags of food, toiletries and cleaning products. They also supply those in need with essentials such as baby formula, nappies and pet food. Felicity Middleton, Committee Chair of Feed […]
The post COALVILLE HOMEBUILDER HELPS FEED THE NEED WITH £250 DONATION first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Birmingham teenager Niall Quinney is an apprentice carpenter, following in his granddad’s footsteps to establish a career working with timber. The 18-year-old from Sheldon joined Persimmon Homes Central in May 2019 and will soon complete his NVQ Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship. He said: “I attend Solihull College one day a week, the rest of the time I’m out on site. I’m at Paragon Park in Coventry at the moment, which is my third development. “I’m really enjoying the work and learning lots of new skills from everyone here.” Elliot O’Sullivan, Site Manager at Paragon Park and Niall’s line […]
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A new Electro-mechanical Engineering degree apprenticeship launched by the University of Nottingham is set to transform the way firms attract recruits and upskill existing staff – and ultimately produce apprentices who can solve business-specific problems with both mechanical and electrical engineering expertise. The degree apprenticeship, starting in September 2021, develops technical skills in design, testing and analysis and the soft skills that enable graduates to be effective members of an engineering team. Employer-specific project work is a major theme throughout the blended learning and block release programme, empowering apprentices to foster skills, knowledge and behaviours by solving engineering challenges that […]
The post “Elite skills development for everyone” offered through new University of Nottingham Electro-mechanical Engineering degree apprenticeship first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Renowned fire stopping tech business FireArrest, who offer software that allows users to monitor all fire stopping processes within a premises, has recently published an in-depth product comparison. FireArrest has compared their Pro package with similar offerings from Bolster Systems and Onetrace. While primarily intended for fire stopping professionals, this kind of software is also used by responsible people in a range of settings from education and healthcare to construction and facilities. Managing Director Mark Shaw had this to say, “We operate in a very niche industry, and it’s not always easy for people to understand exactly what we do. […]
The post Renowned Fire Stopping Tech Company Release Product Comparison first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

EE will upgrade nearly thirty 4G sites in the East Midlands in 2021 as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) initiative to extend coverage in rural areas across the UK. SRN is a programme between the UK’s four mobile network operators and the UK Government to extend 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK’s geography by the middle of this decade. The upgrades announced today fall under the first phase of the Shared Rural Network, where EE will invest to significantly reduce ‘partial not-spots’ by 2024. EE has already upgraded its 4G network in 25 locations across […]
The post EE TO EXTEND 4G COVERAGE IN 26 PLACES IN EAST MIDLANDS IN 2021 TO BOOST RURAL CONNECTIVITY first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Connect Derby, the city’s leading managed workspace provider, has appointed Talvindar Shanker as finance manager. Talvindar joins the Connect Derby team from The University of Derby where she worked in the finance department for two years. Prior to that she spent more than 17 years at Derby College. She started her career in the student records department at the College’s former Wilmorton campus and went on to gain a broad range of experience, including four years in a finance role. In her new role as finance manager at Connect Derby, Talvindar will be responsible for budgeting, rent rolls, processing purchase […]
The post CONNECT DERBY APPOINTS NEW FINANCE MANAGER first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

With the unpredictable weather and ever-changing lockdown rules, ensuring your outdoor space is functional and welcoming when you need it most has never been more important. Homeowners looking to make the most of their outdoor space, can look to the experts for guidance on easy to integrate features that will take their outside space – be it a garden, terrace or balcony – to the next level, and all in time for when we can invite friends and family around again. Research shows that being outside improves your mood and reduces stress*, so when things are out of our control, […]
The post Top tips to make your outside space more useable in an unpredictable Britain first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Blueprint Interiors invest in new look for WorkLife Central Monday’s announcements outlined key dates for unlocking the economy, and the race is now on to provide workspaces that employees will want to return to.  However, given that many employees may still opt to work from home, many companies are seeking ways to embrace more agile ways of working and discovering that offices need to provide other functions that support and encourage teams to collaborate and innovate safely together.  According to workplace consultants and commercial office fit-out specialists Blueprint Interiors, post Covid employers need the reassurance that they are doing everything necessary […]
The post Bosses race to adapt workplaces ready for return of workers first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Loughborough based Commercial and Development specialists, Mather Jamie, is celebrating its 30th company anniversary and attributes its longevity of success to the strength of its relationships with clients, partners and staff. It is very optimistic heading into 2021, having secured the mandate to act as the commercial property agent for over 150 retail, office and warehouse units in major UK wide business parks and advising on the sale of over £200million of land for commercial development. The company was instrumental in building a bridge over the M1 at junction 21, which unlocked the potential to build 4200 new homes at […]
The post Property Agency firm celebrate 30th anniversary with £200m land deal first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Contractor Henry Brothers has been appointed to build a new £4 million extension at Glossopdale School in Derbyshire after successfully completing the £23 million main school complex, which opened in 2018. Work on the two-storey classroom block is expected to get under way in April and will provide a further 240 places at the school in Hadfield, near Glossop – 200 extra spaces for pupils aged 11 to 16 and 40 additional sixth form places. It will also create additional social spaces and will be built to match the main complex of the school. Managing director of Henry Brothers Midlands, […]
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Creative Fradley pupils have put their stamp on a brand new community in the town thanks to a naming competition by local leading developer Barratt Homes. Pupils at St Stephen’s Primary School inspired the name of the new development after the leading homebuilder asked pupils for their suggestions. After several classes submitted a whole host of entries for their chosen development name, Barratt Homes landed on Fradley Manor for its soon to launch Hay End Lane development. Among the winning answer, pupils considered the town’s history, landmarks and famous people when choosing their entries. The school was gifted a £40 […]
The post LOCAL FRADLEY PUPILS INSPIRE NAME FOR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

With working from home becoming a long-term reality for many people in Derbyshire, Barratt Homes is urging homebuyers to take a look at its developments in Buxton for flexible homes in a peaceful location. The developer currently has a range of three bedroom homes available at Heathfield Nook and High Peak Meadow with an abundance of space and a scenic countryside outlook. Research from Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows that 40% of employers reported that 75-99% of their workforce is now working continuously from home[i]. As a result, two in five workers, out of 3,000 surveyed, said […]
The post LEADING DEVELOPER PROVIDES IDEAL HOMES FOR DERBYSHIRE HOME WORKERS first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Pupils at Ledbury Primary School have been going ‘quackers’ following a donation of books which celebrate friendship and bravery from leading homebuilder David Wilson Homes. Written by local author Victoria Palmer, ‘The Angry Duck’ is a children’s book which explores relationships, overcomes misunderstandings and celebrates that everyone is different.   In supporting the community close to its Kipling Road development St Catherine’s Grange, David Wilson Homes was touched by the powerful message in the book and wanted to help to share the story with local children.   Victoria said: “I’m so humbled to have had my book selected as part […]
The post LEDBURY PUPILS GO QUACKERS FOR LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK DONATION first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

When Bliss was founded in 1979 by a group of parents, our objective as a charity was set out “to support the life of babies in distress at birth”, and since our foundation we have always sought to deliver this for all babies admitted to neonatal care, whether they were born prematurely or at full term. Over the past 41 years our reach has grown and we now work with many neonatal units in the East Midlands and across the UK. Having a baby in neonatal care can be incredibly distressing for families and Bliss offers emotional and practical support […]
The post Bliss raises awareness of ‘hidden neonatal journeys’ first appeared on Connect East Midlands.