Nottingham property company ALB Group has purchased a prime retail site in Huddersfield with a view to kick-starting a resurgence of the town centre. The firm has acquired the 80,000 sq. feet building in New Street that currently houses businesses including Primark, Home Bargains, One Below and Ladbrokes. It follows a number of similar acquisitions by ALB Group across the UK of underperforming town centre retail assets. ALB is seeking to breathe new life into town and city centres by offering more affordable and flexible lease contracts, particularly to encourage independent, local entrepreneurs to trade alongside the larger high street chains. […]
The post Nottingham developer seeks to champion Huddersfield town centre revival first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

From restaurants and pubs, to cafés and takeaways, printed disposable paper products have an important role to play. Sustainable and hygienic, they can convey positive messages, communicate a venue’s brand values via print, and maintain consumer confidence. We talk to Nick Burton, Managing Director of Celebration Packaging, which is based in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. “The pandemic heightened awareness around hygiene and safety and as a result, we have seen a resurgence in the popularity of paper products and individually wrapped items. Printed paper products deliver immediate and visible hygiene benefits. “When pubs and bars reopened after lockdown, our printable hygienic white […]
The post Paper delivers sustainable and hygienic brand enhancement first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Leading Midlands recruitment agency, Encore Personnel, has invested in a state-of-the-art recruitment van to tour the UK to help make job searching easier than ever – in essence creating a mobile branch of the business. Today’s challenging labour market requires real engagement with candidates and the Encore recruitment van with its team of consultants behind the driving wheel does just that. The specialist recruitment agency, headquartered in Leicester city centre and employs more than 200 people across the business, has already deployed its four-wheeled recruitment strategy to locations across the UK including Peterborough, Telford and Northampton to help make jobs […]
The post Encore in the Driving Seat with New Mobile Branch first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

A major shopping destination in the heart of Ipswich has been bought by a Nottingham property firm on a mission to revive struggling town centres. ALB Group has completed the purchase of Sailmakers shopping centre, in Tavern Street, Ipswich, which is home to numerous high street brands including Boots, HMV, River Island, Poundland and Baldwins department store, and the refurbishment process has already begun. With around 25 per cent of the 133,000 sq. ft of retail space currently unoccupied, including the 7,500 sq. ft former Top Shop store, the new owner is promising to take a fresh approach to encourage more local […]
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Taking place on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, the highly anticipated East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while providing a prime opportunity to connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks. The event will additionally feature John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker, as well as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking. Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. […]
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In a bid to raise awareness among both their employees and their customers, First Fence are launching a company-wide sustainability week on the 27th of June 2022 as part of their latest campaign and sustainability plan. They have filled us in on their plans for the week and beyond. First Fence are committed to positively impacting the public, environment, and planet. They have a fleet of over 40 vehicles on the road with over 100 deliveries made daily, it has become a huge part of the company’s future to create and implement their sustainability plan and move toward reducing their […]
The post East Midlands Based Fencing Industry Leaders Launch ‘Sustainability Week’ and Spill the Tea on Lowering their Carbon Footprint. first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Supporting the farming community was the target for property professionals as Midlands-based firm Newton LDP hosted its first ever ‘Newton Cup’ clay shoot on the Warwickshire-Northamptonshire border. More than 160 property professionals took part in Newton LDP’s charity clay shoot at the prestigious Shuckburgh Estate, which raised more than £23,000. The event also included a dinner, auction and raffle with all profits from the day being donated to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) – a national charity that provides local support to the farming community across England and Wales. It was the first held by Warwickshire-based land, development and property […]
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Leicestershire-based digital marketing agency Digital Ethos is making mental health awareness its top priority by appointing a Mental Health First Aider to help its employees. Jess Harvey, Head of Operations at Digital Ethos, recently applied for and completed a mental health training course designed to bring better mental health support to the workplace for employees that need it. The training has allowed Jess to understand risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations and where people can turn for help.  “It’s incredibly important that workplaces […]
The post AWARD-WINNING DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY APPOINTS FIRST AIDER TO PRIORITISE EMPLOYEES MENTAL HEALTH first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

It is time to submit your nominations for East Midlands Business Link’s esteemed Bricks Awards! Shine a light on your team and reward their hard work. The East Midlands Bricks Awards celebrate the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and outstanding developments. Award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September, at […]
The post Nominate outstanding projects and businesses NOW for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022! first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has launched a range of KaterBake Lebanese flatbreads for its foodservice customers. The new breads are available in a selection of flavours and sizes and can be used as wraps, pizza bases, traditional accompaniments to hummous and dips or for dipping into olive oil flavoured with herbs. Also known as Khoubz, the Arabic word for bread, the KaterBake Lebanese flatbreads are extremely versatile and more than earn their keep in any kitchen. MD for Central Foods, Gordon Lauder, said: “We are very pleased to be expanding our range of exciting breads for the food service […]
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Network Space Developments (NSD) has been granted detailed planning approval by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council for the final phase at the successful Ashroyd Business Park, Barnsley close to M1 Junction 36. The detailed Reserved Matters approval is for a detached 94,500 sq ft unit comprising 90,000 sq ft at ground level and 4,500 sq ft of first floor office. The building offers 110 car parking spaces, a clear height of 12 metres internally, 8 dock levellers, 2 level access doors, and a large secure 49m depth yard. The building will be delivered to a highly sustainable specification targeting BREEAM rating […]
The post Approval for Network Space industrial unit in South Yorkshire first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

A vibrant cherry tree has been planted at David Wilson Homes’ Fernwood Village development in Newark to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of The Queen’s reign, David Wilson Homes and Barratt Homes – both subsidiaries of Barratt Group – have planted over 1,500 trees in communities across Britain. The Jubilee Big Tree Plant saw the country’s largest housebuilder plant trees to recognise the Queen’s wish to create a legacy for future generations. Members of the David Wilson Homes site team, alongside the Chairman of Fernwood Parish Council, Barry Smith, and representatives from Royal […]
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Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said:  “The pandemic hit the construction industry hard, but the latest ONS data shows that the level of unemployment has plummeted in recent months, and is now at its lowest figure in almost three years.  “At its peak in July-September 2020, there were 77,000 UK construction workers out of a job, which was the highest the country had seen since 2015.  “However, the number has fallen consistently since November, and now stands at 46,000, which is the first time it has dropped beneath pre-pandemic levels (50,000 in March-May 2020).  “In fact, construction […]
The post UK construction unemployment falls to lowest level since 2019 first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Building on the city’s history of being a housing pioneer, the City of York Council has contracted Caddick Construction to build the council’s first ever zero carbon homes. Contracts have been signed to build 112 certified Passivhaus homes as part of the council’s Housing Delivery Programme. This ambitious council-led programme is building 600 homes across the city. Between 40% to 60% will be affordable, over two-times what current planning guidelines require. The first zero carbon homes will be built on sites at Duncombe Barracks in Clifton and Burnholme in Heworth. Local residents co-designed the projects alongside the council’s Stirling Prize-winning architects […]
The post Caddick chosen as construction partner by York City for first zero carbon homes scheme first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

The number of HGV drivers on the road is at a record low and a major factor as to why is the long, lonely working conditions that have already left 27%[i] of the workforce suffering from mental health issues. Specialist driving recruitment agency, Encore Personnel, which has 10 branches across the region, including its head office in Leicester and offices in Nottingham and Derby city centres, is taking a stand with a focus on helping tackle these issues by supporting its drivers through introducing a new health and mental wellbeing CPC course. The course gives drivers access to a variety […]
The post Encore Makes Mental Health Support for HGV Drivers the Priority first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Eden Public Relations, one of Nottingham’s leading public relations agencies, has expanded its team with the additions of PR & Digital Account Executives Daisy Bradford and Rosie Vacciana-Browne. In the last six months, the specialist public relations and marketing communications consultancy based in the Lace Market has widened its digital offering as it takes on new business, entering new sectors. As Eden evolves its multimedia services, the appointment of Daisy and Rosie adds to the broad expertise in the agency. Both joining the team with first-class degrees, the duo stood out at interview for their creative spark and passion for […]
The post Eden PR Expands with Duo of New Recruits first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Developer Charterpoint has applied for outline planning permission to build up to 90 new homes on land in Louth. It is proposed that the new properties on the 12 acre site off Daisy Way would include a mix of two to four bedroom homes. The development would also feature a children’s play area, surface water attenuation ponds, wildflower meadows, sustainable drainage and an amenity lawn for communal informal recreation. Charterpoint has submitted outline plans for up to 90 homes and garages, plus associated highways, drainage and green infrastructure for the site to East Lindsey District Council. Adrian Goose, CEO of […]
The post Charterpoint submits plans for housing development near Louth first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Fiona Bruce and experts from Antiques Roadshow have been shown some fascinating, ancient items over the years – but none more so than Titus, a 66m-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex! The Titus T. rex is King exhibition is hitting our screens as Wollaton Hall hosted the filming of Antiques Roadshow on Tuesday 7th June 2022. The exhibition, which showcases the first real Tyrannosaurus Rex to be displayed in England for over a century, recently appeared on BBC One’s Bargain Hunt as Charlie Ross came face-to-face with Titus in a memorable meeting. Now the Titus exhibition is in the spotlight again as BBC’s […]
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A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service, one of Derby’s largest independent funeral directors, has highlighted the legacy of one of the city’s most beloved animals with a special commemorative plaque. Local residents may remember Oink, a water buffalo who became a much-loved local celebrity after he arrived in the city over 20 years ago. His field, which was located off Haslams Lane, Derby, near the river Dewent, even has its own entry on Google Maps. Oink was owned by Kathleen Moore, who was gifted the 1.4 tonne animal by his previous owner. She cared for Oink dearly, visiting daily, before […]
The post A.W. Lymn Help ‘Oink’s’ Memory Live on with Special Plaque first appeared on Connect East Midlands.

Cambridgeshire translation company have made a sizeable donation to Peterborough children’s charity Anna’s Hope. Cambridgeshire company Anglia Translations Ltd have made a major donation of £10,000 to local charity Anna’s Hope, which will go towards helping children and young people diagnosed with brain tumours to reach their full potential through specialist support and rehabilitation. Director of Anglia Translations Ltd, Mary Gilbey, had this to say, “We have been immensely proud to have Anna’s Hope as our charity of the year, these past twelve months. I have known Carole for quite a few years and the work that her and her […]
The post Cambridgeshire Business Anglia Translations Ltd Supporting Children with Brain Tumours first appeared on Connect East Midlands.