On the move: the latest East Midlands hires

Franklin Ellis Architects (FE), the architecture firm with offices in Nottingham and Leicester, has promoted associates Sarah Boxford and Oliver Higgins to associate directors.

Boxford joined the firm over 20 years ago and has played a role in several high-profile projects, across a wide variety of sectors, particularly leading in healthcare, private rented and purpose-built student accommodation.

She designed and delivered the UK’s first “hospice in a hospital” in Grantham and has played a key role in achieving planning approvals for numerous buildings FE is now delivering on site, notably an Aston Martin showroom, British Waterways Building conversion and New Lubbesthorpe Local Centre.

Higgins, a long-standing member of the team, has been instrumental in the 244-bed, £45m Marriott hotel scheme in Slough, the only hotel in the UK to open during the pandemic.

He has also been instrumental in rapidly expanding the firm’s Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Advanced Visualisation offerings.

Managing director Matthew Branton said: “Both Sarah and Oliver are talented designers, and have shown exceptional dedication and skill in their respective fields. Their promotions are a recognition of their hard work and the significant impact they have had on our projects and client relationships.”

Andy Reed OBE has been appointed to chair a new Business Board tasked with helping to shape economic strategy in Leicester and Leicestershire.

Andy Reed

The Leicester and Leicestershire Business Board will bring senior public and private sector leaders together to consider matters relating to growth in the city and county.

The Business Board is a key part of the new Leicester and Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership led by Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council.

Reed said: “It’s so important that the voice of business is available to local authority leaders as they form growth policy in our city and county.

“The Leicester and Leicestershire Business Board will provide input from businesses of all sizes during decision-making, working with our elected leaders to inform broad economic strategy.”

Introduction of the Business Board comes after the Government ceased funding for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) nationwide at the end of March.

Councillor Nick Rushton, Leicestershire County Council Leader, welcomed Government sign-off for the new Business and Skills Partnership, adding: “I’m delighted that Andy has agreed to chair the new Business Board and am keen that we get the new arrangements up and running as soon as possible.”

Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester Mayor, said: “Building a strong business voice into the development and delivery of our economic strategy is very important and we look forward to working alongside Andy as we establish the new Business Board.”

Work is now underway to recruit Board members. The first meeting is expected to be held later this year. Subsequent meetings are expected to be held every two months in and around Leicester and Leicestershire.

Members are set to serve a three-year term, which may then be extended by a further three years.