This week’s Top 10 stories: Summer success stories dominate

Dare we say it – but have things calmed down slightly?

There’s hardly been a whiff of upheaval in this week’s news, and things in Westminster have been fairly quiet, bar the bizarre carve up of the country by Whitehall officials to create new “local growth champions.” The majority of the East Midlands has now fallen under the care of an MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, whilst another business minister  has landed the plum job of business champion for the Tees Valley and Cornwall. Those travel expenses might be high…

This week’s best-read story, however, was the news that Miller Birch had been granted planning permission for for over 210,000 sq ft of new office space at one of Nottingham’s premier business locations which could provide up to 1,000 jobs. Great news in a city starved of prime office space.

In second place is the news that East Midlands car dealership group Sandicliffe is set to close three of its Nottingham dealerships – including its historic site in Stapleford – and open a single £5m Ford outlet in a move that will safeguard the future of 118 jobs.

In third – a slow-burner; Andrew Springhall’s Breedon brand has launched a new arm – Breedon Fire. East Midlands serial entrepreneur Springhall says the new business has got off to a good start, with over £20,000 of orders in its first month of trading.

Here’s to steadier summer of positive news.

This week’s Top 10 stories:
1. Nottingham gets green light for 210,000 sq ft office scheme

2. Sandicliffe to close three sites and develop £5m Ford ‘superstore’

3. Springhall fires up Breedon with new company

4. Revealed: East Midlands National Minimum Wage offenders

5. Derbyshire care firm secures largest loan this year

6. Accountancy boss calls on public sector to ‘prime pump’ office development

7. Accountancy firm commits to Leicester with new 10-year office lease

8. Leicestershire car parts business revs up with acquisition

9. Living Edge to pump £1m into new West Bridgford Gusto

10. Derbyshire mounts legal challenge against Sheffield