Appointments at the Boston office of Focus Consultants

Two new members of staff have joined the team at building services company Focus Consultants.

Architectural technician Harley Cooper and assistant building surveyor Jake Wiles have both been appointed recently by Focus to the firm’s office in Endeavour Park, Boston.

Harley joined the company after completing a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Architectural Technology at the University of Northampton, and is a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists. Assistant building surveyor Jake Wiles is spending a year at Focus on placement while studying for a BSc (Hons) Degree in Building Surveying at Sheffield Hallam University. He is a student member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building. 

Partner at Focus, Trevor Newton, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Harley and Jake to the Boston office of Focus. They join us at a time when we are working on a wide range of schemes across Lincolnshire, including several housing developments.” 

Focus, which also has offices in Aubourn in Lincolnshire, in London, Nottingham and Leicester, offers a range of building services to the construction industry, including building surveying, quantity surveying, project management, CDM Co-ordinator services and sustainable development support. The firm is also a specialist in helping clients to secure grants, and since its creation in 1994, Focus has helped to secure more than £925 million of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.0 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country.

It has worked on a range of high-profile projects in the arts, heritage and tourism sector, including some of the major museums across the UK, and important historical and ecclesiastical sites. 

For more information visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk 

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

The Obar in Leicester brings tastes from around the world as it unveils a new range of craft beers

Photo credit: Scott Choucino

Craft beer fans in Leicester are in for a treat after the Obar in Braunstone Gate was given a revamp to become a specialist craft beer venue.

The bar now has one of the most extensive craft beer selections in the city, with over 20 different bottles, 14 beers on draught and two ales. The range includes beers brewed by local breweries, as well as craft ales and beers from as far away as Iceland and the USA.

At the same time, the trendy bar has been given a facelift and begun offering a new bar menu created by the Smokehouse restaurant above the Obar, which opened permanently earlier this year having initially launched as a pop-up venue.

General manager at the Obar, Phil Hewitt, said: “The craft beer we’ve been offering upstairs in the Smokehouse has been going down a treat, and in general terms craft beer has been rising in popularity, so we decided to give the Obar a fresh look and introduce a wider range of craft beers.

“We believe we’ve created something different – not just for Braunstone Gate but for the city of Leicester too. We plan to rotate the beer we offer, as well as feature guest craft beers, so that we can serve a dynamic range and appeal to all tastes.”

Phil has been working with chef Liam Watson to source beers that complement the food being served at the Obar, as well as beers that are likely to be popular with punters.

The venue has introduced four house beers from London-based brewery Meantime, a rotating selection of up to three local cask ales, a range of imported American keg beers, and will serve a wide selection of imported and home-brewed bottled craft beers from Europe and the US, including items from breweries such as Camden Town Brewery, BrewDog, Crafty Dan, Innis & Gunn, Blue Moon Brewing Co, Goose Island, Brooklyn Brewery, Anchor, Founders and Sly Fox.

It will also serve Orchard Pig Explorer Cider, produced in the West Country.

The Obar, which is part of the East Midlands-based Orange tree group of pubs, bars and venues, was opened in 2001 as the group’s third venue. It also operates the Orange tree in High Street, Leicester, the Lansdowne in London Road, Leicester, late-night venue the Basement in Wellington Street, Leicester, as well as the Orange tree and the Kelso in Loughborough, and the Orange tree in Nottingham.

Director Ben Hings, who runs the group with Gareth Smith, said: “Innovative flavours of beer developed by breweries have become very popular with beer connoisseurs and bar-goers in general, and we’ve worked hard to create a range that we hope will appeal to drinkers in the Braunstone Gate area, and will also encourage people to come from other areas of the city to try the craft beers.

“After getting fantastic feedback last year when we opened the Smokehouse as a pop-up venue above the Obar, we launched the restaurant permanently earlier this year and it’s now become a popular place to eat in the city. As a natural extension, we’ve recently begun offering lighter, smaller meals from the Smokehouse menu downstairs at the Obar and the new range of craft beers we’ve introduced fits very well with these dishes.”The Obar is open from 4.30pm to 2am daily, and is based at 59-61 Braunstone Gate. For more information visit www.orangetree.co.uk/obar

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

East Midlands food and drink sector comes together at event

One of the region’s leading food and drink sector organisations, The Food and Drink Forum, will be hosting a network dinner event next month.

The Food and Drink Forum, which was founded in 1998, has members across the East Midlands and in partnership with the Food and Drink iNet, aims to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the region.

This year’s annual members’ supper and networking event will take place on Wednesday 19^th November at Southwell Racecourse, Rolleston in Nottinghamshire. Up to 150 people connected to the industry from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire are expected to attend.

A range of key speakers will be speaking, and the event will feature a supper of ingredients donated and supplied by local food and drink manufacturers.

“The Food and Drink Forum’s annual members’ supper is the chance for people who work in the food and drink sector across the region to come together, share their news, discover more about the latest issues affecting the industry and to network and make valuable contacts,” said Food and Drink Forum general manager Fay Davies.

“This year we have chosen a new venue, at Southwell Racecourse, and have developed a new format separate from our AGM, as we aim to create an informal environment conducive for business networking between members.” 

Sponsored by the Food and Drink iNet (Innovation Network), the members’ supper runs from 5pm to 9pm and will include presentations from a number of food and drink manufacturers in the region. Guests will include members and representatives from partner organisations such as local enterprise partnerships, UK Trade & Investment, chambers of commerce and other key suppliers to support business growth.

Tickets are available for £35 (plus VAT), however Food and Drink Forum members receive a complimentary ticket, and exhibition space is available for £50 (plus VAT) for companies looking to further promote their services. For more details email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

The Food and Drink Forum is based at the Business Centre, Southglade Food Park in Nottingham. It delivers the European Regional Development-funded Food and Drink iNet (Innovation Network), which co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the region. The Forum also provides technical and business support to farmers, primary processors, food manufacturers, caterers and retailers. 

For more information visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Crown at East Midlands fbe Awards given to King Richard III Visitor Centre

The King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester has been crowned the overall winner at the East Midlands fbe (Forum for the Built Environment) Awards.
  

The £4 million scheme, developed by Leicester City Council, built by Morgan Sindall plc and designed by architects Maber, had earlier won the best Non-Residential Award at the ceremony, held at the City Rooms in Leicester.  

Other members of the winning scheme and team were structural engineer Elliott Wood and exhibition designers Studio MB.

Best Refurbishment and Regeneration Award went to Castleward in Derby, which is being developed by Compendium Living. The project involves the redevelopment of 30 acres of mixed-use brownfield land on the south east edge of Derby city centre into a brand new community of sustainable homes and businesses. Other members of the winning scheme and team are contractor Lovell, clients Derby City Council and the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), architect HTA, civil and structural engineers BSP Consulting and commercial estate agency and estate manager Innes England.  

St James Gate, Anstey, in Leicestershire, received the Best Residential Award. The 165-home development from Ibstock-based housebuilder Davidsons Homes occupies a sentinel position on the gateway to the picturesque Charnwood Forest. Other members of the team were M-EC Consulting Development Engineers.  

Around 120 professionals from the construction, development and property sector in the East Midlands attended the East Midlands fbe’s fifth annual awards ceremony and dinner.   East Midlands fbe regional chairman Jef Todd said: “On behalf of the committee of the East Midlands fbe, I’d like to congratulate our very worthy winners and all those who were shortlisted in the awards.  

“Each year it becomes more difficult for the judges to choose the winners, which illustrates the very high standard of development in schemes over many sectors in the East Midlands.”  

The awards, sponsored by civil and structural engineering company BSP Consulting, construction firm North Midland Construction, civil engineering firm M-EC Consulting Development Engineers, and accountants Duncan & Toplis, reward the whole team on the project – as this reflects what fbe is all about … working with like-minded professionals.  

During the evening, £2,000 was donated to the East Midlands NSPCC 'now I know' Appeal, the event’s chosen charity.  

The fbe is a national organisation, with branches across the UK and is the longest established networking group for the property, development and construction industries. Initially established in the East Midlands, as well as running the annual awards scheme, the organisation also organises a number of social and other events. It covers Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

For more information about the fbe and the branch visit www.fbeonline.co.uk.

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Focus Consultants appointed to help create new national attraction

Nottingham-based Focus Consultants has been selected as part of a ‘dream team’ to transform Milton Keynes Museum into a national attraction. 

The museum’s £7.3 million expansion through two major new galleries telling the area’s story from pre-history through to the present day is being made possible through funding from Milton Keynes Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Arts Council England. 

Focus, with its head office at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, and branches in Leicester, Holborn in London, and Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire, has been appointed as the project’s business planners, and joins a host of top names with wide experience of creating award-winning museums and attractions to deliver the scheme. 

“We are very pleased to be part of such a highly regarded team of planners, architects, exhibition designers and builders who will be delivering this ambitious vision for Milton Keynes Museum,” said Steven Fletcher, partner at Focus. 

“As a company, Focus has been involved in helping to develop numerous award-winning museums and exhibitions with international reputations, and our repertoire in this field includes the National Army Museum, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, SeaCity in Southampton, Mshed Museum in Bristol, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.” 

The Milton Keynes Museum could welcome more than 100,000 visitors a year once it is completed. 

Museum director Bill Griffiths said: “We have one task as a team and that is to build the best museum in the country. We don’t want to be like any other museum, but to produce something that, like the present museum, has heart and soul. 

“With such a strong team on board we believe we can make this happen: create a museum that really involves its visitors, that is memorable and exciting, that the people of Milton Keynes will feel pride in, and that will draw visitors from all over the UK.” 

Since its creation in 1994, Focus has helped to secure more than £925 million of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.0 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country. 

It has worked on a range of high-profile projects in the arts, heritage and tourism sector, including some of the major museums across the UK, and important historical and ecclesiastical sites.

For more details about Focus Consultants visit www.focus-consultants.com

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Read all about it - Nottingham Press Club launches

Liz Cartwright, Sam Metcalf and Louise Duffield

Two former journalists, including Perfect 10 PR founder Louise Duffield, and a current editor have come together to announce the formation of a new Press Club for Nottingham.

The Nottingham Press Club has been set up by ex-Nottingham Post journalists-cum-PR professionals Liz Cartwright and Louise Duffield, and East Midlands Business Link editor Sam Metcalf as an organisation for local journalists, ex-journalists, freelancers, photographers, broadcasters and cartoonists who have worked or are currently working in Nottinghamshire.

Liz Cartwright of city-based Cartwright Communications takes up the story: "The idea for the Nottingham Press Club came about as we sat in a pub with a bunch of journalists and old friends - talking about the old days and wondering just where former colleagues had got to.

"We came up with the idea of the Press Club. It's a chance for current journalists to rub shoulders with those old hacks who remember carbon paper, spikes and the clatter of the typewriter.”

Louise, who runs Nottingham-based Perfect 10 PR, added: "The aim is to get together on a monthly basis and enjoy a social and a gossip. We'll see how it goes, but we may make membership to the club a little more formal depending on its success.”

The Nottingham Press Club is urging journalists, photographers or broadcasters working in Nottingham right now, or those who have a connection with Nottinghamshire newspapers, radio, TV or magazines, to join in.

Sam said: "This will be a great opportunity to rub shoulders with media pals both past and present. We are hoping that the Press Club will be great success and a chance to shout about Nottinghamshire’s journalists – some of whom have gone on to do great things such as writing novels and working for national and international media.

“Sadly though, the Press Club is not for PR people unless you did your time in the newsroom. The Nottingham Press Club is hoping to meet every month, with the events open to both current and former journalists. We want the word to spread, so if you know anyone who worked in Nottingham news rooms, please do let them know about the Press Club.”

The first Press Club will meet at the Orange Tree pub at 6pm on 12 November. Those interested should RSVP NottmPressClub@gmail.com to let us know you are coming.