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Engineering firm sold in £38m deal
Tech group acquires manufacturer in £38m deal
Aspecialist manufacturer with headquarters in Northamptonshire is to be acquired by an international group in a deal worth up to £38.8 million including £29.5 million to be paid in cash.
Brixworth-based Fablink Group, supplying the automotive, transport and off-highway sectors, announced last month that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by EV Technology Group,
The business, in Quarry Road, was set up in 2005 and has grown into a globally recognised organisation with a 750-strong workforce, who will be retained under the deal. It specialises in the manufacture of metal pressings, operator cab assemblies, fuel and hydraulic tanks and complex structures as well as clean build of vehicle assemblies.
The group’s facilities are also secure including two near Durham as well as sites in Wolverhampton and Luton. Fablink is already the manufacturing partner of MOKE International, a company that also recently agreed to join EV Technology Group's house of brands.
Streamline Automotive, a new division that provides specialist low and medium volume electric vehicle manufacturers with turnkey clean build vehicle assembly capabilities, is another part of Fablink.
The deal is set to provide EV Technology Group with access to Fablink’s in-house manufacturing and engineering expertise. Richard Westley, Fablink Group’s chief executive and founder, will remain in his current and will join the EV Technology Group board as chief operating officer when the deal is completed. Fablink will also retain its current leadership team and facilities.
“There is no doubt that EV Technology Group’s acquisition of Fablink is a fantastic fit,” said Mr Westley. “This acquisition not only presents a superb blend of resources and capabilities aligned to underpin EV Technology Group’s growth plans but also gives Fablink Group a platform for future investment in our people, facilities and technology. The acquisition will allow us to accelerate the delivery of our strategies in support of our existing global OEM
State-of-the-art technology in use at Fablink Group's factory in Brixworth customers as we continue our mission of achieving operational excellence across our manufacturing sites and also provide a platform to further develop the business as we look to support EV Technology Group’s own brands.
“This is a tremendously exciting step for Fablink and we are looking forward to an even brighter future as part of a larger group.”
Wouter Witvoet, chief executive at EV Technology Group, added: “This acquisition is of huge strategic importance to the EV Technology Group. Having access to Fablink’s 750 world-class electric vehicle manufacturing and engineering experts in-house makes us more competitive, efficient and agile for Fablink’s existing customers and our own future projects.”
Accountancy firms celebrate merger
The retiring partners at Northampton chartered accountancy firm JR Watson & Co have completed the merger of the business with expanding regional accountancy practice Cottons. Established more than 100 years ago, J R Watson & Co has worked with clients across Northamptonshire and Warwickshire. All seven of its staff are being retained under the merger deal. The move is part of expansion plans at Cottons, which has offices in Northampton, Daventry, Rugby and Milton Keynes.
Cottons director Charles Hill said: “The team at Cottons have worked hard to ensure the merger for the existing partners has been as seamless as possible, as they transition towards retirement. "We are very much looking forward to working with the J R Watson & Co team and clients on this next chapter.”
The firm has taken on J R Watson & Co’s established client base, developed by the existing partners over many years. Their sector expertise is very diverse and a perfect fit for Cottons’ existing portfolio, the practice says.
Retiring JR Watson & Co partner Alan Markham said: “We pride ourselves on our service and this new merger provides our clients with an opportunity to continue with a long-term partnership, with familiar faces and access to a wider, more modern service offering. "We feel our clients are in good hands.”
n Pictured: The partners at Cottons and JR Watson & Co after completing the deal
Polystyrene manufacturer expands into regional HQ with warehouse acquisition
Amanufacturer of expanded polystyrene products has completed its search for a regional headquarters after purchasing a warehouse unit in Corby.
Sundolitt Ltd has acquired Centrix58, pictured, a newly constructed 58,586 sq ft unit at Centrix Business Park - the final development at the 39-acre business park.
Sundolitt Ltd is the UK business of the Sunde Group, a world leader in the manufacture of 100 per cent recyclable expanded and extruded polystyrene products. Its products are important to many industries, being applied in thermal insulation for construction and structural blocks for civil engineering and protective and insulated packaging.
The company had looked along the Luton to Coventry M1 corridor for suitable premises but, frustrated by a lack of available stock, switched its attention to the Corby area. The Centrix unit was available originally on a leasehold basis but commercial property consultancy Kirkby Diamond, acting for Sundolitt, negotiated a deal with joint agents Burbage Realty and FHP on behalf of developers NFU Mutual and Clowes Developments for the sale of the freehold.
“It took time to find the perfect property for the business because of the well-documented shortage of industrial units right across the region,” said Eamon Kennedy, executive partner and head of agency at Kirkby Diamond. “We are delighted we have been able to complete the acquisition. It is a high-quality unit in an excellent location and fits Sundolitt’s requirements perfectly.”
The unit has four dock level doors, parking for 74 vehicles and four EV charging points. Sundolitt uses 100pc renewable electricity at all its UK factories.
Photo: Quintus, Burton, for Nurton Developments and Equation Properties
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Have your say on town centre traffic plan
Link road scheme aims to ease pressure on historic market town
Businesses have joined residents in having their say on plans to tackle the traffic issues in Towcester.
Construction of a new link road south of the town between the A5 and A43 is expected to alleviate the issue and the National Highways organisation is proposing a series of improvements that will encourage through traffic - particularly goods vehicles - to use the new link road and the A43 rather than the A5 through Towcester town centre.
The consultation, which began last month, highlights two options. Both propose to improve signage, introduce speed and vehicle restrictions, improve walking and cycling facilities and provide public spaces. Park and Ride services to the town centre are also being explored as additional measures.
The consultation runs until September 11.
National Highways project manager Mark Roxburgh said: “Our primary objective with these proposals is to enhance the A5 through Towcester to improve the lives of those who live, work and visit there. We want to remove some of the more disruptive traffic from the town centre to improve safety and help preserve Towcester’s rich history.”
The plans will have environmental benefits and will provide better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
“Removing the traffic will Towcester town centre
n Public information events are due to take place in the Waitrose car park, 12 noon-7pm on September 5 and in the Aldi car park, 9am-2pm, on September 6. Have your say online by completing a consultation form at https://nationalhighways. co.uk/our-roads/east-midlands/towcester-improvements/ make the High Street a more attractive place to visit,” said Mr Roxburgh. “But we need to hear now from local people, communities and road users. Your views on the proposals will help us better understand the local area and any potential impact our schemes may have on you and the community.”
The options were drawn up after consultation with nearby councils and the police.
Among the proposals are more pedestrian and cycling crossings, improved parking on the A5 between Vernon Road and The Lindens, a new cycle and footpath between Towcester police station and Old Tiffield Road as well as new public spaces with seating areas. Details of the options for improvements are at nationalhighways.co.uk/ our-roads/east-midlands/ towcester-improvements/
Council seeks new office in efficiency drive
Plans to relocate from its current office in Daventry to premises elsewhere in the town are being pursued by West Northamptonshire Council.
The move is part of a planned review of all the council’s buildings which it inherited from the former county, district and borough authorities last year.
The council currently operates from the former Daventry District Council offices in Lodge Road. Plans to close the 35-yearold office and relocate to smaller premises in the town by the end of the current financial year are the first steps of an office rationalisation programme that aims to achieve savings built into its budgets of £250,00 rising to £750,000 over the next three years. The review also looks at opportunities to bring together services from the old councils more effectively.
Council leader Cllr
Jonathan Nunn, pictured below, said: “As a new
unitary council we have always been open about the need for us to rationalise our offices. It forms part of the aim of the unitary to make services better and more efficient.”
New service arrangements and staff adapting to more flexible ways of working after Covid mean the Lodge Road offices are at half capacity and do not deliver good value for residents.
Cllr Nunn said: “All councils are starting to see significant financial pressures surfacing for the years ahead so we need to work smarter and more effectively while also being duty bound to deliver the savings we have identified.” The council will remain in the town and residents will have access to all current services, he added.
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Engineering firm moves into landmark HQ
High-performance engineering consultancy KWSP is to relocate from Bicester Heritage to Silverstone Park.
The move to a purposebuilt ‘skunk works for OEMs’ facility will enhance the consultancy’s ability to deliver niche vehicle programmes for road and track, alongside ‘horizontal innovation' projects and further enable technology transfer between sectors. It also brings the business closer to its sister company the Digital Manufacturing Centre.
The move coincides with KWSP’s ten years in business, delivering consultancy work with bluechip companies including F1 teams, Automotive OEMs, the aerospace and defence sector and professional sports.
For customers looking to outsource or ‘Skunk Works’ end-to-end design, development, production and testing of niche vehicle programmes and motorsport projects, the new facility will offer a step change in capability, the company says. The 28,000 sq ft facility combines expandable modern office space with workshop space and assembly area.
KWSP chief executive Kieron Salter inset said: “Relocating to new headquarters at Silverstone Park will deliver a step-change in capability for our customers. The new office will house our rapidly growing engineering team while the hybrid workshop assembly area will give us greater capacity than ever before to deliver highperformance road, track and motorsport projects, not to mention the substantial development and testing advantage of being located next to Silverstone Circuits.”
The Digital Manufacturing Centre has experienced significant growth since opening in 2021. It is a stateof-the-art commercial additive manufacturing facility that will also continue to produce parts for use in KWSP projects. Co-locating the two businesses will enable greater collaboration, leveraging each other’s capabilities to deliver substantial benefits for both companies, Mr Salter said.
“After ten years of specialist, KWSP’s new premises at Silverstone Park
high-performance engineering and a myriad of fantastic projects, we are now working on some of our most exciting programmes yet. This new move marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for the business.
“With the Digital Manufacturing Centre also moving from strength to strength, now is the perfect time to enable greater cooperation and collaboration between KWSP’s highperformance engineering and the DMC’s world-leading additive manufacturing capabilities. This will be hugely beneficial for customer projects, as we will be able to better leverage the DMC’s expertise and production capacity with rapid production and instant delivery.”
Operator completes development phase
Silverstone Park operator MEPC has completed its latest Phase 3 development, adding a further 265,000 sq ft of industrial accommodation to the estate.
The development comprises four sizeable properties, two of which have been let prior to completion to engineering solutions provider KW Special Projects and niche vehicle electrification business Lunaz .
“Phase 3 has been a successful project in spite of some supply challenges related to the pandemic which affected multiple trades,” said MEPC’s development director Chris KimberNickelson. “Architecturally, each property is a progression of the designs we saw during Phases 1 and 2 and we are extremely pleased with the final product. They are strong on energy efficiency and look terrific for the businesses occupying them.”
The spine road through Phase 3 has been fully asphalted and is now open, linking businesses direct to the earlier Phases 1 and 2 of development.
“What is also really exciting about the businesses being attracted to our new buildings is the activity behind their front doors,” said Mr Kimber-Nickelson. “The technology they are developing and projects they are working on are off the scale and, with all that, they are also creating many high-level jobs and skills.”
MEPC has already been granted planning consent for its Phase 4 of development, a 100,000 sq ft scheme to include hybrid industrial units, with smart offices, a nursery, gym and café. An application for planning consent for Phase 5 - more than 201,000 sq ft of industrial premises on land opposite the main entrance to Silverstone Circuit - has also been submitted.
Market Square traders reap a festive reward
Traders will have an undisturbed Christmas after councillors opted to delay the start work on the redevelopment of Northampton’s Market Square until the new year.
Cllr Daniel Lister, cabinet member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth said: “This will give everyone some stability at one of their busiest times of year. The improvements we have planned will undoubtedly cause disruption but we will continue working with traders to minimise the impact on their businesses.”
The council will continue to help promote the market in the lead-up to and after its move to Commercial Street next year.
The third of a total five development phases at Silverstone Park is now complete
Website overhaul for event notification
North and West Northamptonshire Event Safety Partnership has launched a new event notification process. Businesses now notify their local council of an event via the local authority website. Services and partner organisations including Northants Police will be able to support event organisers to deliver a safe and secure event.
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Project backs social enterprise growth
Digital and marketing support is on offer to social enterprises in North Northamptonshire under a new initiative launched by the North Northants Social Enterprise network.
The Growth for Good project, backed by funding from Northamptonshire Community Foundation, was launched at Wicksteed Park, Kettering last month. Two social enterprise ambassadors, Dylan Officer and Julia Holland, are helping to run and promote the project, visiting local social enterprises to capture them on film and promote their good work.
The project also includes digital marketing support from Nothampton-based marketing and PR agency Pilkington Communications, whose new Turtle Academy for not-for-profit organisations opened earlier this year. Founder Jessica Pilkington said: “It is such a privilege to be able to support these social enterprises who have been telling us what they most want - support with everything from social media, press releases and their websites to e-newsletters and how to promote the products and services they offer. "The training - and fun - now begins.”
Social enterprises are businesses that reinvest all profits into the business to meet social or environmental purposes. Alison Holland, founder of Geddingtonbased Brightwayz, which promotes safe, active, sustainable travel, heads the NNSE network. “I am enormously proud to run a social enterprise,” she said. "We exist to fulfil a social or environmental purpose and all our profits are ploughed back into achieving that.”
The NNSE network enables members to collaborate, share ideas and discuss challenges, she added.
Wicksteed Park is among the county’s social enterprise businesses. “Others are less well-known and smaller but reach across many sectors such as education, transport, media and even beekeeping," said Ms Holland.
“Many lack the budgets, expertise or marketing resources to sing their own praises so we want to help them do that for everyone’s benefit.”
App champions Northamptonshire's best
The new app that aims to encourage Northamptonshire residents to explore the county and see what is on offer is now live.
West Northamptonshire Council has unveiled ExploreWN, which allows users to access deals, offers and discounts, a live events calendar and boost the county’s economy by supporting independent businesses and attractions.
“We are dedicated to supporting local employers and growing our economy, and ExploreWN is going to be a strong tool to deliver this,” said Cllr Daniel Lister, cabinet member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth. “Keeping people connected to the places they live, work and visit is a fantastic way to ensure that local businesses and attractions grow and thrive.”
n Download the app from www. westnorthants.gov.uk/cultureand-tourism/explore-westnorthants-app
