Bdaily

Getting to know... Julia Handelman-Smith “I feel incredibly lucky to have turned something I’ve always loved into the work I do every day.” In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Julia Handelman-Smith FRSA MMus, programme director at North East-based cultural partnership project Into the Light, talks about her passion for creativity, helping schoolchildren understand the First World War during her time as a British Council cultural diplomat and her love of wild swimming. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eN6AWXdc #bdaily #northeast #insight #career #creative

Accountancy firm 'steps forward' with takeover “We wanted to find a partner that would allow us to keep that approach, while giving us the ability to offer more when our clients need it.” Accounting and advisory firm bk plus has bought Aggarwal P & Co. Officials say the move for the Kent-based chartered accountancy – which incorporates Foreman Waller and Edwards & Co – marks “a great step forward” for the business. They add it will further bolster BK Plus’ South East operations, which include teams in Chiswick and High Wycombe. Under the terms of the deal, Aggarwal & Co, which has offices in Ashford, Gravesend, Rainham and Sheerness, has retained its bases and staff. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eMDTuv2P Shaun Knight Anil Aggarwal

On the move: The latest appointments in your region Stay up to date with the latest appointments and promotions this week: https://lnkd.in/eV9QA-dW #bdaily #appointments #recruitment #businessgrowth

Anchor opens 76-home scheme in Hackney “Ensuring the availability of accessible, affordable homes is vital to supporting older people in the Hackney community to live healthier, happier lives.” A provider of specialist housing and care has opened a new affordable development designed to support people aged over 55 in later life. Anchor has officially opened Goldfinch Point in Hackney, delivered in partnership with homebuilder Hill Group UK and supported by the Greater London Authority and Hackney Council. The scheme provides 76 one and two-bedroom apartments for rent and Older Persons Shared Ownership, delivering a 168 per cent increase in affordable housing compared to the previous homes on the site. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eKEmkCU5 Oliver Boundy Tom Copley

Acme secures future of artist hub “This deal with Lloyds allowed us to act quickly and buy a site we’ve invested in for years, so we can keep supporting artists who would otherwise be priced out of the city.” A London arts charity has secured the future of one of the capital’s largest affordable studio buildings following a £5.5 million funding package. Acme has completed the purchase of the Propeller Factory in Deptford, a building it has rented for more than 30 years and which is now the largest property in its portfolio. Funding from Lloyds Banking Group enabled Acme to acquire the former industrial building, helping safeguard long-term workspace for artists in a city where affordable creative space remains in short supply. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eF8MgVQF Richard Kingsnorth David Kearney

Double royal honour for Perfect pair “It is a great honour for both Perfect Hygiene and Perfectshine to hold Royal Warrants.” An Aberdeenshire hygiene services company is celebrating royal recognition after securing a prestigious Royal Warrant from His Majesty The King. PerfectHygiene Ltd has been granted the honour in recognition of its role as a supplier of hygiene and washroom services to the Royal Household. The award means both Perfect Hygiene and its sister company, Perfectshine Window Cleaning Ltd, now hold Royal Warrants. Perfectshine, which provides specialist window and exterior cleaning services, received its warrant from The King in 2024. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/ejEsE5bG Steve Kennedy Claire Forbes Stewart Gardiner

Checkstep nets £3 million to scale AI safety platform “This funding allows us to accelerate our mission to power a safer digital world.” A London technology company is accelerating its international expansion after securing £3 million in investment to grow its AI-powered content moderation platform. Checkstep, which helps online platforms manage user-generated content safely and efficiently, has raised the funding in a round led by Alea Capital Partners, with participation from Slow Ventures and Look AI Ventures. The company combines artificial intelligence with Trust and Safety expertise to help businesses automate content moderation, enforce platform policies and comply with evolving regulations across global markets. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ePCGzy4P Guillaume Bouchard Rui Escaleira Angelo Burgarello

Celnor companies land IWM contract “With access to skills and services across the country, and globally if needed, as part of Celnor Group, we can satisfy complex contract requirements and embark upon a broad range of exciting and diverse projects.” A specialist environmental consultancy has secured a landmark contract supporting the management of some of the UK’s most significant historic and cultural sites. Riverside Environmental Services Ltd, which is headquartered in Hextable, Kent, has been appointed to a £4.5 million specialist services framework for Imperial War Museums (IWM), working alongside fellow Celnor Group companies Brownfield Solutions and CHPK Group. The three-year contract will see the businesses provide services including surveying, fire strategy and risk assessment, health and safety support, and ground contamination and remediation consultancy across IWM’s estate, which comprises five nationally significant sites attracting more than two million visitors each year. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/euSymFGe Jonathan Francis Simon Parrington

Biotechnology firm secures £4 million to scale production “The challenge has never just been inventing a biomaterial – it’s been manufacturing these systems at industrial scale and integrating them into real construction supply chains. This funding allows us to scale that model further alongside major contractors and manufacturing partners globally.” Bristol-based biotechnology company Mykor, which turns industrial and agricultural waste into construction products, has raised £4 million to accelerate the growth of its industrial biofabrication technologies. The round was led by Clean Growth Fund, with participation from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund through The FSE Group, Green Angel Ventures and support from Innovate UK’s investor partnership programme. The latest raise takes Mykor’s total funding to £7.5 million, including £5.5 million in equity investment and £2 million in grant funding. Bosses say the funding will support the scale-up of production capacity and help establish a replicable manufacturing model that can be deployed across key UK and international markets. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eMvxrMdU Olivia Page Valentina Dipietro Susannah McClintock Anna Staevska Surakat Kudehinbu

Developer plans 50-job market town business hub “Following the success of Sucham Park, and with work set to begin at Greville Business Park, we continue to see strong demand for high-quality commercial space across Warwickshire.” A development organisation has submitted plans for a 50-job commercial scheme. Warwickshire Property and Development Group hopes to redevelop Rugby’s former Bloxham Centre into an industrial hub. The blueprint would see the community base turned into a three-unit site spanning 21,350sq ft. Officials say the scheme – which includes plans for 29 car parking spaces and six electric vehicle charging bays – would help “unlock the potential of underutilised sites across the county”. Rugby Borough Council is set to rule on the plans later this year. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eNGdTsJw Chloe Britton