Bdaily

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

Engineer on track with HS2 safety door deal “It’s a great feeling to see the first cross-passage doors roll off the production line, marking a significant landmark in the delivery of this contract.” Engineering firm Booth Industries International has begun making 300 cross-passage doors for HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd. Bosses say the Bolton-based company will supply and install the 600kg structures “over the coming years” to separate north and southbound emergency tunnels on the London-to-Birmingham line. The firm will make additional safety doors for HS2’s West London-based Old Oak Common station. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/efJUsYpw Mike Jenkinson Qasir Raza ChPP MAPM NECReg

Leaders sound alarm over ‘lost generation’ “For many, it isn’t a lack of ambition or willingness to work hard; it’s lack of access to the right support, resources, career pathways and opportunities.” North East skills and business leaders have warned of the long-term risks facing young people after a new report highlighted a growing “lost generation” of those outside work and education. Tania Cooper MBE, chair of the North East STEM Foundation, and Rachel Anderson, assistant director of policy at the North East Chamber of Commerce, have both responded to Alan Milburn’s latest review into rising levels of young people classed as NEET – not in employment, education or training. The report found more than one million 16 to 24-year-olds across the UK are now classed as NEET, the highest figure in 12 years, and warned that one in six young people could be outside work or education within five years without urgent intervention. The review rejected suggestions that younger generations lack resilience or ambition, instead pointing to a shortage of opportunities, declining entry-level roles, fewer apprenticeships and growing mental health pressures. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eRG5anNZ

Law firm expands with 'significant' acquisition “At a time when many firms are scaling back, it’s exciting to be investing and growing, giving clients greater access to expertise and support.” Edinburgh-headquartered law firm Gilson Gray LLP has bought Perth-based Wyllie & Henderson, in a move that “marks a significant step in its expansion”. The deal will bolster Gilson Gray’s presence across Tayside, with Wyllie & Henderson strengthening its offer across residential and commercial property, wills and power of attorney matters. Under the terms of the deal, Wyllie & Henderson consultants Ian Lindsay and Angela Scott have joined Gilson Gray alongside eight staff. Legal director Sandra Teall has also transferred from Dundee. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eR3WfdMJ Lindsay Darroch