Businesses across the East Midlands are accelerating into 2017, according to the latest data collated by East Midlands Chamber.

But they are still seeking assurances when it comes to negotiations over Brexit and there are concerns about inflationary pressures in 2017 and how they will impact on growth.

Both domestic and overseas markets were robust in the final quarter (Q4) of 2016 with 43% of firms reporting improved domestic performance and 40% reporting improved overseas sales.

Looking forward to this year, 40% of respondents to the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q4 said they were seeing improved orders from domestic customers and 43% said they had seen no fall off.

When it comes to overseas sales, 37% said they had seen increased orders and 44% reported no decline.

The weaker pound following the vote to leave the EU is responsible for reducing the cost around the world of ‘Made in Britain’-branded goods but it is also making imports of raw materials more expensive, which is driving inflation. As a result, 50% of respondents said they expected to see price increases in coming months.

While 62% said they expected turnover to increase in the next 12 months, 50% said they anticipated profitability would increase.

Contrasting the Q3 dip in confidence, 23% of firms said they intend to increase investment in plant, machinery and equipment in Q4 and 25% intend to increase spending on training, up from 17% and 19% respectively.

Reflected in ONS employment figures from the end of 2016, businesses continued to expand in terms of employee numbers, with 29% increasing the size of their workforce and only 10% decreasing staff levels.

Looking forwards, 32% said they expected to increase their workforce in Q1 2017 and only 6% expected staff numbers to decrease.

But employers continue to report difficulties recruiting suitably skilled staff and still want assurances from Government over the future of their staff with EU-backgrounds.

The data collected in the quarterly surveys is used to create a State of the Economy Index (SEI) – an indicator of the direction-of-travel of the economy.

The SEI figure for Q4 was 293, 89 points higher than the Q3 figure (204) and the highest since Q2 2015.

Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, said:-

“Despite the inevitable uncertainties that businesses have faced since the vote to the leave the EU, the economy in the East Midlands is robust.

“Domestic and overseas sales have grown strongly, particularly for our many manufacturers taking advantage of favourable exchange rates which make ‘Made in Britain’-branded goods less expensive overseas.

“However, the clear message from this survey is the likely impact, particularly in the manufacturing sector, of increasing levels of inflation and the inevitable difficulties this could cause from a planning and investment perspective.

“Slight increases were reported quarter-on-quarter in terms of recruitment intentions but accessing suitably-skilled staff continues to be a distinct difficulty for employers, with managerial/technical roles being the hardest to fill.

“It is apparent that clarity is still needed over what the main features of a successful UK economy outside of the EU are likely to be.

“Details and time-scales are lacking from Government regarding the types of trade deals the UK will negotiate and what Brexit will mean for those employing staff from EU countries, the uncertainty over which EU regulatory directives are likely to be kept and the dwindling amount of opportunities for those whose business models are largely-dependent on the sourcing of EU funding.

“In Q4, the Chamber, with support from many regional MPs, led a delegation of businesses to Westminster to highlight opportunities for a post-Brexit UK economy, along with current business concerns.

“We look forward to working with Government to make sure that the needs of business, which were compiled in a short report – Shaping a Great Future for the East Midlands: Leading a balanced and sustainable growth in a post-Brexit economy – are paramount during Brexit negotiations.”

Three senior promotions have been announced by WCEC Architects.

Nick Riley, former Design Director, has been promoted to Board Director, Mark Williams to Regional Director and David Skelton to Technical Director.

As part of the management changes, Chairman James Kemp, who has played an instrumental lead role in managing the company (based in Chesterfield) for more than twenty years, steps down from the Board.

Nick joined WCEC in 2014 bringing with him a wealth of experience and contacts in the Student Living arena and has delivered on his mission to break WCEC into this sector. He has been instrumental in securing a range of high profile projects and new clients, as well as becoming a keynote speaker at industry sector conferences in London and Europe.

Nick has fulfilled a strategic role in leading the New Business team and activity. Also, he has worked closely with the Board to help shape the long-term future direction of the practice.

Mark Williams has been at WCEC Architects since 2007 having worked on a wide variety of retail, mixed use and residential projects from feasibility to implementation, which has also included secondments, working within Blue Chip client offices.

More recently Mark has led the company’s Leeds office, developing strong working relationships within the West Yorkshire property and business community and positioning the practice in a wide range of new development opportunities.

David Skelton, is an experienced and well-rounded architect with a wealth of experience across all sectors. He has successfully built up and maintained a number of long-standing repeat client relationships. David leads the company’s Quality and Environmental Management systems; ensuring ongoing certification to BSI ISO 9001 and 14001.

Ashley Turner, Chief Executive of WCEC Architects, said:-

“It is an exciting time for WCEC and a genuine pleasure to recognise the contributions of these three crucial team members, by promoting them accordingly. Their dedication has helped WCEC build on its reputation for both technical and design excellence, within both existing and new sector markets.”

Praising the achievements of James Kemp, Ashley added:-

“His contributions, successes and unequivocal dedication have all been equally significant. Whilst enjoying more well-earned leisure time, he will remain a trusted, respected and visible part of the team at WCEC as he fulfils an ongoing consultancy support role for the foreseeable future.”

BHP, Chesterfield Champions and Yorkshire’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, has merged with Sheffield based gvt Chartered Accountants.

This follows the sad passing of Melanie Viner, gvt’s Key Relationship Partner, following a courageous battle with cancer.  Melanie joined gvt in 1991 and quickly established a strong reputation in the accountancy industry, becoming the firm’s Managing Partner.  Following her diagnosis, Melanie became passionate about securing gvt’s future for its staff and clients and agreed to the completion of the merger shortly before she passed away in November. Melanie’s business partner Mark Goodband has retired from the partnership and after a short hand over period, will pursue other opportunities.

gvt’s team will relocate to BHP’s headquarters over the coming weeks.  BHP now has more than 300 employees across five offices in Sheffield, Leeds, Cleckheaton, Chesterfield and York.

John Warner, Managing Partner at BHP says:-

“It was hugely important to Melanie that both gvt’s team and the firm’s client base would continue to thrive after her death.  gvt has always had a strong, well-established team and a reputation for offering a high standard of service to its clients, which fits with BHP’s culture and customer centric approach.  As a result, we were delighted to agree to this merger proposal.

“We’re now looking forward to welcoming our new colleagues into our business and continuing to provide gvt’s clients with the level of service and expertise that they have come to expect, which will form an important part of Melanie’s legacy. We would also like to wish Mark all the very best for the future.”

Ashgate Hospicecare is proud to have opened their ‘Harry Fisher Building’ following a period of crucial renovation works during the last few months.

Since opening its doors in 1988, the Hospice has helped thousands of patients and their families to spend precious moments together at such a critical time in their lives. However, two years ago, Ashgate was given the news that the older part of the building had significant structural weaknesses and was quickly and severely deteriorating. The survey, conducted in 2014, concluded that without intervention, the building would become uninhabitable.

Lucy Nickson, Chief Executive of Ashgate Hospicecare, said:-

“We decided to have the survey done due to the age of the building. Despite the shocking report coming back that the building was very quickly deteriorating, the potential to make good use of it could be seen, especially to turn what was being used as storage and other wasted space into areas that could be used for counselling and family support. The only big issue at the time was having the money to be able to carry out the work that was required.”

In 2015, after a series of fortuitous events and at such a crucial time, Ashgate Hospicecare was given the opportunity to give patients and their families the additional privacy and dignity they needed thanks to the unbelievably generous gift in the Will of the late Harry Fisher.

Lucy added:-

“Without the amazing gift from Harry Fisher, we would have been left with a building that was unfit for purpose and a complete lack of space for patient and family support services. Harry has left a truly amazing legacy to the people of North Derbyshire.”

Following a robust tender process, H A Briddon were chosen to complete the building work and as chance would have it, they had a connection with the late Harry Fisher of their own. Harry Briddon, who was responsible for the renovation, is a sailor at Ogston Sailing Club where Harry Fisher had been President of the club for over 30 years.

Ashgate House has been a significant part of Ashgate Hospicecare’s history and has been an iconic local landmark that has grown to mean so much to so many people. Seven months later, now the Harry Fisher Building, a sense of community is even more evident.

The hospice now offers more facilities for families including a new restaurant and dining room, which will create a relaxing and tranquil surrounding to benefit patients, staff and visitors, as well as facilities to provide fresh, hot meals. There is now new counselling and bereavement therapy rooms which will provide support within a purpose-built dedicated counselling area, including an art therapy room. These will all have an immediate positive impact on the number of people the hospice can support at any one time. A new alternative entrance has also been built, ensuring families returning for bereavement counselling and support will no longer have to enter the Hospice through the same doors as when visiting their loved ones and walk past patient bedrooms.