A group of 25 women and girls from the BMX Freestyle Park community recently attended the ‘Riding and Rising’ women’s only event, organised and hosted by Tokyo 2020 BMX Freestyle Park Olympic champion Charlotte Worthington. The event saw Worthington merge her love of the BMX Freestyle community with her passion for helping women and girls grow and develop through sport, as part of the new Changemaker initiative.    The event saw 25 women and girls of all ages come together at Adrenaline Alley – winner of innovative club of the year at the British Cycling Awards 2024 - to practice skills and learn new tricks, while also working together to complete a number of tasks. These tasks included challenges both on and off the bike ranging from difficult tricks to fun team-building activities aimed at developing skills such as personal growth, building community and leadership.    The Changemakers initiative, which is a partnership between Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, Team GB, ParalympicsGB and UK Sport, has pledged £100,000 of grants to support athletes who want to support projects in their communities that are important to them.    Having been open with the psychological challenges she has faced at the top of elite sport over recent years, Worthington was motivated to apply for the Changemaker ‘Try It’ grant to put on a women’s-only event.     The aim of the event was to share tricks and tactics that she has found beneficial when facing challenges over the years, in the hope that they will prove helpful for other women and girls, both in and out of sport.    On her motivation to put the event together, Charlotte said: “Since the Tokyo Olympic Games my perspectives shifted and I briefly lost why I enjoyed riding my BMX, which led me down a path of rediscovering what I loved about riding my bike. Facing personal challenges and the unspoken difficulties about the psychological differences of being a woman in sport; I didn’t want them to be so ‘taboo’ any more."   “This was a huge motivator to apply for the Changemaker fund and share my experiences with the women's bmx freestyle community and demonstrate to the girls that sport is not all about competition, it can be so much more!"    “I wanted to give back by improving the culture of our sport and helping the girls develop as people. We tailored the challenges around personal growth, community and leadership so hopefully they’re walking away having learned something about themselves, made a new friend and either performed or witnessed brave acts of leadership from their peers.”    Holly Pipe, who attended the day and cites Charlotte as her inspiration for riding BMX freestyle said:    “Before I got there I was really nervous; I don’t really ride with girls a lot so it was really nice to be able to ride with them and now I feel a lot more confident having ridden with female riders because we all support each other."  “I’ve never seen that number of girls in a skate park before, it’s incredible. It's sometimes hard riding with men all the time who are just so much better than you, it can affect your confidence. So, to ride with women the same level or even better but more on my level is really nice.”    Andria Vidler, CEO of National Lottery Operator, Allwyn, added:   “The ChangeMaker grants from Allwyn’s Social Value Fund will enable these inspiring athletes to make a real difference to the causes and communities which matter most to them.  Their passion extends beyond sport and I am proud that through Allwyn’s commitment to having a positive social impact, we can support to them to take the next step.  These grants represent our belief that athletes can be powerful catalysts for change both on and off the field of play.”    Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport said:  “The National Lottery continues to be the biggest champion of sport at all levels in the UK, and it’s wonderful to see Allwyn, as operator of The National Lottery, enabling our athletes to go even further and use their voice and platforms to power positive change for people, communities and the planet. ”

Leading glass packaging specialists, Croxsons, have collaborated with Thatchers Cider to launch their newest innovation, Juicy Apple, by supplying bespoke 500ml glass bottles for the cider brand’s latest creation. Soft launched in pubs and bars mid-last year and now rolling out across UK retailers, Thatchers Juicy Apple is already reinvigorating the apple cider category. With its vibrant look, eco-conscious credentials and fresh flavour profile, the new 4% ABV cider is capturing the attention of younger, sustainability-minded consumers. As part of the launch, Croxsons is supplying millions of bottles annually, each embossed with Thatcher's name on the shoulder, reinforcing the cider maker’s longstanding heritage and commitment to quality. Millions of bottles are set to be delivered each year, with the partnership between the two family-run businesses extending over a two-year period. Martin Thatcher, fourth-generation cider maker at Thatchers, said: "We take huge pride in the quality and character of our ciders and the packaging plays an important role in that story. The embossed bottle supplied by Croxsons complements our Juicy Apple perfectly, giving it a distinctive presence on shelf while reinforcing our brand identity. It’s great to work with a supplier who shares our values and can meet the scale of our ambitions.” Inspired by the experience of biting into a crisp, sweet apple, Juicy Apple has been developed by Eleanor Thatcher - the fifth generation of the Thatcher family - as a drink for a new generation of cider lovers. Not only is it big on flavour and freshness, but it's also made using 100% renewable electricity, including power generated from 3,500 solar panels at Myrtle Farm. Croxsons’ flexible and robust supply chain ensures they can meet the high volume demands of household names like Thatchers while still offering the personal service and attention to detail for which they are known. Croxsons’ Bristol-based sales manager, Matthew Winfield, has played an essential role in developing and maintaining the relationship with Thatchers. Being close to Myrtle Farm, regular in-person visits have helped build strong rapport and ensure smooth project delivery. Tim Croxson, CEO of Croxsons, added: “Partnering with Thatchers, with so many shared values, is a real privilege. Supplying bottles for their exciting new launch, Juicy Apple, is an excellent example of how we bring together customisation, quality and logistics to support ambitious, fast-moving brands. Relationships like these highlight our strengths, and it’s particularly gratifying to collaborate with another proud British family business that places a premium on quality and heritage as much as we do.” To discover more about Croxsons’ bottle and closure solutions, visit here.

Nearly three weeks of fantastic sunshine have brought on the first commercial quantities of British-grown strawberries of 2025. And great news for strawberry lovers is that the fruit will start arriving in some Tesco stores in time for Easter. The strawberries, which are being picked at the moment, have been grown by West Sussex growers, The Summer Berry Company, who are based in Colworth, near Chichester. The extra sunshine and recent warmer weather in general has helped them produce nearly 200 tonnes of fruit – about 50 tonnes more than the same time last year. That’s an estimated 500,000 punnets of strawberries that will initially hit Tesco stores in East and West Sussex and perhaps surrounding counties. Tesco berry buyer Callum Baker said: “The arrival in stores of the first Spring-grown British strawberries of the year creates a feel-good factor because it signifies the start of the UK fruit season and that summer is on the way." “But their availability also brings a cheer from shoppers because British grown strawberries are considered to be the best in the world because of our climate." “Strawberries taste naturally sweeter when ripened in periods of sunny weather because it boosts their natural sugars. Dry conditions also enhance their flavour as the lack of rain helps make the fruit firmer and more flavourful.” The strawberry varieties going into Tesco stores are called Malling Centenary and Fandango and have been chosen for their superb eating quality and flavour. They both have a vivid colour and produce large berries that are not too crunchy. Last year, The Summer Berry Company, together with another grower, Wicks Farm – both based in West Sussex, became the first UK growers to produce commercial quantities of strawberries all year long. For Christmas the innovative berry growers produced a record-breaking 38 tonnes of the fruit for the festive period – an increase of 40 per cent on the same period in 2023. The Summer Berry Company’s Commercial Director Jack Darnes said: “With all the recent sunshine, the team at The Summer Berry Company can’t help but feel optimistic about the season ahead. We’re really excited about the boost in strawberry production to kick off the first big harvests of the British season. The warm weather, combined with our innovative growing methods, means the plants are healthy and producing lush, sweet-tasting fruit." “Strawberry plants love the English spring and summer climate; not too hot, not too cold with warm days and cool nights. This is why we produce the best strawberries in the world!”

Lidl GB has announced plans to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion, as the discounter moves forward with plans to open more than 40 new stores across the country this financial year. As part of its continued mission to provide all communities across the country with access to affordable, high-quality food, Lidl has published its 2025 site requirements brochure, outlining hundreds of potential locations for new stores – including high streets, retail parks, and mixed-use town centre sites. The updated list features locations across England, Scotland and Wales – from Newton Mearns to Dawlish, and Builth Wells to Aylsham as well as the London Borough of Barnet – reflecting Lidl’s accelerated expansion plans to meet growing customer demand. Richard Taylor, Chief Real Estate Officer at Lidl GB, said: “This level of investment is a clear sign of our ambition. As we enter our fourth decade in Great Britain and hurtle towards a thousand stores, there are still so many parts of the country crying out for convenient access to a Lidl store. That’s why we welcome the measures proposed in the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill – they recognise the urgent need to remove barriers to development and support the kind of growth we at Lidl are working towards.” “Our latest site requirements brochure reinforces the scale of our ambition for the future. New Lidl stores mean new jobs, new opportunities for British suppliers, and continued investment into local economies. We’re proud to be one of the fastest-growing supermarkets in the country, and with this investment, we’re taking another big step in our journey.” This year will see the completion of the expansion of Lidl’s Belvedere Regional Distribution Centre, which has more than doubled in size. To support its growing estate, the discounter is also set to start construction on a brand-new distribution centre in Leeds later in the year.

JCB hailed a monumental Government decision to change the law to give hydrogen diggers the green light to be driven on UK roads. Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads, has signed a statutory instrument allowing hydrogen fuelled construction and agricultural machinery to use the public highway. JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford - who instigated a £100 million project to develop a hydrogen combustion engine to power JCB’s machines - hailed the news as “historic”. Lord Bamford’s reaction came as a hydrogen powered JCB digger was driven around London’s roads to mark the momentous announcement – calling in at the Department for Transport yesterday afternoon to meet the Minister who made the legislative change happen. Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said: “Today shows once again we are on the side of British business, as we now allow hydrogen-powered diggers and tractors to be legally driven on UK roads for the first time."  "We’re supporting the UK's Plan for Change by working closely with brilliant British companies like JCB to harness the opportunities of the net zero transition, driving innovation and creating jobs to put money in the pockets of hardworking people and secure our future.” Lord Bamford said: “The JCB team has done amazing work to develop a hydrogen combustion engine. It has already been given resounding backing from our customers who have been evaluating the technology; they say it is simple to use and performs as well as diesel counterparts. We are delighted that the Government has now endorsed the use of hydrogen in machinery." "There has been a lot of work to get to this point. It is truly a historic day for JCB and a milestone moment for the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel in the construction and agricultural machinery industries. We now have the legislation that allows hydrogen powered machines to drive on the road between sites and between farms.” Lilian Greenwood signed the statutory instrument in early April to pave the way for an amendment to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to enable the road use of hydrogen-fuelled non-road mobile machinery. The change in legislation came into force yesterday. Other hydrogen powered vehicles, including cars, buses and trucks were already permitted by law to use UK roads, but hydrogen-fuelled construction and agricultural machinery could not – until yesterday. JCB has invested more than £100 million to produce a range of super-efficient zero-emission hydrogen engines. This pioneering project at JCB’s engine plant in Derbyshire has been personally driven by JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who challenged the company’s engineers to make a major breakthrough in the use of hydrogen as a fuel in a combustion engine. JCB has been operating prototype hydrogen-powered Loadall telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders and generators on sites near Birmingham and is now testing a range of equipment in partnership with rental companies and leading contractors across the UK.

Contractor Clegg Construction has broken ground on a scheme to deliver a new £13 million care home near Milton Keynes. The three-storey, 96-bed luxury care home is being built for Hampton Healthcare, part of the Rochmills Group, behind Woburn Sands Emporium garden centre, off Newport Road in Wavendon. It will feature state-of-the-art and high-end facilities including rooftop garden with sky bar and café, private dining, cinema, and an entertainment suite, alongside spacious and comfortable rooms and suites. This will be a new and exciting care model brought to the area by Hampton Healthcare. The development also includes a new car park, along with landscaped areas, and is due to be completed by the end of 2026. Woburn Sands Emporium garden centre is open for business during the construction work and will remain so in the future, being unaffected by the new care home scheme. A ceremony was held to mark the start on site of the new care home, which is the latest in a long line of care homes delivered by Clegg Construction – a company seen as a specialist in this field. MD of Clegg Construction Michael Sims said: “We were very pleased to have been appointed by Rochmills Group to build this new care home, which will provide modern facilities for residents from the local community." “Clegg Construction has significant experience of building new care homes, having completed schemes across the country in places such as Peterborough, Loughborough, Bromsgrove, Norwich, Littleover in Derbyshire, Tadcaster in Yorkshire, and Birstall in Leicestershire." “It is always exciting to see work beginning on site on a new scheme and we look forward to developing this facility along with our partners and adding it to our extensive portfolio in this sector.” Other members of the construction team working alongside Clegg Construction include APC Architects, engineers Ridge and Partners LLP, and employers agent CS2 Limited. Joining the ground-breaking celebrations were the owners of Rochmills Group: Joe Sehmi – Chairman, Rochmills Group & Hampton Healthcare Kabir Sehmi – CEO, Rochmills Group & Hampton Healthcare Tej Sehmi – Director, Rochmills Group & Hampton Healthcare Kabir Sehmi said: “We are really happy to be starting work on site on this development, which will deliver a luxury care home, with modern facilities and high quality care.”

Grocery retailer Asda has revealed it is trialling a new George stand-alone concept store that, if successful, will replace its Asda Living brand portfolio across the UK. The pilot project is taking place in Asda’s home city of Leeds at the Asda Living store located at Crown Point Retail Park. The store will be completely transformed with a new layout to showcase the best of George clothing and homeware, plus toys, essential baby items and café area. Shoppers can look forward to a bigger and better George clothing range, with even more must-have styles for men, women, and children. The store will debut the new George Spring/Summer 2025 collection, fronted by iconic model Yasmin Le Bon, alongside standout celebrity collaborations including the all-new Erica Davies kids’ line and Billie Faiers’ latest sunshine-ready range. Across the George Home section, shoppers can discover a stylish selection of interior, garden, and lifestyle must-haves including the brand-new At Home with Stacey Solomon Spring/Summer Collection, packed with charm, comfort, and seasonal style. The customer experience is also set to get a major upgrade, with faster, easier shopping thanks to streamlined checkouts, new self-serve options, and hassle-free Click & Collect. Shoppers can also refuel at ASDA’s latest ‘Kitchen’ concept eatery, featuring an upgraded menu of hot and cold favourites—including a new fresh pizza offering. Commenting on the re-brand plans Asda chief commercial officer George and Retail stores, Liz Evans, said: “Our Asda Living stores have been incredibly successful in showcasing the best of our non-food offering conveniently under roof, creating a seamless shopping experience for our customers. As retail habits evolve and customer expectations rise, we remain committed to delivering exceptional choice and an experience that continues to meet—and exceed—the needs of today’s shopper." “The George brand is deeply woven into our heritage and our customers have a strong connection with it as a trusted name known for delivering both quality and value. This latest transformation is all about making shopping easier and more inspiring with the Geroge brand at its heart." “Our plans for the new George concept store in Leeds are really exciting and will offer a unique format that truly sets us apart from competitors. We believe this new approach along with our focus on value, quality, and standout hero categories will continue to differentiate us in the market and we look forward to hearing what our customers think.” The George brand first originated in 1989, when fashion designer and retail entrepreneur, George Davies, partnered with Asda to create George – a high-quality, great-value clothing brand with its own distinct identity. Just a year later, it became the UK’s first-ever supermarket clothing brand. By 2004, Asda had become Britain’s biggest clothing retailer, and launched its first Asda Living store in Walsall, expanding its offer into home and general merchandise. Now, 35 years since its launch, the brand is stronger than ever with presence in 560 Asda stores throughout the UK and 260 visits per year to George.com. Asda Living at Crown Point Retail Park will close on April 27 while the re-brand and refurbishment takes place. The new George concept store will open at 9am on Saturday 10th May.

The NFU has called on the Chancellor to invest in the UK’s food security, which this government has repeatedly stated is critical to national security, in the upcoming Spending Review. With geopolitical tensions high, a rapidly changing trading environment and climate change disrupting food supply chains across the world, the NFU is highlighting how investment in homegrown food production today can help avoid food insecurity tomorrow. It comes in the wake of the National Preparedness Commission’s warning that the UK’s food security is in a ‘precarious state’1. There are five key areas which the NFU believes will help the UK’s food and farming sector to grow, and is asking the Treasury to support in the Spending Review. These are: A UK-wide annual agriculture budget of £5.6 billion – a long-term policy approach on the farming budget will enable a resilient, growing and sustainable agricultural sector that can plan to invest in the future. Without this, it is unclear how the sector will be able to meet the government’s targets and commitments across nature, climate, productivity and food security. A cross-government, fully funded biosecurity plan – a biosecure Britain requires resource in order to prevent disease outbreaks and, when necessary, to tackle the latest threats. Without this, we remain at risk of another major disease outbreak that threatens entire sectors, alongside new risks exacerbated by climate change and increased exposure through inadequate border control and import checks. An end-to-end R&D budget for agri-tech – a revolution in British agri-tech innovation is needed to drive productivity and to produce food in a smarter, more sustainable way. Defra’s new funding within the Farming Innovation Programme2 was well received by the NFU last week, and we believe a dedicated R&D budget would add even greater value and drive investment. Without this, British farmers and institutions could fall behind international competitors. A sufficient budget to invest in flooding management – with flooding events becoming ever more frequent, we need a future proofed investment plan to ensure the maintenance and expansion of our flooding defences in order to keep communities safe. Without this, families and businesses will continue to pick up the pieces of their homes and livelihoods each winter, and at great cost to the government. Review the NFU’s clawback proposal for Inheritance Tax changes3 – one thing the Chancellor must do to restore confidence and enable investment in the farming sector is to do the right thing on the family farm tax. Without this, unaffordable bills could tear family farm businesses apart and dry up any possible investment or growth opportunities. NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The UK’s food and drink sector is an economic powerhouse. It’s the country’s biggest manufacturing sector, contributing £148 billion to the national economy and supporting more than 4 million jobs. Farm businesses are its foundation." “Make no mistake, global instability and a more unpredictable climate is making homegrown food production harder, while also putting pressure on food supply chains around the world." “We simply must invest in food production to safeguard the future of our food. Failure to do this will lead to reduced food production at home, forcing a reliance on imports which, as an island nation amidst serious global volatility, is not a smart move." “We know the Treasury is having to make difficult decisions, but this is not money for money’s sake. Investment in homegrown food production now will help secure UK food security in the future. It will secure jobs and the economic contribution of the sector, as well as kickstart rural economic growth by breaking down barriers to opportunity for rural communities." “The government has been talking about a new deal for farmers. A Spending Review that supports a growing, resilient, sustainable, biosecure and technologically advanced farming sector is the lynchpin of that new deal.” NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “We’ve heard a lot of strong words from government about the importance of food security. Now, we need to see strong action to match." “Investment in farming isn’t just about helping farmers; it’s about building national resilience. Wales, like the rest of the UK, is feeling the pressure of climate change, supply chain shocks and market volatility, and farmers across the UK are ready to be part of the solution, producing climate-friendly food while supporting our economy and environment." “The Spending Review is a moment for the Treasury to show it values domestic food production as a cornerstone of our national interest. Backing farmers means backing a stable, secure and sustainable future for everyone.” Above Photo: NFU Cymru President Aled Jones and NFU President Tom Bradshaw Standing in Downing Street.

Property consultancy Vail Williams has secured four major properties in Sussex, totalling 68,000 sq ft, for an expanding patient transport specialist. Healthcare logistics provider EMED Group won a 10-year contract from the NHS to provide non-emergency transportation of patients across the county. EMED Group is one of the largest health and care partners to the NHS with more than 2,800 colleagues across over 50 bases UK-wide. Vail Williams was instrumental in delivering a new regional hub, in one of the biggest regional deals of the last 12 months, and three other strategically located premises for EMED to service the contract which began on April 1. The firm has been supporting long-established client EMED with strategic property needs to allow them to hit the ground running with their service delivery, including comprehensive occupier advisory advice, encompassing agency, building consultancy, planning and business rates. Vail Williams successfully negotiated a deal for EMED at Panattoni Park, which directly fronts the A2300 dual carriageway with fast access to the A23/M23, Gatwick Airport, Brighton and the South Coast. EMED occupy 35,000 sq ft at Panattoni Park Burgess Hill on a 10-year lease following a deal concluded by Vail Williams partner Geoff Fallon. LSH, DTRE and SHW acted for Panattoni. Panattoni Park is a speculative development offering a flexible range of unit sizes from 8,142 sq ft to 147,408 sq ft in single units and is the first entry into the South Coast market for Panattoni, the UK’s largest industrial developer. This was followed by a 21,280 sq ft, brand-new industrial unit at Swallow Business Park, Hailsham, which was leased ‘shell and core’ from a local developer and completed at the end of March. SHW acted for the landlord. Vail Williams’ associate Mikael Goldsmith delivered 10,207 sq ft at 27 & 28 Lineside, Littlehampton in an off-market deal with the landlord who took an early surrender from an existing tenant in order to undertake works to the building ahead of occupation. The deal concluded in early April with SHW representing the landlord. Mikael also sourced and acquired Units 6&7 Chichester Business Park, spanning 4,876 sq ft, with Flude Property Consultants and LSH acting for the landlord. Vail Williams Partner Geoff Fallon said: “It was a pleasure to once again work with EMED Group, which provides a reliable and efficient travel solution for those needing non-emergency medical care, such as outpatient appointments, discharges, and renal dialysis." “EMED’s move was driven by the need to successfully cover the major new contract and also the desire to transition from outdated facilities to a future-proofed, energy-efficient development." “Originally, we were working towards leasing three properties for them, but ended up securing four, to enable EMED to house their ambulances and other vehicles at strategic locations, to enable them to reach patients in optimum time." “The key to the whole process for us was to understand our client’s requirements and timescales for delivery, as well as bringing together a team of advisers from across our occupier advisory, building consultancy and agency teams to ensure occupation of all four premises, just shy of April 1." “We worked very closely with our client and lawyers in overcoming snags and obstacles which naturally occur in process as complex, challenging and time-restricted as this one. It is testament to everyone involved that we got this over the line successfully.” “Not only this, but we managed to achieve the lettings under the client’s planned budget, as well as a significant rent-free period equivalent to 42% of the first year’s rental." “As part of the advice, we undertook snagging lists, pre-acquisition surveys, and a schedule of condition at Littlehampton. The due diligence of our surveyors ensured that EMED has properties aligned with their contract, which allow flexibility whilst protecting their repairing liabilities.” As well as Geoff and Mikael, colleagues Chris Bailey, Holly Vos, Nicki Rought and Callum Maynard were all involved in the process. Gowlings Solicitors, Birmingham, acted for EMED throughout. Darren Henderson, Head of Procurement and Contracts at EMED Group, said: “We tasked Vail Williams with sourcing and securing suitable, accessible, flexible and cost-effective premises to service our new patient transport contract across Sussex." “Geoff and his team have come up trumps for us once again. Panattoni Park is the ideal solution for our current needs and our strategically located sites in Burgess Hill, Chichester, Hailsham and Littlehampton will ensure that patients will receive the best possible service." “It was crucial to acquire the right sites so we can deliver significant improvements to the patient transport system for NHS Sussex, including a single point of contact operating every day, an expanded service, improved service for mental health patients, use of the latest technology and improved accessibility.” Vail Williams’ full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy.

Jamie, 38, joined us for £1M from Fleetwood Town in 2012 and has gone on to become a Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield and double Championship winner during a golden era for our Club. There is no other player more synonymous with the incredible successes achieved in that time and, with nearly 500 appearances and almost 200 goals to his name, Vardy’s achievements on Filbert Way are unrivalled throughout our 141-year history. The legendary striker leaves the Club after a trophy-laden 13 years The 38-year-old is closing in on 500 appearances since joining City in 2012 His final King Power Stadium appearance will be on Sunday 18 May We can confirm legendary striker Jamie Vardy will leave Leicester City this summer after 13 seasons that have seen him become our greatest-ever player.   Jamie’s final game at King Power Stadium will be on Sunday 18 May against Ipswich Town, where he will bid farewell to the supporters with whom he has lived through his rise from a non-league hopeful to one of the best goal scorers the Premier League has ever seen. Leicester City Chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, said: “Jamie is unique. He is a special player and an even more special person. He holds a place in the hearts of everyone connected to Leicester City, and he certainly has my deepest respect and affection. I am endlessly grateful for everything he has given to this Football Club." “Although Jamie’s time with us as a player is ending, he and his family will always be welcomed back to King Power Stadium with open arms after all he has achieved. On behalf of everyone at Leicester City, I wish Jamie and his family the very best for the future and I know our supporters will join us in giving him the send-off he deserves at the end of this season.” Jamie himself confirmed the news today with a personal message on his social media channels. He leaves Leicester City as the third-highest goal scorer and appearance-maker in our history and has been a pivotal figure in all our recent achievements. From our ‘Great Escape' in 2014/15, to the 5000/1 Premier League title win a season later that is regarded as one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time - he has been at the heart of it all. That season included his record-breaking run of scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games - a record that still stands – and Jamie being named the Premier League Player of the Season and the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year. He would go on in subsequent seasons to continue scoring goals in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, while also securing the Premier League Golden Boot with 23 goals in 2019/20. As well as lifting two Championship titles with the Foxes - the most recent as captain and an entire decade after the first - Vardy has also helped us win our first-ever FA Cup in 2021. In doing so, he became the only player in history to have played in every round of the competition from the preliminary stages to the final - a testament to the hard work, dedication and talent that has seen him rise to the top of the game. Jamie's career with Leicester City and his unparalleled contributions will be celebrated in the build-up to our final home fixture of the season as we express our deepest gratitude to a true great of this Football Club.

A Derby Indian restaurant’s take on the UK’s most popular lunchtime snack has kicked-off a new craze among hungry Derby County fans this season. Nicco Restaurant & Bar, based in Pride Park, has been inundated on match days by supporters keen to get their hands on one of three flavours of ‘naanwich’ before heading to the stadium. In the relegation zone are traditional pre-match snacks like burgers, pie and gravy or a cone of chips. Instead, Rams fans have been opting for Nicco’s chicken tikka, herb paneer tikka or gilafi seekh kebab naanwichs in their droves. As a result, the popular family restaurant has sold more than 100 naanwichs before every home game this season, placing its tasty creation firmly at the top of the league in terms of fan favourites. Bhav Kumar, who runs Nicco alongside her husband Sanj Kumar, said: “We knew our naanwichs would get some mouths watering, but we’ve been absolutely blown away by how popular they are among Rams fans. Week after week, we’ve had fans queuing out of the door to get their hands on a naanwich. The word has clearly spread to the point where we have to be on our very best game to match the demand." “Everyone here is so delighted to have been able to put a smile on the faces of so many Rams fans this season – especially as they’ve not always had much to smile about by the time the final whistle has been blown.” Bhav said that what began as merely a fun ‘nod’ to the good old British sandwich has since turned the naanwich into Nicco’s best-selling product on match days. Naanwichs, which are all priced at £15.50, are served daily at the restaurant between 12pm and 4pm. They can be eaten in or taken away. Each folded naan bread is served with chips and comes with its own tasty combination of fillings. The chicken tikka version, for example, consists of chargrilled chicken, fresh mixed salad, a sprinkle of cheese and a drizzle of mint-flavoured mayonnaise. The herb paneer tikka is filled with Indian cottage cheese, fresh mixed salad and drizzled with mint chutney. And the gilafi seekh kebab comes with mixed lamb kebab seasoned with garlic, spices and a sprinkle of cheese, all served with fresh mixed salad and drizzled with mint mayo. Bhav said that, due to their popularity, Nicco’s planned to carry on selling its naanwichs for football fans and non-football fans alike for the foreseeable future. “Wherever the Rams end up, we can at least promise supporters they will have a great winning combination to come back to next season,” she said. “And we’re even looking at some exciting new recipes to bring into our naanwich team!”

Property consultancy Vail Williams has appointed two new starters and welcomed back a former colleague to bolster its Midlands team as business demand expands. Emma Brooks has been hired as a valuation associate and Joshua Laurence as a graduate surveyor, while Brian Miklasz has rejoined the Birmingham-based firm as an associate rating surveyor. Emma was appointed after more than six years with Midlands property firm Loveitts after eight years at Pennycuick Collins Chartered Surveyors in Birmingham. Emma acts predominantly for banks and other lenders to provide valuations for lending purposes, as well as for pension fund, taxation, accounting and statutory matters. She has also represented valuation clients at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Carole Taylor, regional managing partner for Vail Williams in the Midlands and North said: “Emma is a vastly experienced RICS Registered Valuer with a broad range of expertise in the valuation of residential and commercial properties, including HMOs, across the West Midlands and beyond." “Her professionalism, detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of her sector are proving invaluable. She is also a great team player and is able to offer advice and encouragement to colleagues.” Joshua joined after 18 months as a commercial property agent with Maguire Jackson in Birmingham, where he handled major sales and letting disposals, predominantly in the jewellery quarter. At Vail Williams he is responsible for advising landlords and occupiers on commercial freehold and leasehold acquisition and disposal across the Midlands and North. Joshua, who has a degree in property development and planning from Oxford Brookes, is now working towards his APC to become a RICS chartered surveyor. Carole added: “Joshua has built up invaluable knowledge of the Birmingham commercial property market and will be aiming to further this knowledge and experience." “He is tasked with helping to expanding our commercial freehold and leasehold acquisition and disposal work across the region as part of our ongoing growth plans.” Brian, who has rejoined the firm after 18 months as an associate with Cushman & Wakefield in Birmingham, is part of the business rates team. Previously with Vail Williams for nearly six years, he has national experience. “We welcome back Brian as a seasoned operator with immense sector knowledge who has seamlessly returned to our business rates team and works closely with Adam Barnfield, the firm’s national head of business rates.” Vail Williams has been based in the Midlands for more than 15 years, during which time the team in Birmingham has tripled in size. Vail Williams’ full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy. Above Photo: New Hires - Carole Taylor, second left, regional managing partner for Vail Williams in the Midlands and North, welcomes graduate surveyor Joshua Laurence, left, valuation associate Emma Brooks and associate rating surveyor Brian Miklasv to the firm’s Birmingham office