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Willmott Dixon has started a new £20 million neighbourhood health hub in Weybridge, Surrey, to create a modern, purpose-built facility that will transform primary and community healthcare provision for the local population. Procured via the Procure23 framework, the project is being delivered on behalf of NHS Property Services, working in partnership with the Department of Health & Social Care and NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board. Once complete, the development will represent one of the region’s most substantial recent investments in primary and community healthcare infrastructure. The new facility will provide a modern health hub designed to meet both current and future population needs. The Phoenix Family Practice will relocate into the building, which will also include maternity services, same day urgent care, diagnostics, and health and wellbeing support. A flexible first floor space will allow the NHS to adapt services over time in response to changing local demand. Pioneering Model for Neighbourhood Health Delivery The Weybridge facility brings together a range of primary and community health services under one roof, providing a sustainable response to local needs and forming part of a wider commitment to improving health outcomes and modernising healthcare infrastructure. Richard Poulter, Willmott Dixon’s Managing Director for the South: “We are pleased to be delivering this much needed community health facility for Weybridge. This development will bring essential health and wellbeing services closer to local residents, creating a modern, accessible centre shaped around the needs of the community." “With more than 100 healthcare construction projects, 30 of which have been community healthcare facilities, delivered across England and Wales over the past decade, our team brings deep experience in creating environments that support high quality patient care. Working closely with NHS Property Services and our project partners, this will be a sustainable, high performing building that the people of Weybridge can be proud of. We look forward to completing the new facility in 2027.” Vicky Stobbart, Director of Commissioning and Delivery for NHS Surrey Heartlands: “This is a significant milestone for the project. The start of construction work represents years of planning, extended collaboration and a major investment in the future of this modern health facility and for the health and wellbeing of local people.” Simon Taylor, Director Estates Policy, Strategy and Capital Projects, NHS Property Services: "This groundbreaking event celebrates a key moment as construction begins on this £20 million investment in Weybridge. We are focussed on delivering an NHS estate that is fit for the future and meets the modern health demands of communities across the country. This new neighbourhood health facility will provide more services, which can often prevent ill health, closer to people’s homes, ensuring the Ten-Year-Health-Plan goals are achieved.” Dr Graeme Wilding, GP Partner at The Phoenix Family Practice, said: “Over the past eight years, despite limited space and facilities, our staff at the Phoenix Family Practice has continued to provide safe, compassionate and professional care. Reaching this stage is a significant milestone, and we’re delighted to see the new building finally underway. The new facility will allow us to expand our services, offer a more welcoming environment for patients and give us the stability we need for the future.” The Weybridge health hub is an early example of the type of neighbourhood-based model of care set out in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and reinforced by the government’s Budget commitment to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres across England. The programme will co-locate local health services such as GPs and physiotherapists in modern, purpose-built facilities designed to improve access to care and support a more preventative and sustainable NHS. Health Sector Expertise The Weybridge health hub adds to Willmott Dixon’s growing portfolio of transformational healthcare projects. The company recently broke ground on the £140m Emergency Care Building at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth – the first Wave 1 scheme in the New Hospital Programme to begin main construction. News Barnes Hospital and London River Academy Transforming Barnes Hospital: A new era for health and education in South West London Community healthcare hubs Non-acute healthcare in a community environment will drive health and wellbeing Neighbourhood Health Centres   Delivering the Future of Local Care Weybridge Health Facility New health facility offering maternity care, same-day urgent care, and diagnostics to Weybridge residents.

St Austell Brewery welcomed acclaimed chef, broadcaster and sustainability campaigner Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall to its head office, as part of a special St Piran’s Day event celebrating Cornwall’s rich food and drink culture. Hosted in partnership with the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, the event brought together 40 producers, growers, businesses, charities and suppliers from across the county to showcase the creativity that defines the region’s culinary identity. Hugh took part in an in conversation ‘fireside’ chat, where he discussed his long-standing passion for sustainable food systems, the importance of local produce, and highlights from his career. Guests also joined a Q&A session and had the opportunity to network with fellow Cornish producers while sampling a range of locally made products. Commenting on the event and conversations, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, said: “It was brilliant to be in Cornwall today on St Piran’s Day with so many local growers, makers and suppliers. Great food is always rooted in great stories. When you know where your food comes from - who grew it, caught it or made it - it creates a much deeper connection to what’s on your plate." "Cornwall has an incredible natural larder, and when we source locally and responsibly, we’re not just supporting producers, we’re protecting the landscapes and ecosystems that make this place so special – and what better day to pay homage." ”Whenever we talk about food, we should also be talking about nature - how we farm, fish and grow in ways that protect biodiversity and build a more resilient food system. There’s real optimism in that conversation, particularly as innovation and new thinking open up smarter, more regenerative ways of producing food for the future.” Jak Yelland-Hill, Food Procurement Manager, St Austell Brewery: “Cornwall is home to some of the most talented producers and exceptional ingredients in the country, and we’re incredibly proud to have strong, long lasting relationships with our suppliers across our heartland." “A strong local supply chain is vital for quality, resilience and sustainability. Events like this help reinforce the importance of our suppliers and St Piran’s Day is a perfect moment to celebrate the Cornish producers who help us deliver quality across our pub menus and ensure our wholesale drinks range continues to reflect the very best of the region.” John Brown, Chief Executive, Cornwall Chamber, said: “Cornwall’s food and drink sector is built on people, place and pride - and telling those stories matters more than ever. When local businesses champion one another and share their successes, it raises the profile of the whole supply chain and strengthens our regional economy." “Events like this create space for curiosity, collaboration and conversation about the future - from food security to regenerative farming and biodiversity. There is a real sense of momentum and optimism across the sector, and by continuing to learn from one another and tell our stories locally, we can drive positive, long term change for Cornwall.” The morning concluded with a Cornish-inspired brunch hosted by St Austell Brewery, featuring dishes such as roasted plums, Cornish honey and Cornish rump steak, fried egg, and watercress on sourdough. Exhibitors included St Ewe, Buttermilk, Jolly’s, Westcountry, Cornish Larder, Colwith Farm Distillery, Cornish Distilling Co., and Cornish Sea Salt.

A Hampshire accountancy and tax advice firm has promoted two team members to its board of directors in a move designed to support strategic growth plans. Colleagues Tom Young and Matt Cooper, both previously associate directors at HWB Chartered Accountants, now step up as full directors. The pair are already registered auditors, able to sign audit reports as responsible individuals (RIs), an official status recognised by supervisory body the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Tom joined Chandler’s Ford-based HWB as a trainee from college, achieving his chartered (ACA) qualification in 2012 and taking on a business adviser role two years later. He was promoted to Associate Director in 2022, with responsibility for managing a portfolio that spans different sectors and company sizes including owner-managed businesses with a dedicated focus on the property industry. His work for clients includes practical audit advice and services to support business strategy, development and growth. Tom said: “I’m honoured to step into the role of a director and am very grateful to the board for their continued guidance and support throughout my time at HWB.” Matt was made an Associate Director in 2023 following eight years’ service as an Accounts & Audit Business Adviser during which, like Tom, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. As well as owner-managed businesses in the SME market across Hampshire and Dorset, Matt specialises in education, charities, FCA-regulated firms and the construction and recruitment sectors. HWB Managing Director Tracy Jenkins said: “Congratulations to Tom and Matt on their much-deserved promotions. As well as being fantastic colleagues, they both work exceptionally hard and, through their skills and expertise, deliver real value to our clients. I am thrilled they are now full directors at HWB and able to make an even stronger contribution to our growth and success. These internal promotions reflect HWB’s dedication to supporting career progression and nurturing future leaders. We continue to invest in our people, ensuring clients receive expert, consistent and trusted support across all areas of audit, accounting, tax and payroll.” Chartered accountants HWB , headquartered at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, provide business and tax advice. The firm is registered and regulated to carry out audit work in the UK by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Photo: Matt Cooper, left, and Tom Young have been promoted as directors at Hampshire accountancy and tax advice firm HWB. With them is Managing Director Tracy Jenkins.

St Austell Brewery is raising a glass to its 175th anniversary with the launch of a special limited-edition cask ale range for 2026. The range includes several much-loved favourites, revived from the brewery’s archives.   Drawing on recipes from brewing books dating back to the 1800s, the 175th anniversary collection pays tribute to some of the most well-loved beers in St Austell Brewery’s history. Alongside reimagined beers from its past and current core range - including a new anniversary ale named 1851 - each release has been carefully curated.   Classics such as Admiral's Ale (5% ABV), first brewed in 2005 to mark the bicentenary of Nelson's triumph at Trafalgar will return, alongside best bitter Trelawny (3.8% ABV), named after Bishop Trelawny from Cornish folklore. The burnished copper ale is still fondly remembered by beer fans.   The final release in the eight-strong cask line-up is Tribute Extra (5.3% ABV), the big sibling of St Austell Brewery’s best-selling Tribute pale ale. Brewed with Cornish barley and signature Celeia and Willamette hops, the rich pale ale is bold, complex, and full of character - a true celebration of that little bit extra.   The collection forms part of St Austell Brewery’s wider programme of 175-year celebrations, which includes commemorative events, special collaborations and a renewed focus on the business’s heritage pubs and regional roots.   Georgina Young, Brewing Director at St Austell Brewery, said: “Reaching 175 years is an extraordinary milestone, so it felt only right to celebrate by bringing some of our most cherished beers back to life. Our brewing archives are full of wonderful recipes - beers that meant something to the people who brewed them and to the communities that enjoyed them." “Revisiting classics, such as Trelawny and Tinners is a reminder of just how deeply our heritage runs, while giving us the chance to brew the beers with the quality and consistency made possible by modern techniques. As a team, we’re incredibly proud to honour our past while continuing to innovate for the beer drinkers of today.”   The commemorative cask beer range will be available in St Austell Brewery pubs and available to order for its wholesale customers. Cornish Ale, Trelawny – the first beer in the range – will be available from March 30th.   For pubs wishing to stock the limited-edition beers, visit  here .

Two Lake District hotel managers have swapped respective job roles and venues to obtain more experience and develop their professional skills.   Adam Bujok from Wild Boar Estate and Gary Tennant from Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa have changed places on a mutual month long secondment to manage new teams and learn about the different ways each venue is run.   As part of English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues’ Leadership and Development programme, the rationale for the switch is to accelerate Adam and Gary’s continuous professional development and managerial skills.   The job swap has been designed to ensure each manager benefits from maximum exposure to distinctly new environments out of their usual comfort zone, especially as Low Wood Bay and Wild Boar Estate are two distinctly diverse venues in character and set-up.   For Adam, the secondment has provided a new challenge in managing ‘The Spa at Low Wood Bay’ and supporting the spa team in all that entails. “It’s been a real eye opener to look after a new team and a departure from the norm in that my responsibilities during the secondment have been specific to spa services and management,” he explains. “That’s been quite a different and varied challenge and I think the biggest take-away from the job swap has been getting into the intricacies of plant maintenance and equipment operations for both the spa facilities and the pools. There’s a lot of behind the scenes technical work that goes into ensuring spa equipment runs smoothly and safely.” Gary’s move from the spa to managing the day to day running of the entire Wild Boar Estate with its Grill and Smokehouse restaurant and on-site microbrewery has been highly motivational for him too. He says: “It’s a great venue with lots of subtle, charming and traditional touches from its previous life as an historic, traditional inn." “I’ve enjoyed the challenge of managing a full hotel operation, including rooms, food and beverage and leading a different team. The day-to-day revenue dynamics have reinforced how small operational decisions directly impact overall performance. It’s been a great opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and sharpen my leadership style in a different environment." “The experience has undoubtedly improved my skills and that will hopefully stand me in good stead for further managerial opportunities.”   English Lakes Hotels Group Operations Director Michael Kay adds: “We are always looking for opportunities to freshen up our management approaches. The aim has been to stretch and enhance Adam and Gary’s existing skills by swapping hotels and working with other teams under different circumstances. Both of them have benefitted from knowledge sharing and each has brought new ideas and innovations to the table too.” In partnership with Godfrey Owen Consulting, the English Lakes Hotels Leadership and Development programme is designed to develop management and employability skills, increase industry know-how and encourage innovation and new approaches.   For further information about new job roles at English Lakes Hotels, visit here .

Lovey (formerly Love Finance), the UK’s fastest-growing SME lender and broker, has announced the appointment of its new Chief Technology Officer, Mario Husha, to expand the company’s c-suite and support the next phase of the company’s growth. Mario brings to Lovey over 15 years of experience building, scaling, and securing platforms across fintech, regtech, payroll, and embedded finance, focusing on startup and growth-stage businesses operating in regulated environments. Most recently, Mario served as Chief Technology Officer at Level Financial Technology, where he led engineering, security, and supported the company’s expansion into embedded finance and enterprise partnerships within the Earned Wage Access market. Throughout his role, Mario will lead Lovey’s tech strategy, drive sprint-based delivery, and own data integrity across its lending platforms. Reporting directly to Alex O’Malley, Chief Commercial Officer of Lovey, he will be shaping the direction of both Lovey’s B2B and B2C tech products. His appointment further strengthens Lovey’s executive leadership team as the business scales its technology infrastructure. He has a proven track record of delivering resilient, high-growth platforms in complex, regulated sectors, expertise that will underpin Lovey’s next stage of innovation. Mario Husha, Chief Technology Officer at Lovey comments, “I’m excited to help drive Lovey’s continued growth, with a focus on advancing our technology, developing new solutions for SMEs, and strengthening our platform for long-term growth. Everything we do will be guided by Lovey’s mission to make business lending simple, fast, and tailored to our customers. Building technology that genuinely meets customer needs and keeps pace with market demands has always been a priority for me, and I’m looking forward to bringing that focus to Lovey.” Alex O’Malley, Chief Commercial Officer at Lovey comments, “Mario’s appointment is a pivotal step in taking our products and technology to the next level. We’re committed to innovating at pace while continuing to deliver the reliability and service our customers expect. His expertise will be crucial in helping us achieve our mission and support the growth of the thousands of SMEs we serve.” This new appointment compliments the company’s recent rename to Lovey and marks another important milestone in its mission to provide fast, flexible and tailored funding solutions to thousands of UK businesses. To learn more about the company or to apply for a fast, flexible business loan, visit here .

Property finance lender MSP Capital has appointed an experienced real estate professional as its new Senior Business Development Manager. Imogen Williams brings more than ten years’ experience across bridging, development and specialist property finance to the Poole, Dorset-based firm. Her previous employers in the sector include lenders such as Cynergy Bank, Capital Rise and West One. A key career focus has involved delivering loans from £1 million to £20 million for projects in London, the home counties, the Cotswolds and the M4 corridor. At MSP Capital, Imogen will be responsible for developing and managing broker relationships in order to drive new lending opportunities and support the firm’s aim of a loan book worth £750 million or more by 2030. Imogen said: “MSP Capital is known for building and maintaining strong and lasting partnerships with clients. Brokers and borrowers seeking development or bridging finance are drawn by the team’s experience and ability to operate on a relationship-led, solutions-driven footing." “I really value that approach and I’m keen to play my part in the firm’s ambitions and overall strategy for loan book growth.” Welcoming the appointment, MSP Capital’s Commercial Director Adam Tovey said: “Imogen is a highly experienced professional with a proven track record of originating, structuring and delivering high-value specialist lending. We’re thrilled she has joined us." “We plan to make further senior hires during 2026 to support our loan book ambitions.”

Emma Gross, Employment partner at law firm Spencer West LLP says: “The current situation involving employees who are stranded in the Middle East raises a number of important employment law and HR considerations. Employers will need to approach matters carefully, balancing legal obligations with operational realities and employee welfare." "The starting point is whether the employee is able to continue working remotely. If the employee can carry out their duties from abroad and is ready and willing to work, they should ordinarily continue to receive their normal pay. An employee who is prepared to work but prevented from physically returning due to circumstances outside their control will generally remain entitled to pay, subject to the terms of their contract." "Where the employee is unable to work at all, the position becomes more complex. Much will depend on the contractual terms and any applicable policies. In many cases, there is no express contractual right permitting an employer to withhold pay where the absence is involuntary and caused by external events (for example, airspace closures or conflict). Any unilateral decision to suspend pay could expose the employer to claims for unlawful deduction from wages or breach of contract." Employers should therefore consider practical and lawful alternatives, such as: Agreeing a temporary period of paid leave; Requiring or permitting the employee to take annual leave (subject to statutory notice requirements); Agreeing unpaid leave by mutual consent; or Considering whether any other form of leave under company policy may apply. "Each case will turn on its facts, including the reason for the employee being abroad, whether the travel was business-related or personal, and whether the employer required or authorised the travel." "Where the employee was travelling for work, additional considerations arise. Employers owe a duty of care to employees on business travel, which includes taking reasonable steps to safeguard their health and safety. In higher-risk regions, this may extend to maintaining regular contact, monitoring Foreign Office guidance, assisting with evacuation arrangements where appropriate, and ensuring suitable insurance and support mechanisms are in place." "Even where the travel was personal, employers should remain mindful of the implied duty of mutual trust and confidence. A rigid or punitive approach in circumstances involving conflict or emergency may carry employee relations and reputational risks, as well as potential legal exposure." There may also be practical HR considerations, including: Business continuity planning; Immigration implications if employees are stranded outside the UK for extended periods; Data protection and confidentiality risks if employees are working remotely from unfamiliar environments; Consistency of approach across the workforce to avoid grievances or discrimination allegations. "In short, employers should prioritise clear communication, consistency, and documented decision-making. Policies on business travel, emergency response, and remote working should be reviewed as a matter of urgency where necessary. Legal advice should be sought before taking any steps that could affect pay, employment status, or disciplinary action." "A measured and pragmatic response will be essential in navigating what is, ultimately, an evolving and fact-sensitive situation.”

Commenting, Faye Church, Senior Planning Director at Rathbones, says: “The Spring Statement offered little immediate relief for business owners already grappling with a heavy tax burden and persistently rising costs. For many SMEs, the issue isn’t just what was announced, but what remains unresolved - not least the absence of an extension to business rates relief." “Our research shows that tax and cost pressures have already forced more than one in five SME leaders to cut staff, with business rates, employer National Insurance and regulatory costs weighing heavily on confidence and investment." "Against that backdrop, the renewed spike in oil and gas prices following the escalation in Iran risks adding another layer of strain at a time when margins are already thin." “Higher oil and gas prices can feed quickly into transport, utilities and supply chains, pushing up day to day operating costs across the economy. For smaller firms with limited pricing power, these external shocks are particularly hard to absorb - especially when they come on top of an already rising business tax burden." “In this environment, stability and targeted support matter. Without meaningful action to ease the cumulative burden on SMEs, there is a real risk that higher costs - now compounded by geopolitics and global energy shocks - could further dampen investment, hiring and growth at a time when the UK economy can least afford it.”

RH Amar has completed the move into its new purpose-built headquarters in High Wycombe, marking a major milestone in the company’s 80-year history. The new home for the third-generation family business provides increased warehouse capacity, brand new office space, and plenty of personal touches - including Henry’s Place, a social hub named in honour of Chairman, Henry Amar. The new site also includes expansive kitchen facilities, along with wellness rooms and a games area for colleagues to enjoy.  Rob Amar, RH Amar Managing Director, said: “The move to our new headquarters is a special moment for our family business, and for me personally. It has been a long journey to get to this moment, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see colleagues’ excited reactions to our new home, which has been designed to support our expanding operations and long-term growth ambitions. " "It is a modern working environment for colleagues to enjoy and excel, and we look forward to welcoming our brand partners, customers and other visitors.” The move follows a period of significant expansion for RH Amar, which has achieved double-digit revenue growth in each of the past five years. Recent business wins have seen brands such as Branston, Dunkin’, Hermesetas and Weetabix join RH Amar’s portfolio and further strengthen the company’s position in the market. RH Amar is a full-service food distributor which partners with brand owners to drive growth across the UK market through distribution, sales, marketing and technical expertise. The new headquarters maintain the company’s excellent transport links, located less than a mile from M40 Junction 4 on the outskirts of High Wycombe. About RH Amar RH Amar is one of the UK’s leading full-service distributors and growth partners for ambient foods - providing sales, marketing and technical support to successfully grow brands across the UK market. The company is a family-run business, founded in 1945, and now in its third generation. It retains family values at its core and treats every brand as its own. RH Amar’s brand portfolio includes some of the UK’s best-loved food brands such as Branston, Del Monte, Dunkin’, Ella’s Kitchen, Kikkoman, Mutti and Weetabix alongside smaller specialist brands. The company also owns the Camp Coffee, Cooks&Co and Mary Berry’s Dressings brands. The company donates 10% of its profits each year to charity, with more than £3m donated to charitable causes since 2013. View the RH Amar brand portfolio here .

A Partner specialising in not-for-profit and charity sector work at UK top 10 accountancy firm Azets has been appointed as honorary treasurer at a hospice in north Kent. Siobhan Holmes, based in Azets’ Sidcup office, is the new Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committees at the Community Hospice, previously known as Greenwich and Bexley Hospice. For Siobhan, who has been with Azets for almost a year after 13 years with HaysMac in London, it is a labour of love as she lives in the Borough of Bexley and is a lifelong supporter of the hospice. She said: “I was honoured to have been appointed to this important role. The Community Hospice does an incredible job and with increasing funding pressures and rising costs, it is essential that trustees provide both support and constructive challenge to ensure the charity remains forward thinking and continues to lead the way in delivering palliative care." “This trusteeship is particularly close to my heart as I have been a loyal supporter for many years and during my earlier professional role, when I was part of the audit team looking after the hospice, it ignited my passion for specialising in the charity sector. It’s a real pleasure to have come full circle.” Siobhan, who was named as one of influential publication Accountancy Age’s ‘35 Under 35’ winners in 2024, has for more than a decade specialised in the NFP and charity sector. She was awarded the Diploma in Charity Accounting in 2015. She has extensive experience of working with a broad range of clients such as grant makers and benevolent funds, fundraising charities, arts and culture, membership charities, independent schools and academies. Although her work at Azets focuses on statutory audits and independent examinations, Siobhan also enjoys advising clients beyond complex audit and accounting issues and goes the extra mile for them. The hospice, in Bostall Hill, Abbey Wood, first opened its doors in February 1994 after a long fundraising campaign launched by friends Pat Jeavons and Don Sturrock, who were living with cancer. In 2010 services were expanded to support people in hospital, in care homes and in their own homes. Today, the hospice strives to ensure that everyone who is in need of palliative or terminal care in Greenwich and Bexley gets the support and care that they need to make their last days count. At any one time, the hospice is caring for around 750 people in the community who are living with a life-limiting illness – at home, in hospital or in a hospice bed, as well as supporting families to have those tough conversations, make difficult decisions, navigate reams of paperwork, and help manage physical and emotional pain. Photo: Hospice Role - Siobhan Holmes, Partner specialising in charities and not-for-profit organisations at UK top 10 accountancy firm Azets, has been appointed to the role of Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committees at the Community Hospice covering Greenwich and Bexley in north Kent

Responding to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement on Tuesday 3 March 2026, Ross McNally, Hampshire Chamber’s Chief Executive and Executive Chairman, said: “This was a missed opportunity to restore confidence. We wanted to see meaningful and practical measures to boost productivity, investment and demand and make the costs of doing business more bearable." “Instead, the Chancellor simply shared forecasts, locked down on previous announcements and signalled no new or significant policy tools such as tax cuts, incentives or structural reforms. That backdrop simply leaves firms feeling unsure about how, together, we can unlock the long-term private-sector growth that our region and country so badly need." “While we understand the focus on fiscal discipline, it was all far too government-centric rather than economy-centric. Whatever the headline growth forecasts, businesses want to see pro-growth levers actually being pulled or we risk stalling investment and job creation." “While Rachel Reeves reinforced the government’s commitment to support skills and apprenticeships, you need business confidence for that, reinforced by industrial strategy, but there was no mention of that." "We wanted to see far more practical support announced for firms facing cost pressures and e conomic headwinds to avoid a flatlining economy. Despite the fiscal responsibilities she updated Parliament on, the growth forecast doesn’t mean anything for businesses that are struggling." “They will be paying higher tax for the foreseeable future. The Statement hasn’t done anything to change that.”