Lincolnshire Co-operative has invested £200,000 to move its pharmacy into the doctors’ surgery building on Newland in Lincoln.

The independent Co-op pharmacy on Lucy Tower Street is being moved inside the Newland Health Centre as part of the project.

There are three doctors’ surgeries on site, and the revamp has involved adding extra rooms, removing a number of internal walls and installing a new shop front.

The Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacy will be in the same building which can be accessed through a connecting door from the GP surgeries or directly from Newland.

The podiatry centre has also been completely refurbished. The new pharmacy in the health centre will open on March 24.

The bigger, more modern pharmacy will have a lighter, brighter shop area, improved waiting and seating areas, two consultation rooms and a bigger dispensary.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Lucy Tower Pharmacist Tony Hayer said: “The new dispensary is two and a half times bigger which means we can stock more items and provide more support for the growing surgeries in the health centre.

“Forging close links with the surgery and the local community is also great, especially having the through-door from the surgery to the pharmacy which will make it easier for patients and also let them know we are here.”

Brayford Medical Practice is located inside Newland Health Centre. Practice Manager Anne Bath said: “The new frontage looks fantastic and the changes internally will enable us to improve the service we can provide.

“Thanks to the additional consulting room we now have, we have been able to take on a third partner and offer another GP to meet the demands of our ever growing list of patients.”

Up to 100 small and medium-sized enterprises in Lincoln, Boston and East Lindsey can apply for a £2.1 million funding pot, which will create over 30 new jobs.

Under Lincolnshire County Council’s Business Growth and Finance Programme, £1,246,270 is being invested so SMEs can benefit from expert advice and cash grants.

The guidance will be tailored to individual needs, with businesses able to choose from strategic, financial or creative support.

The strategy route will see experts help businesses plan for the future and improve every aspect of the way they operate.

If financial support is chosen, money specialists will help ensure finances are in order and that the company is financially ready for growth, as well advise on how to apply for extra funding.

If creative support is preferred, businesses will be offered advice on all aspects of Intellectual Property creation, including developing new products and services that could open up opportunities in different markets.

Finally, to put the advice into action, all participating firms will be able to apply for a grant of between £200 and £2,500.

The Business Growth and Finance Programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, which contributed £874,230.

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development said: ”Local companies are vital to our future prosperity and standard of living.

“The comprehensive support package we’re offering will help improve firms’ performance – boosting economic growth and creating jobs.

“It can help with anything from streamlining processes, making the most of technology and developing products, to entering new markets, bidding for funding and putting innovation at the heart of business operations.”

The project will run from March 2014 until September 30, 2015. Businesses can apply by contacting info@greenborough.com or calling 01522 837269.

Lincoln BIG is reminding city cafes, restaurants and pubs to claim a government grant to get smaller overheads.

Businesses in Lincoln with a rateable value of up to £50,000, which are solely or mainly used as eating and drinking establishments, can claim retail rates relief of up to £1,000.

Lincoln BIG Chief Executive Matt Corrigan said: “This funding was announced by the government in early December.

“It is giving the money to local councils so that they can provide traders with discounts.

“This relief is in support of businesses in both 2014-15 and 2015-16.

“Businesses should have received details from the City of Lincoln Council’s Revenues and Benefits staff but, if not, they can contact them for the appropriate grant application form. Businesses need to keep a copy of their submitted form for three years.”

Traders will continue to pay their non-domestic rates bill whilst their application for relief is being processed.

However, once approved, the amount granted will reflect in the numbers for the remaining rate instalments.

Matt Corrigan added: “The government is also encouraging the take-up of empty shop premises by giving local authorities money to allow them to provide a 50% discount for 18 months to businesses which move into commercial premises which have been empty for a year or more.

“Businesses need to move into these empty properties between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2016, in order to qualify.”

The City of Lincoln Council has put The Lawn back on sale.

The guide price for the Grade II listed building which sits on Union Road is £1 million.

Chartered surveyors Hodgson Elkington have been instructed to market the property for the City Council.

The Lawn was originally developed from 1819 as a purpose-built hospital for treatment and rehabilitation before closing in 1985.

The council bought the property from the Secretary of State for Social Services in 1986 and opened it four years later as a multi-purpose venue following extensive refurbishment.

The Lawn was put on sale before in 2011, but a bid of £1 million from Lincoln hotelier Jonathan Pass was rejected. He also owns the Charlotte House hotel on the premises on The Lawn.

The council say the winning bid will not depend solely on price, as they want to see a viable and sustainable scheme for the building, which will not only work for the developer and also for the city.

It is hoped that the potential scheme will retain many of The Lawn’s original features, with the chartered surveyors expecting to see a number of different proposals for the site coming forward.

They believe a mixed use commercial development will ultimately form part of any successful bid, perhaps including restaurant, function, office and retail uses. However, other expressions of interest are invited.

Jaclyn Gibson, Assistant Director for Business Development and Finance at the City Council, said: “”The Lawn is an iconic site that, given its uphill location and its proximity to the cathedral quarter, is very important for the city

““Its location adjacent to the Castle means it should be making a more significant contribution to what Lincoln has to offer residents and visitors.

“We are keen to attract the kind of investment the Lawn needs to allow this to happen,” she said.

Dan Race, Partner at Hodgson Elkington, said: “”We are delighted to be working in partnership with the City of Lincoln Council, especially as we have been tasked to find a buyer for one of Lincoln’s most iconic buildings.

““Although we see this as a challenging project we are extremely positive and excited about its potential.””

The Lawn site totals around 1.62 hectares and includes three main buildings, the main complex, the conservatory and Charlotte House (which is subject to a long-term lease), as well as the south lawn and car parking.

A graphic designer working in Lincoln has won an award for the most creative apprentice in Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire & Rutland Employment and Skills Board gave the award to James Berridge (19), a junior graphic designer at Ideafuel Creative, at a special event in Skegness.

The event was part of National Apprenticeship Week, which celebrated the work of apprentices and their value to the economy.

Over 400 people attended the event at Butlins, with 20 finalists in seven awards categories.

James Berridge said: “There were a lot of very strong contenders at the awards, so to win the award is absolutely fantastic.

“I am very grateful to Carol and Shaun at Ideafuel for spotting the potential in me, enabling me to join the team through the apprenticeship scheme.

“I think a key part of the reason I won was the opportunities I’ve had, which I believe I simply wouldn’t have had anywhere else.

“I’ve already amassed a portfolio of design work on a range of household name brands as a result of being on an apprenticeship scheme.

“This has given me a great platform for a career as a graphic designer.”

James started an apprenticeship instead of going to university when he left school, having done work experience already at Ideafuel.

Since starting his apprenticeship, he’s worked with clients such as Alstom, Jewson and Lincolnshire solar power specialist, Freewatt.

Ideafuel owner, Carol Pass, said: “James impressed us during his work placement, so it was a very easy decision to make when he approached us about becoming a junior graphic designer. The apprenticeship scheme made that possible.

“He is a very talented designer, and this has helped him quickly establish himself as part of the team. His work just keeps getting better.

“We’re all really proud that James has done so well, and the award is no more than he deserves.”

The owner of popular Lincoln pleasure boat Brayford Belle is bringing back the service this spring and celebrating the legacy left by her late husband.

The Brayford Belle will set sail once again on April 18, with Boatmaster Monna Owen at the helm.

Monna’s late husband Paul ran the service until he passed away in November 2013 following a short illness.

After months of organising and enlisting the help of Paul’s cousin David Bell and brother John Owen, Monna has been able to relaunch the service at the same price as last year.

Monna, who also nurses in North East Lincolnshire, said: “It feels absolutely wonderful to be doing this. It is what he would have wanted me to do and it is lovely to be keeping his legacy going. Paul will never be forgotten.

“The only thing that I won’t be offering this year is on-board parties, but we will be running our pleasure trips from Brayford Pool to the Pyewipe and back five times a day.”

The Brayford Belle’s cruises leave Brayford Pool at 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm, 2.45pm and 3.45pm.

Fares range from £6.50 for adults to £5.50 for Senior Citizens and £4 for Children. Family Tickets are also available costing £18.

Lincoln BIG Events & Promotions Manager Michael Armstrong said: “It’s great news that the Brayford Belle is making a comeback this Easter-time and also that Monna has been able to maintain prices at last year’s level.

“Brayford Pool is a real gem at the heart of the city centre and the Brayford Belle’s cruises allow visitors and locals alike to experience it, and enjoy the city sights and surrounding landscape, in a leisurely way.”

Lincolnshire County Council has signed a £70 million contract with Serco in order to provide a number of services for the authority.

International services company Serco will take over provision of a range of business process and contact centre services, which should deliver over £14 million savings over the next five years, with the option to extend for a further two.

Services include dealing with finance, HR and ICT, and the council’s customer services operations.

Now the contract is signed, Serco will begin work from April, with a full transition from Mouchel, who are currently providing the services, by April 2015.

Councillor Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We are pleased to have signed this important contract with Serco and look forward to them delivering a better deal with more savings, as well as creating additional local employment opportunities.”

Jonathan Prew, Managing Director of Serco’s Public Sector BPO business, added: “We’re very excited about this partnership and the benefits we believe it will deliver to the council and local communities across Lincolnshire.

”By introducing new technology and ways of working, we will help improve services and drive efficiencies for the council.

“However, the most important thing is a smooth transition with no drop in service for citizens and council staff.”

Lincolnshire and Rutland Education Business Partnership (EBP) has launched a new job search service for young people in the region.

The employer-led website, EBP Skills Tree, aims to match 16-25 year olds with employment opportunities.

The website has jobs, apprenticeships, internships, traineeships, graduate placements and local training programmes for teenagers and young adults.

Lincoln businesses that have already pledged their support and will offer positions include City of Lincoln Council, NCSEM1, Destec Engineering, Sills & Betteridge, Chiselwood, Stringers Hairdressing, Brown’s Pie Shop & Restaurant and Lincoln County Hospital of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Other businesses signed up include Lincolnshire Co-Operative and national recruitment agency, Brook Street.

Claire Flavell, Operations Manager for EBP, said: “The feedback we’ve received from young people tells us that they often have trouble knowing where to find vacancies and opportunities.

“Businesses, on the other hand, have said they find themselves struggling to reach their target market of 16-25 year olds with available opportunities.

“What Skills Tree does is provide a central marketplace where businesses can post information about themselves and their vacancies, young people can browse openings, and ultimately, the two can connect with one another through a single platform.”

Aspiring business woman Shaunna East and former Miss UK and Miss-Pick-Me-Up Nicola Willoughby have joined forces to launch a new modelling agency in Lincoln.

USN Models is based at The Terrace in Lincoln and launches officially on April 26, with a meet-and-greet open day and taster session.

The agency will be working alongside Lincoln College in the hopes to offer an experience hub for aspiring students in the beauty and media industries.

At the studio, the agency will work with local photographer Scott Murray.

The team plan to support men and women of all shapes and sizes, and plans for the future include local pageants and fashion shows, plus employment opportunities and apprenticeships.

Shaunna East said: “Growing up I excelled in politics and business. Having children young and being branded a “teen mum” I felt my dreams of being a business woman were out the door.

“With help from Prince’s Trust we hope to take Lincoln by storm and create new jobs for young adults and hopefully bring apprentices and work experience stretching from, models, beauty, photography to admin.

“We not only want success for ourselves and our families but recreate jobs for those who are branded failures before they get a chance.”

Nicola Willoughby added: “My career began when I was just 18 years old. I was attending North Lincolnshire College and during a work placement I was entered into a beauty competition in the popular weekly magazine Take A Break.

“I scooped the title Miss United Kingdom 1999 and have worked with publications such as Elle Magazine, FHM Magazine and OK Magazine.

“I have been extremely lucky and its been a real pleasure — tough but rewarding — and I hope I can now pass on my knowledge and expertise to other budding models.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about opportunities at USN Models can call 07701027271, or email usnmodels@hotmail.co.uk.

Lincoln College brings £185.5 million per year to the local economies in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, according to a report.

The report by EMSI (Economic Modelling Specialists International) assessed the economic impact of Lincoln College on students, society, taxpayers and the local business communities in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

It also found that the majority of the sum is attributed to the skills, training and support the college offers to local employers, as it provides staff development and qualified workers.

Lincoln College works with 1,200 businesses to deliver training programmes such as apprenticeships, assessment-led qualifications in the workplace and short courses.

These are in addition to GCSEs, A-levels, degrees, and vocational qualifications such as BTECs and NVQs.

The college is also a large-scale buyer of local goods and services, spending over £12.5 million in 2011-12 with suppliers.

Lincoln College’s Principal and Chief Executive John Allen said: “Lincoln College is the cornerstone of skills and training in Lincolnshire and the experiences that our students receive at the college have the power to shape the rest of their lives and put them on the path to becoming happy and productive members of society.

“They add value to local businesses by increasing their level of outputs and generating a need for further jobs, creating additional income.

“The college’s mission is to deliver excellence to learners and as long as we continue to do this, all other stakeholder groups will see the positive impacts the college has, not just on the economy but on the local communities too.”

Report analysis

— Extract of analysis from the EMSI report

Lincoln College employed 882 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff in 2011-12. Staff costs amounted to £29.8 million, much of which was spent in the Lincoln College Service Area to purchase groceries, clothing, and other household goods and services.

The College is itself a buyer of goods and services and spent £12.5 million to support its operations in 2011-12. This expenditure further benefited many local suppliers in the Lincoln College Service Area.

The net impact of staff and College expenditure in the Lincoln College Service Area comes to approximately £42 million in added income in the regional economy each year.

Many of Lincoln College’s learners stay in the Lincoln College Service Area. Their enhanced skills and abilities bolster the output of local employers, leading to higher regional income and a more robust economy.

The accumulated impact of former Lincoln College learn- ers who are currently employed in the regional workforce amounts to £141.7 million in added income in the Lincoln College Service Area’s economy each year.

Lincoln College learners who relocate to the Lincoln College Service Area from outside of the area spend money at local shops to buy books and supplies, purchase groceries, rent accommodation, pay for transport, attend sporting events, etc.

The expenditure of Lincoln College’s non-local learners annually adds approximately £1.8 million in income to the Lincoln College Service Area’s economy.

Altogether, the economic contribution of Lincoln College to the local business community in the Lincoln College Service Area is £185.5 million each year.

Total added income created by the College and its learn- ers is equal to 0.5% of the total economic output of the Lincoln College Service Area and represents roughly 8,612 average wage jobs.

Lincoln-based jewellery business John Greed Jewellery is expanding and relocating its HQ to a unit on Firth Road formerly occupied by Siemens.

Local chartered surveyor Banks Long & Co has let the 10,581 sq ft unit on behalf of its client St Modwen.

The popular jewellery company currently employs 54 people and up to 25 more during the busy pre-Christmas period.

They say the head office reloaction is ‘essential’.

John Greed honed his passion for jewellery after working on his sister’s stall in Covent Garden as a student.

He arrived in Lincoln in 1991 with just a bicycle and £100 in his pocket, and has since built the business up to be one of the largest independent jewellery retailers in the UK.

John Greed Jewellery Head of Finance & Technical Operations, Bill Morran, said: “We have an existing flagship store in Lincoln High Street.

“In October 2013, we established a Pandora franchise which now occupies up to half of the premises, while the remainder is devoted to other top jewellery brands.

“We have been using premises in Ruston Way for Head Offices and warehousing but we have simply outgrown them.

“As a result we have moved into Firth Road, where we have had two adjacent units fitted out for our purposes. It’s a really good location which is central for our High Street shop.

“We recently recruited an in-house designer who is helping John to further develop our very own brand of high quality, competitively priced jewellery, which will be offered through our shop and online.

“We are also working with a number of proven suppliers in Asia to help to establish our new brand collections and further drive enhanced sales.”

Banks Long & Co Director William Wall said: “We are pleased to have assisted a well-known Lincoln business to find a convenient new location which meets with its expansion plans.”

A new set of office units will be built on commercial land at the Witham Point Business Park on Wavell Drive in Lincoln.

Two 4,000 sq ft units will be developed by Radford Holdings’ building division, Thomas Long & Sons of Nottingham, with the potential to help create more local jobs.

The investment was agreed upon by city chartered surveyors Banks Long & Co alongside Pygott & Crone.

The new properties will offer tenants quick access to Outer Circle Road and the Lincoln bypass.

Once completed, the units will be offered for sale freehold or a leasehold basis.

Banks Long & Co Director William Wall said: “There is pent-up demand for this type of trade counter unit and Witham Point is part of the well-established Allenby Road Industrial Estate, which is already popular with a wide range of firms.

“Since 2007, the first two phases of units built on the Wavell Drive site have gradually become occupied.

“But we are definitely seeing a pick-up in business vitality locally and the developer has been encouraged to invest further in this location, by creating another 8,000 sq ft of accommodation for medium-sized businesses.”

Radford Holdings Property Director Philip Attenborough added: “There seems to be a lot more confidence in the Lincoln area and we believe there are good reasons to look at building two further 4,000 sq ft units.

“These will be ideal for firms looking for light or general industrial storage and distribution space.”

Already on site are a mix of mid and end-terrace units, alongside a detached unit with a self-contained yard.

Social media can be an overwhelming and unpredictable forum for businesses, sometimes serving as a hub for customer negativity but also, as we’ve seen recently, acting as the starting point for consumer-driven marketing campaigns – the cancer fundraising campaign #NoMakeUpSelfie being a prime example of this.

If your Facebook and Twitter feeds haven’t been flooded with self portraits, #NoMakeUpSelfie is a grassroots fundraising strategy that raised over £8 million for Cancer Research UK, in addition to generating awareness and sparking a dialogue about a difficult subject.

Originating from an 18-year-old, Stoke-on-Trent teenager inspired by the actress Kim Novak going make-up-free at the Oscars, the No Make-Up Selfie for Cancer Awareness Facebook page was created, asking women to post a photo of themselves without make-up and donate to Cancer Research UK. Within days of going live, the page had 260,000 likes and generated over 80,000 Twitter mentions and 60,000 Instagram posts.

This created an unexpected increase in awareness for Cancer Research UK in the form of tens of thousands of new page likes and an influx of donations from social media users coming through to the charity.

Although the #NoMakeUpSelfie phenomenon was not instigated by the charity itself, Cancer Research UK saw a hugely positive impact from the campaign – but they’re not the first to benefit from a consumer-led social media campaign within the past year.

Nine months before #NoMakeUpSelfie was created, Coca-Cola created the ‘Share The Coke’ campaign as an attempt to make their super-brand more personal. They did this by replacing their well-known logo on bottles with one of the top 150 most popular names in the UK, while also touring the UK to personalise bottles for those whose names were not on the list.

Although this was initially an offline exercise, it grew into a nationwide social media trend, with people sharing photos of their customised Coke bottles on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. On my own Facebook feed, I saw people collect the names of their entire family and change their profile pictures to named Coke bottles.

This unexpected digital takeoff led to the #ShareACoke hashtag being used over 30,000 times on Twitter and traffic to the Coca-Cola Facebook page increasing by 870%.

Why were these campaigns so successful and what did they have in common?

Both were based around the idea of self-expression and being one’s self. A personalised Coke bottle or self-photo taken without make-up offered everyday people a chance to showcase their individuality, while also allowing them to feel a part of something bigger – two things people are regularly striving for.

Fully led by customers, Cancer Research UK and Coca-Cola also avoided becoming too involved in helping the campaigns grow, instead taking a backseat and letting users encourage friends and family to join the fun by sharing and tagging.

It seems almost impossible to replicate the events that lead to the success of organic social media campaigns like #NoMakeUpSelfie and #ShareACoke; however, one thing smaller businesses can do is be proactive online and in promoting the individuality of customers – hopefully leading to a successful campaign that increases brand awareness and creates engagement among current customers.

Can you think of any more consumer-led social media campaigns, or has your business seen the benefits of one? Share your story with us on Twitter at @LavaComms!

The Greater Lincolnshire LEP has officially put forward a bid for £50 million of funding from central government after submitting its Growth Plan.

The plan [PDF] focuses on supporting the area’s most important employment sectors: agri-food, manufacturing, tourism, care, low carbon, and ports and distribution.

The plan has highlighted twelve projects which could benefit from the fund, including the Grantham southern relief road, the Lincoln Transport Hub, Bishop Burton College, Freeman Street, West and East Marsh Road in Grimsby and Lincolnshire Lakes in Scunthorpe.

All 39 LEPs in England have now submitted a growth plan to bid for their local Growth Deal – a share of the £2 billion national Single Local Growth Fund.

Ursula Lidbetter MBE, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “It’s important our bid is nationally competitive, so we have identified upcoming projects which will stimulate growth, and which we feel fulfil the needs of the brief.

“The aim is to prioritise projects that can be delivered in the short term which unlock private sector investment.

“We are very proud of our Growth Plan and believe it represents a real opportunity to help ensure that projects and schemes which will boost our economy can go ahead.

“Funding will be allocated on the strength of this plan, and we believe that we’ve put forward a bid which is rich in detail, and well considered. Each scheme which we’ve identified is different.

“We are asking for £50 million to allow the projects, which already have other funds secured, to go ahead.

“Our plans are a way to ensure that prosperity and growth are terms that become synonymous with Greater Lincolnshire and that our area is known as a place to do business.”

Also known as the Strategic Economic Plan, the bid sets out details on how the LEP will help add £3.2 billion to the Greater Lincolnshire economy over the next seven years, including creating 13,000 new jobs, supporting the building of 100,000 new homes and helping 22,000 businesses grow.

The LEP sought feedback from the area’s top 100 businesses, spoke to business groups and organisations such as the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses, and partnered with local authorities to produce a plan that reflects the local needs.

The Minister for Cities, the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, said: “The Government welcomes the Strategic Economic Plan that Greater Lincolnshire LEP has published today and looks forward to continued engagement with local civic and business leaders over the next few months on the negotiation of their Growth Deal.

“The Growth Deal provides a fantastic opportunity for the Greater Lincolnshire LEP to seek freedoms, flexibilities and influence over resources from Government and a share of the Local Growth Fund to put towards the growth priorities set out in this Strategic Economic Plan.

“This provides the opportunity to unleash the ambition and creativity of the LEP’s local leaders, by devolving resource and responsibility in return for compelling local economic leadership in pursuit of growth.”

Lincolnshire Growth Plan projects

• Grantham southern relief road – will create 17 hectares of employment land and 1,600 homes, leveraging £260m of private sector funding
• Boston quadrant – will create 4.5 hectares of employment land and 500 homes, leveraging £78m of private sector funding
• Boole Technology Centre and Lincoln transport hub – will create 93 jobs, assist 219 businesses and open up 3.76 hectares of employment land
• Unlocking rural housing programme – will create 2,059 homes
• Bishop Burton College, West Lindsey – will develop a new agricultural college creating 35 new jobs and assisting 410 businesses
• Innovation programme – will provide advice and support to 400 of Greater Lincolnshire’s growing businesses
• Skegness western relief road – will create 31 hectares of employment land, leveraging £2.9m of private sector funding
• Grimsby Freeman Street and West and East Marsh Road – will assist 166 businesses and create 280 homes
• Grantham College – will create 43 new jobs and assist 300 businesses
• Lincolnshire Lakes Blue and Green Infrastructure, Scunthorpe – will open up employment land and create 600 homes
• Access to Employment Zones, North East Lincolnshire – will open up employment land and create 600 homes

House prices in Lincoln increased by 70% between 2002 and 2012 — seven times more than the increase in income, according to a report by the Nation Housing Federation.

The Home Truths 2013/14: East Midlands report compares average housing prices with incomes against a national average ratio.

Average income in Lincoln increased by only 10%, the lowest rate in the whole of the East Midlands.

In addition, private rents in the city rose by 24% in the past decade, which is in line with the average wage rise for the region.

The federation also projects the average house price in the East Midlands is expected to rise by more than 25% by 2020.

The average median income in Lincoln for 2012 was £17,566, compared to the Lincolnshire average of £18,933. The lowest median income in the county was Boston with £16,032.

Average house prices in Lincoln rose to £130,438 in 2012, while the lowest average house price in the county came from North Kesteven, where prices were £165,018.

Kate Warburton, East Midlands external affairs manager for the National Housing Federation, said: “The East Midlands has fallen behind in terms of house building and rising house prices and private rents are testament to that fact.

“As demand outstrips supply, the region’s housing crisis is not only making life extremely difficult for people living and working in the region, but it is also affects employers and businesses and risks holding back economic growth.

“Every new home built here brings over £69,000 into the East Midlands, creating 1.6 jobs directly and in the wider regional economy.

“We need our Local Enterprise Partnerships to work with local councils, housing associations and others, to take a strategic lead on getting more homes built at the right price in the right places. This will help to revitalise our communities and create jobs,” she added.

The City of Lincoln Council approved plans to build 80 new homes in the north of Lincoln.

The proposals by Taylor Lindsey, called the Romangate Development, will focus on land off Nettleham Road, before the A46 bypass.

The approval is for the first stage in erecting homes on the land, applying to over half of the land posted for development.

Previously, the phase 1 development earmarked 107 homes to be developed, but due to changes in the housing market and requirements, this has been reduced to 80, plus extra off-street parking.

The “suburban village” style homes will be a mixture of flats, terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, ranging from one bedroom to five.

In addition, there will be a footpath and cycle route along the Roaring Meg stream, which flows through the centre of the marshland. The stream will be maintained by developers.

There were a number of objections from locals in nearby Searby Road regarding traffic disruption during construction, but planners concluded that works vehicles would use other routes to access the site so residents would not be disrupted.

The committee approved the changes to the development subject to the signing of the associated section 106 regarding affordable housing and public open space contribution.

Businesses along Portland Street in Lincoln are reminding people they are still open despite the road being closed after a sewer collapsed.

The incident happened along the busy street on April 3, during which a lorry drove over the affected area, causing the vehicle to create a hole.

The road was closed off while the vehicle was removed from the scene, but engineers from Anglian Water later determined the hole was due to the seer underneath collapsing.

This meant the company had to close off the road for the next couple of weeks to assess the damage and repair the issue.

However, Anglian Water is reminding residents that despite the road being closed, the businesses on the street are still operational and accessible to customers.

Emma Staples from Anglian Water said: “We’re sorry for the continued disruption while we work to repair the collapsed sewer under Portland Street, near the High Street, Lincoln.

“Today we have started to dig down to reach the sewer, after which we can start repairs. We’re working as quickly as possible and will be on site over the weekend too.

“We have spoken to each of the businesses in the area and want to support them as much as possible, so we are putting up additional signs along Portland Street and some of High Street to let people know businesses are open as usual.

“Diversions are clearly marked to make it as easy as possible for customers to find an alternative route in.

“Once again, we are extremely sorry for the inconvenience this may cause but we thank people for their understanding while we work hard to return the situation to normal as soon as possible. We will continue to keep people updated.”

A Lincoln medical expert has been appointed to a national health watchdog in Dubai.

Dr John Robertshaw (57) from Bridge McFarland solicitors was asked to join the Dubai Health Care regulators.

He was picked due to his past as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, four years of which was spent at the state hospital in Qatar.

Robertshaw joined Bridge McFarland in 2009 as medical expert for its personal injury and medical negligence cases.

He will join the new Fitness to Practice Committee of the regulator board on a part-time basis, working from the UK. He will continue his role at Bridge McFarland.

The committee is involved in assessing individual health care professionals, hospitals and private clinics, referred to them because of concerns regarding safety or competence.

The organisation can then impose working restrictions such as “striking off” an individual or even closing down a clinic or hospital.

He said: “I’m very honoured and excited to be part of this new organisation.

“I believe passionately in ensuring the quality of care patients receive is of the highest standard and to be involved in helping a whole country ensure it meets those standards is very worthwhile.”

Ian Sprakes, partner and head of the medical negligence at Bridge McFarland added: “We are absolutely delighted that John’s expertise continues to be recognised internationally.

“John’s medical experience and knowledge is a hugely important part of the excellent service we offer clients who have been the victim of medical negligence.”

Witham St Hughs near Lincoln is set to gain 50 more new homes after developers Linden Homes were granted planning approval for the project.

The developers got planning permission to build the houses off Jupiter Way in the village.

The homes will be a mix of three and four-bedroom two-storey family homes.

The development area is called Cygnet Place after the St Hugh’s primary school emblem of a white swan.

Linden Homes sales director Chris Roads said: “We are delighted to announce this new development, and to be able to continue to offer home hunters in and around the area increased choice of new housing in a carefully selected location.

“Witham St Hughs is the latest in a number of new locations for Linden Homes as we continue to grow the company’s property portfolio across the Midlands region.”

Linden Homes has developed and manages a number of developments in Lincolnshire, most notably the Oasis development in the West End of Lincoln.

Lincoln College officially signed a £250 million contract to establish three colleges in Saudi Arabia during a ceremony in the capital Riyadh on April 8.

In total, 100 colleges are being set up across Saudi Arabia as part of its Colleges of Excellence programme, aimed at improving education and training.

Lincoln College was one of 12 education providers from across the globe selected to operate 26 colleges in this latest wave of bidding.

Each provider has been offered an initial five-year contract to deliver vocational training and employment-related skills to Saudi men and women.

Of the three colleges to be operated by Lincoln College, one will be for women and two will be for men.

Overall, some 825 Saudi students, including 275 women, will be trained each year once the colleges reach full capacity.

Following the official signing Lincoln College is now in the process of recruiting senior staff to manage the colleges, two of which are on target to open in September 2014.

The college is also procuring IT, furniture and other equipment as well as appointing a graphic designer to create the branding.

Many of the suppliers are being sought from the East Midlands to help boost the local economy.

The Managing Director of Lincoln College International, Simon Plummer, said: “We were delighted to officially put pen to paper during the ceremony at the Colleges of Excellence headquarters.

“His Excellency Dr Ali bin Nasser Al Ghafis, the Governor of Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, was keen to emphasise the Kingdom’s commitment to improving the employment prospects of Saudi men and women and we’re honoured to be part of this mission.

“This contract win strengthens Lincoln College’s standing as a world-class technical and vocational training college and helps to put Lincoln and the UK on the world stage in terms of education.”

Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock, has been keen to underline the UK Government’s support for the UK bids.

“These deals are a vote of confidence in the UK’s improving education system,” he said.

“Exporting helps companies grow and is a vital part of the Government’s long-term economic plan to create jobs and reduce the deficit.

“I visited Saudi Arabia earlier this year in support of UK bidders and am particularly pleased that they will soon be offering high-quality practical skills training to an additional 24,000 Saudi students including 14,000 Saudi women.

“I look forward to seeing the UK’s education and training presence continue to grow in Saudi Arabia and internationally. I encourage any company with global ambitions to contact UKTI.”