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BUSINESS REPORT WORK UNDERWAY FOR STEPNELL
CHAMBER CHARITY IN APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE Northamptonshire Chamber’s new Charity of the Year is appealing to businesses across the county to help people in need as Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease. Northampton’s Hope Centre was named the Chamber’s new Charity of the Year in April and it is appealing to organisations to help it support the homeless and those living in poverty. Throughout the pandemic, the charity’s services have grown significantly in response to a huge increase in need. Its Food Club support has increased by 400% and it is greatly in need of help in its warehouse
and allotment and with various other projects. Hope Centre head of corporate engagement Noo Jarvill said: “We’re thrilled to be named the Chamber’s Charity of the Year and are grateful for any support that our fellow Chamber members can offer us. “We’ve been staggered by the generosity the local business community throughout the pandemic with firms offering time, expertise, products and financial donations. We’re now keen to encourage more volunteers from our business community to come forward to help our projects and see how their support is making
such a difference to people during the Covid-19 crisis.” Northamptonshire Chamber interim CEO Louise Wall said: “The Hope Centre has been an active member of our Chamber for a long time and we know that it is a charity that is close to the hearts of many of our members. “Throughout the year we’ll help the charity to raise its profile and look forward to sharing news about its latest projects and its collaborations with fellow Chamber members.” Email: noo@northamptonhopecentre.org.uk
National contractor Stepnell has made significant progress on three residential projects in Leicester. The schemes include two student accommodation projects and one private residential build – which is Aimrok’s Wellington House, a £9m renovation project recently won by the Stepnell’s East Midlands office. The works will see the conversion of the existing office block into 105 apartments. It has also started on site at Leicester city centre’s newest student accommodation facility, Friar Lane. The £5.4m scheme, commissioned by Obstrat, includes the construction of 90 selfcontained studio apartments across five storeys, with a recessed element at four storeys to provide a transition between the development and the rest of the buildings that already populate Friar Lane at a lower level. Stepnell also demonstrated its ‘can do’ approach while completing Upperton Road - another student residential project and its sixth project for Zone Developments. The £2m refurbishment and new build project is close to a school, meaning Stepnell had to negotiate restrictive access without communal disruption.
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