Russ Cockburn

Principle Estate Management has invested more than £250,000 in a new office in Fareham to expand across the South Coast, covering developments from near Brighton to the Devon coast. Kevin Daniells has joined as director for the South and will build a local portfolio and team, with five employees expected within 12 months. The Birmingham-headquartered company, which manages more than 26,000 units and employs 115 people, sees regeneration and residential development across the region as creating strong demand for property management services.

Solihull-based strip-out contractor and groundworks specialist Umberslade is marking its 30th anniversary by starting its 5,000th contract, a 205,000-square-foot internal deconstruction project at City Centre House in Birmingham. Founded by Jeremy Emmett and Gabriel Pettitt in 1996, the company has delivered more than £140 million in work, increased annual turnover to £14 million, employs over 150 people and has created 23 jobs. Its three divisions now cover internal demolition and engineering strip-out, groundworks, and diamond drilling. Umberslade is targeting record growth in 2026, supported by investment in equipment, staff training and waste recycling.

Seventeen-year-old George Evans and colleague Sean Gill completed 100 holes of golf at Stourbridge Golf Club in more than 14 hours, covering about 42 miles, 60,000 steps and 400 shots each. The Big Golf Race challenge is expected to raise nearly £2,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, supporting awareness, improved treatments and research into a cure. Evans, an apprentice greenkeeper, was motivated by the impact of prostate cancer, while his employer, Kendrick Homes, and its staff contributed donations and encouragement.