How will globalbusiness sentimentaffect us in 2012? HULLLeading the way ingreen thinking TOP 50COMPANIESA barometer of ourregion’s economyNEW YEAR, NEW CHALLENGES Business luminaries offer theirpredictions for the year aheadJANUARY 2012£3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 27 ISSUE 01How will globalbusiness sentimentaffect us in 2012? 01:Layout 1 6/1/12 09:48 Page 102:Layout 1 6/1/12 09:49 Page 117ContentsJanuary 2012On the coverPhotograph courtesy ofwww.shutterstock.com/SergejKhakimullin34Recycling and waste managementThe benefits of recycling and managing waste arecertainly translating to companies across the countryat present36EnergySiemens’ plans for their giant new wind turbine factoryemphasise the huge potential for our region tobecome a world leader in green energy38Carbon footprintWhen looking to reduce your carbon footprint, thereare many measures you can takeRegulars4From the Editor5News8AccountancyDon’t get caught by the taxman says Erica Manderfield,Tax Manager, Streets Chartered Accountants11Business sceneInstitute of Directors lunch, Bentley Hotel, Lincoln41AutoLinkThe motoring industry has certainly been busy overthe last twelve months judging by the latest models onshow at Tokyo46EventsWe take a look at business events happening aroundYorkshire and Lincolnshire48Classified49Appointments50And finally…3321304144Features9Invest in LincolnshireA networking event at Lincoln’s new DoubleTreeby Hilton hotel in February will bring togethercommercial property agents and developers andintroduce them to the new Business InvestmentTeam at Invest Lincolnshire10Trading Markets for YouAre you interested in achieving 15% per month onyour equity?12Top 50 companiesA barometer of our region’s economy14Predictions for 2012Our region’s leading names gaze into their crystalballs and offer up their predictions for the year 17Commercial propertyThe region’s commercial property market islooking healthy as we enter 201221HullHull’s fortunes look to be changing thanks to agreater international focus24Corporate financeWith the private sector charged with encouragingthe UK’s prosperity, access to finance remains avital issue26ConferencesOur region is set to take advantage of a growingtrend for renewable energy among largecompanies, but conference facilities can offer thatextra reach for all kinds of business globally• Picture your venue28Information technologyThe world in which we do business is changing allthe time and no matter how savvy you feel withtechnology, there always seems to be someonethat one step ahead30Productivity and efficiencyOur region is leading in the way in advancedmanufacturing and automation techniques thatcan help companies work far more efficiently44LAMMA ShowAround 750 exhibitors will take place in the majoragricultural event on 18th and 19th January at theNewark ShowgroundEnvironmentalBusiness Link Environmental is your ultimateguide to the rapidly expanding world of greenbusiness.32Environmental newsThe latest news from this fast-moving sector03:Layout 1 6/1/12 10:44 Page 1As we enter the New Year, it’s been generally accepted that 2012 islikely to be another tough year. But we all need to try to avoid lettingthat thought linger as resigning ourselves to poor performance canonly have one effect. Despite what you see and hear from the national press, there areplenty of positives and signs of growth out there for those whoremain focused. To illustrate this, we’ve put together our annual Top50 Companies list - a line-up of those companies that, despite thedoom and gloom, have continued to make money, grow and create jobs. No mean feat,I’m sure you’ll agree. These companies show that it is possible to grow and this month wesalute them - and, of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg.Also in this issue is our regular business predictions feature, where we ask some of ourleading business figures how they see the economic picture over the next twelve months. Itmakes for surprisingly optimistic reading.The leaders of the coalition government might not be looking forward to the next year inbusiness - at least if their depressing New Year’s statements are anything to go by - butlet's face it, we’re made of sterner stuff here in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and will continueto innovate and grow, as we have always done.What this recession has done, and will continue to do, is to rid us of those companieswith little or no substance. Those that survive have the foresight and management skills tosteer choppy waters. Innovation is the key and with Siemens finally submitting plans for theGreen Port Hull development, our part of the world should become a major player in ahighly advanced sector. The potential opportunities for local companies that can spin offfrom this development are myriad - and we’re sure that the innovation and dedicationexists in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire for our many excellent companies to take advantage.As we enter a new year, we can be quietly confident that the region will continue to excel- and we’ll continue to report on it.Good reading as always,W S FisherEditorEditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsSteve Williams (s.williams@blmgroup.co.uk)Mike Shields (m.shields@blmgroup.co.uk)Elis Ballard (e.ballard@blmgroup.co.uk)Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)Editorial contactnewsdesk@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317Sales DirectorTeri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk)AdvertisingTel: (01472) 310310Kim Collins (k.collins@blmgroup.co.uk)Hannah Hogarth (h.hogarth@blmgroup.co.uk)Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman Dawn CookTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary JorgensenMark CassonRachel GreenTel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314(studio@blmgroup.co.uk)E-Mail:yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.ukWebsitewww.blmforum.netAddressHaychart Ltd,Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby,N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE.ISSN No:1462-2092All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwisewithout express permission of the copyright holder, for whichapplication should be addressed first to the publisher. Whileevery reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor itsparticipating agents accept liability for loss or damage toprints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material ofwhatever nature submitted to this publication. The viewsexpressed in this publication are not necessarily the views ofthose held by the publisher.This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recyclingmagazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paperindustry each year. Before you recycle your magazine,please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free giftsand samples. If you are unable to participate in a recyclingscheme, then why not pass your magazine onto a localhospital or charity?From theEDITORThe magazine that caresWE CARE because we want to leave our world a better place than wefound itBusiness Link believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key tomaintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staffwill be proud to be part of.Community-From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We alsoextend that into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causesand charities. Environment-Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources,minimisation of waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise.04:Layout 1 6/1/12 10:45 Page 1ONYX Retail Park moves tophase twoThe regeneration of a derelictcolliery site into a new retailpark has so far led to thecreation of more than seventynew jobs and has been sosuccessful that its developerOnward Holdings is speedingup the release of phase two.ONYX Retail Park,comprising 17,500 square feetof retail space, is based in Wath-Upon-Dearne at the former Manvers maincolliery, an area of major development following agreement to build a further 1100nearby houses.So far the site has attracted a cross-section of blue chip high street names thathave either already opened on site or in the process of completing. Phase two of thesite comprises a further 10,000 square feet of space which is split between two units, butOnward has applied for planning permission to allow the units if necessary to be divided intomuch smaller shells. Depending on the type of business new tenants could be on-site byAugust 2012.The Maltings gets 100%The Maltings in Lincoln’s Brayford Wharf East is now fully let, less than six monthsafter its practical completion.The ground floor offices of this building, which received a commendation in the2011 RIBA East Midlands Awards for Architecture, have been taken by Ingeus UK. Thebusiness joins Wilkin Chapman LLP, RBS Bank PLC and Thompson and RichardsonInsurance Brokers.William Wall, director of agents Banks Long & Co, says, “The fact that 85% of this30,000 sq ft building was pre-let, and the final 4300 sq ft completed suite let soquickly, is testament to the quality of both this location and the redesign of thebuilding itself. “The unrivalled position overlooking Brayford Pool was never in doubt. However,the fact that our clients pushed forward with this £2 million project in such difficult market conditions, highlights both the strength of their convictions andtheir commitment to the Lincoln economy.”www.blmforum.net5newsyouryourNew facility for C&C HydraulicsC&C Hydraulics havepurchased a new productionfacility in Keighley. The newbuilding comprises 38,000 sq/ftof factory and warehouse spacealongside two thousand sq ft ofoffices and is set in two acres ofland with excellent access andlogistical links.The new building will giveC&C Hydraulics two and a halftimes more productive spacethan their current facilities and allow the company to improve both efficiency and increase thecapacity of their hydraulic cylinder manufacturing unit. C&C Hydraulics currently producearound 1500 to 2000 cylinders per month from their Bingley facility and have seen a strongincrease in demand from both domestic and export customers which has driven the need toincrease capacity.Alongside the new factory, C&C has also invested in a number of fully automated machinetools and processes that allow the company to compete with competitors from low labourcost regions while still producing high quality products.New horizons forApplegreenA business selling cleaning products into pubs,restaurants and hotels, which recently becamefranchised, is expanding into new markets such asschools and care homes as part of its plans to attract ahundred franchises in five years.Dene Bentley and Franchise Manager Dionne Snaryjointly run Applegreen UK, which has a Leeds office,as well as a 15,000 sq ftmanufacturing site in Bradford.The pair relaunched thebusiness as a franchise inOctober. So far threefranchisees have joinedtheir twelve month pilotprogramme, with twoalready operating inYorkshire and anotherdue to start trading inthe 2012. The plan isfor the franchisedoperation to launchofficially in 2013. The company arelooking for a limitednumber of franchiseesbased anywhere in the UK, ona no upfront fee basis. Thoselooking for an opportunity areinvited to call 0333 123 2949 or visitwww.applegreenuk.co.uk.Abusiness supportprogramme in Barnsleyhas helped create or savemore than a thousand jobs in theborough. The Enterprising Barnsleyprogramme has led to 630 new jobsand the protection of 397 posts since itwas set up in 2009, and figures to theend of November show the programmebroke its targets for 2011 a monthearly. The 575 companies supportedemploy about six thousandpeople, which is nearly 10%of the borough’s totalworkforce.05-08:Layout 1 6/1/12 09:54 Page 1Humberside Airport goes from strength to strengthWelcome to Humberside Airport Travel, we are a specialist airport owned independent travel agency located inside the terminal building. We have many exclusive offers deparng from Humberside and what’s more our team have visited every direct desnaon.Our team have over 120 years combined experience in the travel industry and are dedicated to finding you the perfect holiday. We are commied to meeng all your individual holiday requirements and can offer departures from any UK airport. From beach breaks to ski, cruise to city breaks, worldwide to UK, car parking to insurance we offer them all.All of our package holidays are fully ATOL and ABTA protected.Come along to our Airport Open Day Sunday 15th January 2012, we have some great offers for you, to a wide range of amazing desnaons. Please see one of our advisors or visit one of our travel partner stands to find out more about the amazing choice of desnaons available from Humberside Airport. To register your place call the number to the right or emailsales@humbersideairporravel.co.ukPhone Humberside Airport Travel on0844 887 0812To receive regular offers‘Like’ our pageHumberside Airport Travel“Our team are dedicated to finding you the perfect holiday”humbersideairport.comLake GardaEnjoy a stay on the shores of Lake Garda, Italyʼsmost spectacular lake. The elegant 4* HotelRoyal Village enjoys an elevated position abovecharming Limone, amidst beautiful gardens andolive groves. The hotel boasts superb views ofthe lake and offers guests an excellent range of facilities, including two outdoor pools.• 7 Nights •Half Board6th May, 17th June and 23rd September 2012£679pp Dubrovnik RivieraEscape to one of the most beautiful parts ofSouthern Croatia for a taste of trueholiday heaven! The premium 4* Lacromahotel is in the ʻgreat hotels on the worldʼ collection and is Dubrovniks most luxurioushotel. Highly recommended hotel, very popular with repeat guests.• 7 Nights •Half Board28th May, 2012£998pp Sorrento and theBay of NaplesJoin us for a wonderful holiday in one of Europeʼsmost picturesque corners: a stunning coastline ofcolourful towns, historic sites and glorious viewsset against the warm Mediterranean. The 4*Grand hotel Hermitage is a hugely popular hotelboasting wonderful views.• 7 Nights •Half Board23rd June and 29th September 2012£848pp Hidden PortugalEnjoy a Portugal far removed from the resortsand golf courses of the Algarve. Away from thatpackage-holiday haven, youʼll find a country ofrugged coastline and mountains, of vineyardsand hilltop villages, historic cities and reservedlocals, that remains largely untouched by themore extreme excesses of modern tourism.• 7 Nights •Half Board•4* Beachfront hotel28th May 2012£669pp Based on 23rd June departureBased on 6th Maydeparture05-08:Layout 1 6/1/12 09:54 Page 2newsyouryourwww.blmforum.net7Barnsley heating firmfounders hand over tonext generationA couple who havebuilt up one of theregion’s best-knownheating companies arehanding over to thenext generation after 43years. Chris and BerylBumford startedBumford Heating in1968 and since then thefirm has installedaround sixty thousandsystems.The couple are scaling down their responsibilities to make way for newmanaging director Neil, their eldest son, and finance director, daughterAnna Kirby. Their other children Beth Phillips and Robin are also involvedin the business. With business support from Enterprising Barnsley andgrowing online sales and renewable energy projects, the family firm islooking to a bright future. Today Bumford Heating is based at Shortwood Business Park, Hoyland.Its engineers install the most advanced and energy efficient gas, oil andsolid fuel appliances and are also specialists in renewable energy. Thecontracts department is involved in high profile developments includingwork for councils and national builders.Kier Sheffield going for goldKier Sheffield has been awarded gold at thefirst ever Considerate Constructors SchemeNational Company Awards, recognisingthe company’s commitment to being aconsiderate, responsible neighbourwhen carrying out work in the city.Kier was the first repairs andmaintenance company in the countryto join the scheme’s companyregistration initiative and the first toreceive the top prize, at a ceremonyheld at the Berkeley Hotel in London.It recognises Kier’s high levels ofconsideration to the neighbourhoodand general public, the workforce and the environment when carrying out repairs andmaintenance services to around 42,000 council-owned properties across the city.Representatives from Kier were presented with the award by the Considerate ConstructorsScheme’s chairman Robert Biggs and guest speaker Julia Evans, chief executive of the NationalFederation of Builders.Businessleaders andmanagers who havecompleted the inauguralSheffield-wide leadership programmehave celebrated their successes at agraduation event.The City Region Leadership Programmeceremony, held at Firth Hall, Firth Court at theUniversity of Sheffield, honoured more thansixty delegates from a range of organisations.The programme, which was part of an initiativesupported by the Higher Education FundingCouncil for England, was delivered jointly bybusiness experts at the University ofSheffield and Sheffield HallamUniversity. It’s the first time theuniversities have workedcollaboratively on aprogramme in thisway.Fourteen commercially-focused research and development projectsthat will lead to innovation in regenerative medicines are to benefitfrom nearly £8.5 million of government grant award funding. Ten ofthe collaborative projects will address generic challenges in thedevelopment of cell based therapies, and will lead to demonstratorswith commercial applicability. Four projects will engage in thedevelopment of regenerative medicine therapeutics. The investmentin the projects is part of the Technology Strategy Board-managed£21.5 million Regenerative Medicine Programme.05-08:Layout 1 6/1/12 09:54 Page 38www.blmforum.netnewsyouryourDon’t get caughtby the taxmansays Erica Manderfield,Tax Manager, StreetsChartered AccountantsIt may be hard to believe, but payingmore tax than you actually need to is aworryingly frequent occurrence. Thereare number of common pitfalls wherebypeople find they’ve paid either the wrongamount or worse, too much! Anothergrowing concern is the financialpenalties being levied for late filing and errors made on returns.Not only are HMRC more draconian in the penalties and fines itlevies, but they are increasingly rigorous in investigating intoreturns.It’s possible, with the help of the support and advice of yourtaxation adviser and accountant, to ensure you avoid being caughtby following some simple steps.Always consult with your advisers as soon as you receive anyforms or paperwork from HMRC, however innocuous they mayseem, especially if the nature of that paperwork looks like someform of enquiry.Be timely with your affairs. Leaving the filing of your returns tothe last minute inherently runs the risk of inaccuracies – forexample, pressure to make the submission without reference tosometimes vital information.Ensure you appreciate the current tax regime, knowing whichexpenses are allowable. For example, the full amount of mortgagepayments on a buy to let repayment mortgage are sometimesclaimed, whereas only the interest element is allowable.Ensure you keep all appropriate paperwork, otherwise anallowable expense can become one that you are not able tosubstantiate and therefore claim.For those who don’t prepare tax returns, particular care isrequired in checking their PAYE coding notices are correct. Forexample, the coding may include benefits which have lapsed.Don’t rely on HMRC’s calculation, even if this shows arepayment due to you. It’s more common than you might think forthe Revenue’s assessments and coding notices to be inaccurate,especially for those in receipt of multiple sources of income, suchas pensions, and for those whose circumstance may havechanged. Don’t assume HMRC would, for example, link you ashaving two separate jobs.Advise your accountant in advance of any purchases or changesyou are planning so your tax affairs can be arranged in advance.Through effective management and appropriate advice, it’spossible to only pay what you really need to pay. Certainly havinga diligent approach to your tax affairs can ensure your house is inorder and, should you be subject to an enquiry, you are able todeal with it. While in the good times you may have paid lessattention to how much tax you part with, it’s increasingly importantto take action now in order to keep more of what you make.Erica Manderfield is a Tax Manager, with Streets CharteredAccountants, a top 60 UK accountancy firm. Telephone01522 551200, email info@streetsweb.co.uk or visitwww.streetsweb.co.ukACCOUNTANCYDon’t let your nameget hijackedLincoln-based MattRussell, an expert insocial media andonline brandmanagement andmanaging director ofweb servicescompanyWebHostingBuzz, iswarning companies ofthe dangers of findingtheir names misusedon the web. He says,“It may seem far-fetched, but have youprotected yourcompany name from being hijacked by a sex website? The new .xxxdomain names have already caused a few red-faces in even the mosttech-savvy companies.“In 2011, ICANN oversaw the launch of .xxx, a new suffix created to tryto move pornography and adult sites away from the mainstream .com,.net and .co.uk domains. Companies and individuals were given thechance to apply to have their brands protected from being registered. Trybarackobama.xxx, angelinajolie.xxx or redcross.xxx and you will find ablack screen stating ‘this domain has been reserved from registration’. Inother words, someone has ensured that these brand names are protectedfrom being hijacked by a sex website.“However, some prominent companies have underestimated theproblem and are now reaping the consequences of having their websitehijacked by a .xxx adult website. American media has reported thatHuffingtonPost.xxx has been hijacked by an adult website and that AOLhas been forced to take legal action to try and recover the domain name.A porn site using a .xxx domain but with a web address even similar tothat of your company can be very damaging for your brand. It’s a riskhardly worth taking when registration to protect your website can be just£60 per year.“With over 200,000 .xxx domains registered within the first 48 hours of.xxx going live, savvy investors and cyber-squatters alike are looking topick up these adult-orientated names. Don’t let your brand fall victim.Register your .xxx domain now before someone else does.”One of Lincolnshire’slargest farms soldSavills Lincoln have advised on the sale of The Fenmore Estate, a 1400acre productive and versatile Grade 1, 2 and 3 farm situated in 3 blocks atNorth Kyme, South Kyme and Swineshead Bridge. The estate offered an all-round farming operation, which resulted inpotential bids both from locals and for national and internationalinvestors. Key to any successful farming enterprise is also a good rangeof farm buildings which, in this case, offered over two thousand tonnes ofstorage.Stephen Hall of Savills Lincoln says, “Lincolnshire remains the interestof institutional and corporate investors who see the county as an areawhere large blocks of land become available on a relatively frequent basisand aren’t artificially inflated by amenity value or other non-agriculturalfactors.”05-08:Layout 1 6/1/12 09:54 Page 4INVEST IN LINCOLNSHIREwww.blmforum.net9Invest in Lincolnshire: A NetworkingEvent for Property Agents andDevelopers will take place on Thursday23rd February from 11.30am to 2pmand will feature presentations bybusiness leaders from organisationsincluding DoubleTree by Hilton,Siemens and QV Foods.The event is being organised byInvest Lincolnshire, part of LincolnshireCounty Council, and aims to updateproperty agents and developers ondevelopment opportunities andeconomic initiatives in the county.Those attending will have theopportunity to network with othercommercial property professionals anddevelopers and tour the newDoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Lincoln’smarina.A number of speakers from the keyeconomic sectors of tourism,engineering and food will tell delegateswhy they have recently expanded theiroperations or invested in Lincolnshire.These include Richard Farrar, developerof the DoubleTree by Hilton, NeilCorner, Director of Service at SiemensIndustrial Turbomachinery and SimonMartin, Sales and Marketing Director atQV Foods and Fresh Approach.The event will begin with an addressby Jenny Gammon, Assistant Directorfor Economy and Culture at LincolnshireCounty Council, about majordevelopment opportunities andeconomic initiatives in the county.If you would like to attend this eventon Thursday 23rd February, contactCarolyn Tuscher atCarolyn.tuscher@lincolnshire.gov.uk.Jenny Gammon,Assistant Directorfor Economy andCulture atLincolnshireCounty CouncilCommercial propertyprofessionals tonetwork at DoubleTreeA networking event at Lincoln’s new DoubleTree by Hilton hotelin February will bring together commercial property agents anddevelopers and introduce them to the new Business InvestmentTeam at Invest Lincolnshire09:Layout 1 6/1/12 09:56 Page 1Next >