CORPORATEFINANCEInvesting in innovationSUPPLY CHAINMANAGEMENT Strengthening the linksPRINTING ANDPACKAGINGA branding revolutionJANUARY 2014 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 29ISSUE 1A FRESHSTARTWHAT DOES 2014HAVE IN STORE?01:Layout 1 19/12/13 12:26 Page 1Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4RHGet down to workNATIONAL COAL MINING MUSEUMfor EnglandA unique conference and events venue with flexiblespaces for up to 210 people.•Located close to the M1(J38 or J40), between Huddersfield and Wakefield•Fully-licensed catering packages to suit all budgets•Fascinating 140m underground tour included in your dailydelegate rate•Unique teambuilding experiences – whatever the weather•Experienced events team providing world class service•Daily delegate rates availableCall now to book your conference: 01924 844581or visit www.ncm.org.ukNEWcatering packages for 2014!NATIONAL COAL MINING MUSEUMfor EnglandCOMET 6•Fringe Projection Scanner •High Resolution due to 16MP Camera• Outstanding Accuracy and Repeatability •High Measurement SpeedCOMET L3D•Uses LED Lighting Technology •Fast Measurement Times•Easy Portability •Quick and Easy to Change the Field-of-ViewT-SCAN CS•Hand-Held Laser Scanner •High Measurement Accuracy•Large Measurement Volume •Tactile ProbingABIS OPTIMIZER•Provides Surface Defect Inspection •Fully Portable and can be Automated•Extremely Fast Measurement Cycle Times •Flexible, Compact and Highly PreciseSteinbichler UK are proud to present thelatest technologies in 3D Digitizing…Tel: +44 (0)1527 837 283 www.steinbichler.co.uk02:Layout 1 19/12/13 12:25 Page 143Advanced Engineering UK2013Multiple sectors within the UK's advancedengineering and high value manufacturingcommunity converged in record numbers atthe NEC at the Advanced EngineeringUK2013 group of eventsPlus! Renewables & EnvironmentAccompanying this issue, your chance tosample our new title which aims to providebusiness of all shapes and sizes with the verylatest take on the burgeoning green sectorRegulars4From the Editor5News8Accountants Could you be paying more tax than you needto? by Erica Manderfield, Tax Manager,Streets Chartered Accountants9LettersReader’s letters and replies22Business SceneInstitute of Directors Lincolnshire branchAnnual Lunch35Business SceneScunthorpe Round Table Christmas Ball42AutoLinkWith the promise of some 56 vehicledebuts being unveiled at the LosAngeles Motor Show, theopportunity to grab a brief insightinto what we can expect on theseshores was too good anopportunity to miss.46EventsWe take a look at businessevents happening aroundYorkshire and Lincolnshire48Classified49Appointments50And finally…Features10Commercial PropertyWith today’s commercial property marketbeing more varied than ever, we delveinto some of the unusual or unexpectedelements you might stumble across* Mercury House132014 PredictionsWhat does 2014 have in store? We invitedsome familiar faces to gaze into theircrystal balls and ponder what the nexttwelve months might mean for you andyour business16Business TravelWhen going about our business, wesometimes forget that a little preparationwill get us there cheaper – and the regionis improving its infrastructure, which isgreat news for all concerned20Employment LawSometimes as an employer, you will needto ask staff to work late, but if it’s aregular occurrence, there are issues youmay have to address24Printing and PackagingPackaging has evolved from an effectiveway to transport goods as safely andsecurely as possible to a high-tech, on-shelf advertising tool27Corporate FinanceWe all know our region specialises infantastically innovative businessesbursting with ideas - but this creativitycomes to nothing if there isn't the fundingto turn those ideas into reality30ConferencingA good conference should inspireambition and a striving for greatness –and our A-Z offers your complete guide36Supply Chain ManagementAs the supply chain becomes morecomplicated, companies at every linkneed to consider the effectiveness of theirpoliciesContentsJanuary 201416243042www.blmforum.net03:Layout 1 19/12/13 15:02 Page 1So another new year stretches before us like a freshsheet of paper. And what do we all want this year? Well, forbusiness to continue to pick up, of course and for GeorgeOsborne to be proven right. Whatever our politicalpersuasion, I haven't met one reader who doesn't want thegovernment's policy to work, so long as the loosening upon austerity measures lasts beyond the next election. Of course, in the run up to the 2015 election, politicianswill all be keen to become voter friendly. That perhaps explains why they're allmad keen at the moment to express their shock horror at the 11% pay riserecommended by IPSA... which of course they're refusing to take. Or are theirhands tied so tightly that they'll be 'forced against their will' to accept? What a dilemma for the poor dears. It seems their new year's resolution to tryand give the appearance of respectability is being thwarted by the very bodythey elected to keep check of their scandalous expense claims. How ironic. Getting back to the real world, in this issue we talk to the movers and shakersin our region, and ask them what they see for the year ahead. Will 2014 smile onbusiness fortunes, is the economy really out of the mire and on the mend, andwhat lies ahead for us? We ask a selection of readers to gaze into their crystalballs and give us their predictions. Each year, some are often proven right on thebutton, others less so. It all makes for fascinating reading of course and perhapsother readers would like to join in with their own predictions – if so, do pleasedrop us a line and we'll do our utmost to publish the most interesting ones atwww.blmforum.net. Also with this issue, you'll have noticed a free copy of our latest magazine,Renewables & Environment. Building on the success of the environmental pagesin this magazine, we've spun it off into a national title that we've launched toprovide readers with the very latest take on the burgeoning green sector. It'ssomething that affects businesses of all shapes and sizes, so we hope you enjoyit – and let us know what you think of it!Finally, may I also take this opportunity to wish readers a very prosperous 2014!W S FisherEditorEditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsSteve Williams (s.williams@blmgroup.co.uk)Mike Shields (m.shields@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)Lisa Grenney (l.grenney@blmgroup.co.uk)Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, Dawn Cook, John DownesTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark Casson, Rachel 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?The 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.From theEDITOR…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCOVER PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/CREATIVA04:Layout 1 19/12/13 12:31 Page 1Business Link 5www.blmforum.netLATEST NEWSAmerican sports deal provides LinwaveTechnology with birthday presentThe sporting world’s curiosity with ballspeed has helped a Lincolnshiremanufacturer celebrate its tenth birthday instyle with a major new contract win.Linwave Technology, which offersspecialist solutions for a host of microwaveand RF applications, has sealed the$400,000 deal to supply a US customerwith bespoke gunn diodes that providegreater accuracy, flexibility andreporting options.Backed by expert support andfunding from the ManufacturingAdvisory Service, the managementteam believes the latest deal is a fitting way to mark a decade in business that has seen itgrow from £100,000 to a predicted £2 million in annual sales this year. The company – a supplier of up-converters, amplifiers, radar sensors and detectors - iscommitted to moving forward and is working towards implementing a series of continuousimprovement activities which will help it shortly secure the Bronze SC21 Award for World ClassSupply Chains.Historic Hull firm opens York officeOne of Hull’s best established law firms, Andrew Jackson, has opened an office in York.The office, which is located at The Innovation Centre on York University’s Science Park, will beled by new partner James Hodgson, an intellectual property law specialist who has lived andworked in York for several years. He will be assisted by commercial litigation solicitor AndrewRobson, who, along with James, joins the firm from BHP Law.James and Andrew will besupported by a number ofAndrew Jackson's partnersincluding Richard Hoare, head ofprivate client services and PaulBarker, head of property at thelaw firm.Andrew Jackson’s managingpartner Mark Pearson-Kendall,says, “This is a very exciting timefor Andrew Jackson. Our newoffice not only provides us with aspringboard from which to deliverour full range of legal services inthe York area but also enablesJames and Andrew to developfurther their excellent work forclients in the region."Cartwright offers driving force tofundraisingLincolnshire haulage firm Cartwright Brothers is supporting the efforts ofLincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Trust – by providing them transport tohelp with fund-raising.The trust intends to raise £5 million to create a memorial with peace gardens torecognise the aircrew who lost their lives in World War II. The memorial will standon Canwick Hill above Lincoln and opposite the cathedral, which was used byaircrews as a beacon to let them know they had made it back safely.Cartwright Brothers Haulage, which has sites in North Hykeham and the formerairfield in Bardney, has provided a branded van for Bomber Command to continueits fund-raising activity until June 2015 in a £15,000 sponsorship. Companydirectors Jamie and John Cartwright handed over the vehicle’s keys to BomberCommand chairman of trustees Tony Worth, Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire.Jamie says, “Cartwright Brothers was formed in 1944, shortly before the secondworld war started. Being based in Lincolnshire, we are particularly keen to support this charitable appeal.”Branch boost forlogistics firmEuropa, one of the UK’s largest privately ownedtransport companies, is set to open a branch inWest Yorkshire.Europa Worldwide Group has opened a newbranch close to Leeds and is looking to recruit ateam of twelve staff within the next 24 months. Thenew office will be supported by a local distributionpartner that will cover collection and distributionrequirements in Yorkshire. Each night vehicles willconnect the branch to Europa’s northern hubwhich is situated in Birmingham allowingconsignments to be exported across Europe on adaily basis.Europa employs 500 people across ten sites inthe UK, plus an office in Hong Kong and carriesaround 500,000 consignments annually. This newbranch has been opened to enable the firm tomaximise its services and meet growing customerdemand for both import and export – specificallyon its pan European daily services. TheRecycling Factory of Bostonhas been shortlisted in the MostCommitted Company to the Sector category forthe Partners in Fundraising Awards. The news is anexciting addition to the recycler’s current celebration ofexceeding the £3 million mark in donations for UKcharities. The Partners in Fundraising Awards are acelebration of the contribution of partners and supplierswho work with the fundraising sector. Nominationshave been shortlisted by the Institute ofFundraising’s panel of impartial andexpert judges.05-08:Layout 1 19/12/13 15:08 Page 16Business Link www.blmforum.netFocusConsultantsappointed forPilgrim HospitalworkBuilding and projectmanagement firm FocusConsultants has been appointed byUnited Lincolnshire Hospitals NHSTrust to carry out a range ofimprovement work at PilgrimHospital in Boston.Currently design work iscontinuing on the new PatientAdvice & Liaison Service receptiondesk in the main entrance. Work isdue to get underway on-sitein the New Year. Focuswill be working withthe trust onvarious projects,includingdemolition,remodellingand refurbishment work at various locations across the Sibsey Roadsite.In delivering the schemes, Focus Construction and PropertyServices will be providing a full spectrum of services includingbuilding and quantity surveying through design services, technicalproject management and contract administration to take the projectsthrough to completion.ULHT joins a number of other NHS trusts and hospitals which haveused Focus Consultants’ services to help with improvement schemes,including Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust, Chesterfield RoyalHospital NHS Trust and St Luke’s Hospital, Market Harborough.Matchfit competitions return across Yorkshire and HumberFollowing a successful inaugural year, with over a thousandstudents from seventeen providers taking part in competitions,Matchfit is launching the 2014 competitions for 16+ students acrossYorkshire and Humber.The competitions aim to inspire and embed a skills competitionethos within education and employment. It is supported by providersacross the region who are staging competition heats in February andcompetition finals in March and May . Skills range from breadmakingto, as our picture illustrates hair and make-up. Jack Scarr from the Matchfit project says, “The 2013 competitionswere a great success and the competition finals at Bradford Collegeshowed just how much talent there is in our region. We’re building onthat success with our partners by running the finals across the regionthis year to make sure as many students can access them aspossible.”3D technology to helpbusinesses at Louth HubBusinesses and sports clubs have been able to see how3D technology could transform the way they work andtrain at the launch of the latest onlincolnshire TechnologyHub.Around 30 people gathered at the launch event at theMeridian Leisure Centre in Louth to see demonstrations ofmotion capture spot technology, high-speed cameraswhich can be used to create 3D images and 3D TVs thatoperate without the need for glasses. The demonstrationswere so popular that the team stayed for an extra hour toshow people how the equipment could benefit them.David Mullineaux, Professor in Sports Science at theUniversity of Lincoln, says, “The high-speed camera hasdirect applications to businesses and sports clubs. Forexample, if you wanted to work out why a lubricant wasn’tworking as well as it could during a manufacturingprocess, you could film it in action and watch the resultsback."BradfordCollege has wonthe first ever NEFInnovation Award for BestExample of Innovation in a STEMCourse or Training Programme(Organisational). Designed tocelebrate the very best in UKinnovation, the Innovation Awards arean opportunity for individuals andorganisations to celebrate theirinnovation and gain recognition for therole they play in inspiring others. Thework carried out by BradfordCollege’s Vocational ScienceDepartment impressed a panelof industry experts andscooped them thecoveted title.Integratedmarketing agency Lava has beenappointed by Lincolnshire County Council toprovide PR, social media, event management andgraphic design support to SUSTAIN Lincolnshire. Theinitiative, which is delivered by the council in partnershipwith the University of Lincoln, helps Lincolnshire businessescut their costs, increase profits and become moresustainable. Lava was appointed following acompetitive tender process for the provision ofboth PR and event management as wellas graphic design services.LATEST NEWS05-08:Layout 1 19/12/13 15:08 Page 2National recognition for HeritageSkills CentreTheHeritageSkills Centrehas beenawarded theSCALANationalAward inthe bestsmallprojectcategory.The highlysustainableHeritageSkills Centre is set in the heart of Lincoln Castle and posed significantcomplexities for the site team.The project was one of seventy shortlisted for the national award.The judging involved applying robust selection criteria to establish awinner including the judging panel visiting each project. The HeritageSkills Centre was one of only six category winners on the night.Lincolnshire County Council, building contractors Robert Woodheadand architects Arrol and Snell attended the ceremony.The awards seek to celebrate the cream of public sector architectureand construction. The Heritage Skills Centre has received acclaim fromprofessional bodies locally and nationally. This most recent award takesthe project to a grand total of five industry awards to date.Business Link 7www.blmforum.netLATEST NEWSZonegreen boosts New Zealand rail safetyThe nextgeneration oftrains in NewZealand will notonly be faster andmore efficient, butalso safer tomaintain, thanksto Sheffield-basedZonegreen.Technologydeveloped by thedepot safetyspecialist hasbeen commissioned to protect workers at a new state of the artmaintenance facility in Auckland. Zonegreen has fitted its SMART Depot Personnel Protection System atthe $100 million Wiri depot, to provide a safe working environment forthe maintenance engineers servicing Auckland’s new fleet of electrictrains. The firm’s standard DPPS was adapted to suit New Zealand’s signallingrequirements and installed by a local contractor, under the supervision ofZonegreen engineer Wilder Pong, who commissioned the system andprovided staff training. He says, “It has been a pleasure to work with sucha professional and technical team. The country boasts great engineeringtalent and we have no doubt our technology will further enhance theirdepot maintenance operations.”MyddletonCroft supportWomen inBusinessAwardsThe Forward Ladies’ Womenin Business Awards forYorkshire and the North Eastwere held at a glitteringceremony at the Queen’s Hallin Leeds. Dedicated toencouraging the growth ofwomen in business andprofessional life, these awardscelebrate the achievements of successful women across the region.Jacqui Hall, managing director of Harrogate energy company CNG,took the top title, winning the outstanding business woman of the yearaward.All of the winners received a beautiful handcrafted glassware bowlmade by Yorkshire glassmakers Gillies Jones. These unique, hand-blown and hand decorated bowls were sponsored by Leeds basedinvestment managers Myddleton Croft.Julie Jones, Director Sales and Marketing at Myddleton CroftInvestment Managers, pictured, says, “We are delighted to be involvedwith the Women in Business Awards and to show our support foroutstanding women who are making a difference not only in Yorkshirebut internationally as well. The winners are truly inspirational.”05-08:Layout 1 19/12/13 15:08 Page 38Business Link www.blmforum.netDon’t forgetyou can now read Business Linkon thego!Digital Editions now available on iPad & iPhoneWWW.BLMFORUM.NETIdeal for those who spendtime away fromtheir officeCould you bepaying moretax than youneed to?by Erica Manderfield, Tax Manager StreetsChartered AccountantsIt may be hard to believe,but paying more tax thanyou actually need to is aworryingly frequentoccurrence. Certainly thereis a sense the Treasurywould like us to believepaying tax is becoming lessavoidable, so there may befewer ways to reduce ordefer a tax liability. However,there is a danger tax payersthink nothing can be done.This need not be the caseand certainly, within the taxprofession, there remains afocus on ensuring that thesimpler tax savingtechniques are used. As weapproach the 31st January self-assessment deadline, it's important toensure individuals don’t pay more tax than is absolutely necessary.Experience does show a number of common pitfalls wherebypeople find they have paid either the wrong amount or worse, toomuch. It's possible, with the help and advice of both your taxationadviser and accountant, to ensure you avoid being caught by thetaxman. 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 some formof enquiry. Ensure you or your adviser appreciates the current tax regimeand knows which expenses are allowable and disallowable. Forexample, the full amount of mortgage payments on a buy to letrepayment mortgage are sometimes claimed whereas only theinterest element is allowable. Don’t rely on HMRC’s calculation even if this shows a repaymentdue to you. It's more common than you might think for theRevenue’s assessments and coding notices to be inaccurate. Don’tassume HMRC would, for example, link you as having two separatejobs or types of earned income. Advise your accountant in advance of any changes you areplanning so your tax affairs can be arranged in advance.Based on experience, through effective management andappropriate advice, it is possible to only pay what you really need to.Having a professional and diligent approach to your tax affairs canensure your house is in order.Erica Manderfield is Tax Manager with Streets CharteredAccountants, a top 40 UK accountancy firm. Telephone0845 880 0320, email info@streetsweb.co.uk or visitwww.streetsweb.co.ukACCOUNTANTS05-08:Layout 1 19/12/13 15:08 Page 4Business Link 9www.blmforum.netSomething to say? Write to: Business Link Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby,North East Lincolnshire DN31 2QE or email: letters@blmgroup.co.ukReaders’LETTERSReaders’LETTERSWatch and learnDear Sir,I believe high-performing schools are the best way tosupport economic growth and greater opportunity. Thesefigures should be a wake-up call. UK schools are treadingwater when we know that matching the very best couldboost the growth rate by one percentage point every year.No issue matters more to the UK economy over the longterm than the quality of our education system. Increasing ourfocus on Maths and English will result in better performance,but we also need to support schools to create vibrantenvironments for developing the behaviours young peopleneed for success in life and work. J RollingsLincolnMissing the targetDear Sir,The Autumn Statement was a missed opportunitynot to support our hard-pressed energy intensivebusinesses which are also struggling with rising costs,and the package on housing supply could have beenmore ambitious. As we enter the new year positivenews on growth is clearly welcome but much remainsto be done if the benefits of economic recovery are toreach every home in every corner of the UK.J CridlandLondonLooking upDear Sir,I believe we have real reasons to be optimisticgoing into 2014. Business activity is up, more peopleare being employed, and optimism is rising fast.There are encouraging signs that the recovery istaking hold across the service sector and thatinvestment is picking up. Both consumer andbusiness-facing service firms finally seem to befeeling the benefit of growing confidence andspending within the UK and globally. Businessvolumes increased across the sector, with consumerservices seeing particularly rapid growth in demand,and firms are expecting another strong expansion inthe coming three months.N FishLeedsSize does matterDear Sir,Small and medium-sized businesses are at theheart of communities across the UK and are the jobcreating dynamos of the recovery. TheGovernment’s new strategy has identified somereal problems growing firms face and plans to cutred tape will go down well. Boosting access tohigh-speed broadband for businesses will make areal difference – research shows that the UKeconomy could benefit to the tune of £18 billion ayear if more firms sold and marketed online.Making it easier for small firms to win Governmentcontracts will open up another source of growth forthese businesses. We can’t ignore the problem oflate payment any longer, but it’s an issue forbusinesses of all sizes and sectors and there will beno quick fixes so it’s right to have a consultation.P ThornleyScarborough09:Layout 1 19/12/13 12:22 Page 1Next >