JANUARY 2017 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 32 ISSUE 1HULL The city of culturePRODUCTIVITYAND EFFICIENCY Need a boost?PREDICTIONSLooking forward to2017NEWOPPORTUNITIESNEWOPPORTUNITIES01_Layout 1 11/01/2017 12:41 Page 1DIRECT GASKETSLIMITEDHaving being established for over 25 years in Kingston upon Hull, we havebeen called the leading manufacturer in our area. Here at Direct Gaskets we aim to be versatile in our company. We supply gaskets – bespoke and standard – to all types of businesses.Some of the businesses we have supplied include; • Smith & Nephew - who manufacture pharmaceutical appliances• Aunt Bessie’s - where they make their famous Yorkshire Puddings • Croda - who are the world leaders in speciality chemicalsWe can also cater to individuals needs for people that are not associatedwith any companies as every customer is important to us. When supplying our products to you, we can offer cut gaskets or sheet form in all of our stocked materials. We can also boast;• Half a million sizes of ‘O’ rings kept on site• A wide selection of Graphite Spirals• Various boiler fixes such as Topog joints, webbing and boiler jointsIs there anything you need help with? Get in touch.Contact us today on 01482 219655 or visit our website www.direct-gaskets.co.ukUnits 26 - 36 | Dansom Lane South | Hull | HU8 7LA | Email: info@direct-gaskets.co.uk We havemoved!PHOENIX HANDLING SOLUTIONSTel: 0845 265 7570 email: info@phs-uk.com website: www.phs-uk.com•De Palletising / Palletising•Pallet Stretch Wrap / Stretch Hooding•Shrink Wrapping Machines•Case Packing Machines•Pick & Place Machines / Tray Denesters•Complete Turnkey SystemsAutomation Experts for theFood and Beverage IndustryAll your End of Line Material Handling / Packaging Systems under ONE roof02_Layout 1 12/01/2017 09:38 Page 1A new year is upon us and for manyit could not have come too soon. 2016was labelled, by many, as an AnnusHorribilis. It was certainly a year ofunexpected outcomes as I am surereaders would agree! Fortunately, it seems that spiritsgoing into the New Year remainrelatively high. In terms of culture, thefocus is firmly upon Hull, the official UKCity of Culture 2017. Awarded thisprestigious title in 2013, Hull has alreadykicked off the New Year with a bang –and this looks set to continue. But it’s not only Hull which is set toflourish. Attention has been drawn tothe Northern Powerhouse, which ourregion is in a key position to takeadvantage of. Beyond that, imports andexports remain strong even in the faceof Brexit, which has, so far, had lessimpact on our economy than thedoomsayer’s prophesised. Our January issue is set to expand onnew trends and news coming into the2017 year. Our dedicated New Year’sPredictions feature asks some of thebest and brightest business leaders inThe magazine that caresWe carebecause we want to leave our world a better place than we found itBusiness Linkbelieves that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key tomaintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staff willbe proud to be part of.Community- From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We also extendthat into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causes andcharities. Environment- Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources, minimisationof waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise.From theEditorIt seems thatspirits going intothe New Yearremain relativelyhigh. For theshort term atleastmanufacturingand the servicesector are faringwell and Hull hasplenty of reasonsto celebrate.the region what we can expect, from2017, while our news pages are filledwith up-to-date and exciting storiesfrom across the region.Beyond that, we look at the Hull UKCity of Culture 2017 movement andwhat it means for businesses in theregion. We delve into the depths ofrenewable transport and how Yorkshireand Lincolnshire is trying to reduceemissions through transport, while alsoinvestigating productivity and efficiencyin a spotlight that aims to highlight thebest-practices of the last year.All that, and more, in our Januaryissue. Here’s to our region and a brightnew year.And good reading, as always.Michael FisherMichael FisherEditor03_Layout 1 11/01/2017 14:24 Page 1CONTENTSJANUARY 20176NewsCatch up with the latest business news from around our region11Spalding Golf ClubFounded in 1907, Spalding Golf Club is undoubtedly an “Oasis inThe Fens”. 12PredictionsEach year Business Link magazine devotes its January issue topredicting what challenges the year ahead might hold for ourreaders16Commercial propertyIf 2016’s political upheaval proved anything, it’s that the need toattract foreign investment has never been more prudent20Hull - The city of cultureThe name has been bandied about lately, but what does it meanfor Hull to be the city of culture?24Corporate financeThe New Year continues to intensify Britain’s political landscapeand casts a long corporate shadow, yet there are signs of light,not least in the mergers and acquisitions market 28Business sceneLincolnshire Directors came together recently at the annualInstitute of Directors (IoD) lunch at Lincoln’s Bentley Hotel30Logistics and transportThe logistics industry remains a serial offender on emissions, butwhat steps can be taken to limit this?35Business sceneThe second Sportsman’s Dinner of the new season recently tookplace at The Bentley Hotel in Lincoln36IT and telecommunicationsHigher connectivity and broadband may be here, but companieswithout mobile-friendly websites could be throwing customersaway39Productivity and efficiency spotlightWhen it comes to boosting productivity, it’s a more complexaffair than just throwing money at the root cause42AutoLinkIt’s been an interesting year for new model launches in 2016, but2017 looks to be even better with some great cars scheduled toarrive to our shores. Here’s our run down of just a few modelsbuyers can look forward to46EventsWe take a look at business events happening around Yorkshireand Lincolnshire50And finally…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCONNECT WITH US20243604-05_Layout 1 11/01/2017 12:43 Page 1Group EditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)EditorMichael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsStuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk)Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk)Editorial contactnewsdesk@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317Sales DirectorAngela Cooper (a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk)AdvertisingSam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk)Nikki Logan (n.logan@blmgroup.co.uk)Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk)Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@blmgroup.co.uk)Tel: (01472) 310310Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, John DownesTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark CassonTel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314(studio@blmgroup.co.uk)E-Mail: yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.ukWebsitewww.blmforum.netAddressHaychart Ltd, Armstrong House, ArmstrongStreet, 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?COVER PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM - OATAWA • PIOTR ZAJDA • PHIL MACD PHOTOGRAPHY • ZAPP2PHOTO • MILOS MULLERwww.blmforum.net3004-05_Layout 1 11/01/2017 12:43 Page 26Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWSYork life sciencesbusiness increasesinvestment in subsidiary OptiBiotix Health, the York-based life sciences business developing compoundsto tackle obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and skin care, has increased itsinvestment in its majority owned subsidiary The Health Weight Loss Company(THWLC).As per the agreement, OptiBiotix has invested £75,000 to provide workingcapital to support marketing and an increase in stock levels. This investmentincreases OptiBiotix’s shareholding in THWLC to 64%.OptiBiotix acquired a majority shareholding in THWLC in July 2016 with the aimof incubating new technological solutions and develop wider product applications inweight management. THWLC produces GoFigure products containing SlimBiome which incorporatesOptiBiotix’s patented combination of natural ingredients developed by experts tosupport weight loss.Stephen O’Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix, said: “Our belief in the potential of THWLC isdemonstrated by this additional investment which provides funds to invest inmarketing, to build stock levels to meet the seasonal demand for weightmanagement products, and to support an increase in retail listings, particularly withmajor retail outlets.”Sheffieldmanufacturersecures UK SteelEnterpriseinvestmentA Sheffield company that designs, manufactures andinstalls architectural metalwork products for theconstruction industry has secured a £400,000 investmentfrom UK Steel Enterprise.The funds will enable Architectural Fabrications tomeet growing demand from customers, as whilst thecompany has doubled in size over the last few years, sohave the number of orders being received.The company has had to take on more space andrecruit more staff to cope with the growth, and the newinvestment – which comes from the UK Steel EnterpriseEquity Growth Fund – is giving them the firepower to bidfor bigger contracts and put them on track for furthergrowth in 2017.Chris Hadfield, Architectural Fabrications ManagingDirector, said: “The investment from UK Steel Enterprisehas been vital in allowing us to make a strong moveforward. Our expansion project means that we can bemore competitive, create jobs and ultimately scale-up thecontracts that we go after.”A subsidiary of Tata Steel, UK Steel Enterprise providesequity and loan finance to growing companies, as well asbusiness premises at its Business & Innovation Centres.Opus North sells‘landmark’ Leedscomplex for £8mOpus North, the Ilkley-based property developer and investor, has sold a 50,000square foot office and retail complex in Leeds city centre for £8 million.The Bourse, situated off Boar Lane and opposite the Trinity Quarter, was bought byPaloma Real Estate Fund 1, advised by Paloma Capital in a deal advised by the Leedsoffice of Frank Knight.The complex is made up of high quality office and retail space over three buildings,with tenants including William Hill, Robert Half and JLT, among others.“The building is in a great location in the commercial and retail heart of Leeds, half way between the entrance to the Trinity Quarter and thestation,” said Jack Pitman, founding Partner of Paloma Capital.“The Bourse is situated in an excellent and improving location and Paloma will be looking to actively manage the building to further enhance the‘tenant experience’,” added Henrie Westlake of the Leeds office Frank Knight.Opus North were advised by Cushman and Wakefield and Singer Vielle.06-10_Layout 1 11/01/2017 12:45 Page 1Drax gains green light forbiomass upgrade The European Commission (EC) has approved the third generating unit at DraxPower Station in Selby to be fully powered by sustainable biomass.Drax can now complete the upgrade of the third of its six units to run on woodpellets. The third unit upgrade started in July 2015 and now half the power station willproduce renewable electricity, saving 12 million tonnes of carbon each year.The Government has set out proposals to end coal-fired generation by 2025 as partof its plan to stimulate more clean energy generation. In the first six months of 2016,Drax provided 20% of the country’s renewable power.The EC’s decision gives approval to the Government’s support for the upgrade of Drax power station from coal to biomass, andmarks the culmination of a £650 million investment.Andy Koss, pictured, Drax Power CEO, said: “We have demonstrated how to reinvent a coal-fired power station, using an existingasset, so there are no hidden costs to the Grid and it is quick to achieve. This is a testament to the expertise and ingenuity of ourengineering team and everyone at the power station.”www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 7Business ownersadvised to check ifcontractors are self-employedBusiness owners are being urged to check whether the contractorsthey commission are self-employed.The call from Barry Warne, partner and head of employment at hlwKeeble Hawson, follows an Employment Tribunal verdict which ruled thatUber drivers are ‘workers’ under the Employment Rights Act 1996. The decision has sparked concerns that companies who rely oncontractors will be liable for more costly terms and conditions.Mr Warne, said: “While established service arrangements such as localauthority foster parents and carers are unlikely to see much upheaval,business models providing online-ordered services and the so called ‘gig’economy may need to re-examine their employment practices.”Already, a group of Deliveroo takeaway couriers has launched claimsfor workers’ rights, while cycle couriers are bringing cases againstCitySprint, Addison Lee, eCourier and Excel.Mr Warne stressed that the chances of such actions being launched willhinge on whether people who are treated by their ‘employer’ as self-employed or contractors, genuinely feel they are workers – or evenemployees – in the generally accepted sense.Law firm signs upto Y30 promotionalproject forYorkshireLaw firm Andrew Jackson has become a member of itsY30 programme, an initiative bringing together a group ofYorkshire businesses to champion the region and all it has tooffer.As a member of Y30, Andrew Jackson will work closelywith the tourism agency to ensure that the region remains thedestination of choice for businesses whilst capitalising onmajor events taking place across the region.Sir Gary Verity, pictured left, Chief Executive of Welcome toYorkshire, said: “Our Y30 corporate members are made up ofsome of Yorkshire’s most ambitious businesses that arepassionate about developing the county’s economy.“I am delighted to welcome Andrew Jackson on board,which has a rich history here in Yorkshire. We’re lookingforward to working with them to ensure the county is thedestination of choice for business and leisure.”Mark Pearson-Kendall, seen right, Andrew Jackson’sManaging Partner, added: “We are always looking to buildlong-term relationships that bring mutual success andWelcome to Yorkshire’s Y30 initiative is a great fit for us.”06-10_Layout 1 11/01/2017 12:45 Page 2NEWS‘Whole economy’ approach needed tomake success of BrexitThe UK’s new relationship with the EuropeanUnion must meet the needs of every sector of theeconomy to be a success, as the consequences ofleaving any behind could have knock-on effects forothers, says the CBI.The CBI has held thousands of conversationsacross the country with trade associations andfirms of all sizes since the summer and taken an in-depth look at the opportunities, concerns andquestions that 18 sectors of the UK economy faceahead of EU negotiations in 2017 – on the ease ofdoing business, regulation, and access to talent.In ‘Making a Success of Brexit’, the CBI calls onthe Government to consider the complexity of themodern economy where no business operates inisolation. Products come with complementaryservices, supply chains overlap across borders, andmany companies do not fit neatly into a singlesector.Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said:“Leaving the EU will be a highly complex process,and all sectors of the economy are making theirpriorities clear in order to get it right. TheGovernment will need to take a ‘whole economy’approach to avoid leaving sectors behind.”Siemens sends firstturbine componentsto seaThe first turbine components have been dispatched by sea fromthe new Siemens offshore wind power facilities in Hull.The Sea Challenger, a jack-up ship specially designed for installingoffshore wind turbines, set sail with towers, blades and nacelles fromthe newly-constructed harbour at the Siemens site in Hull, signallingthe start of the first project for the new facility.The components for four turbines were destined for the Dudgeonoffshore wind farm off the Norfolk coast, which is 8-10 hours steamingtime from the Humber estuary. The Sea Challenger carried 5,000tonnes of components and associated equipment to Dudgeon in thefirst of many return voyages between the harbour and wind farm.Siemens is using the Hull site and the harbour, which is built onland reclaimed from the Humber, as the pre-assembly and loadouthub for the Dudgeon wind farm. Barry Denness, pictured, Head of Port of Operations for Siemens inHull, said: “This is the first of many offshore wind farms we will servicefrom this site and it’s another great milestone.”8Business Link www.blmforum.netClugston namesex-Carillion Director asnew Chief ExecClugston Group, the Scunthorpe-headquartered, £140 million, privately-owned company with interests in construction, logistics, facilitiesmanagement and property development, has appointed Bob Vickers asGroup Chief Executive commencing February 2017.Mr Vickers joins from Carillion Plc, where he was a Director in CarillionConstruction Services. He brings a wealth of commercial, general andsenior management experience to the company, having previously workedin senior roles at Wimpey Construction, Morrisons, Anglian Water Group,Gleeson Building and Balfour Beatty. He is a member of the CharteredInstitute of Building and a Life Member of the Institute of Directors.He will replace Mr Stephen Martin, who will take up the prestigiousposition of director general at the Institute of Directors in February 2017,having led the Group for 10 years.John Clugston, Chairman of Clugston Group, said: “I am sure Bob’sexperience will be invaluable to us in his new role as Chief Executive. I amlooking forward to working with him and wish him every success.”06-10_Layout 1 11/01/2017 12:46 Page 3TOWER FIELD SERVICESCat Tech Tower Field Services offers bespokemechanical services to oil refinery andprotochemical plants all around the world.Our team has vast experience in overseeing andundertaking the installation of all types of Towerinternals.Our Tower tray, packing and other internalsinstallation services has deep roots, with several ofthe senior team at Cat Tech being involved in thefounding of the Cana-Tex organisation.Since 1971, Cana-Tex had been the premier globalTower speciality contractor; performing Towermaintenance and plant turnaround projects aroundthe world. These origins, with the addition of newteam members, make Cat Tech Tower Field servicesa global operation which is both cost effective andtechnically experienced.We strive to create new ways to make yourTower work safer, faster and more productiveand that can make very good things happen foryour business.We thrive on exceeding our clients expectations and understand the need forupfront communication in relation to timescales and costs.No-one likes surprises in this industry and we ensure that everything is done, frompre-job planning, on site activities to post job reporting in a manner which allows ourcustomers to concentrate on their core business. Let us show you what we can do.We work hard to maintain an industry reputation for safety, speed and dependability.Ours crews have been trained by us, this allows us to staff a project with the provenskills necessary to produce customer satisfaction.It is our intention to demonstrate the benefit of utilising Cat Tech for all of yourTower work.The benefits of engaging Cat Tech are:lExperienced Tower specialists.lProven track record.lAbility to supply spares and replacements.lSpade to Spade service.lRevamps or modifications to Towers / Internals.lInspection of Tower internals.lSupervision of external/client labour force.lDetailed inspection reports.lCleaning of tower internals.lReactor tray field services.lTurnkey reactor tray field services.At Cat Tech, we continue tocreate new ways to makeTower work safer, faster andmore productive. And that canmake very good things happenfor your business. Contact usfor further information.Our well established sales teamhave a wealth of experience.We take pride on ensuring allenquires are dealt with quicklyand efficiently.UK: Cat Tech (Europe) Ltd.,1 South Park Road,South Park Industrial Estate,Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire,DN17 2BY UKPhone: +44 (0) 1724 871747Fax: + 44 (0) 1724 861928Bulgaria: Cat Tech Services (SouthEastern Europe) Ltd.,Devnia, Varna District,Povelyanovo, 20 Droujba Str,R Bulgaria, 9160Phone: +(35) 9519 92052Fax: +(35) 9527 46770China: Cat Tech Services (Shanghai) Ltd.,Room 1230 No.1, 58 Nong Huachi Road,Putuo District,Shanghai 20061 CNPhone: +(86) 2152 9175 08Fax: +(86) 2152 9175 05Singapore: Cat Tech Asia Pacific Pte.Ltd., 17 Fan Yoong Road,Singapore 629794Phone: +(65) 6264 6261Fax: +(65) 6264 6401South America: Please contact the UKoffice on +44 1724 871 747Thailand: Cat Tech Services (Thailand)Ltd., 2/1 Soi Banbon NuenpayomRoad, Maptaphut Sub District, MuangRayong District, Rayong Province21150 THPhone: +(66) 894 064 100Fax: +(66) 638 692 382MAKING YOURPLANT WORK…SMARTERwww.cat-tech.comPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KAWINNINGS06-10_Layout 1 11/01/2017 12:46 Page 4Next >