FEBRUARY 2018 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 33 ISSUE 02PRINTING ANDPACKAGINGUnpacking innovationBUSINESS TRAVELAND LEISUREArrive in styleEMPLOYMENTLAWIn the eye of the lawTAKINGSTOCKTAKINGSTOCK01_Layout 1 08/02/2018 12:10 Page 1Together we’ll Based in Lincoln and York our employment solicitors have the knowledge and expertise to help you navigate the most complex situations facing you and your business.www.langleys.comSolicitors02_Layout 1 08/02/2018 12:10 Page 1February often feels like acontinuation of January’s sleepy NewYear days but that can be a dangeroustrap, especially in the business world.This month is when people come backto life and the economy kicks into gear. Nowhere is this more visible than inthe recent Brexit negotiations going onbetween the parties and the EU, whichhas turned from the occasional half-hearted stab at whether we’d considerit this year or not to an all-out brawl.The language used may be a littlecolourful for the business world andconspiracy theories are abound, butone thing is for sure, the days of idlysitting by for the Government are gone.Meanwhile things are business asusual in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, withChristmas data coming in and certainsectors seeing more life than they’dexpected to this time last November.It’s a welcome relief for some, butawkward reading for others - and thecollapse of another major name inCarillion has brought more scrutinyonto the business community. Thepublic’s attention may well be focusedon unscrupulous businessmen andbusinesswomen in the coming months,The 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’s a welcomerelief for some,but awkwardreading forothers - and thecollapse ofanother majorname in Carillionhas broughtmore scrutinyonto the businesscommunity.but it’s nothing the region hasn’t seenbefore.Speaking of the region, our Februaryissue is full of topical news and featuresabout business in the area. We look atthe printing and packaging industry thismonth, and also analyse the pros andcons of team-building sessions as ameans to improve the efficiency of yourworkforce, as well as looking atbusiness travel and leisure, as it’s nevertoo early - or too late - to wine and dineyour important clients. We also explorethe minutiae of employment law as wellas the current state of the commercialproperty market.February also sees the latestinstalment in our meet the expertssection, where we invite some of theregion’s best and brightest to sharetheir insight.Good reader, as always…Michael FisherEditor03_Layout 1 08/02/2018 12:00 Page 1CONTENTSFEBRUARY 20186NewsThe latest business news and success stories from around ourregion13Ashcourt HighwaysAshcourt has recently launched the latest addition to the Group– Ashcourt Highways. The new division aims to complement theexisting well-established divisions of the Hull-headquarteredAshcourt Group, including construction, civil engineering,concrete and aggregates14The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology Q&AWe speak to Prof Mike Bradley, Director of The Wolfson Centrefor Bulk Solids Handling Technology16Commercial propertyWe explore the state of the market rounding off 2017 and whateffect Brexit will have as the exit deal becomes increasinglymore tangible20Stirlin Q&AWe speak to James, Kirby, Managing Director Stirlin22EngineeringWith the engineering industry creating thousands of products amonth, the move towards new efficient technologies comes asno surprise26Business travel and leisureBusiness travel is a booming industry, but what are the reasonsbehind this?• Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby30Employment lawIt’s a fair bet that a huge chunk of any company’s time is spenton staffing issues – whether that’s locating potential employeesor dealing with issues regarding current staff34Meet the expertsOver the next page we illustrate the huge array of successfulcompanies across our region and invite them to share theirexpertise, experience and insight36Printing and packagingWith China no longer accepting the UK’s surplus waste, and thegrowing need for more sustainable packaging options,companies across our region are innovating to tackle thescourge40Corporate hospitalityHosting a seminar or speech can be a daunting prospect, yetplenty of people are taking advantage of this means to securingnew clients. We look at how to make sure your words are heard 43AutoLinkThe electric car is coming into style and is in high demand. Ifyou are thinking of following this future-thinking,environmentally conscious trend in 2018, or wondering what allthe rage is, here are some cars that will peak your interest• The new MINI Countryman plug-in hybrid50EventsWe take a look at business events happening around Yorkshireand Lincolnshire54And finally…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCONNECT WITH US22264804-05_Layout 1 07/02/2018 10:05 Page 1Group EditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)EditorMichael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsDominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk)Stuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@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)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.COVER PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK - IVANKO80 • YURIY GOLUB • MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES • IMAGEFLOW • PAJOR PAWELwww.blmforum.net3604-05_Layout 1 07/02/2018 10:06 Page 2Offshoreconstructionbegins forHornseaProject OneOffshore construction has now begun at HornseaProject One off the Yorkshire Coast which willbecome the world’s biggest windfarm whencompleted. A total of 174 monopiles have been installed at thesite, according to developer Ørsted.When operational in 2020, the wind farm will produce enough power for well over one million homes.The installation is being carried out by GeoSea’s installation vessel, Innovation. It will carry up to 4 monopiles at a time. The vessel will then also be used to install some of the transition pieces for the project and in March will be joined byA2Sea’s vessel Sea Installer to continue with transition piece installation.Duncan Clark, programme director for the project, said: “These wind farms will not only greatly contribute to the UK’sgoal of decarbonising our energy system, they are also bringing jobs and investment to Grimsby and the North East.”NPIF cash helpsMBO at YorkshiremanufacturerA Yorkshire manufacturer has completed a management buy-outfollowing backing from a group of organisations with further growthcapital provided through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund(NPIF).With financial backing from Business Enterprise Fund (BEF), workingalongside ABN Amro, and support from accountants Wheawill andSudworth with Ramsdens Solicitors; Darren Pearson, Dave Bennett andSteve Pitts have taken the reins of the 28-year-old business.Gee Graphite manufactures graphite products including gaskets forthe oil and gas industry at its Dewsbury headquarters, along withoffering a subcontract Water Jet Cutting Service.The trio, who have been with the company for nearly 40 yearsbetween them, have combined their industry specialism and intimateknowledge of the business to manage Gee Graphite’s current outlookand implement plans for future growth.Following the MBO, Gee Graphite approached BEF for further fundingthrough NPIF – BEF & FFE Microfinance, part of the NorthernPowerhouse Investment Fund, to support the business’s growth plans.Sheffield-based ITMPower forms subsidiaryin AustraliaSheffield clean fuel provider ITM Power has formed ITM PowerPty, a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in Australia to developthe market for ITM Power’s rapid response electrolyser technology.Dr Neil Thompson has been appointed of the newly formedcompany, which has also signed up as a member of HydrogenMobility Australia.Australia is now the world’s second-largest LNG exporter and isbuilding momentum to develop a similar export market forhydrogen. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency, an Australiangovernment agency established to accelerate Australia’s shift tosecure, affordable and reliable renewable energy, announced in May2017, that exporting renewable energy will form one of its four coreinvestment priorities.ITM Power CEO Graham Cooley said: “Australia is an exciting newmarket for green hydrogen production and we are delighted tomake this important first step to allow ITM Power to capitalise onthe significant growth opportunities and accelerating momentum inthe hydrogen sector in Australia.”© Ørsted6Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWS© Shutterstock / INSAGO06-11_Layout 1 07/02/2018 11:16 Page 1www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 7NEWSChemical company Crodaacquires Canadian marinebio-tech companyChemical company Croda International has acquired Nautilus Biosciences, amarine biotechnology company based on Prince Edward Island in Canada.Nautilus was founded in 2007 by Professor Russell Kerr and, together with itsscientists, focuses on using marine microbial biodiversity to discover novelactives and materials. Through this acquisition and the associated patents, Crodawill utilise this innovative science for applications across all its market sectors.Croda, which has its global HQ at Snaith near Goole, and Nautilus already havea proven history of successful collaboration, having worked closely together forthe past six years developing specific applications for skin care and hair care, aswell as crop care. Croda intends to establish Nautilus as a Croda Centre of Innovation for MarineBiotechnology at Nautilus’ existing base at the University of Prince EdwardIsland.© Shutterstock / SUWIT NGAOKAEWCargoTrainingInternationalnAIR, SEA AND ROAD TRAINING nREGULAR UK & USA COURSESnWORLDWIDE IN-HOUSE PROGRAMMES nCAA APPROVEDFOR ALL YOUR DANGEROUS GOODS TRAINING NEEDSFOR ALL OUR TRAINING DATES & VENUES VISIT OUR WEBSITEwww.cargotraining.comUK OFFICE: PO Box 176 . Shepperton TW17 8WP. UK Tel: 01932 769 682 • E-mail: sales@cargotraining.comUSA OFFICE: • PO Box 580026 . Houston • Texas . 77258-0026 . USA Tel: 1800 700 4980 • Fax: 281 333 9522 • E-mail: cti@cargotrainingusa.comthebigword open office inBoston, USALeeds-headquartered translation and interpretation service provider thebigword isopening a new office in Boston as part of a project to provide better language services tobusinesses and organisations across the region.As the number one US city for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the state withthe highest GDP per Capita, Boston is an attractive place to do business and thebigwordsaid it is eager to explore the countless opportunities that the city offers the company.The expansion coincides with a new push by Massachusetts Higher EducationConsortium (MHEC) who have recruited thebigword to deliver language services such astranslation and interpreting – to help public service users with English as a second languagebetter communicate with schools, hospitals, libraries and other public sector organisations.Joshua Gould, CEO of thebigword, said: “We are really excited to start the New Year opening a Boston office and to be helping people across the cityand Massachusetts communicate more easily.”© thebigwordRipon IT specialistsecures Cisco PremierPartner statusRipon IT network support specialist, Netwrx, hasbecome one of only 140 Cisco Premier certifiedorganisations in the UK after it secured Partner status.Although Netwrx is vendor agnostic, the company hasinvested into its affiliation with Cisco, providing engineers,service team and sales staff with industry leadingaccreditations and training.Netwrx Director Luci Matthews said: “We aim to workwith our customers to ensure they reach their goals andassist them to generate more revenue and increase theproductivity of their staff.”In order to evolve from a Cisco Select partner to aCisco Premier partner, Netwrx had to prove it could holda number of Cisco qualifications within its engineeringand sales teams, in addition to running a 24/7 pro-activemonitoring help desk.Netwrx also secured its Advanced Unified AccessSpecialisation in addition to its Wireless specialisation andprovided evidence of its resale of Cisco cloud managedtechnologies, such as Cisco Meraki & Cisco EnterpriseWi-Fi.06-11_Layout 1 07/02/2018 11:16 Page 2NEWS8Business Link www.blmforum.netLeeds VR gamecompany secures£1.92m seedinvestmentXR Games, the Leeds-based mobile and virtual reality gamemaker, has secured a £1.92 million seed investment from GlobalMerces.As per the deal, Adam Schoff, Chief Investment Officer at theAustrian venture capital firm Global Merces, has joined the board ofXR Games.The funds will be used to recruit top game talent as well asexpanding the design, art development teams.XR Games makes games for licensed intellectual properties and will use thefunds to acquire further IPs.Bobbi Thandi, co-founder and CEO of XR Games, said: “Welcoming Adam’sexperience and strategic insight to the XR Games board is awesome news. Soonwe’ll announce fantastic new additions to our team, well-known names in the gamingworld attracted by the trust and investment from Global Merces.“This strong XR team will design and develop mobile and arcade VR games thatwe’d love to play ourselves and that are true to our partners’ much-loved IPs.”Bradford’s tourismeconomy now worth£565mA year-on-year increase in spending has seen Bradford’s tourismindustry grow to reach an estimated worth of £656 million a year.The rise has been driven by an increase in day trips as well as visitsfrom overseas tourists with the local tourism economy now supportsome 13,500 jobs.The figures show that the total spending by visitors is up by 10% andthe number of tourism jobs has also increased by 4% from 2015.An estimated 2.25 million visitor nights were spent in the district in2016 as well as approximately 11.6 million day trips.“These figures show our district is a great place for both UK andoverseas visitors to spend their time and money,” said Sarah Ferriby,Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Sport andCulture.Doncaster-based alternative funding provider Finance ForEnterprise has appointed three new members of staff andlaunched a new Lincolnshire office.Over the past twelve months, Finance For Enterprise, whichhelps businesses access a range of business loans to supportgrowth and development, has provided more than £9 million ofloan funding to SMEs within the Sheffield City Region, the NorthMidlands, Lincolnshire and the Humber, resulting in more than1,800 jobs being created as well as helping businesses to invest invital resources to fuel future growth.Responsible for helping SME businesses to access financialsupport when traditional bank lending is not a viable option, thenot-for-profit company has strengthened its team by adding twoexperienced Investment Managers to its Doncaster team.Launched in 1985, Finance For Enterprise provides a wide rangeof tailored financial and business support to pre-start and growingSME businesses when traditional bank lending is not a viableoption. © Shutterstock / Linda BestwickFinance For Enterpriseopens new office inGrimsby© Shutterstock / Lenar Nigmatullin© Shutterstock / JoolsW06-11_Layout 1 07/02/2018 11:17 Page 3www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 9WordsandSpacesLtdtel:01724 352156 mob:07736 952885 fax: 0871 989 5784 email: stuart@wordsman.co.uk twitter:@stuartpearcey Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN31 2QEI’ll write blogs, websites, ads, articles, leaflets, news releases and newspapers; I’ll design print and buy it. I’m Stuart Pearcey. How can Imake your life better today?www.wordsman.co.ukWhere goodcopywritingmeans businessThe most important date in the industry’s calendar, The Health & Safety Event is where the communitycomes to meet and discuss key challenges facing the sector today.Join the debates, hear from industry experts, receive 1-to-1 advice from leadingsuppliers and experience the very latest technology all for free!Combine a year’s worth of work into just three days.Three days to save a lifeCo-located withEducational partnerShow PartnerSponsorRegister at www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk06-11_Layout 1 07/02/2018 11:17 Page 4Next >