< PreviousHull, Leeds &Sheffield tobenefit fromnext year’s5G roll-outHull, Leeds and Sheffield are among theUK cities set to benefit from EE’s planned5G roll-out next year. Throughout 2019, EE isswitching on 5G sites in 16 cities across theUK, starting with the busiest locations inLondon, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast,Birmingham and Manchester.As well as these six launch cities, EE, partof The BT Group, will also be introducing 5Gto the busiest parts of ten more UK cities,including Hull, Leeds and Sheffield.EE will launch with multiple smartphonepartners, as well as an EE 5G Home router with external antenna, to showcase the power of 5G for broadband.Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer division, said: “This is another milestone for the UK and for our network journey – we’ll keep evolving as we moveto one, smart network for our customers.”10Business Link www.blmforum.netWordsandSpacesLtdtel: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 businessNEWS© Shutterstock/jamesteohart06-10.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:11 Page 5www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 11INVOICE & FINANCE SOLUTIONSCash flow is the top priority for anyfirm, and never more so than at themoment, having come out of a recession,credit crunch and now waist-deep incontinued Brexit uncertainty. It’sunderstandable that businesses will betightening their belts and trying to lookafter every penny, but this has caused alate payment culture that is impactingbusiness in our region. SMEs are hit more forcefully by thisculture, especially when late paymentscan come from larger firms who reallyought to know better, but whom canexert pressure on SMEs to ensure theycannot complain. The collapse ofCarillion earlier in the year showcasedthis, with their poor payment practicesleaving many smaller companies out ofpocket for work they had already done.The Government have suggested theywill look into the matter, but with thehigh-profile nature of Brexit, along withinter-party power struggles, this is likelyto be a low priority.The average time large businesses(across the UK, not just our region) taketo pay an invoice is approximately thirty-seven days from the date of receipt. Latepayment is considered a problem for55% of SMEs in the UK that offer tradecredit. More than half of SMEsexperience late payment waits of amonth or more beyond any agreedterms, with 20% waiting more than two12 ÁA culture oflate paymentsThe late payment culture is a bane to businesses in our region, but there aresteps one can take to limit the damage. © Shutterstock/Olivier Le Moal11-13.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:13 Page 112Business Link www.blmforum.netINVOICE & FINANCE SOLUTIONSmonths! And, naturally, almost a third ofSMEs reported that late payments fromtheir customers forced them to delaypaying their own suppliers, causing aknock-on effect. In total, 24% of UK businesses reportthat late payments are a threat to theirsurvival, which is the highest reportedlevel among all EU countries. The late payment culture stems frommany aspects, some unavoidable such asa late payer being held back by hiscustomers doing the same, but there aresteps companies can take to try andmitigate the damage. In today’s world ofthe internet, online banking andtransactions, some businesses are findingthat their customers are not as averse toimmediate payments as they used to be,and while older, larger firms may stilldemand credit, clearer terms of trade canhelp prevent any discrepancies furtherdown the line. There are also those who allowpoliteness – a common problem in ourregions, apparently – to hold them backfrom issuing invoices and warnings butconsidering that it will take time evenfrom these to get payment, companiesare advised to issue invoices promptlyand to not hesitate to ask for paymentand send payment reminders.Obviously, there will always be thosewho hold back regardless, and while itcan be a daunting prospect to bring inlitigators or collections firms for fear ofalienating a customer, the biggerquestion always must be on how muchthat customer really means to a companyif they are going to be a regular cashflow problem. And that is what it all comes down toin the end, cash flow. All too manycompanies have strong figures in termsof revenue and profitability, but the cashflow suffers, be it from late payments orother aspects. Considering that mostbusinesses nowadays enteradministration as a result of poor cashflow, involving a specialist to help advisea company might not be a bad idea,particularly when they can pinpointflashpoints or potentially problematiccustomers and make suggestions on howto better deal with them. This is a stepbest taken pro-actively, as many onlylook to bring in such firms in a “rescue”approach, when a company is alreadystruggling. This is all too often a doomedaffair because any of the changes such acompany might suggest have far lesstime to be implemented. As always,there are both short and long-termstrategies, and a cohesive approach isthe best way to yield results. Better,therefore, to look at cash flow when acompany is doing well, then to bringsomeone in when the company is doingpoorly. Cash flow problems due to latepayments can also cause issues when itcomes to paying ones’ own bills, whichmay require funding in the short term.Finance solutions remain available fromthe banks, but these do not always make11-13.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:13 Page 2www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 13INVOICE & FINANCE SOLUTIONSAdvisory Services - Business Rescue Services - Cashflow Improvement - Debt Restructuring - Asset Based Finance - Business Loans - Property Funding - www.j9advisory.com info@j9advisory.com 0113 457 0583 J9 Advisory is a Specialist, Independent Business Advisory firm whichdelivers Business Funding and Rescue solutions, to owner managedbusinesses across the North of England. We would love to work with you, so please contact us toarrange a Free Business Consultationfor appealing options, especially if cashflow is a known issue of a company.Alternative business lenders and financesuppliers are available in our region andsome specialise in lending to SMEs forpurposes such as this. However, suchshould not be relied on singlehandedly,and should be used in a holisticapproach while also working to solve theproblem in the first place.Ultimately, whatever the Governmentdecides to do, late payments will foreverbe a factor of business life, and it’s up toindividual businesses to try and deal withthe issue. Tightening contracts, keepingon top of customers and also building upmore trust mark the routes most likely tolead to success, but bringing in outsideagencies and specialists should never bediscounted, especially if the survival ofthe business is at stake. © Shutterstock/Jat30611-13.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:13 Page 314Business Link www.blmforum.netThe earliest and most significant ofthese deals dates back to Februarywhere The Parkline Group unveiledambitious plans for a £150 millionmixed-use development situated at thewestern gateway to Leeds City Centre.Dubbed the INC, the 45,000 squarefoot development comprises thirty-three storeys which aim to offer aninclusive, contemporary and flexibleapproach to living and working. It’spurposefully designed to appeal topeople from all walks of life – fromPROPERTYyoung professionals, to families,employers and the transient public.Architects BDP were appointed todevelop the design on WellingtonStreet, with Parkline confirming that it’sscheduled for a 2021 completion. Offering 145,000 square foot ofmixed-use space in Leeds, theprominent fifteen-storey Pinnaclebuilding has been a mainstay in ourproperty pages over the last year.Certainty, it made deciding on any onestory a difficult proposition, yet it wasto April we turned our attention whenthe building was sold to a BrocktonCapital fund for £65 million. The dealhad the honour of being the city’slargest investment transaction of theyear, so we’d be remiss not to includeit here. And yet there’s more to ThePinnacle than simply its price tag,offering, as it does, retail, office andcar parking space situated in the primeretail core of Leeds and bordering thecity’s traditional office core. Indeed,this is where the market is heading asSpotlight on 2018Rather than simply zero in on the biggest, mostfinancially ambitious deals to have taken place inthe regional commercial property market, we’vedecided instead to highlight the deals anddevelopments that are having the biggest impactin the present and future-proofing our region. 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:16 Page 1PROPERTYwww.blmforum.netBusiness Link 15the lines between office space andtraditional high street offerings blendand blur together. Sheffield is a city on the up with aslew of exciting and transformativedevelopments taking place, but thecity secured a real vote of confidencein June when it was revealed it willhome the national headquarters of theBritish Games Institute (BGI). The newnational agency for video games,which has been modelled on theBritish Film Institute, is now housed atthe Sheffield Kollider, a hub forcreative and technology industriescurrently being developed in theformer Co-op Castle House inCastlegate. As well as helping tovalidate the video games industry –worth £1.5 billion a year to the UKdomestic economy – it also givesSheffield’s burgeoning technology anddigital sector a boost. This will act as acatalyst giving more digital businessesthe impetus to innovate as well asinciting businesses to set up shop inthe city. Sheffield will always beassociated with steel andmanufacturing (and rightly so), but itwill soon be recognised alongsideLeeds as a digital hub. Of course, if there’s another trend inthe office market it’s sustainability,specifically developing spaces thatoffering businesses a moreenvironmentally-friendly alternative totraditional office space. October17 ÁCGI of proposed INC in Leeds© The Parkline Group14-17.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:16 Page 2ArmstronghouseOffering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House onArmstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports ofGrimsby and Immingham, motorway links and the town centre,off-street parking is also available for all staff and visitors,meaning it’s convenient too. Our spacious, welcoming officesare located on the ground floor and are both secure and CCTV-monitored, giving you the ultimate peace of mind.At Armstrong House, the flexible in/out terms of contractmean confidence when it comes to affordability and with arange of office sizes there are opportunities for all types ofbusiness. If you require virtual office services, prices start fromjust £15 per month. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements,give Scotts Property a call today on 01472 267000 and askabout Armstrong House.Last remaining office suitesPrime location in GrimsbySuperb Location -- Close to the ports of Grimsby &Immingham- Great motorwaylinks- Close to the town centreSecure off street parkingHigh speed internet availabilityEasy in/out termsA range of affordable office sizes33333Armstrong House, Armstrong Street,Grimsby DN31 2QETel: (01472) 310301 • Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.ukwww.shutterstock.com/terekhov igorwww.shutterstock.com/Yentafern14-17.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:16 Page 3www.shutterstock.com/Yentafernwww.blmforum.netBusiness Link 17PROPERTYbrought glad tidings on this front withdeveloper Citu unveiling its recentlyrestored £3.6 million Eagle Works inSheffield. As well as offering over10,000 square foot in a restored 19thcentury mill, the building is equippedwith cutting edge sustainabletechnology. These include 159 kilowattsof solar panels as well as biomassheating, so businesses can reduce theircarbon footprints. Further, all thebuilding’s electricity needs will be metwith one hundred per cent renewablesources, while the city centre locationmeans tenants are more likely to travelon foot or by public transport. Eagle Works was hardly alone as theonly sustainably-minded developmentin October with a ground-breakingceremony taking place at AuraInnovation Centre (AIC), a new low-carbon energy innovation centre inHessle. The centre, based atBridgehead Business Park, obtained£12 million in funding from theEuropean Regional Development Fund,Regional Growth Fund Green PortGrowth Programme as well as matchfunding from the University of Hull, soneedless to say it’s got a lot riding onit. When complete, it will provide largebusinesses and SMEs alike the space tocollaborate and innovate to deliverlow-carbon energy and clean growth.With the world given a twelve-yearultimatum to avert climate disaster,developments such as these have neverbeen more critical or timely. We started with Leeds so it’s onlyfitting that we end with it and the newsfrom November that Screen Yorkshire isopening a new film office in the city tocement the Yorkshire and Humberregion as a world-class hub for the filmand television industry. With Channel 4having selected Leeds as its newnational headquarters, it looks asthough the city will be the nation’sbeating heart for TV and film in thenorth and that can only be a goodthing. Of course, this is hardly an exhaustivelist and even a whole magazinededicated to the regional commercialproperty market would fail to cover thediversity of developments, deals,refurbishments and plans that havetaken place over the last twelvemonths. However, in our opinion, thosewe have selected convey the breadthof developments happening across thearea from digitally-focussed tosustainably-minded and everything inbetween. DDS Roofing We are a local and independent roofing firm with over thirty years’ experience. We have been serving the localcommunity for over ten years. All our team are friendly and professional and take pride in the high standard ofworkmanship that we provide. For more information, call us today!We cater for domestic and commercial clients in need of quality roofing for their homes or businesses. Ourcomprehensive range of services includes:• Roofing service • Re-roofing • Slating • Tiling • Fascias and Soffits • General property maintenance35 College Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN34 4TNTelephone: 01472 267709 Mobile: 07980 962009 Email: derrick.saxby@homecall.co.uk© Mark WebsterAbove:EagleWorks in SheffieldLeft: The Pinnaclein Leeds 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:16 Page 418Business Link www.blmforum.netEND OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIESThe year in review © Shutterstock/Alastair WallaceA lot’s happened over the last twelve months, from the collapse of Carillion toa draft Brexit deal agreed with Brussels. 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:21 Page 1www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 19END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIESIt’s been nothing if not an eventful year,with the thunderclouds in British politicsrivalled only by the bizarre meteorologicalphenomena experienced in the winter,with the so-called ‘Beast from the East’,and then wildfires and record-breakingtemperatures in summer. The stage wasset the World Cup with the English teamsurprising all odds and making it throughto the semi-finals, but it was inevitablethey’d fail to “bring it home”. Combined,the squad’s performance and the goodweather was a boon to the retail sector,with sales of barbecue meats, beer andTVs going through the roof. There was,however, a sting in the tale with ashortage of carbon dioxide, which madeprocuring a pint tricky at times. If 2018 has a lasting legacy beyondpolitical chaos and environmentaldisaster, let it be as a turning point. Inresponse to the growing issue of plasticpollution, the government introduced aban on the manufacture of cosmetics andpersonal care products containing plasticmicrobeads. Months later, it was followedby a further ban on straws, stirrers andcotton buds. Although this approach isadmirable, indeed earning plaudits fromindustry, campaign groups andconsumers, others said it doesn’t go farenough. Certainty, this opinion wasn’thelped after Chancellor Philip Hammondfailed to deliver the proposed tax ondisposable coffee cups – the so-called‘latte levy’ – in the Autumn Budget,saying that the drinks industry wasalready trying to sort out the problem.The construction industry was dealtone of its biggest blows in recentmemory early in the year with news inJanuary of the collapse of Carillion, whichhad been the UK’s second largestconstruction firm. The firm entered intoliquidation after succumbing to itsoverwhelming £1.5 billion debt pile.Discussions were held between the firmalong with its lenders and thegovernment but, alas, no deal could bereached to save the company. With some20,000 employees to its name in the UK– and more staff abroad – it was a direstart to the year for sector. As well ascosting taxpayers £148 million, thecollapse has also shaken public trust inbusinesses with good reason, as it20 Á© Shutterstock/Bannafarsai_Stock18-21.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:21 Page 2Next >