Port operator ABP has agreed a strategic relationship agreement with the Ministry of Defence to boost the flexibility and resilience of the UK Armed Forces. The agreement gives the MOD access to ABP’s ports across the UK, including on the Humber, for loading and unloading of military hardware at no additional cost to the original contract for the provision of such services at the Port of Marchwood. Henrik L. Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer of Associated British Ports, said: “As part of our strategic commitment to supporting the defence sector, ABP is proud to provide the MOD access to our network of ports across Britain for both national emergencies and routine business. “By doing so, ABP is confident it will increase the resilience and capacity of the MOD’s sea mounting capability for the most demanding scenarios, whilst driving greater cost-effectiveness into routine deployments. We look forward to deepening our relationship with the Armed Forces and the strategic defence sector across the UK.” Vice Admiral Andy Kyte CB, MOD’s Chief of Defence Logistics and Support, said: “This new arrangement greatly boosts the resilience, efficiency and agility of Defence’s Sea Mounting Capability through access to ABP’s national port estate. The relationship with ABP forms a key component of the UK Strategic Base which is critical to Defence’s ability to mount, sustain and recover force elements.”

Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists has won sustainability certification after successfully offsetting its carbon emissions across its audiology services at seven of its Yorkshire practices.

Practices in locations including York, Harrogate and Headingly have earned the Carbon Neutral Audiology certification by calculating its carbon footprint – including emissions from client travel to and from the practice – and offsetting these emissions through Net Zero Eyecare. This gives clients added peace of mind that when they purchase a product or book an assessment with Bayfields, their carbon footprint is effectively offset.

Net Zero Eyecare purchases carbon credits on the practice’s behalf from the Gold Standard marketplace, supporting carefully selected projects worldwide. These projects balance out emissions and contribute to global sustainability initiatives, such as reforestation, renewable energy generation, and clean water access.

Bayfields also runs a recycling scheme where clients can drop off old hearing aids into practice. They are then collected and donated to Chichester Lions Club who send them to be reused in eye and ear clinics across countries such as Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Nigeria.

The Yorkshire-based practices are six of 35 Bayfields locations across the UK to achieve this sustainability certification, as the business works toward its ambitious goal of becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2026.

Megan Harper, Sustainability Manager at Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, said: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. It’s not just a corporate initiative — it’s a genuine commitment to making a positive impact on the environment.

“By getting our practices to Net Zero Carbon Status and achieving Carbon Neutrality across our audiology and eyewear services, by the end of 2024 across the business, we will have successfully removed 15,483.83 tonnes of Co2 from the atmosphere, which is equivalent to taking approximately 3,366 cars off the road for a year.

It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.  It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years. Here we speak to Jonathan Cooper, Founder & Director of The Director’s Helpline and The Director’s Choice. 2025 is going to be a challenging year for UK businesses – especially in relation to finances. With the Government increasing employer National Insurance contributions from 13.8% to 15%, businesses will be facing higher employment-related expenses, which could impact profitability and business viability, as a result. There’s also the ongoing issue of bad debt. UK SMEs saw this surge last year – seeing many SMEs having to write off almost £40,000 each in unpaid invoices over a 12-month period. I believe that with increased financial pressure on UK businesses, this means we’ll likely see insolvency rates climb – perhaps not immediately, but in six months, there could be massive changes. If we look at the Government’s insolvency statistics for October 2024, there were 1,747 insolvencies in total. However, while this was a 10% decrease on the previous month, the number of company insolvencies remained much higher than those during the pandemic. While all sectors will feel the financial impact of the Budget, there are some – including hospitality and construction – where already tight budgets will be further squeezed. This is due to the complex geopolitical backdrop, and subsequent impact on consumer confidence. The recent change in government in both the US and UK, the UK economy’s slow growth, disrupted supply chains, and restricted cash flows, are hurdles that will continue to shape the future of business this year. The pandemic taught businesses that forward planning and resilience strategies are key in helping maintain business continuity when the going gets tough. Therefore, it’s likely that the uncertain economic backdrop will see directors and business owners seeking more advice on the running of their business – being more proactive rather than reactive. As such, they will likely be taking greater measures to prepare – surrounding themselves with the right support and advice networks to help them plan for different eventualities.

In the largest poll of business sentiment since October’s Budget the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey shows concern about tax, including national insurance, has spiked to 63% – the highest level on record. Business confidence has declined significantly with 49% of responding companies expecting their turnover to increase over the next twelve months (compared with 56% in Q3). Confidence levels are lowest in the retail and hospitality sectors (39% and 42% respectively). The survey was conducted after the Budget, with the fieldwork carried out between 11^th November and 9^th December. The data from over 4,800 businesses across the UK (91% of whom are SMEs – fewer than 250 employees) also shows that the majority of firms are expecting to raise prices. Tax now by far the top external concern: Following the Budget, concern about taxation is now cited by 63% of responding firms, up from 48% in Q3. This is the highest level of tax concern since 2017, when the BCC started asking this question. The levels in certain sectors are higher, with 72% of production and manufacturing firms, and 68% of construction and engineering businesses raising tax as a concern. Concern about inflation remains broadly similar to the previous quarter – 47% compared to 46% in Q3. Worry about interest rates has fallen slightly to 28% (29% in Q3). Business confidence hit by Budget measures: There has been a significant drop in business confidence since the Chancellor’s statement. Only 49% of firms say they expect their turnover to increase in the next twelve months, down from 56% in Q3. This is the lowest figure since the aftermath of the mini budget in late 2022. A fifth (21%) of businesses expect turnover to worsen, up from 15% in Q3, and 30% expect no change. Profitability confidence has also been hit, 40% of firms expect profits to increase over the next year (48% in Q3), while 32% of businesses expect them to fall. More businesses expecting to raise prices: Over half (55%) of responding firms say they expect to raise their prices in the next three months, compared with 39% in Q3. While 43% of businesses expect prices to stay the same, and only 2% expecting to decrease. Labour continues to be the main cost pressure for firms – but the issue is now raised by 75% of businesses, up from 66% in Q3. The issue is most significant for the hospitality sector with 87% reporting it as a challenge, followed by 84% of firms in the transport and logistics sector. Fewer firms have increased investment plans: Only 20% of businesses say they have increased investment plans over the last quarter, down from 23% in Q3. 24% of firms say they have cut back investment plans, a steep rise from the Q3 figure of 18%. 56% of businesses say their plans have remained the same. The issue is more marked in certain sectors, with 42% of retail and hospitality firms reporting a scaling back of investment and 30% of manufacturers. Business conditions struggle: The percentage of respondents reporting increased domestic sales has fallen again to 32%, compared to 35% in Q3. 42% reported no change and 26% of firms said they had seen a decrease in sales.   Retailers were the most likely to have seen a fall in sales (36%) followed by manufacturers (33%). Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The worrying reverberations of the Budget are clear to see in our survey data. Businesses confidence has slumped in a pressure cooker of rising costs and taxes. “Firms of all shapes and sizes are telling us the national insurance hike is particularly damaging. Businesses are already cutting back on investment and say they will have to put up prices in the coming months. “The Government is rightly coming up with long-term strategies on industry, infrastructure and trade. But those plans won’t help businesses struggling now. “Business stands ready to work in partnership to make the proposed Employment Rights legislation work for all, but the current plans will add further costs on firms. “To help business we need to see quick action in three specific areas. Firstly, ministers should accelerate business rate reform to create a system that incentives investment. “We also need the Government to speed up infrastructure investment, to help SMEs in supply chains across the country. Finally, it’s crucial to support exports, prioritising a better trading deal with the European Union. “Without urgent Government action to ease the pain on businesses, the challenging economic landscape will get worse before it gets better.”

Management of two iconic Sheffield venues has now been handed over to one of the world’s biggest venue operators. As of this month (January 2025), ASM Global have taken over operation of Sheffield City Hall and Utilita Arena Sheffield, who will join ASM Global’s network of more than 350 venues, which collectively host 20,000 events and welcome 164 million guests every year. The new operators will oversee a new chapter for the Sheffield venues with investment powering a series of improvement works, funded by Sheffield City Council and ASM Global. Taking place across all areas of Utilita Arena, the vision is to reimagine the venue as a world-class touring destination, while developing the venue experience at Sheffield City Hall in line with its prestigious heritage identity. Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield has an excellent reputation for hosting major events, festivals, live music, culture and sport, and the city’s venues play a huge role in this. “As our new venue operator, ASM Global will bring the benefits of global scale and expertise to operate and invest in the Utilita Arena and Sheffield City Hall. “Last year, the Utilita Arena played host to MOBO Awards, Matchroom Boxing and countless global stars and is home to the Sheffield Steelers. Sheffield City Hall is one of the city’s most historic venues and has hosted some of the biggest names in music and entertainment, from Elton John to the Beatles and Kylie Minogue. “We have big ambitions to develop Sheffield’s events offer even further and our new partnership with ASM Global will ensure our city continues to have fantastic venues for the best events.” Councillor Kurtis Crossland, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee at Sheffield City Council, added: “ASM Global have a world-class reputation within the venue and entertainment industry, I am confident that both Sheffield City Hall and the Utilita Arena Sheffield are in great hands and that this new investment will help our fantastic Sheffield venues compete on the global stage. “As we enter this new exciting chapter, we would also like to thank the amazing team at Sheffield City Trust, who have done so much for our entertainment venues and the people of Sheffield. The majority of these teams will transfer to ASM Global where they will continue their hard work to help Sheffield’s event and cultural offer thrive.” In 2023, Sheffield City Council revealed that the city’s leisure and entertainment venues were set to receive £117 million of investment including rebuilds of some of the city’s most popular leisure centres and improvements to Sheffield’s Arena and City Hall. As part of these plans, a competitive procurement process was launched in a bid to attract the best in leisure and entertainment provision to run Sheffield’s venues. Last year, ASM Global were announced as the new operator for both Sheffield City Hall and the Utilita Arena Sheffield. Chris Bray, President of ASM Global Europe, said: “We are excited to welcome Utilita Arena and Sheffield City Hall to the ASM Global family – two amazing venues with a rich history. “We’re looking forward to working with the teams to elevate the guest experience and future proof both venues for years to come. Everyone who walks into an ASM venue is a guest – fans, production, artists and athletes; and with this in mind, our ambition is to reimagine the venues, delivering world-class live entertainment in Sheffield.” Venue improvements to begin this month The Utilita Arena fan experience is set to be transformed. The first phase will focus on enhancements to the venue concourses including more points of sale to improve speed of service, the introduction of Boxbar – the automated self-serve drinks solution, improvements to the entire food and beverage offering to ensure great quality and more choice, improved digital signage on the concourses, scan-and-collect options for drinks, and more. There will be additional major developments such as new supersuite spaces, a newly refurbished arena club, and revamped lounges. As part of the overall enhancements, the venue’s capacity will increase. The Arena’s back of house will be upgraded with a complete overhaul of the backstage areas for artists, production and crew, to ensure a best-in-class experience for all who set foot in the venue. At Sheffield City Hall, ASM Global will undertake improvements to the concert-goer experience including the addition of more tills and the introduction of a new and improved food and beverage offering. In Spring, the focus will be on enhancing the customer journey around the venue, with improved signage, screens and security. ASM Global’s operation of the venue will retain a heavy focus on upholding the cultural heritage of what is one of Sheffield’s most historic buildings, futureproofing it for years to come while preserving its iconic features. Enhancement works are set to get underway this month and will continue throughout the year, whilst the venues remain open for the duration. Dom Stokes, General Manager of Utilita Arena Sheffield & Sheffield City Hall, said: “Joining ASM Global is an exciting new chapter, and an incredible opportunity, for both Utilita Arena and Sheffield City Hall. “ASM’s network, vision and expertise are unmatched, and their ambition for both venues is truly inspiring. Utilita Arena and Sheffield City Hall are integral to the region, and we can’t wait to showcase new experiences while ensuring they remain at the heart of our wonderful community.”