Generate business at the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo
With the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo just around the corner, register now for the highly anticipated event.
The free to attend expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, will take place on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln, providing everything you require for a great day of networking and business generation.
A well targeted event aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets, exhibitors include Aspbury Planning Ltd, Belvoir, Business Lincolnshire, BSP Consulting, Delta Simons, the Federation of Small Businesses, J Tomlinson, NatWest, Willmott Dixon, and YMD Boon, to name a few.
To see the full list of who is exhibiting click here.
Opening at 9am, the expo will also host a workshop from Team Lincolnshire and Business Lincolnshire. Running from 10:15 – 11:45, it will demystify the procurement process and explore the potential which public sector contracts could bring to your business.
Team Lincolnshire ambassador Neal Wheatley, director and general manager of RG Carter Lincoln Limited, and Barry Taylor, regional director at Parker Technical Service, will be sharing insightful first-hand experiences on winning a major Lincolnshire County Council contract for the construction of the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone and how supporting the local economy is a core value within the RG Carter Supply Chain Commitment.
Sign up to the free workshop here.
As the exhibition closes, it will roll directly into an informal, open buffet style network lunch – tickets for the lunch are just £25 plus vat and can be ordered and paid for directly online. Spaces for the lunch are limited, so order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Tina King, of Business Shows Group, said: “It’s been a long time in the making thanks to the pandemic, but we are finally nearly there, The Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo is gearing up to be one of the best to date!”
To attend the event, register for free here.
To generate opportunities by exhibiting at the event, click here.
Purchase tickets to the networking lunch here.
Meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.
Proptech firm raises £250k for software improving building safety
A proptech business whose software could help improve building safety has raised £250,000 from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
The funding will enable Hull-based Bimsense to further enhance its platform before the introduction of new rules to improve the safety of high-rise buildings. The Building Safety Bill, which is expected to become law within the next few months, will oblige building owners to ensure that safety is considered at every stage, from design to construction and occupation.
Operance enables owners and contractors to access up-to-date and accurate digital building information, providing a better understanding of a building to help ensure safety and improve efficiency throughout its entire lifecycle. The software, which incorporates blockchain technology, produces a secure audit trail and aims to comply with the government’s ‘golden thread’ requirements.
Bimsense, a specialist in building information modelling (BIM) which generates digital representations of buildings, was founded in 2016 by Ian Yeo and Scott Pilgrim, who have both advised on major developments throughout the UK and internationally.
They raised an initial £250,000 investment from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance in 2020 to launch Operance.
Along with further enhancements to its software platform, the latest investment will also enable the company to create four new jobs in Hull.
Ian Yeo, CEO at Bimsense, said: “The recent issues regarding cladding have highlighted the need for greater knowledge about individual buildings and a way to track their history. By providing a modern ‘operations and maintenance manual’, Operance will play a key role in helping owners to comply with the rules and improve safety.
“The initial NPIF funding helped us to bring the software to market and the latest round will enable us to take it to the next level. It’s exciting to know we are at the forefront in developing this solution.”
Maurice Disasi, investment associate at Mercia, said: “The construction sector has been slow to adopt digital technology to date. However, there is now growing awareness of the potential it offers to improve efficiency and safety and we expect the new Building Safety Bill will further drive uptake. This latest funding will allow Bimsense to further enhance the product and build its client base.”
Phil Glover, business development manager at Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am delighted to see further investment from the Fund going into this innovative Hull-based business. By using their latest software, the design and construction industry will have access to a wider range of tools to help improve building safety and deliver on our energy efficiency targets as we move towards a Net Zero economy.”
Chemical company fined £480,000 after worker suffers burns
Robert McBride Ltd has been sentenced for safety breaches after a 31-year-old worker suffered 13 per cent superficial burns to his right arm and hand following the ignition of flammable vapours at the company’s site in Hull.
Beverley Magistrates’ Court heard that on 21 August 2017, a batch of hairspray was being mixed in a 10,000 litre stainless steel mixing vessel. Flammable vapours were created within the mixing vessel as a result of heating.
Ethanol was pumped directly into the vessel via pipework from an external storage tank. Other constituents (liquid and powder) were added to the vessel via a manway lid on the top of the vessel. The mixing process then required the addition of heat via an integral steam coil within the vessel.
As the worker was adding powders into the vessel via the lid using a metal scoop, flammable vapours leaving the vessel via the lid ignited, briefly engulfing his upper torso.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was an extraction system at the lip of the manway lid to remove vapours from this area, but it was not adequate to prevent a build-up of a flammable atmosphere. The ignition source is likely to have been a spark from the metal scoop, or static electricity build up on the workers clothing.
Robert McBride Ltd of Hornscroft Park, Kinswood, Hull pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002. The company was fined £480,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,441.80.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector David Stewart said: “Dutyholders should carry out a DSEAR risk assessment in areas where there is a potential for the creation of explosive or flammable atmospheres in order to identify adequate control measures.”
UK redundancies double in just a month
The number of planned redundancies in the UK has jumped 103% in just one month, from 8,869 in January to 18,043 in February, says specialist employment law firm GQ|Littler.
The number of redundancies planned by businesses has increased sharply as interest rates continue to rise. In February the Bank of England made the second of three increases in interest rates – pushing up the cost of borrowing for businesses.
Raoul Parekh, Partner at GQ|Littler says: “An extreme shortage of staff and hopes of a post COVID recovery had persuaded businesses to hold off on redundancy programmes, with numbers in December 2021 and January 2022 at their lowest levels since April 2019. It looks like that period of stability might be behind us.
“It’s clear that the Bank of England intends to slow the economy in order to keep inflation under control. Spiralling energy costs and other impacts from the war in Ukraine are also likely to dampen optimism amongst businesses and lead to cost cutting.”
The company feels it’s likely that some businesses are making redundancies in anticipation that consumer spending will drop off in some sectors due to the cost-of-living crisis which is expected to be exacerbated by the rise in National Insurance rates in April.
This climb in the number of planned redundancies comes after months of low redundancy rates.
Mr Parekh adds: “It is not yet clear whether these higher numbers of dismissals will result in higher unemployment, or whether the current labour shortages instead create a higher sectoral churn. Given the attention paid to P&O’s mishandled redundancy programme employers will want to ensure that any similar measures are undertaken with extreme care and as sympathetically as possible.”
Decline in UK exporting countries highlights scale of difficulty
The number of UK businesses exporting goods to the European Union fell 33% from 27,321 to 18,357 in the year ended December 2021, according to HMRC.
Michelle Dale, Senior Manager at national accountancy group UHY Hacker Young, says the fall is due to the extra red tape UK businesses must now comply with when exporting to the EU.
She said: “These are really worrying numbers and show the scale of the difficulties UK businesses now face in exporting their products to the EU.
“Businesses are not getting enough support from the Government to navigate the post-Brexit trading minefield. A lot of SMEs can’t afford professional advice to cope with Brexit-related red tape. Many are likely to have decided trading with the EU is not worth the cost.”
“Fewer UK companies exporting to the EU will result in lost opportunities for growth and expansion in Europe.”
Doncaster’s Business Awards event raises more than £8,500 for trio of charities
Doncaster Mind, Age UK Doncaster, and the local Phoenix WoMen’s Aid branch have each been given £2,845 share of more than £8,500 raised at Doncaster Chamber’s 2021 Business Awards ceremony.
Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a silent auction, competing for things like overnight stays in boutique hotels, meals at top restaurants, film memorabilia, and even international holidays. The highest bidders then claimed their prizes and the money was pooled together in a special charity fund.
The charities were chosen by former Doncaster Chamber President Jill Wood. She said: “With everyone still trying to recover from the impact of COVID-19 and the associated lockdown measures, the importance of looking after your wellbeing has never been greater. Our chosen charities provide vital support in this area, to people across the Doncaster borough.
“Mind helps residents to improve their resilience and deal with various mental health issues, while Age UK works within the community to support older people, their families and carers. Last but not least, Phoenix WoMen’s Aid helps survivors of domestic abuse via the provision of a number of different services.”
Laura Arthur, CEO of Doncaster Mind, said: “We would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Doncaster Chamber for choosing us as one of their charity partners of the year. We have seen a significant increase in the demand for our services since the pandemic hit and, with mental health difficulties now affecting more than 1 in four of us, that support is now needed more than ever.
“This year we have expanded our services to support Young People in Doncaster aged 16 – 25 by delivering one-to-one mentoring support and the money that has been raised will be used to develop these services further, as we believe that no one should have to face a mental health difficulty alone.
“We are always looking for new ways to deliver mental health support and being one of Doncaster Chamber’s charity partners has given us the opportunity to raise awareness of the work we do. The money will help us to support more people and help to reduce our waiting time to be seen.”
Lesley Hill, Operations Manager at Age UK Doncaster, said: “We are very grateful to receive this donation from the Chamber. The last couple of years have been incredibly challenging and older people need our support now more than ever. This money will be put to good to use to ensure that we can help as many as possible and that no one is left behind”.
ABP backs museum with donation worth £10,000
ABP has donated £10,000 to Immingham Museum and entered a supportive new partnership with the charity.
The donation will allow Immingham Museum to invest in technology to take the museum into the next century and increase the attraction’s local reputation. An immersive video wall will allow visitors to experience life on the port and get a bird’s eye view from vessels entering the lock, to pilots boarding the vessels and coming up the Humber. Simon Bird, Regional Director of ABP Humber said: “The port of Immingham has long been a part of the history of the town, and they already have an impressive display of the port’s history. This partnership will allow them to go further and for us to strengthen our ties.” Malcolm Cullum, chairman of Trustees at Immingham Museum and Heritage Centre said: “We look forward to working with ABP in the future. It is now over 50 years since the Museum was formed and has been able to show the history of our area. Immingham Dock has been the making of our town, and we look forward to not only showing the past but also look forward to the future.” The museum, which is the only accredited one in North East Lincolnshire, will be supported with an annual financial contribution, loan of documents and other assets from ABP’s vast historic archive, support from ABP staff in a volunteering capacity, port tours, and strengthened outreach ties with schools including port visits. The first-floor room dedicated to the history of the port will be renamed the ABP Room and will be used to enhance people’s understanding of the port, which was officially opened on 22 July 1912 by King George V and Queen Mary. Based in Immingham Civic Hub, the museum staffed by volunteers, opened in 1970 and its main theme is the history of the port of Immingham, and the Mayflower pilgrim connection. Entry to the museum is free and it is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 1pm to 4pm. For more information on the museum visit the website here.Energy strategy could create half a million jobs and wean us off fossil fuels, says government
It’s being claimed that an energy strategy geared to weaning the UK off fossil fuels and creating half a million jobs by the end of the decade will boost the country’s long-term energy independence, security and prosperity.
The government’s British Energy Security Strategy sets out how Great Britain will accelerate the deployment of wind, new nuclear, solar and hydrogen, whilst supporting the production of domestic oil and gas in the nearer term – which could see 95% of electricity by 2030 being low carbon.
The strategy will see a significant acceleration of nuclear, with an ambition of up to 24GW by 2050 to come from this safe, clean, and reliable source of power. This would represent up to around 25% of our projected electricity demand. Subject to technology readiness from industry, Small Modular Reactors will form a key part of the nuclear project pipeline.
A new government body called Great British Nuclear, will be set up to bring forward new projects, backed by substantial funding, and the £120m Future Nuclear Enabling Fund will be launched this month, potentially delivering up to eight reactors, equivalent to one reactor a year instead of one a decade, accelerating nuclear in Britain.
Other plans also include:
- Offshore wind: A new ambition of up to 50GW by 2030 – more than enough to power every home in the UK – of which we would like to see up to 5GW from floating offshore wind in deeper seas. This will be underpinned by new planning reforms to cut the approval times for new offshore wind farms from four years to one, and an overall streamlining which will radically reduce the time it takes for new projects to reach construction stages while improving the environment.
- Oil and gas: A licensing round for new North Sea oil and gas projects planned to launch in Autumn, with a new taskforce providing bespoke support to new developments – recognising the importance of these fuels to the transition and to our energy security, and that producing gas in the UK has a lower carbon footprint than imported from abroad.
- Onshore wind: developing partnerships with a limited number of supportive communities who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure in return for guaranteed lower energy bills.
- Heat pump manufacturing: A Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition in 2022 worth up to £30 million to make British heat pumps, which reduce demand for gas.
“Scaling up cheap renewables and new nuclear, while maximising North Sea production, is the best and only way to ensure our energy independence over the coming years.”
Low carbon housing to be built on former middle school site
Plans to build 20 low carbon homes in Liversedge are to go ahead.
Kirklees Cabinet approved proposals for a total of 125 new homes on the former RM Grylls Middle School site.
The plans include 20 new homes constructed to a certified Passivhaus standard. The Passivhaus standard is a recognised German standard for low energy building.
The move comes in response to Kirklees Council’s Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019 and pledge to achieve net zero by 2038. It also helps address the current energy crisis, which has resulted in many Kirklees residents experiencing fuel poverty.
Materials that reduce heat loss and energy use will be used to build the homes. Homes will have additional layers of insulation, airtight glazing and mechanical ventilation, as well as heat recovery systems, to help retain heat and make the homes energy efficient.
Each home is likely to achieve a 31% reduction in emissions in comparison to a regular house build. This fulfills new government guidelines under the Future Homes Standard.
The construction method is also innovative. All elements will be built in a factory and will be brought to site for assembly. This will reduce building time.
David Shepherd, Strategic Director of Growth and Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “As a council, we are committed to our 2038 zero carbon target and exploring all areas of our service delivery to transform the way we do things and make a real impact on carbon reduction.
“This pilot is testament to our approach to seek innovative solutions and I am very excited to see if this type of construction could help shape the future of building new council housing in Kirklees.”
The next stage will see a full planning application in 2023. Following on from this Kirklees Council will then award a construction partner with the contract. Work will then start next autumn.
Fullers scoops prestigious food safety award
Leeds-based Fullers Foods International has been honoured with a prestigious award for the company’s commitment to food safety.
Fullers has won the coveted Company Excellence category in the annual Verner Wheelock Awards.
Verner Wheelock of Skipton provide specialised food safely training for food manufacturers across the UK.
Jason Fuller, who owns and runs Fullers jointly with his brother Adam, was delighted with this award, saying: “As a company, we are committed in ensuring members of our technical team are appropriately trained in all disciplines commensurate to their roles, and complement our commitment to our quality culture strategy. This not only includes developing training programmes for new colleagues, but carrying out refresher training for existing team members.
“We have used Verner Wheelock for many years to provide solutions for all our training needs. They exceed our expectations in delivering a robust educational and training platform irrespective of the subject matter.
“We took the opportunity in 2021 to take advantage of people not travelling by stepping up our training programme, and were delighted to use Verner Wheelock to support this strategy. The result is that our colleagues continue to be energized and skilled in making key decisions in their day to day working environment.
“We are delighted that this commitment to continual improvement has been recognized by this award, and we will continue to develop and train our colleagues in the months and years to come,” added Jason.
The Verner Wheelock judges commented: “Fullers Foods, the winner of the Company Excellence Award has demonstrated a commitment to a culture of continuous improvement in food safety throughout their organisation.
“Their structured approach to training ensures that staff, from new starters to management, have an understanding of food safety and auditing skills at a level appropriate to their role. Delegates from the company have undertaken a variety of different training courses with Verner Wheelock to enable them to perform their jobs to the best of their ability and progress their careers within the food industry.”
Fullers Foods’ commitment to food safety and the health and wellbeing of its employees was underlined last year when the company expanded its headquarters in the centre of the city to create a safer post-Covid environment for staff, adding another floor to its offices to help it operate in a spacious and healthy workplace.
The new fifth floor at Fullers’ HQ in Westgate is for clients, with the first four floors now devoted purely to staff. The company invested £600,000 in the refurbishment which included the addition of a predominantly glazed new fifth floor with panoramic views across Leeds.
