Not long remains until the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo – register now!
With just a few weeks to go until the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo, 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 seminar, and 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.
War, Covid, and Brexit: Bradford seeks means to sustain resilience
Means to keep Bradford’s economy resilient in the face of the war in Ukraine combined with over-hanging ramifications of Covid-19 and Brexit have been considered by Bradford Chamber’s Leadership Group.
Peter Bainbridge, of the Chamber’s International team, and Bradford Council’s Policy Officer, Mark Clayton, met key business leaders as the local economy and wider geographical area strives to return to some kind of normality following two years of uncertainty. That aspiration has since been undermined by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting enabled all parties to enhance their knowledge and awareness of both local and international issues, which will help the Chamber to pursue high-quality representation and lobbying on behalf of its members.
On the Ukraine situation, many firms trading with either of the two combatants had insulated themselves from potential disruption by foreseeing the likely obstacles: exports and imports were moved ahead of originally planned schedules, and stockpiles of imports were also built up. Exports to Russia itself were understandably problematic, and some firms are unhappy with the level of detail being provided in government guidance.
A recent Covid lockdown in Shenzhen – the world’s third largest shipping port – would definitely affect global supply chain issues, although there would be a time-lag as large operators attempt to divert via other ports. The Leadership Group was told that 50% of China’s online retailers are based in Shenzhen, while 90% of components shipped out of China come through the city.
Group members wondered if looking to the West, rather than the East, for increased trade might be more fruitful. A recent business survey had revealed that 25% of firms currently involved in China are considering reducing their investment in the country.
Mike Cartwright of the Chamber’s Policy team said: “It’s clearly a very difficult and unsettling time for many businesses right now. The onslaught of pressures they are facing means that supportive measures and representation have never been more important. Our Leadership Groups – for Leeds and York & North Yorkshire, as well as Bradford – are key cogs in our Policy & Representation machine; they provide up-to-date information on how our businesses are performing, and they are given information on projects and schemes that assists with future planning.”
Soaring Covid rates should trigger sick pay rebates, says FSB
Soaring absentee rates and the withdrawal of free Covid testing have led small firms’ champion the FSB to call for a sick pay rebate.
Responding to publication of the UK Health Security Agency’s Living Safely with Covid guidance, and the withdrawal of free Covid lateral flow tests in England and Wales, Federation of Small Businesses National Chair Martin McTague, said:“The scaling back of working safely guidance and removal of free Covid tests at a moment when infection rates and inflation are soaring is going to throw up really challenging scenarios.
“Imagine you’re a sole trader struggling to make ends meet as bills spiral – you develop a tickly cough, you don’t have access to a lateral flow test, and at the same moment win a piece of work that would see you through the end of the month.
“Or you’re a part time employee with caring responsibilities who doesn’t meet the lower earnings limit that ensures you qualify for Statutory Sick Pay – you start to feel under the weather, again no access to a covid test, but you feel well enough to work, and working from home is not an option.
“The change in the new guidance from an instruction to “stay home” in the event of a positive test to “try to stay at home” and “talk to your employer about options” if you do want to come in will put stress on employers without the kind of support that’s existed in the past.
“A small firm isn’t like a big corporate – if one or two members of staff are away it puts huge pressure on the business – any more than that and it may consider closing for a while.
“The cost of workplace absence, including finding cover, surpassed £3,500 last year for the average small employer, meaning a collective £5bn cost to the small business community as a whole.
“Those additional outgoings come against a backdrop of the workplace testing initiative and small business sick pay rebate being withdrawn, along with wider Covid support measures.
“Small employers are acutely aware of their duty of care towards their teams. They now need more support to protect employee wellbeing.
“That’s why we’ve worked with TUC to put forward proposals for a comprehensive small business sick pay rebate that would see the lower earnings limit removed.
“Given the circumstances we’re now in, the Government should look again at the future of workplace testing for those who cannot work from home.
“We’re urging the UKHSA and Health and Safety Executive to do all it can to proactively promote best practice around hygiene and ventilation, particularly as we move towards summer and the reopening of outdoor leisure spaces.
“We’d also urging everyone to respect the house rules that each individual small firm has chosen to implement – many have spent thousands from depleted cash reserves to make premises safer.”
Leeds manufacturing industry celebrates rising stars with pioneering awards
Leeds’ manufacturing and engineering sector has celebrated the achievements of some of its brightest young stars with an awards ceremony that rewarded and recognised inspiring and talented young people working within the industry.
Organised by the Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which aims to highlight the range of diverse career opportunities on offer in manufacturing, the Next Gen Awards, hosted by jukebox manufacturer Sound Leisure, saw trophies presented in the categories ‘Apprentice Of The Year’, ‘Rising Star’ and ‘Future Manufacturing Leader’.
Apprentice engineering technician and machinist, Louis Audain, scooped the Apprentice Of The Year Award, sponsored by Leeds City College. Louis impressed his employers, operating theatre and intensive care unit equipment manufacturer Brandon Medical, with his “mature attitude and tenacity”, which have led him to become a role model to other young people. “Louis shows a never-wavering commitment to his personal development through his sheer drive to succeed,” said Brandon Medical’s Ingrid Law.
Joint winners of the Rising Star Award, sponsored by E3 Recruitment, were Eleanor McGuire of specialist chemicals business Sika UK and Corin Townsend, a production technician at fluid engineering firm Sulzer Pumps.
Eleanor’s role at Sika involves mixing batches of silicone in a highly precise process which demands huge attention to detail. Eleanor’s manager described her as “enthusiastic, conscientious and motivated” and as “an inspiration to others, with her work ethic and willingness to help and assist whenever she can”.
When Corin’s four year apprenticeship ended, his impressive work ethic and attitude led to him being offered a position as a production technician at Sulzer Pumps, a role which he is now leaving to become a field service technician in the firm’s Australia team. Alice McEvoy at Sulzer Pumps described Corin as “a credit to Sulzer”.
The prestigious accolade of Future Manufacturing Leader, sponsored by Saffery Champness, was awarded to Adam Benn, a quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) manager for engineering firm LBBC Beechwood. Adam joined the business in 2017 as an apprentice-trained fabricator and rapidly proved his leadership potential, earning the respect of colleagues and making significant improvements to the business. “Adam truly deserves this award – in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contribution to changing culture and performance through employee engagement,” said his manager Andrew Quayle.
Tracey Dawson, chair of the Leeds Manufacturing Festival, and manging director Daletech Electronics, said: “Those of us who work in manufacturing here in Leeds know that it is a hotbed of creativity and innovation and it is fantastic to see the next generation of young people who are stepping forward to make our industry stronger and more resilient as we meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
“The stand-out feature of this year’s festival has been the way younger employees have stepped forward, acting as ambassadors for the sector and as role models for other young people considering a career in manufacturing.
“As judges we have been so impressed with the award winners and with all the young people who were nominated; they are a credit to themselves, their families and their organisations who have enabled their talent to flourish. Manufacturing really is a special place to work and these awards are testament to the opportunities on offer for young people with the right skills and attitude.”
The Leeds Manufacturing Festival is supported by sponsors Leeds City College, specialist recruiter for the manufacturing and engineering sectors E3 Recruitment and accountancy firm Saffery Champness. It is organised by the Leeds Manufacturing Alliance and supported by Leeds City Council, Leeds City Region LEP, Leeds Chamber and the Ahead Partnership.
Yorkshire Chamber calls for action as printer hit with 365% rise in energy bills
The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has called for the Government to do more to support businesses after one of its members reported that it will be hit with a 365 per cent increase in energy bills.
Charlesworth, a Wakefield based printing company that works with a number of international clients and delivers its services worldwide, underlined the severity of the situation.
Managing director and owner Mark Gray said: “We are in a really tough situation. The costs just keep on rising and soon we will be losing money simply as a result of coming to work and switching the lights on.”
Charlesworth’s energy bill for last year was just under £132,000, but its renewal price is being quoted at over £612,000, a 365 per cent rise.
He continued: “I cannot understand how businesses are expected to simply absorb these astronomical costs.
“It is unethical for a business to sign a contract that it cannot pay, as it would leave them vulnerable legally and financially.
“However, the out of contract rates we’re being quoted are even higher, which has put us between a rock and a hard place. We are currently undergoing negotiations and I hope that we can come to some sort of a resolution with our providers.
“My concern is that the Government is taking action to support households, but there is no similar support available for businesses.
“In my eyes, there is no point supporting households through this crisis if the same crisis is threatening their jobs and livelihoods through the businesses that pay their wages.
“These unbearable costs are not only affecting the management and finance departments, but they are also affecting every single one of the 54 staff that we employ.
“We are hoping to reach a resolution in the coming days, but I know there will be many other firms going through the exact same situation that can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The Government is seemingly keen to back British manufacturing, but these energy prices are hitting manufacturers the hardest, especially after the struggles of Brexit and Covid.
“These types of firms will generally use more energy than a standard office-based business – that’s just the nature of the game – but we cannot continue like this if the costs just keep on rising. As an industry, we need urgent support.”
Martin Hathaway, managing director of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “As an organisation that exists to represent its members, we stand with Mark and the many other business leaders who are no doubt in the same position.“I am astounded that there is no support available for firms amid these spiralling costs. Especially following the Chancellor’s Spring Budget, in which there was nothing to support business suffering with these pressures. This would have been the perfect time for Government to step up and truly back British business.
Change at the top for East Yorkshire commercial developer the Horncastle Group PLC
Commercial developer the Horncastle Group PLC has appointed a new Managing Director with ambitious plans to grow the business beyond its East Yorkshire heartland.
Tom Horncastle joins the business after a highly successful career in London’s investment and property sector, culminating in a six-year stint as an investment manager at Oxenwood Real Estate LLP.
Here, he established the UK and European acquisition platform of the firm, partnering with insurance, private equity and sovereign partners, to deploy nearly £1bn capital, across 50 deals, into the logistics sector.
Tom said: “Industrial and logistics will remain a key focus of the business. The short-term shortage of warehouse space in major cities, accelerated by the pandemic, continues to grow.
“In the longer term, structural changes in urbanization and increasing e-commerce demand will only make this shortage more acute.”
Tom added the Horncastle Group currently has a portfolio of employment land capable of delivering around 1.8m sqft of manufacturing and warehousing space in Yorkshire.
However, he said the business has plans to branch out into the wider UK, with a further off-market pipeline of 150 acres capable of delivering 2.30m sq ft across sites in the Midlands, London and the South East.
“As the business has grown, naturally, our pipeline and scale of projects, has grown too,” he said.
“As such, working with like-minded institutional capital will be essential to accelerate the delivery of these short and medium-term opportunities.
“It’s an exciting time – the company is fully integrated with a combined track record of delivering projects all the way from Strategic Land to best-in-class ESG rated development, and everything in between; and we can deliver this with the pace and nimbleness of a private property company but now with the governance and risk management expertise expected by third party, institutional capital. It’s a unique offering and something we’re very excited about.”
Group Chair Andrew Horncastle MBE said it was a proud moment to see Tom take over the reins of the company.
He said: “With his experiences of working across UK and Europe, often in joint venture, Tom will bring a network of contacts and expertise to the business.
“This will allow us to spread our wings. I’m very excited to see where he will take the Horncastle Group in the future.”
Outgoing Managing Director Ian Hodges will remain with the business and work on existing projects including Brough South.
He said “It is the right time for Tom to join the business. I am delighted and looking forward to working with him.
“The demand for manufacturing and logistics is the strongest it has ever been and there is investment appetite to buy into the sector.
“It is an exciting market and with a pipeline of land, the business is well placed to deliver new development for our tenant customers.”
As well as appointing Tom as Managing Director, Simon Lunt, former Managing Partner and Head of Corporate at Hull-based Solicitors Gosschalks joins the Horncastle Group’s board as a Non-Executive Director.
Simon will bring his broad corporate and commercial experience to the company. He said “I am delighted to be joining the Horncastle team at this exciting time. I will be focused on assisting the team with the strategic development of the business.”
Transport app to be developed after award scheme shortlisting
A transport app allowing users in East Lindsey to pre-order and access transport has been shortlisted in a competition, and will now be developed by DB Engineering & Consulting in partnership with East Lindsey District Council and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The service would increase the take-up of sustainable transport and reduce isolation by providing shared minibus and car trips where there is no public transport alternative.
The app could be used to access healthcare services, amenities or tourism destinations.
Midlands Connect launched its rural mobility competition in February, inviting businesses to put forward ideas that could help solve the social, environmental and economic issues caused by poor connectivity in rural areas.
The three chosen projects will now share £40,000 to develop their ideas further. The other two shortlisted projects are a proposal for EV car and charging point sharing in Derbyshire and an integrated journeys app to be developed in partnership with Malvern District Council.
Once the three schemes have been further developed, the updated plans will be presented to Midlands Connect in June. The best entry will be announced at the Midlands Connect Rural Mobility conference on 20th June 2022 and the winner will receive up to £100,000 to develop the project to a point where it is ready to seek investment funding.
Simon Statham, Chief Technology Officer at Midlands Connect, said: “We know communities in rural areas can feel cut off and isolated because of patchy public transport, and this can impact their ability to access the services and amenities they need to succeed.
“This competition aims to remove some of these barriers, using technology and innovation to find new solutions to improve mobility in rural areas across our region.
“We received three really promising ideas and have now awarded funding to these successful organisations to develop their plans in with a local authority partner. We look forward to seeing these plans take shape.”
Belvoir records 25 years of unbroken profit growth
Belvoir, the property franchise and financial services group, has recorded 25 years of unbroken profit growth in its audited final results for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Hailing “another year of strong growth,” the business, which has its central office in Grantham, posted a record level of group revenue at £29.6m, increasing by 37% in comparison to 2020 (£21.7m), with 12% attributable to acquired businesses and 25% to like-for-like growth.
Meanwhile the firm saw a 39% increase in profit before tax to £9.3m, up from £6.7m in 2020, marking 25 years of consecutive profit growth.
The results follow the acquisitions of Nicholas Humphreys in March 2021 and the mortgage advisory arm of The Nottingham Building Society (NBS) in July 2021.
Dorian Gonsalves, Chief Executive Officer, said: “2021 was the busiest year for our sector in recent times with residential property sales transactions at their highest level since 2007, which boosted both our growing estate agency and financial services businesses.
“We worked closely with our property franchisees and financial services advisers to ensure that they were best placed to respond to the strong market conditions, which drove significant organic growth of 25%.
“In addition to benefitting from the strong market conditions, we took the opportunity to make two strategic acquisitions. Adding the national Nicholas Humphreys franchise network to the Group has enabled us to extend our professional lettings service to encompass the specialist student lettings market.
“We also further strengthened our strategic alliance with the Nottingham Building Society, through the acquisition of its mortgage advisory arm, giving us access to its online savers who we hope will be our future mortgage clients.
“Since the year end, the Group has added a home-based agency network to its stable of property franchise brands, demonstrating the Board’s ongoing commitment to identifying suitable acquisition targets to support Belvoir’s continued growth.
“Given our significant recurring and reliable lettings revenue stream and our substantial financial services client base to draw upon during what is currently a strong market for remortgages, we remain confident that we will continue to perform well relative to the market as a whole, and that our business model and growth strategy will continue to deliver enhanced value for all our stakeholders.”
Gender inequality persists, according to new report
One in three female entrepreneurs have experienced sexism as a business owner, while one in five have also experienced gender inequality and unequal access to opportunities, according to a new study by Simply Business, one of the UK’s largest providers of small business insurance.
Overall, more than 90% of female entrepreneurs say gender bias and inequality is prevalent in business, with a third describing it as ‘widespread’ or ‘severe’.
To better support female business owners, over a third have called for more one-to-one mentorship from a business expert, alongside support and advice with funding (37%). A further third (33%) called for more tips and advice from female leaders in their industry and two in five (41%) female business owners called for the opportunity to network with other women business owners.
As a deep dive into experiences of sexism and gender bias in business, the study by Simply Business involved 800 women in business, and revealed over a fifth of female entrepreneurs have faced investors, colleagues, or customers making quick assumptions about them, or underestimating them when compared to their male counterparts.
One in five don’t feel they’re taken seriously compared to men in their industry, and nearly a fifth of female entrepreneurs don’t feel they have a loud enough voice, or aren’t heard enough compared to men.
Furthermore, a fifth say they’re not taken as seriously when pitching their product or business, and one in 10 (8%) don’t have access to the same networks or mentors as men.
Baroness Karren Brady, ambassador for Simply Business, said: “The level of gender bias and inequality within business, particularly within the small business landscape, is astounding. Sexism and bias, whether conscious or unconscious, will erode confidence over time and lead to unequal opportunities. It’s vital we challenge sexism and bias, and equip female entrepreneurs with the tools, access and confidence to overcome these obstacles. We need to inspire women into business, not bring them down.”
Female entrepreneurs and business owners have experienced gender bias and sexism across all industries and regions of the UK.
Samantha Small, owner of Mother Shipton Inn pub and restaurant in Knaresboroughadded: “As a woman who both heads a busy kitchen and runs the business as a whole, it still astounds me how many people will direct comments or business advice to my male partner. Everything from oven repairs to new suppliers. It’s a bug bear, but unfortunately, something that I’ve had to learn to deal with.”
Lincs director guilty of exposing public to asbestos gets prison term
A Grantham man has received a suspended prison sentence for deceiving the public about his ability to handle asbestos safely.
A court heard that between 2017 and 2019, Lee Charles of Caldicot Gardens acted as a de facto director of Lincs Demolition Ltd in securing lucrative jobs. He was able to do so by marketing himself as a registered asbestos-removal specialist.
Charles operated his deception in 43 towns and cities across England.
When disturbed, asbestos is a hazardous substance and carcinogenic, something Charles knew, but he also claimed to be registered with the Environment Agency. He was neither a specialist or registered.
The use of asbestos in the UK was subject to an outright ban in 1999, after certain types became outlawed in the 1980s.
Lincoln crown court was told Charles pleaded guilty to lying to customers and giving false paperwork to disguise his deception.
Having duped his customers, waste asbestos was stashed in hired storage containers in Welbourn, Lincolnshire, just 200 metres from a school and close to a Girl Guide centre.
Charles told the owners of the storage space that he wanted to keep tools there. When he failed to pay the rent on the containers, the owners forced the locks and were confronted with the dangerous contents.
Once exposed, Charles, 40, abandoned the storage containers at Welbourn, moving his activities to an unpermitted waste site in Little Hale, near Sleaford. He continued to store asbestos unsafely, posing a risk to public health.
Imposing a 12-month prison sentence, recorder Paul Mann told Charles, who has a string of previous convictions that he “knew the regulatory regime well enough to know what he was doing was seriously wrong.”
However, he said that he was “just” able to suspend the sentence for a period of 2 years so that Charles could pay the Environment Agency’s costs. Charles will also be required to pay compensation to the owners of the Welbourn containers for the not insignificant costs they had incurred in cleaning up the site.
Charles was told that he must return to Lincoln crown court in June for consideration of financial orders, including the potential confiscation of his proceeds of crime.
Paul Salter, waste crime officer for the Environment Agency in Lincolnshire, said: “Lee Charles’ crimes were not just illegal, but dangerous.
“In spite of repeated warnings and advice from the Environment Agency, Lincs Demolition, under Charles’ direction, put both the environment and public health at risk.
“Asbestos when inhaled causes serious health problems, the careless storage of which presents a significant hazard, with a risk to the life.
“Taking Charles’ avoidance of costs into consideration, from appropriate staff training to safe storage, Lincs Demolition avoided business costs of at least £50,000.
“It is imperative that all waste businesses have the correct permits in place to protect themselves, the environment and the public. We support businesses trying to do the right thing, only issuing enforcement notices, and penalising businesses as a last resort.”
In 2015, illegal waste activity was estimated to cost over £600 million in England alone, with the figure for the UK likely to be much higher. Charles pleaded guilty to 2 counts of operating a waste operation without a permit, contrary to Regulations 12, 38(1)(a) and 41(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. He also pleaded guilty to 2 counts of keeping or disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm, contrary to Sections 33(1)(c), 33(6) and 157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. On 13 June the court will decide costs against Charles in favour of the Environment Agency and the proceeds of crime order.