< Previous‘Excellent year’ for York Handmade Brick Company York Handmade Brick Company has chalked up one of its most successful years in its three-decade long history. Chairman David Armitage said: “We have flourished in 2018, with contracts from as far away as Cornwall and Scotland. Significantly, our most lucrative work with in the commercial property and education sectors, rather than housing, which had been our staple for a number of years. “Prestigious contracts that we completed during the past 12 months include the new Halifax Library, Pocklington School’s Art and Design Technology Centre, the House of Trembling Madness in York and the Westgate Centre in Oxford. “The Halifax and Oxford jobs were shortlisted for major awards in the Brick Development Association’s Awards, the Oscars of the brick industry. Equally encouraging is that our order book is full well into 2019…”10 Business 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 businessNEWSHalifax Library06-10.qxp_Layout 1 04/01/2019 09:41 Page 5www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 11 EMPLOYMENT LAWIt’s fair to say that companies might be focussing their efforts on the big changes coming across the board, from the 4.9 per cent increase to the National Living Wage in April, to the looming deadline of Brexit and what it means for business going forward. So it might well be forgivable that some other aspects slip through the net, though it certainly won’t be forgivable on a legal basis, and could still land an employer in trouble. It’s not just the ability of the Government to unmake and repeal any existing laws they do not like, but also uncertainty over whether UK employers will need to follow existing rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Legal experts expect that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK Government would try to maintain the status quo on this matter – at least until things settle down, but that’s not a In the eye of the law It’s a fair bet that a huge chunk of any company’s time is spent on staffing issues – whether that’s locating potential employees or dealing with issues regarding current staff. It’s not surprising given the consistently changing legislation in the field of HR. Even the most conscientious employer could well find themselves inadvertently breaking the law. 12 Á© Shutterstock/create jobs 5111-13.qxp_Layout 1 04/01/2019 09:43 Page 1EMPLOYMENT LAWguaranteed fact. Simply put, it’s a legal and political minefield at the moment, which will only get more convoluted as time goes on. That said, in the long run there is little to show that any of these changes would be intrinsically bad for business, it is simply that even for changes that would be beneficial, there will still be that period of uncertainty. The knock-on effects of these changes could also have financial implications for many, with contracts needing to be amended, or HR teams sent on training courses to learn more about what has – and has not – changed. These are just some of the changes which are going to be perhaps made as we go into the New Year. There are still the age-old issues faced by employers now in regards to issues such as grievances, sickness and absence – and the dreaded tribunal. Employment tribunals have long been an unpleasant experience for employers, with many suggesting that the system in the past has been weighted too far in favour of the claimant. Indeed, many would doubtless suggest the fact that those using the tribunal service did not have to pay any fees rather encouraged a host of speculative claims, often without merit, which simply added to the burden of employers, HR directors and managers. And the issue could be getting worse. In a case touted across most newspapers, judges ruled in favour of a Morrisons customer who was subject to a violent assault by one of their employees. The Supreme Court ruled that Morrisons could be held liable for this, due to vicarious liability – where someone is held accountable for another’s actions. This could have far-reaching consequences on many companies in the region, especially if they employ people who work with customers directly. In reality it’s unlikely to lead to a raft of new claims, as even before the legislation companies were hardly going to employ – or keep employing – people who would racially attack another. However, it does open the door for claims and lawsuits, which even if found false, could have disastrous effects on the reputation of a company, not to mention the legal costs – which will be felt much more keenly by SMEs. It’s important to note that the law has not changed, per se. Vicarious liability was always in effect, and will continue to be so. But it does open the door for further questions as to how far it can be taken, as originally both the High Court and Court of Appeal declared Morrisons not responsible. With all the changes taking place it’s certainly going to be necessary for companies to take a look at their process and seek the aid of a professional. © Shutterstock/edwardolive12 Business Link www.blmforum.net11-13.qxp_Layout 1 04/01/2019 09:43 Page 2www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 13 EMPLOYMENT LAWAt Lincolnshire & Counties Training Solutions (LACTS) we provide training courses for organisations both large and small across a wide range of sectors, including Health Trusts, Local Authorities, Education, Business and Industry. We are recognised and authorised by the leading UK governing bodies such as, AOFA, FOFATO and BALI to train accredited Food Safety, Health and Safety, HACCP, First Aid, Fire Safety, ROLO and a host of other qualifications throughout the whole of the UK.For more information call 07775877057 or visit www.lacts.co.uk© Shutterstock/PhuShutterWith all the changes taking place it’s certainly going to be necessary for companies to take a look at their process and seek the aid of a professional11-13.qxp_Layout 1 04/01/2019 09:43 Page 314 Business Link www.blmforum.netOPM (LABELS & PACKAGING) GROUP LTD - Q&ATell us a little about OPM (labels & packaging) Group? OPM is a privately-owned, independent company established over 40 years ago. Initially an engineering company turning over £300,000 pa manufacturing small desk top printing machines, I bought the company in 1986 and rapidly began producing plain and printed self-adhesive labels under the new name of OPM. In 2013 OPM moved into the current site in Leeds. Since the move OPM has invested over £6 million in the latest label and packaging technology, including automated MIS and pre-press systems and servo-driven printing presses. We have a broad machinery footprint allowing us to accommodate low, medium and large runs cost effectively. Our selection means we offer highly decorative and functional products. We are proud to announce that it has recently been awarded their Zero Labels 2 Landfill Certification. Describe your management philosophy My management style is so hard to put your finger on, but I think in general my philosophy is to give clear directions and actually stay pretty hands-off but be ready and available to jump in to offer guidance, expertise, and help when needed. I also go out of my way to make sure I know when my team needs help and work with them to set clear goals and KPI’s that are achievable. That means plenty of informal check-ins, both on the work they’re doing and on their general job satisfaction and mental well-being. I see running a business as a collaborative process, but one that still has a clear structure in place, where colleagues and management work together to drive our vision for OPM’s future. How important is state-of-the-art technology to your business strategy? We have worked hard to develop a business environment that supports and promotes innovation as its culture. The OPM innovation strategy is based around four main factors that we consider especially important in improving innovation performance: culture, collaboration, strategy, and technology. The state-of-the-art technology we have chosen to drive innovation has helped OPM develop specialised products in a wide variety of sectors to maximize long-term value. How close is OPM to achieving its process automation goals? How important is this to your business strategy? Process automation is key to OPM business control and agility, as it allows us to optimise resources, speed development, and adapt faster to market changes. Today, our aim is to maximise automation rather than re-engineer it. Technological advancements in software Q&A Chris Ellison, Managing Director at OPM (labels & packaging) Group Ltd We recently had the chance to sit down and chat with Chris Ellison, Managing Director at OPM (labels & packaging) Group Ltd, to discuss management styles, the importance of automation and the benefits of running a family-owned business. 14-15.qxp_Layout 1 07/01/2019 11:21 Page 1www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 15 OPM (LABELS & PACKAGING) GROUP LTD - Q&Aand technology have accelerated the evolution of business processes from’re-engineering’ to ‘automation’. Our goal is to automate as many manual processes as possible. This is an ongoing project as we automate existing processes we develop new ways to automate the new technology we bring to the business too. Automation has reduced the number of tasks we do manually. This allows us to get more done in the same amount of time, greatly increasing productivity. It frees up our time to work on tasks that add genuine value to the business, improving customer experience, allowing OPM to be more innovative and increasing our employees’ levels of motivation. What are the keys to a successful client / printer relationship? Packaging has a big job to do. It has to contain the product, serve as a promotional tool, market the value proposition, and stand out on shelf, within the constraints of a budget while maintaining a profit margin. However, despite this it is often the last thing on a company marketing strategy. Retail is more stressful today than ever with the demand for speed to market at its highest. In our business deadlines are everything – so OPM offer short lead times through continued process efficiency We blend innovation, functional products with decoration to create print that engages the consumer and jumps off the shelf. OPM ask the right questions and listen. We share the mission of our clients to grow and succeed their brands. What are the challenges and rewards of running a family-owned business? I think our greatest benefit, as a family run business, is our ability to communicate openly and honestly with each other. As a family we have built up trust in each other while working together. The best thing about our team is that there is no resentment or rivalry because we have all earned our positions through skills and experience. In some family businesses challenges can develop – it can be come emotionally charged. I decided early on that in order for us to work harmoniously, we all needed to have distinct roles; too much overlap could lead to confusion. As a family we naturally hold common values about the business – “Not accepting second best of ourselves or others”. There are challenges as in any business but we overcome these as team. I feel that the benefits of the quality time we get together achieving our goals makes up for extra demands that family ownership brings. What’s one piece of advice you would offer others? Set aside time at least every week to stop being a manager and assume the role of the CEO. Fire yourself from jobs you no longer have to do and promote yourself to jobs that a growing company needs someone to perform, but that only you can do.For more information, visit www.opmgroup.co.uk, email customerservices@opmgroup.co.uk, or call 0113 231 1000.14-15.qxp_Layout 1 07/01/2019 11:21 Page 216 Business Link www.blmforum.netPROPERTYThe shape of things to come Business Link explores the key trends facing the global real estate market and how they can be applied to regional commercial property. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 04/01/2019 09:45 Page 1PROPERTYwww.blmforum.netBusiness Link 17The waning of one year and the start of another brings with it a slew of predictions and trends set to shape the months to come. Not only does this offer an opportunity to stay ahead of the curve, but also to adjust outlooks and expectations accordingly. When it comes to the commercial property and real estate markets, having some foresight and insider knowledge can be advantageous enabling buyers, sellers and businesses to avoid potential pitfalls and make more informed decisions. Global real estate consultants Knight Frank have released a new report detailing the key themes shaping occupational demand. Individually, these themes, they claim, will be highly influential. However, in combination, the consultant says they “represent nothing short of a new occupational orthodoxy”. Although the report is focussed on global real estate, the trends will also have a bearing on the commercial property market, nationally and here in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, offering regional businesses a roadmap that might serve them well throughout 2019. #1 The productivity push The first of these trends has been dubbed ‘the productivity push’. First, a little context. As the report explains, attitudes towards real estate costs are changing, with the focus shifting towards effective rather than cheap solutions. Therefore, real estate has a critical role to play in the push for increased corporate productivity. However, this is not about increasing the density of occupation with the aim of savings at all costs. This approach, the report says, has “ultimately proven counter-productive”. Instead, it says, the aim is now to increase productivity by strengthening the interaction between people and property via the creation of – and investment on – a “positive, serviced and well-supported workplace experience”. Business in our region can learn from this trend but aligning their outlook on productivity with their approach to real estate. As we’ve explored time and again in our property pages, the workplace environment – be that factory floor or office – should be somewhere staff want to spend time rather than somewhere they dream. Simple solutions such as appealing décor, access to natural light and recreational rooms can have a big impact. #2 Generate occupational demand with new technologies It should come as no surprise that at least one of these five trends was concerned with new and emerging technologies disrupting the traditional workplace. And so it is with the second trend homing in on next-wave technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and automation. This, Knight Frank says, will create “a period of rapid organisation and process re-engineering”. According to the report, this will change the future form, function and location of the workplace, resetting the “quantum and qualities of staff required by a business”. This, it says, will bring about the closer interaction of humans and machines in support of greater productivity and, critically, create new and different forms of occupational demand in real estate markets. It’s also worth noting that this sentiment does away with the doom and gloom that sometimes accompanies discourse of future technologies and the “robots are coming for your job” rhetoric. In our region we’re already seeing the transformation of commercial property and the role it plays in the working world with digital clusters springing up in Leeds and Sheffield with Lincoln following hot on their heels. Businesses can put themselves in good stead for the future by embracing rather than resisting this change and the business and occupancy models it will inevitably bring about. 19 Á© Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images16-19.qxp_Layout 1 04/01/2019 09:45 Page 2Armstrong houseOffering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House on Armstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports of Grimsby 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 offices are 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 contract mean confidence when it comes to affordability and with a range of office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. If you require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 per month. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements, give Scotts Property a call today on 01472 267000 and ask about Armstrong House.Last remaining office suites Prime location in GrimsbySuperb Location - - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre Secure off street parking High speed internet availability Easy in/out terms A range of affordable office sizes33333Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 • Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.ukwww.shutterstock.com/terekhov igorwww.shutterstock.com/Yentafern16-19.qxp_Layout 1 04/01/2019 09:45 Page 3www.shutterstock.com/Yentafernwww.blmforum.netBusiness Link 19PROPERTY#3 Changing corporate constitutions It’s clear that technology is a major influencer on real estate markets, with the third trend claiming that corporate supply chains are becoming broader and deeper as organisations refocus on their core competencies or seek a skill that sits outside of their traditional orbit. Indeed, as the diversification of the workplace, and the lines between some sectors blur and blend together, this is a trend that we will see more of in the years to come – not just in the property world, but right across the corporate spectrum. But, as the report claims, the company demographic is also being altered by corporate diversity initiatives and the rise of multi-generational workforces. This has multiple implications for the workplace, namely strengthening the need for more flexible, collaborative workspace that improves interaction between staff. Not only will this lead to a happier, more productive workforce, but will also impact worker’s lives. Studies have found that loneliness is a modern epidemic. Fostering interaction at work can be hugely beneficial to workers, especially at a time when the stigma around mental illness is fading in the corporate world. #4 ‘Space as a service’ becomes the demand default The workspace is evolving into a flexible business service that can actively support growth, rather than a fixed and – as far as the occupier is concerned – financially onerous physical product. According to the report, this reposition is “alluring to the occupier and will become the demand default”. Traditional landlords therefore have little choice to move with the times and adapt to this new dynamic and adopt the approach taken by the co-working generation. The report claims the must extends their innovation beyond the design of the physical product and towards the provision of “soft-services, community and well-being”. This is something landlords should take to hear in our region and adapt their business model and offering accordingly to accommodate, rather than stubbornly holding on to an outdated approach until the bitter end. #5 Mobility and mergers underpin occupier activity Despite the effect Brexit has wrought on property markets domestically and abroad, we are entering a boom period of merger and acquisitions activity. As the search for talent intensifies, the report says that occupier portfolios will “incorporate markets and submarkets that were once terra incognita”. What this means is that there’ll be a conscious movement towards workspaces close to talent pools but, as the report says, which will also have the amenity, service and infrastructure to assist in the retention of that talent. “We are in a new era of occupier mobility,” the report says. “It will not only bring greater complexity to the corporate real estate portfolio, it will also extend the pool of demand emerging within global real estate markets.” We’ve already seen this taking place across our region, so expect the trend to continue into the future as the workplace comes in line with the lives and needs of today’s staff. © Shutterstock/4 PM production16-19.qxp_Layout 1 04/01/2019 09:46 Page 4Next >