< Previous10 Business Link www.blmforum.net BUSINESS LINCOLNSHIRE Q&A What challenges are visitor economy businesses are facing right now? While every business is challenged right now, the visitor economy sector has arguably been hit the hardest, with so many enforced closures - often at short notice. But, there are also opportunities for businesses to take advantage. The biggest challenge is the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, with businesses unable to plan more than two weeks ahead. For tourism and hospitality businesses, this impacts on their staff, stock and future bookings, with customers cancelling and not knowing when they are able to rebook. Basically, strategic plans for many have been put on hold. Funding is another issue. This extended period of restrictions is having a major impact on all businesses. Those with stronger cash flow are potentially able to weather the storm, but for others, these restrictions could signal the end. Unfortunately, many visitor economy businesses have been falling through funding gaps, either due to the type and nature of their contracts or because they are newly incorporated. On a more positive note, many businesses have used this time to take stock of their operations and where their business is heading, and are looking at ways they can do things differently. For some, adapting their operations or diversifying their offer means their business will not only survive COVID-19 but be stronger in the long run. But we have to be realistic. Even when we emerge from the current pandemic, whenever that might be, business is themselves with great people, there will still be an element of group-think. History shows that some of the greatest breakthroughs in productivity and innovation come when one business leader visits another business or industry and is inspired by what they are doing. Every business, no matter the sector, has similar challenges – just in a different context. Many problems have already been worked through and solved by others. The Peer Networks programme allows businesses to break outside of their usual bubble and explore new ideas or projects that they otherwise would never have known about. What is special about the Peer Networks programme for Greater Lincolnshire businesses is that Business Lincolnshire has created an atmosphere of trust, which is very important for businesses to progress. They can open up and trust that the people they are with have their best interest and will support them in achieving their goals. Why is it so important for businesses to have a sounding board? Each Peer Network is tailored by industry, so visitor economy businesses who join will be hearing the perspectives of fellow tourism and hospitality SMEs. This sharing of knowledge gives businesses a better understanding of what is going on in their sector, so they can consider how this may affect their business moving forward. In recent years, there has been a shift towards customers wanting more from visitor economy businesses. For example, it’s not enough anymore to just offer a Q&A Gill Harvey, Visitor Economy Adviser, Business Lincolnshire From an impartial sounding board to fully-funded expert advice, we spoke to Gill Harvey, Visitor Economy Adviser for Business Lincolnshire, on why tourism and hospitality businesses should join the new Peer Networks programme for SMEs. Gill Harvey unlikely to be the same again. Why should visitor economy businesses join the new Peer Networks programme? Why wouldn’t they?! This programme is invaluable to businesses. By signing up, tourism and hospitality businesses not only get support and feedback from fellow business leaders and managers, but each group is facilitated by an expert in their industry. This brings expert knowledge in where it’s needed, as well as providing structure to the sessions – something that is necessary for innovation and developing creative ideas. No matter how successful a business is, their knowledge is still inhibited by what they know and have experienced. Even when businesses surround 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:35 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 11 BUSINESS LINCOLNSHIRE Q&A water park or hotel, you need to wrap your ‘destination’ around an experience - or at least be able to demonstrate where add-on experiences exist. To do that, businesses need to collaborate with other businesses, and it’s only through collaboration that they will be able to provide these well-rounded experiences. Having a strong network of trusted peers also means that they can offer recommendations, helping your business to solve problems or embrace opportunities as they arise. What does the future hold for the visitor economy sector in Greater Lincolnshire? I believe the future of the sector is in our hands. I’m really excited by the work and aspirations of Business Lincolnshire and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and the huge amount of work that is going on behind the scenes to promote our county – which includes extra support for small tourism and hospitality businesses. We’re trying to establish a key identity for the region, which will make it easier to market Lincolnshire to visitors. We have a lot of local gems and amazing entrepreneurial business owners, which combined should lead to a very promising future for our county. But, this bright future depends on the region’s ability to deliver what visitors want. The three key areas are sustainability, wellbeing and technology, and it’s a need across all demographics - not just young people. Adapting to technology is an area in particular that is going to be critical. In this region, there are still businesses that don’t accept bookings online or only accept payment by cash or cheque. There are many reasons for this, but businesses must follow customer trends and meet their needs to survive, especially as the pandemic has changed so much. For example, the need or desire to carry cash - even Big Issue sellers and Buskers now take payment by card! The Peer Networks programme and the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub team of experts can help businesses to overcome these barriers and adapt, as well as exploit the fantastic opportunities available. To find out more about the new Peer Networks programme or to get involved, visit www.businesslincolnshire.com. © Shutterstock /Indypendenz 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:35 Page 212 Business Link www.blmforum.net COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Exciting schemes and skyline changers Business Link takes a look at some of the most exciting developments recently unveiled and reaching new milestones in Yorkshire. The Place development at the Climate Innovation District ©Citu 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:37 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 13 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Yorkshire is undergoing major transformation, with new projects being planned and advancing in towns and cities. Recent developments are set to change skylines and existing structures as the region looks to adapt to the changing needs of its residents and take heed of Government’s desire to Build Back Better. Sheffield is one of the poster cities for this with the progression of its Heart of 15 Á the City scheme - the flagship redevelopment project looking to create a central hub for the city with a mix of leisure, retail, office, and residential developments. In December, the steel topping out on the new mixed-used developments on Pinstone Street took place, which represent the second phase of the scheme to be constructed. To be fully completed in 2021, Isaacs Building will house nearly 40,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, and 52 apartments and four townhouses will be situated next to the building, incorporating Laycock House and Burgess House. This development will also include Athol House, which will offer a small amount of workspace. Designed by Leonard Design Architects, both buildings will feature retail and food and beverage units on the ground floor. Continuing to move forward, the Heart of the City scheme’s proposals for a 154- bedroom Radisson Blu hotel have been approved, set behind the facades of Palatine Chambers and City Mews, and replacing Barkers Pool House on Burgess Street with a second complementary building, containing the majority of the hotel’s bedrooms. A rooftop bar, restaurant and terrace is also planned for the hotel, and ground-level retail and food and beverage units are set for the location on Pinstone Street. In nearby Rotherham, Harworth Group plc has revealed plans for a mixed-use scheme which will form the heart of the community at its Waverley development. Olive Lane has been designed in collaboration with Coda Architecture, PWP Landscape Design and BE Design. The plans include retail uses, a gym, offices, restaurants and cafes, a supermarket, a medical centre, community space, a bus hub and residential development. It is proposed to be developed on 10 acres of land between the Advanced Manufacturing Park and the site’s existing residential area. Harworth is sharing its plans with residents and workers ahead of the submission of a planning application in 2021. One of Yorkshire’s largest brownfield redevelopments, Waverley has outline planning consent in place for 3,890 homes and 2m sq ft of commercial space. So far, over 1,000 homes have been built alongside 1.5m sq ft of commercial space primarily for advanced manufacturing. Over in Leeds, new developments are flourishing. For example, a new scheme will bring the city its first net zero carbon commercial building. Sustainable developer Citu has begun work on workspace ‘The Place’, which has been designed to be a healthier environment for businesses looking for a post- pandemic solution to working life. Placed on Leeds’s South Bank, the three-storey building is the first commercial building in the Climate Innovation District, and the first address on a new street in Leeds – Central Place. Chris Thompson, Citu Managing Director, said: “What we’re increasingly aware of is how incredibly important it is for businesses to offer their staff healthy, positive workplaces where people want to be. Working from home has benefits for some but we still want to come together, to collaborate with our colleagues and to enjoy being at work, rather than simply performing tasks from our screens. Many typical offices are just not appealing and, at worst, feel unhealthy with false ceilings, air- conditioned, energy-sapping rooms. Inspiring, flexible workplaces are key to attracting and retaining talent, and this is exactly what we aim to achieve with The Place.” A dedicated roof terrace will hold a tennis court, yoga spaces and space for events, relaxation, exercise, and socialising. Meanwhile student accommodation continues to be pitched and developed, altering the city’s skyline, with a public consultation for what could become Yorkshire’s tallest residential student accommodation scheme having been launched. Olympian Homes’ plans would see a 43-storey development constructed on Merrion Way, featuring around 720 beds across studio apartments and shared cluster flats. The scheme would replace office block, Arena Point, and sit between tall buildings including the 36-storey Altus House, another student accommodation scheme being delivered by Olympian Homes. Michelle Davies, Director at DPP Planning’s Leeds office, handling the consultation, said: “This proposed development will support the continued 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:37 Page 2Armstrong house Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 • Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Superb 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 sizes 3 3 3 3 3 Last remaining office suites Prime location in Grimsby Offering 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 call 01472 310301. 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:37 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 15 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY regeneration of this part of Leeds, which has undergone significant change over the last ten years to become a popular residential and leisure destination. It will transform an underutilised office block, which is only 40 percent occupied, into one of Yorkshire’s tallest buildings offering high quality apartments that will play a part in alleviating the city’s student accommodation challenges.” Further plans for an 18-storey student accommodation block in Leeds, from Black Caviar Property, were recently given the go-ahead at Commerce House on Wade Lane, the site of an office block which will be demolished. Moreover in November work completed on a £12.5 million, seven-storey student accommodation scheme. The development, known as Union, has been developed by Burley Place Ltd with national-contractor Tolent, as the principal contractor, and fronts directly onto Burley Street. Restoration and conversion projects are also rife. Remaining in Leeds, plans have been unveiled and submitted to save a derelict church building, bringing it back to life as a residential scheme. The main Grade II listed structure would be fully restored, and a sympathetic new extension built. Empty for over 30 years, St Mary’s Church in Richmond Hill, could become a selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, designed by Leeds based architects Brewster Bye on behalf of developers, Estate Aid Ltd and MSM (Leeds) Ltd. The church, and its proposed extension, will contain 62 apartments and the existing presbytery would be demolished and replaced with a five-storey building consisting of 113 apartments. Mark Henderson, director at Brewster Bye, said: “St Mary’s Church is an iconic building in East Leeds, but in recent decades it has sadly become a prominent example of urban decay on the Leeds skyline.” Furthermore the restoration project at The Majestic in Leeds is complete, offering office space in the city-centre’s business district. Construction began in 2017 to transform the former 1920s cinema and bingo hall into a Grade A commercial development. Approximately 66,000 sq ft of lettable office space spans six floors. The Majestic is expected to become the home of Channel 4 and other tenants this year. Barnsley meanwhile hosts one of the only leisure and shopping destinations under construction in the country. It will feature a 13 screen Cineworld cinema, up to 25 shops, seven family restaurants and a Superbowl UK. The most recent milestone at the development saw the glazing of two new glass roofed boulevards completed. The scheme is part of Barnsley Council’s circa £200 million future proofing investment into the town centre. Councillor Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place at Barnsley Council, said: “When driving into Barnsley you can already see the skyline has changed so much thanks to this project and it’s a mark of how far on The Glass Works now is.” He continued: “The Glass Works will attract more people more often for years to come into our town centre.” The Majestic St Marys Church 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:37 Page 4evolve Update and 16 Business Link www.blmforum.net PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY IN MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT When it comes to making improvements, there’s simply no way of knowing what needs to be changed until you know how all aspects of a business tessellates together. It’s therefore key to review your existing workflow to identify where changes need to be made. By approaching this critical task methodically, the business can be broken down into parts – such as people, processes, and equipment. From there, it’s about asking the right questions to gauge whether improvements need to be made. For example, do you have people with the right skills in place, or is all your equipment in good repair. Depending on the answers, you will then be able to take steps towards making improvements to bring efficiency and productivity gains. Although this might seem like a simple, straightforward process, it is one of the most important as it provides a roadmap for all subsequent actions. If rushed, things can be missed and far from creating a leaner, more efficient business, it may well lead to exacerbating the underlying problems – there’s no point updating your machinery if your staff don’t know how to use it properly, after all. Once this first step has been taken care of, it’s time to create actionable steps. In short, take the workflow review data and identify areas where processes and technologies can be updated or changed entirely. When it comes to manufacturing, inefficiencies largely come down to two issues: people and machinery. Although it’s important to ensure staff are regularly trained (more on that later), automation can be a godsend in both instances. Though automated and even semi- automated processes have long been part of the production line, many companies, particularly those operating on a smaller scale, still use manual processes. Tasks that were typically undertaken by human workers can all be achieved with greater speed, proficiency and precision with automated processes. Likewise, more modern procedures can also be undertaken more efficiently with automated technologies. The next logical step in the on-going automation of the production line is with burgeoning new technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and the internet of things (IoT). These and other solutions promise to create a more harmonious, interconnected supply chain helping to ensure safety, transparency and, above all, efficiency. As well as hardware solutions such as updated machinery and equipment, efficiency and productivity gains can also be made with new software solutions to help with everything from scheduling and inventory, to monitoring workflow. Increasingly, manufacturers are moving towards the smart factory concept which involves the implementation of smart technologies to automate, augment and improve the manufacturing process. Machine sensors, for example, allow factories to measure and reduce energy and water waste leading to lower operating costs and more environmentally sustainable operations. Using smart sensors can also lead to better asset tracking, triggering orders when stock runs low so manufacturers can completely automate their inventory replenishment process. The same technology can also automatically identify potential equipment failures before they happen, saving on more expensive repairs and protracted periods of downtime. There will always be some resistance to new technologies, but the majority of companies in the industrial manufacturing sector are exploring this concept or at least looking into smart technologies. The downside, however, is that the right infrastructure is needed Embracing automation and staff training can have a transformative effect on a manufacturing business’ productivity and efficiency. Often, it all starts with a workflow assessment. 18 Á 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:39 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 17 PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY IN MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT © Shutterstock /metamorworks 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:40 Page 218 Business Link www.blmforum.net PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY IN MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT before any IoT system can be installed and this requires investment. Costs here can be steep – sometimes even prohibitive – but at a time when the future seems uncertain, investing in technologies that will help to future- proof the factory floor can be an attractive prospect. But there’s more to the smart factory concept than just IoT. The so-called “lights out” production concept, where manufacturing activities and material flow are handled automatically, is becoming a hallmark of modern manufacturing. Obviously, this can’t be achieved by a traditional workforce and so robots have become much more commonplace on the factory floor. Robots were originally introduced in the workplace for health and safety reasons, replacing human workers in dirty and dangerous jobs, and boosting production output. Robotic systems also help to improve product quality and uniformity and, crucially, cut manufacturing costs by replacing increasingly expensive people with ever-cheaper machines. After all, a machine doesn’t need a living wage or pension. It’s understandable that some workers fear robots will put them out of a job, especially in the manufacturing sector. Yet it’s the very nature of technology to eliminate jobs by expanding the scope of human understanding and by making our home and work lives easier. Complete automation is the natural next step for manufacturing. As well as improving efficiency, lowering operation costs and boosting output, investing in robots makes sound financial sense. Over the last three decades, the average robot price has fallen by half in real terms whilst the cost of labour has continued to rise. Robotic systems also have the advantage over IoT as they’re © Shutterstock /Zapp2Photo © Shutterstock /Gorodenkof f 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 09:40 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 19 PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY IN MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT Units 4b & 4c, Harpings Road, National Avenue, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire HU5 4JF Tel: +44 (0)1482 440222 Email: esales@eyh.co.uk Web: www.eyh.co.uk eyh .co.uk EAST YORKSHIRE HYDRAULICS Hydraulic engineering - design, build, installation and service. • Complete hydraulic systems • Installation and commissioning • Hydro-pneumatic accumulators • Hydraulic equipment • Cylinders Single Source Hydraulic Solutions Design, build, installation and service of hydraulic systems, cylinders, accumulators and equipment. comparatively easy to assemble, install and integrate thanks to overall advances in computing power, software development techniques and networking technologies. Whether working in tandem with robotic systems or as part of a wider IoT, augmented reality (AR) has a number of practical applications on the factory floor. Although AR dates back to 1968, the technology is still in its infancy, but there’s a huge scope of what it can offer manufacturers. It can be used to train maintenance engineers on the specific environment they will encounter, making it a boon to hazardous environments such as food and drink and pharmaceutical manufacturing. For facilities managers and site operators, the technology allows off-site staff to experience the same view as a maintenance team on site. By projecting information on a heads-up display, augmented reality can also assist in complex assembly, something that’s already be used by companies like Boeing and will likely permeate the industry in the years to come. Yet this is only one side of the issue, with the other being staff. Training is an ongoing process and should be regularly seen to, especially when adding ever more complex machinery and equipment to a production floor. As well as ensuring staff have the skills needed to ensure continuity and efficiency, it’s also an effective staff retention tactic and is often more efficient than taking on new employees. By tying staff training into the installation of new equipment, disruption can be kept to a minimum as there is always an expected period of downtime expected in these instances. Training isn’t limited to the running of machinery alone and should also include health and safety – especially in the continuing pandemic. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 19/01/2021 09:24 Page 4Next >