MARCH 2019 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 34 ISSUE 3FINANCE A tangled web of financeMODERN BUSINESSMODERN BUSINESSLEGAL SERVICES In the eye of the lawPETROCHEMICAL SPOTLIGHT Adapting the industry01 .qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 08:33 Page 1SCIENCE PARK DESIGN AND BUILD OPPORTUNITIES Lincoln Science & Innovation Park is home to a thriving community of science and tech businesses in Lincoln city centre. Now, plots in Phase Two are being released for medium and large knowledge-intensive businesses. Bespoke developments for sole occupancy can range in size from 5,000 to 27,000 sq ft (500m2 to 2,500m2) over six landscaped acres of the Park with access to its facilities and services. ADVANTAGES OF LOCATING YOUR BUSINESS AT LINCOLN SCIENCE PARK >Be part of a successful, collaborative Science Park community >Co-locate with University of Lincoln researchers and technicians >Access students and graduates for internships and employment >Enjoy premium facilities and access to business networks, advice and academic expertise >Business networks and facilities at Boole Technology Centre >Dedicated parking and 24/7 security >Close to city centre amenities and transport hub. Contact Lincoln Science & Innovation Park t (44) 01522 437100 e enquiry@lincolnsciencepark.co.uk Beevor Street | Lincoln LN6 7DJ www.LSIPphase2.co.uk 02.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 08:34 Page 1It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with Brexit negotiations, and if it wasn’t clear enough before, it’s become patently obvious that no one has a clue. As of going to print, Theresa May has promised MPs a say on delaying Brexit or ruling out a no-deal if they reject her deal during a meaningful vote on 12 March. Perhaps this one won’t be rescheduled at the eleventh hour. Better yet, maybe some actual progress will be made. At least our readers have the March issue of Business Link to tide them over. This month we’ve got the logistics and distribution industries firmly in our sights with a freight, storage and movement feature and a commercial property feature exploring Yorkshire’s industrial and logistics market. Advanced manufacturing is the name of the game for our materials and components article, while we take a dive into what’s happening in both the finance and legal services sectors. As well as these features, we’ve not forgotten the regulars with a look at the pros and cons of bespoke corporate hospitality. Not forgetting motoring, of course, and that final cynical word from Fraser. For our Lincolnshire readers, we’d be remiss without mentioning our sister publication’s East Midlands Bricks Awards which takes place on 28 March at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher EditorThe magazine that cares We care because we want to leave our world a better place than we found it Business Link believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key to maintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staff will be proud to be part of. Community - From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We also extend that into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causes and charities. Environment - Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources, minimisation of waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise.From the Editor03.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 08:34 Page 1CONTENTSMARCH 20196News The latest business news and success stories from around our region 12Commercial property Thanks to increasing demand and a structural shift in occupational needs, Yorkshire industrial and logistics markets experienced its strongest year on record in 2018. Business Link explores what’s driving this trend and what it means for the future 16Finance Uncertainty is a word many are sick of in today’s world, but statistics paint a damning picture on how few business owners understand the complicated world of business finance • A P Robinson & Co Q&A 22Freight, storage and movement Robotics and automated systems are starting to become more popular in the freight and storage industry, but how close are they to completely removing the need for workers? 26Materials and components New technologies are having a transformative effect on the manufacturing and engineering industries, from the design, development and prototyping of new parts and components, to encouraging new starters into the fold 29Legal services The law has long existed to protect the individual, and that causes problems in business. It need not be a litigious nightmare, however, and there are people who can help ensure neither side is cheated 32AutoLink SUVs make for rugged countryside cars perfect for Lincolnshire and Yorkshire’s windy roads. That’s why we’re taking a look at the top five SUVs to keep an eye out for in 2019, compiled by automotive data company HPI’s Mark Bulmer • We put Ginetta’s stunning new supercar through it paces 38Corporate hospitality The function of corporate hospitality can perhaps best be likened to wearing a suit. Both are symbols of business, and both can make a company look impressive. And like a suit, an off-the-peg approach to corporate hospitality isn’t for everyone 41Conference and Hospitality Show 2019 Now in its tenth year, the Conference and Hospitality Show returns to First Direct Arena in Leeds on 30 April 42Petrochemical spotlight Although Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have become iconic for Britain’s renewable energy industry, the region remains an important hub for the petrochemical industry. But the sector is beset by environmental challenges that must be overcome to ensure long-term growth. Fortunately, embracing emissions-reducing technologies can help companies remain relevant and profitable 45CHEMUK Taking place at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate on the 1 and 2 May, CHEMUK is a must attend for UK-wide manufacturers and suppliers of chemicals and chemical products 46Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire 50And finally…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.netCONNECT WITH US22263604-05.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 08:37 Page 1Group Editor Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalists Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk) Stuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk) Tess Egginton (t.egginton@blmgroup,.co.uk) Editorial contact newsdesk@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317 Sales Director Angela Cooper (a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk) Advertising Sam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk) Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@blmgroup.co.uk) Nicolle Sizer (n.sizer@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: (01472) 310310 Accounts & Subscriptions Angela Sharman, John Downes Tel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311 Design & Production Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson Tel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314 (studio@blmgroup.co.uk) E-Mail: yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.uk Website www.blmforum.net Address Haychart Ltd, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE. ISSN No: 1462-2092 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. COVER PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK - MOLPIX • ISAK55 • FRAMESTOCKFOOTAGES • RAWPIXEL.COM • MANINE99www.blmforum.net4204-05.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 08:37 Page 2Leeds VR company secures seed funding to scale up Leeds VR specialist Cooperative Innovations has secured more than £500,000 in seed funding in a round which included angel investors. Cooperative Innovations said the investment will enable it to grow its head count and launch a pilot licensing programme for Ikabod, the first of its tools and technologies that will be available. It will also allow it to expand its commitment to ongoing research and development into immersive technologies, and continue development of its original MMORPG VR game, Raiders of Erda, and another as-yet-unannounced multiplayer VR/AR title. The studio is now actively seeking selected licensing partners for Ikabod. CEO and co-founder Simon Barratt said: “Securing this investment really allows us to scale-up the studio and continue to build on our core technologies and tools. We’re passionate about immersive experiences as the future of work, life and play, and we’re excited about the opportunity to grow the team, continue our R&D, and release some of our original IP too.”6 Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWSBusiness booms for Leeds-based company thanks to HS2 contracts Leeds-based Soil Engineering has reported a 35% growth in business in just 4 years thanks to the role it is playing in delivering HS2. The company has expanded its workforce and is providing more jobs for local people, as well as continuing to take on more apprentices and graduates. It is one of 2,000 companies across the UK that are already working on HS2 and providing some of the 7,000 job roles that are already being supported by the project. The company has spent 4 years investigating ground conditions for construction of the Birmingham to London route, and is one of 90 Yorkshire companies benefiting from contracts working on HS2. Visiting Soil Engineering Geoservices recently, HS2 Ltd CEO, Mark Thurston, said: “As we move ahead with the project, there will be thousands of opportunities on offer, and now is the time for businesses in Yorkshire to get involved.”Alternative lender sets up Sheffield base to serve Yorkshire SMEs ThinCats, the alternative SME lender, has expanded its reach in Yorkshire after setting-up a new base in Sheffield. The office will be led by Mike Hackett, who becomes ThinCats’ new Head of Sales. He previously led the RBS trading, real estate and healthcare team across Yorkshire and Humberside. Prior, Mr Hackett was Head of Business Development for Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking across the North. “The Sheffield economy is incredibly dynamic as it transitions from its traditional manufacturing heritage to new industries,” said Chief Development Officer Damon Walford. “Our data shows that the city is behind only London and Birmingham in having the highest number of companies likely to need funding over the next 12 months. Sheffield also has a higher proportion of high growth companies than the UK average. “In our mission to help UK businesses secure the funding they need to grow, we want to be fully immersed in the local business community.”© Shutterstock /jesterpopHS2 CEO Mark Thurston visits Soil Engineering in LeedsDamon Walford06-11.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 09:23 Page 1www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 7 New snack business formed as Tatyo acquires Bite UK Yorkshire snack brand Bite UK has been acquired by Irish snack maker Tatyo Group in a move that creates a new joint venture. The new company, titled Bite UK Snacks Ltd, aims to become the UK’s leading healthy snacks business in a sector valued at £200 million. Bite founder Jason Bull will continue as MD to drive and oversee growth and NPD within the business. “The support that the Tayto Group can provide is unprecedented,” he said. Flagship brand Pure Bite has unveiled a refreshed design that heroes the taste and health credentials of the brand including being vegan, free-from dairy, gluten and preservatives as well as being high in fibre and protein. As well as being stocked in many independent retail outlets, Pure Bite has confirmed listings with McColls, Nisa and Amazon, among others. A number of major retailers are also looking to stock the range in the near future.Independent TV trade association opening Leeds office Pact, the trade association for independent TV production companies in the UK, is set to open an office in Leeds later this year. It has announced the office opening along with major investment into new services to support the UK independent TV, film, animation, children’s and digital sectors in regions across the country. The move comes in light of recognition that nearly 50% of total UK original programming spend is now in the UK’s Nations and Regions, and there is clearly a shift in the way the sector is developing. Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Judith Blake said: “This is yet another boost for the independent TV production sector in Leeds in what is fast becoming a thriving and highly competitive industry.” John McVay, Pact CEO, said: “Pact is very excited to be basing its new team in Leeds a city that encapsulates the creativity, energy and talent that exists in the nations and regions of the UK.”© Shutterstock / nampixHull Trains appoints new man to lead HSE role Hull Trains has appointed Mark Shepherd as its Head of Safety and Environment, who brings more than 25 years’ industry experience to the role. Mr Shepherd will focus on all elements of health, safety and environment for Hull Trains, and starts his new role during one of the busiest years for the company – working with all teams on the current fleet, addressing abuse on services and preparing for the introduction of the new fleet of Class 802s coming later this year. “Safety is a crucial component of making sure our services run as they should, and I’m delighted to have been appointed,” he said. “I have always considered my role as being more than the traditional health and safety element – it is about caring for our customers and staff, getting them home in the same or better condition every single day, improving their environment and how we as a business impact on it whilst improving the customer experience overall.” NEWSMark Shepherd© Bite UK06-11.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 09:23 Page 2TOWER FIELD SERVICES Cat Tech Tower Field Services offers bespoke mechanical services to oil refinery and petrochemical plants all around the world. Our team has vast experience in overseeing and undertaking the installation of all types of Tower internals. Our Tower tray, packing and other internals installation services has deep roots, with several of the senior team at Cat Tech being involved in the founding of the Cana-Tex organisation. Since 1971, Cana-Tex had been the premier global Tower speciality contractor; performing Tower maintenance and plant turnaround projects around the world. These origins, with the addition of new team members, make Cat Tech Tower Field services a global operation which is both cost effective and technically experienced. We strive to create new ways to make your Tower work safer, faster and more productive and that can make very good things happen for your business.We thrive on exceeding our clients expectations and understand the need for upfront communication in relation to timescales and costs. No-one likes surprises in this industry and we ensure that everything is done, from pre-job planning, on site activities to post job reporting in a manner which allows our customers to concentrate on their core business. Let us show you what we can do. We work hard to maintain an industry reputation for safety, speed and dependability. Ours crews have been trained by us, this allows us to staff a project with the proven skills necessary to produce customer satisfaction. It is our intention to demonstrate the benefit of utilising Cat Tech for all of your Tower work. The benefits of engaging Cat Tech are: l Experienced Tower specialists. l Proven track record. l Ability to supply spares and replacements. l Spade to Spade service. l Revamps or modifications to Towers / Internals. l Inspection of Tower internals. l Supervision of external/client labour force. l Detailed inspection reports. l Cleaning of tower internals. l Reactor tray field services. l Turnkey reactor tray field services.At Cat Tech, we continue to create new ways to make Tower work safer, faster and more productive. And that can make very good things happen for your business. Contact us for further information. Our well established sales team have a wealth of experience. We take pride on ensuring all enquires are dealt with quickly and efficiently.UK: Cat Tech (Europe) Ltd., 1 South Park Road, South Park Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN17 2BY UK Phone: +44 (0) 1724 871747 Fax: + 44 (0) 1724 861928 Bulgaria: Cat Tech Services (South Eastern Europe) Ltd., Devnia, Varna District, Povelyanovo, 20 Droujba Str, R Bulgaria, 9160 Phone: +(35) 9519 92052 Fax: +(35) 9527 46770China: Cat Tech Services (Shanghai) Ltd., Room 1230 No.1, 58 Nong Huachi Road, Putuo District, Shanghai 20061 CN Phone: +(86) 2152 9175 08 Fax: +(86) 2152 9175 05 Singapore: Cat Tech Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., 17 Fan Yoong Road, Singapore 629794 Phone: +(65) 6264 6261 Fax: +(65) 6264 6401 South America: Please contact the UK office on +44 1724 871 747Thailand: Cat Tech Services (Thailand) Ltd., 2/1 Soi Banbon Nuenpayom Road, Maptaphut Sub District, Muang Rayong District, Rayong Province 21150 TH Phone: +(66) 894 064 100 Fax: +(66) 638 692 382MAKING YOUR PLANT WORK…SMARTERwww.cat-tech.comPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KAWINNINGS06-11.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 09:23 Page 3Yorkshire region crowned nation’s second biggest start-up hub Yorkshire and The Humber has overtaken the West Midlands to become the UK’s most entrepreneurial region outside of London and the South East, according to new figures. Data from The Start Up Loans Company shows that the Government-backed scheme has lent over £41 million to small businesses in the region since it launched six years ago, compared with £38 million for the West Midlands. Yorkshire and The Humber was beaten only by London and the South East as the most entrepreneurial region in the UK. The figures suggest that entrepreneurship is thriving in the region, with over 5,000 loans, averaging £8,000 each, issued to small business owners “We’re delighted that we’re supporting so many aspiring business owners in Yorkshire and The Humber with our fixed rate of interest loans and mentoring schemes,” said a spokesman for The Start Up Loans Company.www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 9NEWSLincoln fintech start-up secures £135k grant to go global Recap, a privacy-focused accounting software platform for cryptocurrency, has been granted £135,136 as a winner of the Transforming accountancy, insurance and legal services with AI and data competition. The funding was provided through the Government’s modern industrial strategy by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. Based in Lincoln and founded by Directors Daniel Howitt and Ben Shepheard, Recap is an encrypted, bespoke platform which offers those with complex cryptocurrency portfolios to track, manage and strategize by bringing all the information into one platform. Mr Howitt said: “The grant in combination with our seed raise of £150,000 will allow us to meet the match funding requirement of our £135,000 grant to give us £280,000 investment. “These funds will allow us to enter the US market, release our 1.0.0 version of the product and actively market the platform in the UK and US.”ABP wins two-year paper import contract at Port of Hull ABP has won a two-year contract with Belgium-based manufacturer VPK Packaging Group to handle 35,000 tonnes of paper per year at the Port of Hull. The agreement sees ABP handling paper reels destined for consumer packaging, from a weekly container shipment from Ghent at the Hull Container Terminal. It is then offloaded into the UK’s only All Weather Terminal storage area. VPK has moved its shipments to the Humber area to enhance ease of distribution by road and strengthen its customer relations. A fully-integrated IT system enables live visibility of stock. ABP Humber Director Simon Bird said: “Another win for ABP Humber is great to see as we welcome VPK to the Port of Hull. It’s testament to our prime location, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, backed by recent substantial investment and our strongly qualified, highly experienced teams who tirelessly deliver these successful operations.”© Shutterstock/SFIO CRACHO© ABP/VPK© Shutterstock/Zapp2Photo06-11.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2019 09:23 Page 4Next >