< PreviousWordsandSpacesLtdtel: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 business10Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWSBusinesses urged to readythemselves for new era ofshared parentalleave Businesses are being urged to preparefor the latest stage of family-friendly leavefor parents of newborn babies that takeseffect this April. An increasing number of applicationsfor Shared Parental Leave (SPL) can beexpected by businesses after new rules,which may also require moremanagement time and paperwork, comefully into force, says Marie Horner,pictured, Head of Employment Law atNorth and East Yorkshire law firm, Harrowells. Fathers wanting to take more than two weeks’ statutory paternity leavecan apply to their employers to share, with their partner, up to 50 weeksleave and 37 weeks statutory pay, either together, or separately, in up tothree blocks of time each. Each parent must give their employer eightweeks’ notice of proposed leave. Horner said: “SPL is to be welcomed as a more enlightened, family-friendly approach to allowing parents to share leave to care for newbornbabies but, to minimise what could initially appear quite complicated,businesses should get strategies in place now, before a member of staffapplies for SPL.”Manufacturing activity slipsaway during March, says CBI Activity in themanufacturing sector fell inMarch, but production isexpected to rebound overthe next three months,according to the CBIIndustrial Trends Survey.The survey of 471manufacturers found thatoutput volumes over thethree months to Mach fell atthe fastest pace sinceSeptember 2009. In total, 8 of the 18 manufacturing sub-sectors posteda decline in output. Two-thirds of this decline (relative to February)reflected weakness in the food and drink sector, with localised floodingand mild weather potentially having hit production. Manufacturers anticipate a particularly strong rise in output over thenext quarter, placing expectations at the highest level for thirteenmonths, with a rebound in food and drink.Meanwhile, total order books rose slightly since the start of the year,and export orders also remained unchanged from February. Bothmeasures sit just above average levels.Rain Netwon-Smith, pictured, CBI Director of Economics, said: “Marchhas been a mixed month for the UK’s manufactures. Whilst total orderand export books remained steady, a drop in output reflected somevolatility in the food and drink sector. Reassuringly, manufacturersexpect a swift turnaround in activity.”06-11_Layout 1 04/04/2016 09:59 Page 5www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 11TAXATIONWhat might affectyou in the newtax year ahead?James Pinchbeck, Marketing PartnerStreets Chartered AccountantsThe 6th April, the start of the newtax and financial year is often a goodtime to look at what might affect youand your business over the next 12months. From 6th April employers will berequired to pay the new NationalLiving Wage at the rate of £7.20 perhour for those employees aged 25 orover.Workplace Pensions – over the next12 to 18 months we are set to seemany of the country’s small employers,often with only one or two employees, be required to set up anauto-enrolment scheme and to provide their employees with aWorkplace Pension. Those affected certainly shouldn’t leave it untilthe last minute or even a few months before they are required tohave a scheme in place to consider what they need to do.The Chancellor announced a number of measures to supportsmall businesses, including reductions in the rate of CorporationTax and favourable changes to National Insurance and BusinessRates. Many will hopefully benefit from these over the comingyear. However, changes to the taxation of Dividends and thetreatment of Directors Loan will no doubt be less attractive.Advice and guidance should be sought to ensure tax effectiveremuneration planning. The new rates of Stamp Duty for commercial propertytransactions announced in the Budget may give more favourablerates, be they a boost and benefit to those engaged in orconsidering the sale or acquisition of business premises over thenext 12 months.Perhaps less attractive will be the impact on the taxation ofthose with residential lettings who face an increase in both theloss of mortgage interest relief and additional Stamp Duty LandTax charges. 2016/17 may see a period of change in theinvestment strategy and portfolio management of those withlettings portfolios.Whilst the Chancellor did not announce any major changes toor further pensions reforms, it remains as important as ever toconsider your pension provision. Next year’s Budget may be lesskind to your financial plans for retirement. Finally, with increases to the Inheritance Tax Threshold againsta backdrop of rising house prices, the real threat of getting caughtby IHT remains as great as ever, not least without considerationto tax and estate planning. Perhaps the year ahead may be agood time to put you own affairs in order.James Pinchbeck, is marketing partner with StreetsChartered Accountants, a top 40 UK accountancy firm.Email info@streetsweb.co.uk or visit www.streetsweb.co.ukBUSINESSLINKMULTI-PLATFORM MARKETINGIN PRINTBusiness Link is theregion’s leadingbusinesspublication,reaching decisionmakersthroughout the region.Often imitated but never equalled.ON LINEWith over 200,000visitors per monthvisiting our website,Business Link gets youradvertising message infront of the peoplethat count.FACE TO FACEBusiness Link hostsmany corporateevents bringingtogether theregion’s topbusinesses todiscuss hot topicsand provide valuablenetwork opportunities.GAIN AN UNRIVALLED ADVANTAGEThe region’s leading companies and mostprestigious brands promote themselvesthrough Business Link.You can too, just call Angela Cooper orSam Trott on 01472 310310 foran informal chat.www.blmforum.netLinkingbusinesstogether06-11_Layout 1 04/04/2016 10:00 Page 612Business Link www.blmforum.netSomething to say? Write to: Business Link Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby,North East Lincolnshire DN31 2QE or email: letters@blmgroup.co.ukReaders’LETTERSReaders’LETTERSAn opportunitywastedDear Sir,The Chancellor yet again delivered amixed bag of measures which will dovery little to address the state of thepublic finances. While taxpayers willwelcome tax cuts like the rise in thepersonal allowance which will leave moremoney in people’s pockets, measures likethe regressive Sugar Tax will penalisefamilies already struggling with the costof living. The Budget needed to includefar more concrete measures to ease theenormous pressure on taxpayers andcreate a simpler, more competitive taxsystem.Because all taxes ultimately fall onpeople it rarely makes sense to hide themin so-called business taxes. So cuts inCapital Gains Tax, Corporation Tax andBusiness Rates will encourage investmentand create jobs and prosperity. Butrestrictions on loss reliefs and the SugarTax detract from this progress, however.Britain needs bolder tax reform, includingabolishing Corporation Tax and CapitalGains Tax and replacing them with aSingle Income TaxJ IsabyemailAll the info you need on Brexit Dear Sir,I have to disagree with R Turnbull’s comments ‘should we stay orshould we go’ March 2016. We are told the UK will lose two million jobs should we pull out of theEU, but given there are some two million jobs currently held by EUimmigrants in our country, surely this would even things out wouldn’t it? If Lawson, the most successful Conservative chancellor, feels that weshould leave, then that’s good enough for me. But, if I still retained anydoubts, then these evaporated completely when he was joined by MervynKing, the former governor of the Bank of England, and Norman Lamont,under whose chancellorship we prospered, once Britain left the ERM. K SleightLeedsThe blame gameDear Sir, How ironic that when Mr Duncain Smith was leader of theConservatives from 2001 to 2003, he complained about the lack ofsupport he received from some of his fellow MPs. Now he has chosento act in a similar but more damaging manner than those he criticisedby withdrawing his support from the Prime Minister at a critical time, inthe full knowledge that his action will inevitably exacerbate divisionswithin the party.Surely, if he’d remained in office he could have helped fight theChancellor for the money to retain those benefits which he deems fair. T BarkerLincoln12_Layout 1 04/04/2016 09:31 Page 1www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 13BUSINESS SCENEWoodhall Spa & HorncastleRoundtable BallSHAUN & ALISONWHITINGROLAND & FIONAFREEMANMICHAEL & NAOMISHAWCARL GROVES &TERESA JOHNSONPHOTOS: RICHARD PICKSLEYTHE TURNER PARTYOn March 5, the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, played host to the Woodhall Spa & Horncastle Roundtable Ball. All involved canattest to a fun, quality evening all the while raising funds for the Children’s Bereavement Centre. NIC & AMY BOVIEALAN & PATTOULSONSTEPHANIE & ALICEFOSTERERIC & CLAIREMANNINGCHAIRMANS & WIVES FROM WOODHALL SPA, SPALDING,GRIMSBY, YARBOROUGH, BOURNE13_Layout 1 04/04/2016 09:32 Page 1Karl McCartney,Lincoln’s Member ofParliament“The Chancellor’s Budget gives anotherreal boost for companies of all shapes andsizes and for those who work forthemselves in Lincoln and across ourCounty. By lowering business taxes,abolishing National InsuranceContributions for the self-employed andensuring working people have moremoney in their pockets it means that theeconomy will continue to grow apace.Freezing fuel duty (and beer duty) was awelcome bonus too. We also need continuing investment inthe County’s transport infrastructure toopen up our County to the Country – anissue I know is on the wish list of everybusiness in Lincolnshire. I have continuedto campaign for the new Eastern Bypassaround Lincoln alongside the creation of aSouthern Relief Road and better rail linksfor the City and County. The creation of an Elected Mayor forLincolnshire was also welcome news. Itwill give even more ‘power to our elbow’in securing the investment our Countyneeds on a national scale, as well asensuring precious funds are not spent onpet projects that do not serve the good ofthe whole County.”Adam Walsh, BusinessDirector of The RightFuelcard CompanyAdam Walsh, business director ofindependent fuel card distributor, The RightFuelcard Company, Leeds, welcomes the fuelduty freeze. He believes it is good forbusinesses generally and his customers inparticular - who have been very vocal in theirsupport following its announcement.He said: “The news brings more certainty toall enterprises in their planning and budgeting –especially those who run fleets, where a pennyhere or there on a litre can add up to thousandsof pounds a year.“The recent lowering of oil prices, boosted by Iran’s return to the internationalmarket after sanctions were lifted, could have been seen by any Chancellor as anopportunity to cash in for ‘easy revenue’. However, George Osborne recognisesthat the recovery is fragile and Britain needs to be kept moving.”14Business Link www.blmforum.netHOT TOPICDr. Neil Blake, Head of EMEA Researchat CBRELower growth forecasts, due to lowerproductivity may look like gloomy news forretailers if it translates into lower wage growthand weaker consumer spending, but continuedoptimism around employment growth is goodnews for future demand for office space. On the other hand retailers, and smallbusinesses in general, will be pleased with themore generous exemptions on business rates,even if they didn’t get some of the more radicalmeasures they were asking for. Changing fromRPI to CPI indexation from 2020 will take thesting out of the future tax burden as RPI isexpected to grow by 1% ahead of CPI. Themove to a 3-year valuation cycle will also bewelcome.There are new mayoral devolution deals for a number of areas (though not yet forLeeds), and there are new deals for the Shire areas that have agreed to have mayors.Commercial property stamp duty changes coming in at midnight will come as somerelief to smaller property owners, but is effectively tax grab for the Chancellor, to thetune of £500m; a significant 15% increase in the tax take.Our thoughts on the budgetThe 2016 budget is here, but will it be what the region needs?The budget is here and George Osborne certainly hasn’t held any punches when it comes to the content. Ultimately though thebudget needs to be judged based on what results it will have moving forward, and what changes it will cause.We’ve contacted business leaders and managers across both Lincolnshire and Yorkshire to get their view on the budget – and how itwill effect businesses in our region. PHOTO: YVES SALMON14-15_Layout 1 04/04/2016 12:19 Page 1Dirk Terjung, Business DevelopmentManager at Trusted EnergySolutions “For small enterprises, as manyinstallers for renewable are, thebudget is seen as a positive event.The reduction of corporation taxand the outlook of furtherreductions will be beneficial tothe bottom line. Doubling theSmall Business Rate Relief from£6,000 to £15,000 will benefitsmall business as well. Also thefrozen fuel duty is, in a ruralenvironment, very important.Good news for the renewabletechnology installers was that theexpected rise in VAT for renewable technology installation in domestichouseholds to 20% did not take place. For the time being it will stay at5% for air-source and ground-source heat pumps as well as biomassboilers and solar PV. However, with Brussels insisting on harmonisationwe expect this now to happen in September.The support of this government to renewable technology came with theconfirmation of OFGEM to an increase of the Renewable Heat Incentive fordomestic installations, which supports air-source and ground-source heatpumps as well as biomass boilers installations.For the larger companies the contract for Difference auction over£750million supports 4 GigaWatts electricity generation. This concerns mainlylarge PV and wind farm installations.The UK wants to become leader in energy storage system. That road map willbe clearer with the Smart Power Report later this year.”www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 15Tom Morrison,Rollits LLPThe Chancellorhas announced in the2016 Budget that everyprimary and secondaryschool in England mustbe, or be in the processof becoming, an academyby 2020 and thatlegislation to this effect willbe brought forward.Tom Morrison, Head ofRollits Education Teamcomments “The writing hasbeen on the wall for sometime now, but staying withthe local authority isrealistically no longer goingto be an option even if boththe school and localauthority want it. A great many schools have thrivedunder local authority “ownership” and many, especiallyin the primary school sector, do not want things tochange, but the Government has mandated otherwise.“In reality, some schools which might be perceivedto have been local authority controlled have not inpractical terms been run by the local authority - it hasbeen the Head Teacher and the rest of his or herteam, with the support of parents and others in thecommunity. “What is clear is that there is not a one size fitsall solution. Education providers are always attheir best when they are free to create theirown solutions, for their students and thecommunities they serve.”James Pinchbeck, Marketing Partner atStreets Chartered Accountants“Given that we are only a few months away from the vote as to whether we stay in areformed EU or exit, the Chancellor’s eighth Budget was undoubtedly not going toundermine the position of those, not least the Chancellor and Prime Minster, who want usto remain in the EU.With tax and business rates reliefs for small businesses, it could be said it was a Budgetfor the owner managed business or entrepreneur. Perhaps also it was a Budget for the next generation as their ability to create evengreater wealth and to pay tax will be even more essential if we are ever going to balancethe books or attempt to reduce the national debt. We will have to wait and see if theproposed changes to the school system with all schools being an Academy by 2022,along with further funding for sport and a levy on sugary soft drinks will see the nextgeneration as being as financial lucrative as he might hope.Back home though across Greater Lincolnshire, we wait to see the impact that thedevolution will have. Though I am disappointed, like i am sure many others, that as a resident and a local electorate I don’t get tovote for our 1st Mayor in May 2017.”14-15_Layout 1 04/04/2016 12:19 Page 216Business Link www.blmforum.netCOMMERCIAL PROPERTYOf the many benefits inherent tobusiness parks and enterprise hubs isthe shared culture of excellence andinnovation, and the myriad networkingopenings that offers. It also enables themany entrepreneurs and youngcompanies across our region to get astart on their corporate journey. Existing business parks areundergoing a transformative period, inwhich they are being retrofitted withrenewable energy sources such as solarpanels and even wind turbines. Othersolutions have also included wastewater recycling and better wastemanagement all round. Then, of course,new hubs are being built withsustainability as a core part of theirdesign and construction. Others,however, are being purposefullyconverted from one function to suit theneeds of business. In whatevercircumstance, Yorkshire andLincolnshire has no shortage ofbusiness and enterprise hubs and witha swathe of new deals alreadyunderway, that’s not about to changeany time soon. Oldham Council has recentlyapproved work to begin on therefurbishment of the former Wahoonightclub and the adjacent Kiss bar, tocreate a Digital Enterprise Hub ahead ofan October opening. Both properties,which are local authority-owned andform part of the same terrace, will betransformed into a new space whereenterprises and businesses can beencouraged to grow and helped togrow across the vibrant local digital,technology and creative sectors. HackOldham (who will relocate to the hubfrom its nearby premises) will provideequipment aimed at hosting individualentrepreneurs and SMEs in the digitaland creative sectors on the ground floorand basement, while others will be ableto take advantage of access to low-costBusinessparks andrecreation Business parks and enterprise hubs offer a magnitude ofopportunity for existing companies and start-ups.Helix Gateway 3616-19_Layout 1 04/04/2016 09:33 Page 1such sale came in the form of a 20,000square foot at Hartley Business Park onDick Lane in Bradford, in a deal advicesby global property consultancy KnightFrank.A spokesperson for the HartleyProperty Group says: “In recent yearswe have seen confidence return to theindustrial property market in Yorkshire –and the letting of another 20,000 squarefeet in our modern Hartley BusinessPark is a significant demonstration ofthis.”The business park is one aspect of awww.blmforum.netBusiness Link 17and flexible workspaces. Councillor Jean Stretton, OldhamCouncil Leader, says: “This is a first forOldham town centre and a perfect fit forthe vibe we are trying to create in ourIndependent quarter. The DigitalEnterprise Hub will be a focal point forentrepreneurs and creative to gettogether to share ideas, innovate andunlock each other’s potential in a low-cost but good quality environment. “The building has been vacant forsome time and this new use fits ourwider vision for the IndependentQuarter area as a place where intrepid,inspired and motivated people whowant to ‘have a go’ can find the launchpad and support they need to get themup and running.”Hack Oldham founder, Andy Powell,adds: “There’s an obvious gap inprovision for something like this and thelocation is ideal. The hub is going to bea brilliant place for digital innovationand creative start-ups.” The square footage and frequency oflettings of business parks, in particular,offer some indication into the economichealth of any given region. In Yorkshire,the industrial property market is steadilyon the rise, representing, at least in oneregard, the economic prosperity. One19 ÁKF-Hartley Business Park16-19_Layout 1 04/04/2016 09:34 Page 2ArmstronghouseOffering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House onArmstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports ofGrimsby 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 officesare 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 contractmean confidence when it comes to affordability and with a rangeof office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. Ifyou require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 permonth. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements,give Scotts Property a call today on 01472 267000 and askabout Armstrong House.Last remaining office suitesPrime location in GrimsbySuperb Location -- Close to the ports of Grimsby &Immingham- Great motorwaylinks- Close to the town centreSecure off street parkingHigh speed internet availabilityEasy in/out termsA range of affordable office sizes33333Armstrong House, Armstrong Street,Grimsby DN31 2QETel: (01472) 310301 • Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.ukwww.shutterstock.com/terekhov igorwww.shutterstock.com/Yentafern16-19_Layout 1 04/04/2016 09:34 Page 3www.shutterstock.com/Yentafernwww.blmforum.netCOMMERCIAL PROPERTYBusiness Link 19wider regeneration programme beingundertaken by Hartley in Yorkshire. Itconsists of logistical parks, innovationcentres and other major developments,complementing the county’s bountifulofferings, as well as transformingexisting properties to better suit theneeds of modern businesses. If the first quarter of 2016 is indicatinga high level of industrial and commercialproperty refurbishment and uptake, thenit’s because it’s building on the strengthof 2015. The total take-up of industrialunits over 50,000 square foot acrossWest Yorkshire reached 1.7 millionsquare foot in the second half of 2015,according to Knight Frank’s latestindustrial property LOGIC report. Thisshows a 58 per cent increase on the firstsix months of 2015 and was 16 per centhigher than the same period in 2014. Design and Build accounted for two-fifths of take-up in this period, whiletake-up of second-hand space morethan doubled to just over one millionsquare feet. Design and Build has beenmostly focussed on prime regional sitesin Aire Valley, Leeds and Trident Park,Normanton.Tom Lamb, industrial propertyspecialist with Knight Frank, explainsthat availability of units over 50,000square foot stood at 3.1 million squarefoot at the end of 2015, 49 per cent upon the first six months of the year andmore than double the level ofavailability at the same time in theprevious year.He says: “Of the 21 units available,only four were new grade in primelocations, the others had been availablefor over two years and less suited tomodern industrial occupierrequirements. Developers are strugglingto acquire sites with planningpermission and flat land toaccommodate footprints over 500,000square foot, while there are currently nounits over 50,000 square foot beingspeculatively developed in West, Eastand North Yorkshire.“On the investment side, industrialsshow a good return compared withother assets. Given the low supply andlow costs of holding industrial vacantunits, investors are still confident in thissector, which remains high on their listof requirements.“Investor appetite ranges across theboard from large single-let distributionunits to small estates occupied by localbusinesses. The growth in internetretailing has driven demand from bothoccupiers and investors and Last MileDelivery is of particular interest.”He adds: “Occupier demand acrossthe region has remained steady, withthe majority of requirements beingdriven by the e-fulfilment andmanufacturing sectors. Whilst there hasbeen a distinct lack of third partylogistics enquiries this is likely tochange as spare capacity in the supplychain reduces.“The mid-sized warehouse market isparticularly buoyant due to banks pro-actively funding growing Yorkshirebusinesses and we anticipate thegreatest rental growth potential in the10,000 to 50,000 square foot sizerange.”Business parks, logistics andenterprise hubs are a core part of thebusiness environment, and dot ourregion. They provide multiple functionsfor companies, big and small, and thespate of regeneration schemes, buyoutsand lettings indicate that thecommercial and industrial propertymarket is in very good health. AvailableCar premises at Capitol Park,Leeds, bought from Carcraft, in a major dealbrokered by Knight Frank16-19_Layout 1 04/04/2016 09:34 Page 4Next >