APRIL 2021 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 36 ISSUE 4 OFFICE SOLUTIONS Preparing to return FACTORY AUTOMATION Tomorrow’s factory today COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Backing business parks A NEW BEGINNING A NEW BEGINNING 01.qxp_Layout 1 01/04/2021 13:52 Page 1Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate An Excellent rated (ISI) school welcoming children aged 3 months to 19 years. Boarding from 6 years. The top performing independent secondary school in the North of England (The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2020) Join us for our live webinar series, providing a useful insight into our application process and how we support our students to thrive. Join us for our virtual open day on 8 May 2021. Visit www.qe.org for details. admissions@qe.org 01423 333330 | York YO26 9SS For more information visit https://airpurified.co.uk Tel: 01430 422683 Email: sales@airpurified.co.uk Think Clean Air and help protect your Colleagues, Friends and Family Our portable, Medical Grade Air Purifiers are ideal for Work or Home. Providing you, your colleagues and friends with the peace of mind that the air around them is passing through an 8-step treatment process including a UV lamp. 02.qxp_Layout 1 01/04/2021 13:52 Page 1It’s fair to say that we’re in a transition period at present; and, for once, that has nothing to do with Brexit. Of course, I’m referring to the economy. By the time you’re reading this, society will have begun its journey towards some kind normalcy with the relaxing of certain social distancing rules. April will prove especially advantageous for the hospitality and non-essential retail sector whose staff have been furloughed for months, while bosses have been left juggling government support and selling online to stay afloat. There are still a few months to go before we reach the end of the government’s phased one-way road out of lockdown. So, in the meantime, it’s critical to keep heeding social distancing advice and to stick to the rules. Nobody – repeat: nobody – wants to enter a fourth lockdown. Although the pandemic looms large over much of this issue’s content – not least our healthcare, corporate hospitality and ports features – there’s plenty more topics to dive into. For example, our family business feature explores the highs and lows of this critical sector, whilst factory automation explores the myriad benefits of adopting the ‘smart factory’ concept. Goodness knows we could all use a smile during these continually trying times, so be sure to turn to our back pages to see the latest topics Frazer has got himself in a huff over. Stay safe and good reading, as always, Michael Fisher Editor The 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 Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 01/04/2021 13:58 Page 1CONTENTS APRIL 2021 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 12 Commercial property Business parks are booming in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with a plethora of new projects underway. 16 Factory automation spotlight In just ten years, the factory as we know it has radically evolved. As companies invest in ever more innovative technologies, the smart factory concept will continue to become the industry norm. 20 Office solutions With the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, businesses will soon be bringing staff back to offices. When doing this a variety of factors must be considered, to ensure employees feel not only comfortable but incentivised to return. 24 Ports Having been granted freeport status, the Humber will play an increasingly critical role to the region’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis and in international trade post-Brexit. • GEODIS Yorkshire Q&A 32 Healthcare Homeworkers shouldn’t be forgotten about as employers continue to focus on workplace health, safety and hygiene. 36 Family business As the backbone of the British economy, family-run businesses are invaluable but, as we explore, they aren’t without their challenges. 39 Corporate hospitality With restrictions starting to ease thanks to the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, in-person corporate hospitality is on the horizon. 42 AutoLink With lockdown apparently set to lift soon and life hopefully returning to normal, it’s time to look at the automotive industry and take an industry snapshot. 46 Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire 50 And finally… Yorkshire-Lincolnshire- Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.net CONNECT WITH US 16 24 32 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 01/04/2021 13:58 Page 1Group Editor Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Assistant Editor Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalist 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 Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@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 - JENSON • CARLOS CASTILLA • PHOTOMAVENSTOCK • POPTIKA • LUKASSEK www.blmforum.net 42 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 01/04/2021 13:59 Page 2Rail tech firm launch IoT development company Tech company Dual Inventive has launched a new internet of things (IoT) development company, AnyWare. Dual Inventive, which has its international HQ in Doncaster and develops and produces technical products to improve rail capacity, network efficiency and track worker safety, has diversified to allow their digital products to be used across different business sectors. AnyWare brings together years of experience at Dual Inventive to deliver bespoke end-to-end solutions to manage and monitor assets remotely. Based at Kestrel Court near Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Dual Inventive will continue its focus on the rail sector, while AnyWare will develop mass IoT apps using state of the art technology suitable for use in sectors including agriculture, infrastructure and industry, healthcare and security, with each system uniquely designed in close collaboration with the client. Dual Inventive’s CTO, Lex van der Poel said: “With the knowledge we have built during the development of our MTinfo 3000 ecosystem, today we are creating new opportunities for all sectors by launching AnyWare.” 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS BBC moving jobs to Leeds The BBC has announced plans to relocate a number of its national journalism roles from London to Leeds. Two BBC News teams will move to Leeds – the Learning and Identity team and some of the new UK Insight team. The move is part of the wider ‘BBC Across the UK’ plan and aligns with the government’s commitment to ‘levelling-up’ the north of England and other parts of the UK. Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The BBC will be in good company as the region is home to a large number of broadcasters including of course Channel 4’s new northern headquarters. Journalists who make the move will be able to make the most of our strong transport connections to other parts of the UK and the offer of a high quality of life. I look forward to welcoming them in the future.” Deloitte to open new Leeds hub London creative agency Deloitte is launching a new northern hub in Leeds in a move that will create dozens of jobs. The new hub will be launched in June by 368, the company’s in- house creative agency, creating 20 new jobs. It will house some of the firm’s planning, copywriting, design, social media and project management teams. By the end of the year, the company said that it is aiming to increase the team to around 50. “I’m based in Leeds, and know first-hand that it’s a dynamic and influential destination for creativity. Offering a community of diverse, creative talent, Leeds is now the workshop chosen by many to create distinct and unique marketing campaigns,” said Annabel Rake, partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Deloitte. “368’s new northern base in Leeds will provide a vibrant backdrop to support our ambition to launch award-winning campaigns, created by some of the brightest and most ambitious creative talent in the industry.” © Shutterstock/Lutsenko_Oleksandr Annabel Rake Lex van der Poel 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:04 Page 1Eddisons utilise artificial intelligence Eddisons, a Leeds-based commercial property consultancy, is utilising artificial intelligence to transform the service it offers customers. With more of its business moving online because of the pandemic, the company is now using advanced AI to understand customer behaviour and realise the true value of their properties, businesses and assets faster. James Foster, Finance and Operations Partner at Eddisons, explains: “We’ve grown significantly in recent years, acquiring HNG Chartered Surveyors earlier this year in addition to Ernest Wilson and Barker Storey Matthews in 2019. “As a result of our expanding offer and Covid accelerating the necessity for our company to move from being digitally-focused to digital-first, we needed to aggregate all of the data sets we hold across our different companies into one single customer view. “It’s allowing us to create the most targeted customer segmentations we’ve ever had, and the potential commercial benefit across our group of companies is huge.” Eddisons has appointed Third Foundation, a specialist data and machine learning company, to create a company-wide AI-programme that will deliver a level of understanding about its clients and their behaviours across multiple touch points. “Eddisons is breaking new ground in their space by connecting data from both online and offline interactions, across multiple platforms and brands, into a single intelligence layer in the cloud,” said Michael Ward, CEO of Third Foundation. “With hundreds of thousands of interactions and events every month, there is an opportunity to predict what customers want and assign human capital to it, at that moment. This means eliminating wasteful interaction with customers that neither side wants, making space for more relevant interactions with customers in the moments that truly matter. “As the pandemic has expedited digital transformation, we want to equip businesses with the tools to augment what humans are capable of in their working lives, as opposed to replacing humans with tech – this is a really important vision for us, which Eddisons also shares.” www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS British Steel unveils £100m manufacturing & environmental investment plans British Steel is investing £100 million to improve its manufacturing and environment performance as the historic firm continues its transformation under new leadership. The company – which has returned to profit after being brought out of liquidation by Jingye Group 12 months ago – will focus the investment on improving its manufacturing operations and supporting clean growth. Projects the money will help finance include a new billet caster, a scrap pre-heating facility, cranes and a new environmental emission control system. “We’re committed to building a long-term future for British Steel…” said Jingye Group CEO Li Huiming. British Steel has also confirmed that its CEO Ron Deelen will step down from his role at the end of March this year, although he will continue to work closely with the business and Jingye. British Steel President Xijun Cao was named CEO at the beginning of April. Make the best use of your time by gaining a new health and safety qualification with our NEBOSH and IOSH accredited online training courses or CPD accredited short courses. Corporate discounts available! 01482 211989 wiseglobaltraining.com & Are you WORKING FROM HOME And Self-Isolating? Approved training provider 1570 James Foster & Michael Ward 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:04 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 46770 China: 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 871 747 Thailand: 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) 638 692 382 MAKING YOUR PLANT WORK… SMARTER www.cat-tech.com PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KAWINNINGS 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:04 Page 3£860m stimulus approved for South Yorkshire A £860 million stimulus has been approved this week to start South Yorkshire’s recovery from COVID and unleash the potential of the region’s people, businesses and places. The plan was approved by Mayor Dan Jarvis and local leaders at the Mayoral Combined Authority meeting heralds a ‘New Deal for South Yorkshire’. The package includes: The South Yorkshire Young People’s Pledge. A promise by leaders to help the region’s young people get around with discounted bus and tram fares, with support to improve their skills and find work. Almost £360 million funding for South Yorkshire’s recovery over the next 12 months, investing in infrastructure, new homes, apprenticeships, flood defences, better transport links – to create jobs, revitalise high streets and town centres and protect the environment. From 2022, creating the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund, worth up to £500 million by drawing down the MCA’s gainshare funds to unlock investment and transform the region. This will roughly be split between £300m for places, including infrastructure and transport; and £200 million for jobs and skills. “Today we invest in South Yorkshire’s future. We will not be blown off course by COVID,” said Mayor Dan Jarvis. “We’re working to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire for all – delivering not just recovery, but renewal. Our plan sends a message of ambition and confidence: that South Yorkshire’s best days lie ahead of us, and that we’re making our region an even better place to live, work and invest. “We are backing our young people: with a pledge to help them get where they need to be, to help provide the skills they need, and to create the opportunities they want. “We are backing our businesses: helping them adapt and thrive after COVID, and attracting new ones to locate and grow here. We are backing our places: with investment in flood defences, new, greener homes and revitalised town centres and high streets.” www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS British Gas owner swoops for Sheffield energy supplier British Gas owner, Centrica, has acquired Sheffield-based energy supplier Nabuh Energy. The acquisition of Nabuh Energy – which has 36,000 customer and some 70 employees – will become part of the British Gas Energy business from the end of April. “We are delighted to welcome both Nabuh Energy’s customers and our new colleagues,” said Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive of Centrica. “This deal is part of our strategy to focus on and invest in our core markets and follows the acquisition of Robin Hood Energy’s customer base last year and more recently Simplicity Energy. “This is a really exciting time for British Gas as we seek to return the business to growth and put customers at the heart of everything we do, by offering a competitive and innovative service.” Customers’ gas and electricity supplies will continue without interruption and prices and terms will remain the same. © Shutterstock/NORRIE3699 Mayor Dan Jarvis 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:04 Page 4Next >