MAY 2015 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 30 ISSUE 5NORTHYORKSHIRERiding to successBUSINESSGROWTHFinding the fundingHEALTH ANDSAFETY Keeping on top of thegameBEST PLACETO INVEST…BEST PLACETO INVEST…01_Layout 1 05/05/2015 08:47 Page 1REGIONAL WINNERICAEW Medium AccountancyFirm of the Year 2014 & 201512302_Layout 1 01/05/2015 11:49 Page 1It seems abundantly clear, from talking to business owners around theregion, the last thing the economy needs right now is the uncertainty of aGeneral Election, let alone a new government. As I write we don’t know whowill win the Election and if you’re reading this after polling day... we probablystill don’t know who’s won it.While companies have been hiring again, and finance is beginning to tricklethrough to where it’s needed, growth has beendisappointing of late. The stronger pound is dampening global demandand domestic demand remains steadier than ever due to limited wagegrowth. This is unlikely to change any time soon as small businesses haveto dig deep to meet the deadline on pensions for their workforces.No wonder it’s anyone’s guess what the election result will actuallymean, especially with the two leading parties both failing to admit thestate of the public finances. There are also still too many unaccountableand expensively-managed quangos around despite some brave talk fromCameron and Clegg last time round.For some inexplicable reason, both the Tories and Labour focused theircampaigning efforts on spending pledges but without backing it up withwhere these will come from. It’s hardly surprising UKIP managed to grabthe headlines, when they said they were the only party with a fully fundedplan. Oh, to be a politician. Thankfully the rest of us mere mortals only have to worry about suchthings as how to improve our profit and loss and balance sheet. With this in mind, this monthwe have a special look at supporting business growth and highlight valuable fundingopportunities. Meanwhile the Tour de Yorkshire has been highlighting our part of the world to awider audience again, so it seems timely to take a trip to North Yorkshire to see what’shappening.Whatever happens over the next few weeks, don’t forget you can catch up with all thebreaking news, and read Business Link online, at www.blmforum.net.In the meantime – good reading, as always.W S FisherEditorThe magazine that caresWE CARE because we want to leave our world a better place than we found itBusiness Link believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key to maintaining a flourishingbusiness 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 themuch 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 andensuring our trading partners do likewise.From theEDITOR…For some inexplicablereason, both theTories and Labourfocused theircampaigning effortson spending pledgesbut without backing itup with where thesewill come from03_Layout 1 05/05/2015 09:07 Page 17North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire’s heritage alone will ensurea bright future – but add to that its highprofile in science and technology and thearea has much to offer10Hot topicIt’s vital companies keep up to date withhealth and safety legislation and reviewtheir policies and procedures regularly13Safety & Health ExpoSafety & Health Expo aims to help healthand safety professionals find the mostintuitive, safe and cost-effectivetechnologies, to cut budgets whileretaining low risks14Business sceneLincoln Sportsman’s Club’s dinner15Commercial propertyThe property sector across Yorkshire andLincolnshire is showing significant growthonce again18Ports and logistics • News• Our region has some of the biggestconcentrations of warehouses, but keepingthem working at the height of efficiency isa difficult task22Energy and renewables All the news from one of the region’sfastest growing industries24Flixborough Eco TechnologiesFlixborough Eco Technologies have anew brand and new services – but thesame emphasis on helping businesssave energy and money26Business growth• News• Your accounts are changing – how willit affect you?asks Robert Anderson, Partner, StreetsChartered Accountants• New funding schemes and a move toavoid late payment should improvecashflow for the region’s innovativebusinesses30Engineering and construction• News• Internet security has been forced toevolve in recent years, following anincreased level of cyber-attacks targetingsmall companies3410CONTENTSMAY 2015www.blmforum.net34Food, chemicals and process industries• News• How can companies ensure theirpackaging remains attractive while alsoensuring effective security and sustainability?38Business services• News• The term “mobilegeddon” is being toutedaround the business community at themoment, but what is it, and how does itaffect our region? 42AutoLinkAn executive car shouldn’t just be a machinefor getting you to the office or fortransporting you to clients. It should alsoinspire you and make a good impact onothers44Lincolnshire ShowThe Lincolnshire Show is one of the county’smost popular events – and is hugelyimportant for businesses of all kinds46EventsWe take a look at business eventshappening around Yorkshire andLincolnshire49Classified50And finally…04-05_Layout 1 05/05/2015 12:09 Page 1EditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsSteve Williams (s.williams@blmgroup.co.uk)Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)Editorial contactnewsdesk@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317Sales DirectorTeri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk)AdvertisingTel: (01472) 310310Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, Dawn Cook, John DownesTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark Casson, Rachel GreenTel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314(studio@blmgroup.co.uk)E-Mail:yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.ukWebsitewww.blmforum.netAddressHaychart Ltd, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street,Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE.ISSN No:1462-2092All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without expresspermission of the copyright holder, for which application should beaddressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care istaken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents acceptliability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies,negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to thispublication. The views expressed in this publication are notnecessarily the views of those held by the publisher.This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines,you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes ofpaper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year.Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure you removeall plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. If you are unable toparticipate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass yourmagazine onto a local hospital or charity?Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCOVER PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM - ALASTAIR WALLACE • MAXIM BLINKOV • JOHAN SWANEPOEL • PHOTOGRAPHEE.EU • ASPECT2004-05_Layout 1 05/05/2015 12:10 Page 201924 200930citilodgehotels.co.uk• City Centre Location• On Site Parking• Spacious Rooms• Free WiFi in all RoomsBooking Line06_Layout 1 05/05/2015 14:15 Page 1www.blmforum.netNORTH YORKSHIREBusiness Link 7North Yorkshire is renowned forits history and its beautifulsurroundings, whichunsurprisingly brings thousands ofvisitors every year. Yet valuable thoughits tourism economy is to the region,North Yorkshire is certainly not living inthe past and has a reputation as one ofthe most innovative parts of the UK.In recent years York has becomewell-established as one the UK’s leadingcities in the science sector – and theScience City York initiative has helpedconcentrate minds and bring togetherleading names to allow the city tomaintain its place at the top table. Thiscollaborative approach certainly seemsto be reaping the rewards and itssuccess has spun off into newdirections.Innovate York, for example, is apartnership between Science City Yorkand City of York Council which aims toenable York to lead the way inattracting, adopting and embeddinginnovation city-wide. One part of this isthe GeniUS! partnership, originallyfunded by NESTA as part of theirCreative Councils Programme, whichaims to encourage residents,businesses, charities, students andpublic services – indeed, all those whoare part of the city – to look at new waysto solve some of the city’s problems.The Innovate York team push forwardideas from GeniUS! to be developedand refined into real solutions, whichcan then be piloted in a live settingacross the city to test if they work andto refine them further. In the spirit of theinnovative and creative approach, theCouncil aims to act as a central focalpoint for ideas generation rather than aformal governing body, providinginformation and expertise, using theircontacts to provide full support inbringing the ideas chosen to life.North Yorkshire’s prowess in scienceand innovation has been of greatbenefit to the UK in general and theregion in particular. The National Agri-food Innovation Campus in SandHutton, for example, provides anopportunity for business to grow withina unique scientific environment and anumber of public bodies, including itsanchor tenant Fera, the Food andEnvironment Research Agency as wellas PHE, AHVLA, MHRA and SPAH, arebased at the campus, as well as anumber of private companies.This success looks set to continuethrough expansion. Capita andNewcastle University have been chosento create a joint venture with Defra tohelp run Fera, a joint venture which willunlock £14.5 million of new investment.This will also allow Fera to secureNorthernSOUL8 ÁPHOTO: GRZEGORZ PETRYKOWSKI / SHUTTERSTOCK.COMNorth Yorkshire’sheritage alone willensure a bright future –but add to that its highprofile in science andtechnology and the areahas much to offer.NorthernSOULThe Tour de France wasmomentous for NorthYorkshire, bringingtogether communities,businesses and theCouncil’s partner agencies07-09_Layout 1 01/05/2015 11:51 Page 18Business Link www.blmforum.netNORTH YORKSHIREcommercial contracts abroad and growits business, building a regional centre ofscientific expertise at Sand Hutton. Aidedby the recent £2.7 million investment bythe LEP, Defra is committed tocontinually improving the site.In addition to this is TheBiorenewables Development Centre, anot-for-profit company based at theUniversity of York that helps businessesdevelop ways to convert plants,microbes and biowastes into profitablebiorenewable products. Using cuttingedge science and technology, the aim isto bridge the gap between academiaand industry to assist companies bothin the development and scale up of newgreener processes and products.Such is the success of York’s work inbiotechnology, this June the RenewableResources and Biorefineries conferencewill be heading to the city, bringingtogether around four hundred peoplefrom over thirty countries to presenttheir views on industrial biotechnology,sustainable chemistry and agriculturalpolicy.The Biorenewables Centre and Feraare the backbone for the success ofNorth Yorkshire and its success has beenconfirmed with the news that Malton willbe the first area in Yorkshire to benamed a Food Enterprise Zone. The bidfor the FEZ was made by Ryedale DistrictCouncil and the York, North Yorkshireand East Riding Enterprise Partnership.The zones are designed to supportexisting local businesses to expand, aswell as encouraging new businesses tostart up in the area. For Malton, thismeans a new agri-food park will becreated which will employ over fivehundred people. The plans also includerelocating Malton’s livestock market to apurpose-built facility. The livestockmarket will be situated alongside localfood and farming-based businesses,with additional space for businesses todevelop their new ideas at the Campus.Barry Dodd, Chair of the EnterprisePartnership Board, says, “This is a greatstep forward for the Malton area, thenew site will provide employmentopportunities in the agri-food industry.One of the LEP’s key priorities is tosupport our area to become a globalleader in food, agri-tech andbiorenewables.”City of York Council have alsorecently made their largest ever capitalinvestment, working alongside NorthYorkshire County Council and wastemanagement company AmeyCespa tocreate a state-of-the-art waste treatmentfacility at the existing Allerton landfillsite near Knaresborough. It is designedPHOTO: ALBERT PEGO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COMQuality of life in North Yorkshireis a major attraction forbusinesses looking to relocate07-09_Layout 1 01/05/2015 11:51 Page 2www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 9to save the councils around £250 millionon household waste treatment costsover the 25 year life of the contract, andconstruction began with a groundbreaking ceremony in March. Theintention is the facility will result in asignificant reduction in North Yorkshire’scarbon footprint and produce enoughelectricity to power a town the size ofHarrogate.North Yorkshire is also proving itself tobe a major logistics hub. Potter Logistics,the Ripon-based company, is celebratingits fiftieth anniversary this year, after lastyear extending its Selby rail terminal toaccommodate the longest trains nowtransporting freight from UK ports. GBRf,on behalf of MSC, has extended its dailytrain from Felixstowe to Selby to benefitfrom the extended terminal.Meanwhile, national parcel deliverycompany Yodel recently acquired newwarehouse distribution premises atAccess 63 in Selby. The 66,000 sq ftwarehouse/distribution facility has 4.5acres of additional land for parking ofcommercial vehicles and was acquiredfor an undisclosed sum.Access 63, developed by ShepherdDevelopments and the Abtec Group, isone of the largest single ownedindustrial estates in North Yorkshirecomprising around 100,000 sq ft of newconstructed accommodation acrosstwelve acres or so. The Yodeltransaction follows the sale of 15,000 sqft to Pipework suppliers and contractorsSolid Eight at Access 63 last year.As well as these major developments,North Yorkshire’s history and heritagecontinues to bring numerous visitors anda huge amount of revenue to the area.As you read this the Tour de Yorkshirewill be wending its way through thecounty, an event devised after the hugesuccess, both in terms of communityengagement and financially, of theGrand Départ of the Tour de France.As the report “Three InspirationalDays”, put together by lead agencies,points out, on the first stage of the Tourde France alone, tens of thousandspoured into Harrogate for the finish ofthe race, filling the town’s hotels andbringing with them significant spendingpower in the lead-up to and during thecourse of the event. Around 26,000passengers used Harrogate rail station,and 26 special charter services wereorganised between Leeds and Harrogateto cope with the additional demand.John Weighell, leader of NorthYorkshire County Council’, says, “TheTour de France was momentous forNorth Yorkshire because it broughttogether our communities, businessesand all our partner agencies who pulledtogether so effectively for the occasionand presented this beautiful county andall its facilities and attractions to theworld. The beneficial effect is beingbuilt upon and has far-reachingconsequences for the region, bothsocially and economically.”North Yorkshire’s combination ofwonderful scenery and a fabulousheritage, mixed with a dedication toinnovation, means the area is well-placed to continue to excel for manyyears to come.The Biorenewables Development Centrehelps businesses develop ways to convertplants, microbes and biowastes intoprofitable biorenewable productsNational parcel delivery company Yodelrecently acquired new warehouse distributionpremises at Access 63 in Selby07-09_Layout 1 01/05/2015 11:51 Page 3Next >