MAY 2017 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 32 ISSUE 5HEALTH &SAFETY Protecting our mostvaluable assetPHARMACEUTICALS A hard pill to swallowCORPORATEFINANCESpend money to makemoneyLEADINGTHE WAY…LEADINGTHE WAY…For more information, visit www.dbsprocessing.co.ukor email info@dbsprocessing.com, alternativelyyou can call 01773 687090.Unit 4 Brook Court, Amber Drive, Langley Mill,Nottingham, NG16 4BEDBS Processing is aiming at worldwideleadership in developing and industriallymanufacturing innovative market-orientedequipment in bulk solids handling, mixing,waste water & sludge treatment, renewableenergy and vibration technology. The companyhas recently unveiled two new machines, thePSU:200 and SSU-200 respectively, aimed at thevarious needs of the recycling industries. 02_Layout 1 02/08/2018 11:02 Page 123½HoursServiceYou have to admire our wonderfulpoliticians don’t you? Just when thenation was starting to come to termswith Brexit, Theresa May calls a snapelection, leaving most of her own partywith mouths agape. Despite regularlygoing on record to say there would beno general election before 2020, thestatus quo has again been upended.What status quo, I hear you cry. True,much of what was sacrosanct aboutour Parliamentary system is nowdefunct, and, as the EU Referendumproved, the polls are about as accurateas the weather forecast. For businesses, it’ll be a crucial voteto ensure they get the best possibledeal out of the Brexit. Some suggest itcould lead to getting the Tories out ofpower, as they no longer seem to bethe business party they once were. But,the Labour party still look impotent bycomparison. Could it be time for acoalition of underdog parties to steerthe UK in a fresh direction? Or perhapswe should just all abandoned ship,move to the bloc before our passportsare forfeit? May’s announcement certainly threw aspanner into the works, leaving us withno other choice than to throw out ouroriginal plans and begin anew. So, ourMay features all react in some way tothe election and the constant spectre ofFrom theEditorJust when thenation wascoming toterms withBrexit, TheresaMay calls a snapelection.Brexit. In our energy & environmentalfeature, for example, we explore thediminishing financial incentives fromGovernment, and argue solar is stillworth investing in. The pharmaceuticalspotlight sees some of the biggestplayers threatening to pull out of the UKif more cash isn’t set aside from the NHS. Things are more upbeat in thecorporate finance sector, with plenty ofways for start-ups and businesses to raisecapital and excel. It’s a continuing threadin the relocation and inward investmentfeature, which shows the importance ofattracting foreign investment. And likeour commercial property pages attest,there’s plenty for investors to get excitedabout in our region. Take a look over our news pagesshowing off some of the biggestdevelopments across Lincolnshire andYorkshire, or better yet, the host ofexciting events and networkingopportunities. Then there’s all our otherregulars that you’ve come to expectfrom the region’s best businessmagazine. Good reading as always.Michael FisherEditorMAKING HULL A CLEANER PLACE FOR 25 YEARSTel: (+44) 01482585958 Mobile: (+44)07802 197457 Email:contact@jpscleaning.co.uk Website: www.jpscleaning.co.uk23½ Hours a day. 7 Days a Week. 365 Days a Year.Industrial Cleaning is a specialistindustry and JPS Cleaning areleading the way. Unrivaled in ourexpertise and customer service, we simply get the jobdone, on time, andon budget.JPSCLEANINGLimitedEstablished 199203_Layout 1 08/05/2017 12:46 Page 1CONTENTSMAY 20176NewsCatch up with the latest business news from around our region10Intelect EngineeringA leading name in mechanical engineering in the Humber region 11LettersReaders’ letters and replies 12PropertyThe commercial property market remains buoyant in our region,with several high-profile deals taking place across differentindustries16Corporate financeRaising capital is critical for businesses of any size, but for theswathe of innovative start-ups across our region, securing fundingis make or break22Relocation and inward investmentBritain might have shed its ‘gateway to Europe’ status, but there’sstill plenty in our region for foreign investors to get excited about26Energy and environmental managementFinancial incentives for solar PV take up are disappearing, but forbusinesses and homeowners, the environmental rewards outweighthe monetary30PharmaceuticalsAs a nucleus of processing industries, our region is a key part ofthe nation’s pharmaceutical sector, but with major playersthreatening to pull out, how is the industry coping?34Health and safety is regulated by law, which means every companyneeds to have certain plans and procedures in place. Not everyonedoes, however, even to this day38Safety and Health ExpoAttendees at this year’s Safety & Health Expo, taking place atExCeL London from 20 – 22 June, will gain access to exclusivedeals on the latest protection equipment, training solutions,behavioural safety and occupational health solutions and so muchmore40AutoLinkBelieve it or not, convertibles are more popular here than manyother countries in Europe. And, guess what? Spring is here, andthat means the drop-top motoring season starts. Here’s a glimpseof what we think is the coolest trio of open-top cars on the market44The Lincolnshire ShowThe 21st and 22nd of June mark this year’s Lincolnshire Show –one of the biggest events in our region, and one that the BusinessLink Magazine will be attending46EventsWe take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire andLincolnshire50And finally…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCONNECT WITH US16223004-05_Layout 1 08/05/2017 12:48 Page 1Group EditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)EditorMichael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsStuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk)Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk)Editorial contactnewsdesk@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317Sales DirectorAngela Cooper (a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk)AdvertisingSam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk)Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk)Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@blmgroup.co.uk)Tel: (01472) 310310Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, John DownesTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark CassonTel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314(studio@blmgroup.co.uk)E-Mail: yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.ukWebsitewww.blmforum.netAddressHaychart Ltd, Armstrong House, ArmstrongStreet, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE.ISSN No: 1462-2092All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwisewithout express permission of the copyright holder, for whichapplication should be addressed first to the publisher. Whileevery reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor itsparticipating agents accept liability for loss or damage toprints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material ofwhatever nature submitted to this publication. The viewsexpressed in this publication are not necessarily the views ofthose held by the publisher.This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recyclingmagazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paperindustry each year. Before you recycle your magazine,please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free giftsand samples. If you are unable to participate in a recyclingscheme, then why not pass your magazine onto a localhospital or charity?COVER PHOTOS: WWW.DOMINICFRASER.COM/MAZDA • AVACTA • WAKEFIELD EUROHUB • SHUTTERSTOCK - NEIL MITCHELL • MARBURYwww.blmforum.net3404-05_Layout 1 08/05/2017 12:48 Page 26Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWSYorkshire entrepreneurstamps out litter withnovel solution A Yorkshire entrepreneur has joined forces with Harrogate’s High Street TV tocreate a handheld waste compressor to tackle the UK’s rising litter issue. Gordon Black CBE, former chairman of Keighley-based Peter Black Holdings, hasinvented the Elefoot, designed to stamp out overflowing household bins andwheelies. It has now been launched by High Street TV. Mr Black, pictured right, said: “I believe the beauty of Elefoot is its simplicity. It isa sturdy, fully-assembled easy-to-use, handheld waste compressor that enables youto generate more space in your bins whilst protecting your hands from coming intocontact with the contents. It’s easy to clean and very hygienic.”He added: “In essence, it condenses excess pockets of air, making it easy tosquash that overspill, to fit even more rubbish inside and completely close your binlid. With cuts in bin collections becoming an increasingly common problem, andcouncils often refusing to empty waste bins which aren’t completely closed, Elefootis the ideal solution.”Sheffield’s VantagePark securesfurther £6.3minvestmentA £6.3 million expansion to Sheffield’s VantageRiverside Business Park is set to go ahead following anagreement between developers EV Waddington and TheDepartment for Communities and Local Government.The agreement gives the green light to create an110,000 sq ft expansion that will provide new high qualityemployment space for SME occupiers following £1.9million investment grant being approved from theEuropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF) managedby the Department for Communities and LocalGovernment.Phase 2 will provide a total 15 units of mixed sizesfrom 4,785 to 9,565 sq ft and provide much neededcapacity for industrial and manufacturing growth.Work began in April, with the first units ready foroccupation in July with a further two buildings starting inOctober.Sir Nigel Knowles, Chair of Sheffield City Region LocalEnterprise Partnership, said: “The development is verygood news and will help bolster the attractiveness of thisstrategically important area within the AdvancedManufacturing Innovation District.”Duke of York opens Factory 2050Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has officially opened theUniversity of Sheffield’s Factory 2050 at the AdvancedManufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).Factory 2050 is the UK’s first fully reconfigurablecollaborative research facility, dedicated to digital assembly andflexible component manufacturing.Teams at the facility are working with manufacturing partnerson projects spanning robotics and automation, digitally-assistedassembly and manufacturing informatics.This work will help to develop ways of meeting demand forhigh variation and mass customisation, making sense of bigdata, human-machine collaboration and looking at techniquesfor digitally-assisted assembly.The Duke, pictured, said: “The AMRC is a very important partof the UK’s industrial landscape. It has developed over the last15-20 years from a gleam in the eye and is now at the forefrontof research in a whole range of areas.”He added: “I’ve watched the AMRC grow over the years – I’ve even opened one or two of its buildings – so it’s a great pleasure to be officiallyopening Factory 2050.”06-09_Layout 1 08/05/2017 12:55 Page 1New CFO in store forCard FactoryCard Factory, the Wakefield-based greeting cards, dressings andgifts retailer, has bolstered its board with a new Chief FinancialOfficer.Kristian Lee will succeed Darren Bryant who is to retire from therole after eight years with the Group.Mr Lee has extensive experience in senior financial and commercialroles in the retail sector. For the past five years, he has been GroupCFO of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group – the privately ownedretailer with over 1,000 UK stores across a number of brandsincluding The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Peacocks, Austin Reed,Country Casuals, Viyella, Jane Norman andPonden Home.Karen Hubbard, CEO of CardFactory, said: “Kris hassignificant financial andcommercial experiencewithin retail and a clearpassion for the sector.He also has theenergy, drive andentrepreneurialmindset that will fitwell with the CardFactory culture andwill be invaluable aswe move forward withour growth strategy. Ivery much look forwardto working with him.”© Shutterstock / ValeStockwww.blmforum.netBusiness Link 7Dearth of digital skillshamstringing businessproductivityAlthough digitalskills are playing amore important rolein UK business,companies are facinga shortage of skills intheir workforce, withproductivitysuffering.This is the keytakeaway from a newsurvey from theBritish Chambers ofCommerce (BCC).The survey of morethan 1,400 UKbusinesses found that84% of firms say digital and IT skills are more important to their businessthan two years ago, with half saying these skills are significantly moreimportant.However, the survey also found that more than three-in-four businessesare facing a shortage of digital skills in their workforce.Adam Marshall, Director General of the BCC, said: “The evidence isclear: better digital skills make firms more productive, and a lack of digitalskills holds them back.“Businesses themselves need to do a lot more to tackle the digital skillsshortages they face, and their leaders need to be alive to the fact that afailure to tackle this issue will have an impact on their bottom line.” Yorkshire agriculture‘remains resilient’For the month of April, Yorkshire’sagriculture industry boasted one of the lowestlevels of businesses in the sector at higherthan normal risk of insolvency, according toR3. In April, just 287 of the 1,743 activeagricultural businesses in Yorkshire wereconsidered to be at higher than normal risk ofinsolvency. This equates to 16.5% of theregion’s businesses in the sector, well belowthe national average of 18.8%.While overall, the region saw a month-on-month rise of 3.3% in levels of businessesacross all sectors considered to be at higherthan normal risk, Yorkshire performed stronglycompared with the rest of the UK, with 25% ofall the region’s businesses in the risk band,slightly below the national average of 25.3%.“Having weathered the last recession betterthan many other industries, agricultureremains a key sector in Yorkshire with manyfarms passing down through generations offamilies, as well as it being the cornerstone ofour food and drinks industry,” said AdrianBerry, chair of R3 in Yorkshire andrestructuring partner at Deloitte.© Shutterstock / Steve Allen© Shutterstock / SFIO CRACHO06-09_Layout 1 08/05/2017 12:55 Page 2NEWSDependable Drones approved by BBC Dependable Drones, the Barrowby-based video production company, hasbecome a BBC approved supplier.A CAA licensed drone operatorsince 2013, this latest milestone addsto the company’s growing roster ofachievements.The approval follows an assessmentof its procedures, working practicesand examples of its work.Richard Critchlow, the company’sChief Pilot, has spent many yearsworking as a Senior Producer ofSpecial Events at the BBC, so has anintimate understanding of both howTV production works and the workingpractices of the broadcaster.Writing in a statement, the companysaid: “Until recently, most of our dronework was undertaken for our parentcompany, Dependable Productions.“However, we are now seeking toexpand into new markets to ensurethe quality of our service and thepictures we produce can be seen byas broad an audience as possible.”8Business Link www.blmforum.net© Dependable DronesRobots to create jobs,not steal themDespite ongoing fears that robots could steal British jobs, new datashows that the majority of industry professionals have never witnessedjob loss due to the introduction of robots or automated processes.More than a third said that robots have often resulted in job creationwithin their place of work. While over half of industry professionalsadmit that there is resistance from employees when implementing newautomated processes.The research was led by The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics andHuman Factors, a non-profit body for ergonomists and human factorspractitioners, in collaboration with independent job site CV-Library.The study sought to ascertain the true perception and reality ofautomation and robotics amongst those who experience it first-hand.Key findings revealed that most professionals feel society is scare-mongered into believing robotics and automation are a negativeprogression.4 out of 5 manufacturers feel more should be done to promote thebenefits of automation and robotics in the workplace.Lincoln family businesshas Royal WarrantrenewedWitham Group, the Lincoln-based lubricants manufacturer, has had itsRoyal Warrant renewed for another five years.Witham was originally granted the warrant by HM the Queen in 1991and has held it ever since.Royal Warrants have always been regarded as demonstrating veryhigh standards in personal service, quality, excellence and innovationwithin each respective industry. Companies can only reach that statusthrough careful and efficient management.Highly prized, there are only just over 800 firms holding RoyalWarrants of Appointment across the world. The company is one of onlyfive in Lincolnshire to hold a Royal Warrant.“The assessment criteria is rigorous, each application mustdemonstrate not only the company’s credentials of excellence in theirtrade but also showthat they conducttheir business witha committed toenvironmentalsustainability andsocial responsibility.We’re extremelyproud to havebeen recognisedwith such aprestigioushonour.” said NigelBottom, WithamGroup ManagingDirector, picturedleft. © Shutterstock / Zapp2Photo06-09_Layout 1 08/05/2017 12:55 Page 3Hunger for salads on the up as TroyFoods see 50% growthTroy Foods, the Yorkshire vegetable andsalad producer, has seen its ‘s:a:l:a:d:s’ rangegrow by 50% over the last 12 monthsbringing it to a value of £5 million followingthe launch of a number of new lines last year.Since launching its first s:a:l:a:d:s productseight years ago, Troy Foods has extended itslines to meet growing demand for ‘food togo’ and now supplies its products to retailoutlets throughout the UK.Made at the company’s site in Leeds, thelatest products in the range include Italianpasta, coleslaw, chicken and bacon pasta,potato salad, fruity couscous, tuna andsweetcorn pasta and beetroot salad.“Our salads range was developed by ourtalented NPD team after spotting a gap inthe market for making branded, pottedprepared salads which retailers couldpurchase for the ‘food to go’ consumermarket,” said James Kempley, CommercialManager of Troy Foods.He added: “We regularly review ourproduct base and have further developedand extended it as new customers havecome on board and the market hascontinued to grow.”WordsandSpacesLtdtel: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 businesswww.blmforum.netBusiness Link 906-09_Layout 1 08/05/2017 12:55 Page 4Next >