MAY 2021 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 36 ISSUE 5 CORPORATE FINANCE A light on the dark APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINING Upskill and evolve SECURITY Taking stock of cyber security REINFORCING BUSINESS REINFORCING BUSINESS 01.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 06:41 Page 13D laser scanning surveying services Bring the job site to you! Your desktop / phone / tablet any web enabled device. Why not walk around it with VR? Or augmented reality? Want to know more? Call us today. View the whole scanned project in 3D View in 3D Scan view or Panorama View In Virtual Reality View in augmented Reality Interrogate the scan location properties as a list or view on a project map Identify the coordinates of anywhere in the project Measure distances and areas Annotate objects and elements Add annotations, measurements and overlay on photos Take photos of elevations and / or plan views ENGINEERING | DESIGN | FABRICATION Simplifying the Process! PIPESCO LTD, Osborne Road, Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire DN41 8DG Tel: 01469 576677 E-mail: info@pipesco.com | Website: www.pipesco.com Kingston Engineering Co. (Hull) Ltd Pennington Street, Hull, East Yorkshire. HUB 7LD. UK Tel: +44 (0)1482 325676 Email: sales@kingston-engineering.co.uk Website: www.kingston-engineering.co.uk Specialised precision machined components Corrosion prevention Component reclamation and enhancement Production machinery maintenance and repair Ex-stock power nuts and screws Specialised power screw products Leading Specialist Manufacturer and Producers of Bespoke Power Screws Over One Hundred Years Of Engineering Excellence 02.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 06:42 Page 1The economy is still in a fragile state, even a month after the re-opening of the hospitality and non-essential retail sectors. Suffice it to say that we’re in a transitionary period where businesses are troubleshooting the shape of their post-pandemic future. While many employers have implemented homeworking for the first time, many are now encouraging staff to return to the office – and, indeed, that’s the rhetoric from the Chancellor. However, removing this option may lead to staff seeking employment elsewhere. Indeed, many businesses going forward will be offering homeworking and flexible hours as the way in which we work continues to change. But it isn’t only the coronavirus that has forced change upon us. The environmental crisis continues to reach fever pitch. Our timely energy & environmental management feature explores the key role our region is playing. As well as our renewable credentials, our region has a lot to offer businesses – which you can find more about in our relocation & inward investment feature. Investment is also the name of the game in our corporate finance feature – especially important as businesses seek an injection of capital to rise above the pandemic like the proverbial phoenix. Of course, that’s barely scraping the surface. We’ve got a handful of other special reports, news and insight and opinion from prominent voices and business leaders across the region. Plus, there’s the final word from our resident grouch, Frazer, because goodness knows we could all use a giggle. Stay safe and good reading, as always, Michael Fisher Editor From the Editor VISIT WWW.DEXTERSHARPE.CO.UK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Dexter & Sharpe Chartered Certified Accountants At the heart of Lincolnshire We provide a comprehensive range of services, if you would like to find out how we can help you or your business why not head over to the contact us page to find your local office. Our 130 years of experience has taught us to initially listen more than we talk. When we talk, you’ll find that it's plain jargon-free practical advice which is not only accurate but tailored to your specific needs. Having gained a full understanding of your business our aim is to ensure this timely advice helps you and your business achieve its objectives. For a pro-active, friendly and accessible service or your FREE Consultation contact one of our teams: Horncastle: 01507 526071 - Boston: 01205 311966 - Spilsby: 01790 753340 Bourne: 01778 393656 - Louth: 01507 609933 - Skegness: 01754 763222 - Lincoln: 01522 533588 AGRICULTURE • CHARITIES • CONSTRUCTION • FINANCIAL & CONSULTING • MANUFACTURING • MEDIA • MOTOR RETAIL & REPAIR • TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS • VETERINARY 03.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 06:50 Page 1CONTENTS MAY 2021 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 10 Business Lincolnshire Q&A We spoke to Gill Harvey, Visitor Economy Adviser for Business Lincolnshire, on what tourism businesses can expect this summer season. 12 Commercial property With its excellent road, rail, sea and air transport links, and vast agricultural land, our region is a veritable breadbasket for food production and distribution. Here we explore some of the most exciting recent developments. 16 Corporate finance Securing corporate finance can be a literal lifeline, especially at a time when businesses are getting back on track and preparing for the post-pandemic economy. 19 Corporate hospitality With lockdown ending, it’s finally time to start getting back to business, but after so long being socially distant, how out of practice are we? 22 Apprenticeships and training Training and apprentices provide a talent pipeline for the future and ensure existing employees have the skills they need for success. But, in the wake of COVID-19, training providers have had to rethink how they deliver courses. 26 Relocation and inward investment A vote of confidence in the pandemic, businesses continue to commit to Yorkshire, investing and expanding in, as well as moving to the region, with Leeds a front runner for this. 30 Energy and environmental management Greener energy sources aren’t only critical to safeguarding the environment but are a keystone of our post-COVID recovery. With a slew of new developments with carbon capture and storage technology, our region is leading the way. 34 Health and safety To protect the health and safety of staff, employers must have various protocols in place - not only regarding preventing physical injuries but addressing mental health and illnesses like COVID-19. 38 Security It is essential that businesses place more focus on cyber security as work becomes increasingly digital. The right precautions, products and services must be put in place to ensure a business and its staff can operate securely. 42 AutoLink What’s the point of working hard if we can’t enjoy the fruits of our labours? Today, we look at new motors entering the market that any businessperson would be proud to own, both for business and for pleasure. 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 22 26 38 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 13:21 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 - ANTON GVOZDIKOV • CHRISTOPHER CHAMBERS • MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES • LOVELYDAY 12 • SDECORET www.blmforum.net 30 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 13:21 Page 2Major milestone reached for Brexit border checkpoints at Humber ports A major milestone has been reached as Associated British Ports (ABP) and civil engineering contractor Spencer Group work to deliver Brexit border checkpoints at the ports of hull and Immingham. The Government had directed all Border Control Posts BCPs – which will be used to carry out checks on plants, plant products and animal products imported from the EU – must be operational by July 1 as part of its staggered approach to introducing new border control checks following Brexit, although this date has since been relaxed. A dedicated project team was mobilised immediately after Spencer Group was awarded the contract by ABP on December 28 and has been working every day since in order to deliver the project on time. The team has now hit a major milestone, with the foundations having been completed ahead of schedule at both sites. Steel structures are currently being erected and a modular building for border control officers at Immingham is already in place. “We’ve maintained our progress and momentum and achieved the first significant milestone, which was the completion of the foundations, ahead of programme,” said Andy Beach, Operations Director for Spencer Group. “It has been an incredible effort by all involved and has only been possible by such close and effective collaboration between ourselves and ABP. We are working together as one project team. There’s still a lot to do, but it’s going very well.” The project covers the construction of a 4.1 acre facility at the Port of Hull, with a total floor space of 33,584 sq ft, and a 5.3 acre facility at Immingham, with a total floor space of 40,957 sq ft. 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS Leeds data specialists launch COVID safety innovation Innotech Insights, a data collection and analysis specialist based in Leeds, has launched a “digital trigger” to revolutionise safety at pedestrian crossings. The company, based at University of Leeds innovation hub Nexus, has already secured orders for the CrowdedCROSS pedestrian crossing system from UK local authorities and is set to launch to its international customer base later this year. “We created CrowdedCROSS during lockdown, because our core business – monitoring people movement and behaviour to inform planning decisions – obviously came to an abrupt halt as people were staying at home,” said Liam Wright, founder and CEO of Innotech Insights. “Our data analytics specialists re-focused their expertise on tackling the issue of public health and safety when using crossings and other points of public access, offering pedestrians using a smart device a COVID-safe, contactless experience. “We also worked closely with a number of disability organisations to ensure the software was accessible and catered for those with mobility issues, as well as those who may be partially sighted or have sensory sensitivities. “We’re currently developing wearables, including wristbands and keyrings to make it even more user-friendly and to challenge the barriers which are faced by these groups when using pedestrian crossings.” CrowdedCROSS consists of three main elements to assist pedestrian crossing and data collection for highway maintenance and local authorities: a hand-based proximity sensor, a digital trigger using a mobile phone app and a Bluetooth beacon which enables users to access highways and local authority messaging about roadworks and road safety. Blackburn City Council is the first local authority in the UK to adopt the system, with plans to install it in 66 locations across the city and Innotech is in early-stage discussions with local authorities across the Leeds City Region. 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 06:51 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS Sheffield Forgemasters adopt Cobot assistance for Foundry operatives Sheffield Forgemasters has adopted collaborative robotic (Cobot) assistance for some of its Foundry operatives which, it said, dramatically reduces exposure to vibration, improving safety and increasing productivity within its fettling operations. It is one of the first foundries in the world to employ the 6A10 Grinding Cobot, from French firm RB3D, which works with operators of heavy grinders to stabilise and take the weight of the grinder, amplify its operational pressure and dramatically reduce the level of vibrations for the operator. The Cobot initiative is a significant change for Sheffield Forgemasters, which relies heavily on grinders to fettle or prepare the complex 3d shapes of its castings, allowing operators to safely increase their working time on each job by reducing fatigue load. “The Cobot is a robotic, electric-motor driven arm, which takes the full weight of our pneumatic grinders and is guided by the operator, but does not require any programming,” said John Sanderson, Foundry Operations Director at Sheffield Forgemasters. “Trials of the Cobot have transformed what we can achieve on such tasks, by improving the health and safety environment, reducing the chances of a grinder slipping from the work surface, and by removing fatigue and vibrations from the process, which dictate how much time an operator can safely work for.” For manual grinding tasks, vibration levels require a maximum working duration of three hours for the safety of the operator, but the Cobot allows operatives to conduct full days of grinding tasks without any of the associated risks posed by manual grinding. RB3D designs and provides equipment to assist manual workers and has developed Cobots and exoskeletons, which protect the wearer from lifting and straining injuries and enable heavier loads to be handled safely. Hull blade repair specialists joins Bilfinger salmis for wind power partnership Offshore energy services provider, Bilfinger Salamis UK, has joined forces with Hull-based blade repair and maintenance specialists GEV Wind Power. The new partnership offers wind farm operators a complete service for the repair and maintenance of full turbines. The companies say the partnership will also help to ensure a high level of availability for operator’s assets while reducing costs. GEV works on more than 40 wind farms both on and offshore every year, mobilising over 300 technicians worldwide. The company specialises in structural blade repairs, installation and replacement of retrofits, Lightning Protection System testing and replacement, and Leading Edge Protection installation. “This partnership aligns our innovative approaches and comprehensive competences in operations, maintenance and technology, creating an integrated service offering that delivers greater operating and cost efficiencies for our clients,” said Mike Henderson, Bilfinger Salamis UK’s Business Development and Commercial Director. Yorkshire healthcare business appoints new Chair of the Board Tunstall Healthcare, a Goole-based health and care technology company, has appointment of Peter Nicklin as Chairman of the Board. Mr Nicklin has a significant international career as a senior healthcare executive with Baxter International, Bayer Healthcare, Novartis and Bristol-Myers Squibb and across a range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, MedTech, dental, animal health and healthcare services. Commenting on the announcement, he said: “I’m delighted to be joining Tunstall at such a pivotal time for the digitally connected health and social care industry as there is rapid acceleration in the adoption of digital healthcare worldwide. “Tunstall is ideally placed to continue to build on its market leading position in the sector throughout the countries it operates. I look forward to working with the Tunstall team to capitalise on opportunities in the market and drive forward its strategy.” More recently, Mr Nicklin has been CEO and Member of the Board of Amann Girrbach AG based in Koblach, Austria. © Shutterstock/Lutsenko_Oleksandr Peter Nicklin 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 06:51 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 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 06:52 Page 3Yorkshire wind turbines power Molson Coors Renewable energy company, RWE, is powering Molson Coors Beverage Company with wind power produced in South Yorkshire as it becomes the first major brewer in the UK to be 100% powered by renewable energy. The brewer, which beers including Carling, Coors and Doom Bar, has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement with RWE, meaning the more than one billion pints Molson Coors produces in an average year will now be made with 100% renewable energy. RWE’s 22 Tween Bridge turbines in South Yorkshire will power Molson Coors’ brewing operations in Burton, Tadcaster and Sharps in Cornwall, as well as the Aspall Cyder House in Suffolk, and its corporate offices, national distribution centre and national call centre in Cardiff. RWE will provide Molson Coors with about 75 gigawatt hours of renewable energy a year. Annually, Molson Coors consumes the same amount of electricity as about 25,000 households, similar to the population of the home of its flagship brewery in Burton-upon-Trent. “One of our values at Molson Coors is taking accountability, and that includes being responsible for the impact our business has on the environment. That’s why we’ve made such bold commitments to play our part in tackling climate change – because it is the right thing to do,” says Fraser Thomson, Molson Coors’ operations director for Western Europe. “We know that this matters to our people, our customers and consumers, and they can now be assured that everything we do, and every pint we make, is powered by 100% green electricity.” Molson Coors’ global sustainability efforts include reducing its carbon emissions across its direct operations by 50% by 2025, in line with the goals set out by the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to keep global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. With the RWE partnership, Molson Coors’ UK operations are on track to achieve that goal four years early. www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS © Shutterstock/Duncan Cuthbertson Leeds to house second DWP HQ Leeds will become the Department for Work and Pensions’ second HQ and will house a Ministerial office due to open this April. The new ministerial offices will be in the department’s Quarry House office in the east of the city, where core services such as digital, HR, finance, policy and operations are already established. “Designating Quarry House in Leeds as our second HQ with Ministerial offices builds on our presence in towns and cities across Britain,” said Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey. “Leeds has a leading role in this country’s recovery as we build back better and deliver our Plan for Jobs. “DWP ministers are excited about our second office, giving us direct entry into the Northern Powerhouse.” © Shutterstock/Jacques Tarnero 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 30/04/2021 06:52 Page 4Next >