< Previous20 Business Link www.blmforum.net CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT sector. The Association says that although equipment sales in January and February were only down by six per cent compared with the same months last year – which was in line with expectation – March saw sales crash by forty-five per cent compared with last year as a direct result of the crisis. Although these figures paint a grim picture for the market, the construction sector may well have a key role to play in the nation’s economic recovery. Experts at Birmingham City University claim that an £11.27 billion investment in construction and a series of strategic decisions around new home building can kick start the UK’s economic recovery and deliver a £33 billion return for the government. The ‘Build Back Better: COVID-19 Economy Recovery Plan’, which follows a clear instruction from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that those in construction and manufacturing should now return to work, also calls on the government to stand by its commitment to “do everything it takes” to fight the virus and support the UK economy, by investing in a wide-reaching programme designed to create mass employment and produce a major return. “History tells us that the construction industry is the tried and tested solution to drive economic recovery, not least due to the fact we manufacture the vast majority of building materials in the UK which provides resilience, skilled jobs and fast returns on investment,” said Mike North Lincs Engineering Ltd We specialise in the Supply, Installation and Reconditioning of Industrial and Marine Diesel Engines and Generating Sets. Our team of Service Engineers can Repair, Maintain or Commission Land based or Marine Installations Worldwide. Tel: 01507 328787 • Email: mark@northlincseng.co.uk • Website: www.northlincseng.co.uk INDUSTRIAL & MARINE DIESEL ENGINES & GENERATING EQUIPMENT 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:13 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 21 CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT Leonard, construction expert, CEO of Building Alliance and co-author of the plan alongside Birmingham City University’s Dr Steve McCabe. “The upstream and downstream jobs in manufacturing, architecture, planning, engineering, distribution and construction, creates an unrivalled multiplier that can achieve inclusive growth, building back better and helping to rebalance our economy. Saving lives must remain our priority but we now have the signal to begin to safely unlock and begin the long path to economic recovery. Construction and the building materials manufacturers are now returning to work with the proper safeguards in place. We must now “Get Britain Building” and “Get Britain Working” delivering the scale of economic multiplier the county needs to bounce back stronger.” Of course, machinery and equipment and embracing innovative technologies is fundamental to the construction industry and, therefore, critical to the nation achieve economic success in the difficult post-COVID period ahead of us. © Shutterstock /thinkhubstudio Powder Handling and Flow for Additive Manufacturing Registration is now open for the online ‘Powder Handling and Flow for Additive Manufacturing’ course delivered by The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology. The aim is to guide delegates through the critical aspects of powder handling and management to enable them to identify potential problems and learn how to avoid or overcome them. Taking place between 12-16 July, each day begins at 14:00 hrs UK time and allows time for informal discussions amongst participants and presenters. Who should attend? The course is aimed at anyone working in powder based additive manufacturing, particularly with metal or plastic powders. Once again you will be entertained by a world leading team of experts from Industry, who will be able to deliver the latest understanding on the subject and to respond to your queries. Dipl-Ing Claus Aumund-Kopp, Group Leader for AM at the Fraunhofer IFAM Institute in Bremen, has worked with metal powders for AM powder bed fusion and AM binder jetting approaches for over fifteen years. Dr Neil Harrison, Materials Development Manager at Carpenter Additive, has over 5 years of academic and industrial experience in metal powder AM, including work on alloy design, powder behaviour and powder evolution. Richard Farnish, Senior Consultant Engineer at the Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, University of Greenwich, has worked internationally on design and troubleshooting of bulk solids handling as a commercial consultant and research expert for over twenty years. Course fees are £775 per person, discounted for multiple registrations from the same company. Registration is now open. To book your place now, visit https://bit.ly/3yCZrSf. For more information, visit www.bulksolids.com, email wolfson-enquiries@gre.ac.uk or call 020 8331 8646. © Carpenter Additive © Carpenter Additive 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:13 Page 422 Business Link www.blmforum.net BUSINESS ADVICE EXPERTS It’s easy to define an expert as an individual skilled in a given area but doing so eclipses the journey involved in reaching that point. Indeed, experts begin their careers in exactly the opposite end of the spectrum – as bright- eyed novices. From here, they accumulate understanding and experience, honing their skills through practical learning until, years later, they can be labelled as experts. Suffice it to say, when you take their advice, you’re getting decades worth of know-how in every single answer. In this regard, it’s always better to invest in experts in their specific fields, rather than those who claim to adept across all fields. One can’t help but think of the adage of the ‘jack of all trades being master of none’. It only serves to follow that someone who has dedicated their professional life to a specific part of a sector would have much more valuable experience and insight than someone who has only delved superficially across a plethora of different sectors. After all, PhDs aren’t awarded to those students turning their hand to as wide array of topics as possible, but the ones who dedicated their time and energies to a specific niche. There’s a wealth of industrial sectors across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from its pedigree in manufacturing and construction to emerging fields such as cloud computing and game development. With experience comes knowledge and so we’re using this feature to invite businesses from across the region to share their knowledge and offer insight into their success. For this issue, we’re bringing you leaders in education, information and communication technology and law. Together, these companies represent a diverse cross-section of business in our region and, as such, offer truly valuable expertise and insight. These companies have risen to leaders in their respective fields so you can trust that the knowledge you’ll receive is trusted and proven. Who knows, you might even find a new supplier or get the ball rolling on a new contract. Insight and expertise © Shutterstock /Olivier Le Moal As they say, use the right tool for the job. To follow this advice through to its logical conclusion, one should also use the right company for any given need – be that telecoms, education or legal matters. 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:14 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 23 Sills & Betteridge LLP Tel: 0800 542 4245 Web: www.sillslegal.co.uk Email: info@sillslegal.co.uk Company Profile Independently recognised for outstanding results and service, Sills & Betteridge LLP is a full service law firm based in Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottingham and Northampton. It has one of the region’s largest commercial departments with a portfolio of domestic and international clients drawn from a wide range of industry sectors, including agriculture, engineering, renewables, property and construction, insurance, and retail. James Conduit Profile James Conduit is head of our corporate team at Sills & Betteridge. With a background in intellectual property and a keen interest in technology transactions and regulated industries, a number of James’ clients operate in the renewable energy, software development, insurance, haulage and agriculture sectors. As a Legal 500 ‘Leading Lawyer’ James firmly believes that knowledge of a client’s industry is key to providing down to earth commercially astute advice. Corporate transactions can easily be derailed and even fail to proceed if lawyers lose sight of what is commercially important to their clients. All transactions involve risk, so the task is to identify the issues and act proportionately to ensure the deal proceeds on time and with minimal risk. LAW James Conduit LCS IT Solutions The Old Post Office, 5 High Street, Washingborough, Lincoln, LN4 1AZ Tel: 01522 718192 Web: www.lcsit.com Email: hello@lcsit.com Company Profile LCS is dedicated to providing exceptional IT support and consultancy throughout Lincolnshire. By building long-term, trusted relationships, it becomes its client’s trusted advisor and IT partner, not just their IT support supplier. Ensuring security of data and information and seamless working IT systems is what it does best. Anthony Bryant Profile Anthony, the Managing Director, set up LCS over 18 years ago, with the aim of providing world class IT support to local Lincolnshire companies. Changes in IT and cyber security are fast moving and the company’s clients’ IT security is a TOP priority. One of the simplest ways to protect your business is using MFA. This provides an additional level of security by using a combination of two or more elements e.g. a password and code sent to your phone to allow access to your systems. Protection is simple, yet effective. MFA helps prevent fraud, cyber-attacks and data leakage and many insurance companies now insist on this being in place. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MODAL Training Centre Middleplatt Rd, Immingham, DN40 1FN Tel: 07769 648245 Web: www.gainingadvantage.com Email: GAINSupport@modaltraining.co.uk Company Profile MODAL Training Centre provides business support via the GAIN project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This enables eligible businesses to access fully funded specialist business advice and one-to-one consultancy support. The specialist support provided has varied over the past 18 months which has included support with HR advice, reviewing processes and improving efficiency, financial advice, grant/funding information and business planning. Lisa Paterson Profile Lisa Paterson, Business Advisor within Ports, Logistics and Renewables, is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She has a wealth of experience within people and business management gained within global, national, and local organisations, taking accountability for leading large teams of up to 400 employees to achieve business growth across large geographical areas. Through GAIN, she has supported business growth of 40 SMEs based within Lincolnshire, starting with an in-depth business needs analysis before providing business consultants to work on specific areas of growth. TRAINING Middleplatt Rd, Immingham, DN40 1FN Tel: 01469 577656 Web: www.transafetraining.co.uk Email: enquiries@transafetraining.co.uk Company Profile Transafe Training, part of MODAL Training Centre, delivers a range of high-quality driver, logistics and health and safety courses including LGV driver training, ADR, Driver CPC, Transport Manager CPC, mental health, first aid, NEBOSH and safety passport. All of its trainers have industry experience and offer bespoke course development to suit individual/ business needs. Alongside Transafe Training’s team of experienced trainers, a dedicated customer service team provides support to help ensure course delegates get the most of their training time. Hugh Callaway Profile Hugh Callaway is Managing Director of MODAL Training Centre. He has a wealth of experience at a senior level in training and education and commercial business. He takes the lead on developing the business and supporting clients to help develop their people through improving competencies and performance, whether that be through standard courses or bespoke course development. TRAINING 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:14 Page 224 Business Link www.blmforum.net INSURANCE © Shutterstock /Follow Focus 24-27.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:16 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 25 INSURANCE The economic and political uncertainties pervading the global marketplace means financial dangers abound for businesses. Despite coming out of the third national lockdown, the COVID crisis is far from over and businesses will continue to face hardships in the months (likely years) to come. Although the pandemic has given rise to another challenge for companies to overcome, there are a myriad of risks and dangers that can lead a business going bankrupt or calling in the administrators. Whether it’s unexpected legal costs or damage to one’s workplace, it’s important that businesses defend themselves against every threat. Currently, the only type of business insurance that is mandatory under UK law is employers’ liability cover, but by not adequality protecting themselves, businesses are putting themselves at serious financial harm, risking not only their operations but the livelihoods of their employees. The UK insurance industry is the largest in Europe and the fourth largest globally, managing investments of over £1.8 trillion, paying nearly £12 billion in taxes to Government, and employing 300,000 people. Although two thirds of premiums paid out are for life insurance, the importance of business insurance can’t be overstated. But there’s a plethora of different policies which may confuse business owners, so it’s critical that company owners understand the types of business insurance available and the ones best suited to their operations. As previously stated, employer’s liability insurance is the only kind of business specific insurance that companies in the UK are required by law to take out. According to the Government, cover must be taken out as soon as a company becomes an employer. The policy must cover a business for at least £5 million and, it should go without saying, come from an authorised insurer. Mandatory, yes, but definitely advantageous as it will pay compensation if an employee is injured or becomes ill as a direct result of the work they do. As if that wasn’t motivation enough, businesses Don’t risk it When it comes to business insurance, its better to be safe than sorry, especially at a time when the economy is still in a precarious state as we emerge out the other side of the pandemic. 26 Á 24-27.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:16 Page 226 Business Link www.blmforum.net INSURANCE can be fined £2,500 every day they are not properly ensured. To avoid mishaps, businesses can check whether their insurer is authorised by looking at the Financial Conduct Authority register or by contacting the Financial Conduct Authority directly. Perhaps better know as errors and emissions (E&A), professional indemnity insurance shouldn’t be confused with employers’ liability insurance. Instead this protects against negligence claims due to harm resulting from mistakes or failure to perform and can cover compensation claims if a business is sued by a client for making a mistake that leads to financial loss. This makes it particularly important for businesses that give advice or provide a professional service to clients, or for businesses that deal with client data and intellectual property. Some professional bodies and regulators require their members to have this kind of insurance, especially surveyors, accountants and architects. Because each industry has its own specific set of concerns, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, so policies are therefore customised on a business-by- business basis. Whether leased or owned, it’s critical for businesses to ensure their workplace and facilities are insured, and property insurance will cover equipment and furniture, but also signage – given how often letters go missing from company signs, it might be worth taking out a policy. Yet theft is hardly the only threat to a company’s workplace with the effects of fire, storm or flood leading to devastating damage and financial loss. Flood damage, however, isn’t typically covered as standard on a property insurance premium, so it’s necessary to check with insurers to price a separate policy. For areas prone to flooding – as much of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire is – more protection and financial safeguards might well be needed. For example, the 2007 floods in East Riding and Hull resulted in property damage of approximately £6.5 billion, while the Leeds Boxing Day floods of 2015 ended up costing the city an estimated £36.8 million. All of which brings us onto business interruption insurance. This type of It’s easy to buy and sell insurance – anyone can do it, the trick is to get claims paid! I help my clients review their exposures – whether it’s assets or legal exposure. I advise on the cost to transfer those risks to insurers and the benefits of doing so and also resolve claims personally and efficiently. I have 3 decades of insurance broking experience; I am an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) and a Chartered Insurance Broker - so you can always be certain that I can protect your business properly. Contact me today nick.taylorward@konsileo.com 0797 6090 701 www.linkedin.com/in/nick-taylor-ward-insurance © Shutterstock /H_Ko PS: we are always looking to grow our team of insurance professionals - contact me to find out more! 24-27.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:16 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 27 INSURANCE © Shutterstock /Rawpixel.com insurance is often misunderstood by businesses who put their faith in the mistaken belief that they are covered under stand-alone buildings and contents policies should flood, fire or break-ins affect their operations. Although these policies will usually put initial damage right eventually, they don’t make allowances for consequential financial losses that can occur in the long term that can put businesses out of pocket by not an insignificant amount. A more specific and specialised policy is thus required to ensure total coverage should the worst occur. Business interruption insurance covers fire and flood, being the two most common kinds of damages to the workplace. With fresh flood warnings announced as recently as March for Yorkshire, it’s probably worth businesses in high risk areas across our region looking into. Another misconception is that those in low risk areas are immune from flood damage, or that flooding is the result of rainfall and burst riverbanks alone. The most common cause of flooding is, in fact, a burst pipe or damaged water tank that occurs onsite. This kind of cover can include the cost of cleaning up after floodwater has receded, plus the costs of getting a business back up and running. Other possible effects may include the cost of short-term alternative business premises, the replacement of flood damaged stock or business equipment, as well as lost staff wages. All major expenses that a business – particularly an SME – may be unable to fund without a policy of this sort in place. Whatever the specifics, business interruption insurance always includes what’s known in the trade as material damage proviso which basically means it cuts in following a claim made against one’s buildings or contents insurance and covers financial losses that are a direct consequence of a business interruption – i.e. loss of revenue, loss of rental income and additional staff costs. Though not legally required, product liability insurance is essential for any business that manufacture and/or sell goods for reasons that will soon become clear. If a product injures someone or damages their property, the company that sold said product could be liable, even if it didn’t make the product. Should this occur, this kind of insurance would cover a company’s legal fees as well as any compensation they might be required to play. So while not mandatory it is very important for many businesses, particularly SMEs who may be unable to afford to pay the unexpected costs of legal fees and compensation pay outs. There’s a reason why so many businesses put their faith in this kind of insurance, with figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) revealing that liability insurers pay out £7.5 million every day. When it comes to protecting profits and looking after staff, it really is better to be safe than sorry. 24-27.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:16 Page 428 Business Link www.blmforum.net PORTS AND LOGISTICS © Shutterstock /Lukassek A key region for the logistics industry, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire host vital ports with direct routes across the world, solid rail and major road links, with Greater Lincolnshire’s ports able to serve over seventy-five per cent of the UK population in a four-hour drive, as well as relatively low rents. The importance of the region to the logistics industry however is set to grow now that the Humber has successfully secured freeport status. The Humber already accounts for twenty-three per cent of all goods travelling through English ports, adding £7.6 billion GDA to the UK, and supports around 35,000 regional jobs, with the ports of Goole, Grimsby, Hull, and Immingham thriving in Well connected An important gateway for the UK, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are vital to the logistics industry, with powerful port, road, and rail access, and space in the region in high demand. An important gateway for the UK, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are vital to the logistics industry, with powerful port, road, and rail access, and space in the region in high demand. the region, and critical during the pandemic. With freeport status, these four areas will be able to encourage more businesses to reconsider their logistics planning, to use the Humber as their dedicated logistics port for customs processing, incentivised by paying reduced VAT, employment tax, discounted business rates, and a reduction in stamp duty. Meanwhile, our local communities are expected to see additional employment opportunities (over 7,000 new jobs) and better infrastructure. With access to Humberside Airport, the A1, and the East Coast Main Line, the Humber ports and logistics sector also accounts for over twenty-five per cent of inland UK rail freight, connects to major energy and manufacturing providers in the North and acts as a gateway to the Midlands. The 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:19 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 29 PORTS AND LOGISTICS Food and Fresh Produce Logistics, providing a specialist training and innovation centre. Additionally, improving the area’s connections, a border control post in Spalding has been opened to clear imports by rail, sea and road, and has been designed to cope with Brexit congestion and border checks for food imports, as well as to speed up product movement from ports. As a ports and logistics powerhouse, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire continue to be chosen by major businesses for their operations, with demand for logistics space rising rapidly in recent years. For instance, the final two units at Muse Developments’ Logic Leeds logistics hub were sold earlier this year. Pegasus World Holding Group, which supplies and distributes textiles for the hospitality and health care sectors and already owns a 31,500 sq ft building at Logic Leeds, agreed the forward purchase of a 61,500 sq ft unit to increase its investment portfolio in the region. The other unit has been sold to Samuel Grant Packaging, a packaging company which has agreed to forward fund the construction of a 40,000 sq ft building which will be used for the storage and distribution of its products. Meanwhile significant developments are being erected and planned to support the logistics industry. Schemes showing progress recently include a new 2,000,000 sq ft distribution warehouse at Wakefield Hub, a 200-acre industrial and logistics scheme located adjacent to Junction 30 of the M62 in Yorkshire, for which planning permission has now been granted. Moreover, plans are in for a state-of- the-art retail logistics facility in Hull, at Wykeland’s Melton West business park. The proposed logistics centre has a footprint of 558,000 sq ft and will bring 1,300- 1,500 permanent jobs to the area, with hundreds more in the operational supply chain and during peak months. Though developments such as these are 30 Á importance of just one of these ports was pinpointed in a 2020 case study by Savills, indicating how the Port of Hull is just 20 miles from the North Sea, well connected by dual carriageway road links to the M62, M18 and M1 to service the British Isles, and connected to the main rail network and inland waterways system. The Port of Hull is also at the heart of the UK’s offshore wind sector, hosting Green Port Hull, is the UK’s leading softwood timber port, and the study showcases the multimillion-pound investment in the Hull Container Terminal which has “cemented the city’s position as a leading gateway for trade, offering reliable and resilient supply chain solutions.” Furthermore, Associated British Ports research illustrates that choosing Hull and Immingham for moving cargo between the UK and EU presents a better deal for drivers and shippers, in distance travelled and journey time, and the environment. A comparative analysis of short sea import and export routes to and from the UK conducted by the University of Hull Logistics Institute estimates that moving ten per cent of cargo to the Humber from Dover could save 100,000 tonnes of CO2e every year when travelling to locations within the Central East-West Corridor. While Hull is well established as an essential component in UK logistics, other ports in the region are being developed as new opportunities arise. The Port of Boston in South Lincolnshire has been highlighted by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as the need for lower carbon supply chains and congestion at the South East ports drive its progression as a fresh fruit and vegetable hub, connecting into the UK’s largest food processing and food logistics cluster in Spalding and South Lincolnshire – thirty per cent of all UK food travels through the area at some stage in the supply chain. Set to bolster the area’s reputation are plans for a Centre for 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:19 Page 2Next >