july 2019 £3.50 yorkshire & lincolnshire’s leading business magazine www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 34 ISSUE 7 The state of engineering AT THE FOREFRONT AT THE FOREFRONT Flexible communicationsManaging mental healthTRAINING, DEVELOPING, E-LEARNING & CONSULTANCY SERVICES IN HULL, UK & INTERNATIONAL CH Training Ltd has been established for over 15 years offering specialist training advice and consultancy services to a wide range of organisations. Promoting a positive culture and support to improve Safety, Health and Environment Management Systems; working with companies helping achieve ISO 45001 & 14001: BSI Qualified Lead Auditor. IEMA ENVIRONMENETAL SUSTAINABILITY SKILLS FOR THE WORKFORCE (1 DAY) IEMA Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce is one of a suite of courses, under the banner of Environmental Sustainability Skills for theWorkplace, which is a new development programme aimed at non- environmental specialists. The aim of this one-day course to provide the learner with a practical introduction to environmental sustainability so they are equipped with the knowledge, understanding and motivation to make a positive difference within their organisation. IEMA ENVIRONMENETAL SUSTAINABILITY SKILLS FOR MANAGERS (2 DAY) IEMA Environmental Sustainability Skills for Managers is one of a suite of courses, under the banner of Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workplace, which is a new development programme aimed at non-environmental specialists. The aim of this two-day course is to support managers and supervisors in understanding the strategic and operational implications environmental sustainability has on them, their team and department, enabling them to contribute to the improved environmental sustainability of their organisation. Delivery of this Course can be In-house OR at CH Training Centre Visit www.chrishyam.co.uk for all training dates and costs CH Training Ltd, Office 2, Craven Park Training and Enterprise Centre, Preston Road, Hull, HU9 5HE T. 01482 379502 M: 07780704350 E: INFO@CHTRAININGLTD.COM W: WWW.CHRISHYAM.CO.UK IFC.qxp_Layout 1 08/07/2019 09:55 Page 1And then there were two. After the shocking drama that’s unfurled in British politics these past few years, the Tory leadership race has been a somewhat sedate affair. What with both the bookies’ favourites making it down to the head-to- head round. Now the nation is caught between a rock and a hard place. Whichever of those lying, cheating sneaks will cinch the top spot will be announced on July 23. Brexit and immigration remain the biggest talking points for both, evidently at the expense of other pressing issues including the environment. Come what May, we’ll at least be rid of May, arguably the nation’s weakest, most insipid leader in centuries. As most of us still cling to any modicum of security and certainty, let the July issue of Business Link be your port in a storm. We take a dive into the importance of workplace health and safety with an emphasis this issue on mental health. It’s out with the old and in with the new in the IT & communications feature, while the environmental impact is the hot topic in our look at the petrochemicals industry. We’ve also got reports on design & marketing, engineering and legal services to tide you over until the new PM is finally announced. Although the weather is neither here nor there at present, there’s no shortage of important corporate events taking place across the region. Turn to our events pages to make sure you stay ahead of the competition. Don’t forget to check in with our resident grump Frazer for the latest cynical look at the world. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor From the Editor OAKLANDS HALL HOTEL & THE COMFY DUCK To make a booking on any event, please contact: (01472) 872 248 | meetingsandevents@oaklandshallhotel.co.uk Best Western Oaklands Hall Hotel, Barton Street, Laceby, Grimsby, DN37 7LF www.oaklandshallhotel.co.uk | www.thecomfyduck.co.uk Deliciously Deliciously Lincolnshire Platinum Awarded for outstanding quality and service by award WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET Oaklands Hall Hotel & The Comfy Duck is proud to be working in association with LIVES AUGUST 16th Champagne Evening with Champagne Pommery £95.00 Per Person 30th Tre Amici in the Gardens £19.95 Per Person EVENTS 03.qxp_Layout 1 04/07/2019 11:48 Page 1JULY 2019 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region 10 Commercial property The commercial property market here in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire has experienced rapid activity over the last month, with a number of exciting deals, developments and announcements. 14 Engineering Innovative technologies are being adopted left and right in UK engineering, but concerns over the industry’s potential stagnation due to a labour shortage, skills gap and lack of R&D funding cannot be ignored. 18 Health & safety As mental health conditions overtake musculoskeletal disorders as the most common form of work-related ill health, it’s time to get serious about implementing a solid mental health strategy. 22 IT & communications Embracing digital technologies improves internal process, saves money, boosts efficiencies and results in better service delivery for customers and clients. So why aren’t more business taking advantage of them? Business Link explores. 25 Business Scene Guests were once again invited to join Streets Chartered Accountants for Breakfast at the 135th Lincolnshire Show. 26 Design and marketing They’re the key components to success, but many businesses in our region put too little emphasis into them. Design and marketing is big business. 30 Petrochemical industry Yorkshire and Lincolnshire together form one of the UK’s most important locations for petrochemical production. Despite steady demand, however, the industry is under mounting pressure and greater competition because of its environmental impact. 34 Legal Businesses have always had to tangle with increasingly complex legislative procedures, but with Brexit a mysterious pipe dream with no details forthcoming, the burden of keeping up with law has become more difficult than ever. 38 Corporate hospitality Whether it’s a long-established customer or a potential new client, they should all be treated as company VIPs, and when it comes to corporate hospitality, that can be taken literally. 41 Business Scene May marked the fortieth anniversary of the Lincoln Sportsman’s Ball held by the Lincoln Sportsman’s Club. 42 AutoLink As the first half of 2019 comes to a close, we look at the new cars to keep an eye out for in the future, ones that may soon be drawing eyes on our roads. 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 14 34 42 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 04/07/2019 11:52 Page 1Group Editor Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalists Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk) Stuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk) 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 Sam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk) 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 - EVERYTHING POSSIBLE • GORODENKOFF • DANIEL KRASON • TRAVEL MANIA www.blmforum.net 22 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 04/07/2019 11:52 Page 2Funding extended for Leeds City Region businesses An ERDF funded programme providing financial support and advice to businesses in the Leeds City Region has been extended. AD:VENTURE will now run to 2021 following an extension by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. This now makes it a six-year programme with a value of £18.2 million. To date, it has already worked with over 1,513 businesses. Delivered by a consortium of public, private and sector organisations, the programme offers tailored packages of support to start-up businesses throughout the Leeds City Region. “The success of the AD:VENTURE programme really does tell its own story. The business community throughout the Leeds City Region is vibrant, diverse and growing,” said Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and NP11. “Having ongoing access to the support, advice and guidance from experts, as well as funding provision, can only enhance this further.” 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS Multi-million-pound med tech facility opens in Sheffield B. Braun Medical has officially opened its expanded multi-million- pound medical technology facility at Sheffield’s Thorncliffe Business Park. The Compounding Aseptic Production Service (CAPS) Unit houses cutting edge equipment, cold stores, a laboratory, and an expanding team of specialists to manufacture medication for patients and hospitals throughout England. The extension has seen the facility transformed from 1,080m2 to 2,700m2 and will create employment to meet increasing demand for life-saving medicines, particularly intravenous feeding solutions for the NHS. “Since opening nearly a decade ago in 2010, our portfolio of products has evolved rapidly to include a whole new range of patient treatments. Expanding both the building size and our employee numbers will take us to the next level,” said Hans Hux, Chairman and Group Chief Executive of B. Braun Medical. He added: “This official opening was an incredibly special event celebrating the success and growth of healthcare manufacturing in Sheffield.” Lincoln opening centre of excellence in agri-robots What is touted as the UK’s first global centre of excellence in agri- robots research is set to launch in Lincolnshire after the project secured £6.4 million in grant funding. Based at the University of Lincoln’s working farm site, Lincoln Agri- Robotics will bring together expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence and agriculture. The University is already spearheading the development of next- generation robots for agri-food production which, it says, will help streamline and maximise processes throughout the entire food industry. The new funding, from the UK Government’s Expanding Excellence in England (E3) Fund through Research England, will enable researchers to scale up their work tackling pressing issues facing the global food chain. Lincoln Agri-Robotics will expand two of the University of Lincoln’s specialist research groups – the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT) and the Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems (LCAS) – bringing together the groups’ scientists into one specialist organisation. Hans Hux with Group CEO Anna Maria Braun © The University of Lincoln Roger Marsh 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 04/07/2019 11:55 Page 1ENGIE Fabricom invests in Immingham site ENGIE Fabricom has significantly invested in its manufacturing and construction facility in Immingham, bolstering the site’s transportation and improving current machinery. Covering 13,615 acres, the site has experienced an increased volume of work over the last business quarter, with the firm receiving an unprecedented number of enquiries for its full turnkey services in modular build works, in particular pre-assembled units. The site upgrades form part of the company’s growth plans which has recently seen the introduction of a more streamlined organisational structure as it strives to achieve a 100% increase in turnover by 2022. “Our manufacturing and construction centre is in an absolute ideal location – which is very much a selling point for our clients – and through enhancing our already robust transport infrastructure at this site – our operations will run even more swiftly,” said CEO Richard Webster. www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS Solar can provide 20% of UK electricity, research claims Solar can provide at least 20% of the UK’s electricity and create 200,000 jobs in the country – more than double current forecasts – new research claims. The rise comes as industry experts call on the Government to back UK solar development and urgently revise their solar targets to deliver net zero by 2050. While the UK’s 13GW of 900 solar farms and 900,000 rooftop installations provide 4% of the country’s electricity, according to new analysis carried out by Energy Watch Group and LUT University in collaboration with Solarcentury, the UK can increase this by more than six times by 2030 to a significant 80GW. This is equivalent to meeting 20% of the UK’s electricity demand. Today, thanks to falling costs, solar is now one of the cheapest and most economical sources of energy in the majority of markets worldwide including the UK. © Shutterstock / Diyana Dimitrova 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 04/07/2019 11:55 Page 2Manufacturers reaping economic benefits of sustainability UK manufacturers are reaping the economic benefit of putting sustainability and environmental improvements at the heart of their businesses, a new report claims. ‘Manufacturing: stepping up to the sustainability challenge’ from Make UK shows that despite the challenge of Brexit, 50% of manufacturers are making headway with their sustainability programmes with 71% of those who implemented environmentally-friendly processes seeing a reduction in their costs. However, the main drivers towards sustainability remain cost savings. In fact, 71% of respondents reported that the last environmental improvement they made had reduced costs. Energy saving is the most typical first step for businesses to take because the cost efficiencies are easily quantifiable. Strategies put in place include onsite battery storage, installation of onsite renewable heat systems and onsite renewable power generation. Replacing outdated equipment also delivered energy cost saving benefits for those companies surveyed along with working towards voluntary standards – such as ISO 14001 – was another common step. Sheffield Uni research hub puts UK at front of electrical revolution The University of Sheffield has launched a new research lab which aims to position UK manufacturing at the forefront of a new electrical revolution. The £28 million Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Future Electrical Machines Manufacturing Hub is the first of its kind to bring together leading research expertise in electrical machines and manufacturing. The investment is underpinned by a £10 million award from the EPSRC and funding from industrial partners including Rolls Royce, Airbus, Siemens Gamesa, GKN Aerospace, McLaren and Dyson and the University partners. The team, led by the University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Engineering and AMRC, will work with academics at Newcastle University and the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). Researchers will work closely with industry to address key manufacturing challenges in the production of high integrity and high value electrical machines. © Shutterstock /Andrey Armyagov © Shutterstock /industryviews NEWS 8 Business Link www.blmforum.net KEEPING BUSINESS ON THE UP… We pride ourselves on providing a pro-active, friendly and accessible service. • Accounts and Tax Returns • Tax Planning and Book-Keeping • Audits and Business Advice • 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 04/07/2019 11:55 Page 3Pressure Technologies disposes of alternative energy division Pressure Technologies, the Yorkshire-based engineering group, has sold its alternative energy division to Creation Capital in a £11.1 million deal. The disposal of Greenlane Biogas allows Pressure Technologies to focus investment on its core specialist engineering business. Law firm Keebles worked closely alongside Pressure Technologies to facilitate the deal. “The completion of this sale concludes the board’s process to realise the potential of the Greenlane Biogas business in the expanding market for renewable natural gas,” said Joanna Allen, CFO of Pressure Technologies. Michael Hall, partner at Keebles, added: “We are delighted to have supported Pressure Technologies on this key strategic disposal. The transaction is an extremely positive one for all parties and we join with Pressure Technologies in wishing the Greenlane team well as they move forward as an industry leader in the global renewable energy market.” Michael Hall www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS Sheffield game maker appoints head of Nottingham office Sumo Digital, the Sheffield-based independent video game developer, has appointed a Studio Director for its Nottingham studio. Gary Edwards joined Sumo in 2005 and, most recently, served as Production Director where he played a key role in the development of many of the company’s major titles. He will now lead Sumo Nottingham, which was founded in 2016, employs 80 developers and developed the recently released Team Sonic Racing . “I am delighted that Gary is taking the helm in Nottingham,” said Managing Director Gary Dunn. “He’s been with Sumo for 14 years and has been responsible for delivering some of our most significant work; it’s great to give him the career opportunity he deserves.” Mr Edwards added: “Having worked with the incredibly talented team in Nottingham since the studio was established, I’m honoured and excited to now lead them to their next phase of growth and creativity. We can’t wait for people to see what we’re working on.” Yorkshire firms secure £44.3m from Start-Up Loans programme To date, 5,377 businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber have secured loans collectively worth £44.3 million from British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans Programme. New data from the Government-backed scheme shows that it has issued a total of 63,920 loans to fund small business across the UK, with the average loan amounting to £7,823, since it was set up in 2012. Of those who received a loan, almost two- fifths were women, one in five came from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and more than a third were unemployed when they applied. “The hard work and determination of the UK’s 5.7 million small businesses make a huge contribution to society, and it’s great to see latest research showing that the economic benefits of the Start Up Loans programme are nearly six times its economic costs,” said Patrick Magee, Chief Commercial Officer of the British Business Bank. The programme has so far leant £500 million. Gary Edwards CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS We’re here to get you in the right direction To find out how to get your business on the up visit www.dextersharpe.co.uk Offices in Boston, Bourne, Horncastle, Lincoln, Louth, Skegness & Spilsby 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 04/07/2019 11:55 Page 4Next >