< PreviousArmstronghouseOffering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House onArmstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports ofGrimsby and Immingham, motorway links and the town centre,off-street parking is also available for all staff and visitors,meaning it’s convenient too. Our spacious, welcoming officesare located on the ground floor and are both secure and CCTV-monitored, giving you the ultimate peace of mind.At Armstrong House, the flexible in/out terms of contractmean confidence when it comes to affordability and with a rangeof office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. Ifyou require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 permonth. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements,give Scotts Property a call today on 01472 267000 and askabout Armstrong House.Ground floor offices to letPrime location in GrimsbySuperb Location -- Close to the ports of Grimsby &Immingham- Great motorwaylinks- Close to the town centreSecure off street parkingHigh speed internet availabilityEasy in/out termsA range of affordable office sizes333335 Town Hall Street, Grimsby DN31 1HNed@scotts-property.co.uk www.scotts-property.co.ukwww.shutterstock.com/terekhov igorwww.shutterstock.com/Yentafern10-12_Layout 1 05/08/2015 11:50 Page 1www.shutterstock.com/YentafernPICTURE COURTESY DTZ / GILES ROCHOLL PHOTOGRAPHY LTDBusiness Link 11www.blmforum.netCOMMERCIAL PROPERTYMeanwhile, availability continues todecline, exerting further upwardpressure on capital values. There werealso reports of greater overseas buyerinterest, with 36 per cent morerespondents seeing more enquiriesfrom overseas investors. Across the whole of the UK, butexcluding the capital, 95 per cent ofrespondents believe that currentcommercial market valuations are eitherat or below fair value (roughlyunchanged since Q1 2015). Interestingly, given the chances of anupcoming referendum, when asked ifBritain leaving the EU would havesignificant negative implications for thecommercial property market, 44 percent of respondents felt it would, while32 per cent believed it would not.Reflecting the high degree ofuncertainty, 24 per cent reported theydid not know at this point.Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chiefThere is no doubt now that supply ofcommercial property remains one ofthe biggest issues in the sector. Thishas been confirmed by the latest figuresfrom RICS, which show that demandfrom business for commercial propertyrose for the eleventh consecutivequarter, while available space fell forthe ninth successive period.As a result, rents are expected to riseat the fastest pace since the surveybegan in 1998 with 46 per cent morerespondents forecasting higher, ratherthan lower, rent rates going forward.Offices remain the segment of themarket where rental expectationsremain most buoyant, while retailcontinues to lag although even in thisarea, momentum is picking up.The picture is not dissimilar in theinvestment market, where purchaseenquiries rose again; 53 per cent moresurveyors reported an increase inprospective investors over the quarter.economist, said: “The results of thelatest survey suggest the price ofcommercial real estate will continue tomove higher over the next twelvemonths and quite possibly by anotherten per cent. Fortunately, the strengthof the occupier market is providingsome underlying support for themarket.“Indeed, the feedback we are gettingfrom around the country tells us thatthe economic expansion is continuingto broaden out with both tenantdemand, and just as significantly,investor interest, rising in all areas.”Other experts think that investorsentiment is pushing towards moreniche areas.The volume of specialist propertyinvestment will exceed £10 billion in2015 and will account for 20 per cent ofthe total commercial market by 2020,according to Knight Frank.The core specialist property sectors -healthcare, hotels, student property andautomotive - account for an ever12 ÁWith demand looking like it could outstrip supply in the officemarket, investors are looking elsewhere for returns.Shifting sandsShifting sands10-12_Layout 1 05/08/2015 11:50 Page 212Business Link www.blmforum.netCOMMERCIAL PROPERTYproperty investment, Knight Frank,commented: “The continued rise ininvestor interest in specialist propertyreflects the appreciation of thesebusiness critical assets which, whenbought on sensible rent covers and onsound operational business assets,growing share of the commercialmarket, a trend which will continue forthe foreseeable future. Key drivingfactors include structural changes suchas the UK’s ageing population andincrease in student numbers, and carsales growth, combined with increasedoccupier demand for high qualityproperty. The squeezing of yields within the“traditional” sectors such as retail andoffices has also prompted investors tolook at assets which offer better returns,not to mention opportunities fordiversification. This year will see asharp increase in deal volumes forspecialist property, along with rentalgrowth and further yield compression. A Knight Frank survey of investorssuggested that there is a strong desireto boost allocations to non-corecommercial assets including the“sleeping giant” that is the PrivateRented Sector (PRS) which is currentlya cottage industry worth more than £1.5trillion in addition to specialist propertyaround the UK. Of particular note is theincreasing interest in rapidly growingniche segments such the automotivesector. Shaun Roy, head of specialistprovide their owners with confidence inthe durability of income. Movingforward to 2020 we expect to see thissector experience strong growth withinthe total market, and to become aneven more significant part of investor’sportfolios. ”Verity House, recently let by CBRE andBNP Paribas to Markel and Chase deVerem, is a great example of Leeds’exceptional business infrastructureJim Garside, of 1st Horizonwho have invested heavily inscanning equipment10-12_Layout 1 05/08/2015 11:50 Page 3Business Link 13www.blmforum.netSomething to say? Write to: Business Link Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby,North East Lincolnshire DN31 2QE or email: letters@blmgroup.co.ukReaders’LETTERSReaders’LETTERSAction not wordsDear Sir,Sad to read about Tata’s decision to cut jobs inbar production at Rotherham and distressing newsfor the 700 or so employees affected. But, furtherevidence that in addition to over capacity incompetitor countries, the stronger pound that wehave to deal with here in Britain, and uncompetitiveenergy costs, are all making life unbearable for themanufacturing industry.It’s high time the government stepped in to dosomething about this, as keeping energy pricesdown for consumers and businesses would be goodfor the economy and restore the fortunes of themanufacturing industry for UK plc. After all, thegovernment agreed financial assistance for energyintensive manufacturers way back, but to date therehas been no action whatsoever.It’s high time these ministers realised theimportance of delivering on said promises or thearea is going to spiral fast.N RichardsonSheffieldOn the gravy trainDear Sir,So Cameron is looking to give peerages to his loyal politicians,David Willetts and William Hague (to name but two). Hard to seewhy we need more than the 800+ that we already have allclaiming, according to the disgraced Lord Sewell, some £200-£300per day tax free for just popping in… Surely, it should be an elected chamber with around 100members not 840? Wasn’t Camerons plan to cut these numbers?We all thought Blair had taken decisive action when he ditched thehereditaries but he simply filled it with party donors who have nolegitimacy. This bottled proper reform as an unelected chamberresembles that of a dictatorship.It appears none of the political parties are above giving peeragesto their financial donors as they’ve all been doing this for yearsand with people like Lord Janner, Baroness Uddin, Lord Warwickand Neil Kinnock in the House of Lords, they show just how adeptthe government are at getting their friends on the gravy train.N RichardsonHullIn the red Dear Sir,I was intrigued to read on your web site that our National Debt is now 8th highest in Europe but, unlike Greece, ourChancellor is at least doing something about this. It wasn’t until I saw these figures show that it dawned on me how right the Chancellor is to pursue the course of actionhe’s taken, so far, and make further spending reductions. Ludicrous policies like paying the speaker of the house ofcommons over £170 to travel one mile are clearly cuts that could be made, as is the billions being paid in redundanciesby the NHS, who then choose to re employ these same people further down the line! We should cut out waste such asthis, and the allowances to the thousand or so Lords, (weren’t the Parliamentary authorities supposed to be taking amore active role in reminding those in Westminster of their responsibilities when claiming?) These are just a fewexamples that have come to light in recent weeks but I’m guessing they are the tip of a very large iceberg.J JewittLincoln13_Layout 1 05/08/2015 11:40 Page 114Business Link www.blmforum.netPORTS & LOGISTICSYorkshire and Lincolnshire’sgateway to EuropeThe exceptional portfacilities in the Yorkshireand Lincolnshire region arealready among the biggestand busiest in the businessand their success is oftenseen as a barometer of theregion’s economy. Indeed, the ports at Grimsby andImmingham are the largest in Europeby tonnage. Increasing interest inrenewable energy should ensure theytake on even greater strategicimportance in the years to come. Thelatest projects such as Green Port Hulloffer world class facilities using the verylatest technology, creating an unrivalledlogistics hub. This report examines thepotential of these initiatives. It will alsotake a look at the other advantages ofthe region’s ports, such as the highquality storage facilities and multimodalofferings that many now offer, andexamine how they are able to assistcompanies in addressing pressing legaland financial issues across the supplychain. The official web site of Green Port14-19_Layout 1 05/08/2015 12:02 Page 1www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 15incumbent upon the ports to modifytheir practices accordingly. Recently, work has begun on a £310million wind turbine production andinstallation facility at Green Port. Theproject, off Hull’s Alexandra dock, isexpected to create 1,000 new jobs whilstat the same time providing a vast sourceof sustainable energy. The potential ofthe development is huge. Jobs will becreated not just in the operationalmaintenance sector but in construction,and, crucially, in the supply chain – thewind turbines at the port require awelter of precision parts and expertengineering. Green Port Hull is a primeexample of the ways in which theindustry is harnessing the very latesttechnologies to achieve the twofold aimof providing long-term, sustainableenergy for the region whilst promotingeconomic growth. Hull states that the port – a collaborationbetween Hull City Council, East Riding ofYorkshire Council and Associated BritishPorts (ABP) funded in part by a hugeinvestment from Siemens – is intendedto “promote investment [in] anddevelopment of the renewable energysector in the Humber region and tosupport investors and their supply chainsto secure long-term economic growth forthe area.” We are an island nation, andthe shipping industry has long beenintegral to the UK economy. Yorkshire,Lincolnshire and Humberside ports werea key part of the industry’s success in thepast, and initiatives such as Green PortHull look to continue this tradition,providing much-needed jobs andencouraging economic growth in theregion. Today, however, as society callsupon every industry to act in ever-moreenvironmentally friendly ways, it isThe Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP)near Immingham is now the largestoffshore wind park in Europe and haseven won the backing of Prime MinisterDavid Cameron. Part of the reason forthis is that AMEP is the biggest“Enterprise Zone” in the UK, dwarfing itscompetitors in the region. The newdevelopment has attracted significantoutside investment which will filterdown to the wider region in the shapeof jobs and improved infrastructure.In order to make the process ofimporting and exporting of goods asmoother, hassle-free process, severalports in the region are now offeringhigh-quality storage facilities. Logisticscompanies seeking to ship goodsabroad can hold them at the port for16 ÁRecord wheat cargoloading at Port ofImminghamImmingham Container Terminalexpands fleet with further investmentin new machinePHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID LEE PHOTOGRAPHY LTD14-19_Layout 1 05/08/2015 12:02 Page 2ease of loading. PSC Old Ferry Wharf –a smaller port – offers over 50,000square feet of covered warehousing,bulk storage, and vast amounts ofoutdoor storage. AMEP, meanwhile,offers a bewildering 269.9 hectares ofwarehousing and external storagealongside the storage andmanufacturing space reserved for theproduction of wind turbines. The oldport at Hull provides over 7.5 hectaresof storage for anything from perishablegoods to hazardous products. These on-site storage facilities arehelping companies, particularly in theagricultural and food sectors, to keep ascloser eye on their products prior toshipping – an extra degree of securitythat is essential to guaranteeing theintegrity and safety of foods. Storinggoods at the port prior to shipping isalso more cost-effective, as mostfacilities are now able to cater toindividual requirements. For example,manufacturers of perishable foodproducts can pay for refrigeratedstorage space at our region’s ports,reducing the chances of productdegradation and consequent financiallosses.The rise of multimodal logistics hasbeen a key factor in encouraging ourregional ports to offer storage facilities.Multimodality is becoming thewatchword of the logistics industry ascompanies begin to realise the potentialPORTS & LOGISTICS16Business Link www.blmforum.netNew agreement between ABP and RMSGroup supports region’s role in NorthernEconomic PowerhouseYour worldwide freight and logistics partnerT: 01709 529709 www.daviesturner.co.ukPIONEERS IN SERVICE SINCE 1870Davies Turner is one of the UK’s leadingmultimodal forwarder and logisticsorganisations with 23 branchesthroughout the country. With awarehouse capacity of over 1000,000square metres and a network ofoverseas partners you can be assured of a fantastic service. With ISO 9001 accreditation too and aUK-wide collection and delivery service that fuels an annual turnover of over £145 million Davies Turnerare flexible experts in logistics, storage and supply chain management solutions. Anything from air cargoto overland can be tackled as well as container storage and freight by sea with IT support in the form ofin-house management systems and the latest WMS software, ensuring security and safety. 14-19_Layout 1 05/08/2015 12:02 Page 3The ports of Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole handle more than 63 million tonnes ofcargo between them each year.Grimsby and Immingham form the UK’s busiest trading gateway and move around 51million tonnes of cargo per annum.£130-plus million is currently being invested in the biomass handling terminal inImmingham, in a Humber-wide agreement with Drax Power Ltd that has seen £25 millioninvested in a biomass handling facility in Hull. The Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminalhandles sustainable biomass shipments and will create over 100 permanent jobs oncecomplete. The construction phase created 100 employment opportunities.The Port of Hull handles 10 million tonnes of cargo per annum and is the is the focal pointfor the development of the UK’s largest offshore wind turbine manufacturing, construction,assembly, and service facility, which will be located on the Port’s Alexandra Dock. This newfacility represents a £310 million investment and will create up to 1000 direct jobs.The Grimsby River Terminal represents an investment of £26 million and allows large car-carrying ships to berth outside the Port’s lock system. This development confirms the Port’sposition as the UK’s leading automotive handling facility.More than the equivalent of 1 million teus (twenty foot equivalent unit) of unitised trade isshipped through ABP Humber ports.Ro-ro and container traffic represents more than 30 sailings a week to Europe, Scandinaviathe Baltic and beyond.The Humber ports handle more than 70 freight train movements per day.Goole is situated 50 miles upriver and is the UK’s premier inland port. It handles over onemillion tonnes of cargo annually.of a service that integrates road, rail andsea transport. The Yorkshire andLincolnshire region is leading the way inthis area due to the extent and qualityof its pre-existing transportinfrastructure. Immingham, for example,is ideally placed for the M1 (via theM18), meaning that local logisticscompanies can quickly transport goodsto the port which can then be shippedas soon as possible. The benefits of this multimodalapproach are obvious: the logisticsindustry in the area can speed up itsoperations to the extent that goods canbe transported to mainland Europewithin twenty-four hours of leaving thewarehouse. Costs are driven down inthis way, and companies have a greaterdegree of control over what happens totheir goods. The process of loading andunloading is kept in-house, whichmeans that tighter security checks canbe implemented. As a consequence,key legal issues around the importingand exporting of goods can besmoothed out. There is less chance ofhijacking, for example, if a shipment ishandled by a single logistics companyand not several. Yorkshire and Lincolnshire boastssome of the UKs biggest and busiestports, and some of the largest inEurope. The region’s maritime history iswidely celebrated, so it is pleasing tosee the shipping industry continue tothrive in the area. It has done this byresponding to the peculiarly twenty-firstcentury need to promote economicgrowth whilst simultaneously protectingthe environment. Huge initiatives suchas Green Port Hull are at the forefront ofa green revolution in the port industry.Our ports are also leading the way interms of multimodal logistics options –another tradition we hope to seecontinue.www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 17World's largest shipmentof biomassPHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID LEE PHOTOGRAPHY LTDFAST FACTS14-19_Layout 1 05/08/2015 12:02 Page 418Business Linkwww.blmforum.netSheffield office seesrecord growth Parcelhub, whose delivery service saves customers money by providing one accesspoint to multiple parcel carriers, is putting its recent success down to its Dinningtonlocation. The firm, which provides services for high volume business mail and parcelsacross the UK, opened the 5,000sqft unit on Todwick Road Industrial Estate 12 monthsago and says the central location and thriving regional business community have beenfundamental in growing the customer base and attracting quality members of staff.Mark Rosenberg, Parcelhub Managing Director, commented: “In our businessaccessibility is key. We need quick and easy access to the motorway network in orderto deliver an efficient and effective service and reach new markets. Dinnington provides us with this.”PremierLogisticsgoes to Hulland back tobuy rivalLeicester-based haulier, Premier Logistics, hasbought, Hull-based, fellow Pall-Ex member CJ Logistics in a move that will increase its turnover to £21 million. Premier Logistics says that branching outalong the M62 corridor to the East will provide better access to the North. CJ Express founders, husband and wife team Nick and Susan Carter, havejoined the Premier Logistics team as commercial manager and health and safety manager respectively. Mr Carter, current commercial manager atPremier Logistics, said: “The deal with Premier Logistics is exciting for both parties. We had been contemplating the future of ourbusiness for some time. We wanted to ensure continuity and growth for all of our stakeholders, creating developmentopportunities for the staff and retaining CJ Express’s Pall-Ex partnership.” Premier is expected to invest£500,000 in the CJ Express fleet in the coming months. Yorkshire basedlogistics firm winsloads of awardsYorkshire-headquartered Potter Logistics has won awards at twoindustry events. The company attended the United KingdomWarehousing Association luncheon and awards at the DorchesterHotel, London, with the Potter team taking home WarehouseManager for Scott Wallace, Operation Manager; Young Employeeof the Year for transport team member Joe Jackson, and specialrecognition from the Chairman’s Award for founder and executivechairman Derrick Potter. The winning streak continued for the company at the Motor Transport Awards that evening when they scooped Haulier ofthe Year 2015. The Motor Transport judges said of Potter Logistics that “the company had put in a strong financial performance and had goodcontrol over all aspects of its business. It was a family business with a customer driven ethos, offered comprehensive training and took a flexible,innovative approach.”PORTS & LOGISTICSPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/NIGHTMAN196514-19_Layout 1 05/08/2015 12:02 Page 5Hastings Freight invest infork lift fleetHastings Freight has invested in itsfork lift truck fleet to meet the increasingdemands of their domestic andEuropean customers. The company isgrowing at a steady rate of around22% per annum. The firm is part ofPalletways, Europe’s largest andfastest expanding palletised freight network, and pridesitself on premier, same day delivery. Damien Hard, area sales manager at Forkway, commented:“We’ve worked with Hastings Freight for more than a decade. Our long-standing relationshipwith the operational team at Hastings Freight means we have been able to get under the skin ofthe pallet business to fully understand the nature of the work and match them with a truth that’sgoing to meet the high intensity, demanding operation.” Retail warehousetransactions push HI2015 volumes up 27%The occupational market has continued to improve as retailsales saw the 26th month of consecutive year-on-year growthand the consumer confidence index at its highest level for almost15 years. Research published by DTZ has revealed thatcompleted UK retail warehouse investment transactions totalled£635 million across 28 transactions in Q2 2015, bringing the half-yearly total up to £1.3 billion. It was an increase of 33% on thesame quarter last year. The five largest of these transactions hada combined total of £298.4 million, which accounts for 46% ofthe figure. David Thompson, Head of Retail in the North ofEngland commented: “It’s particularly interesting to note that twotransactions in Yorkshire, Monks Cross and Birstall, accountedfor nearly 25% of the UK transaction volume in H1. Thisillustrates the strength of investor demand for high quality stockin the region.” Schroder buys MillwardIndustrial EstateSchroder Real EstateInvestment Trust has exchangedcontracts to acquire MillshawIndustrial Estate in Leeds for£22.7 million, reflecting a netinitial yield of 7.2%. Theindustrial estate comprises afreehold, 463,400sqft multi-letestate constructed in the 1990son a 28.3 acre site with 27 unitsranging in size from 2,683sqft to56,440sqft. The property isstrategically located close tomajor roads and two miles southof Leeds city centre. The property is let to 20 tenants and produces a rental of £1.73 millionannually, with four vacant units representing 4% as a percentage of rental value. Restrictedsupply of new industrial and warehouse development in Leeds creates an opportunity toreposition the estate by refurbishing units as leases expire in order to achieve higher rents.On this basis, the rental value of the estate is estimated to be approximately £2.2 millionper annum. www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 19Further expansionand growth forDBL Logistics Sheffield-based haulage and logistics company DBLLogistics will expand for the second time in two years,following another record year. The firm moved into itsflagship £2 million 33,550sqft Huntsman Depot inOctober 2013, in a deal supported by HSBC. Planningpermission has now been secured for the second stageof the company’s expansion. Phase two will see thecompany’s loading capacity double with the creation of anew loading bay and parking area at the rear of its depoton Tinsley Park Road. Work will now commence on thedevelopment after the company secured a financepackage worth £300,000 from HSBC. The expansioncomes after a period of sustained growth for the firm,with a 35% increase in sales for the financial year end inAugust 2013 to the year ending August 2014, with aprojected increase of 18% for the current financial year. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/DON PABLOPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/MAXX-STUDIO14-19_Layout 1 05/08/2015 12:03 Page 6Next >