< Previous20 Business Link www.blmforum.net PRINTING & PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT pilot projects. They are finding their way into standard product lines because buyers are pressing for them. Those buyers have learned that sustainability isn’t only a marketing angle. It feeds directly into purchasing decisions, and it has become a criteria on which major retailers now award contracts. Suppliers that cannot show measurable reductions in virgin plastic use are finding their options narrowing. In the background, the packaging supply chain has been forced to modernise faster than most had planned. Formats are changing as well. Traditional rigid boxes are being replaced where possible with pouches, resealable bags and lighter containers that use less material. It is not only a cost play, though the savings on freight are substantial. These formats also reduce carbon footprints, giving manufacturers a way to present a more complete sustainability story. Machinery upgrades are following the materials. The new lines that printers and packers are installing are built for shorter runs and fast changeovers. Digital and flexographic technologies make it possible to produce a small batch with the same clarity and finish that used to be reserved for long, uniform print jobs. That flexibility is proving valuable. Retailers want regional campaigns, one- off promotions and seasonal variations at short notice. Producers who can deliver that without carrying months of surplus stock are being rewarded with repeat business. Regulation is also dictating design. Labels have to do more: list ingredients and allergens in specific formats, track origin, satisfy multiple languages, and still leave space for the branding. That workload has led to a rise in automated checking systems on the line. It is not uncommon now to see high-speed cameras inspecting every pack, flagging incorrect or missing data before it leaves the plant. For any company that has dealt with a recall, this investment makes sense. Designers and engineers are being pushed to work differently. They are no longer separate steps in the process. Instead, packaging concepts are tested in digital 3D models, colour matched, rendered, and trialled with prototype runs. That can happen in a matter of days. When a design is approved, the file goes directly into production systems, shortening lead times and ensuring that what was approved on screen is what www.blmforum.net Business Link 21 PRINTING & PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT appears in stores. There is a commercial upside to this precision. It opens the door for more complex brand stories. Digital presses can produce variable designs, changing text or graphics from one pack to the next. Textures and surface finishes can be applied in short runs without expensive tooling. Even mass-market items now benefit from the sort of detail that used to be associated with premium ranges. Brands are taking advantage of these options. They are using QR codes and near field communication tags to link a product to recipes, promotions or sustainability credentials. They are experimenting with colour-shifting inks that signal tampering, or adding track- and-trace features that confirm authenticity. These are not experiments in a laboratory; they are showing up on packaging runs now, giving manufacturers a chance to extend their relationship with customers beyond the shelf. There is a workforce implication as well. Operators who can run these sophisticated machines are in short supply. Firms are investing in their own training, often in partnership with local colleges. Pre-press, quality assurance, digital graphics, and data handling skills are increasingly as important as traditional print knowledge. All of this has a cost. Recyclable materials can be more expensive. Advanced machinery requires capital investment and maintenance. But the calculation businesses are making is simple: modernisation pays back through reduced waste, faster delivery, and a stronger competitive position. Retailers are not just buying a box or a label; they are buying confidence that the packaging will perform, comply, and add value to the product. The conversation now happening in boardrooms treats packaging as a strategic tool. It is a way to stand out on crowded shelves, to tell a sustainability story that is credible, and to build operational resilience when legislation changes. In some cases, the design of a package determines whether a product can even enter a particular market, so the choice of materials, layout and print technology has become a front-line commercial decision.22 Business Link www.blmforum.net ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW I n Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, a strong tradition of financial expertise has shaped how businesses manage risk and growth. Independent practices and financial institutions have long been part of the backbone of commerce here, supporting generations of companies as they navigate both prosperity and uncertainty. That heritage is proving critical once again as businesses face pressures that demand more than routine compliance. The role of the accountant has changed. For many firms, accounts preparation and tax returns are only the starting point. Directors now want insight that will influence decision-making well beyond the ledger. Forecasting, funding strategies, cashflow modelling and business planning are increasingly sought alongside statutory reporting. These are not extras: for companies with ambitions to grow or maintain resilience, the guidance of a well-informed accountant has become central to how they operate. A decade ago, these capabilities were mostly seen in larger companies with in- house finance teams. Today, technology and flexible service models have made the same level of expertise available to smaller firms. Cloud-based systems Strong financial foundations guide regional enterprise A tradition of expertise in accountancy and finance is giving businesses across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire the tools to plan, adapt and grow with confidence. 24 Áwww.blmforum.net Business Link 23 ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW24 Business Link www.blmforum.net ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW have moved financial information from filing cabinets to real-time dashboards, giving leaders immediate access to the data that drives their business. Automation has cut the need for repetitive tasks, freeing accountants to focus on interpretation rather than manual processing. The value of that shift is felt most when quick decisions are needed, which in the present climate is almost routine. Regulatory changes are another reason why expertise matters. The push towards digital tax reporting has required businesses to modernise their processes. While this has improved accuracy and reduced delays for those who have adopted it fully, there is still complexity for companies that operate with legacy systems. Beyond tax, there are detailed rules covering capital allowances, R&D reliefs, and reporting obligations. These areas can affect profitability and compliance in ways that are not always obvious to those outside the profession. Access to finance has also become more nuanced. Where bank lending once dominated, companies now face a broad landscape of funding options, including private capital, asset finance, invoice discounting and specialist funds. The decision is not simply about securing money but about selecting the structure that supports growth without creating avoidable risk. Accountants are well placed to test affordability, explain terms, and guide clients through negotiations. This advisory role can make a significant difference to the financial health of a company over the medium and long term. For those who are expanding, there are different but equally pressing demands. Rapid growth often brings operational strain. Additional revenue streams, new trading territories and investor requirements all introduce complexity. Businesses in this situation benefit from careful planning on working capital, tax efficiency and governance. Local firms with the technical skill to support such expansion are becoming an essential part of the management team. In many cases, their involvement helps businesses to maintain pace without losing control of cashflow or compliance. Choosing the right accountant is a decision that warrants as much attention as selecting any other key adviser. Businesses are looking for more than technical competence. They want someone who understands their sector, anticipates the financial implications of market change and brings a forward-looking perspective. Many firms value regular meetings, not just Where bank lending once dominated, companies now face a broad landscape of funding options, including private capital, asset finance, invoice discounting and specialist funds.www.blmforum.net Business Link 25 ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW an annual review, because a conversation that takes place quarterly or monthly allows for early interventions rather than late reactions. Price remains a factor, but clarity on the approach, the use of technology and the ability to deliver insights consistently are now at least as important. The choice between an independent practice and a larger national or international firm depends on the size and needs of the business. Independents often bring closer personal relationships and a strong understanding of the local economy, while larger firms offer scale and, in some cases, global expertise. Both models can deliver quality advice. What matters is alignment with the company’s ambitions and a service style that matches the way management wants to work. The strength of the accountancy sector in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire reflects a history of service that is deeply tied to local commerce. Firms in these counties often have roots that stretch back decades, building long-term relationships with family-run companies and established employers. That continuity has created trust, which becomes particularly important when external conditions are unsettled. Business leaders who have worked with the same advisers for years know that their accountant is familiar with both the detail of their operations and the broader environment in which they trade. Givingyourbusinessahelping hand Tofindouthowwecanhelpbuildyourbusinessvisit www.dextersharpe.co.uk Officesin Boston,Bourne,Horncastle, Lincoln,Louth&Skegness CHARTEREDCERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS Accounts-TaxReturns TaxPlanning-Book-Keeping Audits-BusinessAdvice26 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT From chemical recycling plants to advanced vehicle recovery and recycled- material manufacturing, businesses in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are turning waste into long-term value. E nvironmental management has shifted from aspiration to obligation. Across every sector, tighter rules on waste are forcing leaders to rethink how materials are used, recovered and disposed of. This is no longer an issue confined to heavy manufacturing. Logistics, food production, construction, retail and services are all working within a framework that demands compliance while turning waste into a resource rather than a liability. Plastics remain the sharpest point of pressure. They are embedded in almost every process: packaging, transport, protection and components. The difficulty is not awareness but practicality. Multiple grades, composites and films make sorting and processing complex. Low-value plastics often cost more to manage than they are worth. Once contaminated, many streams still end up in landfill or incineration. The Plastic Packaging Tax has pushed change by applying a levy to packaging with less than 30% recycled content. It has triggered a redesign of packaging and new investment in processing, but it has also highlighted the gap between what can be collected and what can be re-used. That gap is driving innovation. Circular innovation gains ground 28 Á Circular innovation gains ground www.blmforum.net Business Link 27 ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT28 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT For companies in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, this is no longer a matter of compliance. It shapes procurement, builds partnerships and affects how supply chains are managed. Larger firms have moved quickly, reducing multilayer films, standardising polymer types and investing in equipment to recover more value from material that once left the back gate as mixed waste. The business case is straightforward: poor segregation costs money, and disposal costs are climbing as landfill options reduce. Businesses in the region show how this shift is translating into action. In Scunthorpe, Clean Planet Energy has secured planning permission for a £35m chemical recycling plant at Foxhills Industrial Estate. Once operational, the facility will process 25,000 tonnes of residual plastics every year, including films and flexible, multi-layered materials that cannot be handled by conventional recycling, and convert them into circular petrochemical feedstocks and ultra-low sulphur fuels. This project, developed with Crossroads Real Estate, is intended to supply lower- carbon inputs to the petrochemical and aviation industries. The same principle applies across other waste streams. Cardboard and wood are comparatively easy to manage, and metals have long been recycled. The challenges lie with plastics and organics. For organic waste, anaerobic digestion offers a route to turn food and plant waste into a fuel source, but only if segregation at source is done with care. For many operators this means compactors, pre-sort systems and monitoring on-site, reducing the risk of contamination and converting disposal costs into a revenue stream. The pressure is visible on construction sites as well. Site waste management plans have become integral, dictating how contractors record, separate and www.blmforum.net Business Link 29 ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT report waste materials. Bricks, plasterboard and aggregates are already reused at scale. Timber and plastics require more attention, and the ability to meet diversion targets is now written into contracts and checked by clients. Regulation is pushing innovation. Chemical recycling technologies, such as those Clean Planet Energy plans to deploy, can break plastics into molecular feedstocks for reuse. Robotics and AI are being used to speed up sorting lines and improve purity levels. Modular processing units are being deployed closer to where waste is generated, reducing transport costs and making recovery economical for bulkier, low- value materials. The circular economy is now embedded in supply chain thinking. Closed-loop packaging systems are becoming common, with pallets, crates and containers designed to return, be cleaned and re-used. These systems require digital tracking and tight management, but they significantly reduce waste and material costs. Data reporting obligations are also intensifying, demanding accuracy on tonnage, recycling rates and the final destination of all materials. These metrics now influence taxation, contract compliance and ESG performance reporting. Ultimately, waste is now a visibility issue. What once disappeared off site without trace is measured, reported and, in many cases, made public. Transparency is forcing action. For those investing in systems and innovation, the benefits include lower costs, reduced risk and a stronger competitive position. For those delaying, the risks are compounding. Environmental performance has moved beyond compliance. It is now part of how companies build resilience, attract investment and win business. That shift is already shaping the competitive landscape in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and will define it for years to come. Next >