RENEWABLES The energy estuaryTRAINING &EDUCATION Investing in the futurePRINTING &PACKAGINGInnovation and inspirationSEPTEMBER 2013 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 28ISSUE 9KEEPINGBUSINESSMOVINGInvesting ininfrastructure01:Layout 1 22/8/13 08:46 Page 1United Pallet NetworkFirst class travel......is about moving faster than your competitorsCheetahThe cheetah is the fastest land animal and accelerates from 0 to 60mph in three seconds.If you regularly transport palletised freight and would like to find out more about UPN or arrange a demonstration, call BJS on 01302 366 045.For over a decade UPN has been building the most efficient and effective palletised freight delivery system in the UK. Our IT experts have developed bullet-proof systems that underpin every process. Our focus has always been on quality and technology, not volume. With regular delivery success rates of 99.9 per cent, we have thousands of happy customers.Today, with nearly 70 depots operating 10,000 vehicles with 10 million sq. feet of warehousing, we have evolved faster than the competition. With depots all across the UK, we can work closely with you to take the pain out of palletised freight. All depots are linked in real-time and ready to sprint to your assistance, giving you better control of your freight and your transport costs, whilst you focus on building your business.UPN’s unique combination of quality and value has become increasingly popular in the current climate and it has become the fastest growing pallet delivery system. UPN Mobile, our new track & trace app makes life even easier for customers who can track every delivery from start to finish in real-time using standard smartphones or tablets.First class travel for palletised freightIn today’s business world, speedy logistics can make the difference between getting a tasty meal and going hungry. If you regularly send palletised freight to your customers and want to improve delivery success rates whilst reducing your workload, then stop running and take a closer look at UPN. the difference between ly send palletised freight to ss rates whilst reducing your t UPN. www.bjsdoncaster.co.ukYour staff will thank you. Your customers will thank you. Your competitors will not.02:Layout 1 22/8/13 08:46 Page 146EnergyThe government’s strategy for offshoreenergy is exceptional news for our region47The Renewables EventThe UK’s only exhibition and conferencededicated to onsite renewable energygeneration, The Renewables Event will returnto the Birmingham NEC on 10th and 11thSeptember48Recycling and waste managementThe recycling and waste management sectoris one that has taken off in a huge way in ourregion. Constant innovation emphasises itsvibrancy, but what has the future got in store?48RWMRWM returns to the NEC from 10th to 12thSeptember and looks set to be another yearof innovation and ground-breaking ideas ondisplayRegulars4From the Editor5News8Business advice Has there been a better time to buy abusiness? asks Neil Gray, CorporateFinance Partner, Streets CharteredAccountants9LettersReader’s letters and replies52AutoLinkInnovation and creativity is certainlyalive and kicking, as can be seen in the latest designs fromcar manufacturers54EventsWe take a look at business eventshappening around Yorkshire andLincolnshire56Classified57Appointments58And finally…Features10Commercial propertyThe commercial property sector isbenefiting from increased demand forhigh quality buildings – and the longawaited clarification from HMRC on taxrelief16Training and educationNew technology has certainly broughtabout new opportunities – but with thatcomes the requirement for greatereducation and training to ensure it can beused to its fullest effect• ECOSHat Grimsby Institute20Printing and packagingPrinting and packaging has evolved fromthe simple communication of informationand transportation of products to a high-tech advertising tool• Alpha Card26Employment lawChanges to the employment tribunalsystem should make it easier foremployers to avoid excessive cost andinconvenience28Business travelWhen travelling on business the focus ofour attention is often the meeting itself,but offering the possibility to cut travelcosts can also be achieved• First Hull Trains35Christmas and conferencingChristmas is nearly here - one look at thecalendar and it’ll be on top of us all!39Transport and logisticsWith our region being a key transport hubfor many businesses, all over the UK, newprojects are emerging constantly. Sowhat’s the latest from this sector?• IoSCM42GMI EnergyGMI Energy 4MW+ multi-site rollout forWM Morrison PLCEnvironmentalBusiness Link Environmental is yourultimate guide to the expanding world ofgreen business.44Environmental newsThe latest news from this fast-movingsectorContentsSeptember 201310162846ITʼS OUR 10THBIRTHDAY SPECTACULARThe Farmhouse Meeting Rooms has had a face-lift and a price-drop forour 10thBirthday year. As a gift to all our business customers we areknocking a 1/3 off our room hire prices. Call Andi on 01226 273 835 oremail andrea.beardshall@rspb.org.uk to discuss and book03:Layout 1 22/8/13 11:56 Page 1It’s very easy to poke fun at hapless politicians duringsilly season – or summer, as it’s better known. You canscoff as they take a two week holiday in the Canaries whilea huge story breaks and a petrified junior minister iswheeled out to take the flak. Indeed, you can only admiretheir skill in justifying heading off anywhere at all when theyhave a longer summer holiday than your localcomprehensive school.However, perhaps it’s best to take this a little more seriously. The Coalition is inits worst state to date with the Lib Dems going on record to say there’s no waythey’d consider another five years in office with David Cameron at the helm.Labour meanwhile seem completely ineffectual when it comes to landing apunch and the UKIP party seem to be scoring own goals of their own. So, whoare we likely to elect? Afterall, there have been a lot of people out of pocket over the last five years –it seems somewhat crass to be sitting on a roof terrace in Barbados tryingdesperately to empathise. That tan can be very hard to hide when you comeback to a fresh British autumn.We can mock, but, in truth, we need the checks and balances an effectiveopposition brings to the country. We can’t simply rely on the government of theday to get everything right and neither should we. It’s time for our respectiveparties to dust themselves down and make politics professional again. But forthat they need leaders, something the UK seems desperately short of thesedays, certainly in politics anyway.With this is mind we take a look, this month, at the next generation andexamine how our educational establishments are working with local businessesto create leaders of the future. And, with the region aiming to become ashowcase in sectors such as renewable energy we need to have the talent totake best advantage of that. Meanwhile with changes to employment law cominginto force, we also take a timely review to ensure readers are fully up to date withtheir responsibilities.You’re sure to enjoy reading our latest offerings but don’t forget to log ontowww.blmforum.net where you can catch up on the local news as it breaks.In the meantime - good reading, as alwaysW S FisherEditorEditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsSteve Williams (s.williams@blmgroup.co.uk)Mike Shields (m.shields@blmgroup.co.uk)Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)Editorial contactnewsdesk@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317Sales DirectorTeri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk)AdvertisingTel: (01472) 310310Kim Collins (k.collins@blmgroup.co.uk)Patrick Hewitt (p.hewitt@blmgroup.co.uk)Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, Dawn Cook, John DownesTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark Casson, Rachel GreenTel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314(studio@blmgroup.co.uk)E-Mail:yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.ukWebsitewww.blmforum.netAddressHaychart Ltd, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE.ISSN No:1462-2092All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwisewithout express permission of the copyright holder, for whichapplication should be addressed first to the publisher. Whileevery reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor itsparticipating agents accept liability for loss or damage toprints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material ofwhatever nature submitted to this publication. The viewsexpressed in this publication are not necessarily the views ofthose held by the publisher.This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recyclingmagazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paperindustry each year. Before you recycle your magazine,please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free giftsand samples. If you are unable to participate in a recyclingscheme, then why not pass your magazine onto a localhospital or charity?The magazine that caresWE CARE because we want to leave our world a better place than wefound itBusiness Link believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key tomaintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staffwill be proud to be part of.Community-From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We alsoextend that into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causesand charities. Environment-Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources,minimisation of waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise.From theEDITOR…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCOVER PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/TIMY04:Layout 1 22/8/13 09:00 Page 1Business Link 5www.blmforum.netLATEST NEWSDormer celebratesmilestone Dormer Tools is celebrating itshundredth birthday. The engineeringgiant started life as The Sheffield TwistDrill Co. on 4th September 1913, butnow has subsidiaries in 25 countries. Dormer has adopted the slogan ‘Yourtrusted partner since 1913’ for itscentenary to showcase the company’sreputation in the industry. Memorabilia and artefacts from the company’s history have been collated at Dormer’s UK siteat the Advanced Manufacturing Park in South Yorkshire, including items donated from theprestigious Ken Hawley Collection in Sheffield. The items are currently on display as part ofnew-look training room, where new and experienced engineers can review the evolvingdevelopment of cutting tools. John O’Donoghue, managing director of Dormer Tools UK, says, “As we enter a new centuryin the company’s history, we continue to look at the latest technology in product developmentand improved customer facilities, all working to strengthen Dormer’s global position for a newgeneration.”Connexin builds newsuperfast WiFi broadbandnetwork in HullHull telecoms company Connexin is aiming to deliversuperfast broadband to the masses after completing a newWiFi network across the city. The superfast network, withspeeds of up to 100Mbps, covers almost every home andbusiness in Hull with plans to extend the service further afield. The company believes the carrier-grade network will increasecompetition for superfast broadband in the city. The system uses anetwork of masts positioned on high-rise buildings and private land ratherthan traditional landlines and cables todeliver broadband into homes andbusinesses. The completed networkhas been built to “carrier-grade”standards so it can support bothdomestic and business users whowant superfast download and uploadspeeds.Connexin Managing Director FurqanAlamgir says, “We want to deliverhigh-speed broadband to the massesand make access to the internet mucheasier and faster. We hope it will helpattract new businesses to the area.”Upgrade for the Carlton CentreOne of Lincoln’s major shopping developments is poised for furtherinvestment, spelling good news for shoppers and retailers.Shoppers can look forward to enjoying easier access to the CarltonCentre, which is owned by Lincoln Corn Exchange & Markets – subject tothe green light from planners. Banks Long & Co is overseeing the project,and Director Tim Bradford says, “It is great to see the Carlton Centreperforming so well. The existing units within the retail park are now fullylet and we are turning our attentions to the final phase. But the increasedfootfall, means that it has quickly been realised that action needs to betaken to improve traffic flows and the layout of parking at the centre.“We are asking for approval to improve the car parking, accessibility tothe site and the landscaping. We want to provide a new exit from the sitein order to reduce congestion at peak times.”Immersive learning inclassroom of the futureDixons Academy, a brand new build in Bradford,is one of the first recipients of the Classroom of theFuture launched by Osborne Technologies at BETT2013.These highly innovative IT driven projects fromthe Barnsley company transform a standardclassroom into an exciting and engaging learningenvironment that takes teachingand learning in to a wholenew arena. Instead ofdescribing to childrenwhat it would be like toexplore the top of amountain or dive tothe bottom of theocean teachers areable to take themthere.Pupils engage withlarge scale interactivevideo scenes, add inspecial effects usingtablet and touch screencontrols to shape their ownexperiences, stimulate theimagination and encourage the desire to know andlearn more.When turned off the room appears close tobeing an ordinary classroom where moretraditional school activities can be applied makingthe space highly versatile and efficient.CreativeEngland iscontinuing itsprogramme ofinvestment for creativeand digital businesses withthe launch of a new BusinessInvestment Fund of £1million. Supported by theGovernment’s RegionalGrowth Fund, the £1 millionis available in the form ofinterest free loans ofbetween £60,000and £100,000.FinanceYorkshire hasrealised its investmentin Rotherham-based S3 IDafter Singapore listed CSEGlobal acquired 75% of thebusiness, valuing the company at£10 million. The sale represents thefirst exit for Finance Yorkshirewhich has made an aggregatereturn of £3.4 million from anoriginal investment of £1.6million, generating a moneymultiple of 2.2 on thetransaction.05-08:Layout 1 22/8/13 12:14 Page 1Our services include:Office cleaning servicesFactory cleaningCarpet and soft furnishing cleaningInitial builders cleansFloor renovationOne off deep cleaningProduction line cleaningPrestige Car DealershipsRetail Store cleaningWashroom Supplies andservicingComputer cleaningTelephone sanitisationJanitorial suppliesNo obligation Consultancy servicesPO BOX 102, Ossett, WF5 9WA Tel: 0845 6444 847or 0800 756 3132roberthowes@cleanuptime.co.uk www.officecleanerswakefield.co.ukContract office cleaningwith NO contract!Office and Commercial Cleaning ServicesWe carry out cleaning services to all types of commercial and retail premises andCompanies in Wakefield, Leeds and surrounding areas. We will clean any time of the daythat will suit our customers needs. Our experience over the past 30 years ensures we canprovide a one stop solution to all your cleaning requirements.25% OFFFIRST 3MONTHSCLEANINGLATEST NEWS6Business Link www.blmforum.netWatch This Liveclaims gold withWorld Police andFire Games The 2013 World Police and Fire Gamesteamed up with Watch This Live, the newHull-based live entertainment streamingbusiness.Police and fire service teams frommore than fifty countries competedagainst each other in more than fiftysports in Belfast over two weeks andWTL showed live online ice hockey fromthe city’s Odyssey Arena throughout theevent. The business recently streamed itsfirst major cultural event, Hull Pride, andwill build on its sporting success inBelfast when it streams live Elite leagueice hockey in the UK in the comingseason. Director Ellie Burrell says, “Thereaction we have already had fromcompeting police and fire servicefederations and teams has beenabsolutely phenomenal. We’d definitelybe interested in hearing from any arts,concert, entertainment or sportscompany or organisation to see how wecan help bring their matches or shows toa much larger audience.”New boss takes centre stage at EventsSolutionsSheffield crowd control specialist Events Solutions is rolling out the red carpet for itsnew owner Richard Herberts, following his recent management buyout. The localhaulage entrepreneur has taken control, having been involved in the business since itsinception more than ten years ago. He says, “Events Solutions has developed a fantastic network of contacts andundertakes interesting, high profile work across the UK. I believe through investment innew systems and the brand itself, we can increase our capacity and reputation toproduce tangible benefits in a relatively short space of time.”Event Solutions will now form part of Richard Herberts’ portfolio of businesses, whichincludes Worksop’s RDSTransport, providers of refrigerated delivery services to the foodindustry. The management buyout was handled on his behalf by Sheffield solicitors,Taylor&Emmet LLP and accountants, Landin Wilcock and Co. Finance was provided by Handelsbanken Rotherham.05-08:Layout 1 22/8/13 12:14 Page 2Business Link 7www.blmforum.netThe Showroom goes from strengthto strengthThe Showroomby LincolnshireYMCA offersyoung peoplefrom across thecity a safe placeto partake in arange of activities.What’s unique tothis project is thatit’s financiallysupported by anadjoinedConference and Events Centre, the staffing structure of which is heavilysupported by young people on apprenticeships or other accreditedqualifications.The Showroom’s aim is to provide fantastic training opportunities tolocal young people in the conference, hospitality and events sector; andthrough their commitment to exceptional service are directly supportingtheir peers in the youth and activity centre. Opened in 2011, TheShowroom has gone from strength to strength with numerous localorganisations supporting the lives of young people through theirconferencing business.Are you still looking to book your Christmas party? Why not supportlocal young people in the process? For more details on TheShowroom’s Christmas Party Nights, turn to page 34.Businesses are being offered the opportunity to access morethan a hundred interactive short courses on a new e-learningplatform. The web-based training has been launched by SheffieldChamber of Commerce and is available to both members andnon-members across the city region. The new portal offerscompanies a chance to enhance their staff in many areas ofbusiness, no matter what sector they are in.Opening night at Reserva @ CrystalRanging from intimate celebrations to large corporate events, Crystal,the bar and nightclub situated in the heart of Sheffield City Centre on thesite of the old Scissor Works factory, has built a first class reputation forproviding an excellent service for all hospitality requirements. Withmuch of the original building and its quirky features remaining, Crystaloffers a truly unique setting for any event.Its facilities are likely to become even more popular as The ReservaClub at Crystal will be launched on Friday 20th September. The newMembers Only VIP Lounge will offer a newly refurbished champagne barfor its valued guests.Membership is very limited and the Reserva Club will be a place forlike-minded people aged 25 and over to enjoy excellent drinks,entertainment and company in a lounge reserved for its members only.For details of membership and the launch night, contact the GeneralManager at carl@crystalbar.uk.com.LATEST NEWSBalfour Beatty and Morgan Sindallin school developmentBalfour BeattyEngineeringServices has beenawarded the M&Eservices contractsby Morgan Sindallfor two BuildingSchools for theFuture projects inHull - NorthcottSpecial EducationNeeds School andBridgeview andWhitehouseSchool.Northcott SEN School is a 115 pupil capacity day school for youngpeople aged between five and sixteen. The £2.8 million school provides alearning environment for pupils with a diverse range of additional needsand the project includes a new sports facility, youth centre andrefurbishment works.The new Bridgeview and Whitehouse schools will be co-located on theBethune site in West Hull and will meet the needs of children withbehavioural, emotional and social difficulties . The £5.7 milliondevelopment will contain a multi-use games area, football pitch,performance hall and external play spaces.BBES will design, supply and install all mechanical and electricalservices, including energy efficient controls and CHP system.05-08:Layout 1 22/8/13 12:14 Page 3Has therebeen a bettertime to buy abusiness?asks Neil Gray, Corporate Finance Partner,Streets Chartered AccountantsBuying a business is risky –perhaps one of the riskiest thingsyou will do in business – but withrisk goes reward. As we come outof this economic downturn you maywant to start to build your ownbusinesses ready for your ownretirement and succession plans.Perhaps now, there has never beena better time to buy a business.They say every cloud has a silverlining and during this downturn,business valuations have fallen. Toadd to your existing business will never be as cheap andbusinesses that have survived this recession have shown theycan manage and adapt to change. By definition, they are prettygood businesses. Coupled with the fall in business values is thefact that vendors accept they may have to assist in the financingof the sale. Gone are the days when vendors expected all thecash on completion of the sale, typically we now see vendorconsideration deferment between 25% and 50% of the total saleproceeds. This deferment can be in the form of loan notes, earn-out or equity roll over.You should never also forget that funding the acquisition of abusiness is essentially an equity risk and should therefore befunded by equity, not by debt. There are a significant number ofequity sources available to assist in helping your business togrow. They too will share in the rewards as you will have to giveaway some equity, but a smaller percentage of a much largersum is usually worth more than full ownership of a businessworth considerably less because it has not grown. This is avaluable source of finance and if you are wishing to acquire togrow, its importance cannot be ignored.The most important thing having bought the business, which iswhy many acquisitions don’t succeed, is the failure to integratethe acquired business into your own. Get it right and you’re onthe way to making a successful addition to your business.Neil Gray is a Corporate Tax Partner with StreetsChartered Accountants, a top 40 UK accountancy firm.Telephone 0845 8800320, email info@streetsweb.co.ukor visit www.streetsweb.co.ukBUSINESS ADVICELATEST NEWS8Business Link www.blmforum.netRoyal approval for Harrison SpinksLeeds-based luxurybed maker HarrisonSpinks is opening a newNursery ComfortDivision to manufactureinnovative luxury cotmattresses andassociated nurserycomfort items under theSilver Cross brand.The company hasrecently beenrecognised by theQueen by the grantingof two Queen’s Awardsfor Enterprise inInnovation andSustainableDevelopment and intends to utilise its baby sized spring technology in anew range of cot mattresses.Simon Spinks, Harrison Spinks managing director, says, “The existingcot mattress market lacks innovation, particularly from a proven supportand comfort perspective which is why I have designed this range withNick Paxton of Silver Cross who is an expert in baby comfort and a veryaccomplished design engineer. Our high density baby spring technologyhas been developed specifically for infants to ensure that they start sleepthe right way.”Clugston Construction, has been highly commended as one ofthe Contractor of the Year. Judges at The Construction NewsAwards stated that when it comes to focusing on people andshowing passion, “The company sets the standard within ourindustry and has a spirit that the UK should be proud of. This,and a commitment to the supply chain, along with anoutstanding performance in its 75th anniversary year, bowledover the judges.”Export skills boosted by nationallyaccredited courseA leadinginternational freightmanagementcompany inSheffield has backeda nationallyaccredited course tohelp boost exportsfrom the city region.512, based at theSheffieldInternational FreightTerminal, is sponsorof the InternationalTrade Operations and Procedures qualification. A practical four-day course, ITOPS covers administration procedures,documentation, customs, legal requirements, dispatch and shipping, andpayments; the five main elements of exporting.Training and support is provided by SH-I-F-T and 512, and allows thestudents to visit the international terminal on Grange Mill Lane toexperience real life exporting scenarios as a freight forwarder. It includesthe often overlooked HMRC compliances when trading internationally. Karen Mosley, head of business development at 512, says, “We aredelighted to give our backing to this nationally accredited qualification.By raising the standards and understanding of exports, staff will feelmore confident and help increase a business’s competitive edge inmarkets around the world.”05-08:Layout 1 22/8/13 12:14 Page 4Business Link 9www.blmforum.netSomething to say? Write to: Business Link Magazine, Armstrong House,Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East LincolnshireDN31 2QE or email: letters@blmgroup.co.ukReaders’LETTERSReaders’LETTERSFair retailDear Sir,Recent ONS retail sales statistics provide further evidencethat the UK economy has reached a turning point with salesgrowing at their fastest rate for more than two and a halfyears. Last month’s good weather brought consumers outonto the high street and drove sales of seasonal goods.Following a difficult spring, this bounce back will providewelcome relief to a sector that has been particularly badlyhit over the past five years.The recovery is building momentum. This is the thirdconsecutive month-on-month rise and while we do notexpect a return to pre-recession levels of consumerspending growth, there are increasing signs that pursestrings are just beginning to loosen. This positivity needs tobe tempered slightly due to the weak comparable figurefrom last year but coupled with positive news fromelsewhere in the economy, retailers will begin to take someconfidence that this recovery can be sustained through therest of the year.J VashistaLeedsFoot to the floorDear Sir,With rising confidence among businesses and strengtheningsigns of recovery I would like to believe the unemploymentfigures will continue to fall, so long as the Government doesn’ttake its foot off the accelerator and continues to prioritisebusiness growth. That means more support to sustain privatesector job creation through increasing the flow of credit toviable businesses and a continued focus on keeping inflationlow to reverse the large fall in investment in the UK that hasbeen seen in recent years.P TunningLincolnClimbing the ladderDear Sir,A proposal to promote diversity at seniormanagement level in the financial servicessector needs to be backed up with a futureleadership pipeline offering training and aplatform for new groups of women todevelop and flourish. Enabling diversity atthe boardroom level is only the tip of theiceberg. It is critical that companies createa more robust culture that enables womento follow solid pathways and develop theirpersonal leadership capabilities as theymove up the career ladder.L FieldLondonFly trap?Dear Sir,We maintain that Peel’s closure of Sheffield City Airport – andits subsequent failure to meet its over-ambitious commitments inthe switch to Robin Hood Airport - has been disastrous for theeconomic regeneration of South Yorkshire. It seems thatSheffield City Council is building an unenviable reputation ofallying itself to developers who fail to deliver. In view of thereport by ExUrbe, we are calling upon ministers, MPs, the LocalEnterprise Partnership, and local councils in South Yorkshire tosuspend all proposed funding to companies within the PeelHoldings group until a review is held to determine whether thecompany is in a position to meet its commitments to developpublic assets within the region.We believe the business community has a right to reassurancethat investment in the regional economy is being directed intoareas which meet the specific needs of taxpayers, to theexclusion of the corporate interests of Peel and others. In theevent of such reassurance not being forthcoming, we will becalling upon the relevant authorities to take immediate steps torecover the respective assets into public ownership.G MillwardSheffield09:Layout 1 22/8/13 09:01 Page 1Next >