< Previous10 Business Link www.blmforum.net BUSINESS LINCOLNSHIRE Q&A First of all, what is the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub? The Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub has been helping businesses to grow since 2015! In just five years, we’ve supported more than 32,345 businesses across Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland and helped create 641 new ones. Our support has also boosted the local economy, leading to the creation of 1,713 local jobs. All of our guidance is fully funded, and in 2021 we received a ninety-one per cent satisfaction rating from those we’ve supported. How do you help Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland businesses to grow? Our team of expert advisers work with businesses of all shapes and sizes across Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland, from start-ups to high growth. Our Growth Hub advisers each oversee their own location, from North Lincolnshire to East Lindsey to Rutland, and are experts in what’s on offer in the areas they serve. Each business receives up to twelve hours of support, and each package is tailored to the business’s individual needs. During their twelve hours, businesses can mix and match between a combination of one-to-one adviser support, grant funding and financial advice, informative webinars and events, handy guides and toolkits, and much more – all at no cost to them! We also offer business diagnostics, where one of our advisers conducts a thorough analysis of your business’s strengths and weaknesses and helps you to form a comprehensive development plan. What areas can you support my business? We have specialist advisers and support schemes for a number of key areas, particularly manufacturing, digital, agriculture and horticulture, and visitor economy, which includes hospitality and tourism. However, whatever your sector, we can lend a hand! Our advisers are all highly experienced, and many of them have owned successful businesses of their own, so have the know-how to guide your business to greatness. Any Greater Lincolnshire or Rutland business that Q&A Holly Wells, Growth Hub Project Officer, Business Lincolnshire Holly Wells This month, Growth Hub Project Officer Holly Wells explains the many ways a Growth Hub adviser can grow your business. 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:22 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 11 BUSINESS LINCOLNSHIRE Q&A wants to grow is eligible. Still, we have particular support schemes in place for small-to-medium-sized businesses hoping to take their business to the next level. We can also help businesses to find the funding and financial support they need to put their plans into action - last year, we approved 1,329 grants at a total value of £4,562,940. You also don’t want to miss our ever-changing roster of events and online masterclasses, which cover hot topics in the business community and ensure that businesses aren’t falling behind the times. How do I access support? Accessing support from the Growth Hub is easy, and there are a number of ways to do so. One way is to visit our website (www.businesslincolnshire.com) or to call the Lincolnshire County Council customer service phone number. They can also get in touch via our social media channels, which include Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. We always look forward to helping as many businesses as possible to reach their full potential, so if you’d like to be our next success story, don’t hesitate to get in touch! Find out more at www.businesslincolnshire.com. © Shutterstock /Rawpixel.com @businesslincolnshire @BusinessLincs @Businesslincolnshire 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:22 Page 212 Business Link www.blmforum.net COMMERCIAL PROPERTY F irst and, as of writing, the most recent deal, concerns property company Stenprop acquiring Whitacre Industrial Park in Huddersfield and a portfolio of five MLI estates located across the UK – including two in Hull. The combined purchase price of £15.9 million reflects a net initial yield of 7.2 per cent and a capital value of £64 per square foot. Comprising five purpose built MLI estates, the Duke Portfolio totals 225,139 square foot, with an average unit size of 3,300 square foot, and is currently eighty-two per cent let to fifty-four tenants, a mix of local and national businesses. The portfolio generates a total annual passing rent of £1,050,000, equating to an average rent of £5.69 per square foot. Purchased from M&G Real Estate for £13.6 million, the individual assets are: two estates both called Acorn Industrial Estate in Hull; Corringham Road Industrial Estate in Gainsborough; Motherwell Food Park in Bellshill; and Caldwellside Industrial Estate in Lanark. In a second off market transaction, Stenprop has acquired the 24,730 square foot Whitacre Industrial Park for £2.3 million. The property adjoins Stenprop’s existing estate in Huddersfield, Ellis Hill Industrial Estate, which was acquired in December 2018. It currently generates a total annual passing rent of £170,166 across fourteen This month, we’re shining a light on some major indus- trial and logistics deals that have taken place recently across our region. Powerhouse properties 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 13:30 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 13 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 15 Á Leeds Capital Markets team has completed the acquisition of a trio of Industrial assets in Yorkshire on behalf of Mileway for £6.4 million. One multi-let estate and two single-let assets located in Bradford and Sheffield have been acquired from In-site Property Solutions, a family-run property company based in Wetherby, advised by Lambert Smith Hampton. The industrial portfolio includes South Bradford Trading Estate on Brighouse Road, Bradford; Junction 34 on Greasbro Road in Sheffield and Green Park, Wharfedale Road on the Euroway Industrial Estate in Bradford. The portfolio extends to 75,500 square foot and along the M1 Corridor in South Yorkshire. The 77,804 square foot unit provides a versatile industrial/warehouse building with high specification warehouse and office provision. With deals completed by Barmston Developments, a subsidiary of Leeds- based Wilton Developments, last year on both Unit 3 and Unit 4 and work well underway on Unit 1 which is being developed for USL, Unit 2 concludes the successful 300,000 sq ft Enterprise 36 scheme, which is being supported by Barnsley Council’s Enterprising Barnsley investment team and its nationally recognised BMBC Property Investment Fund. In a separate deal in August, CBRE’s © Shutterstock /Alba_alioth fully let units, reflecting a passing rent of £6.88 per square foot. The estate extends to c. 1.7 acres which, when combined with Ellis Hill Industrial Estate, will create a sizable holding and management efficiencies. Next up sees the final unit at Enterprise 36 industrial park sold. Acting on behalf of Barmston Developments, CBRE together with joint agents CPP have sold Unit 2 at the industrial park to CBRE Global Investors. The agency team has been retained to seek a tenant for the speculatively developed unit which forms part of a four-unit scheme located in Tankersley, South Yorkshire. Unit 2 at Enterprise 36 is situated in one of the most strategically located sites Sherburn2 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 13:30 Page 2Armstrong house Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 • Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Superb Location - - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre Secure off street parking High speed internet availability Easy in/out terms A range of affordable office sizes 3 3 3 3 3 Last remaining office suites Prime location in Grimsby Offering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House on Armstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports of Grimsby 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 offices are 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 contract mean confidence when it comes to affordability and with a range of office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. If you require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 per month. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements call 01472 310301. 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 13:30 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 15 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY benefits from full occupancy to eight different tenants. All three assets have undergone refurbishment projects over the last twelve-eighteen months and benefit from being positioned in strong industrial locations, where occupier demand is strong and there is an opportunity to benefit from continued rental growth. Elsewhere, privately owned Yorkshire development and investment company Glentrool Estates Group is selling a thirty- seven-acre logistics site at Sherburn-in- Elmet, at Junction 42 of the A1(M) near Leeds in a multi-million-pound deal. The site, which forms part of Glentrool’s Sherburn2 development, is being purchased by London-based real estate investor Firethorn Trust. This deal will allow Firethorn to deliver up to 660,000 square foot logistics warehousing across one or multiple buildings to suit a range of occupiers, from small to medium-sized enterprises to larger manufacturing and distribution companies. Lastly this issue, DX Group, a major logistics provider, is to launch three new depots across the UK as part of its ongoing expansion. The three new depots at Dewsbury, Grimsby and Luton, add further capacity to both of DX’s divisions – DX Freight, which specialises in the delivery of irregular dimension and weight items, and DX Express, which offers tracked and express delivery services for documents, pouches and © Shutterstock /4045 parcels. The new Dewsbury depot extends DX Freight’s network in West Yorkshire, while the two new depots at Grimsby and Luton boost DX Express’s operations in north-east Lincolnshire and Bedfordshire, and take the group’s total number of new or upgraded sites in 2021 to nine. Unit 2, Enterprise 36 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 13:30 Page 416 Business Link www.blmforum.net FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT The environmental crisis is no closely guarded secret. We’ve known for decades the extent at which human activity has impacted and contributed towards global warming. The same can’t be said of COVID-19. Although governments had been warned to prepare for a global pandemic situation, it was hardly on the thoughts of most food producers. However, manufacturers within this major industry have been forced not only to contend with the pandemic, but to evolve. Earlier this summer, Environment Secretary George Eustice, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid outlined plans for daily contact testing for the food and drink industries. New targeted testing for certain workplaces is being rolled out – with the food industry prioritised, as part of the government’s engagement with the sector. At a roundtable with supermarket leaders, the government committed to putting in place actions to support the resilience of the food supply chain. Following clinical trial results, daily contact testing will be rolled out to critical workplaces in the food supply chain so that contacts who would otherwise be self-isolating can instead take daily tests. Priority testing sites have already been identified with industry for urgent implementation, including the largest supermarket distribution centres, with rollout to hundreds of sites planned to start this week, with up to 500 sites in scope. The move will allow daily testing for staff to take place so they can continue their work to supplying food for the nation. It will mean workers who have received NHS COVID-19 app alert to isolate or have been called by Test and Trace will be able to continue working if they test negative. “Food businesses across the country have been the hidden heroes of the pandemic. We are working closely with industry to allow staff to go about their essential work safely with daily testing,” said Environment Secretary, George Eustice. “The last eighteen months have demonstrated that we have a highly resilient food supply chain. There are sufficient food supplies in the system and people can and should shop as normal.” The nation’s food heartland There’s no two ways about it – the food industry is rapidly evolving. Driven by major changes in consumer shopping habits, environmental pressures and, of course, COVID-19, food and drink factories are almost unrecognisable from those around the turn of the millennium. Business Link explores. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 13:32 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 17 FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT In addition, the critical worker scheme applies to critical roles in the food supply chain. Employers are already in contact with Defra and approvals will follow shortly for named critical workers to attend their workplaces when they are fully vaccinated and the contact of a positive case. Pandemic aside, one of the biggest shifts to have taken place in the food and drink sector over the last fifteen years is the rise of plant-based food. From a niche industry, global plant- based food retail sales were worth $7 billion in 2020, posting a twenty-seven per cent growth rate overall for products that specifically replace animal-derived options, according to SPINS data released by the Good Food Institute and the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA). Given Lincolnshire and Yorkshire together forms the nation’s food and drink processing and production heartland, this shift has been keenly felt by manufacturers. There’s been success stories for home grown brands like Quorn – who is launching a new culinary development centre in Texas, Dallas – while others have expanded to include plant-based products, moving with the times rather than trying to fight against the inevitable. One of the biggest examples sees HECK! Food, the North Yorkshire sausage maker, investing £3.5 million to double manufacturing capacity with an expansion which also includes a vertical farm. This will allow the company to produce one million sausages a day and help it achieve its goal of £100 million turnover by 2025. “We will be the first food brand in the world to grow herb and vegetables onsite to put into our popular meat and vegan italia range,” said HECK! co- founder Jamie Keeble. “There are huge benefits to vertical farming. No pesticides or herbicides, less water and food waste, no transport, more efficient production, taste control and better shelf life. Micro- nutrients will also provide fantastic health benefits as well as giving us a unique selling point. We are farmers originally and it’s really exciting to now be investing in the future of sustainable, 18 Á © Shutterstock /Nina Firsova 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 13:32 Page 218 Business Link www.blmforum.net FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT cutting-edge agriculture and not relying on imports.” Selby-based The Brecks Company, meanwhile, has recently secured a seven- figure funding package from HSBC UK, as it seeks to grow its plant-based food offering around the world. Established in 1992, the North Yorkshire company has grown to achieve national and international success. Brecks initially made their name producing cereal ingredients and have built upon this to become a European market leader in plant-based foods. They now supply high-quality plant-based ingredients, alongside vegetarian and vegan products to customers in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia, including through their recent investment in Plant & Bean, a dedicated plant-based based meat company. The funding from HSBC UK will support the company’s growth as it further establishes itself on the global stage. The business is developing an additional site in Lincolnshire and growth is opening-up job opportunities across the UK. Earlier this year, Meatless Farm, the Leeds-based vegan food producer, is partnering with iconic American company Nathan’s Famous to launch its first plant-based hot dog. The transatlantic partnership will see Nathan’s Famous combine its over 100- year-old secret spice recipe with cutting edge plant-based ingredients including pea protein, natural hardwood smoke and colour from vegetable juices. The end result has taken over a year to 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 13:32 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 19 FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT develop. One of the most promising developments completed in April with the bespoke agri-food research and development facility in Lincolnshire. With construction now complete, the University of Lincoln’s Centre of Excellence in Agri-food Technologies is the first building on site at the new South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone in Holbeach, and the latest development in an ambitious vision to put Lincolnshire on the map as a global leader in the agri- tech sector. Building on the success of the University’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), it will act as an innovation hub – primarily promoting the rapid uptake of advanced technologies such as robotics and automation across the food supply chain. Expert staff will be based at the Centre, including industry scientists and their support teams, uniquely focused on delivering innovation support services, pioneering research, skills provision and knowledge exchange for agri-food businesses across Lincolnshire and beyond, strengthening the county’s position as a key player in the agri-tech sector. Our region’s food and drink sector remains as innovative and adaptable as ever. Responding to changing tastes and environmental pressures as surely as challenges posed by Brexit, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire will continue to meet national and global needs for years to come. © Shutterstock /industryviews © Shutterstock /pogonici © Shutterstock /YEINISM 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 13:32 Page 4Next >