SEPTEMBER 2025 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 40 ISSUE 9 The office through Gen Z eyes Manufacturing anchoring regional resilience The changing face of corporate hospitality venuesThe magazine that cares We care because we want to leave our world a better place than we found it Business Link believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key to maintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staff will be proud to be part of. Community - From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We also extend that into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causes and charities. Environment - Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources, minimisation of waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise. Welcome… As we move through the third quarter of the year, the economic picture remains worrisome. Higher prices continue to place upward pressure on inflation, the increase in staffing costs following last year’s Autumn Budget are feeding through, and while the recent 0.25% cut in interest rates will be welcome for businesses looking to borrow, this represents only one obstacle in a very difficult climate for keeping firms afloat. Business costs are mounting, the labour market is cooling, and investment intentions are weakening as confidence stands shaky. With the Autumn Budget ahead, and the Prime Minister starting September with a reshuffle in hopes of boosting his team on economic matters, further uncertainty awaits, with a need for the Government to prioritise policies that can lift investment and productivity quickly. Yorkshire and Lincolnshire’s businesses are left to continue building their resilience and efficiency in a volatile environment, often at the expense of growth ambitions. Measures recently announced in various strategies, from the Industrial Strategy to the Trade Strategy and Small Business Strategy, offer a vision of a more positive future, however these are just a starting point, with promises needing to be put into action. Our region is an innovative one full of potential, from its position influencing advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries to fintech and cybersecurity, healthtech and agritech, but it must be given the right tools — and these tools must become reality, not only talk — in order to succeed. Good reading, as always. Tess Egginton Editor Editor From thecontents september 2025 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 12 Commercial property Transformational developments are progressing across Yorkshire, ready to revitalise sites throughout the region. 16 Manufacturing From food production to heavy industry, manufacturers in Yorkshire & Lincolnshire remain a cornerstone of resilience, adapting to supply chain shocks, skills challenges and shifting economic pressures. 20 Finance Companies across the UK are finding access to finance more difficult, prompting a shift towards non-traditional sources with mixed consequences. 24 Exporting With confidence in exporting fragile against a volatile global backdrop, increasing complexity and costs, the Government is looking to turn the tide, setting its sights on supporting businesses to boost their growth by accessing international markets. 28 Office solutions Britain’s youngest workforce is challenging tradition, pushing employers to design spaces that prioritise wellbeing, inclusivity and purpose over routine presence. 32 Corporate hospitality Rising costs and shifting expectations are reshaping the role of venues in corporate hospitality. As operators adapt, businesses are finding new spaces that combine reliability with originality. 36 AutoLink We take a look at three new premium brand estate cars available, each offering a unique blend of performance, luxury, and innovative features. • We put the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre through its paces. 42 Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. 46 And finally… Yorkshire-Lincolnshire- Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.net connect with us 12 28 32Group Editor Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor 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) Tel: (01472) 310310 Tel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311 Tel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314 E-Mail: yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.uk Haychart Ltd, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded 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 publication are not necessarily the views of those COVER PHOTOS: STOCK.ADOBE.COM - WILLIAM • KANPISUT • TEAMJACKSON • QUALITY STOCK ARTS • AAZISH IMAGO www.blmforum.net 246 Business Link www.blmforum.net Frontier Software Payroll Services marks 25 years of growth and dedication Frontier Software is celebrating a significant milestone, with 25 years of payroll bureau operations in the UK. Over this time, its payroll services offering has grown steadily, earning a reputation for trusted and professional payroll outsourcing. Alongside this anniversary for the Quedgeley office, the Nottingham team is also marking 22 years of operations, underlining the company’s commitment to clients. Both payroll services teams are led by experienced managers, each with more than 20 years of service, ensuring stability, continuity and strong client relationships. Today, Frontier Software Payroll Services proudly supports 250 client organisations, from those with fewer than 10 to those with several hundred employees. Offering reliable, efficient, and personalised solutions, these anniversaries highlight not just years in business, but long-standing partnerships and client trust that define Frontier Software’s journey. The company, which also supplies payroll and HR software, celebrated 40 years in the UK in 2023. Managing Director Michael Howard said: “We look ahead to the future with pride in our past and confidence in continued success.” For more information on the services available from Frontier Software, contact sales@frontiersoftware.com or call 01276 456902. news Solar monitoring firm raises £150,000 to roll out service in US An energy consultancy that monitors the performance of commercial solar systems has won a major contract from a US soft drinks brand. Test Consulting has been commissioned to monitor solar installations at over 50 bottling plants throughout North America. The company has raised £150,000 from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), to help it roll out the service, win further business in the UK and US and target the Spanish market. Test Consulting was established in 2016 by John Swallow, who has over 30 years’ experience in electrical engineering and smart building integration. The Leeds-based company helps businesses to reduce energy use and carbon emissions and gain accreditations. It provides energy monitoring covering all fuel types for clients including brick manufacturer Ibstock, Thorn Lighting and Mid-Counties Cooperatives. Test Consulting, which currently has a seven-strong team, expects to create three to four new jobs in the year ahead. Bradford Estates expands industrial footprint to 412,000 sq ft Bradford Estates has added two industrial parks to its portfolio, increasing total holdings to exceed 400,000 sq ft. Wortley Business Park in Leeds provides 17,000 sq ft across ten units occupied by SMEs. Rowan Industrial Park in Alton, Hampshire, offers 16,000 sq ft in seven fully let units serving manufacturing, automotive, and trade suppliers. These acquisitions increase Bradford Estates’ holdings to 412,000 sq ft across 14 estates in England and Wales. The company continues to focus on multi-let sites that require asset management and refurbishment, in line with its strategy to generate sustainable income and long-term portfolio growth. Earlier in 2025, Bradford Estates acquired additional estates in Washington, Peterlee, Avonmouth, and Gloucester, expanding its network of institutional-grade industrial properties. Yorkshire councils to charge utilities up to £2,500 a day for roadworks West Yorkshire councils are set to introduce a lane rental scheme that could see utility companies charged up to £2,500 per day for work on the busiest roads during peak periods. Wakefield, Leeds, and Kirklees councils are coordinating the plan to reduce disruption on key routes. The charges will apply to roughly 10% of Wakefield’s road network, in line with Department for Transport guidance. The move targets the primary network where delays and closures have the greatest economic impact. The scheme will cover essential utility work, including water, electricity, gas, and telecommunications. Consultations on the proposals have concluded, with implementation expected in the next financial year. Authorities cite successful examples of similar schemes in southern England. The initiative aims to encourage utilities to complete projects more efficiently and minimise prolonged disruption. Test Consulting founder John Swallow, centre, with (from left) Moustafa Elgendy from the Department for Business and Trade, Gary Whitaker and My-Ha Hoang from Mercia Debt and Maddie Goddard of Test Consulting.www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 news Skipton training company celebrates 35th anniversary with discount September 5th marks 35 years in business for Skipton-based food industry training company Verner Wheelock (VWA). To celebrate, the company is offering a 10% discount on all its open and in-house course fees. The promotion starts on 5th September and runs until the end of the month. Verner Wheelock delivers HACCP, Food Safety and Auditing training at all levels, as well as refresher/update training and a wide selection of specialist courses. These include Legal Labelling, Product Authenticity & Food Defence, Root Cause Analysis, Foreign Body Prevention & Investigation and Delivering Training. Courses may be attended face-to-face in Skipton or remotely. Taking advantage of the 10% discount is easy. Visit vwa.co.uk, select an open course and enter the code 90TO25 at checkout. Alternatively, contact VWA’s sales director, Claire Lennon on 01756 700802 or claire.lennon@vwa.co.uk, who will also be happy to provide quotes for in- house training. (Terms and conditions apply). JPS takes space in Scunthorpe to support partnership with affordable housing provider Northern Trust Company has let Unit 4 at Eastgate Park, Scunthorpe, to Stark Building Materials UK Limited, trading as Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS). JPS has taken the 7,754 sq ft unit on a 10-year lease to support their continued collaboration with Ongo Homes, a provider of affordable housing and property services in the region. The new premises will enable JPS to operate more efficiently and expand their services in support of Ongo Homes’ property maintenance and improvement programmes across North Lincolnshire. Ryan Kellingray, operations director at JPS, said: “Jewson Partnership Solutions are very excited to be entering into partnership with Ongo Homes. By combining our expertise on solutions and products with Ongo’s commitment to delivering efficient services to their residents, we will ensure their operatives have the tools and resources they need to make a real difference. Together we’ll help create and maintain a neighbourhood people can be proud of.” North Yorkshire firm to acquire French pet food company North Yorkshire-based Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN) has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Eurazeo SE for the acquisition of Ultra Premium Direct (UPD), a French direct-to-consumer pet food company. The transaction, subject to customary clearances and closing conditions, will mark IPN’s second acquisition in France, following Sopral. UPD’s factory-to-consumer model, powered by a data-driven e-commerce platform and subscription service, enables direct delivery of grain-free, natural pet food tailored to carnivorous diets. Complementing its digital success, UPD has expanded into a profitable mono-brand store network, accelerating its reach to offline customers and supporting its European growth ambitions. Arthur van Benthem, CEO of IPN, said: “UPD has delivered impressive growth in both sales and profitability and represents a strong strategic addition to IPN. “The business is highly complementary to both IPN and Sopral. By combining UPD’s direct-to-consumer strengths with Sopral’s extensive manufacturing capabilities and IPN’s broader network and customer base, we unlock powerful opportunities to accelerate our ambitious growth plans across Europe. We look forward to working with our expanding team to realise this potential.” Roann strengthens partnership with Taylor Wimpey after securing six-figure contract Fabricator and installer of high-volume, low-silica worktops, Roann, has strengthened its partnership with Taylor Wimpey after securing a new six-figure contract with the housebuilder. Roann, which has been working with Taylor Wimpey since 2019, will manufacture and install kitchen worktops for new homeowners who choose to upgrade to Silestone at the 342-plot Marske Sands development in Marske-by- the-Sea, North Yorkshire. The project is scheduled for completion by 2027. So far this year, Roann has installed over £750,000 worth of worktops at 17 Taylor Wimpey regions across the UK. This represents a 62 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Scott Wharton, operations and technical director at Roann, said: “Our six-year partnership with Taylor Wimpey continues to go from strength to strength, and we’re pleased to extend our remit to North Yorkshire, bringing the total number of regions we support across the UK to 18.” In March 2025, Roann, which has been established for over 30 years, announced a £300,000 investment in its Wakefield factory. 8 Business Link www.blmforum.net Star letting for Leeds business park Laundry and household cleaning products manufacturer Star Brands has doubled its office space at Thorpe Park business park, near Leeds. The company is expanding into 4,295 sq ft of office space at 3125 Century Way in the heart of the office, retail and leisure park. Star Brands is relocating from nearby 1175 Century Way. The letting follows Renew Holdings taking 7,427 sq ft at 3125 Century Way on a 10-year lease. 3125 Century Way has recently undergone a £750,000 refurbishment of its reception, office space and end-of-journey facilities. Elizabeth Ridler, office agency partner with property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, said: “These two significant deals underline the continuing popularity of Thorpe Park and are a ringing endorsement of the standard of the best-in-class office buildings at the park. “It is important to stress that the drive for quality workspace at Thorpe Park, post-Covid, ensured that Star Brands could relocate to a splendid newly refurbished office suite and benefit from the new showers and amenities provided.” news Yorkshire business confidence falls in August Business confidence in Yorkshire fell 13 points during August to 32%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Companies in Yorkshire reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down four points at 50%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down 22 points to 14%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 32% (vs. 45% in July). Looking ahead to the next six months, Yorkshire businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example by investing in training (39%), introducing new technology, such as AI or automation (32%) and evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (28%). Buttress transitions to employee-ownership Leeds and Manchester-based architects, Buttress has become a 100 per cent employee-owned practice. It joins a growing number of architecture firms in the UK turning to employee-ownership, a model shown to boost innovation, engagement, and long-term sustainability. Gavin Sorby, managing director, said: “Becoming employee- owned is a natural extension of our purpose. It empowers our team, strengthens our independence, and ensures that our mission of designing for equity is reflected in our structure. “We’re proud to be part of a growing movement in architecture that’s rethinking ownership and leadership. This is about creating a practice that’s built to last—creatively, ethically, and structurally. We believe that how we work should reflect what we design. This change is about fairness, shared responsibility, and building a practice that truly lives its values.”www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 news Tiffin Sandwiches plans major factory expansion in Bradford Tiffin Sandwiches is set to expand its operations with a new 50,000 sq ft facility adjacent to its Commondale Way headquarters in Bradford, close to the M606. The £10m project is expected to create around 400 jobs and includes additional office space. The company has also acquired fellow Bradford sandwich producer Love Bites. The deal secures the continuation of Love Bites’ operations and retains key leadership from its founders to support integration and future growth. The expansion replaces a former lorry park and is positioned to strengthen Tiffin’s supply chain, increase production capacity, and support local employment. The move aligns with the company’s broader strategy to scale operations while reinforcing economic activity in the Bradford area. Adler & Allan snaps up specialist ecological consultancy Adler & Allan, a Harrogate-based environmental services business backed by Goldman Sachs, has acquired specialist ecological consultancy Ecosupport Ltd. With a legacy of excellence in ecological surveys, impact assessments, and biodiversity advice spanning more than 20 years, Ecosupport brings a strong track record of delivery and key relationships across the UK planning and development sectors. The acquisition significantly enhances Adler & Allan’s ecological service proposition. Jason Clay, managing director – environmental division, Adler & Allan, said: “The acquisition of Ecosupport underlines our commitment to expand the company’s ‘green collar’ consultancy offer with a clear focus on developing effective environmental outcomes for our clients and customers. “It marks another significant step in the scaling of our UK operations and further strengthening our market-leading package of integrated environmental solutions.” Henrik Pedersen, CEO of Adler & Allan, added: “This acquisition marks another key milestone in our ambitious growth strategy to create a unified suite of environmental services across the UK and internationally. We’re excited to welcome Ecosupport to the Adler & Allan family.” Steel structure in place as Whitby maritime project gathers pace The construction of a multi-million-pound maritime facility that aims to drive economic growth on the North Yorkshire coast is picking up pace. Work on the Whitby Maritime Training Hub is progressing with the facility’s steel frame structure now in place. The centre on Endeavour Wharf is set to boost job opportunities by providing a dedicated space for business, research and development, including workshops and training facilities to inspire the next generation of skilled professionals and apprentices in the maritime industry. Tenants are now being sought for the £10 million building, which is due to be completed in April 2026. Executive member for open to business at North Yorkshire Council, Cllr Mark Crane, said: “This first- class facility is all about investing in Whitby’s exciting future by providing a range of sustainable and skilled job opportunities that benefit the town and the wider region. “I am delighted that construction work is progressing well and we are in discussions with a number of businesses that are interested in being part of this exciting project.” Next >