BUSINESSTRAVELMaking the connectionENGINEERINGAddressing theshortfallINFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY New digital dimensionsOCTOBER 2012£3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 27ISSUE 1001:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:10 Page 102:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:11 Page 110ContentsOctober 2012On the coverPhotograph courtesy ofwww.shutterstock.com / dboystudiowww.blmforum.net2818222628Features8Sutcliffe Insurance BrokersA new dawn for Sutcliffe Insurance Brokers10Commercial PropertyThe commercial property market is a changingone and some developers are turning toconversion of old property for modern daydemands16European connectionWe take a look at the economic standing ofSwitzerland, as well as its potential as a tradingpartner for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire18TelecommunicationsSlowly but surely, our region is benefiting fromhigh quality broadband – and working out how tobest make use of its opportunities20ConferencingIt really is that time of year once again. If youhaven’t booked your office Christmas party yet,here’s some tips to make things run smoothly too• Royal Armouries22Information technologyOur region is aiming to become a worldwide hubfor technology – and major players in the industryare arriving in the area26Business travelCombining efficiency with convenience, numerousbusiness travel options are benefiting passengersand businesses alike28EngineeringEmployment figures in some parts of our regionare suffering, so skilling up a young andinnovative workforce is key31Advanced Engineering 2012This year’s multi-discipline engineering showcomes to the NEC on 7th and 8th November andpromises to be the most exciting yet42Training and educationTraining courses have often suffered from a poorreputation and we investigate why EnvironmentalBusiness Link Environmental is your ultimateguide to the rapidly expanding world of greenbusiness.36Environmental newsThe latest news from this fast-moving sector38EnergyYorkshire and Lincolnshire are being establishedas world leaders in the field of renewable energy –with plenty more potential40The Energy EventThis year’s edition of The Energy Event wasperhaps the most engaging yet, with hundredsmore visitors meaning a rise of around 66%41RenewableUKRenewableUK, the trade and professional body for the windand marine energy industries, is looking forward to welcomingits delegates to the at the SECC Regulars4From the Editor5News9TaxationE-commerce and tax by Mark Poplett, Tax Adviser, Streets15LettersReader’s letters and replies44AutoLinkOur focus on green driving starts with a closer look atChevrolet’s incredible Camaro 46EventsWe take a look at business events happening around Yorkshireand Lincolnshire48Classified49Appointments50And finally…4403:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:12 Page 1Will the last person out of the Olympic Stadium please turn off thelights? If you believed everything you read lately, you’d think the factthat so-called Great British Summer of Sport has ended has meantthat we’re once again to be plunged into the chasm of economicdoom.I’ve been amused recently to see the Olympics blamed for almosteverything that’s happened since – including the fall in house prices,which was apparently because house hunters were “distracted” bythe Games. Quite why you’d defer moving house because you weretoo busy watching the table tennis is beyond me, but if there’s a convenient scapegoatfor failing to hit targets, it’ll doubtless be used. Meanwhile the Olympic-inspired increasein people in work seems to have given up somewhere along the M1 as Yorkshiresuffered Britain’s biggest rise in unemployment this summer.But there are glimmers of hope, if you know where to look. UK manufacturers arereporting a much better final quarter of the year, according to the CBI, with domestic andoverseas demand surging upwards. Elsewhere, inflation is falling – if not quite as fast assome expected, and will drop further towards the 2% level, which is healthy given thecomparatively high prices in food, oil and other consumer goods. This is of course to beexpected in a flatlining economy, but it should give businesses some much-neededconfidence.It doesn’t take long for the goodwill generated by the Games to be dispersed and, ifthe recession continues for an extended period, no doubt many will be quick to pipe upthat we should never have held them in the first place. But the Olympics certainly raisedspirits, and for our part of the world it was a huge success with Messers Campbell,Brownlee and the rest putting the region on the map. We’re hearing too about the manylocal companies that benefited from the Games, being contracted to provide everythingfrom the timber for the venues to clothing for kids.Now they’re over – what’s next? Without the lure of the Games it’s up to the regionitself to market itself to the wider world and this month we focus on the engineering andtechnological feats of local companies that, like Jessica Ennis, are leading the world.Good reading as always,W S FisherEditorEditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsSteve Williams (s.williams@blmgroup.co.uk)Mike Shields (m.shields@blmgroup.co.uk)Elis Ballard (e.ballard@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)Kelly Robertson (k.robertson@blmgroup.co.uk)Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman Dawn CookTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary JorgensenMark CassonRachel 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?From theEDITORThe 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.04:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:14 Page 1Export is key to recovery, saysCBI Director-GeneralThe Director-General of the CBI hastold a Lincolnshire audience the UKneeds to trade its way back togrowth and use exports as away to beat the recession.John Cridland, who waseducated at Boston GrammarSchool, was addressing theannual Directors’ Briefingorganised by Duncan & Toplisat the Belton Woods Hotel.John Cridland said, “Here inthe UK we need to rediscoverour habits as a trading nation. The world’s emerging economies want branded goodsand services.”Mr Cridland predicted that the private sector would drive growth in the UK economyand spoke out in support of Lincolnshire’s number one industry, agriculture and farming.He argued, “We must support successful parts of the economy, such as agri-business, as wellas the likes of car manufacturing and aerospace among others.”John Cridland was just one of the headline speakers at the Directors’ Briefing, which wasattended by well over a hundred senior business people.Business pledge support for Yorkshire FirecrackerThree major businesses have committed sponsorship support once again for the Firecracker Ballwhich raises funds for Barnardo’s causes across Yorkshire.Leeds property firm Evans Property Group retains lead sponsorship for the event which this yeartakes place on Saturday 10th November at Rudding Park in Harrogate. Evans has been involvedwith the Firecracker Ball for more than ten years and remains committed through financial andmanagement contribution.Pauline Horsbrough at Evans says, “We are delighted to sponsor the Firecracker Ball. Althoughwe appreciate these are difficult times, we hope Yorkshire businesses will participate in what will bean enjoyable evening and help to raise much needed funds to enable Barnardo’s to continue theirinvaluable work with vulnerable young people.”The Leeds office of UBS Wealth Management and law firm Dickinson Dees, which recentlyrelocated to Leeds, have also confirmed co-sponsorship of the event.www.blmforum.net5newsyouryourMechan presses home Hong KongrevivalSheffield-based depot equipmentmanufacturer Mechan is refreshing its linkswith Hong Kong’s rail operator after thirteenyears on the buffers. Mechan has just fitteda bogie press at MTR’s Pat Heung depot inHong Kong, to complement the oneinstalled in the Siu Ho Wan depot in 1999. This latest Hong Kong order was securedby Mechan’s local distributor, AssociatedEngineers. The new press will enablebogies serviced at Pat Heung, which servesthe MTR West Rail line, to undergosuspension checks and height adjustments after a rebuild. Richard Carr, Mechan’s managing director, says, “While various upgrades have improved theusability and performance of our bogie presses in the decade or so since the last installation, thetwo pieces of equipment are still recognisably the same and offer equal build quality and longevity.It is heartening to see our older press still operating so reliably on this busy rail network.”Hallmark Hotelamong theregion’s bestkept secretsThe Hallmark Hotel in North Ferriby hasundertaken a £3.5 million refurbishment in thelast eighteen months, and having recentlymoved over from Forest Pines to become thenewly appointed Director of Sales at theHallmark Hotel, Serena Walters isexcited to be able to promote thevenue.Proudly part of theHallmark group, a portfolioof seven individually styledhotels in the UK, theHallmark in Hull has anenviable location just offthe A63, with closeproximity to HumbersideAirport.As the only 4 Star ratedhotel in Hull, facilitiesinclude 95 boutique-inspiredbedrooms, five meetingrooms, a brasserie, loungeareas, along with its ownHeliport, jogging trail and variousbeauty facilities - not forgetting the mostsought after panoramic views over the HumberEstuary.Manycongratulationsto James Pinchbeck ofStreets CharteredAccountants and his teamwho cycled from Lincoln toLondon via Oxford to raise cashfor Lincoln Cathedrals’ TurretsAppeal, as we reported lastmonth. James rode a bottom-clenchingly difficult 245 miles intwo and a half days raisingover a thousand pounds forthis fabulously worthycause. Great stuff!05-09:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:18 Page 1Twenty years forDoncaster companyOne of the UK’s leadingsuppliers of door and wallprotection is celebrating amilestone anniversary. Intastop ofDoncaster has reached itstwentieth year of operation and isposed to grow the businesssignificantly over the comingyears.Intastop supplies the healthcareand both public and privatesectors with door protection andanti-ligature products andsolutions. Company marketingdirector Sarah Barsby says,“Intastop was born from ourstaple product, the AluminiumDoor Edge Guard which is still aspopular today. Yet we believe thatour customers, some of which have been with us since the start, don’tjust look upon us as a supplier but a partner and solution provider. Weoften develop products in conjunction with our customers when an offthe shelf solution is not available.”The company has implemented a development strategy which will seethe introduction of two new products this year aimed at the healthcaresector.Free language tuition forbusinesses to boost exports Businesses across the region can now benefit from a new programmeof language tuition, thanks to funding via South Yorkshire InternationalTrade Centre. The courses, which include tuition in Arabic, Chinese,Spanish and Russian, are fully funded through SYITC and are availablefor free to all local businesses and employees, including volunteers andthose who are self-employed. SYITC, a partnership of all the South Yorkshire Chambers ofCommerce, offers a range of tuition, including full and part-time courses,one-to-one tuition, in-house tuition and evening classes, which all lead tonationally accredited qualifications.Michelle Daniel, international trade manager at SYITC, says, “At SYITCwe make it our aim to provide advice and assistance to those willing togain extra skills and improve their trade performance overseas. Bybreaking down language barriers between businesses, confidenceamongst employees will be raised, ultimately leading to a betterperformance and expansion of overseas trade and exportation.”Chamber to announcenew President Jon Stewart is set to become thelatest President of the SheffieldChamber of Commerce. Mr Stewart,who is a director at Siemens PlcMetals Technologies, will be installedin the role at the Chamber’s 155thAnnual General Meeting on 8thOctober at the Holiday Inn RoyalVictoria. He will take over from SuzanneLiversidge, a partner at the Sheffieldoffice of international law firmKennedys, who became the firstfemale president of the Chamber lastyear. Suzanne says, “The last twelvemonths have been a great privilegeand I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my year as president of the Chamber. Jon willbe a great president in continuing the work already underway inreaffirming the Chamber’s position as a key support organisation forbusinesses.” newsyouryour6www.blmforum.net05-09:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:18 Page 2www.blmforum.net7newsyouryourSeneca’s latest deal builds onbusiness synergy A shrewd strategic investmentinto two well matchedbusinesses by Yorkshireturnaround specialistSeneca Investments isbuilding newopportunities for bothcompanies.In the latest deal,Seneca has injected asubstantial investmentinto Grantham-basedinterior design andconstruction company Tienda whilst also acquiring a 49% share of thebusiness. The remaining 51% has been acquired by the management team ofRotherham’s MSSR Forecourt Developments – part of Seneca’s investmentportfolio – which earmarked Tienda as an ideal bolt-on investment opportunity. Neil Large, corporate partner with hlw Keeble Hawson represented Seneca in thetransaction. Melanie Hird, a director of Seneca Investments and chairman of Tienda, isproviding strategic input into both companies.Nic Grimoldby, the founder shareholder of Tienda, will continue in his position of director,retaining responsibility for the operation and management of the company under its new ownership.He will work alongside Seneca and MSSR management team members Michael Sanders and AtulLakhani, to grow both businesses.Clients get a Lexcel-lent experienceTreating clients well has gained Williamsons Solicitors official recognition. The Hull-based firm, whichalso has offices in Bridlington and Driffield, has gained the Lexcel mark, the Law Society’s officialmanagement quality standard. It is an assurance that practices meet high client care and businessmanagement standards, says the Law Society, and is only available after rigorous and regular assessment.Williamsons’ director Bill Waddington says, “This award gives us personal satisfaction within thepractice, but it is more about our clients and demonstrating to them how seriously we take ourcommitment to client care and best practice. They can be assured that the way we manage the practice,by ensuring it runs as efficiently as possible, has their interests at heart.”Lexcel is an optional accreditation scheme for law firms and in-house legal departments.Residential property sales soaragain in LeedsThe number of people buying apartments inLeeds city centre has increased to its highestlevel since the start of the downturn five yearsago, according to Morgans.The firm, which manages the biggest rentalsportfolio of apartments in the city, has recordedmore sales in August than in any other monthsince September 2007 with both owneroccupiers and investors returning to the marketto purchase apartments ranging in price frombetween £100,000 and £250,000. Jonathan Morgan, managing director of Morgans, says, “Leeds is a highly sought after place tolive. Although the rentals sector continues to outperform the sales market, it’s great to seeconfidence levels rising and property sales gaining pace. “There is massive investment coming to Leeds over the next few years, and this gives confidencenot only to investors, but also to those choosing to make their principal home in the city centre.”Ed Miliband visits“BusinessBuddy”manufacturerLabour leader and Doncaster MP Ed Milibandhas visited a Yorkshire firm as part of a schemewhich hooks politicians up with small businessowners. The ‘Business Buddy’ visit – aprogramme set up by the Forum ofPrivate Business – saw Ed visitYorkshire Cable Drums & WoodPackaging, near Doncaster.The business, which makeswooden cable drums that itindirectly exports all overthe world as a vastlycheaper alternative tosteel drums, is family runand employs around fortystaff in the village ofAskern. Ed was given atour of the factory bycompany MD Bill Flint, metworkers and saw the uniqueproduction process of thedrums, the biggest of whichmeasure as high as five metres.Bill says, “It was a really usefulvisit. Ed was really interested in whatwe are doing here. The visit also allowedme to discuss some of the wider issues we faceas small business, such as employment law andalso bank lending.”TheLincolnshirebusiness communityhave been coming to termswith the death of StephenBradford, who was a partner atHodgson Elkington LLP. He passedaway on Saturday 25th August aged49 and had been associated withHodgson Elkington as a partner since1998 having re-joined the firm in 1993.Stephen, along with Sam Elkington,Dan Race and Tim Shaw hadcontinued to build the business overrecent years, and together theyhave created one of theregion’s leadingprofessional surveyingpractices.05-09:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:18 Page 38www.blmforum.netSUTCLIFFE INSURANCE BROKERSLaceby Business ParkGrimsby RoadLacebyGrimsbyDN37 7DPT: 01472 872872E: grimsby@sutcliffe-insurance.co.uk www.sutcliffe-insurance.co.uk 4 Red Lion StreetBostonLincolnshirePE21 6NYT: 01205 311344E: boston@sutcliffe-insurance.co.uk The Manorcrown Business CentreUnit 3, Suite 1, Blenheim CourtPeppercorn ClosePeterboroughPE1 2DUT: 01733 346033 E: peterborough@sutcliffe-insurance.co.uk understanding youCovering all aspects of Commercial and Personal InsuranceSutcliffe Insurance Brokers is a trading name of Sutcliffe Solloway & Co Ltd. Sutcliffe Solloway & Co Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Sutcliffe Insurance Brokers, formerlyknown as Sutcliffe Solloway & Co Ltd(also trading as Weller Russell & Laws)has undergone a rebrand. Dating backto 1977, with its origins in the marinecargo and transport sector, thepresent-day company has developedinto a modern, forward-thinking andrespected Commercial InsuranceBroker. With offices in Grimsby, Boston andPeterborough, Sutcliffe InsuranceBrokers work within the localcommunity, serving a wide variety ofbusinesses, from industrial and farmingto construction and leisure. Benefiting from a wealth ofknowledge and experience, thecompany and its specialist teams incommercial and personal linesinsurance can offer you a trustedand tailored service. You will bedealing directly with a dedicatedhandler which takes the stressand hassle away from arrangingyour insurances and avoids youhaving to deal with call centres. The company’s ethos can besummed up in five concisephrases• Tailored - because insuranceshould be as individual as you are.• Straight Forward - becauseswitching insurance should be easy.• Trusted - because your covershould never let you down.• Experienced - because you requireattention to detail.• Assured - because you deservehonest value.Why not give Sutcliffe InsuranceBrokers a try? Call today on yourlocal office number or log on to thenew website at www.sutcliffe-insurance.co.ukA new dawn forSutcliffe Insurance Brokers05-09:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:18 Page 4E-commerceand taxby Mark Poplett, Tax Adviser, Streets Many of us willhave sold items online- but should you bepaying tax on theincome you receive?HMRC are crackingdown on onlinetraders who should bepaying tax on theirprofits but are not.They recentlylaunched a campaignaimed at onlinetraders and wereoffering favourable terms to traders who came forward before14th June.Although this opportunity has now passed, it is stilladvantageous to tell HMRC about your trade before theydiscover it. If you make an unprompted disclosure, givereasonable help and access to records, penalties on unpaid taxwill be reduced. Am you an e-commerce business? Well, if you purchaseitems with the intention to sell on at a profit, sell items on aregular basis or similar items more than once, or modify theitem in order to enhance its value, the chances are you couldbe classed as trading.For example, say Usain inherited a medal from his greatuncle a few years ago. He has recently won a few of his own sodecides to sell the unwanted medal on an online auction site.Usain is unlikely to be trading – but if Usain sells the medal formore than £6000 he will need to consider whether there is acapital gain chargeable under the special chattel rules.Alternatively, Mo makes toys in his spare time. He has beenencouraged by his friends to sell one particular toy, the Mo-Bot, online. At first Mo only covers his costs, but as the Mo-Botbecomes more popular he sets up an online shop and sells hisMo-Bots at a profit. Mo is likely to be trading, will need tonotify HMRC and should be keeping records of his costs andincome.If you’re not sure whether you’re a trading business, youraccountants should be able to help. If you’ve been trading for anumber of years but have never told HMRC they can helpcalculate what you owe and negotiate penalties with HMRC onyour behalf.Mark Poplett is Tax Adviser with Streets CharteredAccountants, a top 40 UK accountancy firm. Telephone 0845880 0320, email info@streetsweb.co.uk or visitwww.streetsweb.co.uk.www.blmforum.net9You can now read Business Linkon thego!Digital Editions now available on iPad & iPhoneWWW.BLMFORUM.NETIdeal for those who spendtime away fromtheir officeTAXATION05-09:Layout 1 24/9/12 09:18 Page 5Next >