OCTOBER 2016 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 31 ISSUE 10BUSINESSSERVICES Defensive economicsNEWARKHistory with a richbusiness communityPORTS &LOGISTICSUnlikely inspirationFORWARDTHINKINGFORWARDTHINKING01_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:14 Page 1AdvancedEngineeringMIDDLETON LTDmixingis our businessHigh Shear Mixers and AgitatorsAdvancedEngineeringMIDDLETON LTDUnit 5D Transpennine Trading Estate, Gorrells WayRochdale, Lancashire OL11 2PX, UKTel: 01706 759003 Fax: 01706 759004Email: info@aemixers.com Web: www.aemixers.comCreamsandOintmentsPaintsandResinsGelsSoupsandSaucesSalsaandDressingsEcoFuels02_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:14 Page 1Recent trends in manufacturinghave shown that the impact of theBrexit might be much less thanoriginally feared – not difficultgiven the pessimism touted aboutby David Cameron. In fact, withinour region, the manufacturingsector has seen a number of greatsuccess stories, including news thatthe company who now owns thesteelworks formerly owned by Tata,has posted a profit after only ayear of their comeback plan.Lincolnshire and Yorkshirecontinues to establish itself as anorthern powerhouse capable ofstanding apart from issues facingthe rest of the country. Investmentbegins to pick up and there areopportunities on the horizon forthose with the ability to graspthem.Our October issue looks at manyof these, with an in-depth analysisThe magazine that caresWe carebecause we want to leave our world a better place than we found itBusiness Linkbelieves that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key tomaintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staff willbe proud to be part of.Community- From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We also extendthat into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causes andcharities. Environment- Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources, minimisationof waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise.From theEditorWithin our region,the manufacturingsector has seen anumber of greatsuccess stories,including newsthat the companywho now ownsthe steelworks -formerly ownedby Tata - hasposted a profit inits first year.on the commercial property marketwithin the region, to the latest newsand events taking place across thecounties. Beyond that, we take alook at solar energy and its placewithin the renewables industry, themerits and pitfalls of team building,and also how to maximisemanufacturing efficiency withoutbreaking the bank.Packed full of topical information,advice and best practice – theOctober issue of the Business LinkMagazine is your resource forbusiness advice.Good reading as always Michael FisherEditor03_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:15 Page 1CONTENTSOCTOBER 20166NewsCatch up with the latest business news from around our region11LettersReaders’ letters and replies13Commercial propertyUncertainty looms over the commercial property marketplace,but Leeds is leading by example and cementing itself as a centreof digital excellence15Conferencing can be more than just business meetings, one bigpart of this is team building – but how useful is this oft-underused art?17Advanced Engineering 2016Taking place on the 2nd & 3rd of November at the BirminghamNEC, Advanced Engineering 2016 is the UK’s largest meetingplace for advanced engineering professionals18Ports and logisticsOn the surface of it, the delivery of a major cultural event and thedistribution of a product from a warehouse or manufacturer to aretailer might not have all that much in common. But theprinciples behind the former can also be applied to the logisticsin the business and industry fields22HCPTThe Bentley Hotel in Lincoln played host to the HCPT’s CharitySports Night last month, with ex Liverpool footballer Jan Molbymeeting other diners to raise money for the HCPT (HandicappedChildren’s Pilgrimage Trust)23Newark is that rare specimen of a market town that straddles itshistory with a rich business community• Invest Newark and Sherwood26Engineering and constructionThe heavy equipment industry is intrinsically tied to theconstruction industry, which despite seeing negative light inrecent years, is finally showing signs of life30Food, chemicals and process industriesIn the difficult economic times faced by many, making the mostof what a company has can be just as important as investment innew material33Business servicesBusinesses have had to adjust to ever more complex corporatethreats, but tradition financial dangers still persist • Together - specialist lending for Yorkshire and Lincolnshirebusinesses • Is tax planning being outlawed? by Paul Merrell, Tax PartnerStreets Chartered Accountants38Energy and renewablesAgricultural land has always been a promising endeavour for therenewables industry, but it’s never quite been affordable. Has thatchanged? 42AutoLinkAs winter looms on the horizon our minds turn to which are thesafest cars to drive and this month we look across some of thecars we’ve recently tested to see which models offer the bestprotection46EventsWe take a look at business events happening around Yorkshireand Lincolnshire50And finally…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCONNECT WITH US13184204-05_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:16 Page 1Group EditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)EditorMichael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsStuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk)Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk)Editorial contactnewsdesk@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317Sales DirectorAngela Cooper (a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk)AdvertisingSam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk)Nikki Logan (n.logan@blmgroup.co.uk)Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk)Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@blmgroup.co.uk)Tel: (01472) 310310Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, John DownesTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark CassonTel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314(studio@blmgroup.co.uk)E-Mail: yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.ukWebsitewww.blmforum.netAddressHaychart Ltd, Armstrong House, ArmstrongStreet, 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?COVER PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM - ANT CLAUSEN • PETINOV SERGEY MIHILOVICH • PORTAKABIN LIMITED • WK1003MIKE • 416091823www.blmforum.net3004-05_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:17 Page 26Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWSUS trade mission bringsLeeds and Rhode Islandbusiness leaders togetherThe first US trade mission to the UK, following June’s Brexit decision, sawdignitaries and business leaders visit Leeds to meet with their Yorkshirecounterparts.The delegation from Providence, Rhode Island, which included the State’sSecretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor, seen middle, was welcomed by business andcivic leaders, including Leeds City Council CEO Tom Riordan (right) at a summitlunch hosted by global audit, tax and consulting firm RSM.The visit focused on initiating links between the New England state and Leeds,both regions with rich industrial heritage and commercial opportunity. A delegationof 15 visited London in mid-September, and was invited to Leeds to explorecultivating business tourism and education links between the two regions, as well ashaving trade meetings with potential customers and suppliers.“The US market presents a wealth of reciprocal trading and investmentopportunities for Yorkshire firms. Bringing together businesses, civic leaders andleading educators from the two regions to discuss what they can do to help eachother is the first step in what we hope will be a mutually beneficial relationship,” saidKevin O’Connor, pictured left, RSM’s Regional Managing Partner for Yorkshire andthe North East.Employers morecautious followingreferendumThe EU referendum has done little to dampenemployers’ immediate hiring plans, but early warningsigns suggest that the UK jobs market could be in for arough ride, according to the Manpower EmploymentOutlook Survey. The survey, which is based on responses from over2,000 UK employers, has remained at +5% for the finalthree months of the year, defying predictions that theBrexit would trigger an immediate slump in recruitmentplans. However, the recruitment company is warning thiscould merely be the calm before the storm.Conducted in the three weeks following thereferendum, the survey shows that while UK jobprospects have held firm, cracks in the ice are appearingwith six out of nine sectors surveyed reporting a fall injobs optimism.Mark Cahill, ManpowerGroup UK Managing Director,said: “As UK businesses are reliant of European talent tohelp fill the skills gap, we urge the government toprioritise maintaining the free movement of people acrossthe EU during its negotiations. This would make the UKremain competitive, while sending a powerful message toskilled jobseekers.”Leeds print firm is back inaction after Boxing DayfloodsSpecialist print firm ERW Print Finishers is back in business after a move to newpremises at Astra Park industrial estate in Leeds.The business, which was severely affected by the Boxing Day floods, has relocatedfrom Hunslet with support from Leeds City Council and Leeds City Region EnterprisePartnership.The family-owned company, run by father and son team of Barry and Robin Walker,provides specialised finishing services to trade customers in the printing industryacross West Yorkshire.Barry Walker said: “The floods nearly destroyed our business. The premises atGoodman Street were under six feet of water and all our equipment and machinery had to be written off, together with stock and work in progress.”In the immediate aftermath of the floods, grants were paid to businesses like ERW to help with the cost of cleaning up and getting back on theirfeet. They also received three months automatic business rate relief.To date, support worth £2.8 million has been offered to over 270 flood-hit businesses in Leeds.PHOTO: GILES ROCHOLL PHOTOGRAPHY LTDPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/G-STOCKSTUDIO06-10_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:19 Page 1HSBC funding helps Martek Marinelaunch drone businessSouth Yorkshire-based Martek Marine has launched a new dronemanufacturing division under the brand name Coptrz, with a start-upfunding package worth £250,000 from HSBC.Martek, already a well-established global business, set up the newbusiness having identified a gap in the market for state-of-the-artcommercial drones which could be used in a variety of sectors andindustries throughout the world, including marine and emergency services.HSBC’s start-up fund and international network have allowed Corptrz toinvest in the manufacturing and marketing of its products and to focus onincreasing its exports into Europe, as well as consolidating its market sharein the UK. The business is expected to increase turnover to a projected £1.7 million in its first year, rising to £5 million the followingyear.In addition, the funding package has facilitated the recruitment of two new members of staff who have joined the existing Coptrzteam at its Rotherham HQ to ensure the business keeps up with increasing demand for its products across the globe. The business isexpected to grow its team further as it boosts its market share.www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 7Hull UK City ofCulture 2017 namesSiemens as majorpartnerSiemens has been named as major partner of Hull UK City of Culture2017. As part of its contribution to 2017, Siemens will collaborate with theCity of Culture team in the creation of a major art installation, to berevealed early next year.With partner Associated British Ports (ABP), Siemens is investing £310million in Hull to create a world-class and world-scale centre for offshorewind manufacturing, assembly and logistics.Claire Jarvis, Siemens Communications Director, said: “Ourcommitment to the regeneration of Hull is self-evident from the scale ofour investment in the city. It also reinforces our position as a major UKbusiness and employer, with 14,000 employees in the UK, many of themin manufacturing and engineering roles.”Siemens will employ around 1,000 people at Alexandra Dock, themajority within a factory which will produce 75m wind turbine blades forSiemens’ 6MW and next-generation 7MW turbines. Hundreds of furtherjobs have been created during the construction phase and in the supplychain.Yorks entrepreneurlaunches businessbookHaving spent two decades working as a lawyer and anotherseven running her own business, Leeds and London-basedentrepreneur Rashmi Dubé wanted to support fellow SMEs. Theculmination is a new businesses book. In running her own Yorkshire-based business, Legatus Law, MsDubé draws on her own experiences as an SME, providing aspecialised service, tapping into the understanding she has aboutthe challenges of running a small business from start-up phase. The book caters for all networking abilities whether readers aredipping toes into networking for the first time or looking toimprove existing skills, and includes content on knowing yourself;personal appearance and messaging; preparation and follow up;gender differences in networking and networking in the digitalage. Having spent many years in a highly male dominatedenvironment, Ms Dubé is an advocate for women in business andis keen to inspire other women to continue to work to breakthrough the glass ceiling in this industry. Ms Dubé is well recognised in the industry for her businessacumen and has won a number of awards. 06-10_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:19 Page 28Business Link NEWSBritish manufacturing continues toclimb global rankings British manufacturing continued its climb theglobal rankings as the UK continues to enjoy anindustrial renaissance, according to facts andfigures recently published by EEF, themanufacturers’ organisation and Santander.Launching the 2016 manufacturing fact card, thedata shows that Britain is now the 9th largestindustrial nation with an annual output worth $247billion. This accounts for some 10% of Gross ValueAdded for the UK economy, whilst manufacturingaccounts for 14% of business investment and 68%of Business R&D.This positive picture is reflected in data onemployment and earnings where, according to theOECD, UK manufacturers have outperformed anycountry except the United States for job creationsince 2010, whilst since 2013 average earnings haverisen by 3%, twice the rate of the economy overall.The changing picture of modern manufacturingis also reflected in the regional picture with Londonand the South East the biggest manufacturingregion, producing almost £28 billion output. Themore traditional powerhouses of the North West(£23.7 billion), West and East Midlands (both £16.4billion each) remain significant contributors,however, being particularly strong in theAerospace and Automotive sectors.PHOTO: NATALIYA HORA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COMCBRE predictschanges to rateablevalues next yearSome retailers in Leeds will see their average rateable values decreaseby as much as 30% in the 2017 business rates review, according toanalysis from CBRE.Analysis shows the percentage rateable value movement from 2010 to2017, ahead of the next rates revaluation and the publication of theproposed values by the Valuation Office Agency on 30th September.While positive news as a whole, as well an incentive to buy withreduced occupancy costs, the decrease will not be felt across the boardand some retailers are still likely to see an uplift come 1 April 2017.The regulations state that the Valuation Tribunal will only order analteration to the rateable value of a business if it considers it to be“outside the bounds of reasonable professional judgement”. Retailers willalso have to pay to pursue an appeal for each individual site, increasingthe potential overall costs involved.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/NAN728GainsboroughEngineering introduce‘stand-up pouch’ machineEquipped with the latest technology, the GPH170 from GainsboroughEngineering Company offers flexibility and reliability with low operatingcosts. A key advantage of the GHP170 is with the pouch beingmanufactured from the reel, there is a significant cost saving over re-made pouches. It is a fully automated machine which allows for fast,easy on-the-go adjustments, meaning less down time and moreproduction due to the latest in PLC technology.The machine pouch manufacture allows for higher efficiency, quickpouch size change over, more run time and fewer operators. Themodern design, meanwhile, makes it possible to have a multitude ofdosing systems.The GHP170 can be set-up to accommodate a wide range of pouchsizes. With the focus on tight seals (a must for modern packaging), thisallows for an almost unlimited variety of products that can be packagedon the machine, such as granule, solids, liquids, powders, gels and manymore. 06-10_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:19 Page 3www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 9Inaugural TechTradeYorkshire a hit with digitalprofessionalsMore than 300 IT and digital professionals from across the county gathered atElland Road in September when the doors to the inaugural TechTrade Yorkshireevent opened.A distinct theme of innovation and collaboration was apparent throughout theday, with exhibitors, delegates and speakers agreeing that the sector packs a punchwhen it comes to the economic growth of the region. James Akrigg, Microsoft’s Head of Technology for Partners spoke abouttechnology transforming the way businesses can work, and Sue Daley from TechUKwas joined by Andy Longshaw of LexisNexis for the Q&A-style cloud forum.Elsewhere David Warburton-Broadbent, CIO of Metronet UK, shared his views onoptimising digital communications infrastructures, and Vince Sparks, IT Director ofEddie Stobart touched upon the much-debated topic of security and business riskmitigation.An event poll carried out on the day also revealed that 96% of attendees believethe tech sector could hold the key to greater economic prosperity in Yorkshire. Sheffield launchesspace researchinstitute in partnershipwith ChinaThe University of Sheffield’s Advanced ManufacturingResearch Centre and the Shanghai Academy ofSpaceflight Technology have inked an agreement tolaunch a new joint research institute.The AMRC will work with SAST, a key partner in China’sspace programme, to develop strong thin-walledstructures for commercial rockets including developmentof the Tiangong 3 Space Station, scheduled for launch in2020.An MOU has been signed by University of SheffieldVice-Chancellor Professor Sir Keith Burnett and ProfessorMeng Guang, Vice-Principal of SAST, for the pioneeringcollaboration, which also includes Shanghai Jiao TongUniversity.SAST, which has an annual budget of $60 billion, is asubsidiary of the China Aerospace and TechnologyCorporation, a state-owned enterprise and the maincontractor for the Chinese space programme.The research institute will involve SAST is working withthe AMRC on the technical issues associated withcreating strong thin-walled structures for commercialrockets. They will fund mobility for academic andcommercial staff to receive training in advancedmanufacturing techniques and send China ScholarshipCouncil students to study for their PhDs in Sheffield.Yorks companies partneron ground-breaking deviceTwo Yorkshire companies have joined forces to create a ground-breaking devicethat fits door handles in less than five minutes.Sheffield-based product design consultancy AME Group helped develop theJigTech on behalf of Ossett-based Dale Hardware. Compared to traditional methods,the easy-to-use device saves contractors and fitters up to 20 minutes when installinga handle and latch to interior doors.AME Group developed the JigTech product from concept through to prototyping,testing and volume manufacturing, drawing on its experience of developing tools forthe DIY sector.The product incorporates an adjustable latch bore and self-centring clamp systemthat quickly marks out and guides the user when drilling a door. Using the jigalongside Dale’s door furniture, latch, and spacer system simplifies the installationprocess even further.Tim Stern, Design Manager at AME Group, said: “We overcame the technical challenges of the brief to create a product that is simple andefficient and can withstand the demands of everyday use. We have also created a distinctive product aesthetic unique to the JigTech brand.”WWW.JOHNSTEELPHOTOGRAPHY.COMPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ANDREY ARMYAGOV06-10_Layout 1 04/10/2016 09:19 Page 4Next >