OCTOBER 2018 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 33 ISSUE 10WAREHOUSINGAND DISTRIBUTIONThe future of warehousesFACILITIESMANAGEMENTAll in a day’s workIT ANDTELECOMSDangers of digitalINVESTINGIN THE FUTUREINVESTINGIN THE FUTURE01 .qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:05 Page 1SMARTERCORPORATE LIVINGApartments now available to buy or to letStrategic Location: Located on one of Grimsby’s premier avenues: 3Close to rail & bus links3Easy access to the Humber Bank3Direct train line to Manchester and its airport 3Motorway links to London 3Short walk from town centre shops, restaurants & barsStunning Accommodation: A newly converted Victorian Mansion offering:3Modern open plan living 3Contemporary elegant design 3Original architectural features3Allocated parking3Secure gated entrance with audio entry system3Communal landscaped gardens Prices from: £124,950For more information, please email info@enque-inv.com or call 0330 223 4594 A perfect base for your team, without costly hotel billswww.hazelmere-house.co.uk02.qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:05 Page 1As the last of the long strange summer days give way to autumn,the sound of the county’s accountancy sector can be heard lettingout a collective sigh. In the interest of delivering the “strong andstable” government the PM is always harping on about, PhilipHammond has only gone and planned to release the budget weeksearlier than expected. An apt metaphor for the current politicalchaos if ever there was one. Breaking down the budget and its implications for business is ahallmark of accounts and financial institutions across our region,many of which would have already booked a venue and sent outmarketing materials – only for Hammond to pull the rug out fromunder them. Strong and stable indeed. Apparently, the date switcheroo was to avoidclashing with the final round of Brexit negotiations in November. Now we can expect thelatest peek at the nation’s financial health on October 29. Fortunately, things are lot more organised in our October issue, with the same clean,concise and informative features and comment you’ve come to expect. This month’sspotlight shines a light on the IT and telecoms industry, with a look at the ever-presentissue of cybersecurity and what firms can do to fill skilled digital jobs. Supporting businessgrowth is a useful look at ways of getting a company on that next rung of the ladder, whilefacilities management looks at the ways environmental, safety and technological changeshave impacted the industry. Add to that an exploration of the engineering sector, what’sgoing on in warehousing and our regular commercial property and corporate hospitalitypages and you’ve got the only guide you need to business in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Though we bring you all the latest news and events every month, don’t forget to check inwith our website (www.blmforum.net) and subscribe to our newsletter to never miss athing. Good reading, as alwaysMichael FisherEditorThe 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 theEditor03.qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:06 Page 1CONTENTSOCTOBER 20186NewsThe latest business news and success stories from around our region11Business sceneHeld at Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort in Brigg, this fundraisingevent was in aid of prostate cancer. There was a range of guests fromlocal businesses such as Steel Centre 4, Marshall BMW Scunthorpeand sponsor Floor & Wall. A great evening was had by all andprecious funds were raised for an important cause12Commercial propertyThere’s been a resurgence of speculative developments in our region,helping to meet demand and ensure businesses have access to high-quality industrial properties16IT and telecomsYorkshire and Lincolnshire have been hailed as a digital powerhouse,but the threat of cybersecurity and the looming digital skills shortagethreatens to undo this 20Facilities managementManaging a facility is a complex process, with considerations requiredfor hygiene, the environment and responding to new technologicaldevelopments23Warehousing and distributionWith technology not only improving, but becoming more affordable,are we close to seeing an end to human workers within thewarehouse?26Family business is a normal part of life for many, yet to some the ideaof mixing business and family might sound completely bizarre28Supporting business growthSourcing finance is regarded as vital for supporting business growth.But some alternative finance options can offer more. Angel Investorsand Venture Capitalists, for example, bring their knowledge to thetable, offering advice on top of finance32EngineeringYorkshire and Lincolnshire has a proud engineering andmanufacturing heritage, which may be the key to the UK’s continuedsuccess – if it can be made as efficient as possible36Corporate hospitalityAs hosts try to make conferences as memorable as possible in a bidto raise their profile, the event is being reinvented and no longermatches the stereotypical image of a simple room with chairs and aPowerPoint presentation. Put simply, conferences are becoming morecreative40AutoLink“It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes”. Not our words,but the lyrics of the great American musical poet, Nelly. We’ve beengetting so hot that we want to take our clothes off, and it is becausewe have had the foot-twitching pleasure of compiling this list of thesexiest motors money can buy. This one is for you, reader, so relaxand take pleasure in this titillating car compilation• We put the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS through its paces46EventsWe take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire andLincolnshire50And finally…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCONNECT WITH US20234004-05.qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:53 Page 1Group EditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)EditorMichael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsDominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk)Stuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk)Tess Egginton (t.egginton@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)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.COVER PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK - TOTOJANG1977 • BALONCICI • BANNAFARSAI_STOCK • ASTON MARTIN • SFIO CRACHOwww.blmforum.net1604-05.qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:53 Page 2British Steelwins two-yearextension forNetwork RailcontractBritish Steel has won a two-year extension toits supply contract with Network Rail whichmeans the Scunthorpe company will supply afurther 200,000 tonnes - or 2,500 miles - ofrail.The contract was rubber-stamped in Berlinat InnoTrans, the international trade exhibitionfor transport technology, where British Steel’sChief Marketing Officer Ron Deelen said: “Thisis excellent news, not only for British Steel butthe millions of people who use the UK’s railnetwork.”The rails - which will largely be used formaintenance and renewals - will be supplied during Network Rail’s Control Period 6 (CP6), its five-year plan to maintain and improveBritain’s railways. CP6 runs between 2019 and 2024 and is designed to make the railway more reliable and cost efficient while increasingcapacity and building on its reputation as the safest railway in Europe.6Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWSMBO for West Yorkshirewaste businessA team of Yorkshire advisers have supported a Management Buyout atKnottingley-based Acumen Waste Services and its parent company WasteServices Group. The deal, for an undisclosed amount, has resulted in theformation of a new company - Acumen Group Holdings.Acumen’s existing executive board - comprising Leon Kirk, Andy Crossleyand Kris Sutton, together with Acumen’s chairman Jon Morris - will take fullcontrol of the business with Jon Morris becoming Non-Executive Chairman.Mr Morris said: “This MBO represents the next phase in the growth of theAcumen business. The MBO team has worked together for over five years,during which time we have delivered significant and sustainable growth.”The deal allows the planned retirement of longstanding shareholders IanWray and Mark Tankard. Also retiring from the board, Tony Brittain will continue with his senior role in the Acumen business.The MBO was funded by Barclays, Lombard Asset Finance and through private investment.Second Queen’s Award forLeeds med tech companyA Leeds med-tech company has been awarded the Queen’s Award – for thesecond time – in recognition of its export fuelled strategic growth.Ed Anderson, the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, presented the Queens’sAward for International Trade to Brandon Medical which designs, manufactures,installs and maintains medical equipment and systems for operating theatres andcritical care units.The milestone presentation marks the success of a major drive by the multi-award-winning Leeds company to develop new overseas markets, particularly in Asia-Pacificcountries.This has delivered a dramatic increase in exports - now accounting for over 50% ofsales - that is spearheading an ambitious growth strategy which aims to increaseturnover from £6 million to £21 million by 2021.The company previously scooped a Queens’s Award for Innovation in 2011. © Shutterstock / Denis Belitsky06-10.qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:08 Page 1www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 7NEWSFood & drink exportsfrom Yorkshire &Humber top £1.2bnExports of food and drink from Yorkshire and the Humber rose7.9% to reach £1.2 billion, according to HMRC figures.The products that showed the most significant growth in exportsover the 12-month period to June 2018 were sugar (up 38% to£62m), along with dairy and hens’ eggs (up 19% to £79m).Meanwhile fish products were the most popular food and drinkexports over the same period, totalling £670 million.The statistics also show that more firms in the region aretargeting Australia, with 32% more food and drink exported to thecountry during the period when compared to the previous twelvemonths.As part of Defra and DIT’s support, several Yorkshire andHumber-based companies have recently been able to visit overseasmarkets around the world on trade missions, including the Food andHotel China (FHC) show in Shanghai and Gulfood in Dubai.Major US deal forSheffieldmanufacturerLabLogicLabLogic Systems, a Sheffield-based manufacturer of scientificequipment and software, has struck a deal with USradiopharmaceutical manufacturer SOFIE Inc to install its PETrasoftware.Positive Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imagingtechnique which uses a radioactive pharmaceutical combinedwith a PET/CT scanner to provide diagnosis of many life-threatening conditions, including cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.SOFIE has 16 radiopharmacy sites across the USA and servesover 425,000 patients and over 700 clinical practices each year.LabLogic MD Richard Brown said: “LabLogic is a proud Yorkshire company who look to put Sheffield on the map as we implement our productsaround the world.”The deal follows a successful year for LabLogic, which was recently recognised nationally, as the company placed in the top 3 of The Sunday Times’‘Profit Track Ones to Watch 2018’ list.© Shutterstock / Have a nice day PhotoGordons joinsthree-year partnershipwith NorthinvestNorthinvest, a Northern Powerhouse-centric investment platform, hasforged a strategic partnership with Yorkshire law firm Gordons.The three-year partnership will see Gordons work closely withNorthInvest’s senior management team to identify, connect and developearly stage tech start-ups throughout the North of England.Launched by digital entrepreneur and founder of telecoms operatoraql, Professor Adam Beaumont, the not-for-profit platform has helped 73companies by providing advice and investment in the past eight months.NorthInvest founding board director Helen Oldham, said: “Demand forour platform, and the number of angels in our network, continues to growat pace, so being able to augment our offer with Gordons’ range of skillsand expertise will further enable our success. NorthInvest is aboutenabling start-ups and innovators across the North to access funding,gain recognition and realise their potential to change the world for thebetter.”© Shutterstock/totojang1977© Shutterstock/Mr. Kosal06-10.qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:08 Page 2TOWER FIELD SERVICESCat Tech Tower Field Services offers bespokemechanical services to oil refinery andpetrochemical plants all around the world.Our team has vast experience in overseeing andundertaking the installation of all types of Towerinternals.Our Tower tray, packing and other internalsinstallation services has deep roots, with severalof the senior team at Cat Tech being involved inthe founding of the Cana-Tex organisation.Since 1971, Cana-Tex had been the premierglobal Tower speciality contractor; performingTower maintenance and plant turnaround projectsaround the world. These origins, with the additionof new team members, make Cat Tech TowerField services a global operation which is bothcost effective and technically experienced.We strive to create new ways to make yourTower work safer, faster and more productiveand that can make very good things happen foryour business.We thrive on exceeding our clients expectations and understand the need forupfront communication in relation to timescales and costs.No-one likes surprises in this industry and we ensure that everything is done, frompre-job planning, on site activities to post job reporting in a manner which allows ourcustomers to concentrate on their core business. Let us show you what we can do.We work hard to maintain an industry reputation for safety, speed and dependability.Ours crews have been trained by us, this allows us to staff a project with the provenskills necessary to produce customer satisfaction.It is our intention to demonstrate the benefit of utilising Cat Tech for all of yourTower work.The benefits of engaging Cat Tech are:lExperienced Tower specialists.lProven track record.lAbility to supply spares and replacements.lSpade to Spade service.lRevamps or modifications to Towers / Internals.lInspection of Tower internals.lSupervision of external/client labour force.lDetailed inspection reports.lCleaning of tower internals.lReactor tray field services.lTurnkey reactor tray field services.At Cat Tech, we continue tocreate new ways to makeTower work safer, faster andmore productive. And that canmake very good things happenfor your business. Contact usfor further information.Our well established salesteam have a wealth ofexperience. We take pride onensuring all enquires are dealtwith quickly and efficiently.UK: Cat Tech (Europe) Ltd.,1 South Park Road,South Park Industrial Estate,Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire,DN17 2BY UKPhone: +44 (0) 1724 871747Fax: + 44 (0) 1724 861928Bulgaria: Cat Tech Services (SouthEastern Europe) Ltd.,Devnia, Varna District,Povelyanovo, 20 Droujba Str,R Bulgaria, 9160Phone: +(35) 9519 92052Fax: +(35) 9527 46770China: Cat Tech Services (Shanghai) Ltd.,Room 1230 No.1, 58 Nong Huachi Road,Putuo District,Shanghai 20061 CNPhone: +(86) 2152 9175 08Fax: +(86) 2152 9175 05Singapore: Cat Tech Asia Pacific Pte.Ltd., 17 Fan Yoong Road,Singapore 629794Phone: +(65) 6264 6261Fax: +(65) 6264 6401South America: Please contact the UKoffice on +44 1724 871 747Thailand: Cat Tech Services (Thailand)Ltd., 2/1 Soi Banbon NuenpayomRoad, Maptaphut Sub District, MuangRayong District, Rayong Province21150 THPhone: +(66) 894 064 100Fax: +(66) 638 692 382MAKING YOURPLANT WORK…SMARTERwww.cat-tech.comPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KAWINNINGS06-10.qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:09 Page 3www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 9NEWSSewtec orderbook reaches£25m a year aftermanagementbuyoutDewsbury-based robotics specialist Sewtec hassecured a record £25 million order book following asuccessful management buyout last year. Thecompany is now on track to achieve its ambition ofdoubling turnover to £32 million by 2022.The record order book marks the first anniversary of Sewtec’s MBO, which was backed by Leeds-headquartered private equity firm Endlessin August 2017. The company’s management team of Technical Director Gary Day, Controls Director Karl Conqueror and Sales Director PaulJohnson led the buyout, after which MD Mark Cook joined the company.Mr Cook said: “With a skilled and dedicated team across all areas of the business, we’re in a robust position to continue our growth planand reach our ambitious goal of becoming a 120-strong £32 million turnover business.”Endless Director Andrew Ross added: “Sewtec has had an exceptional first year following the MBO and goes into its second year of newownership with real momentum.”ABP’s Imminghamexpansion willsupport Humber’scontainer tradeAssociated British Ports (ABP) is to spend £36 million on itsImmingham container terminal - the second phase of a £50 millionenhancement of its container handling facilities there and at Hull.The first phase was an investment of £14 million at the HullContainer Terminal, and the arrival of two purpose-built gantry cranesto support its operations.The development is in response to the growth in trade through theports; in 2013, Immingham handled 68,000 container units, but by2017 that number has grown to 183,000 units. The growth is due inpart to the rise in the number of Regional Distribution Centres acrossthe M1 / M62 corridor, which look to the Humber Ports as theirgateway to trade. Simon Bird, Regional Director for ABP Humber, said: “Trade throughthe Humber Ports remains buoyant and we are confident that thistrend will continue as we invest in our infrastructure.”Andrew Rosswith Mark Cook© Shutterstock/richard tathamHold the pressEarlier budget tofit Brexit talksTo avoid clashing with the final round of Brexitnegotiations in November, this year’s budget will comeearlier than normal. A treasury spokesperson said the new date fits in withminister’ availability and official data releases. Now set for Monday 29 October, the budget will come oneweek after a higher-profile Brexit summit in Brussels. Chancellor Philip Hammond broke the news in a tweet, inwhich he said: “I’ll set out how our balanced approach isgetting debt falling while supporting our vital public services,and how we are building a stronger, more prosperouseconomy.”© Shutterstock/Sovastock06-10.qxp_Layout 1 02/10/2018 10:09 Page 4Next >