october 2019 £3.50 yorkshire & lincolnshire’s leading business magazine www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 34 ISSUE 10 In with the new THE FUTURE’S HERE THE FUTURE’S HERE A home for research and innovation Safety firstFully Funded Workshops for Manufacturing SMEs Provided by the Manufacturing Growth Programme BOOK TODAY : www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk/workshops Lean Awareness Improving Layouts & 5S Value Stream Mapping Supply Chain Problem Solving Quality, Cost & Delivery Change Management Vision & Strategy 02.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2019 12:14 Page 1The goings on in Parliament are moving faster than a freight train these days and so I even hesitate to mention anything here for fear it’ll be out of date by the time you hold the October issue of Business Link in your hands. But as we go to print, Boris Johnson (who may not even be PM by the time you’re reading this) has been found wanting. BoJo’s suspension of Parliament was found to be unlawful, leading MPs flooding back trying to figure out this whole Brexit business. Of course, he’s huffed and he’s puffed and said the decision was “wrong” but, ultimately, he’s promised to comply with the law. But this is a man who spent his career in journalism printing falsehoods and fictions. At least we can be entirely certain of the quality content in this month’s issue. The editorial team have been busy as ever, beavering away on a slew of in-depth features and analysis, while our usual contributors and columns offer the kind of industry analysis you’ve come to expect. The future is very much the focus here, with new technologies informing the IT & communications, facilities management and the warehousing & distribution features. We also explore the legal services and the ways of supporting business growth. As we get closer to Christmas, our corporate hospitality pages are worth paying attention to and then there’s commercial property to take the temperature of the market. Oh, and not forgetting Frazer, our resident grump. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor The 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. From the Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 01/10/2019 09:23 Page 1OCTOBER 2019 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region 10 Commercial property The emphasis for this month’s commercial property pages will be on facilities that put research front and centre, whether that’s into energy, science or technology. 16 Supporting business growth When it comes to growing a company, the message is that there are always people who can help – and that businesses are not as alone as they might think. 20 IT and communications Technology used in IT and communications has witnessed an explosion of innovation in the past decade alone, seeing businesses adopt the latest digital systems. • Business Lincolnshire Q&A 26 Legal services The law has long existed to protect the individual, and that causes problems in business. It need not be a litigious nightmare, however, and there are people who can help ensure neither side is cheated. 30 Warehousing and distribution Whether on-site improvements or investing in smarter software, there are a number of ways warehouse operators and logistics companies can boost efficiency. 34 Corporate hospitality There are several important factors one must consider when selecting a venue for a company event. 38 Facilities management Facilities managers must be cognizant of health, hygiene and safety, ensuring a benign workplace that complies with regulations. 42 AutoLink The IAA 2019 International Motor Show Germany took place in Frankfurt last month, at which all the big brands were showcasing their latest offerings that we might see on our roads in 2020. Here are some of the cars we may see gracing Yorkshire & Lincolnshire’s scenic roads. 46 Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire 50 And finally… Yorkshire-Lincolnshire- Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.net CONNECT WITH US 16 20 30 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 01/10/2019 09:25 Page 1Group Editor Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalists Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk) Stuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk) 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) Advertising Sam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk) Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: (01472) 310310 Accounts & Subscriptions Angela Sharman, John Downes Tel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311 Design & Production Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson Tel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314 (studio@blmgroup.co.uk) E-Mail: yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.uk Website www.blmforum.net Address Haychart Ltd, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE. ISSN No: 1462-2092 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the 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 this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. COVER PHOTOS: BMW • SHUTTERSTOCK - HXDYL • IMAGEFLOW • ONE PHOTO • PETINOV SERGEY MIHILOVICH www.blmforum.net 10 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 01/10/2019 09:25 Page 2Battery research project could transform EV performance Next-gen lithium-ion batteries are set to be developed at the University of Sheffield which could transform the performance and range of electric vehicles (EVs). The collaborative research project is being led by the University of Sheffield and comprises the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Lancaster, together with UCL, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and 11 industry partners. Following the award of £11 million in funding from the Faraday Institution, researchers led by Professor Serena Corr in the University of Sheffield’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering are developing lithium-ion batteries with longer lifespans and increased energy density. The FutureCat project will see the team use a co-ordinated approach to cathode chemistry design, development and discovery to deliver cathodes that hold more charge, are better suited to withstand prolonged cycling and promote ion mobility. Sheffield engineers will collaborate on a University of Oxford-led project, Nextrode, to revolutionise the way electrodes for lithium-ion batteries are manufactured. 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS City region employment levels reach highest-ever level New figures that show that the employment rate in the Leeds City Region hit its highest-ever level in the first quarter of 2019 – at 73.8%. The new number is a 0.4% increase, and whilst it may seem slight, it means there are 6,100 more people in work than the previous quarter. “The best way to predict the future is to create it, and this shows that our support of over 10,000 local businesses and investing in the skills of our workforce is providing a sound infrastructure for growth,” said Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership. Whilst goods exported remain higher than a year ago, Yorkshire & Humber businesses exported goods worth £4.46 billion in Q1 2019, a fall of 4.8% from the record high at the end of 2018. © Shutterstock/Jonathan Weiss Roger Marsh Tutor-led training courses direct to your business There are risks and dangers in any job or industry, so it’s important that businesses and individuals alike understand these threats and are trained in how to best avoid and, if required, deal with them. That is the core ethos behind Lincolnshire & Counties Training Solutions (LACTS), which offers several in-depth tutor-led safety training courses usually delivered at your business premises. Manual handling This course aims to help candidates understand the hazards and risks of manual handling activities; understand measures to reduce risks and demonstrate good posture and movement. Working at heights training This training course helps you comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by providing employers and employees with the necessary information needed to successfully deal with working at height risks and control measures. Electricity safety at work The aim of the Electricity Safety at Work training course is to reduce the risk of shocks and keep workers safe. 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 01/10/2019 09:27 Page 1Campaign to make Humber UK’s first ‘net zero’ carbon cluster A new campaign for the Humber, the most carbon industrial region in the country, has been launched to transform the region into the UK’s first ‘net zero’ carbon cluster. Achieving this goal will help to protect jobs within major industrial and manufacturing industries across the region by making the Humber the world’s first zero carbon economy. Energy companies Drax Group, Equinor and National Grid Ventures are spearheading the ZERO CARBON HUMBER campaign with the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership and CATCH, a trade body for industrials in the region. The campaign responds to the Government’s world-leading ambition to establish the first ‘net zero’ carbon industrial cluster in the UK by 2040. Feasibility work is already underway to show how pioneering carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technology can make the Humber a net zero carbon economy while providing the foundation for the roll-out of low carbon hydrogen as a fuel across the wider Yorkshire region. www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS © Shutterstock / pogonici Boosting innovation in Lincolnshire’s food industry Fledging food companies will receive specialist business support from the University of Lincoln thanks to new government funding. Research England – part of UK Research and Innovation – has allocated £20 million for the creation of 20 University Enterprise Zones (UEZs). With the aim of stimulating growth in local economies, UEZs provide vital support for innovative new companies and create jobs in emerging industries. They help small businesses and start-ups to succeed by providing access to space for them to grow, as well as specialist facilities and expertise. Based in Holbeach, the University of Lincoln’s new UEZ has received £1 million to provide a specialist package of business incubation services for start-up food companies. They will benefit from scientific and technical support provided by experts at the University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), and have valuable access to small capital grants, networking opportunities and innovation facilities. © Shutterstock/246 Photography 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 01/10/2019 09:27 Page 2TOWER FIELD SERVICES Cat Tech Tower Field Services offers bespoke mechanical services to oil refinery and petrochemical plants all around the world. Our team has vast experience in overseeing and undertaking the installation of all types of Tower internals. Our Tower tray, packing and other internals installation services has deep roots, with several of the senior team at Cat Tech being involved in the founding of the Cana-Tex organisation. Since 1971, Cana-Tex had been the premier global Tower speciality contractor; performing Tower maintenance and plant turnaround projects around the world. These origins, with the addition of new team members, make Cat Tech Tower Field services a global operation which is both cost effective and technically experienced. We strive to create new ways to make your Tower work safer, faster and more productive and that can make very good things happen for your business. We thrive on exceeding our clients expectations and understand the need for upfront communication in relation to timescales and costs. No-one likes surprises in this industry and we ensure that everything is done, from pre-job planning, on site activities to post job reporting in a manner which allows our customers 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 proven skills necessary to produce customer satisfaction. It is our intention to demonstrate the benefit of utilising Cat Tech for all of your Tower work. The benefits of engaging Cat Tech are: l Experienced Tower specialists. l Proven track record. l Ability to supply spares and replacements. l Spade to Spade service. l Revamps or modifications to Towers / Internals. l Inspection of Tower internals. l Supervision of external/client labour force. l Detailed inspection reports. l Cleaning of tower internals. l Reactor tray field services. l Turnkey reactor tray field services. At Cat Tech, we continue to create new ways to make Tower work safer, faster and more productive. And that can make very good things happen for your business. Contact us for further information. Our well established sales team have a wealth of experience. We take pride on ensuring all enquires are dealt with quickly and efficiently. UK: Cat Tech (Europe) Ltd., 1 South Park Road, South Park Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN17 2BY UK Phone: +44 (0) 1724 871747 Fax: + 44 (0) 1724 861928 Bulgaria: Cat Tech Services (South Eastern Europe) Ltd., Devnia, Varna District, Povelyanovo, 20 Droujba Str, R Bulgaria, 9160 Phone: +(35) 9519 92052 Fax: +(35) 9527 46770 China: Cat Tech Services (Shanghai) Ltd., Room 1230 No.1, 58 Nong Huachi Road, Putuo District, Shanghai 20061 CN Phone: +(86) 2152 9175 08 Fax: +(86) 2152 9175 05 Singapore: Cat Tech Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., 17 Fan Yoong Road, Singapore 629794 Phone: +(65) 6264 6261 Fax: +(65) 6264 6401 South America: Please contact the UK office on +44 1724 871 747 Thailand: Cat Tech Services (Thailand) Ltd., 2/1 Soi Banbon Nuenpayom Road, Maptaphut Sub District, Muang Rayong District, Rayong Province 21150 TH Phone: +(66) 894 064 100 Fax: +(66) 638 692 382 MAKING YOUR PLANT WORK… SMARTER www.cat-tech.com PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KAWINNINGS 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 01/10/2019 09:27 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS Lincoln BIG promises £1m spend to boost city businesses Lincoln BIG has unveiled its ambitious 2020-25 Business Plan, which pledges to spend more than £1 million a year on supporting city businesses. Chief Executive Sarah Loftus urged Lincoln BIG’s 800 levy payers to turn its promises into reality by voting YES in its five-yearly re-ballot this autumn. Some businesses have already voiced their support and are looking forward to receiving the promised benefits. Lincoln BIG says a YES vote would cost most individual levy payers the equivalent of one and seven cups of coffee a week (depending on the size of their premises and rateable value). If levy payers vote YES, Lincoln BIG will have a proposed annual budget of £1,017,454 (made-up of the levy and other income generated) between 2020 and 2025. Ms Loftus said: “We are determined to make a visible difference in what we openly acknowledge continues to be a challenging business environment.” Grimsby engineering business enters renewable energy market Grimsby engineering business, Technica, is entering the renewable energy sector after signing an assembly and distribution agreement with Florida wind energy experts, Be-Wind. The deal follows “many months” of contractual discussions and the development of capability understanding between all parties. Commencing immediately, the agreement is the first of this type to be issued by Be- Wind within the UK and Europe and will see Technica entering the renewable energy sector trading under the name ‘Technica Energy’. Michael Berdan, the CEO of Be-Wind, has developed an efficient and unique dual axis range of small wind turbines. Technica now have the rights to assemble and distribute the Be-Wind turbines to an exclusive sector of the UK. John Archer, Business Development Manager for Be-Wind, said: “Be-Wind will play a role in the micro-generation energy mix, required to help the UK reach the goal of net zero emissions, in urban and rural locations.” New game launches lead to profits surge for Team17 Team17, the Wakefield-based indie games maker, has reported a major rise in profits and revenues driven by new game launches. Revenues for the six months ended 30 June 2019 rose 97% to £30.4 million compared with the £15.4 million reported for the same period in 2018. Gross profit was up 119% to £15.1 million (H1 2018: £6.9m) with adjusted EBITDA up 145% to £12 million (H1 2018: £4.9m). During this period, the company launched several new titles including Genesis Alpha One and My Time at Portia . Both were early launch titles on the new Epic Game Store. Hell Let Loose , the company’s WW2 simulation, successfully released via Steam Early Access in June, reaching #1 globally. As well as new launches, Team17 noted that its back catalogue portfolio continues to perform strongly. The company is continuing to invest in its facilities alongside recruitment efforts and said that a relocation of its development studio is slated for some time this year. © Be-Wind Ørsted opens construction base at Humberside Airport Ørsted has officially opened the Hornsea Two Offshore Construction Base (HTOCB) at Humberside Airport in Lincolnshire. The former police station will now house around 30 Ørsted employees who will be working around the clock to construct another record- breaking offshore windfarm. Located off the Yorkshire Coast, Hornsea Two will take the title as the world’s biggest offshore wind farm when complete in 2022. “The new offshore construction management office is the ideal location for our logistical project planning and means we can move people and equipment offshore efficiently and safely using the heliport at Humberside airport,” said Senior Project Manager Jason Ledden. “Not only have we been able to repurpose and redevelop a building that had fallen empty on the airport estate, we’ve also been able to utilise equipment and furniture from some of our previous projects in the region to ensure the build is sustainable and continue Ørsted’s green ethos.” 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 01/10/2019 09:27 Page 4Next >