< Previous10 Business Link www.blmforum.net QUEEN ETHELBURGA’S COLLEGIATE Q&A Can you tell us a bit more about the Collegiate and what it offers? The College offers a focused and dynamic academic curriculum. Students follow a traditional GCSE or A Level pathway alongside an exciting range of super-curricular and enrichment options. Our students are academically challenged and encouraged to aspire to excellence. They leave us as confident, independent learners, well prepared to succeed in higher education and their future careers. The Faculty, meanwhile, caters for students with a wide variety of talents and abilities, and helps them to achieve highly in a range of courses. We recognise and celebrate students’ successes in their academic and vocational courses, their creative, artistic and musical skills, and their sporting achievements. Our varied, interesting and individual programmes of study ensure that all students are supported to fulfil their diverse ambitions and prepare them for higher education and employment. How do your students typically perform? In 2020, students in the academically focused College achieved 97% A*/B at A-level and 100% D*/D in the small number of BTECs taken to enrich the A- level programmes (equivalent in university points to A* and A grades at A-level). The Faculty, which offers a wider range of academic, creative and vocational courses, achieved 96% A*/B at A-level and 86% D*/D in BTECs. QE students are also successful in a wide range of sporting, cultural and outdoor activities included in the schools enrichment and co-curricular programme, focused on helping them to gain necessary skills in leadership, teamwork and decision making. What can students expect to learn on your Edexcel GCSE Business Studies course and, moreover, what will they be able to do with the qualification? Business Studies helps students to develop an understanding of organisations, how they market their products and generate profit. This involves looking at how businesses are managed, how decisions are made and how businesses react to different circumstances. This course provides a great grounding for the A Level Business course and any related courses at university. It also supports a wide range of other courses, from art to science, Q&A Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate We spoke to Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, an independent school based in York, about growing the next generation of business owners and entrepreneurs. 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 08/10/2020 14:57 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 11 QUEEN ETHELBURGA’S COLLEGIATE Q&A which increasingly have elements of business management. A GCSE in Business Studies can open many doors to the business and finance world. The course offers a huge insight into all areas of business and provides a strong but not essential platform to A Level Business, Economics and Accounting. If students decide to progress to university then it can help them enter any business and international business related degrees at university some of the best business schools in the world. It is an exciting course that will provide students with so much more than just a GCSE but knowledge on how the world works and help set them apart from other students when it comes to university applications and applying for jobs. What about your A Level Business Studies course? As with our GSCE course, it enables students to develop a thorough understanding of organisations and the complexities involved therein. This involves investigations into how businesses are managed, how decisions are made and responses made to changes in the external environment. Of course, being an A Level course, it goes much further than GSCE level. It provides a good grounding for business related courses at university and careers in Business Management. It also supports a wide range of other university courses, from Art to Science, which increasingly incorporate elements of business management. In the modern world every career choice requires some understanding of business and the global business environment. Moving onto a more specialised subject, what can students expected from the Edexcel A Level Economics course? Economics is concerned with the key issues facing us today, including globalisation, pollution and poverty. It is essentially about choice: why different sorts of people and groups of people, such as governments, have to make choices; the choices that they make, and the consequences of those choices. The work of economists transforms our lives – if you are a firm, consumer, worker, homeowner or the government you are concerned with, and affected by, economics. Economics teaches students to think logically and to use theories to understand how economies operate. Students will be taught methods used by economists and how to understand issues such as inflation, unemployment, pollution, demand and supply, exchange rates, interest rates, and the difficult decisions the UK Government face when they attempt to steer the economy in a chosen direction. Students will need to apply their knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar real life contexts in their lessons and assessments. They will also need to demonstrate an awareness of current economic events, trends and policies. Finally, what does the BTEC Nationals in Business offer? The Level 3 BTEC Business course is a two year programme designed to allow the students to gain an effective understanding of the overall business environment. It provides a solid understanding of the business world and gives the students knowledge of the business functions and skills required to succeed. Due to the diverse nature of the business course it provides a strong foundation for any student looking to continue business studies into Higher Education and a good basis for studying business degrees such as Business Management, International Business, Business and Marketing etc. It is predominantly a vocational course which helps our students to develop a number of skills desired by universities, such as assignment writing, research skills, teamwork, presentation skills and independent learning. Students can choose to complete the course based on size e.g. Extended Certificate (one A Level), diploma (two A Levels) or Extended Diploma (three A Levels). The course consists of a range of assignment based, examination and synoptic units which gives the opportunity for all types of learners to succeed. To find out more, visit www.qe.org, email info@qe.org, or call 01423 33 33 30. 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 08/10/2020 14:57 Page 212 Business Link www.blmforum.net PROPERTY Staying Ashroyd Business Park 12-17.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2020 07:44 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 13 PROPERTY 15 Á strong The first half of 2020 saw take up for industrial and logistics space across Yorkshire increase strongly. Indeed the region was ranked in the top three alongside the South East and East Midlands in the period. The resilience of the sector, bolstered by e-commerce growth, continues in Yorkshire as we sit in the second half of the year, with announcements in the last month (September) alone showing new developments on the horizon, fresh completions, and new leases in the region. First up, work has started on site at an employment park on the outskirts of Wakefield. Property company Frank Marshall Estates bought the four-acre site at Flanshaw Way, close to Junction 41 of the M1, from Flanshaw Property Ltd for £1.3 million earlier this year. The land is to be developed in two phases. The first comprises 49,200 square foot of industrial and office space, including a seven-unit Nano Park, and the second features an additional 30,000 square foot of industrial space. This will be available as a design and build opportunity. With enabling works completed, work on the first phase of the development has begun. Edward Marshall, Director of Bradford-based Frank Marshall Estates, said: “Wakefield is a logistics and distribution hotspot, thanks to its Yorkshire’s industrial and logistics sector has shown true resilience in 2020, powering through the pandemic. 12-17.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2020 07:44 Page 2Armstrong house Offering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House on Armstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports of Grimsby and Immingham, motorway links and the town centre, off-street parking is also available for all staff and visitors, meaning it’s convenient too. Our spacious, welcoming offices are located on the ground floor and are both secure and CCTV-monitored, giving you the ultimate peace of mind. At Armstrong House, the flexible in/out terms of contract mean confidence when it comes to affordability and with a range of office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. If you require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 per month. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements, give Scotts Property a call today on 01472 267000 and ask about Armstrong House. Last remaining office suites Prime location in Grimsby Superb Location - - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre Secure off street parking High speed internet availability Easy in/out terms A range of affordable office sizes 3 3 3 3 3 Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 • Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk www .shutter stoc k.com/ter ekho v igor www .shutter stoc k.com/Y entafer n 12-17.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2020 07:44 Page 3www .shutter stoc k.com/Y entafer n www.blmforum.net Business Link 15 PROPERTY superb position at the centre of Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network. We estimate that the park, once it is fully developed out, will maintain 200 new and sustainable jobs, providing a substantial boost to the area’s economy.” Illustrating further positive moves for future developments, outline plans for the commercial development of Clifton Business Park were approved by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council. Offices, light industrial, general industrial and storage and distribution uses are included in the proposed development for the 63-acre site on land off Coal Pit Lane, Clifton, Brighouse, just west of J25 of the M62. The month also saw Caddick Construction complete the fifth industrial building at Cross Green Industrial Estate in Leeds on behalf of Towngate. Work started at the beginning of the year on the speculative development of a 16,500 square foot detached double portal framed building. The first three units at the site were all snapped up as pre-lets. Wine merchant, London City Bond, expanded into the 55,000 square foot detached warehouse and Beerhawk took the second 62,500 square foot warehouse. The third 57,500 square foot 16 Á “We estimate that the park, once it is fully developed out, will maintain 200 new and sustainable jobs, providing a substantial boost to the area’s economy.” Edward Marshall, Director of Bradford-based Frank Marshall Estates Cross Green Industrial Estate 12-17.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2020 07:44 Page 416 Business Link www.blmforum.net PROPERTY unit was let to Van-Line Ltd. Furthermore, contractor G F Tomlinson finished construction works on five new industrial units at Ashroyd Business Park, Barnsley. Constructed on plots 4 and 5 of the business park, the units have been speculatively built for developer Network Space, to meet a shortage of industrial space in the Sheffield City Region. Units that G F Tomlinson has recently completed comprise one single 52,871 square foot unit on Plot 4B, which is suitable for use as an industrial or distribution unit, as well as four smaller units on Plot 5 ranging from 11,049 square foot to 21,882 square foot, which will be used as trade counters, storage, industrial and smaller business units. Simon Peters, Development Director of Network Space, said: “Good quality industrial space is in very short supply. The range of space at Ashroyd Business Park has been designed to meet significant occupier demand from smaller and medium sized occupiers and we are receiving a high level of enquiries.” The scheme was delivered with investment from the Sheffield City Region JESSICA Fund and support from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and is expected to bring more than 140 jobs to the local region. September also witnessed significant new lettings. For example, Trebor Developments and Hillwood have agreed terms with DHL Parcel UK for the 78,548 square foot letting of Atomic at 31 East in Dinnington. The site at Unit 1, Kingfisher Way was acquired by Trebor Developments and partner Hillwood in 2019 and achieved building completion in February 2020. The entire speculatively built development will be occupied by DHL for its new parcel distribution facility. Moreover, last month saw the announcement that Barwood Capital, the regional real estate investment and development specialist, had purchased an 11-acre retail warehouse site at Greenland Road in Darnall, Sheffield, for £5.5 million, with Tungsten Properties acting as the development manager. Tungsten Properties secured the site in June 2020 with Barwood Capital’s Regional Growth Fund IV, completing the acquisition as funding partner for the scheme which will deliver, subject to planning permission, a total of 190,500 square foot. The scheme will involve the refurbishment of the 133,000 square foot former B&Q retail warehouse to create two modern industrial units, the development of two further detached warehouse units totalling 27,500 square foot, and a 30,000 square foot trade counter scheme. Works are due to commence in Q4 2020 with completion in Q4 2021. When finished the project is expected to deliver up to 150 new jobs. This selection of developments from just the last month paints a clear picture of the demand for industrial and logistics space in our region, which is simultaneously crying out for more high quality industrial and warehouse units of all sizes. “Good quality industrial space is in very short supply. The range of space at Ashroyd Business Park has been designed to meet significant occupier demand from smaller and medium sized occupiers” Simon Peters, Development Director of Network Space Atomic 12-17.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2020 07:44 Page 5G-Park Doncaster 278 + Distribution & logistics warehouse TOTAL GIA 25,906 SQ M TOTAL GIA 278,852 SQ FTDN3 3FQ Close to M18 J4 Grade 'A' warehouse Adrienne Howells James Atkinson glp.com/eu 12-17.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2020 07:44 Page 618 Business Link www.blmforum.net IT AND TELECOMS © Shutterstock /sirtravelalot Out with the old The COVID crisis has highlighted the need to do away with outdated, inefficient communication technologies and invest in modern infrastructure and the best in digital comms. 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2020 07:42 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 19 IT AND TELECOMS U pdating an outmoded telecoms system not only helps to streamline and modernise a company’s internal process, but also improves competitiveness in an increasingly difficult marketplace. Presently, some 8,000 fax machines are still in use across the NHS, and our beleaguered health service is far from alone with some businesses in our region still sending and receiving faxes despite the drawbacks and security risks. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened these issues and laid bare the failings and shortcomings of business communication across the board. Most businesses will at least have broadband in their premises and likely a half decent telecoms system in place, so they may be looking to augment their IT and communications rather than replace it altogether. Yet simple solutions such as file sharing services, software and apps still go neglected by many businesses. WeTransfer and Dropbox enable companies and individuals to securely send – and in the case of the latter, store – documents, images and other important data. This can be accomplished in the office or remotely from a smart phone or tablet and both services are free-to-use up to a certain capacity whilst also offering paid-for subscriptions for businesses. The topic of Dropbox brings us on to cloud storage. At its simplest, the ‘cloud’ refers to software and services that run or are stored on the internet rather than locally on one’s computer. As with the internet itself, the cloud isn’t owned or managed by any one organisation but is rather a collective term for a variety of applications operated by different organisations. Though, it’s fair to say, that some organisations have more of a monopoly than others – big names being Google, Amazon and Microsoft. Lesser known, perhaps, is the number of common applications that are cloud- based, including BBC iPlayer. For businesses, this allows more flexible, accessible and trust-worthy storage than a hard drive or local servers – both of which can malfunction, be ruined in fire or flood or corrupt and erase data. Because of its inherent flexibility, cloud computing is perfectly suited to remote workers who can access everything they need from a home office. The same can be said for working on-the-go, with staff able to access files via a smart phone, tablet or laptop, whether that’s on the way to a meeting or during a networking session. Surely that’s preferable to the oft-forgotten memory stick. As businesses continue to adapt to home working, cloud computing has never been more critical to a company’s success and future trading. Despite the obvious benefits to business, there are companies that still refuse to implement a cloud storage strategy into their operation. There are several reasons why, from misconceptions around the initial investment and subscription costs, to a simple fear of new technologies – something that many heritage SMEs struggle with. But perhaps the biggest fear concerns security. But the security of cloud storage and similar services is improving all the time. Those regular updates on your smart phone usually contain security fixes, meaning they need to be installed as soon as possible. Compared with, say, the telephone, digital technologies are still very young, but it’s important for 20 Á 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 07/10/2020 07:42 Page 2Next >