< Previous10Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWSDrax generate over £400m toYorkshire economyLast year saw Drax Group contribute £419million to the Yorkshire and the Humber economy– part of a wider £1.7 billion nationally.The findings were revealed in a new reportlooking at the economic impact of Drax’s UKoperations – which includes Selby-based DraxPower Station.Researchers at Oxford Economics found thatDrax’s contribution to the British economy hasincreased by 34% year-on-year following theGroup’s acquisition of Opus Energy.Based on Drax’s operations in the energy sectorand its use of British businesses across its supplychain, the report estimates that the companycontributed £1.67 billion to the economy andsupported 18,500 jobs last year, a rise from 14,150in 2015.CEO Dorothy Thompson said: “This reportshows that Drax now supports more than 18,500jobs across the UK and with our new businessstrategy in place, we believe we will boost thisnumber further.”Hull tech firm secures£10m Silicon valleyinvestmentHull wireless internet firm Connexin is boosting its headcount andsmart city tech offering after securing £10 million in Silicon Valleyinvestment.The investment, led by Digital Alpha Advisors, will be used to meet thegrowing demand from local authorities for smart city technologies.With the new funds in tow, the company will scale up its worth toprovide Wi-Fi as a public service and for connected devices such as roadsensors, energy, and security systems.Connexin’s disruptive model leverages wireless technologies toaccelerate deployment and facilitate ubiquitous connectivity.Moreover, Digital Alpha will enable the firm to offer cash-strapped localauthorities new ways of financing technology upgrades that share therisks and rewards.CEO Furqan Alamgir said: “With this backing, we are able to providelocal authorities with smart ways to finance technology upgrades thatshare the risks and the benefits between us and make sense to taxpayers.”Agenda appoint newHead of BusinessDevelopmentAgenda Screening Services is delighted to announce that BrandonDavis has joined as its new Head of Business Development.Mr Davis has over 25 years’ experience of executive level accountmanagement and has a well-earned reputation for excellence in thedelivery of bespoke screening solutions to global, blue chips and SMEorganisations.He has extensive experience in the provision of screening servicesacross a wide range of sectors; he has first class organisational skillsand is an articulate communicator. He will manage the businessdevelopment team and joins Gary Parkin who is the new FinancialDirector, Carl Butler who is the new Director of Screening and ten newdesk top researchers and analysts who all joined the extendedscreening team this year. Furqan Alamgirwith Alex YoungDorothyThompson06-10_Layout 1 02/11/2017 09:20 Page 5www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 11EDUCATION & TRAININGA skills shortage is facing businessesin not only Yorkshire and Lincolnshire,but the country at large. Is the solutionto hire new talent, or up-skill the peopleyou already have? New technology hascertainly brought about newopportunities – but with that comes therequirement for greater education andtraining to ensure it can be used to itsfullest effect. Fortunately, Yorkshire andLincolnshire are blessed with fantasticeducational establishments who haveforged effective links with business toensure a more informed and enthusedworkforce.Advanced manufacturing has alwaysbeen a speciality in our region and thiswill increase in importance with theexplosion of interest in renewablestechnology. With that comes thechallenge of offering improved trainingto ensure employees can meet therequirements. Engineering degrees, forexample, are certainly useful for thosewho wish to get involved in renewableenergy but although the principles aresimilar, the circumstances are oftenvery different – working with windturbines at great height is notsomething that engineers in othersectors have to concern themselveswith on a regular basis, for example. Our region’s universities arerenowned as some of the best in theUK and many are working with12 Á© Shutterstock / wellphotoUp-skill tostay aheadAs the skills shortage continues to grip, companies reportdifficulties recruiting talented staff. The advice from those inthe know is to focus less on recruitment, and more on up-skilling the loyal workers you already have.11-13_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:41 Page 112Business Link www.blmforum.netEDUCATION & TRAININGPaneltex crowned ‘Employerof the Year’ At this year’s Hull Training andEducation Awards ceremonycommercial vehicle bodybuilderPaneltex was voted ‘Employer ofthe Year’ for 2017.Paneltex Managing DirectorChris Berridge accepted the awardfrom the award sponsor, Jeff Foxof Fox Precision Engineering.“Training and development of allage groups, and at all levels, is partof our culture and ourapprenticeship scheme, which is probably the most important of all the training we areinvolved with is designed to provide a foundation on which a career at Paneltex can bebuilt,” said Mr Berridge.The annual HTAE Awards celebrate the hard work, dedication and achievements of theyounger learners studying a range of apprenticeships, traineeship and study programmes,as well as the commitment of employers and training partners.business to carry out valuable researchand training, and making their top classfacilities available, but degrees havealways been a long-term solution, evenwhen focused on offline courses anddistance learning. For an industry tryingto recruit from an ever decreasing poolof talent, the promise of a solution in20-30 years’ time may not be enough.The skills shortage presents anincreasingly demanding problem in thepresent, but its future effects are doublyharmful as the current workforce movescloser to retirement age. This couldpotentially lead to a major knowledgegap, with no new workers entering thefold and no existing individuals to teachto pass skills on. The national skillsshortage is reaching crisis level in somesectors, with two thirds of constructioncompanies forced to turn downbusiness due to the chronic lack ofskills. A survey undertaken by theFederation of Master Builders foundthat small construction companies arestruggling to find bricklayers,carpenters and plasterers to carry outwork, resulting in a loss of revenue. Thesurvey also found that the principalcause of the shortage was due to thelack of available apprenticeships, alongwith mounting pressure for youngpeople to stay in full time education.And therein lies the problem. Youngpeople are under pressure to stay infurther and higher education, and sothe issue is perpetuated. Using training companies to up-skillyour own workforce removes some ofthe risks involved in bothapprenticeships and new employees,particularly if the training is used as areward for particularly competent orvaluable employees. While these newlyskilled employees might expect higher© Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images11-13_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:41 Page 2rates, reducingstaff turnover andabsenteeism. This is, psychologicallyspeaking, due to the increased trust theemployee feels in their employer, andthe fact they have more faith in their jobsecurity if there is a clear long-termplan to keep them in the company.Naturally, such can only be undertakenif there is a clear plan to keep thatmember of staff, but for key managerialor skilled members of the workforce,that is likely to be a concern already.One area where specific focus isbeing laid is on health and safety,particularly following the 2016 HSEreport, which labelled several industriesthat are behind the curve on protectingtheir employees. In almost all cases, thewages – there is the assuranceof their commitment to thecompany, as well as theirability to perform in their givenrole. Investing in their future isalso likely to go a long way toimproving their job satisfactionas well. Universities regularlyoffer courses for older andmature learners, specifically aimedat businesses who wish to up-skilltheir workers, but they are by nomeans the only option, and withincreased tuition fees may not be themost attractive one. There are many specialised trainingproviders who might not be able tooffer the range of different options auniversity can, but have far moreexperience and expertise in theirspecific field. It’s worth shoppingaround rather than defaulting to aneducational institute, because first-handexperience working in the industry canyield insight rarely found in academicstudy. The goal, at the end of the day,is for a company to get their money’sworth when it comes to the training,which will yield tangible results for thebusiness. Training can have many benefits,however, and should not be considereda solution to be used only when thereis a problem. Research shows thatinvesting in the development ofemployees not only improves theirability to do the job, but also retentionwww.blmforum.netBusiness Link 13EDUCATION & TRAININGAward-winning trainingfrom Verner WheelockThere were double celebrations for Skipton food industry trainingconsultancy, Verner Wheelock, at this year’s prestigious Royal Society for PublicHealth (RSPH) AGM in London. The top prize for the Level 4 Award in Food Safety for Manufacturing waspresented to Justyna Pupiec-Adamowicz of Nestle UK, whilst the Level 4Award in HACCP for Manufacturing prize went to Yanis Skerstins of pladisGlobal. Both were trained at Verner Wheelock. In order to receive the prizes, Yanis and Justyna achieved the year’s highestmarks in these advanced level examinations.Verner Wheelock’s Managing Director, Alison Wheelock, said: “We’re thrilledthat our delegates have won prizes again. It’s testament to their hard work andour excellent trainers, who all have extensive food industry experience.”The company delivers all levels of HACCP, Food Safety and Auditing traning as well as specialist courses such as Root Cause Analysis,VACCP &TACCP and Legal Labelling. For more information, visit www.vwa.co.uk.Gelder Group to doubleapprentice intake Over the next three years, Lincolnshireconstruction firm Gelder Group plans todouble its apprentice intake from 37 to 70.The firm, which employs 300 staff, has trained300 apprentices since its formation as a two-man building outfit in 1988, 37 of those in thelast three years alone.“Gelder Group has long been committed toapprentices,” said Group CEO Steve Gelder.“The first person ever employed by thecompany started life as an apprentice and29 years later he’s still with the company. “All our main board of Directors alsostarted life as apprentices includingmyself, I am a bricklayer by trade.“Gelder Group is a foundingmember of the GainsboroughCareer College, the first ofits kind in the UK. “It’s a well-known fact to everyone associated with building andconstruction, that there is a huge skills shortage, so I’d urge otherbuilding and construction companies to get involved andprovide opportunities for students.”employer and company themselves isliable for any injury or death, with finesand investigations capable of shuttingdown work for days or weeks at a time.Preventative training, that is to saytraining undertaken with a view toreduce the chance of disaster, can helpmitigate the risks of such happening,while first aid or medical training is notonly a necessity – there being a legalrequirement to have a first-aid trainedmember of staff on premises – but alsosomething that can save lives,particularly in more hostile industriessuch as manufacturing, agriculture orconstruction.11-13_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:41 Page 3PROPERTY14Business Link www.blmforum.net© Shutterstock / William Potter 14-17_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:44 Page 1www.blmforum.netPROPERTYBusiness Link 1517 ÁHeadlines from the mid-nineties proclaimingthe internet to be nothing more than a passingfad have endured as cautionary tales not todismiss future tech either out of ignorance, fearor, in the case of some red-faced reporters,contrariness. The internet has had atransformative effect on business, not simply asa means of evolving the way in which wecommunicate, but in facilitating entirely newbusinesses. In the last decade alone, there hasbeen a groundswell of new jobs and vocations -cloud architect, SEO expert and the rise ofecommerce. The latter especially is having avery tangible effect on the world outside theweb with the upsurge in urban logisticsproperty space – something facilities managersand property investors have to stay abreast ofor risk getting left behind. Although ecommerce companies have noneed for a showroom or shop floor, due to itsinventory and products being available to viewand explore online, they do require plenty ofsquare footage when it comes to warehousingand logistics space. Crucial to connectingcustomers with products is the growing needfor ‘last mile’ delivery which, as the namesuggests, is the last stretch of a journey beforea product is delivered to a customer’s frontdoor or place of businesses. This will takeadvantage of the local supply chain,incorporating warehouses, native logisticscompanies or the regional arm of distributionThe booming ecommerce market has laid bare the need for moreurban logistics space to keep up with demand. Proceed tocheckout Proceed tocheckout 14-17_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:44 Page 2ArmstronghouseOffering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House onArmstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports ofGrimsby 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 officesare 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 contractmean confidence when it comes to affordability and with a rangeof office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. Ifyou require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 permonth. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements,give Scotts Property a call today on 01472 267000 and askabout Armstrong House.Last remaining office suitesPrime location in GrimsbySuperb Location -- Close to the ports of Grimsby &Immingham- Great motorwaylinks- Close to the town centreSecure off street parkingHigh speed internet availabilityEasy in/out termsA range of affordable office sizes33333Armstrong House, Armstrong Street,Grimsby DN31 2QETel: (01472) 310301 • Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.ukwww.shutterstock.com/terekhov igorwww.shutterstock.com/Yentafern14-17_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:44 Page 3www.shutterstock.com/Yentafernwww.blmforum.netPROPERTYcompanies. This growing market has beendetailed in Cushman & Wakefield’s‘Urban Space Model’ report whichquantifies total urban logistics spacerequirements in Europe’s topecommerce markets based on currentand future online sales volumes.Although London was identified ashaving Europe’s largest and mostmature ecommerce market, our ownregion is far from an outlier. Doncasteralone can boast multiple Amazonfulfilment centres, while the excellenttransport links across Yorkshire andLincolnshire mean that the two countiestogether form a robust and versatilelogistics powerhouse, one which hasgreatly benefited from the rise ofecommerce. “Yorkshire has seen a significantsurge in take-up of strategically locatedlast mile and urban logistics units in thelast year or two,” says Scott Morrison,Associate in Cushman & Wakefield’sLogistics & Industrial team in Leeds.“Occupiers are increasingly focussed onimproving efficiencies of deliveringproducts to the end user which hasresulted in the major operatorscompeting for space in majorconurbations such as Leeds. There hasbeen a distinct trend of occupiers takingspace in those areas that benefit frommajor link roads into the city or towncentre which are located within easyreach of the major motorway junctionswhich seems to be a successful formulato date.”Last year alone, online sales in the UKtopped £130 billion and with gimmickssuch as ‘Black Friday’ and ‘CyberMonday’ gaining traction in the UK, thisfigure is only going to grow. Theaforementioned sales frenzies, coupledwith the chaos of Christmas, are puttingevermore strain on ecommercecompanies and their supply chains. Thisis where the pressing need for urbanlogistics spaces comes into play. Inorder for our region to retain its keyposition in the country’s complexdistribution network, it’s critical thatinvestment into these new spaces is© Shutterstock / wavebreakmedia © Shutterstock / Hit1912 Business Link 17made alongside upgrades to road, portsand warehousing. Far from the passing fad prophesiedby some two decades passed, theinternet has profoundly affected ourlives, communication and how weconduct business. Ecommerce hasbecome a hugely profitable industrythat shows no signs of slowing down. Inorder to cope with this increasingdemand, towns, cities and propertyinvestors have to turn their attentiontowards urban logistics space,alongside their typical remit ofwarehousing and business parks. Onlythat way can the speed and reliabilityneeded to cope with demand berealised. 14-17_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:44 Page 418Business Link www.blmforum.netQ&A - LINCOLN SCIENCE AND INNOVATION PARKQ&ATom Blount, Director at Lincoln Science and Innovation ParkWhat can you tell us about LincolnScience and Innovation Park?Lincoln Science and Innovation Parkwas established by the LincolnshireCo-op and the University of Lincoln totransform a former industrial site in thecentre of Lincoln into a home for theregion’s science and tech community.The site used to provide thousands ofjobs but in recent years has seen hardtimes. Now we’re creating a modernscience park, whilst retaining some ofthe most striking bits of industrialarchitecture, where industry andacademia can co-exist and sharefacilities, skills, knowledge and expertise.Over the last five years, we’ve spentalmost £25 million to deliver the firstphase of that vision. The Science Parkopened its first building, the JosephBanks Laboratories, about four yearsago. This is a state-of-the-art facility forthe University of Lincoln’s Schools ofPharmacy, Chemistry and Life Sciences.Just last March we opened BooleTechnology Centre next to JosephBanks, which is ideal for research-intensive businesses.What are you trying to achieve?Our mission is to create a home forscience and technology in Lincolnshire.We believe that there has been aninfrastructure gap in the county forsome time, where suitable buildings fortechnically demanding businessessimply haven’t been available. BooleTechnology Centre answers that byproviding a building with Grade Aoffices that can easily be converted intoCategory II laboratories. Already thisyear, ten firms, in sectors ranging frommicrobiology to aerospace to digitalsecurity, have made the Centre theirhome. These businesses get to share acampus with world-class Universitylaboratories.However, we’re not just concernedwith supporting our tenants. Byconcentrating investment in equipmentand expertise in the Park, we’re creatinga resource that is available to businessesacross the county and, in some cases,across the world. We want this cluster ofinquisitive, skilful and knowledgeablepeople to lift the innovation performanceof the economy.Why do you see innovation andtechnology as such an importanttopic for Lincolnshire?I think it’s an issue for the whole ofthe UK. Research, innovation and skillsmatter because they have a real impactLincoln Science and Innovation Park has challenged Lincolnshirebusinesses to put innovation at the core of their growth strategy. Wespeak to Director, Tom Blount, to learn more. 18-19_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:46 Page 1www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 19Q&A - LINCOLN SCIENCE AND INNOVATION PARKon the economy. UK productivity issignificantly lower than most advancedeconomies and that reduces ourcompetitiveness and our ability togenerate wealth, which has a directimpact on wages, employment levelsand public services.Some of this is because whilst the UKhas always been at the forefront ofresearch, we have not always been asgood at realising the economic benefitsof that research here. It’s also due to areluctance to invest in increasing theskill level of the workforce and lowerlevels of investment in capitalequipment such as automation. I sawsome statistics recently that suggestedthat, when you exclude the automotivesector, the UK has less than one fifth ofthe robots per employee than Germany.Do you think Lincolnshire can helpto improve the UK’s performance inthis area?Definitely. Lincolnshire is strong insectors that are increasingly prominentin the UK’s industrial strategy andhighlighted in the developing MidlandsEngine strategy, which sets out thegovernment’s plan for making theMidlands a powerful engine foreconomic growth. We have 25% ofEngland’s productive farmland, aformidable focus on food processing, astrong RAF presence that is attractingworld-class aeronautics firms, the UK’slargest port by volume at Imminghamand the huge chemical facilities on theHumber bank. These are all sectors thatare quick to embrace technologicaladvances and will increasingly needhighly-skilled staff. The benefits ofmaking it easy for them to accessinnovation, training and skilled recruitswill enrich the regional economy.What is less well known is thatLincolnshire is a fantastic place to live.As a beautiful, rural county it has large,desirable homes at affordable pricesand a real wealth of history and culturein towns and cities like Lincoln andStamford. Beyond that, it has anextremely well-regarded educationsystem. With the Midland main line providinga train service to London of just over anhour from the county and bigextensions to the Lincoln rail servicerecently announced, I think theLincolnshire blend of emergingcommercial opportunities and a greatstandard of living is becomingincreasingly attractive. And what do you think the SciencePark can do to supportLincolnshire’s economic growth?The Science Park is the place thatbrings together innovators withbusiness. Sometimes that may beconnecting academia with business,sometimes linking a SME to amultinational. Some of those companiesmay be our tenants or attendees at ourevents. What we want people to know isthat the Science Park is a resource forthem and we’d like them to join ourcommunity.18-19_Layout 1 01/11/2017 09:46 Page 2Next >