NOVEMBER 2021 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 36 ISSUE 11 EDUCATING AND TRAINING Tackling skills shortages MEN’S HEALTH Promoting men’s health MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT Fortifying the factory floor PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE 01.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 14:38 Page 1www.geodis.com GEODIS Unit 5, Bridge View Henry Boot Way Hull HU4 7DW Tel: 01482 598550 humber.ff.uk@geodis.com Road Transport Customs Ocean Freight Insurance Airfreight Special Cargo 02.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 14:38 Page 1The autumn budget has just landed, which means it’s time to see what promises have been made and what impact this will have on businesses in our region. Considering the circumstances and heavy spending the Government has put forward to prop up the economy through lockdown, I doubt we were the only ones surprised by a budget that involves more spending and as no real tax rises. One can only assume those will be coming soon, and perhaps, for once, understandably so. The country is further in debt thanks to COVID-19 than it has been in a while, and future Governments will need to address that. Closer to home, the rising of the National Minimum Wage for those over 23 will be welcomed by workers but may prove detrimental to some businesses, especially those employing low-skilled labour. With shortages nation-wide in many jobs, employers are already having to pay more to keep staff, so perhaps the average wages are higher than they have been for a while anyway. Still, some employers may find the rise a bitter pill to swallow after having to deal with working from home, lockdown and complete changes to business structure. It goes without saying that the focus now is not only on recovery, but rejuvenation. With new commercial property schemes in place to rebuild areas of the country, and everyone looking to businesses to lead the economic boom, there are new opportunities to be had, and only time will tell who will grasp them. As always, we’ll be at the forefront reporting on the recovery as it happens. Until then, good luck and good business! Michael Fisher Editor From the Editor Freephone: 0800 328 5492 Email: sales@allertonuk.com Website: www.allertonuk.com ACCREDITED ENGINEERS The Dependable Choice in Drainage In rural areas without a mains drainage system, and where septic tanks will no longer reach environmental standards, Allerton can provide the ideal solution. Trading since 1974, Allerton are leading specialists in efficient treatment systems. They pride themselves on their individual, problem solving approach to dealing with alternative means of treating and disposing of raw sewage. The Allerton ConSept converts your existing Septic Tank or Cesspit into a fully functioning Sewage Treatment Plant. Servicing & Maintenance on a wide range of Sewage Treatment Plant and Pump Stations by BRITISH WATER ACCREDITED ENGINEERS. 03.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 14:47 Page 1CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2021 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 12 Business Lincolnshire Q&A We spoke to David Knight, Resource Efficiency Adviser for Business Lincolnshire, about how businesses can save money while doing their bit to protect the environment. 14 Commercial property Commercial property remains one of the most resilient industries in the UK, and the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire regions are in the perfect position to benefit. 18 Manufacturing spotlight Despite rising order books, manufacturers are beset by supply chain issues and cost pressures. However, smart technologies can help streamline operations and ease the burden. 24 Materials handling Labour shortages are wreaking havoc right across the materials handling industry at a time when the industry continues to grapple with its carbon emissions. 27 Water and waste management Increasing ambition from government, water companies and businesses are together having a profound impact in the amount of water that’s being used and how wastewater is being treated and recycled. 30 Education and training With an intensifying talent gap plaguing the country, businesses must invest in education and training. 34 Kirklees College Q&A We spoke to Jon Price, Business Development Manager at Kirklees College, about T Levels, the new post-sixteen qualification and how employers will benefit from industry placements as part of the delivery of the new programme. 36 Business services Though the pandemic has intensified significant challenges the business services sector faces, it has also pushed firms to take advantage of new opportunities. 40 Ziff Davis Q&A We recently spoke to digital media giant, Ziff Davis, about the UK launch of its extremely powerful email and SMS marketing software, Campaigner. 42 Men’s health Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s physical and mental health, but they can’t do it alone. 46 AutoLink While a brand new top of the line motor may be beyond most of us as Christmas presents, that doesn’t mean we can’t fawn over some truly gorgeous motors we could well be seeing in our region soon. 50 Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire 54 And finally… Yorkshire-Lincolnshire- Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.net CONNECT WITH US 18 27 30 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 14:51 Page 1Group Editor Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalist 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 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 : SHUTTERSTOCK - EDDIECLOUD • VALDIS SKUDRE • FIZKES • JIRAPONG MANUSTRONG • POPTIKA www.blmforum.net 36 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 14:55 Page 2Yorkshire-based Pelican Engineering completes delivery to McGill’s of 55 zero emission buses ahead of COP26 Yorkshire family business Pelican Engineering has completed the fit-out and commissioning of its biggest-ever order of zero emission electric Pelican Yutong buses with the delivery of 55 buses to McGill’s in Glasgow ahead of the start of COP26 climate change conference on 31st October. Despite global supply chain disruption affecting so many sectors over the last few months, the full fleet of zero-emission vehicles supplied by Pelican has been delivered on schedule and will be in service on routes around the city and in Renfrewshire. After the initial vehicle was delivered in July, the balance of the 54 vehicles has been completed in less than seven weeks. Pelican’s technicians at its Castleford workshops undertook the full commissioning of the buses, from fitting customer-specific seats to carrying out high voltage and EV checks and battery maintenance to ensure the vehicles are ready for service. The vehicles completed the 240m trip using only 60% of the battery capacity, and after a complete safety inspection, entered into service the day after delivery. 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS University of Lincoln showcases transformative innovation in agriculture Technological innovation, artificial intelligence and robotics are transforming the UK’s agricultural industry and shaping the sustainable future of food produce. Lincoln Agri-Robotics at the University of Lincoln, UK, is the world’s largest academic research centre on agri-robotics. It is a centre of international and impactful research and facilities, it is now showcasing the technology which will shape the future of sustainable food production. In conjunction with the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), Lincoln Agri-Robotics is hosting an FPC Future conference session on Robotics and Automation in horticulture. The event is free to attend and will take place on 4 November 2021 at the Lincolnshire Showground. The packed schedule includes eight conference sessions covering pre and post farm robotics and automation, data driven technologies, plastics and packaging, supply chain waste, carbon supply chains, vertical farming and sustainability. PHG hosts charity cycle ride in Yorkshire to support environmental change and raises over £124K PHG Plumbing Heating Group, the premier plumbing, heating & bathroom buying group for the UK hosted the PHG Revolution 150 Charity Cycle Ride in Yorkshire at the beginning of October 2021 to raise vital funds for the Surfers Against Sewage and The Woodland Trust charities. The event organised by Tour de Force Events took place across two days and covered 150 miles from Harrogate to Catterick Garrison, through the Yorkshire Dales and back again through the North Yorkshire Moors. Over 70 riders from the plumbing, heating & bathroom sector took part in the event, including PHG Members and Suppliers. The PHG Revolution 150 Charity Cycle has successfully raised over £124,000. 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 15:02 Page 1Investment non-profit partners with Beyond Partners to support tech start-ups North-East based agency, Beyond Partners and NorthInvest have joined forces in a strategic partnership which offers entrepreneurs access to specialist people and brand services. The collaboration, which commenced in October, will see the two organisations working closely together to ensure entrepreneurs on an investment journey have the right HR and brand support to enable their business to grow. Established in 2020, by Sally Cowling and Maxine Henry, Beyond Partners philosophy is to create authentic touchpoints throughout a journey with an organisation, both internally and externally. They also provide practical support on people and brand which is relevant to the growth stage of the client. Sally Cowling, Co-Founder, Beyond Partners commented: ‘As experts in providing solutions to start-up and scale-up businesses, Beyond Partners has a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by fast-growing organisations. We’re excited to be collaborating with NorthInvest and look forward to being part of their angel investment community.’ www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS Production operations resume at Liberty Steel furnace Liberty Steel UK (LSUK) has relaunched production at its GREENSTEEL Rotherham electric arc furnace, with restart and operation at night to maximise efficiency and mitigate high energy costs. Operations at Rotherham, which produces sustainably-produced steel for growth markets such as infrastructure and high-value engineering and is among the UK’s most electro-intensive industrial sites, are scheduled to run between 11pm and 6am when energy costs will be comparatively lower. LSUK’s speciality steel division in nearby Stocksbridge which produces steel components for demanding aerospace and energy applications, is also restarting focused production campaigns for key customers. The restart, which LSUK plans to reach 50,000 tonnes per month as soon as possible, follows a £50mn funding injection from LIBERTY Steel’s parent company GFG Alliance, part of GFG’s restructuring and transformation drive following the collapse of its main lender Greensill Capital. The injection sets a stable platform for the full refinancing of LSUK operations. Yorkshire dairy is cream of the crop after expansion supported by Lloyds Bank A dairy farm in Grassington is set to double capacity with the opening of a new warehouse in Keighley, following a six-figure investment from Lloyds Bank. Town Head Farm is a family-owned milk producer and distributor, led by David Oversby, grandson of founder William Oversby. It sells milk and juices to wholesalers, caterers and supermarkets, as well as to regional doorstop sellers across Yorkshire and the North West from its production site at the foot of the Yorkshire Dales. The dairy’s 80-strong team also supplies milk to local schools and NHS hospital trusts. The £14million turnover business saw demand soar during the UK’s three lockdowns, as appetite for doorstop milk deliveries grew exponentially, and the team recognised the need to boost production capacity to meet demand and drive growth. 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 15:02 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. 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 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 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 15:03 Page 3Hull’s employer-led school celebrates third year of positive destinations for sixth form students Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) has recorded a clean sweep of positive destinations for its sixth form students for the third consecutive year. Every one of the employer-led school’s Year 13 students have gone on to exciting apprenticeships, university, employment, further education or the Armed Forces, securing fantastic career opportunities and bright futures. It’s the third year the Ofsted “Outstanding”-rated Hull school has had no students who are not in education, employment or training after leaving sixth form. Of the 117 sixth form students, 60 have secured apprenticeships with leading businesses, including many of Ron Dearing UTC’s Employer Partners, and 39 have moved onto study at university, including at some of the prestigious Russell Group of universities. Ten students have gained employment, five have gone onto other further education colleges and three have taken up positions with the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS Yorkshire firms show signs of bounce back – amid concerns recovery may be short lived The number of financially struggling businesses in Yorkshire and across the UK economy fell sharply in the third quarter of this year compared to Q2 as a result of the relaxation of Covid regulations this summer, according to the latest Red Flag Alert data, published today (29 October 2021) by leading independent business rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor. The figures for the three months to September 2021 showed a 15% decline in the number of distressed businesses in Yorkshire compared to the previous quarter. However, there had been only a 1% year-on-year fall in the number of distressed companies, in comparison with Q3 last year before the second national lockdown was imposed in November. The new data reveals that a total of 33,000 Yorkshire firms were displaying symptoms of early-stage or ‘significant’ financial distress in the three months to September, down from almost 39,000 businesses at the end of June this year. Significant distress refers to companies that have financial problems such as having minor county court judgements of less than £5,000 filed against them. The UK as a whole saw a 14% drop in significant distress compared to the previous quarter, and a 1% increase year on year. Lincs law firm launches free legal health check for farming businesses Leading full service law firm Shakespeare Martineau, which has a presence in Lincolnshire, has launched a free legal health check for farming families and their businesses. The interactive, online questionnaire, which should take users no longer than 20 minutes to complete, aims to identify and highlight any potential issues and legal gaps that may need addressing to safeguard a farming business’ future – providing certainty and security for forthcoming generations. This includes family arrangements – partnership issues, wills, family agreements and potential disputes – and diversification, supplier contracts, renewable energy schemes (for example solar), and business aspirations. Head of agriculture Peter Snodgrass, who advises his farming clients on a wide variety of matters from partnerships to agricultural tenancies, said: “A regular review of your business and family affairs is good practice as circumstances and business goals change over time.” 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2021 15:09 Page 4Next >