< PreviousManufacturer lays down firm foundations in Brighouse with £9m investment Welded steel mesh manufacturer Siddall and Hilton Products, is reinforcing its foundations in Brighouse with £9m investment plans for its 4.5 acre sites in the town. The business, which employs some 60 workers, has a number of manufacturing, storage and office buildings on both sides of Foundry Street, dates back to 1895, and needs to refurbish some of its buildings. The company has now been given the green light by planning authorities to start work on phase one of the three-year project which will see the creation of new amenities for staff. The first phase represents a £4m investment by Siddall and Hilton Products and will see the demolition of a number of the older buildings, to be replaced by a new portal-framed building, HGV service yard and factory extension, with work is due to start on site in 2023. 10 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS Integra appoints Sarah Marshall as Finance Director Experienced finance professional Sarah Marshall has joined East Yorkshire-based Integra Buildings as the modular construction company’s Finance Director. Sarah, who has 27 years of experience working in finance roles, was most recently in a finance role at Kingspan Access Floors in Hull. Sarah said her main focus is to assist the board with strategic plans for growth and expansion. Sarah, who grew up in North Lincolnshire, said: “Joining an exciting, fast-moving business like Integra was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I felt Integra was a nicely-sized business, in an impressive and growing sector, for me to take on my first Finance Director role. It felt the right time in my career to make the step up and I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to further my skills and experience. “From my first day, everyone in the business has been incredibly welcoming. It was clear from the outset that I’ve joined a talented and passionate team, and I’m now focused on supporting the business as it continues to grow and evolve.” Gary Parker, Managing Director at Integra, said: “We’re delighted to have Sarah on board. Her experience working in finance roles across a variety of industries will be an asset to the business as we look ahead to an exciting period of further growth.” Leeds Packaging manufacturer teams up with leading universities for industry open day Leeds based packaging manufacturer Roberts Mart has partnered with Sheffield Hallam University and Lancaster University Management School to provide current and prospective customers with the latest industry insights. Roberts Mart, winner of 11 awards at the recent FIA UK Awards, has a staff of 220 and supplies printed flexible packaging to clients across the UK and Europe in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, for companies such as Taylors of Harrogate and John Cotton Group. “With the many challenges in the marketplace currently, it felt like the right time to provide our customers with a deeper insight into what we do and what is happening in the market so that they can better plan for the future,” explains Roberts Mart Marketing Director Ben Roberts. The Open Day, held at the firm’s headquarters at Aire Valley House, offered visitors a chance to see the facility in operation, to meet colleagues and gain insights on some of the key issues and challenges affecting packaging in today’s volatile environment. Sheffield Hallam offers the only undergraduate degree in England dedicated to packaging. Course Leader Peter Macqueen welcomed the opportunity to speak directly to manufacturers on the future of packaging education and the issues around providing the sector with a skilled workforce. 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:52 Page 5www.blmforum.net Business Link 11 NEWS Prosthetic hand company expands Leeds operation COVVI, the Leeds-based prosthetic hand company, is increasing the scale of operations at its headquarters at Quayside Business Park in Leeds following a huge rise in demand. The company is looking to recruit 25 more staff including engineers and other candidates involved in the field of robotics and has recently taken on a number of global distributors. Having recently received the news that the NHS will allow patients to apply for funding to get a multi-articulated hand in England, the company is looking to ramp up production to meet demand. The company already works with distributors around the world, but as a company that was founded in the UK as recently as 2017, the company were delighted to receive the news. The COVVI Hand aspires to be the world’s most advanced, powerful and robust bionic hand. It connects to the COVVI Go App via Bluetooth and allows users to manage various settings for their hand, such as changing input sensitivity, moving between grip tables and assigning grip switch triggers. This innovation promises to make a life-changing impact for its users. Entrepreneur and current Group CEO Simon Pollard formed COVVI with the mission to design and manufacture a myo-electric, multi- articulated hand that was accessible to as many people as possible around the world. CEO Simon Pollard says: “Our continued ambition and key goal has always been to supply our hand through nationalised health services, like the NHS, to improve accessibility to the hand. We encourage you to browse our website and learn more about the COVVI Hand, the benefits it brings and the reason why we believe it’s the most advanced bionic hand on the market.” COVVI has already won a multitude of design, technology, AI and innovation awards, which is a testament to the team and their efforts to change many lives around the world. BUSINESS LINCOLNSHIRE Race to Net Zero with Business Lincolnshire Ready to begin your journey to net zero? Business Lincolnshire are here to help! Offering 12 hours of fully-funded, expert advice, in addition to a multitude of dedicated events and handy downloadable resources, the Business Lincolnshire team can help you to reach your sustainability targets in no time. Establishing more sustainable practices has many benefits for businesses – from savings on your energy bills to increased customer and stakeholder engagement. Staying ahead of the curve when it comes to efficiency and sustainability can establish your business as a pioneer within your sector, helping you differentiate against competitors, attract new customers, and mitigate future risks posed by climate change – all while helping to save the planet! So, where does Business Lincolnshire come in? Business Lincolnshire is the go-to for all things sustainability in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland if you’re a business needing help and support to reach your targets. Up-to-date on the latest industry best practices and opportunities, the Business Lincolnshire team can provide advice on how to begin your journey – from the grant funding schemes available to support you in reaching your goals to calculating your business’s carbon footprint. Business Lincolnshire now also offer a free benchmarking tool. The Zellar Sustainability Platform supports you in holding yourself accountable against your business’s net zero targets as well as providing suggestions of how you can reach them faster. For more information, please visit the Business Lincolnshire website: www.businesslincolnshire.com/start-and-grow-my- business/net-zero-and-the-green-agenda/ © stock.adobe.com/ narawit 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:52 Page 612 Business Link www.blmforum.net 15 Á I t may be approaching the end of the year but that does not mean the property market has slowed any in the region. It’s as busy as ever in Leeds, where a former police station is set for transformation into a new residential scheme. Pickard Properties, the family-owned property developer and landlord, has submitted plans to transform a former police station into a new community within North West Leeds. The developer is proposing to regenerate the site of the former Weetwood Police station into a purpose-built residential scheme. Comprising 127 built-to-rent apartments, the scheme will create much-needed new homes in this popular area of the city. Meanwhile, a new student accommodation scheme on Merrion Street in central Leeds has been sold to Q Investment Partners (QIP), a Singapore headquartered private equity real estate firm that connects residential real estate to capital markets, in a deal worth approximately £15 million. The 88 high specification studio apartments with associated amenities, are being built at 26-34 Merrion Street. Work will start this month, and the scheme will be ready for occupation in time for the start of the 2024/25 academic year. The part five, part seven and part nine storey building has been designed by Brewster Bye Architects and will be delivered by Urban Developments (York) Ltd for QIP. In York, a flagship University of York student accommodation campus has reached completion, creating 1,480 beds across 18 accommodation blocks for the increasing student population. Delivered by GRAHAM and forming part of the Heslington East Campus, the new neighbourhood is located between the North and South lakes and has formed the desired gateway to the west campus. The £130 million project included the design, build, financing and ongoing operation of three and four storey blocks, and two state of the art social hubs (David Kato College and Anne Lister College), all complete with extensive public realm and landscaping works. GRAHAM and Equitix were joint investors. An exciting opportunity is happening in Sheffield where planning permission has been granted for a mixed-use cultural community hub called Event Central on Sheffield’s Fargate. Event Central is a regeneration project commissioned by Sheffield City Council and funded through the Future High Streets Fund, which will see the refurbishment of the existing vacant building at 20-26 on Fargate. Formally solely used as a ground floor retail space, Event Central will see all five floors and the basement opened up to create a useful community and commercial space – showcasing Sheffield’s diverse COMMERCIAL PROPERTY In time for Christmas It’s not the end of the year yet, and the commercial property market remains as explosive as ever. Here are some of the deals that have taken place this month. 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:54 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 13 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Brighouse Deal - Market Revitalisation - Concept Image C Brighouse Deal - Canalside Market Thornton Square 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:54 Page 2Armstrong house Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk 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 A range of affordable office sizes 3 3 3 3 Last remaining office suites Prime location in Grimsby 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, 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 call 01472 310301. 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:54 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 15 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY talent with events, shows, exhibitions, workshops and talks all under one roof. The mixed-use space will also benefit from co-working spaces, a café/juice bar and a 200-capacity standing music venue. Cllr Mazher Iqbal, Co-Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “The approval of the Event Central planning application is another exciting step in creating this vibrant and cultural space for the people of Sheffield. We know how much talent there is within our city and we are confident Event Central will be the perfect place to showcase it, attracting thousands of visitors each year. This transformation will be a crucial part of our vision for Fargate and the whole city centre – unlocking all the potential Sheffield has to offer.” Also in Sheffield, Trammell Crow Company (TCC), a global developer and investor in commercial real estate, has begun construction on a 367,152 sq ft logistics development at its 20-acre Shepcote Lane site in Sheffield. It is the second project on which TCC has appointed Glencar as principal contractor, with the construction company having begun work on TCC’s first project in Europe – in Milton Keynes – over the summer. The site is located only half a mile on a direct route from Junction 34 of the M1 motorway. It previously housed a 455,750 sq ft facility, let to fencing manufacturer Betafence. Located in an established industrial area with an existing logistics allocation, tenants such as Clipper Logistics; Pretty Little Thing; ITM and Great Bear have recently taken space nearby. Finally, and perhaps some of the biggest news in the region, is that the £19.1 million Brighouse Deal plans approved by the government. Brighouse is set to be transformed with a more welcoming town centre, new market building and investment in manufacturing, skills and jobs, with the green light given to ambitious plans put forward to Government. The proposals that make up The Brighouse Deal have now been approved by Ministers, which unlocks the £19.1 million funding that will write a new chapter in the story of the town. Business cases for the five projects, which will improve Brighouse for residents, businesses and visitors, and unlock the town’s potential for the future, were approved in July by Calderdale Council and the Brighouse Town Deal Board, made up of representatives from the town’s private and voluntary sector, community and residents’ groups. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has now confirmed it is confident in the extensive engagement and consultation process which has taken place over the last three years, which led to the projects being developed. Plans can now progress to the next stage. Brighouse Deal - Market Revitalisation - Concept Image B 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:54 Page 416 Business Link www.blmforum.net MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT © stock.adobe.com/Blue Planet Studio 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:57 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 17 MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT A s manufacturers struggle with worker retention in a high- demand job economy, more and more are looking toward automation to solve the problem. Automation is big business, with an estimated 76% of manufacturers using it to improve the productivity of their factory floor. Automation can be used for assembly, but it has a host of other benefits including production planning, inspection, and inventory management. With the huge conglomerates such as Amazon not just utilizing, but innovating automation processes, it is important that manufacturers stay on top of the latest trends to keep up. Technological advancements mean that a single automation tool can often be used for multiple purposes, whereas traditionally they would be specialised instruments. Many automated processes are grouped into two fields - fixed automation and programmable automation. Fixed automation is also known as hard automation; it comprises of a system where a single product type is produced on individual machines. This solution is intended for large product quantities and is higher cost to implement. This investment must be considered as a single machine brings together several sequences and operations, so changing production methodology post-implementation is challenging. However, for well- established processes such as assembly lines and material conveyor systems, this could significantly increase production load and product output. Despite the upfront costs, fixed automation reduces running costs in the long run. Integrating process into a single unit reduces energy and maintenance costs. Furthermore, it will lessen production waste as operations are streamlined, meaning that less material will be required and wastage smaller. Reducing product waste is also a more sustainable method of manufacturing, which is important to many consumers as well as manufacturers. However, fixed automation accounts for less than half of the most popular manufacturing solutions. The biggest area of growth for automation is in manufacturing process software. This would fall under programmable automation, which is a production system With so many people seeing work in factories to be menial or unattractive labour, it may be time to take another look at replacing labour workforces with machines. Day of the machines 18 Á Day of the machines 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:57 Page 218 Business Link www.blmforum.net MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT that requires a program to govern it. A program is comprised of a set of instructions which is read, interpreted, and executed by the system. Programmable automation solutions are flexible, and can be adapted should new formulations be required, or to produce other products, but require more care and attention to make sure they run properly, and to update the programs. Automated manufacturing systems are particularly useful for D2C (Direct to Consumer) businesses. As these manufacturers do everything in-house, there are many day to day processes to keep track of. Programs could be used to develop a master production schedule, which monitors material costs, necessary stock levels and fluctuations in demand. From this, inventory levels can be managed routinely, and ordering can be automated. This creates an easy overview of production, which allows manufacturers to rapidly identify areas of concern and focus on improving these weak spots, strengthening quality and output. These systems give real time data which means that information is always the most up to date. Businesses can immediately decide if production can begin or more material is required beforehand. This will increase fulfilment rate and enable manufacturers to reliably advise customers of delivery dates. This avoids disappointing expectant consumers with delays. Direct to consumer companies which operate on an e-commerce platform could also benefit with inventory integration (such as Shopify) within the manufacturing process automation. This allows the entire business operations to be centralised within one dashboard for ultimate oversight. Inventory integration is more important for rapidly growing businesses so that orders can be fulfilled as soon as they come in. These systems (such as Katana) can auto-allocate finished products or raw materials to a newly opened sale or manufacturing order. The automated process completes the cycle by synchronising with accounting software to keep track of manufacturing costs. This means that process automation doesn’t just increase product quality and quantity, it can help the business find ways to reduce operating costs. Process software is a cheaper investment than fixed automation and it does not require specialised knowledge or machinery to run. Businesses could train a group of employees to use it, meaning that no extra labour has to be taken on as a result. Although process automation is incredibly useful to improve running a business, it cannot account for skilled labour shortages. Employing certain fixed automation processes can counteract this somewhat (such as mixing robots) but this remains an issue for the industry. A study by Barclays revealed that the manufacturing sector is seen as unattractive to the vast majority of young people. This could result in stagnation, as targeting those born between 1995 and 2010 could bring in an extra £6 billion a year to the UK economy. Currently, only 6% of Gen Z are considering a manufacturing career, in comparison with 23% interested in digital and technology careers, and a further 22% who are interested in IT and computing. Technology is one of the fastest growing © stock.adobe.com/industrieblick 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:57 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 19 MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT industries and areas of study. Investing in automation processes will attract the younger generation to the manufacturing industry, and those who are newly qualified to innovate, run and maintain these systems. The benefits to upgrading automation systems for manufacturing are endless. Ultimately, we are in a period of rapid technological growth, particularly where robotics and artificial intelligence are concerned. Once considered a little hit or miss, these processes can now run with over 95% accuracy. These tools help to eliminate user error, which improves both product output and quality. This improves the experience for the customer, thus improving the chances of repeat custom, and business growth. Investment in these technologies cements a business as forward thinking, which is likely to be attractive to young prospective employees, a desperately sought-after resource to the industry. As technology continues to evolve, those who choose not to invest are likely to feel behind the times. © stock.adobe.com/kinwun Units 4b & 4c, Harpings Road, National Avenue, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire HU5 4JF Tel: +44 (0)1482 440222 Email: esales@eyh.co.uk Web: www.eyh.co.uk eyh .co.uk EAST YORKSHIRE HYDRAULICS Hydraulic engineering - design, build, installation and service. • Complete hydraulic systems • Installation and commissioning • Hydro-pneumatic accumulators • Hydraulic equipment • Cylinders Single Source Hydraulic Solutions Design, build, installation and service of hydraulic systems, cylinders, accumulators and equipment. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 09:57 Page 4Next >