DECEMBER 2012£3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 27ISSUE 12Planning forthe futureThe region’s powerhouse emergesPlanning forthe futureThe region’s powerhouse emergesSUPPORTINGBUSINESS GROWTH Keeping cash flowingSUCCESSSTORIESThe feelgood factorCONSTRUCTION Building theinfrastructure oftomorrow01:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:03 Page 102:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:03 Page 136Offshore and onshore wind farmingThe Humber is an area now almost synonymouswithin the renewables sector and onshore andoffshore wind energy has played a distinct part inaffirming this. Can the region extend further?39Nuclear powerNuclear energy remains emotive, butYorkshire and Lincolnshire are at theforefront of new developments in safetyand innovation42Green Energy LincsLincolnshire is at the forefront of greenenergy and major players in the sectorgathered in Lincoln to debate thenumerous opportunitiesRegulars4From the Editor5News9TaxationHarnessing new energy for yourbusiness by AndrewManderfield, Partner, StreetsChartered Accountants10LettersReader’s letters and replies29Social SceneLincoln Sportman’s Club,Bentley Hotel, Lincoln44AutoLinkThe Arctic weather that goes with theUK’s winter tends to cost industrymillions. So, here’s a few of the latest 4x4offerings that should keep the wheels ofindustry turning, whatever the weather50EventsWe take a look at business eventshappening around Yorkshire andLincolnshire51Classified53Appointments54And finally…Features11Commercial propertyWill the Prime Minister’s crusade against constrictingred tape bring any benefit to the commercial propertysector?14ConstructionThe construction industry went through a painful periodat the start of the recession, but renewed interest andinvestment is breathing new optimism into the sector17Mercury ExpoA new event was launched recently to give firms inGainsborough and the surrounding area a chance topromote their products 18Hot topicThe recent encouraging GDP figures suggest the UKhas moved out of recession and back into growth. Butcan it stay there? 20Success storiesThe Olympic glow and improved export success meansmany local businesses are ending 2012 in optimisticmood• Saltend Chemicals Park • Sam Allon • PD Ports26Supporting business growthSocial enterprises and growth funds are filling the gapin supporting potential business success stories30ConferencingBeing asked to give a speech at a conference orbusiness symposium can be daunting for some, butbeing adequately prepared can work wonders30Advanced EngineeringThe UK’s advanced engineering and high valuemanufacturing community converged in recordnumbers at the NEC in Birmingham for the AdvancedEngineering UK 2012 group of events48SecurityWith many firms taking the Christmas period as achance to shut for a few weeks, security must be aconcern with empty properties often proving too muchtemptation for criminalsEnvironmentalBusiness Link Environmental is your ultimate guide tothe rapidly expanding world of green business.34Environmental newsThe latest news from this fast-moving sectorContentsDecember 20123620441103:Layout 1 26/11/12 08:44 Page 1If you listen to David Cameron we’re in the midst of an“economic war” – one that will be decided by the brave and thebold, those that won’t be afraid to throw convention to one sideand caution to the wind.This was the message the Prime Minister gave to the recentCBI conference. In full Churchillian mode, Cameron said,“Consultations, impact assessments, audits, reviews,stakeholder management, securing professional buy-in,complying with EU procurement rules, assessing sectorfeedback... this is not how we became one of the most powerful, prosperous nationson earth. It’s not how you get things done. So I am determined to change this.”If Cameron was a footballer, you can almost picture him thumping his chest andkissing his badge, and there’s no doubt this kind of stuff goes down well with the CBI.However, is he in touch with reality? Is red tape still hampering business, and isCameron as much a free market libertarian as he’d like us to believe?Time is running down on his Coalition government and even though we’ve been toldthe recession is finally over, the economy remains as flat as a city centre pub on aMonday evening. Talk comes cheap – Cameron and his boy wonder’s pals in theLiberal Democrats need to act fast. In this month’s issue we try and untangle some of the red tape Cameron vowed todo away with. Our timely feature on Supporting Business Growth examines howbusinesses are able to secure the cash they need despite the banks’ persistentreluctance to lend, and we also reflect on the Prime Minister’s pledge to get to gripswith the complex planning process. As this is our final issue of 2012, we also highlightthe many local companies that have battled with all that the economy can throw atthem and still managed to come out on top. We also take a topical look at how ourregion is developing as a future energy powerhouse.We hope you enjoy reading our latest offerings and look forward to a brighter 2013.In the meantime, on behalf of everyone at Business Link, I’d like to wish all our readersand advertisers a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.Good reading as always,W S FisherEditorEditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsSteve Williams (s.williams@blmgroup.co.uk)Mike Shields (m.shields@blmgroup.co.uk)Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)Editorial contactnewsdesk@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317Sales DirectorTeri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk)AdvertisingTel: (01472) 310310Kim Collins (k.collins@blmgroup.co.uk)Kelly Robertson (k.robertson@blmgroup.co.uk)Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, Dawn Cook, John DownesTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark Casson, Rachel GreenTel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314(studio@blmgroup.co.uk)E-Mail:yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.ukWebsitewww.blmforum.netAddressHaychart Ltd, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE.ISSN No:1462-2092All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwisewithout express permission of the copyright holder, for whichapplication should be addressed first to the publisher. Whileevery reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor itsparticipating agents accept liability for loss or damage toprints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material ofwhatever nature submitted to this publication. The viewsexpressed in this publication are not necessarily the views ofthose held by the publisher.This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recyclingmagazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paperindustry each year. Before you recycle your magazine,please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free giftsand samples. If you are unable to participate in a recyclingscheme, then why not pass your magazine onto a localhospital or charity?The magazine that caresWE CARE because we want to leave our world a better place than wefound itBusiness Link believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key tomaintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staffwill be proud to be part of.Community-From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We alsoextend that into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causesand charities. Environment-Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources,minimisation of waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise.From theEDITOR…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCOVER PHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / GABRIELA INSURATELU04:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:06 Page 1Martek Marine smashes£1 million profit barrierMartek Marine continues to forecast unprecedented growth afterexpanding by 33% to post a £6.9 million turnover and a seven-foldincrease in net profit to £1 million in the last financial year. A milestone twelve months for the Rotherham manufacturer andexporter included expanding to Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore,and heading a European consortium which is developing disruptivetechnology for shop ballast water treatment in a £25 billion market.Martek Marine is also about to launch a series of new products includingelectronic chart navigation for ships whilst Martek has forged a partnership withOrange to pioneer telecom technology in ships. Martek chief executive Paul Luen, pictured,says, “Our ongoing strategic expansion and cutting-edge products have enabled us to out-perform the market supported by over fifty sales and service partners internationally.”Politics meets businessin LincolnThree Lincolnshire MPs answered questions fromlocal business leaders at a special question time sessionorganised by the Lincolnshire branch of the IoD.Lincoln MP Karl McCartney and Grantham andStamford MP Nick Boles, who IoD Lincolnshire Membersmet for discussions at the Palace of Westminster in July,were joined on the panel by Nic Dakin, MP for Scunthorpe.Alex Ehmann, the IoD’s Head of Parliamentary and RegulatoryAffairs and Herman Kok, FinanceDirector of the Lindum Groupcompleted the panel which waschaired by IoD East MidlandsRegional Director Ron Lynch.As Annette Wood, IoDLincolnshire Chairman, anticipated,the panel were able to discuss vitalissues that affect the county’sbusiness scene, and with thePlanning Minister in Nick Bolesavailable for questioning, a livelydebate was assured. The paneldiscussed the role Lincolnshireplays in the UK’s infrastructure, with Herman Kok even suggesting that the county’s airportcapacity requirements could be met with a new airport at RAF Scampton. The views offellow Lincolnshire MP John Hayes on wind farms also came under the spotlight.The event, at Bishop Grosseteste University College, is a great example ofthe numerous valuable events the Lincolnshire IoD runs throughout theyear.Business Link 5www.blmforum.netLATEST NEWSProcurement the key in the battle for savingsLeeds’ Science Warehouse hosted leading figures from theprocurement profession, from both the public and private sector, todebate the future of procurement, one of the most rapidly evolvingsectors in the UK. With 40% of an organisation’s revenue being spent with externalproviders, effectively managing this spend is vital in an environmentof low growth. The Battle for Procurement Round Table at the RoyalArmouries debated the future of UK procurement and asked how theperception of procurement can be transformed from one oftransactors to strategic value creators.The twenty strong debate saw leading Yorkshire industry figures,included Tim Brannon from University of Leeds, Malcolm Taylorfrom DWP and Faye Barker from Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation,debate the future sector challenges. Tim Brannon, Head ofProcurement for the University of Leeds, said, “Procurement needsto align itself with organisational objectives and be seen as credible,adaptable and non-bureaucratic to ensure buy-in.”Venue announced fortourism OscarsThe Mecure Hull Grange Park Hotel at Willerby hasbeen chosen to stage the glittering awards ceremonyfor the Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awardsnext March.Organised by Visit Hull and East Yorkshire,it will be the fourth time the tourismOscars have been held and already, theyare shaping up to be the biggest andbest ever. The finals will seehundreds of Hull and EastYorkshire’s tourism finest gather tocelebrate the achievements of thissignificant industry, which is worth£615 million a year to the localeconomy, and the Grange Park seesit very much as a showcase for whatthe recently revamped hotel has tooffer.Local businesses are beingencouraged to enter for the high-profileawards which honour the very best in Hull andEast Yorkshire’s tourism industry. Nominations areopen now with forms available online atwww.visithullandeastyorkshire.com/reyta. The deadlinefor nominations is Monday 14th January.TheUK’s innovationagency, theTechnology StrategyBoard, will invest up to afurther £6 million in newLaunchpad competitions in thenext six months to accelerate thedevelopment of existing clusters ofinnovative high growth SMEsaround the UK. This builds on thesuccess of its £1.25 millioninvestment in London’smedia and technologyhub Tech City in2011.Harrogatedata destruction andcomputer hardwarespecialist Advanced DigitalDynamics is expanding itsoperation to the North West as itheads for 80% growth and £4 millionturnover this financial year.Underpinning the new office atDaresbury Science Park, recentmilestone developments includeboosting its expertise with theaddition of ADD Technical andonsite data destruction divisions– coupled with a near 50%increase in turnoverlast year.05-08:Layout 1 26/11/12 08:46 Page 1Dealmaker celebrates familybusiness awards successBoutique dealmaker Strategic CorporateFinance is celebrating success with aprestigious family business accolade. The Sheffield company, which givesspecialist advice on company acquisitions,disposals and management buyouts,received the Highly Commended Awardfor Leading Adviser to Family Businessesin the Midlands Family Business Awards. Strategic Corporate Finance has advisedon several deals involving familybusinesses this year. Managing director Andrew Coates, pictured,explains, “Going through a company sale or management buyout isusually a daunting prospect for any business owner, but it can be aparticularly difficult time for a family business.“We are proud that the judges of the Midlands Family BusinessAwards have recognised the outstanding value of the advice webring to family businesses at this critical time. They alsorecognised our commitment to starting to advise businesses onfuture transactions often many years before the transaction isenvisaged.”LATEST NEWS6Business Link www.blmforum.netR&B Group celebrates 21 yearsEvent, productionand communicationcompany R&B Group iscelebrating its 21styear in business and apositive increase insales compared to thesame period in 2011.Despite toughmarket conditions R&BGroup have expandedtheir national profile and grown the business. They believe that competitive rates make theman attractive option for national event organisers. The return to growth follows a three-yeardecline in sales and Kate Lambert, R&B Group Customer Service Manager, says, “Theenforced increase in efficiency which the downturn brought is now paying dividends, asactivity levels return to pre-2009 heights.”Development Director Antony Crerar says a positive attitude and skilled workforce hashelped weather the economic recession. He says, “We have recently recruited an AssistantProject Manager to the events team, three new staff to the warehouse and a CreativeDesigner, whose expertise will help in the delivery of 3D and augmented reality projects forour clients.”Development aims attop echelon for Pinders Sheffield digital print company Pinders hascompleted a £4 million city centre redevelopmentproject to accommodate its hi-specification machinery.The company’s ambitious project has doubled itscommercial space by turning an under-utilised areabehind Pinders’ existing base on Moore Street into astate of the art print works. The new developmentfeatures 23,000 sq ft of printing space andunderground car parking and will allow the companyto enhance its capabilities as a national player.The development, on the site of the former Swift &Goodinson premises and Becket & Garner Works onHodgson Street, will now house Pinders’ Indigo,VUTEK and Xerox presses.David Whiteway, managing director of Pinders, says,“Our development takes the company to the next level.This company is not about just printing business cardsbut encompasses everything from sign and display toweb to print solutions, corporate to personal – all atbusiness quality print.”Revamp creates exciting new opportunityA former landmark Lincoln watering hole is poised for a majorfacelift.Lincoln-based commercial agent Banks Long & Co confirms that cityplanners had given the green light to plans designed to modernise andupgrade the former Bowlo public house. Permission gained by Lincolnarchitect Framework will pave the way for a revamp of what is morepopularly known as the old Bowling Green Public House.Banks Long & Co director James Butcher says, “We believe that thefuture use of the building will be as a restaurant. Once completed, therefurbished property will provide around 3500 sq ft of trading spaceand have the capacity to seat up to 200 people.“This is an area that has grown substantially in recent years with thearrival of hundreds of new homes on the ninety-acre Bunkers Hill sitenorth of the bustling Carlton Centre Retail Park.”Hulllaw firmAndrew Jackson isthe top ranked firm inHull for the fourth yearrunning, according to thelatest findings of the UKedition of Chambers andPartners. The firm, which alsohas an office in Grimsby, hasachieved a total of 25recommendations withinChambers’ 2013 guide,whose findings arebased on extensiveclient research.05-08:Layout 1 26/11/12 08:46 Page 2Business Link 7www.blmforum.netLATEST NEWSAgencia celebrates fifteenyears in businessAgencia hascelebrated itsfifteenthanniversary. Themanagementconsultancy,founded in 1997 byAndrew Gibson, hasgrown steadily sinceits inception and isin a strong positionto tackle theeconomicchallenges facingmany organisations in the public, private and third sectors.Graham Barnett, Business Support Manager, has been with the companyfor eleven years, and says, “I have undertaken a variety of roles withAgencia during my time. I am proud to have been part of its developmentand feel the company structure is now at its strongest and ready toembrace future growth for itself and our clients.”Agencia has undertaken major strategic change during this fifteenthyear. Helen Gibson, now Joint Managing Director with her father Andrew,is keen to continue supporting Agencia’s clients. Agencia has alsostrengthened its management team, recruiting Business DevelopmentManager Victoria Austin, who has a background in private and third sectorsand two sector advisors.Forgemasters completesmammoth mill housingSheffieldForgemasters hascompleted manufactureof a mammoth millhousing, securingstrategic re-entry into anexisting geographicmarket and trouncingcompetition from Asia.Completion of thecontract re-establishesForgemasters in theAmerican metal rollingmills sector, which ithasn’t operated in forsome years.The order, for threemill-housing castingsweighing between 150and 300 tonnes for theATI Allegheny Ludlumadvanced hot-rolling andprocessing facility in Pennsylvania, was awarded by Siemens VAI basedon the extremely high quality of the Forgemasters castings, unmatchedby Asian competition.Michael Holloway, senior sales manager at Sheffield Forgemasters,says, “Servicing such contracts is precisely why we installed our twelvemillion pound North Machine Shop. The facility to cast such largecomponents and then to undertake the machine finishing of them inthis way exists in very few engineering facilities globally and it is a keyselling point for Forgemasters as it dramatically reduces the need tooutsource the work, thereby providing an economic advantage.”Training partnership celebratessuccessA partnership offeringunique trainingopportunities to youngpeople in Sheffield haswelcomed more than 500learners since its inceptionin 1999. The partnership isalso celebrating outstandingresults for 2012, with almost86% of the 250 studentsqualified successfully.The City Stewardshipprogramme contributes toSheffield becoming acleaner and greenerenvironment in which tolive, as well as improvingsocial housing propertiesand public spaces. Theprogramme is run inpartnership by Kier, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Homes andtraining provider CTS Training. An investment into the programme ofmore than £1.5 million is made by Sheffield City Council and SheffieldHomes every year.Kier regional managing director Simon Bullen says, “The results theprogramme has achieved in supporting young people are outstanding.However, we always try and identify scope for improvement in all thework we carry out and we, alongside our partners, are looking closelyat ways to better these results next year.”05-08:Layout 1 26/11/12 08:46 Page 3LATEST NEWS8Business Link www.blmforum.netDacre’s director celebrates 35 yearsDacre Son & Hartley director David Phillip is celebrating 35 years with thebusiness. David, who was born and bred in Skipton, joined the firm straightfrom Oundle School as an articled pupil in 1977.David became a Fellow in 1995, in the same year he also played aninstrumental role in buying back the business from the Abbey National,becoming a Director of the new business. David moved across to cover theHarrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Wetherby and Pateley Bridge areas. David says, “During 2008 I returned to Otley and this is where I still operatefrom today. Having worked at Dacres for 35 years I have seen the firm soldinto corporate ownership and then helped to buy it back during a veryuncertain economic climate. I remain at the ‘coalface’ of the business lookingafter customers and staff to ensure that maximum levels of services areprovided.”New robots boostproduction capacityat Northern PaperBoardSkipton packaging firm Northern PaperBoard has installed two automatedrobots, set to boost production capacitysignificantly. The new ABB roboticmachines to feed printers and foldergluers have been supplied by Dutch andBelgium manufacturer C-Tech Machines,which specialises in robotics andautomation systems.The contract, which cements anexisting trading partnership between thetwo companies, covers design,manufacture, supply, installation andafter-sales service. In addition, NorthernPaper Board has installed a dedicated on-site server, which enables direct linkswith technical experts at C-TechMachines. The expanding firm is undertaking a£2.4 million investment programme atits six-acre site in Engine Shed Lane. Ithas already installed new die cutting,folder gluing and printing machinery,and an automated pallet-wrapping line,along with new-build production,warehousing and office extensions,which have seen the facility expand to40,000 sq ft.KChas signalledits support for theWorld Trade Centre Hull& Humber’s ambitions todevelop a thriving regionaleconomy by becoming its tenthofficial business partner. With theWorld Trade Centre’s key focusareas including digital gamingand entertainment, in particularthe Platform initiative, KC’sbusiness and consumerdirector Gary Young saysthat this agenda integratedwell with thecompany’sstrategy.05-08:Layout 1 26/11/12 08:46 Page 4Business Link 9www.blmforum.netTAXATIONDon’t forgetyou can now read Business Linkon thego!Digital Editions now available on iPad & iPhoneWWW.BLMFORUM.NETIdeal for those who spendtime away fromtheir officeThe country’s green economyis achieving growth, investmentand results matched only by afew other sectors in recent years.In particular, projects connectedwith renewable energy areattracting major attention.According to government figures,businesses are planning to invest£2.5 billion in renewablesschemes, with the ability tocreate 12,000 jobs. At the moment, the UK is a netimporter of energy but the government wants security ofsupply, coupled with its binding target to obtain 15% of allenergy from green sources by 2020. This provides rareand potentially lucrative opportunities for businesses,through perhaps generating their own power by installinga wind turbine or solar panels, earning fresh revenue andcutting energy bills, or supplying the expansiverenewables supply chain.With an emphasis on hi-tech engineering, innovation isan important feature of the renewables landscape and taxcredits related to this activity is an area Streets’ expertscan advise on. Innovation brings the challenge ofdeveloping an initial concept into a commercially-viableproduct. It’s important to create the right businessstructure – perhaps joint licensing or entering into jointventure may allow a more sustainable approach ratherthan going it alone? There are various opportunities to invest and generateincome from the renewables market, some of which aredependent on the sector you are involved in. Ourknowledge of the agricultural sector, for example, meanswe can advise farmers on the tax implications of selling orleasing land and the installation of renewables projects.We have also identified product and job costing,scalability and volume – in a market where cost reductionis being demanded by politicians – as areas that greenbusinesses may require support with. Another critical area for consideration is attracting andkeeping hold of skilled people crucial to the company’ssuccess in this relatively new market.Whatever the issue, Streets has a team of specialistadvisers who can help with queries regarding new energy,renewables and green technologies. Andrew Manderfield is a partner, with Streets CharteredAccountants, a top 40 UK accountancy firm. Telephone0845 880 0320, email info@streetsweb.co.uk or visitwww.streetsweb.co.uk.Harnessingnew energy foryour businessby Andrew Manderfield, Partner, StreetsChartered Accountants09:Layout 1 26/11/12 08:47 Page 1Next >