DECEMBER 2016 £3.50YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukVOLUME 31 ISSUE 12PORTS &LOGISTICS The future of the logisticsindustryCOMMERCIALPROPERTY Looking aheadENERGY &RENEWABLESFunding the greenrevolutionSEASON’SGREETINGS SEASON’SGREETINGS 01_Layout 1 30/11/2016 10:23 Page 1Delivering Global Engineering Solutions from locations inTeesside: 01642 878784| Humberside: 01472 344901| Midlands: 01455 286071Food & Drink lUtility Companies lRenewable Energy lHeavy IndustryIntelect – Delivering Global Engineering SolutionsAt Intelect we have extensive experience providing engineering expertise to process industries involved in food &beverages manufacturing, utilities, heavy industry and renewable energy.We maintain an ongoing program of investment in staff, equipment and infrastructures in order to respond to theneeds of our customers, many of which are market leaders in their own industries.Along side our technical ability, we have an excellent reputation for delivering projects within time and budget whilstmaintaining the highest standards in health and safety.If you have any questions please phone 01472 344901, email: pb@intelecteng.com or visit: www.intelectuk.comDelivering Global Engineering SolutionsFor more information, visit www.dbsprocessing.co.ukor email info@dbsprocessing.com, alternativelyyou can call 01773 687090.Unit 4 Brook Court, Amber Drive, Langley Mill,Nottingham, NG16 4BEDBS Processing is aiming at worldwideleadership in developing and industriallymanufacturing innovative market-orientedequipment in bulk solids handling, mixing,waste water & sludge treatment, renewableenergy and vibration technology. The companyhas recently unveiled two new machines, thePSU:200 and SSU-200 respectively, aimed at thevarious needs of the recycling industries. 02_Layout 1 01/12/2016 13:59 Page 1Welcome to our December issue. Nodoubt readers will be busy preparingfor the festive season and that longawaited, and often much vaunted,event in the company calendar - theoffice Christmas party. Nothing sends the pulse of HRmanagers racing quite like it, especiallyin these days of political correctness,although I’m sure your event, and ours,will go as smooth as silk. For thosewhose does turn out to be one of theexceptions - do try to keep a sense ofhumour and remember most of us havebeen there at one time or another.Although it was far easier in the goodold days before mobile phones andclips could go viral!On the subject of politicalcorrectness, it now seems that TheresaMay, keen to improve public trust in bigbusiness, is revisiting the idea of forcingcompanies to publish pay ratios,showing the comparison between ChiefExecutive’s pay and the average worker. There is nothing new in this of course,the TUC has, for some time, beencalling for a 20 times pay cap betweenexecutives and their lowest paid staffand other countries have called fortheir own caps to fight against ‘fat cat’pay rises. With the Institute for FiscalStudies predicting workers will earn lessin real wages in 2021 than they did in2008, the Government appear to beaddressing this touchy subject, but thebig question is: will Ms May see thisthrough, or back pedal, as she appearsto have done on previous initiativesThe magazine that caresWe carebecause we want to leave our world a better place than we found itBusiness Linkbelieves that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key tomaintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staff willbe proud to be part of.Community- From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We also extendthat into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causes andcharities. Environment- Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources, minimisationof waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise.From theEditorAll in all 2016 hasbeen an interestingyear one way oranother, what with:the outcome ofthe EUreferendum,Donald Trumpmaking it to theWhitehouse andNigel Farage beingput forward as aUK ambassador.You couldn’t makeit up.over curbing boardroom pay? All in all 2016 has been an interestingyear one way or another, what with: theoutcome of the EU referendum, DonaldTrump making it to the Whitehouse andNigel Farage being put forward as a UKambassador (to name but a few). Youcouldn’t make it up, could you?Luckily in this, our final issue of 2016,we take a look at matters a little closerto home, rounding out the year with ananalytical look into some of our mostprominent industries and the challenges– and opportunities – ahead. Ourfeature on the manufacturing industryinvestigates what’s to come in the NewYear, while our logistics feature takes alook at a surprising turn that paints afar better picture many in the industryare painting. Along with an article discussing thevarying sources of finance investmentavailable for those looking at therenewables industry, we delve into theworld of corporate dining – somethingmany business leaders seem to haveforgotten all about.All this plus our monthly round-up oftopical news and more in our Decemberissue of the Business Link Magazine.Good reading, Merry Christmas and aHappy New Year to everyone!Michael FisherEditor03_Layout 1 30/11/2016 09:53 Page 1CONTENTSDECEMBER 20166NewsCatch up with the latest business news from around our region11Autumn StatementThe Chancellor’s first and last Autumn Statement – was it allabout treading water? by James Pinchbeck, Marketing PartnerStreets Chartered Accountants12LettersReaders’ letters and replies13Commercial propertyExploring the rise in occupier interest last year, and taking thereferendum result into account, helps paint a picture of the yearto come in the commercial property market16Ports and logisticsThe face of the logistics industry is ever changing, especially inthe Yorkshire and Lincolnshire region, the gateway betweennorth and south20Supporting business growthIt’s been a year of political and economic upheaval, and forbusinesses looking to grow in the coming year, there are as manyopportunities as challenges to the contrary 24Engineering and constructionLooking ahead will put the engineering and construction sectorsin good stead for the year to come28Food, chemicals and process industriesLooking into 2017, efficiency is sure to be a bigger concern thanever within our region’s manufacturing sector. Despite this, localcompanies are still behind the curve when it comes to controland automation31Corporate diningThe paper and pen environment of yesteryear has gone the wayof the pager and Filofax, but there are some business traditionsthat are well worth holding onto, corporate dining chief amongthem34Business sceneThe Stott family organised a special Charity Ball at Jocastas inLincoln to raise funds for ‘Meningitis Now’. It’s a cause very closeto the family’s hearts, as their son Dylan, tragically died ofMeningitis B in 200536Energy and renewablesInvesting in renewable energy has become more difficult with theGovernment less willing to offer finance, but there are alternativeroutes available40AutoLinkFleet managers are under pressure to decrease running costsand help reduce their company’s carbon footprint, but if youthought the only way to achieve this is to opt for a small car, orswitching to alternative fuels, you’d be mistaken• Duckworth Land Rover give advice on weather-proofing yourcar46EventsWe take a look at business events happening around Yorkshireand Lincolnshire50And finally…Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.netCONNECT WITH US13243604-05_Layout 1 30/11/2016 09:16 Page 1Group EditorSteve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)EditorMichael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk)JournalistsStuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk)Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk)Editorial contactnewsdesk@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310305 Fax: (01472) 310317Sales DirectorAngela Cooper (a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk)AdvertisingSam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk)Nikki Logan (n.logan@blmgroup.co.uk)Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk)Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@blmgroup.co.uk)Tel: (01472) 310310Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharman, John DownesTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark CassonTel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314(studio@blmgroup.co.uk)E-Mail: yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.ukWebsitewww.blmforum.netAddressHaychart Ltd, Armstrong House, ArmstrongStreet, 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?COVER PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM - SUE BURTON PHOTOGRAPHYLTD • TRONG NGUYEN • SHAHID KHAN • CHRISTIAN LAGEREK • NIELSKLIIMwww.blmforum.net2004-05_Layout 1 30/11/2016 09:17 Page 26Business Link www.blmforum.netNEWSManufacturerscautious amidstuncertaintyResearch undertaken by the UK manufacturing group, EEF, revealed that thosemembers planning to increase spending has halved to just 5% compared with twoyears ago, before the uncertainty of the Brexit. Despite uncertainty, 60% of its members said they would spend the same or lessover the next two years. The annual survey, which was conducted with Santander, also revealed thatworries about taking on fresh financial burdens had rocketed.The data shows that 53% of EEF’s members said they would postpone or cancelinvestment if they cannot fund it internally, compared with almost none previously.Moreover, more than half of manufactures said they are holding more cash on theirbalance sheet, up by a fifth compared to the same period two years ago.The research concluded that the sector is now watching nervously for the nextmajor development, warning that a decision against a major UK investment, or anelection being called once Article 50 is imposed, could act as ‘trigger points’.Swedish Bankplumps forspeculativeSheffield officespaceSwedish bank Handelsbanken has taken 3,500 sq ft ofoffice space at 3 St Paul’s Place in Sheffield city centre.3 St Paul’s Place, developed by CTP and U+I and builtby Bowmer & Kirkland, is the final part of the pioneering£130 million Heart of the City project. It is the firstspeculative office building in Sheffield to be developedsince the recession.David Topham, Director of Manchester-baseddevelopers CTP, said: “Our decision to develop aspeculative Grade A office building in Sheffield in themidst of the recession has been vindicated and we arevery proud of the quality of the office space we havecreated. There is now strong interest in the remainder ofthe building and we look forward to announcing newtenants in due course.”Handelsbanken has been in Sheffield since 1957 andhas relocated from Tudor Square in the city.The construction of 3 St Paul’s Place went aheadfollowing a landmark agreement between CTP and U+Iwith Sheffield City Council and the Department forCommunities and Local Government. Powerhouse Ministerpraises Goole’s industrialheritageABP recently welcomed the Northern Powerhouse Minister to the port of Goole toan event marking the end of refurbishment works on the port’s last remaining boathoist.Andrew Percy, pictured, MP for Brigg and Goole, spoke at the event, stating that theheritage of the area was something that shouldn’t be overlooked as it has anenormous impact on the economy of Goole, and will continue to do so.More than £200,000 has been invested in the Grade II listed hoist, with more than£100,000 of that investment put forward by ABP, which owns and operates the Portof Goole. The works will future-proof the structure to ensure it continues to stand guard on the port’s South Dock for residents and visitors to see.The ABP funding was used to improve access by adding a new ladder and balcony and strengthening the internal floors, as well as completingrepairs to the cladding on the southern façade, while more than £100,000 invested by Historic England was spent on repairs to the Tipping RamHouse.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/VADIM RATNIKOV06-10_Layout 1 30/11/2016 08:51 Page 1Innovia’s Propafilm™ protectsYorkshire TeaInnovia Films has been supplying speciality Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene(BOPP) films to the packaging industry for over 45 years under the trademark,Propafilm™. The range includes films that offer specific properties for particularapplications. Yorkshire Tea, one of Taylors of Harrogate’s iconic brands and one of the best-selling teas in the UK uses Propafilm™ to protect its exceptional ‘big flavour’.Working as a key packaging partner to Taylors of Harrogate allows Innovia Filmsto offer them a range of packaging solutions to meet their box overwrap needs onthe Yorkshire Tea range and other products.Conrad Hart-Brooke, Head of Packaging at Taylors of Harrogate, said: “ThePropafilm™ grade that we currently use on our Yorkshire Tea boxes is an anti-static,high speed overwrapping film. The high level of anti-static enhances machineperformance and minimises dust attraction onto the wrapped packs. This film alsooffers good puncture and impact resistance and provides an excellent quality appearanceon the finished packs.”www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 7Leeds med-techmanufactureracquires instrumentsbusinessSurgical Innovations Group, the Leeds-based designer andmanufacturer of medical technology for minimally invasive surgery, hasacquired the laparoscopic instruments business and related assets ofSurgical Dynamics for £360,000. Surgical Dynamics is a privately owned company based in CountyDurham and specialises in the design, development and rapid prototypingof a range of medical products. Revenues for the year ended 31December 2015 amounted to £0.12 million and loss before tax was £0.17million.In addition, Surgical Dynamics has introduced specialist productionprocesses including metal injection moulding of medical components,which are of particular relevance to SI Group and others in this sector. Following the transaction, all of Surgical Dynamics’s business in theproduction and distribution of single-use laparoscopic products will berelocated to the SI Group site at Leeds, and SDL has undertaken to offerany new products developed in the laparoscopic field exclusively to SIGroup for a minimum period of three years. Sophomore Women’sEnterprise Conferencea successMore than 100 women have enhanced their knowledge,boosted their confidence and forged valuable new contacts afterattending this year’s Women’s Enterprise Conference.Organiser and Community Lincs Chief Executive Fiona Whitewelcomed both returning delegates and first-timers alike. Keynote speaker Ursula Lidbetter MBE, CEO at LincolnshireCo-op, kicked-off the day by sharing her career journey andspeaking about earning respect and getting success in thecommercial world. Behaviour management consultant Caroline Mentzel;therapeutic yoga and somatic movement teacher and therapistLiz Underwood; leadership and confidence coach Jackie Booth;co-founder and an ambassador of Hill Holt Wood and BishopGrosseteste University coach Karen Lowthrop MBE and‘accidental social entrepreneur’ Mary Hollis from Green Synergy,completed the line-up of guest speakers. Workshop sessions, designed to inform and encourage, leftdelegates with plenty of food for thought. Leaders included thetransformational coach Sanjaya Pandit, businesswoman andauthor of The Big Shift Michele Walsh and the University ofLincoln’s School of English & Journalism Deputy Head DeborahWilson David. Women’s Enterprise Day exhibitions also included highereducation specialists, business support and networking groups.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/FIRMA VInnovia Films’ Propafilm™provides product protectionfor Yorkshire Tea06-10_Layout 1 30/11/2016 08:51 Page 28Business Link NEWSYorkshire vital to delivering UK’sfourth industrial revolutionThe UK could deliver the ‘fourth industrialrevolution’ by creating a new NorthernAdvanced Manufacturing Corridor,stretching from the Sheffield City Region toLancashire, according to the findings of anew science and innovation audit.The audit, ‘Driving Productivity GrowthThrough Innovation in High ValueManufacturing’, shows that betweenSheffield City Region and Lancashire aremany of the key components and assetsneeded to drive productivity growth insectors which rely on advancedmanufacturing and key linked sectors, tostrengthen the economy of the region andequip the UK to compete globally.The audit was commissioned by theDepartment for Business, Energy andIndustrial Strategy and will informinvestment decisions to stimulateproductivity and economic growth acrossthe Northern Powerhouse; playing a key partin the region’s contribution to the nationalindustrial strategy and nationwide economicgrowth. The University of Sheffieldundertook the audit in partnership withLancaster University.Sheffield selected to hostHorasis China summitSheffield City Region’s bid to host Horasis 2017, a global economicsummit that has set the agenda for the World’s East/West collaborationsfor over a decade, has been confirmed. Heads of Government, ministers and influential investors will be inSheffield in November next year to investigate strategies that will shapethe global economy and forge new approaches to pressing social,economic and geopolitical challenges. Horasis 2017 will attract chief executives from the world’s leadingcompanies and is considered by many of the world’s foremost businessleaders to be alongside the Davos economic summit in terms of itsinfluence.Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), a partnershipof local authorities and business leaders with a growing global network,was invited to bid to host the summit in 2016 following the appointmentof Sir Nigel Knowles as Chairman. Sir Nigel had previously attended Horasis and Davos and wasconvinced that its ambitious East/West approach would suit theenterprising ethos of the SCR and its business and academicpartnerships.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/SHAHID KHANPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/CRYSTAL51What’s Trending?This month Year-End PlanningVisit www.streetsweb.co.uk to download year-end planning for 2016/17 or call 0845 880 032006-10_Layout 1 30/11/2016 08:51 Page 3www.blmforum.netBusiness Link 9Rotherham dronespecialist scoopsmulti-million eurocontractRotherham’s Martek Drones, part of the Martek Marinemaritime technology group, has won a €10 millionframework contract with the European Maritime SafetyAgency (EMSA). The company will send its 2-metre long drones up to50km offshore to measure the sulphur and CO2 levelsemitted from the exhausts of commercial ships. The call to deploy these drones could be made fromany EU nation at any time. EMSA will then relay therequest to Martek, which will send two drones and a crewto monitor the seas for a minimum of 60 days in eachlocation. The land-based team will manoeuvre the droneclose to ship exhaust stacks and use a gas analyser tomeasure the SO2, NO2 and CO2 ratios in the surroundingatmosphere. The drones are equipped with both visiblelight and infra-red (thermal imaging) cameras, as well asvarious other sensors. The data they gather will be sent back to shippingauthorities in real time so they can evaluate if ship ownersare falling foul of EU legislation on sulphur levels in theirfuel, which causes acid rain and damages health. Leeds agency scoops Microsoft contract Microsoft has awarded a global project to Leeds-based digital agencyBolser ahead of a number of international competitors. Following a competitive pitching process in the US, Bolser has beenappointed to redesign Microsoft’s learning and advocacy program,ExpertZone.The platform is essential for Microsoft’s retail and contract centre staffto build their knowledge of its products. Bolser’s knowledge on using gamification as a route to online learningand their proven track record in this area were cited as key factors inbeing awarded the project.The brief is to help evolve the user experience on the eLearningplatform, which is used in over 77 countries, across 32 languages. Work includes introducing a loyalty rewards program and deep sitepersonalisation. Through the use of big data analytics and deep profilingdata, the team are developing a site that gives each user a completelydifferent experience, tailored directly to them. They will each see adifferent journey built just for them, based on what they know, how theyact, how they feel about Microsoft, and how they like to be rewarded.‘Pioneering’ Bradfordbusiness park nets firstlettingThe Newhall Business Park, constructed and developed by Bradford developerFrank Marshall Estates, has secured its first letting.The park, which is the first speculative industrial development to be built inBradford since the recession, will create 120 new jobs.Wilkies Floors, part of the MCD Group, is taking 3,250 sq ft of quality industrialand trade counter space in Unit 5 on the estate. Frank Marshall Estates bought the five-acre business park, part of Prologis Park,from Prologis for an undisclosed sum earlier last year. Outline planning for eightbusiness units, totalling 38,000 sq ft, has been granted by Bradford City Council.The development has been built by Bradford construction company Percy PickardContractors. Frank Marshall Estates is run by Edward and Jimmy Marshall and is awell-established real estate company with significant commercial assets in Yorkshire. Frank Marshall Estates is moving their headquarters to the site from the nearbyLink 606 Office Park next spring, occupying the 17th century Grade II listed buildingwhich fronts Rooley Lane and was formerly the club house of West Bowling GolfClub. 06-10_Layout 1 30/11/2016 08:51 Page 4Next >