DECEMBER 2025 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 40 ISSUE 12 In demandA year of disruption and renewal How innovation is protecting construction workersWhether it’s banner ads, headers, newsletters, podcasts or print campaigns from as little as £60 a month, please contact Angie Cooper T: 01472 310310 E: a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk www.blmforum.net Printing|Copying|Graphic Design LOGOS | BRANDING | BUSINESS STATIONERY FLYERS & POSTERS | BROCHURES | NEWSLETTERS A0 COPYING & SCANNING | OS MAPPING CAD & PLAN PRINTING | PRINT FINISHING High Quality Print & Design in Lincolnshire N 01522 546118 E sales@lincolncopycentre.co.uk www.lincolncopycentre.co.uk 45 YEARS IN BUSINESSThe magazine that cares We care because we want to leave our world a better place than we found it Business Link believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key to maintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staff will be proud to be part of. Community - From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We also extend that into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causes and charities. Environment - Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources, minimisation of waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise. Welcome… From tax pressures and rising costs to skills shortages and redundancies, 2025 has been (another) tough year for businesses, and as we near its end, many will be considering what is to come in 2026 — whether looking ahead with hope or dread. But the year is not over just yet; in the meantime, the pre-Christmas rush has arrived, with December standing as a hectic time for businesses, just as it is for magazines, when all January issues must be written before people break up for the holiday. For employees, meanwhile, the Christmas period provides a moment to reflect, reconsider their future, and potentially search for a new job. At this time of year, it is more important than any for employers to show appreciation to hardworking staff, whether it be through a raise, offering opportunity for professional development come the new year, a Christmas bonus, or a classic Christmas party. When it comes to the latter, don’t forget to include your remote team members in any festivities — colleagues that deserved to be rewarded as much as any other, and a topic on which we have a feature in this very issue. We also pause to take a look back on the successes amidst the storms of 2025 for the region, dive into the hot topic of AI, highlight construction industry innovation, and more. Good reading, and merry Christmas! Tess Egginton Editor Editor From thecontents december 2025 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 10 Commercial property Key counties for industrial & logistics property, with their strategic location, extensive multi-modal transport links, and skilled workforce, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire continue to welcome new developments, deals, and expanding businesses. 14 End of year success stories From refinery redundancies and retail withdrawals to record-breaking clean-energy investment and fresh momentum behind Doncaster Sheffield Airport, 2025 reshaped the region’s economic story in unexpected ways, revealing both the pressures facing local industries and the foundations of a more resilient future. 18 Kingston Engineering Kingston Engineering pioneers the way ahead for precision manufacturing. 20 Construction innovation From sensor-rich PPE to robotic support systems, a wave of technology is transforming site safety and lifting the burden from workers across the UK’s construction sector. 24 Corporate hospitality With workforces spread across offices and homes, companies are rethinking festive hospitality by pairing in-person events with inclusive remote experiences that keep everyone connected. 28 Artificial intelligence After a rapid surge in adoption, businesses are reassessing how AI fits into their operations. Stronger governance, cleaner data and better training are emerging as the real foundations of successful implementation. 32 AutoLink Rev up: three new cars for business and pleasure. • We put the TALOS XXT through its paces. 38 Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. 42 And finally… Yorkshire-Lincolnshire- Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.net connect with us 14 20 24Group Editor Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor 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) Tel: (01472) 310310 Tel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311 Tel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314 E-Mail: yorks-lincs@blmgroup.co.uk Haychart Ltd, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded 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 publication are not necessarily the views of those COVER PHOTOS: STOCK.ADOBE.COM / NGAMAZ • STOCK.ADOBE.COM / RYNA • STOCK.ADOBE.COM / MARYNA • TALOS VEHICLES • STOCK.ADOBE.COM / NAS www.blmforum.net 326 Business Link www.blmforum.net Seaweed pioneers secure funding to expand UK’s ‘blue economy’ A Yorkshire company that has found a way to improve ocean health through the cultivation of seaweed and shellfish is set for expansion after securing a six-figure loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). SeaGrown, which operates a 25-hectare site in the sea off Scarborough, has completed a number of trials with windfarm operators as well as a £2.8m government demonstration project which found its technology could ‘transform the seaweed industry’. The funding will enable it to help expand its business and take on new commercial contracts. Seaweed can improve water quality, increase biodiversity and draw down carbon. SeaGrown’s Kelpedo system enables seaweed and shellfish to be grown at scale and wherever needed. The system has also been designed to be operated by fishing boats, providing diversification opportunities for local fleets. Seagrown was founded in 2018 by Captain Wave Crookes, a former fisherman who has held senior roles in the Royal Navy and RNLI, and marine scientist Professor Laura Robinson, who met when working on the British Antarctic Survey. news Holbeach automation specialists move to new headquarters Automation specialists, Control Freaks Ltd, have opened new headquarters at Holbeach Technology Park, marking a major milestone in their 23-year journey of growth. The move to Unit 2, Holbeach Technology Park, represents a significant investment in the company’s future, providing a modern workspace that will support expansion, create local opportunities, and strengthen Lincolnshire’s growing technology sector. Founded in 2006 by managing director Clint Johnson, Control Freaks Ltd serves clients nationwide across sectors including food and beverage, defence, manufacturing, and energy infrastructure. Speaking about the move, commercial director Ian Davison said: “This is more than just a change of address, it’s a major step forward for Control Freaks and for Holbeach. The new headquarters gives us the space and facilities to grow our team, take on more complex projects, and continue delivering the quality our customers expect.” Located just 1.5 miles from the company’s previous Fleet Road premises, the new headquarters features a manufacturing floor six times larger than before, along with dedicated offices, a boardroom, and a technical development area. District heating specialist Valmech acquired by OCU Group OCU Group has acquired Valmech, a specialist provider of district heating and mechanical engineering services headquartered near Sheffield. The acquisition strengthens OCU’s position within the UK’s energy transition market, enhancing its integrated energy and utilities offering and establishing a dedicated platform for district heating delivery, with potential for future international growth. Valmech was founded in 2016 and provides mechanical services including district heating installations, plant rooms, heating and domestic pipework services and gas pipework. Following the acquisition, Valmech will continue to be led by its current management team as part of OCU Group. Simon Waller, founder of Valmech, said: “Partnering with OCU Group opens an exciting new chapter for Valmech. OCU’s strength in the utilities and energy transformation, along with their commitment to people, safety and innovation, will support our long-term growth and the development of our team.” Sheffield renewable energy certification firm snapped up Renewable energy certification firm Evident has been snapped up by Xpansiv to unite their registry and infrastructure capabilities to support the growth of the global renewable energy markets. The agreement, in which US group Xpansiv has wholly acquired Sheffield-based Evident, follows an earlier, minority investment by Xpansiv in the registry operator and certification body. It combines Evident’s I-REC(E) and other registries with Xpansiv’s North American Renewables Registry and Tradable Instrument for Global Renewables Registry to establish a global REC network with over 300 GW of capacity and more than 4,000 participating companies. John Melby, CEO, Xpansiv, said: “Today’s announcement reflects the shared goals and close relationship we have developed with Evident as we work to build energy transition solutions at scale, centering on transparent, independent certification and robust infrastructure.” Andy Clough and My-Ha Hoang of Mercia, back, with SeaGrown founders Wave Crookes and Laura Robinson.www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 news Leeds pallet racking and warehouse storage specialist acquires new headquarters A Leeds-based pallet racking and warehouse storage specialist has acquired a new 24,500 sq ft building on a 2.2-acre site in Pudsey. Stamina Storage Systems is moving from its warehouse in Morley to new, larger permanent headquarters off Troydale Lane. The new site offers increased warehouse capacity and extended office space to support the company’s growing team and operations. Peter Gobbi, managing director at Stamina Storage Systems, said: “This exciting move is a huge step forward for our business. We have been in our previous location in Morley for 11 years, and with a growing UK customer base, the Pudsey site is perfectly positioned to give us space to hold more stock, alongside the infrastructure we need to keep growing and deliver even faster turnaround times for customers. “This move is a proud moment for the whole team who have helped get us to where we are today, and we are now well positioned for the next phase of growth, continuing to strengthen our reputation as a reliable and forward- thinking supplier of pallet racking, warehouse shelving, longspan shelving, cantilever shelving and mezzanine floors.” Heywood Timber Engineering acquires Heywood Rooftruss, saving 44 jobs Halifax- headquartered Heywood Timber Engineering has acquired Heywood Rooftruss in a deal acted on by law firm Clough & Willis. The sale was coordinated by FRP Advisory who were appointed as the administrators of Heywood Rooftruss in July. Founded in 2005, Heywood Timber Engineering is a designer, manufacturer and installer of timber framed buildings as well as flooring and roofing products for the construction industry. The deal has saved 44 jobs at Heywood Rooftruss and the companies have now formally merged. The newly combined business is led by Andrew Fletcher, managing director; and Dominic Farley, operations director. Andrew has worked at Heywood Timber Engineering for 11 years, whilst Dominic has been with the company since 2023. Andy Herricks, partner at Clough and Willis, said: “Andrew and the team at Heywood Timber Engineering are experts in their field and have built a business with an enviable reputation in the construction sector. “Their acquisition of Heywood Rooftruss was a natural fit and I wish them all the best for the future.” Bruntwood SciTech advances next phase of West Village campus Bruntwood SciTech has outlined the redevelopment of 100 Wellington Street in Leeds as part of the next stage of its West Village innovation campus. The building will be rebranded as 3 West Village and undergo a full refurbishment to create 44,500 sq ft of flexible workspace designed for creative, digital, and innovation-focused organisations. Around 17,000 sq ft remains available. Andrew Cooke, regional director – Leeds for Bruntwood SciTech, said: “The transformation of 100 Wellington Street is an exciting development for the campus and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering the space that Leeds’ innovation economy needs to thrive. West Village has already established itself as a destination for ambitious businesses, and this expansion will allow us to welcome more organisations into this thriving community.” The project builds on the £20 million investment that launched West Village in 2024. The campus has already attracted firms including QBE and PEXA, strengthening Leeds’ position as a destination for tech-driven businesses. Andy Herricks, Clough & Willis Peter Gobbi, managing director at Stamina Storage SystemsFlint Bishop lands major coup with appointment of former Walker Morris managing partner to lead North division In a move that cements its reputation as one of the UK’s most dynamic and fastest-growing independent law firms, Flint Bishop has appointed Malcolm Simpson as managing partner for the North, with responsibility for the firm’s Leeds, Sheffield, and York offices. Operating from six strategic hubs across England and Wales, Flint Bishop has seen exceptional growth in recent years, reporting turnover of £32m with projected revenues set to exceed £40m this financial year. The strategic appointment of Simpson, who served as managing partner of Walker Morris LLP between 2018 and 2024, represents a major coup for Flint Bishop. A highly respected law firm leader and disputes specialist, Simpson brings an impressive track record of transformation, profitability, and cultural renewal to his new role. As managing partner for the North, Simpson will spearhead the development of Flint Bishop’s newly established North division, driving the next phase of the firm’s strategic expansion and integration across its national platform. He has a clear mandate to accelerate growth through organic expansion, targeted lateral hires, team integrations, and further acquisition activities. 8 Business Link www.blmforum.net Key Capital Partners exits investment in Darts Corner following significant growth Leeds-based private equity firm Key Capital Partners has completed a successful exit from Darts Corner, the specialist darts retailer and brand owner, following its acquisition by private equity firm Ethos Partners. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Bolton, Darts Corner has evolved from a niche online retailer into a global e-commerce platform. The business now serves customers in over 100 countries. Since Key’s investment in 2020, the firm has worked closely with CEO Craig Heenighan and the senior team to deliver a transformation strategy focused on brand development, international growth, and operational enhancement. This included investment in digital systems, infrastructure, and team capability to support scale and efficiency. During Key’s investment period, revenues almost doubled from £11m to over £21m, reflecting strong performance across direct-to- consumer, marketplace, and trade channels. The secondary buyout by Ethos Partners marks the next chapter in Darts Corner’s growth story, with continued focus on expanding international reach and developing its proprietary brands. news LDC backs ARC Building Solutions to accelerate expansion ARC Building Solutions, a Leeds manufacturer specialising in passive fire protection systems, has secured investment from LDC to support a new phase of growth. Founded in 2008, ARC has expanded steadily due to sustained demand for systems that meet increasingly stringent fire protection and sustainability standards. LDC’s investment will fund additional production capacity, upgraded operational systems, and the expansion of its sales and support functions. The private equity firm is backing ARC’s existing leadership team, led by chief executive Neil Weeks. Members of LDC’s Yorkshire team, including investment director Will Scales and partner Dan Smith, will join ARC’s board as non-executive directors. Industry veteran Kevin Sargeant has been appointed non-executive chair. Newable, which first invested in ARC in 2019, will reinvest in the business as part of the transaction. York and North Yorkshire launch new bioeconomy cluster to drive regional growth York and North Yorkshire have launched a new Bioeconomy Cluster to cement the region’s position as a national leader in sustainable innovation and growth. Backed by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Mayoral Business Innovation Fund, the initiative brings together businesses, researchers, and policymakers to strengthen collaboration across key areas such as agritech, sustainable food production, and bio-based manufacturing. The region already plays a major role in the UK’s bioeconomy, accounting for more than 10% of the national workforce and home to over 7,000 businesses operating in the sector. Employment in the region’s bioeconomy is more than twice the national average, and growth between 2015 and 2021 outpaced that of the wider UK economy. Malcolm Simpsonwww.blmforum.net Business Link 9 news DJL Fencing Contractors secures £1.5m to expand operations DJL Fencing Contractors Limited has received £1.5m in funding from NatWest to support its expansion plans in West Yorkshire. The investment has enabled the Featherstone-based company to acquire a 23,000 sq ft industrial warehouse, providing additional storage and administrative space. The new facility is expected to streamline operations, increase capacity, and improve overall efficiency as the business continues to grow its client base across the UK. Founded in 2008, DJL Fencing Contractors specialises in site hoarding and fencing for construction, demolition, and building firms. The company also intends to install solar panels at the new site as part of its sustainability strategy, aiming to reduce emissions and lower operational costs. The move reflects growing momentum among construction suppliers investing in energy efficiency and long-term infrastructure resilience. Fast-growing manufacturer takes final building at Hull’s @TheDock tech campus Commercial property developer Wykeland Group has secured innovative manufacturer Vuba to occupy the final building at Hull’s @TheDock tech campus. Vuba provides hi-tech, permeable surfacing solutions and boasts a host of celebrity fans, including former football manager and TV personality Harry Redknapp. The business was an original member of the digital community that inspired Wykeland’s investment to create the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub, which was followed by further phased development to complete @TheDock. Vuba is now coming full circle back to Hull’s waterfront to occupy the final building within the @TheDock commercial community. It means @TheDock, in Hull’s Fruit Market area, is fully let. Vuba is relocating its headquarters from Beverley, East Yorkshire, and is taking the entire 11,000 sq ft building. The move will accelerate the company’s digital growth, with plans to expand a team of digital marketers, social media and content creators, videographers and website developers. Advanced Plastics Group transitions to employee ownership Hull-based Advanced Plastics Group, a manufacturer of technical injection moulded products for blue chip clients across a range of market sectors, has transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). The strategic move secures the company’s long-term independence and recognises the contributions of its employees to its continued success. Established in 1992 as Advanced Plastics & Composites Ltd and now operating from sites in Hull, Manchester and Fareham, by becoming an employee-owned business, Advanced Plastics Group ensures its legacy, protects its values, and ensures its commitment to clients and industry partners. Rob Anderson, joint CEO of Advanced Plastics Group, said: “This is a proud moment in our company’s history. Becoming 100% owned by an EOT allows us to preserve our independence while ensuring our dedicated colleagues have a direct stake in the future success of the business. “Our customers will continue to receive the same high standard of service, with the added assurance that our team is fully invested in delivering excellence. We have a strong leadership team at Advanced Plastics Group, fully capable of driving the company’s growth strategy and guiding our colleagues through this transition.” From left, Vuba managing director Sean Scott, with Wykeland’s property director Neil Riseham and development manager Tom Watson outside Vuba’s new headquarters at Hull’s @TheDock tech campusNext >