JANUARY 2023 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 38 ISSUE 01 Net zero planningLooking aheadAhead of the pack 01.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 09:01 Page 1Kingston Engineering Co. (Hull) Ltd Pennington Street, Hull, East Yorkshire. HUB 7LD. UK Tel: +44 (0)1482 325676 Email: sales@kingston-engineering.co.uk Website: www.kingston-engineering.co.uk Specialised precision machined components Corrosion prevention Component reclamation and enhancement Production machinery maintenance and repair Ex-stock power nuts and screws Specialised power screw products Leading Specialist Manufacturer and Producers of Bespoke Power Screws Over One Hundred Years Of Engineering Excellence 1HZ+RXVLQJ'HYHORSPHQWVWKDWIDFH1XWULHQW1HXWUDOLW\ RUOLWWOHQRFDSDFLW\6HYHUQ7UHQW&RQQHFWFDQKHOSSOHDVHFRQWDFWXV 67&RQQHFW %HQHĬWV ;&KHPLFDOIUHH:DVWHZDWHU7UHDWPHQWSODQWV ;2GRXUOHVVDQGTXLHW ;8QREWUXVLYHDQGVPDOOIRRWSULQW ;(QYLURQPHQWDODQGVXVWDLQDELOLW\PDWWHUV ;1RQSRWDEOHZDWHUVHUYLFHV UDLQZDWHUDQGJUH\ZDWHUV\VWHPV ;1XWULHQW1HXWUDOLW\ ;$GRSWLRQRIVXVWDLQDEOHGUDLQDJHV\VWHP 6X'6 ;/RZHUFXVWRPHUELOOV ;5HPRYDORISRWHQWLDOGHOD\VDQGH[SHGLWHGGHYHORSPHQW ;&HUWDLQW\LQWLPHIUDPH ;2IZDWUHJXODWHG ZZZVWFRQQHFWFRXN For All Business Development Enquiries Please Contact Business Development Manager Lara Day Email: Lara.day @ st-connect.co.uk Mobile: 07384 450 701 02.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 09:01 Page 1The 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. From the Editor It’s a new year, a new set of opportunities and quite possible a lot of new challenges for businesses in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. While we do try to be positive where we can, there’s no denying 2022 ended on a sour note with industrial action by public servants, and a complete refusal for anyone in power or government to accept responsibility in any way. That’s been a factor of governance for a while sadly, and it’s been an ever-present problem since Brexit some 6-7 years ago. It’s unlikely this will change in 2023 and it might not change at all until 2025 with the next general election where, even if the Conservatives win again (which all pundits say is unlikely) they will at least be blaming the old administration and pretending they had no part in it. Yet again, it’s up to our region to take matters into our hands and try to make the best of what we have. The focus this year is undoubtedly going to be on squeezing more out of existing assets rather than big investment in new ones, and that’s going to mean taking a deep look at how businesses are run and how to make them more efficient. We’ll be keeping with you all along the way and doing our best to help out, so let’s put our heads together and fix the economy ourselves. It doesn’t look like anyone else is going to. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 09:02 Page 1JANUARY 2023 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 12 Stokes Tea & Coffee Q&A For some independent businesses, market challenges can be the catalyst for change and innovation. This is true for Stokes Tea & Coffee, a family of coffee roasters that has been operating for over 120 years. 14 New year new supplier Introduce a resolution for your business in 2023 and keep it with these simple steps. 16 2023 business predictions It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. 20 Commercial property The rules are in and the property industry must comply – we look into what people should expect as we move into 2023. 24 Logistics and transport Research shows there is over £2 billion in goods stuck in Yorkshire warehouses due to supply chain issues, and yet the sector still struggles to bring in new talent. 28 IT and communications Just because your IT and telecoms currently works doesn’t mean it’s working at peak efficiency, or that it’s safe. 32 Productivity and efficiency in manufacturing Line clearance is an overlooked part of processing, and one area in which vast efficiencies can be made. 36 Renewables It’s time to stop dragging our feet and start looking toward environmental energy – Yorkshire and Lincolnshire has a lot to gain from it. 40 AutoLink As the world emerged from lockdowns and restrictions, fuel prices – which had been at their lowest for many years – surged following a massive increase in demand. 44 Corporate hospitality Any corporate event requires solid planning to triumph. 46 Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. 50 And finally… Yorkshire-Lincolnshire- Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.net CONNECT WITH US 16 20 28 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 09:03 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) Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311 Tel: (01472) 310304 Fax: (01472) 310314 Haychart Ltd, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE. 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 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 COVER PHOTOS: STOCK.ADOBE.COM - ADOBEDESIGNER • JAG_CZ • RUDALL30 • NARAWIT • MARTIN BARRAUD/KOTO 24 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 09:03 Page 2Work starts on new low carbon homes in Leeds Citu have started on-site at ‘Stall’; a new community of 51 low carbon, high performance, low energy homes which will transform forgotten brownfield land in the historic area of Kirkstall in Leeds. Located on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, ‘Stall’ will be a new sustainable place designed to support the fabric, urban grain and context of the site, encouraging nature to flourish within an urban setting. The canal-side location includes a precious green corridor that passes Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve and the famous Kirkstall Abbey. ‘Stall’ will feature 4-bed ‘Canal Houses’, 1 and 2- bed ‘Loft Apartments’ and 2-bed Gatehouse Apartments. Jonathan Wilson, Managing Director of Citu, said: “We’re continuing to rip up the rule books which make outdated assumptions about how to design for the ways people enjoy living. “It’s a bold statement but we want to change the world and with our design team, factory and community of residents located on one site in Leeds at the Climate Innovation District, we’re constantly observing, listening, learning and evolving our designs.” 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS Melton Building Society announce appointment of new Non-Executive Director and celebrate maintaining gender balance on the Board Melton Building Society have announced the appointment to its board of Elizabeth Lockwood as Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk Committee. Elizabeth joins the Melton Board after 25 years in the banking industry as a risk management specialist. She spent 15 years covering corporate and financial institutions at Deutsche Bank in the UK, before moving onto senior and executive risk roles in commercial, retail and private banking at RBS/Natwest. Melton Building Society is a signatory of the Women in Finance Charter and is proud to have a gender mix across the Board, which includes three females in key roles within the Board for the first time in the society’s history. This includes a female Chair, Chair of Risk Committee and Senior Independent Director. The society’s approach is to achieve this balance of representation whilst also pursuing the strategy of hiring the right person for the role, regardless of gender. Systematic appoints three new directors Design, print and marketing business Systematic, based in Caistor, Lincolnshire, has appointed three new directors. Following their promotion Ben Crossfield, Jacqui Vear and James Walker will work alongside Finance Director and MD Sharon Robey to help take the business to the next stage of growth. Despite suffering the tragic loss of Sharon’s husband and Managing Director Chris Robey last year, the firm has exceeded its targets and turned over more than £4m for the first time in its 47-year history. Operations Director Jacqui Vear said: “This year has been hard for the whole team, but especially Sharon, and I’m proud of the way we’ve supported each other. “Our clients, partners and suppliers have been hugely supportive and with Chris very much in mind we’re looking forward to the future growth of the business.” For more information about Systematic or the range of services it offers please visit www.systematic.uk 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 09:05 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS Yorkshire businesses back a better 2023 as turnover prospects shine brighter The majority of Yorkshire businesses expect 2023 to be more successful than 2022, despite challenging economic forecasts, according to the latest data from Lloyds Bank. Almost three quarters of the region’s firms (73%) said they are confident they would have greater success in the coming 12 months, compared to the past year. Nearly a fifth (17%) were not confident about being more successful in 2023 and one in 13 (7%) expected their business to perform at the same level in the next year. Firms in Yorkshire projected a more upbeat outlook for 2023 with more than half (58%) expecting a higher turnover than in 2022. A quarter (25%) of businesses expect turnover to increase by between 5% and 19%, and more than one in eight (13%) anticipate turnover to increase by more than 20%. When businesses were asked what they would do to fuel growth, 98% said they were planning an investment drive. Firms reported that funding would be used to develop their company (42%), introduce energy efficiency measures (40%), and train staff (36%). Scarborough packaging and stationery specialist acquires Bradford business Long-established packaging and stationery business, Scarborough- based Duraweld, is expanding across the sector with the acquisition of Prima in Bradford which also provides creative packaging solutions. With over 20 years’ experience, Prima has established a reputation as a leading designer and manufacturer of quality folding card and PVC high frequency welded products. Its products range from printed and plain folding cartons, corrugated cartons and point-of-sale folders and pockets, through to ring binders, PVC pockets and paper over-board boxes and folders. Its clients include retailers, educational institutions, councils and the NHS. Founded in 1959, Duraweld designs and manufactures a wide range of packaging and stationery products for customers from the NHS to the FA, working across sectors such as healthcare and retail. Led by Managing Director Mark Yeung, it has a purpose-built factory which includes in-house screen printing, digital printing, inline paper over board wrapping, high-frequency welding, sonic welding, digital and hydraulic cutting, foil-blocking and embossing. The company employs around 50 people. Duraweld has acquired the business and assets of Prima for an undisclosed sum. Nano Park at Armley “fully let in record time” The Nano Park Company, which specialises in creating combined workshop and office space across Yorkshire, has announced its development in Armley has been fully let in record time. The Nano Park Company bought a one-acre site off Pickering Street, Armley from the Yorkshire textile company James Hare in March 2020. Bradford-based specialist construction company Percy Pickard Contractors, led by construction director Chris Balme, finished building work in the summer – and already seven hybrid nano units and two 2,000 sq ft high-end industrial units are occupied, creating 50 new and sustainable jobs for Armley. Edward Marshall of the Bradford-based Nano Park Company said: “We are incredibly proud that our latest Nano Park has been fully let before completion and in record time. This is a ringing endorsement of our Nano Park concept, which features warehousing space on the ground floor, with offices above, providing an ideal base for small and fledgling companies and satellite operations for larger firms.” © stock.adobe.com/Pcess609 Mark Yeung, Managing Director of Duraweld Edward Marshall of the Nano Park Company 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 09:05 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. l Spade to Spade service. l Revamps or modifications to Towers / Internals. l Inspection of Tower internals. l Supervision of external/client labour force. l Detailed inspection reports. l Cleaning of tower internals. l Reactor tray field services. l Turnkey 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. 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 06/01/2023 09:05 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS Yorkshire entrepreneur rescues Joules subsidiary from administration A Yorkshire entrepreneur has rescued The Garden Trading Company (a subsidiary of Market Harborough-based Joules Group PLC) from administration, saving all 53 jobs. Under the undisclosed deal, TIM Group Holdings (TGH) will work with the current management team to continue to deliver “exceptional quality” home and garden products. TGH, founded by Yorkshire entrepreneur Tim Whitworth, is a private equity house that uses independent capital to invest in and partner with businesses of varying sizes. Tim Whitworth, managing partner, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with a business with such great history and provenance, along with an unrivalled product range. We are extremely impressed by the management team and have great confidence in supporting and investing in their future.” 07710 792907 • 07711 206611 enquiries@dustandgocleethorpes.co.uk www.dustandgocleethorpes.co.uk Contract Cleaners Commercial /residential cleaning, deep cleaning, weekly cleans, daily antibacterial wiping of touch points/surfaces and much more. We also have disinfection machines which are used as standard on all deep cleans and contract cleans. We currently have contracts for: • Schools • Pubs • Offices • Workshops • Houses All our staff are DBS checked and fully up to date with relevant training needed. Lincolnshire dairy farm secures funding to invest in carbon efficient cowshed Lincolnshire-based dairy farm, White House Farm, has significantly increased its productivity after investing in a new carbon-efficient cowshed, using £1.05 million of funding from Lloyds Bank. Located in Bourne, the fourth-generation, 800-hectare dairy and arable farm is owned by the Dorrington family and its herd of nearly 300 cows produces milk exclusively for Arla. The seven-figure loan from Lloyds Bank has supported the construction of a new 2,700-metre square cowshed and will significantly improve the farm’s natural slurry filtration by using deep channels to move liquid manure below ground quickly and without the need for electric pumps. The large, open-plan pitched-roof building uses natural ventilation and LED lighting in a further boost for the farm’s net-zero credentials, while its passages are wide enough for an electric robot slurry scraper to operate, helping to further improve cow welfare by reducing the number of mastitis cases and the need for antibiotics treatment. © stock.adobe.com/Atstock Productions 06-11.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 09:05 Page 4Next >