< Previous40 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK Honda Prelude Honda has announced the new hybrid electric Prelude will arrive in Europe in the early part of 2026 and will debut innovative Honda S+ Shift technology to further enhance the ‘joy of driving’ offered by the brand’s latest sports coupe. The Honda S+ Shift will simulate the sound and feel of quick automatic gear changes – helping to deliver the model’s perfect balance of exhilarating driving pleasure to a new generation of Prelude drivers. Following its debut 46 years ago, the original model was seen as a high-performance showcase of Honda’s cutting-edge technology across five generations until 2000. Picking up where it left off, the new Prelude will offer a compelling blend of style and sophistication alongside an efficient hybrid powertrain. CUPRA Terramar CUPRA’s newest sporty SUV, the CUPRA Terramar, has opened for order in the UK. Delivering on what the brand promised two years ago, the CUPRA Terramar will continue to drive the success of the company and its financial performance. CUPRA is one of Europe’s fastest growing automotive brands, with more than 650,000 cars delivered since 2018 while expanding its reach around the globe with more than 800 CUPRA garages worldwide. The new CUPRA Terramar will launch with a competitive Retail campaign offering customers £2,000 deposit contribution and 4.9% APR (up to 48 months). Customers can also purchase a two-year service plan for £99. The brand’s newest SUV is available in V1, V2, VZ1 and VZ2 trims, with a First Edition and America’s Cup Special Edition also on offer. The CUPRA Terramar is available with different powertrain options, including the new generation of plug-in hybrid technology (eHybrid), delivering 272PS (200kW), while offering more than 70 miles of all-electric range. CUPRA Terramarwww.blmforum.net Business Link 41 AUTOLINK Dacia Bigster Winning its first award before it has even put a wheel on UK roads, and barely a month since its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, the All-New Dacia Bigster has been named 2025’s Most Anticipated New Car by Carwow in its Car of the Year Awards. What’s more, the All-New Duster has been given the Smart Spender Award. Scheduled to arrive in the UK in Spring 2025, the All-New Bigster enters a new sector of the market for Dacia and offers all the essentials required for a large family SUV, blending its rugged and practical design with segment-busting affordability. More details will be revealed in due course. Offering great value for money, the third generation of the Duster is undoubtably the best yet and the first to offer mild and full hybrid engines, along with the versatile 4x4 option and the unique choice of an LPG-powered Bi-Fuel engine as well. Its rugged and assertive style combine with an interior offering extra space but is still as robust and practical as ever. Dacia Bigster Honda Prelude42 Business Link www.blmforum.net RENEWABLES Navigating the UK’s green wave Navigating the UK’ s green wave www.blmforum.net Business Link 43 RENEWABLES S torms, floods, and now the possibility of mosquitoes becoming indigenous to the UK. The effects of climate change are obvious and pronounced, and it’s time for it to stop being used to win political points between warring sides. Currently the Earth is already approximately 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 19th century, and as emissions continue to increase and to ensure global warming rises no more than 1.5°C – emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. The UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy set out to halve UK emissions and eliminate them by 2050, this hopefully being an affordable, achievable plan that will bring jobs, investment and wider benefits to the UK and to the region. However, the measures are seen as controversial by some and the environment has become an ”ideological battleground” between the left and right of political parties. Three of the main measures involved new buildings being oriented to minimize HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) loads; shades and overhangs being used to reduce direct sunrays and energy efficiency measures through EPC regulations and using renewable energy measures - all being implemented. Renewable energy is energy that’s derived from natural sources that replenish at a rate more than it is used. Fossil fuels – non- renewable resources – are already positioned in our region, and to balance them and open further options for investment in the region’s renewable energy opportunities will be good for the region, and ultimately the world. UK businesses stand at a green crossroads as renewable energy capacities surge. From wind power dominance to legal considerations, we explore the profitable path to sustainability. 45 Á44 Business Link www.blmforum.net RENEWABLESwww.blmforum.net Business Link 45 RENEWABLES Renewable energies are all also generally cheaper now. Solar, wind, heat pumps and such are all being seen in residential as well as commercial developments - and they can all possibly generate three times more jobs than fossil fuels - several companies are already investing in the renewable energy market in our region. Heat and electricity generation have more debateable solutions in anaerobic digestion, which produces heat and electricity by burning methane from organic material breakdown, or biomass systems. The latter also burns organic matter, including coal, and both are more maligned for not necessarily being carbon neutral. Geothermal and ground source heat pumps use low- level ground heat for heating and cooling, less common than solar power but similarly space-friendly through the use of panels. Simultaneous production of electricity and useful thermal energy (like steam or hot water) from a single fuel source, such as natural gas, can be used to cut down on fuel in a method known as combined heat and power, which is more responsible but costly to install. But before diving into renewable energy technology, care should be taken to ensure that all legal and compliance matters are arranged in advance. You and your business should consider factors such as planning permissions, connection requirements, and regulatory obligations. A thorough business renewable energy site survey, compliance with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, and long-term lease agreements for premises ownership are crucial prerequisites. Change, however, is sometimes seen as an affront by the older generations. Such has always been the case in life, music, media and culture in general, but an ageing demographic among policy makers in the government and councils across the country is perhaps pushing a skewed emphasis on climate change denial. Worse yet, tribalism in the strangest of places is fuelling it even further. Many in the Brexiteer camp have decided to side with climate change denial not because it makes any sense from a Brexit perspective, but because they can support one another’s claims. This immediately creates a large number of people denying climate change and trying to weaken the country’s environmental policies that don’t even believe in what they are saying. It’s all just politics. It’s not hard to see examples of it coming apart at the seams, either. The recent water sewage issues plaguing UK rivers and beaches are all over the news, leading to the country being roundly mocked and now the Government has had to step in against Thames Water, only to find that the financial backers behind Thames Water are prepared to fight back and pull promised money out the company if they are expected to pay the fines levied on them. Looking at the general outrage from Thames Water’s pollution (and they’re not the only ones doing it of course), it’s obvious that most people in the country do not want polluted waterways, erasure of green spaces, and pollution in the air. 46 Business Link www.blmforum.net events Strategic Planning Made Easy: Your 2025 Plan to Beat the Budget Friday 10 January Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, Rotherham Are you feeling overwhelmed by the impact of the recent UK budget announcement on your business? You’re not alone. This workshop will turn uncertainty into opportunity by breaking down the complexities of strategic planning into actionable steps. For more information visit www.scci.org.uk/events/strategic-planning- made-easy-your-2025-plan-to-beat-the- budget/ AI-Powered Marketing Wednesday 15 January Online This 2-hour online and interactive workshop is designed to empower creative leaders with the knowledge and skills to leverage AI in their marketing strategies. This session will include hands-on activities and practical insights into the benefits and use cases of AI in marketing. For more information visit www.businesslincolnshire.com/events/event -details/?id=4673&navigatedFromSearch =true New Year Speed Networking Thursday 16 January The Hampton by Hilton Hotel, Humberside Airport Stroll into the new year with some new contacts and introductions to potential new business clients. For more information visit www.hull-humber-chamber.co.uk/events/ get-your-2025-off-to-a-flying-start-with- some-new-year-speed-networking Women in Business Conference Wednesday 22 January The Legacy Centre, Doncaster This dynamic conference will be packed with invaluable networking opportunities and feature two powerful panels tackling breaking stereotypes and overcoming adversity. Prepare to be inspired as you hear Scope 3 Emissions: Engaging With Your Suppliers and Customers Tuesday 21 January Online Are you a small-medium business owner in Lincolnshire or Rutland who wants to learn how to create a sustainable supply chain for your business? At this online workshop you will learn: how to review and green your procurement strategy, how to engage and communicate with suppliers, and how to manage client requests about carbon performance. You will also have the chance to ask questions relevant to your organisation, meet other local businesses, and learn about further support from the Low Carbon Lincolnshire programme. For more information visit www.businesslincolnshire.com/events/event- details/?id=4716&navigatedFromSearch=true from influential female business leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs from across the country, sharing their unique journeys and insights. This event is not just about learning; it’s about recognising and celebrating the incredible achievements and contributions of women in the business © stock.adobe.com/brainwashed 4 you © stock.adobe.com/ Olivier Le Moalwww.blmforum.net Business Link 47 world. For more information visit www.doncaster- chamber.co.uk/women-in-business-conference-doncaster/ Networking & Scalextric Racing Thursday 23 January Electric Tracks, Spalding Join a truly unique event that combines networking whilst racing around world famous tracks including Silverstone, Donnington Park and Lincolnshire’s own Cadwell Park without having the risk of personal injury. For more information visit www.lincs-chamber.co.uk/events/networking-scalextric- racing/ SWEATworking – Bringing Networking and Fitness Together Wednesday 29 January Everlast Gym, Rotherham This unique event blends business networking with fitness for a refreshing twist. Get ready to connect with local professionals in a casual, energetic environment where you’ll break a sweat, share ideas, and build valuable connections. For more information visit www.brchamber.co.uk/event/sweatworking- bringing-networking-and-fitness-together/ The Export Challenge For Manufacturing Businesses Thursday 23 January Sound Leisure, Leeds Years on from the EU-UK Trade Agreement, the impacts of Brexit on the UK are plain to see: trade in goods has fallen to levels not seen since 2015, with many manufacturers choosing to stop exporting altogether. But for those manufacturers who continue business in Europe, how are they managing to stay competitive and how have they overcome the logistical and practical challenges created by different regulatory regimes, standards and classifications? And how successful have those who’ve looked further afield been in finding new markets? Join the first in a series of events taking place in 2025, providing manufacturers with the opportunity to share insights and experience of doing business overseas in the post-Brexit world. For more information visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-export-challenge-for-manufacturing-businesses-tickets- 1113651645049?aff=ebdsoporgprofile © stock.adobe.com/peshkova Generative AI: From Basics to Business Impact Wednesday 29 January Online Are you a business leader or IT professional curious about Generative AI but unsure where to start? Join this enlightening webinar that will demystify this groundbreaking technology and show you how to harness its potential for your organisation. For more information visit www.scci.org.uk/events/generative-ai-from- basics-to-business-impact/ FEATURES Engineering Spotlight Business Travel & Leisure Printing & Packaging Training & Apprenticeships Meet the Experts REGULARS Commercial Property Motoring Corporate Hospitality Watch out too for the latest news from across the region in every sector Next month in February 2025 - Deadline 29th January Visit us at www.blmforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues?MARKETING OPPORTUNITY Business Link Magazine Group is currently seeking a focused driven and enthusiastic individual to join our busy team. This exciting role involves networking with a wide variety of diverse businesses, developing relationships and ensuring the highest possible level of advertisements are generated. You will explore new business opportunities and contact existing clients to promote the company’s portfolio of services. Duties will include: l Acquiring and developing a portfolio of local key accounts l Growing business from existing and new clients l Developing a high level of knowledge of your territory As an account executive you should also have the ability to work to deadline and have good IT skills and proven negotiation skills. In return for your commitment we offer a competitive salary and great career prospects. Please contact Angie Cooper on 01472 310310 WWW.BLMFORUM.NET/CAREERS y 2024 januar yorkshire & lincolnsh £3.50 hire’s leading business ma agazine VOLUME39ISSUE1 .blmgroup.co.ukwww Stem een wavegr sNavigating the UK’ Looking ahead essm the str V w INTERN NATION AL Micrrobiolog testing gyy and spotlight Constan iti Constant ackPaaaging t t ackPaaaging xpord exrtt spotlight innovati i on Imporrtt and T FEBRUA£2.95 ARY2024 Fashion Fantastic D Valentin Foundat British He ’ ti t BLM GROUP www.blmgroup.co.uk Gainsbo Glorious D h WWWLINCWWW.LINC OLNSHIRETOOLNSHIRETO ODAYNETODAY.NET LABELS • Plain / Printed Labels • Lasersheets • Fanfolded Labels • Thermal Transfer Ribbons • Barcode Labels RECRUITMENT WEDDINGSTO LET To receive a copy of the county’s most prestigious, full colour Wedding Guide, send a S.A.E. to: Lincolnshire Today Wedding Guide, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East Lincs DN31 2QE Alternatively visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/weddings where you can view the whole guide online If you are getting married then this guide is your must have accessory. It’s full of advice, hints and tips from the county’s top wedding specialists and will provide you with inspiration for your big day. fortheBid The essentialgu d o Gr f LINC .WWW otb COLNSHIRETODAY WEDDINGS/ NET.Y Planning for your special day? Ground floor offices to let - prime location in Grimsby • 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 Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk To advertise your services on the 01472 310310 www.blmforum.net Business Link 49 Next >