FEBRUARY 2023 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 38 ISSUE 02 Levelling up our engineering Travel once moreStreamlining packaging 01.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:54 Page 1ISO/IEC 17020 / ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / OHSAS 18001 For all enquiries please TELEPHONE: 01469 575728 | Email: ukinfo@irisndt.com www.irisndt.co.uk CHATHAM | DERBY | DEESIDE | HULL | IMMINGHAM PEMBROKE DOCK | STOCKTON-ON-TEES ADVANCED NDT •Remote Robotic Inspections – Visual & UT •Drone Surveys – Internal and External •Laser Scanning •Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing •Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) •AUT & PAUT Corrosion Mapping •Tube Inspection (IRIS, ECT, RFT, NFA) •Guided Wave Testing – Long Range UT •QSR1 – Corrosion Under Pipe Supports •MFL – Tank Floors and Pipelines •HTHA Inspections (TOFD, TFM, PAUT & TULA) CONVENTIONAL NDT •X-Radiography & Gamma Radiography •Computed and Digital Radiography •Close Proximity Radiography •Ultrasonic Inspection •Magnetic Particle Inspection •Dye Penetrant Inspection •Eddy Current & Eddy Current Array •Positive Material Identification (PMI) •Hardness Testing •Ferrite Testing •ACFM Inspection •Vacuum Box Testing INSPECTION AND TESTING SERVICES IRISNDT is a leading provider of Asset Integrity Engineering, Non- Destructive Testing, Heat Treatment and Laboratory services. This is achieved through investment in training local personnel, continuous development of our facilities and refreshing our equipment to offer the latest in technology and innovations. This is supported by a strong commitment to safety, quality, and the environment. IRISNDT are closely supported by our colleagues in Canada, the USA and Australia. ADDITIONAL SERVICES •Rope Access •Heat Treatment •Pressure Testing •Welding Inspection •Materials Laboratory (ISO 17025) •Welder Training •Failure Investigations •Pressure System Inspections •Storage Tank Inspections •Pipeline Inspections •Out of Service and In-Service Inspections •Category 1, 2 & 3 Inspectors •Written Schemes of Examination (WSE’s) •Fitness for Service (FFS) Assessments •Engineering Calculations •Maxi-Trak Field Services (Customized Software) •Bund Surveys 02.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:54 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 The fact that the Bank of England have raised interest rates to 4% has dominated headlines alongside bleak reports on the UK from the IMF, and an overall startling denial of reality in the political spectrum. The Government response to the flagging economy appears to be deny, deny, deny, with ministers saying that they “do not accept” the “opinion” that the economy is in a sorry state. Suggesting that factual figures are an opinion is one thing, but to not accept the statistics is a dangerous slope to go down. Businesses in our region will not be best pleased at the drama, not after the Levelling Up fund we have been waiting for all this time has come out mired in controversy. Government claims that London has poorer areas that need funding as well as the north will ring hollow when the ultimate conclusion is that, yet again, the north will receive less. It’s a difficult time to do business as we all know, and it’s a difficult time to be a citizen of the United Kingdom – which is now the only developed state to shrink. The cost of living has hit families, which in turn hits business, and strikes ravage the country not making much better, and the Government’s response being to blame those striking and try to impose legislation to make it illegal won’t win them any allies. At this time, it’s difficult to predict what will come for the business world. Those still holding out for good governance have likely given up by now, which means it’s yet again in our hands to make something work. Navigating the waters has become treacherous, and the rank denial of some in power does not bode well. It’s an unfortunate message to have to give and I don’t want it all to appear as doom- mongering. The economy is obviously tumbling toward (or in) a recession despite the denials of some, and the important thing is to recognise that and take steps to protect your assets and your business, and not to play dumb and hide your head in the sand as some have. We’ve all been through a lot in recent years – from the financial crisis to Brexit to COVID and now this. This has made business leaner, stronger, and more resilient, but turning a blind eye to the current crisis will not put businesses in good stead to make it through 2023. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:55 Page 1FEBRUARY 2023 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 10 Tanks & Vessels Industries Ltd Q&A This month we spoke to TVI, specialists in hygienic stainless steel storage and process tanks, to find out more about the company and its plans for the future. 12 Commercial property Business Link highlights ambitious developments set to move ahead in Lincolnshire following successful bids to the latest round of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. 16 Engineering spotlight Much has been made of the government’s vaunted “levelling up” scheme, but how effective has it been for our region’s engineering sector, and how does this compare to our neighbours? 20 Business travel COVID and the lockdown put business travel on the backburner, but the world is opening up once more and it’s important to know how to take advantage of that. 24 Printing and packaging Print and packaging are integral in many manufacturing processes, and every business will use print media in one way or another. Streamlining the process can help save over the year. 28 Apprenticeships and training The skills gap continues to be a problem, especially for skilled workers, but the problem won’t go away if businesses don’t take advantage of the options available to them. 32 Meet the experts So-called “experts” can be found everywhere – especially online nowadays. Choosing the right expert for your needs is the hard part. 34 AutoLink There is no escaping the fact that electric vehicles (EVs) will be the norm soon, whether we like it or not. Why? Well, the UK is set to only produce non-combustion engine cars from 2030. No doubt many of us will hang on to our trusty liquid- fuelled vehicles, but if you’re feeling like going down electric avenue, here are three enlivening EVs to whet your automotive appetite. 38 Corporate hospitality It is crucial that events embrace inclusivity for success. 42 Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. 46 And finally… Yorkshire-Lincolnshire- Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.net CONNECT WITH US 16 28 34 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:55 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 - NDABCREATIVITY • SIRISAKBOAKAEW • PRESSMASTER • JOHNSTOCKER • WAVEBREAKMEDIAMICRO 20 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:55 Page 2Inseego makes tracks to South Central The Leeds office of global property consultancy Knight Frank has brokered a significant deal at the South Central development in the city. Inseego, a provider of fleet tracking software and business solutions, is taking 5,000 sq ft of newly refurbished space at the 75,338 sq ft Shelborn development in Millshaw. Inseego is relocating from Headingley. Ian Holt, Managing Director (Finance and Operations) for Inseego, explained that this was an important move for the company. “We can’t wait to move into our new state-of- the-art Leeds HQ. We looked at various offices across Leeds for our new premises and only South Central ticked all the boxes. The combination of its excellent location and first- class facilities, including ample car parking, was exactly what we wanted. “All being well, we will start fitting out the new offices at the beginning of the second quarter of next year and will have moved in by the autumn.” 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS Mercia invests over £23m in Yorkshire and Humber in 2022 Mercia Asset Management – the venture capital providers – invested over £23.7m in Yorkshire and Humber businesses during 2022. Mercia backed 62 companies during the year including Leeds-based Little Journey, whose app helps reduce anxiety in children undergoing surgery, Sheffield-based smart sensor firm Tribosonics and nurse call systems specialist Arquella, and Hull- based Operance, which develops building information software. Mercia also successfully exited some of its earlier investments including four Sheffield-based businesses. Faradion, a world leader in sodium-ion battery technology, was acquired for £100m by Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, which is investing a further £25m in the site. IN-PART, an academia-industry collaboration platform, was acquired by Inova, while hospitality tech firm Airship was acquired by industry leader Zonal, and Azzure IT by Content+Cloud. In December Mercia opened a new office in Hull to expand its presence in the Humber region and complement its existing office in Leeds. One of the longest-established VCs in the North, Mercia provides funding from a range of sources including the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) and its own funds and invests mainly in the regions outside of London. New lettings for The Lock in Leeds London & Oriental has secured new lettings at The Lock on George Mann Road in Leeds following completion of a major refurbishment of the 20,753 sq ft riverside office building. Working with appointed agents CBRE and WSB Property, L&O has completed lettings totalling more than 16,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, resulting in 80% of the building now being let. Homebuilder Gleeson Developments has taken almost 6,000 sq ft on the ground floor east wing of the building on a 10 year lease term, relocating from Thorpe, and the first floor of 10,549 sq ft was let on a 10 year term. Only one suite of 4,152 sq ft remains available. Robin Beagley, partner, WSB Property, who concluded the Gleeson deal, said: “The letting to Gleeson is testament to the high standard of refurbishment which has been achieved at The Lock. The building offers an exceptional working environment which combined with the additional on-site amenities of EV charging, cycle storage, shower facilities and an outdoor terrace overlooking the canal, makes it an appealing proposition for occupiers.” Will Clark © Shaun Flannery/shaunflanneryphotography.com 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:57 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS BGF backs Sheffield- headquartered Tribepad with £12m investment Tribepad, a talent acquisition software provider, has secured a £12m investment from growth capital investors BGF. Founded in Sheffield in 2008, Tribepad has developed a best-of- breed talent acquisition platform which supports the end-to-end hiring process for some of Britain’s leading enterprises. Its software is used by over 125 in-house talent acquisition teams at organisations including Tesco, the BBC, Grant Thornton, Subway and NHS Professionals. With BGF’s investment, Tribepad will be able to scale its offering, enabling even more companies to recruit the right people effectively and fairly, as well as developing new features and functionality that will enhance the overall user experience. As part of the investment, Andy McRae – part of BGF’s Talent Network – has been appointed as non-executive chair. He brings a wealth of experience from across the recruitment and technology sectors, having previously worked with a range of PE-backed businesses and entrepreneurs. The deal will also see Tribepad’s co-founders Alexis Twigg and Dan Kirkland step down from their roles to pursue other interests. Engineering company reports record year One of Lincolnshire’s largest engineering companies has reported that 2022 was its best-ever year. GAME Engineering, which is based at Witham St Hughs, saw sales top £40 million in 2022. The company was founded in 1986 and employs 70 people across two divisions: material handling and process design and custodial. Of the record sales, £26 million was secured by the custodial division, with projects ranging from minor repairs to new build turnkey projects and major refurbishments. The custodial division was introduced in 1999 and works with His Majesty’s Prisons, police forces, secure hospitals and financial institutions. The success of the custodial division is mirrored by the performance of GAME Engineering’s material handling and process design team, which received its largest ever single order. The seven-figure project saw GAME designing and building a process plant for blending and packing grass seed. Work starts on new £4.5m business park in York Marrtree Investments has begun work on a new 2.4 acre business park on the site of the former B&M store at Clifton Moor in York. The developer will have invested £4.5m in the scheme on completion, which will create 27,000 sq ft of modern business space across four units ranging from 4,000 sq ft to 8,000 sq ft, as well as a Starbucks drive-through café, and will generate dozens of new jobs for the city. Marrtree Business Park, York, will be the latest in the North Yorkshire-based developer’s portfolio of over 20 business parks, which are located strategically across the north of England. William Marshall, director of Marrtree Investments, said: “We are really pleased to be bringing more of the high-quality modern business space, for which Marrtree has become well known, to York. Since the pandemic, well-thought-out, ergonomic workplaces, where people actively want to come to work each day, have become more important than ever and that’s what we aim to deliver with all our business parks and the kind of space that is in short supply for York employers.” © stock.adobe.com/Fantasista L-R: Stuart Hasler, custodial director, and Adam Conroy, project sale director 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:57 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 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:57 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS Bank of England raises interest rates to highest level in over 14 years The Bank of England started February by raising the base rate from 3.5% to 4%. Marking the 10th consecutive hike in interest rates, to their highest level in over 14 years, it comes as part of a continued approach to reduce inflation, but this is not without significant side-effects and further pressure for many small businesses. Those impacted most by the decision will be mortgage holders and businesses reliant on debt to keep afloat after three years of economic shocks, as noted by David Bharier, head of research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). He added: “Our research shows that while inflation remains by far and away the top concern for businesses with 80% citing this in Q4 2022, concern about interest rates has risen sharply with 43% now citing this. With the Bank expecting inflation to slow to around 4% by the end of the year, further rate rises could now simply add to the risk of a deeper recession, outweighing the benefits. “The main driver of inflation for most firms is energy costs, but this requires a clear policy solution, with immediate relief for those most affected and longer-term structural changes to ensure this market failure does not occur again. Businesses will also need to see concrete action in the upcoming Budget to promote growth, including plans on infrastructure, tax, skills, and trade.” The rise comes as the Bank of England now expects a recession in the UK to be shorter and shallower than previously anticipated. 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. Yorkshire business confidence dips in January Business confidence in Yorkshire fell 10 points during January to 12%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Yorkshire reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 16 points at 20%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down four points to 3% this gives a headline confidence reading of 12%. Yorkshire businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as investing in their team (38%), introducing new technology (26%) and evolving their product and service offer (23%). The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. A net balance of 26% of businesses in the region expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up six points on last month. © stock.adobe.com/Sebastian © stock.adobe.com/ DoubletreeStudio 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 13:57 Page 4Next >