MARCH 2023 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 38 ISSUE 03 Waste notIn high demandContinuing apace 01.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:19 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 07/03/2023 12:20 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 beginning of March is always an interesting time because so much attention is focused on a budget that hasn’t come out yet. Indeed, with the economy reeling and GDP being low compared to our international neighbours, many will be looking to Jeremy Hunt to revitalise the economy – and his talks of no tax cuts, increased corporation tax, and a potentially doomed plan to get more retired people back into the work force, aren’t filling many with confidence. In fact it’s gotten so bad that some among the CBI have said that the Conservative party have essentially lost the title of the “for business party” and that more and more people are turning to Labour. This isn’t in isolation either, as polls were terrible for the Conservatives before the new Northern Ireland deal, and still don’t look good for them after. It does have to be said that Rishi Sunak deserves some praise for managing to achieve a deal with Northern Ireland in so short a time when Boris Johnson floundered about making it sound impossible. It’s hard to say if that will save Sunak however, given the various other scandals rocking the party. We can’t sit and wait for a budget without making our own moves however, and it’s unlikely that a great amount will change after it – at least for business leaders. It’s business as usual on our end, and our region is facing its own challenges, a lot of it in recruitment and retainment of key staff. One aspect of that we’ve been hearing from recruitment experts – and something to keep in mind – is that the younger generation are not being enticed by the old-fashioned recruitment ads being put out by a lot of companies. Younger people are not fooled by “room to grow” and “a great team” and “achievable targets” and all the other buzzwords that businesses have used for so long. Instead, they are increasingly interested in the “story” of the company, in its sustainable aims and how it intends to reach Net Zero, and why they should want to work there beyond merely the salary. A lot of successful companies have realised this and started to re-write their recruitment campaigns because of this, but still more decry it as virtue signalling or “woke” and refuse to even consider it, assuming the recruitment market will somehow fix itself. Simply put, times are changing – and it’s time many businesses realised that. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:20 Page 1MARCH 2023 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 10 Severn Trent ST Connect Q&A ST Connect are helping developers to meet Natural England’s Nutrient Neutrality requirements using onsite community-scale water recycling centres (WRC). We spoke with William Mackveley, General Manager of ST Connect to understand more about Nutrient Neutrality and what ST Connect are doing to help developers. 12 Commercial property Yorkshire’s industrial and logistics property market looks set for an exciting 2023 as demand remains high. 16 Petrochemical spotlight Despite initiatives to both invest in renewable energy and become more independent from petrochemical giants such as Russia, the industry continues to be a powerful one. 20 Freight, storage and movement As the UK seeks to become more independent in terms of trade and supply, there is a predictable necessity for greater infrastructure surrounding freight movement and storage within the country. 24 Finance The spring budget approaches and Yorkshire and Lincolnshire – along with much of the UK – needs a support. Will we get it? 28 Materials and components Construction needs to become more sustainable, which is why many are now looking to the materials and components used – to see if those can’t be the deciding factor. 32 Legal services The law is changing, and it’s best to keep abreast of the changes even if you’re prepared to leave the details to legal specialists. 35 Corporate hospitality With competition for staff high, businesses are working harder to retain their employees, with events a useful tool in this. 38 AutoLink We take a look at the latest vehicles coming to our roads – whether it be for business, family, or leisure. 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 20 24 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:21 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 - KITTIPHAN • DUNCAN ANDISON • DONVICTORI0 • CHBAUM • PHOTOCREO BEDNAREK 28 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:21 Page 2Zest plugs into new offices in Leeds A significant deal has been completed at The Bourse, an office and leisure development in Leeds city centre. Zest, the EV Charging Network Provider, has taken 2,418 sq ft of office space on the fourth floor of Bond House, one of the three self-contained buildings which make up the Bourse. Zest’s business has grown rapidly over the past year, with infrastructure deployed across the UK, from Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides. The Zest team has grown from fewer than ten employees at the start of the year to more than sixty today and the company aims to continue to flourish within its new head office at the Bourse. As a certified carbon neutral company committed to reducing its per capita emissions, Zest needed an energy efficient office where usage could be precisely measured and audited. It also needed to be close to public transport to enable more carbon-efficient journeys to the office. 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS Auction acquisition sees further growth for Eddisons in South Yorkshire Property consultancy Eddisons has strengthened its presence in South Yorkshire with the acquisition of long-established Sheffield firm of surveyors and auctioneers, Mark Jenkinson & Son. The deal will see the further expansion of Eddisons’ Sheffield office, which was launched in 2021 and bolstered by the acquisition of Fernie Greaves later that year. The addition of Mark Jenkinson & Son, which has been in business in Sheffield for over 125 years, strengthens the Eddisons auction team, currently trading as Pugh & Co. Both firms are due to be integrated under the Eddisons branding. Eddisons managing partner Anthony Spencer said: “The acquisition of the Mark Jenkinson & Son business will enhance our existing property auction team and grow our successful team in Sheffield and South Yorkshire. I am very pleased to welcome the team to Eddisons.” Pugh director Paul Thompson said: “It’s great news that Mark Jenkinson is now part of Eddisons. By combining two highly respected auction houses we will be able to offer an unrivalled service to clients, with an excellent geographic spread and depth of professional expertise and experience.” Demolition paves the way for multimillion-pound Leeds student development Development specialists Urban Group (York) Ltd has completed the demolition work at 26-34 Merrion Street and has now commenced on the foundations of the circa £15 million nine-storey Straits Aire student accommodation scheme in Leeds. The 32,000 sq ft (2,898 sq m) building will provide 88 boutique en-suite studios, including four rooms designed for those with disabilities and two premium suites. With on-site facilities including a cinema, gym, lounge, event, dining and breakout study space and laundry facilities, it is expected to appeal to students seeking high specification accommodation. Straits Aire is being delivered by Urban Group’s Construction Division, which specialises in buy-to-let residential and student accommodation, and will complete in summer 2024. Q Investment Partners (QIP) closed on the circa £15 million deal last year, and this transaction forms part of a larger institutionally-backed student housing fund. The circa £150 million portfolio managed by QIP comprises some 1,000 bedrooms around the UK, from Edinburgh to Greater London. Anthony Spencer, Eddisons managing partner 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:22 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS Sewell Group transfers a quarter of Estates business into employee ownership Yorkshire-based Sewell Estates has become part employee- owned with majority shareholder Paul Sewell moving a quarter of the company’s shares into an employee ownership trust in a move to secure the long-term future of the business and protect its culture. Almost 300 people who work across Sewell Estates’ seven businesses are now co-owners, meaning they’ll have a greater say in how the business is run and the potential to share in any company profits. Mr Sewell said: “I have always believed in employee ownership – that employees make or break a company and should have a greater stake than just salary and bonus can provide. They should feed into the strategic concept of a company, its sustainability and overall value. “My shareholding in the business began back in 1986 with a 25% stake in what was F Sewell & Son (no family ties, just a naming coincidence), and for me that was the most important – it gave me a degree of security; I felt that I’d be able to make a difference, be appreciated and have a voice. That’s what I wanted for myself back then, and what I’ve long wanted for the people who work across the group now.” Malton Enterprise Park reveals new office development Malton Enterprise Park in North Yorkshire has unveiled a brand-new office development in the heart of the park, which will feature offices ranging from 1,350 sq ft to 4,050 sq ft. Harrison Developments LLP, the owners and developers of the park, located next to the A64, are including a conference facility within the development. Sean Harrison, Managing Director of Harrison Developments, said: “We are tremendously proud of this new office development, as well as what we have achieved elsewhere on the park. “It was always our intention to provide some high-quality office space on site, together with the industrial and commercial development which has already been completed. “During the past two years, our enterprise park has been transformed and is now very much a business community with existing and new clients using each other’s services on a daily basis. This mutual co- operation is incredibly beneficial and is really appreciated by our occupiers and business owners. “When we began work on site, we really wanted to create this environment and make the park an enjoyable, as well as a productive, place to work.” Yorkshire business confidence rebounds Business confidence in Yorkshire rose 22 points during February to 34% – 13 points higher than the UK average – according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Yorkshire reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 17 points at 37%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 29 points to 32%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 34%. Yorkshire businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as evolving their offering (42%), hiring new employees or investing in training (38%), and diversifying into adjacent markets or exporting to new markets (36%). The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. A net balance of 41% of businesses in the region expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 15 points on last month. © stock.adobe.com/Sunny studio 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:22 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 07/03/2023 12:22 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS Duvalay snaps up Nursery Connections in pre-pack administration deal Duvalay, a key player within the sleep market, has purchased Nursery Connections in a pre- pack administration deal. The deal includes West Yorkshire’s Duvalay securing the brand rights and physical assets such as machinery and stock, as well as securing the jobs of the current 35 employees. Having traded for over 20 years, Nursery Connections has a reputation as a leading company within the cot mattress business, supplying major retailers. Duvalay plans to keep Nursery Connections’ brand and name, while adding further expertise and innovation to its product portfolio. After adding Nursery Connections to its portfolio, Duvalay will employ over 120 people and becomes one the largest manufacturers in the sector. Duvalay, which has been trading for over 20 years, shot to fame after appearing on Dragons’ Den and securing investment from Hilary Devey. Professional services firm to acquire financial planning practice Multi-disciplinary professional services firm, Progeny, has revealed plans to acquire Chartered financial planning practice, Gibbs Denley. The acquisition will allow Leeds-based Progeny to extend its footprint to East Anglia and take its assets under management to more than £7.5bn. Established in 1990, Gibbs Denley have 36 team members, including seven Chartered financial planners, across three offices – in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Chelmsford. Simon Rees, Managing Director, Gibbs Denley, said: “Over 30 years we have built a highly successful business by providing exceptional customer service and nurturing trusted, long-term relationships with our clients. “In becoming part of Progeny we take a quantum leap in the services we provide to our clients, with financial planning, investment management, legal and tax specialists in house. “We can keep striving to achieve ever-higher standards for our clients and now offer them easy access to a range of additional professional services to meet all their legal and financial needs.” BUSINESS LINCOLNSHIRE Save money, go green! The current cost of living increase has left many people thinking about the changes they can make to improve efficiency and lower costs, so Business Lincolnshire are here to help! Opting to implement more sustainable energy sources, such as solar panels or heat pumps, can help to minimise your regular energy spend, with several government-funded grants available to support businesses switching to these greener generation methods; however, even small swaps, such as opting for LED lighting or installing smart thermostats, can significantly reduce your overall costs. Not only can making sustainable choices reduce your bills, but it can also increase engagement with your business associates! Sustainability is a hot topic with consumers and stakeholders alike, keen to see businesses investing in people and preserving the planet as much as making profits. Investing in sustainability can help to differentiate your business against competitors, whilst also mitigating any future risks posed by climate change. Business Lincolnshire is always up to date on the latest developments in sustainability, so for all of your burning questions on sustainability and energy cost reduction, treat Business Lincolnshire as your go-to resource! The Growth Hub team can advise on everything from the grant funding schemes available to support you with investments into greener energy, to the smaller swaps you can make to be more efficient. Want to know more? Visit the Business Lincolnshire website: www.businesslincolnshire.com/start-and-grow- my-business/net-zero-and-the-green-agenda/ © stock.adobe.com/ Blue Planet Studio © stock.adobe.com/ vichie81 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:22 Page 4Next >