< Previous30 Business Link www.blmforum.net FAMILY BUSINESS Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company, for instance, prioritises fair trade and sustainable sourcing. Their reputation is built on integrity, and they feel accountable to their community and employees. This commitment translates into responsible business practices, from supporting ethical supply chains to reducing their environmental footprint. They understand that their success is intertwined with the well-being of their community and the planet. Customers trust family businesses because they are seen as honest and reliable. This trust extends beyond the products or services themselves, reflecting shared values and belief in the owners’ integrity. In an era of increasing consumer awareness, this transparency and ethical approach become a significant competitive advantage. Family businesses play a significant role in the local economy. Pennells Garden Centres, with locations in Lincolnshire, employs local residents, supports local plant growers, and creates community spaces. Their reinvestment in the community contributes to its vitality and resilience, fostering a sense of local pride and ownership. They provide a valuable alternative to large, global chains, preserving the unique character of their region. In the digital age, the human touch of a family business remains highly valued. They provide a connection to the past, a sense of continuity, and embody genuine craftsmanship. In a world increasingly dominated by automation and artificial intelligence, they remind us of the enduring power of human connection, the value of personal service, and the importance of supporting local communities. They are the threads that weave together the fabric of our society, reminding us that business can be both profitable and deeply meaningful. DIRECT GASKETS LIMITED Contact us today on 01482 219655 or visit our website www.direct‐gaskets.co.uk For over 35 years we have been market leaders in the manufacture of Gaskets. Established in Hull, we play an important role in the city’s manufacturing sector. We have built up a strong reputation for supplying high quality products at very competitive prices and an unbeatable service.www.blmforum.net Business Link 31 REFRIGERATION A t a basic level, maintaining a temperature-controlled supply chain just means processing packaging, storing and delivering products at a constant stable temperature. But the more products you have to juggle, the more demanding it is to identify critical points in the cold chain and execute properly for each one. To protect the integrity of every batch or shipment, each stopping point and potential dropping-out of cold storage must be considered, including during transportation, distribution, or in containment while waiting to be processed or sent to the end consumer. Traditional thermometers, whether analogue or digital, can be used anywhere to monitor temperature at regular intervals, while being reasonable in price and simple to use or maintain. Though it’s obvious how critical a role refrigeration units play in cold storage, there’s no less importance in pointing out that products have differing needs based on type. The method by which food product is stored and refrigerated may be different to pharmaceutical products. Whether it’s the ample space for storing fruit and vegetables, dairy, meat and beverages in bulk provided by a walk-in fridge, or smaller reach-in varieties for use in areas such as medical facilities and pharmacies, the choice you make will depend on your organisation’s size, purpose and future goals. For instance, if your employees need quick and frequent access to packaged goods or ingredients, reach-in refrigerators may be used in this way for keeping everything chilled until ingredients or On ice Refrigeration is used across many industries, and the lessons learned in each can be applied to others. 32 Á32 Business Link www.blmforum.net REFRIGERATION prepared food are ready to be processed or transported. For larger bulk goods that need to be kept at a specific temperature, a walk-in freeze room would work better at preventing heat creeping in. However, when cold stability is needed as quickly as possible—such as when processing meat, poultry, or seafood—blast chillers or blast freezers lower the temperature of food quickly. The instant and powerful cold exposure provided by either one inhibits bacterial growth, preserving flavour and textural quality, and extending your products’ shelf life. The food industry is obviously the sector with the greatest need for refrigeration. Chilling foods at 8 degrees Celsius or below—a legal requirement for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland—is best for storing foods for shorter periods of time while they await the production line. To be certain that food is kept cool enough for health and safety, it’s considered good practice to set fridges at 5 degrees Celsius or below, as well as running regular checks that units are cold enough for purpose. But it isn’t enough to set up refrigeration and trust it to work. Things go wrong, and that’s why sufficient monitoring is needed. Control systems are a gift for keeping track of cold www.blmforum.net Business Link 33 REFRIGERATION environments and making adjustments without the constant need for manual inspection. With these systems, a controller receives temperature data from sensors, then activates cooling or heating mechanisms as needed. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (or HVAC) may also be used to provide consistent temperature control, proper air circulation and humidity management, and maintain optimal storage conditions. When it’s time for finished products to be delivered to shelves, perhaps across the country, cold storage facilities can be installed in loading bays to keep them stable for transfer onto refrigerated trucks. Specialised monitoring systems can be employed here as in any other containment area, to ensure products always remain within the required temperature range. By identifying and including these fundamental aspects of protecting food products from inconsistent temperatures, you can ensure the delivery of safe and high- quality products to consumers. Though preserving food and beverages from ingredient storage to final delivery is stacked with challenges, careful examination of an entire supply chain for cold storage needs should always be your first port of call. 34 Business Link www.blmforum.net CORPORATE HOSPITALITY N owadays, more people than ever consume media online – and it’s not uncommon to have podcasts playing in cars or on devices during commutes to and from work. The biggest players in these industries are typically celebrities and political shows – especially those dealing with conspiracy theorist content. They regularly draw hundreds of thousands of listeners. Enough for those making them to make a profit off advertising during their podcasts alone. Is this something businesses can mimic, or does the medium have too bad a reputation? Reach and Platform Podcasts and webinars that rake in hundreds of thousands or even millions of views are most commonly those who appeal to as wide an audience as possible. Political discourse applies to everyone, and so they can draw from all walks of life. It goes without saying that a business in a certain field will have a much smaller audience to appeal to. This audience will naturally be of a higher quality, but having a small potential audience means less chances to stand out on the more common platforms. These rate podcasts solely by views for the most part, irrespective of target audience. It’s best to look for platforms that will be more favourable to your content. While YouTube is ubiquitous (and worth including your content on) the videos are unlikely to ever stand out among millions of cat videos. It is far better to select a specialised B2B platform to promote on. The idea here is to be a bigger fish in a small pond, which is better when it comes to reaching a target audience because small fish on YouTube will simply be lost forever. Content Make it good and people will come. That is the old saying of art and content creation, and it applies for podcasts and webinars as well. While some can get away with just ranting angrily about whatever is riling people up, a B2B podcast serves a different purpose. The only reason decision makers will want to listen is if they think they will gain something from it – usually expertise they can utilise to make money. While it’s always tempting in business to refrain from giving away anything for free, wanting the client to come to you, in webinars and podcasts you need to give something or no one will bother listening. Obviously, the best idea is to give the listener something they can do and Digital reach Podcasts and webinars prove hugely successful for conspiracy theorists and controversial provokers. Could they be as useful in B2B circles as well? www.blmforum.net Business Link 35 CORPORATE HOSPITALITY profit from on their own and then drop a line about how it’s just one of many tricks your company uses. A call to action like that is likely to have people coming back for more. Timing Timing a podcast around real-world events can be a good way to not only have a subject to talk on but reach out to new people. If you release a finance podcast, for instance, then you’re relying on people being out there looking for financial advice. That isn’t always guaranteed. Timing such a podcast around the spring or autumn budgets will hit at just the time business owners might be thinking about looking up how the changes affect them. Not only is this a great way to ensure they listen to the end, but it’s a good way of securing interest in the first place. Marketing It may seem that the whole point of a podcast is to serve as marketing for a company, and that’s the ultimate goal, but that doesn’t mean it can be left online with no way of drawing people to it. Even the most successful shows on TV still regularly tweet about upcoming guests, provide snippets to whet the appetite, and you should be doing the same. Send out newsletters, tweet excerpts, and mention it on LinkedIn and Facebook. It’s important to drum up interest or all the hard work put into a podcast will be wasted. 36 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK Up and coming motors that wouldn’t look out of place either as part of a fleet, or as an executive’s personal vehicle. MG MGS5 EV Road Motors www.blmforum.net Business Link 37 AUTOLINK MG MGS5 EV MGS5 EV is the second MG model to be built on the highly acclaimed Modular Scalable Platform (MSP). First introduced on the award-winning MG4, this platform is specifically designed for EVs with a lightweight chassis improving electric range and driving dynamics. Rear wheel drive with 47:53 weight distribution, as well as a rear Five-Link suspension, further enhances this MG’s ride and handling. The introduction of five drive modes gives the MGS5 EV driver even greater choice to suit every road condition or simply drive their way. Normal, Sport, Comfort, Snow and Custom now feature. With its advanced MG Modular Scalable Platform and ultra-thin 110mm Horizontal Cell Design, the MGS5 EV is not only a highly rewarding driver’s car but has the capacity to be a spacious, highly versatile as well as comfortable SUV. Four adult occupants, with plenty of room for luggage, can be comfortably accommodated. The important SUV essentials of generous space for all passengers and numerous, smart storage spaces are comprehensively covered, but MGS5 EV goes beyond practicality. 38 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK Renault Austral Major changes have been made to the exterior design of New Renault Austral. The new bonnet, bumper and grille gain more character, in the same way as on Rafale. Reflecting the brand’s new design cues, the bumper features small, embossed 3D diamonds scattered around the central logo. The precision of these details is matched by the high-tech design of the new front and rear lights. The styling update also extends to many other body features. At the rear, in particular, the upper and central sections of the tailgate gain more elegant lines. Alongside their flattering looks, the new front seats also provide improved lateral and shoulder support. The seats also gain new upholstery, including the 98% recycled “Egée” fabric available with the techno trim. Acoustic insulation has been improved with new door seals, a new design for the rear-view mirror base to reduce wind noise and, on the esprit Alpine finish, laminated glass for the front doors. Under the bonnet, more effective soundproofing and new powertrain mounts have been fitted for a quieter ride. Maserati GT2 Stradale The road-legal version of the racing GT2, that took the House of the Trident back to the track in the closed-wheel championships, takes its roots from the multi-award-winning MC20 super sports car to the ultimate heights in terms of agility, looks and performance. GT2 Stradale is a car born on the track and type-approved for use on the road, seamlessly blending the extreme, sophisticated performance of the racing world with the ability to deliver uncompromising driving comfort. The GT2 Stradale comes in black (Nero Essenza) as standard, with a choice of three metallic shades – Bianco Audace Matte, Giallo Genio and Blu Infinito. Plus, eight Fuoriserie colours from the brand’s customisation program, including Digital Mint Matte, Powder Nude Texturized and of course, Blu Corse. Maserati GT2 Stradalewww.blmforum.net Business Link 39 AUTOLINK Mazda6e Mazda’s “Kodo – Soul of Motion” design language is brought to life through fluid surfaces and a low-slung profile, with parallel lines enhancing the car’s dynamic presence. This is further emphasised by the Aero- Fusiform shape—resembling a beautifully sculpted barrel, where all lines appear to converge at a single point. This seamless, flowing form reinforces the car’s aerodynamic elegance and sense of motion. The sculpted door panels, inspired by the spray of a speedboat cutting through water, create a light-catching effect that further enhances the sense of movement. The rear end exudes power and stability, incorporating four distinct cylindrical taillight elements—a subtle homage to Mazda’s rich design heritage. A floating horizontal dashboard stretches across the cabin, creating a sense of openness and serenity, while the prominent centre console enhances driver focus and security. The interior design prioritises minimalism with depth, replacing excess buttons and screens with intuitive, thoughtful placement of controls. Renault Austral Mazda6eNext >