< Previous40 Business Link www.blmforum.net MEET THE EXPERTS E xpertise is something that is difficult to quantify. Do we call someone an expert for the length of time they have worked in an industry, or for the success stories they have from it? Or better yet, is an expert little more than an individual with a collection of qualifications and letters after their name? The answer is never quite simple. In a sense, an expert could be said to be a combination of all three, but at the same time every single person is – or ought to be – an expert in their own craft. Someone who runs a packaging company is bound to be an expert in packaging, the same for food manufacturing or recruitment agencies. The challenge is in finding someone who is both an expert in their chosen field and who can also become an expert in yours as well. There are many people who are experts in a given craft – be it machinery, hygiene, training, or factory optimisation – but for the best service demand Expertise on Finding the right expert can be difficult, but the key is looking for someone who can understand your business almost as well as you can, and who can apply that knowledge to their field of expertise. © stock.adobe.com/Freedomzwww.blmforum.net Business Link 41 MEET THE EXPERTS possible to be achieved, they need also to be an expert in your company. This is where so many people find issue with experts; they hire someone who prescribes themselves expert, and they may well be, but find the advice given to be either incompatible with their company or not tailored to it. That’s to be expected of course, as an expert hired from outside the company isn’t going to know your firm as well as you do, but that doesn’t change the fact that they must be used. Speaking to an expert in person and having them show their expertise is one of the only true and proper ways to get a handle on how good an expert is. The best will listen as much as they talk, because while they are undoubtedly more informed than you on matters of their chosen craft, they will understand that you are © stock.adobe.com/Seventyfour Company Profile: LCS was established in 2002 by Anthony Bryant who has over 32 years' experience in providing IT services to businesses and educational establishments of all sizes. Although he is very much a 'techie', Anthony has never lost sight of the fact that customer service and the client experience is what ensures the development of strong and long- term partnerships. Product Profile: LCS provide a variety of managed services including day-to day IT support, projects, consultancy, cyber security and strategic direction. With the focus always being on finding the solution which best suits the clients’ needs and ‘doing the right thing’. Many of LCS’ clients have been supported by LCS for over 20 years with the long- lasting relationships being based on quality, honesty and trust. LCS pride themselves on integrity and excellent customer service. We always seek the right solution for our clients. The Old Post Office • 5 High Street Washingborough • Lincoln • LN4 1AZ Tel: 01522 718192 Web: www.lcsit.com • Email: hello@lcsit.com INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LANDLORDS! Do you have a property to let?… The City of Lincoln Council offers a FREE property letting service and RENT GUARANTEE! OUR FREE SERVICE INCLUDES: 3 Tenant right to rent & EU settled status check 3 Finance income checks 3 Property inspections 3 Previous landlord references 3 Deposit Guarantee and rent in advance 3 Tenancy support Contact: Joanna Gray on 0797 028 1827 or email: Joanna.gray@lincoln.gov.uk Caroline Sanford-Casey on 0785 516 4726 or email caroline.sanford-casey@lincoln.gov.uk SPECIALIST FIELD: PROPERTY LETTING SERVICE 42 Á42 Business Link www.blmforum.net Company Profile: Dexter & Sharpe Chartered Certified Accountants were founded in the late nineteenth century and have continued to build on their enviable reputation for over 140 years. Providing a range of financial services and with specialists in everything from agriculture to construction and manufacturing to transport, Dexter & Sharpe have been serving businesses across the region with their specific business needs. Focused on plain jargon-free advice that is both accurate and tailored to the business in question, there’s a reason Dexter & Sharpe have been successful for over a century. Tristran Russell, FCCA, B.A (Hons) Profile: After joining Dexter and Sharpe in 1998 as a graduate from the University of Central Lancashire Preston, Tristran has accrued over 25 years of experience and was made a partner in 2013. Currently resident at the Horncastle and Lincoln offices, Tristran specialises in the agricultural and small business sectors, and enjoys both the unique challenge these sectors bring, and the practical and unique solutions they so often require. Outside the office, Tristran is an active member of the local 41 Club. He is also treasurer for Wilksby church. Tristran is also an associate trustee of Mareham le Fen School House Trust. CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS Dexter & Sharpe Rollestone House, Bridge Street, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 5HZ Tel: 01507 526 071 Web: www.dextersharpe.co.uk Email: post@dextersharpe.co.uk © stock.adobe.com/ntinai MEET THE EXPERTS more informed than they on matters of your own business. Finding the right solution to any problem will be a matter of combining their expertise with the limitations, opportunities and various other factors surrounding any given business, and what will work for one client certainly won’t be a catch-all solution for any other. An expert that does not ask questions and take the time to get to know you, your problems and your business, may still be an expert, but they are perhaps not the right expert for you. It can be tempting, with all that in mind, to stick with who you have and what you know. Better the devil you know than the one you don’t. However, with the economy in such a difficult position and companies vying to stand out both to prospective staff as well as customers, doing things as they’ve always been done could well be a disastrous move. Dependence on one supplier can quickly threaten production when this supplier is unable to operate, as has been seen over the past few years with all the disruption around the world. Making the decision to seek out someone new can be seen as risky, but it’s also an opportunity to quantify how valuable an existing supplier has been to you. As everyone knows, loyalty often doesn’t pay, and shopping around for car insurance is necessary to get a good deal. It is very much the same when it comes to expert advice.www.blmforum.net Business Link 43 Clarksons Port Services (CPS) customs hub continues its investment drive to meet increasing client needs as the landscape of import and export movements continues to evolve due to ever changing customs regulations. For businesses moving goods in or out of GB, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the EU and the rest of the world, Clarksons guides its client step by step through the process, advising at each point of any changes due to Brexit and the Windsor Framework. Graham Cross, Business Development Manager for Customs & Freight, confirms CPS now offer a consultancy service to allow both existing and potential clients the opportunity to check that they are compliant. Graham is based on the Humber, which is the UK’s largest trading estuary and the gateway to our EU partners. We are delighted that our customs expertise is assisting so many of our Humber based clients and, in many cases, reducing their costs. Clarksons Port Services (CPS) is dedicated to supporting marine and port operations and is a trusted partner, with over 50 years’ experience and a proven record. We are a 24/7/365 integrated logistics management business, servicing clients from our twenty three office locations around the UK & the Netherlands. We deliver solutions for Port Agency, Freight Forwarding, Project Logistics, Offshore Supply, Voyage Agency Services, Crew Change, Bunkering, Warehousing & Storage, Customs Clearance, Tooling & Supplies and Safety & Survival. Graham Cross | Business Development Manager M +44 (0) 7435 946179 | Graham.cross@clarksons.com www.clarksons.com SPECIALIST FIELD: PORT SERVICES Since 1989, Direct Gaskets have been the market leader in the manufacture of gaskets. Having been established for over three decades and based in Hull, the company has built up a strong reputation within the city’s manufacturing sector. They have built this reputation by supplying high quality products at competitive prices, combined with unbeatable service. No matter if your gasket needs are a one-off or an on-going concern, Direct Gaskets can assist. As well as standard tables such as; ASA 150, British Standard Table ‘E’ and PN6/10/16/25 and 40, ranging from 1” to 32”, Direct Gaskets offers a one-off bespoke gasket service which can be kept on permanent file to refer back to for future use. The company’s highly-trained workforce has the experience to always manufacture high-quality gaskets and joints in semi and non-metallic materials. Direct Gaskets also offers a swift turnaround time no matter the quantity of orders. Staff are also available for pre arranged call outs. Units 26 - 36 | Dansom Lane South | Hull | HU8 7LA 01482 219655 | info@direct-gaskets.co.uk www.direct-gaskets.co.uk SPECIALIST FIELD: GASKETS DIRECT GASKETS LIMITED Company Profile: Since 1983, Frontier Software has been in the business of providing secure, reliable, compliant, and user- friendly Payroll/HR software and outsourced payroll services. With a wide range of fully integrated software modules, experienced staff, and offices in your region, we can deliver the right Payroll and/or HR solution for your organisation. Product Profile: Frontier Software offers a cloud based, modular solution to streamline and support Payroll and HR processes. Proven software delivers an integrated, functionally rich, and configurable approach to managing the entire employee lifecycle. In addition, outsourced payroll services deliver all the accessibility, flexibility, and control of running payroll in-house, without the headache of maintaining infrastructure and allocating resources. Frontier Software solutions ensure your employees are paid on time and in line with legislation, whilst saving you time and money. With 24/7 access to real time data and a choice of deployment methods, rest assured there’s a solution for your specific requirements. www.frontiersoftware.com 01276 456902 | sales@frontiersoftware.com HR AND PAYROLL SOFTWARE/SERVICES Company Profile: We are a local business based in Kingston Upon Hull. We specialise in forklifts but maintain all types of material handling from pallet trucks to container handlers. No job is too big or too small! We can help any business out locally, nationally or internationally. Product Profile: Here at Premier, we are an official dealer for the CESAB range of Forklifts. Cesab are a premium range of trucks and being part of the Toyota family they come with excellent reliability and support. We can supply new or used machines to suit customer requirements, and we also provide full servicing and repairs via our team of dedicated and experienced engineers. As well as providing repairs on-site in the event of emergencies, Premier can also tailor a preventative maintenance plan for your forklift truck (Diesel, Gas or Electric) to ensure it is kept to a high standard at all times. 01482 222011 service@premiermh.co.uk www.premiermh.co.uk SPECIALIST FIELD: MECHANICAL HANDLING44 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK New motors and upgrades to existing models this summer. Summer Summer www.blmforum.net Business Link 45 AUTOLINK BMW 5 Series Touring The BMW 5 Series Touring, the epitome of driving pleasure, sporty elegance and modern functionality in the premium upper mid-range segment, is entering a new era. The sixth generation of the BMW 5 Series Touring is more progressive than ever, featuring numerous digital innovations, pioneering systems for automated driving and parking, increased sustainability throughout the entire product life cycle and, for the first time, an all-electric drive in the form of the BMW i5 Touring. The new BMW 5 Series Touring is a sophisticated all-rounder for everyday driving and touring, offering stylish presence, superior sportiness, versatility and spacious comfort. At the heart of the progressive, driver-oriented cockpit design is the BMW Curved Display. Its 12.3-inch Information Display and the Control Display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches form a fully digital display network. The modern premium ambience in the interior is further enhanced by the new sports seats fitted as standard, the steering wheel, which is now flatter at the bottom, and the BMW Interaction Bar. BMW 5 Series Touring46 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Cabriolet The new CLE 53 Cabriolet brings Mercedes’ hallmark AMG performance into the open air. Numerous AMG- specific features make the car’s body design stand out. AMG’s signature A- shaped radiator grille and the sharp, slender lines of the DIGITAL LIGHT headlights create a look that is characteristic of the brand. They feature daytime running light ellipses and blue illumination at the base of the headlights, which further enhances the car’s dynamic appearance. The striking front skirt rises in the centre to form an A-shape (‘A- Wing’) that accommodates a large air intake for increased air flow. The same applies to the outer air intakes with two horizontal fins. Eye-catching interior features include the free-standing 12.3-inch fully digital driver display and the 11.9-inch driver- oriented central display in portrait format. The latter features power tilting from 15 to 40 degrees to prevent distracting light reflections when the top is open. Another highlight is the optional dynamic ambient lighting with 64 colours. Strips of light sweep from the cockpit across the doors and rear side panels to behind the rear seats. This creates a stylish wraparound effect that is enhanced by two further enveloping details. Firstly, the upper section of the dashboard, the top edges of the doors and the soft-top cover panel are upholstered in a black nappa leather look. Secondly, the entire passenger compartment is edged in chrome. Audi RS 4 Avant edition 25 years In the 1990s, Audi established the idea of the performance estate with the Audi Avant RS2 and Audi S6 plus. However, the first RS model from quattro GmbH (now Audi Sport GmbH) was the 1999 B5-generation RS4* Avant. Compared to the Audi S4, it broke onto the scene with a widened body and a 2.7-litre biturbo six-cylinder engine developed in collaboration with Cosworth, which at the time had an impressive 380PS output. The sportiest version of the first RS 4 generation hit the market in 2001 with the RS4 Sport. Its features included even lower suspension, bucket seats, a sports exhaust, and a suede steering wheel. The RS 4 Avant edition 25 years echoes the memorable design of this vehicle and is itself the sportiest version of the current B9 series. A wide range of exclusive design features make the edition model truly special. For example, the trims on the side windows come in glossy black. For the first time, the edition features a black inlay in the rear lights. The Audi rings and lettering also come in gloss black, and the Matrix LED headlights feature darkened bezels specific to the RS family. The roof rails have been removed to give the vehicle a flatter, sportier silhouette. SEAT Leon The SEAT Leon undergoes technical and technological upgrades. It adds new engines – including a new 1.5 TSI engine as well as a new generation of eHybrid Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Cabrioletwww.blmforum.net Business Link 47 AUTOLINK plug-in hybrid engine – and integrates improved digitalisation into the cockpit for both the 5-door and Estate version. The SEAT Leon also receives technological upgrades in the exterior, with new optional matrix LED headlamps available for the first time in SEAT’s hatchback. Inside the SEAT Leon refocuses digitalisation with a new and improved human-machine interface (HMI), implemented in the digital cockpit (10.25”) behind the steering wheel as well as in the larger 10.4” standard infotainment system (previously: 8.25”) or the optional 12.9’’ infotainment system, both with a retro- illuminated slider. And when mobile smart devices need a charge, the SEAT Leon now offers wireless fast-charging capabilities of up to 15W with refrigerated technology. Unit 3, Woodside Park, Station Road, Tetney, Grimsby. DN36 5HX Find An Experienced Motor Mechanic In Tetney, Near Grimsby n Servicing n MOTs n Repairs n Brakes & Tyres n Engine diagnostics n Car Batteries n Exhausts n ECU Remapping n Air Conditioning Testing/repairs/Re Gas VW, AUDI, SEAT & SKODA SPECIALIST Tel: 01472 812130 | www.lincsvwa.com Audi RS 4 Avant edition 25 years SEAT Leon48 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK McLaren Artura Review Performance Amplified T he McLaren Artura boasts a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and an electric motor, unlike its purely fossil-fuelled predecessor, the 570S, which continued the English outfit’s tradition of using 4.0-litre V8 lumps. To mark the launch of the new convertible Spider version, the coupe we’re testing has received a modest upgrade. The Artura’s engine, which initially produced an impressive 585PS, has been uprated to 605PS. When combined with the electric motor, the total system output now rises from 680 to 700PS. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission compliments the powertrain. Inside, you might be taken aback by how minimalistic the Artura is - but McLaren has tended to aim for few distractions in the cockpit. For example, you won’t find a single button, switch or dial on the steering wheel, which, judging by its three dual-spoke carbon fibre and flat-bottomed design, is there for the sole purpose of you using it to drive as precisely (and quickly) as possible. The Artura can go from zero to 62mph in 3.0 seconds flat, helped by an instant burst of torque (720Nm) from the electric motor when you move off the line. That said, the Artura is built with civility and usability in mind. Its default start- up mode is all-electric, enabling early risers to leave the garage without waking the entire street. Once the engine revs, it sounds delightful and roars off like a caged lion to a (limited) top speed of 205mph. At all stages of the rev range, there is a lot of performance available, and overtaking is a joy and a piece of cake. Of course, it is only a two-seater, but there’s plenty of room inside. Even taller adults won’t struggle to fit into the car, aided by the space created by the ‘scissor’ doors, which open upwards, creating a large gap. You will also find several spaces to keep your belongings, and for a supercar, the amount of room in the boot (underneath the bonnet) is 160 litres. McLaren has worked wonders with the Artura. It is another excellent car to add to its British collection. Fast Facts Mclaren Artura GTS, as tested: Max speed: 205 mph 0-62 mph: 3.0 secs Fuel economy: 58.8 mpg Engine layout: 2993cc twin-turbo V6 + e-motor Max. power (PS): 700 CO2: 108 g/km Price from: £190,715 On the Roadwww.blmforum.net Business Link 49 AUTOLINKNext >