NOVEMBER 2023 £3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 38 ISSUE 11 Promoting men’s health The more profitable pathRetrain to retainKingston Engineering Co. (Hull) Ltd. Pennington Street, Hull, East Yorkshire. HU8 7LD. UK www.kingston-engineering.co.uk +44 (0)1482 325676 sales@kingston-engineering.co.uk Follow Us Kingston Engineering’s global reputation for excellence has been built on an engineering heritage spanning over 100 years. 100 YEARS EST. 1919 OVER Leading UK Manufacturer and Producer of Bespoke Power ScrewsFrom the Editor As Rishi Sunak has finally passed his one year anniversary as Prime Minister, I hear he’s achieved a lot in his year — though most of it has been fact checked now. Following a revolving door of PMs he looks set to stay until the next General Election, though the same may not be the case for Jeremy Hunt, if you believe the rumour mill, upon who all eyes will be this month for the Autumn Statement. As businesses continue to struggle and the economy remains tepid at best, the government is being called upon to truly promote a trading environment where firms can flourish, instead of fear how they will pay their employees and energy bills. If the budget does not deliver the Conservatives might well be at the mercy of a powerful voting block come next year, or January 2025 at the latest. While doom and gloom cover the air again as 2023 moves towards its close, it may be once more up to the resilient companies in our region to hunker down and weather the storm with little intervention. In the meantime while feeling shafted as a region by events such as the HS2 fumble, hope remains in other areas, with final decisions and legislation on devolution for North Yorkshire and York expected soon, following in the footsteps of West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor Smarter, cleaner, greener. We keep world trade moving Clarksons is at the heart of global shipping Integrated service offering, powered by intelligence Tel: +44 1469 574649 enquiries.customs@clarksons.com www.clarksons.comNOVEMBER 2023 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 10 Commercial property As Leeds’ office market continues to thrive, myriad new deals and developments are underway. 14 Manufacturing spotlight Smart strategies can help conquer rising costs and keep manufacturing businesses in the black. 18 Materials handling All goods need to be handled but all employees need to be paid. Minimising handling wherever possible frees up staff and expenses. 22 Water and waste management The role of water conservation, recycling, and compliance are vital in today’s evolving business landscape. 26 Education and training High staff turnover combined with difficulties in recruiting is making business more challenging than ever. Could training and skills development not only help fill niches, but keep staff from looking for work elsewhere? 30 Men’s health Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s physical and mental health, but they can’t do it alone. 34 Business services As cyber threats evolve, businesses must fortify their defences against digital and financial dangers. 37 Corporate hospitality Christmas parties are designed to be fun and are important for maintaining staff, but there are a lot of things that can go wrong – it’s best to be aware of these in advance. 40 AutoLink As we move toward the end of 2023, it’s worth taking a look at the future to see what motors are being revealed across the world’s shows, and what we could look forward to seeing on our roads in 2024. • We put the Bentley Continental GT Mulliner W12 through its paces. 46 Events We take a look at business events happening around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. 50 And finally… Yorkshire-Lincolnshire- Business-Link @blmforum blmforum.net CONNECT WITH US 14 26 30Group 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 - KATYNN • MALP • NORDRODEN • LADANIFER • SIPPAPAS 22Sheffield IoT start-up raises £1.8m A Sheffield IoT start-up that helps manufacturers to maximise productivity and reduce energy use has raised £1.8m from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, Mercia’s EIS funds and private investors. The funding will enable FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics to further enhance its machine monitoring platform and expand its customer base. FourJaw’s platform acts as a fitness tracker for machines, monitoring ‘vital signs’ such as machine utilisation and energy usage. It then turns the data into actionable insight that enables manufacturers to remove inefficiencies from the factory floor. FourJaw was founded in 2020 by Chris Iveson and Robin Hartley- Willows, who had previously worked together at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. Its platform is now used by over 120 manufacturers worldwide in sectors ranging from aerospace and automotive to energy and food production. The company currently employs 20 staff. The latest funding brings the total raised to date to almost £4m and will enable FourJaw to accelerate product development and invest in its technology and customer success teams, creating seven new jobs. 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS Housebuilder submits plans for £105m development Yorkshire-based housebuilder Beal Homes has submitted plans for a £105m development creating a new community on the south bank of the Humber. Beal has submitted a planning application for more than 500 new homes on a 57-acre site at Immingham in North East Lincolnshire. The proposed development will provide a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes to support major investment in the area. The Port of Immingham is a key gateway for trade to and from Europe and beyond and the area is playing a key role in the Humber’s growing status as a magnet for investment, capitalising on the region’s reputation as the UK’s Energy Estuary. The south bank of the Humber is home to a series of blue chip businesses, including Ørsted, Phillips 66, Centrica and Wren Kitchens, with many of them investing in new facilities and projects, creating new, skilled jobs in the area. That, in turn, has generated growing demand for new homes in and around Immingham. The site already has outline planning approval for 525 homes, so the new application is seeking consent for the detailed design and layout of the development. VWA in-house courses are the ideal solution Verner Wheelock’s in-house courses are the ideal solution for food businesses with five or more employees to train in the same subject. The award-winning company offers training at all levels in HACCP, auditing, food safety or other related subjects. Courses are delivered either face-to-face at your own premises, or remotely via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Remote training is perfect for staff from different sites requiring the same course. With a stable internet connection, a webcam and a PC, laptop or tablet they can log in from anywhere. Different rates for training up to 7 or up to 12/15 people mean in-house courses are also cost-effective. There are no staff travel or accommodation costs and courses are arranged on dates to suit you. Any Verner Wheelock open course can be delivered in- house, but bespoke courses are also available. All courses are delivered by experienced trainers with several years’ food industry experience. More information: www.vwa.co.uk Debbie Sorby of the British Business Bank, Chris Borrett and Will Clark of Mercia, and Robin Hartley- Willows and Chris Iveson of FourJaw Beal Homes Chief Executive Richard Beal, right, and land director Chris Murphy at the site in Immingham, where the East Yorkshire-based housebuilder plans to create a new community of 525 homes. © R&R Studiowww.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS Expanding engineering design consultancy gets a foothold in the Humber at The Deep Business Centre A long-established engineering design consultancy is aiming to build partnerships and generate job opportunities after expanding to the Humber by opening a new office in Hull. ENG-CAD Group is on the doorstep of the region’s onshore and offshore renewable, oil and gas sectors in its new location at The Deep Business Centre where it will also be targeting general industry. Graham Manning, business development manager at ENG-CAD, said the company, based in Great Yarmouth, has worked in the Humber area in the past and now feels that the time is right to take a foothold on the estuary. He said: “Having worked previously with a number of businesses in the Hull and Humber area we are aware of the massive opportunities that exist here given the huge amount of ‘all sector’ industry. We also see an appetite for growth and sense that there could be room for another company here to provide the range of technical engineering and survey services that we offer.” Historic Sheffield manufacturer placed into administration Thessco Ltd, manufacturers of brazing alloys and contact materials since 1760, has been placed into administration with Joanne Hammond and Kris Wigfield of Begbies Traynor appointed as joint administrators. One of the world’s largest manufacturers of silver brazing alloys, metal joining products and industrial silver alloys, Thessco has its head office and production site in Royds Mills, Sheffield. The company ceased to trade upon the appointment of administrators with the expected loss of all 47 jobs. The administrators are currently working to ensure the best return for creditors. The company’s directors said: “It is with heavy hearts that we have been forced to make the decision to close Thessco Ltd in Sheffield, following a year of turbulent market forces. Spiralling energy prices, increased raw material costs and the significant rise in finance costs have all had a huge impact on the business. We would personally like to thank all our staff for their hard work and dedication, and all our customers and suppliers for their loyalty.” Clegg Construction appointed on multi-million-pound hotel refurb in Leeds Contractor Clegg Construction has been appointed to deliver a multi-million-pound refurbishment at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Leeds. Work has just started on site at the prominent hotel on the corner of Lower Briggate and Swinegate, which will be operated by Belfont Hotels. The design and build project will modernise the building and includes the refurbishment of existing bedrooms, as well as creating new bedrooms, to take the total number of guest rooms to 108. It also involves modernising ground floor function rooms, the restaurant and bar, as well as the installation of new windows and renovations to the roof and elevations. Clegg Construction pre-construction director, Ross Crowcroft, said: “We are very pleased to have started on site to refurbish and modernise one of the most iconic hotels in Leeds city centre. “This refurbishment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel for Belfont Hotels will upgrade a landmark building in the heart of Leeds and turn it into a leading hospitality venue which will be perfect for both leisure and corporate demand.” Joanne Hammond © Franklin Ellis Architects CGI of Cosmopolitan Hotel in Leeds Graham Manning, business development manager at ENG- CAD, outside the company’s new office at The Deep Business Centre TOWER 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/KAWINNINGSwww.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS Progeny to acquire Chartered financial advice firm Multi- disciplinary professional services firm, Progeny, is set to acquire Chartered financial advice firm, Carbon Financial Partners. The deal will add £600m to Leeds-based Progeny’s assets under management. Carbon Financial Partners are a firm of Chartered financial planners, with a team of 45 staff across offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Perth. They offer a personal service to clients with complex financial needs, business leaders and those approaching important life transitions, with a focus on making a meaningful impact on their lives. Progeny CEO, Neil Moles, said: “We are highly purposeful in our approach to selecting the businesses we bring into Progeny. We apply a set of strict criteria, with a laser focus on high quality firms that add a great deal of value. “Welcoming Carbon Financial Partners to Progeny will enable us to consolidate and strengthen our existing presence in Scotland and I look forward to what we can achieve together for our clients.” GMI to build £50m York student accommodation scheme GMI Construction Group Ltd has secured a contract with Olympian Homes for the construction of a £50 million student accommodation scheme on the site of a former cinema and Bingo Hall in York. Located to the south east of the city centre, in the Fulford area, the 80,000 sq ft site will feature a four storey building comprising of 275 beds and facilities including a gym, yoga studio, games room, co-working and group dining areas. In recognition of the location’s history the scheme will feature a cinema. Other facilities will include integrated cycle parking and landscaped courtyards. This is the latest purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development to be delivered by Olympian Homes, which is also active in hotel, Build to Rent, co-living and affordable housing sectors. This project is being delivered in partnership with funder Cain International. Construction is due to begin in the coming weeks, following the completion of archaeological works. Olympian Homes’ scheme will be named Rialto House, recognising the famous cinema that once stood on the site. Opened in 1913 and demolished in 2003, the cinema played host to many famous performances, including The Beatles. Bradford aerospace manufacturer joins forces with ASG Group Produmax, an aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Bradford, has integrated with ASG Group, based in Manchester. Produmax employs around 90 people and has worked at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing for the past 25 years, led by Jeremy and Mandy Ridyard. With a team of skilled engineers and an average age of less than 35, they have transformed the company through digitisation, automation, and a pipeline of talent. Jeremy Ridyard said: “We have been on a remarkable journey for over two decades, and this partnership allows us to further expand our reach and impact in the aerospace industry. “ASG Group’s values of engineering excellence align perfectly with ours, and together, we are well-equipped to take on new opportunities. Our goal together, is to drive this business to in excess of £20m over the next 5 years.” ASG Group, with its global footprint, now employs approximately 450 people, with an annual turnover exceeding $70 million. © stock.adobe.com/ Jag_cz Neil Moles © stock.adobe.com/ Yuttana StudioNext >